[043]

Christmas Day.

Perfect God and Perfect man.

The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.  - Gospel for the Day.

Blest day which aye reminds us, year by year,
What 'tis to be a Man; to curb and spurn
The tyrant in us; that ignobler self
Which owns no good save ease, no ill save pain,
No purpose, save its share in that wild war
In which through countless ages living things
Compete in internecine greed!
While ever out of the eternal heavens
Looks patient down the great, magnanimous God,
Who, Maker of all worlds, did sacrifece--
All to Himself? Nay, but Himself to one;
Who taught mankind on that first Christmas Day
What 'twas to be a Man; to give, not take;
To serve, not rule; to nourish, not devour;
To help, not crush; if need, to die, not live?
Kingsley.

Thou cam'st fron Heaven to Earth, that we
Might go from Earth to Heaven with Thee;
And though Thou found'st no welcome here,
Thou didst provide us mansions there.
H. Vaughan.

What is man, that Thou are mindful of him? and the son of man that Thou visitest him?
Ps. viii.4.

Immanuel! God with us in His meekness,
Immanuel! God with us in His might,
To bind our wounds, to gift with strength our weakness,
To bring us, angels, to the home of light!
Shiloh is come; His feet our earth have trod;
Now thanks and glory to the Child our God!
Morgan.

------------------------------

[044]

St. Stephen. Christmas-Tide.

Faithful unto Death.

They stoned Stephen, calling upon God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."--Acts vii. 39.

   Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink his cup of woe
   Triumphant over pain;
Who patient bears his cross below,
   He follows in His train!
Heber.

Many loved Truth and lavished life's best oil
Amid the dusk of books to find her,
Content at last for guerdon of their toil
     With the cast mantle she hath left behind her,
     Many in sad faith sought for her,
     Many with crossed hands sighed for her;
     But these our brothers fought for her,
     At life's dear peril wrought for her,
     So loved her that they died for her!
          Their higher instinct knew,
They love her best who to themselves are true,
And what they dare to dream of, dare to do!
     They followed her and found her
     Where all may hope to find,
Not in the ashes of the burnt-out mind,
But beautiful,--with danger's sweetness round her:
     Where faith made whole with deed
     Breathes its awakening breath
          Into the lifeless creed.
Lowell.

If high feelings live, the Man a Martyr dies.
Houghton.

Blssed are those who die for God
And earn the Martyr's crown of light;
Yet he who lives for God may be
A greater Conqueror in His sight.
A. Procter.

------------------------------

[045]

St. John the Evangelist.

The Sanctuary of Home.

Then saith He to the Disciple, "Behold thy Mother!" and from that Desciple took her to his own home.--John XIX. 27.

Sweet is the smile of Home; the mutual look
Where hearts are of each other sure;
Sweet all the joys that crowd the household nook,
The haunt of all affections pure.
Keble.

The many make the household
But only One the Home.
Lowell.

O Near ones, dear ones, you in whose right hands
     Our own rests calm; whose faithful hearts all day
Wide open wait till back from distant lands
     Thought, the tired traveller, wends his homeward way!
Helpmates and hearthhmates, gladdeners of gone years,
     Tender companions of our serious days,
Who colour with your kisses, smiles, and tears
     Life's worn web woven over wonted ways,
Oh shut the world out from the heart you cheer!
     Tho' small the circle of your smiles may be,
The world is distant, and your smiles are near,
     This makes you more than all the world to me!
Lytton.

Let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents; for that is good and acceptable before God.
1 Tim. v. 4.

                    Home is the resort
Or love, of joy, of peace and plenty, where
Supporting and supported, polished friends
And dear relations mingle into bliss!
Thomson.

• Post A Comment!

Comments