The Christmas Celebration

Words: The Rev. Alfred Gurney, M. A.

Music: Ebenezer Prout, B. A.
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Source: Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer, Christmas Carols New and Old, Third Series (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., ca 1878), Carol #57.

1. Now to God on high be glory
And to men on earth be peace
'Tis the Eucharistic anthem
Music that shall never cease
To a ransom'd world proclaiming
Jesu's advent, men's release

2. Christendom at all her Altars
Once again the tale doth tell
Of His Birth, Who came to vanquish
Sin and Satan, Death and Hell,
Virgin-born, and Manger-cradled,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

3. See the shepherds, heaven-greeted,
Worship, while the Angels sing;
See the Magi, star-directed,
Their most costly treasures bring; [1]
See earth's simple ones and wise ones
Bending o'er their Baby-King.

4. Happy Mother, ever Virgin,
Mary clasps Him to her breast,
All succeeding generations
Speaking of her call her blest,
And Saint Joseph joins with wonder
In the homage of the rest.

5. Now, dear Lord, Thy Birth-day keeping,
As we bend before the shrine,
Find Thee life and health bestowing
Veiled beneath the Bread and Wine.
Make us like Thee, child-like, God-like,
Keep, O keep us ever Thine.

Notes:

1. Or: Their most costly presents bring Return

Note that Hutchins gives lyric attribution to J. H. Gurney.

Sheet Music from Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer, Christmas Carols New and Old (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., ca 1878).

Sheet Music from Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), Carol #707

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