Spiritual Songs; OR, Songs of Praise TO Almighty God, Upon several Occasions. Together with The SONG of SONGS, Which is SOLOMON's: First Turn'd then Paraphrased in English Verse. To which may be added, Penitential Cries. The Sixth Edition Corrected. With an Addition of a Sacred Poem on Dives and Lazarus.
LONDON: Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns, at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers Chappel, 1699.
[...]
THE PREFACE.
OUR Blessed Saviour immediately before he went out to Suffer, Sung an Hymn, and his Disciples Sung with Him; a [...]e to his Ascension into Heaven, the Apostles S [...]ng the Praises of God, and Taught others to [...] so. After them, Primitive Christians Sum, and so must the Christians of this time. [...] should hold their Peace, the Stones would immediately Cry out: Should we be Si [...]nt even the Heathens might shame us. One [...] said formerly to his Friends, If I was [...] Nightingale, I would Sing like a Nightingale; But now I am a Man. I will Sing the Praises of God as long as I Li [...]e; & I would have you to Sing with [...] Sing we then heartily to our good God as it [...] becometh us; so dear to us should the [Page] Concernment of God's Honour be, that should Solemnly own his Goodnes [...] Power at Wisdom, even in those Works of His, where we have no special Interest; For this we ha [...] the Example of Holy David [...]nd [...]thers. B [...] if we have not attained to so divine a Fran [...] [...]et we should at least praise God for our o [...] Mercies; which are scarce Mercies scarce [...] if they be not Thankfully acknowledge to Him that gave Them; some of which [...] taken Notice of in the First Part of the B [...] But who can express the Noble Acts of [...] Lord, or shew forth all his Praises?
Solomon [...] Song is an Heavenly [...] course betwixt Christ and his Church; and how he loves Her [...] How he extols H [...] H [...] he [...] Her! [...] be rejoyce [...] Her! It is a thing which cannot be duly tho [...]g [...] upon without an Holy Astonishment; as is [...] Majesty [...] so is his Mercy, so is his Love [...] Joy. Hence it is that the day of his Espou [...]ls, [...] d [...]y that [...] his [...] with infinite Happiness) it's styled the day [...] Glad [...]ss of his Heart, Ch. 5. [...]
[Page] In the Version I Look'd at the Words; In the Paraphrase at the Spiritual Sense; In the whole at the Edification of those that Love our Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity.
Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain to receive Power, and Riches, and Wisdom and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Blessing.
Let Heaven and Earth praise him, let Saints and Angels praise Him.
Let God's Holy Church throughout all the World praise Him; Let all the Tongues and Tribes of the Earth praise Him, Let Time praise Him, Let Eternity praise Him, Let our Lips and our Lives praise Him, Let our Souls praise Him; And O may they be a Praise to the Riches of his Grace for ever!
THE Contents of the First Part.
- I. A General Song of Praise to Almighty God.
- II. Another.
- III. A Song of Praise for Creation.
- IV. A Song of Praise for Preservation.
- V. A Song of Praise for Provision.
- VI. A Song of Praise for Protection.
- VII. A Song of Praise for Health.
- VIII. A Song of Praise for Family-prosperity.
- IX. A Song of Praise for good Success in Honest Affairs.
- X. A Song of Praise for the Morning.
- XI. A Song of Praise for the Evening.
- XII. A Song of Praise for the Birth of Christ.
- XIII. A Song of Praise for Christ.
- XIV. A Song of Praise for Redemption.
- XV. A Song of Praise for the Gospel.
- XVI. A Song of Praise for a Gospel-Ministry.
- XVII. A Song of Praise for Holy Baptism.
- XVIII. A Song of Praise for the Lord's Supper.
- XIX. A Song of Praise for the Lord's Day.
- XX. Another.
- XXI. A Song of Praise for the Patience of God.
- XXII. A Song of Praise for the Pardon of Sin.
- XXIII. A Song of Praise for peace of Conscience.
- XXIV. A Song of Praise for Joy in the H. Ghost.
- [Page] XXV. A Song of Praise for Grace.
- XXVI. A Song of Praise for Answer of Prayer.
- XXVII. A Song of Praise for Deliverance from Enemies.
- XXVIII. A Song of Praise for Deliverance from spiritual Troubles.
- XXIX. A Song of Praise for Deliverance from imminent danger of Death.
- XXX. A Song of Praise for the Hope of Glory.
- XXXI. A Song of Praise Collected out of the Book of Psalms.
- XXXII. Another.
- XXXIII. A Song of Praise collected from the Doxologies in the Revelation of St. John.
BOOKS printed for Tho. Parkhurst.
A Body of Practical Divinity, consisting of one Hundred Seventy Six Sermons on the lesser Carechism of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster; with a Supplement of some Serm [...]ns on several Texts of Scripture; by Tho [...] Watson formerly Minister of St. Stephens, Walbrook. Recommended by several Eminent Divines, to Masters of Families and others.
Sacramental Hymns, collected chiefly from such Passages of the New Testament, as contain the most su [...]table matter of Divine Praise [...] in the Celebration of the Lords Supper; t [...] which is added, one Hymn relating to Baptism and another to the Ministry: By Jos. Boys [...] Minister of the Gospel.
Penitential Cries in Thirty two Hymns; by John Mason M. A. and Author of the Songs o [...] Praise.
Six hundred Select Hymns and Spiritua [...] Songs, collected out of the Bible; together with a Catechism, the Canticles, and a Catalogue of Virtuous Women; by W. Bartam, A. M.
The Psalms of David in Metre, newly translated and diligently compared with the original Text, and former Translations; more plain, smooth & agreeable to the Text than any heretofore. Recommended by Tho. Manton, J. Owen, VVilliam Jenkyn, Tho. Watson, Tho. Lye, Matth. Pool. Matthew Me [...]d, Tho. Doolittle, Tho. Vincent. Nath. Vincent, VVill. Carslake, Rich. May [...], and divers other Eminent Divines.
Songs of Praise to Almighty God, upon several Occasions.
I. A General Song of Praise to Almighty God.
(1.)
HOW shall I Sing that Majesty
Which Angels do admire?
Let Dust in Dust and Silence lie,
Sing, Sing, ye Heavenly Quire.
Thousands of Thousands stand Around
Thy Throne, O God, most High;
Ten Thousand times Ten Thousand sound
Thy Praise; but who am I?
(2.)
Thy Brightness unto them appears,
Whilst I thy Footsteps trace,
A Sound of God comes to my Ears;
But they behold thy Face.
They Sing because thou art their Sun,
Lord, send a Beam on me;
[...]or where Heaven is but once begun
There Hallelujahs be.
(3.)
Enlighten with Faiths Light my Heart,
Enflame it with Loves Fire,
Then shall I Sing and bear a part,
With that Celestial Quire.
I shall, I fear, be dark and cold,
With all my Fire and Light:
Yet when thou dost accept their Gold,
Lord Treasure up my Mite.
(4.)
How great a Being, Lord, is thine,
Which doth all Beings keep!
Thy Knowledge is the only Line
To found so vast a Deep.
Thou art a Sea without a Shore,
A Sun without a Sphere,
Thy Time is now and evermore,
Thy place is every where.
(5.)
How good art thou whose Goodness is
Our Parent, Nurse and Guide;
Whose Streams do water Paradise
And all the Earth beside!
Thine Upper and Thine Nether Springs
Make both thy Worlds to thrive.
Under thy warm and sheltering Wings
Thou keep'st two Broods alive.
(6.)
Thy Arm of Might, most mighty King,
Both Rocks and Hearts doth break.
My God, thou canst do every thing
But what would shew thee weak.
Thou canst not Cross thy self, or be
Less than thy self, or poor;
But whatsoever pleaseth Thee,
That canst thou do, and more.
(7.)
Who would not fear thy Searching Eye,
Witness to all that's true?
Dark Hell and deep Hypocrisie
Lie plain before its View.
Motions and Thoughts before they grow
Thy Knowledge doth Espy.
What unborn Ages are to do
Is done before thine Eye.
(8.)
Thy Wisdom, which both makes and mends,
We ever much Admire.
Creation all our Wit Transcends;
Redemption rises Higher.
Thy Wisdom guides stray'd Sinners home,
'Twill make the dead World rise,
And bring those Prisoners to their Doom;
Its Paths are Mysteries.
(9.)
Great is thy Truth, and shall prevail
To Unbelievers shame,
Thy Truth and Years do never sail;
Thou ever art the same,
Unbelief is a Raging wave,
Dashing against a Rock.
If God doth not his Israel Save,
Then let Egyptians mock.
(10.)
Most pure and Holy are thine Eyes,
Most Holy is thy Name,
Thy Saints, and Laws, and Penalties,
Thy Holyness proclaim.
This is the Devils scourge and sting,
This is the Angels Song,
Who Holy, Holy, Holy Sing,
In Heavenly Canaan's Tongue.
(11.)
Mercy, that shining Attribute,
The Sinners Hope and Plea!
Huge Hosts of Sins in their Pursuit
Are drown'd in thy Red Sea;
Mercy is God's Memorial,
And in all Ages prais'd;
My God, thine only Son did fall,
That Mercy might be Rais'd.
(12.)
Thy bright Back parts, O God of Grace,
I Humbly here Adore;
Shew me thy Glory and thy Face,
That I may praise Thee more.
Since none can see thy Face and live,
For me to die is best,
Through Jordan's streams who would not dive
To Land at Canaan's Rest?
Another.
1.
WHat shall I Render to my God,
For all his Gifts to Me?
Sing Heav'n and Earth, rejoyce and praise
His Glorious Majesty.
Bright Cherubims, sweet Seraphims,
Praise Him with all your might.
Praise, praise Him, all ye Hosts of Heav'n,
Praise him ye Saints in Light.
2.
Ye blessed Patriachs praise the Lord,
For his First-fruits are ye,
Bless'd Prophets, who dreamt here of God,
Praise Him, whom now you see.
Offer to God ye glorious Priests,
Your Sacrifice of Praise;
Sweet Psalmists, now your Hearts are Fixt,
Your tuneful Voices raise.
3.
Yet twelve Apostles of the Lamb,
Who here proclaim'd your King,
And Fill'd this World with holy Sounds,
Loud Hallelujahs Sing.
Triumphant Martyrs ye did Fight,
And Fighting ye did fall,
And falling ye took up a Crown:
Crown Him who Crown'd you all.
4.
Praise, praise Him, all ye saved Ones,
From whom Salvation came;
Praise Him that Sits upon the Throne,
And Praise the Glorious Lamb.
Praise, praise him, all ye Saints below,
Praise him both East and West:
Praise him, all ye Baptized Lands,
Praise whom you have Profess'd
5.
O Praise Him, all ye Crowned Heads,
That own the Christian Name:
Praise Him, who is the King of Kings,
Raise and Enlarge his Fame.
Praise Him, all Christian Magistrates,
Gain Credit to his Ways:
Praise Him, ye Ministers of God,
Teach Others Him to Praise.
6.
Praise Him our Famous Christian Isle,
Praise him with one accord.
[Page 7] Let every Tongue, let every Tribe
Be taught to Praise the Lord;
Praise Him, my Friends and Kindred all,
O Praise Him all your Days;
My Mind and Heart, my Lip and Life
Joyn to advance his Praise.
7.
O Let me praise thee, whilst I live,
And praise thee, when I dye,
And praise thee, when I rise again,
And to Eternity.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The Father sent his Son;
The Son sends forth the Holy Ghost:
For Mens Salvation.
8.
Mysterious depths of Endless Love
Our Admirations raise,
My God; thy Name exalted is
Far above all our Praise.
III. A Song of Praise for Creation.
1.
THou wast, O God: and thou wast Blest
Before the World begun;
Of thine Eternity possest,
Before Time's Glass did Run.
Thou needest none thy Praise to Sing,
As if thy Joy could Fade.
[Page 8] Could'st thou have needed any thing,
Thou could'st have nothing made.
2.
Great and Good God, it pleased Thee
Thy God-head to declare;
And what thy Goodness did decree,
Thy Greatness did prepare:
Thou spak'st, and Heaven and Earth Appear'd,
And Answer'd to thy Call;
As if their Makers Voice they heard,
Which is the Creatures ALL.
3.
Thou spak'st the Word, most mighty Lord,
Thy Word went forth with Speed,
Thy Will, O Lord, it was thy Word.
Thy Word it was thy Deed:
Thou brought'st forth Adam from the Ground,
And Eve out of his Side;
Thy Blessings made the Earth abound,
With these Two multiply'd.
4.
Those three great Leaves, Heav'n, Sea & Land,
Thy Name in Figures shew;
Bruites feel the Bounty of thy Hand,
But I my Maker know.
Should not I here thy Servant be,
VVhose Creatures serve me here?
My Lord, whom should I fear but Thee,
VVho am thy Creatures Fear?
5.
To whom, Lord, should I Sing but thee,
The Maker of my Tongue!
Lo! other Lords would Seize on Me,
But I to thee belong:
As Waters haste unto their Sea,
And Earth unto its Earth;
So let my Soul return to Thee,
From whom it had its Birth.
6.
But ah! I'am fallen in the Night,
And cannot come to thee.
Yet speak the Word, Let there be Light;
It shall Enlighten me:
And let thy Word, most Mighty Lord,
Thy Fallen Creature raise,
O make me o're again, and I
Shall Sing my Makers praise.
IV. A Song of Praise for Preservation.
1.
THou Lord who raised'st Heaven and Earth
Dost make thy Building stand,
The Weight whereof doth wholly Rest
On thine Almighty Hand:
Should'st thou withdraw thy Hand of might,
The Earth would quit its place;
The shining Heaven would vanish streight
Into meer empty Space.
2.
For as that Liquors Scent remains,
Which first the Cask did Fill;
So Feeble Creatures hold the Scent
Of their first nothing still:
Lord, what is Man, that Child of Pride,
That boasts his High degree?
If one poor moment he be Left,
He Sinks, and where is He?
3.
In Thee I Live and Move, and am,
Thou deal'st me out my days,
As thou renew'st my Being, Lord,
Let me renew thy Praise:
From thee I am, through thee I am,
And for thee I must be;
'Tis better for me not to live
Than not to live to thee.
4.
My God, thou art my glorious Sun,
By whose bright Beams I shine;
As thou, Lord, ever art with Me,
Let me be ever thine.
Thou art my living Fountain, Lord,
Whose streams on me do flow;
My self I render unto thee,
To whom my self I owe.
5.
As thou, Lord, an Immortal Soul
Has;t Breathed into me;
[Page 11] So let my Soul be Breathing forth
Immortal Thanks to Thee.
V. A Song of Praise for Provision.
1.
COme, let us praise our Masters Hand,
Which gives us daily Bread;
Thy House, my Lord, is full of Guests,
Thy Table Richly Spread:
Earth is thy Table, where thy Guests
Do daily Sit and Feed;
Thy Hand Carves every one his part,
And suffers None to need.
2.
Naked came I into the World,
And nothing with me brought;
And nothing have I here deserv'd,
Yet have I lacked Nought.
I do not Bless my Labouring Hand,
My Labouring Head or Chance;
Thy Providence, most Gracious God,
Is mine Inheritance.
3.
Thy Bounty gives me Bread with Peace,
A Table free from Strife;
Thy Blessing is the Staff of Bread,
Which is the Staff of Life.
The People Sate in Companies,
My Saviour Fed them all;
[Page 12] So all the Families of the Earth
Have Tables in Gods Hall
4.
The Vine and Olive Branches too
Are nourished by thy Care,
Mercies we Eat, Mercies we Drink,
Mercies we daily wear:
Shall I repine against my God
That kept me all my days?
Then let my Tongue forget to taste,
When it forgets to praise.
VI. A Song of Praise for Protection.
1.
MY God, my only Help and Hope,
My strong and sure Defence:
For all my Safety and my Peace,
I bless thy Providence:
The daily Favours of my God
I cannot Sing at large,
Yet let me make this Holy Boast,
I am the Almighties Charge.
2.
Lord, in the day thou art about
The Paths wherein I tread;
And in the Night, when I lye down,
Thou art about my Bed:
I travel thro' the Wilderness,
Free from the Beasts of prey.
[Page 13] The Wolves and Lions Mouths are stop'd,
The Serpents creep away.
3.
In Preservation God Creates,
Delivers in Protection;
Lord, every Moment of my Life,
Is like a Resurrection:
[...] thousand Deaths I daily 'scape,
I pass by many a Pit,
I Sail by many dreadful Rocks,
Where others have been split.
4.
I see blind People with mine Eyes,
To Hospitals I walk;
[...] hear of them that cannot hear,
And of the Dumb I talk:
Lord, what am I that thou should'st shew
Such Favour unto me?
My Bones and Senses, all must say,
Lord, who is like to thee?
VII. A Song of Praise for Health.
1.
HEalth is a Jewel dropt from Heav'n,
Which Money cannot buy,
The Life of Life, the Bodies Peace,
And pleasant Harmony:
Lord who hath Tun'd my outward Man
To such a lively Frame,
[Page 14] Skrew up my Heart-strings all, to make
Sweet Melody to thy Name.
2.
Whilst Others in God's Prisons lie,
Bound with Afflictions Chains,
I walk at large, secure and free
From Sickness and from Pains:
Their Life is Death, their Language groans,
Their Meat is Juice of Galls;
Their Friends, but strangers; wealth, but want,
Their Houses, Prison-walls.
3.
Their earnest Cries do pierce the Skies,
And shall I silent be?
