Hymn of the Incarnation

In the midnight of the Ages,

In the midnight dark and lone,

When the heroes and the sages

In life’s battle faint had grown;

When the world’s great heart was lying

Like a corpse upon its bier,

Then, through heaven, a voice went crying

“God is near!”

In the midnight of the nations,

When the Morning Land was dead,

And to woes and lamentations

Earth in agony was wed;

Rose a cry of fearful wailing

From the stormy nether sphere,

“Lo! the pagan orb is paling,

God is near!”

In the midnight of Earth’s errors,

When the serpent’s monstrous head,

From its eyes shot lurid terrors

While upon her breasts it fed,

When the faith in the Hereafter

Had no prophet, bard, or seer,

Rang a voice, through sin’s wild laughter -

“God is near!”

Where a virgin, pure, adoring,

Worshiped God who reigns above,

Came a glorious outburst, pouring

From Jehovah’s heart of love;

And an angel spake, “Hail Maiden;

In thy inmost bosom sphere

Thou with child from Heaven art laden -

God is near!”

Through the seraph universes

Shone a flame of circling light;

While dark Hades rang with curses

It unfolded form and might.

Then a Child to earth was given,

And He stood beside Earth’s bier

Crying loud, “Arise forgiven,

God is here!”

As a meteor star that falleth

Sank the world from out its place;

Or a ravished bride that calleth

From a serpent’s loathed embrace;

Lo! through storms of lava ashes

Came a voice, her heart to cheer,

Thundering through the lightning flashes,

“God is here!”

Who shall tell the solemn story

Of the Form that God possessed?

Of the temples pierced and gory

And the wounds in feet and breast?

All the angels worshipped round Him

When the bloody cross was near,

Crying to the men who bound Him,

“God is here!”

In His Love’s transfiguration,

When He rose, the world to free,

Seen by every angel nation

In DIVINE HUMANITY,

All the universe adoring

Saw the end of evil near,

Crying loud, in one outpouring,

“God is here!”

-T.L. Harris