A Gospel Church Described, To the reader 2 – Hymns
TO THE Christian Reader.
'TIS great Pity, that so many, otherwise Well-meaning Christians, should yet have a Prejudice against Singing Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, with Conjoyned Voices in Publick Assemblies; Whereas it has always been the Practice of the Church of God, both under the Old and New Testament. Christ Sung at his Last Supper, Mat. 26.30. And St. Paul plainly Commands it to Christians, That with Conjoyned Voices they Sing God's Praise, Col. 3.16. And Eusebius Witnesses, out of Philo Judeus, lib. 2. cap. 18. That the Primitive Christians made Grave Canticles and Hymns unto God, in a more Sacred Rime, of every kind of Metre and Verse. The Heathens Reproached them with it, That they used to Rise before Day, and Meet to Sing Hymns to Christ. They that deny it, Deprive themselves of much Sweet Communion the Saints Enjoy in it. For my own Part, I would not give up this Ordinance, nor Lose the Comfort it brings for a whole World. The Objections against it are very weak; for, suppose every Passage in a Psalm may not agree to my particular Case, yet it's True of the Persons, or Things, of whom it is Related; and may be Read and Sung, as a History of God's G…acious Dealings with others; and many such Passages as are farther Applicable to our selves then we are aware, if we understood them Spiritually. I confess I am chiefly for Scripture Psalms, yet see not but other Hymns of Praise, agreeing with Scripture, as I hope these following do, may have their use: If any dislike them, they are free to let them alone; And if ever I use any of them at the Lord's Table, it shall be with Ʋniversal Consent of every one: The Lord Tune our Hearts as well as Voices, to this sweet Duty. So Prays him, who sincerely desires your Salvation.
M. H.
Sacramental Hymns.
Hymn I.
1.
MOst Glorious God and King,
Our Hearts to thee we'll Raise,
And joyfully we'll Sing,
To thee sweet Songs of Praise;
For thou hast given
…hy own dear Son, Man to become,
Sent down from Heaven.
2.
…hen we, thro' Adam's Fall,
…ere quite undone by Sin;
…hy Wrath was on us all:
…n Grace thou didst begin
To shew us Light,
…n th' Rising Sun, our Christ God-Man,
Which now shines bright.
3.
This Dayes Star from Above,
Into this Dark World came;
Twas meerly Grace and Love
Caus'd him to do the same:
Oh let's Rejoyce,
And all our days, let's Sing his Praise
With Chearful Voice.
4.
Blest Angels stand Amaz'd,
To hear him Groan and Cry;
Their Wondering Thoughts are rais'd
To see him Bleed and Dye.
Earth Quakes for Fear,
Sun hides his Light, from Human Sight,
The Rocks Rent were.
5.
To God All Glory be,
Who gave his Son to Death,
And thereby makes us Free
From Sin, from Hell, from Wrath.
Let's loudly Sing,
Sweet Psalms of Praise, to Him always,
Who is our King.
Hymn II.
1.
WE all in Sin were Conceiv'd,
And so, by Nature, Blind and Dead:
Power we had none
God's VVrath t' abide, or it avoid;
All Help was gone.
2.
VVhen Execution Day drew nigh,
God Graciously look'd from on High,
And down did slide;
And, in our Room, for our Just Doom,
VVas Crucify'd.
3.
VVe stole the Fruit; and, by our Sin,
Deserv'd the Misery we were in:
He, from Above,
Sent Aid at Need; and we were Freed
By his meer Love.
4.
Behold! VVhat Grace and Mercy's here?
That we, who, by Nature, were
Children of VVrath,
Should Saved he, and so set free
By Christ his Death.
5.
Let Saints and Angels all Amire;
Yea, let my Soul be set on fire
VVith Flaming Love;
And therein I would live and dye
VVith Christ Above.
6.
VVhat Glorious Grace is this to me,
That by his Death I am made free:
All Glory th…n
Be to my King. I'll ever Sing
His Praise, Amen.
Hymn III.
1.
O Lord our God, How Great's thy Love
To us, of Adam's Lapsed Race;
VVho hast Descended from Above,
For to Enrich our Souls with Grace.
2.
VVhen we, by Sin, did alienate
Our Souls from Thee, and every Good;
Then didst thou pity our Estate,
And gavest Christ to shed his Blood.
3.
VVho, rather than that we should Dye,
And never see thy Blessed Face,
Did chuse himself in Death to ly,
That us, from Death, he up might raise.
4.
A Curse for Sin we merited;
Thou mad'st him an accursed thing;
We meritted Death, lo, he is Dead,
His bitter Death sweet Life doth bring.
5.
