The Lamb of God deem'd not the Heavens a

loss,

And left a throne of glory for the cross !*

O depth of love, of mercy, and of grace!
Thou faithful Shepherd of the human race,
Say, what is man, vile-perishable man-

In form an atom-and of life a span―

Grass of the ground, that flourishes to fade

A spark-a vapour-shadow of a shade

That Thou, whose fiat kindled into birth

The glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth,

* And for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame. Heb. ch. xii. v. 2.

Shouldst deign to cast a pitying glance below,

And die to save him from a world of woe !*

Mysterious act! not all the Sainted throng

That hymn thy name with never-ceasing song

Not all the myriads of the Courts above,

Can sing hosannahs equal to thy love!†

* And righteousness shall look down from heaven. Psalm lxxxv. v. 11.-For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to loose those that are appointed unto death. Psalm cii. v. 19, 20.

When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou visitest him? Psalm viii. v. 3.

END OF PART THE FIRST.

CONTENTS OF PART THE SECOND.

Appearance of the star over Bethlehem

Christ The Magi-Unbelief of the Jews-Humility of Christ His trust in God against his great enemy Murder of the Innocents-Christ's temptation-Destitution-Crucifixion-Jerusalem censured-her punishment and eventual restoration-Burial of Christ-His resurrection Ascension, and triumph over the Prince of Darkness.

WHENCE yon strange beams that o'er Judea rise?

Whence the bright radiance of the Eastern skies?

Rejoice, O Isr'el! lo! the Star appears

That Bala'm saw from Peor's distant years." *

* I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel. Numbers, ch. xxiv. v. 17.

D

Be glad, all nations, hail the joyous morn!

A Virgin bears a son, and Christ the Lord is born!

The lamp is hung o'er Bethl'hem's honour'd head;

Its focus centres on the natal bed.

Fear not, ye Shepherds, nor distrust your way,

The Star of Jacob sheds a peaceful ray.*

Behold! the Magi hasten to adore

Th' incarnate God; and from their caskets pour

The rarest presents of the Orient shore

Sabean gold, and Bdellium that distils

In spicy tears from Persia's fragrant hills.†

*And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy. Luke, ch. ii. v. 10.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the

But Salem's counsellors, whose wisdom blind

Could tell the jealous Tetrarch where to find

The new-born Prince, came not in crowds to see

And welcome in their Lord's nativity.

For him no iv'ry palaces were rais'd,

No grateful off'rings on their altars blaz'd;

For him no splendid canopy was wrought,

With flaming gold and dazzling silver fraught;
About his bed no Tyrian robes were found,

Around his temples no tiara bound.

days of Herod the king, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews. Matthew, ch. ii. v. 1.-The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Ps. lxxii. v. 10.