§. 2.

O Blessed Jesus, whose Incarnation was so sublime a mystery, that, to usher in a matter of such extraordinary concernment to the world, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God, unto a City of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose Name was Joseph, of the House of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary[1]:

I magnify thy Glorious Name[2],

For making thy Spirits Ministers[3] unto them who shall be Heirs of Salvation[4].

As the Angels and Arch-Angels praise Thee[5],

the Cherubim[6] and Seraphim adore Thee[7],

and all the heavenly Host bow down unto Thee,

not only fitting upon thy Throne,

but even at the lowest Degree of thy Foot-stool[8],

wherunto thou hast voluntarily humbled thyself in thine Incarnation:

So, let me, I beseech thee,

in concurrence with the Celestial Choir,

celebrate this Mystery of thy Love on Earth,

& worship the Majesty of thy Glory in Heaven,

till my Life become Angelical

by rejoicing in Thee and in Thy Salvation[9].

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[1] This event is recorded in Luke 1:26-38

[2] 2 Samuel 7:26 (KJV) “And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.” Jesus was the one who established the house of David forever.

[3] Psalm 104:3–4 (KJV)  “Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: ⁴ Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.”

[4] Hebrews 1:7 (KJV)

⁷ And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Hebrews 1:14 (KJV)

¹⁴ Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

[5] Luke 2:8–14 (KJV)  “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

[6] Psalm 80:1 (KJV) “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.”

[7] Isaiah 6:1–3 (KJV) “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. ² Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. ³ And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

[8] Isaiah 66:1 (KJV)  “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?”

[9] A theme in the Scripture is that we become conformed to what we worship. This is both a positive and a negative change (whether changed into the image of Christ or the image an idol). That prayer is that I become fully conformed to the status of one who without reservation worships God for what he has done in Jesus Christ.