Spiritual Melody, Part 5
PART V. Containing SACRED HYMNS Setting out and illuſtrating the tranſcendent Excellencies of the GRACES of the HOLY SPIRIT.
HYMN 98. Grace compared to Salt.
Mark 9.50.
Have Salt in your ſelves.
1
HOw unſavoury, O Lord, are things,
Unleſs they ſalted be!
And ſo indeed were all our Souls,
Till ſeaſoned by thee
2
With thy moſt ſweet and precious Grace,
That is the Salt whereby
We ſav'ry do become, O Lord,
Thy Salt, O then apply.
3
Salt is of ſuch a quality
That it doth ſearch each part
Of Fleſh, that it is laid upon,
So Grace ſearches the Heart:
4
The Spirit ſearches all deep things,
Yea, the deep things of God;
It will find out what ſin in us
Doth ſtill make its abode;
5
And then (like Salt) doth purge it out,
'Tis Grace which purifies
The heart and life, there is no doubt
But ſuch, like vertue, lyes
6
In that moſt precious Grace of thine,
O then let's look and ſee
Whether we ſearch'd and purged are,
And then ſing praiſe to thee.
The ſecond Part.
1
Salt doth preſerve, 'tis evident,
Both Meat and other things,
Elſe they'll corrupt and quickly taint;
Like Vertue alſo ſprings
2
From thy good Grace, 'tis that, O Lord,
Which doth preſerve from ſin
All graceleſs Sinners odious ſtink,
So filthy are within,
3
That all their inward parts corrupt,
And they like Carrion lye
In a vile Ditch, or Common-ſhore,
In their iniquity.
4
But ſuch in whom Gods Grace is wrought,
Grace does their Souls preſerve
From ſin, in heart, in life, in thought,
Uprightly God to ſerve.
5
Moſt ſweet are they and ſavoury
To God and unto Men,
And all their works they have perform'd
By Grace have ſeaſon'd been.
The Third Part.
1
Salt is of univerſal uſe,
There's nothing Men want more;
Without God's Grace there's none can live,
Let them be rich or poor.
2
Such abſolute need have we thereof,
Without it can't live here
A holy life; nor can we ſtand
When Jeſus doth appear.
3
All ranks of Men both high and low,
Both Kings and Peaſants too,
Muſt ſalted be with Grace on Earth,
Or down to Hell muſt go;
4
In ev'ry ſtate, where-er'e they be,
By Sea as well as Land,
They Grace do need continually
If ſin they would withſtand:
5
Our ſpeech, and all that we do ſay,
Muſt ſeaſon'd be with Salt;
Or elſe our words and breath will ſtink,
And all be good for nought.
The Fourth Part.
1
Salt, Naturaliſts do oft declare,
Is good againſt the ſtings
Of Serpents; and does Worms deſtroy
Which from Corruption ſprings.
2
Grace is a ſovereign remedy
Againſt the ſting within;
And kills the Worm of Conſcience too,
The product 'tis of ſin:
3
Sin is a thing moſt venomous,
A ſting it is likewiſe
Of the old Serpent, and 'tis worſe
Than what in Poyſon lyes:
4
This kills the Soul and Body too,
And poyſons ev'ry part;
And doth corrupt each faculty
Of ev'ry Sinners heart.
5
Salt was of uſe under the Law;
For ev'ry Sacrifice
Muſt ſalted be, and ſo muſt we
Before All-ſeeing Eyes:
6
Yea, ev'ry Prayer and Offering
That's offered up on high;
Your Duties all muſt ſeaſon'd be
With Grace continually.
7
But other Salt, if Meat do ſtink,
It can't it ſav'ry make,
But Grace will ſuch recover who
Moſt filthy ways do take,
8
And in God's Noſtrils loathſom are,
Yet Grace will ſweeten them;
Nay, they will ſuch a ſavour bear
He'll highly ſuch eſteem.
The Fifth Part.
1
But we, alas, do often ſee
Salt loſe it's ſavour may;
Or things may over-ſalted be,
If too much on they lay:
2
But Grace in both theſe things excells,
Its ſavour cannot loſe;
Nor can we have of it too much,
Moſt ſavoury are all thoſe
3
Who moſt are ſalted with this Salt,
O therefore loudly cry
For Grace good ſtore, and do not fear,
God will your wants ſupply.
4
Then ſing forth Praiſes to the Lord
With Grace in all your hearts,
And ſee that you well-ſeaſon'd are
In all your inward parts.
HYMN 99. Truth likened to a Girdle.
Eph. 6.14.
And having your Loyns girt about with Truth, &c.