Lord, was I sick, as I am well,
Thou should'st have heard from me.
The Sick have not more cause to pray,
Than I to praise my King.
Since Nature teaches them to groan,
Let Grace teach me to sing.
4.
I see my Friends, I taste my Meat,
I'm free from my Employ:
But when I do enjoy my God,
Then I my self enjoy.
Lord, who dost set me on my Feet,
Direct me in thy ways:
O Crown thy Gift of Health with Grace,
And turn it to thy Praise.
VIII. A Song of Praise for Family-Prosperity.
1.
THy Blessing, Lord, doth multiply
One Jacob to two Bands,
One Person to a Family,
Which through thy Blessing stands.
On all my Flock both great and small
Thy Sun doth Sweetly Shine;
Thy fruitful drops do gently fall
On every Branch of mine.
2.
Thy Blessing made the Loaves to grow,
And Multitudes were Fed.
My House is Fill'd and Feasted too;
It is an House of Bread:
How can I hear my Children Sing,
And not Sing unto thee?
Since they glad News from Heav'n do bring,
My God must hear from me.
3.
Mine Olive Branches and my Vine
Thrive by my Tables Side,
Whilst others wither and decline,
Who in Deaths Shade abide.
With Cov'nant Blood my Posts are Red,
'Tis on my Lintle found.
[...] Lo! the Line of Scarlet Thread
Is on my Window bound.
4.
'Tis not, my God, my self alone,
But mine, to Thee I owe,
Thou mad'st me many out of one,
So let thy Praises grow:
Whatever Lord is done to thine,
Thou count'st it done to thee:
And whatsoever's done to mine,
I Count it done to Me.
5.
Let me be ever good to thine,
Who art so good to me!
Let thine be mine, and mine be thine,
And they twice mine shall be;
Then shall my House a Temple be,
Then I and mine shall Sing
Hosanna's to thy Majesty,
And praise our Heavenly King.
IX. A Song of Praise for good Success in honest Affairs.
1.
IS not the Hand of God in this:
Is not this End divine?
Lord of Success, Thee will I bless,
Who on my Paths do'st shine:
I Reap the Fruit of God's Design,
By Him it was foreseen;
[Page 17] He thought of this as well as I,
Or it had never been.
2.
I Blindly guess'd, but he foreknew,
I wish'd, he did Command;
Wherefore I praise his careful Eye,
And his Unerring Hand:
The Bow is draw by feeble Arms,
Aim taken in the Dark,
A Providential Hand doth Guide
The Arrow to the Mark.
3.
Except the Lord the City keep,
The Watchmen will be slain;
Except the Lord do build the House,
The Builder Builds in Vain:
Buildings are Babels, Cities Heaps,
When thou send'st Curse or Flame;
And labouring Heads that promise Fruit,
Oft bring forth Wind and Shame.
4.
But thou hast Crown'd my Actions, Lord,
With good Success to day;
This Crown, together with my self
At thy blest Feet I lay:
Lord, who art pleas'd to prosper Me,
To bless me in my ways;
Prosper my weak endeavouring Heart,
Which Aimeth at thy Praise.
X. A Song of Praise for the Morning.
1.
MY God was with me all this Night,
And gave Me sweet Respose;
My God did watch even whilst I slept,
O [...] I had never Rose:
How many groan'd and wish'd for Sleep,
Until they wish'd for day,
Meas'ring slow Hours with their quick pains,
Whilst I securely lay!
2.
Whilst I did sleep all dangers slept,
No Thieves did me affright,
Those Evening Wolves, Those Beasts of prey,
Disturbers of the Night:
No Raging Flames nor Storms did Rend
The House that I was in;
I heard no dreadful Cries without,
No doleful Groans within.
3.
What Terrours have I 'Scap'd this Night,
Which have on Others Fell,
My Body might have slept its last,
My Soul have wak'd in Hell:
Sweet Rest had gain'd that Strength to Me,
Which Labour did Devour:
My Body was in weakness Sown,
But it is Rais'd in power.
(4.)
Lord, for the Mercies of the Night,
My humble Thanks I pay,
And unto Thee I dedicate
The first Fruits of the day:
Let this day praise Thee, O my God,
And so let all my days:
And O let mine Eternal Day,
Be thine Eternal praise.
XI. A Song of Praise for the Evening.
1.
NOW from the Altar of my Heart,
Let Incense Flames arise;
Assist me, Lord, to offer up
Mine Evening Sacrifice:
Awake, my Love; Awake, my Joy;
Awake my Heart and Tongue,
Sleep not when Mercies loudly call;
Break forth into a Song.
2.
Man's Life's a Book of History,
The Leaves thereof are Days;
The Letters Mercies closely Joyn'd,
The Title is thy Praise:
This day God was my Sun and Shield,
My keeper and my Guide;
His care was on my Frailty shewn,
His Mercies multiply'd.
3.
Minutes and Mercies multiply'd,
Have made up all this day;
Minutes came quick, but Mercies were
More Fleet and Free than they:
New time, new Favours, and new Joys,
Do a new Song require;
Till I shall praise Thee as I would,
Accept my Hearts desire.
4.
Lord of my Time, whose Hand hath Set,
New Time upon my Score;
Then shall I praise for all my Time,
When Time shall be no more.
XII. A Song of Praise for the Birth of Christ.
1.
AWay dark thoughts; Awake, my Joy;
Awake, my Glory, Sing,
Sing Songs to Celebrate the Birth
Of Jacobs God and King:
O happy Night, that brought forth Light:
Which makes the Blind to see!
The day-Spring from on High came down
To Chear and Visit Thee.
2.
The wakeful Shepherds near their Flocks,
Were watching for the Morn;
But better News from Heav'n was brought
Your Saviour Christ is Born.
[Page 21] In Bethlem-Town the Infant Lies,
Within a place obscure;
O Little Bethlem, poor in VValls,
But Rich in Furniture!
3.
Since Heaven is now come down to Earth,
Hither the Angels Fly;
Heark how the Heavenly Quire doth Sing,
Glory to God [...] High:
The News is spread, the Church is glad,
Simeon, o'recome with Joy,
Sings with the Infant in his Arms,
Now let thy Servant die.
4.
Wise Men from far beheld the Star,
Which was their faithful Guide;
Until it pointed forth the Babe,
And him they glorified:
Do Heaven and Earth Rejoyce and Sing,
Shall we our Christ deny?
He's Born for us, and we for Him;
Glory to God on High.
XIII. A Song of Praise for Christ.
1.
I'VE found the Pearl of greatest price,
My Heart doth Sing for Joy;
Sing I must; a Christ I have,
what a Christ have I!
[Page 22] Christ is the Way, the Truth and Life,
The Way to God and Glory:
Life to the Dead, the Truth of Types,
The Truth of Ancient Story.
2.
Christ is a Prophet, Priest and King;
A Prophet full of Light:
A Priest that stands 'twixt God and Man,
A King that Rules with Might:
Christ's Manhood is a Temple, where,
The Altar, God doth Rest;
My Christ he is the Sacrifice;
My Christ, He is the Priest.
3.
My Christ, He is the Lord of Lords,
He is the King of Kings;
He is the Son of Righteousness,
With Healing in his Wings.
My Christ, He is the Tree of Life
Which in God's Garden grows,
Whose Fruits do Feed, whose Leaves do Heal,
My Christ is Sharons Rose.
(4.)
Christ is my Meat, Christ is my Drink,
My Physick and my Health;
My Peace, my Strength, my Joy, my Crown.
My Glory and my Wealth:
Christ is my Father and my Friend,
My Brother and my Love;
My Head, my Hope, my Counsell [...]
My Advocate above.
(5.)
My Christ he is the Heaven of Heaven,
My Christ what shall I call?
My Christ is first, my Christ is last,
My Christ is All in All.
XIV. A Song of Praise for Redemption.
1.
O That I had an Angels Tongue,
That I might loudly Sing
The Wonders of Redeeming Love,
To Thee my God and King!
But Man, who at the Gates of Hell,
Did Pale and Speechless Lye,
Must find a Tongue and Time to speak,
Or else the Stones will cry.
(2.)
Let the Redeemed of the Lord,
Their thankful Voices raise:
Can we be Dumb, whilst Angels Sing
Our great Redeemers Praise?
Come let us joyn with Angels then,
Glory to God on High;
Peace upon Earth, Good Will to Men,
Amen, Amen, say I.
(3.)
[...] Adam's Race was Sathans prey,
[...] And Dust the Serpent's Food:
[...] that were doom'd to be devour'd,
[...] naked and Trembling stood.
[Page 24] A VVise Eternal Pity then
Did helpless Man befriend;
Our Help did in God's Bosom Lie,
And thence it did descend.
4.
Love Cloathed with Humility,
Built here an House of Clay;
In which it dwelt, and Rescu'd Man;
The Devil lost his prey:
The spiteful Serpent bruis'd Christ's Heel,
But then Christ brake his Head;
And left Him Nail'd upon the Cross,
On which his Blood was shed.
5.
Sing and triumph in boundless Grace,
VVhich thus hath set thee free;
Extol with shouts, my saved Soul,
Thy Saviours Love to thee:
Give Endless Thanks to God, and say,
VVhat Love was this in thee;
That thou hast not with held thy Son,
Thine only Son from Me!
6.
VVhat were Ten Thousand Worlds to him,
Thine Image and Delight,
Had we been all cast down to Hell,
Justice had had its Right:
Thy Glory might have been distrain'd,
Our Torments should Express
Thy Pureness, Justice, Might and Truth,
And Everlastingness
7.
Thus, Lord, thy dreadful Attributes,
Man might have serv'd to prove;
Thy Glorious Angels would have Sung
The Riches of thy Love:
Would'st thou have active Worshippers,
Besides the Angels Quire?
Millions had Issu'd at thy Word,
As Sparks arise from Fire.
8.
Mans Room had quickly been Supply'd,
For, Lord, at thy Command
A New Creation should appear;
Thy Grace could make them stand:
Or would'st thou shew thy pity, Lord?
Thou might'st have looked then
On Fallen Angels, Fallen Stars,
And not on Fallen Men.
9.
But fallen Angels must be left,
And Fallen Men must rise;
For this, the Son of God must Fall
A Bloody Sacrifice:
Thy Deep and Glorious Councels, Lord,
With Trembling I Adore;
Blessed, thrice blessed be my God,
Blessed for evermore.
XV. A Song of Praise for the Gospel.
1.
BLest be my God that I was Born,
To hear the Joyful Sound;
That I was born to be Baptiz'd,
And Bred on Holy Ground:
That I was Bred where God appears,
In Tokens of his Grace;
The Lines are Fallen unto me,
In a most pleasant place.
2.
I might have been a Pagan Bred,
Or else a Veiled Jew,
Or Cheated with an Alcoran
Among the Turkish Crew.
Dumb Pictures might have been my Books,
Dark Language my Devotion;
And so I might with blinded Eyes,
Have drunk a deadly Potion.
3.
So in a Dungeon dark as Night,
I might have Spent my days;
But thou hast sent me Gospel-Light,
To thine Eternal praise.
The Sun which rose up in the East,
And drove their Shades away;
His Healing Wings have reach'd the West,
And turn'd our Night to Day.
4.
England at first an Egypt was,
Since that proud Babels Slave;
At last a Canaan it became,
And then my Birth it gave.
Blest be my God that I have slept
The dismal Night away;
Being kept in Providence's Womb,
To England's brightest Day.
5.
Blest be my God for what I see,
My God for what I hear;
I hear such blessed News from Heaven,
Nor Earth nor Hell I fear.
I hear my Lord for me was born,
My Lord for Me did dye;
My Lord for Me did Rise again,
And did ascend on High.
6.
On High he stands to plead my Cause,
And will return again;
And set Me on a Glorious Throne,
That I with Him may Reign.
Glory to God the Father be,
Glory to God the Son;
Glory to God the Holy Ghost;
Glory to God Alone.
A Song of Praise for a Gospel Ministry
1.
FAir are the Feet which bring the News
Of Gladness unto Me;
What Happy Messengers are these
Which my bless'd Eyes do see!
These are the Stars which God appoints
For Guides unto my Eyes;
To lead me unto Bethlem-Town,
Where my dear Saviour Lies.
2.
These are my Gods Ambassadors,
By whom his Mind I know,
God's Angels in his lower Heav'n,
God's Trumpeters below:
The Trumpet sounds, the Dead arise,
Which fell by Adam's Hand;
Again the Trumpet sounds, and they
Set forth for Canaans Land.
3.
The Servants speak, but thou, Lord, dost
A hearing Ear bestow;
They smite the Rock, but thou, my God,
Dost make the Waters flow:
They shoot the Arrow, but thy Hand
Doth drive the Arrow home;
They call, but, Lord, thou dost Compel,
And then thy Guests are come.
4.
Angels that flie, and Worms that creep,
Are both alike to Thee;
If thou make Worms thine Angels, [...]
They bring my God to me
As Sons of Thunder first they [...]
And I the Lightning fear,
But then they bring me to my Home,
And Sons of Comfort are.
5.
Lord, thou art in them of a Truth,
That I might never stray;
The Clouds and Pillars march before,
And shew me Canaans way:
I bless my God, who is my Guide;
I sing in Sions ways;
When shall I sing on Sions Hill,
Thine Everlasting Praise?
XVII. A Song of Praise for Holy Baptism.
1.
LOrd, What is Man, that Lump of Sin,
Made up of Earth and Hell;
Not fit to come within the Camp
Where Holy Angels dwell?
Man is a Leper from the Womb,
An Ethiopian born,
A Traitor's Guilty Son and Heir,
VVorthy of pain and scorn.
2.
And dost thou [...]ook on such a One?
Are not thine Eyes most pure?
[...] they are Eyes of Pity too,
Where [...] do beg a Cure.
This [...] Loathsom Sight,
But Pay casts an Eye,
And bids him wash in Jordan's Streams,
To Cure his Leprosie.
3.
This Ethiopian Skin is chang'd,
And made as white as Snow,
When dipt in wonder-working Streams,
VVhich from Christ's Side did flow:
As Adam slept, and from his Side
A Killing Eve arose;
From my pierc'd Lord (that smitten Rock)
A pure Life-Fountain flows.
4.
Ah what a Tainted wretch is Man!
And so he must have stood,
But lo! an Act of Sovereign Grace
Restores him to his Blood:
Save me, my God; for I am thine,
Lord, own thy Seal to me;
O wash my Soul till it be cleans'd,
And purify'd for Thee.
5.
Blest above Streams is Jordan's Flood,
VVhich toucheth Canaans Shore.
[Page 31] I'll sing thy Praise in Jordan's Streams,
In Canaan evermore.
XVIII. A Song of Praise for the Lord's Supper.
1.
O Praise the Lord! praise him, praise him,
Sing Praises to his Name;
O all ye Saints of Heav'n and Earth,
Extol and Laud the same;
VVho spared not his only Son,
But gave Him for us all;
And made him drink the Cup of Wrath,
The VVormwood and the Gall.
2.
Frail Nature shrunk, and did request
That bitter Cup might pass;
But he must drink it off, and this
The Fathers Pleasure was:
Lo then I come to do thy Will,
His blessed Son reply'd;
Yielding Himself to God and Man,
He stretch'd his Arms and dy'd.
3.
He Dy'd indeed, but Rose again,
And did ascend on High;
That we poor Sinners lost and dead,
Might Live Eternally:
Good Lord, how many Souls in Hell,
Doth Vengeance vex and tear;
[Page 32] VVere it not for a Dying Christ,
Our Dwelling had been there.
4.
His Blood was shed instead of ours,
His Soul our Hell did bear;
He took our Sin, gave us Himself,
VVhat an Exchange is here!
VVhatever is not Hell it self,
For me it is too good:
But must we Eat the Flesh of Christ?
And must we Drink his Blood?
5.
His Flesh is Heav'nly Food indeed,
His Blood is Drink Divine;
His Graces drop, like Honey falls,
His Comforts taste like Wine;
Sweet Christ, thou hast refresh'd our Souls,
VVith thine abundant Grace;
For which we magnifie thy Name,
Longing to see thy Face.
6.
When shall our Souls mount up to Thee,
Most Holy, Just, and True,
To eat that Bread, and drink that Wine;
VVhich is for ever New?
XIX. A Song of Praise for the Lord's-Day.
1.
MY Lord, my Love, was Crucified,
He all the pains did bear;
[Page 33] But in the Sweetness of his Rest,
He makes his Servants share:
How sweetly rest thy Saints above,
Which in thy Bosom lie?
Thy Church below, doth Rest in hope
Of that Felicity.
2.
Thou, Lord, who daily feed'st thy Sheep,
Mak'st them a weekly Feast;
Thy Flocks meet in their several Folds,
Upon this Day of Rest;
Welcome and dear unto my Soul,
Are these sweet Feasts of Love;
But what a Sabbath shall I keep,
When I shall Rest above!
3.
I bless thy wise and wondrous Love,
Which binds us to be free;
Which makes us leave our Earthly Snare,
That we may come to thee;
I come, I wait, I hear, I pray,
Thy Footsteps, Lord, I trace;
I sing to think this is the way
Unto my Saviours Face.
4.
These are my Preparation-days;
And when my Soul is Drest,
[...]se Sabbaths shall deliver Me
[...] mine Eternal Rest.
XX. Another.
1.
BLest Day of God, most calm, most bright,
The first and best of Days;
The Lab'rours Rest, the Saints Delight,
A day of Mirth and Praise:
My Saviours Face did make thee shine,
His rising did thee raise;
This made thee Heavenly and Divine,
Beyond the common Days.
