Without a place to lay his head, Remember him who bore for thee Remember him who died for thee, W. MARTIN. THE SAVIOUR'S LOVE. OH! never, never canst thou know The pangs of that mysterious woe Yes, man for man perchance may brave A sweet but solitary beam, An emanation from above, Glimmers o'er life's uncertain dream- DALE. THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. MATT. ii. 2. BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid! Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining; Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore him, in slumber reclining,Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all! Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion, Vainly we offer each ample oblation; Vainly with gold would his favour secure: Richer by far is the heart's adoration; Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. THE REDEEMER. YES, thou wert born of woman! thou didst come, And not by thunders strew'd was thy tempestuous road Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way. Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest The heavens were not commanded to prepare Nor stoop'd their lamps th' enthroned fires on high. A single silent star came wandering from afar, (iliding uncheck'd and calm along the liquid sky; The eastern sages leading on As at a kingly throne, To lay their gold and odours sweet The earth and ocean were not hush'd to hear Bright harmony from every starry sphere; Nor at thy presence brake the voice of song From all the cherub choirs, and seraphs' burning lyres Pour'd through the host of heaven the charmed clouds along. One angel troop the strain began, By simple shepherds heard alone, And when thou didst depart, no car of flame To bear thee hence in lambent radiance came; 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; A little while the conscious earth did shake At that foul deed by her fierce children done; A few dim hours of day the world in darkness lay; Then bask'd in bright repose beneath the cloudless sun. While thou didst sleep beneath the tomb, Ere yet the white-robed angel shone And when thou didst arise, thou didst not stand With devastation in thy red right hand, Plaguing the guilty city's murtherous crew; But thou didst haste to meet 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 MILMAN. THE SACRIFICE. BOUND upon th' accursed tree, Bound upon th' accursed tree, |