3 For each perfect gift of Thine
To our race so freely given,
Graces, human and Divine,
Flowers of earth, and buds of heaven;
Father, unto Thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
4 For Thy Church that evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Its pure sacrifice of love:
Father, unto Thee we raise
This, our sacrifice of praise.

F. S. PIERPOINT. 1864.

FOR THOSE AT SEA.

112th.

1025 Thou rulest the raging of the sea.—Ps. 89. 9.

1

ПTERNAL Father, strong to save,

ET

Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidst the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

2 O Christ, whose voice the waters heard,
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amid the storm did sleep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

3 Most Holy Spirit, who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

3 O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus ever more shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

W. WHITING. 1860.

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:

HIS ADVENT.

10s.

1026 The angel said... I bring you good tidings

1

CE

of great joy.-Luke 2. 10.

YHRISTIANS, awake, salute the happy morn Whereon the Saviour of mankind was Rise to adore the mystery of love [born; Which hosts of angels chanted from above; With them the joyful tidings first begun Of God Incarnate, of the Virgin's Son. 2 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 fulfilled His promised word, This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord." 3 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 good-will.

4 O may we keep and ponder in our mind
God's wondrous love in saving lost mankind!
Trace we the Babe who hath retrieved our loss
From the poor manger to the bitter cross;
Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace,
Till man's first heavenly state again takes place.
5 Then may we hope, the angelic hosts among,
To join, redeemed, a glad triumphant throng:
He that was born upon this joyful day
Around us all His glory shall display;
Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing
Eternal praise to heaven's almighty King.

1027

1

IT

C.M.

J. BYROM. 1773.

A multitude of the heavenly
God.-Luke 2. 13.

host praising

T came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold-
"Peace to the earth, good-will to men,
From heaven's all-gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

2 Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;

Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on heavenly wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

3 Yet, with the woes of sin and strife,
The world has suffered long;

Beneath the angels' strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;

And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring
Oh! hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!

4 And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way,
With painful steps and slow,-
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing:
Oh! rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

5 For lo! the days are hasting on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When, with the ever-circling years,
Comes round the age of gold ;-
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendours fling,

And the whole earth send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

S. M.

E. H. SEARS. 1850.

1028 Unto you is born... a Saviour which is

1

Christ the Lord.-Luke 2. 11.

HAR

ARK! 'tis the song of heaven,
Let earth resound the strain ;
And let the joyful tidings spread,

O'er island, sea, and main.

4

We join with angel-hosts to sing
His wondrous, boundless fame.

The offering of our hearts,
Low at His feet we lay;
With sacred songs, and holy joy,
Keep the glad holiday.

5 All hail! Thou glorious King!
We give ourselves to Thee;
Our souls adore Thy royal sway,
Let us Thy glory see.

8.6.6.

J. T. WIGNER. 1878.

1029 And she brought forth her first-born Son

1

and laid Him in a manger.-Luke 2. 7.

LL my heart this night rejoices,

A1

As I hear, far and near,

Sweetest angel voices;

"Christ is born!" their choirs are singing,

Till the air, everywhere,

Now with joy is ringing.

2 Hark! a voice from yonder manger,
Soft and sweet, doth entreat :
"Flee from woe and danger;

Brethren, come from all doth grieve you

You are freed;

all you

I will surely give you."

need

3 Come, then, let us hasten yonder; Here let all, great and small, Kneel in awe and wonder

Love Him who with love is yearning ;

Hail the Star that from far

Bright with hope is burning.