Twelve Points
For Christmas
Words: English Traditional
Music: English Traditional
Meter: 88 88
Source: G. Walters, A Good Christmas Box (Dudley: G. Walters, 1847; reprinted Ashley: Michael Raven, 2007), pp. 37-38.
My gift is small, a dozen of points,
Wherein I'd have you knit ye,
And keep each point in its due joint;
So pure and just your life shall be.
The first point is, see that you keep,
And every night before you sleep,
See that you ask God's forgiveness,
For all your sins and wickedness.
The second is, that I say,
Look, when thou seest the cheerful day,
Rise up and praise the God of might,
Who hath defended thee this night.
The third point that I thee require,
Down on thy bended knees desire.
The god of heaven may be your stay,
For to preserve you night and day.
The fourth point bids them to beware,
And to avoid all subtile snares;
For satan with his crafty pow'r,
Seeketh men's souls for to devour.
The fifth point doth good counsel give,
Wear it for ever while you live,
And keep your conscience firm and pure,
Then God will bless you to be sure.
The sixth point that I'd have thee will,
Is for to use no subtile skill;
Now for to work thy neighbors woe,
As sure, take heed, and not to error and not do so.
The seventh saith, defraud no man,
But deal as justly as you can,
The widow and the fatherless defend,
Then God will bless you in the end.
The eighth forbids thee more or less,
For to avoid all drunkenness;
For drunkenness is abhor'd of God,
Of whom he lays his heavy rod.
The ninth saith, fornication fly,
The wicked harlot will make thee dry,
Thy body will consume I say,
And bring thy soul unto decay.
The tenth saith thus, do not
forswear,
Faults witness against no man bear;
Let no pretensions sway thy mind.
The eyes of justice for to blind.
The eleventh says, do not desire,
Thy neighbor's goods for to require:
The tenth commandment still observe,
So shalt thou thrive and never starve.
The twelfth says fear the God of might,
And truly serve him day and night:
Obey the King as 'tis thy part,
To thy country bear a faithful heart.
When these thy points you have possest,
That is this night before you rest,
Keep well each point in its degree,
So knit them fast, and guarded be.
Notes
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Twelve Points (My gift is small, a dozen of points) (this page)
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