This is the truth sent from above

The truth of of God the God of love,

Therefore don’t turn me from your door

And hearken all both rich and poor.

The first  thing which I will relate 

Is that God did man create.

The second thing which to you I’ll tell,

Woman was made with man to dwell.

And they were heirs of endless woes,

Till God the Lord did interpose,

And so a promise soon did run

That he would redeem us by his Son.

And in this season of the year,

Our blest redeemer he did appear.

He here did live and here did preach,

And many thousands did he teach.

And thus in love to us behaved,

To show us how we must be saved.

And if you would know the way,

Be pleased to hear all that he do say.

This traditional folk carol was taken from Mr. W Jenkins, Kings Pyon, Herefordshire. It appeared in  Eight Traditional Carols by Vaughan Williams, Steiner and Bell. For notes on the text and melody see the Journal of the Folk Song Society, iv, 17.