4. But lo, he leaves those heavenly forms,
The Word descends and dwells in clay,
That he may hold converse with worms,
Dress'd in such feeble flesh as they.
5. Mortals with joy beheld his face,
Th' eternal Father's only Son;
How full of truth! how full of grace!
When thro' his eyes the Godhead shone!
6. Archangels leave their high abode
To learn new mysteries here, and tell
The loves of our descending God,
The glories of Immanuel.
HYMN 3. Short Metre.
The nativity of Christ
Luke i. 30 & c., Luke ii. 10, &c.
1 Behold, the grace appears,
The promise is fulfil'd
Mary the wondrous virgin bears,
And Jesus is the child.
2 [The Lord, the highest God,
Calls him his only Son;
He bids him rule the lands abroad,
And gives, him David's throne.
3 O'er Jacob shall he reign
With a peculiar sway;
The nations shall his grace obtain,
His kingdom ne'er decay.]
4 To bring the glorious news
A heavenly form appears;
He tells the shepherds of their joys,
And banishes their fears.
