The New York herald., 1871-12-24
TIE Nasivtsy-TAe sacrsA seass and Merry
Chimes Of Chrissmaa.

Il
Chimes Of Christmas.
!. And It came to pass In those days. that there
went out decree from Caesar Augustus that all the
world should be taxed.
2. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius
8. And ali went to be taxed, every one into his
| own city.
I And Joseph also went up from Galilee. out Of
the city OF Nazareth. into Jude a. into the city OF
| DAVID, which Is called Bethlehem because he was
OF the mousse and lineage OF DAVID.
This is from St. Luke's simple but graphic
description of the Nativity, from which we
are reminded that this sublime event occurred
in the golden reign of Augustus of Rome,
| when Rome was mistress of the world and
| the world was at peace. But nevertheless,
"the decree went out from Cesar Augustus
| that all the world should be taxed, and we
see too, that his system OF collecting his taxes
was somewhat rougher than that Of General
Grant; for Joseph had to como all the way
down from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Ito be
taxed With Mary, his espoused wife," And
her time was at hand for 1t was SO appointed
by higher authority than Augustus; and tho
Evangelist goes on to say Of the blessed Vir
| gin:-
I. And che brought forth her nrstborn son, and
| manger; because there was no room for them n
the inn rTne little CITY was crowded with people
Ssss p %
Abiding In tho neld, keeping watch over their nock
o. And, 10, the angel Of the Lord came upon thsm,
and they were sore AFRAID.
SsaSS T. = orng :. yUT good d'ngs OF great Joy which
y or un.a a v0p horn mi. aav IN ,ne cv of
OF DAVID % ss2cur which % ON CHRIS. az the Lord ord ''
IL. And this shall % sign unto you; Ye shall 6nd
the babe wrapped in swadding clothes, lying In
Is. And suddenly there was with the angel .
multitude OF the heavenly host praising God, and
K Glory to God in the highest. ana on earth
peace, good VIII toward men.
This is St. Luke's graphic account Of the
Nativity. This Evangelist Is inspired by the
glories of the sublime event. and from his
kindling narrative, though thousands Of miles
removed from that little city Of Bethlehem,
and though eighteen hundred and seventy
one years have rolled away since the
'sheavenly host" joined In their divine chorus
over the babe IN the manger, we can, with
the coming Of the great anniversary, almost
fancy that we hear their glorious rejoic-
ings still ringing in the air. st. Matthew, In
his narrative Of the Nativity, mentions those
wise men who were guided by the ''Star In the
East" to the infant Saviour; and from the
brief statements of the event of Luke and
Matthew the Christian world, In many lam
guages and forms, has been singing since the
reign Of Augustus the coming Of the new
| dispensation. From Rome to the remotest
corners of the earth the Nativity by the Catholic
Church is celebrated with imposing services
| but the Protestant sects and poets are more
distinguished for their Christmas hymns and
lyrics. Thus sings the majestic Milton in his
stately stepping Hymn Of the Nativity
No war or battles sound
Was heard the world around;
The idle spear and shield were high uphung;
The hooked chariot stood
Unstained by hostile blood,
The trumpet spake not 70 the armed thr0ng;
And kings sat still with awful eye,
As If they surely knew their sovran Lord was by.
And thus, IS If thrilled with the Inspiration
of St. Luke, sings the Rev. Samuel Medley, an
English Baptist Of the last century,
In heaven the rabturous song began,
Ano sweet seraphic nre
Through all the shining legtons ran,
And strung and tuned the lyre
Swift through the vast expanse it dew
And loud the echo rolled;
The theme the song. the Joy was new
Twas more than heaven could hold.
Down through the portals Of the sky
The impetuOus torrent ran;
And angels new, with eager Joy,
To bear the news TO man.
And here we give an extract from the
scholarly Charles Wesley, brother Of the
founder of the powerful Methodist denomina-
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners recOnciled.
Joyful, all We nations, rise
Join the triumphs Of the sKles;
With tn angelic hosts proclaim,
''Christ Is born In Bethlehem"
And how, as with the strong and measured
tread of an army, Henry Kirk White joins in
the proclamation Of the glad tidings:-
When marshalled on the mighty plain.
The gttcring most bestud the sky,
One star alone Of all the train
Can nx the sinners wandering eye.
Hark hark TO God the chorus breaks,
From every host, from every gem;
But One alone, the Saviour. speaks
II is the Star OF Bethlehem.
But here, from Reginald Heber. in his day
the English Bishop of Calcutta, we have Q
Christmas lyric which is a. widely known
and sung throughout the United States as his
''Greenland's Icy Mountains "
Cold on hts cradle the dewdr0ps are shining.
Low lies his head with the beasts Of the stall;
Shepherds adore him In slumbers reclining
Maker, and Monarch and Saviour or all.
| Brightest ana best Of the sons OF the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizon ad0rning,
Guide where the Infant Redeemer Is laid.
Quite as widely known and sung through
ont this country as the lyric Of Heber is that
familiar paraphrase from st. Luke incorpo-
rated among the hymns Of the Protestant
Episcopal 'Book Of Common Prayer" of
which we give the opening verse;
While shepherds watched their nocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel OF the Lord came d0wn
And glory sh0ne around