ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS.
[*PSALMS 8, 40, 45, 85, 96, 97, 98.—HYMNS 116, 135, 153.]
1 HARK, the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
The Saviour promis'd long!
Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.
2 He comes the pris'ners to release,
In Satan's bondage held:
The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
3 He comes from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray,
And on the eyes opprest with night
To pour celestial day.
4 He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of his grace
T'enrich the humble poor.
5 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.
*The references between brackets under each general division are to such Psalms and Hymns as will be found suited to the same subjects, though classed under other divisons.
HYMN II (P. M Haydn's.)
1 COME, thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our sins and fears release us,
Let us find our rest in thee!
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the saints thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
2 Born thy people to deliver;
Born a child, and yet a king;
Come, to reign in us for ever;
Now thy gracious kingdom bring:
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.
HYMN III. (s. M.)
BEHOLD, the grace appears,
The promise is fulfill'd:
Mary, the wondrous virgin, bears,
And Jesus is the child.
To bring the glorious news,
A heav'nly form appears;
He tells the shepherds of their joys,
And banishes their fears.
"Go, humble swains, (said he)
"To David's city fly;
"The promis'd Saviour, born to-day, "Doth in a manger lie.
"With looks and hearts serene,
"Go, visit Christ your King :"
And straight a flaming troop was seen; The shepherds heard them sing:
"Glory to God on high, "And heav'nly peace on earth; "Good-will to men, to angels joy, "At the Redeemer's birth!"
HYMN IV. (P. M. Hotham.)
1 HARK! the herald-angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King;
"Peace on earth, and mercy mild;
"God and sinners reconcil'd."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
2 Christ, by highest heav'n ador'd;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb:
Veil'd in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th' incarnate Deity!
Pleas'd as man with men t'appear,
Jesus our Immanuel here.
3 Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Ris'n with healing in his wings:
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born, that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
4 Come, Desire of nations, come!
Fix in us thy humble home:
Rise, the Woman's conqu'ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head:
Adam's likeness now efface,
Stamp thine image in its place;
Second Adam from above,
Re-instate us in thy love.
1 THE King of glory sends his Son
To make his entrance on this earth:
Behold the midnight bright as noon,
And heav'nly hosts declare his birth!
2 About the young Redeemer's head
What wonders and what glories meet!
An unknown star arose, and led
The eastern sages to his feet.
3 Simeon and Anna both conspire
The infant Saviour to proclaim;
Inward they felt the sacred fire,
And bless'd the babe, and own'd his name.
4 While Jews and Greeks blaspheme aloud,
And treat the holy Child with scorn;
Our souls adore th' eternal God,
Who condescended to be born.
[PSALM 97, 98.-HYMNS 116, 123, 135.]
HYMN VI. (L. M.)
1 Lo! in the East appears a light,
In eastern skies unseen before;
The wise men hail the welcome sight,
And seek the myst'ry to explore.
2 These ancient sages, led from far,
Began their doubtful, anxious way;
Nor rested, till the wand'ring star
Stood o'er the place where Jesus lay.
3 They came, they saw, and they ador'd;
Each costly treasure they unfold,
And offer to their infant Lord Their myrrh, their frankincense, and gold. 4 That star to us its light imparts; Let us our pilgrimage pursue;
And, with the homage of our hearts, To Bethle'm go, and worship too. 5 May we through life its guidance trace, And mark its path o'er earthly things, Until it leads us to the place,
Where Jesus reigns the King of kings.
6 Light of the world, the True Light! rise;
Nor cease to shed thy cheering ray,
Till o'er all lands beneath the skies
Thy glory shine in perfect day.
[PSALMS 6, 38, 51, 69, 86, 130, 143.
HYMNS 16, 129.]
HYMN VII. (C. M.)
1 LORD, at thy feet we sinners lie,
And knock at Mercy's door;
With heavy heart and downcast eye,
Thy favour we implore.
2 'Tis mercy, mercy we implore;
O may thy bowels move!
Thy grace is an exhaustless store,
And thou thyself art love.
3 Oh, for thine own, for Jesu's sake,
Our many sins forgive!
Thy grace our rocky hearts can break,
And breaking soon relieve.
4 Thus melt us down, thus make us bend, And thy dominion own;
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