2.
The First-fruits do a Blessing prove
To all the Sheaves behind,
And they that do a Sabbath love,
An happy Week shall find:
My Lord on Thee his Name did fix,
Which makes thee Rich and Gay;
Amidst his Golden Candlesticks,
My Saviour walks this day.
3.
He walks in's Robes, his Face [...]unes bright,
The Stars are in his Hand;
Out of his Mouth, that place of Might,
A Two-edg'd Sword doth stand,
Grac'd with our Lord's Appearance th [...]
As well as with his Name;
Thou may'st demand Respect from us,
Upon a double Claim.
4.
This day God doth his Vessels broach;
His Conduits run with Wine;
He that loves not this days approach,
Scorns Heaven and Saviours shine:
VVhat Slaves are those who Slav'ry chuse,
And Garlick for their Feast;
Whilst Milk and Honey they refuse,
And the Almighty's Rest?
5.
This Market-day doth Saints enrich,
And smiles upon them all,
It is their Pentecost, on which
The Holy Ghost doth fall:
O Day of Wonders! Mercies pawn,
The weary Souls Recruit;
The Christians Goshen, Heavens Dawn,
The Bud of Endless Fruit,
6.
Oh could I love as I have lov'd,
Thy Watches heretofore;
As England's Glory thou hast prov'd,
May'st thou be so yet more:
This day must I for God appear,
For, Lord, the day is thine;
O let me spend it in thy Fear!
Then shall the day be mine.
7.
Cease, Work and Play, throughout the day,
That I to God may rest;
[Page 36] Now let me Talk with God, and Walk
With God, and I am blest.
XXI. A Song of Praise for the Patience of God.
1.
ALmighty God, how hast thou born
Wrongs not to be exprest;
Daring Rebellion, Injur'd Love,
Light quenched in my Breast!
Man would be God, and down he fell,
To teach him better Skill;
Yet he lifts up his bruised Bones
Against his Maker still.
2.
Lord, what a Monster is base Man,
Thus given to Rebel!
O that thou dost not cleave the Earth,
And send him quick to Hell!
His Sins for Wages loudly Cry,
Justice with dreadful sound
Cries too, Cut down this fruitless Tree,
VVhy cumbers it the Ground?
3.
But God waves his Advantages
Of Right and Vengeance too,
And by his single Patience,
Doth daring Man out-do:
The Creature doth disdain his God,
By whom he is Maintain'd;
[Page 37] Yet God Maintains this Rebel-worm,
By whom he is disdain'd.
4.
Fool, ask not where th'Almighty is,
All Glory to Him give;
Is not his Power fully prov'd,
In suffring Thee to Live?
VVas he not God, he could not bear,
Such VVeights as on him lie;
VVeak things are quickly set on Fire,
And to their VVeapons flie.
5.
VVhy should not Patience make me sing,
VVhen Hell would make me roar?
Lord, let thy Patience end in Love,
I'll sing for evermore.
XXII. A Song of Praise for Pardon of Sin.
1.
MY God a God of Pardon is,
His Bosom gives me Ease;
I have not, do not please my God,
Yet Mercy Him doth please:
My Sins aloud for Vengeance call,
But lo! a Fountain springs
From Christ's pierc'd Side, which louder cries,
And speaketh better things.
2.
My sins have reach'd up to the Heav'ns,
But Mercies Height exceeds;
[Page 38] God's Mercy is above the Heav'ns,
Above my sinful deeds;
My sins are many, like the Stars,
Or sands upon the Shore;
But yet the Mercies of my God
Are infinitely more.
3.
My Sins in bigness do arise
Like Mountains Great and Tall;
But Mercy, like a mighty Sea,
Covers these Mountains all:
This is a Sea that's Bottomless,
A Sea without a Shore;
For where sin hath abounded much,
Mercies abound much more.
4.
Manasseh, Paul and Magdalen,
Were Pardon'd all by Thee;
I read it, and believe it, Lord,
For thou hast pardon'd Me:
When God shall search the World for sin,
What trembling will be there?
O Rocks and Mountains cover us,
VVill be the Sinners Prayer.
5.
But the Lamb's wrath they need not fear,
Who once have felt his Love;
And they that walk with God below,
Shall dwell with God above:
Rage Earth and Hell, come Life, come Death,
Yet still my song shall be,
[Page 39] God was, and is, and will be good,
And merciful to Me.
XXIII. A Song of Praise for Peace of Conscience.
1.
MY God, my reconciled God,
Creator of my Peace,
Thee will I love, and praise and sing,
Till Life and Breath shall cease:
My Thoughts did rage, my Soul was tost,
'Twas like a troubled Sea;
But what a Mighty Voice is this,
Which winds and waves obey!
2.
God spake the word, Peace and be still,
My Sins, those Mutineers
With speed went off and took their flight,
Where now are all my fears?
The VVorld can neither give nor take,
Nor yet can understand
That Peace of God, which Christ hath brought,
And gives me with his Hand.
3.
This is my Saviour's Legacy,
Confirm'd by his Decease;
Ye shall have Trouble in the VVorld,
In Me ye shall have Peace;
And so it is, the World doth rage,
And Peace in me doth Reign;
[Page 40] And whilst my God maintains the Fort,
Their Batt'ries are in vain.
4.
The Burning Bush was not consum'd,
VVhilst God remained there;
The Three, when Christ did make the Fourth,
Found Fire as weak as Air:
So is my Mem'ry stufft with Sins,
Enough to make an Hell;
And yet my Conscience is not scorch'd,
For God in Me doth dwell.
5.
VVhere God doth dwell, sure Heav'n is there,
And Singing there must be;
Since, Lord, thy Presence makes my Heaven,
VVhom should I sing but Thee?
My God, my reconciled God,
Creator of my Peace;
Thee will I love, and praise, and sing,
Till Life and Breath shall cease.
XXIV. A Song of Praise for Joy in the H. Ghost.
1.
MY Soul doth magnifie the Lord,
My Spirit doth rejoyce
In God my Saviour, and my God,
I hear his joyful Voice;
I need not go abroad for Joy,
VVho have a feast at Home;
[Page 41] My Sighs are turned into Songs,
The Comforter is come.
2.
Down from above, the blessed Dove
Is come into my Breast;
To witness God's Eternal Love,
This is my Heav'nly Feast:
This makes me Abba Father cry,
VVith Confidence of Soul;
It makes me cry, my Lord, my God,
And that without Controul.
3.
There is a Stream, which Issues forth
From God's Eternal Throne,
And from the Lamb; a living Stream,
Clear as the Crystal Stone:
This Stream doth water Paradise,
It makes the Angels sing,
One Cordial Drop revives my Heart,
Hence all my Joys do spring.
4.
Such Joys as are unspeakable,
And full of Glory too;
Such hidden Manna, hidden Pearls,
As worldings do not know:
Eye hath not seen, nor Ear hath heard,
From Fancy 'tis conceal'd;
VVhat thou, Lord, hast laid up for thine,
And hast to me reveal'd.
5.
I see thy Face, I hear thy Voice,
I taste thy sweetest Love;
My Soul doth leap; but O for wings,
The Wings of Noah's Dove!
Then should I Flee far hence away,
Leaving this world of sin;
Then should my Lord put forth his Hand,
And kindly take me in.
6.
Then should my Soul with Angels Feast
On Joys that always last;
Blest be my God, the God of Joy,
Who gives me here a Taste.
XXV. A Song of Praise for Grace.
1.
O God of Grace, who hast Restor'd
Thine Image unto Me,
Which by my Sins was quite defac'd,
What shall I render Thee?
Thine Image and Inscription, Lord,
Upon my Heart I bear;
Thine own I render unto Thee,
O God, my God most dear.
2.
My self I owe Thee for my self,
Whom Thou didst make of Earth;
But thou hast made me o're again,
Thou gav'st a Second Birth:
[Page 43] Twice born, and twice endu'd with Life,
I hast to come to Thee,
To pay my Vows, my Thanks, my Heart,
With all Humility.
3.
O was I Born first from Beneath!
And then Born from above!
Am I a Child of Man and God?
O Rich and Endless Love!
When I had broke the Tables, Lord,
New Tables thou didst Hew,
And with thy Finger didst Engrave
Thy Laws on them anew.
4.
Earth is my Mother, Earth my Nurse,
And Earth must be my Tomb;
Yet God, the God of Heav'n and Earth,
My Father is become:
Hell enter'd Me, and into Hell
I quickly should have Run;
But O! kind Heav'n laid hold on Me,
Heav'n is in Me begun.
5.
This Spark will rise into a Flame,
This Seed into a Tree;
My Songs shall rise, my Praises shall
Loud Hallelujahs be.
XXVI. A Song of Praise for Answer of Prayer.
1.
WHat are the Heav'ns, O God of Heaven!
Thou art more bright, more high;
What are bright Stars, and brighter Saints,
To thy bright Majesty!
Thou'rt far above the Songs of Heav'n,
Sung by the Holy Ones;
And dost thou stoop and bow thine Ear
To a poor Sinners groans.
2.
God minds the Language of my Heart,
My Groans and Sighs he hears;
He hath a Book for my Request,
A Bottle for my Tears:
But did not my dear Saviour's Blood,
First wash away their Guilt;
My Sighs would prove but empty Air,
My Tears would all be spilt.
3.
Lord, thine Eternal Spirit was
My Advocate within;
But O! my Smoak joyn'd with thy Flame,
My Prayer was mixt with Sin:
But then Christ was my Altar, and
My Advocate above;
His Blood did clear my Prayer, and gain'd
An Answer full of Love.
4.
It could not be that thou shouldst hear
A Mortal sinful Worm;
But that my Prayers presented are
In a more glorious Form:
Christ's precious Hands took my Requests,
And turn'd my Dross to Gold;
His Blood put warmth into my Prayers,
Which were by Nature cold.
5.
Thou heard'st my Groans for Jesus sake,
Whom thou dost hear always;
Lord, hear through that prevailing Name,
My Voice of Joy and Praise.
XXVII. A Song of Praise for Deliverance from Enemies.
1.
GReat God, who dost the World command,
Thou check'st both winds and waves;
The Devils, which like Lions Roar,
Are thine Enchain'd Slaves:
The Sons of Rage are smoaking Brands,
And Idols fear'd in vain;
Thou Lord, the only, only God,
Their Fury dost restrain.
2.
Thou, Lord, didst smooth fierce Esau's Brow,
And change his Murm'ring Breath;
Thou gav'st to him a Brothers Heart,
Who vow'd his Brothers Death:
Angels have Arm'd, at thy Command,
And Stars have shot their Dart;
Nature hath fought, and Miracles
Have took thy Churches part.
3.
Thee, Lord, who still thy Church dost love,
All Creatures must obey;
And when for Thine thou dost arise,
Their En'mies, where are they?
I cry'd to Heav'n in my Distress,
I to my God did flee;
He with Compassion heard my Cry,
He did Arise for Me.
4.
With humble Fear, and thankful Joy,
Lord, at thy Feet I fall,
Unfeignedly acknowledging,
That Thou alone dost all.
Thou art all Pow'r, thou art all Love,
And so thou art to Me;
Blest be my God, now and henceforth,
And to Eternity.
XXVIII. A Song of Praise for Deliverance from Spiritual Troubles.
1.
I That am drawn out of the Depth,
Will sing upon the Shore;
I that in Hell's dark Suburbs lay,
Pure Mercy will adore:
The Terrors of the Living God,
My Soul did so affright;
I fear'd lest I should be condemn'd
To an Eternal Night.
2.
Kind was the Pity of my Friends,
But could not Ease my Smart;
Their Words indeed did reach my Case,
But could not reach my Heart:
Ah, then what was this World to Me,
To whom God's Word was dark!
Who in my Dungeon cou'd not see
One Beam, or shining Spark.
3.
What then were all the Creatures Smiles,
When the Creator frown'd?
My Days were Nights, my Life was Death,
My Being was my VVound:
Trtur'd and wrack'd with Hellish Fears,
VVhen God the Blow should give;
[...]ne Eyes did fail, my Heart did sink,
Then Mercy bid me live.
4.
God's Furnace doth in Sion stand,
But Sion's God sits by;
As the Refiner views his Gold
With an observant Eye:
God's Thoughts are high, his Love is wise,
His Wounds a Cure intend;
And tho' he doth not always smile,
He loves unto the end.
5.
Thy Love is constant to its Line,
Tho' Clouds oft come between;
O could my Faith but pierce these Clouds,
It might be always seen:
But I am weak, and forc'd to cry,
Take up my Soul to thee;
Then as thou ever art the same;
So shall I ever be.
6.
Then shall I ever, ever sing,
Whilst thou dost ever shine;
I have thine own dear Pledge for this,
Lord, thou art ever mine.
XXIX. A Song of Praise for Deliverance from imminent Dangers of Death.
1.
LOrd of my Life, length of my Days,
Thy Hand hath rescu'd me;
Who lying at the Gates of Death
Among the dead, was free.
[Page 49] My dearest Friends I had resign'd
Unto their Makers Care;
Me thought I only time had lest
For a concluding Prayer.
2.
Me thoughts Death laid his Hand [...]
And did his Pris'n [...] [...]
And by the sound me [...]oughts I heard,
His Masters Feet behind:
Me thoughts I stood upon the Shore,
And nothing could I see,
But the Vast Ocean with my Eyes,
A Vast Eternity.
3.
Me thoughts I heard the Midnight Cry,
Behold the Bridegroom comes;
Me thoughts I was call'd to the Bar,
Where Souls receive their Dooms:
The VVorld was at an End to me,
As if it all did Burn;
But lo! there came a Voice from Heav'n,
VVhich order'd my Return.
4.
Lord, I return'd at thy Command,
VVhat wilt thou have me do?
O let me wholly live to Thee,
To whom my Life I owe!
Fain would I dedicate to Thee
The Remnant of my Days;
[Page 50] Lord, with my Life renew my Heart,
That both thy Name may praise.
XXX. A Song of Praise for the Hope of Glory.
1.
I Sojourn in a Vale of Tears,
Alas, how [...] sing!
My Harp doth on the Willows hang,
Distun'd in every String:
My Musick is a Captives Chains,
Harsh Sounds my Ears do fill;
How shall I sing sweet Sions Song,
On this side Sions Hill?
2.
Yet lo! I hear a Joyful Sound,
Surely I quickly come;
Each word much sweetness doth distil,
Like a full Honey-Comb:
And dost thou come, my dearest Lord?
And dost thou surely come?
And dost thou surely quickly come?
Methinks I am at Home.
3.
Come then my dearest, dearest Lord,
My sweetest, surest Friend;
Come, for I loath these Kedar Tents,
Thy Fiery Chariots send:
What have I here? my Thoughts and Joys
Are all pack'd up and gone;
My Eager Soul would follow them,
To thine Eternal Throne.
4.
What have I in this Barren Land?
My Jesus is not here;
Mine Eyes will ne're be blest until
My Jesus doth appear:
My Jesus is gone up to Heav'n,
To get a Place for me;
For 'tis his Will that where he is,
There should his Servants be.
5.
Canaan I view from Pisgahs Top,
Of Canaans Grapes I taste;
My Lord who sends unto me here,
Will send for me at last:
I have a God that changeth not,
Why should I be perplext?
My God that owns Me in this World,
Will own me in the next.
6.
Go fearless then, my Soul, with God,
Into another Room;
Thou who hast walked with him here,
Go see thy God at Home:
View Death with a believing Eye,
It hath an Angels Face;
And this kind Angel will prefer
Thee to an Angels place.
7.
The Grave is but a Fining-Pot
Unto believing Eyes;
[Page 52] For there the Flesh shall lose its dross,
And like the Sun shall rise;
The world, which I have known too well
Hath mock'd me with its Lies;
How gladly could I leave behind
Its vexing Vanities?
8.
My dearest Friends, they dwell above,
Them will I go to see;
And all my Friends in Christ below,
VVill soon come after me:
Fear not the Trumps Earth rending Sound,
Dread not the Day of Doom;
For he that is to be thy Judge,
Thy Saviour is become.
9.
Blest be my God that gives me Light,
VVho in the dark did grope;
Blest be my God, the God of Love,
VVho causeth me to hope:
Here's the words Signets, Comforts Staff,
And here is Graces Chain;
But these thy Pledges, Lord, I know
My Hopes are not in vain.
XXXI. A Song of Praise collected out of the Book of Psalms.
1.
PSAL. 135.1. O Praise the Lord, Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise Him with one accord.
[Page 53] Praise him, praise him all ye that be
The Servants of the Lord.
PSAL. 47.6. Sing Praises to our God, sing Praise,
Sing Praises to our King;
Praise to the King of all the Earth,
VVith Understanding sing.
2.
PSAL. 103.1. My Soul give Laud unto the Lord,
My Spirit shall do the same,
And all the Secrets of my Heart,
Praise ye his Holy Name.
PSAL. 95.6. Come let us bow and praise the Lord,
Before him let us fall,
And kneel to him with one accord,
For he hath made us all.
3.
PSAL. 95.7. He is the Lord, he is our God,
For us he doth provide;
VVe are his Flock, he doth us feed;
His Sheep, he doth us guide.
PSAL. 118.21. I will give Thanks unto the Lord,
Because he hath heard me,
And is become most lovingly
A Saviour unto me.
4.
