CHRISTMAS.

145

8, 6, 6, 8, 6, 6

All my heart this night rejoices,
As I hear Far and near
Sweetest angel voices;
“Christ is born,” their choirs are singing,
Till the air Everywhere
Now with joy is ringing.
2. Forth to-day the Conqueror goeth,
the foe, Sin and woe,
Death and hell, o’erthroweth.
God is man, man to deliver;
His dear Son Now is one
With our blood forever.
3. Shall we still dread God’s displeasure,
Who, to save, Freely gave
Us His dearest Treasure?
To redeem us, He hath given
His own Son From the throne
Of His might in heaven.
4. Should He, who Himself imparted,
Aught withhold From the fold,
Leave us broken-hearted?
Should the Son of God not love us,
Who, to cheer Sufferers here,
Left His throne above us?
5. If our blessed Lord and Maker
Hated men, Would He then
Be of flesh partaker?
If He in our woe delighted,
Would He bear All the care
Of our race benighted?
6. He becomes the Lamb that taketh
Sin away And for aye
Full atonement maketh.
For our Life His own He tenders
And our race, By His grace,
Meet for glory renders.
7. Hark! a voice from yonder manger,
Soft and sweet, Doth entreat:
“Flee from woe and danger;
Brethren, from all ills that grieve you
You are freed, All you need
I will surely give you.”
8. Come, then, banish all your sadness,
One and all, Great and small,
Come with songs of gladness.
Love Him who with love is glowing;
Hail the Star, Near and far,
Light and joy bestowing.
9. Ye whose anguish knew no measure,
Weep no more, See the door
To celestial pleasure.
Cling to Him, for He will guide you
Where no cross, Pain, or loss
Can again betide you.
10. Hither come, ye heavy-hearted,
Who for sin, Deep within,
Long and sore have smarted;
For the poisoned wounds you’re feeling
Help is near, One is here
Mighty for their healing.
11. Hither come, ye poor and wretched,
Know His will Is to fill
Every hand outstretchèd;
Here are riches without measure,
Here forget All regret,
Fill your hearts with treasure.
12. Let me in my arms receive Thee,
On Thy breast Let me rest,
Savior, ne’er to leave Thee!
Since Thou hast Thyself presented
Now to me, I shall be
Evermore contented.
13. Guilt no longer can distress me;
Son of God, Thou my load
Bearest to release me.
Stain in me Thou findest never;
I am clean, All my sin
Is removed forever.
14. I am pure, in Thee believing,
From Thy store Evermore
Righteous robes receiving.
In my heart I will enfold Thee,
Treasure rare, Let me there,
Loving, ever hold Thee!
15. Thee, O Lord, with heed I’ll cherish
While I’ve breath; E’en in death
Shall my faith not perish.
I shall dwell with Thee forever
Far on high, In the joy
That can alter never.

Paul Gerhardt, 1656.

146

7s

Let the earth now praise the Lord,
Who hath truly kept His word
And the sinners’ Help and Friend
Now at last to us doth send.
2. What the fathers most desired,
What the prophets’ heart inspired,
What they longed for many a year,
Stands fulfilled in glory here.
3. Abram’s promised great Reward,
Zion’s Helper, Jacob’s Lord,
Him of twofold race behold,
Truly came, as long foretold.
4. Welcome, O my Savior, now!
Hail! my Portion, Lord, art Thou!
Here, too, in my heart, I pray,
O prepare Thyself a way.
5. King of Glory, enter in!
Cleanse it from the filth of sin,
As Thou hast so often done;
It belongs to Thee alone.
6. As Thy coming was in peace,
Noiseless, full of gentleness,
Let the same mind dwell in me
That was ever found in Thee.
7. Comfort my desponding heart;
Thou my Strength and Refuge art.
I am weak, and cunningly
Satan lays his snares for me.
8. Bruise for me the Serpent’s head,
That, set free from doubt and dread,
I may cleave to Thee in faith,
Safely kept through life and death;
9. And when Thou dost come again
As a glorious King to reign,
I with joy may see Thy face,
Truly ransomed by Thy grace.

