25.

BEHOLD, to us a Child is born,

To us a Son is given; Unto the wretched and forlorn Descends the Lord from heaven: The promis'd seed, Immanuel, The everlasting God, (and hell, Comes down to save from death

Poor sinners by his blood.

2. Great is the hidden mystery

That God became a man. He had from all eternity, In mercy form'd a plan To save from misery and distress The fallen human race; And now the Sun of righteousness His healing beams displays.

3. Come, sinners, view the incarnate Word,

Who us and all things made; This helpless babe is Christ the Tho' in a manger laid. (Lord, For us to die is Jesus born,

Adore his saving name; Rejoice, rejoice, for all that mourn May his salvation claim.

J. Swertner.

3. Love caused thy incarnation, Love brought thee down to me; Thy thirst for my salvation Procur'd my liberty:

O love beyond all measure,

Wherewith thou dost embrace Mankind, 'midst all that pressure Which since the fall takes place. 4. No sinful man's endeavour, Nor any mortal's care, Could draw his sovereign favour To sinners in despair: Uncall'd he comes with gladness,

Us from the fall to raise, And change our grief and sadness To songs of joy and praise. 5. Ye who with deep contrition Bemoan your sinful state, Fear not, Christ gives remission Of sins, however great: He comes, repenting sinners

With life and love to crown, And make them happy winners Of glory like his own.

Paul Gerhard.

The night of evil to dispel. (dwell, 4. Incarnate God, exert thy power, Arise, thou glorious conqueror: Subdue sin, death, and every foe, Erect thy kingdom here below.

Christ is near-thee to cheer;
Angels sing with gladness:
Unto you is born a Saviour
On this day;-don't delay
To accept God's favour.

2. Our eternal, kind Creator
Leaves his own-glorious throne,
And assumes our nature:
From perdition fuli exemption
To procure-and endure
Death for our redemption.

3. O the amazing demonstration
Of his love,-which we prove
By his incarnation!

If mankind by him were loathed,
How could he-deign to be
With our nature clothed?

4. See your Saviour in a manger;
'Midst his own,-yet unknown,
Treated like a stranger,
Tended by an earthly mother:
Him believe, and receive,

He is Christ your Brother.
5. Ye that feel quite poor and
needy,

Come, who will,-take your fill,
All things now are ready:
He is come to be your Saviour,
Full of love,-to remove
Guilt and curse for ever.

6. Jesus, hear my supplication,
Grant me grace-to embrace
Thee as my salvation:

29.

Paul Gerhard. T. 166 or 22.

away

This wondrous babe to see; Well might the sages homage pay,

And bow to him the knee.

3. We all have reason to rejoice,

When we this mystery view,
That God assum'd our flesh and
O wonder ever new! (blood,
We humbly in the dust adore;
Lord, who is like to thee,
That thou, vile sinners to restore,
Didst deign a man to be.

J. Heart and M. Taylor.
31.*
T. 169.

ARISE, my spirit, bless the day
Whereon the ages' Sire
A child became; thy homage pay,

Receive him with desire.
This is the night in which he came,
Was born and put on human
frame,

Us sinners to deliver

From sin and death forever.

2. Welcome, thou Source of every O Jesus, King of glory; (good, Welcome, thrice welcome, Lamb of To this world transitory: (God, In grateful hymns thy name I'll praise, (my days; With heart and voice throughout For thy blest incarnation Procured my salvation.

3. O lovely Infant, thou art full Of grace above all measure; Thou art more precious to my soul

Than earth with all its treasure: Come, Jesus, come, abide with me, And let my heart thy dwelling be; Then I without cessation Shall joy in thy salvation.

3. Lift your hearts and voices

high,

With hosannas fill the sky:

Glory be to God above,

Who is infinite in love.

