Isaac Watts: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Christian Mother's Cradle Hymn

Isaac Watts

“The Christian Mother's Cradle Hymn” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

Isaac Watts: Collected Lyrics Text 7 1853 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from A First Series of Hymns and Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Hush, my babe, lie still and slumber,

Holy angels guard thy bed,

Heavenly blessings without number

Gently falling on thy head.

How much better thou'rt attended

Than thy Saviour chose to be,

When from heaven he descended

And became a child like thee!

Verse 2

Soft and easy is thy cradle,

Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay;

For his birth-place was a stable,

And his softest bed was hay.

Was there nothing but a manger

Hapless sinners could afford,

To receive the heavenly stranger.

Their Redeemer and their Lord?

Verse 3

See, the humble shepherds round him

Gaze with mingled love and fear;

Where they sought him, there they found him,

With bis virgin Mother near,

Lo, he slumbers in his manger,

Where the horned oxen feed;

Peace, my darling, here's no danger,

Here no ox is near thy bed.

Verse 4

'Twas to save thee, child, from dying,

From the ever-burning flame,

Bitter groans and endless crying,

That this holy Infant came.

May'st thou live to know and fear him,

Trust and love him all thy days,

Then to dwell for ever near him,

See his face, and sing his praise.

Credits

Written by Isaac Watts

Words by Isaac Watts. Historical text published in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853), “The Christian Mother's Cradle Hymn”

Every text in this 1853 collection is by Henry Formby (1816-1884), who died more than 140 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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