1 THE lands that long in darkness lay Now have beheld a heavenly light; Nations, that sat in death's cold shade Are blest with beams divinely bright. 2 The virgin's promised Son is born! Behold the expected Child appear! What shall his names or titles be? 'The Wonderful, the Counsellor!' 3 The government of earth and seas Upon his shoulders shall be laid; His wide dominions shall increase, And honors to his name be paid. 4 Jesus, the holy Child shall sit High on his father David's throne; Shall crush his foes beneath his feet, And reign to ages yet unknown. And on his lone, unsheltered head Flows the chill night-damp of the wind. 4 Why seeks he not a home of rest? Why seeks he not a pillowed bed? Beasts have their dens, the bird its nest ; He hath not where to lay his head. 5 Such was the lot he freely chose, To bless, to save the human race; And through his poverty there flows A rich, full stream of heavenly grace. 14. L. M. BP. HEBER. "Hosanna to the Son of David." Palm Sunday. 1 RIDE on, ride on in majesty! Hark! all the tribes Hosanna cry! Thine humble beast pursues his road, With palms and scattered garments strewed. 2 Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die! O Christ thy triumphs now begin O'er captive death and conquered sin! 3 Ride on, ride on in majesty! Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh; The Father on his glorious throne Expects his own anointed Son. 4 Ride on! ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die! Bow thy meek head to mortal pain; Then take, O Christ, thy power and reign! RUSSELL. The Crown of Christ. 1 For whom is yonder crown prepared, Of workmanship divine? 2 To him shall every knee be bowed; 3 Let saints on earth their tribute bring, 17. 7s M. MRS. HEMANS. "That men pray every where." 1 CHILD, amidst the flowers at play, 18. 7s M. 61. MONTGOMERY. A Sinner imploring Mercy. - Ps. 69. 1 GOD, be merciful to me, For my spirit trusts in thee, 2 Poor and sorrowful am I ; Set me, O my God, on high; Confession and Prayer. — Ps. 51. 1 HAVE mercy on me, O my God, In loving kindness hear my prayer; Withdraw the terror of thy rod; Lord, in thy tender mercy spare. 2 Offences rise where'er I look: But I confess their guilt to thee; Now to my troubled mind restore; Looking upward in Affliction. 1 GoD of my life, to thee I call, Afflicted at thy feet I fall, When the great water-floods prevail, Leave not my trembling heart to fail! 2 Friend of the friendless, and the faint! Where should I lodge my deep complaint, Where but with thee, whose open door 3 Did ever mourner plead with thee, 21. 7s M. 61. J. NEWTON. 1 QUIET, Lord, my froward heart, On a care beyond his own; Health, Sickness, and Recovery. - Ps. 30. 1 FIRM was my health, my day was bright, And I presumed 't would ne'er be night; Fondly I said within my heart, 'Pleasure and peace shall ne'er depart.' 2 But I forgot thine arm was strong, Which made my mountain stand so long; Soon as thy face began to hide, My health was gone, my comforts died. 3 Hear me, O God of grace,' I said, And bring me from among the dead;' Thy word rebuked the pains I felt, Thy pardoning love removed my guilt. 4 My groans, and tears, and forms of wo, Are turned to joy and praises now; I throw my sackcloth on the ground, And ease and gladness gird me round, 5 My tongue, the glory of my frame, Shall ne'er be silent of thy name; Thy praise shall sound through earth and heaven, For sickness healed and sins forgiven. 23. L. M. 61. BP. HEBER. Unspeakable Glories of Heaven. I PRAISED the earth, in beauty seen With garlands gay of various green; I praised the sea, whose ample field Shone glorious as a silver shield; And earth and ocean seemed to say Our beauties are but for a day!" 2 I praised the sun, whose chariot rolled On wheels of amber and of gold; I praised the moon, whose softer eye Gleamed sweetly through the summer sky! And moon and sun in answer said, Our days of light are numbered!' O God! O Good beyond compare! If thus thy meaner works are fair! If thus thy bounties gild the span Of ruined earth and sinful man, How glorious must the mansion be Where thy redeemed shall dwell with 24. thee! For increase of Faith. 1 LORD I believe; thy power I own, I wander comfortless and lone, 2 Lord I believe; but gloomy fears Sometimes bedim my sight; I look to thee with prayers and tears, 3 Lord I believe; but thou dost know 4 Yos! I believe; and only thou The harmony of love. 1 LORD, subdue our selfish will; Each to each our tempers suit, By thy modulating skill, Heart to heart, as lute to lute. 2 Sweetly on our spirits move; 28. L. M. H. K. WHITE. 1 CHRISTIANS and brethren, ere we part, 2 Beloved! we here may meet no more; Who safe arrive at Canaan's shore? Released from all their hurtful foes, They are not lost, -but gone before. 2 Secure from every mortal care, By sin and sorrow vexed no more, Eternal happiness they share Who are not lost, but gone before. 3 On Jordan's bank, whene'er we come, And hear the swelling waters roar, Father, convey as safely home, To friends not lost, -but gone before. MRS. HEMANS. Dust to dust; the Spirit to God. 1 CALM on the bosom of thy God, 1 ASLEEP in Jesus! blessed sleep! From which one ever wakes to weep; 2 Asleep in Jesus! peaceful rest, 3 Asleep in Jesus! time nor space Debars this precious hiding place; 4 Asleep in Jesus! far from thee Thy kindred and their graves may be ; 32. DODDRIDGE. For a New Year. 1 GOD of my life, thy constant care With blessings crowns each opening year. This guilty life dost thou prolong, And wake anew mine annual song. 2 How many precious souls are fled To the vast regions of the dead, Since from this day the changing sun Through his last yearly period run! 3 We yet survive; but who can say, Or through the year, or month, or day, 'I will retain this vital breath; Thus far at least in league with death?' 4 That breath is thine, Eternal God; 6 Thy children, ready to be gone, Their primal bounds and limits keep; 2 Conduct us o'er the trackless waste 4 But teach us, more than all the rest. 5 That when life's weary voyage is past, By favoring gales or tempests driven, Our steadfast barks may gain at last Their wished for port, their port in heaven. END. |