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THE
W O R K S
OF THE
REV. ISAAC WATTS, D. D.
IN SEVEN VOLUMES. *~.
J a
:
;
:
:
:
VOL. VII.
CONTAIN ING
AN ess AY ON PSALMODY; LY RIC POEMs;
THE PSALMS OF DAVID ; RELIQUIAE JUVENILEs ;
HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS; AND
DIVINE so NGS For CHILDREN ; REMN ANTS OF TIME.
LEEDS :
PRINTED BY ED w ARD BA 1 NEs ;
For THE E DITo R; conDB R, BucKLER's B U R Y ; c.HAPMAN, FLEET-street ;
mutton, PATERNoster-Row; will IAMs, stations Rs’-court ; ogle,
ake AT-TURN-stile; BAYNes, PATRRNoster-Row, London ;
AND For EDWARD BAINES, LEEDs,
=-
CONTENTS OF VOLUME VII.
A Short Eſſay toward the Improvement of Pſalmody - tºº tº
THE PSALMS OF DAVID,
Imitated in the Language of the New Teſtament, and applied to the Chriſt-
ian State and Worſhip -º tº wº ſº º
HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS.
Book I. gº ſº & ſº gº - tº ſº dº
Book II. tº º tº º tºº º sº tº tº ſº a
Book III. tº . & tºº sº sº º gº tº tºy
DIVINE SONGS,
Attempted in Eaſy Language, for the Uſe of Children gº tº a wº
MORAL SONGS,
A slight Specimen of Moral Songs tº wº wº •º tºº
HORAE LYRICAE,
Poems addreſſed to the Author of Horæ Lyrica: {º ſº tº dº
Poems chiefly of the Lyric kind ſº iº tºº, & º † :
** RELIQUIE JUVENILES;
Or, Miſcellaneous Thoughts in Proſe and Verſe º gº cº
REMNANTS OF TIME,
Employed in Proſe and Verſe; or, Short Eſſays and Compoſures on various
Subjećts wº tºº fºg tº ſº iº sº
Table of Scriptures sº º tº jº wº * : *
General Index tº wº sº º tº tº ºt tº- E.
Index, &c. to Pſalms and Hymns sº º º º tº
Liſt of the Subſcribers tº
3 : 7226
PA & E.
33
124
154.
190
200
207
219
292
303
430
479
487
5 11
533
ADDRESS.
As many of our Subscribers to the Works of Dr. WArts having intimated
their desire that the Works of Dr. DoDD RIDGE should appear with an
opener type, we are happy to inform them, that we have made such arrange-
ments as will enable us, we hope, fully to meet their views in this particular.
And as the specimen of type circulated with the sixth volume of Watts, is
inferior to that we now design, we subjoin the following paragraphs, printed
exactly in the style, in which the Work willbe executed.
Although the Works of Dr. DODDRIDGE, have been variously
published, no uniform, standard edition has yet appeared; but in
the proposals now offered to the public, uniformity will be united
with elegance and cheapness. About twenty volumes in different
forms, including Orton's Life, will be given in ten royal octavos,
each containing the average of 600 pages of letter-press. And to
meet the desires of those who possess the six volumes of the Family
Expositor, the detached works may be subscribed for separately,
These will be printed on a fine demy paper, exactly uniform in
size with the octavo editions of the Expositor already published.
In announcing this design, our object is not merely to offer
our tribute to the memory of a truly great man, or to extend
the circulation of works so honourable to the cause he espoused,
but to present many families, now destitute of such a treasure,
with the best Expositor of the New Testament in any language,
and to furnish them, in his other compositions, with additional
means of entertainment, instruction, and happiness.
The publication of the Whole Works of Watts and Doddridge
is but the commencement of a plan, designed to be extended
to other great and valuable works, of which we have no uni-
form editions, which are out of print, or are sold at such a price
as the opulent alone can command. We propose none but entire
Works, complete, standard editions. In such an undertaking
we flatter ourselves with the assurance of all the patronage ne–
cessary to success, and to merit which, by a rigid punctuality
in the prosecution of our engagements, neither expence nor la-
bour will be spared.
N. B. As the Work will now be proceeded with immediately, the Editors are
desirous of ascertaining the number of copies to be printed, and will be
obliged by the earliest communications from those who intend to become
Subscribers.
Leeds: Printed by Edward Bains,
A SHORT ESSAY
THE IMPROVEMENT OF PSALMODY :
OR 2
An Enquiry how the Pſalms of David ought to be Tranſlated into Chriſtian
Songs, and how lawful and neceſſary it is to compoſe other Hymns ac-
cording to the clearer Revelations of the Goſpel, for the Uſe of the
Chriſtian Church.
To ſpeak the glories of God in a religious ſong, or to breathe
out the joys of our own ſpirits to God with the melody of our voice,
is an exalted part of divine worſhip. But ſo many are the imper-
fe&tions in the pračtice of this duty, that the greateſt part of chriſ-
tians find but little edification or comfort in it. There are ſome
churches that utterly diſallow ſinging; and I am perſuaded that the
poor performance of it in the beſt ſocieties, with the miſtaken rules
to which it is confined, is one great reaſon of their entire negle&t;
for we are left at a loſs, ſay they, what is the matter and manner
of this duty; and therefore they utterly lefuſe: Whereas if this
glorious piece of worſhip were but ſeen in its original beauty, and
one that believes not this ordinance, or is unlearned in this part of
chriſtianity ſhould come into ſuch an aſſembly, “He would be
convinced of all, he would be judged of all, he would fall down on
his face, and report that God was in the midſt of it of a truth;”
1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25.
In order to trace out the matter or ſubjećt of religious ſinging, let
us colle&t into one view the chief texts of the New Teſtament where
this worſhip is mentioned, and afterwards ſee what arguments may
be deduced from thence, to gºgge, that it is proper to uſe ſpiritual
ſongs.gººggan.ºgg|Baſiº as well as the º: of David, or the
#föfigs recorded in ſcripture.
Mat. xxvi. 30. and Mark xiv. 26. relate, That our bleſſed Lord
and his diſciples ſung an hymn. Aëts xvi. 25. “Paul and Silas
prayed and fung praiſes unto God.” I Cor. xiv. 15. “I will fing
with the Spirit, and I will fing with the underſtanding alſo.”
Ver. 26., “’ Every one of you hath a pſalm.” Eph v. 19, 20.
“Speaking to yourſelves in pſalms and hymns, and ſpiritual ſongs;
ſinging and making melody in your hearts to the Lord, giving
thanks always for all things to God and the Father, in the game of
our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Col. iii. 16, 17. “Let the word of Chriſt
dwell in you richly, in all wiſdom teaching, and admoniſhing one
another in pſalms and hymns, and ſpiritual ſongs ; ſinging with
grace in your hearts to the Lord : And whatſoever ye do in word
WOL, WII, A -


2 O N THE IMPROVEMENT OF PSA LMO DY.
or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, giving thanks to
God and the Father by him. James v. 13. “Is any among you
afflićted, let him pray: Is any merry, let him fing pſalms.” Rev.
v. 9. “And they ſing a new ſong, ſaying, Thou artworthy to take
the book and to open the ſeals thereof, for thou waſt ſlain, and
haft redeemed us to God by thy blood.” Rev. xiv. 3. “And they
ſung as it were a new ſong before the throne.” Rev. xv. 3, And
they ſing the ſong of Moſes the ſervant of God, and the ſong of
the Lamb, ſaying, great and marvellous are thy works, &c.” To
, all theſe I might add A&s iv. 24. &c. where it is ſuppoſed the diſ-
ciples met together and ſung; for they lift up their voice to God
with one accord, and ſaid, “Lord I thou art our God, which haſt
made heaven and earth, and the ſea, and all that in them is : Who
by the mouth of thy ſervant David haſt ſaid, Why did the heathen
rage, and the people imagine a vain thing. The kings of the
earth ſtood up, and the rulers were gathered together againſt the
Lord, and againſt his Chriſt. For of a truth, againſt thy holy
child Jeſus whom thou haſt anointed, both Herod and Pontius
Pilate, with the gentiles and the people of Iſrael, were gathered
together for to do whatſoever thy liand and thy counſel determined
before to be done, &c.”
If we turn over the New Teſtament, and ſearch all the ſongs
that are there written, we ſhall find the matter or ſubjećt of them as
various as the occaſions upon which they were ſung or ſpoken :
Such are the ſong of the Virgin Mary; Luke i. 46, &c. The º;
of Zecharias; ver. 67. The ſong of the angels; Luke ii. 13. An
of Simeon, ver. 29. Beſides many others in the book of Revelation.
The three chief words uſed to expreſs the matter of ſinging, are
#2Ago, wuyol, 42, Q22, ; Pſalms, hymns, and ſongs, as the thice
verbs from which theſe are derived are generally uſed to expreſs the
aćt of finging, Jaxxo, vayev, *.x, 230. Now if it were lawful after ſo
many learned contentions about theſe words, I would give my
ſenſe of them thus : -
1... I think no man hath better explained the original meaning of
theſe words than Zanchy. A pſalm, Foxpos, is ſuch a ſong as
uſually is ſung with other inſtruments beſides the tongue. ‘Hymns,
vuyot, ſuch as are made only to expreſs the praiſes, and ſet out the
excellencies of God. Songs, '032, ſuch as contain not ouly praiſes,
but exhortations, prophecies, thankſgivings; and theſe only ſung
with the voice. •r
2. The ſcripture doth not always confine itſelf to the original
meaning of all theſe words; for, Jaxpos, a pſalm, and the word Jaxxo,
ure uſed; I Cor. xiv. and in other places of the New Teſtament,
where we can never ſuppoſe the primitive church in thoſe days
had inſtruments of muſic. And the word o), a ſong, is uſed ſeveral
times in the book of Revelation, where harps are joined with
voices in the emblematical prophecy. -
3. The ſenſe therefore of theſe words in the New Teſtament
ſeems to be thus diſtinguiſhed :
A pſalm is a general name for any thing that is ſung, in divine
worſhip, whatſoever be the particular theme, or matter; and the
verbºw is deſigned to expreſs the melody itſelf rather than to
diffinguiſh the matter of the ſong, or manaer whereby the melody
or muſic is performed; and therefore in Eph. v. 19. our tranſlators.
have well rendered 239;re; ºz. Jºãoyré, “ ſinging and making
on THE 1MPROV EMENT OF PSALMO DY. 3
melody; and it ſhould be thus rendered: James Y: 13. “Is any
merry, let him make melody.” I confeſs in the New Teſtament
the noun poxiao; refers generally to the book of pſalms, and without
doubt there are many of the pſalms of David and Aſaph, and other
fongs among the books of the Old Teſtament which may be prº-
dently choſen and ſung by chriſtians, and may be will actºr
modated to the lips and hearts of the church under the goſpel.
Yet this word is once uſed in another ſenſe, as I ſhall ſhow after-
wards. º
An hymn, whether implied in the verb vºw, or expreſſed in the
noun wºº, doth always retain its original ſignification, and intend
a ſong whoſe matter or deſign is praiſe: Nor is there,any thing in
the nature or uſe of the word either in ſcripture or other authors,
that determines it to ſignify an immediate inſpiration, or huſilan
compoſure. e - º º
A ſong, 'oh, denotes any theme or ſubjećt compoſed into a form
fit for finging, and ſeems to intend ſomewhat ſuited to the goſpel-
ſtate, rather than any Jewiſh pſalms or ſongs in all the five verſes
in the New Teſtament where it is uſed. • *
Eph. v. 19. and Col. iii. 16. It is joined with the word Jpiritual:
and that ſeems to be uſed by the apoſtle in all his epiſtles, as a Vº
diſtinguiſhing word between the law and the goſpel, the Jewiſh and
the chriſtian worſhip. The Jews had carnal ordinances, and carnal
commandments, and their ſtate and diſpenſation is often, called
fieſh, but the church under the goſpel is ºf a ſpiritual houſe, bleſſed
with ſpiritual bleſfings, endowed with ſpiritual .gifts, to worſhip
God inſpirit and in truth, to offer ſpiritual ſacrifices, and to fing
ſpiritual ſongs.” *
Col. iii. 16 confirms this ſenſe “for the word of Chriſt muſt
dwell richly in us in pſalms and hymns, and ſpiritual ſongs.” N9Y
though the books of the Old Teſtament may in ſome ſenſe be called
“the word of Chriſt,” becauſe the ſame Spirit which was after-
wards given to Chriſt the Mediator did inſpire them ; yet this ſeen.
to have a peculiar reference to the doćtrine and diſcoveries 9
Chriſt under the goſpel, which might be compoſed into ſpiritual
ſongs for the greater eaſe of memory in learning, teaching and ad-
moniſhing one another.
Rev. v. S. and xiv. 3. There is mention of a new ſong, and that
is pure evangelical language, ſuited to the New Teſtament, the
new covenant, the new and living way of acceſs to God, and to
the new commandment of him who ſits upon the throne, “and
behold, he makes all things new.” The words of this ſong are,
“Worthy is the Lamb, for thou waſt ſlain, and haſt redeemed us
to God by thy blood, &c. and none could learn it but thoſe who
follow the Lamb, who were redeemed from among men, &c.”
And it muſt be noted here, that this book of the Revelation
deſcribes the worſhip of the goſpel-church on earth, as is agreed
by all interpreters, though it borrows ſome of its emblems from the
things of heaven, and ſome from the Jewiſh ſtate. I might here
remark alſo, that when a new ſong is mentioned in the Old Teſ-
tament, it refers to the times of the Meffiah, and is prophetical of
the kingdom of Chriſt, or at left it is a ſong indited upon a new oc-
caſion public or perſonal, and the words of it are accommodated to
ſome new tokens of divine mercy.
Rev. xv. 3. “ They ſing the ſong of Moſes the ſervant of God,
and the ſong of the Lamb ;” that is, a ſong for temporal and for
A 2
4. o N THE IMPRO v EMENT OF PSALM ODY.
ſpiritual deliverances; or, a ſong for all ancient or all later ſalva-
tions of the church. As Moſes was a redeemer from the houſe of
bondage, and a teacher of divine worſhip with harps and ceremo-
nies; ſo the Lamb is a Redeemer from Babylon and ſpiritual ſlavery,
and he is the great Prophet to teach his church the ſpiritual worſhip
of the goſpel. The church now under the ſalvations and inſtructions
of the Lamb, ſings with the voice to the glory of the vengeance
and the grace of God, as Iſrael under the conduct of Moſes ſung
with harps ; for we muſt obſerve, that theſe viſions of the apoſtle
John often repreſent divine things in a goſpel-church, in imitation
of the ranks and orders of the Jewiſh camp and tribes, and by
the rites and figures uſed in the time of Moſes; and it would be
as unreaſonable to prove from this text, that we muſt ſing the very
words of the xvth of Exodus in a chriſtian church, as to prove from
this book of the Revelation that we muſt uſe harps and altars,
cenſers, fire and incenſe. But it is plain that the xyth of Exodus
Cannot be here intended, becauſe the words of the ſong are men-
tioned juſt after, namely, “Great and marvellous are thy works,
Lord God. Almighty, juſt and true are thy ways, thou King of
faints.” Yet after all, if it could be proved, that the very ſong
which Moſes ſung is here deſigned, ſtill it muſt be confeſt that the
fong of the Lamb is alſo to be ſung; and if the following words in
this text are not to be eſteemed the ſong of Moſes, then neither
are they to be eſteemed the ſong of the Lamb ; becauſe there is
not any expreſs mention of the Lamb, or his death, or reſurrec-
tion, or redemption: nor is there any other ſong in ſcripture that
bears that title; and conſequently it muſt fignify a ſong compoſed
to the praiſe of God for our deliverance by the Lamb, in imitation
of the joy compoſed for deliverance by the hand of Moſes: And
thus at leaſt we are to ſuit part of our pſalmody to the goſpel-ſtate,
as well as borrow part from the Old Teſtament, which is the chief
point I deſigned to prove.
The next enquiry then proceeds thus : How muſt the pſalms of
David and other ſongs börrowed from ſcripture, be tranſlated in
order to be ſung in chriſtian worſhip Surely it will be granted,
that to prepare them for pſalmody under the goſpel, requires ano-
ther ſort of management in the tranſlation, than to prepare them
merely for reading as the word of God in our language, and that
upon theſe two accounts:
Firſt, If it be the duty of the churches to ſing pſalms, they muſt
neceſſarily be turned into ſuch a ſort of verſe and metre as will beſt
fit them for the whole church to join in the worſhip: Now this
will be very different from a tranſlation of the original language
word for word ; for the lines muſt be confined to a certain number
of ſyllables, and the ſtanza or verſe to a certain number of lines, that
ſo the tune being ſhort the people may be acquainted with it, and
be ready to ſing without much difficulty; whereas if the words were
merely tranſlated out of the Hebrew as they are for reading, every
pſalm muſt be ſet through to muſic, and every ſyllable in it muſt
have a particular muſical note belonging to itſelf, as in anthems that
are ſung in cathedrals: But this would be ſo exceeding difficult to
pračtiſe, that it would utterly exclude the greateſt part of every
congregation from a capacity of obeying God’s command to ſing.
Now in reducing a hebrew or a greek ſong to a form tolerably fit
to be ſung by an Engliſh congregation, here and there a word of
the original muſt be omitted, now and then a word or two ſuper-
O N THE IMPROVEMENT OF PSALMODY. 5
added, and frequently a ſentence or an expreſſion a little altered
and changed into another that is ſomething a-kin to it: And yet
greater alterations muſt the pſalm ſuffer if we will have any thing
to do with rhyme ; thoſe that have laboured with utmoſt toil to
keep very cloſe to the hebrew have found it impoſſible ; and when
they have attained it moſt, have made but very poor muſic for a
chriſtian church. For it will often happen, that one of the moſt
affectionate and moſt ſpiritual words in the proſe will not ſubmit to
its due place in the metre, or does not end with a proper ſound,
and then it muſt be ſecluded, and another of leſs proper ſenſe be
put in the room of it : Hereby ſome of the chief beauties and ex-
cellencies of David’s poetry will be omitted and loſt, which if not
revived again, or recompenſed by ſome lively or pathetic expreſſion
in the Engliſh, will neceſſarily debaſe the divine ſong into dulneſs
and contempt : And hereby alſo it becomes ſo far different from
the inſpired words in the original languages, that it is very hard for
any man to ſay, that the verſion of Hopkins and Sternhold, the
New-England or the Scotch pſalms, are in a ſtrićt ſenſe the word
of God. Thoſe perſons therefore that will allow nothing to be
ſung but the words of inſpiration or ſcripture ought to learn the he-
brew muſic, and ſing in the Jewiſh language; or at leaſt I can find
no congregation with which they can heartily join according to
their own principles, but the congregation of Choriſters in cathe-
dral churches, who are the only Levites that “fing praiſe unto the
Lord with the words of David and Aſaph the ſeer ; 2 Chron.
xxix. 30.
Secondly, Another reaſon why the pſalms ought not to be tranſ-
lated for finging juſt in the ſame manner as they are for reading, is
this, that the deſign of theſe two duties is very different: By read-
ing we learn what God ſpeaks to us in his word; but when we ſing,
eſpecially unto God, our chief deſign is, or ſhould be, to ſpeak our
own hearts and our words to God. By reading we are inſtructed
what have been the dealings of God with men in all ages, and how
their hearts have been exerciſed in their wanderings from God, and
temptations, or in their returns and breathings towards God again;
but ſongs are generally expreſſions of our own experiences, or of
his glories; we acquaint him what ſenſe we have of his greatueſs
and goodneſs, and that chiefly in thoſe inſtances which have ſome
relation to us: We breathe out our ſouls towards him, and make
our addreſſes of praiſe and acknowledgment to him. Though
I will not aſſert it unlawful to ſing to God the words of other men
which we have no concern in, and which are very contrary to our
circumſtances and the frame of our ſpirits ; yet it muſt be confeſt
abundantly more proper, when we addreſs God in a ſong, to uſe ſuch
words as we can for the moſt part aſſume as our own : I own that it
is not always neceſſary our ſongs ſhould be direét addreſſes to God;
ſome of them may be mere meditations of the hiſtory of divine pro-
vidences, or the experiences of former ſaints; but even then if thoſe
providences or experiences cannot be aſſumed by us as parallel to our
own, nor ſpoken in our own names, yet ſtill there ought to be ſome turns
of expreſſion that may make it look at leaſt like our own preſent me-
ditation, and that may repreſent it as a hiſtory which we ourſelves
are at that time recolle&ting. I know not one inſtance in ſcripture, of
any later faint ſinging any part of a compoſure of former ages, that
is not proper for his own time, without ſome expreſſions that tend
to accommodate or apply it. But there are a multitude of exam-
ples amongſt all the ſcriptural ſongs, that introduce the affairs of
\
6. GN THE IMPROVEMENT OF PSAL MODY ,
preceding ages in the method I have deſcribed. Pſ. xliv, f, &c.
When Dayid is recounting the wonders of God in planting, the
children of Iſrael in the land of Canaan, he begins his ſong thus,
“We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us
what works thou didſt in their days, in times of old, how thou didſt
drive out the heathen with thy hand, and planteſt them, how thou
didſt afflićt the people, and caſt them out.” Pſ. lxxviii. 2. &c., “I
will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter dark ſayings of old
which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us ;
we will not hide them from their children, fbewing to the genera-
tion to come the praiſes of the Lord.” So he relates the converſe
and covenant of God with Abraham, Iſaac, and Iſrael, as a nar-
ration of former providences and experiences ; Pſ. cw. 8, 9, 10,
&c. So in the Virgin Mary’s ſong, and the ſong of Zechariah.
And I know not any thing can be objećted here, but that a prophet
perhaps in ſome inſtances may aſſume the words of Chriſt, or the
faints in following ages; but it fliguld be obſerved that this is al-
moſt always in ſuch reſpe&ts wherein perſons, or circumſtances pre-
º were typical of what is future, and ſo their cafes become pa-
Tallel.
By thefe conſiderations we are eaſily led into the true method of
tranſlating ancient ſongs into chriſtian worſhip., Pſalms that are
purely doćtrinal, or merely hiſtorical, are ſubjećts for our meditation,
and may be tranſlated for our preſent uſe with no variation, if it
were poſſible; and in general, all thoſe ſongs of ſcripture which the
faints of following ages may aſſume for their own : Such are the iſt,
the viiith, the xixth, and many others. Some pſalms may be ap-
plied to our uſe by the alteration of a pronoun, putting they in the
place of we, and changing ſome expreſſions which are not ſuited to our
caſe into a narration or rehearſal of God’s dealings with others:
There are other divine ſongs which cannot properly be accommo-
dated to our uſe, and much leſs be aſſumed as our own without
very great alterations, namely, Such as are filled with ſome very
particular troubles or enemies of a perſon, ſome places of journeying
or reſidence, ſome uncommon circumſtances of a ſociety, to which
there is ſcarce any thing parallelin our day or caſe: Such are many
of the ſongs of David, whoſe perſecutions and deliverances were
very extraordinary : Again, ſuch as expreſs the worſhip paid unto
God by carnal ordinances and utenfils of the tabernacle and temple.
Now if theſe be converted into chriſtian ſongs in our nation, I think
the names of Ammon and Moab may be as properly changed into
the names of the chief enemies of the goſpel, fo far as may he with-
out public offence: Judah and Iſrael may be called England and
Scotland, and the land of Canaan may be tranſlated into Great
Britain : The cloudy and typical expreſſions of the legal diſpenſa-
tion ſhould be turned into evangelical language, according to the
explications of the New Teſtament : And when a chriſtian
pſalmiſt, among the charaćters of a ſaint ; P/. xv. 5. meets with the
man that “puts not out his money to uſury, he ought to exchange
him for one that is no oppreſſor or extortioner, ſince uſury is not
utterly forbidden to chriſtians, as it was by the Jewiſh law ; and
wherefoever he finds the perſon or offices of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt
in prophecy, they ought rather to be tranſlated in a way of hiſtorv,
and thoſe evangelical truths ſhould be ſtript of their veil of daikneſs,
and dreſt in ſuch expreſſions that Chriſt may appear in them to all
that fing. When he comes to Pſ. xl. 6. and reads theſe words, “ Mine
on THE IMPROVEMENT OF PSALMODY. 7
eats haſt thou opened,” he ſhould learn from the apoſtle to ſa
“A body haſt thou prepared me;” Heb. x. 5. Inſtead of “bind-
ing the ſacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar;”Pſ. cxviii. 27.
we ſhould “offer up ſpiritual ſacrifices, that is the prayer and praiſe
of the heart and tongue, acceptable to God by Jeſus Chriſt;”I Pet. ii. 5.
Where there are any dark expreſſions, and difficult to be under-
ftood in the Hebrew ſongs, they ſhould be left out in our pſalmody,
or at leaſt made very plain by a paraphraſe. Where there are
fentences, or whole pſalms, that can very difficultly be accommo-
dated to our times, they may be utterly oſmitted. Such is Pſ, cl.
part of the xxxviii, xiv, xlviii, lx, lxviii, lxxxi, cviii. and ſome others,
as well as a great part of the ſong of Solomon.
Perhaps it will be objećted here, that the book of Pſalms would
hereby be rendered very imperfeót, and ſome weak perſons might
imagine this attempt to fall under the cenſure of Rev. xxii. 18, 19.
that is, “ of taking away from, or adding to the words of the book
of God.” But it is not difficult to reply, that though the whoſe
book of Pſalms was given to be read by us as God’s word for our
uſe and inſtruction, yet it will never follow from thence that the
whole was written as a Pſalter for the chriſtian church to uſe in
finging. For if this were the deſign of it, then every Pſalm, and
every line of it might be at one time or another proper to be ſung by
chriſtians: But there are many hundred verſes in that book which
a Chriſtian cannot properly aſſume in ſinging, without a confider-
able alteration of the words, or at leaſt without putting a very
different meaning upon them, from what David had when he
wrote them ; and therefore there is no neceſſity of tranſlating al-
ways entire Pſalms, nor of preparing the whole book for Engliſh
Pſalmody. I might here add aſſo Dr. Patrick's apology in his cen-
tury of Pſalms firſt publiſhed, that he took but the ſame liberty
which is allowed to every pariſh-clerk, to chooſe what Pſalm and
what verſes of it he would propoſe to the people to fing.
Give me leave here to mention ſeveral paſſages which were hard-
ly made for chriſtian lips to aſſume without ſome alteration : Pſ.
lxviii. 13, 14, 15, 16. “ Though'ye have lain among the pots, yet
!hall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with filver, and her
feathers with yellow gold : When the Almighty ſcattered kings in
it, it was White as ſnow in Salmon. The hill of God is as the hill
of Baſhan, &c. Why leap ye, ye hills, &c. verſe 25. The fingers
went before, the players on inſtruments followed after, amongſt
them were the damſels playing with timbrels : Bleſs ye God in
the congregation, even the Lord from the fountain of Iſrael :
I here is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and
their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
Becauſe of thy temple at Jeruſalem kings ſhall bring preſents, unto
thee..., Rebuke the company of ſpearmen, the multitude of bulls,
With the calves of the people, till every one ſubmit himſelf with
Pieces of filver.” P/. lxxi. 2, 3, &c. “Take a pſalm, and bring
hither the timbrel, the pleaſant harp with the pſaltery, blow up
the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed on our ſolemn
feaſt-day, &c.” Pſ. lxxxiv. 3, 6. “ The ſparrow hath found an
houſe, and the ſwallow a neſt for herſelf, where ſhe may lay her
young, even thine altars, O Lord of hoſts, &c. Bleſſed is the man
whoſe ſtrength is in thee, in whoſe heart are the ways of them,
who paſſing through the valley of Bacha make it a well, the rain
alſo filleth the pools.” Pſ. cwiii. 2, 7, 8, 9, “Awake pſaltery and
8. O N THE IMPROVE MENT OF PSA LIMO DY.
((
harp, I myſelf will awake early. , God hath ſpoken in his holineſs;
I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of
Succoth ; Gilead is mine, Manaſſeth is mine, Ephraim alſo is the
ſtrength of mine head, Judah is my lawgiver, Moab is my waſh-
pot, over Edom will I caſt out my ſhoe, over Philiſtia will I triumph;
who will bring me into the firong city, who will lead me into
Edom.” Pſ. Bºix. 8, and cir, are ſo full of curſings, that they
hardly become the tongue of a follower of the bleſied Jeſus, who
dying prayed for his own enemies; “ Father forgive them, for
they know not what they do.” Pſ. cxxxiv. is ſuited to the temple or
tabernacle worſhip ; the title is, A Song of Degrees, that is, as
interpreters believe, to be ſung as the kings of Iſrael went up by
ſteps or degrees to the houſe of God : In the two firſt verſes the
king calls upon the Levites, “ which by night ſtand in the houſe
of the Lord, to lift up their hands in the ſančtuary, and to bleſs
the Lord ;” the 3d verſe is an antiphona or reply of the Levites to
the king; “ the Lord that made heaven and earth bleſs thee out
of Zion.” It would be endleſs to give an account of all the para-
graphs of ancient ſongs, which can ſcarce ever be accommodated to
goſpel-worſhip. • tº . f
The patrons of another opinion, will ſay we muſt ſing the words
of David, and apply them in our meditation to the things of the
New Teſtament: But can we believe this to be the beſt method
of worſhipping God, to ſing one thing and mean another ? beſides
that, the very literal ſenſe of many of theſe expreſſions is exceed-
ing deep and difficult, and not one in twenty of a religious aſſembly
can poffibly underſtand them at this diſtance from the Jewiſh days;
therefore to keep cloſe to the language of David, we muſt break the
commands of God by David, who requires that we “ ſing his praiſes
with underſtanding;” Pſ: xlvii. 7. And I am perſuaded, that St.
Paul, if he lived in our age and nation, would no more adviſe us
to fing unintelligible ſentences in London, than himſelf would ſing
in an unknown tongue at Corinth ; 1 Cor. xiv. 15, 19. After all,
if the literal ſenſe were known, yet the application of many verſes
of David to our ſtate and §a. was never deſigned, and
is utterly impoſſible; and even where it is poſſible, yet it is ſo ex-
ceeding difficult, that very few perſons in an aſſembly are capable
of it; and when they attempt it, if their thoughts ſhould be en-
quired one by one, you would find very various, wretched, and
contradićtory meanings put upon the words of the Hebrew Pſalmiſt,
and all for want of an evangelical tranſlation of him. It is very
obvious and common to obſerve that perſons of ſeriouſneſs and
judgment that conſider what they fing, are often forced to break off
in the midſt, to omit whole lines and verſes, even where the beſt
of our preſent tranſlations are uſed ; and thus the tune, and the
ſenſe, and their devotion is interrupted at once, becauſe they dare
not ſing without underſtanding, and almoſt againſt their conſcien-
ces. Whereas the more unthinking multitude go on ſinging in
chearful ignorance wherefoever the clerk guides them, acroſs the
river Jordan, through the land of Gebal, Ammon and Amalek ;
“He leads them into the ſtrong, city, he brings them into Edom ;
anon the v follow him through the valley of Bacha, till they come
up to Jeruſalem ; they wait upon him in the court of burnt-offer-
ings, and “bind their ſacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar ;”
they enter ſo far into the temple, till they join their ſong in conſort
with the high-ſounding cymbals, their thoughts are be-darkened
!
on THE IMP Rov EMENT of PsALMoor, d
with the ſmoke of incenſe, and covered with . Jewiſh veils. Such
expreſſions as theſe are the beauties and perfections of a Hebrew
ſong, they paint everything to the life: Such language was ſuited by
infinite wiſdom to raiſe the affections of the ſaints of that day: But
I fear they do but ſink our devotion, and hurt our worſhip.
Leſteem the book of Pſalms the moſt valuable part of the Old
Teſtament upon many accounts: I adviſe the reading and medita-
tion of it more frequently than any fingle book of ſcripture; and
what I adviſe I pračtiſe. Nothing is more proper to furniſh our
fouls with devout thoughts, and lead us into a world of ſpiritual ex-
periences: The expreſſions of it that are not Jewiſh or peculiar,
give us conſtant aſſiſtance in prayer and in praiſe: But if we would \
prepare David’s pſalms to be ſung by chriſtian lips, we ſhould ob- \
ſerve theſe two plan rules. ;
Firſt, They ought to be tranſlated in ſuch a manner as we hav
reaſon to believe David would have compoſed them if he had live
in our day: And therefore his poems are given as a pattern to b
imitated in our compoſures, rather than as the preciſe and invari
able matter of our pſalmody. It is one of the excellencies of ſcrip-
ture-ſongs, that they are exactly ſuited to 'the very purpoſe and
deſign for which they were written, and that both in the matter,
and in the ſtyle, and in all their ornaments: This gives life and
itrength to the expreſſion, it preſents objećts to the ears and to the
eves, and touches the heart in the moſt affecting manner. David's
language is adapted to his own devotion, and to the worſhip of the
Jewiſh church; he mentions the very places of his journeys, or
retirements of his ſorrows, or his ſucceſſes; he names the nations
that were enemies of the church, or that ſhall be its friends ; and
though for the moſt part he leaves the ſingle perſons of his time
nameleſs in the body of his pſalm, yet he deſcribes them there with
great particularity, and often names them in the title. This gives
us abundant ground to infer, that ſhould the ſweet-finger of Iſrael
return from the dead into our age, he would not ſing the words of
his own pſalms without confiderable alteration; and were he now
to tranſcribe them, he would make them ſpeak the preſent circum--
ſtances of the church, and that in the language of the New Teſta-
ment: He would ſee frequently occaſion to inſert the croſs of Chriſt
in his ſofig, and often interline the confeſſions of his fins with the
blood of the Lamb; often would he deſcribe the glories and the
triumphs of our bleſſed Lord in long and flowing verſe, even as St.
Păul, when he mentions the riaſſié and honours of Chriſt, can
hardly part his lips from them again: His expreſſions would run
ever bright and clear; ſuch as here and there we find in a ſingle
yerſe of his own compoſures, when he is tranſported beyond him-
ſelf, and carried far away from Jewiſh ſhadows by the ſpirit of
Fººd the goſpel. We have the more abundant reaſon to
believe this, if we obſerve, that all along the ſacred hiſtory as the
revelations of God and his grace were made plainer, ſo the ſongs
of the ſaints expreſſed that grace and thoſe revelations according to
the meaſure of their clearneſs and increaſe. Let us begin at the
ſong of Moſes, Er. xv. and proceed to David and Solomon, to the
ſong of the Virgin Mary, of Zecharias, Simeon, and the Angels,
the Hoſanna of the young children, the praiſes paid to God by the
diſciples in the aâs, the doxologies of Paul, and the ſongs of the
chriſtian church in the book of the Revelation: Every beam of
W. Q. W i ! : 8
!
10 O N THE IMPROV J. M. EN 'I OF PSALM O DY.
new light that broke into the world gave occaſion of freſh joy to the
faints, and they were taught to fing of ſalvation in all the degrees of
its advancing glory. wº sº fe tº
Secondly, in the tranſlation of Jewiſh ſongs for goſpel-worſhip, if
A ſcripture affords us any example, we ſhould be ready to follow it,
i and the management thereof ſhould be a pattern for us. Now
; though the diſciples and primitive chriſtians had ſo many and ſo vaſt
; occaſions for praiſe, yet I know but two pieces of ſongs they bor-
rowed from the book of Pſalms. One is mentioned in Luke xix. 38.
where the diſciples aſſume a part of a verſe from the Cxviiith pſalm,
but fing it with alterations and additions to the words of David.
The other is the beginning of the ſecond Pſalm, ſung by Peter
and John and their company ; Aćis iv. 23, 24, &c. You find there
an addition of praiſe in the beginning, “Lord, thou art God which
haſt made heaven and earth, and the ſea, and all that in them is.”
Then there is a narration of what David ſpoke, “Who by the
mouth of thy ſervant David, haft, ſaid, &c. Next follow the two
firſt verſes of that Pſalm, but not in the very words of the Pſalmiſt:
Afterwards an explication of the heathen, and the people, namely,
the Gentiles and Iſrael: The kings and the rulers, namely, Herod
and Pontius Pilate, and the holy child Jeſus, is God's anointed.
Then there is an enlargement of the matter of faët, by a conſidera-
tion of the hand of God in it, and the ſong concludes with the
breathing of their deſires towards God for nercies moſt preciſely
juited to their day and duty ; and you find when they had ſung,
they went to prayer in the aſſembly, and then they preached the
word of God by the Holy Ghoſt, and with amazing ſucceſs. O
may I live to ſee pſalmody performed in theſe evangelic beauties of
holineſs 1 May theſe ears of mine be entertained with ſuch devotion
in public, ſuch prayer, ſuch preaching, and ſuch praiſe 2 May
theſe eycs behold ſuch returning glory in the churches | Then my
foul ſhall be all admiration, my tongue ſhall humbly, attempt to
mingle in the worſhip, and affiſt the harmony and the joy,
After we have found the true method of tranſlating Jewiſh ſongs
for the uſe of the chriſtian church, let us enquire alſo how lawful
--~ ; jand neceſſary it is to compoſe ſpiritual ſongs of a more evangelic
: 'frame for the uſe of divine worſhip under the goſpel.
The firſt argument I ſhall borrow from all the foregoing diſcourſe
concerning the tranſlation of the Pſalms of David : For by that
V time they are fitted for chriſtian Pſalmody, and have all the parti-
cularities of circumſtance that related to David's perſon, and times
altered and ſuited to our preſent caſe ; and the language of Judaiſm
is changed into the ſtyle of the goſpel; the form and compoſure
of the Pſalm can hardly be called inſpired or divine: only the
materials or the ſenſe contained therein may in a large ſenſe be
called the word of God, as it is borrowed from that word. Why
then may it not be eſteemed as lawful to take ſome divine ſenſe
and materials agreeable to the word of God, and ſuited to the
preſent caſe and experience of chriſtians, and compoſe them into a
ſpiritual ſong eſpécially when we cannot find one ready penned
in the bible, whoſe ſubjećt is near a-kin to our preſent condition,
or whoſe form is adapted to our preſent purpoſe,
The ſecond argument ſhall be drawn from the ſeveral ends and
deſigns of ſinging, which can never be ſufficiently attained by con-
fining ourſelves to David’s pſalms, or the words of any ſongs in
ſcripture. The firſt and chief intent of this part of worſhip, is to
ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF PS ALM O Í)Y. ! .
expreſs unto God what ſenſe and apprehenſions we have of his
eſſentiaſglóries; and what notice we take of his works of wiſdom
and power, vengeance and mercy; it is to vent the inward devotion
of our ſpirits in words of melody, to ſpeak our own experience of
divine things, eſpecially our religious joy; it would be tireſolne, to
recount the endleſs inſtances out of the book of pſalms and other
divine ſongs, where this is made the chief buſineſs of them. In
the texts of the New Teſtament where ſinging is required, the
ſame deſigns are propoſed; when the Epheſians are filled with the
Spirit, the enlightener and comforter, they are charged to indulge
, thoſe divine ſenſations, and let them break out into a ſpiritual ſong;
Eph v. 19. When any is merry or chearful, the apoſtſe James bids
him expreſs it by ſinging, Giving thanks unto God, is the com-
mand of St. Paul to the ſaints while he enjoys, pſalmody on them ;
and ſpeaking the wonders of his power, juſtice and grace, is the
praćtice of the church conſtantly in the viſions of St. John. To
teach and admoniſh one another, is mentioned by St. Paul as
another deſign of ſinging; the improvement of our méditations, and
the kindling divine affections within ourſelves, is one of the pur-
oſes alſo of religious melody; if Eph. v. 19. be rightly tranſlated.
K. how is it poſſible all theſe ends ſhould be attained by a chriſ-
tian, if he confines his meditations, his joys, and his praiſes, to
the Hebrew book of Pſalms ? Have we nothing more of the nature
of God revealed to us than David had Is not the myſtery of the
ever-bleſſed Trinity brought out of darkneſs into open light?
Where can you find a Pſalm that ſpeaks the miracles of wiſdom
and power as they are diſcovered in a crucified Chriſt? And how
do we rob God the Son of the glory of his dying love, if we ſpeak
of it only in the gloomy language of “ ſmoke and ſacrifices, bul-
locks and goats, and the fat of jambs '' Is not the aſcent of Chriſt
into heaven, and his triumph over principalities and powers of dark-
neſs, a nobler entertainment for our tuneful meditations, than the
removing of the ark up to the city of David, to the hill of God,
which is high as the hill of Baſhan f Is not our heart often warmed
with holy delight in the contemplation of the Son of God our dear
Redeemer, whoſe love was ſtronger than death Are not our ſouls
poſſeſſed with a variety of divine affections, when we beliold him
who is our chief beloved hanging on the curſed tree, with the load
of all our fins upon him, and giving up his ſoul to the ſword of
divine juſtice in the ſtead of rebels and enemies And muſt theſe
affections, be confined only to our own boſoms, or never break
forth but in Jewiſh language, and words which were not made to
expreſs the devotion of the goſpel? The heaven and the hell that
we are acquainted with by the diſcovery of God our Saviour, give
us a more diſtinét knowledge of the future and eternal ſtate, than
all the former revelations of God to men: Life and immortality is
brought to light by the goſpel; we are taught to look far into the
inviſible world, and take a proſpect of the laſt awful ſcene of things:
We ſee the graves opening, and the dead ariſing at the voice of the
archangeſ, and the ſounding of the trump of God: We behold the
Judge on his tribunal, and we hear the dreadful and the delightful
fentences of deciſion that ſhall paſs on all the ſons and daughters of
Adam ; we are aſſured, that the ſaints ſhall “ariſe to meet the
Lord in the air, and ſo ſhall we be for ever with the Lord :” The
apoſtle bids us, “ Exhort or comfort one another with theſe
words;” 1 Theſſ. iv. 17, 18. Now when the ſame apoſtle requires
* B 2
12 © N THE } M Prov EMENT OF PSA L.M C D Y .
, that “the word of Chriſt muſt dwell richly in us in all wiſdom,
teaching and admoniſhing one another in pſalms, and ſpiritual
; ſongs;” can we think he reſtrains us only to the Pſalms of David,
; which ſpeak very little of all theſe glories or terrors, and that in
- very obſcure terms and dark hints of prophecy 2. Or ſhall it be
ſuppoſed, that we muſt admoniſh one another of the old Jewiſh
affairs and ceremonies in verſe, and make melody with thoſe weak
and beggarly elements, and the yoke of bondage, and yet never
dare to ſpeak of the wonders of new diſcovery except in the plain
and finple language of profe? *
Perhaps it will be replied here, that there are ſome foriptural
hymns in the book of Revelation that deſcribe the affairs of the New
Teſtament, the death and kingdom of our Lord Jeſus, and theſe are
lawful to be ſung in a chriſtian church; I am glad that our friends
of a different opinion will ſubmit to ſing any thing that belongs to
the goſpel; I rejoice that the bible hath any ſuch pieces of chriſtian
pſalmody in it, feſt every thing that is evangelical ſhould utterly be
excluded from this worſhip, by thoſe who will ſing nothing but what
is inſpired ; but how ſeldom are theſe goſpel-ſongs uſed among our
churches P. How little reſpect is paid to them in compariſon of the
Jewiſh pſalms : How little mention would ever be made of them,
if it were not to defend the patrons of Jewiſh pſalmody from
the groſs abſurdity of an entire return to judaiſm in this part of
worſhip . But give me leave alſo to add, that theſe chriſtian hymns.
are but º ſhort, and very few ; nor do they contain a hundredth
part of thoſe glorious revelations that are made to us by Chriſt Jeſus
and his apoſtles ; nor can we ſuppoſe God excludes all other parts
of the goſpel from verſe and ſinging.
Moſt expreſs words of ſcripture furniſh me with a third argu-
ment ; Eph. v. 13, 20. and Col. iii. 16, 17, which are the two chief
Commands of the New Teſtament for ſinging; both bid us “make
melgøy, and give thanks to God the Father, in the name of our
Lörd Jeſus Chriſt.” This is one of the glories of goſper worſhip;
‘that aſ .# offered to the Father in his name, So very parti-
cular is our Lord Jeſus in this command, that his laſt ſermon to his
diſciples mentions it four times; John xiv. 13, 14. and xvi. 23, 24.
Now why ſhould we make conſcience of praying in the name of
* Chriſt always, and offer up our praiſes in his name when we ſpeak
in proſe And yet when we give thanks in verſe, we almoſt bind
ºs. ourſelves to take no more notice of the name of Chriſt than David
of Moſes did. Why ſhould every part of divine worſhip under the
goſpel be expreſſed in language ſuited to that goſpel, namely, pray-
ing, preaching, baptiſm and the Lord’s ſupper; and yet when we
perform that part of worſhip which brings us neareſt to the heavenly
ſtate, we muſt run back again to the law to borrow materials for this:
ſervice ; And when we are employed in the work of angels, we
talk, the language of the infant-church, and ſpeak in types and
ſhadows while we bind ourſelves to the words of David, “ when
he inclines his ear to a parable, and opens his dark ſaying upon the
harp :''. Pſal. xlix. 4. We have given too great countenance to thoſe
wº ſtill continue the uſe of the harp while they open the dark
1aying. t
º' The fourth argument may be thus drawn up. There is almoſt
k an infinite number of different occaſions for praiſe and thanksgiv-
ings, as well as- for prayer, in the life of a chriſtian ; and there is
not a ſet of Pſalms already prepared that can anſwer all the varie-
**.
s—

O N THE IMPROVEMENT OF PSALM O DY. 13
ties of the providence and the grace of God. Now if God will be
praiſed for all his mercies, and ſinging be one method of praiſe, we
have ſome reaſon to believe that God doth not utterly confine us
even to the forms of his own compoſing. This is thought a very
fufficient reaſon to reſiſt the impoſition of any book of prayers: and
I grant that no number of prayers of human compoſure can expreſs
every new difficulty or future want of a chriſtian ; ſcarce can we
ſuppoſe a divine volume ſhould do it, except it be equal to many
folios. However I can ſee nothing in the inſpired book of praiſes
that ſhould perſuade me that the Spirit of God deſigned it as an
univerſal Pſalm-book; nor that he intended theſe to include or
f
;
i
provide for all the occaſions of thankſgiving that ever ſhould befall
Jews or chriſtians in a ſingle or ſocial capacity. . We find in the
hiſtory of ſcripture, that new is received from God were
continually-the-ſubjećt of new ſongs, and the very minute circum-
frances of the preſent providence are deſcribed in the verſe. The
deſtruction of Pharaoh in the Red-ſea; the vićtory of Barak over
Siſera; the various deliverances, eſcapes and ſucceſſes of the ſon of
Jº are deſcribed in the ſongs of Moſes, Deborah and David.
he Jews in a land of captivity fat by the rivers of Babylon, and
femembered Sion; they could find none of the ancient ſongs of
Sion fit to expreſs their preſent ſorrow and devotion, though ſome
of them are mournful enough ; then was that admirable and artful
ode written, the cxxxviith Pſalm, which even in the judgment of
the greateſt human critics, is not inferior to the fineſt heathen.
poems. It is a more dull and obſcure, and unaffecting method of
worſhip to preach or pray, or praiſe always in generals : . It doth
not reach the heart, nor touch the paſſions; God did not think any
of his own inſpired hymns clear and full and ſpecial enough to ex-
preſs the praiſe that was his due for new bleſfings of grace and pro-
vidence ; and therefore he put a new ſong into the mouths of
Mary, Zecharias and Simeon ; and it is but according to his own
requirement, that the Britiſh iſlands ſhould make their preſent
mercies under the goſpel the ſubjećt of freſh praiſes; Iſ. xlii. 9, 10.
“Behold the former things are come to paſs, and new things do I
declare; before they ſpring forth I tell you of them; fing unto the
Lord a new ſong, and his praiſe from the end of the earth; ye that
go down to the ſea, and all that is therein; the iſles and the inha-

bitants thereof.” As for the new ſongs in the Revelation, the
occaſions of ſome of them are very particular, and relate to the fah. .
of Anti-Chriſt; it can never be imagined that theſe are a complete
colle&tion of pſalms to ſuit all the caſes of a chriſtian church; they
are º to us as ſmall originals, by imitation whereof the
churches ſhould be furniſhed with mátter for pſalmody, by thoſe
who are capable of compoſing ſpiritual ſongs according to the
various or ſpecial occaſion of ſaints or churches. Now ſhall we
ſuppoſe the duty of finging to be ſo conſtantly provided for when
there was any freſh occaſion under the Old Teſtament, and juſt in
the very beginning of the New, and yet that there is no manner of
proviſion made ever ſince by ordinary or extraordinary gifts for the
expreſſion of our particular joys and thankſgivings : This would be
to ſink the goſpel, which is a diſpenſation of the Spirit, of liberty,
of joy, and of glory, beneath the level of Judaiſm when the ſaints
.* in hard bondage, and had not half ſo much occaſion for
Pralie. - -
i4 O N THE IMPROVEMENT OF PSAL MODY.
|- of the Spirit to compoſe or ſing ſpiritual ſongs in the
J. The fifth argument may be borrowed from the extraordinary gift
| church, -expreſied in º #. 26. The ſeveral parts of divine
| worſhip, praying, preaching and ſinging, were performed by immedi-
| ate § the holy Spirit in that day, º: theſe tº, reaſons.
| 1.That there might be a diſcovery of divinë power in them, and the
ſeal of a miracle ſet to the ſeveral parts of chriſtian worſhip, to
convince the world, and to confirm the church. 2. Becauſe there
was not time to acquire a capacity of preaching, praying, aud
compoſing ſpiritual ſongs by diligence and ſtudy, together with the
ordinary aſfiſtance of grace and bleſfing of providence, which
would have taken up many years before the goſpel could have
been univerſally preached. But even in thoſe times of inſpiration,
as Timothy himſelf “was not to negle&t the gift that was in him,
given by impoſition of hands, ſo he was charged to give atten-
dance to reading, to exhortation, to doćtrine, to meditate upon
theſe things, to give himſelf wholly to them, that his profiting
might appear unto all ', 1 Tim. iv. 14, 15. And it is granted by
all, that the miniſters of the goſpel in our day are to acquire and
improve the gifts of knowledge, prayer and preaching, by reading,
meditation, and frequent exerciſe, together with earneſt legueſts
to God for the ordinary affiſtance of his Spirit, and a bleſfing on
their ſtudies : Why then ſhould it be eſteemed ſinful, to acquire
a capacity of compoſing a ſpiritual ſong Qr why is it uniºwful
to put this gift in exerciſe, for the uſe of ſinging in the chriſtian
church, ſince it is one of thoſe three *...* parts of worſhip
which were at firſt pračtiſed and confirmed by inſpiration and
miracle 2
Some may objećt here, that the words Voxxo and Jaxpos, which
the apoſtle uſeth in this chapter, intend the pſalms of David, and
not any new ſong: But if we conſult the whole frame and deſign
of that chapter, it appears that their worſhip was all performed by
extraordinary gifts: Now it was no very extraordinary thing to
bring forth one of David’s pſalms ; nor would it have been proper
to have hindered the inſpired worſhip with ſuch an interpoſition of
the ordinary ſervice of an ancient Jewiſh ſong, it is very credible
therefore that the word Pſalm in this place fignifies a new ſpiritual
ſong, and it is ſo uſed frequently in the writings of the primitive
fathers, as appears in the citations, page 289.
To cloſe this rank of arguments, I might mention the divine
delight that many pious ſouls have found in the uſe of ſpiritual
ſongs, ſuited to their own circumſtances, and to the revelations of
the New Teſtament. If the ſpiritual joy and conſolation that par-
ticular perſons have taſted in the general duty of ſinging, be eſteem-
ed a tolerable argument to encourage the duty and confirm the
inſtitution, I am well aſſured that the argument would grow ſtrong
apace, and ſeal this ordinance beyond contradićtion, # we would
but ſtand faſt in the liberty of the goſpel, and not tie our con-
feiences up to mere forms of the Old Teſtament. The faith, the
hope, the love, and the heavenly pleaſure that many chriſtians have
profeſſed while they have been ſinging evangelical hymns, would
probably be multiplied and diffuſed amongſt the churches, if they
would but breathé out their devotion in the ſongs of the Lamb as
well as in the ſong of Moſes.
Thus far have we proceeded in a way of argument drawn from
ſcripture and the reaſon of things. Many objećtions have been
prevented, or ſufficient hints given for the removal of them. Thoſe
ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF PSA LM O DY. 15
that remain and ſeem to have any conſiderable ſtrength, ſhall be
propoſed with an attempt to anſwer them ; for I would not have
Chriſtians venture upon the pračtice of any thing in divine worſhip
without due knowledge and convićtion.
Objećl. 1. The dire&tions given for pſalmody in ſome parts of
the Old Teſtament, lead us to the uſe of thoſe ſongs which are
inſpired ; Deut. xxxi. 16, 19, &c. “And the Lord ſaid unto Moſes,
write ye this ſong for you, and teach it, the children of Iſrael, put
it in their mouths, that this ſong may be a witneſs for me againſt
the children of Iſrael ; for when I ſhall have brought them into
the land which I ſware unto their fathers, which floweth with milk
and honey, &c. then they will turn unto other gods.” And in Pſ:
lxxxi. 1, 2, 3, 4, where we are required to worſhip God by ſinging,
we are not commanded to make a new Pſalm, but to take one
that is already made, for the words run, thus, “Sing aloud unto
God our ſtrength, make a joyful noiſe to the God of Jacob ; take a
Pſalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleaſant harp with the
pſaltery, blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time ap-
pointed, on our ſolemn feaſt-day, for this was a ſtatute for Iſrael,
and a law of the God of Jacob.”
Anſ I. I have cited theſe texts at large wherein the objećtion lies,
that an anſwer might appear plain in the texts to every reader.
How peculiarly do theſe commands refer to the Iſraelites ? The
very words of the precept confine it to the Jews, to the men that
dwelt in Canaan, to the worſhip that is paid with timbrels and
trumpets, to the days of the new moon, and ſolemn Jewiſh feſti-
vals 2 and if we will inſiſt upon theſe ſcriptures as preciſe rules of
our preſent duty and worſhip, the men that uſe muſical inſtruments
in a chriſtian church, will take the ſame liberty of returning to
Jewiſh ordinances, and uſe the ſame text to defend them.
Anſ: 2. But if we ſhould grant ourſelves under, the goſpel ſtill
obliged by theſe commands, yet they do not bind us up entirely
to inſpired forms of finging, ſince de ſame ſort of expreſſion is
uſed concerning prayer ; Hof. xiv. 2. “Take with you words, and
ſay unto the Lord, take away all iniquity, and receive us graciouſly,
&c.” Now who is there that eſteems himſelf confined to uſe no
other prayer, but ſcriptural forms ? In other places, where theſe
duties are enjoined, we are bid to pray, or to praiſe, or to fing;
and why ſhould we not be as much at liberty to ſuit the words and
the ſenſe to our preſent circumſtances in ſinging as well as praying,
or in praiſing with verſe as well as praiſing in proſe 2
Obječi, 2. The examples of ſcripture direét us to inſpired matter
for ſinging: Deut. xxxi. 21. “ Moſes wrote this ſong the ſame day,
and taught it the children of Iſrael.” I Chron. xvi. T. “, David de-
livered firſt this ſong, to thank the Lord, into the hand of Aſaph
and his brethren.” Now in his dying words, the ſweet Pſalmiſt of
Iſrael tells us ; 2 Sam. xxiii. 1, 2. “The ſpirit of the Lord ſpake by
me, and his word was in my tongue.” And in the days of Heze-
kiah, which was ſome ages after David ; 2 Chron. xxix. 27, 28, 29, 30.
“ Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar;
and when the burnt-offering began, the ſong of the Lord began
alſo, with the trumpets and with the inſtruments ordained by David
king of Iſrael, &c. Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes
commanded the Levites to fing praiſe to the Lord, with the words
of David and of Aſaph the ſeer.”
Anſwer. Theſe are nothing but examples of Jewiſh, and very ce-
remonious worſhip : nor do they effečtually prove, that the Jews
# 6 on The IMP Row EMENT of PsALMoDY.
themſelves were forbid upon all occaſions whatſoever to uſe more
private compoſures in their ſynagogues, though in the temple it is
probable that for the moſt part they ſung inſpired pſalms. . . But it
muſt be remembered, that theſe pſalms are all ſuited to their diſ-
penſation, and yet without doubt they choſe ſuch out of them
from time to time as beſt fitted their preſent caſe; and ſo will we
chriſtians take as many of the pſalms of David and other ſcripture-
ſongs, as are ſuited to our diſpenſation and our circumſtances; but
theſe will be but very few in compariſon of what the ancient Levites
might uſe, eſpecially if we muſt fing the very words of David and
Aſaph the ſeer without omiſſion or paraphraſe. #
Obječ. 3. We cannot pretend to make better ſpiritual ſongs than
the Spirit of God himſelf has made, therefore if we ſhould negle&t
theſe, and ſing human compoſures, we ſhould incur the cenſure of
the prophet Malachi, chap. i.ver. 13, 14. “Ye brought that which
was torn, and the lane, and the ſick, thus ye brought an offering,
ſaith the Lord, ſhould I accept this of your hands f"
Anſ: 1. Can we pretend to make better prayers than the Spirit of
God has made and ſcattered up and down through all the Old and
New Teſtament Can we ſuppoſe better ſermons than Moſes or
Solomon Better than our Saviour and his apoſtles preached, and
the Spirit of God hath recorded ? Why then ſhould not we uſe
feripture-forms of praying and preaching, as well as of finging :
And though we may hope for the ordinary affiſtance of the Spirit
in our prayers and ſermons, yet how can we expe&t that theſe ſhall
be as good as thoſe which were compoſed by his extraordinary in-
ſpiration ? º:
Anſ: 2. Divine wiſdom accommodates its inſpirations, its gifts,
its revelations, and its writings, to the particular caſes and ſeaſons
in which he finds a ſaint or a church. Now though we cannot pre-
tend to make a better prayer than that of Ezra or Daniel, or our
ilord, for the day and deſign for which they were prepard; yet a
fong, a ſermon, or a prayer that expreſſes my wants, my duties or
my mercies, though it be compoſed by a human gift, is much bet-
ter for me than to tie myſelf to any inſpired words in any part of
worſhip which do not reach my caſe, and conſequently can never
be proper to affiſt the exerciſe of my graces or raiſe my devotion.
Anſ; 3. I believe that phraſes and ſentences uſed by inſpired wri-
ters, are very proper to expreſs our thoughts in prayer, preaching
or praiſe ; and God has frequently given witneſs in the hearts of
chriſtians how much he approves the language of feripture ; but it
is always with a proviſo that thoſe phraſes be clear, and expreſfive
of our preſent ſenſe, and proper to our preſent purpoſe: Yet we
are not to dreſs up our prayers, ſermons or ſongs, in the language of
Judaiſm when we deſign to expreſs the doćtrines of the goſpel:
This would but darken divine counſel by words without know-
ledge; it would amuſe and confound the more ignorant worſhippers,
it would diſguſt the more conſiderate, and give neither the one nor
the other light or comfort: And I think it may be as proper in our
churches to read a ſermon of Moſes or Iſaiah, inſtead of preach-
ing the goſpel, as to fing a pſalm of David, whoſe expreſſions
chiefly refer to David the ſhepherd, the king, the fugitive, the
captain, the muſician and the Jew. In ſhort the prayers, ſermons
and ſongs in ſcripture, are rather patterns by which we ſhould frame
our worſhip and adjuſt it to our preſent caſe, than forms of worſhip
to which we ſhould preciſely and unchangeably confine ourſelves,
to N THE 1 MP Rove MENT OF PSALMODY. 17
'And as ſermons which are conformable to the holy ſcripture in
a large ſenſe may be called “ the word of God and the word of
Chriſt,” and aré uſually and juſtly ſo called if they are agreeable to
the ſcripture and drawn from thence ; ſo bymns of human compo-
ſure according to the ſpirit and doćtrines of the goſpel may be as
well termed the word of Chriſt, which is the proper matter for
chriſtian pſalmody. Col. iii. 16. Whereas in the ſtrićteſt and moſt
limited ſenſe of the word nothing deſerves that title but the hebrew
and greek originals.
Objeće. 4. In the New Teſtament there are promiſes of divine aſ-
ſiſtance to miniſters and private chriſtians in preaching the goſpel
and in prayer; But we have no promiſe of the Spirit of God to hel
us to compoſe pſalms or hymns for our private uſe or for the uſe of
the churches; and how can we practiſe in the worſhip of God what
we have no promiſe of the holy Spirit to encourage and affiſt us in P
Anſ: 1. There are many general promiſes of the preſence of
Chriſt with his miniſters, and the ſupply of his Spirit in the diſ-
charge of all their duties for the edification of the church : now
there are ſeveral performances which are neceſſary for the churches’
edification, to which there is no peculiar promiſe made of the affiſt-
ance of the Spirit in expreſs words: ſuch are, tranſlating the bible
into our mother-tongue, compoſing our ſermons or at leaſt the ſub-
ſtance and ſcheme of them before preaching, writing pious and uſe-
ful treatiſes upon divine ſubjećts, and diligent reading and ſtudy of
books ſo written ; nor is there any more expreſs encouragement to
expe&t the preſence of the Spirit in turning the pſalms of David into
rhyme and metre, than in compoſing new ſpiritual ſongs: and yet
miniſters that are fitted for ſuch performances may pray and hope
for divine aſſiſtance in then all, and truſt in the general promiſes for
help in particular ſervices.
Anſ. 2. There is no need of theſe gifts of criticiſm or of poeſy for
all chriſtians nor all miniſters, though it ſeems neceſſary that ſome
ſhould be furniſhed with them. A few perſons in an age or a nation
may tranſlate the ſcriptures into the national language, and may
compoſe a ſufficient number of hymns to anſwer the chief deſigns
and wants of the church for that day for public worſhip. Where
there happen occaſions very particular, the miniſters of the goſpel
are not or ſhould not be ſo utterly deſtitute of common ingenuity,
as to be unable to compoſe or at leaſt to colle&t a few tolerable verſes
proper for ſuch a ſeaſon.
Obječ. 5. We find no inſtances in ſcripture of human compoſures
ſung by the people of God ; and it is not good to pračtiſe ſuch
pieces of worſhip without a precedent.
...Anſ. Whenſoever there was juſt occaſion for an hymn according to
forme new and ſpecial providence, we almoſt every where find a new
ſong recorded in ſcripture, and we call it inſpired, nor do I know
any juſt reaſon to ſuſpect or doubt of the inſpiration; but if there
had been any one which was not the effect of an extraordinary gift,
but only compoſed by a good man, we ſhould be ready to take it
for inſpired becauſe mentioned in ſcripture; as we do too many ex-
preſſions of the ſaints in that divine hiſtory, and make every thing
that a good man faith, heavenly and divine: however, if there can
be no pretence made to ſuch an example in ſcripture, yet ſo much
reaſon, argument and encouragement as hath been already drawn
from ſcripture ſufficiently juſtifies this pračtice, fince we perform
WO L. W II, C
I 8. ON THE IMPRO v E MENT OF PSA LM O DY.
many circumſtantials of worſhip under the influence of a general
command without expreſs and ſpecial examples.
Olyect, 6. We ought to fing nothing to God but what is given us
for this very end that it may be ſung, left we indulge will-worſhip
and the inventions of men.
Anſ. 1. To convert the verſes of David into Engliſh lines, to con-
fine them to an exact number of ſyllables, and to make melody
in particular tunes, may as well be called the inventions of men and
will-worſhip : But theſe inventions are abſolutelv neceſſary for the
performance of divine commands, and for the aſſiſtance of a whole
congregation to ſing with any tolerable convenience, order, or de-
cency, as the reveiend Mr. Boyſe has well proved. -
Anſ. 2. Thoſe that refuſe to ſing forms of human compoſure
though the ſenſe be never ſo divine, generally allow it lawful to
take any parts of ſcripture and alter and tranſpoſe the words into
a form fit for ſinging ; but to take a mere parable or ſtory out of the
bible, and put ſome rhymes on to the end of every line of it, with-
out giving it a new and pathetic turn, is but a dull way of making
ſpiritual ſongs, and without a precedent too. David did not deal
ſo with Geneſis and Exodus, though he loved the words of the law
as well as we pretend to value the words of the goſpels and epiſtles.
The moſt part of the New Teſtament as it ſtands in our bible was
never givén us for pſalms, hymns and ſpiritual ſongs; but for di-
vine inſtruction and materials for this and other duties, that ſo we
might borrow the doćtrines and diſcoveries of the New Teſta-
ment, and compoſe ſermons and ſongs out of them : But if we
take chapters and verſes promiſcuouſly out of the New Teſtament,
and make them jingle and rhyme, and ſo ſing them, we are guilty
of finging what God never commanded to be ſung, as much as if
we compoſed ſpiritual ſongs by human art agreeable to the ſenſe
of ſcripture and the chriſtian faitla. 4.
If the addition of human teſtimony concerning the pračtice of
churches in former or later ages might have any influence to eſta-
bliſh the conſciences of thoſe who are doubtful in this matter, I
might acquaint them that the churches of Germany and the Eaſt-
land churches, uſe many divine hymns which are compoſed on
ſeveral ſubjećts of the chriſtian religion, without any pretence to
extraordinary gifts. The church of England approves this prac-
tice, as appears in thoſe ſpiritual ſongs at the end of the old tran-
flation of the pſalm-book, and ſome churches among the diſien-
ters. “ The chriſtians of the firſt ages were wont to meet toge-
ther on a dav appointed before it was light, and to ſpeak a ſong to
Chriſt as to God:” Thus Pliny the Roman teſtifies in a letter to
Trajan the emperor in the beginning of the ſecond century. Ter-
tullian, who flouriſhed about the beginning of the third century,
relating the manner of adminiſtration of the Lord’s-ſupper, aſſerts,
“That after they had eat and drank what was ſufficient for thoſe
that muft worſhip God by night, &c. every one was urged to ſing
unto God publicly either out of the holy ſcriptures, or according
to their own genius and ability;” Apol. C. 39. Origen, who flou–
riſhed in the middle of the third century, ſpeaks, “ of finging hymns
of praiſe to the Father in or by Chriſt in good rhyme, tune, metre
and harmony.” Origen de orat, ſect. 6, Euſebius, B. T. C. 19.
quotes Dionyſius writing againſt Nepos, thus, “Although I heartily
love Nepos for his faith, his ſtudy of knowledge and the holy
ſcriptures, as well as for various pſalms and hymns compoſed by
O N THE IMPROVEMENT OF PSAL MO DY, | 9
him, which are uſed to this day by ſome brethren, yet, &c.”
In the aëts of the council of Antioch mentioned by Euſebius, B.
7. C. 30. it was one of the accuſations of Paulus Samoſatenus,
the heretic biſhop of Antioch, that, “ he aboliſhed thoſe pſalms
which were wont to be ſung to the honour of the Lord Jeſus
Chriſt as novel and compoſed by modern authors, and that
he appointed women on eaſter-day in the middle of the church
to ſing pſalms in his praiſe.” . And in the fragment of an anony-
mous author extant in Euſebius, we find the hereſy of Arte-
mon, who denied the divinity of Chriſt, confuted not only by the
ſcriptures and the writings of the precedent fathers, but alſo by the
pſalms and hymns of the brethren which were formerly compoſed
by them, wherein they ſung praiſes to the word of God, declar-
ing Chriſt to be God. Such a private compoſed hymn was that
which Clemens Alexandrinus mentions as one commonly known
among the chriſtians in his days, beginning x&ips ºw;, or, hail light.
Spanheim in his fixth chapter of the fourth century of his Chriſtian
Hiſtory ſpeaks thus, “Beſides hymns and ſongs, and private pſalms,
of which there was a great number in their ſolemn aſſemblies,
the pſalm-book of David was brought into the weſtern church in
this age in the time of Damaſus and Ambroſe ; but in the eaſtern
church the ſinging of David's pſalter by antiphonas or reſponſes
was brought in by Flavius Antiochenus. The uſe of pſalms com-
poſed by private perſons ſeems not to be forbidden in the church
till the council of Laodicea in the fourth century.
CoNCLUSION.—Thus have I drawn together my thoughts upon
this ſubjećt at the requeſt of ſeveral miniſters and private chriſtians
who ºpiº pſalmody in this method themſelves, and fing the
ſongs of the Lamb as well as the pſalms of David in their public
and private worſhip, and eſpecially at the celebration of the
Lord's-ſupper. I had deſigned and almoſt prepared a larger diſ-
courſe, wherein the duty of ſinging and the manner of performance
would have been confidered. But this eſſay has already ſwelled
beyond the bulk propoſed: There are many that would rejoice to
fee evangelic ſongs more univerſally encouraged to the honour of
their Lord Jeſus, and to the joy and conſolation of their fellow-ſaints.
If the Spirit of God, ſhall make any of theſe arguments I have
uſed ſucceſsful to attain this glorious énd, I ſhall take pleaſure in
the releaſe of their ſouls from that part of Judaiſm which they have
ſo long indulged. ... I hope the difficulties that appeared frightful
and diſcouraging will be loſt and vaniſh by a diligent and fair peruſal
of what is written ; yet thoſe that pay a ſacred reverence to the
inſpired writings, may ſtill find it hard to yield to the convićtion :
Scruples and relics of an old opinion will perhaps hang about their
conſciences ſtill : A fearandjealouſy of admitting any forms of human
compoſure in the worſhip of finging will ſcarce permit their lips to
practiſe that to which their underſtandings have given their aſſent.
I would entreat ſuch to give this diſcourſe a thoughtful review ; and
though they may not judge every argument concluſive, nor every
objećtion ſufficiently removed, yet if there be but one unanſwer-
able reaſon it ought to be attended to ; and the whole put together
may give ſuch light and ſatisfaction as may encourage the pračtice
of this duty. It is very eaſy to make cavils and replies to the
ſtrongeſt reaſonings ; but let us have a care left we rob our ſouls
and the churches of thoſe divine comforts of evangelic pſalmody,
by a fondneſs of our old and preconceived opinions. “He that
C 2
20 O N THE IMPROVEMENT OF PSALMODY.
believeth, may eat all things,” and ſhould not be forbidden : He
may partake of fleſh and drink wine : He may taſte of the various
pleaſures of the goſpel, and ſing the new ſong : Another who is
weak eateth herbs, and ſatisfies himſelf with ancient melody.
“. Let not him that eateth deſpiſe him that eateth not, and let not
him which eateth not judge him which eateth, for God hath re-
ceived him ;” Rom. xiv. 2.
If the hymns and ſpiritual ſongs which are here preſented to
the world are ſo unhappy as to diſcourage the deſign of this eſſay,
I will cenſure and reprove them myſelf: If they are condemned
as being unſuitable to the capacity or experience of plain chriſtians,
• I will eaſily confeſs a variety of faults in them : It was hard to re-
ftrain my verſe always within the bounds of my deſign; it was
hard to fink every line to the level of a whole congregation, and yet
to keep it above contempt. However among ſo great a number
of ſongs I hope there will be ſome found that ſpeak the very lan-
guage, and deſires, and ſenſe of the meaneſt ſouls, and will be an
aſſiſtance to their joy and worſhip. The blemiſhes of the reſt may
ſerve to awaken ſome more pious and judicious fancy to a more
fucceſsful attempt; and whoever ſhall have the honour of ſuch a
performance, I promiſe myſelf a large ſhare in the pleaſure. But
we muſt deſpair of hearing the new ſong of the Lamb in its per-
fečtion and glory, “ till Babylon the great is fallen, and the
kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of the Lord and
his Chriſt, till the new heavens and the new earth appear, till all
the former things are paſſed away, and all things are made new,”
PREFACE,
oR, AN ENGUIRY INTO THE RIGHT WAY OF FITTING THE Book of
PSALMS FOR CHRISTIAN WORSHIP,
THOUGH the Pſalms of David are a work of admirable and divine compoſure,
though they contain the nobleſt ſentiments of piety, and breathe a moſt exalted ſpi-
rit of devotion; yet when the beſt of chriſtians attempt to ſing many of them in our
common tranſlations, that ſpirit of devotion vaniſhes and is loſt, the pſalm dies upon
their lips, and they feel ſcarce any thing of the holy pleaſure. *
If I were to render the reaſons of it, I would give this for one of the chief, name-
ly, that the royal pſalmiſt here expreſſes his own concerns, in words exactly ſuited
to his own thoughts, agreeable to his own perſonal chara&ter, and in the language
of his own religion : This keeps all the ſprings of pious paſſion awake, when every
line and ſyllable ſo nearly affects himſelf; this naturally raiſes, in a devout mind, a
more lively and tranſporting worſhip. But when we who are chriſtians ſing the ſame
lines, we expreſs nothing but the charaćter, the concerns, and the religion of the
jewiſh king, while our own circumſtances, and our own religion, which are ſo widely
different from his, have little to do in the ſacred ſong; and our affections want
ſomething of property or intereſt in the words, to awaken them at firſt, and to keep
them lively.
If this attempt of mine, through the divine bleſfing, become ſo happy as to re-
move this great inconvenience, and to introduce warm devotion into this part of
divine worſhip, I ſhall eſteem it an honourable ſervice done to the church of
Chriſt.
It is neceſſary therefore that I ſhould here inform my readers at large, what the
title page expreſſes in a ſhorter way; and aſſure them, that they are not to expect in
this book an exact tranſlation of the Pſalms of David: For if I had not conceived a
different deſign from all that have gone before me in this work, I had never at-
tempted a ſervice ſo full of labour, though I muſt confeſs it has not wanted its plea-
fure too,
In order to give a plain account of my preſent undertaking, I ſhall firſt repreſent
the methods that my predeceſſors have followed in their verſions; in the next place,
I hope to make it evident, that thoſe methods can never attain the nobleſt and
higheſt ends of chriſtian pſalmody; and then deſcribe the courſe that I have taken,
different from them all, together with ſome brief hints of the reaſons that induced me
to it.
Firſt, I will repreſent the methods that my predeceſſors have followed. I have
feen above twenty verſions of the Pſalter, by perſons of richer and meaner talents;
and how various ſoever their profeſſions and their prefaces are, yet in the perform-
ance they all ſeem to aim at this one point, namely, to make the Hebrew pſalmiſt
only ſpeak Engliſh, and keep all his own chara&ters ſtill. Wherefoever the pſalm
introduces him as a ſoldier or a prophet, as a ſhepherd or a great muſician, as a king
on the throne, or as the fugitive in the wilderneſs, the tranſlators ever repreſent him
in the ſame circumſtances. Some of them lead an aſſembly of common Chriſtians to
worſhip God, as near as poſſible, in thoſe very words; and they generally agree alſo
to perform and repeat that worſhip in the ancient Jewiſh forms, wherever the
pſalmiſt uſes them.
There are ſeveral pſalms indeed, which have ſcarce any thi
peculiar to David, or the Jews; ſuch as Pſal. i. xix. xxv, xxxvii. lxvii, c. &c. and
theſe, if tranſlated into the plain national language, are very proper materials for
pſalmody in all times and places; but there are but a few of this kind, in compariſon
of the great number which have ſomething of perſonal concerns, prophetical dark-
neſſes, hebraiſms, or Jewiſh affairs mingled with them,
* ,
ng in them perſonal or
22 PREF ACE,
I conſefs, Mr. Milbourn and Mr. Darby, though in very different verſe, have now
and then given an evangelic turn to the Hebrew ſenſe; and Dr. Patrick hath goile
much beyond them in this reſpect, that he hath made uſe of the prefert language of
Chriſtians in ſeveral pſalms, and left out many of the judaiſms. This is the thing
that hath introduced him into the favour of ſo many religious aſſemblies; even thoſe
very perfons that have an averſion to ſing anything in worſhip but David's pſalms,
have been led inſenſibly to fall in with Dr Patrick's performance, by a reliſh of pi-
ous pleaſure, never conſidering that his work is by no means a juſt tranſlation, but a
paraphraſe; and there are ſcarce any that have departed farther from the inſpired
words of ſcripture than he hath often done, in order to fuit his thoughts to the ſtate
and worſhip of Chriſtianity. This I eſteem his peeuliar excelleney in thoſe pſalms
wherein he has pračtifed it: This I have made my chief care and buſineſs in every
pſalm, and have attempted at leaſt to exceed him in this as well as in the art of
verſe, and yet I have often kept nearer'to the text.
But, after all, this good man hath ſuffered himſelf fo far to be carried away by
cuſtom, as to make all the other perſonal charaćters and circumſtances of David ap-
pear ſtrong and plain, except that of a Jew; and many of thern he has repreſented
in ſtronger and plainer terms than the original. This wilt appear to any one that
compares theſe following texts in Dr. Patrick with the bible, namely, Pſal. iv. 2. and
ix. 4, 5. and xviii. 43. and li. 4. and lx. 6, 7, and ci. 1. and cyli. 6. and cxliii. 3.
and ſoveral others : So that it is hard to find, even in his verſion, fix or eight ſtanzas
together in any pſalm, that has perſonal or rational affairs in it, ſo fit to be aſſumed
by a vulgar Chriſtian, or ſo proper to be ſung by a whole congregation. This ren-
ders the due performance of pfalmody every where difficult to him that appoints the
verſes: But it is extremely troubleſome in thofe aſſemblies where the pſalm is ſung
without reading it line by line, which yet is, beyond all exception, the trueſt and the
beſt method: For in this way of ſinging there can be no on)iſſion of a verſe, though
it be never ſo improper; but the whole church muſt run down to the next diviſion
of the pſalm, and ſing all that comes next to their lips, till the clerk puts them to
filence. Or, to remedy this inconvenience, if a wiſe man leads the ſong, he dwells
always upon four or five and twenty pieces of ſome ſelect pſalms, though the whole
hundred and fifty lie before him; and he is forced to run that narrow round ſtill, for
want of larger proviſion ſuited to our preſent circumſtances. w
I might here alſo remark, to what a hard ſhift the miniſter is put to find proper
hymns at the celebration of the Lord’s ſupper, where the people will ſing nothing
but out of David’s pſalm-book: How perpetually do they repeat ſome of the xxiiid or
the czviiith pſalm ? And confine all the glorious joy and melody of that ordinance
to a few obſcure lines, becauſe the tranſlators have not indulged an evangelical turn
to the words of David ; no not in thoſe very places where the Jewiſh pſalmiſt ſeems
to mean the goſpel; but as excellent a poet as he was, he was not able to ſpeak it
plain, by reaſon of the infancy of that diſpenſation, and longs for the aid of a Chris-
tian writer. Though, to ſpeak my own ſenſe ſreely, I do not think David ever
wrote a pſalm of ſufficient glory and ſweetneſs, to repreſent the bleſſings of this holy
inſtitution of Chriſt, even though it were explained by a copious commentator; there-
fore it is my opinion, that other ſpiritual ſongs ſhould ſometimes be uſed to render
Chriſtian pſalmody complete. But this is not my preſent buſineſs, and I have written
on this ſubjećt elſewhere. '
To proceed to the ſecond part of my preface, which is to ſhew, how inſufficient a
ſtrićt tranſlation of the pialms is to attain the deſigned end.
There are ſeveral ſongs of this royal author, that ſeem improper ſor any perſon
beſides himſelf; ſo that I cannot believe that the whole book of pſalms, even in the
original, was appointed by God for the ordinary and conſtant worſhip of the Jewiſh
fanótuary or the ſynagogues, though ſeveral of them might be often ſung; much leſs
are they all proper for a Chriſtian church : Yet the way of a choſe tranſlation of this
whole book of Hebrew pſalms, for Engliſh and Chriſtian pſalmody, has generally
obtained among us.
Some pretend it is but a juſt reſpect for the holy ſcriptures; for they have imbibed
a fond opinion from their very childhood, that nothing is to be ſung at church but
, the inſpired writings, how different ſocver the ſenſe is from our preſent ſtate. But
this opinion has been taken upon truſt, by the moſt part of its advocates, and bor-
PREF A C E . 23
rowed chiefly from education, cuſtom, and the authority of others; which, if duly
examined, will appear to have been built upon too ſlight and ſeebie foundations;
the weakneſs of it I ſhall ſhew more at large in another place : But it appears of it-
ſelf more eminently inconſiſtent in thoſe perſons that ſcruple to addreſs God in proſe
in any precompoſed forms whatſoever; and they give this reaſon, becauſe they can-
not be fitted to all our preſent occaſions; and yet in verſe they confine their addreſſes
to ſuch forms as were fitted chiefly for Jewiſh worſhippers, and for the ſpecial occa-
ſions of David the King. *
Others maintain, that a drićt and ſcrupulous confinement to the ſenſe of the origi-
nal, is neceſſary to do juſtice to the royal author; but, in my judgment, the royal an-
thor is moſt honoured when he is made moſt intelligible ; and when his admirable
compoſurcs are copied in ſuch language, as gives light and joy to the ſaints that live
two thouſand years after him : Whereas ſuch a mere tranſlation of all his verſe into
Engliſh, to be ſung in our worſhip, ſeems to darken our religion, by running back
again to judaiſm, it damps our delight, and almoſt forbids the Chriſtian worſhipper to
purſue the ſong. How can we aſſume to ourſelves all his words in our perſonal or
public addreſſes to God, when our cofidition of liſc, our time, place, and religion,
are ſo vaſtly different from thoſe of David t
I grant it is neceſſary and proper, that in tranſlating every part of ſcripture ſor our
reading or hearing, the ſenſe of the original ſhould be exactly and faithfully repre-
fented; for there we learn what God ſays to us in his word. But in ſinging, for the
moſt part, the caſe is altered : For as the greateſt number of the pſalms are devo-
tional, and there the pſalmiſts expreſs their own perſonal or national concerns ; ſo
we are taught, by their example, what is the chief deſign of pſalmody, namely, that
we ſhould repreſent our own ſenſe of things in ſinging, and addreſs ourſelves to God,
expreſſing our own caſe; therefore the words ſhould be ſo far adapted to the general
flate of the worſhippers, 2s that we might ſeldora ſing thoſe expreſſions in which we
have no concern: Or at leaſt our tranſlators of the pſalms ſhould obſerve this rule,
that when the peculiar circumſtances of ancient ſaints are formed into a ſong, for our
preſent and public uſe, they ſhould be related, rather in an hiſtorical manner; and
not retain the perſonal pronouns I and We, where the tranſactions cannot belong to
any of us, nor be applied to our perſons, churches, or nation. /
Moſes, Deborah, and the Princes of Iſrael; David, Aſaph, and Habakkuk, and all
the ſaints under the Jewiſh ſtate, ſung their own joys and vićtories, their own hopes,
and fears, and deliverances, as I hinted before ; and why muſt we, under the goſpel,
ſing nothing elſe but the joys, hopes, and fears of Aſaph and David 2 Why muſt
Chriſtians be forbid all other melody, but what ariſes from the vićlories and deliver-
ances of the Jews? David would have thought it very bard to have been confined
to the words of Moſes, and ſung nothing elſe, on all his rejoicing-days, but the
drowning of Pharoah in the fifteenth of Exodus. He might have ſuppoſed it a little
unreaſonable, when he had peculiar occaſions of mournful muſic, if he had been forced
to keep cloſe to Moſes's prayer in the ninetieth pſalm, and always ſung over the
ſhortneſs of human life, eſpecially if he were not permitted the liberty of a para-
phraſe: And yet the ſpecial concerns of David and Moſes were much more akin to
each other, than ours are to either of thcm and they were both of the ſame reli-
gion, but ours is very different.
It is true, that David has left us a richer variety of holy ſongs, than all that went
before him; but, rich as it is, it is ſtill far ſhort of the glorious things that we Chriſ-
tians have to ſing before the Lord. We, and our churches, have our own ſpecial
affairs as well as they : Now if by a little turn of their words, or by the change of a
fhort ſentence, we may expreſs our own meditations, joys, and deſires in the verſe
of thoſe ancient pſalmiſts, why ſhould we forbid this ſweet privilege Why ſhould
we under the Chriſtian diſpenſation be tied up to forms more then the Jews them-
'ſelves were, and ſuch as are much more improper for our age and ſtate too; Let us
remember, that the very power of ſinging was given to human nature chiefly for this
purpoſe, that our own warmeſt affections of ſoul might break out into natural
or divine melody, and that the tongue of the worſhipper might expreſs his own
heart.
I confeſs it is not unlawful, nor abſurd for a perſon of knowledge and ſkill in di-
vine things, to ſing any part of the Jewiſh pſalm book, and conſider it merely as the
94. Y” R. E. F. A C E .
word of God; from which, by wiſe meditation, he may draw ſome pious inferences
for his own uſe : For inſtruction is allowed to be one end of pſalmody. But where
the words are obſcure hebraiſms, or where the poet perſonates a Jew, a ſoldier, or a
king, ſpeaking to himſelſ, or to God, this mode of inſtruction in a ſong ſeems not ſo
natural or caſy even to the moſt ſkilful Chriſtian, and it is almoſt impracticable to the
greateſt part of mankind ; And both the wife and the weak muſt confeſs this, that it
does by no means raiſe their own devotion ſo well, as if they were ſpeaking in their
own perſons, and expreſſing their own ſenſe: Beſides that the weaker Chriſtian is
ready to chime in with the words he ſings, and uſe them as his own, though they are
never ſo foreign to his purpoſe.
Now though it cannot be, that a large book of lively devotions ſhould be ſo framed,
as to have every line perfectly ſuited to all the circumſtances of every worſhipper;
but, after the writer’s utmoſt care, there will ſtill be room for chriſtian wiſdom to
exerciſe the thoughts aright in ſinging, when the words ſeem improper to our parti-
cular caſe: Yet, as far as poſſible, every difficulty of this kind ſhould be removed,
and ſuch ſentences ſhould by no means be choſen, which can ſcarce be uſed, in their
proper ſenſe, by any that are preſent. t
I could never perſuade myſelf, that the beſt way to raiſe a devout frame in plain
Chriſtians, was to bring a king, or a captain, into their churches, and let him lead
and dićtate the worſhip in his own ſtyle of royalty, or in the language of a field of
battle, Does every menial ſervant in the aſſembly know how to uſe theſe words de-
voutly namely, When I receive the congregation, I will judge ºftrightly; Pſal. lxxv. 2.
A bow of ſkel fs broken by mine arms.-As ſoon as they hear of me, they ſhall obey me; Pſal.
xviii. 34, 44. Would I encourage a pariſh clerk to ſtand up in the midſt of a coun-
try church, and bid all the people join with his words, and ſay, 1 will/raiſe thee upon
the /ſaltery : or, I will often my dark ſaying uſion the harſ. : When even our cathedrals
ſing only to the ſound of an organ, moſt of the meaner churches can have no muſic
but the voice, and others will have none beſides 2 Why then muſt all who will ſing a
pſalm at church, uſe ſuch words, as if they were to play upon harp and pſaltery, when
thouſands never ſaw ſuch an inſtrument, and know nothing of the art?
You will tell me, perhaps, that when you take theſe expreſſions upon your lips,
you mean only, that you will worſhip God according to his appointment now, even
as David worſhipped him in his day, according to God’s appointment then. But
why will you confine yourſelves to ſpeak one thing, and mean another? Why muſt
we be bound up to ſuch words, as can never be addreſſed to God in their own ſenſe 2
And fince the heart of a Chriſtian cannot join herein with his lips, why may not his
lips be led to ſpeak his heart? Experience itſelf has often ſhewn, that it interrupts
the holy melody, and ſpoils the devotion of many a ſincere good man or woman,
when, in the midſt of the ſong, ſome ſpeeches of David have been almoſt impoſed
upon their tongues, where he relates his own troubles, his baniſhment, or peculiar
deliverances; where he ſpeaks like a Jewiſh prince, a muſician, or a prophet; or
where the ſenſe is ſo obſcure, that it cannot be underſtood without a learned com-
In entator.
Here I may with courage addreſs myſelf to the heart and conſcience of many pious
and obſerving Chriſtians, and aſk them, whether they have not found a moſt divine
pleaſure in ſinging, when the words of the pſalm have happily expreſſed their frame
of ſoul ? Have you not felt a new joy ſpring within you, when you could ſpeak your
own, deſires and hopes, your own faith, love, and zeal in the language of the holy
pſalmiſt 2 Have not your ſpirits taken wing and mounted up near to God and glory,
with the ſong of David on your tongue 2 But on a ſudden the clerk has propoſed the
next line to your lips, with dark ſayings and prophecies, with burnt-offerings or hyſ-
ſop, with new-moons, and trumpets, and timbrels in it, with confeffion of ſins which
you never committed, with complaints and ſorrow ſuch as you never felt, curſing
ſuch enemies as you never had, giving thanks for ſuch vićtories as you never obtain-
ed, or leading you to ſpeak, in your own perſons, of things, places, and ačtions, that
you never knew. And how have all your ſouls been diſcompoſed at once, and the
ſtrings of harmony all untuned You could not proceed in the ſong with your hearts,
and your lips have ſunk their joy, and faultered in the tune; you have been balked
and aſhamed, and knew not whether it were better to be ſilent, or to follow on with
PRE FA CE. 25
the clerk and the multitude, and ſing with cold devotion, and perhaps in darkneſs
too, without thought or meaning.
Let it be replied here, That to prevent this inconvenience, ſuch pſalms and ſen-
tences may be always omittcd by him that leads the ſong, or may have a more uſeful
turn given in the mind of thoſe that fing. But I anſwer, Since ſuch pſalms and ſen-
tences are not to be ſung, they may be as well omitted by the tranſlator, or may have
a more uſeful turn given in the verſe, than it is poſſible for all the ſingers to give on
a ſudden in their minds. And this is all that I contend for.
I come therefore to the third thing I propoſed, and that is to explain my own de-
ſign, which in ſhort is this, namely, to accommodate the book of pſalms to chriſtian
worſhip. And in order to this, it is neceſſary to diveſt David and Aſaph, &c. of eve-
ry other charaćter but that of a pſalmiſt and a ſaint, and to makc them always ſpeak
the common fenſe of a chriſtian.
Attempting the work with this view, I have entirely omitted ſome whole pſalms,
and large pieces of many others; and have choſen, out of all of them, ſuch parts on-
ly, as might eaſily and naturally be accommodated to the various occaſions of the
chriſtian life, or at leaſt might afford us ſome beautiful alluſion to chriſtian affairs;
Theſe I have copied and explained in the general ſtyle of the goſpel; nor have I
confined my expreſſions to any particular party or opinion; that in words, prepared
for public worſhip, and for the lips of multitudes, there might not be a ſyllable
offenſive to ſincere Chriſtians, whoſe judgments may differ in the leſſer matters of
religion. • |
Where the pſalmiſt uſes ſharp invečtives againſt his perſonal enemies, I have en-
deavoured to turn the edge of them againſt our ſpiritual adverſaries, fin, ſatan, and
temptation. Where the flights of his faith and love are ſublime, I have often ſunk
the expreſſions within the reach of an ordinary Chriſtian : Where the words imply
ſome peculiar wants or diſtreſſes, joys or bleſfings, I have uſed words of greater lati-
tude and comprehenſion, ſuited to the general circumſtances of men.
Where the original runs in the form of prophecy concerning Chriſt and his ſalva-
tion, I have given an hiſtorical turn to the ſenſe : There is no neceflity that we
ſhould always ſing in the obſcure and doubtſul ſtyle of prediction, when the things
foretold are brought into open light by a full accompliſhment. Where the writers
of the New Teſtament have cited or alluded to any part of the pſalms, I have often in-
dulged the liberty of paraphraſe, according to the words of Chriſt, or his apoſtles.
And ſurely this may be eſteemed the word of God ſtill, though borrowed from ſeve-
ral parts of the holy ſcripture. Where the pſalmiſt deſcribes religion by the ſear of
God, I have often joined faith and love to it: Whgre he ſpeaks of the pardon of ſin,
through the mercies of God, I have added the blood or merits of a Saviour: Where
he talks of ſacrificing goats or bullocks, I rather chooſe to mention the ſacrifice of
Chriſt, the Lamb of God : . When he attends the ark with ſhouting into Zion, I fing
the aſcenſion of my Saviour into heaven, or his preſence in his church on earth;
where he promiſes abundance of wealth, honour, and long life, I have changed ſome
of theſe typical bleſfings for grace, glory, and life eternal, which are brought to light
by the goſpel, and promiſed in the New Teſtament : And I am fully ſatisfied, that
more honour is done to our bleſſed Saviour, by ſpeaking his name, his graces, and
ačtions, in his own language, according to the brighter diſcoveries he hath now
made, than by going back again to the Jewiſh forms of worſhip, and the language of
types and figures.
All men will conſeſs this is juſt and neceſſary in preaching and praying; and I can-
not find a reaſon why we ſhould not ſing praiſes alſo in a manner agreeable to the
preſent and more glorious diſpenſation. No man can be perſuaded, that to read a
fermon of the royal preacher out of the book of Eccleſiaſtes, or a prayer out of
Ezra or Daniel, is ſo edifying to a chriſtian church, though they were inſpired, as a
weli compoſed prayer or ſermon delivered in the uſual language of the goſpel of
Chriſt. And why ſhould the very words of the ſweet-ſinger of Iſrael be eſteemed ſo
neceſſary to chriſtian pſalmody, and the Jewiſh ſtyle ſo much preferable to the evan-
gelical, in our religious ſongs of praiſe
Now ſince it appears ſo plain, that the Hebrew pſalter is very improper to be the
Preciſe matter and ſtyle of our ſongs in a chriſtian church; and fince there is very
good reaſon to believe that it is left, us, not only as a moſt valuable part of the word
V O L. V KT. LX
26 PR E FA C. E.
of God, for our faith and pračticc, but as an admirable and divine pattern of fpiritual
fongs and hymns under the goſpel; I have choſen rather to imitate than to tranſlate ;
and thus to compoſe a pſalm-book for Chriſtians aſter the manner of the Jewiſh
pſalter. -
If I could be perſuaded, that nothing ought to be ſung in worſhip, but what was
of immediate inſpiration from God, ſurely I would recommend anthems only ; name-
ly, the pſalms themſelves, as we read them in the bible, ſet to muſic as they are ſung
by the choriſters in our cathedral churches : for theſe are neareſt to the words of in-
fpiration, and we muſt depart far from thoſe words, if we turn them into rhyme and
metre of any fort. And upon the foot of this argument, even the Scotch verſion,
which has been to much commended for its approach to the original, would be un-
lawful, as well as others.
But fince I believe that any divine ſentence, or chriſtian verſe, agreeable to ſcrip-
ture may be ſung, though it be eompoſed by men uninſpired; I have not been ſo cu-
rious and exačt in ſtriving every where to expreſs the ancient ſenſe and meaning of
David ; but have rather expreſſed myſelf, as I may ſuppoſe David would have done,
had he lived in the days of chriſtianity. And by this means, perhaps, I have ſome-
times hit upon the true intent of the Spirit of God in thoſe verſes, farther and clearer
than David himſelf could ever diſcover, as St. Peter encourages me to hope, 1 Pet. i.
11, 12. where he acknowledges that the ancient prophets who foretoid of the grace
that ſhould come to us, were in ſome meaſure ignorant of this great ſalvation; for
though they teſtified of the ſufferings of Chriſt and his glory, yet they were forced to
fearch and enquire after the meaning of what they ſpake or wrote. In ſeveral other
places I hope my reader will find a natural expoſition of many a dark and doubtful
text, and ſome new beauties and connections of thought diſcovered in the Jewiſh
poet, though not in the language of a Jew. In all places I have kept my grand de-
ſign in view, and that is, to teach my author to ſpeak like a Chriſtian. For why
ſhould I now addreſs God my Saviour in a ſong, with burnt-ſacrifices of ſatlings, and
with the incenſe of rams? Why ſhould I pray to be ſprinkled with hyſſop, or recur to
the blood of bullocks and goats? Why ſhould I bind my ſacrifice with cords to the
horns of an altar, or ſing the praiſes of God to high-ſounding ſymbols, when the goſ-
pel has ſhewn me a nobler atonement for ſin, and appointed a purer and more ſpi-
ritual worſhip Why muſt I join with David in his legal or prophetic language, to
curſe my enemies, when my Saviour, in his ſermons, has taught me to love and bleſs
them Why may not a Chriſtian omit all thoſe paſſages of the Jewiſh pſalmiſt, that
tend to fill the mind with overwhelming ſorrows, deſpairing thoughts, or bitter per-
ſonal reſentments, none of which are well ſuited to the ſpirit of chriſtianity, which
is a diſpenſation of hope, and joy, and love 2 What need is there that I ſhould wrap
up the ſhining honours of my Redeemer in the dark and ſhadowy language of a re-
ligion that is now for ever aboliſhed; eſpecially when chriſtians are ſo vehemently
warned, in the epiſtles of St. Paul, againſt a judaizing ſpirit, in their worſhip as
well as doćtrine And what fault can there be in enlarging a little on the more uſe-
ful ſubjećts in the ſtyle of the goſpel, where the pſalm gives any occaſion, ſince the
whole religion of the Jews is cenſured often in the New Teſtament as a defective
and imperfeót thing 2
Though I have aimed to provide for a variety of affairs in the chriſtian life, by the
different metres, paraphraſes, and diviſions of the pſalms, of which I ſhall ſpeak par-
ticularly 5 yet, after all, there are a great many circumſtances that attend common
Chriſtians, which cannot be agreeably czpreſſed by any paraphraſe on the words of
David; and for theſe I have endeavoured to provide in my book of hymns, that
Chriſtians might have ſomething to ſing in divine worſhip, anſwerable to moſt or all
their occaſions. In the preface to that book I haye ſhewn the inſufficiency of the
common verſions of the pſalms, and given further reaſons for my preſcht attempt.
I am not ſo vain as to cxpect, that the few ſhort hints I have mentioned in that
preface, or in this, ſhould be ſufficient to juſtify my performances in the judgment of
all-men, nor to convince and ſatisfy thoſe who have long maintained different ſcnti-
ments. All the favour therefore that I deſire of my readers, is this, that they would
not cenſure this work till they have read my diſcourſe of pſalmody, which I hope
will ſhortly be publiſhed; but let them read it with ſerious attention, and bring with
them a generous and ſincere ſoul, ready to be convinced, and to receive truth where-
PRE FA C E. 27
foever it can be found. In that treatiſe I have given a large and particular account
how the pſalms of Jewiſh compoſure ought to be tranſlated for chriſtian worſhip, and
juſtified the rules I.lay down by ſuch leaſons, as ſecºn to carry in them moſt plenti-
ful evidence, and a fair convićtion.
If I might preſumé ſo much, I would intreat them alſo to forget their younger pre-
judices for a ſeaſon, ſo far as to make a few experiments of theſe ſongs; and try
whether they are not ſuited, through divine grace, to kindle in them a fire of zeal
and love, and to exalt the willing ſoul to an evangelic temper of joy and praiſe.
And if they ſhall find, by ſweet experience, any devout affections raiſed, and a holy
frame of mind awakened within them by theſe attempts of chriſtian pſalmiſtry; I
perſuade myſelf, that I ſhall receive their thanks, and be aſſiſted by their prayers to-
wards the recovery of my health, and my public labours in the church of Chriſt.
Whatſoever ſentiments they had formerly entertained, yet ſurely they will not ſuffer
their old and doubtſul opinions to prevail againſt their own inward ſenſations of
piety and religious joy. -
Before I conclude, I muſt add a few things concerning my diviſion of the pſalms,
and my manncr of verſifying,
* Of the Diviſion of the Pſalms.
In many of theſe ſacred ſongs it is evident, that the pſalmiſt had ſeveral diſtinčt
caſes in view at the ſame time: As Pſalm lxv. the firſt four or five verſes deſcribe the .
temple worſhip of prayer and praiſe; the following verſes repreſent the providence
of God in the ſeaſons of the year. So in Pſalm lxviii. the firſt ſix verſes declare the
majeſty and mercy of God, and from the ſevcnth verſe to the ſixteenth, Iſrael is
brought from Egypt, to fix divine worſhip at Jeruſalem. The ſeventeenth and
eighteenth are a prophecy of the aſcenſion of Chriſt. yerſe 24, &c. deſcribes a re-
ligious proceſſion, &c. The like may be obſerved in many other pſalms, eſpecially
ſuch as repreſent ſome complicated ſorrows, or joys of the pſalmiſt, Now it is not
to be ſuppoſed that Chriſtians ſhould have all the ſame diſtia& occaſions of meditar
tion, complaint or praiſe, much leſs all at the ſame time to be mentioned before God;
therefore I have divided many pſalms into ſeveral parts, and diſpoſed them in-
to diſtinét hymns on thoſe various ſubjećts, that may be proper matter for chriſ-
tian pſalmody. s -- g º
Beſides, that exceſſive long tone of voice, that ſtretches out every fyllable in our
public ſinging, allows us neither time nor ſpirits to ſing above ſix or eight ſtanzas at
once, and ſometimes we make uſe of but three or ſour : Thereſore I have reduced
almoſt all the work into hymns of ſueh a length, as may ſuit the uſual cuſtom of the
churches; that they may not fing broken fragments of ſenſe, as is too often done,
and ſpoil the beauty of this worſhip ; but may finiſh a whole ſong and ſubjećt at
On Ce, . - -
For this end I have been forced to tranſpoſe, or omit, ſome of the verſes; and by
this means, ſome will objećt, that I have left out ſome uſeful and fignificant lines,
Perhaps ſo : But if I had not, the clerk would have left them out, to ſave the time.
for other parts of worſhip; and I deſire but the ſame liberty which he has to chooſe
which verſes ſhall be ſong. Yet I think it will be ſeldom found that I have omitted
any uſeful pſalm, or verſe; whoſe ſenſe is not abundantly repeated in other parts
of the book; and what I have left out in one metre I have often inſerted in
another. f
When the occaſion or ſubječt are much the ſame throughout a long pſalm, I have
. . either abridged the verſes, or divided the pſalm by pauſes, after the French man-
ner, where the ſenſe would admit an interruption, that the worſhip may not be
tireſome. *
Of the Verſe.
I reſign to Sir John Denham the honour of the beſt poet, if he had given his ge-
nius but a juſt liberty; yet his work will ever ſhine brighteſt among thoſe that have
confined themſelves to a mere tranſlation, But that cloſe confinement has often for-
bid the frecdom and glory of verſe, and by cramping his ſenſe, has rendered it ſome-
times too obſcure for a plain reader and the public worſhip, even though we lived
• . \
*** D 3
28 PRE FACE.
º
in the days of David and Judaiſm. Theſe inconveniences he himſelf ſuſpects, and
fears in the preface.
I am content to yield to Mr. Milbourne the preference of his poeſy in ſeveral parts
of his pſalms, and to Mr. Tate and Dr. Brady in ſome of theirs; but in thoſe very -
places their turns of thought and language are too much raiſed above a vulgar audi-
ence, and fit only for perſons of an higher education. !
I have not refuſed, in ſome few pſalms, to borrow a ſingle line or two from theſe
three authors; yet I have taken the moſt freedom of that ſort with Dr. Patrick, for
his ſtyle beſt agrees with my deſign, though his verſe be generally of a lower ſtrain.
In ſome of the more elevated pſalms I have given a little indulgence to my ge-
nius; and if it ſhould appear that I have aimed at the ſublime, yet l have generally
kept within the reach of an unlearned reader. I never thought the art of ſublime
writing conſiſted in flying out of ſight; nor am I of the mind of the Italian, who
ſaid, Obſcurity begets greatneſs. I have always avoided the language of the poets
where it did not ſuit the language of the goſpel.
In many of theſe compoſures I have juſt permitted my verſe to riſe above a flat
and indolent ſtyle; yet I hope it is cvery where ſupported above the juſt contempt
of the critics : Though I am ſenſible that I have often ſubdued it below their eſteem;
becauſe I would neither indulge any bold metaphors, nor admit of hard words, nor
tempt an ignorant worſhipper to fing without his underſtanding.
Though I have attempted to imitate the ſacred beauties of my author, in ſome of
the ſprightly pſalms, ſuch as Pſal. xlv. xlvi. xlix. lxv. lxxii. xc. xci, civ. cxiv. cxv.
cxxxix. &c. yet if my youthful readers complain, that they expected to find here
more elegant and beautiful deſcriptions with which the facred original abounds, let
them conſider that ſome of thoſe pieces of deſcriptive poeſy are the flowcry elegancies
peculiar to eaſtern nations and antique ages, and are much too large alſo to be brought
into ſuch ſhort chriſtian ſonnets as are uſed in our preſent worſhip ; almoſt all thoſe
pſalms I have contračted and fitted to more ſpiritual devotion, as Pſal. xviii. lxviii.
lxxiii. lxxviii. cv, cvi. Cix, &c.
of the Metre and Rhyme.
I have formed my verſe in the three moſt uſual metres to which our pſalm tunes
are fitted, namely, the common metre, the metre of the old twenty-fifth pſalm, which
I call ſhort metre, and that of the old hundredth pſalm, which I call long metre.
Beſides theſe, I have done ſome few pſalms in ſtanzas of fix, eight, or twelve lines,
to the beſt of the old tunes. Many of them I have alſo caſt into two or three me-
tres, not by leaving out or adding two ſyſlables in, a line, whereby others have
cramped or ſtretched their verſe to the deſtruction of all pocſy ; but I have made an
entire new ſong, and oftentimes, in the different metres, I have indulged thoſe dif-
ferent ſenſes, in which commentators have explained the inſpired author: And if
in one metre I have given the looſe to a paraphraſe, I have confined myſelf to my
text in the other. -
If I am charged by the critics for repeating the ſame rhymes too often, let them
confider, that the words which continually recur in divine poeſy, admit exceeding
few rhymes to them fit for ſacred uſe ; theſe are God, world, fleſh, ſoul, life, death,
faith, hope, heaven, earth, &c. which I think will make ſufficient apology; eſpe-
cially ſince I have coupled all my lines by rhymes, much more than either Mr. Tate
or Dr. Patrick have done, which is certainly moſt muſical and agreeable to the ear,
where rhyme is uſed at all. • * - t
I muſt confeſs I have never yet ſeen any verſion, or paraphraſe of the pſalms, in
their own Jewiſh ſenſe, ſo perſect as to diſcourage all further attempts. But who-
ever undertakes the roble work, let him bring with him a ſoul devoted to piety, an
exalted genius, and withal a ſtudious application. For David’s harp abhors a pro-
fane finger, and diſdains to anſwer to an unſkilful or a careleſs touch. A meaner
pen may imitate at a diſtance, but a complete tranſlation, or a juſt paraphraſe, de-
mands a rich treaſury of dićtion, and exalted fancy, a ðuick taſte of devout paſſion,
together with judgment ſtrićt and ſevere to retrench every luxuriant line, and to
maintain a religious ſovereignty over the whole work. Thus the pſalmiſt of Iſrael
might ariſe in Great Britain in all his Hebrew glory, and entertain the more know-
ing and polite Chriſtians of our age. But ſtill I am bold to maintain the great prin-
PREF Ace. 29
ciple on which my preſent work is founded; and that is, that if the brighteſt genius
on earth, or an angel from heaven, ſhould tranſlate David, and keep cloſe to the
fenſe and ſtyle of the inſpired author, we ſhould only obtain thereby a bright or hea-
venly copy of the devotions of the Jewiſh king, but it could never make the fitteſt
pſalm book for a chriſtian people. . am | -
It was not my deſign to exalt myſelf to the rank and glory of poets; but I was
ambitious to be a ſervant to the churches, and a helper to the joy of the meaneſt
Chriſtian, Though there are many gone before me, who have taught the Hebrew
pſalmiſt to ſpeak Engliſh, yet I think I may aſſume this pleaſure of being the firſt
who hath brought down the royal author into the common affairs of the chriſtian life,
and led the pſalmiſt of Iſrael into the church of Chriſt, without any thing of a Jew
about him. And whenſoever there ſhall appear any paraphraſe of the book of
pſalms, that retains more of the ſavour of David's piety, diſcovers more of the ſtyle
and ſpirit of the goſpel, with a ſuperior dignity of verſe, and yet the lines as eaſy and
flowing and the ſenſe and language as level to the loweſt capacity, I ſhall congratu-
late the world, and conſent to ſay, Let this attempt of mine be buried in ſilence.
*Till ſuch a work ariſe, I muſt attend theſe evangelic ſongs, which have been the
labour of ſo many years, with a devout wiſh. -
May that God who has favoured me with life and capacity to finiſh this work for
the ſervice of his churches, after ſo many years of tireſome ſickneſs and confinement,
accept this humble offering from a thankful heart. May the Lord, who dwelt of
old amidſt the praiſes of Iſrael, encourage and bleſs this effay, to affiſt Chriſtians in
the Work of praiſe? And may his churches exalt him here on earth in the language
of his goſpel and his grace, till they ſhall be called up to heaven and the noble
ſociety above | There David and Aſaph have changed their ancient ſtyle, and the
ſong of Moſes and of the Lamb are one: There the Iews join with the nations to
exalt their God and Redeemer in the language of angels, and in the ſtrains of com-
plete glory, Amen. & .*
ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READERS.
*~
THE chief deſign of this work was to improve pſalmody, or religious ſinging,
and to encourage the frequent practice of it in public aſſemblies and private
familics with more honour and delight; yet the author hopes the reading of it may
alſo entertayn the parlour and the cloſet with devout pleaſure and holy meditations,
Therefore he would requeſt his readers, at proper ſeaſons, to peruſe it through, and
among three hundrcd and ſorty ſacred hymns they may find out ſeveral that ſuit their
own caſe and temper, or the circumſtances of their families and friends; they may
teach their children ſuch as are proper for their age, and by treaſuring them in their
memory, they may be furniſhed for pious retirement, or may entertain their friends
with holy melody.
Of chooſing or finding the Pſalm.
The peruſal of the whole book will acquaint every reader with the author's me-
thod, and by conſulting the index, or table of contents, he may find hymns very
proper for many occaſions of the chriſtian life and worſhip, though no copy of David’s
pſalter can provide for all. -
Or if he remember the firſt line of any pſalm, the table of the firſt lines will direét
where to find it.
Or if any ſhall think it beſt to ſing all the pſalms in order in churches or families,
it may be done with profit; provided thoſe pſalms be omitted that refer to ſpecial
occurrences of nations, churches, or ſingle Chriſtians.
Of naming the Pſalms.
Let the number of the pſalm be named diſtinétly, together with the particular
metre, and particular part of it; As for inſtance; Let us ſing the thirty-third pſalm,
ſecond part, common metre; or, let us ſing the ninety-firſt pſalm, firſt part, be-
ginning at the pauſe, or ending at the pauſe ; or, let us fing the eighty-fourth pſalm
as the hundred and forty-eighth pſalm, &c. And then read over the firſt ſtanza be-
fore you begin to ſing, that the people may find it in their books, whether you ſing
with or without reading line by line. *
Of dividing the Pſalm,
If the pſalm be too long for the time or cuſtom of finging, there are pauſes in ma-
ny of them at which you may properly reſt : Or you måy leave out thoſe verſes
which are included in crotchcts [ ] without diſturbing the ſenſe : Or in ſome places
you may begin to ſing at a pauſe.
Do not always confine yourſelves to ſix ſtanzas, but fing ſeven or cight, rather than
confound the ſenſe and abuſe the pſalm in ſolemn worſhip.
Of the May, tier of Singing?
It were to be wiſhed that all congregations and private families would ſing as they
do in foreign proteſtant countries, without reading line by line. Though the author
has done what he could to make the ſenſe complete in every line or two, yet many
inconveniences will always attend this unhappy manner of ſinging; but where it
tannot be altered, theſe two things may give ſome relief.
AD VERTISEMENT. 31
Firſt, Let as many as can do it bring pſalm-books with them, and look on the
words while they ſing, ſo far as to make the ſenſe complete.
Secondly, Let the clerk read the whole pſalm over aloud before he begins to par-
cel out the lines, that the people may have ſome notion of what they ſing; and not
be forced to drag on heavily through eight tedious ſyllables without any meaning,
till the next line come to give the ſenſe of them.
It were to be wiſhed alſo, that we might not dwell ſo long upon every ſingle note,
and produce the ſyllables to ſuch a tireſome extent with a conſtant uniformity of
time, which diſgraces the muſic, and puts the congregation quite out of breath in
ſinging five or ſix ſtanzas; Whereas if the method of ſinging were but reformed to a
greater ſpeed in pronunciation, we might often enjoy the pleaſure of a longer pſalm
with leſs expence of time and breath; and our pſalmody would be more agreeable
to that of the ancient churches, more intelligible to others, and more delightful to
ourſelves.
Decem B ER 1, 1718,
THE
PSALMS OF DAVID,
Imitated in the Language of the New Teſtament and applied to the Chriſtian
State and Worship.
Luke xxiv. 44. All Things muſt be fulfilled which were written in-the Pſalms concerning nie.
Heb. xi, 32–David, Samuel, and the
Prophets, ver, 40.-That they without us Aould not be
made perfect.
PSALM I. [C, M.]
The way an d cnd of the rightcous and the
4 wicked.
1 BLEST is the man who ſhuns the place
Where ſinners love to meet ;
Who fears to tread their wicked ways,
- And hates the ſcoffer’s ſeat.
2 But in the ſtatutes of the Lord
Has plac’d his chief delight;
. By day he reads or hears the word,
And meditates by night.
3 [He like a plant of generous kind
By living waters ſet, *
Safe ſrom the ſtorms and blaſting wind,
Enjoys a peaceful ſtate.]
4 Green as the leaf, and ever fair
Shall his profeſſion ſhine :
While fruits of holineſs appear
Like cluſters on the vine.
5 Not ſo the impious and unjuſt ;
What vain deſigns they form 1
Their hopes are blown away like duſt,
Or chaff before the ſtorm.
6 Sinners in judgment ſhall not ſtand
Amongſt the ſons of grace,
When Chriſt the judge at his right-hand
Appoints his ſaints a place.
7 His eye beholds the path they tread;
His heart approves it well;
But crooked ways of finners lead
Down to the gates of hell,
PSALM I, [S. M.]
The ſaint haſ/ly, the ſinner miſèrable.
I THE man is ever bloſt
Who ſhuns the finner's ways,
Among their counſels never gands,
Nor takes the ſcorner's place,
2. But makes the law of God
His ſtudy and delight,
Amidſt the labours of the day,
And watches of the night.
You, v ii. *
1
*
!
5
6
3 He like a tree ſhall thrive,
With waters near the root:
Freſh as the leaf his name ſhall live;
His works are heav'nly fruit.
4 Nof ſo th’ angodly race,
They no ſuch bleſfings find :
Their hopes ſhall flee like compty chaff
Before the driving wind.
5 How will they bear to ſtand
Before that judgment-ſeat,
Where all the ſaints at Chriſt’s right-hand
In full aſſembly meet?
6 He knows, and be approves
The way the righteous go ;
But ſinners and their works ſhall mect
A dreadful overthrow.
PSALM I. [L. M.]
The difference between the rightcqus and the
wicked.
APPY the man, whoſe cautious feet
Shun the broad way that finners go,
Who hates the place where atheiſts meet,
And fears to talk as ſcoffers do.
He loves temploy his morning light
Amongſt the ſtatutes of the Lord;
And ſpends the wakeful hours of night,
With pleaſure pond'ring o'er the word.
He, like a plant by gentle ſtreams,
Shall flouriſh in immortal green ;
And heav'n will ſhine with kinded beams
On ev’ry work his hands begin.
But ſinners find their counſels croſt,
As chaff before the tempeſt flies;
So ſhall their hopes be blown and loſt,
When the laſt trumpet ſhakes the ſkies,
In vain the rebcl ſeeks to fland
In judgment with the pious race;
The dreadful judge with ſtern command
Divides him to a diff'rent place.
“Straight is the way my ſaints have tro3
** I bleft the path, and drew it plain ;
“But you would chooſe the crook ed road,
“And down it leads to endleſs pain.
S.
34
PSALMS.–II, III.
PSALM II. [S. M,]
Tranſlated according to the divine pattern,
Aćts iv. 24, &c.
Chriſt dying, riſing, interceding, and reigning.
1. [MAKER and ſovereign Lord,
Of heav'n, and earth, and ſeas,
Thy providence confirms thy word,
And anſwers thy decrees.
2 The things ſo long foretold
By David are fulfill’d,
when Jews and Gentiles join'd to ſlay
Jeſus, thine holy child.]
3 Why did the Gentiles rage,
And Jews with one accord
Bend all their counſels to deſtroy
Th’ Anointed of the Lord *
4 Rulers and kings agree
To form a vain deſign :
Againſt the Lord their pow’rs unite,
Againſt his Chriſt they join.
5 The Lord derides their rage,’
And will ſupport his throne ;
He that hath rais’d him from the dead,
Hath own’d him for his Son.
PAUSE.
6 Now he's aſcended high,
And aſks to rule the earth;
The merit of his blood he pleads,
And pleads his heav'nly birth.
7 He aſks, and God beſtows
A large inheritance;
Far as the world’s remoteſt ends
His kingdom ſhall advance.
8 The nations that rebel
Muſt feel his iron rod :
He’ll vindicate thoſe honours well
Which he received from God.
9 [Be wiſe, ye rulers, now,
And worſhip at his throne;
With trembling joy, ye people, bow
To God’s exalted Son.
10 Iſ once his wrath ariſe,
Ye periſh on the place :
Then bleſſed is the ſoul that flies
For refuge to his grace.]
PSALM II. [C. M.]
1 WHY did the nations join to ſlay
The Lord’s anointed Son 2
Why did they caſt his laws away,
And tread his goſpel down
2 The Lord that ſits above the ſkies,
Derides their rage below,
He ſpeaks with vengeance in his eyes,
And ſtrikes their ſpirits through.
3 “I call him my eternal Son,
“And raiſe him ſrom the dead :
“I make my holy hill his throne,
“And wide his kingdom ſpread.
4 “Aſk me, my Son, and then enjoy,
“The utmoſt heathen lands ;
“ Thy rod of iron ſhall deſtroy
“The rebel that withſtands.
5 Be wiſe, ye rulers of the earth,
Obey th’ anointed Lord ;
Adore the king of heav'nly birth
And tremble at his word.
6. With humble love addreſs his throne,
For iſ he frown, ye die :
Thoſe are ſecure, and thoſe alone
Who on his grace rely.
PSALM II. [L. M.]
Chriſt’s death, reſurreàion, and aſcenſions
| l WHY did the Jews proclaim their rage 2
The romans why their ſwords employ?
Againſt the Lord their pow’rs engage
His dear anointed to deſtroy
2
“Come, let us break his bands, they ſay;
“This man ſhall never give us laws :
And thus they caſt his yoke away,
And nail'd the monarch to the croſs.
3
But God, who high in glory reigns,
Laughs at their pride, their rage controls;
He’ll vex their hearts with inward pains,
And ſpeak in thunder to their ſouls.
4 “I will maintain the king I made
“On Zion's everlaſting hill,
“My hand ſhall bring him from the dead,
“And he ſhay ſtand your Sov’reign ſtill.
5 [His wond’rous riſing from the earth
Makes his eternal Godhead known ;
The Lord declares his heav'nly birth,
“This day have I begot my Son.”
6 “Aſcend, my Son to my right-hand,
“There thou ſhalt aſk, and I beſtow
“The utmoſt bounds of heathen lands;
“To thee the northern iſles ſhall bow.] }
7 But nations that reſiſt his grace,
Shall fall before his iron ſtroke;
His rod ſhall cruſh his foes with eaſe,
As potter's earthen work is broke.
PAUSE,
Now ye that fit on earthly thrones,
Be wiſe, and ſerve the Lord, the Lamb ;
Now at his feet ſubmit your crowns,
Rejoice and tremble at his name.
8
9
With humble loye addreſs the Son,
Leſt he grow angry, and ye die;
His wrath will burn to world’s unknown
If ye provoke his jealouſy. \
10 His ſtorms ſhall drive you quick to hell,
He is a God, and ye but duſt :
Happy the ſouls that know him well,
And make his grace their only truſt.
PSALM III. [C. M.]
Doubts and fears ſu//reft; or, God our defence
from ſin and ſatan.
| MY God, how many are my fears
How faſt my foes increaſe
Conſpiring my eternal death,
They break my preſent peace.
*
PSALMS.– A//. IV. V.
2 The lying tempter would perſuade
There’s no relief in heav'n ;
And all my ſwelling ſins appear
Too big to be forgiv'n,
3 But thou, my glory and my ſtrength,
Shalt on the tempter tread, ſº
Shalt ſilence all my threat’ning guilt,
And raiſe my drooping head.
4 [I cry’d, and from his holy hill
He bow’d a liſt"ning ear;
I call'd my Father and my God,
And hè ſubdu'd my fear.
5 He ſhed ſoft flumbers on mine eyes,
In ſpite of all my foes ;
I 'woke, and wonder'd at the grace
That guarded my repoſe.]
6 What tho’ the hoſts of death and hell
All arm'd againſt me ſtood,
Terrors no more ſhall ſhake my ſoul;
My refuge is my God,
7 Ariſe, O Lord, fulfil thy grace,
While I thy glory ſing:
My God has broke the ſerpent’s teeth,
And death has loſt his ſting.
8 Salvation to the Lord belongs,
His arm alone can ſave :
Bleſſings attend thy people here,
And reach beyond the grave.
PSALM III. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,8. [L. M.]
4 morning/ſalm.
1 O LORD, how many are my foes,
In this weak ſtate of fleſh and blood
My peace they daily diſcompoſe,
But my defence and hope is God.
2 Tir’d with the burdens of the day,
To thee I rais’d an ev’ning cry :
Thou heard'ſt when I began to pray,
And thiae almighty help was nigh.
3 Supported by thine heav'nly aid,
I laid me down and ſlept ſecure :
Not death ſhould make my heart afraid,
Tho' I ſhould wake and riſe no more.
4. But God ſuſtain’d me all the night;
Salvation doth to God belong :
He rais'd my head to ſee the light,
And make his praiſe my morning ſong.
PSALM IV. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7. [L. M.]
Hearing of Arayer; or, God our Aortion, and
Chift our hoſte.
I O GOD of grace and righteouſneſs,
Hear and attend when I complain :
Thou haſt enlarg’d me in diſtreſs,
Bow down a gracious car again.
2 Ye ſons of men, in vain ye try
To turn my glory into ſhame :
How long will ſcoffers love to lye,
And dare reproach my Saviour’s name *
|
;
1
|
3 Know that the Lord divides his ſaints
From all the tribes of men beſide;
He hears the cry of penitents
For the dear ſake of Chriſt that dy’d.
4. When our obedient hands have done
A thouſand works of righteouſneſs,
We put our truſt in God alone,
And glory in his pard’ning grace.
5 Let the unthinking many ſay,
“Who will beſtow ſome earthly good?
But, Lord, thy light and love we pray;
Our ſouls deſire this heav'nly food.
6 Then ſhall my chearful pow'rs rejoice,
At grace and favour ſo divine;
Nor will I change my happy choice
For all their corn, and all their wine.
PSALM IV. 3, 4, 5, 8. [C. M.]
An evening/ſalm.
I LORD, thou wilt hear me when I pray,
I am for ever thine,
I fear before thee all the day,
Nor would I dare to ſin.
2 And while I reſt my weary head
From cares and buſineſs free,
'Tis ſweet converſing on my bed
With my own heart and thee.
3 I pay this ev’nipg ſacrifice;
And when my work is done,
Great God, my faith and hope relies,
Upon thy grace alone.
4 Thus with my thoughts compos’d to peace,
I’ll give mine eyes to fleep;
Thy hand in ſafety keeps my days,
And will my ſlumbers keep.
PSALM V:
For the Lord’s-day morning:
1 LORD, in the morning thou ſhalt hear
My voice aſcending high s
To thee will I direct my pray’r,
To thee lift up mine eye.
2 Up to the hills where Chriſt is gone
To plead for all his ſaints,
Preſenting at his Father's throne
Our ſongs and our complaints.
3 Thou art a God before whoſe fight
The wicked ſhall not ſtand;
Sinners ſhall ne'er be thy delight,
Nor dwell at thy right-hands
4. But to thy houſe will I reſort,
To taſte thy mercles there;
I will frequent thine holy court,
And worſhip in thy fear.
5 O may thy Spirit guide my feet /
In ways of righteouſneſs!
Make every path of duty ſtraight,
And plain before my face. `
& 2
36
PSALMS.—VI. VII. VIII.
PAUSE.
6 My watchful enemies combine
To tempt my feet aſtray;
They flatter with a baſe deſign
To make my ſoul their prey.
7 Lord, cruſh the ſerpent in the duſt,
And all his plots deſtroy ;
While thoſe that in thy mercy truſt
For ever ſhout for joy.
8 The men that love and ſear thy name
Shall ſee their hopes fulfill’d ;
The mighty God will compaſs them
With favour as a ſhield.
PSALM VI. [C. M.]
Complaint in ſickneſs; or, diſeaſes healed.
1 IN anger, Lord, rebuke me not,
Withdraw the dreadful ſtorm ;
Nor let thy fury grow ſo Hot
Againſt a feeble worm.
2 My ſoul's bow’d down with heavy cares,
My fleſh with pain oppreſt;
My couch is witneſs to my tears,
My tears forbid my reſt.
3 Sorrow and pain wear out my days;
I waſte the night with cries,
Counting the minutes as they paſs,
Till the ſlow morning riſe.
4 Shall I be ſtill tormented more ?
Mine eye conſum’d with grief?
How long, my God, how long before
Thy hand afford relief ?
5 He hears whef duſt and aſhes ſpeak,
He pities all our groans,
He ſaves us for his mercy's ſake,
And heals our broken bones.
6 The virtue of his ſov’reign word
Reſtores our fainting breath :
For ſilent graves praiſe not the Lord,
Nor is he known in death.
PSALM VI. [L. M.]
Temſitations in ſickneſs 07/47'C0%6,
1 T ORD, I can ſuffer thy rebukes,
When thou with kindneſs doſt chaſtiſe;
But thy fierce wrath I cannot bear,
O let it not againſt me riſe 1
2 Pity my languiſhing eſtate,
And caſe the ſorrows that I feel;
The wounds thy heavy hand hath made,
O let thy gentler touches heal |
3 See how I paſs my weary days
In ſighs and groans ; and when 'tis night,
My bed is water'd with my tears:
My grief conſumes and dims my fight.
4 Look how the pow'rs of nature mourn
How long, Almighty God, how long 2
When ſhall thine hour of grace return ?
When ſhall I make thy grace my ſong?
..f
l
5 I feel my fleſh ſo near the grave,
My thoughts are tempted to deſpair;
But graves can never praiſe the Lord,
For all is duſt and ſilence there,
6 Depart, ye tempters, from my ſoul;
And all deſpairing thoughts depart;
My God, who hears my humble moan,
Will eaſe my fleſh, and chear my heart.
PSALM VII.
God’s care ºf his Aeo/le, and Auniſłment of
Aerſecutors.
t MY truſt is in my heav'nly friend,
My hope in thee, my God;
Riſe, and my helpleſs life defend
From thoſe that ſeek my blood,
With inſolence and fury they
My ſoul in pieces tear,
As hungry lions rend the prey
When no deliverer's near,
If I had e'er provok'd them firſt,
Or once abus’d my foe,
Then let him tread my life to duſt,
And lay mine honour low.
3
If there be malice hid in me,
I know thy piercing eyes;
I ſhould not dare appeal to thee,
Nor aſk my God to riſe,
Ariſe, my God, liſt up thy hand,
Their pride and pow'r control;
Awake to judgment, and command .
Deliv'rance for my ſoul.
PAUSE.
Let ſinners and their wicked rage
Be humbled to the duſt;
Shall not the God of truth engage
To vindicate the juſt
5
6
He knows the hcart, he tries the reins,
He will deſend th’ upright:
His ſharpeſt arrows he ordains
Againſt the ſons of ſpite.
S
For me their malice digg’d a pit,
But there themſelves are caſt;
My God makes all their miſchief light
. On their own heads at laſt.
That cruel perſecuting race
Muſt ſeel his dreadful ſword;
Awake my ſoul, and praiſe the grace
And juſtice of the Lord.
PSALM VIII. [S, M.]
God's ſovereignty and goodneſs; and man’s domi-
nion over the Čreatures.
1 O
LORD, our heav'nly king,
Thy name is all divine;
Thy glories round the earth are ſpread,
And o'er the heav’ns they ſhine.
When to thy works on high
I raiſe my wond'ring eyes,
And ſee the moon, complete in light,
Adorn the darkſome ſkies.
PSA LMS.–VIII. IX, 37
3 When I ſurvey the ſtars,
And all their ſhyning forms,
Lord, what is man, that worthleſs thing,
Akın to duſt and worms
4 Lord, what is worthleſs man,
That thou ſhould'ſt love him ſo *
Next to thine angels is he plac'd,
And lord of all below.
5 Thine honours crown his head,
While beaſts like ſlaves obey,
And birds that cut the air with wings,
And fiſh that cleave the ſea.
6 How rich thy bounties are I
And wond’rous are thy ways :
Of duſt and worms thy pow'r can frame
A monument of praiſe.
7 [Out of the mouths of babes
And ſucklings thou canſt draw
Surpriſing honours to thy name,
And ſtrike the world with awe.
8 O Lord, our heav'nly king,
Thy name is all divine :
Thy glories round the earth are ſpread,
And o'er the heav'ns they ſhine.]
PSALM VIII. [C. M.]
Chriſt’s condeſcenſion and glorification ; or,
God made man.
1 O Lord, our Lord, how wond’rous great,
Is thine exalted name!
The glories of thy heav'nly ſtate
Let men and babes proclaim.
2 When I behold thy works on high,
The omoon that rules the night,
And ſtars that well adorn the ſky,
Thoſe moving worlds of light.
3 Lord, what is man, or all his race,
Who dwells ſo far below,
That thou ſhould’ſt viſit him with grace,
And love his nature ſo
4 That thine eternal ſon ſhould bear
To take a mortal form,
Made lower than his angels are,
To ſave a dying worm 2
5 [Yet while he liv'd on earth unknown,
And men would not adore,
Th’ obedient ſeas and fiſhes own
His godhead and his pow'r,
6 The waves lay ſpread beneath his feet;
And fiſh, at his command,
Bring their large ſhoals to Peter’s net,
Bring tribute to his hand.
7 Theſe leſſer glories of the ſun
Shone thro’ the fleſhly cloud;
Now we behold him on his throne,
And men confeſs him God.]
8 Let him be crown'd with majeſty,
Who bow’d his head to death ;
And be his honours founded high,
By all thungs that have breath.
9 Jeſus, our Lord, how wond’rous great
Is thine exalted name !
The glories of thy heav'nly ſtate
Let the whole earth pioclaim.
PSALM VIII. verſe 1, 2. Paraphraſed.
Part I. [L. M.]
The Hoſanna of the children; or, infants
Araſſing God.
1 ALnighty ruler of the ſkies,
Thro' the wide earth thy name is
ſpread,
And thune eternal glories riſe
O'er all the heav’ns thy hands have made,
2
To thee the voices of the young
A monument of honour raiſe;
And babes, with uninſtructed tongue,
Declare the wonders of thy praiſe,
3
Thy pow'r aſſiſts their tender age
To bring proud rebels to the ground,
To ſtill the bold blaſphemer’s rage,
And all their policies confound.
4.
Children amidſt thy temple throng
To ſee their great Redeemer's face;
The Son of David is their ſong,
And young Hoſannas fill the place.
3 The frowning ſcribes and angry prieſts
In vain their impious cavils bring ;
Revenge ſits ſilent in their breafts,
Whilſt Jewiſh babes proclaim their king.
PSALM VIII. verſe 3, &c. Paraphraſed.
Part II. [L. M. j
Adam and Chriſt, lords of the old and the new
Crt aftoff.
I LORD, what was man, when made at firſt,
Adam the offspring of the duſt,
That thou ſhould ſet him and his race
But juſt below an angel’s place
That thou ſhould'ſt raiſe his nature ſo,
And make him Lord of all below ;
Make every beatt and bird ſubmit,
And lay the fiſhes at his feet 2
But, O! what brighter glories wait
To crown the ſecond Adam’s ſtate *
What honours ſhall thy Son adorn,
Who condeſcended to be born ?
2
3
4.
See him below his angels made;
See him in duſt atmongſt the dead,
To ſave a ruin’d world from ſin;
But lae ſhall reign with pow'r divine.
5 The world to come, redeem'd from alf
The miſeries that attend the fall,
New-made, and glorious, ſhall ſubmit
At our exalted Savioul’s feet. “
PSALM IX. Part I.
Mºrath and mercy from the judgment-ſeat.
WITH my whole heart I’ll raiſe my ſong,
Thy wonders I’ll proclaim,
Thou ſow’reign judge of right and wreng,
Wilt put my focs to ſhame.
38
PSALMS.–IX. X. XI.
2 I’ll fing thy majeſty and grace;
My God prepares his throne
To judge the world in righteouſneſs,
And make his vengeance known,
3 Then ſhall the Lord a refuge prove
For all the poor oppreſt ;
To ſave the people of his love,
And give the weary reſt.
4 The men that know thy name, will truſt
In thy abundant grace;
For thou haſt ne'er forſook the juſt,
Who humbly ſeek thy face.
5 Sing praiſes to the righteous Lord,
Who dwells on Zion’s hill,
Who executes his threat’ning word,
And doth his grace fulfil.
PSALM IX. verſe 12. Part II.
The wiſdom and equity of hrovidence.
I WHEN the great judge, ſupreme and juſt,
Shall once enquire for blood,
The humble ſouls that mourn in duſt,
Shall find a faithful God.
2 He from the dreadful gates of death
Does his own children raiſe: ,
In Sion’s gates, with chearful breath,
They ſing their Father's praiſe.
3 His foes ſhall fall, with heedleſs feet,
Into the pit they made,
And ſinners periſh in the net
That their own hands had ſpread.
4 Thus by thy judgments, mighty God,
Are thy deep counſels known;
When men of miſchief are deſtroy'd
The ſnare muſt be their own.
PAUSE.
5 The wicked ſhall ſink down to hell;
Thy wrath devour the lands
That dare forget thee, or rebel
Againſt thy known commands:
6 Tho' ſaints to ſore diſtreſs are brought,
And wait and long complain,
Their cries ſhall not be ſtill forgot,
Nor ſhall their hopes be vain.
* [Riſe, great Redeemer, from thy ſeat
To judge and ſave the poor;
Let nations tremble at thy feet,
And man prevail no more.
8 Thy thunder ſhall affright the proud,
And put their hearts to pain,
Make 'em confeſs that thou art God,
And they but feeble men.]
PSALM X.
Prayer heard, and ſaints ſaved; or, pride,
atheiſm and 9/hreſſion huniſhed.
For a humiliation-day.
1 WHY doth the Lord ſtand off ſo far?
And why conceal his face,
When great calamities appear,
And times of deep diſtreſs
2 Lord, ſhall the wicked ſtill deride
Thy juſtice and thy pow'r?
Shall they advance their heads in pride,
And ſtill thy ſaints devour * t
3 They put thy judgments from their fight,
And then inſult the poor ; -
They boaſt in their exalted height,
That they ſhall fall no more.
4 Ariſe, O God, lift up thine hand,
Attend our humble cry,
No enemy ſhall dare to ſtand
When God aſcends on high.
PAUSE.
|6
5 Why do the men of malice rage,
And ſay with fooliſh pride,
“The God of heaven will ne'er engage
“To fight on Zion’s fide 3
"| 6 But thou for ever art our Lord;
And pow'rful is thine hand,
As when the heathens felt thy ſword,
And periſh’d from thy land.
7 Thou wilt prepare our hearts to pray,
And cauſe thine ear to hear;
He hearkens what his children ſay,
And puts the world in fear.
8 Proud tyrants ſhall no more oppreſs,
No more deſpiſe the juſt;
And mighty ſinners ſhall confeſs
They are but earth and duſt.
PSALM XI.
God loves the righteous, and hates the wicked.
! MY refuge is the God of love,
Why do my foes inſult and cry,"
“Fly like a timorous trembling dove,
“To diſtant woods or mountains fly?
If government be all deſtroy'd,
(That firm foundation of our peace)
And violence make juſtice void,
Where ſhall the righteous ſeek redreſs?
3 The Lord in heav'n has fixt his throne,
His eye ſurveys the world below;
To him all mortal things are known,
His eye-lids ſearch our ſpirits thro’.
If he afflićts his ſaints ſo far
To prove their love, and try their grace,
What may the bold tranſgreſſors fear
His very ſoul abhors their ways.
4
On impious wretches he ſhall rain
Tempeſts of brimſtone, fire, and death;
Such as he kindled on the plain
Of Sodom with his angry breath.
The righteous Lord loves righteous ſouls,
Whoſe thoughts and actions are ſincere,
And with a gracious eye beholds
The men that his own image bear.
t
PSALMS.—XII, XIII.
39
PSALM XII. [L. M.]
The ſaints ſafety and home in evil times; or, ſins of
the tongue complain'd of, namely, blaſhhemy,
Jalſehood, &c. º
I LORD, if thou doſt not ſoon appear,
Virtue and truth will fly away;
A faithful man, amongſt us here,
Will ſcarce be found, iſ thou delay.
2 The whole diſcourſe, when neighbours
meet,
Is fill'd with trifles looſe and vain :
Their lips are flatt’ry and deceit,
And their proud language is profane.
3 But lips, that with deceit abound,
Shall not maintain their triumph long;
The God of vengeance will confound
The flatt’ring and blaſpheming tongue:
4 “Yet ſhall our words be free, they cry,
“Our tongues ſhall be control’d by none :
“Where is the Lord will aſk us why?
“Or ſay, our lips are not our own º’”
5 The Lord, who ſees the poor oppreſt,
And hears th’ oppreſſor’s haughty ſtrain,
Will riſe to give his children reſt,
Nor ſhall they truſt his word in vain.
6 Thy word, O Lord, tho’ often try’d,
Void of deceit ſhall ſtill appear;
Not ſilver, ſev’n times purify’d
From droſs and mixture, ſhines ſo clear.
7 Thy grace ſhall, in the darkeſt hour,
Defend the holy ſoul from harm;
Tho' when the vileſt men have pow'r,
On every ſide will ſinners ſwarm.
PSALM XII. [C. M.]
Complaint of a general corruption of manners:
or, the hromiſe and ſign of Chriſt’s coming to
judgment.
1 HELP, Lord, for men of virtue fail,
Religion loſes ground;
The ſons of violence prevail,
And treacheries abound.
2 Their oaths and promiſes they break,
Yet ačt the flatt’rer's part;
With fair deceitful lips they ſpeak,
And with a double heart.
3 If we reprove ſome hateful lye,
How is their fury ſtirr'd
“Are not our lips our own, they cry,
“ And who ſhall be out Lord *
4 Scoffers appear on every ſide,
Where a vile race of men
Is rais’d to ſeats of pow'r and pride,
And bears the ſword in vain:
PAUSE.
5 Lord, when iniquities abound,
And blaſphemy grows bold,
When faithns hardly to be founds
"And love is waxing cold.
6 Is not thy chariot haſt’ning on 2
Haſt thou not giv'n this ſign
May we not truſt and live upon
A promiſe ſo divine *
7 “Yes, ſaith the Lord, now will Iriſe,
“And make oppreſſors flee;
“I ſhall appear to their ſurpliſe,
“And ſet my ſervants free.”
8 Thy word, like ſilver, ſev’n times try’d,
Thro' ages ſhall endure;
The men that in thy truth confide,
Shall find the promiſe ſure.
PSALM XIII. [L. M.]
Pleading with Ged under deſertion; or, bºſe
in darkneſs.
f How long, O Lord, ſhall I complain,
Like one that ſeeks his God in vain?
Canſt thou thy face for ever hide
And I ſtill pray, and be deny'd 2
2 Shall I for ever be forgot,
As one whom thou regardeſt not?
Still ſhall mv ſoul thine abſence mourn ?
And ſtill deſpair of thy return ?
3 How long ſhall my poor troubled breaſt
Be with theſe anxious thoughts oppreſt ?
And Satan, my malicious foe,
Rejoice to ſee me ſunk ſo low
Hear, Lord, and grant me quick relief,
Before my death conclude my grief;
If thou withhold thy heav'nly light,
I ſleep in everlaſting night.
How will the pow’ls of darkneſs boaſt,
If but one praying ſoul be loſt?
But I have truſted in thy grace,
And ſhall again behold thy face.
Whate'er my fears or foes ſuggeſt,
Thou art my hope, my joy, my reſt;
My heart ſhall feel thy love, and raiſe
My chearful voice to ſongs of praiſe.
PSALM XIII. [C. M.]
Complaint wider temptations of the devil.
4.
5
6
R
HOW long wilt thou conceal thy face 2
** My God, how long delay
When ſhall I feel thoſe heav'nly, rays,
That chaſe my fears away
2 How long ſhall my poor lab’ring ſoul
Wreſtle and toil in vain?
Thy word can all my foes control,
And eaſe my raging pain.
See how the prince of darkneſs tries
All his malicious arts,
He ſpreads a miſt around his eyes,
And throws his fiery darts.
3
Be thou my ſun, and thou my ſhield,
My ſoul in ſaf’ty keep;
Make haſte before mine eyes are ſeal’d
In death’s eternal ſleep.
5 How would the tempter boaſt aloud
If I become his prey !
Behold, the ſons of hell grow proud
At thy ſo long delay.
4.
40
PSALMS,-XIV. XV, XVI.
6 But they ſhall fly at thy rebuke,
And Satan hide his head;
He knows the terrors of thy look,
And hears thy voice with dread.
r; Thou wilt diſplay that ſov’reign grace,
Where all my hopes have hung :
I ſhall employ my lips in praiſe,
And vićtory ſhall be ſung.
PS ALM XIV. Part I.
By nature all men are ſinners.
T F09:S in their heart believe and ſay,
“That all religion’s vain,
“ There is no God that reigns on high,
“Or minds th’ affairs of men.
2 From thoughts ſo dreadful and proſane
Corrupt diſcourſe proceeds;
And in their impious hands are found
Abominable deeds.
3 The Lord from his celeſtial throne
Look’d down on things below,
To find the man that ſought his grace,
Or did his juſtice know,
4. By nature all arc gone aſtray,
Their pračtice all the ſame;
There's none that ſears his maker's hand,
There’s none that loves his name.
5 Their tongues are uſed to ſpeak deceit,
Their ſlanders never ceaſe ;
How ſwift to miſchief are their feet,
Nor know the paths of peace |
6 Such feeds of fin (that bitter root)
In ev’ry heart are found:
Nor can they bear diviner fruit,
Till grace refine the ground.
PSALM XIV. Part I,
The folly of ſterſecutors.
y ABF finners now ſo ſenſeleſs grown,
That they the ſaints devour *
And never worſhip at thy throne,
Nor fear thine awful pow'r?
2 Great God l appear to their ſurpriſe,
Reveal thy dreadful name;
Let them no more thy wrath deſpiſe,
Nor turn our hope to ſhame.
3 Doſt thou not dwell among the juſt,
And yet our foes deride,
That we ſhould make thy name our truſt;
Great God! cºnfound their pride.
4 O that the joyful day were come
To finiſh our diſtreſs .
When God ſhall bring his children home,
Our ſongs ſhall never ceaſe. '
PSALM XV. [C. M.] g
Charačers of a ſaint; or, a citizen of Zion; or,
the qualifications of a chriſtian.
I WHO ſhall inhabit in thy hill,
O God of holineſs 2
Whosº will the Lord admit to dwell
So near his throne of grace
|
3
2 The man that walks in pious ways,
And works with righteous hands;
That truſts his maker's promiſes,
And follows his commands.
3 He ſpeaks the meaning of his heart,
Nor ſlanders with his tongue;
Will ſcarce believe an ill report,
Nor do his neighbour wrong,
4 The wealthy ſinner he contemns,
Loves all that fear the Lord ;
And tho’ to his own hurt he ſwears,
Still he performs his word.
5 His hands diſdain a golden bribe,
And never gripe the poor;
This man ſhall dwell with God on earth,
And find his heav'n ſecure,
PSALM XV. [L. M.]
Religion and juſtice, goodneſs and truth; or, du-
ties to God and man; or, the qualifications of
a chriffian.
1 WHO ſhall aſcend thy heav'nly place,
Great God, and dwell before thy face
The man that minds religion now,
And humbly walks with God below.
2 Whoſe hands are pure, whoſe heartis clean,
Whoſe lips ſtill ſpeak the thing they mean;
No ſlanders dwell upon his tongue;
He hates to do his neighbour wrong.
[Scare will he truſt an ill report,
Nor vents it to his neighbour's hurt:
Sinners of ſtate he can deſpiſe,
But ſaints are honour’d in his eyes.]
[Firm to his word he ever ſtood,
And always makes his promiſe good;
Nor dares to change the thing be ſwears,
Whatever pain or loſs he bears..] g
4
5
[He never deals in bribing gold,
And mourns that juſtice ſhould be ſold;
While others gripe and grind the poor,
Sweet charity attends his door.]
He loves his enemies, and prays
For thoſe that curſe him to his face;
And doth to all men ſtill the ſame
That he would hope or wiſh from them,
Yet when his holieſt works are done,
His ſoul depends on grace alone :
This is the man thy face ſhall ſee,
And dwell for ever, Lord, with thee.
6
T
PSALM XVI. Part I. [L. M.]
Confeſſion of our ſoverty, and ſaints the beft com-
Alany; or, good works profit men, not God,
l DRESERVE me, Lord, in time of need
For ſuccour to thy throne I flee,
But have no merits there to plead;
My goodneſs cannot reach to thee.
2 Oſt have my heart and tongue conſeſt
How empty and how poor I am ;
My praiſe can never make theo bleſt,
Nor add new glories to thy name,
PSALMS.—XVI. XVII. 41
3 Yet, Lord, thy ſaints on earth may reap,
Some profit by the good we do ;
Theſe are the company I keep,
Theſe are the choiceſt friends I know.
4 Let others chooſe the ſons of mirth,
To give a reliſh to their wine;
I love the men of heav'nly birth,
Whoſe thoughts and language are divine.
PSALM XVI. Part II: [L. M.]
Chriſt’s all-ſufficiency.
j HOW faſt their guilt and ſorrows riſe,
Who haſte to ſeek ſome idol god;
I will not taſte their ſacrifice,
Their off'rings of forbidden blood,
My God provides a richer cup,
And nobler ſood to live upon :
He for my life has offer'd up
Jeſus, his beſt belowed Son.
3 His love is my perpetual feaſt;
By day his counſels guide me right :
And be his name for ever bleſt,
Who gives me ſweet advice by night.
$2
4 I ſet him ſtill beſore mine eyes;
At my right-hand he ſtands prepar’d
To keep my ſoul from all ſurpriſe,
And be my everlaſting guard.
PSALM XVI. Part III. [L. M.]
Courage in death, and hope of reſurreàion.
i WHEN God is nigh, my faith is ſtrong,
His arm is my almighty prop :
Be glad, my heart, rejoice, my tongue,
My dying fleſh ſhall reſt in hope.
2 Though in the duſt I lay my head,
Yet, gracious God, thou wilt not leave
My ſoul for ever with the dead,
Nor loſe thy children in the grave.
3 My fleſh ſhall thy firſt call obey,
Shake off the duſt and riſe on high ;
Then ſhalt thou lead the wond’rous way,
Up to thy throne above the ſky.
4 There ſtreams of endleſs pleaſure flow;
And full diſcoveries of thy grace,
(Which we but taſted here below)
Spread heav'nly joys thro' all the place.
PSALM XVI. 1–8. Part I. [C. M.]
Suſ/lort and counſel from God, withoat merit.
I SAVE me, O Lord, from ev’ry foe;
In thee my truſt I place;
Though all the good that I can do
Can ne'er deſerve thy grace.
2 Yet if my God prolong my breath,
The faints may profit by’t;
The ſaints, the glory of the earth,
The men of my delight.
3 Let heathems to their idols haſte,
And worſhip wood or flone;
But my delightful lot is caſt
Where the true God is known.
VOL. VII.
4 His hand provides my conſtant food;
He fills my daily cup ;
Much am I pleas'd with preſent good,
But more rejoice in hope.
5 God is my portion and my joy;
His counſels are my light :
He gives me ſweet advice by day,
And gentle hints by night.
My ſoul would all her thoughts approve
To his all-ſeeing eye;
Nor death, nor bell, my hope ſhall move,
While ſuch a friend is nigh.
6
PSALM XVI. Part II. [C. M.,]
The death and reſurrečion ºf Chriſt.
{& I Set the Lord before my face,
“He bears my courage up ;
“My heart and tongue their joy expreſs,
“My fleſh ſhall reſt in hope.
1
| 2. “My ſpirit, Lord, thou wilt not leave
“Where ſouls departed are;
“Nor quit my body to the grave,
“To ſee corruption there.
“Thou wilt reveal the path of life,
“And raiſe me to thy throne ;
“Thy courts immortal pleaſures give,
“Thy preſence joys unknown.”
4 [Thus in the name of Chriſt the Lord,
The holy David ſung :
And Providence fulfils the word
Of his prophetic tongue.
3
5 Jeſus, whom ev’ry ſaint adores,
Was crucify’d and ſlain :
Behold, the tomb its prey reſtores
Behold, he lives again
6 When ſhall my ſect ariſe, and ſtand
On heav’n’s etcrual hills 2
There ſits the Son at God’s right-hand,
And there the Father ſmiles.]
PSALM XVII. ver, 15, &c. [S, M.]
Portion of ſaints and ſinners : or, hope and dºſhair
in death.
l RISE, my gracious God,
And make the wicked flee :
They are but thy chaſtiſing rod,
To drive thy ſaints to thee.
2 Behold the ſinner dics,
His haughty words are vain ;
Here in this life his pleaſure lies,
And all beyond is pain. .
3 Then let his pride advance,
And boaſt of all his ſtore;
The Lord is my inheritance,
My ſoul can wiſh no more,
4 I ſhall behold the face
Of my forgiving God;
And ſtand complete in righteouſneſs,
Waſh’d in my Saviour’s blood.
F
43
PSALMS.–XVII. XVIII.
5 There's a new heav'n begun
When I awake from death,
Dreſt in the likeneſs of thy Son,
And draw immortal breath.
PSALM XVII. [L. M.]
The ſinner's ſortion and ſaint's hoſie : or, the hea-
ven of ſeparate ſouls, and the reſurreółion.
* T ORD, I am thine : But thou wilt prove
My faith, my patience, and my love; s
When men of ſpite againſt me join,
They are the ſword, the hand is thinc.
Their hope and portion lies below ;
'Tis all the happineſs they know,
'Tis all they ſeek : They take their ſhares,
And leave the reſt among their heirs.
What ſinners value, I reſign ;
Lord, 'tis ethough that thiou art mine :
I ſhall behold thy bliſsful face,
And ſtand complete in righteouſneſs.
3
This liſc's a dream, an empty ſhow ;
But the bright world to which I go
Hath joys ſubſtantial and ſincere :
When ſhall I wake and find me there 3
O glorious hour, O bleſt abode I
I ſhall be near ! and like my God
And fleſh and ſin no more controul
The ſacred pleaſures of the ſoul.
5
My fleſh ſhall ſlumber in the ground,
Till the laſt trumpet’s joyſul ſound;
Then burſt the chains with ſweet ſurpriſe,
And in my Saviour’s image riſe,
PSALM XVIII, ver, 1–6, 15–18.
Part I. [L. M.]
Deliverance from deſhair : or, tem/itations over-
CC/36.
1 THEE will I love, O Lord, my ſtrength,
My rock, my tow’r, my high defence;
Thy mighty arm ſhall be my truſt,
For I have found ſalvation thence. .
2 Death and terrors of the grave,
Stood round me with their diſmal ſhade,
. . While floods of high temptation roſe,
And made my ſinking ſoul aſ raid.
3 I ſaw the op'ning gates of hell,
With endleſs pains and forrows there ;
Which none but they that feel can tell,
While I was hurried vo deſpair.
4 In my diſtreſs I call'd my God,
When I could ſcarce believe him mine;
He bow’d his ear to my complaint;
Then did his grâce appear divine,
5 [With ſpeed he flew to my relief,
As on a cherub's wing he rode;
Awful and bright as lightning ſhone
The face of my delivºrer God.
6 Temptations fled at his rebuke,
The blaſt of his almighty breath :
He ſent ſalvation from on high,
And drew me from the deeps of death.]
|
7 Great were my fears, my focs were great,
Much was their ſtrength, and more
their rage :
But Chriſt, my Lord, is conqu'ror ſtill,
In all the wars that devils wage.
My ſong, ſor ever ſhall record
That terrible, that joyful hour;
And give the glory to the Lord,
Due to his mercy, and his pow'r.
PSALM XVIII. Ver, 20–26.
Part II. [L. M.]
Sincerity proved and rewarded.
I LORD, thou haſt ſeen my ſoul fincere,
Haſt made thy truth and love appear;
Before mine eyes I ſet thy laws,
And thou haſt own’d my rightcous cauſe,
2 Since I have learn'd thy holy ways,
‘I’ve walk’d upright before thy face;
Or iſ my feet did g’er depart,
'Twas never with a wicked heart.
3
What fore temptations broke my reſt
What wars and ſtruggles in my breaſt ! .
But thro’ thy grace that reigns within,
I guard againſt my darling ſin:
That ſin that cloſe beſets me ſtill,
That works and ſtrives againſt my will ;
When ſhall thy Spirit's ſov’reign pow'r
eſtroy it that it riſe no more ?
4
5
[With an impartial hand, the Lord
Deals out to mortals their reward :
The kind and ſaithful ſouls ſhall find
A God as faithful and as kind.
The juſt and pure ſhall ever ſay,
Thou art more pure, more juſt than they a
And meſſ that love revenge ſhall know,
God hath an arm of vengeance too.]
6
PSALM XVIII. ver, 30, 31, 34, 35,46, &c.
* Part III. [L. M.]
Rejoicing in God : or, ſalvation and triumph.
l jºr are thy ways, and true thy word,
* Great Rock of my ſecure abode :
Who is a God beſide the Lord P
Or where’s a refuge like our God?
2 ”Tis he that girds me with his might,
Gives me his holy ſword to wield :
And while with ſin and hell I fight,
Spreads his ſalvation for my ſhield.
3 He lives (and bleſſed be my Rock 1)
The God of my ſalvation lives :
The dark deſigns of hell are broke :
Sweet is the peace my Father gives,
4 Beſore the ſcoffers of the age,
I will exalt my Father’s name;
Not tremble at their mighty rage,
But meet reproach, and bear the ſhame;
5 To David and his royal ſeed
Thy grace for ever ſhall extend :
Thy love to ſaints in Chriſt their head,
Knows not a limit, nor an end.
PSALMS.—XVIII. XIX.
43
PSALM XIX. Part I. [S. M.]
PSALM XVIII. Part I. [C. M. J
Wićtory and triumph over temporal enemies.
1 WE love thee, Lord, and we adore;
Now is thine arm reveal’d :
Thou art our ſtrength, our heav'nly tow'r,
Our bulwark, and our ſhield.
2 We fly to our Eternal Rock,
And find a ſtire defence;
His holy name our lips invoke,
And draw ſalvation thence.
3
When God our leader ſhines in arms
What mortal heart can bear
The thunder of his loud alarms, l
The lightning of his ſpear 2
He rides upon the winged wind,
And angels in array,
In millions wait to know his mind,
And ſwift as flames obey.
He ſpeaks, and at his fierce rebuke
Whole armies are diſmay’d ;
His voice, his frown, his angry lock;
Strikes all their courage dead.
He forms our gen’rals for the field,
With all their dreadful ſkill;
Gives them his awful ſword to wield,
And makes their hearts of ſteel,
[He arms our captains to the fight,
(Tho' there his name's forgot;)
He girded Cyrus with his might,
But Cyrus knew him not.
Oft has the Lord whole nations bleſt,
For his own church’s ſake:
The pow’rs that give his people reſt,
Shall of his care partake.]
PSALM XVIII. Part II.
The conqueror's ſong,
O thine almighty arm we owe
The triumphs of the day:
Thy terrors, Lord, confound the foe,
Aud melt their ſtrength away.
[C. M.]
'Tis by thine aid our troops prevail,
And break united pow’rs;
Or burn their boaſted fleets, or ſcale
The proudeſt of their tow’rs.
How have we chas'd them thro’ the field,
And trod them to the ground,
While thy ſalvation was our ſhield,
But they no ſhelter found !
4 In vain to idol ſaints they cry, ,
And periſh in their blood:
Where is a rock ſo great, ſo high,
So pow'rful as our God
5 The rock of Iſr'el ever lives,
His name bc ever bleſt ;
'Tis his own arm the vićt'ry gives,
And gives his people reſt.
6 On kings that reign as David did,
He pours.his bleſfings down ;
Secures their honours to their ſeed,
And well ſupports their-crown.
f
The book of nature and ſcripture.
For a Lord’s-day morning.
EHOLD the lofty ſky
Declares its Maker God,
And all his ſtarry works on high
Proclaim his pow'r abroad.
The darkneſs and the light
Still keep their courſe the ſame;
While night to day, and day to nights
Divinely teach his name,
1
2
3 In ev'ry diff'rent land,
Their gen’ral voice is known ;
They ſhew the wonders of his hand,
And orders of his throne.
Ye Britiſh lands rejoice;
He here reveals his word :
We 2re not loft to nature’s voice
To bid us know the Lord.
His ſtatutes and commands
Are ſet before our eyes’:
He puts his goſpel in our hands,
Where our ſalvation lies.
4
5
6 His laws are juſt and purc,
His truth without deceit;
His promiſes for ever ſure,
And his rewards are great.
[Not honey to the taſte
Affords ſo much delight,
Nor gold that...has the furnace paſt
So much allures the ſight.
7
8 While of thy works I ſing,
Tiny'glory to proclaim,
Accept the praiſe, my God, my king,
In my Redeemer’s name.]
PSALM XIX. Part II, [S. M.,]
God’s word moſt excellent : or, ſincerity and
watchfulneſs.
For a Lord’s-day morning.
i BEHOLD the morning ſun
Begins his glorious way;
His beams thro' all the nations run,
And life and light convey.
2 But where the goſpel comes
It ſpreads diviner light,
It calls dead ſinners from their tombs,
And glves the blind their fight.
3 How perfeót is thy word I
And all thy judgments juſt
For ever ſure, thy promiſe, Lord,
And men ſecurely truſt.
*
4 My gracious God, how plain
Are thy direétions giv'n 2
O may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heav'n.
PAUSE.
5 I hearthy word with love,
And I would fain obey;
F 2
44
PSALMS.—XIX. XX.
Send thy good Spirit ſrom above
To guide me, left I ſtray.
6 O who can ever find
The errors of his ways
Yet, with a bold preſumptuous mind,
I would not dare tranſgreſs.
'ſ Warn me of cv’ry ſin;
Forgive my ſecret faults;
And cleanſe this guilty foul of mine,
Whoſe crimes exceed my thoughts.
8 While with my heart and tongue
I ſpread thy praiſe abroad ;
Accept the worſhip and the ſong,
My Saviour and my God
PSALM XIX. [L. M.]
The book of nature and of ſc, ſiture com/lared; or,
the glory and ſucceſs of the goſhel.
I THE heav'n's declare thy glory, Lord ;
In ev’ry ſtar thy wiſdom ſhines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines,
2 The rolling ſun, the changing light,
And nights and days thy pow'r confeſs;
But the beſt volume thou haſt writ,
Reveals thy juttice and thy grace.
3 Sun, moon, and ſtars convey thy praiſe
Round the who e carth, and never ſtand;
So when thy truth began its race,
it touch'd and glanc'd on ev'ry land.
4 Nor ſhall thy ſpreading goſpel reſt,
Till thro’ the world thy truth has run,
Till Chriſt has all the nations bleſt,
That ſee the light, or ſeel the ſun.
5 Great Sun of Rightcouſneſs ariſe,
Bleſs the dark world with heav'nly
light;
Thy goſpel makes the fimple wiſe,
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.
6. Thy nobleſt wonders here we view,
In ſouls enew’d and ſins ſo giv'n ;
Lord, cleanſe my fins, my ſoul renew,
And make thy word my guide to heav'n.
PSALM X1X.
To the tung of the 1 13th Pſalm.
The book of nature and ſcripture.
{ GREAT God, the heav’ns well order'd
fral mo
Declares the glories of thy name;
There thy rich works of wonders ſhine;
A thouſand fiarry beauties there,
A thouſand radiant maks appear,
Of boundleſs pow'r and ſkill divine,
3. From night to day, from day to night,
The dawning and the dying ſight,
Leótures of heav'nly wiſdom read;
With ſilent eloquence they raiſe
Our thoughts to . praiſe,
And neither found nor language need.
3 Yet their divine inſtructions run
Far as the Jo Irnics of the ſun,
And ev’ry nation knows their voice :
The ſun, like ſome young bridegroom dreſt
Breaks from the chambers of the eaſt:
Rolls round, and makes the earth rejoice.
4. Where'er he ſpreads his beams abroad,
He ſmiles and ſpeaks his maker God;
All nature joins to ſhew thy praiſe.
Thus God in ev'ry creature ſhuncs:
Fair is the book of nature’s lines;
But fairer is thy book of grace.
PAUSE.
5 I love the volumes of thy word;
What light and joy thoſe leaves affold
To ſouls benighted and diſtreſt
Thy precepts guide my doubtful way,
Thy fear forbids my ſcet to ſtray,
Thy promiſe leads my heart to reſt.
6 From the diſcov’ries of thy law,
The perſe&t rules of life I draw ;
Theſe are my ſtudy and delight;
Not honey ſo invites the taſte ;
Nol gold that hath the furnace paſt,
Appears ſo pleaſing to the ſight.
7 Thy threat’nings wake my ſlumb’ring eyes,
And warn me where my danger lies;
But 'tis thy bleſſed goſpel, Lord,
That makes my guilty conſcience clean,
Converts my ſoul, ſubdues my ſin,
And glves a free but large reward.
*
8 Who knows the errors of his thoughts
My God, forgive my ſecret faults,
And from preſumptuous ſins reſtrain;
Accept my poor attempts to praiſe,
That I have read thy book of grace,
And book of nature not in vain.
PSALM XX.
Prayer and hoſic of vićiory.
For a day of prayer in time of war.
| Now may the God of pow'r and grace
Attend his people’s humble cry
Jehovah hears when Iſi’el prays,
And brings deliv'rance ſrom on high.
2 The name of Jacob's God deſerds,
Better than ſhields or brazen walls;
He from his ſančluary ſends
Succout and ſtrength, when Zion calls.
3 Well he remembers all our ſighs;
His love exceeds our beſt deſerts;
His love accepts the ſacrifice
Of humble groans and broken healts.
4 In his ſalvation is our hope,
And in the name of Iſr’el’s God
Qur troops ſhall liſt their banners up,
Our navies ſpread their flags abroad.
5 Somc truſt in horſes train’d for war,
And ſome of chario's make their boaſts;
Our ſureſt expectations are
From thee, the Lord of heav'nly hoſts.
6 [O may the mem'ry of thy name
Inſplie our armies for the fight !
jº
TSALMS.—
XXI. XXII.
our foes ſhall fall and die with ſhame, .
or quit the field with ſhameful flight.
7 Now ſave us, Lord, from ſlaviſh fear;
Now let our hopes be firm and flrong,
'Till the ſalvation ſhall appeaf,
And joy and triumph raiſe thy ſong.
PSALM XXI, fc. M.]
Our king is the care of heaven.
1 THE king, O Lord, with ſongs of praiſe,
Shall in thy ſtrength rejoice:
And, bleſt with thy ſalvation, raiſe
To heav'n his cheerful voice.
2 Thy ſure defence, thro’ nations round
Has ſpread his glorious name :
And his ſucceſsful actions crown'd
With majeſty and fame.
3 Then let the king on God alone,
For timely aid rely;
His mercy ſhall ſupport the throne,
And all our wants ſupply.
4 But, righteous Lord, his ſtubborn foes
Shall feel thy dreadful hand ;
Thy vengeful arm ſhall find out thoſe
That hate his mild command.
5 When thou againſt them doſt engage,
Thy juſt but dreadful doom
Shall like a fiery oven’s rage,
Their hopes and them conſume.
§ Thus, Lord, thy wond’rous pow'r declare,
And thus czalt thy fame :
Whilſt we glad ſongs of praiſe prepare
For thine almighty name.
PSALM XXI. 1–9. [L. M.]
Chriſt exalted to the Kingdom,
I DAVIP rejoic’d in God his ſtrength,
Rais’d to the throne by ſpecial grace;
But Chriſt the Son appears at length,
Fulfils the triumph and the praiſe.
2 How great is the Meſfiah's joy,
In the ſalvation of thy hand 1
Lord, thou haſt rais’d his kingdom high,
And giv'n the world to his command.
5 Thy goodneſs grants whate'er he will;
Nor doth the leaſt requeſt withhold 5
Bleſfings of love prevent him ſtill,
And crowns of glory, not of gold.
4 Honour and majeſty divine
Around his ſacred temples ſhine;
Bleſt with the favour of thy face,
And length of everlattung days.
5 Thine hand ſhall find out all his foes :
And, as a fiery oven glows
With raging heat and living coats,
So ſhall thy wrath devour thcur ſouls.
PSALM XXII. ver, 1-16.
Part I. [C. M.]
The ſufferings and death of Chriſt.
J. “WHY has my God my ſoul forſook
W “Nor will a finile afford ** }
(Thus David once in anguiſh ſpoke,
And thus our dying Lord.)
2 Tho' 'tis thy chief delight to dwell
Among thy praiſing faints,
Yet thou can’ſ hear a groan as well,
And pity our complaints.
3 Our fathers truſted in thy name,
And great deliv'rance found ;
But, I’m a worm, deſpis’d of men,
And trodden to the ground.
4 Shaking the head they paſs me by,
And laugh my ſoul to ſcorn;
“In vain he truſts in God, (they cry)
“Neglected and forlorn.”
5 But thou art he, who form'd my fleſh
By thire almighty word;
And ſince I hung upon the breat,
My hope is in the Lord.
6 Why will my father hide his face,
When foes ſtand threat’ning round,
In the dark hour of deep diſtreſs,
And not an helper found 2
PAUSE.
7 Behold thy darling left among
The cruel and the proud,
As bulls of Baſan, fierce and ſtrong,
As lions roaring loud.
º
8 From earth and hell my ſorrows meet
To multiply the ſmart;
They nail my hands, they pierce my feet,
And try to vex my heart.
9 Yet if thy ſov’reign hand iet looſe
The rage of earth and hell,
Why will my heav'nly Father bruiſe
Thc Son he loves ſo well ?
10 My God, if poſſible it be,
Withhold this bitter cup ;
But I reſign my will to thee,
And drink the ſol rows up.
| | I My heart diſſolves with pangs unknown,
In groans I waſte my breath;
Thy heavy hand has brought me down
Low as the duſt of death.
12 Father, I give my ſpirit up,
And truſt it in thy hand;
My dying fleſh ſhall reſt in hope,
And riſe at thy command.
PSALM XXII. 20, 21, 27–31.
Part II. [C, M
Chriſt’s ſufferings and #ingdom.
1 << Now from the roaring hon’s rage,
“O Lord, protećt thy Son;
“ Not leave thy darling to, engage
“The pow'rs of hell alone,
2 Thus did our ſuffring Saviour pray,
With mighty cries and tears;
God heard him in that dreadiul day,
And chas'd away his fears.
46
PSALMS.–XXII. XXIII.
3 Great was the vićtory of his death,
His throne czalted high ;
And all the kundreds of the earth
Shall worſhip, or ſhalſ die.
4. A num’rous offspring muſt ariſe
From his expiryug groans;
They ſhall be reckon'd, in his eyes,
For daughters and for ſons.
5 The meek and humble ſouls ſhall ſee
His table richly ſpread;
And all that ſeek the Lord ſhall be
With joys immortal fed.
6 The iſles ſhall know the righteouſneſs
Of our incarnate God ;
And nations, yet unborn, profeſs
Salvation in his blood.
PSALM XXII. [L. M.]
Chrift's ſufferings and exaltation.
l NOW let our mournful ſongs record
The dying ſorrows of our Lord ;
When he complain’d in tears and blood,
As one forſaken of his God.
The Jews beheld him thus forlorn,
And ſhake their heads, and laugh in ſcorn;
** He reſcu’d others from the grave ;
“Now let him try himſelf to ſave.
$2
3 * This is the man did once pretends
“ God was his Father, and his friefid;
“Iſ God the bleſſed lov’d him ſo,
“Why doth he ſail to help him now
4 Barbarous people ! cruel prieſts!'
How they ſtood round like ſavage beaſts'
Like lions gaping to devour,
When God had left him in their pow'r,
5 They wound his head, his hands his feet,
Till ſtreams of blood each other meet ;
By lot his garments they divide,
And mock the pangs in which he dy’d.
6
But God, his Father, heard his cry;
Rais’d from the dead, he reigns on high ;
The nations learn his righteouſneſs,
And humble ſinners taſte his grace.
PSALM XXIII. [L. M.]
God our Shepherd.
1 MY ſhepherd is the living Lord;
Now ſhall my wants be well fupply’d ;
His providence and holy word
Become my ſaf’ty and my guide.
2 In paſtures where ſalvation grows,
He makes me feed, he makes me reſt;
There living water gently flows,
And all the food divinely bleſt.
3 My wand'ring feet his ways miſtake,
But he reſtores my ſoul to peace,
And leads me, for his mercy’s ſake,
In the fair paths of righteouſneſs.
4 Tho’ I walk thro’ the gloomy vale,
Where death and all its terrors are,
6
8
!
2
6
l
3
4.
My heart and hope ſhall never fail, ,
For God my ſhepherd's with me there,
Amidſt the darkneſs and the deeps •
Thou art my comfort, thou my ſtay;
Thy flaff ſupports my feeble ſteps,
Thy rod directs my doubtful way.
The ſons of earth and ſons of hell
Gaze at thy goodneſs, and repine
To ſee my table ſpread ſo well,
With living bread and chearful wined
[How I rejoice when on my head
Thy Spirit condeſcends to reſt |
'Tis a divine anointing ſhed
Lake oil of gladneſs at a ſeaſt.
Surely the mercies of the Lord
Attend his houſehold all their days :
There will l dwell to hear his word,
To ſeek his ſace and ſing his praiſe.]
PSALM XXIII. [C. M.]
Y ſhepherd will ſupply my need,
Jehovah is his name;
In paſtures freſh he makes me ſeed,
Beſide the living ſtrcam.
He brings my wand'ring ſpirit back,
When I forſake his ways;
And leads me, for his mercy’s ſake,
In paths of truth and grace.
When I walk thro’ the ſhades of death,
Thy preſence is my ſtay;
A word of thy ſupporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in ſpite of all my foes,
Doth ſtill my table ſpread;
My cup with bleſſings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.
The ſure proviſions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may thy houſe be mine abode,
And all my work be praiſe !
There would I find a ſettled reſt,
(While others go and come)
No more a ſtranger, or a gueſt,
But like a child at home.
PSALM XXIII, [S. M.]
THE Lord my ſhepherd is,
I ſhall be well ſupply'd,
Since he is mine, and I am his,
What can I want beſide 2
He leads me to the place
Where heav'nly paſture grows,
Where living waters gently pals,
And full ſalvation flows.
If e'er I go aſtray,
He doth my ſoul reclaim,
And guides me in his own right way,
For his moſt holy name.
While he affords his aid,
I cannot yield to fear;
Tho' I ſhould walkthro’ death’s dark ſhade
My ſhepherd's with me there.
PSAſ MS.–XXIV. XXV.
47
In ſpite of all my foes,
Thou doſt my table ſpread,
My cup with bleſſings overflows,
And joy exalts my lead.
The bounties of thy love
Shall crown my following days;
Nor from thy houſe will I remove,
Nor ceaſe to ſpeak thy praiſe.
;5
6
PSALM XXIV, [C. M.]
Dwelling with God.
1 THE earth for ever is the Lord's,
With Adam’s numerous race;
He rais’ór, as arches o'er thc floods,
And built it on the ſeas.
2 But who among the ſons of men,
May viſit thine abode .
He that has hands from miſchief clean,
Whoſe heart is right with God.
3 This is the man may riſe and take
The bleſfings of his grace;
This is the lot of thoſe that ſeek
The God of Jacob's face.
4 Now lot our ſouls immortal pow’rs
To meet the Lord prepare,
Liſt up their overlaſting doors,
The king of glory’s near.
5 The king of glory ! Who can tell
The wonders of his might
He rules the uations; but to dwell
With ſaints, is his delight.
PSALM XXIV. [L. M.]
Saints dwell in heaven; or, Chriſ's aſcenſion.
1 T
H 13 ſpacious earth is all the Lord's,
And men, and worms, and beaſts, and
birds :
~He rais'd the buildings on the ſeas,
And gave it for their dwelling-place.
2 But there’s a brighter world on high, .
Thy palace, Lord, above the ſky :
Who ſhall aſcend that bleſt abode,
And dwell ſo near his maker God?
3 He that abliors and fears to fin,
Whoſe heart is pure, whoſe hands are
clean, .
Him ſhall the Lord the Saviour bleſs, |
And clothe his ſoul with righteouſneſs. |
4 Theſe are the men, the pious race
That ſeek the God of Jacob's face ;
Theſe ſhall enjoy the bliſsful fight,
And dwell in everlaſting light.
PAUSE,
5 Rejoice, ye ſhining worlds on high, ,
Behold the king of glory nigh ;
Who can this king of glory be 2
The mighty Lord, the Saviour's he.
| 1
3
!
t; Ye heav'nly gates, your leaves diſplay,
To make the Lord the Saviour way :
Laden with ſpoils from earth and hell,
The conqu'ror comes with God to dwell.
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7 Rais'd from the dead he goes before,
He opens heav’n’s eternal door,
To give his ſaints a bleſt abode,
Near their Redcemer and their God.
Aº
PSALM XXV. 1–11. Part I.
Waiting for pardon and direčion.
1 I Lift my ſoul to God,
T. My truſt is in his name;
Let not my foes, that ſeek my blood,
Still triumph in my ſhame.
O
2 Sin, and the pow’rs of hell
Perſuade me to deſpair;
Plord, make me know thy cov’nant Well,
That I may 'ſcape the ſnare.
From the firſt dawning light,
Till the dark ev’ning riſe,
For thy ſalvation, Lord, I wait
With ever-longing eyes.
Remember all thy grace,
And lead me in thy truth;
Forgive the ſins of riper days,
And follies of my youth.
The Lord is juſt and kind,
The meek ſhall learn his ways,
And ev'ry humble finner find
The methods of his grace,
3
4.
5
6 For his own goodneſs-ſake
He ſaves my ſoul from ſhame:
He pardons (tho' my guilt be great) -
Thro' my Redeemer’s name.
PSALM XXV. 12, 14, 10, 13. Part II.
JDivine Iºſiručion.
WHERE ſhall the man be found
That fears tº offend his God,
That loves the goſpel's joyful ſound,
And trembles at the rod
2 The Lord ſhall make him know
The ſecrets of his heart,
The wonders of his cov’na
ht ſhow,
And all his love impart,
The dealings of his hand
Are truth and mercy ſtill,
With ſuch as to his cov’nant ſtand,
And love to do his will.
4 Their ſouls ſhall dwell at eaſe
Before their Maker’s face ;
Their feed ſhall taſte the promiſes
lin their extenſive grace.
PSALM xxv. 15–22. Part H.I.
Diſtreſs of ſoul; or, backſliding and deſertion.
MINE eyes and my deſire
Are ever to the Lord ;
I love to plead his promiſes,
And reſt upon his word.
Turn, turn thee to my ſoul,
Bring thy falvation near;
When will thy hand releaſe my feet
Qut of the deadly ſnare
1
Q
º
48
PSALMS.–XXVI, XVII, XXIX.
3 when ſhall the ſov’reign grace
Of my ſorgiving God
Readre me from thoſe dang'rous ways
My wand'ring feet have trod 2
4 The tumult of my thoughts
Doth but chlarge my woe ;
My ſpirit languiſhes, my heart
is deſolate and low.
5 with ev’ry morning-light
My ſorrow new begins;
Look on my anguiſh and my pain,
And pardon all my fins.
PAUSE.
6 Bohold the hoſts of hell,
How cruel is their hatc . . .
Againſt my life they riſe, and join
Their fury with deceit.
7 O keep my ſoul from death,
Nor put my hope to ſhame;
For I have plac'd my only trutt
In my Redeemer’s name.
3 With humble faith I wait
To ſee thy face again ;
of Hſrael it ſhall ne'er be ſaid,
He ſought the Lord in vain.
PSALM XXVI.
Scif-cxamination; or, cvidences of grace.
H Jupº me, O Lord, and prove my ways,
•' And try my reins, and try my heart;
My faith upon thy promiſe ſtays,
Nor from thy law my feet depart.
2 I hate to walk, I hate to fit
With men of vanity and lyes;
The ſcoffer and the hypocrite
Are the abhorrence of mine eyes.
S
Amongſt thy ſaints will I appear,
With hands well-waſh’d in innocence:
But when I ſtand before thy bar,
The blood of Chriſt is my defence.
4 I love thy habitation, Lord,
The temple where thine honours dwell;
There ſhall I hear thine holy word,
And there thy works of wonder tell.
5 Let not my ſoul be join’d at laſt
With men of treachery and blood,
Since I my days on earth have paſt
Among the ſaints and near my God.
PSALM XXVII. 1–6. Part I.
The church is our delight andfafety.
2 THE Lord of glory is my light,
And my ſalvation too;
God is my ſtrength, nor will I fear
What all my foes can do.
2 One privilege my heart deſires;
O grant me an abode
Among the churches of thy ſaints,
The temples of my God
3
5
l
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
There ſhall I offer my requeſts,
And ſee thy beauty ſtill,
Shall hear thy meſſages of love,
And there enquire thy will.
When troubles riſe, and ſtorms appear,
There may his children hide :
God has a ſtrong pavilion where
He makes my ſoul abide.
Now ſhall my head be liſted high
Above my foes around,
And ſongs of joy and vićtory
Within thy temple ſound.
PSALM XXVII. 8, 9, 13, 14. Part II.
Prayer and hoſte.
SOON as I heard my Father ſay,
“Ye children ſeek my grace,
My heart reply'd without delay,
“I’ll ſeek my Father's face.
Let not thy face be hid from me,
Nor frown my ſoul away;
God of my life, I fly to thee
In a diſtreſſing day. .
Should friends and kindred near and dear
Leave me to want, or die;
My God would make my life is care,
And all my need ſupply.
My fainting fleſh had dy’d with grief,
Had not my ſoul believ'd
To ſee thy grace provide relief,
Nor was my hope deceiv'd.
Wait on the Lord, ye trembling ſaints,
And keep your courage up ;
He’ll raiſe your ſpirit when it faints,
And far exceed your hope.
PSALM XXIX.
Storm aned thunder.
GIVE to the Lord, ye ſons of fame,
Gave to the Lord renown and pow'r,
Aſcribe duc honours to his name,
And his eternal might adore.
The Lord proclaims his pow'r aloud
Over the ocean and the land;
His voice divides the wat'ry cloud,
And lightnings blaze at his command.
He ſpeaks, and tempeſt, hail and wind
Lay the wide foreſts bare around; *-
The fearful hart, and frighted hind,
. Leap at the terror of the ſound.
5
6
To Lebanon he turns his voice,
And, lo! the ſtately cedars break; .
The mountains tremble at the noiſe,
The vallies roar, the deſarts quake.
The Lord ſits ſov’reign on the flood,
The thund’rer I eigns for ever king ;
But makes his church his bleſt abode,
Where we his awful glories ſing.
In gentler language there the Lord
The counſels of his grace imparts;
Amidſt the raging ſtorm his word
Speaks peace and courage to our hearts.
{. * *
PS4LMS.—XXX. XXXI, XXXII,
49
PSALM XXX. Part I.
Sickneſs healed, and ſorrow removed.
I I Will extol thee, Lord on high,
At thy command diſeaſes fly;
Wh9 but a God can ſpeak and ſave
From the dark borders of the grave *
2 Sing to the Lord, ye ſaints of his,
And tell how large his goodneſs is :
Let all your pow’rs rejoice, and bleſs,
While you record his holineſs.
3 His anger but a moment ſtays;
His love is life and length of days;
Tho' grief and tears the night employ,
The morning ſtar reſtores the joy.
PSALM XXX, ver, 6. Part II.
Health, ſickneſs, and recovery.
1 FIRM was, my health, my day was
bright,
And I preſum’d 'twould ne'er be night :
Fondly I ſaid within my heart,
“Pleaſure and peace ſhall ne'er depart.”
2 But I forgot thine arm was ſtrong,
Which made my mountains ſtand ſo long;
Soon as thy face began to hide,
My health was gone, my comforts dy’d.
3 I cry’d aloud, to thee, my God,
“What canſt thou profit by my blood?
“Deep in the duſt can I declare
“Thy truth, or ſing thy goodneſs there 2
4 “Hear me, O God of Grace (I ſaid) , ,
“And bring me from among the dead :”
Thy word rebuk’d the pains I felt,
Thy pard’ning love remov’d my guilt.
5 My groans, and tears, and forms of woe,
Are turn’d to joy and praiſes now ;
I throw my ſackcloth on the ground,
And eaſe and gladneſs gurd me round.
6 My tongue, the glory of my frame,
Shall ne'er be ſilent of thy name;
Thy praiſe ſhall ſound thro’ earth and
heaven,
For ſickneſs heal’d, and fins forgiv'n,
PSALM XXXI. ver. 5–13–19, 22, 23.
Part I.
Deliverance from death.
1 INTO thine hand, O God of truth,
My ſpirit I commit;
Thou haſt redeemed my ſoul from death,
And ſav'd me from the pit,
2 The paſſions of my hope and fear
Maintain’d a doubtful ſtrife,
While ſorrow, pain, and ſin conſpir’d
To take away my life.
3 “My times are in thy hand (I cry’d)
“Tho' I draw near the duſt;
Thou art the refuge where I hide,
The God in whom 1 truſt.
4 O make thy reconciled face
Upon thy ſervant ſhine,
And ſave me for thy mercy's ſake,
For I’m entirely thine.
VOL. VII,
PAUSE.
5 [’Twas in my haſte my ſpirit ſaid,
“I muſt deſpair and die,
“I am cut off before thine eyes;”
But thou haſt heard my cry.]
6 Thy goodneſs how divinely ſree;
How wond’rous is thy gracel
To thoſe that fear thy majeſty,
And truſt thy promiſes
7 O love the Lord, all ye his ſaints,
And ſing his praiſes loud;
He'll bend his ear to your complaints,
And recompenſe the proud.
PSALM XXXI. ver. 7–13, 18–21.
Part II,
Deliverance from ſlander and reſtroach.
l MY heart rejoices in thy name,
My God, my help, my truſt;
Thou haſt preſerv'd my face from ſhame,
Mine honour from the duſt.
2 “My life is ſpent with grieſ, (I cry'd)
“My years conſum’d in gloans;
“My ſtrength decays, mine eyes are dry'd,
“And ſorrow waſtes my bones.
3 Among mine enemies, my name
Was a mere proverb grown ;
While to my neighbours I became
Forgotten and unknown.
4 Slander and fear on ev’ry ſide,
Seiz’d and beſet me round;
I to the throne of grace apply'd,
And ſpeedy reſcue found.
PAUSE.
5 How great deliv'rance thou haſt wrought
Before the ſons of men
The lying lips to ſilence brought,
And made their boaſting vain
6 Thy children from the ſtrife of tongues
Shall thy pavilion hide;
Guard them from infamy and wrongs,
And cruſh the ſons of pride.
7 Within thy ſecret preſence, Lord,
Let me for ever dwell;
No fenced city, wall'd and barr'd,
Secures a ſaint ſo well.
PSALM XXXII. [S. M.]
Forgiveneſs offins uſion confeſſon.
| O Bleſſed ſouls are they,
Whoſe ſins are cover'd o'er ;
Divinely bleſt, to whom the Lord
Imputes their guilt no more.
2 They mourn their follies paſt,
And keep the up hearts with care;
Their lips and lives without deceit
Shall prove their faith ſincere.
3 While I conceal’d my guilt
I felt the feſt’ring wound;
*Till I confeſs'd my ſins to thee,
And ready pardon found.
G
50
PSALMS.—XXXII. XXXIII.
4 Let finners learn to pray,
Let ſaints keep near the throne;
Our help in times of deep diſtreſs,
Is ſound in God alone.
PSALM XXXII. [C, M.]
Free hardon and ſincere obedience: or, confeſſion
and forgiveneſs.
l HAPPY the man to whom his God
& No more imputes his ſin;
But waſh’d in the Redeemer's blood,
Hath made his garments clean
2 Happy, beyond expreſſion, he
Whoſe debts are thus diſcharg’d,
And from the guilty bondage free,
He feels his ſoul enlang’d.
3
His ſpirit hates deceit and lies,
His words are all ſincere,
He guards his heart, he guards his eyes,
To keep his conſcience clear.
4 While I my inward guilt ſuppreſt,
No quiet could I find ;
Thy wrath lay burning in my breaſt,
And rack'd my tortur’d mind.
5 Then I conſeſt my troubled thoughts,
My ſecret ſins reveal’d,
Thy pard’ning grace forgave my faults,
Thy grace my pardoi, ſeal’d.
6
This ſhall invite thy ſaipts to pray;
When like a raging flood
Temptations riſe, our ſtrength and ſtay
Is a lorguving God.
PSALM XXXII. Part I. [L. M.]
Reftentance and free ſtardon : or, juſtification and
ſančiſcation,
1 BLEST is the man, ſor cver bleſs'd,
Whoſe guilt is pardon'd by his God,
Whoſe fins with ſorrow arc confeſs'd,
And cover’d with his Saviour’s blood.
2 Bleſt is the man to whom the Lord
Imputes not his iniquities;
He pleads no merit of reward,
And not on works, but grace relies.
3 From guile his heart and lips are free;
His humble joy, his holy fear,
With deep repentance well agree,
And join to prove his faith ſincere.
4 How glorious is that righteouſneſs
That hides and cancels all his ſins !
While a bright evidence of grace
Thro' his whole life appears and ſhines,
PSALM XXXII. Part II. [L. M.]
4 guilty conſcience eaſed by confeſſion and/lardon.
1 WHILE I keep ſilence and conceal
My heavy guilt within my heart,
What torments doth my conſcience feel
What agonies of inward ſmart
2 I ſpread my fins boſore the Lord,
And all my ſecret faults confeſs;
*
4.
l
3
k
5
l
4.
Thy goſpel ſpeaks a pard’ning word,
Thy holy Spirit ſeals the grace.
For this ſhall ev’ry humble ſoul
Make ſwift addreſſes to thy ſeat :
When floods of huge temptations roll,
There ſhall they find a bleſt retreat.
How ſafe beneath thy wings I lie,
Whcrl days grow dark, and ſtorms ap-
pear !
And when I walk, thy watchful eye
Shall guide me ſafe from ev’ry ſnare.
PSALM XXXIII. Part I. [C. M.]
J/orks of creation and ſhrovidence.
EJOICE, ye righteous, in the Lord,
This work belongs to you :
Sing of his name, his ways, his word,
How holy, juſt, and true !
His mercy and his righteouſneſs,
Let heav’n and earth proclaim ;
His works of nature and of grace
Reveal his wondrous name.
His wiſdom and almighty word
The heav'nly arches ſpread :
And by the ſpirit of the Lord
Their ſhunyng hoſts were made.
He bid the liquid waters flow
To their appointed deep ;
The flowing ſeas their limits know,
And their own ſtation keep.
Ye tenants of the ſpacious earth,
With fear before him ſtand :
Hc ſpake, and nature took its birth,
And rcíts on his command.
He ſcorns the angry nations’ rage,
And breaks their vain deſigns;
His counſel ſtands thro’ ev’ry age,
And in full glory ſhines.
\
PSALM XXXIII. Part II. [ C. M.I
Creatures vain, and God all-ſufficient.
LEST is the nation, where the Lord
Hath fix’d his gracious throne ;
Where he reveals his heav'nly word,
And calls the tribes his own.
His eye with infinite ſurvey
Does the whole world behold;
He formed us all of equal clay,
And kilows our feeble mould.
Kings are not reſcu’d by the force
Of armics, from the grave:
Nor ſpeed, nor courage of an horſe
Can the bold rider ſave:
Vain is the ſtrength of beaſts or men,
To hope for ſafety thence ;
But holy ſouls from God obtain
A ſtrong and ſure defence.
God is their ſear and God their truſt,
When plagues or famine ſpread 5
His watchful eye ſecures the juſt
Amongſt ten thouſand dead.
PSALMS.-XXXIII. XXXIV.
tº Lord, let our hearts in thee rejoice,
And bleſs us from thy throne ;
For we have made thy word our choice,
And truſt thy grace alone. º
PSALM XXXIII. As the 113th Pſalm,
* Part I.
Works of creation and/rovidence.
1.
holy ſouls in God rejoice,
Your Maker's praiſe becomes your
voice ;
Great is your theme, your ſongs be new;
Sing of his name, his word, his ways,
His works of nature and of grace,
How wiſe and holy, juſt and true !
YE
Juſtice and truth he ever loves,
And the whole earth his goodneſs proves;
His word the heav'nly arches ſpread :
How wide they ſhine from north to ſouth!
And by the ſpirit of his mouth
Were all the ſtarry armies made.
He gathers the wide flowing ſeas,
(Thoſe wat'ry treaſures know their place)
In the vaſt ſtorehouſe of the decp ;
He ſpake and gave all nature birth,
And fires and ſeas, and heav'n and earth,
His cverlaſting orders keep.
4 Let mortals tremble and adore
A God of ſuch reſiſtleſs pow'r,
Nor dare indulge their feeble rage :
Vain arc your thoughts and weak your
hands,
But his eternal counſel ſtands,
And rules the world from age to age.
PSALM XXXIII. As the 1 13th Pſalm.
^. Part II.
Creatures vain, and God all-ſufficient.
* O Happy nation; where the Lord
Reveals the treaſure of his word,
And builds his church, ſhis earthly throne!
His eye the heathen world ſurveys,
He form'd their, hearts, he knows their
ways ;
But God their Maker is unknown.
2 Let kings rely upon their hoſt,
And of his ſtrength the champion boaſt ;
In vain they boaſt, in vain rely :
In vain we truſt the brutal force,
Or ſpeed, or courage of an horſe,
To guard his rider or to fly.
3 The eye of thy compaſſion, Lord,
Doth more ſecure defence afford,
When death or dangers threat’ning ſtand;
Thy watchful eye preſerves the juſt,
Who make thy name their fear and truſt,
When wars or famine waſte the land.
4 In ſickneſs or the bloody field,
Thou our phyſician, thou our ſhield,
Send us ſalvation from thy throne;
We wait to ſee thy goodneſs ſhine ;
Let us rejoice in help divine,
For all our hope is God alone,
4
PSALM XXXIV. Part I. [L. M.]
God’s care of the ſaints : or, deliverance by ſtrayer.
1 T ORD, I will bleſs thee all my days,
Thy praiſe ſhall dwell upon my tongue;
My ſoul ſhall glory in thy grace,
While ſaints rejoice to hear the ſong.
Come, magnify the Lord with me:
Come, let us all exalt his name :
I ſought th' eternal God, and he
Has not expos'd my hope to ſhame.
2
3
I told him all my ſecret grief,
My ſecret groaning reach'd his ears ;
He gave my inward pains relief,
And calm'd the tumult of my fears.
To him the poor lift up their eyes,
Their faces feel the heav'nly ſhine ;
A beam of mercy ſrom the ſkies,
Fills them with light and joy divine.
5
His holy angels pitch their tents
Around the men that ſerve the Lord : .
O fear and love him all his ſaints,
Taſte of his grace, and truſt his word.
6
The wild young lions pinch’d with pain
And hunger roar thro’ all the wood :
But none ſhall ſcek the Lord in vain,
Nor want ſupplies of real good.
* Part II. [L. M.]
Religious education: or, inſtručions of ſliety.
CHILDREN in years, and knowledge
young,
Your parents’ hope, your parents' joy,
Attend the counſels of my tongue;
Let pious thoughts your minds employ.
i
If you deſire a length of days,
And peace to crown your mortal ſtate,
Reſtrain your ſect from impious ways,
Your lips from ſlander and deceit,
3
The eyes of God regard his ſaints,
His ears are open to their cries;
He ſets his frowning ſace againſt
The ſons of violence and lies.
To humble ſouls and broken hearts,
God with his grace is ever nigh;
Pardon and hope his love imparts,
When men in deep contrition lie.
5
He tells their tears he counts their groans,
His Son redeems their ſouls from death!
His Spirit heals their broken bones,
They in his praiſe employ their breaths
PSALM XXXIV. ver. 1–10.
Part I. [C. M.] . A
Prayer and/raiſe for eminent deliverance,
I'LL bleſs the Lord from day to day;
How good are all his ways
Ye humble ſouls that uſe to pray,
Come, help my lips to praiſe.
I
2
Sing, to the honour of his name
How a poor ſuff'rer cry’d ;
G 2
5
2 PSALMS.—XXXIV. XXXV,
Nor was his hope expos'd to ſhame,
Nor was his ſuit deny’d.
3
When threat’ning ſorrows round me ſtood,
And endlèſs ſcars aroſe
Like the loud billows of a flood,
Redoubling all my woes ;
4 I told the Lord my fore diſtreſs,
With heavy groans and tears ;
He gave my ſharpeſt torments eaſe,
And ſilenc'd all my fears ;
PAUSE,
[O ſtuners come and taſte his love,
Come learn his pleaſant ways ;
And let your own experience prove
The ſweetneſs of his grace.
5
6 He bids his angels pitch their tents
Round where his children dwell :
What ills their heav'nly care prevents,
No earthly tongue can tell.]
[O love the Lord, ye ſaints of his
His eye regards the juſt :
How richly bleſs'd their portion is
Who make the Lord their truſt !
8 Young lions, pinch'd with hunger, roar,
And fanniſh in the wood;
But God ſupplies his holy poor
With ev’ry needful good.]
PSALM XXXIV. ver, 11–22.
Part II. [C. M.]
Exhortation to Aeace and holineſs.
COME, children, learn to ſeat the Lord,
And that your days be long,
Let not a ſalſe or ſpiteful word
Be found upon your tongue.
7
l
2 Depart from miſchief, pračtiſc love,
Purſue the works of peace,
So ſhall the Lord your ways approve,
And ſet your ſouls at eaſe.
His eyes awake to guard the juſt,
His ears attend their cry;
When broken ſpirits dwell in duſt,
The God of grace his nigh.
4 What tho’ the ſorrows here they taſte
Are ſharp and tedious too,
The Lord, who ſaves them all at laſt,
Is their ſupporter now,
5 Evil ſhall ſmite the wicked dead,
But God ſccures his own;
Prevents the miſchief when they ſlide,
'Or heals the broken bone.
6 When deſolation like a flood,
O'er thc proud ſinner rolls,
Saints find a refuge in their God,
For he redeem'd their ſouls.
3
PSALM xxxv. ver, 1–9. Part I, ,
Prayer and faith of Aerſecuted ſaints : or, impre-
cations mixed with charity.
I NOW plead my cauſe, Almighty God,
With all the ſons of ſtrife;
And fight againſt the men of blood,
Who fight againſt my life.
2 Draw out thy ſpear and ſtop their way,
Lift thine avenging rod;
But to my ſoul in mercy ſay,
“I am thy Saviour-God.
º
3 They plant their friares to catéh my ſeet,
And nets of miſchief ſpread;
Plunge the deſtroyers in the pit
That their owri hânds have made.
4
I,et fogs and darkneſs hide their way,
And ſlipp’ry be their ground;
Thy wrath ſhall make their lives a prey,
And all their rage conſourid.
5 They fly like chaff before the wind,
Before thine angry breath;
The angel of the Lord behind
Purſues them down to death.
6 They love the road that leads to hell;
Then let the rebels die,
Whoſe malice is implacable
Againſt the Lord on high.
7 But if thou haſt a choſen few
Amongſt that impious race;
Divide them from the bloody crew
By thy ſurpriſing grace. *.
8 Then will I raiſe my tuneful voice
To make thy wonders known;
In their ſalvation I'll rejoice,
And bleſs thee for my own.
PSALM XXXV. ver, 12, 13, 14. Part II:
Love to enemies; or, The love of Chriſt to ſin-
i ners typify’d in David.
|1 BEHOLD the love, the gen’rous love .
That holy David ſhows ;
Hark, how his ſounding bowels move
To his afflićted ſocs!
2 When they are ſick, his ſoul complains,
And ſeems to feel the ſmart;
The ſpirit of the goſpel reigns,
And melts his pious heart.
3 How did his flowing tears condole
As for a brother dead!
And faſting mortiſy’d his ſoul,
While for their life he pray’d.
They groan'd, and curſt him on their bed,
Yet ſtill he pleads and mourns;
And double bleſfings on his head
The righteous God returns.
5 O glorious type of heav'nly graceſ
Thus Chriſt the Lord appears; ,
While ſinners curie, the Saviour prays,
And pities them with tears.
6 He the true David, Iſrael's king,
Bleſt and belov’d of God,
To ſave us rebels dead in ſin
| Paid his own deareſt blood.
PSALMS.—XXXVI. XXXVII.
53
PSALM XXXVI, 5–9, [L. M.]
The herfection and /rovidence of God ; or, Ge-
neral/rovidence and Jºecial grace.
I HIGH in the heavens, eternal God,
Thy goodneſs in full glory ſhines;
Thy truth ſhall break thro’ every cloud
That veils and darkens thy deſigns.
2 For ever firm thy juſtice ſtands,
As mountains their foundations keep 3
Wiſe are the wonders of thy hands;
Thy judgments are a mighty deep.
3 Thy providence is kind and large,
Both man and beaſt thy bounty ſhare ;
The whole creation is thy charge,
But ſaints are thy peculiar care.
4 My God! how excellent thy grace;
Whence all our hope and comfort ſprings,
The ſons of Adam in diſtreſs
Fly to the ſhadow of thy wings.
5 From the proviſions of thy houſe
We ſhall be fed with ſweet repaſt;
There mercy like à river flows,
And brings ſalvation to our taſte.
6 Life, like a fountain, rich and free,
Springs from the preſence of my Lord;
And it, thy light our ſouls ſhall ſee
The glories promis'd in thy word. |
PSALM XXXVI. ver, 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9,
[C. M.]
Pračical atheiſm exhoſed; or, The being and
attributes of God aſſerted, !.
1 WHILE men grow bold in wicked ways,
And yet a God they own, t
My heart within the often ſays,
“Their thoughts believe there’s none.
2 Their thoughts and ways at once declare,
(Whate'er their lips profeſs)
God hath no wrath for them to fear,
Nor will they ſeek his grace.
3 What ſtrange ſelf-flatt’ry blinds their eyes |
But there’s a haſtning hour
When they ſhall ſee with fore ſurpriſe
The terrors of thy pow’r.
4 Thy juſtice ſhall maintain its throne,
Tho' mountains melt away;
Thy judgments are a world unknown,
A deep unfatliom'd ſea. -
5 Above theſe heav’ns created rounds
Thy mercies, 'Lord, extend ;
Thy truth out-lives the narröw bounds
Where time and nature end.
6 Saf’ty to inäntly goodneſs brings,
, Nor overlooks the 'béâſt; -
'Beneath the ſhadow of thy wings :
Thy childrén'chooſe to reſt. .
7[From thee,when creature-ſtreams run low,
And mortal"ctimſorts die, r
Perpetual ſprings of life ſhall flow,
#
t
And raiſe tour pleaſures high.
8 Tho' all-created light decay,
And death cloſe up our eyes,
Thy preſence makes eternal day
Where clouds can never riſe.]
PSALM XXXVI. 1-7. [S. M.]
The wickedneſs of man, and the majeſty of God;
or, Aračical atheiſm expoſed,
& 1 WHEN man grows bold in fin, -
My heart within me cries,
“He hath no faith of God within,
“Nor fear before his eyes.
§ 2 [He walks awhile conceal’d
In a ſelf flatt’ring dream,
Till his dark crimes at once reveal’d
Expoſe his hateful name.]
3 His heart is falſe and foul,
His words are ſmooth and fair;
Wiſdom is baniſh’d from his ſoul,
And leaves no goodneſs there.
# 4 He plots upon his bed
New miſchiefs to ſulfil :
He ſets his heart, and hand, and head
To practiſe all that’s ill.
| ? But there's a dreadful God,
Tho' men renounce his fear;
His juſtice hid behind the cloud
Shall one great day appear.
6 His truth tranſcends the ſky,
In heav'n his mercies dwell;
Deep as the ſea his judgments lie,
His anger burns to hell.
7 How excellent his love,
Whence all our ſaf’ty ſprings!
O never let my ſoul remove
From underneath his wings 1
PSALM XXXVII. 1–15. Part I.
The cure of envy, fretfulneſs and unbelief; or,
The rewards of the righteous and the wicked;
or, The world’s hatred and the ſaint's Aa-
fience.
1 W HY ſhould I vex my ſoul, and fret
To ſee the wicked riſe 2
Or envy ſinners waxing great
By violence and lyes 2
2 As flowry graſs cut down at noon,
Before the ev’ning fades,
So ſhall their glories vaniſh ſoon
In everlaſting ſhades,
3 Then let me make the Lord my truſt,
And practiſe all that’s good; &
So ſhall I dwell among the juſt,.
And he’ll provide me food.
|4 I to my God my ways commit,
And chearful wait his will;
Thy hand, which guides my doubtful feet,
Shall my defires, fulfil.
|5 Mine innocence ſhalt thou diſplay,
And make thy judgments known;

