The Bible Story Part 228

Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still their heavenly music floats O'er all the weary world: Above its sad and lonely plains They bend on hovering wing.

And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing.

O ye beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow!

Look now, for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing: Oh, rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hastening on, By prophets seen of old, When with the ever-circling years, Shall come the time foretold, When the new heaven and earth shall own The Prince of Peace their King, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.

--_Edmund H. Sears_.

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BRIGHTEST AND BEST

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid.

Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are shining, Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore Him in slumber reclining, Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all.

Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, Odors of Edam, and offerings divine, Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation; Vainly with gifts would His favor secure: Richer by far is the heart's adoration; Dearer to G.o.d are the prayers of the poor.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid.

Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

--_Reginald Heber_.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

BETHLEHEM.

From a picture owned by the Detroit Photograph Company, and used by its kind permission.

This picture shows the town, looking in from the Church of the Nativity.

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THE THREE KINGS.

There came three kings, ere break of day, All on Epiphanie; Their gifts they bare all rich and rare, All, all, Lord Christ, for Thee: Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are there, Where is the King? O where? O where?

The star shone brightly overhead, The air was calm and still, O'er Bethlehem fields its rays were shed, The dew lay on the hill: We see no throne, no palace fair, Where is the King? O where? O where?

An old man knelt at a manger low, A Babe lay in the stall; The starlight played on the infant brow, Deep silence lay o'er all.

A maiden bent o'er the Babe in prayer:-- There is the King! O there! O there!

--_Christmas Hymn of the 16th Century_.

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JOY TO THE WORLD

Joy to the world, the Lord is come: Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns: Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, Repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground: He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love.

--_Isaac Watts_.

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BETHLEHEM.

The large building to the left is the Church of the Nativity.

"See how far upon the Eastern road The star-led wizards haste with odours sweet.

O run, present them with thy humle ode, And lay it lowly at his blessed feet; Have thou the honour first thy Lord to greet, And join thy voices with the angel quire From out his secret altar touched with hallow'd fire."

--_John Milton_

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How the Lord Jesus Spent His Boyhood.

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PERSONS OF THE STORY.

_The CHILD JESUS_.

_Joseph_.

_Mary_.

_King Herod_.

_Angels, wise men, shepherds, soldiers, teachers in the temple_.

PLACES OF THE STORY.

_Bethlehem of Judaea_.

_Jerusalem_.

_Egypt_.

_The village of Nazareth in Galilee_.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY AT BETHLEHEM.

Used by special permission of the Detroit Photograph Company.

This marble star marks the place of Jesus' birth according to the belief of many.