ODE V. Θεὸς ὢν εἰρήνης. Father of Peace, and GOD of Consolation! The Angel of the Counsel dost Thou send To herald peace, to manifest Salvation, Thy Light to pour, Thy knowledge to extend ; Whence, with the morning's earliest rays, Lover of men! Thy Name we praise. Midst Cæsar's subjects Thou, at his decreeing, Obey'd'st and wast enrolled our mortal race, To sin and Satan slave, from bondage freeing, Our poverty in all points didst embrace: And by that Union didst combine The earthly with the All-Divine. Lo! Mary, as the world's long day was waning, Incarnate Deity conceived and bore; Virgin in birth, and after birth, remaining: And man to GOD is reconciled once more: Wherefore in faith her name we bless, And Mother of our GOD confess. ODE VI. σπλάγχνων Ἰωνᾶν. As Jonah, issuing from his three days' tomb, At length was cast, uninjured, on the earth; So, from the Virgin's unpolluted womb The Incarnate WORD, That dwelt there, had His Birth: For He, Who knew no taint of mortal stain, Willed that His Mother spotless should remain. CHRIST Comes, Incarnate GOD, amongst us now, Begotten of the FATHER ere the day: And He, to Whom the sinless legions bow, Lies cradled, midst unconscious beasts, on hay: And, by His homely swaddling-bands girt in, Looses the many fetters of our sin. Now the New Child of Adam's race draws nigh, To us, the faithful, given: This, this is He That shall the Father of Eternity, The Angel of the Mighty Counsel, be: This the eternal GOD, by Whose strong hands The fabric of the world supported stands. ODE VII. οἱ παῖδες εὐσεβεία. The Holy Children boldly stand No doom can shake their constancy : Thou art bless'd!" The Shepherds keep their flocks by night; The Angel-bands their King declare: "GOD of our Fathers! Thou art bless'd!" The Angel ceas'd; and suddenly Seraphic legions fill'd the sky: Glory to GOD, they cry again : Peace upon earth, good will to men : CHRIST Comes !-And they that heard confess'd, "GOD of our Fathers! Thou art bless'd!" |