As with gladness men of old

90. Dix. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7.

1 As with gladness men of old
   did the guiding star behold;
   as with joy they hailed its light,
   leading onward, beaming bright;
   so, most gracious God, may we
   evermore be led to Thee.

2 As with joyful steps they sped
   to that lowly cradle-bed,
   there to bend the knee before
   Him whom heav'n and earth adore;
   so may we with willing feet
   ever seek Thy mercy-seat.

3 As they offered gifts most rare
   at that cradle rude and bare;
   so may we with holy joy,
   pure, and free from sin’s alloy,
   all our costliest treasures bring,
   Christ, to Thee, our heav'nly King.

4 Holy Jesus, every day
   keep us in the narrow way;
   and, when earthly things are past,
   bring our ransomed lives at last
   where they need no star to guide,
   where no clouds Thy glory hide.
                         William C. Dix
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
Hymnary.org adds a fifth verse, which I had never heard before:

5 In that heav'nly country bright
   need they no created light;
   Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
   Thou its Sun which goes not down;
   there for ever may we sing
   alleluias to our King.

I do love the fact that this carol doesn't leave Jesus in the manger the way so many do.
</idle musing>