84

HYMN S.

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS.

[*PSALMS 8, 40, 45, 85, 96, 97, 98.-HYMNS 116, 135, 153.]

HYMN I.

1 HARK, the glad sound! the Saviour comes, The Saviour promis'd long!

Let ev'ry heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.

2 He comes the pris'ners to release,
In Satan's bondage held:

The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.

3 He comes from thickest films of vice.
To clear the mental ray,

And on the eyes opprest with night
To celestial day.

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4 He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,

And with the treasures of his grace
T'enrich the humble poor.

5 Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.

*The references between brackets under each general division are to such Psalms and Hymns as will be found suited to the same subject, though classed under other divisions.

HYMN II,

I COME, thou long-expected Jesus, Born to set thy people free; From our sins and fears release us, Let us find our rest in thee! Israel's strength and consolation, Hope of all the saints thou art; Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. 2 Born thy people to deliver; Born a child, and yet a king; Come, to reign in us for ever; Now thy gracious kingdom bring: By thine own eternal Spirit, Rule in all our hearts alone; By thine all-sufficient merit, Raise us to thy glorious throne.

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HYMN III.

BEHOLD, the grace appears,
The promise is fulfill'd;

Mary, the wondrous virgin, bears,

And Jesus is the child.

To bring the glorious news,

A heav'nly form appears;

He tells the shepherds of their joys,

And banishes their fears.

3 “Go, humble swains, (said he) "To David's city fly;

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"The promis'd infant, born to-day,
"Doth in a manger lie.

"With looks and hearts serene,
"Go visit Christ your king:"

And straight a flaming troop was seen;
The shepherds heard them sing:

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"Glory to God on high,

"And heav'nly peace on earth; "Good-will to men, to angels joy, "At the Redeemer's birth!"

HYMN IV.

1 HARK! the herald-angels sing,

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Glory to the new-born King;
"Peace on earth, and Mercy mild;
"God and sinners reconcil'd."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
2 Christ, by highest heav'n ador'd;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb:
Veil'd in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th' incarnate Deity!

Pleas'd as man with men t' appear,
Jesus our Immanuel here.

3 Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Ris'n with healing in his wings:
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.

4 Come, Desire of nations, come!
Fix in us thy humble home:

Rise, the Woman's conqu'ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head:

1 THE King of Glory sends his Son
To make his entrance on this earth:
Behold the midnight bright as noon,
And heav'nly hosts declare his birth!
2 About the young Redeemer's head
What wonders and what glories meet!
An unknown star arose, and led
The eastern sages to his feet.

3 Simeon and Anna both conspire
The Infant-Saviour to proclaim;
Inward they felt the sacred fire,

And bless'd the babe, and own'd his name. 4 While Jews and Greeks blaspheme aloud, And treat the holy Child with scorn; Our souls adore th' eternal God, Who condescended to be born.

EPIPHANY.

[PSALMS 97, 98.-HYMNS 116, 123, 135.]

HYMN VI.

1 Lo! in the East appears a light,
In eastern skies unseen before; or ar
The wise men hail the welcome sight,
And seek the myst'ry to explore.
2 These ancient sages, led from far,
Began their doubtful, anxious way

Nor rested, till the wand'ring star

Stood o'er the place where Jesus lay.

3 They came, they saw, and they ador'd; Each costly treasure they unfold, And offer to their infant Lord

Their myrrh, their frankincense, and gold. 4 That star to us its light imparts; Let us our pilgrimage pursue;

And, with the homage of our hearts, To Bethlehem go, and worship too. 5 May we through life its guidance trace, And mark its path o'er earthly things, Until it leads us to the place,

Where Jesus reigns the King of kings. 6 Light of the world, the True Light! rise; Nor cease to shed thy cheering ray, Till o'er all lands beneath the skies, Thy glory shine in perfect day.

LENT.

[PSALMS 6, 38, 51, 69, 86, 130, 143.
HYMNS 16, 129.]

HYMN VII.

1 LORD, at thy feet we sinners lie,
And knock at Mercy's door;
With heavy heart and downcast eye,
Thy favour we implore.

2 'Tis mercy, mercy we implore;
O may thy bowels move!

Thy grace is an exhaustless store,
And thou thyself art love.

3 O, for thine own, for Jesu's sake,
Our many sins forgive!