Jesus Seen of Angels

304 Jesus Seen of Angels

1 BEYOND the glittering starry skies, Far as th' eternal hills, There, in the boundless worlds of light, Our dear Redeemer dwells.

2 Immortal angels, bright and fair, In countless armies shine! At His right hand, with golden harps, They offer songs divine.

3 In all His toils and dangerous paths They did His steps attend, Oft paused, and wonder'd how at last The scene of love would end.

4 And when the powers of hell combined To fill His cup of woe, Their pitying eyes beheld His tears In bloody anguish flow.

5 As on the tottering tree He hung, And darkness veil'd the sky, They saw, aghast, that awful sight, The Lord of Glory die!

6 Anon He bursts the gates of death, Subdues the tyrant's power;

They saw the illustrious Conqueror rise, And hail'd the blessed hour.

7 They brought His chariot from above, To bear Him to His throne;

Clapp'd their triumphant wings and cried, "The glorious work is done."

8 My soul the joyful triumph feels, And thinks the moments long Ere she her Saviour's glory sees, And joins the rapturous song.

James Fanch and Daniel Turner, 1791, a.

305 Jesus Seen of Angels

1 YE bright immortal throng Of angels round the throne, Join with our feeble song To make the Saviour known: On earth ye knew His wondrous grace; His beauteous face In heaven ye view.

2 Ye saw the heaven-born child In human flesh array'd, Benevolent and mild, While in the manger laid; And praise to God. And peace on earth, For such a birth, Proclaim'd aloud.

3 Ye, in the wilderness, Beheld the tempter spoil'd, Well known in every dress, In every combat foil'd; And joy'd to crown The Victor's head, When Satan fled Before His frown.

4 Around the bloody tree Ye press'd with strong desire, That wondrous sight to see, The Lord of life expire;

And, could your eyes Have known a tear, Had dropp'd it there In sad surprise.

5 Around His sacred tomb A willing watch ye kept;

Till the blest moment came To awaken Him that slept:

Then roll'd the stone, And all adored Your rising Lord, With joy unknown.

6 When all array'd in light The shining Conqueror rode, Ye hail'd His rapturous flight Up to the throne of God; And waved around Your golden wings, And struck your strings Of sweetest sound.

7 The warbling notes pursue, And louder anthems raise;

While mortals sing with you Their own Redeemer's praise: And thou, my heart, With equal flame, And joy the same, Perform thy part.

Philip Doddridge, 1755