HYMNES and Spiritual SONGS Extracted From SCRIPTURE on occasion of some useful Texts discuss't Composed In private Meditation and made use of once In Publick for the Saints Comfort Now Published for their sakes that sung them or others that desire them Psal 32.7 And compass me about with Songs of Deliv'rance Psal 77.6 I call to mind my Song in the Night Matth. 26.30 When they had sung an Hymn they departed Plinius secundus pleads that Christians at meetings did Nil Romanis legibus contrarium nisi hoc solum quod antelucanos Hymnos Christo cuidam canerent deo Euseb cap. 32. p. 67. London Printed by J. R. for the Author 1682. To the Reader AS Errors in judgement cloud our heads in affections our hearts in action our lives humanum est errare So specially do errors in divine Worship obnubilate our devotion to God So that all may say or be mute as David who understands his errors Ps 19.12 who can indeed But of errours in Religion both in Doctrine and Worship not here now to treat at large of aspiring to Deity as Pagans arrogating legislation as Papagans affecting domination as Prelates I only touch obiter the self assumption of the Titles empty Names and Forms of Church Ordinances and Ministry without the things themselves As we Protestants of all sorts too oft do Oh how 't would become us first to enquire after divine measures by that Scripture-golden reed and to be asham'd of all we have done and next to wait and seek for that Holy Spirit as the Apostles were bid in Acts 1.4.8 rather than temerate as one sayes Gods sacred mysteries with unwashen hands and make that a mean of temporal Life that through the justice of God becomes the occasion of our own and others spiritual if not eternal death But two things concern us all that venerate that second Command that Papists expunge the Decalogue the one is to know the Holy will of our God both for matter and form that the first be bonum the second bene good well done that it be not call'd vain Oblation c. The other is to fear his wrath that ever attends divine jealousie If but so small as may seem an errour slip us as did Nadab and Abihu at the entry of Worship in offering strange fire and common or as Eli's Sons or Uzah's rash touch or Naamans cringing to Rimmon for company with his King and Master or as Uriahs usurping the Preisthood All which are fatal examples that do caution us to be tremulous for in all the parts of Worship Preaching Prayer Ministration of Instituted seals and Censures c. I fear our errors at our Masters coming will be found not a few so that we may say as Naaman the Lord pardon us c. as 2 Kings 5.17 or as David about Uzahs boldness in Errour 2 Sam. 6. v. 7. The Lord made a breach because we sought him not in the due order But I only mean to touch a little that part of Worship that is call'd singing And since its needless to lay open the Theory of it being so well done by others as Cotton Sydnam Rous Barton Hen. Ainsworth Those of N. E. and in that of Scotland Let me only hint at the Nature Form and Vse of Song in General the Occasion and rise of these in particular For the Nature I do not mean Jigs as the Papist styl'd Hopkins nor bare Poems as Crafhaws or Herberts Quarles Withers or Pordage's c. who tho' their songs may be good and spiritual and far usefuller especially to youth than amorous lays of Wit wanton Rhapsodies and prophane Ballads yet I should scarce take them as materials for Worship The ornature being human and polite But this I mean by 't A Spiritual Song in Scripture words or sense compos'd in measures tunable sung alone or with others to the Lords own praise our own or others joy in a sweet harmony of heart and voyces This may at present serve to hint the nature of song as the Author takes it till more convenient time be to enlarge upon it The great point that depends of late is about the form how to do it aright here quot capita tot sententiae some seclude it wholly their Assemblies and Families as lost like Hebrew-Musick and Meeter till 't is restor'd and so practise it not other than by prayer and praise natural worship Some in the other extream make so common and formal work of it that as the Minister sits above it as if it were below him to exhibite a song so a Clark the fag end of Anti-Christ takes upon him to lead as a Reader Some few only joyn as in prayer with one that has a song and utters it whether extempore or no I say not not the voice of any present joyning harmony with him as Silas and Paul and Miriam of old did c. This I like not Some again are for 't but act not as stumbling at a promiscuous assembly not yet being on mount Zion where the Lamb 's new song will be these are holy souls but short of duty for there be songs in the night one may sing at the lowest by the skirts of Zion with an eye to the heights as Jer. 3 1 12. nay in Jeremiah's Dungeon or Daniels Den or the Bishops Colehouse or the three Children in the Flames Others are for acting as we may now on the lowest round of Jacobs Ladder the Foot stair of Gods Temple Yet again some are for the Old way the Old Translation all old c. Others for correction and Reformation of which sort I am one and tho 't has been us'd till of late to sing in the words of David as of old 2 Chron. 