103. No ear may hear His coming; Where meek souls will receive Him, still Philips Brooks. I. IT Peace on Earth. T came upon the midnight clear, From angels bending near the earth C.M.D. 2. Still through the cloven skies they come, And still their heavenly music floats But man, at war with man, hears not 3. And ye, beneath life's crushing load, With painful steps and slow ; O rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing! 104. I. 4. For lo! the days are hastening on, When, with the ever-circling years, A THOUSAND years have come and gone, And near a thousand more, Since happier light from heaven shone Than ever shone before; And in the hearts of old and young A joy most joyful stirred, That sent such news from tongue to tongue As ears had never heard. 2. And we are glad, and we will sing, Come all, and hearts made ready bring To welcome back once more The day when first on wintry earth A summer change began, Uprose the Light of man. 3. For trouble such as men must bear Christ shared with us, that we might share His joy for evermore ; And twice a thousand years of strife, Of conflict, and of sin, May tell how large the harvest-sheaf His patient love shall win. T. T. Lynch. 105. The Voices of the Sky. 8.6.8.6.6.6.6.6. I. LOVELY Voices of the sky That hymned the Saviour's birth! Are ye not singing still on high, Ye that sang "peace on earth"? 2. O clear and shining Light, whose beams Around the palms, and o'er the streams, Be near through life and death, Of Hope, and Joy, and Faith, Felicia D. Hemans. 106. Christmas Day. 1. TO-DAY be joy in every heart, 2. Once more above the listening earth "Peace on the earth, goodwill to men !" Before us goes the star That leads us on to holier births And life diviner far! F C.M. 3. Ye men of strife, forget to-day 4. And ye upon the tented field, Sheathe, sheathe to-day the sword! 5. O star of human faith and hope! All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around. 2. "Fear not," said he (for mighty dread 3. "To you, in David's town, this day Is born of David's line The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; And this shall be the sign. 4. "The heavenly Babe you there shall find All meanly wrapt in swathing bands, C.M. 5. Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith Of angels, praising God, and thus 6. "All glory be to God on high, Glory to God in the highest ! Nahun Tate. 108. I. "WHAT The Prince of Peace. [AT means this glory round our feet," 66 L.M. The magi mused, more bright than morn?" And voices chanted clear and sweet, "To-day the Prince of Peace is born." 2. "What means that star," the shepherds said, "That brightens through the rocky glen?" And angels, answering overhead, Sang, "Peace on earth, good-will to men.” 3. 'Tis eighteen hundred years and more Since those sweet oracles were dumb; |