The Banqueting House, Part 4
PART IV. Containing SACRED HYMNS Illustrating the glorious Excellencies of God's holy WORD, and blessed Gospel.
HYMN 80.
Psal. 119. 105.
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my paths.
1
LIght is a pleasant thing to see,
Thy Word true Light doth give,
Nothing can, Lord, so pleasant be,
'Tis that by which we live,
2
By which we walk, by which we work,
And all things else we do;
All they who are without this light,
Don't know whither they go.
3
Thy Word discovery, Lord, doth make,
It manifesteth things;
From thence we do our judgment take,
It Knowledge to us brings:
4
What once we were we know hereby
How sad was then our state;
Sin's filthy nature through it we 'spy,
And it do come to hate.
5
The way of our Salvation too
It doth discover clear,
And how thou wilt be worshipped
Whilst we do all live here.
The Second Part.
1
Who the true Church is we may see,
If thy good Word we heed;
And by it we the false Church know,
Which filthy is indeed.
2
All things that needful are, O Lord,
Unto eternal life,
Is plain discovered by thy Word,
Which ends all doubts and strife
3
That is, hath been a long time
Amongst us here on Earth,
About the Church, and Truth of God,
But this all silenc'd hath.
4
Light hath a clearing quality,
And by its heat things grow;
And by it too all Fogs do fly,
Such influences flow
5
As doth revive and sweetly chear
The Soul that drooping lies,
They by thy Word, Lord, quickned are,
And all their sorrows flies.
6
Light hath a shining quality,
Thy Gospel shines so bright,
That nothing can more glorious be
In all thy Children's sight.
HYMN 81.
Psal. 19. 10.
More are they to be desired than Gold, yea, than much fine Gold.
1
HOw precious is that Word of thine,
Can Gold with it compare,
When 'tis all sacred, all divine?
No, there is nothing here
2
Like unto it, 'tis of such worth,
A little quantity
Of it exceeds all things on Earth,
Such glories in it lye.
3
Tho' Gold doth deck the outward Man,
This doth the Soul adorn;
Thy Gospel is an Ornament,
Nay, 'tis thy Peoples Crown.
4
Gold doth make Vessels which are rare,
Thy Word and Spirit do
Make golden Saints beyond compare,
And golden Churches too:
5
Yea, Candlesticks of beaten Gold
Are formed out of it,
Which glorious are, Lord, to behold,
But will be rarer yet.
The Second Part.
1
And as Gold is durable, so
It will the tryal bear;
Thy Word is try'd, and will abide
Whilst Heaven and Earth appear.
2
But O what pains do Mortals use
To get a little Gold!
Which when 'tis got, it flyes away,
And it they cannot hold.
3
O then forbear and labour now
For Gold that will abide,
To lasting glory 'twill bring you,
And fill your Souls beside:
4
Which Gold could never do, nor shall,
That cannot satisfie
The Soul of Man, the thing's too small,
It can't its wants supply.
5
True peace and satisfaction is
Only in God above;
His Word receive, and …oon you will
Be filled with his love.
HYMN 82.
1 Pet. 2. 2.
As new born Babes desiring the sincere Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.
1
ARt thou a Babe, tho' newly born?
What is thy Soul's desire?
Dost hunger for Milk of God's Word,
And raise thy cry yet higher?
2
As pretty Babes who want the Breast,
How do they cry amain!
Ah! can thy Soul find no small rest
Till thou dost Milk obtain:
3
Then know it is a sure sign
Thou hast a heavenly heart,
And God to feed that Soul of thine
Will his sweet Word impart
4
To thee, that thou mayst grow thereby,
O it is very good;
Milk nourishes and feeds the Child
Better than other Food.
5
Stong Meat thou canst not yet digest,
Milk's a Restorative;
God's Word restores decayed Souls,
Nay, makes the dead alive.
6
Milk was a blessing choice of old,
And with it Canaan flow'd;
Hast thou God's Word? What Blessing then
Better can be bestow'd
7
On thee, poor Soul, O prize it much,
And on it always feed,
Twill strengthen thee, and make thee fat,
And nothing shalt thou need.
