Songs

Once in royal David's city

116
			8.7.8.7.7.7.	

1	Once in royal David's city, 
	Stood a lowly cattle shed, 
	Where a mother laid her Baby 
	In a manger for His bed. 
	Mary was that mother mild, 
	Jesus Christ, her little child. 

2	He came down to earth from heaven, 
	Who is God and Lord of all, 
	And His shelter was a stable, 
	And His cradle was a stall: 
	With the poor, and meek, and lowly 
	Lived on earth our Saviour holy. 

3	And through all His wondrous childhood 
	He would honour and obey, 
	Love and watch the lowly maiden 
	In whose gentle arms He lay. 
	Christian children all should be 
	Mild, obedient, good as He.

4	For He is our childhood’s pattern: 
	Day by day like us He grew; 
	He was little, weak and helpless; 
	Tears and smiles like us He knew: 
	And He feeleth for our sadness, 
	And He shareth in our gladness. 

5	And our eyes at last shall see Him 
	Through His own redeeming love; 
	For that child, so dear and gentle, 
	Is our Lord in heaven above; 
	And He leads His children on 
	To the place where He is gone.

					C.F. Alexander