Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 18. Music: Green Fields, arranged by Lewis Edson in The Chorister’s Companion (New Haven, Connecticut: 1782), from Cantata 212 (“The Peasant Cantata”), Mer hahn en neue Oberkeet, by Johann S. Bach (MIDI, score). | Johann S. Bach (1685-1750) |
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Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 16, alt. Music: Cradle Song, William J. Kirkpatrick, in his 1895 pamphlet “Around the World with Christmas” (MIDI, score). |
O mercy divine, O couldst Thou incline,
My God, to become such as infant as mine?
What wonder of grace: The Ancient of Days
Is found in the likeness of Adam’s frail race!
He comes from on high, who fashioned the sky,
And meekly vouchsafes in a manger to lie;
Our God ever blest, with oxen doth rest,
Is nursed by His creature and hangs at the breast.
So heavenly-mild, His innocence smiled,
No wonder the mother would worship the Child,
The angels she knew had worshipped Him, too,
And still they confess adoration His due.
On Jesus’ face, with eager amaze,
And pleasure ecstatic the cherubim gaze;
Their newly born King, transported they sing,
And Heaven and earth with the triumph doth ring.
The shepherds behold Him, the promised of old,
By angels attended, by prophets foretold;
The wise men adore now, and bring Him their store,
The rich are permitted to follow the poor.
To the inn they repair, to see the young Heir;
The inn is a palace, for Jesus is there!
Who now would be great, and not rather wait
On Jesus their Lord in His humble estate?
Like Him would I be, my Master I see
In a stable; a manger shall satisfy me;
And here will I lie, till raised up on high,
With Him on the cross I recover the sky.
Jesus, by highest heaven adored,
E'er time its course began,
How did thy glorious mercy stoop
To take the fallen nature up,
When thou thyself wert man?
Th' Eternal God from heaven came down,
The King of glory dropped his crown,
And veiled his majesty,
Emptied of all but love he came;
Jesus, I call thee by the name
Thy pity bore for me.
O holy child, still let thy birth
Bring peace to us poor worms of earth,
And praise to God on high!
Come, thou who didst my flesh assume,
Now to the abject sinner come,
And in a manger lie.
Didst thou not in thy person join
The natures human and divine,
That God and man might be
Henceforth inseparably one?
Haste then, and make thy nature known
Incarnated in me.
In my weak sinful flesh appear,
O God, be manifested here,
Peace, righteousness, and joy,
Thy kingdom, Lord, set up within
My faithful heart, and all my sin,
The devil's work destroy.
I long thy coming to confess
The mystic power of godliness,
The life divine to prove,
The fullness of thy life to know,
Redeemed from all my sins below,
And perfected in love.
O Christ, my hope, make known in me
The great, the glorious mystery,
The hidden life impart:
Come, thou desire of nations, come,
Formed in a spotless virgin's womb,
A pure believing heart.
Come quickly, dearest Lord, that I
May own, though antichrist deny,
Thy incarnation's power,
May cry, a witness to my Lord,
"Come in my flesh is Christ, the Word,
And I can sin no more!" ¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments
O astonishing grace,
That the reprobate race
Should be so reconciled!
What a wonder that God is a child!
The Creator of all,
To repair our sad fall,
From his heaven stoops down,
And our nature, He joins to His own.
Immanuel came,
The world to redeem,
Incarnated showed
We may be united to God!
And shall we not hope,
After God to wake up,
His nature to know?
In sinless perfection below.
To this heavenly prize,
By faith let us rise
To his image ascend,
Apprehended, let us God apprehend.
Labels: chords, christmas, wesley
¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 13. Music: Gladden, Thoro Harris (MIDI, score). |
Let angels and archangels sing
The wonderful Immanuel’s Name,
Adore with us our new-born King,
And still the joyful news proclaim;
All earth and Heav’n be ever joined
To praise the Savior of mankind.
The everlasting God comes down
To sojourn with the sons of men;
Without His majesty or crown,
The great Invisible is seen;
Of all His dazzling glories shorn
The everlasting God is born!
