From heaven the Son of God descends, and takes the form of man. To reconcile his foes as friends, was all his gracious plan. For now the promis’d Saviour’s born, to Israel long foretold, A lovely babe—the great ones’ scorn—see a rough stable hold! But though He comes in lowly guise, ’tis David’s Royal Son, And He that in the manger lies, shall fill his Father’s throne. 51. To us a child of royal birth, Heir of the promises, is given; The Invisible appears on earth, the Son of man the God of heaven. A Saviour born, in love supreme he comes our fallen souls to raise: He comes his people to redeem, with all his plenitude of grace. The Christ by raptured seers foretold, fill’d with the eternal Spirit’s power; Prophet, and Priest, and King behold, and Lord of all the worlds adore. The Lord of Hosts, the God most high, who quits his throne on earth to live, With joy we welcome from the sky, with faith into our hearts receive. 52. Hail this day of grace and peace, of bright celestial dawn, ’Tis glory, not the sun, awakes this consecrated morn. Hear the tidings from on high, Messiah’s wondrous birth! Hear the angel tell the swains, He now inhabits earth. And hear the host from heaven sing “Glory to God on high, Peace on earth, good will to men,” the greeting from the sky. See the lowly infant laid, a manger for his bed, See a new-made star appear, to crown that infant head. Then was heard the high command, “Angels before Him fall, Worship your incarnate God, and crown Him Lord of all.” “Glory to God” the angels sung, “Glory to God,” we sing, And equal glory be to Thee, O Saviour, Lord and King. 53. Awake, arise good Christians, let nothing you dismay; Remember Christ our Saviour was born upon this day. The self-same moon was shining that now is in the sky, When a holy band of angels came down from God on high; Came down on clouds of glory, arrayed in shining light, Unto the shepherd-people who watched their flocks by night. And through the midnight silence the heavenly hosts began, “Glory to God in the highest; on earth good-will to man! “Fear not! we bring good tidings, for on this happy morn, The promised One—the Saviour, in Bethlehem town was born.” Up rose the simple shepherds, all with a joyful mind: “And let us go with speed,” say they, “this holy Child to find.” Not in a kingly palace the Son of God they found, But in a lowly manger where oxen fed around. The glorious King of Heaven, the Lord of all the earth, In mercy condescended to be of humble birth. Long looked the simple shepherds with holy wonder stirred, Then praised God for all things which they had seen and heard,