Scripture Verse

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Introduction

Words: Ano­ny­mous, in Christ­mas Min­strel­sy, ed­it­ed by Jo­seph Will­iams and Hen­ry Gaunt­lett (Lon­don & Man­ches­ter, Eng­land: No­vel­lo & Brem­ner, 1864), num­ber 23.

Music: Nas­sau (Hast­ings) Hast­ings, adapt­ed by Hen­ry J. Gaunt­lett, 1864 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know the au­thor, or Hast­ings’ full name,

portrait
Henry J. Gauntlett (1805–1876)
National Portrait Gallery

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Lyrics

Angel choirs in ac­cents sweet,
Herald hosts a count­less throng!
Chanting they the shep­herds greet;
This the bur­den of their song,
“We pro­claim Mes­si­ah’s birth,
Love to men, and peace on earth.

“Lo! on this aus­pi­cious morn,
We the joy­ful tid­ings bring;
Unto you a Sav­ior’s born,
David’s son, and Da­vid’s king;
Lo! the Lord of earth and skies
In a low­ly man­ger lies.

To the roy­al city go,
Pay your hom­age at His feet;
He shall in His person show
Justice doth with mer­cy meet;
God ap­pears on earth to dwell,
Hail him as Im­ma­nu­el.

Born the na­tions all to bless,
Born to set His peo­ple free,
He shall save from all dis­tress,
Give them glo­ri­ous li­ber­ty;
Hail Him as the pro­mised seed,
He will meet your ev­ery need.

He whom pro­phets long fore­told,
In the end of time ap­pears;
Judah’s lion, strong and bold,
Now His peaceful stand­ard rears;
Types and sha­dows fade away,
Darkness is ex­changed for day.