A Cradle Hymn

"A Cradle Hymn," by Isaac Watts (Excerpted from Divine Songs, Attempted in Easy Language, for the Use of Children, 1715)

1. Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber,
    Holy angels guard thy bed!
Heavenly blessings, without number,
    Gently falling on thy head.

2. How much better thou'rt attended
    Than the Son of God could be;
When from heaven he descended,
    And became a child like thee!

3. 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.

4. Blessed babe! what glorious features,
    Spotless fair, divinely bright!
Must he dwell with brutal creatures!
    How could angels bear the sight!

5. Was there nothing but a manger
    Cursed sinners could afford,
To receive the heav'nly stranger!
    Did they thus affront their Lord!

6. See the kinder shepherds round him, 

    Telling wonders from the sky!
Where they sought him, there they found him,
    With his virgin mother by.

7. See the lovely babe a dressing;
    Lovely infant, how he smil'd!
When he wept, the mother's blessing
    Sooth'd and hush'd the holy child.

8. Lo, he slumbers in his manger,
    Where the horned oxen fed;
Peace, my darling, here's no danger,
    Here's no ox a-near thy bed.

9. 'Twas to save thee, child, from dying,
    Save my dear from burning flame,
Bitter groans and endless crying,
    That thy blest Redeemer came.

10. May'st thou live to know and fear him,
    Trust and love him all thy days;
Then go dwell for ever near him,
    See his face, and sing his praise!

11. I could give thee thousand kisses,
    Hoping what I most desire;
Not a mother's fondest wishes
    Can to greater joys aspire!