The Burning Babe

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, scorch'd with excessive heat, such floods of tears did shed As though his floods should quench his flames which with his tears were fed 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 shame and scorns The fuel justice layeth 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 call'd unto mind that it was Christmas day