"THEN said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old; and ast thou seen Abraham?"-JOHN viii. 57.

NOT far from fifty! So, it seems, they thought;
And yet few more than thirty had gone by
Since o'er Thy birth the still and starry sky
Fill'd, thrill'd, with glory-music, angel-brought,
And earth-enchanting. When the shepherds sought
Thy baby-bed, and found Thy smile and voice

More fair and sweet than all of heaven: "Rejoice!' They might have sung-"For Thee all time hath wrought,

All space hath treasured, bliss! Thy course foretold,
Thy lips, Thine eyes, sighs, tears, shall never know!"
And yet, O Christ! Thy manhood bent below
Our sins, and in Thy youth men thought Thee old!
I, this day fifty, still much older seem:
O, sinless Saviour! sinful me redeem!