IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US

What is this my eyes behold,
Who its wonders can unfold?
God the Word, mystery divine,
Born a babe in Bethlehem.

How the holy angels gazed,
Lost in wonder all amazed,
When they saw their Maker lie
In a manger, born to die!

Silence breaks, and they exclaim,
Glory to the great I AM;
In their highest height they sing,
Glory to their new-born King.

Yet they could not fully trace
Al the glories of the case;
Here they saw a volume sealed,
Not to them fully revealed.

Guilty sinners,lost and poor,
Who can knock at mercy's door,
Shall its choicest glories view,
Feel, and love, and sing them too.

Saved sinners here may trace
A mysterious stoop of grace;
God made flesh them to redeem,
And secure their bliss in Him.

Holy Ghost, bless us with faith
In the glories of this birth;
Tune our hearts to sing with joy,
This incarnate mystery,

Sweetly open every breast,
To receive Him as our Guest;
Seal His mercy in each heart,
And His matchless love impart.

Then we'll sing with sweet surprise,
God with us by sacred ties;
And His name we'll still adore,
When with us time is no more.

              William Gadsby (1773-1844)