We all in Sins Red-Gore did lye,
Fit for th' Infernal Lake and Pit;
Christ 'dur'd a Bloody Agony
In the Garden, Clotted Blood did Sweat.
6.
His Soul was sorrowful to death;
His Body Torn and Sacrific'd.
That we might draw in Heavenly Breath,
And be with Christ Immortaliz'd.
7.
Let's have a Tast of that Sweet Love
Thou to Redeemed Ones dost give,
And quickly take us up Above,
That we, with thee, may ever Live.
8.
All Glory, Honour, Thanks and Praise
To Christ, who Dyed on the Tree:
And let us bless his Name always,
Both now and to Eternity.
Hymn IV.
1.
WHat Love Profound, in Christ is found,
To Adam's Lapsed Race?
…hat God's Dear Son, should Man become,
… freest Richest Grace.
… Angels Blest, and Souls at Rest,
…onder how this could be;
…at God Most High, for Love, should Dye,
…pon a Cursed Tree.
2.
…hen Man, for Sin, was almost in
…seless and Endless Woe,
…d very near Eternal Fire,
…d's Flaming Wrath also:
…, for our sake, did undertake
… bear God's Fiercest Wrath,
…d all the Sins, that we were in,
Expiate by his Death.
3.
… bore that Wrath, and Dy'd that Death
…st due to us for sin,
…at thereby he might set us free,
…d for us Glory win.
For our sins all, both great and small,
He a full Price hath given,
And hath thereby, set us on high,
Within the View of Heaven.
4.
Oh let us hate, and 'bominate
Sin, which caus'd him to Dye;
My Voice I'll raise to him in Praise,
To all Eternity.
For evermore let us Adore
Christ our Redeemer then,
And Joyfully him Magnify
For Evermore, Amen.
Hymn V. As Psal. 25
1.
OH Praise the Lord, him Praise;
Let's now sing to his Name:
Let Saints and Angels both always
For ever do the same.
2.
His only Son he gave
For us to Bleed and Dye;
That he, all such, from Hell might save,
As, by Faith, to him do fly.
3.
…ho' His sufferings were
…st bitter, He submitted;
…d willingly did chuse to Dye,
…at we might be Acquitted.
4.
…e Dy'd, but Rose again,
…scending up on High,
…at Grace and Mercy might remain
…ith us Eternally.
5.
…e, by His Death, Revive,
…om the Laws Condemnation;
…nd, by his Spirit, are made Alive,
…njoying his Salvation.
6.
…is Flesh is Bread indeed;
…is Blood Celestial VVine:
…y Faith on him we sweetly feed;
…is Comforts are Divine.
7.
Honour and Glory then
…o this Blest Lamb we give;
…Ve'll sing his Praise, and cry, Amen,
…o Him, while here we Live.
Hymn VI. As Psal. 11…
GLory to God and Christ our King;
His chearfull Praise now let us sing;
VVho hath on us look'd from on High;
Our Christ, who is the Lamb of God,
Hath the VVine press of his VVrath trod;
And, for us, did come down and Dye.
His Holy Name now let us Praise,
And Magnify His Love allways;
That for us would such things indure,
As to be Born, to Bleed and Dye;
And, in the Grave, three Days to lye,
That to us Life He might make sure.
Such Grace and Love as this, we're sure
VVas not seen, or heard of before:
'Tis Love and Grace, beyond all bounds,
That God should give, for sinners good,
His Son to Dye, and of his Blood
A Balsame make, to heal our VVounds.
… Saints and Angels now allways
…ether with us sing God's Praise,
…et us raise our Thankful Voice
… this Great God, and Christ our King,
…e'll allways Hallaluja's sing;
…d in his Love and Grace Rejoyce.
…ymn VII. As Psal. 148.
YE Holy Angels Bright,
That wait about God's Throne,
…joying fullest sight
… that Eternal One,
God's Praises sing,
…ho hath from Heaven, a Saviour given,
Jesus our King.
… Blessed Souls Above,
…ho see your Saviour's Face,
…aise God for his great Love,
…d his Redeeming Grace;
VVhereby you are
… quit and clear, from sin and fear,
By your Saviour.
… Blessed Saints him Praise,
…hich yet below are found;
… Zion's Sons allways
… Holy Praises sound:
Yea, all the Earth,
… this Great King high Praises sing,
With sweetest Mirth.
My Thankfull Soul Adore
This Glorious Majesty;
Triumph thou evermore
In this Great God most High.
To Him draw nigh,
And evermore
His Name Adore.
Eternally.
Hymn VIII. For the GOSPEL.
OƲr Souls, with Joy, do Magnify
Jehovah, our Great King,
Because the Lord gives us his Word,
VVe Praise him for this thing;
While Thousands yet in Darkness sit,
Having no Gospel-light:
Our dearest Lord doth us afford
Sweet Visions, clear and bright.
