Christmas Offering
Mrs. Elizabeth Dimond
9781465654496
213 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
Says the watchman, “And what of the night? It often brings seasons of sorrow, When dark and beclouded with sin; But ah! it may sweeten to-morrow, If a ray of God’s favor breaks in. How dark and how gloomy was Chaos; But God by his own matchless plan, Call’d this beautiful world from its darkness, And did safe on its axle-tree hang! And Jesus, our Savior, was present, For his was the word of command; He spangled those orbs in their greatness, For good and for glory to man.” The angels in wonder stood gazing, Till Sol darts his beams to their view; “What is there in the East that is blazing— That pearls all the drops of the dew?” “’Tis the Sun,” Great Messiah then answered, “’Tis the Sun,” say the angels, “’tis true; From thee it beams glory and greatness, And bears up thy own title too.” Great Sol, arise! and spread thy lustre high— Go warm the earth, and decorate the sky!When thou retir’st, the silver moon will rise, With pearly radiance, o’er those spangled skies! Without a cloud to intercept thy way, Go, clearly shine, and make the evening gay! God saw his work was great, when it he view’d, Approved the same, and then pronounced it good. And why this garden, walled so rich and fair, With glittering stone that is beyond compare— With walks, and bowers, and interwoven scenes, With silver rivulets that roll between, Tossing their golden pebbles in the stream! Here richest fruits, in clusters ripe and fair, And variegated blooms perfume the air; Here beast of every kind, playful yet mute, And birds with plumage gay, and warbling throat, Chanting to their Maker with melodious note! And is the richness of these fruits conceal’d, That grow spontaneous in this fertile field? Is no one here these sweets to taste? And none the banquet share? Within these walls is a majestic form, Graceful and noble as the rising morn! Adam! survey thy wond’rous form, and see The image of thy God is stamped on thee! Be grateful, then, and be obedient, too; For this respect is to thy Sov’reign due. And here are richest fruits in store for thee; And all is thine, except that hallow’d tree: And should’st thou touch it, thou shall surely die! I have pronounced! Ask not the reason why.” Then Adam bows assent, and walks the rounds, To view the beauties of these fertile grounds— He stops to listen to the bubbling stream, That gently trickles down the sloping green; And on his way he views the crystal pond Where gold-fish play.
