Advent Reflection

Veni, Emmanuel.

If some King of the earth 
Have so large an extent of Dominion, 
in North, and South, 
As that he hath Winter and Summer 
together in his Dominions, 

So large an extent East and West, 
As that he hath day and night 
together in his Dominions, 
Much more hath God 
mercy and judgement together: 

He brought light out of darknesse, 
not out of a lesser light; 
He can bring thy Summer out of Winter, 
though thou have no Spring; 

Though in the wayes of fortune, 
or understanding, or conscience, 
Thou have been benighted till now, 
wintred and frozen, 
clouded and eclypsed, 
damped and benummed, 
smothered and stupefied till now, 

Now God comes to thee, 
not as in the dawning of the day, 
not as in the bud of the spring, 
But as the Sun at noon to illustrate all shadowes, 
As the sheaves in harvest, to fill all penuries, 

All occasions invite his mercies, 
And all times are his seasons. 


(John Donne, A Sermon for Christmas Day, 1624)