From heaven high I come to you, I bring a story good and new: Of goodly news so much I bring, Of it I must both speak and sing.

To you a child is come this morn, A child of chosen maiden born, A little babe so sweet and mild Your joy and bliss shall be that child.

'Tis the Lord Christ, our very G.o.d.

He will you ease of all your load; He'll be himself your Saviour sure And from all sinning make you pure.

He brings you all the news so glad Which G.o.d the Father ready had-- That you shall in his heavenly house Live now and evermore with us.

Take heed then to the token sure-- The crib, the swaddling clothes so poor: The infant you shall find laid there Who all the world doth hold and bear.

Hence let us all be gladsome then, And with the shepherd-folk go in To see what G.o.d to us hath given With his dear honoured Son from heaven.

Take note, my heart; see there! look low: What lies then in the manger so?

Whose is the lovely little child?

It is the darling Jesus-child.

Hail, n.o.ble guest in humble guise, Poor sinners who didst not despise, And com'st to me in misery!

My thoughts must all be thanks to thee!

Ah Lord! the maker of us all!

How hast thou grown so poor and small That there thou liest on withered gra.s.s, The supper of the ox and a.s.s!

Were the world wider many fold, And decked with gems and cloth of gold, 'T were far too mean and narrow all To be for thee a cradle small!

The silk and velvet that are thine Are rough hay, linen not too fine; Thereon thou, king so rich and great, Liest as if in heavenly state.

And this hath therefore pleased thee, To make this truth right plain to me, That all the world's power, honour, wealth Are nothing to thy heart or health.

Ah, little Christ! my heart's poor shed Would make thee a soft, little bed: Rest there as in a lowly shrine, And make that heart for ever thine,

That so I always gladsome be, Ready to dance, and sing to thee The lullaby thou lovest best, With sweetest hymn for dearest guest.

Glory to G.o.d on highest throne Who gave to us his only Own!

For this the angel troop sings in A New Year with gladsome din.

IV.

ANOTHER CHRIST-SONG.

From heaven the angel-troop come near And to the shepherds plain appear: A tender little child, they cry, In a rough manger lies hard by,

In Bethlehem, David's town of old, As Prophet Micah has foretold; 'Tis the Lord Jesus Christ, I wis, Who of you all the saviour is.

And ye may well break out in mirth That G.o.d is one with you henceforth; For he is born your flesh and blood-- Your brother is the eternal Good.

He will nor can from you go hence; Put you in him your confidence.

However many you a.s.sail, Defy them--He can never fail!

What can death do to you, or sin?

The true G.o.d is to you come in.

Let h.e.l.l and Satan raging go-- The Son of G.o.d's your comrade now!

At last you must approval win, For you are now become G.o.d's kin: For this go thanking G.o.d alway, Happy and patient every day. Amen.

III. EPIPHANY.

Herod, why dreadest thou a foe Because the Christ comes born below?

He seeks no mortal kingdom thus, But brings his kingdom down to us.

After the star the wise men go: That light the true light them did show; They signify with presents three This child--G.o.d, Man, and King to be.

In Jordan baptism he did take, This Lamb of G.o.d, for our poor sake; Thus he who never did a sin Hath washed us clean both out and in.

A miracle straightway befell: Six pots of stone--they saw, who tell-- Of water full, which, changing, heard And turned to red wine at his word.

Praise, honour, thanks to thee be said, Jesus, born of the holy maid!

With the Father and the Holy Ghost, Now, and henceforward, evermore. Amen.

IV. EASTER.

I.

Death held our Lord in prison For sin that did undo us; But he hath up arisen And brought our life back to us.

Therefore must we gladsome be, Praise our G.o.d, and thankful be, And sing out halleluja! Halleluja!

No man yet Death overcame-- All sons of men were helpless; Sin for this was all to blame, For no one yet was guiltless.

So Death came that early hour, Over us took up the power, Us held in's kingdom captive. Halleluja!

Jesus Christ, G.o.d's only Son, Into our place descending, Away with all our sins hath done, And therewith from Death rending Right and might, made him a j.a.pe, Left him nothing but Death's shape: His ancient sting--he has lost it: Halleluja!

That was a right wondrous strife When Death in Life's grip wallowed: Off victorious came Life, Death he hath upswallowed.

Scripture itself has told us that-- How one Death the other ate:[3]

Now is Death become a laughter. Halleluja!

[Footnote 3: Certain eastern tales of rival enchanters seem to have been present to Luther's mind when he thought of our Lord as the Death of Evil devouring the Death of Good. I have translated very closely.]

Here is the true Easter-lamb, That G.o.d said must be shared, Which up on the cross's stem In Love's fire is prepared.

His blood on our door-post lies; Faith holds that before Death's eyes: The destroyer dares not touch us: Halleluja!

So we keep high feast of grace!

Hearty the joy and glee is That shines on us from his face: The sun himself, ah! he is, Who, by his brightness divine, Through and through makes our hearts shine: The night of our sins is over. Halleluja!

We eat--and well so we fare-- True Easter cakes sans leaven; For th' old leaven shall not share In the new word from heaven.