 | Devotional Poems |  |
22
CHRISTMASTIDE
23
16
BETHLEHEM BELLS
'Tis God's dear warden fosterer Joseph,
Wendeth his way to Bethlehem;
'Tis God's own Maid who is in his keeping,
And God's high angels go with them.
(Hush! they will break the silence soon,
Bethlehem bells of joyful tune.)
Wendeth his way to Bethlehem;
'Tis God's own Maid who is in his keeping,
And God's high angels go with them.
(Hush! they will break the silence soon,
Bethlehem bells of joyful tune.)
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Where shall her tender guardian bring her?
For them no hostel opens a gate;
Oh, but her hour is close upon her.
Oh, but it groweth dark and late.
(Hush! they will burst the dark profound,
Bethlehem bells of loving sound.)
For them no hostel opens a gate;
Oh, but her hour is close upon her.
Oh, but it groweth dark and late.
(Hush! they will burst the dark profound,
Bethlehem bells of loving sound.)
Housed in a stable is Mary Mother;
Cradled in manger God doth lie;
Warden Joseph adores and watches—
Red of the dawn is in the sky.
(Hearken! hearken! above the cloud,
Bethlehem bells ring sweet and loud.)
Cradled in manger God doth lie;
Warden Joseph adores and watches—
Red of the dawn is in the sky.
(Hearken! hearken! above the cloud,
Bethlehem bells ring sweet and loud.)
Is this the place for the great King's dwelling?
The sphere that to God Himself is given?
Oh, for our King, what a sordid palace!
Oh, for our God, what a sorry heaven!
(Hark to the bells that ring abroad,
Behold your King, behold your God!)
The sphere that to God Himself is given?
Oh, for our King, what a sordid palace!
Oh, for our God, what a sorry heaven!
(Hark to the bells that ring abroad,
Behold your King, behold your God!)
Nothing it mattereth, palace or stable,
The ways of God being great and even;
Where the King is, there is the palace;
God Himself is the making of Heaven.
(They ring beyond moon, and sun, and star;
They ring anear as they ring afar:
Throughout all space they ring to-day,
Bethlehem bells that ring for aye.)
The ways of God being great and even;
Where the King is, there is the palace;
God Himself is the making of Heaven.
(They ring beyond moon, and sun, and star;
They ring anear as they ring afar:
Throughout all space they ring to-day,
Bethlehem bells that ring for aye.)
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18
JESUS IS BORN!
Mourner, who goest
Heart-sick and lorn,
Here is thy comfort,
Jesus is born!
Heart-sick and lorn,
Here is thy comfort,
Jesus is born!
Happy one, wearing
Rose without thorn,
Deepen thy gladness,
Jesus is born!
Rose without thorn,
Deepen thy gladness,
Jesus is born!
Pilgrim, with journeying
Weary and worn,
Here is thy rest-place,
Jesus is born!
Weary and worn,
Here is thy rest-place,
Jesus is born!
Babes whom He loveth,
Laugh ye this morn,
God's joy upon you,
Jesus is born!
Laugh ye this morn,
God's joy upon you,
Jesus is born!
Sinners unloving,
Cease ye to scorn;
Lo, for your pardon,
Jesus is born!
Cease ye to scorn;
Lo, for your pardon,
Jesus is born!
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God hath fulfilled it,
Promise long-sworn:
Ring out Hosannas!
Jesus is born!
Promise long-sworn:
Ring out Hosannas!
Jesus is born!
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AT THE MANGER
Babe in the manger, low we kneel to Thee.
What art Thou come to be?
More than our lips can tell, exceedingly.
What art Thou come to be?
More than our lips can tell, exceedingly.
Jesus, our Love, although we love Thee coldly;
Jesus, our Captain, though we fight unboldly;
Jesus, our Master, though we disobey Thee;
Jesus, our Teacher, though we oft gainsay Thee.
Jesus, our Captain, though we fight unboldly;
Jesus, our Master, though we disobey Thee;
Jesus, our Teacher, though we oft gainsay Thee.
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Jesus, the Way of peace and joy exceeding;
Jesus, the very Truth, our footsteps leading;
Jesus, the Light above the dark prevailing;
Jesus, our Daily Bread of Life unfailing.
Jesus, the very Truth, our footsteps leading;
Jesus, the Light above the dark prevailing;
Jesus, our Daily Bread of Life unfailing.
Babe in the manger, low we kneel to Thee,
Lord, who art come to be
More than our hearts may know, eternally.
Lord, who art come to be
More than our hearts may know, eternally.
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22
CHRISTMAS, 1915
O bells that ring at midnight, dawn and morn,
The Christ is born, ye say, the Christ is born.
The Christ is born, ye say, the Christ is born.
The little Prince of Peace in manger lies,
And God looks on His world through a Babe's eyes.
And God looks on His world through a Babe's eyes.
Yet flame and blood proclaim that world at war;
And anguish broods above all things that are.
And anguish broods above all things that are.
Still, still persistent bells proclaim this Birth
Bringing good will to men, and peace on earth.
Bringing good will to men, and peace on earth.
Peace and good will in war and hate's despite:
Dawn of the day, though dark and long the night.
Dawn of the day, though dark and long the night.
For, whether fields on earth be lost or won,
The banners of the King go on, go on.
The banners of the King go on, go on.
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And whether march of Time be swift or slow,
The banners of the King shall forward go.
The banners of the King shall forward go.
Yea, though the world by wars be rent and torn,
For evermore the Prince of Peace is born:
For evermore the Prince of Peace is born:
And Faith and Love proclaim in Bethlehem speech,
Glad tidings of great joy to all and each.
Glad tidings of great joy to all and each.
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