Spiritual Melody Containing near Three Hundred Sacred Hymns By BENJAMIN KEACH Author of ΤÏοπολογια Pastor of the Church of Christ meeting on Horsly-down Southwark Coloss 3.16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Quantum flevi in Hymnis Canticis suavè sonantis Ecclesiae tuae voces illae influebant auribus meis c. How sweetly have I wept in Hymns and Songs At the sounding of thy Church the Voices flew into mine Ear and thy Truth melted into mine Heart and from thence flew forth the effects of Godliness the Tears ran down mine Eyes and it was well with me when I was with them August in his Preface to the Psalms cap. 6. LONDON Printed for John Hancock in Castle-Alley near the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill 1691. TO THE READER READER IT may not be unnecessary if I acquaint thee with the chief design of my publishing these Sacred Hymns I have three sorts of Persons in my Eye to whom I recommend them First Such who like and approve of Books in Verse which treat of Divine Things and would gladly have a little help in order to the understanding of Metaphorical Scripture who cannot also well spare so much Money as to purchase larger Volumes the Folio I put forth some years ago call'd A Key to open Scripture Metaphors being near Twenty Shillings price comes into but a very few Peoples hands Besides the Impression will soon be gone as far as I can gather and 't is not like to be reprinted any more Now in this small Tract I can assure you is contained great part of the principal things under divers Metaphors opened in that Book though they are there more largely insisted on I do not judge all those Hymns I have taken from Metaphoriâ—al or Tropical Scriptures are proper to be sung nor are they here recommended to that end some of them being Historical as part of Hymn 92. pag. 129 130. and some others containing Matter of Controversie nor do I think those concerning Hell so suitable to be sung yet I doubt not but they may be all of use to the Reader all being congruous with God's Word and according to the analogy of Faith The Second sort are Parents and Masters of Families I am perswaded with the Blessing of God this Book may prove of great advantage to their Children who generally are taken with Verse and are much addicted to learn such Songs and Ballads which generally tend to corrupt Youth and 't is a shame to godly Christians they should suffer their Children to learn many of them but since Singing is God's Ordinance I mean to sing Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs 't is doubtless their duty to instruct them therein as well as to teach them to read and by learning Sacred Hymns they may be taken before their Parents are aware with the Matter therein contained as divers have through the Blessing of God as I have been oft inform'd by reading that small Poem called War with the Devil and some others Youth are generally inclin'd to Poetry and as one of the Ancients excellently observes The Holy Ghost seeing the Souls of Mankind strugling in the way of Godliness and being inclined to the Delights of this Life hath mixed the power of his Doctrine with sweet Singing that whilst the Soul was melted with the sweetness of the Verse the Divine Word might the better be grafted with profit Now these Hymns being short Children will soon get them by heart as also full of varieties and iâ— instructed to sing they may be the more affected with the matter and receive the greater advantage The Third sort are those godly Christians who know 't is their indispensible duty to sing Psalms and Hymns c. not only in their Families but in the publick Congregation yet do not think divers Psalms do so well suit with Christians under the Gospel as other Sripture-Hymns do and divers worthy Ministers of the Baptized-way thô choice Preachers and fully satisfied in singing the Praises of God yet may not have Judgment to compose Hymns every Man having his particular Gift of God and therefore have desired divers Scripture-Hymns and select Psalms might be published and indeed had I not been put upon this Work I am perswaded I had not undertook it or at the least not so soon Moreover many Christians had rather have those Hymns we sing in our publick Assemblies printed that so they might the better know them and examine the matter therein contained to see whether they do agree with the Word of Christ and likewise the better sing them with understanding And 't is not unknown what a multitude of godly Friends have desired to have me write them out several of those Hymns that have upon divers occasions been sung in some particular Congregations Now to prevent that trouble and to satisfie them I promis'd to Print the most of those Hymns and so