CHRIST, HIS LIFE, MINISTRY, CHARACTER, &c.

197.

L. M.

WATTS.

Christ foretold.

1 BEHOLD the woman's promised Seed'
Behold the great Messiah come!
Behold the prophets all agreed
To give him the superior room!

2 Abraham, the saint, rejoiced of old,
When visions of the Lord he saw;
Moses, the man of God, foretold
This great Fulfiller of the law.

3 The types bore witness to his name,
Obtained their chief design, and ceased-
The incense, and the bleeding lamb,
The ark, the altar and the priest.

4 Predictions in abundance meet
To join their blessings on his head ;-
Jesus, we worship at thy feet;
And nations own the promised Seed.

198.

C. M.

ANONYMOUS.

Christ's Coming foretold.

1 BEHOLD my servant! see him rise
Exalted in my might!

Him have I chosen, and in him
I place supreme delight.

2 On him, in rich effusion poured,
My spirit shall descend;

My truth and judgment he shall show

To earth's remotest end.

3 Gentle and still shall be his voice;
No threats from him proceed;

The smoking flax he shall not quench,
Nor break the bruised reed.

4 The feeble spark to flames he'll raise ; The weak he'll not despise ;

Judgment he shall bring forth to truth,
And make the fallen rise.

5 The progress of his zeal and power
Shall never know decline;

And foreign lands, and distant isles
Receive the law divine.

199.

H. M.

ANONYMOUS.

Christ's Birth.

1 HARK! what celestial notes,

What melody, we hear!
Soft on the morn it floats,
And fills the ravished ear.

The tuneful shell,

The golden lyre, and vocal choir,
The concert swell.

2 Angelic hosts descend,
With harmony divine;

See, how from heaven they bend,
And in full chorus join!

'Fear not,' say they;

'Great joy we bring: Jesus, your King,
Is born to-day.

3 Glory to God on high!

Ye mortals, spread the sound,
And let your raptures fly

To earth's remotest bound!
For peace on earth,

From God in heaven, to man is given,
At Jesus' birth.'

200.

C. M.

The Same.

PATRICK.

1 WHILE shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.

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

3 To you, in David's town, this day
Is born, of David's line,

A Savior, who is Christ the Lord;

And this shall be the sign:

4 The heavenly Babe you there shall find,
To human view displayed,

All meanly wrapt in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid.'

5 Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels, praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song:

6 All glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace:

Good will, henceforth, from heaven to men Begin, and never cease.'

201.

7s M.

ANONYMOUS.

The Same.

1 HARK! the herald-angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
Man to God is reconciled.'

2 Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumphs of the skies;
With th' angelic hosts proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem."

3 Mild, he lays his glories by;

die;

Born, that man no more may
Born, to raise the sons of earth;
Born, to give them second birth.

4 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.

202.

C. M.

*WATTS.

The Same.

1 'SHEPHERDS! rejoice, lift up your eyes, And send your fears away;

་

News from the regions of the skies-
Salvation's born to-day.

2 Jesus, your Lord, whom angels fear,
Comes down to dwell with you;
To-day he makes his entrance here,
But not as monarchs do.

3 No gold, nor purple swathing bands, Nor royal shining things;

A manger for his cradle stands,

And holds the king of kings.

4 Go, shepherds, where the infant lies,
And see his humble throne;
With tears of joy in all your eyes,
Go, shepherds, kiss the Son.'

5 Thus Gabriel sang, and straight around
The heavenly armies throng;
They tune their harps to lofty sound,
And thus conclude the song:

6 Glory to God that reigns above;
Let peace surround the earth;

Mortals shall know their Maker's love
At their Redeemer's birth.'