Blessed Redeemer, we do not meet this day
Of thy nitivity, as well we may,
With signs of joy and wonder, we do write
Thy name upon it, and seem with delight
To welcome its reutrn; we trim and dress
Our houses with all greens1 , and seem no less
Joyfully to entertain the happy news
Of Thy descent from Heaven, than once the Jews
Did thy descent from Olive2 ; we sing
Hosanna’s. at this birth day of our king
And surely tis well done, but tis not all
Christian from thee this day doth all
for somewhat more without which all the rest
Will proove but empty compliments3 at best
Thy Lord must be thy life: thou must be brought
Under his yoke and rule: thou must be wrought
Into his likeness: Christ must formed be
first in his virgin Mother, then in thee4 1 Reference to decorating traditions during the Christmas period. Back to text. 2 Reference to Palm Sunday:Jesus entering Jerusalem. Back to text. 3 Apart from Christ, everything else is emptiness. Without Christ as our Lord and as our life, the world will only bring us empty compliments; Or, unless we are truly devoted to Christ, our words are but empty compliments. Back to text. 4 A reference to Christ’s immaculate conception. Back to text.