1
TRue Grace, and true Sincerity
Is like a Girdle rare,
Which ſome about their Loins do love
Continually to wear.
2
Like as a Girdle cleaves to Men,
And doth them compaſs in;
So Grace ſhould cleave unto our Souls,
To keep us from all ſin.
3
We in the bonds of Truth and Grace
Should evermore abide,
And never from God's Grace and Truth
Go back, nor turn aſide.
4
And as a Girdle ſtrengthneth
The Loyns of ev'ry one,
So will this Girdle of Truth alſo
All ſuch who have it on.
5
If you in the true Doctrine are,
And in ſincerity
Do firmly ſtand in every Truth,
Small weakneſs you'll eſpy
6
To be in you, for ſtrength you'll have,
If that your hearts be found;
And every Goſpel bleſſed Truth
Be evermore your bound.
The Second Part.
1
The Souldier in the days of old
His Armour did gird on,
And then compleatly harneſſed
Was he to look upon:
2
So muſt the Chriſtians Armour be
Girt with ſincerity,
What will Mens Faith, or Righteouſneſs,
Or Hope elſe ſignifie,
3
If they are not upright in heart,
And Truth is not their bound,
They Hypocrites be ſure will then
(If ſo) at laſt be found
4
To have the Loyns well girt, denotes
That Preparation we
Unto the Battel ought to make,
So ready muſt we be
5
For to encounter or engage
With all our cruel Foes,
To have our Armour girt with Truth,
And then need fear no blows.
The Third Part.
1
Girdling alſo ſervice denotes,
Let Loyns be girt about;
And let your Lights be ſhining too,
And let them not go out;
2
That ye may on your Maſter wait,
Whoſe coming doth draw near;
Be ready therefore every Saint,
O now your ſelves prepare!
3
Let ev'ry thing in truth be done,
And Grace the Girdle be;
And then with joy ſhall ev'ry one
Their bleſſed Maſter ſee.
4
A Girdle is an Ornament,
It faſtens all together,
And covers Joynts the Armour hath
That Men cannot tell whether
5
'Tis all one piece, or 'tis in parts,
It doth them ſo unite;
Thus doth Uprightneſs us adorn,
That in Jehovah's ſight
6
There ſeems no flaw, nor no defects,
Uprightneſs covers all;
God doth that Soul who is ſincere,
A perfect Chriſtian call.
The Fourth Part.
1
Come, art thou low, of mean deſcent,
And of ignoble birth?
Grace covers this deformity,
Its glory ſo ſhines forth:
2
Or art thou lame, or outwardly
May blemiſhes be ſeen?
Yet Grace doth cover this defect,
Thy Beauty's great within:
3
Or art thou poor, and ſo art brought
Unto contempt and ſcorn?
Sincerity doth make thee rich,
Nay more, to be high born.
4
May be thy parts and gifts are ſmall,
And hence Men thee diſpiſe?
Sincerity hides this in all,
In this thy Glory lyes;
5
For Grace excells the greateſt Gifts,
Gifts may to Man commend;
But Grace commends thee now to God,
And ſo 'twill in the end.
The Fifth Part.
1
Soul, haſt thou worſe defects than theſe,
Infirmities within?
Sincerity doth God ſo pleaſe,
It covers all thy ſin.
2
He it eſteems ſo as if thou
Hadſt never broke his Law,
And through Chriſt's Righteouſneſs he doth
In thee behold no flaw.
3
O get this Girdle on, ye Saints,
It glitters more than Gold;
It never can beſides be loſt,
And doth its Beauty hold
4
As freſh as 'twas when firſt put on,
O bleſs'd Sincerity!
How glorious art thou! how doſt thou
Snine in Jehovah's Eye!
5
See then that ye the Truth hold faſt,
And with it girted be;
Then no deluſion needſt thou fear,
Nor curſed Hereſie;
6
But the right Girdle take be ſure,
And not the counterfeit,
The true by this you may deſcry,
Chriſt's Truth is ſtampt on it.
7
It with the written Word agrees
Exact in ev'ry thing;
If all Chriſt's Precepts you don't own,
Contempt on you 'twill bring.
8
That Girdle will not hold but break,
Though you may ſeem ſincere
So far as you cleave unto Truth,
Yet will at laſt appear
9
A falſe Profeſſor, 'cauſe you have
Some bleſſed Truth withſtood,
Into which you did Light receive,
But not obey it wou'd.
The Sixth Part, with Pſal. 117.
1
Each Truth of God, O it is pure,
God's Truth doth make us clean;
It frees our Souls alſo for ever,
Such glory in it's ſeen.John 8.
2
Strong is the Truth you all will ſay,
This Girdle then is ſtrong;
O buy it, Souls, whilſt 'tis to day,
'Twill fit both old and young.
3
God's Saints did ſuffer grievous pain,
Great tortures did endure
Before they would part with the Truth,
Such peace it did procure
4
Unto their Souls who faithful were
Unto the Truth alway;
O it will make you holy, bold
In the great Judgment-day.
5
Now let all Nations of the Earth
Their great Creator praiſe;
Nay let the people all ſing forth
His mighty Name to raiſe;
6
Whoſe Kindneſs's great unto his Saints,
His Mercies ever ſure;
O praiſe ye him for his bleſs'd Truth
Which doth abide for ever!
HYMN 100. Breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs.
Eph. 6.14.
And having on the Breastplate of Righteouſneſs, &c.
1
O Lord, we Souldiers are, and we
Muſt fight, or elſe be ſlain;
O let us all well armed be,
For Foes come on amain!
2
And ſince our Enemies do aim
To hit us on the Breaſt,
Thy bleſſed Breaſt-plate let's have on,
For that will hold the teſt.
3
'Tis righteouſneſs that will ſecure
Our Souls from ev'ry wrong,
And 'twill alſo, O Lord, endure
As well as it is ſtrong.
4
There's no engaging in theſe Wars
Without a Righteouſneſs;
This Breaſt-plate ſcatters all our fears,
Who do thy Name profeſs.
5
A Breaſt-plate 'tis that doth preſerve
The Body's chiefeſt part;
'Tis Righteouſneſs which, Lord, doth ſave
Our precious Souls and Heart.
The Second Part.
1
A Breaſt-plate doth the Souldier chear,
It makes him very bold;
So Righteouſneſs doth make us all
Our Sword with courage hold,
2
And not to fear i'th'day of evil
What any man can do;
Nay we hereby withſtand the Devil,
Who doth great malice ſhow.
3
O then, ye Saints, ſee you maintain
A good and holy life,
And ſoon thereby you will obtain
An end of all that ſtrife
4
With which you meet from Foes without,
And alſo from within;
O know it is God's great deſign
To purge you from your ſin;
5
And that you holy ſhould all live,
And hence 'tis you have Grace;
The Seed of Holineſs is ſown,
And it will grow apace,
6
If under God's ſhinings ye ſit,
And he his Rain doth ſend,
Then will your Righteouſneſs break forth,
And peace will flow i'th' end;
7
And of God's Goodneſs ye ſhall ſing,
And lift your voice on high,
And happy be when God doth bring
You on Death-Beds to lye.
HYMN 101. The Shield of Faith.
Eph. 6.16.
Above all things take the ſhield of Faith.
1
FAith is a Grace that God hath wrought
In us who do believe;
If it be ſtrong, we need not care
What Gun-ſhots we receive
2
From Satan, who his fiery Darts
Continually lets fly;
Ah! 'tis our Shield to ſave all parts,
Whatever danger's nigh.
3
A Shield is turned ev'ry way,
That ſo no Dart may wound;
And we by Faith, as with a Shield,
Are compaſſed quite round.
4
The Will and Judgment it ſecures,
And doth Affections keep
Warm unto Chriſt, and Conſcience too,
It ſaves from drouſie ſleep.
5
A Shield preſerves the other part
Of Armour we have on;
So Faith ſecures every Grace;
That hurt be done to none.
6
Chriſt's Righteouſneſs very pure,
To that 'tis we muſt flee;
And unto us by Faith 'tis ſure,
And this by Faith we ſee.
HYMN 102. Faith more precious than Gold.
1 Pet. 1.7
That the tryal of your Faith, which is much more precious than Gold, &c.
1
BY Faith we do on Chriſt depend
For all that he hath done;
By Faith we do to God aſcend
With many a bitter groan:
2
And we receive what we do want,
When we by Faith do cry;
Faith doth ſuſtain each drooping Saint,
And all their needs ſupply.
3
Gold is a thing that has the Name
Of things that precious are;
For Preciouſneſs Faith has the ſame,
With which Gold can't compare.
4
Tho' Gold is precious when 'tis try'd,
Yet tried Faith exceeds
The fineſt Gold, 'tis more in worth,
And does ſupply all needs:
5
'Tis more deſirable far than Gold,
O with it fall in love!
And as hid Treaſure ſeek it do
Of God, through Chriſt above.
6
Gold by the Touch-ſtone muſt be try'd,
So you muſt try your Faith;
No Touch-ſtone but God's bleſſed Word
Is there in all the Earth.
