enly birth
Thrill deep our hearts again,
And fall like dew-drops to the earth?
"Peace and good-will to men!"

4 Soft!--yet the soul is bound
With rapture, like a chain:
Earth, vocal, whispers them around,
And heav'n repeats the strain.
Sound, harps, and hail the morn
With ev'ry golden string;--
For unto us this day is born
A Saviour and a King!

204. S. H. M. T. H. Bayley.

The Same.

1 No loud avenging voice
Proclaimed Messiah's birth;
The Son of God came down to teach
Humility on earth,
And by his sufferings to efface
The errors of a sinful race.

2 Not on a purple throne,
With gold and jewels crowned,
But in the meanest dwelling place
The precious babe was found:
Yet star-directed sages came,
And kneeling, glorified his name.

3 To shepherds first was shown
The promised boon of heaven,
Who cried, "To us a child is born--
To us a Son is given!"
Death from his mighty throne was hurled,
Faith hailed Salvation to the world.

4 Lord! may thy holy cross
Bear peace from clime to clime,
Till all mankind at length are freed
From sorrow, shame and crime:
Dispel the unbeliever's gloom,
And end the terrors of the tomb!

205. L. M. Campbell.

The Same.

1 When Jordan hushed his waters still,
And silence slept on Zion's hill;
When Bethlehem's shepherds through the night
Watched o'er their flocks by starry light:

2 Hark! from the midnight hills around,
A voice of more than mortal sound,
In distant hallelujahs stole,
Wild murm'ring o'er the raptured soul.

3 "O Zion! lift thy raptured eye,
The long expected hour is nigh;
The joys of nature rise again,
The Prince of Salem comes to reign.

4 "He comes, to cheer the trembling heart,
Bids Satan and his host depart;
Again the day-star gilds the gloom,
Again the bowers of Eden bloom."

206. S. M. Watts.

The Same.

1 Behold, the grace appears,
The blessing promised long;
Angels announce the Saviour near,
In this triumphant song:--

2 "Glory to God on high
And heavenly peace on earth;
Good-will to men, to angels joy,
At the Redeemer's birth."

3