HYMNS FOR CHRISTMAS.

11

HYMN III.

FROM far sunrise at early morn
To earth's remotest ring;
Of Mary, Virgin Mother, born,
Confess we CHRIST our King.

Lo! the great Maker of the world,
LORD of eternal years,

To save His creatures, veil'd beneath
A creature's form appears.

A Manger scantly strewn with hay
Becomes the Eternal's bed;
And He who stills creation's cries,
Himself with milk is fed.

Straightway with joy the Heav'ns are filled,

The Hosts Angelic sing;

And Shepherds hasten to adore

Their SHEPHERD, LORD, and KING.

JESU, the Virgin-Mother's Son,

To Thee all glory be,

With Father, Spirit, Three in One,
Through all eternity.

The Circumcision of Christ.

THE year begins with Thee,
And Thou beginn'st with woe;
To let the world of sinners see
That blood for sin must flow.

By Blood and Water too,
GOD's mark is set on Thee;
That in Thee every faithful view
Both covenants might see.

Oh, are we born to tears,
Cradled in care and woe;

And seems it hard our early years
Few joys of youth can show?

Look here, and hold thy peace,
The Giver of all good

Ev'n from the womb takes no release
From suffering, tears, and blood.

If thou would'st reap in love,
First sow in holy fear;

So life a winter's morn may prove
To a bright endless year.

Epiphany.

HYMN I.

PRAISE God, who sent His guiding Star
To shed its hopeful beams afar,
As once His fiery pillar's ray
Led Israel on their toilsome way.

Where all in Gentile darkness lay,
The Eastern princes track'd its ray;
And while in faith they journey'd on,
O'er Bethlehem's lowly walls it shone.
First-fruits of all the Gentile race,
They sought the Saviour's resting-place;
And worshipp❜d, with their costly store,
Their new-born Lord, unknown before.

Oh, may we too, with off'rings meet,
Be found at our Redeemer's Feet,
With richer gifts than theirs of old,
Of incense rare and shining gold.
We, by the chosen people's sin,
On the true Vine are grafted in;
Our hearts' best homage let us give,
To Him Whose mercy bids us live.

B

Jesu, be Thou for ever blest,

Who to the Gentiles manifest,
With Father, and with Spirit pure,

Art God, while endless worlds endure.

HYMN II.

O God, who by a Star didst lead,
Th' adoring Magi on their way,
To Him Whose wondrous Birth has freed
Mankind from death wherein they lay:

Teach us, O Lord! to know and feel
The good which from Thy mercy flows,
That we to others may reveal

The tale, and all Thy love disclose.
Lord! what is man, that in Thy mind,

His humble lot should have a share? Or what his sons, that thus they find Their wants the object of Thy care. All that a grateful heart can give

Is poor to what Thy love demands, Yet, Lord, accept us while we strive To obey in fear, Thy blest commands.

Jesu, be Thou for ever blest,

Who to the Gentiles manifest, With Father, and with Spirit pure,

Art God, while endless worlds endure.

The Presentation in the Temple.

BLESS'D are the pure in heart,
For they shall see our God;
The secret of the Lord is theirs,
Their soul is Christ's abode.

Are such the joyful hymns,
On Sion's Prince that wait,
In high procession passing on
Towards His Temple gate?

Wide open from that hour

The Temple gates are set,
And still the Saints rejoicing there,
The Holy Child have met.

They who to earthly joys

In faith have given farewell,

Now see unlook'd for Heaven on earth,

Christ in His Israel.

Still to the lowly soul,

He doth Himself impart;

And for His dwelling and His throne,

Chooseth the pure in heart.