Wesley Corpus

Hymn for Christmas-Day Source: Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739), Part II Author: Charles Wesley (attributed) --- 1 Hark how all the welkin rings “Glory to the King of kings,66 Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconcil’d!” 2 Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies, Universal nature say “Christ the Lord is born to day!” 64“In” changed to “thro’” in 5th edn. (1756). 65Charles included a manuscript copy of this hymn in MS Richmond Tracts, 20-21. 66Opening lines changed by George Whitefield in Hymns for Social Worship (1753), p. 24, to: Hark! The herald angels sing “Glory to the new-born King!” Whitefield introduced several other small changes throughout the hymn. 3 Christ, by highest heav’n ador’d, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb. 4 Veil’d in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail th’ incarnate deity! Pleas’d as man with men t’ appear Jesus, our Immanuel here! 5 Hail the heav’nly67 Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Ris’n with healing in his wings. 6 Mild he lays his glory by, Born--that man no more may die, Born--to raise the sons of earth, Born--to give them second birth. 7 Come, desire of nations, come, Fix in us thy humble home, Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head. 8 Now display thy saving pow’r, Ruin’d nature now restore, Now in mystic union join Thine to ours, and ours to thine. 67“Heav’nly” changed to “heaven-born” in 2nd edn. (1739) and following. 9 Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface, Stamp thy image in its place, Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in thy love. 10 Let us thee, tho’ lost, regain, Thee, the life, the inner68 man: O! To all thyself impart, Form’d in each believing heart.