PROMISE OF CHRIST’S COMING.
Pastor.—O Lord, how manifold are thy works; in wisdom hast thou made them all.
Congregation.—In Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said.
Pas.—Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him.
Con.—And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Pas.—When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law.
Con.—And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Pas.—He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.
Con.—And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Pas.—And thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins.
ANTHEM BY THE CHOIR.
THE ANGELS TELL OF HIS COMING.
Pas.—And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Con.—And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.
Pas.—And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Con.—For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Pas.—And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Con.—Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Pas.—And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even into Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Con.—And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Pas.—And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
TUNE—St. Martin.
How great the wisdom, power and grace,
Which in redemption shine;
The heavenly host with joy confess
The work is all divine.
Before his feet they cast their crowns,
Those crowns which Jesus gave,
And, with ten thousand thousand tongues,
Proclaim his power to save.
With them let us our voices raise,
And still the song renew;
Salvation well deserves the praise
Of men and angels too.