Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the
Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favour secure; Richer by far is the heart's adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
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.
"The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth." 42 HARK! the song of jubilee,
Loud as mighty thunders roar;
Or the fulness of the sea,
When it breaks upon the shore.
Alleluia! for the Lord
God Omnipotent shall reign;
Alleluia! let the word
Echo round the earth and main.
Alleluia! hark! the sound,
From the centre to the skies,
Wakes above, beneath, around,
All creation's harmonies:
See JEHOVAH'S banners furled;
Sheathed His sword; He speaks,—'tis
done,
And the kingdoms of this world
Are the kingdoms of His Son.
He shall reign from pole to pole
With illimitable sway;
He shall reign, when, like a scroll,
Yonder heavens have pass'd away:
Then the end; beneath His rod,
Man's last enemy shall fall;
Alleluia! Christ in God,
God in Christ, is all in all. Amen.
When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."
45 As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to Thee.
As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger-bed;
There to bend the knee before
Him Whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek the mercy-seat.
As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ! to Thee our heavenly King.
Holy Jesus! every day
Keep us in the narrow way:
And when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.
In the heavenly country bright,
Need they no created light;
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down,
There forever may we sing
Alleluias to our King. Amen.
"And Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. being forty days tempted of the devil. And in tluse days He did eat nothing."
49 FORTY days and forty nights
Thou wast fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.
Shall not we Thy sorrow share,
And from earthly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Glad with Thee to suffer pain?
And if Satan, vexing sore,
Flesh or spirit should assail,
Thou, his Vanquisher before,
Grant we may not faint or fail.
So shall we have peace divine e;
Holier gladness ours shall be;
Round us, too, shall angels shine,
Such as minister'd to Thee.
Keep, O keep us, Saviour dear,
Ever constant by Thy side;
That with Thee we may appear
At th' eternal Eastertide. Amen.
In that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted."
53 SAVIOUR, when in dust to Thee,
Low we bow th' adoring knee;
When, repentant, to the skies
Scarce we lift our streaming eyes;
O by all Thy pains and woe,
Suffer'd once for man below,
Bending from Thy throne on high,
Hear our solemn litany.
By Thy birth and early years,
By Thy human griefs and fears,
By Thy fasting and distress
In the lonely wilderness,
By Thy victory in the hour
Of the subtle tempter's power;
Jesus, look with pitying eye;
Hear our solemn litany.
By Thine hour of dark despair,
By Thine agony of prayer,
By the purple robe of scorn,
By Thy wounds, Thy crown of thorn,
By Thy cross, Thy pangs, and cries,
By Thy perfect sacrifice;
Jesus, look with pitying eye;
Hear our solemn litany.
By Thy deep expiring groan,
By the seal'd sepulchral stone,
By Thy triumph o'er the grave,
By Thy power from death to save;
Mighty God, ascended Lord,
To Thy throne in heaven restored,
Prince and Saviour, hear our cry,
Hear our solemn litany. Amen.
"My soul fleeth unto the Lord." 63 LORD, in this Thy mercy's day, Ere the time shall pass away, On our knees we fall and pray.
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