Englands Hallelujah, Title page – Dedication 2
ENGLANDS Hallelu-jah. OR, GREAT BRITTAINES Gratefull Retribution, for Gods Gratious Benediction.
In our many and most famous Deliuerances, since the Halcyon-Dayes of euer-blessed Queene ELIZABETH, to these present Times.
Together, with diuers of Dauids Psalmes, according to the French Metre and Measures.
By I: V:
Psalme, 103.1.2.
Blesse the Lord (ô my Soule) and all that is within me, blesse his holy Name. Blesse the Lord (ô my Soule) and forget not All his Benefits.
Non est dignus dandis,
Qui non est gratus pro datis.
¶ Printed at London by The: Purfoot, for Henry Seile, and are to be sold at the Tygers Head in S. Paules Church-yard. 1631.
TO THE RIGHT WORshipfull his most worthy and highly honoured Friends, Sir Hugh Hamersley Knight, and Mr. Alderman Parkburst, Two of the principall Gouernours of Christs-Hospitall; I: V: wisheth the Kingdome of Grace heere, and the Kingdome of Glory hereafter.
THis Poeme (Right Wor:) being intended as a promoueing Spurre and incitemen… to that most excellent and amiable duty of Gratitude, of which, sweetly sayeth St. Augustine, Quid melius animo geramus, aut ore promamus, ant calamo pingamus, quam Graetias? Hoc, nil breuius dici, nil suauius andiri, nec fructuosius ab bominibus agi potest. What (sayes Hee) can wee better beare in our minde, or vtter with our tongue, or set-forth with our pen? than Thanksgiuing: a man can speake nothing more succinct, heare nothing more sweet, nor doe any thing more aduantageous, than This of Thankefulnesse. I, therefore (most worthy Sirs) knowing my Selfe deeply indebted to your Worships for many former Fauours and continued Courtesies towards me, was duly incited yea stimulated to apprehend this fit and faire oportunity to intimate my long obliged Gratitude, by an humble Dedication of this small Symboll of my sincere Thankfulnesse to your good Worships. Which (had not the malignity of the Times prohibited) was intended for the yeere of your, as pious as prudent honourable Maioralty of this Citty, whose Gates, at this day, doe blesse you (as Ierusalems did good Nehemiah; Nehem: the 13.22.) for your (then) honourable and godly care of the Lords sacred Sabboth. Accept (worthy Sirs) I humbly pray you, This poore Presentation of my obliged seruice (now) for, though it comes lately, yet it comes loyally; and from his heart, who, in all due and true obseruance desires most respectiuely to Rest.
Your good Worships, euer to bee commanded, Iohn Vicars.
To the Christian Reader.
SVch (good Reader) are the Crimes
Of these graceles, gratelesse Times,
Such, mans grosse Ingratitude,
For Gods mercies multitude:
So forgetfull of his Kindnesse,
So possest with carnall Blindnesse,
That we need, King Phillips-Boy,
Eu'ry morning to employ:
At the Doore of each mans Heart,
To performe th' Aduisers part,
Long, and loud, and oft to cry,
Man, Remember God on high.
I, considering This great Need,
And, how few, thereto proceed;
HaueHave (for want of One more fit,)
Bouldly vndertaken It:
Euen a Monitour to be
To the Soule of Thee and Mee,
Dayly, duly to repeate,
Past, and Present Mercies great;
Counting it the Queene of Labours
To re-count Gods boundlesse Fauours ▪
Wherein, if Thou giuegive consent,
I enioy my Hearts content,
I obtaine what I desire,
Hauing kindled This blest Fire:
Which, thus, kindled, ô I pray
It may neuer dye, decay,
But, burne-forth, with Zeales bright Flame
To the Praise of Gods great Name:
This, This onelyonly, seekes and prayes
Hee, that truly rests, alwayes.
Thine in the Lord Iesus, Iohn Vicars.
TO HIS SINGVLAR good Cousen MR. JOHN VICARS. The most Praise-worthie Authour OF Englands Hallelu-jah.
THese Lines and Layes, once, twice,*De… repetita placebunt▪ againe, o're-read,
Refresht my Soule, and rauisht hauehave, my Heart;
So great Content and Comfort, in Mee, bred,
I could not choose, but to your-se…fe, impart:
They hauehave Mee chang'd, for once, & made mee Poet,
Your Muse, Nought-els, that I do know, could doe it.
I'll Say in Prose, what you doe Sing in Verse
Most Christianly; The Lord is to be praised;
And in a home-spunne Speach, I'll still reherse,
What you most sweetly, soundly, heere, hauehave phrased.
In this Angellike Song, a part I LoueLove;
And though I say't but Here, I'll Sing't *Reuel cap, 19. verse 1.Aboue.
Thomas Vicars. B: D: