| Come all you faithful Christians that dwell here on earth,
come celebrate the morning of our dear Saviour's birth. This is the happy morning, this is the blessed morn: to save our souls from ruin, the Son of God was born. Behold the angel Gabriel in scripture it is said, did with his holy message come to the virgin maid: 'Hail, blest among all women!', he thus did greet her then, 'Lo, thou shalt be the mother of the saviour of all men.' Her time being accomplish'd, she came to Bethlehem, and then was safe deliver'd of the saviour of all men. No princely pomp attended him, his honours were but small, a manger was his cradle, his bed an ox's stall. Now to him that is ascended let all our praises be; may we his steps then follow and he our pattern be; so when our lives are ended, we all may hear him call: 'Come, souls, receive the kingdom prepared for you all.' |