BIRTH OF JESUS.

9

V.

BIRTH OF JESUS.

LUKE II. 1-21.

Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, good will towards men. - Verse 14.

GLORY to God!

The Lord, the righteous hath looked down from heaven, And great salvation to his people given.

Glory to God!

Peace on the earth!

Now let the sons of men in harmony
Accept the blessing sent by God on high,

Peace on the earth!

Good will to men!

For God, the merciful, his Son hath sent
To bid the sinner's stubborn heart relent.
Good will to men!

Messiah comes !

Now is the appointed time of prophecy.
Israel, rejoice! deliverance draweth nigh.
Messiah comes!

Hail, Prince of Peace!

Hail, Virgin Mother! on thy blameless breast
The Hope of nations takes his smiling rest.
Hail, Prince of Peace!

VI.

PRESENTATION OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.

LUKE II. 22-38.

Lord! now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. - Verses 29, 30.

HOLY and happy age!

Declining to the grave, thy heart reposes

On the sure promise of the sacred page,

And with its brightest beam, thy daylight closes.

Loved saint, depart in peace!

Long hast thou borne the burthen and the strife; Death is to thee from care a sweet release, And the blest summons to eternal life.

No doubt disturbs thy joy.

One who so well hath labored through the day,
Now that the evening comes, no fears annoy,.
But glad he turns him from his toils away.

PRESENTATION OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. 11

We watch thy spirit's flight,

Then cheerful to the scenes of life return;

For thy departing words have made them bright, And zeal, and faith, and love, within us burn.

On thee was much bestowed;

To clasp the infant Saviour to thy breast;

But we can hear the words of love that flowed From Jesus' lips when thou hadst sunk to rest.

Oh, when the hour draws nigh

That calls us hence, may we like thee impart
Hope to survivors, and without a sigh
Rise to the mansions of the pure in heart!

VII.

THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST.

MATTHEW, CHAP. II.

Behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem. Verse 1.

HAIL to thee, hoary Wisdom! age on age

Hath seen thine empire o'er the great and good. Through thee the Chaldee read the starry page; To thee old Egypt bowed beside her flood. Where Persia's sons the might of kings subdued, Where Indian bards their wild traditions tell,

Thy chosen ones have taught, thine altars stood; And truth's enthusiasts ay have loved to dwell Where from the sage's lips the words of wonder fell.

But chief, O land of eloquence and song!
Fair Greece, in thee Philosophy was seen,
With Socrates, amid the Athenian throng,
With Plato, by Ilissus' banks of green,
With Zeno's voice of power, and lofty mien;
Thence westward passing to the conquerors' home,
With Cicero she gazed upon the scene,

Of arch triumphal, portico and dome,

Where towered, supreme in pomp, thy pride, imperial

Rome!

THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST.

Then rose a holier teacher.

From the clime

Where Wisdom won her earliest victories,
Her children came, led on their quest sublime
By that mysterious herald in the skies,
Messiah's star; behold its radiance lies
Upon the manger's roof; they enter there;
Before an infant bend the old and wise,
And gazing on his peaceful features fair,
To God on high they raise the tributary prayer.

This was Philosophy's first offering given
To him who came in infant purity,

To speak to man the high commands of Heaven.
Oh ever thus in sweet humility

May Wisdom kneel, receiving thankfully
The blessings of thy doctrine, Prince of Peace!
And vail her ancient honors unto thee,

Hailing the light that bids her own decrease,

13

Since that celestial ray hath made the darkness cease.