1 Sweetly sang the angels
In the clear, calm night,
On their white wings resting
In the heavenly light;
Sent by God the Father,
Who our love has sought,
Unto men and children
Tidings glad they brought.
Refrain"
Children, blend your voices,
In sweet concord sing;
Hail the Lord’s anointed,
Christ, the children’s king.
2 To the gentle shepherds
It was first revealed,
Watching ’mid the darkness
In the open field.
That in David’s city,
On that holy morn,
In a lowly stable
Christ, our king, was born. [Refrain]
3 Gladdened by the tidings,
Hastily they sped
To the crowded city
And the manger bed;
There they found the Savior
With His mother mild;
Him they loved and worshipped,
Though a lowly child. [Refrain]
4 In His simple childhood,
And His sacred youth,
All His ways were holy,
All His ways were truth;
For our sins He suffered,
And, thro’ grief untold,
All His lambs He purchased
For His sacred fold. [Refrain]
5 Jesus, meek and gentle,
Make us like to Thee;
Loving, true, and tender,
Thou wouldst have us be;
Blessings rich and holy,
On this festal day,
Pour Thou out upon us,
Lord we humbly pray. [Refrain]
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #9130
First Line: | Sweetly sang the Angels in the clear calm night |
Author: | John Julian |
Language: | English |
Refrain First Line: | Children, blend your voices |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Sweetly sang the angels, In the clear, calm night. J. Julian. [Christmas.] Written Nov. 7, 1873, and first printed in the Preston Herald [Lancashire], Nov. 11th, 1873 in an article entitled "Table Talk." It was in 5 stanzas of 8 lines, with a refrain of 4 lines. In 1874 it was included in the Hymn Book published for the use of St. Mary's Church Sunday School, Preston; in Dec. 1874, in an article on "Christmas Hymns" in the Churchman's Shilling Magazine; again in Horder's Congregational Hymns, 1884, and other collections. It is also set as a part song by A. J. Caldicott, Mus. B., No. 147 of The Choral Handbook, London, J. Curwen.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)