PR 1191 Sa iffl H UiH BflOffiesffi RnX m 3w v.-';?/ ; ■ ■1111 191 mmumt liinliiii A ^ "% . ^ +, $■ o o x y- ■ o o N S . t\V f'r "+*. V* kV ^ V*" \ > V ■ > A Or -- THE Book of Praise University Press; -Welch, Bigelow, & Cc THE Book of Praise FROM THE BEST ENGLISH HYMN-WRITERS SELECTED AND ARRANGED BY RC U N D E L L 'PALMEK C A M B RI DOE S EVER AND FRAN( I 1864 \tVt PREFACE THE present is an attempt, not to add to the great and constantly increasing mul- titude of hymn-books intended for congrega- tional use; but- to present, under a convenient arrangement, a collection of such examples of a copious and interesting branch of popu- lar literature as, after a study of the subject which for several years has occupied part of his leisure hours, have seemed to the Editor most worthy of being separated from the mass to which they belong. A good hymn should have simplicity, fresh- ness, and reality of feeling ; a consistent ele- vation of tone, and a rhythm easy and har- monious, but not jingling or trivial. Its language may be homely ; but should not be slovenly or mean. Affectation or visible vi Preface artifice is worse than excess of homeliness : a hymn is easily spoiled by a single falsetto note. Nor will the most exemplary sound- ness of doctrine atone for doggerel, or redeem from failure a prosaic didactic style. There are many hymns in the English lan- guage, which will bear the test of these rules, as well, perhaps, as those of Germany, or of the ancient Latin Church. But they are apt to be presented in such company, or in such a manner, as to detract much from their effect. From the operation of causes connected with the nature of such compositions, it happens, that writers, who do not in general rise above mediocrity, sometimes produce beau- tiful hymns ; while, on the other hand, there is far more dross than gold in the works of all voluminous hymn-writers. Nor are the principles on which popular collections of hymns for congregational use are formed, fa- vorable to that kind of selection, which is here attempted. In such collections, as a general rule, the taste of the compilers is regulated by their theology : they seem to be very easily satisfied with all that they think orthodox and edifying, or liturgically appropriate ; they do not submit hymns, de- Preface vii rived from sources which they respect, to any free or independent criticism; and, on the other hand, they reject, with morbid fastidi- ousness, every sentiment and expression in which they think they detect the traces of opinions which they dislike. It is also their frequent habit to cut down the compositions which they approve, with little discrimination or judgment, to such arbitrary dimensions as suit their ideas of the time which ought to be occupied, during divine service, by congrega- tional singing. The same regard to motives of (real, or supposed) convenience and edification has introduced a system of tampering with the j text of hymns, which has now grown into so i great an abuse, that to meet with any author's genuine text, in a book of this kind, is quite the exception. Censurable as this practice is, in a literary point of view, it must be con- | fessed that those who adopt it may plead, in their excuse, the examples of many of the writers whose compositions they alter. The Wesleys altered- the compositions of George Herbert, Sandys, Austin, and Watts. Top- lady, Madan, and others, altered some of Charles Wesley's hymns, much to his brother viii Preface John's discontent, as he testifies in the pref- ace to his Hym?i-Book for Methodists. Top- lady's own hymns, even the " Rock of Ages," have not escaped similar treatment. James Montgomery complains much, in the preface to the edition of his collected hymns pub- lished in 1853, of his share in this peculiar cross of hymn-writers, as he calls it. But he had himself, about thirty years before, altered the works of other men, in his Christian Psalmist. Bishop Heber, scholar as he was, and editor of Jeremy Taylor's works, silently altered Taylor's Advent Hymn in his own hymn-book ; and the hymns of Heber him- self, and of writers still living, such as Keble, Milman, Alford, and Neale, are met with every day in a variety of forms, which their authors would hardly recognize. Perhaps, when the masters of the art have taken such liberties, it may be explained on the same principle as that on which musicians, and particularly the composers of anthems, produce variations from, and improvements upon, the works of their predecessors : and, indeed, some such variations of hymns are sufficiently good to take rank as new compositions ; better than those by which they were suggested. But this is a rare felicity ; and the result is widely Preface ix different, when the work of alteration is un- dertaken by incompetent hands. In the present volume, while the Editor has not thought it necessary to give the whole of every composition, from which a selection of parts might, in his judgment, more advan- tageously be made, it has been his desire and aim to adhere strictly, in all cases in which it could be ascertained, to the genuine uncor- rupted text of the authors themselves. Great pains have been taken to trace out and ascer- tain the true authorship of such hymns as were either without names of authors, or at- tributed to authors by whom they were not really written, in the books from which the Editor in the first instance took them. This was a task which he could himself scarcely have undertaken, and in which he certainly could not have hoped to succeed, but for the assistance of Mr. Sedgwick, of No. 81, Sun Street, Bishopsgate ; who has bestowed much time and attention on this branch of litera- ture, and has attained to a knowledge of it, probably not possessed by any other English- man. By his valuable help, the authorship of about thirteen fourteenths of the composi- tions here collected has been traced, and the x Preface text collated with the original works of the authors. Thus aided, the Editor has been enabled, before finally completing his selec- tion, to go through all, or almost all, the original publications containing hymns or sa- cred poetry of (amongst others) George Her- bert, Sandys, Wither, Quarles, Crashaw, John Austin, Baxter, Bishop Taylor, Bishop Pat- rick, Bishop Ken, John Mason, Thomas Shepherd, Samuel Crossman, and Lancelot Addison (of the seventeenth century); Jo- seph Addison, Watts, Simon Browne, Ralph Erskine, Doddridge, Hammond, John and Charles Wesley, Cennick, Seagrave, Grigg, Berridge, Olivers, William Williams, Toplady, Cowper, John Newton, Anne Steele, Hart, Gibbons, Michael Bruce, Logan, Byrom, Skelton, Swain, Daniel Turner, Ryland, Sten- riett, Needham, Beddome, Medley, Henry Moore, and Mrs. Barbauld (of the eighteenth century) ; Gisbome, Kirke White, Anne Flow- erdew, Drenan, Bowdler, Kelly, James Mont- gomery, Sir Robert Grant, Bishop Heber, Bishop Mant, Bathurst, Lyte, Edmeston, Ber- nard Barton, Grinfield, and Chandler (of the present century) ; besides other writers, still living, whom it is unnecessary to name ; and many miscellaneous collections, old and mod- Preface xi em.. Of the names thus enumerated, several are not represented at all in this collection ; as the Editor did not find anything in their works which appeared to him to be suitable for his purpose, and equal to the general standard of