29.30 Yet I scruple not to use the Canticles nor the sence of other Scriptures in the same or other words consonant to the Analogy of Fa th If then for the matter my song be in the words of the Sacred Scripture or reducible to it and for the form I neither limit my self in the composure nor yet impose on others least of all fix a stand or bound beyond which none in time to come ought to go tho' of more light and spirit than I am and aiming at purer Reformation yea waiting for a renovation of all I see not why any can scruple to joyn with me so or I with them Now for the use of Hymns and Songs I find the advantages that accrew many to compose and calm our evil spirits as Sauls was by David 1 Sam. 16.16 23. To allay a vexed perturb'd mind at the sight of a sinner as the Prophet 2 Kings 3.15 was by a Minstrel and one a late so weary in travel that he could not Preach till he had hear'd Musick As on the other hand the mind being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well compos'd as Jam. 5.13 or merry it exhilerates and improves spiritual joy and comfort made Pauls Chain light and Stocks easie sometimes its instructive as some Psalms be
or corrective as others now and then it 's prophetical often precatory alwayes monitory and edifying c. Above all in combats of mind or military congresses 't is wonderful to read the bless't efforts and contrary effects it has produc't in the open Feild at the facing not foyling only of an enemy as in 2 Chron. 20.21 22. and times of war plainly demonstrate both animating the hearts of the good and daunting the faces of the adversary Besides at the end of Supper our Lord he and they sang an Hymn as all acting they plurally in two Evangelists Math. 26.30 Mark 14.26 as did the Jews ending their Paschal-feast and tho' as corrupt times and Roman Impositions grew on certain vain gaudy customs in Chores Choristers Organ-Pipes and like Trumperies were by Satans malice and superstitious minds foysted and mixed with the duty and some made Hymns in praise of Arian Bishops Yet take off the Rites and Abuses and let none invent Instruments of Musick like David Amos 6.5 nor play on them before an Image as Dan. 3.7 15. and I see not but that old Hymnizing way and gift might be restor'd 1 Cor. 14.26 and a glory fill this and other appointments Now for the occasion of this way the Author uses observe this twofold account 1. Casting an eye cursorily on a plea one of the times publisht for forms of prayer he argues thus If it be lawful in Singing to use stinted set Forms why not in prayers too to let pass Why not in Sermons also Or Homilies c. I only answer for my own part that no set forms of song are by any compos'd in any Translation and far less imposed by any humane sanction on purpose to stint straiten or direct the spirit of God its gifts or graces in any that were to break the second Command as Mr. Cotton argues And as bad as the old Latin Missale so I never should use even the best Psalter 2. And more personally note that the Author many years ago being in his own and others eyes under a sentence of death despaired of life in an agony of dolour had suddenly injected and impress't on his spirit that place Psal 32.7 preserve from trouble and compass me about with songs of deliv'rance Which makes me say if God has perform'd his part in the former ought not I to essay to sing thus and as Hezekiah to call on others Isai 38. ult in consort to rejoyce in hopes of a glorious deliverance at hand the sparks of which hope laid up in Heav'n for us are already kindled above and are taking fire on earth never to be extinct till it have consum'd the Idols and Priests together inflamed the restorers zeal and well warm'd our Isles-Inhabitants with a love of reformation never to be cool'd by all Papists can do till that promis't restitution of all as Act. 3.19 21. and the desire of Nations come Hagg. 2.7 to fill his second Temple with his glory As for these songs such as they be do any ask what for matter I say they derive from Scripture-fountain for else I desire they may be vilipended But for the form of composure they flow'd from serious Meditations in secret sober reflections on the subjects then discourst and some such as memory helpt to recall had birth in private closet songs tho' many are lost for want of a speedy record If any dislike the method