11. Mercy and Grace in Christ. (Matt. xi. 2—10.)
FALMOUTH. D. L. M.
O SAVIOUR, is thy promise fled?
No longer will thy grace endure
To heal the sick, and raise the dead,
And preach thy gospel to the poor?
Come, Jesus, come; return again;
With brighter beam thy servants bless,
Who long to hail thy perfect reign,
And share thy kingdom's happiness.
Come, Saviour, come; and, as of yore
The prophet went to clear thy way,
A harbinger thy feet before,
A dawning to thy brighter day;
So, ere again we see thy face,
Our hearts of stone for truth prepare;
Fill ev'ry soul with heav'nly grace;
Then come and reap thy harvest there.
12. The Blessings of the Righteous. (Isa. xxvi. 1—4.)
YOUR hearts and tongues, ye saints, employ,
To hymn the praises of your God;
Sing the vast blessings you enjoy,-
The purchase of a Saviour's blood.
Salvation for defence is given;
God is your everlasting stay;
Your blessing is the peace of heaven;
And holiness your shining way.
The fear of death, the curse of sin,
Shall vex your ransom'd souls no more;
For God's good Spirit works within,
With light, and purity, and power.
Soft as the dew shall grace descend,
Your drooping spirits to sustain;
And when your mortal life shall end,
You'll wake to bliss with Christ to reign.
13. A worldly Spirit lamented. (Isa. xxx. 21.)
DEAF to the calls of grace,
And heedless of our God,
We shun the way of holiness,
And choose the downward road.
What can the world bestow,
But vanity and care?
Yet, while its emptiness we know,
We seek our pleasures there.
Oh that we never more
From God's commands might stray!
Father, thy wand'ring sheep restore,
And keep us in thy way.
Display thy glorious might;
Our idol-sins destroy;
And fill our souls with heav'nly light,
Our hearts with holy joy.
Christ our Light. (Collect.)
LIGHT of those, whose dreary dwelling
Borders on the shades of death;
Jesus, now thy love revealing,
Scatter ev'ry cloud beneath:
Still we wait for thine appearing;
Life and joy thy beams impart;
Chasing all our doubts, and cheering
Ev'ry meek and contrite heart.
Shew thy power in ev'ry nation,
O thou Prince of peace and love!
Give the knowledge of salvation;
Fix our hearts on things above:
By thine all-sufficient merit
Ev'ry burden'd soul release;
By the influence of thy Spirit,
Guide, O guide us, into peace.
Christ our Hope. (John i. 26, 27.)
COME, O Saviour, long expected,
Born to set thy people free;
From our guilt and fear protected,
We shall find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the saints thou art;
Blest desire of ev'ry nation,
Joy of ev'ry waiting heart.
Born thy people to deliver;
Born a child, and yet a king;
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit,
In our hearts rule thou alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne.
Waiting in Hope of Christ's Coming.
(Isa. xxxii. 17, 18.)
MIGHTY Saviour, gracious King!
Now thy waiting people bless;
Thou that dost deliv'rance bring,
Come to reign in righteousness:
Thou dost heav'nly light impart ;
Tune the ear to Sion's song;
Teach and guide the wayward heart;
Loose and prompt the stamm'ring tongue.
Pour thy Spirit from on high;
Come, thy mourning church to bless;
Streams of life and joy supply;
Fill the world with righteousness:
Light shall then possess thine own,
Holy quiet, perfect peace;
And, where heav'nly seed is sown,
Thou wilt give the blest increase.
The Song of the Angels. (Luke ii. 9-14.)
WHILE shepherds watch'd their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground;
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.
"Fear not," said he,-for mighty dread
Had seiz'd their troubled mind,-
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you, and all mankind.
"To you, in David's town, this day,
Is born, of David's line,
A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign:
The heav'nly babe you there shall find,
To human view display'd,
All meanly wrapt in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid."
Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith
Appear'd a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Address'd their joyful song:-
"All glory be to God on high,
And on the earth be peace;
Goodwill, henceforth, from heaven to men,
Begin and never cease."
18. The Birth of Christ a Theme of Triumph. (John i. 4.)
NATIVITY. P. M.
HARK! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born king;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild;
God and sinners reconcil'd."
ye nations, rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Veil'd in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail, incarnate Deity!
Pleas'd, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, great Immanuel!
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Ris'n with healing in his wings,
Light and life to all he brings.
19. Titles and Offices of Christ. (Isa. ix. 2-7.)
BLEST be thy happy morn,
O day of truth and grace!
The promis'd child is born,
The Saviour of our race:
Now shall the power of darkness fall;
And life and glory rise for all.
He breaks th' oppressor's rod;
He bears the key of heaven;
The awful names of God,
With power, to him are given;
Eternal Father! Mighty Lord!
By earth confest, in heaven ador'd.
All hail, incarnate God!
The power be thine alone:
Now spread thy name abroad;
Exalt thy glorious throne;
Let thy dominion still increase,
And fill the earth with truth and peace.
Praise for Redemption. (Heb. 1.)
MIGHTY God! while angels bless thee,
May a mortal sing thy name!
Lord of men, as well as angels,
Earth and heaven thy love proclaim. Hal. Amen.
Brightness of the Father's glory!
Should thy praise unutter'd lie?
Cease, my tongue, the guilty silence;
Sing the Lord who came to die: Hallelujah, &c.
From the highest throne of glory,
To the Cross of deepest wo,
All to ransom guilty captives;
Flow, my praise, for ever flow. Hallelujah, &c.
Join, ye ransom'd, to adore him;
Lift your hearts and songs above;
Angels swell the sacred chorus;
Join to sing the Saviour's love!
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