The Second Part.
1
Ye who are Lovers of sweet Milk,
Will, will you now make haste?
O come and buy! this doth excell!
We pray you Friends to taste.
2
If you were once born from above,
Though but young Babes you were,
You with this Milk would fall in love,
And say it tasteth rare.
3
But whilest your evil nature is
Corrupted thus with sin,
And glutted are continually
With filthy trash within,
4
You cannot relish this sweet Food,
Your Mouths are out of taste,
And therefore you don't find it good,
But want it will at last:
5
But you who are God's little ones,
What cause have you to sing,
That you have plenty still of Milk,
And every other thing.
6
O live to God, and sing again
His blessed Praises forth,
Who feeds, and doth replenish you,
And strengthens all your Faith.
HYMN 83.
Heb. 5. 14.
Strong meat belongs to those that are of age, &c.
1
SOme of God's Children are grown up
To such maturity,
That they on Meat that's strong can sup,
In which great vertues lye.
2
Young-men and Fathers some there be
Whose senses have been long
In exercise, and therefore they
Are stronger than the young
3
And little Babes, whose Stomach's weak,
And therefore cannot bear
Nor take in dark mysterious things,
Which elder Saints does chear.
4
It argues such diseased be
Who unto years are grown,
If such Meat with them don't agree,
By which Christ is made known
5
More clearly to the Ear and Eye
Than other Doctrins can,
And therefore we say presently
He's a diseased Man.
6
Some base disease on him has siez'd,
He's under some decay,
His stomach rises at God's Word,
And puts it quite away.
The Second Part.
1
But like as Meat that's strong doth yield
The better nourishmant,
So such who can strong things take in,
Are not so impotent,
2
Nor ne're so weak as others be,
But harder work can do,
And unto them continually
Does sweeter comforts flow.
3
Small things do them not soon offend,
But strengthned be to bear
Such things that others startle at,
And can't abide to hear.
4
O then ye Saints do you see to't,
Your weakness don't betray,
Who have been long in Jesus's School,
Yet stumbling-blocks do lay
5
In your own paths, and others too,
And so expose God's Name
To great reproach, but on your selves
Do bring the greatest shame:
6
But let the strong bear with the weak
In things indisserent,
And let the weak more wisdom seek,
Than from the strong to rent,
7
It is a blessed truth of God
For which the strong contend,
Tho' you being weak do yet not see't,
But may though in the end.
HYMN 84.
Psal. 110. 133.
How sweet are thy words to my taste! yea, sweeter than Honey unto my mouth.
1
HOw sweet is Honey, and the Comb
In which Honey is found!
But, Lord, thy Word it doth excell,
Its sweetness does abound
2
Beyond all things, though ne're so sweet,
There's nothing can it show,
Nor set it forth unto its worth
Of things which are below:
3
Nothing with it can once compare,
O do but taste and try;
For none but such can ever tell
What good in it doth lye.
4
If you to Honey add such things
Which very bitter are,
The bitterness it doth take off,
Nay sweet it doth appear
5
Unto the taste; so if you do
With great afflictons meet,
If God a Promise gives to you,
The tryal will be sweet.
6
But though Honey so sweet is found,
Yet some do it not love;
So none do find God's Word most sweet,
But those born from above.
The Second Part.
1
For the full stomach oft doth loath
The Honey-Comb so sweet;
So carnal Souls account God's Word
As poor and sorry Meat.
2
Honey is of a purging kind,
God's Word it purges so,
It doth make clean both Heart and Mind,
The Life and Lip also.
3
O then be like the pretty Bee
Which doth industriously
From ev'ry Flower she can see
Her self store with Honey.
4
And now ye Saints who sweetness find
In God's most blessed Word,
Sing forth his Praise with joyful Mind
Joyntly with one accord.
HYMN 85.
Eph. 6. 17.
And the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, &c.
1
O Lord, we hear War is proclaim'd,
And we engaged are
To fight with thee, and in these VVars,
To take our proper share.
