1 My busy thoughts at first

On their salvation ran,
Ere sin was born, or Adam's dust

Was fashion'd to a man.
8 Then come, receive My grace,

Ye children, and be wise ;
Happy the man that keeps My ways ;

The man that shuns them dies.

HIS ADVENT.

268
MORTALS, a wake, with angels join,

Luke ii. 14. C. M. MEDLEY. 1

And chant the
Joy, love, and gratitude combine,

To hail the auspicious day.
2 In heaven the rapturous song began,

And sweet seraphic fire
Through all the shining legions ran,

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

And loud the echo rolld;
The theme, the song, the joy was new,

'Twas more than heaven could hold: 4 Down, through the portals of the sky,

The impetuous torrent ran: And angels with compassion fly,

To bear the news to man. 5 Hark! the celestial armies shout,

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

The harmonious, heavenly throng. 6 With joy the chorus we'll repeat,

Glory to God on high !
Good will and peace are now complete;

Jesus was born to die

7 Hail! Prince of Life, for ever hail !

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

Thy praise shall never end. 269

Luke ii. 13. 8.7. CAWOOD. 1 ARK! what mean those holy voices, Lo! the angelic host rejoices,

Heavenly hallelujahs rise.
Listen to the wondrous story,

Which they chant in hymns of joy ;
Glory in the highest, glory!

Glory be to God Most High!
2 Peace on earth, good will from heaven,

Reaching far as man is found,-
Souls redeem'd and sins forgiven;

Loud our golden harps shall sound.
Christ is born, the great Anointed;

Heaven and earth His praises sing;
O receive whom God appointed,

For your Prophet, Priest, and King. 3 Hasten, mortals, to adore Him;

Learn His name and taste His joy;
Til in heaven ye sing before Him,

Glory be to God Most High !
Sons of men, repeat the story,

Sing the gladness of His birth;
Spread the brightness of His glory,

Till it cover all the earth.

270 Luke il. 14.

1

ARK! the herald angels sing:

Glory in the highest heaven,
Peaco on earth, and man forgiven.

2 Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail the incarnate Deity;
Pleased as man with men to dwell,

Jesus our Immanuel.
3 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace ;

Hail the Sun of Righteousness :
Light and life to all He brings,

Risen with healing in His wings. 4 Lo! 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. 5 Sing we then, with angels sing :

Glory to the new-born King !
Glory in the highest heaven,
Peace on earth, and man forgiven.

271

W on

Luke ii. 9. L. M. CAMPBELL. THEN Jordan hush'd his waters still,

1

When Bethlehem's shepherds through

the night Watch'd o'er their flocks by starry light,2 Hark! from the midnight hills around,

A voice of more than mortal sound,
In distant hallelujahs stole,

Wild murmuring o'er the raptur'd soul. 3 Then swift to every startled eye,

New streams of glory light the sky,
Heaven burst her azure gates to pour

Her spirits to the midnight hour.
4 On wheels of light, on wings of flame,

The glorious hosts of Zion came;
High heaven with songs of triumph rung,
While thus they struck their harps and

6 O Zion-lift thy raptured eye,

The long expected hour is nigh,
The joys of nature rise again,
The Prince of Salem comes to reign.

272 Matt. ii. 2. 8.7.4. MONTGOMERY.

1

Wing your flight o'er all the earth ;
Ye, who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth ;

Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
2 Shepherds, in the field abiding,

Watching o'er your flock by night, God with man is now residing; Yonder shines the infant light:

Come and worship, Worship Christ, the new-born King. 3 Sages, leave your contemplations,

Brighter visions beam afar ; Seek the great Desire of nations, Ye have seen His natal star:

Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
4 Saints, before the altar bending,

Waiting long with hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord descending
In His temple shall appear :

Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
5 Sinners, wrung with true repentance,

Doomed, for guilt, to endless pains,
Justice now repeals the sentence;
Mercy calls you-breaks your chains:

Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King.

273

Matt. 11. 2. 11.10. HEBER. 1 BRIGI RIGHTEST 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 our infant Redeemer is laid. 2 Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are

shining; Low lies His bed with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore Him, in slumber reclining,

Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all. 3 Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,

Odours of Edom, and offerings divine, Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the

ocean, Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the

mine? 4 Vainly we offer each ample oblation;

Vainly with gold would His favour secure: Richer by far is the heart's adoration;

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. 5 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 our infant Redeemer is laid.

274 Isalah ix. 6. 78. MONTGOMERY.

RIGHT and joyful is the morn, From the highest realms of heaven, Unto us a Son is given.