The Sinners Redemption.
Wherein is described the blessed Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, toge-
ther with his life on earth, and his precious death on the Crosse for
Mankind.
To the tune of, The bleeding heart. Or, In Creet, etc.
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ALL you that are to mirth inclind,
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Consider well, and beare in mind,
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What our good God hath for us done,
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In sending his beloved Son,
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For to redeeme our soules from thrall,
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This was the Saviour of us all.
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Let all our songs of praises be
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Unto his heavenly Majesty,
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And evermore amongst your mirth,
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Remember Christ our Saviours birth
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The five and twentieth of December,
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Good cause have we for to remember,
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In Bethelem upon that morne,
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There was our blest Messias borne.
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The night before that happy tide,
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The spotlesse Virgin and her Guide,
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Went long time seeking up and downe
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To find their lodging in the towne.
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But mark how all things came to passe
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The Inns and lodgings so filld was,
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That they could have no roome at all,
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But in a silly Oxe his stall.
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This night the Virgin Mary mild,
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Was safe delivered of a Child,
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According unto heavens decree,
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Mans sweet salvation for to be.
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Neer Bethelem did Shepheards keepe,
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Their herds and flocks of feeding sheep
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To them Gods Angels did appeare,
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Which put the shepheards in great fear
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Prepare and goe the Angel said,
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To Bethelem, be not afraid,
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There shall you find this blessed morne
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The Princely Babe sweet Jesus born.
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With thankfull heart and joyful mind,
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The shepheards went the Babe to find,
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And as the heavenly Angel told,
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They did our Saviour Christ behold.
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Within a manger was he laid,
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The Virgin Mary by him staid,
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Attending on the Lord of life,
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Being both Mother, Maid, and Wife.
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Three Easterne Wise men from afar,
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Directed by a glorious star,
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Came boldly on and made no stay,
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Untill they came where Jesus lay.
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And being come into the place,
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Whereas the blest Messias was,
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They humbly laid before his feet,
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Their gifts of gold and odours sweet
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See how the Lord of heaven and earth,
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Shewd himselfe lowly in his birth.
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A sweet example for Mankind
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To learn to beare an humble mind.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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NO costly robes nor rich attire,
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Did Jesus Christ our Lord desire,
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No musick nor sweet harmony,
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Till glorious Angels from on hye,
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Did in melodious manner sing
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Praises unto our heavenly King,
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All Honor, Glory, Might and Power,
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Be unto Christ for evermore.
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If quiers of Angels did rejoyce,
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Well may Mankind with heart & voice
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Sing praises to the God of Heaven,
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That unto us his Son hath given.
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Moreover let us every one,
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Call unto mind and think upon
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His righteous life, and how hee dyd
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To have poore sinners justifid.
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Suppose O man that thou shouldst lieIn prison strong condemnd to die,
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And that no friend upon the earth,
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Could ransome thee from cruel death:
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Except thou canst some partie find,
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That for thy sake will be so kind,
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His owne hearts bloud for to dispense,
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And lose his life in thy defence:
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Such was the love of Christ when we
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Were lost to hell perpetually,
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To save us from the gulfe of woe,
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Himselfe much paines did undergoe.
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While in this world he did remaine,
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He never spent an houre in vaine,
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In fasting and in prayer divine,
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He daily spent away his time.
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He in their Temples daily taught,
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And many wonders strange he wrought:He gave the blind their perfect sight,
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And made the lame to goe upright.
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He curd the Lepers of their evills,
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And by his power he cast out devils,
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He raised Lazarus from the grave,
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And to the sick their health he gave.
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But yet for all these wonders wrought:The Jews his dear destruction sought
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The traytor Judas was the man,That with a kisse betrayd him than.
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Then was he led to judgment hall,
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Like one despisd amongst them all,
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And had the sentence given, that he
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Should suffer death upon a tree.
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Unto his execution place,
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They brought him on with much disgrace,
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With vile reproachfull taunts & scorns
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They crownd him with a wreath of thorns.
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Then to the crosse through hands & feet,
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They nayld our blest Redeemer sweet,
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And further to augment his smart.
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With bloody spear they piercd his heart
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Thus have you seene and heard aright,
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The love of Christ, the Lord of Might,
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And how he shed his preciorus bloud,
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Only to doe us sinners good:
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And to redeeme our soules from thrall,
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This was the Saviour of us all.
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