The Hymns and Songs of the Church, Part 1 · Other hymns and songs
The X Commandements Exod. 20.
ALthough the Decalogue be not originally in verse, yet among vsus it hath beene heretofore vsually sung: Because therefore it may be a meanes to present these Precepts somewhat the oftner to remembrance, make them the more frequently repeated, and stirre vp those who sing and heare them, to the better performance of their duties; They are here also inserted, and fitted to be sung.
Song. 37.
Sing this as the 4. Song.
THe great Almighty spake; And thus said he;
I am the LORD thy GOD; And I alone
From cruell Ae…ypts thraldome set thee free:
And other G…DS but Me thou shalt hauehave none.
HaueHave mercy LORD, and so our hearts encline,
That we may keepe this blessed Law of thine.
Thou shalt not make an Image, to adore,
Of ought on earth aboue it, or below:
A Carued Worke thou shalt not …w before;
Nor any worship on the same …estowe.
For, I thy GOD, a Iealous GOD am knowne;
And on their Seed the Fathers sinnes correct;
Untill the third, and fourth Descent be gone:
But them I alwaies louelove, that me affect.
HaueHave mercy LORD, and so our hearts encline,
That we may keepe this blessed Law of thine.
The Name of GOD thou neuer shalt abuse,
By Swearing, or repeating it in vaine:
For, him that doth his Name prophanely vse,
The LORD will as a guiltie-one arraigne.
HaueHave mercy LORD, and so our hearts encline,
That we may kee…e this blessed Law of thine.
To keepe the Sabbath holy, beare in minde.
Sixe dayes thine owne affaires apply thou to:
The Seau'nth is GODS owne day for rest assign'd,
And thou no kinde of worke therein shalt doe.
Thou, nor thy Childe, thy Seruants, nor th… Beast;
Nor he that Guest-wise with thee doth abide:
For, after sixe dayes labour GOD did rest:
And therefore he that day hath sanctifi'de.
HaueHave mercy LORD, and so our hearts encline,
That we may keepe this blessed Law of thine.
See, that vntounto thy Parents thou doe giuegive
Such honour, as the Childe by dutie owes,
That thou a long and blessed life maist liue
Within the Land, the LORD thy GOD bestowes.
HaueHave mercy LORD, and so our hearts encline,
That we may keepe this blessed Law of thine.
Thou shalt be wary, that thou no man slay:
Thou shalt from all Adultery be cleare:
Thou shalt not Steale anothers good away:
Nor witnesse-false against thy Neighbour beare.
HaueHave merciemercy LORD, and so our hearts encline,
That we may keepe this blessed Law of thine.
With what is thine remaining well apaid:
Thou shalt not couer what thy Neighbours is,
His House, nor Wife, his Seruant, Man, nor Maid,
His Oxe, nor Asse, nor any thing of his.
Thy mercy Lord, thy mercy let vsus hauehave,
And in our hearts these Lawes of thine engraue.
The Lords Prayer. Mat. 6.7.
THe Lords Prayer hath beene aunciently, and vsually sung also; and to that purpose was heretofore both translated and paraphras'd in verse; which way of expression (howsoeuer some weake Iudgements hauehave condemned it) doth no whit disparage or mis-beseeme a Prayer. For, Dauid made many prayers in verse… And, indeede, measured words were first deuised and vsed to expresse the praises of God, and petitions made to him. Yea, those are the ancient and proper subiects of Poesie, as appeares throughout the Sacred writ, & in the first humane Antiquities. Verse, the…fore, dishonors not diuine Subiects; but those men doe prophane and dishonour Verse, who abuse it on vaine and meere prophane expressions. The scope and vse of this prayer is so frequently treated of, that I thinke I shall not need to insist thereon in this place.
Song. 38.
Sing this as the 3. Song.
OUr Father which in heauen art;
We sanctifie thy Name:
Thy Kingdome come: Thy will be done
In heau'n and earth the same:
GiueGive vsus this day our Daily bread:
And vsus Forgiue thou so;
As we on them that vsus offend,
Forgiuenesse doe bestow:
Into Temptation lead vsus not;
But vsus from euill free.
For, thine the Kingdome, powre, and praise,
Is, and shall euer be.