merit which he desired to main- tain. But of the great majority, as well as of some other writers whose works are not ac- cessible in a collected form, specimens more or less numerous will be found. A few ex- amples of successful variations or centos (in all instances but two, by known authors) from earlier compositions, have also been included ; together with three original hymns, out of several which have been communicated to the Editor, by the kindness of the authors, in manuscript. Upon the works of living authors generally, the Editor has not thought it expedient to draw with the same freedom as upon those of earlier generations ; although he has not deemed it necessary to forego altogether the advantage of including in his book specimens of those works, especially of such of them as have obtained general cur- rency in popular hymn-books. The arrangement which has been adopted in this volume (and upon which some care xii Preface has been bestowed), may be explained in a few words. The Catholic Creeds, and the Lord's Prayer, presenting in their simplest forms, and in their natural order, all the fundamental points of Christianity, both ob- jective and subjective, appeared to the Edi- tor to be the best basis for a classification of those hymns of faith and devotion which ex- press feelings at all times appropriate to a Christian profession. These two groups of hymns constitute Parts I. and II. of the col- lection. The Third Part consists of hymns distinguished chiefly from those of the two former classes, by having a special reference to particular times and occasions. In the Fourth Part will be found distributed, under suitable heads, compositions of a kind inter- mediate between hymns for general use and private meditations j which (although the dis- tinction is better marked in some cases than in others) seem to breathe, upon the whole, the accents of particular, rather than general, consciousness and experience. On this ac- count, they are, for the most part, out of place in ordinary hymn-books, and unfit to be sung by public congregations'; but their tone is not the less spiritual and real ; and those who know anything of their own wants, Preface xiii and of the power of religion, can scarcely fail to be impressed with their beauty and -truth. The Editor is not sure, whether it may not appear to some to be an objection to this classification, that, by bringing closely to- gether a number of hymns on one subject, a sense of repetition and monotony is created, which might have been avoided by a differ- ent method. The repetition, however, which will undoubtedly be met with in the works, not only of different, but even of the same hymn-writers, is of a kind .appropriate to such compositions ; and, therefore, it ought not to be withdrawn from observation. All lovers of Art are familiar with the habitual repetition of Holy Families, and other sacred subjects, by the early painters, down to and including Raffaelle. The constant enthusiastic con- templation of a few subjects, dear to the uni- versal heart of Christendom, and embodying the highest conceptions of Divine purity and beauty, produced a simplicity, refinement, and spirituality of style, which never tires, notwithstanding its limited range. These are the hymns of painters, addressed to the sense of sight. A similar law has always governed, xiv Preface and to this day governs Christian Hymnody ; binding together by the force of a central attraction, more powerful than all causes of difference, times ancient and modern, nations of various race and language, Churchmen and Nonconformists, Churches reformed and unreformed. It is refreshing to turn aside from the divisions of the Christian world, and to rest for a little time in the sense of that inward unity, which, after all, subsists among all good Christians, and which (is it too much to hope T) may perhaps receive some illustration, even from a volume like this. Throughout the volume, the names of the authors, when known, are affixed to their hymns. When more authors than one have been concerned in the composition of a hymn, or when it is a cento or variation by one person from the work of another, the names of all the writers concerned (so far as known) are given. The dates added to the names signify, when without brackets, the time at which each hymn is believed to have been first composed or published : when within brackets, the date of the edition or copy from which the text of a hymn (known Preface xv or believed to have been published at an earlier date, not correctly ascertained) has been taken by the Editor. The text has been verified by collation with the original work of the author, or an authentic copy, in every case, except those specified in the notes at the end of the volume. The notes also show in what cases the text consists of any selected parts or part, less than the whole, of an original work. When a double date is appended to a single name, it signifies that the work, published at the earlier date, was afterwards altered by the author himself, the text of the later date being that adopted. The Editor cannot conclude without re- turning his thanks to many friends, and to some not personally known to him, for the kind assistance, and offers of assistance, which he has received from them, while this work was in progress. His obligations to some of them will be found specially acknowl- edged in the notes. He has also to thank the owners of copyrights in many of the more modern hymns, which are included in the volume, for the consent which they have, in all cases when applied to, kindly given to the use of their works. And if, in any instances, xvi Preface he has, either through ignorance of the exist- ence of a copyright, or for want of means of communication, made use of any work, in respect of which a similar permission ought to have been obtained, without actually ob- taining it, he ventures to hope that the over- sight may be excused, and the same liberality extended to him, as if a request for permis- sion had been previously made. £#: CONTENTS PART THE FIRST. HYMNS ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE SUBJECTS OF THE CREED. Hymn I. The Holy Trinity i. to vn. . II. God the Creator vm. to xxix. III. Christ Incarnate xxx. to xlvii. IV. Christ Crucified xlviii. to lvii. V. Christ Risen lviii. to lxiv. VI. Christ Ascended lxv. to lxxiii. VII. Christ's Kingdom and Judgment lxxiv. to xcn. VIII. God the Holy Ghost .... xcm. to cvn. IX. The Holy Catholic Church . . cvm. to cxxix. X. The Communion of Saints . . cxxx. to cxli. XI. Tht Forgiveness of Sins . . . cxlii. to cxlviii. XII. Resurrection and Eternal Life . cxlix. to clxviii. Page 3 9 34 54 62 70 84 106 121 146 157 164 PART THE SECOND. HYMNS ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE SUBJECTS OF THE LORD S PRAYER. 1 art in \ be Thy ^ " Lord, teach us to pray : I. "Our Father, which art heaven, hallowed Name " II. '"Thy kingdom come" . . III. '"Thy will be done, in earth, | as it is in heaven " . . . ) IV. "Give us this day our daily) bread " f CLXIX. i«7 CLXX. to CLXXIII. 188 CLXXIV. tO CLXXX. . 193 CLXXXI. to CCIV. 199 ccv. to CCXVIII. 