Hymn on the Nativity. To hail Thy rise, Thou better Sun, The harvest-treasures home. For Thou our burden hast removed, To us a Child of Hope is born, To us a Son is given; Him shall the tribes of earth obey, Him all the hosts of heaven. His Name shall be the Prince of Peace, For evermore adored, The Wonderful, the Counsellor, The great and mighty Lord. His power increasing still shall spread, 251 I Hymn on the Nativity. BEN JONSON. SING the birth was born to-night, And like the ravish'd shepherds said Yet search'd, and true they found it. The Son of God, th' Eternal King, And freed the soul from danger; He whom the whole world could not take, The Father's wisdom will'd it so, And as that wisdom had decreed, What comfort by Him do we win, To see this babe all innocence, WHIL Christmas Hymn. NAHUM TATE. HILE shepherds watch'd their flocks by night, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around. "Fear not," said he; for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind; "Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind. The Star of Bethlehem. "To you in David's town this day A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; "The heavenly Babe you there shall find All meanly wrapp'd in swathing bands, Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith “All glory be to God on high, And in the earth be peace; Good-will henceforth from Heaven to men Begin and never cease!" Amen. The Star of Bethlehem. H. KIRKE WHITE.-Music by T. Purday. HEN, marshall'd on the nightly plain, WHEN, The glittering hosts bestud the sky; One star alone of all the train Can fix the sinner's wandering eye. Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks 253 Once on the raging seas I rode, The storm was loud, the night was dark, The ocean yawn'd—and rudely blow'd, The wind that toss'd my foundering bark: Deep horror then my vitals froze, It was the star of Bethlehem. It was my guide, my light, my all; Now safely moor'd, my perils o'er, For ever and for evermore, The star! the star of Bethlehem! Hail to the Lord's Anointed ! JAMES MONTGOMERY. HAIL to the Lord's Anointed! Great David's greater Son! Hail, in the time appointed, A Hail to the Lord's Anointca! He comes with succour speedy To those who suffer wrong; He shall come down like showers Arabia's desert-ranger To Him shall bow the knee; The Ethiopian stranger His glory come to see; With offerings of devotion Ships from the isles shall meet, To pour the wealth of ocean Kings shall fall down before Him, Or dove's light wing, can soar. 255 |