Spare, gracious Saviour, me and mine:

Our tardy vows in mercy hear, While on our watch the cold skies shine Of the departing year.

Ere we again that glimmering view,
Cleansed be our hearts and lowly laid;
The unfruitful plant do Thou renew,
And all beneath its shade.

By winter frosts and summer heats,
By prunings sharp and waterings mild,
Keen airs of Lent, and Easter sweets,
Tame Thou the sour and wild.

And dare we ask for one year more?
Yea, there is hope: One waits on high
To tell our contrite yearnings o'er,
And each adoring sigh.

If He in Heaven repeat our vow,

We copying here His pure dread Will,

O dream of joy!-the withered bough

May blush with fruitage still.

15

2.

CHRISTMAS EVE: COMPLINE.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway."

REJOICE in God alway,

With stars in Heaven rejoice,
Ere dawn of Christ's own day
Lift up each little voice.
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,

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.

Such garland grave and fair
His Church to-day adorns.
And-mark it well-even there
He wears His crown of thorns.
Should aught profane draw near,
Full many a guardian spear

Is set around, of power to go

Deep in the reckless hand, and stay the grasping Foe.

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.

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,

For vigil glad arise.

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,

Rejoice in Him alway.

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 cradles lies, He in our carols sings.