Another in the Wesley Advent collection.  Charles seemed big on this "simple praise" shepherd motif.  Wonder if he particularly had the poor in mind when using these songs to teach about the meaning of Christmas.  

Jesus Will Not Refuse The Song
Words by Charles Wesley, Music by Carl Thomas Gladstone

Sing, ye ransomed nations, sing,
Praises to our new-born King,
Son of man our Maker is,
Lord of hosts and Prince of peace!

[chorus]
Jesus will not refuse the song
Ransomed nations sing along!

Will his majesty disdain
The poor shepherd's simple strain?
No; for Israel's shepherd, he
Loves their artless melody.

Let us then our Prince proclaim,
Humbly chant Immanuel's name,
Publish at his wondrous birth,
Praise in heaven and peace on earth.

Jesus Will Not Refuse The Song

After visiting the Bethlehem site commemorating the announcement of the Nativity, the plainness of the shepherds in that story seems more real.  Both this town and the people living there still are somehow Other than the people in Jerusalem a ways away.  This song is a great Wesley text that I've tried to connect with a new simple, but profound melody.

ShepherdHymn