A Song, Title page – Errata
A SONG OR, STORY, FOR THE LASTING REMEMbrance of diuers famous works, which GOD hath done in our time.
WITH AN ADDITION OF certaine other Verſes (both Latine and Engliſh) to the ſame purpoſe.
PSAL. 107.8.
O that men would praiſe the Lord for his goodneſſe, and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men!
LONDON, Printed by R. Young for I. Bartlet, at the golden Cup in Cheape-ſide. 1626.
The Introduction from out of the XXXI. of Deuteronomie, where God chargeth Moſes to make his Song.
BEhold thou ſhalt with thy fore-fathers ſleepe,
As for this people, [whom thou art to leaue
They will not long my Teſtimonies keepe,
"Though now they ſeeme to them ſo faſt to cleaue]
"But they will riſe vp [after thou art gone,
"To ſcorne my Word, and trample it vponupon.]
"After the gods a whoring will they runne
"Of the ſtrange people which are in the land,
"Whither they goe to take poſſeſsion,
["And them amongſt to fixe their wandring band.]
"Me will they caſt away, (and are ſo weake)
"My [holy] Cou'nant, made with them to breake.
"Then ſhall my wrath againſt them kindled be,
"Euen in that day [my fury ſhall be hot,]
"Them I'le forſake, that hauehave forſaken me,
"And hide my face from them that me forgot.
"And they ſhall of their foes be eaten vp,
"Taſting of heauie woe and bitter cup.
"So that themſelues ſhall be enforc't to ſay,
"In midſt of ſorrow [Came not all theſe woes,
"On vsus, becauſe our God is gone away,
"'Mong vsus no longer to hauehave his repoſe?]
"I will from them in hiding hide my face,
"That euills-all, and other gods embrace.
"Now therfore write you, for your ſelues, this ſong,
"Which thou mayſt teach the Iſralytiſh fry,
"Putting the ſame into their mouth, [and tongue]
"That it for me gainſt them may teſtifie;
"For I will them into the country leade,
"By oath vntounto their fathers promiſed.
"[The Country,] which with milk & honie flows,
"Where, hauing eate their fill and waxen fat,
"VntoUnto ſtrange gods they will their heart diſpoſe,
"And worſhip them [vponupon their faces flat;]
"But me they will contemptuouſly prouoke,
"Breaking my Cou'nant, [caſting off my yoke.]
"And it ſhall be, when many euills-ſore
"Shall them befall, & make them much complaine,
"This ſong ſhall witneſſe, [if there were no more,]
"(In mouth of all their ſeed ſtill to remaine)
"That I foreknew, whats in their heart or hand
"Before I bring them to the promis'd land.
Who ſo would ſee this ſong of heau'nly choice,
Penn'd by that holy ſhephard, Iſrells guide,
And ſweetly vtterd with a ſwan-like voyce,
When here his ſoule no longer might abide;
Let him vntounto that holy fountaine goe,
From whence ſuch ſtreames do plentifully flow.
Nor ſhall he need to thinke his time miſpent:Deut. 32.
For what is there to Iſrael committed,
Hath a more large and generall extent,
And to our preſent times may well be fitted.
Now is that wall of ſeparation downe,
Now that is ours, which then was their renowne.
And oh that in their holy name alone,
And other graces, we did them ſucceed!
Oh that their falſhood and rebellion
Had not in vsus like bitter roote and breed!
Oh that by their example we might ſee,
Such thoughts, ſuch deedes, ſuch ſorrows how to flee!
For vsus, another Canan is prouided,
Far better; better milke, and better honie.
We looke our ſpirits ſhould ere long be guided,
To heau'n it ſelfe, where without price or monie,
We ſhall enioy what here we may but taſt,
A ioyfull-bleſſed life for aye to laſt.
Oh then! what manner ones ſhould we be here?
And how refin'd ſhould be both life and heart?
Not like this world, but like our Countrie deere,
Where none but holy ones hauehave any part.
We need not feare theſe Cananites to follow:
Who be all perfect, none vnſound or hollow.
Yee that in Sion are ſecure, awake;
Yee that do wauer in a Sea of doubt,
How long wilt be, ere the right way ye-take,
Halting no more or compaſsing about?
Or God or Baal, Chriſt or Maſſe adore;
Chooſe which you will: ſerue one, but halt on more.
Remember who it is that witneſſe bare,
"Euen that Amen the witneſſe true and ſure,
"Who made all creatures to be what they are,
"I know thy workes [they cannot proofe endure]
"Thou art not cold, nor art thou hot enough,
"I would thou wert key-cold, or hot in louelove.
"Sith then that Luke-warme is the frame & mold
["Which all this while and after all my coſt,]
"Thou haſt attained; neither hot nor cold
["So that my labour ſeemes to be but loſt,]
"I am reſolu'd, [Conſider what I ſay]
"Out of my mouth to ſpew thee quite away.
Oh heauie doome, how can we chuſe but tremble!
"We ſay we're rich, and full, and nothing neede:
"But God knows all; [he knows how we diſſemble]
"Poore, wretched-caytifes, without ſight or weede;
"Buy then of him, gold, robes, & ointmēt bright,
"Rich, cloth'd, to make vsus; and of clearer ſight.
Then ſhall we ſee the end of all his threts,
(That he an holy awe might keepe vsus in;)
And why his naked glittring ſword a whets,
(That we might all repent vsus of our ſinne;)
And why he doth ſuch ſtrange deliu'rance ſend,
(That we might praiſe him, and our liues amend.)
This very end it was that mooued me,
(Though not ſo fit, to vndertake the taske,)
To frame this ſong, or ſtory (as you ſee)
(Be ſure the liquor's good, what ere the caske.)
For heere, as in a glaſſe, you may behold,
The works that God hath wrought, ſome new ſome old
Yet none ſo old, but yong men may remember
The fartheſt workes that here I ſhall recite;
HaueHave they bin hidde as vnderunder heapes of ember?
Now would I rake them vp into the light.
Indeed they are not hid, but men are blind,
And loth to call the works of God to minde.
For diuerſe worthy ones with faithfull pen,
HaueHave writ the moſt that I am writing heere,
Calling to praiſe of God vnthankfull men
(Which might their ſoules vntounto his grace endeere)
But oh! how few do prize ſuch godly paynes,
Or reape vntounto themſelues ſuch profer'd gaines?
Yet will I venture; all are not alike;
God will hauehave prayſes (for they be his due,)
A ſilly rod the ſtonie rocke may ſtrike,
A ſilly ſong forgotten workes renue.
If men be mute, then babes; if babes, an Aſſe
Or elſe the ſtones, ſhall bring Gods will to paſſe.
And if you'l hauehave me tell you all my heart,
Tis not my hope (yet would I not preſage)
That men will take my plainneſſe in good part.
But come, ye children, ye of tender age,
This vntounto you I write, and thus in verſe,
That ye might beſt conceaue, learne, and reherſe.
Come children, harken and conſider well,
Gods Word will teach you beſt, but workes withall
(Such workes as I ſhall very plainely tell)
Will teach you how with feare on God to call.
Thou Lord, which doſt the little ones affect,
Let this poore ſong thy little ones direct.
Faults eſcaped
Pag. 18. l. 2. reade ſlack, and l. 17. r. Peere. p. 40. l. 9. fiery p. 44. l. 13. On, and l. 15. ſeaze.