NOTE.-Many of the Hymns here assigned to particular seasons or occasions, may also be used appropriately at other
**It is proposed to publish, at as early a date as possible, an Edition of the Society's enlarged Selection of Psalms and Hymns, with accompanying appropriate Tunes, prepared under the editorship of James Turle, Esq., Organist of Westminster Abbey.
THE Lord will come! the earth shall quake,
The hills their fixed seat forsake;
And, withering, from the vault of night
The stars withdraw their feeble light.
The Lord will come! but not the same
As once in lowly form He came,
A silent Lamb to slaughter led,
The bruised, the suffering, and the dead.
The Lord will come! a dreadful form,
With wreath of flame, and robe of storm,
On cherub wings, and wings of wind,
Anointed Judge of human-kind.
Can this be He who wont to stray
A pilgrim on the world's highway,
By power oppress'd, and mock'd by pride,
The Nazarene, the Crucified?
Go, tyrants! to the rocks complain;
Go, seek the mountain's cleft in vain ;
But faith, victorious o'er the tomb,
Shall sing for joy-The Lord is come!
GREAT God! what do I see and hear!
The end of things created!
The Judge of mankind doth appear,
On clouds of glory seated!
The trumpet sounds; the graves restore
The dead which they contain'd before:
Prepare, my soul, to meet Him.
The dead in Christ shall first arise,
At the last trumpet's sounding;
Caught up to meet Him in the skies,
With joy their Lord surrounding.
No gloomy fears their souls dismay,
His presence sheds eternal day
On those prepared to meet Him.
But sinners, fill'd with guilty fears,
Behold His wrath prevailing,
For they shall rise, and find their tears
And sighs are unavailing.
The day of grace is past and gone;
Trembling, they stand before the throne,
All unprepared to meet Him.
Great God! what do I see and hear!
The end of things created!
The Judge of mankind doth appear
On clouds of glory seated!
Low at His cross I view the day
When heaven and earth shall pass away,
And thus prepare to meet Him.
HIGH let us swell our tuneful notes,
And join the angelic throng,
For Angels no such love have known
To wake a cheerful song.
Good-will to sinful men is shown,
And peace on earth is given;
For, lo! the incarnate Saviour comes
With messages from heaven.
Justice and grace, with sweet accord,
His rising beams adorn;
Let heaven and earth in concert join,
To us a Child is born.
Glory to God in highest strains,
In highest worlds be paid;
His glory by our lips proclaim'd,
And by our lives display'd.
When shall we reach those blissful realms
Where Christ exalted reigns;
And learn of the celestial choir
Their own immortal strains?
CHRISTIANS, awake! salute the happy morn,
Whereon the Saviour of mankind was born;
Rise to adore the mystery of love,
Which hosts of Angels chanted from above:
With them the joyful tidings first begun,
Of God Incarnate, and the Virgin's Son.
Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
Who heard the angelic herald's voice, "Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Saviour's birth,
To you, and all the nations upon earth;
This day hath God fulfill'd His promised word,
This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord."
He spake; and straightway the celestial choir
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire;
The praises of redeeming love they sang,
And heaven's whole orb with hallelujahs rang;
God's highest glory was their anthem still,
Peace upon earth, and unto men good-will.
To Bethlehem straight the enlighten'd shepherds
To see the wonders God had wrought for man;
Then to their flocks, still praising God, return,
And their glad hearts within their bosoms burn;
To all the joyful tidings they proclaim,
The first Apostles of the Saviour's fame.
Oh! may we keep and ponder in our mind
God's wondrous love in saving lost mankind;
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From the poor manger, to the bitter cross;
Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace,
Till man's first heavenly state again takes place.
Then may we hope, the angelic hosts among,
To join, redeem'd, a glad triumphant throng:
He that was born upon this joyful day,
Around us all His glory shall display :
Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing
Eternal praise to heaven's Almighty King.
Hallelujah! Amen.
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