Expository Songs
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Hymns · 1745

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Songwriter Charles Wesley

Made popular by Charles Wesley

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Details

Hymnal / album Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord
Publisher Strahan
Copyright Public Domain (Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. The publication year, if correct, suggests that this work may be in public domain in the U.S..)
Notes Introduced in Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord, published by Charles Wesley (1745).Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 4 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1869), page 116.

Scripture connections

References

Verses this song directly draws from
I Samuel 15:29Psalm 65:5Isaiah 9:6Joel 3:15Haggai 2:7Luke 2:5Galatians 4:4-5Hebrews 4:1-11

Allusions

Verses this song echoes or alludes to
Psalm 107:9Psalm 130:8Isaiah 40:1-2Ezekiel 36:27Micah 5:2Matthew 1:21Matthew 2:6Matthew 10:28-29Luke 2:11-12John 8:36Romans 15:12Galatians 5:1Ephesians 2:6Ephesians 3:17Colossians 3:15Hebrews 7:27Hebrews 9:12Hebrews 9:14Hebrews 10:10Hebrews 10:14Revelation 3:21Revelation 11:15

Lyrics

Verse 1
Come thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free, (Gal. 5:1, John 8:36)
From our fears and sins relieve[1] us, (Matt. 1:21, Ps. 130:8)
Let us find our rest in thee: (Matt. 10:28-29, Heb. 4:1-11)
Israel’s strength and consolation, (Luke 2:25, Isa. 40:1-2, I Sam. 15:29, Ps. 68:35, Joel 3:16)
Hope of all the earth thou art, (Ps. 65:5, Rom. 15:12)
Dear desire of every nation, (Hag. 2:7)
Joy of every longing heart. (Ps. 107:9)

Verse 2
Born thy people to deliver, (Gal. 4:4-5)
Born a child and yet a king, (Isa. 9:6, Mic. 5:2, Matt. 2:6, Luke 2:11-12)
Born to reign in us for ever, (Rev. 11:15)
Now thy gracious kingdom bring;
By thine[2] own eternal Spirit (Heb. 9:14)
Rule in all our hearts alone, (Eph. 3:17, Ezek. 36:27, Col. 3:15)
By thine[3] all-sufficient merit (Heb. 10:14)
Raise us to thy glorious throne. (Rev. 3:21, Eph. 2:6)

[1] Wesley changed “relieve” to “release” in 1777.
[2] Wesley changed “thine” to “thy” in 1762.
[3] Wesley changed “thine” to “thy” in 1762.