41.-8.6.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,

goodwill toward men.

O LOVELY voices of the sky

That hymned the Saviour's birth,
Are ye not singing still on high,
Ye that sang Peace on earth ??
To us yet speak the strains,

Wherewith in days gone by,
Ye blessed the Syrian swains,

O voices of the sky!

O clear and shining light, whose beams

That hour heaven's glory shed
Around the palms, and o'er the streams,
And on the shepherd's head!
Be near through life and death,

As in that holiest night
Of hope, and joy, and faith,

O clear and shining light!

O star which led to him, whose love

Brought down man's ransom free!
Where art thou ? mid the host above
May we still gaze on thee?
In heaven thou art not set,

Thy rays earth might not dim ;
Send them to guide us yet,

O star which led to him !

42.-L.M.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multi

tude of the heavenly host. ONE angel came to tell the tale

That Christ was born, to those sage swains Who rested in that starlit vale,

And fed their flocks on Bethlehem's plains.

One angel came of this to tell,
But
many more took

up

the song That hailed his birth, with sweetest swell,

And filled the heavens, clear and strong.

Thus bless thy minister, O Lord !

That he one angel-song should give, The choicest chant of thee adored

The loveliest lay, that Christ doth live!

Thus grant thy congregation, Lord !

That they thus angel-songs should raise, With the apostle of thy word

Priests all and prophets of thy praise.

43.-C.M.

And lo, the star which they saw in the east, went

before them.
BRIGHT was the guiding star that led

With mild benignant ray
The Gentiles to the lowly shed,

Where the Redeeiner 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 Lord.
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.

44.-C.M.D.

Peace on earth. CHRIST came on earth, the Prince of Peace!

Then peace was o'er the world!
Then did the tramp of legions cease

And war's red flag was furled.
The sword within its sheath was put,

The lance was in its rest,
The deadly engine's mouth was shut,

And angel-songs were blest.
O Prophecy ! of him who came

To preach to men from God-
Peace to the battle's demon flame :

Peace to the tyrant's rod :
Peace all around and peace within,

Peace to the mourner's breast :
Peace to the soul at war in sin,

Peace and eternal rest.

45.-L.M.

When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceed

ing great joy.

WHEN marshalled on the nightly plain
The glittering host bestud the sky,
One star alone of all the train,
Can fix the sinner's wandering eye.

Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks
From every host, from every gem;
But one alone the Saviour speaks,
It is the Star of Bethlehem.

Once on the raging seas I rode,
The storm was loud, the night was dark,
The ocean yawned, and rudely blowed
The wind that tossed my foundering bark.

Deep horror then my vitals froze,
Deathstruck, I ceased the tide to stem;
When suddenly a star arose,
It was the Star of Bethlehem.

It was my guide, my light, my all,
It bade my dark forebodings cease;
And through the storm and danger's thrall
It led me to the

peace.

port of

Now safely moored, my perils o'er,
I'll sing, first in night's diadem,
For ever, and for evermore,
The Star! the Star of Bethlehem !

46.-7.8.

And she laid him in a manger.

IN the stable Christ was born

Bethlehem's stable ever holy;
All amid the kine and corn

Lay the child so high and lowly.
All amid the kine, our Lord,

He whom David's harp so holy
Sung should save both man and herd,

Lay a child so high and lowly.
Let us, his disciples, show,

Taught by this in kindness holy,
Mercy to the beast so low,

Love to all things living lowly.
Christ, the child, the child divine !

In the manger, 'mid the corn-
All amid the lowing kine-

In the stable Christ was born.

47.-C.M. Break forth into singing ye mountains, O forest,

and every tree. JOY to the world ; the Lord is come !

Let earth receive her King, Let every heart prepare

him room, And Heaven and nature sing. Joy to the earth ; the Saviour reigns !

Let men their songs employ; While fields, and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,

Repeat the sounding joy.