"Peace, peace, ye dear shepherds,
And be of good cheer;
The Lord whom ye long for
Is coming—is here!
In the city of David
Behold him appear—
A babe in a manger—
Go worship him there."
They went and were blessèd.
Dear soul, go thou too;
The Saviour for them
Is the Saviour for you.
Oh, kneel by the manger,
Oh, kneel by the cross;
Accept him, believe him,—
All else is but dross.
HOURS OF THE NIGHT
OR
WATCHES OF SORROW
I
MIDNIGHT
"He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been long dead."
All dark!—no light, no ray!
Sun, moon, and stars, all gone!
Dimness of anguish!—utter void!—
Crushed, and alone!
One waste of weary pain,
One dull, unmeaning ache,
A heart too weary even to throb,
Too bruised to break.