Stupendous Height of Heavenly Love
A meditation on the birth of Christ, as the light of heaven come down to earth.
A meditation on the birth of Christ, as the light of heaven come down to earth.
There are few Christmas hymns to match this one, by Charles Wesley; yet it is rarely sung today. It deserves better. The central theme is the Sun of Righteousness from the prophecy of Malachi, who would dawn upon the faithful of Israel ‘with healing in his wings’.
Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of
righteousness arise with healing in his wings.
Malachi 4:2
STUPENDOUS height of heavenly love,
Of pitying tenderness divine;
It brought the Saviour from above,
It caused the springing day to shine;
The Sun of Righteousness t’ appear,
And gild our gloomy hemisphere.
2 God did in Christ himself reveal,
To chase our darkness by his light,
Our sin and ignorance dispel,
Direct our wandering feet aright;
And bring our souls, with pardon blest,
To realms of everlasting rest.
3 Come, then, O Lord, thy light impart,
The faith that bids our terrors cease;
Into thy love direct our heart,
Into thy way of perfect peace;
And cheer the souls, of death afraid,
And guide them through the dreadful shade.
4 Answer thy mercy’s whole design,
My God incarnated for me;
My spirit make thy radiant shrine,
My Light and full Salvation be;
And through the shades of death unknown,
Conduct me to thy dazzling throne.