Some say, that ever 'gainst that season comes Waft, waft, ye winds, His story, And you, ye waters, roll, Till, like a sea of glory, It spreads from pole to pole.-BISHOP HEBER EAR Desire of every nation, Hark! hark to the angels! All singing in heaven!-tr. CASWALL Listen to the wondrous story, Which they chant in hymns of joy.-CAWOOD Calm on the listening ear of night come heaven's melodious strains, Celestial choirs, from courts above, shed sacred glories there; More bright on Bethlehem's joyous plains breaks the first Christmas morn.-SEARS Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes, the Saviour promised long: He comes, the prisoners to release, in Satan's bondage held: He comes, from thickest films of vice to clear the mental ray, Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing; We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord hath said, This will I give unto you. We shall have many good things if we fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is good. It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen. Thou gavest them thy good Spirit to teach them, and thy manna thou didst not withhold from their mouth, and thou gavest them water for their thirst. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Our sufficiency is of God. For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. I doubt not but God hath regarded my prayers and tears in his sight. O how good and sweet is thy spirit, O Lord, in all things! For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Tell how He cometh; from nation to nation The heart-cheering news let the earth echo round: How His people with joy everlasting are crowned. And sweet let the gladsome hosanna arise: Ye angels, the full alleluia be singing; One chorus resound through the earth and the skies. Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Risen with healing in His wings, Light and life to all He brings. Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!-WESLEY Earth has many a noble city; Bethlehem, thou dost all excel.-PRUDENTIUS O little town of Bethlehem! how still we see thee lie; Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee to-night. For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth! And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth. How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts, to human hearts, the blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming; but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem! descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us to-day. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; Oh come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!-PHILLIPS BROOKS Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid; Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are shining, Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore Him in slumber reclining, Maker and Monarch and Saviour of all.-BISHOP HEBER My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. What shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? For to know thee is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and thy power, is the root of immortality. This every one is sure of that worshippeth thee, that his life, if it be under trial, shall be crowned: and if it be under tribulation, it shall be delivered. It is high time to awake out of sleep. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Thou hast shewn thy mercy to us, and hast shut out from us the enemy that persecuted us. The dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. What can we give him sufficient for these things? Behold, God himself is with us for our captain. These things are told me by the providence of God. Sages, leave your contemplations; Worship Christ, the new-born King.-MONTGOMERY Joy fills our inmost hearts to-day! the royal Child is born; Low at the cradle throne we bend, we wonder and adore; That we may keep Thy birthday bright, with service undefiled.-Drx No war nor battle's sound Was heard the world around; No hostile chiefs to furious combat ran; But peaceful was the night, In which the Prince of Light His reign of peace upon the earth began.—MILTON, varied |