Heavenly Host

Hymn lyrics and Music by William Billings
(1786 edition)

Verse 1

• Methinks I see an Heav’nly host
• Of angels on the wing;
• Methinks I hear their cheerful notes,
• So merrily they sing:
• Let all your fears be banish’d hence,
• Glad tidings I proclaim,
• For there’s a Saviour born today,
• And Jesus is his name.

Verse 2

• Lay down your crooks, and quit your flocks,
• To Bethlehem repair;
• And let your wand’ring steps be squared
• By yonder shining star.
• Seek not in courts or palaces,
• Nor royal curtains draw;
• But search the stable, see your God
• Extended on the straw.

Verse 3

• Then learn from hence, ye rural swains,
• The meekness of your God,
• Who left the boundless realms of joy,
• To ransom you with blood.
• The master of the inn refus’d
• A more commodious place;
• Ungenerous soul of savage mold,
• And destitute of grace.

Verse 4

• Exult ye oxen, low for joy,
• Ye tenants of the stall,
• Pay your obeisance; on your knees
• Unanimously fall.
• The royal guest you entertain
• Is not of common birth,
• But second in the Great I am;
• The God of Heav’n and Earth.

Verse 5

• Then suddenly an Heav’nly host
• Around the shepherds throng,
• Exulting in the threefold God
• And thus address their song:
• To God the Father, Christ the Son,
• And Holy Ghost ador’d;
• The First and Last, the Last and First,
• Eternal praise afford.

The Church’s One Foundation

Hymn lyrics by Samuel J. Stone,
Music by Samuel S. Wesley

Verse 1

• The Church’s one foundation
• Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
• She is His new creation
• By water and the Word.
• From heav’n He came and sought her
• To be His holy bride;
• With His own blood He bought her
• And for her life He died.

Verse 2

• She is from every nation,
• Yet one o’er all the earth;
• Her charter of salvation,
• One Lord, one faith, one birth;
• One holy Name she blesses,
• Partakes one holy food,
• And to one hope she presses,
• With every grace endued.

Verse 3

• The Church shall never perish!
• Her dear Lord to defend,
• To guide, sustain, and cherish,
• Is with her to the end:
• Though there be those who hate her,
• And false sons in her pale,
• Against both foe or traitor
• She ever shall prevail.

Verse 4

• Though with a scornful wonder
• Men see her sore oppressed,
• By schisms rent asunder,
• By heresies distressed:
• Yet saints their watch are keeping,
• Their cry goes up, “How long?”
• And soon the night of weeping
• Shall be the morn of song!

Verse 5

• ’Mid toil and tribulation,
• And tumult of her war,
• She waits the consummation
• Of peace forevermore;
• Till, with the vision glorious,
• Her longing eyes are blest,
• And the great Church victorious
• Shall be the Church at rest.

Verse 6

• Yet she on earth hath union
• With God the Three in One,
• And mystic sweet communion
• With those whose rest is won,
• With all her sons and daughters
• Who, by the Master’s hand
• Led through the deathly waters,
• Repose in Eden land.

Verse 7

• O happy ones and holy!
• Lord, give us grace that we
• Like them, the meek and lowly,
• On high may dwell with Thee:
• There, past the border mountains,
• Where in sweet vales the Bride
• With Thee by living fountains
• Forever shall abide!

Now I Belong to Jesus

Hymn lyrics and music by Norman J. Clayton
Copyright Status Uncertain

Verse 1

• Jesus my Lord will love me forever,
• From Him no pow’r of evil can sever;
• He gave His life to ransom my soul—
• Now I belong to Him!

Chorus

• Now I belong to Jesus,
• Jesus belongs to me—
• Not for the years of time alone,
• But for eternity.

Verse 2

• Once I was lost in sin’s degradation,
• Jesus came down to bring me salvation,
• Lifted me up from sorrow and shame—
• Now I belong to Him!

Chorus

Verse 3

• Joy floods my soul, for Jesus has saved me,
• Freed me from sin that long had enslaved me;
• His precious blood He gave to redeem—
• Now I belong to Him!

Chorus

One Day

Hymn lyrics by J. Wilbur Chapman,
Music by Charles H. Marsh

Verse 1

• One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
• One day when sin was as black as could be,
• Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
• Dwelt among men, my Example is He!

Chorus

• Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
• Buried, He carried my sins far away;
• Rising, He justified freely forever;
• One day He’s coming—O glorious day!

Verse 2

• One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
• One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
• Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
• Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He!

Chorus

Verse 3

• One day they left Him alone in the garden,
• One day He rested, from suffering free;
• Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;
• Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He!

Chorus

Verse 4

• One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
• One day the stone rolled away from the door;
• Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
• Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!

Chorus

Verse 5

• One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
• One day the skies with His glories will shine;
• Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;
• Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!

Chorus

I Gave My Life for Thee

Hymn lyrics by Frances R. Havergal,
Music by Philip P. Bliss,
Compilation of 6 verses with Bliss tune ©2005 Brian J. Fink

Verse 1

I gave My life for thee,

My precious blood I shed,

That thou might’st ransomed be

And quickened from the dead.

Refrain

I gave, I gave My life for thee;

What hast thou giv’n for Me?

I gave, I gave My life for thee;

What hast thou giv’n for Me?

Verse 2

I spent long years for thee

In weariness and woe,

That an eternity

Of joy thou mightest know.

