Scripture Verse

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Introduction

portrait
Julian K. Smyth
1856–1921

Words: Charles Wes­ley, A Col­lect­ion of Hymns for the Na­ti­vi­ty of Our Lord (Lon­don: Will­iam Stra­han, 1745), num­ber 19.

Music: Vig­lia Ju­li­an K. Smyth, 1902 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Lyrics

Rejoice in Je­su’s birth!
To us a son is given,
To us a child is born on earth,
Who fills both earth and Hea­ven!
His shoulder props the sky,
This universe sustains!
The God supreme, the Lord most high,
The King Messiah reigns!

His name, his nature, soars
Beyond the creature’s ken!
Yet, whom th’ angelic host adores,
He pleads the cause of men!
Our counselor we praise,
Our advocate above,
Who daily in His church displays
His miracles of love.

Th’ al­migh­ty God is He,
Author of heavenly bliss,
The Fa­ther of eternity,
The glo­ri­ous Prince of Peace!
Wider and wider still
He doth His sway extend,
With peace divine His people fill,
And joys that ne­ver end.

His government shall grow,
From strength to strength proceed,
His right­eous­ness the church o’erflow,
And all the earth o’erspread:
His presence shall increase
The happiness above,
The full, progressive happiness
Of ev­er­last­ing love.

Now for Thy promise’ sake,
O’er earth exalted be;
The kingdom, power, and glo­ry take,
Which all belong to Thee!
In zeal for God and man,
Thy full sal­va­tion bring!
The universal Monarch reign,
The saint’s eter­nal king!