It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold; "Peace to the earth, good-will to men, From heaven's all gracious King:" The earth in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing. 2 Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still celestial music floats O'er all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on heavenly wing, And ever o'er its Babel sounds, The blessed angels sing. 3 O ye, beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way, With painful steps and slow;-- Look up! for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing; Oh, rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing! 4 For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophet-bards foretold, When with the ever-circling years Comes round the age of gold! When peace shall over all the earth Its final splendors fling, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing! E.H. Sears, 1850. 95 Carol. C.M.D. _A Light to Lighten the Gentiles._ (203) The race that long in darkness pine Have seen a glorious light; The people dwell in day who dwelt In death's surrounding night. To hail thy rise, thou better Sun, The gathering nations come, With joy, as when the reapers bear The harvest treasures home. 2 To us a child of hope is born; To us a Son is given; And him shall all the earth obey, And all the hosts of heaven. His name shall be the Prince of Peace, Forevermore adored, The Wonderful, the Counselor, The great and mighty Lord. John Morrison, 1781. 96 Christmas. C.M. _The Angel's Message_ (208) While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around. 2 "Fear not," said he,--for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind,-- "Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind. 3 "To you, in David's town, this day, Is born of David's line, The Savior, who is Christ, the Lord; And this shall be the sign: 4 "The heavenly babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, And in a manger laid." 5 Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith Appeared a shining throng Of angels, praising God, and thus Addressed their joyful song: 6 "All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace: Good-will henceforth from heaven to men Begin and never cease!" Nahum Tate, 1696. 97 Zerah. C.M. _The Chorus of Angels._ (210) Calm on the listening ear of night Come heaven's melodious strains, Where wild Judea stretches far Her silver-mantled plains. 2 Celestial choirs, from courts above, Shed sacred glories there, And angels, with their sparkling lyres, Make music on the air.