222 Contents VI. VII. "And forgive us our tres-\ passes, as we forgive them V that trespass against us " / "And lead us not into temp-\ tation ; but deliver us from > evil" ) " For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen " Hymn ccxix. to CCXXVI. CCXXVII. tO CCXLII. CCXLIII. tO CCXLV. Page PART THE THIRD. HYMNS FOR NATURAL AND SACRED SEASONS. I. Day and Night II. Seed-time and Harvest III. The Old and New Year IV. Baptism and Childhood V. Holy Communion . . VI. Holy Matrimony . . VII. The Burial of the Dead VIII. Church Dedication . . IX. The Lord's Day . . . CCXLVI tO CCLXVI. . 257 CCLXVII. to CCLXXIV. 286 CCLXXV. tO CCLXXX. 294 CCLXXXI. to CCXCI. . 299 CCXCII. to CCXCVIII. 310 CCXCIX. 317 318 ccc to CCCVI. . CCCVII. to CCCIX. . 323 cccx. to CCCXXI. . 326 PART THE FOURTH. SONGS OF THE HEART. I. The Call. — " Rise ; Hex calleth thee." (Mark v x. 49- ) > II. The Answer. — "I will\ arise, and go to my Fa- r ther." (Luke xv. 18.)-' III. Faith. — " Looking unto^ Jesus, the Author and I Finisher of our Faith." I Heb. xii. 2.) . . J cccxxn. to cccxxxiv. cccxxxv. to CCCXLIV. CCCXLV. to CCCI.I. 365 Contents Hymn IV. Love.— "If ye love Me, keep My command- V merits." ( John xiv.15.) - V. Hope. — "Set your affec-A tions on things above ; I not on things on the \ earth." (Col. iii. 2.) ) VI. Joy. — "In whom, though^ now ye see Him not, | yet believing, ye re- joice with joy unspeak- able, and full of glory." | (1 Pet. i. 8.) . . . J VII. Discipline. — "Whom the \ Lord loveth, He chas- > ccclxxxvii. to cccxcix. teneth." (Heb. xii. 6.) / VIII. Patience. — " Be patient, ^ therefore, brethren, un- I XIX Page 375 CCCLXI. to CCCLXXVI. V cccxxxvii. to ccclxxxv: to the coming of the j Lord." (James v. 7.) ) cccc. to ccccxn. Notes 449 List of Authors 466 Index of First Lines 47 1 PART I HYMNS ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE SUBJECTS OF THE CREED PART FIRST THE HOLY TRINITY "The Catholic Faith is this : that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity." HOLY, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty ! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee ; Holy, holy, holy ! Merciful and Mighty ! God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity ! Holy, holy, holy ! all the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea, Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be. Holy, holy, holy ! though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee, Perfect in power, in love and purity. 4 The Book of Praise Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty ! All Thy works shall praise Thy Name in earth and sky and sea ; Holy, holy, holy ! Merciful and Mighty ! God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity ! Bishop Reginald Heber. 1827 ROUND the Lord in glory seated Cherubim and seraphim Filled His temple, and repeated Each to each th' alternate hymn. ' ' Lord, Thy glory fills the heaven, Earth is with its fulness stored ; Unto Thee be glory given, Holy, holy, holy Lord ! " Heaven is still with glory ringing, Earth takes up the angels' cry, "Holy, holy, holy," singing, " Lord of hosts, the Lord most High ! " With His seraph train before Him, With His holy Church below, Thus conspire we to adore Him, Bid we thus our anthem flow : " Lord, Thy glory fills the heaven, Earth is with its fulness stored ; Unto Thee be glory given, Holy, holy, holy Lord ! " Bishop Richard M ant. 1837 The Holy Trinity III HOLY, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts ! When heaven and earth Out of darkness, at Thy word, Issued into glorious birth, All Thy works before Thee stood, And Thine eye beheld them good, While they sang, with one accord, Holy, holy, holy Lord ! Holy, holy, holy ! Thee, One Jehovah evermore, Father, Son, and Spirit, we, Dust and ashes, would adore : Lightly by the world esteemed, From that world by Thee redeemed, Sing we here, with glad accord, Holy, holy, holy Lord ! Holy, holy, holy ! All Heaven's triumphant choir shall sing, When the ransomed nations fall At the footstool of their King : Then shall saints and seraphim, Hearts and voices, swell one hymn, Round the Throne with full accord, Holy, holy, holy Lord ! James Montgomery. 1853 The Book of Praise Tc Deum Laudamus GOD eternal, Lord of all, Lowly at Thy feet we fall, All the earth doth worship Thee ; We amidst the throng Mould be. All the holy angels cry, Hail, thrice holy, God most High ! Lord of all the heavenly powers, Be the same loud anthem ours. Glorified apostles raise Night and day continual praise ; Hast Thou not a mission too For Thy children here to do ? With Thy prophets' goodly line We in mystic bond combine ; For Thou hast to babes revealed Things that to the wise were sealed. Martyrs, in a noble host, Of Thy cross are heard to boast ; Since so bright the crown they wear, Early we Thy cross would bear. All Thy Church in heaven and earth, Jesus ! hail Thy spotless birth ; Own the God, who all has made ; And the Spirit's soothing aid. The Holy Trinity Offspring of a Virgin's womb ; Slain, and Victor o'er the tomb ; Seated on the Judgment-throne, Number us among Thine own ! Day by day we magnify Thee, And would evermore be nigh Thee ; Keep us from the Tempter's snare ; Spare Thy people, Jesu, spare ! J antes Elwin Millard. Te Deum Landamns THEE we adore, eternal Lord ! We praise Thy Name with one accord ; Thy saints, who here Thy goodness see, Through all the world do worship Thee. To Thee aloud all angels cry, And ceaseless raise their songs on high, Both cherubin and seraphin, The heavens and all the powers therein. The Apostles join the glorious throng ; The Prophets swell the immortal song ; The Martyrs' noble army raise Eternal anthems to Thy praise. Thee, Holy, holy, holy King ! Thee, O Lord God of hosts, they sing : Thus earth below, and heaven above, Resound Thy glory and Thy love. Anon. [1842] The Book of Praise I GIVE immortal praise To God the Father's love, For all my comforts here And better hopes above ; He sent His own eternal Son To die for sins that man had done. To God the Son belongs Immortal glory too, Who bought us with His blood From everlasting woe ; And now He lives, and now He reigns, And sees the fruit of all His pains. To God the Spirit's name Immortal worship give, Whose new-creating power Makes the dead sinner live ; His work completes the great design, And fills the soul with joy divine. Almighty God, to Thee Be endless honors clone ; The undivided Three, And the mysterious One ! Where reason fails with all her powers, There faith prevails, and love adores. Isaac Watts. 1709 OKING of kings, before whose throne The angels bow, no gift can we Present that is indeed our own, Since heaven and earth belong to Thee : God the Creator Yet this our souls through grace impart, The offering of a thankful heart. O Jesu, set at God's right hand, With Thine eternal Father plead For all Thy loyal-hearted band, Who still on earth Thy succor need ; For them in weakness strength provide, And through the world their footsteps guide. O Holy Spirit, Fount of breath, Whose comforts never fail nor fade, Vouchsafe the life that knows no death, Vouchsafe the light that knows no shade ; And grant, that we through all our days May share Thy gifts, and sing Thy praise. A non. [1857] II GOD THE CREATOR I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible." VIII Psalm C BEFORE Jehovah's awful throne, Ye nations, bow with sacred joy ; Know that the Lord is God alone, He can create, and He destroy. His sovereign power, without our aid, Made us of clay, and formed us men ; The Book of Praise And when like wandering sheep we strayed, He brought us to His fold again. We '11 crowd Thy gates with thankful songs, High as the heavens our voices raise ; And earth, with her ten thousand tongues, Shall fill Thy courts with sounding praise. Wide as the world is Thy command, Vast as eternity Thy love ; Firm as a rock Thy truth must stand, When rolling years shall cease to move. Isaac Watts. 