Behold what grace appears

Behold what grace appears

Roud 3225

Words by Isaac Watts, from Hymns and Spir­it­u­al Songs, 1707-9. Encountered in the oral tradition with a variety of settings.

1. Behold, the grace appears!
   The promise is fulfilled;
   Mary, the wondrous virgin, bears,
   And Jesus is the Child.
   
   
2. The Lord, the highest God,
   Calls Him His only Son;
   He bids Him rule the lands abroad,
   And gives Him David’s throne.
   
   
3. O’er Jacob shall He reign
   With a peculiar sway;
   The nations shall His grace obtain,
   His kingdom ne’er decay.
   
   
4. To bring the glorious news
   A heav’nly form appears;
   He tells the shepherds of their joys,
   And banishes their fears.
   
   
5. “Go, humble swains,” said he,
   “To David’s city fly;
   The promised Infant born today
   Doth in a manger lie.”
   
   
6. “With looks and hearts serene,
   Go visit Christ your King;
   And straight a flaming troop was seen:
   The shepherds heard them sing:
   
   
7. “Glory to God on high!
   And heav’nly peace on earth;
   Goodwill to men, to angels joy,
   At the Redeemer’s birth!”
   
   
8. In worship so divine,
   Let saints employ their tongues;
   With the celestial hosts we join,
   And loud repeat their songs:
   
   
9. “Glory to God on high!
   And heav’nly peace on earth;
   Goodwill to men, to angels joy,
   At our Redeemer’s birth!”

At Padstow in Cornwall it is known as Behold the Grace and the words are sung to a version of "Cranbrook" by Thomas Clark.

There is a setting in Ralph Dunstan, The Cornish Song Book, 1929: "Communicated by Mrs. E. Jewell, Holsworthy, Devon (formerly of Stratton, Cornwall.)"

• sheet music (N.B. each verse of this setting requires two of the verses printed above: sing 1 and 3, 4 and 5, 6 and 7, 8 and 9)
  
• Midi file

The song was also collected by Cecil Sharp in Shropshire, and - with the title Back Lane - it is in the repertoire of the carol singers at the Royal Hotel, Dungworth in Yorkshire.