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The Epiphany.
“God spake in visions of the night.”
—Gen. xlvi. 2.
“This is the night of The Lord.”
—Exod. xii. 42.
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”
—Gospel for the Day.
Night is the true romance of time
When shaded earth and sky seem blending,
And Fancy hears that mystic chime
Seraphic Hosts on high are sending
From harps above, to heaven-tuned Minds below,
Whose echoing chords receive their raptured overflow.
When shaded earth and sky seem blending,
And Fancy hears that mystic chime
Seraphic Hosts on high are sending
From harps above, to heaven-tuned Minds below,
Whose echoing chords receive their raptured overflow.
Oft in the trance of this deep hour
The sightless Dead may hover nigh,
And o'er the Living wield a power,
We feel not, whence, and know not, why:—
Past years revive, and buried fond ones start
In resurrection-dreams from out the mourning heart!
The sightless Dead may hover nigh,
And o'er the Living wield a power,
We feel not, whence, and know not, why:—
Past years revive, and buried fond ones start
In resurrection-dreams from out the mourning heart!
Thus, laws may be, to man unknown,
Whereby the spirit-world is sway'd,
Whose spells are round a night-scene thrown
In garden, grove, or haunted glade;
Where gliding Angels to and fro may steal,
On inward errand sent, and wing'd on plumes of zeal.
Whereby the spirit-world is sway'd,
Whose spells are round a night-scene thrown
In garden, grove, or haunted glade;
Where gliding Angels to and fro may steal,
On inward errand sent, and wing'd on plumes of zeal.
Moon, star, and silence, kindred three,—
Night is the hour when such prevail,
And touch the earth with poesy,
Or, bid our mental vision hail
The power and presence of Diviner Things
Than what coarse day-life views, or common Nature brings.
Night is the hour when such prevail,
And touch the earth with poesy,
Or, bid our mental vision hail
The power and presence of Diviner Things
Than what coarse day-life views, or common Nature brings.
Now, waves and winds a sabbath keep,
The lull'd Creation seems to pray,
And in the hush of holy sleep
All wild emotions ebb away:—
Calmness of soul and chastity of thought
Melt through our being's depth, with pure religion fraught.
The lull'd Creation seems to pray,
And in the hush of holy sleep
All wild emotions ebb away:—
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Melt through our being's depth, with pure religion fraught.
But, more than Fancy gives to Night
Are peerless charms which Saints admire;
And they, whose hearts respond aright
To all her dumb appeals inspire,—
Remember well, what hour Th' Incarnate chose
For supplicating watch, and not for mere repose.
Are peerless charms which Saints admire;
And they, whose hearts respond aright
To all her dumb appeals inspire,—
Remember well, what hour Th' Incarnate chose
For supplicating watch, and not for mere repose.
Thou Source and Subject of all prayer,
Benign Redeemer! grant that we,
When hymning stars on high declare
That speechless Name which shadows Thee,—
Back to our souls Thy mountain-scene recall,
Where Night and Nature heard the praying Lord of all!
Benign Redeemer! grant that we,
When hymning stars on high declare
That speechless Name which shadows Thee,—
Back to our souls Thy mountain-scene recall,
Where Night and Nature heard the praying Lord of all!
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