As With Gladness Men of Old

Above:  The Magi

Image Source = Nina-no

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Magi_(1).jpg)

Hymn Source = Lutheran Common Service Book (1917)

Words (1860) by William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898)

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1.  As with gladness men of old

Did the guiding star behold;

As with joy they hailed its light,

Leading onward, beaming bright;

So, most gracious God, may we

Evermore be led to Thee.

2.  As with joyful steps they sped

To that lowly manger bed,

There to bend the knee before

Thee Whom heaven and earth adore;

So may we, with willing feet,

Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

3.  As they offered gifts most rare

At that manger rude and bare;

So may we, with holy joy,

Pure, and free from sin’s ally,

All our costliest treasures bring,

Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

4.  Holy Jesus! every day

Keep us in the narrow way;

And, when earthly things are past,

Bring our ransomed souls at last

Where they need no star to guide,

Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

5.  In the heavenly country bright

Need they no created light;

Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,

Thou its Sun which goes not down;

There for ever may we sing

Hallelujahs to our King.