Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gold would his favor secure;
Richer, by far, is the heart's adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor!
Brightest and best, &c.
PSALM 3-P. M.-[Voice to the Shepherds.
FROM the regions of love, lo! an angel descended,
And told the strange news how the babe was attended;
Go, shepherds, and visit the wonderful stranger;
See yonder bright Star! there's your Lord in a manger.
Hallelujah to the Lamb who has bled for our pardon,
We'll praise him again when we pass over Jordan!
Glad tidings I bring unto you and each nation;
Glad tidings of joy-now behold your salvation!
Then suddenly multitudes raise their glad voices,
And shout hallelujahs, while heaven rejoices!
Now glory to God in the highest be given,
All glory to God is re-echo'd in heav'n;
Around the whole earth let us tell the glad story,
And sing of his love, his salvation, and glory.
Jesus! ride on, thy kingdom is glorious;
Over sin, death, and hell, thou'lt make us victorious!
Thy banner unfurl-let the nations surrender,
And own thee their Saviour, their Lord, and Defender!
Hallelujah to the Lamb, &c.
WHILE humble shepherds watch'd their
In Bethlehem's fields by night,
An angel, sent from heav'n appear'd,
And fill'd the fields with light.
"Fear not,' he said, (for great alarm
Had seiz'd their troubled mind,)
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.
'To you, in David's town, this day
Is born, of David's line,
'The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, And this shall be the sign:
The heav'nly babe you there shall find, To human view display'd,
All meanly wrapp'd in swaddling bands,
And in a manger laid.'
Thus spoke the seraph, and forthwith
Appear'd a shining throng
angels, praising God; and thus
Address'd their joyful song:-
All glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace!
Good-will abound with men below,
That never more shall cease!
PSALM 5-C. M.-[New Durham.
MORTALS! awake, with angels join,
And chant the cheerful lay;
Love, joy, and gratitude combine
To hail th' auspicious day.
In heav'n the rapt'rous song began,
And sweet seraphic fire
Through all the shining legions ran,
And swept the sounding lyre.
The theme, the song, the joy was new
To each angelic tongue;
Swift through the realms of light it flew,
And loud the echo rung.
Down through the portals of the sky
The pealing anthem ran,
And angels flew with eager joy,
To bear the news to man.
Hark! the cherubic armies shout,
And glory leads the song,
Peace and salvation swell the note
Of all the heav'nly throng.
With joy the chorus we'll repeat,
'Glory to God on high!
Good-will and peace are now complete
Jesus was born to die"
Hail, Prince of Life! forever hail!
Redeemer-brother-friend!
Though earth, and time, and life shall fail, Thy praise shall never end.
PSALM 6-L. M.-[Pilesgrove.
BEHOLD the woman's promis'd seed!
Behold the great Messiah come!
Behold the Prophets all agreed
To give him the superior room!
Abrah'm, the saint, rejoic'd of old,
When visions of the Lord he saw;
Moses, the man of God, foretold
This great fulfiller of his law.
The types bore witness to his name,
Obtain'd their chief design and ceas'd-
The incense and the bleeding lamb,
"he ark, the altar, and the priest.
redictions in abundance join
To pour their witness on his head :
Jesus, we bow before thy throne,
And own thee as the promis'd seed.
PSALM 7-C. M.-[Cambridge.
HARK! the glad sound, the Saviour's come' The Saviour promis'd long!
Let ev'ry heart prepare a throne,
And ev'ry voice a song.
On him the Spirit, largely pour'd,
Exerts his sacred fire;
Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,
His holy breast inspire.
He comes the pris'ners to release,
In Satan's bondage held,
The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
He comes from thickest films of vice
To clear the inward sight,
And on the eyeballs of the blind
To pour celestial light.
He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And from the treasures of his grace
T'enrich the humble poor.
Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heav'n's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.
PSALM 8-C. M.-[Dundee.
THE true Messiah now appears,
The types are all withdrawn;
So fly the shadows and the stars
Before the rising dawn.
Now smoking sweets, and bleeding lambs,
And kids, and bullocks slain;
Incense and spice of costly names,
Would all be burnt in vain.
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