1 Zion! the marvellous story be telling,

The Son of the Highest, how lowly his birth! The brightest archangel in glory.excelling,

He stoops to redeem thee, he reigns upon earth. Chorus. Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing; Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King.

2 Tell how he cometh, from nation to nation, The heart-cheering news let the earth echo round; How free to the faithful he offers salvation,

How his people with joy everlasting are crown'd. Chorus. Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing; Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King. 3 Mortals! your homage be gratefully bringing, And sweet let the gladsome hosanna arise; Ye angels! the full hallelujah be singing,

One chorus resound through the earth and the skies. Chorus. Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing; Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King.

HE race that long in darkness pin'd
Have seen a glorious light;

The people now behold the dawn,
Who dwelt in death and night.
2 To hail thy rising, Sun of life!
The gath'ring nations come,
Joyous as when the reapers bear
Their harvest treasures home.

3 For thou our burden hast remov'd;
Th' oppressor's reign is broke;
Thy fiery conflict with the foe
Has burst his cruel yoke.

4 To us the promis'd Child is born;
To us the Son is giv'n;

Him shall the tribes of earth obey,
And all the hosts of heaven.

5 His name shall be the Prince of peace,
For evermore ador'd,

The Wonderful, the Counsellor,
The mighty God and Lord.

6 His pow'r increasing still shall spread,
His reign no end shall know;

Justice shall guard his throne above,
And peace abound below.

'T

IME hastens on; ye longing saints,
Now raise your voices high;

And magnify that sov'reign love
Which shows salvation nigh.

2 As time departs, salvation comes,
Each moment brings it near;
Then welcome each declining day;
Welcome each closing year.

3 Not many years their course shall run,
Not many mornings rise,
Ere all its glories stand reveal'd
To our transported eyes.

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HYMN 49.

St. Luke xiii. 6-9.

SEE, in the of the Lord,

A barren fig-tree stands;

No fruit it yields, no blossom bears,
Though planted by his hands.

2 From year to year the tree he views,
And still no fruit is found;

(C. M.)

Then cut it down," the Lord commands,

66

Why cumbers it the ground ?"

3 But lo! the gracious Saviour pleads-
"The barren fig-tree spare,
"Another year in mercy wait,
"It yet may bloom and bear:

4 "But if my culture prove in vain,
"And still no fruit be found,
"I plead no more; destroy the tree,
"And root it from thy ground."

NEW YEAR.

"TH

HE God of life, whose constant care
With blessings crowns each op'ning year,

My scanty span doth still prolong, And wakes anew mine annual song. 2 How many precious souls are fled To the vast regions of the dead, Since to this day the changing sun Through his last yearly period run! 3 We yet survive; but who can say, "Or through this year, or month, or day, "I shall retain this vital breath:

"Thus far, at least, in league with death?" 4 That breath is thine, eternal God; "Tis thine to fix my soul's abode;

It holds its life from thee alone,
On earth, or in the world unknown.

5 To thee our spirits we resign,

Make them and own them still as thine; So shall they live secure from fear, Though death should blast the rising year. 6 Thy children panting to be gone, May bid the tide of time roll on, To land them on that happy shore, Where years and death are known no more. 7 No more fatigue, no more distress, Nor sin, nor hell, shall reach that place; No groans, to mingle with the songs Resounding from immortal tongues: 8 No more alarms from ghostly foes; No cares to break the long repose; No midnight shade, no clouded sun, But sacred, high, eternal noon. 9 O, long expected year! begin; Dawn on this world of wo and sin; Fain would we leave this weary road, To sleep in death, and rest with God.

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A

HYMN 51.

S o'er the past my memory strays,
Why heaves the secret sigh?

"Tis that I mourn departed days,
Still unprepar'd to die.

2 The world and worldly things belov'd

My anxious thoughts employ'd;

(C.M.)

And time unhallow'd, unimprov'd,
Presents a fearful void.

3 Yet, holy Father, wild despair
Chase from my lab'ring breast;
Thy grace it is which prompts the prayer,
That grace can do the rest.

4 My life's brief remnant all be thine!
And when thy sure decree
Bids me this fleeting breath resign,
O speed my soul to Thee!

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H

EPIPHANY.

HYMN 52.

Isaiah lii. 7-10.

OW beauteous are their feet
Who stand on Zion's hill;

(S. M.)

Who bring salvation on their tongues,
And words of peace reveal!

2 How charming is their voice!
How sweet their tidings are!
"Zion, behold thy Saviour-King,
"He reigns and triumphs here."

3 How happy are our ears

That hear this joyful sound,
Which kings and prophets waited for,
And sought, but never found.

4 How blessed are our eyes

That see this heavenly light!
Prophets and kings desir'd it long,
But died without the sight.

5 The watchmen join their voice,
And tuneful notes employ,
Jerusalem breaks forth in songs,
And deserts learn the joy.

6 The Lord makes bare his arm
Through all the earth abroad:
Let every nation now behold
Their Saviour and their God.

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R

ISE, crown'd with light, imperial Salem rise! Exalt thy tow'ring head and lift thine eyes! See heaven its sparkling portals wide display, And break upon thee in a flood of day! 2 See a long race thy spacious courts adorn, See future sons and daughters yet unborn, In crowding ranks on every side arise, Demanding life, impatient for the skies! 3 See barb'rous nations at thy gates attend, Walk in thy light, and in thy temple bend! See thy bright altars throng'd with prostrate kings, While every land its joyous tribute brings!

4 The seas shall waste, the skies to smoke decay, Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away; But fix'd his word, his saving power remainsThy realm shall last, thine own Messiah reigns.

'H

HYMN 54.

Psalm lxxii.

AIL to the Lord's Anointed,

H Great David's greater Son;

Hail, in the time appointed,

His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free,
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.

2 He comes, with succour speedy,
To those who suffer wrong,

To help the poor and needy,

And bid the weak be strong;
To give them songs for sighing,
Their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls, condemn'd and dying,
Were precious in his sight.
3 He shall descend like showers
Upon the fruitful earth,

And love and joy, like flowers,
Spring in his path to birth:
Before him, on the mountains,
Shall peace, the herald, go:

E

(II. 6.)