54
PSALMS.-XXXVII. XXXVIII.
Fair as the light of dawning day,
And glorious as the noon,
6. The meek at laſt the earth poſſeſs,
And are the heirs of heav'n ;
True riches with abundant peace
To humble ſouls are giv'n,
PAUSE,
* Reſt in the Lord and keep his way,
Nor let your anger rife,
Tho' providence ſhould long delay
To puniſh haughty vice.
& Lot ſinners join to break your peace,
And plot, and rage, and foam ;
The Lord derides them, for he ſees
Their day of vengeance come.
9. They have drawn out the threatning ſword,
Have bent the murd’rous bow,
To ſlay the men that fear the Lord
And bring the righteous low.
IO My God ſhall break their bows, and burn
Their perſecuting darts,
Shall their own ſwords againſt them turn,
And pain ſurpriſe their hearts.
PSALM XXXVII. 16, 21,
Part II.
Charity to the poor; or, Religion in words and
deeds.
1 WHY do the wealthy wicked boaſt,
And grow profanely bold 2
The meaneſt portion of the juſt
Excels the ſinner’s gold.
26-31 º
Q. The wicked borrows of his fricnds,
But ne'er deſigns to pay ;
The ſaint is merciſul and lends,
Nor turns the poor away.
3 His alms with lib’ral heart he gives
Amongſt the ſons of need ;
His mem'ry to long ages lives,
And bleſſed is his feed.
4 His lips ablior to talk profane,
To ſlander or defraud;
His ready tongue declares to men
What he has learnt of God.
5 The law and goſpel of the Lord
Deep in his heart abide ;
Led by the Spirit and the word,
His feet ſhall never ſlide.
6 When ſinners fall, the righteous ſtand,
Preſerv’d from ev’ry ſnare;
They ſhall poſſeſs the promis’d land,
And dwell for ever there.
PSALM XXXVII. 23–37. Part III.
The way and end of the righteous and wicked.
1 MY God, the ſteps of pious men
Are order'd by thy will;
Tho' they ſhould fall, they riſe again,
Thy band ſupports them ſtill,
2 The Lord delights to ſee their ways,
. Their virtue he approves ;
He'll ne'er deprive them of his grace,
Nor leave the men he loves.
h
3 The heav'nly heritage is theirs,
Their portion and their home;
He feeds them now, and makes them heirs
Of bleſfings long to come.
4 Wait on the Lord, ye ſons of men,
Nor fear when tyrants frown;
Ye ſhall confeſs their pride was vain,
When juſtice caſts them down.
PAUSE.
5 The haughty ſinncr have I ſeen
Nor fearing man nor God,
Like a tall bay-tree fair and green,
Spreading his arms abroad.
6 And Io, he vaniſh’d ſrom the ground,
Deſtroy’d by hands unſeen :
Nor root, nor branch, nor leaf was found,
Where all that pride had been.
7 But mark the man of righteouſneſs,
His ſev’ral ſteps attend;
True pleaſure runs thro' all his ways,
And peaceſul is his end.
PSALM XXXVIII. N
Guilt of conſcience, and relief; or, Reſentance
and ſtrayer for ſtardon and health,
1 AMIDST thy wrath remember love,
Reſtore thy ſervant, Lord ;
Nor let a father’s chaſt’ning prove
Like an avenger’s ſword.
2 Thine arrows ſtick within my heart,
My fleſh is ſorely preſt;
Between the ſorrow and the ſmart
My ſpirit finds no reſt.
3
My ſins a heavy load appear,
And o'er my head are gone;
Too heavy they for me to bear,
Too hard for me t” atone.
4.
My thoughts are like a troubled ſea,
My head ſtill bending down ;
And I go mourning all the day
Beneath my Father’s frown.
Lord, I am weak and broken fore,
None of my pow’rs are whole ;
The inward anguiſh makes me roar,
The anguiſh of my ſoul.
All my deſire to thee is known,
Thine eye counts ev’ry tear:
And ev'ry ſigh, and ev'ry groan,
Is notic’d by thine ear.
Thou art my God; my only hope;
My God will hear my cry,
My God will bear my ſpirit up,
When Satan bids me die.
[My ſoot is ever apt to ſlide,
My foes rejoice to ſee’t;
They raiſe their pleaſure and their pride,
When they ſupplant my feet.
But I’ll confeſs my guilt to thee,
And grieve for all my ſin;
I’ll mourn how weak my graces be,
And beg ſupport divine.
6
7
8
9
PSALMS.—XXXIX. XL.
5
5
to My God forgive my follies paſt,
And be for ever nigh;
O Lord of my ſalvation, haſte
Before thy ſervant die.]
Watchfulneſs over the tongue : or, Prudence and
zcal.
f Thus I reſolv’d before thc Lord,
“Now will I watch my tongue,
“ Left I let ſlip one ſinful word,
“Or do my neighbour wrong.
2 And if I’m e^er conſtrain’d to ſtay
With men of lives profane,
I’ll ſet a double guard that day,
Nor let my talk be vain.
3 I'll ſcarce allow my lips to ſpeak
The pious thoughts I feel,
Leſt ſcoffers ſhould th’ occaſion tak
To mock my holy zeal. -
4. Yet if ſome proper hour appear,
H’ll not be over-aw’d,
But let the ſcoffing ſinners hear
That we can ſpeak for God.
PSALM XXXIX. 4, 5, 6, 7.
The vanity of man as mortal.
EACH me the meaſure of my days,
Thou Maker of my frame;
I would ſurvey life’s narrow ſpace,
And learn how frail I am.
2 A ſpan is all that we can boaſt,
An inch or two of time ;
Man is but vanity and duſt
In all his flow'r and prime.
|
3 See the vain race of mortals move
Like ſhadows o'er the plain,
They rage and ſtrive, deſire and love,
But all the noiſe is vain.
4. Some walk in honour’s gaudy ſhow,
Some dig for golden ore,
They toil for heirs they know not who,
And ſtraight are ſeen no more.
5 What ſhould I wiſh or wait for then
From creatures, earth and duſt 3
They make our expectátions vain,
And diſappoint our truſt.
6 Now I forbid my carnal hope,
My fond deſires recal ;
I give my mortal int’reſt up,
And make my God my all.
PSALM XXXIX, 9–13. Part III.
Sick-bed devotion; or, Pleading without re-
Aining.
1 GOP of my life, look gently down,
Behold the pains I feel;
But I am dumb before thy throne,
Nor dare diſpute thy will.
2 Diſeaſes are thy ſervants, Lord,
They come at thy command;
|.
I’ll not attempt a murm’ring word
Againſt thy chaſt’ning hand.
3 Yet I may plead with humble cries,
Remove thy ſharp rebukes;
My ſtrength conſumes, my ſpirit dies,
Through thy repeated ſtrokes.
4 Cruſh'd as a moth beneath thy hand,
We moulder to the duſt;
Our feeble pow'rs can ne'er withſtand,
And all our beauty’s loſt.
5 [This mortal life decays apace,
How ſoon the bubble’s broke 1
Adam and all his num’rous race
Are vanity and ſmoke.]
6 I’m but a ſojourner below,
As all my fathers were,
May I be well, prepar’d to go
When I the ſummons hear !
7 But if my life be ſpar'd awhile,
Before my laſt remove,
Thy praiſe ſhall be my bus'neſs ſtill,
And I’ll declare thy love.
PSALM XL. 1, 2, 3, 5, 17.
Part I. [C. M.]
A ſong of deliverance from great diſtreſs.
1 I Waited patient for the Lord,
He bow’d to hear my cry :
He ſaw me reſting on his word,
And brought ſalvation nigh.
2 He rais'd me from a horrid pit, i
Where mourning long I lay,
And from my bonds releas'd my feet,
Deep bonds of miry clay.
3 Firm on a rock he made me ſtand,
And taught my cheerful tongue
To praiſe the wouders of his hand,
In a new thankful ſong. \
4 I’ll ſpread his works of grace abroad;
The ſaints with joy ſhall hear,
And ſinners learn to make my God
. Their only hope and fear.
5 How many are thy thoughts of love!
Thy mercies, Lord, how great
We have not words nor hours enough
Their numbers to repeat.
6 When I’m afflićted, poor and low,
And light and peace depart,
My God beholds my heavy woe,
And bears me on his heart.
PSALM XL. 6–9.
Part II. [C. M.]
The incarnation andſacrifice of Chriſt.
1 THUS faith the Lord, “Your work is
vain,
“Give your burnt-off’rings o'er,
“ In dying goats and bullocks ſlain
“My ſoul delights no more.
2 Then ſpake the Saviour, “Lo I’m here,
“My God, to do thy will;
“Whate'er thy ſacred books declare,
“Thy ſervant ſhall ſulfil.
56
PSALMS.—XL, XLI. XLII.
3 “ Thy law is ever in my fight,
“I keep it near my heart;
“Mine ears are open'd with delight
“To what thy lips impart.”
4 And ſee, the bleſt Redeemer comgs,
Th’ eternal Son appears,
And at the appointed time aſſumes
The body God prepares.
5 Much he reveal’d his Father’s grace,
And much his truth he ſhew’d, -
And preach'd the way of righteouſneſs,
where great aſſemblies ſtood.
6 His Fathcr's honour touch'd his heart,
He pity’d ſinners’ cries,
And to fulfil a Saviour's part,
Was made a ſacrifice.
PAUSE.
7 No blood of beaſts on altars ſhed
Could waſh the conſcience clean,
But the rich ſacrifice he paid
Atones for all our ſin.
8. Then was the great ſalvation ſpread,
And Satan's kingdom ſhook ;
Thus by the woman’s promis'd ſeed
The ſerpent’s head was broke,
PSALM XL, 5-10. [L. M.]
Chriſt our ſacrifice.
i ri"HE wonders, Lord, thy love has
, wrought,
Exceed our praiſe, ſurmount our thought,
Should I attempt the long detail,
My ſpeech would faint my numbers fail.
No blood of beaſts on altars ſpilt,
Can cleanſe the ſouls of men from guilt;
But thou haſt ſet before our eyes
An all-ſufficient ſacrifice,
Lol thine eternal ſon appears,
To thy deſign he bows his ears,
Aſſumes a body well prepar’d,
And well performs a workſo hard.
“Behold, I come (the Saviour cries,
with love and duty in his eyes)
* I come to bear the heavy load
“ Of fins, and do thy will, my God.
4.
“”Tis written in thy great decree,
“ "Tis in thy book foretold of me,
“I muſt ſulfil the Saviour's part,
“And lo! thy law is in my heart.
6
“I’ll magnify thy holy law,
“And rebels to obedience draw,
“When on my croſs I’m lifted high,
“Or to my crown above the ſky.
“The Spirit ſhall deſcend and ſhow
“What thou haſt done, and what I do :
“The wond'ring world ſhall learn thy.
grace, *
“Thy wiſdom and thy righteouſneſs.
ſ
|
PSALM XLI. 1, 2, 3;
Charity to the Poor; or, Pity to the afflićied.
1 BLEST is the man whoſe bowels move,
And melt with pity to the poor,
Whoſe ſoul, by ſympathiſing love,
Feels what his fellow-ſaints endure.
His heart contrives for their relief,
More good than his own hands can do!
He, in the time of general grieſ,
Shall find the Lord has bowels too.
2
His ſoul ſhall live ſecure on earth,
With ſecret bleſfings on his head,
When drought, and peſtilence, and dearth,
Around him multiply their dead.
Or if he languiſh on his couch,
God will pronounce his fins forgiv'n,
Will ſave him with a healing touch,
Or take his willing ſoul to heav'n.
PSALM XLI1. 1–5. Part I;
Deſertion and hoſe ; or, Complaint of abſence
from hublic wor/hi/.
1 WITH earneſt longings of mankind,
My God, to thee I look.
So pants the hunted hart to find
And taſte the cooling brook.
2 When ſhall. I fee thy courts of grace,
And meet my God again
So long an abſence from thy face,
My heart endures with pain.
3 Temptations vex my weary ſoul,
And tears are my repaſt :
The foe inſults without controul,
“And where’s your God at laſt 3"
4 'Tis with a mournſul pleaſure now
I think on ancient days ;
Then to thy houſe did numbers go,
And all our work was praiſe.
5 But why, my ſoul, ſunk down ſo far
Beneath this heavy load 8
Why do my thoughts indulge deſpair,
And fin againſt my God?
6 Hope in the Lord, whoſe mighty hand
Can all thy woes remove :
For I ſhall yet before him ſtand,
And ſing reſtoring love.
PSALM XLII, 6–11. Part II.
Melancholy thoughts reſtroved; or, Hohe in af-
fiğions.
1 MY ſpirit ſinks within me, Lord,
But I will call thy name to unind,
And times of paſt diſtreſs record,
When I have ſound my God was kind.
|2 Huge troubles, with tumultuous noiſe,
Swell like a ſea, and round me ſpread :
Thy water-ſpouts drown all my joys,
And riſing waves roll o'er my head.
3 Yet will the Lord command his love,
When I addrcſ, his throne by day,
PSALMS.—XIIV. XLV.
57
Nor in the night his grace remove,
The night ſhall hear me ſing and pray,
4 I’ll caſt myſelf before his feet,
And ſay, “My God, my heav'nly Rock!
“Why doth thy love ſo long ſorget
“The ſoul that groans beneath thy
ſtroke *
5 I'll chide my heart that ſinks ſo low :
Why hould my ſoul indulge her grief?
Hope in the Lord, and praiſe him too;
He is my reſt, my ſure relief. '
6 Thy light and truth ſhall guide me ſtill ;
Thy word ſhall my beſt thoughts employ,
And lead me to thy heav'nly hill,
My God, my moſt exceeding joy!
PSALM XLºv. 1, 2, 3, 8, 15–26.
The church's complaint in Aerſecution.
º LORD, we have heard thy works of old,
Thy works of pow'r and grace,
When to our ears our ſathers told
The wonders of their days.
2 How thou didſt build thy churches here,
And make thy goſpel known;
Amongſt them did thine arm appear,
Thy light and glory ſhone.
3 In God they boaſted all the day ;
And in a cheerful throng
Did thouſands meet to praiſe and pray,
And grace was all their ſong.
4. But now our ſouls are ſeiz'd with ſhame,
Conſuſion fills our face,
To hear the enemy blaſpheme,
And fools reproach thy grace.
5 Yet have we not forgot our God,
Nor falſely dealt with heav'n ;
Nor have our ſteps declin’d the road
Of duty thou haſt, giv'n.
& Tho' dragons all around us roar
With their deſtructive bleath,
And thine own hand has bruis’d us ſore,
Hard by the gates of death.
PAUSE,
7 We are expos'd all day to die
As martyrs for thy cauſe,
As ſheep for ſlaughter bound we lie
By ſharp and bloody laws.
8 Awake, ariſe, Almighty Lord!
Why ſleeps thy wonted grace
Why ſhould we look like men abhorr'd,
Or baniſh’d from thy face
9 Wilt thou for ever caſt us off,
Arid ſtill neglcót our cries
For ever hide thune heav'nly love
From our afflićted eyes?
10 Down to the duſt our ſoul is bow’d,
And dies upon the ground; .
Riſe for our help, rebuke the proud,
And all their pow’rs confound.
11 Redeem us from perpetual ſhame,
Our Saviour and our God =
WOL, VII.
|
We plead the honours of thy name,
The merits of thy blood.
PSALM XLV. [S. M.]
The glory of Chriſt; the ſucceſs of the gºſheſ;
and the gentile church.
MY Saviour and my king,
Thy beauties are divine;
Thy lips with bleſſings overflow,
And ev'ry grace is thine.
1
Now make thy glory known :
Gird on thy dreadful ſword,
And ride in majeſty to ſpread
The conqueſt of thy word.
3
Strike thro’ thy ſtubborn foes,
Or melt their hearts tº obey;
While juſtice, meekneſs, grace, and truth,
Attend thy glorious way.
4 Thy laws, O God, are right;
Thy throne ſhall ever ſtand:
And thy vićtorious goſpel proves
A ſceptre in thy hand.
[Thy Father and thy God
Hath without meaſure ſhed
His Spirit, like a joyful oil,
Tº anoint thy ſacred head.]
.*
[Behold, at thy right-hand
The gentile church is ſeen,
Like a fair bride in rich attire,
And princes guard the queen.]
Fair bride, receive his love :
Forget thy Father’s houſe;
Forſake thy gods, thy idol gods,
And pay thy Lord thy vows.
O let thy God and King
Thy ſweeteſt thoughts employ ;
Thy children ſhall his honour ſing
In palaces of joy.
T
PSAI.M. XLV. [C. M.]
The perſonal glories and government of Chriſt.
1 I’ll ſpeak the honours of my King :
His form divinely fair; -
None of the ſons of mortal race
May with the Lord compare.
2 Sweet is thy ſpeech, and heav'nly grace
| Upon thy lips is ſhed; -
| Thy God with bleſfings infinite
Hath crown'd thy ſacred head.
3 Gird on thy ſword, vićtorious princeſ
Ride with majeſtic ſway :
Thy terror ſhall ſtrike thro’ thy foes,
And make the world.obey.
4 Thy throne, O God, for ever ſtands;
Thy word of grace ſhall prove
A peaceful ſceptre in thy hands,
To rule the ſaints by love.
5 Juſtice and truth attend thee ſtill,
But mercy is thy choice;
And God, thy God, thy ſoul ſhall fill
With moſt peculiar joys.
*
*
>
H
58
PSALMS.—XLV. XLVI. XLVII.
.
PSALM XLV. Part I. [L. M.]
The glory of Chriſt and power of his goſhel.
NOW be my heart inſpir'd to ſing
The glories of my Saviour King,
Jeſus the Lord; how heav'nly fair
His form how bright his beauties are
l
O’cr all the ſons of human race
He ſhines with a ſuperior grace,
Love from his lips divinely flows,
And bleſtings all his ſtate compoſe.
Dreſs thee in arms, moſt mighty Lord
Gird on the terror of thy ſword
In majeſty and glory ride,
With truth and meekneſs at thy ſidc.
Thine anger, like a pointed dart,
Shall pierce the foes of ſtubborn heart :
Or words of mercy kind and ſweet,
Shall melt the rebels at thy feet,
Thy throne, O God, for ever ſtands;
Grace is the ſceptre in thy hands;
Thy laws and works are juſt and right;
Juſtice and grace are thy delight.
God, thine own God, has richly ſhed
His oil of gladneſs on thy head,
And with his ſacred ſpirit bleſt
His firſt-born Son above thc reſt.
PSALM XLV. Part II. [L. M.]
Chriſt and his church : or, the myſtical marriage.
1 THE King of Saints, how fair his ſace,
Adorn'd with majeſty and grace;
He comes with bleſfings from above,
And wins the nations to ſuis love.
2 At his right-hand our eyes behold
The quccm array’d in pureſ gold :
The world admires her heav'nly dreſs
Her robe of joy and righteouſneſs.
3 He form'd her beauties like his own ;
He calls and ſeats her near his throne:
Fair ſtranger, let thine heart forget
The idols of thy native ſtate.
4 So ſhall the king the more rejoice
In thee, the favºrite of his choice ;
J.et him be lov’d and yet ador'd,
For he’s thy Maker, and thy Lord.
5 O*appy hour, when thou ſhalt riſe
To his fair palace in the ſkies,
And all his ſons (a num’rous train)
Each like a prince in glory reign.
6 Let endlcſs honours crown his head;
Let ev'ry age his praiſes ſpread;
While we with cheerful ſongs approve
The condeſcenſions of his love.
PSALM XLVI.
The church's ſafety
Part I.
and trium/th among national
deſolations.
1 COD is the reſuge of his ſaints,
Ere we can offer our complaints,
Behold him preſent with his aid.
2 Let mountains from their ſeats be hurl’d
Down to the deep, and bury'd there;
Convulſions ſhake the ſolid world,
Our faith ſhall never, yield to fear.
3 Loud may the troubled ocean roar,
In ſacred peace our ſouls abide ;
While ev’ry nation, ev’ry ſhore,
Trembles, and dreads the ſwelling tides
4 There is a ſtream, whoſe gentle flow
Supplies the city of our God;
Liſe, love and joy, ſtill gliding thro’,
And wat'ring our divine abode.
5 That ſacred fiream, thine holy word,
That all our raging fear controuls:
Sweet peace thy promiſes afford,
And gives new ſtrength to fainting ſouls.
6 Sion enjoys her monarch’s love,
Secure againſt a threat’ning hour;
Nor can her firm foundations move,
Built on his truth, and arm'd with pow’r.
PSALM XLVI: Part II.
God fights for his church.
| LET Sion in her King rejoice,
Tho' tyrants rage and kingdoms riſe;
He utters his almighty voice,
The nations melt, the tumult dies.
2 The Lord of old for Jacob fought :
And Jacob’s God is ſtill our aid;
Behold the works his hand has wrought!
What deſolations he has made A-
| 3 From ſea to ſea, thro' all the ſhores,
He makes the noiſe of battles ceaſe :
When ſtom on high his thunder roars,
He awes the trembling world to peace,
4 He breaks the bow, he cuts the ſpear :
Chariots he burns with heav'nly flame;
Keep ſilence all the earth and hear
The ſound and glory of his name.
5 “Be ſtill, and learn that I am God;
“I’ll be exalted o'er the lands;
“I will be known and fear'd abroad,
“But ſtill my throne in Sion ſtands.”
6 O Lord of Hoſts, Almighty King !
While we ſo near thy preſenee dwell,
Our faith ſhall ſit ſecure and ſing
Defiance to the gates of hell.
| PSALM XLVII.
Chriſt aſcending and reigning:
1 O For a ſhout of ſacred joy -
To God the Sov’reign King
Let ev'ry land their tongues employ,
And hymns of triumph ſing.
2 Jeſus our God aſcends on high
His heav'nly guards around,
Attend him riſing thro’ the ſky,
. Sº When ſtorms of ſharp diſtreſs invade;
t
-
{. *
t
| With trumpet’s joyful ſound.
PSALMS.–XLVIII. XLIX.
59
3 While angels ſhout and praiſe their King, |
Let mortals learn their ſtrains;
Let all the earth his honour ſing;
O'er all the earth he reigns.
4 Rehearſe his praiſe with awe profound;
Let knowledge lead the ſong;
Nor mock him with a ſolomn ſound,
Upon a thoughtleſs tongue.
5 In Iſr’el ſtood his ancient throne;
He lov’d that choſen race :
But now he calls the world his own,
And heathens taſte his grace.
6 The Britiſh iſlands are the Lord’s,
There Abraham's God is known ;
While pow’rs and princes, ſhields and
ſwords,
Submit before his throne.
PSALM XLVIII, ver, 1–8. Part I.
The church is the honour and ſafety of a nation.
1 [GREAT is the Lord our God!
And let his praiſe be great;
He makes his churches his abode,
His moſt delightful ſeat.
Theſe temples of his grace,
How beautiful they ſtand
The honours of our native place,
And bulwarks of our land.]
3 . In Sion God is known,
A reſuge in diſtreſs;
How bright has his ſalvation ſhone
Thro' all her palaces]
When kings againſt her join’d,
And ſaw the Lord was there,
In wild confuſion of the mind
They fled with haſty fear.
When navies, tall and proud
Attempt to ſpoil our peace,
He ſends his tempeſts roaring loud,
And ſinks them in the ſeas.
Oft have our fathers told,
Our eyes have often ſeen,
How well our God ſecures the fold
Where his own ſheep have been.
In ev’ry new diſtreſs
We’ll to his houſe repair;
We’ll think upon his wond’rous grace,
And ſeek deliv'rance there.
2
4.
5
6
r
PSALM XLVIII, ver, 10–14. Part II.
The beauty of the church : or, goſpel wor/i/ and
order.
l AR as thy name is known,
The world declarcs thy praiſe ;
Thy ſaints, O Lord, before thy throne,
Their ſongs of honour raiſe.
With joy let Judah ſtand
On Sion’s choſen hill,
Proclaim the wonders of thy hand,
2
And counſels of thy will.
Let flrangers walk around
The city where we dwell,
Compaſs and view thine holy ground,
And mark the building well.
4 The orders of thy houſe,
The worſhip of thy court,
The chearful ſongs, the ſolemn vows;
And make a fair report.
How decent and how wiſe :
How glorious to behold
Beyond the pomp that charms the eyes,
And rites adorn’d with gold.
The God we worſhip now
Will guide us till we die,
Will be our God while here below,
And ours above the ſky.
3
5
6
PSALM XLIX, 6–14. Part II. [c. M.]
Pride and death; or, The vanity of life and
riches.
1 WHY doth the man of riches grow
To inſolence and pride,
To ſee his wealth and honours flow
With ev’ry riſing tide 2
2 [Why doth he treat the poor with ſcorn,
Made of the ſelf-ſame clay,
And boaſt as tho’ his fleſh was born
Of better duſt than they : ]
3 Not all his treaſures can procure
His foul a ſhort reprieve,
Redeem from death one guilty hour,
Or make his brother live.
4 Life is a bleſfing can’t be ſold,
The ranſom is too high ;
Juſtice will ne'er be brib'd with gold
That man may never die.
5 He ſees the brutiſh and the wiſe,
The tim’rous and the brave,
Quit their poſſeſſions, cloſe their eyes,
And haſten to the grave.
6 Yet 'tis his inward thought and pride,
“My houſe ſhall ever ſtand ;
“And that my name may long abide,
“I’ll give it to my land.
7 Vain are his thoughts, his hopes are loſt,
How ſoon his mem’ry dies
His name is written in the duſt
Where his own carcaſe lies.
PAUSE,
8 This is the folly of their way;
And yet their ſons as vain
Approve the words their fathers ſay,
And act their works again.
9 Men void of wiſdom and of grace,
If honour raiſe them high, }
Live like the beaſt, a thoughtleſs race,
And like the beaſt they die.
10 Laid in the grave like filly ſheep;
Death feeds upon them there,
Till the laſt trumpet break their ſleep
In terror and deſpair.
H 2
60
PSALMS.—XLIX, L.
PSALM XLIX. ver. 14, 15. Part II.
[C. M.]
JDeath and the reſurrešion.
l YE ſons of pride that hate the juſt,
And transple on the poor,
When death has brought you down to duſt,
Your pomp ſhall riſe no more.
2 The laſt great day ſhall change the ſcene;
When will that hour appear
When ſhall the juſt revive, and reign
O'er all that ſcorn’d them herc?
3 God will my naked ſoul receive
When ſeparate from the fleſh;
And break the priſon of the grave,
To raiſe my bones afreſh.
4 Heav'n is my everlaſting home,
Th’ inheritance is ſure ;
Let men of pride their rage reſume,
But I’ll repine no more.
PSALM XLIX. [L. M.]
The rich ſinner's death, and the ſaint's reſur-
re&#ion.
T WHY do the proud inſult the poor,
' ' And boaſt the large eſtates they have?
How vain are riches to ſecure
Their haughty owners from the grave
2
They can’t redeem one hour from death,
With all the wealth in which they truſt;
Nor give a dying brother breath,
When God commands him down to duſt.
There the dark earth and diſmal ſhade
Shall claſp their naked bodies round;
That fleſh ſo delicately fed
Lics cold, and moulders in the ground.
Like thoughtleſs ſheep the ſinner dies,
Laid in the grave for worms to eat :
The ſaints ſhall in the morning riſe,
And find the oppreſſor at their feet.
3
4
5 His honours periſh in the duſt,
And pomp and beauty, birth and blood:
That glorious day exalts the juſt
To full dominion o'er the proud.
6 My Saviour ſhall my life reſtore,
And raiſe me from my dark abode :
My fleſh and ſoul ſhall part no more,
But dwell for ever near my God.
PSALM L. 1–6. Part I. [C. M.]
The laſ judgment; or, The ſaints rewa, ded.
THE Lord, the judge, before his throne
Bids the whole earth draw nigh,
The nations near the riſing ſun,
And near the weſtern ſky.
2 No more ſhall bold blaſphemers ſay,
“Judgment will ne'er begin;
No more abuſe his long delay
To impudence and ſin.
3 Thron’d on a cloud our God ſhall come,
Bright flames prepare his way,
l
Thunder and darkncſs, fire and ſtorm
Lead on the dreadful day.
4 Heav’s from above his call ſhall hear,
Attending angels come,
And earth and hell ſhall know, and fear
His juſtice and their doom.
5
“But gatſier all my ſaints (he cries)
“That made their peace with God
“By the Redgemer’s facrifice,
“And ſealed it with his blood.
6 “Their faith and works brought forth to
light,
“Shall make the world confeſs
“My ſentence of reward is right,
“And heav'n adore my grace.
PSALM L. 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 23.
Part II. [C. M.,]
Obedience is better than ſacrifice.
THUS faith the Lord, “The ſpacious
fields,
** And flocks and herds are mine,
“ O'er all the cattle of the hills
“I claim a right divine.
l
2 “I aſk no ſheep nor ſacrifice,
“Nor bullocks burnt with fire :
“To hope and love, to pray and praiſe,
“Is all that I requirc.
“Call upon me when trouble’s near,
“My hand ſhall ſet thee free ;
“Then ſhall thy thankful lips declare
The honour due to me.
3
4 “The man that offers humble praiſe,
“He glorifies me beſt :
“And thoſe that tread my holy ways
“Shall my ſalvation taſte.
PSALM L. verſes 1, 5, 8, 16, 21, 22.
Part III. [C. M.]
The judgment of hypocrites,
WHEN Chriſt to judgment ſhall deſcend,
And ſaints ſurround their Lord,
He calls the nations to attend,
And hear his awful word.
1
2
** Not for the want of bullocks ſlain
“Will I the world reprove;
“Altars and rites, and forms are vain
“Without the fire of love.
3 ** And what have hypocrites to do,
“To bring their ſacrifice 2
“ They call my ſtatutes juſt and true,
“But deal in theft and lyes.
“ Could you expect to 'ſcape my ſight,
“And ſin without control
“But I ſhall bring your crimes to light,
“With anguiſh in your ſoul.
5 Confider, ye that ſlight the Lord,
Before his wrath appear;
If once you fall beneath his ford,
There’s no deliv’rer theics
4.
PSALMS.—L. 61
PSALM L. Part III. [L. M.]
Hyſiocriſy expoſed.
l THE Lord the judge his Churches warns;
Let hypocrites attend and ſear,
Who place their hopes in rites and forms,
But make not faith nor love their care.
2 Vile wretches dare rehearſe his name
With lips of falſehood and deceit ;
A friend or brother they defame,
And ſooth and flatter thoſe they hate.
3 They watch to do their neighbours wrong,
Yet dare to ſeek their Maker’s face;
They take his cov’nant on their tongue,
But break his aws, abuſe his grace.
4. To heav'n they lift their hands unclean,
Defil’d with luſt, defil’d with blood;
By night thcy pračtice ev'ry fin,
By day their months draw near to God.
5 And while his judgments long delay,
They grow ſecure and ſin the more;
They think he flee's as well as they,
And put far off the dreadful hour.
6 O dreadful hour ! when God draws near,
And ſets their crimes before their eyes |
His wrath their guilty ſouls ſhall tear,
And no deliv'rer dare to riſe.
PSALM L.
The laſt judgment,
To a new tune.
|
HE Lord, the ſov’reign ſends his ſum-
mons forth,
Calls the ſouth nations, and awakes the
north;
From eaſt to weſt the ſounding orders
ſpread,
Thro' diſtant worlds and regions of the
dead :
No more ſhall atheiſts mock his long delay;
His vengeance ſleeps no more : Behold
the day. A
2 Behold the judge deſcends ; His guards
are migh, *
Tempeſt and fire attend him down the ſky:
Heav'n, earth and hell, draw near; let
all things come
To hear his juſtice and thc ſinner’s doom :
But gather firſt my ſaints (the judge com-
mands)
Bring them, ye angels, from their diſtant
lands.
3 Behold my cov'nant ſtands for ever good,
Seal’d by th’ eternal ſacrifice in blood,
And ſign'd with all their names; the
Greek, the Jew,
That pay’d the ancient worſhip or the new,
There’s no diſtinétion here: Come, ſpread
their thrones,
And near me ſeat my favºrites and my ſons.
4 I their almighty Saviour and their God,
I am thcir judge : Ye heav’ns proclaim
abroad •
My juſt eternal ſentence, and declare
Thoſe awſui truths that ſinners dread to
hear :
Sinners in Zion tremble and retire;
I doom the painted hypocrite to fire.
5 Not for the want of goats or bullocks ſlain,
Do I condemn thee; bulls and goats are
vain,
"Without the flames of love: In vain the ſtore
Of brutal off’rings that were mine before;
Mine are the tamer beaſts and ſavage breed,
Flocks, herds, and fields, and ſoreſts
where they feed.
6 If I were hungry, wou’d I aſk the food?
When I did thirſt, or drink the bullock's
blood P
Can I be flatter'd with thy cringing bows,
Thy ſolemn chatt’rings and fantaſtic
vows 2
Are my eyes charm'd thy veſtments to
behold,
Glaring in gems and gay in woven gold 2
7 Unthinking wretch I how couldſt thou
hope to pleaſe
A God, a Spirit, with ſuch toys as theſe ?
While with my grace and ſtatutes on thy
tongue
Thou lov’ſt deceit, and doſt thy brother
wrong ; !
In vain to pious forms thy zeal pretends,
Thieves and adult’rers are thy choſen
friends, -
8 Silent I waited with long-ſuffring love,
But didſt thou hope that I ſhould ne'er
reprove?
And cheriſh ſuch an impious thought
within,
That God the righteous wou'd indulge thy
fin
Behold my terrors now ; my thunders roll,
And thy own crimes affright thy guilty ſoul.
9 Sinners, awake betimes; ye fools be wiſe:
Awake before this dreadful morning riſe;
Change your vain thoughts, your crooked
works amend,
Fly to the Saviour, make the judge your
friend ;
Left like a lion his vaſt vengeance tear
Your trembling ſouls and no deliv’rer near.
PSALM L. To the old proper tune.
The laſt judgment. ,
t THE God of glory ſends his ſummons
forth,
Calls the ſouth nation, and awakes the
north ; &
From eaſt to weſt the ſov’reign orders
fpread,
Thro' diſtant worlds and regions of the
dead. -
The trumpet ſounds; hell trembles;
heav'n rejoices;
Lift up your heads, ye ſaints, with
chearful voices:
62
PSALM.—L.
2 No more ſhallatheiſts mock his long delay:
His vengeance ſleeps no more; Behold ||
the day;
Behold the judge deſcends; his guards
are nigh;
Tempeſt and fire attend him down the ſky;
When God appears, all nature ſhall
adore him ; -
While finners tremble, ſaints rejoice
before him.
3 & Heaven, earth, and hell draw near;
let all things come -
“To hear my juſtice and the ſinner's doom;
“But gather firſt my ſaints, (the judge
commands)
* Bring them, ye angels, from their diſ-
tant lands.
When Chriſt returns, wake every chear-
ful paſſion,
And ſhout ye ſaints; he comes for your
falvation.
4 “Behold my cov'nant ſtands for ever good,
« Seal’d by th’ eternal ſacrifice in blood,
« And ſign'd with all their names; the
Greek, the Jew ;
* That pay’d the ancient worſhip or the
new ;
There's no diſtinétion here. Join all
your voices,
And raiſe your heads, ye ſaints, for
heav'n rejoices.
5 tº Here (faith the Lord) ye angels, ſpread
their thrones,
“And near me ſeat my fav'rites, and my
fons,
* Come, my redeem’d poſſeſs the joys
prepar’d
tº Ere time began; 'tis your divine reward.
When Chriſt returns, wake ev'ry chear-
ful paſſion;
And ſhout ye ſaints, he comes for your ||
ſalvation.
PAUSE the Firſt.
6 “ I am the Saviour, I th’ almighty God,
“I am the judge: Ye heav’ns, proclaim
abroad
“My juſt eternal ſentence, and declare
“Thoſe awful truths that ſinners dread to
hear.
When God appears, all nature ſhall
adore him :
While ſinners tremble, ſaints rejoice
before him.
7 Stand forth, thou bold blaſphemer, and
profane,
“Now feel my wrath, nor call my threat-
nings vain,
“Thou hypocrite, once dreſt in ſaint’s
attire, t
<! I doom the painted hypocrite to fire.
Judgment proceeds, hell trembles;
heav'n rejoices;
Lift up your heads, ye ſaints, with
chearſul voices.
8 “Not for the want of goats or bullocks ſlain
“Do I condemn thee; bulls and goats are
Val Il
“Without the flames of love; In vain the
ſtore
“Of brutal off rings|that were mine before:
Earth is the Lord’s ; all nature ſhall
adore him.
While ſinners tremble; ſaints rejoice be-
fore him.
9 “If I were hungry, would I aſk the food?
“When did I thirſt or drink the bul.
lock's blood
“Mine are the tamer beaſts and ſavage
breed,
“Flocks, herds, and fields, and foreſts,
* * where they feed,
All is the Lord’s : He rules the wide
creation;
Give ſinners vengeance, and the ſaints
ſalvation.
10 “Can I be flatter'd with thy cringing
bows,
“Thy ſolemn chatt’rings and fantaſtic
vows 8
“Are my eyes charm'd thy veſtments to
behold,
“Glaring in gems, and gay in woven gold?
God is the judge of hearts : No fair diſ-
guiſes
Can ſcreen the guilty when his ven-
geance riſes.
PAUSE the Second.
11 “ Unthinking wretch how couldſt thou
hope to pleaſe
“A God, a Spirit, with ſuch toys as theſe ?
“While with my grace and ſtatutes on
thy tongue,
“Thou lov’ſ deceit, and doſt thy brother
wrong,
Judgment proceeds; hell trembles;
heav'n rejoices;
Lift up your heads, ye ſaints, with
chearful voices.
12 “In vain to pious forms thy zeal pretends?
“Thieves and adult’rers are thy choſen
friends : .
“While the falſe flatt’rer at my alter waits,
“His harden’d ſoul divine inſtructions
hates.
God is the judge of hearts: No fair
diſguiſes #
Can ſcreen the guilty when his ven-
geance riſes.
(3 “Silent I waited with long-ſuff'ring
love ;
. “But didſt thou hope that I ſhould ne'er
reprove
“And cheriſh ſuch an impious thought
within,
« That all the holy would indulge the
fin 2 -
See, God appears; all nature joins t”
adore him :
Judgment proceeds, and finners fall
before him.
PSALMS.—LI.
14 “Behold my terrors now : My thunders
roll -
** And thy own crimes affright thy guilty
ſoul;
“Now like a lion ſhall my vengeance ||
tear
“Thy bleeding heart, and no deliv’rer near.
Judgment concludes; hell trembles ;
heav'n rejoices; -
Lift up your heads, ye ſaints, with
chearful voices.
EPIPHONEMA.
Sinners awake betimes; ye fools, be wife;
Awake before this dreadful morning riſe:
Change your vain thoughts, your crooked
works amend, º
Fly to the Saviour, make the judge your
friend : - - -
Then join the ſaints : Wake every chear-
ful paſſion,
When Chriſt returns, he comes for your
ſalvation.
PSALM LI. Part I. [L. M.]
4/lenitent/leading for ſardon.
SHEw pity Lord; O Lord, forgive;
Let a repenting rebel live:
Are not thy mercies large and free ?
May not a ſinner truſt in thee *
1
2 My crimes are great, but not ſurpaſs
The pow'r and glory of thy grace;
Great God, thy nature hath no bound,
So let thy pard'ming love be found.
3 O waſh my ſoul from ev’ry ſin,
And make my guilty conſcience clean ;
Hore on my heart the burden lies,
And paſt offences pain my eyes.
4 My lips with ſhame my ſins confeſs
Againſt thy law, againſt thy grace;
Lord, ſhould thy judgment grow ſevere,
I am condemn’d, but thou art clear.
5 Should ſudden vengeance ſeize my breath; •
I muſt pronounce thee juſt in death ;
And if my ſoul were ſent to hell,
Thy righteous law approves it well.
6
Yet ſave a trembling ſinner, Lord,
Whoſe hope ſtill hov'ring round thy word,
Would light on ſome ſweet promiſe there,
Some ſure ſupport againſt deſpair.
PSALM LI. Part II. [L. M.]
Original and ačual fin confeſs'd.
LORD, I am vile, conceiv'd in ſin;
And born unholy and unclean;
Sprung from the man whoſe guilty ſall
Corrupts the race, and taints us all.
1.
2 Soon as we draw our infant-breath,
The feeds of ſin grow up for death;
Thy law demands a perfeót heart,
But we're defil’d in ev'ry part.
3 [Great God, create my heart anew,
And form my ſpirit pure and true:
3
O make me wiſe betimes to ſpy
My danger and my 1emedy.]
4 Behold I fall before thy face;
My only refuge is thy grace :
No outward forms can make me clean;
The leproſy lies deep within.
5 No bleeding bird, nor bleeding beaſt,
Nor hyſſop-branch, nor ſprinkling prieſt,
Nor running brook, nor flood, nor ſea,
Can waſh the diſmal ſtain away.
6 Jeſus, my God, thy blood alone
Hath pow'r ſufficient to atone;
Thy blood can make me white as ſnow;
No Jewiſh types could cleanſe me ſo.
7
While guilt diſturbs and breaks my peace,
Nor floſh nor ſoul hath reſt or eaſe;
Lord, let me hear thy pard’ning voice,
And make my broken bones rejoice.
PSALM LI. Part III. [L. M.]
The backſlider reſor’d; or, Rehentance and faith
in the blood of Chriſt:
1 O Thou that hear’ſ when finners cry,
Tho' all my crimes before thee lie,
Behold them not with angry look,
But blot their memºry from thy book.
2
Create my nature pure within,
And form my ſoul averſe to ſin:
Let thy good Spirit ne'er depart,
Nor hide thy preſence from my Heart,
I cannot live without thy light,
Caſt out, and baniſh’d from thy ſight:
Thine holy joys, my God reſtore,
And guard me that I fall no more.
Tho' I have griev'd thy Spirit, Lord,
His help and comfort ſtill afford:
And let a wretch come near thy throne,
To plead the merits of thy Son.
4
5 A broken heart, my God, my king,
Is all the ſacrifice 1 bring;
The God of grace will ne'er deſpiſe
A broken heart for ſacrifice.
6 My ſoul lies humbled in the duſt,
And owns thy dreadſul ſentence juſt ;
Look down, O Lord, with pitying eye,
And ſave the ſoul condemn’d to die.
T
Then will I teach the world thy ways;
Sinners ſhall learn thy ſov’reign grace ;
I’ll lead them to my Saviour’s blood,
And they ſhall praiſe thy pard’ning God,
8
O may thy love inſpire my tongue !
Salvation ſhall be all my ſong;
And all my pow'rs ſhall join to bleſs
The Lord, my ſtrength and righteouſneſs,
PSALM LI. 3—13. Part I. [C. M.]
Original and ačual ſin confeſs'd and/lardoned.
I LORD, I would ſpread my ſore diſtreſs
And guilt before thine eyes;
64
PSALMS.–LI. LIII. LV.
Againſt thy laws againſt thy grace
How high my crimes ariſe!
2 Should it thou condemn my ſoul to hell,
And cruſh my ſoul to duſt, ł
Heav'n would approve thy vengeance well
And earth muſt own it juſt.
3 I from the ſtock of Adam came,
Unholy and unclean ;
All my original is ſhame,
And all my nature fin.*
4. Born in a world of guilt, I drew
Contagion with my breath ;
And as my days advanc'd, I grew
A juſter prey for death.
5 Cleanſe me, O Lord, and chear my ſoul
With thy forgiving love ;
O make my broken ſpirit whole,
And bid my pains remove.
6. Let not thy Spirit quite depart,
Nor drive me from thy face ;
Create anew my vicious heart,
And fill it with thy grace.
7 Then will I make thy mercy known
Before the ſons of men;
Backſliders ſhall addreſs thy throne,
And turn to God again.
* Or it may be read, My nature pronc to fin.
PSALM LI. 14–17. Part II. [C. M. J
Repentance and faith of the blood of Chriſt.
1 O God of mercy, heat my call,
My loads of guilt remove,
Break down this ſeparating wall
That bars me from thy love.
2
Give me the preſence of thy grace,
Then my rejoicing tongue
Shall ſpeak aloud thy righteouſneſs,
And make thy praiſe my ſong.
3
No blood of goats nor heifer ſlain
For ſin could e” cr atone ;
The death of Chriſt ſhall ſtill remain
Sufficient and alone.
4. A ſoul oppreſt with fin’s deſert
My God will ne'er deſpiſe ;
A humble groan, a broken heart,
is our beſt ſacrifice.
PSALM LIII. 4–6.
Wićiory and deliverance from ſherſecution.
1. ARE all the foes of Sion fools,
Who thus devour hor ſaints 2
Do they not know her Saviour rules,
And pities her complaints.
2 They ſhall be ſeiz'd with ſad ſurpriſe;
For God’s revenging arm
Scatters the bones of them that riſe
To do his children harm. *
In vain the ſons of ſatan boaſt
Of armies in array ;
When God has firſt deſpis’d their hoſt,
They fall an eaſy prey.
3
4 O for a word from Sion's king
Her captives to reſtore
Jacob with all his tribes ſhall ſing,
And Judah weep no more.
PSALM LV, 1–8, 16, 17, 18, 22. [C. M.;
Suſhort for the afflićied and tempted ſoul.
1 O God, my refuge, hear my cries,
Bchold my flowing tears,
For earth and hell my hurt deviſe,
And triumph in my fears.
Their rage is levell'd at my Iife,
My ſoul with guilt they load,
And fill my thoughts with inward ſtrife,
To ſhake my hope in God.
2
3 With inward pain my heart-ſtrings ſound,
I groan with ev’ry breath;
Horror and fear beſet me round
Amongſt the ſhades of death,
O! were I like a feather'd dove,
And innocence had wings;
I’d fly, and make a long remove
From all theſe reſtleſs things
4.
|- 35°S 6
5
Let me to ſome wild defart go,
And find a peaceful home,
Where ſtorms of malice never blow,
Temptations never comc.
6
Vain hopes, and vain inventions all
To "ſcape the rage of hell |
The mighty God on whom I call
Can ſave me here as well.
PAUSE.
7 By morning light I’ll ſeek his face,
At noon repeat my cry,
The night ſhall hear me aſk his grace,
Nor will he long deny.
8 God ſhall preſerve my ſoul from fear,
Or ſhield me when afraid ; ,
Ten thouſand angels muſt appear,
If he conmand their aid.
9 I caſt my burdens on the Lord,
The Lord ſuſtains them all ;
My courage reſts upon his word,
That ſaints ſhall never fall.
10 My higheſt hopes ſhall not be vain,
My lips ſhall ſpread his praiſe;
While cruel and deceitful men
Scarce live out half their days.
PSALM LV. 15, 16, 17, 19, 22. [S. M.]
Dangerous ſiroſhcrity ; or, Daily devotions en-
couraged.
| LET finners take their courſe,
And chooſe the road to death;
But in the worſhip of my God
I’ll ſpend my daily breath.
2 My thoughts addreſs his throne
• When morning brings the light;
I ſeek his bleſſing ev’ry-noon,
And pay my vows at night.
PSALMS.—f VI. LII. LVIII, 65
w
w
3 Thou wilt regard my cries,
O my eternal God
While º: eriſh in ſurpriſe
Beneath thine angry rod.
4 Becauſe they dwell at eaſe;
And no ſad changes feel,
They neither fear nor truſt thy name,
Nor learn to do thy will.
5 But I, with all my cares,
Will lean upon the Lord;
I’ll caſt my burder, or his arm,
And reſt upon his word,
His arm ſhall well ſuſtain
The children of his love;
The ground on which their ſafety ſtands,
No earthly pow'r can move. .
6
PSALM LVI.
Deliverance from oſhreſſion and falſehood: or,
God’s care of his Aeople, in anſwer to faith
and prayer. a'
* O Thou, whoſe juſtice reigns on high,
And makes th’ oppreſſor ceaſe ;
Behold how envious ſinners try
To vex and break my peace.
2 The ſons of violence and lies,
Join to devour me, Lord :
But as my hourly dangers riſe,
My refuge is thy word
3 In God moſt holy, juſt and true,
I have repos'd my truit;
Nor will I fear what fleſh can do,
The offspring of the duſt.
4 They wreſt my words to miſchief ſtill,
Charge me with unknown faults ;
Miſchief doth all thcir councils fill,
And malice all their thoughts.
5 Shall they eſcape without thy frown
Muſt ubeiß devices ſtand 2
O caſt the haughty ſinner down,
And let him know thy hand.
PAUSE.
Ö God counts the ſorrows of his ſaints
Their groans affeót his ears;
Thou haſ a book for my complaints,
A bottle for my tears,
* When to thy throne I raiſe my cry,
The wicked fear and flee :
So ſwift is prayer to reach the ſky,
So near is God to me.
8 In thee, moſt holy, juſt, and true,
I have repos'd my truſt;
Nor will I fear what man can do,
The offspring of the duſts
9 Thy ſolemn vows are on me, Lord,
Thou ſhalt receive my praiſe t
I’ll ſing, “How faithful is thy werd I
“How righteous all thy ways 1 &
10 Thou haſt ſecur'd my ſoul from death ;
O ſet thy pris’ner free l !
That heart and hand, and life and breath,
May be employ'd for thee,
YOL. VII. - y”
|
PSALM LVII.
Praiſe for Areted?ion, grace, and truth,
| MY God in whom are all the ſprings
Of boundleſs love, and grace un-
known ;
Hide me beneath thy ſpreading wings,
Till the dark cloud is overblown.
2 Up to the heav'ns I ſend my cry,
The Lord will my deſires perform ;
He ſends his angels from the ſky, .
And ſaves me from the threat’ning ſtorm.
Be thou exalted, O my God!
Above the heav'ns where angels dwell ;
Thy pow'r on earth be known abroad,
And iand to land thy wonders tell,
3
4.
My heart is fix'd : my ſong ſhall raiſe
Immortal honours to thy name ;
Awake, my tongue, to ſound his praiſe,
My tongue, the glory of my frame.
5
High o'er the earth thy mercy reigns,
And reaches to the utmoſt ſky;
His truth to endleſs years remain,
When lower worlds diſſolve and die;
Be thou exalted, O my God ;
Above the heav’ns where angels dwell;
Thy pow'r on earth be known abroad,
And land to land thy wonders tell.
6
PSALM LVIII. As the 113th Pſalm.
Warning to magiſtrates.
Jººs, who rule the world by laws,
•' Will ye deſpiſe the righteous cauſe,
When th’ injur’d poor before you ſtands?
Dare ye condemn the righteous poor,
And let rich ſinners 'ſcape ſecure,
While gold and greatneſs bribe your
hands
Have ye forgot, or never knew
That God will judge the judges too
High in the heav’ns his juſtice reigns;
Yet you invade the rights of God,
And ſend your bold decrees abroad
To bind the conſcience in your chains.
I
2
3 A poiſon’d arrow is your tongue,
The arrow ſharp, the poiſon ſtrong,
And death attends where'er it wounds :
You hear no counſels, cries, or tears;
So the deaf adder ſtops her ears
Againſt the pow'r of charming ſounds:
|4 Break out their teeth, eternal God
Thoſe teeth of lions dy’d in blood ;
And cruſh the ſerpents in the duſt :
As empty chaff, when whirlwinds riſe,
Before the ſweeping tempeſt flies,
So let their hopes and names be loſt.
5 Th' Almighty thunders from the ſky,
Their grandeur melts, their titles die,
As hills of ſnow diſſolve and run ;
Or ſnails that periſh in their flime,
Or births that come before their time,
Vain births that ºve ſee the ſun.
66
PSALMS.–LX. LXI. LXII. LXIII.
6 Thus ſhall the vengeance of the Lord,
Safety and joy to ſaints afford;
And all that hear ſhall join and ſay,
*Sure there’s a God that rules on high,
“A God that hears his children cry,
“And will their ſuff'rings well repay.”
PSALM LX. ver, 1–5, 10–12.
Ort a day ºf hºmiliation for diſº/pointments in
* ºvar.
\ LORD, laſt thou caſt the nation off?
Muſt we for ever mourn ?
Wiſt thou indulge immortal wrath;
Shall mercy ne'er return ?
2 The terrors of one frown of thine
Melts all our ſtrength away;
Like men that totter, drunk with wine,
We tremble in diſmay.
3 Great Britain ſhakes beneath thy ſtroke,
And dreads thy threat’ning hand ;
O heal the iſland thou haſt broke,
Conſirm the wav'ring land.
4 Lift up a banner in the field,
For thoſe that ſear thy name;
Save thy beloved with thy ſhield,
And put our foes to ſhame.
5 Go with our armies to the fight,
Like a confed’rate God;
In vain confed’ rate pow'rs unite
Againſt thy liſted rod.
6 Our troops ſhall gain a wide renown,
By thine aſſiſting hand;
'Tis God that treads the mighty down,
And makes the feeble ſtand.
|PSALM LXI. ver, 1–6.
Safety in God.
WHEN overwhelm'd with grief,
My heart within me dies, .
Helpleſs, and far from all relief,
To heav'n I liſt mine eyes.
l
3 O lead me to the rock
That’s high above my head;
And make the covert of thy wings
My ſhelter and my ſhade.
3 Within thy preſence, Lord,
For ever 1’ll abide; s
Thou art the pow'r of my defence,
The refuge where I hide,
4 Thou giveſt me the lot
Of thoſe that fear thy name;
If endleſs life be their reward,
I ſhall poſſeſs the ſame.
PSALM LXII. ver, 5–12,
No trift in the creatures: or, faith in divine
grace and ſhower. ºr
1 MY ſpirit looks to God alone;
My rock and refuge is his throne;
An all my fears, in all my ſtraits,
My ſoul on his falvation waits.
j
2 Truſt him, ye ſaints, in all your ways,
Pour out your hearts before his face :
When helpers ſail, and foes invade,
God is our all-ſufficient aid.
Falſe are the men of high degree,
The baſer ſort are vanity; .
Laid in the balance, both appear
Light as a puff of empty air.
Make not increaſing gold your truſt,
Nor ſet your heart on glitt’ring duſt;
Why will you graſp the fleeting ſmoko,
And not believe what God has ſpoke 2
3
4
5
Once has his awful voice declar'd,
Once and again my ears have heard,
“All pow'r is his eternal due ;
“He muſt be fear'd and truſted too.”
()
5 For ſov’reign pow'r reigns not alone,
Grace is a partner of the throne :
Thy grace and juſtice, mighty Lord!
Shall well divide our laſt reward.
PSALM LXIII. ver. 1, 2, 5, 3, 4.
Part I. [C. M.]
The morning of a Lord’s-day.
ARLY, my God, without delay,
I haſte to ſeek thy, face: -
My thirfly ſpirit ſaints away,
Without thy chearing grace.
l
So pilgrims on the ſcorching ſand,
Bencath a burning ſky,
Long for a cooling ſtream at hand,
And they miſt drink or die.
I’ve ſeen thy glory, and thy pow'r,
Thro' all thy, temple ſhine ;
My God, repeat that heav'nly hours
That viſion ſo divine !
Not all the bleſfings of a feaſt
Can pleaſe my ſoul ſo well,
As when thy richer grace I taſte,
And in thy preſence dwell.
3
5
Not liſe itſelſ, with all her joys,
Can thy beſt paſſions move;
Or raiſe ſo high my chearful voice,
As thy forgiving love.
Thus till my laſt expiring day
I’ll bleſs my God and king;
Thus will I liſt my hands to pray,
And tune my lips to ſing.
PSALM LXIII, 6–10. Part II. [c. M.]
Midnight thoughts recolle&fed;
i ‘Twas in the watches of the night .
I thought upon thy pow'r,
I kept thy lovely face in fight
Amidſt the darkeſt hour.
2 My fleſh lay reſting on my bed,
My ſoul aroſe on high ; *
“My God, my life, my hope, I ſaid,
“Bring thy ſalvation nigh. t
| 3 My ſpirit labours up thine hill,
And climbs the heav'nly road;
PSALMS,-LXIII, XLV.
67
But thy right-hand upholds me ſtill,
While I purſue my God:
4 Thy mercy ſtretches o'er my head
The ſhadow of thy wings;
My heart rejoices in thine aid,
My tongue awakes and ſings,
5 But the deſtroyers of my peace .
Shall frct and rage in vain;
The tempter ſhall for ever ceaſe,
And all my fins be ſlain.
6 Thy ſwórd ſhall give my foes to leath,
And ſend them down to dwell
In the dark caverns of the earth,
Or to the deeps of hell.
PSALM LXIII. [L. M.]
Longing after God; or, The love of God better
4 than /ife.
‘1 GREAT God, indulge my humble claim,
Thou art my hope, my joy, my reſt ;
The glories that compoſe thy name
Stand all engag’d to make me bleſt.
2 Thou great and good, thou juſt and wiſe,
Thou art my Father and my God ;
And I am thine by ſacred ties;
Thy ſon, thy ſervant bought with blood.
3 With heart and eyes, and lifted hands,
For thee I long, to thee I look,
As travellers in thirſty lands
Pant for the cooling water-brook.
4. With early feet I love tº appear
Among thy ſaints, and ſeek thy face;
Oſt have I ſeen thy glory there,
And felt the pow'r of ſov’reign grace.
Not fruits nor wines that tempt our taſte,
Nor all the joys our ſenſes know,
Could make me ſo divinely bleſt,
Or raiſe my choarful paſſions ſo.
My life itſelf without thy love
No taſte of pleaſure could afford;
*Twould but a tireſome burden prove,
If I were baniſh’d from the Lord.
Amidſt the wakeful hours of night,
When buſy cares afflićl my head,
One thought of thee gives new delight,
And adds refreſhment to my bed.
I’ll lift my hands, I’ll raiſe my voice,
While I have breath to pray ºr praiſe;
This work ſhall make my heart rejoice,
And ſpend the lemnant of my days.
7
8
PSALM LXIII. [S, M.]
Seeking God.
Y God permit my tongue
This joy, to call thee miné,
And let my early cries prevail
`To taſte thy love divine.
2 My thirſty fainting ſoul
Thy increy doth implore; Y
l
|
º
3
4
5
6
I
2
Not travellers in deſert lands
Can pant for water more,
Within thy churches, Lord,
I long to find imy place,
Thy pow'r and glory to behold, p
And feel thy quickning grace.
För life without thy love
No reliſh can afford;
No joy can be compar'd to this,
To ſerve and pleaſe the Lord.
To thee I lift my hands,
And praiſe thee while I live;
Not all the dainties of a feaſt
Such food or pleaſure give.
In wakeful hours at night
I call my God to mind; j
I think how wiſe thy counſels are,
And all thy dealings kind.
Since thou haſt been my help,
o thee my ſpirit flies,
And Qn thy watchful providence
My chearful hope relies.
The ſhadow of thy wings
My ſoul in ſaf’ty keeps;
I follow where my father leads,
And he ſupports my ſteps.
PSALM LXV. ver. 1–5. Part F.
Public prayer and Araiſe.
THE praiſe of Sion waits for thee,
My God; and praiſe becomes thy
houſe ;
There ſhall thy ſaints thy glory ſee,
And there perform their public vows,
O thou, whoſe mercy bends the ſkies
To ſave when humble finners pray,
All lands to thee ſhall lift their eyes,
And iſlands of the northern ſea.
Againſt my will my ſins prevail,
But grace ſhall purge away their ſtain;
The blood of Chriſt will never fail
To waſh my garments white again.
Bleſt is the man whom thou ſhalt chooſe,
And give him kind acceſs to thee;
Give him a place within thy houſe,
To taſte thy love divinely free.
PAUSE,
Let Babel fear when Sion prays; :
Babel prepare for long diſtreſs
When Ston's God himſelf arrays
In terror and in righteouſneſs,
With dreadful glory God fulfi's
What his afflićted ſaints requeſt;
And with almighty wrath reveals
His love, to give his churches reſt.
Then ſhall the flocking nations run
To Sion’s hill and own their Lord ;
The riſing and the ſetting ſun
Shall ſee the sº name ador'd,
6S
PSALMS.–IXV.
PSALM LXV. 5–13. Part II. [L. M.]
Divine Arovidence in air, earth and ſea; or,
The God of nature and grace.
i THE God of our ſalvation hears
The groans of Sion mix’d with tears;
Yet when he comes with kind deſigns.
Thro' all the way his terror ſhines.
On him the race of man depends,
Far as the earth's remoteſt ends,
Where the Creator's name is known
By nature's feeble light alone.
3 Sailors, that travel o'er the flood,
Addreſs their frighted ſouls to God,
When tempeſts rage and billows roar
At dreadful diſtance from the ſhore,
* He bids the noiſy tempeſt ceaſe;
He calms the raging croud to peace,
When a tumultuous nation raves
Wild as the winds, and loud as waves.
5
Whole kingdoms, ſhaken by the ſtorm,
He ſettles in a peaceful form;
Mountains eſtabliſh’d by his hand,
Firm on their old foundations ſtand.
6 Behold his enſigns ſweep the ſky,
New comets blaze, and lightnings fly;
The heathen lands, with ſwift ſurpriſe,
From the bright horrors turn their eyes.
7 At his command the morning-ray
Smiles in the eaſt, and leads the day ;
He guides the ſun's declining wheels
Over the tops of weſtern hills.
8 Seaſons and times obey his voice;
The ev’ning and the morn rejoice
To ſee the earth made ſoft with ſhow’rs,
Laden with fruit, and dreſs'd in flow’rs.
9 "Tis ſrom his watry ſtores on high
He gives the thirſty ground ſupply ;
He walks upon the clouds, and thence
Doth his enriching drops diſpenſe.
10. The deſart grows a fruitful field,
Abundant food the valleys yield ;
The valleys ſhout with chearful voice,
And neighb’ring hills repeat their joys.
11 The paſtures ſmile in green array;
There lambs and larger cattle play;
The larger cattle and the lamb,
Each in his language ſpeaks thy name.
12 Thy works pronounce thy pow'r divine;
O'er ev'ry field thy glories ſhine,
Thro’ ev’ry month thy gifts appear;
Great God! thy goodneſs crowns the year,
*
PSALM LXV. Part I. [C. M.]
4Arayer-hearing God, and the gentiles called.
I PRAISE waits in Zion, Lord, for thee;
There ſhall our vows be paid :
Thou haſt an ear when ſinners pray,
All fleſh ſhall ſeek thine aid.
2 Lord, our iniquities prevail,
But pard'ming grace is thine,
And thou wilt grant us pow'r and ſkill
To conquer ev’ry ſin.
3 Bleſs'd are the men whom thou wilt chooſe
To bring them near thy face,
Give them a dwelling in thine houſe,
To feaſt upon thy grace.
4 In anſw'ring what thy church requeſts,
Thy truth and terror ſhine, -
And works of dreadful righteouſneſs
Fulfil thy kind deſign.
5 Thus ſhall the wond'ring nations ſee
The Lord is good and juſt ;
And diſtant iſlands fly to thee,
And make thy name thc1r truſt.
6 They dread thy glittering tokens, Lord,
When ſigns in heav'n appear 3
But they ſhall learn thy holy word,
And love as well as fear,
- PSALM LXV.
The Arovidence of God in air, earth, and ſea; or,
The b/g/ng of rain.
1 *TIS by thy ſtrength the mountains ſtand,
God of eternal pow'r,
The ſea grows calm at thy command,
And tempeſts ceaſe to roar.
Part II. [C. M.]
2 Thy morning-light and ev'ning-ſhade
Succeſſive comforts bring ;
Thy plentedus fruits make harveſt glad,
Thy flow’rs adorn the ſpring.
3 Seaſons and times, and moons, and hours,
Heav'n, earth, and air are thine ;
When clouds diſtil in fruitful ſhow’rs,
The author is divine.
4 Thoſe wand'ring ciſterns in the ſky,
Borne by the winds around,
With watry treaſures well ſupply
Thg furrows of the groundſ
5 The thirſty ridges drink their fill,
And ranks of corn appear ;
Thy ways abound with bleſfings ſtill,
Thy goodneſs crowns the year.
PSALM LXV, Part III. [C. M.]
The bleſſings of the ſhring; or, God gives rain.
A pſalm for the huſbandman.
! GOOD is the Lord, the heav'nly king,
Who makes the earth his care,
Viſits the paſtures ev’ry ſpring,
And bids the graſs appear.
2 The clouds, like rivers rais’d on high,
Pour out, at thy command,
Their watry bleſfings from the ſky,
To chear the thirſty land.
3 The ſoftened ridges of the field
Permit the corn to ſpring;
The valleys rich proviſion yield,
And the poor lab’rers fing.
(PSALMS.–LXVI. LXVII. LXVIII.
4. The little hills, om ev’ry ſide,
Rejoice at falling ſhow’rs,
The meadows dreſs'd in all their pride,
Perfume the air with flow’rs.
5 The barren clods, refreſh'd with rain,
Promiſe a joyful Grop.;
The parching grounds look green again,
And raiſe the reaper’s hope,
6 The various months thy goodneſs crowns,
How bountedus are thy ways
The bleating flocks ſpread o'er the downs,
And ſhepherds ſhout thy praiſe.
PSALM LXVI. Part I.
Governing Aower and goddneſ ; or, Our grace
tried by afflićtions.
ING all ye nations to the Lord,
Sing with a joyful noiſe;
With melody of ſound record
His honours and your joys.
1
.
2
º
Say to the Pow'r that ſhakes the ſky,
£4 How terrible art thou !
“Sinners before thy preſence fly,
“Or at thy feet they bow.
3 ſcome ſce the wonders of our God!
How glorious are his ways!
In Moſes' hand he puts his rod,
And cleaves the frighted ſeas.
4. He made the ebbing channel dry,
While Iſrael paſs'd the flood ;
There did the church begin their joy,
And triumph in their God.]
5 He rules by his reſiſtleſs might; .
Will rebel mortals dare
Provoke th’ eternal to the fight,
3
And tempt that dreadful war
6 O bleſs our God, and never ceaſe,
Ye ſaints, fulfil his praiſe ;
He keeps our liſe, maintains our peace,
And guides our doubtful ways.
7 Lord, thou haſt prov’d our ſuff’ring ſouls,
To make our graces ſhine ;
So ſilver bears the burning coals
The metal to refine,
8 Thro' watry deeps and fiery ways
We march at thy command,
Led to poſſeſs the promis’d place
By thine unerring hand.
PSALM LXVI, 13–20. Part II.
Praiſe to God for hearing ſtrayer.
1 N
OW ſhall my ſolemn vows be paid
To that Akmighty pow'r,
That heard the long requeſts I made
In my diſtreſsful hour.
2 My lips and chearful heart prepare
To make his mercies known;
Come ye that fear my God, and hear
The wonders he has done.
3 When on my head huge ſorrows fell,
I ſought his heav'nly aid,
He ſav'd my ſinking ſoul from hell,
And death’s eternal ſhade.
4 If ſin lay cover'd in my heart, ,
While pray’r employ'd my tongue, ,
The Lord had ſhewn me no regard,
Nor I his praiſes ſung. *
5 But God (his name be ever bleſs'd)
Has ſet my ſpirit free ;
Nor turn’d from him my poor requeſt, ,
Nor turn'd his heart from me.
PSALM LXVII.
The nation's Aroſherity, and the church's increaſe.
I SHINE, mighty God, on Britain ſhiné,
With beams of heav'nly grace;
Reveal thy pow'r thro’ all our coaſts,
And ſhew thy ſmiling face.
2 [Amidſt our iſle, exalted high,
Do thou our glory ſtand,
And, like a wall of guardian-fire,
Surround the favºrite land.]
When ſhall thy name from ſhore to ſhore,
Sound all the earth abroad,
And diſtant nations know and love
Their Saviour ànd their God 2
Sing to the Lord, ye diſtant lands,
Sing loud with ſolemn voice;
While Britiſh tongues exalt his praiſe,
And Britiſh hearts rejoice.
4.
He the great Lord, the ſov’reign judge,
That ſits enthron’d above,
Wiſely commands the world he made
In juſtice and in love. -
Earth ſhall obey her Maker’s will,
And yield a full increaſe ;
Our God will crown his choſen iſle
With ſtuitfulneſs and peace.
6
7
God the Redeemer ſcatters round
His choiceſt favours here,
While the creation’s utmoſt bound .
Shall ſee, adore, and fear.
PSALM LXVIII. I-6, 32—3. Part I.
The vengeance and com/affon of God.
LET God ariſe in all his might,
And put the troops of hell to flight;
As ſmoke that ſought to cloud the ſkies
Before the riſing tempeſt flies.
l
[He comes array'd in burning flames;
Juſtice and vengeance are his names :
Behold his fainting foes expire
Like melting wax before the fire.]
He rides and thunders thro’ the sky;
His name Jehovah ſounds on high :
Sing to his name, ye ſons of grace;
Ye ſaints, rejoice before his face.
4 The widow and the fatherleſs
Fly to his aid in ſharp diſtreſs ;
tº
PSALM.–LXVIII. LXtº.
In him the poor and helpleſs fifid
A judge that’s juſt, a father kind.
5 He breaks the captives’ heavy chair,
And prisºners ſee the ſight again;
But rebels that diſpute his will, *
Shall dwell in chains and darkneſs ſtill.
PAUSE.
6 Kingdoms and thrones td God belong;
Crown him, ye nations, in your ſong:
His wondrous names and pow'rs rehearſe;
His hortours ſhall enrich your verſe.
7. He ſhakes the heav'ns with loud alarms;
How terrible is God in arms 1
£n Iſrael are his mercies known,
Iſrael is his peculiar throne.
* Proclaim him king, pronounce him bleſt;
He’s your defence, your joy, your feſt:
When terrors rife, and nations faint,
God is the ſtrength of ev'ry ſaint.
PSALM LXVIII. Part II.
Verſes 17, 18.
Chriſ's aſcenſion, and the gift of the Spirit.
I LORD, when thou didſt aſcend on high,
Ten thouſand angels fill'd the ſky,
Thoſe heav'nly guards around thee wait,
Like chariots that attend thy ſtate.
* Not Sinai’s mountain could appear
More glorious when the Lord was there?
While he pronounc'd his dreadful law,
And ſtruck the choſen tribes with awe,
3 How bright the triumph none can tell,
When the rebellious pow'rs of hell,
That thouſand ſouls had captive made,
Where all in chains like captives led.
4 Raisºd by his Father to the throne,
He ſent the promis'd Spirit down,
With gifts and grace for rebel-men,
That Göd might dwgll on earth again.
PSALM LXVIII. Part III.
Verſes 19, 9, 20, 21, 22.
Praiſe for temporal bleſsings; or, Common and
ſpecial me, cics.
Y B. bleſs the Lord, the juſt, the good,
Who fills our hearts with joy and food;
Who pours his bleſfings from the ſkies,
And loads our days with rich ſupplies.
2 He ſends the ſun his circuit round, .
To chear the fruits, to warm the ground ;
He bids the clouds, with plenteous rain,
Refreſh the thirſty earth again.
3 'Tis to his care we owe our breath,
And all our near eſcapes from death :
Saf’ty and health to God belorig;
He heals the weak, and guards the ſtrong.
4 He makes the ſaint and ſinner prove
The common bleſſings of his love;
But the wide difference that remains,
Is endleſs joy, or endleſs pains.
5 The Lord, that bruis’d the ſerpent's head,
On all the fergent’s ſeed ſhall tread :
The ſtubborn ſinner's hope confound,
And ſmitc him with a laiting wound.
6 Butt his fight-hand his fairits ſhall raiſe
From the deep earth, or deeper ſeas;
And bring them to his courts above,
|
There ſhall they taſte his ſpecial love.
: PSALM LXIX. 1–14. Part I. [C. M.]
The ſufferings of Chriſt, for own ſalvation.
“SAVE me, O God, the ſwelling floods
“Break in upon my ſoul :
“I ſink : and forrows o'er my head,
“Like mighty waters roll.
1
2 “I cry till all my voice be gone,
“In tears I waſte the day :
“My God, behold my longing eyes,
P “And ſhorten thy delay.
'3. “They hate my ſoul without a cauſe,
“And ſtill their number grows
“More than the hairs around my head,
“And mighty are my foes.
“”Twas then I paid that dreadful debt
“That men could never pay,
“And gave thoſe honours to thy law
“Which ſinners took away.”
Thus, in the great Meſſiah’s name,
The royal prophet mourns;
Thus he awakes our hearts to grief,
And gives us joy by turns.
“Now ſhall the ſaints rejoice and find
{ “Salvation in my name;
“For F have borne their heavy load
“Of ſorrow, pain, and ſhame.
s
7
“Gricſ, like a garment, cloth'd me rounds
“And ſackcloth was my dreſs,
“While I procur’d ſor naked ſouls
“A robe of rightcouſneſs.
|8 “Amongſt my brethren and the Jews
“I like a ſtranger ſtood,
“And bore their vile reproach, to bring
“The gentiles near to God. 2.
“I came, in ſinful mortals' ſtead,
“To do my Father's will ; , ,
“Yet when I cleans’d my Father's houſe,
They ſcandaliz'd my zcal.
10 “My faſting and my holy groans
“Were made the drunkard’s foſìg;
“But God, from his celeſtial throne,
“. Heard my complaining tongue.
11 “He ſav'd me from the dreadful deep,
“Nor let my ſoul be drown'd ;
“He rais'd and fix'd my ſinking feet
“On well-eſtabliſh’d ground.
$
}
| 2 “”Twas in a moſt accepted hour
“My pray’r aroſe on high,
“And for my ſake my God ſhall hear
“The dying ſinnér's cry.” -

PSALMS.–LXIX.
PSALM LXIX. 14–21, 26, 29, 32.
Part II. [C. M.}
The Asſion and exaltation of Chriſt.
} N OW let our lips with holy fear,
And mournful pleaſure ſing
The ſuff"rings of out great High-prieſt,
The ſorrows of our king.
2 He ſinks in floods of deep diſtreſs ;
How high the waters riſe !
While to his heav'nly Father's ear
He ſends perpetual cries.
3 “Hear me, O Lord, and ſave thy ſon,
“Nor hide thy ſhining face;
“Why ſhould thy favºrite look like one
“ Forſaken of thy grace 2
4 * With rage they perſecute the man
“That groans beneath thy wound;
“While, for a ſacrifice, I pour
“My life upon the ground.
5 * They tread my honour to the duſt,
“And laugh when I complain ;
* Their ſharp inſulting ſlanders add
“Freſh anguiſh to my pain.
6 “All my reproach is known to thee,
“The ſcandal and the ſhame ;
“Reproach has broke my bleeding heart,
“And lies defil’d my name. -
7 * I look’d for pity, but in vain;
“My kindred are my grief;
“I aſk my friends for comfort round,
“But meet with no relief. |
6 “With vinegar they mock my thirſt,
“They give me gall for food;
“And ſporting with my dying groans,
“They triumph in any blood.
9 “Shine in to my diſtreſſed ſoul,
* Let thy compaſſions ſave ;
“And tho' my fleſh ſink down to death
“Redeem it from the grave.
19 “I ſhall ariſe to praiſe thy name,
“Shall reign in worlds unknown,
“And thy ſalvation, Q my God,
“Shall ſeat me on thy throne.
y
PSALM LXIX. Part'íII. [C. M.]
Chriſt's obedience and death; or, God glorified
and finners ſaved.
! FATHER, I ſing thy wondrous grace,
I bleſs my Saviour’s name, *
He bought ſalvation for the poor,
And bore the ſinner's ſhame.
2 His deep diſtreſs has rais'd us high,
His duty and his zeal.
Fulfill'd the law, which mortals broke,
And finiſh’d all thy will. '
3 His dying groans, his living ſons
Shall better pleaſe my God,
Thán harp or trumpet’s ſolemn ſound,
Than goats or bullock's blood.
4 This ſhall his humble followers ſee,
And ſet their hearts at rcſt;
They by his death draw near to thee,
And live for ever bleſt.
Let heav'n, and all that dwell on high
To Ged their voices raiſe,
While lands and ſeas aſſiſt the ſky,
And join t” advance the praiſe.
2.
Zion is thige, moſt holy God ;
Thy Son ſhall bleſs her gates :
And glory purchas"d-by his blood
For thy own Iſrael waits.
PSALM LXIX. Part I. [L. M.J
Chriſt’s Aaſion, and ſinner's falvation.
EEP in our heafts ſet us record
The deeper ſorrows of our Lord;
Behold the riſing billows roll
To overwhelm his holy ſoul.
1
In long complaints he ſpends his breath,
While hoſts of heil, and pow'rs of death,
And all the ſons of maalace join
To execute their curſt deſign.
Yet, gracious God, thy pow'r and love
Has made the curſe a bleſfing prove ;
Thoſe dreadful ſuffrings of thy Son
Aton'd for ſins which we had done.
3
4.
The pangs of our expiring Lord
The honours of thy law reſtor'd :
His ſorrows made thy juſtice known,
And paid for follies not his own.
5
O for his ſake our guilt forgive,
And let the mourning ſinner live :
The Lord will hear us in his narne,
Nor ſhall our hope be turn'd to ſhame.
PSALM LXIX. ver. 7, &c. Part II. [L. M.]
Chriſt's ſufferings and zeal.
1 *ri-WAS for thy ſake, eternal God,
Thy Son ſuſtain’d that heavy load
Of baſe reproach and fore diſgrace,
And ſhame defil’d his ſacred face.
The Jews, his brethren and his kin,
Abus’d the man that check’d their ſin :
While he fulfill'd thy holy laws,
They hate him, but without a cauſe.
[“My Father's houſe, ſaid he, was madº
“A placc for worſhip, not for trade;
Then ſcatt’ring all their gold and braſs,
He ſcourg'd the merchants from the place.]
[Zeal for the temple of his God
Conſum’d his life, expos'd his blood : .
Reproaches at thy glory thrown .
He felt, and maurn'd them as his own.].
[His friends forſook, his followers fled,
While foes and arms ſurround his head ;
They curſe him with a ſland’rous tongue,
And the falſe judgemaintains the wrong.j
2
3
6 His life they load with hateful lies,
|
And charge his lips with blaſphemies;
72 º'
PSALMs—LXXI. LXXII.
They nail him to the ſhameful tree ;
There hung the man that dy’d for me. .
7 [Wretches with hearts as hard as ſtones
Inſult his piety and groans :
Galt was the food they gave him there,
And mock’d his thirſt with vinegar.]
3. But God beheld; and from his throne
Marks out the men that hate his Son; .
The hand that rais’d him from the dead,
Shall pour the vengeance on their head.
PSALM LXXI. 5-9. Part I:
The aged ſaints’ refle&#ion and hope,
I MY God, my everlaſting hope,
I live upon thy truth;
Thine hands have held my childhood up,
And ſtrengthen’d all my youth.
2 My fleſh was ſaſhion’d by thy pow'r,
With all theſe limbs of mine;
And from my mother's painful hour
I've been entirely thine.
3 Still has my life new wonders ſeen,
Repeated ev'ry year 3 g
Behold my days that yet remain,
I truſt them to thy care.
4. Caſt me not off when ſtrength declines,
When hoary hairs ariſe;
And round me let thy glories ſhine
Whene'er thy ſervant dies.
5 Then in the hiſtory of my age,
When men review my days,
They’ll read thy love in ev'ry page,
In ev'ry line thy praiſe.
PSALM LXXI. 15, 14, 16, 23, 22, 24.
Part II.
Chrift our ſirength and righteouſneſs.
t MY Saviour, my almighty friend,
When I begin thy praiſe,
Where will the growing numbers end,
The numbers of thy grace
2 Thou art my everlaſting truſt,
Thy goodneſs I adore ;
And ſince I knew thy graces firſt,
I ſpeak thy glories more.
3 My feet ſhall travel all the length
Of the celeſtial road,
And march with courage in thy ſtrength,
To ſee my Father God.
4. When I am fill’d with ſore diſtreſs
For ſome ſurpriſing ſin,
I’ll plead thy perfect righteouſneſs,
And mention none but thine.
5 How will my lips rejoice to tell
The vićt’ries of my king 1 -
My ſoul redeem’d from ſin and hell
Shall thy ſalvation ſing.
6 [My tongue ſhall all the day proclaim
My Saviour and my God .
His death has brought my foes to ſhame,
And drown'd them in his blood.
*
|'l Awake, awake, my tuneſul pow'ru,
With this delightful ſong
I’ll entertain the darkeſt hours,
Northink the ſeaſon long.]
PSALM LXXI. 17-21. Part III.
The aged chriffian's ſhrayer and ſong; or, Old
age, death and reſurrettion. -
I GOP of my childhood and my youth,
The guide of all my days,
, I have declar'd thy heav'nly truth,
And told thy wond’rous ways.
Wilt thou forſake my heary hairs,
And leave my ſainting heart 2
Who ſhall ſuſtain my ſinking years
If God my ſtrength depart 2
3
Let me thy pow'r and truth proclaim
To the ſurviving age,
And leave a ſavour of thy name
When I ſhall quit the ſtage.
The land of ſilence and of death
Attends my next remove ;
O may theſe poor remains of breath
Teach the wide world thy love
Thy righteouſneſs is deep and high,
t]nſearchable thy deeds;
Thy glory ſpreads beyond the ſky,
And all my praiſe exceeds.
5
6
Oft have I heard thy threatnings roar,
And oft endur’d the grief;
But when thy hand has preſt me ſore,
r Thy grace was my relief. *
7 By long experience have I known
Thy ſov’reign pow'r to ſave ;
At thy command I venture down
Securely to the grave.
When I lie buried deep in duſt,
My fleſh ſhall be thy care;
Theſe with’ring limbs with thee I truſt,
To raiſe them ſtrong and fair.
8
PSALM LXXII. Part I.
The Kingdom of Chriſt.
GREAT God, whoſe univerſal ſway
The known and unknown worlds
obey,
Now give the kingdotn to thy Son,
Extend his pow'r, exalt his throne.
Thy ſceptre well becomes his hahds,
All heav'n ſubmits to his commands ;
His juſtice ſhall avenge the poor,
And pride and rage prevail no more.
With pow'r he vindicates the juſt,
And treads th’ oppreſſer in the duſt;
His worſhip and his fear ſhall laſt
Till hours and years and time be paſt.
As rain on meadows newly mown,
So ſhall he ſend his influence down :
His grace on fainting ſouls diſtils,
1
2
4.
Like heav'nly dew on thirſtyhills.
PSALMS.--LXXII. LXXIII.
3
7
f
5 The heathen lands that lie beneath
The ſhades of overſpreading death,
Revive at his firſt dawning light,
And deſarts bloſſom at the ſight.
The ſaints ſhall flouriſh in his days,
Dreſs'd in the robes of joy and praiſe;
Peace, like a river from his throne
Shall flow to nations yet unknown.
6
PSALM IXXII, Part II.
Chriſt's kingdom among the Gentiles.
ESUS ſhall reign where’er the ſun
•' Does his ſucceſſive journies run; |
His kingdom ſtretch from ſhore to ſhore,
Till moons ſhall wax and wane no more.
[Behold ! the iſlands with their kings,
And Europe her beſt tribute brings;
From north to ſouth the princes meet
To pay their homage at his feet.
l
There Perſia, glorious to behold,
There India ſhines in eaſtern gold ;
And barb’rous nations at his word
Submit and bow, and own their Lord.]
For him ſhall endleſs pray’r be made,
And princes throng to crown his head;
His name like ſweet perfume ſhall riſe
With ev'ry morning ſacrifice.
People and realms of ev'ry tongue
Dwell on his love with ſweeteſt ſong
And infant voices ſhall proclaim
Their early blcſſings on his name.
Bleſfings abound where'er he reigns;
The pris’ner leaps to loſe his chains;
The weary find eternal reſt,
And all the ſons of want are bleſt.
[Where he diſplays his healing pow'r,
Death and the curſe are known no more;
In him the tribes of Adam boaſt
More bleſfings than their Father loſt.
Let ev'ry creature riſe and bring
Pecular honours to our king;
Angels deſcend with ſongs again,
And earth repeat the loud Amen.]
PSALM LXXIII. Part I. [C. M.]
4.jlićted ſaints happy, and ſiroſhcrous ſinners
d
culſed.
I Now I’m convinc'd the Lord is kind
To men of heart ſincere,
Yet once my fooliſh thoughts repin'd,
And border'd on deſpair.
2 I griev'd to ſee the wicked thrive,
And ſpoke with angry breath,
“How pleaſant and profane they live 1
“How peaceful is their death?
3 “With well-fed fleſh, and haughty eyes
“They lay their fears to ſleep;
“Againſt the heav'ns their ſlanders riſe,
“While ſaints in ſilence weep.
4 “In vain I lift my hands to pray,
“And cleanſe my heart in vain,
VOL. VII,
“For I am chaſtened all the day,
“The night renews my pain.”
5 Yet while my tongue indulg’d complaints,
I felt my heart reprove ;
“Sure I ſhall thus offend thy ſaints,
“And grieve the men I love.”
6 But ſtill I found my doubts too hard,
The conflićt too fevere,
*Till I retir’d to ſearch thy word,
And learn thy ſecrets there.
7 There as in ſome prophetic glaſs,
I ſaw the ſinner’s feet
High mounted on a ſlipp'ry place,
Beſide a fiery pit.
8 I heard the wretch profanely boaſt,
Till at thy feet he fell !
His honours in a dream were loſt,
And he awakes in hell.
|9 Lord, what an envious fool 1 was
How like a thoughtleſs beaſt !
Thus to ſuſpect thy promis’d grace,
And think the wicked bleſt.
10 Yet was I kept from full deſpair,
Upheld by pow'r unknown ;
That bleſied hand that broke the fuare,
Shall guide me to thy throne.
PSALM LXXIII. 23–28. Part II. [C. M.]
God our portion here and hereafter,
1 GOD, my ſupporter and my hope,
My help for ever near,
Thine arm of mercy held me up
When ſinking in deſpair.
2 Thy counſels, Lord, ſhall guide my feet
Thro’ this dark wilderneſs;
Thine hand condućt me near thy ſeat,
To dwell before thy face.
3 Were I in heav'n without my God,
'Twould be no joy to me;
And whilſt this earth is my abode
I long for none but thee-
What if the ſprings of life were broke,
And fleſh and heart ſhould faint 2.
God is my ſoul's eternal rock,
The ſtrength of ev'ry ſaint
5 Behold the ſinners that remove
Far from thy preſence die;
Not all the idol-gods they love
Can ſave them when they cry.
But to draw near to thee, my God,
Shall be my iweet employ;
My tongue ſhall ſound thy works abroad
And tell the world my joy.
PSALM LXXIII 22, 3, 6, 17–20, [L. M.]
The ſtroſherity of ſinners cuiſed.
1 LORD, whata thoughtleſs wretch was I,
To mourn, and murmur, and replme,
To ſee the wicked plac'd on high,
In pride and robes of honour ſhipe'
K.
\
74
PSALMS.--LXXIII. LXXIV.
2. But, O their end, their dreadful end
Thy ſančtuary taught me ſo;
On ſlipp’ry rocks I fee them ſtand,
And fiery billows roll below.
3 Now let them boaſt how tall they riſe,
I’ll ne'er envy them again, d
There let them ſtand with haughty eyes,
Till they plunge deep in end!ºſs pain
4 Their fancy’d joys, how faſt they fice
Juſt like a dream when man awakes :
Their ſongs of ſofteſt harmony
Are but a preſace to their plagues.
5 Now I eſteem their mirth and wine ſ
Too dear to purchaſe with my blood ;
Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mine,
My life, my portion, and my God.
PSALM LXXIII. [S. M.]
The myſtery of ſirovidence unfolded.
1 SURE there's a righteous God,
Nor is religion vain ;
Tho' men of vice may boaſt aloud,
And men of grace complain.
2 I ſaw the wicked riſe,
And felt my heart repine,
While haughty fools with ſcornful eyes
In robes of honour ſtaine.
3 [Pamper'd with wanton eaſe,
Their floſin looks full and fair:
Their wealth rolls in like flowing ſeas,
And grows without their care.
4 Free from the plagues and pains
That pious ſouls endure,
Thro' all their life oppreſſion reigns,
And racks the humble poor.
5 Their impious tongues blaſpheme
The everlaſting God;
Their malice blaſts the good man's name,
And ſpreads their lives abroad.
6 But I, with flowing tears
Indulg’d my doubts to riſe :
* Is there a God that ſees or hears
“The things below the ſkies º'
7 The tumults of my thought
Held me in hard ſuſpence, c
Till to thy houſe my feet were brought
To learn thy juſtice thence.
8 Thy word with light and pow'r
Did my miſtakes amend;
I view'd the ſinner's life before, f
But here I learnt their end.
9 On what a ſlipp'ry ſteep
The thoughtleſs wretches go;
And O that dreadful fiery deep
Tilat waits their fall below
10 Lord, at thy feet I bow,
My thoughts no more repine;
I call my God my portion now,
And all my pow'rs are thine.
PSALM LXXIV.
The church pleading with God under fore her-
fecution.
l WILL God for ever caſt us off a
. His wrath for ever ſmoke
Againſt the people of his love,
His kittle choſen flock #
Think of the tribes ſo dearly bought
With their Redeemer’s blood l
Nor let thy Sion be forgot,
Where once thy glory flood.
2
3
Liſt up thy feet and march in haſte
Aloud our lun calls;
See what a wide altd ſearful waſte
ls made within thy walls.
4. Where once thy churches pray'd and ſang
Thy foes profanely roar;
Over thy gates their enſigns hang,
Sad tokens of their pow’r.
How are the ſeats of worſhip broke
They tear thy buildings down ;
And he that deals the heavieſt ſtroke
Procures the chief renown.
5
6
With flames they threaten to deſtroy
Thy chuldren in their neſt ;
“‘Come let us burn at once (they cry)
“The temple and the prieſt.”
7
And ſtill to heightcry our diſtreſs
Thy preſence is withdrawn;
Thy wonted ſigns of pow'r and grace,
Thy pow'r and grace are gone.
8
No prophet ſpeaks to calm our woes,
But all the ſeers mourn;
There’s not a ſoul among us knows
The time of thy return.
PAUSE,
| 9 How long, eternal God how long
Shalf men of pride blaſpheme *
Shall ſaints be made their endleſs ſong,
And bear immortal ſhame !
10 Canſt thou for ever ſit and hear
Thy holy name prophan'd?
And ſtill thy jealouſy forbear,
And ſtill withhold thine hand P
*
11 What ſtrange deliv'rance haſ thou ſhewn
In ages long beforel
And now no other God we own,
No other God adore.
12 Thou didſt divide the raging ſea,
By thy reſiſtleſs might,
To make thy tribes a wondrous way,
And then ſecure their flight.
13 Is not the world of nature thine,
The darkneſs and the day 2 &
Didſt not thou bid the morning ſhine,
And mark the ſun his way 3
14 Hath not thy pow'r form'd ev'ry coaſt,
And ſet the earth its bounds,
With ſummer’s heat, and winter's froſt,
In their perpetual rounds 2
PSALMS.–LXXV. LXXVI. LXXVII.
15 And ſhall the ſons of earth and duſt,
That ſacred pow'r blaſpheme *
Will not thy hand that form'd them firſt,
Avenge thine injur’d name ! *
16 Think on the cov’nant thou haſt made, ,
And all thy words of love; -
Noriet the birds of prey invade, }
And vex thy mourning dove. '
17 Our foes would triumph in our blood,
And make our hope their jeſt :
Plead thine own caſe, Almighty God!
And give thy children reſt.
PSALM LXXV.
Power and government from God alone.
Applied to the glorious Revolution by King
William, or the happy Acceſſion of King
George to the throne.
O thee, moſt holy and moſt High,
To thee we bring our thankful praiſe;
Thy works declarc thy name is nigh,
Thy works of wonder and of grace,
2 Britain was doom'd to be a ſlave; 3.
Her frame diſſolv’d, her fears were
great;
When God a new ſupporter gave,
To bear the pillars of the ſtate.
3 He from thy hand receiv'd his crown,
And ſwore to rule by wholeſome laws;
His foot ſhall tread th’ oppreſſor down,
His arm defend the righteous cauſe.
4 Let haughty ſinners ſink their pride,
Nor lift ſo high their ſcornful head;
But lay their fooliſh thoughts aſide,
And own ſhe king that God hath made.
5 Such honours never come by chance,
Nor do the winds promotion blow :
'Tis God the Judge doth one advance,
'Tis God that lays another low.
6 No vain pretence to royal birth,
Shall fix a tyrant on the throne;
God the great Sov’reign of the earth,
Will riſe, and make his juſtice known
" [His hand holds out the dreadful Cup
Of veng’ance mix’d with various plagues,
To make the wicked drink them up,
Wring out, and taſte the bitter dregs.
8 Now ſhall the Lord exalt the juſt,
And while he tramples on the proud,
And lays their glory in the dutt,
My lips ſhall ſing his praiſe aloud.]
l
PSALM LXXVI.
Iſrael ſaved, and the Aſſyrians deſtroyed; or,
God’s vengeance againſ his enemies ſtroceeds
from his church.
1 IN Judah God of old was known;
His name in Iſr'el great;
In Salem ſtood his holy throne,
And Sion was his ſeat.
|
2 Among the praiſes of his ſaints
His dwclling there he choſe ; ,
There he receiv'd their juſt complaints,
Againſt their haughty foes.
3 From Zion went his dreadful word,
And broke the threat’ning ſpear :
The bows, the arrows, and the ſword,
And cruſh'd th’ Aſſyrian war.
4. What are the earth’s wide kingdoms elſe
But mighty hills of prey !
The hill on which Jehovah dwells,
is glorious more than they.
5 'Twas Zion's king that ſtopp'd the breath
Of captains and their bands :
The men of might ſlept faſt in death,
And never found their hands.
6 At thy rebuke, O Jacob's God,
Both horſe and chariot fell ?
Who knows the terrors of thy rod?
Thy vengeance who can tell?
7 What power can ſtand before thy fight,
When once thy wrath appears 2
When heav'n ſhines round with dreadful
light,
The earth lies ſtill and fears. *-*.
8 When God in his own ſov’reign ways,
Comes down to ſave th' oppreſt,
The wrath of man ſhall work his praiſe,
And he'll reſtrain the reſt.
9 [Vow to the Lord, and tribute bring ;
Ye princes, fear his frown ;
His terrors ſhake the proudeſt king,
And cut an army down.
10 The thunder of his ſharp rebuke
Our haughty foes ſhall feel;
For Jacob’s God inad not forſook,
But dwells in Zion ſtill.]
PSALM LXXVII. Part I.
Melancholy affaulting, and hope Arevailing.
1 To God I cry’d with mournful voice,
I fought his gracious ear,
In the ſad day when troubles roſe,
And fill'd the night with fear.
2, Sad were my days, and dark my nights,
My ſoul refus’d relief;
I thought on God the juſt and wiſe,
But thoughts increas'd my grief,
3 Still I complain'd, and ſtill oppreſt,
My heart began to break;
My God, thy wrath forbad my reſt,
And kept my eyes awake.
! My overwhelming ſorrows grew,
Till I could ſpeak no more 5
Then I within myſelf withdrew,
And call'd tily judgments o'er,
5 I call'd back years and ancient times,
When I beheld thy face;
My ſpirit ſearch'd for ſecº & crimes
'I hat might withhold tisy grace.
K. 2'
'76
PSALMS.—LXXVII. LXXVIII.
6 I call'd thy mercies to my mind,
Which I enjoy’d before :
And will the Lord no more be kind;
His face appear no more ?
7 Will he for ever caſt me off?
His promiſe ever fail
Has he forgot his tender love 8
Shall anger ſtill prevail
8 But I forbid this hopeleſs thought,
This dark, deſpairing frame,
Remembºring what thy hand hath wrought:
Thy hand is ſtill the ſame.
9 I’ll think again of all thy ways,
And talk thy wonders of er;
Thy wonders of recov’ring grace,
When fleſh could help no more.
10 Grace dwells with juſtice on the throne;
And men that love thy word,
Have in thy fanétuary known.
The counſels of the Lord.
PSALM LXXVII. Part If.
Comfort derivedfrom ancient/rovidence; or, Iſrael
delivered from Egypt, and brought to Canaan.
1 & HOW awful is thy chaſt’ning rod **
** (May thine own children ſay)
* The great, the wiſe, the dreadſul God!
“How holy is his way !”
* I'll meditate his works of old !
The king that reigns above 1
I’ll hear his ancient wonders told,
And learn to truſt his love.
3 Long did the houſe of Joſeph lie
. With Egypt’s yoke oppreſt :
Long he delay’d to hear their cry,
Nor gave his people reſt.
4 The ſons of good old Jacob ſeem’d
Abandon'd to their foes;
But his almighty arm redeem'd
The nation that he choſe.
5 Iſr’el, his people and his ſheep,
Muſt follow where he calls:
He bids them venture thro’ the desp,
And makes the waves their walls.
6 The waters ſaw thee, mighty God!
The waters ſaw thee come :
Backward they fled, and ſrighted ſtood,
To make thine armies room.
* Strange was thy journey thro’ the ſea:
Thy ſootſteps, Lord, unknown ;
Terrors attend the wondrous way
That brings thy mercies down.
3 IThy voice, with terror in the ſound,
Thro' clouds and darkneſs broke,
All heav’n in light’ning ſhone around,
And earth with thunder ſhook.
9 Thine arrows thro’ the ſkies were hurl’d ;
How glorious is the Lord;
Surpriſe and trembling ſeiz'd the world,
And his own ſaints ador'd.
ſ
10 He gave them water from the rock,
And ſafe by Moſes’ hand,
Thro' a dry deſart led his flock'
Home to the promis’d land.]
PSALM LXXVIII. Part I.
Providence of God recorded: or, Pious education
and inſtruction of children.
1 LET children hear the mighty deeds
Which God perform'd of old;
Which in our younger years we ſaw,
And which our fathers told.
2 He bids us make his glories known ;
His works of pow'r and grace;
And we'll convey his wonders down,
Thro’ ev’ry riſing race.
3 Our lips ſhall tell them to our ſons,
And they again to theirs:
That generations yet unborn
May teach them to their heirs.
4 Thus ſhall they learn in God alone
Their hope ſecurely ſtands :
That they may ne'er forget his works,
But pračtiſe his commands.
PSALM LXXVIII. Part II.
Iſrael's rebellion and huniſhment : or, the fins and
chaſiſements of God’s ſheoſile.
1 O
What a ſtiff rebellious houſe
Was Jacob's ancient race
Falſe to their own moſt ſolemn vows,
...And to their Maker's grace.
2 They broke the cov'nant of his love,
And did his law deſpiſe,
Forgot the works he wrought to prove
His pow'r before thcir eyes.
3 They ſaw the plagues on Egypt light,
From his avenging hand;
What dreadful tokens of his might
Spread o'er that ſtubborn land
They ſaw him cleave his mighty ſea,
And march in ſafety thro",
With wat'ry walls to guard their way,
Till they had 'ſcap'd the foe.
5 A wondrous pillar mark’d the road,
Compos’d of ſhade and light;
By day it prov’d a ſheltering cloud,
A leading fire by night.
6 He from the rock their thirſt ſupply'd;
The guſhing waters fell,
And ran in rivers by their ſide,
A conſtant miracle.
Yet they provok'd the Lord moſt high,
And dar'd diſtruſt his hand; *
“Can be with bread our hoſt ſupply
“Amidſt this deſart land 2
The Lord with indignation heard,
And caus’d his wrath to flame 3
His terrors ever ſtand prepar’d
To vindicate his names
8
PSALMs—LXXVIII. LXXX.
77
PSALM LXXVIII. Part III.
The huniſhment of luxury and intemperance: or,
“chaſiſement and ſalvation.
1 WHEN Iſrael ſings, the Lord reproves,
And fills their hearts with dread;
Yet he forgives the men he loves,
And ſends them heav'nly bread.
2 He fed them with a lib’ral hand,
And made his treaſures known :
He gave the midnight clouds command
To pour proviſions down.
3 The manna, like a morning ſhow'r,
Lay thick around their feet;
The corn of heav'n ſo light, ſo pure,
As tho' 'twere angels’ meat.
4. But they in murm'ring language ſaid
“Manna is all our feaſt ;
“We loathe this light, this airy bread;
* We muſt have fleſh to taſte.”
5 tº Ye ſhall have fleſh to pleaſe your luſt,”
The Lord in wrath reply'd ;
And ſent them quails like ſand or duſt,
Heap'd up from ſide to ſide.
6 He gave them all their own deſire:
And greedy as they fed,
His vengeance burnt with ſecret fire,
And ſmote the rebels dead.
7 When ſome were ſlain, the reſt return’d,
And ſought the Lord with tears;
Under the rod they fear'd and mourn’d,
But ſoon forgot their fears.
8 Oft he chaſtis'd and ſtill forgave,
Till by his gracious hand
The nation he reſolv’d to ſave,
Poſſeſs'd the promis’d land;
PSALM LXXVIII. 32, &c. Part IV.
Backſliding and forgiveneſs : or, ſin Auniſhed
and ſaints ſaved.
1 GREAT God, how of did Iſr'el prove
By turns thine anger and thy love
There in a glaſs our hearts may ſee
How fickle and how falſe they be.
2 How ſoon the faithleſs Jews forgot
The drqadful wonders God had wrought !
Then they provoke him to his face,
Nor fear his pow'r, nor truſt his grace.
3 The Lord conſum’d their years in pain,
And made their travels long and vain;
"A tedious march thro’ unknown ways,
Wore out their ſtrength, and ſpent their
days.
4 Oſt when they ſaw their brethren ſlain,
They mourn’d and ſought the Lord again;
Call'd him the rock of their abode,
Their high Redeemer and their God.
5 Their pray’rs and vows before him riſe,
As flatt’ring words or ſolemn lies,
While their rebellious tempers prove
Faiſe to his cov’nant and his love.
6 Yet did his ſov’reign grace forgive
The men who not deſerv’d to live;
His anger oft away he turn’d,
Or elſe with gentle flames it burn’d.
7 He ſaw their fleſh was weak and frail,
He ſaw temptations ſtill prevail;
The God of Abr'ham lov'd them ſtill,
And led them to his holy hill.
PSALM LXXX.
The church’s ſhrayer under afflićion; or, the
vineyard of God waſted.
GREAT Shepherd of thine Iſrael,
Who didſt between the cherub's
dwell,
And led the tribes, thy choſen ſheep,
Safe thro’ the deſart and the deep.
l
2 Thy church is in the deſart now,
Shine from on high, and guide us thro’;
Turn us to thee, thy love reſtore ;
We ſhall be ſav’d, and ſigh no more.
3 Great God, whom heav'nly hoſts obey,
How long ſhall we lament and pray,
And wait in vain thy kind return ?
How long ſhall thy fierce anger burn ?
4.
Inſtead of wine and cheerful bread,
Thy ſaints with their own tears are fed ;
Turn us to thee, thy love reſtore ;
We ſhall be ſav’d, and ſigh no more.
PAUSE I.
Haſt thou not planted with thy hands
A lovely vine in heathen lands 2
Did not thy pow'r defend it round,
And heav'nly dews enrich the ground?
5
6
How did the ſpreading branches ſhoot,
And bleſs the nations with the fruit *
But now, dear Lord, look down and ſee,
Thy mourning vine, that lovely tree.
7
Why is its beauty thus defac’d
Why haſt thou laid her fences waſte?
Strangers and foes againſt her join,
And ev’ry beaſt devours thy vine.
8
Return, Almighty God, return ;
Nor let thy bleeding vineyard mourn :
Turn us to thee, thy love reſtore;
We ſhall be.ſav’d, and figh no more.
PAUSE II,
9 Lord, when this vine in Canaan grew,
Thou waſt its ſtrength and glory tool
Attack’d in vain by all its foes,
Till their fair Branch of Promiſe roſe.
10 Fair Branch, ordain’d of old to ſhoot
From David’s ſtock, from Jacob’s roots
Himſelf a noble vine and we
The leſſer branches of the tree.
11 "Tis thine own Son, and he ſhall tand,
Girt with thy ſtrength at thy right-hand,
Thy firſt-born Son adorn’d and bleft
With grace and pow'r above the reſts
7.3
PSALMS.–LXXXI. LXXXII. LXXXIII, Lxxxiv.
12 O for his fake attend our cry,
Shinc on thy churches left they die;
Turn us to thee, thy love reſtore ; *
We ſhall be ſav'd, and ſigh no more. |
PSALM LXXXI,
i
The swarnings of God to his/heople : or, ſhiritual t
bleſsings and ſhuniſhments.
1 SING to the Lord aloud,
And make a cheerful noiſe ;
God is our ſtrength, our Saviour God,
Let Iſr’cl hear his voice,
2 “From vile idolatry |
“Preſerve my worſhip clean ; i.
j
* I am the Lord who ſet thee free
“From ſlavery and ſin,
3 “ Stretch thy deſires abroad, º
“And I’ll ſupply them well ; i
“But if ye will refuſe your God, w
“If Iſr’el will rebel;
4 “I’ll leave them (faith the Lord)
“To their own luſts a prey,
“And let them run the dańg’rous road,
“'Tis their own choſen way.
5 “Yet O ! that all my ſaints !
“Would hearken to my voice i.
“Soon I would eaſe their ſore complaints,
“And bid their hearts rejoice. !
6 “While I deſtroy'd their foes, !
“I’d richly feed my flock, |
“And they ſhall taſte the ſtream that flows
** From their Eternal Rock,”
PSALM LXXXIſ.
God the ſuftreme governor ; or, magiſtrates
warned. -
R AMONG th' aſſembles of the great,
. A greater ruler takes his ſeat :
The God of heav'n, as judge, ſurveys
Thoſe gods on earth and all their ways.
2 : Why will ye then, frame wicked laws 2
Or why ſupport th' unrighteous cauſe
When will ye once defend the poor,
That finners vex the ſaints no more.
3 They know not, Lord, nor will they
know f
Dark are the ways in which they go :
Their name of earthly gods is vain, |
For they ſhall fall and die like men.
4 Arife, O Lord, and let thy Son
Poſſeſs his univerſal throne;
And rule the nations with his rod :
He is our Judge and he our God.
PSALM LXXXIII.
4 com/l/aint againſ ſterſecutors.
i
O
• -º
|| 3 |
4.
l
4.
5
6
7
ND will the Got of grace
Perpetual ſilence keep
The God of juſtice hold his peace, M
And let his vengeance ſleep i
7.
Behold what curſed ſnares,
The men of miſchief ſpread:
The men that hate thy ſaints and thee,
Liſt up their threat’ning head.
Againſt thy hidden ones
Their counſels they employ ;
And malice with her watchful eye,
Purſues them to deſtroy.
The noble and the baſe
Into thy paſtures leap;
The lion and the ſtupid aſs
Conſpire.to vex thy ſheep;
“Come, let us join (they cry)
“To root them from the ground,
“Till not the name of ſaints emain,
“Nor mem'ry ſhall be found.”
Awake, Almighty God,
And call thy wrath to mind;
Give them like foreſt to the fire,
Or ſtubble to the wind.
Convince their madneſs, Lord,
And make them fear thy name;
Or elſe their ſtubborn rage confound,
That they may die in ſhame.
Then, ſhall the nations know
That glorious dreadful word,
Jehovah is thy name alone,
And thou the ſov’reign Lord.
PSALM LXXXIV. Part I. [L. M.]
The Aleaſure of ſublic worſhip.
HOW pleaſant, how divinely fair,
O Lord of hoſts thy dwellings are 1
With long, deſire my ſpirit faints,
To meet th’ aſſemblies of thy ſaints.
My fleſh would reſt in thine abode,
My parting heart cries out for God :
My God! my King why ſhould I be
So far from all my joys and thee
The ſparrow chuſes where to reſt,
And for her young provides her neſt,
And will my God to ſpariows grant
That pleaſure which his children want 2
Bleſt are the ſaints who fit on high,
Around thy throne of Majcſty :
Thy brighteſt glories ſhine above,
And all their works is praiſe and love.
Bleſt are the ſouls that find a place
Within the temple of thy grace ;
There they behold thy gentler rays,
And ſeek thy face and learn thy praiſe.
Bleſt are the men whoſe hearts are ſet
To find the way to Zion's gate ;
God is their ſtrength and thro’ the road
They lean upon their helper God.
Cheerful they walk, with growing ſtrengths
Till all ſhall meet in heav'n at length,
Till all before thy ſace appear,
And join in nobler worſhip there,
PSALMS.–LXXXIV.
PSALM LXXXIV. Part II. [L. M.]
God and his church; or, grace and glory.
1 GREAT God, attend when Zion ſings
The joy that from thy preſence
ſprings ;
To ſpend one day with thee on earth,
Exceeds a thouſand days of mirth.
2 Might I enjoy the meaneſt place
Within thine houſe, O God of grace,
Not tents of eaſe, nor thrones of pow'r,
Should tempt my feet to leave thy door.
3 God is our ſun he makes our day :
God is our ſhield, he guards our way
From all the aſſaults of hell and ſºn,
From foes without, and foes within.
4 All needful grace will God beſtow,
And crown that grace with glory too ;
He gives us all things, and withholds
No real good from upright ſouls,
5 O God, our King, whoſe ſov’reign ſway,
The glorious hoſts of heav’n obey;
And devils at thy preſence flee ;
Bleſt is the man that truſts in thee.
PSALM LXXXIV. vér. 1, 4–2, 3, 10.
Paraphraſed. [C. M.]
Delight in ordinances of wºrſhip ; or, God/reſent
in his churches,
I MY ſoul, how lovely is the place
To which the Lord reſorts 2
'Tis heav'n to ſee his ſmiling face,
Tho' in his earthly courts.
2 There the great monarch of the ſkies
His ſaving pow'r diſplays,
And light breaks in upon our eyes
With kind and quick’ning rays.
3 With his rich gifts the Heav'nly Dove
Deſcends and fills the place,
While Chriſt reveals his wondrous love,
And ſheds abroad his grace.
4 There, mighty God, thy words declare
The ſecrets of thy will ;
And ſtill we ſeek thy mercy there,
And ſing thy praiſes ſtill,
PAUSE.
5 My heart and fleſh cry out for thce,
While far from thine abode :
When ſhall I tread thy courts, and ſee
My Saviour and my God ;
6 The ſparrow builds herſelf a neſt,
And ſuffers no remove ;
O make me like the ſparrows bleſt,
To dwell but where I love.
7 To ſit one day beneath thine eye
And hearthy gracious voice,
Exceeds a whole eternity
Employ'd in carnal joys.
8 Lord, at thy threſhold I would wait,
While Jeſus is within,
Rather than fill a throne of ſtate,
Or live in tents of fin.
ſ
9 Could I command the ſpacious land,
And the more boundleſs ſca,
‘For one bleſt hour at thy right-haad,
I’d give them both away.
PSALM LXXXIV. As the 148 Pſalm.
Longing for the houſe of God.
| 1: LORD of the worlds above,
How pleaſant and how fair
The dwellings of thy love,
Thy earthly temples are
To thinc abođe
My heart aſpires,
With warm defºres
To ſee my God.
2 The ſparrow for her young
With pleaſure ſeeks her fieff ; ,
And wand'ring ſwallows long
To find their wonted reit *
My ſpirit ſaints
With equal zeal,
To riſe and dwell
Among thy faints.
O happy ſouls that pray,
Where God appoints to Bear?
O happy men that pay
Their conſtant ſervice there;
They praite thee ſtili;
And happy they
That love the way
To 2ion's hill.
They go from ſtrength to ſtrengths
Thro' this dark vaſe of tears,
Till each arrives at lengtö,
Till each in heav'n appears:
O glorious feat,
When God our king
Shall thither bring
Our willing feet!
PAUSE.
To ſpend one ſacred day
Where God and ſaints abide,
Affords diviner joy
Than thouſand days beſide:
Where God reſorts,
I love it more
To keep the door,
Than ſhirte in courts.
God is our fun and ſhield,
Our light and our defence;
With gifts his hands arc fili’d,
We draw our bleſfings thence :
He ſhall beſtow
On Jacob’s race
Peculiar grace
And glory too. ū
The Lord his people loves;
His hand no good withholds
From thoſe his heart approves,
From pure and pious ſouls;
Thrice happy he,
O God of hoſts,
Whoſe ſpirit truſis
Alone in thee.
80
PSALMS.—LXXXV. LXXXVI. LXXXVII. LXXXIX.
PSALM LXXXV. ver, 1-8. Part I.
Waiting for an anſwer to prayer ; or, deliverance
begun and completed.
ORD, thou haſt call'd thy grace to
mind,
Thou haſt revers’d our heavy doom :
So God forgave when Iſr'el ſinn'd,
And brought his wand'ring captives
home,
2 Thou haſt begun to ſet us free,
And made thy fierceſt wrath abate;
Now let our hearts be turn'd to thee,
And thy ſalvation be complete.
1
3 Revive our dying graces, Lord,
And let thy ſaints in thee rejoice ;
Make known thy truth, fulfil thy word;
We wait for praiſc to tune our voice.
4. We wait to hear what God will ſay ;
He'ſ ſpeak and give his people peace;
But let them run no more aſtray,
Leſt his returning wrath increaſe.
PSALM LXXXV. ver. 9, &c. Part II.
Salvation by Chriſt.
| SALVATION is for ever nigh,
The ſouls that fear and truſt the Lord;
And grace deſcending from on high,
Freſh hopes of glory ſhall afford.
2 Mercy and truth on earth are met,
Since Chriſt the Lord came down from
heav'n ;
By his obedience fo complete,
Juſtice is pleas'd, and peace is given,
3 Now truth and honour ſhall abound,
Religion dwell on earth again,
And heav'nly influence bleſs the ground,
In our Redeemer’s gentle reign.
4 His righteouſneſs is gone beſore,
To give us free acceſs to God;
Our wand'ring feet ſhall ſtray no more,
But mark his ſteps, and keep the road.
PSALM LXXXVI, ver. 8–13.
A general ſong of Araiſe to God.
1 AM9NG the princes, earthly gods,
There’s none hath pow'r divine;
Nor is their nature, mighty Lord!
Nor are their works like thine.
2 The nations thou haſt made ſhall bring
Their off’rings round thy throne :
For thou alone doſt wondrous things,
For thou art God alone.
3 Lord, I would walk with holy feet,
Teach me thine heav'nly ways ;
And my poor ſcatter'd thoughts unite
In God my Father's praiſe.
4 Great is thy mercy; and my tongue
Shall thoſe ſweet wonders tell,
How by thy grace my ſinking ſoul
Roſe from the deeps of hell.
ſ
PSALM LXXXVII.
The church the birth Alace of the ſaints : or, jew;
and Gentiles united in the Chriſłian church.
GOD in his earthly temple lays
Foundations for his heav'nly praiſe;
He likes the tents of Jacob well,
But ſtill in Zion loves to dwell,
His mercy viſits every houſe
That pay their night and morning vows;
But makes a more delightful ſtay
Where churches meet to praiſe and pray.
What glories were deſcrib'd of old
What wonders are of Zion told
Thou city of our God below,
Tby fame ſhall Tyre and Egypt know,
Egypt and Tyre, and Greek and Jew,
Shall there begin their lives anew :
Angels and men ſhall join to ſing
The hill were living waters ſpring,
I
3
When God makes up his Inſt account
Of natives in his holy mount,
'Twill be an honour to appear
As one new-born, or nouriſh’d there
PSALM LXXXIX. Part I. [L. M.]
The covenant made with Chriſt ; or, the True
David.
I FOR ever ſhall my ſong record
The truth and mercy of the Lord 3
Mercy and truth for ever ſtand,
Like heav’n eſtabliſh’d by his hand,
Thus to his Son he ſware, and ſaid,
“With thee my cov’nant firſt is made;
“In thee ſhall dying finners live,
“Glory and grace are thine to give.
3
“Be thou my prophet, thou my prieſt;
“Thy children ſhall be ever bleſt :
“Thou art my choſen king ; thy throne
“Shall ſtand eternal like my own.
4.
“There’s none of all my ſons above
“So much my image or my love ;
“Celeſtial pow'rs thy ſubječts are,
“Then what can earth to thee compare *
“David, my ſervant, whom I choſe
“To guard my flock, to cruſh my ſocs,
“And rais’d him to the Jewiſh throne,
“Was but a ſhadow of my Son.
6
Now let the church rejoice and ſing
Jeſus her ſaviour and her king;
| Angels his heav'nly wonders ſhow,
And ſaints declare his works below.
PSALM LXXXIX. Part I. [C. M. 1
The faithfulneſs of God.
1 MY never-ceaſing ſongs ſhall ſhow
The mercies of the Lord,
And make ſucceeding ages know
How faithful is his word.
PSALMS.–LXXXIX.
81
? The ſacred truths his lips pronounce
Shall firm as heav'n cndure ;
And if he ſpeak a promiſe once,
Th’ eternal grace is ſure,
3 How long the race of David held
The promis'd Jewiſh throne !
But there’s a nobler cov’nant ſeal’d
To David’s greater Son.
4 His ſeed for ever ſhall poſſeſs
A throne above the ſkies :
The meanett ſubjećt of his grace
Shall to that glory riſe.
5 Lord God of Hoſts thy wondrous ways
Are ſung by ſaints above; t
And ſaunts on earth their honours raiſe
To thine unchanging love.
PSALM LXXXIX. 7, &c. Part II.
The Aower and majoſ y of God; or, 'reverential
wo/iſ,
1 WITH rev'rence let the ſaints appear
And bow before the Lord ;
His high commands with rev’rence heal
And tremble at his word.
2 How terrible thy glories beſ
How bright thine armies ſhine !
Where is the pow'r that vies with thee
Or truth compar'd to thine
3 The northern pole, and ſouthern, reſt
On thy ſupporting hand;
Darkneſs and day, from eaſt to weſt,
Move round at thy command.
4 Thy words the raging winds controul,
And rule the boiſt’rous deep;
Thou mak’ſt the ſleeping billows roll,
The rolling billows ſleep.
§ Heav'n, earth, and air, and ſea are thine,
And the dark world of hell;
How did thine arm in yengeance ſhine,
When Egypt durſt rebel!
6 Juſtice and judgment are thy throne,
Yet wondrous is thy grace:
While truth and mercy, join’d in one,
Invite us near thy face.
PSALM LXXXIX. 15, &c. Part III.
A $leſſed goſpel.
1 BLEST are the ſouls that hear and know
The goſpel's joyful ſound;
Peace ſhall attend the path they go,
And light their ſteps furround.
2 Their joy ſhall bear their ſpirits up,
Thro' their Redeemer’s name;
His righteouſneſs exalts their hope;
Nor ſatan dares condemn.
3 The Lord, our glory and defence,
Strength and ſalvation gives :
Iſr'el, thy king for ever reigns,
Thy God for ever-lives.
VOL. VII, -
ſ
|
PSALM LXXXIX. 19, &c., Part IV.
Chriſt’s mediatorial Kingdom : or, his divine and
human nature.
1 HEAR, what the Lord in viſion ſaid
And made his mercy known :
“Sinners, behold your help is laid
“On my Almighty Sons
2
“Behold the man my wiſdom choſe
“Among your mortal race ;
“His head my holy oil o’erflows,
“The Spirit of my grace.
“High ſhall he reign on David's throne,
“My people's better king ;
“My arm ſhall beat his rivals down,
“And ſtill Dew ſubječts bring.
“My truth ſhall guard him in his way,
“With mercy by his ſide;
“While in my name thro’ carth and ſea
“ He ſhall in triumph ride.
“Me for his Father and his God
“He ſhall ſor ever own,
“Call me his Rock, his high abode ;
“And I'll ſupport my Son.
5
6
“My firſt-born Son array’d in grace
“At my right-hand ſhall ſit;
“Beneath him angels know their place,
“And monarchs at his feet.
“My cov'nant flands for ever faſt;
“My promiſes are ſtrong;
“Firm as the heav’ns his throne ſhall laſt,
“His ſeed endures as long.”
PSALM LXXXIX. 30, &c.; Part V.
The coven.nt of grace unchangeable: or, affiéïions
without rejećtion.
1 “YET (aith the Lord) if David's race,
... “The children of my Son,
“Should break my laws, abuſe my grace
“And tempt mine anger down.
“ Their ſins I'll viſit with the rod,
“ And make their follies ſmart ;
“But I’ll not ceaſe to be their God,
“ Nor from my truth depart.
3
“My cov’nant I will ne'er revoke,
- “But keep my grace in mind ;
“And what eternal love hath ſpoke,
“Eternal truth ſhall bind. -
“Once have I ſworn, (I need no more)
“And pledg’d my holineſs,
“To ſeal the ſacred promiſe ſure
“To David and his race.
“The ſun ſhall ſee his offspring riſe,
“And ſpread from ſea to ſea,
“Long as he travels round the ſkies,
“To give the nations day.
5
“Sure as the moon that rules the night,
“His kingdom ſhall endure,
* Till the fix’d laws of ſhade and light
“Shall be obſerv’d no more.”
I.
6
82
PSALMS.–LXXXIX, XC.
PSALM LXXXIX. ver. 47, &c. Part VI.
[L. M. J -
Mortality and hoſie.
A Funeral Pſalm.
1 REMEMBER, Lord, our mortal ſtate,
How frail our life, how ſhort the date! .
Where is the man that draws his breath
Safe from diſeaſe, ſecure from death
2 Lord, while we ſee whole nations die,
Our fleſh and ſenſe repine and cry,
“Muſt death for ever rage and reign ;
“Or haft thou made mankind in vain *
3 “Where is thy promiſe to the juſt;
“Are not thy ſervants turn’d to duſ. "
But faith forbids theſe mournſul fighs,
And ſees the fleeping duſt ariſe.
4 That glorious hour, that dreadful day,
Wipes the reproach of ſaints away,
And clears the honours of the word:
Awake our ſouls and bleſs the Lord.
PSALM LXXXIX, 47, &c. Part VII.
As the 113th Pſalm.
Life, death, and the reſurreàion;
HINK, mighty God, on feeble man,
How few his hours, how ſhort his ſpan!
Short from the cradle to the grave:
Who can ſecure his vital breath,
Againſt the bold demands of death,
With ſkill to fly, or pow'r to ſave?
2 Lord, ſhall it be for ever ſaid
“The race of man was ever made
“For ſickneſs, ſorrow, and the duſt **
Are not thy ſervants day by day
Sent to their graves, and turn'd to clay
1
Lord, where's thy kindneſs to the juſt |
3 Hatt thou not promis’d to thy Son,
And all his ſeed, a heav'nly crown
But fleſh and ſenſe indulge deſpair :
For ever bleſſed be the Lord,
That faith can read his holy word,
And find a reſurreótion there.
4 For ever bleſſed be the Lord,
Who gives his ſaints a long reward
For all their toil, reproach, and pain;
Let all below and all above,
Join to proclaim thy wondrous love,
And each repeat their loud—Amen.
PSALM XC. [L. M.]
Man mortal and God eternal.
A mournful Song at a Funeral.
l THRO' cv’ry age, eternal God!
Thou art our reſt, our ſafe abode ;
High was thy throne ere heav'n was made 3.
Or earth, thy humble footſtool, laid.
2 Long hadſt thou reign'd ere time began,
Or duſt was faſhion'd to a man;
And long thy kingdom ſhall endure,
When earth and time ſhall be no more,
7
3 But man, weak man, is born to die,
Made up of guilt and vanity:
Thy dreadful ſentence, Lord, was juſt;
“Return, ye ſinners, to your duſt.”
4.
[A thouſand of our years amount
Scarce to a day in thine account;
Like yeſterday’s departed light,
Or the laſt watch of ending night.
PAUSE.
Death, like an overflowing ſtream,
Sweeps us away, our life’s a dream ;
An empty tale : a morning flow'r,
Cut down and withel’d in an hour.
[Our age to feventy years is fet: &
How ſhort the term how frail the ſtate :
And if to eighty we arrive,
We rather figh and groan than live.
But, oh, how oſt thy wrath appears,
Aud cuts off our expected years
Thy wrath awakes our humble dread;
We fear the pow'r that ſtrikes us dead.]
5
8
Teach us, O Lord, how frail is man ;
And kindly lengthen out our ſpan,
Till a wiſe care of piety
Fit us to die and dwell with thee,
PSALM XC. 1–5. Part I. [C. M.]
Man frail and God eternal.
UR God, our help, in ages paſt,
Our hope for years to come ;
Our ſhelter from the ſtormy blaſt,
And our eternal home.
Under the ſhadow of thy throne
Thy ſaints have dwelt ſecure ;
Sufficient is thine arm alone,
And our defence is ſure.
I
2
Before the hills in order ſtood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlaſting thou art God,
To endleſs years the ſame.
3
Thy word commands our fleſh to duſt,
“Return ye ſons of men:”
All nations roſe from earth at firſt,
And turn to earth again.
4
A thouſand ages in thy ſight
Are like an ev’ning gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night,
Before the riſing ſun. ,
[The buſy tribes of fleſh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carry’d downwards by thy flood,
And loſt in following years.
6
Time like an ever-rolling ſtream,
Bears all its ſons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op'ning day.
8. Like flow'ry fields the nations ſtand,
Pleas'd with the morning light :
The flow’rs beneath the mower’s hand
* Lie with'ring ere 'tis night.]
PSALMS.—XC, XCI.
83
9 Our God, our help, in ages paſt,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guard while troubles laſt,
And our eternal home.
$
PSALM XC. ver, 8, 11, 9, 10, 12.
Part II. [C. M.]
Infirmities and mortality the effects of ſºn : or,
life, old age, and/reparation for death.
1 LORD, if thine eyes ſurvey our faults,
And juſtice grow ſevere,
Thy dreadful wrath exceeds our thoughts,
And burns beyond our fear.
2 Thine anger turns our frame to duſt;
By one offence to thee,
Adam, with all his ſons, have loſt
Their immortality. f
5 Life, like a vain amuſement flies;
A fable, or a ſong :
By ſwift degrees our aature dies,
Nor can our joys be long.
4 'Tis but a few whoſe days, amount
To threeſcore years and ten ;
And all beyond that ſhort account
Is ſorrow, toil, and pain.
5 [Our vitals with laborious ſtrife
Bear up the crazy load,
And drag thoſe poor remains of life
Along the tireſome road.]
6 Almighty God, reveal thy love,
And not thy wrath alone;
O let our ſweet experience prove
The mercies of thy throne !
7 Our ſouls would learn the heav'nly art,
Tº improve the hours we have,
That we may act the wiſer part,
And live beyond the grave.
PSALM XC, ver. 13, &c. & Part III.
[C M.J.
Breathing after heaven.
1 I ETURN, O God of love, return ;
... Earth is a tireſome place:
How long ſhallºwe, thy children, mourn
Our abſence from thy face 3
2 Let heav'n ſucceed our painful years;
Let ſin and ſorrow ceaſe :
And in proportion to our tears,
So make our joys increaſe.
3 Thy wonders to thy ſervants ſhow,
Make thy own work complete;
Then ſhall our ſouls thy glory know,
And own thy love was great.
4 Then ſhall we ſhine before thy throne
In all thy beauty, Lord ; ~.
And the poor ſervice we have done
Meet a divinë reward,
PSALM XC. ver. 5, 10, 12. [S. M.]
The frailty and/ortneſs of life.
I LORD, what a feeble piece
Is this our mortal frame !
Our life, how poor a trifle 'tis,
That ſcarce deſerves the name!
Alas, the brittle clay
That built our body firſt
And ev’ry month, and ev'ry day,
'Tis mould'ring back to duſt.
2
3 Our moments fly apace,
Nor will our minutes ſtay;
Juſt like a flood our haſty days
Are ſweeping us away.
4 Well, if our days muſt fly,
We’ll keep their end in ſight;
We'll ſpend them all in wiſdom's way,
And let them ſpeed their flight.
5 They’ll waft us ſooner o’er
This life’s tempeſtuous ſea :
Soon we ſhall reach the peaceful ſhore
Of bleſt eternity.
PSALM XCI. ver, 1–7, Part I.
Safety in Aublic diſeaſes and dangers.
HE that bath made his refuge God,
Shall find a moſt ſcoure abode;
Shall walk all day beneath his ſhade,
And there at night ſhall reſt his head.
2 Then will I ſay, “My God, thy pow'r
“Shall be my fortreſs and my tow'r?
“I that am form'd of feeble duſt,
“Make thine almighty arm my truſt.”
1
3 Thrice happy man thy Maker’s care
Shall keep thee from the fowler's ſnare ;
Satan, the fowler, who betrays t
Unguarded ſouls a thouſand ways.
4 Juſt as a hen protećts her brood
From birds of prey that ſeek their blood,
Under her feathers; ſo the Lord
Makes his own arm his people's guard.
5
If burning beams of noon conſpire
To dart a peſtilential fire,
God is their life, his wings are ſpread,
To ſhield them with a healthful ſhade.
If vapours with malignant breath
Riſe thick, and ſcatter midnight death,
Iſr'el is ſafe : the poiſon’d air
Grows pure if Iſr’el’s God be there,
PAUSE.
7 What tho' a thouſand at thy ſide,
At thy right-hand ten thouſand dy’d,
Thy God his choſen people ſaves
Amongſt the dead, amidſt the graves.
So when he ſent his angels down
To make his wrath in Egypt known,
And ſlew their ſons, his careful eye
Paſſ'd all the doors of Jacob by.
6
S
- L 2
84.
PSALMS.–XCI. XCII, XCIIf.
9
But if the fire, or plague, or ſword,
Receive commiſſion from the Lord,
To ſtrike his faints among the reſt, ,
Their very pains and deaths are bleſt.
10 The ſword, the peſtilence, or fire,
**
Shall but fulfil their beſt deſire ;
From ſins and ſorrows ſet them free,
And bring thy children, Lord, to thee.
PSALM XCI. ver, 9–16, Part II.
Protećion from death, guard of angels, vićtory and
1
5
}
deliverance.
YE ſons of men, a ſeeble race,
Expos'd to ev’ry ſnare, *
Come, make the Lord your dwelling place,
And try and truſt his care.
No ill ſhall enter where you dwell ; ,
Or iſ the plague come nigh,
And ſweep the wicked down to hell,
*Twill raiſe his ſaints on high-
He’ll give his angels charge to keep
Your feet in all your ways;
To watch your pillow while you ſleep,
And guard your happy days.
Their hands ſhall bear you, left you fall,
And daſh againſt the ſtones;
Are..tbey not ſervants at his call,
And ſent t” attend his ſons
Adders and lions ye ſhall tread;
The temptcr’s wiles defeat;
He that hath broke the ſerpent’s head,
Puts him beneath your feet.
“Becauſe on me they ſct their love,
“I’ll ſave them (ſaith the Lord)
“I’ll bear their joyful ſouls above
“Deſtruction and thc ſword.
“My grace ſhall anſwer when they call,
“ In trouble I’ll bc nigh:
“My pow'r ſhall help them when they fall,
“And raiſe them when they die:
“Thoſe that on earth my name have
known,
“I’ll honour them in heav'n ;
“There my ſalvation ſhall be ſhown,
“And endleſs life be giv'n.”
º PSALM XCII. Part I.
4/ſalm for the Lord’s-day.
SWEET is the work, my God, my King,
To praiſe thy name, give thanks and
ſing ;
To ſhew thy love by morning light,
And talk of all thy truth at night. .
Sweet is the day of ſacred reſt,
No mortal care ſhall ſeize my breaſt;
O may my heart in tune be found,
Like David's harp, of ſolemn found !
My heart ſhall triumph in my Lord,
And bleſs his works, and bleſs his word :
Thy works of grace, how bright they ſhine!
|
How deep thy counſels how divine !
4 Fools never raiſe their thoughts ſo high ,
|
2
|
2
3
4.
|
Like brutes they live, like brutes they die
Like graſs they flouriſh, till thy breath
Blaſts thcm in everlaſting death.
But I ſhall ſhare a glorious part,
When grace hath well refin’d my heart,
And freſh ſupplies of joy are ſhed,
Like holy oil to cheer my head.
Sin (my worſt enemy before)
Shall vex my eyes and ears no more ;
My in ward foes ſhall all be ſlain,
Nor Sztan break my peace again.
Then ſhall I ſee, and hear, and know,
All I deſir’d or wiſh’d below ;
And ev’ry pow'r find ſweet employ
In that eternal world of joy.
PSALM XCII, ver. 12, &c. Part II.
The church is the garden of God.
ORD, 'tis a plcaſant thing to ſtand
In gardens planted by thy hand;
Let me within thy courts be ſeen,
Like a young cedar, freſh and green.
There grow thy ſaints in faith and love,
Bleſt with thine influence from above;
Not Lebanon with all its trees,
Yiclds ſuch a comely ſight as theſe.
The plants of grace ſhall ever live :
(Nature decays, but grace muſt thrive)
Time that doth all things elſe impair,
Still makes them flouriſh ſtrong and fair.
Laden with ſruits of age they ſhew
The Lord is holy, juſt, and true :
None that attend his gates ſhall find
A God unfaithſul, or unkind.
PSALM XCIII, 1ſt Metre.
As the 100th Pſalm.
The eternal and ſovereign God.
EHOVAH reigns ; he dwelis in light,
•' Girded with majeſty and might:
The world created by his hands,
Still on its firſt foundation ſtands.
But ere this ſpacious world was made,
Or had its firſt foundations laid,
Thy throne eternal ages ſtood,
Thyſelf the ever-living God.
Like floods the argry nations riſe,
And aim their rage againſt the ſkies;
Vain floods that aim their rage ſo high
At thy rebuke the billows die.
For ever ſhall thy throne endure;
Thy promiſe ilands for ever ſure;
And everlaſting holineſs
Becomes the dwellings of thy grace.
PSALM XCIII. 2d Metre.
As the old 50th Pſalm.
HE Lord of glory reigns, he reigns
on high :
His robes of ſtate are ſtrength and majeſty;
This wide creation roſe at his command,
Built ...” word and 'ſtabliſh’d by his
hand :
PSALMS.-XCIII. XCIV. XCV.
35
Long ſtood his throne ere he began crea-
tion, [tion
And his own godhead is the firm founda
2 God is th’ Eternal King. Thy foes in vair
Raiſe their rebellions to confound thy reign:
In vain the ſtorms, in vain the floods ariſe,
And roar and toſs their waves againſt the
ſkies; [commotion,
Foaming at heav'n they rage with wild
But heav'n's high arches ſcorn the ſwelling
OCean. s
3 Ye tempeſts rage no more, ye floods be ſtill;
And the mad wºrld ſubmiſſive to his will;
Built on his truth his church muſt ever
(tand;
Firm are his promiſes, and ſtrong his hand:
See his own ſons, wher; they appear be.
fore him, [him.
Bow at his footſtool, and with ſear adore
PSALM XCIII. 3d Metre:
. As the old 122d Pſalm.
I THE Lord Jehovah reigns,
And royal ſtate maintains,
His head with awſul glories crown'd :
Array’d in robes of light,
Begirt with ſov’reign might,
And rays of majeſty around.
2 Upheld by thy commands
The world ſecurely ſtands;
And ſkies and ſtars obey thy word:
Thy throne was fix’d on high,
Before the ſtarry ſky :
Eternai is thy kingdom, Lord.
In vain the noiſy crowd,
Like billows fierce and loud,
Againſt thine empire rage and roar :
In vain, with angry ſpite,
The ſurly nations fight,
And daſh like waves againſt the ſhore.
3
4 Let floods and nations rage,
And all their pow’rs engage:
Let ſwelling tides aſſault the ſky;
The terrors of thy frown
Shall beat their madneſs down ;
Thy throne for ever ſlands on high.
5 Thy promiſes are true,
Thy grace is ever new :
There fix’d thy church ſhall ne'er remove;
Thy ſaints with holy fear,
Shall in thy courts appear,
And ſing thine everlaſting love.
[Reſeat the 4th flanza to com/lete the tune.]
PSALM XCIV. ver. 1, 2, 7–14.
Part I.
Saints chaſiſed and/inners deſiroyed; or, in/ruffive
* afflićions. *
l God, to whom revenge belongs,
Proclaim thy wrath aloud;
Let ſov’reign pow'r redreſs our wrongs,
Let juſtice ſmite the proud.
| 2 They ſay, “The Lord nor fees, norhears,”
When will the fools be wiſe
Can he be deaf, who form'd their ears 2
Or blind who made their eyes;
3 He knows their impious thoughts are vain,
And they ſhall feel his pow'r ;
His wrath ſhall pierce their ſouls with paia
In ſome ſurpriſing hour.
4 But if thy ſaints deſerve rebuke,
Thou haſt a gentler rod;
Thy providences and thy book,
Shall make them know their God.
5 Bleſt is the man thy hands chaſtiſe,
And to his duty draw:
Thy ſcourges make thy children wiſe,
When they forget thy law.
6 But God will ne'er caſt off his faints,
Nor his own promiſe break :
He pardons his inheritance,
For their Redeemer’s ſake.
PSALM XCIV. ver, 16–23, Part II:
God our ſupport and comfort ; or, deliverance
from temptation and ſterſecution.
l WHO will ariſe and plead my right
Againſt my num’rous foes,
While earth and hell their foes unite,
And all my hopes oppoſe
2 Had not the Lord, my Rock, my help,
Suſtain'd my fainting head,
My life had now in ſilence dwelt,
My ſoul amongſt the dead.
3 “Alas! my ſliding feet,” I cry’d;
Thy promiſe was my prop :
Thy grace ſtood conſtant by my ſide:
Thy ſpirit bore me up.
4. While multitudes of mournful thoughts
Within my boſom roll:
Thy boundleſs love forgives my faults,
Thy comforts cheer my ſoul.
5 Pow’rs of iniquity may riſe,
And frame pernicious laws;
But God, my refuge, rules the ſkies;
He will defend my cauſe. -
6 Let malice vent her rage aloud,
Let bold blaſphemers ſcoff;
The Lord our God ſhall judge the proud,
And cut the ſinners off.
PSALM XCV. ſc. M.]
4/ſalm beforeſtrayer.
1 SING to the Lord Jehovah's name,
And in his ſtrength rejoice;
When his ſalvation is our theme,
Exalted be our voice.
2 with thanks approach his awful ſight,
And pſalms of honour ſing ;
The Lord’s a God of boundleſs might,
The whole creation's king !
3 Let princes hear, let angels know
How mean their nature’s ſeem :
36.
PSALMS.-XCV. XCVI.
Thoſe gods on high, and gods below,
When once compar'd with him.
4 Earth, with its caverns dark and deep,
Lies in his ſpacious hand;
He fix’d the ſeas what bounds to keep,
And where the hills muſt ſtand.
5 Come, and with humble fouls adore 3
* Come, kneel before his face :
O may the creatures of his pow'r
Be children of his grace!
6 Now is the time; he bends his ear,
And waits for your requeſt ;
come, left he rouſe his wrath, and ſwear,
“Ye ſhall not ſee my reſt.”
PSALM XCV. [S. M.]
4 Aſalm before fermon.
t COME, found his praiſe abroad
And hymns of glory fing:
Jehovah is the ſovereign God,
The univerſal King.
2 He form'd the deeps unknown ;
He gave the ſeas their bound ;
The wat'ry worlds are all his own
And all the ſolid ground.
3 Come worſhip at his throne ;
Come bow before the Lord :
We are his works and not our own ;
He form'd us by his word-
4 To-day attend his voice,
Nor dare provoke his rod; -
Come, like the people of his choice,
And own your gracious God.
5 But if your ears refuſe
: The language of his grace,
And hearts grow hard, like ſtubborn Jews,
That unbelieving race ; \
6 The Lord in vengeance dreſt
Will lift his hand and ſwear,
“You that deſpiſe my promis’d reſt,
“Shall have no portion there.”
PSALM XCV. 1, 2, 3, 6–1 l º [L. M.]
Canaan loft thro’ unbelief; or, a warning to
delaying ſinners,
1 (NOME, let our voices join to raiſe
A ſacred ſong of ſolemn praiſe;
God is a ſov’reign King, rehearſe
His honours in exalted verſe.
2 Come, let our ſouls addreſs the Lord,
Who fram'd our natures with his word ;
He is our ſhepherd, we the ſheep;
His mercy choſe, his paſtures keep.
3 Come, let us hear his voice to-d 5
The counſels of his love obey ; *
Nor let our harden’d hearts renew
The ſins and plagues that Iſr’el knew.
4 Iſr’el, that ſaw his works of grace,
Yet tempt their Maker to his face ;
A faithleſs, unbelieving brood,
Thattir'd the patience of their God.
Nº.
|5 Thus faith the Lord, “How falſe they
prove
“Forget my pow'r; abuſe my love :
“Since they deſpiſe my reſt, I ſwear,
“Their feet ſhall never enter there.”
6 [Look back, my ſoul, with holy dread,
And view thoſe ancient rebels dead;
Attend the offer'd grace to-day,
Nor loſe the bleſfing by delay.
7 Scize the kind promiſe while it waits,
And march to Zion's heav'nly gates,
Believe and take the promis’d reſt,
Obey, and be for ever bleſt.]
PSALM XCVI. ver. 1–10, &c.
Chriſt's firſt and ſecond coming.
1 SING to the Lord, ye diſtant lands,
Ye tribes of ev'ry tongue :
His new diſcover'd grace demands
A new and nobler ſong.
[C. M.]
2 Say to the nations, Jeſus reigns, *
God’s own Almighty Son ;
His pow'r the ſinking world ſuſtains,
And grace ſurrounds his throne:
3
Let heav’n proclaim the joyful day,
Joy through the earth be feen ;
Let citics ſhune in bright array,
And fields in cheerful green:
4 Let an unuſual joy ſurpriſe
The iſlands of the ſea :
Ye mountains ſink, ye walkies riſe,
Prepare the Lord his way.
Behold he comes he comes to bleſs
The nations, as their God :
To ſhew the world his righteouſneſs,
And ſend his truth abroad.
5
6
But when his voice ſhall raiſe the dead,
And bid the world draw near,
How will the guilty nations dread,
To ſee their judge appear!
PSALM XCVI. As the 113th Pſalm.
The God of the gentiles.
ET all the carth their voices raiſe
To ſing the choiceſt pſalm of praiſe;
To ſing and bleſs Jehovah's name:
His glory let the beathens know,
His wonders to the nations ſhow,
And all his ſaving works proclaim.
l
2
The heathems know thy glory, Lord :
The wond'ring nations read thy word ;
In Britain is Jehovah known :
Our worſhip ſhall no more be paid
To gods which mortal hands have made;
Out Maker is our God alone.
3
He fram'd the globe, he built the ſky,
He made the ſhining worlds on high,
...And reigns complete in glory there ;
His beams are majeſty and light ;-
His beauties how divinely bright !
His temple how divinely fairl
4.
Come the great day, the glorions hour,
When earth ſhall feel his ſaving pow'r,
PSALMS.—XCVII. XCVIII.
'87
And barb’rous nations ſear his name :
Then ſhall the race of man confeſs
The beauty of his holineſs
And in his courts his grace proclaim.
PSALM XCVII. ver. 1-5. Part I.
Chriſt reigning in heaven and coming to judgment.
1 HE reigns; the Lord the Saviour reigns!
Praiſe him in evangelic ſtrains:
Let the whole earth in ſongs rejoice,
And diſtant iſlands join their voice.
2 Decp are his counſels and unknown ;
But grace and truth ſupport his throne;
Tho' gloomy clouds his way furround,
Juſtice is their eternal ground.
3 In robes of judgraent, lo, he comes |
Shakes the wide earth and cleaves the
tombs :
Before him burns devouring fire,
The mountains melt, the ſeas retire,
4 His enemies, with ſore diſmay,
Fly from the fight, and ſhun the day;
Then liſt your heads, ye ſaints on high,
And ſing, for your redemption’s nigh.
PSALM XCVII. ver, 6–9. Part II.
Chriſt’s incarnation.
1 THE Lord is come; the heav'ns pro-
claim
His birth ; the nations learn his name ;
An unknown ſtar direéts the road
Of eaſtern ſages to their God.
2 All ye bright armies of the ſkies,
Go worſhip where the Saviour lies;
Angels and kings before him bow,
Thoſe gods on high, and gods below.
3 Let idols totter to the ground,
And their own worſhippers confound:
But Judah ſhout, but Zion ſing,
And earth confeſs her ſov’reign King.
PSALM XCVII. Part III.
Grace and glory.
l TH: Almighty reigns, exalted high,
O'er all the earth, o'er all the ſky;
Tho' clouds and darkneſs veil his feet,
His dwelling is the mercy-ſeat.
2 O ye that love his holy name,
Hate ev'ry work of fin and ſhame:
He guards the ſouls of all his friends,
And from the ſnares of hell defends.
3 Immortal light, and joys unknown,
Are ſor the ſaints in darkneſs ſown;
Thoſe glorious ſeeds ſhall ſpring and riſe,
And the bright harveſt bleſs our eyes.
4 Rejoice, ye righteous, and record
The ſacred honours of the Lord;
None but the ſoul that feels his grace,
Can triumph in his holineſs.
PSALM XCVII. 1, 3, 5–7, 11, [.C.M.]
Chriſt's incarnation, and the laſt judgment.
l E iſlands of the northcrn ſea,
Rejoice, the Saviour reigns :
His word, like fire, prepares his way,
And mountains melt to plains.
2 His preſence ſinks the proudeſt hills,
And makes the vallies riſe :
The humble ſoul enjoys his ſmiles,
The haughty ſinner dies.
3 The heav’ns his rightſul pow'r proclaim ;
The idol gods around
Fill their own worſhippers with ſhame,
And totter to the ground.
4 Adoring angels at his birth
Make the Redeemer known ;
Thus ſhall he come to judge the earth,
And angels guard his throne.
His foes ſhall tremble at his fight,
And hills and ſeas retire ;
His children take their unknown flight,
And leave the world on fire.
6 The ſeeds of joy and glory ſown
For ſaints in darkneſs here,
Shall riſe and ſpring in worlds unknown,
And a rich harveſt bear.
PSALM XCVIII. Part I.
Praiſe for the goſhel.
To our Almighty Maker God,
New honours be addreſt;
His great ſalvation ſhines abroad,
And makes the nations bleſt.
He ſpake the word to Abraham firſt,
His truth fulfils the grace:
The gentiles make his name their truſ:
And learn his righteouſneſs.
1
2
3
Let the whole earth his love proclaim.
With all her diff'rent tongues;
And ſpread the honours of his name
In melody and ſongs.
PSALM XCVIII. Part II.
The Meſfiah's coming and Kingdºm.
OY to the world ; the Lord is come;
•' Let earth receive her king :
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room,
And heav'n and nature ſing.
f
l
Joy to the earth the Saviour reigns;
Let men their ſongs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, arid
plains
Repeat the ſounding joy.
&
No more let ſins and ſorrows grow,
Nor thorns infeſt the ground :
He comes to make his bleſſings flow
Far as the curſe is found.
4 He rules the world with truth and glace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteouſneſs,
And wonders of his love.
3S
PSALMS,-XCIX. C.
PSALM XCIX. Part I.
Chriſt’s Kingdom and majeſty.
} THE God Jehovah reigns,
Let all the nations fear,
Let ſinners tremble at his throne,
And ſaints be humble there.
2 Jeſus the Saviour reigns,
Let earth adore its Lord ;
Bright cherubs his attendants ſtand,
Swift to fulfil his word.
3. In Zion is his throne,
His honours are divine ;
His church ſhall make his wonders known,
For there his glories ſhine.
4. How holy is his name !
How terrible his praiſe
Juſtice and truth and judgment join
* In all his works of grace.
PSALM XCIX. Part II.
...A holy God wor/iſſed with reverence.
1. EXALT the Lord our God,
*. And worſhip at his ſeet;
His nature is all holineſs,
And mercy is his ſeat.
2. When Iſrael was his church,
When Aaron was his prieſt,
When Moſes cry'd, when Samuel pray'd,
He gave his people reſt.
3 Oſt he forgave their fins,
Nor would deſtroy their race ;
And oft he made his vengeance known,
When they abuſ’d his grace.
4. Exalt the Lord our God,
Whoſe grace is ſtill the ſame;
Still he's a God of holineſs,
And jealous for his name.
PSALM C. Firſt Metre, a plain Tranſlation.
Praiſe to our Crator. &
I YE nations round the earth rejoice
Before the Lord your Sov’reign King:
, Serve him with chearful heart and voice,
With all your tongues his glory ſing.
2 The Lord is God : 'Tis he alone &
| Doth life and breath and being give :
We are his work, and not our own ;
The ſheep that on his paſtures live.
3 Enter his gates with ſongs of joy,
With praiſes to his courts repair ;
And make it your divine employ
To pay your thanks and honours there.
4 The Lord is good, the Lord is kind;
Creat is his grace his mercy ſure ;
And the whole race of man ſhall find
His truth from age to age endure.
2
PSALM C. Second Metre. A Paraphaſe.
1 SING to the Lord with joyful voice;
Let every land his name adore ;
The Britiſh iſles ſhall ſend the noiſe
Acroſs the ocean to the ſhore. '
Nations attend before his throne
With ſolemn fear, with ſacred joy;
Know that the Lord is God alone;
He can Greate, and he deſtroy.
3
His ſov’reign pow'r without our aid
Made us of clay, and form'd us men :
And when like wand'ring ſheep we
ſtray’d,
He brought us to his fold again.
4.
We are his people, we his care,
Our ſouls and all our mortal frame :
What laſting honours ſhall we rear,
Almighty Maker, to thy name *
5 We'll crowd thy gates with thankful ſongs,
High as the heav’ns our voices raiſe;
And earth with her ten thouſand tongues
Shall fill thy courts with ſounding praiſe.
6 Widc as the world is thy command,
Vaſt as eternity thy love;
Firm as a rock thy truth muſt ſtand,
When rolling years ſhall ceaſe to move.
PSALM C. [L. M.]
The magiſtrates /ſalm.
1. MERCY and judgment are my ſong;
And ſince they both to thee belong,
My gracious God, my righteous King.
To thee my ſongs and vows I bring.
2 If I am rais'd to bear the ſword,
I’ll take my counſels from thy werd;
Thy juſtice and thy heav'nly glace
Shall be the pattern of my ways.
3
Let wiſdom all my ačtions guide,
And let my God with me reſide;
No wicked thing ſhall dwell with me,
Which may provoke thy jealouſy.
4.
No ſons of ſlander, rage and ſtriſe.
Shail be companions of my liſe ;
The haughty look, the heart of pride
Within my doors ſhall ne'er abide.
[I’ll ſearch the land, and raiſe the juſt
To poſts of honour, wealth and truſt:
The men that work thy holy will,
Shall be my friends and fav'rites ſtill.]
5 In vain ſhall finners hope to riſe
By flatt’ring or malicious lies;
And while the innocent I guard,
The bold offender ſhan’t be ſpar'd.
7 The impious crew (that factious band)
Shall hide their heads, or quit the land ;
And all that break the public reſt,
Where I have pow'r ſhall be ſuppreſt.
5
(
)
PSALMS.–CI. CII.
39
PSALM cr. ſc. M.]
4 pſalm for a mafter of a family.
} OFjuſtice and of grace I ſing,
And pay my God my vows;
Thy grace and juſtice, heav'nly King';
Teach me to rule my houſe. 3.
2 Now to my tent, O God, repair,
And make thy ſervant wiſe;
I’ll ſuffer nothing near me there
That ſhall offend thine eyes.
3 The man that doth his neighbour wrong,
By falſehood or by force,
The ſcornful eye, the ſland’rous tongue,
I’ll thruſt them from my doors.
4 I’ll ſeek the faithful and the juſt,
And will their help enjoy :
Theſe are the friends that I ſhall truſt,
The ſervants I’ll employ,
5 The wretch that deals iſºmy deceit,
I’ll not endure a night !
The liar's tongue I ever hate,
And baniſh from my fight,
8 I’ll purge my family around,
And make the wicked flee :
So ſhall my houſe be ever found
A dwelling fit for thee,
PSALM CII. 1–13,20, 21. Part I.
4Arayer of the affiéied.
l HEAR me, O God, nor hide thy face,
But anſwer, leſt I die:
Haſt thou not built a throne of grace,
To hear when ſinners cry 2
2 My days are waſted like the ſmoke
Diſſolving in the air :
My ſtrength is dry’d, my heart is broke,
And ſinking in deſpair.
3 My ſpirits flag like with’ring graſs,
Burnt with exceſſive heat :
In ſecret groans my minutes paſs,
And I forget to eat.
4. As on ſome lonely building’s top
The ſparrow tells her moan,
Far from the tents of joy and hope
I ſit and grieve alone.
5 My ſoul is like a wilderneſs,
Where beaſts of midnight howl;
There the ſad raven finds her place,
And there the ſcreaming owl.
6 Dark diſrnal thoughts, and boding fears,
Dwell in my troubled breaſt;
While ſharp reproaches wound my ears,
Nor give my ſpirit reſt, -
'i My cup is mingled with my woes,
And tears are my repaſt;
My daily bread like aſhes grows
Unpleaſant to my taſte.
* Senſe can afford nº realjoy
To ſouls that feel thy frown;
Lord, ºtwas thy hand advanc'd me high ;
Thy hand hath caſt me down. -
woL. vii.
9 My looks like wither'd leaves appear;
And life's declining light -
Grows faint as ev’ning ſhadows are,
That vaniſh into night,
10 But thou for ever art the ſame,
O my eternal God I -
Ages to come ſhall know thy name,
And ſpread thy works abroad,
11 Thou wilt ariſe and ſhew thy face,
Nor will my Lord delay
Beyond th” appointed hour of grace,
That long-expected day.
12 He hears his ſaints, he knows their cry,
And by myſterious ways
Redeems the pris’ ners doom'd to die,
And fills their tongues with praiſe.
PSALM cII. ver, 13–21. Part II.
Prayer heard, and Zion reſored.
1 T.ET Zion and her ſons rejoice;
* Behold the promis'd hour !
Her God hath heard her mourning voice,
And comes t” exalt his pow'r,
2 Her duſt and ruins that remain
Are precious in our eyes;
Thoſe ruins ſhall be built again,
And all that duſt ſhall riſe.
3 The Lord will raiſe Jeruſalem,
And ſtand in glory there :
Nations ſhall bow before his name,
And kings attend with fear,
4 He fits a ſov’reign on his throne,
With pity in his eyes;
He hears the dying pris’ners
And ſees their fighs ariſe.
5 He frees the ſouls condemn'd to death;
Atid when his ſaints complain,
It ſhan’t be ſaid, “That praying breath
“Was ever ſpent in vain.”
groan,
|| 6 This ſhall be known when we are dead,
And left on long record,
That ages yet unhorn may read,
And truſt and praiſe the Lord: -
PSALM CII, 23–28. Part III.
Man's mortality, and Chriſt's eternity ; or,
faints die, but Chriſt and the church live.
I IT is the Lord our Saviour’s hand
Weakens our ſtrength amidſt the race;
Diſeaſe and death, at his command
Arreſt us, and cut ſhort our days.
2 Spare us, O Lord, aloud we pray, ‘
Nor let our ſun go down at hoon ;
Thy years are one eternal day,
And muſt thy children die ſo ſoon #
3 Yet, in the midſt of death and grief,
This thought our ſorrow ſhould aſſuage,
| “Our Father and our Saviour live;
! “ Chriſt is the ſame thro’ ev'ry age.”
4 'Twas he this earth’s foundation laid :
Heav'n is the building of his hand 1
M *
SO
PSALMS.–CIII.
fade,
And all be chang’d at his command.
5 The ſtarry curtains of the ſky,
Like garments ſhall be laid aſide ;
• But ſtill thy throne ſtands firm and high;
Thy church for ever muſt abide.
6 Before thy face thy church ſhall live,
And on thy throne thy children reign ;
This dying world ſhall they ſurvive,
And the dead ſaints be rais'd again.
PSALM CIII. 1-7. Part I. [L. M.]
Bleftng God for his goodneſs to ſoul and body.
1 BLESS, 9 my ſoul, the living God,
Call home thy thoughts that rove
abroad;
Let all the pow'rs within me join
In work and worſhip ſo divine.
? Bleſs, O my ſoul, the God of Grace;
His favours claim thy higheſt praiſe :
Why ſhould the wonders he hath wrought, I
Be loſt in ſilence, and forgot?
3 'Tis he, my ſoul, that ſent his Son
To die for crimes which thou haſt done:
He owns the ranſom and forgives
The hourly follies of our lives.
4 The vices of the mind he heals,
And cures the pains that nature ſeels :
Redeems the ſoul from hell, and faves
Our waſting lives from threat’ning graves. }
Our youth decay’d his pow'r repairs;
His mercy crowns our growing years ;
He ſatisfies our mouth with good,
And fills our hopes with heav'nly food.
He ſees th' oppreſſor and th’ oppreſt,
And often gives the ſuff'rers reſt;
But will his juſtice more diſplay
In the laſt great rewarding day.
[His pow'r he ſhew’d by Moſes’ hands,
And gave to Iſr’el his commands;
But ſent his truth and mercy down
To all the nations by his Son.
8 Let the whole earth his pow'r confeſs;
Let the whole earth adore his grace;
The Gentile with the Jew ſhall join
In work and worſhip ſo divine.]
PSALM. cili. ver, 8–18. Part II. [L. M.]
God’s gentle chaſiſements or, his tender mercy
to his/leoſile.
1 THE Lord, how wondrous are his
ways l *
How firm his truth! how large his grace!
He takes his mercy for his throne,
And thence he makes his glories known.
2 Not half ſo high his pow'r hath ſpread
The ſtarry heav'ns above our head,
As his rich love exceeds our praiſe,
Exceeds the higheſt hope we raiſe.
5
*
y
, #
9
5
This earth grows old, theſe heav'ns ſhall,
As his forgiving grace removes
The daily guilt of thoſe he loves.
4 How ſlowly doth his wrath ariſe
On ſwifter wings ſalvation flies;
And if he lets his anger burn,
How ſoon his frowns to pity turn |
5 Amidſt his wrath compaſſion ſhines;
His ſtrokes are lighter than our ſins;
And while his rod correóts his ſaints,
His ear indulges their complaints.
6
So fathers their young ſons chaſtiſe,
With gentle hands and melting eyes }
The children weep beneath the ſmart,
And move the pity of their heart.
FAUSE. '
.7 The mighty God, the wiſe and juſt,
Knows that out frame is feeble duſt;
And will .. loads impoſe
Beyond the ſtºčngth that he beſtows.
8 He knows how ſoon our nature dies,
Blaſted by ev'ry wind that flies ;
Like graſs we ſpring and die as ſoon,
Or morning flow’rs that fade at noon.
But his eternal love is ſure
To all the ſaints, and ſhall endure;
From age to age his truth ſhall reign,
Nor children’s children hope in vain.
PSALM CIII, 1–7. Part I. [S. M.]
Praiſe for ſhiritual and temporal mercies,
O. BLESS the Lord, my ſoul!
Let all within me join, y
And aid my tongue to bleſs his name,
Whoſe favours are divine.
O bleſs the Lord, my ſoul
Nor let his mercieslie
Forgotten in unthankfulneſs,
And without praiſes die.
'Tis he forgives thy fins,
'Tis he relieves thy pain;
'Tis he that heals thy ſickneſſes,
| And makes thee young again.
4 He crowns thy life with love,
When ranſom'd from the grave;
He that redeem'd my ſoul from hell,
Hath ſov’reign pow'r to ſave.
He fills the poor with good;
He gives the ſuff'rers reſt :
The Lord hath judgments for the proud,
And juſtice for th’ oppreſt.
His wondrous works and ways.
He made by Moſes known :
But ſent the world his truth and grace
By his beloved Son.
6
PSALM CEII. 8-18. Part II. [S. M.]
j4bounding compaſſion of God ; or, mercy in the
w midſt of judgment.
3 Not half ſo high hath nature plac’d |
The riſing morning from the weſt,
}
l Y foul repeat his praiſe,
M
Whoſe mercies are ſo great;
PSALMS.–CIII. CIV.
S 1
Whoſe anger is ſo flow to riſe,
So ready to abate. t
2 God will not always chide ;
And when his ſtrokes are felt, ,
His ſtrokes are fewer than our crimics,
And lighter than our guilt.
High as the heav'ns are rais'd
Above the ground we tread,
So far the riches of his grace
Our higheſt thoughts exceed.
His power ſubdues our ſins;
And his forgiving love,
Far as the eaſt is from the weſt,
Doth all our guilt remove.
‘5 The pity of the Lord
To thoſe that fear his name,
Is ſuch as tender parents feel :
He knows our feeble frame.
6 He knows we are but duſt,
Scatter'd with every breath;
His anger, like a riſing wind,
Can ſend us ſwift to death.
7 Our days are as the graſs,
Or like the morning flow’r.;
If one ſharp blaſt ſweep o'er the field,
It withers in an hour.
But thy compaſſions, Lord,
To endleſs years endure;
And children's children ever find
Thy words of promiſe ſure.
PSALM CIII. ver 19–22. Part III. [S. M.]
God's univerſal dominion ; or, angels/iraiſe the
Lord.
3
4.
8
1 THE Lord, the ſov’reign King,
Hath fix’d his throne on high ;
O'er all the heav'nly world he rules,
And all beneath the ſky.
2 Ye angels, great in might,
And ſwift to do his will,
Bleſs ye the Lord, whoſe voice ye hear,
Whoſe pleaſure ye fulfil.
Lct the bright hoſts who wait
The orders of their King,
And guard his churches, when they pray,
Join in the praiſe they fing.
While all his wondrous works,
Thro” his vaſt kingdom ſhew
Their Maker's glory; thou, my ſoul,
Shall ſing his graces too,
5
4.
PSALM CIV.
The glory of God in creation and/rovidence,
l MX ſoul, thy great Creator praiſe :
When cloth’d in his celeſtial rays,
He in full majeſty appears,
And like a robe his glory wears.
Note, This ſiſalm may be ſung to the tune of the
old 112th or 127th Aſahn, by adding theſe two
ſines to every ſtanza, namely, -
Great is the Lord; what tongue can frame
An equal honour to his name *
Otherwiſe it muſt be ſung as the 100th Aſalm,
H
2 The heav'ns are for his curtains ſpread,
Th'unfathom'd deep he makes his bed:
. Clouds are his chariot, when he flies
On winged ſtorms acroſs the ſkies.
3 Angels, whom his own breath inſpires,
His miniſters, are flaming fires;
And ſwift as thought their armies move
To bear his vengeance or his love.
4 The world’s foundations by his hand
Are pois'd, and ſhall for ever ſtand :
He binds the ocean in his chain.
Leſt it ſhould drown the earth again.
5 When earth was cover'd with the flood,
Which high above the mountains ſtood,
He thunder'd and the ocean fled,
Confin'd to its appointed bed.
| 6 The ſwelling billows know their bound,
And in their channels walk their round;
Yet thence convey’d by ſecret veins,
They ſpring on hills and drench the plains.
7 He bids the chryſtal fountains flow,
And cheer the vallies as they go;
Tame heifers there their thirſt allay,
And for the ſtream wild aſſes bray.
8 From pleaſant trees which ſhade the brink,
The lark and linnetlight to drink :
Their ſongs the lark and linnet raiſe,
And chide our ſilence in his praiſe.
PAUSE I:
9 God from his cloudy ciſtern pours
On the parch’d earth enriching ſhow’rs;
The grove, the garden, and the field,
A thouſand joyful bleſfings yield.
10. He makes the graſſy food ariſe,
And gives the cattle large ſupplies;
With herbs for man of various pow'r
To nouriſh nature, or to cure,
What noble fruit the vines produceſ
The olive yields a ſhining juice;
Our hearts are cheer'd with gen’rous wine,
With inward joy our faces ſhine.
12 O bleſs his name, ye Britons ! fed
With nature's chief ſupporter, bread;
While bread your vital ſtrength imparts,
Serve him with vigour in your hearts,
PAUSE II,
Behold the ſtately cedar ſtands,
Rais'd in the foreſt by his hands ;
Birds to the boughs for ſhelter fly,
And build their neſts ſecure on high,
To craggy hills aſcends the goat,
And at the airy mountains foot
The ſeebler creatures make their cell;
He gives them wiſdom where to dwell.
15. He ſets the ſun his circling race,
Appoints the moon to change her face;
And when thick darkneſs veils the day,
Calls out wild beaſts to hunt their prey.
16 Fierce lions lead their young abroad,
i
l
13
And roaring aſk their meat from God;
M 9 -
•ºf
\
*
r"
92
PSALMS.–CW.
But when the morning beams ariſe
The ſavage beaſt to covert flies.
17 Then man to daily labout goes;
The night was made for his repoſe ;
Sleep is thy gift, that ſweet relief.
From tireſome toil and waſting grief.
18 How flrange thy works! how great thy
fkill
And evºy Iand thy riches fill ;
Thy wiſdom found the world we ſee :
This ſpacious earth is full of thee.
19 Nor leſs thy glories in the deep;
where fiſh in millions ſwim and creep,
With wondrcus motions, ſwift or flow,
Still wand'ring in the paths below.
20 There ſhips divide their wat'ry way,
And flocks of ſcaly monſters play :
There dwells the huge leviathan, '-
And foams and ſports in ſpite of man.
& PAUSE III.
vaſt are thy works, Almighty Lord!
All nature reſts upon thy word,
And the whole race of creatures ſtands,
waiting their portion from thy hands.
while each receives his diff'rent food,
Their chearful looks pronounce it good:
Eagles and bears, and whales and wºrms,
Rejoice and praiſe in diff'rent forms.
2
l
22
23 But when thy face is hid, they mourn,
And dying, to their duit return;
Both man and beaſt their ſouls reſign;
Life, breath, and ſpirit, all are thine.
Yet thou canſt breathe on duſt again,
And fill the world with beaſts and men;
A word of thy creating, breath
Repairs the waſtes of time and death.
24
His works, the wonders of his might,
Are honour’d with liis own delight,
How awful are his glorious ways
The Lord is dreadful in his praiſe.
5 Thé earth ſtands trembling at thy ſtroke,
And at thy touch the mountains ſmoke;
Yet humble ſouls may ſee thy face,
And tell their wants to ſov’reign grace. }
in thee my hopes and wiſhes meet,
And make my meditations ſweet;
Thy praiſes ſhall my breath employ,
*
Till it expires in endleſs joy.
28
27
While haughty ſinners die accurſt,
‘Fileir glory bury'd with their duſt,
I to my God, my heav'nly King,
Immortal hallelujahs ſing. .
- PSALM cw. Abridged,
God's condući of Iſrael, and the Aligues of Egyht.
i GIVE thanks to God, invoke his name,
And tell the world his grace; “
Sound thro’ the earth his deeds of fame,
That all may ſeek his face,' ' ' ' '
2 His cov’nant, which he kept in mind,
For num’rous ages paſt,
To num’rous ages yet behind
In equal force ſhall laſt.
3 He ſware to Abr’m and his ſeed,
... And made the bleſfings ſure;
Gentiles the ancient promiſe read,
And find his truth endure.
4 “ Thy ſeed ſhall make all nations bleſt,
(Said the Almighty voice) *
“And Canaan’s land ſhall be their reſt,
“The type of heav'nly joys.”
5 [How large the grant, how rich the graceſ
To give them Canaan’s land, ... *
When they were ſtrangers in the place,
A little feeble band!
6 Like pilgrims thro’ the countries round
Securely they remov’d ;
And haughty kings that on them frown'd
Severely he reprov’d. * *
7 “Touch mine anointed, and my arm
“Shall ſoon revenge the wrong;
“The man that does my prophets harm,
“Shall know their God is ſtrong.”
8 Then let the world forbear its rage,
Nor put the church in fear;
Iſr'el muſt live thro’ ev’ry age,
And be th' Almighty's care.]
PAUSE I.
9 When Pharaoh dar'd to vex the ſaints,
And thus provok'd their God, w
Moſes was ſent, at their complaints,
Arm'd with his dreadful rod.
10 He call’d for darkneſs, darkneſs came
Like an o'erwhelming flood; s
He turn'd each lake and ev'ry firearm
To lakes and ſtreams of blood. '
11 He gave the ſign, and noiſome flies
Thro' the whole country ſpread;
And frogs in croaking armies riſe
About the monarch's bed,
12 Thro' fields, and towns, and palaces,
The ten-fold vengeance flew;
Locuſts in ſwarms devour'd their trees,
And hail their cattle ſlew ;
13. Then by an angel’s midnight ſtroke,
The flower of Egypt dy'd :
The ſtrength of ev'ry houſe was broke,
Their glory and their pride, º
| 4 Now let the world forbear its rage,
Nor put the church in fear;
Iſrºel mºſt live thro’ ev'ry agé,
... And be th' Almighty's care.
y 3 PAUSE II.
15 Thus were the tribes from bondagg
brought, . . .
And left the hated ground;
Eaëh ſome Egyptian ſpoils had got,
And not one feeble found. *
16 The Lord himſelf choſe out their ways
And mark'd their journies right;
PSALMS.–CVI. CVII.
93
Gave them a leading cloud by day,
And fiery guide by night.
17 They thirſt; and waters from the rock
In rich abundance flow;
And following ſtill the courſe they took,
Ran all the deſart thro’.
18 O wondrous ſtream! O bleſſed type
Of ever-flowing grace
So Chriſt our Rock, maintains our life
Thro' all this wilderneſs.
19 Thus guarded by th’ Almighty hand,
The choſen tribes poſſeſt
Capaan, the rich, the promis'd land,
''. there enjoy'd their reſt.
90 Then let the world forbear its rage;
The church rénounce her ſear;
Iſr'el muſt live thro’ ev’ry age,
And be th' Almighty's care,
PSALM CVI. ver, 1-5, Part I.
Praiſe to God; qr, communion with ſaints,
} To God the Great, the Ever Bleſt,
Let ſongs of honour be addreſt;
His mercy firm for ever ſtands;
Give him the thanks his love demands.
$2 Who knows the wonders of thy ways?
Who ſhall ſulfil thy boundleſs praiſe 2
Bleſt are the ſouls that fear thee ſtill,
And pay their duty to thy will,
3 Remember what thy mercy did
For Jacob's race, thy choſen ſeed;
And with the ſame ſalvation bleſs
The meaneſt ſuppliant of thy grace.
4 O may I ſee thy tribes rejoice,
And aid their triumphs with my voice
This is my glory, Lord, to be
Join'd to thy finis, and near to thee,
pSALM CVI. ver, 7, 8, 12–14, 43–48.
Part II.
Iſrael Áuniſhed and ſhardoned:
unchangeable love.
4 GOP of eternal love,
* How fickle are our ways?
And yet how oft did Iſr’el prove
Thy conſtancy of grace
or, God’s .
2 They ſaw thy wonders wrought,
And then thy praiſe they ſung ;
But ſoon thy works of pow'r forgot,
And murmur'd with their tongue.
3 Now they believe his word,
While rocks with rivers flow ;
Now with their luſt provoke the Lord,
• And he reduc’d them low. f
Yet when they mourn'd their faults,
He hearken'd to their groans;
Brought his own cov’nant to his thoughts, h
' ' And call'd them ſtill his ſons.
§ Their names were in his book,
Hé ſav'd them from their foes ;
Oft he chaſtis'd, but ne'er forſook
The people that he choſe,
6 Let Iſr’el bleſs the Lord,
Who lov’d their ancient race;
And Chriſtians join the ſolemn word
Amen, to all the praiſe.
PSALM CVII. Part I.
Iſrael led to Canaqn, and Chriſtians to Heaven.
1GIVE thanks to God; he reigns above;
Kind are his thoughts, his name is
love; A
His mercy ages paſt have known,
And ages loag to come ſhall own.
Let the redeemed of the Lord
The wonders of his grace record;
Iſr’el the nation whom he choſe,
And reſcu'd from their mighty foes.
2
3 [When God’s almighty arm had broke
Their fetters and th’ Egyptian yoke,
They trac'd the deſart wand'ring round
A wild and ſolitary ground !
4 There they could find no leading road, j
Nor city for a fix’d abode; -
Nor food, nor fountain to aſſuage
Their burning thirſt, or hunger's age.]
5 In their diſtreſs to God they cry’d;
God was their Saviour and their guide;
He led their march far wand'ring round;
'Twas the right path to Canaan’s ground.
6 Thus when our firſt releaſe we gain
From ſin’s old yoke, and Satan’s chain,
We have this deſart world to paſs,
A dang'rous and a tireſome place.
He feeds and clothes us all the way,
He guides our footſteps left we ſtray;
He guards us with a pow'rful hand,
And brings us to the heav'nly land.
O let the ſaints with joy record
The truth and goodneſs of the Lord I
How great his works, bow kind his ways!
Let ev'ry tongue pronounce his praiſe.
7
S
PSALM CVII. Part II.
Cornečnion for ſin, and releaſe by Arayer.
l
ROM age to age exalt his name,
* God and his grace are ſtill the ſame;
He fills the hungry ſouls with food,
And feeds the pow'r with ev'ry good.
2
But if their hearts rebel, and riſe
Againſt the God that rules the ſkies;
If they rejećt his heav'nly word,
And ſight the counſels of the Lord;
He'll bring their ſpirits to the ground,
And no deliv'rer ſhall be ſound:
Laden with grief they waſte their breath,
In darkneſs and the ſhades of death,
Then to the Lord they raiſe their cries,
He makes the dawning light ariſe,
And ſcatters all that diſmarſhade
That bung ſo heavy round their head.
}
k
$4.
PSALMS.–CVII. '
t
5 He cutsthe bars of braſs in two,"
And lets the ſmiling prisºners thro’;
Takes off the load of guilt and grief,
And gives the lab’ring ſoul relief.
6 O may the ſons of men record
The wondrous goodneſs of the Lord!
How greathis works! how kind his ways!
Let ev'ry tongue pronounce his praiſe.
PSALM CVII. Part III.
Intemperance puniſhed and pardoned; or, a/ſalm
for the glutton and the drunkard.
l VAN man on fooliſh pleaſures bent,
Prepares for his own puniſhment:
what pains, what loathſome maladies,
From luxury and luſt ariſe !
2 The drunkard feels his vitals waſte;
Yet drowns his health to pleaſe his taſte ;
Till all his ačtive pow’rs are loſt,
And fainting life draws near the duſt.
3 The glutton groans, and leathes to eat,
His ſoul abhors delicious meat;
Nature with heavy loads oppreſt,
would yield to death to be releas'd.
# Then how the frighted firiners fly
To God, for help, with earneſt cry!
He hears their groans, prolongstheir breath
And ſaves them from approaching death.
5 No med'cines could effect the Cure
So quick, ſo eaſy, or ſo ſure :
The deadly ſentence God repeals,
He ſends his ſov’reign word and heals.
6 O may the ſons of men record
The wondrous goodneſs of the Lord!
And let their thankful off'rings prove
How they adore their Maker’s love.
PsALM cvH. Part IV. [L. M.]
Deliverance from ſtorms and ſhiftwreck : or, the
ſeaman’s ſong.
|
1 Would you behold the wºrks of God,
His wonders in the world abroad,
Go with the mariners, and trace
The unknown regions of the ſeas.
2 They leave their native ſhores behind,
And ſcize the favour of the wind :
Till God commands, and tempeſts riſe,
That heave the ocean to the ſkies.
Now to the heav’ns they mount amain,
Now ſink to dreadſul deeps again; ,
What itrange affrights young ſailors feel,
And like a ſtagg’ring drunkard reel.
When land is far, and death is nigh,
Loſt to all hope, to God they cry;
His mercy hears their loud addreſs
And ſends ſalvation in diſtreſs.
He bids the winds their wrath aſſuage;
The furious waves forgot their rage;
'Tis calm, and ſailors ſmile to ſee
The haven where they wiſh'd to be.
O may the ſons of men record
The wondrous goodneſs of the Lord!
Let them their private offrings bring,
And in the church his glory ſing.
i PSALM CVII. Part IV. ſc. M.]
The mariner’s Aſalm,
1 Thy works of glory, mighty Lord,
Thy wonders in the deeps ?
The ſons of courage ſhall record,
Who trade in floating ſhips.
2 At thy command the winds ariſe,
And ſwell the tow’ring waves;
The men aſtoniſh’d mount the ſkies,
And ſink in gaping graves.
3 [Again they climb the wat'ry hills,
And plunge in deeps again;
Each like a tott’ring drunkard reels,
And finds his courage vain.
4 Frighted to hear the tempeſt roar,
They pant with flutt’ring breath,
And hopeleſs of the diſtant ſhore,
Expect immediate death.]
5 Then to the Lord they raiſe their cries,
He hears the loud requeſt,
And orders ſilence thro’ the ſkies,
And lays the floods to reſt:
Sailors rejoice to loſe their fears,
And ſee the ſtorm allay’d :
Now to their eyes the port appears;
There let their vows be paid.
'Tis God that brings them ſafe to land;
Let ſtupid mortals know,
That waves are under his command,
And all the winds that blow,
O that the ſons of men would praiſe
The goodneſs of the Lord
And thoſe that ſee thy wondrous ways,
Thy wondrous love record
jº
6
7
|
PSALM CVII. Part V.
Colonies ſilanted; or, Nations bleſſed and
Auniſhed,
A pſalm for New England.
WHEN God, provok'd with daring
crimes, {
Scourges the madneſs of the times,
He turns their fields to barren ſand,
And dries the rivers from the land.
His word can raiſe the ſprings again,
And make the wither'd mountains green,
l
|2
| Send ſhow'ry bleſfings from the ſkies,
And harveſts in the deſart riſe.
Where nothing dwelt but beaſts of pray,
r men as fierce and wild as they ; . .
He bids th' oppreſt and poor repair,
And builds them towns and cities there.
4 They ſow the fields, and trees they plant,
Whoſe yearly fruit ſupplies their want :
Their race grows up from fruitful ſtocks,
Their wealth increafcs with their flocks.
PSALMS.–CIX. CX.
z *
95.
5 Thus they are bleſt ; but if they ſin,
He lets the heathen nations in,
A ſavage crew invades their lands,
Their princes die by barb'rous hands.
6 Their captive ſons, expos'd to ſcorn,
Wander unpity’d and forlorn :
The country lies unfenc'd, untill’d,
And deſokation ſpreads the field.
7 Yet if the humbled nation mourns,
Again his dreadful hand he turns ;
Again he makes their cities thrive,
And bids the dying churches live.]
8 The righteous, with a joyful ſenſe,
Admire the works of providence t
And tongues of atheiſts ſhall no more
Blaſpheme the God that ſaints adore.
9 How few, with pious care, record.
Thoſe wondrous dealings of the Lord?
But wiſe obſervers ſtill ſhall find
The Lord is holy, juſt, and kind.
PSALM CIX. verſe 1–5, 31.
Love to enemies from the example of Chriſt.
1 GOP of my mercy and my praiſe,
Thy glory is my ſong ;
Tho' ſinners ſpeak againſt thy grace
With a blaſpheming tongue.
2. When in the form of mortal man
Thy Son on earth was found,
With cruel ſlanders, falſe and vain,
They compaſs'd him around.
3 Their miſeries his compaſſion movc,
Their peace he ſtill purſu'd;
They render hatred for his love,
And evil for his good.
4 Their malice rag’d without a cauſe,
Yet, with his dying breath,
He pray'd for murd’rers on his croſs,
And bleſt his foes in death.
5 Lord, ſhall thy bright example ſhine
In vain before my eyes 2
Give me a ſoul a-kin to thine,
To love my enemies.
6 Thy Lord ſhall on my ſide engage,
And, in my Saviour's name,
I ſhall defeat their pride and rage
Who flander and condemn.
PSALM CX. Part I, IL. M.]
Chriſt exalted, and multitudes converted; or,
The ſucceſs of the goſhel.
l THUS the eternal Father ſpake
To Chriſt the Son; “Aſcend and ſit
“At my right-hand, till I ſhall make
“Thy foes ſubmiſſive at thy feet.
2 “From Zion ſhall thy word proceed,
“Thy word, the ſceptre in thy hand,
“Shall make the hearts of rebels bleed,
“And bow their wills to thy command.
“When ſaints ſhall flock with willing
minds,
“And ſinners croud thy temple-gate,
“Where holineſs in beauty ſhines.
| “That day ſhall ſhew thy pow'r is great,
;
4.
O bleſſed pow'r? O glorious day !
What a large vićtory ſhall eaſué !
And conyerts, who thy grace obey,
Exceed the drops of morning dew.
PSALM CX. Part II. [L. M.]
The kingdom and Arieſthood of Chriſt.
THUs the great Lord of earth and ſea
Spake to his Son, and thus he ſwore;
“Eternal ſhall thy prieſthood be,
“And change from hand to hand no
1
r In Ore.
2
“Aaron and all his ſons muſt die,
“But everlaſting life is thine,
| “ To fave for ever thoſe that
“For refuge from the wrath divine.”
| 3 By me Melcheſedek was made
On earth a king and prieſt at once;
And thou my heav'nly prieſt ſhalt plead,
And thou Iny king ſhalt rulemy ſons.
4 Jeſus the prieſt aſcends his throne,
While counſels of eternal peace,
Between the Father and the Son,
Proceed with honour and ſucceſs.
|5|Thro' the whole earth his reign ſhall ſpread,
And cruſh the pow’rs that dare rebel: ;
Then ſhali he judge the riſing dead,
And ſend the guilty world to heli.
} 6 Tho' while he treads his glorious way,
He drinks the cup of tears and blood,
The ſuff’rings of that dreadful day
Shall but advance him near to God.
PSALM CX. [C. M.]
Chriſt's kingdom and Arieſthood.
|| 1 Jºš. our Lord, aſcend thy throne,
And near the Father fit :
In Zion ſhall thy pow'r be known,
And make thy foes ſubmit.
|2 What wonders ſhall thy goſpel do!
Thy converts ſhall ſurpaſs
The num’rous drops of morning—dew,
} And own thy ſov’reign grace.
|3 God hath pronoune’d a firm decree,
Nor changes what he ſwore :
“Eternal ſhall thy prieſthood be,
“When Aaron is no more. “
l; “Melchiſedek that wondrous prieſt,
“That king of high decree,
“That holy man who Abraham ble&
“Was but a type of thee.
5 Jeſus our prieſt for ever lives,
To plead for us above ;
eſus our king for ever gives
The bleſfings of his love.

