2 It dawns o'er Bethl'hem's holy shed, And scatt'ring at the sight,
Heaven's idol-host at once have fled, Before that awful light.
3 Led by the solitary star, To glory's poor abode, Lo! wond'ring wisdom from afar Brings incense to her God.
4 Humility, on Judah's hills, Watching her fleecy care, Turns to an angel voice, that fills With love the midnight air.
5 Like voices thro' yon bursting cloud, Announce th' Almighty plan; Hymning, in adoration loud, "Peace and good-will to man."
FAMILY WORSHIP.
1 O Lord, another day is flown, And we, a lonely band,
Are met once more before thy throne To bless thy fost'ring hand.
2 And wilt thou bend a list'ning ear To praises low as ours?
Thou wilt! for thou dost love to hear The song which meekness pours.
3 And Jesus thou thy smiles wilt deign, As we before thee pray;
For thou didst bless the infant train, And we are weak as they.
4 0 let thy grace perform its part, And let contention cease; And shed abroad in every heart, Thine everlasting peace!
5 Thus chasten'd, cleans'd, entirely thine, A flock by Jesus led;
The Sun of holiness shall shine
In glory on our head.
6 And thou wilt turn our wand'ring feet, And thou wilt bless our way;
Till worlds shall fade, and faith shall greet The dawn of lasting day.
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
1 When marshall'd on the nightly plain, The glitt'ring host bestud the sky; One Star alone of all the train,
Can fix the sinner's wandering eye.
2 Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks, From every host from every gem; But one alone the Saviour speaks, It is the Star of Bethlehem.
3 Once on the raging seas I rode,
The storm was loud, the night was dark, The ocean yawn'd-and rudely blow'd The wind that toss'd my found'ring bark,
4 Deep horror then my vitals froze, Death-struck, I ceas'd the tide to stem; When suddenly a star arose,
It was the Star of Bethlehem.
5 It was my guide, my light, my all, It bade my dark forebodings cease; And thro' the storm, and danger's thrall, It led me to the port of peace.
6 Now safely moor'd-my perils o'er, I'll sing, first in night's diadem,
For ever and for evermore,
The Star!-the Star of Bethlehem!
VANITY OF THE WORLD.
1 Ah! why should this immortal mind, Enslav'd by sense, be thus confin'd, And never, never rise? Why thus amus'd with empty toys, And sooth'd with visionary joys, Forget her native skies?
2 The mind was form'd to mount sublime, Beyond the narrow bounds of time, To everlasting things; But earthly vapours cloud her sight, And hang with cold oppressive weight Upon her drooping wings.
3 The world employs its various snares, Of hopes and pleasures, pains and cares, And chain'd to earth I lie:
When shall my fetter'd powers be free, And leave these seats of vanity, And upward learn to fly?
4 Bright scenes of bliss, unclouded skies, Invite my soul-O could I rise, Nor leave a thought below! I'd bid farewell to anxious care, And say to every tempting snare, Heaven calls, and I must go.
5 Heaven calls, and can I yet delay? Can aught on earth engage my stay? Ah, wretched, lingering heart! Come, Lord, with strength, and life, and Assist and guide my upward flight, [light, And bid the world depart.
1 'Tis sweet to rest in lively hope, That, when my change shall come, Angels will hover round my bed, And waft my spirit home.
2 There shall my disembodied soul Behold him and adore; Be with his likeness satisfied, And grieve and sin no more.
3 Soon, too, my slumb'ring dust shall hear The trumpet's quick'ning sound; And, by my Saviour's power rebuilt, At his right hand be found.
4 If such the views which Weak as it is below,
What raptures must the church above In Jesus' presence know!
5 O may the unction of these truths For ever with me stay,
Till, from her sinful cage dismiss'd, My spirit flies away!
LONGING TO BE WITH CHRIST.
1 To Jesus the crown of my hope, My soul is in haste to be gone; O bear me, ye cherubim, up, And waft me away to his throne. 2 My Saviour, whom absent, I love; Whom, not having seen, I adore; Whose name is exalted above All glory, dominion, and power: 3 Dissolve thou these bonds, that detain My soul from her portion in thee; Ah! strike off this adamant chain, And make me eternally free.
4 When that happy era begins, When array'd in thy glories I shine, Nor grieve any more, by my sins, The bosom on which I recline:
5 0 then shall the veil be remov'd,
And round me thy brightness be pour'd: I shall meet him whom absent I lov'd, I shall see him whom unseen I ador❜d.
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