5 “Hasten, mortals, to adore him;
Learn his name to magnify,

Till in heaven ye sing before him,
Glory be to God most high!"

21 "Behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy." [SIX 105.

C

HRISTIANS, awake, salute the happy morn,

Whereon the Saviour of mankind was born;
Rise to adore the mystery of love,

Which hosts of angels chanted from above;
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God incarnate and the Virgin's Son.

2 Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
Who heard the angelic herald's voice: “Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Saviour's birth
Το you and all the nations upon earth:
This day hath God fulfill'd his promised word,
This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord."

3 He spake; and straightway the celestial choir
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire:
The praises of redeeming love they sang,
And heaven's whole arch with alleluias rang:
God's highest glory was their anthem still,
Peace upon earth, and unto men good-will.

4 To Bethlehem straight the happy shepherds ran, To see the wonder God had wrought for man:

And found, with Joseph and the blessèd maid,
Her Son, the Saviour, in a manger laid;
Amazed the wondrous story they proclaim,
The earliest heralds of the Saviour's name.

5 Let us, like these good shepherds, then employ Our grateful voices to proclaim the joy;

Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From his poor manger to his bitter cross;
Treading his steps, assisted by his grace,
Till man's first heavenly state again takes place.

6 Then may we hope, the angelic thrones among,
To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song;
He, that was born upon this joyful day,
Around us all his glory shall display;
Saved by his love, incessant we shall sing
Eternal praise to heaven's Almighty King.

22

‘Behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top [D. C. M. of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels

of God ascending and descending on it."

T came upon the midnight clear,

IT

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth

To touch their harps of gold;
Peace on the earth, good-will to men,

From heaven's all-gracious King;

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing.

2 Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurl'd;

And still their heavenly music floats

O'er all the weary world:

Above its sad and lowly plains

They bend on hovering wing, And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing.

3 O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow!
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing:
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing.

4 For lo, the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years

Shall come the time foretold,

When the new heaven and earth shall own The Prince of Peace their King,

And the whole world send back the song

Which now the angels sing.

23 "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy." [P. M.

Chorus.

HOUT the glad tidings, exultingly sing;

SHOUT

Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King!

I Sion, the marvellous story be telling,

The Son of the Highest, how lowly his birth! The brightest archangel in glory excelling,

He stoops to redeem thee, he reigns upon earth:

Chorus.

Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing;
Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King!

2 Tell how he cometh; from nation to nation,
The heart-cheering news let the earth echo round:
How free to the faithful he offers salvation,

How his people with joy everlasting are crown'd:

Chorus.

Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing
Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King!

3 Mortals, your homage be gratefully bringing,
And sweet let the gladsome Hosanna arise;
Ye angels, the full Alleluia be singing;

One chorus resound through the earth and the

skies:

Chorus.

Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing;

Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King!

24

"We are come to worship him."

ANGELS, from the realms of glory,

Wing your flight o'er all the earth;

Ye who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship,

Worship Christ, the new-born King.

2 Shepherds in the field abiding,

Watching o'er your flocks by night;
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant-light:
Come and worship,

Worship Christ, the new-born King.

3 Sages, leave your contemplations;
Brighter visions beam afar:
Seek the great Desire of nations,
Ye have seen his natal star:
Come and worship,

Worship Christ, the new-born King.

4 Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In his temple shall appear:
Come and worship,

Worship Christ, the new-born King.

[8s. 7s. 4