A SONG of joy unto the Lord we sing,

And publish forth the favours He hath shown.
We sing His praise, from whom all joy doth spring,
And tell abroad the wonders He hath done,
For such were never since the world begun.
His love, therefore, oh! let us all confess,
And to the sons of men His works express.

As on this day the Son of God was born,
The blessed Word was then incarnate made;
The Lord to be a servant held no scorn;
The Godhead was with human nature clad,
And flesh a throne above all angels had.

His love, therefore, oh! let us all confess,
And to the sons of men His works express.

Our sin and sorrows on Himself He took,
On us His bliss and goodness to bestow :
To visit earth, He heaven awhile forsook;
And to advance us high, descended low;
But with the sinful angels dealt not so.

His love, therefore, oh! let us all confess,
And to the sons of men His works express.

A maid conceived, whom man had never known;
The fleece was moistened, where no rain had been:
A virgin she remains that had a son:

1

The bush did flame that still remained green :
And this befel when God with us was seen.

His love, therefore, oh! let us all confess,
And to the sons of men His works express.

For sinful men all this to pass was brought,
As, long before, the Prophets had forespoke :
So he, that first our shame and ruin wrought,

Once bruised our heel, but now his head is broke:
And He hath made us whole who gave that stroke.
His love, therefore, oh! let us all confess,
And to the sons of men His works express.

The Lamb hath played devouring wolves among,
The Morning Star of Jacob doth appear;
From Jesse's root our tree of life is sprung,
And all God's words in Him fulfilled are;
Yet we are slack His praises to declare.

His love, therefore, oh! let us all confess,
And to the sons of men His works express.
George Wither.

WAS not Christ our Saviour

Sent unto us from God above,

Not for our good behaviour,

But only of His mercy and love?

If this be true, as true it is,

Truly indeed;

Great thanks to God to yield for this

Then had we need.

This did our God for very troth,
To train to Him the soul of man,

And justly to perform His oath

To Sarah and to Abraham then,

That through His seed all nations should

Most blessed be,

As in due time performed, He would

All flesh should see.

Which wondrously is brought to pass,

And in our sight already done, By sending as His promise was

(To comfort us), His only Son;

Even Christ, I mean, that Virgin's Child,

In Bethlehem born:

That Lamb of God, that Prophet mild,

With crowned thorn.

Such was His love to save us all

From dangers of the curse of God, That we stood in by Adam's fall,

And by our own deserved rod:

That through His blood and holy name,
All that believe,

And fly from sin, and abhor the same,
Shall grace receive.

For this glad news this feast doth bring,
To God, the Son, and Holy Ghost,
Let man give thanks, rejoice and sing,

From world to world, from coast to coast:
For other gifts in many ways

That God doth send,

Let us in Christ give God the praise,

Till life shall end.

COME, ye

redeemed of the Lord,

Your grateful tribute bring;

And celebrate with one accord

The birthday of our King!

Let us with humble hearts repair
(Faith will point out the road)
To little Bethlehem, and there
Adore our infant God.

Thomas Tusser.

In swaddling-bands the Saviour view,
Let none this weakness scorn;

The feeblest heart shall hell subdue
Where Jesus Christ is born.

No pomp adorns, no sweets perfume
The place where Christ is laid;
A stable serves Him for His rocm,
A manger is His bed.

The crowded inn, like sinners' hearts,
(Oh, ignorance extreme!)
For other guests of various sorts
Had room, but none for Him.

But see what different thoughts arise
In ours and angels' breasts!

To hail His birth they left the skies,
We lodged Him with the beasts.

Yet let believers cease their fears,
Nor envy heavenly powers;
If sinless innocence be theirs,

Redemption all is ours.

7. Hart.