35.*

T. 22.

IMMANUEL, to thee we sing, Thou Prince of Life, almighty King, That thou, expected ages past, Didst come to visit us at last.

men:

ALL the world give praises due;
God is faithful, God is true;
He to man doth comfort send
In his Son, the sinners' friend.
2. What the fathers wish'd of old,
What the promises foretold,
What the seers did prophesy,
Is fulfill'd most gloriously.
3. My salvation, welcome be;
Thou, my portion, praise to thee;
Come, and make thy blest abode
In my heart, O Son of God.

4. Grant thy comforts to my mind,
Since I'm helpless, poor, and blind;
O may I in faith abide
Thine, and never turn aside.
5. Jesus, when in majesty
Thou shalt come my judge to be,
Grant in grace that I may stand
Justified at thy right hand.

H. Held.

to thee,

On earth a stranger deign'st to be; Thou clothest all, yet wear'st a dress Which doth the poorest state ex

press.

3. On wither'd grass reclines thy head,

A wretched manger is thy bed: Tho' thou appear'st among thine

own,

No kindness unto thee is shown. 4. I thank thee, gracious Lord, that thou

On my account didst stoop so low; O that my words, my works and ways, (praise. May all proclaim thy matchless

36.*

P. Gerhard.

T. 22. TO-DAY we celebrate the birth Of Jesus Christ, who came on earth Man as his property to claim, And from perdition to redeem. 2. Awake, my heart; my soul, arise; Look who in yonder manger lies; Who is that child, so poor and mean? 'Tis he who all things doth sustain. 3. Welcome, O welcome, noble guest,

Who sinners not despised hast, But cam'st into our misery; (thee? How shall we pay due thanks to 4. Immanuel, incarnate God, Prepare my heart for thy abode: O may I, through thy aiding grace, In all I do, show forth thy praise.

Dr. M. Luther.

37.

T. 16. CHRIST the Lord, the Lord most glorious,

Now is born; O shout aloud: Man by him is made victorious: Praise your Saviour, hail your God.

2. Praise the Lord, for on us shineth Christ, the Sun of righteousness; He to us in love inclineth, (grace. Cheers our souls with pardoning 3. Praise the Lord, whose saving splendour

Shines into the darkest night; O what praises shall we render

For this never-ceasing light. 4. Praise the Lord, God our salvation, (loss; Praise him who retriev'd our Sing with awe, and love's sensation, HALLELUJAH, GOD WITH US.

J. Miller.

38. T. 585.

HAIL, thou wondrous infant stran-
Born lost Eden to regain; (ger,
Welcome in thy humble manger,
Welcome to thy creature man;
Hail Immanuel, :||:
Thou who wast ere time began.
2. Say, ye blest seraphic legions,
What thus brought your Maker
down?

Say, why did he leave your regions,
Why forsake his heavenly throne?
Notes melodious:||:
Tell the cause: Good will to man.
3. We this offer'd Saviour needed,
Hence we join your theme with
We by none will be exceeded, (joy,
While we laud this mystery,
And with wonder: ||:
God incarnate glorify.

SEE the infant in the manger,
See the incarnate God lie there,
Helpless, indigent, a stranger,

Born a man, our sins to bear! From his birth despis'd, rejected, By his people unrespected,

Ah! Immanuel's every breath Was a draught of wrath and death. Benj. Latrobe.

40. T. 585. ANGELS, from the realms of glory Wing your flight o'er all the earth, Ye who sang creation's story, Now proclaim Messiah's birth:

Come and worship, :||: Worship Christ, the new-born King. 2. Shepherds, in the field abiding, Watching o'er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing, Yonder shines the infant light:

Come and worship, :||: Worship Christ, the new-born King. 3. Sages, leave your contemplaSeek the great Desire of nations; Brighter visions beam afar: (tions,

Ye have seen his natal star:

Come and worship, :||: Worship Christ, the new-born King.

4. Saints, before the altar bending
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord descending,
In his temple shall appear:

Come and worship, :|| Worship Christ, the new-born King. 5. Sinners, wrung with true repentance,

Doom'd for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you,
- break your
Come and worship, :||: (chains:
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
J. Montgomery.