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The Church at Christmas.

ISAIAH LX.

“The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee; the fir tree, the pine tree and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.”

God's temple is a father's home,
Where love and mercy still have sway;
Thither his happy children come,
With festive wreath and cheerful lay:
Each brings his offerings of the heart,
Together all their gifts they twine,
While all the cares of life depart,
Self-banished from devotion's shrine.

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How proudly swells the temple now,
With glorious gifts from Lebanon!—
How stoops the pine with lofty brow,
The fragrant myrtle near him won!
Green honors strew the ancient aisles,
Fresh wreaths about the pillars twine,
And Beauty for the dwelling smiles,
Where love approves itself divine.
How pure in office thus, the hands,
That beautify the sacred place;
Where pine and cedar wove in bands,
Receive a power of mystic grace;
For 'tis his word that, honor'd thus,
With homage pure and tribute meet,
He will make glorious, still for us,
The place whereon he plants his feet.