For lo! the day, th’ immortal day, When Mercy’s full, benignant ray Chased every gathering cloud away, And pour’d the noon of light! Rapture! be kindling, mounting, glowing, While from thine eye the tear is flowing, Pure, warm, and bright! ’Twas on this day--oh, love divine!-- The Orient Star’s effulgence rose; Then waked the Morn, whose eye benign Shall never, never close! CHORUS. Messiah! be thy name adored, Eternal, high, redeeming Lord! By grateful worlds be anthems pour’d-- Emanuel! Prince of Peace! This day, from heaven’s empyreal dwelling, Harp, lyre, and voice, in concert swelling, Bade discord cease! Wake the loud pæan, tune the voice, Children of heaven and sons of earth! Seraphs and men! exult, rejoice, To bless the Saviour’s birth! CHORUS. Devotion! light thy purest fire! Transport! on cherub wing aspire! Praise! wake to Him thy golden lyre, Strike every thrilling chord! While, at the Ark of Mercy kneeling, We own thy grace, reviving, healing, Redeemer! Lord! THE DOMESTIC AFFECTIONS. Whence are those tranquil joys in mercy given, To light the wilderness with beams of heaven? To soothe our cares, and through the cloud diffuse Their temper’d sunshine and celestial hues? Those pure delights, ordain’d on life to throw Gleams of the bliss ethereal natures know? Say, do they grace Ambition’s regal throne, When kneeling myriads call the world his own? Or dwell with Luxury, in th’ enchanted bowers Where taste and wealth exert _creative_ powers? Favour’d of heaven! O Genius! are they thine, When round thy brow the wreaths of glory shine; While rapture gazes on thy radiant way, Midst the bright realms of clear and mental day? No! sacred joys! ’tis yours to dwell enshrined, Most fondly cherish’d, in the purest mind; To twine with flowers those loved, endearing ties, On earth so sweet--so perfect in the skies!