Zinzendorff and Other Poems/The Coming of Christ
THE COMING OF CHRIST.
"For unto you is born this day, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord."
Behold! the ancient darkness breaks
That o'er the nations lay,
And morn with purple banner wakes,
Bright herald of the day;
Hush'd are hoarse Sinai's thunders dread,
Descending Angels sing,
And crush'd Judea lifts the head,
To hail her promis'd king.
The harp of prophecy, so long
By sacred impulse fir'd,
Hath breath'd its last entrancing song,
And with the seer expired.
Symbol and type, whose linked chain
At Eden's bower began,
No more in dim and shadowy strain
Announce the truth to man.
Messiah comes! what throne of state
Shall win his glorious sway?
Throw wide Oh Earth! thy loftiest gate
To give the highest way:
Yet not to men of royal birth,
Not to the sons of fame,
Not in the sceptred pomp of earth,
The meek Redeemer came.
No.—Turn to Nazareth's noteless bound,
Turn to the lowliest train
Who slowly o'er that thronging ground
Press on with pilgrim pain,
Turn to the manger, scorn'd and lone,
By humblest inmates trod,
And in devotion's deepest tone
Revere the Son of God.