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Show THE LAMB OF GOD . From "Ellas" ' A stranger Star that camo from afar To fling Its silver ray Whore, cradled 'In &-l6wly cave, A lowlier Infant lay; And led by soft sidereal light, The Orient' sages bring Rare gifts of gold and frankincense. To greet the homeless King. O wondrous grace!- Will Gods (jo down Thus low that men may rise Imprisoned here the Mighty One, Who reigned in yonder skies? Hark to that chime! What tongue subllmo Now tells tho hour of noon? O dying world, art welcoming Lifo's llfo Light's sun and moon" Proclaim him, prohpet harbinger! Mako plain tho Mlghtler's way. Thou sharer of his martyrdom I Ellas? Yea nnd Nny. Tho crescent Moon, that know the Sun Ero Stars had learned to shine; Tho waning Moon, that bathed In blood Ero sank tho Sun divine. 'Glory to God, good will to man! - Peace, peace!" triumphal tono. Why peaco? Is discord then no more? Aro Earth and Heaven as one? Pence to tho soul that se'vetb him. Tho Monarch manger born; There, ruler of uunumbored realms; Here, throncless and forlorn. Ho wandered through tho faithless world, A Prlnco In shepherd gulso; Ho called His scattered flock, but few Tho Voice did recognize; For minds unborn by hnllow pride, Or dimmed by sordid lust, Ne'er look for kings in beggar's garb For diamonds In tho dusi. Wept ho abovo n city doomed, Her templo, walls, and towers, O'er palaces where recreant priests Usurped unhallowed powers. "I am tho Way, tho Llfo, tho Light!" Alas! 'twas heeded not. Ignored nay, mocked; God Bcorned by man! ( And spurned tho truth ho taught. O bane of damning unbelief! When, whon till now, so rlfo? Thou stumbling stone, thou barrier thwart Tho gates of endless llfo! O love of self, and mammon lust, Twin portals to despair, Whero bigotry, tho blinded bat, Flaps through tho midnight air! i Through theso gloom wrapt Goth-, sornano! I Thy glens of guilty shado Grieved o'er the sinless Son of God, i Ily gold bought kiss hotrayed; IleheJd him unresisting dragged, Forsaken, friendless, lono, To halls whero dark browed hatred sat On Judgment's lofty throne. As sheep before his shearers, dumb, Those patient Hpo wore muto; Tho clamorous chargo of taunting tongues Ho deigned not to dispute. Thoy smnto with cruel palm a face Which felt yet boro tho sting; Then crowned with thorns his quivering quiv-ering brow, And, mocking, hailed him "King!" Transflxt ho hung O crlmo of crimes! Tho God whom worlds adore. "Father forglvo thorn!" Drained tho drogs; Immanuel no moro. No moro whero thunders shook tho earth, Whero lightnings toro tho gloom, Saw that unconquerod Spirit spurn Tho shackles of the tomb. Far flaming light, n sword of might, A falchion from Its sheath, It cleft thp realms of darkness, and Dissolved tho bauds of Death; Hell's dungeons burst, wido open swung The evorlnstlng bars, Whereby tho ransomed soul bIuI' win Those heights beyond tho Stars. |