THE MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 9

I

HARK! the glad tidings!. Jesus.comes;
Messiah promis'd long:
Let ev'ry heart a throne prepare,
And every voice a song!

II

On him the spirit, largely shed,
Exerts its sacred fire:

Wisdom and pow'r, and zeal and love,
His holy breast inspire.

III

He comes, from galling chains of vice,
To free the captive mind;
He comes to pour the cheering light
Of truth upon the mind.

.IV

He comes with blessings for the meek,
The broken heart to cure ;

And, with the treasures of his love,
T'enrich the humble

V

poor.

Glory to GOD! who reigns on high,
And heav'nly peace on earth;

Good will to man, to angels joy,
At the messiah's birth.

CHRIST THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

I

BEHOLD! the prince of peace! 1 he chosen of the LORD! GOD's well-beloved son! fulfils The sure prophetic word.

No royal pomp adorns

This king of righteousness; Meekness and patience, truth and love Compose his princely dress.

III

Jesus, the light of men!

His doctrine life imparts;
O! may we feel its quick'ning pow'r
To warm and glad our hearts!

IV

Cheer'd by its beams, our lives
Shall speed the heav'nly way:

The path which Christ has mark'd and trod,
Will lead to endless day.

THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST.

I

Is then the gospel peace and love?
So let our conversation be ;;

The serpent blended with the dove,
Wisdom with meek simplicity.

II

Whene'er the angry passions rise,
And tempt our thoughts or tongues to strife,
On Jesus let us fix our eyes,
Bright pattern of the christian life!

III

O how benevolent and kind!
How mild how ready to forgive!
Be his, the temper of our mind,
And his, the rules by which we live.

IV

To do his heav'nly father's will,
Was his employment and delight:
Humility and holy zeal

Shone through his life divinely bright!

γ

Dispensing good, where'er he came,
The labours of his life were love:
If then we love Christ's honour'd name,
Let his divine example move.

THE TRIUMPH OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM.

I

MAKER! and sov'reign LORD Of heav'n, and earth, and seas! Thy providence confirms thy word, And answers thy decrees.

Why did the gentiles rage, And jews, with one accord, Bend all their counsels to destroy Th' anointed of the LORD?

III

Rulers and kings agree

To form a vain design;

Against the LORD, their pow'rs unite, Against his Christ, they join.

IV

The LORD derides their rage, And will support his throne; He that hath rais'd him from the dead, Hath own'd him for his son.

HOPE OF HEAVEN CONFIRMED BY THE RESURRECTION

OF CHRIST.

I

I

PRAIS D be the everlasting GOD,
The father of our LORD!
Be thy abounding mercy prais'd,
Thy majesty ador'd!

II

When from the dead thou rais'dst thy son,
And call'dst him to the sky,
Thou gav'st us a more lively hope,
That we should never die.

III.

What though thy uncontrol'd decree
Command us back to dust;
Since Christ our great exemplar rose,
So all his followers must.

IV

There's an inheritance divine
Reserv'd against that day;
"Tis uncorrupted, undefil'd,
And cannot fade away.

We, by thy pow'r, o GOD! are kept
Till this salvation come;

We live in hope, as strangers here,
Till thou shalt call us home.