THREE GRAINS▪ OF Spirituall Frankincense, Infused into Three Hymnes of Praise; AND Humbly offered toward the publike Thanksgiving, commanded by Authority of Parliament to be celebrated throughout the Commonwealth of England, the 30. of this present January, 1650.

IF Scorners term these Ballads, 'twill not much
Regarded be, though there be many such:
For, they, perhaps, are Fools, or Children, yet;
And may be wiser, when they shall have wit.
If any thinks these Odes are over long,
Let him not do his credit so much wrong,
To say it, till he sees what may be spar'd;
And, passe thereon his judgment, afterward.
There can arise no great discommendation,
By lengthning out a pious Recreation:
Nor merit they much heed, that can be weary
To sing of Dangers past, and to be merry.

LONDON, Printed by R. Austin. 1651.

To the Right Honourable JOHN BRADSHAVV Esqu. LORD PRESIDENT OF THE Councell of STATE.

My Lord,

THe Parliament having lately graciously considered my humble Suit and long patience? (and I, by the refreshment thereby obtained, getting some leisure to entertain my naturall Genius) an earnest De­sire immediately possest me to perform somwhat, which might shew me thankful to God, and to those friends, by whose Mercy, I and my Family have been preserved, from perishing under our late Pressures; and he who wrought that Desire in me, offered therewith to my thought, an Under­taking sutable to my inclination; with hope, that he would inable to the perfecting thereof in due season, though inter­ruptions will be many, and the time, whereto I must confine my self, very short.

The Supreme Authority hath enacted a publique Thanks­giving throughout this Common wealth, on the thirtieth of this January (being the last day of the late Kings life, as also the first of Englands resuming her long lost Liberty) a Day, which may by good reason be made an everlasting An­niversary, in remembrance of that, and other great Delive­rances. And, therefore I thought it would neither be an impertinent expression of my Gratitude, nor unacceptable where I owe it, to prepare proper Hymnes for that daies Ce­lebration, with some other brief Commemoration, to keep in mind GODS late Mercies to this Republique, when that daies solemnity shall be forgotten; and thereupon composed (among other assaies, yet unfinished) the three following Hymnes, which I thus communicate, before the perfe­cting of what is further intended; in hope it may be a means [Page] to prepare the hearts of some for a more due observation of that Day, by giving them space to consider, how pertinent they are to the duty then required; and that they may be thereby in readinesse for those who shall be willing to make use of such helps to Devotion.

Hymnes are so proper to publique acknowledgements of extraordinary Deliverances, and Mercies (spirituall, or tem­porall) that by the Primitive Churches, Jewish and Chri­stian, they were this way commemorated, and left upon re­cord even to this day; as appears in Holy Writ, by the Hymns, Songs, and Psalms, of Moses, Deborah, Hannah, David, Esay, Hezekiah, Simeon, Zachary, and Mary, with others. The practise also of Christian Churches, in, and after the Apostles time, makes it evident, that they sung Hymnes and Songs upon the severall occasions, happening from time to time. And though Scorners, and ignorant persons do in this Age vilisie, or contemn the gift of Poesie; yet the most know­ing, and most pious, among all Nations, have alwaies pra­ctised, and do still approve the use of that Faculty, to rouze up spirituall affections in the soul, toward the illustrating of Gods Praises: and they who dispise it, are dispisers of that Gift, which God hath given for his own glory, with our advantage: For, it is none of those accomplishments, which may be acquired by meer human industry, (though it may be much better'd thereby) but is one of Gods Peculiars, and infused in the mothers womb, as is generally con­fessed by learned and understanding men, many of which have long studied for it in vain, by meer helps of Art.

Upon these considerations, and by the example of many Prophets and Poets, (for in some other languages, one word signifies both) who very well knew that advanta­ges may be made by the right use of that Faculty, upon such occasions of praise as have been vouchsafed to this Nation; I have thereby sought to illustrate Gods Mer­cies; with an assurance, that it shall prepare the hearts of many, to a more cheerfull performance of what is comman­ded, and help to charm down those distempers which trou­ble the Common Peace, and hinder our reconcilement, both to God, and to each other; and I hope it will not seem Ar­rogance in me to offer them to that use.

