2 0 Saviour, with protecting care,

Return to this Thy house of prayer;
Where we, assembled in Thy Name,

Thy sacred parting promise claim.
3 But chiefest, in our cleanséd breast,

Bid Thine eternal Spirit rest,
And make our secret soul to be

A temple pure, and worthy Thee. 4 So in the last and dreadful day,

When earth and heaven shall melt away,
Thy flock, redeemed from sinful stain,
Shall swell the sound of praise again.

Reginald Heber. 1827. a. 123 PSALM 72.

, 6. 1 Hail to the Lord's Anointed,

Great David's greater Son !
Hail, in the time appointed,

His reign on earth begun !
He comes to break oppression,

To set the captive free;
To take away transgression,

And rule in equity.
2 He comes with succor 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, condemned and dying,

Were precious in His sight.
3 He shall come down like showers

Upon the fruitful earth;
And love, joy, 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.
4 For Him shall prayer unceasing

And daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,

A kingdom without end.
The tide of time shall never

His covenant remove;
His Name shall stand for ever;
That Name to us is Love.

James Montgomery. 1822. 124

C. M. 1 Hark, the glad sound, the Saviour comes,

The Saviour promised long!
Let every heart prepare a throne,

And every voice a song.
2 On Him the Spirit, largely poured,

Exerts His sacred fire;
Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,

His holy breast inspire.
3 He comes the prisoners to release,

In Satan's bondage held :
The gates of brass before Him burst,

The iron fetters yield.
4 He comes from thickest films of vice

To clear the mental ray,
And on the eyeballs of the blind

To pour celestial day.
5 He comes, the broken heart to bind,

The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of His grace

To enrich the humble poor.

6 Our glad hosannahs, Prince of Peace!

Thy welcome shall proclaim ;
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With Thy beloved Name.

Doddridge. 1755. 125

8,
1 Light of those whose dreary dwelling

Borders on the shades of death,
Come, and by Thy Love's revealing,

Dissipate the clouds beneath.
2 Thou, new heaven and earth's Creator,

In our deepest darkness rise;
Scattering all the night of nature,

Pouring eyesight on our eyes.
3 Still we wait for Thine appearing;

Life and joy Thy beams impart,
Chasing all our fears, and cheering

Every poor, benighted heart.
4 Come, and manifest the favor

God hath for our ransomed race;
Come, Thou mighty Prince and Savior,

Come, and bring the Gospel grace.
5 By Thine all-restoring merit,

Every burdened soul release;
Every weary, wandering spirit
Guide into Thy perfect peace.

C. Wesley. 1745. a. 126

8, n. 1 COME, Thou long-expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's Strength and Consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

2 Born Thy people to deliver;

Born a Child, and yet a King;
Born to reign in us forever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit,

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

C. Wesley. 1745.

CHRISTMAS. 127

8,7. 1 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 or arth, 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 “Hasten, mortals, to adore Him;

Learn His Name, and taste His joy;
Till in heaven ye sing before Him,

Glory be to God most high!”

6 Let us learn the wondrous story

Of our great Redeemer's birth;
Spread the brightness of His glory,
Till it cover all the earth.

John Cawood. 1814.
An error shall decay,
And Christ shall wield His sceptre,
Our Lord and God for aye.

John Mason Neale. 1862. a.

Tr. Anatolius. ab. 450. 131 Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich hir. L. M. 1 Good news from heaven the angels bring;

Glad tidings to the earth they sing :
To us this day a Child is given,

To crown us with the joy of heaven. 2 This is the Christ, our God and Lord,

Who in all need shall aid afford ;
He will Himself our Saviour be,

From all our sins to set us free.
3 To us that blessedness He brings,

Which from the Father's bounty springs:
That in the heavenly realm we may

With Him enjoy eternal day.
4 All hail, Thou noble Guest, this morn,

Whose Love did not the sinner scorn:
In my distress Thou comest to me;

What thanks shall I return to Thee? 5 Were earth a thousand times as fair,

Beset with gold and jewels rare,
She yet were far too poor to be

A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee. 6 Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,

Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A. quiet chamber kept for Thee.