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

Through all the shining legions ran,
And strung and tun'd the lyre.

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

The theme, the song, the joy was great, "Twas more than heaven could hold.

4 Down through the portals of the sky
Th' impetuous torrent ran;
And angels flew with eager joy
To bear the news to man.

5 Hark! the cherubic armies shout,
And glory leads the song:
Good will and peace are heard throughout
Th' harmonious, heavenly throng.

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

Christ found in fashion as a man. Philip. ii. 6,7. John xiv. 8,9.

1 WHAT condescending grace and love
Did Christ for us display,
Who left the glorious worlds above,
To dwell in mortal clay!

2 He not th' angelic form assum'd,
Nor the celestial frame:

Though angels nobler natures boast,
And boast a nobler name.

3 Behold, of Abrah'm's faithful seed
The great Redeemer born;
See him, in mortal flesh appear,
Our nature to adorn!

It well the Saviour's love became,
A human form to wear,
That he might thus our guilt atone,
And our transgressions bear.

Jesus, our merciful High-Priest,
Inflam'd with love divine,
Redeem'd his people with his blood,
And did his life resign.

6 Then to the throne of sovereign grace,
Let us with joy draw near,
That we may gain a rich supply;
For all we want is there.

1 GOD in his temple let us meet,

Low on your knees before Him bend;
Here hath he fixed his mercy-seat,

Here on his Sabbath we attend.

2 Arise into thy resting-place,

Thou, and thine ark of strength, O Lord! Shine through the veil, we seek thy face; Speak, for we hearken to thy word.

3 With righteousness thy priests array;
Joyful thy chosen people be;

Let those who teach and those who pray,
Let all be holiness to Thee.

The Grace and Love of Christ.

1 ALOUD we sing the wondrous grace,
Christ to his murd'rers bare;
Which made the tort'ring cross its throne,
And hung its trophies there.

2 "Father forgive," his mercy cried,
With his expiring breath,
And drew eternal blessings down
On those who wrought his death.

3 Jesus, this wondrous love we sing,
And while we sing, admire;

Breathe on our souls, and kindle there
The same celestial fire.

4 Sway'd by thy dear example, we
For enemies will pray;

By love, their hatred and their curse
With blessings we'll repay.

Praise. Psa. cxiii. 1, 2. Mark xi. 9, 10.

1 AWAKE, awake the sacred song
To our incarnate Lord;

Let every heart, and every tongue
Adore th' eternal word.

2 That awful word, that sovereign power,
By whom the worlds were made—
(O happy morn! illustrious hour!)
Was once in flesh array'd!

3 Then shone almighty power and love
In all their glorious forms:

When Jesus left the throne above
To dwell with sinful worms.

4 To dwell with misery below,
The Saviour left the skies;
And sunk to wretchedness and woe,
That worthless man might rise.

3 Adoring angels tun'd their songs
To hail the joyful day;

With rapture then, let mortal tongues
Their grateful worship pay.

6 What glory, Lord, to thee is due!
With wonder we adore;

But could we sing as angels do,
Our highest praise were poor.

The Song of Angels. Luke ii. 10, 11, 13, 14.

1 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 seiz'd 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,

A 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 wrapt in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid."

5 Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appear'd a shining throng
Of angels, praising God, who thus
Address'd their joyful 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."

A general Hymn of Praise.

1 BE thou exalted, O our God,

Above the heavens where angels dwell;
Thy power on earth be known abroad,
And land to land thy wonders tell.

2 With joyful voice we'll sound thy praise,
O thou, from whom all beings came;
Our hearts are fix'd, our tongues shall raise
Immortal honours to thy name.

3 In thee, O God, are all the springs
Of boundless love, and grace unknown;
The richest blessings nature brings,
Are gifts descending from thy throne.

4 High o'er the earth thy goodness reigns,
And reaches to the utmost sky;
Thy truth to endless years remains,
Though lower worlds dissolve and die.

5 Be thou exalted, O our God,
Above the heavens where angels dwell;
Thy power on earth be known abroad,
And land to land thy wonders tell.