Imatges de pàgina
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2 But a beam of holier light
Gilded Bethlehem's lonely night,
When the glory of the Lord,
Mercy's sunlight, shone abroad.

3 "Peace on earth, good-will to men,"
Burst the glorious anthem then;
Angels, bending from above,
Joined that strain of holy love.

4 Floating o'er the waves of time
Comes to us that song sublime,
Bearing to the pilgrim's ear
Words to soothe, sustain, and cheer.

5 For creation's blessed light,
Praise to thee, thou God of night!
Seraph-strains thy name should bless
For the Sun of Righteousness.

11 & 10s. M.

231.

HEBER.

The Infant Jesus.

1 BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid; Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where the infant Redeemer is laid.

2 Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining;
Low lies his head with the beasts of the stall;
Angels bend o'er him, in slumber reclining, —
Monarch, Redeemer, Restorer of all.

3 Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Ödors of Edom, and offerings divine?
Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gold would his favor secure;
Richer by far is the heart's adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

C. M.

232.

The Guiding Star.

SPIRIT OF THE PSALMS.

1 BRIGHT was the guiding star, that led,
With mild, benignant ray,
The Gentiles to the lowly bed
Where our Redeemer lay.

2 But, lo! a brighter, clearer light
Now points to his abode;

It shines through sin and sorrow's night,
To guide us to our Lord.

3 O haste to follow where it leads;
The gracious call obey,

Be rugged wilds, or flowery meads,
The Christian's destined way.

4 O gladly tread the narrow path,
While light and grace are given;
Who meekly follow Christ on earth
Shall reign with him in heaven.

C. M.

233.

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.

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 eyeballs of the blind
To pour celestial day.

4 He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of his grace
To enrich the humble poor.

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heaven's eternal arches ring

With

thy beloved name.

C. M.

234.

A Light to lighten the Gentiles.

CHRISTIAN PSALMIST.

1 THE race that long in darkness pined
Have seen a glorious light;

The people dwell in day, who dwelt
In death's surrounding night.

2 To hail thy rise, thou better Sun,
The gathering nations come,
Joyous, as when the reapers bear
The harvest treasures home.

To us a child of hope is born,
To us a Son is given;

Him shall the tribes of earth obey,
Him, all the hosts of heaven.

4 His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
Whose rule shall stretch abroad,
The Wonderful, the Counsellor,
The great and mighty Lord.

5 His power, increasing, still shall spread;
His reign no end shall know;
Justice shall guard his throne above,
And peace abound below.

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The Messiah's Coming and Kingdom. Psalm 98.

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;

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

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.

7 & 6s. M.

236.

MONTGOMERY.

"All nations shall call Him blessed."

1 HAIL to the Lord's anointed!
Great David's greater Son!

Hail, in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free;
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.

2 He shall come down like showers
Upon the fruitful earth;
And joy, and hope, like flowers,
Spring in his path to birth.
Before him, on the mountains,
Shall peace, the herald, go,
And righteousness, in fountains,
From hill to valley flow.

3 For him shall prayer unceasing
And daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,
A kingdom without end.
The mountain dew shall nourish
A seed in weakness sown,

Whose fruit shall spread and flourish,
And shake like Lebanon.

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

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.

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