Scripture Verse

A great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests. Luke 2:13–14

Introduction

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James Montgomery
(1771–1854)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: James Mont­gom­ery, in his Shef­field news­pap­er, the Ir­is, Christ­mas Eve, 1816. It was re­pub­lished in the Chris­tian Psalm­ist, 1825. Stan­za 5 is from The Christ­mas Box, 1825.

Music: Re­gent Square Hen­ry T. Smart, in Psalms and Hymns for Di­vine Wor­ship (Lon­don: 1867) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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Henry T. Smart (1813–1879)

Lyrics

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Christmas Carols Old and New, 1871

Angels from the realms of glo­ry,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang cre­ation’s sto­ry
Now pro­claim Mes­si­ah’s birth.

Refrain

Come and wor­ship, come and wor­ship,
Worship Christ, the new­born king.

Shepherds, in the field abid­ing,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now re­sid­ing;
Yonder shines the in­fant light:

Refrain

Sages, leave your con­tem­pla­tions,
Brighter vi­sions beam afar;
Seek the great De­sire of na­tions;
Ye have seen His na­tal star.

Refrain

Saints, be­fore the al­tar bend­ing,
Watching long in hope and fear;
Suddenly the Lord, des­cend­ing,
In His tem­ple shall ap­pear.

Refrain

Sinners, wrung with true re­pent­ance,
Doomed for guilt to end­less pains,
Justice now re­vokes the sen­tence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains.

Refrain

Though an in­fant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Fa­ther’s throne,
Gather all the na­tions to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:

Refrain

All cre­ation, join in prais­ing
God, the Fa­ther, Spir­it, Son,
Evermore your voic­es rais­ing
To th’eter­nal Three in One.

Refrain

Lord of Hea­ven, we adore Thee,
God the Fa­ther, God the Son,
God the Spir­it, One in glo­ry,
On the same eter­nal throne.
Hallelujah! Hal­le­lu­jah!
Lord of Hea­ven, Three in One.