More bless'd are they who keep his word,
Than she who bore and nursed the Lord.
6 Our willing honors then we pay
To Him whose is this festal day;
Before his feet rejoicing fall,

And crown him King and Lord of all.

COMEB

HYMN 194. L. M.

TEACHERS.

W. H.

NOME, children, let your voices rise To Him who stoops to hear your cries: To-day is born your heavenly KingLift up your voices-children, sing.

BOYS.

2 Come, sisters, join your tuneful tongues
Responsive to our humbler songs;
Come, and your sweeter anthems bring
To praise him better-sisters, sing.

GIRLS.

3 Brothers, we come with cheerful hearts,
In this glad song to bear our parts;
Let both unite to sing his praise,
And willing honors jointly raise.

CHILDREN.

4 Our gifts of gold we cannot bring
An offering unto Zion's King:
Instruct us, teachers, how to gain
The favors of his coming reign.

TEACHERS.

5 Dear children, he whose grace you share,
Does not for such vain honors care:
Your hearts, to gold, will he prefer-
Your love, to frankincense and myrrh.

ALL.

6 Saviour of all, our voices blend,
And upward to thy throne ascend,
While low our bodies humbly bow,
O bless us, Saviour-bless us now.

W. H.

HYMN 195. 8 lines 8s.

"How tedious and tasteless the hours."

HAPPY the day he was born,

When angels rejoiced in the skies:

The joy of that festival morn

By far every other outvies.

O, bright was the glory shone

From mercy's broad banner unfurled,
When Gabriel came down from the throne
To publish the news to our world.

2 "Lo! tidings of gladness I bring
To you, and to all upon earth;
Rejoice at the birth of your King,
The Son of the Highest hath birth;
He comes of the prophets foretold,
Whose kingdom shall ever increase;
The son of King David of old,

The Prince and the Author of peace.

FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY. 197

3 Thus spake the archangel; and throngs
Of glorified spirits on high,
Exulted in rapturous songs,

And filled with sweet music the sky.
All glory and honor be given,

To Father, and Spirit, and Son;
On earth is the kingdom of Heaven,
The reign of Messiah, begun.

W. H.

FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.

Coronation. HYMN 196. C. M.

G

OD of our fathers! whose right hand
Their galling fetters broke,

And set, our now delightsome land,
Free from a foreign yoke-

2 We thank Thee for the blessings given,
Prosperity and peace,

And raise our prayerful hearts to heaven,
That they may still increase.

3 Our warrior sires who stood in arms,
In death's long slumber rest,
While we, secure from war's alarms,
By their hard toils are blest.

4 We, in our own thrice blissful bowers,
In safety now recline;

These blessings, gracious Lord, are ours,
The praise be ever Thine.

W. H.

Carmarthen.

HYMN 197. 4 6s and 2 8s.

UR Father, God, and King,
Sovereign of earth and skies,

Thy praise our tongues would sing—
In prayer our hearts would rise.
We praise thee for thy blessings past,
And pray that they may ever last.
2 Thou art our King alone--
No other King have we;

And thy beloved Son

Has died to make us free.
Whom he makes free is free indeed,
For he supplies our every need.

3 Accept our youthful lay,

H

The tribute which we bring;
Our hearts and voices say,
"Forever live, O King!"

Thy reign extend from sea to sea:
And all thy loyal subjects be.

W. H.

HYMN 198. 2 8s, 3 7s and 1 4.

"Come ye sinners poor and needy." AIL the day that brought our freedom, Bought with our forefathers' blood; Thou, our conq'ring God, didst lead them Through the flame and through the flood. Independence!

Echo it through field and flood.

2 Lo! their happy sons and daughters On this glad and festal day,

FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY. 199

By the springs of limpid waters,
O'er the hills and valleys stray.
Independence!

Chorus still of every lay.

3 Here'we, in thy presence bending,
Happiest of the happy throngs,
Up to heaven our prayers are sending-
Up to heaven our rapt'rous songs,
Independence!

Swells the triumph, and prolongs.
4 "Oh! thou God of our salvation,"
Who dost blessings richly shower,
Let us make our "Declaration"
In this spirit-stirring hour.
Independence!

From the tyrant Satan's power.
5 Father, oh! prepare us better
For the blessings richly given;
Break off every sinful fetter,
Purge out every sinful leaven.
Independence!

Then shall clear our path to heaven.

HYMN 199. 7s and 6s.

Wo breathe our songs of praise.
E come with joy and gladness,

Nor let one note of sadness

Be mingled in our lays,
For 'tis a hallowed story,

This theme of freedom's birth;

Our fathers' deeds of glory

Are echoed round the earth.

W. H.