H. Held, 1643; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

147

8, 7, 8, 8, 4

All praise to Jesus’ hallowed name,
Who of virgin pure became
True man for us! The angels sing,
As the glad news to earth they bring,
Hallelujah!
2. Th’ eternal Father’s only Son
For a manger leaves His throne;
Disguised in our poor flesh and blood
Is now the everlasting Good.
Hallelujah!
3. He whom the world could not inclose
Doth in Mary’s lap repose,
He is become an infant small,
Who by His might upholdeth all.
Hallelujah!
4. Th’ eternal Light, come down from heaven,
Hath to us new sunshine given;
It shineth in the midst of night
And maketh us the sons of light.
Hallelujah!
5. The Father’s Son, God ever blest,
In the world became a guest;
He leads us from this vale of tears
And makes us in His kingdom heirs.
Hallelujah!
6. He came to earth despised and poor,
Man to pity and restore
And make us rich in heaven above,
The angels’ equal, through His love.
Hallelujah!
7. All this He did that He might prove
To us sinners His great love;
For this let Christendom adore
And praise His name forevermore.
Hallelujah!

Martin Luther, 1543; R. Massie, tr., a. First stanza since 1370.

148

L. M.

Now praise we Christ, the Holy One,
The blessed Virgin Mary’s Son,
Far as the glorious sun doth shine,
E’en to the world’s remote confine.
2. He who Himself all things did make
A servant’s form vouchsafed to take,
That He as man mankind might win
And save His creatures from their sin.
3. The grace of God, the mighty Lord,
Upon the mother was outpoured;
A virgin pure and undefiled
In wondrous wise conceived a child.
4. The noble mother bare a Son,
For so did Gabriel’s promise run,
Whom John confessed and leaped with joy,
Ere yet the mother knew her boy.
5. Upon a manger, filled with hay,
In poverty content He lay;
With milk was fed the Lord of all,
Who feeds the ravens when they call.
6. The heavenly choirs rejoice and raise
Their voice to God in songs of praise;
To humble shepherds is proclaimed
The Shepherd who the world hath framed.
7. All honor unto Christ be paid,
Pure offspring of the favored maid,
With Father and with Holy Ghost,
Till time in endless time be lost!

From the Latin of Sedulius; Martin Luther, 1524; R. Massie, tr., a.

149

7, 6, 7, 6

A great and mighty wonder
Our Christmas Festal brings:
On earth, a lowly Infant,
Behold the King of kings!
2. The Word is made incarnate,
Descending from on high;
And cherubim sing anthems
To shepherds, from the sky.
3. And we with them triumphant
Repeat the hymn again:
“To God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men!”
4. While thus they sing your Monarch,
Those bright angelic bands,
Rejoice, ye vales and mountains!
Ye oceans, clap your hands!
5. Since all He comes to ransom,
By all be He adored,
The Infant born in Bethlehem,
The Savior and the Lord!
6. All idol forms shall perish,
And error shall decay,
And Christ shall wield His scepter,
Our Lord and God, for aye.

From the Greek of Anatolius, c. 540; J. M. Neale, tr. 1862, a.

