Hark the Herald Angels Sing

One of the last two classes I had to take this past quarter to finish my degree was Christology. Seattle University, being a Jesuit university, teaches a very different Christology than what I believe. But that’s not what I’m writing about here. What I wanted to mention was an activity that we did in class the other day. The professor had us analyze different traditional Christmas hymns. Many of the hymns seemed like simple narratives of the nativity story (e.g. The First Noel) but one hymn stood out to me. It was “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”. The words were written by Charles Wesley and the tune composed by Felix Mendohllson. This hymn is rich in sound theological content. This version is definitely not Wesley’s original lyrics but it’s are pretty close. Check it out.

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise.
Join the triumph of the skies.
With th’ angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

“Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King.”

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting lord
Late in time behold Him come,
Off-spring of the Virgin’s womb

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail, the incarnate deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.

“Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King.”

Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth;
Born to give them second birth.

“Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King.”

Come, desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.

Now display thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to thine.

“Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King.”

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.

Let us thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the life, the inner man:
O, to all thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

“Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King.”

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