heads in some of them the transitions in others the reflections on present times the dull strain bad poetry or plain style the Author deems it not fit to apologize to cavillers let them do better or let these alone as the Hymns are at his own cost so he cares they only have them that with any joy in God once sung them If any say cui bono of what use I say of the same use as a pen'd Sermon dying speeches or prayers not to impose but for the recalling to mind things useful to us before and to the future profit of others the same end tho' a lower mean as for which Scripture in general and Psalms in particular were left and tho' the power and presence of a duty is not to be pen'd yet on the remembrance of things hear'd salvation in part depends 1 Cor. 15.2 If you say there 's a store too much already I yeild yet not too much bonum quo communius eo melius it s a pity bread and water because plentiful are as Manna was therefore more sleighted and a sign of a fulsome glutted age But let such stand by that the hungry poor and meek may eat and be satisfy'd some have tasted hony out of these bare carcasses are these jejune let others provoke their zeal and stir up far better gifts to do more worthily But I ask is' t lawful to gloss on a text by a long Sermon and not sing too a short Hymn Is' t call'd novelty or innovation admit yet as not old so nor new things are if bonum bene to be refus'd a scribe of Christ house is to bring out of the Lords treasury both new and old and at last the Lord will make all things new and yet Sternhold and Hopkins did well tho' not in Popish opinions in Psalms Some body must break the Ice to others call them Novatians who list besides in Eusebius and Ecclesiastical History it was thus so frequent to do that some a late do use of their own composure after Supper an Hymn Causabon's Reports of some poetical Enthusiasms and Religious Extasi's and some Females in Hysterical fits that utter'd verse extempore witness H. Tr's late large folio may all serve to excite the gift or to pray it down amongst us They that use this way are few I know but one grave learn'd man besides that so concludes in an Hymn publickly If any consult our Predecessors they may find this way with some Martyrs us'd in Mr. Fox and one lay'd on Qu. Ma. Desk against Popery a Woman on the death of one sweet Child sung thus All praise O Lord with heart and voyce we freely give to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints we know full dear to be In Dr. Beards Theatre p. 43. ch 14. in Mr. John Fenwick on Zion's joy in her King p. 92 93. A very pious Hymn In Geo. Withers specul p. 77 85. 91. 142 143. Also Pordag's Poems p. 157. 207. 215. 257. 300. The Pilgrim sings oft sweetly See the book Vpon 's passage from Babel to New Jerusalem Nay one is put in the preface to some of our large Bibles Which who can dislike If Tune or Meeter displease any can song in consort well be without both If so do so yet consider it 's as lawful to use poetry to sing in orderly voice harmony and measure as to use Grammar to teach Hebrew or Translate the Bible to Mother Tongue if human Ornature under the Law was not allow'd that Altar yet what polish't stones did Solomons Temple show by direction of the
long a captive lead So Jacob shall rejoyce indeed and Isra'l shall be glad 6 Hymn A sigh from the whole Creation In a Threnetick Hymn O Lord that true and righteous art hark how thy Creatures all Do sigh and groan by thee alone to be redeem'd from thral From bondage of mans wickedness we were redeem'd say they Why then are we mans vanity subjected to obey The curse and wrath we bear is great cross to our makers will How long must we by tyranny mens lawless lusts fulfil Lord sweep the world refine the Church from dross tinn straw and stubble By fire and sope revive our hope Our Island save from trouble No feller then on us shall come nor burdens us oppress Christ will with justice truth and peace and Halelujahs bless 7 Hymn Zions Lamentation after the Lord. HOw long Lord dost thou hide thy face to us return we crave The riches of thy powerful grace vouchsafe thy poor to have See how the Boars and Beasts of prey do pluck and spoyl thy Vine And wher 's your God blaspheming say as if it were not thine The World in wrath and bloud does roule its burdens still increase To thee Lord cries its weary Soul when shall these mischiefs cease Thy Spirits become to mighty ones a vile reproach and scorn Among the pots thy ' dopted Sons do lie black and forlorn O turn to us turn us to thee powre out thy Spirit again Thy promise is and that 's our bliss Jesus shall live and raign 8 Hymn A sigh for pure Worship The 1st Part. LOrd show to us thy way and will to VVorship thee aright Give by thy word and spirit that skill to lead into thy sight