HYMN 103. Hope an Helmet.
1 Theſſ. 5.8.
And for an Helmet the Hope of Salvation.
1
HOpe is a precious Grace, O Lord,
And fixed it muſt be
Upon thy ſelf moſt patiently,
No other Hope have we.
2
'Tis not on Gold, nor length of days,
Nor on things here below;
But 'tis on Jeſus Chriſt alone,
From whence all Help doth flow:
3
And like a Helmet 'tis we find
That doth preſerve the Head;
Hope ſtays on thee, always our mind,
When we are hard beſted;
4
And as a Helmet fearleſs makes
A Souldier in the Field;
So hope of glory makes us all
Reſolve we ne're will yield
5
To Satan, nor to other Foes,
When we with them do meet;
Nor need we fear their cruel blows,
If we have this Helmet,
6
Since we compleatly armed are,
Even from head to foot,
Our head-piece makes us to appear
Both fierce and very ſtout.
7
This Helmet will us never fail
If that we have it on;
The Soul it is, it doth preſerve
Till all our dangers gone.
HYMN 104. Hope compared to an Anchor.
Heb. 6.19.
Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul.
1
THis World's a Sea, our Soul's a Ship
With raging Tempeſt toſt;
And if ſhe ſhould her Anchor ſlip,
She doubtleſs will be loſt.
2
Thou, Lord, our skilful Pilot art,
Thou know'ſt all Rocks and Sands;
Our Seamen are our Faculties,
Which muſt do thy commands.
3
Faith like a Cable doth appear,
Hope is our Anchor ſure;
And if right caſt, we need not fear
We ſhall each Storm endure.
4
Repentance like a Bucket is
To pump the water out;
For leaky is our Ship, alas,
Which makes us look about.
5
Thy Graces are our bleſſed Fraight,
And Heaven is our Port;
Thy Spirit, Lord, muſt fill our Sails
If e're we bid fair for't.
The Second Part.
1
Lord, ſtill the Seas, alas, they ſwell,
And very tempeſtuous are;
Our Compaſs is thy Holy Word,
By that 'tis we muſt ſteer.
2
Lord, thou haſt power o're the Seas,
Let us not calmed be;
And when the Waves do roar and ſwell,
Let's caſt our Hope in thee.,
3
Which like an Anchor doth take hold
With that within the Veil;
And if right caſt, we may be bold,
Our courage ſhall not fail.
4
We for our Anchor have a Rock
That is moſt firm and ſure,
And thou wilt us, Lord, ne're deceive,
But will our Souls ſecure.
5
Let Hope be fixt on Chriſt our Lord,
And on thy Covenant;
Thy Promiſes alſo afford
Relief to ev'ry Saint.
6
Chriſt's Death and Reſurrection too
Our Hope is grounded on;
If thus we caſt our Anchor do,
We ſafe are ev'ry one.
HYMN 105. Love comp. to Coals of Fire.
Cant. 8.6.
Love is ſtrong as Death, Jealouſie as cruel as the Grave, the Coals thereof are as Coals of Fire, &c.
1
O Set thine Image on my Heart!
O ſeal it on my Arm!
For Love, like Death, doth caſt Dart,
And Jealouſie is warm.
2. 'Tis like the Grave, whoſe keen deſire
Nothing can ſatisfie;
The Coals thereof are Coals of Fire
That flame moſt vehemently.
3
Waters can't quench Love's Flames, nor Floods
The ſame can ever drown;
lf ſome for Love would give his Goods,
Deſpis'd is ſuch an one.
4
Lord, bear our Name upon thy Breaſt,
Engrave it on thy Heart,
There let it be ſo ſure poſſeſt
It thence may ne're depart;
5
For Love we find is very ſtrong,
It wounds unto the quick;
Thy preſence, Lord, ſupports our Souls,
Thy abſence makes us ſick.
6
Shouldſt thou but ſeemingly diſdain
Our Souls that are engag'd,
Like Fire it would put us to pain,
Whoſe grief's not ſoon aſſwag'd.
The Second Part.
1
O love us then, or elſe we die;
Is it not thee we crave?
If thou thy Love ſhouldſt once deny,
We ſoon ſhould find a Grave.
2
Death conquers all, and all ſubmit
Unto his pale command;
So Love brings all unto its feet
Who are there with inflam'd.
3
The Grave is never ſatisfy'd,
No more, alas, can he
Who having taſted of thy Love,
Till he enjoyeth thee.
