The Christian Year | Page 8

eyes, that dazzled now and weak,
At glancing motes in sunshine wink.?Shall see the Kings full glory break,
Nor from the blissful vision shrink:
In fearless love and hope uncloyed
For ever on that ocean bright?Empowered to gaze; and undestroyed,
Deeper and deeper plunge in light.
Though scarcely now their laggard glance
Reach to an arrow's flight, that day?They shall behold, and not in trance,
The region "very far away."
If Memory sometimes at our spell
Refuse to speak, or speak amiss,?We shall not need her where we dwell
Ever in sight of all our bliss.
Meanwhile, if over sea or sky
Some tender lights unnoticed fleet,?Or on loved features dawn and die,
Unread, to us, their lesson sweet;
Yet are there saddening sights around,
Which Heaven, in mercy, spares us too,?And we see far in holy ground,
If duly purged our mental view.
The distant landscape draws not nigh
For all our gazing; but the soul,?That upward looks, may still descry
Nearer, each day, the brightening goal.
And thou, too curious ear, that fain
Wouldst thread the maze of Harmony,?Content thee with one simple strain,
The lowlier, sure, the worthier thee;
Till thou art duly trained, and taught
The concord sweet of Love divine:?Then, with that inward Music fraught,
For ever rise, and sing, and shine.
CHRISTMAS DAY
And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God. St. Luke ii. 13.
What sudden blaze of song
Spreads o'er th' expanse of Heaven??In waves of light it thrills along,
Th' angelic signal given -?"Glory to God!" from yonder central fire?Flows out the echoing lay beyond the starry choir;
Like circles widening round
Upon a clear blue river,?Orb after orb, the wondrous sound
Is echoed on for ever:?"Glory to God on high, on earth be peace,?And love towards men of love--salvation and release."
Yet stay, before thou dare
To join that festal throng;?Listen and mark what gentle air
First stirred the tide of song;?'Tis not, "the Saviour born in David's home,?To Whom for power and health obedient worlds should come:" -
'Tis not, "the Christ the Lord:"
With fixed adoring look?The choir of Angels caught the word,
Nor yet their silence broke:?But when they heard the sign where Christ should be,?In sudden light they shone and heavenly harmony.
Wrapped in His swaddling bands,
And in His manger laid,?The Hope and Glory of all lands
Is come to the world's aid:?No peaceful home upon his cradle smiled,?Guests rudely went and came, where slept the royal Child.
But where Thou dwellest, Lord,
No other thought should be,?Once duly welcomed and adored,
How should I part with Thee??Bethlehem must lose Thee soon, but Thou wilt grace?The single heart to be Thy sure abiding-place.
Thee, on the bosom laid
Of a pure virgin mind,?In quiet ever, and in shade,
Shepherd and sage may find;?They, who have bowed untaught to Nature's sway,?And they, who follow Truth along her star-paved way.
The pastoral spirits first
Approach Thee, Babe divine,?For they in lowly thoughts are nursed,
Meet for Thy lowly shrine:?Sooner than they should miss where Thou dost dwell,?Angela from Heaven will stoop to guide them to Thy cell.
Still, as the day comes round
For Thee to be revealed,?By wakeful shepherds Thou art found,
Abiding in the field.?All through the wintry heaven and chill night air,?In music and in light Thou dawnest on their prayer.
O faint not ye for fear -
What though your wandering sheep,?Reckless of what they see and hear,
Lie lost in wilful sleep??High Heaven in mercy to your sad annoy?Still greets you with glad tidings of immortal joy.
Think on th' eternal home,
The Saviour left for you;?Think on the Lord most holy, come
To dwell with hearts untrue:?So shall ye tread untired His pastoral ways,?And in the darkness sing your carol of high praise.
ST. STEPHEN'S DAY
He, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Acts vii. 55
As rays around the source of light?Stream upward ere he glow in sight,?And watching by his future flight
Set the clear heavens on fire;?So on the King of Martyrs wait?Three chosen bands, in royal state,?And all earth owns, of good and great,
Is gather'd in that choir.
One presses on, and welcomes death:?One calmly yields his willing breath,?Nor slow, nor hurrying, but in faith
Content to die or live:?And some, the darlings of their Lord,?Play smiling with the flame and sword,?And, ere they speak, to His sure word
Unconscious witness give.
Foremost and nearest to His throne,?By perfect robes of triumph known,?And likest Him in look and tone,
The holy Stephen kneels,?With stedfast gaze, as when the sky?Flew open to his fainting eye,?Which, like a fading lamp, flash'd high,
Seeing what death conceals.
Well might you guess what vision bright?Was present to his raptured sight,?E'en as reflected streams of light
Their solar source betray -?The glory which our God surrounds,?The Son of Man, the atoning wounds -?He sees them all; and earth's dull bounds
Are melting fast away.
He sees them all--no other view?Could stamp the Saviour's likeness true,?Or with His love so deep embrue
Man's sullen heart and gross -?"Jesus, do Thou my soul