Victorious over death and time,
To lead us to a happier clime
Where reigns eternal day.

4

Then let your mingling voices rise
In grateful rapture to the skies,
And hail a Saviour's birth!
Let songs of joy the day proclaim,
When Jesus, gift of mercy, came
To bless the sons of earth.

141.

Hosanna on the Coming of Christ.

1

HARK the glad sound! the Saviour comes !
The Saviour promis'd long!
Let every heart a throne prepare,
And every voice a song.

2

On him the spirit largely pour'd,

Exerts its sacred fire;

Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,

His holy breast inspire.

3

He comes, the prisoners to release
In sin's dire bondage held;

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

4

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

And on the eye involv'd in night
To celestial day.

pour

5

He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The wounded soul to cure;
And with the treasures of his grace
To enrich the humble poor.

6

Our songs of gratitude and joy,
His welcome shall proclaim;

Hail to the Prince of Peace, who comes
In God his Father's name !

142.

Christ's First and Last Coming.

1

SING to the Lord, ye distant lands,
Ye tribes of every tongue;

His

grace reveal'd by Christ demands An ever-grateful song.

2

Say to the nations, Jesus came
A sinful world to save,

From guilt and error to reclaim,
And rescue from the grave.'
3

Behold he comes, he comes to bless
The nations from their God;
To show the world his righteousness,
And spread his truth abroad.

4

Again he comes, with powerful voice
To wake the numerous dead,
And call his followers to rejoice
With their exalted Head.

5

When he who is our life draws near,
And all his glory view,

His faithful followers shall appear

With him in glory too.

143.

Christ the Light of the World.

1

BEHOLD! the Prince of peace,
The chosen of the Lord,

God's well-beloved Son, fulfils
The sure prophetic word.

2

No royal pomp adorns

This King of righteousness; Meekness and patience, truth and love, Compose his princely dress.

3

Jesus, the light of men!
His doctrine life imparts;

Oh may we feel its quickening power
To warm and glad our hearts!

4

Cheer'd by its beams, our souls
Shall run the heavenly way;

The path which Christ hath mark'd and trod
Will lead to endless day.

144.

Christ the Sun of Righteousness.-Mal. iv. 2.

1

To thee, O God, we homage pay!
Source of the light that rules the day,
Who, while he gilds all nature's frame,
Reflects thy rays, and speaks thy name.

2

In higher strains we sing that grace
Which gives the Sun of Righteousness;
Whose nobler light salvation brings,
And scatters healing from his wings.

Still on our hearts may Jesus shine
With beams of light and love divine:
Quicken'd by him, our souls shall live;
And cheer'd by him shall grow and thrive.

4

Oh may his glories stand confess'd,
From north to south, from east to west!

Successful may his gospel run,

Wide as the circuit of the sun!

5

When shall that radiant scene arise,
When, fix'd on high in purer skies,
Christ all his lustre shall display
On all his saints through endless day!

145.

Thanks for Jesus Christ.

FATHER! our hearts we raise
To heaven, thy gracious throne;
And thank thee for the precious gift
Of thy beloved Son.

2

A peace on earth he brings,
That never more shall end;
By him the Sovereign Lord of all
Proclaims himself our Friend.

3

Grace, mercy, peace, and truth,
He doth to us impart;
May streams of piety and love
O'erflow the faithful heart.

4

A treasure so divine,

May we with joy receive; And to the world thy goodness tell, And to thy glory live!

146.

The Baptism of Jesus.

1

SEE from on high a light divine

On Jesus' head descend;

And hear the sacred voice from heaven, That bids us all attend,

2

'This is my well-beloved Son,' Proclaim'd the voice divine;

'Hear him,' the Almighty Father said, 'For all his words are mine.'

3

His mission thus confirm'd from heaven,
The great Messiah came,

And truth and mercy brought to man,
In God his Father's name.

4

The path of heavenly peace he show'd,
That leads to bliss on high,

Where all his faithful followers here,
Shall live no more to die.

5

Oh may we then, who own him Lord,
And his lov'd name profess,

By all our words and actions prove
That we his mind possess !

147.

Christ the Image of the Invisible God.

1

O THOU, at whose almighty word
Fair light at first from darkness shone!
Teach us to know our glorious Lord,
And trace thine image in thy Son.

2

As the bright sun's meridian blaze O'erwhelms and pains our feeble sight, But cheers us with his softer rays, When shining with reflected light ;

So, in thy Son, thy power divine,
Thy wisdom, justice, truth, and love,
With mild and gentle lustre shine,
Reflected from thy throne above,