VVhen God to me said seek my face my heart its eccho cry'd To seek thy face oh give me grace But Lord it do not hide For that alone will gladness give and joy with peace far more Then corn and wine souls do not live on earth or goods in store Then will I to thine Altar go and in its flames delight The way to bliss thus I shall know and pleasures in thy sight Here I the end of wicked ones shall plainly see and read For life to Israels dry bones hence I 'le beleive and plead Lord hast to bring that righteous King into his Temple pure Its glory ope the whore the Pope in their abyss secure That second Temple God will rear and his Salvation wall it In 's beauty there will Christ appear Jehovah Shammah call it 9 Hymn Hopes for the approaching Glory The 2d part OUr God will come in hast in 's Glory to appear And now fulfil to Zions Hill his promist good so near Rejoyce ye Sons of God All ye that Sion love Shake from your eyes the dust rise your sins and bands remove His time now posteth on For Babels final doom And great Salvation in every nation Oh let thy Kingdom come Though Nations rush and rage Oh bring them to thy foot And hear the prayer of such as are in dust and destitute Then Jesse's branch will bud Two staves unite in one Then may we hope all priso'ns op'e That Christ may have the Throne Idols he will abolish And worship pure appoint Sion espouse to be his house And or'e it Christ annoint Oh then rejoyce in hope Of such a glorious day When all that mourn their tunes will turn Singing Halelujah 10 Hymn Future hopes of Good YE Saints that do Jehovah fear sing with melodious hearts That chosen are of God most dear his secrets to impart Before the earths foundations he on you plac't his Election And when these heavens no more shall be you 'l have a Resurrection Thrice blest they be whom God does chuse and pure in heart that be Tho' men abuse and you refuse such God at last shall see Then Saints shall know as they be known and see God as he is God will not shame their names to own for such shall live in blisse Then shall your bodies glorious rise first Christs then all his Saints When power divine them clarifies and full joys ends complaints Oh who then would not sigh and long this Kingdom 's wine to taste Thy Kingdom come and will be done that glorious state O hast 11 Hymn Faith's triumph in the hopes of a Resurrection or'e deaths Victory ALL ye that live and die in Christ O bless the Lord with me Beyond the grave a hope you have of perfect Victory Tho dying yet behold we live in sorrows still we sing Christ bore the curse and sin that 's worse death 's but in name a King What tho' from Abel to this day death of its conquests boast Christ through the sides of it did ride and so its sting was lost Nature it King of Terrors calls and terrour 't is to Kings Yet with delight into Gods sight body and Soul it brings Our first begotten from the dead arose and sits on high But when again he comes to raign his foes at 's foot must lye Our scatter'd bones about the Grave shall come again together And when we rise with these our eyes we God shall see for ever 12 Hymn Faiths triumph in the Resurrection of the dry bones ALL ye that love the Lord his grace that tasted have Tho' death devour there 's set an hour when you shall rise from grave Our life with Christ is hid Souls cannot dye therefore For while we sleep our Lord does keep Of hell and death the door Oh then rejoyce and sing Ye that dwell in the dust Shall in your lot stand without spot with spirits of perfect just What tho' our scattered bones lye still about graves mouth Christ unto you will life renew that has dew of his youth Isra'ls dry bones at last a spirit of Life shall get That Roman Sun and Jewish Moon under a cloud shall set Then shall the righteous shine as Suns before Gods sight With holy ones sitting on Thrones in everlasting light 13 Hymn Doxolog gratulatory Psal 16.7 ult BLessed be God for Jesus Christ and his free righteousness For nothing less lost souls could bless and lead to happiness My soul bless thou the Lord always and all that in thee is Instructed be behold and see what great Salvation's this The Lord 's set still before my sight I shall not be deprest My heart and voyce do both rejoyce in hope my flesh shall rest Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell nor to the grave captive But wilt me show what path to go where I shall ever live For in thy sight fulness of joy and pleasures are in store All treasures stand at thy right hand of life for evermore 14 Hymn An Hymn of Petitions for the Spirit as Psal 51.12 Cant. 5. ult TO thee Jehovah I do thirsting cry and crave That early dew thy spirit most true this droughty soul may have Awake O North wind blow O South breath pleasantly Behold how dry my Gardens lie my Plants wither and die
