A sinless God, for sinful men,
Descends to suffer and to bleed;
Hell must renounce its empire then:
The price is paid, the world is freed,
And Satan's self must now confess
That Christ has earned a right to bless.

Now holy Peace may smile from heaven,
And heavenly Truth from earth shall spring-
The captive's galling bonds are riven,
For our Redeemer is our King;

And He that gave His blood for men
Will lead us home to God again.

Acton Bell.

THE CIRCUMCISION.

YE flaming powers, 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 listening night;
Now mourn, and if sad share with us to bear
Your fiery essence can distil no tear,
Burn in your sighs, and borrow

Seas wept from our deep sorrow :

He who with all heaven's heraldry whilere Entered 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, even 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, oh, ere long

Huge pangs and strong

Will pierce more near His heart.

John Milton.

O HAPPY day, when this our state
With Jesus' blood was consecrate!

O happy day, when first the Lord began.
To bare the arm which rescued ruined man!

Scarce born in this our solitude,

The little Infant pours His blood; To be the earnest of His endless love, The prelibation of His death to prove.

Entering the world, His Father's will
Instant He hastens to fulfil;

And is beforehand with the day of death,

Marked as the victim ere He yields His breath.