Program Notes
Lyrics
Gloria...
An exhibition of divine splendor had been already made in the person of a single angel.
Gloria in excelsis...
But God determined to adorn his own Son in a still more illustrious manner.
Gloria in excelsis...
This was done to confirm our faith as truly as that of the shepherds.
Among men, the testimony of "two or three witnesses" is sufficient to remove all doubt.
Gloria in excelsis...
But here is a heavenly host, with one consent and one voice bearing testimony to the Son of God.
Gloria in excelsis Deo...
What then would be our obstinacy, if we refused to join with the choir of angels,
in singing the praises of our salvation, which is in Christ?
Gloria in excelsis Deo...
Hence we infer, how abominable in the sight of God must unbelief be,
which disturbs this delightful harmony between heaven and earth.
Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax...
Again, we are convicted of more than brutal stupidity,
if our faith and our zeal to praise God are not inflamed by the song which the angels,
with the view of supplying us with the matter of our praise,
sang in full harmony!
Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis...
Still farther, by this example of heavenly melody,
the Lord intended to recommend to us the unity of the faith,
and to exhort us to join with one consent in singing his praises on earth.
Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Amen.
-- Jean Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, and Luke, 1555
trans. by Rev. William Pringle, 1845 (Public Domain)
Lyrics
Gloria...
An exhibition of divine splendor had been already made in the person of a single angel.
Gloria in excelsis...
But God determined to adorn his own Son in a still more illustrious manner.
Gloria in excelsis...
This was done to confirm our faith as truly as that of the shepherds.
Among men, the testimony of "two or three witnesses" is sufficient to remove all doubt.
Gloria in excelsis...
But here is a heavenly host, with one consent and one voice bearing testimony to the Son of God.
Gloria in excelsis Deo...
What then would be our obstinacy, if we refused to join with the choir of angels,
in singing the praises of our salvation, which is in Christ?
Gloria in excelsis Deo...
Hence we infer, how abominable in the sight of God must unbelief be,
which disturbs this delightful harmony between heaven and earth.
Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax...
Again, we are convicted of more than brutal stupidity,
if our faith and our zeal to praise God are not inflamed by the song which the angels,
with the view of supplying us with the matter of our praise,
sang in full harmony!
Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis...
Still farther, by this example of heavenly melody,
the Lord intended to recommend to us the unity of the faith,
and to exhort us to join with one consent in singing his praises on earth.
Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Amen.
-- Jean Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, and Luke, 1555
trans. by Rev. William Pringle, 1845 (Public Domain)