O Sing a Song of Bethlehem

208 O Sing a Song

1. O sing a song of Bethlehem,
   Of shepherds watching there,
   And of the news that came to them
   From angels in the air.
   The light that shone on Bethlehem
   Fills all the world today;
   Of Jesus' birth and peace on earth
   The angels sing alway.

2. O sing a song of Nazareth,
   Of sunny days of joy,
   O sing of fragrant flowers' breath,
   And of the sinless Boy;
   For now the flow'rs of Nazareth
   In ev'ry heart may grow;
   Now spreads the fame of His dear name
   On all the winds that blow.

3. O sing a song of Galilee,
   Of lake and woods and hil,
   Of Him who walked upon the sea
   And bade its waves be still;
   For tho' like waves on Galilee,
   Dark seas of trouble roll,
   When faith has heard the Master's word,
   Falls peace upon the soul.

4. O sing a song of Calvary,
   Its glory and dismay;
   Of Him who hung upon the tree
   And took our sins away.
   For He who died on Calvary
   Is risen from the grave,
   And Christ, our Lord, by heav'n adored,
   Is mighty now to save.
                         Louis F. Benson
                         Hymns for the Family of God

I Wonder as I Wander

183 I Wonder as I Wander

1 I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
   how Jesus the Savior did come for to die
   for poor ordinary people like you and like I;
   I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.

2 When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall
   with wise men and farmers and shepherd and all.
   but high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
   and the promise of ages it did then recall.

3 If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
   a star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
   or all of God's angels in heaven for to sing,
   he surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.

4 I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
   how Jesus the Savior did come for to die
   for poor ordinary people like you and like I;
   I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
                         Appalachian carol
                         Collected by John Jacob Niles
                         Hymns for the Family of God

How Great Our Joy

182 How Great Our Joy

1 While by the sheep we watched at night,
   glad tidings brought an angel bright.

Refrain:
   How great our joy!
   Great our joy!
   Joy, joy, joy!
   Joy, joy, joy!
   Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
   Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!

2 There shall be born, so he did say,
   in Bethlehem a child today. [Refrain]

3 There shall the child lie in a stall,
   this child who shall redeem us all. [Refrain]

4 This gift of God we'll cherish well,
   that ever joy our hearts shall fill. [Refrain]
                         German Carol
                         Hymns for the Family of God

Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming

174 Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming

1 Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming
   From tender stem hath sprung!
   Of Jesse's lineage coming
   As men of old have sung.
   It came, a flower bright,
   Amid the cold of winter
   When half-gone was the night.

2 Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
   The Rose I have in mind:
   With Mary we behold it,
   The virgin mother kind.
   To show God's love aright
   She bore to men a Savior
   When half-gone was the night.

3 This Flower, whose fragrance tender
   With sweetness fills the air,
   Dispels with glorious splendor
   The darkness everywhere.
   True man, yet very God,
   From sin and death He saves us
   And lightens every load
                         German Carol
                         Tr. by Theodore Baker, stanzas 1,2
                         Tr. by Harriet Krauth Spaeth, stanza 3
                         Hymns for the Family of God

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

170 Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

1 Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
   When Thou camest to earth for me;
   But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
   For Thy holy nativity.
   O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
   There is room in my heart for Thee.

2 Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
   Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
   But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
   And in great humility.
   O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
   There is room in my heart for Thee.

3 The foxes found rest, and the birds their nes
  t In the shade of the forest tree;
   But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
   In the deserts of Galilee.
   O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
   There is room in my heart for Thee.

4 Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
   That should set Thy people free;
   But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
   They bore Thee to Calvary.
   O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
   There is room in my heart for Thee.

5 When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
   At Thy coming to victory,
   Let Thy voice call me home, saying "Yet there is room,
   There is room at My side for thee."
   My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
   When Thou comest and callest for me.
                         Emily E. S. Elliott
                         Hymns for the Family of God

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

396 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

1 Infant holy, infant lowly,
   for His bed a cattle stall;
   oxen lowing, little knowing
   Christ, the babe, is Lord of all.
   Swift are winging angels singing,
   noels ringing, tidings bringing:
   Christ the babe is Lord of all!

