Holy Seasons and Days. 321 2. CHRISTMAS EVE: COMPLINE. "Rejoice in the Lord alway." REJOICE in God alway, With stars in Heaven rejoice, Look up with pure glad eye, And count those lamps on high. Nay, who may count them? on our gaze They from their deeps come out in ever widening maze. Each in his stand aloof Prepares his keenest beam, Upon that hovel roof, In at that door, to stream, Y Where meekly waits her time The whole earth's Flower and Prime : Where in few hours the Eternal One Will make a clear new day, rising before the sun. Rejoice in God alway, With each green leaf rejoice, The brightest be your choice. From bower and mountain lone The autumnal hues are gone, Yet gay shall be our Christmas wreath, The glistening beads above, the burnished leaves beneath. Such garland grave and fair He wears His crown of thorns. Should aught profane draw near, Is set around, of power to go Deep in the reckless hand, and stay the grasping Foe. 323 Christmas Eve: Compline. Rejoice in God alway, With Powers rejoice on high, Who now with glad array Are gathering in the sky, His cradle to attend, And there all lowly bend. But half so low as He hath bowed Did never highest Angel stoop from brightest cloud. Rejoice in God alway, All creatures, bird and beast, Rejoice, again I say, His mightiest and His least ; From ox and ass that wait Here on His poor estate, To the four living Powers, decreed A thousand ways at once His awful car to speed. Rejoice in God alway : With Saints in Paradise Your midnight service say, Even they in their calm bowers Too tardy find the hours Till He reveal the wondrous Birth : How must we look and long, chained here to sin and earth! Ye babes, to JESUS dear, Ye whom He bade draw near, O'er whom He loved to pray, Wake and lift up the head Each in his quiet bed. Listen His voice the night-wind brings: : He in your cradle lies, He in our carols sings. Holy Seasons and Days. 325 3. CHRISTMAS DAY. (While waiting on an Infant at home.) Behold, I and the children which God hath given me." THOU, who didst choose thine awful room The bridal chamber, where our God The Godhead with our fallen kind :- Echoes the Angels' matin song, While, heart and hand, In every land 'The Saints their sacrifice prepare The Cradle to adore of Heaven's dread Heir, Behold where in the silent shade Thy slumbering little ones till matin prime are laid. |