Hymns - Wesley’s Magnificent Hymns on Christ’s Incarnation
December 25, 2023
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
Charles Wesley’s Hymns for the Nativity of the Lord (December 1745) proclaim, in peerless poetry, the glories of Christ’s incarnation. The collection is not merely about a babe in the manger; it is about the magnificent mystery of God manifest in the flesh. This is the true message of Christmas. (The original collection consisted of 18 hymns. Three more were added to the 1810 edition.)
Hymns for the Nativity was very popular, going through about 25 printings in Wesley’s lifetime. It is readily available online today.
Pdf of scanned document
Transcription of document with Editorial Introduction
High resolution scan (pdf)
The only well-known hymn that remains from this collection is “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” which was hymn number X.
In this collection, every biblical aspect of the incarnation is considered:
its mystery and paradox (God made man)
its purpose (Christ’s vicarious sacrifice, resurrection, the eternal redemption of sinners, and the new creation with all things made one in Christ)
its revelation of God (infinite power, infinite love, infinite grace and mercy, infinite wisdom, infinite holiness)
its infinite benefits to man
its infinite instruction for men and angels
its endless delight as the subject of meditation
the necessity of proclaiming it to all men
the necessity and joy of worshipping the God of the incarnation
The delightful, challenging lyrics are bursting with instruction. Nearly every stanza is a perfect theological jewel. They “are sprinkled with vivid, arresting, and provocative phrases as well as soul-lifting and exhilarating thought. The spirit is that of adoration and wonder” (T. Crichton Mitchell, Charles Wesley: Man with the Dancing Heart, p. 196).
Consider Hymn VI, “Join, all ye joyful nations,” stanzas 3, 4, and 5 -
3 Go, see the King of Glory,
Discern the heavenly Stranger,
So poor and mean, His court an inn,
His cradle is a manger.
Who from his Father’s bosom
But now for us descended,
Who built the skies, on earth he lies,
With only beasts attended.
4 Whom all the angels worship,
Lies hid in human nature:
Incarnate see,--The Deity,
The infinite Creator!
See the stupendous Blessing,
Which God to us hath given:
A child of man, in length a span,
Who fills both earth and heaven.
5 Gaze on that helpless Object
Of endless admiration!
Those infant hands, shall burst our bands,
And work out our salvation;
Strangle the crooked serpent,
Destroy his works for ever,
And open set,--The heaven gate,
To every true believer.
The words are striking, remarkable, memorable.
Consider Hymn X, “Come, thou long-expected Jesus,” stanza 2. Observe the repetition of “Born” in stating the purpose of Christ’s incarnation. Note the imperatives addressed to Christ: “Now bring ... Rule ... Raise.” This is dramatic praying based on the promises of God’s Word. Christ taught us to pray like this: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us ... forgive us ... lead us ... deliver us...” (Mt. 6:9-13).
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a Child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring;
By thy own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By thy all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne. (Hymn X, stanza 2)
Consider Wesley’s description of Christ in these hymns -
Consider Wesley’s description of the incarnation -
By this the Saviour of mankind,
Th’ incarnate God shall be display’d,
The Babe, ye wrapp’d in swathes shall find,
And humbly in a manger laid. (Hymn I, stanza 4)
What angel can the grace explain,
That very God is very Man!
By love paternal given:
Born is the everlasting Lord;
Who made both earth and heaven! (Hymn III, stanza 1)
Behold him, high above all height!
Him, God of God, and Light of Light
In a mean earthly shrine:
Jehovah’s Glory dwells with men,
His Person in our flesh is seen,
The character divine! (Hymn III, stanza 2)
What angel can the grace explain,
That very God is very Man! (Hymn III, stanza 1)
God comes down; he bows the sky,
And shows himself our Friend! (Hymn IV, stanza 1)
God, the Invisible appears!