For, though it be no rare thing to see many run on er­rants before they are sent; and to obtrude their undigested [Page] Conceptions upon publique Auditories; yet private persons, qualified by their Education, Conversation, and Gifts, may with modesty and submission make tender of that which they conceive edifying; yea, and ought, (as I think) so to do, their consciences perswading it to be their duty: because I find it was a Liberty, Apostolically allowed, and taken for private Christians to communicate their severall Gifts in publique Congregations; and that he who brought a Hymn, brought that which was acceptable, as appears in that place, where the Apostle prescribes what Order is to be observed at such Meetings. According to that approved practise, I offer the ensuing Hymnes, composed and fitted to the Meri­dian of vulgar capacities; and yet (I hope) not so inartifi­cially composed, as to make them despised of the learned. I have also out of such tunes as the people are acquainted with­all, chosen those which are best sutable to the matter and occa­sion, sitting the first Hymn to a strain, beseeming the begin­nings of Exultation: The second, to higher straines of rejoycing, and the last to the fulnesse of praisefull Thanksgivings; all which I humbly submit to your grave Censure.

And I dedicate, and first send them to your Lordship, for many good Reasons. First, by your approbation of their use­fullnesse, I shall be the more comfortably confirmed in that hope which I have thereof already. Secondly, your exempla­ry respect may make others perhaps take the more heed of them; and by growing acquainted with them for your sake, respect them afterward for their own. Thirdly, you were one of the most eminent personall instruments under God, of that Justice upon which the many Mercies followed, which are the subject of these Hymns; and I thought they would be the more acceptable unto you, in regard no man had been in greater danger, if God, by not appearing for us, had per­mitted our Adversaries to prevail. Lastly, an Obligation lies upon me, to give you some visible testimony of my thank­fullnesse for benefits conferred.

For, Sir, notwithstanding it offends your modesty, to hear me make offers of acknowledgements, (though it be in pri­vate) yet I will now take the boldnesse to tell it openly, that, if God by his compassion, moving in the heart of your Lordship, and one other Noble Friend, (whose modesty hath likewise yet stopt my mouth) had not freely vouchsafed supplies [Page] during my late streights, I and my Family, (considering in what hazzard all my other hopes then lay) had, in probabi­lity, long since been quite ruined, or exposed to most despica­ble wants; as would be manifest, if the circumstances of my suffering should be fully declared, and I should not now per­haps have had courage enough in me to have composed these Hymnes, or to have sung a joyfull song in the Land of the Living, this day.

They are, therefore, not so much mine, as yours, and his; Take them therefore at your own, and with them my prayers, that God would return your mercies a thousand fold into your bosomes, And make them comfortable unto you, both all the daies of your lives, and at the hours of your death. I have nothing else to retribute but Prayers, except it be by adding so much to the honour of your Justice and Mercy, as the single testimony of an honest man (never aspersed with flattering) may confer: If that be any thing worth, I can truly say, that I have seen you active in the most eminent prosecution of human publiqke Justice under the Sun; and that I am a witnesse also of your extraordinary private mer­cy, by being twice thereby delivered from probable destructi­on. Vpon contemplation whereof, I am warranted to assure you from him who can make it good, that if you persevere (whereof I doubt not) in your heroicall progress, all the power, threats, and mischievous practises of your most inra­ged and malicious Adversaries, shal be but as fire and mate­rialls co-operating with better Ingredients to make refined Gold for your immortall Crown; and that their revilings, snarlings, and detractions, shall make it more glorious then Diamonds, Pearls, and Rubies, & shine brighter many Ages hence, then it can now. It shall questionlesse be so; and therefore if ought happen hereafter, that may seem bitter to the flesh in more then ordinary measure, or threaten any ter­rible event, be assured, they are but operations of that Fire which is used in preparing the essentiall Materialls of your expected Crown. He so presageth, whose predictions you have seen verified in more dubious matters; and he is also unfainedly

Your Lordships most humble servant, GEORGE WITHER.

