201.

8 & 7's M.

CAWOOD.

Song of the Angels of Bethlehem.

H

ARK! what mean those holy voices Sweetly sounding through the skies? Lo! the angelic host rejoices;

Heavenly hallelujahs rise.

2 Listen to the wondrous story

er

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!
O, receive whom God appointed,
For your Prophet, Priest and King."
5 Let us learn the wondrous story
Of our great Redeemer's birth;
Spread the brightness of his glory,
Till it cover all the earth.

202.

CALM

C. M. E. H. SEARS.

Christmas Hymn.

ALM on the listening ear of night
Come heaven's melodious strains,

Where wild Judea stretches far

Her silver-mantled plains!

2 The answering hills of Palestine Send back the glad reply;

And greet, from all their holy heights, The dayspring from on high.

3 O'er the blue depths of Galilee
There comes a holier calm,

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

4 "Glory to God!" the sounding skies
Loud with their anthems ring,-

"Peace to the earth, - good-will to men, From heaven's eternal King!"

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

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

203.

H

S. M. E. H. CHAPIN.

The Same.

ARK! hark! with harps of gold, What anthem do they sing? The radiant clouds have backward rolled, And angels smite the string. "Glory to God!"— bright wings Spread glist'ning and afar, And on the hallowed rapture rings From circling star to star.

2 "Glory to God!" repeat

The glad earth and the sea; And every wind and billow fleet, Bears on the jubilee.

Where Hebrew bard hath sung,
Or Hebrew seer hath trod,

Each holy spot has found a tongue :
Let glory be to God."

3 Soft swells the music now
Along that shining choir,
And every seraph bends his brow
And breathes above his lyre.
What words of heavenly birth
Thrill deep our hearts again,
And fall like dew-drops to the earth?
"Peace and good-will to men!"

4 Soft-yet the soul is bound
With rapture like a chain :

Earth, vocal, whispers them around,
And heaven repeats the strain.
Sound, harps, and hail the morn
With every golden string;
For unto us this day is born
A Saviour and a King!

204.

S. H. M. T. H. BAYLEY.

The Same.

O loud avenging voice

No

Proclaimed Messiah's birth;

The Son of God came down to teach

Humility on earth,

And by his suffering to efface

The errors of a sinful race.

2 Not on a purple throne,

With gold and jewels crowned, But in the meanest dwelling-place The precious babe was found:

Yet star-directed sages came,
And kneeling glorified his name.

3 To shepherds first was shown
The promised boon of heaven,
Who cried, "To us a child is born
To us a Son is given!"

Death from his mighty throne was hurled
Faith hailed Salvation to the world.

4 Lord! may thy holy cross

Bear peace from clime to clime,
Till all mankind at length are freed
From sorrow, shame and crime:
Dispel the unbeliever's gloom,
And end the terrors of the tomb!

205.

L. M.

The Same.

CAMPBELL.

WHEN Jordan hushed his waters still,

And silence slept on Zion's hill:

When Bethlehem's shepherds through the night
Watched o'er their flocks by starry light :-

2 Hark! from the midnight hills around,
A voice of more than mortal sound,
In distant hallelujahs stole,

Wild murm'ring o'er the raptured soul:

3 "O Zion! lift thy raptured eye, The long-expected hour is nigh; The joys of nature rise again;

The Prince of Salem comes to reign.

4 "He comes, to cheer the trembling heart, Bids Satan and his host depart;

Again the day-star gilds the gloom,
Again the bowers of Eden bloom."

206.

S. M.

WATTS.

B

The Same.

EHOLD, the grace appears,
The blessing promised long;
Angels announce the Saviour near,
In this triumphant song:—

2 "Glory to God on high

And heavenly peace on earth;
Good-will to men, to angels joy,
At the Redeemer's birth."

3 In worship so divine

Let men employ their tongues ;
With the celestial host we join,
And loud repeat their songs:

4 "Glory to God on high,

And heavenly peace on earth;
Good-will to men, to angels joy,
At our Redeemer's birth."

207.

H

H. M. SALISBURY COLL.

The Same.

ARK! what celestial notes,
What melody we hear!
Soft on the morn it floats,
And fills the ravished ear.