Hymn on the Nativity.

To hail Thy rise, Thou better Sun,
The gathering nations come,
Joyous as when the reapers bear

The harvest-treasures home.

For Thou our burden hast removed,
And quell'd th' oppressor's sway,
Quick as the slaughter'd squadrons fell
In Midian's evil day.

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.

His Name shall be the Prince of Peace,

For evermore adored,

The Wonderful, the Counsellor,

The great and mighty Lord.

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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I

Hymn on the Nativity.

BEN JONSON.

SING the birth was born to-night,
The Author both of life and light;
The angels so did sound it.

And like the ravish'd shepherds said
Who saw the light, and were afraid,

Yet search'd, and true they found it.

The Son of God, th' Eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,

And freed the soul from danger;

He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word which heaven and earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger.

The Father's wisdom will'd it so,
The Son's obedience knew no No,
Both wills were in one stature :

And as that wisdom had decreed,
The Word was now made flesh indeed,
And took on Him our nature.

What comfort by Him do we win,
Who made Himself the price of sin,
To make us heirs of glory!

To see this babe all innocence,
A martyr born in our defence:
Can man forget this story?

WHIL

Christmas Hymn.

NAHUM TATE.

HILE shepherds watch'd their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,

And glory shone around.

"Fear not," said he; for mighty dread

Had seized their troubled mind;

"Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all mankind.

The Star of Bethlehem.

"To you in David's town this day
Is born of David's line,

A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign:

"The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view display'd,

All meanly wrapp'd in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid."

Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith
Appear'd a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Address'd their joyful song:

“All glory be to God on high,

And in the earth be peace;

Good-will henceforth from Heaven to men

Begin and never cease!" Amen.

The Star of Bethlehem.

H. KIRKE WHITE.-Music by T. Purday.

HEN, marshall'd on the nightly plain,

WHEN,

The glittering hosts bestud the sky;

One star alone of all the train

Can fix the sinner's wandering eye.

Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks
From every host, from every gem;
But one alone the Saviour speaks,
It is the star of Bethlehem.

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Once on the raging seas I rode,

The storm was loud, the night was dark, The ocean yawn'd—and rudely blow'd,

The wind that toss'd my foundering bark:

Deep horror then my vitals froze,
Death-struck, I ceased the tide to stem,
When suddenly a star arose,

It was the star of Bethlehem.

It was my guide, my light, my all;
It bade my dark forebodings cease;
And through the storm, and danger's thrall,
It led me to the port of peace.

Now safely moor'd, my perils o'er,
I'll sing first in night's diadem,

For ever and for evermore,

The star! the star of Bethlehem!

Hail to the Lord's Anointed !

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

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.

A

Hail to the Lord's Anointca!

He comes with succour speedy

To those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy,
And bid the weak be strong;
To give them songs for sighing,
Their darkness turn to light;
Whose souls, condemn'd and dying,
Were precious in His sight.

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 and valley flow.

Arabia's desert-ranger

To Him shall bow the knee;

The Ethiopian stranger

His glory come to see;

With offerings of devotion

Ships from the isles shall meet,

To pour the wealth of ocean
In tribute at His feet.

Kings shall fall down before Him,
And gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him,
His praise all people sing.
For He shall have dominion
O'er river, sea, and shore,
Far as the eagle's pinion,

Or dove's light wing, can soar.

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