17T9 Varied by Charles Wesley. 1741 IX Psalm XCIII THE Lord Jehovah reigns And royal state maintains, His head with awful glories crowned ; Arrayed in robes of light, Begirt with sovereign might, And rays of majesty around. Upheld by Thy commands, The world securely stands, And skies and stars obey Thy word : Thy throne was fixed on high Before the starry sky : Eternal is Thy kingdom, Lord. In vain the noisy crowd, Like billows fierce and loud, Against Thine empire rage and roar : In vain, with angry spite, God the Creator The surly nations fight, And dash like waves against the shore. Let floods and nations rage, And all their powers engage ; Let swelling tides assault the sky : The terrors of Thy frown Shall beat their madness down : Thy throne forever stands on high. Thy promises are true, Thy grace is ever new ; There fixed, Thy Church shall ne'er remove Thy saints with holy fear Shall in Thy courts appear, And sing Thine everlasting love. Isaac Watts. 1719 LET all the world rejoice, The great Jehovah reigns ; The thunders are His awful voice ; Our life His will ordains ; The glories of His Name The lightnings, floods, and hail proclaim. He rules by sea and land, O'er boundless realms He sways ; He holds the oceans in His hand, And mighty mountains weighs : Unequalled and alone In majesty He fills His throne. The universe He made By His prevailing might ; The Book of Praise The earth's foundations He hath laid, And scattered ancient night ; When heaven, and earth, and sea, Proclaimed His awful majesty. When the bright orb of day First gleamed with ruddy light, And yonder moon, with silver ray, Marched up the vault of night ; And stars bedecked the skies, That seemed creation's thousand eyes ; And earth's fair form was seen, With flowers and blossoms drest ; And trees, and fields, and meadows green, Adorned her youthful breast, Hung out in boundless space, Amid the ocean's cool embrace ; Glad was the angel throng To see His might prevail ; And loud they sung a joyful song This universe to hail, While yet in youth it stood ; The Maker, too, pronounced it good. But this fair world shall die, The creature of a day ; In ashes and in ruins lie, Its glory passed away : As when before her birth, Again shall be this mighty earth. Soon shall the day be o'er Of yonder brilliant sun ; God the Ci'eator And he shall set to rise no more, His race of glory ran ; And soon, alas ! all soon Shall fade the stars, and yon pale moon. But ever fix'd, the throne Of the Eternal One Shall stand, when all creation's gone, Unequalled and alone ; New worlds to make at will, And His own wise designs fulfil. John Hunt. 1853 XI Psalm CXV NOT unto us, Almighty Lord, But to Thyself the glory be ! Created by Thy awful word, We only live to honor Thee. Where is their God ? the heathen cry, And bow to senseless wood and stone ; Our God, we tell them, fills the sky, And calls ten thousand worlds his own. Vain gods ! vain men ! the Lord alone Is Israel's worship, Israel's friend ; O fear His power, His goodness own, And love Him, trust Him, to the end. Who lean on Him, from strength to strength, From light to light, shall onward move, Till through the grave they pass at length, To sing on high His saving love. He7iry Francis Lyie. 1834 14 The Book of Praise XII Psalm CXLVI HAPPY the man, whose hopes rely On Israel's God ; He made the sky, And earth and seas with all their train ; His truth forever stands secure, He saves the opprest, He feeds the poor ; And none shall find his promise vain. The Lord hath eyes to give the blind ; The Lord supports the sinking mind ; He sends the laboring conscience peace ; He helps the stranger in distress, The widow and the fatherless, And grants the prisoner sweet release. I '11 praise Him while He lends me breath, And when my voice is lost in death Praise shall employ my nobler powers : My days of praise shall ne'er be past, While life and thought and being last, Or immortality endures. Isaac Watts. 17 19 Psalm XIX THE spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim. The unwearied sun, from day to day, Does his Creator's power display, And publishes to every land The work of an Almighty hand. God the Creator I Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the listening earth Repeats the story of her birth ; Whilst all the stars that round her burn, And all the planets in their turn, Confirm the tidings, as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole. What, though in solemn silence all Move round the dark terrestrial ball ; What, though no real voice or sound Amidst their radiant orbs be found ; In reason's ear they all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice, Forever singing, as they shine, " The hand that made us is divine." Joseph Addison. 1728 XIV THERE is a book, who runs may read, Which heavenly truth imparts, And all the lore its scholars need. Pure eyes and Christian hearts. The works of God, above, below, Within us and around, Are pages in that book, to show How God Himself is found. The glorious sky, embracing all, Is like the Maker's love, Wherewith encompassed, great and small In peace and order move. 1 6 The Book of Praise The moon above, the Church below, A wondrous race they run ; But all their radiance, all their glow, Each borrows of its sun. The Saviour lends the light and heat That crowns His holy hill ; The saints, like stars, around His seat Perform their courses still. The saints above are stars in Heaven ; What are the saints on earth ? Like trees they stand, whom God has given, Our Eden's happy birth. Faith is their fix'd unswerving root, Hope their unfading flower ; Fair deeds of charity their fruit, The glory of their bower. The dew of heaven is like Thy grace ; It steals in silence down ; But, where it lights, the favored place By richest fruits is known. One name, above all glorious names, With its ten thousand tongues The everlasting sea proclaims, Echoing angelic songs. The raging fire, the roaring wind, Thy boundless power display : But in the gentler breeze we find Thy Spirit's viewless way. God the Creator Two worlds are ours : 't is only sin Forbids us to descry The mystic heaven and earth within, Plain as the sea and sky. Thou who hast given us eyes to see And love this sight so fair, Give us a heart to find out Thee, And read Thee everywhere. John Keble. 1827 XV Psalm LXV ON God the race of man depends, Far as the "earth's remotest ends, Where the Creator's name is known By nature's feeble light alone. He bids the noisy tempests cease ; He calms the raging crowd to peace, When a tumultuous nation raves Wild as the winds, and loud as waves. Whole kingdoms, shaken by the storm, He settles in a peaceful form ; Mountains, established by His hand, Firm on their old foundations stand. Behold His ensigns sweep the sky ; New comets blaze, and lightnings fly ! The heathen lands, with swift surprise, From the bright horrors turn their eyes. 2 1 8 The Book of Praise At His command the morning ray Smiles in the east, and leads the day ; He guides the sun's declining wheels Over the tops of western hills. Seasons and times obey His voice ; The evening and the morn rejoice To see the earth made soft with showers, Laden with fruit, and drest in flowers. 