So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to Thee.

2 As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger bed;
There to bend the knee before
Him whom heaven and earth adore,
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek the mercy-seat.

3 As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure, and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ to Thee, our heavenly King.
4 Holy Jesus, every day

Keep us in the narrow way; And when earthly things are past, Bring our ransomed souls at last Where they need no star to guide, Where no clouds Thy glory hide. 5 In the heavenly country bright Need they no created light; Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown, Thou its Sun which goes not down; There for ever may we sing Alleluias to our King.

WILLIAM CHATTERTON DIX.

-Matt. ii. 11.

1 WITH gold, and frankincense, and

The eastern sages came, [myrrh, To worship Him, the wondrous babe Foretold of Bethlehem.

2 A better offering we can bring

Our hearts, our earliest love;
We'll tune our lips His praise to sing,
Who left His throne above.

3 For us He came, we read His word,
We learn His happy ways;
We own Him for our gracious Lord,
We celebrate His praise.

4 He from His high exalted seat
Will listen while we sing;
With joy His wonders we repeat;
Hosanna to our King!

2 But lo! a brighter, clearer light Now points to His abode;

[night, It shines through sin and sorrow's To guide us to our God.

3 Oh, haste to follow where it leads, The gracious call obey;

Be rugged wilds or flowery meads The Christian's destined way. 4 Oh, gladly tread the narrow path While light and grace are given; Who meekly follow Christ on earth, Shall reign with Him in heaven. HARRIETT AUBER.

65.65.65.65.

130" They rejoiced with exceeding great joy."-Matt. ii. 10. the wintry heaven

1

IN

Shines a wondrous star;
In the East, the wise men
Watched it from afar;
Asking, "What this lustre,
So unearthly bright?"
Answering, "Christ in glory,
Comes to earth to-night.'
2 O'er the dusty highway,
O'er the deserts drear,
From the East, the wise men,
Watch it shining clear;
Asking, 'Shall we follow
In this starlight way?"
Answering, "Yes, 'twill lead us
To the perfect day."

3 In a lowly manger,

Lies an Infant weak;
It is He whom wise men
Come so far to seek?
Asking, "Where the Monarch?
Where Judea's King?"

Saying, "Gifts and worship
To His throne we bring."

4 In our hearts, we children,
See this star once more;
Not as wise men saw it,
In the days of yore;
Asking, "May we bring Him
Childhood's love to-day?"
Answering, "Come, dear children,
Jesus says we may."

2 Israel's strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Blest desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. 3 Born Thy people to deliver; Born a child, and yet a king; Born to reign in us for ever;

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. 4 By Thine own Eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone; By Thine all-sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

CHARLES WESLEY.

132 CAROL FOR THE NATIVITY.

1

SILENT Night! holy Night!

Slumber reigns, soft and light,Only watch the wondering pair O'er the Babe in the manger there, Prince anointed of heaven, Prince anointed of heaven. 2 Starry Night! lustrous Night! Shepherd swains, on the height, Hear the Hallelujah sound Sung by angel hosts around,

Christ the Saviour is given,
Christ the Saviour is given.
Gentle Night! beauteous Night!
Son of God! oh how bright
Love o'erspreads Thy heavenly face,
Radiant pledge of mercy and grace!
Sing we Jesus is born!
Sing we Jesus is born!

Christmas Night! jubilant Night!
Evermore with delight

Human hearts that wearily yearn,
Hail with joy thy happy return
Till the eternal morn,
Till the eternal morn.

WILLIAM TIDD MATSON.

133 CHRISTMAS CAROL. THERE dwelt in old Judæa

A maiden fair to see;

The mother mild, and undefiled,

Of a blessed babe was she.

Oh, Noël, sing Noël,

That in Thy meekness used to shine! That lit Thy lonely pathway, trod In wondrous love, O Lamb of God! 2 Oh, who like Thee, so calm, so bright, Thou Son of Man, Thou Light of Light! Oh, who like Thee did ever go So patient through a world of woe? 3 Oh, who like Thee so humbly bore The scorn, the scoffs of men before ? So meek, forgiving, Godlike, high; So glorious in humility!

