 | The First Christmas |  |
THE INFANT JESUS.
Dear
Little One! how sweet Thou art,
Thine eyes how bright they shine,
So bright they almost seem to speak
When Mary's look meets Thine!
Thine eyes how bright they shine,
So bright they almost seem to speak
When Mary's look meets Thine!
How
faint and feeble is Thy cry,
Like plaint of harmless dove,
When Thou dost murmur in Thy sleep
Of sorrow and of love.
Like plaint of harmless dove,
When Thou dost murmur in Thy sleep
Of sorrow and of love.
Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord
is with thee: blessed art thou
among women.—Luke 1.28.
When
Mary bids Thee sleep Thou sleepst,
Thou wakest when she calls,
Thou art content upon her lap,
Or in the rugged stalls.
Thou wakest when she calls,
Thou art content upon her lap,
Or in the rugged stalls.
Simplest
of Babes! with what a grace
Thou dost Thy Mother's will!
Thine infant fashions well betray
The Godhead's hidden skill.
Thou dost Thy Mother's will!
Thine infant fashions well betray
The Godhead's hidden skill.
For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and
gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall
arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen
upon thee, and the Gentiles shall come to
thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.—Isaiah IX. 2. 3.
When
Joseph takes Thee in his arms,
And smooths Thy little cheek,
Thou lookest up into his face
So helpless and so meek.
And smooths Thy little cheek,
Thou lookest up into his face
So helpless and so meek.
Yes!
Thou art what Thou seemst to be,
A thing of smiles and tears;
Yet Thou art God, and heaven and earth
Adore Thee with their fears.
A thing of smiles and tears;
Yet Thou art God, and heaven and earth
Adore Thee with their fears.
How beautiful are the feet of them that
preach the gospel of peace, and bring
glad tidings of good things.— Rom. X. 15.
Yes!
dearest Babe! those tiny hands,
That play with Mary's hair,
The weight of all the mighty world
This very moment bear.
That play with Mary's hair,
The weight of all the mighty world
This very moment bear.
While
Thou art clasping Mary's neck
In timid tight embrace,
The boldest Seraphs veil themselves
Before Thine infant face.
In timid tight embrace,
The boldest Seraphs veil themselves
Before Thine infant face.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is
given, and the government shall be upon
His shoulder, and His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God,
The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.—Isaiah IX.6.
When
Mary hath appeased Thy thirst,
And hushed Thy feeble cry,
The hearts of men lie open still
Before Thy slumbering eye.
And hushed Thy feeble cry,
The hearts of men lie open still
Before Thy slumbering eye.
Art
Thou, weak Babe! my very God?
Oh I must love Thee then,
Love Thee, and yearn to spread Thy love
Among forgetful men.
Oh I must love Thee then,
Love Thee, and yearn to spread Thy love
Among forgetful men.
Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory
of the Lord is risen upon thee.—Isa. IX.I.
O sweet, O wakeful—hearted Child!
Sleep on, dear Jesus! sleep;
For Thou must one day wake for me
To suffer and to weep.
Sleep on, dear Jesus! sleep;
For Thou must one day wake for me
To suffer and to weep.
A Scourge, a Cross, a cruel Crown
Have I in store for Thee;
Yet why? one little tear, O Lord!
Ransom enough would be.
Have I in store for Thee;
Yet why? one little tear, O Lord!
Ransom enough would be.
Hallelujah; for the Lord God
Omnipotent reigneth!
The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom
of our Lord
and of His Christ;
and He shall reign
for ever and ever.
King of Kings, and Lord of
Lords, Hallelujah!
The price decreed above;
Thou wilt do more than save our souls,
For Thou wilt die for love.
| The First Christmas | |