love and only dove on wing of morning hast Refute my fears wipe of my tears his new wine let me tast Tho' I suspect I 'm non-Elect and so his love deny'd That would releive could I beleive he does the same abide Now let the Sun and day fast run my fears shall terminate To think with joy that Christ and I in bliss shall be compleat Then hast prepare all ye that are wise Virgins ready trim Your Lamps bring come loe your Bridegroom is near go to meet him For if his door be shut before you have your Lamps trim'd up Beyond all doubt you 'l be shut out and never with him sup 24 Hymn A 2d sighing for Christ Kingdom MOst glorious King thy Saints do sing in hopes to see thy day When every Crown comes tumbling down that thine may stand for age Why ought we pray and thus to say as thou dost us command Thy Kingdom come and will be done if foes it still withstand How says thy word that Christ our Lord is sole bless't Potentate Why should his cross become our loss or serve a worldly state That glorious tree on which blest he did suffer shame and scorn On which he spil'd his bloud did yield true life to us forelorn And shall his cross become our loss his glory turn our shame Nay surely those that him oppose shall bow to 's royal name 25 Hymn This song does the beleivers day And future triumph's fair display SIng to the Lord ye holy ones ye Saints lift up your head And shout aloud for in this cloud Christ will his glory spread What tho' your sight is not so bright faith in the dark can grope And feel such union as gives communion oh then rejoyce in hope For Christ our hope having with sope our sins all washed clean In Moabs pot then shall no spot on Zion more be seen Her blood and fears her sighs and tears for ever now shall cease No flames can scorch this first-born Church but rather joys increase No Cana'nite shall dwell in 's sight nor pricking thorn or brier No hypocrite with Lillies white shall grow but disappear Now will all Saints turn their complaints to lofty times of joy ' Cause Judah's Lion is King in Zion and none shall more destroy Oh then let all Saints great and small expect this glorious day Your Summer 's near its flowers appear Lord hast and come away Cant. 2.11 12. Luk. 21.28 30. 26 Hymn An Hymn of Christ's Cross and Crown following it WHen man was made God to him said of each Tree freely take I have them set all to be meat thy appetite to slake But wretched he his inn'cency through that forbidden fruit He freely left so was bereft of mans state like a bruit Now as that tree did prove to be the cause of all our Fall So by this tree Christs cross we be redeem'd and saved all Tho' on this cross our Lord the loss sustained of his life Yet so did he th' Elect set free from sin and death so rise Now Paradise most open lyes life's tree's to none forbidd'n Christ serves for food both sweet and good he is that Manna hidden As by a woman our death in common on all mankind did rest So now should come of Virgin womb both grace and life most blesse 27 Hymn The 2d part ANd now Gods call is cry'd to all to come believe and take him Both Christ and Lord and so his sword shall nolens volens make him Behold what signs in bloody lines before him do appear Sure he 's not far hark how the war doth of the Lamb draw near As once he dy'd and signifi'd through bloody lines of his love So now that curse and sin that 's worse from Saints he doth remove Remember Lord how much thy word of his exalting speaks Hasten that crown of Babel down for he all Scepters breaks Shall ever more that Romish whore our British Islands sway Hasten her doom thy Kingdom come O now Lord come away Then every nation thy new Creation and all things glad shall be When Christ alone set on his Throne in 's beauty Saints shall see 28 Hymn A Lamentation for England AWake my muse thy bow to use utter a Lamentation That Romish whore knocks at the door of this our English Nation That man of sin with her comes in the Dragon laid the Plot The Eagles spread o're Lions head if God prevent it not We are in danger thorow Gods fierce anger if Christ be not our help By Jebusites or Jesuits to loose the Lions whelp The Dragon tries how to surprize the Womans relict Seed Unless that Sword of Christ his word do wound his head with speed Oh woful day if she bears sway agen in these our Lands Gods Saints she 'l make burn at a stake and break Christs holy bands But Lord arise her sacrifice in stead of Zion make O let Rome fall beast horns and all for Christ and Martyrs sake 29. Hymn Faiths breath in a Swoun sent a Friend in a Letter THo' once my dear I felt thee near yet wist not whom you art Now through this hole I 'le feed my soul with sight to stay my heart I thought that he did come to be no transient but in-dweller But now he 's gone my soul finds