The Apostles Creede.
THe effect and vse of this Creed is so generally taught, that this Preface need not be enlarged: And as touching the singing and versifying of it, that which is said in the Preface to the Lords Prayer may serue for both.
Song. 39.
IN God the Father I beleeue;
Who made all Creatures by his word;
And true beleefe I likewise hauehave
In Iesus Christ, his Sonne, our LORD:
Who by the Holy Ghost conceiu'd,
Was of the Uirgine Mary borne:
Who meekely Pilat's wrongs recei'ud,
And crucified was with scorne.
2
Who Di'de, and in the Graue hath laine:
Who did the lowest Pit descend:
Who on the third day rose againe,
And vp to Heauen did ascend.
Who at his Fathers right-hand there,
Now throaned sits; and thence shall come,
To take his seat of Iudgement here▪
And giuegive both quicke, and dead their doome.
3
I in the Holy Ghost beleeue,
The holy Church-Catholike too,
(And that the Saints Communion hauehave,)
Undoubtedly beleeue I doe.
I well assured am likewise,
A pardon for my s…nnes to gaine;
And that my Flesh from death shall rise,
And euerlasting life obtaine.
A Funerall Song.
THe first Stanza of this Song is taken out of S. Iohn… Gospell Cap. 11. Ver. 25.26. The second Stanza, Iob 19.25, 26, 27. The third Stanza, 1 Tim. 6.7. and Iob 1.21. The last Stanza, Reu. 14.13. And in the order of Buriall appointed by the Church of England, it is appointed to be sung or read, as the Minister pleaseth: That therefore it may be the more conueniently vsed either way, according to the Churches appointment, it is here turned into Lyricke Verse. It was ordained to comfort the Liuing, by putting them in minde of the Resurrection, and of the happinesse of those, who dye in the faith of Christ Iesus.
Song. 40.
Sing this as the 9. Song.
I Am the Life (the LORD thus saith)
The Resurrection is through me;
And whoso'ere in me hath faith,
Shall liue, yea though now dead he be…
And he for euer shall not dye,
That liuing doth on me relye.
2
That my Redeemer liues I ween,
And that at last I rais'd shall be
From earth, and, couer'd with my skinne
In this my flesh, my GOD shall see.
Yea, with these eyes, and these alone,
Eu'n I my GOD shall looke vponupon.
3
Into the world we naked come,
And naked backe againe we goe:
The LORD our wealth receiue we from,
And he doth take it from vsus too:
The LORD both wils, and workes the same;
And blessed therefore be his Name.
4
From Heau'n there came a voyce to me,
And this it wil'd me to record;
The Dead from henceforth blessed be,
The Dead that dyeth in the LORD:
The Spirit thus doth likewise say;
For, from their Workes at rest are they.
The Song of the three Children.
THis Song hath been anciently vsed in the Liturgie of the Church, as profitable to the stirring vp of D…uotion, and for the praise of God. For, it earnestly calleth vponupon all creatures, to set forth the glory of their Creator, euen Angels, Spirits, and reasonable Creatures, with those also that are vnreasonable, and vnsensible. And this speaking to things without Life, is not to …ntimate that they are capable of such like exhortations; but rather, that vponupon consideration of the obedience which Beasts, and insensible Creatures continue towards God, according to the law imposed at their Creation; men might be prouoked to remember the honour and praise, which they ought to ascribe vntounto their Almighty Creator, as well as all his other Creatures.
Song. 41.
Sing this as the 9. Song.
OH all you Creatures of the LORD;
You Angels of the God most high;
You Heau'ns, with what you doe afford;
And Waters all aboue the skie:
Blesse ye the LORD, him praise, adore,
And magnifie him euermore.
2
Of God you euerlasting Powres,
Sunne, Moone, and Starres, so bright that show;
You soking Deawes, you dropping Showres;
And all you Winds of God that blow:
Blesse ye the LORD, him praise, adore,
And magnifie him euermore.
3
Thou Fire, and what doth heat containe;
Cold Winter, and thou Summer faire;
You blustering Stormes of Haile, and Raine;
And thou the Frost-congealing-Ayre:
Blesse ye the LORD, him praise, adore,
And magnifie him euermore.
