“THE people sat in darkness," and in iron fetters bound;
They hugged their chains, and willing slaves in them their master found:
His temples with their rites obscene are reared on every shore,-
Each act of cruel worship but degrades them more and more.
The Grecian seeks for wisdom, while boasting he is wise;
Before the Roman's iron sword the whole world prostrate lies;
But the Roman and the Grecian, the wise man and the brave,
Wear sin's oppressive, galling yoke, and wear it to the grave.
“The people sat in darkness," yea, in death's cold midnight gloom,
No ray to cheer the passage to the dark, devouring tomb!
The mourners weep despairingly around the yawning grave;
No hope is known to enter there, for they know none to save:
O'er high and low, o'er rich and poor, pale Death as despot reigns,
No gold can bribe, no monarch's power can break his iron chains;
For Sin and Death, and Death and Sin, they reign in every part,
In palaces and cottages, in temples and in mart.
“The people sat in darkness." Alas! e'en Israel's race
Before the world their fathers' God, by foulest deeds, disgrace:
They boast of all His favors great, the Gentiles they despise-
“The temple of the Lord are we,-we only safe and wise.”
They glory in Mount Sinai's law, which every hour they break;
The outward forms of good observe, but God Himself forsake:
The darkness of the burning Mount has settled on their heart,-
They seek Him with their lying lips, yet far from Him depart.
“The people sat in darkness:" they have bowed to Cesar's sway;
The other Gentile empires have risen and passed away:
The Roman iron legions have crushed to dust their foes;
All wars are hushed, and Caesar bids the gates of Janus close:
Decrees are issued from the west, from Rome's proud capitol,
And all, as subjects of his rule, must now their names enroll;
E'en Judah must the Gentile own, and David's royal race
To their own town their weary way, like all the world, must haste.
“The people sat in darkness." Ah! they loved the shades of night,-
Though many groaned in secret, and sighed for heavenly light:
There were broken-hearted mourners who waited for the day,
Long promised in the Prophets, to chase the gloom away;
Of Abram's Seed, of David's Son, the virgin's Child they read,
The woman's long-expected seed, to bruise the serpent's head;
“How long, O Lord! how long?" they cried:their groaning reached His ear:
The time drew near for Bethl'hem's Star in brightness to appear.
“The people sat in darkness:" all the world is hushed in sleep,
The shepherds on the mountains their flocks in safety keep;
When lo! with sudden glory, the heavens grow dazzling bright;
An angel from the throne above, bursts on their startled sight:
“Fear not," he cries, " good tidings of the greatest joy I bring;
This day is born a Savior, the Christ, your Lord and King;
In Bethlehem, in a manger, in swaddling-clothes reclined,
The royal Heir of David's throne, the holy Child, you'll find.”
“The people sat in darkness;" but lo! a glorious star
Has told the blessed tidings to the Eastern sages far:
They cross the sandy deserts, they hasten to the fane,
Where stands Jehovah's altar, where David erst did reign;
They find an Idunuean upon the royal throne,
The birth of the Messiah to priests and king unknown:
But Micah, he has spoken, He 's born at Bethlehem;
They onward go, safe-guided by that celestial gem.
They find the blessed Virgin with her all-wondrous Child,-
Oh, never will they now regret their journey long and wild!
They worship Him, adoring God's long-expected King,
And joyfully before Him their willing tributes bring;
The gold and myrrh and frankincense before His feet they lay,
Bright earnest of that blessed time when all shall own His sway:
Of Herod's wiles then warned of God, to their own land return,
While their glad hearts with joy and love and holy wonder burn.