Let Us Go To Bethlehem Poem by Rees Prichard

LET's to Bethlehem all advance,
With song, with merriment, and dance,
And see the blest Redeemer, born
To us, on this auspicious morn.

In Bethlehem He is to be seen,
In the stable of an inn;
Let us there our gifts bestow -
Let us all to see him go.

This is the Saviour God above
Sent, out of his paternal love,
To save us from Death, grisly king!
And with him our salvation bring.

Let us go there to see, this morn,
How, when, and where, the babe was born;
That we may view his blessed face,
And worship Him upon the place.

A radiant star our way will light,
And serve to guide our footsteps right,
'Till to the happy spot we come,
Which He was chosen for his home.

The shepherd-train is gone before
With joy, their Saviour to adore;
Let us with haste those swains pursue,
And pay our homage to Him too.

The child is in the stable laid,
And in his swaddling clothes array'd;
Where in a manger He, between
An ox and Joseph may be seen.

The Magi now are on their way,
Their off'rings at his feet to lay -
Gold, myrrh, and frankincense, the best
Of all the produce of the East.

Let us these sages overtake,
And hear the speeches that they make,
And learn from them what gifts to bring,
And how we best his praise may sing.

For gold - let us aright believe -
For myrrh - let's true repentance give -
For frankincense - let's praises leave,
And Christ our presents will receive.

The angels all rejoice on high,
And pleasure brightens all the sky,
The hosts of heav'n hymn their King;
Why shou'd not men his praises sing?

Let's to Bethlehem all repair,
To see the prime of wonders there,
The Godhead human nature take,
And suffer for his people's sake!

Let's th' Eternal, go and see,
Who made the skies, the earth, the sea,
The ancient Alpha, source of light,
Become an Infant in our sight!

Let's go visit God the Word
On Mary's lap - the heaven's Lord
In human flesh and nature drest,
And hanging at his mother's breast!

A babe, above his mother's years,
And fully equal to his Sire's!-
His mother's father;- daughter's child!-
Though speechless, amiable and mild!

Let's to Bethle'm go, and see
The Son of God on Mary's knee,
Or Mary dandling in her hands
The babe, who all the world commands!

Let's go see, Death's Victor, bound
In folds of swaddling-clothes around,
And Him, who'll pull down Satan's throne,
Quite helpless to a manger thrown!

Let's, the Messiah, go and see,
The Founder of Christianity,
Our Saviour, glory, grace, and rest,
Now sucking at his mother's breast!

Let's go see the woman's Seed,
Ordain'd to make the serpent bleed,
And bruise his baneful head, who first
Taught man to eat the fruit accurst.

Let's go see the wond'rous Son,
Form'd of his mother's flesh alone -
A mother, scarce yet fully grown!
A mother, yet by man not known!

Let's his mother go to see -
This mother, from pollution free! -
The daughter, lull her Sire to rest! -
The Father at his daughter's breast!

Let's see the architect divine,
Who made the sun and planets shine,
And form'd the firmament's vast plain,
Let's see him in a stable lain!

Let's see the God, in glory great,
Wont with his span the skies to mete,
Now bedless in a manger laid,
And in a sorry dress array'd!

Let's go see the blessed Lamb,
(Such ne'er before a shepherd came)
The Lamb of God, sent down in time,
To free the world from ev'ry crime!

Let's go see our Saviour dread,
Ordain'd to judge the quick and dead,
Who will convey us all on high,
On angels pinions to the sky.

See, struck with aweful rev'rence dumb,
Omnipotence, now weak become!
The God, man - and the man, God, see!
Who sees Him so - thrice bless'd is He.