2
The Enemy is cruel strong,
And will no quarter give;
And threatens us both old and young,
VVe shan't much longer live:
3
Thou didst o'recome him formerly,
He rallies up again
His scatter'd force, and we espy
VVe fight must or be slain.
4
O let us have thy mighty Sword!
O there is none like it!
If in our hearts we have thy VVord,
VVe'll bring them to our feet.
5
A Sword all Souldiers must have on,
So ev'ry Saint must have
Thy VVord to fight with, or else they
VVill soon their Souls inslave.
6
A Sword doth not only defend
The Souldier in the Field,
But by it he makes Foes to bend,
And unto him to yield:
7
So doth thy Word, O holy Lord,
Save us, and yet annoys,
All cruel Foes, it brings them down,
Nay them it quite destroys.
The Second Part.
1
It a two edged Sword is too,
It wounds always with one,
And with the other it does heal
Likewise e're it has done;
2
By its sharp threats it wounds the Soul,
But turn it then again,
It's Promises does make us whole,
And eases every pain:
3
It will cut off an hand or foot,
Dismember the old Man;
If we do not destroy his Life,
We live, Lord, never can.
4
Wounds of a Sword do mortal prove
If once it pierce the heart;
So let thy Word, Lord, hit our sin,
A mortal wound impart.
5
A Sword doth often fright a Foe,
So that he cowardly
Beholding it, away doth go,
Nay, swift perhaps does fly;
6
Even so that Soul who hath thy Word
Drawn always in his Hand,
Doth make his Enemies to run,
A Battel will not stand.
The Third Part.
1
Thy VVord is a victorious thing,
A VVeapon which oft does
Such execution by thy strength,
Great Armies it o'rethrows.
2
It must be us'd with greatest skill,
And by a pow'rful hand;
'Tis by thy Spirit we do kill
All Foes who us withstand.
3
No Hand but that this Sword can wield,
The Spirit gives the blow,
VVe by them both do win the Field,
And Enemies o'rethrow.
4
The Spirit doth thy VVord explain,
'Twas forg'd and given forth
Even by himself, and therefore he
The chiefest glory hath.
5
The efficacy of thy VVord,
Does in thy Spirit lye,
It an impression ne're will make,
If he don't it apply.
6
All praise do ye give unto God
VVho do its power feel;
Ah! 'tis a Sword that doth excell
The richest made with Steel.
The Fourth Part.
1
Ye Saints hold fast besure your Sword,
And rather die o'th' spot
Than to be cheated of God's VVord;
For should it be your lot
2
It for to lose, you naked are
And will become a prey
Unto the bloody Church of Rome
The very self same day:
3
And see you have skill it to use
VVhen you with Foes do meet,
Or else you never will prevail
To bring them to your feet:
4
And always bless the holy God
VVho doth to us afford
The blessed Scriptures of Truth,
Prize it with one accord.
HYMN 86.
2 Cor. 3. 18.
But we all with open face beholding as in a glass, &c.
1
HOw prone are people generally
To look into a Glass,
But will not look into God's VVord
To see their woful case.
2
There may they see how soul they be,
How loathsom in God's Eyes,
VVhilst in their sins they do remain,
Like Swine in filthy Sties.
3
A Glass it is a medium fit
Persons to represent,
So in thy VVord we may behold
Our God Omnipotent;
4
Therein his rare Perfections shine,
Yea, his illustrious Face,
In all his glorious Attributes,
His Goodness and his Grace,
5
VVe in thy VVord may these behold
Beyond what we do see;
Those VVorks of thine, Lord, can unfold,
Or do make known of thee.
6
Here we may see the Father clear,
And Son in glory shine;
Here doth the Holy Ghost appear,
And all alike divine.
The Second Part.
1
A Glass, that's true, doth represent
A Man's own nat'ral Face,
But he away goes, and forgets
VVhat kind of Man he was:
2
So they who only hear God's VVord,
And the same do not do,
The Holy Ghost to such compare,
Which doth their folly show.
3
A Glass is us'd to dress the Head
To put on their Attire;
Come, dress your selves by this rare Glass,
To raise your beauty higher.
