96.

Messiah comes. 7.6.7.6. D. 1. RECEIVE Messiah gladly,

And lift the downcast eyes;
Ye people, speak not sadly,

He makes the fallen rise ;
In all your habitations,

Complaint and sighing cease;
The long desire of nations

Brings everlasting peace.

2. He shall come down like showers

Upon the fruitful earth ;
And joy and hope, like flowers,

Spring in His path to birth.
Before Him, on the mountains,

Shall Peace, the herald, go,
And righteousness, in fountains,

From hill to valley flow.

3. He comes with succour 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 in bondage lying,

Are precious in His sight.
4. He comes to break oppression,

To set the captive free,
To take away transgression,

And rule in equity.
The tide of time shall never

His covenant remove :
His name shall stand for ever,
His great, best name of Love.

7. Montgomery

97.

6's. D.

Redemption draweth nigh.
1. LIFT up your heads, rejoice,

Redemption draweth nigh;
Now breathes a softer air,

Now shines a milder sky;
The early trees put forth

Their new and tender leaf;
Hushed is the moaning wind

That told of winter's grief.
2. Lift up your heads, rejoice,

Redemption draweth nigh;
Now mount the laden clouds,

Now flames the darkening sky,
The early scattered drops

Descend with heavy fall,
And to the waiting earth

The hidden thunders call.

3. Lift up your heads, rejoice,

Redemption draweth nigh;
O, note the varying signs

Of earth, and air, and sky :
The God of glory comes

In gentleness and might,
To comfort and alarm,

To succour and to smite.

4. He comes, the wide world's King

He comes, the true heart's Friend
New gladness to begin,

And ancient wrong to end ;
He comes, to fill with light

The weary waiting eye:
Lift up your heads, rejoice,
Redemption draweth nigh.

T. T. Lynch.

I.

Joy

Christmas Hymns. 98. Joy to the Earth.

C.M.
OY to the world! the Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King ;
Let
every
heart prepare

Him

room,
And heaven and nature sing.
2. Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns :

Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,

Repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground:
He comes to make His blessings flow
As far as sin is found.

Isaac Watts.

I.

99.
Christ is Born.

8.7.8.7. HARK! what mean those holy voices,

Sweetly sounding through the skies?
Lo ! the angelic host rejoices;

Heavenly hallelujahs rise.
2. Listen to the wondrous story

Which they chant in hymns of joy :
Glory in the highest ; glory,

Glory be to God most high.
3. “Peace on earth, good-will from heaven,

Reaching far as man is found ;
Souls redeemed and sins forgiven,-

Loud our golden harps shall sound.
4. “Christ is born, the great Anointed ;

Heaven and earth His praises sing :
Oh, receive whom God appointed

For your Prophet, Priest, and King !”

5. Sons of men, repeat the story,

Sing the gladness of His birth;
Spread the brightness of His glory,
Till it cover all the Earth!

J. Cawood. 100. The Herald Angels.

75. 1. HARK! the herald-angels sing,

Glory to the new-born King ;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies ;
With the angelic host proclaim,

Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
2. 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.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies ;
With the angelic host proclaim,
“ Christ is born in Bethlehem.”

C. Wesley. 101. Christmas Eve.

6.7.7.7.5. 1. HOLY night! peaceful night!

Through the darkness beams a light,
Where the angels vigils keep
O'er the Baby who, in sleep,

Rests in heavenly peace.
2. Silent night ! holy night!
Darkness flies and all is light,

Shepherds hear the angels sing-
Peace on earth, goodwill they bring :

Jesus Christ has come.

3. Holy night! peaceful night !
Child of heaven ! O how bright

Was Thy smile when Thou wert born;
Blessèd was the happy morn,

Full of heavenly joy.
4. Silent night! holiest night !
Wondrous star! O lend thy light!

With the angels let us sing,
And our humble tribute bring :
Jesus Christ is here.

Translated from the German of J. Mohr

102.

Christmas Eve.

D.C.M

I.

O LITTLE town of Bethlehem,

How still we see thee lie !
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep,

The silent stars go by ;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee to-night.
2. For Christ is born of Mary ;

And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars ! together

Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,

And peace to men on earth.
3. How silently ! how silently!

The wondrous gift is given ;
So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.