Hymne 1.
This first Hymne (prepared for the publike Thanksgiving, injoyned on the thirtieth of Jan. 1650.) may, most pro­perly, be sung at the beginning of Divine Exercises, publike or private, the same day.

Sing this as the 100 Psalm.
1.
WIth aweful Joy, and joyful Fear,
To sanctifie, O Lord, this day,
Before thy Foot-stool we appear;
And, our Thank-offrings here to pay:
Which though it be no other thing,
Then thy Free-mercies to confesse;
Or, Songs, unto thy praise to sing;
Vouchsafe acceptance, nay-the-lesse.
2.
Within our selves, we are so poor,
That, we have nothing of our own,
But, what we had from thee, before;
Which, by our sins impair'd is grown:
For, our wit, beauty, strength, and health,
(The goods of body, and of mind)
Our time, our honours, and our wealth,
To serve our lusts, have been resign'd.
3.
And, therefore, till thou shalt renew
Thine Image, by our fault defac'd,
We, and our Offrings, from thy view,
Deservedly, may forth be cast.
There is no musick in our Songs,
That's worthy to be heard of thee;
Because, our hearts, eyes, ears, and tongues,
Prophaned, and untuned be,
4.
Yet, by those favours, heartned on;
Which were on us bestown,of late,
A Hymn, we joyntly have begun,
To sing this Day, at Mercies gate.
Lord! those eternall doores unclose,
Through which thy speciall graces flow;
The cords of our Corruption lose,
And, let thy Spirit on us blow.
5.
Then, ev'ry word, we hear, or say,
With ey'ry thing, that's done, or thought
(In celebrating of this Day)
Shall do thee honour, as it ought:
And, they that study publike harms,
Or, flout, what we are doing here,
Shall be so bound up, by these Charms,
That when they flout us, they shall fear.

Hymne 2.
This other Hymne (composed for the same Day) may be sung before the Sermon (or, between the Sermons, where two are preached) or, before the second Chapter; or, after any pause (or change of Exercises) in Devotion.

Sing this as the 113. Psalm.
1.
OH God! how good! how kind art thou!
What help, what grace, dost thou bestow
On us, in our distrest estate!
Our tears to triumphs, thou hast turn'd,
[Page] We now do sing, who lately mourn'd,
And, by our Foes, were jeered at.
When we were weak, poor and forlorn,
Expos'd to dangers, fears and scorn,
Our Comforter, thou didst become:
And, when we dreaded shame of face;
Spoils, death, or wounds, joyn'd with disgrace;
Those fears, we were deliver'd from.
2.
As thou, from base and servile bands,
And out of cruel Pharoahs hands,
Thine Heritage redeemd'st of old:
Ev'n so, from those, who sought our harm,
Thou broughtst us off, with out-stretch'd arm,
With signs and wonders manifold.
They so, were blinded, Lord, by thee,
Who, might have seen, but vvould not see;
Nor hear when they were counsell'd well:
And He that fraud, and force imploy'd,
To make our Lavvs, and Freedomes void;
In our own view, like Pharoah, fell.
3.
This is the Day, whereon our Yoke
Of Norman Bondage, first was broke;
And, England from her chains made free.
This is the Day, vvhereon the Lord,
Did manumit us by the sword,
And, 'tis novv signall, by decree.
Slaves, they deserve to be, therefore,
And to be bar'd for evermore,
The Freedoms of this Commonweal,
Who shall not thankfull, now appear,
And vindicate with sword and spear,
Gods just Replies, to our Appeal.
4.
By thee, our Freedoms, Lord, vve got;
Oh! to our keeping, leave them not:
But, still their Guardianship retain.
And, let not those, vvho under thee,
Sub-keepers, of those Freedoms be,
Nor, our sins, forfeit them, again:
On those alone, that are unjust
Or shall be traytrous to their trust,
To this Republike, or to Thee,
Let thy avenging justice fall;
And, on all those who hinder shall,
That Peace, with Truth, may setled be:
5.
Write in our hearts, thy sacred Law;
And, let no future failings, draw
Our former cursed bondage back:
But, our depraved wills renew,
And, to thy service, keep us true;
Which, wil our Freedoms perfect make.
The Kingdom, Power, and Praise be thine,
As long as Moon, and Sun shall shine:
Be, likewise, thou our Heritage:
And, in this Nation, let there be
No other King, or GOD, but thee,
What e're they are, who thereat rage.

