20.

CHRI

\HRISTIANS, awake! salute the happy morn, 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.

66

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 fulfill'd His promised word,
This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord."

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 hallelujahs rang;
God's highest glory was their anthem still,
Peace upon earth, and unto men good-will.

To Bethlehem straight the enlighten'd shepherds ran,
To see the wonders God had wrought for man;
Then to their flocks, still praising God, return,
And their glad hearts within their bosoms burn;
To all the joyful tidings they proclaim,
The first Apostles of the Saviour's fame.

Oh! may we keep and ponder in our mind
God's wondrous love in saving lost mankind;
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From the poor manger to the bitter cross;
Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace,
Till man's first heavenly state again takes place.

Then may we hope, the angelic hosts among,
To join, redeem'd, a glad triumphant throng:
He that was born upon this joyful day,
Around us all His glory shall display:
Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing

Eternal praise to heaven's Almighty King.-Hallelujah! Amen.

Through fickle fortune's various scene
From sin preserve us free;
Like us Thou hast a mourner been,
May we rejoice with Thee!

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PORTUGUESE HYMN.-(Adeste Fideles.) P. M. JOHN READING.* About 1680 ?

• Organist of the Cathedral at Winchester 1675, and of the College 1681; died 1692. The "Adeste Fideles" was arranged by the late Vincent Novello for the Portuguese Chapel in Sonth Street, Grosvenor Square, of hich he became Organist in 1797, and hence it appears to have obtained the name of the "Portuguese mn." See Mrs. Cowden Clarke's Life of her father, Vincent Novello, in the " Musical Times," Jan., 1862.