Scripture Verse

When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4:4–5

Introduction

Words: John Need­ham, Hymns De­vo­tion­al and Mo­ral on Va­ri­ous Sub­jects (Bris­tol, Eng­land: S. Far­ley, 1768), num­ber 80.

Music: Brook­field Tho­mas B. South­gate, 1855 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Need­ham or South­gate (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

O hap­py time! Aus­pi­cious morn!
When the blest Prince of Peace was born;
Angels in rap­tures hailed His birth,
Who brought down peace from Hea­ven to earth.

’Twas when th’ap­point­ed years were run,
The God of grace sent forth His Son;
In mor­tal dress this Prince of light
Conceals a form di­vine­ly bright.

Heaven’s eq­ual laws by us de­fied
Jesus ob­eyed and pa­tient died;
Our curse He bears up­on the tree,
And by His death makes cap­tives free.

The saint’s full bliss, who can re­late?
His hon­ors, how di­vin­ely great,
Through Christ a son, a roy­al heir,
What an­gel can the bliss de­clare?

Ye men with joy­ful an­gels sing,
For un­to you was born this King;
In heav­en­ly rap­tures hail His birth;
Who brought down peace from Hea­ven to earth.