PSAL. 118.13. The Lord is my Defence and Strength,
My Joy, my Mirth, my Song;
[...]s is become for me indeed
A Saviour most strong.
[Page 54] PSAL. 118.28. Thou art my God, I will confess,
And render Thanks to Thee;
Thou art my God, and I will praise
Thy Mercy towards Me.
5.
PSAL. 118.29. O give ye Thanks unto the Lord!
For gracious is He,
Because his Mercy doth endure
For ever towards Me.
XXXII. Another.
1.
PSAL. 26.6. TO render Thanks unto the Lord,
How great a cause have I!
My Voice, my Prayer, and my Complaint,
That heard so willingly?
PSAL. 59.17. Thou art my Strength, thou hast me stay'd,
O Lord, I sing to Thee;
Thou art my Fort, my Fence and Aid,
And Loving God to Me.
2.
PSAL. 73.25. What thing is there that I can wish,
But Thee in Heav'n above?
And in the Earth there is nothing
Like Thee that I can love:
PSAL. 36.9. For why? the Well of Life so pure
Doth ever flow from Thee;
And in thy Light we are full sure
The lasting Light to see.
3.
PSAL. 27.15. My heart would faint, but that in me
This Hope is fixed fast;
The Lord God's good Grace shall I see,
In Life that ay shall last:
PSAL. 48.13. For this God is our God, our God,
For evermore is He;
This God of ours even unto Death,
Our faithful Guide will be.
4.
PSAL. 17.17. When I awake, I shall behold
In Righteousness thy Face;
And I shall be most like to Thee,
Even filled with thy Grace:
PSAL. 16.11. Full Joys are in thy Presence, Lord,
(A sweet and precious Store)
My God, at thy Right Hand there are
Pleasures for evermore.
5.
PSAL. 103.21. Ye Angels which are great in Power,
Praise Ye and bless the Lord,
Which to obey and do his Will
Immediately accord:
PSAL. 103.22. Ye all his Works in every place,
Praise ye his Holy Name;
My Heart, my Mind, and all my Soul,
For ever praise the same.
XXXIII. A Song of Praise Collected from the Doxologies in the Revelation of St. John.
1.
Rev. 1.5. TO Him that lov'd us from Himself,
And dy'd to do us good;
And wash'd us from our scarlet sins,
In his own purest Blood.
Rev. 1.6. And made us Kings and Priests to God,
His Father infinite;
To him Eternal Glory be,
And Everlasting Might.
2.
Rev. 5.12. The Lamb is worthy that was slain,
To have all Power and VVealth;
All Honour, Glory, VVisdom, Strength,
Thanks for his saving Health.
Rev. 5.13. Thanks, Honour, Glory, Power to Him
That on the Throne doth sit;
And to the Lamb for ever, and
For ever, so be it.
3.
Rev. 7.9. Thousands of thousands of the Saints
VVhich stand before their King,
VVith shining Robes, and spreading Palms
Loud Hallelujahs sing.
Rev. 7.10. Ascribe salvation to our God
VVho sits upon the Throne,
[Page][Page]
Thy Beams will make our Faces shine,
In Thee we will rejoyce;
Thy Love is more to us than VVine,
Thou art the Uprights Choice.
5.
Ye Daughters of Jerusalem,
Tho' I am Black, yet Fair;
Like Kedars Tents, like Ornaments
Which Solomons Bed doth wear.
6.
Look not with a disdainful Eye
Upon my Sun-burnt Face;
My Mothers Children rag'd at me,
And wrought me much disgrace;
Such was their Envy, such their Grudge,
Their Vines must be inspected.
Whilst at their Vines I was their Drudge,
Mine own were quite neglected.
7.
But, O Thou whom my Soul doth Love!
Tell me now from thy Breast,
Where feeds the Flock? where doth it move?
Where is its Noon-Tyde Rest?
Why should I stray, and lose my way,
Till I at last do Fall
Among thy Fellows Flocks, as they
Themselves do proudly call?
Christ.
8.
O Fairest Fair! then go and Trace
The Footsteps of my Sheep,
And feed my Kids beside the Place
Where my good Shepherds keep.
9.
My Love, I have compared Thee
To those Egyptian Mares,
Which in King Pharaohs Chariots flee,
O Fairest of all Fairs!
10.
Thy Cheeks are comely to behold,
Which Rows of Jewels deck;
Large Chains of pure and shining Gold,
Adorn thy Royal Neck.
11.
I and my Father, we will make
Borders of Gold for Thee,
With Silver Studs for thy dear sake,
That thou may' st Richer be.
The Church.
12.
The King doth at his Table sit,
And I that love Him well
Do pour my Spikenard on his Feet,
VVhich gives a Fragrant smell.
13.
My VVelbeloved is to Me
A Pomander of Myrrh;
Betwixt my Breast all Night shall He
Be Lodg'd and never stir.
14.
My VVelbeloved is to Me
Like Aromatick VVines;
Like Clusters of the Camphire Tree
Among Engeddi Vines.
Christ.
15.
Lo, thou art fair my only Love;
My Love, lo, thou art Fair;
[Page 61] Thou art my Love, thou art my Dove,
Doves Eyes in thee appear.
The Church.
16.
Nay, my Beloved, thou art Fair,
My Fairness is from Thee;
And thou art sweet beyond compare.
VVhat a green Bed have we!
17.
The Beams are Cedars where we dwell,
So strong they will not stir;
The Rafters send a pleasant smell,
For they are made of Fir.
The Paraphrase. CHAP. I.
1.
Now will I sing of Christ the King,
And of his Church the Queen;
The Song of Songs to them belongs,
Where their pure Flames are seen.
[Dialogue.] The Church to Christ.
2.
LET my dear Saviours Love appear
By some assuring sign;
Thou, Lord, my sainting Soul dost chear,
When thou say'st, I am thine:
Let others on their Danties feed,
And drink the richest VVine;
My Feast do [...] all their Feasts exceed,
VVhen thou say'st, I am thine.
3.
Thy Word which sounds thy mighty Fame,
And how good thou hast been,
Doth so revive, that for the same
Souls love Thee, tho' unseen;
Souls of an Heav'nly make and frame,
The Joyful Heirs of Grace,
Do taste such Sweetness in thy Name,
They long to see thy Face.
4.
Fain would I, but I cannot move,
Sin hath Enfeebled me;
O draw me with the Cords of Love!
I will run after Thee:
Thou hear'st, thou draw'st, I come, I come,
Thy Love (my God) is sweet;
Thy Presence-Chamber is the Room
Where Souls and Joys do meet.
Our Earthly Pleasures we forget,
To think upon thy Love;
All upright Souls their Minds do set
On Thee, my Lord, above.
5.
Tho' I to Strangers black do seem,
And under Foot am trod,
Yet am I Fair in Heav'ns esteem,
I am the House of God.
6.
O do not scorn my outward state!
Ye know not what's within;
Whom God doth love, how dare ye hate?
My Saviour hides my Sin;
Profest Church-Members should have brought
Some Comfort to my Mind;
[Page 63] But did they Treat me as they ought,
Alas! they prov'd unkind;
Their Anger did my words controul,
They Bow'd me to their Will:
And so my own immortal Soul
Declin'd and Fared ill.
7.
Pitty my tempted state; O Lord!
Whom still I do adore;
O bring me home by thy good Word!
My Lapsed Soul Restore;
Since, Lord, thy Mercies still abides,
Shall I be lost among
False Flocks, false Doctrines, and false Guides,
Which do thine Honour wrong?
Christ.
8.
My Church, to Me the World is dross,
And thou a Pearl of Price;
And art thou Stray'd and as a Loss?
Attend to my Advice:
Look back upon my Church of old,
And mark which way they went;
And let thy Childrens Eyes behold
The Pastors I have sent.
9.
As Pharaohs Horses (Egypts Pride)
Is deem'd the Choicest Breed;
So thou my Church, my Fairest Bride,
All Fair Ones doth exceed.
10.
Mans Eyes the outward state behold,
Mine Eyes are on thy Heart.
[Page 64] Whilst other'S shine with Pearl and Gold,
Through Grace thou lovely art.
11.
My Soul that loves thee is so glad
Thy Stock of Grace to see,
I and my Father, we will add
A new supply to Thee.
The Church.
12.
My King doth Sit in Heav'n above,
VVhere Angels do attend;
And from below, my Faith and Love
Shall to my King ascend.
13.
My Faith ascends unto my Lord,
And brings him down to Me;
My Love a Bosom doth afford,
VVhere he shall lodged be:
O the sweet time, as if I was
Reigning in Heav'n above;
VVhence once my Soul doth Christ embrace
in Arms of Faith and Love!
14.
It is so sweet, when we do meet,
My Joys in Christ exceed,
The sweetest Smells, and Tasts, and Sighs,
VVhich can our Senses feed.
Christ
15.
My dearest Church, I do admire
The Beauties of thy Mind,
So Meek, so Harmless, so Entire,
So Faithful and so Kind.
The Church.
[Page 65]16.
My dearest Lord, thou art the Sun,
By whose bright Beams I shine;
And then my Glory first begun,
When thou becamest mine:
Since thou art mine, and I am thine,
A Num'rous Race do flow
In every place, which to thy Grace,
Their Birth and Being owe.
17.
The dear Assemblies of thy Saints,
Where thou my Lord dost dwell,
Are sweet and pure, and shall endure
Against the Gates of Hell.
The VERSION. CHAP. II.
Christ.
1.
I Am the Rose of Sharon-Field,
I am the Lilly White,
The Lilly, which the Valleys yield,
I am both sweet and bright.
2.
What are Thorns in th' Account of Men,
Ʋnto the Lilly bright?
What are the Fairest Daughters, when
My Love appears in sight?
The Church.
3.
What are the common Trees o'th' Wood
Unto the Apple Tree?
What is the Rich and Noblest Blood,
My lovely Lord, to Thee?
[Page 66] I sate Rejoycing in Times past
Under his cooling Shade;
His Fruit was sweet unto my Tast,
O what a Feast I made!
4.
Unto his Cellars stor'd with Wines,
He caus'd Me to remove,
Over my Head abroad he spread
The Banner of his Love.
5.
Give Flagons for a Cordial,
Bring Apples Me to chear;
For I am sick, I faint, I fall,
I languish for my Dear.
6.
His Left Hand underneath my Head,
For my Support is plac'd;
His Right Hand over me is spread,
And thus I am Embrac'd.
7.
O Salems Daughters, you I charge,
Both by the Roe and Hind;
Ye do not move nor stir my Love,
Until it be his mind.
8.
My Welbeloved's Voice of Joy,
My Heart with Comfort fills;
He comes Leaping on Mountains high,
And Skipping on the Hills.
9.
My Welbeloved comes in hast,
Like a swift footed Roe;
Nay, my Beloved flies so fast,
Young Hart did never so.
[Page 67] Behind our Wall, lo! he doth stand,
He's at our Windows seen;
He shews himself so near at Hand,
There's but a Grate between.
10.
I gladly heard his gracious Tone,
Who thus to me did say,
Rise up, my Love, my Fairest One,
Make haste and come away.
11.
The Season of the Year invites,
The Winters gone and past;
Behold a Spring of new Delights!
No Rain, nor stormy Blast.
12.
The Flowers upon the Earth appear,
The Birds begin to sing;
The People of our Land do hear
The Turtles murmuring.
13.
Green Figs upon their Trees are grown,
Young Grapes their Smells display;
Rise up, my Love, my Fairest One,
Make haste and come away.
14.
O my Fair Dove, whose Fairness dwells
In dark Obscurity,
In cloven Rocks, and secret Cells,
Come, shew thy self to me:
O let thy Face to me appear,
I [...] thy Voice answer mine,
Thy Voice is Musick in mine Ear,
Thy Countenance doth shine.
15.
Catch us the Foxes in a Toyl,
The little Foxes catch;
For they our Fruitful Vines do spoil,
Their tender Grapes they snatch.
16.
My Welbeloved, he is mine,
And I am his indeed;
In Pastures, which with Lillies shine,
He makes his Flock to feed.
17.
Till the day break, and shades depart,
Beloved, hast to me;
Even as the Roe and tender Hart
On Bether-Mountains flee.
The Paraphrase. CHAP. II.
Christ.
1.
SƲch is the Power of my sweet Love,
My Church it sweetneth;
It sweetens Earth and Heav'n above,
It sweetens Life and Death:
Such is the Beauty of my Face,
'Tis with such Glories crown'd,
That Solomon's Glory must give place,
To what shines me around;
As Lillies in the Valleys-grow,
So I the Valleys own:
The Humble are my Heav'n below,
The Lowly are my Throne.
2.
No comely Persons can I see,
But whom my Grace adorns;
My Church a Lilly is to me,
And all the Rest are Thorns.
The Church.
3.
None but a Jesus, none but He!
He is the Chiefest Good;
My Jesus is an Apple-Tree,
And others Barren Wood:
He is a Shadow from the Heat
Of Conscience, Wrath and Hell;
He is true Manna, Heav'nly Meat,
Which feeds his Israel:
The Shadow of his Sacraments
Hath been exceeding good;
Under that Shade a Feast I made
Upon his Flesh and Blood.
4.
My Christ is like a Cellar Stor'd
With sweet and precious Wine;
What Sweetness found I in my Lord,
When he said, I am thine!
As Souldiers to their Colours stand,
And after them do move;
So doth my dearest Lord command,
And draw me by his Love.
5.
Nothing but Glory can suffice
The Appetite of Grace;
I long for Christ with Restless Eyes,
I languish for his Face.
[Page 70] O take me up, or let me Sup
On Promises Divine;
Those Apples from the Tree of Life,
Those Flagons full of Wine.
6.
How am I Born, whilst sick of Love,
In those blest Hands of his?
His Left my Souls Support doth prove,
His Right my Comfort is.
7.
And whilst his Love doth me enflame,
Hear what a Charge I give,
All ye that own his Sacred Name,
Do not his Spirit grieve:
He is all Love, he is my Love,
O do not him abuse!
Do not again put him to pain,
Dear Christians, turn not Jews:
Lord, leave us not; yet if thou wilt,
With Tears we'll own thy Right;
But a Departure forc'd by Guilt,
Makes a Tempestuous Night.
8.
My dearest Saviours Voice I hear,
He comes on my account;
Nothing can stop his full Career,
No, not Corruptions Mount.
9.
My Lord makes hast from Heav'n to Earth,
And he himself presents,
To Men of a polluted Birth,
By Word and Sacraments:
Tho', like a Wall, our frail Estate
Prevents a perfect Sight,
[Page 71] Yet thro' his Ordinances Grate,
Dart in some Beams of Light.
10.
My Lord to me did thus begin,
Arise, my Love, and flee
From World, Flesh, Satan, Self and Sin,
O come away to me!
11.
Time was when thou wast cold and dead,
An Heir of Wrath thou wast,
And Vengeance-Storms hung o're thy Head,
But those sad Days are past.
12.
The Flowers of Grace begin to spring
In Thee so hopefully;
That all the Heav'nly Quire doth sing
Glory to God on High.
13.
My Church, thou art my tender Plant,
My Dews have nourish'd Thee;
Now thou art [...] mine, now thou must grant,
Thy Fruit, thy Self to Me.
14.
My heartless Dove, why dost thou faint,
And hide thy self from me?
Thou know'st not how I love a Saint,
How welcome thou should'st be:
Come, come, before thy Lord appear,
Thy Person joys my Sight;
Let me thy Prayers and Praises hear,
Thy Voice is my Delight.
15.
Ye Men of God, whose Charge it is,
In God's Courts to attend;
[Page 72] Restrain those Enemies of his,
Which do his Church offend.
16.
Mine through my Faith is my dear Lord,
His through his Love am I;
He feeds his People with his Word,
Which tasts most pleasantly.
17.
He feeds them with his Word of Grace,
Till Glories Day appears;
Which all the Shades away shall chase,
Of Sins, and Griefs, and Fears:
Come Love, come Lord, come that long day,
My earnest Expectation;
Shovel these Days out of the way,
These Hills of Separation.
The VERSION. CHAP. III.
The Church.
1.
HIM whom my Soul doth love, I sought
By Night upon my Bed,
I sought him, but I found him not,
My Souls Delight was fled.
2.
And slug I here? I'll now arise
And go about the Town;
I'll search the Streets and broader ways,
Until I find my own:
Up did I get, and out I went,
My Dearest to regain;
But when I had my Labour spent,
Alas! it was in vain.
3.
The City-watch did light on me,
Of whom I did enquire,
In any Street, pray, Did ye see,
The Man, whom I admire?
4.
'Twas but a little while that I
Had from the Watch-men pass'd,
But I did find my only Joy,
And then I held him fast;
I held, and would not let him go,
Till I had brought him home,
Into my Mothers House, and so
Into my Native Room.
5.
O Salems Daughters, you I charge
Both by the Roe and Hind;
Ye do not move, nor 'wake my Love,
Until it be his Mind.
The Daughters of Jerusalem.
6.
What smoaky Pillar strait from hence
Out of that Desart Rises;
Perfum'd with Myrrh and Frankincense,
And all the Merchants Spices?
The Church.
7.
Such Ornaments his Bed do grace,
As Solomons Bed commend;
Where threescore Men of Israels Race,
His valiant Guards attend.
8.
They all hold Swords couragiously,
They all know how to Fight;
[Page 74] Each hath his Sword upon his Thigh,
Because of Fear i'th' Night.
The Chariot of King Solomon,
Which for himself he made,
Was of the Wood of Lebanon,
Which Silver Pillars had.
