Religion & morality > Poem on the creation of the world, or, A meditation on the wonderful operation of the divine hand

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By Faith and Sight the Shepherds did efffy O
The greateft Meannefs, greateft Majefty, >
Meeting at once in Christ’s Humility. j
The living God who Life to all did give,
Now to himfelf a Life lie doth receive.
The God that was from all Eternity,
In Betblem doth a fucking Infant ly.
The Heir of all Things, he who djoth no lefs
Than Heav’n and Earth, both as his own,
pofiefs,
His Virgin Mother now can nought obtain
But a Horfe Manger for to lay him in;
Yet divine Worfliip unto him was paid,
E’en while he’s in this humble Pofture laid :
For through his human Nature there did Ihine
Some Rays that (hew’d his Perfon was divine.
Which unto fome appear’d and was reveal’d.
But from the moll lay hid and quite conceal’d.
He to the Law, tho’ he was Lord of it.
Did in each Part obediently fubmit,
According to the Cuftom of the Jews,
(As what we fee the facred Scripture fliews.)
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,
Becaufe from Sin his People he Ihould fave.
Satan who knew full-well our Saviour had
On Purpofe come his Kingdom to invade,
As foon as he had enter’d on the Stage,
Stir’d up thePow’rs of Earth at him to rage.
To E?ypt foon from Herod's Cruelty,
Jofeph and Mary with the Child muft fly.
There they remain till Herod's Death, and then
The Lord call’d Jofepb^ with him, home again.
But