The scene around me disappears, and borne to eastern regions,

While time recals the flight of years, I see angelic legions

Descending in an orb of light! amid the darkness of the night,

I hear celestial voices!

“Tidings, glad tidings from above to every age and nation!

Tidings, glad tidings! God is love, to man He sends salvation.

His Son beloved, his only Son, the work of mercy hath begun:

Give to his Name the glory!”

In David’s city I behold, and all around are sleeping;

A light directs to yonder fold, where lonely watch is keeping:

I enter—ah, what glories shine! Is this Emmanuel’s earthly shrine?

Messiah’s infant temple?

It is, it is! and I adore this Babe so meek and lowly,

As saints and seraphs bow before the throne of God—thrice holy:

Faith, through the veil of flesh can see the face of Thy divinity,

My Lord, my God, my Saviour!