BETHLEHEM.
Bethlehem—House of bread:[105]
Of the Bread that came down from heaven,[106]
“For the life of the world ‘tis given:
Eat of it,” Jesus said.
“Father,” he bade us pray,
“Give us this heavenly bread.”
“Ours” we must call it, he said.
“Give us it day by day.”
Knelt in the midnight cave
The shepherds and sages three—
Theirs (do we envy?) to see
The Bread which the Father gave:[107]
We in the faith’s broad day
Kneeling—nor once, but at will—
Take of that Bread our fill,
None “sent empty away.”
How should we envy them?
Yet as the grace the shame,
If but in boast we claim
The goodlier Bethlehem.
Advent, 1871.
[105] The literal signification of Bethlehem.
[106] John vi. 33, 51, 52
[107] Ibid. v. 32.