Behold a little child


Behold a little Child,
laid in a manger bed;
the wintry blasts blow wild
around his infant head.
But who is this so lowly laid?
'Tis he by whom the worlds were made.

Alas! in what poor state
the Son of God is seen;
why doth the Lord so great
choose out a home so mean?
That we may learn from pride to flee,
and follow his humility.

Where Joseph plies his trade,
lo! Jesus labors too;
the hands that all things made
an earthly craft pursue,
that weary men in him may rest,
and faithful toil through him be blessed.

Among the doctors see
the Boy so full of grace;
say, wherefore taketh he
the scholar's lowly place?
That Christian boys, with reverence meet,
may sit and learn at Jesus' feet.

Christ! once thyself a boy,
our boyhood guard and guide;
be thou its light and joy,
and still with abide,
that thy dear love, so great and free,
may draw us evermore to thee.

Christ, Master-Carpenter,
we come rough-hewn to thee;
at last, through wood and nails,
thou mad'st us whole and free.
In this thy world remake us, planned
to truer beauty of thine hand.


Words: William Walsham How (1823-1897), 1872

Music: St. Godric (John Bacchus Dykes, 1823-1876)

Meter: 66 66 88

Hymnal, Year Number Tunes Other comments
Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861-1874      
The Anglican Hymn Book, 1868       
The Sarum Hymnal, 1869      
The Church Hymnal, 1871 (Hall & Whiteley)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Goodrich & Gilbert)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Hutchins)      
Church Hymns with Tunes, 1874      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1874      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Standard, 1875-1924 727 Bevan  
A Church of England Hymn Book, 1879      
The Universal Hymn Book, 1885      
The Hymnal Companion, 1890 477 Christchurch  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Darlington)      
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Parker)      
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Hutchins)      
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Helfenstein)      
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Messiter)      
The Yattendon Hymnal, 1900
     
Church Hymns, New Edition, 1903 611 St. Godric  
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Edition, 1904 568 Bevan  
The English Hymnal, 1906 588 Wesley  
The Book of Common Praise, 1908      
The Hymnal 1916      
Church Hymnal for the Christian Year, 1917      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1919 604 Wesley  
Church Hymnal Revised, 1920
(Hutchins)
     
The Oxford Hymn Book, 1925      
Songs of Praise, 1925      
Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition, 1931      
The Book of Common Praise, 1938      
The Hymnal 1940 237 Arthur's Seat  
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Revised, 1950      
The Mirfield Mission Hymn Book, 1955      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1960      
Anglican Hymn Book, 1965      
The Hymn Book 1971      
The Australian Hymn Book / With One Voice, 1977      
The Hymnal 1982      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard, 1983      
The New English Hymnal, 1985      
Hymns for Today's Church, second edition, 1988      
Church Family Worship, 1988      
Hymns Old & New, New Anglican Edition, 1996      
Common Praise (The Anglican Church of Canada), 1998      
Together in Song: The Australian Hymn Book II, 1999      
Sing Glory, 1999      
Complete Mission Praise, 2000      
Common Praise: Hymns Ancient & Modern, 2000      
Hymns Old & New, Complete Anglican Edition, 2000      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 2000      

Website compiled by Steve Benner, 1999-2004.