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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Transportat. VI. The publishing of his Birth. First vnto Sheepheards.
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 | The Blessed Birth-day |  |
Transportat. VI. The publishing of his Birth. First vnto Sheepheards.
To
Sheepheards is his Birth first signifi'de
Who by their flocke night-watching did abide.
To shew that the great Sheepheard now is borne
Who no base office for his sheepe will scorne,
But watching ore his flock doth still remaine,
And they must watch who will him entertaine.
Fitly the Lamb first to the flocke is showne,
The Sheepheard first to sheepheards is made known
To teach his sheepheards faithfull watch to keep
To feed his Lambs and to attend his sheep.
Who by their flocke night-watching did abide.
To shew that the great Sheepheard now is borne
Who no base office for his sheepe will scorne,
But watching ore his flock doth still remaine,
And they must watch who will him entertaine.
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The Sheepheard first to sheepheards is made known
To teach his sheepheards faithfull watch to keep
To feed his Lambs and to attend his sheep.
I see night-watchings are not still pernitious,
These sheepheards, had they not bee so officious
To watch while others slept, had miss'd that Light
Which mid-day made to them in midst of Night.
Nor had their Eares beene happy with the hearing
Of the first Sermon preacht at Christs appearing.
These sheepheards, had they not bee so officious
To watch while others slept, had miss'd that Light
Which mid-day made to them in midst of Night.
Nor had their Eares beene happy with the hearing
Of the first Sermon preacht at Christs appearing.
O blessed Vigils, which to men afford
The sight of Angels, and of Angels Lord!
O blessed Vigils, where one Angel brings
Newes of a Saviour, and an Army sings,
Glory to God on high, and Peace procur'd
On earth to men of favour full assur'd!
The sight of Angels, and of Angels Lord!
O blessed Vigils, where one Angel brings
Newes of a Saviour, and an Army sings,
Glory to God on high, and Peace procur'd
On earth to men of favour full assur'd!
O blessed Vigils, where advise is giuen
To men, to finde on Earth the God of heaven.
See sheepheards he who never sleepes, doth keep
Watch over you while you watch ore your sheep.
Be not affrightned at the splendent sight,
Darknesse is to be dreaded not the light,
Divels not Angels. Let them dread who dare
Sleep in their sins, not they who watchfull are.
No danger from an Angell can proceed,
Whose speech remoues the feare his sight doth breed.
Sweet is the word to an astounded eare
When he forbids to feare whom all doe feare.
Let me feare him, who saith Feare not, alone:
How many doth he feare that feares not one?
To men, to finde on Earth the God of heaven.
See sheepheards he who never sleepes, doth keep
Watch over you while you watch ore your sheep.
Be not affrightned at the splendent sight,
Darknesse is to be dreaded not the light,
Divels not Angels. Let them dread who dare
Sleep in their sins, not they who watchfull are.
No danger from an Angell can proceed,
Whose speech remoues the feare his sight doth breed.
Sweet is the word to an astounded eare
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Let me feare him, who saith Feare not, alone:
How many doth he feare that feares not one?
Great sheepheard of our soules who dain'st to grace
Me most vnworthy, with a sheepheards place,
Who wouldst to sheepheards haue thy birth reveald
Which yet from Kings and Iudges was conceald,
And while they watcht, thy light to them did'st send
Which they from thee to others might extend;
First manifest thy selfe, ô Lord to mee,
That I to mine may preach and publish thee.
Dispell my darknesse with thy light divine,
Shine thou on me, that I on them may shine,
Reflecting on my flocke that double light
Of doctrine pure, and conversation right.
Thou who doest watch ore them who watchfull are
Grant me to watch ore mine with heedfull care:
Leaf if I faile to keepe a carefull watch
The ravening wolfe both sheepe and sheepheard catch.
Me most vnworthy, with a sheepheards place,
Who wouldst to sheepheards haue thy birth reveald
Which yet from Kings and Iudges was conceald,
And while they watcht, thy light to them did'st send
Which they from thee to others might extend;
First manifest thy selfe, ô Lord to mee,
That I to mine may preach and publish thee.
Dispell my darknesse with thy light divine,
Shine thou on me, that I on them may shine,
Reflecting on my flocke that double light
Of doctrine pure, and conversation right.
Thou who doest watch ore them who watchfull are
Grant me to watch ore mine with heedfull care:
Leaf if I faile to keepe a carefull watch
The ravening wolfe both sheepe and sheepheard catch.
Confer'd thou hast on me, ô Lord, likewise,
An other charge, a bosome benefice,
A true peculiar, that will not dispense
With the least oscitance, my Conscience,
This o'er me at all times watchfull is,
O make me alwaies watchfull ouer this.
Let me be carefull, wary eye to keep
Over my homebred flock, domestick sheep,
My thoughts, my words, my actions all, least they
Beyond their fixed boundaries doe stray:
This twofold charge let me, ô Lord, attend
Till this my weary pilgrimage doe end:
Let me, like to the Lamp that burns by night
Not spare to spend mine oile to lend them light:
Till both my charges I resigne to thee,
Then be thou pleas'd to crowne thy gifts in mee.
An other charge, a bosome benefice,
A true peculiar, that will not dispense
With the least oscitance, my Conscience,
This o'er me at all times watchfull is,
O make me alwaies watchfull ouer this.
Let me be carefull, wary eye to keep
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My thoughts, my words, my actions all, least they
Beyond their fixed boundaries doe stray:
This twofold charge let me, ô Lord, attend
Till this my weary pilgrimage doe end:
Let me, like to the Lamp that burns by night
Not spare to spend mine oile to lend them light:
Till both my charges I resigne to thee,
Then be thou pleas'd to crowne thy gifts in mee.
| The Blessed Birth-day | |