3. 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.

4. 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.

"It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: ... we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."-Isa. xxv. 9.

8,7.

20 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,

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

*The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."-Isa. xxxv. 1.

21 MESSIAH! at Thy glad approach

C.M.

The howling winds are still;
Thy praises fill the lonely waste,
And breathe from every hill.

2. The hidden fountains at Thy call
Their sacred stores unlock;

Loud in the desert sudden streams
Burst living from the rock.

3. The incense of the spring ascends
Upon the morning gale;

Red o'er the hill the roses bloom,
The lilies in the dale.

4. Renewed, the earth a robe of light,
A robe of beauty wears;

And in new heavens a brighter sun
Leads on the promised years.

5. Let Israel to the Prince of Peace
The loud Hosanna sing!

With Hallelujahs and with hymns,
O Zion, hail thy King!

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings," &c.—Isa. lxi. 1.

22 HARK, the glad sound! the Saviour comes,

C.M.

Let

The Saviour promised long!

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 burst,
The iron fetters yield.

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

And on the eye long closed in night
To pour celestial day.

4. He comes the broken heart to bind, The wounded soul to cure,

And with the treasures of His grace
To enrich the humble poor.

5. Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With Thy exalted Name.

Christmas.

"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."-Luke ii. 10.

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

C.M.

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
"To you and all mankind;

3.

"To you, in David's town, this day

"Is born of David's line

"A Saviour, 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, and 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."

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God."-Luke ii. 13.

24

8,7.

HARK! what mean those holy voices,

Sweetly sounding through the skies?
Lo! the angelic host rejoices;

Heavenly Hallelujahs rise.
Listen to the wondrous story,
Which they chant in hymns of joy:
Glory in the highest, glory!

66

Glory be to God most high!

2. "Hasten, mortals, to adore Him,

"Learn His Name and taste His joy;
"Till in heaven ye sing before Him,
"Glory be to God most high!'”

Let us learn the wondrous story
Of our great Redeemer's birth;
Spread the brightness of His glory,
Till it cover all the earth.

"Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass."-Luke ii. 15.

25 CHRISTIANS, awake! salute the happy morn,
P.M. Whereon the Saviour of mankind was born;
Rise to adore the mystery of love,

Which hosts of angels chanted from above;
With them the joyful tidings first begun,
Of God Incarnate, and the Virgin's Son.