VII
When the great lamp of Heaven, the glorious sun,
Had touch’d his southern period, and begun
To leave the winter tropic and to climb
The Zodiacks ascending signs, that time
The brighter sun of Righteousness did chose
His beams of light and glory to disclose
To our dark lower world; and by those Rays
To chase the darkness, and to make it day
And left the glorious and resplendent light
for mortals eyes to gaze upon: he shrouds
And clothes his fiery pillar with the Cloud
of humane flesh, that in that dress he may
Converse with men: acquaint them with the way
To life and glory; shew his father’s mind
Concerning them, how bountifull and kind
His thoughts were to them; what they might expect
From him in the observance or neglect
Of what he did require and then he fear’d
with his dear blow. the truth he had reveal’d
VIII
When the Almighty doth his first born bring
Into the world, behold how every thing
Doth strive to bear him witness, and proclaim
That this was he on whose most healing name
Man’s Restitution lay. the Woman’s seed
Promis’d in Eden; thus it was decree’d1 :
To print an Eminence upon that day,
Within whose womb so great concernment lay
And first those prophecys that seem’d to lie
in a long sleep, the Day spring2 from on high
Summons them up: to Bethlem they are sent,
And there they read their own accomplishment.
Here Abraham finds his promis’d seed3 , in whom
The nation’s bliss was wrapt; David his son4 ,
And yet his Lord; Jacob’s dim aged5 eye
Beholds his wished Shilo 6 ; Jeremy. ,
The Lord our Righteousness7 ; Ezechiel
His kingly shepherd8 ; I say, Immanuel ,
The virgin’s son9 ; Wise Daniel , while he seeks10
He finds within the Compass of his wishes
messing birth, where micha’s prophecy11
Before precisely fixt it; Malachy ,
The last of all the ancient prophets12 here
Of the new Covenant , finds the Messenger
There, and an Army more of prophecys
Like stars of several magnitudes arise
From several periods, and then fix their station
Conjoyn’d in one great Constellation;
Just over Bethlem with that Eastern star, and
And joyntly sing; we were fulfilled are
Hither comes also Moses with a train
Of Types and sacrifices13 which contain
Shadows of that great prophet he foretold14
This day unveils their face and his unfolds
Their mysteries; all and here with one consent
They publish all; lo! this was he we meant
The Blessed Angels from the Heavens descend,
The prince of Heavens birth-day to attend15
and cloath’d with light and glory, they became
The Heralds those glad tidings to proclaim
Unto the watchfull shepherds; forthwith they
To Bethlehem as directed, hast away
And find as they were told and every where
What they has seen and heard, they do declare16
And that the Heavens, as well as Angels,
Contribute somewhat to this solemn day
A star is born, that never before appear’d17
Whose course so wisely through tho air us frear’d
To Bethle’m, that by it, as by a thread,
The Eastern Wise-men thither just are lead;
And there it makes a halt, and so do they
To Jacob’s star18 , while they their homage pay19
When after Mary to the temple went,
Her and her maker’s first-born20 to present
Thither by secret providence are brought
Simeon and Anna that of long had fought
For Isreals consolation; there they see
The hope they sought, and witness this is he.
Thus did our Lord no sooner land among
Us mortals, but immediately a throng
Of Strang and wonderful conjunctures swarm to
To this divine Attractive, and Alarm
The unexpecting world that he for whome
The world was made, into the world is come,
A thing exceeding wonder, therefore fit
That wonders should attest and publish it
Footnotes
1 Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Back to text.
2 Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us Back to text.
3 Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Back to text.
4 Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. Back to text.
5 Psalm 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. Back to text.
6 Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Back to text.
7 Jeremiah 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Back to text.
8 Ezekiel 34:23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. Back to text.
9 Isiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Back to text.
10 Daniel 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. Back to text.
11 Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Back to text.
12 Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Back to text.
13 Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. Back to text.
14 Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; Back to text.
15 Luke 2:9,15 9: And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 15: And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.Back to text.
16 Luke 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. Back to text.
17 Matthew 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. Back to text.
18 Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. Back to text.
19 Luke 2:25 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. Back to text.
20 Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature Back to text.