'T is from His watery stores on high He gives the thirsty ground supply ; He walks upon the clouds, and thence Doth His enriching drops dispense. The desert grows a fruitful field, Abundant food the valleys yield ; The valleys shout with cheerful voice, And neighboring hills repeat their joys. Thy works pronounce Thy power divine ; O'er every field Thy glories shine ; Through every month thy gifts appear ; Great God ! Thy goodness crowns the year ! Isaac Watts. 1719 THY goodness, Lord, our souls confess, Thy goodness we adore ; A spring, whose blessings never fail, A sea without a shore. Sun, moon, and stars, Thy love attest In eveiy cheerful ray ; Love draws the curtains of the night, And love restores the day. God the Creator 19 Thy bounty every season crowns With all the bliss it yields, With joyful clusters bend the vines, With harvests wave the fields. But chiefly Thy compassions, Lord, Are in the Gospel seen ; There, like the Sun, Thy mercy shines Without a cloud between. Thomas Gibbons. 1784 I SING th' almighty power of God, That made the mountains rise, That spread the flowing seas abroad, And built the lofty skies. I sing the wisdom that ordained The sun to rule the day : The moon shines full at His command, And all the stars obey. I sing the goodness of the Lord That filled the earth with food ; He formed the creatures with His word, And then pronounced them good. Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, Where'er I turn my eye ; If I survey the ground I tread, Oi gaze upon the sky ! There 's not a plant or flower below, But makes Thy glories known ; And clouds arise, and tempests blow, By order from Thy throne. The Book of Praise Creatures, as numerous as they be, Are subject to Thy cai-e ; There 's not a place where we can flee But God is present there. In heaven He shines with beams of love, With wrath in hell beneath ; 'T is on His earth I stand or move, And 't is His air I breathe. His hand is my perpetual guard ; He keeps me with His eye ; Why should I then forget the Lord, Who is forever nigh ? Isaac Watts. 1720 YES, God is good ; in earth and sky, From ocean-depths and spreading wood, Ten thousand voices seem to cry, " God made us all, and God is good." The sun that keeps his trackless way, And downward pours his golden flood, Night's sparkling hosts, all seem to say, In accents clear, that God is good. The merry birds prolong the strain, Their song with every spring renewed ; And balmy air, and falling rain, Each softly whisper, " God is good." I hear it in the rushing breeze ; The hills that have for ages stood, God the Creator 21 The echoing sky and roaring seas, All swell the chorus, " God is good." Yes, God is good, all Nature says, By God's own hand with speech endued ; And man, in louder notes of praise, Should sing for joy that God is good. For all Thy gifts we bless Thee, Lord ; But chiefly for our heavenly food, Thy pardoning grace, Thy quick'ning word ; These prompt our song, that God is good. John Hampden Gurney. 1851 Nil laudibus nostris eges OUR praise Thou need'st not ; but Thy love, Our Father and our Friend, Would have our prayers thus soar above, In blessings to descend. Thy secret judgments' depths profound Still sings the silent night ; The day upon his golden round Thy pity infinite. The soul lost in astonishment Would speechless wonder fill ; But, in the ravished bosom pent, Love cannot all be still. Feeble and faint, she fain would tell Of our great Father's love, Tempering the ills that with us dwell, And pledging good above. 22 The Book of Praise Thither would our best thoughts aspire, But chains on us abide ; O quicken Thou our faint desire, And to Thy presence guide ! Isaac Williams. 1839 XX LET all the world in every corner sing My God and King ! The heavens are not too high ; His praise may thither fly : The earth is not too low ; His praises there may grow. Let all the world in every corner sing My God and King ! The Church with psalms must shout ; No door can keep them out : But, above all, the heart Must bear the longest part. Let all the world in every corner sing My God and King ! George Herbert. 1632 XXI Psalm CIV O WORSHIP the King, All glorious above ; O gratefully sing His power and His love ; Our Shield and Defender, The Ancient of days, Pavilioned in splendor, And girded with praise. God the Creator 23 O tell of His might, O sing of His grace, Whose robe is the light, Whose canopy space ; His chariots of wrath Deep thunder-clouds form, And dark is His path On the wings of the storm. The earth, with its store Of wonders untold Almighty, Thy power Hath founded of old, Hath stablished it fast By a changeless decree, And round it hath cast, Like a mantle, the sea. Thy bountiful care What tongue can recite ? It breathes in the air, It shines in the light ; It streams from the hills, It descends to the plain, And sweetly distils In the dew and the rain. Frail children of dust, And feeble as frail, In Thee do we trust, Nor find Thee to fail : Thy mercies how tender ! How firm to the end ! Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend ! 24 The Book of Praise O measureless Might ! Ineffable Love ! While angels delight To hymn Thee above, The humbler creation, Though feeble their lays, With true adoration Shall lisp to Thy praise. Sir Robert Grant. [1839] XXII SING to the Lord with cheerful voice ; From realm to realm the notes shall sound, And heaven's exulting sons rejoice To bear the full Hosanna round. When, starting from the shades of night, At dread Jehovah's high behest, The Sun arrayed his limbs in light, And Earth her virgin beauty drest ; Thy praise transported Nature sung In pealing chorus loud and far ; The echoing vault with rapture rung, And shouted every morning star-. When, bending from His native sky, The Lord of Life in mercy came, And laid His bright effulgence by, To bear on earth a human name ; The song, by cherub voices raised, Rolled through the dark blue depths above ; And Israel's shepherds heard amazed The seraph notes of peace and love. God the Creator 25 And shall not man the concert join, For whom this bright creation rose, — For whom the fires of morning shine, And eve's still lamps, that woo repose And shall not he the chorus swell, Whose form the Incarnate Godhead wore, Whose guilt, whose fears, whose triumph tell How deep the wounds his Saviour bore ? Long as yon glittering arch shall bend, Long as yon orbs in glory roll, Long as the streams of life descend To cheer with hope the fainting soul, Thy praise shall fill each grateful voice, Shall bid the song of rapture sound : And heaven's exulting sons rejoice To bear the full Hosanna round. John Bowdler. 1814 XXIII Psalm CHI PRAISE, my soul, the King of heaven ; To His feet thy tribute bring ; Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Who like me His praise should sing ? Praise Him ! praise Him ! Praise the everlasting King ! Praise Him for His grace and favor To our fathers in distress ; Praise Him, still the same forever, Slow to chide, and swift to bless ; Praise Him ! praise Him ! Glorious in His faithfulness ! 