Christmas Day.

PSALM LXXXV.

See the title to the former part, p. 171...

I.

I'LL hear what God the Lord doth fay, to his he fpeaketh peace,

And to his faints, and they fhall not return to foolishness.

II.

Surely his Jefus is at hand
to fuch as do him fear,
That his great glory in our land
may dwell and flourish there.

III.

Mercy and truth in him fhall meet
in one to take their place,
And righteoufnefs hath kiffed
in him they fhall embrace.

IV.

peace

When he the truth fhall from the earth

fpring up most pleasantly,

Then righteousness with loving face fhall look from heaven moft high.

V.

Yea, what is good the Lord fhall give,

our land fhall yield increase ;

Juftice to fet us in his fteps fhall go before his face.

PSALM

PSALM XLV.

In this hymn the Lord Jefus Chrift is celebrated for his beauty, for his majesty, and for the eternal glory of his kingdom. The happy fouls, whom he draws to love him by his word and Spirit, are here spoken of as his bride, united to him in a bond of affection never to be broken. The mutual love of this heavenly bridegroom and his bride is here treated of. His affection to her is altogether wonderful: But never to be more admired, than in the miracle of this day. It was the admiration and the joy of angels. Although he took not on him their nature, but ours; yet they had their fong ready to welcome him into our world. O that we were as ready today. We have more reason, than they had; let us try to fing in as high a strain of praise. O for hearts to love him, not as he deserves; that cannot be, but as far as we can. If Chrift be indeed formed in us, his birth-day should excite in us every grateful fentiment: And we should now bring him our offering, fome fruit of our new birth, even a fong of praise to God manifest in the flesh. May we fing of this his marvellous love to-day, and for ever..

MY

I.

Y heart doth take in hand
a godly fong to fing,

The praise that I fhall fhew therein.

pertaineth to the King.

II.

My tongue shall be as swift

his honor to indite

As is the pen of any fcribe who useth fast to write.

III.

O fairest of all men

thy lips with grace are pure,

For God hath bleffed thee with gifts for ever to endure.

IV.

Thy royal feat, O Lord, for ever shall remain, The fceptre of thy kingdom doth all righteousness maintain.

V.

Because thou didst love right and didft the ill deteft, Therefore hath God anointed thee with joy above the rest.

AFTERNOON.

PSALM XIX.

This is another Christmas hymn. It treats of the glory of the Lord Chrift, as difplayed in the works of nature, and in the word of grace.

The material

heavens are a record of his glory, wifdom, power, and goodness; but efpecially the fun in the heavens is the inftituted emblem of the uncreated light: In them hath he fet a tabernacle for the fun, which reprefents Chrift's tabernacling among us in a body of fiefh; and as the fun communicates light, life, and every material bleffing through the world, fo Chrift communicates light, and life, and every fpiritual bleffing through his fyftem. He is as delighted as any happy bridegroom, as able as any ftrong man to run a race, to send out his light and his truth into

all

all lands, and his words unto the ends of the world; by which he brings his people to believe in him and to rejoice in his falvation. If he has made his word effectual by the power of his Spirit, then we know the meaning of this fweet hymn, and can fee its application to the subject of this day. May this glorious fun of righteoufnefs now arife upon our hearts with his bright beams,. and give us clearer knowledge of the great mystery of godliness, God manifeft in the flesh. Thus our faith will increafe, and we fhall fing of his love with growing gratitude. May our fong of praife be lengthened out, till in his light we fee and enjoy the light of life everlafting.

THE

'HE heav'ns and firmament on high
do wondrously declare

God's glory and omnipotence,

his works and what they are.

II.

The wond'rous works of God appear by ev'ry days fuccess,

The nights likewife which their race run the felf fame thing exprefs.

FII.

There is no speech nor tongue to which their voice doth not extend,

Their line is gone through all the earth their words to the world's end.

IV.

In them the Lord made for the fun a tent of great renown,

Who like a bridegroom ready trimm'd comes from his chamber down.

v.

And as a giant he sets out upon his work apace,

He ftops not till he has perform'd and run his glorious race.

VI.

From heav'ns end is his going forth circling to th' end again :

And there is nothing from his heat that hidden doth remain.

St. Stephen.

PSALM LXXII.

I.

GOD taketh pity on the poor, who are with need opprest,

He doth preserve them evermore and bring their fouls to reft.

II.

Both from deceit and violence

their fouls he fhall fet free,

Alfo their blood which fhall be shed

precious to him shall be.

GLORIA PATRI.

St.