Christmastide
1 The holy Son of God most high,
for love of Adam’s lapsed race,
quit the sweet pleasures of the sky
to bring us to that happy place.
2 His robes of light he laid aside,
which did his majesty adorn,
and the frail state of mortals tried,
in human flesh and figure born.
3 Whole choirs of angels loudly sing
the mystery of his sacred birth,
and the blest news to shepherds bring,
filling their watchful souls with mirth.
4 The Son of God thus man became,
that men the sons of God might be,
and by their second birth regain
a likeness to his deity.
Henry More 1614-87
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
John 1:1