Thy humble state I sing:
Never shall my triumphs end!
Hail, derided Majesty!
JESUS, hail! the sinner's Friend,
Friend of publicans-and me!
1 THE lands that long in darkness lay, Now have beheld a heavenly light; Nations that sat in death's cold shade Are bless'd with beams divinely bright.
2 The virgin's promis'd Son is born;
Behold the expected CHILD appear! What shall His names or titles be?
The WONDERFUL, the COUNsellor.
3 The government of earth and seas
Upon His shoulder shall be laid :
His wide dominions shall increase,
And honours to his name be paid.
4 Jesus the HOLY CHILD shall sit
High on His father David's throne, Shall crush His foes beneath His feet, And reign to ages yet unknown.
1 CHRISTIANS, awake, salute the happy morn Whereon the SAVIOUR of the world was born; Rise to adore the mystery of love,
Which hosts of angels chanted from above:
With them the joyful tidings first begun,
Of GOD incarnate, and the virgin's SON.
2 Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
Who heard th' angelic herald's voice, “Behold!
I bring good tidings of a SAVIOUR's birth,
Το you, and all the nations upon earth:
This day hath GOD fulfill'd His promis'd word;
This day is born a SAVIOUR, CHRIST the LORD.
3 In David's city, shepherds, ye shall find
The long-foretold REDEEMER of mankind:
Wrapt up in swaddling-clothes, the Babe divine
Lies in a manger; this shall be your sign."
He spake, and straightway the celestial choir,
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire.
4 The praises of redeeming love they sung,
And heav'n's whole orb with hallelujahs rung:
GOD's highest glory was their anthem still;
Peace upon earth, and mutual good-will. [ran,
To Bethlehem straight th' enlight'ned shepherds
To see the wonder GOD had wrought for man;
5 And found with Joseph, and the blessed maid,
Her SON, the SAVIOUR, in a manger laid:
Amaz'd, the wondrous story they proclaim,
The first apostles of His infant fame:
While Mary keeps and ponders in her heart,
The heav'nly vision which the swains impart.
6 They to their flocks, still praising GOD, return,
And their glad hearts within their bosoms burn.
Let us, like these good shepherds, then employ
Our grateful voices to proclaim the joy;
Like Mary, let us ponder in our mind,
GOD's wondrous love in saving lost mankind.
7 Artless, and watchful as these favour'd swains,
While virgin meekness in the heart remains,
Trace we the babe, who has retriev'd our loss,
From his poor manger, to His bitter cross;
Treading His steps, assisted by His grace,
Till man's first heav'nly state again takes place.
8 Then may we hope th' angelic thrones among,
To sing, redeem'd, a glad triumphal song:
He that was born upon this joyful day,
Around us all His glory shall display;
Sav'd by His love, incessant we shall sing,
Of angels, and of angel-men, the King.
THOU
soft-flowing Kedron, by thy silver stream,
Our SAVIOUR at midnight, when Cinthia's pale beam
Shone bright on the waters, would frequently stray,
And lose in the murmurs the toils of the day.
Come, saints, and adore Him, come bow at His feet:
O give Him the glory, the praise that is meet.
Let joyful hosannas unceasing arise,
And join the full chorus that gladdens the skies.
2 How damp were the vapours that fell on His head!
How hard was His pillow! how humble His bed!
The angels astonish'd grew sad at the sight,
And followed their Master with solemn delight.
Come, saints, and adore Him, &c.
3 The garden of Olives, dear honoured spot,
The fame of Thy wonders shall ne'er be forgot;
The theme most transporting to seraphs above,
The triumph of sorrow, the triumph of love!
Come, saints, and adore Him, &c.
4 'Twas here He encounter'd with infinite wrath, And conquered by love that was stronger than death; "Twas here He engaged the lion of hell: Beneath His strong arm all our enemies fell.
Come, saints, and adore Him, &c.
1 BEHOLD the SAVIOUR of mankind,
Nail'd to the shameful tree!
How vast the love that Him inclin'd
To bleed and die for Thee!
2 Hark, how He groans! while nature shakes,
And earth's strong pillars bend!
The temple's veil in sunder breaks,
The solid marbles rend.
3 'Tis done! the precious ransom's paid:
"Receive my soul," He cries!
See where He bows His sacred head!
He bows His head-and dies!
4 But soon He'll break Death's envious chain, And in full glory shine:
O LAMB OF GOD! was ever pain,
Was ever love like Thine!
1 EXTENDED on a cursed tree,
Besmear'd with dust, and sweat, and blood,
See there, the King of Glory see!
Sinks, and expires, the SON of GOD!
2 Who, who, my SAVIOUR, this hath done?
Who could Thy sacred body wound?
No guilt Thy spotless heart hath known,
No guile hath in Thy lips been found.
3 I, I alone, have done the deed!
'Tis I Thy sacred flesh have torn! My sins have caus'd Thee, LORD, to bleed; Pointed the nail, and fix'd the thorn.
4 For me the burden to sustain
Too great, on Thee, my LORD, was laid:
To heal me, Thou hast borne my pain;
To bless me, Thou a curse wast made.
5 In the devouring lion's teeth,
Torn, and forsook of all, I lay;
Thou sprang'st into the jaws of death,
From death to save the helpless prey.
6 My SAVIOUR, how shall I proclaim,
How pay the mighty debt I owe?
Let all I have, and all I am,
Ceaseless to all Thy glory show. 7 Too much to Thee I cannot give;
Too much I cannot do for Thee: Let all Thy love, and all Thy grief, Grav'n on my heart for ever be!
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