Christian Chorals for the Chapel & Fireside

66.

C. M. D.

It came upon the midnight clear.

"When the kindness of God our Saviour, and His love toward man appeared."

EDMUND H. SEARS, 1849, abr.

St. Silvester. JOSEPH BARNBY, 1867.

1. It came upon the midnight clear-That glorious song of old,

From An-gels bending

near the Earth To touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the Earth, good-will to men From

Heav'ns all-gracious King!"—The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the Angels sing.

Still thro the cloven skies they came,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hov'ring wing,
And ever o'er its Babel-sounds,
The blessed angels sing.

Yet, with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And
man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring:
Oh! hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!

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Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness;
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings,
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of Earth;
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! etc.

68.

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the Woman's conquering seed,
Bruise in us the Serpent's head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join

Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.
Hark! etc.

As, with gladness, men of old.

"Then shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel."

69.

Hark! what mean those holy voices.

"Thro His name every one that believeth on Him shall receive remission of sins."

Which they chant in hymns of joy ;-"Glory in the highest, glory; Glory be to God most high !"

"Peace on Earth, good will from Heaven,
Reaching far as man is found;
Souls redeemed, and sins forgiven;-
Loud our golden harps shall sound.
Christ is born, the great Anointed;

Heaven and Earth His glory sing: Glad, receive whom God appointed,

For your Prophet, Priest, and King.

"Hasten, mortals! to adore Him;

Learn His name, and taste His joy; Till in heaven you sing before Him,— Glory be to God most high!" Let us learn the wondrous story

Of our great Redeemer's birth, Spread the brightness of His glory, Till it cover all the earth.

1. Lo! hills and mountains shall bring forth The happy fruits of peace, Which all the land shall

own to be

The work of righteous-ness; In

every heart Thine aw-ful fear Shall

then be root-ed fast, As long as sun and moon en-dure, Or time it- self shall last.

To Him shall every king on Earth
His humble homage pay;
And differing nations gladly join

To own His righteous sway.
For He shall set the needy free,
When they for succor cry;
Shall save the helpless and the poor
And all their wants supply.

Then blest be God, the mighty Lord,

The God Whom Israel fears; Who only wondrous in His works,

Beyond compare, appears. Let Earth be with His glory filled, For ever bless His name; Whilst to His praise the listening world Their glad assent proclaim.

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