The Archangel's Second Visit

The Archangel's Second Visit

Six months, and, sent again from God,

The angel Gabriel came

To a city of fair Galilee,

And Nazareth by name,

To a virgin, spouse to Joseph

Of David's royal race;

And the virgin's name was Mary,

Whose life was truth and grace.

The angel entered softly,

Where Mary sat alone,

Saying: "Hail! the Lord is with thee,

Thou highly favored one."

But, when she saw the stranger,

Mary was troubled sore;

For such a salutation

She ne'er had heard before.,

But: "Fear not," said the angel,

"For, Mary, thou hast found

Favor with God, whose goodness

And mercy doth abound.

"And thou art greatly honored,

For God hath chosen thee

To nurse the high, anointed One

Whose name shall Jesus be.

"He shall be great, and shall be called

The high Jehovah's Son

And the Lord God shall give to Him

His father David's throne.

"And he shall reign o'er Jacob's house

For ever evermore;

His Kingdom still shall flourish

When earthly reigns are o'er.

"Behold," he said, "Elizabeth,

Thy cousin, good and kind,

I've also promised her a son,

And the promise true she'll find.

"For God is the omnipotent,

All power is in His hand,

And nothing is imposible

To His Divine command."

Then Mary meekly said: "Behold

The handmaid of the Lord;

And let the honor be to me

According to thy word."

The angel then departed--

Ascending up above--

And left the gentle virgin bowed

In humble trust and love.

The Archangel's First Visit

The Archangel's First Visit

Twas in the days of Herod--

First king of that proud name--

Who reigned over Judea,

The land of Scripture fame.

A certain Zacharias,

Of the large, priestly force,

The temple of Jerusalem

Was serving in his course.

His wife, Elizabeth, belonged

To Aaron's favored line;

And they were righteous before God,

And kept the law Divine.

But this couple had no children,

And they were very old;

And lived alone, nor ever hoped

A son they should behold.

And it came to pass one morning--

As Scripture doth record--

That Zacharias burned incense

On the altar of the Lord;

And outside the people waited,

And stood in silent prayer;--

For in this way they worshiped

In the holy temple fair.

And, in that solemn season

To Zacharias' sight--

Standing beside the altar--

Appeared an angel bright.

And the good priest was troubled,

When he saw the spirit form,

And fear fell on him, and he shook

Like willow in a storm.

But the angel said to him: "Fear not,

Thy prayer is heard in heaven,

And to thy wife, Elizabeth,

A son shall now be given.

"And thou shalt call the baby John,

And thou shalt have great joy;

And many shall rejoice with thee

Over this precious boy.

"And he shall in the holy sight

Of God, be great and high;

And sine, or ardent spirit,

His lips shall ne'er come nigh.

"The Holy Ghost shall early

Spread through his heart abroad.

And many of your ancient race

Shall he turn to their God.

"And in the power and spirit

Of Elias, he shall go

Before Him who is coming

To save the world from woe."

Then Zacharias, in surprise

And overwhelming bliss,

Demanded of the angel:

"Whereby shall I know this?"

And the angel, answering, said:

"I am that Gabriel,

Who stand in God's high presence,

And am sent glad news to tell.

"And, now,  because thou doubtest,

Behold thou shalt be dumb,

And shalt not speak, until the child

I have fortold has come."

Meanwhile the people waited till

The priest should come outside,

And marvelled at his long delay--

What could to him betide?

And, when to them he did appear,

And could not speak a word,

They knew that he had seen, within,

A vision from the Lord.

And so he served the temple

Until the day had come

When, his ministration over,

He departed to his home.