$6
PSALMS.–CXI. CXII.
6 God ſhall exalt his glorious head,
And his high throne maintain,
Shall trike the pow'rs and princes dead,
Who dare oppoſe his reign.
PSALM CXI. Part I.
The wiſdom of God in his works.
I SoNGS of immortal praiſe belong
To my almighty God:
He has my heart, and he my tongue
To ſpread his name abroad.
|
2 How greattheworkshishand has wrought!
How glorious in our ſight !
And men in ev’ry age have ſought
His wonders with delight.
3 How moſt exačt is nature’s frame !
How wiſe th” eternal mind
His counſels never change the ſcheme
That his firſt thoughts deſign'd.
4. When he redeem'd his choſen ſons,
He fix’d his cov’nant ſure :
The orders that his lips pronounce,
To endleſs years endure.
5 Nature and time, and earth and ſkies,
Thy heav'nly ſkill proclaim:
What ſhall we do to make us wiſe,
But learn to tead thy name *
6 To fear thy pow'r, to truſt thy grace
Is our divineſt ſkill;
And he’s the wiſeſt of our race,
That beſt obeys thy will.
PSALM CXI. Part II.
The Aerfections of God.
I GREAT is the Lord, his works of might,
Demand our nobleſt ſongs;
Let his aſſembled ſaints unite
Their harmony of tongues.
2 Great is the mercy of the Lord,
He gives his children food;
And ever mindful of his word,
He makes his promiſe good.
3 His Son, the great Redeemer, came
To ſeal his cov’nant ſure :
Holy and rev'rend is his name,
His ways are juſt and pure.
4 They that would grow divinely wiſe,
Muſt with his fear begin ;
Our faireſt proof of knowledge lies
In hating ev'ry ſin. -
PSALM CXII. As the 113th Pſalm."
The bleſsings of the liberal man.
1 THAT man is bleſt who ſtands in awe
Of God, and loves his ſacred law :
His ſeed on earth ſhall be renown'd :
His houſe, the ſeat of wealth, ſhall be
An inexhauſted treaſury,
And with ſucceſſive honours crown'd. {
2 His lib’ral favours he extends,
To ſome he gives, to others lends;
}
!
|
|
A gen’rous pity fills his mind:
Yet what his charity impairs,
He ſaves by prudence in affairs,
And thus he's juſt to all mankind.
3 His hands, while they his alms beſtow'd,
His glory's future harveſt ſow'd;
The ſweet remembrance of the juſt,
Like a green root, revives and bears
A train of bleſfings for his heirs,
When dying nature ſleeps in duſt.
4 Beſet with threatning dangers round,
Unmov’d ſhall he maintain his ground;
His conſcience holds his courage up ;
The ſoul that's fill'd with virtue's light,
Shines brighteſt in afflićtion's night:
And ſees in darkneſs beams of hope,
r PAUSE.
5 [Ill tidings never can ſurpriſe
is heart that fix’d on God relies,
Tho' waves and tempeſts roar around;
Safe on the rock he fits, and ſees
The ſhipwreck of his enemies,
And all their hope and glory drown'd.
6 The wicked ſhall his triumph ſee,
Abdºgnaſh their teeth in agony,
To find their expectations croft:
They and their envy, pride and ſpite,
Sink down to everlaſting night, -
And all their names in darkneſs loſt.j
PSALM CXII. [L. M.]
The bleſsings of the Aious and charitable.
THRICE happy man who fears the
Lord, .”
!
Loves his commands, and frtiſts his word
Honour and peace his days attend,
And bleſſings to his ſeed deſcend,
Compaſſion dwells upon his mind,
To works of mercy ſtill inclin’d #
He lends the poor ſome preſent aid,
Or gives them not to be repaid.
3 When times grow dark, and tidings ſpread
That fill his neighbours round with dread,
His heart is arm’d againſt the fear,
For God with all his pow'r is there.
His ſoul well fix’d upon the Lord,
Draws heav'nly courage from his word;
Amidſt the darkneſs, light ſhall riſe,
To chear his heart, and bleſs his eyes.
He hath diſpers'd his alms abroad,
His works are ſtill before his God;
His name on earth ſhall long remain,
While envious ſinners fret in vain.
PSALM CXII. [C. M.]
Liberality rewarded.
HAPPY is he that fears the Lord,
And follows his commands,
Who lends the poor without reward,
Or gives with lib'ral hands.
2. As pity dwells within his breaſt
To all the ſons of need;
§
5
PSALMS.–CIII. CIV, CV.
97
So God ſhall anſwer his requeſt
With bleſſings on his ſeed.
3 No evil tidings ſhall ſurpriſe
His well-eſtabliſh'd mind ;
His ſoul to God his refuge flies,
And leaves his fears behind,
4 in times of general diſtreſs,
Some beams of light ſhall ſhine,
To ſhew the world his righteouſneſs,
And give Ilim peace divine.
5 His works of piety and love
Remain before the Lord ;
Honour on earth, and joys above,
Shall be his ſure reward.
PSALM CXIII. Proper Tune.
The majeſty and condeſcenſion of God.
! YE that delight to ſerve the Lord,
The honours of his name record,
His ſacred name for ever bleſs :
Whcre'er the circling ſun diſplays
His riſing beams or ſetting rays,
Let lands and ſeas his pow'r confeſs.
2 Not time, nor nature's narrow rounds,
Can give his vaſt dominion bounds;
The heav'n are far below his height;
Let no created greatncſs dare
With our eternal God compare,
Arm'd with his uncreated might,
3 He bows Ilis glorious head, to view
What the bright hoſts of angels do,
And bends his care to mortal things :
His ſov’reign hand czalts the poor,
He takes the needy from the door,
And makes them company for kings.
4. When childleſs families deſpair,
He ſends the bleſſing of an heir,
To reſcue their expiring name :
The mother with a thankful voice,
Proclaims his praiſes and her joys :
Let ev’ry age advance his fame.
PSALM CXIII. [L. M.]
God ſovereign and gracious.
1 YE ſervants of th’ Almighty King,
In ev’ry age his praiſes ſing ;
Where'er the ſun ſhall riſe or ſet,
The nations ſhall his praiſe repeat.
2 Above the earth, beyond the ſky,
Stands his high throne of majeſty:
Nor time nor place his pow'r reſtrain,
Nor bound his univerſal reign.
3 Which of the ſons of Adam dare,
Orangels, with their God compare
. His glories how divinely bright,
Who dwells in uncreated light. .
4 Behold his love, he ſtoops to view
What ſaints above and angels do ;
And condeſcends yet more to know
The mean affairs of men below.
VOL. VII, -
:
5 From duſt and cottages obſcure,
His grage exalts the humble poor;
Gives them the honour of his ſons:
And fits them for their heav'nly throncs.
6
[A word of his creating voice
Can make the barren houſe rejoice ;
Tho' Sarah’s ninety years were paſt,
The promis'd ſeed is born at laſt.
T
With joy the mother views her ſon,
And tells the wonders God has done :
Faith may grow ſtrong when ſenſe deſpairs,
If nature fails, the promiſe bears..]
PSALM CXIV.
Miracles attending Iſrael's journey.
WHEN Iſrael, freed from Pharaoh’s
hand,
Left the proud tyrant and his land;
Their tribes with cheerful homage own
Their King, and Judah was his throne.
1
2 Acroſs the deep their journey lay;
The deep divides to make them way:
Jordan beheld their march and fled,
With backward current to his head.
3 The mountain ſhook like frighted ſheep,
Like lambs the little hillocks leap ;
Not Sinai on her baſe could ſtand,
Conſcious of ſov’reign pow'r at hand.
4.
What pow'r could make the deep divide?
Make Jordan backward roll his tide
Why did ye leap, ye little hills 2
And whence the fright that Sinai feels
Let ev'ry mountain, ev’ry flood,
Retire and know th” approaching God,
The King of Iſr'el : ſee him here !
Tremble thou earth, adore and ſeat.
5
6
He thunders, and all nature mourns, |
The rock to ſtanding pools he turns:
Flints ſpring with ſountains at his word,
And fires and ſeas confeſs the Lord.
PSALM CXV. 1ſt Metre.
The true God our refuge; or, idolatry rehroved.
! NQT to ourſelves, who are but duſt,
Not to ourſelves is glory due ;
Eternal God, thou only juſt,
Thou only gracious, wiſe and true.
2 Shine forth in all thy dreadſul name ;
Why ſhould a heathen’s haughty tongue
Inſult us, and to raiſe our ſhame
Say, “Where's the God you've ſery'd ſo
long **
3 The God we ſerve maintains his throne
Above the clouds, beyond the ſkies;
Thro' all the earth his will is done,
He knows our groans he hears our cries.
4. But the vain idols they adore,
Are ſenſeleſs ſhapes of ſtone and wood
At beſt a maſs of glitt’ring ore,
A ſilver ſaint or golden god.
N -
SS
PSALMS.–CV. CVI. s
5 [With cyes and ears they carve their
head;
Deaf are their ears, their eyes are blind;
In vain are coſtly off'rings made,
And vows are ſcatter’d in the wind.
6 Their feet were never made to move,
Nor hands to ſave when mortals pray ;
Mortals that pay them fear or love,
Seem to be blind and deaf as they..]
7 O Iſr’el, make the Lord thy hope,
Thy help, thy refuge, and thy reſt 5
The Lord ſhall build thy ruins up,
And bleſs the people and the prieſt.
8 The dead no more can ſpeak thy praiſe ;
They dwell in ſilence and the grave ;
But we ſhall live to ſing thy grace,
And tell the world thy pow'r to ſave.
PSALM CXV. 2d Metre.
As the New Tune of the 50th Pſalm.
Poſii/% idolatry reſtroved.
A Pſalm for the 5th of November.
1 NOT to our names, thou only Juſt and 1
True,
Not to our worthleſs names is glory due :
Thy pow'r and grace, thy truth and juſtice
claim
Immortal honours to thy ſov’reign name:
Shine thro’ the earth ſtom heav'n thy bleſt
abode,
Nor let the hcathen ſay, “And where’s
your God?”
2
Heav'n is thine higher court, there ſtands
thy throne,
And thro’ the lower worlds thy will is dene,
Our God ſram’d all this earth, theſe heav’ns
he ſpread,
But fools adore the gods their hands have
made ;
The kneeling crowd, with looks devout
behold
Their ſilver ſaviours, and their ſaints of
gold.
[Vain are thoſe artful ſhapes of eyes and
ears;
The molten image neither ſees nor hears:
Their hands are helpleſs, nor their feet
can move,
They have no ſpeech, nor thought, nor
pow'r, nor love ;
Yet ſottiſh mortals make their long com- |t WHAT ſhall I render to my God
plaints
To their deaf idols, and
their moveleſs
ſaints. *
The rich have ſtatues well adorn’d with
gold ;
The poor content with gods of coarſer|
mould ;
With tools of iron carve the ſenſeleſs ſtock,
Lopt from a tree, or broken from a rock :
People and prieſt drive on the ſolemn trade,
And truſt the gods that ſaws and hammers:
made.]
5 Be heav'n and earth amaz'd :
to ſay
Which is more ſtupid, or their gods, or they.
O Iſr’el, truſt the Lord! He hears and ſees,
He knows thy ſorrows and reſtores thy
peace :
His worſhip does a thouſand comforts yield,
He is thy help, and he thy heav'nly ſhield.
'Tis hard
6
O Britain, truſt the Lord; Thy foes in vain
Attempt thy ruin and oppoſe his reign;
Had they prevail'd, darkneſs had clos'd
our days,
And death and ſilence had forbid h
praiſe :
But we are fav’d and live : Let ſongs ariſe,
And Britons bleſs the God that built the
ſkies. |
PSALM CXVI. Part I.
Recovery from fickneſs.
1
Love the Lord : he heard my cries,
And pity’d ev'ry groan :
Long as I live, when troubles riſe,
I’ll hatten to his throne.
I love the Lord : he bow’d his ear,
And clas'd my griefs away;
O let my heart no more deſpair,
While I have breath to pray !
My fleſh declin'd, my ſpirits fell,
And I drew near the dead;
While inward pangs, and fears of hell,
Perplex'd my wakeful head.
“My God (I cry’d) thy ſervant ſave,
“Thou ever good and juſt;
“Thy pow'r can reſcue from the grave,
“Thy pow'r is all my truſt.”
The Lord beheld me ſore diſtreſt,
He bid my pains remove :
Return, my ſoul, to God thy reſt,
For thou haſt known his love.
6 My God has ſav'd my ſoul from death,
And dry'd my falling tears :
Now to his praiſe I’ll ſpend my breath,
And my remaining years.
3
4.
5
PSALM CXVI. 12, &c. Part II.
Pows made in trouble ſaid in the church; or,
public thanks for Arivate deliverance.
For all his kindneſs ſhewn
My feet ſhall viſit thine abode,
My ſongs addreſs thy throne.
2 Among the ſaints that fill thine houſe
My off'ring ſhall be paid;
There ſhall my zeal perform the vows
My ſoul in anguiſh made.
3 How much is mercy thy delight,
Thou ever bleſſed God t . .
How dear thy ſervants in thy fight !
How precious is their blood :
PSALMS.–CXVII. CXVIII.
99
4 How happy all thy ſervants are
How great thy grace to me !
My life which thou haſt made thy care,
Lord, I devote to thee.
5 Now I am thine, for ever thine,
Nor ſhall my purpoſe move ;
Thy hand hath loos'd my bonds of pain,
And bound me with thy love.
-6 Here in thy courts I leave my vow,
And thy rich grace record;
Witneſs, ye ſaints, who hear me now,
If I forſake the Lord.
PSALM CXVII. [C. M.]
Praiſe to God from all nations.
1 O All ye nations praiſe the Lord,
Each with a diff'rent tongue;
In ev'ry language learn his word,
And let his name be ſung.
2 His mercy reigns thro’ ev’ry land ;
Proclaim his grace abroad :
For ever firm his truth ſhall ſtand;
Praiſe ye the faithful God.
PSALM CXVII. [L. M.]
I FROM all that dwell below the ſkies,
Let the Creator’s praiſe ariſe :
Let the Redeemer’s name be ſung
Thro’ ev’ry land, by ev’ry tongue.
2 Eternal are thy mercies, Lord;
Eternal truth attends thy word ;
Thy praiſe ſhall ſound from ſhore to ſhore,
Till ſuns ſhall riſe and ſet no more.
PSALM CXVII. L.S. M.]
1 THY name, almighty Lord,
Shall ſound thro’ diſtant lands:
Great is thy grace, and ſure thy word,
Thy truth for ever ſtands.
2 Far be thine honour ſpread,
And long thy praiſe endure,
Till morning light and ev’ning ſhade,
Shall be exchang’d no more.
PSALM CXVIII. Part I. ver, 6–15.
Deliverance from a tumult.
l THE Lord appears my helper now,
Nor is my faith afraid
What all the ſons of earth can do,
Since heav’n affords its aid.
2 ”Tis ſafer, Lord, to hope in thee,
And have my God my friend, .
Than trutt in men of high degree,
And on their truth depend.
5 Like bees my foes beſet me round,
A large and angry ſwarml
But I ſhall all their rage confound
By thine almighty arm.
4 "Tis thro’ the Lord my heart is ſtrong,
In him my lips rejoice;
While his ſalvation is my ſong,
How cheerful is my voice
5 Like angry bees they girt me round,
When God appears they fly;
So burning thorns, with crackling ſound,
Make a fierce blaze, and die.
6 Joy to the ſaints and peace belongs;
The Lord protećts their days;
Let Iſr’el tune immortal ſongs
To his almighty grace.
PSALM CXVIII. Part II. ver, 17–21.
Public Araiſe for deliverance from death.
I LORD, thou haſt heard thy ſervant cry,
And reſcu'd from the grave;
Now ſhall he live : (and none can die,
If God reſolve to ſave)
2 Thy praiſe, more conſtant than before,
Shall fill his daily breath;
Thy hand, that hath chaſtis'd him ſore,
Defends him ſtill from death.
3 Open the gates of Zion now,
For we ſhall worſhip there,
The houſe where all the righteous go
Thy mercy to declare.
4 Among th’ aſſemblies of thy ſaints
Our thankful voice we raiſe;
There we have told thee our complaints,
And there we ſpeak thy praiſe.
PS ALM CXVIII. Part III. ver, 22, 23.
Chriſt the foundation of his church.
1 REHOLD the ſure foundation-ſtone
Which God in Zion lays,
To build our heav'nly hopes upon,
And his eternal praiſe.
2 Choſen of God, to ſinners dear,
And ſaints adore the name;
They truſt their whole ſalvation here,
Nor ſhall they ſuffer ſhame.
3 The fooliſh builders, ſcribe and prieſt,
Reječt it with diſdain;
Yet on this Rock the church ſhall reſt,
And envy rage in vain.
4 What tho’ the gates of hell withſtood,
Yet muſt this building riſe:
'Tis thy own work, almighty God,
And wondrous in our eyes.
PSALM CXVIII. Part IV. ver, 24–26.
Hoſanna ; the Lord’s-day; or, Chriſt's reſur-
rečion, and our ſalvation.
| THIS is the day the Lord hath made,
He calls the hours his own;
Let heav'n rejoice, let earth be glad,
And praiſe ſurround the throne.
2 To-day he roſe and left the dead,
And Satan's empire fell;
N 2
:
100
PSAI.M.S.–CXVIII, CXIX.
To-day the ſaints his triumphs ſpread,
And all his wonders tell.
3 Hoſanna, to the anointed King,
To David’s holy Son |
Help us, O Lord ; deſcend and bring
Salvation from the throne,
4 Bleſt be the Lord, who comes to men
With meflages of grace;
Who connes in God his Father’s name,
To ſave our ſinful race.
5 Hoſanna in the higheſt ſtrains
The church on earth can raiſe;
The higheſt heav'ns in which he reigns,
Shall give him nobler praiſe.
PSALM CXVIII. ver. 22–27. [S, M.]
An hoſanna for the Lord’s-day : or, a new ſong
of ſalvation by Chriſt.
I SEE what a living Stone,
The builders did reſuſe ;
Yet God has built his church thereon,
In ſpite of envious Jews.
2 The ſcribe and angry prieſt
Rejećt thine only Son;
Yet on this Rock ſhall Zion reſt,
As the chief corner ſtone.
3 The work, O Lord, is thine,
And wondrous in our eyes;
This day declares it all divine,
This day did Jeſus riſe.
This is the glorious day
That our Redeemer made ;
Let us rejoice, and ſing and pray 5
Let all the church be glad.
Hoſanna to the King
Of David’s royal blood;
Bleſs him, ye ſaints: He comes to bring
Salvation from your God.
4
5
6 We bleſs thine holy word,
Which all this grace diſplays;
And offer on thine altar, Lord,
Our ſacrifice of praiſe.
PSALM CXVIII. 22–27. [L. M.]
An hoſanna for the Lord’s-day : or, a new ſong
of ſalvation by Chriſt.
I LO! what a glorious corner-ſtone
The Jewiſh builders did refuſe ;
But God hath built his church thereon,
In ſpite, of envy and the Jews.
2 Great God, the work is all divine,
The joy and wonder of our eyes;
This is the day that proves it thine,
The day that ſaw our Saviour riſe.
3 Sinners rejoice, and ſaints bc glad ;
Hoſanna; let his name be bleſt;
A thouſand honours on his head,
With peace, and light, and glory reſt
4 In God’s own name he comes to bring
Salvation to our dying race;
, Let the whole church addreſs their King,
With hearts of joy, and ſongs of praiſe.
:
PSALM cxix.
I have collected and diſhaſed the moſt uſeful verſes
of this Aſalm under eighteen different heads, and
formed a divine ſong uſion each of them. But
the verſes are much tranſhoſed to attain ſome de-
gree of conncétion.
In ſomehlaces, among the words law, commands,
judgments, teſtimonies, I have uſed goſpel,
word, grace, truth, promiſes, &c. as more
agreeable to the New Teſtament, and the cam-
mon language of Chriſtians ; and it equallyŽ.
ſºvers the deſign of the Pſalmiſt, which was to
ecommend the boly Scripture.
PSALM CXIX. Part I.
The blºſſedneſs of ſaints, and miſery of ſinners.
* Ver. 1, 2, 3.
1 PLEST are the undefil’d in heart,
Whoſe ways are right and clean;
‘Who never from thy law depart,
But fly from ev’ry ſin.
2 Bleſt are the men that keep thy word,
And pračtiſe thy commands:
With their whole heart they ſeek the Lord,
And ſerve thee with their hands.
Ver 165.
3 Great is their peace who love thy law;
How firm their ſouls abide
Nor can a bold temptation draw
Their ſteady feet aſide.
Ver, 6.
4 Then ſhall my heart have inward joy,
And keep my face from ſhame,
When all thy ſtatutes I obey,
And honour all thy name.
- Ver. 21, 118.
5 But haughty ſinners God will hate ;
The ploud ſhall die accurſt :
The ſons of falſehood and deceit
Are trodden to the duſt.
Vet. 119, 155.
6 Vile as the droſs the wicked are ;
And thoſe that leave thy ways
Shall ſee ſalvation from afar,
But never taſte thy grace.
PSALM CXIX. Part II:
Secret devotion and ſpiritual mindedneſs : or,
conſiant converſe with God.
Ver, 147, 55.
| To thee, before the dawning light,
My gracious God, I pray 5
I meditate thy name by night,
And keep thy law by day.
Ver, 8 . . *
2 My ſpirit faints to ſee thy grace;
Thy promiſe bears me up;
And while ſalvation long delays,
Thy word ſupports my hope.
Ver. 164.
3 Seven times a day I lift my hands,
And pay my thanks to thee :
PSALMS.–CXXI.
101
Thy righteous providence demands
Repeated praiſe from me,’ *
Ver. 62.' .
4. When midnight-darkneſs veils the ſkies,
I call thy works to mind:
My thoughts in warm devotion riſe,
And ſweet acceptance find. . . .
PSALM cxx. Part III.
Profeſſions of ſincerity, reſentance, and obedience.
Ver. 57, 60.
l THOU art my portion, O my God ;
Soon as I know thy way,
My heart makes hatte tº obey thy word,
And ſuffers no delay.
Ver. 30, 14.
2 I chuſe the path of heav'nly truth,
And glory in my choice:
Not all the riches of the earth
Could make me ſo rejoice.
Ver. 30, 14.
3 The teſtimonies of thy grace,
I ſet before my eyes; t
Thence I derive my daily flrength,
And thcre, my comfort lies. :
i. ..Ver, 59.
4 If once I wander from thy path,
I think upon my ways; -
Then turn my ſeet to thy commands,
And truſt thy pard’ ning grace.
* Ver, 9.4, 1 14.
5 Now I am thine, for ever thine,
O ſave thy ſervant, Lord;
Thou art my ſhield, my hiding place;
My hope is in thy word.
Ver, l l 2.
6 Thou haſt inclin"d this heart of mine
Thy ſtatutes to fulfil; º
And thus till mortal life ſhall end
Would I perform thy will.
PSALM CXIX. Part IV.
Inſtrućtion from ſcripture.
ge Ver. 9.
1 HOW ſhall the young ſecure their hearts,
And guard their lives from ſin
Thy word the choiceſt rules imparts
To keep the conſcience clean,
Ver, 30.
2. When once it enters to the mind,
It ſpreads ſuch light abroad,
The meaneſt ſouls inſtruction find,
And raiſe their thoughts to God.
Ver. 105.
3 'Tis like the ſun, a heav'nly light,
That guides us all the day;
And thro’ the dangers of the night,
A lamp to lead our way.
Ver. 99, 100.
4 The men that keep thy law with care,
And meditate thy word,
Grow wiſer than their teachers are,
And better know the Lord.
Ver. 104, 113;
5 Thy precepts, make me truly wiſe;
I hate the ſinner’s road :
I hate my own vain thoughts that riſe,
But love thy law, my God.
Ver. 89, 90, 91.
6 [The ſtarry heav'ns thy rule obey,
The earth maintains her place;
And theſe thy ſervants night and day
Thy ſkill and pow'r expreſs.
7 But ſtill thy law and goſpel, Lord,
Have leſſons more divine :
Not earth ſtands firmer than thy word,
Nor ſtars ſo nobly ſhine.]
Ver. 160, 140, 9, 116.
8 Thy word is everlaſting truth,
How pure is ev’ry page 2
That holy book ſhall guide our youth,
And well ſupport our age.
PSALM cxx. Partv.
Delight in ſeriftture; or, The word of God
dwelling in us.
Ver, 97.
1 HOW I love thy holy law 1
'Tis daily my delight;
And thence my meditations draw
Divine advice by night.
Ver. 48.
2 My waking eyes prevent the day
To meditate thy word;
My ſoul with longing melts away
To hearthy goſpel, Lord.
-- Ver. 3, 13, 54.
3 How doth thy word my heart engage!
How well employ my tongue !
And in my tireſome pilgrimage
Yields me a heav'nly ſong.
Ver. 19, 103.
4 Am I a ſtranger, or at home,
'Tis my perpetual feaſt;
Not honey dropping from the comb
So much allures the taſte.
Ver. 72, 127.
5 No treaſures ſo inrich the mind;
Nor ſhall thy word be ſold
For loads of ſilver well-refin'd,
Nor heaps of choiceſt gold.
* Ver. 28, 49, 175.
6 When nature ſinks and ſpirits droop,
Thy promiſes of grace
Are pillars to ſupport my hope, ,
And there write thy praiſe.”
PSALM CXIX, Part VI.
Holineſs and comfort from the word.
Ver. 128.
| LORD, I eſteem thy judgments right
And all thy ſtatutes juſt ;
Thence ſ maintain a conſtant fight
With ev’ry flatt’ring lutt.
}{}2.
PSALMS.--CXIX. -
er. 97, 9.
2 Thy precepts often I ſurvey;
I keep thy law in fight,
Thro' all the buſineſs of the day,
To form my ačtions right.
Ver. 62.
3 My heart in midnight ſilence cries,
How ſweet thy comforts be
My thoughts in holy wonder riſe,
And bring their thanks to thee.
- Ver. 162.
4 And when my ſpirit drinks her fill |
. At ſome good word of thine,
Not mighty men that ſhare the ſpoil
Have joys compar'd to mine.
PSALM CXIX. Part VII.
Imperfeółion of nature, and herſet:tion of
ſcripture.
Ver. 96. Paraphrafed.
l LET all the heathen writers join
To form one perfeót book,
Great God, if once compar'd with thine,
How mean their writings look
2 Not the moſt perfeót rules they gave
Could ſhew one ſin forgiv'n,
Nor lead a ſtep beyond the grave ; §
But thine conduct to heav'n.
3 I’ve ſeen an end of what we call
Perfeótion here below;
How ſhort the pow'rs of nature fall, |
And can no farther go :
4. Yet men would fain be juſt with God
By works their hands have wrought;
But thy commands, exceeding broad,
Extend to ev’ry thought. ;
5 In vain we boaſt perfeótion here,
While ſin defiles our frame,
And ſinks our virtues down ſo far,
They ſcarce deſerve the name.
6 Our faith and love, and ev'ry grace
Fall far below thy word;
But perfeót truth and righteouſneſs
Dwell only with the Lord.
PSALMCXIX. Part VIII.
The word of God is the ſaints portion; or, The
excellency and variety of ſcripture.
Ver. 111. Paraphraſed.
I LORD, I have made thy word my choice,
My laſting heritage :
There ſhall my nobleſt pow’rs rejoice,
My warmeſt thoughts engage.
2 I'll read the hiſtories of thy love,
And keep thy laws in ſight,
While thro’ the promiſes I rove
With ever-freſh delight.
3 'Tis a broad land of wealth unknown,
Where ſprings of life ariſe,
Seeds of immortal bliſs are ſown,
And hidden glory lies.
|| 4 The beſt relief that mourners have,
It makes our ſorrows bleſt;
Our faireſt hope beyond the grave,
And our eternal reſt.
PSALM CXIX, Part IX.
| Deſire of knowledge ; or, The teachings of the
Shirit with the word.
Ver. 64, 68, 18.
1 THY mercies fill the earth, O Lord,
How good thy works appear !
Open mine eyes to read thy word,
And ſee-thy wonders there.
Ver. 73, 125.
2 My heart was faſhion’d by thy hand,
My ſervice is thy due :
O make thy ſervant underſtand
The duties he muſt do.
Ver, 19.
|| 3 Since I’m a ſtranger here below,
Let hot thy path be hid ;
But mark the road my feet ſhould go,
And be my conſtant guide.
Ver. 26. -
4. When I confeſs'd my wandring ways,
Thou heardſt my ſoul complain;
Grant me the teachings of thy grace,
Or I ſhall ſtray again.
Ver. 33, 34.
5 If God to me his ſtatutes ſhew,
And heav'nly truth impart,
His work for ever I’ll purſue,
His law ſhall rule my heart.
Ver. 50, 71.
| 6 This was my comfort when I bore
Variety of grief;
It made me learn thy word the more,
And fly to that relief.
Ver, 51.
7 [In vain the proud deride me now ;
I’ll ne'er forget thy law,
Nor let that bleſſed goſpel go,
Whence all my hopes I draw.
Ver. 27, 171. *
8 When I have learnt my Father's will,
I’ll teach the world his ways ;
My thankful lips inſpir’d with zeal
Shall loud pronounce his praiſe.]
PSALM CXIX. Part X.
Pleading the ſtromiſes.
º
| Ver. 38, 49.
1 BEHOLD thy waiting ſervant, Lord,
Devoted to thy fear;
Remember and confirm thy word,
For all my hopes are there.
Ver. 41, 58, 107.
2 Haſt thou not writ ſalvation down,
Doth not my heart addreſs thy throne *
And yet thy love delays.
i
i
|
!
|
| And promis’d quickning grace 2

PSALMS.–CXIX.
I (33
Ver."123,42.
3 Mine eyes for thy ſalvation fail;
O bear thy ſervant up ;
Nor let the ſcoffing lips prevail,
Who dare reproach my hope.
Ver, 49, 74. - *
4 Didſt thou not raiſe my faith, O Lord?
Then let thy truth appear :
Saints ſhall rejoice in my reward,
And truſt as well as fear.
PSALM CXIX. Part XI.
Breathing after bolineſs.
Ver. 5, 33.
# O That the Lord would guide my ways
To keep his ſtatutes ſtill !
O that my God would grant me grace
To know and do his will !
Ver. 29.
2 O ſend thy Spirit down to write
Thy law upon my heart
Nor let my tongue indulge deceit,
Nor ačl the liar’s part.
Ver. 37, 36.
3 From vanity turn off my eyes :
Let no corrupt deſign,
Nor covetous deſires ariſe
Within this ſoul of mine,
Ver, 133.
4 Order my footſteps by thy word,
And make my heart ſincere;
Let ſin have no dominion, Lord,
But keep my conſcience clear.
Ver 176.
5 My ſoul hath gone too far aſtray,
My feet too often ſlip;
Yet ſince I’ve not forgot thy way,
Reſtore thy wandring ſheep.
Ver, 35.
6 Make me to walk in thy commands,
'Tis a delightful road;
Nor let my head or heart or hands
Offend againſt my God.
PSALM CXIX. Part XII.
Breathing after comfort and deliverance.
Ver. 153.
} MY God, conſider my diſtreſs,
Let mercy plead my cauſe ;
Tho' I have ſinn’d againſt thy grace,
I can’t forget thy laws.
Ver. 39, 116.
2 Forbid, forbid the ſharp reproach
Which I ſo juſtly fear;
Uphold my life, uphold my hopes,
Nor let my ſhame appear.
Ver. 122, 135.
3 Be thou a ſurety, Lord, for me,
Nor let the proud oppreſs;
But make thy waiting ſervant ſee
The ſhinings of thy face.
6
Ver. 82.
| 4 My eyes with expectation fail,
My heart within me cries,
“When will the Lord his truth fulfil,
“And make my comforts riſe 2
Ver, 132.
5 Look down upon my forrows, Lord,
And ſhew thy grace the ſame,
As thou art ever wont t” afford
To thoſe that love thy name.
PSALM CXIX. Part XIII.
Iſoly fear and tenderneſs of conſcience.
Ver. 10.
l WITH my whole heart I’ve ſought thy
face, .*
O let me never ſtray
From thy commands, O God of grace,
Nor tread the finner’s way
Ver, l i.
|2 Thy word I’ve bid within my heart
To keep my conſcience clean,
|
And be an everlaſting guard
From ev’ry riſing ſin.
|
# Ver. 63, 53, 158.
3 I’m a companion of the ſaints
| Who fear and love the Lord;
My ſorrows riſe, my nature faints,
When men tranſgreſs thy word.
| * Ver. 161, 163.
#4 While ſinners do thy goſpel wrong,
- My ſpirit ſtands in a we ;
My ſoul abhors a lying tongue,
But loves thy righteous law.
Ver. 161, 120.
My heart with ſacred rev'rence hears
The threat’nings of thy word :
My fleſh with holy trembling fears
The judgments of the Lord.
Ver. 166, 174.
My God, I long, I hope, I wait
For thy ſalvation ſtill ;
While thy whole law is my delight,
And I obey thy will.
5
PSALM CXHX. Part XIV.
| Benefit of affióions, and ſuſhort under them,
{ Ver, 153, 81, 82.
| 1 CoNSIDER all my ſorrows, Lord,
And thy deliv’rance ſend :
My ſoul for thy ſalvation faints ;
When will my troubles end ?
Ver. T 1.
*
| 2 Yet I have found 'tis good for me
To bear my Father's rod ;
Afflićtions make me learn thy law,
And live upon my God.
, Ver. 50.
3 This is the comfort I enjoy
When new diſtreſs begins,
I read thy word, I run thy way,
And hate my former ſins.
104
PSALMS.–CXIX.
Ver, 92,
4 Had not thy word been my delight
When earthly joys were fled,
My ſoul oppreſt with ſorrow’s weight
Had ſunk amongſt the dead.
Ver. 75.
5 I know thy judgments, Lord, are right,
Tho' they may ſeem ſevere ;
The ſharpeſt ſuff'rings I endure
Flow from thy faithful care.
Ver. 67.
6 Before I knew thy chaft'ning rod
My feet were apt to ſtray ;
But now I learn to keep thy word,
Nor wander from thy way.
PSALM CXIX. Part XV.
Holy reſolutions.
Vet. 93.
1 O That thy ſtatutes ev’ry hour
Might dwell upon my mind
Thence I derive a quick’ning pow'r,
And daily peace I find.
* Ver. 15, 16.
2 To meditate thy precepts, Lord,
Shall be my ſweet employ ;
My ſoul ſhall ne'er forget thy word,
Thy word is all my joy:
Ver. 32.
3 How would I run in thy commands,
If thou my heart diſcharge
From ſin and ſatan’s hateful chains,
And ſet my feet at large
Ver. 13, 46.
4 My lips with courage ſhall declare
Thy ſtatutes and thy name;
I’ll ſpeak thy word tho’ kings ſhould hear,
Nor yield to ſinful ſhame.
Ver. 61, 69, 70.
5 Let bands of perſecutors riſe
To rob me of my right,
Let pride and malice forge their lies,
Thy law is my delight.
Ver. l 15.
6 Depart from me, ye wicked race,
Whoſe hands and hearts are ill :
I love my God, I love his ways,
And muſt obey his will.
PSALM CXIX. Part XVI.
Prayer for quickening grace.
Ver. 35, 37.
] MY ſoul lies cleaving to the duſt :
Lord give me life divine ;
From vain deſires and ev’ry luſt
Turn off theſe eyes of mine.
2 I need the influence of thy grace
To ſpeed me in thy way,
Left I ſhould loiter in my race,
Or turn my feet aſtray.
Ver, 107.
3 When fore afflićtions preſs me down,
I necd thy quick'ning pow'rs;
Thy word that I have reſted on
Shall help my heavieſt hours.
Ver. 156, 40.
4 Are not thy mercies ſov’reign ſtill
And thou a faithful God
Wilt thou not grant me warmer zeal
To run the heav'nly road
Ver, 159, 40.
5 Does not my heart thy precepts loves
And long to ſee thy face
And yet how ſlow my ſpirits move
Without enliv'ning grace
Ver, 93.
6 Then ſhall I love thy goſpel more,
And ne'er ſorget thy word,
When I have felt its quick’nitig pow'r
To draw me near the Lord,
PSAI.M CXIX. Part XVII.
Courage and perſºverance under ſterſecution ; or,
Grace/ining in difficulties and trials.
Ver. 143, 28.
I WHEN pain and anguiſh ſeize me, Lord,
All my ſupport is from thy word :
My ſoul diſſolves for heavineſs,
Uphold me with thy ſtrengthening grace 1
Ver. 51, 69, l 10.
2 The proud have fram'd their ſcoffs and
lies,
They watch my feet with envious eyes,
And tempt my ſoul to ſaares and ſin,
Yet thy commands I ne'er decline.
Ver. 161, 78.
They hate me, Lord, without a cauſe,
They hate to ſee me love thy laws :
But I will truſt and fear thy name,
Till pride, and malice die with ſhame.
3
PSALM CXIX. Part XVIII.
Sanétify'd affiğions; or, Delight in the
Word of God.
Ver. 67, 59.
FATHER, I bleſs thy gentle hand ;
How kind was thy chaſtiſing rod,
That forc’d my conſcience to a ſtand,
And brought my wand'ring ſoul to God!
1
2 Fooliſh and vain I went aſtray
Ere I had felt my ſcourges, Lord,
I left my guide, and loſt my way;
But now. I love and keep thy word.
Ver, 71.
ls 'Tis good for me to wear the yoke,
For pride is apt to riſe and ſwell ;
'Tis good to bear my Father’s ſtroke,
That I might learn his ſtatutes well.
Ver, 72.
The law that iſſues from thy mouth
Shall raiſe my chearful paſſions more
Than all the treaſures of the ſouth,
Or weſtern hills of golden ore,
4
PSALMS.–CXX. CXXI.
105
|
Ver, 73.
5 Thy hands have made my mortal frame,
Thy Spirit form'd my ſoul within;
Teach me to know thy wondrous name,
And guard me ſafe from death and ſin.
Ver, 74.
6 Then all that love and fear the Lord,
At my ſalvation ſhall rejoice;
For I have hoped in thy word,
And made thy grace my only choice.
PSALM CXX.
Comhlaint of quarrelſome neighbours; or, a devout
f wi/% of peace.
1 THOU God of love, thou ever bleſt,
Pity my ſuff'ring ſtate :
When wilt thou ſet my ſoul at reſt,
From lips that love deceit?
2 Hard lot of mine ! my days are caſt
Among the ſons of ſtrife,
Whoſe never-ceaſing brawlings waſte
My golden hours of life.
3 O might I fly to change my place,
How would I chuſe to dwell
In ſome wild loneſome wilderneſs,
And leave theſe gates of hell I
4 Peace is the bleſfing that I ſeek;
How lovely are its charms
i am for peace ; but when I ſpeak,
They all declare for arms.
5 New paſſions ſtill their ſouls engage,
And keep their malice ſtrong;
What ſhall be done to curb thy rage,
O thou devouring tongue l
6 Should burning arrows ſmite thee thro’,
Strićt juſtice would approve :
But I had rather ſpare my foe,
And melt his heart with love.
PSALM CXXI. [L. M.]
Divine Arotećtion.
1 ty P to the hills I liſt mine eyes,
Th’ eternal hills beyond the ſkies;
Thence all her help my ſoul derives;
There my Almighty Refuge lives.
2 He lives, the everlaſting God, .
That built the world, that ſpread the flood;
The heav’ns with all their hoſts he made,
And the dark regions of the dead.
3 He guides our feet, he guards our way;
His morning ſmiles bleſs all the day :
He ſpreads the ev’ning veil and keeps
The ſilent hours while Iſr'el ſleeps.
4 Iſr’el a name divinely bleſt,
May riſe ſecure, ſecurely reſt;
Thy holy Guardian's wakeful eyes
Admit no ſlumber nor ſurpriſe.
5 No ſun ſhall ſmite thy head by day
Nor the pale moon with ſickly ray
V OL. VII.
l
4.
l
2
Shall blaſt thy couch ; no baleful ſtar
Dart his malignant fire ſo far.
Should earth and hell with malice burn,
Still thou ſhalt go, and ſtill return,
Safe in the Lord his heav'nly care
Defends thy life from ev’ry ſnare.
On thee ſoul ſpirits have no pow'r ;
And in thy laſt departing hour,
Angels, that trace the airy road,
Shall bear thee homeward to thy God.
PSALM CXXI. [C. M.]
Preſervation by day and night.
O heav'n I lift my waiting eyes,
There all my hopes are laid;
The Lord, who built the earth and ſkies,
Is my perpetual aid.
Their feet ſhall never ſlide or fall,
Whom he deſigns to keep ;
His ear attends the ſofteſt call;
His eyes.can never ſleep.
He will ſuſtain our weakeſt pow'rs
With his almighty arm,
And watch our moſt unguarded hours
Againſt ſurpriſing harm.
Iſr'el rejoice, and reſt ſecure,
Thy keeper is the Lord;
His wakeful eyes employ his pow'r
For thine eternal guard.
Nor ſcorehing ſun, nor ſickly moon,
Shall have his leave to ſmite ;
He ſhields thy head from burning noon,
From blaſting damps at night,
He guards thy ſoul, he keeps thy breath,
Where thickeſt dangers come :
Go and return, ſecure from death,
Till God commands thee home.
PSALM CXXI. As the 148 Pſalm,
God our Areſerver.
UPWARD I lift mine eyes;
From God is all my aid;
The God that built the ſkies,
And earth and nature made :
God is the tow’r
To which I fly;
His grace is nigh
In ev'ry hour.
My feet ſhall never ſlide, ,
And fall in fatal ſnares,
Since God, my guard and guide,
Defends me from my fears :
Thoſe wakeful eyes
That never ſleep,
Shall Iſt'el keep
When dangers riſe.
No burning heats by day,
Nor blaſts of ev'ning air,
Shall take my health away,
If God be with me there :
Q
106
PSALMS.-CXXII. CXXIII. CXXIV.
Thou art my ſun,
And thou my ſhade,
To guard my head
By night or noon.
4 Haſt thou not giv'n thy word
To ſave my ſoul from death :
And I can truſt. my Lord
To keep my mortal breath :
I’ll go and come,
Nor fear to die,
Till from on high
Thou Čall me home.
PSALM CXXII. [C. M.]
Going to church.
t HQW did my heart rejoice to hear
My friends devoutly fay
“In Zion let us all appear
“And keep the ſolemn day !”
I love her gates, I love the road;
The church adorn’d with grace,
Stands like a palace built for God,
To ſhew his milder face.
Up to her courts with joys unknown,
The holy tribes repair;
The Son of David holds his throne,
And fits in judgment there.
He hears our praiſes and complaints
And while his awful voice
Divides the ſinners from the ſaints,
We tremble and rejoice.
Peace be within this ſacred place,
And joy a conſtant gucſ;
With holy gifts and heav’nſy grace,
Be her attendants bleſt |
My ſoul ſhall pray for Zion ſtill,
While life or breath remains;
There my beſt friends, my kindred dwell,
There God my Saviour reigns,
PSALM CXXII. Proper tune.
Going to church.
HOW pleas'd and bleſt was I,
To hear the people cry,
“Come, let us ſeek our God to day !”
Yes, with a chearful zeal,
We haſte to Zion’s hill,
And there our vows and honours pay.
1
2
Zion, thrice happy place!
Adorn’d with wond’rous grace,
And walls of ſtrength embrace thee round;
In thee our tribes appear
To pray, and praiſe, and hear
The ſacred goſpel’s joyſul found.
There David’s greater Son
Has fix’d his royal throne,
He ſits for grace and judgment there ;
He bids the ſaint be glad,
He makes the ſinner ſad,
And humble ſouls rejoice with fear.
§
#
4 May peace attend thy gate,
And joy within thee wait,
To bleſs the ſoul of ev'ry gueſt;
The man that ſeeks thy peace,
And wiſhes thine increaſe,
A thouſand bleſfings on him reſt!
My tongue repeats her vows,
** Peacc to this ſacred houſe !”
For there my friends and kindred dwell;
And ſince my glorious God
Mak cs thee his bleſt abode,
My ſoul ſhall ever love thee well.
[Rºheat the fourth ſianza to complete the tune.]
5
PSALM CXXIII.
Pleading with ſubmiſsion.
Thou whoſe grace and juſtice reign,
Enthron’d above the ſkies,
To thee our hearts would tell their pain,
To thee we lift our eyes.
!
2. As ſervants watch their maſter’s hand
And ſear the angry ſtroke
Or maids before their miſtreſs ſtand,
And wait a peaceful look;
}
3 So for our ſins we juſtly feel
Thy diſcipline, O God;
Yet wait the gracious moment ſtill,
Till thou remov’d thy rod.
4 Thoſe that in wealth and pleaſure live,
Our daily groans deride;
And thy delays of mercy give
Freſh courage to their pride,
5 Our foes inſult us, but our hope
In thy compaſſion lies :
This thought ſhall bear our ſpirits up, ,
That God will not deſpife.
PSALM CXXIV.
4 ſong for the Fifth of November.
1 HAD not the Lord, may Iſr’el ſay, ,
Had not the Lord maintain’d our fide,
When men to make our lives a prey,
Roſe like the ſwelling of the tide;
2 The ſwelling tide had ſtopt our breath,
So fiercely did the waters roll,
We had been ſwallowed deep in death:
Proud waters had o'erwhelm'd our ſoul.
3- We leap for joy, we ſhout and fing,
Who juſt eſcap'd the fatal ſtroke :
So flies the bird with chearſul wing,
When once the fowler's ſnare is broke.
i
'4 For ever bleſſed be the Lord,
Who broke the fowler’s curſed ſnare,
Who ſav’d us from the murd’ring ſword,
And made our lives and ſouls his care
2”
5 Our help is in Jehovah’s name, v
Who form'd the earth and built the ſkies;
He that upholds that wond’rous frame,
Guards his own chu: th with watchful
eyes. ºr *
PSALMS.-CXXV. CXXVI. CXXVII. 107
PSALM CXXV. [C. M.]
The ſaints' trial and ſafety.
f UNSHAKEN as the ſacred hill,
And firm as mountains be,
Firm as a rock the ſoul ſhall reſt,
That leans, O Lord on thee.
2 Not walls nor hills could guard ſo well
Old Salem’s happy ground,
As thoſe eternal arms of love,
That ev’ry ſaint ſurround.
3 While-tyrants are a ſmarting ſcourge
To drive them near to God,
Divine compaſſion does allay
The fury of the rod.
4 Deal gently, Lord, with ſouls ſincere,
And lead them ſafely on
To the bright gates of paradiſe,
Where Chriſt their Lord is gone.
5 But if we trace thoſe crooked ways
That the old ſerpent drew,
The wrath that drove him firſt to hell,
Shall ſmite his followers too.
PSALM CXXV. [S. M.]
The ſaints' trial and ſafety : or, moderated
afflićions.
† FIRM and unmov’d are they
That reſt their fouls on God;
Firm as the mount where David dwelt,
Or where the ark abode.
2. As mountains ſtood to guard
The city’s ſacred ground,
So God, and his almighty love,
Embrace his ſaints around.
3 What tho’ the Father’s rod
Drop a chattiſing ſtroke,
Yet, left it wound their fouls too deep,
Its futy ſhall be broke.
4 Deal gently, Lord with thoſe
Whoſe faith and pious fear,
Whoſe hope, and love, and ev’ry grace,
Proclaim their hearts ſincere
*
5 Nor ſhall the tyrant’s rage,
Too long oppreſs the ſaint;
The God of Iſr’et will ſupport
His children, leſt they faint.
6 But if our ſlaviſh fear
Will chuſe the road to hell,
We muſt expect our portion there
Where bolder ſinners dwell.
\
PSALM CXXVI. [L. M.
Suſiriſing delive ance.
} WHEN God reſtor'd our captive&ate,
Joy was our ſong and grace out
theme;
The grace beyond our hopes ſo great,
That joy appear'd a painted dream.
The ſcoffer owns thy hand and p mys
Unwilling honours to thy nam
While we with pleaſure ſhout thy praiſe,
With cheerful notes thy love proclaim.
3 When we review our diſmal fears,
'Twas hard to think they’d variſh ſo ;
With God we left our flowing tears,
He makes our joys like rivérs flow.
4 The man that in his furrow'd field
His ſcatter'd ſeed with ſadneſs leaves,
Will ſhout to ſee the harveſt yield
A welcome load of joyſul ſheaves.
PSALM CXXVI. [C. M.]
The joy of a remarkable converſion; or, melan-
choſy removed.
1 WHENGod reveal’d his gracious name
And chang'd my mournful ſtate,
My rapture ſeem’d a pleaſing dream,
The grace appear’d ſo great.
2
The world beheld the glorious change,
And did thy hand confeſs;
My tongue broke out in unknown ſtrains,
And ſung ſurpriſing grace.
3 “Great is the work” (my neighbours
cry’d,
And own’d the pow'r divine)
“Great is the work, (my heart reply'd)
“And be the glory thine.”
4 The Lord can clear the darkeſt ſkies,
Can give us day for night;
Make drops of ſacred ſorrow riſe
To rivers of delight.
Let thoſe that ſow in ſadneſs, wait
Till the fair harveſt come,
They ſhall confeſs their ſheaves are great,
And ſhout the bleſſings home.
6 Tho' ſeed lie bury'd long in duſt,
It ſhan’t deceive their hope
The precious grain can ne'er be loft,
For grace enſures the crop.
5
PSALM CXXVII. [L. M.]
The blºſings of God on the buſineſs and com-
forts of life.
| IF God ſucceed not all the coſt
And pains to build the houſe are loſt ;
Iſ God the city will not keep,
The watchful guards as well may ſleep.
2 What if you riſe before the ſun,
And work and toll wherſ day is done,
Careful and ſparing eat your bread,
To ſhun that poverty you dread :
'Tis all in vain, till God hath bleſt ;
He can make rich, yet give us reſt:
Children and friends are bleſſings too,
If God our ſov’reign make them ſo.
3
4 Happy the man to whom he ſends
Obedient children, faithful friends !
How ſweet our daily comforts prove,
When they are ſeaſon'd with his love
Q
Aº
168
PSALMs—CXXVIII. CXXIX. cxxx.
P3ALM CXXVII.
º God all in all.
1 IF God to build the houſe deny,
The builders work in vain;
And towns without his wakeful eye,
An uſeleſs watch maintain. \
[C. M.]
2 Before the morning beams ariſe,
Your painſul work renew, . .
And, till the ſtars aſcend the ſkies,
Your tireſome toil purſue.
3 Short be your ſleep, and coarſe your fare;
In vain till God has bleſs'd ;
But if his ſmiles attend your care,
You ſhall have food and reſt.
4 Nor children, relatives, nor ſriends,
Shall real bleſſings prove,
Nor all the earthly joys he ſends,
If ſent without his love.
PSALM CXXVIII.
Family bleſſings.
Happy man, whoſe ſoul is fill'd
With zeal, and rev'rend awe,
His lips to God their honours yield,
His life adorns the law.
2 A careful providence ſhall ſtand,
And ever guard thy head,
Shall on the labours of thy hand,
Its kindly bleſfings ſhed.
3 Thy wife ſhall be a fruitful vine ;
Thy children round thy board,
Each like a plant of honour ſhine,
And learn to fear the Lord.
4. The Lord ſhall thy beſt hopes fulfil
For months and years to come ;
The Lord who dwells on Zion's bill,
Shall ſend thee bleſfings home.
T
5 This is the man whoſe happy eyes
Shall ſee his houſe increaſe,
Shall ſee the ſinking church ariſe,
Then leave the world in peace.
PSALM CXXIX.
Perſecutors Auniſhed.
P from my youth, may Iſr’el ſay,
Have I been nurs’d in tears :
My griefs were conſtant as the day
And tedious as the years.
2 Up from my youth I bore the rage
Of all the ſons of ſtriſe ;
Oft they aſſail'd my riper age,
But not deſtroy'd my life.
3 Their cruel plough had torn my fleſh
With furrows long and deep,
Hourly they vex my wounds alreſh,
Nor let my ſorrows ſleep.
4 The Lord grew angry on his throne,
And, with impartial eye,
Meaſur'd the miſchiefs they had done,
Then let his arrows fly,
|
5 How was their inſolence ſurpris'd
To hear his thunders roll
And all the foes of Zion ſeiz’d
With horror to the ſoul.
6 Thus ſhall the men that hate the ſaints,
Be blaſted from the ſky ;
Their glory fades, their courage faints,
And all their projećts die.
7 [What tho’ they flouriſh tall and fair,
They have no root beneath :
Their growth ſhall periſh in deſpair,
And lie deſpis'd in death.]
8 [So corn that on the houſe-top ſtands
No hope of harveſt gives ;
The reaper ne’er ſhall fill his hands,
Nor binder fold the ſheaves.
9. It ſprings and withers on the place :
No traveller beſtows
A word of bleſfing on the graſs,
Nor minds it as it goes.]
PSALM CXXX. [C. M.]
Pa raoning grace.
1 OUT of the deeps of long diſtreſs,
The borders of deſpair,
I ſent my cries to ſeek thy grace, ,
My groans to move thine car.
2 Great God, ſhould thy ſeverer eye,
And thine impartial hand,
Mark and revenge iniquity,
No mortal fleſh could ſtand.
3 But there are pardons with my God
For crimes of high degree ;
Thy Son has bought them with his blood,
To draw us near to thee.
4 [I wait for thy ſalvation, Lord,
With ſtrong deſires I wait ;
My ſoul, invited by thy word,
Stands watching at thy gatc.]
5 [Juſt as the guards that keep the night
Long for the morning ſkies,
Watch the firſt beams of breaking light,
And meet them with their eyes;
6 So waits my ſoul to ſee thy grace,
And more intent than they,
Meets the firſt op'nings of thy face,
And finds a brighter day.]
7 [Then in the Lord let Iſrael truſt,
Let Iſrael ſeek his face ;
The Lord is good as well as juſt,
And plentedus in his grace.
8 There’s full redemption at his throne
For ſinuers long enſlav’d ; -
The great Redeemer is his Son,
And Iſrael ſhall be ſav’d.]
PSALM CXXX. [L. M.]
l'ardoning grace.
l FROM deep diſtreſs and
thoughts,
To thee, my God, I rais'd my crics;
troubled
PSA LMS.–CXXXI. CXXXII. CXXXIII.
109
If thou ſeverely mark our faults,
No fleſh can ſtand beſore thine eyes.
2 But thou haſt built thy throne of grace,
Free to diſpenſe thy pardons there,
That ſinners may approach thy ſace,
And hope and love, as well as fear.
3. As the benighted pilgrims wait,
And long and wiſh for breaking day,
-So waits my ſoul before thy gate ;
When will my God his face diſplay ?
4 My truſt is fix’d upon thy word,
Nor ſhall I truſt thy word in vain :
Let mourning ſouls addreſs the Lord,
And find relief from all their pain.
5 Great is his love, and large his grace,
Thro' the redemption of his ſon :
He turns our ſeet from ſinful ways,
And pardons what our hands have done.
PSALM CXXXI.
Humility and ſubmiſsion.
} Is there ambition in my heart?
* Search gracious God and ſee:
Or do they ačt a haughty part 2
Lord, I appeal to thee,
2 I charge my thoughts be humble ſtill,
And all my cairiage mild,
Content, my Father, with thy will,
And quiet as a child-
3 The patient ſoul, the lowly mind
Shall have a large reward :
Let ſaints in ſorrow lie reſign'd,
And truſt a faithful Lord.
PSALM CXXXII. 5, 13–18. [L. M.]
At the ſettlement of a church ; or, The ordi-
nation of & miniſter.
i W HERE ſhall we go to ſeek and find
w An habitation for our God,
A dwelling for th’ eternal mind,
Amongſt the ſons of fleſh and blood
The God of Jacob choſe the hill
Of Zion for his ancient reſt ;
And Zion in his dwelling ſtill,
His church is with his preſence bleſt.
Here will I fix my gracious throne,
And reign for ever, faith the Lord ;
Here ſhall my pow'r and love be known,
And bleſtings ſhall attend my word.
Here will I meet the hungry poor,
And fill their ſouls with living bread ;
Sinners that wait before my door,
With ſweet proviſion ſhall be fed.
Girded with truth and cloth’d with grace,
My prietis, my miniſters ſhall ſhine :
Not Aaron, in his coſtly dreſs,
Made an appearance ſo divine.
The ſaints, unable to contain
Their unward joys, ſhall ſhout and ſing;
The ſon of David here ſhall reign,
And Zion triumph in her king.
&
7
l
2
4
J
7
2
6
k
[Jeſus ſhall ſee a num’rous ſeed
Born here to uphold his glorious name ;
His crown ſhall flouriſh on his head,
While all his foes are cloth'd with ſhame,
PSALM CXXXII. 4, 5, 7, 8, 15-17.
[C. M.]
A church eſtabliſhed.
O ſleep nor ſlumber to his eyes
Good David would afford,
Till he had found below the ſkies
A dwelling for the Lord.
The Lord in Zion plac’d his name,
His ark was ſettled there ;
To Zion the whole nation came,
To worſhip thrice a year.
But we have no ſuch lengths to go,
Nor wander far abroad ;
Where’er thy ſaints aſſemble now,
There is a houſe for God.
PAUSE.
Ariſe, O king of grace, ariſe,
And enter to thy reſt :
Lo thy church waits with longing eyes,
Thus to be own’d and bleft.
Enter with all thy glorious train,
Thy ſpirit and thy word ;
All that the ark did once contain
Could no ſuch grace afford.
Here, mighty God, accept our vows,
Here let thy praiſe be ſpread ;
Bleſs the proviſions of thy houſe,
And fill thy poor with bread.
Here let the ſon of David reign,
Let God's anointed ſhine :
Juſtice and truth his court maintain,
with love and pow'r divine.
Here let him hold a laſting throne ;
And as his kingdom grows,
Freſh honours ſhall adorn his crown,
And ſhame confound his foes.
PSALM CXXXIII.' [C. M.]
Brotherly love.
LO ! what an entertaining ſight
Are brethren that agree ;
Brethren whoſe chearful hearts unite
In bands of piety
When ſtreams of love from Chriſt the
fpring *
Deſcend to ev’ry ſoul,
And heav'nly peace, with balmy wing,
Shades and bede ws the whole :
'Tis like the oil divinely ſweet
On Aaron’s rev'rend head;
The trickling drops perſum'd his ſeet,
And o'er his garments ſpread.
'Tis pleaſant as the morning dews
That fall on Sion's hill,
Where God his mildeſt glory ſhows,
And makes his grace diſtal.
* 10
PSALMS.–CXXXIII. CXXXIV. CXXXV.
PSALM cxxxiii. ſs. M.]
Communion of ſaints; or, Love and worſhip in
a family.
l BLEST are the ſons of peace,
Whoſe hearts and hopes are one ;
Whoſe kind deſigns to ſerve and pleaſe,
Thro' ail their actions run.
2 Blett is the pious houſe
Where zeal and friendſhip meet
Their ſongs of º their mingled vows
Make their communion ſwect.
3 Thus when on Aaron’s head
They pour’d the rich perfume,
The oil thro' all his raiment ſpread,
And pleaſure fill'd the room.
4 Thus on the heav'nly hills
The ſaints are bleſt above,
Where joy like dew diſtils,
And all the air is love.
PSALM CXXXIII. As the 122d Pſalm.
The bºſsing: oſſ, rendſhift.
i I. OW pleaſant ’tis to ſee
Kindred and ſriends agree,
Eaeh in their proper ſtation move,
And each fulfil their part
With ſympathiſing licart,
In all the cares of life and love!
3 ’’Fis like the ointment ſhed
On Aaron’s ſacred head,
Drvincly rich, divinely ſweet ;
The oil, thro’ all the room
Diffus’d a choice perfumc,
Ran thro’ his robes, and bleſt his feet.
3 Like fruitful ſhow’rs of rain,)
That water all the plain,
Defcending ſrom the neighbºring hills;
Such ſtreams of pleaſure roll -
Thro’ ev’ry friendly ſoul,
Where love like heav'nly dew diſtils.
PSALM1 CXXXIV.
Paily and nightly devotion.
} YE that obey the immortal king,
Attend his holy place,
Bow to the glories of his pow'r,
And bleſs his wor:drous grace,
2 Lift up your hands by morning light,
And ſend your ſouls on high ;
Raiſe your admiring thoughts by night-
Above the ſtarry ſky.
3 The God of Zion chears our hearts
With rays of quickning grace :
The God that ſpread the heav'ns abroad,
And rules the ſwclling ſeas.
PSALM CXXXV. 1–4, 14, 19–21.
Part I. [L. M.]
The church is God’s houſe and care.
I PRAISE ye the Lord, exalt his name,
While in his holy courts ye wait;
2
Ye faints that to his houſe belong,
Or ſtand attending at his gate.
Praiſe ye the Lórd; thc Lord is good;
To praiſe his name is ſweet employ :
Iſrael he choſe of old, and ſtill
His church is his peculiar joy.
3 The Lord himſelf will judge his faints ;
He treats his ſcrvants as his friends;
And when he hears their fore complaints,
Repents the ſorrows that he ſcnds.
4 Thro’ ev’ry age the Lord declares
His name, and breaks th’ oppreſſor’s rod ;
He gives his ſuff’ring ſervants reſt,
And will be known the almighty God.
Bleſs ye the Lord, who taſte his love ;
People and prieſts exalt his name :
Among his ſaints he ever dwells;
His church is his Jeruſalem.
5
PSALM CXXXV. verſe 5–12.
Part II. [L. M.]
The works of creation, providence, redem/ition,
of Iſrael, and dºſh uéïion of encmies.
1 RSAT is the Lord, exalted high,
Above all pow’rs and ev’ry throne;
Whate'er be pleaſe in earth or ſea,
Or heav'nor hell, his hand hath done.
2
At his command the vapours riſe,
The lightnings flaſh, the thundeis roar;
He pours the rain, lic brings the wind,
And tempcſt from his airy ſtore.
'Twas he thoſe dreadful tokens ſent,
O Egypt, thro’ thy ſtubborn lapd ;
When all thy firſt-born beaſts and mory
Fell dead by his avenging haud.
3
4 What mighty nations, mighty kings
He ſlew, and thcir who ic country gave
To Iſrael whom his hand redeem’d,
No morc to be proud Pharaoh’s ſlave
5 His pow'r the ſame, the ſame his grace,
That ſaves us from thc hoſts of hell
And heav'n he gives us to poſſeſs
Whence thoſe apoſtate angels fell.
PSALM CXXXV. [C. M.;
Praiſe due to God, not to idols:
1 AWAKE, ye ſaints, to praiſe your king,
Your 1 weeteſt paſſions raiſe,
Your pious pleaſure, while you ſing,
Increaſing with the praiſe.
2 Great is the Lord ; and works unknown
Are his divine employ ;
But ſtill his ſaints are near his throne,
His treaſure and his joy.
3 Heav'n, earth, and ſea, confeſs his hand;
He bids the vapours 1 iſc ; \
Lightning and ſtorm at his command
Sweep thro’ the ſounding ſkies.
4 All pow'r that gods or kings have claim'd
- º #
Is ſound with him alone :
I’SALMS.–CXXXVI.
| | 1
PSALM CXXXVI.
But heathen gods ſhould ne'er be nam'd
Where our Jehovah’s known.
5 Which of the ſtocks or ſtones they truſt
Can give them ſhow’rs of rain
In vain they worſhip glitt’ring duſt,
And pray to gold in vain.
6 [Their gods have tongues that cannot talk,
Such as their maker’s gave ;
Their feet were ne’er deſign’d to walk,
Nor hands have pow'r to ſave.
7 Blind are their eyes, their ears are deaf,
Nor hear when mortals pray :
Mortals, that wait for their relief,
Are blind and deaf as they..]
8 O Britain, know thy living God,
Serve him with faith and fear;
He makes thy churches his abode,
And claims thine honours there.
PSALM CXXXVI. [C. M.]
God’s wonders of creation, ſhrºvidence, redemp-
tion of Iſrael, and ſalvation of his Acoſtle.
1 Glyethanks to God the ſov’reign Lord;
His mercies ſtill endureſ
And be the King of kings ador'd :
His truth is ever ſure.
2 What wonders hath his wiſdom done!
. How mighty is his hand
|
Heav'n, earth, and ſea, he fram’d alone :
How wide is his command
3 The ſun ſupplies the day with light;
How bright his counſels ſhine !
The moon and ſtars adorn the night :
His works are all divine.'
4 He ſtruck the ſons of Egypt dead;
How dreadful is his rod
And thence with joy his people led :
How gracious is our God t
5 He cleft the ſwelling ſea in two ;
His arm is great in might:
And gave the tribes a paſſage thro’:
His pow'r and grace unite.
6 But Pharaoh’s army there he drown'd ;
How glorious are his ways
And brought his faints thro’ deſart ground :
Etcrpal be his praiſe.
.*
7 Great monarchs fell beneath his hand
Vićtorious is his ſword :
While Iſrael took the promis'd land;
And faithful is his word.
3. He ſaw the nations dead in ſin;
He felt his pity move :
How ſad the ſtate the world was in 1
How boundleſs was his love!
5
9 He ſent to ſave us from our woe;
His goodneſs never fails :
From death, and bell, and every foe;
And ſtill his grace prevails.
10 Give thanks to God the heav'nly king; N
His mercies ſtill endure :
Let the whole earth his praiſes ſing:
His truth is ever ſure.
|.
|
4.
5
.
.8
As the 148th Pſalm.
GIVE thanks to God moſt high,
The univerſal Lord ;
The ſov’reign King of kings;
And be his grace ador’d.
His pow'r and grace
Are ſtill the ſame ;
And Jet his name
Have endleſs praiſe.
How mighty is his hand
What wonders hath he done l
He form'd the earth and ſeas,
And ſpread the hcav’ns alone.
Thy mcrgy, Lord,
Shall ſtill endure :
And ever ſure
Abides thy word.
His wiſdom fram'd the ſun,
To crown the day with tight;
The moon and twinkling ſtars,
To chear the darkſome night-
His pow'r and grace
Are ſtill the fame;
And let his name
Have endleſs praiſe.
He ſmote the firſt-born ſons,
The flow'r of Egypt, dead;
And thence has choſen tribes
With joy and glory led.
Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall ſtill endure;
And ever ſure
Abides thy word.
His pow'r and lifted rod
Cleft the Red-ſea in two :
And for his people made
A wondrous paſſage thro’.
His pow'r and grace
Are ſtill the fame;
And let his name
Have endleſs praiſe.
But cruci Pharoah there
With all his hoſt he drown’d
And brought his Iſrael ſafe
Thro' a long deſart ground.
Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall ſtill endure;
And ever ſure
Abides thy word.
PAUSE.
The kings of Canaan ſell
Beneath his dreadful hand;
While his own ſervants took
Poſſeſſion of their land.
His pow'r and grace
Are ſtill the ſame;
And let his name
Have endleſs praiſe.
He ſaw the nations lie,
All periſhing in fin,
And pity'd the ſad ſtate
The ruin’d world was in.
1 12
PSALMS.–CXXXVI. CXXXVIII. CXXXIX.
Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall ſtill endure;
And ever ſure
Abides thy word.
9 He ſent his only Son
To ſave us from our woe,
From Satan, fin and death,
And every hurtful foe.
His pow'r and grace
Are ſtill the ſame;
And let his name
Have endleſs praife.
10 Give thanks aloud to God,
To God the heav'nly king :
And let the ſpacious earth
His works and glories fing,
Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall ſtill endure;
And ever ſure;
Abides thy word.
PSALM CXXXVI. Abridged. [L. M.]
l GIVE to our God immortal praiſe;
Mercy and truth are all his ways;
Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat his mercies in your ſong.
2 Give to the Lord of lords renown,
The King of kings with glory crown :
His mercies ever ſhall endure,
When lords and kings are known no more,
3 He built the earth, he ſpread the ſky,
And fix’d the ſtarry lights on high :
Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat his mercies in your ſong.
4 He fills the ſun with morning light,
He bids the moon direct the night:
His mercies ever ſhall endure,
When ſuns and moons ſhall ſhine no more.
5 The Jews he freed from Pharaoh’s hand,
And brought them to the promis'd land :
Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat his mercies in your ſong.
6 He ſaw the gentiles dead in ſin,
And felt his pity work within :
His mercies ever ſhall endure,
When death and ſin ſhall reign no more.
7 He ſent his Son with pow'r to ſave
From guilt and darkneſs and the grave;
Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat his mercies in your ſong.
8 Thro' this vain world he guides our feet,
And leads us to his heav'nly feat:
His mercies ever ſhall endure,
When this vain world ſhall be no more,
PSALM CXXXVIII.
Reſtoring and Areſerving grace.
1 [WITH all my pow'rs of heart and
tongue
I’ll praiſe my Maker ºn my ſong :
Angels ſhall hear the notes I raiſe, .
Approve the ſong, and join the praiſe.
|
l
2 Angels that make thy church their care
Shall witneſs my devotions there,
While holy zeal directs my eyes
To thy fair temple in the ſkies.]
I'll ſing thy truth and mercy, Lord,
I’ll ſing the wonders of thy word;
Not all thy works and names below
So much thy pow'r and glory ſhow.
3
To God I cry’d, when troubles roſe ;
He heard me, and ſubdu'd my foes;
He did my riſing ſears control,
And ſtrength diffus’d thro' all my ſoul.
5
The God of heav'n maintains his ſtate,
Frowns on the proud, and ſcorns the great;
But from his throne deſcends to ſee
The ſons of humble poverty.
Amidſt a thouſand ſnares I ſtand
Upheld and guarded by thy hand;
Thy words my fainting ſoul revive,
And keep my dying faith alive.
6
Grace will complete what grace begins,
To ſave from ſorrows or from ſins:
The work that wiſdom undertakes
Eternal mercy ne'er forſakes.
PSALM CXXXIX. Part I. [L. M.]
The all-ſeeing God.
1 LORD, thou haſt ſearch'd and ſeen me
thro’;
Thine eye commands with piercing view
My riſing and my reſting hours,
My heart and fleſh with all their pow'rs.
My thoughts, before they are my own,
Are to my God diſtinétly known;
He knows the words I mean to ſpeak,
Ere from my op'ning lips they break.
3
Within thy circling pow'r I ſtand;
On ev’ry ſide I find thy hand :
Awake, aſleep, at home, abroad,
I am ſurrounded ſtill with God.
Amazing knowledge, vaſt and great!
What large extent what lofty height !
My ſoul with all the pow'rs I boaſt
Is in the boundleſs proſpect loſt.
O may theſe thoughts poſſeſs my breaſt,
Where-e’er I rove, where-e’er I reſt
Nor let my weaker paſſions dare
Conſent to ſin, for God is there.
PAUSE I.
Could I ſo ſalſe, ſo faithleſs prove,
To quit thy ſervice and thy love,
Where Lord, could I thy preſence ſhun,
Or from thy dreadful glory run ?
4.
6
7
If up to heav'n I take my flight,
'Tis there thou dwell’ſt enthron’d in Iight ;
Or dive to hell, there vengeance reigns,
And Satan groans beneath thy chains,
If mounted on a morning-ray
I fly beyond the weſtern ſea, .
Thy ſwifter hand wou'd firſt arrive,
And there arreſt thy fugitive.
8
PSALMS.–CXXXIX.
I 13
9 Or ſhould I try to ſhun thy fight !
Beneath the ſpreading veil of night,
Qne glance of thine, one piercing ray,
Would kindle darkneſs into day.
10 “O may theſe thoughts poſſeſs my breaſ,
“Where’er Irove, where’er I reſt
“Nor let my weaker paſſions dare
“Conſent to ſin, for God is there.”
PAUSE II.
11 The veil of night is no diſguiſe,
No ſcreen from thy all-ſearching eyes:
Thy hand can ſeize thy foes as ſoon
Thro' midnight ſhades, as blazing noon.
12 Midnight and noon in this agree,
Great God, they’re both alike to thee:
Not death can hide what God will ſpy,
And hell ſies naked to his eye.
13 “O may theſe thoughts poſſeſs my breaſt,
“Where’er I rove, where’er I reſt
“Nor jet my weaker paſſions dare
* Conſent to ſin, for God is there.”
PSALM cyxxix. Part II. [L. M.]
The wonderfulformation of man.
1"TWAS from thy hand, my God, I came,
*... A work of ſuch a curious frame ;
In me thy fearful wonders ſhine,
And each proclaim thy ſkill divine.
2 Thine eyes did all my limbs ſurvey,
Which yet in dark confuſion lay; -
Thou ſaw'ſt the daily growth they took,
Form'd by the model of thy book.
3 By thee my growing parts were nam’d,
And what thy ſov’reign counſels fram’d,
(The breathing lungs, the beating heart) |
was copy with unerring art. . . . . . . "
4. At laſt, to ſhew my Maker’s name, . .
God ſtamp'd his image on my frame,
And in ſomé unknown moment join'd
The finiſh’āinémbers to the miud.’
: ; , . . . . ''} . . . . . . . . . . . ; - -
5 There tºg:young ſeeds of thought began,
And all the paſſiops of the man :
Great God, Qurinfant nature pays
Immortal tribute to thy praiſe.
: ...,,. r. º. , º, ø, ". . . . . . ;
- ... PAVSE,
6 Lord, ſince in my avancing age,
I’ve acted on life’s buſy ſtage,
Thy thoughts of love tº me ſurnount
The pow'r of numbers to recount,
- * :
• * * *
- J - ? ... ... ?
* I could ſurvey the ocean o'er,
And count each ſand that makes the ſhore
Before my ſwifteſt thoughts could trace
"The num’rous wonders of thy grace.
8 Theſe on thy heart are ſtill impreſt,
With theſe I give my eyes to ſett,
And at my waking hour I find ; ; ; ,
God and his love poſſeſs my mind.
VOL. VII.3.2. *...* * . .
*
. . .
2
| 4
º:
9 ||."
PSALM CXXXIX. Part III. [L. M.]
Sincerity ſhrofeſſed, and grace tried ; or, the heart-
ſearching God.
ſ Y God, what inward grief I feel
M When impious men tranſgreſs thy
will,
I mourn to hear their lips profane,
Take thy tremendous name in vain.
Does not my ſoul deteſt and hate
The ſons of malice and deceit *
Thoſe that oppoſe thy laws and thee,
I count them enemies to me.
Lord, ſearch my ſoul, try ev’ry thought:
Tho' my own heart accuſe me not
Of walking in a falſe diſguiſe,
I beg the trial of thine eyes,
3
4
Doth ſecret miſchief lurk within ;
Do I indulge ſome unknown ſin;
O turn my feet whene’er I ſtray,
And Icad me in thy perfeót way.
PSALM-CXXXIX. Part I. [C. M.
God is every where.
IN all my vaſt concerns with thee,
ſn vain my ſoul would try
To ſhun thy preſence, Lord, or flee
The notice of thine eye.
Thy all-ſurrounding fight ſurveys
My riſing and my reſt,
My public walks, my private ways,
And ſecrets of my breaſt.
My thoughts lić open to the Lord,
Before they’re form'd within ;
And ere my lips pronounce the word,
He knows the ſchſe I mean.
O wondrous knowledge, deep and high'
Where can a creature hide :
Within thy circling arms I lie,
Beſet on ev'ry ſide.
I
3
So let thy grace ſurround me ſtill,
And like a bulwark prove,
To guard my ſoul from ev’ry ill,
Secur’d by ſovercign love.
, PAUSE.
Lord, where ſhall guilty ſouls retire,
Forgotten and unknown
In hell they meet thy dreadful fire,
In heav'n thy giorious throne.
Should I ſuppreſs my vital breath,
To 'ſcape the wrath divine;
Thy voice would break the bars of
And make the grave reſign.
If wing’d with beams of morning-light,
I fly beyond the wett ; . .
Thy hand, which, muſt ſuppor
Would ſoon betray my reſt.
If o'er my fins I think to draw
The curtains of the night; . .
Thoſe flaming eyes that guard thy
5
7
death, *
t my flight,
law .
Would turn the ſhades to light,
•. '. - - P. * : * ,
T 14
PSALMs—Cxxxix. CXLI. CXLII. CXLIII.
10 The beams of noon, the midnight hour
Are both alike to thee :
O may I ne’cr provoke that pow'r
From which I cannot' flee.
PSALM CXXXIX. Part II. [C. M.]
The wiſdom of God in the farmation of man.
WHEN I with pleafi ng'wonder ſtand,
And all my frame ſurvey,
J.ord, 'tis thy work; I own thy hand
Thus built my Tumble clay.
2 Thy hand my heart and reins poſſeſt,
Where unborn nature grew,
Thy wiſdom all my features trac'd,
And all my members drew.
Thine eye with niceſt care ſurvey’d
The growth of ev'ry part;
Till the whole ſcheme thy thoughts had
laid, -
Was copy’d by thy art.
4 Heav'n, carth, and ſea, and fire and wind,
Shew me thy wond"rous ſkill;
But I review myſelf and find,
Diviner wonders ſtill.
I
3
Thy awſul glories round me ſhine,
My fleſh proclaims thy praiſe ;
Lord, to thy works of nature join
Thy miracles of grace.
5
PSALM CXXXIX. ver, 14, 17, 18,
t Part III. [C. M.]
The mercies of God, innumerable.
An Evening Pſalm.
ORD, when I count thy mercies o'er,
They ſtrike me with ſurpriſe;
Not all the ſands that ſpread the ſhore
To equal numbers riſe. -
2 My fleſh with fear and wonder ſtands,
The produćt of thy ſkill;
And hourly bleſſings from thy hands
Thy thoughts of love reveal. '
* Theſe on my heart by night I keep !'
How kind how dear to me ! " '
O may the hour that ends my ſleep,
Still find my thoughts with thee. . .
I
PSALM CXLI. ver. 2, 3, 4, 5.
#'atchfulneſs and brotherly rºſtroof.
A Morning or Evening Pſalm.
MY God, accept my early vows,
Like morning incenſe in
houſe,
And let my nightly worſhip riſe
Sweet as the evening ſacrifice.
*_* . . º
2 Watch o'er my lips, and guard them, Lord,
From ev’ry raſh and heedleſs word;
Nor let my feet incline to tread .
The guilty paths where ſinners lead.
1
thine
O may the righteous, when I ſtray,
Smité and rcprove my wand'ring way !
3
Their gentle words, like ointment ſhed,
Shall never bruiſe, but cheer my head.
When I behold them preſt with grief,
I’ll cry to heav'n ſor their relieſ;
And by my warm petitions prove
how much I prize their faithſul love,
4.
PSALM cxLII, p
God is the hoſe of the helhleſs.
"O God I made my ſorrows known,
Flom God I fought relief;
In long complaints before his throne
I pour’d out all my grief. -
2 My ſoul was overwhelm'd with woes,
My heart began to break ;
My God, who all my burdens knows,
He knows the way I take. -
On ev’ry ſide I caſt mine eye,
And ſound my helpers gone ;
While friends and (trangers paſſed me by
Neglected or unknown. *
Then did I raiſe a louder cry,
And called thy mercy near :
“Thou art my portion when I die,
“Be thou my refuge here.”
Lord, I am brought exceeding low,
Now let thine ear attend, ' ' '.
And make my foes who vex me know
I’ve an Almighty Friend.
From my ſad priſon ſet me ſree,
Then ſhall I praiſe, thy name; .
And holy men ſhall join with me,
Thy kindneſs to proclaim. - 1
3
4.
5
6
PSALM cxliii. *
Complaint of heavy affiéïions in mind and body.
| MY righteºus Judge, my gracious God
'* Hear when’ſ ſpread my hands abroad,
And cry for ſuccour from thy throne ;
O. make thy truth and mercy known.
Let judgment not againſt me paſs j . . . .
Behold thy ſervant pleads thy grace :
Should juſtice call us to thy bar,' '
No man alive is guiltleſs theré
2
3 Look down in pity, Lotá, and ſee . .
The mighty woes that burden me :
Down to the duſt, myſiſe is brought,
Like one long bury'd and forgot.
I dwell in darkneſ, and unſeen,
My heart is deſolate within ; *
My thoughts in muſing ſilence trace.
The ancient wonders of thy grace.
•
|5 Thence I derive a glimpſe of hope,
To bear my ſinking ſpirits up; . .
I ſtretch my hands to God again, ; , ,
And thirſt like parched lands for rain. .
For thee I thirſt, I pray, J mourn ;
When will thy ſmiling face return ? .
Shall all my joys on earth remove,
And God for ever hide his love 2.
6.-
*
PSALMS.–CXLIV. CXLV,
511
* My God, thy long delay to ſave,
Will ſink thy prisºner to the grave;
My heart grows faint, and dim mine eye,
Make haſte to l'elp before I die.
The night is witneſs to my tears,
Diſtreſſing pains, diſtröſling feafs;
O might I hearthy morning voice,
How would my weary'd pow’rs rejoice
In thee I truſt, to thee l ſigh,
And liſt my heavy ſoul on high;
For thee fit waiting all the day,
And wear the tireſome hours away.
10 Break off my fetters, Lord, and ſhow
Which is the path my feet ſhould go ;
If ſnares and foes beſet the road,
I flee to hide me near my God.
11 Teach me to do thy holy will,
And lead me to thy heav'nly hill:
Let the good ſpirit of thy love
Condućt me to thy courts above.
12 Then ſhall my ſoul no more complain,
The temptcr then ſhall rage in vain ;
And fleſh, that was my foe before,
Shall never vex my ſpirit more,
PSALM CXLIV. Part I: ver. 1, 2,
4//iance and vićtory in the ſhiritual warfare.
# FOR ever bleſſed be the Lord,
My Saviour and my ſhield ;
He ſends his Spirit with his word,
To arm me for the ficki.
2 When ſin and hell their force unite,
He makes my ſoul his care,
Inſtructs me to the heav'nly fight,
And guards me thro’ the war,
3 Afriend and helper ſo divine,
Doth my weak courage raiſe;
He makes the glorious vićtºry mine,
And his ſhall be the praiſe.
PSALM CXLIV, Part Iſ. 3, 4, 5, 6,
The vanity ºf man, and condeſcenſion of God,
1 T.ORD, what is man, poor feeble man!
Born of the earth at firſt
. His life a ſhadow, light and vain)
Still haſting to the dutt.
2 O what is feeble dying many
Or any of his race,
That God ſhould make it his concern
To viſit him with grace
3 That God who darts his lightnings down,
Who ſhakes the worlds above,
And mountains tremble at his frown,
How wondrous is his love,
PSALM CXLIV. Part III. ver, 12-15.
Grace above riches : or, the haſhy nation.
} HAPEX the city, where their ſons,
* Like Pillars round a palace ſet,
!
And daughters, bright as poliſh’d ſtones,
Give ſtrength and beauty to the ſtate.
2
Happy the country, where the ſheep,
Cattle, and corn have large increaſe;
Where men ſecure]v work or ſlecp,
Nor ſons of plunder break the peace.
Happy the nation thus endow’d,
But more divinely bleft are thoſe
On whom the aſi-ſufficient God
Himſelf with all his grace beſtows.
PSAI.M. CXLIV. [L. M.]
The greatneſs of God.
! } MYGod, my king, thy various praiſe
Shall fill the remnant of my days;
Thy grace employ my humble tongue
Till death and glory raiſe the ſong.
6
The wings of ev'ry hour ſhall bear
Some thankful tribute to thine ear;
And ev'ry ſctting ſun ſhall ſee
New works of duty done for thee.
3
Thy truth and juſtice I’ll proclaim;
Thy bounty flows, an endleſs ſtream;
Thy mercy ſwift; thine anger ſlow,
But dreadful to the ſtubborn foe.
Thy works with ſov’reign glory ſhine,
And ſpeak thy majeſty divine;
Let Britain round her ſhores proclaim.
The ſound and honour of thy name.
Let diſtant times and nations raiſe
The long ſucceſſion of thy praiſe;
And unborn ages make my ſong
The joy and labour of their tongue:
But who can ſpeak thy wondrous deeds?
Thy greatneſs all our thoughts exceeds;
Vaſt and unſearchable thy ways,
Vaſt and immortal be thy praiſe.
4
5
PSALM CXLV. 1-7, 11-13. Partj.
The greatneſs of God.
ONG as I live I'll bleſs thy name,
My king, my God of love;
My work and joy ſhall be the ſame
In the bright world above.
|
Q
Great is the Lord, his pow'r unknown,
A nu let his praiſe be great :
I'll fing the honours of thy throne,
Thy works of grace repeat.
3 Thy grace ſhall dwell upon my tongue ;
And while my lips rejoice,
The men that hear my ſacred ſong
Shall join their chearful voice.
4'fathers to ſons ſhall teach thy name,
; : And children learn thy ways;
j-Ages to come thy truth proclaim,
And nations found thy praiſe,
5 Thy glorious deeds of ancient date.
Shail thro’ the world be known;
Thine arm of pow'r, thy heav'nly ſtate
With pāblic ſplendor ſhown.
P 3
116
PSALMS.–CXLV. CXLVI.
6 The world is manag’d by thy hands,
Thy ſaints are rul’d by love;
And thine eternal kingdom ſtands,
Tho' rocks and hills remove,
PSALM CXLV. Part II. l
The goodneſs of God.
1. SWEET is the memory of thy grace,
My God, my heav'nly king;
Let age to age thy righteouſneſs
In ſounds of glory ſing.
2 God reigns on high, but not confines
His goodneſs to the ſkies : *
Thro' the whole earth his bounty ſhires,
And ev'ry want ſupplies.
3 With longing eyes thy creatures wait
On thee for daily food; -
Thy lib’ral hands provides their meat
And fills their mouths with good
4 How kind are thy compaſſions, Lord
How ſlow thine anger moves |
But ſoon he ſends his pard’ning word
To cheer thc ſouls he loves,
5 Creatures with all their endleſs race
Thy pow'r and praiſe proclaim ;
But ſaints that taſte thy richer grace
Delight to bleſs thy name.
PSALM CXLV. Part III, 14. 17, &c.
Mercy to ſufferers; or, God hearing prayer.
I -LET ev’ry tongue thy goodneſs ſpeak,
Thou ſov’reign Lord of all ;
Thy ſtrengthning hands uphold the weak,
And raiſe the poor that ſall.
2. When ſorrow bows the ſpirit down,
Or virtue lies diſtreſt; -
Beneath ſome proud oppreſſor’s frown,
Thou giv'ſt the mourners reſt.
3 The Lord ſupports our tott’ring days,
And guides our giddy youth;
Holy and juſt are all his ways,
And all his words are truth.
4 He knows the pains his ſervants feel,
He hears his children cry,
And their beſt wiſhes to fulfil
His grace is ever nigh.
5 His mercy: never ſhall remove
From men of heart ſincere;
He ſaves the ſouls whoſe humble kove . *
Is join’d with holy fear,
6 (His ſtubborn foes his ſword ſhall ſlay,
And pierce their hearts with pain;
But none that ſerve the Lord ſhall ſay,
“They ſought his aid in vain.]
7 [My lips ſhall dwell upon his praiſe,
- And ſpread his fame abroad ;
Let all the ſons of Adam raiſe
The honours of their God.].
|
2
1
!
5
|
PSALM CXLVI. [L. M.]
Praiſe to God for his goodneſs and truth.
1 PRAISE ye the Lord, my heart ſhall
Join -
In work ſo pleaſant, ſo divine,
Now while the fleſh is mine abode,
And when my ſoul aſcends to God.
Praiſe ſhall employ my nobleſt pow'rs
While immortality endures: -
My days of praiſe ſhall ne'er be paſt,
While life and thought, and being laſt.
3
Why ſhould I make a man my truſt 2
Princes muſt die and turn to duſt;
Their breath departs, their pomp and pow'r
And thoughts all vaniſh in an hour.
Happy the man whoſe hopes rely
On Iſr’cks God ; he made the ſky,
And earth, and ſeas, with all their train,
And none ſhall find his promiſe vain.
{
5
His truth for ever ſtands ſecure;
He ſaves th’ oppreſt, he feeds the poor:
He ſends the lab’ring confeience peace,
And grants the prisºner ſweet releaſe.
6
The Lord hath eyes to give the blind;
The Lord ſupports the ſinking mind:
He helps the ſtranger in diſtreſs,
The widow and the fatherleſs.
7
He loves his ſaints ; he knows them well,
But turns the wicked down to hell ;
Thy God, O Zion, ever reigns;
Praiſe him in everlaſting ſtrains.
PSALM CXLVI. As the 113th Pſalm.
Praiſe to God for his goodneſs and truth.
'LL praiſe my Maker with my breath;
And when my voice is loſt in death
Praiſe ſhall employ my nobler pow'rs :
My days of praiſe ſhall ne’er be paſt
While life and thought and being laſt
Or immortality endures.
Why ſhould I make a man my truſt
Princes muſt die and turn to duſt :
Vain is the help of fleſh and blood:
Their breath departs, their pomp and pow'r
And thoughts all vaniſh, in an hour,
Norican they make their promiſe good.
3
Happy the man whoſe hopes rely
On Iſrael’s God: he made the ſky,
And earth and ſeas with all their train;
His truth for ever ſtands ſecure ;
He ſaves th’ oppreſt, he feeds the poor,
And none ſhall find his promiſe vain.
The Lord bath eyes to give the blind;
The Lord ſupports the ſinking mind;
He ſends the lab’ring conſcience peace,
He helps the ſtranger in diſtreſs,
Thé widow and the fatherleſs,
And grants the prisºner fºweet releaſe.
He'loves his ſaints; he knows them well,
But turns the wicked down to hell;
PSALMS.–CXLVII. CXLVIII. I tº
Thy God, O Zion, ever reigns:
Let ev'ry tongue, and ev’ry age
In this exalted work engage ;
Praiſe him in everlaſting ſtrains. i
|
6 I’ll praiſe him while he lends me breath, Í.
And when my voice is loſt in death t
Praiſe ſhall employ my nobler pow'rs :
My days of praiſe ſhall ne'er be paſt
While life and thought and being laſt,
Or immortality endures.
PSALM CXLVII. Part I.
The divine nature, ſirovidence and grace.
i PRAISE ye the Lord : ’tis good to raiſe
Our hearts and voices in his praiſe:
His nature and his works invite
To make this duty our delight.
2 The Lord builds up Jeruſalem,
And gathers nations to his name:
His mercy melts the ſtubborn ſoul,
And makes the broken ſpirit whole.
3 He form'd the ſtars, thoſe heav'nly flames,
. He counts their numbers, calls their names:
His wifdom's vaſt, and knows no bound,
A deep where all our thoughts are drown'd.
4 Great is our Lord, and great his might;
And all his glories infinite :
He crowns the meek, rewards the juſt,
And treads the wicked to the duſt,
PAUSE.
5 Sing to the Lord, exalt him high,
Who ſpreads his cloud all round the ſky;
There he prepares the fruitful rain,
Not lets the drops deſcend in vain.
6 He makes the graſs the hills adorn,
And clothes the ſmiling fields with corn;
The beaſts with food his hands ſupply,
And the young ravens when they cry.
7 What is the creature's ſkill or force,
The ſprightly man, the warlike horſe,
The nimble wit, the aëtive limb 2
All are too mean delights for him.
8 But ſaints are lovely in his fight;
He views his children with delight :
He ſees their hope, he knows their fear;
And looks and loves his image there. |
^.
PSALM. CXLVII. Part II.
Summer and winter.
A Song for Great Britain.
i O Britain, praiſe thy mighty God, -
And make his honours known abroad;
He bid the ocean round,thee flow ;
Not bars of braſs could guard thee fo.
2 Thy children are ſecure and bleſt;
Thy ſhores have peace, thy cities reſt:
He feeds thy ſons with fineſt wheat,
And adds his bleſſing to their meat.
3 Thy changing ſeaſons he ordains,
#8
Thine early and thy later rains: -
w
His flakes of ſnow like wool he ſends,
And thus the ſpringing corn defends.
With hoary froſt he ſtrews the ground:
His hail deſcends with clatt’ring ſound:
Where is the man ſo vainly bold,
That dares defy his dreadful cold *
He bids the ſouthern breezes blow :
The ice diſſolves, the waters flow :
But he hath nobler works and ways
To call the Britons to his praiſe.
5
6 To all the iſle his laws are ſhown,
His goſpel thro’ the nation known;
He hath not thus reveal’d his word
To ev'ry land: Praiſe ye the Lord.
PSALM CXLVII. 7–9. 13–18. [C. M.]
The ſeaſons of the year.
1 WITH ſongs and honours ſounding
loud
Addreſs the Lord on high :
Over the heav’ns he ſpreads his cloud,
And waters veil the ſky. \
2 He ſends his ſhow’rs of bleſſing down
To chear the plains below ;
He makes the graſs the mountains crown,
And corn in valleys grow.
3 He gives the grazing ox his meat,
He hears the ravens cry;
But man, who taſtes his fineſt wheat,
Should raiſe his honours high.
His ſteady counſels change the face
Of the declining year;
He bids the ſun cut ſhort his race,
And wintry days appear.
4
5 His hoary froſt, his fleecy ſnow
Deſcend and clothe the ground ;
The liquid ſtreams forbear to flow,
In icy ſetters bound.
6. When from his dreadful ſtores on high
He pours the rattling hail,
The wretch that dares this God defy
Shall find his courage fail.
"I He ſends his word and melts the ſnow,
The fields no longer mourn;
He calls the warmer gales to blow,
And bids the ſpring return.
The changing wind, the flying cloud
Obey his mighty word :
With ſongs and honours ſounding loud
Praiſe ye the ſov’reign Lord.
PSALM CXLVIII. [P. M.]
Praiſe to God from all creatures.
l YE tribes of Adam, join
'With heav'n, and earth, and ſeas,
And offer notes divine
To your Creator’s praiſe :
Ye holy, throng
Of angels bright
In worlds of light
Begin the ſong.
{ | 8
PSALMS.–CXLVIII.
2 Thou ſun with dazzling rays,
And moon that rules the night,
Shine to your Maker’s praiſe,
With ſtars of twinkling light :
º His pow'r declare,
Ye floods on high;
And clouds that fly
In empty air.
3. The ſhining worlds above
In glorious order ſtand,
Or in ſwift courſes move
By his ſupreme command :
He ſpake the word;
And all their frame
From nothing came
To praiſe the Lord.
4. He mov’d their mighty wheels
fin unknown ages paſt,
And each his word ſulfils
While time and nature laſt.
In diff'rent ways
His works proclaim
His wondrous name;
And ſpeak his praiſe.
PAUSE.
5. Flet all the earth-born race
And monſters of the deep,
The fiſh that cleave the ſeas,
Or in their boſom ſleep,
From ſea and ſhore
Their tribute pay,
And ſtill diſplay
Their Maker’s pow'r.
6 Ye vapours, hail, and ſnow,
Praiſe ye th' Almighty Lord,
And ſtormy winds that blow,
To execute his word :
When lightnings ſhine,
Or thunders roar,
Let earth adore
His hand divine.
7 Ye mountains near the ſkies,
With lofty cedars there,
And trees of humbler ſize,
That fruit in plenty bear ;
Beaſts wild and tame
Birds, flies, and worms
In various forms
Exalt his name.
8 Ye kings, and judges, fear
The Lord, the ſov’reign king ;
And while you rule us here,
His heav'nly honours ſing :
Nor let the dream
Of pow'r and ſtate
Make you forget
His pow'r ſupreme.
9 Virgins and youth engage
To ſound his praiſe divine,
While infancy'and age
Their feebler voices join :
Wide as he reigns
His name be ſung
By ev’ry tongue
In endleſs ſtrains.
| 10 Let all the nations fear
The God that rules above,
He brings his people near,
And makes them taſte his love #
While earth and ſky
Attempt his praiſe,
His ſaints ſhall raiſe
His honours high.
PSALM CXLVIII. Paraphraſed in [L. M.]
Univerſil/traiſe to God.
1 LOUD hallelujahs to the Lord,
From diſtant worlds where creas.
tures dwell : w
Let heav'n begin the ſolemn word,
And ſound it dreadful down to hell.
Note, This /ſalm may be ſº to the tune of the
old 112th or 127th /ſalm, if theſe two lines be
added to cuery fanza, namely,
Each of his works his name diſplays,
But they can ne’er fulfil his praiſe.
Otherwiſe it muſ be ſºng to the uſual tunes of the
[L. M.]
2 The Lord! how abſolute he reigns t
Let every angel bend the knee;
Sing of his love in heav'nly ſtrains,
And ſpeak how fierce his terrors be,
3 High on a throne his glories dwell,
An awful throne of ſhining bliſs :
Fly thro’ the world, O ſon, and tell
How dark thy beams compar'd to his.
Awake ye tempeſts, and his fame
In ſounds of dreadful praiſe declare,
And the ſweet whiſper of his name
Fill ev'ry gentler breeze of air.
Let clouds, and winds, and waves agree
To join their praiſe with blazing fire ;
Let the firm earth and rolling ſea
In this eternal ſong conſpire.
Ye flow'ry plains, proclaim his ſkill;
Valleys lie low before his eye;
And let his praiſe from ev’ry hill
Riſe tuneful to the neighb’ring ſky.
7 Ye ſtubborn oaks, and ſtately pines,
Bend your high branches and adore :
Praiſe him, ye beaſts, in diff'rent ſtrains;
The lamb muſt bleat, the lion roar.
8 Birds, ye muſt make his praiſe your theme,
. Nature demands a ſong from you :
While the dumb fiſh that cut the ſtream
Leap up and mean his praiſes too.
4
5
6
Mortals, can you refrain your tongue,
When nature all around you fings R
O for a ſhout from old and young,
From humble ſwains, and loſty kings |
10 Wide as his vaſt dominion lies
Make the Creator’s name be known
Loud as his thunder ſhout the praiſe,
And ſound it lofty as his throne.
9
PSALMS.–CXLVIII. CXLIX, CL.
113
l
11 ſehovah ( 'tis a glorious word,
O may it dwell on ev'ry tongue ! ~
But ſaints who beſt have known the Lord
Are bound to raiſe the nobleſt ſong.
12 Speak of the wonders of that love
wiich Gabriel plays on ev'ry chord :
From all below and all above,
Loud ballelujabs to the Lord.
PSALM czLVIII. [S. M.]
Univerſal Praiſe.
ET ev'ry creature join ,
- To praiſe th' eternal God;
Ye heav'nly hoſts, the ſong begin,
And ſound his name abroad. '.
f
2 Thou ſur, with golden beams,
And moon with paler rays,
Ye ſtarry lights, ye twinkling flames,
Shine to your Maker’s praiſe.
3 He built thoſe worlds above,
And fix’d their wondrous frame ;
By his command they ſtand and move,
And ever ſpeak his name,
4 Ye vapours when ye riſe,
Or fall in ſhow’rs or ſnow,
Ye thunders murm’ring round the ſkies,
His pow'r and glory ſhow.
5 Wind, hail, and flaſhing fire,
Agree to praiſe the Lord,
When ye in dreadful ſtorms conſpire
To execute his word.
6 By all his works above
His honours be expreſt ;
But ſaints, that taſte his ſaving love,
Should ſing his praiſes beſt,
PAUSE I.
Let earth and ocean know
They owe their Maker's praiſe ;
Praiſe him, ye watry worlds below,
And monſters of the ſeas.
7
8
From mountains near the ſky
Let his high praiſe reſound,
From humble ſhrubs and cedars high,
And vales and fields around,
Ye lions of the wood,
And tamer beaſts that graze,
Ye live upon his daily food,
Arid he expects your praiſe.
10 Ye birds of loſty wing,
Ola high his praiſes bear ;
Or fit on flow’ry boughs, and ſing
Your Maker’s glory there.
9
11 Ye creeping ants and worms,
His various wiſdom ſhow,
And flies in all your ſhining ſwarms,
Praiſe him that dreſt you ſo.
12 By all the earth-born race
His honours be expreſt,
But ſaints that know his heav'nly grace
Should learn to praiſe him beſt.
|
º
PAUSE II.
Monarchs of wide command,
Praiſe ye th’ eternal king
Judges adore that ſov’reign hand
Whence all your honours ſpring.
rº
13
14 Let vig'rous youth engage
To ſound his praiſes high . . . .
While growing babes and with’ring age
Their feebler voices try.
15 United zeal be ſhown,
His wondrous fame to raiſe;
God is the Lord : his name alone
Deſerves our endleſs praiſe.
16 Let nature join with art.
And all pronounce him bleſt :
But ſaints that dwell ſo near his heart,
Should ſing his praiſes beſt.
PSALM CXLIX,
Praiſe God, all his ſaints ; or, The ſaints
- judging the world.
| 1 ALL ye that love the Lord rejoice,
And let your ſongs be new ;
Amidſt the church with chearſul voice
His later wonders ſhew.
2 The Jews, the people of his grace,
Shall their Redeemer ſing ;
And gentile nations join the praiſe,
While Zion owns her King.
3 The Lord takes pleaſure in the juſt,
Whom ſinners treat with ſcorn 2
The meek that lie deſpis'd in duſt
Salvation ſhall adorn.
4 Saints ſhould be joyful in their King,
Ev’n on a dying bed :
And like the ſouls in glory fing,
For God ſhall raiſe the dead.
5 Then his high praiſe ſhall fill their tongues,
Their hands ſhall wield the ſword;
And vengeance ſhall attend their ſongs,
The vengeance of the Lord.
6 When Chriſt the judgment-ſeat aſcends,
And bids the world appear,
Thrones are prepar’d for all his friends,
Who humbly lov’d him here.
7 Then ſhall they rule with iron rod,
Nations that dar'd rebel;
And join the ſentence of their God,
On tyrants doom'd to hell.
8 The royal ſinners bound in chains,
New triumphs ſhall afford;
Such honour for the ſaints remains :
Praiſe ye, and love the Iord,
PSALM CL. 1, 2, 6.
4 ſong of ſiraiſe.
1 [N God’s own houſe pronounce his praiſe,
His grace he there reveals :
To heav'n your joy and wonder raiſe,
For there his glory dwells.
130
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PSALMS.
2 Let all your ſacred paſſions move,
While you rehearſe his deeds;
But the great work of ſaving love
Your higheſt praiſe exceeds.
3 All that have motion, life, and breath,
Proclaim your Maker bleſt :
Yet when my voice expires in death,
My ſoul ſhall praiſe him beſt. 4-t
*
THE CHRISTIAN Doxology.
[L. M.]
To God the Father, God the Son
And God the Spirit, three in one,
Be honour, praiſe, and glory given
By all on earth, and all in heav'n,
FC. M.]
LET God the Father, and the Son,
And Spirit, be ador’d,
Where there are works to make him
known, wº
Or ſaints that love the Lord.
[C. M.]
JWhere the tune includes two fanzas.
HE God of mercy be ador’d,
Who calls our ſouls from death,
Who ſaves by his redeeming word,
And new-creating breath.
l
|
†.
2 To praiſe the Father, and the Sony
And Spirit, all divine,
The one in three, and three in one,
Let ſaints and angels join.
[S. M.]
YE angels round the throne,
And ſaints that dwell below,
Worſhip the Father, praiſe the Sons
And bleſs the Spirit too.
As the 113th Pſalm.
NOW to the great and ſacred Three,
The Father, Son; and Spirit be
Eternal praiſe and glory giv'n,
Thro' all the worlds where God is known,
By all the angels near the throne,
And all the ſaints in earth and heav'n,
As the 148th Pſalm.
O God the Father’s throne
Perpetual honours raiſe,
Glory to God the Son,
To God the Spirit praiſe :
With all our pow’rs,
Eternal King,
Thy name we ſing,
While faith adores. . .
-a-has a 1. mºmmammammammammammammºmy
PREFACE
TO THE “ HYMNS.”
WHILE we ſing the praiſes of our God in his church, we are employed in that
part of worſhip which of all others is the neareſt a-kin to heaven; and it is pity that
this, of all others, ſhould be performed the worſt upon earth. The goſpel brings us
nearer to the heavenly ſtate than all the former diſpenſations of God amongſt men:
And in theſe laſt days of the goſpelwe are brought almoſt within ſight of the kingdom of
our Lord; yet we are very much unacquainted with the ſongs of the New Jeruſalem, and
unpractiſed in the work of praiſe. To ſee the dull indifference, the negligent and
the thoughtleſs air that ſits upon the faces of a whole aſſembly, while the pſalm is
on their lips, might tempt even a charitable obſerver to ſuſpect the ſervency of in-
ward religion ; and it is much to be ſeared, that the minds of moſt of the worſhippers
are abſent or unconcerned. Perhaps the modes of preaching in the beſt churches, ſtill
want ſome degree of reformation ; nor are the methods of prayer ſo perfeót, as to
ſtand in necd of no correótion or improvement : but of all our religious ſolemnities,
pſalmody is the moſt unhappily managed : That every ačtion, which ſhould elevate
us to the moſt delightſul and divine ſenſations, doth not only flat our devotion, but
too often awaken our regret, and touches all the ſprings of uneaſineſs within us.
I have been long convinced, that one great occaſion of this evil ariſes from the
matter and words to which we confine all our ſongs. Some of them are almoſt op-
poſite to the ſpirit of the goſpel; many of them foreign to the ſtate of the New
Teſtamc to and widely different ſrom the preſent circumſtanees of chriſtians. Hence
it comes to paſs, that when ſpiritual affections are excited within us, and our ſouls
are raiſed a little above this earth in the beginning of a pſalm, we are checked on a
ſudden in our aſcent toward leaven, by ſome expreſſions that are moſt ſuited to the
days of carnal ordinances, and fit only to be ſung in the worldly ſančtuary. When
we are juſt entering into an cvangelic frame, by ſome of the glories of the goſpel
preſented in the brighteſt figures of Judaiſm, yet the very next line perhaps which
the clerk parcels out unto us, hath ſomething in it ſo extremely Jewiſh and cloudy,
that darkens our ſight of God the Saviour. Thus, by keeping too cloſe to David in
the houſe of God, the veil of Moſes is thrown over our hearts. While we are kind-
ling into divine love by the meditations of the loving kindneſs of God, and the mul-
titude of his tender mercies, within a few verſes ſome dreadful Curſe againſt men is
propoſed to our lips; that God would add iniquity unto their iniquity, nor let them
come into his righteouſneſs, but blot them out of the book of the living, Pſal. lxix.
26, 27, 28. which is ſo contrary to the new commandment of loving our enemies;
and even under the Old Teſtament is beſt accounted for, by referring it to the ſpirit
of prophetic vengeance. Some ſentences of the pſalmiſt, that are expreſſive of the
temper of our own hearts, and the circumſtances of our lives, may compoſe our ſpi-
, rits to ſcriouſneſs, and allure us to a ſweet retirement within ourſelves; but we meet
with a following line, which ſo peculiarly belongs but to one action or hour of the
life of David or of Aſaph, that breaks off our ſong in the midſt; our conſciences are
afflighted, leſt we ſhould ſpeak a falſehood unto God: Thus the powers of our ſouls
are ſhocked on a ſudden, and our ſpirits ruffled, before we have time to refle&t that
this may be ſung only as a hiſtory of ancient ſaints; and, perhaps, in ſome inſtances,
that Salvo is hardly ſufficient neuther : Beſides, it almoſt always ſpoils the devotion,
by breaking the uniform thread of it: For while our lips and our hearts run on
ſweetly together, applying the words to our own caſe, there is ſomething of divine
delight in it; but at once we are forced to turn off the application abruptly, and our
lips ſpeak nothing but the heart of David. Thus our own hearts are as it were
forbid the purſuit of the ſong, and then the harmony and the worſhip grow dull of
mere neceſſity.
Many miniſters, and many private chriſtians, have long groaned under this incon-
venience, and have wiſhed, rather than attemptcd a reformation: At their impor-
tunate and repeated requeſts I have for ſome years paſt devoted many hours of lei-
ſure to this ſervice. Far be it from my thoughts to lay aſide the book of pſalms in
public worſhip ; few can pretend ſo great a value for them as myſelf: It is the moſt
VOL. VII,
122 PREFACE.
artful, moſt devotional and divine collection of poeſy; and nothing can be ſap-
poſed more proper to raiſe a pious ſoul to heaven than ſome parts of that book:
never was a piece of experimental divinity ſo nobly written, and ſo juſtly reverenced
and admired; but it muſt be acknowledged ſtill, that there are a thouſand lines
in it which were not made for a church in our days, to aſſume as its own: There are
alſo many deficiencies of light and glory, which our Lord Jeſus and his apoſtles have
ſupplied in the writings of the New Teſtament; and with this advantage I have
compoſed theſe ſpiritual ſongs, which are now preſented to the world. Nor is the
attempt vain-glorious or preſuming; for in reſpect of clear evangelical knowledge,
“The leaſt in the kingdom of heaven is greater than all the Jewiſh plophets,”
Matt. &i. l l º º
Now let me give a ſhort account of the following compoſures.
The greateſt part of them are ſuited to the general ſtate of the goſpel, and the
moſt common affairs of chriſtians : I hope there will be very few found but
what may properly be uſed in a religious aſſembly, and not one of them but may
well be adapted to ſome ſeaſons, oither of private or of public worſhip. The moſt
frequent tempers and changes of our ſpirit, and conditions of our life, are here co-
pied, and the breathings of our piety expreſſed according to the variety of our paſ-
ſions, our love, our fear, our hope, our deſire, our ſorrow, our wonder, and our
joy, as they are refined into devotion, and act under the influence and condućt of
the bleſſed Spirit; all converſing with God the Father by the new and living way of
acceſs to the throne, even the perſon and mediation of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. To
him alſo, even to the Lamb that was ſlain and now lives, I have addreſſed many a
foug; for thus doth the holy ſcripture inflrućt and teach us to worſhip, in the various
fhort patterns of chriſtian pſalmody deſcribed in the Revelation. I have avoided the
more obſcure and controverted points of chriſtianity, that we might all obey the di-
rečtion of the word of God, and “fing his praiſes with underſtanding,” Pſal. xlvii. 7.
The contentions and diſtinguiſhing words of ſe&ts and parties are ſecluded, that
whole aſſemblies might aſſiſt at the harmony, and different churches join in the ſame
worſhip without offence.
If any expreſſions occur to the reador that ſavour of an opinion different from his
own, yet he may obſerve, theſe are generally ſuch as are capable of an extcmſive
fenſe, and may be uſed with a charitable latitude, I think it is moſt agreeable, that
what is provided for public ſinging, ſhould give to ſincere conſciences as little diſ.
turbance as poſſible. However, where any unpleaſing word is found, he that leads
the worſhip may ſubſtitute a better; for, bleſſed be God, we are not confined to the
words of any man in our public ſolemnities.
The whole book is written in four ſorts of metre, and fitted to the moſt common
tunes. I have ſeldom permitted a ſtop in the middle of a line, and ſeldom left the
end of a line without one, to comport a little with the unhappy mixture of reading
and ſinging which cannot prefertly be reformed. The metaphors are generally ſunk
to the level of vulgar capacities. I have aimed at eaſe of numbers and ſmoothneſs
of ſound, and endeavoured to make the ſenſe plain and obvious. If the verſe ap-
pears ſo gentle and flowing as to incur the cenſure of feebleneſs, I may honeſtly af-
firm, that ſometimes it coſt me labour to make it ſo : ſome of the beauties of poeſy
are neglected, and ſome wilfully defaced ; I have thrown out the lines that were too
fonorous, and have given an allay to the verſe, left a more exalted turn of thought
or language ſhould darken or diſturb the devotion of the weakeſt ſouls. ' But hence
it comes to paſs, that I have been forced to lay aſide many hymns after they were
finiſhed, and utterly exclude them from this volume, becauſe of the bolder figures
of ſpeech that crouded themſelves into the verſe, and a more unconfined variety of
number, which I could not eaſily reſtrain.
Theſe, with many other divine and moral compoſures, are now printed in a ſecond
edition of the poems, intitled, Holze Lyricae; for as in that book I have endeavonred
to pleaſe and profit the politer part of mankind, without offending the plainer ſort
of chriſtians, ſo in this it has been my labour to promote the pious entertainments
of ſouls truly ſerious, even of the meaneſt capacity, and at the ſame time, if poſſible,
not to give diſguſt to perſons of richer ſenſe, and nicer education ; and I hope, in the
preſent volume this end will appear to be purſued with much greater happineſs than
x:
PREFACE. 123
in the firſt impreſſion of it, though the world aſſures me the former has not much rea-
£on to complain.
The whole is divided into three books.
In the firſt, I have borrowed the ſenſe and much of the form of the ſong from
forme particular portions of ſcripture, and have paraphraſed moſt of the doxologies
in the New Teſtament, that contain any thing in them pecularly evangelical; and
imany parts of the Old Teſtament alſo, that have a reference to the times of the
Meſfiah. In theſe I expect to be often cenſured for a too religious obſervance of the
words of ſcripture, whereby the verſe is weakened and debaſed, according to the
judgment of the critics : but as my whole deſign was to aid the devotion of chriſti-
ans, ſo more eſpecially in this part: And I am ſatisfied I ſhall hereby attain two ends,
namely, aſſiſt the worſhip of all ſerious minds, to whom the expreſſions of ſcripture
are ever dear and delightful, and gratify the taſte and inclination of thoſe who think
nothing muſt be ſung unto God but the tranſlations of his own word. Yet you will
always find in this paraphraſe dark expreſſions enlightened, and the Levitical cere-
monies and Hebrcw forms of ſpeech changed into the worſhip of the goſpel, and
explained in the language of our time and nation; and what would not bear ſuch an
alteration, is omitted and laid aſide. After this manner ſhould I rejoice to ſee a
good part of the book of Pſalms fitted for the uſe of our churches, and David con-
verted into a chriſtian : but becauſe I cannot perſuade others to attempt this glorious
work, I have ſuffered myſelf to be perſuaded to begin it, and have, through divine
goodneſs, already proceeded half way through.
The ſecond part conſiſts of hymns, whoſe form is of mere human compoſure; but
I hope the ſenſe and materials will always appear divine. I might have brought ſome
text or other, and applied it to the margin of every verſe, if this method had been
as uſeful as it was eaſy. If there be any poems in the book that are capable of giv-
ing delight to perſons of a more refined taſte and polite education, perhaps they may
be found in this part; but except they lay aſide the humour of criticiſm and enter
into a devout frame, every ode here already deſpairs of pleaſing. I confeſs myſelf
to have been too often tempted away from the more ſpiritual deſigns I propoſed, by
ſome gay and flowery expreſſions that gratified the fancy; the bright innages too
often prevailed above the fire of divine aſſeåtion; and the light exceeded the heat:
yet, I hope, in many of them the reader will find, that devotion dićtated the ſong,
and the head and hand were nothing but interpreters and ſecretaries to the heart
nor is the magnificence or boldneſs of the figures comparable to that divine licence
which is ſound in the eighteenth and ſixty-eight pſalms, ſeveral chapters of Job,
and other poetical parts of ſcripture : and in this reſpect I may hope to eſcape the
reproof of thoſe who pay a ſacred reverence to the holy bible. *
I have prepared the third part only for the celebration of the Lord's Supper, that,
in imitation of our bleſſed Saviour, we might ſing an hymn after we have partaken
of the bread and wine. Here you will find ſome paraphraſes of ſcripture, and ſome
other compoſitions. There are above an hundred hymns in the two former parts,
that may very properly be uſed in this ordinance, and ſometimes perhaps appear
more ſuitable than any of theſe laſt : But there are expreſſions generally uſed in
theſe, which confine them only to the table of the Lord; and therefore I have diſtin-
guiſhed and ſet them by themſelves,
If the Lord, who inhabits the praiſes of Iſrael, ſhall refuſe to ſmile upon this at-
tempt for the reformation of pſalmody amongſt the churches, yet I humbly hope
that his bleſſed Spirit will make theſe compoſures uſeful to private chriſtians; and
if they may but attain the honour of being eſteemed pious meditations, to aſſiſt the
devout and the retired ſoul in the exerciſes of love, faith, and joy, it will be a valu-
able compenſation of my labours : my heart ſhall rejoice at the notice of it, and my
God ſhall receive the glory. This was my hope and vow in the firſt publication ;
and it is now my duty to acknowledge to him, with thankfulneſs, how uſeful he has
made theſe compoſitions already, to the comfort and edification of ſocieties, and of
private perſons: and upon the ſame grounds I have a better proſpect, and a bigger
hope of much more ſervice to the church, by the large improvements of this edition
if the Lörd who dwells in Zion ſhall favour it with his continued bleſſing.
HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS;
Book I.—Collected from the Holy Scriptures.
<nd they ſung a newſong, ſaying, Thou art worthy, &c. for thou waſ ſlain, and haſ redeemed
us, &c. Rev. v. 9.
Soliti eſſent (id eft, Chriſtiani) conyenire, carmengue Chriſto quaſi Deo dicere. Plinius
in Ehift.
HYMN I. [c. M.]
4 new ſong to the Lamb that was ſlain,
Rev. v. 6, 8, 9, 10, 12.
1. BEHOLD the glories of the Lamb
Amidſt his Father’s throne :
Prepare new honours for his name,
And ſongs before unknown.
2 Let elders worſhip at his ſeet,
The church adore around,
With vials full of odours ſweet,
And harps of ſweeter ſound.
3 Thoſe are the prayers of the ſaints,
And thoſe the hymns they raiſe :
Jeſus is kind to our complaints,
He loves to hear our praiſe.
4 [Eternal Father, who ſhall look
Into thy ſecret will P
Who but the Son ſhall take that book,
And open ev’ry ſeal *
5 He ſhall fulfil thy great decrees,
The Son deſerves it well ;
Lo, in his hand the ſov’reign keys,
Of heav'n, and death, and heli II
6 Now to the Lamb that once was ſlain,
Be endleſs bleſlings paid ;
Salvation, glory, joy remain
For ever on thy head.
7 Thou haſt redeem'd our ſouls with blood,
Haſt ſet the pris’ners free,
Haſt made us kings and prieſts to God,
And we ſhall reign with thee.
8 The worlds of nature and of grace
Are put beneath thy pow'r ;
Then ſhorten theſe delaying days,
And bring the promis'd hour.
HYMN II. [L. M.]
The deity and humanity of Chriſt, John i. 1,
3, 14. and Col. i. 16. and Eph. iii. 9, 10.
1 ERE, the blue heav'ns were ſtretch'd
abroad,
From everlaſting was the Word,
"With God he was ; the Word was God,
And muſt divinely be ador'd.
2. By his own pow'r were all things made;
By him ſupported all things ſtand;
He is the whole creation's head,
And angels fly at his command.
3 Ere ſin was born or Satan fell,
He led the hoſt of morning ſtars;
(Thy generation who can tell,
Or count the number of thy years )
4.
But lo, he leaves thoſe heav'nly forms,
The Word deſcends and dwells in clay,
That he may hold converſe with worms,
Dreſs'd in ſuch feeble fleſh as they.
25 Mortals with joy beheld his face,
Th’ eternal Father's only Soń ;
How full of truth! how full of grace {
When thro’ his eyes the Godhead ſhone :
6
Arch-angels leave their high abode,
To learn new myſt’ries here; and tell
The loves of our deſcending God,
The glories of Emanuel.
HYMN III. [S. M.]
The nativity of Chriſ, Luke i. 30, &c.
Luke ii. 10, &c.
EHOLD, the grace appears ,
The promiſe is fulfill’d ;
Mary the wondrous virgin bears,
And Jeſus is the child.
2 [The Lord the higheſt God,
Calls him his only Son ;
He bids him rule the lands abroad,
And gives him David’s throne.
l
3
O'er Jacob ſhall he reign
With a peculiar ſway ;
The nations ſhall his grace obtain,
His kingdom ne'er decay.]
4. To bring the glorious news,
A heav'nly form appears ;
He tells the ſhepherds of their joys,
And baniſhes their fears.
5
“Go, humble ſwains, ſaid he,
“To David's city fly;
“The promis'd infant, born to day,
“Doth in a manger lie.
6 “With looks and hearts ſerene
* “Go viſit Chriſt your King :”
And ſtraight a flaming troop was ſeen :
The ſhepherds heard them ſing.
7 “ Glory to God on high
“And heav'nly peace on earth,
“Good-will to men, to angels joy,
“At the Redeemer's birth.”
Book I.]
T.25
HYMNS.–V. VI. VII. VIII.
8 [ſn worſhip ſo divine
Let ſaints employ their tongues,
With the celeſtial hoſt we join,
And loud repeat their ſongs.
9 “ Glory to God on high
“And heav'nly peace on earth,
“Good-will to men, to angels joy,
“At our Redeemer’s birth l''
HYMN IV. Referred to the iid Pſalm.
HYMN V. [.C. M.]
Submiſſion to affiéfive ſtrovidences, Job. i. 21.
l AKED as from the earth we came,
And crept to life at firſt,
We to the earth return again,
And mingle with our duſt.
2 The dear delights we here enjoy,
And ſondly call our own,
Are but ſhort favours borrow’d now,
To be repaid anon.
3 'Tis God that lifts our comforts high,
Or ſinks them in the grave,
He gives, and (bleſſed be his name !
He takes but what he gave.
4 Peace, all our angry paſſions then,
Let each rebellious figh
Be ſilent at his ſov’reign will,
And ev’ry murmur die.
If ſmiling mercy crown our lives,
Its praiſes ſhall be ſpread,
And we’ll adore the juſtice too
That ſtrikes our comforts dead.
- HYMN vi. [c. M.]
Triumph over death, Job xix. 25, 26, 27.
1 GREAT God, I own thy ſentence juſt,
And nature muſt decay;
Iyield my body to the duſt,
To dwell with fellow-clay,
2 Yet faith may triumph o'er the grave,
And trample on the tombs :
My Jeſus, my Redeemer lives,
My God my Saviour comes.
3 The mighty conqu'ror ſhall appear
High on a royal ſeat,
And death the laſt of all his foes,
Lie vanquiſh’d at his feet.
4 Tho' greedy worms devour my ſkin,
And graw my waſting fleſh,
When God ſhall build my bones again,
He clothes them all afreſh :
5 Then ſhall I ſee thy lovely face
With ſtrong immortal eyes,
And feaſt upon thy unknown grace
With pleaſure and ſurpriſe.
HYMN vii. [c. M.]
The invitation of the goſhel; or, ſhiritual
food and cloathing, Iſ. lv. 1, 2, &c.
1 LET ev'ry mortal ear attend,
And ev'ry heart rejoice,
l
2
3
5
7
8
I
2
4.
5
6
7
The trumpet of the goſpel ſounds
With an inviting voice.
Ho! all ye hungry ſtarving ſouls,
That ſeed upon the wind,
And vainly ſtrive with earthly toys
To fill an empty mind.
Eternal wiſdom has prepar'd
A ſoul-reviving feaſt,
And bids your longing appetites
The rich proviſion taſte.
Ho! ye that pant for living ſtreams,
And pine away and die;
Here you may quench your raging thirſt
With ſprings that never dry.
Rivers of love and mercy here
In a rich ocean join ;
Salvation in abundance flows,
Like floods of milk and wine.
ſ Ye periſhing and naked poor,
Who work with mighty pain,
To weave a garment of your own,
That will not hide your ſin ;
Come naked, and adorn your ſouls
In robes prepar’d by God,
Wrought by the labours of his Son,
And dy’d in his own blood.]
Dear God I the treaſures of thy lov
Are éverlaſting mines. -
Deep as our helpleſs miſeries are,
And boundleſs as our ſins !
The happy gates of goſpel-grace
Stand open night and day:
Lord, we are come to ſeek ſupplies,
And drive out wants away.
HYMN vilſ. [c. M.]
The Jafety and Arotećtion of the church,
Iſa. xxvi. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. l
How honourable is the place
Where we adoring ſtand,
Zion, the glory of the earth,
And beauty of the land 1
Bulwarks of mighty grace defend
The city where we dwell;
The walls of ſtrong ſalvation made,
Defy th’ aſſaults of hell.
Lift up the everlaſting gates,
The doors wide open fling;
Enter ye nations, that obey
The ſtatutes of our king.
Here ſhall you taſte unmingled joys,
And live in perfeót peace;
You that have known Jehovah's name,
And ventur'd on his grace.
Truſt in the Lord, for ever truſt,
And baniſh all your fears:
Strength in the Lord Jehovah dwells,
Eternal as his years.
What tho’ the rebels dwell on high,
His arm ſhall bring them low ;
Low as the caverns of the grave
Their lofty heads ſhall bow,
On Babylon our feet ſhall tread,
In that rejoicing hour;
jº 6.
[Book I.
HYMNS.–IX. X. XI. XII.
The ruins of her walls ſhall ſpread
A pavement for the poor.
HYMN IX. [c. M.]
The fromiſes of the covenant of grace.
Eſa. lv. 1, 2. Zech. xiii. 1. Micah vii. 19.
Ezek. xxxvi. 25, &c.
T IN vain we laviſh out our lives,
To gather empty wind;
The choiceſt bleſfings earth can yield
Will ſtarve a hungry mind.
2 Corne, and the Lord ſhall ſeed our ſouls
With more ſubſtantial meat,
With ſuch as ſaints in glory love,
With ſuch as angels eat.
3. Our God will ev'ry want ſupply,
And fill our hearts with peace;
He gives by cov’nant and by oath
The riches of his grace.
4 Come, and he’ll cleanſe our ſpotted ſouls,
And waſh away our ſtains,
In the dear fountain that his Son
Pour’d from his dying veins.
5 [Our guilt ſhall vaniſh all away,
Tho' black as hell beſore;
Our ſins ſhall ſink beneath the ſea,
And ſhall be found no more.
6 And leſt pollution ſhould o'erſpread
Our inward pow’rs again,
His ſpirit ſhall bedev our ſouls
Like purifying rain.]
7 Our heart, that flinty ſtubborn thing,
That terrors cannot move,
That fears no threatnings of his wrath,
Shall be diſſolv’d by love:
8. Or he can take the flint away,
That would not be refin'd,
And from the treaſures of his grace
Beſtow a ſofter mind.
S. There ſhall his ſacred Spirit dwell,
And deep engrave his law,
And ev'ry motion of our ſouls
To ſwift obedience draw.
10 Thus will he pour ſalvation down,
And we ſhall render praiſe:
We the dear people of his love,
And he our God of grace,
HYMN X. [S. M.]
The bleſſedneſs of goſhel-times; or, the revela-
tion of Chrift to Jews and Gentiles,
Iſa, iii. 7, 8, 9, 10. Matt. xiii. 16, 17.
1 How beauteous are their feet
Who ſtand on Zion's hill,
Who bring ſalvation on their tongues,
And words of peace reveal
2 How charming is their voice!
How ſweet the tidings are
Zion, behold thy Saviour King,
He reigns and triumphs here.
$ How happy are our ears,
That hear this joyful ſound, ,
Which kings and prophets waited for,
And ſought, but never found!
4 How bleſſed are our eyes,
That ſee this heav'nly light;
Prophets and kings deſir'd it long,
But dy’d without the ſightſ
|| 5 The watchmen join their voice,
And tuneful notes employ ;
Jeruſalem breaks forth in ſongs,
And deſarts learn the joy.
6 The Lord makes bare his arm
Thro' all the earth abroad ;
Let ev’ry nation now behold
Their Saviour and their God.
HYMN XI. [L. M.I
The bumble enlightened, and carnal reaſon
humbled; or, the ſovereignty of grace,
*Luke x. 21, 22.
I THERE was an hour when Chriſt re-
joic'd,
And ſpoke his joy in words of praiſe;
“Father, I thank thee, mighty God,
Lord of the earth, and heav'ns, and ſeas.
2 I thank thy ſov’reign pow'r and love,
That crowns my doćtrine with ſucceſs;
And makes the babes in knowledge learn
The heights, and breadths, and lengths
of grace.
3
But all this glory lies conceal’d
From men of prudence and of wit;
The prince of darkneſs blinds their eyes,
And their own pride reſiſts the light.
Father, 'tis thus, becauſe thy will
Choſe and ordain’d it ſhould be ſo :
'Tis thy delight t'abaſe the proud,
And lay the haughty ſcorner low.
4.
There's none can know the Father right,
But thoſe who learn it from the Son;
Nor can the Son be well receiv'd
But where the Father makes him known
5
Then let our ſouls adore our God,
That deals his graces as he pleaſe;
6
Nor gives to mortals an account
Or of his actions, or decrees.
HYMN XII. [C. M.]
Free grace in revealing Chriſt, Luke x. 21.
1JEus the man of conſtant grief,
A mourner all his days;
His Spirit once rejoic'd aloud, .
And turn’d his joy to praiſe.
2 “Father, I thank thy wondrous love,
That hath reveal’d thy Són,
To men unlearned, and to babes
Has made thy goſpel known.
3 The myſt’ries of redeeming grace
Are hidden from the wife,
While pride and carnal reas’ningsjoin
To ſwell and blind their eyes.”
4 Thus doth the Lord of heav'n and earth
His great decrees fulfil,
And orders all his works of grace
By his own ſov’reign will.
Book I.]
127
HYMNS.—XIII, XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII.
HYMN XIII. [L. M.]
The Son of God incarnate : or the titles and th
kingdom of Chriſt, Iſa, ix. 2, 6, 7.
1 THE lands that long in darkneſs lay,
Now have beheld a heav'nly light;
Nations that ſat in death’s cold ſhade
Are bleſs'd with beams divinely bright,
2 The virgin’s promis’d Son is born ;
Behold th” expected child appear :
What ſhall his names or titles be 2
The wonderful, the counſellor.
3 [This inſant is the mighty God,
come to be ſuckled and ador’d;
Th’ eternal Father, prince of peace,
The ſon of David, and his Lord.]
4 The government of earth and ſeas
Upon his ſhoulders ſhall be laid;
His wide dominions ſhall increaſe,
And honours to his name be paid.
5 Jeſus the holy child ſhall fit
High on his father David’s throne,
Shall cruſh his foes beneath his feet,
And reign to ages yet unknown.
HYMN XIV. [L. M.]
The triumph of faith : or, Chriſt's unchangeable
/ove, Rom. viii. 33, &c,
I WHQ fhall the Lord’s eleēt condemn 2
'Tis God that juſtifies their ſouls,
And mercy, like a mighty ſtream,
O'er all their ſins divinely rolls.
2 Who ſhall adjudge the ſaints to hell?
'Tis Chriſt that ſuffer'd in their ſtead;
And the ſalvation to fulfil,
Behold him riſing from the dead.
3 He lives | he lives! and ſits above,
For ever interceding there :
Who ſhall divide us from his love,
Or what ſhould tempt us to deſpair?
4. Shall perſecution, or diſtreſs,
Famine, or ſword, or nakedneſs 2
He that hath lov’d us, bears us thro’,
And make us more than conqu'rors too.
5 Faith hath an overcoming pow'r,
It triumphs in the dying hour : -
Chriſt is our life, our joy, our hope,
Nor can we ſink with ſuch a prop.
6 Not all that men on earth can do,
Nor pow’rs on high, nor pow'rs below,
Shall cauſe his mercy to remove,
Or wean our hearts from Chriſt, our love.
HYMN XV. [L. M.]
Our own weakneſs, and Chriſt our ſtrength,
2 Cor. xii. 7, 9, 10.
1 TET me but hear my Saviour ſay,
Strength ſhall be equal to the day;
Then I rejoice in deep diſtreſs,
Leaning on all-ſufficient grace.
2 I glory in infirmity,
That Chriſt’s own pow'r may reſt on me :
When I am weak, then am I ſtrong,
Grace is my ſhield, and Chriſt my ſong,
| 3 I can do all things, or can bear
All ſuffrings, if my Lord be there;
Sweet pleaſures mingle with the painse
While his left-hand my head ſuſtains.
But if the Lord be once withdrawn,
And we attempt the work alone,
When new temptations ſpring and riſe,
We find how great our weakneſs is.
5 So Samſon when his hair was loſt,
Met the Philiſtines to his coſt;
Shook his vain limbs with ſad ſurpriſe,
Made feeble fight and loſt his eyes,
HYMN XVI. [C. M.]
Hoſanna to Chriſt,
Matt: xxi. 9. Luke xix. 38, 40,
HOSANNA to the reyal Son
Of David’s ancient line !
His natures two, his perſon one,
Myſterious and divine.
4
|
2 The root of David here we find,
And offspring is the ſame ;
Eternity and time are join’d
In our Emanuel’s name.
3 Bleſs'd he that comes to wretched men
With peaceful news from heav'n 1
Hoſannas of the higheſt ſtrain
To Chriſt the Lord be giv'n'
4 Let mortals ne’er refuſe to take
Th’ Hoſanna on their tongues,
Leſt rocks and ſtones ſhould riſe, and
Their ſilence into ſongs. [break
HYMN XVII. [C. M.]
Wićtory over death, 1 Cor. xv. 55, &c.
I For an overcoming faith
To chear my dying hours,
To triumph o'er the monſter death,
And all his frightful pow’rs!
Joyful, with all the ſtrength I have,
My quiv'ring lips ſhould fing, N
“Where is thy boaſted vićt’ry, grave?
And where the monſter’s ſting 2*
3 If fin be pardon'd, I’m ſecure,
Death hath no ſting beſide;
The law gives ſin its damning pow'r;
But Chriſt, my ranſom, dy’d.
4 Now to the God of vićtory
Immortal thanks be paid,
Who makes us conqu’rors while we die,
Through Chriſt our living head.
2
HYMN xviii. [c. M.]
Bleſſed are the dead that die in the Lord,
Rev. xiv." 13,
EAR what the voice from heav'n pro-
claims
For all the pious dead,
Sweet is the favour of their names,
And ſoft their ſleeping bed.
2 They die in Jeſus, and are bleſs'd;
How kind their ſlumbers are
From ſuff'rings and from fins releas'd,
And freed from ev’ry ſnare.
t
E28.
[Book I.
IHYMNS.—XIX, XX, XXI, XXIV. XXV.
3. Far from this world of toil and ſtrife,
They’re preſent with the Lord;
The labours of their mortal life
End in a large reward.
HYMN XIX. [C. M.]
The ſong of Simeon: or, Death made deſirable,
Luke i. 27, &c.
ORD, at thy temple we appears.
As happy Simeon came,
And hope to meet our Saviour here;
O make our joys the ſame
2. With what divine and vaſt delight
The good old man was fill’d,
When fondly in his wither'd arms
He claſp'd the holy child;
3 ** Now F can leave this world, he cry’d,
Behold thy ſervant dies;
I've ſeen thy great ſalvation, Lord,
And cloſe my peaceful eyes.
4. This is the light prepar’d to ſhine
Upon the Gentile lands,
Thine Iſrael’s glory, and their hope,
To break their ſlaviſh bands.”
5 [Jeſus ! the viſion of thy face
Hath overpow'ring charms!
Scarce ſhall I feel death's cold embrace,
If Chriſt be in my arms.
If
6. Them will ye hear my heart-ſtrings break,
How ſweet my minutes roll!
A mortal paleneſs on my cheek,
And glory in my ſoul.]
HYMN XX. [C. M.]
Shiritual aſſarel, namely, . The robe of righte-
ouſneſs, and garments of ſalvation, Iſa. lxi. 10.
I AWAKE my heart, ariſe my tongue,
Prepare a tuneful voice;
In God, the life of all my joys,
Aloud will I rejoice
2. 'Tis he adorn'd my naked foul,
And made ſalvation mine ;
Upon a poor polluted worm
He makes his graces ſhine.
3. And left the ſhadow of a ſpot
Should on my ſoul be found,
He took the robe the Saviour wrought,
And caſt it all around.
4 How far the heav'nly robe exceeds
What earthly princes wear !
Theſe ornaments, how bright they ſhine !
How white the garments are
5 The Spirit wrought my faith and love,
And hope and ev'ry grace;
But Jeſus ipent his life, to work
The robe of righteouſneſs.
6 Strangely, my foul, art thou array'd
• By the great ſacred three ?
In ſweeteſt harmony of praiſe
Let all thy pow'rs agree.
i
HYMN XXI. [C. M.]
4 viſion of the Kingdom of Chriſ among men,
Rev. xxi. 1, 2, 3, 4.
1 Lo, what a glorious fight appears
To our believing eyes!
The earth and ſeas are paſs'd away,
And the old rolling ſkies.
2. From the third heav'n, where God reſides,
That holy, happy place,
The new Jeruſalem comes down
Adorn’d with ſhining grace.
3. Attending angels ſhout for joy,
And the bright armies ſing,
“Mortals, behold the lacred ſeat
Of your deſcending king.
4 The God of glory down to men
Removes his bleſs'd abode 5.
Men the dear objećts of his grace,
And he the loving God.
5 His own ſoft hand ſhall wipe the tears
From ev’ry weeping eye,
And pains, and groans, and griefs, and
And death itſelf ſhall die.” [fears,
6 How long, dear Saviour, O how long t
Shall this bright hour delay *
Fly ſwifter round, ye wheels of time,
And bring, the welcome day.
HYMN XXII. and XXIII. Referred to
Pſalm czzv.
HYMN XXIV. [L. M.]
The rich ſinner dying, Pſal. xlix. 6,9. Ecek.
viii. 8. Job iii. 14, 15.
1 IN vain the wealthy mortals toil,
And heap their ſhining duſt in vain,
Look down and ſcorn the humble poor,
And boaſt their lofty hills of gain.
2 Their golden cordials cannot eafe
Their pained hearts or aching heads,
Nor fright, nor bribe, approaching death
From glitt’ring roofs and downy beds.
3
The ling’ring, the unwilling ſoul,
The diſmal ſummons muſt obey,
And bid a long, a ſad farewel,
To the pale lumps of lifeleſs clay.
Thence they are huddl’d to the grave,
Where kings and ſlaves have equal thrones,
Their bones without diſtinčtion lie
Amongſt the heap of maeaner bones.
The reſt referred to Pſalm xlix.
!
HYMN XXV. [L. M.]
A viſion of the Lamb, Rev. v. 6, 7, §, 9,
LL mortal vanities be gone,
Nor tempt my eyes, nor tire m
Behold amidſt th’ eternal throne
A viſion of the Lamb appears.
|
years:
2
[Glory his fleecy rºbe adorns,
Mark'd with the bloody death he bore;
Sev’n are his eyes, and ſev’n his horns,
To ſpeak his wiſdom and his pow'r,
Book I.]
129
BYMNS.—XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX,
3 Lo, he receives a ſealed book
From him that ſits upon the throne;
Jeſus, my Lord, prevails to look
On dark decrees, and things unknown.]
4 All the aſſembling ſaints around
Fall worſhipping before the Lamb,
And in new ſongs of goſpel ſound
Addreſs their honours to his name.
5 [The joy, the ſhout, the harmony
Flies o'er the everlaſting hills;
“Worthy art thou alone, they cry,
“To read the book, to looſe the ſeals.”]
6 Our voices join the heav'nly ſtrain,
And with tranſporting pleaſure ſing,
Worthy the Lamb that once was ſlain,
To be our teacher and our king !
7 His words of prophecy reveal
Eternal counſels, deep deſigns;
His grace and vengeance ſhall fulfilt
The peaceful and the dreadful lines:
8 Thou haſt redeem'd our ſouls from hell
With thine invaluable blood ;
And wretches that did once rebel,
Are now made favºrites of their God.
9 Worthy for ever is the Lord,
That dy’d for treaſons not his own,
By ev’ry tongue to be ador’d,
And dwell upon his father's throne I
HYMN xxvi. [c. M.]
Hohe of heaven by the reſurreàion of Chriſt,
1 Pet. i. 3, 4, 5.
1 BLESSP be the everlaſting God,
The Father of our Lord ;
Be his abounding mercy prais’d,
His Majeſty ador'd.
2. When from the dead he rais'd his Son,
And call’d him to the ſky,
He gave our ſouls a lively hope
That they ſhould never die.
3 What tho’ our inbred fins require -
Our fleſh to ſee the duſt,
Yet as the Lord our Saviour roſe,
So all his followers muſt.
4 There's an inheritance divine
Reſerv’d againſt that day :
'Tis uncorrupted, undefil’d,
And cannot waſte away.
5 Saints by the pow'r of God are kept,
*Till the ſalvation come ;
We walk by faith, as ſtrangers here,
*Till Chriſt ſhall callus home.
HYMN xxvii. ſc.M.]
4ſurance. ºf heaven; or, a ſaint/reſar'd to
die, 2 Tim. iv, 6, 7, 8, 18.
DEATH may diſſolve my body now,
And bear my ſpirit home ;
Why do my minutes move ſo ſlow,
Nor my ſalvation come *
3 With heav'nly weapons I have fought
The battles of i. Lord, ave tough
VOL. VII.
Finiſh'd my courſe, and kept the faith,
And wait the ſure reward.
3 God has laid up in heav’n for me
A crown which cannot fade ;
The righteous judge at that great day
Shall place it on my head.
4 Nor hath the king of grace decreed
This prize for me alone;
But all that love and long to ſee
Th” appearance of his Son.
5 Jeſus, the Lord, ſhall guard me ſafe
From ev’ry ill deſign :
And to his heav'nly kingdom keep
This feeble ſoul of mine,
6 God is my everlaſting aid,
And hell ſhall rage in vaifi :
To him be higheſt glory paid,
And endleſs praiſe. Amen.
HYMN XXVIII. [C. M.]
The trium/th of Chriſt over the enemies of his
church, Iſ, lxiii. 1, 2, 3, &c.
1 WHAT mighty man, or mighty God,
Comes travelling in ſtate `
Along the Idumean road,
Away from Bozrah’s gate |
The glory of his robes proclaim
'Tis ſome vićtorious king :
“”Tis I, the juſt, th’ almighty one,
“That your ſalvation bring.”
3 Why, mighty Lord, thy ſaints enquire
Why thine apparel's red 2 -
And all thy veſture ſtain'd like thoſe
Who in the wine-preſs tread
4 “I by myſelf have trod the preſs,"
And cruſh'd my foes alone ;
My wrath has ſtruck the rebels dead,
My fury ſtamp'd them down. *
'Tis Edom's blood that dyes my robes
With joyful ſcarlet ſtains ;
The triumph that my raiment wears
Sprung from their bleeding veins.
Thus ſhall the nations be deſtroy'd,
That dare inſult my ſaints;
I have an arm tº avenge their wrongs,
An oar for their complaints.”
2
5
6
HYMN XXIX. [C. M.]
The ſecond Aart: or, the ruin of antichrift,
ver. 4, 5, 6, 7.
“I LIFT my banner, faith the Lord,
* Where antichriſt has ſtood;
The city of my goſpel-foes
Shall be a field of blood, wº
2 My heart has ſtudy’d juſt revenge,
And now the day appears,
The day of my redeem’d is come,
To wipe away their tears.
3 Quite weary is my patience grown,
And bids my fury go :
R
l
130
[Book i.
HYMNS.—XXX. XXXII. XXXIX. XL.
Swift as the lightning it ſhall move,
And be as fatal too.
4 I call for helpers, but in vain :
Then has my goſpel none *
Well, mine own arm has might enough
To cruſh my focs alone.
Slaughter and my devouring ſword
Shall walk the ſtreets around,
Babel ſhall reel beneath my ſtroke,
And ſtagger to the ground.”
Thy honours, O vićtorious king ! .
Thine own right-hand ſhall raiſe,
While we thy awful vengeance ſing, .
And our deliv'rer praiſe.
5
6
HYMN XXX, [L. M.]
Prayer for deliverance anſwered, Iſ. xxvi,
8—20.
N thine own ways, O God of love,
We wait the viſits of thy grace;
Our ſouls deſire is to thy name,
And the remembrance of thy face.
My thoughts are ſearching, Lord, for thee,
'Mongſt the black ſhades of loneſome
night ;
My earneſt cries ſalute the ſkies
Before the dawn reſtore the light.
Look how rebellious men deride
The tender patience of my God;
But they ſhall ſee thy liſted hand,
And feel the ſcourges of my rod,
Hark! the Eternal rends the ſky,
A mighty voice before him goes,
A voice of muſic to his friends,
But threatning thunder to his foes.
5 Come, children, to your Father’s arms,
Hide in the chambers of my grace,
*Till the fierce ſtorms be overblown,
And my revenging fury ceaſe.
My ſword ſhall boaſt its thouſands ſlain,
And drink the blood of haughty kings,
While heav'nly peace around my flock
Stretches its ſoſt and ſhady wings.
XXXI. Referred to the firſt Pſalm.
I
2
3
4
6
HYMN XXXII. [C. M.]
Strength from heaven, Iſ. xl. 27, 28, 29, 30.
* WHENCE do our mournful thoughts
ariſe :
And where’s our courage fled 2
Has reſtleſs ſin and raging hell
Struck all our comforts dead 2
2 Have we forgot th' Almighty name
That form'd the earth and ſea 3
And can an all-creating arm
Grow weary, or decay
3 Treaſures of everlaſting might
In our Jehovah dwell ;
He gives the conqueſt to the weak,
And treads their foes to hell.
4 Mere mortal pow'r ſhall ſade and die,
And youthful vigour ceaſe ;
But we, that wait upon the Lord,
Shall feel our ſtrength increaſe.
5 The ſaints ſhall mount on eagles’ wings,
And taſte the promis’d bliſs, t
*Till their unweary’d feet arrive
Where perfect pleaſure is.
HYMNS XXXIII, XXXIV, XXXV,
XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXVIII. referred to
Pſalm crxxi, cxxxiv, lxvii, lxxiii, Xc. and
lxxxiv. {
HYMN XXXIX. [c. M.]
God’s tender care of his church, Iſ. xlix.
13, 14, &c
l Now ſhall my inward joys ariſe,
And burſt into a ſong ;
Almighty love inſpires my heart,
And pleaſure tunes my tongue.
2 God on his thirſty Sion hill
Some mercy drops has thrown,
And ſolemn oaths have bound his love
To ſhow’r ſalvation down. &
3 Why do we then indulge our fears,
Suſpicions and complaints 2
Is he a God, and ſhall his grace
Grow weary of his ſaints
4 Can a kind woman e'er forget
The infant of her womb,
And 'mongſt a thouſand tender thoughts
Her ſuckling have no room *
5 “Yet, faith the Lord, ſhould nature change,
And mothers monſters prove,
Sion ſtill dwells upon the heart
Of everlaſting love.
6 Deep on the palms of both my hands
I have engrav’d her name ;
My hands ſhall raiſe her ruin’d walls,
And build her broken frame.”
HYMN XL. [L. M.]
The buſineſs and bleſſedneſs of glorified ſaints,
Rev. vii. 13, 14, 15, &c. -
1 “WHAT happy men, or angels, theſe,
That all their robes are ſpotleſs
white P
Whence did this glorious troop arrive
At the pure realms of heav'nly light º’”
2 From tott’ring racks, and burning fires,
And ſeas of their own blood they came
. But nobler blood has waſh’d their robes,
Flowing ſrom Chriſt the dying Lamb.
Now they approach th' Almighty throne
With loud hoſannahs night and day,
Sweet anthems to the great Three One,
Meaſure their bleſs'd eternity.
5 No more ſhall hunger pain their ſouls;
He bids their parching thirſt be gone,
And ſpreads the ſhadow of his wings,
To ſcreen 'em from the ſeorching ſun.
5 The Lamb that fills the middle throne,
Shall ſhed around his milder beams ;
There ſhall they feaſt on his rich love,
And drink full joys from living ſtreams.
3
t
Book I.].
HYMNS.—XLI. XLII. XLV. XLVIII. I3]
6 Thus ſhall their mighty bliſs renew
Thro' the vaſt round of endleſs years,
And the ſoft hand of ſov’reign grace
Heals all their wounds, and wipes their
tears,
HYMN XLI, [c. M.] *
The ſame ; or, the martyrs glorified,
Rev. vii. 13, &c.
1, 44 THESE glorious minds, how bright
they ſhine !
Whence all their white array 2
How came they to the happy ſeats
Or everlaſting day 2”
2 From tort’ring pains to endleſs joys
On fiery wheels they rode,
And ſtrangely waſh’d their raiment white
In Jeſus' dying blood.
3 Now they approach a ſpotleſs God,
And bow before his throne ;
Their warbling harps and ſacred ſongs
Adose the holy One.
4 The unveil’d glories of his face
Amongſt his ſaints reſide,
While the rich treaſure of his grace
Sees all their wants ſupply'd.
5 Tormenting thirſt ſhall leave their ſouls,
And hunger flee as faſt;
The fruit of life’s immortal tree
Shall be their ſweet repaſt.
6 The Lamb ſhall lead his heav'nly flock
Where living fountains riſe,
And love divine ſhall wipe away
The ſorrows of their eyes.
* HYMN XLII. [C. M.]
Divine wrath and mercy; from Nahum
i. 1, 2, 3, &c.
DORE and tremble, for our God
Is a conſuming fire ;
His jealous eyes his wrath inflame,
And raiſe his vengeance higher.
2 Almighty vengeance how it burns !
How bright his fury glows
Vaſt magazines of plagues and ſtorms
Lie treaſur'd for his foes.
3 Thoſe heaps of wrath by ſlow degrees
Are forc’d into a flame,
But kindled, oh! how fierce they blaze
And rend all nature’s frame.
4. At his approach the mountains flee,
And ſeek a watry grave ;
The frighted ſea makes haſte away,
And ſhrinks up ev'ry wave.
5 Through the wide air the weighty rocks
Are ſwift as hail-ſtones hurl’d :
Who dares engage his fiery rage,
That ſhakes the ſolid world 2
6 Yet, mighty God! thy ſov’reign grace
Sits regent on the throne,
The refuge of thy choſen race
When wrath comes ruſhing down.
'i Thy hand ſhall on rebellious kings
A fiery tempeſt pour,
While we beneath thy ſheltering wings
Thy juſt revenge adore.
HYMN XLIII. referred to the cdth Pſalm.
HYMN XLIV. referred to the czXxiiid Pſalm.
HYMN XLV. [C. M.]
The laſt judgment, Rev. xxi. 5, 6, 7, 8-.
1 SEE where the great incarnate God
Fills a majeſtic throne,
While from the ſkies his awful voice
Bears the laſt judgment down.
[“I am the firſt, and I the laſt,
“Thro’ endleſs years the ſame ;
“I AM is my memorial ſtill,
“And my eternal name.
“Such favours as a God can give,
“My royal grace beſtows;
“Ye thirſty ſouls come taſte the ſtreams
“Where life and pleaſure flows.]
[“The ſaint that triumphs o'er his ſins,
“I’ll own him for a ſon ;
“The whole creation ſhall reward
“The conqueſts he has won.
5 “But bloody hands and hearts unclean,
“And all the lying race,
“The faithleſs and the ſcoffing crew,
“That ſpurn at offer'd grace;
“They ſhall be taken from my fight,
“Bound faſt in iron chains,
“And headlong plung’d into the lake
“Where fire and darkneſs reigns.”]
O may I ſtand before the Lamb,
When earth and ſeas are fled !
And hear the judge pronounce my name,
With bleſſings on my head
May I with thoſe for ever dwell,
Who here were my delight,
While ſinners baniſh’d down to hell,
No more offend my ſight.
2
3
4.
6
7
8
HYMNS XLVI, and XLVII, referred to
Pſalm Cxlviiith, and iiid.
HYMN XLVIII. [L. M.]
The chriftian race, If. Xl. 28, 29, 30, 31.
1 A WAKE our ſouls (away our fears,
Let every trembling thought be gone)
Awake, and run the heav'nly race,
And put a chearful courage on.
True, ’tis a ſtrait and thorny road,
And mortal ſpirits tire and faint;
But they forget the mighty God,
That feeds the ſtrength of ev'ry .
The mighty God, whoſe matchleſs pow'r
Is ever new and ever young,
And firm endures, while endleſs years
Their everlaſting circles run.
From thee tue overflowing ſpring,
Our ſouls ſhall drink a freſh ſupply,
While ſuch as truſt their native ſtrength
Shall melt away, and drop, and die.
R 2 -
X
3
4.
132 HYMNS.-XLIX.
L. LI. LII. LIII, [Book I,
5 Swift as an eagle cuts the air, |
We’ll mount aloft to thine abode ;
On wings of love our ſouls ſhall fly,
Nor tire amidſt the heav'nly road.
|
HYMN XLIX. [c. M.]
The works of Moſes and the Lamb, Rev. xv. 3.
I HOW ſtrong thine arm is, mighty God!
Who would not fear thy name 3
Jeſus, how ſweet thy graces are
Who would not love the Lamb
2 He has done more than Moſes did, i
Our prophet and our king 2
From bonds-of hell he freed our ſouls,
And taught our lips to ſing.
3 In the Red Sea by Moſes’ hand * |
The Egyptian hoſt was drown'd ; i
But his own blood hides all our ſins, |
And guilt no more is found.
|
|
{
|
|
4. When thro’ the deſart Iſrael went,
With manna they were fed ;
Our Lord invites us to his fleſh,
And calls it living bread.
5 Moſes beheld the promis’d land,
Yet never reach'd the place ; {i};
But Chriſt ſhall bring his followers home ||
To ſee his Father's face.
6 Then ſhall our love and joy be full,
And feel a warmer flame,
And ſweeter voices tune the ſong
Of Moſes and the Lamb.
HYMN L. L.C. M.]
The ſong of Zecharias, and the meſſage of John 1.
the Baptiſt ; or, light and ſalvation by Je-
fus Chriſt, Luke i. 68, &c. John i. 29, 32.
I Now be the God of Iſrael bleſs'd,
Who makes his truth appear;
His mighty hand fulfils his word,
And all the oaths he ſware,
2 Now he bedev's old David’s root
With bleſfings from the ſkies;
He makes the branch of promiſe grow,
The promis’d horn ariſe.
§ [John was the prophet of the Lord,
To go before his face,
The herald which our Saviour-God
Sent to prepare his ways.
4. He makes the great ſalvation known,
He ſpeaks of pardon'd ſins ;
While grace divine, and heav'nly love,
In its own glory ſhines.
5 * Behold the Lamb of God, he cries,
“That takes our guilt away :
“I ſaw the ſpirit o'er his head
“In his baptizing day.]
6 “Be ev’ry vale exalted high,
“Sink ev'ry mountain low ;
“The proud muſt ſtoop, and humble ſouls
“Shall his ſalvation know.
‘ſ “The heathen realms with Iſrael’s land
“Shall join in ſweet accord;
|
*
“And all that's born of man ſhall ſee
“The glory of the Lord.
8 “Behold the Morning-ſtar ariſe,
“Ye that in darkneſs ſit;
“He marks the path that leads to peace,
“And guides our doubtful feet.”
HYMN LI. [S. M.]
Perſevering grace, Jude xxiv. 25.
I O God the only wiſe,
Our Saviour and our King,
Let all the ſaints below the ſkies
Their humble praiſes bring.
*Tis his almighty love
His counſel and his care,
Preſerves us ſafe from ſin and death,
And ev'ry hurtful ſnare.
He will preferit our ſouls
Unblemiſh’d and complete,
Before the glory of his face,
With joys divinely great.
Then all the choſen ſeed
Shall meet around the throne,
hall bleſs the conduct of his grace,
And make his wonders known.
To our Redeemer God
Wiſdom and pow'r belongs,
Immortal crowns of majeſty,
And everlaſting ſongs.
2
3
HYMN LII. [L. M.]
Baptiſm, Mat. xxviii. 19. Aćts ii. 38.
1 TwAs the commiſſion of the Lord,...,
“ Go, teach the nations, and baptize,”
The nations have receiv'd the word
Since he aſcended to the ſkies.
|2 He ſits upon th’ eternal hills,
With grace and pardon in his hands,
And ſends his cov’nant, with the ſeals,
To bleſs the diſtant Britiſh lands.
| sº *
|| 3 Repent, and be baptiz'd, he ſaith,
For the remiſfion of your fins;
And thus our ſenſe affiſts our faith,
And ſhows us what his goſpel means.
|4 Our ſouls he waſhes in his blood,
As water makes the body clean ;
And the good Spirit from our God
Deſcends like purifying rain.
|5 Thus we engage ourſelves to thee,
And ſeal our cov'nant with the Lord ;
O may the great eternal Three
In heav’n our ſolemn vows record
HYMN LIII. [L. M.]
The holy ſcriptures, Heb. i. 1. 2 Tim. iii.
15, 16. Pſ. cxlvii. 19, 20.
1 GOP, who in various methods told
His mind and will to ſaints of old,
Sent his own Son, with truth and grace,
To teach us in theſe latter days,


