Poetical recreations consisting of original poems, songs, odes, &c. with several new translations : in two parts / part I, occasionally written by Mrs. Jane Barker, part II, by several gentlemen of the universities, and others.

ON Christmas-day.

O God! who art most Excellent and Wise! I see the Morning Beams break through the Skies; And with great admiration view the Light Which dissipates Nights darkness from my sight. But with a greater wonder I look on Those bright Illuminations, which thy Son Hath brought to light by's Incarnation. Look and admire I may, but can't express Such heights and depths of Love, in Prose or Verse: 'Tis beyond th' art of Rhet'rick to display, What Chris••ians solemnize this F••stal day. Two sacred Words, are an Epi••ome Of what's effected in this Mystery, Redemption and Salvation; heav'nly Letters! Which freed fall'n Man from th' Bondage of his Fetters: Lust and Ambition, Avarice and Fraud, Was then his Master, and his Passions Lord:

Till Christ, his great Redeemer, broke the Chain, And placed him in Paradise again. O Love most infinite! O Love divine! This Mystery of Love was truly thine; For neither Men nor Angels could atone Th'Almighty's Wrath, but God and Man in one: Wherefore Divinity submits to be Lodg'd in a Vessel of Humanity. How ioyfully ••he heav'nly Host above, Proclaim to Man, glad tydings of thy Love? And shall Mankind so much ungrateful be, Or rather sink into stupidity, As not with equal Ioy this Message hear, And all due Rev'rence to their Saviour bear? And finally, Let's end these Festal days, With sweet Doxologies, and Songs of Praise.