For the Nativity of our blessed Lord and Saviour

Luke ii. 8-15.

WHILE shepherds watch their flocks by nighty
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 seiz'd their troubled mind;
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
"To you and all mankind.

3To you, in David's town, this day,
66 'Is born of David's line,

The SAVIOUR, who is CHRIST the LORD;
"And this shall be the sign.

"The Heavenly Babe you there shall find,
"To human view display'd,

"All meanly wrapp'd in swathing bands,
"And in a manger laid.

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appear'd a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Address'd their joyful song:

"All glory be to God on high,

"And to the earth be peace;

"Good will, henceforth, from heaven to men, "Begin, and ever cease."

The Work and Contention of Heaven,

BY ERSKINE.

1 IN heavenly choirs a question rose,
(That stirr'd-up strife will never close ;)
What rank of all the ransom'd race

Owes highest praise to sov'reign grace?
2 Babes, thither caught from womb and breast,
Claim'd right to sing above the rest:
Because they found the happy shore
They never saw nor sought before.
3 Those that arriv'd at riper age,
Before they left the dusky stage,
Thought grace deserv'd yet higher praise,
That wash'd the blots of num'rous days.
Anon, the war more close began,

What praising harp should lead the van;
And which of grace's heavenly peers,
Was deepest run in her arrears.

$ ""Tis 1," said one, ""bove all my race,
"Am debtor chief to glorious grace;"
"No," said another, “hark, I trow,
"I'm more oblig'd to grace than you.”
B "Stay," said a third, "I deepest share
"In owing praise beyond compare;
"The chief of sinners, you'll allow,
"Must be the chief of singers now."
7 "Hold," said a fourth, "I here protest,
'My praises must outvie the best;
"For I'm, of all the human race,
"The highest miracle of grace."

8 "Stop," said a fifth, "these notes forbear, "Lo! I'm the greatest wonder here;

"For I, of all the race that fell "Deserv'd the lowest place in hell. 9 A soul that higher yet aspir'd, With equal love to Jesus fir'd,

""Tis mine to sing the highest notes, "To love, that wash'd the foulest blots." 10 "Ho!" cry'd a mate, " 'tis mine I'll prove "Who sinn'd in spite of light and love, "To sound his praise with loudest bell, "That sav'd me from the lowest hell." 11 "Come, come," said one, "I'll hold thy plea "That highest praise is due by me; “For mine, of all the sav'd by grace, "Was the most dreadful, desp'rate case."

12 Another rising at his side,

As fond to praise, and free of pride, Cry'd, "pray give place, for I defy "That you should own more praise than I 13 "I'll yield to none in this debate; "I'm ruu so deep in grace's debt; "That sure I am, I boldly can "Compare with all the heavenly clan." 14 Quick o'er their head a trump awoke, "Your songs my very heart have spoke "But ev'ry note you here propale, Belongs to me above you all."

15 The list'ning millions round about

With sweet resentment loudly shout"What voice is this, comparing notes, "That to their song chief place allots ? 16"We can't allow of such a sound, "That you alone have highest ground, "To sing the royalties of grace; We claim the same adoring place.

17 What! will no rival singer yield
He has a match upon the field?
"Come then, and let us all agree,
"To praise upon the highest key."
18 Then jointly all the harpers round
In mind unite, with solemn sound,
And strokes upon the highest string,
Made all the heavenly arches ring:
19 Ring loud with hallelujahs high,
To him that sent his Son to die;
And to the worthy Lamb of God,

That lov'd and wash'd them in his blood. 20 Free grace was sov'reign empress crown'd, In pomp with joyous shouts around; Assisting angels clapp'd their wings, And sounded grace on all their strings. 21 The emulation round the throne

Made prostrate hosts, (who ev'ry, one
The humblest place their right avow,}
Strive who shall give the lowest bow.
22 The next contention without vice
Among the birds of paradise,

Made ev'ry glorious warbling throat
Strive who should raise the highest note,

23 Thus in sweet, holy, humble strife,
Along their endless, joyful life,
Of Jesus all the harpers rove,
And sing the wonders of his love.
24 Their discord makes them all unite
In raptures most divinely sweet;
So great the song, so grave the bass
Melodious music fills the place.

THE END.