A new dialog between the angel of God, & the shepherds in the field concerning…A newe dialog betwene thangell of God, & the shepherdes in the felde concernynge…
A new dialog between the angel of God, & the shepherds in the field concerning the nativity and birth of Jesus Christ our Lord & Saviour : no less godly than sweet and pleasant to read / lately compiled by T.B.A newe dialog betwene thangell of God, & the shepherdes in the felde concernynge the natiuite and birthe of Jesus Christ our Lorde & Sauyoure : no lesse godlye than swete and pleasante to reade / lately compyled by T.B.
Thomas Becon 1512–1567London : Imprinted by me John Daye dwelling in Sepulchres parish a little above Holborn conduit, 1547?London : Imprynted by me John Daye dwellyng in Sepulchres paryshe a lytle aboue Holbourne conduit, 1547?
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶ A new Dialog between the angel of God, & the Shepherds in the field, concerning the nativity and birth of Jesus Christ our Lord, & Saviour, no less Godly than sweet and pleasant to read, lately compiled by T. B.
¶ A newe Dialog betwene thangell of God, & the Shepherdes in the felde, concernynge the natiuite and birthe of Iesus Christ our Lorde, & Sauyoure, no lesse Godlye than swete and pleasante to reade, lately compyled by T. B.
¶ Behold I bring you tidings of great Joy, that shall come to all the people. For unto you is borne this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
¶ Beholde I brynge you tydynges of greate Ioye, that shall come to all the people. For vn to you is borne this daye in the Cytie of Dauid, a Sauioure, whiche is Christ the Lorde.
A child is borne for our sake & a Son is given unto us, upon his shoulder doth the kingdom lye, and he is called with his own name, even, the wondrous giver of counsel, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.
A chylde is borne for our sake & a Sonne is gyuen vnto vs, vpon his shulder doth the kyngdome lye, and he is called wt his owne name, euen, the wonderous gyuer of councell, the myghty God, ye euerlastinge Father, the Prynce of peace.
The angel speaketh.
A Sweet message
To every age1
From God so sage
Is given to me,2
Which to declare
Both near and fare
To exclude care
Glad would I be.3
¶ Men have full long
Throw Satan's wrong4
In bondage strong
Ben detained,
No liberty
To make them free
Found could there be
Since they sinned.5
¶ In Adams fall
They became thrall6
Both great and small
Remediless,7
Through Satan's lure
⟨image 3⟩They are unpure8
Drowned all sure9
In wickedness.
¶ So that of right10
Before God's sight11
That lord almighty
Damned are they all,12
Without excuse
God may refuse13
Such as ensue
Works ethnical.
¶ Notwithstanding
God pitting14
Their back sliding
And grievous chance,
Of his mercy
Will now freely15
Unto glory
Them all advance.
¶ This gentle father
In no manner
Will consider16
Their great offence17
Freely freely18⟨image 3⟩Shall they truly
Be brought clearly19
To his presence.
¶ Of his own grace20
Before mens face
This come to pass21
Shall now plainly,22
By Christ h•s son
Which is come down23
For their ransom
The death to dye.
¶ He undoubted24
Undeserved
Was promised
To men mortal,25
Of God above
For very love
To their behove26
Which were full thrall.27
¶ Of a maid pure
So to endure28
Is he borne sure
Without mans seed.29
To purify30⟨image 4⟩Mens villainy31
Which wickedly
They wrought indeed.
¶ This child alone
Sent from Gods throne32
All kind of moan33
Shall put away.
Who so embrace
His loving face
Shall want no grace
Nor yet decay.
¶ He is the king
To whose bidding34
Everything35
Obeyeth humbly,
He is the lord
By whose concord
All things restored
Shall be plainly.
¶ He is the peace
Uvhiche shall release
All our disease
And grievous pain,
He is the stay
⟨image 4⟩He is the way36
By whom we may
Glory obtain.
¶ He is the truth
Uviche doth all ruth
Such as ensueth37
Clean put away,
He is the life
By whom all strife38
Is no more rife
But soon decay.
¶ He is the Guide39
On every side
Uvhiche at each tide40
Doth his people save,
He is the health
Of whom all wealth41
Uvithouten stealth
Men ought to crave.
¶ He is the light
That is so bright
In all mens sight42
To show the way,
He is the Rock43⟨image 5⟩If that we knock44
He will unlock
And help us aye.45
¶ He is the lover
The saviour46
The mediator
Of the faithful47
If that we call
Though we be thrall
He will us all
Unto him pull.
¶ Pleasures many
Treasures plenty
Shall men truly
Of him receive,
Who so that will
Come him until48
Shall have his fill
Without deceive.
Thangell speketh.
A Swete message
To euery age1
From God so sage
Is gyuen to me,2
Whiche to declare
Both nere and fare
To exclude care
Glad wolde I be.3
¶ Men haue full longe
Throwe Satans wronge4
In bondage stronge
Ben detayned,
No lyberte
To make them fre
Founde coulde there be
Syns they synned.5
¶ In Adames fall
They became thrall6
Both great and small
Remediles,7
Throughe Satans lure
⟨image 3⟩They are vnpure8
Drowned all sure9
In wyckednes.
