How many a spot defiles the robe That wraps an earthly saint! O for a soul washed white ! Here faith is ours, and heavenly hope, O, by Thy love and anguish, Lord! O, that we fall not from Thy grace, C. F. Alexander XXIX G EVENING HYMN LORY to Thee, my God, this night, For all the blessings of the light; Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, Beneath Thine own Almighty wings. Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son, Teach me to live, that I may dread Teach me to die, that so I may O let my soul on Thee repose; If in the night I sleepless lie, My soul with heavenly thoughts supply; Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, angelic host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Bishop Thomas Ken II THE INCARNATE WORD XXX THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST OR Thou wert born of woman! Thou didst come, Foliest, to this world of sin and gloom, Not in Thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was Thy tempestuous road; Nor indignation burned before Thee on Thy way. But Thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast. The Heavens were not commanded to prepare A gorgeous canopy of golden air; Nor stooped their lamps th' enthronèd fires on high : A single silent star Came wandering from afar, Gliding unchecked and calm along the liquid sky, The Eastern sages leading on As at a kingly throne, To lay their gold and odors sweet Before Thy infant feet. The earth and ocean were not hushed to hear Bright harmony from every starry sphere; Nor at Thy presence broke the voice of song From all the cherub choirs And seraph's burning lyres Poured through the host of Heaven the charmèd clouds along. One angel troop the strain began, Of all the race of man By simple shepherds heard alone, That soft Hosanna tone. H. H. Milman XXXI THE GOD INCARNATE HE Holy Son of God most high, His robes of light he laid aside, Which did His Majesty adorn, And the frail state of mortal tried, In human flesh and figure born. The Son of God thus man became, A likeness to His deity. Henry Moore XXXII A HYMN ON THE NATIVITY OF MY I SAVIOUR SING the birth was born to-night, And like the ravished shepherds said, Yet searched, and true they found it. The Son of God, th' Eternal King, And freed the soul from danger; He whom the whole world could not take, The Word which heaven and earth did make, Was now laid in a manger. The Father's wisdom willed it so, And as that wisdom had decreed, What comfort by Him do we win, To see this babe all innocence, Can man forget this story? Ben Jonson |