1 It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heavens all-gracious King. The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing. 2 Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled, and still their heavenly music floats oer all the weary world; above its sad and lowly plains, they bend on hovering wing, and ever oer its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing. 3 And ye, beneath lifes crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow, look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing. O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing! 4 For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old, when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing. United Methodist Hymnal, 1989 All full texts • Compare texts^ top Author: Edmund H. Sears Edmund Hamilton Sears was born in Berkshire, Massachusetts, in 1810; graduated at Union College, Schenectady, in 1834, and at the Theological School of Harvard University, in 1837. He became pastor of the Unitarian Society in Wayland, Mass., in 1838; removed to Lancaster in 1840; but on account of ill health was obliged to retire from the active duties of the ministry in 1847; since then, residing in Wayland, he devoted himself to literature. He has published several works. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872… Go to person page > ^ top Text Information Text InformationLectionary WeeksScripture References Related Texts Away in a Manger Angels From the Realms of Glory Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O little town of Bethlehem The First Noel the Angel Did Say First Line: It came upon the midnight clear Title: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Author: Edmund H. Sears (1849) Meter: 8.6.8.6 D Language: English ^ top Tune CAROL (Willis) NOEL (Sullivan) The tune NOEL (also used at 185) is also known as EARDISLEY or GERARD. Arthur Seymour Sullivan (b Lambeth, London. England. 1842; d. Westminster, London, 1900) adapted this traditional English melody (probably one of the variants of the folk song Dives and Lazarus), added phrases of his own to rec… Go to tune page > All tunes published with It Came Upon the Midnight Clear^ top For Leaders Bulletin BlurbWorship NotesScores One theme of this hymn is the contrast between the message “peace on earth, good will toward men” proclaimed by the host of angels at Christs birth (Luke 2:14) and the war and oppression that dominate the earth. As this hymn is sung, think about the coming time when God will make all things new and bring His peace.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 14:09:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015