Scripture Verse

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14

Introduction

Words: Grace Dick­in­son, in Christ­mas ca­rols New and Old, Third Ser­ies, by Hen­ry R. Bram­ley & John Stain­er (Lon­don: No­vel­lo, Ew­er, cir­ca 1878), num­ber 50.

Music: John B. Cal­kin (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Dick­in­son or Cal­kin (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
John B. Calkin (1827–1905)

Lyrics

Let mu­sic break on this blest morn,
And sweet­ly ec­ho back to Heav’n,
For lo! the pro­mised Son is born,
The long ex­pect­ed One is giv’n.
Of old the pro­phets wrote of Him,
Predicting this most glad event,
And we, in one uni­ted hymn,
Now ce­le­brate the Sav­ior sent.
In Heav’n the an­gels sing of Him,
And won­der at His migh­ty love;
On earth we glad­ly chant the theme,
Thus join­ing in the song above.
Thus an­gels, pro­phets, sin­ners sing,
With all the num­bers saved in Heav’n,
And hail Thy ad­vent, Sav­ior, King,
One glo­ri­ous strain to all is giv’n.
Nor can we praise a wor­thi­er name,
Or sing of love so great as Thine;
No! end­less hon­or Thou dost claim,
Thy name and love are both di­vine;
Thy name and love are both di­vine.