Scripture Verse

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14

Introduction

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Philip Doddridge (1702–1751)

Words: Phi­lip Dodd­ridge (1702–1751). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Found­ed on Va­ri­ous Texts in the Ho­ly Scrip­tures, by Job Or­ton (Shrop­shire, Eng­land: Jo­shua Ed­dowes & John Cot­ton, 1755), num­ber 201: The an­gels’ song at Christ’s birth.

Music: Ar­ling­ton Tho­mas A. Arne, 1762. Ar­ranged by Ralph Har­ris­on, 1784 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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Thomas A. Arne (1710–1778)

Lyrics

High let us swell our tune­ful notes,
And join th’an­gel­ic throng;
For ang­els no such love have known
T’awake a cheer­ful song.

Good will to sin­ful men is shown,
And peace on earth is giv’n;
For lo! th’in­car­nate Sav­ior comes
With mes­sag­es from Hea­ven.

Justice and grace with sweet ac­cord
His ris­ing beams adorn;
Let Heav’n and earth in con­sort join
Now such a child is born.

Glory to God in high­est strains
In high­est worlds be paid;
His glo­ry by our lips pro­claimed,
And by our lives dis­played.

When shall we reach those bliss­ful realms,
Where Christ ex­alt­ed reigns,
And learn of the ce­le­sti­al choir
Their own im­mor­tal strains?