Thursday in the third week of Advent: Come, thou long expected Jesus
An Advent classic.
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord, 1745.
Here’s a lovely setting, to a tune a much prefer to the rather unimaginative Stuttgart of the Episcopal hymnal.
Stuttgart makes the baby Jesus cry…when he gets here.