Scripture Verse

Christ Jesus…being in very nature God…made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. Philippians 2:6–7

Introduction

Words: John Aus­tin (1613–1669). Some hym­nals give the au­thor as Will­iam Birch­ley, Aus­tin’s pseu­do­nym.

Music: Jodh­pur Ed­ward d’Ev­ry, 1905 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Aus­tin or d’Evry (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Jesu, who from Thy Fa­ther’s throne,
Didst to this vale of tears come down,
In our poor na­ture dressed;
O may the charms of that sweet love
Draw up our souls to Thee above,
And fix them there to rest.

Jesu, whose high and hum­ble birth,
In Heav’n the an­gels, and on earth,
The faith­ful shep­herds sing:
O may our hymns, which here run low,
Shoot up aloft, and fruit­ful grow,
In that eter­nal spring.

Jesu, to whom three kings from far,
Led to Thy cra­dle by a star,
Brought gifts to Thee their king:
O guide us by Thy light that we
May find Thy face, and un­to Thee
Ourselves for trib­ute bring.

Jesu, who thus be­gan our bliss,
Thus car­ried on our hap­pi­ness,
To Thee all praise be paid:
O may the great mys­te­ri­ous Three
For ev­er live, and ev­er be,
Adored, be­loved, ob­eyed.