The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

A Virgin Most Blessed

For Christmas

Words: Unknown

Music: Traditional
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML

Source: Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), #517.

See: In Bethlehem City - Notes

1. A Virgin most blessed, the prophet foretold,
Should bring forth a Saviour which now we behold,
To be our Redeemer from death, hell and sin,
Which Adam’s transgression had wrapped us all in.

Chorus:
Come therefore be joyful, set sorrow aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide!

2. At Bethlehem city in Jewry it was
That Joseph and Mary together did pass,
All for to be taxed, their names to declare,
Great Caesar commanded them all to be there. Chorus

3. But when they had entered the city so fair,
A number of people so mighty was there,
That Joseph and Mary, who substance was small,
Could find in the inn there no lodging at all. Chorus

4. Then were they constrained in a stable to lie,
Where horses and asses they used for to tie;
Their lodging so simple they took it no scorn,
But against the next morning our Saviour was born. Chorus

5. The King of all kings to this world being brought,
Small store of fine linen to wrap Him was sought;
But when she had swaddled her young Son so sweet,
Within an ox manger she laid Him to sleep. Chorus

6. Then God sent an angel from heaven so high,
To certain poor shepherds in fields where they lie,
And bade them no longer in sorrow to stay,
Because that our Saviour was born on this day. Chorus

7. Then presently after the shepherds did spy
Vast numbers of angels to stand in the sky;
They joyfully talked, and sweetly did sing,
"To God be all glory, our heavenly King." Chorus

8. To teach us humility all this was done,
And learn we from thence haughty pride for to shun;
A manger His cradle Who came from above,
The great God of mercy, of peace, and of love. Chorus

Sheet Music From Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), #517.

A_Virgin_Most_Blessed_517.gif (261866 bytes)

Sheet Music from Rev. Edgar Pettman, ed., The Westminster Carol Book (London: Houghton & Co., 1899), No. 20, pp. 26-27. The title and first line is "A Virgin Most Holy," but the hymn is otherwise the same as this hymn.

Pettman_20a-A_Virgin_Most_Holy.jpg (401277 bytes) Pettman_20b-A_Virgin_Most_Holy.jpg (350061 bytes)

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A Virgin Most Blessed

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