Angels, behold that Infant’s face,
With rapturous awe the Godhead own;
’Tis all your heav’n on Him to gaze,
And cast your crowns before His throne;
Though now He on His footstool lies,
Ye know He built both earth and skies.
Ye sang the all-creating Word;
Ye heard Him call our world from naught;
Again, in honor of your Lord,
Ye morning-stars your hymns employ,
And shout, ye sons of God, for joy.
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 10. Music: Hyfrydol, Rowland H. Prichard, 1830 (MIDI, score). Alternate tunes:
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Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 9. Music: Bealoth, Lowell Mason, Sacred Harp, 1843 (MIDI, score). |
Up to Thy gracious throne,
And bless Thee for the gift,
Of Thine incarnate Son;
The gift unspeakable,
We thankfully receive,
And we Thy goodness tell,
And to Thy glory live.
Jesus the holy Child,
Doth by His birth declare,
That we are reconciled,
And one in Him we are;
Salvation through His Name
To all mankind is giv’n,
And infant cries proclaim
A peace ’twixt earth and Heav’n.
A peace on earth He brings,
Which never more shall end;
The Lord, the King of kings,
Declares Himself our Friend;
Assumes our flesh and blood,
His Spirit we might gain;
Eternal Son of God,
And mortal Son of Man.
His kingdom from above,
He doth to us impart,
Benevolence and love,
O’erflow the faithful heart;
Changèd in a moment we
The sweet attraction find,
The arms of charity
Embracing all mankind.
O might they all receive,
The new-born Prince of Peace,
And in His Spirit live,
And in His love increase!
Till He convey us home,
Cry every soul aloud,
“Desire of nations, come,
And take us up to God.”
Be published abroad at Jesus's birth;
The forfeited favour of heaven we find
Restored in the Saviour and friend of mankind.
Then let us behold Messiah the Lord,
By prophets foretold, by angels adored,
Our God's incarnation with angels proclaim,
And publish salvation in Jesus's name.
Our newly-born King by faith we have seen,
And joyfully sing his goodness to men,
That all men may wonder at what we impart,
And thankfully ponder his love in their heart.
What moved the Most High so greatly to stoop,
He comes from the sky our souls to lift up;
That sinners forgiven, might sinless return
To God and to heaven; their Maker is born.
Immanuel's love let sinners confess,
Who comes from above, to bring us his peace;
Let every believer his mercy adore,
And praise him for ever, when time is no more. ¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments
Th' acclaiming hosts of heaven!
This happy morn
A child is born,
For us a son is given.
The messenger and token
Of God's eternal favour,
God hath sent down
To us his Son,
An universal Saviour!
The wonderful Messiah,
The joy of every nation,
Jesus his name,
With God the fame,
The Lord of all creation;
The Counsellor of sinners,
Almighty to deliver,
The Prince of Peace,
Whose love's increase,
Shall reign in man for ever.
Go see the King of glory,
Discern the heavenly stranger,
So poor and mean,
His court an inn,
His cradle is a manger:
Who from his Father's bosom,
But now for us descended,
Who built the skies,
On earth he lies,
With only beasts attended.
Whom all the angels worship,
Lies hid in human nature;
Incarnate see
The deity,
The infinite Creator!
Gaze on that helpless object
Of endless adoration!
Those infant hands
Shall burst our bands,
And work out our salvation;
Strangle the crooked serpent,
Destroy his works for ever,
And open set
The heavenly gate
To every true believer.
Till then, thou holy Jesus,
We humbly bow before thee,
Our treasures bring
To serve our king,
And joyfully adore thee:
To thee we gladly render
Whate'er thy grace hath given,
Till thou appear
In glory here,
And take us up to heaven. ¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments
Shepherds who watch your flocks by night,
Start not to see an angel near,
Nor tremble at this glorious light.
An herald from the heavenly king,
I come, your every fear to chase;
Good tidings of great joy I bring,
Great joy to all the fallen race.