10.
Gold was the bottom, and above
Rich Purple cover'd it;
The midst whereof was pav'd with Love,
For Salems Daughters Fit.
11.
Look, Virgins, on King Solomon,
His Crown so Rich, so Gay,
Wherewith his Mother Crown him on
His Joyful Marriage-day.
The Paraphrase. CHAP. III.
The Church.
1.
ONce did I seek my dearest Lord,
But with a sleepy Mind;
His presence he did not afford;
Slack Seekers cannot find.
2.
Shall I, said I; forgoe my Christ,
And so close up mine Eyes?
No, no, he was so dearly mist,
I could not but arise.
My Bed was Thorus, no Bed for me,
Nothing could give me rest,
Till I my dearest Lord might see,
And can upon his Breast:
[Page 75] VVhen private means could not prevail,
In publick Him I sought;
I waited till my Eyes did fail,
Alas! I found him not.
3.
God's holy VVatchmen did Me find,
Of whom I did enquire,
Pray, can ye help my troubled Mind,
VVhich doth a Christ desire?
O happy Stars, if ye might be
My Guides to Jesus now!
Seers, did ye my Saviour see?
Pray tell me where and how?
Means must be us'd, but cannot heal
VVithout a Sovereign VVord;
Christ only can himself reveal;
And still I lack'd my Lord.
4.
One dark Hour more I did sustain,
And then the Night was past;
Tho' I had sought so long in vain,
I found my Lord at last;
I found my Lord and held him fast,
And would not let him part;
My New-found Jesus I embrac'd,
And Lodg'd Him in my Heart:
I would not lose my Christ again,
And gain a Second Hell;
My Prayers and Tears did him constrain
VVithin my Soul to dwell.
As Clouds are pierc'd with powerful light,
His Beams thro' me did shine;
[Page 76] His dear Assemblies saw this Sight,
And joy'd that Christ was mine.
5.
Christ's Love my Heart doth so inflame,
This Charge I needs must give;
All ye that own his Sacred Name,
Do not his Spirit grieve:
He is all Love, he is my Love,
O do not him abuse!
Do not again put him to pain,
Dear Christians, turn not Jews:
Lord, leave us not; yet if thou wilt,
With Tears we'll own thy Right;
But a Departure forc'd by Guilt,
Makes a Tempestuous Night.
Weak Believers.
6.
What Heav'nly Souls from Earth arise,
And do at Heav'n aspire!
They mount, they soar, they fix their Eyes
On God their chief Desire:
Earths Wilderness they nobly scorn,
Whilst others Rake for it;
Heav'ns Graces them do so Adorn,
That they for Heav'n are fit.
The Church.
7.
Admire not me, but my dear Lord,
Whose Bosom gives me rest;
Whose Angels watch with one accord,
That none should me molest.
8.
These Heav'nly Guards are full of might,
And ready do they stand,
For to defend his Churches Right,
When he shall them command:
When Darkness breeds tormenting Fear,
Then help comes from on High;
A strengthing Angel doth appear
Amidst that Agony.
9.
Heav'n is the High and Glorious Throne,
Of my most Glorious Lord;
Who yet on Earth Rides up and down
I'th' Chariot of his Word.
10.
His Word is rich, and strong, and pure,
As all his Saints do prove;
VVho of its true Intent are sure,
And find, it's Heart is Love.
11.
Go ye that own the Highest Name,
Behold a Glorious Shew;
How the Almighty spreads his Fame;
And what his VVord can do:
This mighty King Rides Conquering,
His Word goes forth with Might;
VVhich wooes and wins the Slaves of Sin,
Both by its Force and Light:
Those Slaves their Hellish Lords forsake,
And Christ do humbly own;
And as his Spouse, he them doth take,
And wears them as his Crown:
Great was their Need; greater his Love
Than their Necessity.
[Page 78] As well they may, glad do they prove,
But not so glad as He.
The VERSION. CHAP. IV.
Christ.
1.
LO, thou art Fair, my only Love,
My Love, lo! thou art Fair;
Thine Eyes are like those of the Dove,
Within thy Locks of Hair;
Thy Hairy Locks are like Goats Flocks,
Which from Mount Gilead look.
2.
So are thy Teeth like well-shorn Sheep;
Come from the Washing Brook;
They Pregnant are as well as Fair,
For Fruit as well as View;
For each of them her Twins doth bear,
There's [...]ot one barren Ewe.
3.
Thy Lips are like a Scarlet-thread,
Thy Speech is sweet and fine;
Within thy Locks thy Temples Red,
Like broke Pomegranate shine.
4.
Thy Neck is like to David's Tower,
Strong built, and raised high;
A thousand Shields for Men of Power
Hang in that Armory.
5.
Thy two Breasts are like two young Roes
Well shap'd and well agreed;
For they are loving Twins, and those
Among the Lillies feed.
6.
Ʋntil the Day have chas'd away
The Dusky Shades, I will
Betake me to the Mount of Myrrh,
And to the Incense-Hill.
7.
All over fair, my Love, thou art,
And so thou seem'st to me;
There is not one uncomly Part,
Not one dark Spot in Thee.
8.
Come, Love, with me from Lebanon,
From Lebanon, with me,
Since Thou and I are joyn'd in One,
Thy Lebanon I'll be:
From Shenirs Top, from Hermon book,
And from Amana high,
Those Lions Dens must be forsook,
And where the Leoparc's lie.
9.
My Spouse, my Sister, thou hast Gain'd
A perfect Victory
Over my Heart by thy bright chain,
And by thy Brighter Eye.
10.
How fair and pleasant is thy Love,
My dearest spause to Me!
O how I prize it far above
The Richest wines that be!
O how my Sisters Ointments smell,
What sweetness do they yield!
This pleasant scent doth far Excel
The sweet Arabian Field.
11.
Thy Lips drop like the Honey comb,
There Milk with Honey Flows;
The Garments of my Spouse.
12.
My Sister and my Spouse is Veil'd,
That she may be suppos'd;
A Spring shut up, a Fountain seal'd,
A Garden well enclos'd.
13.
Thou hast a pleasant Nursery,
Where sweet Pomegranates grow,
And Fruits which please both Taste and Eye,
Thereto the Spices flow.
14.
As Camphire, Spikenard, Calamus,
Saffron and Cynamon,
Myrrh, Aloes and Incense Trees.
With each Spice of Renown.
15.
A Garden Fountain is my Love,
A Living Well is She;
Like Lebanons Streams which swiftly move,
And down to Jordan flee.
The Church.
16.
Am I a Garden? Then, O North,
Awake, and on it Breath;
Thy quickning Breath will summon forth
The Odours from Beneath:
Am I a Garden? Then, O South,
Come, on this Garden blow!
One Sovereign Blast out of thy Mouth,
vvill make its Spices flow:
Then, then, into his Paradise,
Let my Beloved come;
[Page 81] And eat his Fruits, and get his Spice,
And count himself at home.
The Paraphrase. CHAP. IV.
Christ.
1.
Mr Dearest Church, I do admire
The Beauties of thy Mind,
So Meek, so Harmless, so Entire,
So Loyal and so Kind:
Ev'n thy Profession I esteem,
Because it springs from Grace,
Which makes Thee yet more comely seem,
As Hair adorns the Face.
2.
Thy Pastors which prepare thy Food,
Do in their Minds agree;
Their Lives and Doctrines both are good,
And bring much Fruit to me.
3.
Thy Speech so season'd is with Grace,
That many Hearts it moves;
And Graces colour in thy Face,
Its great Advantage proves.
4.
Thy Faith which joyns thee to thy Head,
Doth shield thine inward parts;
This Shield hath oft extinguished
The Devil's Fiery Darts.
5.
The two Breasts of thy Testaments
Most friendly do accord;
Which Nourishment and sweet content
To new Born Babes afford.
[Page 82] The Cries of a Distressed Soul,
These Breasts of Comfort still;
These Breasts make glad, whom Sin makes sad,
These Breasts the Hungry Fill.
6.
The Word is here the Churches Fare,
And Faith the Churches Light,
Till Shades give way to Glories Day,
Then shall she live by Sight:
Mean-while my Gracious Presence shall
Her dear Assemblies fill;
Her Prayers shall be most sweet to me,
Sweet as the Incense-Hill:
Mean-while my Glorious Presence shall
Fill Heav'n, that Holy Ground,
Where Cherubims and Seraphims
Their Hallelujahs sound.
7.
My dearest Church, how clear art thou,
On whom no sin remains!
My Blood apply'd hath purify'd
Thee from thy Guilts and stains:
Thou art to me as white as Snow,
And tho' thou finnest still,
Grace keeps thee in, thou canst not sin
With full consent of Will.
8.
Let my Fair Glories thee intice
To come along with me;
Forsake thine Earthly Paradise,
Thy Paradise I'll be;
Birth, Pleasures, Riches, Friends and Fame,
Are all summ'd up in Me.
[Page 83] O that thou knew'st how good I am!
Come now and tast and see:
The World's an howling Wilderness,
Fill'd with the Beasts of Prey;
Whilst that they Rage, Roar, and Oppress,
On Canaan fix thine Eye.
9.
My Heaven-born Spouse, whom I embrace,
My Joy and Crown thou art;
Thine Eye of Faith, thy Chain of Grace
Have overcome my Heart.
10.
My Dearest Spouse of Heav'nly Birth,
Thy Love is more to Me
Than all the Pleasures of the Earth,
And sweet thy Graces be.
11.
Thy Speeches in thy Heart are bred,
And sweetly do they flow;
Thy works do such a savour spread,
As Lebanons Spices do.
12.
Disguised to the World thou go'st,
Heav'n in a Mystery;
To me thou Run'st, to me thou Flow'st,
None knows thy worth but I:
As thou art mine, so I am thine,
My Love doth guard thy Heart;
Thy Heart's with me, my Love's with thee,
My Church, how safe thou art!
13, 14.
My Church thou art a Paradise,
Where Fruits and Spices grow;
[Page 84] Fair are thy Fruits, and from thy Spice
Thy sweetest Odours flow:
Thy tender Plants thy Children are,
Their Graces Fruits and Spice;
I am the Tree of Life in Thee,
My Church, my Paradise.
15.
Thou art a Spring, which to thy Plants
D [...]st thy pure Streams derive;
Ʋnder thine Eye and Ministry
Thy Blest Assemblies thrive.
The Church.
16.
My Lord, if I a Garden am,
Then let thy Spirit blow;
And with its Gales refresh the same,
And make my Graces flow:
And when thy Spirit thus hath blown,
And I do flourish most,
Then let my Dearest Lord come down,
And feed upon his Cost.
So poor I am, so great thou art,
The Lord, how can I Feast?
Furnish the Table of my Heart,
Then come and be my Guest.
The VERSION. CHAP. V.
Christ.
1.
I'M come into a Paradise,
My Sister and my Spouse;
I've gather'd of my Myrrh and Spice,
VVhich in my Garden grows.
[Page 85] My Honey Comb and Honey too
Have been my sweet Repast;
My Wine, my Milk which here do flow,
Have chear'd my Heart and Tast:
My Friends and dear Companions,
Come, Feast your selves with Me;
Drink, O my Welbeloved Ones,
Yea, Drink abundantly.
The Church.
2.
I sleep, but yet my Heart doth wake,
Heark, my Beloved One
Doth Knock and Call. I can't mistake
His Knock, his Tread, his Tone:
Open to Me, my Fathers Child,
Open to Me, my Love;
Open to me, my Undefil'd,
Open to me, my Dove:
Open to me, that wait for Thee,
My Head is fill'd with Dew;
And all my Locks with Ev'ning Drops,
Let's have an Enterview.
3.
My Coat is off, and how shall I
Put on my Coat again?
Should I come o're the Dusty Floor,
My washed Feet to stain?
4.
My Dearest then by the key-hole
His willing Hand did move;
Which when I did perceive, my Soul
Was touch'd with Grief and Love.
5.
Rowz'd by this Passion, I did stir,
And answer'd to his Call;
My Hands and Fingers drop'd with Myrrh,
Which from the Lock did fall.
6.
Then did I open to my Dear,
But he (alas!) was gone;
He whom I did so lately hear,
Methoughts I was undone:
I sought him whom my Soul ador'd,
But him I could not have,
I call'd and cry'd, my Love, my Lord!
But He no answer gave.
7.
Then did the cruel City-VVatch
Smite Me, and wound Me sore;
The Keepers of the VVall did snatch
Away the Veil I wore.
8.
O Daughters of Jerusalem!
I charge You, if Ye find
My Glorious Dear, that he may hear
My Love afflicts my Mind.
The Daughters of Jerusalem.
9.
What Jewel is this Dear of thine,
O Fairest, let us know;
Wherein does thine Others out-shine,
That thou dost charge us so?
The Church.
10.
My dear Delight is Red and VVhite,
The Lilly and the Rose;
[Page 87] So sweet a Grace adorns his Face,
Ten thousand he out-goes.
11.
His Head is like the Finest Gold,
And curled Locks doth wear,
VVhich do the Ravens Colour hold,
So comely is his Hair.
12.
His Eyes are like the Eyes of Doves,
VVhich on the Banks are met,
And do the streams of VVater love,
Milk-washt and fitly set.
13.
His Cheeks are like a spicy Bed,
VVhere all Perfumes do meet;
His Lips like Lillies, whence is shed
The Myrrh that smells so sweet.
14.
His Hands are like the Chrysolite
In Rings of Gold display'd,
His Belly is like Ivory bright,
VVith Sapphires overlaid.
15.
His Legs like Marble Pillars are
On Golden Sockets set;
His Face, like Lebanon, is most Fair,
Like Cedars most compleat.
His Mouth is most exceeding Sweet,
Yea, he is wholly so;
Down from his Head unto his Feet,
VVith Sweetness he doth flow:
O Salems Daughters, This is He
Of whom ye did enquire;
[Page 88] This is the Friend that loveth Me,
This is my Hearts desire.
The Paraphrase. CHAP. V.
Christ.
1.
MY Love, (my Dearest) hath Me brought
Whither thou didst Invite;
Thy Graces which my Hand hath wrought,
Have been my Souls delight:
Thou art a Vine, which with thy VVine,
Both God and Man dost chear;
Feed on the Fruits prepar'd in Thee,
A constant Feast is there.
The Church.
2.
Such drowsiness doth me possess,
I live, and yet I die;
Some Life I have, no Liveliness,
How dark and cold am I!
Here in the dark and deep I grope,
Who us'd to live above;
Where is my Faith? Where is my Hope?
Where is my wonted Love?
It is no Strangers Voice I hear,
I know it is my Lords.
He knocks both at my Heart and Ear,
These are his loving words,
Open to Me, my Fathers Child,
Open to Me, my Love,
Open to Me, my Undefil'd,
Open to Me, my Dove.
[Page 89] My Gracious Patience hath stood
Long waiting at thy Door;
Fain would I enter for thy good;
Slight not thy Saviour.
3.
One would have thought such melting words
Should break an heart of Steel
But I (Alas!) so stupid was,
Their Force I did not feel:
My Answer was to this Effect,
Lord, now I am at ease;
And Lord, if I should Thee respect,
My Friends I should displease:
Thy Service, Lord, would cost me dear,
The World would me molest;
Thy heavy Cross how can I bear?
Do not disturb my Rest.
4.
My Lord to this made no Reply,
Only on Me he cast
A sad and a Rebuking Eye,
On which this sense I pass'd;
Dost thou my Patience thus requite,
To make it longer bear?
Dost all my Love and Sufferings slight?
I look'd for better Fare;
This stirr'd my Love, my Grief and shame,
Which put me to such pain.
5.
That I resolv'd, whatever came,
To own my Christ again,
Accurst Temptations, be ye gone,
And do not me restrain;
[Page 90] Satan Avaunt, let Me alone,
I'll have my Christ again:
This Resolution gave some Ease
To my distressed Mind;
My Griefs did then begin to cease,
VVhen I to Christ inclin'd.
6.
But when I did my self address,
My Saviour to embrace;
Alas! for my Unworthiness
My Saviour hid his Face:
For He is Great as well as Good,
And will not be disdain'd;
Then his kind words, which I withstood,
My Conscience sorely pain'd:
O then I wish'd a thousand times
That I had been so wise
To shake off my Security,
VVhen Christ bade Me arise:
I sought him daily in his VVord,
But him I could not have;
I call'd and cry'd, My Love, my Lord!
But he no Answer gave.
7.
Earth did oppress whom Heav'n forsook,
Nothing but Griefs I found,
For they who to my Soul should look,
My Soul did pierce and wound:
Their words and deeds did both conspire,
To grieve my grieved heart;
Their Scorns and Jears were Swords & Spears,
VVhich did increase my Smart.
[Page 91] But still my greatest wound was here,
My Lord I could not find;
Had I my Lord, I should not care,
Tho' others prov'd unkind.
8.
Another Course I straightways took,
I did repair to those
VVho Sion wards do often look,
And did my Case propose:
Blest Souls said I who oft attend
At the Almighties Court,
My Case to you I do commend,
That you may it report:
A Lord I have or rather had,
My VVelbeloved one;
His Presence us'd to make me glad,
But, Ah, my Lord is gone!
If when you pray, he should acquaint
You with his Love and Grace;
Tell him from me, my Heart doth faint
And Languish for his Face.
9.
VVho is, said they, this Lord of thine?
O Fairest, let us know;
VVherein does thine others out-shine,
That thou dost Charge us so?
10.
