The Presence of Christ the Joy of His People

The wond'ring nations have beheld
The sacred prophesy fulfilled,
And angels hail'd the glorious morn
That saw the great Messiah born:

The prince! the Saviour! long desir'd,
Whom prophets taught, by heav'n inspir'd,
And shew'd far off the blissful day;
Rise o'er the world with healing ray. —.

Oft in the temples of his grace
His saints behold his smiling face,
And oft have seen his glory shine,
With pow'r and majesty divine:

But soon, alas! his absence mourn,
And pray and wish his kind return;
Without his life-inspiring light,
'Tis all a scene of gloomy night.

Come, dearest Lord, thy children cry,
Our graces droop, our comforts die;
Return, and let thy glories rise,
Again to our admiring eyes:

Till fill'd with light, and joy, and love,
Thy courts below, like those above,
Triumphant hallelujahs raise,
And heav'n and earth resound thy praise.