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Holy night! peaceful night! Through the dark-ness beams a

light,

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179

L. M.

J. A. P. Schulz, 1747-1800

Thy lit-tle ones, dear Lord, are we, And come Thy low-ly

bed to see;

p...

En light-en ev-ery soul and mind, That we the way to Thee may find.

2 With songs we hasten Thee to greet,
And kiss the dust before Thy feet,

O blessed hour, O sweetest night,
That gave Thee birth, our soul's delight.

3 Now welcome! From Thy heavenly home
Thou to our vale of tears art come;
Man hath no offering for Thee, save
The stable, manger, cross, and grave.

4 Jesus, alas! how can it be

So few bestow a thought on Thee,
Or on the love, so wondrous great,
That drew Thee down to our estate?

5 O draw us wholly to Thee, Lord,

Do Thou to us Thy grace accord,
True faith and love to us impart,
That we may hold Thee in our heart.

6 Keep us, howe'er the world may lure,
In our baptismal covenant pure;
That every yearning thought may be
Directed only unto Thee:

7 Until at last we, too, proclaim,

With all Thy saints, Thy glorious name;
In Paradise our songs renew,

And praise Thee as the angels do.

8 We gather round Thee, Jesus dear,
So happy in Thy presence here;
Grant us, our Savior, every one,
To stand in heaven before Thy throne.

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2 E'er since the world began to be,

How many a heart hath longed for Thee!
And Thou, O long-expected Guest,
Hast come at last to make us blest!

3 Now art Thou here; we know Thee now;
In lowly manger liest Thou:

A child, yet makest all things great;
Poor,yet is earth Thy robe of state.

4 Now fearless I can look on Thee:

From sin and grief Thou set'st me free:
Thou bearest wrath, Thou conquerest death,

Fear turns to joy Thy glance beneath.

5 Thou art my Head, my Lord divine:

I am Thy member, wholly Thine;

And in Thy Spirit's strength would still
Serve Thee according to Thy will.

6 Thus will I sing Thy praises here,
With joyful spirit year by year:
And when we reckon years no more,
May I in heaven Thy name adore.

P. Gerhardt, 1653

181

L. M.

German, 1539

From heaven above to earth I come To bear good news to ev-ery home;

Glad tidings of great joy I bring, Whereof I now will say and sing.

2 To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen mother mild;
This little child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all the earth.

3 'Tis Christ, our God, who far on high
Hath heard your sad and bitter cry;
Himself will your salvation be,
Himself from sin will make you free.

4 He brings those blessings, long ago
Prepared by God for all below;

Henceforth His kingdom open stands
To you, as to the angel bands.

5 These are the tokens ye shall mark,
The swaddling clothes and manger dark;
There shall ye find the young child laid,
By whom the heavens and earth were made.

6 Now let us all with gladsome cheer
Follow the shepherds, and draw near
To see this wondrous gift of God,
Who hath His only Son bestowed.

7 Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!
Who is it in yon manger lies?

Who is this child so young and fair?
The blessed Christ-child lieth there.

8 Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest,
Through whom the sinful world is blest!
Thou com'st to share our misery,
What can we render, Lord, to Thee!

9 Ah, Lord, who hast created all,

How hast Thou made Thee weak and small,
That Thou must choose Thine infant bed
Where ass and ox but lately fed!

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10 Were earth a thousand times as fair,
Beset with gold and jewels rare,
She yet were far too poor to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.
11 For velvets soft and silken stuff

Thou hast but hay and straw so rough,
Whereon Thou, King, so rich and great,
As 'twere Thy heaven, art throned in state.
12 Thus hath it pleased Thee to make plain
The truth to sinners poor and vain,
That this world's honor, wealth and might
Are naught and worthless in Thy sight.

13 Ah, dearest Jesus, Holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.
14 My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep;
I, too, must raise with joyous tongue
That sweetest ancient cradle song:

15 Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given!-
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad New Year to all the earth.

M. Luther, 1535

Melchior Vulpius, 1609

1

A great and might-y won der Our Christmas fes- tal brings:

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