I, Thy servant, humble, low,
Am high honors made to know,
Generations hence shall name,
Me a bless'd a holy one.
Thine, my God, the mighty act
Loving, gracious, Lord, Thou art,
They Thy tender mercies share,
Who Thy holy name revere.
Strength attends Thy powerful arm,
To depress the pride of man,
To the hungry plenty give,
While the rich no boon receive.
As was told to Abraham
Mercy is to Israel shewn ;
He shall yet rich blessings see,
Ne'er to fade nor pass away.
ZECHARIAS.
Blessed cousin, thee I join
In the pious thankful song ;*
Be it mine, my praise to give
To the Holy God of love.
Thou, O Lord, dost man redeem,
Thou of grace erect'st the throne,
Of the house of David, we
Shall a gracious Sov'reign see;
What the prophets have foretold,
Shall to man be soon reveal'd.
Us from foes He comes to save,
To His own protection give;
Lo! He's sent here to perform
God's great promise made to man,
That He would display a Prince,
We might serve with confidence,
Love, obey, with joy adore,
And rich blessings with Him share.
Thou, my lov'd, and holy child, Shalt His Messenger be call'd, Sent with truth His path to strew, And with love His way bedew; Knowledge of salvation give Them who will accept and live, Tell the people quickly comes Him who pardon grants for sins, Make rebellious Israel hear That a God doth now appear,
Who's Redeemer; that 'tis He,
Who's the Day-Spring from on high,
The Messiah, winging love,
Down to earth from realms above,
Darkness to illuminate,
Deadly shades to dissipate,
Guide our feet in ways of peace,
Fill our hearts with love and grace.
When night had spread her shady mantle round
The face of nature; and in sleep profound
The busy world lay still; and cares oppress'd
Not those who slumber'd on the bed of rest,*
Came flying through the bright rejoicing sky,
A glorious herald from the worlds on high;
The brilliant lustre of whose God-like form
Surpass'd the radiance of the blushing morn;
Round shepherds tending flocks upon the plain,
The glory in effulgent brightness shone.
The zephyrs whisper'd softly in the wood,
The grove's sweet lay in slumbering silence stood,
When heavenly Gabriel night's revery broke,
Thus graciously in mildest accents spoke,
"Fear not, ye shepherds, for no wrath I bring,
“ But joyful tidings and goodwill to men ;
"I tell you, that on this auspicious morn,
"In Bethlehem, the great Messiah's born;
"Go there and see, you'll find the heavenly Babe,
"In swaddling clothes, a manger for his bed."
No sooner were these cheering words pronounc'd,
Than heaven's sweet songsters the glad time announc'd
In concord finely tuned, their sublime strain
Harmoniously in chorus thus began:
“Praise, praise, and glory to the God above,
"And to mankind good will, and peace, and love."
Let us re-echo the all-cheering strain, With seraph choirs our harmony combine: O wake, my soul, with joy, salute the morn, When the Redeemer of the world was born! With thee, let ev'ry heart, and tongue employ Its utmost powers in joyful melody,
Make songs resound of gratitude and love, Till all are call'd to praise in worlds above!
SING, O heav'ns! join O earth,
Hymn the song in pious mirth ;*
Pardon freely wings from heav'n,
Through God's goodness comfort's giv'n!
Now the Sun of Righteousness
Darts on earth the rays of peace;
On His wings is healing balm,
Love and mercy gild His train.
Hark! 'tis cri'd from desert lands
"Ye rough places be ye plains;
"Crooked paths be smooth and straight,
"Comes the Prince Who rules aright!"
Herald angels fly to earth,*
To declare His humble birth:
Thus Messiah is reveal'd,-
Man, thy saving Prince behold!
Joyful join the sweetest lays,
In exalted songs of praise;
With the seraph loud proclaim,†
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
While to Israel's favor'd sons God a special message sends,‡ Bright a starry radiance shines, Over Elam's genial climes. Pious Sages, there intent
On the grand, sublime, event,
Wing'd the step, with anxious speed,
Took the road the glory led,
Till the guiding vision stood
Over where the Saviour laid:
Finding Him, with rev'rence meet,
They thus worship'd at his feet.
* See Luke chap. ii. + Micah.
See Matt. chap. ii. ver. 1-13.
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