4 E'en death, which sets the prisoner free, Was pain, and scoff, and scorn to Thee; Yet love through all Thy torture glowed,

And mercy with Thy life-blood flowed! 5 Oh, in Thy light be mine to go; Illumine all my way of woe!

And give me ever on the road
To trace Thy footsteps, Son of God!
ARTHUR CLEVELAND COXE.

76.76.76.76.

For Christ was born in the early

All on a Christmas Day.

2 And as the infant Jesus

Lay on His lowly bed,

part of the same."-1 Heb. ii. 14.

COME, praise your Lord and Saviour

In strains of holy mirth:

Give thanks to Him, O children,
Who lived a child on earth.

He loved the little children,
And called them to His side,
His loving arms embraced them,
And for their sake He died.
(BOYS ONLY.)

2 O Jesu, we would praise Thee
With songs of holy joy,
For Thou on earth didst sojourn
A pure and spotless boy.
Make us, like Thee, obedient,

Like Thee, from sin-stains free,
Like Thee, in God's own temple,
In lowly home like Thee.
(GIRLS ONLY.)

8 O Jesus, we too praise Thee,
The lowly maiden's son:
In Thee all gentlest graces
Are gathered into one.
Oh! give that best adornment
That Christian maid can wear,
The meek and quiet spirit

Which shone in Thee so fáir.

(ALL.)
4 O Lord, with voices blended
We sing our songs of praise:
Be Thou the light and pattern

Of all our childhood's days:
And lead us ever onward,

That, while we stay below,
We may like Thee, O Jesu,
In grace and wisdom grow.

WILLIAM WALSHAM HOW.

C.M.

136 "Peace, be still."— Matt. iv. 39. 1A LITTLE ship was on the sea,

It was a pretty sight;

It sailed along so pleasantly,
And all was calm and bright.
2 When lo! a storm began to rise,
The wind grew loud and strong;
It blew the clouds across the skies,
It blew the waves along.

3 And all, but One, were sore afraid
Of sinking in the deep:
His head was on a pillow laid,
And He was fast asleep.

4 "Master, we perish; Master, save!"
They cried; their Master heard;
He rose, rebuked the wind and wave,
And stilled them with a word.

5 He to the storm says, "Peace, bestill;"
The raging billows cease;
The mighty winds obey His will,
And all are hushed to peace.

6 O well we know it was the Lord,
Our Saviour and our Friend;
Whose care of those who trust His word,
Will never, never end.

DOROTHY A. THRUPP.

L.M.

137 "Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."Luke ii. 19.

1

JESUS a child His course begun; How radiant dawned His heavenly day!

And those who such a course would run As early should be on their way.

2 His Father's business was His care, Yet in man's favour still He grew. Oh may we learn by thought and prayer,

Like Him a work of love to do.
8 For all mankind He came, and yet
Not children's visit would deny :
Nor friend nor mother did forget
In His last hour of agony.

4 O children, ask Him to impart
That spirit clear, that temper mild,
Which made the mother in her heart
Keep all the sayings of her child.
5 Bless Him, who said, "Of such as you
The Father's kingdom is," and still,
His yoke to bear, His work to do,
Study His life, and learn His will.

1

MARGARET FULLER OSSOLI.

87.87.87.87.

"Who did no sin, neither was guile

138 found in His mouth."-1 Peter ii. 22. JESUS CHRIST, ny Lord and

Saviour,

Once became a child like me; Oh that in my whole behaviour He my pattern still may be! All my nature is unholy,

Pride and passion dwell within; But the Lord was meek and lowly, And was never known to sin.

2 While I'm often vainly trying

Some new pleasure to possess,
He was always self-denying,—
Patient in His worst distress.
Let me never be forgetful

Of His precepts any more,
Idle, passionate, and fretful,
As I've often been before.
3 Lord, though now Thou art in glory,
We have Thine example still;

I can read Thv sacred story,
And obey Thy holy will.
Help me by that rule to measure
Every word and every thought,
Thinking it my greatest pleasure
Here to learn what Thou hast taught.
JANE TAYLOR.