My dearest Lord is VVhite and Red;
VVhite thro' his Purity,
Red thro' his Blood which he did shed
For such an one as I:
VVas he not Red, but only White,
The Lilly, not the Rose;
[Page 92] He might delight the Angels Sight,
But I am none of those:
Was he not White but only Red,
A Sufferer for his sin;
His Blood would rest upon his head,
Nor could I Joy therein:
But my dear Lord is White and Red,
This Mixture pleaseth me;
For, for my sins he suffered,
When he from sin was free:
What a reviving sight is this?
A righteous Saviour's Blood;
The Bath of Sin, the Spring of Bliss,
Most pure, most sweet and good:
The fond inchanted VVorld admires
Their Idols here below;
Their creeping, groveling, poor Desires
Their Childish Minds do shew:
Did but my Glorious Lord appear,
O did they him but know,
What formerly their Glories were,
Would be no longer so:
The lesser Lights all disappear,
When once my Sun doth shine;
And tho' Ten Thousand Lords were here,
None could be like to mine:
My Lord, he is the King of Kings,
The Fairest of all Fairs;
Of all your fine and boasted things,
None with my Lord compares.
[Page 93] VVhat's your thick Clay? Your stones bring forth
VVhich ye your Jewels call;
My Lord, he is of real worth,
And goes beyond them all.
11.
His Godhead and his Government
Are infinitely pure,
Most Glorious and most Excellent,
And ever shall endure.
12.
His is a pure and piercing Eye,
Thro' all the Earth it moves;
VVhich the dark Hypocrite doth spy,
And secret good approves.
13.
His Cheeks appear most bright and clear,
VVhen he himself doth shew;
Methinks I in a Garden walk,
VVhere Flowers and Spices grow:
VVhen he doth my affections stir,
And speaks unto my Mind;
Methinks the Lillies drop with Myrrh,
Such Savour do I find:
So sweet a Grace adorns his Face,
His Face, like Heav'n doth shine;
And O what Musick do I hear,
VVhen he saith, I am thine!
14.
His Hands are like to Rings of Gold,
The works of my dear Lord
Are bright and comely to behold,
His VVorks fulfil his VVord.
[Page 94] The Tender Bowels of his Love,
How precious they be!
VVhen I am Griev'd, his Bowels move,
And loudly plead for me.
15.
The sweet Proceedings of my Lord
Are like his Purposes;
Holy and Pure, and Firm and sure,
Both Love and Stedfastness:
His Countenance Majestical
All Rev'rence doth Command;
If he but Frowns on us, we fall,
But if he Smiles, we stand.
16.
His Mouth is most exceeding sweet,
All sweetness like an Hive,
One word of his like Honey is,
O how it doth revive!
As I begun should I go on
My Dearest Lord to Limn,
You'd say, all sweets compacte [...]
And summed up in him.
My Lord is Larger than Desires,
Fairer than VVords can show;
One comely part fond Earth admires,
My Lord is wholly so.
O Heav'n-born Souls, This, This is he
Of whom ye did enquire;
This is the Friend that Loveth me,
This is my Hearts Desire:
The VERSION. CHAP. VI.
The Daughters of Jerusalem.
1.
FAirest of Fairs, if thus it be,
O whither is he gone?
Tell us, that we may seek with thee
This thy Beloved One.
The Church.
2.
Down to his Garden he is gone,
VVhere Beds of Spices are,
That he may Feed and Feast thereon,
And Gather Lillies there.
3.
I am my VVelbeloved ones,
My VVelbeloved's mine;
He Feeds and Treads in pleasant Meads,
VVhere the bright Lillies shine.
Christ.
4.
My Love, like Tirzah, thou art Neat,
And like Jerusalem,
And like an Army so Compleat,
Men fly for Fear of them.
5.
O turn away thine Eyes from me,
Thy bright and sparkling Eyes,
To bear so great Felicity,
My strength doth not suffice;
Thy Hairy Locks are like Goats Flocks
VVhich from Mount Gilead look.
6.
So are thy Teeth like VVell shorn sheep,
Come from the VVashing-brook,
[Page 96] They Pregnant are as well as Fair,
For Fruit as well as View;
For each of them her Twins doth bear,
There's not one barren Ewe.
7.
As broke Pomegranate seemeth Red,
And shines exceeding clear,
So do the temples of thy Head,
Within thy Locks appear.
8.
Thrice twenty Queens together stand,
And fourscore Concubines;
And Virgins like the num'rous sand,
Which to the Sea adjoyns.
9.
My spotless Dove, she is but one,
The Darling of her Mother,
Who loves and prizes her alone,
She knows not such another:
The Daughters saw her comely Lines,
And prais'd her Lovely Face;
Yea, all the Queens and Concubines
Admir'd her Beauteous Grace.
10.
VVhat Morn looks forth? what Moon is there?
VVhat Sun may yonder be?
Fierce Troups with Flags display'd appear,
O what a One is She!
11.
To the Nut-Garden down I went
To see the Fruits below;
VVhether the Vines their Grapes did vent,
And the Pomegranates grow.
12.
My Soul gave me a sudden twitch
And made me nimbly slide,
Like those swift Chariots, in which
Amminadib did Ride.
13.
Return, Return, O Shulamite.
Return, Return Apace
That we may look with much delight
Ʋpon thy Glorious Face:
What in the Shulamite I pray,
Do ye expect to see?
Two Armies set in good Array
Even such a one is she.
The Paraphrase. CHAP VI.
The Church.
1.
WHilst thus my dearest Lord I prais'd,
As I could do no less;
They heard, they look'd, they stood amaz'd
At my great happiness:
And when I ceas'd they thus reply'd,
O Fairest we must needs
Congratulate thy Blest Estate,
Which ours so far exceeds:
O that we were in such a Case
As we perceive thou art;
O that our Souls might find a place
In thy Beloved's Heart:
Whither is thy Beloved gone?
Pray, let us go with thee,
[Page 98] To seek thy Well beloved One,
Whose Face we fain would see.
2.
If you my dearest Lord would see,
Then go unto his Court,
Look where his Saints Assembled be,
Thither you must Resort:
For they his Pleasure-Gardens are,
Where he delights to be;
They are his Comfort and his Care,
There you my Lord may see:
Some Souls he breeds, and some he feeds,
Others he doth remove;
Hence for his lower Gardens to
His Paradise above.
3.
I am my Well-beloved ones,
My Well-beloved's mine;
To me his Love a Feast doth prove,
Beyond the Richest Wine.
Christ.
4.
My dearest Church, on whom I see
A Fair and Royal Stamp;
All sweetness joyn'd with Majesty,
Thou art both court and camp.
5.
Thy Prayers are arms, thy Praises charms,
Thy Love is like a Dart;
Thy Faith and Graces are so strong,
They overcome my Heart:
Thy Fair Profession I esteem,
Because it springs from Grace,
[Page 99] Which makes thee yet more comely seem,
As Hair adorns the Face.
6.
Thy Pastors which prepare thy Food,
Do in their Minds agree,
Their Lives and Doctrines both are good,
And bring much Fruit to me.
7.
Thy countenance so shines with Grace,
That many Hearts it moves;
And Grace's colour in thy Face,
Its great Advantage proves.
8.
The World presents its glorious Shews,
But what are those to me?
In my dear Church, my only Spouse,
All Glories do I see.
9.
Earths Pride would soon confounded be,
Should but my Spouse appear,
Who to her mother and to me
Is so exceeding dear.
Her Noble Birth and Real Worth,
Have gain'd her so much Fame,
The greatest Princes of the Earth
Have prais'd her worthy Name.
10.
Her Sweetness joyn'd with Majesty,
Her Presence much Endear'd;
Her Power with her Purity
Made her both lov'd and fear'd.
11.
I have been with my new born Saints,
I have been down to see
What Buds were on my tender Plants,
What hopes of Fruit for me.
12.
When my dear Church, I hid my Face,
Thou did'st thy self bemoan;
I did but prove thy Faithful Love,
When thou thought'st I was gone:
My Bowels yearn'd when thou didst Cry,
My Love did me constrain;
To haste apace, and shew my Face
To thy griev'd Soul again.
13.
Return, Return my dearest Church,
Return, Return to me;
The Heav'nly Quire, and I desire
Thy Blessed Face to see:
My Heav'nly Host, if ye would know
My Churches State and Case;
She is another Host below,
And of an awful Grace.
The VERSION. CHAP. VII.
Christ.
1.
O Daughters of a Prince how Fair
Are both thy Shooes and Feet!
Thy Joynts and Thighs like Jewels are,
Wrought by an hand discreet.
2.
Thy Navel as a Cup compleat,
With Liquor doth abound;
Thy Belly's like an Heap of Wheat,
Which Lillies do surround.
3.
Thy two Breasts are like two young Roes,
Well Shap'd and well agreed,
[Page 101] Both which are Loving Twins, and those
Among the Lillies Feed.
4.
Thy Neck, like I vory is most Fair,
And like a Tower most straight;
Thine Eyes like beshbon pools, which are
Hard by Bath-Rabim Gate:
Thy Nose is like to Lebanons Tower,
The Tower which doth Command
Damascus-Town, the Chiefest Flower
Of all the Syrian Land.
5.
Thine Head on thee like Carmel is,
Thine Hair, like Purple stain'd;
The Galleries so take his Eyes,
The King is there detain'd.
6.
How Fair art thou, how pleasant art,
My Love, unto my sight!
So sweetly Grac'd in every part;
Thou art my whole delight.
7.
[...] Ʋnto a Palm-Tree I compare,
Thy Stature straight and fine;
Thy Breasts appear both full and fair
Like Clusters of the Vine.
8.
[...] I said I will this Palm-Tree Climb,
I'll search her Branches well;
Thy Breasts shall now like Clusters shew,
Thy Nose like Apples swell.
9.
[...] Thy Palate's like the choicest Wine,
Which for my Friend I keep;
Which sweetly Flows, and causeth those
To Speak that are asleep.
The Church.
[Page 102]10.
I am my Well-beloved's own,
And He is wholly mine;
The Stream of his Affection
Doth towards me incline.
11.
Come, my Beloved, let us go
Into the Fields abroad;
And in the Villages below
Let's take up our Abode.
12.
Let's go up early in the Morn,
And to the Vineyards go;
To see what Fruits the Trees adorn,
Whether the Vine doth grow:
Whether the tender Grapes appear,
And the Pomegranates thrive,
(The Hopes of the Ensuing Year)
There thee my Loves I'll give.
13.
The Mandrakes smell, and at our Door
All pleasant Fruits there be,
Both New and Old which are my Store,
Laid up, my Love, for Thee.
The Paraphrase. CHAP. VII.
Christ.
1.
O Daughter of the Mighty God,
How comely are thy Feet?
VVith Gospel-preparation Shod!
Thy carriage how discreet?
2.
Thou art both Fair and Fruitful too,
Great Numbers thou dost Breed,
VVhich with good Meals, the VVord and Seals,
Thou liberally dost feed,
3.
The two Breasts of thy Testaments
Most friendly do accord;
VVhich Nourishment and sweet content
To New-born Babes afford:
The cries of a distressed Soul,
These Breasts of comfort still;
These Breasts make glad whom sin makes sad,
These Breasts the Hungry [...]ill.
4.
Thy Faith is thy strong Fort and Tower,
Thine Ʋnderstanding clear;
Thy Judging and Discerning Power
Informs when Danger's near:
Thy Christ, thy Head of Eminence
All Others doth exceed;
Thy Christ, thy Head of Influence
Thy Grace doth keep and feed:
VVhen thine Assemblies Exercise
Their Graces freely given,
The King walks in those Galleries,
As in another Heaven.
6.
My Church, who art most New, most Fair,
How Dear art thou and Sweet;
In whom all Sweets compacted are,
In whom all Graces meet?
7.
Ʋnder thy weight thou flourishest
As the stout Palm-Tree doth;
My Church, the more thou art deprest,
The greater is thy growth:
The Breasts of thy two Testaments,
Like Clusters of the Vines;
Are full of Juice, which for thy use
Tield store of Heav'nly Wine.
8.
When I perceiv'd thy Soul to thrive,
Like to a Fruitful Tree;
Then I drew near, that I might chear,
And joy my self in thee,
Nor did I empty-handed come,
But added to thy Store;
God's Word came then more near and home,
Thy Graces scented more.
9.
Thy Speech is like the choichest VVine,
So lovely and so strong;
It makes the Sinners Heart divine,
And sanctifies his Tongue.
The Church.
10.
My dearest Lords Affection
I cannot but admire;
I am my welbeloved's own,
I am his Hearts desire.
11.
I gladly with my Lord could talk,
And spend both Night and Day;
Come Lord, let us together walk,
Let us together stay.
12.
Come let's go see what Fruits and Flowers
Adorn thy Garden place,
Under the Sun shine and the showers
Of days and means of Grace:
Could I but see thy Children Spring,
And in an happy frame;
O how should I rejoyce and sing,
And love thee for the same!
13.
Thy Saints their Services present,
Which of Sweet Savour be;
Saints New and Old within my Tent,
Are kept from Heav'n and thee.
The VERSION. CHAP. VIII.
The Church.
1.
I Would to God thou wert as near
To me as is my Brother,
That Fill'd the Lap and Suck'd the Pap
Of my most tender Mother:
When I without should light on thee,
Then I thy Lips would Kiss;
Yea, I should not despised be,
Nor disesteem'd for this.
3.
I'd bring thee to my Mothers Tent,
Who would instruct me there;
Pomegranate-Wine of pleasant scent
Should be thy Royal Fare.
4.
His Left Hand underneath my Head
Should lovingly be plac'd.
[...] [...][Page 106] His Right Hand or'e me should be spread,
Thus should I be Embrac'd.
4.
Ye Daughters of Jerusalem,
'Tis You I charge and bind,
Not once to move, or wake my Love
Until it be his Mind.
The Daughters of Jerusalem.
5.
Out of the Desart doth Ascend
A comely Sight to see;
One Leaning on her dearest Friend,
O what a One is She!
The Church.
Under the shady Apple-Tree
Thee did I Raise and Rear;
Thy Mother Travell'd there with Thee,
Thy Native Place was there.
6.
O Seal thine Image on thy Heart,
O'Seal it on thy Arm!
For Love, like Death, doth cast its Dart,
And Jealousie is warm:
'Tis like the Grave, whose keen desire
Nothing can satisfie.
The Coals thereof are Coals of Fire
That flame most vehemently.
7.
Waters can't quench loves flame, nor floods
Can Loves height overflow;
If one for Love would give his Goods,
The Price would be too low.
The Jewish Church.
[Page 107]8.
No Breasts on our small Sister grow,
Nor is She yet Admir'd;
What shall we for our Sister do,
When she shall be desir'd?
Christ.
9.
We'll build on her a Silver Court,
If she a VVall shall be;
Or if a Door, Her we'll Support
VVith Boards of Cedar-tree.
The Jewish Church.
10.
I am a Wall both strong and tall,
My Breasts like Towers are round;
(I then his Sight did much delight,
As one that Favour Found.)
Christ.
11.
At Baal-Hammon, King Solomon
A Vineyard did possess;
Keepers he sent to the Intent
They might his Vineyard dress:
And thus with them he did agree,
That for the Fruit it gave,
A thousand silver Pieces he
Of each of them should have.
12.
My Vineyard which belongs to Me,
I know not how to spare;
It ever lies before mine Eyes,
It is my constant care.
[Page 108] But thou, O Solomon, must have
A thousand for thy Gains;
And those that keep its Fruit may crave
Two Hundred for their pains.
13.
And now farewel thou that Dost dwell
In Gardens here below;
As thy Companions hear thy Voice
So let me hear it too.
The Church.
14.
Haste my Beloved like a Roe
Which soon her course fulfils;
O that thou wert like a young Hart
Upon the Spicy Hills!
The Paraphrase. CHAP. VIII.
The Church.
1.
LORD that thou wert as near to me
As is my Mothers Son;
Such freedom should I have with thee,
As if we both were One:
I would impart my very Heart
To one that was so near;
VVhose nearness should advance my Love
Above all Slavish fear.
2.
Gods Holy Church, my Mother Dear,
Sould me such Lectures Read;
I should provide such Heav'nly Chear,
VVhereon thou lov'st to Feed.
3.
And then shouldst thou thy Love display,
The Riches of thy Grace,
[Page 109] Thy Left Hand then my Head should slay,
Thy Right my Heart embrace.
4.
Christs Love my Heart doth so inflame,
This Charge I needs must give;
All ye that own his Sacred Name
Do not his Spirit grieve:
Lord, leave us not; if yet thou wilt
VVith Tears we'll own thy Right;
But a Departure forc'd by Guilt
Makes a Tempestuous Night.
VVeak Christians.
5.
VVhat strange Aspiring Souls are those
VVhich do this VVorld disdain;
VVho on their Lord themselves repose,
Heav'ns Kingdom to obtain.
The Church.
Under thine Ordinances Shade
I Sought and found thine Aid;
For there thine Entrance first was made,
Thy Graces first Conveigh'd.
6.
Lord bear my Name upon thy Breast,
Engrave it on thine Heart;
There let it be so sure possest
It thence shall ne're depart:
For Love, like Death doth cast its Dart,
VVhich wounds me to the quick;
Thy Presence, Lord, supports my Heart;
Thy absence makes it Sick.
[Page 110] Shouldst thou but seemingly disdain
My Heart so deep Engag'd,
I should be Tortur'd with such pain
As could not be asswag'd.
O Love Me, Lord, or else I die!
