Sequence 2. Christmas

IN the highest, hark ! the strain,
" Glory to the new-born King !

Who doth with Him peace, again
Joining earth and heaven, bring ! "
Honour thus is paid aright
Unto this, Christ's natal morn ;
At Whose birth the grace so bright
Of a new-made law is born.

The appointed Mediator,
Our salvation's price to pay, lo
Not His share in human nature,
But its misdeeds, puts away.

Not a whit less bright appearing,
The life-giving star we see ;
Nor doth Mary by child-bearing
Lose her spotless chastity.

lo NATIVITAS DOMINI.
Quid de montc lapis caesus
Sine manu, nisi Jesus
What is this rock-stone so precious,
Quarried not by hand, but Jesus,
Scion of a line of kings,
Who, begot, without man's aid,
Of a pure yet pregnant maid.

From her fleshly nature springs ?
Let the desert blossom forth ;
Joy, waste places of the earth !

Jesse's rod doth flowers unfold.
Root it brancheth, branch it bloometh,
Virgin -born, a Saviour cometh,
As the law of old foretold.

David's self that root portended;
Mary is that branch, descended
From that seed of royal line :
He, the Son unto us given,
Is its flower, a flower from heaven.

Since its fragrance is divine.
He, Whose birth's due celebration
Forms the angels' proclamation,
In a manger-cradle lies ;
Heavenly hosts therein delight,
Whilst the shepherds watch by night
'Neath the silence of the skies.

All things shouts of joy upraise
For the Virgin's Son most high ;
Him the law and psalms too praise
With the page of prophecy.

Angels', shepherds', salutations,
Stars' and wise men's indications,
In their object all agree :
Haste those Eastern kings where, crying,
In a crib a Babe is lying,
Who the Gentile first-fruits be.

Infant Jesu, death-bound never !
For a time and yet for ever !

By Thy might mankind deliver
From this life's adversity :
When this mortal Hfe is ended,
From this living death ascended,
By Thy clemency befriended,
Grant us deathless life with Thee ! Amen.