And to eternity prolong

Thy vast, thy boundless praise.
2 Nor shall my tongue alone proclaim
The honors of my God;

My life, with all its active powers,
Shall spread thy praise abroad.
3 Not death itself shall stop my song,
Though death will close my eyes:
My thoughts shall then to nobler heights
And sweeter raptures rise.

4 There shall my lips in endless praise
Their grateful tribute pay:

The theme demands an angel's tongue,
And an eternal day.

L. M.

60. God acknowledged in national Blessings.

1 GREAT God of nations! now to thee
Our hymn of gratitude we raise;
With humble heart, and bending knee,
We offer thee our song of praise.
2 Thy name we bless, Almighty God!
For all the kindness thou hast shown
To this fair land the pilgrims trod,-
This land we fondly call our own.

1

3 Here, Freedom spreads her banner wide, And casts her soft and hallowed ray;Here, thou our fathers' steps didst guide In safety, through their dangerous way. 4 We praise thee, that the gospel's light, Through all our land, its radiance sheds; Dispels the shades of error's night,

And heavenly blessings round us spreads. 5 Great God! preserve us in thy fear; In dangers still our guardian be;

61.

Oh! spread thy truth's bright precepts here,
Let all the people worship thee.

L. P. M.

National Praise and Prayer.

1 WITH grateful hearts, with joyful tongues, To God we raise united songs;

His power and mercy we proclaim:

Through every age, Oh! may we own,
Jehovah here has fixed his throne,→

And triumph in his mighty name.

2 Long as the moon her course shall run,
Or men behold the circling sun,

Lord! in our land, support thy reign;
Crown her just counsels with success,
With truth and peace her borders bless,
And all thy sacred rights maintain.

62.

CHRIST.

C. M.

Christ's Nativity.

1 MORTALS! awake; with angels join,
And chaunt the solemn lay:
Joy, love, and gratitude, combine
To hail th' auspicious day.

2 In heaven the rapt'rous song began,
And sweet seraphic fire

Through all the shining legions ran,
And strung and tuned the lyre.

3 Swift, through the vast expanse, it flew,
And loud the echo rolled;

The theme, the song, the joy was new,
"T was more than heaven could hold.

4 Down through the portals of the sky
Th' impetuous torrent ran;
And angels flew, with eager joy,
To bear the news to man.

5 Hark! the cherubic armies shout,
And glory leads the song ;
Good-will and peace are heard throughout
Th' harmonious heavenly throng.

6 With joy the chorus we repeat-
"Glory to God on high !"

Good-will and peace are now complete;
Jesus is born to die.

63.

8s and 7s.

Christ, the Saviour, born.

1 HAIL, thou long-expected Jesus!
Born to set thy people free;
From our sins and fears release us,
• Let us find our rest in thee.
2 Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the saints, thou art;
Long-desired of every nation,
Joy of every waiting heart.
3 Born, thy people to deliver,-
Born a child, yet God our King,-
Born to reign in us for ever,→
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
4 By thine own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne.

64.

C. M.

The Redeemer's Message.

1 HARK 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 pris'ners to release,
In Satan's bondage held;

The gates of brass before him burst-
The iron fetters yield.

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

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

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

65.

S. M.

The Nativity of Christ.

1 BEHOLD the grace appear-
The blessing promised long!
Angels announce the Saviour near,
In their 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.

3 In worship so divine

Let saints employ their tongues;
With the celestial hosts we join,
And loud repeat their songs:-
4" Glory to God on high,

66.

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

7s.

Songs of the Angels.

1 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 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.
5 Let us then with angels sing,-
"Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,-
God and sinners reconciled."

1

67.

H. M.

Joy at Immanuel's Birth.

1 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 sound 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

3 Bear, bear the tidings round;
Let every mortal know
What love in God is found,
What pity he can show;

grace.

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 all his grace proclaim;

Angels and men! wake every string,
'Tis God the Saviour's praise we sing.

68.

8s and 7s.

The Songs of Angels.

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

Heavenly hallelujahs rise.

2 Listen to the wondrous story

Which they chant in hymns of joy ;"Glory in the highest, glory

Glory be to God most high!

3 "Peace on earth, good-will from heaven, Reaching far as man is found;

Souls redeemed, and sins forgiven;-
Loud our golden harps shall sound.