The Blessed Birth-day celebrated in some religious meditations on the Angels Anthem. Lvc. 2. 14. Also holy transportations, in contemplating some of the most obserueable adiuncts about our Saviours Nativity. Extracted for the most part out of the Sacred Scriptures, Ancient Fathers, Christian Poets. And some moderne Approved Authors. By Charles Fitz-Geffry. The second Edition with Additions |
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 | The Blessed Birth-day |  |
Grant we that God can something doe, which man
Can never reach with Wisdomes narrow span.
Could man of all the actions God can doe
The reason render, he might doe them too:
For then mans knowledge Gods should equalize.
And why not equall works if equall wise?
And could man doe Gods works, then man should be
Omnipotent, and God as well as he:
But none omnipotent can be saue one,
Who also is omniscient alone.
Can never reach with Wisdomes narrow span.
Could man of all the actions God can doe
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For then mans knowledge Gods should equalize.
And why not equall works if equall wise?
And could man doe Gods works, then man should be
Omnipotent, and God as well as he:
But none omnipotent can be saue one,
Who also is omniscient alone.
Gods works to vs apparent are, the way
Whereby he works clos'd in himselfe doth say.
So doth some skilfull Artisan reveale
His Master-peece, but doth his skill conceale:
So God his works doth vnto mortals show,
But how he works he doth not let them know;
Whereby he works clos'd in himselfe doth say.
So doth some skilfull Artisan reveale
His Master-peece, but doth his skill conceale:
So God his works doth vnto mortals show,
But how he works he doth not let them know;
Least if they knew both art and worke they might
The Art, the worke, the Worker, basely slight
Those workes doe quickly starue their estimation
Which are not fed and fild with admiration:
Praise is but cold, which from a tongue is sent
Not warm'd with wounder and astonishment.
But when we stand amazed at the deed
Best praise vnto the doer doth proceed
From wondring silence. Then at length we straine
Our tongues, to tune forth some Angellike vaine,
Glory to God on high, on earth be peace,
And let goodwill t'wards Christians never cease.
The Art, the worke, the Worker, basely slight
Those workes doe quickly starue their estimation
Which are not fed and fild with admiration:
Praise is but cold, which from a tongue is sent
Not warm'd with wounder and astonishment.
But when we stand amazed at the deed
Best praise vnto the doer doth proceed
From wondring silence. Then at length we straine
Our tongues, to tune forth some Angellike vaine,
Glory to God on high, on earth be peace,
And let goodwill t'wards Christians never cease.
| The Blessed Birth-day | |