O NIGHT OF NIGHTS!

O Night of nights! O night

Desired of man so long!

The ancient heavens fled forth in light

To sing thee thy new song;

And shooting down the steep,

To shepherd folk of old,

An angel, while they watch'd their sheep,

Set foot beside the fold.

Lo! while as like to die

Of that keen light he shed,

They look'd on his pure majesty,

Amazed, and sore bestead;

Lo! while with words of cheer

He bade their trembling cease,

The flocks of God swept sweetly near,

And sang to them of peace.

All on the hillside grass

That fulgent radiance fell,

So close those innocents did pass,

Their words were heard right well;

Among the sheep, their wings

Some folding, walk'd the sod

An order'd throng of shining things,

White, with the smile of God.

The waits of heaven to hear,

Oh! what it must have been!

Think, Christian people, think, and fear

For cold hearts, for unclean;

Think how the times go by,

How love and longing fail,

Think how we live and how we die,

As this were but a tale.

O tender tale of old,

Live in thy dear renown;

God's smile was in the dark, behold

That way His hosts came down;

Light up, great God, Thy Word,

Make the blest meaning strong,

As if our ears, indeed, had heard

The glory of their song.

It was so far away,

But Thou could'st make it near,

And all its living might display

And cry to it, “Be here,”

Here, in th’ unresting town,

As once remote to them,

Who heard it when the heavens came down,

On pastoral Bethlehem.

It was so long ago,

But God can make it now,

And as with that sweet overflow,

Our empty hearts endow;

Take, Lord, those words outworn,

O! make them new for aye,

Speak — “Unto you a child is born,”

To-day — to-day — to-day.