What though in Bethlehem's quiet vale We will not look with scorn Upon his birth-place and his guise so lowly, To yonder simple shepherds came Favoured of heaven, they heard with joy, And now thay haste away To see this wondrous sight-the world's Creator And join we, too, with heavenward soul, 'Tis ours with one accord to sing Their glad, triumphal song 'Glory to God!—the barrier hath been riven; Peace and good-will on earth to men are given!" REV. J. S. BROAD. THE NATIVITY. OR Thou wert born of woman! come, Thou didst O Holiest ! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road; Nor indignation burnt 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' enthronéd fire on high: Came wandering from afar, Gliding uncheck'd and calm along the liquid sky; The Eastern Sages leading on, As at a kingly throne, To lay their gold and odours sweet The Earth and Ocean were not hushed to hear And seraphs' burning lyres, Poured through the host of heaven the charmed clouds And when thou didst depart, no car of flame Nor visible angels mourned with drooping plumes: From fatal Calvary, With all thine own redeemed out-bursting from their tombs. For thou didst bear away from earth But one of human birth, The dying felon by thy side, to be In Paradise with thee. Nor o'er thy cross did clouds of vengeance break; The world in darkness lay; Then bask'd in bright repose beneath the cloudless sun; While thou didst sleep within the tomb, Ere yet the white-robed angel shone And when thou didst arise, thou didst not stand Thy mother's coming feet, And bear the words of peace unto the faithful few; Then calmly, slowly didst thou rise Into thy native skies, Thy human form dissolved on high In its own radiancy. OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR. XAIL to the Lord's Anointed, Great David's greater Son! His reign on earth begun! He comes with succour speedy To those that suffer wrong; And bid the weak be strong; MILMAN. By such He shall be feared, He shall come down like showers And love, joy, hope, like flowers, Arabia's desert ranger To Him shall bow the knee; The Ethiopian stranger His glory come to see. With offerings of devotion Ships from the isles shall meet, To pour the wealth of ocean In tribute at His feet. Kings shall fall down before Him, O'er river, sea, and shore; Or dove's light wing can soar. For Him shall prayers unceasing, His kingdom still increasing, A kingdom without end: O'er every foe victorious, He on his throne shall rest; From age to age more glorious, All-blessing and all-blest. The tide of time shall never His covenant remove; His name shall stand for ever; That name to us is-Love. MONTGOMERY, OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR. HE mourner, speechless and amazed, On that mysterious stranger gazed: If young he were, 'twas only seen From lines that told what once had been ;As if the withering hand of Time Had smote him ere he reached his prime. The bright rose on his cheek was faded, His pale fair brow with sadness shaded; Yet through the settled sorrow there A conscious grandeur flashed—which told, Unswayed by man, and uncontrolled, Himself had deigned their lot to share, And borne-because he willed to bear. Whate'er his being or his birth, His soul had never stooped to earth; Nor mingled with the meaner race, Who shared or swayed his dwelling-place; * The widow of Nain,-Luke vii. 11. |