10

Christmas-Choral Introit.

A1

LONE to God on high be praise
And thankful adoration,

That we may now, and all our days,
Rejoice in his salvation.

Let high in heaven his praises sound,
Peace and good-will on earth abound
All feud and strife be ended

2 Ye Christian people, all rejoice,

Each soul with joy upspringing;
Pour forth one song with heart and voice,
With love and gladness singing.
Give thanks to God, the Lord above,
Thanks for his miracle of love;
In love hath he redeemed us.

3 Lord Jesus Christ, alone to thee
Be praise and glory given;
Who reignest, God, eternally,

In all the earth and heaven.

The Prince of Peace, the incarnate Word,
The wonderful, the mighty Lord,

The Father everlasting.

11 CA

YALM on the listening ear of night,
Come heaven's melodious strains,
Where wild Judea stretches far,

Her silver-mantled plains.

2 Celestial choirs, from courts above,
Shed sacred glories there;

And angels, with their sparkling lyres,
Make music on the air.

3 The answering hills of Palestine

Send back the glad reply;

And greet, from all their sacred heights,
The day-spring from on high.

4 O'er the blue depths of Galilee

There comes a holier calm;

And Sharon waves, in solemn praise,
Her silent groves of palm.

5 "Glory to God!" the sounding skies,
Loud with their anthems ring:
'Peace to the earth, Good will to men
From heaven's Eternal King."

6 Light on thy hills, Jerusalem!
The Saviour now is born;

And bright on Bethlehem's joyous plains
Breaks the first Christmas morn.

IV.

12 H Heav'nly glory beams around;

ARK the skies with music sound,

Christ is born! the angels sing;
Glory to the new-born King.

2 Peace is come, good will appears,
Sinners wipe away your tears;
Christ for you in flesh to-day
Humbly in the manger lay.

3 Shepherds tending flocks by night,
Heard the song and saw the light;
Took their reeds, and softest strains
Echo'd through the happy plains.

4 Mortals hail the glorious King!
Richest incense cheerful bring;
Praise and love Emmanuel's name,
And his boundless grace proclaim.

VI.

13

H

ARK! what mean those holy voices,
Sweetly sounding through the skies

Lo! the angelic host rejoices,

Heavenly alleluias rise.

Listen to the wond'rous story,

Which they chant in hymns and joy:

Glory in the highest, glory,

Glory be to God on high!

D. C. S.

FINE.

2 Peace on earth, good-will from heaven,
Thus they sing with harps of gold;
Christ is born, the Son is given,
Of the prophets long foretold.
Haste, ye mortals, to adore him,
Heaven and earth his praises bring;
Men and angels fall before him,
Hail your Saviour, Lord, and King.

VIII.

14 L

IGHT of life, the great Messiah,
Promised Day-Spring from on high,
Deign to visit waiting mortals

From thy state above the sky.
God incarnate, veil thy splendor,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down;
Make in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown.

2 Shepherds, did you earn his coming
While you kept your flocks by night?
Did you see his star in heaven

Blaze with new-created light?
Haste, ye magi, come and worship,
See the orient star before;

Bring your presents, gold and spices,
Blest Arabia's balmy store.

3 All ye joyous hosts of heaven,

Loudly speak your Saviour's praise
Saints and angels, in full chorus
Your seraphic voices raise;
Alleluia! Alleluia!

In wide-echoing songs proclaim;

Heaven and earth, with joy resounding,
Praise the blest Redeemer's name.

VIII.