none that where he rests can tell her I seek the street and fain wou'd meet my choice belov'd most dear Sometimes I find him yet do not mind him which makes him disappear Why does thy face Lord full of grace eclipsed still remain Thy will be done but here I 'le moan till I thy face regain Down at thy feet as it is meet O bow all earthly things Make all adore thy face before sprinkle all Lands and Kings 30 Hymn A panting sigh for Sions King Whose coming doth Salvation bring OH thou to whom praises pertain all Majesty and might Thy glorious Scepter sway and raign before thine Enemies sight For 1600 years behold thy Saints baptiz'd in blood Have for a pray to beasts been sold and eat in tears their food Stirr up thy self in Righteousness vengeance as cloak put on Thy zeal for Sions Sons express proud Babels whore upon Thy watchman on our walls appoint let them see eye to eye Saviours and Sons of oyl anoint that shall their Lord stand by Those mighty ones that plot our harm let them begin to fall That Trumpet let it sound their larm and judge them great and small Of mercy then and judgment too thy Saints shall sing and joy For God will utterly undo all that our peace annoy Thy Scepter then our Isles shall bless with truth and peace for aye The Sword of violence Lord suppress Lord hast that blissful day 31 Hymn Here Saints do mourn as Turtle Dove For Christs return that now 's above OH Sions King and only Spouse How long wilt thou withdraw From thy dear Heritage and house The Isles wait for thy Law Hark how thy Turtles Lord do mourn
face of which alas the comfort few that knows Now cries the soul my Sun is set my plants wither and dye My hopes forlorn faith 's overborn waste does my Garden lye When he did first knock at my door I thought he came t' abide But I unkind sure caus'd his mind to ali'nate and hide Now if I can his visit gain or smile one day in seven My hopes again revive a main with some foretasts of heav'n But when Lord Jesus wilt ' return revive thy work O then Our Wilderness shall praise and bless thy Grace and power Amen 74 Hymn The Soul refresh with chear divine Does t'its appart'ments rest incline Longing its burdens to resign as Cant. 5 1. 5. LOrd I have long wandred abroad from Mountain unto Hill Now pilgrim like seek rest in God subject to thy good will In ' lonesome deserts tho' I bleat oft weary faint and sad Yet finest wheat of heav'n I eat Rock-hony makes me glad My burdens sin affliction scorn Oft cause my soul bow down To ease my heart himself has born he bought I wear the Crown The fiery Serpents oft me fright I sing with thorns at brest My faith at last gets Pisgah sight in hopes o' th' Land of rest My faith and sence combat together and both their weapons try Which shall obtain one knows not whether till Christ gives victory Return my soul unto thy rest take shade in weary land They that this refuge find are blest for rain and storm 's at hand A joyful rest Lord doth remain for all thy scatt'red ones A glorious King shall sit and raign and they with him on thrones 75 Hymn VVhen Saints of drought and heat complain The Shepherd answers thus again Cant. 1.5 6. LOrd when my day at first begun and grace on me did shine I quickly felt a scorching Sun upon my tender Vine Hence in appearance I put on a black and sable hue Oh when wilt thou let fall upon my herbs of Grace thy dew This fi'ry Dragons raging heat peirces my aking head Tempts me like Jonah oft to fret or wither which I dread My Shepherds voice instant I heard standing behind my wall Said flee to th' Rock be not afeard I knew 't and took his call Tho' Clouds eclipse thy morning Sun and evidence is not bright At noon's hot persecution cool ev'ning shall give light I am thy Sun shadow and shield in me alone 's thy rest Here light and safety both I yield thus all the flocks are blest A King most just shall reign er'e long him must his foes adore His Spouse singing her nuptial-Song then heat smites her no more 76 Hymn The Soul and Spouse tempted with heat For cool refreshing gales intreat Eying that promise Isai 4.6.8 Song c. 25.6 HOw long Lord shall this heat of persecution beat Which makes me pray shorten my day or make my Sun retreat Afflictions make me look like bottles in the smoak My heart alas withers as grass my fruitful branch is broke Yet Lord to thee I cry under thy shade I fly Thy healing wing shall cause me sing and down in safety lye Though Zion's Sons have lain 'mong pots in vile disdain He has foretold her wings with gold hee 'l beautifie again Mans rage shall cease and fall with noise of strangers all The branch or Sons of terrible ones shall break against the wall Then storms and heat shall ceases Lambs feed and lye in peace Then Babels Sun shall set at noon her torments have no ease Sing ye distrest and poor