Thee, Lord, my Love doth crave!
My Lord, shouldst thou my Love deny,
My Love would be my Grave.
My Love doth flame my Jealousie,
So burns my Heart and Eyes.
I must embrace my Lord, or I
Must be Loves Sacrifice.
7.
Whole Seas of Trouble cannot quench
Loves everlasting Fire:
Though Hell oppose, whom I have chose,
I cannot but Admire.
None but a Christ, none but my Lord,
No Brides can take with Me;
A proffer'd World would be abhorr'd;
A Christ, and none but He!
The Jewish Church.
8,
Remember the Blind Nations, Lord,
Who in a Dungeon grope,
And lack the Sun-shine of thy Word,
Yet Prisn'rs are of Hope.
When once the Hour of thy Design
Hath on these Captives Shone,
When they are call'd and own'd for Thine,
What shall be further done?
Christ.
[Page 111]9.
If they be constant to my Name,
And firmly hold my VVord;
They shall be blest with strength and fame,
And honour'd by their Lord:
If they will open at my Call,
That I with them may dwell;
I'll hold them fast, and make them last
Against the Gates of Hell.
The Jewish Church.
10.
Lord, I am constant to thy Name,
And firmly hold thy Word;
(I had a Smile upon the same
From my most Gracious Lord.)
Christ.
11.
I nor admire nor imitate
Those who their Vineyards Let;
Who of their Profit do abate,
That they some Ease may get.
12.
My Church and Vineyard is alway
My care and my Delight;
I my self keep it every Day,
And watch it every Night:
Drest by my Hand, watch'd by my Eye,
Its Fruit to me abounds;
The Praise of its Fertility
Wholly to me redounds.
13.
My Dearest Church, who art compos'd
Of divers companies;
Now we have both our Minds disclos'd,
I'll end with this Advice:
As all thy Members give an Ear
Ʋnto thy Gracious Strain;
So let Me often from thee hear,
Ʋntil we Meet again.
The Church.
14.
Ah my dear Saviour! pity Me,
Preserve Me in thy Heart;
And Oh make hast, make hast, that we
May Meet and never part.
DIVES AND LAZARUS.
IN Judah's Vale a Man of Wealth abode,
Vile as a Beast, yet Worship'd as a God;
Who Tyrian Cloaths, and Egypts Linnen-ware,
And on whose Table met Land, Sea and Air.
Beneath the Threshold of his Out-most Gate
A pale, deformed, horrid Carcass Sate:
Another Job. But of more Fixed Woes,
Who from his Dunghil never once arose.
The Eng. of Lazur [...]s.
God Help Me was his Name. God was his all,Those few that knew him, Lazarus him did call.
Need, Pain and Scorn at once did on him lie;
His Bed was Earth, his Covering was the Sky:
Nothing had he to pay of Natures Scores;
Empty he was of Bread, but full of Sores.
Hunger (that Wrack) will make a Man confess,
What modest Minds endeavour to oppress:
Sharp Hunger whets the Wit, and mends its strain,
It hurts the Bowels, but it helps the Brain.
[Page] A Servant pass'd the Gate, where, lo! he found
This Ruful Odject groveling on the Ground.
Said Lazarus, Sir, if Pity be my due,
Give to your Master what I give to you.
Lazarus his Petition.
MOst Noble Sir, I humbly crave
What Nature doth exact from Me;
I am a Borderer on the Grave,
Half slain with sharp Necessity.
For Childrens Bread I do not Call;
I do not Ask you Servants Fare;
Only the Sweepings of your Hall
I Beg; and what your Dogs may spare.
Doom Me not, Sir, to perish at your Gate,
Who may Preserve Me, at so Cheap a Rate;
For Father Judah's sake some Fragments give,
I'll serve You at God's Altars whilst I live.
Dives his Answer.
WHat Dog is this that dares Presume on Me?
Accurst be all such Crawling Toads as He;
Pests of my Gate, Vermin that Creep so Nigh
—I Hate'em; Let Him Rot and Die.
In vain the poor Mans thoughts pursu'd his Suit;
The Dogs were humane, but their Lord a Brute;
They left their Snarling to their Masters Face;
They Ran, and Lazarus gently did embrace.
[Page 3] He was the pity'd Patient of those Hounds,
Whose lambent Tongues did cool his burning wounds.
This done, the squalid Vassals of the Times
Scorn'd ragged Virtue, Honour'd purple Crimes:
Things are mis-judged by the purblind Eye,
Which views their Posture, not their tendency:
Till Justice 'wakes to right its injur'd Laws,
Which doth not weigh the Person, but the Cause.
Nor Rags, nor Sores, are Clouds that can disguise
A splendid Soul to Heavens Soul-searching Eyes;
Earths Laz'rus was Heavens Dives; Earths disdain
Was a meet Guest for Heaven to entertain:
Now comes the Golden Hour that sets him free
From his Apprenticeship to misery:
His Corps (the Graves old Neighbour) long Uddrest,
At length is slip into its Bed of Rest:
A Treasure 'tis, tho' Funeral-costs it wants;
The Richest Mineral is the Dust of Saints;
He was his own (most serious) Mourner here;
He Mourn'd enough; He needs no Hired Tear.
The time is come, that Lazarus must be clad
With such fine Linnen, Dives never had:
The time is come, that Lazarus must be Fed
With Heavens rich Juices, and with Angels Bread.
There is a Table richly Spread above,
There is an Everlasting Feast of Love;
A Feast which Friends and Friendship doth mantain,
Pale Envy is not there, nor proud disdain;
They all are One; In One they all agree,
One is there all, which makes all one to be;
[Page 4] Here's Height of Mirth, with Depth of Seriousness,
Plenty without the Hazard of Excess;
Here are full Joys in Hand, full Joys in View,
Here Wine and Appetite are ever new:
Ever begins their Feast and n're do end,
Whom growing Loaves and Living Springs attend;
Their Harps are well-strung Hearts, well-tuned
And Sacred Hallelujahs are their Songs; (Tongues)
Here sit the Saints, Here the Believers Sire,
Is Nobly Seated in his Rich Attire;
Hither the King of Heaven new Guests doth call,
Nor can he come too late that comes at all.
The mighty One who dwells and rules on High,
Angels attend with an obedient Eye:
The Secrets of his Breasts they do not Skill,
But are the trusty Servants of his Will.
Thus charg'd he them, 'Bring Lazarus to the Feast,
'And let him take his Place next Abraham's Breast.
They heard with Rev'rence, and obey'd their King,
Joy rais'd their Hearts, & nimbly shook their Wing.
They fled from Heaven, yet Heaven was with them still,
It was their Heaven to do their Masters Will.
They stopt not at the Stars (that pompous show)
Who went to view a Brighter Star below:
The Point design'd they well did understand,
Who had old Voyagers been to Canaans Land.
There they had been Lots Guests (who was their
There had they been Elisha's flaming Guard. (Ward)
In that Land chiefly lay their Lords Affairs (Wares)
They traffiqu'd there for Souls (those precious
Soon came they where Sick Lazarus had his Lare,
They stop'd and waited for their Passenger.
[Page 5] No visitant found they with him, but the Lord;
No Nurse, but Faith; no Cordial, but the Word.
They heard him praying, 'Lord, some Mercy Show,
'For I can find no mercy here below.
This said, he sigh'd, and was of Life bereav'd;
He gave his Soul, and they his Soul receiv'd,
With Shouts and Songs triumphant up they went,
And to the Company did him present;
They shouted all, and joy'd the New come Guest,
How gently stoops and leans on Abrahams Breast [...]
Whom Dives Curs'd and stately Fools disdain'd,
How is he Blest! how is he Entertain'd!
Tho' Vertue here on Earth neglected lies,
Yet Heaven will raise it, for 'tis born to rise.
Dives, that silken God, must never dye
Unless his Creatures and false Prophets lye.
He's safe, if Death be cast as far behind
His Body, as it is below his Mind.
He's always young; He learns it from his Glass,
Which smooths his furrow'd Brow and paints his face.
But a Cold striking hand consutes the Lie.
Down falls his Flattering Glass, his Fancies dye;
His Garden-walks must him no longer know,
The Life-tree in his Garden doth not grow:
His Palace must be chang'd for a dark Tomb,
That was his Inn, but this must be his Home;
He must no longer at his Table stay,
The Voider (Death) is come to take away:
Death, that abhorr'd (both Name and,) thing comes on▪
And potently torments this Potent One;
It makes Amazing Breaches, and in short,
Hath seiz'd the Out-works, and attacks the Fort:
In what a wretched Posture doth he lye!
He cannot live, and yet he dares not dye.
[Page 6] His Debt must be distrain'd; for he'll not pay,
Nor yield his Ghost; it must be fetcht away;
He sprunts, he struggles, but Death keeps him under,
And with one stroke tears Flesh and Soul asunder;
Then rang the House with his five Brethrens Cries,
Alas! our Brother; so they clos'd his Eyes.
His outward parts are wash'd, his inner Rooms
Stuffed with Arabian Sweets and rich Perfumes.
Now Death his Purple is, now he's allow'd
Fine Linnen too, but 'tis a Fun'ral Shrowd;
Grave-fac'd Spectators with their Garments torn,
And Shrouded Lips attend, the Room doth mourn.
Ah what a poor Revenge is this on Fate!
For him that cannot live, to Lie in State.
Amidst the Gazing Crowd the Bearers come,
With Pomp they bring him to his painted Tomb.
Minstrels and Trumpeters their Noises joyn,
And Women sell false Tears for Currant Coyn.
Now lest his Friends should in salt streams be drown'd
The Cup of Consolation goes its Round.
But stay, my Soul; 'tis Death that thou must view,
Not shadows which dead Bodies do Ensue.
What a dark Notion and Abstrusity,
Is this to living Men, that they must die!
Grim Death on his pale Horse Triumphant Rides,
He strikes us through our nearest Kinsmans Sides:
Yet are we sensless, as the stupid Mule,
Live as Exceptions from the Common Rule;
We cast a Cloth o're Death; 'tis soon forgot,
We charm the Serpent, and it stings us not.
Now might one let this pleasant Error pass,
If Death was all, but Death his Second has,
[Page 7] When once the Dissolution Hour is come,
Out goes the Soul to hear her Final Doom.
You who have slightly heard the Fun'ral Knell,
Now hear the Voice which dooms the Ghost to Hell,
For those whose hearts an Earthquake will not shake,
Thro' Heav'ns Loud-roaring Cannons may awake.
Dives black Ghost (all Horrour and Despair)
Is from its Prison snatch'd to th' dismal Bar;
Behind him the impatient Devils roar.
His Sins (those worst of Devils) stand before;
With Terrors thus besieg'd in every place,
He hears a Voice, but might not see the Face.
The Voice was roaring Thunder in his Ears,
The words were tearing Bolts and flaming Spears;
" Go thou accurst, vile Caitif, hence away
" To damned Ghosts, Come Devils, take your prey.
Struck with this Thunder, down he sunk, he fell,
And was a Triumph to the Fiends of Hell.
Th' ingenious Tyrants did a Council pack,
Their Malice set their Wits upon the Wrack:
When they had joyntly study'd to Torment,
For their pale Prisoner then in haste they sent;
They chain'd and stak'd him to a furious Flame,
Where constant streams of Brimstone feed the [...]ame,
Behold Sins Martyr, and Hells Sacrifice!
He yells and howls, and vents unpity'd Cries.
He finds no Friendly Ear, or tender Eye,
He feells a thousand deaths, but cannot die:
Like burning Brass he's Fir'd in every part,
A Vultur lives upon his living Heart.
God's gone, he's gone, and what an Hell is this,
To be depriv'd of everlasting Bliss!
[Page 8] O this Eternal Banishment is worse
Than all the Remnant of the Dooms-day Curse.
This Hell of Hell may thus be understood,
No torments are so bad as God is good.
Besides, an Appetite in Man doth lie,
Which nothing but a God can satisfie;
And tho' this Appetite be here deluded
By various Objects, in God's room obtruded.
Yet when at death all these are laid aside,
Then thirsts the Soul for God, but is deny'd;
This Thirst unquench'd is such an inward Flame,
An Hell in Hell is its deserved Name;
In Hell there cannot be an Atheist,
'Tis Hell in Hell that God is dearly mist.
Poor Dives cries, The God for whom I starve,
" I cannot see, because I would not serve,
" I Bleed to think, (and thinking is my Fate)
" He often knocked at my Bolted Gate.
" Where are those Baits on which my Lusts did prey,
" The Price of which I cast my self away?
" Where's now my Pomp and Pride, my Feasts & Sports,
" Whose Chains detain'd me from the Sacred Courts?
" O did my House so near the Temple stand,
" O did I perish out of Judahs Land!
" Might I be try'd once more! But 'tis too late,
" Justice hath lock'd the Golden Mercy-Gate:
" Now I believe, and tremble: I repent,
" But my Repentance is my Punishment:
" It is not Virtue, but Necessity;
" Alas, how miserable wise am I?
" Might I return now to that happy Night,
" Which veil'd me er'e my Parents saw the Light,
" Ah me! must I lie here! and ne're come out,
He raves and flings his curses round about.
[Page 9] He curs'd both Heaven & Hell, he curs'd the Earth,
He curs'd the Day that witness'd to his Birth:
But neither can his tears his Griefs asswage,
Nor does it cool his Heart to vent his Rage.
This Keen Reflection makes the Furnace Glow.
" It must be ever with me as 'tis now.
" Hells Flames no Ashes will produce: But I
" Must ever Dying Live, and Living Die.
" Souls for themselves the Balm of Patience bear,
" 'Tis the Poors Physick, but it grows not here;
" My Soul is filled with Home-bred tears and taunts,
" 'Tis its own Fury, and it self it haunts:
" Pity was wont in Miseries House to dwell,
" But I am haled by the Hounds of hell.
" Time us'd to be a Surgeon good at wounds,
" But I am got beyond its happy Bounds.
" A Vessel charg'd with scalding wrath am I
" Hoop'd in the Circle of Eternity.
You who affect the pleasant Path to Hell,
And love Damnation in its Causes well,
Look streight before you on your Journeys End,
Do ye not see th'infernal smoak ascend?
Have not some sparks into your Bosoms Flown,
Wh'reby the Neighb'ring Coasts may well be known.
Bold sinner, stop, no further progress make,
Lest your next step be in the Fiery Lake;
But, Oh! He ridicules his souls affairs,
And labours to be damn'd at unawares.
His Humour will not bear a Countermand,
Alas for them who hate to understand!
Who on their souls Experiments will try,
At the Charge of a sad Eternity.
Alas for them who never will awake,
Till they are plung'd into the burning Lake!
Dives was hear struck blind with flatt'ring Lies,
Now the Hell brand lifts up his flaming Eyes;
He spies the Region where the happy dwell,
But Heaven at distance is another Hell:
He spies a Canaans Feast, for chiefly there,
The Natives of his Countrey do appear;
He spies Blest Abraham with his faithful Race,
And Lazarus sitting next to Abrahams place.
Oh! how it twinges and torments his Eyes?
His scorn to Envy turns, and thus he cries,
" This Scoundrel who lay Starving at my Gate,
" Is now a Peer in Heaven, an Angels Mate;
" The Beggar sits and feeds on Angels Fare,
" His Rags are Robes, such as Heavens Nobles wear:
" The Dog, whom in derision once I had,
" Is turned into a Star, which makes me Mad.
Now Dives is the Beggar, and applies
Himself to Abraham with his Mournful Cries.
Dives his Petition.
AH Father Abraham, Pity me,
Who with tormenting Flames am Stung,
For pity whither should I Flee
But to the Bowels whence I Sprung?
The Grapes Rich Blood I do not Crave,
vvaters Cheap Element will Suffice;
And tho' my Tongue thirsts for a vvave,
For one poor drop it only Cries.
By Lazarus [...]oist'ned Finger may you please
To give my scorched tongue one Moments Ease.
[Page 11] I dwell in Flames, and Flames in Me do dwell,
O for a Drop from Heaven to sweeten Hell.
Mark how the Wheel is turn'd, the time is come,
He begs a Drop who once deny'd a Crumb.
Right-thinking Judges then must needs approve.
The tart and equal Answer from above.
Abraham's Answer.
ARt thou forlorn of God, and com'st to me?
What can I tell thee then but Misery?
Remember, Son, the Heav'n thy Feet have trod,
Earth was thy Heav'n, and Pleasure was thy God.
Remember Lazarus had his Hell below,
Thou wert the Devil which did cause his woe;
Now are his rags Heav'ns robes with glorious Beams,
Thy Purple, Flames, thy Juncats, Sulphrous Streams.
Is he thy Wish who was thy Scorn before?
Shall Lazarus now be welcome to thy door?
And dost imagine some fair Bridge to lie,
Betwixt the White and Black-Eternity?
No there's a mighty Gulf which rends in twain,
The Fiery Region and the Aetherial Plain.
We are too happy to be dispossest,
And you so cursed you can ner'e be blest;
We are so rais'd, that we can never fall,
And you so sunk, you cannot rise at all.
Once Angels went from Heaven to Hell; but first
They blackned were to Devils, and accurst;
Since those Stars fell none of the heav'nly hosts,
Or did or shall visit th' infernal Coasts.
To yon 'tis bitter, but to us 'tis sweet,
That we are parted and must never meet;
Heav'n were not Heav'n, if it near Hell was plac't,
Nor Hell were Hell, if it of Heaven might taste.
Can our pure Light with Smoak & Darkness dwell?