Refrain

I spent, I spent long years for thee;

Hast thou spent one for Me?

I spent, I spent long years for thee;

Hast thou spent one for Me?

Verse 3

My Father’s home of light,

My rainbow-circled throne,

I left for earthly night,

For wand’rings sad and lone.

Refrain

I left, I left it all for thee;

Hast thou left aught for Me?

I left, I left it all for thee;

Hast thou left aught for Me?

Verse 4

I suffered much for thee,

More than My tongue may tell,

Of bitt’rest agony,

To rescue thee from hell.

Refrain

I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee;

What hast thou borne for Me?

I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee;

What hast thou borne for Me?

Verse 5

And I have brought to thee,

Down from My home above,

Salvation full and free,

My pardon and My love.

Refrain

I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee;

What hast thou brought to Me?

I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee;

What hast thou brought to Me?

Verse 6

Oh, let thy life be giv’n,

Thy years for Me be spent,

World’s fetters all be riv’n,

And joy with suff’ring blent!

Refrain

I gave, I gave Myself for thee;

Give thou thyself to Me.

I gave, I gave Myself for thee;

Give thou thyself to Me.

What Child is This

Hymn lyrics by William Chatterton Dix,
Music: Traditional (Greensleeves)

Verse 1

What Child is this who, laid to rest,

On Mary’s lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping?

Refrain

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Verse 2

Why lies He in such mean estate,

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christian, fear: for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading.

Refrain

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,

The cross be borne for me, for you;

Hail, hail the Word made flesh,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Verse 3

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,

Come peasant, king to own Him;

The King of kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Refrain

Raise, raise the song on high,

The virgin sings her lullaby:

Joy, joy for Christ is born,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

I Wonder as I Wander

Traditional Appalachian Carol
Compiled by John J. Niles, 1892-1980

Verse 1

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

How Jesus the Savior did come for to die

For poor orn’ry people like you and like I—

I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

Verse 2

When Mary birthed Jesus, ’twas in a cow’s stall,

With Wise Men, and farmers, and shepherds, and all;

But high from God’s Heaven, a star’s light did fall,

And the promise of ages it then did recall.

Verse 3

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,

A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,

Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,

He surely could have had it, ’cause He was the King.

Verse 4

(Repeat first verse.)

The Holly and the Ivy

Traditional Medieval Carol

Verse 1

The holly and the ivy,

When they are both full grown,

Of all the trees that are in the wood,

The holly bears the crown.

Chorus

O the rising of the sun,

And the running of the deer,

The playing of the merry organ,

Sweet singing in the choir.

Verse 2

The holly bears a blossom

As white as lily flower;

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

To be our sweet Savior.

Chorus

Verse 3

The holly bears a berry

As red as any blood;

Any Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

To do poor sinners good.

Chorus

Verse 4

The holly bears a prickle

As sharp as any thorn;

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

On Christmas day in the morn.

Chorus

Verse 5

The holly bears a bark

As bitter as any gall;

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

For to redeem us all.

Chorus

Verse 6

(Repeat first verse.)

Chorus

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

Hymn lyrics by Emily E. Elliott,
Music by Timothy R. Matthews

Verse 1

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,

When Thou camest to earth for me;

But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room

For Thy holy nativity.

Chorus

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

Verse 2

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,

Proclaiming Thy royal degree;

But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,

And in great humility.

Chorus

Verse 3

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest

In the shade of the forest tree;

But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,

In the deserts of Galilee.

Chorus

Verse 4

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,

That should set Thy people free;

But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,

They bore Thee to Calvary.

Chorus

Verse 5

When the heav’ns shall ring, and the angels¹ sing,

At Thy coming to victory,

Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,

There is room at My side for thee.”

Chorus

My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,

When Thou comest and callest for me.

¹Some hymnals read, “her choirs shall”
back to lyrics

And Can it Be (Amazing Love)

Hymn lyrics by Charles Wesley,
Music by Thomas Campbell

Verse 1

And can it be that I should gain

An int’rest in the Saviour’s blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain?

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Refrain

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Verse 2

’Tis myst’ry all: th’Immortal dies:

Who can explore His strange design?

In vain the firstborn seraph tries

To sound the depths of love divine.

’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,

Let angel minds inquire no more.

Refrain

’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,

Let angel minds inquire no more.

Verse 3

He left His Father’s throne above,

So free, so infinite His grace—

Emptied Himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam’s helpless race:

’Tis mercy all, immense and free,

For O my God, it found out me!

Refrain

’Tis mercy all, immense and free,

For O my God, it found out me!

Verse 4

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray—

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Refrain

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Verse 5

Still the small inward voice I hear,

That whispers all my sins forgiv’n;

Still the atoning blood is near,

That quenched the wrath of hostile Heav’n.

I feel the life His wounds impart;

I feel the Savior in my heart.

Refrain

I feel the life His wounds impart;

I feel the Savior in my heart.

Verse 6

No condemnation now I dread;

Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach th’eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Refrain

Bold I approach th’eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

The Old Rugged Cross

Hymn lyrics and Music by George Bennard

Verse 1

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.

Verse 2

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above

To bear it to dark Calvary.

Chorus

Verse 3

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,

A wondrous beauty I see,

For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

To pardon and sanctify me.

Chorus

Verse 4

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,

Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Chorus