2 Hark! hark!-the sounds draw nigh,
The joyful hosts descend;
Jesus forsakes the sky,
To earth his footsteps bend;
He comes to bless our fallen race;
He comes with messages of grace.
3 Bear, bear the tidings round;
Let every mortal know
What love in God is found,
What pity he can show;
Ye winds that blow, ye waves that roll,
Bear the glad news from pole to pole.
4 Strike, strike the harps again, To great Immanuel's name; Arise, ye sons of men,
And all his grace proclaim; Angels and men, wake ev'ry string, 'Tis God, the Saviour's praise we sing. HYMN 445. 7, 6. Montgomery.
Brighthelmstone. Margate.
1 HAIL to the Lord's anointed!
Great David's greater Son;
Hail in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free;
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.
2 He comes, with succor speedy,
To those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy,
And bid the weak be strong;
To give them songs for sighing,
Their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls condemn'd and dying,
Were precious in his sight.
3 He shall come down, like showers
Upon the fruitful earth,
And love and joy, like flowers,
Spring in nis path to birth:
Before him, on the mountains,
Shall peace the herald go,
And righteousness in fountains
From hill to valley flow.
4 For Him shall pray'r unceasing,
And daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,
A kingdom without end:
The tide of time shall never
His covenant remove;
His name shall stand for ever;
T'hat name to us is-Love.
Leyden. Sterling.
Baptism.
1 OBEDIENT to our Zion's King, We to his holy laver bring
These happy converts, who have known
And trusted in his grace alone.
2 Lord, in thy house they seek thy face;
Oh, bless them with peculiar grace;
Refresh their souls with love divine;
Let beams of glory round them shine.
3 Ye, who your native vileness mourn,
And to the great Redeemer turn,
Arise, his gracious call obey,
And be baptiz'd without delay.
HYMN 447. L. M.
1 UNITED pray'rs ascend to thee,
Eternal parent of mankind;
Smile on this waiting family—
Thy face they seek, and let them find.
2 Let the dear pledges of their love,
Like tender plants around them grow;
Thy present grace, and joys above,
Upon their little ones bestow.
3 Receive, at their believing hand,
The charge which they devote as thine,
Obedient to their Lord's command-
And seal with pow'r the rite divine.
4 To ev'ry member of their house,
Thy grace impart, thy love extend;
Grant ev'ry good that time allows,
With heav'nly joys that never end.
St. Ann's. Arlington.
Mark x. 14.
1 SEE Israel's gentle Shepherd stand
With all engaging charms;
Hark, how he calls the tender Lambs,
And folds them in his arms.
2 "Permit them to approach," he cries,
"Nor scorn their humble name;
"For 'twas to bless such souls as these, "The Lord of angels came." 3 We bring them, Lord, in thankful hands, And yield them up to thee; Joyful that we ourselves are thine, Thine let our offspring be.
4 Ye little flock, with pleasure hear;
Ye children seek his face;
And fly with transports to receive
The blessings of his grace.
5 If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian care we trust;
That care shall heal our bleeding heart,
If weeping o'er their dust.
HYMN 449. C. M.
Barby. Clarendon. Chapel.
1 SHEPHERD, who lead'st with tender care,
The feeble of thy fold,
Who dost regard the weakest there,
And all their steps uphold;
2 This little helpless lamb receive,
In mercy, to thy breast;
And let parental fondness leave
It safely there to rest.
3 Surround it with thy guardian love,
Through all life's dang'rous way;
Ne'er let it from thy pastures rove,
Nor be the lion's prey.
4 In thine eternal, heav'nly home,
Oh, let it find a place;
And be, when life and toils are done,
A trophy of thy grace.
Barby. Bedford. Canterbury.
Practical Improvement. Col. iii. 1. 1 ATTEND, ye children of your God, Ye heirs of glory, hear; For accents, so divine as these, Might charm the dullest ear.
2 Baptiz'd into your Saviour's death,
Your souls to sin must die:
With Christ, your Lord, ye live anow,
With Christ ascend on high.
3 There, by his Father's side he sits
Enthron'd, divinely fair;
Yet owns himself your Brother still,
And your Forerunner there.
4 Rise from these earthly trifles, rise
On wings of faith and love;
Above, your choicest treasure lies,
And be your hearts above.
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