A lamp to give the Gentiles light, To Israel's faithful Seed. George Sandys. SION, thine hallowed gates unfold, Whom seers discerned with far-off ken, Thy self, O Christ, with words of might The maiden meek, with downcast eye, Bears in her arms the God she bare, Her forty days she kept right well, A mother-maid, of God the shrine, Yet entering not the fane divine. Alas! what swords thy soul shall wound, O virgin, born to grief profound; W. J. Blew. THE EPIPHANY. WHO are they, travelling from afar, For now the sun that rose so bright For all the earth, has dawned in heaven, Far lands have felt the breaking light, The temple's veil will soon be riven; And mercy, like a gentle star, Looks down from heaven, and leads them on, From Eastern scenes of pomp and war To worship at a cradle throne. The wandering star has ceased to roam; On yonder Jewish peasant's home, Laid on a virgin mother's knee, No waiting guards, no pomp around, The wise men joy exceedingly, The Monarch whom they sought is found. They kneel before their Infant King, The myrrh, the incense, and the gold. And meet it was all earth should send Great kings for Christ great things have done; C. F. H. DEEP in Sabea's fragrant groves retired, Long had they trained the inquiring youth, |