WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 311, 17 December 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED

‘ Peace on earth, goodwill to men, Sang the clustered angels when Jesus Christ, on Christmas Morn, Was in Bethlehem’s stable born. Shepherds trembled, greatly fearing, When this song fell on their hearing, When through rifted skies the light Made their hills than day more bright. But a seraph said: “Fear not, Since it is your happy lot First of all mankind forlorn To be told that Christ is born: Haste ye, then, where ye may see Heaven’s incarnate Deity, Holy Son of Holy Maid, In a cattle-manger laid." Then the shepherds left their sheep, Seeking Deity asleep, Left the shining cherubim That they, too, might worship Him. And, upon the selfsame night Shone a star most wondrous bright, Star of Bethlehem, we say, Guiding Wise Men on their way Wondering much that such a Star Should precede them from afar, Wondering more that it should stay O’er a stable by the way, Marvelling that they should find, In a manger swaddling-lined, Such a babe as all the earth Ne’er before had given birth; So they came unto this shrine, Saw the haloed Babe Divine, Brought rich coffers through the door, Laid them on the rush-strewn floor. Opened them, and took from thence Gold, and myrrh, and frankincense, And, their honour to enhance, Mighty Kings themselves perchance, Knel before a little Child Upon Whom His Mother smiled. f And, through all the centuries sped, t Wise and simple have been led King and shepherd, man and maid, To the place where, lowly laid, Lay a Saviour, all divine, v Companicd by loving kine.