2 Then to the watchful shepherds it was old, Who heard the angelic herald's voice: "Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Saviour's birth
To you and all the nations upon earth:
This day hath God fulfill'd his promised word,
This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord."
3 He spake; and straightway the celestial choir
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire:
The praises of redeeming love they sang,
And heaven's whole orb with hallelujahs rang;
God's highest glory was their anthem still,
Peace upon earth, and unto men good will.
4 To Bethlehem straight the enlighten'd shep-
herds ran,
To see the wonder God had wrought for man :
And found, with Joseph and the blessed maid,
Her Son, the Saviour, in a manger laid;
Amazed the wondrous story they proclaim,
The first apostles of his infant fame.
5 Let us, like these good shepherds, then employ
Our grateful voices to proclaim the joy;
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From his poor manger to his bitter cross;
Treading his steps, assisted by his grace,
Till man's first heavenly state again takes place.
6 Then may we hope, the angelic thrones among,
To sing redeem'd a glad triumphal song;
He that was born upon this joyful day,
Around us all his glory shall display;
Saved by his love incessant we shall sing
Of angels and of angel-men the King.
77 Let us now go even unto Bethlehem.-Luke ii. 15. [P.M.
O COME, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem ;
Come and behold him
Born, the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
God of God,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God,
Begotten, not created;
O come, let us adore him, &c.
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above,
Glory to God
In the highest ;
O come, let us adore him, &c.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesu, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
78 Unto us a Child is born: unto us a Son is given. [D. 7s.
1 HARK! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
Universal nature say,
Christ the Lord is born to-day.
2 Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb:
Veil'd in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as Man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
3 Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace,
Hail the Sun of Righteousness;
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
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 Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman's conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head.
Adam's likeness, Lord, efface ;
Stamp thy image in its place;
O to all thyself impart,
Form'd in each believing heart.'
79 They shall call his name Emmanuel.—Matt. i. 23. [8s. 6s. 4. 1 Joy fills our inmost heart to-day:
The royal Child is born :
And angel hosts in glad array
His Advent keep this morn.
Rejoice, rejoice! The incarnate Word
Has come on earth to dwell;
No sweeter sound than this is heard-
Emmanuel.
2 Low at the cradle throne we bend,
We wonder and adore;
And feel no bliss can ours transcend,
No joy was sweet before.
Rejoice, rejoice! &c.
3 For us the world must lose its charms
Before the manger shrine,
When, folded in thy mother's arms,
We see thee, Babe divine.
Rejoice, rejoice! &c.
4 Thou Light of uncreated Light,
Shine on us, Holy Child;
That we may keep thy birthday bright,
With service undefiled.
Rejoice, rejoice! The incarnate Word
Has come on earth to dwell;
No sweeter sound than this is heard-
Emmanuel.
We are come to worship him.-Matt. ii. 2. [8s. 7s. 4,
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 their flocks by night;
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant-light:
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
3 Sages, leave your contemplations;
Brighter visions beam afar ;
Seek the great Desire of nations,
Ye have seen his natal star:
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
4. 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.o
The Word was God: the Word was made flesh. [8s. 7s.
John i. 1. 14.
1 WHO is this, so weak and helpless,
Child of lowly Hebrew maid,
Rudely in a stable shelter'd,
Coldly in a manger laid?
2 'Tis the Lord of all creation,
Who this wondrous path hath trod;
He is God from everlasting,
And to everlasting God.
3 Who is this, a Man of sorrows
Walking sadly life's hard way,
Homeless, weary, sighing, weeping
Over sin and Satan's sway?
4 'Tis our God, our glorious Saviour,
Who above the starry sky
Now prepares the many mansions,
Where no tear can dim the eye.
5 Who is this-behold him shedding
Drops of blood upon the ground?
Who is this-despised, rejected,
Mock'd, insulted, beaten, bound?
6 'Tis our God, who gifts and graces
On his Church now poureth down;
Who shall smite in holy vengeance
All his foes beneath his throne.
7 Who is this that hangeth dying,
While the rude world scoffs and scorns,
On the cross with sinners number'd,
Pierced by nails and crown'd with thorns?
8 'Tis the God who ever liveth
'Mid the shining ones on high, In the glorious golden city Reigning everlastingly."
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