When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.
Galatians 4:4
Words: John H. Anketell, Gospel and Epistle Hymns for the Christian Year (New York: Church Record, 1889), number 6.
Music: St. Thomas (Williams) Aaron Williams, The New Universal Psalmodist 1770 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Anketell (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
In bondage to the Law,
We groaned beneath its yoke;
But God our heavy burden saw,
And sin’s strong fetters broke.
In fullness of the years
He sent His only Son,
To save us from our guilty fears
By deeds which He hath done.
The virgin bears the Child;
Angelic hosts rejoice;
We hail Thee Jesus undefiled,
Named by the angel’s voice.
Mercy and truth are met,
Within our hearts to dwell,
And God most high is with us yet,
Our own Emmanuel!
His Spirit in our hearts
Still Abba, Father,
cries;
His comfort nevermore departs,
While earthly pleasure dies.
In bondage now no more,
We trust Thy faithful Word
And, heirs of God, Thy grace adore
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.