5 His power, increasing, still shall spread; His reign no end shall know ;
Justice shall guard his throne above,
And peace abound below.
The Day-Spring welcomed.
1 SONS of men, behold from far,
Hail the long-expected star!
Star of truth that gilds the night,
Guiding devious nature right.
2 Mild it shines on all beneath,
Piercing through the shades of death;
Scattering error's wide-spread night,
Kindling darkness into light.
3 Nations all, remote and near,
Haste to see your Lord appear;
Haste, for him your hearts prepare,
Meet him manifested there.
4 There behold the day-spring risé,
Pouring light on mortal eyes;
See it chase the shades away,
Shining to the perfect day.
1 WE meditate the day
Of triumph and of rest,
When, shown of God and shaped in clay, The Word was manifest.
2 The angels saw and sung;
Earth listened far and wide;
Believed and preached,—a faith,
The Word was glorified.
3 Lord, give it gracious sweep,
And here its errand bless,
Whose mercy sent it o'er the deep,
To glad a wilderness.
4 Ray out its starry * light,
To guide our pilgrim way—
A sign of hope through this world's night,
And brighter than its day.
5 Again thy witness-voice!
Again thy spirit-dove! *
That hearts may in its trust rejoice,
And soften with its love.
6 Send round its blessed cup,*
As once in Galilee ;
And catch our dull affections up
To heaven, and Christ, and thee.
Christ revealed to Jews and Gentiles.
1 HOW beauteous are their feet
Who stand on Sion's hill,
Who bring salvation on their tongues,
And words of peace reveal!
* One of the ancient symbols, in the church, of Christ's manifestation to the nations.
2 How charming is their voice!
How sweet the tidings are!
"Sion, behold thy Savior King;
He reigns and triumphs here."
3 How happy are our ears,
That hear this joyful sound,
Which kings and prophets waited for,
And sought, but never found!
4 How blessed are our eyes,
That see this heavenly light!
Prophets and kings desired it long,
But died without the sight.
5 The watchmen join their voice,
And tuneful notes employ;
Jerusalem breaks forth in songs,
And deserts learn the joy.
6 The Lord makes bare his arm
Through all the earth abroad:
Let every nation now behold
Their Savior and their God.
Gentiles coming into the Church.
1 RISE, crowned with light, imperial Salem, rise!
Exalt thy towering head, and lift thine eyes!
See heaven its sparkling portals wide display,
And break upon thee in a flood of day!
2 See a long race thy spacious courts adorn!
See future sons and daughters, yet unborn,
In crowding ranks on every side arise,
Demanding life, impatient for the skies!
3 See barbarous nations at thy gates attend,
Walk in thy light, and in thy temple bend!
See thy bright altars thronged with prostrate kings,
While every land its joyous tribute brings!
4 The seas shall waste, the skies to smoke decay,
Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away;
But fixed his word, his saving power remains;
Thy realm shall last, thy own Messiah reigns.
Strangers entertained in God's House. Is. lvi. 6, 7.
1 GREAT Father of mankind,
We bless that wondrous grace
Which could for Gentiles find
Within thy courts a place :
How kind the care
Our God displays,
For us to raise
A house of prayer!
2 Though once estranged far,
We now approach the throne;
For Jesus brings us near,
And makes our cause his own:
Strangers no more,
To thee we come,
And find our home
And rest secure.
3 To thee our souls we join,
And love thy sacred name;
No more our own, but thine,
We triumph in thy claim:
Our Father King,
Thy covenant grace
Our souls embrace,
Thy titles sing.
4 Here in thy house we feast
On dainties all divine;
And, while such sweets we taste,
With joy our faces shine:
Incense shall rise
From flames of love,
And God approve
The sacrifice.
5 May all the nations throng
To worship in thy house,
And thou attend the song,
And smile upon their vows;
Indulgent still,
Till earth conspire
To join the choir
On Zion's hill.
All Nations shall call him blessed.
HAIL to the Lord's Anointed!
Great David's greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free,
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.
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