150

L. M.

From heaven above to earth I come
To bear good news to every home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will say and sing.
2. To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
This little child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all the earth.
3. This is the Christ, our God and Lord,
Who in all need shall aid afford;
He will Himself your Savior be,
From all your sins to make you free.
4. He brings those blessings long ago
Prepared by God for all below,
That in His heavenly kingdom blest
You may with us forever rest.
5. These are the tokens ye shall mark:
The swaddling-clothes and manger dark;
There shall ye find the young Child laid
By whom the heavens and earth were made.
6. Now let us all with gladsome cheer
Go with the shepherds and draw near
To see the wondrous gift of God,
Who hath His own dear Son bestowed.
7. Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!
What is it in yon manger lies?
Who is this child, so young and fair?
Dear little Jesus lieth there.
8. Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest,
Through whom the sinful world is blest!
Thou com’st to share my misery,
What thanks shall I return to Thee?
9. Ah! Lord, who hast created all,
How hast Thou made Thee weak and small
That Thou must choose Thy infant bed
Where humble cattle lately fed.
10. And were the world ten times as wide,
With gold and jewels beautified,
It would be far too small to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.
11. For velvets soft and silken stuff
Thou hast but hay and straw so rough,
Whereon Thou, King, so rich and great,
As ’twere Thy heaven, art throned in state.
12. And thus, dear Lord, it pleasèd Thee
To make this truth quite plain to me,
That this world’s honor, wealth, and might
Are naught and worthless in Thy sight.
13. Ah! dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A chamber consecrate to Thee.
14. My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep;
I, too, must sing with joyful tongue
That sweetest ancient cradle-song:
15. Glory to God in highest heav’n,
Who unto man His Son hath giv’n!
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad New Year to all the earth.

Martin Luther, 1535.

151

L. M.

Rejoice, ye sons of men alway!
God comes to you from heaven to-day;
The Lord is born a little child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild.
2. He is the Branch of Jesse’s tree,
The Lion out of Judah He,
The Gentiles’ Light, the promised Seed
Who was to bruise the Serpent’s head.
3. He brings us peace and happiness
And heals all sorrow and distress
Which on account of Adam’s fall
Forever weighed upon us all.
4. Through His low birth and holy blood
We all are saved by Christ, true God;
The angels’ glory we shall share
And in His kingdom live fore’er.

C. Freund, † 1591; A. Crull, tr.

152

8, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8

O rejoice, ye Christians, loudly,
For our joy has now begun;
Wondrous things our God hath done;
Tell abroad His goodness proudly,
Who our race hath honored thus
That He deigns to dwell with us.
Joy, O joy, beyond all gladness!
Christ hath done away with sadness!
Hence, all sorrow and repining,
For the Sun of Grace is shining!
2. See, my soul, thy Savior chooses
Weakness here and poverty,
In such love He comes to thee,
Nor the hardest couch refuses;
All He suffers for thy good,
To redeem thee by His blood.
Joy, O joy, beyond all gladness!
Christ hath done away with sadness!
Hence, all sorrow and repining,
For the Sun of Grace is shining!
3. Lord, how shall I thank Thee rightly?
I acknowledge that by Thee
I am saved eternally;
Let me not forget it lightly,
But to Thee through all things cleave,
And my heart true peace receive.
Joy, O joy, beyond all gladness!
Christ hath done away with sadness!
Hence, all sorrow and repining,
For the Sun of Grace is shining!
4. Jesus, guard and guide Thy members,
Fill Thy brethren with Thy grace,
Hear their prayers in every place,
Quicken now life’s faintest embers;
Grant all Christians, far and near,
Holy peace, a glad New Year!
Joy, O joy, beyond all gladness!
Christ hath done away with sadness!
Hence, all sorrow and repining,
For the Sun of Grace is shining!

C. Keymann, † 1662; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

153

7, 6, 7, 6

Let us all with gladsome voice
Praise the God of heaven,
Who, to bid our hearts rejoice,
His own Son hath given.
2. To this vale of tears He comes,
Here to serve in sadness,
That with Him in heaven’s fair homes
We may reign in gladness.
3. We are rich, for He was poor;
Is not this a wonder?
Therefore praise God evermore
Here on earth and yonder!
4. O Lord Christ, our Savior dear,
Be Thou ever near us.
Grant us now a glad New Year;
Amen, Jesus, hear us!

U. Langhanns, c. 1560; C. Winkworth, tr.

154

7s 8 l

Hark! the herald-angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’ angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald-angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King!”
2. Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th’ incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Hark! the herald-angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King!”
3. Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Oh, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart!
Hark! the herald-angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King!”

Charles Wesley, 1739, a.

