Lord, when the wise men came from far,
Led to thy cradle by a star,
Then did the shepherds too rejoice,
Instructed by thy angel’s voice.
Blest were the wise men in their skill,
And shepherds in their harmless will.

Wise men, in tracing Nature’s laws,
Ascend unto the highest cause;
Shepherds with humble fearfulness
Walk safely, though their light be less.
Though wise men better know the way,
It seems no honest heart can stray.

There is no merit in the wise
But love, the shepherds’ sacrifice.
Wise men, all ways of knowledge passed,
To the shepherds’ wonder come at last.
To know can only wonder breed,
And not to know is wonder’s seed.

Source: From “Hymn” by Sidney Godolphin (1610–1643)

The angel’s message meant that fear’s grip on human hearts was going to have to give way.