CHRISTMAS DAY by GEORGE WITHER

AS on the night before this happy morn,
A blessed angel unto shepherds told,
Where (in a stable) He was poorly born,
Whom nor the earth nor heaven of heavens can hold:
Through Bethlehem rung
This news at their return:
Yea, angels sung
That God with us was born;
And they made mirth because we should not mourn.
This angel-carol sing we, then,
To God on high all glory be,
For peace on earth bestoweth He,
And showeth favour unto men.

This favour Christ vouchsafed for our sake;
To buy us thrones, He in a manger lay,
Our weakness took, that we His strength might take;
And was disrobed that He might us array;
Our flesh He wore,
Our sin to wear away;
Our curse He bore,
That we escape it may;
And wept for us that we might sing for aye.
With angels, therefore, sing again,
To God on high all glory be;
For peace on earth bestoweth He,
And showeth favour unto men.

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