From Out The Spacious Firmament

Alternate Title: The Shepherd of the Shepherds.

For Christmas

" Run, Shepherds, run where Bethle'm blest appears,
We bring the best of news, be not dismayed,
A Saviour there is born, more old than years,
Amidst Heaven's rolling heights this earth Who stayed,"
Wm. Drummond, 1616.

Words: Rev. Samuel Childs Clarke, M.A.

Music: Arthur H. Brown.

Source: Arthur H. Brown, ed., In Excelsis Gloria-Carols for Christmastide (London: Thomas Bosworth & Co., 1885), Carol #28, pp. 37-39.

1. From out the spacious firmament,
Amid the gloom of night,
With many a glitt'ring gem bespent,
Appears a wondrous sight:
'Twas when of old good Jesse's son
His flocks did tend and keep,
The Angel hold of joy begun
To those who watch'd their sheep,
To those who watch'd their sheep.
Hail! thou the Heav'n sent harbinger,
Good tidings thou dost bring;

Chorus
And year by year in Carol clear,
That gladsome news we sing
That gladsome news we sing.

2. And David's Son in Bethlehem,
The Shepherds now might see :
Henceforth true Pastor He to them
And all the world would be;
King David was a watchful swain
Ere rais'd to fill a throne,
Now David's Royal Son doth reign,
Yet watches o'er his own,
Yet watches o'er his own,
And so we hail the harbinger
Who did those tidings bring:
Chorus.

3. No Shepherd e'er such tender care
Of wand'ring sheep could take,
As He Who, loving, did not spare
His life-blood for their sake:
O Shepherd of Thine Israel,
Of Whom the Angel told,
In pastures safe lead us to dwell
Forever in Thy Fold,
Forever in Thy Fold.
We hail today the harbinger
Who did those tidings bring:
Chorus.

Sheet Music from Arthur H. Brown, ed., In Excelsis Gloria-Carols for Christmastide (London: Thomas Bosworth & Co., 1885), Carol #28, pp. 37-39.

Note:

The quotation above is from the poem & song The Angels For The Nativity Of Our Lord by William Drummond of Hawthornden.

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