book I.]
133
IIYMNS.–1.IV. L.V. LVI. LVII.
2 Our nation reads the written word,
That book of life, that ſure record : |
The bright inheritance of heav'n,
Is by the ſweet conveyance giv'n.
3 God’s kindeſt thoughts are here expreſs'd,
Able to make us wiſe and bleſs'd ;
The doćtrines are divinely true,
Fit for reproof, and comfort too.
4 Ye Britiſh iſles, who read his love
In long epiſtles from above,
(He hath not ſent his ſacred word
To ev'ry land) praiſe ye the Lord,
HYMN LIV. [L. M.]
Electing grace : or, Saints beloved in Chriſt,
Eph. i. 3, &C. :
l JEğ, we bleſs thy Father’s name;
Thy God and ours are both the ſame : |
What heav'nly bleſſings from his throne
Flow down to ſinners thro’ his Son |
2 Chriſt be my firſt eleēt, he ſaid,
Then choſe our ſouls in Chriſt our head,
Before he gave the mountains birth,
'Or laid foundations for the earth.
3 Thus did eternal love begin
To raiſe us up from death and ſin;
Our charaćters were then decreed,
Blameleſs in love, a holy ſeed.
4 Predeſtinated to be ſons,
Born by degrees, but choſe at once;
A new regenerated race,
To praiſe the glory of his grace.
5 With Chriſt our Lord we ſhare our part
In the affections of his heart;
Nor ſhall our ſouls be thence remov’d,
*Till he forgets his firſt belov’d.
|
HYMN LV. [C. M.]
Hezekiah’s ſong : or, Sickneſs and recovery,
Iſa. xxxviii. 9, &c.
l
Our God deſerves a ſong :
We take the pattern of our praiſe
From Hezekiah’s tongue.
2 The gates of the devouring grave
Are open'd wide in vain,
If he that holds the keys of death
Commands them faſt again.
3 Pains of the fleſh are wont tº abuſe
Our minds with ſlaviſh fears;
“Our days are paſt, and we ſhall loſe
The remnant of our years.”
4. We chatter with a ſwallow’s voice,
Or like a dove we mourn,
With bitterneſs inſtead of joys,
Afflićted and forlorn.
5 Jehovah ſpeaks the healing word,
And no diſeaſe withſtands :
Fevers and plagues obey the Lord,
And fly at his commands.
6 If half the ſtrings of life ſhould break,
He can our frame reſtore;
HEN we are rais’d from deep diſtreſs,
|
h
|
He caſts our ſins behind his back,
And they are found no more.
HYMN LVI. [C. M.]
The ſong of Moſes and the Lamb : or, Babylon
/alling, Rev. xv. 3. and xvi. 19. and xvii. 6.
1 WE fing the glories of thy love,
We ſound thy dreadful name;
The chriſtian church unites the ſongs
Of Moſes and the Lamb.
2 Great God, how wondrous are thy works
Of vengeance, and of grace
Thou king of ſaints, almighty Lord,
How juſt and true thy ways:
3 Who dares refuſe to fear thy name,
Or worſhip at thy throne *
Thy judgments ſpeak thine holineſs
Thro' all the nations known.
4 Great Babylon, that rules the earth,
Drunk with the martyrs blood,
Her crimes ſhall ſpeedily awake
The fury of our God.
5 The cup of wrath is ready mix’d,
And ſhe muſt drink the dregs;
Strong is the Lord, her fov’reign judge,
And ſhall fulfil the plagues.
HYMN LVII. [L. M.]
|Original ſin : or, The firſt and ſecond Adam,
Rom. v. 12, &c. Pſal. li. 5. Job xiv. 4.
l BAckward with humble ſhame we look
On our original;
How is our nature daſh’d and broke
In our firſt father’s fall !
, 2 To all that’s good averſe and blind,
But prone to all that’s ill;
What dreadful darkneſs veils our mind!
How obſtinate our will !
| 3 Conceiv'd in fin (O wretched ſtate 1)
Before we draw our breath;
The firſt young pulſe begins to beat
Iniquity and death.
4 How ſtrong in our degen'rate blood
The old corruption reigns,
And mingling with the crooked flood,
Wanders through all our veins !]
5 [Wild and unwholſome as the root
Will all the branches be ;
How can we hope for living fruit
From ſuch a deadly tree ?
3 What mortal pow'r from things unclean
Can pure productions bring 2
Who can command a vital ſtream
From an infected ſpring J
7 Yet, mighty God, thy wondrous love
Can make our nature clean,
While Chriſt and grace prevail above
The tempter, death and ſin.
* 8 The ſcoond Adam ſhall reſtore
The ruins of the firſt;
Hoſanna to that ſov’reign pow'r,
That ncvy creates our duſt 1
i IIYMNS.—LVIII. LIX.
LX. LXI. LXII. LXIII. [Book I.
HYMN LVIII. [L. M.]
The devil vanquiſhed; or, Michael's war with
the dragon, Rev. xii. 7.
1. LET mortal tongues attempt to ſing
» The wars of heav'n, when Michael ſtood
Chief general of th’ eterral king,
And fought the battles of our God.
2 Againſt the dragon and, his hoſt
The armies of the Lord prevail :
In vain they rage, in vain they boaſt,
Their courage ſinks, their weapons fail.
3 Down to the earth was ſatan thrown,
Down to the earth his legions fell ;
Then was the trump of triumph blown,
And ſhook the drcadful deeps of hell.
Now is the hour of darkneſs paſt,
Chriſt has aſſum’d his reigning pow'r;
Behold the great accuſer caſt
Down from the ſkies to riſe no more.
‘Twas by thy blood, immortal Lamb,
Thine armies trod the tempter down ;
*Twas by thy word and pow'rful name
They gain’d the battle and renown.
Rejoice ye heav’ns; let ev'ry ſtar
Shine with new glories round the ſky :
Saints, while ye ſing the heav'nly war,
Raiſe your deliv'rer’s name on high.
5
6
HYMN LIX. [L. M.]
Babylon fallen, Rev. xviii. 20, 21.
N Gabriel’s hand a mighty ſtone
Lies, a fair type of Babylon :
Prophets rejoice, and all ye ſaints,
God ſhall avenge your long complaints.
He ſaid, and dreadful as he ſtood,"
He ſunk the millſtone in the flood :
Thus terribly ſhall Babel fall,
Thus, and no more be found at all.
R
2
HYMN LX. [L. M.]
The virgin Mary’s ſong ; or, The ſhromiſed
Meſfiah born, Luke i. 46, &c.
OUR ſouls ſhall magnify the Lord,
In God the Saviour we rejoice;
While we repeat the virgin’s ſong,
May the ſame Spirit tune our voice.
[The higheſt ſaw her low eſtate,
And mighty things his hand hath done :
His overſhadowing pow'r and grace
Makes her the mother of his Son.
Let ev’ry nation call her bleſs'd,
And endleſs years prolong her fame;
But God alone muſt be ador’d ;
Holy and rev'rend is his name.]
To thoſe that fear and truſt the Lord,
His mercy ſtands for ever ſure :
From age to age his promiſe lives,
And the performance is ſecure.
He ſpake to Abr’m and his ſeed,
“In thce ſhall all the earth bo bleſs'd :”
The mem'ry of that ancient word
Lay long in his eternal breaſt.
}
2
6 But now no more ſhall Iſrael wait,
No more the Gentiles lie forlorn :
Lo, the deſire of nations comes ;
Behold the promis’d ſeed his born 1
HYMN LXI. [L. M.]
Chriſt our High-Prieſ and King, and Chriſt
coming to judgment, Rev. i. 5, 6, 7.
l NOW to the Lord that makes us know
The wonders of his dying love,
Be humble honours paid below,
And ſtrains of nobler praiſe above.
'Twas he that cleans’d our fouleſt ſins,
And waſh’d us in his richeſt blood;
'Tis he that makes us prieſts and kings,
And brings us rebels near to God.
To Jeſus, our atoning prieſt,
To Jeſus, our ſuperior king,
Be everlaſting pow'r confeſs'd,
And ev’ry tongue his glory ſing,
Behold, on flying clouds he comes,
And ev’ry eye ſhall ſee him move ;
Tho' with our ſins we pierc’d him once ;
Then he diſplays his pard’ning love.
The unbelieving world ſhall wail,
While we rejoice to ſee the day:
Come, Lord ; nor let thy promiſe fail,
Nor let thy chariots long delay.
HYMN LXII. [C. M.]
Chriſt Jeſus the Lamb of God, wor///cd by
all the creation, Rev. v. 11, 12, 13.
1 CoME let us join our chearful ſongs
With angels round the throne;
Ten thouſand thouſand are their tongues,
But all their joys are one.
2 Worthy the Lamb that dy’d, they cry,
To be exalted thus:
Worthy the Lamb, our lips reply,
For he was ſlain for us.
i8 Jeſus is worthy to receive
Honour and pow'r divine;
And bleſfings more than we can give,
Be, Lord, for ever thine.
4 Let all that dwell above the ſky,"
And air, and earth, and ſeas,
Conſpire to lift thy glories high,
And ſpeak thine endleſs praiſe:
|5 The whole creation join in one,
To bleſs the ſacred name
Of him that ſits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb.
HYMN LXIII. [L. M.]
Chriſt’s humiliation and exaltation,
Rev. v. 12.
1 W HAT equal honours ſhall we bring
To thee, O Lord our God, the Lamb,
When all the notes that angels ſing,
Are far inferior to thy mame
Book I.]
135
HYMNS.–LXIV. LXV. LXVI. LXVII.
2 Worthy is he that once was ſlain,
The prince of peace that groan’d and dy’d,
Worthy to riſe, and live, and reign
At his almighty Father’s ſide.
3 Pow'r and dominion are his due,
Who ſtood condemn’d at Pilate’s bar :
Wiſdom belongs to Jeſus too,
Tho' he was charg’d with madneſs here.
4 All riches are his native right,
Yet he ſuſtain’d amazing loſs ;
To him aſcribe eternal might,
who left his weakneſs on the croſs.
Honour immortal muſt be paid,
Inſtead of ſcandal and of ſcorn;
While glory ſhines around his head,
And a bright crown without a thorn.
5
6
Bleſfings for ever on the Lamb, -
Who bore the curſe for wretched men :
Let angels ſound his ſacred name,
And ev'ry creature ſay Amen.
HYMN LXIV IL. M. J
Adoſition, 1 John iii. 1, &c. Gal. vi. 6.
BEHOLP what wond’rous grace
The Father has beſtow’d
On ſinners of a mortal race,
To call them ſons of God.
2 ”Tis no ſurpriſing thing,
That we ſhould be unknown;
1
The Jewiſh world knew not their king,
God’s everlaiting Son.
3 Nor doth it yet appear
How great we muſt be made ;
But when we ſee our Saviour here,
We ſhall be like our head.
4. A hope ſo much divine
May trials well endure,
May purge our ſouls from ſenſe and ſin,
As Chriſt the Lord is pure.
5 If in my Father's love
I ſhare a filial part,
Send down thy Spirit, like a dove,
To reſt upon my heart.
6 We would no longer lie
Like ſlaves beneath the throne;
My Faith ſhall Abba Father cry,
And thou the kindred own.
HYMN LXV. [L. M.]
The kingdoms of the world become the Kingdoms
çf the Lord : on, The day of judgment, Rev.
xi. 15.
! I ET the ſev’nth angel ſound on high,
Let ſhouts be heard thro' all the ſky;
Kings of the carth, with glad accord
Give up your kingdoms to the Lord.
2 Almighty God, thy pow'r aſſume,
Who waſt, and art, and art to come :
Jeſus the Lamb, who once was ſlain,
For ever live, for ever reign
3 The angry nations fret and roar, -
That they can ſlay the ſaints no more;
9
On wings of vengeance flies our God
To pay the long arrears of blood.
4 Now muſt the riſing dead appear;
Now the deciſive, ſentence hear;
Now the dear martyrs of the Lord
Receive an infinite reward. .
HYMN LXVI. [C. M.]
| Chriſt the King at his table, Sol. Song i. 2, 3,
4, 5, 12, 13, 17.
1 LET him embrace my ſoul, and prove
Mine int’reſt in his heav'nly love :
The voice that tells me, Thou art mine,
Exceeds the bleſſings of the vine.
2 On thee, th’ anointing. Spirit came,
And ſpreads the ſavour of thy name;
That oil of gladneſs and of grace
Draws virgin ſouls to meet thy face.
3
Jeſus, allure me by thy charms,
My ſoul ſhall fly into thy arms
Our wand'ring ſeet thy favours bring
To the fair chambers of the king.
4.
[Wonder and pleaſure tunes our voice,
To ſpeak thy praiſes and our joys:
Our mem'ry keeps this love of thine
Beyond the taſte of richeſt wine.]
5
Tho' in ourſelves deform'd we are,
And black as Kedar tents appear,
Yet when we put thy beauties on,
Fair as the courts of Solomon.
[While at his table ſits the king,
He loves to ſee us ſmile and ſing :
Our graces are our beſt perfume,
And breathe like ſpikenard round the
room.] t
6
7
As myrrh new bleeding from the tree,
Such is a dying Chriſt to me; !
And while he makes my ſoul his gueſt,
My boſom Lord, ſhall be thy reſt.
[No beams of cedar or of fir,
Can with thy, courts on earth compare ;
And here we wait until thy love
Raiſe us to nobler ſeats above.]
HYMN LXVII. [L. M.]
Seeking the ſtaffures of Chriſt the /s/keri,
Sol. Song i. 7.
THOU whom my ſoul admires above
All earthly joy and earthly love,
Tell me, dear ſhepherd, let me know
Where doth thy ſweeteſt paſture grow?
Where is the ſhadow of that rock
That from the ſun defends thy flock 2
Fain would I feed among thy ſheep,
Among them reſt, among them ſleep.
Why ſhould thy bride appear like one
That turns aſide to paths unknown 3
My conſtant feet would never rove,
Would never ſeek another love.
[The footſteps of thy flock I ſee :
l
2
*
3
Thy ſweeteſt paſtures here they be ;
136
IIYMNS.—LXVIII. LXIX. LXX. F.XXI.
A wond’rous ſcaſt thy love prepares,
Bought with thy wounds, and groans, and
5 His deareſt fleſh he makes my food,
And bids me drink his richeſt blood :
Here to theſe hills my ſoul will come,
*Till my beloved lead me home.]
- HYMN LXVIII. [L. M.]
The banquet of love, Sol. Song ii. 1, 2, 3, 4,
6, 7. w
3.
l BEHOLP the roſe of Sharon here,
The lily which the valleys bear :
Behold the tree of life, that gives
Refreſhing fruit, and healing leavest
2 Amongſt the thorns ſo lilies ſhine;
Amongſt wild gourds the noble vine ;
So in mine eyes my Saviour proves,
Amidſt a thouſand meaner loves,
3 Beneath his cooling ſhade I ſat,
To ſhield me from the burning heat;
Of heav'nly fruit he ſpreads a feaſt,
To feed mine eyes, and pleaſe my taſte.
4 [Kindly he brought me to the place
Where ſtands the banquet of his grace;
He ſaw me faint and o'er my head
The banner of his love he ſpread.
5 With living bread, and gen’rous wine,
He chears this ſinking heart of mine;
And op'ning his own heart to me,
He ſhows his thoughts how kind they be.]
6 O never let my Lord depart,
Lie down and reſt upon my heart;
§. my ſins not once to move,
r ſtir, nor wake, nor grieve my love.
HYMN LXIX. [C. M.]
Chriſt aft/learing to his church, and ſeeking her
company, Sol Song ii. 8, 9, 10, 1 1, 12, 13.
l THE voice of my beloved ſounds
Over the rocks and riſing grounds ;
O'er hills of guilt, and ſeas of grief,
He leaps, he flies to my relief.
2 Now thro’ the veil of fleſh I fee,
With eyes of love he looks to me :
Now in the goſpel’s cleareſt glaſs
He ſhows the beauties of his face.
3 Gently he draws my heart along,
Both with his beauties and his tongue ;
“Riſe, faith my Lord, make haſte away
“No mortal joys are worth thy ſtay.
4 “The Jewiſh wint'ry ſtate is gone,
“The miſts are fled, the ſpring comes on,
** The ſacred turtle-dove we hear
“Proclaim the new, the joyful year.
5 “Th’ immortal vine of heav'nly root
“ Bloſſoms and buds, and gives her fruit.”
Lo, we are come to taſte the wine ;
- Our ſouls rejoice, and bleſs the vine.
6 And when we hear our Jeſus ſay,
“Riſe up my love, make haſte away l’’
Our hearts would fain out-fly the wind,
And leave all earthly loves behind.
HYMN LXX. [L. M.]
Chriſt inviting, and the church anſwering the
invitation, Sol. Song ii. 14, 16, 17.
1 [HARK ! the Redeemer from on high
t Sweetly invites his fav’rites nigh;
From caves of darkneſs and of doubt,
He gently ſpeaks and calls us out.
2 “My dove, who hideſt in the rock,
“Thine heart almoſt with ſorrow broke,
“Lift up thy face, ſorget thy fear,
: “And let thy voice delight mine ear.
3 “Thy voice to me ſounds ever ſweet;
“My graces in thy count'nance meet;
“Tho’ the vain world thy face deſpiſe,
“”Tis bright and comely in mine eyes.”
Dear Lord, our thankful heart receives
The hope thine invitation gives :
To thee our joyful lips ſhall raiſe
The voice of prayer, and of praiſe.]
5 [I am my love's, and he is mine;
Our hearts, our hopes, our paſſions join;
Nor let a motion, nor a word,
Nor thought ariſe to grieve my Lord.
My ſoul to paſtures fair he leads,
Amongſt the lilies where he feeds;
Amongſt the ſaints (whoſe robes are white
Waſhed in his blood) is his delight.
7 'Till the day-break, and ſhadows flee,
Till the ſweet dawning light I ſee,
Thine eyes to me-ward often turn,
Nor let my ſoul in darkneſs mourn.
Be like a hart on mountains green,
Leap o'er the hills of fear and ſin;
Nor guilt, nor unbelief divide
My love, my Saviour, from my ſide.]
4
6
8
HYMN LXXI. [L. M.]
Chriſt found in the ſtreet, and brought to the
church, Sol. Song iii. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
1 OFTEN I ſeek my Lord by night,
Jeſus, my love, my ſoul’s delight,
With warm deſire and reſtleſs thought
I ſeek him oft, but find him not.
Then I ariſe, and ſearch the ſtreet,
*Till I my Lord, my Saviour meet;
I aſk the watchmen of the night,
“Where did you ſee my ſoul's delight?”
3 Sometimes I find him in my way,
Directed by a heav'nly ray;
I leap for joy to ſee his face,
And hold him faſt in mine embrace.
[I bring him to my mother's home,
Nor does my Lord refuſe to come
To Sion’s ſacred chambers, where
My ſoul firſt drew the vital air.
5 He gives me there his bleeding heart,
Pierc’d for my ſake with deadly ſmart;
I give my ſoul to him, and there
Our-loves their mutual tokens ſhare.]
6 I charge you all, ye earthly toys,
Approach not to diſturb my joys;
2
4.
Book I.]
137
HYMNS.–LXXII. LXXIII. LXXIV. LXXV.
Nor ſin, nor hell, come near my heart,
Nor cauſe my Saviour to depart.
HYMN LXXII. [L. M.]
The coronations of Chriſt, and eſouſals of the
church, Sol. Song iii. 2.
1 DAUGHTERS of Sion, come, behold
The crown of honour and of gold,
Which the glad church, with joys unknown
Plac'd on the head of Solomon.
2 Jeſus, thou everlaſting king,
Accept the tribute which we bring;
Accept the well-deſerv’d renown,
And wear our praiſes as thy crown.
. 3 Let every act of worſhip be
Like our eſpouſals, Lord, to thee;
Like the dear hour when from above
We firſt receiv'd thy pledge of love.
4. The gladneſs of that happy day !
Our hearts would wiſh it long to ſtay;
Nor let our faith forſake its hold,
Nor comfort ſink, nor love grow cold.
5. Each following minute as it flies,
Increaſe thy praiſe, improve our joys,
*Till we are rais’d to ſing thy name
At the great ſupper of the Lamb.
6 O that the months would roll away,
And, bring that coronation-day !
The king of grace ſhall fill the throne,
With all his #: glories on.
HYMN LXXIII. [L. M.]
The church's beauty in the eyes of Chriſt, Sol.
Song iv. l, 10, l 1, 7, 9, 8.
f KINP is the ſpeech of Chriſt our Lord,
* Affection ſounds in ev’ry word;
“Lo, thou art fair, my love, he cries,
Not the young doves have ſweeter eyes.
2 [Sweet are thy lips, thy pleaſing voice -
Salutes mine ear with ſecret joys :
.No ſpice ſo much delights the ſmell,
Nor milk nor honey taſte ſo well.]
3 Thou art all fair, my bride, to me,
I will behold no ſpot in thee.”
What mighty wonders love performs,
And puts a comelineſs on worms
4 Defil’d and loth ſome as we are,
He makes us white, and calls us fair;
Adorns us with that heav'nly dreſs,
His graces and his righteouſneſs.
5 “My ſiſter and my ſpouſe, he cries,
“Bound to my heart by various ties,
“Thy pow'rful love my heart detains
“ Inſtrong delight and pleaſing chains.”.
6 He calls me from the leopard's den,
From this wide world of beaſts and men,
To Sion where his glories are ;
Not Lebanon is half ſo fair.
'i Nor dens of prey, nor flow'ry plains,
Noriearthly joys, nor earthly pains,
$hall hold my feet, or force my ſtay,
When Chriſt invites my ſoul away.
VOL. VII,
HYMN LXXIV. [L. M.]
The church of the garden of Chriſt, Sol. Song
iv. 12, 14, 15, and v. 1.
1 WE are a garden wall'd around,
Choſen and made peculiar ground;
A little ſpot, inclos’d by grace,
Out of the world’s wide wilderneſs.
Like trees of myrrh and ſpice we ſtand
Planted by God the Father’s hand;
And all his ſprings in Sion flow,
To make the young plantation grow.
3 Awake, O heav'nly wind, and come,
Blow on this garden of perfume;
Spirit divine, deſcend and breathe
A gracious gale on plants beneath.
4 Make our beſt ſpices flow abroad,
To entertain our Saviour God :
And faith, and love, and joy appear,
And ev'ry grace be active here.
[Let my beloved come and taſte
His pleaſant fruits at his own ſeaſt.
“I come, my ſpouſe, I come, he cries,”
With love and pleaſure in his eyes.
6 Our Lord into his garden comes,
Well pleas'd to ſmell our poor perfumes,
And calls us to a feaſt divine,
Sweeter than honey, milk, or wine.
7 “ Eat of the tree of life, my friends,
“The bleſſings that my father ſends;
“Your taſte ſhall all my dainties prove,
“And drink abundance of my love.”
Jeſus, we will frequent thy board,
And ſing the bounties of our Lord :
But the rich food on which we live
Demands more praiſe than tongues can
give.]
2
5
8
HYMN LXXV. [L. M.]
| The deſcription of Chriſt the beloved, Sol. Song.
v. 9, 10, l 1, 12, 14, 15, 16.
l THE wond'ring world enquires to know
Why I ſhould love my Jeſus ſo :
“What are his charms, ſay they, above
“The objećts of a mortal love?”
Yes, my beloved, to my ſight
Shews a ſweet mixture, red and white:
All human beauties, all divine,
In my beloved meet and ſhine.
White is his ſoul, from blemiſh free;
Red with the blood he ſhed for me;
The faireſt of ten thouſand fairs;
A ſun amongſt ten thouſand ſtars;
[His head the fineſt gold excels;
There wiſdom in perfeótion dwells,
And glory like a crown adorns
Thoſe temples once beſet with thorns.
Compaſſions in his heart are found,
Hard by the ſignals of his wound :
His ſacred ſide rio more ſhall bear
The cruel Kourº the piercing ſpear.]
Q
3
4.
5
i38
[Book I.
HYMNS.—LXXVI. LXXVII. LXXVIII. LXXIX.
6 [His hands are fairer to behold
Than diamonds ſet in rings of gold;
Thoſe heav'nly hands that on the tree
Were nail’d, and torn, and bled for me.
7 Tho' once he bow’d his feeble knees,
Loaded with ſins and agonies,
Now on the throne of his command
His legs like marble pillars ſtand.]
8 [His eyes are majeſty and love,
The eagle temper’d with the dove :
No more ſhall trickling ſorrows roll
Thro' thofe dear windows of his ſoul.]
9 His mouth that pour’d out long com-
plaints,
Now ſmiles, and chears his fainting ſaints:
His countenance more graceful is
That Lebanon with all its trees,
10 All over glorious is my Lord,
Muſt be belov’d, and yet ador'd ;
His worth if all the nations knew,
Sure the whole earth would love him too.
HYMN LXXVI. [L. M.]
Chriſt dwells in heaven, but viſits on earth, Sol.
Song vi. 1, 2, 3, 12.
l WHEN ftrangers ſtand and hear me tell
What beauties in my Saviour dwell;
Where he is gone they fain would know,
That they may ſeek and love him too.
2 My beſt beloved keeps his throne;
On hills of light, in worlds unknown;
But he deſcends, and ſhows his face
In the young gardens of his grace.
3 [In vineyards planted by his hand,
Where fruitful trees in order ſtand ;
He feeds among the ſpicy beds,
Where lilies ſhow their ſpotleſs heads.
4 He has engroſs'd my warmeſt love,
No earthly charms my ſoul can move :
I have a manſion in his heart,
Nor death, nor hell, ſhall make us part.]
5 [He takes my ſoul ere I’m aware,
And ſhows me where his glories are ;
No chariot of Amminadib
The ſheav'nly rapture can deſcribe.
6 O may my ſpirit daily riſe
On wings of faith above the ſkies,”
*Till death ſhall make my laſt remove,
To dwell for ever with my love.]
HYMN LXXVII. [L. M.]
The love of Chriſt to the church in his Manguage
to her, and ſtroviſions for her, Sol. Song vii.
5, 6, 9, 12, 13.
1 Now in the gall’ries of his grace
Appears the king, and thus he ſays:
“How fair my faints are in my fight,
“My love how pleaſant for delight?”
2 Kind is thy language, ſov’reign Lord,
There's heav'nly grace in ev'ry word;
From that dear mouth a ſtream divine
Flows ſweeter than the choiceſt wine.
3 Such wond’rous love awakes the lip
Of ſaints that were almoſt aſleep,
To ſpeak the praiſes of thy name,
And makes our cold affections flame.
4 Theſe are the joys he lets us know
In fields and villages below;
Gives us a reliſh of his love,
But keeps his nobleſt feaſt above.
5 In paradiſe within the gates
An higher entertainment waits ;
Fruits new and old laid up in ſtore,
Where we ſhall feed, but thirſt no more.
HYMN LXXVIII. [L. M.]
The ſtrength of Chriſt's love, and the ſoul's jea.
# of her own, Sol. Song viii. 5, 6, 7, 13,
4.
1. HO is this fair one in diſtreſs,
That travels from the wilderneſs 2.
And preſs'd with ſorrows and with fins,
On her beloved Lord ſhe leans.
This is the ſpouſe of Chriſt our God,
Bought with the treaſures of his blood :
And her requeſt, and her complaint,
But the voice of ev'ry faint.]
3 “Q let my name engraven ſtand,
“Both on thy heart and on thy hand;
“Seal me upon thine arm, and wear
“That pledge of love for ever there.
“Stronger than death thy love is known;
“Which floods of wrath could never
drown;
“And hell and earth in vain combine
“To quench a fire ſo much divine.
5 “But I am jealous of my heart,
“Left it ſhould once from thee depart;
“Then let thy name be well impreſs'd,
“As a fair ſignet on my breaſt.
“Till thou haſt brought me to thy home,
“Where fears and doubts can never come,
“Thy count'nance let me often ſee,
“And often thou ſhalt hear from me.
“Come, my beloved, haſte away,
“Cut ſhort the hours of thy delay;
“Fly like a youth ſul hart or roe
“Over the hills where ſpices grow.”
HYMN LXXIX. [L. M.]
A morning hymn; Pſalm xix. 5, 8, and lxxiii.
24, 25.
1 GQP of the morning, at whoſe voice
The chearful ſun makes haſte to riſe,
And like a giant doth rejoice
To run his journey thro’ the ſkies.
2 From the fair chambers of the eaſt
The circuit of his race begins,
And without wearineſs or reſt
Round the whole earth he flies and ſhines,
3 Oh, like the ſun, may I fulfil
Th’ appointed duties of the day, ,
With ready mind and active will
March on and keep my heav'nly way.
4 [But I ſhall rove and loſe the race,
If God, my ſun, ſhall diſappear,
2
4
6
7
Book I.] HYMNS.–LXXX. LXXXI. LXXXII. LXXXIII. LXXXIV.
139
And leave me in the world’s wild maze
To follow ev'ry wand'ring ſtar.
Lord, thy commands are clean and pure,
Enlight’ping our beclouded eyes;
Thy threat’nings juſt, thy promiſe ſure,
Thy goſpel makes the ſimple wiſe.
Give me thy counſel for my guide,
And then receive me to thy bliſs ;
All my deſires and hopes beſide
Are faint and cold, compar'd with this.
HYMN LXXX. [L. M.]
4n cºvening hymn, Pſal. iv. 8. and iii. 5, 6.
and czliii. 8.
HUS far the Lord has led me on, `
Thus far his pow'r prolongs my days,
And ev’ry ev'ning ſhall make known
Some freſh memorial of his grace.
Much of my time has run to waſte,
And I perhaps am near my home;
But he forgives my follies paſt, w
He gives me ſtrength for days to come.
I lay my body down to ſleep,
Peace is the pillow for my head ;
While well-appointed angels keep
Their watchful ſtations round my bed.
4. In vain the ſons of earth or hell
Tell me a thouſand frightſul things;
My God in ſafety makes me dwell
Beneath the ſhadow of his wings.
5 [Faith in his name forbids my fear:
O may thy preſence ne’er depart 1
And in the morning make me hear
The love and kindneſs of thy heart.
6 Thus when the night of death ſhall come,
My fleſh ſhall reſt beneath the ground,
And wait thy voice to rouſe my tomb,
With ſweet ſalvation in the ſound.]
1
HYMN LXXXI. [L. M.]
4 ſong for morning or evening, Lam, iii. 23.
Iſa. xlv. '7.
H MY God, how endleſs is thy love 1
- Thy gifts are ev’ry ev’ning new ;
And morning mercies from above
Gently diſtil like early dew.
2 Thou ſpread'ſt the curtains of the night,
Great guardian of my ſleeping hours:
Thy ſov’reign word reſtores the light,
And quickens all my drowſy pow’rs.
3 I yield my pow’rs to thy command,
To thee I conſectate my days:
Perpetual bleſlings from thine hand
Demand perpetual ſongs of praiſe.
HYMN LXXXII. [L. M.]
God far above creatures : or, Man vain and
mortal, Job iv. 17–21.
| SHALL the vile race of fleſh and blood
Contend with their creator, God?
Shall mortal worms preſume to be
More holy, wiſe, or juſt, than he
£ Behold, he puts his truſt in none
9f all the ſpirits round his throne;
|
Their natures, when compar’d with his,
Are neither holy, juſt, nor wiſe.
But how much meaner things are they
Who ſpring from duſt, and dwell in clay !
Touch’d by the finger of thy wrath,
We faint and vaniſh like the moth.
From night to day, from day to night,
We die by thouſands in thy ſight;
Bury’d in duſt whole nations lie
Like a forgotten vanity.
Almighty pow'r, to thee we bow;
How frail are wel how glorious thout
No more the ſons of earth ſhall dare
With an eternal God compare.
3
4.
5
HYMN LXXXIII. [C. M.]
Affiğions and death under ſtrovidence,
Job. v. 6, 7, 8.
NOT from the duſt afflićtion grows,
Nor troubles riſe by chance;
Yet we are born to cares and woes;
A ſad inheritance 1
As ſparks break out from burning coals,
And ſtill are upwards born ;
So grief is rooted in our ſouls,
And man grows up to mourn.
Yet with my God I leave my cauſe,
And truſt his promis’d grace;
He rules me by his well-known laws
Of love and righteouſneſs.
4. Not all the pains that e'er I bore
Shall ſpoil my future peace,
For death and hell can do no more
Than what my Father pleaſe.
1.
3
HYMN LXXXIV. [L. M.]
Salvation, righteouſneſs, and ſtrength in Chriſt,
Iſa. xlv. 21–25;
1 IEHOVAH ſpeaks, let Iſrael hear,
Let all the earth rejoice and fear,
While God’s eternal ſon proclaims
His ſov’reign honours and his names.
“I am the laſt, and I the firſt,
“The ſaviour God, and God the juſt ;
“There's none beſide pretends to ſhew
“Such juſtice and ſalvation too.
[“Ye that in ſhades of darkneſs dwell,
“Juſt on the verge of death and hell,
“Look up to me from diſtant lands,
“Light, life, and heav'n are in my hands.
“I by my holy name have ſworn,
** Nor ſhall the word in vain return;
“To me ſhall all things bend the knee,
“And ev'ry tongue ſhall ſwear to me.]
“Iñ me alone ſhall men confeſs
“Lies all their ſtrength and righteouſneſs:
“But ſuch as dare deſpiſe my name,
“I’ll clothe 'em with eternal flame;
“In me the Lord ſhall all the ſeed:
“Of 1ſt'el from their fins be freed, "
“And by their ſhining graces prove
** Their int’reſt lºy pard'ning love;
2
3
140 HYMNS.–LXXXV.
XC. [Book I.
HYMN LXXXV. [S. M.]
The ſame.
f HE Lord on high proclaims
His godhead from his throne;
“Mercy and juſtice are the names
“By which I will be known.
* Ye dying ſouls, that ſit,
“In darkneſs and diſtreſs,
“Look from the borders of the pit
“To my recov’ring grace.”
Sinners ſhall hear the ſound;
Their thankſul tongues ſhall own,
“Our righteouſneſs and ſtrength is found
In thee, the Lord alone.”
In thee ſhall Iſrael truſt, f
And ſee their guilt forgiv'n ;
God will pronounce the ſinners juſt,
And take the ſaints to heav’n.
HYMN LXXXVI. [C. M.]
God holy, juſt, and ſovereign, Job ix. 2–10.
I HOW ſhould the ſons of Adam’s' race
Be pure before their God
Iſ he contend in righteouſneſs
We fall beneath his rod. ***
To vindicate my words and thoughts
I’ll make no more pretence;
Not one of all my thouſand faults
Can bear a juſt defence.
Strong is his arm, his heart is wiſe;
What vain preſumers dare
Againſt their Maker’s hand to riſe,
Or tempt th’ unequal war *
[Mountains by his almighty wrath
From their old ſeats are torn ; ...”
He ſhakes the earth from South to North,
And all her pillars mourº.
He bids the ſun forbear to riſe,
Th’ obedient ſun forbears;
His hand with ſackcloth ſpreads the ſkies,
And ſeals up all the ſtars.
He walks upon the ſtormy ſea;
Flies on the ſtormy wind;
There’s none can trace his wond’rous way,
Or his dark footſteps find.] r
O
wº
3
4.
* HYMN LXXXVII. [L. M.]
God dwells with the humble and henitent,
Iſa. lvii. 15, 16.
THUS faith the high and lofty One,
“I ſit upon my holy throne;
“My name is God, I dwell on high ;
“ Dwell in my own eternity.
“But I deſcend to worlds below,
** On earth I have a manſion too;
“ The humble ſpirit and contrite :
“Is an abode of my delight.
“The humble ſoul my words revive,
“I bid the mourning ſinner live;
“Heal all the broken hearts I find,
“And eaſe the ſorrows of the mind.
4 [“When I contend againſt their ſin,
* I make them, know how vile they’ve
been 5
2
|
“But ſhould my wrath for ever ſmoke,
“Their ſouls would ſink beneath my
ſtroke.”
5 O may thy pard’ning grace be nigh,
Leſt we ſhould faint, deſpair, and die
Thus ſhall our better thoughts approve
The methods of thy chaſi'ning love.]
HYMN LXXXVIII. [L. M.]
Life the day of grace and hoſie, Eccl. ix. 4, 5,
, 10.
1. LIFE is the time to ſerve the Lord,
The time t” inſure the great reward,
And while the lamp holds out to burn,
The vileſt finner may return.
[Life is the hour that God has giv'n
To 'ſcape from hell, and fly to heav'n ;
The day of grace, and mortals may
Secure the bleſfings of the day.]
The living know that they muſt die,
But all the dead forgotten lie ;
Their mem'ry and their ſenſe is gone,
Alike unknowing and unknown.
[Their hatred and their love is loſt,
Their envy-buried in the duſt;
They have no ſhare in all that’s done
Beneath the circuit of the ſun.]
Then what my thoughts deſign to do,
My hands, with all your might purſue,
Since no device, nor work is found, ,
Nor faith, nor hope, beneath the ground. .
There are no acts of pardon paſs'd
In the cold grave, to which we haſte;
But darkneſs, death, and long deſpair,
Reign in, eternal ſilence therc.
2
3
4
HYMN LXXXIX. [L. M.]
Youth and judgment, Eccleſ. xi. 9.
l
7E ſons of Adam, vain and young,
Indulge your eyes, indulge your tongue,
Taſte the delight your ſouls deſire,
And give a looſe to all your fire.
Purſue the pleaſures you deſign,
And chear your hearts with ſongs and wine
Enjoy the day of mirth, but know
There is a day of judgment too.
God from on high beholds your thoughts,
His book records your ſecret faults;
The works of darkneſs you have done,
Muſt all appear before the ſun. ^
The vengeance to your follies due
Should ſtrike your hearts with terror thro’:
How will you ſtand before his face,
Or anſwer for his injur’d grace
Almighty God, turn off their eyes
From theſe alluring vanities;
And let the thunder of thy word
Awake their ſouls to fear the Lord.
HYMN XC. [C. M.]
The ſame.
* LO the young tribes of Adam riſe,
,' " And thro' all nature rove,
4.
5
Book I.]
141
HYMNS.—XCI, XCII. XCIII. XCIV. XCV.
Fulfil the wiſhes of their eyes,
And taſte the joys they love.
2 They give a looſe to wild deſires;
But let the finners know
The ſtričt account that God requires
Of all the works they do.
3 The Judge prepares his throne on high,
The frighted earth and ſeas
Avoid the fury of his eye,
And flee before his face:
4 How ſhall I bear that dreadful day,
And ſtand the fiery teſt ?
I give all mortal joys away
To be for ever bleſt.
HYMN XCI. [L. M.]
Advice to youth ; or, old age and death in an
unconverted ſtate, Eccleſ. Xii. 1; 7, Iſ... lxv. 20.
I OW in the heat of youthful blood
Remember your Crcator God :
Behold, the months come haſt’ning on,
When you ſhall ſay, “my joys are gone.”
2 Behold, the aged ſinner goes,
Laden with guilt and heavy woes,
Down to the regions of the dead,
With endleſs curſes on his head.
3 The duſt returns to duſt again;
The ſoul, in agonies of pain,
Aſcends to God ; not there to dwell,
. But hears her doom, and ſinks to hell.
4 Eternal King, I fear thy name,
Teach me to know how fratl I am :
And when my ſoul muſt hence remove,
Give me a manſion in thy love.
HYMN XCII. [S. M.]
Chriſt the wiſdom of God, Prov. viii. 1,
22–32.
1 SHALL wiſdom cry aloud,
And not her ſpeech be heard 2
The voice of God’s eternal Word,
Deſerves it no regard 2
“I was his chief delight,
** His everlaſting Son,
“Before the firſt of all his works
“ Creation was begun.
[“Before the flying clouds,
* Before the ſolid land,
“Before the fields, before the flood,
“I dwelt at his right-hand.
“When he adorn’d the ſkies,
“And built them, I was there,
“To order when the ſun ſhould riſe,
“And marſhal ev'ry ſtar.
“When he pour’d out the ſea,
“And ſpread the flowing deep,
“I gave the flood a firm decree
, “In its own bounds to keep.
“Upon the crimpty air
The earth was balanc'd well ;
“With joy I ſaw, the manſion where
, “The ſons of men ſhould dwell,
2
3.
4.
5
$
l
7 “My buſy thoughts at firſt
“On their ſalvation ran,
“Ere ſin was born, or Adam’s duſt
“Was faſhion’d to a man.
8 “Then come, receive my grace,
“Ye children, and be wiſe ;
“Happy the man that keeps my ways,
* The man that ſhuns them dies.”
HYMN XCIII. [L. M.]
Chriſt, or wiſdom obeyed or refifted, Prov. viii,
34-36.
1 THgs faith the wiſdom of the Lord,
“Bleſs'd is the man that hears my
word ;
“ Keeps daily watch before my gates,
“And at my feet for mercy waits.
“The ſoul that ſeeks me ſhall obtain
“Immortal wealth and heav'nly gain;
“Immortal life is his reward,
“Life, and the favour of the Lord.
3 “But the vile wretch that flies from me,
“Doth his an own ſoul an injury ;
“Fools that againſt my grace rebel
“Seek death, and love the road to hell.”
HYMN XCIV. [c. M.]
juſtification by faith, not by works : or, the
law condemns, grace juſtifies, Rom. iii. 19–22.
1 VAIN are the hopes the ſons of men
On their own works have built;
Their hearts by nature all unclean,
And all their actions guilt.
2 Let Jew and Gentile ſtop their mouths
Without a murm’ring word,
And the whole race of Adam ſtand
‘Guilty before the Lord.
3 In vain we aſk God’s righteous law
To juſtify us now, -
Since to convince and to condemn
Is all the law can do.
4 Jeſus, how glorious is thy grace,
When in thy name me truſt
Our faith receives a righteouſneſs
That makes the ſinner juſt,
HYMN XCV. [c. M.]
Regeneration, John i. 13, and iii. 3, &c.;
l OT all the outward forms on earth,
Nor rites that God has giv'n,
Nor will of man, not blood, nor birth,
Can raiſe a ſoul to heav'n.
2 The ſov’reign, will of God alone
Creates us heirs of grace ;
Born in the image of his Son,
A new peculiar race.
3 The Spirit, like ſome heav'nly wind,
Blows on the ſons of fleſh,
New-models all the carnal mind,
And forms the man afreſh.
4 Our quicken'd ſouls awake, and riſe
From the long ſleep of death ;
On heav'nly things we fix our eyes,
And praiſe employs our breath.
R42
[Book I.
PHYMNS.–XCVI. XCVII. XCVIII. XCIX. C. CI. CII.
HYMN XCVI. [C. M.]
Election excludes boafting, 1 Cor. i. 26–31.
If BUT few among the carnal wiſe,
But few of noble race,
Obtain the favour of thine eyes,
Almighty king of grace.
2 He takes the men of meancſt name
For ſons and heirs of God;
And thus he pours abundant ſhame
On honourable blood. g
3. He calls the fool, and makes him know
The myſt’ries of his grace,
To bring aſpiring wiſdom low,
And all its pride abaſe.
4 Naturg has all its glories loſt,
When brought before his throne;
No fleſh ſhall in his preſence boaſt,
But in the Lord alone,
HYMN XCVII. [L. M.I
Chriſt our wiſdom, right couſneſs, &c.
1 Cor. i. 30.
1. BURYP in ſhadows of the night,
We lie till Chriſt reſtores the light 5
Wiſdom deſcends to heal the blind,
And chaſe the darkneſs of the mind.
2. Our guilty ſouls are drown'd in tears,
*Till his atoning blood appears;
Then we awake from deep diſtreſs,
And ſing “The Lord our righteouſneſs.”
3. Our very frame is mix’d with ſin,
His Spirit makes our natures clean ;
Such virtues from his ſuff'rings flow,
At once to cleanſe and pardon too.
4 Jeſus beholds where Satan reigns,
Binding his ſlaves in heavy chains ;
He ſets the pris’ ners free, and breaks
The iron bondage from our necks.
5 Poor helpleſs worms in thee poſſeſs
Grace, wiſdom, pow'r, and righteouſneſs;
Thou art our mighty all, and we
Give our'whole ſelves, O Lord, to thee.
HYMNxcvHI. [S. M.]
The ſame.
OW heavy is the night
That hangs upon our eyes.
*Till Chriſt with his reviving light
Over our ſouls ariſe 2
2 Our guilty ſpirits dread
To meet the wrath of heav'n,
But in his righteouſneſs array'd
We ſee our ſins forgiv'n.
3 Unholy and impure
Are all our thoughts and ways,
His hands infected nature cure
With ſanétifying grace.
4. The pow’rs of hell agree
To hold our ſouls in vain ;
He ſets the ſons of bondage free,
And breaks the curſed chain.
5 Lord, we adore thy ways
To bring us near to God,
T
Thy ſov’reign pow'r, thy healing grace,
And thine atoning blood. #
HYMN XCIX. [C. M.]
Stones made children of Abraham: or, Grace nor
conveyed by religious ſharents, Mat. iii. 9.
1 VAIN are the hopes that rebels place
Upon their birth and blood,
Deſcended from a pious race,
(Their fathers now with God.)
2 He from the caves of earth and hell
Can take the hardeſt ſtones,
And fill the houſe of Abraham well
With new-created ſons.
3 Such wond’rous pow'r doth he poſſeſs
Who form'd our mortal frame,
Who call'd the world from emptineſs,
The world obey’d, and came.
HYMN C. [L. M.]
Believe and be ſaved, John iii. 16, 17, 18.
l NOT to condemn the ſons of men
Did Chriſt the Son of God appear :
No weapons in his hands are ſeen,
No flaming ſword, nor thunder there.
2 Such was the pity of our God,
He lov’d the race of man, ſo well,
He ſent his Son to bear our load
Of ſins, and fave our ſouls from hell.
3 Sinners believe the Saviour’s word,
Truſt in his mighty name, and live ;
A thouſand joys his lips afford,
His hands a thouſand bleſfings give.
4 But vengeance and damnation lies
On rebels who refuſe the grace';
Who God’s eternal Son deſpiſe,
The hotteſt hell ſhall be their place.
HYMN CI. [L. M.]
joys in heaven for a reſenting ſinner, Luke
xv. 7, 10.
1 WHO can deſcribe the joys that riſe
Thro' all the courts of paradiſe,
To ſee a prodigal return,
To ſee an heir of glory born ?
2 With joy the Father doth approve
The fruit of his eternal love ;'
The Son with joy looks down and ſees
The purchaſe of his agonies.
3 The Spirit takes delight to view
The holy ſoul he form'd anew ;
And faints and angels join to ſing
The growing empire of their king,
HYMN CII. [L. M.]
The beatitudes, Mat. v. 2–12.
1 BLESS D are the humble ſouls that ſee
Their emptineſs and poverty;
Treaſures of grace to them are giv'n,
And crowns of joy laid up in heav'n.
2 I Bleſs'd are the men of broken heart,
Who mourn for ſin with inward ſmart;
The blood of Chriſt divinely flows,
A healing balm for all their woes.]
Book I.]
143
HYMNS.–CIII. CIV. C.V. CVI. CVII.
3 IBleſs'd are the meek who ſtand aſar
From rage and paſſion, noiſe and war;
God will ſecure their happy ſtate,
And plead their cauſe againſt the great,
4 [Bleſs'd are the ſouls that thirſt for grace,
Hunger and long for righteouſneſs ;
They ſhall be well ſupply'd and fed
With living ſtreams and living bread.]
5 Bleſs'd are the men whoſe bowels move,
And melt with ſympathy and love :
From Chriſt the Lord ſhall they obtain
Like ſympathy and love again.]
6 [Bleſs'd are the pure, whoſe hearts are
clean
From the defiling pow’rs of ſin;
With endleſs pleaſure they ſhall ſee
A God of ſpotleſs purity.]
7 [Bleſs'd are the men of peaceful life,
Who quench the coals of growing ſtriſe;
They ſhall be call'd the heirs of bliſs,
The ſons of God, the God of peace.]
8 [Bleſs'd are the ſuff'rers who partake
Of pain and ſhame for Jeſus' ſake;
Their ſouls ſhall triumph in the Lord,
Glory and joy are their reward.]
HYMN CIII. [C. M.]
Not affamed of the goſhel, 2 Tim. i. 12.
1 I’M not aſham'd to own my Lord,
Or to defend his cauſe,
Maintain the honour of his word,
The glory of his croſs.
2 Jeſus, my God! I know his name,
His name his all my truſt ;
Nor will he put my ſoul to ſhame,
Nor let my hope be loſt.
3 Firm as his throne his promiſe ſtands,
And he can well ſecure
What I’ve committed to his hands,
*Till the deciſive hour.
4 Then he will he own my worthleſs name
Before his Father's face,
And in the new Jeruſalem
Appoint my ſoul a place,
HYMN CIV. [c. M.]
4 ſtate of nature and grace, I Cor. vi. 10, 11.
1 NOT the malicious or profane,
The wanton or the proud,
Northieves, nor ſland’rers, ſhall obtain
The kingdom of our God.
2 Surpriſing grace And ſuch where we
By nature and by ſin,
Heirs of immortal miſery,
Unholy and unclean.
3 But we are waſh’d in Jeſus' blood,
We’re pardon'd thro’ his name;
And the good Spirit of our God
Has ſanétify’d our frame.
4 O for a perſevering pow'r
To keep thy juſt commands :
We would defile our hearts no more,”
No more pollute our bands.
HYMN CV. [c. M.]
Heaven inviſible and holy, 1 Cor. ii. 9, 15.
Rev. xxi. 27.
1 NOR eye bath ſeen, nor ear hath heard,
Nor ſenſe, nor reaſon know,
What joys the Father has prepar’d
For thoſe that love the Son.
2. But the good Spirit of the Lord
Reveals a heav'n to come ;
The beams of glory in his word
Allure and guide us home.
3 Pure are the joys above the ſky,
And all the region peace ;
No wanton lips nor envious eye
Can ſee or taſte the bliſs.
4 Thoſe holy gates for ever bar
Pollution, ſin, and ſhame ;
None ſhall obtain admittance there
But followers of the Lamb.
5 He keeps the Father’s book of life,
| There all their names are found ;
The hypocrite in vain ſhall ſtrive
To tread the heav'nly ground.
HYMN cVI. [S. M.]
Dead to fin by the croſs of Chriſt, Rom. vi.
2 3 ve
HALL we go on to ſin,
Becauſe thy grace abounds,
Or crucify the Lord again,
And open all his wounds?
Forbid it, mighty God I
Nor let it e^er be ſaid,
That we whoſe fins are crucify’d,
Should raiſe them from the dead.
We will be ſlaves no more,
Since Chriſt has made us free,
Has nail’d our tyrants to his croſs,
And bought our liberty.
HYMN CVII. [L. M.]
The fall and recovery of man; or Chriſt and
fatan at enmity, Gen. iii. 1, 15, 17. Gal.
iv. 4. Col. ii. 15,
DECEIV’D by ſubtle ſnares of hell,
Adam our head, our father, fell,
When ſatan in the ſerpent hid,
Propos’d the fruit that God forbid.
Death was the threatºning : Death began
To take poſſeffien of the man ;
His unborn race receiv'd the wound,
And heavy curſes ſmote the ground.
But ſatan found a worſe reward ;
Thus faith the vengeance of the Lord,
“Let everlaſting hatred be }
“Betwixt the woman’s ſeed and thee.
“The woman’s ſeed ſhall be my Son.
“He ſhall deſtroy what thou haſt done;
“Shall breakºthy head, and only feel
“Thy malice raging at his heel.”
ſhe ſpake and bid four thouſand years
Roll on ; at length his Son appears;
Angels with joy deſcend to earth,
And ſing the young Redeemer’s birth.
1
2
3
1
2
3
4.
$44,
[Book I.
HYMNS.-CVIII. CIX. CX. CXI. CXII. CXIII.
But as he hung 'twixt earth and ſkies,
He gave their prince a fatal blow,
And triumph’d o'er the pow’rs below.]
HYMN CVIII. [S. M.]
Chriſt unſeen and beloved, 1 Pet. i. 8.
OT with our mortal eyes,
Have we beheld the Lord,
Yet we rejoice to hear his name,
And love him in his word.
2 On earth we want the ſight
Of our Redeemer's face,
Yet, Lord, our in moſt thoughts delight
To dwell upon thy grace.
2 And when we taſte thy love,
Our joys divinely grow
Unſpeakable, like thoſe above,
And heav'n begins below,
I
HYMN CIX. [L. M.]
The value of Chriſt, and his righteouſneſs,
Phil. iii. 7, 8, 9.
f No more, my God, I boaſt no more
Of all the duties I have done ;
I quit the hopes I held before
To truſt the merits of thy Son.
2 Now for the love I bear his name,
What was my gain I count my loſs ;
My former pride I call my ſhame,
And mail my glory to his croſs.
3 Yes, and I muſt and will eſteem
All things but loſt for Jeſus' ſake;
O may my ſoul be found in him,
And of his righteouſneſs partake
4 The beſt obedience of my hands
Dares not appear before thy throne;
But faith can anſwer thy demands,
By pleading what my Lord has done.
HYMN cx. [c. M.]
JDeath and immediate glory, 2 Cor. v. 1, 5–8.
1 THERE is a houſe not made with hands
Eternal, and on high,
And here my Spirit waiting ſtands
*Till God ſhall bid it fly.
2 Shortly this priſon of my clay
Muſt be diſſolv’d and fall ;
Then, O my ſoul, with joy obey
Thy heav'nly Father's call.
3 'Tis he, by his almighty grace,
That forms thee fit for heav'n ;
And, as an earneſt of the place,
Has his own Spirit giv'n,
4. We walk by faith of joys to come,
Faith lives upon his word;
But while the body is our home,
We’re abſent from the Lord.
5 'Tis pleaſant to believe thy grace,
But we had rather ſee :
We would be abſent from the fleſh,
And Preſent, Lord, with thee,
A”
|s#:
6. Lo! by the ſons of hell he dies;
| | S
HYMN CXI. [C. M.]
Salvation by grace, Titus iii. 3–7. .
ORD, we conteſs our num’rous faults,
- How great our guilt has been
Fooliſh and vain were all our thoughts
And all our lives were fin. ;
2 But, O my ſoul, for ever praiſe,
For ever love his name, .
Who turns thy feet from dang'rous ways,
Of folly, ſin, and ſhame.]
[1
| [3 'Tis not by works of righteouſneſs
Which our own hands have done;
But we are ſav’d by ſov’reign grace,
Abounding thro’ his Son.]
4 'Tis from the mercy of our God
That all our hopes begin ;
'Tis by the water and the blood
Our ſouls are waſh’d from fin.
| 5 'Tis thro’ the purchaſe of his death,
Who hung upon the tree,
The Spirit is ſent down to breathe
On ſuch dry benes as we.
6 Rais’d from the dead we live anew ;
And juſtify’d by grace,
We ſhakl appear in glory too,
And ſee our Father’s face.
HYMN CXII. [C. M.]
The brazen ſerſlent; or, looking to Jeſus,
John iii. 14-16.
O did the Hebrew prophet raiſe
The brazen ſerpent high ;
The wounded felt immediate eaſe
The camp forbore to die.
| 2 “Look upward in the dying hour,
“And live, the prophet cries;”
But Chriſt performs a nobler cure,
When faith lifts up her eyes.
5 High on the croſs the Saviour hung,
High on the heav’ns he reigns :
Here ſinners, by th’oki ſerpent ſtung,
Look, and forget their pains.
4 Then God’s own Son is lifted up,
A dying world revives;
The Jew beholds the glorious hope,
Th’ expiring Gentile lives.
HYMN CXIII. [C. M.]
Abraham's bleſsing on the Gentiles, Gen. xvii.
7. Rom. xv. 8. Mark x. 14.
1 How large the promiſe! how divine,
To Abra’m and his ſeed'!
“I’ll be a God to thee and thine,
“Supplying all their need.”
2 The words of his extenſive love
From age to age endure;
The angel of the cov’nant proves,
And ſeals the bleſſing ſure.
3 Jeſus the ancient faith confirms,
To our great fathers giv'n;
He takes young children to his arms,
And calls them heirs of heav'n,
Book I.]
145
HYMNS.–CXIV. CXV. CXVI. CXVII. CXVIII.
4 Our God? how faithful are his ways
His love endures the ſame :
Nor from the promiſe of his grace
Blots out the children’s name.
HYMN CXIV. [C. M.]
The ſame, Rom. xi. 16, 17.
1. GENTILES by nature, we belong
To the wild olive-wood ;
Grace took us from the barren tree,
And grafts us in the good.
2 With the ſame bleſſings, grace beſtows
The Gentile and the Jew ;
If pure and holy be the root,
Such are the branches too,
3 Then let the children of the ſaints
Be dedicate to God .
Pour out thy Spirit on them, Lord l
And waſh them in thy blood.
4 Thus to the parents and their ſeed
Shall thy ſalvation come,
And num’rous houſeholds meet at laſt
In one eternal home.
HYMN CXV. [C. M.]
Convićtion of ſin by the law, Rom. vii. 8, 9,
2 *-re
1 T ORD, how ſecure my conſcience was,
Abd felt no inward dread l
I was alive without the law,
And thought my fins were dead.
2 My hopes of heav'n were firm and bright
But ſince the precept came
With a convincing pow'r and light,
I find how vile I am.
3 [My guilt appear'd but ſmall before,
Till terribly I ſaw
IIow perfeót, holy, juſt and pure,
Was thine eternal law.
4 Then felt my foul the heavy load,
My ſins reviv'd again;
I had provok'd a dreadful God,
And all my hopes were ſlain.
5 I’m like a helpleſs captive ſold
Under the pow'r of ſin;
I cannot do the good I would,
Nor keep my conſcience clean.
$ My God, I cry with ev'ry breath,
For ſome kind pow'r to ſave,
To break the yoke of ſin and death,
And thus redeem the ſlave.
HYMN CXVI. [L. M.]
Love to God and our neighbour,
Matt. xxii. 37–40.
1 THUS faith the firſt, the great com-
mand,
“Let all thy inward pow’rs unite
“To love thy Maker and thy God,
“With utmoſt vigour and delight.
3 ** Then ſhall thy neighbour next in place
“Share thine affections and eſteem;
“And let thy kindneſs to thyſelf
* Meaſure and rule thy love to him.”
YOL. VII.
3 This is the ſenſe that Moſes ſpoke,
This did the prophets preach and prove,
For want of this the law is broke,
And the whole law’s ſulfill’d by love.
4 But O ! how baſe our paſſions are l
How cold our charity and zeal |
Lord, fill our ſouls with heav'nly fire,
Or we ſhall ne'er perform thy will.
HYMN CXVII. [C. M.]
Ele&#ion ſovereign and free, Rom. ix. 21–24.
1 [BEHOLD the potter and the clay;
He forms his veſſels as he pleaſe;
Such is our God, and ſuch are we,
The ſubječts of his high decrees,
2 Doth not the workman’s pow'r extend
O'er all the maſs, which part to chooſe,
And mould it for a nobler end,
And which to leave for viler uſes
3 May not the ſov’reign Lord on high
Diſpenſe his favours as he will ;
Chooſe ſome to liſe, while others die,
And yet be juſt and gracious ſtill
What, if to make his terror known,
He lets his patienge long endure,
Suff’ring vile rebels to go on
And ſeal their own deſtrućtion ſure.
What if he means to ſhew his grace,
And his eleēting love employs,
To mark out ſome of mortal race
And form them fit for heav'nly joys?]
6 Shall man reply againſt the Lord,
And call his Maker’s ways unjuſt,
The thunder of whoſe dreadful word
Can cruſh a thouſand worlds to duit *
7 But, O my ſoul, if truths ſo bright
Should dazzle and confound thy ſight,
Yet ſtill his written will obey,
And wait the great deciſive day.
Then ſhall he make his juſtice known,
And the whole world before his throne;
With joy or terror ſhall confeſs \
The glory of his righteouſneſs.
4
5
8
HYMN CXVIII. [S. M.]
Moſes and Chriſt: or, ſins againſt the law and
goſhel, John i. 17. Heb. iii. 3, 5, 6, and
X. 28, 29.
1 THE law by Moſes came,
But peace, and truth, and love,
Were brought by,Chriſt (a nobler name)
Deſcending from above.
2 Annidſt the houſe of God
Their diff'rent works were done;
Moſes a faithful ſervant ſtood,
But Chriſt a faithful Son.
3 Then to his new commands
Be ſtrićt obedience paid ;
O'er all his Father’s houſe he ſtands
The ſov’reign and the head.
| The man that durſt deſpiſe
The law that Moſes brought,
T
| 1.6
[Book I.
HYMNS.–CXIX, CXX. CXXI. CXXII. CXXIII. CXXIV.
Behold how terribly he dics
For his preſumptuous fault.
But forer vengeance falls
On that rebellious race,
Who hate to hear when Jeſus calls,
And dare reſiſt his grace.
5
HYMN CXIX. [C. M.]
The different ſucceſs of the goſhel,
I Cor. i. 23, 24. 2 Cor. ii. 16. I Cor. iii. 6, 7.
} CHRIST and his croſs is all our theme:
The myſt’ries that we ſpeak
Are ſcandal in the Jews' eſteem,
And folly to the Greek.
But ſouls enlighten’d from above
With joy receive the word;
They ſee what wiſdom, pow'r and love,
Shines in their dying Lord.
3 The vital ſavour of his name
Reſtores their ſainting breath ;
But unbelieſ perverts the ſame
To guilt, deſpair, and death.
4 Till God diffuſe his graces down,
Like ſhow’rs of heav'nly rain,
In vain Apollos ſows the ground,
And Paul may plant in vain.
HYMN CXX. [c, M.]
Faith of things unſeen, Heb. xi. 1, 3, 8, 10.
i FAITH is the brighteſt evidence
Of things beyond our fight,
Breaks thro’ the clouds of fleſh and ſenſe,
And dwells in heav'nly light.
2 It ſets times paſt in preſent view,
Brings diſtant proſpects home,
Of things a thouſand years ago,
Or thouſand years to come.
By faith we know the worlds were made
By God's almighty word ;
Abr’m, to unknown countries led,
By faith obey'd the Lord.
He ſought a city fair and high,
Built by th” eternal hands;
And faith aſſures us, tho' we die,
That heav'nly building ſtands.
HYMN CXXI. [C. M.]
- Children devoted to God,
Gen. xvii. 7, 10. Aćts xvi. 14, 15, 33.
(For thoſe who/tračiſe infant-baſtiſm.)
THUs faith the mercy of the Lord,
“I’ll be a God to thee; n
“I’ll bleſs thy num’rous race, and they
“Shall be a ſeed for me.”
2 Abra'm believ'd the promis’d grace,
And gave his ſons to God;
But water ſeals the bleſfing now,
That once was ſcal’d with blood.
3 Thus Lydia ſančtify’d her houſe,
When ſhe receiv'd the word;
Thus the believing jailor gave
His houſehold to the Lord.
4 Thus later ſaints, eternal King!
Thine ancient truth embrace;
O.
º
{
)
To thee their infant offspring bring,
And humbly claim the grace.
HYMN CXXII. [L. M.]
Believers buried with Chriſt in bahtiſm,
Röm. vi. 3, &c.
| 1 D9 we not know that ſolemn word,
That we are bury’d with the Lord ;
Baptiz'd into his death, and thcm
Put off the body of our fin
2 Our ſouls receive diviner breath,
Rais'd ſrom corruption, guilt, and death
So from the grave did Chriſt ariſe,
And lives to God above the ſkies.
3 No more let ſin or ſatan reign
Over our mortal fleſh again;
The various luſts we ſerv’d before
Shall have dominion now no more.
HYMN CXXIII. [C. M.]
The reſenting prodigal, Luke xv. 13, &c.
1 BEHOLD the wretch whofe luſt and
W l n G.
Had waſted his eſtate,
He begs a ſhare among the ſwine,
To taſte the huſks they eat!
2 “I die with hunger here, (he cries,)
“I ſtarve in foreign lands;
“My father's houſe has large ſupplies,
“And bounteous are his hands.
3 “I’ll go, and with a mournful tongue
“Fall down before his face;
“Father, I’ve done thy juſtice wrong,
“Nor can deſerve thy grace,”
4 He ſaid, and haſten’d to his home,
To ſeek his father’s love;
The father ſaw the rebel come,
And all his bowels move.
5 He ran, and fell upon his neck,
Embrac'd and kiſs'd his ſon ;
The rebel's heart with forrow brake,
For follies he had done.
|6 “Take off his clothes of ſhame and fin,”
(The father gives command)
* Dreſs him in garments white and clean
“With rings adorn his hand.
7 “A day of feaſting I ordain,
- “Let mirth and joy abound:
“My ſon was dead and lives again ;
“Was loſt, and now is found,”
\
i
HYMN CXXIV. [L. M.]
The firſt and ſecond Adam, Rom. v. 12, &c.
1 DEEP in the duſt before thy throne,
! Our guilt and our diſgrace we own;
Great God we own th’ unhappy name,
Whence ſprang our nature and our flame.
2 Adam, the ſinner: At his fall,
Death, like a conq'ror, ſeiz'd us all;
| A thouſand new-born babes are dead,
| By fatal union to their head.
| But whilſt our ſpirits, fill'd with awe,
Behold the terrors of thy law, .
Book I.] IIYMNS.–CXXV. CXXVI. CXXVII. CXXVIII. CXXIX.
147
We ſing the honours of thy grace,
That ſent to ſave our ruin’d race.
4. We ſing thine everlaſting Son,
Who join’d our nature to his own;
Adam the ſecond, from the duſt
Raiſes the ruins of the firſt.
5 [By the rebellion of one man
Thro' all his ſeed the miſchief ran ;
And by one man’s obedience now
Arg all his ſeed made righteous too.
6 Where ſin did reign and death abound,
There have the ſons of Adam found
Abounding life; there glorious grace
Reigns through the Lord our righteouſneſs.
HYMN CXXV. [C. M.]
Chriſt’s com/aſsion to the weak and tempted,
Heb, iv. 16. and v. 7. Matt. xii. 20.
1. WITHjoy we meditate the grace
Of our High Prieſt above ;
His heart is made of tenderneſs,
His bowels melt with love.
2. Touch’d with a ſympathy within,
He knows our feeble frame ;
He knows what ſore temptations mean,
For he has felt the ſame.
3 But ſpotleſs, innocent, and pure,
The great Redeemer ſtood,
While Satan’s fi’ry darts he bore,
And did reſiſt to blood.
4 He in the days of feeble fleſh
Pour'd out his cries and tears,
And in his meaſure feels afreſh
What ev'ry member bears.
5 [He'll never quench the ſmoaking flax,
But raiſe it to a flame ;
The bruiſed reed he never breaks,
Nor ſcorns the meancſt name.]
6 Then, let our humble faith addreſs
His mercy and his pow'r,
We ſhall obtain deliv'ring grace
In the diſtreſling hour.
HYMN CXXVII. [C. M.]
Charity and uncharitableneſs,
Rom. xiv. 17, 19. 1 Cor. x. 32.
l NOT diff'rent food, nor diff'rent dreſs
Compoſe the kingdoms of our Lord
But peace, and joy, and righteouſneſs,
Faith and obedience to his word.
2 When weaker chriſtians we deſpiſe,
We do the goſpel mighty wrong;
For God the gracious and the wiſe,
Receives the feeble with the ſtrong,
3 Let pride and wrath be baniſh'd hence,
Meekneſs and love our ſouls purſue;
Nor ſhall our pračtice give offence
To ſaints, the Gentile, or the Jew.
|
HYMN CXXVII. [L. M.]
Chriſt's invitation to ſinners : or, humanity and
pride, Matt, xi. 28–30.
1 <: COME hither all ye weary ſouls,
“Ye heavy laden ſinners coine ;
“I’ll give you reſt from all your tolls,
“And raiſe you to my heav'nly home.
“They ſhall find reſt that learn of me;
“I’m of a meek and lowly mind;
“But paſſion rages like the ſea,
“And pride is reſtleſs as the wind.
3 “Bleſs'd is thc man whoſe ſhouldcrs take
“My yoke and bear it with delight!
“My yoke is eaſy to his neck, *
“My grace ſhall make the burthen light.”
Jeſus, we come at thy command;
With faith and hope, and humble zeal,
Reſign our ſpirits to thy hand, -
To mould and guide us at thy will.
4
HYMN CXXVIII. [L. M.]
The Apoſtles’ commiſsion: or, the goſhel atteſted
by miracles.
Mark xvi. 15, &c. Matt. xxviii. 18, &c.
I “GOpreach my goſpel (ſaith the Lord)
Bid the whole earth my grace re-
ceive r
“He ſhall be ſav'd that truſts my word
“He ſhall be damn’d that won’t believe.
2 “[I’ll make your great commiſſion known,
“And ye ſhall prove my goſpel true,
“By all the works that I have done,
“By all the wonders ye ſhall do.
“Go heal the ſick, go raiſe the dead,
“Go caſt out devils in my name;
“Nor let my prophets be afraid,
“Tho' Greeks reproach, and Jews blaſ-
pheme: )
Teach all the nations my commands;
“I’m with you till the world ſhall end;
“Ail, pow'r is truſted in my hands,
“I can deſtroy and I defend.”
5 He ſpake, and light ſhone round his head,
On a bright cloud to heav’n he rode :
They to the fartheſt nations ſpread
The grace of their aſcended God.
HYMN CXXIX. [L. M.]
Submiſsion and deliverance : or, Abraham
offering his ſon, Gen. xxii. 6, &c,
| SAINTS, at your heav'nly Father’s word
Give up your comforts to the Lord;
He ſhall reſtore what you reſign,
Or grant you bleſfings more divine.
2 So Abra’m with obedient hand
Led forth his ſon at God’s command ;
The wood, the fire, the knife he took,
His arm prepar'd the dreadful ſtroke.
3 “Abra’m ſorbear, (the angel cry’d);
Thy faith is known, thy love is try’d;
“Thy ſon ſhall live, and in thy ſeed
“Shall the whole earth be bleſs'd indeed,”
Aw
} 48
[Book
HYMNS.–CXXX. —CXXXV.
4 Juſt in the laſt diſtreſſing hour,
The Lord diſplays deliv'ring pow'r ;
The mount of danger is the place
Where we ſhall fee ſurpriſing grace.
'HYMN. cxxx. [L. M.j
Love and barred,
Phil. ii. 2. Eph. iv. 30, &c.
1 NOW by the bowels of my God |
His ſharp diſtreſs, his ſore complaints,
By his laſt groans, his dying blood,
I charge my ſoul to love the ſaints.
2 Clamour, and wrath, and war be gone,
Envy and ſpite for ever ceaſe;
Let bitter words no more be known
Amongſt the ſaints, the ſons of peace.
3 The Spirit, like a peaceful dove,
Flies from the realms of noiſe and ſtrife;
Why ſhould we vex and grieve his love,
Who ſeals our ſouls to heav'nly life 2
4 Tender and kind be all our thoughts;
Thro' all our lives let mercy run ;
So God forgives our num’rous faults,
For the dear ſake of Chriſt his Son.
HYMN CXXXI. [L. M.]
The ſhariſee and hublican.
Luke xviii. 10, &c.
1. BEHOLD how ſinners diſagree,
The publican and phariſee,
One doth his righteouſneſs proclaim,
The other owns his guilt and ſhame.
2 This man at humble diſtance ſtands,
And cries for grace with lifted hands,
That boldly riſes near the throne,
And talks of duties he has done.
3 The Lord their diff'rent language knows,
And diff'rent anſwers he beſtows ;
The humble ſoul with grace be crowns,
Whilſt on the proud his anger frowns.
4 Dear Father, let me never be
Join'd with the boaſting phariſee;
i have no merits of my own,
But plead the ſuff'rings of thy Son.
HYMN CXXXII. [L. M.]
Holineſs and grace, Titus ii. 10–13.
| SQ let our lips and lives expreſs;
‘’ The holy goſpel we profeſs ;
So let our works and virtues ſhine,
To prove the doćtrine all divine.
2 Thus ſhall we beſt proclaim abroad
The honours of our Saviour God ;
When the ſalvation reigns within,
And grace ſubducs the pow'r of fin.
3 Our fleſh and ſenſe muſt be deny'd,
Paſſion and envy, luſt and pride :
While juſtice, temp'rance, truth and love,
Our inward piety approve.
4 Religion bears our ſpirits up,
While we expect that bleſſed hope,
The bright appearance of the Lord,
And faith ſtands leaning on his word.
HYMN CXXXIII. [C, M.]
Move and charity, I Cor. xiii. 2-7, 13,
f LET phariſees of high eſteem
Their faith and zeal declare,
All their religion is a dream,
If love be wanting there.
2 Love ſuffers long with patient eye,
Nor is provok'd in hatto :
She lets the preſent inj’ry die,
And long forgets the paſt.
3 [Malice and rage, thoſe fires of hell,
She quenches with her tongue;
Hopes, and believes, and thinks no ill,
Tho' ſhe endure the wrong.]
4 [She nor deſires nor ſeeks to know
The ſcandals of the time ;
Nor looks with pride on thoſe below,
Nor envies thoſe that climb.]
5. She lays her own advantage by,
To ſeek her neighbour's good;
So God's own Son came down to die,
And bought our lives with blood.
6 Love is the grace that keeps her pow'r
In all the realms above;
There ſaith and hope are known no more,
But ſaints for ever love.
HYMN. cxxxiv. [L. M.]
Religion vain zwithout love, I Cor. xiii. 1–3.
I HAD I the tongues of Greeks and Jews,
And nobler ſpeech than angels uſe,
If love be abſent, I am found
Like tinkling braſs an empty found.
Were I inſpir'd to preach and tell
All that is done in heav'n and hell;
Or could my faith the world remove ;
z. - º º
Still I am nothing without love.
3 Should I diſtribute all my ſtore
To feed the bowels of the poor,
Or give my body to the flame
To gain a martyr’s glorious name;
If love to God and love to men
Be abſent all my hopes are vain :
Nor tongues, nor gifts, nor fi’ry zeal,
The work of love can e'er fulfil.
2
4.
HYMN CXXXV. [L. M.]
The love of Chriſt/Aed abroad in the heart,
Eph. iii. 16, &c.
OME, deareſt Lord, deſcend and dwell
By faith and love in ev'ry breaſt ;
Then ſhall we know, and taſte and feel
The joys that cannot be czpreſs'd.
2 Come, fill our hearts with inward flrength,
Make our enlarged ſouls poſſeſs, *
And learn the height, and breadth, and
length
Of thine unmeaſurable grace.
3 Now to the God whoſe pow'r can do
More than our thoughts or wiſhes know,
Be everlaſting honours done
By all the church, thro' Chriſt his Son.
l
Kook I.]
149
IIYMNS.–CXXXVI.-CXLI.
HYMN. cxxxvi. [L. M.]
Sincerity and hyſiocriſy; or, formality in worſhip,
John iv. 24. Pſalm cz.xxix. 23, 24,
1 GOP is a Spirit, juſt and wiſe,
He ſecs our in moſt mind ;
In vain to heav'n we raiſe our cries,
And leave our ſouls behind.
2 Nothing but truth before his throne
With honour can appear;
The painted hypocritcs are known
Thro' the diſguiſe they wear.
3 Their lifted eyes ſalute the ſkies,
Their bending knees the ground ;
But God abhors the ſacrifice,
Where not the heart is found.
4 Lord, ſearch my thoughts, and try my
ways,
And make my ſoul ſincere :
Then ſhall I ſtand before thy face,
And find acceptance there.
HYMN cxxxvii. [L. M.]
Salvation by grace in Chriſt,
2 Tinn. i. 9, 10,
i OW to the pow'r of God ſupreme
Be everlaſting honours giv'n,
He ſaves from hell, (we bleſs his name)
He calls our wand'ring feet to heav’n.
2 Not for our duties or deſerts,
But of his own abounding grace,
He works ſalvation in our hearts,
And forms a people for his praiſe.
3 "Twas his own purpoſe that begun
To reſcue rebels doom'd to die;
He gave us grace in Chriſt his Son,
Before he ſpread the ſtarry ſky.
4 Jeſus the Lord appears at laſt,
And makes his Father's counſels known;
Declares the great tranſačtions paſt,
And brings immortal bleſſings down,
5 He dies and in that dreadful night
Did all the pow'rs of hell deſtroy ;
Riſing he brought our heav'n to light,
And took poſſeſſion of the joy.
HYMN CXXXVIII, [c, M.]
Saints in the hands of Chriſt, John x. 28, 29.
1 FIRM as the earth thy goſpel ſtands,
My Lord, my hope, my truſt;
If I am found in Jeſus’ hands,
My ſoul can ne'er be loſt.
2 His honour is engag’d to ſave
The meaneſt of his ſheep :
All that his heav'nly Father gave
His hands ſecurely keep.
3 Nor death nor hell ſhall e'er remove
His favºrites from his breaſt;
In the dear boſom of his love
They muſt for ever reſt,
HYMN CXXXIX. [L. M.]
Hope in the covenant ; or, God’s Aromiſe and
truth unchangeable, Heb. vi. 17–19.
1 HQW oft have fin and ſatan ſtrove
To rend my ſoul from thee my God:
But everlaſting is thy love,
And Jeſus feals it with his blood,
2 The oath and promiſe of the Lord,
Join to confirm the wondrous grace;
Eternal pow'r performs the word,
And fills all heav'n with endleſs praiſe.
3 Amidſt temptations ſharp and long,
My ſoul to this dear refuge flies:
Hope is my anchor firm and ftrong,
While tempeſts blow and billows riſe.
4 The goſpel bears my ſpirit up ;
A faithful and unchanging God
Lays the foundation for my hope,
In oaths, and promiſes, and blood.
HYMN CXL. [c. M.]
4 living and a dead faith. Collefiedfrom
veral ſcriptures,
1 MISTAKEN ſouls that dream of
And make their empty boaſt
Of inward joys, and ſins forgiv'n,
While they are ſlaves to luſt.
2 Vain are our fancies, airy flights,
It faith be cold and dead;
None but a living pow'r unites
To Chriſt the living head.
heav'n,
3 'Tis faith that changes all the heart 5
'Tis faith that works by love;
That bids all ſinful joys depart,
And lifts the thoughts above
4 'Tis faith that conquers earth and hell
By a celeſtial pow'r;
This is the grace that ſhall prevail
In the deciſive hour.
5 [Faith muſt obey her Father's will,
As well as truſt his grace;
A pard’ning God is jealous ſtill
For his own holineſs.]
6 When from the curſe he ſets us free,
He makes our natures clean ;
Nor would he ſend his Son to be
The miniſter of ſin:
7 His Spirit purifies our frame,
And ſeals our peace with God;
Jeſus, and his ſalvation came
By water and by blood.
HYMN CXLI. Is. M.]
The bumiliation and exaltation of Chriſt,
I WHO has believ'd thy word,
Or thy ſalvation known
Reveal thine arm, almighty Lord,
And glorify thy Son.
The Jews eſteem’d him here
Too mean for their belief:
Sorrows his chief acquaintance were,
And his companion, grief.
2
i50
[Book I.
IIYMNS.–CXLII. CXLIII. CXLIV. CXLV.
3 They turn'd their eyes away,
And treated him with ſcorn;
But ’twas their griefs upon him lay,
Their ſorrows he has borne.
'Twas for the ſtubborn Jews,
And Gentiles, then unknown,
The God of juſtice pleas'd to bruiſe
His beſt-beloved Son.
5 “But I’ll prolong his days,
“And make his kingdom ſtand;
“My pleaſure, (faith the God of grace)
“Shall proſper in his hand.
[“His joyful ſoul ſhall ſee
“The purchaſe of his pain,
“And by his knowledge juſtify
“The guilty ſons of men.]
[“Ten thouſand captive ſlaves,
“Releas'd from death and ſin,
“Shall quit their priſons and their graves,
“And own his pow'r divine.]
[“Heaven ſhall advance my Son
“To joys that earth deny’d ;
“Who ſaw the follies men had done,
“And bore their fins, and dy’d.]
.4
6
7
$
HYMN CXLII. [S. M.]
The ſame, Iſaiah liii. 6–12.
LIKE ſheep we went aſtray,
And broke the fold of God,
Each wand'ring in a diff'rent way,
But all the downward road.
How dreadful was the hour
When God our wand'rings laid,
And did at once his vengeance pour
Upon the ſhepherd’s head
3 How glorious was the grace
When Chriſt ſuſtain’d the ſtroke
His life and blood the ſhepherd pays,
A ranſom for the flock.
4. His honour and his breath
Were taken both away;
Join’d with the wicked in his death,
And made as vile as they.
But God ſhall raiſe his head,
O'er all the ſons of men,
And make him ſee a numerous ſeed,
To recompenſe his pain.
“I’ll give him, (faith the Lord)
“A portion with the ſtrong:
“He ſhall poſſeſs a large reward,
“And hold his honours long.”
I
2
5
6
HYMN CXLIII. [C. M.]
Charađer of the children of God.
ſeveral ſcriptures.
From
I SO new-born babes deſire the breaſt
To feed, and grow, and thrive;
So ſaints with joy the goſpel taſte,
And by the goſpel live.
2. With inward guſt their heart approves
All that the world relates :
They love the men their Father loves,
And hate the works he hates.]
|
3 [Not all the flatt’ring baits on earth
Can make them ſlaves to luſt ;
They can’t forget their heav'nly birth,
Nor grovel in the duſt J
4 [Not all the chains that tyrants uſe
Shall bind their ſouls to vice ;
Faith, like a conqu'ror, can produce
A thouſand vićtories.] l
5 [Grace, like an uncorrupted ſeed,
Abides and reigns within;
Immortal principles forbid
The ſons of God to fin.]
6 [Not by the terrors of a ſlave
Do they perform his will,
But with the nobleſt pow'rs they have
His ſweet commands fulfil.]
"7 They find acceſs at ev'ry hour
To God within the veil ;
Hence they derive a quick’ning pow'r,
And joys that never fail.
8 O happy ſouls 1 O glorious ſtate
Of overflowing grace ;
To dwell ſo near their Father’s ſeat,
And ſee his lovely face.
9 Lord, I addreſs thy heav'nly throne;
Call me a child of thine ;
Send down the Spirit of thy Son
To form my heart divine.
10 There ſhed thy choiceſt loves abroad,
And make my comforts ſtrong :
Then ſhal! I ſay, “My Father God,”
With an unwav’ring tongue.
HYMN CXLIV. [c. M.]
The witne/ng and ſealing Shirir,
Roin. viii. 14, 16. Eph. i. 13, 14.
1 WHY ſhould the children of a king
Go mourning all their days 3
Great Comforter, deſcend and bring
Some tokens of thy grace.
2 Doſt thou not dwell in all the ſaints,
And ſeal the heirs of heav’n 2
When wilt thou baniſh my complaints,
And ſhow my ſins ſorgiv'n
3 Aſſure my conſcience of her part
In the Redeemer’s blood;
And bear thy witneſs with my heart,
That I am born of God.
4 Thou art the earneſt of his love,
The pledge of joys to come;
And thy ſoft wings, celeſtial Dove,
Will ſafe convey me home.
HYMN CXLV. ſc. M.J.
Chriſt and Aaron, taken from Heb. vii. and ix.
I JEğ. in thee our eyes behold
A thouſand glories more
Then the rich gems and poliſh’d goºd
The Son of Aaron wore.
2 They firſt their own burnt-off'rings brought
To purge themſehyes from fin;
Book I.]
15||
HYMNS.–CXLVI. CXLVII.
Thy life was pure without a ſpot,
And all thy nature clean.
3 [Freſh blood, as conſtant as the day,
Was on their altar ſpilt;
But thy one off'ring takes away
C. For ever all our guilt.]
4 [Their prieſthood ran thro' ſeveral hands,
For mortal was their race ;
Thy never changing office ſtands,
Eternal as thy days.]
5 [Once in the circuit of a year,
With blood but not his own,
Aaron within the vale appears,
Before the golden throne.
6 But Chriſt by his own pow'rful blood
Aſcends above the ſkies,
And, in the preſence of our God,
Shows his own ſacrifice.]
7 Jeſus, the king of glory, reigns
On Sion’s heav'nly hill ;
Looks like a lamb that has been ſlain,
And wears his prieſthood ſtill,
$ He ever lives to intercede
Before his Father’s face ;
Give him, my ſoul, thy cauſe to plead,
Nor doubt the Father’s grace.
HYMN CXLVI. [L. M.J
Charaćiers of Chriſt, borrowed from inanimate
• things in ſcripture.
I G9, worſhip at Immanuel's feet,
See in his face what wonders meet !
Earth is too narrow to expreſs
His worth, his glory, or his grace.
2 [The whole creation can afford
But ſome faint ſhadows of my Lord ;
Nature, to make his beauties known.
Muſt mingle colours not her own.]
3 [Is he compar'd to wine or bread
Dear Lord, our ſouls would thus be fed :
That fleſh, that dying blood of thine,
Is bread of life, is heav'nly wine.]
4 [Is he a tree ? The world receives 3:
Salvation from his healing leaves :
That righteous branch, that fruitful bough,
Is David’s root and offspring too.]
5 IIs he a roſe Not Sharon yields
Such fragrancy in all her fields :
Or if the lily he aſſume,
The vallies bleſs the rich perfume.]
6 [Is he a vine His heav'nly root
Supplies the boughs with life and fruit :
O let a laſting union join
My ſoul to Chriſt the living vine !
7 [Is he the head Each member lives,
And owns the vital pow'rs he gives ;
The ſaints below, and ſaints above,
Join’d by his Spirit and his love.]
$ [Is he a fountain There I bathe,
And heal the plague of ſiu and death :
Theſe waters all my ſoul renew,
And cleanſe my ſpotted garments too.]
9 [Is he a fire 2 He'll purge my droſs:
But the true gold ſuſtains no loſs :
Like a refiner ſhall he ſit,
And tread the refuſe with his feet.]
10 [Is he a rock How firm he proves 1
The rock of ages never moves;
Yet the ſweet ſtreams that from him flow
Attend us all the deſart thro’.]
11 Is he away? He leads to God,
The path is drawn in Iines of blood;
There would I walk with hope and zeal,
*Till I arrive at Sion's hill.]
12 [Is he a door I’ll enter in ;
Behold the paſtures large and green;
A paradiſe divinely fair, -
None but the ſheep have freedom there.]
13 Is he deſign’d a corner ſtone,
For men to build their heav'n upon
I’ll make him my ſoundation too,
Nor fear the plots of hell below.]
14 [Is he a temple 2 I adore
Th’indwelling majeſty and pow'r 5
And ſtill to his moſt holy place
Whene'er I pray, I turn my face.
15 [Is he a ſtar He breaks the night,
Piercing the ſhades, with dawning light;
1 know his glories from afar,
I know the bright the morning-ſtar,
16 [Is he a ſun ? His beams are grace,
His courſe is joy and righteouſneſs :
Nations rejoice when he appears
To chaſe their clouds, and dry their tears.
17 O let me climb thoſe higher ſkies,
Where ſtorms and darkneſs never riſel
There he diſplays his pow'rs abroad,
And ſhines and reigns th’ incarnate God.]
18 Nor earth, nor ſeas, nor ſun, nor ſtars,
Nor heav'n his full reſemblance bears;
His beauties we can never trace,
Till we behold him face to face.
HYMN CXLVII. [L. M.]
The names and titles of Chriſt from ſeveral
for iptures.
[TIS from the treaſures of his Word
I borrow titles for my Lord ;
Nor art nor nature can ſupply
Sufficient forms of majeſty.
Bright image of the Father's face,
Shining with undiminiſh’d rays;
Th’ eternal God’s eternal Son,
The heir and partner of his throne.]
3 The King of kings, the Lord moſt high,
Writes his own name upon his thigh :
He wears a garment dipp'd in blood,
And breaks the nations with his rod.
Where grace can neither melt nor move,
The Lamb reſents his injur’d love,
Awakes his wrath without delay,
And Judah’s lion tears the prey.
1
2
4.
|
152
[Book I.
HTYMNS.–CXLVIII. CXLIX.
5 But when ſor works of peace he comes,
What winning titles he aſſumes 2
Light of the World, and Liſe of Men;
Nor bears thoſe chara&ters in vain,
6 With tender pity in his heart
Hc ačts the Mediator’s part 3
A Friend and Brother he appears,
And well fulfils the names he wears.
7 At length the Judge his throne aſcends,
Divides the rebels from his friends,
And ſaints in ſull fruition prove
His rich variety of love? º
HYMN CXLVIII.
The ſame as the 148th Pſalm.
l IWITH chearful voice I ſing
The titles of my Lord,
And borrow all the names
Of honour from his word ;
Nature and art
Can ne’er ſupply
Sufficient forms
Of majeſty.
2 In Jeſus we behold
His Father’s glorious face
Shining for ever bright
With mild and lovely rays :
Th’ eternal God’s
Eternal Son
Inherits and
Partakes the throne.]
3 The ſov’reign King of kings,
The Lord of lords moſt high,
Writes his own name upon
His garment and his thigh.
His name is call’d
“ The Word of God;”
He rules the carth
With iron rod.
4. Where promiſes and grace
Can neither melt nor move,
The angry Lamb reſents
The injuries of his love;
Awakes his wrath
, Without delay,
As lions roar,
And tear the prey.
5 But when for works of peace
The great Redeemer comes,
What gentle charaćters,
What titles he aſſumes |
“Light of the World,
“And Life of men;”
Nor will he bear
Thoſe names in vain;
6 Immenſe compaſſion reigns
In our Immanuel's heart,
When he deſcends to act
A Mediator’s part.
He is a Friend,
And Brother too;
Divinely kind,
Divinely true.
7 At length the Lord the judge,
His awful throue aſcends,
And drives the rebels far
From favourites and friends,
Then ſhall the ſaints
Completely prove
The heights and depths
Of all his love.
HYMN CXLIX.
The ºffices of Chriſt, from ſºveral ſcriptures.
1
OIN all the names of love and pow'r
That ever men or angels bore,
All are too mean to ſpeak his worth,
Or ſet Immanuel’s glory forth.
2 But O what condeſcending ways
He takes to each his heav'nly gracel
My eyes with joy and wonder ſee
What forms of love he bears to me.
[The angel of the cov’nant ſtands
With his commiſfion in his hands,
Sett from his Father’s milder throne
To make the great Salvation known.]
4
[Great Prophet, let me bleſs thy name;
By thee the joyful tidings came
Of wrath appeas'd, of ſins forgiv'n, *
Of hell ſubdu'd, and peace with heav'n.]
5 [My bright Example, and my Guide,
I would be walking near thy ſide;
O let me never run aſtray,
Nor follow the forbidden way !
5
I love my Shepherd, he ſhall keep
My wand'ring ſoul amongſt his ſheep;
He ſeeds his flocks, he calls their names,
And in his boſom bears the lambs.]
| 7 [My Surety undertakes my cauſe,
Anſwering his Father’s broken laws;
Behold my ſoul at freedom ſet,
My Surety paid the dreadful debt.]
[Jeſus my great High-Prieſt has dy’d,
I ſeek no ſacrifice beſide;
His blood did once for all atone,
And now it pleads beſore the throne.]
8,
9
[My Advocate appears on high,
The Father lays his thunder by ;
Not all that earth or hell can ſay
Shall turn my Father's heart away.]
10 [ My Lord, my Conqu'ror, and my King,
Thy ſceptre and thy ſword I ſing;
Thine is the vićt’ry, and I ſit
A joyſul ſubjećt at thy feet.]
11 [Aſpire, my ſoul, to glorious deeds,
The Captain of Salvation leads:
March on, nor fear to win the day,
Tho' death and hell obſtruct the way.]
12 Should death and hell, and pow'rs ºn-
known,
Put all their forms of miſchief on,
I ſhall be ſafe; for Chriſt diſplays
Salvation in more ſov’reign ways,
Book i]
HYMNS.–CL, 153
HYMN CL.
The ſame as the cxlviiith Pſalm.
l Jº all the glorious names
Of wiſdom, love, and pow'r,
That ever mortals knew
That angels ever bore :
All arc too mean *
To ſpeak his worth,
Too mean to ſet
My Saviour forth.
2. But O what gentle terms,
What condeſcending ways
Doth our Redeemer uſe
To teach his heav'nly grace
Młme eyes with joy
And wonder ſee
What forms of love
He bears for me.
3 [Array’d in mortal fleſh,
He like an angel ſtands,
And holds the promiſes
And pardons in his hands;
Commiſſion'd from
His Father's throne,
To make his grace
| To mortals known.]
4 [Great Prophet of my God,
My tongue would bleſs thy name;
By thee the joyful news
Qf our ſalvation came ;
The joyful news
Of fins forgiv'n
Of hell ſubdu’d,
And peace with heav'n.]
5 [Be thou my Counſellor,
My Pattern and my Guide ;
And thro' this deſart land
Still keep me near thy fide
O let my feet
Ne'er run attray,
Nor rove, nor ſeek
The crooked way.
6 [I love my ſhepherd's voice,
His watchful eyes ſhall keep
My wand'ring ſoul among
The thouſands of his ſheep :
He feeds his flock,
He calls their names,
His boſom bears
The tender lambs,)
VOL, VII,
|7
| 1
12
[To this dear Surety’s hand
Will I commit my cauſe ;
He anſwers and fulfils
His Father’s broken laws.
Behold my ſoul
At freedom ſet ;
My ſurety paid
The dreadful debt.]
[Jeſus my great High Prieſt,
Offer'd his blood and dy’d ;
My guilty conſcience ſeeks
No ſacrifice beſide.
His pow'rful blood
Did once atone ;
And now it pleads
Before the throne.]
[My advocate appears,
For my defence on high t
The Father bows his ears,
And lays his thunder by.
Not all that hell
Or fin can ſay,
Shall turn his heart,
His love away.]
[My dear almighty Lord,
My Conqu'ror and my King,
Thy ſceptre, and thy ſword
Thy reigning grace I ſing.
Thine is the pow'r t
Behold I ſit
In willing bonds
Beneath thy feet.]
[Now let my ſoul ariſe,
And tread the tempter down :
My Captain leads me forth
To conqueſts and a crown.
A feeble ſaint
Shall win the day
Tho' death and hell
Obſtruct the way.]
Should all the hoſts of death,
And pow’rs of hell unknown
Put their moſt dreadful forms
Of rage and miſchief on,
I ſhall be ſafe z
For Chriſt diſplays
Superior pow'r
And guardian grace,
1$4. HYMNS.—I. II, III. IV. [Book (I,
BOOK II.
Composed on Divine Subjects.
HYMN I. [L. M.]
4 ſong in Araiſe to God from Great-Britain,
1 NATURE with all her pow’rs ſhall ſing
God the Creator and the King :
Nor air, nor earth, nor ſkies, nor ſeas,
Deny the tribute of thcir praiſe.
2 [Begin to make his glories known,
Ye ſeraphs, that ſit near his throne ;
Tune your harps high, and ſpread the ſound
To the creation’s utmoſt bound.]
3 [All mortal things of meaner frame,
Exert your force, and own his name ;
Whilſt with our ſouls and with our voice,
We ſing his honours and our joys.]
4 [To him be ſacred all we have,
From the young cradle to the grave:
Our lips ſhall his loud wonders tell,
And ev'ry word a miracle.]
5 [This northern iſle, our native land,
Lies ſafe in the Almighty’s hand ;
Our foes of vićl’ry dream in vain,
And wear the captivating chain.
6 He builds and guards the Britiſh throne,
And makes it gracious, like his own ;
Makes our ſucceſſive princes kind,
And gives our dangers to the wind.]
7 Raiſe monumental praiſes high,
To him that thunders thro’ the ſky,
And with an awful nod or frown
Shakes an aſpiring tyrant down.
[Pillars of laſting braſs proclaim
The triumphs of th’ &ternal name :
While trembling nations read from far
The honours of the God of war.]
9 Thus let our flaming zeal employ
Our loftieſt thoughts and loudeſt ſongs :
Britain, pronounce with warmelt joy,
Hoſanna from ten thouſand tongues.
10 [Yet, mighty God, our feeble frame
Attempts in vain to reach thy name :
The ſtrongeſt notes that angels raiſe,
Faint in the worſhip and the praiſe.]
8
HYMN II. [c. M.]
The death of a ſinner.
I MY thoughts on awful ſubjećts roll,
Damnation and “he dead;
What horrors ſeize the guilty ſoul
Upon a dying bed )
2 Ling’ring about theſe mortal ſhores,
She makes a long delay :
Till like a flood with rapid force
Death ſweeps the wretch away.
{
3
4
l
3
4
5
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2
Then ſwift and dreadful ſhe deſcends
Down to the fi’ry coaſt,
Aumongſt abominable fiends;
Herſelf a frighted ghoſt.
There cndleſs crowds of ſinners lie,
And darkncſs makes their chains ;
Tortun’d with keen deſpair they cry,
Yet wait for fiercer pains.
Not all their anguiſh and their blood
For their old guilt atones,
Nor the compaſſion of a God
Shall hearken to their groans.
Amazing grace, that kept my breath,
Nor bid my ſoul remove,
Till I had learn’d my Saviour’s death,
And well inſur’d his love :
HYMN III. [C. M.]
The death and burial of a ſaint.
WHY do we mourn departing friends
Or ſhake at death’s alarms ?
'Tis but the voice that Jeſus ſends
To call them to his arms.
Are we not tending upward too
As faſt as time can move 2
Nor would we wiſh the hours more ſlow,
To keep us from our love.
Why ſhould we tremble to convey
Their bodies to the tomb 3
There the dear fleſh of Jeſus lay,
And left a long pctfume.
The graves of all his ſaints he bleſs'd,
And ſoften’d ev'ry bed :
Where ſhould the dying members reſt,
But with the dying head 2
Thence he aroſe, aſcending high,
And ſhew’d our feet the way ;
Up to the Lord our fleſh ſhall fly,
At the great riſing-day.
Then let the laſt loud trumpet ſound,
And bid our kindred riſe : ,
Awake ye nations under ground;
Ye ſaints, aſcend the ſkies.
HYMN IV. [L. M.]
Salvation in the croſs.
HERE at thy croſs, my dying God,
I lay my ſoul beneath thy love,
Beneath the droppings of thy blood,
Jeſus nor ſhall it e'er remove.
Not all that tyrants think or ſay,
With rage and lightning in their eyes,
Nor hell ſhall fright my heart away,
Should hell with all its legions riſe:
Rook II.]
155
HYMNS.—V. VI. VII. VIII. IX.
Should worlds conſpire to drive me thence,
Moveleſs and firm this heart ſhould lie ; |
Reſolv’d (for that’s my laſt defence)
If I muſt periſh, there to die.
4. But ſpeak, my Lord, and calm my fear;
Am I not ſafe beneath thy ſhade 1
Thy veng’ance will not ſtrike me here,
r Satan dares my ſoul invade.
5 Yes, I’m ſecure beneath thy blood,
And all my foes ſhall loſe their aim : }
Hoſanna to my dying God :
And my beſt honours to his name.
i
*
HYMN V. [L. M.]
Longing to Araiſe Chriſt better.
1 LORD, when my thoughts with won-
der roll Sº.
O'er the ſharp ſorrows of my ſoul,
And read my Maker’s broken laws,
Repair’d and honour’d by the croſs;
? When I behold death, hell and ſin,
Vanquiſh’d by that dear blood of thine ;
And ſee the man that groan’d and dy’d,
Sit glorious by his Father's ſide ;
3 My paſſions riſe and ſoar above,
I’m wing’d with faith, and fir’d with love;
Fain would I reach eternal things,
And learn the notes that Gabricl ſings.
4. But my heart ſails, my tongue complains,
For want of their immortal ſtrains;
And in ſuch humble notes as theſe
Muſt fall below thy vićtories.
5 Well the kind minute muſt appear
When we ſhall leave theſe bodies here,
Theſe clogs of clay and mount on high,
To join the ſongs above the ſky.
HYMN VI. [C. M.]
4 morning ſong.
I ONCE more, my ſoul, the riſing day
Salutes thy waking eyes ;
Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay
To him that rolls the ſkies.
2 Night unto night his name repeats,
The day renews the ſound,
Wide as the heav'n on which he ſits
To turn the ſeaſons round.
3 'Tis he ſupports my mortal frame;
My tongue ſhall ſpeak his praiſe;
My fins would rouſe his wrath to flame,
And yet his wrath delays.
* On a poor worm thy pow'r might tread,
And I could ne'er withſtand;
Thy juſtice might have cruſh'd me dead,
But mercy held thine hand, -
5 A thouſand wretched ſouls are fled
Since the laſt ſetting ſun,
And yet thou length"neſt out my thread,
And yet my moments run.
6 Dear God, let all my hours be thine,
While I enjoy the light;
Then ſhall my ſun in ſmiles decline,
And bring a pleaſant night. |
HYMN VII. [C. M.]
An evening ſong.
! [DREAD Sov’reign, let my ev’ning ſong
Like holy incenſe riſe;
Aſſiſt the off'rings of my tongue
To reach the lofty ſkies.
Thro' all the dangers of the day
Thy hand was ſtill my guard,
And ſtill to drive my wants away
Thy mercy ſtood prepar’d.]
Perpetual bleſſings from above
Encompaſs me around,
But O how few returns of love
Hath my Creator found.
What have I done for him that dy’d
To ſave my wretched ſoul ?
How are my follies multiply'd
Faſt as my minutes roll!
Lord, with this guilty heart of mine,
To thy dear croſs I flee,
And to thy grace my ſoul reſign
To be renew’d by thee.
Sprinkled afreſh with pard’ning blood,
I lay me down to reſt,
As in th’ embraces of my God,
Or on my Saviour’s breaſt.
HYMN VIII. [C. M.]
An hymn for a morning and evening.
! HOSANNA with a chearful ſound,
To God’s upholding hand;
Ten thouſand ſnares attend us round,
And yet ſecure we ſtand.
That was a moſt amazing pow'r
That rais’d us with a word,
And ev’ry day, and ev'ry hour,
We lean upon the Lord.
The ev’ning reſts our weary head,
And angels guard the room;
We wake, and we admire the bed
That was not made our tomb.
The riſing morning can’t aſſure
That we ſhall end the day;
For death ſtands ready at the door
To ſeize our lives away.
Our breath is forſeited by ſin
To God’s avenging law; -
We own thy grace, immortal King,
In ev’ry gaſp we draw.
God is our ſun, whoſe daily light
Our joy and ſafety brings;
Our feeble fleſh lies ſafe at night
Beneath his ſhady wings.
HYMN IX. [C. M.]
Godly ſarrow ariſing from the ſufferings of
Chriſt.
ALAS; and did my Saviour bleed!
And did my Sov’reign die;
Would he devote that ſacred head,
For ſuch a worsºn as I
2 [Thy body ſlain, ſweet Jeſus, thine,
And bath’d in its own blood,
While all expos'd to wrath divine
The glorious ſuff'rer ſtood |
|U 2
t
#56
[Book Iſ.
HYMNS.--X, XI, XII, XIII. XIV.
3 Was it for crimes that I had done,
Hc groaned upon the tree ?
Amazing pity Grace unknown
And love beyond degree
4 Well might the ſun in darkneſs hide,
And ſhut his glories in,
When God the mighty Maker dy’d
For man the creature’s ſin.
5 Thus might I hide my bluſhing face,
While his dear croſs appears,
Diſſolve my heart in thankfulneſs,
And melt my eyes to tears.
6 But drops of grief can ne'er re-pay
The debt of love I owe :
Here, Lord, I give myſelf away; .
'Tis all that I can do.
HYMN X. [C. M.]
Parting with carnal joys.
MY ſoul forſakes her vain delight,
And bids the world farewell ;
Baſe as the dirt beneath my feet,
And miſchievous as hell.
2 No longer will I aſk your love,
Nor ſeek your friendſhip more ;
The happineſs that I approve
Is not within your pow’r.
3 There's nothing round the ſpacious earth
That ſuits my large deſire ;
To boundleſs joys and ſolid mirth
My nobler thoughts aſpire.
4 [Where pleaſure rolls its living flood,
From ſin and droſs refin'd,
Still ſpringing from the throne of God,
And fit to checr the mind,
5 Th' almighty Ruler of the ſphere,
The Gloriops and the Great,
Brings his own all ſufficience there,
To make our bliſs complete.]
6 Had I the pinions of a dove,
I'd climb the heav'nly road;
There ſits my Saviour dreſs'd in love,
And there my ſimiling God.
HYMN XI. [L. M.]
The ſame.
1 I Send the joys of earth away;
Away, ye tempters of the mind,
Falſe as the ſmooth deceitful ſea,
And empty as the whiſtling wind.
2 Your ſtreams were floating me along
Down to the gulph of black deſpair;
And whilſt I liſten’d to your ſong,
Your ſtreams had e'en convey’d me there.
3 Lord, I adore thy matchleſs grace,
That warn’d me of that dark abyſs;
That drew me from thoſe treach’rous ſeas,
And bid me ſeek ſuperior bliſs.
4. Now to the ſhining realms above
I ſtretch my hands, and, glance my eyes:
O for the pinions of a dove,
To bear me to the upper ſkies 1
5 There from the boſom of my God
Oceans of endleſs pleaſures roll; .
There would I fix my laſt abode,
And drown the ſorrows of my ſoul.
HYMN XII. [C. M.]
Chriſt is the ſubſtance of the Levitical Arieſthood.
! THE true Meſſiah now appears,
The types are all withdrawn;
So fly the ſhadows and the ſtars
Before the riſing dawn.
2 No ſmoking ſweets, nor bleeding lambs,
Nor kid, nor bullock ſlain,
Incenſe and ſpice of coſtly names,
Would all be burnt in vain.
3 Aaron muſt lay his robes away,
His mitre and his veſt,
When God himſelf comes down to be
The offring and the prieſt.
| 4 He took our mortal fleſh to ſhow
The wonders of his love ;
For us he paid his life below,
And prays for us above.
5 “Father (he cries) forgive their fins,
“For I myſelf have dy’d;”
And then he ſhews his open’d veins,
And pleads his wounded ſide.
HYMN XIII. [L. M.]
The creation, Areſervation, diſſºlution, and
reſoration of this world.
| SING to the Lord that built the ſkies,
The Lord that rear'd this ſtately frame;
Let half the nations ſound his praiſe,
And lands unknown repeat his name.
2 He form'd the ſeas, and form'd the hills,
Made ev'ry drop, and ev'ry duſt,
Nature and time with all their wheels,
And puſh’d them into motion firſt.
3 Now, from his high imperial throne
He looks far down upon the ſpheres;
He bids the ſhining orbs roll on,
And round he turns the haſty years.
4 Thus ſhall this moving ergine laſt,
Till all his ſaints are gather'd in :
Then for the trumpet’s dreadful blaſt,
To ſhake it all to duſt again.
5 Yet, when the ſound ſhall tear the ſkies;
And lightning burn thc globe below,
Saints, you may liſt your joyful eyes,
There’s a new heav'n and earth for you.
HYMN XIV. [S. M.]
The Lord’s-day : or, delight in ordinances,
1 WELCOME ſweet day of reſt,
That faw the Lord ariſe ;
Welcome to this reviving breaſt,
And theſe rejoicing eyes |
2 The king himſelf comes near,
And feaſts his ſaints to-day;
Here we may ſit, and ſee him here,
And love, and praiſe, and pray.
Book II.]
157
HYMNS.–XV. XVI. XVII, XVIII. XIX.
3. One day amidſt the place
Where my dear God hath been,
Is ſweeter than ten thouſand days
Of pleaſurable ſin.
4 My willing ſoul would ſtay
In ſuch a frame as this,
And ſit and ſing herſelf away
To everlaſting bliſs.
HYMN XV. [L. M.]
The enjoyment of Chriſt: or, delight in worſhip.
J FAR from my thoughts vain world be
gone, $
Let my religious hours alone;
Fain would my eyes my Saviour ſee;
I wait a viſit, Lord from thee.
2 My heart grows warm with holy fire,
And kindles with a pure deſire:
Come, my dear Jeſus, from above,
And feed my ſoul with heav'nly loves
3 [The trees of life immortal ſtand
in fragrant rows at thy right-hand,
And in ſweet murmurs by thy ſide
Rivers of bliſs perpetual glide.
4 Haſte then, but with a finiling face,
And ſpread a table of thy grace :
Bring down a taſte of truth divine,
And chear my heart with ſacred wine.]
5 Bleſt Jeſus, what delicious fare
How ſweet thy entertainments are
Never did angels taſte above
Redeeming grace, and dying loves
6 Hail great Immanuel, all divine !
In thee thy Father's glories ſhine;
Thou brighteſt, ſweeteſt, faireſt one,
That eyes have ſeen, or angels known.
HYMN XVI. [L. M.]
Part II.
7 LORD, what a heav’n of ſaving grace
Shines thro’ the beauties of thy face,
And lights our paſſions to a flame!
Lord, how we love thy charming name!
8 When I cau ſay, my God is mine,
When I can feel thy glories ſhine,
I tread the world beneath my feet,
And all the earth calls good or greats
9 While ſuch a ſcene of ſacred joys
Our raptured eyes and ſouls employs,
Here we could fit and gaze away
A long, an everlaſting day.
10 Well, we ſhall quickly paſs the night,
To the fair coaſts of perfeót light :
Then ſhall our joyful ſenſes rove
O'er the dear objećt of our love.
11 [There ſhall we drink full draughts of
bliſs,
And pluck new life ſrom heav'nly trees
Yet now and then, dear Lord, beſtow
A drop of heav'n on worms below.
12 Send comforts down from thy right-hand,
While we paſs thro’ this barren land,
And in thy temple let us ſee
A glimpſe of love, a glimpſe of thee.]
|
HYMN XVII. [C. M.]
God’s eternity.
iRISE, riſe, my ſouland leave the ground,
Stretch all my thoughts abroad,
And rouſe up ev’ry tuneful found
To praiſe th’ eternal God.
2 Long 'ere the lofty ſkies were ſpread,
Jehovah fill’d his throne,
Or Adam form’d, or angels made,
The Maker liv'd alone.
His boundleſs years can ne’er decreaſe,
But ſtill maintain their prime;
Eternity’s his dwelling place,
An ever is his time.
3
While like a tide our minutes flow,
The preſent and the paſt,
He fills his own immortal now,
And ſees our ages waſte.
5 The ſea and ſky muſt periſh too,
And vaſt deſtruction come !
The creatures-look! h9w old they grow,
And wait their fi’ry doom.
Well, let the ſea ſhrink all away,
And flame melt down the ſkies;
My God ſhall live an endleſs day,
When th’ old creation dies.
HYMN XVIII. [L. M.]
The miniſtry of angels.
HIGH on a hill of dazzling light,
The King of Giory ſpreads his ſeat,
And troops of angels ſtretch'd for flight,
Stand waiting round his awful feet.
1
2 “Go, ſaith the Lord, my Gabriel, go,
“ Salute the virgin’s fruitful womb;
“Make haſte, ye cherubs, down below,
“Sing and proclaim the Saviour come.”
Here a bright ſquadron leaves the ſkies,”
And thick around Eliſha ſtands.;
Anon a heav'nly ſoldier flies,
And breaks the chains from Peter's hands.
Tºſſy winged troops, O God of hoſts,
Wait on thy wand'ring church below;
Here we are ſailing to thy coaſts,
Let angels be our convoy too.
5 Are they not all thy ſervants, Lord *
At thy command they go and come;
With chearful haſte obey thy word,
And guard thy children to their home."
HYMN XIX. [C. M.]
Our frail bodies, and God our Areſerver.
LET others boaſt how ſtrong they be,
Nor death, nor danger fear ;
But we’ll confeſs, O Lord, to thee,
What feeble things we are.
I
2 Freſh as the graſs our bodies ſtand,
And flouriſh bright and gay;
A blaſting wind ſweeps o'er the land,
And fades the graſs away.
f
153 HYMNS.-XX, XXI, XXII. XXIII.'
[Book II,
3 Our life contains a thouſand ſprings, ! HYMN XXI. [L. M.]
And dies if one be gone :
Strange that a harp of thouſand ſtrings
Should keep in tune ſo long.
4. But 'tis our God ſupports our frame,
The God that built us firſt ;
Salvation to th’ almighty name
That rear'd us from the duſt.
5 : He fpoke, and ſtraight our hearts and ||
brains
In all their motions roſe,
* Let blood, ſaid he, flow round the veins.”
And round the veins it flows.
6 While we have breath, or uſe our tongues,
Our Maker we’ll adore;
His Spirit moves our heaving lungs,
Or they would breathe no more.]
HYMN xx. Il M.]
Backſlidings and returns : or, The inconſtancy
of our love.
i HY is my heart ſo far from thee,
'' My God, my chief delight?'
Why are my thoughts no more by day
With thee, no more by night?
2 [Why ſhould my fooliſh paſſions rove?
Where can ſuch ſweetneſs be,
As I have taſted in thy love,
As I have found in thee ºf
3 When my forgetful ſoul renews
The favour of thy grace,
My heart preſumes I cannot loſe
The reliſh all my days.
4 But ere ſome fleeting hour is paſt,
The flatt’ring world employs
Some ſenſual bait to ſeize my taſte,
And to pollute my joys.
5 [Trifles of nature or of art,
With fair deceitful charms,
Intrude into my thoughtleſs heart,
And thruſt me from thy arms.]
6 Then I repent, and vex my ſoul,
That I ſhould leave thee ſo;
Whcre will thoſe wild affections roll
That let a Saviour go?
*
'? [Sin’s promis’d joys are turn'd to pain,
And I am drown’d in grief;
But my dear Lord returns again,
He flies to my relief;
8 Seizing my ſoul with ſweet ſurpriſe,
He draws with loving bands;
Divine compaſſion in his eyes,
And pardon in his hands.]
9 [Wretch that I am, to wander thus
In chaſe of falſe delight !
Let me be faſten’d to thy croſs,
Rather than loſe thy fight.]
10 [Make haſte, my days, to reach the goal,
And bring my heart to reſt
On the dear centre of my ſoul,
My God, my Saviour’s breaſt,
>
M
3
4 ſong of Araiſe to God the Redeemer.
1 LET the old heathens tune their ſong
Of great Diana and of Jove;
But the ſweet theme that moves my
tongue, -
Is my Redeemer and his love.
Behold a God deſcends and dies,
To ſave my ſoul from gaping hell :
How the black gulph where Satan lies,
Yawn'd to receive me when I fell |
2
How juſtice frown'd and vengeance ſtood
. To drive me down to endleſs pain!
But the great Son propos'd his blood,
And heav'nly wrath grew mild again.
Infinite lover, gracious Lord,
To thee be endleſs honours giv'n ;
Thy wondrous name ſhall be ador'd,
Round the wide earth, and wider heav'n.
HYMN XXII. [L. M.]
} With God is terrible majeſty.
TERRIBLE God, that rcign’ſt on high,
º How awful is thy thund’ring hand t
Thy fiery bolts, how fierce they fly
Nor can all earth or hell withſtand.
1
2
This the old rebel angels knew,
And Satan ſell beneath thy frown :
Thine arrows ſtruck the traitor through,
And weighty vengeance ſunk him down.
This Sodom felt, and feels it ſtill,
And roars beneath th' eternal load :
“With endleſs burnings who can dwell,
“Or bear the fury of a God?”
Tremble, ye ſinners, and ſubmit,
Throw down your arms before his throne,
Bend your heads low beneath his feet,
Or his ſtrong hand ſhall cruſh you down,
|4
And ye, bleſs’d ſaints, that love him too,
With rev'rence bow before his name;
Thus all his heav'nly ſervants do :
God is a bright and burning flame.
HYMN XXIII. [L. M.]
The ſight of God and Chriſt in heaven. Y
| DESCEND from heav'n, immortal dove,
Stoop down and take us on thy wings,
And mount and bear us far above
The reach of theſe inferior things.
2 Beyond, beyond this lower ſky,
Up where eternal ages roll,
Where ſolid pleaſures never die,
And fruits immortal feaſt the ſoul.
3 O for a ſight, a pleaſing ſight
Of our almighty Father's throne!
There fits our Saviour crown'd with light,
Cloth'd in a body like our own.
4 Adorifig ſaints around him fland,
And thrones and pow’rs before him fall
The God ſhines gracious thro’ the man,
And ſheds ſweet glories on them all !
Book II.]
1.59
IIYMNS.–XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII.
5 O what amazing joys they feel,
While to their golden harps they ſing,
And ſit on ev'ry heav'nly hill,
And ſpread the triumphs of their King !
6 When ſhall the day, dear Lord, appear
That I ſhall mount to dwell above,
And ſtand and bow amongſt 'em there,
And view thy face, and ſing, and love 2
HYMN XXIV. [L. M.]
The evil of ſin viſible in the fall of angels and
7%t/?,
£/7
} WHEN the great Builder arch'd the
ſkies,
And form'd all nature with a word,
The joyful cherubs tun’d his praiſe,
And ev'ry bending throne ador’d.
2 High in the midſt of all the throng
Satan, a tall arch-angel, ſat,
Amongſt the morning ſtars he ſung,
*Till fin deſtroy’d his heav'nly ſtate.
3 *Twas ſin that hurl’d him from his throne;
Grov’ling in fire the rebel lies :
“How art thou ſunk in darkneſs down,
“Son of the morning, from the ſkies 1’’
4 And thus our two firſt parents ſtood,
*Till fin defil'd the happy place ;
They loſt their garden and their God,
And ruin’d all their unborn race.
5 [So ſprung the plague from Adam’s bower,
And ſpread deſtruction all abroad ;
Sin, the curs’d name 1 that in one hour
Spoil’d ſix days labour of a God.
6 Tremble, my ſoul, and mourn for grief,
That ſuch a foe ſhould ſeize thy breaſt ;
Fly to thy Lord for quick relief :
Oh! may he ſlay this treach’rous gueſt,
7 Then to thy throne, vićtorious King,
Then to thy throne our ſhouts ſhall riſe,
Thine everlaſting arm we ſing,
For ſin, the monſter, bleeds and dies.
HYMN XXV. [c. M.]
Comélaining of ſhiritual ſloth.
1 MY drowſy pow'rs, why ſleep ye ſo
Awake, my ſluggiſh ſoul
Nothing has half thy work to do,
Yet nothing’s half ſo dull.
2 The little ants for one poor grain
Labour, and tug, and ſtrive ;
Yet we who have a heav'n tº obtain,
How negligent we live 2
3 We, for whoſe fake all nature ſtands,
And ſtars their courſes move ;
We, for whoſe guard the angel bands
Come flying from above :
4. We, for whom God the Son came down,
And labour'd for our good;
How careleſs to ſecure that crown
He purchas'd with his blood
5. Lord, ſhall we lie ſo ſluggiſh ſtill,
And never act our partst
|
Come, holy dove, from th’ heav'nly hill,
And ſit and warm our hearts.
6 Then ſhall our active ſpirits move,
Upwards our ſouls ſhall riſe :
With hands of faith, and wings of love,
We’ll fly and take the prize.
HYMN XXVI. [L. M.]
God inviſible.
1 T ORD, we are blind, we mortals blind
We can't behold thy bright abode;
O 'tis beyond a creature-mind,
To giance a thought half way to God.
Infinite leagues beyond the ſky
The great Eternal reigns alone,
Where neither wings nor ſouls can fly,
Nor angels climb the topleſs throne.
The Lord of glory builds his ſeat
Of gems inſufferably bright,
And ſays beneath his ſacred feet
Subſtantial beams of gloomy night.
Yet, glorious Lord, thy gracious eyes
Look through and chear us from above;
Beyond our praiſe thy grandeur flies,
Yet we adore, and yet we love.
HYMN XXVII. [L. M.]
Praiſe ye him all his angels, Pſ. cxlviii. 2.
OD ! the eternal awful name
That the whole heav'nly army fears,
That ſhakes the wide creation's frame,
And Satan trembles when he hears,
Like flames of fire his ſervants are,
And light ſurrounds his dwelling-place;
But, O ye fiery flames, declare
The brighter glories of his face.
'Tis not for ſuch poor worms as we,
To ſpeak ſo infinite a thing ;
But your immortal eyes ſurvey
The beauties of your ſov’reign King.
Tell how he ſhews his ſmiling face,
And clothes all heav’n in bright array :
Triumph and jby run thro’ the place,
And ſongs eternal as the day.
5 Speak, (for you feel his burning love)
What zeal it ſpreads thro' all your frame;
That ſacred fire dwells all above,
For we on earth have loſt the name.
6 [Sing of his pow'r and juſtice too,
That infinite right-hand of this,
That vanquiſh’d ſatan and his crew,
And thunder drove them down from bliſs.]
[What mighty ſtorms of poiſon'd darts
Were hurl’d upon the rebels there l
What deadly jaw’lins nail'd their hearts
Faſt to the racks of long deſpair ]
8 [Shout to your King, you heav'nly hoſt,
You that behold the ſinking foe;
Firmly he ſtood when they were loft;
Praiſe the rich grace that kept ye ſo.]
1
3
7
160
XXX. XXXI, XXXII. [Book II.
HYMNS.—XXVIII, XXIX.
S Proclaim his wonders from the ſkies,
Let ev'ry diſtant nation hear ;
And while you ſound his lofty praiſe,
Let humble mortals bow and fear.
HYMN XXVIII. [C. M.]
Death and etermity. "
I STOOP down, my thoughts, that uſe to
riſe.
Converſe a while with death:
Think how a gaſping mortal lies,
And pants away his breath.
2 His quiv'ring lip hangs feebly down,
His pulſes faint and few;
Then, ſpeechleſs, with a doleful groan,
He bids the world adieu,
3 But, oh, the ſoul that never dies
At once it leaves the clay ! ...
Ye thoughts, purſue it where it flies,
And track its wondrous way.
4. Up to the courts where angels dwell,
It mounts triumphant there :
Or devils plunge it down to hell,
In infinite deſpair.
5 And muſt my body faint and die
And muſt this ſoul remove 2.
Oh, for ſome guardian angel nigh,
To bear it ſafe above 1
6 Jeſus, to thy dear faithful hand
My naked ſoul I truſt ;
And my fleſh waits for thy command,
To drop into my duſt.
HYMN XXIX. LC. M.]
Redemption by price and ſlower.
1 IESUS, with all thy faints above,
My tongue would bear her part,
Would ſound aloud thy ſaving love,
And ſing thy bleeding heart.
2 Bleſs'd be the Lamb, my deareſt Lord,
Who bought me with his blood,
And quench’d his Father's flaming ſword
In his own vital flood.
3 The Lamb that freed my captive foul
From ſatan’s heavy chains,
And ſent the lion down to howl
Where hell and horror reigns.
4 All glory to the dying Lamb,
And never-ceaſing praiſe,
While angels live to know his name,
Or ſaints to feel his grace.
HYMN XXX. [S. M.]
Heavenly joy on earth,
1. CoME we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be kriown ;
oin in a ſong with ſweet accord,
And thus ſurround the throne.
2 The ſorrows of the mind
Be baniſh’d from the place 1
Religion never was deſign'd
To make our pleaſures leſs.
3 Let thoſe refuſe to ſing
That never knew our God,
But favºrites of the heav'nly King
May ſpeak their joys abroad.
4 [The God that rules on high,
And thunders when he pleaſe
That rides upon the ſtormy ſky,
And manages the ſeas.]
5 This awful God is ours, /
Our Father and our love,
He ſhall ſend down his heav'nly powers
To carry us above.
6 There ſhall we ſee his face,
And never, never fin ;
There from the rivers of his grace,
Drink endleſs pleaſures in.
7 Yes, and before we riſe
To that immortal ſtate,
The thoughts of ſuch amazing bliſs
Should conſtant joys create.
8 [The men of grace have found
Glory begun below,
Celeſtial fruits on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow.
9 [The hill of Zion yields
A thouſand ſacred ſweets,
Before we reach the heav'nly fields,
Or walk the golden ſtreets.
10 Then let our ſongs abound,
And ev'ry tear be dry ;
We're marching thro’ Immanuel's ground
To fairer worlds on high...]
HYMN XXXI. [L. M.]
Chrift's Areſence makes death eaſy.
| WHY ſhould we ſtart and fear to die 2.
What tim’rous worms we mortals are?
Death is the gate of endleſs joy,
And yet we dread to enter there.
2 The pains, the groans, and dying ſtrife .
Fright our approaching ſouls away ;
Still we ſhrink back again to life,
Fond of our priſon and our clay.
3 Oh I, if my Lord would come and meet,
My ſoul ſhould ſtretch her wings in haſte,
Fly fearleſs thro’ death's iron gate,
Nor feel the terrors as ſhe paſt.
4 Jeſus Gan make a dying bed
Feel ſoft as downy pillars are,
While on his breaſt I lean my head,
And breathe my life out ſweetly there.
HYMN XXXII. [C. M.]
Frailty and folly.
1 HOW ſhort and haſty is our life
How vaſt our ſoul’s affairs I
Yet ſenſeleſs mortals vainly ſtrive
To laviſh out their years.
? Our days run thoughtleſsly along,
Without a moment's ſtay; &
Juſt like a ſtory, or a ſong,
We paſs our lives away.
3 God from on high invites us home,
But we march heedleſs on,
Book II.] HYMNS.—XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVI. XXXVII.
161
And ever haſt’ning to the tomb,
Stoop downwards as we run.
4 How we deſerve the deepeſt hell,
That ſlight the joys above
What chains of veng’ance ſhould we feel,
That break ſuch cords of love!
5 Draw us, O God, with ſov’reign grace,
And liſt our thoughts on high,
That we may chd this mortal race,
And ſee ſalvation nigh.
HYMN XXXIII. [C. M.]
The bleſſed ſociety in heaven.
1. RAISE thee my ſoul, fly up, and run
Thro’ ev'ry heav'nly ſtreet,
And ſay, there’s nought below the ſun
. That’s worthy of thy feet.
2 ſºphus will we mount on ſacred wings,
And tread the courts above :
Nor earth, nor all her mightieſt things
Shall tempt our meaneſt love.]
3 There on a high majcſtic throne
Th’ almighty Father reigns,
And ſheds his glorious goodneſs down
On all thc bliſsful plains,
4 Bright, like a ſun, the Saviour ſits,
And ſpreads eternal noon ;
No ev’nings there, nor gloomy nights,
To want the ſechle moon.
5 Amidſt thoſe ever-ſhining ſkies
Behold the ſacrcd Dove,
While baniſh’d ſin and ſorrow flics
From all the realms of love.
6 The glorious tenants of the place
Stand bending round the throne;
And ſaints and ſeraphs fing and praiſe
The infinite Three-One.
7 [But, O what beams of heav'nly grace
Tranſport them all the while !
Ten thouſand ſmiles from Jeſus’ face,
And love in c v’ry ſmile.
8 Jeſus I and when ſhall that dear day,
That joyful hour appear,
When I ſhall leave this houſe of clay,
To dwell amongſt them there.
HYMN XXXIV. [C. M.]
Breathing after the holy ſhirit : or, fervency of
* devotion deſired.
1 COME, holy Spirit, heav'nly Dove,
With all thy quickning pow’rs,
Kindle a flame of ſacred love
In theſe cold hearts of ours.
2 Look how we grovel here below,
Fond of theſe trifling toys:
Our ſouls can neither fly nor go
To reach eternal joys.
3 In vain we tune our formal ſongs,
In vain we ſtrive to riſe,
Hoſannas languiſh on our tongues,
And our devotion dies.
4 Dear Lord ' and ſhall we ever lie
At this poor dying rate,
VOL. VII,
Our love ſo faint, ſo cold to thee,
And thine to us ſo great?
Come, holy Spirit, heav'nly Dove,
With all thy quick’ning pow'rs,
Come ſhed abroad a Saviour's lovc,
And that ſhall kindle ours.
HYMN XXXV. ſc. M.]
Praiſe to God for creation and redem/tion.
LET them neglect thy glory, Lord,
Who never knew thy grace ;
But our loud ſongs ſhall ſtill record
The wonders of thy praiſe.
We raiſe our ſhouts, O God, to thee,
And ſend them to thy throne;
All glory to th’ United Three,
The Undivided One.
'Twas he (and we’ll adore his name)
That form'd us by a word :
'Tis he reſtores our ruin’d frame :
Salvation to the Lord.
Hoſanna l let the earth and ſkies
Repeat the joyful ſound ;
Rocks, hills, and vales, reflect the voice,
In one eternal round.
5
1
2
3
4
HYMN XXXVI. [S. M.]
Chriſt’s intercºffon.
WELL, the Redeemer's gone
Tº appear beſore our God,
To ſprinkle o'er the flaming throne,
With his atoning blood. ... *ſ
2 No fi’ry veng’ance now,
No burning wrath comes down :
If juſtice calls for ſinner’s blood,
The Saviour ſhe ws his own.
3 Before his Father’s eye
Our humble ſuit he moves!
The Father lays his thunder by
And looks, and ſmiles, and loves.
4 Now may our joyful tongues
Our Maker’s honour ſing;
Jeſus the prieſt receives our ſongs,
And bears them to the King.
5 [We bow before his face,
And ſound his glories high ;
“ Hoſanna to the God of grace
“That lays his thunder by..]
6 “On earth, thy mercy reigns,
“And triumphs all above :”
But, Lord, how weak our mortal ſtrains,
To ſpeak immortal love
7 [How jafring and how low
Are all the notes we ſingl
Sweet Saviour, tune our ſongs anew,
And they ſhall pleaſe the King.]
[C. M.]
ſ
HYMN XXXVII.
The ſame.
1 I IFT up your eyes to heav'nly ſeats
Where your Redeemer ſtays:
Kind Interceſſor, there he ſits,
And loves, and pleads, and prays.
X
¥
! 6.2
[Book II.
HYMNS.–XXXVIII, XXXIX, XL XLI. XLII.
2
4
6
l
2
3
5
l
4.
'Twas well, my ſoul, he dy’d for thee,
And ſhed his vital blood,
Appeas'd ſtern juſtice on the tree,
And then aroſe to God.
Petitions now, and praiſe may riſe,
And ſaints their off’rings bring,
The Prieſt with his own ſacrifice
Preſents them to the King.
[Let Papiſts truſt what names the pleaſe,
Their ſaints and angels boaſt;
We’ve no ſuch advocates as theſe,
Nor pray to th’ heav'nly hoſt.]
Jeſus alone ſhall bear my cries
Up to his Father’s throne: .
He, deareſt Lord . . perfumes my ſighs,
And ſweetens ev’ry groan.
[Ten thouſand praiſes to the King,
“Hoſanna in the High’ſ l’’
Ten thouſand thanks our ſpirits bring
To God and to his Chriſt.]
HYMN XXXVIII.
Love to God.
HAPPY the heart where graces reign,
Where love inſpires the breaſt:
Love is the brighteſt of the train,
And ſtrcingthens all the reſt.
Knowledge, alas! 'tis all in vain,
And all in vain our fear;
Our ſtubborn fins will fight and reign,
Iſ love be abſent there.
'Tis love that makes our chearful feet
In ſwiſt obedience move ;
The devils know and tremble too ;
But Satan cannot love.
This is the grace that lives and ſings
When faith and hope ſhall ceaſe;
'Tis this ſhall ſtrike our joyſul ſtrings
In the ſweet realms of bliſs.
Before we quite forſake our clay,
Or leave this dark abode,
The wings of love bear us away
To ſee our ſmiling God.
HYMN XXXIX. [C. M.J.
The ſhortneſs and miſery of life.
UR days, alas ! our mortal days
Are ſhort and wretched too;
“Evil and few”,” the patriarch ſays ;
And well the patriarch knew.
'Tis but at beſt a narrow bound
That heav'n allows to men,
And pains and ſins run thro’ the round
Of threeſcore years and ten.
Well, if ye muſt be ſad and few,
Run on, my days, in haſte ;
Moments of ſin, and months of woe,
Ye cannot fly too faſt.
Let heav'nly love prepare my ſoul,
And call her to the ſkies,
Where years of long ſalvation roll,
And glory never dies.
* Gen. xlvii. 9;
[C. M.]
|
HYMN XL. [C. M.]
Our comfort in the covenant made with Chriſt.
| OUR God! how firm his promiſe ſlands!
E’en when he hides his face,
He truſts in our Redeemer’s lands
His glory and his grace. *
2 Then why, my ſoul, theſe ſad complaints,
Since Chriſt and we are onc
Thy God is faithful to his ſaints,
Is faithful to his Son.
3 Beneath his ſmiles my heart has liv'd,
And part of heav'n poſſeſs'd;
I praiſe his name for grace receiv'd,
And truſt him for the reſt.
HYMN XLI. [L. M.]
A ſight of God mortifies us to the world.
1 [UP to the fields where angels lie,
And living waters gently roll,
Fain would my thoughts leap out and fly,
But ſin hangs heavy on my ſoul.
\
2 Thy wondrous blood, dear dying Chriſt,
Can make this load of guilt remove;
And thou canſt bear me where thou fly’ſt,
On thy kind wings, celeſtial Dove
3 O might I once mount up and ſee
The glories of th’ eternal ſkies,
What little things theſe worlds would be,
How deſpicable to my eyes?]
4 Had l a glance of thee, my God,
Kingdoms and men would vaniſh ſoon ;
Vaniſh, as tho’ I ſaw them not,
As a dim candle dies at noon.
5 Then they might fight, and rage, and rave;
I ſhould perceive their noiſe no more
Than we can hear a ſhaking leaf,
While rattling thunders round us roar.
6 Great All in All! Eternal King!
Let me but view thy lovely face,
And all my pow’rs ſhall bow and ſing
Thine endleſs grandeur and thy grace.
HYMN XLII. [C. M.]
Delight in God.
l MY God, what endleſs pleaſures dwell
Above at thy right-hand 2
The courts below, how amiable,
Where all thy graces ſtand.
2 The ſwallow near thy temple lies,
And chirps a cheerful note;
The lark mounts upwards tow’rd thy ſkies,
And tunes his warbling throat:
3 And we when in thy preſence, Lord,
We ſhout with joyful tongues;
Or ſitting round our Father's board,
We crown the feaſt with ſongs.
4. While Jeſus ſhines with quick’ning grace,
We ſing and mount on high ;
But if a frown becloud his face,
We faint, and tire, and die.
Book II.]
163
HYMNS.–XLIII. XLIV. XLV. XLVI. XLVI.
5 [Juſt as we ſee the loneſome dove
Bemoan her widow’d ſtate,
Wand'ring ſhe flies thro’ all the grove,
And mourns her loving matc.
*
6 Juſt ſo our thoughts from thing to thing
In reſtleſs circles rove,
Juſt ſo we droop and hang the wing,
When Jeſus hides his love.
HYMN XLIII. [L. M.]
Chriſt's ſufferings and glory.
1 OW for a tune of loſty praiſe,
To great Jehovah’s equal Son 1
Awake, my voice, in heav'nly lays,
Tell the loud wonders he hath done.
Sing, how he left the worlds of light,
And the bright robes he wore above ;
How ſwift and joyful was his flight,
On wings of everlaſting love.
[Down to this baſe, this ſinful earth
He came to raiſe our nature high :
He came t” atone almighty wrath ;
Jeſus, the God, was born to die.]
[Hell and its lions roar'd around;
His precious blood the monſters ſpilt 1
While weighty ſorrows preſs'd him down,
Large as the loads of all our guilt.]
Deep in the ſhades of gloomy death,
Th’ almighty Captive pris’ner lay ;
Th’ almighty Captive left the earth,
And roſe, to everlaſting day.
Lift up your eyes, ye ſons of light,
Up to his throne of ſhining grace ;
See what immortal glories ſit
Round the ſweet beauties of his face.
.7
Among a thouſand harps and ſongs
Jeſus, the God, exalted reigns;
His ſacred name fills all their tongues,
And echoes thro’ the heav'nly plains !
HYMN XLIV. [C. M.j
Hell ; or, the vengeance of a God.
W ITH holy fear and humble ſong,
The dreadful God our ſouls adore;
Rev'rence and awe become the tongue
That ſpeaks the terror of his pow’r.
l
2
Far in the deep were darkneſs dwells,
The land of horror and deſpair,
Juſtice hath built a diſmal hell,
And laid her ſtores of veng’ance there.
3
[Eternal plagues and heavy chains,
Tormenting racks and fi’ry coals,
And darts t” infliét immortal pains,
D1’d in the blood of damned ſouls.
There ſatan the firſt ſinner lies,
And roars and bites his iron bands;
ln vain the rebel ſtrives to riſe,
Cruſh'd with the weight of both thy hands.
There guilty ghoſts of Adam’s raee
Shriek out, and howl beneath thy rod ;
Once they could ſcorn a Saviour's grace,
But they incens’d a dreadful God.
4
5
6 Tremble, my ſoul, and kiſs the Son;
Sinner, obey thy Saviour’s call ;
Elſe your damnation haſtens on,
And hell gapes wide to wait your fall.
HYMN XLV. [L. M.]
God’s condeſcenſion to our wor/iſt.
1 THY favours, Lord, ſurpriſe our ſouls
Will the eternal dwell with us 2
What canſt thou find beneath the poles
To tempt thy chariot downward thus 2
2 Still might he fill his ſtarry throne,
And pleaſe his ears with Gabriel’s ſongs;
But th’ heav'nly Majeſty comes down,
And bows to hearken to our tongues.
3 Great God what poor returns we pay
For love ſo infinite as thine !
Words are but air; and tongues but clay;
But thy compaſſion’s all divine.
HYMN XLVI. [L. M.]
God's condeſcenſion to human affairs.
1 UP to the Lofd that reigns on high,
And views the nations from afar,
Let everlaſting praiſes fly,
And tell how large his bounties are.
2 [He that can ſhake the world he made,
Or with his word, or with his rod ;
His goodneſs how amazing-great I
And what a condeſcending God []
3 [God, that muſt ſtoop to view the ſkies,
And bow to ſee what angels do,
Down to our earth he caſts his eyes,
And bends his footſteps downwards too. J
4 He over-rules all mortal things,
And manages our mean affairs;
On humble ſouls the King of kings
Beſtows his counſels and his cares.
5 Our ſorrows and our tears we pour
Into the boſom of our God ;
He hears us in the mournful hour,
And helps us tº bear the heavy load.
6 In vain might lofty princes try
Such condeſcenſion to perform 2
For worms were never rais’d ſo high
Above their meaneſt fellow-worm,
7 O could our thankful hearts deviſe
A tribute equal to thy grace, t
To the third heav'n our ſongs ſhould riſe,
And teach the golden harps thy praiſe,
HYMN XLVII. [L. M. J
Glory and grace in the Aerſon of Chriſt.
t Now to the Lord a noble ſong !
Awake my ſoul; awake my tongue:
Hoſanna to th’ eternal name,
And all his boundleſs love proclaim,
2 See where it ſhines in Jeſus' ſace,
The brighteit image of his grace;
God, in the perſon of his Son,
Has all his mightieſt works outdone,
| * X 2
164
[Book II,
HYMNS.–XLVIII, XLIX, J. LI. LII.
3 The ſpacious earth and ſpreading flood,
Proclaim the wife and pow'rful God ;
And thy rich glories from afar,
Sparkle in ev’ry rolling (tar.
4 But in his looks a glory ſtands,
The noblet labour of thine hands :
The pleaſing luſtre of his eyes
Outſhines the wonders of the ſkies.
5 Grace, 'tis a ſweet a charming theme
My thoughts rejoice at Jeſus' name 2
Ye angels dwell upon thc found;
Ye heav'ns refle&t it to the ground !
6 Oh, may I live to reach the place
Where he unveils his lovely face
Where all his beauties you behold,
And fing his name to harps of gold.
HYMN XLVIII. [C. M.]
I.ove to the creatures is dangerous.
I HOW vain are all things here below !
How falſe and yet how fair
EacW pleaſure hath its poiſon too ;
And ev’ry ſweet a ſnare.
2 The brightcſl things below the ſky
Give but a flatt’ring light ;
We ſhould ſuſpcét ſome danger nigh
Where we poſſeſs delight.
3 Our deareſt joys and neareſt friends,
The partners of our blood,
How they divide our wav’ring minds,
And leave but half for God.
4 The ſondneſs of a creature’s love,
How ſtrong it ſtrikes the ſenſe 2
Thither the warm affections move,
Nor can we call them thence.
5 Dcar Saviour ! let thy beauties be
My ſoul’s eternal food :
And grace command my heart away
From all created good.
HYMN XLIX. [C. M.]
Moſes dying in the embraces of God.
I DEATH cannot make out ſouls aſtaid
If God be with us there ;
We may walk thro’ her darkeſt ſhade,
And never yield to fear.
2 I could renounce my all below,
If my Creator bid;
And run if I were call’d to go,
And due as Moſes did.
3 Might I but climb to Piſgah’s top,
And view the promis’d land,
My fleſh itſelf ſhould long to drop,
And pray for the command.
4 Claſp'd in my heav'nly Father’s arms,
I would forget my breath,
And loſe my life among the charms
Of ſo divine a death.
HYMN L. [L. M.]
Comforts under ſorrows and pains.
1 Now let the Lord my Saviour ſmile,
And ſhew my name upon his heart;
I would forget my pains awhile,
And in the pleaſure loſe the ſmart,
2
3
4.
5
§
l
Q
%
4.
5
6
7
1
But Of it ſwells my ſorrows high
To ſee my bleſſed Jeſus frown ;
My ſpirits ſink, ny comforts dic,
And all the ſprings of liſe are down.
Yet why, my ſoul, why theſe complaints?
Still while he frowns, his bowels move;
Still on his heart he bears his ſaints
And feels their ſorrows and his love.
My naume is printed on his breaſt;
His book of life contains my name;
I’d rather have it there impreſs'd,
Than in the bright records of ſame.
When the laſt fire burns all things here,
Thoſe letters ſhall ſecurely ſtand,
And in the Lamb's fair book appear,
Writ by th” eternal Father’s hand.
Now ſhall my minutes ſmoothly run,
Whilſt here I wait my Father’s will;
My riſing and my ſetting ſun,
Roll gently up and down the hill.
HYMN LI. [L. M.]
God the Son equal with the Father.
RIGHT King of glory, dreadful God!
Our ſpurits bow before thy ſeat;
To the c we liſt an humble thought,
And worſhip at thine awful ſcet :
[Thy pow'r hath form’d,thy wiſdom ſways
All nature with a ſov’rcign word :
And the bright world of ſtars obeys
The will of their ſuperior Lord.]
[Mercy and truth unite in one,
And ſmiling ſit at thy right-hand ;
Eternal juſtice guards thy throne,
And vengeance waits thy dread com-
mand.]
A thouſand ſeraphs ſtrong and bright
Stand round the glorious deity ;
But who, amongſt the ſons of light,
Pretends compariſon with thee?
Yet there is one of human frame,
Jeſus, array’d in fleſh and blood,
Thinks it no robbery to claim
A full equality with God.
Their glory ſhines with equal beams;
Their eſſence is for ever one,
Tho' they are known by diff'rent names,
The Father God, and God the Son.
Then let the name of Chriſt our King
With equal honours be ador’d;
His praiſe let ev’ry angel ſing,
And all the nations own the Lord.
HYMN LII. [C. M.]
Death dreadful, or delightful.
DEATH' 'tis a melancholy day
To thoſe that have no God,
When the poor ſoul is forc'd away
To ſeek her laſt abode.
In vain to heav'n ſhe lifts her eyes;
But guilt, a heavy chain,
Still drags her downward from the ſkies,
To darkneſs, fire, and pain.
Book II.]
165
HYMNS.–LIl I. LIV. L.V.
3 Awake and mourn, ye heirs of hell,
Let ſtubborn ſinners fear;
You muſt be driv'n from earth, and dwell
A long for ever there.
4 Sec how the pit gapes wide for you,
And flaſhes in your face;
And thou, my ſoul, look downwards too,
And ſing recov’ring grace. |
5 He is a God of ſov’reign love, -
That promis’d heav'n to me,
And taught my thoughts to ſoar above,
Where happy ſpirits be.
6 Prepare me, Lord, for thy right-hand,
Then come the joyful day;
Come, death, and ſome celeſtial band,
To bear my foul away.
HYMN LIII. [L. M.]
The Ailgrimage of the ſaints : or, earth and
beaven.
1 T ORD ! what a wretched land is this,
That yields us no ſupply,
No chearing fruits, no wholeſome trees,
Nor ſtreams of living joy
2 But pricking thorns thro' all the ground,
And mortal poiſons grow,
And all the rivers that are found,
With dang'rous waters flow.
3 Yet the dear path to thine abode
Lies thro’ this horrid land :
Lord! we would keep the heav'nly road,
And run at thy command.
4 [Our ſouls ſhall tread the deſart thro'
With undiverted feet ;
And faith and flaming zeal ſubdue
The terrors that we meet.]
5 IA thouſand ſavage beaſts of prey
Around the foreſt roam ;
But Judah’s lion guards the way,
And guides the ſtrangers home J
6 [Long nights and darkneſs dwell below,
With ſcarce a twinkling ray :
But the bright world to which we go,
Is everlaiting day.]
7 [By glimm'ring hopes, and gloomy fears
We trace the ſacred road,
Thro' diſmal deeps, and dang'rous ſnares,
We make our way to God.]
8 Our journey is a thorny maze,
But we march upward ſtill ;
Forget theſe troubles of the ways,
And reach at Zion’s hill.
9 [See the kind angels at the gates,
Inviting us to come !
There Jeſus the forerunner waits
To welcome trav’llers home !]
10 There, on a green and flow’ry mount,
Our weary ſouls ſhall fit,
And with tranſporting joys recount
The labours of our feet.
11 [No vain diſcourſe ſhall fill our tongue,
Nor trifles vex our ear;
*
|
|
Infinite grace ſhall fill our ſong,
And God rejoice to hear.]
12 Eternal glories to the King
That brought us ſafely through;
Our tongues ſhall never ceaſe to fing,
And endleſs praiſe renew.
HYMN LIV. [c. M.]
God’s Areſence is light in darkneſs:
Y God, the ſpring of all my joys
Mºś jº
The glory of my brighteſt days,
And comfort of my nights
l
2
In darkeſt ſhades if he appear, i
My dawning is begun
He is my ſoul’s ſweet morning-ſtar,
And he my riſing ſun.
The op'ning heav’ns around me ſhine
With beams of ſacred bliſs,
While Jeſus ſhews his heart is mine,
And whiſpers, “I am his.”
4.
My ſoul would leave this heavy clay
At that tranſporting word,
Run up with joy the ſhining way
Tº embrace my deareſt Lord.
Fearleſs of hell and ghaſtly death,
I’d break thro’ ev’ry foe;
The wings of love, and arms of faith,
Should bear me conqu’ror thro’.
HYMN LV. [C. M.]
Frail life, and ſucceeding eternity.
HEE we adore, eternal name,
And humbly own to thee,
How feeble is our mortal frame,
What dying worms are wel
{
Q
[Our waſting lives grow ſhorter ſtill,
As months and days increaſe;
And ev'ry beating pulſe we tell,
Leaves but the number leſs.
The year rolls round, and ſteals away
The breath that firſt it gave ;
Whate'er we do, where e'er we be,
We're trav’ling to the grave.]
Dangers ſtand thick thro' all the ground,
To puſh us to the tomb ;
And fierce diſeaſes wait around,
To hurry mortals home.
Good God I on what a ſlender thread
Hang everlaſting things |
Th’ eternal ſtates of all the dead
Upon life’s feeble ſtrings.
§
Infinite joy or endleſs woe
Attends on ev’ry breath;
And yet how unconcern’d we go
Upon the brink of death i
Waken, O Lord, our drowſy ſenſe,
To walk this dang'rous road :
And if our ſouls are hurry’d hence,
May they be found with God.
6
J 66
[Book II.
HYMNS.–LVI. LVII. LVIII. LXIX.
HYMN LVI. [C. M.]
The miſery of being without God in this world'
or, vair proſherity.
E NO; I ſhall envy them no more,
Who grow profanely great,
Tho' they increaſe their golden ſtore,
And riſe to wondrous height.
2 They taſte of all the joys that grow
Upon this earthly clod
Well, they may ſearch the creature thro’,
For they have ne’er a God.
3 Shake off the thoughts of dying too,
And think your life your own;
But death comes haſt’ning on to you,
To mow your glory down.
4 Yes, you muſt bow your ſtately head,
Away your ſpirit flies,
And no kind angel near your bed,
To bear it to the ſkies.
Go now, and boaſt of all your ſtores,
And tell bow bright you ſhine:
Your heaps of glitt’ring duſt are yours,
And my Redeemer’s mine.
HYMN LVII. [L. M.]
The ſhleaſures of a good conſcience.
Loºp, how ſecure and bleſs'd are they
Who feel the joys of pardon'd ſin!
Should ſtorms of 'wrath ſhake earth and
ſea,
Their minds have heav'n and peace
within.
The day glides ſwiftly o'er their heads,
Made up of innocence and love ;
And ſoft and ſilent as the ſhades
Their nightly minutes gently move.
[Quick as their thoughts their joys come
I
3
Oſ),
But fly not half ſo ſwift away;
Their ſouls are ever bright as noon,
And calm as ſummer evenings be.
How oft thcy look to th’ heav'nly hills,
Where groves of living pleaſure grow,
And longing hopes and chearful ſmiles
Sit undiſturb’d upon their brow.]
They ſcorn to ſeek our golden toys,
But ſpend the day, and ſhare the night,
In numb’ring o'er the richer joys
That heav’n prepares for their delight.
6 White wretched we, like worms and
moles,
Lie grov’ling in the duſt below;
Almighty grace, renew our ſouls,
| And we’ll aſpire to glory too.
HYMN LVIII. [C. M.]
The ſhortneſs of life, and the goodneſs of God.
1 TIME ! what an empty vapour 'tis ;
And days how ſwift they are l
Swift as an Indian arrow flics,
Or like a ſhooting flar.
2 [The preſent moments juſt appear,
Then ſlide away in haſte,
That we can never ſay, “ They're here,”
But only ſay, “They're paſt.”]
3 [Our life is ever on the wing,
And death is ever nigh;
The moment when our lives begin,
We all begin to die.]
Yet, mighty God! our fleeting days
Thy latting favours ſhare,
Yet with the bounties of thy grace
Thou load'ſt the rolling year.
'Tis ſov’reign merey finds us food,
And we are cloth’d with love;
While grace ſtands pointing out the road,
That leads our ſouls above.
His goodneſs runs an endleſs round;
All glory to the Lord
His mercy never knows a bound; ,
And be his name ador’d
Thus we begin the laſting ſong;
And when we cloſe our eyes,
Let the next age thy praiſe prolong
*Till time and nature dies.
4.
5
HYMN LIX. [c. M.]
Paradiſe on earth.
GLORY to God that walks the ſky,
And ſends his bleſfings thro’;
That tells his ſaints of joys on high,
And gives a tatte below.
[Głory to God that ſtoops his throne,
That duſt and worms may ſee’t,
And brings a glimpſe of glory down
Around his ſacred feet,
When Chriſt, with all his graces crown'd?
Sheds his kind beams abroad,
'Tis a young heav'n on earthly ground,
And glory in the bud.
A blooming paradiſe of joy
In this wild deſatt ſprings,
And ev’ry ſenſe I ſtraight employ
On ſweet celeſtial things.
White lilies all around appear,
And each his glory ſhows;
The roſe of Sharon bloſſoms here,
The faireſt flow'r that blows.
5 Chearful ſeaſt on heav'nly fruit,
And drink the pleaſures down,
Pleaſures that flow hard by the foot
Of the eternal throne.]
But, ah how ſoon my joys decay,
How ſoon my ſins ariſe,
And ſnatch th’ heav'nly ſcene away
From theſe lamenting eyes!
When ſhall the time, dear Jeſus, when
The ſhining day appear,
That I ſhall leave thoſe clouds of ſin,
And guilt and darkneſs here *
Up to the fields above the ſkies
My haſty ſect would go,
There everlaſting flow’rs ariſe,
And joys unwith’ring grow.
ſ
2
4.
{
Y
8
Book II.]
LXII. LXIII. LXIV. | 67
HYMNS.–LX. LXI.
HYMN LX. [L. M.]
The truth of God the Aromiſer ; or, The ſtro-
miſes are our ſecurity.
1 pKAISE, everlaſting praiſe, be paid
To him that earth's foundation laid:
Praiſe to the God whoſe ſtrong decrees
Sway the creation as he pleaſe.
2 Praiſe to the goodneſs of the Lord,
Who rules his people by his word,
And there as ſtrong as his decrees,
He ſets his kindeſt promiſcs. d
3 [Firm are the words his prophets give,
Sweet words, on which his children live;
Each of them is the voice of God,
Who ſpoke, and ſpread the ſkies abroad.
4 Each of them pow'rful as that ſound
That bid the new-made heav'ns go round;
And ſtronger than the ſolid poles
On which the wheel of nature rolls.]
5 Whence then ſhould doubts and fears ariſe 2
Why trickling ſorrows drown our eyes?
Slowly, alas, our mind receives
The comforts that our Maker gives.
6 O for a ſtrong, a laſting faith,
To credit what th' Almighty ſaith,
Tº embrace the meſſage of his Son,
And call the joys of heav’n our own.
7 Then ſhould the earth’s old pillars ſhake,
And all the wheels of nature break;
Our ſteady ſouls ſhould fear no more
Than ſolid rocks when billows roar,
3 Our everlaſting hopes ariſe
Above the ruinable ſkies,
Where the eternal builder reigns,
And his own courts his pow'r ſuttains.
HYMN LXI, [C. M.]
A thought of death and glory.
I Y ſoul, come, meditate the day,
And think how near it ſtands, i.
When thou muſt quit this houſe of clay,
And fly to unknown lands.
2 [And you, mine eyes, look down and
View -
The hollow gaping tomb;
This gloomy priſon waits for you, 4
Whene'er the ſummons come.
3 Oh! could we die with thoſe that die,
And place us in their ſtead :
Then would our ſpirits learn to fly,
And converſe with the dead :
4 Then ſhould we ſee the ſaints above
In their own glorious forms,
And wonder why our ſouls ſhall love
To dwell with mortal worms: *
5 [How we ſhould ſcorn theſe clothes of
fleſh,
Theſe ſetters, and this load;
And long for ev’rming, to undreſs,
That we may reſt with God.]
6 We ſhould almoſt forſake our clay
Before the ſummons come,
And pray and wiſh our ſouls away
To their eternal home.
HYMN LXII. [C. M.]
God the thunderer : or, The laſt judgment,
and hell #.
1 SING to the Lord, ye heav'nly hoſts,
And thou, O earth adore :
Let death and hell thro’ all their coaſts
Stand trembling at his pow'r,
His ſoutding chariot ſhakes the ſky,
He makes the clouds his throne;
There all his ſtores of lightning lie,
Till vengeance darts them down.
His noſtrils breathe out ficry ſtreams,
And from his awſul tongue
A ſov’reign voice divides the flames,
And thunder roars along.
Think, O my ſoul, the dreadful day
When this incenſed God
Shall rend the ſky, and burn the ſea,
And fling his wrath abroad
What ſhall the wretch the finner do *
He once defy’d the Lord :
But he ſhall dread the thund’rer now,
And ſink beneath his word.
Tempeſts of angry fire ſhall roll,
To blaſt the rebel worm,
And beat upon his naked ſoul
In one eternal ſtorm.
2
3
5
6
HYMN LXIII. [C. M.]
A funeral thought.
HARK ! from the tombs a doleful ſound,
My ears attend the cry,
“’Ye living men, come view the ground,
“Where you muſt ſhortly lie.
“Princes, this clay muſt be your bed,
“In ſpite of all your tow’rs; -
“The tall, the wiſe, the rev'rend head
“ Muſt lie as low as ours.”
Great God! is this our certain doom *
And are we ſtill ſecure
Still walking down ward to our tomb,
And yet prepare no more ?
Grant us the pow'rs of quickning grace,
To fit our ſouls to fly;
Then, when we drop this dying fleſh,
We’ll riſe above the ſky.
HYMN LXIV. [L. M.]
God the glory and the defence of Sion.
HAPPY the church, thou ſacred place,
The ſeat of thy Creator’s grace;
Thine holy courts are his abode ;
Thou earthly palace of our God.
Thy walls are ſtrength, and at thy gates
A guard of heav'nly warriors waits;
Nor ſhall thy deep foundations-move,
Fix’d on his counſels and his love.
The foes in vain deſigns engage,
Againſt his throne in vain they rage;
Like riſing waves with angry roar,
That daſh and die upon the ſhore.
|
3
4
I
3
* M*de in a great ſudden ſtorm of thunder,
Auguſt the 20th, 1697,
168 HYMNS.—LXV. LXVI. LXVII. LXVIII. LXIX. Book II |
4. Then let our ſouls in Zion dwell,
Nor fear the wrath of Rome and hell ;
His arms embrace this happy ground,
Like brazen bulwarks built around.
5 God is our ſhield, and God our ſun;
Swift as the fleeting moments run,
On us he ſheds new beams of grace,
And we refle&t his brighteſt praiſe.
HYMN LXV. [c, M.]
The hoſtes of heaven our ſuſſort under trials
on carth.
I WHEN I can read my title clear
To manſions in the ſkies,
I bid farewell to ev’ry ſear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.
2 Should earth againſt my ſoul engage,
And helliſh darts be hurl’d,
Then I can ſmile at Satan’s rage,
And face a frowning world.
3 Let cares like a wild deluge come, .
And ſtorms of ſorrow fall ;
May I but ſafely reach my home,
My God, my heav'n, my ail :
4. There ſhall I bathe my weary ſoul
In ſeas of heav'nly reſt,
And not a wave of trouble roll
Acroſs my peaceful breaſt.
HYMN LXVI. [C. M.]
A/iroſheči of heav'n makes death eaſy.
I THERE is a land of pure delight,
Where ſaints immortal reign ;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleaſures baniſh pain.
2 There everlaſting ſpring abides,
And never-with’ring flow’rs:
. Death, like a narrow ſea, divides
This heav'nly land from ours.
3 [Sweet fields beyond the ſwelling flood
Stand dreſs'd in living green :
So to the Jews old Canaan ſtood,
While Jordan roll’d between.
4. But tim’rous mortals ſtart and ſhrink,
To croſs this narrow ſea,
And linger, ſhiv'ring on the brink,
And fear to launch away].
5 Oh! could we make our doubts remove,
Thoſe gloomy doubts that riſe,
And ſee the Canaan that we love,
With unbeclouded eyes |
6 Could we but climb where Moſes ſtood,
And view the landſcape o'er,
Not Jordan's ſtream, nor death's cold flood,
Should fright us from the ſhore.
HYMN LXVII. [C. M.]
God’s eternal dominion.
l GREAT God l how infinite art thou !
What worthleſs worms are we
Let the whole race of creatures bow,
And pay their praiſe to thce.
2
3
5
4.
1
2
3
4.
5
Thy throne eternal ages ſtood,
Ere ſeas or ſtars were made :
Thou art the ever living God,
Were all the nations dead.
Nature and time quite naked lie
To thine immenſe ſurvey,
From the ſormation of the ſky
To the great burning-day.
Eternity, with all its years,
Stands preſent in thy view ;
To thee there’s nothing old appears ;
Great God! there’s nothing new.
Our lives thro’ various ſcenes are drawn;
And vex'd with trifling cares,
While thine eternal thought moves on
Thine undiſturb’d affairs.
Great God | bow infinite art thou !
What worthleſs worms are we
Let the whole race of creatures bow,
And pay their praiſe to thee.
HYMN LXVIII. [C. M.]
The humble worſhift of heaven.
FATHER, I long, I faint to ſee
The place of thine abode ;
I’d leave thy earthly courts, and flee
Up to thy ſeat, my God
Here I behold thy diſtant face,
And 'tis a pleaſing ſight;
But to abide in thine embrace,
Is infinite delight.
I’d part with all the joys of ſenſe,
To gaze upon thy throne;
Pleaſure ſprings freſh for ever thence,
Unſpeakable, unknown.
There all the heav'nly hoſts are ſeen,
In ſhining ranks they move,
And drink immortal vigour in
With wonder and with love.
Then at thy feet with awſul fear
Th” adoring armies fall :
With joy they ſhrink to nothing there,
Beſore th’ cternal all.
There I would vie with all the hoſt,
In duty and in bliſs ;
While leſs than nothing I could boaſt,
* And vanity confeſs.]
The more thy glories ſtrike mine eyes,
The humbler I ſhall lie;
Thus while I ſink, my joys ſhall riſe
Unmeaſurably high. t
HYMN LXIX. [C. M.]
The faithfulneſs of God, in the promiſes,
[1 BEGIN, my tongue, ſome heav'nly
theme,
And ſpeak ſome boundleſs thing,
The mighty works, or mightier name,
Of our eternal King.
2 Tell of his wondrous faithfulneſs,
And ſound his pow'r abroad.
* Iſa, xl. 1'ſ,
Book II.]
169
HYMNS.–LXX. LXXI. LXXII.
Sing the ſweet promiſe of his grace,
And the performing God.
Proclaim, “Salvation from the Lord,
“For wretched dying men;”
His hand has writ the ſacred word
With an immortal pen.
Engrav'd as in eternal braſs,
The mighty promiſe ſhines;
Nor can the pow’rs of darkneſs raſe
Thoſe everlaſting lines. J
[He that can daſh whole worlds to death,
And make them when he pleaſe;
He ſpeaks and that almighty breath
Fulfils his great decrees.
His very word of grace is ſtrong,
As that which built the ſkies;
The voice that rolls the ſtars along,
Speaks all the promiſes.
He ſaid, “Let the wide heav'n be ſpread,
And heav'n was ſtretch'd abroad :
“Abrah’m, I’ll be thy God,” he ſaid,
And he was Abrah’m's God.
O, might I hear thine heav'nly tongue
But whiſper, “Thou art mine ;
Thoſe gentle words ſhould raiſe my ſong ||
To notes almoſt divine.
How would my leaping heart rejoice,
And think my heav'n ſecure
º
4.
5
6
9
| While on the flood they ſafely ride,
They curſe the hand that ſmooths the tide.
Anon they plunge in wat'ry graves,
And ſome drink death among the waves:
Yet the ſurviving crew blaſpheme,
Nor own the God that reſcu'd them.]
O, for ſomc ſignal of thine hand 1
Shake all the ſeas, Lord, ſhake the land :
Great Judge, dcſcend, left men deny
That there’s a God that rules the ſky.
8
From the lxxth to the cviiith Hymn, I #ofte
the , cader will forgive the negle& of rhyme in the
fift and third ſines of theſlanza,
HYMN LXXI. [C. M.]
Praiſe to God from all creatures.
1 THE glories of my Maker, God,
... My joyful voice ſhall fing,
And call the nations to adore
- Their Former and their King.
'Twas his right-hand that ſhap’d our clay;
And wrought this human frame :
But ſrom his own immediate breath
Our nobler ſpirits came.
We bring our mortal pow’rs to God,
And worſhip with our tongues ;
We claim ſome kindred with the ſkies,
And join th’ angelic ſongs.
(.
2
I truſt the all-creating voice,
And faith deſires no more.]
HYMN LXX. [L. M.]
God’s dominion over the fea.
Pſalm cvii. 23, &c.
GQP of the ſeas, thy thund'ring voice
Makes all the roaring waves rejoice!
And one ſoſt word of thy command
Can ſink them ſilent in the ſand.
If but a Moſes wave thy rod,
The ſea divides and owns its God;
The ſtormy floods their Maker knew,
And let his choſen armies thro’.
The ſcaly-flocks amidſt the fea,
To thee, their Lord, a tribute pay ;
The meaneſt fiſh that ſwims the flood,
Leaps up, and means a praiſe to God.
[The larger monſters of the deep,
On thy commands attendance keep ;
By thy permiſſion ſport and play,
And cleave along their foaming way.
If God his voice of tempeſt rears,
Leviathan lies ſtill and fears;
Anon he lifts his noſtrils high,
And ſpouts the ocean to the ſky.]
How is thy glorious pow'r ador’d,
Amidſt theſe wat'ry nations, Lord
Yet the bold men that trace the ſeas,
Bold men, refuſe their Maker’s praiſe:
7 What ſcenes of miracles they ſee,
And never tune a ſong to thee :
VOL. VII.
*
Q
4.
^
Let grov'ling beaſts of ev'ry ſhape,
And fowls of ev'ry wing,
And rocks, and trees, and fires, and ſeas,
Their various tribute bring.
Ye planets, to his honour ſhine,
And wheels of nature roll;
Praiſe him in your unwearied courſe
Around the ſteady pole.
The brightneſs of our Maker's name
The wide creation fills,
And his unbounded grandeur flies
Beyond the heav'nly hills.
HYMN LXXII. [C. M.]
The Lord’s-day : or, the reſurrection of Chriſt.
I BLESSD morning, whoſe young dawn-
Beheld our riſing God; [ing rays
That ſaw him triumph o'er the duſt,
And leave his dark abodel
2 In the cold priſon of a tomb.
The dead Redeemer lay,
Till the revolving ſkies had brought,
The third, th’ appointed day.
3 Hell and the grave unite their force
To hold our God, in vain;
The ſleeping Conqueror aroſe,
And burſt their feeble chain,
4. To thy great name, almighty Lord,
Theſe ſacred hours we pay, ,
And loud hoſannas ſhall proclaim
The triumph of the day.
5 [Salvation and immortal praiſ;
To our vićtorious King;
Let heav'n, and earth, and rocks, and ſeas;
With glad * ring, " -
-*
5
6
| 70 HYMNS.—LXXIII. LXXIV. LXXV. LXXVI. LXXVII. [Book II.
HYMN LXXIII. [C. M.] ſº I’ll ſpend a long eternity
In pleaſure and in praiſe.
ºubts ſcattered: iritual joy reſton cd. | tº * * * * *
l)aubts ſcattered : or, ſhiritual joy rºſion 4 Millions of years my wondring eyes
1 HENCE from my ſoul ſad thoughts be- Shall o'er thy beauties rove,
And leave me to my joys; gone, And endleſs ages I'll adore
My tongue ſhall triumph in my God, The glories of thy love.
And make a joyful noiſe. . . 5 [Sweet Jeſus! ev'ry ſmile of thine
2 Darkneſs and doubts had veil'd my mind, Shall freſh endearments bring;
And drown'd my head in tears, And thouſand taſtes of new delight
Till ſov’reign grace with ſhining rays From all thy graces ſpring.
Diſpell'd my gloomy fears. 6 Haſte, my Beloved, fetch my ſout
3 O, what immortal joys I felt, Up to thy bleſs'd abode :
And raptures all divine, * Fly, for my ſpirit longs to ſee
When Jeſus told me, I was his, My Saviour and my God,)
And my Beloved, mine !
4 In vain the tempter frights my ſoul, HYMN LXXVI. [C. M.]
And breaks my peace in vain; *
One glimpſe, dear Saviour, of thy face, The reſurrečion and aſcenſion of Chriſt.
Revives my joys again. *
y joys again ." I HošANNA to the Prince of Light,
x * | That cloath’d himſelf in clay;
HYMN LXXIV. ſs. MI | Enter'd the iron gates of death,
s & * 7 &W.
Rºſientarice from a ſenſe of divine goodneſ; or, And tore the bars aw ay
a complaint of ingratitude. 2 Death is no more the king of dread,
Since our Immanuel roſe;
H k the tyrants ſting away,
And theſe the thanks we owe ? etoglºthº, • I was i t . -
Thus to abuſe eternal love, And ſpoil’d our helliſh foes.
Whence all our bleſfings flow ! 3 Sce how the Conqu’ror mounts ałoſt,
+ And to his Father flies,
2 To what & - & sº *
Hath ſin º f With ſcars of honour in his fleſh,
What tirange rebellious wretches we, And triumph in his eyes. &
And God as ſtrangely kind! 4 There our ... reigns,
* And ſcatters bleſſings down ;
3 On ul } ''S y
§ º º Our Jeſus fills the middle ſeat
** 5, x
For us the ſkies their circles run of the celeſtial throne.
To lengthen out our days. f 5 [Raiſe your devotion, º tongues,
4 The brutes obey their God, To reach his bleſs'd abode:
And bow their necks to men ; Sweet be the accents . your ſongs
But we more baſe, more brutiſh things, To our incarnate God. #
Reječt his eaſy reign.j . 6 Bright angels, ſtrike your loudett ſtrings,
, Your ſweeteſt voices raiſe 3.
Let heav'n, and all created things,
Sound our Immanuel's praiſe.]
1 IS this the kind return,
5 Turn, turn us, mighty God,
And mould our ſouls afreſh ;
Break, ſov’reign grace, theſe hearts of
ſtone, jºr
And give us hearts of fleſh. HYMN LXXVII. * [L. M.I.
6 Let old ingratitude g The chriftian warfare.
Provoke our weeping eyes 1
And hourly, as new mercies fałł, [S
Let hourly thanks ariſe.
TAND up, my ſoul, ſhakeoff thy fears,
And gird the goſpel armour on ;
March to the gates of endleſs Joy, *
* * & Where thy great Captain Saviour's gone.
HYMN Lxxv. [c. M.] 2 Hell and thy fins reſiſt thy courſe,
tº tº e g But hell and ſin are vanquiſh’d foes;
Shiritual and *:joy ; or, the beatific ſight Thy Jeſus nail'd them to the croſs, 2
hriſt. And ſung the triumph when he roſe.]
i FROM thee, my Gºd, my joys ſhall riſe, 3 [what tho' the prince of darkneſs rage,
And run eternal rounds, * And waſte the fury of his ſpite ;
Beyond the limits of the ſkies, Eternal chains confine him down
And all created bounds. To fi'ry deeps, and endleſs night.
2 The holy triumphs of my ſoul 4 What tho’ thine inward luſts, rebel ;
& Shałł death itſelf out-brave; - 'Tis but a ſtruggling gaſp for life;
Leave dull mortality behind, The weapons of vićtorious grace , , *
And fly beyond the grave. **. Shall flay thy fins, and end the flrife.]
3 There, where my bleſſed jeſus reigns 5 Then let my ſoul march boldly on,
In heav'n's unmeåſured ſpace, Preſs forward to the heav'nly gate ;
e
*
Book II.]
HYMNS.–LXXVIII,_LXXXII.
There peace and joy eternal reign,
And glitt’ring robes for conqu’rors wait.
6 There ſhall I wear a ſtarry crown,
And triumph in Almighty Gracc;
While all the armies of the ſkies.
Joif; in my glorious Leader's praiſe.
HYMN LXXVIII. [C. M.]
Redemption by Chriſt.
l WHEN the firſt parents of our race
} Rebell’d and loſt their God,
And the infection of their ſin
Had tainted all our blood;
2 Infinite pity touch'd the heart
Of the eternal Son;
Deſcending from the heav'nly court,
He left his Father’s throne.
3 Aſide the Prince of glory threw
His moſt divine array,
And wrapp’d his Godhead in a veil
Of our inſerior clay.
# His living pow'r, and dying love,
Redeem’d unhappy men,
And rais’d the ruins of our race
To life and God again.
5. To thee, dear Lord, our fleſh and ſoul
We joyfully reſign :
Bleſs'd Jeſus, take us for thy own
For we are doubly thine
6 Thy honour ſhall for ever be
The buſineſs of our days
For ever ſhall our thankful tongues
Speak thy deſerved praiſe.
HYMN LXXIX. [c. M.]
* Praiſe fo the Redeemer.
1 PLUNG’D in a gulph of dark deſpair
We wretched fipmers lay,
Without one chearſul beam of hope,
Or ſpark of glimm’ring day.
2. With pitying eyes, the Prince of grace
Beheld our helpleſs grief; -
He ſaw, and (O amazing love!)
He ran to our relief. -
3 Down from the ſhining ſeats above,
With joyful haſte he fled,
Enter'd the grave in mortal fleſh,
And dwelt among the dead.
* He ſpoil'd the pow'rs of darkneſs thus,
And brake our iron chains:
Jeſus has freed our captive ſouls
From everlaſting pains.
5 [In vain the baffled prince of hell
His curſed projećts tries;
We that were doom'd his endleſs ſlaves,
Are rais’d above the ſkies.] *
6 Ol for his love, let rocks and hills
Their laſting ſilence break,
And all harmonious human tongues
The Saviour's praiſes ſpeak.
Yes, we will praiſe thee, deareſt Lord I
9ur ſouls are all on flame;
6
Hoſanna round the ſpacious earth
To thine adored 1,2me,)
8 Angels l affiſt, our mighty joys,
Strike all your harps of gold ;
But when you raiſe your higheſt notes,
His love can ne’er be told.
HYMN LXXX. [S. M. J
God’s awful ſlower and gºodneſs.
| 1 H ! the almighty Lord!
How matchleſs is his pow'r?
Tremble, O earth, beneath his word,
While all the hcav’ns adore.
| 2 Let proud imperious kings
Bow low before his throne !
Crouch to his feet, ye haughty things,
Or he ſhall tread you down.
3 Above the ſkies he rcigns,
And with amazing blows
He deals unſufferable pains
On his rebellious foes.
4 Yet, everlaſting God,
We love to ſpeak thy praiſe;
Thy ſceptre’s equal to thy rod,
The ſceptre of thy grace.
|5 The arms of mighty love
Defend our Sion well, 2-
And heav'nly mercy walls us round
From Babylon and hell.
Salvation to the King
That ſits enthron’d above :
Thus we adore the God of might,
And bleſs the God of love.
HYMN LXXXI. [C. M.]
Our ſin the cauſe of Chriſt’s death.
AND now the ſcales have left mine eyes,
Now I begun to ſee :
Oh, the curs’d deeds my ſins have done
What murd’rous things they bel
1
2 Were theſe the traitors, deareſt-Lord,
That thy fair body tore ?
Monſters, that ſtain’d thoſe heav'nly limbs
With floods of purple gore ?
3 Was it for crimes that I had done,
My deareſt Lord was ſlain,
When juſtice ſeiz'd God’s only Son,
And put his ſoul to pain
4 Forgive my guilt, O Prince of peace,
I’ll wound my God no more :
Hence from my heart, ye ſins, be gone,
For Jeſus I adore.
5 Furniſh me, Lord, with heav'nly arms
From grace’s magazine,
And I’ll proclaim eternal war
With ev’ry darling fin. . .
Redemption and protection from ſhiritual enemies.
I ARISE, my ſoul, my joyful pow’rs,
* And triumph in my God;
Awake, my voice, and loud proclaim
His glorious grace abroad.
º . Y. 2
sº
172
[Book II.
HYMNS.--LXXXIII. LXXXIV. LXXXV. LXXXVI.
2 He rais'd me from the deeps of fin,
The gates of gaping hell,
And fix’d my ſtanding more ſecure
This a 'twas beſore I fell.
3 The arms of everlaſting love
Beneath my ſoul be plac'd,
And on the rock of ages ſet
My ſlipp’ry footſteps faſt.
4. The city of my bleſs’d abode
Is wall’d around with grace ;
Salvation for a bulwark ſtands
To ſhield the ſacred place.
5 Satan may vent the ſharpeſt ſpite,
And all his legions roar;
Almighty mercy guards my life,
And bounds his raging pow’r.
6 Ariſe, my ſoul, awake my voice,
And tunes of pleaſure ſing ;
Loud Hallelujahs ſhall addreſs
My Saviour and my King.
HYMN LXXXIII. [C. M.]
The paſsion and exaltation of Chriſt.
I THUS ſaith the Ruler of the ſkies,
“Awake, my dreadful ſword;
“Awake my wrath, and ſmite the man,
“My fellow, ſaith the Lord.”
2 Vengeance received the dread command?
And, armed, down ſhe flies;
Jeſus ſubmits t” his Father’s hand,
And bows his head, and dies.
3 But, oh! the wiſdom and the grace
That join’d with vengeance now !
He dies, to ſave our guilty race,
And yet he riſes too.
4. A perſon ſo divine was he
Who yielded to be ſlain,
That he could give his ſoul away,
And take his life again.
5 Live, glorious Lord, and reign on high,
Let ev’ry nation ſing,
And angels ſound, with endleſs joy,
The Saviour and the King,
HYMN LXXXIV. [S. M.]
The ſame.
| OME, all harmonious tongues,
Your nobleſt muſic bring;
'Tis Chriſt the everlaſting God,
And Chriſt the man, we ſing,
2 Tell how he took our fleſh,
To take away our guilt;
Sing the dear drops of ſacred blood
That helliſh monſters ſpilt.
3 IAlas, the cruel ſpear
Went deep into his ſide,
And the rich flood of purple gore
Their murd’rous weapons dy’d.]
4 [The waves of ſwelling grief
Did o'er his boſom roll,
...And mountains of almighty wrath
Lay heavy on his ſoul.]
5 Down to the ſhades of death
. He bow’d his awful head ;
Yet he aroſe to live and reign
When death itſelf is dead.
6 No more the bloody ſpear,
The croſs and nails no more ;
For hell itſelf ſhakes at his name,
And all the heav'n's adore.
‘I There the Redeemer ſits
High ou the Father's throne
The Father lays his vengeance by,
And ſmiles upon his Son:
8 There his full glories ſhine
With uncreated rays,
And bleſs his ſaints and angels' eye
To everlaſting days.
HYMN LXxxv. [c. M.]
sufficiency of ſtardon.
l WHY does your face, ye humble ſouls,
Thoſe mournful colours wear 2
What doubts are theſe that watte your
faith, ..
And nouriſh your deſpair
2 What tho’ your num’rous ſins exceed
The ſtars that fill the ſkies,
And, aiming at th' eternal throne,
Like pointed mountains riſe :
3 What tho’ your mighty guilt beyond
The wide creation ſwell,
And has its curs’d foundations laid
Low as the deeps of hell. .
4 See here an endleſs ocean flows
Of never-failing grace;
Behold a dying Saviour’s veins
The ſacred flood increaſe :
5 It riſes high, and drowns the hills,
'T has neither ſhore nor bound:
Now, if we ſearch to find our ſins,
Our ſins can ne’er be found.
6 Awake, our hearts, adore the grace
That buries all our faults,
And pard’ning blood, that ſwells above
Our follies and our thoughts.
HYMN LXXXVI. [C. M.]
Freedom from ſin and miſery in heaven.
t OUR ſins, alas ! how ſtrong they be 2
And, like a vi'lent ſea,
They break our duty, Lord, to thee,
And hurry us away. g
2 The waves of trouble how they riſe 1
How loud the tempeſts roar !
But death ſhall land our weary ſouls
Safe on the hcav'nly ſhore.
3 There, to ſulfil his ſweet commands,
Our ſpeedy feet ſhall move;
No ſin ſhall clog our winged zeal,
. Or cool our burning love.
* There ſhall we fit and fing, and tell
The wonders of his grace,
Book II.]
173
HYMNS.–LXXXVII. LXXXVIII. LXXXIX, XC, XCI.
*Till heav'nly raptures fire our hearts,
And ſmile in ev’ry face.
5 For ever his dear ſacred name
Shall dwell upon our tongue,
And Jeſus and ſalvation be,
The cloſe of ev’ry ſong.
HYMN LXXXVII. [C. M.]
The divine glories above our reaſon.
1 HOW wond’rous great, how glorious
bright,
Muſt our Creator be,
Who dwells a hidſt the dazzling light,
Of vaſt Infinity |
2 Our ſoaring ſpirits upwards riſe
Tow’rt] the celeſtial throne :
Fain would we ſee the bleſſed Three
And the almighty One.
3 Our reaſon ſtretches all its wings,
And climbs above the ſkies;
But ſtill how far beneath thy feet
Our grov’ling reaſon lies |
4 [Lord, here we bend our humble ſouls,
And awfully adore :
For the weak pinions of our mind
Can ſtretch a thought no more.]
5 Thy glories infinitely riſe
Above our lab’ ring tongue;
In vain the higheſt ſeraph tries
To form an equal ſeng.
6 [In humble notes our faith adores
The great myſterious King,
While angels ſtrain their nobler pow’rs,
And ſweep th’ immortal ſtring J
HYMN LXXXVIII.
Salvation.
1 SALVATION | O, the joyful ſound;
'Tis pleaſure to our ears;
A ſov’reign balm for ev'ry wound,
A cordial for our fears.
2 Bury’d in ſorrow and in ſin;
At hell’s dark door we lay;
But we ariſe, by grace divine,
To fee a heav'nly day.
3 Salyation Let the echo fly
The ſpacious earth around,
While all the armies of the ſky
Conſpire to raiſe the ſound.
[C. M.]
HYMN LXXXIX. [c. M.]
Chriſt’s vićiory over Satan,
I HOSANNA to our conqu'ring King!
The prince of darkneſs flies,
His troops ruſh headlong down to hell,
Like lightning from the ſkies.
2 There, bound in chains, the lions roar,
And fright the reſcu'd ſheep;
But heavy bars confine their pow'r
And malice to the deep.
3 Hoſanna to our conq’ring King,
All hail, incarnate love 1
Ten thouſand ſongs and glories wait
To crown thy head above, " '
t
| | Thy vićt’ries and thy deathleſs fame
Thro’ the wide world ſhall run,
And everlaſting ages ſing
The triumphs thou haſt won.
HYMN xC. [C. M.]
Faith in Chriſt for Aardon and ſančification.
! OW ſad our ſtate by nature is
Our ſin, how deep it ſtains !
And Satan binds our captive minds
Faſt in his ſlaviſh chains.
But there’s a voice of ſov’reign grace
Sounds from the ſacred word;
“Ho! ye deſpairing ſinners, come,
“And truſt upon the Lord.”
My ſoul obeys th’ almighty call,
And runs to this relief;
I would believe thy promiſe, Lord:
Oh I help my unbelief.
4 [To the dear fountain of thy blood,
Incarnate God, I fly;
Here let me waſh my ſpotted ſoul
From crimes of deepeſt dye.
5 Stretch out thine arm, vićtorious King,
My reigning ſins ſubdue ;
Drive the old dragon from his ſeat,
With all his helliſh crew.]
A guilty, weak, and helpleſs worm
On thy kind arms I fall :
Be thou my ſtrength and righteouſneſs
My Jeſus, and my all.
2
3,
t
$
HYMN XCI. [C. M.]
The glory of Chriſt in heaven.
I
O! the delights, the heav'nly joys,
The glories of the place,
Where Jeſus ſheds the brighteſt beams
Of his o'erflowing grace
2 Sweet majeſty and awful love
Sit ſmiling on his brow,
And all the glorious ranks above
At humble diſtance bow.
[Princes to his imperial name
Bend their bright ſceptres down ;
Dominions, thrones, and pow’rs rejoice
To ſee him wear the crown.
3
4.
Archangels found his lofty praiſe
Thro’ ev’ry heav'nly ſtreet,
And lay their higheſt honours down
Submiſſive at his feet.
5 Thoſe ſoft, thoſe bleſſed feet of his,
That once rude iron tore,
High on a throne of light they ſtand,
And all the ſaints adore.
6
His head, the dear majeſtic head,
That cruel thorns did wound,
See what immortal glories ſhine,
And circle it around !
7 This is the man, th’ exalted man,
Whom we, unſeen, adore ;
But when our eyes behold his face,
Our hearts ſhall love him more, -
i.74
HYMNS.—XCII. XCIII. XCIV. XCV.
8 [Lord, how our ſouls are all on fire
To ſee thy bleſs'd abode ;
Our tongues rejoice in tunes of praiſe
To our incartiate God I
9 And while our faith enjoys this ſight,
We long to leave our clay ;
And with thy fiery chariots, Lord,
To fetch our ſouls away.
HYMN XCII. [C. M.]
The Church ſaved, and her enemies diſaſſiointed.
Compoſed the 5th of November, 1694.
i SHOUT to the Lord, and let our joys
Thro' the whole nation run ;
Ye Britiſh ſkies, reſound the noiſe
Beyond the riſing ſun,
2 Thee, mighty God, our ſouls admire,
Thee our glad voices ſing,
And join with the celeſtial choir, ;
To praiſe the eternal King.
3 Thy pow'r the whole creation rules,
And on the ſtarry ſkies,
Sits ſmiling at the weak deſigns
Thine envious foes devife.
4 Thy ſcorn derides their feeble rage,
And, with an awful frown, -
Flings vaſt confuſion on their plots,
And ſhakes their Babel down.
5 [Their ſecret fires in caverns lay,
And we the ſacrifice :
But gloomy caverns ſtrove in vain
To 'ſcape all ſearching eyes.
6 Their dark deſigns were all reveal’d,
Their treaſons all betray’d :
Praiſe to the Lord, that broke the ſnare
Their curſed hands had laid.]
‘7 In vain the buſy ſons of hell
Still new rebellions try,
Their ſouls ſhall pine with envious rage,
And vex away and die.
3 Almighty grace defends our land
From their malicious pow'r?
Let Britain with united ſongs
Almighty grace adore.
HYMN XCIII. [S. M.]
God all, and in all. Pſal. lxxiii. 25.
3. MY God, my life, my love,
* To thee, to thee I call;
I cannot live, if thou remove,
For thou art all in all.
“b
*
[Thy ſhining grace can chear
This dungeon where I dwell :
*Tis paradiſe when thou art here ;
If thou depart, 'tis hell.]
3 The ſmilings of thy face,
How amiable they are
'Tis heav'n to reſt in thine embrace,
And no where clfe but there.]
[To thee, and thee alone,
The angels owe their bliſs;
4
|
| 8
They fit around thy gracious throne,
And dwell where Jeſus is...]
[Not all the harps above
Can make a heav'nly place,
If God his reſidence remove,
Or but conceal his ſace.]
5
6 Nor earth, nor all the ſky,
Can one delight afford;
No, not a drop of real joy,
Without thy preſenge, Lord.
Thou art the ſea of love,
Where all my pleaſures roll ;
The circle where my paſſions move
And centre of my ſoul.
7
[To thee my ſpirits fly
With infinite deſire : *-
And yet, how far from thee I lie
Dear Jeſus, raiſe me higher.]
HYMN XCIV. [L. M.]
God my only haphineſs. Pſ. lxxiii. 25
1 MY God, my portion, and my love,
My everlaſting all,
I’ve nore but thee in heav’n above,
Or on this earthly ball.
2 [What empty things are all the ſkies,
And this inferior clod
There's nothing here deſerves my joys,
There’s nothing like my God.]
3 [In vain the bright, the burning ſun
Scatters his feeble light:
'Tis thy ſweet beams create my noon;
If thou withdraw, 'tis night.
4 And, whilſt upon my reſtleſs bed
Amongſt the ſhades I roll,
If my Redeemer ſhews his head,
'Tis morning with my ſoul.]
J To thee we owe our wealth and friends
And health and ſafe abode :
Thanks to thy name for meaner things,
But they are not my God.
t; How vain a toy is glitt’ring wealth,
If once compar'd to thee *
Or what’s my ſafety, or my health,
Of all my friends to me 2
7 Were I poſſeſſor of the earth,
And call’d the ſtars my own :
Without thy graces, and thy ſelf,
I were a wretch undone.
8. Let others ſtretch their arms like ſeas,
And graſp in all the ſhore,
Grant me the viſits of thy face,
And I deſire no more:
HYMN XCV. [C. M.] -
Look on him whom they hierced, and mourn.
1 INFINITE grief! amazing woe
Behold my bleeding Lord : *~.
Hell and the Jews conſpir’d his death,
And us’d the Roman ſword.
Book II.]
173
'HYMNS.—XCVI. XCVII. XCVIII. XCIX. C.
2 Oh, the ſharp pangs of ſmarting pain
My dear Redeemer bore,
When knotty whips, and ragged thorns,
His ſacred body tore
3. But knotty wbips, and ragged thorns,
In vain I do accuſe;
In vain I blame the Roman bands,
And the more ſpiteſul Jews.
4 "Twere you, my fins, my crucl ſins,
His chief tormentors were ;
Each of my crimes became a nail,
And unbelief the ſpear.
5 'Twere you that pull'd the vengeance
down
[Jpon his guiltleſs head :
Break, break my heart, oh burſt mine eyes,
And let my ſorrows bleed.
6 Strike, mighty grace, my flinty ſoul,
*Till melting waters flow,
And deep repentance drown mine eyes
In undiſſembled woe.
HYMN XCVI. [c. M.]
Diſtinguiſhing love ; or, Angels Auniſhed, and
man ſaved.
l Down headlong from the native ſkies
The rebel-angels fell,
And thunderbolts of flaming wrath
Purſu'd them deep to hell.
2 Down from the top of earthly bliſs
Rebellious man was hurl’d ;
And Jeſus ſtoop’d beneath the grave,
To reach a ſinking world.
3 Oh, love of infinite degrees
Unmeaſurable grace
Muſt heav'n's eternal Darling die,
To ſave a trait’rous race 3
4 Muſt angels ſink for ever down,
And burn in quenchleſs fire,
While God forſakes his ſhining throne,
To raiſe us wretches higher *
5 Oh, for this love, let earth and ſkies
With hallelujahs ring,
And the full choir of human tongues
All hallelujahs ſing.
HYMN XCVII,
The ſame:
I FROM heav'n the ſinning angels fell,
And wrath and darkneſs chain’d them
down ;
But man, vile man, forfook his bliſs,
And mercy lifts him to a crown.
2 Amazing work of ſov’reign grace,
That could diſtinguiſh rebels ſo
Our guilty treaſons call’d aloud
For everlaſting fetters too.
3 To thee, to thee, Almighty Love,
Our ſouls, ourſelves, our all we pay :
Millions of tongues ſhall ſound thy praiſe
On the bright hills of heav'nly day.
[L. M.]
| HYMN XCVIII. [C. M.]
Hardneſs of heart complained of.
1 MY heart how dreadful hard it is I
How heavy here it lies;
Heavy and cold within my breaſt,
Juſt like a rock of ice
2 Sin, like a raging tyrant, ſits
Upon this flinty throne,
And ev'ry grace lies bury’d deep
Beneath this heart of ſtone.
How ſcloom do I riſe to God,
Or taſte the joys above 2
This mountain preſſes down my faith,
And chills my flatning love.
4. When ſmiling mercy courts my ſoul
With all its heav'nly charms,
This ſtubborn, this relentleſs thing
Would thruſt it from my arms.
Againſt the thunders of thy word
Rebellious I have ſtood ;
My heart, it ſhakes not at the wrath
And terrors of a God.
Dear Saviour, ſteep this rock of mine
In thine own crimſon ſea
None but a bath of blood divine
Can melt thc flint away.
3
6
HYMN XCIX. [C. M.]
# The book of God’s decrees.
E.T the whole race of creatures lie
Abas'd before their God :
Whate’er his ſov’reign voice has form’d
He governs with a nod.
[Ten thouſand ages e'er the ſkies
Were into motion brought; .
All the long years and worlds to come
Stood preſent to his thought.
There’s not a ſparrow, or a worm,
But’s found in his decrees; !
He raiſes monarchs to their throne,
And ſinks them as he pleaſe.]
4 If light attends the courſe I run,
'Tis he provides thoſe rays;
And 'tis his hand that hides my ſun,
If darkneſs cloud my days.
Yet I would not be much concern’d,
Nor vainly long to ſee
The volumes of his deep decrees,
What months are writ for me.
6 When he reveals the book of life,
O, may I read my name
Amongſt the choſen of his love,
The foll' wers of the Lamb l
HYMN C. [L. M.] }
The preſence of Chriſt is the life of my ſoul.
OW full of anguiſh is the thought,
How it diſtraćls and tears my heart,
If God at laſt, my ſov’reign Judge,
Should frown, and bid my ſoul depart!
2 Lord, when I quit this earthly ſtage,
Where ſhall I fly but to thy breaſt
I
2
3
5
l
176
[Book II.
IIYMNS.–CI. CII, CIII, CIV.
For I have fought no other home;
For I have learn’d no other reſt.
3 I cannot live contented here,
Without ſome glimpſes of thy face;
And heav'n, without thy preſence there,
Will be a dark and tireſome place.
4. When earthly cares ingroſs the day,
And hold my thoughts aſide from thee,
The ſhining hours of chearful light
Are long and tedious years to me;
5 And if no ev’ning viſit’s paid
Between my Saviour and my ſoul,
How dull the night ! how ſad the ſhade
How mournfully the minutes roll !
6 This fleſh of mine might learn as ſoon
To live, yet part with all my blood;
To breathe, when vital air is gone,
Or thrive and grow without my food,
7 [Chriſt is my light, my life, my care,
My bleſſed hope, my heav'nly prize;
Dearer than all my paſſions are,
My limbs, my bowels, or my eyes,
8 The ſtrings that twine about my heart,
Tortures and racks may tear them off;
But they can never, never part
With their dear hold of Chriſt my love.]
9 [My God 1 and can a humble child,
That loves thee with a flame ſo high,
Be ever from thy ſace exil'd,
Without the pity of thine eye?
10 Impoſſible !—For thine own hands
Have ty’d my heart ſo faſt to thee,
And in thy book the promiſe ſtands,
That where thou art, thy friends muſt be.]
t
HYMN CI. [C. M.]
The world’s three chief temptations.
1 WHEN in the light of faith divine
We look on things below,
Honour, and gold, and ſenſual joy,
How vain and dangerous too !
2 [Honour’s a puff of noiſy breath;
Yet men expoſe their blood,
And venture everlaſting death,
To gain that airy good.
3 Whilſt others ſtarve the nobler mind,
And feed on ſhining duſt,
They rob the ſerpent of his food,
T” indulge a ſordid luſt.]
4. The pleaſures that allure our ſenſe
Are dang'rous ſnares to ſouls;
There's but a drop of flatt’ring ſweet,
And daſh’d with bitter bowls.
5 God is mine all-ſufficient good,
My portion and my choice,
In him my vaſt deſires are fill’d,
And all my pow’rs rejoice.
6 In vain the world accoſts my ear,
And tempts my heart anew ;
I cannot buy your bliſs ſo dear,
Nor part with heav’n for you.
f
2
$
5
l
2
3
4.
6
1
2
3
HYMN CII. [L. M.]
<! haſ/ly reſurre&#ion.
O, I'll repine at death no more,
But with a cheat ful graſp reſign
To the cold dungeon of the grave
Theſe dying, with’ring limbs of mine.
Let worms devour my waſting fleſh,
And crumble all my bones to duſt,
My God ſhall raiſe my frame anew
At the I evival of the juſt.
Break, ſacred morning thro’ the ſkies,
Bring that delightful, dreadful daw,
Cut ſhort the hours, deat Lord, and come;
Thy ling’ring wheels, how long they ſtay i
[Our weary ſpirits ſaint to ſee
The light of thy returning face,
And hear the language ol thoſe lips
Where God has ſhed his richeſt grace.]
[Haſte then upon the wings of love,
Rouſe all the pious ſleeping clay,
That we may join in heav'nly joys,
And fing the triumph of the day.]
HYMN cIII. [C. M.]
Chriſt's Commiſſion. John iii. ver, 16, 17.
OME, happy ſouls approach your God,
With new melodious ſongs;
Come, render to almighty grace
The tributes of your tongues.
So ſtrange, ſo boundleſs was the love
That pity’d dying men,
The Father ſent his equal Son
To give them life again.
Thy hands, dear Jeſus, were not arm’d
With a revenging rod,
No hard commiſſion to perform
The vengeance of a God.
But all was mercy, all was mild,
And wrath forſook the throne,
When Chriſt on the kind errand came,
And brought ſalvation down.
Here, ſinners, you may heal your wounds,
And wipe your ſorrows dry ;
Truſt in the mighty Saviour’s name,
And you ſhall never die.
See, deareſt Lord, our willing ſouls
Accept thine offer'd grace;
We bleſs the great Redeemer’s love,
And give the Father praiſe.
HYMN CIV. [S. M.]
The ſame.
RAISE your triumphant ſongs
To an immortal tune,
Let the wide earth reſound the deeds
Celeſtial grace has done.
Sing how eternal love
Its chief beloved choſe,
And bid him raiſe our wretched race
From their abyſs of woes.
His hand no thunder bears,
Nor terror clothes his brow ;
|
Book II.]
hymns—cv.cv. CVI. CVIII. 177
No bolts to drive our guilty ſouts
To ficroei flames below.
4 'Twas mercy fill'd the throne,
And wrath ſtood filent by,
When Chriſt was ſent with pardons down,
To rebels doom'd to die.
5 Now, ſinners, dry your tears,
Let hopeleſs ſorrow ceaſe ;
Bow to the ſceptre of his love,
And take the offer'd peace.
6 Lord, we obey thy call ;
We lay an humble claim
To the ſalvation thou haſt brought,
And love and praiſe thy name.
HYMN CV. [C. M.]
Reſentance flowing from the ſhatience of God.
ANP are we wretches yet alive ;
And do we yet rebel P.
'Tis boundleſs, ’tis amazing love,
That bears us up from hell
2 Thé burden of our weighty guilt
Would ſink us down to flames,
And threat’ning vengeance rolls above,
To cruſh our feeble frames.
3 Almighty goodneſs cries, “Forbear ;”
And ſtrait the thunder ſtays :
And dare we now provoke his wrath,
And weary out his grace
4 Lord, we have long abus’d thy love,
Too long indulg’d our fin :
Our achihg hearts e'en bleed to ſee
What rebels we have been.
5 No mote, ye luſts, ſhall ye command;
No more will we obey :
Stretch out, G God, thy conqu’ring hand,
And drive thy foes away.
HYMN CVI. [C. M.]
Reftentance at the croſs.
i OH, if my ſoul were form'd for woe,
How would I vent my fighs .
Repentance ſhould like rivers flow
From both my ſtreaming eyes.
2 ”Twas for my ſins, my deareſt Lord
Hung on the curſed tree,
And groan'd away a dying life,
For thee, my ſoul, for thee,
3 O, how I hate theſe luſts of mine
That crucify'd my God;
Thoſe ſins that pierc'd and nail’d his fleſh
Faſt to the fatal wood |
4 Yes, umy Redeemer, they ſhall die,
My heart hath ſo decreed :
Nor will i ſpare the guilty things
That made my Saviour bleed.
5 Whilſt with a melting broken heart
My murder'd Lord I view,
I'll raiſe revenge againſt my ſins,
And ſlay the murd’rers tbo,
VOL. VII. -
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HYMN CVII. [C. M.]
The everlaſting abſence aj God intolerable.
THAT awful day will ſurely come,
Th’ appointed hour makes haſte,
When I mutt ſtand before my Judge,
And paſs the ſolemn teſt.
Thou lovely chief of all my joys,
Thou ſov’reign of my heart,
How could I bear to hear thy voice
Pronounce the ſound, “Depart?”
[The thunder of that diſmal word,
Would ſo torment my ear;
'Twould tear my ſoul aſunder, Lord,
With moſt tornicnting fear.]
[What to be baniſh’d for my life,
And yet forbid to die
To ling cr in eternal pain,
Yet death for ever fly
o! wretched ſtate of deep deſpair,
To ſee my God remove,
And fix my doleful ſtation whcre
I muſt not taſte his love.
Jeſus, I throw my arms around,
And hang upon thy breaft ;
Without a gracious ſmile from thee
My ſpirit cannot reſt.
O ! tell me that my worthleſs name
Is graven on thy hands;
Shew me ſome promiſe in thy book,
Wücre my ſalvation ſtands !
[Give me one kind aſſuring word,
To ſink my ſcars again ;
And cheerfully my ſoul ſhall wait
Her threeſcore years and ten.]
HYMN CVIII. [C. M.]
Acceſs to the throne of grace by a Mediator.
COME, let us liſt our joyſul eyes
Up to the courts above
And ſmile to ſee our Father there
Upon a throne of love.
Once ’twas a ſeat of dreadful wrath,
And ſhot devouring flame :
Our God appear’d conſuming fire,
And vengeance was his name.
Rich were the drops of Jeſus' blood,
That calm’d his frowning face,
That ſprinkled o'er the burning throne,
And turn'd the wrath to grace.
Now we thay bow before his feet
Atid venture near the Lord;
No fi’ry cherub guards his ſeat,
Nor double-flaming ſword.
The peaccful gates of heav'nly bliſs
Are opcri’d by thc Son ;
High let us raiſe our notes of praiſe,
And reach th' Almighty Thrones
To thee ten thouſand thanks we bring,
Great Advocate on high;
And glory to th’ eternal king
That lays his ſury by. -
3.
} {8
[Book IF.
IIYMNS.–CIX. CX, CXI. CXII. CXIII.
HYMN CIX. [L. M.]
The darkneſ of Arovidence.
| LORP, we adore thy vaſt deſigns,
Th’ obſcure abyſs of providence,
Too deep to ſound with mortal lines,
Too dark to view with feeble fenſe,
Now thou array'ſt thine awſul face
In angry frowns without a ſmile :
We, thro’ the cloud, believe thy grace,
Secure of thy compaſſion ſtill.
3 Thro' ſeas and ſtorms of deep diſtreſs,
We ſail by faith, and not by fight;
Faith guides us in the wilderneſs,
Thro' all the briars, and the night.
Dear Father, if thy liſted rod
Reſolve to ſcourge us here below,
Still we muſt lcan upon our God,
Thine arm ſhall bear us ſafely thro’.
4.
HYMN CX. [S. M.]
Triumph over death in hope of the reſurreàion,
l AN2 muſt this body die?
This mortal frame decay ?
And muſt theſe active limbs of mine
Lie mould'ring in the clay 2
Corruption, earth, and worms,
Shall but refine this fleſh,
Till my triumphant ſpirit comes,
To put it on aſteſh.
God my Redeemer lives
And oſten ſrom the ſkies
Looks down, and watches all my duſt,
Till he ſhali bid it riſe.
Array’d in glorious grace
Shall theſe vile bodies ſhine,
And ev'ry ſhape, and ev’ry ſace
Look heav'nly and divine.
5 : Theſe lively hopes we owe
To Jeſus’ dying love :
We would adore his grace below,
And ſing his pow'r above.
Dear Lord, accept the praiſe
Of theſe our humble ſongs,
Till tunes of nobler ſound we raiſe
With our immortal tongues.
2
3
4.
6
HYMN CXI. [C. M.]
Thankſgiving for vićiory : or, God's dominion,
and our deliverance.
I ZION rejoice, and Judah fing,
The Lord aſſumes his throne;
Let Britain own the heav'nly King,
And make his glories known.
2. The great, the wicked, and the proud,
From their high ſeats are hurl’d ;
Jehovah rides upon a cloud,
, And thunders thro’ the world.
3. He reigns upon th” eternal hills,
Diſtributes mortal crowns; f
Empires are fix’d beneath his ſmiles,
And totter at his frowns,
4 Navies, that rule the ocean wide,
Are vanquiſh’d by his breath;
{
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And legions arm'd with pow'r and pride-
Deſcend to wat'ry death.
5 Let tyrants make no more pretence
To vex our happy land;
Jehovah's name is our defence,
Our buckler is his hand.
6 [Long may the King, our ſov’reign, live
To rule us by his word ;
And all the honours he can give,
Be offer'd to the Lord.]
HYHN CXII. [L. M.]
Angels minifering to Chriſt and ſaints.
|REAT God! to what a glorious height,
Haſt thou advanc'd the Lord thy Son º'
Angels in all their robes of light,
Are made the ſervants of his throne.
2 Before his feet their armies wait,
And ſwift as flames of fire they moves.
To manage his affairs of ſtate,
In works of vengeance or of love.
His orders run through all their hoſts,
Legions deſcend at his command,
To ſhield andguard the Britiſh coaſts,
When foreign' rage invades our land.
Now they are ſent to guard our ſect
Up to the gates of thine abode,
Thro' all the dangers that we meet
In travelling the heav'nly road.
Lord, when I leave this mortal ground,
And thou ſhalt bid me riſe and come,
Send a beloved angel down.
Safe to condućt my ſpirit home.
3
4
HYMN CXIII. [C. M.]
The ſame. .
HE majeſty of Solomon,
How glorious to behold
The ſervants waiting round his throne,
The iv'ry and the gold
2. But, mighty God thy palace ſhines
With far ſuperior beams ;
Thine angel-guards are ſwift as winds,
Thy miniſters are flames. !
[Soon as thine only Son had made
His entrance on this earth,
A ſhining army downward fled
To celebrate his birth.
4 And when, oppreſs'd with pains and fears,
On the cold ground he lies,
Behold, a heav'nly form appears,
Tº allay his agonies.]
Now to the hands of Chriſt, our King,
Are all the legions giv'n ;
They wait upon his ſaints, and bring
His choſen heirs to heav'n,
6 Pleaſure and praiſe run through their hoſt,
To ſee a ſinner turn ;
Then ſatan has a captive loſt,
And Chriſt a ſubjećt born.
7 But there's an hour of brighter joy,
When he his angels ſends,
Book II.] HYMNS.–CxIV. CXV.CXyl. CXVII. CXVIII. CXIX.
179
©bſtinate rebels do deſtroy,
And gather in his friends.
$ O ! could I ſay, without a doubt,
There ſhall my ſoul be found,
Then let the great arch-angel ſhout,
And the laſt trumpet ſound.
HYMN CXIV. [C. M.]
Chriſt’s death, vićfory and dominion.
1 I Sing my Saviour’s wondrous death ;
He conquer’d when he fell :
“”Tis finiſh'd,” ſaid his dying breath,
And ſhoek the gates of hell.
2 “”Tis finiſh'd,” our Emanuel cries,
The dreadſul work is done ; -
Hence ſhall his ſov’reign throne ariſe,
His kingdom is begun.
3 His croſs a ſure foundation laid
For glory and renown,
When thro’ the regions of the dead
HC paſs’d to reach the crown.
4 Exalted at his Father’s ſide
Sits our vićtorious Lord ;
To heav’n and Hell his hands divide
The vengcance or reward.
5 The ſaints, from his propitious eye,
Await their ſeveral crowns,
And all the ſons of darkneſs fly
The terror of his frowns.
HYMN CXV. [c. M.]
God the avenger of his ſaints; or, His kingdom
fuáreme.
1 HIGH as the heav'ns above the ground
Reigns the Creater, God,
Wide as the whole creation’s bound,
Extends his awful rod.
2 Let princes of exâlted ſtate
To him aſcribe their crown,
Render their homage at his feet,
And caſt their glories down.
3 Know that his kingdom is ſupreme,
Your lofty thoughts are vain ;
He calls you Gods, that awful name,
But ye muſt die like men.
4 Then let the ſov’reigns of the globe
Not date to wer the juſt ;
He puts on vergeance like a robe,
And treads the worms to duſt.
5 Ye judges of the earth, be wiſe,
And think of heav’n with fear ;
The meaneſt ſaint that you deſpiſe
Has an avenger there.
HYMN CXVI. [C M.]
Mercies and thanks.
I HOW can I fink with ſuch a prop
As my eternal God,
Who bears the earth's huge pillars up,
And ſpreads the heav'ns abroad?
2 How can I die while Jeſus lives,
Who roſe and left the dead
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Pardon and grace my ſoul receives
From mine exalted head.
All that I am, and all I have
Shall be for ever thine;
Whate’er my duty bids me give,
My chearful hands reſign.
Yet if I might make ſome reſerve,
And duty did not call,
I love my God with zeal ſo great,
That I ſhould give him all.
-
HYMN CXVII. [L. M.]
Living and dying with God preſent.
Cannot bear this abſence, Lord,
My life expires if thou depart :
Be thou, my hoart, ſtill near my God,
And thou, my God, be near my heart.
I was not born for earth and ſin,
Nor can I live on things ſo vile;
Yet I will ſtay my Father’s time, -*
And hope and wait for heav'n a while.
Then, deaseſt Lord, in thine embrace
Let me reſign my fleeting breath,
And with a ſmile upon my face
Paſs the important hour of death.
HYMN CXVIII. [L. M.]
The ſhrieſthood of Chriſt.
LOOD has a voice to picree the ſkies,
Revenge the blood of Abel cries:
But the dear ſtream when Chriſt was ſlain
Speaks Peace as loud from ev’ry vein,
Pardon and peace from God on high;
Behold he lays his vengeance by ;
And rebels that deſerve his ſword,
Become the fav’rites of the Lord.
To Jeſus let our praiſes riſe,
Who gave his life a ſacrifice :
Now be appears before his God,
And, for our pardon, pleads his bleod.
HYMN CXIX. [C. M.]
The holy ſcriptures.
ADEN with guilt, and full of fears,
I fly to thee, my Lord, -
And not a glimpſe of hope appears,
But in thy written word.
The volume of my Father's grace
Does all my grief aſſuage ;
Here I belold my Saviour’s face
Almoſt in ev’ry page.
[This is the field where hidden lies .
The pearl of price unknown :
That merchant is divinely wiſe,
Who makes the pearl his own.
Here conſecrated water flows,
To quench my thirſt of fin;
Here the fair tree of knowledge grows.
Nor danger dwells therein.]
This is the judge that ends the ſtrife,'
Where wit and reaſon fail;
My guide to everlaſting life,
Thro' all this gloomy vale. . "
Z, 2
160
[Book II.
ITYMNS.–CXX. CXXI, CXXII, CXXIII, CXXIV.
6 O ! may thy counſels, mighty God,
My roving feet command;
Nor I forſake the happy road
That leads to thy right-hand.
HYMN CXX. [S, M.]
The law and goſheljoin'd in ſcripture,
1 THE Lord declares his will,
‘And keeps the world in awc ;
Amidſt the ſmoke on Sinai's hill,
Breaks out his fiery law.
2 The Lord reveals his face,
And ſmiling from above,
Sends down the goſpel of his grace,
Th’ epiſtles of his love.
6 Theſe ſacred words impart
Our Maker’s juſt commands ;
The pity of his melting heart,
And vengeance of his hands.
4 [Hence we awake our fear,
We draw our comſort hence :
The arms of grace are treaſur’d here,
And armour of defence.
5 We learn Chriſt cruciſy’d,
And here behold his blood ;
All arts and knowledges beſide
Will do us little good.]
6 We read the heav'nly word,
We take the offer'd grace,
Obey the ſtatutes of the Lord,
And truſt his promiſes.
7 In vain ſhall ſatan rage
Againſt a book divinc.
Where wrath and lightning guards the
page,
Where beams of mercy ſhine.
HYMN CXXI. [L. M.]
The law and goſpel diſtinguiſhed.
1 THE law commands, and makes us know
What duties to our God we owe;
But 'tis the goſpel muſt reveal
Where lies our ſtrength to do his will.
2 The law diſcovers guilt and fin,
And ſhews how vile our hearts have been:
Only the goſpel can expreſs
Forgiving love, and cléanſing grace.
3 What curſes doth the law denounce
Againſt the man that fails but once
But in the goſpel Chriſt appears,
Pard'ning the guilt of num'rous years.
4 My ſoul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the law ;
Fly to the hope the goſpel gives :
The man that truſts the promiſe lives.
HYMNCXXII. [L. M.]
Retirement and meditation.
I MY God, permit me not to be
º A ſtranger to myſelf and thee;
Amidſt a thouſand thoughts Irove,
Forgetful of my higheſt love.
2. Why ſhould my paſſions mix with earth,
And thus debaſe my heav'nly birth ;
Why ſhould I cleave to things below,
And let my God, my Saviour go
Call me away from fleſh and ſchfe,
One ſov’reign word can draw me thence;
I would obey the voice divine,
And all inſcrior joys reſign.
Be earth, with all her ſcenes, withdrawn ;
Let noiſe and vanity be gone :
In ſecret ſilence of the mind
My heav'n, and there my God I find:
3
4
HYMN CXXIII. [L. M.]
The benefit of ſublic Ordinances.
AWAY from ev’ry mortal care,
* A way from earth our ſouls retreat ;
We leave this worthleſs world afar,
And wait and worſhip near thy ſeat.
Lord, in the temple of thy grace
We ſee thy feet, and we adore :
WC gaze upon thy lovely face,
And learn the wonders of thy pow’r.
While here our various wants we mourn,
United groans aſcend on high ;
And prayer bears a quick return
Of bleſfings in variety.
| If ſatan rage, and ſin grow ſtrong,
Here we receive ſome chearing word;
We gird the goſpel, armour on,
To fight the battles of the Lord.
Or if our ſpirit faints and dies,
(Our conſcience gall'd withinward ſtings)
Here doth the righteous ſun ariſe,
With healing beams beneath his wings, I
Father my ſoul would ſtill abide
Within thy temple, near thy ſide ;
But if my feet muſt hence depart,
Still keep thy dwelling in my heart.
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HYMN CXXIV. [C. M.]
Moſes, Aaron, and Joſhua.
"TIS not the law of ten commands,
On holy Sinai giv'n,
Or ſent to men by Moſes’ hands,
Can bring us ſafe to heav’n.
'Tis not the blood which Aaron ſpilt,
Nor ſmoke of ſweeteſt ſmell,
Can buy a pardon for our guilt,
Or ſave our ſouls from hell.
Aaron the prieſt reſigns his breath
At God’s immediate will;
And in the deſart yields to death
Upon th” appointed hill.
And thus on Jordan's yonder ſide
The tribes of Iſrael ſtand,
While Moſes bow’d his head and dy’d
Short of the promis’d land.
Iſt'el rejoice, now *Joſhua leads,
He’ll bring your tribes to reſt ;
So far the Saviour’s name exceeds
The Ruler and the Prieſt.
* Joſhua the ſame with Jeſus, and ſigni-
1
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fies a Saviour.
Book Iſ..]
181
HYMNS.–CXXV.--CXXX,
HYMN CXXV. [L. M.]
Faith and reſtentanc', unbelief and imſicnitence.
i I IFE and immortal joys are giv'n
** To ſouls that mourns the ſins they’ve
- done;
Children of wrath made heirs of hoav’n
By faith in God’s etcrpal Son.
2 Woe to the wretch that never felt
The inward pangs of pious grief,
But adds to all his crying guilt
The ſtubborn ſin of unbelief.
3 The law condemns the rebel dead,
Under the wrath of God he lies;
He ſeals the curſe on his own head.
And with a double vengeance dies.
HYMN CXXVI. [C. M.]
God glorified in the goſſiel.
HE Lord, deſcending from above,
Invites his children near;
While pow'r and truth, and boundleſs love,
Diſplay their glories here.
Here, in thy goſpel’s wondrous frame,
Freſh wiſdom we purſue ;
A thouſand angels learn thy name
Beyond whate’er they knew.
3 Thy name is writ in faireſt lines,
Thy wonders here we trace;
Wiſdom thro' all the myſt'ry ſhines,
And ſhines in Jeſus’ face.
4 The law its beſt obedience owes
To our incarnate God ;
And thy revenging juſtice ſhows
Its honours in his blood.
5 But ſtill the luſtre of thy grace
Our warmer thoughts employs,
Gilds the whole ſcene with brighter rays,
And more exalts our joys.
I
2
HYMN CXXVII. [L. M.]
Circumciſion and bahtiſm.
(Written only for thoſe who hračiſe the bahtiſm
of infants.)
l THUS did the ſons of Abrah’m paſs
Under the bloody ſeal of grace;
The young diſciples bore the yoke,
*Till Chriſt the painful bondage broke.
2 By milder ways doth Jeſus prove
His Father's cov’nant, and his love;
He ſeals to ſaints his glorious grace,
And not forbids their inſant race.
3 Their ſeed is ſprinkled with his blood,
Their children ſet apart for God;
His Spirit on their offspring ſhed,
Like water pour’d upon the head.
4 Let ev'ry ſaint with chearful voice
In this large covenant rejoice :
Young children, in their early days,
Shall give the God of Abrah'm praiſe.
HYMN CXXVIII. [c. M.]
Corruſt nature from Adam.
} BLESS’D with the joys of innocence,
Adam our father ſtood,
*Till he debas'd his ſoul to ſenſe,
And eat the unlawful food.
2 Now we are born a ſenſual race,
3
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To ſinful joys inclin’d ;
Reaſon has loſt its native place,
And fleſh inſlaves the mind.
While fleſh, and ſenſe, and paſſion reigns,
Sin is the ſweeteſt good :
We fancy muſic in our chains,
And ſo forget the load.
Great God! renew our ruin’d frame,
Our broken pow’rs reſtore,
Inſpire us with an heav'nly flamc,
And fleſh ſhall reign no more.
Cternal Spirit I write thy law
Upon our in ward parts,
And let the ſecond Adam draw
His image on our hearts.
HYMN CXXIX. [L. M.]
We walk by faith, not by fight.
'Tis by the faith of joys to come
We walk thro' deſarts dark as night;
*Till we arrive at heav’n our home,
Faith is our guide, and faith our lights
The want of ſight ſhe well ſupplies,
She makes the pearly gates appear;
Far into diſtant worlds ſhe prics,
And brings eterſhal glories near.
Chearful we tread the deſart thro’,
While faith inſpires a heav'nly ray,
Tho' lions roar, and tempeſts blow,
And rocks and dangers fill the way.
So Abrah’m, by divine command,
Left his own houſe to walk with God;
His faith beheld the promis’d land,
And fir’d his zeal along the road.
HYMN CXXX. [C. M.]
The new creation.
TTEND, while God’s exalted Son
Doth his own glories ſhew 3.
“Behold, I ſit upon my throne,
“Creating all things new.
“Nature and ſin are paſs'd away,
“And the old Adam dies :
“My hands a new foundation lay,
“See the new world ariſe.
“I’ll be a Sun of righteouſneſs
“To the new heav’ns I make :
“None but the new-born heirs of grace
“My glories ſhall partake,”
Mighty Redeemer ſet me free
From my old ſtate of ſin ;
Oh, make my ſoul alive to thee,
Create new pow'rs within :
Renew mine eyes, and ſorm mine ears,
And mould my heart aſteſh ;
Give me new paſſions, joys, and fears,
And turn the ſtone to fleſh.
$82 HYMNS.–CXXXI.
CXXXVI. [Book II.
G Far from the regions of the dead,
From ſin, and earth, and hell;
In the new world that grace has made,
I would for ever dwell.
HYMN CXXXI.. [L. M.]
The excelleney of the chriftian religion.
1 LET everlaſting glories crown . -
Thy head, my Saviour and my Lord;
Thy hands have brought ſalvation down,
And writ the bleſfings in thy word.
2 [What if we trace the globe around,
And ſearch from Britain to Japan,
There ſhall be no religion found
So juſt to God, ſo ſafe for man.]
In vain the trembling conſcience ſeeks
Some ſolid ground to reſt upon ;
With long deſpair the ſpirit breaks,
*Till we apply to Chriſt alone.
How well thy bleſſed truths agree
How wife and holy thy commands!
Thy promiſes, how firm they bc
How firm our hope and comfort ſtands!
[Not the feign'd fields of heath'niſh bliſs
Could raiſe ſuch pleaſures in the mind;
Nor does the Turkiſh paradiſe
Pretend to joys ſo well refin'd.]
Should all the forms that men deviſe
Aſſault my faith with treach’rous art,
I’d call them vanity and lies,
And bind the goſpel to my heart.
4.
5
HYMN CXXXII. [C. M.]
The offices of Chriſt.
1 WE bleſs the prophet of the Lord,
That comes with truth and grace ;
Jeſus, thy Spirit and thy word
Shall lead us in thy ways.
2. With rev’rence our High-Prieſt above,
Who offer'd up his blood,
And lives to carry on his love,
By pleading with our God.
3 We honour our exalted King; |
How ſweet are his commands ! :
He guards our ſouls from hell and fin,
By his almighty hands.
4 Hoſanna to his glorious name,
Who ſaves by diff'rent ways;
His mercies lay a ſov’reign claim
To our immortal praiſe. * \
HYMN CXXXIII. [L. M.]
The ofterations of the holy ſhirit.
$ ETERNAL Spirit! we confeſs, *
And ſing the wonders of thy grace ; ;
Thy pow'r conveys our bleſſings down
From God the Father and the Son.
2 Enlighten’d by thine heav'nly ray,
Our ſhades and darkneſs turn to day;
Thine inward teachings make us know
Our danger, and our refuge too.
3 Thy pow'r and glory works within,
And breaks the chains of reigning fin;
Doth our imperious luſts ſubdue,
And forms our wretched hearts anew.
The troubled conſcience knows thy voice,
Thy chearing words awake our joys ;
hy words allay the ſtormy wind,
And calm the ſurges of the mind.
HYMN CXXXIV. [c. M.]
Circumciſion aboliſhed.
HE promiſe was divinely free,
Extenſive was the grace;
“I will the God of Abrah’m be,
“And of his num’rous race.”
He ſaid, and with a bloody ſeal,
Confirm'd the words he ſpoke ;
Long did the ſons of Abrah’m feel
The ſharp and painful yoke.
*Till God's own Son, deſcending low,
Gave his own fleſh to bleed ;
And Gentiles taſte the bleſſings now,
I
2
4.
l
2
From the hard bondage freed.
The God of Abrah'm claims our praiſe,
His promiſes endure ;
And Chriſt, the Lord, in gentler ways,
Makes the ſalvation ſure.
HYMN CXXXV. [L. M.]
Types and/rofthecies of Chriſt.
BEHOLD the woman’s promis’d ſeed!
Behold the great Meſſiah come i
Behold the prophets all agreed
To give him the ſuperior room
Abrah’m the ſaint rejoic’d of old
When viſions of the Lord he ſaw ;
Moſes, the man of God, foretold
This great Fulfiller of his law.
The types bore witneſs to his name,
Obtain’d their chief deſign, and ceas'd ;
The incenſe, and the bleeding Lamb,
The ark, the altar, and the prieſt.
Predićtions in abundance meet
To join their bleſfings on his head;
eſus, we worſhip at thy feet,
And nations own the promis’d ſeed.
HYMN CXXXVI. [L. M.]
Miracles at the birth of Chriſt.
THE King of glory ſends his Son
To make his entrance on this earth;
Behold, the midnight bright as noon,
And heav'nly hoſts declare his birth !
About the young Redeemer’s head .
What wonders and what glories meet!
An unknown ſtar aroſe, and led
The eaſtern ſages to his feet.
Simeon and Anna both conſpire
The Infant-Saviour to proclaim :
Inward they felt the ſacred fire,
And bleſs'd the Babe, and own’d his name.
Let Jews and Greeks blaſpheme aloud,
And treat the holy child with ſcorn ;
Our ſouls adore th” eternal God,
Who condeſcended to be born,
Book II.]
133
HYMNS.–CXXXVII,w-CXLII.
HYMN CXXXVII. [L. M.]
Miracles in the life, death, and reſurrečtion of
Chriſt.
1 B
EBOLD, the blind their fight receive
Behold, the dead awake, and live
The dumb ſpeak wonders; and the lame
Leap like the hart, and bleſs his name !
2 Thus doth th' eternal Spirit own
And ſeal the miſſion of the Son;
The Father vindicates his cauſe,
While he hangs bleeding on the croſs.
3 He dies; the heav’ns in mourning ſtood;
He riſes, and appears a God :
Behold the Lord aſcending high,
No more to bleed, no more to die!
4 Hence and for ever from my heart
I bid my doubts and fears depart;
And to thoſe hands my ſoul reſign,
Which bear credentials ſo divine.
HYMN CXXXVIII. [L. M.]
The ſlower of the goſpel.
} THIS is the word of truth and love,
Sent to the nations from above ;
Jehovah here reſolves to ſhew
What his almighty grace can do.
2 This remedy did wiſdom find,
To heal diſeaſes of the mind;
This ſov’reign balm, whoſe virtues can
Reſtore the ruin’d creature, man.
3 The goſpel bids the dead revive,
Sinners obey the voice, and Hive;
Dry bones are rais’d and cloth’d afreſh,
And hearts of ſtone are turn’d to fleſh.
... 4 [Where Satan reign'd in ſhades of night,
The goſpel ſtrikes a heav'nly Fight;
Our luſts its wondrous pow'r controls,
And calms the rage of angry ſouls.]
5 [Lions and beaſts of ſavage name
Put on the nature of the lamb .
While the wild world eſteems it ſtrange,
Gaze, and admire, and hate the change.]
6 May but this grace my ſoul renew,
Let ſinners gaze and hate me too;
The world that ſaves me doth engage
A ſure defence from all their rage.
, HYMN CXXXIX. [L. M.]
- The example of Chriſt.
| Y dear Redeemer, and my Lord!
I read my duty in thy word;
But in thy life the law appears,
Drawn out in living charaćters. :
2 Such was thy truth, and ſuch thy zeal, |
Such def’rence to thy Father’s will,
Such love, and meekneſs ſo divine,
I would tranſcribe, and make them mine.
3 Cold mountains, and the midright air,
Witneſs'd the fervour of thy pray’r;
The deſart thy temptations knew,
Thy conflićt, add thy vićt'ry too.
4 Be thou my pattern; make me bear
More of thy gracious image here;
• Then God, the Judge, ſhall own my name
ſ
| MY
6
HYMN CXL. [C. M.]
The examples of Chriſt and the ſaints.
1 GIVE me the wings of faith to riſe
Within the veil, and ſee
The ſaints above, how great their joys,
And bright their glories be.
2 Once they were mourning here below,
And wet their couch with tears :
They wreſt’led hard, as we do now,
With ſins, and doubts, and fears.
3 I aſk them whence their vićt'ry came *
They with united breath
Aſcribe their conqueſt to the Lamb,
Their triumph to his death.
4 They mark’d the footſteps that he trod,
(His zeal inſpir'd their breaſt :)
And, following their incarnate God,
Poſſeſs the promis'd reſt.
5 Our glorious Leader claims our praiſe,
For his own pattern giv'n,
While the long cloud of witneſſes
She w the ſame path to heav'n.
HYMN CXLI. [C. M.]
#Faith affed by ſenſe ; or, Preaching, baſtiſm,
and the Lord’s ſuftfter.
Saviour God, my ſov’reign princes
Reigns far above the ſkies.
But brings his graces down to ſenſe,
And helps my faith to riſe.
My eyes and ears ſhall bleſs his name,
• They read and bear his word:
My touch and taſte ſhall do the ſame,
When they receive the Lord.
Baptiſmal water is deſign’d
To ſeal his cleanſing grace,
While at his feaſt of bread and wine
He gives his ſaints a place.
But not the waters of a flood
Can make my fleſh ſo clean,
As by his Spirit and his blood
He'll waſh my ſoul from fin.
Not choiceſt meats, nor nobleſt wines,
So much may heart refreſh,
As when my faith goes thro’ the ſigns,
And feeds upon his fleſh.
I love the Lord that ſtoops ſo low,
To give his word a ſeal :
But the rich grace his hands beſtow,
Exceeds the figures ſtill.
4.
HYMN CXLII. [S. M.]
Faith in Chriſt our ſacrifice.
NOT all the blood of beaſts
On Jewiſh altars ſlain,
Could give the guilty coaſcience peace,
Or waſh away the ſtain.
But Chriſt, the heav'nly Lamb,
Takes all our ſins away 5
A ſacrifice of nobler name,
1
Amongſt the followers of the Lamb.
And rich cr blood than they,
134,
[Book Iſ.
HYMNS.–CXLIII. CXLIV. CXLV. CXLVI. CXLV'ſſ.
3 My faith would lay her hand
On that dear head of thine,
While like a penitent I ſtand,
And there confeſs my ſin.
My ſoul looks back to ſee
The burdens thou didſt bear,
When hanging on the curſed tree,
And hopes her guilt was there.
Belicving, we rejoice
To ſee the curſe remove ;
We bleſs the Lamb with chearſul voice,
And ſing his bleeding love.
4
5
HYMN CXLIII. [C. M.]
Fle/, and ſhirit.
1 WHAT diff'rent pow’rs of grace and
ſin
Attend our mortal ſtate 2
I hatc the thoughts that work within,
And do the works I hate.
2 Now I complain, and groan, and die,
While ſin and ſatan reign :
Now raiſe my ſongs of triumph high,
For grace prevails again.
3 So darkneſs ſtruggles with the light,
*Till perfeót day ariſe;
Water and fire maintain the fight,
Until the weaker dies.
4 Thus will the fleſh and ſpirit ſtrive,
And vex and break my peace:
But I ſhall quit this mortal life,
And ſin for ever ceaſe.
HYMN CXLIV. [L. M.]
The effuſion of the ſhirit; or, The ſucceſs of the
'ſhel
gaſ/lel.
1 CREAT was the day, the joy was great,
When the divine diſciples met;
Whilſt on their heads the ſpirit came,
And ſat like tongues of cloven flame.
2 What gifts, what miracles he gave
And pow'r to kill, and pow'r to ſave
Furniſh’d their tongues with wondrous
words,
Inſtead of ſhields, and ſpears, and fowords,
3 Thus arm'd he ſent the champions forth,
From Eaſt to Weſt, from South to North :
“Go, and aſſert your Saviour’s cauſe ;
“Go, ſpread the myſt’ry of his croſs.”
4 Theſe weapons of the holy war,
Of what almighty force they are,
To make our ſtubborn paſſions bow,
And lay the proudeſt rebel low!
5 Nations, the learned and the rude,
Are by theſe heav'nly arms ſubdu'd;
While ſatan rages at his loſs,
And hates the doćtrine of the croſs.
6 Great King of grace! my heart ſubdue ;
I would be led in triumph too,
A willing captive to my Lord,
And ſing the vićt’ries of his word.
HYMN CXLV. [C, M.]
Sight through a glaſs, and face to face.
! I Love the windows of thy grace
Thro' which my Lord is ſeen,
And long to meet my Saviour’s face .
Without a glaſs between.
2 O, that the happy hour were cosme,
To change my faith to ſight !
I ſhall behold my Lord at home
In a diviner light.
3 Haſtc, my Beloved, and remove
Theſe interpoſing days ;
Then ſhall my paſſions all be love,
And all my pow’s be praiſe.
HYMN CXLVI. [L. M.]
The vanity of creatures : or, No ºff on earth.
| MAN has a ſoul of vaſt deſires,
Hc burns within with reſtleſs fires;
Toft to and fro, his paſſions fly
From vanity to vanity,
2 In vain on earth we hope to find
Some ſolid good to fill the mind :
We try new pleaſures, but we feel
The inward thirſt and torments ſtill.
So when a raging fever burns,
He ſhifts from ſide to fide by turns;
And ’tis a poor relief we gain,
To change the place, but keep the pain.
Great God! ſubdue this vicious thirſt,
This love to vanity and duſt ;
Cure the vile ſever of the mind,
And feed our ſouls with joys refin'd.
HYMN CXLVII. [C. M.]
The creation of the world, Gen. i.
& 4 NOW let a ſpacious world ariſe,”
Said the Creator Lord :
At once th’ obedient carth and ſkies
Roſe at his ſov’reign word.
[Dark was the deep ; the waters lay
Confus'd, and drown'd the land:
He call'd the light; the new-born day
Attends on his command.
He bids the clouds aſcend on high;
The clouds aſcend, and bear
A wat'ry treaſure to the ſky,
And float on ſofter air.
The liquid element below
Was gather’d by his hand;
The rolling ſeas together flow,
And leave the ſolid land.
With herbs and plants (a flow'ry birth)
The naked globe be crown'd,
Ere there was rain to bleſs the earth,
Or ſun to warm the ground.
6 Then he adorn’d the upper ſkies;
Behold, the fun appears,
The moon and ſtars in order riſe,
To mark out months and years,
l
2
3
Book II.]
185
HYMNS.–CXLVIII. CXLIX. CL. CLI, CLII.
7 Out of the deep th’ almighty King
Did vital beings frame,
The painted fowls of ev'ry wing,
And fiſh of ev’ry name.]
& He gave the lion and the worm
At once their wond’rous birth,
And gazing beaſts of various form,
Roſe from the teeming earth.
9 Adam was fram'd of equal clay,
Tho' ſov’reign of the reſt;
Deſign"d for nobler ends than they,
With God’s own image bleſs'd.
10 Thus glorious in the Maker’s eye
The young creation ſtood;
He ſaw the building from on high,
His word pronounc'd it good.
11 Lord, while the frame of nature ſtands,
Thy praiſe ſhall fill my tongue:
But the new world of grace demands
A more exalted ſong.
HYMN CXLVIII. [C. M.]
God reconciled in Chriſt.
1 DEAREST of all the names above,
My Jeſus and my God, -
Who can reſiſt thy heavenly love,
Or trifle with thy blood
2 ”Tis by the merits of thy death
The Father ſmiles again;
'Tis by thine interceding breath
The Spirit dwells with men.
3 Till God in human fleſh I ſee,
My thoughts no comfort find :
The holy, juſt, and ſacred Three,
Are terrors to my mind.
4. But if Immanuel's face appear,
My hope, my joy begins:
His name forbids may ſlaviſh fear,
His grace removes my fins.
5 While Jews on their own law rely,
And Greeks of wiſdom boaſt
I love th’ incarnate myſtery,
And there I fix my truſt.
HYMN CXLIX. [c. M.]
Honour to magiſtrates: or, Governmentfrom God.
1 ETERNAL Sov’reign of the ſky,
And Lord of all below,
We mortals to thy majeſty
Our firſt obedience owe.
2 Our ſouls adore thy throne ſupreme,
And bleſs thy providence
For magistrates of meaner name,
Our glory and defence.
3 [The crowns of Britiſh princes ſhine
With rays above the reſt,
Where laws and liberties combine
To make the nation bleſs'd.]
4 Kingdoms on firm ſoundations ſtand,
While virtue finds reward;
And ſinners periſh from the land,
By juſtice and the ſword.
WOL, VII.
5 Let Caeſar's due be ever paid
To Caeſar and his throne;
But conſciences and ſouls were made
To be the Lord’s alone.
HYMN CL. [C. M.]
The deceitfulneſs of ſin,
1 SIN has a thouſand treach’rous arts
To practiſe on the mind;
With flatt’ring looks ſhe tempts our hearts,
But leaves a ſting behind.
2. With names of virtue ſhe deccives
The aged and the young ;
And while the heedleſs wretch believes,
She makes his fetters ſtrong.
3 She pleads for all the joys ſhe brings,
And gives a fair pretence :
But cheats the ſoul of heav'nly things,
And chains it down to ſenſe.
4 So on a tree divinely fair,
Grew the forbidden food;
Our mother took the poiſon therg,
And tainted all her blood.
HYMN CLI. [L. M. J
Profthecy and inſhiration.
1 “TWAS by an order from the Lord,
The ancient prophets ſpoke his word;
His Spirit did their tongues inſpire,
And warm'd their hearts with heav'nly
fire.
The works and wonders which they
wrought,
Confirm'd the meſſages they brought;
The prophet’s pen ſucceeds his breath,
To ſave the holy words from death.
2
| 3 Great God! mine eyes with pleaſure look
On the dear volume of thy book;
There my Redeemer's face I ſee,
And read his name, who dy’d for me.
Let the falſe raptures of the mind
Be loſt and vaniſh in the wind :
Here I can fix my hope ſecurc;
This is thy word, and muſt endure.
HYMN CLII. [L. M.]
Sinai and Sion, Heb. xii. ver. 18, &c.
OT to the terrors of the Lord,
The tempeſt, fire, and ſmoke,
Not to the thunder of that word
Which God on Sinai ſpoke;
4.
1
|2 But we are come to Sion's hill,
The city of our God,
Where milder words declare his will,
And ſpread his love abroad.
Behold th’ innumerable hoſt
Of angels cloth’d in light !
Behold the ſpirits of the juſt,
Whoſe faith is turn'd to fight!
3
|| 4 Behold the bleſs'd aſſembly there,
Whoſe names are writ in heav'n
And God the Judge of all, declares
Their vileſt ſins forgiv'n,
A A'
186
[Book II.
HYMNS.—CLIII. CLIV, CLV. CLVI. CLVII.
5 The ſaints on earth, and all the dead,
But one communion make;
All join in Chriſt their living head,
And of his grace partake.
6 In ſuch ſociety as this
My weary ſoul would reſt:
The man that dwells where Jeſus is,
Muſt be for ever bleſł. w
HYMN CLIII. [C. M.]
The diffemſler, foly, and madneſs ofſin.
I SIN, like a venomous diſeaſe,
infects our vital blood;
The only balm is ſov’reign grace,
And the phyſician, God.
2 Our beauty and our ſtrength are fled,
And we draw near to death ;
But Chriſt the Lord recalls the dead
With his almighty breath.
3 Madneſs, by nature, reigns within,
The paſſions burn and rage,
*Till God’s own Son with ſkill divine
The inward fire aſſuage.
4 [We lick the duſt, we graſp the wind,
And ſolid good deſpiſe :
Such is the folly of the mind,
*Till Jeſus makes us wife.
5 We give our ſouls the wounds they feel,
We drink the pois’ nous gall,
And ruſh with ſury down to hell;
But heav'n prevents the fall.]
The man poſſeſs'd, amongſt the tombs,
Cuts his own fleſh and cries:
He foams and raves till Jeſus comes,
And the ſoul ſpirit flies.]
HYMN CLIV. [L. M.]
Self-righteouſneſs inſufficient.
HERE are the mourners (faith the
Lord)
“That wait and tremble at my word 2
“That walk in darkneſs all the day 2
* Come, make my name your truſt and
ſtay.
[“No works nor duties of your own
“Can for the ſmalleſt ſin atone ;
“f The robes that nature may provide,
“Will not your leaſt pollutions hide.
3 “The ſofteſt couch that nature knows
“Can give the conſcience no repoſe:
“Look to my righteouſneſs and live ;
“Comfort and peace are mine to give.]
“Ye ſons of pride that kindle coals
“With your own hands to warm your
ſouls,
“Walk in the light of your own fire,
“Enjoy the ſparks that ye deſire.
“This is your portion at my hands,
“Hell waits you with her iron bands;
“Ye ſhall lie down in ſorrow there,
“In death, in darkneſs, and deſpair.”
* Iſa. l. 10, 11. 4 Iſa, xxviii. 20.
{ %
|
HYMN CLv. [C. M.]
Chriſt our ſlaſover.
I LO, the deſtroying angel flies
To Pharaoh’s ſtubborn land
The pride and flow'r of Egypt dies
By his vindićtive hand.
2 He paſs'd the tents of Jacob o'er,
Nor pour’d the wrath divine;
He ſaw the blood on ev'ry door,
And bleſs'd the peaceful ſign.
3 Thus the appointed Lamb muſt bleed,
To break th’ Egyptian yoke;
Thus Iſrael is from bondage ſreed,
And 'ſcapes the angel’s ſtroke.
4 Lord, if my heart were ſprinkled too
With blood ſo rich as thine,
Juſtice no longer would purſue
This guilty ſoul of mine.
5 Jeſus our paſſover was ſlain,
And has at once procur’d
Freedom from Satan’s heavy chain,
And God’s avenging ſword.
HYMN CLVI. [C. M.]
Preſumption and deſhair: or, Satan’s various
tem/itations.
! I
Hate the tempter and his charms,
I hate his flatt’ring breath;
The ſerpent takes a thouſand forms,
To cheat our ſouls to death.
2 He feeds our hopes with airy dreams,
Or kills with ſlaviſh fear;
And holds us ſtill in wide extremes,
Preſumption, or deſpair.
3 Now he perſuades, “how eaſy 'tis
“To walk the road to heav'n ;”
Anon he ſwells our ſins, and cries,
“They cannot be forgiv'n.”
4 [He bids young finners, “yet forbear
“To think of God, or death;
“For prayer and devotion are
“But melancholy breath.”
§ He tells the aged, “they muſt die,
“And 'tis too late to pray;
“In vain for mercy now they cry,
“For they have loſt their day.”]
6 Thus he ſupports his cruel throne
By miſchief and deceit,
And drags the ſons of Adam down
To darkneſs and the pit.
7 Almighty God, cut ſhort his pow'r,
Let him in darkneſs dwcll ;
And, that he vex the earth no more,
Confine him down to hell.
HYMN CLVII.
The ſame.
1 Now Satan comes with dreadſul roar,
And threatens to deſtroy ;
He worries whom he can’t devour
With a malicious joy.
2 Ye ſons of God, oppoſe his rage,
Reſiſt, and he’ll be gone;
[C. M.]
Book II.]
187
HYMNS.–CLVIII, CLIX. CLX. CLXI. CLXII.
Thus did our deareſt Lord engage
And vanquiſh him alone.
3 Now he appears almoſt divine,
Like innocence and love ;
But the old ſerpent lurks within,
When he aſſumes the dove.
4 Fly from the falſe deceiver’s tongue,
Ye ſons of Adam fly :
Our parents found the ſnare too ſtrong,
Nor ſhould the children try.
HYMN CLVIII. [L. M.].
Few ſaved : or, The almoſt chriſtian, the hyflo-
crite, and aftoffate.
| BROAD is the road that teads to death,
And thouſands walk together there;
But wiſdom ſhews a narrower path,
With here and there a traveller.
2 “Deny thyſelf, and take thy croſs,”
Is the Redeemer’s great command
Nature muſt count her gold but droſs,
If ſhe would gain this heav'nly land.
3 The fearſul ſoul that tries and faints,
And walks the ways of God no more,
Is but eſteem’d almoſt a ſaint,
And makes his own deſtruction ſure,
4 Lord, let not all my hopes be vain,
Create my heart entirely new ;
Which hypocrites could ne'er attain,
Which faiſe apoſtates never knew.
HYMN CLIX. [c. M J
An unconverted ſtate : or, Converting grace.
{ [GREAT King of glory and of grace
We own, with humble ſhame,
How vile is our degen'rate race,
And our firſt father's name.]
2 From Adam flows our tainted blood,
The poiſon reigns within,
Makes us averſe to all that’s good,
And willing ſlaves to ſin.
3 [Daily we break thy holy laws,
And then reject thy grace;
Engag’d in the old ſerpent’s cauſe,
Againſt our Maker's face.]
4. We live eſtrang’d afar from God,
And love the diſtance well;
With haſte we run the dang'rous road,
That leads to death and heli.
5 And can ſuch rebels be reſtor’d 1
Such natures made divine !
Let finners ſee thy glory, Lord,
And feel this pow'r of thine.
6 We raiſe our Father's name on high,
Who his own ſpirit ſends
To bring rebellious ſtrangers nigh,
And turn his foes to friends.
HYMN CLX. [L. M.]
Cuſtom in fin. ,
| IET the wild leopards of the wood
Put off the ſpots that thature gives,
Then may the wicked turn to God,
And change their tempers and their lives.
- |
Q
1
2
3
4.
5
l
3
5
As well might Ethiopian ſlaves
Waſh out the darkneſs of their ſkin;
The dead as well may leave their graves,
As old tranſgreſſors ceaſe to ſin.
Where vice has held its empire long,
*Twill not endure the leaſt control ;
None but a pow'r divinely ſtrong
Can turn the current of the ſoul.
Great God! I own thy pow'r divine,
That works to change this heart of mine;
I would be form'd anew, and bleſs
The wonders of creating grace,
HYMN CLXI. [C. M.]
Chriſtian virtues: or, The difficulty of con-
v. ºfton.
STRAIT is the way, the door is ſtrait,
That leads to joys on high ;
'Tis but a few that find the gate,
While crowds miſtake and die.
Beloved ſelf muſt be deny’d,
The mind and will renew’d,
Paſſion ſuppreſs'd, and patience try’d,
And vain deſires ſubdu’d.
[Fleſh is a dangerous foe to grace,
Where it prevails and rules;
Fleſh muſt be humbſ'd, pridc abas'd,
Leſt they deſtroy our ſouls.
The love of gold be baniſh’d hence,
(That vile idolatry)
And ev’ry member, ev’ry ſcnſe
In ſweet ſubjećtion lie.]
The tongue, that moſt unruly pow'r,
Requires a ſtrong reſtraint:
We muſt be watchful ev'ry hour,
And pray, but never faint,
Lord Can a feeble helpleſs worm
Fulfil a taſk ſo hard 2
Thy grace muſt all my work perform,
And give the free reward.
HYMN CLXII. [c. M.]
Meditation of heaven ; or, The joy ºf faith.
MY thoughts ſurmount theſe lower ſkies,
And look within the vei! ;
There ſprings of endleſs pleaſure riſe,
The waters never fail.
There I behold, with ſweet delight,
The bleſſed Three in One :
And ſtrong affections fix my fight
On God’s incarnate Son.
His promiſe ſtands for ever firm,
His grace ſhall pe’cr depart;
He binds my name upon his arm,
And ſeals it on his heart.
Light are the pains that nature brings 3
How ſhort our ſorrows are,
When with eternal, future things,
The preſent we compare
I would not be a ſtranger ſtill
To that celeſtial place,
Where I for ever hope to dwell
Near my Redeemer's face,
. A A 2
188
[Book II.
HYMNS.–CLXIII. CLXIV. CLXV. CLXVI. CLXVII.
HYMN CLXIII. [C. M.]
Com/llaints of deſertion and temptations.
I DEAR Lord 1 behold our fore diſtreſs .
Our ſins attempt to reign;
Stretch out thine arm of conqu’ring grace,
And let thy foes be ſlain.
2 [The lion with his dreadful roar
Affrights thy feeble ſheep :
Reveal the glory of thy pow'r,
And chain him to the deep.
3 Muſt we indulge a long deſpair
Shall our petitions die
Our mournings never reach thine ear,
Nor tears affect thine eye 2 J
4 If thou deſpiſe a mortal groan,
Yet hear a Saviour’s blood ;
An advocate ſo near the throne
Pleads and prevails with God.
5 He brought the Spirit's pow’rſul ſword,
To ſlay our deadly foes :
Our ſins ſhall die beneath thy word,
And hell in vain oppoſe.
6 How boundlefs is our Father's grace,
In height, and depth, and length !
He made his Son our righteouſneſs,
His Spirit is our ſtrength.
HYMN CLXIV. [C. M.]
The end of the world.
1 WHY ſhould this earth delight us ſo
Why ſhould we fix our eyes
On theſe low grounds where ſorrows grow,
And ev’ry pleaſure dies
2. While time his ſharpeſt teeth prepares
Our comforts to devour,
There is a land above the ſtars,
And joys above his pow’r.
3 Nature ſhall be diſſolv’d and die,
The ſun muſt end his race,
The earth and ſea for ever fly
Before my Saviour's face.
4. When will that glorious morning riſe 2.
When the laſt trumpet ſound,
And call the nations to the ſkies,
From underneath the ground 2
HYMN CLXV. [C. M.]
Unfruitfulneſs, ignorance, and unſančifted
affections. .
ONG have I ſat bencath the ſound
Of thy ſalvation, Lord ;
But ſtill how weak my faith is ſound,
And knowledge of thy word
2 Oſt I frequent thy holy place,
And hear almoſt in vain :
How ſmall a portion of thy grace
My memºry can retain
3 [My dear Almighty, and my God,
How little art thou known
By all the judgments of thy rod,
And blefiings of thy throne !]
4 [How cold and feeble is my lovel
How negligent my fear !
1
How low my hope of joys above I
How few affections there !]
5 Great God! thy ſov’reign pow'r impart,
To give thy word ſucceſs;
Write thy ſalvation in my heart,
And make me learn thy grace.
[Shew my forgetful feet the way
That leads to joys on high ;
There knowledge grows without decay
And love ſhall never die.]
HYMN clxvi. [c, M.]
The divine Aerfeófions.
1
HOW ſhall I praiſe th' eternal God,
That Infinite unknown 3
Who can aſcend his high abode,
Or venture near his throne *
[The Great Inviſible! He dwells
Conceal’d in dazzling light;
But his all-ſearching eye reveals
The ſecrets of the night.
Thoſe watchful eyes, that never ſleep
Survey the world around;
His wiſdom is a boundleſs deep,
Where all our thoughts are drown'd.]
[Speak we of ſirength 2 His arm is ſtrong,
To ſave or to deſtroy;
Infinite years his life prolong,
And endleſs is his joy.]
He knows no ſhadow of a change,
Nor alters his decrees;
l
k
h 5
§
i
Firm as a rock his truth remains,
To guard his promiſes.]
[Sinners before his preſence die :
How holy is his name !
His anger and his jealouſy
Burn like devouring flame.]
Juſtice upon a dreadful throne
Maintains the rights of God,
While mercy ſends her pardons down,
Bought with a Saviour’s blood,
Now to my ſoul, immortal King,
Speak ſome ſorgiving word;
Then 'twill be double joy to ſing
The glories of my Lord.
7
8
HYMN CLXVII. [L. M.]
The ſame.
REAT God! thy glories ſhall cmploy
My holy fear, my humble joy;
My lips, in ſongs of honour, bring
Their tribute to th’ etc.rnal King.
[Earth and the ſtars, and worlds unknown,
Depend precarious on his throne;
All nature hangs upon his word,
And grace and glory own their Lord.]
ſº. ſov’reign pow'r what mortal knows?
f he command, who dares eppoſe
With ſtrength he girds himſelf around,
And treads the rebels to the ground.]
4 [Who fall pretend to teach him ſkill,
Or guide the councils of his will 2
l
2
3.
Book II.]
189
HYMNS.–CLXVIII. CLXIX. CLXX.
His wiſdom, like a ſea divine,
Flows deep and high beyond our line.]
5 [His name is holy, and his eye
Burns with immortal jealouſy;
He hates the ſons of pride and ſheds
His fiery vengeance on their heads.]
6 [The beamings of his piercing ſight
Bring dark hypocriſy to light ;
Death and deſtruction naked lie,
And hell uncover'd to his eye.]
7 [Th’ eternal law before him ſtands;
His juſtice with impartial hands,
Divides to all their due reward,
Or by the ſceptre or the ſword.]
8 [His mercy like a boundleſs ſea,
Waſhes our load of guilt away;
While his own Son came down and dy’d,
Tº engage his juſtice on our ſide.]
9 [Each of his words demands my faith,
y ſoul can reſt on all he ſaith;
His truth inviolably keeps
The largeſt promiſe of his lips.]
10 O, tell me, with a gentle voice,
“Thou art my God,” and I’ll rejoice l.
Fill'd with thy love, I dare proclaim
The brighteſt honours of thy name.
HYMN CLXVIII.
The ſame,
1. JEºyº reigns, his throne is high,
His robes are light and majeſty;
His glory ſhines with beams ſc bright,
No mortal can ſuſtain the ſight.
2 His terrors keep the world in awe,
His juſtice guards his holy law,
His love reveals a ſmiling face,
His truth and promiſe ſeal the grace.
3 Thro' all his works his wiſdom ſhines,
And baffles ſatan’s deep deſigns;
THis pow'r is ſov’reign to fulfil
The nobleſt counſels of his will.
4 And will the glorious Lord deſcend
To be my father, and my friend ?
Then let my ſongs with angels join ;
Heav'n is ſecure, if God be mine.
[L. M.]
HYMN CLXIX.
The ſame as the cylviiith Pſalm.
1 THE Lord Jehovah reigns, -
His throne is built on high :
The garments he aſſumes
Are light and majeſty;
His glories ſhine
With beams ſo bright,
No mortal eye
Can bear the ſight.
2 The thunders of his hand
JKeep the wide world in awe;
4.
2
*-
6
8
His wrath and juſtice ſtand
To guard his holy law;
And where his love
Reſolves to bleſs,
His truth confirms
And ſeals the grace.
Thro' all his ancient works
Surpriſing wiſdom ſhines,
Confounds the pow'r of hell,
And breaks their curs'd deſigns :
Strong is his arm,
And ſhall fulfil
His grcat decrees,
His ſov’reign will.
And can this mighty King
Of glory condeſcend ?
And will he write his name,
“My father and my friend ?”
I love his name,
I love his word :
Join all my pow'rs,
And praiſe the Lord.
HYMV CLXX. [L. M.]
God incomprehenſible and ſovereign.
*[CAN creatures, to perfeółion, find
Th’ eternal uncreated mind 2
Or can the largeſt ſtretch of thought
Meaſure and ſearch his nature out *
'Tis high as heav'n, 'tis deep as hell;
And what can mortals know, or tell ?
His glory ſpreads beyond the ſky,
And all the ſhining worlds on high.
But man, vain man, would fain be wiſe,
Born, like a wild young colt he flies
Thro' all the follies of his mind,
And ſwells and ſnuffs the empty wind.]
God is a king of pow'r unknown,
Firm are the orders of his throne :
If he reſolve, who dare oppoſe,
Or aſk him why, or what he does 2
5 He wounds the heart, and he makcs whole;
He calms the tempeſt of the ſoul:
When he ſhuts up in long deſpair,
Who can remove the heavy bar
+He frowns, and darkneſs veils the moon,
The fainting ſun grows dim at noon :
iThe pillars of heav'n's ſtarry roof
Tremble and ſtart at his reproof.
He gave the vaulted heav’n its form,
The crooked ſerpent and the worm ;
He breaks the billows with his breath,
And ſmites the ſons of pride to dcath.
Theſe are a portion of his ways ;
But who ſhall dare deſcribe his face?
Who can endure his light or ſtand
To hear the thunders of his hand *
* Job xi, 7, &c.
+ Job xxv. 5. Job xxvi. 11, &c.
ISO
IBook III.
HYMNS.—I, II, III. IV.
\ BOOK III.
Prepared for the Holy Ordinance of the Lord's Supper.
HYMN I. [L. M.]
The Lord's ſupper inſtituted, I Cor. xi. 23.
&c.
f "TWAS on that dark, that doleſul night,
When pow'rs of earth and hell aroſe
Againſt the Son of God's delight,
And friends betray’d him to his foes :
2. Before the mournful ſcene began,
He took the bread, and bleſs'd and brake:
What love thro' all his actions ran
What wondrous words of grace he ſpake
3 “This is my body, broke for ſin,
“Receive and eat the living food:”
Then took the cup and bleſs'd the wine;
“'Tis the new cov’nant in my blood.”
4 [For us his fleſh with nails was torn,
He bore the ſcourge, he felt the thorn;
And juſtice pour’d upon his head
lts heavy vengeance, in our ſtead.
For us his vital blood was ſpilt,
To buy the pardon of our guilt;
When, for black crimes of biggeſt ſize,
He gave his ſoul a ſacrifice.]
“Do this, he cry’d, 'till time ſhall end,
“In mem’ry of your dying friend ;
“Meet at my table, and record
“The love of your departed Lord.”
[Jeſus, thy feaſt we celebrate,
We ſhew thy death, we fing thy name,
*Till thou return, and we ſhall eat
The marriage-fupper of the Lamb.]
HYMN II. [S. M.]
Communion with Chriſt, and with ſaints,
1 Cor. x, 16, 17.
I Jesús invites his ſaints
To meet around his board;
Here pardon'd rebels ſit and hold
Communion with their Lord.
For food he gives his fleſh ;
He bids us drink his blood :
Amazing favour ! matchleſs grace
Of our deſcending God!
This holy bread and wine
Maintains our fainting breath,
By union with our Living Lord,
And int’reſt in his death. * f
4 Our heav'nly father calls
Chriſt and his members one ;
We the young children of his love,
And he the firſt-born Son.
O
Aº
3
5 We are but ſev'ral parts
Of the ſame broken bread :
One body hath its ſeveral limbs,
But Jeſus is the head.
6 Let all our pow'rs be join’d
His glorious name to raiſe ;
Pleaſure and love fill ev'ry mind,
And ev’ry voice be praiſe.
y
HYMN III, [C. M.]
The New Teſtament in the blood of Chriſt : Oºs
The new covenant ſealed.
1 “THE promiſe of my Father's love
Shall ſtand for ever good :”
He ſaid, and gave his ſoul to death,
And ſeal’d the grace with blood.
2 To this dear cov’nant of thy word
I ſet my worthleſs name :
I ſealth’ engagement to my Lord,
And make my humble claim.
3 The light, and ſtrength, and pard’ning
And glory ſhall be mine ; [grace,
My life and ſoul, my heart and fleſh,
And all my pow’rs are thine.
4 I call that legacy my own
Which Jeſus did bequeath;
'Twas purchas'd with a dying groan,
And ratiſy’d in death.
5 Sweet is the mem’ry of his name,
Who bleſs'd us in his will,
And to his teſtament of love
Made his own life the ſeal.
HYMN IV. [C. M.]
Chriſt’s dying life : or, our ſtardon bought at a
dear Arice.
1 HOW condeſcending, and how kind,
Was God’s eternal Son | x *
Our mis’ry reach'd his heav'nly mind,
And pity brought him down. *
2 [When juſtice, by our fins provok'd,
Drew forth its dreadful ſword,
He gave his ſoul up to the ſtroke,
Without a murm’ring word.]
3 He ſunk beneath our heavy woes,
To raiſe us to his throne:
There’s ne'er a gift his hand beſtows,
But coſt his heart a groan.]
4 This was compaſſion like a God,
That when the Saviour knew
The price of pardon was his blood,
His pity ne'er withdrew.
Book III.]
191
HYMNS.-W. VI. VII. VIII.
5 Now tho’ he reigns exalted high,
His love is ſtill as great ;
Well he remembers Calvary,
Nor lets his ſaints forget.
6 [Here we behold his bowels roll
As kind as when he dy’d,
And ſee the ſorrows of his ſoul
Bleed thro’ his wounded ſide.]
7 [Here we receive repeated ſeals
of Jeſus' dying love :
Hard is the wretch that never feels
One ſoft affection move.]
3 Here let our hearts begin to melt,
While we his death record,
And, with our joy for pardon'd guilt,
Mourn that we pierc’d the Lord.
HYMN V. [C. M.]
Chriſt the bread of life, John vi. 31, 35, 39.
1 LET us adore th” eternal word,
'Tis he our ſouls has fed :
Thou art our living ſtream, O Lord,
And thou th’ immortal bread.
2 [The manna came from lower ſkies,
But Jeſus from above,
Where the ſreſh ſprings of pleaſure riſe,
And rivers flow with love.
3 The Jews, the fathers, dy'd at laſt,
Who ate that heav'nly bread ;
But thoſe proviſions which we taſte
Can raiſe us from the dead.]
4 Bleſs'd be the Lord that gives his fleſh
To nouriſh dying men ;
And oſten ſpreads his table freſh,
Left we ſhould faint again.
5 Our ſouls ſhall draw their heav'nly breath
Whilſt Jeſus finds ſupplies : *
Nor ſhall our graces ſink to death,
For Jeſus never dies. g
6 Daily our mortal fleſh decays,
But Chriſt our life ſhall come ;
His unrefitted pow'r ſhall raiſe
Our bodies from the tomb.
HYMN VI. [L. M.]
The memorial of our abſent Lord,
John xvi. 16, Luke xxii. 19. John xiv. 3.
l Jºš is gone above the ſkies,
Where our weak ſenſes reach him not:
And carnal obječts court our eyes,
To thruſt our Saviour from our thought,
2 He knows what wand'ring hearts we have,
Apt to forget his lovely face :
And, to relroſh our minds, he gave
Theſe kind memorials of his grace.
3 The Lord of life this table ſpread
With his own fleſh and dying blood;
We on the rich proviſion feed,
And taſte the wine, and bleſs the God.
|
4 Let ſinful ſweets be all forgot,
And earth grow leſs in our eſteem;
Chriſt and his love fill ev’ry thought,
And faith and hope be fix’d on him.
While he is abſent from our fight,
'Tis to prepare our ſouls a place,
That we may dwell in heav'nly light,
And live for ever near his face.
[Our eyes look upwards to the hills
Whence our returning Lord ſhall come;
We wait thy chariot’s awful wheels,
To fetch our longing ſpirits home.]
HYMN vil. [L. M.J.
Crucifixion to the world, by the croſs of Chriſt,
Gal. vi. 14.
1 WHEN I ſurvey the wondrous croſs
On which the Prince of glory dy’d,
My richeſt gain I count but loſs,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I ſhould boaſt,
Save in the death of Chriſt my God:
All the vain things that charm me moſt,
I ſacrifice them to his blood.
See from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down I
Did e'er ſuch love and ſorrow meet?
Or thorns compoſe fo rich a crown 2
His dying crimſon, like a robe,
Spreads o'er his body on the tree;
Then am I dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.]
Were the whole realm of nature mine, .
That were a preſent far too ſmall:
Love ſo amazing, ſo divine,
Demands my ſoul, my life, my all4
3
4.
HYMN VIII. [C. M.]
The tree of life.
[COME, let us join a joyful tune
To our exalted Lord,
Ye ſaints on high around his throne,
And we around his board.
While once upon this lower ground
Weary and faint ye ſtood,
What dear refreſhments here ye ſound
From this immortal foodſ
The Tree of Life, that near the throne
In heav’n’s high garden grows,
Laden with grace, bends gently down
Its ever-ſmiling boughs.
[Hovºring amongſt the leaves, there ſtands
The ſweet celeſtial Dove,
And Jeſus on the branches hangs
The banner of his love.]
['Tis a young heav'n of ſtrange delight
While in his ſhade we fit 5
His fruit is pleaſing to the fight,
And to the taſte as ſweet. -
New life it ſpreads thro' dying hearts,
And chears the drooping mind;
Vigour and joy the juice imparts,
Without a ſting behind.]
1
3
5
6
192.
[Book III.
HYMNS.–IX. X. XI. XII.
7 Now let the flaming weapon ſtand,
And guard all Eden’s trees:
There’s ne'er a plant in all that land
That bears ſuch fruit as theſe.
& Infinite grace our ſouls adore,
Whoſe wondrous hand has made
This living branch of ſov’reign pow'r
To raiſe and heal the dead.
HYMN IX. [S. M.]
The ſhirit, the water, and the blood,
1 John, 5-6.
| ET all our tongues be one,
To praiſe our God on high,
Who from his boſom ſent his Son,
To fetch us ſtrangers nigh.
2 Nor let our voices ceaſe
To fing the Saviour’s name;
Jeſus, th’Ambaſſador of peace,
How chearfully he came !
3. It coſt him cries and tears
To bring us near to God;
Great was our debt, and he appears
To make the payment good.]
4 [My Saviour's pierced ſide
Pour’d out a double flood;
By water we are purify’d,
And pardon'd by the blood.
5 Infinite was our guilt,
But he, our Prieſt, atones;
On the cold ground is life was ſpilt,
And offer'd with his groans.]
6 Löök up, my ſoul, to him
Whoſe death was thy deſert,
And humbly view the living ſtream
Flow from his breaking heart.
7 There, on the curſed tree,
In dying pangs he lies,
Fulfils his Father's great decree,
And all our wants ſupplies.
& Thus the Redeemer came,
By water and by blood :
And when the Spirit ſpeaks the ſame,
We feel his witneſs good.
9 While the eternal Three
Bear their record above,
Here I believe he dy’d for me,
And ſeal’d my Saviour's love.
10 [Lord, cleanſe my ſoul from ſin,
Nor let thy grace depart;
Great Comforter; abide within,
And witneſs to my heart...]
HYMN X. [L. M.]
Chriſt crucified: The wiſdom and hower of God.
1 ATURE with open volume ſtands,
To ſpread her Maker’s praiſe
abroad;
And ev'ry labour of his hands
Shews ſomething worthy of a God :
But in the grace that reſcu'd man,
His brighteſt form of glory ſhines;
6
5
6
1
2
3
4
l
2
Here, on the croſs, 'tis faireſt drawn
In precious blood, and crimſon lines.
[Here his whole name appears complete ;
Nor wit can gueſs, nor reaſon prove,
Which of the letters beſt is writ,
The pow'r, the wiſdom, or the love.]
Here I behold his in moſt heart,
Where grace and vengeance trangely
Joln, t
Piercing his Son with ſharpeſt ſmart,
To make the purchas’d pleaſures mine.
O ! the ſweet wonders of that croſs,
Where God the Saviour lov'd, and dy’d
Her nobleſt life my Spirit draws
From his dear wounds, and bleeding ſide.
I would for ever ſpeak his name
In ſounds to mortal ears unknown
With angels join to praiſe the Lamb,
And worſhip at his Father's throne.
HYMN XI. [C. M.]
Pardon brought to our ſenſes,
LORD, how divine thy comforts are
How heav'nly is the place,
Where Jeſus ſpreads the ſacred feaſt
Of his redeeming grace
There the rich bounties of our God,
And ſweeteſt glories ſhine;
There Jeſus ſays, “ That I am his,
“And my Beloved’s mine.”
Here, (ſays the kind redeeming Lord,
And ſhews his wounded fide)
“See here the ſpring of all your joys,
“That open'd when I dy’d l’’
[He ſmiles, and chears my mournful
heart,
And tells of all his pain :
“ All this, ſays he, I bore for thee,”
And then he ſmiles again.]
What ſhall we pay our heav'nly King
For grace ſo vaſt as this
He brings our pardon to our eyes,
And ſeals it with a kiſs.
[Let ſuch amazing loves as theſe
Be ſounded all abroad;
Such favours are beyond degrees,
And worthy of a God.]
[To him that waſh’d us in his blood
Be everlaſting praiſe,
Salvation, honour, glory, pow'r,
Eternal as his days.]
z
HYMN XII. [L. M.]
The Goſhel-Feoff, Luke xiv. 16, &c.
[HOW rich are thy proviſions, Lord l
Thy table furniſh’d from above 1
The fruits of life o’erſpread the board,
The cup o'erflows with heav'nly love.
Thine ancient family, the Jews,
Were firſt invited to the feaſt :
We humbly take what they refuſe,
And Gentiles thy ſalvation taſte.
Book III.]
193
HYMNS.–XIII. XIV. XV. XVI.
3 We are the poor, the blind, the lame,
And help was far, and death was nigh!
But at the goſpel-call we came,
And ev’ry want receiv'd ſupply.
4 From the highway that leads to hell,
From paths of darkneſs and deſpair,
Lord, we are come with thee to dwell,
Glad to enjoy thy preſence here.]
5 [What ſhall we pay th’ eternal Son,
That left the heav'n of his abode,
And to this wretched earth came down,
To bring us wand’rers back to God |
6 It coſt him death, to ſave our lives;
To buy our ſouls, it coſt his own;
And all the unknown joys he gives,
Were bought with agonies unknown.
7 Our everlaſting love is due
To him that ranſom'd ſinners loſt ;
And pity’d rebels, when he knew
The vaſt expence his love would coſt.]
HYMN XIII. [C. M.]
C
Divine Love making a feaft, and calling in th
gueſs, Luke xiv. 17, 22, 23.
1 HOW ſweet and awful is the place,
With Chriſt within the doors,
While everlatting love diſplays
The choiceſt of her ſtores |
2 Here ev’ry bowel of our God
With ſoft compaſſion rolls;
Here peace and pardon bought with blood,
Is food for dying ſouls.
3 [While all our hearts and all our ſongs
Joim to admire the feaſt,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
“ Lord, why was I a gueſt ?
4 * Why was I made to hearthy voice,
** And enter while there’s room ;
“ When thouſands make a wretched
choice, -
“And rather ſtarve than come *]
5 °Twas the ſame love that ſpread the feaſt,
That ſweetly forc’d us in ;
Elſe we had ſtill refus’d to taſte,
And periſh’d in our ſin.
6 [Pity the nations, O our God,
Conſtrain the earth to come;
Send thy-vićtorious word abroad,
And bring the ſtrangers home.
7 We long to ſee thy churches full,
That all the choſen race,
May with one voice, and heart, and ſoul,
Sing thy redeeming grace.]
HYMN XIV. [L. M.]
The Song of Simeon, Luke ii. 28. Or, A ſight
of Chrift makes death eaſy.
i Now have our hearts embrac'd our
God
We would ſorget all earthly charms,
And wiſh to die, as Simeon would
With his young Saviour in his arms,
2 Our lips ſhould learn that joyful ſong, .
Were but our hearts prepar’d like his ;
“Our ſouls ſtill willing to be gone,
“And, at thy word, depart in peace.
“Here we have ſeen thy face, O Lord,
“And view’d ſalvation with our eyes,
“Taſted and felt the living word,
“ The bread deſcending from the ſkies.
Thou haſt prepar’d this dying Lamb,
Haſt ſet his blood before our face,
To teach the terrors of thy name,
And ſhew the wonders of thy grace.
He is our light, our morning ſtar
Shall ſhine on nations yet unknown;
The glory of thine Iſrael here,
And joy of ſpirits near the throne.”
3
{{
{{
& &
& &
& 4
& 4
& 4
HYMN XV. [C. M.]
Our Lord Jeſus at his own table.
[THE memºry of our dying Lord
Awakes a thankſul tongue :
How rich he ſpreads his royal board,
And bleſs'd the food and ſung :
Happy the sºmen that eat this bread;
But doubly bleſs'd was he
That gently bow’d his loving head,
And lean’d it, Lord, on thce.
By faith, the ſame delights we taſte
As that great favºrite did,
And ſit and lean on Jeſus’ breaſt,
Atad take the heav'nly bread.]
Down from the palace of the ſkies,
Hither the King deſcends ;
“Come, my beloved, eat (he cries)
“And drink ſalvation, friends.
[“My fleſh is food and phyſic too,
“A balm for all your pains:
“And the red ſtreams of pardon flow
“From theſe my pierc’d veins.”]
Hoſanna to his bounteous love
For ſuch a feaſt below !
And yet he feeds his ſaints above
With nobler bloſſings too.
[Come, the dear day, the glorious hour,
That brings our ſouls to reſt
Then we ſhall need theſe types no more,
But dwell at th’ heav'nly feaſt.]
1
6
HYMN XVI. [C. M.]
The agonies of Chriſt.
OW let our pains be all forgot,
Our hearts no more repine ;
Our ſuff'rings are not worth a thought,
When, Lord, compar’d with thine.
In lively figures here we ſee
The bleeding Prince of Love ;
Each of us hopes he dy’d for me,
And then our griefs remove.
[Our humble faith here takes her riſe,
While ſitting round his board;
And back to Calvary ſhe flies,
2
3
VOL. VII,
To view her groaning Lord.
B B
194
[Book III.
HYMNS.–XVII. xviii. xix. xx.
4 His ſoul what agonies it felt,
Whcrl his own God withdrew 1
And the large load of all our guilt
Lay heavy on him too !
5 But the divinity within
Supported him to bear :
Dying, he conquer’d hell and fin,
And made his triumph there.]
6 Grace, wiſdom, juſtice, join’d and wrought
The wonders of that day:
No mortal tongue nor mortal thought,
Can equal thanks repay.
7 Our hymns ſhould ſound like thoſe above,
Could we our voices raiſe ;
Yet Lord, our hearts ſhall all be love,
And all our lives be praiſe.
HYMN XVII. [S. M.]
Incom/arable food; or, the fe/ and blood of
C
hriſt.
1 [WE ſing th’ amazing deeds
That grace divine performs ;
Th’ eternal God comes down and bleeds
To nouriſh dying worms.
This ſoul-reviving wine,
Dear Saviour, 'tis thy blood ;
We thank that ſacred fleſh of thine
For this immortal food.]
The banquet that we eat,
Is made of heav'nly things l
Earth has no dainties half ſo ſweet
. As our Redeemer brings.
4 In vain had Adam ſought,
And ſearch’d his garden round ;
For there was no ſuch bleſſed fruit
In all the happy ground.
5 Th” angelic hoſt above
Can never taſte this food;
They feaſt upon their Maker’s love,
But not a Saviour’s blood.
On us th’ Almighty Lord
Beſtows this matchleſs grace,
And meets us with ſome cheering word,
With pleaſure in his face.
Come, all ye drooping ſaints,
And banquet with the King ;
This wine will drown your ſad complaints
And tune your voice to ſing.
Salvation to the name
Of our adored Chriſt :
Thro' the wide earth his grace proclaim,
His glory in the high’ it.
2
3
6
17
8
HYMN XVIII.
The ſame.
| JE; ! we bow before thy fect :
Thy table is divinely ſtor’d ;
Thy ſacred fleſh our ſouls have eat.
'Tis living bread, we thank thee, Lord
2 And here we drink our Saviour’s blood;
We thank thce, Lord,’tis gen’rous wine,
Mingled with love ; the ſountain flow’d
From that dear bleeding heart of thine. |
[L, M.]
r
|| 3 On earth is no ſuch ſweetneſs found,
For the Lamb's fleſh is heav'nly food :
In vain we ſearch the globe around,
For bread ſo fine, or wine ſo good.
4 Carnal proviſions can at beſt
But cheer the heart, or warm the head:
|But the rich cordial that we taſte
Gives life eternal to the dead;
5 Joy to the maſter of the feaſt;
His name our ſouls for ever bleſs;
To God the King, and God thc Prieſt,
A loud hoſanna round the place.
HYHN XIX. [L. M.]
Glory in the croft : or, not aſ amed of Chriſt
•rucified.
1 AT thy command, our deareſt Lord,
Here we attend thy dying feaſt ;
Thy blood like wine adorns thy board,
And thine own fleſh feeds ev'ry gueſtrº
2 Our faith adores thy bleeding love,
And truſts for life in one that dy’d ;
We hope for heav'nly crowns above,
From a Redeemer cruciſy’d.
3 Let the vain world pronounce it ſhame,
And fling their ſcandals on the cauſe:
We come to boaſt our Saviour’s name,
And make our triumphs in his croſs.
4 With joy we tell the ſcoffing age,
He that was dead has left his tomb,
Hc lives above their utmoſt rage,
And we are waiting till he come.
HYMN XX. [C. M.]
The ſhroviſion for the table of our Lord ; or,
the tree of life, and river of love.
1 I ORD, we adore thy bounteous hand,
And ſing the ſolemn feaſt,
Where ſweet celeſtial dainties ſtand
For ev’ry willing gueſt.
2 [The tree of life adorns the board
With rich immortal fruit,
And ne'er and angry flaming ſword
To guard the paſſage to 't.
3 The cup ſtands crown'd with living juice;
The fountain flows above
And runs down ſtreaming for our uſe,
In rivulets of love.]
4 The food's prepar’d by heav'nly art,
The pleaſures well refin’d ;
They ſpread new life thro’ ev'ry heart,
And cheer the drooping mind.
5 Shout and proclaim the Saviour's love,
Ye ſaints that taſte his wine :
Join with your kindred ſaints above,
In loud hoſannas join.
6 A thouſand glories to the God`
That gives ſuch joys as this;
Hoſanna ) let it ſound abroad,
And reach where Jeſus is.
Book III.]
195
HYMNS.–XXI. XXII, XXIII, XXIV. XXV.
HYMN XXI. [C. M.]
The triumphal feaft for Chriſt's vićiory over
ſin, and death, and he/l.
} [COME, let us lift our voices high,
High as our joys ariſe,
And join the ſongs above the ſky,
Where pleaſure never dies.
2 Jeſus, the God that fought and bled,
And conquer’d when he fell;
That roſe, and at his chariot wheels
Dragg’d all the pow’rs of hell.]
3 [Jeſus, the God, invites us here
To this triumphal feaſt,
And brings immortal bleſſings down
For each redeemed gueſt.]
4 The Lord! how glorious is his face |
How kind his ſmiles appear !
And O ! what melting words he ſays
To ev'ry humble ear !
5 “For you, the children of my love,
“It was for you I dy’d ;
“Behold my hands, behold my feet,
“And look into my ſide.
6 * Theſe are the wounds for you I bore,
“The tokens of my pains,
“When I came down to free your ſouls
“From miſery and chains.
7 [“Juſtice unſheath’d its fiºry ſword
“And plung’d it in my heart;
* Infinite pangs for you I bore,
“And moſt tormenting ſmart.
8 * When hell and all its ſpiteful pow'rs
“Stood dreadful in my way.
** To reſcue thoſe dear lives of yours,
“I gave my own away.
9 “But while I bled, and groan'd, and dy’d,
“I ruin’d Satan’s throne; t
“High on my croſs I hung and ſpy’d (
“The monſter tumbling down.
10 “Now you muſt triumph at my feaſt,
“And taſte my fleſh and blood ;
“And live eternal ages bleſs'd,
* For ’tis immortal food.”
11 Vićtorious God! what can we pay
For favours ſo divine *
We would devote our hearts away
To be for ever thine.] ;
12 We give thee, Lord, our higheſt praiſe,
The tribute of our tongues;
But themes ſo infinite as theſe
. Exceed our nobleſt ſongs.
HYMN XXII. [L. M.]
The compaſsion of a dying Chriſt.
f OUR ſpirits join’d tº adore the Lamb :
O that our feeble lips could move
In ſtrains immortal as his name,
And melting as his dying lovel
2 Was ever equal pity found
The Prince of heav'n reſigns his breath,
And pours his life out on the ground,
|| H
To fanſom guilty worms from death, |
3 [Rebels, we broke our Maker’s laws ;
He from the threat’nings ſet us free,
Bore the full veng’ance on the croſs,
And nail'd the curſes to the tree.]
[The law proclaims no terror now,
And Sinai’s thunder roars no more;
From all his wounds new bleſſings flow,
A ſea of joy without a ſhore.
Here we have waſh’d our deepeſt ſtains
And heal’d our wounds with heav'nly
blood ;
Bleſs'd fountain, ſpringing from the veins
Of Jeſus, our incarnate God. }
In vain our mortal voices ſtrive
To ſpeak compaſſion ſo divine;
Had we a thouſand lives to give,
A thouſand lives ſhould all be thine.
4.
5
6
HYMN XXIII. [C. M.]
Grace and glory by the death of Chriſt.
[SITTING around our Father’s board,
We raiſe our tuneful breath ;
Our faith beholds the dying Lord,
And dooms our ſins to death, I
We ſee the blood Jeſus ſhed,
Whence all our pardons riſe;
The ſinner views th’ atonement made,
And loves the ſacrifice.
Thy cruel thorns, thy ſhameful croſs
Procure us heav'nly crowns,
Our higheſt gain ſprings from thy loſs;
Our healing from thy wounds.
O ! tis impoſſible that we
Who dwell in feeble clay,
Should equal ſuffrings bear for thee,
Or equal thanks repay.
1
2
HYMN XXIV. [C. M.]
Pardon andfirength from Chriſt.
FATHER, we wait to feel thy grace;
To ſee thy glories ſhine;
The Lord will his own table bleſs,
And make the feaſt divine.
We touch, we taſte the heav'nly bread,
We drink the ſacred cup ;
With outward forms our ſenſe is fed,
Our ſouls rejoice in hope.
We ſhall appear before the throne
Of our forgiving God,
Dreſs'd in the garments of his Son,
And ſprinkled with his blood.
We ſhall be ſtrong to run the race,
And climb the upper ſky;
Chriſt will provide our ſouls with grace,
He bought a large ſupply.
[Let us indulge a chearful frame,
For joy becomes a feaſt :
We love the mem'ry of his name
More than the wine we taſte.]
2
3
4.
HYMN XXV, [C. M.]
Divine glories and graces.
OW are thy glories here display’d
Great God! how bright they ſhine !
B B 2
196
[Book III.
DOXOLOGIES.
While at thy word we break the bread,
And pour the flowing wine.
2 Here thy revenging juſtice ſtands,
And pleads its dreadful cauſe ;
Here ſaving mercy ſpreads her hands,
Like Jeſus on the croſs.
3 Thy ſaints attend with ev’ry grace,
On this great ſacrifice :
And love appears with chearful face,
And faith with fixed eyes.
4 Our hope in waiting poſture fits,
To heav'n directs her ſight;
Here ev'ry warmer paſſion meets,
And warmer pow’rs unite.
5 Zeal and revenge perform their part,
And rifin? ſin deſtroy :
Repentance comes with aching heart,
Yet not forbids the joy.
6 Dear Saviour, change our faith to fight,
Let ſin for ever die;
Then ſhall our ſouls be all delight,
And ev’ry lear be dry.
to 22 toº tº 22 to?
I Cannot perſuade myſelf to put a full pe-
riod to theſe Divine Hymns, till I have
addreſſed a ſpecial ſong of glory to God the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Though
the Latin name of it Gloria Patria, be re-
tained in our nation ſrom the Roman church;
and though there may be ſome exceſſes of
fuperſtitious honour paid to the words of it,
which may have wrought ſome unhappy pre-
judices in weaker Chriſtians, yet I believe
it till to be one of the nobleſt parts of Chriſ-
tian worſhip. The ſubječt of it is the doćtrine
of the Trinity, which is that peculiar glory
of the divine nature, that our Lord Jeſus
Chriſt has ſo clearly revealed unto men, and
is ſo neceſſary to true Chriſtianity. The
aćtion is praiſe, which is one ºf the moſt
complete and exalted parts of chriſtian wor-
ſhip. I have caſt the ſong into a variety of
forms, and have fitted it by a plain verſion,
or a larger paraphraſe, to be ſung either
alone, or at the concluſion of another Hymn.
1 have added alſo a few hoſannas, or aſcrip-
tions of ſalvation to Chriſt in the ſame man-
ner, and ſor the ſame end.
|
|
E)OXOLOGIES. |
A ſong of Araiſe to the ever-bleſſed Trinity.
God the Father, Son, and Spirit.
HYMN XXVI, [1ſt L. M.]
T BLESS'p be the Father and his love,
To whoſe celeſtial ſource we owe
Rivers of endleſs joy above,
And rills of comfort.hgre below.
2 Glory to thee, great Son of God, ,
From whoſe dear wounded body rolls
A predious ſtream of vital blood,
Pardon and life for dying ſouls.
3 We give thee, ſacred Spirit, praiſe, A
Who in our hearts of fin and woe,
^. t
Makes living ſprings of grace ariſe,
And into boundleſs glory flow.
4 Thus God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit we adore ;
That ſea of life and love unknown,
Without a bottom, or a ſhore.
HYMN XXVII. [1ſt C. M.]
ſ GLORY to God the Father's name,
Who, from our ſinful race
Choſe out his favºrites to proclaim
The honours of his grace.
2 Glory to God the Son be paid,
Who dwelt in humble clay,
And, to redeem us from the dead,
Gave his own life away.
3 Glory to God, the Spirit, give,
From whoſe almighty pow'r
Our ſouls their heav'nly birth derive,
And bleſs the happy hour.
4 Glory to God that reigns above,
, Th’ eternal Three and One,
Who by the wonders of his love
Has made his nature known.
HYMN XXVIII. Itſ S.M.]
I LET God the Father live
For ever on our tongues :
Sinners from his firſt-love derive
The ground of all their ſongs.
2 Ye ſaints, employ your breath
In honour to the Son,
Who brought your ſouls from hell and
death,
By off’ring up his own.
Give to the Spirit, praiſe
Of an immortal ſtrain,
Whoſe light, and pow'r, and grace convey
Salvation down to men.
4. While God. the Comforter
Reveals our pardon'd ſin,
O may the blood and water-bear
The ſame record within.
5 To the great One and Three,
That ſeal’d this grace in heav'n,
The Father, Son, and Spirit, 'be
Eternal glory giv'n,
HYMN XXIX. [2d L. M.] f
1GLORY to God the Trinity, -
Whoſe name has myſteries unknown;
In eſſence One, in perſons Three :
A ſocial nature, yet alones
2 When all our nobleſt pow’rs are join’d
The honours of thy name to raiſe,
Thy glories over-match our mind, -
And angels faint beneath the praiſe.
HYMN XXX. [2d C. M.]
1 THE God of mercy be ador’d, .."
Who calls our ſouls from death,
Who ſaves by his redeeming word,
. And new-creating breath; *
Book III.]
197
JDOXOLOGIES.
2 To praiſe the Father, and the Son,
And Spirit all divine,
The One in Three, and Three in One,
Let ſaints and angels, join.
HYMN XXXI. [2d. S. M.]
1 LET God the Maker's name,
Have honour, love, and fear;
To God the Saviour pay the ſame,
And God the Comforter.
2 Father of lights above,
Thy mercy we adore,
The Son of thy eternal love,
And Spirit of thy pow'r,
HYMN XXXII. [3d. L. M.]
To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Be honour, praiſe, and glory giv'n
By all on earth, and all in heavºn.
HYMN XXXIII. Or thus:
LL glory to thy wondrous name,
Father of mercy, God of love ;
Thus we'exalt the Lord:the Lamb,
And thus weſpraiſe the heav'nly, Dove.
HYMN XXXIV. [3d.c. M.]
Now let the Father, and the Son,
And Spirit be ador’d,
Where there are works to make him
known,
Or ſaints to love the Lord.
}
HYMN XXXV. Or thus:
ONOUR to the Almighty Three,
And everlaſting One ; -
All glory to the Father be,
The Spirit, and the Son.
HYMN XXXVI. [3d. S. M.]
YE angels round the throne,
And ſaints that dwell below,
Worſhip the Father, love the Son,
And bleſs the Spirit too.
HYMN XXXVII. Or thus :
GIVE to the Father praiſe,
Give glory to the Son,
And to the Spirit of his grace
Be equal honour done.
HYMN XXXVIII.
4 ſong of Araiſe to the bleſſed Trinity.
The 1ſt as the cºlviiith Pſalm,
f Give immortal praiſe
To God the Father's love,
For all my comforts here,
And better hopes above ;
He ſent his own
, Eternal Son
To die for ſins
That man had done,
2 To God the Son belongs
Immortal glory too,
Who bought us with his blood
From everlaſting woe ;
And now he lives,
And now he reigns,
And ſees the fruit
Of all his pains.
3 To God the Spirit’s name
Immortal worſhip give,
Whoſe new-creating pow'r
Makes the dead ſinner live :
His work completes
The great deſign,
And fills the ſoul
With joy divine.
4 Almighty God! to thee
Be endleſs honours done,
The undivided Three,
And the myſterious One-:
Where reaſon fails
With all her pow’rs,
There faith prevails,
And love adores.
HYMNºxxxix.
The 2d as the oxiviiith Pſalm.
l O him that choſe us firſt,
Before the world began ;
To him that bore the curſe
To ſave rebellious man ;
To him that form'd
Our hearts anew,
Is endleſs praiſe
And glory due.
2 The Father’s love ſhall run
Thro' our immortal ſongs ;
We bring to God the Son
Hoſannas on our tongues :
Our lips addreſs -
The Spirit’s name
With equal praiſe,
And zeal the ſame.
3 Let ev'ry ſaint above,
And angels round the throne,
For ever bleſs and love
The ſacred Three in One:
Thus heav’n ſhall raiſe
His honours high,
When earth and time
Grow old and die.
HYMN XL.
The 3d as the cxlviiith Pſalm.
O God the Father’s throne
Perpetual honours raiſe :
Glory to God the Son,
To God the Spirit praiſe :
And while our lips
Their tributes bring,
Our faith adores
The name we ſing.
198
[Book III.
DoxologIES.
HYMN XLI. Or thus :
O our eternal God,
The Father and the Son,
And Spirit all divine,
Three myſt’ries in One,
Salvation, pow'r,
And praiſe be giv'n,
By all on earth,
And all in heav'n,
The Hoſanna; or, ſalvation aſcribed to Chriſt.
HYMN XLII. [L. M.]
T HošANNA to King David's Son,
Who reigns on a ſuperior throne;
We bleſs the Prince of heav'nly birth,
Who brings ſalvation down to earth.
2 Let ev’ry nation, ev’ry age
In this delightful work engage.
Old men and babes in Sion ſing
The growing glories of her King.
HYMN XLIII. [C. M.]
I HošANN A to the Prince of Grace :
Sion, behold thy King ;
Proclaim the Son of David’s race,
And teach the babes to ſing.
2 Hoſanna to th’ Incarnate Word,
Who from the Father came ;
Aſcribe ſalvation to the Lord,
With bleſlings on his name.
1
2
HYMN XLIV. [S. M.]
HOSANNA to the Son
Of David and of God,
Who brought the news of pardon down,
And bought it with his blood.
To Chriſt th’ anointed King
Be endleſs bleſfings giv'n :
Let the whole earth his glory ſing,
Who made our peace with heav'n.
HYMN XLV.
As the czlviiith Pſalm;
HOSANNA to the King
Of David’s ancient blood;
Behold he comes to bring
Forgiving grace from God ;
Let old and young
Attend his way,
And at his foet
Their honours lay.
Glory to God on high,
Salvation to the Lamb ;
Let earth, and ſea, and ſky,
His wondrous love proclaim,
Upon his head
Shall honours reſt,
And ev’ry age
Pronounce ºn bleſt,
PREFACE
TO ALL THAT ARE CONCERNED IN THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN .
IT is an awful and important charge that is committed to you. The wiſdom and
welfare of the ſucceeding generation are intruſted with you before-hand, and de-
pend much on your condućt. The ſeeds of miſery or happineſs in this world, and
that to come, are oftentimes ſown very early; and therefore whatever may conduce
to give the minds of children a reliſh of virtue and religion, ought in the firſt place
to be propoſed to you.
Verſe was at firſt deſigned for the ſervice of God, though it hath been wretchedly
abuſed ſince. The ancients among the Jews and the Heathens, taught their chil-
dren and diſciples the precepts of morality and worſhip in verſe. The children of
Iſrael were commanded to learn the words of the ſong of Moſes, Deut. xxxi. 19, 30,
And we are directed in the New Teſtament, not only to ſing with grace in the heart,
but to “teach, and admoniſh one another by hymns and ſongs,” Epheſ. v. 19. And
there are thoſe four advantages in it :
1. There is a great delight in the very learning of truths and duties this way.
There is ſomething ſo amuſing and entertaining in rhymes and metre, that will in-
cline children to make this part of their buſineſs a diverſion. And you may turn
their very duty into a reward by giving them the privilege of learning one of theſe
Songs every week, if they fulfil the buſineſs of the week well, and promiſing them
the book itſelf, when they have learnt ten or twenty fongs out of it.
2. What is learnt in verſe, is longer retained in memory, and ſooner recollečted.
The like ſounds, and the like number of ſyllables, exceedingly aſſiſt the remem-
brance. And it may oſten happen, that the end of a ſong running in the mind, may
be an effectual means to keep off ſome temptations, or to incline to ſome duty, when
a word of ſcripture is not upon their thoughts.
3. This will be a conſtant furniture for the minds of children, that they may have
formething to think upon when alone, and ſing over to themſelves. This may ſome-
times give their thoughts a divine turn, and raiſe a young meditation. Thus they
will not be forced to ſeek relief for an emptineſs of mind, out of the looſe and dan-
gerous ſonnets of the age.
4 Theſe Divine Songs may be a pleaſant and proper matter for their daily or
weekly worſhip, to ſing one in the family, at ſuch time as the parents or governors
ſhall appoint; and the efore I have confined the verſe to the moſt uſual pſalm tunes.
The greateſt part of this little book was compoſed ſeveral years ago, at the requeſt
of a friend, who has been long engaged in the work of catechiſing a very great num-
ber of children of all kinds, and with abundant ſkill and ſucceſs, So that you will
find here nothing that favours of a party : The children of high and low degree, of
the church of England, or diſſenters, baptized in infancy, or not, may all join toge-
ther in theſe ſongs. And as I have endeavoured to ſink the language to the level
of a child’s underſlanding, and yet to keep it, if poſſible, above contempt; ſo I have
deſigned to profit all, if poffible, and offend none. I hope the more general the
ſenſe is, theſe compoſures may be of the more univerſal uſe and ſervice.
I have added at the end ſome attempts of Sonnets on Moral Subjećts, for children,
with an air of pleaſantry, to provoke ſome fitter pen to write a little book of them.
May the almighty God make you faithful in this important work of education;
may he ſucceed your cares with his abundant grace, that the riſing generation of
Great-Britain may be a glory among the nations, a pattern to the chriſtian world,
and a bleſſing to the earth. , -
DIVINE SONGS,
AT I R MYPTE D IN
EASY LANGUAGE, FOR THE USE OF CHILDREN.
witH som E ADDITIONAL COMPOSU R.E.S.
*=====ºs
*
Out of the mouth of babes and ſucklings thou haſt perfečted praiſe ; MAT. xxi. 16.
º
SONG. I.
4 general ſong of praiſe to God.
1 HOW glorious is our heav'nly King,
Who reigns above the ſky |
How ſhall a child preſume to ſing
: His dreadful majeſty
2. How, great his pow'r is none can tell,
Nor think how large his grace-;
Not men below, nor ſaints that dwell
On high hefore his face.
3 Not angels that ſtand round the Lord
Can ſearch his ſecret will;
But they perform his heav'nly word,
And ſing his praiſes ſtill.
4 Then let me join this holy train,
And my firſt off'rings bring,
Th” eternal God will not diſdain
To hear an infant ſing.
5 My heart reſolves, my tongue obeys,
Andangels ſhall rejoice
To hear their mighty Maker’s praiſe
Sound from a feeble voice.
SONG II.
Praiſe for creation and /trovidence.
1 I Sing th’ almighty pow'r of God,
That made the mountains riſe,
That ſpread the flowing ſeas abroad,
And built the lofty ſkies.
2 I ſing the wiſdom that ordain’d
The ſun to rule the day;
The moonſhines full at his command,
And all the ſtars obey.
3 I ſing the goodneſs of the Lord,
That fill'd the earth with food;
He form'd the creatures with his word,
And then pronounc'd them good.
4:Lord, how thy wonders are diſplay’d,
... Where’er I turn mine eye,
If I ſurvey the ground I tread,
Orgaze upon the ſky.
5
6
7
8
1
4
5
6
There’s not a plant, or flow'r below,
But makes thy glories known ;
And clouds ariſe, and tempeſts blow,
By order from thy throne.
Creatures (as num’rous as they be)
Are ſubječt to thy care;
There’s not a place where we can flee
But God is preſent there.
In heav'n he ſhines with beams of love,
With wrath in hell beneath !
'Tis on his carth I ſtand or move,
And 'tis his air I breathe.
His band is my perpetual guard,
He keeps me with his eye :
Why ſhould I then forget the Lord,
Who is for ever nigh
SONG III.
Praiſe to God for our redem/ition.
BLEST be the wiſdom and the pow'r,
The juſtice and the grace,
That join’d in council to reſtore,
And ſave our ruin’d race.
Our father eat forbidden fruit,
And from his glory fell,
And we his children thus were brought
To death, and near to hell.
Bieſt be the Lord that ſent his Son
To take our fleſh and blood ;
He for our lives gave up his own,
To make our pcace with God.'
He honour’d all his Father's laws,
Which we have diſobey’d ;
He borc our ſins upon the croſs,
And our full ranſom paid.
Behold him riſing from the grave,
Behold him rais’d on high :
He pleads his merits there, to ſave
Tranſgreſſors doom'd to die.
There on a glorious throne he reigns,
And by his pow'r divine
DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.
20 i
| 6
Redeems us from the ſlaviſh chains
Of Satan, and of ſin.
7 Thence ſhall the Lord to judgment come,
And with a ſov’reign voice
Shall call, and break up ev’ry tomb,
While waking ſaints rejoice.
8 O may I then with joy appear
Before the Judge’s face,
And, with the bleſs'd aſſembly there,
Sing his redeeming grace.
SONG IV.
Praiſe for Mercies, Spiritual and Temporal.
1 WHENEER I take my walks abroad,
How many poor I ſee
What ſhall I render to my God
For all his gifts to me *
2 Not more than others I deſerve,
Yet God hath giv'n me more ;
For I have food while others ſtarve,
Or beg from door to door. \
3 How many children in the ſtreet
Half naked I behold 2
While I am cloth'd from head to feet,
And cover'd from the cold.
4. While ſome poor wretches ſcarce can tell
Where they may lay their head :
I have a home wherein to dwell,
And reit upon my bed.
5 While others early learn to ſwear,
And curſe, and lye, and ſteal;
Lord, I am taught thy name to fear,
And do thy holy will.
6 Are theſe thy favours day by day
To me above the reſt P
Then let me love thee more than they,
And try to ſerve thee beſt,
SONG V.
Praiſe for Birth and Education in a Chriſtian
£and.
I GREAT God, to thee my voice I raiſe,
To thee my youngeſt hours belong,
I would begin my life with praiſe,
Till growing years improve the ſong.
2 "Tis to thy ſov’reign grace I owe,
That I was born on Britiſh ground,
Where ſtreams of heav'nly mercy flow,
And words of ſweet ſalvation ſound.
3 I would not change my native land
For rich Peru with all her gold ;
A nobler prize lies in my hand,
Then Eaſt or Weſtern Indies hold.
4 How do I pity thoſe that dwell
Where ignorance and darkneſs reigns
They know no heav'n, they fear no hell,
Thoſe endleſs joys, thoſe endleſs pains.
5 Thy glorious promiſes, O Lord,
Kindle my hopes and my defire;
While all the preachers of thy word
Warn me to 'ſcape eternal fire.
VOL. VII.
I
2
1
2
5
6
Thy praiſe ſhall ſtill employ my breath,
Since thou haſt mark'd my way to heav'n ;
Nor will I run the road to death,
And waſte the bleſſings thou haſt giv'n.
SONG WI.
P, aiſe for tle Gaſ el.
ORD, I aſcribe it to thy grace,
And not to chance as others do,
That I was born of Chriſtian race,
And not a Heathen, or a Jew.
What would the ancient Jewiſh kings,
And Jewiſh prophets, once have giv'n,
Could they have heard theſe glorious things,
Which Chriſt reveal’d and brought from
heav'n '
How glad the Heathens would have been,
That worſhip idols, wood, and ſtone,
If they the book of God had ſeen,
Or Jeſus, and his goſpel known
Then if this goſpel I refufe,
How ſhall I eer lift up mine eyes 2
For all the Gentiles, and the Jews
Againſt me will in judgment riſe.
SONG VII.
The Excellency of the Bible.
GREAT God, with wonder, and with
praiſe
On all thy works I look ;
Sut ſtill thy wiſdom, pow'r, and grace,
Shine brighter in thy book.
The ſtars that in their courſes roll,
Have much inſtrućtion giv'n ;
But thy good word informs my ſoul
How I may climb to heav'n.
The fields provide me food, and ſhew
The goodneſs of the Lord ;
But fruits of life, and glory grow
In thy moſt holy word.
Here are my choiceſt treaſures hid,
Here my beſt comfort lies;
Here my defires are ſatisfy'd,
And hence my hopes ariſe.
Lord, make me underſtand thy law,
Show what my faults have been 5
And from thy goſpel let me draw
Pardon for ail my fin. 4.
Here would I learn how Chriſt has dy’d
To ſave my ſoul from hell:
Not all the books on earth beſide
Such heav'nly wonders tell.
Then let me love my bible more,
And take a freſh delight
By day to read theſe wonders o'er,
And meditate by night, -
C C
203 DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

