3046. I Sing the Birth Was Born Tonight

1. I sing the birth was born tonight,
The Author both of life and light;
The angels so did sound it,
And like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light, and were afraid,
Yet searched, and true they found it.

2. The Son of God, th’eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,
And freed the soul from danger;
He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word, which Heaven and earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger.

3. The Father’s wisdom willed it so,
The Son’s obedience knew no No,
Both wills were in one stature;
And as that wisdom had decreed,
The Word was now made flesh indeed,
And took on Him our nature.

4. What comfort by Him do we win?
Who made Himself the Prince of sin,
To make us heirs of glory?
To see this babe, all innocence,
A martyr born in our defense,
Can man forget this story?

Text Information
First Line: I sing the birth was born tonight
Title: I Sing the Birth Was Born Tonight
Author: Ben Jonson, 1573-1637
Meter: 88.88.88
Language: English
Source: appeared in his Underwoods, in the second volume (folio) of his Works, published in 1640
Copyright: Public Domain
Notes: Alternate tunes: CAREY'S SURREY, Henry Carey, circa 1732; GLADDEN, Thoro Harris; ST PETERSBURG, attributed to Dmitri S. Bortniansky, 1825
Tune Information
Name: MELITA
Composer: John Bacchus Dykes (1861)
Meter: 88.88.88
Incipit: 13355 66551 25554
Key: C Major
Source: Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861
Copyright: Public Domain



Media
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(Cyber Hymnal)
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(Cyber Hymnal)
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(Cyber Hymnal)
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