From the earth's vast hollow womb Sea and floods from shore to shore To this concert, when we sing, So shall He from heaven's high tower There our voices we will rear And enforce the fiends that dwell In the air, to sink to hell. Then, oh come, with sacred lays! Advent Hymn. PHILLIP DOddridge. HARK the glad sound! the Saviour comes, The Saviour promised long: Let every heart prepare a throne, And every voice a song. He comes, the prisoners to release In Satan's bondage held; The gates of brass before Him burst, Christmas Day. He comes, from thickest films of vice To clear the mental ray, And on the eyeballs of the blind He comes, the broken hearts to bind, And with the treasures of His grace Our glad hosannahs, Prince of Peace, Christmas Day. SAMUEL RICHARDS. 'HOUGH rude winds usher thee, sweet day, TH Though clouds thy face deform, Though nature's grace is swept away Before thy sleety storm; E'en in thy sombrest wintry vest, Of blessed days thou art most blest. Nor frigid air nor gloomy morn Shall check our jubilee; Bright is the day when Christ was born, Let roughest storms their coldest blow 247 Inspired with high and holy thought, It seems as to mine ear it brought Voices through heaven and earth that ran, I sce the shepherds gazing wild Which marks the face of those who view Things but too happy to be true. There, in the lowly manger laid, He stoops to take, through spotless maid, Son of high God, creation's Heir He leaves His heaven to raise us there! Through Him, Lord, we are born anew, Thy children once again; Oh, day by day our hearts renew, And, angel-like, may all agree, One sweet and holy family. Oft as this joyous morn doth come Where He now reigns above; That day which brought Him from the skies, And man restores to Paradise! Christ the Lord is Born To-day. Then let winds usher thee, sweet day, E'en in thy sombrest wintry vest, 249 Christ the Lord is Born To-day, REV. CHARLES WESLEY. HARK! how all the welkin rings Glory to the King of kings! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; Universal nature say, Christ the Lord is born to-day! Christ, by highest Heaven adored; Offspring of a Virgin's womb: Hail, th' Incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to appear, Jesus, our Immanuel here! Hail! the heavenly Prince of Peace! Hail! the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Come, Desire of nations, come, Thine to ours, and ours to Thine! Adam's likeness, Lord, efface; Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Oh, to all Thyself impart, Form'd in each believing heart! THE The Prince of Peace. JOHN MORRISON. HE race that long in darkness pined The people dwell in Day, who dwelt In Death's surrounding night. |