4
But Death deſtroys and alſo kills,
But Love doth make alive;
It kills our ſin, and we thereby
Do preſently revive:
5
But if the Object be deny'd
The Heart is ſet upon,
We never can be ſatisfy'd
Until our life is gone.
6
Love ſo doth flame, and Jealouſie
So burns the Heart and Eyes;
The Soul muſt be embrac'd by thee,
Or be Love's Sacrifice.
7
Whole Seas of trouble cannot quench
Love's everlaſting flame;
Let what will come where true Love is,
That Soul is ſtill the ſame.
HYMN 106. Baptiſm a Burial.
Col. 2.12.
Buried with him in Baptiſm.
1
LOrd, are we dead? dead unto ſin?
Then buried let us be;
Let ſin be cover'd, the old Man
Be ſlain, O Lord, by thee.
2
We have Baptized been, O Lord,
As ſuch who were all dead,
To ſhew that thou didſt lye i'th Grave,
We all were buried
3
Under the water, whereby we
Do in a figure ſee,
That as we ſhew'd how we are dead,
So raiſed are with thee.
4
None buried are till dead they be,
Thoſe who baptized are
Ought to be dead to ev'ry ſin,
To ſelf, and all things here.
5
Thoſe who are buried, covered are
All over in the Earth;
…n Baptiſm the ſelf-ſame thing
Muſt plain be holden forth:
6
Or elſe it anſwers not the end
Of Chriſt, who did ordain
That glorious Rite, if not ſo done,
They do the ſame prophane.
HYMN 107. The 6 Princip. of Chriſts Doct.
Heb. 6.1, 2.
Not laying again the Foundation of Repentance from dead Works, and of Faith towards God, ver. 1. Of the Doctrine of Baptiſm, and laying on of Hands, &c. ver. 2.
1
REpentance, when wrought in the Soul,
And Faith for to believe,
Then ſuch on Jeſus Chriſt rely,
And truly him receive
2
As their dread Lord and Sovereign
Him always to obey,
And in all things o're them to reign,
And govern night and day.
3
Chriſt's Baptiſm is very ſweet,
With laying on of Hands,
Our Souls are brought to Jeſu's Feet
In owning his Commands.
4
Thoſe Ordinances Men oppoſe,
And count as carnal things;
We have clos'd with, and tell to thoſe,
From them great comfort ſprings.
5
Thee, holy Lord, we muſt obey,
Though Men reproach us ſtill;
Yet let us do what thou doſt ſay,
And yield unto thy Will;
6
And ſtill alone on thee rely,
And not on what we do;
In point of truſt we fly to thee,
And let our own works go;
7
And though in minding thy ſweet truth
Men do us vilifie,
Yet we reſolve, Lord in thy ſtrength,
To own them till we die.
The Second Part.
1
O Lord, let us not turn back
On thee whom we do love;
For we do know we ſhall not lack
Thy preſence from above;
2
For thou haſt promis'd to the end
To us that will be near,
And be to us a faithful Friend,
Which makes us not to fear
3
Whatever Men or Devils do
In ſecret place deſign;
For ſoon canſt thou them overthrow,
And help all Souls of thine.
4
The Reſurrection of the Dead
We conſtantly maintain,
When all thoſe who lye buried
Shall riſe to life again;
5
And that the Judgment-day will come,
When Chriſt upon the Throne
Shall paſs a black eternal doom
Upon each wicked one:
6
But all his Saints then joyfully
With bowels he'll embrace,
And Crowns to all eternity
Upon their Heads he'll place;
7
And in the Kingdom ſhall they reign
Prepared long before,
And alſo ſhall with Chriſt remain
In bliſs for evermore.
HYMN 108. Lord's Supper our Paſſover.
1 Cor. 5.7.
For Chriſt our Paſſover is ſacrificed for us.
1
O Bleſſed Lamb of God, ſhall I
Forget that love of thine!
Thy life, O Lord, thou didſt give up
To ſave this Soul of mine.
2
Moſt harmleſs Lamb, and innocent,
When come to a ripe age,
Ah! then didſt thou thy life give up
God's anger to aſſwage.
3
Thy Blood is ſprinkled on our Doors,
Or rather on our Hearts,
To ſhew God hath our ſins paſs'd o're,
And Mercies he imparts.
5
The Lamb it was roaſted with fire,
Thou didſt God's wrath ſuſtain;
And on thee we by Faith do feed,
And life thereby obtain.
5
The Lamb was eat with bitter Herbs,
So let us ſee our ſin,
And find it bitter unto us,
It ſo to thee has been;
6
And ſo let us thy Praiſes ſing
Whilſt thus we feaſt with thee,
And with one heart exalt our King
In all ſincerity.