Come Behold The Virgin Mother

Come Behold The Virgin Mother



Come behold the Virgin Mother
Fondly leaning on her child
Nature shews not such another
Glorious, holy, meek, and mild
Bethlehem's antient walls enclose him
Dwelling place of David once
Now no friendly homesteed knows him
Tho' the noblest of his sons

Many a prophecy before him
Publish'd his bright advent long
Guardian Angels low adore him
In a joyous heavenly song
Eastern Sages see with wonder
His bright Star illume the day
O'er the volumes old they ponder
Volumes of dark prophecy

Royal Bethlehem how deserted
All his pomp and splendor lost
Is a stable, vile and dirty
All the welcome you can boost?
For they travel, of inquiring
Where the wondrous babe is born?
On they came with great desiring
Although others treat with scorn

See, a babe of days and weakness
Heaven's Almighty now appears
Liable to death and sickness
Shame and agony and tears
Sovereign he and great Creator
He who form'd the heav'ns and earth
Yet takes on him human nature
Angels wonder at his birth

Why, ah, why this condescension
God with mortal man to dwell?
Why lay by his grand pretension
He who does all thrones excell?
'Tis to be a man, a brother
With us sinners of mankind
Vain we search for such another
Ne'er we love like this shall find

'Tis to make himself an offering
As a pure atoning lamb
Souls redeeming by his suffering
That in human flesh he came
As a God he could not suffer
He a body true must have
As a man what he might offer
Could not satisfy or save

Tho' an infant now you view him
He shall fill his Father's throne
Gather all the Nations to him
Every knee shall then bow down
Foes shall at his presence tremble
Great and small, and quick and dead
None can fly, none dare dissemble
None find where to hide his head

Friends! Oh then in chearful voices
They shall shout with glad acclaim
While each rising saint rejoices
Saints of high or lowest fame
Then what different appearing
We 'mong mortal tribes shall find
Groaning those who now are sneering
Triumphing the humble mind

May we now, that day forestalling
Hear the word, and read and pray
Listen to the Gospel calling
And with humble heart obey
Give us hearty true repentance
Life in faith and holiness
then we need not fear thy sentence
But may trust thy saving grace

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Praise the Lord