As Christmas draws near, I wanted to share a favorite Christmas poem. This is actually only a portion of the poem, but it is the most relevant and best part. I appreciate how the poet moves appropriately from the “baby”\u009d imagery to the purpose of the incarnation- “to rifle Satan’s fold”\u009d (“The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil,”\u009d 1 John 3:8).<\/p>\n
New Heaven, New War With tears he fights and wins the field, His camp is pitched in a stall, My soul with Christ join thou in fight, By Robert Southwell<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As Christmas draws near, I wanted to share a favorite Christmas poem. This is actually only a portion of the poem, but it is the most relevant and best part. I appreciate how the poet moves appropriately from the “baby”\u009d imagery to the purpose of the incarnation- “to rifle Satan’s fold”\u009d (“The Son of God …<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>
\nThis little Babe so few days old,
\nIs come to rifle Satan’s fold;
\nAll hell doth at his presence quake,
\nThough he himself for cold do shake;
\nFor in this weak, unarmed wise,
\nThe gates of hell he will surprise.<\/p>\n
\nHis naked breast stands for a shield;
\nHis battering shot are babish cries,
\nHis arrows made of weeping eyes,
\nHis martial ensigns cold and need,
\nAnd feeble flesh his warrior’s steed.<\/p>\n
\nHis bulwark but a broken wall;
\nThe crib his trench, hay stalks his stakes,
\nOf shepherds he his muster makes;
\nAnd thus as sure his foe to wound,
\nThe Angels’ trumps alarum sound.<\/p>\n
\nStick to the tents that he hath dight;
\nWithin his crib is surest ward,
\nThis little Babe will be thy guard;
\nIf thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
\nThen flit not from the heavenly boy.<\/p>\n