now look to weep no more Your Sun does rise lift up your eyes and 'fore his throne adore 77 Hymn VVhen vials Babel-Rome consume Cool and refreshing times then come LOrd hasten Babels threat'n'd doom for Zion sake afford Cool and refreshing gales to come from th' presence of the Lord. Why should thy Lambs be led aside and vail'd from their right way From fellowship with thy holy bride with false companions stray The Pastors that thy flock have led as wolves have suckt their blood The rest with tears or poyson fed disperst alone i' th' wood But yet a Shepherd shall arise a Branch of great Renown His flock to save from 's Enemies and sway Scepter and Crown His times will restitution bring unto the whole creation His flock from wilderness shall sing for peace in every Nation The lofty shall be brought full low the lowly rais'd on high The Lord will righteous vengeance show on Romes conspiracy Christs word the Tyrants Sword will break that oft his lambs did gore To th' heathen then peace he will speak and raign for evermore 78 Hymn The Pilgrim now with Christ at rest His joy and triumph thus exprest LOrd I a stranger was and sojourner below Defil'd with sin till Christ came in thy Grace to make me know I sought in this world rest but found't labour in vain My life I spent To small content till I a Christ could gain My sin and misery became his time of love Tho' in my blood he meant my good himself did's bowels move I was a wandring Sheep bleating in deserts stray'd Till he me sought and home me brought me safe on 's shoulders lay'd He fed m' in pastures green me led by waters calm Sweet Wines I gate and down I sate at 's feet and sang my psalm Lord what am I Oh whence is all this love to me That thou should take me home and make one of thy Family But when my Lord returns to 's second Marriage feast Hee 'l then admit all 's lambs to sit on 's Throne in endless rest 79 Hymn The Pilgrim welcom'd as a King By Christ does further praises sing As Deuter. 26.5 11. LOrd when a Syrian-stranger poor ready to perish quite I call'd and begging at thy door was pitty'd in thy sight Thou brough't me in and I was fed with water wine and milk Thy robes of righteousness me clad more rich than royal silk When in 's own Chamber I was plac't my King one secret told On 's throne I should be with him grac't with 's crown richer than gold And as a sign he would defeat and break Levi'thans head And give his flesh to 's folk for meat and 's Manna for their bread As I mus'd on this mystery I quickly heard a voice Angels sang praise in melody so I 'gan to rejoyce Now blessing honour to the Lamb pow're wisdom riches praise Hosannahs be to 's glorious name and joyful songs always Now as I was about to sing I heard one on the throne Bad silence while I heard my King thus triumph sing alone 80 Hymn The Lambs triumph that did obtain Both vict'ry and our right to raign As Psal 40.7 John 17. Prov. 8.31 LOrd I before the World began with thee in glory sate Yet came in form of flesh humane thine to redintigrate That body thou prepar'd I gave to death an offering pure And victor did ascend from grave ' thine lasting life t' ensure To them
Heliotrope To face the Sun seem'd to desire to turn or shut or o'pe Said I this much resembles love that grace does much delight With Christ its Sun to turn and move dilating at his sight A third plant on the wall did lean 3. as Vines that fruitful are Its bulk nothing most weak and mean yet blessed clusters bare Thus faith a part from Christ we call a meer notion and sound Hee 's only root and strength that wall from him our fruit is found Next that presented to my sight and 'long the wail did creep A flowr most fair and Lilly-white 4 'mong thorns that made it weep Repentance like this flowr does grow it s own tears serve for dew Moist'ning its soyl and roots below which does its fruits renew Two winter Gillivers I next upon the wall beheld That with the cold were nipt and vext when pluckt how sweet they smel'd 5. Like Twins meekness and Patience thrive as Camomile both grow Tho trod on yet they keep alive still green and pleasant show The meek ones mute and silent sit under the hand of God And unto hard things oft submit bearing his smarting rod. 6. Patience all humane injuries sustains ev'n unto blood Inflames it lives in triumph dyes still counting Gods will good 7. One plant not of a pleasant smell but bitter tast it was To natures health it profits well tho' nice ones by it pass Mortification makes contrite and sinful self it scorns Restrains all carnal appetite with holiness adorns A Sister plant nigh that did grow 8. that hearts-ease some well name A plant Solomon scarce did know it 's worth who can proclaim Contentment is that Jewel so rare a crown may want it yet A poor man freed of worldly care