| W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895. | | | | A Hymn on the Nativity of My Saviour | | Ben Jonson (1572–1637) |
| | | I SING the birth was born to-night, | |
| The Author both of life and light; | |
| The angels so did sound it. | |
| And like the ravished shepherds said, | |
| Who saw the light and were afraid, | 5 |
| Yet searched, and true they found it. | |
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| The Son of God, the eternal King, | |
| That did us all salvation bring, | |
| And freed the soul from danger; | |
| He whom the whole world could not take, | 10 |
| The Word which heaven and earth did make, | |
| Was now laid in a manger. | |
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| The Father’s wisdom willed it so, | |
| The Son’s obedience knew no No, | |
| Both wills were in one stature: | 15 |
| And as that wisdom had decreed, | |
| The Word was now made flesh indeed, | |
| And took on Him our nature. | |
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| What comfort by Him do we win, | |
| Who made Himself the price for sin, | 20 |
| To make us heirs of Glory! | |
| To see this Babe all innocence, | |
| A martyr born in our defence; | |
| Can man forget this story? | | | | |
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