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NEW CHRISTMAS HYMN.

O HOW wond'rous is the ftory

Of our bleft Redeemer's birth! See the mighty Lord of Glory Leaves his heaven to vifit earth.

Hear with transport every creature,
Hear the Gofpel's joyful found
Chrift appears in human nature,
In our finful world is found

Comes to pardon our tranfgreffion,
Like a cloud our fins to blot;
Comes to his own favour'd nation,
But his own receive him not.

If the angels who attended

To declare the Saviour's birth,
Who from heaven with fongs defcended,
To proclaim Good-will on earth;

If, in pity to our blindness,

They had brought the pardon needed,
Still Jehovah's wond'rous kindness
Had our warmeft hopes exceeded!

If fome Prophet had been fent
With Salvation's joyful news,
Who that heard the bleft event

Could their warmeft love refuse?

But 'twas HE to whom in Heaven
Hallelujahs never cease;
He; the mighty God, was given,
Given to us a Prince of Peace.

- None but he who did create us
Could redeem from fin and hell;
None but he could re-inftate us
In the rank from which we fell.

Had he come, the glorious ftranger, Deck'd with all the world calls great, Had he liv'd in pomp and grandeur, Crown'd with more than royal ftate;

Still our tongues with praife o'erflowing On fuch boundlefs fove would dwell, Still our hearts with rapture glowing, Speak what words could never tell.

But what wonder fhould it raife

Thus our loweft ftate to borrow! O the high myfterious ways!

God's own Son a child of forrow!

'Twas to bring us endless pleasure,
He our fuffering nature bore,
'Twas to give us heavenly treasure
He was willing to be poor.

Come ye rich, furvey the ftable
Where your infant Saviour lies;
From your full o'erflowing table
Send the hungry good fupplies.

Boaft not your ennobled ftations,
Boaft not that you're highly fed;
JESUS, hear it, all ye nations,
Had not where to lay his head.

Learn of me, thus cries the Saviour,
If my kingdom you'd inherit;
Sinner, quit your proud behaviour,
Learn my meek and lowly spirit.

Come ye fervants fee your ftation;
Freed from all reproach and shame;
He who purchas'd your falvation,
Bore a fervant's humble name.

Come ye poor, fome comfort gather,
Faint not in the race you run,
Hard the lot your gracious father,
Gave his dear, his only Son.

Think, that if your humble ftations.
Lefs of worldly food beftow,
You efcape thofe ftrong temptations,
Which from wealth and grandeur flow.

See your Saviour is afcended!

See he looks with pity down; Truft him all will foon be mended, Bear his cross you'll fhare his crown.

GREAT God! when Famine threaten'd late

To fcourge our guilty land,

O did we learn from that dark fate

To dread thy mighty hand?

Did then our fins to mem'ry rife?
Or own'd we GOD was juft?
Or rais'd we penitential cries?
Or bow'd we in the duft?

Did we forfake one evil path?
Was any fin abhorr'd?
Or did we deprecate thy wrath,
And turn us to the Lord?

'Tis true we fail'd not to repine,
But did we too repent?
Or own the chastisement divine
In awful judgment fent?

Tho' the bright chain of Peace is broke,
And war with ruthlefs fword
Unpeoples nations at a stroke,

Yet who regards the Lord?

But God, who in his ftrict decrees
Remembers mercy ftill,

Can, in a moment, if he please,
Our hearts with comfort fill.

He mark'd our angry fpirits rife,
Domeftic hate increase;

And for a time withheld fupplies,
To teach us love and peace.

He, when he brings his children low,
Has bleffings ftill in store;

And when he ftrikes the heaviest blow,
He does but love us more.