195. L. M.

J. TAYLOR.

Praise to God for the mission of Christ.

1.

PRAISE ye the Lord who reigns above,
Fixt on his throne of truth and love:
Behold the finger of his power,
Contemplate, wonder, and adore.

2.

When man, debased and guilty man, From crime to crime with madness ran, Well might his arm its thunders launch, And blast the ungrateful, root and branch.

3.

But clemency with justice strove
To save the people of his love:

Go, David's greater son!" he cried, "Be thou their teacher, thou their guide."

4.

The eastern star with glory streams,
It comes with healing on its beams:
Dark mists of error fleet away,
And Judah hails the rising day.

5.

His sacred memory we bless,
Whose holy gospel we profess;
And praise that great Almighty Name
From whom this light and favour came.

196. C. M.

DODDRIDGE.

Praise to God for the mission of Christ.

1.

HIGH let us swell our tuneful notes,
And join the angelic throng:
For angels no such love have known
To awake a cheerful song.

2.

Good-will to sinful men is shown,
And peace on earth is given:
For lo, the blessed Saviour comes
With messages from heaven.

3.

Justice and grace with sweet accord
His rising beams adorn:

Let heaven and earth in concert join,
Now such a child is born.

4.

Glory to God in highest strains,
In highest worlds be paid;
His glory by our lips proclaim'd,
And by our lives display'd.

197. C. M. WATTS.

The Messiah's coming and kingdom.

1.

Joy to the world! the Lord is come,
Let earth receive her king ;

Let every

heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing.

2.

Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns,
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.

3.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground:
He comes to make his blessings flow
To earth's remotest bound.

4.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.

198. C. M.

DODDRIDGE.

The coming of Christ.

1.

HARK, the glad sound! the Saviour comes!

The Saviour promised long!

Let every heart prepare a throne,

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,
So long in 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-balls of the blind
To pour cœlestial day.

5.

He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of his grace
Enrich the humble poor.

6.

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.

199. C. M. LOGAN.

The glory of the Messiah.

1.

He who spread forth the arch of heaven,

And bade the planets roll,

Who laid the basis of the earth,

And form'd the human soul:

2.

Thus saith the Lord, "Thee have I sent, "A prophet from the sky, "Wide o'er the nations to proclaim "The message from on high.

3.

"Before thy face the shades of death
"Shall take to sudden flight,
"The people who in darkness dwell
"Shall hail a glorious light:

4.

"The gates of brass shall 'sunder burst, "The iron fetters fall;

"The promised jubilee of heaven Appointed rise o'er all.

66

5.

"And lo! presaging thy approach,
"The heathen temples shake,
"And trembling in forsaken fanes
"The fabled idols quake.

6.

"I am Jehovah: I am One:

My name shall now be known; "No idol shall usurp my praise, "Nor mount into my throne.'

7.

Now sing a new song to the Lord,
Let earth his praise resound;
Ye who upon the ocean dwell,
And fill the isles around.

8.

Let all, combined with one accord,
Jehovah's glories raise,

Till in remotest bounds of earth
The nations sound his praise.

200. P. M. T. SCOTT.
The resurrection of Christ.

1.

ANGEL, roll the rock away;
Death, yield up thy mighty prey;
See he rises from the tomb,
Glowing in immortal bloom.