Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber;
Holy angels guard thy bed!
Heavenly blessings without number
Gently falling on thy head.
Sleep, my babe; thy food and raiment,
House and home thy friends provide;
All without thy care or payment,
All thy wants are well supplied.
How much better thou’rt attended Than the Son of God could be, When from Heaven he descended,
Soft and easy is thy cradle;
Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay,
When his birth-place was a stable,
And his softest bed was hay.
Blessed Babe! what glorious features,
Spotless fair, divinely bright!
Must he dwell with brutal creatures?
How could angels bear the sight?
Was there nothing but a manger Cursed sinners could afford,
To receive the heavenly Stranger?
Did they thus affront their Lord?
Soft, my child; I did not chide thee,
Though my song might sound too hard;
‘Tis thy Mother sits beside thee
‘Tis thy Nurse that sits beside thee
And her arm shall be thy guard.
Yet to read the shameful story,
How the Jews abused their King,
How they served the Lord of Glory,
Makes me angry while I sing.
See the kinder shepherds round him,
Telling wonders from the sky;
There they sought him, there they found him,
With his Virgin-Mother by.
See the lovely Babe a-dressing;
Lovely Infant, how he smiled!
When he wept, the Mother’s blessing
Soothed and hushed the holy Child.
Lo, he slumbers in his manger,
Where the horned oxen fed;
Peace, my darling, here’s no danger,
Here’s no ox anear thy bed.
‘Twas to save thee, child, from dying,
Save my dear from burning flame,
Bitter groans, and endless crying,
That my blest Redeemer came.
Mayst thou live to know and fear him,
Trust and love him all thy days!
Then go dwell forever near him,
See his face, and sing his praise!
I could give thee thousand kisses,
Hoping what I most desire;
Not a mother’s fondest wishes
Can to greater joys aspire.
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A Cradle Hymn
