Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Words: John Needham, Hymns Devotional and Moral on Various Subjects (Bristol, England: S. Farley, 1768), number 87.
Music: Alma Mater (Redhead) Richard Redhead (1820–1901) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Needham (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Behold the Prince of Peace,
The chosen of the Lord;
God’s best belovèd Son fulfills
The sure prophetic word.
No royal pomp adorns
This King of righteousness;
Meekness and patience, truth and love,
Compose His princely dress.
The Spirit of the Lord,
In rich abundance shed,
On this great Prophet gently lights,
And rests upon His head.
The noisy breath of fame
His modest ears decline;
Goodness in humble silence shows
His character divine.
His arm shall never break
The weak and bruisèd reed;
He will support its feeble frame
In every time of need.
The tender Jesus spies
The pure, tho’ weak desire;
The smoking flax He will not quench,
But fan the holy fire.
Truth shall support His throne
And make its glorious way:
The Gentile world shall trust His grace,
And cheerful homage pay.