FROM heaven above to earth I come To you, this night, is born a child 'Tis Christ our God, who far on high He brings those blessings, long ago These are the tokens ye shall mark, There shall ye find the young child laid, By whom the heavens and earth were made. Now let us all with gladsome cheer Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes! Who is this child so young and fair? The blessed Christ-child lieth there. Welcome to earth, Thou noble guest, What can we render, Lord, to Thee? Ah, Lord, who hast created all, How hast Thou made Thee weak and small, That Thou must choose Thy infant bed Where ass and ox but lately fed! Were earth a thousand times as fair, For velvets soft and silken stuff Thou hast but hay and straw so rough, Thus hath it pleased Thee to make plain Are nought and worthless in Thy sight. Ah! dearest Jesus, Holy Child, My heart for very joy doth leap, Glory to God in highest heaven, Luther, translated by C. Winkworth. THE midnight is as bright as day! Those floods of splendour; throng on throng Uplifting a triumphant song! Ne'er flowed such strains on earthly gale, O'er breezy hill, or listening vale, Before; nor shall such sounds again Break on the raptured ear of man, Till, rising to his native sky, It came, that glorious embassy, To hail the Incarnate Mystery! For this awoke that glorious hymn From glowing lips of Seraphim! For this-adown the radiant sky, From bowers of bliss-from worlds on high, Appeared, upborne on wings of fire, That seraph host— that angel-choir. For this, too, flamed o'er Bethlehem, The brightest in night's diadem, Illumed the magi's doubtful way; He might have come in regal pomp, With pealing of archangel trump, |