2 He comes, the prisoner to release In Satan’s bondage held; The gates of brass before him burst, The iron fetters yield.
3 He comes, from thickest films of vice To clear the mental ray, And on the eyeballs of the blind To pour celestial day.
4 He comes, the broken heart to bind, The bleeding soul to cure, And with the treasures of his grace To enrich the humble poor.
5 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, The welcome shall proclaim, And heaven’s eternal arches ring With thy belovéd name.
125 C. M. Joy to the world.
Joy to the world; the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King: Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing.
2 Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, Repeat the sounding joy.
3 No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow Far as the curse is found.
4 He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love.
126 7s. Christ is born in Bethlehem. Luke 2.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.”
2 Joyful, all ye nations, rise; Join the triumphs of the skies; With th’ angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
3 See, he lays his glory by; Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth.
4 Vailed in flesh the Godhead see! Hail, th’ incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel!
5 Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings.
6 Let us then with angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled!”
127 7s. The wonderful.
Bright and joyful was the morn When to us a child was born; From the highest realms of heaven Unto us a Son was given.
2 On his shoulder he shall bear Power and majesty—and wear On his vesture and his thigh Names most awful—names most high.
3 Wonderful in counsel he, Christ th’ incarnate Deity; Sire of ages ne’er to cease, King of kings, and Prince of Peace.
4 Come and worship at his feet, Yield to him the homage meet; From his manger to his throne, Homage due to God alone.
128 7s. Watchman, what of the night? Isaiah 21:11.
Watchman, tell us of the night, What its signs of promise are. Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s hights See that glory-beaming star!
2 Watchman, does its beauteous ray Aught of joy or hope foretell? Traveler, yes: it brings the day, Promised day of Israel.
3 Watchman, tell us of the night; Higher yet that star ascends. Traveler, blessedness and light, Peace and truth, its course portends.
4 Watchman, will its beams alone Gild the spot that gave them birth? Traveler, ages are its own: See! it bursts o’er all the earth!
5 Watchman, tell us of the night, For the morning seems to dawn. Traveler, darkness takes its flight, Doubt and terror are withdrawn.
6 Watchman, let thy wandering cease; Hie thee to thy quiet home. Traveler, lo! the Prince of Peace, Lo! the Son of God is come!
129 7s. A Bethlehem hymn.
He has come! the Christ of God; Left for us his glad abode; Stooping from his throne of bliss, To this darksome wilderness.
2 He has come—the Prince of Peace— Come to bid our sorrows cease; Come to scatter, with his light, All the shadows of our night.
3 He, the mighty King, has come! Making the poor earth his home Come to bear sin’s heavy load; Son of David, Son of God.
4 He has come, whose name of grace Speaks deliverance to our race; Left for us his glad abode; Son of Mary, Son of God!
5 Unto us a child is born! Ne’er has earth beheld a morn Numbered in the morns of time, Half so glorious in its prime.
6 Unto us a Son is given! He has come from God’s own heaven; Bringing with him from above, Holy peace and holy love.
130 7s. Immanuel.
God with us! O glorious name! Let it shine in endless fame; God and man in Christ unite— O mysterious depth and hight!
2 God with us! amazing love Brought him from his courts above; Now, ye saints, his grace admire, Swell the song with holy fire.
3 God with us! O wondrous grace! Let us see him face to face; That we may Immanuel sing, As we ought, our God and King.
131 P. M. Silent night.
Silent night! hallowed night! Land and deep silent sleep; Softly glitters bright Bethlehem’s star, Beckoning Israel’s eye from afar Where the Saviour is born.