CHRISTMAS HYMN.

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V.

And now they vanish!-The bright vision's o'er, And on the listening ear no sounds remain, Save the low winds which whisper as before Across the darken'd plain.

VI.

Yes, they are vanish'd-Heaven, from whence they

came

Again receives them. Oh! ecstatic thought! That glorious heaven, thus peopled, is the same Which Christ for us has bought.

VII.

Oh let us here, with the meek shepherds rise
And seek our Saviour, and implore His grace,
That there hereafter with like glad surprise
may behold His face.

We

I

(Air, Chamont.)

GOOD-FRIDAY.

I.

BE dark, ye heavens! and thou earth, mourn!

Be humbled, human pride!

While now the solemn hours return

In which the Saviour died.

II.

"And is it nothing unto youb"
Ye careless sinners? Stay,

A moment turn, and wond'ring view
The sorrows of this day.

III.

That depth of woe "behold and see,"

Which we could ne'er sustain,

The dark mysterious agony,

The ignominious pain.

IV.

In tears repentant let us trace

Each pang our Saviour bore,
And, with the blessing of His grace,
Resolve to sin no more.

b Lam. i. 12.

GOOD-FRIDAY.

V.

And when, with glory and with power,

Again He shall appear,

May we with joy behold that hour

And our salvation near.

115

MONDAY BEFORE EASTER.

(See the Epistle for the day, from Isa. lxiii.)

I.

WHO is this that comes from Edom, All His garments dyed in blood? He it is who bought our freedom With that pure mysterious flood.

II.

All alone God's wrath He beareth, Strong to suffer-strong to save; None that unknown anguish shareth Which to death such horror gave.

III.

When He heard that awful thunder,

God's dread curse on sin resound, E'en His soul was filled with wonderc That no Saviour might be found!

IV.

Open now the sacred story

Which reveals that Saviour's name,

Who, to bring our souls to glory,
Bore the cross-despis'd the shame.

Isa. lxiii. 5.

MONDAY BEFORE EASTER.

V.

See the agony He beareth,

Strong to suffer-strong to save!
See the crown of thorns He weareth!
Mark His cross! Behold His grave!

VI.

Ye who mock at sin, behold it!

Ye who sport in pleasure's dream! Heaven and earth can ne'er unfold it, What it cost Him to redeem!

VII.

Weep not, ye whom He doth chasten,
Save for that which caus'd His paind

Onward to that kingdom hasten
Where ye ne'er shall weep again.

VIII.

Ye who now rejoice before Him,
E'en that holy joy forego;
With a tearful bliss adore Him,

And a sacred sorrow shew.

d Ezek. ix. 4.

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