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Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks

From every host, from every gem:
But one alone the Saviour speaks,
It is the Star of Bethlehem.

Once on the raging seas I rode ;
The storm was loud, the night was dark,
The ocean yawn'd, and rudely blow'd
The wind that toss'd my foundering bark.
Deep horror then my vitals froze,
Death-struck, I ceas'd the tide to stem,
When suddenly a star arose,

It was the Star of Bethlehem.

It was my guide, my light, my all;
It bade my dark forebodings cease;

And through the storm, and danger's thrall,
It led me to the port of peace.

Now safely moor'd, my perils o'er,

I'll sing, first in night's diadem,

For ever and for ever more,

The Star-the Star of Bethlehem."

Oh, mamma, before we go in, pray sing one hymn to your harp.

I will sing you a short one with great pleasure, my dearest child.

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'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,
Odours of Eden, and offerings divine ?
Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation;

Vainly with gold would his favour secure :
Richer by far is the heart's adoration;
Dearer to God 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."
Come, my love; come.

HISTORY OF JESUS RESUMED.

That part of sacred writ, my love, which I recounted to you yesterday, confirmed fully the words of the prophet Isaiah, as to the lowly and mean state in which our Saviour would be born. The prophet had also declared, that "in Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Reachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they were not."

What did that mean, Mamma?

It alluded to the king in Judea, at the time of the birth of Jesus, who, with a view of killing the Messiah, would murder all the children that should be born at Bethlehem, or along its coast; and that this horrid massacre should actually be continued for two years, by putting to death every infant that should be born.

And was it realized, Mamma?

It was, indeed, my love; for no sooner had the wise men quitted the abode of the beloved Jesus, and were about to return to Herod with the joyful intelligence, than they were warned by God not to return to the king, but to proceed to their homes

by another road. Herod, therefore, finding that the wise men did not obey him, was so filled with revenge and disappointment, that he gave immediate directions for the destruction of every dear little infant in Bethlehem; which orders were immediately carried into execution. The horror of that scene, the screams of mothers, whose babes were torn from their breasts, cannot be described. Well might the prophet, in his emphatic language, exclaim, There was heard lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning.

And was Jesus killed, Mamma ?

O no, my child; no sooner had the wise men left the stable, then an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." They accordingly departed in the night, and arrived in safety.

It will now be necessary to turn to John. Respecting the coming of the glorious Redeemer, the prophet had said concerning him:

"Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make his paths straight."

What was the meaning of that, Mamma?

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