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KOSMOBREVIA[Greek], or the infancy of the world

With an Appendix of Gods resting day, Edon Garden; Mans Happiness before, Misery after, his Fall. Whereunto is added, The Praise of Nothing; Divine Ejaculations; The four Ages of the world; The Birth of Christ; Also a Century of Historical Applications; With a Taste of Poetical fictions. Written some years since by N. B.[i.e. Nicholas Billingsley] ... And now published at the request of his Friends

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GENETHLIACON,
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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98

GENETHLIACON,

OR A Birth-song, in honor of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ his coming into the World.

1

From the skies Night slideth down;
Cloathed in a sable gown;
And her drowsie head doth crown,
With a Poppy Coronet:
Muffling up her scar-crow face;
Holding forth a Leeden Mace;
Thus she o're the world doth trace;
With bright Sentinells beset.

2

Now the Magi from a farr
From the Eastern borders are
Lead by th'lustre of a Starr,
To the place where Jesus lay:
They, soon e're they him behold,
Present presents manifold,
Myrrhe and frankincense, and gold,
And in praises spend the day.

99

3

And it hapned thus, that near
Unto Bethlehem, there were
Faithfull Shepherds, who with care
Tended on their fleecy fold:
Least that their flock-leading Rams,
And the pretty baing Lambs,
Should be whoried with their dams,
For the Foxes were too bold.

4

Suddenly, a glorious light,
Chas'd away the purblinde night;
And from Heav'n an Angel bright
To the Shepheards did appear;
While their fleecy people graz'd,
At this prodigy they gaz'd,
And no little were amaz'd,
For their hearts did shake with fear.

5

From the bosom of a cloud,
Heavens Herald did unshroud,
This Embassy out aloud,
Fear nor shepheards; Lo this morn,

100

The glad tidings which I bring,
Shall give you just cause to sing,
For to you, to you, a King,
And a blessed Saviour's born:

6

There, where princly David sway'd
He which the worlds ground-work laid,
Born is of a Mother-Maid,
And involv'd in swad'ling clouts:
Ever after shall all nations,
In succeeding generations,
Fill the heav'ns with acclamations,
And the earth with joyfull shouts.

7

He which is inestemable,
And to doe all things is able,
Is inclos'd within a stable,
Cradled in a silly manger:
Where the stalled Ox hath fed,
There your Saviour lays his head,
And a lock of straw's his bed,
Go Swains, entertain the st rang[illeg.]

101

8

When the Angel held his tongue,
An heav'nly Hoast of Angels sung,
(That the valted Regions rung)
For they warb'led out most shrill,
This harmonious mellody:
Glory be to God on high,
Peace unto the earth be nigh,
And unto mankind good will.

9

Praised be Gods holy name,
Let the world his praise proclaime,
Happy time, wherein we came
For to tend upon our fold:
We are now redeem'd from hell,
We that from our maker sell,
We, curs'd we, that did rebell,
Was there better news e're told.

10

Pretious Balm from Gilead springs,
Unto us a Saviour brings,
Healing in his balmy wings;
Unto us a Son is given.

102

We will carol songs of praise,
Eucharists, and Roud-delaies,
On her Ho-boies all our daies.
To the Emperour of heaven.

11

What we with our ears have heard,
Hath unto our eyes appear'd,
And shall be abroad declar'd,
By our mouths. O blessed birth!
O! what God for us hath done,
He hath sent his only Son,
By whose loss we shall be won!
Here is cause indeed of mirth.

12

Glory be to thee the Lord,
Who according to thy word,
Such rich mercy dost afford,
As is treasured up in Jesus,
O how doth our joy abound,
May't in ev'ry corner sound,
We are lost, but shall be found,
We are pain'd, but Christ will ease us!

103

Soul.
A Saviour is born;
And is he born for me?
Me; what? for me forlorn?
O love beyond degree!

Christ.
These sides shall feel the spear;
Blood shall my sides run down:
Soul, I the cross will bear;
And thou shalt wear the crown.

Soul.
Though the dull earth aspire,
And sprightly flames descend:
Yet shall my heart my Lyre,
Praise thee without An End