26 The Book of Praise Father-like He tends and spares us ; Well our feeble frame he knows ; In His hands He gently bears us, Rescues us from all our foes : Praise Him ! praise Him ! Widely as His mercy flows ! Angels, help us to adore Him, Ye behold Him face to face ; Sun and moon, bow down before Him ; Dwellers all in time and space, Praise Him ! praise Him ! Praise with us the God of grace ! Henry Francis Lyte. 1834 XXIV Psalm CL PRAISE the Lord, His glories show, Saints within His courts below, Angels round His throne above, All that see and share His love. Earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, Tell His wonders, sing His worth ; Age to age, and shore to shore, Praise Him, praise Him, evermore ! Praise the Lord, His mercies trace ; Praise His providence and grace, All that He for man hath done, All He sends us through His Son : Strings and voices, hands and hearts, In the concert bear your parts ; All that breathe, your Lord adore, Praise Him, praise Him, evermore ! Henry Francis Lyte. 1834 God the Creator 27 XXV Psalm CXLVIII PRAISE the Lord of Heaven, praise Him in the height, Praise Him, all ye angels, praise Him, stars and light; Praise Him, skies, and waters, which above the skies, When His word commanded, 'stablished did arise. ■ Praise the Lord, ye fountains of the deeps and seas, Rocks and hills and mountains, cedars and all trees ; Praise Him, clouds and vapors, snow, and hail, and fire, Stormy wind, fulfilling only His desire. Praise Him, fowls and cattle, princes and all kings, I Praise Him, men and maidens, all created things ; For the Name of God is excellent alone ; Over earth His footstool, over heaven His throne. T. B. Browne. 1844 HARK, my soul, how everything Strives to serve our bounteous King Each a double tribute pays, Sings its part, and then obeys. Nature's chief and sweetest choir Him with cheerful notes admire ; Chanting every day their lauds, While the grove their song applauds. Though their voices lower be, Streams have too their melody ; Night and day they warbling run, Never pause, but still sing on. 28 The Book of Praise All the flowers that gild the spring Hither their still music bring ; If Heaven bless them, thankful they Smell more sweet, and look more gay. Only we can scarce afford This short office to our Lord ; We, on whom His bounty flows, All things gives, and nothing owes. Wake, for shame, my sluggish heart, Wake, and gladly sing thy part ; Learn of birds, and springs, and flowers, How to use thy nobler powers. Call whole nature to thy aid, Since 't was He whole nature made ; Join in one eternal song, Who to one God all belong. Live forever, glorious Lord ! Live, by all Thy works adored ! One in Three, and Three in One, Thrice we bow to Thee alone ! John A tistin. 1668 COME, O come ! in pious lays Sound we God Almighty's praise Hither bring, in one consent, Heart, and voice, and instrument : Music add of every kind, Sound the trump, the cornet wind, Strike the viol, touch the lute, Let not tongue nor string be mute ; God the Creator 29 Nor a creature dumb be found That hath either voice or sound. Let those things which do not live In still music praises give ; Lowly pipe, ye worms that creep On the earth or in the deep : Loud aloft your voices strain, Beasts and monsters of the main ; Birds, your warbling treble sing ; Clouds, your peals of thunder ring ; Sun and moon, exalted higher, And bright stars, augment the choir. Come, ye sons of human race, In this chorus take your place, And amid the mortal throng Be you masters of the song : Angels and supernal powers, Be the noblest tenor yours : Let, in praise of God, the sound Run a never-ending round, That our song of praise may be Everlasting, as is He. From earth's vast and hollow womb, Music's deepest base may come ; Seas and floods, from shore to shore, Shall their counter-tenors roar : To this concert, when we sing, Whistling winds your descants bring ; That our song may over- climb All the bounds of place and time, And ascend, from sphere to sphere, To the great Almighty's ear. 30 The Book of Praise So from heaven on earth He shall Let His gracious blessings fall : And this huge wide orb we see Shall one choir, one temple be ; Where in such a praiseful tone We will sing what He hath done, That the cursed fiends below Shall thereat impatient grow : Then, O come, in pious lays Sound we God Almighty's praise ! George Wither. 1641 TO God, ye choir above, begin A hymn so loud and strong, That all the universe may hear And join the grateful song. Praise Him, thou sun, Who dwells unseen Amidst transcendent light, Where thy refulgent orb would seem A spot, as dark as night. Thou silver moon, ye host of stars, The universal song Through the serene and silent night To listening worlds prolong. Sing Him, ye distant worlds and suns, From whence no travelling ray Hath yet to us, through ages past, Had time to make its way. Assist, ye raging storms, and bear On rapid wings His praise, God the Creator 31 From north to south, from east to west, Through heaven, and earth, and seas. Exert your voice, ye furious fires That rend the watery cloud, And thunder to this nether world Your Maker's words aloud. Ye works of God, that dwell unknown Beneath the rolling main ; Ye birds, that sing among the groves, And sweep the azure plain ; Ye stately hills, that rear your heads, And towering pierce the sky ; Ye clouds, that with an awful pace Majestic roll on high ; Ye insects small, to which one leaf Within its narrow sides A vast extended world displays, And spacious realms provides ; Ye race, still less than these, with which The stagnant water teems, To which one drop, however small, A boundless ocean seems ; Whate'er ye are, where'er ye dwell, Ye creatures great or small, Adore the wisdom, praise. the power, That made and governs all. And if ye want or sense or sounds, To swell the grateful noise, Prompt mankind with that sense, and they Shall find for you a voice. 32 The Book of Praise From all the boundless realms of space Let loud Hosannas sound ; Loud send, ye wondrous works of God, The grateful concert round. Philip Skelton. 1784 T HE strain upraise of joy and praise, To the glory of their King Shall the ransomed people sing, Alleluia ! Alleluia ! And the choirs that dwell on high Shall re-echo through the sky, Alleluia ! They through the fields of Paradise who roam, The blessed ones, repeat through that bright home, Alleluia ! The planets glittering on their heavenly way, The shining constellations, join and say, Alleluia ! Ye clouds that onward sweep, Ye winds on pinions light, Ye thunders, echoing loud and deep, Ye lightnings, wildly bright, In sweet consent unite your Alleluia ! Ye floods and ocean billows, Ye storms and winter snow, Ye days of cloudless beauty, Hoar frost and summer glow ; Ye groves that wave in spring, And glorious forests, sing Alleluia ! God the Creator 33 First let the birds, with painted plumage gay, Exalt their great Creator's praise, and say Alleluia ! Then let the beasts of earth, with varying strain, Join in creation's hymn, and cry again, Alleluia ! Here let the mountains thunder forth sonorous, Alleluia ! There let the valleys sing in gentler chorus, Alleluia ! Thou jubilant abyss of ocean, cry Alleluia ! Ye tracts of earth and continents, reply Alleluia ! To God, who all creation made, The frequent hymn be duly paid ; Alleluia ! This is the strain, the eternal strain, the Lord Almighty loves ; Alleluia ! This is the song, the heavenly song, that Christ him- self approves ; Alleluia ! Wherefore we sing, both heart and voice awaking, Alleluia ! And children's voices echo, answer making, Alleluia ! Now from all men be outpoured Alleluia to the Lord ; With Alleluia evermore The Son and Spirit we adore. Praise be done to the Three in One, Alleluia ! Alleluia ! Alleluia ! Alleluia ! John Mason Neale. 