t SONG. VIII. If, , SONG X.
Praiſe to God for learning to read, Solemn Thoughts of God and Death
i THE praiſes of my tongue
I offer to the Lord,
That I was taught, and learnt ſo young
To read his holy word.
2 That I am brought to know
The danger I was in,
By nature, and by pračtice too,
A wretched ſlave to ſin.
I THERE is a God that reigns above,
Lord of the heavens, and ealth and ſeas 3
I fear his wrath, I aſk his love,
And with my lips I fing his praiſe.
2 There is a law which he has writ,
To teach us all what we muſt do :
My ſoul, to his commands ſubmit,
For they are holy, juſt and true.
3 That I am led to ſee 3 There is a goſpel of rich grace,
I can do nothing well; Whence finnners all their comforts draw 5
And whither ſhall a ſinner flee, Lord, I repent, and ſeek thy face ;
To ſave himſelf from hell ? For I have often broke thy law,
4 Dear Lord, this book of thine 4. There is an hour when I muſt die,
Informs me where to go Nor do I know how ſoon 'twill come :
For grace to pardon all my fin; A thouſand children young as I, ?
And make me holy too. Are call’d by death to hear their doom.
5 Here I can read, and learn 5 Let me improve the hours I have,
How Chriſt, the Son of God,
Before the day of grace is fled;
Has undertook-our great concern ; There’s no repentance in the grave,
Our ranſom coſt his blood. Nor pardons offer'd to the dead.
6 And now he reigns above,
tº 4 x * ſº 6 Juſt as a tree cut down, that fell
He ſends his Spirit down, To north, or ſouthward, there it lies 3
To ſhew the wonders of his love, sº So man departs to heav'n or hell,
And make his goſpel known.
Fix’d in the ſtate wherein he dies.
7 O may that Spirit teach,
And make my heart receive
SONG XI.
Thoſe truths which all thy ſervants preach,
And all thy ſaintsbelieve. Heaven and Hell.
3 Then ſhall I praiſe the Lord I THERE is beyond the ſky
In a more chearful ſtrain, A heav'n of joy and love;
That I was taught to read his word, And holy children when they die
And have not learnt in vain. Go to that world above.
2. There is a dreadful hell,
SONG IX. And everlaſting pains,
The All-Seeing God. There ſinners muſt with devils dwell
LMIGHTY God, thy piercing eye In darkneſs, fire, and chains.
Yi O y piercing ey
A Strikes thro' the maies of night, 3 cº i.º: Id P
And our moſt ſecret actions lie d ap I CUlr . end , ,
All open to thy fight. Aſ #. . w . dic
ai I LO neaV "In a 1 Cend
2 There's not a fin that we commit, ill In 31 Cen
Norwicked word we ſay, 4. Tº: * and pray,
But in thy dreadful book’tis writ, ſt i. º: life and breath ;
Againſt the judgment-day. lsº . *:::: º º,
sº nd ſent tº o
3 And muſt the crimes that I have done, €ternal Geatil
Be read and publiſh'd there,
Be all expos'd before the ſun, he Ad SONG XII. * *
while men and angels hear } The Advantages of early Religion.
4 Lord, at thy foot aſham'd I lie,
Upward Idare not look;
Pardon my fins before I die,
And blot them from thy book.
5 Remember all the dying pains,
That my Redeemer felt,
And let his blood waſh out my ſtains,
And anſwer for my guilt.
6 O may I now for ever fear,
T” indulge a finful thought,
Since the great God tan ſee and hear,
And writes down ev'ry fault. * |
I HAPPY’s the child whoſe youngeſt yeara
Receive inſtructions well ;
Who hates the finners path, and fears
The road that leads to hell.
2. When we devote our youth to God,
'Tis pleaſing in his eyes ;
A flow'r, when offer'd in the bud,
Is no vain ſacrifice.
3 'Tis eaſier work if we begin
To fear the Lord betimes;
While ſinners that grow old in ſir,
Are harden'd in their trimes.
DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.
203
4 "Twill ſave us from a thouſand ſnares
To mind religion young ;
Grace will preſerve our following years,
And make our virtue ſtrong.
5 To thee, almighty God, to thee,
Our childhood we reſign :
*Twill pleaſe us to look back and ſee
That our whole lives were thine.
6 Let the ſweet work of pray’r and praiſe
Employ my youngeſt breath ;
Thus I’m prepard for longer days,
Or fit for carly death.
SONG XIII.
The Danger of Delay.
# WHY ſhould I ſay, “ 'Tis yet too ſoon
“ To ſeek for heav'n, or think of
death P”
A flow'r may fade before 'tis noon,
And I this day may loſe my breath.
2. If this rebellious heart of mine
Deſpiſe the gracious calls of heav'n,
I may be harden’d in my fin,
And never have repentance giv'n,
What if the Lord grow wroth, and ſwear,
While I refuſe to read and pray,
That he’ll refuſe to lend an ear
To all my groans another day 2
# What if his dreadful anger burn,
While I refuſe his offer'd grace,
And all his love to fury turn.
And ſtrike me dead upon the place 2
5 'Tis dang'rous to provoke a God;
His pow'r and vengeance none can tell;
One ſtroke of his almighty rod
Shall ſend young ſinners quick to hell.
Then "twill for ever be in vain
To cry for pardon, and for grace ;
To wiſh I had my time again,
Or hope to ſee my Maker’s face.
3
6
SONG XIV.
Examples of Early Piety.
1 WHAT bleſs'd examples do I find
Writ in the word of truth,
Of children that began to mind
Religion in their youth.
Jeſus, who reigns above the ſky,
And keeps the world in awe,
Was once a child as young as I,
And kept his Father's law.
At twelve years old he talk’d with men,
(The Jews all wond'ring ſtood)
Yet he obey'd his mother then,
And came at her command.
4 Children a ſweet Hoſanna ſung,
And bleſt their Saviour's name;
They gave him honour with their tongue,
While Scribes and Prieſts blaſpheme.
5 Samuel the child was wean'd, and brought
To wait upon the Lord ;
2.
3
Young Timothy betimes was taught
To know his holy word.
6 Then why ſhould I ſo long delay
What others learn ſo ſoon P
I would not paſs another day
Without this work begun.
SQNG XV.
4gainſt Lying.
1 O "Tis a lovely thing for youth
To walk betimes in wiſdom's way;
To fear a lye, to ſpeak the truth,
That we may truſt to all they ſay.
But lyars we can never truſt,
Tho' they ſhould ſpeak the thing that's true;
And he that does one fault at firſt,
And lyes to hide it, makes it two.
2
3 Have we not known, nor heard, nor read,
How God abhors deceit and wrong
How Ananias was ſtruck dead,
Catch'd with a lye upon his tongue 2
4. So did his wife Saphira die,
When ſhe came in and grew ſo bold,
As to confirm that wicked lye,
That juſt before her huſband told,
5 The Lord delights in them that ſpeak
The words of truth ; but ev'ry lyar
Muſt have his portion in the lake,
That burns with brimſtone, and with fire.
6 Then let me always watch my lips,
Leſt I be ſtruck to death and hell,
Since God a book of reck’ning keeps
For ev'ry lye thatchildren tell,
SONG XVI.
Againſt Quarrelling and Fighting,
I LET dogs delight to bark and bite,
For God hath made them ſo ;
Let bears and lions growl and fight,
For ’tis their nature too.
2 But, children, you ſhould never let
| Such angry paſſions riſe;
Your little hands were never made
To tear each other's eyes.
3 Letlove thro' all your ačtions run,
And all your words be mild ;
Live like the bleſſed Virgin's Son,
That ſweet and lovely child.
4. His ſoul was gentle as a lamb;
And as his ſtature grew,
He grew in favour both with man,
And God his Father too.
5 Now Lord of all he reigns above,
And from his heav'nly throne,
He ſees what children dwell in love,
And marks them for his own.
C C 2
20.4
IDIVINE SONGS FOR CHiP.DREN.
SONG XVII.
Love between Brothers and Siffers.
I W HAT EVER brawls diſturb the ſtreet,
There ſhould be peace at home ;
Wi.ere ſiſters dwell and blothers meet,
Quarrels ſhould never come.
2 Birds in their little neſts agree;
And ’tis a ſhameful fight,
When children of one family
Fall out, and chide, and fight.
3 Hard names at firſt, and threatening words,
That are but noiſy breath, º
Maw grow to clubs and naked ſwords,
To murder and to death.
4 The devil tempts one mother’s ſon
To rage againſt another :
So wicked Cain was hurry'd on
*Till he had kill’d his brother.
5 The wiſe will make their anger cool,
At leaſt, before 'tis night 5
But in the boſom of a fool
It burns till morning light.
6 Pardon, O Lord, our childiſh rage,
Our little brawls remove ;
That as we grow to riper age,
Our hearts may all be love.
song xviii.
Againſ Scaffing and calling Nanies.
I
And not ſpeak ill of men,
When others give a railing word,
We muſt not rail again.
Croſs words and angry names require
To be chaſtis'd at ſchool;
And he's in danger of hell-fire,
That calls his brother fool.
But lips that dare be ſo profane,
To mock, and jeer, and ſcoff
At holy things, or holy men,
The Lord ſhall cut them off.
4. When children, in their wanton play,
Serv'd old Eliſha ſo ;
And bid the prophet go his way,
“ Go up, thou bald-head, go.”
5 God quickly ſtopt their wicked breath,
And ſent two raging bears,
That tore them limb from limb to death,
With blood, and groans, and tears.
6 Great God, how terrible art thou
To ſinners, ne’er ſo young !
Grant me thy grace, and teach me how
To tame and rule my tongue,
2
3
SONG XIX.
Againſt Swearing, and Curſing, and taking God’s
Name in vain.
1 ANGELS, that high in glory dwell
Adore thy name, almighty God!
And devils tremble down in hell,
Beneath the terrors of thy rod.
OUR tongues were made to bleſs the Lord,
2 And yet how wicked children dare
Abuſe thy dreadful glorious name !
And when they’re angry, how they ſwear
And curſe their fellows and blaſpheme !
3 How will they ſtand before thy face,
Who treated thee with ſuch diſdain,
While thou ſhalt doom them to the place
Of everlaſting fire and pain
4 Then never ſhall one cooling drop
To quench their burning tongues be giv'n ;
But I will praiſe thee here, and hope
Thus to employ my tongue in heav'n.
My heart ſhall be in pain to hear
Wretches affront the Lord above :
'Tis that great God, whoſe pow'r I fear,
That heav'nly Father, whom I love.
5
6 If my companions grow profane,
I’ll leave their friendſhip when I hear
Young ſinners take thy name in vain,
And learn to curſe, and learn to ſwear.
SONG XX.
Againſ: Idleneſs and Miſchief.
I
How doth the little buſy Bee
Improve each ſhining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From ev’ry op'ning flower!
2 How ſkilfully ſhe builds her cell ?
How neat ſhe ſpreads the wax :
And labours hard to ſtore it well
With the ſweet food ſhe makes.
3 In works of labour, or of ſkill,
I would be buſy too ;
For Satan finds ſome miſchief ſtill
For idle hands to do.
4. In books, or work, or healthful play,
Let my firſt years be paſt,
That I may give for ev'ry day
Some good account at laſt,
SONG XXI.
Againſt Evil Company.
I WHY ſhould I join with thoſe in play,
In whom I’ve no delight, *
Who curſe and ſwear, but never pray,
Who call ill names, and fight 2
2 I hate to hear a wanton ſong,
Their words offend my ears ;
I ſhould not dare defile my tongue
With language ſuch as theirs.
3 Away, from fools I'll turn my eyes,
Nor with the ſcoffers go;
I would be walking with the wiſe,
That wiſer I may grow,
4 From one rude boy that's us’d to mock,
They learn the wicked jeſt ;
One fickly ſheep infects the flock,
And poiſons all the reſt.
DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.
205
5 My God, f hate to walk, or dwell
With ſinful children here :
Then let me not be ſent to hell,
Where none but ſinners are.
SONG XXII.
Againſt Pride in Clothes.
1 W. HY ſhould our garments, made to
hide
Our parents’ ſhame, p, ovoke our pride 2
The art of dreſs did ne'er begin,
Till Eve, our mother, learnt to fin.
2. When firſt ſhe put the cov’ring on,
Her robe of innocence was gone :
And yet her children vainly boaſt
In the ſad marks of glory loſt.
3 How proud we are how fond to ſhew
Our clothes, and call them rich and new
When the poor ſheep and filk-worm wore
That very clothing long before
4. The tulip and the butterfly
Appear in gayer coats than I;
Let me be dreſt fine as I will,
Flies, worms, and flow’rs exceed me ſtill.
5 Then will I ſet my heart to find
Inward adornings of the mind;
Knowledge and virtue, truth and grace,
Theſe are the robes of richeſt dreſs.
No more ſhall worms with me compare,
This is the raiment angels wear :
The Son of God, when here below,
Put on this bleſt apparel too.
7 It never fades, it ne'er grows old,
Nor fears the rain, nor moth, nor mold ;
It takes no ſpot, but ſtill refines;
The more 'tis worn, the more it ſhines.
8 In this on earth would I appear,
Then go to heav'n, and wear it there;
God will approve it in his fight,
'Tis his own work, and his delight,
SONG XXIII.
Obedience to Parents.
I
LET children that would fear the Lord
Hear what their teachers ſay :
With rev'rence meet their parents word,
And with delight obey.
2 Have not you heard what dreadful plagues
Are threaten’d by the Lord,
To him that breaks his father’s law,
. Or mocks his mother’s word *
3 What heavy guilt upon him lies :
How curſed is his name !
The ravens ſhall pick out his eyes,
And eagles eat the ſame.
4. But thoſe that worſhip God, and give
Their parents honour due,
Here on this earth they long ſhall live,
And live hereafter too,
|
-
t
SONG XXIV.
The Child's Complaint.
1 WHY ſhould I love my ſport ſo well ?
So conſtant at my play ?
And loſe the thoughts of heav'n and hell ?
And then forget to pray ?
2 What do I read my bible for,
But Lord, to learn thy will 2
And ſhall Ł daily know thee more,
And leſs obey thee ſtill P
How ſenſeleſs is my heart, and wild
How vain are all my thoughts'
Pity the weakneſs of a child,
And pardon all my faults.
3
Make me thy heav'nly voice to hear,
And let me love to pray,
Since God will lend a gracious ear
To what a child can ſay.
SONG XXV.
4 morning Song.
I
MY God, who makes the fun to know
His proper hour to riſe,
And to give light to all below,
Doth ſend him round the ſkies.
When from the chambers of the eaſt
His morning race begins,
He never tires, nor ſtops to reſt.
But round the world he ſhires.
So, like the ſun, would I fulfil,
The buſineſs of the day ;
Begin my work betimes, and ſtill
March on my heav'nly way.
2.
3
t Give me, O Lord, thy early grace,
Nor let my ſoul complain
That the young morning of my days
Has all been ſpent in vain.
SONG XXVI.
An Evening Song.
I ND now another day is gone,
I’ll ſing ny Maker's praiſe ;
My comforts ev'ry hour make known,
His providence and grace.
- But how my childhood runs to waſte!
My fins, how great their ſum
Lord, give me pardon for the paſt,
And ſtrength for days to come.
º
I lay my body down to ſleep,
Let angels guard my head :
And thro’ the hours of darkneſs keep
Their watch around my bed,
4. With chearful heart I cloſe my eyes,
Since thou wilt not remove ; *
And in the morning let me riſe
Rejoicing in thy love.
206
DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.
SONG XXVII.
For the Lord's-Day Morning.
R THIS is the day when Chriſt aroſe
So early from the dead;
Why ſhould I keep my eye-lids cloſ'd,
And waſte my hours in bed P
2 This is the day when Jeſus broke
The pow'rs of death and hell:
And ſhall I ſtill wear Satan’s yoke,
And love my fins ſo well P
3 To-day, with pleaſure, chriſtians meet
To pray, and hear the word:
And I would go with chearful feet,
To learn thy will, O Lord.
4. I’ll leave my ſport to read and pray,
And ſo prepare for heav'n :
O may I love this bleſſed day
The beſt of all the ſeven
SONG XXVIII,
For the Lord’s-Day Evening,
f LORD, how delightful 'tis to ſee
A whole aſſembly worſhip thee!
At once they ſing, at once they pray,
They hear of heav'n, and learn the way.
2 I have been there, and ſtill would go :
'Tis like a little heav'n below;
Not all my pleaſure and my play
Shall tempt me to forget this day.
3 O write upon my mem'ry, Lord,
The texts and doćtrines of thy word;
That I may break thy laws no more,
But love thee better than before.
4. With thoughts of Chriſt and things divine
Fill up this fooliſh heart of mine;
That hoping pardon thro’ his blood,
I may lie down, and wake with God.
The Ten Commandments, out of the Old Tºffament
put into ſhort Rhyme for Children.—Ex. xx.
HOU ſhalt have no more Gods but me.
Before no idol bow thy knee,
Take not the name of God in vain.
Nor dare the ſabbath-day profane,
Give both thy parents honour due.
Take heed that thou no murder do.
Abſtain from words and deeds unclean.
Nor ſteal, tho’ thou art poor and mean.
Nor make a wilful lie, nor love it.
Io What is thy neighbour's dare not covet.
The Sum of the Commandments out of the New
Teſtament.-Mat. xxii. 37.
WITH all thy ſoul love God above,
And as thyſelf thy neighbour love.
Our Saviour’s Golden Rule.—Mat, vii. 12.
E you to others kind and true,
As you’d have others be to you;
And neither do nor ſay to men,
Whate'er you would not take again.
Duty to God and our Neighbour.
LoyE God with all your ſoul and ſtrength,
With all your heart and mind, i
And love your neighbour as yourſelf:
Be faithful, juſt, and kind,
Deal with another as you’d have
Another deal with you;
What you’re unwilling to receive,
Be ſure you never do.
The Hoſanna : Or, Salvation aſcribed to Chri .
[L. M.]
ſ HošANNA to King David's Son
Who reigns on a ſuperior throne;
We bleſs the Prince of heav'nly birth,
Who brings ſalvation down on earth.
2 Let ev’ry nation ev’ry age,
In this delightful work engage;
Old men and babes in Sion fing,
The growing glories of her King.
[C. M.]
1 HOSANNA to the Prince of grace;
Sion, behold thy King !
Proclaim the Son of David’s race,
And teach the babes to ſing.
z Hoſanna to th” eternal Word,
Who from the Father came;
Aſcribe ſalvation to the Lord,
With bleſfings on his name.
[S. M.]
I HOSANNA to the Son
Of David, and of God,
Who brought the news of pardon down;
And bought it with his blood.
z To Chriſt, th’ anointed King,
Be endleſs bleſſings giv'n ;
Let the whole earth his glory fing,
Who made our peace with heav'n.
Glory to the Father, &c. [L. M.]
O God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in one,
Be honour, praiſe, and glory giv'n,
By all on earth, and all in heav'n.
[C. M.]
Now let the Father and the Son
And Spirit be ador’d,
Where there are works to make him known,
Or ſaints to love the world.
[S. M.]
GIVE to the Father praiſe,
Give glory to the Son,
And to the Spirit of his grace
Be equal honour done.
A SLIGHT
SPECIMEN OF MORAL SONGS:
Such as I wish some happy and condescending Genius would undertake for the Use of
4 Children, and perform much better.
rTHE ſenſe and ſubjećts might be borrowed plentifully from the Proverbs of Solomon, from all
the common appearances of nature, from all the occurrences in the civil life, both in city
and country: (which would alſo afford matter for other divine ſongs). Here the language and
meaſures ſhould be eaſy, and flowing with chearfulneſs, with or without the ſolemnities of
religion, or the ſacred names of God and holy things; that children might find delight and
profit together. g
This would be one effectual way to deliver them from the temptation of loving or learning
thoſe idle, wanton, or profane ſongs, which give ſo early an ill taint to the fancy and memory,
and become the ſeeds of future vices.
I. The Sluggard. l II. Innocent Play.
© : I heard gº
I 'Tis. :* Sluggard; I hear I AEROAD in the meadows to ſee the young
y ſt lambs º
& 6 Yº... º: 4. me too ſoon, I muſt Run ſporting about by the fide of their dams,
As the door on its hinges, ſo he on his bed, With fleeces ſo clean and ſo white;
Turns his fides, and his ſhoulders, and his or a neſt of young doyes in a large open cage,
heavy head. | When they play all in love without anger
- * ! or rage,
2 “ A little more ſleep, and a little more How much we may learn from the ſight.
ſlumber;” }
Thus he waſtes half his days and his hours
* 2. If we had been ducks we might dabble in
without number;
mud :
}
to * 2
And i. : he gets up, he ſits folding his Or dogs, we might play till it ended in
and S3 g tº gº tº t blood:
Or walks about ſauntring, or trifling he So i. ind ſo fierce are their natures.
ſtands. | But Thomas and William, and ſuch pretty
3 I paſs'd by his garden, and ſaw the wild names,
brier, Should be cleanly and harmleſs as doves or
The thorn and the thiſtle grow broader and as lambs,
higher; Thoſe lovely ſweet innocent creatures.
The clothes that hang on him are turning to
ragS 5 4. Not a thing that we do, nor a word that we
And his money ſtill waſtes, till he ſtarves, ſay,
or he begs. Should injure another in jeſting or play ;
. tº ſº e For he's ſtill in earneſt that’s hurt :
4 I made him a viſit, ſtill hoping to find, , ,
He had took better care for improving his Howº. the boys that throw pebbles
mind; g
He told me his dreams, talk'd of eating and Theº. none but a madman will fling about
drinking ; re, 5 rºs: © * *
But he fººt reads his bible, and never And tell you, “”Tis all but in ſport,
loves thinking. III, The Roſe.
5 Said I then to my heart, “Here's a leſſon
for me ;” I How fair is the Roſe what a beautiful
That man’s but a pićture of what I might be, flow'r P
But thanks to my friends for their care in my The glory of April and May : &
breeding, But the leaves are beginning to fade in an
Who taught me betimes to love working and | hour,
reading. And they wither and die in a day.
|
20S
A SPECIMEN OF MORAL SONGS.
2 Yet the Roſe has one pow'rful virtue to boaſt,
Above all the flow’s of the field :
When its leaves are all dead, and fine co-
lours are loſt,
Still how ſweet a perfume it will yield;
3 So frail is the youth and the beauty of man,
Tho' they bloom and look gay like the
Roſe :
But all our fond care to preſerve them is
vain ;
Time kills them as faſt as he goes.
4. Then I’ll not be proud of my youth or my
beauty,
Since both of them wither and fade.
But gain a good name by well-doing my
duty :
This will ſcent like a Roſe when I'm
dead.
IV. The Thief.
lº WHY ſhould I deprive my neighbour
Of his goods againſt his will P
Hands were made for honeſt labour,
Not to plunder or to ſteal.
2 Tis a fooliſh ſelf-deceiving
By ſuch tricks to hope for gain,
All that's ever got by Thieving
Turns to ſorrow, ſhame, and pain.
3 Have not Eve and Adam taught us
Their ſad profit to compute #
To what diſmal ſtate they brought us
When they ſtole foibidden fruit *
4. Oft we ſee a young beginner
Pračtiſe little pilfering ways,
*Till grown up a harden'd ſinner ;
Then the gallows ends his days.
5 Theft will not be always hidden,
Tho' we fancy none can ſpy :
When we take a thing forbidden,
God beholds it with his eye.
6 Guard my heart, O God of heaven,
Leſt I covet what’s not mine :
Leſt I ſteal what is not given,
Guard my heart and hands from ſin.
V. The Ant or Emmet.
1 THESE Emmets, how little they are in
our eyes } -
We tread them to duſt, and a troop of them
dies -
Without our regard or concern :
Yet, as wiſe as we are, if we went to their
ſchool,
There's many a ſluggard, and many a fool,
Some leſſons of wiſdom might learn.
2. They don’t wear their time out in ſleeping
or play,
But gather up corn in a fun-ſhiny day,
And for winter they lay up their ſtores :
They manage their work in ſuch regular
* forms, -
One wou'd think they foreſaw all the froſt
and the ſtorms,
And ſo brought their food within doors.
3 But I have leſs ſenſe than a poor creeping
Ant,
If I take no due care for the things I ſhall
Want,
Nor provide againſt dangers in time:
When death, or old age, ſhall ſtare in my
face,
What a wretch ſhall I be in the end of my
days,
If I trifle away all their prime *
4. Now, now, while my ſtrength and my youth
are in bloom.
Let me think what will ſerve me when fick-
neſs ſhall come,
And pray that my fins be forgiven:
Let me . in good books, and believe, and
obey,
That when death turns me out of this cot-
tage of clay,
I may dwell in a palace in heaven.
VI. Good Reſolutions.
I THQ. I am now in younger days,
*... Nor can tell what ſhall befal me,
I’ll prepare for ev'ry place
Where my growing age ſhall call me.
2. Should I e'er be rich or great.
Others ſhall partake my goodneſs,
I’ll ſupply the poor with meat,
Never ſhewing ſcorn nor rudeneſs,
3 Where I ſee the blind or lame,
Deaf or dumb, I'll kindly treat them;
I deſerve to feel the ſame, 4.
If I mock, or hurt, or cheat them.
4. If I meet with railing tongues,
Why ſhould I return them railing,
Since I beſt revenge my wrongs
By my patience never failing;
5 When I hear them telling lies,
Talking fooliſh, curſing, ſwearing,
Firſt I’ll try to make them wiſe,
Or I’ll ſoon go out of hearing.
6 What tho’ I be low and mean,
I’ll engage the rich to love me,
While l’in modeſt, meat, and clearl,
And ſubmit when they reprove me.
7 If I ſhould be poor and ſick,
I ſhall meet, I hope, with pity,
Since I love to help the weak,
Tho' they’re neither fair nor witty.
8 I'll not willingly offend,
Nor be eaſily offended ;
What’s amiſs I’ll ſtrive to mend,
And endure what can’t be mended.
9 May I be ſo watchful ſtill *
O'er my humours and my paſſions
As to ſpeak and do no ill,
Tho' it ſhould be all the faſhion,
A SPECIMEN OF MORAL SONGS.
299
Io Wicked faſhions lead to hell,
Ne'er may I be found complying;
But in life behave ſo well,
Not to be afraid of dying.
VII. A Sumner Evening.
T How fine has the day been 2 How bright
was the Sun ?
How lovely and joyful the courſe that he
fuſiº
Tho' he roſe in a miſt when his race he
begun,
And there follow’d ſome droppings of
fa II* :
But now the fair traveller's come to the weſt,
His rays are all gold, and his beauties are
beſt;
He paints the ſkies gay as he ſinks to his
reſt ;
And foretels a bright riſing again.
* Juſt ſuch is the Chriſtian: His courſe he
begins,
Like the Sun in a miſt, while he mourns for
his fins,
And melts into tears:
and ſhines,
And travels his heavenly way:
But when he comes nearer to finiſh his race,
Like a fine ſetting Sun he looks richer in
grace,
And gives a ſure hope at the end of his days,
Of riſing in brighter array,
Then he breaks out
**********-*=-ºs--es-------> <--
Some copies of the following Hymn having got
abroad already into ſeveral hands, the authºr as
been ſterſuaded to ſermit it to appear in public, at
the end of theſe Songs for children.
4. Cradle Hymn.
lºſ HUSH ! my dear, lie ſtill and ſlumber;
Holy angels guard thy bed
Heav'nly bleſſings without number
Gently falling on thy head.
2 Sleep, my babe; thy food and raiment,
Houſe and home thy friends provide,
' All without thy care or payment,
All thy wants are well ſupply'd,
3 How much better thou'rt attended
Than the Son of God could be,
When from heaven he deſcended
And became a child like thee *
vol. VII.
4. Soft and eaſy is thy cradle:
Coarſe and hard thy Saviour lay 3
When his birth-place was a ſtable,
And his ſorteſt bed was hay.
5 Bleſſed babe!, what glorious features,
Spotleſs fair, divinely bright!
Muſt he dwell with brutal creatures 2
How could angels bear the ſight 2
6 Was there nothing but a manger
Curſed ſinnel S could afford,
To receive the heav'nly ſtranger ?
Did they thus affront their Lord *
7 Soft, my child; I did not chide thee,
Tho' my ſong might ſound too hard:
* mother
'Tis thy ſits beſide thee,
nurſe that
And her arm ſhall be thy guard.
8 Yet to read the ſhameful ſtory,
How the Jews abuſ’d their King ,
How they ſerv'd the Lord of glory,
Makes me angry while I fing.
9 See the kinder ſhepherds round him,
Telling wonders from the ſky :
There they ſought him, there they found
him,
With his virgin Mother by.
10 See the lovely Babe a dreſſing ;
Lovely Infant, how he ſmil'd :
When he wept, the Mother's bleſſing
Sooth'd and huſh'd the holy Child.
I I Lo, he ſlumbers in his manger,
Where the horned oxen feed ;
Peace, my Darling, here’s no danger,
Here’s no ox anear thy bed. ſº
12 'Twas to ſave thee, child from dying,
Save my dear floom burning flame,
Bitter groans, and endleſs crying,
That thy bleſt Redeemer came.
13 May'ſ thou live to know and fear him,
Truſt and love him all thy days
Then go dwell for ever near him,
See his face, and ſing his praiſe !
14 I could give thee thouſand kiſſes,
Hoping what I moſt deſire;
Not a mother's fondeſt wiſhes,
Can to greater joys aſpire.
* Here you may uſe the words, brother,
ſiſter, neighbour, friend, &c.
D ty
PREFACE
To THE “ LYRIC PoEMS,”
IT has been a long complaint of the virtuous and refined world, that poeſy, whoſe
original is divine, ſhould be inſlaved to vice and profaneneſs ; than an art inſpired from
heaven, ſhould have ſo far loſt the memory of its birth-place, as to be engaged in the
intereſts of hell. How unhappily is it perverted from its moſt glorious deſign! How
baſely has it been driven away from its proper ſtation in the temple of God, and abuſed to
much diſhonour ! The iniquity of men has conſtrained it to ſerve their vileſt purpoſes,
while the ſons of piety mourn the ſacrilege and the ſhame.
The eldeſt ſong which hiſtory has brought down to our ears, was a noble act of worſhip
paid to the God of Iſrael, when his “right-hand became glorious in power; when thy
right-hand, O Lord, daſhed in pieces the enemy: the chariots of Pharaoh and his hoſts
were caſt into the red-ſea : Thou didſt blow with thy wind, the deep covered them, and
they ſank as lead in the mighty waters,” Ex. xv. This art was maintained ſacred through
the following ages of the church, and employed by kings and prophets, by David,
Solomon and Iſaiah, in deſcribing the nature and the glories of God, and in conveying
grace or vengeance to the hearts of men. By this method they brought ſo much of heaven
down to this lower world, as the darkneſs of that diſpenſation would admit: And now and
then a divine and poetic rapture lified their ſouls far above the level of that economy of
ſhadows, bore them away far into a brighter region, and gave them a glimpſe of evangelic
day. The life of angels was harmoniouſly breathed into the children of Adam, and their
minds raiſed near to heaven in melody and devotion at once. *
In the younger days of heatheniſm the muſes were devoted to the ſame ſervice; The lan-
guage in which old Heſiod addreſſes them is this :
Meazı III:gºsy &oiºnal xXslovazi,
2
Asors, Al syswrite a £etsgow arc.ºrse' vºystovac.i.
“Pierian muſes, fam'd for heav'nly lays,
“Deſcend, and fing the God your Father's praiſe.”
And he purſues the ſubject in ten pious lines, which I could not forbear to tranſcribe, if the
aſpect and ſound of ſo much greek were not terrifying to a nice reader.
But ſome of the latter poets of the pagan world have debaſed this divine gift; and many
of the writers of the firſt rank, in this our age of national chriſtians, have, to their eternal
fhame, ſurpaſſed the vileſt of the Gentiles. They have not only diſrobed religion of all the
ornaments of verſe, but have employed their pens in impious miſchief, to deform her native
beauty, and defile her honours. They have expoſed her moſt ſacred charaćter to drollery,
and dreſſed her up in a moſt vile and ridiculous diſguiſe, for the ſcorn of the ruder herd of
mankind. The vices have been painted, like ſo many goddeſſes, the charms of wit have
been added to debauchery, and the temptation heightened where nature needs the ſtrongeſt
reſtraints. With ſweetneſs of ſound, and delicacy of expreſſion, they have given a reliſh to
blaſphemies of the harſheſt kind; and when they rant at their Maker in ſonorous numbers,
they fancy themſelves to have atted the hero well.
Thus almoſt in vain have the throne and the pulpit cried reformation; while the ſtage
and licentious poems have waged open war with the pious deſign of church and ſtate. The
preſs has ſpread the poiſon far, and ſcattered wide the mortal infection: Unthinking youth
have been enticed to fin beyond the vicious propenſities of nature, plunged early into diſeaſes
and death, and ſunk down to damnation in multitudes. Was it for this, that Poeſy was
| PREFACE. 2] 1
\
endued with all thoſe allurements that lead the mind away in a pleaſing captivity ? Was it
for this, ſhe was furniſhed with ſo many intelle&tual charms, that ſhe might ſeduce the heart
from God, the original beauty, and the moſt lovely of beings? Can I ever be perſuaded,
that thoſe ſweet and reſiſtleſs forces of metaphor, wit, ſound, and number, were given with
this deſign, that they ſhould be all ranged under the banner of the great malicious ſpirit, to
invade the rights of heaven, and to bring ſwift and everlaſting deſtruction upon men How
will theſe allies of the nether world, the lewd and profane verſifiers, ſtand aghaſt before the
great Judge, when the blood of many ſouls, whom they never ſaw, ſhall be laid to the
charge of their writings, and be dreadfully required at their hands The reverend Mr.
Collier has ſet this awful ſcene before them in juſt and flaming colours. If the application
were not too rude and uncivil, that noble ſtanza of my lord Roſcommon, on pſalm czlviii,
might be addreſſed to them . t
* Ye dragons, whoſe contagious breath
“Peoples the dark retreats of death,
« Change your dire hiſſings into heav'nly ſongs,
“And praiſe your Maker with your forked tongues.”
This profanation and debaſement of ſo divine an art, has tempted ſome weaker chriſtians
to imagine that poetry and vice are naturally a-kin; or, at leaſt, that verſe is fit only to
recommend trifles, and entertain our looſer hours, but it is too light and trivial a methed to
treat any thing that is ſerious and ſacred. They ſubmit, indeed, to uſe it in divine pſal-
mody, but they love the drieſt tranſlation of the pſalm beſt. They will venture to fing a
dull hymn or two at church, in tunes of equal dulneſs; but ſtill they perſuade themſelves,
and their children, that the beauties of poeſy are vain and dangerous. All that ariſes a
degree above Mr. Sternhold is too airy for worſhip, and hardly eſcapes the ſentence of
unclean and abominable. It is ſtrange, that perſons that have the bible in their hands,
ſhould be led away by thoughtleſs prejudices to ſo wild and raſh an opinion. Let me intreat
them not to indulge this ſour, this cenſorious humour too far, leſt the ſacred writers fall
under the laſh of their unlimited and unguarded reproaches. Let me intreat them to look
into their bibles, and remember the ſtyle and way of writing that is uſed by the ancient pro-
phets. Have they forgot, or were they never told, that many parts of the Old Teſtament
are hebrew verſe 2 And the figures are ſtronger, and the metaphors bolder, and the images
more ſurpriſing and ſtrange than ever I read in any profane writer. When Deborah fings
her praiſes to the God of Iſrael, while he marched from the field of Edom, ſhe ſets the
* Earth a trembling, the heavens drop, and the mountains diſſolve from before the Lord.
They fought from heaven, the ſtars in their courſes fought againſt Siſera: When the river
of Kiſhon ſwept them away, that ancient river, the river Kiſhon. O my ſoul, thou haſt
trodden down ſtrength.” Judges, v. &c. When Eliphaz, in the book of Job, ſpeaks his
lenſe of the holineſs of God, he introduces a machine in a viſion : “Fear came upon me,
trembling on all my bones, the hair of my fleſh ſtood up; a ſpirit paſſed by and ſtood ſtill,
but its form was undiſcernible ; an image before mine eyes; and ſilence; then I heard a
voice, ſaying, Shall mortal man be more juſt than God? &c.” Job iv. When he deſcribes
the ſafety of the righteous, he hides him “from the ſcourge of the tongue, he makes him
laugh at deſtruction and famine, he brings the ſtones of the field into league with him,
and makes the brute animals enter into a covenant of peace,” Job v. 21, &c. When Job
ſpeaks of the grave, how melancholy is the gloom that he ſpreads over it! It is a region to
which I muſt ſhortly go, “ and whence I ſhall not return; it is a land of darkneſs, it is
darkneſs itſelf, the land of the ſhadow of death ; all confuſion and diſorder, and where the
light is as darkneſs. This is my houſe, there have I made my bed: I have ſaid to corrup-
tion, Thou art my father, and to the worm, Thou art my mother and my fiſter : As for
my hope, who ſhall ſee it I and my hope go down together to the bars of the pit, Job x.
21. and xvii. 13. When he humbles himſelf in complainings before the almightineſs of
God, what contemptible and feeble images doth he uſe ! “Wilt thou break a leaf driven to
and fro? Wilt thou purſue the dry ſtubble I conſume away like a rotten thing, a garment
£aten by the moth; Job xiii. 25. &c. “Thou lifteſt me up to the wind, thou
t D D 2.
212 PREFACE. *
cauſeſt me to ride upon it, and diſſolveſt my ſubſtance,” Job xxiii. 22. . Can any
man invent more deſpicable ideas to repreſent the ſcoundrel herd and refuſe of mankind,
than thoſe which Job uſes 2 chap xxx. and thereby he aggravates, his own ſorrows and
reproaches to amazement : “ They that are younger than I have me in deriſion, whoſe
fathers I would have diſdained to have ſet with the dogs of my flock: For want and faming
they were ſolitary; fleeing into the wilderneſs deſolate and waſte: They cut up mallows by
the buſhes, and juniper-roots for their meat: They were driven forth from among men,
(they cried after them as after a thief) to dwell in the clifts of the vallies, in caves of the
earth, and in rocks : Among the buſhes they brayed, under the nettles they were gathered
together ; they were children of fools, yea, children of baſe men; they were viler than the
earth : And now am I their ſong, yea, I am their by-word, &c.” How mournful and de-
jected is the language of his own ſorrows! “Terrors are turned upon him, they purſue his
ſoul as the wind, and his welfare paſſes away as a cloud; his bones are pierced within him,
and his ſoul is poured out; he goes mourning without the ſun, a brother to dragons, and a
companion to owls; while his harp and organ are turned into the voice of them that weep.”
I muſt tranſcribe one half of this holy book, if I would ſhew the grandeur, the variety,
and the juſtneſs of his ideas, or the pomp and beauty of his expreſfion: I muſt copy out a
good part of the writings of David and Iſaiah, if I would repreſent the poetical excellencies
of their thoughts and ſtyle : Nor is the language of the leſſer prophets, eſpecially in ſome
paragraphs, much inferior to theſe. -
Now while they paint human nature in its various forms and circumſtances, if their de-
figning be ſo juſt and noble, their diſpoſition ſo artful, and their colouring ſo bright, beyond
the moſt famed human writers, how much more muſt their deſcriptions of God and heaven
exceed all that is poſſible to be ſaid by a meaner tongue 2 When they ſpeak of the dwelling-
place of God, “He inhabits eternity, and fits upon the throne of his holineſs, in the midſt
of light inacceſſible. When his holineſs is mentioned, The heavens are not clean in his
fight, he charges his angels with folly : He looks to the moon, and it ſhineth not, and the
ſtars are not pure before his eyes : He is a jealous God, and a conſuming fire. If we ſpeak
of ſtrength, Behold, he is ſtrong’: He removes the mountains, and they know it not : He
overturns them in his anger: He ſhakes the earth from her place, and her pillars tremble;
He makes a path through the mighty waters, he diſcovers the foundations of the world:
The pillars of heaven are aſtoniſhed at his reproof. And after all, Theſe are but a portion
of his ways: The thunder of his power who can underſtand 2 His ſovereignty, his knowledge,
and his wiſdom, are revealed to us in language vaſtly ſuperior to all the poetical accounts
of heathen divinity. “Let the potſherds ſtrive with the potſheds of the earth; but ſhall
the clay ſay to him that faſhioneth it, What makeſt thou ? He bids the heavens drop down
from above, and let the ſkies pour down righteouſneſs. He commands the ſun, and it
riſeth not, and he ſealeth up the ſtars. It is he that faith to the deep, Be dry, and he
drieth up the rivers. Woe to them that ſeek deep to hide their counſel from the Lord ; his
eyes are upon all their ways, he underſtands their thoughts afar off. Hell is naked before
*
him, and deſtrućtion hath no covering. He calls out all the ſtars by their names, he fruſ-
trateth the tokens of the liars, and makes the diviners mad : He turns wiſe men backward,
and their knowledge becomes fooliſh.” His tranſcendent eminence above all things is moſt
nobly repreſented, when he “fits upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof
are as graſhoppers: All nations before him are as the drop of a bucket, and as the ſmall
duſt of the balance : He takes up the iſles as a very little thing: Lebanon, with all her
beaſts, is not ſufficient for a ſacrifice to this God, nor are all her trees ſufficient for the
burning.” This God, before whom “the whole creation is as nothing, yea, leſs than nothing
and vanity. To which of all the heathen gods then will ye compare me, faith the Lord,
and what ſhall I he likened to P” And to which of all the heathen poets ſhall we liken or
compare this glorious Orator, the ſacred Deſcriber of the godhead 2 The orators of all
nations are as nothing before him, and their words are vanity and emptineſs. Let us turn
our eyes now to ſome of the holy writings, where God is creating the world: How meanly
do the beſt of the Gentiles talk and trifle upon this ſubject, when brought into compariſon
with Moſes, whom Longinus himſelf, a Gentile critic, cites as a maſter of the ſublime ſtyle,
TREFACE. 213
when he choſe to uſe it; and the Lord ſaid, “Let there be light, and there was light :
Let there be clouds and ſeas, ſun and ſtars, plants and animals, and behold they are : He
commanded, and they appear and obey: By the word of the Lord were the heavens made,
and all the hoſts of them by the breath of his mouth : This is working like a God, with
infinite eaſe and omnipotence. His wonders of providence for the terror and ruin of his
adverſaries, and for the ſuccour of his ſaints, is ſet before our eyes in the ſcripture with equal
magnificence, and as becomes divinity. When “he ariſes out of his place, the earth
trembles, the foundations of the hills are ſhaken becauſe he is wroth: There goes a ſmoke up
out of his noſtrils, and fire out of his mouth devoureth, coals are kindled by it. He bows
the heavens, and comes down, and darkneſs is under his feet, The mountains melt like
wax, and flow down at his preſence.” If Virgil, Homer, or Pindar were to prepare an
equipage for a deſcending God, they might uſe thunder aud lightnings too, and clouds and
fire, to form a chariot and horſes for the battle, or the triumph; but there is none of them
provides him a flight of cherubs inſtead of horſes, or ſeats him in chariots of ſalvation. David
beholds him riding “upon the heaven of heavens, by his name JAH : He was mounted upon
a cherub, and did fly, he flew on wings of the wind; and Habbakkuk ſends the peſtilence
before him.” Homer keeps a mighty ſtir with his Neºps2\#ysgélo, Zevº, and Heſiod with
his Zev; v.4,133spºrnº. Jupiter, that raiſes up the clouds, and that makes a noiſe, or
thunders on high. But a divine poet makes the “clouds but the duſt of his feet; and
when the higheſt gives his voice into the heavens, hail ſtones and coals of fire follow.” A.
divine poet “diſcovers the channels of the waters, and lays open the foundations of nature; at
thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blaſt of the breath of thy noſtrils,” When the holy one
alighted upon mount Sinai, “his glory covered the heavens : He ſtood and meaſured the
earth : He beheld and drove aſunder the nations, and the everlaſting mountains were ſcat-
tered : The perpetual hills did bow; his ways are everlaſting.” Then the prophet “ ſaw
the tents of Cuſhan in afflićtion, and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble,” Hab.
iii. Nor did the bleſſed Spirit which animated theſe writers forbid them the uſe of viſions,
dreams, the opening of ſcenes dreadful and delightful, and the introdućtion of machines
upon great occaſions: The divine licence in this reſpect is admirable and ſurprifing, and the
images are often too bold and dangerous for an uninſpired writer to imitate; Mr. Dennis has
made a noble eſſay to diſcover how much ſuperior is inſpired poeſy to the brighteſt and beſt
deſcriptions of a mortal pen. Perhaps; if his propoſal of criticiſm had been encouraged and
purſued, the nation might have learnt more value for the word of God, and the wits of the
age might have been ſecured from the danger of deiſm; while they muſt have been forced to
confeſs at leaſt the divinity of all the poetical books of ſcripture, when they see a genius
running through them more than human. - * ,
Who is there now will dare to affert, that the doćtrines of our holy faith will not indulge
or endure a delightful dreſs Shall the French poet * affright us, by ſaying,
“De la foy d'un chrétien les myſteres terribles,
“D’ornemens egayez ne ſont point ſuſceptibles *
But the French critict, in his reflexions upon eloquence, tells us, “That the majeſty
of our religion, the holineſs of its law, the purity of its morals, the height of its myſteries,
and the importance of every ſubjećt that belongs to it requires a grandeur, a nobleneſs, a
majeſty, and elevation of ſtyle ſuited to the theme: Sparkling images and magnificent ex-
preſſions muſt be uſed, and are beſt borrowed from ſcripture: Let the preacher, that aims
at eloquence, read the prophets inceſſantly, for their writings are an abundant ſource of all the
riches and ornaments of ſpeech.” And, in my opinion, this is far better counſel than
Horace gives us, when he ſays,
“ Vos exemplaria Graeca
- * Noćturnå verſate manu, verſate diurnă.”
As in the condućt of my ſtudies with regard to divinity, I have reaſon to repent of nothing
more than that I have not peruſed the bible with more frequency; ſo if I were to ſet up for
a poet, with a deſign to exceed all the modern writers, I would follow the advice of Rapin,
and read the prophets night and day. I am ſure the compoſures of the following book would.
* Boileau, t Rapin, }
3f4. PREFACE.
have been filled with much greater ſenſe, and appeared with much more agreeable ornaments,
had Î derived a larger portion from the holy ſcriptures.
Beſides, we may fetch a further anſwer to Monſieur Boileau's objećtion, from other poets
of his own country. What a noble uſe have Racine and Corneille made of chriſtian ſubjects.
in ſome of their beſt tragedies 2 What a variety of divine ſcenes are diſplayed, and pious
paſſions awakened in thoſe poems : The martyrdom of Polyeucte, how doth it reign over
our love and pity, and at the ſame time animate our zeal and devotion 1 May I here be per-
mitted the liberty to return my thanks to that fair and ingenious hand * that direéted me to
ſuch entertainments in a foreign language, which I had long wiſhed for, and ſought in vain
in our own. Yet I muſt confefs, that the Davideis, and the two Arthurs, have ſo far
anſwered Boileau's objećtion, in Engliſh, as that the obſtacles of attempting chriſtian poeſy
are broken down, and the vain pretence of its being impracticable, is experimentally con-
futed+.
It is true indeed, the chriſtian myſteries have not ſo much need of gay trappings as beau-
tified, or rather compoſed, the heathen ſuperſtition. But this ſtill makes for the greater
eaſe and ſurer ſucceſs of the poet. The wonders of our religion, in a plain narration and a
fimple dreſs, have a native grandeur, a dignity, and a beauty in them, though they do not
utterly diſdain all methods of ornament. The book of the Revelation ſeems to be a pro-
pheſy in the form of an opera, or a dramatic poem, where divine art illuſtrates the ſubject
with many charming glories; but ſtill it muſt be acknowledged, that the naked themes of
chriſtianity have ſomething brighter and bold in them, ſomething more ſurpriſing and celeſ-
tiaſ than all the adventures of gods and heroes, all the dazzling images of falſe luſtre that
form and garniſh a heathen ſong: Here the very argument would give wonderful aids to the
muſe, and the heavenly theme would ſo relieve a dull hour, and a languiſhing genius,
that when the muſe nods, the ſenſe would burn and ſparkle upon the reader, and keep him
feelingly awake.
With how much leſs toil and expence might a Dryden, an Otway, a Congreve, or a
Dennis, furniſh out a chriſtian poem, than a modern play 2 There is nothing amongſt all
the ancient fables, or later romances, that have two ſuch extremes united in them, as the
eternal God becoming an infant of days; the poſſeſſor of the palace of heaven laid to ſleep
in a manger; the holy Jeſus, who knew no fin, bearing the fins of men in his body on the
tree; agonies of ſorrow loading the ſoul of him who was God over all, bleſſed for ever ;
and the Sovereign of life ſtretching his arms on a croſs, bleeding and expiring : The
heaven and the hell in our divinity are infinitely more delightful and dreadful than the
childiſh figments of a dog with three heads, the buckets of the Belides, the furies with
fnaky hairs, or all the flowery ſtories of Elyſium. And if we ſurvey the one as themes
divinely true, and the other as a medley of fooleries which we can never believe, the advan-
tage for touching the ſprings of paſſion will fall infinitely on the ſide of the chriſtian poet;
our wonder and our love, our pity, delight, and ſorrow, with the long train of hopes and
fears, muſt needs be under the command of an harmonious pen, whoſe every line makes a
part of the reader's faith, and is the very life or death of his ſoul.
If the trifling and incredible tales that furniſh out a tragedy, are ſo armed by wit and
fancy, as to become ſovereign of the rational powers, to triumph over all the affections,
and manage our ſmiles and our tears at pleaſure ; how wondrous a conqueſt might be ob-
tained over a wild world, and reduce it, at leaſt, to ſobriety, if the ſame happy talent were
employed in dreſſing the ſcenes of religion in their proper figures of majeſty, ſweetneſs, and
terror The wonders of creating power, of redeeming love, and renewing grace, ought not
to be thus impiouſly neglected by thoſe whom heaven has endued with a gift ſo proper to
adorn and cultivate them; an art whoſe ſweet infinuations might almoſt convey piety in
reſiſting nature, and melt the hardeſt ſouls to the love of virtue. The affairs of this life,
# Philomeha. + Sir Richard Blackmore, in his admirable preface to his laſt
poem intitled Alfred, has more copiouſly refuted all Boileau's arguments on this ſubject,
and that with great juſtice and elegance 1723. I am perſuaded that many perſons whe
deſpiſe the poem would acknowledge the juſt ſentiments of that preface.
|
P:REFACE. 21.5
with their reference to a life to come, would ſhine bright in a dramatic deſcription; nor is
there any need or any reaſon why we ſhould always borrow the plan or hiſtory from the
ancient Jews, or primitive martyrs; though ſeveral of theſe would furniſh out noble ma-
terials for this ſort of poeſy : But modern ſcenes would be better underſtood by moſt readers,
and the application would be much more eaſy. The anguiſh of inward guilt, the ſecret
ſtings and racks and ſcourges of conſcience; the ſweet retiring hours, and ſeraphical joys of
devotion; the vićtory of a reſolved ſoul over a thouſand temptations; the inimitable love
and paſſion of a dying God; the awful glories of the laſt tribunal; the grand deciſive
ſentence, from which there is no appeal; and the conſequent tranſports or horrors of the
two eternal worlds; theſe things may be variouſly diſpoſed, and form many poems. How
might ſuch performances, under a divine bleſfing, call back the dying piety of the nation
to life and beauty : This would make religion appear like itſelf, and confound the blaſphe-
mies of a profligate world, ignorant of pious pleaſures. -
But we have reaſon to fear, that the tuneful men of our day have not raiſed their am-
bition to ſo divine a pitch; I ſhould rejoice to ſee more of this celeſtial fire kindled within
them; for the flaſhes that break out in ſome preſent and paſt writings, betray an infernai
ſource. This the incomparable Mr. Cowley, in the latter end of his preface, and the
ingenious Sir Richard Blackmore, in the beginning of his, have ſo pathetically deſcribed
and lamented, that I rather refer the reader to mourn with them, than detain and tire him
here. Theſe gentlemen, in their large and laboured works of poeſy, have given the
world happy examples of what they wiſh and encourage in proſe; the one in a rich variety
of thought and fancy, the other in all the ſhining colours of profuſe and florid dićtion.
If ſhorter ſonnets were compoſed on ſublime ſubjećts, ſuch as the pſalms of David, and
the holy tranſports interſpoſed in the other ſacred writings, or ſuch as the moral odes of
Horace, and the ancient Lyrics; I perſuade myſelf, that the chriſtian preacher would find
abundant aid from the poet, in his deſign to diffuſe virtue, and allure ſouls to God. If
the heart were firſt inflamed from heaven, and the muſe were not left alone to form the
devotion, and purſue a cold ſcent, but only called in as an aſſiſtant to the worſhip, then
the ſong would end where the inſpiration ceaſes; the whole compoſure would be of a
piece, all meridian light and meridian fervour; and the ſame pious flame would be pro-
pagated, and kept glowing in the heart of him that reads. Some of the ſhorter odes of the
two poets now mentioned, and a few of the Reverend Mr. Norris's eſſays in verſe, are con-
vincing inſtances of the ſucceſs of this propoſal. t
It is my opinion alſo, that the free and unconfined numbers of Pindar, or the noble -
meaſures of Milton without rhyme, would beſt maintain the dignity of the theme, as well
as give a looſe to the devout ſoul, nor check the raptures of her faith and love. Though
in my feeble attempts of this kind, I have too often fettered my thoughts in the narrow
metre of our old pſalm-tranſlators; I have contraćted and cramped the ſenſe, or rendered it
obſcure and feeble, by the too ſpeedy and regular returns of rhyme. -
If my friends expečt any reaſon of the following compoſures, and of the firſt or ſecond
“publication, I intreat them to accept of this account. * *
The title aſſures them that poeſy is not the buſineſs of my life; and if I ſeized thoſe
hours of leiſure, wherein my ſoul was in a more ſprightly frame, to entertain them or my-
ſelf with a divine or moral ſong, I hope I ſhall find an eaſy pardon. *A
In the firſt book are many odes which were written to aſſiſt the meditations and worſhip
of vulgar chriſtians, and with a deſign to be publiſhed in the volume of hymns, which have
now paſſed a ſecond impreſſion; but upon the review, I found ſome expreſſions that were
not ſuited to the plaineſt capacity, and the metaphors are too bold to pleaſe the weaker
chriſtian, therefore I have allotted them a place here.
Amongſt the ſongs that are dedicated to divine love, I think I may be bold to aſſert,
that I never compoſed one line of them with any other defign than what they are applied to
here; and I have endeavoured to ſecure them all from being perverted and debaſed to
wanton paſſions, by ſeveral lines in them that can never be applied to a meaner love. Are
not the nobleſt inſtances of the grace of Chriſt repreſented under the figure of a conjugal
flate, and deſcribed in one of the ſweeteſt odes, and the ſofteſt paſtoral that ever was
£ié PREFACE, -
written ? I appeal to Solomon*, in his ſong, and his father David, in Pſ. xlv. if David was
the author: And I am well aſſured, that I have never indulged an equal licence: It was
dangerous to imitate the ſacred writers too nearly, in ſo nice an affair,
The Poems ſacred to virtue, &c. were formed when the frame and humour of my ſoul
was juſt ſuited to the ſubječt of my verſe: The image of my heart is painted in them; and
if they meet with a reader whoſe ſoul is a-kin to mine, perhaps they may agreeably enter-
tain him. The dulneſs of the fancy, and coarſeneſs of expreſſion, will diſappear; the
fameneſs of the humour will create a pleaſure, and inſenſibly overcome and conceal the
defe&ts of the muſe. Young gentlemen and ladies, whoſe genius and education have:
given them a reliſh of oratory and verſe, may be tempted to ſeek ſatisfaction among the
dangerous diverſions of the ſtage, and impure ſonnets, if there be no proviſion of a ſafer
kind made to pleaſe them. While I have attempted to gratify innocent fancy in this reſ-
pećt, I have not forgotten to allure the heart to virtue, and to raiſe it to a diſdain of brutal
pleaſures. The frequent interpoſition of a devout thought may awaken the mind to a
ſerious ſenſe of God, religion, and eternity. The ſame duty that might be deſpiſed in a
fermon, when propoſed to their reaſon, may here, perhaps, ſeize the lower faculties with
furpriſe, delight, and devotion at once; and thus, by degrees, draw the ſuperior powers of
the mind to piety. Amongſt the infinite numbers of mankind, there is not more difference
in their outward ſhape and features, than in their temper and inward inclination. Some are
more eaſily ſuſceptive of religion in a grave diſcourſe and ſedate reaſoning. Some are beſt
frighted from fin and ruin by terror, threatning and amazement; their fear is the pro-
pereſt paſſion to which we can addreſs ourſelves, and begin the divine work: Others can
feel no motive ſo powerful as that which applies itſelf to their ingenuity, and their po-
liſhed imagination. Now I thought it lawful to take hold of any handle of the ſoul, to
lead it away betimes from vicious pleaſures; and if I could but make up a compoſition of
virtue and delight, ſuited to the taſte of well-bred youth, and a refined education, I had
fome hope to allure and raiſe them thereby above the vile temptations of degenerate nature,
and cuſtom, that is yet more degenerate. When I have felt a ſlight inclination to ſatire or
burleſque, I thought it proper to ſuppreſs it. The grinning and the growling muſe are not
hard to be obtained; but I would diſdain their aſſiſtance, where a manly invitation to virtue,
and a friendly ſmile may be ſucceſsfully employed. Could I perſuade any man by a kinder
metfiod, I ſhould never think it proper to ſcold or laugh at him. e
Perhaps there are ſome moroſe readers, that ſtand ready to condemn every line that is
written upon the theme of love; but have we not the cares and the felicities of that ſort of
ſocial life repreſented to us in the ſacred writings Some expreſſions are there uſed with a
déſign to give a mortifying influence to our ſofteſt affections; others again brighten the
charaćter of that ſtate, and allure virtuous ſouls to purſue the divine advantage of it, the
mutual aſſiſtance in the way to ſalvation. Are not the oxxviith and cxxviiith pſalms
indited on this very ſubječt?. Shall it be lawful for the preſs and the pulpit to treat of it
with a becoming ſolemnity in proſe, and muſt the mention of the ſame thing in poeſy be
pronounced for ever unlawful ? Is it utterly unworthy of a ſerious charaćter to write on this
argument, becauſe it has been unhappily polluted by ſome ſcurrilous pens Why may I.
not be permitted to obviate a common and a growing miſchief, while a thouſand vile poems of
the amorous kind ſwarm abroad, and give a vicious taint to the unwary reader I would tell
the world that I have endeavoured to recover this argument out of the hands of impure
writers, and to make it appear, that virtue and love are not ſuch ſtrangers as they are re-
preſented. This bliſsful intimacy of ſouls in that ſtate will afford ſufficient furniture for
the graveſt entertainment in verſe; ſo that it need not be everlaſtingly dreſſed up in ridicule,
nor aſſumed only to furniſh out the lewd ſonnets of the times. May ſome happier genius
promote the ſame ſervice that I propoſed, and by ſuperior fenſe, and ſweeter ſound, render
what I have written contemptible and uſeleſs. - w
The imitations of that nobleſt latin poet of modern ages, Caſimire Sarbiewſki of Poland
would need no excuſe, did they but ariſe to the beauty of the original. I have often taken
* Solomon's ſong was much more in uſe amongſt preachers and writers of divinity when
theſe poems were written than it is now. 1736.
t’r
PREFACE, 217
the freedom to add ten or twenty lines, or to leave out as many, that I might ſuit my ſong
more to my own 1eſign, or becauſe I ſaw it impoſſible to preſent the force, the fineneſs, and
the fire of his expreſſion in our language. There are a few copies wherein I borrowed ſome
hints from the ſame author, without the mention of his name in the title. Methinks I
can allow ſo ſuperior a genius now and then to be laviſh in his imagination, and to indulge
ſome excurſions beyond the limits of ſedate judgment: The riches and glory of his verſe
make atonement in abundance. I wiſh ſome Engliſh pen would import more of his trea-
ſures, and bleſs our nation.
The inſcriptions to particular friends, are warranted and defended by the practice of almoſt
all the Lyric writers. They frequently convey the rigid rules of morality to the mind in the
ſofter method of applauſe. Suſtained by their example, a man will not eaſily be over-
whelmed by the heavieſt cenſures of the unthinking and unknowing; eſpecially when there
is a ſhadow of this pračtice in the divine Pſalmiſt, while he inſcribes to Aſaph or Jeduthun
his ſongs that were made for the harp, or, which is all one, his Lyric odes, though they
are addreſſed to God himſelf. x--
In the Poems of heroic meaſure, I have attempted in rhyme the ſame variety of cadence,
comma and period, which blank verſe glories in as its peculiar elegance and ornament. It
degrades the excellency of the beſt verſification when the lines run on by couplets, twenty
together, juſt in the ſame pace, and with the ſame pauſes. It ſpoils the nobleſt pleaſure of
the ſound: The reader is tired with the tedious uniformity, or charmed to ſleep with the un-
manly ſoftneſs of the numbers, and the perpetual chime of even cadences.
In the Eſſays without rhyme, I have not ſet up Milton for a perfect pattern ; though
he ſhall be for ever honoured as our deliverer from the bondage. His works contain admi-
rable and unequalled inſtances of bright aud beautiful diction, as well as majeſty and
ſereneneſs of thought. There are ſeveral epiſodes in his longer works, that ſtand in ſupreme
dignity without a rival ; yet all that vaſt reverence with which I read his Paradiſe Loſt,
cannot perſuade me to be charmed with every page of it. The length of his periods, and
ſometimes of his parentheſis, runs me out of breath : Some of his numbers ſeem too harſh
and uneaſy. I could never believe that roughneſs and obſcurity added any thing to the true
grandeur of a poem : Nor will I ever affect archaiſms, exoticiſms, and a quaint uncouth-
neſs of ſpeech, in order to become perfeótly Miltonian. It is my opinion that blank verſe
may be written with all due elevation of thought in a modern ſtyle, without borrowing any,
thing from Chaucer’s tales, or running back ſo far as the days of Colin the ſhepherd, and
the reign of The Fairy Queen. The oddneſs of an antic ſound gives but a falſe pleaſure to
the ear, and abuſes the true reliſh, even when it works delight. There were ſome ſuch
judges of poeſy among the old Romans, and Martial ingeniouſly laughs at one of them, that
was, pleaſed even to aſtoniſhment with obſolete words and figures.
“Attonituſque legis terrai frugiferai.” -
So the ill-drawn poſiures and diſtortions of ſhape that we meet with in Chineſe pićtures,
charm a fickly fancy by their very awkwardneſs; ſo a diſtempered appetite will chew coals
and ſand, and pronounce it guſtful.
In the Pindarics I have generally conformed my lines to the ſhorter ſize of the ancients,
and avoided to imitate the exceſſive lengths to which ſome modern writers have ſtretched
their ſentences, and eſpecially the concluding verſe. In theſe the ear is the trueſt judge;
nor was it made to be enſlaved to any preciſe model of elder or later times.
After all, I muſt petition my reader to lay aſide the ſour and fullen air of criticiſm, and
to aſſume the friend Let him chooſe ſuch copies to read at particular hours, when the
temper of his mind is ſuited to the ſong. Let him come with a defire to be entertained and
pleaſed, rather than to ſeek his own diſguſt and averſion, which will not be hard to find.
I am not ſo vain as to think there are no faults, nor ſo blind as to eſpy none : Though I
hope the multitude of alterations in this ſecond edition are not without amendment. There
is ſo large a difference between this and the former, in the change of titles, lines, and whole
poems, as well as in the various tranſpoſitions, that it would be uſeleſs and endleſs, and all
confuſion, for any reader to compare them throughout. The additions alſo make up almoſt
VOL. VII. - E E
218 PREFACE.
half the book, and ſome of theſe have need of as many alterations as the former. Many a
line needs the file to poliſh the roughneſs of it, and many a thought wants richer language to
adorn and make it ſhine. Wide defects and equal ſuperfluities may be found, eſpecially in
the larger pieces; but I have at preſent neither inclination nor leiſure to correct, and I hope
I never ſhall. It is one of the biggeſt ſatisfactions I take in giving this volume to the world?
that I expect to be for ever free from the temptation of making or mending poems again”.
So that my fiends may be perfeótly ſecure againſt this impreſſion's growing waſte upon their
hands, and uſeleſs as the former has done. Let minds that are better furniſhed for ſuch
performances purſue theſe ſtudies, if they are convinced that poeſy can be made ſerviceable
to religion and virtue. As for myſelf, I almoſt bluſh to think that I have read ſo little, and
written ſo much. The following years of my life ſhall be more entirely devoted to the im-
mediate and direct labours of my ſtation, excepting thoſe hours that may be employed in
finiſhing my imitation of the pſalms of David in chriſtian language, which I have now pro-
miſed the world t . .
I cannot court the world to purchaſe this book for their pleaſure or entertainment, by
telling them that any one copy intirely pleaſes me. The beſt of them finks below the idea
which I form of a divine or moral ode. He that deals in the myſteries of heaven, or of the
muſes, ſhould be a genius of no vulgar mold : And as the name Vates belongs to both ; ſo
the furniture of both is compriſed in that line of Horace.
“ ——Cui mens divinior, atque os
“ Magna fonaturum.”
But what Juvenal ſpake in his age, abides true in ours: A complete poet or a prophet is
fuch a one,
& C
Qualem nequeo monſtrare, & ſentio tantùm ”
Perhaps neither of theſe charaćters in perfection ſhall ever be ſeen on earth, till the
ſeventh angel has ſounded his awful trumpet; till the vićtory be complete over the beaſt
and his image, when the natives of heaven ſhall join in conſort with prophets and ſaints,
and fing to their golden harps “Salvation, honour and glory to him that fits upon the
throne, and to the Lamb for ever.” **
* “ Naturam expellas furcă licet, uſque recurret.” HoR. Will this ſhortnote of Horace
excuſe a man who has reſiſted nature many years, but has been ſometimes overcome 2 1736.
Edition the 7th.
+ In the year 1719 theſe were finiſhed and printed.
May 14, 1709.
O N R E A D IN G
DR, WATTS’s POEMS
SACRED TO PIETY AND DEVOTION.
“REGARD the man, who, in ſeraphic lays,
And flowing numbers, ſings his Maker’s
praiſe :
He need invoke no fabled muſe's art,
The heav'nly ſong comes genuine from his
heart,
From that pure heart, which God has deign'd
t’ inſpire
With holy raptures, and a ſacred fire.
Thrice happy man P whoſe ſoul, and guiltleſs
breaſt, *
Are well prepar'd to Jodge th’ almighty gueſt
'Tis he that lends thy tow’ring thoughts their
wing,
And tunes thy lyre, when thou attempt’ſt to
ng :
He to thy-ſoul lets in celeſtial day,
Ev’n whilſt impriſon’d in this mortal clay.
By death’s grim aſpect thou art not alarm’d,
He, for thy ſake, has death itſelf diſarm'd 5
Nor ſhall the grave o'er thee a vićt'ry boaſt ;
Her triumph in thy riſing ſhall be loft,
When thou ſhalt join th’ angelic choirs above,
In never-ending ſongs of praiſe and love.
Eus E BIA,
TO DR. WATTS,
On his Poems sacred to Devotion.
‘O murmuring ſtreams, in tender ſtrains,
My penſive muſe no more
Of love’s enchanting force complains,
Along the flow’ry ſhore.
2. No more Mirtillo’s fatal face
My quiet breaſt alarms;
His eyes, his air, and youthful grace,
Have loſt their uſual charms.
I ºc
3 No gay Alexis in the grove
Shall be my future theme :
I burn with an immortal love,
And ſing a purer flame.
4 Seraphic heights I ſeem to gain,
And ſacred tranſports feel,
While, WATTS, to thy celeſtial ſtrain,
Surpris’d I liſten ſtill.
5 The gliding ſtreams their courſe forbear,
When i thy lays repeat ;
The bending foreſt lends an ear;
The birds their notes forget.
6 With ſuch a graceful harmony
Thy numbers ſtill prolong;
And let remoteſt lands reply,
And echo to thy ſong ;
7 Far as the diſtant regions, where
The beauteous morning ſprings,
And ſcatters odours through the air,
From her reſplendent wing;
8 Unto the new-found realms, which ſee
The latter ſun ariſe,
When, with an eaſy progreſs, he
Rolls down the nether ſkies.”
July, 1706. -
PH i to M E L A.
TO DR. WATTS.
On reading his Hora Lyrica.
** HAIL, heav'n-born muſe! that with ce-
leſtial flame,
And high ſeraphic numbers, durſt attempt
To gain thy native ſkies. No common theme
Merits thy thought, ſelf-conſcious of a foul
Superior, though on earth detain’d a while ;
Like ſome propitious angel’s, that's deſign'd
A reſident in this inferior orb,
To guide the wand'ring ſouls to heavenly
bliſs, •
Thou ſeem'ſt; while thou their everlaſting
ſongs
Haſt ſung to mortal ears, and down to earth
Transfer'd the work of heaven: with thought
ſublime, J
And high ſonorous words, thou ſweetly ſing'ſt
To thy immortal lyre. Amaz'd, we view
The tow'ring height ſtupendous, while thou
ſoar’ſº
Above the the reach of vulgar eyes or thought,
Hymning th' eternal Father; as of old
When firſt the Almighty from the dark
abyſs *
Of everlaſting night and filence call’d
The ſhining worlds with one creating word,
And rais'd from nothing all the heavenly hoſts,
And with external glories fill'd the void,
Harmonious ſeraphs tun’d their golden harps,
And with their chearful Hallelujahs bleſs'd
The bounteous Author of their happineſs;
From orb to orb th’ alternate muſic rang,
And from the chryſtal arches of the ſky .
Reach'd our then glorious world, the native
ſeat
Of the firſt happy pair, who join'd their ſongs
To the loud echoes of the angelic choirs,
And fill'd with bliſsful hymns, terreſtrial hea-
-- Weſ),
The paradiſe of God where all delights
Abounded, and the pure ambroſial air,
Fann’d by mild zephyrs, breath’d eternal
ſweets, --
E E 2
220
POEMS TO THE AUTHOR OF HORAE LYRICAE.
Forbidding death and forrow, and beſtow'd
Fleſh heavenly bloom, and gay immortal youth.
Not ſo, alas ! the vile apoſtate race,
Who in mad joys their brutal hous employ'd,
Aſſaulting with their impious blaſphemies
The power ſupreme that gave 'em life and
breath;
Incarnate fiends ! outrageous they defy’d
Th’ eternal thunder, and almighty wrath
Fearleſs provok'd, which all the other devils
Would dread to meet; remembering well the
day
When driven from pure immortal ſeats above,
A fiery tempeſt hurl’d 'em down the ſkies,
And hung upon the rear, urging their fall
To the dark, deep, unfathomable gulph,
Where bound on ſulph’rous lakes to glowing
rocks
With adamantine chains, they wail their woes,
And know Jehovah great as well as good;
And fix’d for ever by eternal fate,
With horror find his arm omnipotent.
Prodigious madneſs! that the ſacred muſe,
Firſt taught in heav'n to mount immortal
heights,
And trace the boundleſs glories of the ſky,
Should now to ev’ry idol baſely bow,
And curſe the deity ſhe once ador’d,
Ere&ting trophies to each ſordid vice,
And celebrating the infernal praiſe
Of haughty Lucifer, the deſperate foe
Of God and man, and winning every hour
New votaries to hell, while all the fiends
Hear theſe accurſed lays, and thus outdone,
Raging they try to match the human race,
Redoubling all their helliſh blaſphemies,
And with loud curſes rend the gloomy vault.
Ungrateful mortals' ah! too late you’ll
find
What 'tis to banter heav'n and laugh at hell;
To dreſs up vice in falſe deluſive charms,
And with gay colours paint her hideous face,
Leading beſotted ſouls thro' flow'ry paths,
In gaudy dreams, and vain fantaſtic joys
To diſmal ſcenes of everlaſting woe ;
When the great Judge ſhall rear his awful
throne,
And raging flames ſurround the trembling
globe, e
While the loud thunders roar from pole to pole,
And the laſt trump awakes the ſleeping dead 5
And guilty ſouls to ghaſtly bodies driven,
Within thoſe dire eternal priſons ſhut,
Expečt their ſad inexorable doom.
Say now, ye men of wit! What turn of
thought
Will pleaſe you then | Alas, how dull and
poor,
Ev’n to yourſelves will your lewd flights ap-
pear !
How will you envy then the happy fate
9f idiots and perhaps in vain you’ll wiſh,
You'd been as very fools as once you thought
Others, for the ſublimeſt wiſdom ſcorn’d 3
When pointed lightnings from the wrathful
Judge
Shall finge your laurels, and the men
Who thought they flew ſo high, ſhall fall ſo
low.
. No more, my muſe of that tremendous
thought,
Refume thy more delightful theme, and fing
Th’ immortal man, that with immortal verſe
Rivals the hymns of angels, and like them
Deſpiſes moral critics idle rules:
While the celeſtial flame that warms thy foul
Inſpires us, and with holy tranſports moves
Our labouring minds, and nobler ſcenes Pre-
fents
Than all the pagan poets ever ſung.
Homer or Virgil ; and far ſweetcr notes
Than Horace ever taught his founding lyre,
And purer far, tho’ Martial’s ſelf might ſeem
A modeſt poet in our chriſtian days.
May thoſe forgotten and neglected lie,
No more let man be fond of fab’lous gods,
Nor heathen wit debauch one chriſtian line,
While with the coarſe and daubing paint we
y hide
The ſhining beauties of eternal truth,
That in her native dreſs appears moſt bright,
And charms the eyes of angels, Oh! like
thee
Let every nobler genius tune his voice
To ſubjećts worthy of their tow’ring thoughts.
Let HEAVEN and AN N A then your tuneful
art
Improve, and conſecrate your deathleſs lays
To him who reigns above, and her who rules
below.
April 17, 1706.
Joseph STAND EN.
TO DR. WATTS,
On his Divine Poems.
“SAY, human ſeraph, whence that charming
force,
That flame ' that ſoul! which animates each
line;
And how it runs with ſuch a graceful eaſe,
Loaded with pond’rous ſenſe ! Say, did not he
The lovely Jeſus, who commands thy breaſt,
Inſpire thee with himſelf? With Jeſus dwells,
Knit in myſterious bands, the Aaraclete, *
The breath of God, the everlaſting ſource
Of love: And what is love in ſouls like thine,
But air, and incenſe to the poet’s fire;
Should an expiring ſaint whoſe ſwimming eyes
Mingle the images of things about him,
But hear the leaſt exalted of thy ſtrains,
How greedily he’d drink the muſic in,
Thinking his heav'nly convoy waited near !
So great a ſtreſs of powerful harmony,
Nature unable longer to ſuſtain,
Would fink oppreſs'd with joy to endleſs reſt,
POEMIS TO THE AUTHOR OF HORAE LYRICAE.
221
Let none henceforth of providence com-
plain,
As if the world of ſpirits lay unknown,
Fenc'd round with black impenetrable night;
What tho’ no ſhining angel darts from thence
With leave to publiſh things conceal’d from
ſenſe,
In 1anguage bright as theirs, we are here told,
When life its narrow round of years hath roll’d,
What 'tis employs the bleſs'd, what makes
their bliſs ;
Songs ſuch as WATTS’s are, and love like
his.
But then, dear ſir, be cautious how you
uſe
To tranſports ſo intenſely rais’d your muſe,
Leſt, whilſt th’ ecſtatic impulſe you obey,
The ſoul leap out, and drop the duller clay.
Sep. 4, 1706.
HENRY G Rov E.
TO DR. WATTS.
On the fifth Edition of his Hora Lyrica.
“Sover EIGN of ſacred verſe; accept the
lavs
Of a young bard that dares attempt thy praiſe,
A muſe, the meaneſt of the vocal throng,
New to the bays, nor equal to the ſong,
Fir’d with the growing glories of thy fame
Joins all her powers to celebrate thy name.
No vulgar themes thy pious muſe engage,
No ſcenes of luſt pollute thy ſacred page.
You in majeſtic numbers mount the ſkies,
And meet deſcending angels as you riſe,
|
Whoſe juſt applauſes charm the crowded groves,
And Addiſon thy tuneful ſong approves.
Soft harmony and manly vigour join
To form the beauties of each ſprightly line,
For every grace of every muſe is thine.
Milton, immortal bard, divinely bright,
Conducts his favºrite to the realms of light;
Where Raphael’s lyre charms the celeſtial
throng,
Delighted cherubs liſt’ning to the ſong:
From bliſs to bliſs the happy beings rove,
And taſte the ſweets of muſic and of love.
But when the ſofter ſcenes of life you paint,
And join the beauteous virgin to the ſaint,
When you deſcribe how few the happy pairs,
Whoſe hearts united ſoften all their cares,
We ſee to whom the ſweeteſt joys belong,
And Mira’s beauties conſecrate your ſong.
Fain the unnnumber'd graces I would tell,
And on the pleaſing theme for ever dwell;
But the muſe faints, unequal to the flight,
And hears thy ſtrains with wonder and delight.
When tombs of princes ſhall in ruins lie,
And all, but heavefi-born piety, fball die,
When the laſt trumpet wakes the ſilent dead,
And each laſcivious poet hides his head,
With thee ſhaſl thy divine Urania riſe,
Crown'd with freſh laurels, to thy native ſkies:
Great How and Gouge ſhall hail thee on thy
way,
And welcome thee to the bright realms of day,
Adapt thy tuneful notes to heavenly ſtrings,
And join the Lyric Ode while ſome fair ſeraph
fings.”
Sic spirat, sic optat
Tu? amantissimius
BRIT ANN1cus.
*==
|HORE LYRICAE.
POEMS CHIEFLY OF THE LYRIC KIND.
\
—Si nom Uranie Lyram
Caelestem cohibet, mec Polyhymnia
Humanwn refugit tendere Barbiton.
Hor Od. I. imitated.
'A$ovorov psy wrpºro. Osoy, youp w; 3.2xstrol,
Tuº, (koi atºs &vroy) sire & Hpox; 2)2ues,
Tag ra KoroxSovies.
Pythag. Aur. Carm.
BOOK. I.-Sacred to Devotion and Piety.
Worſhipping with Fear.
r WHO dares attempt th” eternal name
With notes of mortal ſound
Dangers and glories guard the theme,
And ſpread deſpair around.
2. Deſtrućtion waits tº obey his frown,
And heav'n attends his ſmile :
A wreath of lightning arms his crown,
But love adorns it ſtill.
3 Celeſtial King, our ſpirits lie,
Trembling beneath thy feet,
And wiſh, and caſt a longing eye,
To reach thy lofty ſeat.
4. When ſhall we ſee the Great Unknown,
And in thy preſence ſtand 2
Reveal the ſplendors of thy throne,
But ſhield us with thy hand.
5 In thee what endleſs wonders meet!
What various glory ſhines
The croſſing rays too fiercely beat
"Upon our fainting minds.
6 Angels are loſt in ſweet ſurpriſe
If thou unveil thy grace;
And humble awe runs thro’ the ſkies,
When wrath arrays thy face.
7 When mercy joins with majeſty
To ſpread their beams abroad,
Not all their faireſt minds on high
Are ſhadows of a God.
8 Thy works the ſtrongeſt ſeraph ſings
In a too feeble ſtrain,
And labours hard on all his ſtrings
To reach thy thoughts in vain.
9 Created powers, how weak they be
How ſhort our praiſes fall!
So much a-kin to nothing we,
And thou th’ eternal All.
Aſking Leave to Sing.
I YET, mighty God, indulge my tongue,
Nor let thy thunders roar,
Whilſt the young notes and vent'rous ſong
- To worlds of glory ſoar.
2. If thou my daring flight forbid
The muſe folds up her wings;
Or at thy word her ſlender reed
Attempts almighty things.
3 Her ſlender reed inſpir’d by thee
Bids a new Eden grow,
With blooming life on every tree,
And fpreads a heav'n below.
4. She mocks the trumpet's loud alarms
Fill'd with thy dreadful breath;
And calls th’ angelic hoſts to arms,
To give the nations death,
5 But when ſhe taſtes her Saviour's love,
And feels the rapture ſtrong,
Scarce the divineſt harp above
Aims at a fºreeter ſong.
Divine judgments.
I NOT from the duſt my ſorrows ſpring,
Nor drop my comforts from the lower
ſkies :
Let all the baneful planets ſhed
Their mingled curſes on my head,
How vain their curſes, if th’ eternal King
Look thro’ the clouds and bleſs me with his
eyes.
Creatures with all their boaſted fºay
Are but his ſlaves, and muſt obey;
They wait their orders from above,
And execute his word, the vengeance, or the
love.
2 ”Tis by a warrant from his hand
The gentler gales are bound to ſleep:
The north wind bluſters, and aſſumes com-
mand
Over the deſart and the deep;
Old Boreas with his freezing pow’rs
Turns the earth iron, makes the ocean glaſs,
Arreſts the dancing riv'lets as they paſs,
And chains them moveleſs to their ſhores;
Lºſ RIC POEMS.
223
6
The grazing ox lows to the gelid ſkies, .
Walks o'er the marble meads with wieling
eyes,
Walks o'er the ſolid lakes, ſnuffs up the
wind, and dies.
Fly to the polar world, my ſong,
And mourn the pilgrims there, (a wretched
throng !)
Seiz'd and bound in rigid chains,
A troop of ſtatues on the Ruſſian plains,
And life ſtands frozen in the purple veins.
Atheiſt, forbear ; no more blaſpheme :
God has a thouſand terrors in his name,
A thouſand armies at command,
Waiting the ſignal of his hand,
And magazines of froſt, and magazines of
flame.
Dreſs thee in ſteel to meet his wrath;
His ſharp artillery from the north -
Shall pierce thee to the ſoul, and ſhake thy
mortal frame. -
Sublime on winter’s rugged wings
He tides in arms along the ſky,
And ſcatters fate on ſwains and kings;
And flocks and herds, and nations die;
While impious lips, profanely bold,
Grow pale; and, quivering at his dreadful
cold, -
Give their own blaſphemies the lie.
The miſchiefs that infeſt the earth,
When the hotdog-ſtar fires therealms on high,
Drought and diſeaſe, and cruei dearth,
Are but the flaſhes of a wrathful eye
From the incens'd divinity.
In vain our parching palates thirſt,
For vital food in vain we cry,
And pant for vital breath ;
The verdant fields are burnt to duſt,
The ſun has drunk the channels dry,
And all the air is death.
Ye ſcourges of our Maker's rod,
*Tis at his dread command, at his imperial
nod
You deal your various plagues abroad.
Hail, whirlwinds, hurricanes and floods
That all the leafy ſtandards ſtrip,
And bear down with a mighty ſweep
The riches of the fields, and honours of the
woods ;
Storms, that ravage o'er the deep,
And bury millions in the waves;
Earthquakes, that in midnight-ſleep
Turn cities into heaps, and make our beds
our graves * *
While you diſpenſe your mortal harms,
*Tis the Creator's voice that ſounds your loud
alarms,
When guilt with louder cries provokes a God
!
{O aſ IllS.
§
2.
O for a meſſage from above
To bear my ſpirits up !
Some pledge of my Creator's love
To calm my terrors, and ſupport my hope 1
Let waves and thunders mix and roar,
Be thou my God, and the whole world is
mine: -
While thou art ſov’reign, I’m ſecure;
I ſhall be rich till thou art poor;
For all I fear, and all I wiſh, heav'n, earth
and hell are thine.
Earth and Heaven.
1 HAŠ.T thou not ſeen, impatient boy 3
Haſt thou
truth,
That gray experience writes for giddy youth
On every mortal joy
“ Pleaſure muſt be daſh’d with pain:”
And yet with heedleſs haſte,
The thirſty boy repeats the taſte,
Nor hearkens to deſpair, but tries the bowl
again,
The rills of pleaſure never run ſincere;
(Earth has no unpolluted ſpring)
From the curs'd ſoil ſome dang'rous taint
they bear ;
So roſes grow on thorns, and honey wears a
fting.
not read
the ſolemn
In vain we ſeek a heaven below the ſky;
The world has falſe, but flatt’ring
charms:
Its diſtant joys ſhow big in our eſteem,
But leſſen ſtill as they draw near the eye;
In our embrace the viſions die,
And when we graſp the airy forms
We loſe the pleaſing dream.
3 Earth, with her ſcenes of gay delight,
Is but a landſcape rudely drawn,
With glaring colours and falſe light;
Diſtance commends it to the ſight,
For fools to gaze upon ;
But bring the nauſeous daubing nigh,
Coarſe and confus’d the hideous figures lie,
Diſſolve the pleaſure, and offend the eye.
4 Look up, my ſoul, pant tow’rd th” eternal
ills;
Thoſe heav'ns are fairer than they ſeem ;
There pleaſures all ſincere glide ºn in cryſtai
rills,
There not a dreg of guilt defiles,
Nor grief diſturbs the ſtream.
That Canaan knows no noxious thing,
No cursed ſoil, no tainted ſprings
Nor *..." on thorns, nor honey wears a
Ings
Felicity Above.
R NO; 'tis in vain to ſeek for bliſs;
For bliſs can ne'er be found
Till we arrive where Jeſus is,
And tread on heav'nly ground.

