Christians, awake! (Byrom)

Words: John Byrom
Music: YORKSHIRE (J Wainwright)
Arrangement: John Barnard (with descant)
Metre: 10 10 10 10 10 10
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[The text below is not by a Jubilate author but is included for convenience.
Revised versions of these words are also available.]

1 Christians, awake! salute the happy morn
whereon the Saviour of the world was born;
rise to adore the mystery of love,
which hosts of angels chanted from above:
with them the joyful tidings first begun
of God incarnate and the virgin's Son.

2 First to the watchful shepherds it was told,
who heard the angelic herald's voice, 'Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Saviour's birth
to you and all the nations on the earth:
this day has God fulfilled his promised word,
this day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord.'

3 O may we keep and ponder in our mind
God's wondrous love in saving lost mankind;
trace we the babe, who has retrieved our loss,
from his poor manger to his bitter cross;
tread in his steps, assisted by his grace,
till our first heavenly state again takes place.

4. Then may we hope, the angelic hosts among,
to sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song:
he that was born upon this joyful day
around us all his glory shall display;
saved by his love, incessant we shall sing
eternal praise to heaven's almighty King.

J Byrom (1692-1763)