By Thy all-restoring merit,
Every burdened soul release;
Every weary, wandering spirit
Guide into Thy perfect peace.

235

8s.

C. WESLEY. 1744.

in the sky,

ALL glory to God in tirth be restored:

O Jesus, exalted on high,

Appear our Omnipotent Lord!
Who, meanly in Bethlehem born,

Didst stoop to redeem a lost race,
Once more to Thy creatures return,
And reign in Thy kingdom of grace!
2 When Thou in our flesh didst appear,
All nature acknowledged Thy birth ;
Arose the acceptable year,

And heaven was opened on earth :
Receiving its Lord from above,

The world was united to bless

The Giver of concord and love,

The Prince and the Author of peace.
3 O wouldst Thou again be made known,
Again in Thy Spirit descend,
And set up in each of Thine own,
A kingdom that never shall end!
Thou only art able to bless,

And make the glad nations obey,
And bid the dire enmity cease,

And bow the whole world to Thy sway.

4 Come then to Thy servants again,
Who long Thy appearing to know ;
Thy quiet and peaceable reign

In mercy establish below:
All sorrow before Thee shall fly,
And anger and hatred be o'er;
And envy and malice shall die,

And discord afflict us no more.

5 No horrid alarum of war

Shall break our eternal repose;
No sound of the trumpet is there,
Where Jesus's Spirit o'erflows:
Appeased by the charms of Thy grace,
We all shall in amity join;
And kindly each other embrace,
And love with a passion like Thine.

(38)

236( HA

ARK! the herald-angels sing
"Glory to the new-born King,
Peace on earth, and mercy mild;
God and sinners reconciled."

2 Joyful all

ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem !"
3 Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.

4 Veil'd in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the' incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with men to' appear,
Jesus our Immanuel here.

5 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail! the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,

- Risen with healing in His wings.
6 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.
7 Come, Desire of Nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman's conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the Serpent's head.

3

8 Adam's likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,

237

C

Re-instate us in Thy love.

HRISTIANS, awake! salute the happy morn, Whereon the Saviour of mankind was born ; Rise, to adore the mystery of love,

Which hosts of angels chanted from above:
With them the joyful tidings first began,
Of God Incarnate, and the Virgin's Son.

2 Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
Who heard the' angelic herald's voice, “Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Saviour's birth,
To you, and all the nations upon earth;
This day hath God fufilled His promised word,
This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord."

3 He spake; and straightway the celestial choir,
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire;
The praises of redeeming love they sang,
And heaven's whole orb with hallelujahs rang;
God's highest glory was their anthem still,
"Peace upon earth, and unto men good-will."
4 O, may we keep and ponder in our mind,
God's wondrous love in saving lost mankind;
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From His poor manger to His bitter cross;
Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace,
Till man's first heavenly state again takes place.
5 Then may we hope, the' angelic hosts among,
To sing redeem'd, a glad triumphal song,
He that was born, upon this joyful day,
Around us all His glory shall display:
Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing
Eternal praise to heaven's Almighty King.

Dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine aid! Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid. 2 Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are shining, Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all. 3 Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, Odours of Edom, and offerings divine? Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine? 4 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.

5 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!

239

COM

YOME, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee :
Israel's Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth 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 ;
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring;

By Thy own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By Thy all-sufficient merit

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

240

(39)

C.M.

DODDRIDGE. 1755.

ARK! the glad sound, the Saviour comes,
The Saviour promised long ;

Let every heart prepare a throne,

And every voice a song.

2 On Him the Spirit largely poured,
Exerts His sacred fire;

Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,
His holy breast inspire.

3 He comes, the prisoners to release,
In Satan's bondage held :

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

4 He comes from thickest films of vice,
To clear the mental ray ;

And on the eyes oppressed with night,
To pour celestial day.

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

And with the treasures of His grace,
To' enrich the humble poor.

6 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With Thy beloved Name.

241

CEL

7s & 6s.

C. WESLEY. 1789.

ELEBRATE Immanuel's name,
The Prince of life and peace!
God-with-us, our lips proclaim,
Our faithful hearts confess :
God is in our flesh reveal'd,
Heaven and earth in Jesus join,
Mortal with immortal fill'd,
And human with divine.

N