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The Annunciation of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Sion, for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of Thee, saith the LORD."

144. THIS is the day, the solemn day,
Which GOD appointed to convey,

Such news as made our sorrows cease
and of peace.

Glad news of mercy

Our parents' guilt, our parents' fall,
To certain death consigned us all;
From certain death mankind to save,
His only SON JEHOVAH gave.

Yea, He Who was the Eternal's SON,
'Ere time had yet its course begun,
Our life of pain and weakness bore,
Nor did the Virgin's womb abhor.

He took on Him our mortal state,
That He might bear the sinner's fate,
That so His Blood in ransom given,
Might take away the wrath of Heaven.

Yes, He, the infinite great GOD,
In human flesh awhile abode,
That we might high in glory dwell
He came as our Immanuel.

REDEEMER of the world, to Thee
All praise and glory rendered be;
And to the FATHER, King of Heaven,
And HOLY GHOST, all praise be given.

"Who being in the form of GOD, thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD; but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and was found in fashion as a

man.

145. CAST out from Eden's happy home,
Through earth's bleak wilderness to roam,
In deepest gloom our guilty race
Wandered afar from light and grace.

Lo! Heaven's own King doth Heaven forsake, A Body to Himself doth take,

And thus to lead the exiles home,

To share their banishment is come.

The wanderers His hand doth guide,
Upholds them lest their footsteps slide;
Himself the Way, their path to tend,
And bring them to Himself, the End.
O Thou Supreme, Eternal GOD,
Now veiled in mortal flesh and blood,
Give us pure hearts, that we may see
Thy hidden Light of Deity!

Incarnate SAVIOUR, GOD and Friend,
To Thee adoring praise ascend!
Like praise be to the FATHER given,
And HOLY GHOST, in earth and Heaven.

Nativity of S. John the Baptist.

"O Sion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; lift up thy voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid, say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your GOD!"

146. Lo, from the desert homes

Where he hath hid so long,
The new Elias comes,

In sternest wisdom strong.
The voice that cries
Of CHRIST from high,
And judgment nigh
From opening skies.

Your GOD e'en now doth stand,
Within heaven's opening door,
His fan is in His hand,

And He will purge His floor;

The wheat He claims

And with Him stows,
The chaff He throws

To quenchless flames.

Ye haughty mountains, bow
Your sky aspiring heads;
Ye valleys, hiding low,
Lift up your gentle meads,
Make His ways plain,
Your King before,

For evermore
He comes to reign.

Let thy dread voice around,
Thou Harbinger of Light,
On our dull ears still sound,
Lest here we sleep in night,
Till judgment come,
And on our path

Shall burst the wrath,
And deathless doom.

O GOD, with love's sweet might,
Who dost anoint and arm
CHRIST'S soldiers for the fight

With spells that shield from harm,

Thrice blessed Three,

Heaven's endless days
Shall sing Thy praise

Eternally.