As I in hoary winter's night
Stood shivering in the snow
Surprised I was with sudden heat
Which made my heart to glow
And lifting up a fearful eye
To view what fire was near
A pretty babe all burning bright
Did in the air appear
Who, scorched with excessive heat
Such floods of tears did shed
As though His floods should quench His flames
Which with His tears were bred
"Alas!" quoth He, "but newly born
In fiery heats I fry
Yet none approach to warm their hearts
Or feel my fire but I!"
My faultless breast the furnace is
The fuel, wounding thorns
Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke
The ashes, shames and scorns
The fuel Justice lay on
And Mercy blows the coals
The metal in this furnace wrought
Are men's defiled souls
For which, as now on fire I am
To work them to their good
So will I melt into a bath
To wash them in my blood
With this He vanished out of sight
And swiftly shrunk away
And straight I called unto mind
That it was Christmas Day
