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By Faith and Sight the Shepherds did eſpy
The greatest Meanneſs, greateſt Majeſty,
Meeting at once in Christ's Humility.
The living God who Life to all did give,
Now to himſelf a Life lie doth receive.
The God that was from all Eternity,
In Bethlem doth a ſucking Infant ly
The Heir of all Things, he who doth no leſs
Than Heav'n and Earth, both as his own, poſſeſs,
His Virgin Mother now can nought obtain
But a Horſe Manger for to lay him in;
Yet divine Worſhip unto him was paid,
E'en while he's in this humble Poſture laid:
For through his human Nature there did ſhine
Some Rays that ſhew'd his Perſon was divine,
Which unto ſome appear'd and was reveal'd,
But from the moſt lay hid and quite conceal'd.
He to the Law, tho' he was Lord of it,
Did in each Part obediently ſubmit,
According to the Cuſtom of the Jews,
(As what we ſee the ſacred Scripture ſhews.)
At eight Days old he's circumcis'd, that he
In this conform'd might to his Brethren be.
The Name of JESUS to this Child they gave,
Because from Sin his People he ſhould ſave.
Satan who knew full-well our Saviour had
On Purpoſe come his Kingdom to invade,
As ſoon as he had enter'd on the Stage,
Stir'd up the Pow'rs of Earth at him to rage.
To Egypt ſoon from Herod's Cruelty,
Joſeph and Mary with the Child muſt fly.
There they remain till Herod's Death, and then
The Lord call'd Joſeph, with him, home again.
But
