The Sinners Redemption:
Wherein is described the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Together with his
Life on the Earth, and precious Death on the Cross for Mankind.
To the [T]une of, My Bleeding Heart.
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ALL you that are to Mirth inclin'd,
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Consider well and bear in mind,
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What our good God for us hath done,
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In sending his beloved Son.
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Let all our Songs and praises be
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Unto his Heavenly Majesty;
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And evermore amongst our Mirth,
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Remember Christ our Saviour's 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 this Morn,
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There was our blest Messias born.
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The Night before that happy tide,
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The spotless Virgin and her guide,
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Were long time seeking up and down,
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To find them lodging in the Town.
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And mark how all things came to pass,
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The Inns and Lodgings so filled was,
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That they could have no Room at all,
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But in a silly Oxe's 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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Near Bethelem did Shepherds keep
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Their Herds and Flocks of feeding Sheep
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To whom Gods Angels did appear,
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Which put the Shepherds in great fear.
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Prepare and go, the Angel said,
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To Bethelem be not afraid,
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There shall you see this blessed Morn.
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The Princely Babe, sweet Jesus born.
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With thankful hearts and joyfull mind,
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The Shepherds went this 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 Eastern 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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Until they came where Jesus lay.
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And being come unto 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 Odour sweet.
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See how the Lord of Heaven and Earth,
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Shew'd himself lowly in his Birth:
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A sweet Example for Mankind,
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To learn to bear an humble Mind.
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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 an high,
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Did in melodious manner sing,
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Praises unto our Heavenly King,
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All Honour, Glory, Might and Power,
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Be unto Christ our Saviour.
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If Choirs of Angels did rejoyce,
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Well may Mankind with heart and 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 everyone
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Call unto mind, and think upon
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His Righteous Life, and how he dy'd,
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To have poor sinners justified.
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Suppose, O Man, that thou should'st lye
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In prison strong, condemn'd to dye,
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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 you can some party find,
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That for your sake will be so kind,
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His own hearts blood for to dispence,
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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 Gulph of woe,
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Himself much pain did undergoe.
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Whilst in this World he did remain,
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He never spent one hour in vain,
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In Fasting and in Prayer Divine,
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He daily spent away the time.
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He in the Temple daily taught,
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And many wonders strange he wrought,
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He gave the Blind their perfect sight,
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And made the Lame to walk upright.
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He cur'd the Leper of their Evils,
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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,
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The Jews his dire destruction sought:
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The Traytor Judas was the Man,
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That with a Kiss betray'd him then,
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Then was he lead to Justice-Hall,
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Like one despis'd 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 the Execution-place,
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They brought him on with much disgrace;
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With vile reproachfull taunts and scorns,
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They crown'd him with a wreath of Thorns.
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Then to the Cross through hands and feet,
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They nail'd our blest Redeemer sweet:
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And further to augment his smart,
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With bloody Spear they pierc'd his Heart.
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Thus have you seen and heard aright,
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The Love of Christ the Lord of Might;
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And how he shed his precious Bloud,
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Only to do us Sinners good.
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