The Season of Advent

 The Preaching of St. John the Baptist
 by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449 - 1494)  

Stir up Thy might, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and come: that by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins and be saved by Thy deliverance: Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen  

The First Warning of Advent: Christ is nigh!
Let us give up Sin, and practise Virtue

 Rom. xiii. 12: The night is passed, and the day is at hand:
"Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light."

Startled at the solemn warning,
 Let the earth-bound soul arise;
 Christ her Sun, all sloth dispelling,
 Shines upon the morning skies.

 "Christ is nigh," it seems to say;
 "Cast away the dreams of darkness,
 O ye children of the day!"

  So when next He comes with glory,
 Wrapping all the earth in fear,
 May He then, as our Defender,
 On the clouds of heaven appear.

 "Christ is nigh," it seems to say;
 "Cast away the dreams of darkness,
 O ye children of the day!"

 
Lo, the Lamb so long expected,
 Comes with pardon down from heaven;
 Let us haste with tears of sorrow,
 One and all to be forgiven.

 "Christ is nigh," it seems to say;
 "Cast away the dreams of darkness,
 O ye children of the day!"

  Honour, glory, virtue, merit,
 To the Father and the Son,
 With the Everlasting Spirit,
 While Eternal ages run.

 "Christ is nigh," it seems to say;
 "Cast away the dreams of darkness,
 O ye children of the day!"