with godliness may 't get 9. And as the Flowers from roots must dye or serve for Ornament So 's he that can himself deny spend or for Christ be spent 10 A tree there grew that maketh wise discerning good and evil Makes face to shine ' light'ns the eyes its fruit expels the devil 11. A burning plant did next appear hot in the fourth degree That warms the breasts of all sincere and makes them zealous be 12. Then last I Sempiternum view'd whose greeness did surpass And by the Sun 't was still bedew'd this perseverance was Now while I recreation had to bind them up to gather The Keepers voice me call'd and bad me first to come up thither I went immediately and he in t ' a green arbour led Propounding of a mystery or riddle and thus he said A pleasant plant in Eden grows Not ev'ry one it's value knows It s orient colours shine out most And smells most fragrant in the frost It beautifies deformed faces And the compleatest beauties graces Its root does grow above its stalks And as it spreads in fruit it walks 'T is low and oft trod down by beasts Yet in its branches fowls build nests It s name and root if you once find And eat t' will sight restore if blind As life by eating once was lost So 't is restored without all cost The tree of death was once dear bought Now that of lif 's enjoyed for nought The more 't is pluck't the more 't wil spread It kills the quick enlivens the dead Pluck it and tell what 't is and whence A crown then is your recompence When I this riddle had pondered well its meaning for to know Light from above upon me fell and did the secret show The Answer to 't The Root is Christ the Plant is Grace Which will the pure in glory place Next I 'le you tell of Edens Well AMidst Gods Garden did appear A fountain that was sweet and clear A pleasanter was never seen It kept the plants all fresh and green Still flowing full but inexhaust Inviting all that saw 't to tast And come drink in a golden cup These living waters bubbling up Hence Sanctuary-streams derive That still keep all Gods roots alive In Golden pipes still issuing Cooling and chearing ev'ry thing In it all that do wash their eyes May penetrate deep mysteries Like Manna 't tasts as Milk and Honey Its waters run free without money All that to wash into it go Tho' leprous 't makes them white as Snow The spots of sin and Conscience-grypes And stains away it purely wipes He that does drink of this in store For other Cisterns thirsts no more 179 Hymn Of the Fruit of Edens Garden NOw as mine eye did contemplate and Edens Fruits desire To th' tree of Life the open gate I longing did enquire Considering what is on record of Adam and his Wife Kept by an Angels flaming Sword out from that tree of Life And now an angel to me flew having receiv'd command That tree of life to me to shew and gave First-fruits in hand But told me that above it grew amidst Gods paradise One branch of which gave such a shew as dazl'd mortal eyes This branch did o're the wall extend with most delightful tast And down within my reach descend to eat my soul made hast This beauteous and glorious branch with choice fruits did abound Its Kingdom to our times did lanch tho' with a cross first crown'd To stay my longings oft there fell its apples here and there These promises did relish well both food and physick were One also brought flagons of Wine and bad me drink and gather The clusters of the choicest Vine for plant it did the Father 180 Hymn Vltimate Glory THis upper Garden on the mount I long'd and climb'd to enter But under ground one gave account I through a Cave must venter This Cave I dark and silent found the first sight caus'd me weep One step me lodg'd next under ground and there I fell asleep Yet prospect got I ere I slept by faith at a small hole Embalm'd in Christ I shu'd be kept there hee 'l not leave my soul Then flew it †i. e. the soul strait to paradise such sleep to it was gain My flesh did rest in hope t' arise and both with Christ to raign Thus I put off mortality asleep with little pain In state immortal by and by to rise and live again There I bad all the world adieu here Sword and Shield let fall Looking to be array'd anew when God is all in all But whilst I at this Port deferr'd did for my passage long Melodious Chore's within I hear'd so I in consort sung 181 Hymn An Hymn of the immortal joys Where pains nor sighs nor sin annoys Psal 16. ult 2 Tim. 1.10 1. Pet. 1.4 LOrd in thy Gospel tydings be of death abolish't quite And life with immortality therein is brought to light This glorious mystery conceal'd in Types from ages past Thou in due time by Christ reveal'd to us in mercy hast This mystery doth far excell all wisdoms transitory That in beleivers Christ should dwell the hope of future glory That Christ before us up should go and Anchor for us