WRITTEN ON CHRISTMAS-DAY, 1870.
My God, my Father, when I first beheld
Thy Holy Lamb uplifted on the tree,
My heart at Thy great grace was overwhelmed,
That Thou shouldst bruise Thy only Son for me:
How sinful looked my sin in that pure light,
Of righteous grace, and sin-condemning love!
Oh, how Thy grace shone forth in glory bright,
Abounding, all-abounding, sin above!
There I found peace to my poor trembling heart;
His perfect off'ring gave me perfect rest;
Then I found strength from all my sins to part,
Such holy love and gladness filled my breast:
The world, with all its pleasures, lost its charm;
I thirsted, O my God, alone for Thee;
I leant my weakness on Thy mighty arm,-
The arm I dreaded once was all for me.
But now, while resting on that work of grace,
And glorying only in His cross, and name,-
His opened side my soul's abiding-place,-
And sure my hope will ne'er be put to shame;
In my deep peace I oft myself forget,
And gaze upon His face to find out Thee;
And deeper, richer, holier joys I get,
As Thou Thyself art more revealed to me.
In Him Thou art revealed, my God, alone:
Thy wisdom all creation's wonders tell,
Thy righteous government Thy laws make known,
Thy awful justice lights the fires of hell;
But Thou Thyself in darkness wast concealed,
No creature could Thy glorious face behold;
But now, by Him, Thou hast Thyself revealed;
Thy Son hath come, and all Thy being told.
O God, my God, what can Thy child declare?
In Him I see Thy face; I see, and live.
In man, than all the sons of men more fair,
Thou dost Thy fullest, highest semblance give.
Th' Image of th' invisible, is HE;
“Only-begotten Son" His peerless name;
I hear Him speak,-my God, He utters Thee;
I see Him work,-His works Thyself proclaim.
Thou living God, Eternal Life is He!
Thou God art Light, and He is Light Divine:
By death, o'er death He won the victory;
All darkness flees where'er His sunbeams shine.
And Thou art Love—both Light and Love Thou art,
The Holy, Holy, Holy Lord Most High;
Thou hast in Him revealed Thine inmost heart,
The heart that gave Thine only Son to die.
His death reveals Thy name, as well as saves;
Thy very Being, Life,-and Light is Love:
When my rapt spirit in this ocean bathes,
Or in this heaven wings her flight above;
And when Thy attributes my mind possess,
Thy wisdom, glory, might, all powers above,
And I am lost in my own nothingness,-
Here I can rest that God Himself is Love.