WHEN Jordan hush'd his waters still,
And silence slept on Zion hill;
When Bethlehem's shepherds through the night
Watch'd o'er their flocks by starry light,
Hark! from the midnight hills around,
A voice of more than mortal sound,
In distant hallelujahs stole,
Wild murm'ring o'er the raptur'd soul.
Then swift to every startled eye,
New streams of glory light the sky;
Heav'n bursts her azure gates to pour
Her spirits to the midnight hour.
On wheels of light, on wings of flame,
The glorious hosts of Zion came;
High heav'n with songs of triumph rung,
While thus they struck their harps and sung:
O Zion! lift thy raptur'd eye,
The long-expected hour is nigh;
The joys of nature rise again,
The Prince of Salem comes to reign.
See, Mercy from her golden urn
Pours a rich stream to them that mourn;
Behold, she binds, with tender care,
The bleeding bosom of despair.
He comes, to cheer the trembling heart,
Bids Satan and his host depart ;
Again the day-star gilds the gloom,
Again the bow'rs of Eden bloom!
O Zion! lift thy raptur'd eye,
The long-expected hour is nigh;
The joys of nature rise again,
The Prince of Salem comes to reign.
GOD GLORIFIED IN ALL HIS WORKS.
THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great original proclaim.
Th' unwearied Sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's praise display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The Moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly, to the listening Earth,
Repeats the story of her birth :
While all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball,
What though nor voice nor minstrel sound
Among their radiant orbs be found.
With saints and angels they rejoice,
And utter forth their glorious voice:
For ever singing as they shine,
"The hand that made us is Divine !"
THE SONG OF THE ANGELS AT BETHLEHEM.
HARK! what mean those holy voices,
Sweetly sounding through the skies?
Lo! the angelic host rejoices;
Heavenly hallelujahs rise.
Listen to the wondrous story,
Which they chaunt in hymns of joy:
Glory in the highest, glory!
Glory be to God most high!
"Peace on earth, good-will from heaven,
Reaching far as man is found;
Souls redeem'd, and sins forgiven ;-
Loud our golden harps shall sound.
"Christ is born, the Great Anointed;
Heaven and earth His praises sing!
Oh, receive whom God appointed,
For your Prophet, Priest, and King !
'Hasten, mortals, to adore Him;
Learn His name, and taste His joy;
Till in heaven ye sing before Him,
Glory be to God most high!
"Let us learn the wondrous story
Of our great Redeemer's birth;
Spread the brightness of His glory,
Till it cover all the earth."
THE SONG OF THE HUNDRED AND FORTY AND FOUR THOUSAND,
WHAT are these in bright array,
This innumerable throng,
Round the altar night and day,
Hymning one triumphant song?
"Worthy is the Lamb once slain,
Blessing, honour, glory, power,
Wisdom, riches, to obtain,
New dominion every hour."
These through fiery trials trod,
These from great affliction came;
Now before the throne of God,
Seal'd with His almighty name;
Clad in raiment pure and white
Victor-palins in every hand,
Through their dear Redeemer's might,
More than conquerors they stand.
Hunger, thirst, disease unknown,
On immortal fruits they feed;
Them, the Lamb amidst the throne,
Shall to living fountains lead:
Joy and gladness banish sighs,
Perfect love dispels all fears,
And for ever from their eyes,
God shall wipe away the tears.
PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ANON.
COME, Holy Spirit, calm my mind,
And fit me to approach my God;
Remove each vain, each worldly thought,
And lead me to Thy blest abode.
Hast Thou imparted to my soul
A living spark of holy fire?
Oh, kindle now the sacred flame,
Make me to burn with pure desire.
Impress upon my wandering heart
The love that Christ to sinners bore ;
Then mourn the wounds my sins produc'd,
And my redeeming God adore.
A brighter faith and hope impart,
And let me now my Saviour see;
Oh, soothe and cheer my burden'd heart,
And bid my spirit rest in Thee!
THE OMNIPRESENCE OF THE DEITY.
DREAD Omnipresent! who dost dwell,
Through height and depth, from heaven to hell;
Earth's gayest scene, most lonely part,
The sage's and the sinner's heart.
Each erring wish, each useless care,
Each sinful thought thou readest there!
Too well thou knowest the "thing of nought,"
Oh, pardon each vain-glorious thought!
To Thee in conscious weakness flies
The guilt which may not shun Thine eyes,
The sin with which we strive in vain,
Until Thy Spirit breaks the chain.
WHEN the floods of the Deluge to ocean had roll'd,
And the green-mantled hills re-appear'd;
When the valleys unfolded their blossoms of gold,
And Noah, the patriarch, came forth from his hold,
The voice of Jehovah was heard-
The voice of Jehovah brought tidings of bliss
To the world late entomb'd in the fearful abyss.
"The smoke of thine offering hath come up on high,
Thou father of nations to be!
And now I My rainbow shall set in the sky,
When tempests are dark to thy terrified eye,
That shall bring consolation to thee-
To thousands of thousands that after thee tread
The regions of life to the realms of the dead.
"It is for a sign that I never again
With waters shall cover the earth;
And the birds in the arbours shall warble their strain,
And the cattle shall browse on the nourishing plain,
And give to their progeny birth;
And die as they died by the curse that I spoke,
When My cov'nant of old by thy father was broke.
"And thou, Noah, thou art preserv'd for thy worth,
To re-people the desolate world;
To the climes of the south, to the isles of the north,
To the east and the west, shall thy children go forth,
With the white flags of ocean unfurled-
To publish My praises throughout every land,
And the judgments of vengeance that come from My hand.
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