THE CHRISTIAN YEAR
Jam desinant suspiria.
LET sighing cease and woe,
God from on high hath heard.
Heaven’s gate is opening wide, and lo!
The long-expected Word.
2 Peace! through the deep of night
The heavenly choir breaks forth,
Singing, with festal songs and bright.
Our God and Saviour’s birth.
3 The cave of Bethlehem
Those wakeful shepherds seek:
Let us too rise and greet with them
That infant pure and meek.
4 We enter—at the door
What marvel meets the eye?
A crib, a mother pale and poor,
A child of poverty.
5 Art thou the eternal Son,
The eternal Father’s ray?
Whose little hand, thou infant one,
Doth lift the world alway?
6 Yea—faith through that dim cloud,
Like lightning, darts before,
And greets thee, at whose footstool bowed
Heaven’s trembling hosts adore.
7 Chaste be our love like thine.
Our swelling souls bring low,
And in our hearts, O Babe divine
Be born, abide, and grow.
8. So shall thy birthday morn,
Lord Christ, our birthday be,
Then greet we all, ourselves new-born,
Our King’s nativity.
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