2 Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping
   vigil till the morning new
   saw the glory, heard the story,
   tidings of the gospel true.
   Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow,
   praises voicing, greet the morrow:
   Christ the babe was born for you.
                         Polish carol
                         Trans. by Edith M. G. Reed
                         The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

<idle musing>
This little carol only occurs in about 100 hymnals. We know nothing about the translator, except that it was done in 1921. Hymnary.org credits the hymn to a Piotrowi Skardze, about we also know nothing. Kind of fitting, isn't it, that this hymn about "little knowing" and a lowly infant has an author and translator about which we are "little knowing."
</idle musing>

Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

395 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

1. Gentle Mary laid her Child
   Lowly in a manger;
   There He lay, the undefiled,
   To the world a stranger:
   Such a Babe in such a place,
   Can He be the Savior?
   Ask the saved of all the race
   Who have found His favor.

2. Angels sang about His birth;
   Wise men sought and found Him;
   Heaven's star shone brightly forth,
   Glory all around Him:
   Shepherds saw the wondrous sight,
   Heard the angels singing;
   All the plains were lit that night,
   All the hills were ringing.

3. Gentle Mary laid her Child
   Lowly in a manger;
   He is still the undefiled,
   But no more a stranger:
   Son of God, of humble birth,
   Beautiful the story;
   Praise His name in all the earth,
   Hail the King of glory!
                         Joseph S. Cook
                         The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

Let All Together Praise Our God

389 Let All Together Praise Our God

1 Let all together praise our God
   Upon his lofty throne,
   For he uncloses heaven today
   And gives to us his Son,
   And gives to us his Son.

2 He lays aside his majesty
   And seems as nothing worth,
   And takes on him a servant's form,
   Who made the heaven and earth,
   Who made the heaven and earth.

3 Behold the wonderful exchange
   Our Lord with us does make!
   Lo, he assumes our flesh and blood,
   And we of heaven partake,
   And we of heaven partake.

4 The glorious gates of paradise
   The angel guards no more;
   This day again those gates unfold.
   With praise our God adore,
   With praise our God adore!
                         Nicolaus Hermann
                         Trans. by Arthur Tozer Russell
                         The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

<idle musing>
Hmmm… I don't recall ever singing this hymn, and it only occurs in about fifteen hymnals, so I probably never even heard it. The translator also wrote a goodly number of hymns, none of which became very popular. Hymnary.org says that his "translations on the whole are vigorous and strong, but somewhat ultra-faithful to the original metres, etc."
</idle musing>

All My Heart This Night Rejoices

379 All My Heart This Night Rejoices

1. All my heart this night rejoices,
   As I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices;
   Christ is born, their choirs are singing,
   Till the air, everywhere, now their joy is ringing.

2. Hark! a voice from yonder manger,
   Soft and sweet, doth entreat, Flee from woe and danger;
   Brethren, come; from all that grieves you
   You are freed; all you need I will surely give you.

3. Come, then, let us hasten yonder;
   Here let all, great and small, kneel in awe and wonder,
   Love Him who with love is yearning;
   Hail the star that from far bright with hope is burning.
                         Paul Gerhardt
                         Trans. by Catherine Winkworth
                         The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

<idle musing>
This one has a whole bunch more verses. As usual, cyberhymnal has the most complete version.

2. For it dawns, the promised morrow
   Of His birth, who the earth rescues from her sorrow.
   God to wear our form descendeth;
   Of His grace to our race here His Son He sendeth.

3. Yea, so truly for us careth,
   That His Son, all we’ve done, as our offering beareth;
   As our Lamb who, dying for us,
   Bears our load, and to God, doeth in peace restore us.

