12. Grant help to all afflicted; And to the souls dejected, By melancholy haunted, May cheerful thoughts be granted! 13. O Lord, assistance lend us, Thy Holy Spirit send us That He may make us glorious And lead to Thee victorious. 14. All this Thy hand bestoweth, Thou Life, whence our life floweth; To me and all believers Grant, Lord, these New Year’s favors. Paul Gerhardt, † 1676; J. Kelly, tr., a. CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST. 175 S. M. The year begins with Thee, And Thou begin’st with woe To let the world of sinners see That blood for sin must flow. 2. Thine infant cries, O Lord, Thy tears upon the breast Are not enough; the legal sword Must do its stern behest. 3. Seemeth it strange to me My own will to deny? Seemeth it sad, my soul, to thee Under the yoke to lie? 4. I look, and hold my peace: The Giver of all good E’en from His birth takes no release From suffering, tears, and blood. 5. That I may reap in love, Help me to sow in fear; So life a winter’s morn may prove To a bright endless year. J. Keble, 1827, a. 176 S. M. The ancient Law departs, And all its terrors cease; For Jesus makes with faithful hearts A covenant of peace. 2. The Light of light divine, True brightness undefiled, He bears for us the shame of sin, A holy, spotless Child. 3. His infant body now Begins our pain to feel; Those precious drops of blood that flow For death the victim seal. 4. To-day the name is Thine At which we bend the knee. They call Thee Jesus, Child Divine; Our Jesus deign to be. 5. All praise, eternal Son, For Thy redeeming love, With Father, Spirit, ever one, In glorious might above. Abbé Besnault, 1736. 177 L. M. O sacred day, when first was poured The blood of our redeeming Lord! O solemn day, when first began His sufferings for sinful man! 2. Just born into this world of woe, His blood for man was made to flow. His future death was thus expressed; Thus, too, His early love confessed. 3. From heaven descending to fulfil The mandates of His Father’s will, E’en now behold the Victim lie, The Lamb of God, prepared to die. 4. Beneath the knife behold the Child, The Innocent, the Undefiled; For captives He the ransom pays, For lawless man the Law obeys.