How many a spot defiles the robe

That wraps an earthly saint!
O for a heart that never sins!

O for a soul washed white !
O for a voice to praise our King,
Nor weary day or night!

Here faith is ours, and heavenly hope,
And grace to lead us higher :
But there are perfectness and peace
Beyond our best desire.

O, by Thy love and anguish, Lord!
O, by Thy life laid down!

O, that we fall not from Thy grace,
Nor cast away our crown!

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,
The ill that I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed;

Teach me to die, that so I may
Rise glorious at the awful day.

O let my soul on Thee repose;
And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close :
Sleep, that shall me more vig'rous make
To serve my God when I awake.

If in the night I sleepless lie,

My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
May no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.

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,
For love of Adam's lapsed race,
Quit the sweet pleasure of the sky,
To bring us to that happy place.

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,
That men the son of God might be,
And by their second birth regain

A likeness to His deity.

Henry Moore

XXXII

A HYMN ON THE NATIVITY OF MY

I

SAVIOUR

SING the birth was born to-night,
The Author both of life and light;
The angels so did sound it.

And like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light and were afraid,

Yet searched, and true they found it.

The Son of God, th' Eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,

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,
The Son's obedience knew no No,
Both wills were in one stature :

And as that wisdom had decreed,
The Word was now made flesh indeed,
And took on Him our nature.

What comfort by Him do we win,
Who made Himself the price of sin,
To make us heirs of glory!

To see this babe all innocence,
A martyr born in our defence:

Can man forget this story?

Ben Jonson