3 He comes, the pris'ners to release, The gates of brass before him burst, 4 He comes, from thickest films of vice And on the eyes oppress'd with night, 5 He comes, the broken heart to bind, And with the treasures of his grace, 6 Our glad Hosannas, Prince of peace, 1 HAIL, thou long expected Jesus, 2 Israel's strength and consolation, 3 Born thy people to deliver, Born a child, yet God our King, 4 By thine own eternal Spirit By thine all-sufficient merit Raise us to thy glorious throne. CHRISTMAS. HYMN 43. Luke ii. 8-15. (C. M.) 1 WHILE shepherds watch'd their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around. 2 "Fear not," said he, for mighty dread 3" 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: 4 "The heav'nly babe you there shall find, "To human view display'd, "All meanly wrapt in swathing bands, 5 Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith 6" All glory be to God on high, "Good will, henceforth, from heav'n to men, Begin and never cease." HYMN 44. 1 WHILE angels thus, O Lord, rejoice, O may we lose these useless tongues, 2 Then let us swell responsive notes, 3 Good-will to sinful dust is shown, 4 Mercy and truth, with sweet accord, Let heav'n and earth in concert sing, 5 Glory to God, in highest strains, 6 Till we attain those blissful realms, In their immortal strains! (C. M.) HYMN 45. (IIL 1.) 1 HARK! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King; 2 Joyful all ye nations rise, 3 Christ, by highest heav'n ador'd, 4 Veil'd in flesh the Godhead see! Pleas'd, as man, with man to dwell, 5 Ris'n with healing in his wings, Hail the heav'n-born Prince of peace. HYMN 46. Chorus. SHOUT the glad tidings, exultingly sing; Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King. 1 Zion! the marvellous story be telling, The Son of the Highest, how lowly his birth! The brightest archangel in glory excelling, He stoops to redeem thee, he reigns upon earth. Chorus. Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing; Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King. 2 Tell how he cometh, from nation to nation, The heart-cheering news let the earth echo round; How free to the faithful he offers salvation, How his people with joy everlasting are crown'd. Chorus. Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing; Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King. 3 Mortals! your homage be gratefully bringing, And sweet let the gladsome hosanna arise; Ye angels! the full hallelujah be singing, One chorus resound through the earth and the skies: Chorus. Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing, Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King. HYMN 47. Isaiah ix. 2-7. 1 THE race that long in darkness pin'd (C. M.) (C. M.) 2 To hail thy rising Sun of life! 3 For thou our burden hast remov'd; 4 To us the promis'd Child is born; Him shall the tribes of earth obey, 5 His name shall be the Prince of peace, The Wonderful, the Counsellor, 6 His pow'r increasing still shall spread, END OF THE YEAR. HYMN 48. 1 TIME hastens on; ye longing saints, 2 As time departs salvation comes, 3 Not many years their course shall run, Ere all its glories stand reveal'd HYMN 49. St. Luke xiii. 6-9. 1 SEF, in the vineyard of the Lord, 2 From year to year the tree He views, Then "cut it down," the Lord commands, "Why cumbers it the ground?" (C. M.) 3 But lo! the gracious Saviour pleads; "It yet may bloom and bear: 4" But if my culture prove in vain, NEW-YEAR. HYMN 50. 1 THE God of life, whose constant care 2 How many precious souls are fled 3 We yet survive; but who can say, "Thus far, at least, in league with death?" 4 That breath is thine, eternal God; 5 To thee our spirits we resign, Make them and own them still as thine; 6 Thy children panting to be gone, (L. M.) Where years and death are known no more. No more fatigue, no more distress, 8 No more alarms from ghostly foes; |