of

226

Heaven with hallelujahs rang, When Jehovah's work begun, When He spake and it was done.

7.7.7.7.

Songs of praise awoke the morn,
When the Prince of Peace was born;
Songs of praise arose, when He
Captive led captivity.

Heaven and earth must pass away, Songs of praise shall crown that day; God will make new heavens, new earth, Songs of praise shall hail their birth.

And can man alone be dumb,
Till that glorious kingdom come?
No, the Church delights to raise
Psalms, and hymns, and songs of praise.

Saints below with heart and voice
Still in songs of praise rejoice,
Learning here by faith and love

Songs of praise to sing above.

Borne upon their latest breath
Songs of praise shall conquer death;
Then, amidst eternal joy,

Songs of praise their powers employ.

James Montgomery (1771-1854), 1819.

227

6.6.7.7.7.7.6.

THERE was joy in heaven,
HERE was joy in heaven,

When this goodly world to frame
The Lord of might and mercy came;
Shouts of joy were heard on high,
And the stars sang from the sky
Glory to God in heaven.

There was joy in heaven,
There was joy in heaven,
When the billows, heaving dark,
Sank around the stranded ark,
And the rainbow's watery span
Spake of mercy, hope to man,
And peace with God in heaven.

There was joy in heaven,
There was joy in heaven,

When of love the midnight beam
Dawned on the towers of Bethlehem,

And along the echoing hill

Angels sang, 'On earth good will,

And glory in the heaven!'

There is joy in heaven,
There is joy in heaven,

When the soul that went astray
Turns to Christ, the living Way,
And, by grace of heaven subdued,
Breathes its prayer of gratitude,
There is joy in heaven.

228

OME, let us join our cheerful songs
With angels round the throne;

C. M.

Ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
But all their joys are one.

'Worthy the Lamb that died,' they cry, 'To be exalted thus!'

'Worthy the Lamb,' our lips reply, 'For He was slain for us!'

Jesus is worthy to receive

Honour and power divine;

And blessings more than we can give
Be, Lord, for ever Thine.

Let all creation join in one
To bless the sacred Name
Of Him that sits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748), 1707.

ALL

229

C. M.

LL hail the power of Jesus' Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;

Bring forth the royal diadem,

And crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye martyrs of our God,
Who from His altar call;
Extol the stem of Jesse's rod,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Hail Him, ye heirs of David's line,
Whom David Lord did call,
The God Incarnate, Man Divine,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget
The wormwood and the gall,
Go, spread your trophies at His feet,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Let every kindred, every tribe
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Edward Perronet (1726–1792), 1780. Varied by

230

L.M.

In that dear Name all heart's joys meet:

But O than honey sweeter far

The glimpses of His presence are.

No word is sung more sweet than this,
No sound is heard more full of bliss,
No thought brings sweeter comfort nigh
Than Jesus, Son of God most high.

Jesu, the hope of souls forlorn,
How good to them for sin that mourn!
To them that seek Thee, O how kind!
But what art Thou to them that find?

No tongue of mortal can express,
No pen can write the blessedness;
He only who hath proved it knows
What bliss from love of Jesus flows.

O Jesu, King of wondrous might!
O Victor, glorious from the fight!
Sweetness that may not be expressed,
And altogether loveliest!

Abide with us, O Lord, to-day,

Fulfil us with Thy grace, we pray;
And with Thine own true sweetness feed
Our souls from sin and darkness freed.

John Mason Neale (1818–1866), 1852. From the Hymn Jesu dulcis memoria,' by St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1c91–1153).