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4 Glory to God in highest strains,
In highest worlds be paid;
His glory by our lips proclaim'd,
And by our lives display'd.

5 0! may we reach those blissful realms
Where Christ exalted reigns;
And learn of the celestial choir
Their own immortal strains.

40. The Angel's Song at the Birth of Christ.—

LUKE ii. 8-15. C. M.

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 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 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: "Goodwill,henceforth, from Heaven to men, "Begin and never cease."

New Year.

41. Reflections on the New Year.

(8.7.)

1 WHILE, with ceaseless course, the sun

Hasted through the former year,

Many souls their race have run,
Never more to meet us here:
Fix'd in an eternal state,
They have fled from all below
We a little longer wait,

But how little none can know.

2 As the winged arrow flies,
Swift its destin'd mark to find;
As the lightning from the skies
Darts, and leaves no trace behind ;-
Thus with speed our fleeting days
Bear us down life's rapid stream:
Lord! on high our wishes raise;
All on earth is but a dream.

D

3 Thanks for mercies past receive;
Pardon of our sins renew;

Teach us henceforth how to live,
With eternity in view:

Guide the young and warn the old;
Bid all seek the Saviour's love;
So, when life's brief tale is told,
All shall dwell with Thee above.

42.

Spared another Year.

(4. 6 & 2. 8.)

1 THE Lord of earth and sky,
The God of ages praise;
Who reigns enthron'd on high,
Ancient of endless days;
Who lengthens out our trial here,
And spares us yet another year!

2 Barren and wither'd trees,

We cumber'd long the ground;
No fruit of holiness

On our dead souls we found:
Yet doth He us in mercy spare,
Another, and another year.

3 When justice bared the sword,
To cut the fig-tree down,

The pity of our Lord

Cried, "Let it still alone:"
The Father mild inclin'd His ear,
And spar'd us yet another year.

4 Jesus! thy speaking blood
From God obtain'd the grace,
Who therefore hath bestowed
On us a longer space:
Thou didst in our behalf appear,
And, lo, we see another year.

5 Then dig about our root,

Break up our fallow-ground,
And let our gracious fruit

To thy great praise abound:
O let us all thy praise declare,
And fruit unto perfection bear!

43. The Prospect of a New Year.

1 God of our life, thy constant care

L. M.

With blessings crowns the opening year:
Our fleeting days Thou dost prolong,
And wak'st anew our annual song.

2 How many, many souls have fled
To the vast regions of the dead,
Since from this day the changing sun
Through his last yearly period run.

3 We yet survive! but who can say,
Or through the year, or month, or day,
They will retain the vital breath,

Thus far at least in league with death?

4 To Thee our spirits we resign,
Make them and own them still as thine;
So shall they smile secure from fear,
Though death should blast the rising year.

1

2

44. The uncertainty of life a reason for continual

watchfulness. S. M.

TO-MORROW, Lord, is thine:
Lodg'd in thy sovereign hand,
And, if its sun arise and shine,
It shines by thy command.

The present moment flies,
And bears our life away;
O! may thy servants, truly wise,
Improve each passing day.

3 Since on each winged hour
Eternity is hung,

4

Awaken, by thy mighty power,
The aged and the young.

One thing demands our care ;-
Be that one thing pursued;
Lest, now despis'd, we never hear
Thy pardoning voice renew'd.

5 Teach us thy name to fear;
Spread an alarm abroad!
And cry, in every careless ear,
"Prepare to meet thy God!"

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