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I V.

Wife men directed to Chrift by a Star, worship and offer prefents.

A Radiant Star whofe kind and friendly Beams

Against Judea dart their golden Streams.

Three Eastern Magi from their Country brings ; Wife-Men they were, or at the leaft were Kings. Their Royal Presents in their Hands behold,

The Sun's rich Birth, Myrrh, Frankincense, and Gold:

With these the Monarch of both Worlds they meet,
Thefe and themselves they proftrate at his Feet.
Thus were fulfill'd those weighty Truths foretold
In myftic, Holy Oracles of old:

That Jacob's Star fhould in the Orient rife,
And with amazing Splendor gild the Skys;
Whence Kings fhou'd to his rifing Brightness flow,
Sabean Odours round his Altars throw;

Exhauft their Treasures to increase his Store,

And bent profound to Earth the King of Kings adorç

IV.

St. MATTH. II. to Ver. 12,

1. Behold, there came Wife-men from the East to Jerufalem,

2. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have feen his Star in the East, and are come to worship him, &c.

10. When they faw the Star, they rejøyced with exceeding great joy.

11. And when they were come into the house, they faw the young Child with Mary his Mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their Treasures, they prefented unto him Gifts; Gold, and Frankincense, and Myrrh.

V.

The Flight of Joseph and Mary
into Egypt.

THE

'HE Royal Strangers now divinely warn'd
Herod avoid, and privately return'd:

Agen an Angel is to Joseph sent

The Heav'n-born Infant's Murder to prevent:

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Sleep'ft thou, O Son of David! (thus he faid) "When worse than Death is hov'ring o'er thy Head?

Thy Sacred Charge by Herod's Cruelty "And jealous Rage already doom'd to dye : "So he decrees, but so decrees not Fate, "Which gives his threaten'd Life a longer Date: "Then rise and flee, to Egypt flee with speed, "The Means by Heav'n as well as End decreed ; "There till the Tyrant's Death a Refuge chuse, "Nor long before I bring the welcome News.

He rofe, he fled, he bore his Charge away, And robb'd the murd'rous King cf his expected Prey.

V.

St. MATTH. II. Ver. 13, 14, 15,

13, The Angel of the Lord appeared to Jofeph in a Dream, faying, Arife and take the young Child and his Mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou shere until I bring thee word: for Herod will feek the young Child to destroy him.

14. When be arofe, he took the young Child and his Mother by night, and departed into Egypt,

15. And was there until the death of Herod : that it might be fulfilled which was Spoken of the Lord by the Prophet, faying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son,

V I.

Herod's Anger, and the Slaughter of the Innocents.

Hen the fierce King the Magi did deceive,
And unrefolv'd his curious Malice leave

Nor fhall he 'scape my Sword, enrag'd he cry'd,
Tho' all his Angels warding by his Side:

Nor unattended fhall he go, for all

;

The Infants with their Childish Prince shall fall : Let Bethlehem mourn! Hafte! Hafte, my Guards, he cries,

If one escapes with Life, who spares him dies.
Too foon his bloody Ministers obey,

Nor moves ill Fate it felf more swift than they.
The Mothers Shreeks, th' expiring Infants Groans,
Who broach'd on Spears, or path'd against the
Stones,

Or whelm'd in Waves refign their tender Breath,
Form the laft Image of Defpair, and Death.
Thus Rachel did her Childrens Lofs deplore:
They're gone, for ever gone, and Joy is now no

more.

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