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.
1 WHILE shepherds watched their
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.
2 "Fear not," said he,-for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind,—
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
"To you and all mankind :
3 "To you in David's town, this day,
"Is born of David's line,
"A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
"And this shall be the sign:
4 "The heavenly Babe you there shall find, "To-human view displayed,
"All meanly wrapt in swathing-bands,
"And in a manger laid."
5 Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song:
6"All glory be to God on high,
"And to the earth be peace;
"Good-will, henceforth, from heaven to men
Begin, and never cease."
IGH let us swell our tuneful notes,
And join the angelic throng;
For angels no such love have known,
To wake a cheerful song.
2 Good-will to sinful man is shewn,
And peace on earth is given:
For, lo the incarnate Saviour comes,
With messages from heaven.
3 Justice and grace, in sweet accord,
His rising beams adorn;
Let heaven and earth in concert join,
"To us a Child is born."
4 Glory to God in highest strains,
In highest worlds be paid;
His glory by our lips proclaimed,
And by our lives displayed!
SAVIOUR, whom this holy morn
Gave to our world below;
To mortal want and labour born,
And more than mortal woe !
2 Incarnate Word! by every grief,
By each temptation tried,
Who lived to yield our ills relief,
And to redeem us died!
3 If gaily clothed, and proudly fed,
In dangerous wealth we dwell,
Remind us of Thy manger bed,
And lowly cottage cell!
4 If, pressed by poverty severe,
In envious want we pine,
O may Thy Spirit whisper near,
How poor a lot was Thine!
5 From all the viewless snares of sin
Preserve us firm and free:
Like us Thou hast a mourner been,
May we rejoice with Thee!
ONS of men, behold from far,
Hail the long-expected Star!
Jacob's Star, that gilds the night,
Kindling darkness into light.
2 Nations all, remote and near,
Haste to see your God appear;
Haste, for Him your hearts prepare ;
Meet Him, manifested there!
3 There behold the Day-spring rise,
Pouring light on mortal eyes;
See it chase the shades away,
Shining to the perfect day!
4 Sing, ye morning stars, again!
God descends on earth to reign!
Deigns for man His life to employ ;
Shout, ye sons of God, for joy!
was the guiding star that led,
With mild, benignant ray,
The Gentiles to the lowly shed,
Where the Redeemer lay.
2 But, lo! a brighter, clearer light
Now points to His abode ;
It shines through sin and sorrow's night,
To lead us to our God.
3 O haste, and follow where it guides,
Its gracious call obey!
Whate'er of good or ill betides,
The Christian's destined way.
4 O gladly tread the narrow path,
While light and grace are given!
Who meekly follow Christ on earth
Shall reign with Him in heaven.
BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the
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, and 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.
1 LORD, turn not Thy face away
Lamenting sore their sinful life,
With tears and bitter cry!
2 Thy mercy gates are open wide
To them that mourn their sin;
O shut them not against us, Lord,
But let us enter in!
3 We need not to confess our faults,
For surely Thou canst tell;
What we have done, and what we are,
Thou knowest, Lord, full well:
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