19. GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN

OD rest you merry, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ our Saviour

Who was born on Christmas-day,
To save our souls from Satan's fold
Which long time had gone astray.
And 'tis tidings of comfort and joy.

From him that is our Father

The Blessed Angel came,

And to the watchful shepherds brought
The tidings of the same;

That there was born in Bethlehem

The Son of God by name.
And 'tis, &c.

Fear not, then said Gods Angel,
Let nothing you affright,

This day is born a Saviour

Of a Virgin pure and bright;

He is able to advance you

And throw down Satan quite.
And 'tis, &c.

The shepherds at these tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm, and wind.

And straight they went to Bethlehem

The Son of God to find.

And 'tis, &c.

God rest you merry, Gentlemen

But when they came to Bethlehem
Where as our Saviour lay,
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen fed on hay,
Our blessed Lady kneeling by
Unto the Lord did pray.
And 'tis, &c.

At which with sudden gladness
The shepherds then were filled,
When as the Babe of Israel

Thus when they had beheld.
Before his mother thus to lie

The Scripture thus fulfilled.
And 'tis, &c.

Now let me all of you entreat
That are within this place,
That each dear loving Xian
The other would embrace.
For the happy time of Xmas

Is drawing on apace.
With its, &c.

This version is from a broadside in the British Museum; another version is given in Sandy's Christmas Carols (1833), of which the last verse is : Now to the Lord sing praises

All you within this place;

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace:

This holy tide of Xmas

All others doth deface.

With its, &c.

20.

REMEMBER, O THOU MAN

Rthou man, O thou man,

EMEMBER, O thou man,

Remember, O thou man,

Thy time is spent.

Remember, O thou man,

How thou camest to me than,
And I did what I can :

Therefore repent.

Remember Adam's fall,
O thou man, O thou man,
Remember, O thou man,
From Heaven to Hell.
Remember Adam's fall,
How we were condemnèd all

To Hell perpetual

There for to dwell.

Remember God's goodness,
O thou man, O thou man,
Remember God's goodness
And promise made.

Remember God's goodness,
How his only Son He sent
Our sins for to redress;
Be not afraid!

The Angels all did sing,
O thou man, O thou man,
The Angels all did sing

On Sion Hill;

Remember, O thou Man

The Angels all did sing
Praise to our heavenly king
And peace to man living

With right good will.

The shepherds amazèd was,
O thou man, O thou man,
The shepherds amazèd was,

To hear the Angels sing.

The shepherds amazèd was,
How this should come to pass,

That Christ our Messias
Should be our king.

To Bethlehem did they go,
O thou man, O thou man,
To Bethlehem did they go

This thing to see;

To Bethlehem did they go
To see whether it was so,
Whether Christ was born or no
To set us free.

As th' Angels before did say,
O thou man, O thou man,
As th' Angels before did say,
So it came to pass.

As th' Angels before did say
They found him wrapt in hay
In a manger where he lay,
So poor he was.

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21.

I

Remember, O thou Man

In Bethlehem was he born,
O thou man, O thou man,
In Bethlehem was he born

For mankind dear.

In Bethlehem was he born
For us that were forlorn,
And therefore took no scorn
Our sins to bear.

In a manger laid he was,
O thou man, O thou man,
In a manger laid he was

At this time present.

In a manger laid he was,
Between an ox and an ass
And all for our trespass;
Therefore repent.

Give thanks to God alway,
O thou man, O thou man,
Give thanks to God alway

With hearts most jolly.
Give thanks to God alway
Upon this blessed day,
Let all men sing and say
Holy, holy.

I SAW THREE SHIPS

SAW three ships come sailing in

On Christmas day, on Christmas day.

I saw three ships come sailing in

On Christmas day in the morning.