4
Here you may see what still you want,
The which you must have on;
Here may you see how fair you be,
That Grace doth sweet adorn.
5
You wanton Ones, for shame leave off
Your evil habits, who
Spend so much time in looking in
Your Glasses; Sinners know
6
Your Glasses will in the last day
As Witnesses arise
Against you in judgment severe,
Such folly in it lyes,
7
That nothing can more hateful be
Such precious time to spend,
To dress a filthy Head that must
Be eat of Worms i'th' end,
8
Whilst your poor Soul has nothing on
But stinking Rags most vile,
And is neglected and forgot
By you too all the while.
HYMN 87.
Deut. 32. 2.
My Doctrine shall drop a… the Rain.
1
LOrd 'tis a droughty time we see
With us, alas, within,
Our moysture seems all dried up
By Lust, that fire of sin.
2
O thou who dost command the Clouds,
Shall now thy Showers fall?
Shall Rain pour out on barren Hearts?
And Dews distill as small
3
Upon the sweet and tender Herb,
That so the one may be
Made soft with Rain, and th' other
Refreshed be by thee?
4
The Rain falls at thy dread Command
A Shower here and there;
'Tis as thou dost, O Lord, appoint
That we of Blessings share;
5
That we enjoy thy precious Word,
Whilst others barren lye,
Who hardly have one drop of Rain
Their wants for to supply.
1
The former Rain was poured out,
It was a mighty shower;
So shall the latter Rain come down
Before this day is o'er.
2
A little at one time, again
We have a little more;
Thus doth thy Word like unto Rain
Refresh thy blessed Poor.
3
Rain makes the Earth both fresh & green,
And ev'ry thing to grow;
'Tis by thy Word and Spirit, Lord,
We thrive and flourish do.
4
There's none can stop the Rain that falls,
If thou Commission give,
Thy Word shall come upon us all,
Thy Grace shall make us live.
5
Let sin and Devil do their worst,
Thy Word shall not return
Unto thee empty, it prosper shall,
For thy Will must be done.
The Third Part.
1
Thy Ministers are like to Clouds
Who do the Rain retain;
Of them thou dost make equal use
To pour it out again.
2
O let us then cry unto God
His Clouds may all be full,
Not empty ones which hold no Rain,
But do deceive the Soul,
3
And pray that we may always have
Rain as we do it need,
That Grace may grow, and in us all
Spring up like to choice Seed,
4
And praise the glorious God above
Who doth such Blessings send;
If we his Mercies do improve,
Our days will joyful end.
5
'Tis a sore Judgment when the Lord
Doth stop the Bottles of Heav'n,
But O 'tis worse when God's good Word
And Blessings are with-helden.
6
We wisk away, our glory fades
When God his Word denies,
Or doth with-hold his Blessings from't,
Both Faith and Hope then dies.
7
O look to God, remember him
From whom your Fruit doth flow!
If you are fruitful, sing his praise,
And live unto him too.
HYMN 88.
Deut. 32. 3.
My Speech shall distill as Dew.
1
AS Dew doth insensibly fall,
So doth God's gracious Word
Invisibly op▪rate in us,
As we have often heard.
2
How sweet are Dews unto the Herb,
It makes them richly smile;
So doth thy Word bedew oft-times
Thy own true Israel.
3
It makes our Graces to send forth
A rare and fragrant scent,
Which doth delight the holy One,
The Lord omnipotent.
4
But Dews will not, Lord, always do,
Mens hearts so barren are;
Some soaking showers they must have,
If any Fruit they bear.
5
All praise and glory unto God
Who wisely orders things,
That as our wants and needs appear,
His Mercies flow like Springs.
HYMN 89.
2 Cor. 4. 7.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, &c.
1
THy Word is treasure very rare,
For we do often see
Thou dost to Gold the same compare,
And things that glor'ous be.