6. Ye who pine in weary sadness,
   Weep no more, for the door now is found of gladness.
   Cling to Him, for He will guide you
   Where no cross, pain or loss, can again betide you.

7. Hither come, ye poor and wretched:
   Know His will is to fill every hand outstretchèd;
   Here are riches without measure,
   Here forget all regret, fill your hearts with treasure.

8. Blessèd Savior, let me find Thee!
   Keep Thou me close to Thee, cast me not behind Thee!
   Life of life, my heart Thou stillest,
   Calm I rest on Thy breast, all this void Thou fillest.

9. Thee, dear Lord, with heed I’ll cherish;
   Live to Thee and with Thee, dying, shall not perish;
   But shall dwell with Thee for ever,
   Far on high, in the joy that can alter never.

10. Forth today the Conqueror goeth,
   Who the foe, sin and woe, death and hell, o’erthroweth.
   God is man, man to deliver;
   His dear Son now is one with our blood forever.

11. Shall we still dread God’s displeasure,
   Who, to save, freely gave His most cherished Treasure?
   To redeem us, He hath given
   His own Son from the throne of His might in Heaven.

12. Should He who Himself imparted
   Aught withhold from the fold, leave us broken hearted?
   Should the Son of God not love us,
   Who, to cheer sufferers here, left His throne above us?

13. If our blessèd Lord and Maker
   Hated men, would He then be of flesh partaker?
   If He in our woe delighted,
   Would He bear all the care of our race benighted?

14. He becomes the Lamb that taketh
   Sin away and for aye full atonement maketh.
   For our life His own He tenders
   And our race, by His grace, meet for glory renders.

That's a lot of verse.
</idle musing>

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

378 God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

1 God rest you merry, gentlemen,
   let nothing you dismay,
   remember Christ our Savior
   was born on Christmas Day
   to save us all from Satan's pow'r
   when we were gone astray.

Refrain:
   O tidings of comfort and joy,
   comfort and joy;
   O tidings of comfort and joy.

2 From God our heav'nly Father
   a blessed angel came
   and unto certain shepherds
   brought tidings of the same;
   how that in Bethlehem was born
   the Son of God by name. [Refrain]

3 "Fear not," then said the angel,
   "Let nothing you affright;
   this day is born a Savior
   of a pure virgin bright,
   to free all those who trust in Him
   from Satan's pow'r and might." [Refrain]

4 The shepherds at those tidings
   rejoiced much in mind,
   and left their flocks afeeding,
   in tempest, storm, and wind,
   and went to Bethlehem straightway,
   this blessed Babe to find. [Refrain]

5 Now to the Lord sing praises
   all you within this place,
   and with true love and brotherhood
   each other now embrace;
   this holy tide of Christmas
   all other doth deface. [Refrain]
                         18th century trad. English Carol
                         The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

<idle musing>
Amazingly, this is only in about 120 hymnals. Everytime I see or hear this carol, I think of the Barry McGuire version w/his gruff voice. Oh, and note the punctuation. It's God rest you merry and then gentlemen; the gentlemen aren't merry. They are supposed to rest in the joy that God brings.
</idle musing>

Good Christian men, rejoice!

110 in Dulci Jubilo. 6. 6. 7. 7. 7. 8. 5. 5.

1 Good Christian men, rejoice
   With heart, and soul, and voice;
   Give ye heed to what we say:
   News! news! Jesus Christ is born today:
   Ox and ass before Him bow,
   And He is in the manger now.
   Christ is born today!
   Christ is born today!

2 Good Christian men, rejoice
   With heart, and soul, and voice;
   Now ye hear of endless bliss;
   Joy! joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!
   He has oped the heavenly door,
   And man is blessed evermore.
   Christ was born for this!
   Christ was born for this!

3 Good Christian men, rejoice
   With heart, and soul, and voice;
   Now ye need not fear the grave:
   Peace! peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
   Calls you one and calls you all,
   To gain His everlasting hall.
   Christ was born to save!
   Christ was born to save!
                         From the Latin
                         Tr. by John M. Neale
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

What child is this?

