4 O wondrous knowledge, deep and high! Where can a creature hide? Within thy circling arms I lie,

Beset on every side.

WESLEY.

0

9.

GOD! we praise Thee, and confess

That Thou the only Lord

And everlasting Father art,
By all the earth adored.

2 To Thee all angels cry aloud,
To Thee the powers on high,
Both cherubim and seraphim,
Continually do cry:

? O holy, holy, holy Lord!
Whom heavenly hosts obey,
The world is with the glory filled
Of Thy majestic sway.

4 The apostles, glorious company,
And prophets crowned with light,
With all the martyr's noble host,
Thy constant praise recite.

C.M.

5 The holy Church throughout the world
O Lord! confesses Thee,

That Thou the eternal Father art
Of boundless majesty.

PATRICK.

II. CHRIST.

THE INCARNATION.

10.

No was heard the world around;

O nor battle sound

No hostile chiefs to furious combat ran;
But peaceful was the night,

In which the Prince of Light

His reign of peace upon the earth began.

2 The shepherds on the lawn,
Before the point of dawn,

In social circle sat; while all around,
The gentle fleecy brood

Or cropped the flowery food,

Or slept or sported on the verdant ground.

3 When lo! with ravished ears,
Each swain delighted hears

Sweet music, offspring of no mortal hand;
Divinely-warbled voice

Answering the stringed noise,

With blissful rapture charmed the listening band.

4 They saw a glorious light,

Burst on their wondering sight;

Harping in solemn choir, in robes arrayed,

The helmed cherubim

And sworded seraphim

Are seen in glittering ranks, with wings displayed.

5 Sounds of so sweet a tone
Before were never known,

But when of old the sons of morning sung
While God disposed in air

Each constellation fair,

And the well-balanced world on hinges hung.

6"Hail, hail, auspicious morn! The Saviour Christ is born!"

Such was th' immortal seraph's song sublime. "Glory to God in heaven!

To man sweet peace is given,

Sweet peace and friendship to the end of time."

MILTON.

11.

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.

III.5.

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,
Doomed 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.

MONTGOMERY,

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

Lo! the angelic host rejoices,

Heavenly hallelujahs rise.

2 Hear them tell the wondrous story; Hear them 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 redeemed, and sins forgiven!"
Loud our golden harps shall sound.

4 Christ is born, the Great Anointed;
Heaven and earth his praises sing!
Oh! receive whom God appointed,
For your Prophet, Priest, and King!

5 Haste, ye mortals, to adore Him ;
Learn His name and taste His joy;
Till in heaven ye sing before Him:
"Glory be to God on high !"

YHRIST, whose glory fills the skies-
Christ, the true and only Light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,

Triumph o'er the shades of night:
Day-spring from on high, be near,
Day-star, in my heart appear!

2 Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by Thee;
Joyless is the day's return

Till Thy mercy's beams I see-
Till they inward light impart
Glad my eyes and warm my heart.

WESLEY.