4 Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God, Still follow my steps, till I meet thee above; 1 seek, by the path which my forefathers trod Thro' the land of their sojourn, thy kingdom of love.
1 HARK! what mean those holy voices,
Sweetly sounding through the skies?
Lo! th' angelic host rejoices;
Heavenly hallelujahs rise.
2 Hear them tell the wondrous story;
Hear them 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.
4 "Christ is born, the great Anointed;
Heaven and earth his praises sing;
O, receive whom God appointed,
For your Prophet, Priest, and King."
5 Haste, ye mortals, to adore him;
Learn his name, and taste his joy;
Till in heaven ye sing before him,
"Glory be to God most high!"
11s & 10s.
The Infant Saviour.
1 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 the infant Redeemer is laid.
2 Cold, on his cradle, the dew-drops are shining;
Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore him, in slumber reclining,
Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour, of all.
3 Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Eden 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.
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
The Lord forsakes the sky;
To earth his footsteps bend:
He comes to bless our fallen race;
He comes with messages of grace.
3 Bear, bear the tidings round;
Let every mortal know
What love in God is found,
What pity he can show:
Ye winds that blow, ye waves that roll,
Convey the 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.
Call to worship the new-born Saviour.
1 ANGELS, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye, who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship—
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
2 Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing;
Yonder shines the heavenly light:
Come and worship
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
3 Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In his temple shall appear:
Come and worship-
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
4 Sinners, bowed in true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence;
Mercy calls you; break your chains:
Come and worship-
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
1 CALM on the listening ear of night
Come heaven's melodious strains,
Where wild Judea stretches far
Her silver-mantled plains.
2 Celestial choirs, from courts above,
Shed sacred glories there,
And angels, with their sparkling lyres,
Make music on the air.
3 The joyous hills of Palestine
Send back the glad reply,
And greet, from all their holy heights,
The dayspring from on high.
4 O'er the blue depths of Galilee
There comes a holier calm,
And Sharon waves, in solemn praise,
Her silent groves of palm.
5 "Glory to God!" the sounding skies
Aloud with anthems ring;
"Peace to the earth, good-will to men,
From heaven's eternal King!"
1 HARK! what celestial sounds,
What music fills the air!
Soft warbling to the morn,
It strikes the ravished ear:
2 Th' angelic hosts descend,
With harmony divine:
See how from heaven they bend,
And in full chorus join:
"Fear not," say they "Great joy we bring :
Jesus, your King,
Is born to-day."
3 He comes, your souls to save
From death's eternal gloom;
To realms of bliss and light
Ho lifts you from the tomb:
Your songs unite
Of endless praise.
4 Glory to God on high!
Ye mortals, spread the sound,
And let your raptures fly
To earth's remotest bound;
To man is given,
At Jesus' birth.
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 See, 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 holy 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."
The Nativity of Christ.
1 BEHOLD, the grace appears,
The blessing promised long;
Angels announce the Saviour near,
In this 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 men employ their tongues;
With the celestial host we join,
And loud repeat their songs:
4 "Glory to God on high,
And heavenly peace on earth;
Good-will to men, to angels joy,
At our Redeemer's birth."
Christ welcomed as a Saviour.
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.
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