JESUS CHRIST.

113

C. M.

Glad tidings of great joy.

WHILE shepherds watch'd their flocks by night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.

2 Fear not, said he, (for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind,)
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
To you and all mankind.

3 To you, in David's town, this day
Is born, of David's line,

The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign:

4 The heavenly babe you there shall find
To human view display'd,

All meanly wrapp'd in swathing-bands,
And in a manger laid.

5 Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith
Appear'd a shining throng.

Of angels, praising God on high,
Who thus address'd their song:
6 All glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace:

Good-will henceforth, from heaven to men,
Begin and never cease.

114

9th P. M. 87, 87.

Peace on earth-good-will to men.

HARK! what mean those holy voices,
Sweetly sounding through the skies?

Lo! the angelic host rejoices;
Heavenly hallelujahs rise.

2 Listen to the wondrous story,
Which they chant in hymns of joy :—
Glory in the highest, glory,

Glory be to God most high!

3 Peace on earth, good-will from heaven, Reaching far as man is found; Souls redeem'd, and sins forgiven!— Loud our golden harps shall sound. 4 Christ is born, the great Anointed; Heaven and earth his praises sing; O receive whom God appointed,

For your Prophet, Priest, and King. 5 Hasten, mortals, to adore him; Learn his name, and taste his joy: Till in heaven ye sing before him,Glory be to God most high!

115

15th P. M. 11 9, 11 9.

Christmas-day.

ALL hail! happy day,

When, enrobed in our clay,

The Redeemer appear'd upon earth;
How can we refrain

To unite in the strain,

And to hail our Immanuel's birth!

2 Ye angels of God,
Sound his praises abroad,

And acknowledge him JAH, the I AM:

We also will join

In a hymn so divine,

Giving glory to God and the Lamb!

30 may the return

Of this once blessed morn
Be forever remember'd with joy:
Sweet accents of praise

All our voices shall raise;
Hallelujahs shall be our employ!

4 Let echo prolong
The harmonious song,-
Hallelujahs again and again:
He kindles the fire,

Whom the nations desire,

And to him we devote the glad strain.

116

Glory to God in the highest.

C. M.

MORTALS, awake, with angels join,
And chant the solemn lay;

Joy, love, and gratitude combine,
To hail the auspicious day.

2 In heaven the rapt'rous song began,
And sweet seraphic fire

Through all the shining legions ran,
And strung and tuned the lyre.

75

3 Swift through the vast expanse it flew,
And loud the echo roll'd;

The theme, the song, the joy, was new,-
'Twas more than heaven could hold.
4 Down through the portals of the sky
The' impetuous torrent ran;

And angels flew, with eager joy,
To bear the news to man.

5 With joy the chorus we repeat,-
Glory to God on high!

Good-will and peace are now complete

Jesus was born to die.

6 Hail, Prince of life, forever hail!
Redeemer, Brother, Friend!
Though earth, and time, and life shall fail,
Thy praise shall never end.

7 Hark! the cherubic armies shout,
And glory leads the song:

Good-will and peace are heard throughout
The' harmonious heavenly throng.

117

P. M. 11 10, 11 10.

The star in the East.

RIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning,

Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where the infant Redeemer is laid. 2 Cold, on his cradle, the dew-drops are shining; Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore him, in slumber reclining,Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour, of all. 3 Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion, Odours of Eden and off'rings divine? Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine? 4 Vainly we offer each ample oblation; Vainly with gifts would his favour secure; Richer by far is the heart's adoration; Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

118

C. M.

Design and object of His advent.
H The Saviour, promised long;
ARK, the glad sound! the Saviour comes,—

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

2 He comes, the pris'ner to release,
In Satan's bondage held;

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

3 He comes, from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray,

And on the eyes oppress'd with night
To pour celestial day.

4 He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The wounded soul to cure,

And, with the treasures of his grace,
To' enrich the humble poor.

5 Our glad hosannas, Prince of peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.

119

8th P. M. 87, 87, 47.

Worship the new-born Saviour.

ANGELS, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship,-

Worship Christ, the new-born king.
2 Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light:
Come and worship,—
Worship Christ, the new-born king.
3 Sages, leave your contemplations,—
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen his natal star :
Come and worship,-

Worship Christ, the new-born king.

4 Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In his temple shall appear:
Come and worship,—

Worship Christ, the new-born king.
5 Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doom'd for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,-
Mercy calls you,-break your chains:
Come and worship,-

Worship Christ, the new-born king.