2
It is, Lord, of so great a worth
No Man can comprehend,
Nor Tongues of Angels set it forth,
All Riches does transcend:
3
Ah! such is thy most holy Word,
Through it thy precious love
To us conveyed is, O Lord,
This doth the matter prove
4
That which the best and wisest Men
Esteem'd above all things,
And is the channel that let's in
The joy of divine Springs;
5
And doth enrich the Soul of Man,
And that eternally;
The worth of it there's no one can
Express assuredly.
The Second Part.
1
Some treasure that in bulk is small,
Yet doth in worth excell;
Such is thy Gospel, blessed Lord,
Thy People know it well.
2
One Promise is more worth than all
The Gold which the World hath;
If thou dost give it, then we shall
Say, What is all the Earth
3
When unto it compar'd it is?
This Treasure does delight
The Souls of Saints, and makes them sing
To thee both day and night.
4
It hath such influence on the Heart,
As earthly Treasure here,
That on thy Word we meditate,
Because our hearts are there
5
Where our chief Treasure even lyes,
On that the heart is set,
And hence it is they it esteem
'Bove their necessary Meat.
6
This makes Men great and honourable,
Because much Treasure have;
This also frees from care and trouble,
And does not us inslave
7
To Dunghil-Earth, as Treasures do,
It raises Souls above
All things that are, O Lord, below,
To joy in thy sweet love.
The Third Part.
1
Treasure in Earthen Vessels is
Often laid up by us,
And we know very well, so 'tis
The Treasure's ne're the worse:
2
Ev'n so altho' thy Gold is found
In Ministers so mean,
The worth of it doth still abound,
Though some do not esteem
3
Of it, because the Vessels are
D…spis'd; but there's a day
When they shall glorious appear,
And golden Scepters sway.
4
O prize God's faithful Servants then,
Who do inrich your Souls!
O value them above all Men,
And be no longer Fools
5
To grieve them, and to wear them out
By any means, if ye
Would ever, in the Judgment-day
Christ's face with comfort see;
6
For as you 'steem or dis-esteem
True Preachers of God▪s Word,
Christ looks upon't as done to him,
Like measures will award;
7
And you whom God doth Vessels make
His Treasure to retain,
See that you seek his Praise always,
And don't his Glory stain.
HYMN 90.
Jer. 23. 29.
Is not my Word like Fire.
1
THy Word it doth illuminate,
It giveth forth sweet light,
And also from it we have heat,
Our Graces to excite.
2
Thy Word, like Fire, doth consume
Our filth and dross within;
What is combustible does waste,
It siezes on our sin.
3
Fire is of an ascending kind,
It mounts things up aloft;
So they mount up in heart and mind,
Who by thy Word are taught;
4
As fir'd are by thy own Spirit,
Thy Word without that, Lord,
Will never burn, nor raise our hearts
(As we have newly heard.)
5
Fire will melt and soften things
That hard are naturally;
'Tis by thy Word and Spirit we
Do with thy Will comply.
6
'Tis that which bends & makes us yield,
And humbles much the heart,
Which naturally was proud and vain,
And too obdurate.
The Second Part.
1
Thy Word it quickens and revives,
Like Fire it does chear;
It consolates and makes such warm
Who to it do draw near:
2
For they who to it will not come,
No profit can receive;
So such who do reject thy Word,
Their Souls shall not live.
3
Fire will penetrate and pierce,
There is no secret place
Within the Soul, but thy Word will
Most quick and swiftly pass.
4
It doth the very Thoughts discern,
Nay it divides between
The Soul and Spirit of a Man,
To sever both from Sin.
5
And Fire is used to lay waste
Houses where Rebels hide,
Ev'n so thy Word doth quite consume
The House of Lusts and Pride.
6
Man with vain hopes a House doth raise,
And vaunts himself each day;
But when thy Word doth sieze on him,
His House consumes away.
7
All his vain hope he had before,
It is consum'd and gone,
And a new Temple up is rais'd
For the most holy One.
The Third Part.
1
Take heed, ye Sinners, you don't quench
God's Word, that fire within;
Nor lesson not its burnings if
You would not die in sin.
2
If you will sin and have your Lusts,
Whatever Preachers say,
Then down to Hell be sure you must,
When Death takes you away.
