"His mercy endureth for ever.”
1 To our God loud praises give,
Source of good to all who live;
Praise his name, whose mercy sure
Shall eternally endure.
2 To the Lord your homage bring,
God of gods, of kings the King;
For his mercy, free and sure,
Shall eternally endure.
8 Praise him for his deeds of might,
For his greatness infinite,
For his mercy, free and sure,
Which doth evermore endure.
4 He by wisdom built the skies,
And bade earth from ocean rise;
Filled the sun with glorious light;
Gave the moon to rule the night.
5 He beheld us when brought low,
And redeemed us from the foe;
He doth every blessing give;
By his bounty all things live.
6 O give thanks; your voices raise
To the God of heaven in praise;
For his mercy, free and sure,
Shall eternally endure.
"We are come to worship him."
1 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 fields 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.
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."
1 As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold,
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to thee.
2 As with joyful steps they sped,
Saviour, to thy lowly bed,
There to bend the knee before
Thee whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek the mercy-seat.
3 As they offered gifts most rare
At thy cradle 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
Hallelujahs to our King.
William Chatterton Dix. 1856.
1 BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
2 Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining, Low lies his head with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Saviour of all.
3 Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odours of Edom and offerings divine?
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest or gold from the mine?
4 Vainly we offer each ample oblation :
Vainly with gifts would his favour secure : Richer by far is the heart's adoration;
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
5 Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid; Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Bishop Reginald Heber. 1811.
"Glory to God in the highest."
1 HARK, how all the welkin rings,
Glory to the King of kings;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild;
God and sinners resonciled.
2 Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
Universal nature, say,
Christ the Lord is born to-day.
3 Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.
4 Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity:
Pleased as man with men to appear,
Jesus our Immanuel here.
5 Hail the heavenly Prince of Peace,
Hail the Sun of Righteousness;
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
6 Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
"A multitude of the heavenly host praising God."
1 HARK, what mean those holy voices
Sweetly warbling in the skies?
Sure, the angelic host rejoices,
Loudest hallelujahs rise.
Hallelujah.
2 Listen to the wondrous story,
Which they chant in hymns of joy,
Glory in the highest, glory;
Glory be to God most high.
Hallelujah.
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.
Hallelujah.
|