Hymne 3.
This third Hymne, may most pro­perly be sung the same day, after the con­clusion of the last Sermon; or, at the con­summation of any other Devotion.

Sing this as the 148. Psalm, doubling the last strain of the Tune.
1.
ALl you, that present are,
Come, let our hearts, and tongues,
The Praise of God declare,
In new-Thanksgiving songs;
Come, let us sing
Strains, that may make, the walls to shake,
The Roofs to ring:
Still sounding higher,
Till thereby, we, with Angells, be
Joyn'd in one Quire.
2.
Related, we have heard,
What he, for us, hath done;
With how much disregard,
Our Foes, he looks upon:
And, we have seen,
How, he befriends, when righteous ends
Pursu'd have been
VVe, likewise vievv
VVhat will befall, to those that shall
Their lust pursue.
3.
We see, or may behold,
That, he our Armies leads;
And (as in times of old)
[Page] His Banner o're them spreads,
And for our sakes,
Through threats and spights, through depths and heights,
Their passage makes,
VVhilst, to his praise
Their Foes to nought, are justly brought,
In plainer waies.
4.
He, made both Seas and Wind,
To them assistance lend;
And, what they had design'd,
Sun, Moon, and Clouds befriend.
Force, he repells;
He makes them bold, to march where cold,
And hunger dwells:
And, when their fear
Did most abound, they mercy found,
And Victors were.
5.
To him doth Praise belong;
For, he did them subdue,
Who num'rous were, and strong,
When we were weak, and few;
And, when our Foes
Came bragging on, and thought all won,
They all did lose.
Still, be it thus;
Lord! alway, so, them overthrow VVho malice us.
6.
His wise-foresight prevents,
The Politicians wiles:
He, crosses their intents,
He, at their Projects smiles:
In his due time,
[Page] [...]
Contrived by them:
And, in that snare,
VVhich, for our feet, they closely set,
Still caught they are.
7.
Vain sons of men, therefore,
Your bruitish grumbling cease;
Pursue false hopes no more,
But follow after peace.
More prudent grow;
Reform your waies, and sing his Praise
As now we do:
Oh! whilst you may
In God rejoyce, and hear his Voice
VVhile 'tis to day.
8.
Let all men do the same,
Of whatsoe're degrees;
And magnifie his Name,
As all obliged be.
His Righteousnesse,
His Power and Grace, in ev'ry place
Let all confesse:
And lay aside
Their own deserts, their selfish hearts,
Their stinking pride.
9.
Your strength to him submit,
You, that have conquests won:
Wise men ascribe your wit,
To him, ev'n him alone.
For, he supplies
The Fool with skill, and, when he will
Befools the wise.
[Page] And, certainly,
Unto to your Foes, he, gives the blows
By which they die.
10.
Rich-men, your precious things
Bring forth, your Thanks to show;
Before him, (Oh'ye Kings)
Your Heads, and Scepters bow;
And, as 'tis meet,
Come from your Thrones, and cast your Crown:
Beneath his feet:
For, Kingdomes all
To him pertain, and he again
Resume them shall.
11.
Oh! let all things that were,
That are, or shall ensue;
(Or, but in thought appear)
Thy Praise, O God, forth-shew;
Till Times last bound:
And, let it run, when time is done,
An endlesse Round;
Where, needs not be
Privations Night, that we true Light
May better see.
12.
Mean time, let not his praise
Be meerly, in our Voice,
As if vve thought to raise
A Trophy, out of Noise:
But, let us more
Our Thanks expresse, in Righteousnesse,
Then heretofore:
Els (this is plain)
False shows we make, and, do but take
GODS Name in vain.
FINIS.

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