THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. THE world is grown old, and her pleasures are past; The world is grown old, and her form may not last; The world is grown old, and trembles for fear; The sun in the heaven is languid and pale; near. The king on his throne, the bride in her bower, The children of pleasure all feel the sad hour; The roses are faded, and tasteless the cheer, For the world is grown old,and judgment is near. The world is grown old,—but should we complain, Who have tried her and know that her promise is vain? Our heart is in heaven, our home is not here, And we look for our crown when judgment is near. CHRISTMAS DAY.. O, Saviour, whom this holy morn To mortal want and labor born, Incarnate Word, by every grief, If gaily clothed and proudly fed, If pressed by poverty severe, Through fickle fortune's various scene From sin preserve us free; Like us thou hast a mourner been, May we rejoice with thee. ST STEPHEN'S DAY. THE Son of God goes forth to war, His blood-red banner streams afar; Who best can drink his cup of wo, Who patient bears his cross below, The martyr first, whose eagle eye Who saw his Master in the sky, Like Him, with pardon on his tongue He prayed for them that did the wrong. A glorious band, the chosen few, Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew, They met the tyrant's brandished steel, They bowed their necks the death to feel. A noble army-men and boys, They climbed the steep ascent of Heaven, O God, to us may grace be given 5* ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY. O God, who gav'st thy servant grace, Amid the storms of life distressed, To look on thine incarnate face, To see the light that dimly shone, Be ours, O King of mercy, still To feel thy presence from above, And in thy word, and in thy will, To hear thy voice and know thy love; And when the toils of life are done, And look, in humble hope, to Thee. |