OR Thy mercy and Thy grace, 3 Rock of strength! be Thou our stay! Be our true and living way! Who of us death's awful road In the coming year shall tread? Comfort Thou his dying head! Fit us for Thy promised crown! 5 So within Thy palace gate We shall praise, on golden strings, Lord of lords, and King of kings! Henry Downton, 1843. THE EPIPHANY. "There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise HAT star is this, with beams so bright, WHA It shines to herald forth the King, And Gentiles to His cradle bring. 2 And lo! the eastern sages stand To read in heaven the Lord's command: 3 They bless the meek and holy Child, 4 O heavenly Lord, O holy Light, That shines through Nature's wondering night, What power divine, what glorious grace. 5 And now, thou bright and morning star, From sea to sea, from shore to shore, Latin Hymn. Translation compiled. "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in 58 the flesh." 75, 8 lines. ONGS of thankfulness and praise, Manifested by the star To the sages from afar; Manifest at Jordan's stream, 3 Manifest in making whole 4 Sun and moon shall darkened be, All will then the trumpet hear, And may praise Thee, ever blest, C. Wordsworth. "They presented unto Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." 59 IIS, & IOS. RIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning, BR Dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine aid; Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. 2 Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are shining, Maker and Monarch and Saviour of all! 3 Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, 4 Vainly we offer each ample oblation, Vainly with gifts would His favor secure; Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. 5 Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. Reginald Heber, 1811. "The star went before them, till it came and stood over where the 60 young child was. EE now fulfilled what God decreed, SE "From Jacob shall a Star proceed;" And eastern sages with amaze Upon the wondrous vision gaze. ** 2 The guiding Star above is bright, 3 True love can brook no dull delay; Latin Hymn. Altered from F. Chandler. "The Gentiles shall come to Thy light, and kings to the brightness 61 H of Thy rising." 75 & 6s. AIL to the Lord's Anointed, See in the time appointed His reign on earth begun! 2 He comes to break oppression, 3 To take away transgression, Before Him on the mountains Shall peace, the herald, go; And from a thousand fountains 4 Kings shall fall down before Him, 6 O'er every foe victorious, He on His throne shall rest; 7 The tide of time shall never His name shall stand for ever, James Montgomery, 1822. "When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." 62 63 75, 6 lines. S with gladness men of old 2 As with joyful steps they sped 3 As they offered gifts most rare 4 Holy Jesus! every day Keep us in the narrow way; 5 In the heavenly country bright Alleluias to our King. Wm. Chatterton,Dix, 1860. "We have seen His star in the East." WE L. M. 8 lines. 'ELCOME! that star in Judah's sky, |