The Christian's NEW-YEARS-GIFT:  
Or the Transcendent Privileges of the INCARNATION OF CHRIST, Manifested in a Divine POEM. 2. Jan. 1687/8  

WHat Sacred Sibyls, what Heathens did expect  
From their Prophetic Gods, Ours did effect.  
They from dark Premises Conclusions drew  
Of things most Strange, and yet most certain True;  
Of such Phaenomena's the reason why,  
Nature denied, yet such portends the Sky,  
The Unerring Guide of true Astronomy.  
To Calculate this Scheme Aegypt's wise Treasure  
Can find no Line no Centre, nor no Measure:  
〈…〉 as theAlmighty's Will,  
To show that Heaven exceeds all Art or Skill;  
And that 'twas vain for Pharaoh to confide  
In what his wisest Magies could decide,  
They could some Truth declare, but not the Whole,  
They knew the Time, the Star; they knew the Pole:  
But what Miraculous Effect it did portend,  
Or when, or where this Mystery should end,  
They knew not, till to Bethlehems' Stable guided,  
Their Doubts were cleared, their Controverse decided:  
Witness their Posture; on their Knees they fall,  
And him that truly is their King, their God they call.  
Such mighty Operations had the sight  
Of this great King of Kings, the Lord of Light,  
That he a new Creation seemed to make,  
By's Sight, not Word, when Bashans' Bull did shake,  
And taught where their true Sacrifice to Make.  
For whether it greater Glory be to Make,  
Or the Unmade to bring again to Shape,  
Is Question, such as our Great Maker can  
Resolve by his remaking Fallen man.  
The first Creation on his Justice stood,  
But this demonstrates him both Just and Good:  
Just, Disobedience to condemn to Death,  
And Goodness in the Zenith, with that Breath  
This dreadful Sentence to reverse; did show  
That he our Sins and all our Wants did know.  
Thus to fulfil his Promise and make good  
His Word, betwixt just Death and us He stood,  
Dismantles Heaven, and descends his Throne,  
His Power, Goodness, and his Truth makes known;  
That his first Promise to the Woman's Seed  
Should bruise the Serpent's head, ●nd make it bleed,  
That on his Manna we again might feed.  
This was not like the Shallow Gifts of Men,  
Confined so narrowly as where, or what, or when,  
But like the Author Circumscribed to none,  
But free to all that should this Gospel own:  
His narrowest thoughts is th' Universal Orb,  
That all should saved be that owned their God.  
To witness this, no Jew nor Gentile he  
Excludes this Banquet, all to taste are free:  
Nay for this truth to Evidence, he Summons  
The whole Earth, the Kings, the Lords, the Commons:  
Being's Finite and Infinite doth  
To give attendance to this Heavenly Ball:  
Angels the Choir are made to usher in  
This Heavenly Banquet, and are taught to Sing  
Hosannas in the highest to their great King:  
The Stars declare the greatness of the Feast,  
And Guests Invite as far as from the East:  
The Sheep, that Beast of Innocence, does Blea  
That Heaven Mankind has sent some better Meat.  
The Grave itself no Ignorance could plead,  
At his command it did give up the Dead.  
'Twas only Man, Rebel the first and last,  
That this Mysterious truth did seem to blast:  
He, like the sullen Child when fallen down,  
Spurns at its taker up, and would not own  
Those Arms that save him from the fatal Ground.  
Such, such is Man, that will not hear, nor own  
What I to day to him, through Christ, have shown.   
FINIS.   

LONDON: Printed for W. B. in the Year 1688.