Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord, 15

All-wise, all-good, almighty Lord,
Jesus, by highest heavens adored,
Ere time its course began,
How did Thy glorious mercy stoop
To take the fallen nature up,
When Thou Thyself wert man!

The' eternal God from heaven came down,
The King of Glory dropp'd His crown,
And veil'd His majesty;
Emptied of all but love He came;
Jesus, I call Thee by the name
Thy pity bore for me.

O Holy Child, still let Thy birth
Bring peace to us poor worms on earth,
And praise to God on high!
Come, Thou who didst my flesh assume,
Now to the abject sinner come,
And in a manger lie.

Didst Thou not in Thy person join
The natures human and Divine,
That God and man might be
Henceforth inseparably one?
Haste then, and make Thy nature known,
Incarnated in me.

In my weak sinful flesh appear,
O God, be manifested here,
Peace, righteousness, and joy,
Thy kingdom, Lord, set up within
My faithful heart; and all my sin,
The devil's work, destroy.

I long Thy coming to confess,
The mystic power of godliness,
The life Divine to prove:
The fulness of Thy life to know,
Redeem'd from all my sin below,
And perfected in love.

O Christ, my Hope, make known in me
The great, the glorious mystery,
The hidden life impart:
Come, Thou Desire of nations, come,
Form'd in a spotless virgin's womb,
A pure believing heart.

Come quickly, gracious Lord, that I
May own, though antichrist deny,
Thy incarnation's power.
May cry, a witness to my Lord,
"Come in my flesh is Christ the Word,
And I can sin no more!"