When they saw the star, they rejoiced
with exceeding great joy.
AS with gladness, men of old
Did the guiding-star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious God, may we
Evermore be led by Thee.
As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger-bed;
There to bend the knee before
Him, whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we, with willing feet,
Ever seek thy mercy-seat.
As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger, rude and bare;
So may we, with holy joy,
Pure, and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.
In the heavenly country, bright,
Need they no created light;
Thou, its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou, its Sun, which goes not down;
There for ever may we sing,
Alleluias to our King.
HE people that in darkness sat
A glorious Light have seen ;
The Light has shined on them, who long
In shades of death have been.
To hail Thee, Sun of Righteousness,
The gathering nations come;
They joy, as when the reapers bear
Their harvest-treasures home.
For Thou their burden dost remove,
And break the tyrant's rod,
As in the day when Midian fell
Before the sword of God.
For unto us a Child is born,
To us a Son is given,
And on His shoulder ever rests
All power in earth and heaven.
His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
The Everlasting Lord,
The Wonderful, the Counsellor,
The God, by all adored.
His righteous government and
Shall over all extend;
On judgment and on justice based,
His reign shall have no end.
Lord Jesus, reign in us, we pray,
And make us Thine alone,
Who with the Father ever art,
And Holy Spirit, One.
We have seen His star in the East.
HAT star is this which beams so bright,
A stranger, 'midst the orbs of light?
It shines to herald forth the King,
Glad tidings of our God to bring.
See now fulfilled what God decreed,
"From Jacob shall a star proceed;"
And lo! the Eastern sages stand,
To read in heaven the Lord's command.
True love can brook no dull delay,
Though toils and dangers lie their way;
And yet their home, their friends, their all,
They leave at once, at God's high call.
O while the star of heavenly grace
Invites us, Lord, to seek Thy face,
May we no more that grace repel,
Or quench that light which shines so well.
All glory, Jesu, be to Thee,
For this Thy glad Epiphany,
Whom, with the Father, we adore,
And Holy Ghost, for evermore.
NAST not, O Lord, Thy Church away.
Cease not Thy people to befriend.
Thou hast been our sure guide and stay,
O bless and shield us to the end.
The walls, wherein Thou long hast dwelt,
The hallowed house of praise and prayer,
Still let Thy Presence there be felt,
Still shed Thy choicest mercies there.
Unnumbered foes upon us press;
But, Lord, we look through all to Thee,
We think of Sinai's wilderness,
We think of Egypt's traversed sea.
O Saviour of Thy Church of old, —
Our guide through every former ill,-
Forsake not now Thy suffering fold,
But guard, and guide, and save us still.
35 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
the love of God, and the communion
of the Holy Ghost.
FATHER of heaven! whose love profound
ransom for our souls hath found;
Before Thy throne we sinners bend,
To us Thy pardoning love extend.
Almighty Son, Incarnate Word,
Our Prophet, Priest, Redeemer, Lord!
Before Thy throne we sinners bend,
To us Thy saving grace extend.
Eternal Spirit! by whose breath
The soul is raised from sin and death;
Before Thy throne we sinners bend,
To us Thy quickening power extend.
Jehovah, Father, Spirit, Son,
Mysterious Godhead, Three in One!
Before Thy throne we sinners bend,
Grace, pardon, life, to us extend.
ROM lowest depths of woe
To God I send my cry;
Lord, hear my supplicating voice,
And graciously reply.
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