CHRISTMAS HYMN.
Lo! heavenly angels from on high Triumphant praises bring, Announcing from the lofty sky The birth of Christ, our King.
See, yonder star directs the way,
Where Christ in glory shines;
And in a lowly manger laid,
The Saviour of mankind.
The Lord is come; let all proclaim
This day His glorious birth;
And never-ceasing voices raise
The hymns of joy and mirth.
Now, hallelujah! to the Lamb,
Who reigns above the sky;
Let all with thankful hearts unite,
His name to glorify.
The Lord my pasture shall prepare,
And feed me with a shepherd's care;
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye;
My noon-day walks He shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.
When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountains pant,
To fertile vales and dewy meads,
My weary, wand'ring steps He leads;
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.
Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My stedfast heart shall fear no ill,
For Thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the darkest shade.
Lord, we come before Thee now,
At Thy throne we humbly bow;
Do not Thou our suit disdain :
Shall we seek Thee, Lord, in vain?
In Thine own appointed way,
Now in humble faith we pray;
Lord, from hence we would not go,
Till Thy blessing Thou bestow.
And some message from Thy word,
That may joy and peace afford;
Let Thy Spirit now impart
Christ's salvation to each heart.
Comfort those who weep and mourn,
Let the time of joy return:
Those who are cast down lift up,
Make them strong in faith and hope
Grant that all may seek and find
Thee a God supremely kind;
Heal the sick, the captives free;
Let us all rejoice in Thee.
EASTER HYMN.
Jesus Christ is risen to-day,
Our triumphant festal day,
Who did once upon the cross
Suffer to redeem our loss.
Hymns of praise, then, let us sing, Unto Christ, our heav'nly King, Who endur'd the cross and grave, Sinners to redeem and save.
For the pains which He endur'd
Our salvation have procur'd;
Now above the sky, our King,
Where the angels ever sing.
Through the day Thy love has spar'd us,
Weary, we lie down to rest;
Through the silent watches guard us,
Let no foe our peace molest.
Jesus, Thou our Guardian be,
Sweet it is to trust in Thee.
Pilgrims here on earth, and strangers,
Dwelling in the midst of foes,
Us and ours preserve from dangers,
Give us sweet and calm repose;
And when life's short day is past,
Rest with Thee in heav'n at last.
|