3
Ah! there's another Fire know,
If this your filth don't waste,
Into Eternal Fire then you
Shall all be thrown at last.
4
Consider is't not better far
That sin consumed be,
Yea, all beloved sins and lusts,
Than damn'd eternally.
5
You that do find the work's begun,
That there's a spark of Fire
Kindled in your Souls, O let it burn,
And raise its flames up higher!
6
O 'tis, Soul know, a sacred spark,
'Tis Fire all divine!
And God be sure has kindled it
In that poor Soul of thine.
The Fourth Part.
1
Consider God's design herein
Is to soften thy heart,
And to cement thy Soul to; him,
And Saving-grace impart:
2
And if it should be quench'd in thee,
It lyes not in thy power
To kindle it, and God in wrath
May also give thee over,
3
And never more renew that work,
But let thee quite alone,
In all thy sins to take thy swinge,
Until thy Soul is gone.
4
But ye who are the Saints of God,
As this is Fire divine;
So let Devils strive and do their worst,
It in thy Soul shall shine;
5
Though not always to such degree
Your sin it deaden may,
And therefore see you careful be
To cherish it each day;
6
And sing God's praise continually,
Who makes the Fire burn,
And pray that he would blow it up,
Till all your work is done;
7
And also cry unto the Lor…
This Fire to kindle … …bout,
And sweetly burn in ev'ry place,
And never be put out.
HYMN 91.
Jer. 23. 29
Is not my Word like a Fire, and like a Hammer, to break the Rock in pieces?
1
ROcks they are hard to work upon,
Yea, 'gainst a mighty Hand;
The hardest Flint or Pebble-stone
Whole, long it cannot stand.
2
If thou, O Lord, art pleas'd to take
The Hammer up and strike,
Thou wilt Impression quickly make,
Though none can do the like.
3
There's none can break our flinty Rock
Besides thy self alone;
Alas, our power is too weak
To break such hearts of stone!
4
What can the Hammer do, O Lord,
Thou the great Agent art;
The Instrument, that is thy Word,
O smite upon the heart,
5
And make it yield! and square it then
For thy own b…ss…d design;
Thy Image on it, Lord, cut out
Most holy and divine;
6
And fit it for thy building too,
O set it in its place,
And life infuse into it so
That it may shine with Grace.
The Second Part.
1
O let it be well polished,
And it also unite
Unto thy building, there to be
A Jasper-stone most bright,
2
That it may suit and well agree
With the Foundation-stone,
Which is of Gold, no Diamond
More glorious ever shone;
4
And then shall we, when thus we be
Into thy Building laid,
Have cause to sing unto our King
By thy eternal aid.
4
This Hammer of thy blessed Word
Must drive the Nail quite home,
Or else Convictions will not stick
Whenever they do come:
5
The Precept, Lord, will not abide,
Nor Promise fast'ned be;
Nor no Conviction last in us,
Until drove home by thee:
6
But since we find they fasten'd are,
Let us sing forth thy Praise;
And since thy Word so precious is,
Let us its Glory raise.
HYMN 92.
Hymns on the Divine, Authority of the Sacred Scriptures.
1
THe sacred Scriptures are sublime,
Although mysterious be;
Their Matter shews they are divine,
Nay, their divinity▪
2
Is seen by what they do treat of,
Or unto us make known,
There we… read of great Jehovah,
The high and lofty One,
3
Of his dread Essence, nature pure,
And of the Unity
Between the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Or holy Trinity;
4
There do we read of his great works
Who did this World frame;
How out of nothing by his Word
All things at the first came.
5
There we may see and wonder too
How infinite Wisdom shone
I… th' glorious compact made between
The Father and the Son,
6
In finding out, and bringing in
A way for to unite
Justice and Mercy, that so they
Might equally shine bright.
7
Here Justice doth with Mercy meet
Like an endeared Brother;
And Mercy doth God's Justice greet,
And both do kiss each other.
8
From hence ye may see cause to sing
Th' Eternal One's high praise
(In bringing in of Jesus Christ)
With thankful hearts always.
The second Part.