109 Greensleeves 8. 7. 8. 7. with Refrain.

1 What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
   On Mary's lap is sleeping?
   Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
   While shepherds watch are keeping?

Chorus:
   This, this is Christ, the King,
   Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
   Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
   The Babe, the Son of Mary!

2 Why lies He in such mean estate,
   Where ox and ass are feeding?
   Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
   The silent Word is pleading.[Chorus]

3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
   Come, peasant, king to own Him.
   The King of kings salvation brings;
   Let loving hearts enthrone Him.[Chorus]
                        William C. Dix
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

Silent Night

106 Stille Nacht. Irregular.

1. Silent night, holy night,
   all is calm, all is bright
   round yon virgin mother and child.
   Holy infant, so tender and mild,
   sleep in heavenly peace,
   sleep in heavenly peace.

2. Silent night, holy night,
   darkness flies, all is light
   Shepherds hear the angels sing,
   Alleluia! hail the king!"
   Christ the Savior is born,
   Christ the Savior is born!

3. Silent night, holy night,
   Son of God, love's pure light;
   radiant beams from thy holy face
   with the dawn of redeeming grace,
   Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
   Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

4. Silent night, holy night,
   wondrous star, lend thy light;
   with the angels let us sing,
   Alleluia to our King;
   Christ the Savior is born,
   Christ the Savior is born!
                         Joseph Mohr
                         Tr. compiled from various sources
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
I don't recall singing the second verse the way it is in this hymnal—and in fact the 1917 and 1964 versions of the Methodist hymnal both have the more traditional translation:

2. Silent night, holy night,
   shepherds quake at the sight;
   glories stream from heaven afar,
   heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
   Christ the Savior is born,
   Christ the Savior is born!

</idle musing>

In the bleak midwinter

103 Cranham. Irregular.

In the bleak midwinter
   frosty wind made moan,
   earth stood hard as iron,
   water like a stone:
   snow had fallen,
   snow on snow, snow on snow,
   in the bleak midwinter,
   long ago.

2 Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
   nor earth sustain;
   heaven and earth shall flee away
   when he comes to reign:
   in the bleak midwinter
   a stable place sufficed
   the Lord God Almighty,
   Jesus Christ.

3 Angels and archangels
   may have gathered there,
   cherubim and seraphim
   thronged the air,
   but only his mother,
   in her maiden bliss,
   worshiped the Beloved
   with a kiss.

4 What can I give him,
   poor as I am?
   If I were a shepherd,
   I would bring a lamb,
   if I were a wise man
   I would do my part,
   yet what I can I give him,
   give my heart.
                        Christina G. Rossetti
                        The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
Yes, I know, "bleak midwinter" definitely doesn't describe Israel in the spring (when Jesus was probably born, although that's debated). But, again, look beyond the literal and grab the theology of the hymn. It's written with a simple faith that approaches God, knowing that they have nothing to offer except themselves. And what is greater than that?

Someone else commented on the author's works: "Miss Rossetti's verses are profoundly suggestive and lyrical, and deserve a larger place than they occupy in the hymnody of the church. Her sonnets are amongst the finest in the English language." [Rev. W. Garrett Horder]

Hymnary.org inserts a verse after verse 2:

3 Enough for him whom cherubim
   worship night and day,
   a breastful of milk
   and a mangerful of hay:
   enough for him
   whom angels fall down before,
   the ox and ass and camel
   which adore.

I can see why the Methodist hymnal excised it. It doesn't flow as well as the other verses.
</idle musing>

We three kings

102 Kings of Orient. 8. 8. 8. 6. with Refrain.

1 We three kings of Orient are;
   bearing gifts we traverse afar,
   field and fountain, moor and mountain,
   following yonder star.

Refrain: O star of wonder, star of light,
   star with royal beauty bright,
   westward leading, still proceeding,
   guide us to thy perfect light.

