We rejoice in the light, And we echo the song That comes down through the night From the heavenly throng. Aye, we shout to the lovely evangel they bring, And we greet in his cradle our Savior and King. J. G. HOLLAND. THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST. Night of wonder, night of glory, Night all solemn and serene, Night of old prophetic story, Such as time has never seen: Sweetest darkness, softest blue That these fair skies ever knew. Night of beauty, night of gladness, Night of nights—of nights the best; Not a cloud to speak of sadness, Not a star but sings of rest: Holy midnight, beaming peace, Never shall thy radiance cease. Happy city, dearest, fairest, Blessed, blessed Bethlehem! Least, yet greatest, noblest, rarest, Judah’s ever-sparkling gem; Out of thee there comes the Light That dispelleth all our night. Now thy King to thee descendeth, Borne upon a woman’s knee; To thy gates his steps he bendeth, To the manger cometh he; David’s Lord and David’s Son, This his cradle and his throne. He, the lowliest of the lowly, To our sinful world has come; He, the holiest of the holy, Can not find a human home. All for us he yonder lies, All for us he lives and dies. Babe of weakness, child of glory, At thy cradle thus we bow; Poor and sad thy earthly story, Yet the King of glory thou: By all heaven and earth adored, David’s Son and David’s Lord. Light of life, thou liest yonder, Shining in thy heavenly love; Naught from thee our souls shall sunder, Naught from us shall thee remove: Take these hearts and let them be Throne and cradle both to thee! HORATIUS BONAR. CHRISTMAS HYMN. O North, with all thy vales of green! O South, with all thy palms! From peopled towns, and fields between, Uplift thy voice of psalms. Raise, ancient East, the anthem high, And let the youthful West reply. Lo, in the clouds of heaven appears God’s well-beloved Son; He brings a train of brighter years, His kingdom is begun. He comes a guilty world to bless, With mercy, truth, and righteousness. Oh Father, haste the promised hour, When at his feet shall lie All rule, authority, and power, Beneath the ample sky; When he shall reign, from pole to pole, The Lord of every human soul; When all shall heed the words he said, Amid their daily cares, And by the loving life he led, Shall strive to pattern theirs; And he who conquer’d death shall win The mightier conquest over sin. ON CHRISTMAS EVE.