And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived.-LUKE ii, 21.
YE flaming Pow'rs, and winged Warriors bright,
That erst with music, and triumphant song,
First heard by happy watchful shepherds' ear,
So sweetly sung your joy the clouds along
Through the soft silence of the list'ning night;
Now mourn, and if sad share with us to bear
Your fiery essence can distill no tear,
Burn in your sighs, and borrow
Seas wept from our deep sorrow :
He who with all heav'n's heraldry whilere
Enter'd the world, now bleeds to give us ease;
Alas, how soon our sin
Sore doth begin
His infancy to seize!
O more exceeding love, or law more just!
Just law indeed, but more exceeding love!
For we by rightful doom remediless.
Were lost in death, till He that dwelt above
High throned in secret bliss, for us frail dust
Emptied his glory, ev'n to nakedness;
And that great covenant which we still transgress
Entirely satisfied,
And the full wrath beside
Of vengeful justice bore for our excess,
And seals obedience first, with wounding smart,
This day, but O ere long
Huge pangs and strong
Will pierce more near his heart.
The Offering of the Magi.
Behold! there come wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him."
FAR in the desert East it shone,
A guiding-star, and only one;
The other planets left the sky,
Trembling as if rebuked on high.
The moon forsook her silvery height,
Abash'd before that holier light:
The storm-clouds that on ether lay
Melted before its glorious ray;
Till half the heaven shone pure and clear,
Like some diviner atmosphere
Than ours, where heavy vapors rise
From the vile earth, to dim the skies;
Meet herald of that promised day,
When souls shall burst the bond of clay,
And, purified from earth-stains, come,
Radiant to its eternal home.
On roll'd the star, nor paused to shed
Its glory o'er the mountain's head,
Whereon the morning's sunshine fell,
Where eve's last crimson loved to dwell,
The gilded roof, the stately fane,
THE OFFERING OF THE MAGI.
The garden, nor the corn-hid plain,
The camp, where red watch-fires were keeping
Guard o'er a thousand soldiers sleeping.
But temple, palace, city past,
That star paused in the sky at last.
It paused where, roused from slumbers mild,
Lay 'mid the kine a new-born child.
Are there no clarions upon earth,
To tell mankind their monarch's birth?
Are there no banners to unfold,
Heavy with purple and with gold?
Are there no flowers to strew the ground,
Nor arches with the palm-branch bound?
Nor fires to kindle on the hill?
No! man is mute-the world is still.
Ill would all earthly pomp agree
With this hour's mild solemnity;
The tidings which that infant brings,
Are not for conquerors nor for kings;
Nor for the sceptre, nor the brand,
For crowned head, nor red right hand.
But to the contrite and the meek,
The sinful, sorrowful, and weak:
Or those who, with a hope sublime,
Are waiting for the Lord's good time.
Only for those the angels sing,
"All glory to our new-born King,
And peace and good-will unto men,
Hosanna to our God! Amen."
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, " Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt."-ST. MATTHEW ii. 13.
'Tis noon-the sun is in the sky;
And from his broad and burning ray
To groves and glens the shepherds fly
Where welcome shade excludes the day;
Or rest, where sparkling waters play
Like fairy streams of liquid gold-
Such as mysterious legends say,
Around the Fire-King's palace rolled.
Behold yon scattered group recline
Beneath a tall oak's ample shade,
A form of manly port benign,
And one, who seems a loveliest maid,
Save that within her arms is laid,
An Infant like his mother fair;
Though never earthborn babe displayed
Such beauties, as are blended there.
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