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 unarmèd wise The gates of hell he will surprise.
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.
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.
My soul, with Christ join thou in fight; Stick to the 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.