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| IN 1 hymns of praise, eternal God! | |
| When thy creating hand | |
| Stretch’d the blue arch of heaven abroad, | |
| And meted sea and land, | |
| The morning stars together sung, | 5 |
| And shouts of joy from angels rung. | |
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| Than Earth’s prime hour, more joyous far | |
| Was the eventful morn, | |
| When the bright beam of Bethlehem’s star | |
| Announced a Saviour born! | 10 |
| Then sweeter strains from heaven began— | |
| “Glory to God—good will to man.” | |
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| Babe of the manger! can it be? | |
| Art thou the Son of God? | |
| Shall subject nations bow the knee, | 15 |
| And kings obey thy nod? | |
| Shall thrones and monarchs prostrate fall | |
| Before the tenant of a stall? | |
| |
| ’T is He! the hymning seraphs cry, | |
| While hovering, drawn to earth; | 20 |
| ’T is he! the shepherds’ songs reply, | |
| Hail! hail Emmanuel’s birth! | |
| The rod of peace those hands shall bear, | |
| That brow a crown of glory wear! | |
| |
| ’T is He! the eastern sages sing, | 25 |
| And spread their golden hoard; | |
| ’T is He! the hills of Sion ring, | |
| Hosanna to the Lord! | |
| The Prince of long prophetic years | |
| To day in Bethlehem appears! | 30 |
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| He comes! the Conqueror’s march begins, | |
| No blood his banner stains; | |
| He comes to save the world from sins, | |
| And break the captive’s chains! | |
| The poor, the sick and blind shall bless | 35 |
| The Prince of Peace and Righteousness. | |
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| Though now in swaddling-clothes he lies, | |
| All hearts his power shall own, | |
| When he, with legions of the skies, | |
| The clouds of heaven his throne, | 40 |
| Shall come to judge the quick and dead, | |
| And strike a trembling world with dread. | |