C.M.

139 "Hosanna to the Son of David."-

1

Matt. xxi. 15.

WHEN Jesus left His Father's home

He chose a humble birth;

Like us, unhonoured and unknown,
He came to dwell on earth.

2 Like Him, may we be found below
In wisdom's path of peace,
Like Him in grace and knowledge grow
As years and strength increase.

3 Sweet were His words and kind His look,

When mothers round Him pressed,
Their infants in His arms He took,
And on His bosom blessed.

4 Safe from the world's alluring charms,
Beneath His watchful eye,
Thus in the circle of His arms
May we for ever lie.

When Jesus into Salem rode
The children sang aloud,

[strewed

For joy they plucked the palms, and Their garments on the ground.

6 Hosanna our glad voices raise,

Hosanna to our King,

Should we forget our Saviour's praise The stones themselves would sing. JAMES MONTGOMERY.

3 As much the world's good will I share, Its favour and applause,

As He whose blessèd name I bear,Hated without a cause,

Despised, rejected, mocked by pride,
Betrayed, forsaken, crucified.

4 Why should I court my Master's foe?
Why should I fear its frown?
Why should I seek for rest below,
Or sigh for brief renown? -
A pilgrim to a better land,

An heir of joys at God's right hand.

141

1

C.M.

JOSIAH CONDER.

"He was subject unto them."—
Luke ii. 51.

AS to His earthly parents' home
Went down the Holy Child,
And found His Father's business there,
Subjection meek and mild.

2 And as obedience all those years,
In lowly Nazareth,

Forsook Him not, but bore Him on,
Obedient unto death:

3 So by Thy mercies teach us, Lord,
Our sacrifice to bring.

Our treasure, heart, and life, and love. To spread before our King.

4 Thy presence is our guiding star, We seek Thy holy hill;

Transform us, Lord, renew our minds, To prove Thy perfect will.

Hark! all the tribes Hosanna cry, O Saviour meek, pursue Thy road, With palms and scattered garments strowed.

Hosanna in the highest!

2 Ride on ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die :
O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin
O'er captive death and conquered sin
Hosanna in the highest

3 Ride on ride on in majesty!
The angel armies of the sky [eyes
Look down with sad and wondering
To see the approaching sacrifice.
Hosanna in the highest!

1

Isa. liii. 5.

THERE is a green hill far away

Without a city wall,

Where the dear Lord was crucified, Who died to save us all.

2 We may not know, we cannot tell What pains He had to bear, But we believe it was for us

He hung and suffered there.

3 He died that we might be forgiven,
He died to make us good,
That we might go at last to heaven,
Saved by His precious blood.

4 There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of heaven, and let us in.

5 O dearly, dearly, has He loved,
And we must love Him too,

And trust in His redeeming blood,
And try His works to do.

CECIL FRANCES ALEXANDER.

4 But soon He'll break death's iron chain, And in full glory shine.

O Lamb of God, was ever pain,
Was ever love like Thine?

145

1

WE

SAMUEL WESLEY, SEN.

L.M.

"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross."-Gal. vi. 14. E sing the praise of Him who died, Of Him who died upon the cross; The sinner's hope let men deride, For this we count the world but loss. 2 Inscribed upon the cross we see, In shining letters, "God is love;" He bears our sins upon the tree, He brings uз mercy from above.

3 The cross! it takes our guilt away,
It holds the fainting spirit up;
It cheers with hope the gloomy day,
And sweetens every bitter cup.

4 It makes the coward spirit brave,
And nerves the feeble arm for fight;
It takes its terror from the grave,
And gilds the bed of death with
light.

5 The balm of life, the cure of woe,
The measure and the pledge of love,
The sinner's refuge here below,
The angels' theme in heaven above.

"The

L.M.

THOMAS KELLY.

146 cross of our Lord Jesus

1

Christ."-Gal. vi. 14.

WHEN I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. 2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the cross of Christ my God: All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

3 See from His bead, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? 4 Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small: Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

ISAAC WATTS.