Salvation is rather an objective external thing than an inward and spiritual process. A man has but to pray devoutly to the dear Mother and Child, and they will bring him to the heavenly court. It is not so much personal sin as an evil influence in humanity, that is cured by the great event of Christmas:—
“It was dark, it was dim,
For men that levëd in gret sin;
Lucifer was all within,
Till on the Cristmes day.[50]
There was weping, there was wo,
For every man to hell gan go.
It was litel mery tho,
Till on the Cristmes day.”[{32}]
But now that Christ is born, and man redeemed, one may be blithe indeed:—
“Jhesus is that childës name,
Maide and moder is his dame,
And so oure sorow is turned to game.
Gloria tibi domine.
* * * * *
Now sitte we downe upon our knee,
And pray that child that is so free;
And with gode hertë now sing we
Gloria tibi domine.”[{33}]
Sometimes the religious spirit almost vanishes, and the carol becomes little more than a gay pastoral song:—
“The shepard upon a hill he satt;
He had on him his tabard and his hat,
His tar-box, his pipe, and his flagat;
His name was called Joly Joly Wat,
For he was a gud herdës boy.
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
* * * * *