AUrora ushers in the glor'ous day,
That shot thro' realms of death the vivid ray,
And shed the balm of peace.
Celest'al harbingers proclaim our hope,
The SAV'OUR'S BORN, and Nature's mighty prop
Bids every sorrow cease!
SPIRIT of grace , before whose awful sight,
The groves retire on Pindus lofty height,
Breathe on my trembling lyre!
Smile on the humble off'ring of the poor,
Brought not from pride's self-righteous store,
But waits thy kindling fire!
If ever rapture on a theme divine,
With hallow'd incense rose from human shrine
To mix with seraphs lays:
Tho bands of angels and archangels bring
Their golden harps to hail the infant king,
Receive my mite of praise!
Ages before this azure arch was rear'd,
When on the gloomy void no form appear'd
Of mountains tow'ring peak;
Of grove, or plain, or rivers winding stream;
Or sun, or star, had cast a lucid beam,
To chear the dread opaque.
The Almighty Sire revolved the plan,
And caus'd the shadows of the state of man
To pass before his throne.
He saw them tempted, — lose their blissful state,
Deeply involv'd in woe; — but ah! too late,
They'd mourn th'unhappy deed.
Divine compass'on fill'd th' eternal mind,
And to the errors of his offspring-kind,
Redempt'on was decree'd.
His sacred son, the darling of his soul,
Offer'd to drink for man the bitter bowl,
And suffer in his stead.
Adam for all his race the curse procur'd,
But CHRIST the dreadful penalty endur'd,
And bruis'd the serpent's head.
The Holy Spirit too would undertake,
To cure the deadly wound that sin should make,
And justice mercy crown'd.
The sacred Three th' amazing contract seal'd,
And ev'ry bright intelligence was fill'd
With rev'rence most profound.
Nor can th'eternal plan of mystic love,
By all the arts of hell abortive prove,
For num'rous heart shall yeild:
And sad captivity be captive led,
Receive the gift by union with the head,
And all their griefs be heal'd.
Now light, mankind, your hospitable fires,
And let the charity such love inspires,
Like holy incense rise!
More sweet than all the choicest fragrant gums,
The eastern sages mingl'd in perfumes,
A costly sacrifice!
Far in the east they saw an unknown star,
Gild with superior light the hemisphere;
Led by the sparkling ray:
They found the place of JESU's humble birth,
Saw bands of angel forms descend to earth,
With heav'n's eternal day.
The song begins, — the morning-stars rejoice,
Mortals so favor'd join your grateful voice!
On earth be endless peace!
Celest'al harbingers proclaim our hope,
The SAV'OUR'S BORN, and Nature's mighty prop
Bids ev'ry sorrow cease.
That shot thro' realms of death the vivid ray,
And shed the balm of peace.
Celest'al harbingers proclaim our hope,
The SAV'OUR'S BORN, and Nature's mighty prop
Bids every sorrow cease!
SPIRIT of grace , before whose awful sight,
The groves retire on Pindus lofty height,
Breathe on my trembling lyre!
Smile on the humble off'ring of the poor,
Brought not from pride's self-righteous store,
But waits thy kindling fire!
If ever rapture on a theme divine,
With hallow'd incense rose from human shrine
To mix with seraphs lays:
Tho bands of angels and archangels bring
Their golden harps to hail the infant king,
Receive my mite of praise!
Ages before this azure arch was rear'd,
When on the gloomy void no form appear'd
Of mountains tow'ring peak;
Of grove, or plain, or rivers winding stream;
Or sun, or star, had cast a lucid beam,
To chear the dread opaque.
The Almighty Sire revolved the plan,
And caus'd the shadows of the state of man
To pass before his throne.
He saw them tempted, — lose their blissful state,
Deeply involv'd in woe; — but ah! too late,
They'd mourn th'unhappy deed.
Divine compass'on fill'd th' eternal mind,
And to the errors of his offspring-kind,
Redempt'on was decree'd.
His sacred son, the darling of his soul,
Offer'd to drink for man the bitter bowl,
And suffer in his stead.
Adam for all his race the curse procur'd,
But CHRIST the dreadful penalty endur'd,
And bruis'd the serpent's head.
The Holy Spirit too would undertake,
To cure the deadly wound that sin should make,
And justice mercy crown'd.
The sacred Three th' amazing contract seal'd,
And ev'ry bright intelligence was fill'd
With rev'rence most profound.
Nor can th'eternal plan of mystic love,
By all the arts of hell abortive prove,
For num'rous heart shall yeild:
And sad captivity be captive led,
Receive the gift by union with the head,
And all their griefs be heal'd.
Now light, mankind, your hospitable fires,
And let the charity such love inspires,
Like holy incense rise!
More sweet than all the choicest fragrant gums,
The eastern sages mingl'd in perfumes,
A costly sacrifice!
Far in the east they saw an unknown star,
Gild with superior light the hemisphere;
Led by the sparkling ray:
They found the place of JESU's humble birth,
Saw bands of angel forms descend to earth,
With heav'n's eternal day.
The song begins, — the morning-stars rejoice,
Mortals so favor'd join your grateful voice!
On earth be endless peace!
Celest'al harbingers proclaim our hope,
The SAV'OUR'S BORN, and Nature's mighty prop
Bids ev'ry sorrow cease.