The Cyber Hymnal ‎#9329

9329. The Birth Of Our Savior

1 And, as in olden days,
The angels went before
To speak the coming of the Lord,
So now, and evermore,
The angels of His love
Go on before His face,
To find, in humble, lowly hearts,
For Him a dwelling place.

2 So, in our youthful hearts,
May Christ the Savior come;
Though poor and small the place for Him,
Yet there may be His home.
By doing kindly deeds,
By loving self the least,
Christ may be born in every heart
As in the ancient East.

3 So, over all your hearts
May shine the star so fair,
The light of heavenly truth, and love,
To show the Lord is here.
And may we bring to Him,
As wise men did of old,
The gift of earnest, loving souls,
More precious far than gold.

4 Thus, like the wicked king,
Our sins do seek to kill
The holy things within our minds,
And all good thoughts to still.
But if we try to love
Our Savior and His ways,
He’ll send an angel from above
To guard us all our days.

5 So, if we strive aright,
To do the Master’s will,
Our wrong desires and thoughts will die,
And good our bosoms fill.
Thus may we overcome
Our sins on every hand,
Till, guided by the angels bright,
We reach the promised land.

Text Information

• First Line: And, as in olden days
• Title: The Birth Of Our Savior
• Author: James R. Murray
• Meter: 76.86 D
• Language: English
• Source: The Prize by George F. Root (Chicago: Root & Cady, 1870)
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: SEYCHELLES
• Composer: James Ramsey Murray (1870)
• Meter: 76.86 D
• Key: F Major
• Copyright: Public Domain

Text Information:

In the 1870 publication of this song, it was accompanied by a series of questions and answers, to be read before each verse:

Question 1: How was our Savior’s coming announced?
Answer: An the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord. Luke ii; 10, 11.

Question 2: Where was Jesus born?
Answer: Jesus was in born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the King. Matt. ii; 1.

Question 3: What guided the wise men to the manger?
Answer: And lo, the star, which they saw in the East, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. Matt. ii; 9.

Question 4: Who kept wicked Herod from killing the young child Jesus?
Answer: Behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. Matt. ii; 13

Question 5: When again did an angel appear unto Joseph?
Answer: But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. Matt. ii; 20.