When Jordan hushed his waters still, And silence slept on Zion’s hill, When Bethlehem’s shepherds, thro’ the night, Watched o’er their flocks by starry light— 2 Hark! from the midnight hills around, A voice of more than mortal sound, In distant hallelujahs stole, Wild murmuring o’er the raptured soul. 3 On wheels of light, on wings of flame, The glorious hosts of Zion came; High heaven with songs of triumph rung, While thus they struck their harps and sung: 4 “O Zion, lift thy raptured eye; The long-expected hour is nigh; The joys of nature rise again; The Prince of Salem comes to reign. 5 “See, Mercy, from her golden urn, Pours a rich stream to them that mourn; Behold, she binds with tender care The bleeding bosom of despair. 6 “He comes to cheer the trembling heart: Bids Satan and his host depart; Again the day-star gilds the gloom, Again the bowers of Eden bloom.” 118 L. M. Genesis 3:15. Behold the woman’s promised seed! Behold the great Messiah come! Behold the prophets all agreed To give him the superior room! 2 Abrah’m, the saint, rejoiced of old, When visions of the Lord he saw; Moses, the man of God, foretold This great fulfiller of his law. 3 The types bore witness to his name, Obtained their chief design, and ceased— The incense and the bleeding lamb, The ark, the altar, and the priest. 4 Predictions in abundance join To pour their witness on his head: Jesus, we bow before thy throne, And own thee as the promised seed. HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS. 119 C. H. M. Glory to God—good will to men. In hymns of praise, eternal God, When thy creating hand Stretched the blue arch of heaven abroad, And meted sea and land, The morning stars together sung, And shouts of joy from angels rung. 2 Than earth’s prime hour, more joyous far Was the eventful morn, When the bright beam of Bethlehem’s star Announced a Saviour born! Then sweeter strains from heaven began “Glory to God—good will to man.” 3 Babe of the manger! can it be? Art thou the Son of God? Shall subject nations bow the knee, And kings obey thy nod? Shall thrones and monarchs prostrate fall Before the tenant of a stall? 4 ’Tis he! the hymning seraphs cry, While hovering drawn to earth; ’Tis he, the shepherds’ songs reply; Hail! hail! Immanuel’s birth; The rod of peace those hands shall bear, That brow a crown of glory wear! 5 ’Tis he! the eastern sages sing, And spread their golden hoard; ’Tis he! the hills of Zion ring, Hosanna to the Lord! The Prince of long prophetic years To-day in Bethlehem appears!