When Jesus, by the Virgin Brought

When Je­sus

by the vir­gin brought

So runs the law of Heav’n

Was of­fered ho­ly to the Lord

And at the al­tar giv’n;

Simeon the just and the de­vout

Who

fre­quent in the fane

Had for the Sav­ior wait­ed long

But wait­ed still in vain

Came

Heav’n di­rect­ed

at the hour

When Ma­ry held her son;

He stretch­èd forth his ag­èd arms

While tears of glad­ness run:

With ho­ly joy up­on his face

The good old fa­ther smiled

While fond­ly in his wi­thered arms

He clasped the pro­mised Child.

And then he lift­ed up to Heav’n

An ear­nest ask­ing eye;

“My joy is full

my hour is come

Lord

let Thy serv­ant die!

“At last my arms em­brace my Lord

Now let their vi­gor cease;

At last my eyes my Sav­ior see

Now let them close in peace!

The star and glo­ry of the land

Hath now be­gun to shine;

The morn­ing that shall gild the globe

Breaks on these eyes of mine!