| LORD when the wise men came from farr | |
| Ledd to thy Cradle by A Starr, | |
| Then did the shepheards too rejoyce, | |
| Instructed by thy Angells voyce, | |
| Blest were the wisemen in their skill, | 5 |
| And shepheards in their harmelesse will. | |
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| Wisemen in tracing natures lawes | |
| Ascend unto the highest cause, | |
| Shepheards with humble fearefulnesse | |
| Walke safely, though their light be lesse: | 10 |
| Though wisemen better know the way | |
| It seemes noe honest heart can stray. | |
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| Ther is noe merrit in the wise | |
| But love, (the shepheards sacrifice). | |
| Wisemen all wayes of knowledge past, | 15 |
| To th' shepheards wonder come at last, | |
| To know, can only wonder breede, | |
| And not to know, is wonders seede. | |
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| A wiseman at the Alter bowes | |
| And offers up his studied vowes | 20 |
| And is received; may not the teares, | |
| Which spring too from a shepheards feares, | |
| And sighs upon his fraylty spent, | |
| Though not distinct, be eloquent? | |
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| Tis true, the object sanctifies | 25 |
| All passions which within us rise, | |
| But since noe creature comprehends | |
| The cause of causes, end of ends, | |
| Hee who himselfe vouchsafes to know | |
| Best pleases his creator soe. | 30 |
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| When then our sorrowes we applye | |
| To our owne wantes and poverty, | |
| When wee looke up in all distresse | |
| And our owne misery confesse | |
| Sending both thankes and prayers above, | 35 |
| Then though wee do not know, we love. | |
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