1
Th' Antiquity of Scripture show
That they are most divine;
For no Writings did the World know
So soon as they did shine:
2
This was the first and chiefest Book
That e're was made or pen'd;
O therefore love in it to look,
Though you can't comprehend
3
The Mysteries that lye therein
Hid from all carnal Eyes;
Yet since it hath so ancient been,
O see these lines ye prize!
4
Their Royal descent from God alone
Also does plain appear
By their high Style and Majesty,
That shines in them most clear.
The Third Part.
1
The holiness which they promote
To such a high degree,
May clearly ev'ry Soul convince
Of their Authority:
2
So pure and perfect is God's Word
It silence may all them
Who it oppose, and Saints from hence
It love and much esteem.Ps. 119. 140.
3
This is the cause wherefore they love
God's Words better than Gold
Or Jewels rich, which are esteem'd
By most who them behold.
4
They see God's Precepts are most just,
It doth all sins descry,
And ev'ry Lust and false way they
Hate therefore bitterly.
5
Th' admirable and sweet consent,
And blessed harmony
That's in the whole and ev'ry part
Shews their divinity.
6
The credit of their Pen-men too,
Whom none could ever charge
With the least forgery or guile,
Doth prove to us at large,
6
That they from God alone proceed,
Who did their Souls inspire
In writing all-they written have,
That Grace we might admire.
The Fourth Part.
1
Their Prophecies accomplish'd were,
(Which shews they are divine,)
Exactly as to time and thing,
To matter and design:
2
And the Miracles which were wrought
These VVritings do confirm,
Must needs also herein be brought,
To shew from whence they came.
3
The preservation they have had
Was strange and marvellous,
And to their truth doth glory add
For to be priz'd by us.
4
The great success with which they met
In midst of bitter Foes,
And how their power has prevail'd,
Their lasting glory shows:
5
The VVorld by a few Fishermen,
By this most sacred Word,
Without the help of carnal force,
VVere turned to the Lord.
The Fifth Part.
1
The harmony and joynt consent
Of holy Men and good,
And Martyrs who seal'd to the Truth
Of them with their dear Blood,
2
Do shew their great veracity,
And may all Men convince
They came from God, therefore we must
Bear up in their defence
3
Against all such who them oppose,
Or count them not divine;
For doubtless in all wise Mens sight
By these their glory shine.
4
The Evidence unto the heart
VVhichWhich to good Men they give
Of God's great love, who doth impart
To all who them receive
5
(In life and power) his Image clear:
Bringing the old Man down,
Renewing of their inward Man,
So that they can't but own
6
The work which by this Word is wrought brought
On them to be divine;
Thus from these hints which we have
Gods VVord doth glorious shine.
7
The very Heathen witness bear
As to Matter of Fact,
Touching such things Scriptures declare
That God and Christ did act.
The Sixth Part.
1
Berolus, as Josephus shews,
Doth mention Noah's Flood;
And *Pliny, lib. 5. cap. 16. & Justin, lib. 36.Pliny, with some others, speak
How the most mighty God
2
Did Sodom turn by dreadful Flames
Unto a dismal Lake:
Of Moses and his VVonders too
VVe find the Egyptians speak.
3
In their Records; yea, the Chaldeans
And Grecians own the same:
And others shew with what high hand
Isra'l from Egypt came.
4
The Star which at Christ Jesus Birth
To th' VVise-men did appear,
Pliny and Calcidius both
Most plain and full declare.
5
But there's no need of Man's Record,
To Men we do not fly;
The witness of the glorious Lord
Is full of certainty.
HYMN 93.
Joh. 10. 35.
And the Scripures cannot be broken, &c.
1
THe Scripture broken cannot be,
Let Men think what they will,
Such, such is their veracity,
God will his VVord fulfill.
2
VVhatever thou, O Lord, hast said,
Accomplished shall be;
No Promise past, nor Threat delay'd,
No Soul shall ever see;
3
Because they are Diuine we know,
Of such Authority,
That they from thee alone do flow,
VVho will not, cannot lye.
