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"There shall come a Star out of Jacob."

38. WHAT star is this, with beams so bright, Which shames the sun's less radiant light? 'Tis sent to announce a new-born King,— Glad tidings of our GOD to bring.

"Tis now fulfilled what GOD decreed,
"From Jacob shall a star proceed :"
The eastern sages hail its rays,
And raptured stand in anxious gaze.
And soon within their hearts there shine
Rays fairer still and more divine,
Which summon them with force benign
To seek the Giver of the sign.

True love can brook no dull delay,-
Through toils and dangers lies their way:
And yet their home, their friends, their all,
They leave at once at GOD's high call.
O, while the star of heavenly grace
Invites us, LORD, to seek Thy face,
May we no more that grace repel,
Or quench that light which shines so well!
TO GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON,
And HOLY SPIRIT, Three in One,
May every tongue and nation raise
An endless song of thankful praise.

"Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean, a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you."

39. IT is not that the wave can wash our GOD, But He doth consecrate the limpid wave; Touch'd by His flesh, as by a healing rod,

Water hath learn'd new virtue, strong to save. The fountain long foretold is open free,

From guilty spot to wash the heart unseen; O miracle of wondrous potency,

The flesh is washed, the sin-stain'd soul is clean!

'Tis thus, immersed within the sacred flood,
The royal purple of the king of woe
Hath turn'd the natural wave to mystic blood,
Making robes wash'd therein all white as snow.
The HOLY SPIRIT on a virgin came,

Thence GOD to us is born in wondrous love;
Upon the hallowed water came The Same,
And we therein are born to GOD above.

To Thee, Who washest the lost world with blood
All glory be as hath been heretofore;
With FATHER, and with SPIRIT, only good,
As hath been is, and shall be evermore.

"Lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved SoN, in Whom I am well pleased."

40. Now JESUS lifts His prayer on high,
Emerging from the stream;
And lo! descending from the sky,
The SPIRIT's radiant beam.

Swift moving, like a beauteous dove,
To rest on Him alone;
"This," saith the voice of GOD above,
"Is My beloved SON."

So those on whom is duly pour'd
The bless'd baptismal wave,
They too are children of the LORD,
They too may ask and have.

Theirs is the holy purity,

And meekness of the dove;

To them the HOLY GHOST is nigh,

To fill their souls with love.

LORD, since Thou hast remov'd our stain
In that most holy flood,

May no fresh sin destroy again
The cleansing of Thy blood!

Praise to the SON, through Whom alone
Our stains of guilt are lost;

Like praise be to the FATHER done,

And to the HOLY GHOST.

"And He went down to them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them."

41. IN stature grows the heavenly Child
With death before His eyes;

A Lamb unblemish'd, meek and mild,
Prepar'd for Sacrifice.

The Son of GOD His glory hides
With parents mean and poor:

And He, Who made the heavens, abides
In dwelling-place obscure.

Those mighty hands that stay the sky,
No earthly toil refuse,

And He, Who set the stars on high,
An humble trade pursues.

He Whom the choirs of Angels praise,
At Whose command they fly,
His earthly parents now obeys,
And lays His glory by.

The FATHER'S Name we loudly raise,

The SON we all adore,

The HOLY GHOST, One GOD, we praise

Both now and evermore.

"He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." 42. THROUGH Judah's land the SAVIOUR walks, The word of life to teach:

His own He seeks: His own refuse
To hearken to His speech.

And yet the miracles He works

The SON of GOD proclaim;

The deaf can hear, the dumb pronounce,
The great MESSIAH'S Name.

But no! they turn their ears away,
His doctrine they repel;

They hate the sun, for ah! they love
Their night of sin too well.

But we, O GOD, Thy light desire
That shines so bright, so fair;
O guard our hearts, and let there be
No love of darkness there.

O ever on Thy chosen saints

Such blessings, LORD, bestow
O may Thy truth for ever shine,
Thy love for ever glow!

TO GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON,
And GOD the HOLY GHOST,
Be glory from the saints on earth,
And from the heavenly host.

"Alleluia! for the LORD GOD Omnipotent reigneth." 43. ALLELUIA! best and sweetest

Of the hymns of praise above!
Alleluia! thou repeatest,

Angel host, these notes of love.
This ye utter,

While your golden harps ye move.

Alleluia! church victorious,

Join the concert of the sky!
Alleluia! bright and glorious,

Lift ye saints, this strain on high!

We, poor exiles,

Join not yet your melody.

Alleluia! strains of gladness,

Suit not souls with anguish torn:

Alleluia! sounds of sadness

Best become our state forlorn :

Our offences

We with bitter tears must mourn.

But our earnest supplication,
Holy GOD! we raise to Thee:
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Make us all Thy joys to see.
Alleluia!

Ours at length this strain shall be.

"Thou shalt call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins."

44. JESU! the very thought of Thee,

With sweetness fills my breast:

But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,

A sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,
O SAVIOUR of mankind!

O Hope of every contrite heart,
O Joy of all the meek,

To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show :
The love of JESUS, what it is,
None but His lov'd ones know.

JESU! our only Joy be Thou,

As Thou our Prize wilt be;
JESU! be Thou our Glory now,
And through eternity.

"A Name that is above every name." 45. O JESU! King most wonderful! Thou Conqueror renown'd! Thou Sweetness most ineffable, In Whom all joys are found!

When once Thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to shine,

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