115

1

H

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

Lo the angelic host rejoices,

Heavenly hallelujahs rise.

2 Listen to the wondrous story

Which they 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:
O receive whom God appointed
For your Prophet, Priest, and King.

5 Hasten, mortals, to adore Him,
Learn His name and taste His joy;
Till in bliss ye sing before Him,
Glory be to God most High!

116

6s. & 8s.

KELLY.

WHAT a blessèd morn

That brought the news from heaven!

To us a child is born

To us a Son is given!

The sweetest news that ever came

We'll sing, though all the world should blame.

2 The long-expected morn

Has dawned upon the earth,
The Saviour, Christ, is born,

And angels sing His birth:

We'll join the bright seraphic throng, We'll share their joys and swell their song.

3 O! 'tis a lofty theme,

Supplied by angel-tongues!
All other objects seem

Unworthy of our songs;

This sacred theme has boundless charms,
It fills, it captivates, it warms.

4 Now sing of peace divine,
Of grace to guilty man;
No wisdom, Lord, but Thine,

Could form the wondrous plan;
Where peace and righteousness embrace,
And justice reigns along with grace.

5 Give praise to God on high,

With angels round His throne;

Give praise to God with joy;

Give praise to God alone!

"Tis meet His saints their song should raise, And give the Saviour endless praise.

117

1

ВЕНО

EHOLD the woman's promised seed,
Behold the great Messiah come!

Behold the prophets all agreed

To give Him the superior room!

2 Abraham, the saint, rejoiced of old
When visions of the Lord he saw ;
Moses, the man of God, foretold
This great fulfiller of the law.

3 The types bore witness to His name,
Obtained their chief design, and ceased;
The incense and the bleeding lamb,
The ark, the altar, and the priest.
4 Predictions in abundance meet
To join their blessings on His head;
Jesus, we worship at Thy feet,
And nations own the promised seed.

118

L. M.

GERHARDT.

1 LL glory, worship, thanks and praise, That Thou art come in these our days:

Thou heavenly guest, expected long,
We hail Thee with a joyful song.

2 For Thee, since first the world was made,
Men's hearts have waited, watched, and prayed;
Prophets and patriarchs, year by year,
Have longed to see Thy light appear.

3 Thou art our Head: then, Lord, of Thee
True, living members we will be;

And, in the strength Thy grace shall give,
Will live as Thou wouldst have us live.

4 As each short year goes quickly round,
Our hallelujahs shall resound;

And, when we reckon years no more,
May we in heaven Thy name adore.

119

1

BRIG

RIGHT was the guiding star that led,
With mild benignant ray,

The Gentiles to the lowly shed

Where the Redeemer lay.

2 But lo! a brighter, clearer light
Now points to His abode;

It shines through sin and sorrow's night
To guide us to our God.

3 O haste to follow where it leads;
The gracious call obey;

. Be rugged wilds, or flowery meads,
The Christian's destined way.

4 O gladly tread the narrow path
While light and grace are given!
Who meekly follow Christ on earth,
Shall reign with Him in heaven.

120

1

MORT

ORTALS, awake, with angels join,
And chant the solemn lay;

Joy, love and gratitude combine

To hail the auspicious day.

2 In heaven the rapturous song began,
And sweet seraphic fire
Through all the shining legions ran,
And strung and tuned the lyre.

3 Swift through the vast expanse it flew,
And loud the echo rolled;

The theme, the song, the joy was new,
'Twas more than heaven could hold.

4 Down through the portals of the sky
The impetuous torrent ran;
And angels flew, with eager joy,
To bear the news to man.

5 Hail! Prince of Life! for ever hail,
Redeemer, Brother, Friend!

Though earth and time and life should fail,
Thy praise shall never end.

121

8.7.

WESLEY.

1 AIL, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free!

From our sins and fears release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
2 Israel's strength and consolation;
Hope of all the saints Thou art;
Long desired of every nation,
Joy of every waiting heart.

3 Born Thy people to deliver;

Born a child-yet God our King;
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
4 By Thine own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

1 IT that glorious song of old,

T came upon the midnight clear,

SEARS.

From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good-will to man,
From heaven's all-gracious King :"

The earth in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.