Author: Robert Southwell, 1561-95 Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8 Appears in 2 hymnals Lyrics: 1 This little Babe so few days old
Is come to rifle Satan's fold;
All hell doth at his presence quake,
Though he himself for cold do shake;
For in this weak unarmed wise
The gates of hell he will surprise.
2 With tears he fights and wins the field
His naked breast stands for a shield;
His battering shot are babish cries,
His arrows looks of weeping eyes,
His martial ensigns Cold and Need,
And feeble Flesh his warrior's steed.
3 His camp is pitchèd in a stall,
His bulwark but a broken wall;
The crib his trench, haystalks his stakes;
Of shepherds he his muster makes;
And thus, as sure his foe to wound,
The angels' trumps alarum sound.
4 My soul, with Christ join thou in fight;
Stick to His tents that he hath pight.*
Within his crib is surest ward;
This little Babe will be thy Guard.
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
Then flit not from this heavenly Boy.
* pight=pitched, set up Topics: The Christian Year Christmastide Used With Tune: DAS NEUGEBORNE KINDELEIN
This Little Babe So Few Days Old
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