3 The beams of salvation his progress illume;

The lone, dreary wilderness sings of her Lord; The rose and the myrtle there suddenly bloom, And the olive of peace spreads its branches abroad.

195

7s M.

BOWRING.

For Advent or Christmas.

First Voice.

1 WATCHMAN! tell us of the night, What its signs of promise are.

Second Voice.

Traveller! o'er yon mountain's height
See that glory-beaming star!

First Voice.

Watchman! does its beauteous ray
Aught of hope or joy foretell?

Second Voice.

Traveller! yes; it brings the day,
Promised day of Israel!

First Voice.

Watchman!

Second Voice. Yes, it brings, &c.
Traveller!

First Voice.

2 Watchman! tell us of the night; Higher yet that star ascends.

Second Voice.

Traveller! blessedness and light,
Peace and truth, its course portends.

First Voice.

Watchman! will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?

Second Voice.

'Traveller! ages are its own:
See! it bursts o'er all the earth.

First Voice.

Watchman!

Second Voice. Ages are its own, &c.

First Voice.

3 Watchman! tell us of the night, For the morning seems to dawn.

Second Voice.

Traveller! darkness takes its flight;
Doubt and terror are withdrawn.

First Voice.

Watchman! let thy wanderings cease;
Hie thee to thy quiet home.

Second Voice.

Traveller! lo, the Prince of Peace,
Lo, the Son of God, is come!

1 HARK! the glad sound! the Savior comes!
The Savior promised long!
Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.

2 On him the Spirit, largely poured,
Exerts its sacred fire;

Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,
His holy breast inspire.

3 He comes, the prisoners to release,
In Satan's bondage held;

The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.

4 He comes, from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray,

And on the eyeballs of the blind
To pour celestial day.

5 He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,

And with the treasures of his grace
To enrich the humble poor.

6 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.

197

C. M.

WATTS.

Christ's first and second Coming. Ps. 96.

1 SING to the Lord, ye distant lands,
Ye tribes of every tongue;

His new-discovered grace demands
A new and nobler song.

2 Let heaven proclaim the joyful day,
Joy through the earth be seen;
Let cities shine in bright array,
And fields in cheerful green.

3 Let an unusual joy surprise
The islands of the sea;

Ye mountains, sink; ye valleys, rise;
Prepare the Lord his way.

4 Behold, he comes; he comes to bless
The nations from their God,

To show the world his righteousness,
And send his truth abroad.

5 But when his voice shall raise the dead,
And bid the world draw near,
How will the guilty nations dread
To see their Judge appear!

198

S. M.

DODDRIDGE.

Christ the Root of David, and the Morning Star

1 ALL hail, mysterious King!

Hail, David's ancient root!

Thou righteous branch, which thence didst spring

To give the nations fruit.

2 Our weary souls shall rest
Beneath thy grateful shade;
Our thirsting lips salvation taste;
Our fainting hearts are glad.

3 Fair morning star, arise,

With living glories bright,
And pour on these awakening eyes
A flood of sacred light.

4 The horrid gloom is fled,

Pierced by thy beauteous ray;
Shine, and our wandering footsteps lead
To everlasting day.

199

L. M.

The Virgin Mary's Song.

WATTS.

1 OUR souls shall magnify the Lord;
In God the Savior we rejoice;
While we repeat the virgin's song,
May the same spirit tune our voice.

2 To those that fear and trust the Lord,
His mercy stands forever sure;
From age to age his promise lives,
And the performance is secure.

3 He spake to Abram and his seed"In thee shall all the earth be blest;" of that ancient word

The memory

Lay long in his eternal breast.

4 But now no more shall Israel wait,
No more the Gentiles lie forlorn;
Lo, the Desire of nations comes!
Behold, the promised Seed is born!

1 NOW be the God of Israel blessed,
Who makes his truth appear;
His mighty hand fulfils his word,
And all the oaths he sware.

WATTS.

2 Now he bedews old David's root
With blessings from the skies;
He makes the branch of promise grow,
The promised Horn arise.

3"Be every vale exalted high,

Sink every mountain low;

The proud must stoop, and humble souls
Shall his salvation know.

4 "The heathen realms with Israel's land
Shall join in sweet accord,
And all that's born of man shall see
The glory of the Lord.

5 "Behold the Morning Star arise,
Ye that in darkness sit;

He marks the path that leads to peace,
And guides our doubtful feet."