Ring, Sweet Bells of Christendom

Ring

sweet bells of Christ­en­dom

Everywhere the tid­ings tell

How the Lord to earth did come—

Ring and tell!

Swift to seek and save the lost

More than mer­ci­ful He came;

Glad to pay life’s bit­ter cost

Jesus came.

Prince of Peace

the heav’n­ly King

As a mor­tal babe dis­guised

He ap­peared whom an­gels sing—

Earth-dis­guised.

Love di­vine in hu­man frame

Of the low­ly low­li­est He;

Stripped of glo­ry

in His shame

Gloried He.

Empty-hand­ed from His birth

Gifts ex­ceed­ing price He brought;

Treasures hid­den not in earth

Jesus brought.

To the blind

un­cloud­ed sight;

To the dumb

the voice of praise;

And to all in dark­ness

light—

Joy and praise.

To the poor

the Gos­pel’s wealth;

To the rich

the spir­it poor;

And to all His sav­ing health—

Rich and poor.

To the heavy-la­den

rest;

To the mourn­er

words of life;

And to all—the last and best—

Endless life.

In the per­fect path He trod

Still His foot­prints mark the way;

Out to men and up to God

Show the way.

Out to men in love that breaks

Bread of char­ity with all

And—thrice bless­èd then—for­sakes

Self for all.

Up to God in deeds like pray­ers

In obe­di­ence to Him

And in faith—love’s al­tar-stairs

Reared to Him.

Ring

sweet bells of Christ­en­dom

Far and near the tid­ings tell

How the Lord to earth did come—

Ring and tell!

Join

good Christ­ians

east and west

In Em­ma­nu­el’s end­less praise

And with deeds of mer­cy best

Show His praise!

Still the Christ­mas an­gels sing:

Glory be to God Most High!

The eter­nal ec­hoes ring:

God Most High!

Lift your songs in uni­son:

Peace on earth

good-will to men!

Mingle song and life in one

Wide Amen!