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 reveal'd,

By wakeful shepherds Thou art found
Abiding in the field:

All though the wintry heaven and chill night air In music and in light Thou dawnest on their prayer.

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.

XXXII.

'Tis come, the time so oft foretold,
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 watch'd 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 'tis 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 !

Fain with those meek, those happy swains,
Lord, I would hear that angel quire ;
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 !

Thomas Grinfield. 1836.

XXXIII.

While shepherds watched 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
Address'd their joyful song.

"All glory be to God on high, "And to the earth be peace;

"Good will henceforth from Heaven to men

66

Begin, and never cease!"

Nahum Tate. 1703.

XXXIV.

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, th' Incarnate Deity,

Pleased as man with men to appear,
Jesus, our Immanuel here!

Hail! the heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hail! the Sun 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.

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!

Charles Wesley. 1743.

XXXV.

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'll sing, though all the world should blame.

The long-expected morn

Has dawn'd upon the earth;
The Saviour Christ is born,

And angels sing His birth :
We'll join the bright seraphic throng,
We'll share their joys, and swell their song.

O! 'tis 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!

'Tis meet His saints their songs should raise,

And give the Saviour endless praise.

Thomas Kelly. 1806-1836.