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Ada Cambridge - Advent Hymn
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Another mile—a year 
Pass`d by for ever! And the warnings swell 
From upper heaven to darkest depths of hell,— 
    O we are drawing near! 

    All through the waiting lands 
Dim signs and tokens, if unheeded, throng; 
We feel them thickening as we pass along, 
    Holding out fearful hands. 

    Light! which in love sent down 
That tender gleam on Eden`s darken`d bowers, 
When sin had breathed the blight upon the flowers 
    Whereof death made his crown:— 
    Light! which did deign to stamp 
The tables on that Arab mountain-crest;— 
Light! which, in shrouded glory, once did rest 
    On Israelitish camp:— 

    O day! whose dawn was spread, 
Golden and clear, on Judæa`s terraced hills,— 
O shining noon! whose waxèd beauty thrills 
    Earth and her quick and dead:— 

    Come to our hearts, we pray! 
Through open doors let gracious gleams come in; 
Fill us with light and life, and let the sin 
    And darkness pass away. 

    Lord, waken us who sleep, 
Strengthen the feeble knees and weak hands now; 
Teach us, with prayer and work, to measure how 
    The stealthy minutes creep. 

    Let not our lamp be dim 
When in the night we hear the footsteps fall 
Upon our threshold,—let death find us all 
    Watching in peace for him. 

    Let us lie down to rest 
In surest hope of endless life in store, 
With happy reverent hands, that strive no more. 
    Folded across our breast. 

    And when the angels come, 
And the sharp echo of the herald`s cry 
Pierces the dark and stillness where we lie 
    Cold in our sleep, and dumb,— 

    May we arise, O King! 
In bridal garments, beautiful and white; 
And do Thou, coming in Thy godly might, 
    Our crown of glory bring.
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