2 Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
Who heard the angelic herald's voice: "Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Saviour's birth
To you and all the nations upon earth:

This day hath God fulfilled His promised word,
This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord."

3 He spake, and straightway the celestial choir
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire;
The praises of redeeming love they sang,
And heaven's whole orb with alleluias rang;
God's highest glory was their anthem still,
Peace upon earth, and unto men good-will.

4 To Bethlehem straight the happy shepherds ran,
To see the wonder God had wrought for man;
And found, with Joseph and the blessed Maid,
Her Son, the Saviour, in a manger laid;
Amazed, the wondrous story they proclaim,
The earliest heralds of the Saviour's name.

5 Let us, like these good shepherds, then employ
Our grateful voices to proclaim the joy;
Trace we the Babe, Who hath retrieved our loss,
From His poor manger to His bitter cross;
Treading His steps, assisted by His grace,
Till man's first heavenly state again takes place.

6 Then may we hope, the angelic thrones among,
To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song;
He, that was born upon this joyful day,
Around us all His glory shall display;
Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing
Of angels and of angel-men the King.

JOHN BYROM, 1750.

ST. ATHANASIUS.

Six 7's.

EDWARD J. HOPKINS, 1872.

Sing, O sing, this blessed morn, Un - to us a Child is born,

d d

a Son is given, God Himself comes down from heaven;

Sing, O sing, this bless-ed morn, Jesus Christ to-day is born. A-men.

1 It came up on the mid-night clear, That glo-rious song of old,

From angels bend- ing near the earth, To touch their harps of gold:

Peace on the earth, good-will to men, From heaven's all-gra-cious King;