1851 3 34 The Book of Praise III CHRIST INCARNATE "And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made, being of one Substance with the Father, by whom all things were made : " Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from Heaven, and was Incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man." XXX " Ja,7n desinant suspiria." WAY with sorrow's sigh, Our prayers are heard on high ; And through Heaven's crystal door On this our earthly floor Comes meek-eyed Peace to walk with poor mortality. In dead of night profound, There breaks a seraph sound Of never-ending morn ; The Lord of glory born Within a holy grot on this our sullen ground. Now with that shepherd crowd, If it might be allowed, We fain would enter there With awful hastening fear, And kiss that cradle chaste in reverend worship bowed. A Christ Incarnate 35 O sight of strange surprise That fills our gazing eyes ; A manger coldly strewed, And swaddling bands so rude, A leaning mother poor, and child that helpless lies. Art Thou, O wondrous sight, Of lights the very Light, Who holdest in Thy hand The sky and sea and land, — Who than the glorious heavens art more exceeding bright ? 'T is so ; faith darts before, And, through the cloud drawn o'er, She sees the God of all, Where angels prostrate fall, Adoring tremble still, and trembling still adore. No thunders round Thee break ; Yet doth Thy silence speak From that, Thy Teacher's seat, To us around Thy feet, To shun what flesh desires, what flesh abhors to seek. Within us, Babe divine, Be born, and make us Thine ; Within our souls reveal Thy love and power to heal ; Be born, and make our hearts Thy cradle and Thy shrine. Isaac Williams. 1839 36 The Book of Praise WHAT sudden blaze of song Spreads o'er the expanse of Heaven ? In waves of light it thrills along, Th' angelic signal given : Glory to God ! from yonder central fire Flows out the echoing lay beyond the starry choir. Like circles widening round Upon a clear blue river, Orb after orb, the wondrous sound Is echoed on forever : " Glory to God on high, on earth be peace, And love towards men of love, salvation and release ! " Yet stay, before thou dare To join that festal throng ; Listen, and mark what gentle air First stirred the tide of song : 'T is not, " the Saviour born in David's home, To whom for power and health obedient worlds should come." 'T is not, " the Christ the Lord" : With fixed adoring look The choir of angels caught the word, Nor yet their silence broke : But when they heard the sign, where Christ should be, In sudden light they shone, and heavenly harmony. Wrapped in His swaddling bands. And in His manger laid, The Hope and Glory of all lands Is come to the world's aid : Christ Incarnate 37 No peaceful home upon His cradle smiled ; Guests rudely went and came, where slept the royal Child. But where Thou dwellest, Lord, No other thought should be ; Once duly welcomed and adored, How should I part with Thee ? Bethlehem must lose Thee soon ; but Thou wilt grace The single heart to be Thy sure abiding-place. Thee, on the bosom laid Of a pure virgin mind, In quiet ever and in shade Shepherd and sage may find ; They, who have bowed untaught to Nature's sway, And they, who follow Truth along her star-paved way. The pastoral spirits first Approach Thee, Babe divine ; For they in lowly thoughts are nurst, Meet for Thy lowly shrine : Sooner than they should miss where Thou dost dwell, Angels from heaven will stoop to guide them to Thy cell. Still, as the day comes round For Thee to be revealed, By wakeful shepherds Thou art found, Abiding in the field : All through the wintry heaven and chill night air In music and in light Thou dawnest on their prayer. 38 The Book of Praise O faint not ye for fear ! What though your wandering sheep, Reckless of what they see and hear, Lie lost in wilful sleep ? High Heaven, in mercy to your sad annoy, Still greets you with glad tidings of immortal joy. Think on the eternal home The Saviour left for you ; Think on the Lord most holy, come To dwell with hearts untrue : So shall ye tread untired His pastoral ways, And in the darkness sing your carol of high praise. John Keble. 1827 ,r I "* IS come, the time so oft foretold, X The time eternal love forecast ; Four thousand years of hope have rolled, And God hath sent His Son at last ; Let heaven, let earth, adore the plan ; Glory to God, and grace to man ! To swains that watched their nightly fold, Of lowly lot, of lowly mind, To these the tidings first were told, That told of hope for lost mankind ; God gives His Son ; no more He can ; Glory to God, and grace to man ! And well to shepherds first 't is known, The Lord of angels comes from high, In humblest aspect like their own, Good Shepherd, for His sheep to die : O height and depth, which who shall span ? Glory to God, and grace to man ! Christ Incarnate 39 Fain with those meek, those happy swains, Lord, I would hear that angel choir ; Till, ravished by celestial strains, My heart responds with holy fire ; (That holy fire Thy breath must fan ;) Glory to God, and grace to man ! T/iomas Gt infield. 1836 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 seized 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 The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord ; And this shall be the sign. " The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapt in swathing bands, And in a manger laid." Thus spake the Seraph ; and forthwith Appeared a shining throng Of angels, praising God, and thus Addressed their joyful song. 40 The Book of Praise " All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace ; Good will henceforth from Heaven to men Begin, and never cease ! " Nahum Tate. 1703 HARK ! how all the welkin rings ! Glory to the King of kings ! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled ! Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies ; Universal nature say, Christ the Lord is born to-day ! Christ, by highest Heaven adored ; Christ, the Everlasting Lord ; Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a Virgin's womb : Veiled in flesh the Godhead see ; Hail, the Incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to appear, Jesus, our Immanuel here ! Hail ! the heavenly Prince of Peace ! Hail ! the Son of Righteousness ! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Christ Incarnate 41 Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home ! Rise, the Woman's conquering Seed, Bruise in us the Serpent's head ! Now display Thy saving power, Ruined nature now restore, Now in mystic union join Thine to ours, and ours to Thine ! Adam's likeness, Lord, efface ; Stamp Thy image in its place ; Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love ! Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the Life, the Heavenly Man : O, to all Thyself impart, Formed in each believing heart ! diaries Wesley. 