4
Let Saints therefore rejoyce and sing,
For they from hence may see
Great comfort unto them does spring
To all eternity;
5
For what thou hast, Lord, promised
To such who do believe,
As 'tis contained in thy VVord,
The same they shall receive:
6
But wo unto all wicked Ones,
Their doom appears hereby;
For if they live and die in sin,
In Hell they all must lye.
7
All praise to thee, O God, alone,
VVhose VVord we know shall stand;
Let all such sing who it believe,
And yield to thy command,
8
VVho will do all, and do no more
Than written they do see,
These, these shall sing, and thee adore
Unto eternity.
HYMN 94.
Psal. 119. 89.
For ever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in Heaven.
1
IN Heaven, Lord, where thou dost dwell
Thy VVord's establish'd sure,
And shall to all eternity
Fast graven there endure.
2
From age to age thy Truth abides,
As doth the Earth witness,
Whose Ground-work thou hast laid so firm
No tongue can it express.
3
Go too therefore ye foolish Men,
Depart from me, Be gone;
For God's good Precepts we'll obey,
Nay, keep them ev'ry one.
4
What thou hast promis'd, Lord, perform,
Till Death doth seize on me;
Ner'e let my hope abuse me so
As to distrust in thee.
5
Uphold me and I shall be safe
For ought they do or say,
And in thy Statutes pleasure take,
O Lord, both night and day.
6
Thou hast trod such under thy feet
VVho do thy Statutes break;
For nought avails their subtilty,
Their counsel is but weak.
HYMN 95.
Psal. 119. 8, 9, 10, 11.
1
THy Covenants are very deep,
And full of things profound;
My Soul therefore thy Word will keep
When they are try'd and found.
2
When Men enter into thy VVord,
They find a Light most clear;
Tho' Fools, yet they, Lord, shall not err
VVhen they to it adhere.
3
The VVord of God most perfect is,
His Testimony sure;
Converting Souls, and making wise
The simple and obscure.
4
The Statutes of the Lord are right,
And fill the heart with joys;
The Precepts of the Lord are pure,
Enlightning the Eyes.
5
The Fear of God is clean also,
And doth endure for ever;
The Judgments of the Lord are true,
And righteous altogether.
6
Yea, more than Gold, than much fine Gold
To be embrac'd alway;
The Honey and the Honey-comb
Are not so sweet as they:
7
They are thy Servants Monitors,
How he his life should frame,
And great Rewards is there for them
VVho do observe the same.
HYMN 96.
Joh. 5. 39.
Search the Scriptures.
1
SEarch the Scripture, by which ye think
Eternal Life to have;
And those are they that testifie
Of Him that came to save;
2
For what of old was given forth
VVas for our learning penn'd,
That we by Scriptures comforted
Might hope unto the end.
3
The Prophecy came not of old
By Man's own private will,
But holy Men of God foretold
By Heavn's inspired skill:
4
Then to the Law and Testament
For they that speak not right,
And as this Word doth represent,
In them there is no light:
5
For Scripture, sacred Verities
Came all by Inspiration,
Able to perfect and make wise,
Through Faith, unto Salvation.
HYMN 97.
The Excellency of the Gospel.
1
BLessed be God that we were born
Under the joyful sound,
And rightly have Baptized been,
And bred on English ground,
2
Where God most gracious doth appear,
And does pour forth his Grace;
The lines are fallen unto us
In a most pleasant place.
3
''We might have been dark Pagans all,
''Or veiled like each Jew,
''Or cheated with an Alcoran
''Amongst the Turkish crew.
4
Dumb Pictures might we all ador'd,
Like Papists in Devotion;
And with Rome's Errours so been stor'd,
To drink her deadly Potion.
5
We might have liv'd in shades of night,
And ne're have known good days,
But thou hast sent us Gospel Light
To thine eternal praise.
6
The Sun which rose up in the East,
And drove their shades away,
Hath sent his Light unto the West,
And turn'd our Night to Day.
7
Blessed be God for what we see,
Our God for what we hear;
Sweet News of Heaven, Lord, from thee
Sounds daily in our Ear.
The End of the Fourth Part.