To you is born on this glad day,
A Savior by our host adored,
Our God in Bethlehem survey,
Make haste to worship Christ the Lord.
By this the Saviour of mankind,
Th' incarnate God shall be displayed,
The babe ye wrapped in swaths shall find,
And humbly in a manger laid. ¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments
Words: Charles Wesley, in Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 4, alt. Music: Ellacombe, Gesangbuch der Herzogl. Wirtembergischen Katholischen Hofkapelle (Württemberg, Germany: 1784); adapted & harmonized by William H. Monk in the 1868 appendix to Hymns Ancient and Modern, number 366 (MIDI, score). |
True Cross (The first-man):
Em Am Em D Em x 2 / Am Em Am D Em / Em Am Em D Em
Glory be to God on high,
And peace on earth descend;
Now God comes down, He bows the sky,
And shows Himself our Friend!
God the invisible appears,
God the Blest, the Great I AM,
He sojourns in this vale of tears,
And Jesus is His Name.
Him by the angels all adored,
Their Maker and their King;
Lo, tidings of their humbled Lord
They now to mortals bring;
Emptied of His majesty,
Of His dazzling glories shorn,
Our being’s Source begins to be,
And God Himself is born!
See the eternal Son of God
A mortal Son of Man,
Now dwelling in an earthly clod
Whom Heaven cannot contain!
Stand amazed, ye heavens, look at this!
See the Lord of earth and skies
Low humbled to the dust He is,
And in a manger lies!
So do the sons of men rejoice
The Prince of Peace proclaim,
With Heaven’s host lift up our voice,
And shout Immanuel’s Name;
Our knees and hearts to Him we bow;
Of our flesh, and of our bone,
See—Jesus is our Brother now,
And God is all our own!
Labels: chords, christmas, wesley
¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1742. Music: Llanfair, Robert Williams, 1817; harmony by John Roberts, 1837 (MIDI, score). Alternate tune:
The main tune is apparently named after Williams’ home town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllandtysiliogogogoch. In English, the name means “church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel near the rapid whirlpool of the Church of St. Tysillio by the red cave.” |
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Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 8, alt. Music: Sherbrook, anonymous, in the Methodist Hymn and Tune Book (Toronto, Canada: Methodist Book and Publishing House, 1894), number 202 (MIDI, score). Alternate tune: If you know when the music was written, the composer’s name, or where to get a picture of him, would you send us an e-mail? Thanks! |
C G/B Am / C G/B Am / C G/B Am / F G C G/B Am C G/B Am x2
G C / G C / G C F G C G/B Am C G/B Am
Away with our fears!
The Godhead appears
In Christ reconciled
The Father in Jesus the Child.
He comes from above,
In manifest love,
Desire of our eyes,
In a manger the Lamb (or Son?) of God lies.
Immanuel’s birth
What triumph on earth!
Yet could it afford
No better a place for its Lord?
The Ancient of Days
Redeems a lost race:
His glory comes down
Humbled to carry us up to a crown.
Made flesh for our sake,
That we might partake
The nature divine,
In His image, His holiness shine.
A heavenly birth,
Experience on earth,
And rise to His throne,
With our Jesus eternally One.
Then let us believe,
And gladly receive
The tidings they bring
To sinners their Savior and King.
And while we are here,
Our King shall appear,
His Spirit impart,
Form His image of love in our heart.
