Sweet the employment
To proclaim his goodness,
And sing his praises.

Hymn 263. 11's.

Christmas.

1 O WONDER of wonders! astonish'd I gaze,
To see in a manger the Ancient of Days;
And angels proclaiming, the stranger forlorn,
And telling the shepherds, that Jesus is born.

CHORUS.

O let us rejoice, and cast sorrow away;
Our Saviour, Christ Jesus, is born on this day.

Is this then the Lord, our Redeemer I see?
Rejoice, O ye nations, rejoice, it is he!
To Bethlehem city, ye ransom'd, repair,
Adore your Redeemer ; the Babe will be there.

CHORUS.

Rejoice and sing praises; cast sorrow away;
Our Saviour, Christ Jesus, was born on this day:

3 Behold from the East, and from nations afar,
The sages approach as they're led by the star!
Their treasures of gold and of spices they bring,
And offer their incense to Jesus their King.

CHORUS.

Then let us rejoice and cast sorrow away:
Our Saviour, Christ Jesus, was born on this day

4 With grateful emotions now let us repair
To worship before him in praises and pray'r.
Our hearts we'll present him, our love we'll unfold
More grateful to heav'n than spices or gold.

CHORUS.

We'll praise him with joy and cast sorrow away
Our Saviour, Christ Jesus, was born on this day

1 SAVIOUR, Prince, enthron'd above,
Repentance to impart,

Give me, through thy dying love,
The humble, contrite heart;
Give what I have long implor'd,
A portion of thy love unknown;
Turn and look upon me, Lord,
And break my heart of stone.
2 See me Saviour from above,
Nor suffer me to die ;

Life, and happiness, and love
Smile in thy gracious eye;

Speak the reconciling word,
And let thy mercy melt me down ;
Turn and look upon me, Lord,

And break my heart of stone.
3 Look, as when thy pitying eye
Was clos'd, that we might live;
"Father," (at the point to die,

My Saviour gasp'd) "forgive!" Surely with that dying word,

He turns, and looks, and cries, "'tis done!" O, my loving, bleeding Lord,

This breaks my heart of stone.

1 HARK! how the gospel trumpet sounds;
Through all the earth the echo bounds,
And Jesus by redeeming blood,
Is bringing sinners back to God,
And guides them safely by his word
To endless day.

2 Hail, all victorious, conq'ring Lord!
Be thou by all thy works ador'd,
Who undertook for sinful man,

And brought salvation through thy name,
That we with thee may ever reign
In endless day.

3 Fight on, ye conquering souls, fight on,
And when the conquest you have won,
The palms of victory you shall bear,
And in his kingdom have a share,
And crowns of glory ever wear
In endless day.

4 There we shall in sweet chorus join,
And saints and angels all combine
To sing of his redeeming love;

When rolling years shall cease to move,
And this shall be our theme above,
In endless day.

Hymn 267. C. M.

A Prayer for the Aid of the Spirit. 1 TRY us, O God and search the ground Of every sinful heart; Whate're of sin in us is found, O bid it all depart.

2 When to the right or left we stray,
Leave us not comfortless,

But guide our feet into the way
Of everlasting peace.

3 Help us to help each other Lord,
Each others cross to bear,

Let each his friendly aid afford,
And feel his brothers care.
4 Help us to build each other up,
Our little stock improve;
Increase our faith, confirm our hope,
And perfect us in love.

5 Up into thee our living head,

Let us in all things grow,

Till thou hast made us free indeed,
And spotless here below.

Then when the mighty work is wrought,
Receive thy ready bride,
Give us in heav'n a happy lot

With all the sanctify'd.

Hymn 268. C. M.

Pardoning Mercy.

1 How oft, alas! this wretched heart

Has wander'd from the Lord!

How oft my crying thoughts depart,
Forgetful of thy word!

2 Yet sov'reign mercy cries "return,”
Lord at thy call I come ;
My vile ingratitude I mourn,

O take the wanderer home.

3 And canst thou, wilt thou yet forgive;
And all my crimes remove?
And shall a pardon'd rebel live,
To speak thy wond'rous love?
4 Almighty grace, thy healing power
How glorious! how divine!
That can to life and bliss restore
So vile a heart as mine!

5 Thy pard'ning love forever free,
With rapture I adore;

Lord, I devote myself to thee,
And long to love thee more.

Christ's Resurrection and Ascension.
[Tune, Middleton.]

1 HAIL the day that saw him rise,
Ravish'd from our wishful eyes;
Christ awhile to mortals giv'n,
Reascends his native heav'n:
There the pompous triumph waits,
Lift your heads eternal gates;
Wide unfold the radiant scene,
Take the King of Glory in.

2 Him, though highest heav'n receives.
Still he loves the earth he leaves s;
Though returning to his throne,
Still he calls mankind his own:
Still-for us he intercedes,
Prevalent his death he pleads;