HEN Jordan hushed his waters still,
And silence slept on Zion hill;

When Bethlehem's shepherds through the

night

Watched o'er their flocks by starry light :

Hark! from the midnight hills around,

A voice of more than mortal sound,
In distant halleluiahs stole,

Wild murmuring o'er the raptured soul.

Then swift to every startled eye,

New streams of glory light the sky;
Heaven bursts her azure gates to pour
Her spirits to the midnight hour.

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:

Oh, Zion! lift thy raptured eye,
The long-expected hour is nigh:
The joys of nature rise again,

The Prince of Salem comes to reign.

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.

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!

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.

CAMPBELL

CHRISTMAS.

MIS Christmas day! glad voices
Repeat the pleasant sound;

And happy faces in our home,

And loving looks abound.

Why do we thus greet Christmas morn?
It is the day that Christ was born.

With little gifts that tell our love,

With garlands on the wall,

With thankful hearts and helpful hands,

We keep a festival.

Why do we thus keep Christmas morn?

It is the day that Christ was born.

The Holy Child.

Full eighteen hundred years ago
Christ Jesus came on earth,—
He came, he lived, he died for us:
We thank God for his birth;

And therefore we keep Christmas morn,
The day our Saviour, Christ, was born.

And on this Christmas morning,
When the frost is at the door,

Dear child! in your warm pleasant home,
Think of the sick and poor:

So shall you well keep Christmas morn,
The day our Saviour, Christ, was born.

Christ healed the sick, and helped the poor,

When he was on the earth:

Do what you can to be like him

This morning of his birth;

Help some one to keep Christmas morn,

The day your Saviour, Christ, was born.

359

Hymns for Children.

THE HOLY CHILD.

Y cool Siloam's shady rill

How sweet the lily grows!

How sweet the breath, beneath the hill,

Of Sharon's dewy rose!

Lo, such the child whose early feet

The paths of peace have trod;

Whose secret heart, with influence sweet,
Is upward drawn to God!

O Thou, who giv'st us life and breath,

We seek thy grace alone,

In childhood, manhood, age and death,

To keep us still thine own!

HEBER.

JESUS.

EEBLE, helpless, how shall I
Learn to live and learn to die?

Who, O God, my guide shall be?
Who shall lead thy child to thee?

Blessed Father, gracious one!

Thou hast sent thy holy Son;

He will give the light I need,

He my trembling steps will lead.

Through this world, uncertain, dim,

Let me ever lean on him;

From his precepts wisdom draw,

Make his life my solemn law.

Thus in deed, and thought, and word,
Led by Jesus Christ the Lord,

In my weakness, thus shall I

Learn to live, and learn to die ;—

Learn to live in peace and love,

Like the perfect ones above;

Learn to die without a fear,
Feeling thee, my Father, near.

FURNESS.

The Holy Bible.

361

THE HOLY BIBLE.

REAT God, with wonder and with praise

On all thy works I look ;

;

But still thy wisdom, power, and grace,

Shine brightest in thy book.

The stars that in their courses roll

Have much instruction given; But thy good word informs my soul How I may get to heaven.

The fields provide me food, and show
The goodness of the Lord;
But fruits of life and glory grow

In thy most holy word.

Here are my choicest treasures hid;

Here my best comfort lies;

Here my desires are satisfied;
And hence my hopes arise.

Lord, make me understand thy law,
Show what my faults have been;

And from thy gospel let me draw
Pardon for all my sin.

Here would I learn how Christ has died

To save my soul from hell;

Not all the books on earth beside

Such heavenly wonders tell.