¶ So that of ryght10
Before Godes syght11
That lorde almyght
Damned are they all,12
Without excuse
God maye refuse13
Suche as ensuse
Workes ethnicall.
¶ Notwithstandyng
God pyteyng14
Theyr backe slydyng
And greuous chaunce,
Of his mercy
Wyll nowe frely15
Unto glory
Them all auaunce.
¶ This gentle father
In no manner
Wyll consyder16
Theyr great offence17
¶ These joyful news1
Which Satan ruyse
Without excuse
God commanded
That I, the angel
⟨image 5⟩Should show and tell2
To them that well
Are disposed.3
¶ The obstinate4
Receive this rate
Early or late
Will by no wise.
The simple therefore5
Now evermore6
To teach this lore
Will I devise.7
¶ Behold I see
In this country
Of small degree
Shepherds watching,
Which now this night
With all their might
Keep in their sight8
Their flocks resting.
¶ From all pride far
These simple men are
Therefore declare
To them will I,
Gods good pleasure
⟨image 6⟩That this joy sure
May in them dure
Eternally.
¶ Upon this land
Free or yet bond
By them to stand
I will now plain,
And tell them true
These tiding snewe
Which shall ensue
Shortly certain.
¶ What doth it mean
That on this green
As persons lean
They look dismayed,
This mighty light9
That shine so bright
Now in their sight
Make them afraid.
¶ These ioyfull newes1
Whiche Satan ruyse
Without excuse
God commaunded
That I, thangell
⟨image 5⟩Sulde shewe and tell2
To them that well
Are dysposed.3
¶ The obstynate4
Receyue this rate
Earely or late
Wyll by no wyse.
The symple therfore5
Nowe euermore6
To teache this lore
Wyll I deuise.7
¶ Beholde I se
In this contre
Of small degre
Shepherdes watchyng,
Whiche nowe this nyght
With all theyr myght
Kepe in theyr syght8
Theyr flockes reastyng.
¶ From all pryde farre
These symple men are
Therfore declare
To them wyll I,
Gods good pleasure
⟨image 6⟩That this ioye sure
Maye in them dure
Eternally.
¶ Upon this londe
Fre or yet bonde
By them to stonde
I wyll nowe playne,
And tell them true
These tydynge snewe
Whiche shall ensewe
Shortly certayne.
¶ What doth it mene
That on this grene
As personnes lene
They loke dismayde,
This myghtye lyght9
That shyne so bryght
Nowe in theyr syght
Make them afrayde.
1Esa. lii, Rom, x, John̄: xii, Ose, xiii, i. Cor, xv, Heb, ii,Esa. lii, Rom, x, Iohn̄: xii, Ose, xiii, i. Cor, xv, Heb, ii,
¶ The Shepherds speak.
O Lord God what work have we here?
Uvhat meaneth this marvellous great light
The Element was never so clear
That ever we saw in any night
Good lord save us and all our sheep
⟨image 6⟩That none of us perish at all,
Give us grace ever well to keep
That we have charge of both great and small.
Hrom the wolf that ravening beast
Defend our sheep, Lord we pray thee
And give us all this night good rest
For of this light sore afraid are we.
¶ The Shepherds speake.
O Lorde God what worke haue we here?
Uvhat meaneth this meruelous great lyghte
The Element was neuer so clere
That euer we sawe in any nyghte
Good lorde saue vs and all our shepe
⟨image 6⟩That none of vs peryshe at all,
Gyue vs grace euer well to kepe
That we haue charge of both great and smal.
Hrom the wolffe that rauenyng beaste
Defende our shepe, Lorde we praye the
And gyue vs all this nyghte good reaste
For of this lyght sore afrayde are we.
Obeyeth humbly,
He is the lorde
By whose concorde
All thynges restorde
Shall be playnly.
¶ He is the peace
Uvhiche shall release
All our disease
And greuous payne,
He is the staye
If that we call
Thoughe we be thrall
He wyll vs all
Unto hym pull.
¶ Pleasures many
Treasures plenty
Shall men truly
Of hym receyue,
Who so that wyll
Come hym vntyll
35Esa, lxii, Math, xxi, Psal, clxxix. Phil, ii, Heb, ii, i, Timoth vi, Apoc, xvii, xix, John̄, xiiii. xvi, xx. Ephe, ii, Coloss, i,Esa, lxii, Math, xxi, Psal, clxxix. Phil, ii, Heb, ii, i, Timoth vi, Apoc, xvii, xix, Iohn̄, xiiii. xvi, xx. Ephe, ii, Coloss, i,
36Rom, v, Math, xi. Joh. xiiii, John̄, x, John̄, xiiii,Rom, v, Math, xi. Ioh. xiiii, Iohn̄, x, Iohn̄, xiiii,
37ii, Cor, i, Tit, i, John̄, x, xiiii,ii, Cor, i, Tit, i, Iohn̄, x, xiiii,