God, the blest, the great I AM,
Sojourns in this vale of tears,
And Jesus is His Name. (Hymn IV, stanza 1)
Emptied of his majesty,
Of his dazzling glories shorn,
Being’s Source, begins to be,
And Christ himself is born. (Hymn IV, stanza 2)
See the eternal Son of God, A mortal son of man,
Dwelling in an earthly clod,
Whom heaven cannot contain!
Stand amaz’d, ye heavens, at this!
Se the Lord of earth and skies!
Humbled to the dust he is,
And in a manger lies! (Hymn IV, stanza 3)
The incarnate Deity,
Our God contracted to a span,
Incomprehensibly made man. (Hymn V, stanza 1)
He laid his glory by,
He wrapp’d him in our clay,
Unmark’d by human eye,
The latent Godhead lay;
Instant of days he here became,
And born the mild Immanuel’s Name. (Hymn V, stanza 2)
See in that Infant’s face,
The depths of Deity,
And labour while ye gaze,
To found the mystery. (Hymn V, stanza 3)
To us a Son is given.
The Messenger and Token
Of God’s eternal favour,
God hath sent down, to us his Son,
A universal Saviour! (Hymn VI, stanza1)
Go, see the King of Glory,
Discern the heavenly Stranger,
So poor and mean, His court an inn,
His cradle is a manger.
Who from his Father’s bosom
But now for us descended,
Who built the skies, on earth he lies,
With only beasts attended. (Hymn VI, stanza 3)
Whom all the angels worship,
Lies hid in human nature:
Incarnate see,--The Deity,
The infinite Creator!
See the stupendous Blessing,
Which God to us hath given:
A child of man, in length a span,
Who fills both earth and heaven. (Hymn VI, stanza 4)
Gaze on that helpless Object
Of endless admiration!
Those infant hands, shall burst our bands,
And work out our salvation;
Strangle the crooked serpent,
Destroy his works for ever,
And open set,--The heaven gate,
To every true believer. (Hymn VI, stanza 5)
God is in our flesh reveal’d,
Heaven and earth in Jesus join,
Mortal with Immortal fill’d,
And human with divine! (Hymn VIII, stanza 1)
Lo! he lays his glory by,
Emptied of his Majesty;
See the God who all things made,
Humbly in a manger laid. (Hymn XII, stanza 2)
The everlasting God comes down,
To sojourn with the sons of men;
Without his majesty or crown
The great Invisible is seen;
Of all his dazzling glories shorn,
The everlasting Word is born! (Hymn XIII, stanza 2)
tho’ now he on his footstool lies,
Ye know, ye built both earth and skies (Hymn XIII, stanza 3)
Th’ eternal God from heav’n came down,
The King of glory dropp’d his crown,
And veil’d his majesty;
Emptied of all but love, he came (Hymn XV, stanza 2)
Jehovah is come down from heaven (Hymn XVII, stanza 8)
Rejoice in Jesu’s birth!
To us a Son is given,
To us a Child is born on earth,
Who fils both earth and heaven!
His shoulder props the sky,
This universe sustains! (Hymn XIX, stanza 1)
Consider Wesley’s description of man’s lost condition -
“the fallen race” (Hymn I, stanza 2)
“those whose dreary dwelling borders on the shades of death” (Hymn XI, stanza 1)
“the sin-sick sons” (Hymn VIII, stanza 2)
“my soul, diseased and blind” (Hymn VIII, stanza 3)
“our deepest darkness” (Hymn XI, stanza 1)
Consider Wesley’s description of salvation -
The forfeited favour, of heaven we find
Restor’d in the saviour, and Friend of mankind. (Hymn VII, stanza 1)
Christ, the Sun of Righteousness,
n them shall rise to set no more,
All the sin-sick sons of grace,
To health and heaven restore. (Hymn VIII, stanza 2)
Jesus the Holy Child,
Doth by his brith declare,
That God and man are reconcil’d,
And one in him we are. (Hymn IX, stanza 2)
His kingdom from above,
He doth to us impart,
And pure benevolence and love,
O’erflow the faithful heart:
Chang’d in a moment we
The sweet attraction find,
With open arms of Charity
Embracing all mankind. (Hymn IX, stanza 2)
The new heaven and earth’s Creator,
In our deepest darkness rise,
Scattering all the night of nature,
Pouring eye-sight on our eyes. (Hymn XI, stanza 1)
Save us in thy great compassion,
O thou mild, pacific Prince,
Give the knowledge of salvation,
Give the pardon of our sins;
By thy all-restoring merit,
Every burden’d foul release,
Every weary, wandering spirit,
Guide into thy perfect peace. (Hymn XI, stanza 3)
Father, thy heavenly voice I own,
Thy gracious majesty;
Thro’ Jesus, thy beloved Son,
Thou art well-pleas’d with me! (Hymn XIV, stanza 3)
Salvation from our sins we found,
Through Jesus’s grace forgiv’n;
And Jesu’s grace doth more abound,
And makes us meet for heaven.