4
Oh praise him both you Ice and Snow;
You Nights and Dayes, doe you the same,
With what or Darke or Light doth show;
You Cloudes, and eu'ry shining Flame:
Blesse ye the LORD, him praise, adore,
And magnifie him euermore.
5
Thou Earth, you Mountaines, and you Hills,
And whatsoeuer thereon growes;
You Fountaines, Riuers, Springs, and Rills;
You Seas, and all that ebbes, or flowes:
Blesse ye the LORD, him praise, adore,
And magnifie him euermore.
6
You Whales, and all the Water yeelds;
You of the Feather'd airy-breed;
You Beasts and Cattell of the fields;
And you that are of humane seed:
Blesse ye the LORD, him praise, adore,
And magnifie him euermore.
7
Let Israel the LORD confesse;
So let his Priests, that in him trust;
Him let his Seruants also blesse;
Yea, Soules and Spirits of the Iust:
Blesse ye the LORD, him praise, adore,
And magnifie him euermore.
8
You blessed Saints, his praises tell▪
And you that are of humble heart,
With Ananias, Misael;
And Azarias (bearing part)
Blesse you the LORD, him praise adore,
And magnifie him euermore.
The Song of S. Ambrose, or Te Deum.
THis Song, commonly called Te Deum, or the Song of S. Ambrose, was repeated at the baptizing of S. Augustine: And (as it is recorded) was composed at that very time by those two Reuerend Fathers, answering one another, as it were by immediate inspiration. It is one of the most auncient Hymnes of the Christian Church, excellently praising and confessing the blessed Trinitie: and there…ore is daily and worthily made vse of in our Liturgie, and reckoned among the Sacred Hymnes.
Song. 42.
Sing this as the 44. Song.
WE praise Thee GOD, we knowledge Thee,
To be the LORD, for euermore:
And the eternall Father we,
Throughout the earth, doe thee adore:
All Angels, with all powers within
The compasse of the heauens high;
Both Cherubin, and Seraphin,
To Thee perpetually do cry.
2
Oh holy, holy, holy-one;
Thou LORD, and GOD of Sabbath art;
Whose praise, and Maiesty alone
Fils heauen and earth, in eu'ry part:
The glorious Troupe Apostolike;
The Prophets worthy Company;
The Ma…tyrs army-royall eke
Are those, whom thou art praised by.
3
Thou through the holy Chur…h art knowne,
The Father of vnbounded powre:
Thy worthy, true, and only Sonne:
The Holy Ghost the Comfortour:
Of Glory thou, oh Christ, art King;
The Father's Sonne, for euermore;
Who men from endlesse Death to bring,
The Virgins wombe didst not abhorre.
4
When Conquerour of Death thou wert,
Heau'n to the Faithfull openedst thou;
And in the Fathers glory art
At Gods right-hand enthroned now:
Whence we beleeue, that thou shalt come,
To iudge vsus in the day of wrath.
Oh, therefore helpe thy Seruants, whom
Thy precious blood Redeemed hath.
5
Them with those Saints doe Thou record,
That gaine eternall glory may▪
Thine Heritage, and People LORD,
Saue, blesse, guide, and advance for aye:
By vsus thou dayly prais'd hast beene;
And we will praise Thee without end.
Oh, keepe vsus, LORD, this day from sinne▪
And let thy mercy vsus defend.
6
Thy mercy, LORD, let vsus receiue,
As we our trust repose in thee:
Oh LORD, in thee I trusted hauehave;
Confounded neuer let me be.
Athanasius Creede, or Quicun que vult.
THis Creed was composed by Athanasius (after the wicked heresie of Arrius had spread it selfe through the world) that so the faith of the Catholicke Church, concerning the Mystery of the blessed Trinity, might be the better vnderstood, and professed, to the ouerthrow and preuenting of Arrianisme, or the like heresies. And to the same purpose it is appointed to be said or sung vponupon certaine dayes of the yeare in the Church of England.
Song. 43.
Sing this as the 3. Song.
THose that will saued be must hold,
The true Catholike Faith,
And keepe it wholly, if they would
Escape eternall death.
Which Faith a Trinity adores
In One; and One in Three:
So, as the Substance being one,
Distinct the Persons be.