Lord, we will Praise thy Name always,
For Gospel-light now given;
And humbly Pray, that thy Word may
Raise up our hearts to Heaven.
In this same hour, some quickning Power
In thy Word let us find.
O cause increase of Light and Peace
In our sin-darkened Mind.
…earts unvail, our eyes unscale,
…e our selves this day,
… need we have of Christ, to save,
…rist to us display:
… in this Glass of Gospel-Grace
… Glory we do view.
… from Above, shed down thy love,
…ouls in Grace renew.
…ymn IX. As Psal. 113. For the Lord's Day.
…LL Glory be to God above,
VVho, out of his meer Grace and Love,
… given us this day of Rest,
…reon we do Commemorate,
…ork of our Redemption great,
… for this end this day hath blest.
… us ever magnify
…s Love, who once for Sin did dye,
…on this day from Death did rise:
…as he once our Sins did bear,
…akes us in his Rest to share,
…ls us with Caelestial joys.
He doth a weekly Market keep,
And feeds us like a Flock of Sheep;
Ʋnder his shaddow we sit down,
Feeding with joy upon his word,
VVhichWhich doth both Life and Light afford,
He doth our Souls with mercy Crown.
All Honour, Glory, Thanks, and Praise,
To our Redeemer be always,
VVho now is with his Glory Crown'd;
Communicate to us this day,
Some Beams of Light and Love we pray,
Let Grace and Love in us abound.
Hymn X. Another for the Lord's-Day.
PRaise waiteth on thy Holy Name,
Thy Saints will ever do the same;
This day of Rest,
(They dearly love and will improve)
VVhichWhich thou hast blest.
Christ walks this day amongst his Saints,
Hears all their groans and their complaints;
Botles their Tears,
And then his Love and Bowels move,
To ease their Fears.
…ssadors to us he sends,
…t us know that he is friends,
That so we may,
…n rejoyce with joyful Voice,
Both night and day.
… day's a day of Holy Rest,
…ch our Redeemer for us blest;
Tho he was slain,
… day from th' Grave, our Souls to save,
He rose again.
…ur and Glory now is due,
…m who doth our Souls renew,
VVith Love Divine,
… will this day, his Grace display,
And on us shine.
…lory now and evermore,
… the Lamb of God therefore;
VVe'll all our da…s,
… our complaints, and with his Saints,
VVe'll sing his Praise.
Hymn XI. Another for the Lord-Day.
…Y Lord, who dy'd, was Crucify'd,
For Sinners he was Slain;
…th be blest, this day of Rest,
… he Rose again.
His Saint-like Sheep, his fold must keep,
He'll there for them provide,
Tho' Pastors feed, them at their need,
Himself will be their Guide.
He will us guide, sweet Streams beside,
And in those Pastures green,
VVherein his Saints, supply their wants,
There shall his Grace be seen.
A feast of VVine, sweet Truths Divine,
Of VVater, Milk and Honey,
This day is offer'd, and by Christ proffer'd,
VVithout price, worth or money.
All Glory we, Lord give to thee,
For making such Provision,
For thy poor Saints, whereby their wants,
Are bury'd in Fruition.
Our Souls rejoyce to hear thy Voice,
'Tis Musick from on high;
VVe'll ever Praise thy Name always,
Now and Eternally.
Let us this day, we humbly pray,
A weeks Provision store,
Let now be given a pledge of Heaven▪
Jehovah we Adore.
Hymn XII. For the Lord's-Day. As Psal. 100.
1.
THe Lord made all Things in six days,
The seventh day he therefore blest,
…t all his Saints his Name might Praise,
… joy upon that day of rest.
2.
… when the Lamb of God came down,
… Sacrifice himself and dye,
… chang'd the day, and set the Crown,
… our Lord's-day, exalting high.
3.
…s day the Queen of days to be,
…reon we must Commemorate,
…t glorious Grace, that made us free,
… our forelorn and wretched state.
4.
… Lord was born and Crucify'd,
…us he suffer'd Death and Pain,
…ho' for us he bled and dy'd,
… on this day he rose again.
5.
This day to us he doth impart,
Both Manna, Milk and Spiced Wine,
VVhichWhich Wine makes us rejoyce in heart,
His Oyl doth make our faces shine.
6.
Sweet Halelujahs now we'll sing,
To God Redeemer of his Saints,
All Glory be to Christ our King,
Who still in love supplies our wants.
7.
Our Risen Saviour's now sat down,
At God's right hand for evermore,
He will our Souls with favour Crown,
Whilst we at his Footstool Adore,
End of the text · Michael Harrison, A Gospel Church Described (1700)