210.

L. M. 61.

Christ's Birth.

MOORE.

1 ARRAYED in clouds of golden light, More bright than heaven's effulgent bow, Jehovah's angel came by night,

To bless the sleeping world below. How soft the music of his tongue! How sweet the hallowed strains he sung! 2 Good-will henceforth to man be given, The light of glory beams on earth: Let angels tune the harps of heaven, And saints rejoice in Shiloh's birth; In him all nations shall be blest, And his shall be a glorious rest.

211.

C. P. M.
Christmas Hymn.

MISS ROSCOE.

1 O, let your mingling voices rise,
In grateful rapture, to the skies,
And hail a Saviour's birth:
Let songs of joy the day proclaim,
When Jesus all-triumphant came
To bless the sons of earth.

2 He came to bid the weary rest,
To heal the sinner's wounded breast,
To bind the broken heart,

To spread the light of truth around,
And to the world's remotest bound
The heavenly gift impart.

3 He came our trembling souls to save
From sin, from sorrow, and the grave,
And chase our fears away;
Victorious over death and time,
To lead us to a happier clime,
Where reigns eternal day.

212.

C. M.

The Mission of Christ.

DODDRIDGE.

1 HARK, the glad sound! the Saviour comes!
The Saviour promised long!
Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.

2 On him the Spirit largely poured,
Exerts its sacred fire;

Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,
His holy breast inspire.

3 He comes, from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray;
And on the eye-balls of the blind
To pour celestial day.

4 He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure;
And with the treasure of his grace
Enrich the humble poor.

5 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace!
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.

The Kingdom of Christ.

1 Joy to the world! the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;

Let

every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing!

2 Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns! Let men their songs employ;

WATTS.

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.

214.

3 No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make his blessings flow
As far as sin is found.

4 He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.

C. M.

John the Herald of Christ.

1 JOHN was the prophet of the Lord
To go before his face;

WATTS.

The herald which the Prince of Peace

Sent to prepare his ways.

2" Behold the Lamb of God," he cries,
"That takes our guilt away;

I saw the Spirit o'er his head,
On his baptizing day.

3"Be every vale exalted high,

Sink every mountain low;

The proud must stoop, and humble souls
Shall his salvation know.

4" Behold the Morning Star arise,
Ye that in darkness sit;

He marks the path that leads to peace,
And guides our doubtful feet."

C. M.

The Baptism of Jesus.

EXETER COLL

1 SEE, from on high, a light divine

On Jesus' head descend!

And hear the sacred voice from heaven
That bids us all attend.

215.

2 "This is my well-beloved Son,"
Proclaimed the voice divine;

“Hear him,” his heavenly Father said,
"For all his words are mine."

3 His mission thus confirmed from heaven,
The great Messiah came,

And heavenly wisdom showed to man
In God his Father's name.

4 The path of heavenly peace he showed
That leads to bliss on high;

Where all his faithful followers here
Shall live, no more to die.

216.

S. M.

NEEDHAM.

1

Christ the Light of the World.

BEHOLD! the Prince of Peace,
The chosen of the Lord,
God's well-beloved Son, fulfils
The sure prophetic word.

2 No royal pomp adorns

This King of righteousness:
Meekness and patience, truth and love,
Compose his princely dress.

3 The spirit of the Lord,
In rich abundance shed,
On this great Prophet gently lights,
And rests upon his head.

4 Jesus, the light of men,

His doctrine life imparts;

O, may we feel its quickening power
To warm and glad our hearts.

5 Cheered by its beams, our souls.
Shall run the heavenly way;

The path which Christ has marked and trod,
Will lead to endless day.

217.

L. M.

Jesus Preaching the Gospel.

BOWRING.

1 How sweetly flowed the gospel's sound
From lips of gentleness and grace,
When listening thousands gathered round,
And joy and reverence filled the place!
2 From heaven he came-of heaven he spoke
To heaven he led his followers' way;
Dark clouds of gloomy night he broke,
Unveiling an immortal day.

3 "Come, wanderers, to my Father's home,
Come, all ye weary ones, and rest!"
Yes! sacred teacher, we will come-
Obey thee, love thee, and be blest!

4 Decay, then, tenements of dust!
Pillars of earthly pride, decay!
A nobler mansion waits the just,
And Jesus has prepared the way.

218.

L. M.

Miracles of Christ.

1 ON eyes that never saw the day
Christ pours the bright celestial ray;
And deafened ears, by him unbound,
Catch all the harmony of sound.

BUTCHER.

2 Lameness takes up its bed, and
goes
Rejoicing in the strength that flows.
Through every nerve; and, free from pain,
Pours forth to God the grateful strain.

3 The shattered mind his word restores,
And tunes afresh the mental powers;
The dead revive, to life return,
And bid affection cease to mourn.