4 By thy own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thy all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne.
HYMN 15. (8.7.)
Christ appearing.
1 LIGHT of those, whose dreary dwelling
Borders on the shades of death,
Come! and by thy love revealing,
Dissipate the clouds beneath.
2 The new heaven and earth's Creator,
In our deepest darkness rise!
Scattering all the night of nature,
Pouring sight upon our eyes.
3 Still we wait for thy appearing,
Life and joy thy beams impart,
Chasing all our fears, and cheering
Every poor benighted heart.
4 Come, and manifest thy favour
God hath for our ransom'd race:
Come, thou universal Saviour!
Come, and bring the gospel grace.
5 Save us in thy great compassion,
O thou mild pacific Prince!
Give the knowledge of salvation,
Give the pardon of our sins.
6 By thy all-restoring merit,
Every burthen'd soul release;
Every weary, wandering spirit,
Guide into thy perfect peace.
HYMN 16. (P. M.)
I SING, ye ransom'd nations! sing
Praises to our new born king;
Son of man our Maker is,
Lord of Hosts, and Prince of Peace.
2 Lo! he lays his glory by,
Emptied of his Majesty!
See the God who all things made,
Humbly in a manger laid!
3 Cast we off our needless fear,
Boldly to our God draw near:
Jesus is our flesh and bone,
God with us is all our own. 4 Let us then, with angels, gaze
On our new-born monarch's face!
With the choir celestial, join'd,
Shout the Saviour of mankind.
5 Son of man will he despise,
Man's well-meaning sacrifice?
No; with condescending grace,
He accepts the creature's praise.
6 Let us then our Prince proclaim,
Humbly chaunt Immanuel's name;
Publish at his wond'rous birth,
Praise in heaven, and peace on earth,
7 Triumph in our Saviour's love,
Till he takes us up above;
All his majesty displays,
Shews us all his glorious face.
HYMN 17. (L. M.)
Enquiring after Christ.
HERE is the holy heav'n-born Child,
Heir of the everlasting throne;
Who heav'n and earth hath reconcil'd,
And God and man re-join'd in one.
2 Shall I of earthly kings enquire?
To courts or palaces repair?
The nation's hope, the world's desire;
Alas! we cannot find him there!
3 Shall learning shew the sinner's friend?
Or scribes a sight of Christ afford?
Us to his natal place they send,
But never go to seek the Lord.
4 We search the outward church in vain,
They cannot him we seek declare;
They have not found the Son of Man,
Or known the sacred name they bear.
5 Then let us turn no more aside,
But use the light himself imparts;
His Spirit is our surest guide,
His Spirit glimmering in our hearts.
6 Drawn by his grace we come from far,
And fix on Heav'n our wishful
That ray divine, that orient star,
Directs us where the Infant lies.
HYMN 18. (P. M.)
Birth-day of Christ.
1 REJOICE in Jesus' birth,
To us a son is giv❜n,
To us a child is born on earth,
Who fills both earth and heav'n.
2 His shoulder props
This universe sustains;
The God Supreme, the Lord Most High,
The King Messiah reigns.
3 His name, his nature soar,
Beyond the creatures' ken;
Yet whom th' angelic host adore,
He pleads the cause of men.
4 Our Counsellor we praise,
Our Advocate above:
Who daily in his church displays
His miracles of love.
5 Th' Almighty God is he,
Author of heav'nly bliss;
The Father of Eternity,
The glorious Prince of Peace.
6 Wider and wider still
He doth his sway extend;
With peace divine his people fill,
And joys that never end,
HYMN 19. (S. M.)
Calling for Assistance.
E worms of earth, arise,
Ye creatures of a day,
Redeem the time, be bold, be wise,
And cast your bonds away.
2 Shake off the chains of sin,
Like us assembled here;
With hymns of praise to usher in,
The acceptable year.
3 The year of gospel grace,
Like us rejoice to see;
And thankfully, in Christ, embrace
Your proffer'd liberty.
Pardon and peace are nigh,
Which ev'ry soul may prove;
The Lord who now is passing by,
Makes this the time of love.
5 Saviour and Lord of all,
Thy proffer we receive;
Obedient to thy gospel-call,
That bids us turn and live.
6 Our former years mis-spent,
Tho' late we deeply mourn;
And softened by thy grace repent,
And to thy arms return.
HYMN 20. (P. M.)
Sound an Alarm.
LOW ye the trumpet, blow
The gladly solemn sound!
Let all the nations know,
To earth's remotest bound,
of Jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.
2 Jesus, our great High Priest,
Hath full atonement made;
Ye weary spirits, rest;
Ye mournful souls, be glad!
The year of Jubilee is come;
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