Piano Demo
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Hymnal Number
763Resource Type:
Keys included:
Bb
About this Hymn
Another hymn by nineteenth-century Scottish hymn writer James Montgomery, this selection offers an interesting insight into his priorities, which are so helpful to us as we think beyond just pretty nativity pictures to the rough and radical reality of incarnation. Montgomery believed the gospel spoke loudly against the slave trade, as shown in the original fifth verse:
Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you—break your chains.
As we consider at Christmas and Epiphany the reality of the people to whom Jesus appeared, let us think of what this message is for all of those around us in our lives.
Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you—break your chains.
As we consider at Christmas and Epiphany the reality of the people to whom Jesus appeared, let us think of what this message is for all of those around us in our lives.
Lyrics
Verse 1
Angels, from the realms of glory, wing your flight o'er all the earth; ye, who sang creation's story, now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Chorus
come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.
Verse 2
Shepherds in the fields abiding, watching o'er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing; yonder shines the infant light:
Verse 3
Sages, leave your contemplations; brighter visions beam afar; seek the great Desire of nations; ye have seen his natal star:
Verse 4
Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear, suddenly the Lord, descending, in his temple shall appear:
Verse 5
All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son; evermore your voices raising to th' eternal Three in One:
Angels, from the realms of glory, wing your flight o'er all the earth; ye, who sang creation's story, now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Chorus
come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.
Verse 2
Shepherds in the fields abiding, watching o'er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing; yonder shines the infant light:
Verse 3
Sages, leave your contemplations; brighter visions beam afar; seek the great Desire of nations; ye have seen his natal star:
Verse 4
Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear, suddenly the Lord, descending, in his temple shall appear:
Verse 5
All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son; evermore your voices raising to th' eternal Three in One:
Copyrighted lyrics may be used in corporate worship in accordance with a valid CCLI license. Lyrics should be displayed unaltered and include author and copyright information. All other uses require permission from the copyright holder.
Attribution & Copyright
Words: Sts. 1–4, James Montgomery, 1816; st. 5, Salisbury Hymn-Book, 1857
Music: Henry Smart, 1866
Music: Henry Smart, 1866