Choose some to life, while others die, And yet be just and gracious still 2 Shall man reply against the Lord,

And call his Maker's ways unjust, The thunder of whose dreadful word

Can crush a thousand worlds to dust? 3 But, O my soul, if truths so bright Should dazzle and confound thy sight, Yet still his written will obey, And wait the great decisive day.

50

S. M.

God's Purpose of Mercy.

RAISE your triumphant songs
To an immortal tune,

Let all the earth resound the deeds
Celestial grace has done.

2 Sing how eternal love

Its chief beloved chose,

And bade him raise our ruined race
From their abyss of woes.

3 'Twas mercy filled the throne,
And wrath stood silent by,

When Christ was sent with pardons down
To rebels doomed to die.

4 Now, sinners, dry your tears,
Let hopeless sorrow cease;
Bow to the sceptre of his love,
And take the offered peace.

51

H. M.

Proclamation of the Gospel.

HARK-hark-the notes of joy,
Roll o'er the heavenly plains!

And seraphs find employ,

For their sublimest strains.

Some new delight in heaven is known,
Loud ring the harps around the throne.

2 Hark-hark-the sounds draw nigh,
The joyful hosts descend;
Jesus forsakes the sky,

To earth his footsteps bend;
He comes to bless our fallen race,
He comes with messages of grace.
3 Bear-bear the tidings round,
Let every mortal know
What love in God is found,
What pity he can show.—

Ye winds that blow-ye waves that roll,
Bear the glad news from pole to pole!

4 Strike-strike the harps again,
To great Immanuel's name;

Arise, ye sons of men,

And loud his grace proclaim. Angels and men, wake every string, 'Tis God the Saviour's praise we sing!

52

C. M.

The Gospel hailed.

SALVATION!-oh, the joyful sound!
"Tis pleasure to our ears;

A sovereign balm for every wound,
A cordial for our fears.

2 Buried in sorrow and in sin,

At hell's dark door we lay ;But we arise by grace divine, To see a heavenly day.

3 Salvation!-let the echo fly
The spacious earth around;
While all the armies of the sky
Conspire to raise the sound.

53

S. M.

Salvation by Grace.

GRACE!-'tis a charming sound!
Harmonious to the ear!

Heaven with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.
2 Grace first contrived a way
To save rebellious man;
And all its steps that grace display
Which drew the wondrous plan.
3 Grace taught my roving feet
To tread the heavenly road:
And new supplies each hour I meet,
While pressing on to God.

Grace all the work shall crown,
Through everlasting days:

It lays in heaven the topmost stone,
And well deserves the praise.

54

C. M.

The divine Character exhibited in the Gospel.
FATHER, how wide thy glory shines!
How high thy wonders rise!

Known thro' the earth by thousand signs,
By thousand thro' the skies.

2 But when we view thy strange design
To save rebellious worms,

Where vengeance and compassion join
In their divinest forms;-

3 Here the whole Deity is known,
Nor dares a creature guess
Which of the glories brightest shone—
The justice or the grace.

4 Now, the full glories of the Lamb
Adorn the heavenly plains;

Bright seraphs learn Immanuel's name,
And try their choicest strains.

5 Oh, may I bear some humble part
In that immortal song!

Wonder and joy shall tune my heart,
And love command my tongue,

55

C. M.

Rejoicing in the Gospel.

BLEST are the souls, who hear and know
The gospel's joyful sound;
Peace shall attend the path they go,
And light their steps surround.

2 Their joy shall bear their spirits up,
Through their Redeemer's name;
His righteousness exalts their hope,
Nor Satan dares condemn.

3 The Lord, our glory and defence,
Strength and salvation gives;
Israel, thy King forever reigns,
Thy God forever lives.

56

CHRIST.

78.

The Nativity of the Saviour.

HARK! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"

2 Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."

3 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 Vailed in flesh-the Godhead see,
Hail th' incarnate Deity;

Pleased as man with men t' appear,
See the great Immanuel here.

5 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.

57

S. M.

Nativity of the Saviour.

BEHOLD! the grace appears,
The blessing promised long;
Angels announce the Saviour near,
In this triumphant song:

2 "Glory to God on high,

And heavenly peace on earth;
Good-will to men-to angels joy,
At the Redeemer's birth!"

8 In worship so divine

Let men employ their tongues;
With the celestial host we join,
And loud repeat their songs-