Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.
Luke 2:15
Words: Harriet M. Kimball, The Blessed Company of All Faithful People (New York: Anson D. F. Randolph, 1879), pages 38–40.
Music: Ash Grove, Welsh tune (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a better photo of Kimball,
Hark! eastward and westward
The message is winging;
The Promised of ages,
Messiah, is born!
Oh, haste, let us find Him!
All Heaven is singing;
The choirs angelic
Proclaiming the morn!
Where sleeps He in purple,
Surrounded with splendor,
This King out of Heaven
Forsaking His throne?
The virgin, His mother,
What monarchs attend her,
To whom the Almighty
Such favor hath shown?
Can this be His dwelling,
His cradle, this manger?
Can this be His mother,
This maiden so meek?
Comes He to His own in
This guise of a stranger
Unsheltered and friendless—
The Prince whom we seek?
Behold where He lieth,
In Bethlehem hidden!
The Son of the Highest,
Most lowly His birth!
And no one to welcome
Or serve Him is bidden
Who counteth as dust
All the pomp of the earth.
Oh! vast condescension!
Almighty, eternal,
He stoops to the lowest,
By seraphs adored;
And, One with His Father
In glory supernal,
Our flesh He hath taken
And hath not abhorred!
His name is called Jesus.
Yes, Thou art our Jesus,
Sweet Babe whose appearing
The angels proclaim!
From sin and from death
Thou art come to release us;
Thou bearest for us
That adorable name!