2
One Person of the Father is,
Another of the Sonne;
Another of the Holy-Ghost,
And yet their Godhead one:
Alike in glory; and in their
Eternity as much:
For, as the Father, both the Sonne,
And Holy-Ghost is such.
3
The Father vncreate, and so
The Sonne, and Spirit be:
The Father he is Infinite;
The other two as He.
The Father an Eternall is,
Eternall is the Sonne:
So is the Holy-Ghost; yet, these
Eternally but One.
4
Nor say we there are Infinites,
Or vncreated Three.
For, there can but one Infinite,
Or vncreated be.
So Father, Sonne, and Holy-Ghost,
All three Almighties are;
And yet not three Almighties tho,
But onelyonly One is there.
5
The Father likewise GOD and LORD;
And GOD and LORD the Sonne;
And GOD and LORD the Holy Ghost,
Yet GOD and LORD but One.
For though each Person by himselfe,
We GOD and LORD confesse:
Yet Christian Faith forbids that we
Three GODS or LORDS professe.
6
The Father nor begot, nor made;
Begot, (not made) the Sonne;
Made, nor begot, the Holy-Ghost,
But a Proceeding-One.
One Father, not three Fathers then;
One onelyonly Sonne, not three;
One Holy-Ghost we doe confesse,
And that no moe they be.
7
And lesse, or greater then the rest,
This Trinity hath none;
But they both Coeternall be,
And equall eu'ry one.
He therefore that will saued be,
(As we hauehave said before)
Must One in Three, and Three in One,
Beleeue, and still adore.
8
That Iesus Christ incarnate was,
He must beleeue with this
And how that both the Sonne of GOD,
And GOD and Man … is▪
GOD, of his Fathers substance pure,
Begot ere Time was made:
Man of his Mothers substance borne,
When Time his fulnesse had.
9
Both perfect God, and perfect Man,
In Soule, and flesh, as we:
The …athers equall being God:
Is Man, beneath is …e.
Though God & Man; yet but one Christ:
And …o dispose it so,
The Godhead was not turn…d to flesh,
But Manhood tooke thereto.
10
The Substance vn-confus…d; He one
In Person doth subsist:
As Soule and Body make one Man;
So God, and Man is Christ:
Who suffred, and went downe to Hell,
That we might saued be;
The third day he arose againe,
And Heau…n ascended he.
11
At God the Fathers right-hand, there
He …; and at the Doome,
He to adiudge both quicke and dead,
From thence againe shall come.
Then all men with their flesh shall rise,
And he account require.
Well-doers into blisse shall goe,
The Bad to endlesse F…re.
Veni Creator.
TH…s is a very a…ci…nt Hymne composed in Latine …, and c…mmo…ly called Veni Cr…ator; because those are the first words of it. By the Cannons of our Church it is commanded to be said or sung at the Consecration of Bishops, and at the Ordination of Ministers, &c. It is therefore here translated sill…le for sillable, & in the same kind of measure which it hath in the Latine.
Song. 44.
… COme Holy-Ghost, the Maker, come; Take in… … the soules of thine thy place; Thou whom our… … hearts had being from, Oh, fill them with thy… … heauenly grace. Thou art that Comfort from… … aboue, The Highest doth by gift impart; Thou▪ … … spring of Life, a fire of LoueLove, And the annointing… … Spirit art:…
2
Thou in thy Gifts art manifold,
GODS right-hand finger thou art, LORD…
The Fathers promise made of old;
Our tongues enriching by the Word.
Oh! giuegive our blinded Senses Light;
Shed LoueLove into each heart of our,
And grant the …odies feeble-plight,
May be enabled, by thy powre.
3
Farre from vsus driue away the Foe,
And let a speedy Peace ensue:
Our Leader also be, that so
We eu…ry danger may eschew.
Let vsus be taught the blessed Creed
Of …ather, and of Sonne, by Thee:
And how from both thou dost proceed,
That our beleefe it still may be.
To Thee, the Father, and the Sonne;
(Whom past, and present Times adore)
The One in Three, and Three in One,
All glory be for euermore.
Here ends the first part of the Hymnes, and Songs of the Church.