Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-01-06
CHRISTMAS, ADDRESS.
BY JESSIE FERGUSON BROWNE.

| w hat millions welcome tlee!
What joy to nations yet unborn
Throughout posterity!
To know, TO feel, by faith that all
May rest indeed secure;
Unknown to name, however small,
The life that will endure.
Again, thou com'st with promise bright
| 10 bless the sons of earth,
| Those sacred seasons of delight,
That hailed a Saviour's birth!
And still thy promises abound,
Ihat tender mercy flows;
AS when with beamy radiance crowned
The star of Bethlehem rose.
And o'er the coDsecrated scene
Her softened lustre threw,
Bright heavenly orb, whose orient sheen.
Revealed Him 90 their view,
Thrice blessed mornl thy earliest ravs
Were thronged with visions bright,
Gay, sportive mirth each art ESSAYS
To hail thee with delight.
0, blissful must thy coming be,
That, scarcely knowing why,
Fen little children welcome thee.
With artless bursts of iov!
Sweet, joyous peals that thrill the soul.
Announce thine advent here;
Irlumphal strains in rapture roll.
Harmonious, soft and clear.
No more in thunder tones afar,
With stern defiance hurled
The vengeance breathing voice of war
Awakes a slumbering world,
flushed are the sounds of carnage vile
Long may its horrors cease;
Love, friendship, bliss be ours the while.
And heaven-anOinted peace.
Sweet peace on earth, good will to men.
Breathes forth in every strain;
Oh, never more may strife again,
Resume her frightful reign,
But hallelujahS far and near
Like holy incense rise;
Loud, loud hosannas light and clear
That seem to rend the skies!
In hymns Of praise lift high the voice,
o, sing and praise and pray,
Rejoice, We wretched ones, rejoice,
And cast your cares away;
Cast all your selfish cares away, .
For joys that never fail.
And hail once more this hallowed dav,
With reverend pleasure hail. B.
Ye wretched, hopeless and forIoa.
Whom sin unsightly stains,
This day, for your redemption born,
The prince lmmanGe reicns!
lie relgns triumphant DER the tomb.
Ger darkness and disinay: 49,,
Believe, repent, dispel your gloom,
And chase your fears away.
Beseech, inplOre, nor longer dread
The pleading voice He hears,
Who raised up Lazarus from the dead
And dried the mouruer'S tears.
T alth and repentance much avail
VIII make your ransom sure,
Sincere contrition Will rot fail
That blessing to secure.
orSake your ways, ye errirg ones.
Of living waters drink
O. be not Of BcIial's sons.
But from Perverseness shrink;
Quatf deeply of the living stream,
ASK and 1t shall be given
nat ooundleSs mercy most supreme.
Secures to you a heaven.
Say, can ye longer doHbtng stand.
With such prize in view?
Nay, turn to Him whose helping hand
VIII surely guide you through;
The halt the blind, the frail. the Donr
Were His peculiar care,
Whose loving mercieS still endure.
And which we still may share.
Divine religion, heavenly guide,
How paltrV, weak and small
Were towering genius, pomp and pride
Without thee must they fall
Yea, the most brilliant powers of man
That mightiest empires sway,
Those powers if not with thee combine
Must surely pass away.
D, may we seek thee more and more.
With earnest, longing heart;
Thy pleasures sanctifed and pure
Will not from us depart.
Welcome, most welcome, halIowcd morr
Whose blessings we receive,
The day on which our Christ was bora.
Who died that we might live.