Tuesday, December 16, 2025

When came in flesh the Incarnate Word,

The heedless world slept on,

And only simple shepherds heard

That God had sent His Son.

 

When comes the Saviour at the last,

From west to east shall shine

The awful pomp, and earth aghast

Shall tremble at the sign.

 

Then shall the pure in heart be blest;

As mild He comes to them,

As when upon the Virgin’s breast

He lay at Bethlehem:

 

As mild to meek-eyed love and faith;

Only more strong to save;

Strengthened, by having bowed to death,

By having burst the grave.

 

Lord, who could dare see Thee descend

In state, unless he knew

Thou art the sorrowing sinner’s Friend,

The gracious, and the true?

 

Dwell in our hearts, O Saviour blest,

So shall Thine advent-dawn

Twixt us and Thee, our bosom-Guest,

Be but the veil withdrawn.

... Joseph Anstice (1808-1836), [1836], A Library of Religious Poetry: a collection of the best poems of all ages, Philip Schaff, New York: Dodd, Mead, 1880, p. 606-607 (see the book; see also Luke 2:8-12; Ps. 99:1; Matt. 5:8; John 1:14; more at Friend, Heart, Incarnation, Purity, Resurrection, Salvation, Simplicity, Sleep)

 
Compilation Copyright, 1996-2024, by Robert McAnally Adams,
        Curator, Christian Quotation of the Day,
        with Robert Douglas, principal contributor
Logo image Copyright 1996 by Shay Barsabe, of “Simple GIFs”, by kind permission.
Send comments to curator@cqod.com.

Last updated: 04/14/16

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