Star of the East, Whose Beacon Light

For Christmas

Words: Anonymous.

Music: Jackson

Source: Christmas Carols, or Sacred Songs, Suited to the Festival of our Lord's Nativity (London: John William Parker, 1833), Carol #XI, "The Star In The East," pp. 56-59.

THE STAR OF THE EAST.

" Lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them till it came, and stood over where the young child was."—Matthew ii. 9.

Star of the east, whose beacon light
A gleam on Bethlehem threw, 
And thither by that wondrous sight 
Arabia's sages drew; 
On thee in thought we love to gaze 
In western climes afar, 
And think on thy mysterious rays, 
Thou lovely eastern star.

Fair is the star of eve that sheds
Her light betokening rest; 
And fair the morning star that leads 
The day in glory drest:
But still more fair thy form arose, 
And lovelier to behold, 
Which of a more serene repose 
A brighter glory told.

Hail thou, whose silvery radiance led
Those Magian chiefs to bring 
Their choicest gifts, in worship spread 
Before Judea's King: 
That glorious Sun, whose harbinger 
Thy light was made to shine, 
And like the pillar'd flame to bear 
Aloft salvation's sign!

Hail thou appointed to adorn
The rising King of heaven, 
The promis'd Child to Judah born, 
The Son to Israel given : 
In whom the peaceful empire seal'd 
Should more and more increase; 
In Him, the mighty God reveal'd, 
In Him, the Prince of Peace !

So on thy beacon light we gaze
In western climes afar, 
And note thy heav'n-directed rays, 
Thou lovely eastern star: 
With praise to Him, who in the sky 
Thy wondrous cresset hung, 
Prompt to inform the observing eye, 
Apart from speech or tongue :

Him who permits to all to see
The light their stations need; 
Who chose the star-vers'd sage by thee,
Star of the east, to lead; 
Who made by shepherd swains at night 
The angel's voice be heard; 
And gives to us his scriptures' light, 
His own recording word.

Sheet Music from Source: Christmas Carols, or Sacred Songs, Suited to the Festival of our Lord's Nativity (London: John William Parker, 1833), pp. 58-59.

Also found in A Selection of Carols, Pieces, and Anthems, Suitable for Christmas. (London: W. Kent and Co.; Penzance: F. Rodda, ca. 1872), p. 48, comprised of verses 1 and 4 above, but formatted as four, 4-line verses.

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