Ere sin was born, or Satan fell,
He led the host of morning stars ;
Thy generation who can tell

,
Or count the number of thy years ?
But lo, he leaves those heav'nly forms,
The Word descends and dwells in clay,
That he may hold converse with worms,
Drest in such feeble flesh as they.
Mortals with joy beheld his face,
Th' eternal Father's only Son;
How full of truth! how full of grace !
When through his eyes the Godhead shone!
Archangels leave their high abode,
To learn new mysteries here, and tell
The loves of our descending God,
The glories of Immanuel.
70. The Nativity of Christ. Luke i. 30. ii. 10.

(S. M.) 1 ,

The promise is fulfill'd;
Mary the wond'rous virgin bears,

And Jesus is the child.
The Lord, the highest God,

Calls him his only Son ;
He bids him rule the lands abroad,

And gives him David's throne. 3 O'er Jacob shall he reign

With a peculiar sway ;
The nations shall his grace obtain,
His kingdom ne'er decay.

4 To bring the glorious news,

A heav'nly form appears ;
He tells the shepherds of their joys,

And banishes their fears.
5 “ Go, humble swains," said he,

“ To David's city fly;
“ The promis'd infant born to-day,

“ Doth in a manger lie.
6 “ With looks and heart serene,

“ Go visit Christ your King ;"
And straight a flaming troop was seen;

The Shepherds heard them sing:
“ Glory to God on high,

“ And heav'nly peace on earth,
“ Good-will to men, to angels joy,

" At the Redeemer's birth!” 8 In worship so divine,

Let saints employ their tongues,
With the celestial host we join,

And loud repeat their songs : 9 “ Glory to God on high,

“ And heav'nly peace on earth,
“ Good-will to men, to angels joy,

“ At our Redeemer's birth."

371.
The same.

Luke ii. 13, 14. (P.M.) 1 HA

ARK! the herald-angels sing,

Glory to the new-born king;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconcil'd.

2 Joyful, all ye nations, rise,

Join the triumphs of the skies ;
With the angelic hosts proclaim,

Christ is born in Bethlehem !”

66

3 Christ, by highest heaven ador'd, Christ, the everlasting Lord ; Late in time behold him come,

Offspring of a virgin's womb. 4 Veild in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th' incarnate Deity! Pleas'd as man with men ť appear, Jesus, our Emmanuel here. 5 Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail, the Sun of Righteousness !
Light and life to all he brings,

Risen with healing in his wings. 6 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. 7 Come, desire of nations, come,

Fix in us thy hunible home;
Rise, the woman's conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head.

8 Adam's likeness now efface,

Stamp thine image in its place;
Second Adam, from above,
Re-instate us in thy love.

11

372. The Incarnation of Christ. 2 Cor.ix. 15. (C.

N heaven the rapt'rous song began,

And sweet seraphic fire
Through all the shining legions ran,

And strung and tun'd the lyre.
2 Swift through the vast expanse it flew,

And loud the echo roll'd;
The theme, the song, the joy was new,

'Twas more than heaven could hold.
3 Down through the portals of the sky,

Th' impetuous torrent ran;
And angels flew, with eager joy,

To bear the news to man.
4 Hark! the cherubic armies shout,

And glory leads the song ;
Good-will and peace are heard throughout

Th' harmonious, heavenly throng. 5 With joy the chorus we'll repeat,

Glory to God on high;
“Good-will and peace are now complete,

“ Jesus was born to die.”
6 Hail, Prince of life, for ever hail !

Redeemer, Brother, Friend!
Though earth, and time, and life should fail,

Thy praise shall never end. 373. Christ's Ministry and Work. Luke iv. 18, 19.

(C. M.)
ARK the glad sound, the Saviour comes,

The Saviour promis'd long !
Let every heart prepare a throne,

And every voice a song.

1 H

2 On him the Spirit, largely pour'd,

Exerts its sacred fire ;
Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,

His holy breast inspire.
He comes, the prisoners to release,

In satan's bondage beld;
The gates of brass before him burst,

The iron fetters yield.
| He comes, from thickest films of vice,

To clear the mental ray ;
And on the eye-balls of the blind,

To pour celestial day.
He comes, the broken heart to bind,

The bleeding soul to cure ;
And, with the treasures of his grace,

T enrich the humble poor.
Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace,

Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring,

With thy beloved name.

4. The Saviour's Birth. Luke ii. 11. (P. M.) L'!

IFT up your heads in joyful hope,

Salute the happy morn;
Each heavenly power

Proclaims the glad hour,
Lo, Jesus the Saviour is born!
All glory be to God on high,

To him the praise is due;
The word is seal'd,
The Saviour's reveald,
And proves that the record is true.