When Christ In Judah's Town Was Born

For Christmas

"Worship, ye Sages of the East,
The King of Gods in meanness drest,
O Blessed Maid, smile and adore
The God Thy Womb and Arms have bore."
Bishop Hall.

Words: Anonymous

Music: Arthur H. Brown.

Source: Arthur H. Brown, ed., In Excelsis Gloria-Carols for Christmastide (London: Thomas Bosworth & Co., 1885), Carol #20, pp. 42-43.

1. When Christ in Judah's town was born,
Without a place to call His own,
Wise men from Eastern countries came
To see the Jewish King, whose fame
    Had reach'd their distant land.
These Magi, led by guiding star,
Had left their homes, and from afar
Had come by faith to David's land,
And now, with hope fulfill'd, they stand
    Before the Holy Child.

2. See with what joy they gladly fall
And worship Christ as King of all;
What contrast this to Jewish pride,
To scribe and priest who Christ deride,
    To haughty Pharisee :
These "first-fruits of the Gentile race"
Bring forth their costly gifts apace,
And offer to the Holy Child,
The Babe with face so meek and mild,
    Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.

3. The Gold sets forth Christ's regal sway.
The Frankincense His Deity,
And as a sinless man he came,
The scented Myrrh foretells His shame,
    And ever-precious death :
O GOD, Who by a star so bright
Hast shown to man the "only light,"
May we by saving faith grow bold,
And even now our Lord behold
    At His Epiphany.

Sheet Music from Arthur H. Brown, ed., In Excelsis Gloria-Carols for Christmastide (London: Thomas Bosworth & Co., 1885), Carol #20, pp. 42-43.

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