Bethlehem-Town

As I as go­ing to Beth­le­hem-town

Upon the earth I cast me down

All un­der­neath a lit­tle tree

That whis­pered in this way to me:

Oh

I shall stand on Cal­va­ry

And bear what bur­den sav­eth thee:

Oh

I shall stand on Cal­va­ry

And bear what bur­den sav­eth thee!

As up I fared to Beth­le­hem-town

I met a shep­herd com­ing down

And thus he said: A won­drous sight

Hath spread be­fore mine eyes this night—

An an­gel host most fair to see

That sung full sweet­ly of a tree

That shall up­lift on Cal­va­ry

What bur­den sav­eth you and me!

And as I got to Beth­le­hem-ton

Lo! Wise men came that bore a crown.

Is there

cried I

in Beth­le­hem

A king shall wear this dia­dem?

Most sure

they said

and it is He

That shall be lift­ed on the tree

And free­ly shed on Cal­va­ry

What blood re­deem­eth us and thee!

Unto a child in Beth­le­hem-town

The wise men came and brought the crown;

And while the In­fant smil­ing slept

Upon their knees they fell and wept;

But

with her babe up­on her knee

Naught recked that mo­ther of the tree

That should up­lift on Cal­va­ry

What bur­den sav­eth all and me.

Again I walk in Beth­le­hem-town

And think on Him that wears the crown.

I may not kiss His feet again

Nor wor­ship Him as did I then;

My king hath died up­on the tree

And hath out­poured on Cal­va­ry

What blood re­deem­eth you and me:

Outpoured for us on Cal­va­ry.