A HYMN

ON THE NATIVITY OF MY SAVIOUR.

BEN JONSON.

I SING the birth was born to-night,
The author both of life and light;

The angels so did sound it,
And like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light, and were afraid,
Yet searched, and true they found it.

The Son of God, th' Eternal King,

That did us all salvation bring,

And freed the soul from danger;

He whom the whole world could not take, The Word, which heaven and earth did make, Was now laid in a manger.

The Father's wisdom willed it so,
The Son's obedience knew no No,
Both wills were in one stature;

And as that wisdom had decreed,
The Word was now made Flesh indeed,
And took on Him our nature.

What comfort by Him do we win,
Who made Himself the price of sin,

To make us heirs of Glory!

To see this babe, all innocence,
A martyr born in our defence:

Can man forget this story?

FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.

The following Christmas hymn is by Bishop Hall, one the earliest of our satiric poets, and one of the most celebrated of our old divines. He was contemporary with Shakspeare, Jonson, Spenser, and the other lights of the Elizabethan age. He, however, survived them all, and passing through the troublous times of the Commonwealth, exposed to the persecutions of the Roundhead party, died at Higham, near Norwich, in 1656.

FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.

BISHOP HALL.

MMORTAL Babe, who this dear day
Didst change thine Heaven for our clay,
And didst with flesh thy godhead veil,
Eternal Son of God, all hail!

Shine, happy star, ye angels, sing

Glory on high to Heaven's King.

Run, shepherds, leave your nightly watch,

See Heaven come down to Bethlehem's cratch.

Worship, ye sages of the east,

The King of God in meanness dressed.

O blessed maid, smile and adore

The God thy womb and arms have bore.

Star, angels, shepherds, and wild sages,
Thou virgin glory of all ages,
Restored frame of Heaven and Earth,

Joy in your dear Redeemer's birth!

William Drummond, of Hawthornden, the author of the two following sonnets, will be remembered as the friend of Ben Jonson, who undertook a journey to Scotland on foot, for the purpose of sceing, and conversing with one who was only known to him through the medium of correspondence. This meeting, however, did not tend to enhance their mutual regard; and Drummond left behind him at his death a manuscript account of the interview, which indicated in plain terms his disapprobation of Jonson's want of refinement, both as regards his manners and habits.

RUN Shepherds, run where Bethlem blest appears,

We bring the best of news, be not dismayed,

A Saviour there is born, more old than years,

Amidst Heaven's rolling heights this earth who stayed;
In a poor cottage inned, a Virgin Maid,

There is He poorly swaddled, in manger laid,

A weakling did Him bear, who all upbears,
To whom too narrow swaddlings are our spheres:

Run, shepherds, run, and solemnize His birth,

This is that night, no-day grown great with bliss,

In which the power of Satan broken is;

In Heaven be glory, peace unto the Earth.

Thus singing through the air the Angels swam,
And cope of stars re-echoed the same.

O THAN the fairest day, thrice fairer night!

Night to best days in which a sun doth rise,

Of which that golden eye, which clears the skies,

Is but a sparkling ray, a shadow light:

And blessed ye, in silly pastor's sight,

Mild creatures, in whose warm crib now lies

That Heaven-sent Youngling, holy Maid-born Wight, Midst, end, beginning of our prophesies:

Blest cottage that hath flowers in winter spread,

Though withered; blessed grass, that hath the grace
To deck, and be a carpet to that place.

Thus sang, unto the sounds of oaten reed,
Before the Babe, the Shepherds bowed on knees,

And springs ran nectar, honey dropt from trees.

GEORGE HERBERT.

ALL after pleasures as I rid one day,

My horse and I, both tired, body and mind, With full cry of affections, quite astray,

I took up in the next inn I could find; There when I came, whom found I but my dear, My dearest Lord, expecting till the grief Of pleasures brought me to him, ready there

To be all passengers' most sweet relief? O Thou, whose glorious, yet contracted light,

Wrapt in night's mantle, stole into a manger; Since my dark soul and brutish is thy right,

To man of all beasts be not thou a stranger: Furnish and deck my soul, that thou mayst have A better lodging, than a rack or grave.

The shepherds sing; and shall I silent be?
My God, no hymn for Thee?

My soul's a shepherd too; a flock it feeds
Of thoughts, and words, and deeds.

The pasture is thy word; the streams, thy grace
Enriching all the place.

Shepherd and flock shall sing, and all my powers Outsing the daylight hours.

Then we will chide the sun for letting night

Take up his place and right:

We sing one common Lord; wherefore he should Himself the candle hold.

I will go searching, till I find a sun

Shall stay till we have done;

A willing shiner, that shall shine as gladly,
As frost-night suns look sadly.