Ye stars that round the Sun of righteousness

In glorious order roll,

With harps for ever strung, ready to bless

God for each rescued soul,

Ye eagle spirits, that build in light divine,

Oh! think of us to-day,

Faint warblers of this earth, that would combine

Our trembling notes with your accepted lay.

Your amarant wreaths were earn’d; and homeward all,

Flush’d with victorious might,

Ye might have sped to keep high festival,

And revel in the light;

But meeting us, weak worldlings, on our way,

Tired ere the fight begun,

Ye turn’d to help us in th’ unequal fray,

Remembering Whose we were, how dearly won:

Remembering Bethlehem, and that glorious night

When ye, who used to soar

Diverse along all space in fiery flight,

Came thronging to adore

Your God new-born, and made a sinner’s child;

As if the stars should leave

Their stations in the far ethereal wild,

And round the sun a radiant circle weave.

Nor less your lay of triumph greeted fair

Our Champion and your King,

In that first strife, whence Satan in despair

Sunk down on scathed wing:

Abuse He fasted, and alone He fought;

But when His toils were o’er,

Ye to the sacred Hermit duteous brought

Banquet and hymn, your Eden’s festal store.

Ye too, when lowest in th’ abyss of woe

He plung’d to save His sheep,

Were leaning from your golden thrones to know

The secrets of that deep:

But clouds were on His sorrow: one alone

His agonising call

Summon’d from Heaven, to still that bitterest groan,

And comfort Him, the Comforter of all.

Oh! highest favour’d of all Spirits create

(If right of thee we deem),

How didst thou glide on brightening wing elate

To meet th’ unclouded beam

Of Jesus from the couch of darkness rising!

How swell’d thine anthem’s sound,

With fear and mightier joy weak hearts surprising,

“Your God is risen, and may not here be found!”

Pass a few days, and this dull darkling globe

Must yield Him from her sight; —

Brighter and brighter streams His glory-robe,

And He is lost in light.

Then, when through yonder everlasting arch,

Ye in innumerous choir

Pour’d, heralding Messiah’s conquering march,

Linger’d around His skirts two forms of fire:

With us they stay’d, high warning to impart;

“The Christ shall come again

E’en as He goes; with the same human heart,

With the same godlike train.” —

Oh! jealous God! how could a sinner dare

Think on that dreadful day,

But that with all Thy wounds Thou wilt be there,

And all our angel friends to bring Thee on Thy way?

Since to Thy little ones is given such grace,

That they who nearest stand

Alway to God in Heaven, and see His face,

Go forth at His command,

To wait around our path in weal or woe,

As erst upon our King,

Set Thy baptismal seal upon our brow,

And waft us heavenward with enfolding wing:

Grant, Lord, that when around th’ expiring world

Our seraph guardians wait,

While on her death-bed, ere to ruin hurl’d,

She owns Thee, all too late,

They to their charge may turn, and thankful see

Thy mark upon us still;

Then all together rise, and reign with Thee,

And all their holy joy o’er contrite hearts fulfil!