1743 WE 'LL sing, in spite of scorn : Our theme is come from Heaven : To us a Child is born, To us a Son is given ; The sweetest news that ever came We '11 sing, though all the world should blame. The long-expected morn Has dawned upon the earth ; The Saviour Christ is born, And angels sing His birth : We '11 join the bright seraphic throng, We '11 share their joys, and swell their song. 42 The Book of Praise O, 't is a lofty theme, Supplied by angels' tongues ! All other objects seem Unworthy of our songs. This sacred theme has boundless charms, It fills, it captivates, it warms. Now sing of peace divine, Of grace to guilty man ; No wisdom, Lord, but Thine Could form the wondrous plan ; Where peace and righteousness embrace, And justice goes along with grace. Give praise to God on high, With angels round His throne ; Give praise to God with joy, Give praise to God alone ! 'T is meet His saints their songs should raise, And give the Saviour endless praise. Thomas Kelly. 1806 - 1836 XXXVI THE scene around me disappears, And, borne to ancient regions, While time recalls the flight of years, I see angelic legions Descending in an orb of light : ' Amidst the dark and silent night I hear celestial voices. Tidings, glad tidings from above To every age and nation ! Tidings, glad tidings ! God is Love, To man He sends salvation ! Christ Incarnate His Son beloved, His only Son, The work of mercy hath begun ; Give to His Name the glory ! Through David's city I am led ; Here all around are sleeping ; A Light directs to yon poor shed ; There lonely watch is keeping : I enter ; ah ! what glories shine ! Is this Immanuel's earthly shrine, Messiah's infant Temple ? It is, it is ; and I adore This Stranger meek and lowly, As saints and angels bow before The throne of God thrice Holy ! Faith through the veil of flesh can see The Face of Thy Divinity, My Lord, my God, my Saviour ! James Montgomery. 1825 THOUGH rude winds usher thee, sweet day, Though clouds thy face deform, Though nature's grace is swept away Before thy sleety storm ; Ev'n in thy sombrest wintry vest, Of blessed clays thou art most blest. Nor frigid air nor gloomy morn Shall check our jubilee ; Bright is the day when Christ was born, No sun need shine but He ; Let roughest storms their coldest blow, With love of Him our hearts shall glow. 43 44 The Book of Praise Inspired with high and holy thought, Fancy is on the wing ; It seems as to mine ear it brought Those voices carolling, Voices through heaven and earth that ran, Glory to God, good-will to man. I see the shepherds gazing wild At those fair spirits of light ; I see them bending o'er the Child With that untold delight "Which marks the face of those who view Things but too happy to be true. There, in the lowly manger laid, Incarnate God they see ; He stoops to take, through spotless maid, Our frail humanity : Son of high God, creation's Heir, He leaves His Heaven to raise us there. Through Him, Lord, we are born anew, Thy children once again ; Oh ! day by day our hearts renew, That Thine we may remain, And, angel-like, may all agree, One sweet and holy family. Oft, as this joyous morn doth come To speak our Saviour's love, O, may it bear our spirits home, Where He now reigns above ; That day which brought Him from the skies, And man restores to Paradise ! Christ Incarnate 45 Then let winds usher thee, sweet day, Let clouds thy face deform ; Though nature's grace is swept away Before thy sleety storm ; Ev'n in thy sombrest wintry vest Of blessed days thou art most blest. Samuel Richards. 1825 IT 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. 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. Yet with the woes of sin and strife The world has suffered long ; Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong ; * And men, at war with men, hear not The love-song which they bring : Oh ! hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing ! 46 The Book of Praise 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 ! For lo ! the days are hastening 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 splendors fling, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing. Edmund H. Sears, [i860] XXXIX THE race that long in darkness pined Have seen a glorious Light ; The people dwell in Day, who dwelt In Death's surrounding night. To hail Thy rise, Thou better Sun, The gathering nations come, Joyous as when the reapers bear The harvest-treasures home. For Thou our burden hast removed, And quelled th' oppressor's sway, Quick as the slaughtered squadrons fell In Midian's evil day. Christ Incarnate 47 To us a Child of Hope is born, To us a Son is given ; Him shall the tribes of earth obey, Him all the hosts of heaven. His Name shall be the Prince of Peace, Forevermore adored, The Wonderful, the Counsellor, The great and mighty Lord. His power increasing still shall spread, His reign no end shall know : Justice shall guard His throne above, And Peace abound below. John Morrison. 1770 BRIGHT was the guiding star that led With mild, benignant ray The Gentiles to the lowly shed, Where the Redeemer lay. But lo ! a brighter, clearer light Now points to His abode ; It shines through sin and sorrow's night, To guide us to our God. O haste to follow where it leads ; The gracious call obey ; Be rugged wilds, or flowery meads, The Christian's destined way. O gladly tread the narrow path While light and grace are given ! Who meekly follow Christ on earth Shall reign with Him in heaven. A non . ' ' Sph it of the Psalms. " 1 829 48 The Book of Praise AS with gladness men of old Did the guiding star behold ; As with joy they hailed its light, Leading onward, beaming bright ; So, most gracious God, may we Evermore be led by Thee. As with joyful steps they sped To that lowly manger-bed ; There to bend the knee before Him whom heaven and earth adore ; So may we with willing feet Ever seek Thy mercy-seat. As they offered gifts most rare At that manger rude and bare ; So may we with holy joy, Pure, and free from sin's alloy, All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to Thee, our Heavenly King. Holy Jesus ! every day Keep us in the narrow way ; And, when earthly things are past, Bring our ransomed souls at last Where they need no star to guide, Where no clouds Thy glory hide. In the heavenly country bright Need they no created light ; . Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown, Thou its Sun, which goes not down : There forever may we sing Hallelujahs to our King. William Chatterton Dix. Christ Incarnate 49 HARK, the glad sound ! the Saviour comes, The Saviour promised long ; Let every heart prepare a throne, And every voice a song ! He comes, the prisoners to release In Satan's bondage held ; The gates of brass before Him burst, The iron fetters yield. He comes, from thickest films of vice To clear the mental ray, And on the eyeballs of the blind To pour celestial day. He comes, the broken heart to bind, The bleeding soul to cure, And with the treasures of His grace To enrich the humble poor. Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace, Thy welcome shall proclaim, And heaven's eternal arches ring With thy beloved name. Philip Doddridge. 1755 LO ! He comes ! let all adore Him ! 'T is the God of grace and truth ! Go ! prepare the way before Him, Make the rugged places smooth ! Lo ! he comes, the mighty Lord ! Great His work, and His reward. 4 5