Thomas Chatterton

A Hymn for Christmas Day

Divine Creation Metaphor

Metaphor of God as cosmic 'Framer' suggests creation as deliberate architectural act. Implies divine design over random chance.

Almighty Framer of the Skies!
O let our pure devotion rise,
Like Incense in thy Sight!
Wrapt in impenetrable Shade
The Texture of our Souls were made
Till thy Command gave light.
The Sun of Glory gleam'd the Ray,
Refin'd the Darkness into Day,
And bid the Vapours fly;
Impell'd by his eternal Love
He left his Palaces above
To cheer our gloomy Sky.
How shall we celebrate the day,
When God appeared in mortal clay,

Theological Incarnation Paradox

Classic Christian paradox: divine being taking human form. 'Mortal clay' emphasizes Christ's dual nature—fully divine, fully human.

The mark of worldly scorn;
When the Archangel's heavenly Lays,
Attempted the Redeemer's Praise
And hail'd Salvation's Morn!

Poverty as Divine Strategy

Deliberate choice of humility as theological statement. Christ's poverty is not weakness but purposeful divine identification with human suffering.

A Humble Form the Godhead wore,
The Pains of Poverty he bore,
To gaudy Pomp unknown;
Tho' in a human walk he trod
Still was the Man Almighty God
In Glory all his own.
Despis'd, oppress'd, the Godhead bears
The Torments of this Vale of tears;
Nor bade his Vengeance rise;
He saw the Creatures he had made,
Revile his Power, his Peace invade;
He saw with Mercy's Eyes.

Mercy Over Vengeance

Central theological claim: divine response to human betrayal is compassion, not punishment. 'Mercy's Eyes' reveals core Christian ethic.

How shall we celebrate his Name,
Who groan'd beneath a Life of shame
In all Afflictions tried!
The Soul is raptured to concieve
A Truth, which Being must believe,
The God Eternal died.
My Soul exert thy Powers, adore,
Upon Devotion's plumage sar
To celebrate the Day;
The God from whom Creation sprung
Shall animate my grateful Tongue;
From him I'll catch the Lay!
Source Wikipedia Poetry Foundation

Reading Notes

Eighteenth-Century Religious Poetics

Chatterton's hymn represents a high Anglican approach to Christmas poetry, blending theological complexity with emotional devotion. The poem uses elevated diction to transform theological concepts into lyrical experience.

The structural progression moves from cosmic creation to intimate human encounter, tracing divine intervention through increasingly personal language. Each stanza zooms in—from universal creation to specific human redemption.

Theological Paradox in Verse

The poem's central tension is the incarnational mystery: how an eternal, omnipotent God could become vulnerable human flesh. Chatterton uses linguistic contrasts to highlight this paradox—'Almighty' versus 'mortal clay', 'Palaces above' versus 'gloomy Sky'.

Notice how the poem transforms potential weakness (poverty, suffering) into divine strategy. Christ's humble form is not defeat but deliberate theological intervention.