CHRISTMAS. C. M. GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL. 192 Good tidings of great joy.-Luke ?: 19. 1 WHILE shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around. 2 "Fear not," said he,-for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind,"Glad tidings of great joy I bring, To you and all mankind.. 3 "To you, in David's town, this day The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; 4 "The heavenly babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapped in swathing-bands, 5 Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith Of angels, praising God on high, 6 "All glory be to God on high, Good-will henceforth from heaven to men, Begin and never cease.' 193 TATE AND BRADY, Glory to God in the highest. 1 MORTALS, awake, with angels join, And chant the solemn lay; CAROL. C. M. D. Joy, love, and gratitude combine, 2 In heaven the rapturous song began, Through all the shining legions ran, 3 Swift through the vast expanse it flew. And loud the echo rolled; The theme, the song, the joy, was new, 'Twas more than heaven could hold. 4 Down through the portals of the sky 5 Hark! the cherubic armies shout, Good-will and peace are heard through out The harmonious heavenly throng. 6 With joy the chorus we repeat, "Glory to God on high!' Good-will and peace are now complete, Jesus was born to die. 7 Hail, Prince of life, forever hail! Redeemer, Brother, Friend! Though earth, and time, and life shall fail, Thy praise shall never end. SAMUEL MEDLEY. RICHARD STORES WILLIS. 1 IT came upon the midnight clear, 2 Still through the cloven skies they come With peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heavenly music floats 3 But with the woes of sin and strife 4 And ye, beneath life's crushing load, Look now! for glad and golden hours 5 For lo! the days are hastening on And the whole world give back the song EDMUND H. SEARS. 195 Christmas anthem. 1 CALM on the listening ear of night, And angels, with their sparkling lyres, 2 The answering hills of Palestine And greet from all their holy heights And Sharon waves in solemn praise 3 "Glory to God!" the lofty strain How sweeps the song of solemn joy O'er Judah's sacred hills! "Glory to God!" the sounding skies Loud with their anthems ring: "Peace on the earth; good-will to men, From heaven's eternal King." 4 Light on thy hills, Jerusalem! More bright on Bethlehem's joyous plains 5 This day shall Christian tongues be mute, And Christian hearts be cold? O catch the anthem that from heaven EDMUND H. SEARS. NOEL. C. M. LOWELL MASON. 196 Patience of Jesus. 1 WHAT grace, O Lord, and beauty shone Around thy steps below! What patient love was seen in all 2 For, ever on thy burdened heart 3 Thy foes might hate, despise, revile, 4 O give us hearts to love like thee, 5 One with thyself, may every eye That gentleness and grace that spring 1 THE chosen three, on mountain height, 2 And lo! with the transfigured Lord, 3 From the low-bending cloud above, 4 Lord, lead us to the mountain height; DAVID H. ELA. AMES. L. M. 43 FROM SIGISMUND NEUKOMM ARR. BY LOWELL MASON. 199 The Transfiguration. 10 WONDROUS type! O vision fair Of glory that the Church shall share, Which Christ upon the mountain shows, Where brighter than the sun he glows! 2 From age to age the tale declare, How with the three disciples there, Where Moses and Elias meet, The Lord holds converse high and sweet. 3 With shining face and bright array, 4 And faithful hearts are raised on high 5 O Father, with the Eternal Son, 10 MASTER, it is good to be Entranced, enwrapt, alone with thee; Till we too change from grace to grace, We bow before the heavenly voice ARTHUR P. STANLEY. 201 Receive thy sight.-Luke 18: 42. 1 WHEN the blind suppliant in the way, By friendly hands to Jesus led, Prayed to behold the light of day, "Receive thy sight," the Saviour said. 2 At once he saw the pleasant rays That lit the glorious firmament; And, with firm step and words of praise, He followed where the Master went. 3 Look down in pity, Lord, we pray, On eyes oppressed by moral night, And touch the darkened lids, and say The gracious words, "Receive thy sight." 4 Then, in clear daylight, shall we see Where walked the sinless Son of God; And, aided by new strength from thee, Press onward in the path he trod. 202 WILLIAM C. BRYANT. Meekness of Christ. 1 How beauteous were the marks divine, 2 O who like thee, so mild, so bright, 4 And death, that sets the prisoner free, A. CLEVELAND COXx. |