1. A stranger star o’er Bethlehem
Shot down its silver ray
Where, cradled in a manger’s fold,
A sleeping infant lay.
Whilst, guided by that finger bright,
The Orient sages bring
Rare gifts of myrrh and frankincense
To hail the new-born King.
2. Oh wondrous grace! Will Gods go down
Thus low that men may rise?
Imprisoned here that Mighty One
Who reigned in yonder skies?
E’en so. Time’s trusty horologe
Now chimes the hour of Noon—
A dying world is welcoming
The Godhead’s gracious boon.
3. He wandered through the faithless world,
A Prince in shepherd’s guise;
He called his scattered flock, but few
The Voice would recognize;
For minds upborne by hollow pride,
Or dimmed by sordid lust,
Ne’er look for kings in beggar’s garb—
For diamonds in the dust.
4. He wept o’er doomed Jerusalem,
Her temples, walls and towers;
O’er palaces where recreant priests
Usurped unhallowed powers.
“I am the Way of Life and Light!”
Alas! ’twas heeded not—
Ignored Salvation’s message, spurned
The wondrous truths He taught.
5. O bane of damning unbelief!
Thou source of lasting strife!
Thou stumbling-stone, thou barrier ’thwart
The gates of Endless Life!
O love of self and Mammon’s lust!
Twin portals to Despair—
Where Bigotry, the blinded bat,
Flaps through the midnight air!
6. Through these, gloom-wrapt Gethsemane!
Thy glens of guilty shade
Wept o’er the sinless Son of God,
By gold-bought kiss betrayed;
Beheld him unresisting dragged—
Forsaken, friendless, lone,
To halls where dark-browed Hatred sat
On Judgment’s lofty throne.
7. As sheep before His shearers, dumb,
Those patient lips were mute;
The clamorous charge of taunting tongues
He deigned not to dispute.
They smote with cruel palm His face—
Which felt, but scorned the sting—
They crowned with thorns His quivering brow,
Then, mocking, hailed Him “King!”
8. On Calvary’s hill they crucified
The God whom worlds adore!
“Father, forgive them!”—Drained the dregs—
Immanuel was no more.
No more where thunders rocked the earth,
Where lightnings, ’thwart the gloom,
Saw that unconquered Spirit spurn
The shackles of the tomb!
9. Far flashing on its wings of light—
A falchion from its sheath—
It cleft the realms of Darkness, and
Dissolved the bands of Death.
Hell’s dungeons burst! Wide open swung
The everlasting bars,
Whereby the ransomed soul shall win
Those heights beyond the stars.