Poems &c. Upon Several Occasions/Upon the Circumcision
Upon the Circumcision.
Ye flaming Powers, and winged Warriours bright,That erst with Musick, and triumphant songFirst heard by happy watchful Shepherds ear,So sweetly sung your Joy the Clouds alongThrough the soft silence of the list'ning night;Now mourn, and if sad share with us to bearYour fiery essence can distill no tear,Burn in your sighs, and borrowSeas wept from our deep sorrow,He who with all Heav'ns heraldry whilearEnter'd the world, now bleeds to give us ease;Alas, how soon our sinSore doth beginHis Infancy to sease!O more exceeding love or law more just?Just law indeed, but more exceeding love!For we by rightful doom remedilesWere lost in death, till he that dwelt aboveHigh thron'd in secret bliss, for us frail dustEmptied his glory, ev'n to nakednes;And that great Cov'nant which we still transgressIntirely satisfi'd, And the full wrath besideOf vengeful Justice bore for our excess,And seals obedience first with wounding smartThis day, but O ere longHuge pangs and strongWill pierce more near his heart.