When Thou in our flesh didst appear, all Nature acknowledg’d thy birth; Arose the acceptable year, and heaven was opened on earth: Receiving its Lord from above, the world was united to bless The Giver of concord and love, the Prince and the Author of Peace. O wouldst Thou again be made known, again in thy Spirit descend, And set up in each of Thine own a kingdom that never shall end! Thou only art able to bless, and make the glad nations obey, And bid the dire enmity cease, and bow the whole world to thy sway! 27. Man, by Satan’s wiles deceived, forfeits God’s image bright; But Christ hath this loss retrieved, brought redemption plain to light. Glorious mystery! God reveal’d, in flesh our fall made good. He the mighty—He the holy, condescends with man to dwell! See your Saviour, meek and lowly, hail your God—Emmanuel! We wait for Him—he will bless us, in his name we will be glad. We unite to render praises unto our incarnate God; Sing hosannas to Christ Jesus, who assumed our flesh and blood: Blessed, blessed he that cometh in the name of Christ the Lord! 28. The scene around me disappears, and borne to eastern regions, While time recals the flight of years, I see angelic legions Descending in an orb of light! amid the darkness of the night, I hear celestial voices! “Tidings, glad tidings from above to every age and nation! Tidings, glad tidings! God is love, to man He sends salvation. His Son beloved, his only Son, the work of mercy hath begun: Give to his Name the glory!” In David’s city I behold, and all around are sleeping; A light directs to yonder fold, where lonely watch is keeping: I enter—ah, what glories shine! Is this Emmanuel’s earthly shrine? Messiah’s infant temple? It is, it is! and I adore this Babe so meek and lowly, As saints and seraphs bow before the throne of God—thrice holy: Faith, through the veil of flesh can see the face of Thy divinity, My Lord, my God, my Saviour! 29. Arise, and hail the sacred day, cast all low cares of life away, And thoughts of meaner things: This day to cure our deadly woes, The Son of Righteousness arose With healing in his wings. Chorus: O then let heaven and earth rejoice! Creation’s whole united voice, To hail the happy day; When Satan’s empire vanquish’d fell, and all the powers of death and hell Confess’d His sovereign sway.