2 Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,
   gold I bring to crown him again,
   King forever, ceasing never,
   over us all to reign. [Refrain]

3 Frankincense to offer have I;
   incense owns a Deity nigh;
   prayer and praising, voices raising,
   worshiping God on high. [Refrain]

4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
   breathes a life of gathering gloom;
   sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
   sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]

5 Glorious now behold him arise;
   King and God and sacrifice:
   Alleluia, Alleluia,
   sounds through the earth and skies. [Refrain]
                         John H. Hopkins
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
This hymn is loaded with good theology, despite the fact that there weren't three kings. That's a Christian tradition based on the three gifts. On more than one occasion, I've mentioned what a great hymn this is, only to have the person get all bent out of shape because it says "three kings." When I point out that the important thing is the theology of the hymn, they just can't get past those three kings.

Sorry, but that is majoring on the minors and missing the point. But, it seems to sum up too many people's (especially evangelicals') approach to all things biblical and theological. I've often said that we need fewer people approaching the scripture (and theology) as engineers and more approaching it with a literary and mystical vision. Scripture isn't a sourcebook for systematic theology as much as it is a rich narrative of God's overarching purpose in history. Yes, Virginia, there is a metanarrative!

By the way, be sure to check out the biography of the author. He was definitely a man of many talents; He even delivered the eulogy at U. S. Grant's funeral!
</idle musing>

O little town of Bethlehem

100 St. Louis. 8. 6. 8. 6. 7. 6. 8. 6.

1 O little town of Bethlehem,
   how still we see thee lie!
   Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
   the silent stars go by.
   Yet in thy dark streets shineth
   the everlasting light;
   the hopes and fears of all the years
   are met in thee tonight.

2 For Christ is born of Mary;
   and, gathered all above,
   while mortals sleep, the angels keep
   their watch of wond'ring love.
   O morning stars, together
   proclaim the holy birth,
   and praises sing to God the King,
   and peace to men on earth.

3 How silently, how silently,
   the wondrous gift is giv'n!
   So God imparts to human hearts
   the blessings of His heav'n.
   No ear may hear His coming,
   but in this world of sin,
   where meek souls will receive Him still,
   the dear Christ enters in.

4 O holy Child of Bethlehem,
   descend to us, we pray;
   cast out our sin and enter in;
   be born in us today.
   We hear the Christmas angels,
   the great glad tidings tell;
   O come to us, abide with us,
   our Lord Emmanuel!
                         Philip Brooks
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
I've always liked this carol. It seems to speak to the way that God so often works, quietly and mostly unobserved. The angelic host knows what's going on, but humans just blindly bluster along—well most humans. But a few "meek souls will receive Him still," and he will will "cast out our sin and enter in."

Interestingly, this carol was written by Brooks for a Sunday School class based on his visit to Bethlehem two years earlier.
</idle musing>

There's a song in the air

98 Christmas Song. 6. 6. 6. 6. 12. 12.

1 There's a song in the air!
   There's a star in the sky!
   There's a mother's deep prayer
   and a baby's low cry!
   And the star rains its fire
   while the beautiful sing,
   for the manger of Bethlehem
   cradles a King!

2 There's a tumult of joy
   o'er the wonderful birth,
   for the virgin's sweet boy
   is the Lord of the earth.
   Ay! the star rains its fire
   while the beautiful sing,
   for the manger of Bethlehem
   cradles a King!

3 In the light of that star
   lie the ages impearled;
   and that song from afar
   has swept over the world.
   Every hearth is aflame,
   and the beautiful sing
   in the homes of the nations
   that Jesus is King!

