Sinners Redemption

Wherein is discribed the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Together with his Life on the Earth, and precious Death on the Cross for Mankind

For Christmas

Words: English Traditional
See: All You That Are To Mirth Inclined - Notes

Tune of, The Bleeding Heart.

Printed for G. Conyers, in Little-Brittain, ca 1662-1692.

From The Roxburghe Collection, Roxburghe 2.422

Source: The English Broadside Ballad Archive, University of California at Santa Barbara, Department of English, Director: Patricia Fumerton; EBBA ID: 30888.

ALL you that are to mirth inclind,
Consider well and bear in mind,
What our good God for us hath done,
In sending his beloved Son.

Let all your Songs and praises be,
Unto his heavenly Majesty,
And evermore amongst your Mirth,
Remember Christ our Saviours birth.

The five and twentieth of December,
Good cause have we for to remember,
In Bethelem upon this morn,
There was our blest Messias born.

The night before that happy tide,
The spotless Virgin and her guide,
Were long time seeking up and down,
To find them Lodging in the town.

And mark how all things came to pass,
The Inns and Lodgings so filled was,
That they could have no room at all,
But in a silly Oxes Stall.

This night the Virgin Mary mild,
Was safe deliverd of a Child,
According unto Heavens decree,
Mans sweet Salvation for to be.

Near Bethelem did Shepherds keep,
Their Herds and Flocks of feeding Sheep,
To whom Gods Angels did appear,
Which put the Shepherds in great fear.

Prepare and go the Angel said;
To Bethelem, be not afraid,
There shall you find this blessed Morn,
The Princely Babe sweet Jesus born.

WIth thankful hearts and joyful mind,
The shepherds went this babe to find,
And as the Heavenly Angel told,
They did our Saviour Christ behold.

Within a Manger was he laid,
The Virgin Mary by him stayd,
Attending on the Lord of Life.
Being both Mother, Maid, and Wife.

Three Eastern Wise-men from afar,
Directed by a glorious Star,
Came boldly on and made no stay,
Until they came where Jesus lay.

And being come unto the place,
Whereas the blest Messias was,
They humbly laid before his feet,
Their gifts of Gold and Odour sweet.

See how the Lord of Heaven and earth,
Shewd himself lowly in his birth,
A sweet Example of Mankind,
To learn to bear an humble mind.

No costly Robes nor rich attire,
Did Jesus Christ our Lord desire,
No Musick nor sweet harmony,
Till Glorious Angels from on high

Did in Melodious manner sing,
Praises unto our Heavenly King,
All Glory, Honour, Might and Power,
Be unto Christ our Saviour.

If Quires of Angels did rejoyce,
Well may Mankind with heart and voice,
Sing praises to the God of Heaven,
That unto us his Son hath given.

Moreover let us every one,
Call unto mind and think upon,
His righteous Life and how he dyd,
To have poor Sinners justified.

Suppose O Man, if thou shouldst lye,
In Prison strong condemnd to dye,
And that no friend upon the Earth,
Could Ransome thee from cruel Death.

Except you can some party find,
That for thy sake will be so kind,
His own hearts blood for to dispence,
And loose his life in thy defence,

Such was the love of Christ when we
Were lost to Hell perpetually,
To save them from the Gulph of woe,
Himself much pain did undergoe.

Whilst in this World he did remain,
He never spent one hour in vain,
In Fasting and in Prayer Divine,
He daily spent away the time,

He in the Temple daily taught,
And many wonders strange he wrought,
He gave the blind their perfect sight,
And made the Lame to walk upright.

He curd the Lepers of their Evils,
And by his power he cast out Devils,
He raised Lazarus from the Grave,
And to the sick their Health he gave.

But yet for all these wondors wrought,
The Jews his dire destruction sought,
The traytor Judas was the Man,
That with a kiss betrayd him than.

Then was he led to Justice-Hall
Like one despisd amost them all,
And had the sentence given that he
Should suffer Death upon a tree,

Unto the Execution place,
They brought him on with much disgrace.
With vile reproachful taunts and scorns,
They Crownd him with a wreath of thorns.

Then to the Cross through hands and feet,
They naild our blest redeemer sweet.
And further to augment his smart,
With bloody Spear they piercd his heart.

Thus have you seen and heard aright,
The love of Christ the Lord of Life,
And how he shed his precious blood,,
Only to do us sinners good.

Editor's Note: There are a number of carols on this website with similar titles or lyrical themes, and some of which are derived from a single source. See: All You That Are To Mirth Inclined - Notes.

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