7. FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADvent.
Grateful praise for the veracity of the Divine promises. (P.M.)
1 PRAISE the LORD! ye heav'ns, adore Him,
Praise Him, angels, in the height;
Sun and moon, rejoice before Him,
Praise Him, all ye stars and light.
Praise the LORD! for He hath spoken,
Worlds His mighty voice obey'd;
Laws which never shall be broken,
For their guidance hath He made.
2 Praise the LORD! for He is glorious,
Never shall His promise fail;
God hath made His saints victorious,
Sin and death shall not prevail.
Praise the God of our Salvation;
Hosts on high, His pow'r proclaim;
Heav'n and earth, and all creation,
Laud and magnify His name.
II. CHRISTMAS DAY.
8. MORNING SERVICE. The birth of Christ. (P. M.)
1 HARK! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King,
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconcil'd.".
2 Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumphs of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
3 Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleas'd as man with men to dwell,.
JESUS, our Immanuel.
4 Lo! He lays His glories by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
5 Ris'n with healing in His wings,
Light and life to all He brings,
Hail the heav'n-born "PRINCE OF PEACE!"
Hail the SUN of Righteousness!
6 Let us then with angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconcil'd!"
9. EVENING SERVICE.
Praise for the birth of Christ. (C. M.)
1 HIGH let us swell our tuneful notes,
And join th' angelic throng,
For angels no such love have known,
To awake a cheerful song.
2 Good-will to sinful men is shown,
And peace on earth is given;
For, lo! the incarnate SAVIOUR comes
With messages from heaven.
3 Justice and grace, with sweet accord,
His rising beams adorn;
Let heav'n and earth in concert join,
To us a Child is born.
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 O! may we reach those blissful realms
Where CHRIST exalted reigns;
And learn of the celestial choir
Their own immortal strains.
10. FOR A THIRD SERVICE. Salvation by Christ. - Psal. lxxxv. (L. M.) 1 SALVATION is for ever nigh
To those who fear and trust the LORD: And grace, descending from on high, Fresh hopes of glory shall afford.
2 Mercy and truth on earth are met,
Since CHRIST the Lord came down from heav'n :
By His obedience full, complete,
Justice is pleas'd, and peace is giv❜n,
3 Now truth and honour shall abound,
Religion dwell on earth again;
And heav'nly influence bless the ground,
In our REDEEMER'S gentle reign.
4 Pure righteousness shall spread her wing
And to this lower earth descend:
Prepare Thy way, Eternal King!
And all Thy children's steps attend.
III. END OF THE YEAR.
11. Reflection at the end of the Year. (G. M.)
1. AND now, my soul, another
Of thy short life is past;
Thou canst not long continue here,
And this may be thy last.
2 Much of thy dubious life is gone,
Nor will return again;
And swift thy passing moments run,
The few that yet remain.
3 Awake, my soul, with utmost care,
Thy true condition learn;
What are thy hopes, how sure, how fair,
And what thy great concern?
4 Now a new scene of time begins,
Renew thy course for heav'n;
Seek pardon for thy former sins,
In CHRIST SO freely given.
5 Devoutly yield thyself to God,
And on His grace depend,
With zeal pursue the heav'nly road,
Nor doubt a happy end.
12. Review of life, crowned with mercies. (C. M.)
1 WHEN all Thy mercies, O my GOD,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.
2 Unnumber'd comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestow'd,
Before my infant heart conceiv'd
From whom those comforts flow'd.
3 When in the slipp'ry paths of youth
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm unseen conveyed me safe,
And led me up to man.
4 When worn by sickness, oft hast Thou
With health renew'd my face;
And when in sin and sorrow sunk,
Reviv'd my soul with grace.
5 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy.
6 Through ev'ry period of my life,
Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death in distant worlds
The glorious theme renew.
7 Through all eternity to Thee,
A joyful song I'll raise ;
But O, eternity's too short
To utter all Thy praise.
1 O GOD of Bethel! by whose hand
Thy people still are fed;
Who through this weary pilgrimage
Hast all our fathers led;
2 Our vows, òur prayers, we now present
Before Thy throne of
God of our fathers! be the God
Of their succeeding race.
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