The website cyberhymnal.org lists over 400 Christmas hymns (and there's another category for "epiphany"). I only know a fraction of them, including this one, for which we have a great recording from SMS in Greenville, SC.
It is wise for us to meditate upon the fact that this baby was "the Savior" and the "King of Glory." He is a "Stranger" to the world—so we should introduce them to Him! The wonder that God would come to earth, born as a baby in the humblest of circumstances, should elicit praise from our mouths.
Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
Gentle Mary laid her Child lowly in a manger;
There He lay, the undefiled, to the world a Stranger:
Such a Babe in such a place, can He be the Savior?
Ask the saved of all the race who have found His favor.
Angels sang about His birth; wise men sought and found Him;
Heaven’s star shone brightly forth, glory all around Him:
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, heard the angels singing;
All the plains were lit that night, all the hills were ringing.
Gentle Mary laid her Child lowly in a manger;
He is still the undefiled, but no more a stranger:
Son of God, of humble birth, beautiful the story;
Praise His Name in all the earth, hail the King of glory!
1 comment:
Thanks for posting the carol. It was written by a Canadian pastor named Joseph Cook. (Today is the 151st anniversary of his birth.) Mr. Cook wrote the lines of verse as an entry in a Christmas card competition--which he won.
If you enjoy reading about our hymns and their authors, I invite you to check out my daily blog on the subject, Wordwise Hymns.
And if you’ll excuse a brief “commercial:” If you do not have a good book on the subject of our Christmas carols, I encourage you to take a look at my own, Discovering the Songs of Christmas. In it, I discuss the history and meaning of 63 carols and Christmas hymns. The book is available through Amazon, or directly from Jebaire Publishing. (Might make a great gift too!)
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