O HAPPY day, when first was poured
The Blood of our redeeming Lord!
O happy day, when first began
His sufferings for sinful man!
Just entered on this world of woe,
His Blood already learned to flow:
His future death was thus expressed,
And thus His early Love confessed.
From heaven descending to fulfil
The mandates of His Father's Will,
E'en now behold the Victim lie-
The Lamb of GOD, prepared to die!
LORD, circumcise our hearts, we pray ;
Our fleshly natures purge away;
Thy Name, Thy Likeness, may they bear;
Yea, stamp Thy holy image there.
HYMN LXXVIII.
THE year begins with Thee,
And Thou beginn'st with woe,
To let the world of sinners see -
That Blood for sin must flow.
Like sacrificial wine,
Poured on a victim's head,
Are those few precious drops of Thine,
Now first to offering led.
Look here, and hold thy peace :
The Giver of all good
E'en from the womb takes no release
From suffering, tears, and blood.
If thou wouldst reap in love,
First sow in holy fear :
So life a winter's morn may prove
To a bright endless year.
GLORY to GOD, who sent His Star
To shed its hopeful beams afar,
As once His fiery pillar's ray
Led Israel on their toilsome way.
The first-fruits of the Gentile race---
They sought the SAVIOUR'S dwelling-place,
And knelt before the Babe Divine,
Led thither by th' unerring sign.
O may we too, with offerings meet,
Be found at our Redeemer's feet,
With richer gifts than theirs of old,
Of spices rare and hoarded gold.
We, by the chosen nation's sin,
On the True Vine are grafted in:
Our hearts' true homage let us give
To Him, whose Mercy bids us live.
HYMN LXXX.
BEHOLD the bright and morning Star,
JESUS, the Spring of Light and Love!
See, how His rays, diffused from far,
Conduct us to the realms above!
Those cheering rays, spread wide abroad,
Point out the troubled Christian's way;
Still, as he goes, he finds the road
Enlightened with perpetual day.
Thus, when the Eastern sages brought
Their royal gifts, a star appeared,
To guide them to the good they sought,
To keep them from the ill they feared.
O may we reach that place of Light,
Where this bright Star shall brightest shineLeave far behind these scenes of night,
And view a glory so divine!
O THOU, Who by a star didst guide
The wise men on their way,
Until it came and stood beside
The place where JESUS lay!
Though by a Star Thou dost not lead
Thy servants here below,
Yet Thy good Spirit, when they need,
Directs them how to go.
Our chief desire, O LORD, fulfil,
Thy light and truth display,
To guide us to Thy holy hill,
Along the narrow way.
Though now we know Thee but in part,
'Tis written in Thy Word,
That Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see the LORD.'
IN stature grows the heavenly Child,
With death before His eyes-
A Lamb, unblemished, meek and mild,
Prepared for Sacrifice.
The Son of GOD His glory hides
With parents mean and poor;
And He, Who made the heavens, abides
In dwelling-place obscure.
He, before Whom the angels stand,
At Whose behest they fly,
Now yields Himself to man's command,
And lays His Glory by.
O may we love His Name to bear,
To own His gracious sway,
His light and easy yoke to wear,
And serve Him day by day.
HYMN LXXXIII.
SONS of men, behold from far!
Hail the long expected Star-
Jacob's Star, that gilds the night,
Guides bewildered nature right!
Mild it shines on all beneath,
Piercing through the shades of death;
Far and wide its rays illume,
Scattering error's deepest gloom.
Nations all, remote and near,
Haste to see your GOD appear:
Haste, for Him your hearts prepare;
Meet Him manifested here.
Here behold the Day-Spring rise,
Pouring light on human eyes!
See it chase the shades away,
Shining to the perfect day.
HYMN LXXXIV.
BOUNTEOUS source of every blessing,
Sovereign Father of mankind!
Gentiles now, Thy Grace possessing,
In Thy courts acceptance find.
Once far off, but now invited,
We approach Thy sacred Throne,
In Thy covenant united,
Reconciled, redeemed, made one.
Now, revealed to eastern sages,
See the Star of Mercy shine-
Mystery hid in former ages,
Mystery great of Love Divine!
Hail, Thou ever Blessed SAVIOUR!
Gentiles now their offerings bring-
In Thy temple seek Thy favour-
Worship Thee, their Lord and King.
WITH fast and prayer for sinful man
His holy course the Lord began:
O then may we His call obey
For our own sins to fast and pray.
This day let all, with downcast eye,
The Presence of our GOD draw nigh,
And mourn our sins, if so we may
His just resentment turn away.
O fearful Judge of quick and dead!
Our sins lie heavy on our head-
Too heavy far for us to bear;
Yet, Gracious Father, deign to spare.
Blest Three in One, assist, we pray,
The service of this sacred day;
And may its holy fruits appear
In penitence and love sincere.
O THOU, that hear'st when sinners cry,
Though all our sins before Thee lie,
Behold them not with angry look,
But blot their memory from Thy book.
We cannot live without Thy light,
Cast out and banished from Thy sight;
Thy saving strength, O LORD, restore,
And guard us that we fall no more.
Though we have grieved Thy Spirit, LORD,
Thy help and comfort still afford:
Behold, we come before Thy Throne,
And plead the merits of Thy Son.
A broken heart, O GOD, our King,
Is all the sacrifice we bring;
The GOD of Grace will ne'er despise
A broken heart for sacrifice.
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