The hallowing virtue of thy Name,
Our spotless souls shall prove;
And to the utmost sav’d, proclaim,
Our Lord’s almighty love. (Hymn XIV, stanza 5-6)
Jehovah is come down to raise
His dying creatures from their fall;
And all may now receive the grace,
Which brings eternal life to all. (Hymn XVII, stanza 9)
Consider Wesley’s description of the purpose of the incarnation -
Knees and hearts to him we bow,
Of our flesh and of our bone,
Jesus is our brother now,
And God is all our own. (Hymn IV, stanza 4)
All glory to God, Who ruleth on high,
And now hath bestow’d, and sent from the sky,
Christ Jesus the Saviour, poor mortals to bless;
The pledge of his favour, the seal of his peace. (Hymn II, stanza 2)
He deigns in flesh to appear,
Widest extremes to join,
To bring our vileness near,
And make us all divine. (Hymn V, stanza 5)
Made perfect first in love,
And sanctified by grace,
We shall from earth remove,
And see his glorious Face:
His love shall then be fully shew’d,
And man shall all be lost in God. (Hymn V, stanza 6)
What mov’d the Most High, so greatly to stoop?
He comes from the sky our souls to lift up;
That sinners forgiven might sinless return,
To God and to heaven, their Maker is born. (Hymn VII, stanza 4)
A peace on earth he brings,
Which never more shall end:
The Lord of Hosts, the King of Kings,
Declares himself our Friend;
Assumes our flesh and blood,
That we his Spirit may gain. (Hymn IX, stanza 3)
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a Child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring;
By thy own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By thy all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne. (Hymn X, stanza 2)
All heaven and earth be ever join’d,
To praise the Saviour of mankind. (Hymn XIII, stanza 1)
A Son is born, a child is given,
That mortals, born again,
May in the new-made earth and heaven,
With God for ever reign. (Hymn XIV, stanza 2)
But our whole race to Christ unite,
And by thy Spirit join’d,
Thou wilt eternally delight
In all thy ransom’d kind. (Hymn XIV, stanza 4)
Didst thou not in thy person join,
The natures human and divine,
That God and man might be
Henceforth inseparably one? (Hymn XV, stanza 3)
No horrid alarm of war,
Shall break our eternal repose,
Where Jesus’s Spirit o’erflows;
Appeas’d by the charms of thy grace,
We all shall in amity join,
And kindly each other embrace,
And love with a passion like thine. (Hymn XVIII, stanza 5)
Consider Wesley’s description of the angels’ part in Christ -
An herald from the heavenly King,
I come your every fear to chase;
Good tidings of great joy I bring,
Great joy to all the fallen race. (Hymn I, stanza 1)
Him the angels all ador’d,
Their Maker and their King:
Tidings of their humbled Lord,
They now to mortals bring. (Hymn IV, stanza 2)
Let us then with angels gaze
On our new-born Monarch’s face,
With the choir-celestial join’d,
Shout the Saviour of mankind. (Hymn XII, stanza 4)
Hymn XIII
1 Let angels and archangels sing,
The wonderful Immanuel’s Name,
Adore with us our new-born King,
And still the joyful news proclaim:
All heaven and earth be ever join’d,
To praise the Saviour of mankind.
