The Providence Journal, And Town And Country Advertiser

Selected Poetry.

ODE
For CHRISTMAS DAY.

What glowing beams the Heavens adore!
What music hails the rising morn!
What angel songs are these!
Hark! the loud notes from golden lyres,
Attun'd to Seraphs' sounding lyres,
Proclaim "the Prince of Peace!"
I. ix. 6.

In strains like these, the wond'rous plan
Of peace and pardon seal'd to man,
The opening heavens proclaim!
Bid earth rejoicing own the God
Jehovah! at whose awful nod
Arose her beauteous frame.
Heb. i. 2.

In empyrean realms of light,
Grown vocal with this new delight,
Angelic natures know,
To God be glory: God is love
Lo peace and mercy smiling move,
To dwell with men below!

The long expected morn is come,
By prophets resting in the tomb,
By hallowed lips reveal'd!
He comes; ye nations, own your Lord!
The God! by heavenly hosts ador'd,
In human flesh conceal'd!
John i. 14.

Clad earth prepares her choicest sweets,
With od'rous gifts Immanuel greets,
By prostrate kings ador'd:
The symbol of his wide-spread sway
O'er nations rising into day
At light's pervading word.
2. Cor. iv. 6.

The desert wilds with roses bloom,
From thorns new odours shed perfume,
Whose fragrance fills the skies;
Majestic mountains bow their head,
With Syria's lofty cedars spread;
And lowly valleys rise.
Is. xl. 4.
Is. xxxv.

New springs the thirsty plains o'erflow,
In the soft bonds of concord go
The lion and the pard
With timid lambs; the tiger's led
In silken bands, by infants fed;
So sung the raptur'd bard.
Is. xi. 6.

Oh, for the lyre of Israel's king!
To rapture waking every string,
When mercy's themes inspire,
Ps. cx. 45.
To hail the Saviour's natal morn,
Whose "Rays of Righteousness" adorn
This prophet's hallowed fire.
Mal. iv. 2.

From Israel's pastor king, whose fold
Confess'd a shepherd's care of old,
1. Sam. xvii. 34
Shall earth's salvation spring;
Again glad tidings shepherds bear,
Luke ii. 8.
Seraphic melody first hear,
And hail the new-born king.

He, who this tender name shall bear,
Ezek. xxxvii. 24.
"The world's great shepherd," nations hear,
John x. 16.
His cheering voice obey!
Who feeds you with a shepherd's love,
With light below, with life above,
John i. 14.
In one eternal day!

Why doth not Israel own her God?
John i.
4
Who bears the royal Judah's rod,
Whom all the prophet's sing:
Lo! behold the Virgin's son,
Is. vii. 14.
Elias see before him run,
Mal. iv. 3.
Proclaiming Israel's King!
Matt. xxiv. 1.

Oh Solyma! thy sons no more
In the bright portals shall adore,
Once heav'n's adopted race:
No more in pray'r columns rise
Thine altars' incense to the skies,
Circling the throne of grace.

A race more lov'd shall now impart
Truths that shall purify the heart,
Thy shadowy forms deface;
Through the glad isles the tidings fly,
Which Israel's sons refus'd to hear,
"The healing voice of Peace."
John xiv, 27.

Her banners o'er their heads shall wave,
Faith's shield be theirs, so strong to save,
Whose adamants confound
The blunted arrows of the foe,
The daring infidel would throw
As fiery bolts around.

Salvation's helm by theirs! Divine
With "rays of righteousness" shall shine
"The heaven-descended breast:"
Theirs be the Spirit's flaming Sword,
The "holy oracles," whose word
Shall guide the soul to rest.

Such powers, Almighty God, are thine!
Illumine still with grace divine
Thy vot'ries hearts; and give,
What thou alone canst give to man,
Seal'd by thy redeeming plan
"Within thy courts to live."

In choral hymns let myriads join:
Their mortal strains with Seraphs' join
O'er earth's remotest plains!
Oh! loudly let this Paean rise!
For ever swell the vocal skies,
"The great Messiah reigns."

"In hoc signo vinces,"—the motto on Constantine's standard.