Thus Early Was Christ’s Course Begun

Thus ear­ly was Christ’s course be­gun:

Thus ra­di­ant dawned ce­les­ti­al day;

And those who such a race would run

As ear­ly should be on their way.

His Fa­ther’s bu­si­ness was His care

Yet in man’s fa­vor still He grew;

O might we learn by thought and pray­er

Like Him a work of love to do!

Wisdom and vir­tue still He sought

Nor ig­no­rant nor vile des­pised:

True was each act­ion

pure each thought

And each pure hope He real­ized.

The em­pires of this world

in vain

Offered their scep­ters to His hand;

Fearless He trod the stor­my main

Fearless ’mid throngs of foes could stand.

Yet with His cour­age and His pow­er

Combined such sweet­ness and such love

He could rev­ere the simp­lest flow­er

The vil­est sin­ners firm re­prove.

For all mank­ind He came

nor yet

An in­fant’s vis­it would de­ny;

Nor friend nor mo­ther did for­get

In His last hour of ago­ny.

O child­ren

ask Him to im­part

That spir­it clear and tem­per mild

Which made the mo­ther in her heart

Keep all the say­ings of her child.

Bless Him who said

of such as you

His Fa­ther’s king­dom is: and still

His yoke to bear

His work to do

Study His life to learn His will.