The beginning of the creation of God.- REV. iii. 14.
the Father's love begotten Ere the worlds began to be,
He the Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore.
2 He is here, whom seers in old time
Chanted of, while ages ran;
Whom the faithful word of prophets
Promised since the world began ;
Long foretold, at length appearing;
Praise Him, every child of man,
Evermore and evermore.
f 3 Praise Him, O ye heaven of heavens !
Praise Him, angels in the height !
All dominions bow before Him,
And exalt His boundless might:
Let no tongue of man be silent,
Let each heart and voice unite,
Evermore and evermore.
4 Thee let old men, Thee let young men,
Thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens,
With glad voices answering:
Let their guileless song re-echo,
And their heart its praises bring,
Evermore and evermore.
5 Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant, and high thanksgiving,
And unwearied praises be;
Honour, glory, might, dominion,
And eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore.
Aurelius Prudentius, tr. Neale and Baker.
[ARK! the glad sound, the Saviour
comes,
The Saviour promised long;
Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.
2 He comes, the prisoners to release,
In Satan's bondage held:
The gates of brass before Him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
mf 3 He comes, from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray,
And on the eyeballs of the blind
To pour celestial day.
4 He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of His grace
To enrich the humble poor.
f 5 Our glad hosannas, Prince of peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With Thy beloved name.
On earth peace, good will toward men.
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 regions ran,
And strung and tuned the lyre.
3 Down through the portals of the sky
The impetuous torrent ran;
And angels flew with eager joy
To bear the news to man.
4 Hark! the cherubic armies shout,
And glory leads the song;
Good-will and peace are heard throughout The harmonious, heavenly throng.
5 With joy the chorus we'll repeat, 'Glory to God on high !'
Good-will and peace are now complete, Jesus was born to die!
6 Hail, Prince of life! for ever hail, Redeemer, Brother, Friend!
Though earth, and time, and life should
Thy praise shall never end.
When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son.-GAL. iv. 4.
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