CHRISTMAS HYMN.

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CHRISTMAS HYMN.

HEN Jordan hushed his waters still,
And silence slept on Zion's hill;

When Bethlehem's shepherds through the night

Watched o'er the flocks by starry light:

Hark! from the midnight hills around,

A voice of more than mortal sound
In distant hallelujahs stole,

Wild murmurings o'er the raptured soul.

Then swift to every startled eye

New streams of glory light the sky;
Heaven bursts her azure gates, to pour
Her spirits to the midnight hour.

On wheels of light, on wings of flame,

The glorious hosts of Zion came;

High heaven with songs of triumph rung,
While thus they struck their harps and sung:

"O Zion! lift thy raptured eye,

The long-expected hour is nigh;

The joys of nature rise again,

The Prince of Salem comes to reign.

"See, Mercy from her golden urn

Pours a rich stream to those that mourn!

Behold, she binds with tender care,

The bleeding bosom of despair!

"He comes to cheer the trembling heart, Bids Satan and his host depart;

Again the day-star gilds the gloom;

Again the bowers of Eden bloom.

"O Zion! lift thy raptured eye,
The long-expected hour is nigh;
The joys of nature rise again,
The Prince of Salem comes to reign."

CHRISTMAS DAY

W

HAT sudden blaze of song

Spreads o'er the expanse of heaven! In waves of light it thrills along,

The angelic signal given

"Glory to God!" from yonder central fire,

Flows out the echoing lay beyond the starry_quire!

Like circles widening round

Upon a clear blue river,

Orb after orb, the wondrous sound

Is echoed on for ever:

Glory to God on high, on earth be peace,
And love towards men of love, salvation and release."

Yet stay, before they dare

To join that festal throng;

Listen and mark what gentle air

First stirred the tide of song;

"Tis not "The Saviour born in David's home,

To Whom for power and health obedient worlds should come.”

With fixed adoring look,

The choir of angels caught the word,

Nor yet their silence broke;

But when they heard the sign, where Christ should be, In sudden light they shone and heavenly harmony.

Wrapped in His swaddling bands,

And in His manger laid,

The Hope and Glory of all lands
Is come to the world's aid:

No peaceful home upon His cradle smiled,

Guests rudely went and came, where slept the Royal Child.

But where Thou dwellest, Lord,

No other thought should be,

Once duly welcomed and adored,

How should I part with Thee !

Bethlehem must lose Thee soon; but Thou wilt grace

The single heart to be Thy sure abiding-place.

Thee, on the bosom laid

Of a pure virgin mind,

In quiet ever, and in shade,

Shepherd and sage may find;

They who have bowed untaught to Nature's sway,
And they who follow Truth along her star-paved way.

The pastoral spirits first

Approach Thee, Babe Divine ;

For they in lowly thoughts are nursed,

Meet for Thy lowly shrine:

Sooner than they should miss where Thou dost dwell,

Angels from heaven will stoop to guide them to Thy cell.