Scripture Verse

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Introduction

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James Montgomery
(1771–1854)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: James Mont­go­me­ry, The Chris­tian Psalm­ist (Glas­gow, Scot­land: Chal­mers & Col­lins, 1825), num­ber 488. A vi­sit to Beth­le­hem in spir­it.

Music: An­do­ver (Beech­er) Charles Beech­er, in the Ply­mouth Col­lect­ion of Hymns and Tunes, ed­it­ed by Hen­ry W. Beech­er (his bro­ther) (New York: A. S. Barnes, 1855), page 66 (🔊 pdf nwc) (re­peats last line of each verse).

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Charles Beecher
(1815–1900)

Lyrics

The scene around me dis­ap­pears,
And borne to an­cient re­gions,
While time re­calls the flight of years,
I see an­gel­ic le­gions
Descending in an orb of light,
Amidst the dark and si­lent night,
I hear ce­les­ti­al voic­es.

Tidings, glad tid­ings, from above,
To ev­ery age and na­tion;
Tidings, glad tid­ings, God is love;
To man He sends sal­va­tion;
His Son be­loved, His on­ly Son,
The work of mer­cy hath be­gun;
Give to His name the glo­ry.

Through Da­vid’s ci­ty I am led;
Here all around are sleep­ing;
A light di­rects to yon poor shed,
Where lone­ly watch is keep­ing;
I enter—ah! what glo­ries shine!
Is this Im­ma­nu­el’s earth­ly shrine?
Messiah’s in­fant tem­ple?

It is, it is; and I adore
This Stran­ger meek and low­ly,
As saints and se­raphs bow be­fore
The throne of God thrice ho­ly;
Faith through the veil of flesh can see
The face of Thy di­vi­ni­ty,
My Lord, my God, my Sav­ior!