3 Angels, behold that Infant’s face,
With rapturous awe the Godhead own
’Tis all your heaven on him to gaze,
And cast your crowns before his throne;
tho’ now he on his footstool lies,
Ye know, he built both earth and skies.
4 By him into existence brought,
Ye sang the all-creating Word;
Ye heard him call our world from nought
Again, in honour of your Lord,
Ye morning stars, your hymns employ,
And shout, ye sons of God, for joy
Consider Wesley’s call to praise -
Hymn II, stanza 1
Ye heavenly choir, assist me to sing,
And strike the soft lyre, and honour our King;
His mighty salvation, demands all our praise,
Our best adoration, and loftiest lays.
These are but a few glimpses into the treasures of Wesley’s nativity hymns.
Hymns for the Nativity was very popular, going through about 25 printings in Wesley’s lifetime. It is readily available online today.
Pdf of scanned document
Transcription of document with Editorial Introduction
High resolution scan (pdf)
The only well-known hymn that remains from this collection is “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” which was hymn number X.
In this collection, every biblical aspect of the incarnation is considered:
its mystery and paradox (God made man)
its purpose (Christ’s vicarious sacrifice, resurrection, the eternal redemption of sinners, and the new creation with all things made one in Christ)
its revelation of God (infinite power, infinite love, infinite grace and mercy, infinite wisdom, infinite holiness)
its infinite benefits to man
its infinite instruction for men and angels
its endless delight as the subject of meditation
the necessity of proclaiming it to all men
the necessity and joy of worshipping the God of the incarnation
The delightful, challenging lyrics are bursting with instruction. Nearly every stanza is a perfect theological jewel. They “are sprinkled with vivid, arresting, and provocative phrases as well as soul-lifting and exhilarating thought. The spirit is that of adoration and wonder” (T. Crichton Mitchell, Charles Wesley: Man with the Dancing Heart, p. 196).
Consider Hymn VI, “Join, all ye joyful nations,” stanzas 3, 4, and 5 -
3 Go, see the King of Glory,
Discern the heavenly Stranger,
So poor and mean, His court an inn,
His cradle is a manger.
Who from his Father’s bosom
But now for us descended,
Who built the skies, on earth he lies,
With only beasts attended.
4 Whom all the angels worship,
Lies hid in human nature:
Incarnate see,--The Deity,
The infinite Creator!
See the stupendous Blessing,
Which God to us hath given:
A child of man, in length a span,
Who fills both earth and heaven.
5 Gaze on that helpless Object
Of endless admiration!
Those infant hands, shall burst our bands,
And work out our salvation;
Strangle the crooked serpent,
Destroy his works for ever,
And open set,--The heaven gate,
To every true believer.
The words are striking, remarkable, memorable.
Consider Hymn X, “Come, thou long-expected Jesus,” stanza 2. Observe the repetition of “Born” in stating the purpose of Christ’s incarnation. Note the imperatives addressed to Christ: “Now bring ... Rule ... Raise.” This is dramatic praying based on the promises of God’s Word. Christ taught us to pray like this: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us ... forgive us ... lead us ... deliver us...” (Mt. 6:9-13).
