CHRIST AND CHRISTMAS

1. Fast circling on, from zone to zone,--
   Bright, blest, afar,--
O'er the grim night of chaos shone
   One lone, brave star.

2. In tender mercy, Spirit sped
   A loyal ray
To rouse the living, wake the dead,
   And point the Way--

3. The Christ-idea, God anoints--
   Of Truth and Life;
The Way in Science He appoints,
   That stills all strife.

4. What the Beloved knew and taught,
   Science repeats,
Through understanding, dearly sought,
   With fierce heart-beats;

5. Thus Christ, eternal and divine,
   To celebrate
As Truth demands,--this living Vine
Ye demonstrate.

6. For heaven's Christus, earthly Eves,
   By Adam bid,
Make merriment on Christmas eves,
   O'er babe and crib.

7. Yet wherefore signalize the birth
   Of him ne'er born?
What can rehearse the glorious worth
   Of his high morn?

8. Christ was not crucified--that doom
   Was Jesus' part;
For Sharon's rose must bud and bloom
   In human heart. [*]

9. Forever present, bounteous, free,
   Christ comes in gloom;
And aye, with grace towards you and me,
   For health makes room.

10. Thus olden faith's pale star now blends
   In seven-hued white!
Life, without birth and without end,
   Emitting light!

11. The Way, the Truth, the Life--His word--
   Are here, and now
Christ's silent healing, heaven heard,
   Crowns the pale brow.

12. For Christian Science brings to view
   The great I Am,--
Omniscient power,--gleaming through
   Mind, mother, man.

13. As in blest Palestina's hour,
   So in our age,
'T is the same hand unfolds His power,
   And writes the page.

14. To-day, as oft, away from sin
   Christ summons thee!
Truth pleads to-night: Just take Me in!
   No mass for Me!

15. No blight, no broken wing, no moan,
   Truth's fane can dim;
Eternal swells Christ's music-tone,
   In heaven's hymn.

* "God was manifest in the flesh."

Glossary

These Scriptural texts are the basis of the sentiments in the
verses, whereto their number corresponds.

VERSE

1. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and
morning star.--Christ Jesus.

2. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now
is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God:
and they that hear shall live.--Christ Jesus.

3. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light:
they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon
them hath the light shined.--Isaiah.

4. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.--Christ Jesus.

5. The tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they
regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the opera-
tion of His hands.--Isaiah.

6. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
--Job.

7. Before Abraham was, I am.--Christ Jesus.

8. If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the
Spirit [God-likeness] is life because of righteousness.
--St. Paul.

9. But such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth rise up and walk.--St. Peter.

10. Without father, without mother, without descent, having
neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like
unto the Son of God.--St. Paul.

11. Heal the sick.--Christ Jesus.

12. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in
heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
--Christ Jesus.

13. And there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.--Christ Jesus.

14. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my
voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me.--Christ Jesus.

15. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
--Christ Jesus.