Labels: 18th c., chords, christmas, wesley
¶ Sunday, October 21, 2007 0 comments
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1739, alt. Music: Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn, in his cantata Festgesang an die Künstler, 1840 (second movement, Vaterland, in deinem Gauen); the cantata celebrated the 400th anniversary of Johann Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press. This arrangement, by William H. Cummings, appeared in the Congregational Hymn and Tune Book, by Richard R. Chope, 1857 (MIDI, score). Alternate tune: |
| Wesley's Original | Modern Version |
|---|---|
| Hark, how all the welkin rings, Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Christ, by highest Heaven ador’d, Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace! Mild He lays his glory by, Come, Desire of nations, come, Now display thy saving power, Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface; Let us Thee, though lost, regain, | Hark! The herald angels sing, Refrain: Christ, by highest Heav’n adored; Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! Come, Desire of nations, come, Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface, |
C G C G / C Dm C G C / C G Am D / Em G D G
C G7 C G / C G7 C G / F Dm A Dm / G C G C
F Dm A Dm / G C G C
G D G D / G Am G D G / G D Em A / Bm D A D
G D7 G D / G D7 G D / C Am E Am / D G D G
C Am E Am / D G D G
D A D A / D Em D A D / D A Bm E / F#m A E A
D A7 D A / D A7 D A / G Em B Em / A D A D
G Em B Em / A D A D
Quem Pastores:
C F G / Am F Dm G / Am G F C / F Dm G C
D G A / Bm G Em A / Bm A G D / G Em A D
G C D / Em C Am D / Em D C G / C Am D G
Morning Prayer:
Conditor Alme:
Inner Light:
C G Em / G Em Dm F /
C G C / Am Em Am /
Am Em F C / G Em Dm F /
C G Em / Am Em Am
D A Fm / A Fm Em G /
D A Fm / Bm Fm Bm /
Bm Fm G D / A Fm Em G /
D A Fm / Bm Fm Bm
Labels: chords, christmas, wesley
¶ Monday, October 15, 2007 0 comments
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 5. Music: St. John (Parish), Parish Choir, 1851; attributed to William H. Havergal (MIDI, score). |
Chords (Joan of Arc): C G F C / D G D C G / G Dm F C G
| Original Lyrics | Alternate (Joan of Arc) |
|---|---|
| Let earth and Heaven combine, He laid His glory by, See in that Infant’s face Unsearchable the love He deigns in flesh t’appear, Made perfect first in love, | And now, let earth and Heaven combine, Our God contracted to a span, See how He laid His glory by, Infinity in Infant face In vain; ye angels gaze no more, Unsearchable the holy love He deigns in frail flesh t’appear, And we the life of God shall know, For we, made perfect first in love, |
Labels: 18th c., christmas, wesley
¶ Tuesday, June 12, 2007 0 comments
 Charles Wesley (1707-1788) | Words: Charles Wesley, 1739. Stanzas 8-10, author unknown, 14th Century; translated from Latin to English in Lyra Davidica. This exuberant song is one of the most popular Easter hymns in the English language. Music: Easter Hymn, composer unknown, in Lyra Davidica (London: 1708) (MIDI, score). Wesley’s words were written for use at the first worship service at the Wesleyan Chapel in London. The chapel, on the site of a former iron foundry, became known as the Foundry Meeting House, and this hymn was included in the Foundry Collection. |
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C G/B C F F/C-C C-Dm7 C--F C--G C
F C F C Dm7 C C/G-G C-Dm7 C--F C--G C
G Am G/B G C Dm7 C G Am7 G--C G D G
(G) C F F/C-C C-F Dm7 C--G C
Labels: 12th c., chords, latin, wesley
¶ Monday, April 02, 2007 0 comments
Charles Wesley (1707-1788) | Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1742. Music: Lenox, Lewis Edson, in The Chorister’s Companion, by Simeon Jocelyn and Amos Doolittle (New Haven, Connecticut: 1782) (MIDI, score).
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Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.
G C G D G / Em Bm C D/ Em C Am Em / C D G
Labels: 17th c., chords, wesley
¶ Sunday, March 25, 2007 0 comments
Charles Wesley (1707-1788) | Words: Charles Wesley, Psalms and Hymns, 1738. Music: Sagina, Thomas Campbell, Bouquet, 1825 (MIDI, score). |  Thomas Campbell (1777-1844) |
 St. Peter Freed from Prison, by Pier Francesco Mola (1612-1666) |
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C G/B Bb Am / C F C G / C G/B Bb Am / C F Am G C
F C G C / Am C F G / F C G Am / C Am F G C
Labels: 18th c., chords, wesley
¶ Sunday, March 25, 2007 0 comments