Where Is the Holy Heav'n-Born Child?

Where is the holy Heav'n-born child

Author: Charles Wesley (1745)
Tune: WOODWORTH
Published in 1 hymnal

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Representative Text

1. Where is the holy Heav’n-born child,
Heir of the everlasting throne,
Who Heav’n and earth hath reconciled,
And God and man rejoined in one?

2. Shall we of earthly kings inquire,
To courts or palaces repair?
The nations’ hope, the world’s desire,
Alas! we cannot find Him there.

3. Shall learning show the sinner’s friend,
Or scribes a sight of Christ afford?
Us to His natal place they send,
But never go to see their Lord.

4. We search the outward Church in vain,
They cannot Him we seek declare,
They have not found the Son of Man,
Or known the sacred name they bear.

5. Then let us turn no more aside,
But use the light Himself imparts,
His Spirit is our surest guide,
His Spirit glimmering in our hearts.

6. Drawn by His grace we come from far,
And fix on Heav’n our wistful eyes,
That ray divine, that orient star
Directs us where the infant lies.

7. See there! the newborn Savior see,
By faith discern the great I AM;
’Tis He! the eternal God! ’tis He
That bears the mild Immanuel’s name.

8. The Prince of Peace on earth is found,
The child is born, the son is giv’n;
Tell it to all the nations round,
Jehovah is come down from Heav’n!

9. Jehovah is come down to raise
His dying creatures from their fall,
And all may now receive the grace
Which brings eternal life to all.

10. Lord, we receive the grace and Thee,
With joy unspeakable receive,
And rise Thine open face to see,
And one with God for ever live.

Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Where is the holy Heav'n-born child
Title: Where Is the Holy Heav'n-Born Child?
Author: Charles Wesley (1745)
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Source: Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 17
Language: English
Notes: Alternate tune: WINCHESTER NEW, harmonized by William H. Monk, 1847, alt.
Copyright: Public Domain

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The Cyber Hymnal #7471
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The Cyber Hymnal #7471

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