have done as they will find them in the latter part of this Tract If any desire in such a Book to have no Hymns but such that are proper to be sung in Congregations in the next Impression if God spare my Life I shall endeavour to answer their request Had I not wrote so lately in Justification of pre-composed Hymns taken out of God's Word I should have spoken fully to it here We are exhorted to sing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs and since we have none left in Form in the Scripture it follows that those who God hath gifted that way ought to compose them for a Hymn or Song cannot be without its Form Certainly God doth not enjoyn a Duty on us that he hath not left sufficient Rule how to come at it nor have we any ground to expect the extraordinary Gift any more Nor is there as I have lately shewn any more reason to object against compiling Sacred Hymns to be sung out of the Word of Christ than there is to object against pre-compiled Sermons that are to be preached though I am satisfied the Lord doth enjoyn his Churches to sing the Psalms of David both in Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 we reading of no other Psalms but the Book of Psalms so by Hymns and Spiritual Songs I see no reason to doubt but he intends all Sacred Hymns c. taken out of the holy Scripture by the help of God's Spirit Mr. Marlow cites a Passage out of Learned Ainsworth as if he favoured his Notion of Praising God only without Vocal Singing yet I have lately met with a Book of that worthy Man on the Psalms of David where I find him speaking thus These Psalms saith he have ever since by the Church of Israel by Christ and his Apostles and by the Saints in all Ages been received and honoured as the Oracles of God cited for Confirmation of true Religion and sung in the publsck Assemblies as in God's
Who in her care of all her young Doth far exceed some Men. 2 How will she fly into the face Of such who would destroy Her pretty Brood she cant endure They should them once annoy 3 But ah thy bowels far exceed All Creatures here below For thou for Sinners Lord didst bleed Compassion great to show 4 The Hen herself to weakness brings Whilst of her young takes care How does she scratch and strive each day To feed them here and there 5 But Lord thou brought'st thy self so low That we might all be fed That in the grave a while didst lye After that thou wast dead 6 And as a Hen does cluck and call According to her kind Thereby to save her Chickens all From Kites which she does find 7 Do often of them make a prey So dost thou call and cry To Sinners whist it is to day Whom thou dost Lord efpy 8 To be in danger by their sin And Devils many ways Nay thou dost call and call agen Full oft for many days The Second Part. 1 The Hen stands ready and prepar'd Hov'ring her mournful wings And never is she satisfy'd Till under them she brings 2 So thou dost spread thy Arms O Lord Poor Sinners to bring in And bids the weary come to thee Who laden are with sin 3 O then come in ye Sinners all Under Christ's wings with speed He will receive you great and small And nothing shall you need 4 And O how safe are you his Saints Under his wings you lye Then fear no hurt from outfard Foes Nor inward Enemy 5 They who are wise will certainly In mind these things record And so they will with ease espy The kindness of the Lord. HYMN 51. Christ a Refiner Mal. 3.3 He shall sit as a Refiners fire 1 THou like as a Refiner doth The Gold and Silver try We had much dross until thou didst Our Souls Lord purifie 2 Into the Furnace we were cast Which oft is very hot 'T is not our Grace i' th' least to waste But filth which we have got 3 Afflictions like as fire doth The Gold rarely refine Purge all our Souls and we thereby More gloriously may shine 4 But Dross will not the Fire bear So some Lord cannot stand Before thee when thou dost rise up To scourge them with thy hand 5 The fire makes the Gold more soft So by Afflictions we More plyable O Lord are brought To yield and bend to thee The Second Part. 1 Gold when 't is triy'd 't is pure made By the Refiners art So by afflictions thou dost Lord Mor'e holy make each heart 2 From hence we may the reason see Why God afflictions brings And clearly also may discern What profit from them springs 3 We fitted are hereby O Lord For our own Master's turn Who golden Vessels will make us Before that he has done 4 When you refin'd by tryals are What cause have you to sing And praise the Lord that ever he Did you in 's Furnace fling HYMN 52. Christ bears his Saints as an Eagle Exod. 19.4 I bore you on Eagles wings 1 THe Eagle is the King of Birds Ah! who is like to thee Who is so strong or hath an Eye So quick and far to see 2 Like to an Eagle thou dost mount