Thou, JESUS CHRIST, wast consubstantial And, by assuming earthly nature, Thou, That wast as mortal born, Being GOD ador'd, Thou That liftest up our horn, Rejoice, O Bethlehem, the city Whence Judah's monarchs had their birth; Where He that sitteth on the Cherubs, The King of Israel, came on earth : As of old time never, He hath lifted up our horn, He shall reign for ever! ODE IV. Ράβδος ἐκ τῆς ρίζης. Rod of the Root of Jesse, Thou, Flower of Mary born, Incarnate wast Thou made, The immaterial Essence, The GOD by all obeyed! Glory, LORD, Thy servants pay The Gentiles' expectation, Whom Jacob's words foretell, Who Syria's pride shall vanquish, Samaria's power shalt quell; Thou from the Root of Judah Like some fair plant dost spring, To turn old Gentile error To Thee, its GOD and King! Glory, LORD, Thy servants pay In Balaam's ancient vision The Eastern seers were skilled; Didst call these Gentile first-fruits To worship in Thy light. They, in holy reverence bent, Gifts acceptable present. As on a fleece descending The Isles and Araby, And Media, leagued with Sheba, Glory, LORD, Thy servants pay To Thy wondrous might to-day! (1.) The reference is to the Song of Habakkuk : (ili. 1), where the lxx. give-" GOD shall come from Teman, and The Holy from the thick and shady mountain of Paran." ODE V. Θεὸς ὢν εἰρήνης. Father of Peace, and GOD of Consolation! The Angel of the Counsel dost Thou send To herald peace, to manifest Salvation, Thy Light to pour, Thy knowledge to extend; Whence, with the morning's earliest rays, Lover of men! Thy Name we praise. Midst Cæsar's subjects Thou, at his decreeing, Obey'd'st and wast enroll'd: our mortal race, To sin and Satan slave, from bondage freeing, Behold! The Virgin, prophecy sustaining, And man to GOD is reconciled once more: Wherefore in faith her name we bless, And Mother of our GOD confess. ODE VI. σπλάγχνων Ἰωνᾶν. As Jonah, issuing from his three days' tomb, For He, Who knew no taint of mortal stain, Willed that His Mother spotless should remain. CHRIST Comes, Incarnate GOD, amongst us now, Begotten of the FATHER ere the day: And He, to Whom the sinless legions bow, Lies cradled, midst unconscious beasts, on hay: And, by His homely swaddling-bands girt in, Looses the many fetters of our sin. |