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a Child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring;
By thy own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By thy all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne. (Hymn X, stanza 2)
Consider Wesley’s description of Christ in these hymns -
- “the Saviour of mankind” (Hymn I, stanza 4)
- “The incarnate God” (Hymn 1, stanza 4)
- “our Saviour and Lover” (Hymn II, stanza 3)
- “Him, strong to redeem” (Hymn II, stanza 6)
- “the everlasting Lord, Who made both earth and heaven” (Hymn III, stanza 1)
- “God of God, and Light of Light” (Hymn III, stanza 2)
- “the God replete with Truth and Grace” (Hymn III, stanza 3)
- “A universal Saviour” (Hymn VI, stanza1)
- “The wonderful Messiah, the joy of every nation ... The Counsellor of sinners, Almighty to deliver” (Hymn VI, stanza 2)
- “The Prince of Life and Peace” (Hymn VIII, stanza 1)
- “Christ, the Sun of Righteousness” (Hymn VIII, stanza 2)
- “thou long-expected Jesus” (Hymn X, stanza 1)
- “Israel’s Strength and Consolation” (Hymn X, stanza 1)
- “Hope of all the earth” (Hymn X, stanza 1)
- “Dear Desire of every nation” (Hymn X, stanza 1)
- “ Joy of every longing heart” (Hymn X, stanza 1)
- “The new heaven and earth’s Creator” (Hymn XI, stanza 1)
- “thou mild, pacific Prince” (Hymn XI, stanza 3)
- “Son of man our Maker is, Lord of Hosts, and Prince of Peace” (Hymn XII, stanza 1)
- “the wonderful Immanuel” (Hymn XIII, stanza 1)
- “All-wise, all-good, almighty Lord” (Hymn XV, stanza 1)
- “Servant of God, and Son of Man, Eternal Son of God Most High” (Hymn XVI, stanza 1)
- “the holy, heaven-born Child, Heir of the everlasting throng” (Hymn XVII, stanza 1)
- “the Nation’s Hope, the World’s Desire” (Hymn XVII, stanza 2)
- “The Giver of concord and love, the Prince and the Author of Peace” (Hymn XVIII, stanza 2)
- “The God supreme, the Lord most high, the King Messiah” (Hymn XIX, stanza 1)
- “The Almighty God is he, Author of heaven bliss, the Father of eternity, the glorious Prince of Peace” (Hymn XIX, stanza 3)
- “the universal Monarch ... the saint’s eternal King” (Hymn XIX, stanza 5)
- “thou universal Blessing, Abraham’s long-expected Seed” (Hymn XXI, stanza 1)
Consider Wesley’s description of the incarnation -
By this the Saviour of mankind,
Th’ incarnate God shall be display’d,
The Babe, ye wrapp’d in swathes shall find,
And humbly in a manger laid. (Hymn I, stanza 4)
What angel can the grace explain,
That very God is very Man!
By love paternal given:
Born is the everlasting Lord;
Who made both earth and heaven! (Hymn III, stanza 1)
Behold him, high above all height!
Him, God of God, and Light of Light
In a mean earthly shrine:
Jehovah’s Glory dwells with men,
His Person in our flesh is seen,
The character divine! (Hymn III, stanza 2)
What angel can the grace explain,
That very God is very Man! (Hymn III, stanza 1)
God comes down; he bows the sky,
And shows himself our Friend! (Hymn IV, stanza 1)
God, the Invisible appears!
God, the blest, the great I AM,
Sojourns in this vale of tears,
And Jesus is His Name. (Hymn IV, stanza 1)
Emptied of his majesty,
Of his dazzling glories shorn,
Being’s Source, begins to be,
And Christ himself is born. (Hymn IV, stanza 2)
See the eternal Son of God, A mortal son of man,
Dwelling in an earthly clod,
Whom heaven cannot contain!
Stand amaz’d, ye heavens, at this!
Se the Lord of earth and skies!
Humbled to the dust he is,
And in a manger lies! (Hymn IV, stanza 3)
The incarnate Deity,
Our God contracted to a span,
Incomprehensibly made man. (Hymn V, stanza 1)
He laid his glory by,
He wrapp’d him in our clay,
Unmark’d by human eye,
The latent Godhead lay;
Instant of days he here became,
And born the mild Immanuel’s Name. (Hymn V, stanza 2)
See in that Infant’s face,
The depths of Deity,
And labour while ye gaze,
To found the mystery. (Hymn V, stanza 3)
To us a Son is given.