Or didst ascend on high Not only up unto the Clouds But far above the skie 3 And as the Eagle thou dost bear Upon thy blessed Wings All thy poor Saints and they hereby Forget all earthly things 4 They soar so high sometimes O Lord Born upon Wings of Love That Earth to them seems a small thing They dwell so high above 5 And as the Eagle's way 's not known Who mounts up in the Air Ev'n so thy love and wisdom both Most deep and hidden are 6 O fly ye Saints your selves to hide Under Almighty Wings And safe you 'll be whate're betide When God sore judgments brings 7 O see Christ's care and do not fear But sing his Praises forth His grace and love 's beyond compare None like him here on Earth HYMN 53. Christ the Capt. of our Salvation Heb. 2.10 To make the Captain of our Salvation perfect through sufferings 1 THou art our Captain-General Thy Commission sealed is Rouze up ye Soldiers great and small No Captain like to this 2 Thou hast the power given thee To raise a mighty Host And thou beats up to bring them in Daily from every Coast 3 'T is thou dost nominate who shall Have office under thee And they Commissions have likewise Who rightly entred be 4 Thou hast thy Soldiers names set down In thy own Muster-roll Within the blessed Book of Life Is written every Soul 5 And out of that sweet Book of thine They shall not blotted be If they are such thy Father hath Lord Jesus given to thee 6 Unto our Captain General A new Song let us sing For he that Captain is in Chief Is our God and our King The second Part. 1 Thou dost Lord Christ thy Soldiers lead Before them didst thou go All Foes by thee are vanquished Thou didst triumph also 2 Over them all most gloriously And perfect now art made Has Captive took Captivity Well never be afraid 3 But stand unto our Arms always No Quarter we will give If thou art with us all our days Few Enemies shall live 4 Let us be well disciplined And very skilful be And in right paths and foot-steps tread And truly follow thee 5 No Captain doth his Men advance To such high dignity For each shall have preheminence To sit on Thrones with thee 6 O then let us lift up our head O happy Israel Christ's Banner over you is spread Your glory shall excell The Third Part. 1 Thou giv'st the Word too of Command What 't is that we must do But never bidst us still to stand Nor backward for to go 2 We never must Lord wheel about Nor be as once we were But forward march with courage stout Without all dread or fear 3 Let 's take Example Lord of thee Resist ev'n unto Blood Before yield to iniquitiy Which has us oft withstood 4 'T is thou hast power to cashier All such thou dost not like If any false-hearted appear Their names out thou wilt strike 5 No Warriers like to thee in fight Thy power and thy skill Are both of them ev'n infinite Who then engage thee will 6 If any should woe to them all If once thou draws thy Sword And in thy wrath on them dost fall They die shall then O Lord. The Fourth Part. 1 Come in come in and list your selves You shall have present pay Your Souls shall be with grace well stor'd Your charges to defray 2 'T is th' ready way to become great And rich will you come in The Trumpets sound and Drums do beat To war against your sin 3 Will you be on our Captains side Ah! if you still stand out His Sword e're long will you divide VVith them that turn about 4 For if
sits upon the Floods To rule and govern all Break forth upon thine Enemies And give them their last fall HYMN 134. Afflictions comp to Floods The Second Part. 1 ONe grief and then another doth Like Clouds their Waters pour The Floods of cursed evil Men Do threaten to devour 2 Thy People all O Lord look down Rebuke them in thy wrath Thou art our hope and our defence O stretch thine Arm now forth 3 And let them know they are but Men And must subject to thee What evil they intend to do Let it prevented be 4 And we will lift thy Name on high And them we will not fear If thou wilt Lord our sins forgive And for our help appear HYMN 135. To day if you will hear c. Heb. 3.7 To day if you will hear his voice 1 TO day O hear God's gracious Call O don't the time delay The morrow you must not boast of 'T is now whilst 't is to day 2 Night is no time to do work in And Night will soon be here O then repent and leave your sin â— To Jesus lend your Ear. 3 To Day whilst the sweet Sun doth shine O hearken to God's Word Now whilst you have the Means of Grace Turn ye unto the Lord. 4 The Morning of your Day is gone Nay 't is already Noon The Evening too is coming on And here it will be soon 5 Your Sun begins to draw full low And quickly will go down Rouze up and do your work apace Before your Day is gone HYMN 136. The Smoaking Flax. Mat. 12.20 A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoaking Flax shall he not quench 1 THat Soul O Lord in whom's begun The blessed work of Grace Tho' he may droop and broken be Yet shall behold thy face 2 The feeble and desponding Soul That 's like a bruised Reed Thou wilt Lord take pity upon And soon supply his need 3 Altho' he 's like to smoaking Flax Where little fire is seen Yet he shall see that work go on Which shall destroy his sin 4 Grace at the first seems to be small Which makes the Soul to doubt That in him there is none at all Yet thou wilt bring him out 5 Of all his fears and he shall have A glorious victory And triumph shall in Songs of Praise To all eternity HYMN 137. Death the Seed sown in the Earth 1 Cor. 15.36 Thou Fool that which thou sowest is not quickned unless it die 1 LIke as the Seed which Men do sow Some time lyes in the Earth And then it sprours and we all see A Resurrection hath 2 And as the Seed unless it die It is not quickened So we first die and afterwards Are raised from the dead 3 Death doth approach all Men must die And turn unto the dust The Grave that is the House for all And thither go we must 4 Uncertain is the time of death 'T is certain all must die And certain 't is when death doth come Comes in eternity 5 No Mortal can himself deliver From th' power of the Grave And as we die so we are sure Another life to have The Second Part. 1 The Resurrection-day will come When we shall rise again Remember well the Day of Doom And where you must remain 2 For if in sin at last you die To Hell you shall be cast But if in Christ you fall asleep Your happiness will last 3 For evermore you shall then be With Christ and holy Men Where you shall with the Angels sing All praise to God Amen 4 Blessed are they who in the Lord At last do come to die For as all such from labour rest So shall assuredly 5 At the great day when Christ appears Appear in glory bright And in God's Kingdom shall henceforth Shine like the Morning light 6 Then do not mourn for such who die In Christ their dearest Friend Their gain is great of all their grief There is a final end HYMN 138. The Resurrection-day 1 Thess 4.14 Them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 DEath is a sleep it is a rest From all our labour here And to the Saints it is the best And so it will appear 2 They fall asleep in a sweet place They sleep in Jesus do They Union have with him through Grace Which death can't overthrow 3 Death can't dissolve that blessed Knot That union doth remain And unto Jesus Christ do go Death unto Saints is gain 4 But though the Sinner falls asleep His sleep is troublesome His Spirits shall no rest receive Till the last day doth come 5 But under wrath and dreadful Ire His Spirit then shall lye When death dos come he feels Hell-fire He sleeps in misery 6 'T is but one part that taketh rest That Sleep too soon will o're When God will on Body and Soul Eternal vengeance pour HYMN 139. Death a Sleep Phil. 1.13 Having a desire to depart and be with Christ c. 1 DEpart from what and whither go But why art in such haste O 't is because thou well didst know How sweet Christ's love doth taste 2 Depart from Earth and go to Heav'n From Saints that dwell below To them to whom bless'd Crowns are given Who do no sorrow know 3 Depart from Sin and Suffering To go to lasting bliss From being Poor to be a King What change is there like this 4 But yet thou must wait till the time That God prefixed hath And then thou shalt depart in peace And have the end of Faith 5 O happy Man thou art the Lord's Let death come when it will And he thy precious Soul at last Will with his glory fill HYMN 140. The Morning of the Resurrection Psal 49.14 And the Righteous shall have dominion over them in the morning 1 THe Morning comes when Night is gone The Night is now far spent The Resurrection day comes on When Jesus shall be sent 2 To call the Dead out of their Graves That is the Morning sure Which will not have another Night That Day will last for ever 3 Thy Sun will rise and ne're go down ' And then thou shalt awake Out of thy Bed and have a Crown That will thee happy make 4 Thou wast of no esteem on Earth But a poor Underlin But shalt at last dominion have When that day doth begin 5 It will a Morning be in which No Clouds shall more appear Thy Sun shall rise and shine he shall Beyond all shinings here 6 O wait ye Saints then for the Morn Look up it is ev'n day Break forth and sing all Saints of God Who dwell in House of Clay 7 Your day doth hasten on apace Look up lift up your Eyes The Morning comes when you shall rule O're all your Enemies HYMN 141. The great Assize Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened c. 1 HArk how the mighty Trumpet sounds The Judge is on the Throne Now joy to Saints shall much abound