Thy Praise The Holy Infants Showed

For The Holy Innocents
Feast Day, Dec. 28
See: The Holy Innocents

Words: John Mason Neale
See: Additional Christmas Carols & Hymns of John Mason Neale

Music: Not Stated

Source: Source: Mary Sackville Lawson, et al, eds., Collected Hymns, Sequences and Carols of John Mason Neale (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914), p. 364.
Said to have been originally printed in the St. Margaret's Hymnal.

1. Thy praise the holy Infants showed¹
This day, blessed Lord,
Not by their mouths, but by their blood;
In deed, and not in word.

2. A few short days they knew at most
A mother's tender love;
But they are now a glorious host²
Around Thy throne above.

3. Help us to keep Thy law, if e'er
Tis painful to obey;
And all Thy holy will to bear
As cheerfully as they.

4. To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Holy Ghost,
By men below be honour done,
And by the Heavenly Host.

Footnotes:

1. St. Matthew 2:16 (KJV).

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Return

2. Revelation 14:3-4 (KJV).

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Return

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