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