Page images
PDF
EPUB

That every rising doubt control;
Earnest of love and power more strong,
Which to the Son of God belong,
To heal the mis'ries of the soul.

5 Great prophet, Saviour, worthy thou
That every knee in homage bow,
From every mouth thy praise should flow;
All thy commands are mild and just,
Thy promise, faithful to our trust,
Will pardon, peace, and heav'n bestow.

HYMN CLII. C. M.

The mission of Christ.

1 This is the day the Lord hath made;
He calls the hours his own;
Let heaven rejoice, let earth be glad,
And praise surround the throne.

2 This day arose our glorious head,
And death's dread empire fell;

This day the saints his triumph spread,
And all its wonders tell.

3 Bless'd be the Lord, who comes to men, With messages of grace;

Who comes, in God his Father's name, To save our sinful race!

4 Hosanna! in the highest strains The church on earth can raise ;

The highest heavens in which he reigns,
Shall give him nobler praise.

[blocks in formation]

Appearance of angels to the shepherds.

1 While shepherds watch'd their flocks by

night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.

2 Fear not,' said he, (for mighty dread
Had seiz'd their troubled mind)
'Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind;

3 'To you, in David's town, this day
Is born, of David's line,

[ocr errors]

The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign;-

4 The heavenly babe you there shall find, To human view display'd,

All meanly wrapt in swaddling bands, And in a manger laid.'

5 Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appear'd a shining throng

Of angels, praising God, and thus
Address'd their joyful song ;-

6

All glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace;

Good will henceforth, from heaven to men,
Begin and never cease.'

HYMN CLIV. H.M.

Nativity of Christ.

1 Hark! what celestial notes,
What melody we hear!
Soft on the morn it floats,
And fills the ravish'd ear.

The tuneful shell

And vocal choir

The golden lyre

The concert swell.

2 Th' angelic hosts descend,

With harmony divine;

See how from heaven they bend,

And in full chorus join.

Fear not, say they,

Jesus, your king,

Great joy we bring ;
Is born to-day.

3 He comes, from error's night
Your wand'ring souls to save;
To realms of bliss and light
He lifts you from the grave.

This glorious morn, (Let all attend!)
Your matchless friend, Your Saviour's born.

4 Glory to God on high!

Ye mortals, spread the sound,

And let your raptures fly

To earth's remotest bound.

For peace on earth, From God in heaven, To man is given, At Jesus' birth.

HYMN CLV. P. M.

Annunciation of Christ's birth.

1 No war nor battle's sound,
Was heard the world around;
No hostile chiefs to furious combat ran;
But peaceful was the night,

In which the Prince of light
His reign of peace upon the earth began.
2 The shepherds on the lawn,
Before the point of dawn

In social circle sat; while all around
The gentle, fleecy brood,

Or cropp'd the flow'ry food,
Or slept, or sported on the verdant ground.
3 When lo! with ravish'd ears,
Each swain delighted hears

Sweet music, offspring of no mortal hand; Divinely-warbled voice,

Answ'ring the stringed noise,

With blissful rapture charm'd the list'ning band.

4 They saw a glorious light

Burst on their wond'ring sight,

Harping in solemn choir, in robes array'd, The helmed cherubim

And sworded seraphim

Are seen in glitt'ring ranks, with wings display'd.

5 Sounds of so sweet a tone Before were never known,

But when of old the sons of morning sung, While God dispos'd in air

Each constellation fair,

And the well-balanc'd world on hinges hung

[ocr errors]

6 Hail! hail! auspicious morn!

The Saviour Christ is born;"

(Such was the immortal seraphs' song sublime,)

'Glory to God in heaven!

To man sweet peace be given,

Sweet peace and friendship to the end of time!"

HYMN CLVI.

Six Line C. M.

Design of Christ's mission.

10 let your mingling voices rise,
In grateful rapture to the skies,
And hail a Saviour's birth!
Let songs of joy the day proclaim,
When Jesus all-triumphant came
To bless the sons of earth.

« PreviousContinue »