155

C. M.

To us a Child of hope is born,
To us a Son is given,
And on His shoulder ever rests
All power in earth and heaven.
2. His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
The everlasting Lord,
The Wonderful, the Counselor,
The God by all adored.
3. His righteous government and power
Shall over all extend;
On judgment and on justice based,
His reign shall have no end.
4. Lord Jesus, reign in us, we pray,
And make us Thine alone,
Who with the Father ever art
And Holy Spirit, one.

J. Morison, 1781, abr.

156

4, 4, 11, 4, 4, 11

We Christians may Rejoice to-day,
When Christ was born to comfort and to save us;
Who thus believes No longer grieves,
For none are lost who grasp the hope He gave us.
2. O wondrous joy, That God most high
Should take our flesh and thus our race should honor;
A virgin mild Hath born this Child;
Such grace and glory God hath put upon her.
3. Sin brought us grief; But Christ, relief,
When down to earth He came for our salvation;
Since God with us Is dwelling thus,
Who dares to speak the Christian’s condemnation?
4. Then hither throng With happy song
To Him whose birth and death are our assurance;
Through whom are we At last set free
From sins and burdens that surpassed endurance.
5. Yes, let us praise Our God and raise
Loud hallelujahs to the skies above us;
The bliss bestowed To-day by God
To ceaseless thankfulness and joy should move us.

Caspar Fueger, † 1617; C. Winkworth, tr.

157

C. M.

Praise God the Lord, ye sons of men,
Before His highest throne,
To-day He opens heaven again
And gives us His own Son.
2. He leaves His heavenly Father’s throne,
Is born an infant small,
And in a manger, poor and lone,
Lies in a humble stall.
3. He lays aside His power divine,
A servant’s form doth take;
In want and lowness He doth pine
Who heaven and earth did make.
4. He nestles at His mother’s breast,
Her milk His food must be;
Whom saints and angels call the Blest,
Of David’s house is He.
5. ’Tis He who in these latter days
From Judah’s tribe should come,
By whom the Lord again would raise
His Church, His Christendom.
6. A wondrous change which He doth make!
He takes our flesh and blood
And lays aside for sinners’ sake
His majesty of God.
7. He serves that I a lord may be;
A great exchange, indeed!
Could Jesus’ love do more for me
To help me in my need?
8. He opens us again the door
Of Paradise to-day;
The cherub guards the gate no more.
To God our thanks we pay.

Nikolaus Herman, 1560; A. Crull, tr., a.

158

C. M.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing.
2. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
4. He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love.

Isaac Watts, 1719.

159

11s

Come hither, ye faithful, triumphantly sing;
Come, see in the manger our Savior and King!
To Bethlehem hasten with joyful accord;
O come ye, come hither, to worship the Lord!
2. True Son of the Father, He comes from the skies;
To be born of a virgin He does not despise.
To Bethlehem hasten with joyful accord;
O come ye, come hither, to worship the Lord!
3. Hark, hark to the angels all singing in heaven,
“To God in the highest all glory be given!”
To Bethlehem hasten with joyful accord;
O come ye, come hither, to worship the Lord!
4. To Thee, then, O Jesus, this day of Thy birth,
Be glory and honor through heaven and earth,
True Godhead incarnate, omnipotent Word!
O come, let us hasten to worship the Lord!

Latin, 17th cent.; E. Caswall, tr., 1848.

160

8, 7, 8, 7

Hark! what mean those holy voices
Sweetly sounding through the skies?
Lo! th’ angelic host rejoices,
Heavenly hallelujahs rise.
2. Listen to the wondrous story
Which they chant in hymns of joy,
Glory in the highest, glory!
Glory be to God most high!
3. Peace on earth, good will from heaven,
Reaching far as man is found;
Souls redeemed and sins forgiven!
Loud our golden harps shall sound.
4. Christ is born, the great Anointed;
Heaven and earth, His praises sing!
O receive whom God appointed
For your Prophet, Priest, and King.
5. Hasten, mortals, to adore Him,
Learn His name and taste His joy,
Till in heaven ye sing before Him,
Glory be to God most high!
6. Let us learn the wondrous story
Of our great Redeemer’s birth;
Spread the brightness of His glory
Till it cover all the earth.

