135. Christians, awake

1 Christians, awake! salute the happy morn,
whereon the Saviour of the world was born;
rise to adore the mystery of love
which hosts of angels chanted from above;
with them the joyful tidings first begun
of God Incarnate and the virgin's son.

2 Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
who heard the angel herald's voice, "Behold,
I bring good tidings of a saviour's birth
to you and all the nations on the earth;
God has this day fulfilled the promised word:
this day is born a saviour, Christ the Lord."

3 Then went the shepherds straight to Bethlehem
to see the wonder that was told to them,
and found, with Joseph and the blessed maid,
her son, the Saviour, in a manger laid;
joyful, the wondrous story they proclaim,
the first apostles of his infant fame.

4 Oh may we keep and ponder in our mind
God's wondrous love in saving humankind;
trace we the babe, who has retrieved our loss,
from his poor manger to his bitter cross;
saved by his love, unceasing we shall sing
eternal praise to heaven's almighty King.

Text Information
First Line: Christians, awake! salute the happy morn
Title: Christians, awake
Paraphraser: John Byrom, 1692-1763 (alt.)
Meter: 10 10 10 10 10 10
Language: English
Publication Date: 1997
Scripture:
Topic: Canticles and Scripture Paraphrases; Church Year: Christmas; Cross (2 more...)
Copyright: Public Domain
Tune Information
Name: YORKSHIRE
Composer: John Wainwright, 1723-1768
Meter: 10 10 10 10 10 10
Key: C Major
Copyright: Public Domain



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