In The Yule-Log Glow, Vol. IV | Page 8

bed,?Destroys those rites in which their blood was shed:?The quintessence of earth He takes, and fees,?And precious gums distilled from weeping trees;?Rich metals and sweet odors now declare?The glorious blessings which His laws prepare,?To clear us from the base and loathsome flood?Of sense and make us fit for angel's food,?Who lift to God for us the holy smoke?Of fervent prayers with which we Him invoke,?And try our actions in the searching fire?By which the seraphims our lips inspire:?No muddy dross pure minerals shall infect,?We shall exhale our vapors up direct:?No storm shall cross, nor glittering lights deface?Perpetual sighs which seek a happy place.
_Sir John Beaumont._
A HYMN FOR THE EPIPHANY.
SUNG AS BY THE THREE KINGS.
_1 King._ Bright Babe! whose awful beauties make
The morn incur a sweet mistake;?_2 King._ For whom the officious heavens devise
To disinherit the sun's rise;?_3 King._ Delicately to displace
The day, and plant it fairer in Thy face;?_1 King._ O Thou born King of loves!?_2 King._ Of lights!?_3 King._ Of joys!
_Chorus._ Look up, sweet Babe, look up and see!
For love of Thee,
Thus far from home
The East is come
To seek herself in Thy sweet eyes.
_1 King._ We who strangely went astray,
Lost in a bright
Meridian night;
_2 King._ A darkness made of too much day;?_3 King._ Beckoned from far
By Thy fair star,
Lo, at last have found our way.
_Chorus._ To Thee, Thou Day of Night! Thou East of West!
Lo, we at last have found the way
To Thee, the world's great universal East,
The general and indifferent day.
_1 King._ All-circling point! all-centring sphere!
The world's one round eternal year:?_2 King._ Whose full and all-unwrinkled face
Nor sinks nor swells with time or place;?_3 King._ But everywhere and every while
Is one consistent solid smile,?_1 King._ Not vexed and tost,?_2 King._ 'Twixt spring and frost;?_3 King._ Nor by alternate shreds of light;
Sordidly shifting hands with shades and night.
_Chorus._ O little All, in Thy embrace,
The world lies warm and likes his place;
Nor does his full globe fail to be
Kissed on both his cheeks by Thee;
Time is too narrow for Thy year,
Nor makes the whole world Thy half-sphere.

_Richard Crashaw._
A HYMN ON THE NATIVITY OF MY SAVIOUR.
I sing the birth was born to-night,?The author both of life and light;?The angels so did sound it.?And like the ravished shepherds said,?Who saw the light, and were afraid,?Yet searched, and true they found it.
The Son of God th' eternal king,?That did us all salvation bring,?And freed the soul from danger;?He whom the whole world could not take,?The Word, which heaven and earth did make,?Was now laid in a manger.
The Father's wisdom willed it so,?The Son's obedience knew no No,?Both wills were in one stature;?And as that wisdom had decreed,?The Word was now made flesh indeed,?And took on Him our nature.
What comfort by Him do we win,?Who made himself the price of sin,?To make us heirs of glory!?To see this babe all innocence;?A martyr born in our defence;?Can man forget the story?
_Ben Jonson._
AT CHRISTMAS.
All after pleasures as I rid one day,?My horse and I both tried, body and mind,?With full cry of affections quite astray,?I took up in the next inn I could find.
There, when I came, whom found I but my dear--?My dearest Lord; expecting till the grief?Of pleasures brought me to Him; ready there?To be all passengers' most sweet relief?
O Thou, whose glorious, yet contracted light,?Wrapt in night's mantle, stole into a manger;?Since my dark soul and brutish is Thy right,?To man, of all beasts, be not Thou a stranger;
Furnish and deck my soul, that Thou may'st have?A better lodging than a rock or grave.
The shepherds sing; and shall I silent be?
My