4 We rejoice in the light,
   and we echo the song
   that comes down through the night
   from the heavenly throng.
   Ay! we shout to the lovely
   evangel they bring,
   and we greet in his cradle
   our Savior and King!
                         Josiah G. Holland
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
My first memory of this song is in about 4th grade. It was the Christmas pageant and the youth choir (4th–6th grades) was to sing a bunch of Christmas carols. This one stands out in my mind because the older sister (a sixth grader) of one of my friends, whom I thought was very pretty, was to sing the first verse as a solo. For years, I thought that "the beautiful" was girls like her. It wasn't until high school that I realized that the beautiful was a way of referring to the angelic host!

Looking at the author's biography, I find it interesting that they specifically mention that this hymn is included in the Methodist hymnal—and it does appear to be mainly used in the Methodist tradition when you look at the list of hymnals that hymnary.org cites.
</idle musing>

The first Noel

97 The First Noel. Irregular with Refrain

1 The first Noel the angel did say
   was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
   in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
   on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Refrain:
   Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
   born is the King of Israel.

2 They looked up and saw a star
   shining in the east beyond them far;
   and to the earth it gave great light,
   and so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]

3 And by the light of that same star
   three wise men came from country far;
   to seek for a king was their intent,
   and to follow the star wherever it went. [Refrain]

4 This star drew nigh to the northwest;
   o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
   and there it did both stop and stay,
   right over the place where Jesus lay. [Refrain]

5 Then entered in those wise men three,
   full reverently upon their knee,
   and offered there in his presence
   their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. [Refrain]
                         Old English Carol
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
Hymnary.org adds a sixth verse, which I don't know why the Methodist Hymnal excised. I remember singing it as a child, but maybe that's because we had multiple Christmas LPs and sheet music for many Christmas carols (my mom used to play the piano quite a bit when I was growing up):

6 Then let us all with one accord
   sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
   that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
   and with his blood our life hath bought. [Refrain]

</idle musing>

O come, all ye faithful

96 Adeste Fidelis (Portuguese Hymn). Irregular, with refrain.

1 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
   O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
   Come, and behold Him, born the King of angels!

Refrain:
   O come, let us adore Him;
   O come, let us adore Him;
   O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

2 Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation;
   sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above!
   Glory to God, all glory in the highest! [Refrain]

3 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
   Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n!
   Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! [Refrain]
                         Anonymous. Latin 18th century
                         Tr. by Frederick Oakeley and others
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
This is definitely one of the standard Christmas carols. It seems that even if people only know two Christmas carols, this is one of them. I was surprised to discover that hymnary.org says that the author was John Francis Wade, whom I had never heard of—interesting biography, though. They also insert a verse I had never heard as the second verse:

2 God of God, Light of Light,
   lo, He abhors not the virgin's womb;
   very God, begotten not created; [Refrain]

As many of you probably know, the chorus was taken over by the Charismatic Movement in the 1970s and various versions of it were added. I don't hang out in those circles, if they even exist, anymore, so I don't know if it is still prevalent or not. But I do recall that it was a very moving experience to hear thousands of voices singing it in worship.

I must say, this adventure of blogging through the hymnal I grew up singing from has been interesting and carried me into areas where my ignorance is huge. I hope you are enjoying it as well.
</idle musing>

Thou didst leave thy throne

85. Margaret (Elliott). Irregular.

1 Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
   When Thou camest to earth for me;
   But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
   For Thy holy nativity.
   O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
   There is room in my heart for Thee.

2 Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
   Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
   But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
   And in great humility.
   O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
   There is room in my heart for Thee.

3 The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
   In the shade of the forest tree;
   But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
   In the deserts of Galilee.
   O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
   There is room in my heart for Thee.

4 Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
   That should set Thy people free;
   But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
   They bore Thee to Calvary.
   O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
   There is room in my heart for Thee.

5 When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
   At Thy coming to victory,
   Let Thy voice call me home, saying "Yet there is room,
   There is room at My side for thee."
   My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
   When Thou comest and callest for me.
                         Emily E. S. Elliott
                        The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
I don't recall singing this one very often growing up, but the refrain always struck me; I saw it as a prayer. Even today, it beckons me to turn aside from the cares and bustle of life to meditate on Jesus.
</idle musing>