1 Hark! what celetial notes,
What melody we hear!
Soft on the morn it floats,
And fills the ravish'd ear.
The tunefull shell,
The golden lyre,
And vocal choir
The concert swell.
2 Th' angelic hosts descend,
With harmony divine:
See how from heav'n they bend,
And in full chorus join.
Fear not, say they;
Great joy we bring:
Jesus, your King,
Is born to-day.
3 He comes, from error's night
Your wan'dring feet to save;
To realms of bliss and light
He lifts you from the grave.
This glorious morn,
(Let all attend!)
Your matchless friend,
Your Saviour's born.
4 Glory to God on high!
Ye mortals, spread the sound,
And let your raptures fly
To earth's remotest bound:
For peace on earth,
From God in heav'n,
To man is giv'n,
At Jesus' birth.
Source: Hymns, Selected and Original: for public and private worship (1st ed.) #104
First Line: | Hark, what celestial notes |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Hark! what celestial notes [sounds]. [Christmas.] This hymn has been traced to the Unitarian Collection of Hymns for Public Worship, &c, edited by B. Williams and others, and published at Salisbury, 1778 (p. 1192, ii.). Its well known American form is in Dabney's Selection of Psalms & Hymns, Cambridge, U.S.A., 1825, No. 309; the Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858, No 271, and others.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)