The Poles shall sooner meet than Heaven and Hell.
Though Speech avails not, wracking misery
Extorts from him another fruitless Cry.
Dives his Second Petition.
IF such an Envious Gulf there be,
Yet, Father, lend an Ear to me:
From Earth to Heaven a way is Pav'd;
How else came Lazarus to be Sav'd?
Let me so small a Boon entreat,
That Lazarus may his Steps Repeat,
And that he may embody'd go,
And tell the Stories of my Woe.
To my Five Brethen, who all dwell within
My Fathers House (Oh had he never been!)
Brethren in Bonds of Nature and of Sin.
O let him tell them that there is a God,
Whose Scepter is a Sin-revenging Rod;
And let him tell them that advent [...]rous Dr [...]lls,
Shall find unto their Costs that they have Souls.
Mine stuckt'th' Scabbard, till its angry Lord
Ʋnsheath'd it, and it prov'd a flaming Sword:
That Limbeck, Death, draws Spirits from our Clay,
To th' Element of Souls they hast away;
And let him tell them, that the Sadducee
Shall be Hells Convert, and Recant with me.
[Page 13] Whilst they lie Sleeping on the Brink of Hell,
The Smoak they fee not, nor the Brimstone smell:
There they'l disport themselves with Golden Dreams,
Till they betray 'em to these burning streams:
But let him scare them with an hollow sound,
That they (like Lot) may flee their cursed Ground:
O send him quickly lest they tumble in,
And prove the flaming Records of my sin:
Can I no water get at my desire;
Yet, O, no more, no more, new Fleaks of Fire.
This Abraham heard with unrelenting Ears,
No pity's due to Hell-Hounds Cries and Tears.
Abraham's Answer.
ONnce Heav'n bow'd down & touch'dth' Arabian Hill,
And gave a Sampler of the sacred Will
To Moses Hands, that chosen Man of God,
Copies were taken and dispers'd abroad.
(So his kind Arms abroad the River flings,
So the free Sun extends his fruitful Wings;
As this most Sacred Light it self displays,
And Guilds the Tents of Jacob with its rays.)
For Saints to come from God there is no cause,
Himself came down and did promulge his Laws:
Needs Lazarus take a Journey from the Sky,
When wisdom at your Brethrens Gates doth cry,
Let them hear Moses read by their Divines,
[...]'th' Synagogue to which their house adjoyns;
And let them hear the reverend Prophets next,
Those wondrous Commentators on the Text.
Dives his Reply.
MOses ('tis true) was an Ʋnerring Guide,
So were those sixteen Prophets on his side:
This I as much believe, as if I saw
The flaming Mount, and heard the Fiery Law,
When every word was accented with Thunder,
Which Rent those Oaks, the Jewish hearts asunder.
'Tis here as necessary to believe,
As it is Natural to feel and grieve:
I that am now a proof of sacred Writ,
Do argue backwards with my After-wit:
Hell in the threatnings tho' I did not see,
The threatnings are in Hell made plain to me.
I skowl'd upon the Heavens when they did Lowre,
The Clouds I fear'd not, but I feel the Shower.
Nothing will move my Brethren but a Sign,
Experience is the powerfulest Divine:
Faith is the Child of sense, whereas Report
Is entertain'd with Blasphemy or Sport.
They have a Sword to cut the Gordian Knot,
Moses saith many things, but proves them not.
And tho' they hear substantial Proofs there be,
Nothing is Proof to them but what they see.
Had they an Emissary from above,
The very Sight a future state would prove:
Might he but tell them of your Heavenly Strand,
They'd all turn Pilgrims for that Holy Land;
Or might he preach the torments which I feel,
His words would [...] like burning Gads of steel;
His words would tear down all, like thundering Guns,
Beyond the faint Attempts of Levi's Sons.
[Page 15] O were I of this cursed Chain Releas'd!
(With that he gnash'd his teeth and knock'd his breast:)
Might I be to the Earth a Preacher sent,
I'de burn up sin like Stubble where I went;
I'de smoak away their Lusts and flattering Lies,
Or forth I'de drive them with my Glaring Eyes:
I'de blow a Trumpet which should Rend the Ground,
Their trembling Heart-strings should in Consort sound:
I'de teach the faithless Sadduces their Creed,
And make the Pharisees to pray indeed:
I'de tell the Ranters such a doleful Tale,
That they should mourn as in Megiddons Vale:
I'de unbewitch the sots and slaves of sin,
That such a Reformation should begin;
As in Josiah's time did not befall,
And the next Age should Canonize 'em all.
Abraham's Rejoynder.
A Preaching Apparition would confound
Heaven daring Giants with its dreadful found,
(None quake so soon as they who Heaven do dare,
Who fear not God, the greatest Cowards are:
But were the coast once clear, the shake once o're,
The Lees would settle as they did before.
" It was a waking Dream they would conclude,
" A Juggle which our Senses did delude:
" Or did we something see? And something hear?
" Yet whence it came, it doth not yet appear.
Nay, they would gravely reason out the Case,
" What we can grasp, we gladly will embrace:
" The rest we leave; to them let Children heark.
" And fright themselves with Fancies in the dark.
" What is a Spirit? What's Infinity?
" What does the word [Eternal] signifie?
[Page 16] Charm'd are their Souls with this Oration made,
And now their fear shall vanish like the shade:
Thus Fools (tho' pounded) will not lose a Grain,
And Frozen snakes, when thaw'd, will hisse again.
Come now thou that Pretend'st to act the Man,
Something there needs must be, which ne're began;
If all were nothing once, so 'twould be now,
A Number from bare Cyphers could not grow:
Nothing's a Barren Womb; if that could breed,
To be and not to be were well agreed:
One Point is gain'd, that something ever was;
This hard word, Ever, you must let it pass:
Know'st thou how far this Ever doth extend?
You must grant what you cannot Comprehend.
But what was Ever? This Imperial Robe,
Suits not the Azure nor the Verdant Globe:
One is a turning Wheel, that Spins out time,
The other Pools with spots of hardned slime.
Now mark the kinds of each, and you shall find,
Unto their proper Sphears they are Confin'd:
Hereby is their Original Confest,
Ther's but a partial Goodness in the best:
This is the Voice of their Infirmity,
" Mere Beggars and Derivatives are we:
What's of it self, that doth its self suffice,
'Tis from our Creatureship our wants arise:
What's of it self, than in it self is Blest,
'Tis its own Center and at perfect rest;
Rich is that Being whence all Beings are,
And whence each Being has its proper share.
Nor is't a wonder of so high degree,
To make to be, as of it self to be;
Something then ever was, which needs must be,
From all the shades of Imperfections free.
[Page 17] Hence are we; and to think, in vain we are,
Is to condemn his Wisdom at our Bar.
As Men the Badge of their dependance wear
On their frail Flesh (the Graves probationer)
And on their hearts, whose restless Motions show
Something they want, which is not here below;
So must they own whom they are forc'd to know,
And pay themselves to whom themselves they Owe:
Neither would this their Light of comfort Dim,
But they should serve themselves in serving him.
When Graves upbraid proud Grave-stones with their Lies,
God's Servant is a Title nevers dies.
The thoughts in Man do prove his Soul to be;
His Conscience bodes his immortality:
This Bosom Magistrate his Facts espies
And binds him over to the last Assize:
He trembles at his Summons to appear;
His fear makes not a God, God makes his Fear,
Religion by Corroding doth assay
Even thro' an Heart of Rock to force its way.
O might he to himself be so sincere,
To strive to please whom he's constrain'd to fear.
Yet will he be a Vagrant all his days,
Without a Method to direct his ways.
What Eye e're pierc'd th' Almighties Sacred Breast?
Himself knows only what will please him best.
Since Man was made to serve his Makers will,
Which is an height transcending humane skill,
A Rule must needs be granted from on High
For him to regulate his Actions by:
This Heaven-sprung Rule that S [...]cred Roll contains,
Which in the Consecrated Land remains.
[Page 18] Its words and mysteries are all Divine,
And weighty Mountains Hang on every Line;
It (Sun like) Shines by its own Golden Beams,
And scorns its base Corrivals senseless Dreams:
Those Spangles which the Heathen Sages Left
Were from this Mine snatch'd by an Honest Theft.
Give me that hardy Brow, that dares deny
The Bible well attested History:
Moses said many things, and prov'd them too
With proofs which all Hells Magick did out-do;
God's power he carried in his Hands, to show,
That from his Mouth the Truths of God did flow:
And his Credentials on his Face did shine,
Which there were written by a Beam Divine.
The gazing Jews were struck, who plainly saw
That whence he had his Light, he had his Law.
Those Sections which the Sacred Code begin▪
Were by an Age of wonders Usher'd in.
The Prophets superstructure firmly stands
On two hewn Stones laid by th' Almighties Hands:
They count the footsteps of their coming Lord,
They view the Mercy-seat with one accord.
One tells his Name, another tells his place;
Another writes the Beauties of his Face.
Thus is he Glanc'd at by their piercing Eyes;
The last of them his Harbinger espies:
And O the Brisk, the Charming Airs that Spring
From the consent of each Harmonious string!
He's overwise who dreads Fictitious [...]ines
From Hands unbrib'd, and Hearts without designs.
They wrote beyond themselves, which serves to prove,
Their hearts & hands were guided from above
The Worlds just Age, and what was done of old
Are in this Sacred Register inroll'd.
[Page 19] Here may be seen the pristin state of Man,
And, that Niles Head, the Source where ills began.
Here may be seen what makes a second Spring;
Here is the [...]est account of every thing.
The Wonders witness'd now by mortal Eyes,
Are but the products of its Prophecies.
The Scriptures rule the World: Till this shall burn,
All Ages on that Axle-Tree shall turn.
This Heaven-inspired Volume doth avow
What reason may embrace, or must allow.
When God describes himself, 'tis such an height,
As far surmounts quick fancies highest Flight.
'Tis Reason, Reason should be puzzled here;
Man should be God if he knew what he were.
To these vast heights thus sober Reason saith,
I see the Seals: And yields the Chair to Faith.
Now the Almighties Word shall Vermin slight,
When Heaven and Earth bear witness to its Might.
Vast Numbers from his Word at first did flow,
And must his Word pass for a Cypher now?
Nay, his Commands at first Creations were,
And now his Word Commands; and give an Ear,
It is a Sun that gives both Light and Eyes,
A Voice that bids and makes the dead arise:
It makes Clouds, Stars; And sends them to the Sky;
And turneth Heaven [...]nto a Colony.
Unbelief is not Reason but a Lust;
God's Hand and Sword gives it its mortal thrust.
[...]he Law of the Two Tables will prevail,
When other (self-invented) means shall fail.
Whilst other Archers Level in the Dark.
The Arrows from Gods Quiver hit the Mark.
[Page 20] What Voices or what Visions would you have?
Gods Voice (or nothing) will your Brethren save:
New Methods of Salvation to contrive
Is fruitless Labour: Let 'em hear and Live;
But if they won't, their Mittimus is Seal'd;
A stubborn Patient never can be heal'd.
If Preachers rais'd by God they will disdain;
Preachers rais'd from the Grave should preach in vain.
FINIS.
Books lately Printed for Tho. Parkhurst, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside.
THE Confirming Work of Religion, and its great things made plain by their primary evidences and demonstrations; whereby the meanest in the Church may soon be made able to render a rational account of their Faith.
A Family-Altar, erected to the honour of the Eternal God: Or, a solemn Essay to promote the Worship of God in Private Houses; being some Meditations on Gen. 35. 2, 3. With the best Entail, or dying Parents Living Hopes for their Surviving Children, grounded upon the Covenant of Gods Grace with Believers and their Seed: Being a short Discourse on 2 Sam. 23. 5. by Oliver Heywood, Minister of the Gospel.
The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification open'd, in sundry practical Directions, suited especially to the Case of those who labour under the guilt and power of Indwelling Sin. To which is added a Sermon of Justification; by Walter Marshal, Minister of the Gospel, &c.
[Page] Death improved, and immoderate sorrow for deceased Friends and Relations reproved. Where in you have many arguments against Immoderate sorrow, and many profitable Lessons which we may learn from such Providences; by Edw. Bury, formerly Minister of great Bolas in Shropshire, Author of the Help to Holy Walking, and the Husbandmans Companion, &c.
The Poor Mans help, and Young Mans guide; containing, 1. Doctrinal instructions for the right informing of his Judgment. 2. Practical directions for the general course of his Life 3. Particular advices for the well managing of every day, with reference to his Natural Actions, Civil Employments, Necessary Recreations, Religious Duties, particularly Prayer, Publick in the Congregation, Private in the Family, Secret in the Closet, Reading the Holy Scriptures, Hearing the Word Preached, and Receiving the Lords Supper; by William Bu [...]kitt, M. A. of Pembrook-hall in Cambridge, and now Vicar of Dedham in Essex, and Author of the Practical Discourse of Infant Baptism.
The Rod or the Sword, the present Dilemma of the Nations of England, Scotland and Ireland, considered, argued and improved, on Ezek. 21. 14 by a true friend to the Protestant Interest, and the Present Government.
A Present for such as have been Sick, and are Recovered; or a Discourse concerning the Good that comes out of the Evil of Affliction; being several Sermons Preached after his being raised from a Bed of Languishing; by Nathaniel Vincent M. A. and Author of the Conversion of the Soul. The true Touchstone of Grace and Nature. Discourse of Conscience. Treatise of Prayer and Love, &c.
[Page] Some passages in the Holy Life and Death of the Late Reverend Mr. Edmund Trench; most of them drawn out of his own Diary; Published by Joseph Boyse Minister in Dublin.
An account of the blessed Trinity, argued from the Nature and Perfection of the Supream Spirit co-incident with the Scripture Doctrine, in all the Articles of the Catholick Creeds; together with its Mystical, Federal and Practical Uses in the Christian Religion; by William Borrough Rector of Cheyns in Bucks.
A Discourse of Justification, being the sum of twenty Sermons by Walter Cross, M. A.
Forty Nine Sermons on the whole Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Colossians, by Monsieur Duille, Minister of the Reformed Church in Paris. Folio.
Sermons and Discourses on several Divine Subjects; by the Late Reverend and Learned David Clarkson, B. D. and sometime Fellow of Clare-Hall, Cambridge. Folio.
The Support of the Faithful in Times of Persecution; or a Sermon Preach'd in the Wilderness to the Poor Protestants in France; by M. Brousson, an Eminent Minister, who was broke upon the VVheel at Montpelier, Novem. 6. 1698. Quarto.
The Fountain of Life opened; or a Display of Christ in his Essential and Mediatoral Glory; containing forty two Sermons on various Texts: VVherein the Impetration of our Redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded, as it was begun, carried on, and finished by his Covenant Transaction, Mysterious Incarnation, solemn Call and Dedication, blessed Offices, deep Abasement, and Supereminent Advancement.
[Page] A Treatise of the Soul of Man, wherein the Divine Original, excellent and immortal Nature of the Soul are opened; its Love and Inclination to the Body, with the Necessity of its Separation from it, considered and improved. The Existence, Operations and States of separated Souls both in Heaven and Hell immediately after Death, asserted, discussed and variously applied. Divers knotty and difficult Questions about departed Souls both Philosophical and Theological, stated and determined.
Hymns suited to the Sacrament by Tho. Vincent, &c.
The Method of Grace in bringing home the Eternal Redemption, contrived by the Father, and accomplished by the Son, thro' the Effectual Application of the Spirit unto God's Elect, being the second Part of Gospel Redemption.
The Divine Conduct or Mystery of Providence, its Being and Efficacy asserted and vindicated; all the Methods of Providence in our course of life opened, with directions how to apply and improve them.
Navigation spiritualiz'd, or a New Compass for Seamen, consisting of thirty two points of pleasant Observations, profitable Applications, serious Reflections, all concluded with so many spiritual Poems, &c.
A Saint indeed, the great Work of a Christian.
A Touchstone of sincerity, or signs of Grace, and symptoms of Hypocrisie, being the second part of the Saints indeed.
A Token for Mourners, or Boundaries for sorrow for the Death of Friends.
Husbandry [...]piritualiz'd; or the Heavenly use of Earthly Things; all these ten by Mr. John Flavell.
[Page] A Funeral Sermon on the Death of that Pious Gentlewoman Mrs. Judith Hammond, late Wife of the reverend Mr. George Hammond, Minister of the Gospel in London.
Of Thoughtfulness for the Morrow; with an Appendix concerning the immoderate desire of foreknowing Things to come.
Of Charity in reference to other Mens sins.
The Redeemers Tears wept over lost souls, in a treathe on Luke 19. 41, 42. With an appendix, wherein some what is occasionally discoursed concerning the sin aganist the Holy Ghost, and how God is said to Will the salvation of them that perish.
A sermon directing what we are to do after a strict Enquiry, whether or no we truly love God.
A funeral sermon for Mrs. Esther Sampson, late Wife of Mr. Henry Sampson, Doctor of Physick, who died Novem. 24. 1689.
The Carnality of religious Contention; In two sermons preach'd at the Merchants Lecture in Broad [...] street.
A calm and sober Enquiry concerning the possibility of a Trinity in the Godhead.
A Letter to a Friend concerning a Postscript to the Defence of Dr. Sherlock's Notion of the Trinity in Unity, relating to the calm and sober Enquiry upon the same Subject.
A View of that part of the late Consideration Addrest to H. H. about the Trinity; which concerns the sober Enquiry on that subject.
FINIS.