J. Cawood, 1819.

161

L. M. (with Hall.)

Immanuel, we sing Thy praise,
Thou Prince of Life and Fount of grace,
Thou Flower of heaven and Star of morn,
Thou Lord of lords, Thou Virgin-born.
Hallelujah!
2. With all Thy saints to Thee we sing,
Praise, honor, thanks to Thee we bring,
That Thou, O long-expected Guest,
Hast come at last to make us blest!
Hallelujah!
3. For Thee, since first the world was made,
So many hearts have watched and prayed;
The patriarchs’ and prophets’ throng
For Thee have hoped and waited long.
Hallelujah!
4. Above all others longed for Thee
Thy people’s king and shepherd, he
With whom Thou, Lord, so well wert pleased
When with his harp Thy name he praised.
Hallelujah!
5. Oh, that the Savior soon would come
To break our bonds and lead us home!
Oh, that He might salvation bring!
Then Jacob would rejoice and sing.
Hallelujah!
6. Now Thou art here, Thou Ever-blest!
In lowly manger Thou dost rest;
Great things Thou makest, yet art small;
Naked Thyself, who clothest all.
Hallelujah!
7. All heavens are Thine, yet Thou dost come
To sojourn in a stranger’s home;
A mother’s milk dost not despise,
Who art the Joy of angels’ eyes.
Hallelujah!
8. Thou hast set bounds to earth and sea,
Yet swaddling-bands encircle Thee;
Thou’rt God—a bed of straw Thou hast;
Thou’rt man—yet art the First and Last.
Hallelujah!
9. From Thee above all gladness flows,
Yet Thou must bear such bitter woes;
The Gentiles’ Light and Hope Thou art,
Yet findest none to soothe Thy heart.
Hallelujah!
10. The sweetest Friend of man Thou art,
Yet many hate Thee in their heart;
By Herod’s heart Thou art abhorred,
Yet Thou art our Salvation, Lord.
Hallelujah!
11. But I, Thy humblest servant, may
Confess my love and freely say,
I love Thee truly, but I would
That I might love Thee as I should.
Hallelujah!
12. I have the will, the power is weak,
Yet, Lord, my humble offering take
And graciously the love receive
Which my poor heart to Thee can give.
Hallelujah!
13. Thou to be weak dost not disdain,
Dost choose the things the world deems vain,
Art poor and needy and content
To suffer poverty and want.
Hallelujah!
14. Thou sleepest on the lap of earth;
The manger where Thou at Thy birth
Wast laid to rest, the hay, the stall,
Were mean and miserable all.
Hallelujah!
15. And therefore doth my courage rise,
Me also Thou wilt not despise;
O dearest Lord, Thy tender grace
Fills me with hope and happiness.
Hallelujah!
16. Although I’ve passed in sin my days
And wandered far from wisdom’s ways,
Yet Thou for this to earth hast come,
To bring the wandering sinner home.
Hallelujah!
17. Had I no load of sin to bear,
Thy grace, O Lord, I could not share;
In vain had’st Thou been born for me
If from God’s wrath I had been free.
Hallelujah!
18. Now fearlessly I come to Thee,
From every grief Thou mak’st me free;
Thou bear’st the wrath, dost death destroy,
And turnest sorrow into joy.
Hallelujah!
19. Thou art my Head, my Lord divine;
I am Thy member, wholly Thine,
And by Thy Spirit’s gracious power
Will seek to serve Thee evermore.
Hallelujah!
20. I’ll sing loud hallelujahs here
With joyful spirit year by year;
And in Thy courts of joy above
Forever I will sing Thy love.
Hallelujah!

Paul Gerhardt, 1653; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

162

L. M.