The Messenger and Token
Of God’s eternal favour,
God hath sent down, to us his Son,
A universal Saviour! (Hymn VI, stanza1)
Go, see the King of Glory,
Discern the heavenly Stranger,
So poor and mean, His court an inn,
His cradle is a manger.
Who from his Father’s bosom
But now for us descended,
Who built the skies, on earth he lies,
With only beasts attended. (Hymn VI, stanza 3)
Whom all the angels worship,
Lies hid in human nature:
Incarnate see,--The Deity,
The infinite Creator!
See the stupendous Blessing,
Which God to us hath given:
A child of man, in length a span,
Who fills both earth and heaven. (Hymn VI, stanza 4)
Gaze on that helpless Object
Of endless admiration!
Those infant hands, shall burst our bands,
And work out our salvation;
Strangle the crooked serpent,
Destroy his works for ever,
And open set,--The heaven gate,
To every true believer. (Hymn VI, stanza 5)
God is in our flesh reveal’d,
Heaven and earth in Jesus join,
Mortal with Immortal fill’d,
And human with divine! (Hymn VIII, stanza 1)
Lo! he lays his glory by,
Emptied of his Majesty;
See the God who all things made,
Humbly in a manger laid. (Hymn XII, stanza 2)
The everlasting God comes down,
To sojourn with the sons of men;
Without his majesty or crown
The great Invisible is seen;
Of all his dazzling glories shorn,
The everlasting Word is born! (Hymn XIII, stanza 2)
tho’ now he on his footstool lies,
Ye know, ye built both earth and skies (Hymn XIII, stanza 3)
Th’ eternal God from heav’n came down,
The King of glory dropp’d his crown,
And veil’d his majesty;
Emptied of all but love, he came (Hymn XV, stanza 2)
Jehovah is come down from heaven (Hymn XVII, stanza 8)
Rejoice in Jesu’s birth!
To us a Son is given,
To us a Child is born on earth,
Who fils both earth and heaven!
His shoulder props the sky,
This universe sustains! (Hymn XIX, stanza 1)
Consider Wesley’s description of man’s lost condition -
“the fallen race” (Hymn I, stanza 2)
“those whose dreary dwelling borders on the shades of death” (Hymn XI, stanza 1)
“the sin-sick sons” (Hymn VIII, stanza 2)
“my soul, diseased and blind” (Hymn VIII, stanza 3)
“our deepest darkness” (Hymn XI, stanza 1)
Consider Wesley’s description of salvation -
The forfeited favour, of heaven we find
Restor’d in the saviour, and Friend of mankind. (Hymn VII, stanza 1)
Christ, the Sun of Righteousness,
n them shall rise to set no more,
All the sin-sick sons of grace,
To health and heaven restore. (Hymn VIII, stanza 2)
Jesus the Holy Child,
Doth by his brith declare,
That God and man are reconcil’d,
And one in him we are. (Hymn IX, stanza 2)
His kingdom from above,
He doth to us impart,
And pure benevolence and love,
O’erflow the faithful heart:
Chang’d in a moment we
The sweet attraction find,
With open arms of Charity
Embracing all mankind. (Hymn IX, stanza 2)
The new heaven and earth’s Creator,
In our deepest darkness rise,
Scattering all the night of nature,
Pouring eye-sight on our eyes. (Hymn XI, stanza 1)
Save us in thy great compassion,
O thou mild, pacific Prince,
Give the knowledge of salvation,
Give the pardon of our sins;
By thy all-restoring merit,
Every burden’d foul release,
Every weary, wandering spirit,
Guide into thy perfect peace. (Hymn XI, stanza 3)
Father, thy heavenly voice I own,
Thy gracious majesty;
Thro’ Jesus, thy beloved Son,
Thou art well-pleas’d with me! (Hymn XIV, stanza 3)
Salvation from our sins we found,
Through Jesus’s grace forgiv’n;
And Jesu’s grace doth more abound,
And makes us meet for heaven.
