"Fear not," said he, (for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind;)
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.

"To you

in David's town this day

Is born, of David's line,

The Saviour, Who is CHRIST the LORD,
And this shall be the sign:

"The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view display'd,

All meanly wrapp'd in swathing-bands,
And in a manger laid."

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appear'd a shining throng
Of angels, praising GOD, and thus
Address'd their joyful song:-

"All glory be to GOD on high, And to the earth be peace;

Good-will henceforth from Heav'n to men Begin, and never cease."

S. Stephen's Day.

"And they stoned Stephen, calling upon GOD, and saying, LORD JESUs, receive my spirit."

24. Or Thy true soldiers, mighty LORD,
The portion, crown, and great reward,
Now as we hymn Thy martyr's fame,
Unloose our bond of sin and blame.

The pleasures of the world he spurn'd,
From sin's pernicious lures he turn'd,
But sweet to him was Thy blest Name,
And thus to heavenly joys he came.

He bravely ran a painful race,
Enduring with a hero's grace,

Thee with his blood on earth confess'd,
With Thee in Heaven for aye is bless'd.

O, as with suppliant voice this day
To Thee, all-pitying LORD, we pray,
On this Thy martyr's triumph high,
Thy servants' chain of guilt untie.

D

TO GOD the FATHER, and the SON,
And HOLY SPIRIT, Three in One,
Unceasing praise and glory be,
Now and through all eternity.

"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

25.

RIGHTFUL prince of martyrs thou,
Bind thy crown about thy brow;
Fairer far than fading wreath,
Weave we this thy crown of death.

Like a gem each rugged stone,
Sparkling with thy life-blood shone;
Nor could stars more brightly shine,
Studded round thy head divine.

From thy forehead's gushing streams
Dart a thousand blending beams,
Till thy glowing countenance
Lightens to an angel's glance.

Thou the first slain victim free
To Him the Victim slain for thee;
Thou the first thy LORD to own,
Sharer of His thorny crown.

First to tread the pointed road
Through the deep Red sea of blood:-

Prince of martyrs, thee behind

What a countless army wind!

Thou of virgin-mother born,
In this wintry world forlorn,
JESU, LORD, all praise to Thee:

All glory be to FATHER, SON,
And HOLY SPIRIT, Three in One,
Unto all eternity.

"I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your FATHER which is in Heaven."

26.

HOLY love towards her foes

In mysterious channels flows;

Bow'd to soothe, or steel'd to blame,
Holy love is still the same.

Pleader for himself he stood:-
Now he falls, his eloquent blood
From the ground for mercy cries,
Pleading for his enemies.

GOD from Heav'n His martyr heard,—
Heard, and bless'd his dying word;
Saul, the murderer, standing by,
Saul was granted to that cry.

Thus he bowed his drooping head,
Thus his joyous spirit fled :

"JESU, LORD," his offering free,—
"Take the life I owe to Thee."

Death, kind angel, watching nigh,

Sweetly clos'd his tranquil eye;

Whilst the freed spirit wing'd her flight From beam to beam, to endless light.

Thou of virgin-mother born,

In this wintry world forlorn,
JESU, LORD, all praise to Thee.

All glory be to FATHER, SON,
And HOLY SPIRIT, Three in One,
Unto all eternity.