$224,
LY RIC POEMIS.
2 There's nothing round theſe painted ſkies ;
Or round this duſty clod ;
Nothing, my ſoul, that’s worth thy joys,
Or lovely as thy God.
'Tis heav'n on earth to taſte his love,
To feel his quickning grace;
And all the heav'n I hope above
Is but to ſee his face.
Why move my years in ſlow delay ?
O God of ages why
Let the ſpheles cleave, and maik my way
To the ſuperior ſky.
5 Dear ſov’reign, break theſe vital ſtrings
That bind me to my clay ;
Take me, Uriel, on thy wings,
And ſtretch and ſoar away.
God’s Dominion and Dec, ees.
I KEEP ſilence, alſ created things,
And wait your Maker’s nod :
The muſe ſtands trembling while ſhe ſings
The honours of her God.
2 Liſe, death, and hell, and worlds unknown
Hang on his firm decree :
He ſits on no precarious throne,
Nor borrows leave to be.
3 Th" almighty voice bid ancient night
Her endleſs realms reſign,
And lo, ten thouſand globes of light
In fields of azure ſhine
4. Now wiſdom with ſuperior ſway
Guides the vaſt moving flame,
Whilſt all the ranks of beings pay
Deep lev’ience to his name.
5 He ſpake : The ſun obedient flood,
And held the falling day.
Old Jordan backward drives his flood,
And diſappoints the ſea.
6 Lord of the armies of the ſky,
He marſhals all the ſtars ;
Red comets liſt their banners high,
And wide proclaim his wais.
7 Chain'd to his throne a volume lies,
With all the fates of men,
With every angel’s foum and ſize
Drawn by th’ eternal pen.
& His providence unfolds the book,
And makes his counſels ſhine :
Each opening leaf, and every ſtroke,
Fulfils ſome deep deſign.
9 Here he exalts neglected worms
To ſceptres and a crown;
Anon the following page he turns,
And treads the monarchs down.
yo Not Gabriel aſks the reaſon why,
Nor Go; the reaſon gives;
Nor dates the favourite-angel pry
. Between the folded leaves.
11 My God, I never long'd to ſee
My fate with durious eyes,
What gloomy lines are writ for me,
Or what bright ſcenes ſhall riſe.
12 In thy fair book of life and grace
May I but find my name,
Recorded in ſome humble place
Beneath my Lord the Lamb.
Self-Conſecration.
I IT grieves me, Lord, it grieves me ſole,
That I have liv'd to thee no more,
And waſted half my days ;
My inward pow'rs ſhall burn and flame,
With zeal and paſſion for thy name,
I would not ſpeak, but for my God, nor move,
but to his praiſe.
2. What are my eyes but aids to ſee
The glories of the deity
Inſcrib'd with beams of light
On flow’rs and ſtars P Lord I behold
The ſhinning azure, green and gold ;
But when I try to read thy name, a dimneſs
veils my fight,
3 Mine ears are raiſ'd when Virgil fings
Sicilian ſwains, or Trojan Kings,
And drink the muſic in ;
Why ſhould the trumpet’s brazen voice,
Or oaten reed awake my joys,
And yet my heart ſo ſtupid lie when ſacred
hymns begin.
4 Change me, O God; my fleſh ſhall be
An inſtrument of ſong to thee,
And thou the notes inſpire:
My tongue ſhall keep the heav'nly chime,
My chearful pulſe ſhall beat the time,
And ſweet variety of ſound ſhall in thy praiſe
conſpire.
5 The dealeſt nerve about my heart,
Should it refuſe to bear a part,
With my melodious breath,
I'd tear away the vital cord,
A bloody vićtim to my Lord,
And live without that impious ſtring, or ſhew
my zeal in death.
The Creator and Creaturer.
I OD is a name my ſoul adores,
Th’ almighty Three, th’ eternal One;
Nature and grace, with all their pow’rs,
Confeſs the infinite Unknown.
2. From thy great ſelf thy being ſprings:
Thou at thy own original,
Made up of uncreated things,
And ſelf-ſufficience bears them all.
3 Thy voice produc’d the ſeas and ſpheres,
Bid the waves roar, and planets ſhine ;
But nothing like thy ſelf appears,
Thro' all theſe ſpacious works of thine.
4. Still reſtleſs nature dies and grows;
From change to change the creatures run :
LYRIC POEMS.
225
Thy being no ſucceſſion knows,
And all thy vaſt deſigns are one.
5 A glance of thine runs thro’ the globes,
Rules the bright world, and moves their :
frame :
Broad ſheets of light compoſe thy robes;
Thy guards are form'd of living flame.
6 Thrones and dominions round thee fall.
And worſhip in ſubmiſſive forms;
Thy preſence ſhakes this lower ball,
This little dwelling. place of worms.
7 How ſhall affrighted mortals dare
To fing thy glory or thy grace,
Beneath thy feet we lie ſo far,
And ſee but ſhadows of thy face P
8 Who can behold the blazing light;
Who can approach conſuming flame 3
None but thy wiſdom knows thy might;
None but thy word can ſpeak thy name.
The nativity of Chrift.
a “ SHEPHERDS, rejoice, lift up your eyes,
And ſend your fears away;
News from the region of the ſkies,
Salvation's born to-day.
2 Jeſus, the God whom angels fear,
Comes down to dwell with you :
To-day he makes his entrance here,
But not as monarchs do,
3 No gold, nor purple ſwadling bands,
Nor royal ſhining things; -
A manger for his cradle ſtands
And holds the King of kings.
4 Go, ſhepherds, where the infant lies,
And ſee his humble throne;
With tears of joy in all your eyes,
Go, ſhepherds, kiſs the Son.”
5 Thus Gabriel fang, and ſtraight around
The heav'nly armies throng;
They tune their harps to lofty ſound,
And thus conclude the ſong :
“ 6 Glory to God that reigns above,
Let peace ſurround the earth;
Mortals ſhall know their Maker's love,
At their Redeemer's birth.”
7 Lord! and ſhall angels have their ſongs,
And ºneh no tunes to º P
O may we loſe theſe uſeleſs tongues
When they forget to praiſe !
$' Glory to God that reigns above,
That pitied us forlorn, -
We join to fing our Måker's love,
For there’s a Saviour born. ---
Godºrious, and ſinners ſaved.
'*'. FATHER, how wide thy glory ſhines
How high thy wonders riſel -
Known thrº' the eath by thouſand fighs,
By thouſand thre’ the ſkies, .
WOL. VII, |
2 Thoſe mighty orbs proclaim thy pow'r,
Their motions ſpeak thy ſkill ;
And on the wings of every hour,
We read thy patience ſtill.
3 Part of thy name divinely ſtands
On all thy creatures writ,
They ſhew the labour of thine hands,
Or impreſs of thy feet.
4. But when we view thy ſtrange deſign
To ſave rebellious worms,
Where vengeance and compaſſion join
In their divineſt forms;
5 Our thoughts are loſt in reverend awe :
We love and we adore ;
The firſt arch-angel never ſaw
So much of God before.
6 Here the whole deity is known,
Nor dares a creature gueſs
Which of the glories brighteſt ſhone,
The juſtice or the grace.
7 When finners broke the Father's laws,
The dying Son atones ;
Oh the dear myſteries of his croſs :
The triumph of his groans !
8 Now the full glories of the Lamb
Adorn the heav'nly plains;
Sweet cherubs learn Imanuel's name,
And try their choiceſt ſtrains.
9 O may I bear ſome humble part
In that immortal ſong !
Wonder and joys ſhall tune my heart,
And love command my tongue.
The humble enquiry.
A French ſonnet imitated. 1695.
Grand Dieu, tes jugemens, &c.
I GRACE rules below, and fits inthron’d
above, -
How few the ſparks of wrath! how ſlow they
†) OWe
>
And drop and die in boundleſs ſeas of love
2. But me, vile wretch! ſhould pitying love
embrace
Deep in its ocean, hell itſelf would blaze,
And flaſh and burn me thro’ the boundleſs
ſeas.
3 Yea, Lord, my guilt to ſuch a vaſtneſs grown
Seems to confine thy choice to wrath alone,
And calls thy pow'r to vindicate thy throne.
4. Thine honour bids, “ Avenge thy injur'd
name,”
Thy ſlighted loves a dreadful glory claim,
While my ". tears might but incenſe thy
3.1116,
5 Should heav'n grow black, almighty thunder
roar, . . . . .”
And vengeance blaſt me, I could plead no
more,
But own thy juſticedying,andadore. :
F Fº -
226
iXRIC POEMS.
6
2
3
4. Forgive my treaſons, Prince of grace,
3
A hymn of praiſe for three great ſalvations; viz.
I
2.
3
iſ
2.
3 Part of thy church, by thy command,
Yet can thoſe bolts of death that cleave the
flood
To reach a rebel, pierce this ſacred ſhroud,
Ting'd in the vital ſtream of my Redeemer’s
blood *
The penitent pardoned.
HENCE from my ſoul, my ſins, depart,
Your fatal friendſhip now I ſee ;
Long have you dwelt too near my heart,
Hence, to eternal diſtance flee.
Ye gave my dying Lord his wound,
Yet I careſs'd your viperous brood,
And in my heart-ſtrings lapp'd you round,
You, the vile murderers of my God.
Black heavy thoughts, like mountains, roll
O'er my poor breaſt, with boding fears,
And cruſhing hard my tortured foul,
Wiing thro' my eyes the briny tears,
The bloody Jews were traitors too,
Yet thou hat pray’d for that curs'd race,
“Father, they know not what they do.”
Great advocate, look down 2nd ſee
A wretch, whoſe ſmarting ſorrows bleed;
O plead the ſame excuſe for me !
For, Lord, I knew not what I did.
Peace, my complaints; let every groan
Be ſtill, and filence wait his love;
Compaſſions dwell amidſt his throne,
And thro’ his in moſt bowels move.
Lo, from the everlaſting ſkies,
Gently, as morning-dews diſtil,
The dove immortal downward flies,
With peaceful olive in his bill.
How ſweet the voice of pardon ſounds !
Sweet the relief to deep diſtreſs
I feel the balm that heals my wounds,
And all my pow'rs adore the grace.
From the Spaniſh Invaſion, 1588.
From the Gun, powder Plot, Nov. 5.
From Popery and Slavery by King William
of glorious memory, who landed, Nov. 5,
I688.
Compoſed, Nov. 5, 1695.
INFINITE God, thy counſels ſtand
Like mountains of eternal braſs,
Pillars to prop our finking land,
Or guardian rocks to break the ſeas.
From pole to pole thy name is known,
Thee a whole heav'n of angels praiſe;
Our labouring tongues would reach thy
throne
With the loud triumphs of thy grace.
Stands rais’d upon the Britiſh iſles;
-6
** There, ſaid the Lord, to ages ſtand,
* Firm as the everlaſting hills,”
4. In vain the Spaniſh ocean roared;.
5
6
8
I
2.
3
5
7
8
9
Its billows ſwell’d againſt our ſhorey
Its billows ſunk beneath thy word,
With all the floating war they bore.
“Come, ſaid the ſons of bloody Rome,
“Let us provide new arms from hell ;"
And down they digg'd thro’ earth's dark
g womb,
And ranſack'd all the burning cell.
Oid Satan lent them fiery ſtores,
Infernal coal, and ſulph’rous flame,
And all that burns, and all that roars,
Outrageous fires of dreadful name.
Beneath the ſenate and the throne,
Engines of helliſh thunder lay ;
There the dark ſeeds of fire were ſown,
To ſpring a bright but diſmal day.
Thy love beheld the black deſign,
Thy love that guards our iſland round;
Strange how it quench'd the fiery mine,
And cruſh'd the tempeſt under ground.
The Second Part.
SSUME, my tongue, a nobler ſtrain,
Sing the new wonders of the Lord;
The foes revive their pow'rs again,
Again they die beneath his ſword.
Park as our thoughts our minutes roll,
While tyranny poſſeſs'd the throne,
And murderers of an Iriſh foul
Ran, threatning death, thro’ every town.
The Roman prieſt, and Britiſh prince,
Join'd their beſt force, and blackeſt charms,
And the fierce troops of neighbouring France
Offer'd the ſervice of their arms.
“”Tis done,” they cry’d, and laugh'd
aloud,
The courts of darkneſs rang with joy,
Th' old ſerpent hiſs'd, and hell grew proud,
While Zion mourn’d her ruin nigh.
But lo, the great Deliverer ſails
Commiſſion'd from Jehovah's hand,
And ſmiling ſeas, and wiſhing gales,
Convey him to the longing land.
The happy day, and happy year,
Both in our new ſalvation meet :
The day that quench'd the burning ſnare,
The year that burnt the invading fleet.
Now did thine arm, O God of hoſts,
Now did thine arm ſhine dazzling bright,
The ſons of might their hands had loſt,
And men of blood forgot to fight.
Brigades of angels lin'd the way,
And guarded William to his throne;
There, ye celeſtial warriors, ſtay,
And make his palace like your own.
Then, mighty God, the earth ſhall know
And learn the worſhip of the ſky,
Angels and Britons join below,
To raiſe their Hallelujahs high.
LYRIC POEMS.
227
10 All Hallelujah, heavenly King: .
While diſtant lands thy vićtory ſing.
And tongues their utmoſt pow'rs employ,
The world's bright roof repeats the joy.
The Incomprehenſible.
º FAR in the heav'ns my God retires,
My God, the mark of my deſires,
And hides his lovely face;
When he deſcends within my view,
He charms my reaſon to purſue,
But leaves it tir’d and fainting in th’ unequal
chaſe.
3. Or if I reach unuſual height
Till near his preſence brought,
There floods of glory check my flight,
Cramp the bold pinions of my wit,
And all untune my thought;
Plung'd in a ſea of light I roll, . .
Where wiſdom, juſtice, mercy, ſhines;
Infinite rays in croſling lines
Beat thick confuſion on my fight, and over-
whelm my ſoul.
3 Come to my aid, ye fellow-minds,
And help me reach the throne;
(What fingle ſtrength, in vain deſigns,
United force hath done;
Thus worms may join, and graſp the
poles,
Thus atoms fill the ſea)
But the whole race of creature-ſouls
Stretch'd to their laſt extent of thought,
plunge and are loſt in thee.
4 Great God, behold my reaſon lies
Adoring; yet my love would riſe
On pinions not her own;
Faith ſhall direct her humble flight,
Thro' all the trackleſs ſeas of light,
To Thee, th’ eternal Fair, the Infinite Un-
known.
Death and Eternity.
i. MY thoughts, that often mount the ſkies,
Go, ſearch the world beneath,
Where nature in all ruin lies,
And owns her ſovereign, death.
z: The tyrant, how he triumphs here!
His trophies ſpread around !
And heaps of duſt and bones appear
Thro' all the hollow ground.
3 Theſe ſculls, what ghaſtly figures now !
How loathſome to the eyes }
Theſe are the heads we lately knew
So beauteous and ſo wiſe.
4. But where the ſouls, thoſe deathleſs things,
That left this dying clay
My thoughts, now ſtretch out all your wings,
And trace eternity.
5 O that unfathomable ſea
Thoſe deeps without a ſhore
Where living waters gently play,
Or fiery billows roar,
6 Thus muſt we leave the banks of life,
And try this doubtful ſea ;
Vain are our groans, and dying ſtrife,
To gain a moment’s ſtay.
7 There we ſhall ſwim in heav'nly bliſs,
Or ſink in flaming waves,
While the pale carcaſe thoughtleſs lies,
Amongſt the ſilent graves.
8. Some hearty friend ſhall drop his tear
On our dry bones, and ſay,
“Theſe once were ſtrong, as mine appear,
“And mine muſt be as they.”
9 Thus ſhall our mold'ring members teach
What now our ſenſes learn :
For duſt and aſhes loudeſt preach
Man’s infinite concern.
A Sight of Heaven in Sickneſs.
I OFT have I ſat in ſecret fighs,
To feel my fleſh decay,
Then groan’d aloud with frighted eyes,
To view the tott’ring clay.
2. But I forbid my ſorrows now,
Nor dares the fleſh complain;
Diſeaſes bring their profit too;
The joy o'ercomes the pain.
3 My chearful ſoul now all the day
Sits waiting here and fings;
Looks thro’ the ruins of her clay,
And practiſes her wings.
4 Faith almoſt changes into fight,
While from afar ſhe ſpies,
Her fair inheritance, in light
Above created ſkies.
5
Had but the priſon walls been ſtrong,
And firm without a flaw.
In darkneſs ſhe had dwelt too long,
And leſs of glory ſaw.
6 But now the everlaſting hills
Thro’ every chink appear,
And ſomething of the joy ſhe feels
While ſhe's a pris’ner here.
7 The ſhines of heaven ruſh ſweetly in
At all the gaping flaws;
Viſions of endleſs bliſs are ſeen ;
And native air ſhe draws.
3 O may theſe walls ſtand tott’ring ſtill,
The breaches never cloſe,
If I muſt here in darkneſs dwell,
And all this glory loſe !
Or rather let this fleſh decay,
The ruins wider grow,
'Till glad to ſee th' enlarged way,
I ſtretch my pinions through.
9
The Univerſal Hallelujab.
Pſalm cylviii. Paraphraſed.
I PRAISE ye the Lord with joyful tongue,
Ye pow'rs that guard his throne;
Jeſus the man ſhall lead the ſong,
The God inſpire the tune,
F F 2,
223
LYRIC POEM8.
2 Gabriel, and all th’ immortal choir
That fill the realms above,
Sing; for he form'd you of his fire,
And feeds you with his love.
3 Shine to his praiſe, ye cryſtal ſkies,
The floor of his abode,
Or veil your little twinkling eyes
Before a brighter God.
4 Thou reſtleſs globe of golden light,
Whoſe beams create our days,
Join with the filver queen of night,
To own your borrow'd rays.
5 Bluſh and refund the honours paid
To your inferior names :
Tell the blind world, your orbs are fed
By his o'erflowing flames.
6 Winds, ye ſhall bear his name aloud
Thro’ the ethereal blue,
For when his chariot is a cloud, .
He makes his wheels of you.
7 Thunder and hail, and fires and ſtorms,
The troops of his command,
Appear in all your dreadful forms,
And ſpeak his awful hand,
8 Shout to the Lord, ye ſurging ſeas,
In your eternal roar;
Let wave to wave reſound his praiſe,
And ſhore reply to ſhore :
9 While monſters ſporting on the flood,
In ſcaly filver ſhine,
Speak terribly their Maker God,
And laſh the ſoaming brine.
1o But gentler things ſhall tune his name
To ſofter notes than theſe,
Young zephyrs breathing o'er the ſtream,
Or whiſp'ring thro’ the trees.
I I Wave your tall heads, ye lofty pines,
To him that bid you grow,
Sweet cluſters, bend the fruitful vines
On ev’ry thankful bough.
I2 Let the ſhrill birds his honour raiſe,
And climb the morning-ſky :
While grov'ling beaſts attempt his praiſe
In hoarſer harmony.
13 Thus while the meaner creatures fing,
Ye mortals, take the ſound,
Echo the glories of your King
Thro' all the nations round.
14 Th’ eternal name muſt fly abroad
From Britain to Japan;
And the whole race ſhall bow to God
That owns the name of man.
The Atheiff's Miſake.
1 LAUGH, ye profane, and ſwell and burſt
With bold impiety:
Yet ſhall ye live for ever curs'd,
And ſeek in vain to die.
2 The gaſp of your expiring breath
Conſigns your ſouls to chains,
I
By the laſt agonies of death
Sent down to fiercer pains.
3 Ye ſtand upon a dreadful fleep,
And all beneath is hell ;
Your weighty guilt will ſink you deep,
Where the old ſerpent fell. '
4. When iron ſlumbers bind your fleſh,
5
6
7
8
9
2.
With ſtrange ſurpriſe you’ll find
Immortal vigour ſpring afreſh,
And tortures wake the mind
Then you’ll confeſs the frightful names
Of plagues you ſcorn’d before,
No more ſhall look like idle dreams,
Like fooliſh tales no more.
Then ſhall ye curſe that fatal day,
(With flames upon your tongues)
When yeu exchang'd your ſouls away
For vanity and ſongs.
Behold the ſaints rejoice to die,
For heav'n ſhines round their heads ;
And angel guards prepar'd to fly,
Attend their fainting beds.
Their longing ſpirits part, and riſe
To their celeſtial ſeat;
Above theſe ruinable ſkies
They make their laſt retreat.
Hence, ye profane, I hate your ways,
I walk with pious ſouls ;
There’s a wide diff'rence in our race,
And diſtant are our goals.
The Law given at Sinai.
ARM thee with thunder, heav'nly muſe,
** And keep th’ expe&ting world in awe;
Oft haſt thou ſung in gentler mood
The melting mercies of thy God;
Now give thy fierceſt fires a looſe,
And ſound his dreadful law :
To Iſrael firſt the words were ſpoke,
To Iſrael freed from Egypt’s yoke,
Inhuman bondage The hard galling load
Over-preſs'd their feeble ſouls,
Bent their knees to ſenſeleſs bulls,
And broke their ties to God.
Now had they paſs'd the Arabian bay,
And march’d between the cleaving ſea ;
The riſing waves ſtood guardians of their
wondrous way,
But fell with moſt impetuous force
On the purſuing ſwarms,
And bury’d Egypt all in arms,
Blending in watry death the rider and the
- horſe:
O'er ſtruggling Pharaoh roll'd the mighty
tide,
And ſav'd the labours of a pyramid.
Apis and Ore in vain he cries,
And all his horned Gods beſide,
He ſwallows fate with ſwimming eyes,
And curs’d the Hebrews as he dy’d.
Ah! fooliſh Iſrael, to comply
With Memphian idolatry :
[..YRIC POEMS
229
} 7 Sinai receiv'd his glorious flight,
And bow to brutes, (a ſtupid ſlave)
To idols impotent to ſave
Behold thy God, the Sov’reign of the ſky,
Has wrought ſalvation in the deep,
Has bound thy foes in iron ſleep,
And raiſ’d thine honours high ;
His grace forgives thy follies paſt,
Behold he comes in majeſty,
And Sinai’s top proclaims his law :
Prepare to meet thy God in haſte!
But keep an awful diſtance ſtill :
"Let Moſes round the ſacred hill
The circling limits draw.
4 Hark! The ſhrill echoes of the trumpet roar,
And call the trembling armies near;
Slow and unwilling they appear,
Rails kept them from the mount before,
Now from the rails their fear :
'Twas the ſame herald, and the trump the
ſame
Which ſhall be blown by high command,
Shall bid the wheels of nature ſtand,
And heav'n's eternal will proclaim,
That “ Timc ſhali be no more.”
5 Thus while the labouring angel ſwell'd the
found, *,
And rent the ſkies, and ſhook the ground,
Up roſe th' Almighty; round his ſapphire
'ſeat, -
Adoring thrones in order fell ;
The leſſer powers at diſtance dwell,
And caſt their glories down ſucceſſive at his
feet :
Gabriel the great prepares his way,
“Lift up your heads, eternal doors,” he
cries :
Th’ eternal doors his word obey,
Open and ſhoot celeſtial day
Upon the lower ſkies.
Heav'n's mighty pillars bow’d their head,
As their Creator bid,
And down Jehovah rode from the ſuperior
fphere,
A thouſand guards before, and myriads in
the rear,
6 His chaiot was a pitchy cloud,
The wheels beſet with burning genus ;
The winds in harneſs with the flames
Flew o'er th’ ethereal road :
Down thro’ his magazines he paſt
Of hail, and ice, and fleeey ſnow,
Swift roll'd the triumph, and as faſt.
Did hail, and ice, in melted rivers flow.
The day was mingled with the night,
His feet on ſolid darkneſs trod,
His radiant eyes proclaim'd the God,
And ſcatter'd dreadful light;
He breath'd, and ſulphur ran, a fiery ſtream":
He ſpoke, and, tho’ with unknown ſpeed he
came,
Chid the ſlow tempeſt, and the lagging
flame.
With axle red, and glowing wheel
Did the winged chariot light,
And riſing ſmoke obſcur'd the burning hill.
Lo, it mounts in curling waves,
Lo, the gloomy pride out-braves
The ſtately pyramids of fire
The pyramids to heav'n aſpire,
And mix with ſtars, but ſee their gloomy
offspring higher.
So have you ſeen ungrateful ivy grow
Round the tall oak that fixſcore years has
ſtood
And proudly ſhoot a leaf or two
Above its kind ſupporter's utmoſt bough,
And glory there to ſtand the loftieſt of the
wood.
8 Forbear, young muſe, forbear ;
The flow'ry things that poets ſay,
The little arts of Simile
Are vain and uſeleſs here ;
Nor ſhall the burning hills of old
With Sinai be compar’d,
Nor all that lying Greece has told,
Or learned Rome has heard;
Aftna ſhall be name’d no more
AEtna, the torch of Sicily ;
Not half ſo high
Her lightnings fly,
Not half ſo loud her thunders roar
Croſs the Sicanian ſea, to fright th’ Italian
ſhore.
Behold the ſacred hill: Its trembling ſpire
Quakes at the terrors of the fire,
While all below its verdant feet
Stagger and reel under th’ almighty weight:
Preſs'd with a greater than feign'd Atlas”
load
Deep groan'd the mount ; it never bore
Infinity before,
It bow’d, and ſhook beneath the burden of a
God.
9 Freſh horrors ſeize the camp, deſpair,
And dying groans, torment the air,
And ſhrieks, and ſwoons, and deaths were
there ;
The bellowing thunder, and the lightning's
blaze;
Spread thro’ the hoſt a wild amaze;
Darkneſs on ev'ry ſoul, and pale was ev'ry
face :
Confus’d and diſmal were the cries,
“ Let Moſes ſpeak, or Iſrael dies :”
Moſes the ſpreading terror feels,
No more the man of God conceals
His ſhivering and ſurpriſe:
Yet, with recovering mind, commands
Silence, and deep attention, thro’ the He->
brew bands.
Hark! from the centre of the flame,
All arm’d and feather'd with the ſame,
Majeſtic ſounds breakthro’ the ſmoky cloud;
Sent from the all-creating tongue.
A flight of cherubs guard the words along,
And bear their fiery law to the retreating
crowd.
IC)
236
fyRIC POEMS.
1 r * I am the Lord ; 'Tis I proclaim
That glorious and that fearful name,
Thy God and King: 'Twas I, that
broke
Thy bondage, and th’ Egyptian yoke ;
Mine is the right to ſpeak my will,
And thine the duty to fulfil.
Adore no God befide mc, to provoke mine
€S :
Nor wº me in ſhapes and forms that
men deviſe ;
With rev'rence uſe my name, nor turn my
words to jeſt;
Obſerve my ſabbath well, nor dare profane
my reſt ;
Honour, and due obedience, to thy parents
lve ;
Nor ſpill the guiltleſs blood, nor let the
guilty live :
Preſerve thy body chaſte, and flee th' un-
lawful bed ;
Nor ſtealthy neighbour's gold, his garment,
or his bread :
Forbear to blaſt his name with falſehood,
or deceit:
Nor let thy wiſhes looſe upon his large
eſtate.”
Remember your Creator, &c. Eccl. xii.
I CHILDREN, to your Creator, God,
Your early honoars pay,
While vanity and youthful blood
Would tempt your thoughts aſtray.
2. The memory of his mighty name,
Demands your firſt regard.
Nor dare indulge a meaner flame,
*Till you have lov’d the Lord.
3 Be wiſe, and make his favour ſure,
Before the mournful days,
When youth and mirth are known no more,
And life and ſtrength decays.
4. No more the bleſſings of a feaſt
Shall reliſh on the tongue,
The heavy ear forgets the taſte
And pleaſure of a ſong.
5 Old age, with all her diſmal train,
Invades your golden years
With ſighs and groans, and raging pain,
And death that never ſpares.
6 What will you do when light departs,
And leaves your with’ring eyes,
Without one beam to chear your hearts,
From the ſuperior ſkies 5
7 How will you meet God’s frowning brow,
Or ſtand before his ſeat, -
While nature's old ſupporters bow,
Nor bear their tott’ring weight 2
$ Can you expect your feeble arms
Shall make a ſtrong defence,
When death, with terrible alarms,
Summons the pris’ner hence 2
9 The filver bands of nature burſt,
And let the building fall ;
The fleſh goes down to mix with duſt,
Its vile original.
1o Laden with guilt, (a heavy load)
Uncleans’d and unforgiv'n,
The ſoul returns tº an angry God,
To be ſhut out from heav'n.
Sun, Moon, and Stars, ſiraiſe ye the Lord.
I FAIREST of all the lights above,
Thou ſun, whoſe beams adorn the
ſpheres,
And with unweary'd ſwiftneſs move,
To form the circles of our years ;
2 Praiſe the Creator of the ſkies,
That dreſs'd thine orb in golden rays :
Or may the ſun forget to riſe,
If he forget his Maker's praiſe. -
Thou reigning beauty of the night,
Fair queen of filence, ſilver moon,
Whoſe gentle beams and borrow'd light,
Are ſofter rivals of the noon;
3
Arife, and to that ſov’reign pow'r
Waxing and waning honours pay,
Who bid thee rule the duſky hour,
And half ſupply the abſent day.
Ye twinkling ſtars, who gild the ſkies
When darkneſs has it curtains drawn,
Who keep your watch, with wakeful eyes,
When buſineſs, cares, and day are gone;
5
6
Proclaim the glories of your Lord,
Diſpers’d thro' all the heav'nly ſtreet,
Whoſe boundleſs treaſures can afford
So rich a pavement for his feet.
Thou heav'n of heav'ns, ſupremely bright,
Fair palace of the court divine,
Where, with inimitable light,
The Godhead condeſcends to ſhine.
Praiſe thou thy great Inhabitant,
. Who ſcatters lovely beams of grace
On ev’ry angel, ev’ry ſaint,
Nor veils the luſtre of his face.
O God of glory, God of love,
Thou art the Sun that makes our days;
With all thy ſhining works above,
Let earth and duſt attempt thy praiſe.
8
The Welcome Meſſenger.
I LORD, when we ſee a ſaint of thine
Lie gaſping out his breath,
With longing eyes, and looks divine,
Smiling and pleas'd in death;
2 How we could even contend to lay
Our limbs upon that bed :
We aſk thine envoy to convey
Our ſpirits in his ſtead.
3 Our ſouls are riſing on the wing,
To venture in his place ;
For when grim death has loſt his ſting, *
He has an angel's face.
4 Jeſus, then purge my crimes away,
'Tis guilt creates my fears,
'Tis guilt gives death its fierce array,
| And all the arms it bears,
LYRIC POEMS. 231
5 Oh! if my threatning ſins were gone,
And death had loſt his ſting,
I could invite the angel on,
And chide his lazy wing.
6 Away theſe interpoſing days,
And let the lovers meet ;
The angel has a cold embrace,
But kind, and ſoft, and ſweet.
7 I’d leap at once my ſeventy years,
I’d ruſh into his arms,
And loſe my breath, and all my cares,
Amidſt thoſe heav'nly charms.
s Joyful I’d lay this body down,
And leave the lifeleſs clay,
Without a figh, without a groan,
And ſtretch and ſoar away.
Sincere Praiſe.
.1 ALMIGHTY Maker, God!
How wondrous is thy name !
Thy glories how diffus’d abroad
Thro' the creation’s frame !
2 Nature in every dreſs
Her humble homage pays,
And finds a thouſand ways t” expreſs
Thine undiſſembled praiſe.
3 In native white and red
The roſe and lily ſtand,
And free from pride, their beauties ſpread,
To ſhew thy ſkilful hand.
4. The lark mounts up the ſky,
With unambitious ſong,
And bears her Maker’s praiſe on high
Upon her artleſs tongue.
5 My ſoul would riſe and fing
To her Creator too,
Fain would my tongue adore my King,
And pay the worſhip due.
6 But pride that buſy ſin,
Spoils all that I perform ; "
Curs’d pride, that creeps ſecurely in,
And ſwells a haughty worm.
7 Thy Glories I abate,
Or praiſe thee with deſign ;
Some of the favours 1 forget,
Or think the merit mine.
$ The very ſongs I frame,
Are faithleſs to thy cauſe,
And ſteal the honours of thy name
To build their own applauſe.
Create my ſoul anew,
Elſe all my worſhip’s vain ;
This wretched heart will ne'er be true,
Until 'tis form'd again.
10 Deſcend, celeſtial fire,
And ſeize me from above,
Melt me in flames of pure deſire,
A ſacrifice to love. y *
11 Let joy and worſhip ſpend
The remnant of my days,
And to my God, my ſoul aſcend,
In ſweet perfumes of praiſe.
True Learning,
Partly imitated from a French Sonnet of Mr.
Poiret.
I HAPPY the feet that ſhining truth has
led
With her own hand to tread the path ſhe
pleaſe,
To ſee her native luſtre round her ſpread,
Without a veil, without a ſhade,
All beauty, and all light, as in herſelf ſhe is,
2 Qur ſenſes cheat us with the preſfing crowds
Qf painted ſhapes they thruſt upon the mind :
The truth they ſhew lies wrap’d in ſev’nfold
throuds,
Our ſenſes caſt a thouſand clouds
On unenlighten’d ſouls, and leave them
doubly blind.
3
I hate the duſt that fierce diſputers raiſe,
And loſe the mind in a wild maze of thought:
What empty triflings, and what ſubtle ways,
To fence and guard by rule and rote :
Our God will never charge us, That we
knew them not.
4 Touch, heav'nly word, O touch theſe curi-
ous ſouls;
Since I have heard but one ſoft hint from thee,
From all the vain opinions of the ſchools
(That pageantry of knowing fools)
I feel º pow'rs releas'd, and ſtand divinely
rée,
'Twas this almighty word that all things
made, -
He graſps whole nature in his fingle hand;
All the eternal truths in him are laid,
The ground of all things, and their head,
The circle where they move, and centre
where they ſtand.
5
6
Without his aid I have no ſure defence,
From troops of errors that beſiege me round;
But he that reſts his reaſon and his ſenſe
Faſt here, and never wanders hence,
Unmoveable the dwells upon unſhaken
ground.
Infinite truth, the life of my defires,
Come from the ſky, and join thyſelf to me;
I'm tir’d with hearing, and this reading
tires 5
But never tir’d of telling thee,
'Tis * fair face alone my ſpirit burns to
€62.
7
3 Speak to my ſoul, alone, no other hand
Shall mark my path out with deluſive art;
All nature filent in his preſence ſtand,
Creatures be dumb at his command,
And leave his fingle voice to whiſper to my
heart, *
223
LYRIC POEMS.
9 Retire, my foul, within thyſelf retire,
Away from ſenſe and every outward ſhow :
Now let my thoughts to loftier themes
, aſpire,
My knowledge now on wheels of fire
May mount and ſpread above, ſurveying al
below. r
Io The Lord grows laviſh of his heav'nly
light,
And pours whole floods on ſuch a mind
as this : * . t;
Fled from the eyes ſhe gains a piercing
fight,
She dives into the infinite,
And ſees unutterable things in that un-
known abyſs.
True Wiſdos.
l PRONOUNCE him bleſt, my muſe, whom
wiſdom guides
In her own path to her own heav'nly ſeat;
Thro' all the ſtorms his ſoul ſecurely
glides,
Nor can the tempeſts, nor the tides,
That ri . and roar around, ſupplant his ſteady
eet.
2 Earth, you may let your golden arrows fly,
And ſeek, in vain, a paſſage to his breaſt,
Spread all your painted toys to court his
eye,
He ſmiles, and ſees them vainly try
To lure his ſoul afide from her eternal reſt.
5 Our headſtrong luſts, like a young fiery
horſe,
Start, and flee raging in a violent courſe;
He tames and breaks them, manages and
rides 'em,
Checks their career, and turns and
guides 'em,
And bids his reaſon bridle their licentious
force.
4 Lord of himſelf, he rules his wildeſt
t thoughts,
And boldly ačts what calmly he deſign'd,
Whilſt he looks down and pities human
faults;
Nor can he think, nor can he find
A plague º reigning paſſions, and a ſubjećt
HIll Ilſle
5 But oh! 'tis mighty toil to reach this
r height,
To vanquiſh ſelf is a laborious art;
What manly courage to ſuſtain the fight,
To bear the noble pain, and part
With thoſe dear charming tempters rooted
in the heart :
6 'Tis hard to ſtand when all the paſſions
move,
Hard to awake the eye that paſſion blinds
To rend and tear out this unhappy love,
That clings ſo cloſe about our minds,
And where th’ enchanted ſoul ſo ſweet a
poiſon finds.
7 Hard ; but it may be done. Come hea-
v'nly fire,
Come to my breaſt, and with one power-
ul ray *
Melt off my luſts, my fetters: I can
bear 4.
A while to be a tenant here,
But not be chain’d and priſon'd in a cage of
clay.
8 Heav'n is my home and I muſt uſe my
wings ;
Sublime above the globe my flight aſpires:
I have a ſoul was made to pity kings,
And all their little glitt'ring things;
I have a ſoul was made for infinite deſires.
9 Loos'd from the earth, my heart is up-
ward flown ;
Farewel, my friends, and all that once was
mine :
Now, ſhould you fix my feet on Catfar’s
throne,
Crown me, and call the world my own,
The gold that binds my brows could ne'er
my ſoul confine.
I am the Lord's, and Jeſus is my love ;
He, the dear God, ſhall fill my vaſt
deſire. *
My fleſh below ; yet I can dwell above,
And nearer to my Saviour move;
There all my ſoul ſhall centre, all my
pow'rs conſpire.
IO
11 Thus I with angels live; thus half-divine
I fit on high, nor mind inferior joys :
Fill'd with his love, I feel that God is
mine,
His glory is my great deſign,
That everlaſting proječt all my thoughts
employs.
A Song to Creating Wiſdom.
Part I.
1 ETERNAL Wiſdom, thee we praiſe,
Thee the creation ſings:
With thy loud name, rocks, hills, and ſeas,
And heav'n's high palace rings.
2 Place me on the bright wings of day
To travel with the ſun;
With what amaze ſhall I ſurvey
The wonders thou haſt done *
3 Thy hand how wide it ſpread the ſky!
How glorious to behöid
Ting'd with a blue of heav'nly dye,
And ſtarr'd with ſparkling gold.
4. There thou haſt bid the globes of light
Their endleſs circles run ;
There the pale planet rules the fight,
And day obeys the ſun.
LYRIC POEMS. 233
Part II,
5 Downward I turn my wondring eyes
On clouds and ſloffins below,
Thoſe under-regions of the ſkies
Thy nam’rous glories ſhow.
6 The noiſy winds ſtand ready there
Thy orders to obey, s’
with founding wings they ſweep the air,
To make thy chariot way.
7 There, like a trumpet, loud and ſtrong,
Thy thunder ſhakes our coaſt:
While the red lightnings wave along,
The banners of thine hoſt.
3. On the thin air, without a prop,
Hang fruitful ſhow’rs around :
At thy command they fink, aſid drop
Their fatneſs on the ground.
PART III.
9 Now to the earth I bend my ſong,
And caſt my eyes abroad,
Glancing the Britiſh iſles alofig;
Bleft iſles, confeſs your God.
io How did his wondrous ſkill array
Your fields in charming, green;
A thouſand herbs his art diſplay,
A thouſand flowers between
II Tall oaks for future navies grow,'
Fair Albion's beſt defence,
While corn and vines rejoice below,
Thoſe luxuries of ſenſe.
12 The bleating flocks his paſture feeds :
And herds of larger ſize, . "
That bellow thro’ the Lindian meads,
His bounteous hand ſupplies.
Part I.V.
13 We ſee the Thames careſs the fibres,
He guides her ſilver flopdſ:
While angry. Severn ſwells and roars,
Yet hears her ruler God.
14. The rolling mountains of the deep
Obſerve his ſtröng command;
His breath can raiſe the billows ſteep
Or ſink them to the ſand.
15 Amidſt thy watry kingdoms, Lord,
The firiny nations play,
And ſcaly monſters, at thy word,
Ruſh thro’ the northern ſea.
Part V.
26 Thy glories blaze all nature round;
And ſtrike the gazing fight,
Thro' ſkies, and ſeas, and ſolid ground,
With terror and delight.
I7 Infinite ſtrength, and equal ſkill,
Shine thro’ the worlds abroad,
Our ſouls with vaſt amazement fill,
And ſpeak the builder God:
18 But the ſweet-beauties of thy grace
Our ſofter paſſions move ;
Pity divine in Jeſú's face:
We fee, adore, and love;
"VOL. VII.
* God’s Abſolute Dominion.
I LORD, when my thoughtful ſoul ſurveys
! Fire, air and earth, and ſtars and ſeas,
I call them all thy ſlaves;
. Commiſſion'd by my Father's will,
Poiſons ſhall cure, or balms ſhall kill;
Vernal ſuns, or Zephyr's breath,
May burn or blaſt the plants to death
That ſharp December ſaves;
What can winds or planets boaſt
But a precarious pow'r?
The fun is all in darkneſs loſt,
Froſt ſhall be fire, and fire be froſt,
When he appoints the hour.
2 Lo, the Norwegians near the polar ſky
| Chafe their frozen limbs with ſnow ;
Their frozen limbs awake and glow,
The vital, flame touch'd with a ſtrange
upply
Relcindles for the God of life is nigh;
He bids the vital flood in wonted circles
flow.
Cold ſteel expos'd to northern air,
Drinks the meridian fury of the midnight
béar,
And burns th’ unwary ſtranger there.
3 Enquire, my ſoul, of ancient fame,
Look back two thouſand years, and ſee
The Aſſyrian prince transform'd a brute,
For boaſting to be abſolute :
Once to his court the God of Iſrael carne,
A King more abſolute than he.
I ſee the furnace blaze with rage
| Sevenfold: I ſee amidſt the flame
Three Hebrews of immortal name;
They move, they walk acroſs the burning
ſtage
Unhurt, and fearleſs, while the tyrant ſtood
A ſtatue ; Fear congeal’d his blood :
Nor did the raging element dare
Attempt their garments, or their hair;
It knew the Lord of nature there.
Nature, compell'd by a ſuperior cauſe,
Now breaks her own eternal laws,
Now ſeems to break them, and obeys
Her ſov’reign King in different ways.
Father, how bright thy glories ſhine !
How broad thy kingdom, how divine !
Nature, and miracle, and fate, and chance
are thine.
4 Hence-from my heart, ye idols, flee,
Ye ſounding names of vanity
No more my lips ſhall ſacrifiſe
To chance and nature, tales and lies :
Creatures without a God can yield me no
l ſupplies.
What is the fun, or what the ſhade,
Or froſts, or flames, to kill or ſave 2
His favour is my life, his lips pronounce me
dead :
I And as his awful dićtates bid,
Earth is my mother, or my grave.
G G
LYRIC POEMS.
Condeſcending Grace.
In Imitation of the cxivth Pſaltn.
I WHEN the eternal bows the ſkies,
•To viſit earthly things,
With ſcorn divine he turns his eyes
From towers of haughty kings;
2 Rides on a cloud diſdainful by
A Sultan, or a Czar,
Laughs at the worms that riſe ſo high,
Or frowns 'm from afar;
3 He bids his awful chariot roll
Far downward from the ſkies,
To viſit every humble ſoul,
With pleaſure in his eyes.
4 Why ſhould the Lord that reigns above
Diſdain ſo lofty kings
Say, Lord, and why ſuch looks of love
Upon ſuch worthleſs things
5 Mortals, be dumb ; what creature dares
Diſpute his awful will ;
Aſk no account of his affairs,
But trembke, and be ſtill.
6 Juſt like his nature is his grace,
All ſov’reign, and all free;
Great God, how ſearchleſs are thy ways
How deep thy judgments be
The Infinite,
I QOME ſeraph, lend your heav'nly tongue,
Or harp of golden ſtring,
That I may raiſe a lofty ſong
To our eternal King.
2 Thy names, how infinite they be .
Great Everlafling One !
Boundleſs thy might and majeſty,
And unconfin'd thy throne.
3 Thy glories ſhine of wondrous ſize,
And wondrous large thy grace;
Immortal day breaks from thine eyes,
And Gabriel veils his face.
4. Thine eſſence is a vaſt abyſs,
Which angels cannot found,
An ocean of infinities
Where all our thoughts are drown'd.
5 The myſteries of creation lie
Beneath enlighten’d minds,
Thoughts can aſcend above the ſky,
And fly before the winds.
6 Reaſon may graſp the maſſy hills,
And ſtretch from pole to pole,
'But half thy name our ſpirit fills,
And overloads our ſoul.
7 In vain our haughty reaſon ſwells,
For nothing’s found in Thee.
But boundleſs inconceivables,
And vaſt eteraity,
|
Confeſſion and Pardon,
1 ALAS, my aching heart
Here the keen torment lies ;
It racks my waking hours with ſmart,
And frights my ſlumbering eyes.
2 Guilt will be hid no more,
My griefs take vent apace,
The crimes that blot my conſcience o'er
Fluſh crimſon in my face. t
3 My ſorrows, like a flood,
Impatient of reſtraint,
Into thy boſom, O my God,
Pour out a long complaint.
4. This impious heart of mine
Could once defy the Lord, !
Could ruſh with violence on to ſin,
In preſence of thy ſword,
5 How often have I ſtood
A rebel to the ſkies,
The calls, the tenders of a God,
And mercy’s loudeſt cries!
6 He offers all his grace,
And all his heav'n to me ;
Offers but 'tis to ſenſeleſs braſs,
That cannot feel nor ſee.
7 Jeſus the Saviour ſtands
To court me from above,
And looks and ſpreads his wounded hands,
And ſhews the prints of love.
8 But I, a ſtupid fool,
How long have I withſtood
The bleſſings purchas'd with his ſoul,
And paid for all in blood
9 The heav'nly Dove came down
And tender'd me his wings
To mount me upward to a crown,
And bright immortal things.
Io Lord, I’m aſham'd to ſay
That I refus’d thy Dove,
And ſent thy Spirit griev'd away,
To his own realms of love.
II Not all thine heav'nly charms,
Nor terrors of thy hand,
Could force me to lay down my arms,
And bow to thy command.
12 Lord, 'tis againſt thy face
My fins like arrows riſe,
And yet, and yet, O matchleſs grace'
Thy thunder filent lies.
13 O ſhall I never feel
The meltings of thy love 2
Am I of ſuch hell-harden’d ſteel
That mercy cannot move
14 Now for one powerful glance,
Dear Saviour, from thy face |
This rebel heart no more withſtands,
But ſinks beneath thy grace.
15 O'ercome by dying love I fall,
| Here at thy croſs I lie ;
LYRIC POEMS.
235
And throw my fleſh, my ſoul, my all,
And weep, and love, and die.
16 “Riſe, ſays the Prince of mercy, riſe,
With joy and pity in his eyes:
Riſe, and behold my wounded veins,
Here flows the blood to waſh thy ſtains.
17 See my great Father reconcil'd:”
He ſaid. And lo, the Father ſmil’d;
The joyful cherubs clap'd their wings,
And ſounded grace on all their ſtrings.
Toung Men and Maidens, Old Men and Babes,
Araiſe ye the Lord, Pſ. cxlviii. 12.
SoNs of Adam, bold and young,
In the wild mazes of whoſe veins
A flood of fiery vigour reigns,
And wields your active limbs, with hardy
finews ſtrung ;
Fall proſtrate at th' eternal throne
Whence your precarious pow'rs depend;
Nor ſwell as if your lives were all your own,
But chooſe your Maker for your friend;
His favour is your life, his arm is your
ſupport,
Hi hand can ſtretch your days, or cut your
minutes ſhort.
2 Virgins, who roll your artful eyes,
And ſhoot delicious danger thence:
Swift the lovely lightning flies,
And melts our reaſon down to ſenſe;
Boaſt not of thoſe withering charms
That muſt yield their youthful grace
To age and wrinkles, earth and worms ;
$3ut love the Author of your ſmiling face;
That heav'nly Bridegroom claims your
blooming hours;
O make it your perpetual care
To pleaſe that everlaſting Fair;
His beauties are the ſun, and but the ſhade
is yours.
Infants, whoſe different deſtinies
Are wove with threads of different ſize :
But from the ſame ſpring-tide of tears,
Commence your hopes, and joys, and
fears,
(A tedious train') and date your following
years :
Break your firſt filence in his praiſe
Who wrought your wondrous frame :
With ſounds of tendereſt accent raiſe
Young honours to his name ;
And conſecrate your early days
To know the pow'r ſupreme.
3
Ye heads of venerable age
Juſt marching off the mortal ſtage,
Fathers, whoſe vital threads are ſpun
As long as e'er the glaſs of ſife would run,
Adore the hand that led your way
Thro' º fields a fair long ſummer's
ay 5 º
Gaſp out your ſoul in praiſes to the ſovereign
pow'r
That ſet your weſt ſo diſtant from your
dawning hour.
}
Fóing Fowl, and creeping. Things, praiſe ye the
Lord, Pſ. cxlviii. 10.
I QWEET flocks, whoſe ſoft enamel'd wing
Swift and gently cleaves the ſky;
Whoſe charming notes addreſs the ſpring
With an artleſs harmony.
Lovely minſtrels of the field,
Who in leafy ſhadows fit,
And your wondrous ſtructures build,
Awake your tuneful voices with the dawn-
ing light ;
To nature’s God your firſt devotions pay,
Ere you ſalute the riſing day,
'Tis he calls up the ſun, and gives him
every ray.
2 Serpents, who o'er the meadows ſlide,
And wear upon your ſhining back
Num’rous ranks of gaudy pride,
Which thouſand mingling colours make :
Let the fierce glances of your eyes
Rebate their baleful fire :
In harmleſs play twiſt and unfold
The volumes of your ſcaly gold :
That rich embroidery of your gay attire,
Proclaims your Maker kind and wiſe.
3 Inſe&ts and mites, of mean degree,
That ſwarm in myriads o'er the land,
Moulded by wiſdom’s artful hand,
And curl’d and painted with a various die;
In your innumerable forms
Praiſe him that wears th’ ethereal crown,
And bend his lofty counſels down
To deſpicable worms.
The Compariſon and Complaint.
I INFINITE power, eternal Lord,
How ſov’reign is thy hand :
All nature roſe tº obey thy word,
And moves at thy command.
2. With ſteady courſe thy ſhining ſun
Keeps his appointed way,
And all the hours obedient run
The circle of the day.
3 But ah how wide my ſpirit flies,
And wanders from her God
My ſoul forgets the heav'nly prize,
And treads the downward road.
4. The raging fire, and ſtormy ſea,
Perform thine awful will ;
And ev'ry beaſt and ev'ry tree,
Thy great deſigns fulfil:
5 While my wild paſſions rage within,
Northy commands obey ; *
And fleſh and ſenſe, inſlav'd to fin,
Draw my beſt thoughts away.
6 Shall creatures of a meaner frame
Pay all their dues to thee;
Creatures, that never knew thy name,
That never lov’d like me
7 Great God, create my ſoul anew,
Conform my heart to thine,
G G 2.
336
LYRIC POEMS.
Melt down my will, and let it flow,
And take the mould divine.
7 Seize my whole fame into thy hand ;
Here all my pow'rs I bring ;
Manage the wheels by thy command,
And govern ev'ry ſpring,
9 Then ſhall my feet no more depart,
Nqr Wandring ſenſes roye;
Devotion ſhall be all my heart,
And all my paſſions loye.
Io Then not the ſun ſhall more than I
His Maker's law perform,
Nor travel ſwifter thro’ the ſky,
Nor with a zeal fo warm. º
God Supreme, and Self-ſufficient.
1 WHAT is our God, or what his name
Nor men can learn, nor angels teach ;
He dwells conceal’d in radiant flame,
Where neither eyes nor thoughts can reach.
2 The ſpacious worlds of heav'nly light,
Compar'd with him, how ſhort they fall 2
They are too dalk, and he too bright.
Nothing are they, and God is all.
3 He ſpoke the wondrous word, and la
Creation roſe at his command ;
Whirlwinds and feas their limits know;
Bound in the hgllow of his hand.
4. There reſts the earth, there roll the ſpheres,
There nature leans, and feels her prop :
But his own ſelf-ſufficience bears
The weight of his own glories up.
The tide of creatures ebbs and flows,
Meaſuring their changes by the moon :
No ebb his ſea of glory knows;
His age is one eternal lipon,
Then fly, my ſong, an endleſs round,
The lofty tune let Michael raiſe ;
All nature dwell upon the ſound,
But we can ne'er fulfil the praiſe.
jeſus the only Saviour.
DAM, our father and our head,
{
Tranſgreſt; and juſtice doom'd us dead:
The fiery law ſpeaks all deſpair,
There’s no reprieve, nor pardon there.
Call a bright council in the ſkies ;
“Seraphs the mighty and the wiſe,
Say, what expedient can you give,
That fin be damn'd, and ſinners live 2
Speak, are you ſtrong to bear the load,
The weighty vengeance of a God 2
Which of y&u loves our wretched race,
Or dares ºventure in our place º’’
4. In vain we aſk ; for all around
Stands filence thro’ the heav'nly ground:
There’s not a glorious mind above
Has half the ſtrength, or half the love.
2.
3
}
6
| 5
i
5 But, Q unutterable grace
Th’ eternal Son takes Adam's place;
Down to our world the Saviour flies,
Stretches his naked arms, and dies.
Juſtice was pleas'd to bluiſe the God,
And pay its wrongs with heav'nly blood ;
What unknown racks and pangs he bore
Then roſe: The law could aſk no more,
7 Amazing work look down, ye ſkies,
Wonder and gaze with all your eyes ;
Ye heav'nly thrones, floop from above,
And bow to this myſterious lows,
See, how they bend See, how ti.ey look
Long they had read th” eternal book,
And ſtudied dark decrees in vain,
The croſs and Caivary makes them plain.
Now they are ſtruck with deep amaze,
Each with his wings conceals his face ;
Nor clap their ſounding plumes, and cry,
“ The wiſdom of a Deity lº
Io Low they adole th’ incarnate Son,
And ſing the glories he hath won ;
Sing how he broke our iron chains,
How deep he ſunk, how high he reigns.
II Triumph and reign, vićtorious Lord,
By all thy flaming hoſts ador'd ;
And ſay, dear Conqueror, ſay, how long
Ere we ſhall riſe to join their ſong,
Lo, from afar the promis'd day
Shines with a well diſtinguiſh’d ray;
But my wing’d paſſion hardly bears
Theſe lengths of ſlow delaying years.
13 Send down a chariot from above,
With fiery wheels, and pav'd with love ;
Raiſe me beyond th’ ethereal blue,
To fing and love as angels do.
Looking Upward.
I HE heavens invite mine eye,
The ſtars ſalute me round ;
Father, I bluſh, I mourn to lie
. Thus grov'ling on the ground,
2 My warmer ſpirits move,
And make attempts to fly;
I wiſh aloud for wings of love
To raiſe me ſwift and high.
Beyond thoſe cryſtal vaults,
And all their ſparkling balls ;
They’re but the porches to thy courts,
And paintings on thy walls.
4 Vain world, farewel to you;
Heav’n is my native air :
I bid my ſiends a ſhort adiºus
Impatient to be there,
3
I feel my powers releaſt
From their old fleſhy clod ;
Fair Guardian, bear me up in haſte
And ſet me near my God.
8
LYRIC
POEMS. 937
thrift Dying, Riſing and Reigning,
Il HE dies the heav'nly Lover dies
* The tidings ſtrike a doleful ſound
On my poor heart-ſtrings. Deep he lies
In the cold caverns of the ground,
2 Come, ſaints, and drop a tear or two,
On the dear boſom of your God,
He ſhed a thouſand drops for you,
A thouſand drops of richer blood.
3 Here's love and grief beyond degree,
The Lord of glory dies for men
But lo, what ſudden joys I ſee :
Jeſus the dead revives again.
4 The riſing God forſakes the tomb,
Up to his Father's court he flies;
'Cherubic legions guard him home,
And ſhout him welcome to the ſkies.
Break off your tears, ye ſaints, and tell
How high our great Dellverer reigns;
Sing how he ſpoil'd the hoſts of hell,
And led the monſter death in chains.
5
6 Say, “Live for ever, wondrous King !
“ Born to redeem, and ſtrong to ſave l’’
Then aſk the monſter, “Where’s his ſting 2
“And where’s thy vićtory, boaſting grave P’’
The God of Thunder.
The immenſe, the amazing height,
The boundleſs grandeur of our God,
Who treads the worlds beneath his feet,
And ſways the nations with his nod |
2 He ſpeaks; and lo, all nature ſhakes,
Heav'n's everlaſting pillars bow;
He rends the clouds with hideous cracks,
And ſhoots his fiery arrows through.
Well, let the nations ſtart and fly
At the blue lightning’s horrid glare,
Athieſts and emperors ſhrink and die,
When flame and noiſe torment the air.
4. Let noiſe and flame confound the ſkies,
And drown the ſpacious realms below,
Yet will we fing the Thunderer’s praiſe,
And ſend our loud Hoſannas through.
5 Celeſtial King, thy blazing pow'r
Kindles our hearts to flaming joys,
We ſhout to hear thy thunders roar,
And eeho to our Father's voice.
6. Thus ſhall the God our Saviour come
And lightnings'round his chariot play ;
Ye lightnings, fly to make him room 5
Ye glorious ſtorms, prepage his way.
3
The Day of judgvient.
A N O D E.
Attempted in Engliſh Sapphic.
I WHEN . the fierce north wind with his
- airy forces
Rears up the Baltic to a foaming fury :
And the red lightning, with a ſtorm of hail
CQIGeS
Ruſhing amain down,
5
2 How the poor ſailors ſtand amaz'd and
tremble !
While the hoarſe thunder, like a bloody
trumpet,
Roars a loud onſet to the gaping waters
Quick to devour them.
3 Such ſhall the noiſe be, and the wild diſ-
order,
(If things eternal may be like theſe earthly)
Such the dire terror when the great arch-
angel
Shakes the creation.
4 Tears the ſtrong pillars of the vault of
heav'n,
Breaks up old marble, the repoſe of princes;
See the graves open, and the bones arifing,
Flames all around ’em
Hark, the ſhrill outcries of the guilty
wretches |
Lively bright horror, and amazing anguiſh,
Stare thro’ their eye-lids, while the living
worm lies
Gnawing within them.
6 Thoughts, like old vultures, prey upon their
heart-ſtrings,
And the ſmart twinges, when the eye be-
holds the
Lofty Judge frowning, and a flood of venge-
geance
Rolling afore him.
7 Hopeleſs immortals | how they ſcream and
Íhiver
While devils puſh them to the pit wide-
yawning
Hideous and gloomy to receive them head-
long
Down to the centre.
8 Stop here, my fancy: (all away, ye horrid
Doleful ideas,) come, ariſe to Jeſus,
How he fits God-like and the faints around
him
Thron’d, yet adoring :
9 O may I fit there when he comes trium-
phant,
Dooming the nations ! then aſcend to glory,
While our Hoſannas all along the paſſage
Shout the Redeemer.
The Song of 4ngels above.
EARTH has detain'd me priſoner long,
And I’m grown weary now :
My heart, my hand, my ear, my tongue,
There’s nothing here for yeu.
I
2.
Tir’d in my thoughts I ſtretch me down,
And upward glance mine eyes.
Upward, my Father, to thy throne,
And to my native ſkies.
3 There the dear Man my Saviour ſits,
The God, how bright he ſhines ;
And ſcatters infinite delights
On all the happy minds,
*38
LYRIC POEMS.
4 Seraphs with elevated ſtrains *}
Circle the throne around,
And move, and charm the ſtarry plains
With an immortal ſound.
5 Jeſus the Lord their harps employs,
Jeſus my love they ſing,
Jeſus the name of both our joys
Sounds ſweet from ev’ry ſtring.
6 Hark, how beyond the narrow bounds
Of time and ſpace they run,
And ſpeak in moſt majeſtic ſounds,
The Godhead of the Son.
7 How on the Father's breaſt he lay,
The Darling of his ſoul.
Infinite years before the day
Or heav’ns began to roll,
3 And now they ſink the lofty tone,
And gentler notes they play,
And bring the eternal godhead down
To dwell in humble clay.
3 O facred beauties of the man
(The God reſides within)
His fleſh all pure, without a ſtain,
His ſoul without a fin.
ro. Then, how he look.’d, and how he ſmil'd,
What wondrous things he ſaid :
Sweet cherubs, ſtay, dwell here a while,
And tell what Jeſus did.
Fr. At his command the blind awake,
And feel the gladſome rays ;
He bids the dumb attempt to ſpeak,
They try their tongues in praiſe.
x2 He ſhed a thouſand bleſfings round
Where'er he turn’d his eye;
He ſpoke, and at the ſov’reign ſound
The helliſh legions fly. ..
13 Thus while with unambitious ſtrife
Th’ ethereal minſtrels rove
Thro' all the labours of his life,
And wonders of his love.
s4. In the full choir a broken ſtring
Groans with a ſtrange ſurpriſe ;
The reſt in ſilence mourn their King,
That bleeds, and loves, and dies.
*5 Seraph and ſaint, with drooping wings,
Ceaſe their harmonious breath ;
No blooming trees, nor bubbling ſprings,
While Jeſus ſleeps in death.
ró. Then all at once to living ſtrains
They ſummon every chord,
Break up the tomb, and burſt his chains,
And ſhew their liſing Lord.
17 Around the flaming army throngs
To guard him to the ſkies,
With loud Hoſannas on their tongues,
And triumph in their eyes.
13 In awful ſtate the conqu'ring God
Aſcends his ſhining throne,
While tuneful angels ſound abioad
The vićt’ries he has won.
19 Now let me riſe, and join their ſong,
And be an angel too ;
My heart, my hand, my ear, my tongue,
Here's joyful work for you.
20 I would begin the muſic here,
* And ſo my ſoul ſhould riſe :
O for ſome heav'nly notes to bear
My ſpirit to the ſkies :
2 I There, ye that love my Saviour, fits
There I would fain have place,
Amongſt your thrones, or at your feet,
So l might ſee his face.
22 I am confin'd to earth no more,
But mount in haſte above,
To bleſs the God that I adore,
And ſing the Man I love.
Fire, Air, Earth and Sea, praiſe ye the Lord.
I HARTH, thou great footſtool of our God
Who reigns on high; thou fruitful ſource
Of all our raiment, life and food ;
Our houſe, our parent, and our nurſe;
Mighty ſtage of mortal ſcenes,
Dreſt with ſtrong and gay machines,
Hung with golden lamps around :
(And flow'ry carpets ſpread the ground)
Thou bulky globe, prodigious maſs,
That hangs unpillar'd in an empty ſpace
While thy unweildy weight reſts on the feeble
alry
Bleſs that almighty Word that fix’d and
holds thee there.
2 Fire, thou ſwift herald of his face,
Whoſe glorious rage, at his command,
Levels a palace with the ſand,
Blending the lofty ſpires in ruin with the
baſe :
Ye heav'nly flames, that ſinge the air,
Artillery of a jealous God,
Bright arrows that his ſounding quivers bear
To ſcatter deaths abroad ;
Lightnings, adore the ſov’reign arm that
flings
His vengeance, and your fires, upon the
heads of kings.
3 Thou vital element, the Air,
Whoſe boundleſs magazines of breath
Our fainting flame of life repair, +
And ſave the bubble man from the cold arms
of death :
And ye, whoſe vital moiſture yields
Life’s purple ſtream a freſh ſupply ;
Sweet Waters, wandring thro’ the flow’ry
fields, *.
Or dropping from the ſky;
Confeſs the pow'r whoſe all-ſufficient name
Nor needs your aid to build, or to ſupport
our frame.
4. Now the rude air, with noiſy force,
Beats up and ſwells the angry ſea,
They join to make our lives a prey,
And ſweep the ſailors hopes away.
I.YRIC POEMS
23?
Vain hopes, to reach their kindred on the |5
ſhores |
Lo, the wild ſeas and ſurging waves
Gape hideous in a thouſand graves:
Be ſtill, ye floods, and know your bounds
of ſand,
Ye ſtorms, adore your Maſter's hand;
The winds are in his fiſt, the waves at his
command.
5 From the eternal emptineſs
His fruitful word by ſecret ſprings
Drew the whole harmony of things
That form this noble univerſe :
Old nothing knew his pow'rſul hand,
Scarce had he ſpoke his full command,
Fire, air, and earth, and ſea, heard the
creating call,
And leap'd from empty nothing to this
beauteous all;
And ſtill they dance, and ſtill obey
The orders they receiv'd the great creation-
day.
The Farewell.
I DEAD be my heart to all below,
To mortal joys and mortal cares 5
To ſenſual bliſs that charms us ſo
Be dark, my eyes, and deaf my ears.
2 Here I renounce my carnal taſte
Gf the fair fruit that finners prize :
Their paradiſe ſhall never waſte
One thought of mine, but to deſpiſe.
3 All earthly joys are overweigh’d
With mountains of vexatious care;
And where’s the ſweet that is not laid
A bait to ſome deſtructive ſnare :
4 Be gone for ever, mortal things 3
Thou mighty mole-hikl, earth, farewell !
Angels aſpire on lofty wings,
And leave the globe for ants to dwell.
5 Come heav'n, and fill my vaſt defires,
My ſoul purſues the ſov’reign good :
She was all made of heav'nly fires,
Nor can ſhe live on meaner food.
God only known to himſelf.
| STAND and adore how glorious he
That dwells in bright eternity .
We gaze, and we confound our fight
Plung'd in th’ abyſs of dazzling light.
2 Thus ſacred One, almighty Three,
Great everlaſting Myſtery,
What lofty numbers ſhall we frame
Equal to thy tremendous name *
3 Seraphs, the neareſt to the throne,
Begin, and ſpeak the great Unknown :
Attempt the ſong, wind up your ſtrings,
To notes untry'd, and boundleſs things.
4 You, whoſe capacious pow'rs ſurvey
Largely beyond our eyes of clay : -
Yet what a narrow portion too .
Is ſeen, or known, or thought by you ?
6
I
5
7
1
3
5
How flat your higheſt praiſes fall
Below th’ immenſe Original
Weak creatures we, that ſtrive in vain.
To reach an uncreated ſtrain
Great God, forgive our feeble lays,
Sound out thine own eternal praiſe ;
A ſong ſo vaſt, a theme ſo high,
Calls for the voice that tun'd the ſky.
Pardon and Sančification.
MY crimes awake; and hideous fear
Diſtraćts my reſtleſs mind,
Guilt meets my eyes with horrid glare,
And hell purſues behind. ſ
Almighty vengeance frowns on high,
And flames array the throne;
While thunder murmurs round the ſky,
Impatient to be gone.
Where ſhall I hide this noxious head;
Can rocks or mountains ſave 2
Or ſhall I wrap me in the ſhade
Of midnight and the grave *
Is there no ſhelter from the eye
Of a revenging God
Jeſus, to thy dear wounds I fly,
Bedew me with thy blood.
Thoſe guardian drops my ſoul ſecure,
And waſh away my fin ;
Eternal juſtice frowns no more,
And conſcience ſmiles within.
I bleſs that wondrous purple ſtream
That whitens every ſtain;
Yet is my ſoul but half redeem’d,
If fin the tyrant reign.
Lord, blaſt his empire with thy breath,
That curſed throne muſt fall;
Ye flatt’ring plagues, that work my death,
Fly, for I hate you all.
Sovereignty and Grace.
THE Lord how fearful is his name?
How wide is his command *
Nature, with all her moving frame,
Reſts on his mighty hand,
Immortal glory forms his throne,
And light his awful robe;
Whilſt with a ſmile, or with a frown,
He manages the globe.
A word of his almighty breath
Can ſwell or ſink the ſeas;
Build the vaſt empires of the earth,
Or break them as he pleaſe.
|4 Adoring angels round him fall
In all their ſhining forms,
His ſov’reign eye looks thro’ them all,
And pities mortal worms.
His bowels, to our worthleſs race,
In ſweet compaſſion move ;
He clothes his looks with ſofteſt grace,
And takes his title, love.
940
LYRIC POFMS.
6 Now let the Lord for ever reign,
And ſway us as he will,
Sick, or in health, in eaſe, or pain,
We are his favourites ſtill
7 No more ſhall peeviſh paſſion rife,
The tongue no more complain ;
*Tis ſov’reign love that lends our joys,
And love reſumes again.
The Law and Coſpel.
I « CURST be the man, for ever curſt,
That doth one wilful fin commit;
Death and damnation for the firſt,
Without relief and infinite.”
2 Thus Sinai roars; and round the earth
Thunder, and fire, and vengeance flings;
But Jeſus, thy dear gaſping breath,
And Calvary, ſay gentler things,
3 Pardon, and grace, and boundleſs love, -
Streaming along a Saviour's blood,
And life, and joys, and crowns above,
Dear-purchas'd by a bleeding God.
4 Hark, how he prays, (the charming ſound
Dwells on his dying lips) Forgive :
And every groan, and gaping wound,
Cries, “Father, let the rebels live,”
5 Go, you that reſt upon the law,
And toil, and ſeek ſalvation there,
Look to the flames that Moſes ſaw,
And ſhrink, and tremble, and deſpair.
6 But I’ll retire beneath the croſs,
Saviour, at thy dear feet I lie ;
And the keen ſword that juſtice: draws,
Flaming and red, ſhall paſs me by.
Seeking a divine Calm in a reſtleſs World,
© Mens, quas ſtabili fata regis vice, &c.
Caſimire Book Ilſ. Od. 28.
Y ETERNAL mind, who rul’ſ the fates
Of dying realms, and riſing ſtates,
With one unchang’d decree,
While we admire thy vaſt affairs,
Say, can our little: trifling cares,
Afford a ſmile to thee *
2 Thou ſcattereſt honours, crowns and gold ;
We fly to ſeize, and fight to hold
The bubbles and the oar :
So emmets ſtruggle for a grain ;
So boys their petty wars maintain.
* For ſhells upon the ſhore.
--~
3 Here a vain man his foeptre:breaks,
The next a broken ſpeptre takes,
And warriors win; and loſe;
This rolling world will never ſtand,
Plunder'd and ſnatched from hand'to-hand,
As power decays or grows.
4. Earth's but an atom: Greedy ſwords
Carve it amongſt a thouſand, lords,
And yet they can't agree : -
Let greedy ſwords ſtill fight and ſlay,
I can be poor ; but, Lord, I pray.
To fit and ſmile with thee.
Happy Frailty.
; I << How meanly dwells th’ immortal mind ;
# How vile thefe bodies are :
Why was a clod of earth defign'd
Tº incloſe a heav'nly ſtar 3
| 2 Weak cottage where our ſouls refide:
This fleſh a tott'ring wall;
With frightful breaches gaping wide
The building bends to fall.
3 All round it ſtorms of tröuble blow,
And waves of ſorrow roll ;
Cold waves and winter's ſtorms beat through,
ſ And pain the tenant ſoul.
4 Alas! how frail our ſtate ºr ſaid I ;
And thus went mourning on,
Till fudden from the cleaving ſky
A gleam of glory ſhone.
5 My ſoul all felt the glory come,
And breath’d her native air;
Then ſhe remember'd heav'n her home,
And ſhe a pris’ner here.
6 Straight ſhe began to change her key,
And joyful in her pains,
She ſung the frailty of her clay
In pleaſurable ſtrains.
7 “How weak the pris’n is where I dwell ?
Fleſh but a tott’ring wall.
| The breaches chearfully foretel,’
The houſe muſt ſhortly fall. '
8 No more, my friends, ſhall I complain,
Tho' all my heart-ſtrings ache;
Welcome diſeaſe, and ev’ry pain,
That makes the cottage ſhake.
9 Now let the tempeſt blow all round,
Now ſwell the ſurges high,
And beat this houſe of bondage down,
To let the ſtranger fly,
Io I have a manſion built above
By the eternal hand;
And ſhould the earth’s old baſis move,
• My heav'nly houſe muſt ſtand.
II Yes, for 'tis there my Saviour reigns,
(I long to ſee the God).
And his immortal ſtrength ſuſtains
The courts that coſt him blood.”
12 Hark, from on high my Saviour calls:
I come, my Lord, my love :”
Devotion breaks the priſon-walls,
And ſpeeds my laſt remove.
Launching into Eternity.
IT was a brave attempt ' adventurous-he,
Who, in the firſt ſhip broke the unknown
ſea,
And leaving his dear native ſhores behind,
Truſted his life to the licentious wind.
I ſee the ſurging brine: the tempeſt raves;
He on a pine plank rides acroſs the waves,
Exulting on the edge of thouſand gaping
graves':


LYRIC POEMS.
24 H

He ſteers the winged boat, and ſhifts the ſails,f
Conquers the flood, and manages the gales. . .
Such is the ſoul that leaves this mortal land
Fearleſs when the great Maſter gives com-
mand.
Death is the ſtorm: She ſmiles to hear it
roar,
And bids the tempeſt waft her from the ſhore :
Then with a ſkilful helm ſhe ſweeps the ſeas,
And manages the raging ſtorm with eaſe;
(Her faith can govern death) ſhe ſpreads her),
wings
Wide to the wind, and as ſhe ſails ſhe ſings,
And loſes by degrees the fight of mortal
things.
As the ſhores leſſen, ſo her joys ariſe
The waves roll gentier, and the tempeſt dies :
How vaſt eternity fills ali her fight,
She floats on the broad deep with infinite
delight, *
The ſeas for ever calm, the ſkies for ever
brigh;.
.# Proſpeå of the Reſurreàion.
* How long ſhall death the tyrant reign
And triumph o'er the juſt,
While the rich blood of martyrs ſlain
lies mingled with the duſt 2
2 When ſhall the tedious night be gone *
When will our Lord appear P
Our fond deſires would pray him down,
Our love embrace him here.
3 Let faith ariſe and climb the hills, *
And from afar deſcry
How diſtant are his chariot-wheels,
And tell how faſt they fly.
4 Lo, I behold the ſcatt’ring ſhades,
The dawn of heav'n appears,
The ſweet immortal morning ſpreads
Its bluſhes round the ſpheres.
5 I ſee the Lord of glory come,
And flaming guards around :
The ſkies divide to make him room,
The trumpet ſhakes the ground.
* I hear the voice, “Ye dead ariſe,”
And lo, the graves obey,
And waking ſaints with joyful eyes *
Salute th’ expećted day.
7 They leave the duſt, and on the wing
Riſe to the middle air,
In ſhining garments meet their King,
And low adore him there.
3 O may my humble ſpirit ſtand
Amongſt them cloth’d in white
The meaneſt place at his right-hand
Is infinite delight.
9 How will our joy and wonder riſe,
When our returning King
Shall bear us homeward thro’ the ſkies
On love's triumphant wing !
VOL, WHI.
*
Addominum roſtrum & ſervator.m.
Jeſum Chriſtum.
(). D.A.
I TE, grande numen, corpis incola,
Te, magna magni progenies patris,
Nomen werendum noſtri Jeſu
Vox, Citharaº, calami ſonabunt.
2 Aptentur auro grandiſonae fides,
Chriſti triumphos incipe barbite,
Fraćtoſque terrores averni,
Vićtum erebum, domitamque mortem.
3 Immenſa vaſtos ſaecula circulos
Volvère, blando dum patris in fină
Toto fruebatur Jehovah
Gaudia mille bibens Jeſus;
4 Donec ſuperno widit ab aethere
Adam cadentem, tartara hiantia,
Unāque mergendos ruiná
Heu nimium miſeros nepotes:
5 Vidit minaces vindicit angeli
Ignes & enſem, telaque ſanguine
Tingendo noſtro, dum rapinae
Spe fremuere Erebaea monſtra.
6 Commota ſacras viſcera protinus
Sensére flammas, omnipotens furor
Ebullit, immenſique amoris
AEthereum calet igne pećtus.
7 “Non tota prorſus gens hominum dabit
Hoſti triumphos: quid patris & labor
Dulciſque imago 2 num peribunt
Funditus? O prius aſtra caecis.
8 Mergantur undis, & redeat chaos :
Autipſe diſperdam Satanae dolos,
Aut ipſe diſperdar, & iſti
Scept a dabo moderaada dextrae.
9 Teſtor paternum numen, & hoc caput
Afguale teſtor, dixit :” & aetheris
Inclinatingens culmen, alto
Deſiliitgue ruens olympo.
Io Mortale corpus impiger induit
Artuſque noſtros, heu enues nimis .
Nimiſque viles vindicique
Corda dedit fodienda ferro.
II Vitamgue morti ; proh dolor O graves
Tonantis irae! O lex ſatis aſpera !
Merceſque peccati ſevera
Adamici, vetitique frućtus.
12 Non poena lenis' quë ruens impotens !
uó muſa! larges fundere lachrymas,
Buſtique divini triumphos
Sacrilego temerare fletu ?
13 Sepone queſtus, laeta Deum cane
Majore chordā. Pſalle ſonorius
Ut ferreas mortis cavernas
Et rigidam penetravit aulam.
14. Sensére numen regna feralia,
Mugit barathrum, contremuit chaos,
Dirim fremebat rex Gehennae,
Perque ſuum tremebundus orcum
H. H.
242
LYRIC POEMS.
15 Laté refugit. Nil agis impie,
Mergat vel imis te Phlegethon wadis,
Hoc findet undas fulmen, inquit,”
Et patrios jaculatus ignes
16 Trajecit hoſtem. Nigra ſilentia
Umbraeque flammas aethereas pavent
Dudum peroſae, ex quo coruſco
Praecipites cecidere coelo.
17 Immane rugit jam tonitru ; fragor
Late ruinam mandat: ab infimis
Le&a=due deſignata genti
Tarta, a disjiciuntur antris.
18 Heic ſtrata paſſim vincula, & hete jacent
Unci cruenti, tormina mentium
Inviſa; ploratuque vaſto
Spicula mors fibi adempta plangit.
19 En, ut reſurgit vićtor ab ultimo
Ditis profundo, curribus aureis
Aſtrićta raptans monſtra noćtis
Perdomitumque Erebi tyrannum.
20 Quanta angelorum gaudia jubilant
Vićtor paternum dum repetit polum *
En qualis ardet, pum beati
Limina ſcandit ovans olympi!
21 Io triumphe ple&tra ſeraphica,
Io triumphe grex hominum ſomet,
Dum laeta quaquaverſus ambos
Aſtra repercutiunt triumpho.
Sui-ipſius Increpatio.
EP I G R A MºMA,
CoRPORE cur haeres, Wattſi cur incola
terrae ;
Quid cupis indignum, mens, habitare lutum ?
Te caro mille malis premit; hinc juvenes
gravat artus
Languor, & hinc vegetus crimina ſanguis
alit
Curo, amor, ira, dolor mentem male diſtrahit;
auceps t
Undique adeſt Satanas retia ſæva ſtruens.
Suſpice ut aethereum ſignant tibi nutibus aſtra
Tramitem, & aula vocat parta cruore Dei.
Te manet Uriel dux ; & tibi ſubjicit alas
Stellatas ſeraphin officioſa cohors.
Te ſuperúm chorus optat amans, te invitat
eſus,
“Huc ades & noſtro tempora conde find.”
Verè amat ille lutum quem nec dolor aut Satan
arcet
Inde, nec alliciunt angelus, aſtra, deus.
Excitatio Cordis Coelum verſus,
1694.
HE!! quod séclateris carcere corports,
Wattſ; * quid refugis limen & exitum 2
Nec mens 2thereum culmen, & atria
Magni patris anhelitat
Corpus vile creat mille moleftias,
Circum corda volant & dolor, & metus,
Peccatumque malis durius omnibus
Caecas infidias ſtruit.
Non hoc grata tibi gaudia de ſolo
Surgunt: Chriſtus abeſt, deliciae tuæ,
Longè Chriſtus abeſt, inter & angelos
Et pićta aſtra perambulans.
* Caeli ſumma petas, nec jaculabitur,
Iracunda tonans fulmina : Te Deus
Hortatur ; Vacuum tende per Aera
Pennas nunc homini datas.
Breathing toward the Heavenly Country.
Caſimire, Book I. Od. 19. imitated.
Urit me Patriae Decor, &c.
HE beauty of my native land
Immortal love inſpires;
I burn, I burn with ſtrong deſires,
And figh, and wait the high command,
There glides the moon her ſhining way,
And ſhoots my heart thro' with a ſilver ray,
Upward my heart aſpires:
A thouſand lamps of golden light
Hung high, in vaulted azure, charm my ſight,
And wink and beckon with their amorous
fires,
O ye fair glories of my heav'nly home,
Bright centinels who guard my Father's
Court,
Where all the happy minds reſort,
When will my Father's chariot come *
Muſt ye for ever walk the ethereal round 2
For ever ſee the mourner lie
An exile of the ſky,
A pris’ner of the ground P
Deſcend ſome ſhining ſervants from on high,
Build me a haſty tomb;
A graſſy turf will raiſe my head ;
The neighbouring lilies dreſs my bed;
And ſhed a cheap perfume.
Here I put off the chains of death,
My ſoul too long has worn :
Friends, I forbid one groaning breath,
Or tear to wet my urn ;
Raphael, behold me all undreſt,
Here gently lay this fleſh to reſt ;
Then mount, and lead the path unknown,
Swift I purſue thee, flaming guide, on pinions
of my own.
Caſimiri Epigramma Ioo.
In Sanctum Ardalionem qui ex Mimo Chriſti-
anus fačtus Martyrium paſſus eſt.
RDALIO ſacros deridet carmine ritus,
Feſtaque non aequa voce theatra quatit
Audit omnipotens; “ Non eſt opus, inquit,
hiulco
“ Fulmine ; tam facilem, Gratia, vince
wirum.” w
* Wide Horat, Lib, I. Od: 3.
LYRIC POEMS.
243-
**
Deſerit illa polos, & deſerit iſte theatrum,
Ettereti ſacrum volvit in enſe caput. ..
* Sic, ſic, inquit, abit noſtrae gomoedia
vitae ;
Terra vale, calum plaude, tyranne feri.
Engliſhed.
On Saint Ardalio, who from a Stage-player became
a Chriſtian, and ſuffered Martyrdom :
I ARPALIO jeers, and in his comic ſtrains
The myſteries of
profanes -
While his loud laughter ſhakes the painted
ſcenes.
our bleeding God
2 Heaven heard, and ſtraight around the
ſmoking throne
The kindling lightning in thick flaſhes
ſhone,
And vengeful thunder murmur'd to be gone.
3 Mercy ſtood near, and with a ſmiling brow
Calm'd the loud thunder; “ There's no
need of you;
Grace ſhall deſcend, and the weak man
ſubdue,”
4 Grace leaves the ſkies, and he the ſtage
forſakes,
He bows his head down to the martyring
a Xè9
And as he bows, this gentle farewell ſpeaks;
5 “So goes the comedy of life away;
Vain earth, adieu: heaven will applaud to-
day 5
Strike courteous tyrant, and conclude the
play.”
Mºen the Proteſtant Church at Montpelier was
demoliſhed by the French King’s order, the
Proteſtants laid the ſtones up in their burying-
place, wherein a jeſuit made a Latin Epi-
gram. -
Engliſhed thus :
HUG’NOT church, once at Montpelier
A built,
Stood and proclaim'd their madneſs and
their guilt ;
Too long it ſtood beneath heav'n's angry
frown,
Worthy when riſing to be thunder'd down,
Lewis, at loſt, th’ avenger of the ſkies,
Commands, and level with the ground it
lies :
The ſtones diſpers'd, their wretched off-
ſpring come,
Gather, and heap them on their father's
tonnb,
Thus the curs'd houſe falls on the buil-
der's head :
And tho' beneath the ground their bones :
are laid, >
Yet the juſt vengeance ſtill purſues the
guilty dead.
i
The Anſwer by a French Proteſtant.
Engliſhed thus :
AcHRISTIAN church once at Montpe-
lier ſtood,
And nobly ſpoke the builder’s zeal for God.
It ſtood the envy of the fierce dragon,
But not deſerv'd to be deſtroy’d ſo ſoon :
Yet Lewis, the wild tyrant of the age,
Tears down the walls, a vićtim to his rage.
Young faithful hands pile up the ſacred
ſtones
(Dear monument 1) o'er their dead fathers’
bones:
The ſtones ſhall move when the dead fathers
riſe,
Start up before the pale deſtroyer’s eyes,
I
3
Aud teſtify his madneſs to th’ avenging
ſkies.
Two Happy Rivals, Devotion and the Muſe.
WILD as the lightning, various as the
moon,
Roves my Pindaric ſong :
Here ſhe glows like burning noon
In fierceſt flames, and here ſhe plays
Gentle as ſtar beams on the midnight ſeas:
Now in a ſmiling angel’s form,
Anon ſhe rides upon the ſtorm,
Loud as the noiſy thunder, as a deluge
ſtrong,
Are my thoughts and wiſhes free,
And know no number, nor degree ?
Such is the muſe ! Lo ſhe difdains
The links and chains,
Meaſures and rules of vulgar ſtrains,
And o'er the laws of harmony a ſov’reign
queen ſhe reigns.
If ſhe roves
By ſtreams or groves
Tuning her pleaſures or her pains,
My paſſion keeps her ſtill in ſight,
My paſſion holds an equal flight
Thro' love's, or nature’s wide campaigns.
If with bold attempt ſhe ſings
Of the biggeſt mortal things,
Tottering thrones aud nations ſlain ;
Or breaks the fleets of warring kings,
While thunders roar
From ſhore to ſhore,
My ſoul fits faſt upon her wings,
And ſweeps the crimſon ſuige, or icours the
purple plain ;
Still I attend her as ſhe flies,
Round the broad globe, and all beneath the
ſkies.
But when from the meridian ſtar
Long ſtreaks of glory ſhine,
And heaven invites her from afar,
She takes the hint ſhe knows the ſign,
The muſic aſcends her heav'nly carr,
And climbs the ſteepy path and means the
throne divine.
Then ſhe leaves my flutt’ring mind
Clogg'd with clay, and unrefin'd,
H H 3
244
LYRIC POEMS.

Lengths of diſtance far behind :
Virtue lags with heavy wheel :
Faith has wings, but cannot riſe,
Cannot riſe, Swift and high
As the winged numbers fly,
And faint devotion panting lies
Half way th’ ethereal hill.
4 O why is piety ſo weak,
And yet the muſe fo ſtrong
When ſhall theſe hateful fetters break
That have confin'd me long
Inward a glowing heat I feel,
A ſpark of heav'nly day;
But earthly vapours damp my zeal,
And heavy fiefh drags me the downward ||
way.
Faint are the efforts of my will,
And mortal paſſion charms my ſoul attray.
Shine, thou ſweet hour of dear releaſe,
Shine from the ſky,
And call me high
To mingle with the choirs of glory and of
bliſs.
Devotion there begins the flight,
Awakes the ſong, and guides the way ;
There love and zeal divine and bright
Trace out new regions in the world of light,
And ſcarce the boldeſt muſe can follow or
obey.
I’m in a dream, and fancy reigns,
She ſpleads her gay deluſive ſcenes;
Or is the viſion true Pº
Behöld religion on her throne,
In awful ſtate deſcending down, ,
And her dominions vaſt and bright within
my ſpacious view,
She ſmiles, and with a courteous hand
She beckons mc away, 5
feel mine airy powers looſe from the
cumbrous clay,
And with a joyful haſte obey
Religion’s high command,
What lengths and heights and depths un-
known
Broad fields with blooming glory ſown,
And ſeas, and ſkies, and ſtars her own,
In an unmeaſur’d ſphere !
What heavens of joy, and light ſerene,
Which nor the rolling ſun has ſeen,
Where nor the roving muſe has been
That greater traveller
A long farewel to all below,
Farewel to all that ſenſe can ſhow,
To golden ſcenes, and flow'ry fields,
To all the worlds that fancy builds,
And all that poets know.
Now the ſwift tranſports of the mind
Leave the fluttering muſe behind,
A thouſand looſe Pindaric plumes fly ſcat-
t’ring down the wind,
Amongſt the clouds I loſe my breath,
The rapture grows too ſtrong, :
The feeble pow'rs that nature gave
Faint and drop downward to the grave;
Receive their fall, thou treaſurer of death ;
I will no more demand my tongue,
Till the croſs organ well refia’d
Can trace the boundleſs flights of an un-
fetter’ mind,
And raiſe an equal ſong.
The following Poems of this Book, are pecu-
liarly dedicated to divine love.”
The Hazard of loving the Creatures.
I WHEREER my flatt’ring paſſions rove
| I find a lurking ſnare ;
'Tis dangerous to let looſe our leve
Beneath th' eternal fair.
Souls whom the tie of friendſhip binds,
And partners of our blood,
Seize a large portion of our minds,
And leave the leſs for God.
Nature has ſoft but pow'rful bands,
And reaſon ſhe controls ;
While children with their little hands
Hang cloſeſt to our ſouls.
3
Thoughtleſs,they ačt th' old ſerpent’s part;
What tempting things they be
Lord, how they twine about our heart,
And draw it off from thee.
4.
Our haſty wills ruſh blindly on
Where riſing paſſion rolls,
And thus we make our fetters ſtrong
To bind our ſlaviſh ſouls.
5
6
Dear Sov’reign, break theſe fetters off,
And ſet our ſpirits free ;
God in himſelf is bliſs enough,
For we have all in thee.
Deſiring to love Chriſt.
OME, let me love : or is thy mind
Harden'd to ſtone, or fioze to ice P
I ſee the bleſſed Fair One bend
And ſtoop tº embrace me from the ſkies'
O ! 'tis a thought would melt a rock,
And make a heart of iron move,
That thoſe funeet lips, that heav'nly
look,
Should ſeek and wiſh a mortal love
I was a traitor doom'd to fire,
Bound to ſuſtain eternal pains ;
He flew on wings of ſtrong deſire,
Aſſum'd my guilt, and took my chains.
4 Infinite grace' Almighty charms!
Stand in amaze, ye whirling ſkies,
* Different ages have their different airs and
'faſhions of writing. It was much more the
faſhion of the age, when theſe poems were
written, to treat of divine ſubjects in the ſtyle
of Solomon’s ſong than it is at this day, which
º afford ſome apology for the writer, in his
iyoungeſt years.
LYRIC POEM8.
245,
Jeſus the God, with naked arms,
Hangs on a croſs of love, and dies,
5 Did pity ever ſtoop ſo low,
Dreſs'd in divinity and blood :
Was ever rebel courted ſo
In groans of an expiring God 2
6 Again he lives; and ſpreads his hands,
Hands that were naif"d to tort’ring ſmart :
* By theſe dear wounds,” ſays he 5 and
ſtands
And prays to claſp me to his heart.
7 Sure I muſt love; or are my ears
Stith deaf, nor will my paſſion move 2
Then let nae melt this heart to tears ;
This heart ſhall yield to death or love.
The heart given away.
I IF these are paſſions in my ſoul,
(And paſſions ſure they be)
Now they are all at thy control,
My Jeſus, all for thee.
2 If love, that pleaſing power, can reſt
In hearts ſo hard as mine,
Come, gentle Saviour, to my breaſt,
For all my love is thine.
3 Let the gay world, with treach’rous art,
Allure my cyes in vain :
I have convey'd away my heart,
Ne'er to return again.
4 I feel my warmeſt paſſions dead
To all that earth can boaſt :
This ſoul of mine was never made
For vanity and duſt.
5 Now I can fix my thoughts above,
Amidſt their flatt’ring charms,
Till the dear Lord that hath my love
Shall call me to his arms.
6 So Gabriel, at his King’s command,
From yon celeſtial hill,
Walks downward to our worthleſs land,
His ſoul points upward ſtill.
7 He glides along my mortal things,
Without a thought of love,
Fulfils his taſk, and ſpreads his wings.
To reach the tealms above,
Meditation in a Grove.
T SWEET muſe, deſcend and bleſs the
fhade, -
And bleſs, the evening grove;
Buſineſs, and noiſe, and day are fled,
And every care, but love.
2. But hence, ye wanton young and fair,
Mine is a purer flame;
No Phillis ſhall infeót the air,
With her unhallowed name.
| 3 Jeſus has all my powers poſſeſ,
My hopes, my fears, my joys :
He, the dear Sov’reign of my breaſt,
| Shall ſtill command my voice.
4. Some of the faireſt choirs above
Shall flock around my ſong,
With joy to hear the name they love
Sound from a mortal tongue.
5 His charms ſhall make my numbers flow,
And hold the falling floods,
While filence ſits on ev’ry bough,
And bends the liſt’ning woods.
6
I’ll carve our paſſion on the bark,
And ev’ry wounded tree
Shahl drop and bear ſome myſtic mark
That Jeſus dy’d for me.
The ſwains ſhalt wonder when they read,
Inſcrib’d on all the grove,
That heav’n itſelf came down and bled
To win a mortal’s love.
7
\
The Faireſ; and the Only Beloved.
I
HONOUR to that diviner ray
That firſt allur'd my eyes away
From ev’ry mortaí fair;
All the gay things that held my fig
Seem but the twinkling ſparks of nig"t,
And languiſhing in doubtful light
Die at the morning-ſtar.
2.
Whatever ſpeaks the godhead great,
And fit to be ador’d,
Whatever makes the creature ſweet,
And worthy of my paſſion, meet
Harmonious in my Lord.
A thouſand graces ever riſe
And bloom upon his face ;
A thouſand arrows from his eyes
Shoot thro' my heart with dear ſurpriſe,
And guard around the place.
3 All nature’s art ſhall never cure
The heav'nly pains I found,
And ’tis beyond all beauty’s pow'r
To make another wound :
Earthly beauties grow and fade;
Nature heals the wounds ſhe made,
But charms ſo much divine
Hold a long empire of the heart ;
What heav'n has join’d ſhall never part,
And Jeſus muſt be mine.
4. In vain the envious ſhades of night,
Or flatteries of the day
Would veil his image from my fight,
Or tempt my ſoul away ;
Jeſus is all my waking theme,
His lovely form meets ev’ry dream
And knows not to depart :
The paſſion reigns
Thro' all my veins,
And floating round the crimfon ſtream,
Still finds him at my heart,
246
LYRIC POEMS.
5 Dwell there, for ever dwell, my Love;
Here I confine my ſenſe; -
Nor dare my wildeſt wiſhes rove
Nor ſtir a thought from thence.
Amidſt thy glories and thy grace
Let all my remnant-minutes paſs;
Grant, thou everlaſting Fair,
Grant my ſoul a manſion there :
My ſoul aſpires to ſee thy face
Tho' life ſhould for the viſion pay;
So rivers run to meet the ſea,
And loſe their nature in th’ embrace.
6. Thou art my Ocean, thou my God;
In thee the paſſions of the mind
With joys and freedom unconfin'd
Exult, and ſpread their pow'rs abroad,
Not all the glitt’ring things on high
Can make my heav'n, if thou remove;
I ſhall be tir’d and long to die ;
Life is a pain without thy love ;
Who coyd ever bear to be
Curſt with immortality
Among the ſtars, but far from thee P
Mutual Love ſtronger than Death.
OT the rich world of minds above
Can pay the mighty debt of love
I owe to Chriſt my God:
With pangs which none but he could feel
He brought my guilty ſoul from hell;
Not the firſt ſeraph’s tongue can tell.
The value of his blood.
Kindly he ſeiz'd me in his arms,
Frcm the falſe world’s pernicious charms
With force divinely ſweet.
Had I ten thouſand lives my own,
At his demand,
With chearful hand,
I’d pay the vital treaſure down
In hourly tributes at his feet.
But, Saviour, let me taſte thy grace
With every fleeting breath 2
And thro’ that heav’n of pleaſure paſs
To the cold arms of death ;
Then I could loſe ſucceſſive ſouls
Faſt as the minutes fly ;
So billow after billow rolls
To kiſs the ſhore and die.
The ſubſtance of the following copy, and many of
the lines were ſent me by an effeemed friend,
Mr. W. Nokes, with a deſire that I would
form them into a Pindaric Ode : but F retained
His meaſures, left I ſhould too much alter his
Jen 8.
A Sight of Chriſt.
ANGELS of light, your God and King
ſurround,
With noble ſongs; in his exalted fleſh
He claims your worſhip ; while his ſaints on
earth,
Bleſs their Redeemer-God with humble
tongues.
Angels with lofty honours crown his head;
We bowing at his feet, by faith, may feel
His diſtant influence, and confeſs his love.
Once I beheld his face, when beams
divipe t
Broke from his eye-lids, and unuſual light
Wrapt me at once in glory and ſurpriſe.
My joyful heart high leaping in my breaſt
With tranſport cry’d, “ This is the Chriſt
of God ;”
Then threw my arms around in ſweet
embrace,
And claſp'd, and bow'd adoring low, till
I was loſt in him. *
While he appears, no other charms can
hold
Or draw my ſoul, aſham'd of former things,
Which no remembrance now deſerve or
name,
Tho' with contempt ; beſt in oblivion hid.
But the bright ſhine and preſence ſoon
withdrew ;
I ſought him whom I love, but found him
not ;
I felt his abſence; and with ſtrongeſt cries
Proclaim’d, “Where Jeſus is not, all is
vain.”
Whether I hold him with a full delight,
Or ſeek him pånting with extreme deſire,
'Tis he alone can pleaſe my wond'ring ſoul ;
To hold or ſeek him is my only choice.
If he refrain on me to caſt his eye
Down from his palace, nor my longing
ſoul
With upward look can ſpy my deareſt
Lord
Thro' his blue pavement, I’ll behold him
ſtill
With ſweet refle&tion on the peaceful croſs,
All in his blood and anguiſh groaning deep,
Gaſping and dying there
This fight I ne'er can loſe by it I live :
A quick’ning virtue from his death inſpir’d
Is life and breath to me; his fleſh my food ;
His vital blood I drink, and hence my
ſtrength.
-*
I live, I’m ſtrong, and now eternal life
Beats quick within my breaſt, my vigorous
mind
Spurs the dull earth, and on her fiery wings
Reaches the mount of purpoſes divine,
Counſels of peace betwixt th’ almighty
Three
Conceiv'd at once, and fign'd without
debate ! -
In perfeót union of th’ eternal mind
With vaſt amaze I ſee th’ unfathom'd
thoughts,
Infinite ſchemes, and infinite defigns
4 of God's own heart, in which he ever
reſts.
LYRIC POEMS,
2
4
7
Eternity lies open to my view ;
Here the beginning and the end of all
I can diſcover; Chriſt the end of all,
And Chriſt the great beginning; he my
head, r
My God, my glory, and my all in all.
O that the day, the joyful day were
conne, ---
When the firſt Adam from his ancient duſt
Crown'd with new honours ſhall revive, and
ſee
Jeſus his Son and Lord; while ſhouting
ſaints
Surround their King, and God's eternal Son
Shines in the midſt, but with ſuperior beams,
And like himſelf; then the myſterious
word *
Long hid behind the letter ſhall appear
All ſpirit and life, and in the fulleſt light
Stand forth to public view; and there diſ-
cloſe
His Father’s ſacred works, and wondrous
ways ;
Then wiſdom, righteouſneſs and grace di-
vine,
Thro' all the infinite tranſačtions paſt,
Inwrought and ſhining, ſhall with double
blaze
Strike our aſtoriſh’d eyes, and ever reign
Admir’d and glorious in triumphant light.
Death and the tempter, and the man of
ſin
Now at the bar arraign'd, in judgment caſt,
Shall vex the ſaints no more : but perfect
* love
And loudeſt praiſes perfeót joy create,
While ever circling years maintain the
bliſsful ſtate.
Love on a Croſs, and a Throne.
I. Now let my faith grow ſtrong, and riſe
And view my Lord in all his love ;
Look back to hear his dying cries,
Then mount and ſee his throne above.
2 See where he languiſh’d on the croſs ;
Beneath my fins he groan’d and dy’d ;
See where he ſits to plead my cauſe
By his almighty Father's fide.
3 If I behold his bleeding heart,
There love in floods of ſorrow reigns,
He triumphs o'er the killing ſmart,
And buys my pleaſure with his pains.
4. Or if t climb th” eternal hills
Where the dear Conqueror fits enthron'd,
Still in his heart compaffion dwells,
Near the memorials of his wound.
5 How ſhall a pardon'd rebel ſhow
How much I love my dying God
Lord, here I baniſh ev'ry foe,
I hate the fins that coſt thy blood.
t
6 I hold no more commerce with hell,
My deareſt luſts ſhall all depart ;
Butlet thine image ever dwell
Stampt as a ſeal upon my heart.
4 Preparatory Thought for the Lord’s-Supper.
In limitation of Iſ. lxiii. 1, 2, 3.
* WHAT heav'nly Man, or lovely God,
Comes marching downward from the
ſkies,
Array’d in garments roll’d in blood,
With joy and pity in his eyes 2
2. The Lord the Saviour ! yes, ’tis he,
I know him by the ſmiles he wears;
Dear glorious man that dy’d for me,
Drench’d deep in agonies and tears!
Lo, he reveals his ſhining breaſt ;
I own thoſe wounds, and I adore:
Lo, he prepares a royal feaſt,
Sweet fruit of the ſharp pangs he bore ?
3
4. Whence flow theſe favours ſo divine!
Lord, why ſo laviſh of thy blood 2
Why for ſuch earthly ſouls as mine,
This heav'nly fleſh, this ſacred food 2
'Twas his own love that made him bleed, .
That nail’d him to the curſed tree;
'Twas his own love this table ſpread
For ſuch unworthy worms as we.
5
6
Then let us taſte the Saviour’s love,
Come, faith, and feed upon the Lord:
With glad conſent our lips ſhall move
And ſweet Hoſannas crown the board.
Converſe with Chriſt.
I
I'M tir'd with viſits, modes, and forms,
And flatteries made to fellow-worms :
Their converſation cloys; §
Their vain amours, and empty ſtuff:
But Iſcan ne'er enjoy enough
Of thy beſt company, my Lord, thou life of
all my joys.
2. When he begins to tell his love,
Thro’ ev’ry vein my paſſions move,
The captives of his tongue :
In midnight ſhades, on froſty ground,
I could attend the pleaſing ſound,
Nor ſhould I feel December cold, nor thinks
the darkneſs long.
3 There, while I hear my Saviour-God
Count o'er the fins (a heavy load)
He bore upon the tree,
Inward I bluſh with ſecret ſhame,
And weep, and love, and bleſs the name
That knew not guilt nor grief his own, but
bare it all for me.
4. Next he deſcribes the thorns he wore,
And talks his bloody paſſion o'er,
Till I am drown'd in tears :
Yet with the ſympathetic ſmart
*48
LYRIC POEMS.
There's a ſtrange joy beats round my heart;
The curſed tree has bleſfing in't, my ſweeteſ
balm it bears.
5 I hear the glorious Sufferer tell,
How on his croſs he vanquiſh’d hell,
And all the powers beneath ;
Tranſported and inſpir’d, my tongue
Attempts his triumphs in a ſong :
“How has the ſerpent loſt his ſting, and
where's thy vićtory, death º'
But when he ſhews his hands and heart,
With thoſe dear prints of dying ſmart,
He ſets my ſoul on fire :
6
Not the beloved John could reſt 4
With more delight upon that breaſt,
Nor Thomas pry into thoſe wounds with
more intenſe defire.
Kindly he opens me his ear,
And bids me pour my fourow there,
And tell him all my pains :
Thus while I eaſe my burden'd heart,
In ev’ry woe he bears a part, *
His arms embrace me, and his hand my
drooping head ſuſtains.
$ Fly from my thoughts, all human things,
And ſporting forains, and fighting kings,
And tales of wanton love :
My ſoul diſdains that little ſnare
The tangles of Amira's hair :
Thine arms, my God, are ſweeter bands,
nor can my heart remove.
Graceſhining and Nature fainting
Sol. Song i. 3. & ii. 5, & vi. 5.
I TELL me faireſt of thy kind,
Tell me, Shepherd, all divine,
Where this fainting head reclin’d
May relieve ſuch cares as mine :
Shepherd, lead me to thy grove;
If burning noon infect the ſky
The fick’ning ſheep to covert fly,
The ſheep not half ſo faint as 1,.
Thus overcome with love.
2 Say, thou dear Sov’reign of my breaſt,
Where doſt thou lead thy flock to reſt:
Why ſhould I appear like one
Wild and wandring all alone,
Unbeloved and unknown 2
O my great Redeemer, ſays
Shall I turn my feet aſtray !
Will Jeſus bear to ſee me rove,
To ſee me ſeek another love :
gºy
3 Ne'er had I known his deareſt name,
Ne'er had Î felt this inward flame,
Had not his keart-ſtrings firſt began the
tender ſound :
Nor can I bear the thought, that he
Should leave the ſky,
Should, bleed and die,
Should love a wretch ſo vile as me
Without returns of paſſion for his dying
wound.
ſ
His eyes are glory mix'd with grace;
In his delightful awful face
Sits majeſty and gentleneſs,
So tender is my bleeding heart
That with a frown he kills;
His abſence is perpetual ſmart,
Nor is my ſoul refin'd enough
To bear the beaming of his love,
And feel his warmer ſmiles:
Where ſhall I reſt this drooping head :
I love, I love the ſun, and yet I want the
ſhade.
My ſinking ſpirits feebly ſtrive
Tº endure the extaſy ;
Beneath theſe rays I cannot live,
And yet without them die.
None knows the pleaſure and the pain
That all my inward pow'rs ſuſtain
But ſuch as feel a Saviour's love, and love
the God again.
6 O why ſhould beauty heav'nly bright
Stoop to charm a mortal's fight,
And torture with the ſweet exceſs of light 2
‘Our hearts, alas ! how frail their make
With their own weight of joy they break,
Oh why is love ſo ſtrong, and nature's ſelf
ſo weak
4.
5
Turn, turn away thine eyes,
Aſcend the azure hills, and ſhine
Amongſt the happy tenants of the ſkies,
They can ſuſtain a viſion ſo divine.
O turn thy lovely glories from me,
The joys are too intenſe, the glories over-
COne me,
Dear Lord, forgive my raſh, complaint,
And love me ſtill
Againſt my froward will ;
Unveil thy beauties, tho' I faint.
Send the great herald from the ſky,
And at the trumpet’s awful roar
This feeble ſtate of things ſhall fly,
And pain and pleaſure mix no more :
Then ſhall I gaze with ſtrengthened fight
On glories infinitely bright,
My heart ſhall all be love, my Jeſus all
delight.
Love to Chriſ preſent or abſent.
Fall the joys we mortals know,
Jeſus, thy love exceeds the reſt;
Love, the beſt bleſſings here below,
And neareſt image of the bleſt.
I
Sweet are my thoughts, and ſoft my cares,
When the celeſtial flame I feel;
In all my hopes, and all my fears,
There's ſomething kind and pleaſing ſtill.
2.
While I am held in his embrace
There's not a thought attempts to rove;
Each ſmile he wears upon his face
Fixes, and charms, and fires my love.
3
4 He ſpeaks, and ſtraight immortal joys
Run thro' my ears, and reach my heart;
LYRIC POEMS
249
My ſoul all melts at that dear voice,
And pleaſure ſhoots thro’ ev’ry part.
5 If he withdraw a moment's ſpace,
He leaves a ſacred pledge behind ;
Here in this breaft his image ſtays,
The grief and comfort of my mind.
6 While of his abſence I complain,
And long, and weep as lovers do,
There's a ſtrange pleaſure in the pain,
And tears have their own ſweetneſs too.
7 When round his courts by day I rove,
Or aſk the watchman of the night
..For ſome kind tidings of my love,
His very name creates delight.
8 Jeſus, my God; yet rather come ;
Mine eyes would dwell upon thy face;
'Tis beſt to ſee my Lord at home,
And feel the preſence of his grace.
The Abſence of Chriſt.
1 COME, lead me to ſome lofty ſhade
Where turtles moan their loves;
Tall ſhadows were for lovers made;
And grief becomes the groves.
a 'Tis no mean beauty of the ground
That has inſlav'd mine eyes ;
I faint beneath a nobler wound,
Nor love below the ſkies.
3 Jeſus the ſpring of all that's bright,
The everlaſting fair,
Heaven's ornament, and heaven's delight,
Is my eternal care.
4. But ah! how far above this grove
Does the bright charmer dwell ?
Abſence, thou keeneſt wound to love,
That ſharpeſt pain, I feel.
5 Penſive I climb the ſacred hills,
And near him vent my woes ;
Yet his ſweet face he ſtill conceals,
Yet ſtill my paſſion grows.
6 I murmur to the hollow vale,
I tell the rocks my flame,
And bleſs the echo in her cell
That beſt repeats her name.
* My paſſion breathes perpetual fighs,
Till pitying winds ſhall hear,
And gently bear them up the ſkies,
And gently wound his ear.
Deſiring his Deſcent to Earth.
1 Jººs, I love. Come, deareſt name,
Come and poſſeſs this heart of mine ;
I love, tho' 'tis a fainter flame,
And infinitely leſs than thine.
2 O! if my Lord would leave the ſkies,
Dreſt in the rays of mildeſt grace,
My ſoul ſhould haſten to my eyes,
To meet the pleaſures of his face.
3 How would I feaſt on all his charms,
Then round his lovely feet entwine !
Worſhip and love in all their forms,
Should honour beauty ſo divine.
VOL. VII,
|
i
We
ſ
4. In vain the tempter’s flatt’ring tongue,
The world in vain ſhould bid me move,
In vain; for I ſhould gaze ſo long
Till I were all transform'd to love.
Then, mighty God, I’d ſing and ſay,
“What empty names are crowns and kings:
Amongſt 'em give theſe worlds away,
Theſe little deſpicable things.”
I would not aſk to climb the ſky,
Nor envy angels their abode,
I have a heav'n as bright and high
In the bleſt viſion of my God.
5
6
Aſcending to bim in Heaven.
1 *TIS pure delight, without alloy,
Jeſus, to hear thy name,
My ſpirit leaps with inward joy,
I feel the ſacred flame.
My paſſions hold a pleaſing reign,
While love inſpires my breaſt,
Love, the divineſt of the train,
The ſov’reign of the reſt.
This is the grace muſt live and ſing,
When faith and fear ſhall ceaſe,
Muſt ſound from ev’ry joyful ſtring
Thro' the ſweet groves of bliſs.
4 Let life immortal ſeize my clay ; w
Let love refine my blood :
Her flames can bear my ſoul away,
Can bring me near my God.
5 Swift I aſcend the heav'nly place,
And haſten to my home,
I leap to meet thy kind embrace,
I come, O Lord, I come.
6 Sink down, ye ſeparating hills,
Let guilt and death remove,
'Tis love that drives my chariot wheels,
And death muſt yield to love.
2
3
The Preſence of God worth dying for: Or, The
Death of Moſes.
I LORD, 'tis an infinite delight
To ſee thy lovely face,
To dwell whole ages in thy ſight,
And feel thy vital rays.
2 This Gabriel knows ; and fings thy name
With rapture on his tongue ;
Moſes the ſaint enjoys the ſame,
And heav'n repeats the ſong.
3 While the bright nation founds thy praiſe
From each eternal hill,
Sweet odours of exhaling grace
The happy region fill.
4. Thy love, a ſea without a ſhore,
Spreads life and joy abroad :
O'tis a heav'n worth dying for
To ſee a ſmiling God
5 Shew me thy face, and I'll away
From all inferior things:
Speak, Lord, and here I quit my clays
And ſtretch my º wings.
\
250
LYRIC POEMS.
6 Sweet was the journey to the ſky
The wondrous prophet try’d ;
** Climb up the mount, ſays God, and die,
The prophet climb'd and dy’d.
7 Softly his fainting head he lay
Upon his Maker’s breaſt,
His Maker kiſs'd his ſoul away,
And laid his fleſh to reſt.
8 In God’s own arms he left the breath
That God’s own Spirit gave :
His was the nobleſt road to death,
And his the ſweeteſt grave.
Long for bis Return.
I O *TWAS a mournful parting day !
“Farewel, my ſpouſe,” he ſaid;
(How tedious, Lord, is thy delay !
How long my love hath ſtay’d
2 Farewel : at once he left the ground,
And climb'd his Father’s ſky :
Lord, I would tempt thy chariot down,
Or leap to thee on high.
3 Round the creation wild I rove,
And ſearch the globe in vain ;
There’s nothing here that’s worth my love
Till thou return again.
4 My paſſions fly to ſeek their King,
And ſend their groans abroad,
They beat the air with heavy wing,
And mourn an abſent God:
5 With inward pain my heart-ſtrings found,
My ſoul diſſolves away ; \
Dear Sov’reign, whirl the ſeaſons round,
...And bring the promis'd day.
Hope in Darkneſs.
I694.
I YET, Gracious God,
Yet will 1 ſeek thy ſmiling face;
What tho' a ſhort eclipſe his beauties ſhrowd
And bar the influence of his rays,
*Tis but a morning vapour, or a ſummer
cloud :
He is my Sun tho’ he refuſe to ſhine,
Tho' for a moment he depart
I dwell for ever on his heart,
For ever he on mine.
Early before the light ariſe
I’ll ſpring a thought away to God;
The paſſion of my heart and eyes
Shalſ ſhout a thouſand groans and fighs,
A thouſand glances ſtrike the ſkies,
The floor of his abode.
Dear Sov’reign, hearthy ſervant pray,
Bend the blue heav'ns, eternal King,
Downward thy chearful graces bring ;
Or ſhall I breathe in vain and pant my hours
away P
Break, º brightneſs, thro’ the gloomy
Well,
Look how the armies of deſpair
Aloft their ſooty banners rear
Round my poor captive ſoul, and dare
Pronounce me priſoner of hell.
But thou, my ſun, and thou, my ſhield,
Wilt ſave me in the bloody field ;
Break, glorious brightneſs, ſhoot one glim-
m’ring ray,
One glance of thine creates a day,
And drives the troops of hell away.
3
Happy the times, but ah! the times are
gone g
When wondrous pow'r and radiant grace
Round the tall arches of the temple ſhone,
And mingled their vićtorious rays :
Sin, with all its ghaſtly train,
Fled to the deeps of death again,
And ſmiling triumph ſat on every face:
Our ſpirits raptur'd with the fight
Were all devotion, all delight,
And loud Hoſannas founded the Redeemer’s
praiſe.
Here could I ſay,
(And point the place whereon I ſtoo.)
Here I enjoy’d a viſit half the day
From my deſcending God :
I was regal’d with heav'nly fare,
With fruit and manna from above;
Divinely ſweet the bleſfings were
While mine Ennanuel was there :
And o'er my head
The conqueror ſpread
The banner of his love.
Then why my heart ſunk down ſo low *
Why do my eyes diſſolve and flow,
And hopeleſs nature mourn ?
Review, my ſoul, thoſe pleaſing days,
Read his unalterable grace
Thro' the diſpleaſure of his face,
And wait a kind return.
A father’s love may raiſe a frown
To chide the child, or prove the ſon,
But love will ne'er deſtroy;
The hour of darkneſs is but ſhort,
Faith be thy life, and patience thy ſupport,
The morning brings the joy.
3
/
Come, Lord jeſus.
WHEN ſhall thy lovely face be ſeen
When ſhall our eyes behold our God?
What lengths of diſtance lie between,
And hills of guilt 2 a heavy load!
I
2.
Our months are ages of delay,
, And ſlowly every ininute wears :
Fly, winged time, and roll away
Theſe tedious rounds of ſluggiſh years.
3 Ye heav'nly gates, looſe all your chains,
Let the eternal pillars bow ; *
Bleſt Saviour, cleave the ſtarry plains,
And make the cryſtal mountains flow.
4 Hark, how thy ſaints unite their cries,
And pray and wait the general doom ;
LYRIC POEMS. t 251
Come, thou, the ſoul of all our joys, 7 Falſe confident ' and falſer breaſt !
Thou, the deſire of nations, come. F . and fond of § gueſt :
* º Each airy image as it flies -
5 Put thy bright robes of triumph on, Here finds admittance thro' my eyes.
ſ d bleſs our e
And bleſs our eyes, an S Our ears, 3 This fooliſh heart can leave her God,
hou dear unknown
#. #. ...; * 2 And ſhadows tempt her thoughts abroad:
- º -> How ſhall I fix this wandring mind P
6 Our hºrs: groan with deep com- Or throw my fetters on the wind *
aint,
Our fleſſ lies panting, Lord, for thee,
And ev’ry limb, and ev’ry joint,
Stretches for immortality.
9 Look gently down, almighty grace,
Priſon me round in thine embrace;
Pity the ſoul that would be thine,
And let thy pow'r my love confine.
7 Our ſpirits ſhake their eager wings, g
And burn to meet thy flying throne ; IO #. *:::::: º be
X. i. . . ; º º iºn - My heart no foreign lords adore,
attend thy inining º And the wild muſe prove falſe no more?
8 Now let our chearful eyes ſurvey
The blazing earth and melting hills, º Forſaken, yet Hoping.
And ſmile to ſee the lightnings play,
And flaſh along before thy wheels. I HAPPY the hours, the golden days,
When I could call my Jeſus mine,
9 O for a ſhout of violent joys. And ſit and view his ſmiling face,
To join the trumpet’s thund'ring ſound ! And melt in pleaſures all divinc.
The angel herald ſhakes the ſkies, 2 Near to my heart, within my arms
Cy g - 3.
Awakes the graves and tears the ground He lay, till fin defil’d my breaſt,
Io Ye ſlumb’ring ſaints, a heav'nly hoſt Till broken vows, and earthly charms,
Stands waiting at your gaping tombs; Tir’d and provok'd my heav'nly gueſt.
Let ev'ry ſacred ſleeping duſt 3 And now he's gone, O mighty woe
Leap into life, for Jeſus comes. Gone from my ſoul, and hides his love :
Curſe on you, fins, that griev'd him ſo,
11 Jeſus, the God of might and love,
Ye fins, that forc’d him to remove.
New-moulds our limbs of cumb’rous clay;
Quick as ſeraphic flames we move, 4 Break, break, my heart : complain m
Aćtive and young, and fair as they. 2 tongue; y ; complain my
12 Our airy feet with unknown flight Hither, my friends, your ſorrows bring:
Swift as the motions of deſire, Angels, aſſiſt my doleful ſong, .
Run up the hills of heav'nly light, If you have e'er a mourning ſtring.
And leave the weltring world in fire. 5 But ah! your joys are ever high,
Ever his lovely face you ſee ;
While my poor ſpirits pant and die,
And groan, for thee, my God, for thee.
Yet let my hope look thro’ my tears,
And ſpy afar his rolling throne;
His chariot thro’ the cleaving ſpheres
Bewailing my own Inconſtancy.
I I LOVE the Lord ; but ah! how far 6
My thoughts from the dear objećt are !
This wanton heart how wide it roves |
And fancy meets a thouſand loves. Shall bring the bright Beloved down.
2 If my º burn to É. my God, 7 Swift as a roe flies o'er the hills,
I tread the ... l is abode, My ſoul ſprings out to meet him high,
But troops of ...; t t ** place Then the fair Conqueror, turns his wheels,
And tempt me off before his face. And climbs the manſions of the ſky.
3 Would I enjoy my Lord alone, 8 There ſmiling joy for ever reigns,
I bid my paſſions all be gone, º No more the turtle leaves the dove ;
All but my love ; and charge my will Farewell to jealoufies, and pains,
To bar the door and guard it ſtill. And all the ills of abſent love.
4. But cares, or trifles, make, or find,
Still new avenues to the mind, The Concluſion.
Till I with grief and wonder ſee, God Exalted above all Praiſe.
Huge crowds betwixt the Lord and me,
5 Oft I am told the muſe will prove
A friend to piety and love ;
FTERNAL pow'r whoſe high abode
Becomes the grandeur of a God;
I
Straight I begin ſome ſacred fong, Infinite length beyond the bounds
And take my Saviour on my tongue. Where ſtars revolve their little rounds.
6 Strangely I loſe his lovely face, 2 The loweſt ſtep above thy ſeat
To hold the empty ſounds in chaſe ; Riſes too high for Gabriel’s feet,
At beſt the chimes divide my heart, In vain the tall arch-angel tries
And the muſe ſhares the larger part. To reach thine height with wondring eyes,
I 3
252
LYRIC POEMS.
3 Thy dazling beauties whilſt he fings
He hides his face behind his wings ;
And ranks of ſhining thrones around
Fall worſhipping, and ſpread the ground.
4 Lord, what ſhall earth and aſhes do
We would adore our Maker too;
From fin and duſt to thee we cry,
“The great, the holy, and the high
5 Earth from afar has heard the ſame,
And worms have learnt to liſp thy name ;
But O, the glories of thy mind
Leave all our ſoaring thoughts behind.
6 God is in heav'n, and men below ;
Be ſhort, our tunes ; our words be few ;
A ſacred reverence checks our ſongs,
And praiſe ſits filent on our tongues.
Tibi filet laus, 0 Deus, Pſ. lxv. 1.
HORAE LYRICAE.
B O O K II,
Sacred to Virtue, Honour, and Friendship.
To her Majeſty.
QUEEN of the northern world whoſe gentle
ſway
Commands our love, and charms our hearts t”|
obey, *
Forgive the nation's groan when William dy’d:
Lo, at thy feet in all the loyal pride
Of blooming joy, three happy realms appear,
And William’s urn almoſt without a tear
Stands; nor complains: while from thy gra-
cious toºgue
Peace flows in filver ſtreams amidſt the throng.
Amazing balm, that on thoſe lips was found
To ſooth the torment of that mortal wound,
And calm the wild affright! The terror dies,
The bleeding wound cements, the danger.
flies,
And Albion ſhouts thine honours as her joys
ariſe.
The German eagle feels her guardian dead,
Not her own thunder can ſecure her head;
Her trembling eagles haſten from afar,
And Belgia’s lion dreads the Gallic war:
All hide behind thy ſhield. Remoter lands
Whoſe lives lay truſted in Naſlovian hands
Transfer their ſouls, and live; ſecure they
play
In thy mild rays, and love the growing day.
Thy beamy wing at once defends and warms
Fainting religion, whilſt in various forms
Pair piety ſhines thro’ the Britiſh iſles :
Here at thy fide, and in thy kindeſt ſmiles*
Blazing in ornamental gold ſhe ſtands,
To bleſs thy councils, and affiſt thy hands,
And crowds wait round her to receive com-
mands.
There at a humble diſtance from the throne ºf
Beauteous ſhe lies; her luſtre all her own,
* The eſtabliſhed church of England,
+ The proteſtant diſſenters.
Ungarniſh’d ; yet not bluſhing, nor afraid,
Nor knows ſuſpicion, nor affeóts the ſhade:
Chearful and pleas'd ſhe not preſumes to ſhare
In thy parental gifts, but own thy guardian
Care.
For thee, dear Sov’reign, endleſs vows ariſe,
And zeal with earthly wing ſalutes the ſkies
To gain thy ſafety : Here a ſolemn form *
Of ancient words keeps the devotion warm,
And guides, but bounds our wiſhes: There the
mind
Feels it own fire, and kindles unconfin'd
With bolder hopes: Yet ſtill beyond our vows
Thy lovely glories riſe, thy ſpreading terror
grows.
Princeſs, the world already owns thy name :
Go, mount the chariot of immortal fame,
Nor die to be renown'd :
breath
Too dear is purchas’d by an angel’s death.
The veng’ance of thy rod, with general joy,
Fame’s loudeſt
| Shall ſcourge rebellion and the rival boy i :
Thy ſounding arms his Gallic pation hears
And ſpeeds his flight; not overtakes his fears,
Till hard deſpair wring from the tyrant’s foul
The iron tears out. Let thy frown control
Our angry jars at home, till wrath ſubmit
Her impious banners to thy ſacred feet.
Mad zeal and frenzy, with their murderous
train, -
Flee theſe ſweet realms in thine auſpicious :
reign, f
J
Envy expire in rage, and treaſon bite the
chain.
Let no black ſcenes aftight fair Albion's
ſtage: a wº t
Thy thread of life prolong our golden age,
# The eſtabliſhed church of England;
+ The proteſtant diſſenters.
† The pretender.
LYRIC POEMS.
253
Long bleſs the earth, and late aſcend, thy
throne
Ethereal; (not thy deeds are there un-
known,
Northere unſung ; for by thy awful hands
Heav'n rules the waves, and thunders o'er
the lands, •
Creates inferior kings “, and gives 'em their
commands.)
Legions attend thee at the radiant gates;
For thee thy ſiſter-feraph, bleſt Maria, waits.
But oh the parting ſtroke ſome heavenly
pow'r
Chear thy ſad Britons in the gloomy hour;
Some new propitious ſtar appear on high
The faireſt glory of the weſtern ſky,
And Anna be its name ; with gentle ſway
To check the planets of malignant ray,
Sooth the rude north wind, and the rugged
bear, -
Calm riſing wars, heal the contagious air,
And reign with peaceful influence to the
ſouthern ſphere.
Note, This poem was written in the year
1705, in that honourable part ºf the reign of
our late Queen, when ſhe had broke the French
power at Blenheim, aſſerted the right of
Charles the preſent Emperor to the crown of
Spain, exerted her zeal for the proteſtant ſuc-
ceſſion, and promiſed inviolably to maintain
the toleration to the proteſtant diſſenters —
Thus ſhe appeared the chief ſupport of the re-
formation, and the patroneſs of the liberties of
Europe.
The latter part of her reign was of a differ-
ent colour, and was by no means attended with
the accompliſhment of thoſe glorious hopes
which we had conceived. Now the muſe
cannot ſatisfy herſelf to publiſh this new edi-
tion without acknowledging the miſtake of her
former preſages; and while ſhe does the world
this juſtice, ſhe does herſelf the honour of a
voluntary retraćtion.
Auguſt 1, 172 I-
PAL INO DIA.
BRITONs, forgive the forward muſe
That dar'd prophetic ſeals to looſe,
(Unſkill'd in fate’s eternal book,)
And the deep charaćlers miſtock.
George is the name, that glorious ſtar;
Ye ſaw his ſplendors beaming far;
Saw in the eaſt your joys ariſe,
When Anna ſunk in weſtern ſkies,
Streaking the heav'ns with crimſon gloom,
Emblems of tyranny and Rome,
Portending blood and night to come.
;
* She made Charles the emperor's ſecond
ſon king of Spain, who is now emperor of
Germany, * .
|
'Twas George diffus’d a vital ray,
And gave the dying nations day :
His influence ſooths the Ruſſian bear,
Calms riſing wars, and heals the air;
join'd with the fun his beams are hurl’d
To ſcatter bleſſings round the world,
Fulfil whate'er the muſe has ſpoke,
And crown the work that Anne forſook.
Auguſt 1, 1721.
To JOHN LOCKE, Eſq.
Retired from Buſineſs.
| 1 ANGELS are made of heav'nly things,
And light and love our ſouls compoſe,
Their bliſs within their boſom ſprings,
Within their boſom flows.
But narrow minds ſtill make pretence
To ſearch the coaſts of fleſh and ſenſe,
And fetch diviner pleaſures thence.
Men are a-kin to ethereal forms,
But they belie their nobler birth,
Debaſe their honour down to earth,
And claim a ſhare with worms.
He that has treaſures of his own
May leave the cottage or the throne,
iMay quit the globe, and dwell alone
Within his ſpacious mind.
Locke hath a ſoul wide as the ſea,
Calm as the night, bright as the day,
There may his vaſt ideas play,
Nor feel a thought confin'd.
2.
To JOHN SHUTE, Eſq.
(Now Lord BARRINGTON)
On Mr. Locke's dangerous Sickneſs, ſome time after
he had retired to ſtudy the Scriptures.
June, 1704.
muſt the man of wondrous mind
Now his rich thoughts are juſt re-
fin'd)
Forſake our longing eyes 2
Reaſon at length ſubmits to wear
The wings of faith; and lo, they rear
Her chariot'high, and nobly bear
Her Prophet to the ſkies.
Go, friend, and wait the prophet's flight,
Watch if his mantle chance to light,
And ſeize it for thy own;
Shute is the darling of his years,
Young Shute his better likeneſs bears ;
All but his wrinkles and his hairs
Are copy’d in his Son.
I AND
2.
Thus when our follies, or our faults,
Call for the pity of thy thoughts,
• Thy pen ſhall make us wife ;
The ſallies of whoſe youthful wit
Could pierce the Britiſh fogs with light,
Place our true * intereſt in our fight,
And open half our eyes.
3
* The intereſt of England, written by I. S. Eſq.
254
LYRIC POEMS.
To Mr. WILLIAM NOKES,
Friendſhip.
1702.
I FRIENDSHIP, thou charmer of the mind,
Thou ſweet deluding ill,
The brighteſt minute mortals find,
And ſharpeſt hour we feel.
2 Fate has divided all our ſhares
Of pleaſure and of pain;
In love the comforts and the cares
Are mix’d and join’d again.
3 But whilſt in floods our ſorrow rolls,
And drops of joy are few,
This dear delight of mingling ſouls
Serves but to ſwell our woe,
4. Oh! why ſhould bliſs depart in haſte,
And friendſhip ſtay to moan P
Why the fond paſſion cling ſo faſt,
When ev'ry joy is gone *
5 Yet never let our hearts divide,
Nor death diſſolve the chain:
For love and joy were once ally'd,
And muſt be join’d again.
To NATHANIEL GOULD, Eſq.
Now SIR NATHANIEL GOULD,
I 'Tis not by ſplendour, or by ſtate,
Exalted mein, or lofty gate,
My muſe takes meaſure of a king :
If wealth, or height, or bulk will do,
She calls each mountain of Peru
A more majeſtic thing,
Frown on me, friend, if e'er I boaſt
O'er fellow-minds inſlav’d in clay,
Or ſwell when I ſhall have ingroſt
A larger heap of ſhining duſt,
And wear a bigger load of earth than they.
Let the vain world ſalute me loud,
My thoughts look inward, and forget
The ſounding names of High and
Great,
The flatteries of the crowd.
2. When Gould commands his ſhips to run
And ſearch the traffic of the ſea,
His fleet o’ertakes the falling day,
And bears the weſtern mines away,
Or richer ſpices from the riſing ſun:
While the glad tenants of the ſhore
Shout, and pronounce him ſenator,”
Yet ſtill the man’s the ſame :
For well the happy merchant knows
The ſoul with treaſure never grows,
Nor ſwells with airy fame.
3 But truſt me, Gould, 'tis lawful pride
To riſe above the mean control
Of fleſh and ſenſe, to which we’re ty’d ;
This is ambition that becomes a ſoul.
We ſteer our courſe up thro' the ſkies;
Farewel this barren land:
We ken the heav'nly ſhore with longing
eyes,
There the dear wealth of ſpirits lies,
And beck’ning angels ſtand.
* Member of Parliament for a port in Suſſex.
I
2.
3
5
I
2.
To Dr. THOMAS GIBSON.
The Life of Souls.
1704.
SWIFT as the ſun revolves the day
We haſten to the dead,
Slaves to the wind we puff away,
And to the ground we tread.
'Tis air that lends us life, when firſt
The vital bellows heave :
Our fleſh we borrow of the duſt ;
And when a mother's care has nurſt
The babe to manly fize, we muſt
With uſury pay the grave.
Rich juleps drawn from precious ore
Still tend the dying flame:
And plants, and roots, of barbarous name,
Torn from the Indian ſhore.
Thus we ſupport our tott’ring fleſh,
Our cheeks reſume the roſe afreſh,
When bark and ſteel play well their game
To ſave our ſinking breath,
And Gibſon, with his awful power,
Reſcues the poor precarious hour
From the demands of death.
But art and nature, pow'rs and charms,
And drugs, and recipe’s, and forms, .
Yield us, at laſt, to greedy worms,
A deſpicable prey;
I’d have a life to call my own,
That ſhall depend on heav'n alone;
Nor air, nor earth, nor ſea.
Mix their baſe effences with mine,
Nor claim dominion ſo divine
To give me leave to be.
Sure there’s a mind within, that reigns
O'er the dull current of my veins;
I feel the inward pulſe beat high
With vig'rous immortality,
Let earth reſume the fleſh it gave,
And breath diſſolve amongſt the winds;
Gibſon, the things that fear a grave,
That I can loſe, or you can ſave,
Are not a-kin to minds.
We claim acquaintance with the ſkies,
Upward our ſpirits hourly riſe,
And there our thoughts employ :
When heav'n ſhall ſign our grand releaſe,
We are no ſtrangers to the place,
The buſineſs, or the joy.
Falſe Greatneſs.
MYLO, forbear to call him bleſt
That only boaſts a large eſtate,
Should all the treaſures of the weſt
Meet, and conſpire to make him great.
I know thy better thoughts, I know
Thy reaſon can’t deſcend ſo low.
Let a broad ſtream with golden ſands
Thro' all his meadows roll,
He's but a wietch, with all his lands,
That wears a narrow foul.
He ſwells amidſt his wealthy ſtore,
And proudly poizing what he weighs,
In his own ſcale he fondly lays
Huge heaps of ſhining ore.
LYRIC POEMS.
255
He ſpreads the balance wide to hold
His manors and his farms,
And cheats the beam with loads of gold
He hugs between his arms.
So might the plough-boy climb a tree,
3
When Craeſus mounts his throne,
And both ſtand up, and ſmile to ſee
How long their ſhadow's grown.
Alas ! how vain their fancies be
To think that ſhape their own |
Thus mingled ſtill with wealth and ſtate,
Craeſus himſelf can never know ;
His true dimenſions and his weight
Are far inferior to their ſhow.
Were I ſo tall to reach the pole,
Or graſp the ocean with my ſpan,
I muſt be meaſur’d by my ſoul:
The mind’s the ſtandard of the man.
To SARISSA.
An Epiffle.
BEAR up, Sariſſa, thro’ the ruffling ſtorms
Of a vain vexing world : Tread down the
C2reS
Thoſe ragged thorns that lie acroſs the
road,
Nor ſpend a tear upon them. Truſt the
muſe,
She fings experienc'd truth: This briny
dew,
The rain of eyes will make the briers grow:
We travel thro' a deſart, and our feet
Have meaſur’d a fair ſpace, have left be-
hind
A thouſand dangers, and a thouſand ſnares
Well ſcap’d. Adieu, ye horrors of the
& dark, º
Ye finiſh’d labours, and ye tedious toils
Of days and hours : The twinge of real
ſmart,
And the falſe terrors of ill-boding dreams
Vaniſh together, be alike forgot,
For ever blended in one common grave.
Farewel, ye waxing and ye waning
1noons,
That we have watch'd behind the flying
g clouds t
On night's dark hill, or ſetting or aſcending,
Or in meridian height: Then ſilence
reign'd
O'er half the world ; then ye beheld our
tears,
Ye witneſs'd our complaints, our kindred
groans,
(Sad harmony') while with your beamy
horns
Or richer orb ye ſilver'd o'er the green
Where trodour feet, and lent a feeble light
To mourners. Now ye have fulfil’d your
round, } *
Thoſe hours are fled, farewel.
that are gone
Are gone for ever, and have borne away
Each his º load. Our woes and ſorrows
paſt,
Mountainous woes, ſtill leſſen as they fly
Months
Far off. So billows in a ſtormy ſea,
Wave after wave (a long ſucceſſion) roll
Beyond the ken of fight : The ſailors ſafe
Look far a-ſtern till they have loſt the
ftorm,
And ſhout their boiſterous joys. A gentler
muſe
Sings thy dear ſafety, and commands thy
CarèS
To dark oblivion; bury’d deep in night
Loſe them, Sariſſa, and aſſiſt my ſong.
Awake thy voice, fing how the ſlender
line
Of fate’s immortal now divides the paſt
From all the future, with eternal bars
Forbidding a return. The paſt temptations
No more ſhail vex us; every grief we feel
Shortens the deſtin’d number; every pulſe
Beats a ſharp moment of the pain away,
And the laſt ſtroke will come. By ſwift
degrees
Time ſweeps us off, and we ſhall ſoon
arrive
At life's ſweet period: O celeſtial point
That ends this mortal ſtory !
But if a glimpſe of light with flatt’ring
ray
Breaks thro’ the clouds of life, or wand'ring
fire
Amidſt the ſhades invite your doubtful feet,
Beware the dancing meteor; faithleſs guide,
That leads the loneſome pilgrim wide aſtray
To bogs, and fens, and pits, and certain
death !
Should vicious pleaſure take an angel-form
And at a diſtance riſe, by ſlow degrees,
Treacherous to wind herſelf into your heart,
Stand firm aloof; nor let the gaudy phan-
to In
Too long allure your gaze :
light
That heav’n indulges lawful, muſt obey
Superior powers; nor tempt your thoughts
too far
In ſlavery to ſenſe, nor ſwell your hope
To dang'rous ſize: If it approach your feet
And court your hand, forbid th’ intruding
The juſt de-
Joy
To fit too near your heart : Still may our
fouls *
Claim kindred with the ſkies, nor mix with
duſt
Our better-born affe&tions; leave the globe
A neſt for worms, and haſten to our home.
O there are gardens of th’ immortal
kind
That crown the heav'nly Eden's riſing
hills
With beauty and with ſweets; no lurking
miſchief &
Dwells in the fruit, nor ſerpent twines the
boughs;
The branches bend laden with life and
bliſs
Ripe for the taſte, but 'tis a ſteep aſcent :
356
LYRIC POEMS.
* Hold faſt the * golden chain let down fromiſ
heav'n,
*Twill help your feet and wings; I feel its
force
Draw upwards ; faſten’d to the pearly gate
It guides the way unerring : Happy clue
Thro' this dark wild ! 'Twas wiſdom’s
nobleſt work,
All join’d by pow'r divine, and every link is
love,
To. Mr. T. BRADBURY.
Paradiſe.
1708.
YoUNG as I am I quit the ſtage,
* Nor will I know th’ applauſes of
the age :
Farewel to growing frame. I leave below
A life not half worn out with cares,
Or agonies, or years;
I leave my country all in tears,
But heav'n demands me upward, and I dare
to go.
Amongſt ye, friends, divide and ſhare
The remnant of my days,
If ye have patience, and can bear
A long fatigue of life, and drudge thro' all
the race,
Hark, my fair guardian chides my ſtay,
And waves his golden rod : *
“ Angel, I come ; lead on the way :
And now by ſwift degrees
I ſail aloft thro' azure ſeas,
Now tread the milky road:
Farewel, ye planets, in your ſpheres;
And as the ſtars are loſt, a brighter ſky
appears.
In haſte for paradiſe
I ſtretch the pinions of a bolder thought;
Scarce had I will’d, but I was paſt
Defarts of trackleſs light and all th’ ethereal
waſte,
And to the ſacred borders brought ;
There on the wing a guard of cherubs lies,
Each waves a keen flame as he flies,
And well defends the walls from ſieges and
ſurpriſe.
with pleafing rev'rence I behold
The pearly portals wide unfold :
Enter, my ſoul, and view th’ amazing
ſcenes ; -
Sit faſt upon the flying muſe,
And let thy roving wonder looſe
O’ér all th’ empyreal plains.
Noon ſtands eternal here : here may thy
4 fight º
Drink in the rays of primogenial light 5
Here breathe immortal air :
Joy muſt beat high in ev'ry vein,
Pleaſure thro' all thy boſom reign;
The laws forbid the ſtranger, pain,
And baniſh ev’ry care.
See how the bubbling ſprings of love
Beneath the throne ariſe ;
2.
4.
* The goſpel.
I
The ſtreams in cryſtal channels move,
Around the golden ſtreets they rove,
And bleſs the manſions of the upper ſkies,
There a fair grove of knowledge
f grows,
Nor fin nor death infects the fruit ;
Young life hangs freſh on all the
boughs,
And ſprings from ev’ry root;
Here may thy greedy ſenſes feaſt
While extaſy and health attends on every
taſte. *
With the fair proſpect charm'd I ſtood;
Fearleſs I feed on the delicious fare,
And drink profuſe ſalvation from the ſilver
flood,
Nor can exceſs be there.
In ſacred order rang’d along
Saints new-releas'd by death
join the bold ſeraph’s warbling breath,
And aid th’ immortal ſong.
Each has a voice that tunes his ſtrings
To mighty founds, and mighty things,
Things of everlaſting weight,
Sounds, like the ſofter viol, ſweet,
And, like the trumpet, ſtrong.
Divine attention held my ſoul,
I was all ear !
Thro' all my pow'rs the heav'nly accents
roll.
I long’d and wiſh'd my Bradbury there;
** Could he but hear theſe notes, I ſaid,
His tuneful ſoul would never bear
The dull unwinding of life’s tedious thread,
But burſt the vital chords to reach the happy
dead.
And now my tongue prepares to join
The harmony, and with a noble aim
Attempts th’ unutterable name,
But ſaints, confounded by the notes divine:
Again my ſoul th’ unequal honour ſought,
Again her utmoſt force ſhe brought,
And bow’d beneath the burden of th’ un-
wieldy thought.
Thrice I effay'd, and fainted thrice;
Th’ immortal labour ſtrain'd my feeble
frame,
Broke the bright viſion, and diſſolv’d the
dream;
I ſunk at once and loſt the ſkies:
- In vain I ſought the ſcenes of light
Rolling abroad my longing eyes,
For all around ‘em ſtood my curtains and the
night.
Stričf Religion very rare.
I'M borne aloft, and leave the crowd,
* I ſail upon a morning cloud
Skirted with dawning gold :
Mine eyes beneath the opening day
Command the globe with wide ſurveys
Where ants in buſy millions play,
And tug and heave the mould.
LYRIC POEMS.
257
2 tº Are theſe the things, my paſſion cry’d,
That we call men Are theſe ally’d
To the fair worlds of light? .
They have ras'd out their Maker's name,
Grav’n on their minds with pointed flame
In ſtrokes divinely bright.
3 Wretches 1 they hate their native ſkies;
If an ethereal thought ariſe,
Or ſpark of virtue ſhine,
With cruel force they damp its plumes,
Choak the young fire with ſenſual fumes,
With buſineſs, luſt, or wine.
4. Lo! how they throng with panting breath
The broad deſcending road
That leads unerring down to death,
Nor miſs the dark abode.”
Thus while I drop a tear or two
On the wild herd, a noble few
Dare to ſtray upward, and purſue .
Th' unbeaten way to God.
5 I meet Myrtillo mounting high,
I know his candid ſoul afar ;
Here Dorylus and Thyrſis fly,
Each like a riſing ſtar,
Charin I ſaw and Fidea there,
I ſaw them help each other’s flight,
And bleſs them as they go ;
They ſoar beyond my lab’ring fight,
And leave their loads of mortal care,
But not their love below,
On heav'n their home, they fix their eyes,
The temple of their God:
With morning incenſe up they riſe
Sublime, and thro’ the lower ſkies
Spread the perfumes abroad.
6 Acroſs the road a ſeraph flew,
“ Mark, ſaid he, that happy pair,
Marriage helps devotion there :
When kindred minds their God purſue
They break with double vigour thro’
The dull incurribent air.”
Charm'd with the pleaſure and ſurpriſe
My foul adores and fings,
“Bleſt be the pow'r that ſprings their flight,
That ſtreaks their path with heav'nly light,
That turns their love to facrifice,
And joins their zeal for wings.”
To Mr. C. and S. FLEET WOOD.
FLEET wooDs, young generous pair,
Deſpiſe the joys that fools purſue ;
Bubbles are light and brittle too,
Born of the water and the air.
Try’d by a ſtandard bold and juſt
Honous and gold and paint and duſt;
How vile the laſt is and as vain the firſt
Things that the crowd call great and
brave,
With me how low their value's brought
Titles and names, and life and breath,
Slaves to the wind and born for death;
The ſoul's the only thing we have
Worth an important thought,
VOL, WII.
I
The ſoul! 'tis of th’ immortal kind,
Nor form'd of fire, or earth, or wind,
Out-lives the moldring corps, and leaves the
globe behind.
In limbs of clay tho’ ſhe appears.
Array'd in roſy ſkin, and deck'd with ears
and eyes,
The fleſh is but the ſoul’s diſguiſe,
There’s nothing in her frame a-kin to the
dreſs ſhe wears:
From all the laws of matter free,
From all we feel, and all we ſee,
She ſtands eternally diſtinét, and muſt for
ever be. -

