Ten Thousand Stars Were Burning Bright

For Christmas

Words: Anonymous

Music: Arthur H. Brown

Source: Arthur H. Brown, ed., In Excelsis Gloria-Carols for Christmastide (London: Thomas Bosworth & Co., 1885), Carol #5, pp. 10-11.

" Who Angels did create, with Oxen lies,
Fit types of His atoning Sacrifice ;
The Ass too, not denied His company,
Emblems strange Patience and Humility :
Yet happy, if like them, we own our Lord,
Resign our Crib to Him, our All afford,
Who so descended from His radiant crown
To beat our pride, and haughty passions down."
Scintilla Altaris.

Ten thousand stars were burning bright
To charm the lonely Shepherd's eye,
But not a watcher turned that night
To count the gems in Bethlehem's sky,
All Heaven was up and chanting still
Glory to God, to Man good will!

How eager then that listening throng
Pressed to the lowly Manger gate
To greet their Infant God with song,
And at His Feet with homage wait
Till e'en the walls with rapture thrill—
Glory to God, to Man good will!

Blest Babe ! on this Thy holy Day
From gaudy suns of earth we turn,
To where with soft and spotless ray
The Star of Bethlehem loves to burn :
Hark ! Lord, our songs the Manger fill—
Glory to God, to Man good will!

Thus at Thy Cradle while we kneel,
And from Thy Lips a Blessing seek,
Bid o'er our hearts Thy Image steal,
Humble like Thee and good and meek :
Thy Birth-day Promise thus fulfill—
Glory to God, to Man good will!

Sheet Music from Arthur H. Brown, ed., In Excelsis Gloria-Carols for Christmastide (London: Thomas Bosworth & Co., 1885), Carol #5, pp. 10-11.

Note:

Also found in Orby Shipley, ed., Lyra Mystica; Hymns And Verses on Sacred Subjects, Ancient and Modern (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts and Green, 1865, 1869), p. 333. 4 verses. Part One,"The First Coming," of Three Parts titled "The Three Comings."

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