The Lord at first had Adam made Out of the dust and clay, And in his nostrils breath??d life, E???en as the Scriptures say. And then in Eden???s paradise He plac??d him to dwell, That he within it should remain, To dress and keep it well. Refrain Now let good Christians all begin A holier life to live, And to rejoice and merry be, For this is Christmas Eve. And thus within the garden he Was set, therein to stay; And in commandment unto him These words the Lord did say: ???The fruit which in the garden grows To thee shall be for meat, Except the tree in midst thereof, Of which thou shalt not eat.??? Refrain ???For in the day thou shalt it touch Or dost to it come nigh, If so thou do but eat thereof, Then thou shalt surely die.??? But Adam he did take no heed Unto that only thing, But did transgress God???s holy Law, And so was wrapt in sin. Refrain Now mark the goodness of the Lord, Which He to mankind bore; His mercy soon He did extend, Lost man for to restore; And therefore to redeem our souls From death and hell and thrall, He said His own dear Son should be The Savior of us all. Refrain Which promise now is brought to pass: Christians, believe it well: And by the death of God???s dear Son, We are redeemed from hell. So if we truly do believe, And do the thing that???s right, Then by His merits we at last Shall live in Heaven bright. Refrain And now the tide is nigh at hand, In which our Savior came; Let us rejoice and merry be In keeping of the same; Let???s feed the poor and hungry souls, And such as do it crave; And when we die, in Heaven we Our sure reward shall have. Refrain