“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is a traditional old English Carol, reputed to date back to the 15th/16th century. It is one of the oldest carols we still sing today.
One cannot help but wonder whether, had it been written more recently, the lyrics might run more like this…
God rest ye merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day
To save us from the Father’s wrath whom we had disobeyed
O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.
The correct lyrics are, of course… “To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray”. In other words – Christus victor!
What a wonderful source of encouragement and connection to ‘the faith as handed down by the apostles’ the old carols can be.