2.
Riſe then, my thoughts, on high,
Soar beyond all that's made to die ;
Le on an awful throne
Sits the Creator and the Judge of ſouls,
Whirling the planets round the poles,
Winds off our threads of life, and brings our
periods on.
Swift the approach, and ſolemn is the day,
When this immortal mind
Stript of the body’s coarſe array
To endleſs pain, or endleſs joy
Muſt be at once conſign'd.
3
cº’
Think of the ſands run down to waſte,
We poſſeſs none of all the paſt,
None but the preſent is our own ;
Grace is not plac’d within our pow'r,
'Tis but one ſhort, one ſhining hour,
Bright and declining as a ſetting ſun,
See the white minutes wing'd with haſte;
The now that flies may be the laſt;
Seize the ſalvation ere 'tis paſt,
Nor mourn the bleſfing gone :
A thought’s delay is ruin here,
A cloſing eye, a gaſping breath
Shuts up the golden ſcene in death,
And drowns you in deſpair.
To WILLIAM BLACKBOURN, Eſq.
Caſimir. Lib, II. Od. 2. imitated.
Qgae tegit canas modo Bruma valles, &c.
1 MARK how it ſnows! how faſt the
valley fills'
And the ſweet groves the hoary garment
wear ;
Yet the warm ſun-beams bounding from the
hills
Shall melt the veil away, and the young
green appear.
2. But when old age has on your temples
ſhed
Her filver-froſt, there's no returning ſun;
Swift flies our autumn, ſwift our ſummer's
fled,
When youth, and love, and ſpring, and
golden joys are gone,
K. K.
258
LYRIC POEMS.
Stick faſt upon you; not the rich array,
Not the green garland, nor the roſy bough
Shall cancel or conceal the melancholy
gray.
4. The chaſe of pleaſures is not worth the
- alſ.S.,
While #. bright ſands of health run waſting
down ;
And honour calls you from the ſofter
foenes,
To ſell the gaudy hour for ages of renown.
5 'Tis but one youth, and ſhort, that mortals
have,
And one old age diſſolves our feeble frame;
But there's a heav'nly art tº elude the
grave,
And with the hero-race immortal kindred
claim.
6 The man that has his country's ſacred
tears -
Bedewing his cold hearſe, has liv'd his day:
Thus, Blackbourn, we ſhould leave our
names our heirs;
Old time and waning moons ſweep all the
reſt away.
True Monarchy.
I7oſ.
HE riſing year beheld th” imperious gaul
Stretch his dominion, while a hundred
towns
Crouch'd to the vićtor; but a ſteady ſoul
Stands firm on its own baſe, and reigns as
wide,
As abſolute; and ſways ten thouſand ſlaves,
Luſts and wild fancies with a ſov’reign
hand.
w
We are a little kingdom ; but the man
That chains his rebel will to reaſon’s throne,
Forms it a large one, whilſt his royal mind
Makes heav’n its council, from the rolls
above
Draws his own ſtatues, and with joy obeys:
*Tis not a troop of well-appointed guards
Create a monarch, not a purple robe
Dy’d in the people’s blood, not all the
CrOWI)S
Or dazzling tiars that bend about the head,
Tho' gilt with ſun-beams and ſet round with
ftars.
A monarch he that conquers all his fears,
And treads upon them ; when he ſtands
alone,
Makes his own camp; four guardian virtues
Wait
His nightly ſlumbers, and ſecure his
dreams.
.3 Then cold, and winter, and your aged ſnow,
Now dawns the light; he ranges all his
thoughts *
In ſquare battalions, bold to meet th’
attacks t
Of time and chance, himſelf a num’rous
hoſt,
All eye, all car, all wakeful as the day,
Firm as a rock, and moveleſs as the centre.
In vain the harlot, pleaſure, ſpreads her
charms,
To lull his thoughts in luxury’s fair lap,
To ſenſual eaſe, (the bane of little kings,
Monarchs whoſe waxen images of ſouls
Are molded into ſoftneſs) ſtill his mind
Wears its own ſhape, nor can the heavenly
form
Stoop to be model’d by the wild decrees
Of the mad vulgar, that unthinking herd.
He lives above the crowd, nor hears the
noiſe
Of wars and triumphs, nor regards the
ſhouts
Of popular applauſe, that empty ſound;
Nor feels the flying arrows of reproach,
Or ſpite or envy. In himſelf ſecure,
Wiſdom his tower, and conſcience is his
fhield,
His peace all inward, and his joys his own.
Now my ambition ſwells, my wiſhes ſoar,
This be my kingdom : fit above the globe
My riſing ſoul, and dreſs thyſelf around
And ſhine in virtue’s armour, climb the
height
Of wiſdom's lofty caſtle, there reſide
Safe from the ſmiling and the frowning
world.
Yet once a day drop down a gentle look
On the great mole-hill, and with pitying
eye
Survey the buſy emmets round the heap,
Crouding and buſtling in a thouſand forms
Of ſtrife and toil, to purchaſe wealth and
fame.
A bubble or a duſt: Then call thy thoughts
Up to thyſelf to feed on joys unknown,
Rich without gold, and great without re-
JAOWI).
True Courage.
HoNour demands my ſong. Forget the
ground,
My generous muſe, and ſit amongſt the
ſtars! º
There ſing the ſoul, that, conſcious of her
birth,
Lives like a native of the vital world,
Amongſt theſe dying clods, and bears her
ftate
Juſt to herſelf; how nobly ſhe maintains
Her charaćter, ſuperior to the fleſh,
She wields her paſſions like her limbs, and
knows
The brutal powers were only born tº obey.
I.YRIC POEMS.
259
This is the man whom ſtorms could never
make
Meanly complain ; nor can a flatt’ring gale
Make him talk proudly: he hath no deſire
To read his ſecret fate; yet unconcern’d
And calm could meet his unborn deſtiny,
In all its charming, or its frightful ſhapes.
He that unſhrinking, and without a
groan,
Bears the firſt wound, may finiſh all the
War.
With meer courageous filence, and come
off
Conqueror ; for the man that well con-
- ceals
The heavy ſtrokes of fate, he bears 'em
well.
He, tho' th' Atlantic and the Midland
ſeas
With adverſe ſurges meet, and riſe on high
Suſpended 'twixt the winds, then ruſh
a maln
Mingled with flames, upon his ſingle head,
And clouds, and ſtars, and thunder, firm he
ſtands,
Secure of his beſt life ; unhurt, unmov’d ;
And drops his lower nature, born for death.
Then from the lofty caſtle of his mind
Sublime looks down, exulting, and ſur-
veys
The ruins of creation; (Souls alone
Are heirs of dying worlds ;) a piercing
glance
Shoots upwards from between his cloſing
lids,
To reach his birth-place, and without a
ſigh
He bids his batter'd fleſh lie gently down
Amongſt its native rubbiſh; whilſt the ſpirit
Breathes and flies upward, an undoubted
gueſt
Of the third heav'n, th’ unruinable ſky.
Thither, when fate has brought our will-
ing ſouls,
No matter whether ’twas a ſharp diſeaſe,
Or a ſharp ſword, that help'd the travel-
lers on,
And puſh’d us to our home.
friend,
Serenely, and break thro’ the ſtormy brine
With ſteady prow ; know, we ſhall once
arrive
At the fair haven of eternal bliſs.
To which we ever ſteer; whether as kings
Of wide command we’ve ſpread the ſpacious
ſea
With a broad painted fleet, or row’d along
In a thin cock-boat with a little oar.
Bear up, my
There let my native plank ſhift me to
land
And I'll be happy: Thus I’ll leap aſhore
Joyful and fearleſs on the immortal coaſt,
Since all f leave is mortal, and it muſt be
oſt.
2
To the much honoured Mr. THOMAS
R O W E, the Director of my youthful
Studies,
Free Philºſophy.
1 CUSTOM, that tyranneſs of fools,
That leads the learned round the ſchools,
In magic chains of forms and rules |
My genius ſtorms her throne:
No more, ye ſlaves, with awe profound
Beat the dull track, nor dance the round ;
Looſe hands, and quit th' inchanted ground ;
Knowledge invites us each alone.
I hate theſe ſhackles of the mind
Forg’d by the haughty wiſe;
Souls were not born to be confin'd, º
And led, like Sampſon, blind and bound;
But when his native ſtrength he found
He well aveng’d his eyes.
I love thy gentle influence, Rowe,
Thy gentle influence like the ſun,
Only diſſolves the frozen ſnow,
Then bids our thoughts like rivers flow,
And chooſe the channels where they run.
2 Thoughts ſhould be free as fire or wind;
The pinions of a ſingle mind
Will thro’ all nature fly :
But who can drag up to the poles
Long fetter’d ranks of leaden ſouls ;
A genius which no chain controls
Roves with delight, or deep, or high :
Swift I ſurvey the globe around,
Dive to the centre thro’ the ſolid ground,
Or travel o'er the ſky.
To the Rev. Mr. BENONI ROWE.
The Way of the Multitude.
OWE, if we make the crowd our guide
Tho' life’s uncertain road,
Mean is the chaſe ; and wand'ring wide
We miſs th’ immortal good ;
Yet if my thoughts could be confin'd
To follow any leader-mind,
I'd mark thy ſteps, and tread the ſame :
Dreſt in thy notions I’d appear
Not like a foul of mortal frame,
Nor with a vulgar air.
I
2 Men live at random and by chance,
Bright reaſon never leads the dance;
Whilſt in the broad and beaten way
O'er dales and hills from truth we ſtray,
To ruin we deſcend, to ruin we advance.
Wiſdom retires; ſhe hates the crowd.
And with a decent ſcorn
Aloof ſhe climbs her ſteepy ſeat,
Where not the grave nor giddy feet,
Of the learn’d vulgar or the rude,
Have e'er a paſſage worn.
3 Meer hazard firſt began the track,
Where cuſtom leads her thouſands blind
In willing chains and ſtrong ;
There's ſcarce one bold, one noble mind,
K. K. 2
260
LYRIC POEMS.
Dares tread the fatal error back;
But hand in hand ourſelves we bind
And drag the age along.
4 Mortals, a ſavage herd, and loud
*
I
3
* Ithuriel is the name of an angel in Milton's
Paradiſe loſt. * ly
As billows on a noiſy flood
In rapid order roll:
Example makes the miſchief good :
With jocund heel we beat the road,
Unheedful of the goal.
Me let Ithuriel's friendly wing
Snatch from the crowd, and bear ſublime
To wiſdom's lofty tower,
Thence to ſurvey that wretched thing,
Mankind ; and in exalted rhyme
Bleſs the delivering power.
To the Rev. Mr. JOHN Howe,
I 7 O4.
GREAT man, permit the muſe to climb
And ſeat her at thy feet,
Bid her attempt a thought ſublime,
And conſecrate her wit.
I feel, I feel th’ attractive force
Of thy ſuperior ſoul:
My chariot flies her upward courſe,
The wheels divinely roll.
Now let me chide the mean affairs
And mighty toil of men :
How they grow gray in trifling cares,
Or waſte the motions of the ſpheres
Upon delights as vain :
A puff of honour fills the mind, \
And yellow duſt is ſolid good;
Thus like the aſs of ſavage kind,
We ſnuff the breezes of the wind,
Or ſteal the ſerpent’s food.
Could all the choirs
That charm the poles
But ſtrike one doleful found,
*T would be employ'd to mourn our ſouls,
Souls that were fram'd of ſprightly fires
In floods of folly drown'd.
Souls made of glory ſeek a brutal joy;
How they diſclaim their heav'nly birth,
Melt their bright ſubſtance down with droſſy
earth,
And hate to be refin’d from that impure
alloy.
Oft has thy genius rous'd us hence
With elevated ſong,
Bid us renounce this world of ſenſe,
Bid us divide th’ immortal prize
With the ſeraphic throng:
* Knowledge and love make ſpirits bleſt,
Knowledge their food, and love their reſt;”
But fleſh, th’ unmanageable beaſt,
Reſiſts the pity of thine eyes,
And muſic of thy tongue.
Then let the worms of grov'ling mind
Round the ſhort joys of earthly kind
In reſtleſs windings roam;
Howe hash an ample orb of foul,
Where ſhining worlds of knowledge toll,
Where love the centre and the pole
Completes the heav'n at home.”
l,
3.
The Diſappointment and Relief.
IRTUE, permit my fancy to impoſe
" Upon my better pow'rs :
She caſts ſweet fallacies on half our woes,
And gilds the gloomy hours.
How could we bear this tedious round
Of waning moons, and rolling years,
Of flaming hopes, and chilling fears,
If, where no ſov’reign cure appears,
No opiates could be found.
Love, the moſt cordial ſtream that flows,
Is a deceitful good:
Young Doris who nor guilt nor danger
knows,
On the green margin ſtood,
Pleas'd with the golden bubbles as they
roſe,
And with more golden ſands her fancy
pav'd the flood :
Then fond to be entirely bleſt,
And tempted by a faithleſs youth,
As void of goodneſs as of truth,
She plunges in with heedleſs haſte,
And rears the nether mud :
Darkneſs and nauſeous dregs ariſe
O'er thy fair current, love, with large ſup-
phies
Of pain to teize the heart, and ſorrow for the
.eyes,
"The gºla: bliſs that charm'd her ſight
Is daſh'd, and drown'd, and loſt :
A ſpark, or glimmering ſtreak at moſt
Shines here and there, amidſt the night,
Amidſt the turbid waves, and gives a faint
delight.
Recover'd from the ſad ſurpriſe,
Doris awakes at laſt,
Grown by the diſappointment wiſe;
And manages with art th' unlucky caſt;
When the lowring frown ſhe ſpies
On her haughty tyrant's brow,
With humble love ſhe meets his wrathful
eyes,
And makes her ſov’reign beauty bow;
Shearful ſhe ſmiles upon the griziy form ;
'So ſhines the ſetting ſun on adverſe ſkies,
And paints a rainbow on the ſtorm.
Anon ſhe lets the ſullen humour ſpeud,
And with a virtuous book or friend,
Beguiles th’ uneaſy hours:
Well-colouring ev'ry croſs ſhe meets,
With heart ſerene ſhe ſleeps and eats,
She ſpreads her board with fancy'd £weets,
And ſtrows her bed with flow’rs.
The Hero's School of Morality.
THERON, amongſt his travels, found,
A broken ſtatue on the ground;
And ſearching onward, as he went
He trac'd a ruin’d monument.
Mould, moſs, and ſhadesbad overgrown
The ſculpture of the crumbling ſtone,
Yet, ere he paſt, with much ado,
He gueſs'd, and ſpell'd out, Sci-pi-o.
LYRIC POEMS.
261
T.
“ Enough he cry’d ; I'll drudge no more
In tuning the dull Stoics o'er :
Let pedants waſte their hours of eaſe
To ſweat all night at Socrates ;
And feed their boys with aotes and rules
Thoſe tedious recipes of ſchools,
To cure ambition: I can learn
With greater eaſe the great concern
Of mortals; how we may deſpiſe
All the gay things below the ſkies.
Methinks a mouldring pyramid
Says all that the old ſages ſaid;
For me theſe ſhatter'd tombs contain
More morals than the Vatican.
The duſt of heroes caſt abroad,
And kick’d and trampled in the road,
The relics of a lofty mind,
That lately wars and crowns deſign'd,
Toſt for a jeft from wind to wind,
Bid me be humble, and forbear
Tall monuments of fame to rear,
They are but caſtles in the air
The tow'ring heights, and frightful falls,
The ruin’d heaps and funerals,
Of ſmoking kingdoms and their kings,
Tell me a thouſand mournful things
In melancholy filence
*
He
That living could not bear to ſee
An equal, now lies torn and dead ;
Here his pale trunk, and there his head;
Great Pompey ! while I meditate,
With ſolemn horror thy ſad fate,
Thy carcaſe, ſcatter'd on the ſhore
Without a name, inſtructs me more
Than my whole library before.
Lie, ſtill, my Plutarch, then, and ſleep,
And my good Seneca may keep
Your volumes clos'd for ever too,
I have no further uſe for you :
For when I feel my virtue fail,
And my ambitious thoughts prevail,
I’ll take a turn among the tombs,
And ſee whereto all glory comes t
There the vile foot of every clown
Tramples the ſons of honour down.
Beggars with awful aſhes ſport,
And tread the Caeſars in the dirt.”
Freedom.
comport
With the gay ſlaveries of a court:
I’ve an averſion to thoſe charms,
And hug dear liberty in both mine arms.
Go, vaſſal-ſouls, go, cringe and wait,
And dance attendance at Honorio's gate,
Then run in troops before him to compoſe
his ſtate;
Move as he moves; and when he loiters
ſtand ;
You're but the ſhadows of a man.
Bend when he ſpeaks; and kiſs the
ground:
3.
f
ſ
1697,
TEMPT me no more. My ſoul can ne'er
Go, catch th' impertinence of ſound:
Adore the follies of the great;
Wait till he ſmiles : But lo,
frown'd .
And drove them to their fate.
the idol
|z Thus baſe-born minds : but as for me,
I can and will be free :
Like a ſtrong mountain, or ſome ſtately tree,
My ſoul glows firm upright,
And as I ſtand, and as I go,
It keeps my body ſo;
No, I can never part with my creation
right.
Let ſlaves and aſſes ſtoop and bow,
I cannot make this iron knee
Bend to a meaner pow'r than that which
form’d it free.
3 Thus my bold harp profuſely play'd
Pindarical; then on a branchy ſhade
I hung my harp aloft, myſelf beneath it
laid-
Nature that J:ſten’d to my ſtrain,
Reſum'd the theme, and ačted it again.
Sudden roſe a whirling wind
Swelling like Honorio proud,
Around the ſtraws and feathers crowd,
Types of a ſlaviſh mind;
Upwards the ſtormy forces riſe,
The duſt flies up and climbs the ſkies,
And as the tempeſt fell th’ obedient vapours
ſunk:
Again it roars with bellowing ſound,
The meaner plants that grew around,
The willow, and the aſp, trembled and
Kiſs'd the ground :
Hard by there ſtood the iron trunk
Of an old oak, and all the ſtorm defy’d ;
In vain the winds their forces try’d,
In vain they roar'd ; the iron oak
Bow'd only to the heav'nly thunder's ſtroke.
|On Mr. Locke’s Annotations uſion ſeveral Parts
of the New Teſtament, left behind bim at
his Death.
1 THUs reaſon learns by ſlow degrees,
What faith reveals; but ſtill complains
Of intelle&tual pains,
And darkneſs from the too exuberant light.
The blaze of thoſe bright myſteries
Pour'd all at once on nature’s eyes
Offend and cloud her feeble fight.
Reaſon could ſcarce ſuſtain to ſee
Th” Almighty One, th’ eternal Three,
Or bear the infant deity;
Scarce could her pride deſcend to own
Her Maker ſtooping from his throne,
And dreſt in glories ſo unknown.
A ranſom'd world, a bleeding God,
And heav'n appeas'd with flowing blood,
{ Were themes too painful to be underſtood.
• 262.
LYRIC POEMS.
3 Faith, thou bright cherub, ſpeak, and
ſay
Did ever mind of mortal race
Coſt thee more toil, or larger grace,
To melt and bend it to obey.
*Twas hard to make ſo rich a ſoul ſubmit,
And lay her ſhining honours at thy ſovereign
feet.
Siſter of faith, fair charity,
Shew me the wondrous man on high,
Tell how he ſees the godhead Three in
One; t *
The bright convićtion fills his eye,
His noblett powers in deep proſtration lie
At the myſterious throne.
** Forgive, he cries, ye ſaints below,
“The wav'ring and the cold aſſent
“I gave to themes divinely true ;
“Can you admit the bleſſed to repent
** Eternal darkneſs veil the lines
“Of that unhappy book,
* Where glimmering reaſon with falſe
luſtre ſhines. &
“Where the mere mortal pen miſtook
“What the celeſtial meant lº
True Riches.
I AM not concern’d to know
What to-morrow fate will do:
*Tis enough that I can ſay,
I’ve poſſeſt myſelf to-day:
Then if happly midnight-death
Seize my fleſh, and ſtop my breath,
Yet to-morrow I ſhall be
Heir to the beſt part of me.
Glitt’ring ſtones, and golden things,
Wealth and honours that have wings,
Ever fluttering to be gone
I could never call my own :
Riches that the world beſtows,
She can take, and I can loſe ;
But the treaſures that are mine
Lie afar beyond her line.
When I view my ſpacious ſoul,
And ſurvey myſelf awhole,
And enjoy myſelf alone,
I’m a kingdom of my own.
I’ve a mighty part within
That the world hath never ſeen,
Rich as Eden’s happy ground,
And with choicer plenty crown'd,
* See Mr. Locke’s Annotations on Rom. iii.
25, and Paraphraſe on Rom. ix. 5. which has
inclined ſome readers to doubt whether he
believed the deity and ſatisfaction of Chriſt.
Therefore in the fourth ſtanza I invoke charity,
that by her help I may find him out in heaven,
ſince his Notes on 2 Cor. v. ult. and ſome
other places, give me reaſon to believe he was
no Socinian, though he has darkened the
glory of the goſpel, and debaſed chriſtianity,
in the book which he calls The Reaſonableneſs
of it, and in ſome of his other works.
I
2.
Here on all the ſhining boughs
Knowledge fair and uſeleſs grows;
On the ſame young flow'ry tree
All the ſeaſons you may ſee;
Nations in the bloom of light,
Juſt diſcloſing to the fight;
Here are thoughts of larger growth,
Rip’ming into ſolid truth ;
Fruits refin'd, of noble taſte ;
Seraphs feed on ſuch repaſt.
Here in a green and ſhady grove,
Streams of pleaſure mix with love :
There beneath the ſmiling ſkics
Hills of contemplation rife;
Now upon ſome ſhining top
Angels light, and call me up ;
I rejoice to raiſe my feet,
Both rejoice when there we meet.
There are endleſs beauties more
Earth hath no reſemblance for;
Nothing like them round the pole,
Nothing can deſcribe the foul;
'Tis a region half unknown,
That has treaſures of its own.
More remote from public view
Than the bowels of Peru;
Broader ’tis, and brighter far,
Than the golden Indies are ;
Ships that trace the watry ſtage
Cannot coaſt it in an age;
Harts, or horſes, ſtrong and fleet,
Had they wings to help their feet,
Could not run it half way o'er
In ten thouſand days or more.
Yet the filly wandring mind,
Loth to be too much confin'd,
Roves and takes her daily tours,
Coaſting round the narrow ſhores,
Narrow ſhores of fleſh and ſenſe,
Picking ſhells and pebbles thence :
Or ſhe fits at fancy’s door,
Calling ſhapes and ſhadows to her,
Foreign viſits ſtill receiving,
And t” herſelf a ſtranger living.
Never, never would ſhe buy
Indian duſt, or Tyrian dye,
Never trade abroad for more,
If ſhe ſaw her native ſtore,
If her inward worth were known
She might ever live alone.
The Adventurous Muſe. "
URANIA takes her morning flight
With an inimatable wing :
Thro' riſing deluges of dawning light
She cleaves her wondrous way,
She tunes immortal anthems to the growing
day ;
Nor *Rapin gives her rules to fly, nor
+Purcell notes to fing.
She nor inquires, nor knows nor fears
Where lie the pointed rocks, or where th’
ingulphing ſand,
Climbing the liquid mountains of the ſkies,
* A French critic.
+ An Engliſh maſter of muſic.
LYRIC POEMS.
263
She meets deſcending angels as ſhe flies:
Nor aſks them where their country lies,
Or where the ſea-marks ſtand,
Touch'd with an empyreal ray
She ſprings unerring, upward to eternal day,
spreads her white ſails aloft, and ſteers.
with bold and ſafe attempt, to the celeſtial
land.
3 Whilſt little ſkiffs along the mortal ſhores
With humble toil in order creep,
Coaſting in ſight of one another's ores,
Nor venture thro’ the boundleſs deep.
Such low pretending ſouls are they
Who dwell inclos'd in ſolid orbs of ſcull;
Plodding along their ſober way,
The ſnail o’ertakes them in their wildeſt
play,
While the poor labourers ſweat to be cor-
rećtly dull.
4. Give me the chariot whoſe diviner wheels
Mark their own rout, and unconfin'd
Bound o'er the everlaſting hills
And loſe the clouds below, and leave the
ſtars behind.
Give me the muſe whoſe generous force,
Impatient of the reins,
Purſues an unattempted courſe,
Breaks all the critics’ iron chains,
And bears to paradiſe the raptur'd mind.
5 There Milton dwells : The mortal ſung
Themes not preſum’d by mortal tongue ;
New terrors, or new glories, ſhine
In every page, and flying ſcenes divine
Surpriſe the wond'ring ſenſe, and draw our
ſouls along.
Behold his muſe ſent out tº explore
The unapparent deep where waves of Chaos
roar,
And realms of night unknown before.
She trac'd a glorious path unknown,
Thro' fields of heav'nly war, and ſeraphs
overthrown,
Where his advent’rous genius led :
Sov’reign ſhe fram’d a model of her own,
Nor thank'd the living nor the dead.
The noble hater of degenerate rhyme
Shook off the chains, and built his verſe
ſublime,
A monument too high for coupled ſound to
climb. *.
He mourn’d the garden loſt below;
(Earth is the ſcene for tuneful woe)
Now bliſs beats high in all his veins,
Now the loſt Eden he regains,
Keeps his own air, and triumphsin unrival’d
ſtrains.
6 Immortal bard | Thus thy own Raphael
ſings, *
And knows no rule but native fire :
All heav'n fits filent, while to his ſov’reign
ſtrings
He talks unutterable things;
With graces infinite his untaught fingers
roWe
Acroſs the golden lyre :
From ev’ry note devotion ſprings.
Rapture, and harmony, and love,
O’erſpread the liſt’ning choir.
To Mr. NICHOLAS CLARK.
The Complaint.
I 'Twas in a vale where Oſiers grow
By murm’ring ſtreams we told our
W. Oe
And mingled all our cares:
Friendſhip ſat pleas'd in both our eyes,
. In both the weeping dews ariſe,
And drop alternate tears.
2. The vigorous monarch of the day
Now mounting half his morning way
Shone with a fainter bright :
Still fickning, and decaying ſtill,
Dimly he wander'd up the hill,
With his expiring light.
In dark eclipſe his chariot roll'd,
The queen of night obſcur'd his gold
Behind her ſable wheels ;
Nature grew ſad to loſe the day,
The flow’ry vales in mourning lay,
In mourning ſtood the hills.
3
4. Such are our ſorrows, Clark, I cry’d,
Clouds of the brain grow black, and hide
Our dark’ned ſouls behind :
In the young morning of our years
Diſtempering fogs have climb'd the ſpheres,
And choak the lab’ring mind.
5
Lo, the gay planet rears his head,
And overlooks the lofty ſhade,
New-bright’ning all the ſkies :
But fay, dear partner of my moan,
When will our long eclipſe be gone,
Or when our ſuns ariſe 2
6
In vain are potent herbs apply'd,
Harmonious ſounds in vain have try’d
To make the darkneſs fly;
But drugs would raiſe the dead as ſoon,
Or clatt’ring braſs relieve the moon,
When fainting in the ſky.
Some friendly Spirit from above,
Born of the light, and nurſt with love,
Affift our feebler fires;
Force theſe invading glooms away 5
Souls ſhould be ſeen quite thro’ their clay,
Bright as your heav'nly choirs.
7
8 But if the fogs muſt damp the flame,
Gently, kind death, diſſolve our frame,
Releaſe the pris’ner-mind :
Our ſouls ſhall mount, at thy diſcharge,
To their bright ſource, and ſhine at large
Nor clouded, nor confin'd.
The Affiğions of a Friend.
I702.
I
OW let my cares all bury’d lie,
My griefs for ever dumb :
Your ſorrows ſwell my heart ſo high,
They leave my own no room.
264
LYRIC POEMS,
2 sickneſs and pains are quite forgot,
The ſpleen itſelf is gone;
Plung'd in your woes I feel them not,
Or feel them all in one.
3 Infinite grief puts ſenſe to flight,
And all the foul invades :
So the broad gloom of ſpreading night
Devours the evening ſhades.
Thus am I born to be unbleſt
This ſympathy of woe
Drives my own tyrants from my breaſt
Tº admit a foreign foe.
5 Sorrows in long ſucceſſion reign
Their iron rod I feel :
Friendſhip has only chang'd the chain,
But I’m the pris’ner ſtill.
6 Why was this life for miſery made :
Or why drawn out ſo long P. .
Is there no room amongſt the dead 2
Or is a wretch too young
7 Move faſter on great nature's wheel,
Be kind, ye rolling pow’rs,
Hurl my days headlong down the hill
With undiſtinguiſh’d hours.
$ Be duſky, all my riſing ſuns,
Nor ſmile upon a ſlave:
Darkneſs, and death, make haſte at once
To hide me in the grave.
The Reverſe: Or, The Comforts of a Friend.
I THºs nature tun'd her mournful tongue,
Till grace lift up her head,
Revers’d the ſorrow and the ſong,
And ſmiling, thus ſhe ſaid :
a were kindred ſpirits born for cares?
Muſt ev'ry grief be mine :
Is there a ſympathy in tears,
Yet joys refuſe to join P
3 Forbid it, heav'n, and raiſe my love,
And make our joys the ſame :
So bliſs and friendſhip join’d above
Mix an immortal flame.
4 sorrows are loſt in vaſt delight
That brightens all the foul.
As deluges of dawning light
O'erwhelm the duſky pole.
5 Pleaſures in long ſucceſſion reign,
And all my pow'rs employ :
Friendſhip but ſhifts the pleaſing ſcene,
And freſh repeats the joy.
6 Life has a ſoft and filver thread,
Nor is it drawn too long ;
Yet when my vaſter hopes perſuade,
I'm willing to be gone.
7 Faſt as ye pleaſe roll down the hill,
And haſte away, my years ;
Or I can wait my Father’s will,
And dwell beneath the ſpheres,
3 Riſe glorious, ever future ſun,
Gild all my following days,
| But make the laſt dear moment known
| By well-diſtinguiſh’d rays.
To the Right Honourable JOHN LORD
CUTS*.
The Hardy Soldier.
1 “O WHY is man ſo thoughtleſs grown
Why guilty ſouls in haſte to die
Vent’ring the leap to the worlds unknown,
Heedleſs to arms and blood they fly.
2 Are lives but worth a ſoldier's pay
Why will ye join ſuch wide extremes,
And ſtake immortal ſouls, in play
At deſp'rate chance, and bloody games :
3 Valour's a nobler turn of thought,
Whoſe pardon'd guilt forbids her fears:
Calmly ſhe meets the deadly ſhot,
Secure of life above the ſtars.
4. But Frenzy dares eternal fate,
And ſpurr'd with honour's airy dreams,
Flies to attack th’ infernal gate,
And force a paſſage to the flames.”
5 Thus hov'ring o'er Namuria's plains,
Surg heav'nly love in Gabriel's form :
Young Thraſo left the moving ſtrains,
And vow'd to pray before the ſtorm.
6 Anon the thund'ring trumpet calls;
“ Vows are but wind,” the hero cries;
Then ſwears by heav'n, and ſcales the walls,
Drops in the ditch, deſpairs and dies.
Burning ſeveral Poems of Ovid, Martial, Oldham,
Dryden, &c.
1708.
r I JUDGE the muſe of lewd defire;
Her ſons to darkneſs, and her works to
fire.
In vain the flatteries of their wit
Now with a melting ſtrain, now with an
heav'nly flight,
Would tempt my virtue to approve
Thoſe gaudy tinders of a lawleſs love.
So harlots dreſs: They can appear
Sweet, modeſt, cool, divinely fair,
To charm a Cato's eye; but all within,
Stench, impudence and fire, and ugly raging
fin.
2 Die, Flora, die in endleſs ſhame,
Thou proſtitute of blackeſt fame,
Stript of thy falſe array.
Ovid, and all ye wilder pens
Of modern luſt, who gild our ſcenes,
Poiſon the Britiſh ſtage, and paint damma-
tion gay,
Attend your miſtreſs to the dead;
When Flora dies, her imps ſhould wait upon
her ſhade.
* At the ſiege of Namur.
LYRIC POEMS.
265
3 * Strephon, of noble blood and mind,
(For ever ſhine his name !)
As death approach'd, his ſoul refitſ'd,
And gave his loſer ſonnets to the flame.
“ Burn, burh, he try’d with ſacred rage,
Hell is the due of ev'ry page, s
Hell be the fate. (But O indulgent heaven
So vile the mufe, and yet the man forgiv'n 1)
Burn on my ſongs: For not the filver
Thames
Nor Tiber with his yellow ſtreams
In endleſs currents rolling to the main,
- Can e'er dilute the poiſon, or waſh out the
ſtaifa.” d
So Moſes by divine command
Forbid the leprous houſe to ſtand
When deep the fatal ſpot was grown,
** Break down the timber, and dig up the
Ítone,”
*
To Mrs. B. BENDISH,
Againſt Tears.
1 MADAM, perſuade me tears are good
To waſh our mortal cares away;
Theſe eyes ſhall weep a ſudden flood,
And ſtreafn into a briny ſea.
2 Or if theſe orbs are hard and dry,
(Theſe orbs that never uſe to rain)
Some ſtar direct me where to buy
One ſov’reign drop for all my pain.
3 Were both the golden Indiés mine,
I’d give both Indies for a tear:
I’d barter all but what's divine:
Nor ſhall I think the bargain dear.
4. But tears, alas ! are trifling things,
They rather feed than heal our woe;
From trickling eyes new ſorrow ſprings,
As weeds in rainy ſeaſons grow.
5 Thus weeping urges weeping on ;
In vain our miſeries hope relief,
For one drop calls another down,
Till we are drown'd in ſeas of grief.
6 Then let theſe uſeleſs ſtreams be ſtaid,
Wear native courage on your face:
Theſe vulgar things were never made
For ſouls of a ſuperior race.
7 If 'tis a rugged path you go,
And thouſand foes your ſteps ſurround,
Tread the thorns down, charge thro’ the
foe :
The hardeſt fight is higheſt crown'd.
Few Happy Matches.
Auguſt, 17or.
g SAY. mighty love, and teach my ſong,
To whom my ſweeteſt joys belong,
* Earl of Rocheſter.
WOL. VII,
And who the happy pairs -
Whoſe yielding hearts and joining hands,
Find bſeſſings twiſted with their bands,
To ſoften all their cares. \
2. Not the wild herd of nymphs and ſwains
That thoughtleſs fly into the chains,
As cuſtom leads the way:
If there be bliſs without defign,
Ivies and oaks may grow and twine,
And be as bleſt they as they.
3 Not ſordid ſouls of earthly mold
Whe drawn by kindred charms of gold
To dull embraces move :
So two rich mountains of Peru
May ruſh to wealthy marriage too,
And make a world of love.
4. Not the mad tribe that hell inſpires
With wanton flames; thoſe raging firés
The puier bliſs deſtroy :
On AEtna's top let furies wed,
And ſheets of lightning dreſs the bed
Tº improve the burning joy.
5 Nor the dull pairs whoſe marble forms
None of the melting paſſions warms
Can mingle hearts and hands :
Logs of green wood that quench the coals
Are marry’d juſt like Stoic ſouls,
With offers for their bands.
6 Not minds of melancholy ſtrain,
Still ſilent, or that ſtill complain,
Can the dear bondage bleſs :
As well may heav'nly conforts ſpring
From two old lutes with ne'er a ſtring,
Or none beſides the baſs.
7 Nor can the ſoft inchantments hold
Two jarring ſouls of angry mold,
The rugged and the keen :
Sampſon's young foxes might as well
In bands of chearful wedlock dwell,
With firebands ty’d between.
8 Nor let the cruel fetters bind
A gentle to a ſavage mind ;
For love abhors the fight :
Looſe the fierce tiger from the deer,
For native rage and native fear
Riſe and forbid delight.
Two kindeſt ſouls alone muſt meet;
'Tis friendſhip makes the bondage ſweet,
And feeds their mutual loves :
Bright Venus on her rolling throne
Is drawn by gentleſt birds alone,
And Cupids yoke the doves.
To DAVID POLHILL, Eſq.
December, 1702;
An Ehiftle.
LET uſeleſs ſouls to woods retreat ;
Polhill ſhould leave a country-ſeat
When virtue bids him dare be great.
Nor Kent”, nor Suſſex*, ſhould have charms,
While liberty, with loud alarms,
Calls you to counſels and to arms.
* His country-ſeat and dwelling,
L. L.
9
I
266
LYRIC POEMS.
3 Lewis, by fawning ſlaves ador’d,
Bids you receive a * baſe-born lord;
Awake your cares! awake your ſword
4 Fačtions amongſt the + Britons riſe,
And warring tongues, and wild ſurmiſe,
And burning zeal without her eyes.
5 A vote decides the blind debate ;
Reſolv’d, “”Tis of diviner weight,
To ſave the ſteeple, than the ſtate.”
6 The f bold machine is form'd and join'd
To ſtretch the conſcience, and to bind
The native freedom of the mind.
7 Your grandfire ſhades with jealous eye
Frown down to ſee their offspring lie
Careleſs, and let their country die,
8 If S Trevia fear to let you ſtand
Againſt the Gaul with ſpear in hand,
At leaſt || petition for the land.
The celebrated Piłory of the Poles over Oſman
the Turkiſh Emperor in the Dacian Battle.
Tranſlated from Caſimire, B. IV. Od, 4, with
large Additions.
ADOR the old, the wealthy and the
ſtrong,
Chearful in years (nor of the heroic muſe
Unknowing, nor unknown) held fair poſ-
ſeſſions
Where flows the fruitful Danube: Seventy
ſprings
Smil’d on his ſeed, and ſeventy harveſt-
In OOIAS
Fill’d his wide granaries with autumnal joy :
Still he reſum’d the toil; and fame reports,
While he broke up new ground, and tir’d
his plough
In graſſy furrows, the torn earth diſclos'd
Helmets, and ſwords (bright furniture of war
Slecping in ruſt) and heaps of mighty bones.
The ſun deſcending to the weſtern deep
Bid him lie down and reſt; he loos'd the
yoke,
Yet held his wearied oxen from their food
With charming numbers, and uncommon
fong.
Go, fellow-labourers,
ſecure,
Or feed beſide me; taſte the greens and
boughs
That you have long forgot; crop the ſweet
herb, -
you may rove
* The pretender, proclaim'd king in France.
+ The parliament.
i The bill againſt occaſional conformity,
1702.
w
§ Mrs. Polhill of the family of the Lord
Trevor.
| Mr. Polhill was one of thoſe five zealous
gentlemen who preſented the famous Kentiſh
Petition to the parliament, in the reign of King
William, to haſten their ſupplies in order to
fupport the king in his war with France.
t
And graze in ſafety, while the vićtor-Pole
Leans on his ſpear, and breathes; yet ſtilt
his eye
Jealous and fierce.
ſay,
How fº harveſt of the ſlaughter'd Turks
Strew'd the Moldavian fields 2 What migbty
piles
Of vaſt deſtruction, and of Thracian dead
Fill and amaze my eyes P Broad bucklerslie
(A vain defence) ſpread o'er the pathleſs
hills,
And coats of ſcaly ſteel, and hard habergeon,
Deep-bruis'd and empty of Mahometan
limbs.
This the fierce Saracen wore, (for when a
boy, w
I was their captive, and remind their dreſs :)
Here the Polonians dreadful march'd along
In auguſt port, and regular array,
Led on to conqueſt: Here the Turkiſh
chief
Preſumptuous trod, and in rude order rang'd
His long battalions, while his populous
How large, old ſoldier,
to WD 3
Pour’d out freſh troops perpetual, dreſt in
arms,
Horrent in mail, and gay in ſplanged
pride.
O the dire image of the bloody fight
Theſe eyes have ſeen, when the capacious
plain
Was throng’d with Dacian ſpears; when .
poliſh’d helms
And convex gold blaz'd thick againſt the
ſun
Reſtoring all his beams' but fiowning
Wat
All gloomy, like a gather'd tempeſt, flood
Wavering, and doubtful where to bend its
fall,
The ſtorm of miſfive ſteel delay'd a-
while .
By wiſe command ; fledg’d arrows on the
nerve;
And ſcimeter and ſabre bore the ſheath
Reluctant; till the hollow brazen clouds
Had bellow'd from each quarter of the field
Loud thunder, and diſgorg'd their ſulph’-
rous fire, * *
Then banners wav'd, and arms were mix’d
with arms;
Then javelins anſwer'd javelins as they fled,
for both fled hiſſing death: With adverſe
edge
The crooked fauchions met; and hideous
noiſe
From claſhing ſhields, thro’ the long ranks
of war.
Clang'd horrible. A thouſand iron ſtorms
Roar diverſe: And in harſh confuſion drown
The trumpet’s ſilver ſound. O rude effort
Of harmony not all the frozen ſtores
Of the cold North when pour’d in rattling
hail - -
Laſh with ſuch madneſs the Norwegian plains,
LYRIC POEMS,
267
'Or ſo torment the ear. Scarce ſounds ſo far
The direful fragor, when ſome ſouthern
blaſt
Tears from the Alps a ridge of knotty oaks
Beep fang'd, and ancient tenants of the rock:
The maſſy fragment, many a rood in
length, w
With hideous craſh, rolls down the rugged
cliff *
Refiſtleſs, plunging in the ſubjećt lake
Como; or Lugaine; th’ afflićted waters roar,
And various thunder all the valley fills,
Such was the noiſe of war: the troubled air
Complains aloud, and propagat.cs the din ,
To neighbouring regions ; rocks and lofty
hills
Beat the impetuous echoes round the ſky.
Uproar, revenge, and rage, and hate ap-
pear
In all their murderous forms ; and flame
and blood,
‘And ſweat and duſt array the broad cam-
paign
In horror: haſty feet, and ſparkling eyes,
And all the ſavage paſſions of the ſoul
Engage in the warm buſineſs of the day.
Here mingling hands, but with no friendly
gripe, .
Join in the flight;
embrace,
But mortal, as the iron arms of death.
Here words auſtere, of perilous command,
And valour ſwift t” obey; bold feats of arms
Dreadful to ſee, and glorious to relate,
Shine thro’ the field with more ſurpriſing
brightneſs -
Than glittering helms or ſpears.
loud applauſe
(Beſt meed of warlike toil) what manly
ſhouts,
And yells unmanly thro’ the battle ring !
And ſudden wrath dies into endleſs fame.
and breaſts in cloſe
What
Long did the fate of war hang dubious.
Here
Stood the more num’rous Turk, the valiant
Pole
Fought here; more dreadful, tho' with
leſſer wings.
But what the Dahees or the coward foul
Of a Cydonian, what the fearful crouds
Of baſe Cicilians ſcaping from the ſlaughter.
Qr Parthian beaſts, with all their racing
riders,
What could they mean againſt th' intrepid
breaſt
Of the purſuing foe 2 Th’ impetuous Poles
Ruſh here, and here the Lithuanian horſe
Drive down upon them like a double bolt
Qf kindled thunder raging thro’ the ſky
On ſounding wheels; or as ſome mighty
flood -
§olls his two torrents down a dreadful ſteep,
Precipitant, and bears along the ſtream,
Rocks, woods and trees, with all the grazing
herd, f
And *::: lofty foreſts headlong to the
Plain.
-
The bold Boruſſion ſmoking from afar
Moves like a tempeſt in a duſky cloud,
And imitates th’ artillery of heav'n,
The lightning and the roar. Amazing
ſcene !
What ſhowers of mortal hail, what flaky
fires
Burſt from the darkneſs! while their co-
horts firm
Met the like thunder, and an equal ſtorm,
From hoſtile troops but with a braver mind.
Undaunted boſoms tempt the edge of war,
And ruſh on the ſharp point; while baleful
miſchiefs,
Deaths, and blight dangers flew acroſs the
field
Thick and continual, and a thcuſand ſouls
Fled murmuring thro’ their wounds. I ſtood
aloof,
For 'twas unſafe to come within the wind
Of Ruffian banners, when with whizzing
found,
Eager of glory and profuſe of life,
They bore down ſearleſs on the charging
foes,
And drove them backward. Then the
Turkiſh moons
Wander'd in diſarray. A dark eclipſe
Hung on the ſilver creſcent, boding night,
Long night, to all her ſons : at length diſ-
rob’d
The ſtandards fell ; the barbarous enſigns
torn
Fled with the wind, the ſport of angry
heav'n :
And a large cloud of infantry and horſe
Scattering in wild diſorder, ſpread the plain.
Not noiſe, nor number, nor the brawny
limb.
Nor high-built ſize prevails : 'Tis courage
fights, -
'Tis courage conquers. So whole foreſts
fałł
(A ſpacious ruin) by one fingle ax,
And ſteal well-ſharpened : ſo a generous pair
Of young-wing'd eaglets flight a thouſand
doves.
Vaſt was the ſlaughter, and the flow'ry
green
Drank deep of flowing crimſon. Veteran
bands
Here made their laſt campaign. Here
haughty chiefs
Stretch'd on the bed of purple honour lie
Supine, nor dream of battle's hard eventy
Oppreſs'd with iron ſlumbers, and long
t night.
Their ghoſts indignant to the nether world
Fled, but attended well ; for at their ſide
Some faithful Janizaries ſtrew'd the field,
Fall’n in juſt ranks or wedges, lunes or
ſquares,
Firm as they ſtood;
troops
A nobler toil, and triumph worth their fight.
But the broad fabré and keen poll-ax flew
L 2.
to the Warſovian
268
I.YRIG POEMS,
'With ſpeedy terror thro' the feebler herd,
And made rude havock and irregular ſpoil
Amongſt the vulgar bands that own'd the
name
Of Mahomet. The wild Arabians fled
In ſwift affright a thouſand different ways
Thro' brakes and thorns, and climb'd the
craggy mountains
Bellowing; yet haſty fate o’ertook the cry,
And Poliſh hunters clave the timorous deer.
Thus the dire proſpect diſtant fill'd my
ſoul
With awe; till the laſt relics of the war
The thin Edonians, flying had diſclos'd
The ghaſtly plain: I took a nearer view,
Unſeemly to the fight, nor to the ſmell.
Grateful. What loads of mangled fleſh and
limbs *
(A diſmal carnage!) bath'd in reeking gore
Lay welt ring on the ground ; while flitting
life
Convuls’d the nerves ſtill ſhiveting, nor had
loſt - i
All taſte of pain! Here an old Thracian lies
Deform'd with years, and ſcars, and groans
aloud
Torn with freſh wounds; but inward vitals
firm
Forbid the ſoul's remove, and chain it down
Ry the hard laws of nature, to ſuſtain
Long torment : his wild eye-balls roll: his
*- teeth s -
Gnaſhing with anguiſh, chide his lingering
ate,
Emblazon’d armour ſpoke his high com-
mand *
Amongſt the neighbouring dead; they round
their Lord
Lay proſtrate; ſome in flight ignobly ſlain,
Some to the ſkies their faces upwards turn’d
Still brave, and proud to die ſo near their ||
prince.
I mov’d not far, and Io, at manly length
Two beauteous youths of richeſt Ott’man
blood
Extended on the field : in friendſhip join’d
Nor fate divides them: hardy warriors
both ; -
Both faithful ; drown'd in ſhow’rs of darts
they fell *
Each with his ſhield ſpread o'er his lover's
'heart, {
In vain: for on thoſe orbs of friendly braſa
Stood groves of javelins; ſome, alas, too
deep §
Were planted there; and thro’ their lovely
boſoms * * *
Made painful avenues for cruel death.
O my dear nºtive land, forgive the tear
I dropt on their van cheeks, when ſtrong
compaſſion -
Forc’d from ſmy melting eyes the briny dew,
And paid a ſacrifice to hoſtile virtue.
Dacia, forgive the figh that wiſh'd the
ſouls a & ~ *
Of thoſe fair infidels ſome humble place
Among the bleſt. “Sleep, ſleep, ye hap-
leſs pair,
Gently, I cry'd, worthy of better fate,
And better faith.” Hard by the general
la
Of Saracen deſcent a grizly form
Breathleſs, yet pride ſat pale upon his front
In diſappointment, with a ſurly brow
Louring in death, and vext ; his rigid jaws
Foaming with blood bite hard the Poliſh
ſpear.
In that dead viſage my remembrance reads
Raſh Caracas: In vain the boaſting ſlave
Promis'd and ſooth'd the ſultan threatning
fierce
With royal ſuppers and triumphant fare
Spread wide beneath Warſovian ſilk and
gold;
See on the naked ground all cold he lies
Beneath the damp wide cov’ring of the air
Forgetful of his word. How heaven con-
founds
Inſulting hopes with what an awful ſmile
Laughs at the Proud, that, looſen all the
rel DS *
To their unbounded wiſhes, and leads on
Their blind ambition to a ſhameful end
But whither am I borne P. This thought
of arms t
Fires me in vain to ſing to ſenſeleſs bulls
What generous horſe ſhould hear. Break
off, my ſong,
My barbarous müſe be ſtill : Immortal deeds
Muſt not be thus profan'd in ruſtic verſe :
The martial trumpet, and the following age,
And sº fame, ſhall loud rehearſe the
ght
In ſounds of glory. Lo the evening-ſtar
Shines o'er the weſtern hill: my oxen, come,
The well-known ſtar invites the labourer
home.
To Mr. HENRY BENDISH.
4tgift, 24, 1705.
Dear Sir,
“THE following ſong was yours when firſt
compoſed : "The muſe then deſcribed
the general fate of mankind, that is, to be ill-
match'd; and now ſhe rejoices that you have
eſcaped the common miſchief, and that your
ſoul has found its own mate. Let this Ode
then congratulate you both. Grow mutually
in more complete likeneſs and love: Perſevere
|and be happy. *
| “I perſuade myſelf you will accept from
the preſs what the pen more privately inſcribed
| to you long ago; and I’m in no pain leſt you
iſhould take offence at the fabulous dreſs of this
: Poem: Nor would weaker minds be ſcandaliſed
at it, if they would give themſelves leave to
refle&t how many divine truths are ſpoken by
the holy-writers in viſions and images, parables
LYRIC POEMS.
69 .
and dreams: Nor are my wiſer friends aſhamed
to defend it, ſince the narrative is grave, and
the moral ſo juſt and obvious.”
The Indian Philoſopher.
September 3, 17or.
I WHy ſhould our joys transform to pain P
Why gentle Hymen's ſilken chain
A plague of iron prove 2
Bendiſh, 'tis ſtrange the charm that binds
Millions of hands, ſhould leave their minds
At ſuch a looſe from love.
2 In vain I ſought the wondrous cauſe,
Rang'd the wide fields of nature’s laws,
And urg’d the ſchools in vain;
Then deep in thought, within my breaſt
My foul retir’d, and ſlumber dreſs'd
A bright inſtructive ſcene.
3 O'er the broad lands, and croſs thc tide,
On fancy’s airy horſe I ride,
(Sweet rapture of the mind 1)
Tiil on the banks of Ganges flood,
In a tall ancient grove I ſtood
For ſacred uſe deſign'd.
4 Hard by, a venerable prieſt,
Ris’n with his God, the ſun, from reſt,
Awoke his morning ſong;
Thrice he conjur’d the murm’ring ſtream;
The birth of ſouls was all his theme,
And half-divine his tongue.
** He ſang th' eternal rolling flame,
That vital maſs, that ſtill the ſame
Does all our minds compoſe :
But ſhap'd in twice ten thouſand frames;
Thence diff'ring ſouls of diffring names
And jarring tempeſts roſe.
S
6
The mighty power that form'd the mind
One mold. for every two deſign'd,
And bleſs'd the new-born pair :
This be a match for this ; he ſaid,
Then down he ſent the ſouls he made,
To ſeek them bodies here :
But parting from their warm abode
They loſt their fellows on the road,
And never join’d their hands :
Ah cruel chance, and croſſing fates :
Our eaſtern fouls have dropt their mates :
On Europe's barbarous lands. !
Happy the youth that finds the bride.
Whoſe birth is to his own ally'd,
The ſweeteſt joy of life.:
But oh the crowds of wretched ſouls
Fetter'd to minds of different molds,
And, chain'd, tº eternal ſtrife l
S. Thus ſang the wondrous Indian bard;
My ſoul with vaſt attention heard,
While Ganges ceas'd to flow :
Sure then, I cry’d, might I but ſee -
That gentle nymph that twinn'd with me,
* I may be happy too,
Io Some courteous angel, tell me where,
What diſtant lands this unknown fair,
Or diſtant ſeas detain
Swift as the wheel of nature rolls
I'd fly, to meet, and mingle fouls, ,
And wear the joyful chain.”
The Happy Man.
| 1 SERENE as light, is Myron's ſoul,
And ačtive as the ſun, yet ſteady as the
pole :
In manly beauty ſhines his face;
Every muſe, and every grace,
Makes his heart and tongue their ſeat,
His heart profuſely good, his tongue divinely
ſweet. -
Myron the wonder of our eyes,
Behold his manhood ſcarce begun ?
Behold his race of virtue run
Behold the goal of glory won
Nor fame denies the merit, nor withholds the
prize;
Her ſilver trumpets his renown proclaim :
The lands where learning never flew,
Which neither Rome nor Athens knew,
Surly Japan and rich Peru,
In barbarous ſongs, pronounce the Britiſh
hero's name.
*
“ Airy bliſs, the hero cry’d,
May feed the tympany of pride ;
But healthy ſouls were never found
To live on emptineſs and ſound.”
Lo, at his honourable feet
Fame's bright attendent, wealth, ap-
pears ;
She comes to pay obedience meet,
Providing joys for future years ;
Bleſfings with laviſh hand ſhe pours
Gather'd from the Indian coaſt :
Not Danae’s lap could equal treaſures boaſt,
When Jove came down in golden
- fhow’rs.
He look’d and turn'd his eyes away,
With high diſdain I heard him ſay,
“Bliſs is not made of glitt’ring clay.”
Now pomp and grandeur court his head
With ſcutcheons, arms, and enſigns
ſpread: -
'Gay magnificence and ſtate,
Guards, and chariots, at his gate,
And ſlaves in endleſs order round his table
Walt :
They learn the dićtates of his eyes,
And now they fall, and now they riſe,
Watch every motion of their lord,
Hang on his lips with moſt impatient zeal,
With ſwift ambition ſeize th' unfiniſh'd
word,
And the command fulfil.
Tir'd with the train that grandeur
brings,
He dropt a tear, and pity’d kings :
Then flying from the noiſy throng,
Seeks the diverſion of a ſong.
'fö
i YRIC POEMS.
4. Muſic deſcending on a ſilent cloud,
Tun’d all her ſtings with endleſs art;
By ſlow degrees from ſoft to loud
Changing ſhe roſe : The harp and
flute
Harmonious join, the hero to ſalute;
And make a captive of his heart.
Fruits, and rich wine, and ſcenes of lawleſs
love
Each with utmoſt luxury ſtrove
To treat their favourite beſt :
But ſounding ſtrings, and fruits, and
wine,
And lawleſs love, in vain combine
To make his virtue ſleep, or lull his ſoul to
reſt.
5 He ſaw the tedious round, and, with a figh,
Pronounc'd the world but vinity.
“In crowds of pleaſure ſtill I find
A painful ſolitude of mind,
A vacancy within which ſenſe can ne'er
ſupply.
Hence, and be
ſnares,
Ye Yulgar charms of eyes and ears,
Ye unperforming promiſes
Be all my baſer paſſions dead,
A há baſe deſires, by nature made
For animals and boys :
Man has a reliſh more refin'd,
Souls are for ſocial bliſs deſign'd,
Give me a bleſſing fit to match my mind,
A kindred-ſoul to double and to ſhare my
joys.”
goine, flatt'ring
ye
6 Myrrha appear'd : Serene her ſoul
And active as the ſun, yet ſteady as the
pole:
In ſofter beauties ſhone her face;
Every muſe, and every grace,
NMade her heart and tongue their ſeat,
Her heart profuſely good; her tongue di-
vinely ſweet :
Myrrha the wonder of his eyes;
His heart recoil'd with ſweet ſurpriſe,
With joys unknown before :
His ſoul diſſolv’d in pleaſing pain
Flow'd to his eyes, and look’d again,
And could endure no more.
“ Enough ' th' impatient hero cries,
And ſeiz'd her to his breaſt,
I ſeek no more below the ſkies,
I give my ſlaves the reſt.”
To DAVID POLHILL, Eſq.
!
.4m anſwer to an infamous Sati, e, called Advice
to a Painter; written by a nameleſs Author,
againſ king William III. of glorious memory,
k
1698.
SIR,
“WHEN you put this ſatire into my hand,
you gave me the occaſion of employing
my pen to anſwer ſo deteſtable a writing; which
might be done much more effectually by your
known zeal for the intereſt of his majeſty,
your counſels and your courage employed in the
defence of your king and country. And ſince
you provoked me to write, you will accept of
theſe efforts of my loyalty to the beſt of kings,
addreſſed to one of the moſt zealous of his
ſubjećts, by,”
tº 3,
2 our moſt obedient ſervant,
I.
PART I.
AND muſt the hero, that redeem'd our
land, *
Here in the front of vice and ſcandal ſtand 3
The man of wondrous ſoul, that ſcoln'd his
eaſe;.
Tempting the winters, and the faithleſs ſeas,
And paid an annual tribute of his life
To guard his England from the liſh knife;
And cruſh the French dragoon P Muff.
William's name,
That brighteſt flar that gilds the wings of
* fame,
William the brave, the pious, and the juſt,
Adorn theſe gloomy ſcenes of tyranny and
luſt 2 º
Polhill, my blood boils high, my ſpi-
rits flame ;
Can your zeal ſleep ! Or are your paſſions
tame * |
Nor call revenge and darkneſs on the poet's
name *
Why ſmoke the ſkies not P Why no thun-
ders roll P {
Nor kindling lightnings blaſt his guilty
ſoul ? - w
Audacious wretch to ſtab a monarch's
fame,
And fire his ſubječts with a rebel-flame;
To call the painter to his black deſigns,
To draw our guardian’s face in hellish lines :
Painter, beware the monarch can be
t ſhown
Under no ſhape but angels, or his own,
Gabriel, or William, on the Britiſh
throne,
Y
|
*
O ! could my thought but graſp the
vaſt deſign,
And words with infinite ideas join, *.
I'd rouſe Apelles, from his iron ſleep,
And bid him trace the warrior o'er the
deep :
Trace hiº's pelles, o'er the Belgian plain
Fierce, how he climbs the mountains of
the ſlain,
Scatt'ring juſt vengeance thro’ the red
campaign.
Then daſh the canvas with a flying
ftroke,
Till it be loſt in clouds of fire and ſmoke,
And ſay, ''Twas thus the conqueror thro'
the ſquadrons broke. \
Mark him again emerging from the cloud, Y'
Far from his troops ; there like a rock he
ſtood
His country's ſingle barrier in a ſca of
tº blood.
LYRIC POEMS.
2? I
Calmly he leaves the pleaſure of a *]
And his Maria weeping ; whilſt alone
He wards the fate of nations, and pro-
vokes his own :
But heav'n ſecures its champion; o'er then
field l
Paint hov'ring angels; tho’ they fly con-
ceal’d, . :
Each intercepts a death, and wears it on
his ſhield.
Now noble pencil, lead him to our iſle,
Mark how the ſkies with joyful luſtre
ſmile,
Then imitate the glory; on the ſtrand
Spread half the nation, longing till he land.
Waſh off the blood, and take a peaceful
teint,
All red the warrior, white the ruler paint:
Abroad a hero, and at home a ſaint.
Throne him on high upon a ſhining ſeat,
Luſt and profaneneſs dying at his feet,
While round his head the laurel and the
olive meet,
The crowns of war and peace; and may
they blow
With flow’ry bleſfings ever on his brow.
At his right-hand pile up the Engliſh laws
In facred volumes; thence the monarch ||
draws
His wiſe and juſt commands
Riſe, ye old ſages of the Britiſh iſle,
On the fair tablet caſt a revel end ſmile,
And bleſs the piece; theſe ſtatutes are your :
|
own,
That ſway the cottage, and direét the
thro...e :
People and prince are one in William's
Ila. In 62.
Their joys, their dangers, and their laws the
ſame.
diſplay’d,
Clap their glad wings around their guar-
dian’s head,
Religion o'er the reſt her ſtarry pinions
i ſpread.
Religion guards him; round th’ imperial
queen
Place waiting virtues, each of heav'nly mien;
Learn their bright air, and paint it Yom his
eyes;
The juſt, the bold, the temperate, and the
wiſe
Dwell in his looks; majeſtic, but ſelene;
Sweet, with no fondneſs; chearful, but
Il Ot Wall) :
Bright, without terror; Great, without diſ.
dain,
His ſoul inſpires us what his lips command,
And ſpreads his brave exampleth, o' the land:
Not ſo the former reigns;–
Bend down his earth to each afflićted cry,
Let beams of grace dart gently from his eye;
|But the bright treaſures of his ſacred breaſt
Are too divine, too vaſt to be expreſt :
Colours muſt fail where words and numbers
faint,
Let liberty, and right, with plumes)
|
}
And leave the hero's heart for thought alone
to paint.
PART II.
OW, muſe, purſue the ſatiriſt again,
Wipe off the blots of his envenom'd pen;
Hark, how he bids the ſervile painter draw,
In monſtrous ſhapes, the patrons of our law ;
At one flight daſh be cancels every name
From the white rolls of honeſty and fame:
This ſcribbling wretch marks all he meets
for knave,
Shoots ſudden bolts promiſcuous at the baſe
and brave,
And with unpardonable malice ſheds
Poiſon and ſpite on undiſtinguiſh’d heads,
Painter, forbear ; or if thy bolder hand
Dares to attempt the villains of the land,
Draw firſt this poet, like ſome baleful ſtars.
With filent influence ſhedding civil war;
Or factious trumpeter, whoſe magic ſound
Calls off the ſubjećts to the hoſtile ground,
And ſcatters helliſh feuds the nation
round.
Theſe are the imps of hell, that curſed
tribe
That firſt create the plague, and then the
pain deſcribe.
Draw next above, the great ones of our
iſle,
Still from the good diſlinguiſhing the vile;
Seat 'em in pomp, in grandeur, and com-
mand,
Peeling the ſubjećts with a greedy hand :
Paint forth the knaves that have the nation
ſold, -
And tinge their greedy looks with forbid
gold.
Mark what a ſelfiſh faction undermines
The pious monarch’s generous deſigns,
Spoil their own native land as vipers do,
Vipels that tear their mothers bowels
through.
Let great Naſſau, beneath a careful Crown,
Mourºful in majeſty, look gently down,
Minging ſoft pity with an awful frown
He grieves to ſee how long in vain hen
*
ſtrove
To make us bleſt, how vain his labours !
prove º
To ſave the ſtubborn land he condeſcends |
to love. J
To the Diſcontented and Unquiet.
Imitated partly from Caſimire, B. IV. Od. I5-
VARIA, there’s nothing here that's free
From weariſome anxiety :
And the whole round of mortal joys
With ſhort poſſeſſion tires and cloys :
'Tis a dull circle that we tread,
Juſt fom the window to the bed,
We riſe to ſee and to be ſeen,
Gaze on the world a while, and then
We yawn, and ſtretch to ſleep again.
But fancy, that uneaſy gueſt,
Still holds a lodging in our breaſt :
She finds or frames vexations ſtill.
Herſelf the greateſt plague we feel,
We take (trange pienſure in our pain,
And make a mountain of a grain,
272
LYRIC POEMS.
Aſſume the load, and pant and ſweat
Beneath th' imaginary weight.
With our dear ſelves we live at ſtrife,
While the moſt conſtant ſcenes of Hife
From peeviſh humours are not free ;
Still we affect variety :
Rather than paſs an eaſy day,
We fret and chide the hours away,
Grow weary of this circling ſun,
And vex that he ſhould ever run
The ſame old track; and ſtill, and ſtill
Riſe led behind yon eafletn hill,
And chides the moon that darts her light
Thro' the ſame caſement every night.
We ſhift our chambers, and our homes,
To dwell where trouble never comes :
Silvia has left the city crowd,
Againſt the court exclaims aloud,
Flies to the woods ; a hermit-ſaint
She loaths her patches, pins, and paint,
Dear diamonds from her neck are torn :
But Humour, that eternal thorn,
. Sticks in her heart : ſhe’s hurry'd ſtill,
*Twixt her wild paſſions and her wiil :
Haunted and hagg’d where’er ſhe roves,
By purling ſtreams, and filent groves,
Or with her furies, or her loves,
Then our own native land we hate,
"Too cold, too windy, or too wet 5
Change the thick climate, and repair
To France or Italy for air ;
In vain we change, in vain we fly ;
Go, Silvia, mount the whirling ſky,
Or ride upon the feather'd wind
In vain ; if this diſeaſed mind
Clings faſt, and ſtill fits cloſe behind.
Faithful diſeaſe, that never fails
Attendance at her lady’s ſide,
Over the deſart or the tide,
On rolling wheels, or flying ſails.
Happy the ſoul that virtue ſhows
To fix the place of her repoſe,
Needleſs to move; for ſhe can dwell
In her old grandfire's hall as well.
Virtue that never loves to roam,
But ſweetly hides herſelf at home
And eaſy on a native throne
Of humble turf fits gently down.
Yet ſhould tumultuous ſtorms ariſe,
And mingle earth and ſeas, and ſkies,
Should the waves ſwell, and make her roll
Acroſs the line, or near the pole,
Still ſhe's at peace ; for well ſhe knows
To launch the ſtream that duty ſhows,
And makes her home where'er ſhe goes,
Bear her, ye ſeas, upon your breaſt,
Gr waft her, winds, from eaſt to weſt
On the ſoft air; ſhe cannot find
A couch ſo eaſy as her mind,
Nor breathe a climate half ſo kind.
}
|
To JOHN HARTOPP, Eſq.
Now Sir JOHN HAKTOPP, Bart,
Caſimire, Book I. Ode 4. imitated.
Vive jucundae metueñs juventa, &c.
July, 17oo.
I LIVE, my dear Hartopp, live to day,
Nor let the ſun look down and ſay,
“ Inglorious here he lies,”
Shake off your eaſe, and ſend your name
To immortality and fame, *
By ev'ry hour that flies.
2 Youth's a ſoft ſcene, but truſt her not :
Her airy minutes, ſwift as thought,
Slide off the ſlipp'ry ſphere ;
Moons with their months make haſty rounds
he ſun has paſs'd his vernal bounds,
And whirls about the year.
Let folly dreſs in green and red,
And gird her waſte with flowing gold,
Knit bluſhing roſes round her head,
Alas ! the gaudy colours fade,
The garment waxes old.
Hartopp, maik the withering roſe,
And the pale gold how dim it ſhows?
Bright and laſting bliſs below
Is all romance and dream;
Only the joys celeſtial flow
In an eternal ſtream,
The pleaſures that the ſmiling day
With large right-hand beſtows,
Falſly her left conveys away,
And ſhuffles in our woes.
So have I ſeen a mother play,
And cheat her ſilly child,
She gave and took a toy away,
The infant cry’d and ſmil’d.
4.
Airy chance, and iron fate
Hurry and vex our mortal ſtate,
And all the race of ills create ;
Now fiery joy, now fullen grief,
Commands the reins of human life,
The wheels impetuous roll ;
The harneſt hours and minutes ſtrive,
And days with ſtretching pinions drive—
—down fiercely on the goal.
Not half ſo faſt, the galley flies
O'er the Venetian ſéa, -
When ſails, and oars, and lab’ring ſkies
Contend to make her way.
Swift wings for all the flying hours
The God of time prepares, \
The reſt lie ſtill yet in their neſt
And grow for future years.
S
6
To THOMAS GUNSTON, Eſq.
17oo,
Happy Solitude.
Caſimire, Book IV. Ode 12. imitated.
Quid me latentem, &c.
I THE noiſy world complains of me
That ſ ſhould ſhun their fight, and
CC
LYRIC POEMS.
273
‘Viſits, and crowds, and company.
Gunſton, the lark dwells in her neſt
Till ſhe aſcend the ſkies ;
And in my cloſet I could reſt
Till to the heavens I riſe.
Yet they will urge, “ This private life ||
Can never make you bleſt,
And twenty doors are ſtill at ſtrife
Tº engage you for a gueſt.”
Friend, ſhould the towers of Windſor or
Whitehall
Spread open their inviting gates
To make my entertainment gay;
I would obey the royal call,
But ſhort ſhould be my ſtay,
Since a diviner ſervice waits
Tº employ my hours at home, and better
fill the day.
When I within myſelf retreat,
I ſhut my doors againſt the great;
My buſy eye-balls inward roll,
And there with large ſurvey I ſee
All the wide theatre of me,
And view the various feenes of my retiring
foul ; &
There I walk o'er the mazes I have trod,
While hope and fear are in a doubtful ſtrife,
Whether this opera of life
Be ačted well to gain the plaudit of my God.
4. There’s a day haſt’ning, 'tis an awful day !
When the great Sov’reign ſhall at large re- |
view
All that we ſpeak, and all we do,
The ſeveral parts we ačt on this wide ſtage
of clay :
Theſe he approves, and thoſe he blames,
And crowns perhaps a porter, and a prince
he damns. * *
O if the Judge from his tremendous ſeat
Shall not condemn what I have done,
I ſhall be happy tho’ unknown,
TNor need the gazing rabble, nor the ſhouting
ſtreet. Af
5 I hate the glory, friend, that ſprings
From vulgar breath, and empty ſound ;
Fame mounts her upward with a flatt’ring
gale *.
Upon her airy wings,
‘Fill Envy ſhoots, and Fame receives the
wound ;
Then her flagging pinions fail,
Town Glory falls and ſtrikes the round,
And breaks her batter’d limbs.
VOL. VII.
I
M. M.
Rather let me be quite conceal’d from
Fame;
How happy I ſhould lie
In ſweet obſcurity,
Nor the loud world pronounce my little
name !
Here I could live and die alone;
Or if ſociety te due
To keep our taſte of pleaſure new,
Gunſton, I'd live and dis with you,
For both our ſouls are one.
Here we could ſit and paſs the hour,
And pity kingdoms and their kings,
And ſmile at all their ſhining things,
Their toys of ſtate, and images of power;
Virtue ſhould dwell within our ſeat,
Virtue alone could make it ſweet,
Nor is herſelf ſccure, but in a cloſe retreat,
While ſhe withdraws from public praiſe
Envv perhaps would ceaſe to raii, &
Envy itſelf may innocently gaze
At beauty in a veil :
But if ſhe once advance to light,
. Her charms are loſt in Envy’s fight,
And Virtue ſtands the mark of univerſal
ſpite.
To JOHN HARTopp, Eſq.
Now Sir JOHN HARTOPP, Bart.
The Diſdain.
17oo.
HARTOPP, I love the ſoul that dares
Tread the temptations of his years
Beneath his youthful feet :
Fleetwood and all thy heav'nly line
Look thro’ the ſtars, and ſmile divine
Upon an heir ſo great.
Young Hartopp knows this neble theme,
That the wild ſcenes of buſy life,
The noiſe, th’ amuſements, and the ſtrife
Are but the viſions of the night,
Gay phantoms of deluſive light,
Or a vexatious dream.
Fleſh is the vileft and the leaſt
Ingredient of our frame :
We’re born to live above the beaſt,
: Or quit the manly name.
Pleaſures of ſenſe we leave for boys;
Be ſhining duſt the miſer’s food;
Let fancy feed on fame and noiſe,
Souls muſt purſue divinerjoys,
And ſeize th’ immortal good.
274 H.YRIC POEMS.
TO MITIO, MY FRIEND,
An Epistle.
6 ºf Fº me, Milio, that there should be any mortifying lines in the follow-
ing poems inscribed to you, so soon after your entrance into that state which
was designed for the completest happiness on earth: But you will quickly discover,
that the muse in the first poem only represents the shades and dark, colours that
melancholy throws upon love, and the social life. In the second, ſº she in:
dulges her own bright ideas a little. Yet if the accounts are but well balanced
at last, and things set in a due light, I hope there is no ground for censure. Here
}. will find an attempt made to talk of one of the most important concerns of
human nature in verse, and that with a solemnity becoming the argument. I have
banished grimace and ridicule, that persons of the most serious character may read
without offence. What was written several years ago to yourself is now permitted
to entertain the world; but you may assume it to yourself as a private entertain:
ment still, while you lie concealed behind a feigned name. -
The Mourning:Piece.
j LIFE's a long tragedy: This globe the stage,
Well fix’d and well adorn’d with strong machines,
Gay fields, and skies, and seas : The actors many :
The plot immense; A flight of damons sit
On every sailing cloud with fatal purpose 2
And shoot across the scenes ten thousand arrows
Perpetual and unseen, headed with pain,
With sorrow, infamy, disease and death.
The pointed plagues fly silent thro’ the air,
Nortwangs the bow, yet sure and deep the wound.
Dianthe acts her little part alone,
Nor wishes an associate. Lo she glides
Single thro' all the storm, and more secure ;
Less are her dangers, and her breast receives
The fewest darts. “But, O my lov’d Marilla,
My sister, once my friend, Dianthe cries,
How much art thou expos'd : Thy growing soul
Doubled in wedlock, multiply'd in children,
Stands but the jº. for all the mischiefs
That rove promiscuous o'er the mortal stage: wº
Children, those dear young limbs, those tenderest pieces
Of your own flesh, these little other selves, !
How they dilate the heart to wide dimensions,
And soften every fibre to improve
The mother's sad capacity of pain!
I mourn Fidelio too; Tho' heaven has chose
A favourite mate for him, of all her sex
The pride and flower: How blest the lovely pair,
Beyond expression, if well-mingled loves
And woes well-mingled could improve our bliss
Amidst the rugged cares of life behold
The father and the husband; flatt’ring names,
That spread his title, and enlarge his share
Cfcommon wretchedness. He fondly hopes
To multiply his joys, but every hour
Renews the disappointment and the smart.
There not a wound afflicts the meanest joint
Of his fair partner, or her infant-train,
(Sweet babes!) but pierces to his inmost soul,
£YRIC POEMS.
2
5
Strange is thy pow'r, Olove! what num’rous veins,
And arteries, and arms, and hands, and eyes,
Are link’d and fasten’d to a lover's heart,
By strong but secret strings with vain attempt
We put the Stoic on, in vain we try
To break the ties of nature and of blood;
Those hidden threads maintain the dear communion
Inviolably firm : their thrilling motions
Reciprocal give endless sympathy
In all the bitters and the sweets of life.
Thrice happy man, if pleasure only knew
These avenues of love to reach our souls,
And pain had never found 'em " -
Thus sang the tuneful maid, fearful to try
* The bold experiment. Oft Daphnis came,
And oft Narcissus, rivals of her heart,
Luring her eyes with trifles dipt in gold,
And the gay silken bondage. Firin she stood,
And bold repuls’d the bright temptation still,
Nor put the chains on ; dangerous to try,
And hard to be dissolv’d. Yet rising tears
Sat on her eye-lids, while her numbers flow’d
Harmonious sorrow; and the pitying drops
Stole down . cheeks, to mourn the hapſess state
Of mortal love. Love, thou best blessing sent
To soften life, and make our iron cares
Easy: But thy own cares of Soſter kind
Give sharper wounds: They lodge too near the heart,
Beat, like the pulse, perpetual, and create -
A strange uneasy sense, a tempting pain.
Say, my companion Mitio, speak sincere,
(For thou art learned now) what anxious thoughts,
What kind perplexities tumultous rise,
If but the absence of a day divide
Thee from thy fair beloved Vainly smiles
The chearful sun, and night with radiant eyes
Twinkles in vain: The region of thy soul
is darkness, till thy better star appear.
Tell, me, what toil, what torment to sustain
The rolling burden of the tedious hours ?.
The tedious hours are ages. Fancy roves
Restless in fond enquiry, nor believes
Charissa safe; Charissa, in whose life
Thy life consists, and in her comfort thine.
Fear and surmise put on a thousand forms
Of dear disquietude, and round thine ears
Whisper ten thousand dangers, endless woes,
Till thy frame shudders at her fancy’d death;
Then dies my Mitio, and his blood creeps cold
Thro’ every vein. Speak, does the stranger-muse
Cast happy guesses at the unknown passion,
Or has she fabled all? Inform me, friend,
Are half thy joys sincere? Thy hopes fulfill’d,
Or frustraté? Here commit thy secret griefs
To faithful ears, and be they bury'd here
In friendship and oblivion; lest they spoil
Thy new-born, pleasures with distasteful gall.
Nor let thine eye too greedily drink in
The frightful prospect, when untimely death
Shall make wild inroads *:3.** heart,
2.

LYRIC POEMS.
And his dear offspring to the cruel grave
Are dragg'd in sad succession; while his soul
Is torn away piece-meal: Thus dies the wretch
A various death, and frequent, ere he quit
The theatre, and make his exit final.
But if his dearest half, his faithful mate
Survive, and in the sweetest saddest airs
Of love and grief, approach with trembling hand
To close his swimming eyes, what double pangs,
What racks, what twinges rend his heart strings off
From the fair bosom of that fellow-dove
He leaves behind to mourn? What jealous cares
Hang on his parting soul, to think his love
Expos'd to wild oppression, and the herd
Qſ savage men 2 Sö parts the dying turtle
With sobbing accents, with such sad regret
Leaves his kind feather'd mate: The widow bird
Wanders in lonesome shades, forgets her food,
Forgets her life; or falls a speedier prey
To talon’d falcons, and the crooked beak
(9f hawks athirst for blood—
THE SECOND PART: Or,
The bright Vision.
THUS far the muse, in unaccustom'd mood,
And Strains unpleasing to a lover’s ear,
Indulg’d a gloom of thought; and thus she sang
Partial; for melancholy’s hateful form
Stood by in sable robe; The pensive muse
Survey’d the darksonne Scenes of life, and sought
Some bright relieving glimpse, some cordial ray
In the fair world of love: But while she gaz'd.
Delightſul on the state of twin-born souls
United, bless'd, the cruel shade apply'd
A dark long tube, and a false tinctur'd glass
Deceitful; blending love and life at once
In darkness, chaos, and the common mass
Of misery: Now Urania feels the cheat,
And breaks the hated optic in disdain.
Swift vanishes the sullen form, and lo
The scene shines bright with bliss: Behold the place
Where mischiefs never fly, cares never come
With wrinkled brow, nor anguish, nor disease,
Nor malice forky-tongu'd. On this dear spot,
Mitio, my love would fix and plant thy station
To act thy part of life, serene and blest
With the fair consort fitted to thy heart,
Sure 'tis a vision of that happy grove
Where the first authors of our mournful race
Liv’d in sweet partnership ! one hour they liv’d,
But chang'd the tasted bliss (imprudent pair!)
For sin, and shame, and this waste wilderness
Of briers, and nine hundred years of pain.
The wishing muse new dresses the fair garden
Amid this desart-world, with 'budding bliss,
And ever-greens, and balms, and flow'ry beauties
Without one dang'rous tree; there heav'nly dews
Nightly descending shall impearl the grass
And verdant herbage; drops of fragrancy
*.
LYRIC POEMS. 2:7
Sit trembling on the spires: The spicy vapours
Rise with the dawn, and thro’ the air diffus'd
Salute your waking senses with perfume:
While vital fruits with their ambrosial juice
Renew life's purple flood and fountain, pure
From vicious taint ; and with your innocence
Immortalise the structure of your clay.
On this new paradise the cloudless skies
Shall smile perpetual, while the lamp of day
With flames unsuily'd, (as the fabled torch
Of Hymen) measures out your golden hours
Along his azure road. The nuptial moon
In milder rays serene, should nightly rise
Full orb’d (if heaven and nature will indulge
So fair an emblem) big with silverjoys,
And still forget her wane. The feather'd choir
Warbling their Maker's praise on early wing,
Or perch’d on evening-bough, shall join your worship,
Join your sweet vespers, and the morning song.
O sacred symphony Hark, thro’ the grove
I hear the sound divine ! I’m all attention,
All ear, all ecstasy ; unknown delight !
And the fair muse proclaims the heav'n below.
Not the Seraphic minds of high degree
Disdain converse with men: Again returning
I see th’ ethereal host on downward wing.
Lo, at the eastern gate young cherubs stand
Guardians, commission'd to convey their joys
To earthly lovers. Go, ye happy pair,
Go taste their banquet, learn the nobler pleasures
Supernal, and from brutal dregs refin'd.
Taphael shall teach thee, friend, exalted thoughts
And intellectual bliss. "Twas Raphael taught
The patriarch of our progeny th’ affairs
Of heaven! (So Milton sings, enlightened bard :
Nor miss'd his eyes, when in sublimest strain
The angel's great narration he repeats
To Albion's sons high-favour’d.) Thou shalt learn
Celestial lessons from his awful tongue;
And with soft grace and interwoven loves
(Grateful digression) all his words rehearse
To thy Charissa's ear, and charm her soul.
Thus with divine discourse, in shady bowers.
Of Eden, our first father entertain’d
Eve his sole auditress ; and deep dispute
With conjugal caresses on her li
Solv’d easy, and abstrusest thoughts reveal’d.
Now the day wears apace, now Mitio comes
From his bright tutor, and finds out his mate.
Behold the dear associates seated low
On humble turf, with rose and myrtle strow'd :
But high their conference; how self-suffic’d
Lives their eternal Maker, girt around
With glories; arm'd with thunders; and his throne
Mortal access forbids, projecting far
Splendors unsufferable and radiant death.
With reverence and abasement deep they fall
Before his sovereign majesty, to pay
Due worship: Then his mercy on their souls
£78
LY"RFC POEMS.
Smiles with a gentler ray, but sov’reign stiff;
And leads their meditation and discourse
Long ages backward, and across the seas
To Bethlehem of Judah: There the son,
The filial godhead, character express
Of brightness inexpressible, laid by
His beauny robes, and made descent to earth
Sprung from the sons of Adam he became
A second father, studious to regain . . .
Lost paradise for men, and purchase heav'n.
The Lovers with indearment mutual thus
Promiscuous talk'd, and questions intricate
His manly judgment still resolv'd, and still
Held her attention fix’d: she musing sat
On the sweet mention of incarnate love,
Till rapture wak'd her voice to softest strains.
* She .# the Infant God; (mysterious theme)
How vile his birth-place, and his cradle vile!
The ox and ass his mean companions; there
Inhabit vile the shepherds flock around,
Saluting the great mother, and adore
Israel’s anointed King, the appointed Heir
Of the creation. How debas'd he lies
Beneath his regal state; for thee, my Mitio,
Debas'd in servile form; but angels stood
Ministring round their charge with folded wings
Obsequious, tho’ unseen ; while lightsome hours
Fulfill'd the day, and the gray evening rose.
Then the fair guardians hov'ring o'er his head
Wakeful all night, drive the foul spirits far,
And with their fanning pinions purge the air
From busy phantoms, from infectious damps,
And impure taint; while their ambrosial plumes
A dewy slumber on his senses shed.
Alternate hymns the heav'nly watchers sung
Melodious, soothing the surrounding shades,
And kept the darkness chaste and holy. Then
Midnight was charm’d, and all her gazing eyes
Wonder'd to see their mighty Maker sleep.
Behold the glooms disperse, the rosy morn
Smiles in the east with eye-lids opening fair,
But not so fair as thine; O I could fold thee,"
My young Almighty, my creator-babe,
For ever in these arms : For ever dwell
Upon thy lovely form with gazing joy,
And every pulse should beat seraphic love!
Around my seat should crowding cherubs come
With swift ambition, zealous to attend
Their Prince, and form a heav'n below the sky.
Forbear, Charissa, O forbear the thought
Of female-fondness, and forgive the man
That interrupts such melting harmony!”
Thus Mitio; and awakes her nobler powers
To pay just worship to the sacred King,
Jesus, the God; nor with devotion pure
Mix the caresses of her softer sex ;
Vain blandishment), “Come, turn thine eyes aside
rom Bethle’em, and climb up the doleful steep
Qf bloody Calvary, where naked sculls
Pave the sad road, and fright the traveller.
\
LYRIC POEMS. 279
Can my beloved bear to trace the feet
Of her Redeemer panting up the hill
Hard-burden'd? Can thy heart attend his cross 2
Nail'd to the cruel wood he groans, he dies,
For thee he dies. Beneath thy sins and mine
(Horrible load () the sinful Saviour groans,
And in fierce anguish of his soul expires.
Adoring angels pry with bending head
Searching the deep contrivance, and admire
This infinite design, Here peace is made
*Twixt God the Sov’reign, and the rebel man:
Here Satan overthrown with all his hosts
In second ruin rages and despairs;
Malice itself despairs. The captive prey
Tong held in slavery hopes a sweet release,
And Adam's ruin’d offspring shall revive
Thus ransom'd from the greedy jaws of death.”
The fair disciple heard; her passions move
Harmonious to the great discourse, and breathe
Refin’d devotion : while new smiles of love
Repay her teacher. Both with bended knees
Tead o'er the covenant of eternal life
Brought down to men; seal’d by the sacred Three
In heav'n; and seal’d on earth with God’s own blood,
Here they unite their names again, and sign
Those peaceful articles. (Hail, blest co-heirs
Celestial ' Ye shall grow to manly age,
And spite of earth and hell, in season due
Possess the fair inheritance above.)
With joyous admiration they survey
The gospel treasures infinité, unseen
By mortal eye, by mortal ear unheard,
And unconceiv'd by thought: Riches divine
And honours which the Almighty Father God
Pour'd with immense profusion on his Son,
High-Treasurer of heaven. The Son bestows
The life, the love, the blessing, and the joy
On bankrupt mortals who believe and love
His name. “Then, my Charissa, all is thine,
And thine, my Mitio, the fair saint replies.
Life, death, the world below, and worlds on high,
And place, and time, are ours; and things to come,
And past, and present; for our interest stands
Firm in our mystic head, the title sure.
Tis for our health and sweet refreshment (while
We sojourn strangers here) the fruitful earth
Bears plenteous; and revolving seasons still
Dress her vast globe in various ornament.
For us this chearſul sun and chearſul light
Diurnal shine. This blue expanse of ºy
Hangs, a rich canopy above our heads
Sovering our slumbers, all with starry gold
Inwrought, when night alternates her return.
For us time wears his wings out: Nature keeps
Her wheels in motion; and her fabric stands.
Glories beyond our ken of mortal sight
Are now preparing, and a mansion fair
Awaits us, where the saints unbody'd live.
Spirits releas'd from clay, and purg’d from sin:
Thither our hearts with most incessant wish
Panting aspire; when shall that dearest hour
LYRIC POEMS.
Shine and release us hence, and bear us high,
Bear us at once unsever'd to our better home?”
O blest connubial state O happy pair,
Envy’d by yet unsociated souls
Who seek their faithful twins ! Your pleasures rise
Sweet as the morn, advancing as the day,
Fervent as glorious noon, serenely calm
As summer evenings. The vile sons of earth
Grov’ling indust, with all their noisy jars
Restless, shall interrupt your joys no more
Than barking animals affright the moon
Sublime, and riding in her midnight way.
Friendship and love shall undistinguish’d reign
Q'er all your passions with unrival’d sway
Mutual and everlasting: Friendship knows
No property in good, but all things common
Thateach possesses, as the light or air
In which we breathe and live: There's not one thought
Can lurk in close reserve, no barriers fix’d,
But every passage open as the day
To one another's breast, and inmost mind.
Thus by communion your delight shall grow, w
Thus streams of mingled bliss swell higher as they flow,
Thus angels mix their flames, and more divinely grow.
THE THIRD PART: Or,
The Account balanced.
I SHOULD sov’reign love before me stand,
With all his train of pomp and state,
And bid the daring muse relate
His comforts and his cares ;
Mitio, I would not ask the sand
For metaphors tº express their weight,
Nor borrow numbers from the stars.
Thy cares and comforts, soy’reign love,
Vastly out-weigh the sand below,
And to a larger audit grow
Than aii the stars above.
Thy mighty losses and thy gains
Are their own mutual measures:
Only the man that knows thy pains
Can reckon up thy pleasures.
2 Say, Damon, say, how bright the scene,
Dâmon is half-divinely blest,
Ileaning his head on his Florella's breast,
Without a jealous thought, or busy care between:
Then the sweet passions mix and share;
Florella tells thee all her heart,
Nor can thy soul’s remotest part
Conceal a thought or wish from the beloved fair.
Say, what a pitch thy pleasures fly,
When friendship all-sincere grows up to ecstasy
Nor self contracts the bliss, nor vice pollutes the joy,
While thy dear offspring round thee sit,
Or sporting innocently at thy feet
Thy kindestthoughts engage:
Those little images of thee,
What pretty toys of youth they be,
And growing props of age :
LYRIC POEMS.
28 i
3. But short is earthly bliss : The changing wind
Blows from the sickly south, and brings
Malignant fewers on its sultry wings,
Relentless death sits close behind:
Now gasping infants, and a wife in tears,
With piercing groans salutes his ears,
Thro’ every vein the thrilling torments roll:
While sweet and bitter are at strife
In those dear miseries of life,
Those tenderest pieces of his bleeding soul.
The pleasing sense of love awhile
Mixt with the heart-ach may the pain beguile,
And make a feeble fight:
Till sorrows like a gloomy deluge rise,
Then every smiling passion dies,
And hope alone with wakeful eyes
Darkling and solitary waits theslow returning light.
4 Here then let my ambition rest,
May I be moderately blest
When I the laws of love obey:
Let but my pleasure and my pain
In equal balance ever reign,
Or mount by turns and sink again,
And share just measures of alternate sway.
So Damon lives, and ne'er complains ;
Scarce can we hope diviner scenes
On this dull stage of clay :
The tribes beneath the northern bear
Submit to darkness half the year,
Since half the year is day.
On the Death of the Duke of Glouceſter, juſt after
Mr. Dryden. I7oo.
An EPIGRAM.
RYDEN is dead, Dryden alone could fing
The full-grown glories of a future king.
Now Gloſter dies: Thus leſſer heroes live
By that immortal breath that poets give ;
And ſcarce ſurvive the muſe: But William
ftands,
Nor aſks his honours from the poet’s hands.
William ſhall ſhine without a Dryden's praiſe,
His laurels are not grafted on the bays.
An Epigram of Martial to Cirinus.
Sie tua, Cirini, promas Epigrammata vulgo ut
mecum poſsis, &c.
Inſcribed to Mr. JOSIAH HORT. 1694.
Now Lord Bºſhop of Kilmore in Ireland.
SO ſmooth your numbers, friend, your verſe
ſo ſweet, --
So ſharp the jeſt, and yet the turn ſo neat,
That with her Martial Rome would place
Cirine,
*
Rome would prefer your ſenſe and thought to
mine.
Yet modeſt you decline the public ſtage,
To fix your friend alone amidſt th' applauding
age,
So Maro did ; the mighty Maro fings
ºn vaſt heroic notes of vaſt heroic things,
And leaves the ode to dance upon his Flaccus
ſtrings.
He ſcorn’d to daunt the dear Horatian lyre,
Tho' his brave genius flaſh'd pindaric fire,
And at his will could ſilence all the lyric
quire.
So to his Varius he reſign'd the praiſe
Of the proud buſkin and the tracic bays,
When he could thunder with a .oftier vein,
And fing of Gods and heroes in a bolder ſtrain.
A handſome treat, a piece of gold, or ſo,
And compliments will every friend beſtow ;
Rarely a Virgil, a Cirine we meet,
Who laws his laurels at inferior feet,
And yields the tendereſt point of honour,
it.
EPISTOLA
Fatri ſão diliffo R. W. I. W. S. P. D.
“ URSUM tuas, amande frater, accepi literas, eodem fortaſse momentë, quo meae ad te
Pervenerunt ; idemgue quite ſcribentem widt dies, meum ad epiſtolare munus excitavit
calamum 3 non inane eſt inter nos fraternum nomen,
N
VOL. VII. , - t
unicus enim ſpiritus nos intus animat,
28
2
£YRIC POEMS.
agitgue, & concordes in ambobus efficit motus: O utiham creſcat indies, & vigeſcat mutua
charitas; faxit Deus, ut amor ſui noſtra incendat & ‘defaecet pećtora, tune etenim & alternis
purae amicitiae flammis erga nos invicem divinum in modum ardebimus ; contemplemur Jeſum
noſtrum, coeleſte illud & adorandum exemplar charitatis. Ille eſt.
QUI quondam acterno delapſus ab aethere
vultus - -
Induit humanos, ut poſſet corpore noſtras
(Heu miſeras) ſufferre vices ; ſponſores obivit
Munia, & in ſeſe Tabulae maledićta Mihacis
Tranſtulit, & ſceleris poenas hominiſque
rea tul II),
Ecce jacet deſertus humi, diffuſus in her-
bam
Integer, innocuas verſus ſua fidera palmas
Et placidum attollens vultum, nec ad oſcula,
patris - * -,
Amplexus ſolitoſve; artus nudatus amićtu
Side; eos, & ſponte finum patefactus ad.iras
Numinis armati. Pater, hic infige * ſagittas,
“ Haec, ait, iratum ſorbebunt pećtora ferrum,
Abluat aethereus mortalia crimina ſanguis.”
Dixit, & horrendum fremuére tonitrua caeli
Infenſuſque Deus; (quem jam poſuiſſe pater-
Ill). In *
Muſa queri vellet nomen, fed & ipſa fragores
Ad tantos pavefacta filet,) jam diffilitaether,
Pandunturque fores, ubi duro carcere regnat,
Ira, & poenanum theſauros mille coercet,
Inde ruunt gravidi veſano ſulphure nimbi,
Centupliciſque volant contorta volumina
flammae º
in caput immeritum; diro hic ſub pondere
preſſus -
Reſtat, compreſſos dumque àrdens explicat
- artus
+ Purpureo veſtestinétº ſudore madeſcunt"
Nectamen infºndo Vindex Regina labori
Segniūs incufmbit, ‘ſed laſſos increpatignés
Acriter, & 'fömlio languentem ſuſcitat
I enſem:
“ Surge, age, divinum pete pećtus, & imbue
º ſacro *
Fluinine mucronem; vos hinc, mea ſpicula,
late - - - -
Ferrea per totum diſpergite tormina Chriſ-
tunn,
Immenſum tolerare valet; ad pondera
panae
Suſtentanda hominem ſuffulciet incola
Numen.
Et tu ſacra Decas Legum, violata tabella,
Ebjbe vindićtam ; vaſtā ſatiabere &ede,
Mortalis culpae penſabit dedecus irigens
Permiſtus Deitäte cruor.”—
Sic fata, immiti contorquet vulnera dex-
trá
Dilaniatgue finus; ſanéti penetialia cordis
Panduntur, ſaevis avidus dolor involat alis,
* Job iv. 6. , f' Luke xxii. 44.
# Zech. xiii. 7.
Atque audax mentem ſcrutator, & ilia
- hordet;
Interea ſervator * ovat, vićtorque doloris
Eminet, illuſtri + perfuſus membra cruore,
Exultatgue miſer-fieri; nam fortiàs illum
. Urget patris honos, & non vincenda volup-
taS
Servandi miſeros ſontes ? O nobilis ardor
Poenarum !. O quid non mortalia pećtora
cogs
Durus amor 2 Quid non caeleſta ?
“At ſubfidat phantafia, vaneſcant ima-
jºgies; neſcio quo me proripuit amens muſa :
Volui quatuor limias pedibus aſtringere, &
ecce numeri 'creſcunt in immenſum; dum-
que concitato genio laxavi frana, wereor ne
juvenilis impetus theologiam laeſel it, & audax
nimis imaginatio. Heri adlata eſt ad me
epiſtola indicans matrem meliuſculé ſe ha-
bere, licet ignis febrilis non prorſus deſeruit
mortale ejus domicilium Plura volui, ſed
turgidi & creſcentcs verſus noluére plura, &
coarctärunt ſcriptionis limites. Vale amice
frater, & in ſtudio pietatis & artis medicae
ſtrenuus décurre.” -
Datum a'muſaeomeo Londini xvto Calend.
Febr.
Anno ſalutis cicic crciii.
Fratris E. W. olim navigaturo.
Sept. 30, 1691,
I TELIX, pede proſpero
‘I frater, trabe pinea
Sulces aequora cteiula
Pandas carbaſa flatibus
Quae tutó reditura ſint.
Non te monſtra natantia
Ponti carnivorae incolae
Praedentur rate naufragá.
Navis, tuitibi-creditum
Fratrem dimidium mei
Salvum fer per inhoſpita
Ponti regna, per avios
Tračtus, & liquidum chaos.
Nec te ſorbeat horrida
Syrtis, nec ſcopulus minax
Rumpatroboreum latus,
Caplent mitia flamina
Antennae; & zephyri leves
Dent portum placidum tibi.
* Col. ii. 15. t Luc. xxii, 24s
LYRIC POEMS.
283

