89

1

HA

The Song of the Angels.

ARK! what mean those holy voices, Sweetly sounding through the skies? Lo, th' angelic host rejoices;

Heavenly hallelujahs rise!

2 Christ is born, the great Anointed; Him, in bursts of praise, they sing; He hath come, of God appointed Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King. 3 Sinners, learn that song of glory;

Hail the heavenly kingdom nigh: Spread abroad the wondrous story; Shout in praise to God most high.

90

1

HAR

The Incarnation.

ARK! 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,

66

Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

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

Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.

4 Mild, he lays his glories by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
5 Sing we then-with angels sing
Glory to the new-born King:
Glory in the highest heaven,
Peace on earth, and man forgiven.

91

1

The Star of the East.—Matt. ii. 2.

8.7.

Cawood.

78.

C. Wesley.

11. 10.

BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning,

our darkness and lend us thine aid; Star of the East, the horizon adorningGuide where the infant Redeemer is laid.

2 Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining;
Low lies his head, with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore him, in slumbers reclining—
Maker and Monarch and Saviour of all.
3 Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Edom, and offerings divine?
Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?
4 Vainly we offer each ample oblation;

Vainly with gifts would his favor secure ;
Richer, by far, is the heart's adoration;

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

5 Brightest and best of the sons of the morning-
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning―
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

92

1

Christ's Ministry. Luke iv. 18, 19.

Heber.

C. M.

ARK-the glad sound-the Saviour comes,
The Saviour promised long!

Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.

2 On him the Spirit, largely poured,
Exerts his sacred fire;

Wisdom and might and zeal and love
His holy breast inspire.

3 He comes the prisoners to release,
In Satan's bondage held;

The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield!

4 He comes from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray;

And on the eye-balls of the blind
To pour celestial day.

5 He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,

And with the treasures of his grace
T'enrich the humble poor.

6 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.

Doddridge.

93

1

ERE

The Divinity and Humanity of Christ. L. M.

RE the blue heavens were stretched abroad,
From everlasting was the Word;

With God he was; the Word was God,
And must divinely be adored.

2 By his own power were all things made,
By him supported all things stand;
He is the whole creation's head,

And angels fly at his command.
3 But lo, he leaves those heavenly forms,
The Word descends and dwells in clay,
That he may converse hold with worms,
Dressed in such feeble flesh as they.
4 Mortals with joy beheld his face,
Th' eternal Father's only Son;
How full of truth, how full of grace,
When through his eyes the Godhead shone!

5 Archangels leave their high abode,
To learn new mysteries here, and tell
The love of our descending God,

94

The glories of Immanuel.

B

Christ's Mission attested.

EHOLD, the blind their sight receive!
Behold, the dead awake and live!
The dumb speak wonders! and the lame
Leap like the hart, and bless his name!
2 Thus does th' eternal Spirit own
And seal the mission of the Son;
The Father vindicates his cause,
While he hangs bleeding on the cross.

3 He dies!-the heavens in mourning stood!
He rises and appears a God!

Behold the Lord ascending high, No more to bleed, no more to die. 4 Hence and for ever from my heart I bid my doubts and fears depart; And to those hands my soul resign, Which bear credentials so divine. 95

Healing Mercy.

1 [ESUS, and didst thou condescend, When vailed in human clay,

Watts.

L M.

Watts.

C. M.

To heal the sick, the lame, the blind,
And drive disease away?

2 Didst thou regard the beggar's cry,
And give the blind to see?—
Jesus, thou Son of David, hear-
Have mercy, too, on me.

3 And didst thou pity mortal wo,
And sight and health restore?
Then pity, Lord, and save my soul,
Which needs thy mercy more.
4 Didst thou regard thy servant's cry,
When sinking in the wave?

I perish, Lord,-oh save my soul,
For thou alone canst save.

96

Repentance at the Cross.

1 ALAS! and did my Saviour bleed?

And did my Sovereign die?

Would he devote that sacred head,
For such a worm as I?

2 Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

3 Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut his glories in,

When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man the creature's sin.

4 Thus might I hide my blushing face
While his dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

5 But floods of tears can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe;

Here, Lord, I give myself away— 'Tis all that I can do.

97

HA

Redemption Finished.

ARK! the voice of love and mercy
Sounds aloud from Calvary!

See! it rends the rocks asunder-
Shakes the earth-and vails the sky!
"It is finished !"—

Hear the dying Saviour cry.

Bradley.

C. M.

Watts.

8. 7. 4.

2 "It is finished!"-oh, what pleasure
Do these precious words afford!
Heavenly blessings, without measure,
Flow to us through Christ the Lord.
"It is finished!"

Saints, the dying words record.
3 Tune your harps anew, ye seraphs;
Join to sing the pleasing theme:
All in earth and all in heaven,
Join to praise Immanuel's name:
Hallelujah!

Glory to the bleeding Lamb.

Evans.

98 Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation. Isa. liii. 6, &c. S. M.

1 LIKE sheep we went astray

And broke the fold of God;

Each wand'ring in a different way,
But all the downward road.

2 How dreadful was the hour,

When God our wand'rings laid, And did at once his vengeance pour, Upon the Shepherd's head!

3 How glorious was the grace,

When Christ sustained the stroke! His life and blood the Shepherd pays, A ransom for the flock.

4 His honor and his breath
Were taken both away;

Joined with the wicked in his death,
And made as vile as they.

5 But God shall raise his head

O'er all the sons of men,
And make him see a numerous seed
To recompense his pain.

6 "I'll give him," saith the Lord,
"A portion with the strong:
He shall possess a large reward,
And hold his honors long."

99

1

Christ our Example in Suffering.

Go to dark Gethsemane,

Ye who feel the tempter's power:

Your Redeemer's conflict see;
Watch with him one bitter hour:

Watts.

78.