"Fear not," said he-for mighty dread
Had seized 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,
"A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, “And this shall be the sign :—
"The heavenly Babe, you there shall find “To human view displayed,
"All meanly wrapt in swathing bands, And in a manger laid."
Thus spake the Seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song :-
"All glory be to God on high,
"And to the earth be peace!
"Good-will henceforth from Heaven to men, Begin and never cease."
HIGH let us swell our tuneful notes,
Aud join the angelic throng,
For angels no such love have known,
To awake a cheerful song.
Good-will to sinful men is shown,
And peace on earth is given;
For, lo! the Incarnate Saviour comes
With messages from heaven.
Mercy and truth, with sweet accord,
His rising beams adorn;
Let heaven and earth in concert join,
To us a child is born."
Glory to God in highest strains
In highest worlds be paid;
His glory by our lips proclaimed,
And by our lives displayed.
So may we reach those blissful realms
Where Christ exalted reigns;
And offer with the angelic throng,
The same immortal strains?
O GOD, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home!
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night,
Before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They die forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home!
BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR.
For Thy mercy and Thy grace
Constant through another year,
Hear our song of thankfulness;
Jesu, our Redeemer, hear.
In our weakness and distress,
Rock of Strength, be Thou our stay;
In the pathless wilderness
Be our true and living way.
Who of us death's awful road
In the coming year shall tread,
With Thy rod and staff, O God,
Comfort Thou his dying bed.
Make us faithful, make us pure,
Keep us evermore Thine own,
Help Thy servants to endure,
Fit us for the promised crown.
So within Thy palace gate
We shall praise, on golden strings,
Thee the only Potentate,
Lord of lords, and King of kings.
JESUS! Name of wondrous love!
Name all other names above!
Unto which most every knee
Bow in deep humility-
Jesus! Name decreed of old :
To the maiden mother told
Kneeling in her lowly cell
By the Angel Gabriel.
Jesus! Name of priceless worth
To the fallen sons of earth
For the promise that it gave—
"Jesus shall His people save"-
Jesus! Name of mercy mild,
Given to the Holy Child,
When the cup of human woe
First He tasted here below-
Jesus! Only name that's given
Under all the mighty heaven,
Whereby man, to sin enslaved,
Burst his fetters, and is saved-
Jesus! Name of wondrous love!
Human name of God above!
Pleading only this we flee
Helpless, O our God, to Thee.
Lo! the Gentiles bend the knee,
Sun of Righteousness, to Thee;
Far off lands and distant kings
Own the healing of Thy wings.
Nations all, both far and near,
Haste to see your God appear;
Haste, for Him your hearts prepare,
Meet Him manifested there.
Hail the Day-spring from on high,
Pouring light on mortal eye!
See it chase the shades away,
Breaking into perfect day!
Sing, ye morning stars! again
God descends on earth to reign,
Praise and blessing never cease;
Hail the reign of Truth and Peace!
Hymns of glory and of praise,
Father, unto Thee we raise;
Praise to Thee, O Christ our King,
And the Holy Ghost we sing!
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