Upon Christ's Nativity

For some reason, I failed to publish this post previously, so here it is! It's never to late to celebrate Christ's birth, is it?

Upon Christ's Nativity

By: Rowland Watkyns

From three dark places Christ came forth this day:

From first His Father's bosom, where He lay,

Concealed till now; then from the typic law,

Where we His manhood but by figures saw;

And lastly from His mother's womb He came

To us, a perfect God and perfect Man.

Now in a manger lies the Eternal Word:

The Word He is, yet can no speech afford;

His is the Bread of Life, yet hungry lies;

The Living Fountain, yet for drink He cries;

He cannot help or clothe Himself at need

Who did the lilies clothe and ravens feed;

He is the Light of Lights, yet now doth shroud

His glory with our nature as a cloud.

He came to us a Little One, that we

Like little children might in malice be;

Little He is, and wrapped in clouts, lest He

Might strike us dead if clothed with Majesty.

Christ had four beds and those not soft nor brave:

The virgin's womb, the manger, cross and grave.

The angels sing this day, and so will I

That have more reason to be glad than they.