The Holy Child

Mary and her infant, Jesus.

 

The Holy Child.

Rome was the world's proud mistress,

And would tax her subjects all:

Thus every man, to his own town,

Received Imperial call.

And Joseph, wed to Mary,

Must go to Judah's land,

And, with the sons of David,

Must take his lineal stand.

Then, from Nazareth, he journeyed,

With his fair and gentle spouse

To Bethlehem of Judea,

The place of David's house.

But when-- their journey ended--

They sought repose to win,

Their lodging was a stable,

So crowded was the inn. 

And to that stable, lowly,

In humble, human guise,

There came a babe most holy,

Descended from the skies.

'Tis written that the angel

Had to the virgin come,

And told her that this Holy Child

With her should make his home.

And now a rosy light from heaven

On Bethlehem's city shone;

And this was the first Christmas

The world had ever known.

For Jesus was the promised Christ,

So long ago foretold--

The Kind that all the Jewish race

Were longing to behold.

Mary's Visit to Elizabeth

Mary's Visit to Elizabeth

Now Mary felt a longing

To see her cousin dear,

And with Elizabeth to spend

A season of good cheer.

And so in haste, and early,
She started forth one day,
And journeyed to a city
In Judea's hills away.

For there dwelt Zacharias,
And Elizabeth so pure,
And, entering in, the virgin found
A welcome, warm and sure.

For the Holy Ghost gave token
To Elizabeth's glad heart,
That her visitor, in God's wise plan,
Should have a happy part.

Then out she spake, exultant,
"O, why to me accord
The honor of a visit.
From the mother of my Lord?

"And blessed is she for evermore,
Who humbly hath believed,
For every word shall come to pass
Which she from God received."

And Mary said: "O how my soul.
Jehovah magnifies!
And how my spirit joys in God,
My Savior, 'bove the skies!

"For He hath had regard unto
His handmaid's low estate,
And henceforth all shall call me blest--
The humble and the great.

"For He, the high and mighty One
Hath done to me great things,
And holy is His honored name;
His praise my spirit sings.

"His mercy they that fear His name
Enjoy from day to day;
From age to age it is the same,
And shall be so alway.

"And He hath shown abroad the strength
Of His almighty arm;
For He hath chased the proud, who sought
To do the humble harm.

"He hath put down the mighty
From their haughty seats on high;
And lifted up the lowly to
The region of the sky.

"His hand hath filled the hungry poor
With daintiest of food,
And the rich he hath sent empty
Away from hope of good.

"He hath come to the assistance
Of His servant Israel's race;
In remembrance of His mercy,
His promise and His grace,

"As He spake, in the beginning,
To Abraham, our head,
And to Jewish tribes for ever--
Naught hath failed of all He said."

After this the virgin Mary
With Elizabeth, so true,
Made a pleasant three months' visit,
Then to he home withdrew.

Now that great thing did come to pass,
Which Gabriel had foretold,
In the sacred temple service,
To Zacharias old.

And soon Elizabeth recieved
The promised baby boy;
And gazing on the heavenly gift,
Her heart was filled with joy.

And all her friends and cousins,
To whom the tidings went,
Came with their gratulations,
Upon the glad event.

Then on the day of naming
The parents both agreed
That John the infant should be called,
As Gabriel had decreed.

And the speech of Zacharias
Immediately returned;
He praised and glorified the Lord,
His heart with fervor burned.

And fear came on the neighbors all,
As these things were noised abroad;
And they said: "What kind of child is this
Who comes, foretold of God?

But the hand of God rich blessings
On the babe, each day, bestowed;
And the heart of Zacharias
With the Holy Ghost o'erflowed.

And he burst forth in thankfulness,
And praised, and prophesied
Of all the wondrous goodness
That should to me betide.

For the light of inspiration
Had shown to him, indeed,
That his son was the Elias,
Who should the Lord precede.

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.