The hallowing virtue of thy Name,
Our spotless souls shall prove;
And to the utmost sav’d, proclaim,
Our Lord’s almighty love. (Hymn XIV, stanza 5-6)
Jehovah is come down to raise
His dying creatures from their fall;
And all may now receive the grace,
Which brings eternal life to all. (Hymn XVII, stanza 9)
Consider Wesley’s description of the purpose of the incarnation -
Knees and hearts to him we bow,
Of our flesh and of our bone,
Jesus is our brother now,
And God is all our own. (Hymn IV, stanza 4)
All glory to God, Who ruleth on high,
And now hath bestow’d, and sent from the sky,
Christ Jesus the Saviour, poor mortals to bless;
The pledge of his favour, the seal of his peace. (Hymn II, stanza 2)
He deigns in flesh to appear,
Widest extremes to join,
To bring our vileness near,
And make us all divine. (Hymn V, stanza 5)
Made perfect first in love,
And sanctified by grace,
We shall from earth remove,
And see his glorious Face:
His love shall then be fully shew’d,
And man shall all be lost in God. (Hymn V, stanza 6)
What mov’d the Most High, so greatly to stoop?
He comes from the sky our souls to lift up;
That sinners forgiven might sinless return,
To God and to heaven, their Maker is born. (Hymn VII, stanza 4)
A peace on earth he brings,
Which never more shall end:
The Lord of Hosts, the King of Kings,
Declares himself our Friend;
Assumes our flesh and blood,
That we his Spirit may gain. (Hymn IX, stanza 3)
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a Child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring;
By thy own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By thy all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne. (Hymn X, stanza 2)
All heaven and earth be ever join’d,
To praise the Saviour of mankind. (Hymn XIII, stanza 1)
A Son is born, a child is given,
That mortals, born again,
May in the new-made earth and heaven,
With God for ever reign. (Hymn XIV, stanza 2)
But our whole race to Christ unite,
And by thy Spirit join’d,
Thou wilt eternally delight
In all thy ransom’d kind. (Hymn XIV, stanza 4)
Didst thou not in thy person join,
The natures human and divine,
That God and man might be
Henceforth inseparably one? (Hymn XV, stanza 3)
No horrid alarm of war,
Shall break our eternal repose,
Where Jesus’s Spirit o’erflows;
Appeas’d by the charms of thy grace,
We all shall in amity join,
And kindly each other embrace,
And love with a passion like thine. (Hymn XVIII, stanza 5)
Consider Wesley’s description of the angels’ part in Christ -
An herald from the heavenly King,
I come your every fear to chase;
Good tidings of great joy I bring,
Great joy to all the fallen race. (Hymn I, stanza 1)
Him the angels all ador’d,
Their Maker and their King:
Tidings of their humbled Lord,
They now to mortals bring. (Hymn IV, stanza 2)
Let us then with angels gaze
On our new-born Monarch’s face,
With the choir-celestial join’d,
Shout the Saviour of mankind. (Hymn XII, stanza 4)
Hymn XIII
1 Let angels and archangels sing,
The wonderful Immanuel’s Name,
Adore with us our new-born King,
And still the joyful news proclaim:
All heaven and earth be ever join’d,
To praise the Saviour of mankind.
3 Angels, behold that Infant’s face,
With rapturous awe the Godhead own
’Tis all your heaven on him to gaze,
And cast your crowns before his throne;
tho’ now he on his footstool lies,
Ye know, he built both earth and skies.
4 By him into existence brought,
Ye sang the all-creating Word;
Ye heard him call our world from nought
Again, in honour of your Lord,
Ye morning stars, your hymns employ,
And shout, ye sons of God, for joy
Consider Wesley’s call to praise -
Hymn II, stanza 1
Ye heavenly choir, assist me to sing,
And strike the soft lyre, and honour our King;
His mighty salvation, demands all our praise,
Our best adoration, and loftiest lays.
These are but a few glimpses into the treasures of Wesley’s nativity hymns.
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