For thou wert born of woman: thou didst come, And not by thunders strewed Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way. In the rude manger laid to rest The heavens were not commanded to prepare Nor stooped their lamps the' enthroned fires on Came wandering from afar, [high: Gliding unchecked and calm along the liquid sky; The eastern sages leading on, As at a kingly throne, To lay their gold and odours sweet Before thy infant feet. The earth and ocean were not hushed to hear And seraphs' burning lyres [clouds along. Pour'd through the host of heaven the charmed One angel troop the strain began, Of all the race of man By simple shepherds heard alone, And when thou didst depart, no car of flame VOL. I. E Nor visible angels mourn'd with drooping plumes: Nor didst thou mount on high, From fatal Calvary, With all thine own redeem'd outbursting 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 the clouds of vengeance brake; The world in darkness lay; Then bask'd in bright repose beneath the cloudless sun: While thou didst sleep within the tomb, Consenting to thy doom; 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. MILMAN/ HYMN. BEHOLD! the' Ambassador divine, To publish to mankind the law On him, in rich effusion pour'd, No trumpet-sound, at his approach, By his kind hand the shaken reed The onward progress of his zeal He who spread forth the arch of heaven, And bade the planets roll, Who laid the basis of the earth, Thus saith the Lord, Thee have I sent, The message from on high. 'Before thy face the shades of death 'The gates of brass shall sunder burst, And lo! presaging thy approach, 'I am Jehovah: I am One: My name shall now be known; Now sing a new song to the Lord! O city of the Lord! begin Let Kedar's wilderness afar With accent rude rejoice. O, from the streams of distant lands And joyful from the mountains' tops Let all combined with one accord Till in remotest bounds of earth LOGAN. A CHRISTMAS CAROL. THE shepherds went their hasty way, And now they check'd their eager tread, They told her how a glorious light, She listen'd to the tale divine, And closer still the Babe she press'd; And while she cried, the Babe is mine! The milk rush'd faster to her breast: Joy rose within her, like a summer's morn; Peace, peace on earth! the Prince of Peace is born. |