¶ A Christmas Caroll of the birth of Christ vpon the tune of King Salomon.[E142]
Chap. 30.
1
Was not Christ our Sauiour
sent to vs fro God aboue?
not for our good behauiour,
but onely of his mercie and loue.
If this be true, as true it is,
truely in deede,
great thanks to God to yeeld for this,
then had we neede.
2
This did our God for very troth,
to [traine] to him the soule of man,
and iustly to performe his oth
to Sara and to Abram than,
That through his seed all nations should
most blessed bee:
As in due time performe he would,
as now wee see.[1]
3
Which woonderously is brought to pas,
and in our sight alredie donne,
by sending as his promise was
(to comfort vs) his onely sonne,
Euen Christ (I meane) that virgins child,
in Bethlem[2] borne,
that Lambe of God, that Prophet mild,
with crowned thorne.
4
Such was his loue to saue vs all,
from dangers of the curse of God,
that we stood in by Adams fall,
and by our owne deserued rod,
That through his blood and holie name
who so beleeues,[3]
and flie from sinne and abhors the same,[E143]
free mercie he geeues.
5
For these glad newes this feast doth bring:
to God the Sonne and holy Ghost
let man giue thanks, reioice, and sing,
from world to world, from [cost] to cost:
for all good gifts so many waies
that God doth send,
let vs in Christ giue God the praies,
till life shall end.
T. Tusser.
[6]
At Christmas be merie and thankfull withall,
And feast thy poore neighbors, the great with the small,
Yea, all the yeere long, to the poore let vs giue,
Gods blessing to folow vs while wee doo liue.
[1] all flesh should see. 1577.