CLASS II.—THE ADVENT, SUFFERINGS, RESURRECTION, AND SECOND

COMING OF CHRIST.

19.

THE ADVENT OF CHRIST.

(8.7.)

(See Psalms 96, 98.)

The Desire of all Nations shall come.-Hag. ii. 7.
1 COME, thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee!
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art,
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

2 Born thy people to deliver;
Born a child, and yet a King;
Born to reign in us for ever;
Now thy gracious kingdom bring!
By thine own Eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit

20.

Raise us to thy glorious throne!

ADVENT.

(C. M.)

The Day-spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death.-Luke i. 78.

1 PLUNG❜D in a gulph of dark despair
We wretched sinners lay,

Without one cheerful beam of hope,
Or spark of glimm'ring day.

2 With pitying eyes, the Prince of Grace
Beheld our helpless grief;

He saw, and, O amazing love!
He came to our relief.

3 Down from the shining seats above
With joyful haste he fled,
Enter'd the grave in mortal flesh,
And dwelt among the dead.

4 Oh for this love let rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break,
And all harmonious human tongues
The Saviour's praises speak!

5 Angels assist our mighty joys,
Strike all your harps of gold;-

But when you raise your highest notes,
His love can ne'er be told.

21.

ADVENT.

(C. M.)

The Lord hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind.--Luke iv. 18.

1 HARK, the glad sound! The Saviour comes! The Saviour promis'd long!

Let every

heart prepare a throne,

And every voice a song.

2 He comes the prisoners to release,
In Satan's bondage held;

The gates of brass before him break,
The iron fetters yield.

3 He comes from darkest films of vice
To clear the mental ray,

And on the eyelid of the blind
To pour celestial day.

4 He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the riches of his grace
To bless the humble poor.

5 Our glad Hosannahs, Prince of Peace, (
Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name!

22. PRAISE FOR THE INCARNATION.

(7's.)

They shall call his name Immanuel; which, being interpreted, is, 'God with us.'-Matt. i. 23.

1 SWEETER sounds than music knows Charm me in Immanuel's name; All her hopes my spirit owes

To his birth, and cross, and shame!

2 When he came, the angels sung Glory be to God on high!"

66

Lord, unloose my stamm'ring tongue!
Who should louder sing than I?

3 Did the Lord a man become,
That he might the Law fulfil,
Bleed and suffer in my room?

And canst thou, my tongue, be still?

4 No; I must my praises bring,

5

Though they worthless are, and weak; For, should I refuse to sing,

Sure the very stones would speak!

O my Saviour, Shield, and Sun,

Shepherd, Brother, Husband, Friend— Every precious name in one

I will love thee without end!

23.

NATIVITY OF CHRIST.

(7's.) Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.-Luke ii. 14.

66

1 HARK! the herald angels sing,
'Glory to the new-born King;
"Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
"God and sinners reconcil'd!"
2 Joyful all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
3 Christ, by highest heaven ador❜d,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb!

4 Veil'd in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail th' incarnate Deity!

Pleas'd as man with man t' appear,
Jesus our Immanuel here!

5 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
6 Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth;
Born to give them second birth.

24.

NATIVITY OF CHRIST.

(C. M.)

And the angel said, Unto you is born this day a Saviour.

Luke ii. 11.

1 HIGH let us swell our tuneful notes,

And join th' angelic throng;

The angels no such love have known
As we, to wake their song.

2 Good-will to sinful men is shewn,
And peace on earth is given;
For, lo! th' incarnate Saviour comes
With messages from heaven.

3 Justice and grace, with sweet accord,
His rising beams adorn :

Let heaven and earth in concert join,
"The promis'd child is born!"

4 Glory to God in highest strains
By highest worlds is paid;
Be glory then by us proclaim'd,
And by our lives display'd.

5 When shall we reach those blissful realms, Where Christ exalted reigns,

And learn of the celestial choir

Their own immortal strains?

25.

NATIVITY OF CHRIST.

(7's.)

Unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given; &c.

1

Isaiah ix. 6.

BRIGHT and joyful is the morn,
For to us a child is born;
From the highest realms of heaven
Unto us a Son is given!

2 On his shoulder He shall bear

Power and majesty; and wear
On his vesture and his thigh,

Names most awful, names most high.

3 Wonderful in counsel, He, The incarnate Deity,

Sire of ages ne'er to cease,

King of Kings, and Prince of Peace!