O Happy Day, When This Our State
On the Circumcision: At Midnight.
The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.—John i.
Source: Isaac Williams, Hymns Translated from the Parisian Breviary (London: J.G.F. & J. Rivington, 1839), pp. 76-77.
O Happy day, when this our state
With Jesus' blood was consecrate!
O happy day, when first the Lord began
To bear the arm which rescued ruin'd man.
Scarce born in this our solitude
The little infant pours His blood;
To be the earnest of His endless love,
The prelibation of His death to prove.
Entering the world, His Father's will
Instant He hastens to fulfil;
And is beforehand with the day of death,
Mark'd as the victim ere He yields His breath.
In very pity for our thrall,
He thus becomes the criminal;
Made 'neath the law, He hastes its yoke to bear,
That from that yoke He may His people spare.
The law is slain by that same sword
By which it dares to smite the Lord;
A holier law begins which shall prevail,
The holier law of love which cannot fail.
Thee of a Virgin-mother born,
In whom is centred endless morn,
We praise Thee, bless Thee, worship and adore,
With Father, and with Spirit, evermore.
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