COME, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver;
Born a Child, and yet a King;
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Hymns for the Nativity of our Lord, 1744.
LIGHT of those whose dreary dwelling
Borders on the shades of death,
Come, and by Thy Love's revealing
Dissipate the clouds beneath.
The new heaven and earth's Creator,
In our deepest darkness rise;
Scattering all the night of nature,
Pouring eyesight on our eyes.
Still we wait for Thy appearing;
Life and joy Thy beams impart,
Chasing all our fears, and cheering
Every poor benighted heart.
Come, and manifest the favor
God hath for our ransomed race;
Come, Thou universal Saviour,
Come, and bring the Gospel grace.
Save us in Thy great compassion,
O Thou mild pacific Prince;
Give the knowledge of salvation,
Give the pardon of our sins.
By Thine all-restoring merit
Every burdened soul release;
Every weary, wandering spirit
Guide into Thy perfect peace.
HARK, how all the welkin rings,
"Glory to the King of kings;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
Universal nature say,
"Christ the Lord is born to-day!"
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord:
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb!
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as Man with men to appear,
Jesus, our Immanuel here!
Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
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;
Rise, the woman's conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.
Adam's likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thy image in its place.
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the Inner Man :
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.
SONS of men, behold from far,
Hail the long-expected star!
Jacob's star that gilds the night,
Guides bewildered nature right.
Fear not hence that ill should flow,
Wars or pestilence below;
Wars it bids and tumults cease,
Ushering in the Prince of Peace.
Mild He shines on all beneath,
Piercing through the shade of death;
Scattering error's wide-spread night,
Kindling darkness into light.
Nations all, far off and near,'
Haste to see your God appear!
Haste, for Him your hearts prepare,
Meet Him manifested there.
Here behold the Dayspring rise,
Pouring eyesight on your eyes;
God in His own light survey,
Shining to the perfect day.
Sing, ye morning stars, again!
God descends on earth to reign;
Deigns for man His life to employ :
Shout, ye sons of God, for joy.
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