THE LORD AT FIRST HAD ADAM MADE


The Lord at first had Adam made
Out of the dust and clay,
And in his nostrils breathed life,
E’en as the Scriptures say.
And then in Eden’s Paradise
He placed him to dwell,
That he within it should remain,
To dress and keep it well.

Chorus
Now let good Christians all begin
An holy life to live,
And to rejoice and merry be,
For this is Christmas Eve.

And thus within the garden he
Commanded was to stay;
And unto him in commandment
These words the Lord did say:
The fruit that in the garden grows
To thee shall be for meat,
Except the tree in the midst thereof
Of which thou shall not eat. Chorus

For in the day thou dost it touch
Or dost it then come nigh,
And if that thou dost eat thereof,
Then thou shalt surely die.
But Adam he did take no heed
To that same only thing,
But did transgress God’s holy laws,
And sore was wrapp't in sin. Chorus

Now mark the goodness of the Lord,
Which He to mankind bore;
His mercy soon He did extend,
Lost man for to restore:
And then, for to redeem our souls
From death, and hell, and thrall,
He said his own dear Son should come
The Saviour of us all. Chorus

Which promise now is brought to pass:
Christians believe it well:
And by the coming of God’s Son,
We are redeem'd from Hell.
So if we truly do believe,
And do the thing that’s right,
Then by His merits we at least
Shall live in Heaven bright. Chorus

Now, for the benefits that we
Enjoy from Heaven above,
Let us renounce all wickedness,
And life in perfect love.
Then shall we do Christ's own command,
Even his written word,
And when we die, in Heaven we shall
Enjoy our living Lord. Chorus

And now the tide is nigh at hand,
In which our Saviour came;
Let us rejoice and merry be
In keeping of the same;
Let’s feed the poor and hungry sort,
And such as do it crave;
And when we die, in Heaven be sure
Our reward we shall have. Chorus



(Contributed by Frank DiSalle - December 2003)