The Time by Heaven Foretold Is Come

The time by Heav­en fore­told is come

The year of Ju­bi­lee;

The day which kings and saints so long

So much de­sired to see.

He’s come

the migh­ty Sav­ior’s come;

Hear and re­joice

thou earth;

Let ev­ery tongue the globe around

Hail the Re­deem­er’s birth.

Glory to God on high be giv­en

For peace to earth is brought!

Good will to wretch­ed

dy­ing men

Surpassing hu­man thought.

See where the roy­al In­fant lies

In no rich bed of state

A sta­ble and a man­ger hold

This migh­ty Po­ten­tate.

There ’twas the won­der­ing shep­herds found

Their Sav­ior and their king:

There too let us be­hold Him laid

And whilst we won­der

sing.

The Fa­ther’s match­less love we praise

We sing the Sav­ior’s grace;

In mor­tal flesh ar­rayed the Son

Assumes the serv­ant’s place.

Not tongues of men

nor an­gels’ songs

Can His abase­ment tell;

He dies up­on th’accursèd tree

To save our souls from hell.

O how shall I such love re­quite?

My words are all too weak;

Lord

may each action of my life

Thy last­ing hon­ors speak.

Glory to God on high be giv’n

For peace to earth is brought!

Good will to wretch­ed

dy­ing men

Surpassing hu­man thought.