Then to those who have confessèd,
Loved and served the Lord below,
He will say, "Come near, ye blessèd,
See the kingdom I bestow:
You for ever
Shall my love and glory know."
'HAT day of wrath, that dreadful day,
When heaven and earth shall pass away,
What power shall be the sinner's stay?
How shall he meet that dreadful day?
When, shrivelling like a parchèd scroll,
The flaming heavens together roll;
When louder yet, and yet more dread,
Swells the high trump that wakes the dead;
O! on that day, that dreadful day,
When man to judgment wakes from clay,
Be Thou, O Christ, the sinner's stay,
Though heaven and earth shall pass away!
GREAT God! what do I see and hear!
The end of things created!
The Judge of mankind doth appear,
On clouds of glory seated!
The trumpet sounds: the graves restore
The dead which they contained before:
Prepare, my soul, to meet Him.
The dead in Christ shall first arise,
At the last trumpet's sounding,
Caught up to meet Him in the skies,
With joy their Lord surrounding.
No gloomy fears their souls dismay,
His presence sheds eternal day
On those prepared to meet Him.
But sinners, filled with guilty fears,
Behold His wrath prevailing;
For they shall rise, and find their tears
And sighs are unavailing.
The day of grace is past and gone;
Trembling they stand before the throne,
All unprepared to meet Him.
Great God! what do I see and hear!
The end of things created!
The Judge of mankind doth appear
On clouds of glory seated!
Low at His cross I view the day
When heaven and earth shall pass away,
And thus prepare to meet Him!
Christmas.
+ The Angels' Song.
HARK! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild;
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all ye nations rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail! Incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Risen with healing in His wings,
Light and life to all He brings.
Hail! the Sun of Righteousness!
Hail! the Heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King!
ORN to bless us, born to save!
Praise His name with joyful breath!
Sing through life, nor fear the grave!
Jesus lives to conquer death!
Every birth is changed from hence;
Each may take a pathway bright,
Reaching soon the tomb, but thence
Issuing in unfading light.
Humblest cradles now shall show,
Clearly show to loving eyes,
Oft while tears of rapture flow,
Flowerets born for Paradise.
Parents now shall sink to rest,
Hoping soon to clasp in heaven,
Lovely as a seraph blest,
Every child whom God hath given.
Parents, children, young and old,
If but strong in faith and love,
Shall, with gratitude untold,
Oft foretaste the joys above.
Lowly Babe of Bethlehem!
Glorious Lord of Life and Light!
Humble Branch of Jesse's stem!
God! Thy grace is infinite!
HARK! a seraph host are singing
Sweetly in the sky;
Blissful news to mortals bringing,
Praising God on high!
'Mid their flocks the shepherds hear,
Gaze, and muse with holy fear;
Haste to Bethlehem; far and near
Spread a joyous cry!
'Tis to open sweet communion
"Twixt the Earth and Skies;
'Tis to bind all hearts in union
Christ an Infant lies!
Gaze upon that placid brow,
And, while ye admiring bow,
Holy Love to cherish vow,
Till all discord dies.
Songs of grateful adoration
Sing, rejoicing sing!
Praise aloud for the salvation
Jesus comes to bring!
Soon those Infant lips shall tell
Truth, which whoso ponders well,
And believes, shall ever dwell
With our God and King.
O! let every heart adore Him!
Peace and Love o'erflow!
Anger, Hatred, sink before Him
To your depths below!
Be no sound beneath the sky,
Be no glance from mortal eye,
Be no thought, no feeling nigh,
Brethren should not know.
+ Christians, awake.
CHRISTIANS awake, salute the happy morn,
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.
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 goodwill.
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