2

20.
Corde natus ex Parentis.
Of the Father's Love begotten

Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,

He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,

Yea, for ever, evermore.
This is He whom seers in old time

Chanted of with one accord ;
Whom the voices of the Prophets

Promised in their faithful word:
Now He shines, the long-expected,
Let creation praise its Lord ;

Yea, for ever, evermore. 3 O that Birth for ever blessèd !

When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,

Bare the Saviour of our race ;
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred Face,

Yea, for ever, evermore. 4 O ye heights of heaven, adore Him :

Angel-hosts, His praises sing :
All dominions, bow before Him,

And extol our God and King :
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring,

Yea, for ever, evermore !

5 Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,

And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn, and chant, and high thanksgiving,

And unwearied praises be,
Honour, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory,

Yea, for ever, evermore! Amen.

21.

I

BRIGHT and joyful is the morn,
For to us a Child is born ;
From the highest realms of heaven
Unto us a Son is 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,

The 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 Christ the homage meet,
From His manger to His throne ;
Homage due to God alone. Amen.

7. Montgomery. 22.

Jan desinant suspiria.

I

GOD from on high hath heard,

Let sighs and sorrows cease ;
The skies unfold, and lo !

Descends the gift of Peace.
Hark! on the midnight air

Celestial voices swell;
The hosts of heaven proclaim,

“ God comes on earth to dwell."

2

Haste with the shepherds ; see

The mystery of grace.
A manger bed-a Child,

Is all the eye can trace.
Is this the Eternal Son,

Who on the starry throne,
Before the worlds began,

Ruled glorious and alone ?

3 Yea, faith can pierce the cloud

Which shrouds His glory now;
And hails Him Lord and God,

To whom the Angels bow.
To God the Father, Son,

And Spirit, glory be;
Of Virgin-mother born,

All glory, Christ, to Thee! Amen.

23.
1 ANGELS, from the realms of glory,

Wing your flight o'er all the earth!
Ye who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's Birth!

Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King !
2 Shepherds, in the field abiding,

Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the Infant-Light :

Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King !
3 Sages, leave your contemplations,

Brighter visions beam afar ;
Seek the great Desire of nations ;
Ye have seen His natal star:

Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King!
4. Saints, before the altar bending,

Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His Temple shall appear:

Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King !
5 Sinners, wrung with true repentance,

Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you-break your chains :

Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King !

7. Montgomery.

I

24.
o qui tuo, dux martyrum.
FIRST of Martyrs, he whose name
Does the golden crown proclaim ;
Not of flowers that fade away
Woven is that crown to-day.

2 Bright the stones, which bruise him, gleam,

Sprinkled with his life-blood's stream ;
Stars around a sainted head
Never could such radiance shed.

3 Every wound upon his brow

Sparkles with unearthly glow;
Like an angel's is his face,

Beaming with celestial grace. 4 Blest to be the first to fall,

Slain for Him who bled for all ;
First like Him in dying hour

Witness to Almighty power ;
5 First to follow where He trod,

Through the Red Sea of His blood;
First; but on his footsteps press

Saints and martyrs numberless. 6 Praise to Father and to Thee,

Fount of grace and sanctity;
Glory to the Holy Ghost,
From the saints and heavenly host.

Amen