The Blessèd Babe

The Child

the pro­mised Child

is born!

Glad tid­ings to a world for­lorn!

Celestial choirs in bright ar­ray

Descend to hail His na­tal day.

Oh

come and see the won­drous thing

Whereof the Christ­mas an­gels sing—

The bless­èd Babe in Ma­ry’s arms

With all a babe’s en­dear­ing charms.

In uni­ma­gined splen­dors far

Beyond re­mot­est sun or star

His throne up­lifts

yet here He lies

In Beth­le­hem’s stall

in mean dis­guise.

Angelic hosts that press un­seen

The quest­ion­ing kine with in­stinct keen

The won­der­ing shep­herds

all ad­ore

The mys­te­ry fore­told of yore.

Here is the vir­gin un­de­filed;

Here Is­ra­el’s Ho­ly One

the Child

Emmanuel

whom cen­tu­ries

Have watched for with pro­phet­ic eyes.

His Name is Won­der­ful

we read

The Coun­sel­or in all our need

The Migh­ty God

the Fa­ther great

Created things to re-cre­ate.

And more

if more were pos­si­ble

The Prince of Peace His work shall tell

Who comes to con­quer ev­ery foe

That hu­man soul can ev­er know.

Yea

more—the name that Ga­bri­el gave—

He comes as Jes­us

strong to save;

The match­less depth

the match­less height

Of love re­vealed to mor­tal sight.

O wea­ry one

whate’er thy name

O pe­ni­tent

what­e’er thy shame

O ar­dent soul

O mourn­er sad

O youth

O child­hood

strong and glad

Art thou of high or low de­gree

He comes

this bless­èd Babe

to thee;

Receive Him

press Him to thy heart

And in this cold world take His part!

In this cold world that doth but play

Alas

at keep­ing Christ­mas Day!

Receive Him

press Him to thy heart

And He in turn will take thy part!

In His un­earth­ly king­dom share;

His laws obey; His sig­net wear;

His liv­ing pre­sence taste

and see

How gra­cious Christ the Lord can be!

Henceforth temp­ta­tion’s ar­rows sore

May wound but poi­son thee no more;

Nor griefs o’er­whelm

nor faith grow dim

Because thy heart en­shrin­eth Him!