much as they, could realize the meaning of the poet's words? For they had been rescued from the darkness of heathenism and cannibalism, and they were that day met for the first time under a Christian constitution, and with Christ himself reigning in the hearts of most of them. That was indeed Christ's kingdom set up in the earth."

18 Zion, or the City of God.

GLO

Isaiah, Chap. xxxiii, 20, 21.

LORIOUS things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;

He whose word cannot be broken
Formed thee for His own abode :
On the Rock of Ages founded,

What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

2 See, the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal Love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove :
Who can faint, while such a river

Ever flows their thirst to assuage? Grace, which, like the Lord the Giver, Never fails from age to age.

3 Round each habitation hovering, See the cloud and fire appear For a glory and a covering,

Showing that the Lord is near : Thus deriving from their banner Light by night, and shade by day, Safe they feed upon the manna Which He gives them when they pray.

4 Saviour, if of Zion's city

I, through grace, a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in Thy Name:
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure

None but Zion's children know.

This is another of the hymns which the Rev. John Newton published in "Olney Hymns" (see under No. II). The poet thinks of the Church of Christ as a great city in which God has His dwelling, and in which all Christians are fellow-citizens. And he thanks God for the privilege and honor of being a member of His Church.

19 Christ's Message, from Luke iv, 18, 19.

ARK, the glad sound! the Saviour

HAR

comes,

The Saviour promised long :

Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.

2 On Him the Spirit, largely poured, Exerts its sacred fire:

Wisdom and might, and zeal and love, His holy breast inspire.

3 He comes, the prisoners to release
In Satan's bondage held;

The gates of brass before Him burst,
The iron fetters yield.

4 He comes, from the thick films of vice To clear the mental ray,

And on the eye-balls of the blind.
To pour celestial day.

5 He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure;

And with the treasures of His grace
To enrich the humble poor.

6 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With Thy beloved Name.

The Rev. Dr. Philip Doddridge (born 1702, died 1751) wrote this hymn, but it was never printed till after his death. He was a great friend of Dr. Watts, and wrote very many hymns, of which this perhaps is the best. It is a song of welcome to greet the coming (advent) of Christ to be our Saviour;—just as if the poet had been present in the Nazareth Synagogue when Jesus read the prophet's words about Himself, and the poet had taken those words from His mouth and made them into a song. (See St. Luke iv, 18, 19.)

20 Christ Jesus the Lamb of God, worshipped by all the Creation. Rev. v, II, 12, 13.

COME

OME, let us join our cheerful songs
With angels round the throne;

Ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
But all their joys are one.

2 "Worthy the Lamb that died," they cry, "To be exalted thus: " "Worthy the Lamb," our lips reply, 66 For He was slain for us."

3 Jesus is worthy to receive Honor and power Divine;

And blessings, more than we can give, Be, Lord, for ever Thine.

4 Let all that dwell above the sky, And air, and earth, and seas, Conspire to lift Thy glories high,

And speak Thine endless praise.

5 The whole creation join in one,
To bless the sacred Name
Of Him that sits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb.

This is another of Dr. Watts's hymns (see under No. 2). He calls upon us to join in the worship of the angels about God's throne in heaven, of which St. John tells us in the verses from Revelation referred to in the title of the hymn.