Wesley Corpus

He deigns in flesh t' appear, Widest extremes to join, To bring our vileness near, And make us all divine; And we the life of God shall know, For God is manifest below. Made perfect first in love, And sanctified by grace, We shall from earth remove, And see his glorious face; His love shall then be fully shew'd, And man shall all be lost in God. Hymn VI.17 Join all ye joyful nations Th' acclaiming hosts18 of heaven! This happy morn A child is19 born, To us a Son is given: The messenger and token Of God's eternal favour, God hath sent down To us his Son, An universal Saviour! The wonderful Messias, The joy of every nation, Jesus his name, With God the same, The Lord of all creation: Page 9 20"Hath" changed to "has" in 1784 edn. and following. 21"That" changed to "the" in 1766-68 edns. only. The Counsellor of sinners, Almighty to deliver, The Prince of Peace, Whose love's increase Shall reign in man for ever. Go see the King of Glory, Discern the heavenly stranger, So poor and mean, His court an inn, His cradle is a manger: Who from his Father's bosom But now for us descended, Who built the skies, On earth he lies, With only beasts attended. Whom all the angels worship, Lies hid in human nature; Incarnate see The deity, The infinite Creator! See the stupendous blessing Which God to us hath20 given! A child of man, In length a span, Who fills both earth and heaven. Gaze on that21 helpless object Of endless adoration! Those infant-hands Shall burst our bands, And work out our salvation; Page 10 Strangle the crooked serpent, Destroy his works for ever, And open set The heavenly gate To every true believer. Till then, thou holy Jesus, We humbly bow before thee, Our treasures bring To serve our King, And joyfully adore thee: To thee we gladly render Whate'er thy grace hath given, Till thou appear In glory here, And take us up to heaven. Hymn VII. All glory to God, and peace upon earth Be publish'd abroad at Jesus's birth; The forfeited favour of heaven we find Restor'd in the Saviour and friend of mankind. Then let us behold Messias the Lord, By prophets foretold, by angels ador'd, Our God's incarnation with angels proclaim, And publish salvation in Jesus's name.