Thursday, August 24, 2023

Come, Thou long expected Jesus

84 Hyfrydol. 8. 7. 8. 7. D.

1. 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.

2. 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.
                         Charles Wesley
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
Although most hymnals only include those two verses, Wesley did write more verses; here's sample from hymnary.org

1 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 ev'ry nation,
   joy of every longing heart.

2 Joy to those who long to see Thee,
   Dayspring from on high, appear;
   come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse,
   of Thy birth we long to hear!
   O'er the hills the angels singing
   news, glad tidings of a birth:
   "Go to Him, your praises bringing;
   Christ the Lord has come to earth."

3 Come to earth to taste our sadness,
   He whose glories knew no end;
   by His life He brings us gladness,
   our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
   Leaving riches without number,
   born within a cattle stall;
   this the everlasting wonder,
   Christ was born the Lord of all.

4 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 own eternal merit,
   raise us to Thy glorious throne.

</idle musing>

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