I
2
Tu, qui flumina, qui wagos
Fluštus oceani regis,
Et ſaevum boream domas,
Da fratri faciles vias,
Et fratrem reducem ſuis.
Ad Reverendum Virum
Dm. JohannEM PINHORNE,
Fidum Adoleſcentiae mea Praeceptorem.
Pindarici Carmini, Shecimen. 1694.
T te, Pinorni, muſa Triſantica
Salutat, ardens diſcipulam tuam
Graté fateri : nunc Athenas,
Nunc Latias per amoenitates
Tuto pererrans te recoit ducem,
Te quondam teneros & Ebraia per aſpera
greſſus
Non durá duxifle manu.
Tuo pateſcunt ſumine Theſpii
Campi atque ad arcem Pieridan iter:
En altus aſſurgens Homerus
Arma deoſque viroſque miſcens
Occupat aethereum Parnaſſi culmen: Ho-
IIlêrl
Immenſos ſtupeo manes—
Te, Maro, dulcé canens ſylvas, te bella
ſonantem
Ardua, da yenia:m tenui venerare camena:
Tuaºque accipias, Thebane vates,
Debita thura lyroe.
Vobis, magna Trias 2 clariffina nomina,
ſemper
Scrinia noſtra patent, & pećtora noſtra pate-
bunt, -
Quum mihi cunque levem concefferit otia &
horam
Divina Mofis pagina.
Flaccus ad hanc Triadem ponatur, at ipſe
pudendas
Deponat veneres: venias, fed * “ purus &
inſons
Ut te collaudem, dum førdes & mala
:luſtra”
Ablutus, Venuſine, canis rideſve. Re.
ciſae
Håc lege accedant ſatyrae Juvenalis, amari
Terrores vitiorum. At longé caecus abeflet
Perſius, abſcurus yates, niſi lumina circum-
fuſa forent, Sphingiſqueanigmata, Bonde
ſcidiſſes,
Grande ſonans, Senecae fulmen, grandiſque
cothurni
Pompa Sophoclei celſo ponantur eodem
Ording, & ambabus ſimul hos amplećtor in
ulnis. -
Tuto, poetae, tuto habitabitis
Pićtos abacos : improbatinea
Obiit, nec audet ſava caſtas
Attingere blatta camoenas.
Attu renideas faeda epigrammatum
* Horat, Lib. I, Sat, 6.
Farrago inertàm, ſtercoris impii
Sentina feetens, Martialis,
In barathrum relegandus imum
Aufuge, & hinc tecum rapias Catullum
Inſulsè mollem, naribus, auribus
Ingrata caſtis carmina, & improbi
Spurcos Naſonis amores.
3 Nobilis extremä gradiens Caledonis ab ará
En Buchananus adeſt. Divini pſaltis im-
ago
Jeffiadae ſalveto; potens ſeu Numinis iras
Fulminibus miſcere, ſacro vel lumine
mentis
Fugare noćtes, vel citharae ſono
Sedare fluêtus pećtoris,
Tu mihi harebis comes ambulanti,
Tu domi aſtabis ſocius perennis,
Seu levi menſae ſimul aſſidere
Dignabere, ſeu le&ticae
Mox recumbentis vigilans ad aurem
Aureos ſuadebis inire ſomnos
Sacra ſopitis ſuperinferens ob.
livia curis,
Stet juxtà * Caſimirus, huic nec parciús
ignem -
Natura indulſit nec muſa armavit alum-
num
* Sarbivium rudiore lyrā.
Quanta Polonum levat aura cygnum !
f Humana linquens (en fibi devil
Montes recedunt) luxuriantibus
Spatiatur in aére pennis,
Seu tu forté virum tollis ad aethera,
Cognatoſve thronos & patrium Polum
Viſurus conſurgis ovans,
Viſum fatigas, aciem que fallis,
Dum tuum a longé ſtupeo volatum
O non imitabilisales.
4. Sarbivii ad nomen gelida incalet
Muſa, ſimul totus ferveſcere
Sentio, ſtellatas levis induor
Alas & tollor in altum. *
Jam juga zionis radens pede
Elato inter ſidera radens vertice
Longé deſpešto mortalia.
Quam juvat altiſonis volitare per aethera
pennis,
Et ridere procul fallacia gaudia sécli
Terrellae grandia in ania,
Quae mortale genus (heu male) de-
perit,
Q curas hominum miſeras' Cano,
Et miſeras nugas diademata ;
Ventoſae ſortis ludibrium.
En mihi ſubſidunt terrenae a pećtore faeces,
Geſtit & effraenis divinum effundere car-
In CIl
Mens afflata Deo. * , -
at vos heroes & arma
Et procul eſte dii, ludicra numina.
uid mihi cum veſtrae pondere lanceae,
Pallas ! aut veſtris, Dionyſe, Thyrfish
* M. Caſimirus, Sarbiewſki poeta inſignis Po-
lonis. f Qde V, Lib. 2.
N N 2. -
2S4
LYRIC POEMS.
Et clava, & anguis, & leo, & Hercules,
Et brutum tonitru fićtitii patris,
Abſtate a carmine noſtro.
5 Te, Deus omnipotens ! te noſtra ſona-
bit Jeſu
Muſa, nec aſſueto coeleſtes barbiton ausū
Tentabit numeros, Vaſti fine limite
Numen &
Immenſum fine lege Deum numeri fine lege
ſonabunt.
* Sed muſam magna pollicenterm deſtituit
vigor ; divino jubare perſtringitur oculorum
acies. En labaicit pennis, tremit artubus, ruit
deorſum per inane aetheris, jacet vićta, obſtu-
peſcit, filet.
“Ignoſcas, reverende vir, vano conainini;
fragmen hoc rude licet & impolitum aequi boni
conſulas, & gratitudinis jam diu debitae in
partem reponas.”
Votum, ſeu Vita in terris beata.
Ad virum digniflimum.
JOHANNEM HARTOPPIUM, Bartum.
1702.
I HARTOPPI eximio ſtemmate nobilis
Venaque ingenii divite, ſi roges
Quem mea muſa beat,
Ille mihi felix ter & amplºs,
Et ſimiles ſuperis annos agit.
“Qui fibi ſufficiens temper adeſt fibi.”
Hunc longè a curis mortalibus
Inter agros, ſylvaſque filentes
Se muſiſque ſuis tranquillá in pace fruen-
tenn l
Sol oriens videt & recumbens.
I Non ſuze vulgi favor inſolentis
(Plauſus inſani tumidus popelli)
Mentis ad ſacram penetrabit arcem,
Feriat licet aether a clamor
Nec gaza flammans divitis Indiae,
Nec, Tage, veſtra fulgor arenulae
Ducent ab obſcură quiete
Ad laquear radiantis aulae.
3 O fi daretur ſtamina proprii
Tračtare fuſi pollice proprio,
Atque meum mihi fingele fatum;
Candidus vitae color innocentis
Fila nativo decoraret albo
Non Tyriá vitiata conchá.
Non aurum, non gemma nitens, nec purpura
º telae
Intertexta forent invidioſa meae.
Longe à triumphis, & ſonitu tubae
Longé remotos tranſigerem dies:
Abſtate faſces (ſplendida vanitas)
Et vos abſtate, coronae.
4. Pro meo te&to caſa fit, ſalubres
Captet auroras, procul urbis atro
Diſtet à fumo, fugiatque longé
Dura phth fis mala, dura tuſſis.
Diſplicet Byrſa & fremitu moleſto
Turba mercantúm ; gratiis alvear
Demulcet aures murmure, gratius
Fons ſalientis aquae.
5 Litigioſa for me terrent jurgia, lenes
Ad ſylvas properans rixoſas execror artes
Eminus in tuto a linguis
Blandimenta artis ſimulaequus odi,
Valete, cives, & an oena fraudis
Verba ; proh moles 1 & inane ſacri
Nomen amici
6 Tuque quae noſtris inimica muſis
Felle ſacratum vitias amorem, \
Abſis aeternám, diva libidinis
Et pharetrate puer!
Hinc, hinc, Cupido, longiús avola :
Nil mihi cum foedis, puer, ignibus ;
AEthereà fervent face pećtora,
Sacra mihi Venus eſt Urania, º
Et juvenis Jeffaeus amor mihi.
7 Coeleſte carmen (nec taceas lyra
Jeſſaga) lastis auribus inſonet,
Nec Watfianis e medullis
Ulla dies rapiet vel hora.
Sacri libelli, delicia meat,
Et vos, ſodales, ſemper amabiles,
Nunc finul adſtis, nunc viciſſim,
Et fallite taedia vitae.
To Mrs. SINGER.
(Now Mrs. ROWE.)
On the ſight of ſome of ber divine Poems, never
printed. July 19, 1796.
I ON the fail banks of gentle Thames
I tun'd my harp ; nor did celeſtial
themes
Refuſe to dance upon my ſtrings:
There beneath the evening ſky
I ſung my cares aſleep, and rais'd my wiſhes
high
To everlaſting things,
Sudden from Albion's weſtern coaſt
Harmonious notes come gliding by,
The neighbouring ſhepherds knew the filver
ſound ;
« 'Tis Philomela's voice, the neighb'ring
ſhepherds cry ;”
At once my ſtrings all filent lie,
At once my fainting muſe was loſt,
In the ſuperior ſweetneſs drown'd.
In vain I bid my tuneful powers unite ;
My ſoul retir’d, and left my tongue,
I was all ear, and Philomela’s ſong
Was all divine delight.
2 Now be my harp for ever dumb,
My muſe attempt no more. ’Twas long age
I bid adieu to mortal things,
To Grecian tales, and wars of Rome,
'Twas long ago I broke all but th’ immortal
ſtrings;
Now thoſe immortal ſtrings have no employ,
Since a fair angel dwells below,
To tune the notes of heav'n, and propagate
the joy.
Let all my powers with awe profound
While Philomela ſings,
Attend the rapture of the ſound,
And my devotion riſe on her ſeraphic wings
LYRIC POEMS.
HORAE LYRICAE.
B O OK III.
Sacred to the Memory of the Dead.
-ººººº-
An Epitaph on KING WILLIAM III.
Of glorious Memory.
Who died March 8th, 1701-2.
T BENEATH theſe honours of a tomb,
Greatneſs in humble ruin lies :
(How earth confines in narrow room
What heroes leave beneath the ſkies ()
2 Preſerve, O venerable Pile,
Inviolate thy ſacred truſt ;
To thy cold arms the Britiſh iſle,
Weeping commits her richeſt duſt.
3 Ye gentleſt miniſters of fate,
Attend the monarch as he lies,
And bid the ſofteſt Slumbers wait
With ſilken cords to bind his eyes.
4. Reſt his dear ſword beneath his head;
Round him his faithful Arms ſhall ſtand ;
Fix his bright Enfigns on his bed,
The guards and honours of our land.
5 Ye Siſter-arts of Paint and Verſe,
Place Albion fainting by his fide,
Her groans ariſing o'er the heatſe,
And Belgia ſinking when he dy’d.
6 High o'er the grave Religion ſet
In ſolemn goºd; pronounce the ground
Sacred, to bar unhallow’d feet,
And plant her guardian Virtues round.
7 Fair liberty in ſables dreſt,
Write his lov’d name upon his urn,
“ William, the ſcourge of tyrants paſt,
And awe of princes yet unborn.”
8 Sweet Peace his ſacred relics keep,
With olives blooming round her head,
And ſtretch her wings acroſs the deep
To bleſs the nations with the ſhade.
9 Stand on the pile, immortal Fame,
Broad ſtars adorn thy brigheſt robe,
Thy thouſand voices found his name
In filver acents round the globe.
Io Flattery ſhall faint beneath the ſound,
While hoary truth inſpires the ſong;
Envy grow pale and bite the ground,
And ſlander gnaw her forky tongue.
II Night and the grave remove your gloom;
Darkneſs by comes the vulgar dead;
But glory bids the royal tomb
Diſdain the horrors of a ſhade.
12 Glory with all her lamps ſhall burn,
And watch the warrior's ſleeping clay,
Till the laſt trumpet rouſe his urn
To aid the triumphs of the day.
On the ſudden Death of MRS, MARY
w PEACOCK.
An Elegiac Song ſent in a Letter of Condolence to
Mr. N. P. Merchant at Amſterdam.
1 HARK She bids all her friends adieu ;
Some angels calls her to the ſpheres ;
Our eyes the radiant ſaint purſue
Thro' liquid teleſcopes of tears.
Farewel, bright ſoul, a ſhort farewel,
Till we ſhall meet again above
In the ſweet groves where pieaſures dwell,
And trees of life bear fruits of love :
2
3 There glory fits on every face,
There friendſhip ſmiles in every eye,
There ſhall our tongues relate the grace
That led us homeward to the ſky.
4.
O’cr all the names of Chriſt our King
Shall our harmonious voices rove,
Our harps ſhall ſound from ev’ry ſtring
The wonders of his bleeding love.
Come, ſov’reign Lord, dear Saviour, come,
Remove theſe ſeparating days,
Send thy bright wheels to fetch us home;
That golden hour, how long it ſtays :
5
6
How long muſt we lie lingring here,
While ſaints around us take their flight?
Smiling, they quit this duſky ſphere,
And mount the hills of heav'nly light.
Sweet ſoul, we leave thee to thy reſt,
Enjoy thy Jeſus and thy God,
Till, we, from bands of clay releaſt,
Spring out and climb the ſhining road.
While the dear duſt ſhe leaves behind
Sleeps in thy boſom, ſacred tomb!
Soft be her bed, her ſlumbers kind,
And all her dreams of joy to come.
7
3
EPITAPHIUM vii veneratiº
DOM. N. MATHER,
Carmine Lapidario conſcriptum.
M. S.
Reverendi admodum Viri
JNATHANAELIS MATHERI.
QUQP mori potuit bic ſubtus depoſitum eff,
Si quaeris, hoſpes, quantus & qualis fuit,
Fidus enarrabit lapis.
Nomen a familiá duxit
Sanótioribus ſtudiis & evangelio devotá,
386 LYRIC POEMS.
Et per utramgue Angliam celebri, Alturn & ſalutare vulnus :
Americanam ſc, atque Europaeam. Vulneratas idem tractare leniter ſolers,
Et hinc quoque in ſanéti miniſterii ſpem edućtus Et medelam adhibere magis ſalutarem.
Non fallacem : Ex defaecate cordis fonte
Et hunc utraque novit Anglia Divinis eloquiis affatim ſcatabant labia,
Dočtum & docentem. Etiam in familiari contubernio :
Corpore fuit procero, formă placide werendà i || Spirabatipſe undique coeleſtes ſuavitates,
At ſupra corpus & formam ſublimë eminue- ||Quaſi oleo laetitiae ſemper recens delibutus,
runt Et ſemper ſupra ſocios;
Indoles, ingenium, atq; eruditio: Gratumque dilećtiſfimi ſui Jeſu odorem
Supra haec pietas, & (fi fas dicere) Quaquaverſä & late diffudit.
Supra pietatem modeſtia, Dolores tolerans ſupra fidem,
Caeteras enim dotes obum bravit. AErumnaeque heu quam aſſidua:
Quoties in rebus divinis Peragendis Invićto animo, victrice patientiá
Divinitus afflatae mentis ſpecimino Varias curarum moles pertulit
Praeſtantiora edidit, Et in ſtadio & in metà vitae :
Toties horminem ſedulus occuluit Quam ubi propinquam widit,
Ut ſolus conſpiceretur Deus : Plerophorià fidei quaſi curru alato vectus.
Voluit totus latere, nec potuit; Properé & exultim attigit.
Heu quantum tamen ſuinos latet ! Natus eſt in agro Lancaſtrienſi 200. Martii,
Et majorem laudis partem ſepulchrale marmor 1630.
Invito obruit ſilentio, Inter Now-Angles theologiae tyrocinia fecit.
Gratiam Jeſu Chriſti ſalutiferam Paſtorali munere diu Dublinii in Hibernia
Quam abundé hauſt ipſe, aliis propinavit, functus,
Purum ab humaná faece. Tandem (ut ſemper) providentiam ſecutus
Veritatis evangelicae decus ingens, ducem,
Etingens propugnaculum. Coetui fidelium apud Londinenſes praepoſitus
Concionator gravis aſpectu, geſtu, voce; elt, &
Cui necaderat pompa oratoria, Quos doćtrina, precibus, & vita beavit:
Nec deerat; Ah brevi !
Floſculos rhetorices ſupervacaneos fecit Corpore ſolutus 269 Julii, 1697. Ætat. 67.
Rerum dicendarum majeſtas, & Deus || Eccleſiiis moerorem, theologis exemplar reli-
praeſens. w quit.
Hinc arma militiae ſuae non infelicia, Probis piiſque omnibus
Hinc toties fugatus Satanas. Infandum ſui deſiderium :
Ft hinc vićtoriae Dum pulvis Chriſto charus hic dulcé dormit
Ab inferorum portis toties reportatae. Expectans ſtellam matuminam.
Solers ille ferreis impiorum animis infigere ! *
To the Reverend MR JOHN SHOWER,
On the Death of his Baughter Mrs. Anne Warner.
Reverend and dear Sir,
OW great ſoever was my ſenſe of your loſs, yet I did not think myſelf fit to offer any
liaes of comfont : your own meditations can furniſh you with maay a delightful truth
in the midſt of ſo heavy a ſorrow; for the covenant of grace has brightneſs enough in it to gild
the moſt gloomy providence; and to that ſweet covenant your ſoul is no ſtranger, My own
thoughts were much impreſt with the tidings of your daughter's death ; and though I made many
a reflexion on the vanity of mankind in its beſt eſtate, yet I muſt acknowledge that my temper
leads me moſt to the pleaſant ſcenes of heaven, and that future world of bleſſedneſs. When I
recollect the memory of my friends that are dead, I frequently rove into the world of ſpirits, and
fearch them out there: Thus I endeavoured to trace Mrs Warner; and theſe thoughts crowding
faſt upon me, I ſet them down for my own entertainment; The verſe breaks off abruptly, be-
cauſe I had no defign to write a finiſhed elegy ; and beſides, when I was fallen upon the dark
fide of death, I had no mind to tarry there. If the lines I have written be ſo happy as to enter-
tain you a little, and divert your grief, the time ſpent in compoſing them ſhall not be reckoned
among my loſt hours, and the review will be more pleaſing to,
Sir,
Tour affe:Fionate
buyible ſervant, !
I. W.
December 22, 1707.
IYRIC POEMS.
287
An Elegiac Thought on Mrs. Anne Warner, who
died of the Small-pox, December 18, 1707, at
one of the clock in the Morning ; a few days
after the Birth and Death of her firſt Child.
WAKE, my miſe, range the wide world
of fouls,
And feek Vernera fled; with upward aim
Direct thy wing; for ſhe was born from ||
heaven,
Fulfill’d her viſit, and return’d on high.
The midnight watch of angels that patrole
The Britiſh ſky, have notic'd her aſcent
Near the meridian ſtar; purſue the track
To the bright confines of immortal day
And paradiſe, her home. Say, my Urania,
(For nothing ſcapes thy ſearch, nor can'ſt
thou miſs
So fair a ſpirit) ſay, beneath what ſhade
Of amarant, or chearful ever-green
She fits, recouriting to her kindred-minds
Angelic or humane, her mortal toil
And travels thro' this howling wilderneſs;
By what divine protećtions ſhe eſcap’d
Thoſe deadly ſhares when youth and Satan
* leagu’d
In cofmbination to aſſail her virtue;
(Snares ſet to murder ſouls) but heav'n'
ſectir’d
The favouriče nymph, and taught her vic-
tory. , -
'Or-does'ſhe ſeek, or has ſhe found herſ
bābe
Amongſt the infant-nation dif the bleſt,
And claſp'd'ft to her’ſoul, to ſatiate there
The young maternal paſſion, and abſolve
The unfulfill'd embrace P Thrice happy
child
That ſaw the light, and turn'd its eyes aſide
From our dim regions to th’ eternal ſun,
And led the parent’s way to glory ! There
Thou art for ever hers, with powers enlarg’d
För love reciprocal and ſweet converſe.
Behold her anceſtors (a pious race)
Rang'd in fair order, at her fight rejoice
And fing her welcome. She along their
ſeats
-Gliding ſalutes them all with honours due
Such as are paid in heav'n : And laſt ſhe
finds
A manſion faſhion'd of diſtinguiſh'd light,
‘But vacant: “This (with ſure prefage ſhe
-cries) *
'Awāits my father; when will he arrive
How long, alas, how long ! (Then calls
her mate)
Die, thou dear partner of my mortal cares,
Die, and partake my bliſs; we are for ever
Oſlº,
Ah me! where roves my fancy! What
kind dreams
Croud with ſweet violence on my waking
mind!
Perhaps illuſions all! Inform me, muſe,
Chooſes ſhe rather to retire apart
To recollečt her diffipated pow’rs,
And call her thoughts her own ſo lately
freed
From earth’s vain ſcenes, gay viſits, gratu-
lations,
From Hymen's hurrying and tumultuous
joys,
And fears and pangs, fierce pangs that
wrought her death.
Tell me on what ſublimer theme ſhe dwells
In contemplation, with unerring clue
Infinite truth purſuing. (When, my ſoul,
O when ſhall thy releaſe from cumb’rous
fleſh
Paſs the great ſeal of heav'n 2 What happy
hour
Shall give thy thoughts a looſe to ſoar and
trace
The intellectual world P Divine delight !
Vernera’s lov’d employ 1) Perhaps ſhe fings
To ſome new golden harp th’ almighty
deeds,
The names, the honours of her Saviour-God,
His croſs, his grave, his vićtory, and his
crown :
Oh could I imitate th’ exalted notes,
And mortal ears could bear them —
Or lies ſhe now before th” eternal 'throne
Proſtrate in humble form, with deep devotion
O'erwhelm’d, and ſelf-abaſement at the
fight
Of the uncover'd godheadface to face 2
Seraphic crowns pay homage at his feet,
And hers amongſt them, not of dimmer ore,
Nor ſet with meaner, gems : But vain am-
bition,
And emulation vain, and fond conceit,
And pride for ever baniſh’d flies the place,
Curſt pride, the dreſs of hell. Tell me,
Urania,
How her joys heighten, and her golden
hours
Circle in love, O ſtamp upon my ſoul
Some bliſsful image of the fair deceas'd
To-call my paſſions and my eyes aſide
From the dear breathleſs clay, diſtreſſing
fight !
I look and mourn and gaze with greedy view
Of melancholy fondneſs: Tears bedeving
That form ſo late deſir’d, ſo late belov’d,
Now lothſome and unlovely. Baſe diſeaſe,
That leagu’d with nature’s ſharpeſt pains, .
and ſpoil’d
So ſweet a ſtructure . The impoiſoning taint
O'erſpreads the building wrought with ſkill
divine, *
And ruins the rich temple to the duſt .
Was this the countenance where the world
admir’d
Features of wit and virtue This the face
Where love triumph'd P and beauty on theſe
cheeks,
As on a throne, beneath her radiant eyes
Was ſeated to advantage; mild, ſerene,
388
LYRIC POEMS.
Refle&ting roſy light So fits the ſun
(Fair eye of heaven') upon a crimſon cloud
Near the horizon, and with gentle ray
Smiles lovely round the ſky, till riſing fogs,
Portending night, with foul and heavy wing
Involve the golden ſtar, and fink him down
Oppreſt with darkneſs —
On the Death of an aged and honoured Relative,
Mrs. M. W. july, 13, 1693.
r I KNOW the
'tis ſhe 5
Among the heav'nly ſorms I ſee
The kindred mind from fleſhly bondage free;
O how unlike the thing was lately ſeen
Groaning and panting on the bed,
With ghaſtly air, and languiſh’d head,
Life on this ſide, there the dead,
While the delaying fleſh lay ſhivering be-
tween 1
kindred-mind. 'Tis ſhe,
2 Long did the earthy houſe reſtrain
In toil ſome ſlavery that ethereal gueſt;
Priſon’d her round in walls of pain,
And twiſted cramps and aches with her
chain ;
Till by the weight of num’rous days oppreſt
The earthy houſe began to reel,
The pillars trembled, and the building fell;
The captive ſoul became her own again :
Tir’d with the ſorrows and the cares,
A tedious train of fourſcore years,
The pris’ner ſmil'd to be releaſt,
She felt her fetters looſe, and mounted to
her reſt.
3 Gaze on, my ſoul, and let a perfect view
Paint her idea all anew ;
Raſe out thoſe melancholy ſhapes of woe
That hang around thy memory, and becloud
it ſo.
Come, Fancy, come, with effences refin'd,
With youthful green, and ſpotleſs white;
Deep be the tinéture, and the colours bright
Tº expreſs the beauties of a naked mind.
Provide no glooms to form a ſhade ;
All things above of vary’d light are made,
Nor can the heav'nly piece require a mortal
aid
But if the features too divine
Beyond the power of fancy ſhine,
Conceal th’ inimitable ſtrokes behind a
graceful ſhrine.
4 Deſcribe the ſaint from head to feet,
Make all the lines in juſt proportion meet;
But let her poſture be
Filling a chair of high degree;
Obſerve how near it ſtands to the almighty
ſeat.
Paint the new graces of her eyes;
Freſh in her looks let ſprightly youth ariſe,
‘And joys unknown below the ſkies.
Virtue that lives conceal’d below,
And to the breaſt confin'd,
Sits here triumphant on the brow,
And breaks with radiant glories through
The features of the mind.
Expreſs her paſſion ſtill the ſame,
But more divinely ſweet ;
Love has an everlaſting flame,
And makes the work complete.
5 The painter muſe with glancing eye
Obſerv’d a manly ſpirit nigh”,
That death had long disjoin'd :
“In the fair tablet they ſhall ſtand
United by a happier band ”
She ſaid, and fix’d her fight, and drew the
manly mind,
Recount the years, my ſong, (a mournful
round !)
Since he was ſeen on earth no more :
He fought in lower ſeas and drown'd;
But vićtory and peace he found
On the ſuperior ſhore. .
There now his tuneful breath in ſacred ſongs
Employs the European and the eaſtern
tongues.
Let th” awful truncheon and the flute,
The pencil and the well-known lute,
Powerful numbers, charming wit
And every art and ſcience meet,
And bring their laurels to his hand, or lay
them at his ſeet.
6 "Tis done. What beams of glory fall
(Rich varniſh of immortal art)
To gild the bright Original
'Tis done. The muſe has now perform'd
her part.
Bring down the piece, Urania, from above,
And let my honour and my love
Dreſs it with chains of gold to hang upon my
heart.
* My grandfather Mr. Thomas Watts had ſuch acquaintance with the mathematics, painting,
muſic, and poeſy, &c, as gave him conſiderable eſteem among his contemporaries.
He was
commander of a ſhip of war 1656, and by blowing up of the ſhip in the Dutch war he was
drowned in his youth.
*
*
H.YRIC POEMS. Q89
A Funeral Poem on the Death of Thomas Gunſton, Eſ.
Preſented to the Right Honourable the Lady Abney, Lady Mayoreſs of London.
MADAM, July 1701.
“HAD 1 been a common mourner at the funeral of the dear gentleman deceaſed, I
ſhould have laboured after more of art in the following compoſition, to ſupply the defect of
nature, and to feign a ſorrow ; but the uncommon condeſcenſion of his friendſhip to me,
the inward eſteem I pay his memory, and the vaſt and tender ſenſe I have of the loſs,
make all the methods of art needleſs, whilſt natural grief ſupplies more than all.
sº I had reſolved indeed to lament in ſighs and ſilence, and frequently checked the
too forward muſe: but the importunity was not to be reſiſted ; long lines of ſorrow flowed
in upon me ere I was aware, whilſt I took many a ſolitary walk in the garden adjoining to
his feat at Newington; nor could I free inyſelf from the crowd of melancholy ideas.
Your ladyſhip will find throughout the poem, that the fair and unfiniſhed building which
he had juſt raiſed for himſelf, gave almoſt all the turns of mourning to my thoughts; for
I purſue ne other topics of elegy than what my paſſion and my ſenſes led me to.
“The poem roves, as my eyes and grief did, from one part of the fabric to the other:
It riſes from the foundation, ſalutes the walls, the doors, and the windows, drops a tear
upon the roof, and climbs the turret, that pleaſant retreat, where I promiſed myſelf many
fweet hours of his converſation ; there my ſong wanders amongſt the delightful ſubjećts
divine and moral, which uſed to entertain our happy leiſure ; and thence deſcends to the
fields and the ſhady walks, where I ſo often enjoyed his pleaſing diſcourſe ; my ſorrows
diffuſe themſelves there without a limit : I had quite forgotten all ſcheme and method
of writing, till I correół myſelf, and riſe to the turret again to lament that deſolate ſeat,
Now if the critics laugh at the folly of the mufe for taking too much notice of the golden
ball, let them confider that the meaneſt thing that belonged to ſo valuable a perſon ſtill
gave ſome freſh and doleful reflections : And I tranſcribe nature without rule, and repre-
ſent friendſhip in a mourning dreſs, abandoned to deepeſt ſorrow, and with a negligence
becoming woe unfeigned. - *
“Had I deſigned a complete elegy, madam, on your deareſt brother, and intended it
for public view, I ſhould have followed the uſual forms of poetry, ſo far at leaſt, as to
fpend ſome pages in the chara&ter and praiſes of the deceaſed, and thence have taken oc-
caſion to call mankind to complain aloud of the univerſal and unſpeakable loſs : But I
wrote merely for myſelf as a friend of the dead, and to eaſe my full ſoul by breathing out
my own complaints ; I knew his charaćter and virtues ſo well, that there was no need
to mention them while I talked only with myſelf; for the image of them was ever
preſent with me, which kept the pain at the heart intenſe and lively, and my tears
flowing with my verſe. -
“ Perhaps your ladyſhip will expe&t ſome divine thoughts and ſacred meditations,
mingled with a ſóbjećt ſo ſolemn as this is : Had I formed a defign of offering it to your
hands, I had compoſed a more chriſtian poem ; but it was grief purely natural for a death
fo furpriſing that drew all the ſtrokes of it, and therefore my reflečtions are chiefly of a
moral ſtrain. Such as it is, your ladyſhip requires a copy of it; but let it not touch your
foul too tenderly, nor renew your own mournings. Receive it, madam, as an offering
of love and tears at the tomb of a departed friend, and let it abide with you as a witneſs
of that affectionate reſpect and honour that I bore him ; all which, as your ladyſhip's moſt
rightful due, both by merit and by ſucceſſion, is now humbly offered, by,
Madam,
Your ladyſhip's moſt hearty?
And obedient ſervant,
l, WATTS.
W O L. VII, -- © & • -
390 LYRIC POEMS.
To the dear Memory of my honoured Friend, Thomas Gunſton, Eſq.
Who died November 11, 1700, when he had juſt finiſhed his Seat at Newington.
OF blasted hopes, and of short withering joys,
Sing, heav'nly muse. Try thine ethereal voice
In funeral numbers and a doleful song ;
Gunston the just, the generous and the young,
Gunston the friend is dead, O empty name
Of earthly bliss ’tis all an airy dream,
All a vain thought ! Our soaring fancies rise
On treacherous wings! and hopes that touch the skies
Drag but a longer ruin thro’ the downward air,
And plunge the falling joys still deeper in despair.
How did our souls stand flatter'd and prepar’d
To shout him welcome to the seat he rear'd ,
There the dear man should see his hopes complete,
Smiling, and tasting ev'ry lawful sweet
That peace and plenty brings, while num’rous years
Circling delightful play’d around the spheres:
Revolving suns should still renew his strength,
And draw th’ uncommon thread to an unusual length,
But hasty fate thrusts her dreadshears between,
Cuts the young life off, and shuts up the scene.
Thus airy pleasure dances in our eyes,
And spreads false images in fair disguise,
Tº allure our souls, till just within our arms
The vision dies, and all the painted charms
Flee quick away from the pursuing sight, |
Till they are lost in shades, and mingle with the night.
Muse, stretch thy wings, and thy sad journey bend
To the fair Fabric that thy dying friend
Built nameless: 'twill suggest a thousand things
Mournful and Soſt as my tirania sings.
How did he lay the deep foundation strong,
Marking the bounds, and rear the walls along
Solid and lasting; there a numerous train
Of happy Gunstons might in pleasure reign,
While nations perish, and long ages run,
Nations unborn, and ages unbegun :
Not time itself should waste the blest estate,
TNor the tenth race rebuild the ancient seat.
How fond our fancies are 1 the founder dies
Childless ; his sisters weep and close his eyes,
And wait upon his hearse with never-ceasing cries.
Lofty and slow it moves to meet the tomb,
While weighty Sorrow nods on ev'ry plume;
A thousand groans his dear remains convey,
To his cold lodging in a bed ofclay, }
His country’s sacred tears well-watering all the way.
See the dull wheels roll on the sable load ;
But no dear son to tread the mournful road,
And ſondly kind drop his young sorrows there,
The father's urn bedeving with a filial tear.
O had he left us one behind, to play
Wanton about the painted hall, and say,
“This was my fathers,” with impatient joy
In my fond arm’s I’d clasp the smiling boy,
And call him my young friend : but awſul fate,
Design'd the mighty stroke as lasting as 'twas great,
LYRIC POEMS. gol
And must this building then, this costly frame
Stand here for strangers? must some unknown name,
Posses these rooms, the labours of my friend ?
Why were these walls rais'd for this hapless end?
Why these apartments all adorn’d so gay ?
Why his rich fancy lavish'd thus away ! . .
Muse, wiew the paintings, how the hov'ring light
Plays o'er the colours in a wanton flight,
And mingled shades wrought in by soft degrees,
Give a sweet foil to all the charming piece ;
But night, eternal night, hangs black around
The dismal chambers of the hollow ground,
And solid shades unmingled round his bed
Stand hideous: Earthly fogs embrace his head,
And noisom vapours glide along his face
Rising perpetual. Muse, forsake the place,
Flee the raw damps of the unwholsome clay,
Look to his airy spacious hall, and say,
“How has he chang'd it for a lonesome cave,
“Confin’d and crowded in a narrow grave'"
Th’ unhappy house looks desolate and mourns,
And every door groans doleful as it turns;
The pillars languish; and each lofty wall
Stately in grief, laments the master's fall,
In drops of briny dew ; the fabric bears
His faint resemblance, and renews my tears.
Solid and square it rises from below: -
A noble air without a gaudy show
Reigns thro’ the model, and adorns the whole,
Manly and plain. Such was the builder's soul.
O how I loveto view the stately frame,
That dear memorial of the best-lov’d name !
Then could I wish for some prodigious cave
Vast as his seat, and silent as his grave,
Where the tall shades stretch to the hideous roof,
Förbid the day, and guard the sun-beams off;
Thither, my willing feet, should ye be drawn
At the gray twilight, and the early dawn.
There sweetly sad should my soft minutes roll,
Numb’ring the sorrows of my drooping soul.
But these are airy thoughts substantial grief
Grows by those objects that should yield relief;
Fond of my woes I heave my eyes around,
My grief from ev’ry prospect courts a wound ;
Views the green gardens, views the sumiling skies,
Still my heart sinks, and still my cares arise;
My wand'ring feet round the fair mansion rove,
And there to sooth my sorrows I indulge my love.
Oft have I laid the awful Calvin by,
And the sweet Cowley, with impatient eye
To see those walls, pay the sad visit there,
And drop the tribute of an hourly tear:
Still I behold some melancholy scene,
With many a pensive thought, and many a sigh between
Two days ago we took the evening air,
I, and my grief, and my Urania there ;
Say, my Urania, how the western sun
Broke from black clouds, and in full glory shone
Gilding the roof, then dropt into the sea,
And sudden night devour'd the sweet remains of day;
Thus the bright youth just rear'd his shining head
9 Q 2
292
LYRIC POEMS
From the obscure shades of life, and sunk among the dead.
The rising sun adorn’d with all his light
Smiles on these walls again : but endless night
Reigns uncontrol’d where the dear Gunston lies,
He's set for ever, and must never rise.
Then why these beams, unseasonable star,
These lightsome smiles descending from afar,
To greet a mourning house In vain the day
Breaks thro’ the windows with a joyful ray,
Aud marks a shining path along the floors
Bounding the evening and the morning hours;
in vain it bounds 'em : while vast emptiness
And hollow silence reigns thro' all the place,
Nor heeds the chearful change of nature's face.
Yet nature's wheels will on without control,
The sun will rise, the tuneful spheres will roll, }
And the two nightly bears walk round and watch the pole.
See while I speak, high on her sable wheel
Qld night advancing climbs the eastern hill ;
Troops of dark clouds prepare her way; behold,
How their brown pinions edg’d with evening gold
Spread shadowing o,er the house, and glide away
Slowly pursuing the declining day;
O'er the broad roof they fly their circuit still,
Thus days before they did, and days to come they will ;
But the black cloud that shadows o'er his eyes,
Hangs there unmoveable, and never flies:
Fain would I bid the envious gloom be gone;
Ah fruitless wish how are his curtainsdräwn }
For a long evening that despairs the dawn
Muse, view the turret: just beneath the skies
Lonesome it stands, and fixes my sad eyes,
As it would ask a tear. O sacred seat
Sacred to friendship ! O divine retreat
Here did I hope my happy hours tº employ,
And fed before-hand on the promis'd joy,
When weary of the noisy town, my friend
From mortal cares retiring, should ascend
And lead me thither. We alone wou'd sit
Free and secure of all intruding feet:
Our thoughts should stretch their longest wings, and rise,
Nor bound their soarings by the lower skies :
Our tongues should aim at everlasting themes,
And speak what mortals, dare, of all the names’
Of boundless joys and glories, thrones and seats
Built high in heav'n for souls: We'd trace the streets
Of golden pavement, walk each blissful field,
And climb and taste the fruits the spicy mountains yield:
Then would we swear to keep the sacred road,
And walk right upwards to that blest abode ;
We’d charge our parting spirits there to meet,
There hand in hand approach th' almighty seat,
And bend our heads adoring at our . feet.
Thus should wenount on bold advent’rous wings
In high discourse, and dwell on heav'nly things,
While the pleas'd hours in sweet succession move, *
And minutes measur’d as they are above, *
By ever-circling joys, and ever-shining love.
Amon our thou ghts shou'd lower their lofty flight
Sink by degrees, and take a pleasing sight,
LYRIC POEMS. 293
A large round prospect of the spreading plain,
The wealthy river, and his winding train, ;
The smoky city, and the busy men. r
How we should smile to see degenerate worms
Lavish their lives, and fight for airy forms
Of painted honour, dreams of empty sound
Till envy rise, and shoot a secret wound
At swelling glory, straight the bubble breaks,
And the scenes vanish, as the man awakes;
Then the tall titles insolent and proud
Sink to the dust, and mingle with the crowd.
Man is a restless thing: Still vain and wild,
Lives beyond sixty, nor outgrows the child :
His hurrying lusts still break the sacred bound
To seeknew pleasures on forbidden ground,
And buy them all too dear. Unthinking fool,
For a short dying joy to sell a deathless soul |
'Tis but a grain of sweetness they can sow,
And reap the long sad harvest of immortal woe.
Another tribe toil in a different strife,
And banish all the lawful sweets of life,
To sweat and dig for gold, to hoard the ore,
Hide the dear dust yet darker than before, }
And never dare to use a grain of all the store.
Happy the man that knows the value just
Of earthly things, nor is enslav'd to dust.
"Tis a . gift the skies but rarely send
To fav'rite souls. Then happy thou, my friend,
For thou hadst learnt to manage and command
The wealth that heav'n bestow'd with liberal hand:
Hence this fair structure rose; and hence this seat
Made to invite my not unwilling feet:
In vain’twas made for we shall never meet,
And smile, and love, and bless each other here,
The envious tomb forbids thy face tº appear,
Detains thee, Gunston, from my longing eyes,
And all my hopes liebury'd, where my Gunston lies.
Come hither, all yetenderest souls, that know
The heights of fondness, and the depths of woe,
Young mothers, who your darling babes have found
Untimely murder'd with a ghastly wound;
Yefrighted nymphs, who on the bridal bed
Clasp'd in your arms your lovers cold and dead,
Come ; in the pomp of all your wild despair,
With flowing eye-lids, and disorder'd hair,
Death in your looks ; come, mingle grief with me,
And drown your little streams in my unbounded sea.
You sacred mourners of a nobler mold,
orn for a friend, whose dear embraces hold
Beyond all nature's ties; you that have known
Two happy souls made intimately one,
And felt a parting stroke : "Tis you must tell
The smart, the twinges, and the racks 1 feel:
This soul of mine that dreadful wound has borne, g
Off from its side its dearest half is torn, }
The rest lies bleeding, and but lives to mourn.
Q infinite distress such raging grief
Should command pity, and despair relief.
294 LYRIC POEMS.
Passion, methinks, should rise from all my groans,
Give sense to rocks, and sympathy to stones.
Ye dusky woods and echoing hills around,
Repeat my cries with a perpetual sound :
Be all ye flow'ry vales with thorns o'ergrown,
Assist my sorrows, and declare your own;
Alas! your lord is dead. The humble plain
Must ne'er receive his º again,
Mourn ye gay smiling meadows, and be seen
In wintry robes, instead of youthful green;
And bid the brook, that still runs warbling by,
Move silenton, and weep his useless channel dry.
Hither methinks the lowing herd should come,
And moaning turtles murmur o'er his tomb:
The oak shall wither, and the curling vine
Weep his young life out, while his arms untwine }
Their amorous folds, and mix his bleeding soul with mine.
Ye stately elms, in your long order mourn”,
Strip off your pride to dress your master's urn :
Here gently drop your leaves, instead of tears:
Ye elms, the reverend growth of ancient years,
Stand tall and naked to the blustering rage
Of the mad winds: thus it becomes your age
To shew your sorrows. Often ye have seen
Our heads reclin'd upon the rising green;
Beneath your sacred shade diffus’d we lay,
Here Friendship reign'd with an unbounded sway:
Hither our souls their constant off’rings brought,
The burdens of the breast and labours of the thought:
Our opening bosoms on the conscious ground
Spread all the sorrows and the joys we found
And mingled ev'ry care; nor was it known
Which of the pains and pleasures were our own;
Then with an equal hand and honest soul
We share the heap, yet both possess the whole,
And all the passions there thro’ both our bosoms roll,
By turns we comfort, and by turns complain,
And bear and ease by turns the sympathy of pain.
Friendship ! mysterious thing, what magic pow'rs
Support thy sway, and charm these minds of ours?
Bound to thy foot we boast our birth-right still,
And dream of freedom, when we’ve lost our will,
And chang'd away our souls: At thy command
We Snatch new miseries from a foreign hand,
To call them ours; and, thoughtless of our ease,
Plague the dear self that we were born to please.
Thou tyranness of minds, whose cruel throne
Heaps on poor mortals sorrows not their own;
As though our mother nature could no more
Find woes sufficient for each son she bore,
Friendship divides the shares, and lengthens out the store.
Yet are we fond of thine imperious reign,
Proud of thy slavery, wanton in our pain, -
And chide the courteous hand when death dissolves the chain.
Virtue, forgive the thought ! the raving muse
Wild and despairing knows not what she does,
Grows mad in grief, and in her savage hours
Affronts the name she loves and she adores.
* There was a long row of tall elms then ſtanding where ſome years after the lower
garden was made. f
LYRIC POEMS. 295
She is thy vot’ress too; and at thy shrine,
O sacred Friendship, offer'd songs divine, º
while Gunston liv'à, and both our souls were thine.
Here to these shades at solemn hours we came,
To pay devotion with a mutual flame, .
Partners in bliss, Sweet luxury of the mind!
And sweet the aids of sense! Each ruder wind
Slept in its caverns, while an evening-breeze
Fann'd the leaves gently, sporting thro’ the trees;
The linnet and the lark their vesperS Sung
And clouds of crimson o'er th’ horizon hung;
The slow-declining sun with sloping wheels -
Sunk down the golden day behind the western hills.
Mourn, ye young gardens, ye unfinish’d gates,
Ye green inclosures, and ye growing sweets
Lament, for ye our midnight hours have known.
And watch'd us walking by the silent moon
In conference divine, while heav'nly fire. .
Kindling our breasts did all our thoughts inspire
With joys almost immortal; then our zeal . .
Blaz'd and burnt high to reach th' ethereal hill,
And love refin'd, like that above the poles,
Threw both our arms round one another's souls
In rapture and embraces. Oh forbear,
Forbear, my song! this is too much to hear,
Too dreadful to repeat; such joys as these
Fled from the earth for ever !
Oh for a general grief! let all things share
Our woes, that knew our loves: The neighbouring air
Letit be ladeſ, with immortal sighs,
And tell the gales, that ev'ry breath that flies
Over these fields should murmur and complain,
And kiss the fading grass, and propagate the pain.
Weep all ye buildings, and the groves around
For ever weep: this is an endless wound,
Vast and incurable. Ye buildings knew
His silver tongue, ye groves have heard it too.
At that dear sound no more shall ye rejoice,
And I no more must hear the charming voice:
Woe to my drooping soul! that heav'nly breath
That could speak life lies now congeal’d in death;
While on his folded lips all cold and pale
Eternal chains and heavy silence dwell,
Yet my fond hope would hear him speak again,
Once more at least, one gentle word, and then
Gunston aloud I call: In vain I cry
Gunston aloud; for he must ne'er reply.
In vain I mourn, and drop these funeral tears,
Death and the grave have neither eyes nor ears:
Wandring Itune my sorrows to the groves,
And vent my swelling griefs, and tell the winds our loves;
While the dear youth sleeps fast, and hears them not;
He hath forgot me: In the lonesome vault
Mindless of Watts and friendship, cold he lies,
Deaf and unthinking clay.
But whither am I led this artless grief
Hurries the muse on, obstinate and deaf
To all the nicer rules, and bears her down
From the tall fabric to the neighbouring ground;
The pleasing hours, the happy moments past
In these sweet fields reviving on my taste
Snatch me away resistless with impetuous haste,
}
3.96
LYRIC POEMS.
ºf
Spread thy strong pinions once again, my song,
And reach the turret thou hast left so long:
O'er the wide roofs its lofty head it rears,
Long waiting our converse; but only hears
The noisy tumults of the realms on high;
The winds salute it whistling as they fly,
Or jarring round the windows: rattling showers
Lash the fair sides; above loud thunder roars;
But still the master sleeps; nor hears the voice
Of sacred friendship, nor the tempest's noise:
An iron slumber sits on every sense,
In vain the heav'nly thunders strive to rouse it thence.
One labour more, my muse, the golden sphere
Seems to demand: See thro’ the dusky air
Downward it shines upon the rising moon;
And, as she labours up to reach her noon,
Pursues her orb with repercussive light,
And streaming gold repays the paler beams of night:
But not one ray can reach the darksome grave,
Or pierce the solid gloom that fills the cave
Where Gunston dwells in death. Behold it flames
Like some new meteor with diffusive beams
Thro' the mid-heaven, and overcomes the stars;
“So shines thy Gunston's soul above the spheres,” }
Raphael replies, and wipes away my tears.
“We saw the flesh sink down with closing eyes, A
“We heard thy grief shriek out, He dies, He dies,
“Mistaken grief 1 to call the flesh the friend
“On our fair wings did the bright youth ascend,
“All heav’n embrac'd him with immortal love,
“And sung his welcome to the courts above.
“ Gentle Ithuriel led him round the skies,
“The buildings struck him with immense surprise;
“The spires all radiant, and the mansions bright,
“The roof high vaulted with ethereal light:
“Beauty and strength on the tall bulwarks sat
“In heav'nly diamond; and for every gate
“On golden hinges a broad ruby turns,
“Guards of the foe, and as it moves it burns;
“Millions of glories reign thro’ every part;
“Infinite power, and uncreated art
“Stand here display’d, and to the stranger show
“How it out-shines the noblest seats below.
“The stranger fed his gazing pow'rs awhile
“Transported: Then, with a regardless smile,
“ Glanc'd his eyes downward thro’ the crystal floor,
“And took eternal leave of what he built before.”
Now, fair Urania leave the doleful strain ;
Raphael commands: Assume thy joys again,
In everlasting numbers sing, and say,
“Gunston has moved his dwelling to the realms of day;
“Gunston the friend lives still ; And give thy groans away.”
LYRIC POEMS. 297
An ELEGY on Mr. THOMAS GOUGE,
To Mr. ARTHUR SHALLET, Merchant.
Worthy Sir, *
* THE ſubjećt of the following Elegy was high in your eſteem, and enjoyed a large ſhare
{& of your affections. Scarce doth his memory need the aſſiſtance of the muſe to
“ make it perpetual; but when ſhe can at once pay her honours to the venerable dead,
“ and by this addreſs acknowledge the favours ſhe has received from the living, it is a
“ double pleaſure to, Sir,
» Your obliged humble ſervant,
I, WATTS,
To the Memory of the Rev. Mr. THOMAS GOUGE,
t Who died january 8th, 1699-700.
1 YE virgin ſouls, whoſe ſweet complaint His ſoul was of th’ angelic frame,
Could teach Ephrates not to flow”, The ſame ingredients, and the mould the
Could Sion’s ruin ſo divinely paint, ſame,
Array’d in beauty and in woe: When the Creator makes a miniſter of
Awake, ye virgin-ſouls, to mourn, flame,
And with your tuneful ſorrows dreſs a He was all form'd of heav'nly things,
prophet’s urn. Mortals, believe what my Urania fings,
O could my lips or flowing eyes For ſhe has ſeen him riſe upon his flamy
But imitate ſuch charming grief, wings.
I'd teach the ſeas, and teach the ſkies
Wailing, and ſobs, and ſympathies,
Nor ſhould the ſtones or rocks be deaf;
Rocks ſhall have eyes, and ſtones have
€2. TS
While Gouge's death is mourn’d in me-
lody and tears.
5 How would he mount, how would hefly
Up thro’ the ocean of the ſky,
Tow’rd the celeſtial coaſt !
With what amazing ſwiftneſs ſoar
Till earth's dark ball was ſeen no more,
And all its mtuntains loſt
Scarce could the muſe purſue him with
2 Heav'n was impatient of our crimcs her fight :
And ſent his miniſter of death But angels, you can tell,
To ſcourge the bold rebellion of the times, For oft you meet his wond’rous flight,
And to demand our prophet’s breath; And knew the ſtranger well;
He came commiſſion'd for the fates Say, how he paſt the radiant ſpheres
Of awful Mead, and charming Bates; And viſited your happy feats,
There he eſſay’d the vengeance firſt, And trac'd the well-known turnings of
Then took a diſmal aim, and brought the golden ſtreets, w
great Gouge to duſt. And walk’d among the ſtars.
3 Great Gouge to duſt 1 how doleful is the 6 Tell how he climb'd the everlaſting hills
ſound ! Surveying all the realms above,
How vaſt the ſtroke is and how wide || Borne on a ſtrong-wing'd ſaith, and on
the wound ! the fiery wheels
Oh painful ſtroke 1 diſtreſſing death ! Of an immortal love. 4.
A wound unmeaſurably wide 'Twas there he took a glorious, fight
No vulgar mortal dy’d Of the inheritance of ſaints in light,
When he reſign’d his breath. And read their title in their Saviour’s right,
The muſc that mourns a nation’s fall, How oft the humble ſcholar came,
Should wait at Gouge's funeral, And to your ſongs he rais'd his ears
Should mungle majeſty and groans, To learn th' unutterable name,
Such as ſlie fings to ſinking thrones, To view th' eternal baſe that bears,
And in deep ſounding numbers tell, The new creation's frame.
How Sion trembled, when this pillar ſel), The countenance of God he ſaw,
Sion grows weak, and England poor, Full of mercy ; full of awe,
Nature herſelf with all her ſtore, The glories of his power, and glories of
Can furniſh ſush a ponip for death no his grace i
Ill OTS. There he beheld the wond’rous ſprings
4 The reverend man let all things mourn; The º º º: ...;
w * $2.
Suro he was ſome aethereal mind, #. that º: face. ery law
Fº º º, That face did all his gazi ng pow'rs employ,
** CI’d to be born, With moſt profound abaſement and ex.
* Pſ. cxxxvii. Lament, i. 2, 3. alted joy.
Vol. v II. j | P jº
39S
* 1YRIC POEMS,
The rolls of fate were halfunfeal’d,
He ſtood adoring by;
The volumes open'd to his eye,
And ſweet intelligence he held,
With all his ſhining kindred bf the ſky.
? Ye ſeraphs that ſurround the throne,
Tell how his name was thro’ the palace
known;
How warm his zeal was, and how like :
your own ;
Speak it aloud; let half the nation hear,
And bold blaſphemers ſhrink and fear”:
Impudent tongues to blaſt a prophet's
name !
The poiſon ſure was fetch'd from hell,
Where the old blaſphemers dwell,
To taint the pureſt duſt, and blot the
whiteſt fame t
Impudent tongues! You ſhould be darted
thro’,
Nail'd to your own black mouths and lie
Uſeleſs and dead till flander die,
Till ſlander die with you.
8. “We ſaw him, ſay th’ cthereal throng,
“We ſaw his warm devotions riſe,
“We heard the fervour of his cries,
“And mix’d his praiſes with our ſong:
“We knew the ſecret flights of his retir-
ing hours,
* Nightly he wak’d his inward
powers,
* Young Hſrael roſe to wreitke with his
God,
“And with unconquer'd force feal’d the
celeſtial towers,
** To reach the bleſfing down for thoſe
that ſought his blood,
“Oft we beheld the thunderer's hand
“Rais’d high to cruſh the factious foe;
“As oft we ſaw the rolling vengeance
{tand
“Doubtful tº obey the dread command,
“While his aſcending pray’r upheld the
failing blow.”
9 Draw the paſt ſcenes of thy defight,
My muſe, and bring the wond'rous man
to fight.
Place him ſurrounded as he ſtood
With pious crowds, while from his
tongue
A ſtream of harmony ran ſoft along,
And every ear drank in the flowing good:
Softly it ran its filver way,
Till warm devotion rais’d thc current
ſtrong :
Then fervid zeal on the ſweet deluge
rode,
Life, love and glory, grace and joy,
Bivinely roll'd promiſcuous on the tor-
rent-flood;
And bore our raptur'd fefiſe away, and
thoughts and ſouls to God. *
O might we dwell for ever there !
* Though he was ſo great and good a
iman he did not eſcape cenſure,
... .”
A
| No more return to breathe this groſſer air,
This atmoſphere of ſin, calamity and care.
10 But heav'nly ſcenes ſoon leave the ſight
While we belong to clay,
Paſſions of terror and delight,
Demand alternate ſway. -
Behold the man, whoſe awful voice
Could well proclaim the fiery law,
Kindle the flames that Moſes ſaw,
And ſwell the trumpet’s warlike noiſe,
He ſtands the hełald of the threat'ning
ſkies,
Lo, on his reverend brow the frowns di-
vinely riſe,
All Sinai’s thunder on his tongue, and
lightning in his eyes.
Round the high roof the curfes flew
Diſtinguiſhing each guilty head,
Far from th’ unequal war the atheiſt fled,
His kindled arrows ſtill purſue,
His arrows ſtrike the atheiſt thro’,
And o'er his inmoſt powers a ſhudd'ring
horror ſpread.
The marble heart groans with an inward
wound :
Blaſpheming ſouls of harden’d ſteel
Shriek out amaz'd at the new pangs they
feel,
And dread the echoes of the ſound.
The loſty wretch arm’d and array'd
In gaudy pride finks down his impious
$ head,
Plunges in dark deſpair, and mingles
with the dead.
11 Now, muſe, aſſume a ſofter ſtrain,
Now ſooth the ſinner's raging ſmart,
Borrow of Gouge the wond’rous art
To calm the fºrging conſcience and
afſuage the pain;
He from a bleeding God derives
Liſe for the ſouls that guilt had ſlain,
And ſtraight the dying rebel lives,
The dead ariſe again;
The opening fries almoſt obey
His powerful ſong; a heav'nly ray
Awakes deſpair to light, and ſheds a
cheerful day.
His wond’rous voice rolls back the
ſpheres,
Recalls the ſcenes of ancient years,
To make the Saviour known;
Sweetly the flying charmer roves
Thro' all his labours and his loves,
The anguiſh of his croſs, and triumphs of
his throne.
12 Come, he invites our feet to try
The ſteep aſcent of Calvary,
And ſets the fatal tree before our eye:
See here celeſtial ſorrow reigns;
Rude nails and ragged thorns lay by,
Ting'd with the crimſon of redeeming
veins. *
In wond’rous words he ſung the vital
flood
Where all our ſins were drown'd,
Words ſit to heal and fit to wound,
LYRTC POEMS.
999
Sharp as the ſpear, and balmy as the
blood.
In his diſcourſe divine
Afreſh, the purple fountain flow'd
Our falling tears kept ſympathetic time,
And trickled to the ground,
While ev’ry accent gave a doleful ſound,
Sad as the breaking heart-ſtrings of th’
expiring God.
$3 Down to the manſions of the dead,
With trembling joy our ſouls are led,
The captives of his tongue; f
There the dear Prince of light reclines his
head
Darkneſs and ſhades among.
With pleaſing horror we ſurvey
The caverns of the tomob,
Where the belov'd Redeemer lay,
And ſhed a ſweet perfume.
Hark the old earthquake roars again
In Gouge's voice, and breaks the chain
Of heavy death, and rends the tombs :
The riſing God he comes, he comes,
With throngs of waking ſaints, a long
triuinphing train.
14 See the bright ſquadrons of the ſky,
Downward on wings of joy and haſte
they fly, -
Meet their returning Sovereign, and at-
tend him high.
A ſhining car the Conqueror fills,
Form'd of a golden cloud;
Slowly the pomp moves up the azure
hills,
Old Satan foams and yells aloud,
And gnaws th” eternal braſs that binds
him to the wheels.
The opening gates of bliſs receive their
$-lºgy
The Father. God ſmiles on his Son,
Pays him the honours he has won,
The lsº thrones adore, and little cherubs
1ng.
Behold him on his native throne,
Glory ſits faſt upon his head;
Dreſs'd in new light, and beamy robes,
His hand rolls on the ſeaſons, and the
fhining globes, 4
And ſways the living worlds, and regions
of the dead, *
15 Gouge was his envoy to the realms below,
Vaſt was his truſt and great his ſkill,
Bright the credentials he could ſhow,
And thouſands own"d the ſeal.
His hallowed lips could well impart
The grace, the promiſe, and command:
He knew the pity of Immanuel's heart,
And terrors of Jehovah's hand.
How did our ſouls ſtart out to hear
The embaſſies of love he bare,
While every ear in rapture hung w
Upon the charming wonders of his
tongue.
Life's buſy cares a ſacred filence bound,
Attention itood with all her powers,
With fixed eyes and awe profound,
Chain'd to the pleaſure of the found,
Nor knew the flying hours.
I6 But O my everlaſting gricfſ
Heav'n has recall'd his envoy from our
eye; -
Hence deluges of ſorrow riſe,
Nor hope th” impoſſible relief.
Ye remnants of the ſacred tribe
Who feel the loſs, came ſhare the
ſmart,
And mix your groans with mine;
Where is the tongue that can deſcribe
Infinite things with equal art,
Or language ſo divine -
Our paſſions want the heav'nly flamc,
Almighty love breathes faintly in our
ſongs,
And awful threat'nings languiſh on our
tongues;
How is a great but ſingle name:
Amidſt the crowd he ſtands alone;
Stands yet, but with his ſtarry pinions on,
Dreſt for the flight, and ready to be gone,
Eternal God, command his ſta
Stretch the dear months of his delay;
O we could wiſh his age were 6ne im-
mortal day ! - * *
But when the flaming chariots come,
And ſhining guards, t’ attend thy pro-
phet home,
Amidſt a thouſand weeping eyes,
Send an Eliſha down, a ſoul of equal ſize,
Or burn this worthleſs globe, and take us
to the ſkies. ** :
| * * *
TO THE
Right Honourable the Counteſs of Hertford,
I BEG leave, Madam, to flatter myſelf, that the ſame condeſcenſion and goodneſs
which has admitted ſeveral of theſe pieces into your cloſet in manuſcript, will per-
mit them all to make this public appearance before you. Your ladyſhip's known
character and taſte ſor every thing that is pious and polite, give an honourable
ſanétion to theſe writings which ſtand recommended by your name and approbation :
It is no wonder then that theſe Eſſays ſhould ſeek the favour of ſuch a patronage.
Though the author profeſſes himſelf much a ſtranger to the great and ſplcndid
part of mankind, yet ſince your ladyſhip was pleaſed to indulge him a ſhare in the
honours of your friendſhip, he cannot but take pleaſure to have been a witneſs of
thoſe virtues, whereby you bear up the dignity of our holy religion and the bleſſed
goſpel, aniidſt all the tempting grandeurs of this world, and in an age of growing
infidelity. He acknowledges it a part of his felicity, that he has had opportunity to
learn how happily the leiſure which you borrow from the magnificence and cere-
monies of a court, is employed in devout contemplations, in the ſtudy of virtue, and
- among the writings of the beſt poets in our own, or in foreign languages, ſo far as
they are chaſte and innocent.
But it is no eaſy taſk, as a late ingenious pen “has expreſſed it, “to ſpeak the
many nameleſs graces and native riches of a mind, capable ſo much at once to reliſh
ſolitude, and adorn ſociety.”
May ſuch a valuable life be drawn out to an uncommon length, as the richeſt of
bleſſings to your noble family May you ſhine long in your exalted ſtation an illuſ-
trious pattern of ſuch goodneſs as may command a reverence and imitation among
thoſe who ſtand round you in higher or lower life! And when your ſpirit ſhall take
its flight to ſuperior regions, and that bliſsful world whither your meditation and
your hope have oſten raiſed you, may the court of Great Britain never want ſucceſ-
fors in your honourable houſe to adgro and ſupport it. In the ſincerity of theſe
wiſhes, I take leave to ſubſcribe myſelf, *
Z
Madam,
, Your Ladyship's most obedient
Humble sercant,
I. WATTS,
* Mr. Thompſon, in the dedication of his poem on the Spling,
PREFACE Af
TO ºf MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS IN PROSE AND VERSE.”
As every man has ſome amuſements for an hour of leiſure, I have choſen Mathe-
matical Science, Philoſophy and Poeſy, for mine ; and the fruits of ſome of thoſe
hours have been communicated to the world. I acknowledge my obligation to the
preſent age, which has given a favourable acceptance to the Lyric Poems printed
in my youth, the plain Rudiments of Geography and Aſtronomy, and the Treatiſe
of Logic, publiſhed ſome years ago, and to thoſe ſcattered Eſſays of Philoſophy which
I put together laſt year. Theſe gleanings of Verſe, and occaſional Thoughts on Miſ-
cellancous Subjećts, which have been growing under my hands for thirty-years, are
now colle&led for a preſent to the public, under the encouragement it has given me
to expect the ſame candor.
That the compoſure of verſe is not beneath the dignity even of ſublime and ſacred
charaćters, appears in the example of David the prophet and the king ; to which,
if I ſhould add Moſes and Solomon, it would ſtill ſtrengthen the argument, and ſup-
port the honour of this art. And how far poeſy has been made ſerviceable to the
temple and the intereſt of religion, has been ſet in a ſufficient light by ſeveral.
pens; nor need I repeat here what is written, in the preface to my book of poems,
on that ſubječ. But I muſt confeſs it needs ſome apology, that when I had told
the world twenty-five years ago that I expected the future part of my life would be
free from the ſervice of the muſe, I ſhould now diſcover my weakneſs, and let the
world know that I have not been able to maintain my purpoſe.
It is true indeed, ſome of theſe copies were written before that time, yet a good
part of them muſt date their exiſtence ſince; for where nature has any ſtrong pro- -
penſity, even from our infant-life, it will awake and ſhew itſelf on many occaſions,
though it has been often and ſincerely reſiſted, and ſubdued, and laid to ſleep. And
as I have found my thoughts many a time garried away into four or five lines of
verſe ere I was aware, and ſometimes in oppoſition to my will, ſo I confeſs I have
now and then indulged it for an hour or two, as an innocent and grateful diverſion,
from more ſevere ſtudies. In this view I offer it to my friends ; and amongſt the
many pieces herein contained, I hope there are ſome which will give them an
agreeable amuſement, and perhaps ſome elevation of thought towards the things of
heaven. But in order to taſte any degree of pleaſure, or reap any profit by the
reading, I muſt entreat them ſincerely to ſeek the entertainment of their hearts,
as in the converſation of a friend ; and not to hunt after the painfu' and aukward
# of ſour criticiſm, which is ever buſy in ſeeking out ſomething to diſguſt it-
Ç; f.
I make no pretences to the name of a poet, or a polite writer, in an age wherein
ſo many ſuperior ſouls ſhine in their works through this nation. Could I diſplay
the excellencies of virtue and chriſtian piety in the various forms and appearances
of it, with all the beauty and glory in which Mr. Pope has ſet the kingdom of the
Meſfiah by his well-mingled imitations of Iſaiah and Virgil ; could I paint nature
and the animated wonders of it in ſuch ſtrong and lively colours as Dr. Young has
done ; could'I deſcribe its lovely and dreadful ſcenes in lines of ſuch ſweetneſs and
terror, as he has deſcribed them in his Paraphraſe on part of the book of Job ; I
fhould have a better ground for a pretence to appear among the writers of verſe,
and do more ſervice to the world. Could I imitate thoſe admirable repreſentations
of human nature and paſſion which that ingenious pen has given us, who wrote
the late volumes of “Epiſtles from the Dead to the Living, and, Letters moral
and entertaining.” I ſhould then hope for happier ſucceſs in my endeavours to
provide innocent and improving diverſions for polite youth. But ſince I can boaſt
of little more than an inclination and a wiſh that way, I must countnit the provi-
ſion of theſe amuſements to ſuch celebrated authors as I have now mentioned, and
to the riſing geniuſes of the age : And may the honour of poefy be retrieved by
them, from the ſcandal which has been caſt upon it by the abuſe of verſe to looſe
and profane purpoſes. . . . . . . . . . .
392 PRE FA CE.
If there are many of theſe pieces which may ſeem to carry in them fomething too
youthful and trivial, I entreat my friends to remember, it is a collečtion of ſuch com;
poſitions of this kind from my early years as I have found among my papers ; and
if I had never publiſhed them myſelf, I fear it would have been done ſome time or
other by perſons into whoſe hands they might have been diſperſed; and, then the
many mingled blunders, which always ariſe from frequent tranſcriptions, would have
utterly diſguſted the reader, as well as brought a double diſgrace upon the writer.
It is impoſſible for the nicett and moſt correót pen to avoid the offence of thoſe
readers who carry an exceſs of delicacy always about them, much leſs do I expect it
here t Nor is it within the power of any man who writes, to eſcape the cenſure of
thoſe whoſe minds arc ſo full of vile and uncleanly images, that they will impoſe
their own diſhoneſt and impure ideas upon words of the moſt diſtant and innocent
found. Every low and malicious wit may turn even ſacred language to wicked
and abominable purpoſes, and clap a ſet of perverſe ideas on the pureſt dićtion.
Where neither a David nor a Paul, neither prophets nor evangeliſts are ſafe, no
human writer ſhould expedt an exemption ; but the crime is ſtill in him that con-
ftrues, and not in him that writes. If Oleo finds an ill ſavour in every place where he
comes, I ſuſpect that he has ſome foul ulcer about him ; and when I hear Flavinus
tell me, on a ſnowy day, that the ground looks yellow, I may venture to pronouce
that Flavinus has the jaundice.
As for the charaćters which are found here in ſome of the Eſſays, I profeſs
folemnly there is not one of the vicious or fooliſh kind that is deſigned to repreſent
any particular perſon. I never thought it proper to have mankind treated in that
manner, unleſs upon ſome very peculiar and extraordinary occaſions, and then I
would leave the unpleaſing work to other hands. It has been the aim and deſign of
my life, in my hours of leiſure, as well as my ſeaſons of buſineſs, to do what ſer:
vice I could to my fellow-creatures without giving offence. I would not willingly
create needleſs pain or uneaſineſs to the moſt deſpicable figure amongſt mankind,
There are vexations enough diſtributed among the beings of my ſpecies, without
my adding to the heap : And yet I confeſs I have often attempted to hit the ſore
part in general ; but it is with this ſincere intent, that the wife and thoughtful,"
whoſoever they are, may feel their diſeaſe and be healed.—My readers may be aſſur,
ed therefore, that though the vices and the follies which are here diſplayed may
appear to be as juſt and ſincere a repreſentation as if they were all borrowed from
life, yet there are not features enough to deſcribe any perſon living. When a
reflečting glaſs ſhews the deformities of a face ſo plain as to point to the perſon, he
will ſooner be tempted to break the glaſs, than to reform his blemiſhes: But if I
can find any error of my own happily deſcribed in ſome general charaćter, I am then
awakened to reform it in filence, without the public notice of the world; and the
moral writer attains his nobleft end.
My particular friends, to whom I have ſent any of theſe pieces, will generally be
pleaſed to read them in print, and addreſſed to a feigned name, rather than their
own : This I found the ſafeſt way to avoid offence on all hands, and therefore I have
not mentioned one proper name here, but what was in print before,
In the diſpoſition of theſe pieces, I pretend to no order, but only aimed to diver-
fify every ſheet of the collection with verſe and proſe. In a noſegay, or a flower-
piece, no man expects an exact regularity of fituation among the parts that compoſe
it : It is ſufficient if the colours and fragrance entertain the ſenſes with a grately!
Confuſion.
I preſume nobody will expect in ſuch as book an entrance into deep arguments
upon difficult ſubječts of any kind whatſoever, The deſign is to pleaſe and profit
every gentle reader, without giving pain and fatigue to the mind. If any thing
here written may induce ſtrangers to take up ſo good an opinion of the writer as to
peruſe any of his other works, it is his hearty defire and prayer, that they may find
abundant compenſation in their own improvements in knowledge, virtue or pietya
and may thereby grow fitter for the heavenly world; to which important and happy
end all our labours here on earth ſhould conſpire, and even our amuſements, wie-
ther we read or write. Amen. \ • * b
Nºwington, March 25, 1734,
RELIQUIAE JUVENILES:
MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS,
TIN PROSE AND VERSE,
On Natural, Moral, and Divine Subjećts;
Written chiefly in Younger Years,
Et jucunda simul & idonea dicere Vita.--—HoR.
I.—Searching after God.
§
Since we find in ourſelves that we think and reaſon, we fear
and hope, and by an ačt of our will we can put this body of ours
into various forms of motion, we may boldly pronounce that We
are, and that We live; for we are conſcious of ačtive power, and
life, and being. But where is the hand that madeus, and that gave
us this life and power f We know that we did not make ourſelves
in time paſt, becauſe we cannot promiſe ourſelves a minute of time
to come . We feel no power within to preſerve ourſelves a moment,
nor to reſcue or withhold this being or this life of ours from the
ſudden demands of death.
It is evident yet farther, that we did not give ourſelves theſe
wondrous properties and powers which we poſſeſs; for though we
are ſenſible of many deficiencies and imperfe&tions, yet neither
the moſt perfeół nor moſt defe&tive amongſt us can add to our pre-
ſent ſelf the leaſt new power or property. , While we are all ſur-
rounded with wants which we cannot fupply, and expoſed to death,
which we cannot avoid, it is a ridiculous pretence to be our own
makers.
We conclude then with aſſurance, that we are the work of ſome
more powerful and ſuperior hand; but how, we came firſt into
being, we know not: The manner of our original exiſtence is hid
from us in darkneſs: We are neither conſcious of our creation, nor
of the power which created us. He made us, but he hid himſelf
from our eyes and our ears, and all the ſearches of ſenſe. He has
ſent us to dwell in this viſible world, amidſt an endleſs variety of
images, figures and colours, which force themſelves upon our
ſenſes ; but he for ever diſclaims all image, colour and figure him-
felf. He hath ſet us, who are inferior ſpirits, this taſk in theſe
regions of mortal fleſh, to ſearch' and feel after him, if haply we
may find the ſupreme, the infinite and eternal Spirit. We are
near a-kin to him, even his own offspring, but we ſee not our
Father's face; nor can all the powers of our nature come at the
knowledge of him that made us, but by the labours and inferences
of our reaſon. We toil and work backward to find our Creator :
from our preſent exiſtence we trace out his eternity ; and through
the chain of a thouſand viſible effečts, we ſearch out the firſt, the
inviſible and almighty cauſe, k & w -
304 MrscFLLAN Eours THOUGHTS
‘For the moſt part indeed, we are ſo amuſed and ingroſſed by the
things offenſe, that we forget our Maker, and are thoughtleſs of
him that gave us being; or if we ſeek and follow after him, it is on
a cold ſcent, and with lazy enquiries ; and when we fancy, we
perceive ſomething of him, it is at a diſtance, and in a duſky twi-
light. We, eſpy ſome faint beams, ſome glimmerings of his glory
breaking through the works of his hands; but he himſelf ſtands
behind the veil, and does not ſhew himſelf in open light to the
ſons and daughters of mortality. Happy creatures, if we could
make our way ſo near him as to behold the lovely and adorable
beauties of his nature ; if we could place our ſouls ſo direétly under
his kindeſt influences, as to feel ourſelves adore him in the moſt
profound humility, and love him with moſt ſublime affection
My God, I love and I adore :
But ſouls that love would know thee
1Y \OſC,
Wilt thou for ever hide, and ſtand
Behind the labours of thy hand P
Thy hand unſeen ſuſtains the poles
On which this huge creation rolls:
The ſtarry arch proclaims thy pow'r,
Thy pencil glows in every flow'r?
In thouſand ſhapes and colours riſe
Thy painted wonders to our eyes;
While beaſts and birds with labºring
throats,
Teach us a God in thouſand notes.
The meaneſt pin in nature's frame,
Marks out ſome letter of thy name.
Where ſenſe can reach or fancy rove,
From hill to hill, from field to grove,
Acroſs the waves, around the ſky,
There’s not a ſpot, or deep, or high,
Where the Creator has not trod,
And left the footſtep of a God.
But are his footſteps all that we,
Poor grov'ling worms, muſt know or
ſee
Thou Maker of my vital frame,
Unveil thy face, pronounce thy name,
Shine to my ſight, and let the ear
Which thou haſt form’d, thy language
hear.
Where is thy reſidence Oh, why
Doſt thou avoid my ſearching eye,
My longing ſenſe 2 Thou great unknown,
Say, do the clouds conceal thy throne *
Divide, ye clouds, and let me ſee
The pow'r that gives me leave to be.
Or art thou all diffus’d abroad
Thro' boundleſs ſpace, a preſent God,
Unſeen, unheard, yet never near !
What ſhall I do to find thee here t
Is there not ſome myſterious art
To feel thy preſence at my heart?
To hear thy whiſpers ſoft and kind,
In holy ſilence of the mind 2
Then reſt my thoughts; no longer roam
In queſt of joy, for heav'n's at home.
But, oh, thy beams of warmeſt love t .
Sure they were made for worlds above: ;
How ſhall my ſoul her pow’rs extend,
Beyond where time and nature end,
To reach thoſe heights, thy beſt abode,
And meet thy kindeſt ſmiles, my God &
What ſhall I do? I wait thy call;
Pronounce the word, my life, my all.
Oh for a wing to bear me far
Beyond the golden morning-ſtar !
Fain would I trace th’ immortal way,
That leads to courts of endleſs day,
Where the Creator ſtands conſeſs'd,
In his own faireſt glories dreſs'd,
Some ſhining ſpirit help me riſe,
Come waft a ſtranger thro’ the ſkies;
Bleſs'd Jeſus, meet me on the road,
Firſt offspring of th’ eternal God, -
Thy hand ſhall lead a younger ſon,
Clothe me with veſtures yet unknown,
And placeme near my Father’s throne.
II.-Roman Idolatry.
IT has been an old temptation to mankind, almoſt ever ſince hu-
man nature was made, that we deſire to find out ſomething juſt like
God. Hence aroſe a great part of the idolatry of ancientages, and
of almoſt all the heathen world: Hence the ſkilful and impious la-
bours of the ſtatuary and the painter: hence all the gaudy glittering
images, and all the monſtrous ſhapes that poſſeſs and inhabit the
temples of the gentiles. . They were all deſigned to repreſent the
ſhining glories, or the aëtive powers of divinity. The fruitful brain
of the poet and the prieſt have yet farther multiplied the images of
fºllº to make it appear like ſomething which we can feel,
ear, or ſee. But “to whom ſhall we liken God ; with what like. .
neſs will ye compare me faith the Holy One of Iſrael;” If xl. 18, :
MiscellANEous THoughts. 305
25. He is, and will be for ever, the Great Inimitable, and the In-
finite Unknown. - tº
...And yet this folly has not ſpent itſelf all in the heathen world.
The Jewiſh nation was often fond of idols, and they would more
than once have the figure of divinity among them; though the
wilderneſs of Sinai, in the days of Moſes, and the tents of Dan
and Bethel in Jeroboam's reign, can bear witneſs that it looked
much more like a calf than a God. Iſrael too often fell in with the
#eft of the nations, and “changed the glory of the incorruptible God
into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds and four-
footed beaſts, and creeping things.”
The chriſtian world indeed has much clearer light, and nobler
diſcoveries of the inviſible nature of God; and yet how has the
Romiſh church fallen into groſs idolatry in this reſpect, and with
profane attempt they have painted all the bleſſed Trinity | What-
ſoever pretence they may derive from the human nature of the Son
of §. or from the dove-like appearance of the Holy Spirit, to
draw the figures of a dove or a man, as a memorial of thoſe ſacred
çondeſcenſions; yet I know no ſufficient warrant they can have to
fly in the very face of divine prohibition, and to paint and carve the
figure of God the Father like an old man, when he never appeared
among men in any bodily forms; and our Lord Jeſus himſelf ſays
9f him, “Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor ſeen
his ſhape ;” John v. 37. . . •
But this popiſh church deſcends yet to meaner idolatry; and be-
cauſe Chriſt, who is God manifeſt in the fleſh, repreſents himſelf in
a metaphor, as the bread of life, to ſupport and nouriſh our ſouls,
therefore they turn their Saviour into a real piece of bread: They
make a God of dough, and they devour and they worſhip the work
of the baker. Oſottiſh religion, and ſtupid profeſſors tº Could we
ever have imagined, that ſuch an abſurd ſuperſtition, that gives the
lie groſſly to ſenſe and reaſon at once, ſhould ever find room in the
belief of man, in ſpite of all his ſenſible and his rational powers :
$ould one have imagined, I ſay, that ſuch a glaring falſehood, that
{hocks at once our intelle&tual and our animal faculties, ſhould be
19dged and foſtered in the boſom and heart of the ſons of Adam
But experience here exceeds imagination. What a ſhameful re-
Proach and ſcandal it is to human nature, that a faith with ſo much
nonſenſe in it, ſhould overſpread whole nations, and triumph over
the largeſt part of the knowing and refined world ! But every dawn-
ing day-light is a witneſs of theſe national idolatries, theſe ſcan-
dals to mankind and all their intelle&tual glory. Every ſun that ſets
or riſes in ſome part or other of the earth, beholds multitudes of
fools and philoſophers, ploughmen and princes, acknowledging the
breaden God, bending the knee to the wafer-cake, and bowing to-
wards the ſacred repoſitory of the kneaded idol. e
... It was the firſt ambition and iniquity of man to affect a forbidden
likeneſs to God; there is inſolence added to the ambition, when
We bring down God to our level, and make him a man, like our-
felves: But when we fink the Deity beneath our own nature, when
Wº make a mere animal or vegetable of him, and turn him into a
bit of ſenſeleſs paſte, the madneſs of this impiety muſt for ever want
a ſlaſile. -
Y 9L. VII, # Q Q
306 MISCELLANEous THOUG IITs.
g III.--To DOR10. The Firſt Lyrie Hour.
THERE is a line or two that ſeem to carry in them I know hot
what ſoftneſs and beauty, in the begitiming of that ode of Caſimire,
where he deſcribes his firſt attempts on the harp, and his commenc.
ing a lyric poem. !
** Albis dormiit in rosis,
“Liljisque jacens & violis dies,
* Primae cui pottii vigil
* Soilinum Pierià rumpere barbito,
“Curae dum vacuus puer
“Formosi legerém littora Narviat.
“Exillo mihi posteri
“Florent sole dies, &c.”
I have tried to imitate theſe lines, but I eaſihòt förm them inte
Engliſh lyrics : I have releaſed myſelf from the fetters of rhyme,
yet I cannot gain rily own approbation. I have given my thoughts
a further looſe, and ſpread the ſenſe abroad, but I fear there is
ſomething of the ſpirit evaporates; and though the elegant idea
perhaps does not entirely eſcape, yet I could wiſh for a hāppier
expreſſion of it. Such as it is, receive it Dorio, with your uſual
eandour, correót the deficiencies, and reſtore the elegance of the
Poliſh poet, to theſe ſix or feven lines wherein H have attempted an
imitation.
"Twas an unclouded sky: The day-star sat
On highest noon: No breezes fantſ’d the grove,
Nor the musicians of the air pursu'd
Their artless warblings; while the sultry day
Hay all diffus'd and slumbering on the bosom
Of the white lily, the perfum’d jonquil,
And lovely blushing rose. Then first my harp,
Labouring with childish innocence and joy,
Brake silence, and awoke the Smiling hour
With infant notes, saluting the fair skies,
(Heaven's highest work) the fairenamell'd meads,
And tall green shades along the winding banks
‘ Of Avon gently flowing, "Thence my days
Commenc'd harmonious ; there began my skill
To vanquish care by the sweet-sounding string.
! Hail happy hour, O blest remembrance, hail!
- And banish woes for ever. Harps were made
For heaven’s beatitudes: There Jesse's son
Tunes his bold lyre with majesty of sound,
To the creating and all-ruling power
Not unattentive: While ten thousand tongues
Ol hymning seraphs and disbodied saints,
Echo the joys and graces round the hills
Of paradise, and spread Messiah’s name.
Transporting bliss!"Make haste, ye rolling spheres,
Ye circling suns, ye winged minutes, haste,
Fulfil my destin’d period here, and raise
The meanest son of harmony to join
Jn that celestial concert.
Miscel LANEggs THOUGHTS.
307
I V.—The Hebrew Poet.
Difficulty of a juſt Tranſlation of the Pſalms of
David, in all their Hebrew Glory ; with an
This Ode repreſents the
them in Chriſtian Language.
(The firſt Hint borrowed from Caſimire, Jeffea quiſuis, &c. Book IV. Oden.)
4 SHEw me the man that dares and
ſings ſ
Great David's verſe to Britiſh ſtrings:
Sublime attempt but bold and vain
As building Babel's tower again.
2 The bard* that climb?d to Cooper’s-
Hill -
Reaching at Zion, ſham'd his ſkill,
And bids the ſons of Albion own, ,
That Judah’s pſalmiſt reigns alone.
8 Bleſt poet now, like gentle Thames,
He ſoothes our ears with ſilver ſtreams:
Like his own Jordan, now he rolls,
And ſweeps away our captive ſouls.
4. Softly the tuneful ſhepherd leads
The hebrew flocks to flow'ry meads:
He marks their path with notes divine,
While fountains ſpring with oil and
wine. ... if
5 Rivers of peace attend his ſong.
And draw their milky train along?
He jars; and lo, the flints are broke,
But honey iſſues from the rock.
6 When kindling with vićtorious fire,
He ſhakes his lance acroſs the lyre;
The lyre reſounds unknown alaims,
And ſets th’ Thunderer in arms.
7 Behold the God! th? almighty King
Rides on a tempeſt's gloričus wing :
His enſigns lighten round the ſky,
And moving legions found on high.
8 Ten thouſand cherubs wait his courſe,
Chariots of fire and flaming horſe;
Earth trembles ;
flow,
At his approach, like melting ſnow.
§
9 But who theſe frowns of wrath can"
draw, r
That ſtrike heav'n, earth, and hell,
with awe ? .
Red lightning from his eye-lids broke;
His voice was thunder, hail and
ſmoke.
10 He ſpake; the cleaving waters fled,
and her mountains i
And ſtars beheld the ocean's bed ;
Apology for the Imitation of
wº the great maſter ſtrikes his
yre r - -
*You ice the frighted floods retire.
11 In heaps the frighted billows ſtand,
Waiting the changes of his hand :
. He leads his Iſrael through the ſea,
And watry mountains guard their
, Way.
12 Turning his hand with ſov’reign ſweep,
He drowns all Egypt in the deep . . .
Then guides the tribes, a glorious
band *
Thro' deſarts to the promis'd land.
13 Here camps with wide imbattl’d
force, -
Here gates and bulwarks ſtop their
courſe: o
He ſtorms the mounds, the bulwark
falls,
The harp lies ſtrow’d with ruin'd
walls.
14 See his broad ſword flies. o'er the
ſtrings, -
And moves down nations with their
kings : Y- - - - - - -
From every chord his bolts are hurl’d,
Andyengeanceſmites therebel world.
15 Lo, the great poet ſhifts the ſcene,
And ſhews the face of God ſerene:
. Truth, meekneſs, peace, ſalvation ride,
With guards of juſtice, at his ſide,
16 Nomeaner muſe could weave the light,
To form his robes divinely bright;
Or frame a crown of ſtars to ſhine
With beams for Majeſty divine.
17 Now in prophetic light he ſees
Ages to come, and dark degrees :
He brings the prince of glory down,
Stript of his rôbe and ſtarry crown.
18 See Jews and heathens fir’d with rage;
See their combining pow’rs engage
Againſt th? Anointed of the Lord,
The man whom angelslate adord,
19 God’s only Son : Behold, he dies :
Surpriſing grief The groans ariſes
*. -
* Sir John Denham, who gained great reputation by his poem call’d Cooper's-
Hill, failed in his tranſlation of the Pſalms of David,
& Q 2
308 MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS,
The lyre complains on ev'ry ſtring, 25 She bids her humble verſe explain
And mourns the murder of her king. The hebrew harp's ſublimer ſtrain ;
Points to her Saviour ſtill, and ſhows
20 But heav'n's Anointed muſt not dwell What courſe the ſun of glory gocs.
In death: The vanquiſh’d pow'rs of
hell 26 Here he aſcends behind a cloud
Yield to the harp's diviner lay; Of incenſe,” there he ſets in blood;
The grave reſigns the illuſtrious prey. She reads his labours and his names
In ſpicy ſmoke,i and bleeding
21 Meſſiah lives | Meſſiah reigns ! - lambs,f. w
The ſong ſurmounts the airy plains,
Tº attend her Lord with joys unknown, 27 Rich are the graces which ſhe draws
And bear the Vićtor to his throne. From types, and ſhades, and Jewiſh
- laws ; 4t
22 Rejoice, ye ſhining worlds on high, With thouſand glories long foretold
Behold the Lord of glory nigh : To turn the future age to gold.
Eternal doors your leaves diſplay, - -
To make the Lord of glory way. 28 Grace is her theme, and joy, and love :
Deſcend, ye bleſſings, from above,
23 What mortal bard has ſkill or force And crown my ſong. Eternal God,
To paint theſe ſcenes to tread this Forgive the muſe that dreads thy rod.
courſe, º
Or furniſh through the etheral road ||29 Silent, ſhe hears thy vengeance roll,
A triumph for a riſing God That cruſhes mortals to the ſoul,
Nordares aſſume the bold, nor ſheds
24 Aſtoniſh’d at ſo vaſt a flight Th’ immortal curſes on their heads.
Thro' flaming worlds and floods of +
light, 30 Yet ſince her God is ſtill the ſame,
My muſe her awful diſtance keeps, And David’s ſon is all her theme,
Still following but with trembling She begs ſome humble place to ſing
ſteps, In concert with Judea's king.
§ V.—The thankful Philoſopher.
AMONG all the uſeful and entertaining ſtudies of philoſophy
there is none ſo worthy of man as the ſcience of human nature.
There is none that furniſhes us with more wonders of divine wiſ-
dom, or gives higher occaſion to adore divine goodneſs. Chariſtus,
a gentleman of great piety and worth, has ſpent many an hour upon
this delightful theme. In the midſt of his meditations one day, he
* debating thus with himſelf, and enquiring what ſort of being
€ WaS :
Now I ſtand, ſaid he, now I lie down ; I riſe again and walk, I
eat, drink and ſleep; my pulſe beats, and I draw the breath of
life : Surely I have the parts and powers of an animal; I am a
living body of fleſh and blood, a wonderful engine, , with many
varieties of motion. But let me conſider alſo what other actions I
perform. *
I think, I meditate and contrive, I compare things and judge of
them ; now I doubt, and then I believe ; I will what I ačt, and
formetimes wiſh what I cannot act: I deſire and hope for what I
have not, as well as am conſcious of what I have, and rejoice in it:
I look backward, and ſurvey ages paſt, and I look forward into
what is to come : Surely, I muſt be a ſpirit, a thinking power, a
ſoul, ſomething very diſtinét from this machine of matter with all
its ſhapes and motions. 2.
Mere matter put into all poſſible motion, can never think,
reaſon, and contrive, can never hope and wiſh, as I do, and ſurvey
diſtant times, the paſt and future : Yet it is as impoſſible alſo that a
mind, a ſoul, ſhould walk or lie down, ſhould eat or drink; but I
* Chriſt's interceſſion, + His ſacrifice, *
MiscELLANEous THouGHTs. 309
feel, I know, I am aſſured I do all theſe. I perform ſome ačtions
that cannot belong to a ſpirit, and ſome that fleſh and blood can.
never pretend to. • - * • * *
What am I then What ſtrange kind of being is this, which is
conſcious of all theſe different agencies, both of matter and ſpirit
What ſort of thing can I be, who ſeem to think and reaſon in my
head, who feel and am conſcious of pain or eaſe, not at my heart
only, but at my toes and fingers too I conclude then, I can be
nothing elſe but a compound creature, made up of theſe two diſ.
tinét beings, ſpirit and matter; or, as we uſually expreſs it, ſoul
and body. * g
It is very plain alſo to me, upon a ſmall enquiry, that this body
and this †. not make themſelves, nor one another. But did
not I myſelfjoin theſe two different natures together when they
were made Did not my ſoul take this body into union with itſelf?
By no means: for the firſt moment that I knew any thing of myſelf,
I found the powers of thought working in an animal nature; that is,
I found myſelf ſuch a compounded being as I now am : I had no
more hand in the union of theſe two principles, or in the conspo-
ſition of myſelf, than I had in the making of thoſe two diſtinčt
beings of which I am compounded: It was God only, that great
God who created both parts of me, the animal and the mind, who
alſo joined them together in ſo ſtrange an union ; and if I were to
enter into the myſteries of this union, it would open a wide and
various ſcene of amazement at his unſearchable wiſdom.
But let me examine a little: Was there no ancient and early
kindred between this particular ſpirit and this fleſh of mine, this
mind and this animal Is there no original relation, no eſſential
harmony and ſpecial cóngruity between my body and my ſoul, that
ſhould make their union neceſſary None at all that I can find,
either by my ſenſe or refle&tion, my reaſon or experience. Theſe
two beings have dwelt above thirty years together, ſtrangely united
into one, and yet I have never been able to trace any one inſtance
of previous kindred between them. This mind might have been
paired with any other human body; or this body with any other
mind. , I can find nothing but the ſovereign will of God that joined
this mind and this animal body together, and made the wondrous
compound : It was he ordained me to be what I am, in all the cir-
cumſtances of my nativity. -
Seeſt thou, O my ſoul, that unhappy cripple lying at thy neigh-
bour's door, that poor miſ-ſhapen piece of human nature? Mark
how uſeleſs are his limbs he can neither ſupport nor feed himſelf.
Look over againſt him, there fits one that was blind from his birth,
and begs his bread, if thou hadſt been originally united to either of
theſe pieces of fleſh and blood, then hadſt thou been that poor
º: or that very blind beggar. -
onder lies a piteous ſpectacle, a poor infant that came into the
world but three months ago, its fleſh covered with ulcers, and its
bones putrifying with its father's fins: I hear its whining cries, and
long piteous wailings; its bitter groans touch my heart, and awaken
all my tenderneſs : Let me ſtand and refle&t a little. Surely I had
been that wretched thing, that little, pining, periſhing infant, and
all thoſe pains and agonies had been mine, if God had reſerved my
ſoul in his ſecret counſels till a few months ago, and then confined
it to that º manſion of diſeaſed and dying fleſh.
Once more let my eyes affect my heart, What a ſtrange auk,
R.
3 : () MISCE LLAN E O US THOUGHTS.
ward creature do I ſee there ! The form of it is as the form of a
man, but its Flotions ſeem to be more irregular, and the animal
more ſenſeleſs than a very beaſt : Yet they tell me, it is almoſt
forty years old. It might have been by this time a ſtateſman, a
philoſopher, general of an army, or a learned divine; but reaſon
could never ačt nor ſhew itſelf in that diſordered engine. The
tender brain was ruffled perhaps, and the parts of it diſturbed in
the very embryo, or perhaps it was ſhaken with convulſions when it
firſt ſaw the light; but the place of its birth was the ſame with
mine, and ſhe neighbours ſay, it was born the next door to me,
How miſerable had I been, if, when the body was prepared, my
ſoul had received order to go but one door farther, to fix its mortal
dwelling there, and to manage that poor diſabled machine ! And
if the ſpirit alſo that reſides there had been united to my fleſh, #
had been a ſad exchange for me: That idiot had been all that I
was by nature, and I had been that idiot. ~ * , a
My meditations may rove farther abroad, may ſurvey paſt ages
and diſtant nations, and by the powers of fancy, I'may ſet myſelf
in the midſt of them.
Had this ſpirit of mine been joined to a body formed in Lapland
or Malabar, I had worſhipped the images of Thor or Bramma; and
perhaps I had beca a Lapland wizard with a conjuring drum, or a .
Malabarian prieſt, to wear out my life in ridiculous eaſtern cere-
II) () ſº ICS, , ,
Had my ſoul been formed and united to a Britiſh body fifteen
‘hundred years ago, I had been a painted Briton, a rude idólater, as
well as my fathers; a ſuperſtitious druid had been my higheſt
character, and I ſhould have paid my abſurd devotions to ſome
fancied deity in a huge hollow oak, and lived and died in utter"
ignorance of the true God, and of Jeſus my Saviour, Qr had my
fpirit been ſent to Turkey, Mahomet had been my prophet, and
; ridiculous ſtories of the Alcoran had been all my hope of eternal
iife. * f
If Gnatho the flatterer ſtood by, I know what he would ſay, for
he has told me already, that as my ſtature is tall and manly, ſo my
genius is too ſublime and bright to be buried under thoſe clouds of
darkneſs. Laſt week he pračtiſed upon my vanity, ſo far as to ſay,
“Chariſtus has a ſoul and reaſon which would have led him to the
knowledge of the true God, if he had been born in the wilds of
America, and had for his father a ſavage Iroquois, or his anceſtors
had been all Naraganſet Indians.” But Igave him a juſt and ſharp
reproof for his want of ſenſe, as well as for his flattery. t
ond fooliſh man, to imagine there are no geniuſes which out-
fhine me in the wild and barbarous world, no bright and ſublime
intelle&ts but thoſe which are appointed to ačt their part in the
nations of Europe | Good ſenſe and natural ſmartneſs are ſcattered
among moſt of the nations of mankind. There are ingenious
Africans, American wits, philoſophers and poets in Malabar; there
are both the ſprightly and the ſtupid, the fooliſh and the wiſe, on
this, and on the other ſide of the great Atlantic ocean : But the
brighter powers of nature cannot exert themſelves and ſhine in the
fame glory, when the affairs and circumſtances all around them are
mean, and low, and deſpicable; when their life,...and time, and
all their powers from their very infancy, are employed in providing
a forty fuſtenance for the body, and ſupplying the importunatº
appetites of nature. . . * , , * * *
$.
a
MISCELLAN. Eò US THOUGHTS. 3} }
Had I the largeſt ſhare of natural underſtanding and ſpright-
lineſs, far beyond what my friends can imagine, all the advantage
of it would have been, that perhaps I had ſhaped a nicer bow, or
ſet the feathers on an arrow for ſwifter flight than my neighbour:
Perhaps I might have ſooner hit the flying partridge, and laid a
ſurer trap for a wild-gooſe or a pigeon; I had learnt to outwit the
brutal creation with more ſucceſs; egregious vićtory and triumph 1
Or if I had employed my beſt ſpirits and vigour in the affairs of
my religion, I might have danced in more antic poſtures round
ſoide ſacred bonfire, and contrived ſome new ſuperſtitions, or per-
haps authoriſed ſome new gods or goddeſſes; or, I might have
howled among my fellows with more hideous airs than they, and
have worſhipped the devil with more zeal and ačtivity. Wretched
prerogatives of a ſprightly nature, left without the beams of illu-
minating grace r
To thee, O my God, to thee are due my eternal praiſes; and to
thee will I offer the humbleſt acknowledgments and ſongs of higheſt
gratitude. It is thou haſt made my compounded nature what it is,
in all the comfortable and hopeful attendants of it: Thou haſt not
joined my ſpirit to the diſturbed brain of an idiot, to a crippled
carcaſe, or à piece of rumpled deformity. Thou haſt given to my
ſoul a body, with its proper limbs and organs of ſenſe, capable of
aćtivity, converſe and ſervice , among the reaſonable world.
Bleſſed be my God for ever, that he has appointed me to ačt my
part in Great Britain, while it is a land of divine light; he has
placed my ſoul in ſuch a dwelling, and with ſuch circumſtances
among the ſons of men, as may through his grace, prepare it for
the company of angels, and for his own bliſsful preſence in the
world above. -
But has not my ſpirit been depreſſed by a fickly conſtitution, and
confined to a feeble engine of fleſh under daily diſorders ? Have I
not ſuſtained many forrows on this account, and waſted ſome years
among the infirmities of the body, and in painful idleneſs f Are
there not ſeveral ſouls favoured with a more eaſy habitation, and
yoked with a better partner? Are they not accommodated with
engines which have more health and vigour, and ſituated in much
more happy circumſtances than mine What then ſhall I repine
at my lot; and murmur againſt my Creator, becauſe he has made
ſome hundreds happier than I; while I ſurvey whole nations, and
illiºns of mankind, that have not a thouſandth part of my bleſ-
ings -
I dare not complain, O my God, that I am not one of the few
who enjoy the higheſt pleaſures, and the moſt eaſy circumſtances
on earth; but I have infinite reaſon to adore thy diſtinguiſhing
goodneſs, who haſt not ſuffered me to be one of the miſerable
millions I
VI.-The Praiſe of God.
WHAT is praiſe? It is a part of that divine worſhip which we
owe to the power that made us ;. It is an acknowledgment of the
perfections of God, aſcribing all excellencies to him, and confeſ.
fing all the works of nature and grace to proceed from him. Now
when we apply ourſelves to this work, and dreſs up our notions of
a God in magnificence of language, when we furniſh them out
with ſhining figures, and pronounce them in ſounding words, we
fancy ourſelves to ſay great things, and are even charmed with our
312 MISCE LL ANEOUS THOUGHTS.
own forms of praiſe: But alas ! the higheſt and beſt of them, ſet
in a true light, are but the feeble voice of a creature, ſpreading
before the almighty being that made him, ſome of his own low and
little ideas, and telling him what he thinks of the great God, and
what God has done. When the holy Pſalmiſt would expreſs his
honourable thoughts of his Maker, they amount only to this,
‘‘Thou art good, and thou doſt good; Pſ. cxix. 68. How incon-
ſiderable an offering is this for a God? and yet ſo condeſcending is
his love, that he looks down, and is well pleaſed to receive it.
Let us meditate on this a little, and learn how utterly unworthy
our higheſt attempts of worſhip, and our moſt refined ſtrains of
praiſe, are of divine acceptance.
1. “We can tell God but a very little of what he is, or has
done,” How ſmall a portion do we know ! and how mean muſt
our praiſe be! Now to ſpeak of the worth of another ſo very poorly
and in perfečtly, would be an affront among men; yet the great
God takes it well at our hands, when we labour to ſay what we
know of his greatneſs or his goodneſs. Our brighteſt ideas of him
eclipſe his glory, and our higheſt language ſinks beneath the dig-
nity of his nature : “ God is great, and we know him not ; Job
xxvi. 26. “He is exalted above our praiſes ;” Nehem. ix. 5.
2. “We can tell God nothing but what he knows much better
himſelf.” It is not to increaſe his knowledge when we ſpread our
own concerns before him in prayer; for he knows what we are,
what is our frame, what are our weakneſſes and our wants, far better
than we ourſelves are acquainted with them : Much leſs when
we praiſe him, can we preſume to know what God is, or what he
does, or tell him any thing that relates to himſelf, but what he
knew eternally before us, and knows infinitely better than we do ;
}. can add no new ideas to his mind, nor enlarge one of his own
IC CalS. * * *
3. “We can only tell God what angels and happy ſouls tell
him more of, and in a much better manner: . And yet all that
angels can ſay bears no proportion to what God is ; for if it did,
God were not infinite. Should a little emmet, that feels the ſun-
beams, lift up its head and ſay, “O ſun, thou art warm ;” a creep-
ing inſe&t that knows nothing of the nature, the glory, the won-
derful properties, operations and effe&ts of this prodigious and
aſtoniſhing world of fire, nothing of its various and admirable mo-
tions, real or ſuppoſed, nothing of its vaſt circumference and great-
neſs; yet this deſpicable emmet gives praiſe to the ſun much more
than we can do to our God, much more than angels can do, more
than all created nature can do : becauſe there is ſome proportion
between the praiſes of this creeping worm, and the glories of the
fun; they are both finite: But the glories of our God are infinite ;
therefore no created praiſe bears any proportion. It is only the
godhead that can fulfil its own praiſes; that voice that built the
heavens, and the earth can tell what God is, and what God has
done. If he pronounce a word, and create all things by it, it is
only that wºrd can pay him ſufficient praiſe. tº
How far then are our feeble and mean eſſays of worſhip from
adding any thing to our Maker | A ſorry ant gives heat and glory
to the ſun, by telling it is warm, as much as all the acclamations
of heaven and earth can add real glory to the bleſſed God. His
eflential perfeótions are incapable of receiving the leaſt grain of
MiscellANEous THoughts. 3 : 3
addition from all the thoughts and tongues of the intelle&tual world.
His own idea of himſelf is his nobleſt praiſe.
How far are the moſt exalted praiſes we pay to God, below the
danger of flattery ! Flattery exalts a thing, beyond its nature and
merit; but no fellow-creature would call himſelf flattered, ſhould
we ſpeak of him in ſo mean terms, and ſo much below his worth,
as we muſt do when we ſpeak the higheſt praiſes of our God that our
thoughts can reach to ; And yet Pſ, I. 23. “He that offereth praiſe
glorifies me.” O divine condeſcenſion, that a God will eſteem our
deſpicable praiſes ſome of his glories
VII.-A Meditation for the Firſt of May.
WHAT aſtoniſhing variety of artifices, what innumerable mil-
lions of exquiſite works, is the God of nature engaged in every
moment How gloriouſly are his all-pervading wiſdom and power
employed in this uſeful ſeaſon of the year, this ſpring of nature
What infinite myriads of vegetable beings is he forming this very
moment, in their roots and branches, in their leaves and bloſſoms,
their ſeeds and fruit ! Some indeed begun to diſcover their bloom
amidſt the ſnows of January, or under the rough cold blaſt of
March : thoſe flowers are withered and vaniſhed in April, and
their ſeeds are now ripening to perfeótion. Others are the wing
themſelves this day in all their blooming pride and beauty; and
while they adorn the gardens and meadows, with gay and glowing
colours, they promiſe their fruits in the days of harveſt. The
whole nation of vegetables is under the divine care and culture, his
land forms them day and night with admirable ſkill and unceaſing
operation, according to the natures he firſt gave them, and pro-
duces their buds and foliage, their flowry bloſſoms, and rich fruit
in their appointed months : Their progreſs in life is exceeding ſwift
at this ſeaſon of the year; and their ſucceſſive appearances, and
ſweet changes of raiment are viſible almoſt hourly. t
But theſe creatures are of lower life, and give but feebler diſ-
plays of the Maker's wiſdom. Let us raiſe our contemplations
another ſtory, and ſurvey a nobler theatre of divine wonders.
What endleſs armies of animals is the hand of God moulding and
figuring this moment throughout his brutal dominions ! What
immenſe flights of little birds are now fermenting in the egg, heav-
ing and growing towards ſhape and life What vaſt flocks of four-
footed creatures, what droves of large cattle are now framed in
their early embryos impriſoned in the dark cells of nature and
others perhaps are moving toward liberty, and juſt preparing to
fee the light. What unknown myriads of inſe&ts in their various
cradles and neſting-places are now working toward vitality and
motion l and thouſands of them with their painted wings juſt be-
ſº to unfurl and expand themſelves into fluttering and day-
ight; while other families of them have forſaken their huſky beds,
and exult and glitter in the warn ſun-beams ?
An exquiſite world of wonders is complicated even in the body
of every little inſe&t, an ant, a gnat, a mite, that is ſcarce viſible
to the naked eye. Admirable engines I which a whole academy
of philoſophers could never contrive ; which the nation of poets
hath neither art nor colours to deſcribe ; nor has a world of me-
chanics ſkill enough to frame the plaineſt, or coarſeſt of them.
Their nerves, their muſcles, and the minute atoms which compoſe
the fluids fit to run in the little channels of their veins, eſcape the
V Q L. W. I 1. - R R
314 MISCE L LAN E O US THOUGHTS,
notice of the moſt ſagacious mathematician, with all his aid of
glaſſes. The aëtive powers and curioſity of human nature are
Timited in their purſuit, and muſt be content to lie down in igno-
rance.—“Hitherto ſhall ye go, and no further.”
It is a ſublime and conſtant triumph over all the intelle&tual
powers of man, which the great God maintains every moment in
theſe inimitable works of nature in theſe impenetrable receſſes
and myſteries of divine art? And the month of May, is the moſt
ſhining ſeaſon of this triumph. The flags and banners of Almighty
Wiſdom are now diſplayed round half the globe, and the other
half waits the return of the ſun, to ſpread the ſame triumph over
the ſouthern world. This very ſun in the firmament is God’s prime
miniſter in this wondrous world of beings, and he works with
lovereign vigour on the ſurface of the earth, and ſpreads his in-
fluences deep under the clods to every root and fibre, moulding
them into their proper forms, by divine dire&tion. There is not a
plant, nor a leaf, nor one little branching thread, above or beneath
the ground, that eſcapes the eye or influence of this beneficent ſtar:
An illuſtrious emblem of the omnipreſence and univerſal ačtivity of
the Creator.
But has this all-wiſe Creator, this ſupreme Lord of all nature,
no intelle&tual prime miniſter at all in theſe his dominions Has he
delegated all his powers to that bulky globe of fire which we call
the ſun, that inanimate and unthinking maſs of matter Is this huge
burning and ſenſeleſs body commiſſioned to penetrate every dark
Cranny of nature, either with its light or heat, and to animate
every atom in the vegetable and animal kingdoms ; and yet no
intelle&tual being, no ſpirit ſo much a-kin to God, as to be favoured
with the like extenſive vicegerency Though the light of reaſon
does not tell his name, yet has not revelation informed us * Yes,
ſurely, there is a man after God’s own heart, the faireſt image of
the Creator, and neareſt a-kin to him, among all the works of his
hands: There is a man, and his name is Jeſus, who holds moſt
intimate and perſonal union with the godhead, in whom all divine
wiſdom dwells bodily, and to his care has the Father committed
all the infinite varieties of the vegetable and animal worlds. By
him are all theſe wonders produced in the courſe of providence,
as by an under-agent in the kingdom of nature. Is not the govern-
ment of heaven and earth put into his hands Is he not made
Lord of principalities and powers, of men, angels, and devils, and
of all their works And can we think that he has been denied the
tºº. of the lower parts of his Father’s workmanſhip Does
e not manage all things in the world of grace Surely then we
may infer, he rules as wiſely and as ſpaciouſly in the upper and
lower regions of the creation, as an intelle&tual and conſcious in-
ſtrument of the providence of his Father, God. “My Father
worketh hitherto, and I work. I and my Father are One. And
every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under
the earth and ſuch as are in the ſea, and all that are in them, heard
I ſaying, Bleſſing and honour, and glory and power, be to him that
fitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.” Amen.
VIII.-Divine Goodneſs in the Creation.
THOSE authors have been very entertaining to me, who have
taken a ſurvey of the wiſdom of God in the works of nature ; ſuch
are the reverend and pious Mr. Ray, in his treatiſe on that ſub-
Ml SC ELLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 315
jećt; Mr. Deſham, in his two volumes written on that divine
theme; and the Archbiſhop of Cambray, in his Demonſtration of
the Exiſtence of God. But I do not remember to have read in
thoſe authors this one inſtance of the wide-ſpreading diffuſion of
divine goodneſs through this lower world, namely, That the moſt
univerſal and conſpicuous appearances both of the earth and ſky,
are deſigned for the conveniénce, the profit and pleaſure of all the
animal creation : All that we ſee above us, and all beneath us, is
fuited to our nouriſhment or to our delight. . .
What is more neceſſary for the ſupport of life, than food Be-
hold the earth is covered with it aſ around ; graſs, herbs and
fruits for beaſts and men, were ordained to overſpread all the fur-
face of the ground, ſo that an animal could ſcarce wander any
where, but his food was near him. Amazing proviſion for ſuch an
immenſe family tº º - ſº
What is more joyful than the light Truly “ the light is ſweet,
ſays the wiſeſt of men, and a pleaſant thing it is to behold the
light of the fun.” See the whole circuit of the heavens is reple-
niſhed with fun-beams, ſo that while the day laſts, whereſoever
the eye is placed, it is ſurrounded with this énjoyment; it drinks
in the eaſy and general bleſfing, and is thereby entertained with
all the particular varieties of the creation. It is light conveys to
our notice all the riches of the divine, workmanſhip; without it
nature would be a huge and eternal blank, and her infinite beauties
for ever unknown.
Again ; What are the ſweeteſt colours in nature, the moſt de-
lightful to the eye, and moſt refreſhing too Surely the green and
the blue claim this pre-eminence. Common experience, as well
as philoſophy, tells us, that bodies of blue and green colours ſend
us ſuch rays of light to our eyes, as are leaſt hurtful or offenſive ;
we can endure them longeſt: Whereas the red and the yellow, or
Orange colour, ſend more uneaſy rays in abundance, and give
greater confuſion and pain to the eye; they dazzle it ſooner, and
tire it quickly with a little intent gazing; therefore the divine good-
neſs dreſſed all the heavens in blue, and the earth in green. Our
habitation is overhung with a canopy of moſt beautiful azure, and
a rich verdant pavement is ſpread under our feet, that the eye may
be pleaſed and eaſy wherefoever it turns itſelf, and that the moſt
univerſal objećts it has to converſe with might not impair the ſpirits,
and make the ſenſe weary.
i When God the new-made world ſurvey’d, With pleaſing blue he arch'd the ſky,
His word pronounc'd the building good; And a green carpet dreſs'd the ground.
Sun-beams and light the heav'ns array'd, -- ^.
And the whole earth was crown'd with || 3 Let envious atheiſts ne'er complain
food. That nature wants, or ſkill, or care;
* But turn their eyes all round in vain,
2 Colours that charm and eaſe the eye, Tº avoid their Maker’s goodneſs there.
His pencil ſpread all nature round ;
IX.-The Sacred Concert of Praiſe.
1 COME, pretty birds, fly to this verdant 'Twas the ſame hand your painted pinions
ſhade, ſpread.
Here let our different notes in praiſe That form'd my nobler pow'rs to raiſe
conſpire t - his honours higher.
R R 2
3 : 6 MYSCE L LAN E O US THOUGHTS.
2. Fair ſongſters, come ; beneath the ſacred My God has fram'd your voices for his
grove praiſe,
We'll ſit and teach the woods our Ma- His high deſigns are anſwer'd by your
ket’s name ; tuneful breaſt.
Men have forgot his works, his power, -
his love, 5 Sweet warblers, come, wake all your
Forgot the traighty arm that fear'd their chearful tongues,
wondrous frame. We join with angels and their heav'nly
choirs ; e
3 # ſearch the crowded court, the buſy || Our humble airs may imitate their ſongs,
£reet, Tho' bolder are their notes, and purer
Ruth thro’ the villages, trace every road: are their fires. -
In vain I ſearch ; for every heart I meet -
is faden with the world, and empty of 6 Had I ten thouſand hearts, my God, my
its God. * Love. .
Had I ten thouſand voiccs all are thine:
4 How that i bear with men to ſpend my Where love inflames the ſoul, the lips
days? - muſt move, .
Dear feather'd innocents, you pleaſe Nor ſhall the ſong be mortal where the
me beſt : theme's divine.
X.—The World a Stranger to God. *.
1 INFINITE beauty, everlaſting love, I'd tell them, that they buy their joys too
How are our hearts, our thoughts, dear, {
eſtrang'd from thee And pay immortal ſouls for glitt'ring
Th’ eternai God ſurrounds us ; yet we duſt or fame.
rºve
in chace of airy toys, and follow as they || 3 Almighty pow'r, break off theſe chains
flee. of ſenſe,
Melt them away with love's celeſtial
2 Ołt could I cry, and make the nations fire,
hear, Create the world anew ; let man com-
From north to ſeuth my voice ſhould fºlence
teach thy name; A ſeraph here on earth, let man to
A heav'n aſpire.
XI.-Purgatory.
IT was a gainful contrivance of the prieſts of Rome, to ere&t a
building between heaven and hell, where to diſpoſe of good chriſti-
ans after death till they are completely fit for heaven: This is
purgatory; a place where the remaining vices of the dying man
are purged out with fire: The torments of it are ſaid to be equal
with the torments of hell, and differ only in the duration. Thoſe ſouls
for whom the prieſt is hired to ſay moſt maſſes, are ſooneſt freed
from the relics of injquity, and get the #: releaſe to the hea-
venly regions. This fills the coffers of the clergy by the legacies of
the dead : Every one that leaves the world, takes ſomething away
from his friends and his heirs to purchaſe prayers for himſelf, and
to ſhorten the anguiſh of his purification. Even that excellent man,
the Archbiſhop of Cambray, in his poſthumous book called his
Spiritual Works, ſpeaks of the neceſſity of this purifying fire, for
good chriſtians to burn out the remnant of ſelf-love, by teaching
them patience and entire reſignation of the will, and perfeót con-
tentment under the fiery diſcipline. g
But I cannot imagine how this doćtrine ſhould be any temptation
to men to become proſelytes to the church of Rome. One inſtance
of this kind which I am going to relate, methinks ſhould affright
perſons for ever from turning papiſts.
Promedon was bred in the proteſtant faith, but having a ſuperſti-
tious turn of mind, and being much impreſſed by the diſcourſe of an
uncle who was a devout Catholic, he began to waver, and was in-
M ISCE:LL AN E O US THOUGHTS., - 33.7
clined to change. He went lately to pay a viſit to this uncle on his
death-bed; where after many croffings and anointings, and holy
charms, he ſaw the dying man continue ſtill in utmoſt diſtreſs and hor-
ror; for notwithſtanding all the devotions of his life, and the cere-
monies at his laſt moments, yet, according to the doćtrines of his own
church, he thought himſelf plunged into torments equal to hell:
His fleſh was convulſed, and his ſoul confounded at the thoughts of
fuch immediate anguiſh. He ordered in his will five hundred
º worth of maſſes, yet he was not aſſured whether the ſtate of
is purgation would continue months, or years, or ages. Amidſt
theſe agonies, Promedon ſaw his uncle expire, and performed the
laſt kind office to cloſe his eyes.
In his return home he talked thus with himſelf, “What? Can
the pope promiſe no more than this f Muſt a man that is almoſt fit
to be ſainted be ſent to hell for a ſeaſon, till the prieſts are well fee’d
to ſay prayers enough to fetch him out of it? Is the mercy of God
ſo limited in the Popiſh doćtrine, and reduced to ſuch a ſcantling,
as not to ſave us without ſome atonements of our own Is not the
blood of our Redeemer ſufficient of itſelf to purchaſe our full par-
don, but muſt we buy part of it with the anguiſh of our own ſouls
after death Cannot the bleſſed Spirit make his own ſanétifying
work perfeót, but the fire of purgatory muſt help to burn out our
fins Has not Chriſt promiſed me in the bible, That if I am faith-
ful till death, I ſhall receive a crown of life; and has the prieſt
power to delay my crown, and keep me ſo long out of the poſſeſſion,
till his maſſes and prayers ſhall bring me into it? Is not all the grace
of the goſpel a ſufficient ſecurity againſt the pains of hell, but after
all my faith and the labours of my devotion, I muſt be conſigned to
helliſh torments, coloured and ſoftened with another name? Does
not the word of God give encouragement to hope, that when we
depart hence we ſhall be with Chriſt? That when I am abſent from
the body I ſhall be preſent with the Lord ; And this is not only the
bleſfing of an apoſtle, but even a diſciple of Chriſt of the loweſt
rank, and whoſe charaćter could make no pretence to merit, has
the ſame privilege. A thief upon the croſs, put to death by the
hand of Juſtice for his crimes, and who, as ſome divines ſuppoſe,
had reviled our Saviour juſt before, (becauſe ſome of the ſacred
hiſtorians charge both the thieves with reviling him :) Such a
wretch, I ſay, who did not begin to repent till he began to die, has
a promiſe from our bleſſed Lord, That he ſhould be with him in
paradiſe that very day, becauſe his repentance and faith were ſin-
cere. And according to theſe encouragements of the goſpel, have
I not beard of many a religious proteſtant dying upon the faith of
the New Teſtament with joy, and good aſſurance of his immedi-
ate entrance into bleſſedneſs And are theſe terrors and agonies of
ſpirit which I juſt now beheld, all the conſolation that the prieſt of
º will allow to ſo religious and devout a man as my uncle
WaS - -- *
“Farewel, farewel, ye deceivers : My bible ſhall be my only
guide ; and the grace of God for ever preſerve me in that religion
which puts ſo much honour on the ſufferings of our bleſſed Saviour,
3S º fºcure heaven to a good man, as ſoon as he departs from
earth.
$18 Ml SCE L L AN E O US THQ UGHT 3.
XII.-The Temple of the Sun.
IF I were an idolater, and would build a temple for the ſun, I
ſhould make the whole fabric to confiſt of glaſs ; the walls and roof
of it ſhould be all over tranſparent, and it ſhould need no other
windows. Thus I might every where behold the glory of the God
that I worſhip, and feel his heat, and rejoice in his light, and par-
take of the vital influences of that illuſtrious ſtar in every part of his
temple. But may not this happineſs be obtained without forſaking.
the true God, or falling off to idolatry
Surely the bleſſed ordinances of -chriſtianity are thus contrived
and deſigned. Such are baptiſm and the Lord’s-ſupper, preaching,
praying, and pſalmody. Theſe inſtitutions of worſhip are choſen
and appointed with ſuch divine wiſdom, that they repreſent to us
the glory of the ſeveral perfeótions of our God in his works of na-
ture and grace, and tranſmit the beams of his power and love to
enliven and to comfort our dark and drooping ſpirits. When we
are brought as it were by his ſpirit into his courts, the glory of the
Lord will fill the houſe, and we ſhall hear him ſpeaking to our ſouls.
The ſun of righteouſneſs will ſhine into our hearts : All the powers
" of our nature will rejoice in the light of his majeſty, and under the
rays of his mercy. ... We frequent his fančtuary with delight to
behold the beauty of the Lord there, to feel the warm ſhines of di-
vine goodneſs, and partake of his promiſed ſalvation ; Ezek. xliii.
5, 6. Pſ, xxvii. 4. and lxiii. 2. But to carry the ſimilitude yet
further: *
Suppoſe when I had finiſhed this heathen temple, and baſked
there with pleaſure under the rays of my bright idol, ſome fanciful
and ingenious painter ſhould attempt to cover the building all round
with his own ornaments; ſuppoſe Raphael himſelf ſhould uſe his
pencil with exquiſite art, and with mingled colours and images of a
rich variety and beauty over-ſpread all the walls, the doors, and the
tranſparent roof of it; how would this ſeclude the ſun's beſt influ-
ences, and ſhut this idol deity out of his own temple Nay,
though the image of the ſun ſhould be drawn there ten thouſand
times over in lines of gold, with a pretence to repreſent him in all
his wondrous effects, yet every line will forbid the entrance of a
ſun-beam, and the worſhipper within muſt dwell in twilight, or
perhaps adore in darkneſs; he muſt loſe the true fight of his pla:
netary God, and the benefit of his chearing beams. Not the richeſt
ſkill of a Zeuxis or Apelles beautifying the walls of this fabric,
could ever ſupply the abſence of the ſun, or compenſate the loſs
of light and heat.
Such are the rites and ceremonies of human wiſdom, when they
are contrived as ornaments of divine worſhip. A ſacred inſtitution
mingled with the devices of men, is in truth nothing elſe but glaſs
darkened with the colours of a painter, laid thick upon it. Theſe
inventions may appear to the fancy, not only grave and decent,
but artful and honourable too : they º: aſſiſtance to the
devout worſhipper, and glory to God himſelf; but in reality they
exclude him from his own temple. Sometimes they ſhew a painted
idol'in the ſtead of him, for nothing can effectually repreſent God,
but his own pure appointments; and ſo far as the ornaments prevail
above the ſimple ordinance, they prevent all the kind influences of
his power and grace; for he vouchſafes to tranſmit theſe no other
way, but through his own inſtitutions. “When the church of
..MISCE L L A N E O US THOUGHTS•
319
Rome honours God with her lips, and her prieſts ſet up their threſ-
holds by my threſholds, faith the Lord, and their poſts by my poſts,
they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations, and
in vain do they worſhip me, teaching for doćtrines the command-
ments of men.” Iſ. xxix. 13. Compare with Mat. xv. 8, 9. and
Ezek. xliii. 8.
XIII.-The Midnight Elevation.
T Now reigns the night in her ſublimeſt
noon,
Nature lies huſh'd; the ſtars their watches
keep ; **
I wait thy influence, gentle ſleep,
Come ſhed thy choiceſt poppies down,
On every ſenſe, ſweet ſlumbers ſeal my
eyes,
Tir’d with the ſcenes of day, with painted
VanitleS.
2 In vain. I wiſh, in vain I try
To cloſe my eyes and learn to die;
Sweet ſlumbers from my reſtleſs pillow
y :
Then be my thoughts ſerene as day,
Be ſprightly as the light,
Swift as the ſun's far-ſhooting ray,
And take a vigorous flight :
Swift fly, my ſoul, tranſcend theſe duſky
ſkies, -
And trace the vital world that lies
Beyond thoſe glimmering fires that gild and
cheer the night.
3 There Jeſus reigns, adored name !
The ſecond on the throne ſupreme:
In whoſe myſterious form combine
Created glories and divine:
The joy and wonder of the realms above:
At his command all their wing'd ſquadrons
move,
Burn with his fire, and triumph in his
love. *
4 There fouls releas'd from earth’s dark
bondage lives,
My Reynolds there, with Howe and Boyle
are found ;
Not time nor nature could their genius
bound,
And now they ſoar, and now they
dive
In that unlimitable deep where thought
itſelf is drown'd,
They aid the ſeraphs while they
ſing,
God is their unexhauſted theme;
Light, º: and joy for that immortal
rl n
O'erflow the bleſſed millions with an end-
leſs ſtream.
* Amazing ſtate | Divine abode
Where ſpirits find their heaven while they
are loſt in God.
5
Hail, holy ſouls, no more confin'd
To limbs and bones that clog the
mind.
Ye have eſcap'd the ſnares, and left the
chains behind.
We wretched priſoners here below,
What do we ſee, or learn or know,
But ſcenes of various folly, guilt and wo?
Life’s buzzing ſounds and flatt’ring colours.
la
Round our fond ſenſe, and waſte the
day,
Inchant the fancy, vex the labouring
ſoul ;
Each riſing ſun, each lightſome hour,
Beholds the buſy ſlavery we endure;
Nor is our freedom full, or contemplation
pure,
When night and ſacred filence overſpread
the pole.
Reynolds, thou late aſcended mind,
Employ'd in various thought and
tuneful ſong,
What happy moment ſhall my ſoul un-
bind,
And bid me join th’ harmonious
throng *
Oh for a wing to raiſe to thee!
When ſhall my eyes thoſe heav'nly won-
ders ſee P
When ſhall I taſte thoſe comforts with
an ear refin’d P
Roll on apace, ye ſpheres ſublime,
Swift drive thy chariot round illuſtrious
moon,
Haſte, all ye winkling meaſurers of time,
Yo can’t fulfil your courſe too ſoon.
Kindle, my languid pow'rs celeſtial love,
Point all my paſſions to the courts above,
Then ſend the convoy down to guard my
laſt remove.
Thrice happy world, where gilded toys
No more diſturb our thoughts, no more
pollute our joys
There light and ſhade ſucceed no more
by turns, *
There reigns th” eternal ſun with an un-
clouded ray, º
There all is calm as night, yet all immor-
tal day,
And truth for ever ſhines, and love for
ever burns.
32O MiscellANEous THoughts.
XIV.-The Honourable Magiſtrate.
INVIDO was a man of ſhrewd underſtanding, but had ſo much
ill humour in his make, that he could ſpeak well of no body : Yet
there once happened an incident in converſation, that betrayed
him, without thinking, into a good-natured truth ; and even while
he was practiſing his own malicious temper, he was ſurpriſed into
the acknowledgment of fuperior worth, and paid a nobler teſ-
timony to virtue.
The Story was this.
A friend of mine had drawn up the charaćter of an excellent
magiſtrate, where, among other admirable qualifications, theſe
were inſerted :
“He never aimed at ſuperiority over his neighbours,
though by the bounty of providence he grew richer than they : He
had the univerſal reſpect due to goodneſs, long before he was
made great; and when his fellow-citizens voted him into power
and honour, he ſurveyed the province with a juſt reluétance, and
ſhrunk away from grandeur; nor could any thing overcome his
fincere averſion, but a ſenſe of duty and hopes of public ſervice.
“He paſſed through the chief offices of the city, and left a luſtre
upon them by the pračtice of ſuch virtue and ſuch piety as the chair
of honour has ſeldom known : Thoſe who have attended that court
fince the year of his magiſtracy ſearch the regiſter backward for
twenty annual ſucceſſions, and confeſs he has had no rival.
“While he ſtood in that eminence, he ſurveyed the , whole
nation, took a juſt view of its wants and its dangers; and by the
divine bleſfing, which his daily retirements engaged on his ſide, he
fecured the nation's beſt intereſt, the excluſion of a child of Rome
from the throne of England, and the ſucceſſion of a Proteſtant
government. . At the appointed ſeaſon he reſigned with pleaſure
the fatigues of power, the tireſome hours of ſtate, and the tedious
train of pomp and equipage; but he daily fulfils the duties of
ſubordinate authority to the terror of vice, to the ſupport of the
good, and to the reformation of a ſinful land. He vindicates the
poor with courage, againſt the oppreſſion of the mighty, and fends
gay criminals to the place of correótion: He puts the rich offenders
to public ſhame, as well as the poor, and he doth it with a noble
fecurity of ſoul: So ſpotleſs a charaćter fears no recriminations.
“When the days of public ſhew and proceſſion return, he hides
himſelf often at his country-ſeat, and makes every trifling obſtacle
a ſufficient excuſe for his abſence from honours, ſcarlet and gold :
But none ſo zealous and conſtant in their attendance on the hours
of buſineſs; and at the honourable board there is no feat empty fo
feldom as his. Neither gain nor diverſion can tempt him aſide,
when the duty of his poſt requires his preſence, and the public weal
demands his counſels. His health, his eaſe and his eſtate are at
the call of his country; his life lies ready too for the ſame ſervice;
but his nation gives thanks to providence that has not demanded the
precious ſacrifice.
“He has no ſpreading dimenſions nor lofty advantages of ſtature,
whence he might look down upon the multitude, and command
them into reverence; but ſuch unblemiſhed virtue has grandeur and
majeſty in it, and ſpreads fear and reſpe&t around. When he goes
out to the gate through the city, he neither wears nor needs the
MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 32}.
enſigns of honour about him, nor attendants to follow him in the
itreet; the vain young men ſee him and hide themſelves; the 2ged
ariſe and ſtand up. When the ear hears him, then it bleſſed him ;
the eye that ſees him gives witneſs to him; becauſe he has delivered
the diſtreſſed ſoul that cried, he has relieved the fatherleſs, and
him that had none to help. The bleſſing of thoſe that are ready to
periſh comes daily upon him, and he cauſes the widow’s heart to
fing for joy. He is a father to the poor, and the cauſe which he
knows not he ſearches out. He breaks the jaws of the wicked,
and plucks the ſpoil out of their teeth; Job xxix.
“The vileſt wretches of the earth cannot but love the man,
while they hate the reforming magiſtrate. Not the united malice
of his worſt enemies can find any occaſion againſt him, but concern-
ing the law of his God; and were it not upon that account, he
would have no enemies at all.
“The world wonders and enquires, Whence all theſe accom-
pliſhments How did this man arrive at this true greatneſs, and ali
theſe uncommon excellencies | Thoſe who are his intimates know
the ſpring of them. He makes the word of God his daily coun-
fellor, and he ſeeks dire&tions from heaven in all his affairs on
earth: He reads, the examples of Daniel and Job in his bible, and
joins them together in his own pračtice ; for he thinks one of them
alone too little for a chriſtian.”
When I had read this in a room where Invido was preſent, one
of the company commended the ingenuity of my friend in drawing
up ſo fair, ſo divine a charaćter. Some of them gave it as their
opinion, that the excellencies and good qualities were ſet too thick
together, and that there was no ſuch perſon in nature, therefore it
muſt be the mere work of fancy: They confeſſed it was well imagined
indeed, it was a fine pićture, but there was no ſuch original.
Invido had no longer patience to hear ſuch compliments paſſed
on the writer ; but with his uſual eagerneſs, “Your friend, ſaid he,
was never capable of compoſing ſuch a piece; there is not a line of
it owing to his own invention, for the whole charaćter is a mere copy.
This friend of yours has lived ſome years in Albinus’s family, and
has only ſtole his pićture.”
You are much in the right, Invido; it was ſo defigned ; and I
am glad the features are ſo well touched, and the likeneſs ſo finely
preſerved, that a man of your temper ſhould conſent to know the
piece, ſhould name the original, and confeſs the likeneſs.
Happy Albinus, and favoured of heaven beyond the common
rate even of the beſt of men, when envy itſelf is conſtrained to pay
public honours to his merit.
YV.—A Leſſon of Humility.
HOW vain a thing is man How ready to be puffed up with
every breath of applauſe, and to forget that he is a creature, and a
finnér He that can bear to be ſurrounded with approbations and
honours, and yetkeep the ſame air and countenance without ſwell-
ing a little at heart, has paſſed an hour of temptation, and come
off conqueror. “As the fining-pot for ſilver, and the furnace for
gold, ſo is a man to his praiſe;” Prov. xxvii. 21. *
Eudoxus is a gentleman of exalted virtue, and unſtained reputa-
tion: Every ſoul that knows him, ſpeaks well of him : he is ſo
much honoured, and ſo well beloved in his nation, that he muſt
flee his country if he would avoid praiſes. So ſenſible is he of the
W O L. VI is * S S
322 MISCE L LAN E O U S T HO U G HT S.
ſecret pride that has tainted human nature, that he holds himſelf
in perpetual danger, and maintains an everlaſting watch. He be-
haves now with the ſame modeſty as when he was unknown and
obſcure. He receives the acclamations of the world with ſuch an
humble mien, and with ſuch an indifference of ſpirit that is truly
admirable and divine. It is a lovely pattern, but the imitation is
not eaſy.
I took the freedom one day to aſk him, How he acquired this
wondrous humility, or:whether he was born with no pride about him
“Ah, no, ſaid he, with a ſacred figh, I feel the working poiſon,
but I keep my antidote at hand; when my friends tell me of many
good qualities and talents, I have learnt from St. Paul to ſay,
What have I that I have not received 2 My own conſciouſneſs of
many follies and fins conſtrains me to add, What have I that I
have not miſimproved And then reaſon and religion join together
to ſuppreſs my vanity, and teach me the proper language of a
creature and a ſinner; What then have I to glory in f° 17I6.
XVI.-The Waffe of Life.
ANERGUS was a young gentleman of a good eſtate, he was
bred to no buſineſs, and could not contrive how to waſte his hours
agreeably ; he had no reliſh for any of the proper works of life,
nor any taſte at all for the improvements of the mind; he ſpent
generally ten hours of the four and twenty in his bed; he dozed
away two or three more on his couch, and as many were diſſolved
in good liquor every evening, if he met with company of his own
humour. Five or ſix of the reſt he ſauntered away, with much
indolence : The chief buſineſs of them was to contrive his meals,
and to feed his fancy before-hand with the promiſe of a dinner and
ſupper; not that he was ſo very a glutton, or ſo entirely devoted
to appetite; but chiefly becauſe he knew not how to employ his
thoughts better, he let them rove about the ſuſtenance of his
body. Thus he had made a ſhift to wear off ten years fince the
paternal eſtate fell into his hands ; and yet according to the abuſe
of words in our day, he was called a man of virtue, becauſe he
ſcarce ever was known to be quite drunk, nor was his nature much
inclined to lewdneſs. - -
One evening as he was muſing alone, his thoughts happened to
take a moſt unuſual turn, for they caſt a glance backwärd, and
began to refle&t on his manner of life. He bethought himſelf what
a number of living beings had been made a ſacrifice to ſupport his
carcaſe, and how much corn and wine had been mingled with thoſe
offerings. He had not quite loſt all the arithmetic that he learned
when #. was a boy, and he ſet himſelf to compute what he had
devoured ſince he came to the age of man.
“Above a dozen feathered creatures, ſmall and great, have
one week with another, ſaid he, give up their lives to prolong mine,
which in ten years time amounts to at leaſt fix thouſand.
“Fifty ſheep have been ſacrificed in a year, with half a hecatomb
of black cattle, that I might have the choiceſt part offered weekly
upon my table. Thus a thouſand beaſts out of the flock and the
herd have been ſlain in ten years. time to feed me, beſides what the
foreſt and the park have ſupplied me with. Many hundreds of
fiſhes have, in all their varieties, been robbed of life for my repaſt,
and of the ſmaller fry as many thouſands.
“A meaſure of corn would hardly afford fine flower enough for a
M lSCE LL AN E O US THOUGHTS. 323
month's proviſion, and this ariſes to above ſix-ſcore buſhels; and
many hogſheads of ale and wine, and other liquors, have paſſed
through this body of mine, this wretched ſtrainer of meat and
drink. -
“ And what have I done all this time for God or man What a
vaſt profuſion of good things upon a uſeleſs life, and a worthleſs
liver ! There is not the meaneſt creature among all theſe which I
have devoured, but hath anſwered the end of its creation better
than I. It was made to ſupport human nature, and it hath done
ſo. Every ſhrimp and oyſter-I have eat, and every grain of corn I
have devoured, hath filled up its F. in the rank of beings with
more propriety and honour than I have done ; O ſhameful waſte
of life and time !”
In ſhort, he carried on his moral refle&tions with ſo juſt and ſe–
were a force of reaſon, as conſtrained him to change his whole
courſe of life, to break off his follies at once, and to apply himſelf to
gain ſome uſeful knowledge, when he was more than thirty years
of age : He lived many following years, with the charaćter of a
worthy man, and an excellent chriſtian; he performed the kind
offices of a good neighbour at home, and made a ſhining figure as
a patriot in the ſenate-houſe ; he died with a peaceful conſcience
in the faith and hope of the goſpel, and the tears of his country
were dropped upon his tomb.
The world, that knew the whole ſeries of his life, ſtood amazed
at the mighty change : They beheld him as wonder of reforma-
tion, while he himſelf confeſſed and adored the divine power and
mercy, which had transformed him from a brute to a man.
But this was a ſingle inſtance ; and we may almoſt venture to
write miracle upon it. Are there not large numbers of both ſexes
among our young gentry, and among the families of quality, in a
degenerate age, whoſe lives thus run to utter waſte without the
leaſt tendency to uſefulneſs and reformation, and with a ſcorn of
all repentance
When I meet with perſons of ſuch a worthleſs charaćter as this,
it brings to my mind ſome ſcraps of Horace. \
* Nos numerus sumus, & fruges consumere nati,
“ —Alcinoigue juventus
* Cui pulchrum fruitin medios dormire dies,” &c.
Paraphraſe.
There are a number of us creep
Into this world, to eat and sleep;
And know no reason why they're born,
But merely to consume the corn,
Devour the cattle, fowl and fish,
And leave behind an empty dish:
The crows and ravens do the same,
Unlucky birds of hateful name;
Ravensor crows might fill their place,
And swallow corn and carcases.
Then, if their tomb-stone, when they die,
! Ben't taught to flatter and to lie,
There's nothing better will be said, l
Than that, “They’ve eat up all their bread,
* Drank up their drink, and gone to bed.” §
There are other fragments of that heathen poet, which occur
on ſuch occaſions, one in the firſt of his ſatires, the other in the laſt
324, Miscell ANEo Us THOUGHTS.
of his epiſtles, which ſeem to repreſent life only as a ſeaſon of
luxury.
“Exacto contentus tempore vitae
“Cedat uti conviva satur.
“Lusistisatis, edisti satis atque bibisti ;
“Tempus abire tibi.”
Which may be thus put into Engliſh.
Life’s but a feast ; and when we die,
Horace would say, if he were by,
“Friend, thou hast eat and drank enough,
“”Tis time now to be marching off:
“Then like a well-fed guest depart,
“With chearful looks, and ease at heart ;
“Bid all your friends good night, and say,
“You’ve done the business of the day.”
Refteålion.
Deluded souls that sacrifice
Eternal hopes above the skies,
And pour their lives out all in waste,
To the vile idol of their taste §
The high'est heav'n of their pursuit
Is to live equal with the brute:
Happy, if they could die as well,
Without a Judge, without a hell
XVII.—The Table bleſſed.
HOW do we upbraid and condemn the Romiſh clergy for pre-
tending to conſecrate the wafer for all the people, by muttering a
few Latin words over it, which they cannot underſtand While we
abhor the idolatry of the maſs, yet we cannot help ſmiling at the
filly ſuperſtition, and pity, the ignorance of the multitude: They
believe the bread ſufficiently conſecrated for them to all the pur-
poſes of their ſalvation, though they never joined with the prieſt in
attending to the words of bleſfing: Nor indeed was it poſſible they
fhould have their hearts engaged in that part of the worſhip, be-
cauſe it was performed in an unknown tongue. Who is there
among us, that does not blame and reprove #. abſurd a pračtice
And yet we imitate the ſame folly daily, and think ourſelves un-
concerned in the reproof.
Formulo ſays grace conſtantly at a plentiful table, but he hurries
over his words as a ſchool-boy does his leſſon, and he whiſpers in
fo low a voice, as though he were muttering ſome ſecret charm
to conſecrate the diſhes, Does he think it ſufficient if the words
may be heard in heaven, while the company in the room know
little of the matter, and the quickeſt ears can diſtinguiſh no more
than a few broken ſyllables Yet I have heard this man maintain
a fine argument againſt Popiſh ſuperſtition and the Latin liturgy: I
have heard him aſſert with very good reaſon, that no part of the
bread is ſam&tified to the people at the holy ſacrament by all the
communion-ſervice, where the hearts of the communicants are
abſent, and never join with the church in her prayers : Then why
will not Formulo let his friends at the table join with him in his
graces P. No wonder that the family and the gueſts ſtare about
thoughtleſs, and fit down to their food without a bleſſing, when
the lips that pronounce it do not ſuffer the bleſling to reach their
M. l SC ELLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 325
ears. But chaplains are not the only perſons culpable in this
matter, nor are they always to blame.
Aſebion, a gay gentleman of one and twenty, was preſent at
a table where God is addrcfied in a more religious manner, and
with a devout and becoming ſolemnity. He fits down and eats
heartily; he doubts not but the food is ſufficiently bleſſed to his
uſe, though he never raiſed his thoughts towards heaven, nor
attended at all while the good man Serenus performed his office.
Aſebion was buſy in the diſpoſal of his hat and ſword, and ſurvey-
ing all the faces of the company, while the bleſſing of heaven was
fought on the food. l
His ſiſter Aſebina, a pert young creature of fifteen, was obſerved
to employ that minute in drawing off her gloves, adjuſting her.
dreſs, giving herſelf airs, and preparing for her ſeat. At the ſame
time there was at the table a pious and elder lady, a near relation
of theirs, who with grief obſerved the careleſs condućt of her
neice and nephew ; and being ſeated next above Aſebina, the
had the opportunity to whiſper a gentle admonition, “How can
you expe&t, neice, a bleſfing on your meat, who did not ſo much
as lift up a thought to God to aſk for it ’”. Aſebina replied aloud.
with an air of aſſured ignorance, “I know the chaplain did that for
us all º' and thus ſhe affected to let all the company know that ſhe
received a ſecret reproof, and deſpiſed the reprover. Should it be
granted here, that the admonition was a little ill-timed ; yet it is
certain the reply was not a little inſolent, nor a little irreligious.
While we were eating, one of the gueſts diverted the table with
no improper amuſements ; he entertained the company with
agreeable and facetious diſcourſe, but ſtill within the rules of reli-
gion and decency.
The diſhes being withdrawn, and the table uncovered, Serenus
ftood up to conclude his office ; Aſebina;opened her ſnuff-box, and
regaled her noſe; but Aſebion employed himſelf with his tooth-
pick, and then ſet himſelf in an attitude to wait for the Amen, that
he might make his honours gracefully to all the table.
After dinner the converſation turned upon the ſubjećt of ſaying
grace before and after meat. When ſeveral of the company had
given their thoughts, Serenus acknowledged it was not neceſſary
to offer a ſolemn and particular petition to heaven on the occaſion
of every bit of bread that we taſted, or when we drink a glaſs of
wine with a friend; nor was it expe&ted we ſhould make a ſocial
prayer when perſons each for themſelves took a ſlight repaſt in a
running manner; either the general morning devotion is ſuppoſed
ſufficient to recommend ſuch tranſient ačtions and occurrences to
the divine bleſfing, or a ſudden ſecret wiſh, ſent up to heaven in
filence, might anſwer ſuch a purpoſe in the chriſtian life : But
when a whole family fits down together to make a regular and ſtat-
ed meal, it was his opinion, that the great God ſhould be ſolemnly
acknowledged as the giver of all the good things we enjoy ; and
the pračtice of our Saviour and St. Paul had ſet us an illuſtrious
example. . . . . . &
Aſebion had not yet arrived at ſuch impiety, as to pronounce it
a fooliſh and ſenſeleſs cuſtom ; but he declared his ſentiment with
freedom, that “we might all ſhare enough in the grace that was
ſaid for a dinner, without putting on ſuch a demure countenance,
and ſuch grave airs, as if we were at church in the midſt of divine
fervice.” , , , Wi r f :
326 MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS.
Profane and fooliſh ſpecch but it is hard to ſay, whether more
fooliſh or more profane. *
Tell me, Aſebion, is our addreſſing the God of heaven with
prayer and praiſe at meals no part of divine ſervice Is God never
woſſhipped but when it is done at church : Little do theſe grea-
tures think what a dangerous thing it is to trifle with an almighty
Being, even in the ſmalleſt ačt of worſhip ! Did the great God ever
appoint tooth-picks to be the ſacred utenfils of our aſking a bleſſing
on food Or is a cloud of ſnuff the incenſe that muſt aſcend with
this prayer ; How thoughtleſs are theſe mortals, and how uncon-
ceined about the ſerious and important things of religion ? They
behave with ſuch a regardleſs air, as though grace before meat were
a needleſs old faſhioned ceremony; as though it were enough for
the chaplain to worſhip their Maker for the whole family ; or that
when they ſpeak to the Majeſty of heaven for a bleſfing on their
food, there was no need of a compoſed countenance, or any ſhew
of bodily reverence. Yet Aſebion and Aſebina every morning aſk
their father’s bleſfing on their knees. Methinks I would aſk them;
“Why ſo ſolemnly on your knees for your father's bleſfing, and
ſo utterly negligent of all ſolemnity and outward decencies when
you ſeek a bleſſing from God " º pe
After I had written this paper, I lent it to a friend, who put, it
into the bands of Sedentius, and deſired him to read it. In the
peruſal of it, he ſeemed pleaſed, and gratified with the juſt reproof
of ſuch irreligion, and ſhewed his ſatisfaction by an approving
ſmile, till he came to the cloſe ; there he pauſed a little, and a
grave dejećted air ſpread over his countenance: “Well, ſaid he,
I hope theſe young gentry will learn to be more devout while the
proviſions of the fable is bleſſed, but I take my ſhare alſo in the
reproof; nor will I indulge any more appearance of irreverence
for time to come in theſe domeſtic and daily ačts of worſhip: I
and my fathers before me have ſat down to meat theſe forty years,
and never aſked a bleſfing till after we were all ſeated ; but my
children ſhall learn of me to ſtand up and adore the God who made
and feeds us, nor ſhall our ſeats nor our conſciences upbraid us
with any appearances of indecency in our addreſſes to the living
God #.”
* It hath been ſuſpected that Sedentius reproves himſelf here without any juſt
reaſon, ſince our Saviour ſeated the multitude on the graſs before he bleſſed the
food; Luke ix. and john vi. and the apoſtles were ſitting at the Paſcal table when
Chriſt inſtituted the Lord’s-ſupper, and bleſſed the elements.
To this it may be replied, (1.) Who can ſay that our Saviour did not riſe and aſk
the bleſfing on the food, ſtanding, though the others might fit? (2) The Jewiſh
cuſtom and geſture at meals was ſomething between lying and ſitting, whereby it
might become much more inconvenient to have all the gueſts riſe up, and lie down
aſter thc ſood was ſet on the table, which muſt be very low, and near the ground,
and mere external geſtures are not ſo preciſely neceſſary in ſuch ſhort occaſional
aćts of worſhip, as to break in upon the common conveniencſes of life. This was
certainly the caſe when Chriſt fed the multitudes; for he ordered them to ſit down,
that they might all be diſpoſed into proper ranks, which could not ſo well have
been done while they were ſtanding, and might change their places. (3.) If it
could be proved that our Saviour himſelf, as well as the multitudes, ſat at bleſling the
food, this could only prove the law fulneſs of the geſture, but by no means the ne-
ceflity of it; becauſe ſtanding and kneeling are more frequently deſcribed in ſcrip-
ture as geſtures of prayer. - • * : * ,
It is certain, that ſtanding, kneeling, or proſtration, are natural tokens of reverence
and ſupplication, which ſitting is not ; Now when any of the natural geſtures of
reverence and ſupplication may be uſed with equal conveniency, it ſcems more
proper to uſe them, and to worſhip God with fleſh and ſpirit together, Whatever
MISCE L LANEO US THOUGHTS 327
XVIII.-Youth and Death.
“ Tener witulus relictà
“Matre, qui largis juvenescit herbis
“ In mea Vota :
“Fronte curvatos imitatus ignes
“Tertium Lunae referentis Orturn,
“Quà notam duxit niveus videri,
“ Cetera fulvus.”—HoRAT.
While we read theſe lines of Horace, wherein he deſcribes his
young yellow calf with the white creſcent in his forehead, while
he paints out the pretty brute in moſt agreeable verſe, one is ready
to feel a ſort of fond pity working in us, when we find that the
creature is deſtined to ſpeedy ſacrifice : The poet himſelf, who
devotes its blood to the altar, yet ſeems to dwell with a fort of
compaſſion and mournful, pleaſure on the deſcription of its beauty
and ſprightlineſs.
A milk-white mark its spreading front adorns,
Shaped like a moon of three days old :
The silver curve divides its budding horns,
And all besides is gold.
The pretty creature, wild in wanton play,
Now frisks about the flowry mead ;
Loose from the dam, it knows no grief to-day,
But must to-morrow bleed.
when I ſee the youth of either ſex arrived at that age wherein
nature is juſt riſen to its elegance and vigour, and when they begin
to ſhew themſelves to the world, my heart pities them, as ſo many
borderers upon the grave; yet moſt of them are utterly thoughtleſs
of dying. Little do they imagine in thoſe years of gaiety, mirth,
and madneſs, that they are treaſuring up vengeance to themſelves,
by their thoughtleſs rebellion againſt the power that made them.
Little do they think that their lives are every moment due to the
juſtice of God as a ſacrifice, each for their own iniquity Young
creatures, but bold ſinners | They are weaned from the nurſery,
they are got looſe from their parents' wing, and like the Roman
poet's calf, they vainly exult and riot in their new freedom; they
gad abroad in the wide world, wanton and Jayiſh in all the de-
lights which the vigour of depraved nature inſpires. They know
not how to bear the checks of piety, and the reſtraints of wiſdom,
nor will they endure the tendereſt admonitions of a parent or an
aged friend. They have no apprehenſion of the angel of death
near them, as though it was beyond the reach of his commiſſion or
the flight of his arrows to ſmite any of their ſtation or charaćter. In
the morning of nature they feel themſelves live, and they fancy’
it is immortality. *
Eſpecially if they are adorned with any peculiar charms of wit
or beauty, then the flatteries of the glaſs, and their own warm
imaginations, the compliments and careſſes of the company that
attend them, baniſh all that is ſolemn or ſerious : The inchantin
allurements that ſurround their ſenſes, render them deaf to all the
might be the Jewiſh cuſtom then, yet it is the conſtant cuſtom of our age now, to
pray ftanding or kneeling; and this has made fitting at prayer appeat much more
indecent. Now where natural ſigns of reverence join with the cuſtoms of the age
and country wherein we dwell, is it not much more proper to pay our addreſſes to
God in that poſture, by which both nature and cuſtom agree to expreſs reverence and
Jhonour; though for reaſons that are not obvious now, Chriſt might heretofore induige
a poſture which carries leſs appearance of reverence in it? sº
*
328 MISCE L L AN E O U S T H O U GHTS.
* \
warnings of God and conſcience, and thoughtleſs of every thing
but the gay ſucceſſions of pleaſure. The powers of animal life
reign in them without controul, and they forget there is a ſoul
within them, or a God above them, or a tribunal of judgment at
which they muſt be arraigned.
In the midſt of this flowry ſcene, Ameliſtus was ſeized with a
ſudden fever; in three days time it was heightened into a raging
delirium, which gave noiroom for any penitential refle&tions; and
thus in the bloom of nature, and full of the fins of his youth, he
was ſurpriſed into eternity: He ſeemed to be ſingled out from the
reſt of his wild aſſociates, and made a vićtim to death, and to
divine diſpleaſure. A loud alarm to ſecure finners, and a flaming
warning-piece to the companions of his guilt *
Our natural compaſſion drops ſome tears of humanity, on the
grave of ſuch a fine young gentleman; but the divine being that
made him, is not moved with thoſe prettineſſes of fleſh and #.
which engage our ſenſes, and melt out hearts to ſoftneſs. What
is a little roſe-coloured ſkin and well-ſet limbs, in the eyes of that
almighty Power that can create millions of ſuch beautiful engines
with his breath, and deſtroy them without loſs? Ten thouſand gay
worms and ſhining inſe&ts ariſe hourly at his command in a ſum-
mer’s day: But if an inſe&t or a worm affront its Maker, our own
reaſon would ſentence it to immediate deatlı.
Happy were ſuch a wretch as Ameliſtus, if he had been a mere
animal, and had nothing in him capable of immortality. Happy
had it been, if he were a worm or ſhining inſe&t, or in all reſpe&ts
Hike that pretty young brute, which the poet deſcribes; then the
term of his mortal life would have finiſhed his exiſtence: But the
fin of man, and the juſtice of God, demand the ſacrifice of a ſoul;
his rebellion aroſe againſt heaven; he affronted the infinite Ma-
jeſty of his Creator, and ſince he died without repentance, the
threatenings of the bible doom him to everlaſting puniſhment.
“Hear this, young ſinners, who forget God, left he tear you in
pieces, “and there be none to deliver you.”
XIX. —Babylon deſtroyed: Or, the 137th Pſalm tranſlated.
HAD Horace or Pindar written this Ode, it would have been the
endleſs admiration of the critic, and the perpetual labour of rival
tranſlators : but it is found in the ſcripture, and that gives a fort of
diſguſt to an age which verges too much toward infidelity. I could
wiſh the muſe of Mr. Pope would chooſe out ſome few of theſe
E. of ſacred pſalmody, which carry in them the more ſprightly
eauties of poeſy, and let the Engliſh nation know what a divine
poet ſat on the throne of Iſrael. He has taken Homer’s rhapſodies,
and turned them into fine verſe and agreeable entertainment; and
his admirable imitation of the Hebrew prophets, in his poem
called The Meſſiah, convinces us abundantly, how capable he is
of ſuch a ſervice. This particular Pſalm could not well be con-
verted into chriſtianity, and therefore it appears here in its Jewiſh
form : The vengeance denounced againſt Babylon, in the cloſe of
it, ſhall be executed, ſaid a great divine, upon antichriſtian Rome;
but he was perſuaded the Türks muſt do it, for Proteſtant hearts,
faid he, have too much compaſſion in them to imbrue their hands
in ſuch a bloody and terrible execution.
M ISCE L LAN E O US THOUGHTS,
329
t WHEN by the flowing brooks we ſat,
The brooks of Babylon the proud;
We thought on Zion's mournful ſtate,
And wept her woes and wail'd aloud.
2 Thoughtleſs of ev'ry chearful air
(For grief had all our harps unſtrung)
Our harps, negle&ted in deſpair,
And ſilent, on the willows hung.
3 Our foes, who made our land their ſpoil,
Our barbarous lords, with haughty
tongues,
Bid us forget our groans a-while,
And give a taſte of Zion's ſongs.
4 How ſhall we ſing in heathen lands
Our holy ſongs to ears profane P
Lord, ſhall our lips at their commands
Pronounce thy dreadful name in vain?
5 Forbid it heaven O vile abuſe !
Zion in duſt forbids it too :
XX. Epitaphium Monstri cujusdam,
Apud Anglos vulgo dict:
B I G O TRY,
Terrae & Tenebris mandati.
Autore diu incognito, viro ingenioſo & verè Aio
JOHANNE REYNOLDS.
1 * HICiacet (ſemperquejaceat!)
£6 Pietatis cadaver,
“Improbitatis corpus,
* Religionis larva,
“San&timoniae hoſtis & umbra,
“ Divini imago zeli, & peſtis,
“ Eccleſia ſimia fimul & lupus.
2 “ Monſtrum horrendum, informe, in-
gens, cui lumen ademptum.
“ Romae antiquae natum,
“ Novae in tutelam acceptum,
4. In caliginoſis Vaticani adytis,
“ Humano ſanguine & pulvere pyrio
“Nutritum, ſaginatum.
Aº
3.
“Hiſpanicae ditionis incola,
“ Gallicis deinde regionibus hoſpes
“Jamdudum gratiſfimis;
“ Veteris quidem, novigue orbis,
“ Humani generis & commodi cauſã
** Peregrinator affiduus,
4 * Linguarum utpote quarumcunque peri- 4
tuS2
“Sextus itidem utriuſque particeps.
** Mentium illuminator flammeus,
W 0 L. VII.
Shall hymns inſpired for ſacred uſe
Be ſung to pleaſe a ſcoffing crew
6 O ſet my tongue grow dry, and cleave
Faſt to my mouth in filence ſtill ;
Let ſome avenging pow'r bereave
My fingers of their tuneful ſkill.
7 If I thy ſacred rites profane,
O Salem, or thy duſt deſpiſe;
If I indulge one chearful ſtrain,
Till I ſhall ſee thy tow’rs ariſe.
8 'Twas Edom bid the conqu'ring foe,
“ Down with the tow’rs, and raiſe thy
<< walls tº
Requite her, Lord : But, Babel, know,
Thy guilt for fiercer vengeance calls.
9 As thou haſt ſpared nor ſex nor age,
Deaf to our infants dying groans,
May ſome bleſs'd hand, inſpir’d with rage,
Daſh thy young babes, and tinge the
ſtones.
XX. An Epitaph on BIGOTRY,
Translated from the Latin,
Which was written by the late/lious & ingenious
MR. JOHN REYNOLDS,
And inſerted in the Occaſional Paper,
Pol. III. Numb. 6.
1 HERE lies (and may it here for ever lie)
The carcaſe of dead piety,
Shadow of grace, ſubſtantial fin,
Religion’s maſk and gaudy dreſs
The form and foe of holineſs,
The image and the plague of zeal divine.
Its dwelling was the church; in double
fhape,
Half was a murdering wolf, and half a
mimic ape.
2 A monſter horrid to the fight,
Hideous, deform’d, and void of light;
'Twas born at Rome,
'Twas nurſ’d at home,
In the dark cloiſters of the Vatican;
Its lungs inſpir’d with heaving lies,
Its bulk well fatten’d to prodigious fize
With gun-powder and blood of man.
3 Ancient inhabitant of Spain,
And long in France a welcome gueſt;
Over the continent and main,
Over the old world and the new,
Mankind and money to purſue,
On dragons’ wings the harpy flew,
And gave its feet no reſt.
All languages the fury ſpake,
And did of either ſex partake:
Flaming enlightner of the mind,
And headlong leader of the blind,
T T
33O
MISC E L L AN E O US THOUGHTS.
** Acutiſſimis dubitantium dućtor,
“Quilaqueis, enfibus, incendiiſque,
« Reluctantium animarum catervas
** Feſtinas in caelum amandat,
“Celerrimus orbis converſor.
- “ Conſpirationum exitialium,
“ Verarum pariter ac ſimulatarum
“ (Mali revera machinarum infandi)
“Artifex dexterrimus.
5 “ Eccleſiae ſub nomine & cultu,
“Sub pelle ovina & vultu,
“Libertatis penitus eccleſiaſticae,
“Commercii penè civilis,
“Ac ſocietatis humamae
“ Indomitus vaſtator & praedo.
6 * Artibus politis, politiciſque,
“Critices nexibus logica'que ſtrophis
“Calamorum, linguaeque telis,
“Conciliorum, canonumque bom-
bardis,
“Caeteriſque gentis togatae armamentis
“ Bellator inſtructiſfimus,
7
“Cui furor, ac odium, ac nefas,
“Faſtuſque ac ſeculi amor,
“ Perjuria, piaeque fraudes,
« Truculenta partium ſtudia,
“Implicitze fidei, tyrannidiſque,
“Obſequii proinde paſſivi,
“Ignorantiae ac moriae encomia
« Comites fuerunt ſolennes.
3 “Cui nugae trica-gue, calendae,
“Quiſquiliae, dirae, exeguiaeque,
“Bullae minantes, & bruta fulmina,
“Vota ſacrilega, ac legendae,
“Jecur theologicum, biliſque
“ Aſpera acque acatra,
Oft has it dragg’d the doubtful tongue to
ſpeak,
While the pain’d conſcience left the truth
behind.
By gibbet, ſword and fire,
It made whole tribes of men expire;
And to the ſkies their groaning ghoſts it
hurl’d,
A ſwift converter of the world.
Dextrous in all the arts of blood :
Skill'd to contrive or counterfeit
Myſterious miſchief, plots of ſtate,
Thoſe murd’rous engines to deſtroy the
good.
The muse here tiring, begs the reader's
leave to release herself from the bonds
and labours of rhyme and meter, by a
mere imitation of the next thirty lines in
prose.
5 Under the name and habit of the church,
Uuder the countenance and clothing of a
ſheep,
It became the moſt ſavage and
rampant
Plunderer and waſter of human ſociety,
Made fearful inroads on all civil com-
merce,
And left religious liberty expiring,
6 A warrior well furniſh'd
With all arts politic and polite,
With the knotty embaraſſments of
criticiſm,
The hampering chains and ſubtleties of
logic; º
And the javelins of pen and tongue,
With the roaring ordinance of councils
and canons,
And all the artillery of the ſchools and
gown.
7 Fury, hatred and miſchief,
Love of this world, pride and diſdain,
With perjuries, falſehoods, and pious
frauds, -
And raging party-zeal,
Were its neceſſary and everlaſting atten-
dants. -
High encomiums and endleſs ap-
plauſe
Of guides infallible, and faith implicit,
Of hereditary and divine right,
Of unlimited power and paſſive obedience
To tyrant prieſts and kings,
With the immortal praiſe and merit
Of ſtupid ignorance, and blind ſubmiſſion,
Were heralds to prepare its way.
8 Trifles, and tricks, and ſolemn fooleries,
Legends and ſilly tales,
Old almanacks, and mouldy muſty relics,
Sweepings of ancient tombs,
Vows, pilgrimages, charms and conſecra,
tions,
MISCELL AN E O US THOUGHTS.
331
“Pompae theatrales, rituſque
<< Obſoleti ſimul & decentes,
* Cordi fuere & cibo.
9 * Ordinis ut plurimūm clericalis,
“Gregis potiflimúm Loyolitici,
* Congregationis practerea venerandae
De propaganda per orbem fide,
** Coccenatus antiſtes.
“Nobiliſimae inquiſitionis curiae,
(“Solertiſfimae haereticorum muſcipula:)
“Primaevus fundator, & praeſes.
“Ampliſſimo cardinalium conceſſui,
* Necnon ſančtiſſimo S. R. eccleſiae
“ Patri capitique.
* A ſecretioribus ſemper conſiliis.
10
| 1 “ Chriſtiani inſuper orbis totius
* Tam per orientales, quam occidentales
“ Mundi plagas
** Miſeré ſecum militantis
(“Et quid, quaeſo, dicendum ?)
“Anteſignanus ſemper triumphans.
12 “ Inſulae Britannicae extranels ab hoſtibus
** Pelagi monibus, necnon ab na-
vium
“Propugnaculis bene munitae,
Bonis praeterea domeſticis,
“Quă ſacris, quá civilibus
“ (Bona fi tandem ſua noverit)
Rites obſolete, and novel ceremonies
Both decent and indecent,
Monkiſh vows, and ſuperſtitious auſteri-
ties,
With words of ſacerdotal abſolution,
And ſacerdotal vengeance,
Squibs, crackers, excommunications,
curſes, -
Roaring bulls, and vain thunders,
Mixt up with prieſtly choler, bitter and
black,
Were its delicious food.
(Now Metre and Rhyme proceed.)
9 A purple prelate, choſen to preſide
Over the whole Ignatian drove,
And all the clergy-tribes beſide,
All but the ſacred few that mix their
zeal with love.
In every different ſe&t ’twas known,
It made the caſſock and the cowlits own,
Now ſtalk’d in formal cloak, now flut-
ter'd in the gown.
At what dark hour ſo’er
The curſ divan at Rome were met,
Catholic faith to propagate,
This monſter fill'd the chair.
The conclave dreſt in bonnets red, .
With three-crown'd tyrant at their
head,
Made it their privy-counſellor.
The inquiſition court (a bloody crew,
Artful to ſet the ſolemn trap
That lets no heretic eſcape)
Owns it her preſident and founder too.
10
11 Oft as the church in eaſt or weſtern
lands
Riſing againſt herſelf in arms,
In her own blood imbru’d her hands,
This chief led on th” unnatural war,
Or did the bloody ſtandards bear,
Or ſound the fierce alarms;
Vićtorious ſtill. (And what can more
be ſaid
Of all the living warriors, or the heroes
dead P)
12 Britain, a land well ſtor'd with every
good,
That nature, law, religion gives;
A land where ſacred freedom thrives:
Bleſt iſle ! if her own weal ſhe under-
ſtood |
Her ſons, immur'd with guardian ocean,
ſleep,
And caſtles floating on the deep,
Fenc'd from all foreign foes, O ſhame !
O ſin
Her ſons had let this baleful miſchief in;
This helliſh fury, who with flatt’ring
breath
Did firſt divide, and then devour,
' T T 2
332 MISCE LL ANEO US THOUGHTS.
** Omnium fortunatiſfimae And made wild waſte where-e’er ſhe
(“Proh dolor! Proh pudor 1), ſpread her pow'r,
** Inteſtinus diviſor & helluo. Behold ſhe meets her fatal hour
And lies inchain’d in death.
13 * I fuge viator, malignum 13 Shout at thy grave, O traveller;
“ Hujuſce ſepulehri vaporem . Triumphant joys that reach the ſkies
** Laetare, feſtina, & ora Are here the juſteſt obſequies :
* Ne ſphingi adeo nefandae Shout thrice ; then flee afar
“ Ullus in aevum The poiſºnous ſtreams and ſtenches of
* Reſurreótionis concedatur locus.” the ſepulchre ;
Go, turn thy face to heaven, and
ray3
That ſuch a hateful monſter never may
Obtain a reſurre&tion-day.
XXL-The Death of Lazarus.
WHAT a wondrous difference there is betwixt the ſoul and the
body of a poor diſtreſſed dying chriſtian His fleſh perhaps with
Lazarus is full of diſeaſes, and in a few moments time it lies dead
upon the dunghill ; a noiſome carcaſe ! an unlovely and offenſive
ſight ! Then, as though it were unworthy for the earth to bear it,
it is thrown under ground to rot in darkneſs, as a companion and
food for worms: But his ſoul (like one of the lamps of Gideon
ſhining out at midnight from a broken pitcher) appears immedia-
tely in its native brightneſs and beauty,’ as a creature born of hea-
ven, and a-kin to God; it is taken up as an honourable burden for
the wings of angels: it is ſwiftly conveyed above the heavens,
and made a companion for all the ſons of God in glory. Luke xvi.
20, 22, Judges vii. 16, 19.
Let us take a diſtinét review of each of theſe different circum-
ſtances of the fleſh and ſpirit, and ſet them in a juſt light and in
due oppoſition.
The body with all its bones and nerves lies dead and moveleſs,
a demoliſhed priſon and broken fetters ; the ſoul all life and vigour
. priſoner releaſed from all its chains, and exulting in glorious li-
erty.
†e body an unworthy load of earth ; the ſoul a burden fit
for an angel’s wing. * .*
The body thrown under ground, and hid in darkneſs; the ſoul
riſing above the ſkies, and ſhining there in garments of light.
The body the entertainment and the contempt of worms; the
ſoul proper company for Chriſt and his ſaints.
Was it not a ſtroke of divine love that demoliſhed the priſon-
houſe, and releaſed the captive ; that broke the dark earthen
pitcher, and bid the lamp appear and ſhine *
XXII.—An Hymn to Chriſt Jeſus, the Eternal Life.
1 WHERE ſhall the tribes of Adam find 'Twas but a poor relief ſhe gave
The ſov’reign good to fill the mind P Againſt the terrors of the grave.
Ye ſons of moral wiſdom, ſhow
The ſpring whence living waters flow. 4 Jeſus, our kinſman, and our God,
Array’d in majeſty and blood,
2 Say, will the Stoic's flinty heart Thou art our life ; our ſouls in thee
Melt, and this cordial juice impart? Poſſeſs a full felicity.
Could Plato find theſe bliſsful ſtreams,
Amongſt his raptures and his dreams 5 All our immortal hopes are laid
In thee our ſurety and our head;
3 In vain I aſk; for nature’s power Thy croſs, thy cradle, and thy throne,
Extends but to this mortal hour: Are big with glories yet unknown.
MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTss 333
6 Let Atheiſts ſcoff, and Jews blaſpheme | 7 But let my ſoul for ever lie
Th’ eternal life, and Jeſu's name 5 Beneath the bleſſings of thine eye;
A word of his almighty breath *Tis heav'n on earth, 'tis heav'n above,
Dooms the rebellious world to death. To ſee thy face, to taſte thy love.
YXIII.-Diſtant Thunder.
WHEN we hear the thunder rumbling in ſome diſtant quarter
of the heavens, we ſit calm and ſecure amidſt our buſineſs or diver-
ſions, we feel no terrors about us, and apprehend no danger.
When we ſee the ſlender ſtreaks of lightning play afar off in the
horizon of an evening ſky, we look on and amuſe ourſelves as with
an agreeable ſpectacle, without the leaſt fear or concern. But, lo,
the dark cloud riſes by degrees, it grows black as night, and big with
tempeſt; it ſpreads as it riſes to the mid-heaven, and now hangs
direćtly over us; the flaſhes of lightning grow broad and ſtrong,
and like ſheets of ruddy fire, they blaze terribly all round the
hemiſphere. We bar the doors, and windows, and every
avenue of light, but we bar them all in vain ; the flames break in
at every cranny, and threaten ſwift, deſtrućtion. The thunder
follows, burſting from the cloud with ſudden and tremendous
claſhes; the voice of the Lord is redoubled with violence, and
overwhelms us with terror; it rattles over our heads, as though
the whole houſe were broken down at once with a ſtroke from
heaven, and were tumbling on us amain to bury us in the ruins.
Happy the ſoul whoſe hope in his God compoſes all his paſſions
.# theſe ſtorms of nature, and renders his whole deportment
peaceful and ſerene amidſt the frights and hurries of weak ſpirits
and unfortified minds.
What leſſon ſhall we derive from ſuch a ſcene as this? Methinks
I ſee here in what manner the terrors of the book of God and the
threatnings of divine vengeance are received and entertained by
fecure finners. Theſe threatnings appear to them like ſtreaks of
lightning afar off: The moſt dreadful predićtions of the fury of God
ſound in their ears but like the feeble murmurs of the ſky, and far
diſtant thunder. The poor among mankind go on to purſue their
labours of life, and the rich their vain amuſements ; they have no
fear about theſe future ſtorms afar off, nor any ſolicitude to avoid
them. But the hour is haſtening when every threatning in the bible
ſhall appear to be the voice of God, and his power ſhall employall the
terrible things in the creation for the accompliſhment of his dread-
ful word. The wings of time bring onward the remote tempeſt:
Theſe dark clouds unite and grow big with divine and eternal ven-
geance ; they riſe high, they hang over the nations, and are juſt
ready to be diſcharged on the head of impenitents. The God of
thunder will roar from heaven, and cauſe his voice to be heard
through the foundations of the earth, and to the very centre of hell.
The ſpirit of the haughtieſt finner ſhall tremble with unknown aſ-
toniſhment, and the man of mockery ſhall quiver to his very ſoul.
The lightnings of God ſhall kindle the world into one vaſt confla-
gration ; the earth, with all its foreſts and cities, ſhall make a
dreadful blaze ; the enemies of the Lord ſhall be fuel for this de-
vouring fire, and a painful burning ſhall be kindled in the con-
ſciences, which innumerable ages ſhall not extinguiſh. “Who
can dwell with this devouring fire Who can endure theſe everlaſt-
ing burnings f"
334 MISCE LL AN E OUS THOUGHTS.
Bleſſed ſouls, who in a wiſe and happy hour have heard theſe
divine warnings, who ſtood in awe of theſe diſtant thunders, and
reverenced and obeyed the voice of the Lord in them. Bleſſed
fouls, who beheld the flaſhes of the wrath of God while they were
yet afar off; who ſaw them kindling terribly in the threatnings of
the broken law, and fled for refuge to the hope ſet before them in
the goſpel ! they are divinely ſecured amidſt the promiſes of the
covenant of grace, from all the approaches of the fiery indignation.
Jeſus has ſprinkled his own blood upon them ; a ſovereign and
preventive remedy againſt theſe terrors, a ſure and eternal defence
againſt the power of the deſtroying angel, and the burning tempeſt.
“Their feet ſhall ſtand on high, their habitation is a munition of
rocks;” they ſhall live ſecure, and rejoice in their God annidſt the
ruins of the lower creation.
David’s Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan ; 2 Sam, i. 19, &c.
THE Jews were acquainted with ſeveral arts and ſciences long
ere the Romans became a people, or the Greeks were known among
the nations. Though Moſes might learn ſome of them in his
Egyptian education, yet perhaps others were taught by God him-
feſf amidſt their travels in the wilderneſs, when they formed ſuch
a wonderful portable fºrućture as the tabernacle, and wrought ſuch
garments of exquiſite glory and beauty to adorn the high-prieſt in
his facred miniſtrations. Nor is it unlikely that Moſes introduced
among them the art of verſe ; for the moſt ancient poetical compo-
ſures which are known in the world, are the xvth chapter of Exodus,
where he triumphs over Pharoah and his army, the xcth Pſalm,
where he deſcribes the frailty and miſery of human life, and the
xxxiid of Deuteronomy, where he leaves behind him a noble divine
: at his death, for the perpetual memory of God and his won-
€I'S, -
The nextremarkable inſtance we have of this kind, are the writings
of David, the ſweet pſalmiſt of Iſrael ; but even David could never
be ſuppoſed to borrow any thing from the greeks, when Homer,
the father of their verſe, was ſuppoſed to be but a contemporary
with Solomon the ſon of David. If the greeks had been acquainted
with the ſongs of Moſes, which I have mentioned, or the Romans
had ever known the odes of David, and amongſt the reſt this admi-
rable elegy, they would never have ſpoke of the Jews with ſo much
contempt, as a rude and barbarous people ; at leaſt I am perſuaded
their poets would have conceived a much better opinion of them,
when they found them ſo far exceed any thing that their own na-
tions had ever produced. I believe I might fairly challenge all
the antiquity of the heathens to preſent us with an ode of more
beautiful ſentiments, and greater elegance, than this lamentation
over Saul and Jonathan. It is rehearſed in the ſcripture indeed,
but perhaps not written by inſpiration, for there is ſcarce anything
of God or religion in it. David the mere man was a ſublime poet,
and God made him a prophet.
I have ſeen this piece ſeveral times in an Engliſh dreſs, but none
of them have given me any more ſatisfaction, than perhaps I ſhall
i. to thoſe who read mine. It was a mere admiration of this He-
rew ſong that ſet my imagination at work, in this attempt to imitate.
I ſhall here firſt tranſcribe it from the ſcripture, though it is
impoſſible that it ſhould appear at this diſtance of time, and in our
language, with half the luſtre in which it ſtood in that age and na-
tion when it was written.
MISCE L LANEO US THOUGHTS. 335
2 Sam. i. 17. “And David lamented with this lamentation over
Saul, and over Jonathan his ſon.
19. The beauty of Iſrael is ſlain upon thy high places: How are
the mighty fallen I
20, Tell it not in Gath, publiſh it not in the ſtreets of Aſkelon,
left the daughters of the Philiſtines rejoice, leſt the daughters of
the uncircumciſed triumph.
21. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let
there be rain upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the ſhield
of the mighty is vilely caſt away, the ſhield of Saul, as though he
had not been anointed with oil. * -
22. From the blood of the ſlain, from the fat of the mighty, the
bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the ſword of Saul returned
not empty.
23. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleaſant in their lives, and
in their death they were not divided; they were ſwifter than
eagles, they were ſtronger than lions.
24. Ye daughters of Iſrael, weep over Saul, who clothed you
in ſcarlet with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon
your apparel.
25. How are the mighty fallen in the midſt of the battle O
Jonathan, thou wert ſlain in thy high places !
26. I am diſtreſſed for thee, my brother Jonathan ; very plea-
fant haſt thou been unto me; thy love to me was wonderful, paſ-
ſing the love of women.
º it. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war pe—
riſhed i’’
Paraphraſed thus.
i UNHAPPY day ! diſtreſſing ſight ! || 4 The ſword of Saul had ne'er till now
- Iſrael, the land of heav’n’s de- Awoke to war in vain,
light, Nor Jonathan withdrawn his bow,
How is thy ſtrength, thy beauty fled! Without an army ſlain.
On the high places of the fight Where truth and honour mark'd their
Behold thy princes fall’n, thy ſons of vic- way, *
tory dead. Not eagles ſwifter to their prey,
- * , Nor lions ſtrong or bold as they.
2. Ne'er be it told in Gath, nor known
Among the ſtreets of Aſkelon : 5 Graceful in arms and great in war
How will Philliſtia's youth rejoice Were ſonathan and Saul,
And triumph in our ſhame, Pleaſant in life, and manly fair;
And girls with weak unhallowed Nor death divides the royal pair,
voice And thouſands ſhare their fall.
Chant the diſhonours of the hebrew name! | Daughters of Iſrael, meltyour eyes
t To ſofter tears and ſwell-your fighs,
3 Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew Diſrob'd, diſgrac'd your monarch
Nor fruitful ſhow’rs deſcend on you : | lies, -
'Curſe on your fields thro' all the On the bleak mountains pale and
year, cold :
No flow'ry bleſfings there appear, He made rich ſcarlet your array;
Nor golden ranks of harveſt ſtand Bright were your looks, your boſoms
To grace the altar, or to feed the land. gay
'Twas in thoſe inauſpicious fields With gems of regal gift, and interwoven
Judean heroes loſt their ſhields: gold,
'Twas there (ah baſe reproach and ſcan-
- dal of the day!) 6 How are the princes ſunk in death !
Thy ſhield, O Saul, was caſt away, Fall’n on the ſhameful ground !
As tº the prophet's horn had never ſhed|| There my own Jonathan reſign'd his
. It sacred odouis on thy head. breath :
|
336 MISCELLANEOUS THo UGHTs.
On the high places where he ſtood, Iſ To name my joys, awakes my .
He loſt his honours and his blood ; pain ;
Oh execrable arm that gave the mortal The dying friend runs cold through every
wound ! vein.
My Jonathan my dying friend,
My Jonathan, my better part, How thick my woes ariſe Where will
My º: and (that dearer name) my my ſorrows end ?
riend, º
I feel the mortal wound that reach'd thy || 8 | Unhappy day ! diſtreſſing fight !
heart, r Iſrael, the land of heaven's delight,
And here my comforts end. How are thy princes fall'n, thy ſons of
How pleaſant was thy love to me ! vićtory ſlain :
Amazing paſſion, ſtrong and free ; The broken bow, the ſhiver'd ſpear,
No dangers could thy ſteady ſoul remove : | With all the ſully’d pomp of war,
Not the ſoft virgin loves to that degree, In rude confuſion ſpread,
Norman to that degree does the ſoft virgin Promiſcuous lie among the dead,
love. A lamentable rout o'er all the inglorious
'li plain.
XXV.-The Skeleton.
YOUNG Tramarinus was juſt returned from his travels abroad,
when he invited his uncle to his lodgings on a Saturday noon ; his
uncle was a ſubſtantial trader in the city, a man of ſincere goodneſs,
and of no contemptible underſtanding; Crato was his name. The
nephew firſt entertained him with learned talk of his travels.
The converſation happened to fall upon anatomy, and ſpeaking of
the hand, he mentioned the carpus and metacarpus, the joining of
the bones by many hard names, and the perioſteon which covered
them, together with other greek words which Crato had never
heard of Then he ſhewed him a few curioſities he had colle&ted ;
but anatomy being the ſubjećt of their chief diſcourſe, he dwelt
much upon the ſkeletons of a hare and a partridge ; “Obſerve, ſir,
ſaid he, how firm the joints how nicely the parts are fitted to each.
other | How proper this limb for flight, and that for running ! and
how wonderful the whole compoſition 1’’ Crato took due notice
of the moſt conſiderable parts of thoſe animals, and obſerved the
chief remarks that his nephew made ; but being detained there two
hours without a dinner, aſſuming a pleaſant air, he ſaid, “ I wiſh
theſe rarities had fleſh upon them, for I begin to be hungry,
nephew, and you entertain me with nothing but bones.” Then he
carried home his nephew to dinner with him, and diſmiſſed the
Teſt.
J The next morning his kinſman Tramarinus deſired him to hear
a ſermon at ſuch a church, for I am informed, ſaid he, the preacher
will be my old ſchoolmaſter. It was Agrotes, a country miniſter,
who was to fulfil the ſervice of the day, an honeſt, a pious, and an
uſeful man, who fed his own people weekly with divine food,
compoſed his ſermons with a mixture of the inſtructive and the
pathetic, and delivered them with no improper elocution. Where
any difficulty appeared in the text or the ſubjećt, he uſually ex-
plained it in a very natural and eaſy manner, to the underſtanding
of all his pariſhioners; he paraphraſed on the moſt affecting parts
largely, that he might ſtrike the conſcience of every hearer, and
had been the happy means of the ſalvation of many : But he
thought thus with himſelf, “When I preach at London, I have
hearers of a wifer rank, I muſt feed them with learning and ſub-
ſtantial ſenſe, and muſt have my diſcourſe ſet thick with diſtinčt
ſentences and new matter.” He contrived therefore to abridge
his compoſures, and to throw four of his country ſermons together
MISCELLANEous THOUGHTs. 337
to make up one for the city, and yet he could not forbear to add a
little greek in the beginning: He told the auditors how the text
was to be explained, he ſet forth the analyſis of the words in
order, ſhewed the hoti and the dioti, (that is, that it was fo, and .
why it was ſo) with much learned criticiſm (all which he wiſely left
out in the country ;) then he pronounced the doćtrine diſtinétly,
and filled up the reſt of the hour with the mere rehearſal of the
general and ſpecial heads: But he omitted all the amplification
which made his performances in the country ſo clear and ſo intel-
ligible, ſo warm and affecting. In ſhort, it was the mere joints and
carcaſe of a long compoſure, and contained above forty branches
in it. The hearers had no time to conſider or refle&t on the good
things which were ſpoken, or apply them to their own conſciences;
the preacher hurried their attention ſo faſt onward to new matters,
that they could make no uſe of any thing he ſaid while he ſpoke it,
nor had they a moment for refle&tion, in order to fix it in their me-
mories, and improve by it at home.
The young gentleman was ſomewhat out of countenance when
the ſermon was done, for he miſſed all that life and ſpirit, that
pathetic amplification which impreſſed his conſcience when he was
but a ſchool-boy : However he put the beſt face upon it, and began
to commend the performance, “Was it not, ſaid he, fir, a ſub-
ftantial diſcourſe How well conneéted were all the reaſons 2
how ſtrong the inferences, and what a variety and number of
them " It is true, ſaid the uncle, but yet methinks I want food here,
and I find nothing but bones again. I could not have thought,
nephew, you would have treated me two days together juſt alike ;
yeſterday at home, and to-day at church, the firſt courſe was greek,
and all the reſt mere ſkeleton.
XXVI.--Words without Spirit.
EMERA was much diſpleaſed with her maid-ſervants for ſome
pieces of croſs ill condućt in domeſtic affairs. The occaſion of her
diſpleaſure was great and juſt, but ſhe had not the ſpirit of reproof.
Criton, the partner of her life, happening then to be in his cloſet,
ſhe went up and made her complaints there ; he entreated her to
excuſe him from the economy of the kitchen and the parlour: It
was all entirely under her dominion, and if her maids were ſo cul-
pable, ſhe muſt reprove them ſharply; “Alas, ſaid ſhe, I cannot
chide ; however to ſhew my reſentment, if you will write down
a chiding, I will go immediately and read it to them.” This is no
fable, but true hiſtory of an occurrence in a family : Now what
better improvement can be made of it, than to make a parable like
it for the ſervice of the church.
Leśtorius is a pious man, and worthy miniſter in a country pariſh;
his diſcourſes are well formed, his ſentiments on almoſt every
ſubjećt are juſt and proper, his ſtyle is modern and not unpolité,
not does he utterly negle&t the paſſions in the turn of his compoſures:
Yet I cannot call him a good preacher, for he does not only uſe
his written notes to ſecure his method, and to relieve his memory,
which is a very proper and uſeful praćtice, but he ſcarce ever takes
his eye off from his book to addreſs himſelf with life and ſpirit to
the people : For this reaſon, many of his hearers fall aſleep; the
reſt of them ſit from January to December ; regardleſs and un-
concerned : An air of indolence reigns through the faces of his
VO L. VII, ^ U U
*.
338 M ISC E L LAN E O US THOUGHTS.
auditory, as if it were a matter of no importance, or not addreſſed
to them, and his miniſtrations have little power or ſucceſs.
In his laſt ſermon he had an uſe of reproof for ſome vices which
were praćtiſed in a public and ſhameleſs manner in his pariſh, and
as the apoſtle required Timothy to reprove ſuch finners before all,
fo he ſuppoſed that theſe fins, at leaſt, ought not to eſcape a public
rebuke. The paragraph was well drawn up, and indeed it was
animated with ſome juſt and awful ſeverities of language ; yet he
had not courage enough to chide the guilty, hor to animate his
voice with any juſt degree of zeal. However, the good man did his
beſt, he went into the pulpit and read them a chiding. . .
His condućt is juſt the ſame when he deſigns his addreſs in his
paper to any of the ſofter paſſions ; for by the coldneſs of his pro-
nunciation, and keeping his eye ever fixed on his notes, he makes
very little impreſſion on his hearers. When he ſhould awaken
ſenſeleſs and obſtinate ſinners, and pluck them as brands out of
the burning, he only reads to them out of his book ſome words of
pity, or perhaps a uſe of terror; and if he would lament over their
impenitence and their approaching ruin, he can do no more than
read them a chapter of Lamentation.
Since there are ſo many of the kindred of Leótorius in our nation,
it is no wonder that ſome of them ariſe to vindicate the family and
their pračtice. Do not the Engliſh ſermons, ſay they, exceed thoſe
of our nations, becauſe they are compoſed with ſo much juſtneſs
and accuracy, and by careful reading, they are delivered with great
exactneſs to the people, without truſting one ſentence to the frailty
of the memory, or the warmth of ſudden imagination ?
I am ſure it may be replied, that if the Engliſh ſermons exceed
thoſe of our neighbours, the Engliſh preachers would exceed them-
ſelves, if they would learn the art of reading by the glance of an
eye, ſo as never to interrupt the force of their argument, nor the
vivacity and pathos of their pronunciation ; or if they made them-
ſelves, ſo much maſters of what they had written, and delivered
it with ſuch life and ſpirit, ſuch freedom and fervency, as though
it came all freſh from the head and the heart. It is by this art
of pronouncing, as well as by a warm compoſure, that ſome of the
French preachers reign over their aſſemblies, like a Cicero or a
Demoſthenes of old, afīd that with ſuch ſuperior dignity and power,
as is ſeldom ſeen now-a-days in an Engliſh audience, whatſoever
eſteem may be paid to our writings. -
A paper with the moſt pathetic lines written upon it, has no fear
nor hope, no zeal or compaſſion ; it is conſcious of no deſign, nor
has any ſolicitude for the ſucceſs ; and a mere reader, who coldly
tells the people what his paper ſays, ſeems to be as void of all
theſe neceſſary qualifications, as his paper is.
XXVII.-The Church-yard.
WHEN I enter into a church-yard, I love to converſe with the
dead. See how thick the hillocks of mortality ariſe all around me,
each of them a monument of death, and the covering of a ſon or
daughter of Adam. Perhaps a thouſand or ten thouſand pieces of
human nature, heaps upon heaps, lie buried in this ſpot of ground;
it is the old repoſitory of the inhabitants of the neighbouring town;
a collection of the ruins of many ages, and the rubbiſh of twenty
generations.
I ſay within myſelf, What a multitude of human beings, noble
MISCE LL AN E O US THOUGHTS, 339
creatures, are here reduced to duſt God has broken his own beſt
workmanſhip to pieces, and demoliſhed by thouſands the fineſt
earthly ſtructures of his own building. Death has entered in, and
reigned over this town for many ſucceſſive centuries : it had its
commiſſion from God, and it has devoured multitudes of men.
Should a ſtranger make the enquiry which is expreſſed ; Deut.
xxix. 25. “Wherefore has the Lord done thus to the work of his
own hands What meaneth the heat of this great anger ?”. The an-
ſwer is ready, verſe 25, &c. “Becauſe they have ſinned, they have
forſaken the covenant of the Lord God, therefore the Lord has
rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great
indignation, and hath caſt them into another land, even the land of
corruption and darkneſs, as it is at this day.”
But have not other towns, cities and villages their church-yards
too P. My, thoughts take the hint, and fly abroad through all the
burying-places of the nations. What millions of mankind lie un-
der the ground in urns, or mingled with common clay Every an-
cient town and city in the world has burnt or buried all its inhabi-
tants more than thirty times over : What wide ſpreading ſlaughter,
what lamentable deſolation, has death made among the children of
men But the vengeance is juſt in all ; each of them are ſinners;
“ and the anger of God hath kindled againſt them to bring upon
them the firſt curſe that is written in his book, “In the day that
thou ſinneſt thou ſhalt ſurely die ;” Gen. ii. 17. -
Go to the church-vard then, O ſinful and thoughtleſs mortal; go
learn from every tombſtone and every riſing hillock, that the wages
of ſin is death. Learn in ſilence among the dead that leſſon which
infinitely concerns all the living ; nor let thy heart be ever at reſt
till thou art acquainted with Jeſus, who is the reſurrečtion and the
life. º
XXVIII.--To a Painter reſtoring an Old Pićlure.
SIR, • !
WHEN you take a review of the former labours of your pencil,
and retouch the features of Idalio with ſo ſkilful a hand, you re-
move the brown veil which rolling years have ſpread over them,
and brighten all the piece into its early form and lovelineſs. There
riſes a freſh vigour upon the looks, and the ſpirit of the poet is in-
fuſed again into the image of our aged friend. We ſee and won-
der how the eyes reſume their youth and fire; what a genius glows
in the countenance ; and new light and life are ſcattered over all
. ſhadow of the man, who himſelf is haſting to death and dark-
Ilê1S, -
O could you renew all the living originals, and recover them
from the deformations and diſgraces of time, as eaſily as your pen-
cil calls their portraits back again from age, you would be the firſt
man in the univerſe for wealth and fame. Even the groſieſt ſen-
ſualiſt, who is ſtrongly attached to his cups and his amours, would
relinquiſh them both to make his way to your hand, and offer all the
remnant of his patrimony for a caſt of your favour: Aurato, the
decrepid miſer, would bring his mines of gold, and lay them at your
foot ; while his daughter Quadrilla, in her fortieth year, throws
down her cards in haſte to increaſe the crowd at your door, and in-
treat the bleſfings of your art.
But nature, alas ! hath fixed the limits of youth, beauty, and
U U 2
340 MISC ELLANEOUS THOUGHTS.
vigour; narrow limits indeed! and when once paſſed, they are un-
repaſſable. The broken lines of an ancient painting may be re-
united and grow ſtrong, the features may riſe round and elevated,
and the colours glow again with ſprightly youth; but our real form
grows cold and pale, it ſinks, it flattens, it withers into wrinkles ;
the decay is reſiſtleſs and perpetual, and recovery lies beyond the
reach of hope. This ſhadow of Idalio, touched by your pencil,
lives again, and will ſee another age; but the ſubſtance dies daily,
and is ready to drop into the duſt.
Tc this point of mortality, ſince it is certain and inevitable, let
us often direét our eyes ; let our ſcattered thoughts be recolle&ted
from all their wanderings, and M. a daily viſit to death. Acquaint-
ance with it in the light of chriſtianity will diſpel its darkeſt terrors.
And ſince Idalio and Apelles, poets and painters, with all their
ſprightly airs, are borne away with the reſt of mankind by the
fweeping torrent of time, let us hold the period of life ever in our
view, let us all keep our ſpirits awake, and guard againſt a ſurpriſe.
O may your ſoul and mine never ſtart back from the gloomy gate
which opens a paſſage into the world of ſpirits . We know we
muſt leave our fleſh behind us in the grave; and there let it lie till
it hath finiſhed the time of its appointed purification ; let it lie and
refine from all the dregs of ſin and ſenſual impurities; let it wait
for the beams of the laſt morning, and ſalute the dawn of the great
riſing-day. Glorious and ſurpriſing day indeed, for the reſtoration
of all the originals of mankind, when paintings and ſhadows ſhall
be no more | Bleſſed hour, when our duſt, at the creating call of
heaven, ſhall ſtart up into man ; it ſhall glow with new life and im-
mortal colours, ſuch as nature in her gayeſt ſcenes hath never diſ-
played ; ſuch as the dreams of poets were neverable to repreſent,
nor the pallet of Titian ever knew.
XXIX. —On the Sight of 2ween Mary, in the Year 1694.
I I Saw th’ illuſtrious form, I ſaw 6 Britain beholds her queen with pride,
• * Beauty that gave the nations law : . And mighty William at her ſide
Her eyes, like mercy on a throne, Gracing the throne, while at their feet
ln condeſcending grandeur ſhone. With humble joy three nations meet.
2 That blooming face how lovely fair 7 Secure of empire, ſhe might lay ~
‘Phath nature mix’d her wonders there ! Her crown, her robes, and ſtate away,
The roſy morn ſuch luſtre ſhows And 'midſt ten thouſand nymphs be ſeen:
'Glamicing along the Scythian ſnows. Her beauty would proclaim the queen.
3 Her ſhape, her motion, and her mien, Ehanorthoffs.
All heav'nly; ſuch aie angels ſeen, 8 Her guardian angel heard my ſong,
When the bright viſion grows intenſe, Fond man, he cry’d, forbear to wrong
And fancy aids our feebler ſenſe. My lovely charge. So vulgar eyes
- - Gaze at the ſtars, and praiſe the ſkies.
4. Earth’s proudeſt idols dare not vie N.
With ſuch ſuperior majeſty : 9 Rudely they praiſe, who dwell below,
A kindling vapour might as ſoon And heav'n's true glories never know
Riſe from the bogs, and mate the Where ſtars and planets are no more 9
moon., Than pebbles ſcatter'd on the floor.
5 I’ll call no Raphael from his reſt: 1o So, where celeſtial virtues join'd
Such charms can never be expreſt: Form an incomparable mind,
Pencil and paint were never made Crowns, ſceptres, beauties, charms,
To draw pure light without a ſhade. and air, y
Stand but as ſhining ſervants there.
MISCELLANEO US THOUGHTS. 341
XXX-On the Effigies of his Royal Highneſs George, late Prince of
Denmark, and Lord High Admiral of Great-Britain, made in War,
and feated at a Banquet near the Effigies of her late Majeſty 2ween
Anné.
All happily performed in a very near Imitation of the Life, by Chryſis. 1705.
SO look'd the hero, coming from the board
Of naval counsels, and put off his sword.
So sat the Prince, when with a smiling air
He relish’d life, and pleas'd his Sovereign Fair,
Surprising formſ scarce with a softer mien
Did his first love address his future Queen.
Publish the wonder, fame.* But O ! forbear
T’approach the palace and the royal ear,
Lest her impatient love and wishing eye
Seek the dear image, gaze, and mourn and die.
Or stay: The royal mourner will believe
Her George restor’d, and so forget to grieve.
What cannot Chrysis do 2. Those artful hands
Shall raise the hero : Lo, in arms he stands:
Fairbournt and Leak+ submissive shall espy
War on his brow, and orders in his eye,
Auspicious, just, and wise: The fleet obeys,
And the French pirates flee the British seas.
XXXI.—To Velina, on the Death of ſeveral young Children.
I HAVE a comely fruit-tree in the ſummer ſeaſon, with the
branches of it promiſing plenteous fruit; the ſtock was ſurrounded
with ſeven or eight little ſhoots of different ſizes, that grew up from
the root at a ſmall diſtance, and ſeemed to compoſe a beautiful de-
fence and ornament for the mother tree : But the gardener, who
eſpied their growth, knew the danger; he cut down thoſe tender
ſuckers one after another, and laid them in the duſt. I pitied them
in Iny heart, and ſaid, “How pretty were theſe young ſtandards 1
How much like their parent How elegantly clothed with the rai-
ment of ſummer And each of them might have grown to a fruit-
ful tree:” But they ſtood ſo near as to endanger the ſtock; they
drew away the ſap, the heart and ſtrength of it, ſo far as to injure
the fruit, and darken the hopeful proſpect of autumn. The pruning-
knife appeared unkind indeed, but the gardener was wiſe; for the
tree flouriſhed more ſenſibly, the fruit quickly grew fair and large,
and the ingathering at laſt was plenteous and joyful. -
Will you give me leave, Velina, to perſuade you into this para-
ble? Shall I compare you to this tree in the garden of God? Your
agreeable qualifications ſeem to promiſe various fruits, of faith, of
love, of univerſal holineſs and ſervice: You have had many of
theſe young ſuckers ſpringing up around you; they ſtood awhile
your ſweet ornaments and your joy, and each of them, might have
grown up to a perfection of likeneſs, and each might have become
a parent-tree: But ſay, did they never draw your heart off from
God? Did you never feel them ſtealing any of thoſe ſeaſons of
devotion, or thoſe warm affections that were firſt and ſupremely
due to him that made you ? Did they not ſtand a little too near
the ſoul? And when they have been cut off ſucceſſively, and laid
* This poem was written juſt after prince George's death.
* + Two Britiſh admirals,
342 M ISC E L f, AN E O US THQ U GHTS.
one after another in the duſt, have you not found your heart, run-
ning out more toward God, and living more perpetually upon him
Are you not now devoting yourſelf more entirely to God every
day, ſince the laſt was taken away Are you not aiming at ſome
gréater fruitfulneſs and ſervice than in times paſt If ſo, then
repine not at the pruning-knife; but adore the condućt of the
heavenly huſbandman, and ſay, “All his ways are wiſdom and
mercy.” *
But I have not yet done with my parable.
When the granary was well ſtored with excellent fruit, and be-
fore winter came upon the tree, the gardener took it up by the
roots, and it appeared as dead. But his deſign was not to deſtroy
it utterly; for he removed it far away from the ſpot of earth where
it had ſtood, and planted it in a hill of richer mold, which was ſuf-
ficignt to nouriſh it with all its attendants. The ſpring appeared,
the tree budded into life again, and all thoſe fair little ſtandards
that had been cut off, broke out of the ground afreſh, and ſtood up
around it (a ſweet young grove) flouriſhing in beauty and immortal
Vigour,
You know now where you are, Velina, and that I have carried
you to the hill of paradiſe, to the bleſſed hour of the reſurre&tion.
What an unknown joy will it be, when you have fulfilled all the
fruits of righteouſneſs in this lower world, to be tranſplanted to that
heavenly mountain What a divine rapture and ſurpriſe of bleſſed-
neſs, to ſee all your little offspring around you that day, ſpringing
out of the duſt at once, making a fairer and brighter appearance in
that upper garden of God, and rejoicing together, (a ſweet com-
pany) all partakers with you of the ſame happy immortality; alſ
fitted to bear heavenly fruit, without the need or danger of a
pruning-knife. Look forward by faith to this glorious morning,
and admire the whole ſcheme of providence and grace. Give
chearful honours beforehand to your almighty and all-wiſe Gover-
nor, who by his unſearchable counſels has fulfilled your beſt wiſhes,
and ſecured your dear infants to you for ever, though not juſt in
your own way; that bleſſed hand which made the painful ſepa-
ration on earth, ſhall join you and your babes together in his own
heavenly habitation, never to be divided again, though the method
may be painful to fleſh and blood. Fathers ſhall not hope in vain,
nor “Mothers bring forth for trouble: They are the ſeed of the
bleſſed of the Lord, and their offspring with them ; Iſaiah lxiii. 23.”
Then ſhall you ſay, “Lord, here am I, and the children that thou
haſt given me. For he is your God, and the God of your ſeed, in
an everlaſting covenant.” Amen.
XXXII.—Earth, Heaven, and Hell.
I HAVE often tried to ſtrip death of its frightful colours, and
make all the terrible airs of it vaniſh into ſoftneſs and delight : To
this end, among other rovings of thought, I have ſometimes illuſ-
trated to myſelf the whole creation, as one immenſe building, with
different apartments, all under the immediate poſſeſſion and
government of the great Creator.
One ſort of theſe manſions are little, narrow, dark, damp rooms;
where there is much confinement, very little good company, and
ſuch a clog upon one’s natural ſpirits, that a man cannot think or
talk with freedom, nor exert his underſtanding, or any of his in-
MISCE LLAN E O US Thoughts. 343
telle&ual powers with glory or pleaſure. This is the earth in which
we dwell, w “y e' .
A ſecond ſort are ſpacious, lightſome, airy and ſerene courts
open to the ſummer-ſky, or at leaſt admitting all the valuable
qualities of fun and air, without the inconveniences; where there
are thouſands of moſt delightful companions, and every thing that
can give one pleaſure, and make one capable and fit to give pleaſure
to others. This is the heaven we hope for.
A third ſort of apartments are open and ſpacious too, but under a
wintry-ſky, with perpetual ſtorms of hail, rain and wind, thunder,
lightning, and every thing that is painful and offenſive; and all this
among millions of wretched companions curſing the place, torment-
ing one another, and each endeavouring to increaſe the public and
univerſal miſery. This is hell.
Now what a dreadful thing is it to be driven out of one of the
firſt narrow duſky cells into the third fort of apartment, where the
change of the room is infinitely the worſt? No wonder that finners
are afraid to die. But why ſhould a ſoul that has good hope, through
grace, of entering into the ſerene apartment, be unwilling to leave
the narrow ſmoaky priſon he has dwelt in ſo long, and under ſuch
loads of inconvenience 2
Death to a good man is but paſſing through a dark entry, out of
one little duſky room of his father's houſe, into another that is fair
and large, lightſome and glorious, and divinely entertaining. O
may the rays and ſplendors of my heavenly apartment ſhoot far
downward, and gild the dark entry with ſuch a chearful gleam as
to baniſh every fear when I ſhall be called to paſs through
XXXIII.-A Hornet's Neſt deſtroyed.
WHAT curious little creatures were theſe : how bright and
beautiful the body of them how nimble and ſprightly the ſeveral
limbs how ſwift the wing of this inſe&t for flight, and the ſting as
dreadful for its own defence, and for the puniſhment of thoſe that
hurt it. What rich contrivance is there in all the inviſible ſprings of
this little engine ! and yet here are thouſands of them deſtroyed at
once, and reduced to common earth.
If any artiſt among men could have framed but one ſuch a won-
derful machine as this, it would have been ſold for thouſands of
gold and filver, it would have been valued at the price of royal
treaſures, and thought fit only for the cabinet of the greateſt
princes. The deſtručtion of ſuch a rare piece of workmanſhip
would have been an uncompenſable loſs among men; but it is the
work of God, and here are thouſands of theſe elegant ſtructures
demoliſhed, and caſt out to the dunghill, without any concern or
injury to God or man. Glorious indeed, and all divine is the mag-
nificence of the great Creator With what a profuſion doth he pour
out the riches of his art, even amongſt the meaner parts of the
creation; he makes yearly millions of theſe animals without labour,
and he can part with millions out of his kingdom without loſs,
Yet theſe are not ſuperfluous or uſeleſs beings in the dominions
of God. There was a time when he raiſed an army of them, and
ſent them upon a great expedition, to drive the nations of the
Canaanites and their kings out of their own land, when he would
plant his beloved Iſrael there ; Ex. xxiii. 28. Joſ: xxiv. 12. Thus
he knows how to employ them, when and where he pleaſes: But
he gives leave to every man to deſtroy their neſts and their armies,
344 MiscELLANEous THoughts.
wherefoever they become a nuiſance to him; for if he want thern
himſelf, he can ſummon them from the moſt diſtant parts of the
world, and they ſhall come at his firſt call. “He can hiſs for the
fly that is in the uttermoſt parts of Egypt, and the bee that is in the
land of Aſſyria;" lſ, vii. 18, and they ſhall range themſelves under
his banner to execute his dreadful commiſſion. Or if the whole
creation does not afford legions of them ſufficient for his purpoſe,
he, who could animate the duſt of the earth into lice; Ex. viii. 16.
can command all the ſands of the ſea into ſwarms of hornets; or he
ean call millions out of nothing into being with a word, all dreſſed
in their proper livery, and armed with their ſtings to carry on his
war. What can be wanting to that God who has all the uncreated
and unknown world of poſſibles within the reach of his voice;
Rom. iy. 17. “He calleth the things that are not, as though they
were.” A -
XXXIV.-Citations and Inſcriptions.
ANCIENT cuſtom and modern faſhion are two fovereign
tyrants, who bear almoſt an univerſal ſway over the praćtices of
mankind. They are dire&tly oppoſite to each other, and they
ſhare the empire of the world between them. The learned and
the mighty, as well as the poor and the fooliſh, obey their dićtates
without further enguiry, and ſubmit to their authority, without
referve and without reaſon.
Why did the Perſians worſhip the fire, and the Chineſe the ſouls
of their anceſtors : Why do the papiſts ſay their prayers in Latin,
and the Jews waſh their hands, always before eating It was the
uſage of ancient ages, and the cuſtom of their fathers. Why did
the ladies of Great Britain wear ruffs and fardingales a century and
a half ago and why do the men of faſhon now-a-days keep two
knots of hair dangling on their ſhoulders, with one long curl
behind : Does nature find ſo nuch convenience, or ſpy ſo much
decency in it Neither of the two.; but ſtill there is ſuppoſed to be
reaſon enough for any of theſe oddities, fince it is the preſent mode.
The mode will foon reconcile fancy to the moſt awkward appear-
ances, and the moſt incommodious pračtices: But if nature, rea-
fon and convenience, make never ſo loud remonſtrances, they
muſt all ſtand aſide and ſubmit, while ſome old cuſtoms and ſome
new faſhions pronounce their abſolute decrees concerning a thouſand
things, and determine without appeal.
Yet if reaſon, or religion, might have leave to put in a word,
methinks there are ſome ancient faſhions which ſhould never have
been antiquated, as well as there are ſome new ones which ſhould
never have been ſuffered to ariſe.
It was a faſhion among our grandfathers, to cite a worthy or
elegant ſentence from ſome author of eſtabliſhed fame, and that
in their converſation, as well as their writings : They would chooſe
to expreſs their ſentiments in the bright and beautiful language of
ſome ancient poet or philoſopher, which gave new life and ſtrength
to the period : But for theſe fifty years paſt you gain the name of
a pedant, if you affront the modiſh world with a wife and pious
faying borrowed from one of the ancients in their own language.
I will grant indeed, that it was a piece of pride, vanity and im-
pertinence in ſome who lived in the laſt century, to interline all
their diſcourſes and almoſt every page of their books, with
perpetual ſcraps of greek and latin ; and it became yet more ridi-
Miscer. LANEotis THo UGHTS. 345.
culous in ſermons and in treatiſes which were written only for the .
uſe of the Engliſh world, who knew nothing but their mother-
tongue ; but muſt ſo uſeful and entertaining a pračtice be baniſh-
ed for ever, becauſe it has been abuſed, and carried to extremes?
Suppoſe I have a fine and noble ſentiment in my thoughts, which
I learned from Seneca or Cicero, muſt I be bound to deliver it in
my own ruder language, rather than let thoſe ingenious ancients
ſpeak it in their own phraſe; ſuppoſing always that the company
, in which I ſpeak, underſtand the Roman tongue Is it ſuch a
crime to let Juvenal or Horace ſay an agreeable and pertinent
thing for me, when I thereby confeſs that I cannot ſay anything
myſelf ſo pertinent and ſo agreeable ...And why may not a David
or a Solomon, as well as a Virgil, a Milton or an Addiſon raiſe and
dignify a period now and then with their noble, and juſt, and ele-
gant lines, and enliven a modern page with their warm and ſplen-
did images It is not nature and reaſon, but mere faſhion, that
hath branded this praćtice with the odious name of puritaniſm, or
of pedantry; and I think I may congratulate the préſent age, that
it begins a little to be revived, even by the writers of the firſt rank.
May I preſume again to enquire why we ſhould abſolutely re-
nounce the faſhion of our fore-fathers, in adorning their churches
and their houſes with the wiſe and pious ſayings of philoſophers,
or of prophets and men inſpired God himſelf invented this prac-
tice, and made it a law for the Jews, his favourite people, That
they ſhould write his ſtatutes on the poſts of their houſes, and on
their gates, to ſtrike the eye and heart of them that coune in. Nor
is there any thing ſuperſtitious and Jewiſh in this rºatter : The
walls of chriſtian temples were wont to be inſcribed with remark-
able precepts of piety taken from the word of God ; moral and
divine mottos were, in former centuries, thought an ornament
to the narrow pannels of their wainſcot, and long and beautiful
ſentences ran found the corniſh of a private houſe, and carried
virtue and peace with them all the way. That divine rule of
equity, Deal with others, as you would have others deal with you,
has ſtood guard in a tradeſman's ſhop againſt every appearance of
fraud, and every temptation to over-reach a cuſtomer. Cloſets
and counting-houſes often told our anceſtors their duty when they
were alone; and their large and ſpacious halls taught virtue and
goodneſs to the world in fair and legible charaćters. The parlour
and the dining-room put their friends in mind of God and heaven,
in letters of vermilion and gold; and the kitchen and the out-
houſes inſtructed the ſervants in their duty, and reproved them to
the face when they ventured to practiſe iniquity out of the fight of
their maſter. : - -
. I know there is a decorum to be obſerved in all things of this
kind. I am not for paſting up whole pages of morality found the
rooms, nor filling every naked pannel with little Göthic emblems
and ornaments, with pious rhymes or le&tures of religion : . But
methinks we run to a wide extreme, when we abſolutely exclude
every ſuch leſſon of virtue from all the places of our reſidence.
And fince the preſent mode has condemned all theſe inſcriptions of
truth and goodneſs, I know not what is come in the room of them,
unleſs it be the filthy abuſe of letters, and a lewd or a profane cou-
plet graven with a diamond on a pane of glaſs. Our walls in ages
paſt wore the ſignatures of honour and virtue: Now there are too
WQ L. W. [ls * X X.
346 3. M (SCELL AN E O US THOUGHTS.
many windows, that as ſoon as they admit the light, diſcover our
Íhame. I wonder how any man that pretends to politeneſs and
elegancy, ſhould ſcribble ſuch lines as female modeſty ought never
to ſee, and which the rudeſt tongue of his own ſex ought never to
pronounce.
At other times you ſhall find ſome vile reproach on particular
perſons left ſtanding on the glaſs to be read by future comers ; and
thus the ſcandal is conveyed to multitudes in a long ſucceſſion; and
every reader, by learning the unjuſt reproach may in ſome ſenſe
be ſaid to increaſe the writer's guilt.
If they muſt write the names of their miſtreſſes on the windows,
and deſcribe their beauties there, let them do it in ſuch language
as may not offend the tongue of modeſty to repeat, nor raiſe a
bluſh on the cheek of virtue.
“If the muse lavish her immortal wit
“To paint a fading face,
“And the firm diamond the frail honours write
“Upon the brittle glass, -
“Let no foul word pollute that heav'nly ray
“ Which makes the lines appear :
“Lewdness would taint the sun-beams in their way,
“Lewdness should ne'er be read but when keen lightnings play
“To blast the writer’s hand, and shake his soul with fear.”
If they will write the name of a friend or a ſtranger there, let it
be a name of worth and honour, let it be ſome example of virtue,
and attended with a due encomium.
Albinus.
“Clear as the glass, his spotless fame,
“And lasting diamond writes his name.”
Or if a diamond muſt be uſed for a pen, and a pane of glaſs muſt
be the tablet on which we write, I ſhould rather chooſe that thoſe
pellucid mediums which tranſmit the light of heaven to our eyes,
ſhould convey ſome beam of ſacred knowledge, or ſome uſeful
memento to the mind.
“Words of eternal truth proclaim,
“All mortal joys are vain : -
“A diamond-pen engraves the theme
“Upon a brittle pane.”
- XXXV.-Againſt Lewdneſs.
* WHY ſhould you let your wandering |. Let Solomon and Samſon tell
- eyes Their melancholy ſtories here,
Entice your ſouls to ſhameful fin 2 How bright they ſhone, how low they fell,
Scandal and ruin are the prize, When fin's vile pleaſures coſt them dear,
You take ſuch fatal pains to win; :
5 In vain you chooſe the darkeſt time,
2 This brutal vice makes reaſon blind, ! Nor let the ſun behold the fight.:
And blots the name with hateful ſtains: || In vain you hope to hide your crime
It waſtes the fleſh, pollutes the mind, ! Behind the curtains of the night 2
And tears the heart with racking pains. ||
6 The wakeful ſtars and midnight moon
3 Let David ſpeak with deepest groans, Watch your foul deeds and know your
How it eſtrang'd his ſoul from God, ſhame;
Made him complain of broken bones, And God’s own eye, like beams of noon,
• And fill'd his houſe with wars and blood. || Strikes thro’ the ſhade, and marks your
J131I] Ca
MISCE L LANEO US THO UGHTS. 347
7 What will you do when heav'n enquires When death, with horrible ſurpriſe,
Into thoſe ſcenes of ſecret fin 2 Shews you the pit of quenchleſs flame?
And luſt, with all its guilty fires,
Shall make your conſcience rage with- || 9 Flee, ſinners, flee the unlawful bed,
in * Leſt vengeance ſend you down to dweli
In the dark regions of the dead,
8 How will you curſe your wanton eyes, To feed the fierceſt fires of hell.
Curſe the lewd partners of your ſhame, • -
XXXVI.-Againſt Drunkenneſs.
I IS it not ſtrange that every creature And ſwill, and know no bound nor mea-
Should know the meaſure of its thirſt, ſure,
(They drink but to ſupport their nature, *Till ſenſe and reaſon are forgot 2
And give due moiſture to their duſt;)
5 Do they deſerve th’ immortal name
2. While man, vile man, whoſe nobler kind Of man who ſink ſo far below 2
Should ſcorn to ačt beneath the beaſt, Will God, the Maker of their frame,
Drowns all the glories of his mind, , Endure to ſee them ſpoil it ſo *
And kills his ſouſ to pleaſe his taſtel
6 Can they eer think of heav'n and grace,
3 O what a hateful, ſhameful fight, | Or hope for glory when they die 2
Are drunkards reeling through the Can ſuch vile ghoſts expect a place,
{treet ! - - Among the ſhining ſouls on high 2
Now they are fond, and now they fight,
And pour their ſhame on all they meet. || 7 The meaneſt ſeat is too refin’d
To entertain a drunkard there.
4 Is it ſo exquiſite a pleaſure t Ye finners of this loathſome kind,
To troll down, liquor through the throat, Repent, or periſh in deſpair.
XXXVII.-Vanity confeſſed. .
IT was a ſtrange and thoughtleſs expreſſion of a very ingenious
author,” “..Ataong all the millions of vices, ſays he, that I in-
herit from Adam, I have eſcaped the firſt and father-fin of pride:”
And he goes on to prove it by aſſerting his humility, after many
boaſted inſtances of his learning and acquirements. Sūrely, thought
I, this man lived much abroad, and converſed but little at home ;
he knew much of the world, but he was not acquainted with him.
ſelf; and while he pračtiſes his vanity in ſo public a manner, he
itrongly denies that any belongs to him. • *
Senotus was a man of more mortified ſoul, a ſagacious ſelf-en-
quirer while he lived ; and among his moſt ſecret papers which
eſcaped the flames, this following ſoliloquy was found after his
death. How paſſionately does he mourn this frailty, and with what
a becoming ſenſe doth he lament and bewail this original blemiſh of
his nature It was written before he arrived at his ſacred dignity,
but it diſcovers the ſentiments and the piety which attended him
through all his life. * -
Plide, . faith he, is ſo extenſive, ſo univerſal a diſeaſe of man-
kind, that I know no part of the infečtion which we derive from
our firſt father, that has ſo intimately mingled itſelf with the whole
maſs of blood, has ſo much corrupted our beſt powers, and runs
without exception through the whole race. Methinks I can ſcarce
move, or ſpeak, but I feel the ſecret poiſon working, and I am be-
trayed at every turn into new folly and guilt by this flattering and
*
ſubtle enemy.
If I am accepted in company, and find favour among men, how
ready an I to impute it to my own merit ! And if I meet with re-
* Dr. Brown, in his Religio Medici,
X X 2
343 MiscellANEous THo UGHTS.
proach, how does my heart ſwell againſt the tongue that uttered it,
and I begin to charge the ignorant world that they have not known
me / Or I accuſe them ſecretly of doing injuſtice to my charaćter ;
for I fancy myſelf to have deſerved the honours of mankind, and
not their cenſures. * tº
This ačtive iniquity is never at reſt; whether I have to do with
God or man, it beſets me on every ſide, it breaks the commands
of the firſt table, as well as the ſecond, detraćts from the honour
that I owe to my Maker, and the charity due to my fellow-crea-
tureS.
I devote myſelf and all my powers to God in the morning, and I
think I do it with ſolemn ſincerity: Then I meditate, I compoſe,
or perhaps I preach, and diffuſe the knowledge and the glory of
Chriſt, my Lord: But if ſome ſhining thought break into my me-
ditations, how fond am I to ſpread and dreſs it, to make ſelf ſhine
a little ; and thus ſacrilegiously attempt to ſhare the honour that is
due alone to my Saviour and his goſpel ! How cloſely doth this
ferpent-iniquity ſwine about my nature, and defile my moſt religi-
ous ſervices'. Often do I aſſume thoſe lines in my lips, and with the
pleaſing pain that belongs to repentance, I appropriate the words to
myſelf, as though I had been the author of them.
“'Tis pride, that busy sin,
“Spoils all that I perform ;
“Curst pride, that creeps securely in,
And swells a haughty worm * '
... If I begin to write any divine thoughts in verſe, to entertain my-
ſelf or my fellow-chriſtians with holy melody, I find this temper at
my right-hand, abuſing my poeſy, to the ruin of my religion,--
“My God, the songs I frame
“Are faithless to thy cause,
“And steal the honours of thy name
“To build their own applause,”
Sometimes I raiſe my thoughts a little to contemplate my Crea-
tor, in the numerous wonders of his power and wiſdom, in his in-
imitable perfeótions, and in the majeſty and grandeur of his na-
ture; I fall down before him, confounded in his preſence : My
own ideas of his tranſcendent excellency overwhelm me with a
fenſe of my own meanneſs, and I lay myſelf low in the duſt,
whence I and all my fore-fathers ſprang; but perhaps a ſudden
moment turns my thought afide to my brethren, my fellow-mortals;
and when I imagine myſelf ſuperior to ſome of them, the worm
that lay level with the duſt begins to ſwell and riſe again, and a vain
Íelf-compariſon with creatures interrupts the humble proſtrations
of my ſoul, and ſpoils my devotion to my God.
And here it is very aſtoniſhing to conſider upon what trifles or
tircumſtance fooliſh man is ready to exalt himſelf above his neigh-
bour: I am even aſhamed to think, that when I ſtand among per-
ſons of a low ſtature, and a mean outward appearance (eſpecially
if they are utter ſtrangers), I am ready to look downward upon
their undertakings, as beneath my own, becauſe nature has formed
my limbs by a larger model, has raiſed this animal bulk upon higher
pillars, and given me a full and florid aſpect. Ridiculous thought,
and wild imagination l as though the ſize and colour of the brute
were the proper meaſure to judge of the man . . . . . . . .
MiscellANEous THoughts 349
At another time, when I have been engaged in free diſcourſe, I
have heard a ſprightly youth talk moſt pertinently on the propoſed
ſubjećt, but I felt myſelf ready before-hand to deſpiſe whatever he
ſhould ſay, becauſe I happened, to be born ten years before him;
and yet how wretchedly inconſiſtent is this diſtemper of mind for
Iºwas tempted the next moment to neglečt what was ſpoken by a
grave gentleman preſent, becauſe he was born twenty years before
me: My own vanity would perſuade me that the one was ſo much
younger than I, that he had not yet arrived at ſenſe, and the other
ſo much older, that he had forgot it. . • gº
I find it is not youth or age, but it is ſelf is the idol and the
temptation. My fooliſh heart is apt to ſay within itſelf, even when
I am in the midſt of perſons of thought and ſagacity, “Methinks
they ſhould all be of my mind when I have given my opinion;”
and I feel a ſecret inclination to flatter my own judgment, though
I condemn the young and the old. Thus is pride buſy and zealous
to exalt ſelf on évery occaſion, to ſet up the idol, and nake all bow
down to it. .*
Theſe ſilent and unſeen turns of thought within me are ſo impu-
dent, and ſo unreaſonable, that I cannot bear to let them appear
even before my own judgment: I ſcarce bring them to a trial, for
I know they are evil; I condemn them as ſoon as they are born,
I baniſh them for ever from my ſoul, and forbid their return. But
ere I am aware they will come to their old native ſeat again, in
ſpite of all the laws and rules of reaſon and religion; they overleap
all the bars and fences that I raiſe perpetually to keep them out.
This wicked pride is a home-born and domeſtic enemy, it knows
every avenue of the ſoul, and is hardly excluded even by the
ſevereſt watchfulneſs. * *
We are ſo fond to appear always in the right, that I find myſelf
to need a good degree of ſelf-denial, in order to believe that truth is
truth, when I have happened to fall into a different ſentiment;
and what is this but pride of heart? I need not go far backward in
my life, to find an inſtance of this folly or madneſs; ſomething of
this kind ſo often occurs.
Three days ago, I was relating an affair of great conſequence,
and was oppoſed in my narrative by a friend, who knew the whole
ftory perfeótly : I felt my heart unwilling to yield to his oppoſition,
though the reaſonings that attended his narration carried ſuperior
light and force in them; I was hardly convinced that I was in the
wrong, till I had left the company, and bethought myſelf. This
curſed conceit, how it blinds the eyes to reaſon, and bars our con-
vićtion | And it is the ſame diſeaſe of the mind that prevents our
confeſſion of an error, even when we are inwardly convinced
of it. It is pride that Cramps the organs of ſpeech, and makes theſe
words, “I was miſtaken,” ſo hard to pronounce in every language.
When I am debating a point of controverſy, how much am I
pleaſed when I overcome! and how ready do I find my tongue to
contend for yićtory too often with greater ſolicitude than for truth !
I feel the miſchief working, though I hate it. I look inward, I
bluſh, and chide myſelf; but in the next company nature returns,
the inward diſtemper ſtirs again,' I am ambitious of conqueſt in the
next diſpute; yet I profeſs to be a philoſopher, a diſciple of wiſ-
dom, and a lover of truth; but I feel I am a ſon of Adam.
I watch againſt the firſt riſings of this inbred evil; but it is be-
forehand with me : I reſolve to ſpeak my ſentiments with a modeſt
\
350 M (SCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS.
air, but vanity fits upon my lips, and forms the ſenterce, or at leaſt
gives ſome ſwelling accents to the ſound: Then I figh inwardly at
the ſudden reproach, What a vain wretch am I and ſhould con-
demn myſelf as the very vileft piece of humaan nature, if I did not
obſerve the ſame folly working at my right-hand and at my left,
and ſhewing itſelf all round me in a variety of ſhapes. Were all the
progeny of Eve to be ſummoned to the bar of God, and tried upon
this indićtment,
“Alas for poor mankind! nor sex nor age is free:
“What would become of man 2 What would become of me?”
Vaniſſo was in company while this paper was read, wherein
Senotus confeſſed this foible of his ſoul; and with ſome confuſion
broke out thus: “What Senotus, the wiſe and pious, the modeſt
and the humble, ſay all this Senotus, the venerable man of the
epiſcopal order, and the glory of our church, talk at this rate O
ior an eternal ſucceſſion of ſuch biſhops in every ſee But what
|- ſon ſhall I learn by it? I will retire to my cloſet and ſearch
inward ; for how many vices ſoever hung about me, yet I never
thought myſelf a proud man before, but I begin to ſuſpećt me now.”
XXXVIII.- Paſſion and Reaſon.
AMONG the multitude of words that are uttered by the paſſions,
you may ſometimes chance to hear the dićtates of reaſon: But if
you ſuffer vourſelf to be ruffled, and return wrath for wrath, you
fo effectually ſtop your ears againſt her ſofter voice, that you cannot
believe there was a ſyllable of reaſon in all the diſcourſe of your
opponent; and thus, by indulging a ſpirit of contradićtion, you for-
bid your own improvement. t
Tranquillus is a gentleman of penetrating judgment, and a ſedate
temper: Aſtrapé is the partner of his life; a perſon of good under-
ſtanding, but her imagination far exceeds; there is great brightneſs
in her converſation, but her paſſions are warm, and ſhe ſo far
forgets herſelf, that her voice is ſometimes a little elevated, even
while company is preſent. When the clouds gather, and the
ftorm riſes, Tranquillus yields to the circumſtances of the hour ;
he knows it is in vain to debate with a tempeſt, or reprove a whirl-
wind, but he calmly expe&ts ſilence and fair weather to-morrow.
Many a time has the good man confeſſed, that he has gained
ſome uſeful hints of knowledge under thoſe le&tures; for I have
worn out, ſaid he, many a campaign, I have learnt to read truth
by the flaſh of gunpowder, and to hearken to good ſenſe, even
when the cannons roar. Her admonitions are aſſiſtant to my
virtue, though ſometimes they are pronounced louder than was
needful,
Happy man, who is grown ſo familiar with wiſdom, as to diſ-
tinguiſh her voice in the midſt of thunders, and to know and vene-
rate that divine ſun-beam among whole ſheets and volumes of
lightning! Happy man, whoſe ſoul never kindles at thoſe flaſhes,
nor doth he find his tongue inclined to echo to the noiſe !
Aſtrapé indeed would do well to correót her temper; but one
would be almoſt content to live a nionth among thoſe ſtorms, if one
might but gain by that means the placid and lovely virtues of
Tranquillus. - : 1 t
M ISCE LLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 35i
1 LET Aſtrapé forbear to blaze, 2 Yet if I found her words grow warm,
1. As lightning does, with dreadful rays, I'd learn ſome leſſon by the ſtorm,
Nor ſpoil the beauties of her face, Or guard myſelf at leaſt from harm
To arm her tongue with thunder : By yielding, like Tranquillus.
That reaſon hardly looks divine, Tempeſts will tear the ſtiffeſt oak,
Where ſo much fire and found combine, Cedars with all their pride are broke
And make the way for wit to ſhine Beneath the fury of that ſtroke
By riving ſenſe afunder. That never hurts the willows:
XXXIX. —One Devil caſting ott another.
LATRISSA is often indiſpoſed. Her friends attend her with
moſt obliging viſits, and ſometimes give her relief in a gloomy
hour. Laſt Friday ſhe was ſeized with her uſual diſcompoſures;
two ladies of her greateſt intimacy ſpent the afternoon, in her
chamber; they talked of public buſineſs, and the commotions of
the world, ſhe was all filence and unmoved. They brought in
virtue and religion, and tried to raiſe the converſation to heaven ;
her ſoul was very heavy ſtill, and her ears were liftleſs. The
deſcended to common trifles, ſurveyed the green fields through the
window, and bleſt the fine weather and the warm ſun-ſhine;
Latriſſa was all cloudy within, and received the talk very coldly.
When they found all theſe attempts were in vain, they ran to
the charming topic of dreſs and faſhion, gay colours and new ha-
bits, they traverſed the park, and rehearſed the birth-day; but
even this would awaken fio pleaſing airs, nor introduce one ſmile,
nor ſcarce provoke an anſwer.
At laſt one of the viſitants happened to mention a name or
two, for which Latriſſa had a known averſion, and began to expoſe
their condućt and their charaćter. Latriſła ſoon felt the wicked
pleaſure; the luſcious poiſon wrought powerfully within, her voice
echoed to every accuſation, and confirmed all the infamy. A diſ-
courſe ſo agreeable, ſcattered the inward gloom, and awakened her
gall and her tongue at once. After a few ſentences paſt, ſhe aſ-
fumed the chair, and ingroſſed the whole converſation herſelf.
She railed on triumphantly for an hour together, without intermiſ-
fion, and without wearineſs, though when her friends firſt came in
to ſee her ſhe could hardly ſpeak for fainting.
Thus have I ſeen an old lap-dog lie fullen or lazy before the
fire, though pretty Miſs hath tried an hundred ways to awaken the
creature to ačtivity and play: But a ſtranger happening to enter
the room, the little cur hath called up all his natural envy and rage,
nor hath he ceaſed barking till the ſtranger diſappeared. When
the ſullen animal would not play, he let us hear that he could bark.
But I reprove myſelf, . This vice is too big to be chaſtiſed by
ridicule, for it is a moſt hateful breach of the rules of the goſpei.
What a diſmal ſpectacle is it to ſee this engine of ſcandai ſet on
work ſo ſucceſsfully among chriſtians, to drive out the deaf and
dumb ſpirit to fee ſatan employed to caſt out ſatan, and one evil
fpirit diſpoſſeſſed by another
Q the ſhameful guſt and reliſh that ſome people find in reproach
and ſlander The great apoſile ſays, “Speak evil of no man;”
and be excludes railers and revilers from the kingdom of heaven :
Yet Latrifla performs the duties of the church and the cloſet, rails
daily at ſome of her neighbours, and thinks herſelf a chriſtian of the
firſt rank ſtill ; nor will ſhe ſee nor believe the iniquity of her temper
or the guilt of her converſation. -
Y. x
352 MISCE LI, AN E O US THOUGHTS.
XL-Excellencies and Defects compenſated.
FAME doth not always belong to the aëtive and the ſprightly,
nor immortal memory to the ſons of wit, Gravonius was a perſon
of prudence and virtue, but rather of a ſlow conception, and a
very moderate ſhare of natural vivacity; a man of little diſcourſe,
but much thought. He would ſometimes bring forth very valuable
ſentences, and furniſh the company with wiſe obſervations that
he had colle&ted by meny years reading, and long acquaintance
with men and books. . He travelled on daily in a regular round of
life and duty to a good old age, he paſſed off the ſtage with honour
lºgº his friends, and was remembered twenty years after his
eath.
Lycidas was a gentleman of great parts, ſprightly wit, far ſuperior
to Gravonius in the powers of the mind, and at leaſt equal to him
in virtue ; he ſhone bright in every company, and put a luſtre upon
all his religion ; he was the wonder and love of his friends while
he lived. He was ſummoned away from the world in the bloom of
life, deep lamentations were made at his grave, but in a few years
time he was forgotten. -
How came this to paſs, that what blazed ſo bright ſhould vaniſh
fo ſoon, and be loſt at once : The reaſon is not far to ſeek. Gra-
vonius kept his hours and his rounds as conſtant as the ſun, and
his track of life was drawn to a great length, and was well known
to the world : He ſaid over his apophthegms and leſions of pru-
dence, till his acquaintance had learnt them by healt. Lycidas was
aćtive and ready in all the varieties of life, but never tied himſelf
down to rules, and forms, and ſentences, nor could he teach ano-
ther to ačt as he did : He always entertained his friends with a
rich profuſion of new ſentiments. Neither his wit nor his wiſdom
had any common places: His manner and his way was like an
eagle in the air, that leaves no track behind. His converſation and
his life had a thouſand beauties in them, but they were neither to
be imitated, or ſcarce rehearfed by another.
If I were to live always, ſurely I would wiſh to be Lycidas, that
I might have my heart ever at my right-hand, in the phraſe of
Solomon ; that I might know on the ſudden how to ſpeak perti-
nently, and what courſe to take in every, new occurrence of a
.#that is in perpetual changes : I would have an underſtanding
ever ready to ſuggeſt the thing that is proper in every time and
place. It muſt be allowed, that Lycidas was much the more uſeful
man on earth; though his name was ſoon forgotten. But Gravonius
hath this to compenſate his flowneſs, that in ſome ſenſe he lives
the longer for it : His regular condućt was learned and copied by-
his family : His ſentences are often rehearſed among his friends ;
he ſpeaks while he is underground, and gives advice to the living
twenty years after he is dead.
There is nothing on earth excellent on all ſides there muſt be
formething wanting in the beſt of creatures, to ſhew how far
they are from perfeótion : God has wiſely ordained it, that ex-
cellencies and defe&ts ſhould be mingled amongſt men; advan-
tage and diſadvantage are thrown into the balance, the one is ſet
overagainſt the other, that no man might be ſupremely exalted,
and none utterly contemptible.
XLI.-Envy diſcovered. -
ENVY is a malignant vice ; of ſo hateful an aſpeã, and ſo
MISC ELL AN E O U S THOUGHTS. 4. 353
black a chara&ter, that every man abhors it, when appearing in
its own colours; and whoſoever is accuſed, renounces the charge
with indignation. * º &
When Athon was a boy, and read the deſcription of this foul fury
in the books of the Greek and Roman poets, he imagined it was
fome beldam that infeſted heathen countries ; but he could nºt
believe that ſhe ſhould dwell among chriſtians, and have a temple
in their very boſoms. . . &
Could one ever ſuppoſe that envy ſhould mix itſelf with the
blood and ſpirits of a good man, or find any room in the ſame heart
where there is a ſavour of true religion ? Religion conſiſts in an in-
tercourſe of divine and human love.
*s
“But Envy smiles at sorrows not her own,
“And laughs to hear a nation groan.
“But Envy feeds on infamy and blood,
“And grieves at all that's great and good.
“But Envy pines, because her neighbours thrive,
“And dies to see a brother live.”
Yet this very malignant vice, this fury of hell, makes her way
ſometimes into the very ſoul that is born of God, and that hopes
to be an inhabitant of heaven ; but it generally takes care to con-
ceal its name, and to diſguiſe its odious appearance, that it may
not be known in the heart where it dwells. It too often breaks
out indeed before the eyes of the world, to the ſhame and ſcandal
of religion, and appears in its own moſt hateful form, rejoicing in
miſchief; but it much more frequently fits brooding within, fret-
ting at the peace and welfare of others, and ſpreads a melancholy
loom and painful horror round all the chambers of the ſoul, if the
un but ſhine upon a neighbour's houſe.
There is many a chriſtian indulges this ſecret iniquity, and
pračtiſes this vice without the reproaches of conſcience, becauſe he
cannot believe his condućt deſerves this name. And whither can
#. ſuch a one to learn the nature of this ſin better than to his
ible P -
The holy pſalmiſt was once overtaken with a fit of envy, and
after he had §. divinely convinced and aſhamed of it, the way
wherein he confeſſes and deſcribes it is this: That he enlarged his
ideas of the proſperity of the wicked, he ſpread abroad all their
honours and their riches before the eyes of his imagination, and
magnified every circumſtance of their health, their ſtrength, and all
their comforts of life; but he conceals or leſſens all their troubles,
as though they had nothing to complain of: while, at the ſame
time, his mouth was filled with complaints of his own ſorrows, he
painted his own grievances upon his fancy in the darkeſt colours,
and the moſt diſmal ſhapes, and by the compariſon of their condi-
tion and his own, his ſoul grew much more uneaſy.
“As for my wicked neighbours, ſays he, they thrive in the
world, they encreaſe in riches, they are not in trouble like other
ſmen, nor are they plagued as I am ; their eyes ſtand out with fat-
neſs ; they have more than heart can wiſh ; they oppreſs and
proſper, they are encompaſſed with pride and honours, they are gay
and wanton in their garments of oppreſſion and violence; in life
their ſtrength is firm, and they die eaſy, for they have no painful
agonies in their death : But as for me, the waters of a full Cup are
W 0 L, WII. " Y Y t
&
35.4, MISCELLAN Eous THOUGHTs.
wrung out to me; all the day long have I been plagued, and chaſ-
tened every morning;” Pſ. lxxiii.
The good man, when he felt this evil temper working in him,
indulged it too much at firſt ; but upon a juſt review he chid him-
ſelf, and ſubmitted to call it by its proper name ; “I was envious
at the fooliſh, when I ſaw the proſperity of the wicked.”
Q that it had been found only among the Jews and Heathens,
and never broke into chriſtendom | But this is a fruitleſs wiſh.—
Thonillo has an affluence of all the bleſſings of life, except per-
fečt health and public honour. He is ſometimes confined to his
chamber by ſmall indiſpoſitions, while his next neighbour Thiron
is half gone in a dangerous couſumption, and Thonillo knows it
too ; but Thiron walks about the fields, and rides daily in the
country, if poffible to preſerve his life; in the mean time he receives
his friends, with a becoming degree of chearfulneſs and pleaſure,
and is much honoured and eſteemed by all his acquaintance, nor yet
beyond his merit. t
Go viſit Thonillo, and he entertains you with nothing but long
tireforme, complaints of his own pains and ailments; and with
a ſenſible angüiſh at heart tells you, that he hears 'Thiron laugh
aloud with his companions ; that Thiron rides about at his eaſe,
while he himſelf is a priſoner: And while he enlarges upon all the
topics that make his own life any way uncomfortable, he takes
as much pains to expatiate upon all the better circumſtances of his
neighbour ; he ſpreads them abroad in their moſt ample forms,
and with an inward reſentment paints out Thiron’s happineſs in
glaring colours : he magnifies it to a vaſt exceſs in his own fancy,
and before his friends, that he may ſeem to have ſome reaſon to
ſupport his uneaſy compariſon, and his inward diſquietude of ſoul.
Some of thoſe that viſit him, happen to ſpeak well of Thiron ; and
while they pity his dying circumſtances, they mention his virtues
with praiſe. Ah I ſays Thonillo, my neighbour walks at his
pleaſure, he is courted and careſſed, and he loves thoſe that careſs
him; but if they knew all that I have heard of him, they would
change their opinion, and regret his honours.
Thus Thonillo grows peeviſh with all around him, and frets
away a good part of his own health, becauſe his neighbours are not
confined to their chamber too. He loſes all his good charaćter,
by endeavouring to fully that of his neighbour ; nor can you ever
pleaſe him, unleſs you find fault with ſome of his acquaintance, and
ſink their names a little, and diminiſh their praiſe.
Yet Thonillo thinks himſelf a very good chriſtian, and thanks
God he has no envy belonging to him. Thonillo read the ſeventy-
third pſalm this morning, and could not ſee any thing of his own
temper or features there. Who will help Thonillo to a pair of
ſpectacles, and aſſiſt his eye-ſight.
I had ſcarce written this, when Sibylla entered the room, and
when ſhe had read the paper, “Surely, ſaid ſhe, you have drawn
the pićture of Thonillo to the life ; for though I never ſaw the gen-
tlenian, yet I have heard much of him : I know a brother and
fifter of his, Thonerus and Thonerina, and am acquainted with
many others of his near relations.”
XLII—The rough Man ſºftened.
EGRIDIA, was of a fickly conſtitution, but, ſhe was born of
quality; and leaving condeſcended to marry a private gentleman,
{
\
MISC E L L A N E O US THOUGHTS, 355
ſhe aſſumed a right to be imperious while her diſtempers made her
peewiſh. She was yoked with a partner of a tall and firm ſtature,
robuſt and healthy, a man of great courage and roughneſs, a very
Samſon ; yet his ſoul had a tender part in it, and would weep and
bleed, if touched in the right vein.
He never knew indeed what ſickneſs meant, and therefore,
though he was continually entertained with complaints new and
old, yet he ſhewed very little ſympathy with his ſuffering friends
under their various pains of nature. But he met with many
ſharp reproaches for want of it, and had daily ſevere lečtures read
to him at home on that occaſion. º
One evening he was attacked with more fury than uſual, and it
awakened him to make this ſhort reply.
“ Prithee, Egridia, do not labour in vain. Beef or ſtock-fiſh
may be beaten till it be tender, but the ſoul of a man is neither
fleſh nor fiſh ; it is not to be buffeted into ſoftneſs, nor teized or
foolded into compaſſion.”
Egridia took the hint, and changed her artillery in order to a
conqueſt. In a few days ſhe found that Samſon’s heart was not all
made of iron, but there were ſome kinder materials in his Com-
poſition. She dropt a few tears on him, and the clay grew ſoft ;
ſhe praćtiſed upon him with the arts of kindneſs, and he melted
like wax into compaſſion before the gentle fire, and began to con-
dole ſincerely upon all her complaints.
Reproaches, like needles, may make uneaſy impreſſions upon
a rough temper, and awaken it to fury; but every ſurgeon will tell
us, that a callus or hard fleſh, is to be cured by ſuppling oils, and
not by the inciſion-knife. Perpetual rhetoric of the clamorous
kind, may at laſt force the countenance of a Samſon perhaps to
imitate pity, for the ſake of his own peace ; but it can never teach
his ſoul to pračtiſe the tender paſſion. Perſecution may, ſome-
times produce a hypocrite, but it is ſoft perſuaſion and kindneſs
only, can make a real convert to ſympathy, and turn a heart of
ftone into ſincere tenderneſs.
Man is the ſame thing ſtill, as he was in the days of Solomon ;
and human nature in Great Britain is to be managed the ſame way
as it was in Judea above two thouſand years ago. The maxims
of that philoſopher are everlaſting truths, and his prudentials will
{tand the teſt in all ages. “A ſoft anſwer turneth away wrath,
but grievous words ſtir up ſtrife. By long forbearing, even a prince
is perſuaded, and a ſoft tongue breaketh the bone ;” Prov. xv. 1.
and xxv. 15.
XLIII.-Ignorance of ourſelves.
HOW ſtrangely are we ſituated in this mortal ſtate | We open
our eyes, we employ our ſenſes, and take notice of a thouſand.
things around us; but we ſee and know almoſt nothing of ourſelves.
We are conſcious indeed of our being, and therefore we are ſure
that we are ; but what we are, lies deep in darkneſs. We ſee
and feel theſe limbs, and this fleſh of ours; we are acquainted at
leaſt with the outſide of this animal machine, and ſometimes call it
ourſelves, though philoſophy and reaſon would rather ſay, it is our
houſe, or tabernacle, becauſe we poſſeſs it or dwell in it; it is our
engine, becauſe we move and manage it at pleaſure. But what
is this ſelf, which dwells in this tabernacle, which poſſeſſes this
houſe, which moves and manages this engine and theſe limbs;
Y Y 2
356 MISCE LLAN E O US THOUGHTS.
Here we are much at a loſs, and our thoughts generally run into
ſome airy forms of being, ſome empty refinements upon ſenſible
images, ſome thin rarified ſhape and ſubtle confuſion. We know
not this felf of ours, which is conſcious of its own exiſtence, which
feels ſo near a union of this fleſh and limbs, and which knows a
multitude of things within us and without us. A ſurpriſing phaeno-
menon in nature is this, that the ſoul of man, which ranges
abroad through the heaven, and the earth, and the deep waters,
and unfolds a thouſand myſteries of nature, which penetrates the
ſyſtems of ſtars and ſuns, worlds upon worlds, ſhould be ſo unhappy
a ſtranger at home, and not be able to tell what its ſclf is, or what
it is made of.
And as we are ignorant what ourſelves are in a natural ſenſe, ſo
we are as little acquainted with ourſelves in a moral reſpect... Self-
love, and pride, and various paſſions, throw an everlaſting diſguiſe
upon our own temper and condućt. Whether we have any lovely
qualities in us or no, yet we fondly love ourſelves, and then we
readily believe all lovely qualities belong to us.
. It is hard, exceeding hard, to convince a lover that any blemiſhes
are to be found in the dear centre of his affe&tions ; but we are
warm and zealous lovers of ourſelves in all the ages of life. Youth
is wild and licentious ; but in thoſe years, we perſuade ourſelves
that we are only making a juſt uſe of liberty. In that ſcene of folly
we are light and vain, and ſet no bounds to the frołic lumour; yet
we fancy it is merely an innocent gaiety of heart, which belongs to
the ſprings of nature, and the blooming hours of life. In the age of
manhood, a rugged or a haughty temper is angry and quarrelſome ;
the fretful and the peeviſh in elder years, if not before, are ever
kindling into paſſion and reſentment; but they all agree to pro-
nounce their furious or fretful condućt a mere neceſſary reproof of
the indignities which are offered them by the world. Self-love is
fruitful of fine names for its own iniquities. Others are ſordid and
covetous to a ſhameful degree, uncompaſſionate and cruel to
the miſerable; and yet they take this vile practice to be only a juſt
exerciſe of frugality, and a dutiful care of their own houſehold.
Thus every vice that belongs to us, is conſtrued into a virtue; and
if there are any ſhadows or appearances of virtue upon us, theſe
poor appearances and ſhadows are magnified and realized into the
divine qualities of an angel. We who paſs theſe juſt cenſures on
the follies of our acquaintance, perhaps approve the very ſame
things in ourſelves, by the influence of the ſame native principle
of flattery and ſelf-fondneſs. So different is our judgment of the
ſame weakneſſes when we find them in ourſelves, from the ſen-
tence we pronounce upon them if we ſee them in our neighbour.
Thus we begin to learn and pračtiſe early this art of ſelf-de-
ceiving; we grow up in diſguiſe and ſelf-flattery, and we live
unknown to ourſelves. Happy for us, if our eyes are opened to
behold the impoſture before we go off the ſtage; for ſuch groſs
miſtakes will then be fatal, or at leaſt extremely dangerous, when
it is too late to corre&t them.
Teach me, O my Maker, the knowledge of myſelf; this moral
or divine knowledge, which is neceſſary to corre&t my errors, and
to reduce my feet to the ſacred paths of virtue. Let me ſee ſo
much of my folly, vice and vanity, as to be fond of this wretched
ſelf no longer. Let me grow ſo far out of love with myſelf, as to
fly from myſelf to the arms and mercy of my God. There mould
MISCE LE, A NEQ US THOUGHTS. 357
and faihion me after thine image in all the moral qualities of my
ſoul, and let me find in myſelf thoſe divine features which will be
ever beautiful in thy eyes | Grant me this bleſfing, O father of
ſpirits ; for I cannot reſt till I ſee and know myſelf made like thee.
When this is done, I can bear the reſt of my ignorance with
humble patience, till I put off this veil and diſguiſe of fleſh : I can
*: to learn what ſort of being my ſoul is, till I arrive at the world
of ſouls.
XLIV.—Abſence from God, who is our All.
MY God, my Maker, I have called thee my all-ſatisfying por-
tion, and my eternal good. When I contemplate thee, I ſtand
amazed at thy grandeur; thy wiſdom, thy power, thy fulneſs of
bleſfing, wrap my ſoul up in aſtoniſhment and devout filence. . In
that happy monient my ſoul cries out, What are creatures when
compared with thee, but mere ſhadows of being, and faint reflec-
tions of thy light and beauty And yet, ſtupid as I am, I ſoon loſe
my fight of God, and ſtand gazing upon thy creatures all the day,
as if beauty and light were theirs in the original.
What are they all, O my God, but empty ciſterns that can give
no relief to a thirſty ſoul, unleſs thou ſupply them with rivulets
from on high And yet we crowd about theſe ciſterns, and are
attached to them, as though they were the unfailing ſprings and
fountains of our bleſſedneſs. Every breath we draw is a new and
unmerited gift from heaven; God our life, and the length of our
days ; and yet we are contented to ſpend that life far from heaven
and from God, and to dwell afar off from him, amidſt the regions of
mortality and death : We are ever groveling in this land of graves,
as though immortal bleſfings were to be drawn from the clods of it.
Our real and eternal intereſt depends more on thy ſingle favour,
than on the united friendſhip of the whole creation; and yet,
fooliſh wanderers that we are we abſent ourſelves from our God,
and rove far and wide to ſeek intereſts and friendſhips among crea-
tures whoſe charaćter is weakneſs, vanity and diſappointing vexa-
tion. How fond are we of a word or a look from a worm in a high
ſtation ? How do we careſs them and court their love, at the
expence of virtue and truth, and the favour of God our Maker *
And yet they are nothing without God, but he is our all, without
their leave.
Should my father and my mother, and every mortal friend for-
ſake me, and every good angel take his flight; ſhould theſe
heavens and this earth, with all their innumerable inhabitants, diſ-
appear at once, and vaniſh into their firſt nothing; thy preſence
with me is all-ſufficient, thy hand would ſupport my being, and
thy love would furniſh out an etermity of life and coeval happineſs.
Why then do 1 tie myſelf ſo faſt to my mortal friends, as though
my ſeparation from them were certain miſery : Why do I lean
upon creatures with my whole weight, as though nothing elſe.
could ſupport me *
..Q my God I am convinced that I have more affairs, and of far
higher importance, to tranſačt with thee, than with all thy creatures,
and yet I am ever chattering with thy creatures, and ſay little to my
God ; or at beſt give him a morning or an evening ſalutation, and
perhaps too with indolence and formality. Whom have I in hea-
ven or in earth but thee, that can ſupply all my wants, and fill up
all the vacancies of my heart? And yet how are my thoughts and
35S MiscellANEous THOUGHTs.
hours buſily employed in queſt of ſatisfaction among the ſhining
ſnares, or at beſt among the flattering impertinences of the world ;
though every new experiment ſhews me they are all unſatisfying
If I happen to find any thing here below made a channel to convey
ſome bleſfing to me from thy hand, how prone am I to make an
idol of it, and place it in the room of my God?
How much, alas! do I truſt to my food to nouriſh, and phyſic to
heal me ! but it is thou alone canft bleſs me with eaſe, nouriſh-
ment and health, while I dwell in this cottage of fleih and blood.
Let medicines and phyſicians pronounce deſpair and death upon
nie, a word of thine can ſhut the mouth of the i. Cafi ten eV
the vigour and bloom of youth, and repair the decays of nature.
If thou withhold thy vital influence, my fleſh languiſhes and ex-
pires, even among the luxurious proviſions of the table, and the re-
cipes of the learned ; and it is thou only canſ provide me a bliſsful
habitation, when this cottage has fallen to the ground. Father, into
thy hand, I commend my ſpirit, when it is diſlodged from this
mortal tabernacle; and why ſhould I not keep my ſpirit ever near
thee, ſince every moment I am liable to be turned out of this dweł-
ling, and ſent a naked ſtranger into the unknown world of ſpirits 2
it is but a few days and nights more that I can have to do with ſun,
moon and ſtars; a little time will finiſh all my commerce with this
viſible world ; but I have affairs of infinite and everlaſting moment.
to tranſa&t with the great God. It is before thy tribunal I muſt
ſtand as the final judge of all my condućt, from whoſe deciſive ſen-
tence there is no appeal; and yet how fond am I, and wretchedly
folicitous, to approve myſelf rather to creatures, whoſe opinion
and ſentence is but empty air. It is by thy judgment that I muſt
ftand or fall for ever; the words of thy lips will be my eternal bliſs,
or my everlaſting woe ; why then ſhould I, a little inſe&t, or
atom of being, be concerned about the ſmiles or frowns of my
fellow inſe&ts, my equal atoms? Can all their applauſes, or their
reproaches, weigh a grain in the divine balance, that ſacred and
tremendous balance of juſtice, in which all my ačtions and my ſoul
itſelf muſt be weighed? Let all the creatures above and below frown
and ſcowl upon me; if my Creator ſmile, I am happy; nor can all
their frownings diminiſh my complete joy.
Forgive, gracious God, forgive the paſt follies and wanderings
of a ſinful worm, from thee the higheſt and the beſt of beings. I
am even amazed at my own ſtupidity, that I could live ſo much
abſent from thee, when my eternal all depends upon thee.
And how much more inexcuſable is my forgetfulneſs of my God,
fince he has ſent his own Son, his faireſt image into fleſh and
blood, to put me in mind of my Maker, and to teach me what my
God is “He that has ſeen me, ſays he, has ſeen the Father; I
and the Father are one.” We happen to be born indeed too late
for the fight of his face, but we have the tranſcript of his heart, the
true copy of his life, and the very features of his ſoul, conveyed
down to us in his ever-living goſpels. There we may read Jeſus,
there we may learn the Father. O may the little remnant of my
days be ſpent in the preſence of my God; and when I am conſtrained
to converſe with creatures, let me ever remember that I have in-
finitely more to do with my Creator, and thus ſhorten my talk and
traffic with them, that I may have leiſure to converſe the longer
with thee. Let me ſee thee in every thing; let me read thy name
every where; ſounds, ſhapes, colours, motions, and all viſible
f
MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 359
things, let them all teach me an inviſible God, Let creatures be
nothing to me, but as the books which thou haſt lent me to inſtrućt
me in the leſſons of thy power, wiſdom and love; above all, let
me derive this ſcience by converſe with the bleſſed Jeſus, and may
I be ſo wiſe a proficient in this divine ſchool, as to learn ſome new
leſion daily. Train me up among the viſible works and thy word,
O my heavenly, Father, by the condeſcending methods of thy
grace and providence, till I am looſened and weaned from aſ
things below God; and then give me a glorious diſmiſſion into that
intelle&tual and bliſsful world, where in a more immediate manner
I ſhall ſee God, and where God himſelf is the ſenſible acknow-
ledged life of ſouls.
*
XLV.-Formality and Superſtition.
IT is a melancholy thing to confider how great a part of mankind,
even in chriſtian countries, deceive themſelves in the ſacred and
important affairs of God and religion. ... They cheat their con-
ſciences with the empty forms of worſhip, and hope to ſecure
themſelves from eternal evils, and to obtain every bleſſing of the
upper and lower world, by mere bodily ſervice, and the outward
ſhapes of devotion. º 4-
The Papiſt ſprinkles himſelf with holy water, and believes that
the devil dares not aſſault him ; he has ſigned his forehead with a
croſs, and got ſome relics of a ſaint about him, and now he imagines
himſelf ſo well guarded, that he defies the powers of hell. He
ſays his prayers in Latin, in full tale and number, for he counts his
ftring of beads to fecure his memory and his honeſty, and expe&ts
God ſhould hear and bleſs him for it; though he himſelf does not
know what he prayed for, in ſo many hard words and ſyllables.
Ritillo profeſſes the proteſtant faith, keeps his church, cons over
his prayer-book, bows at the name of Jeſus, and makes all the
reſponſes in proper time; he obſerves every feſtival, honours the
ſaints, receives the ſacrament at chriſtmas and eaſter, and grows
up merely in the power of theſe forms to a full aſſurance of ſalva.
tion ; yet Ritillo knows not what you mean by convićtion offin,
he ſcarce ever thought himſelf to want repentance, or ſaw and felt
his real need of grace and forgiveneſs. -
Nor is the dangerous piece of ſelf-flattery confined only to thoſe
parties of chriſtians that deal much in ceremony. Amorphus
divides himſelf from the national church, that he may enjoy and
Fº purer worſhip, without the inventions of men; he carries
is ſcruples to a confiderable length in this way; he dares, not be
preſent at a common funeral, left he ſhould appear to join in ſome
exceptionable forms ; he attends the beſt of preachers in their
ſeparate meetings, and that with an air of zeal and devotion; he
lays his bible every night under his pillow, and reads three chapters
every morning; be endures perhaps many a ſcoff for his preciſe
pračtices and punétilios; yet he negle&ts the great duties of repent-
ance and charity, and puts the vain fancy of preciſeneſs and ſepa-
ration in the room of faith, and love, and inward holineſs.
Poor abuſed mankind, that feeds on the wind to gain immortality,
and reſt on a ſhadow for ſupport in matters of everlaſting weight
and conſequence
Believe, me, Amorphus, your mere nonconformity is no better
a defence againſt the devil, than the relics of a ſaint or the holy-
water pot. ‘Your diſguſt againſt eſtabliſhed forms of prayer, will
360 M ISC E L L A N E O U S T HO U G HTS,
procure no more bleſfings from heaven, than the latin devotions of
a prieſt or friar. Superſtition does not always lie in the obſervance
of more ceremonies than God has made, or in a mere afte&tation to
ſerve him with rites and forms of the contrivance of men. Anthe-
merus is as ſuperſtitious in his hatred of chriſtmas, and good-
Friday, as Hernerino is in the too fond obſervation of them, be-
cauſe each of them place their merit in their zeal about a thing
which God has left indifferent in his word, and for which he owes
them no ſpecial reward.
The ſevere ſeparatiſt with all his ſingularities, and the high
church man with all his rituals and rubric, his ſaints and their feſ-
tivals, the ſcrupulous, the preciſe, and the ceremonious worſhipper,
will be all ſhut out together from the kingdom of heaven, if they
have no better certificate to ſhew at the gates of it, than ſuch empty
charaćters as theſe. Theſe ſhapes of profeſſion, without real piety,
have no place in the world of ſpirits, and are of no eſteem in para-
diſe, where God and angels dwell. Nothing can ever make way
for our admiſſion there, but a holy acquaintance with God, repent-
ance of every known fin, and truſt in Jeſus the Saviour; nothing
but the life, and ſpirit, and power of godlineſs; but patience,
humility and ſelf-denial, mortification and watchfulneſs, and faith
that worketh by love.
Mere forms are ſo eaſy a way of getting to heaven, that God
would never allow them to be a ſufficient title, left his palace ſhould
be crowded with ten thouſand hypocrites.
XLVI.-Cowardice and Self-Love.
I HAVE often thought it is a right noble and gallant principle
which enables a perſon to paſs a juſt and ſolid judgment upon all
things that occur, without ever being wrapt aſide by the influence
of faſhion and cuſtom : It is a noble ſoul that can praćtiſe ſteady
virtue in oppoſition to the courſe of the humour of the multitude;
“”Tis brave to meet the world, stand fast among
“Whole crowds, and not be carried in the throng.”
It was a female muſe wrote theſe lines, but there is a manly
ſpirit and vigour in them. . Not that we ſhould be fond of running
counter to the cuſtoma of the age or nation wherein we dwell, out
of a humourous fingularity to ſhew our valour; but when thoſe
cuſtoms have a plain appearance of vice and folly in them, we
ſhould dare to be virtuous and wiſe in ſpite of the world.
It is a felicity in human life to have a good degree of courage in-
wrought into our very frame, and mingled with our blood and ſpirits.
Virtue itſelf, even where it has a great aſcendant in the ſoul, has
not power to exert itſelf, and ſhine out to the world, if animal
nature want this brave and hardy temperament. How much do
I feel myſelf ſtand in need of this fortitude of conſtitution What
ſhall I do to acquire it Methinks I ſhould be ready to part with a
few ornaments of the mind, and make an exchange of ſome of the
more ſhowy and glittering ſciences for this bodily virtue, if I may
ſo expreſs it, this complexional bravery. -
I confeſs there are ſome other and worſe principles than a mere
defe&t of natural courage which tempt a man ſometimes to comply
with the faſhion, and to fall in roundly with the errors and vices of
the times. Some perſons have ſo little love to truth and virtue, and
ſuch an exceſſive fondneſs for the thing called ſelf, that they will,
MISCE L LAN E O US THOUGHTS. 361
never expoſe themſelves to the leaſt, inconveniency, in order to
ſupport the honour of wiſdom and religion among men. Such an
one was Criſpus in the fourth ſatire of Juvenal, who ever flattered
the court, and foothed the ſucceſſive emperors in all their vices, and
by this means drew out his age to fourſcore years.
“Illeigitur nunquam direxit brachia contra
“Torrentem ; nec civiserat, qui libera posset
“Verba animi proferre, & vitam impendere vero.
“Sic multas hyemes, atque octogesima vidit
“Solstitia, his armis, illă quoque tutus in aulá.”
Paraphraſed thus,
He never was the man that dar'd to swim
Against the rolling tide, or cross the stream ;
He was no patriot, nor indulg’d his breath
Bravely to speak his sense, and venture death,
Thus he spun out his supple soul, and drew,
A length of life amidst a vicious crew,
Full fourscore years he saw the sun arise,
Guarded by flattery, and intrench’d in lies ;
For ’twas his settled judgment from his youth,
One grain of ease was worth a world of truth.
But this wretched ſelf-love is ſo vile a principle, that it will not
only conſtrain a man to avoid his duty, but it will oftentimes puſh
him upon moſt inhuman pračtices, and make him ſacrifice his
friends, his parents, or his country to his own eaſe and ſafety.
O cursed idol self
The wretch that worships thee would dare to tread *
With impious feet on his own father's head, *
To 'scape a rising wave when seas the land invade. §
To gain the safety of some higher ground,
He’d trample down the dikes that fence his country wns:
Amidst a general flood, and leave the nation drown'd.
Well, though my natural courage run very low, yet I hate
theſe charaćters which have been now deſcribed, and abominate
the principles whence they proceed. . I confeſs, a feeble man and
diffident had need to pray daily, Lord, lead us not into temptation :
But if ever I ſhould be called to bear witneſs to the truth, and to
do public honour to religion 2nd virtue, at the expence of all my
mortal intereſts, I truſt the God of nature and grace to furniſh me
with every neceſſary talent, and to uphold me with divine forti-
tude. And O may I never dare to do abaſe or unworthy ačtion, to
the injury of my friend or my country, or to the unjuſt detriment of
the meaneſt figure among mankind, in order to ſave life itſelf, or to
acquire the richeſt advantages that can belong to it?
XLVII.-Sickneſs and Recovery.
IT was the cuſtom of David, as appears by ſeveral of his pſalms,
and it was the pračtice of Hezekiah and Jonah, kings and prophets,
to rehearſe the agonies of their diſtreſs, when they offered to
heaven their ſongs of deliverance. They recolle&ted their hours
and days of bitterneſs, and the workings of their ſoul amidſt their
ſharp and grievous ſorrows, to make the remembrance of their
ſalvation the ſweeter, and ſo kindle the zeal of their gratitude to
a higher flame. Is it a matter of blame to imitate ſuch examples :
Doth not the reaſon hold good in our age, and to all generations f
Why ſhould a chriſtian be any more afraid to tell the world of his
afflićtions or diſtreſſes than a Jew Or why ſhould he be aſhamed
W O L. V. I I, - Z Z.
362 MISCE LL ANEOUS THIO U G HTS.
tº let them know, that amidſt thoſe finkings of life and nature,
Chriſtianity and the goſpel were his ſupport Amidſt all the vio-
lence of my diſtemper, and the tireſome months of it, I thank God
I never loſt fight of reaſon or religion, though ſometimes I had
much ado to preſerve the machine of animal nature in ſuch order
as regularly to exerciſe either the man or the chriſtian, eſpecially
when I ſhut my eyes to ſeek ſleep and repoſe, and had not their aid
to fence againſt the diſorderly ferments of natural ſpirits. But
theſe conflićts are deſcribed in the following lines. Bleſſed be
God for preſerving and healing mercy -
Thoughts and Meditations in a long Sickneſs. 1712 and 1713.
The Hurry of the Spirits, in a Fever and Nervous Diſorders
MY frame of nature is a ruffled sea,
And my disease the tempest. Nature feels
A strange commotion to her inmost centre;
The throneofreason shakes, ‘Bestill, my thoughts;
* Peace and be still.’ In vain my reason gives
The peaceful word, my spirit strives in vain
To calm the tumult and command my thoughts.
This flesh this circling blood, these brutal powers
Made to obey, turn rebels to the mind,
Nor hear its laws. The engine rules the man.
Unhappy change When nature's meaner springs
Fir'd to impetuous ferments, break all order ;
When little restless atoms rise and reign
Tyrants in sov’reign uproar, and impose
Ideas on the mind ; confus’d ideas
Of non-existents and impossibles,
Who can describe them Fragments of old dreams,
Borrow'd from midnight, torn from fairy fields
And fairy skies, and regions of the dead,
Abrupt, ill-sorted. O’tis all confusion :
If I but close my eyes, strange images
In thousand forms and thousand colours rise,
Stars, rainbows, moons, green dragons, bears and ghosts,
An endless medley rush upon the stage,
And dance and riot wild in reason's court
Above control. I’m in a raging storm
Where seas and skies are blended, while my soul
Like some light worthless chip of floating cork
Istost from wave to wave : Now overwhelm’d
With breaking floods, I drown, and seem to lose
All being : Now high-mounted on the ridge
Of a tall foaming surge, I’m all at once
Caught up into the storm, and ride the wind,
The whistling wind; unmanageable steed,
And feeble rider "Hurried many a league
Over the rising hills of roaring brine,
Thro' airy wilds unknown, with dreadful speed
And infinite surprise; till some few minutes
Have spent the blast, and then perhaps I drop
Near to the peaceful coast; some friendly billow
Lodges me on the beach, and I find rest :
Short rest I find ; for the next rolling wave
Snatches me back again ; then ebbing far
Sets ºne adrift, and f am borne off to sea,
Helpless, amidst the bluster of the winds,
Beyond the ken of shore.
Ah, when will these tumultuous scenes be gone?
When shall this weary spirit, tost with tempests,
Harass'd and broken, reach the port of rest,
MiscellANEous THoughts. 363
And hold it firm When shall this wayward flesh
With all th’ irregular springs of vital movement
Ungovernable, return to sacred order,
And pay their duties to the ruling mind?
Peace of Conſcience and Prayer for Health.
YET gracious God, amidst the storms of nature,
Thine eyes beheld a sweet and sacred calm
Reign thro' the realms of conscience: All within
Ties peaceful and compos'd. 'Tis wondrous grace
Keeps off thy terrors from this humble bosom,
Tho' stain’d with sins and follies, yet serene
In penitential peace and chearful hope,
Sprinkled and guarded with atoning blood.
Thy vital smiles amidst this desolation
Like heav'nly sun-beams hid behind the clouds,
Break out in happy moments, with bright radiance
Cleaving the gloom; the fair celestial light
Softens and gilds the horrors of the storm,
And richest cordials to the heart conveys.
O glorious solace of immense distress,
A conscience and a God! A friend at home,
And better friend on high . This is my rock
Of firm support, my shield of sure defence
Against infernal arrows. Rise, my soul,
Put on thy courage: Here's the living spring
Of joys divinely sweet and ever new,
“A peaceful conscience and a smiling heaven.”
My God, permit a creeping worm to say,
“Thy spirit knows I love thee.” Worthless wretch,
To dare to love a God But grace requires,
And grace accepts. Thou seest my labouring soul:
Weak as my zeal is, yet my zeal is true;
It bears the trying furnace. Love divine
Constrains me; I am thine. Incarnate love
Has seiz’d and holds me in almighty arms:
Here's my salvation, my eternal hope,
Amidst the wreck of worlds and dying nature,
“I am the Lord's, and he for ever mine.”
O thou all-powerful word, at whose first call
Nature arose; this earth, these shining heavens,
These stars in all their ranks came forth, and said,
“We are thy servants:” Didst thou not create
My frame, my breath, my being, and bestow
A mind immortal on thy feeble creature
Who faints before thy face Did not thy pity
Dress thee in flesh to die, that I might live,
And with thy blood redeem this captive soul
From guilt and death º O thrice adored name,
My King, my Saviour, my Immanuel, say,
Have not thy eyelids mark'd my painful toil,
The wild conſusions of my shatter'd powers, .
And broken fluttering thoughts * Hast thou not seen
Each restless atom that with vexing influence
Works thro’ the mass of man Each noxious juice,
Each ferment that infects the vital humours,
That heaves the veins with huge disquietude .
And spreads the tumult wide? Do they not lie
Beneath thy view, and all within thy reach
Yes, all at thy command, and must obey
Z Z 2
364
MISC ELLAN E O US THOUGHTS. º
Thy sovereign touch : Thy touch is health and life,
And harmony to nature's jarring strings.
When shall my midnight-sighs and morning-groans
Rise thro’ the heights of heaven, and reach thy ear
Propitious? See, my spirits feeble powers
Exhal’d and breathing upward to thy throne,
Like early incense climbing thro’ the sky
From the warm altar. When shall grace and peace
Descend with blessings, like an evening shower
On the parch’d desart, and renew my bloom *
Qr must thy creature breathe his soul away
In fruitless groans, and die
Come, blest physician, come attend the moan
Of a poor suffering wretch, a plaintive worm,
Crush’d in the dust and helpless, O descend,
Array’d in power and love, and bid me rise.
Incarnate goodness, send thy influence down
To these low regions of mortalit
Where thou hast dwelt, and . in fleshly weeds
Learnt sympathetic sorrows ; send and heal
My long and sore distress. Ten thousand praises
Attend thee: David’s harp is ready strong
For the Messiah’s “name: A winged flight
Of songs harmonious, and new honours wait
The steps of moving mercy.
Encouraged to hope for Health in May. December 1712,
CONFIN’D to sit in silence, here I waste
The golden hours of youth. If once I stir,
And reach at active life, what sudden tremors
Shake my whole frame, and all the poor machine
Lies fluttering What strange wild convulsive force
O'erpowers at once the members and the will;
Here am I bound in chains, a useless load
Qf breathing clay, a burden to the seat
That bears these limbs, a borderer on the grave,
Poor state of worthless being ! While the lamp
Of glimmering life burns languishing and dim,
The flame just hovering o'er the dying spuff
With doubtful alternations, half disjoin'd,
And ready to expire with every blast.
Yet my fond friends would speak a word of hope;
Love would forbid despair: “Look out, they cry
“Beyond these glooming damps, while winter hangs
“Heavy on nature, and congeals her powers:
“Look chearful forward to the vital influence
“Of the returning spring * I rouse my thoughts
At friendship's sacred voice, I send my soul
To distant expectation, and support
The painful interval with poor amusements.
My watch, the solitary kind companion
Of my imprisonment, my faithful watch
Hangs by; and with a short repeated sound
Beats like the pulse of time, and numbers off
My woes, a long succession; while the finger
Slow-moving, points out the slow-moving minutes;
* At this time my imitation of David's Pſalms in chriſtian language was not half done :
As faſt as I recovered ſtrength after this long illneſs, 1 applied myſelf by degrees to finiſh it,
|
MISCE LL ANEO US THOUGHTS. 365
The slower hand, the hours. O thou dear engine,
Thou little brass accomptant of my life
Would but the mighty wheels of heaven and nature
Once imitate thy movements, how my hand
Should drive thy dented pinions round their centres
With more than ten-fold flight, and whirl away
These clouded wintry suns, these tedious moons,
These midnights ; every star should speed its race
And the slow bears precipitate their way
Around the frozen pole: Then promis'd health
That rides with rosy cheek and blooming grace
On a May sun-beam should attend me here
Before to-morrow sheds its evening-dew.
Ah foolish ravings of a fruitless wish
And spirit too impatient! Know'st thou not,
My soul, the power that made thee He alone
Who form'd the splieres, rolls them in destin’d rounds
Unchangeable. Adore, and trust, and fear him:
He is the Lord of life. Address his throne,
And wait before his foot, with awful hope
Submissive; at his touch distemper flies:
His eyelids send beams of immortal youth
Thro' heaven's bright regions. His all-powerful word
Can create health, and bid the blessing come
Amid the wintry frost, when natureseems
Congeal’d in death; or with a sovereign frown
(Tho’ nature blooms all round) he can forbid
The blessing in the spring, and chain thee down
To pains, and maladies, and grievous bondage
Thro' all the circling seasons.
The Weariſome Weeks of Sickneſs. 1712, or 1713.
THUS pass my days away. The chearful sun
Rolls round and gilds the world with lightsome beams,
Alas, in vain to me; cut off alike
From the bless'd labours, and the joys of life;
While my sad minutes in their tiresome train
Serve but to number out my heavy sorrows.
By night I count the clock; perhaps eleven,
Or twelve, or one ; then with a wishful sigh
Call on the ling’ring hours, “Come two, come five:
“When will the day-light come?” Make haste, ye mornings,
Ye evening-shadows haste; wear out these days,
These tedious rounds of sickness, and conclude
The weary week for ever w
Then the sweet day of sacred rest returns,
Sweet day of rest, devote to God and heaven,
And heav'nly business, purposes divine,
Angelic work; but not to me returns
Rest with the day: Ten thousand hurrying thoughts
Bear me away tumultuous far from heaven
And heavenly work. In yain I heave and toil,
And wrestle with my inward foes in vain,
Q'erpower'd and vanquish’d still. They drag me down
From things celestial, and confine my sense
To present maladies. Unhappy state,
Where the popr spirit is subdu'd tº endure
Unholy idleness, a painful absence
And bºnd to bear the agonies and woes
-lºom God, and heaven, and angel's blessed work,
That sickly flesh on shatter'd nerves impose,
How long, O Lord, how long
366 MISC ELLAN E O US THOUGHTS.
A Hymn of Praiſe for Recovery.
HAPPY for man, that the slow circling moons
And long revolving seasons measure out
The tiresome pains of nature Present woes
Have their sweet periods. Ease and chearful health
With slow approach (so providence ordains)
Revisit their forsaken mansions here,
And days of useful life diffuse their dawn
O'er the dark cottage of my weary soul.
My vital powers resume their vigour now,
My spirit feels her freedom, shakes her wings,
"Exults and spatiates o'er a thousand scenes,
Surveys the world, and with full stretch of thought
Grasps her ideas; while impatient zeal
Awakes my tongue to praise. What mortal voice
Or mortal hand can render to my God
The tribute due ! What altars shall I raise 2
What grand inscription to proclaim his mercy
In living lines : Where shall I find a victim
Meet to be offered to his sovereign love,
And solemnize the worship and the joy 2
Search well, my soul, thro' all the dark recesses
Of nature and self-love, the plies, the folds,
š. hollow winding caverns of the heart,
'here flattery hides our sins; search out the foes
° Of thy almighty Friend; what lawless passions,
What vain desires, what vicious turns of thought
Lurk there unheeded : Bring them forth to view,
And sacrifice the rebels to his honour.
Well he deserves this worship at thy hands,
Who pardons thy past follies, who restores
Thy moldring fabric, and withholds thy life
, From the near borders of a gaping grave. *
Almighty power, I love thee, blissful name,
My healer God; and may my inmost heart
Love and adore for ever ! O’tis good
To wait submissive at thy holy throne,
To leave petitions at thy feet, and bear
Thy frowns and silence with a patient soul.
The hand of mercy is not short to save,
Nor is the ear of heavenly pity deaf
To mortal cries. It notic'd all my groans,
And sighs, and long complaints, with wise delay,
Tho' painful to the sufferer, and thy hand
In proper moment brought desir'd relief.
Rise from my couch, ye late enfeebled limbs,
Prove your new strength, and shew the effective skill
Of the divine physician; bear away
This tottering body to his sacred threshold:
There laden with his honours, let me bow
Before his feet; let me pronounce his grace,
Pronounce salvation thro' his dying Son,
And teach this sinful world the Saviour's name.
Then rise, my hymning soul, on holy notes
Tow’rd his high throne; awake, my choicest songs,
Run echoing round the roof, and while you pay
The solemn vows of my distressful hours,
A thousand friendly lips shall aid the praise.
Jesus, great Advocate, whose pitying eye
Saw my ſong anguish, and with melting heart
MISCE LLANEO US THOUGHTS. 367.
And powerful intercession spread'st my woes
With all my groans before the Father-God,
Bear up my praises now ; thy holy incense
Shall hollow all my sacrifice of joy,
And bring these accents grateful to his ear.
My heart and life, my lips and every power
Snatch'd from the grasp of death, I here devote
By thy bless'd hands an offering to his name.
# Amen, Hallelujah.
XLVIII.-The Deiſt and the Chriſtian.
| &
APISTUS went into a church one morning, becauſe he knew
not how to employ the hour, and heard the text read out of Ron.
xii. 1. “I beſeech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you preſent your bodies a living ſacrifice, holy, acceptable to
God, which is your reaſonable ſervice.” “Well, ſaid he to himſelf,
I like this period ; I hope I ſhall now hear a piece of divine ſervice
that has ſomething reaſonable it. It is my opinion, as well as
Paul’s, that we ſhould employ theſe living bodies of ours to the
fervice of that God that made us, and the mercies of God oblige us
to it.”
The preacher purſued his ſubjećt with much beauty and juſtneſs
of thought and ſtyle; he expatiated on the various engagements We
lie under to the great God to preſent our whole natures and all
out ačtive powers as a living ſacrifice to him. Thus far Apiſtus
was charmed with the performance. But after the mention of
many of thoſe mercies of God which oblige us to a holy life, he
came at laſt to name that illuſtrious inſtance of divine mercy, in
ſending his own Son Chriſt Jeſus to redeem us from fin and hell;
then he ſhewed that the only ground and foundation upon which
God would accept this living ſacrifice of our bodies, was the dying
ſacrifice of his own Son, who bore our fins in his body on the tree.
Here Apiſtus began to be ruffled a little, and as the ſermon went
on with ſome life and ſpirit on this glorious ſubjećt, he was ſo
much diſpleaſed with the preacher, that he roſe up and went out of
the church, and with an air of mingled indignation and Contempt,
he told his neighbour Pithon the whole ſtory on the Monday.
Come, ſit down a little, ſaid Pithon, and let us examine the
merits of this cauſe. Our bible obliges us to give to the great God
our Creator all that reaſonable ſervice which you pretend to ; it
teaches us to preſent our bodies, and our ſouls too, as a ſacrifice
to our God: The ſoul muſt be there, or the body can never be a
living ſacrifice. Thus far we agree. Now if your religion be right,
the chriſtian is in a very ſafe and ſecure ſtate ; for he endeavours
to perform all that reaſonable duty and ſervice that the light of
nature requires of him as well as you. sº
But we chriſtians are taught further to believe, that all men are
finners; and ſurely you yourſelf muſt acknowledge you have been
guilty of many violations of the law of God and nature, and you
have not always performed that reaſonable ſervice to God which
your own conſcience requires. Have you not too often been
tempted to alienate ſome of thoſe very powers of body or mind
from the ſervice of God, which you had before devoted to him as
}. living ſacrifice Have your ſoul, your lips, and your hands
een always employed in their duty to this God f Have you never
indulged a criminal wiſh, never ſpoken an evil word, or committed
an ačtion which your own conſcience condemns Thiſk of this,
368 MIscº LLANEOUS THOUGHTS.
Apiſtus, and your conſcience may tell you that you are a finner
too.
We believe alſo, that without a ſacrifice for fin, there is no ac-
ceptance with God, and we have reaſon to think that God has told
us ſo. But this God in his infinite mercy has provided ſuch a ſa-
crifice, he has made the body and ſoul of his own Son a dying
ſacrifice of atonement; this is the only ground of our hope, and
it is a glorious ground indeed . Now if our religion be true, what
will become of Apiſtus, who confeſſes he hath been a ſinner, and
yet renounces at once this only hope and this atonement
Heb. x. 26, 27, 31. “ For if we fin wilfully, that is, by renounc-
ing the chriſtian ſacrifice, after we have received the knowledge of
the truth, there remaineth no more ſacrifice for fin, but a certain
fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which ſhall
devour the adverſaries. And it is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God.”
XLIX—To Pocyon.
The Miſchief of warm Diſputes and Declamations on the Controverted Points of Chriſtianity,
My dear P. ve tº
I GAVE your laſt letter a joyful entertainment; methought it
talked ſo pleaſingly and ſo long with me, as if it meant to make
amends for its tedious delay : One of the chief ſubjećts of its diſ-
courſe was the extenſive deſign of divine love to men, I have been
debating with myſelf, whether I ſhould return my friend an anſwer
to his propoſed thoughts on a point ſo abſtruſe and difficult: I have
not yet decided the cauſe for myſelf for want of ſufficient ſtudy and
thoughtfulneſs, though you know I have been no ſtranger to dili-
gence in academical ſtudies theſe ſeveral years paſt: It ſeems to
require larger time, and a vaſt and more comprehenſive ſurvey of
things, in order to fix my opinions in theſe controverſies, or pro-
nounce any thing certain in doćtrines ſo much diſputed ; unleſs
it pleaſe God himſelf by a divine ray to ſtrike a powerful light
upon any particular truth, and convey it in that light to the under-
ftanding and the conſcience of the enquirer. I am perſuaded this
is his frequent method with humble and tractable ſpirits, who have
not capacity nor advantages for a long train of reaſonings, and
years of ſuſpence and enquiry. In the mean time I would purſue
knowledge with honeſty and diligence in the ordinary methods
which are ſuited to attain it. -
When I am in doubt about any point, and ſet my thoughts at
work in a ſearch after truth, I think I ought to retire more than
hitherto I have done, from the noiſy and furious conteſts which the
feveral fačtions and parties of chriſtians are engaged in. I am
very unwilling to contend in a diſpute, or to flouriſh in a declama-
tion upon the ſubjećt into which I am enquiring. ... Sophiſtry and
oratory throw ſo much paint upon the queſtion in diſpute, or raiſe
ſo much duſt about it, as to conceal the truth from the eye of the
mind, and hide the merits of the cauſe from reaſon.
In matters of the chriſtian faith, I would make the ſcripture my
guide, and enter into a calm conference with myſelf in a ſurvey of
the oracles of God, in order to a deciſion of the ſenſe and mean-
ing of them ; not negle&ting the aſſiſtance of pious and learned
authors, but converſing very little with the angry and ſupercilious.
I would with daily and hourly importunity addreſs the Father of
lights, to ſhine upon his own word, and to diſcover his intent
MISC E L L A N E O US THOUGHTS. 369
therein. I would humbly implore the ſpirit of wiſdom and reve-
lation to take the things of Chriſt, and ſhew them to my under-
ſtanding in a moſt convincing light, and to lead me as it were by
the hand into all needful truths. My reaſon ſhould be uſed as a
neceſſary inſtrument to compare the ſeveral parts of revelation
together, to diſcover their mutual i.º. as well as to judge
whether they run counter to any dićtates of natural light. . But if
an inquiſitive mind overleap the bounds of faith, and give the
reins to all our reaſonings upon divine themes in ſo wide and
open a field as that of poſſibles and probables, it is no eaſy matter
to gueſs where they will ſtop their career. I have made expe-
riment of this in my own meditations ; when I have given my
thoughts a looſe, and let them rove without confinement, ſome-
times I ſeem to have carried reaſon with me even to the camp of
Socinus; but then St. John gives my ſoul a twitch, and St. Paul
bears me back again (if I miſtake not his meaning) almoſt to the
tents of John Calvin. Nor even then do I leave my reaſon be-
hind me. So difficult a thing is it to determine by mere reaſoning
thoſe points which can be learnt by ſcripture only. .
But you would urge me further perhaps to inform you, why am
I ſo cold and backward to enter into a debate on the ſubjećt you
propoſe, and upon which you flouriſh with ſuch a force of ſimiles,
and in language ſo bright and pathetic I am too ſenſible, dear
Pocyon, and that by reading your letter, that ſuch diſputations
can hardly be managed without intereſting the affections in them,
and I am afraid to be biaſied, for I ſeek the truth. It is exceed-
ing hard to diſpute without gaining ſome inviſible prejudice and
good-liking to the opinion we defend. So devoted are we to
ourſelves, in this dark and degenerate ſtate, that ſelf-love too
eaſily engages our favour to the cauſe we have eſpouſed, and for
no other reaſon than becauſe we eſpouſed it. . Though we had no
kindneſs before for an opinion that we maintain for diſputing-ſake,
yet if a plauſible and ſmiling argument for it occurs in our haſty
thoughts, how prone are we to hug the creature of our brain, and
be almoſt in love with the opinion for the ſake of the argument?
I confeſs there are no ſuch formal reaſonings in our minds as theſe ;
yet we are inſenſibly captivated to eſteem any thing that proceeds
from ourſelves: Our paſſion firſt thinks it pity that ſuch a happy
argument of our own invention ſhould be on the falſe ſide, and §
ſecret infinuation perſuades the judgment to vote it true. How
often have I experienced theſe fallacies working within me in
verbal diſputations before my tutor And, for this reaſon, I have
no great eſteem of the method of our academical diſputes, where
the young ſophiſters are obliged to oppoſe the truth by the beſt
arguments they can find, and the tutor defends it and affiſts the
reſpondent. There is a certain wantonneſs of wit in youth, and
a pleaſing ambition of vićtory, which works in a young warm ſpirit,
much ſtronger than a defire of truth. There is a ſtrange delight
in baffling the reſpondent, and it grows bigger ſenſibly, if we can
put the preſident to a puzzle or a ſtand. The argument which is
fo ſucceſsful, reliſhes better on the lips of the young opponent,
and he begins to think that it is ſolid and unanſwerable; “Surely
my tutor's opinion can hardly be true, and though I thought I was
put on the defence of a falſe doćtrine, yet ſince I have found ſo
good an argument for it, I can hardly believe it falſe.” Then this
V-6 L, V II, 3 A
37O MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS.
invention works on to ſtrengthen his ſuſpicion, and at laſt he firmly
believes the opinion he ſought for. Often have I been in danger of
ſuch deluſions as theſe, and feel myſelf too ready to ſubmit to them
now. Even a cloſet, and retirement, and our cooleſt meditations
are liable to theſe ſecret ſophiſtries. Upon the firſt fight of an
objećtion againſt our arguments, our thoughts are ſtrangely hurried
away to ranſack the brain for a reply, and we torture our invention
to make our ſide, have the laſt word, before we call in cool judg-
ment calmly to decide the difference; and thus from a hot defence
of our own reaſonings, we unimaginably ſlide into a cordial defence
of the cauſe. f
This unaccountable prejudice for an opinion in diſpute, flicks
fo cloſe to human nature, that I queſtion whether Pocyon himſelf
can boaſt an abſolute freedom. You ſeem, my friend, to indulge
and maintain ſome hard conſequences now, which ſome time ago
would have ſtartled your foul, and affrighted and forbid your
aſſent. Farewel, dear man, and let your next letter proceed on
the philoſophical themes that are before us, in which you may ex-
pećt a bolder freedom of thought, a more agreeable reply and cor-
reſpondence from * *
Yours, &c.
Southampton, 1696. &
L.—Of Labour and Patience in Inſtructing Mankind.
To Pocyon, complaining of his juſt Anger and Melancholy Reſentment, that he met with
ſo many Perſons of narrow and uncharitable Souls, obſtinate in Opinions, and violent
againſt all other Notions, and Pračtices but what themſelves had embraced.
YESTERDAY, my friend, I received your long complaint, and
I have already five hundred things to ſay to you ; for there is not a
perſon I converſe with that can ſtir up the thoughts which lie at the
bottom of my foul like you. All my notions are afloat when I read
your letters, but at preſent it is in a troubled, ſea ; for you expreſs
your own melancholy with ſo lively an air, that it raiſes a guſt of
the ſame paſſion in me; though nature has not mingled much of
that dark humour in my conſtitution. If I cannot preſent you my
ſympathy in ſuch vivid and tender expreſſions as I would, yet I
can read over your lines again and again, and ſay I feel them.
I could help you, methinks, to ſpurn this globe away, and join
with you in renouncing commerce with men, while we ariſe to
ſome higher worlds, furniſhed with inhabitants of a better compo-
ſition. Or, if this be too bold a thought, and we cannot aſcend
above the common rank of human nature, let us retire from them
into ſome ſolitary ſhade, that we may be free from their imperti-
nences; for we cannot live happily among the race which this
earth breeds, they are of ſo perverſe a mold. How have I fretted
iſometimes to ſtand by and hear the nonſenſe of a brutal world that
retends to reaſon I It is education, it is paſſion, it is prejudice, it
is ſtubbornneſs, it is what you will but good ſenſe, that commands
the judgments, and ſtamps the opinions of men. How often have
I laboured by reaſons of the brighteſt evidence to reëtify a groſs
and vulgar miſtake But words have been loſt in the wind: Preju-
dice and education had eleven points of the law, and it was im-
poſſible for argument to diſpoſſeſs them. Thoſe arguments that I
have fought out from afar, and digged deep for them with the
MISCE LLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 371
ſweat of my ſoul, and have felt and yielded to their reſiſtleſs power,
thoſe very arguments, I ſay, have been anſwered with a jeſt or a
loud laugh, and been ſcorned by unlettered animals, as the Levia:
than derides and mocks at a ſpear of ſtraw. . Then, my friend, I
have almoſt º the labours of my brain, and wondered to
what purpoſe I had devoted myſelf to ſtudies that improved my
reaſon. It is true, our deſign is to tame and poliſh an uncultivated
world; but if this world be ſo mad and ſavage as néver to be tamed,
then I do but teach an aſs latin, and waſh an AEthiop. *
*.
“ Union of hearts, and impotence to bear
“Thy sorrows, friend, transported me thus far
“With sympathetic fury, not my own;
“But now my reason re-assumes the throne,
“And strikes my passion dumb.”
Were I a heathen philoſopher, perhaps I might thus looſely
philoſophiſe; if I were a mere orator, or a poet, I would chide
and flouriſh at this rate; but as I pretend to be a chriſtian, I muſt
recant it all, and put theſe cooler thoughts in the place of it.
When our ſovereign Creator formed our ſouls, and ſent them to
inhabit theſe two engines of fleſh, which were then a framing for
you and me, he knew well what a world he ſent us into, and de-
Íigned our converſe to be with men, ſhall I ſay, of like infirmities
with ourſelves: For if they are perverſe and untraćtable, perhaps
we are proud, imperious and diſdainful; and perhaps too, we are
ſeldom ſo much in the right as we think ourſelves to be ; it is pro-
bable that minds releaſed from fleſh, and the Genii of a higher
region, may ſmile at ſome of the fooleries and airy ſhapes of reaſon
which we hug and embrace, as much as we do at the ſenſeleſs
notions and obſtinate practices of our fellow-mortals, whom we
have the vanity to think ſo much beneath ourſelves, Poor weak
eaſoners are we and they, when compared with the worlds above
US 1
But to drop this.thought: I ſay ſtill, God deſigned us to dwell
here in ſuch a wretchéd world, and I grant it is no ſmall part of our
flate of trial; but to alleviate our unbappineſs, he has mingled in
the maſs of mankind ſome finer veins, ſome more intelle&tual and
unprejudiced ſpirits, in whoſe converſation we may find ſuitable
delight, and pleaſures worthy of the rational nature. Why ſhould
not we ſuppoſe there are many other minds as happily turned as
our own, and of ſuperior ſize and more divine temper ? All men
have not been bleſſed with our advantages, yet their native felicity
of thought may tranſcend ours. And as for the reſt, God has or—
dained it our duty to aſſociate with them for valuable ends and
purpoſes in his providence, which regard both them and us. It is
our buſineſs to endeavour to perſuade them to lay aſide their miſ-
taken notions, to remove all the biaſes of errot from their judg-
ment, to quench their indignation againſt men of different opinions,
and to enlarge their narrow ſouls, though we find it a difficult
work. I have often ſeen what you complain of, and have been
ready to conclude that when we have to do with vulgar ſouls, we
ſhould not laviſh away our labour to convince them of innocent
miſtakes in matters of ſmall importance, but only lay out our
thoughts to reëtify their notions in things that regard their preſent
or future welfare. And when we refle&t how very impotent and
3 A 2 -
372 MISCELLAN E O U S THOUGHTS.
*A
low are the capacities of ſome ignorant creatures that we have to
do with, how ſhort their reaſonings, how few their advantages to
improve their minds, how incapable their judgments are of grow-
ing up to a ſolid and mature ſtate by our utmoſt cultivation, and
how unable their minds are in many caſes to diſcern and diſtinguiſh
truth; I have been tempted to perſuade myſelf, it is not diſhoneſt
policy to engage their affections a little. I know well, that the
paſſions were never made to judge of truth ; but if we find perſons
who will never judge by any other rule, I would make enquiry
whether we might not in ſome caſes honeſtly make uſe of this. . If
we find that affection is the great gate of entrance into the judg-
ments of the multitude, and reaſon is but like the back-door, or
ſome meaner avenue, and ſeldom opened to let in any doćtrine;
may we not thence infer, that the ſofter arts of winning upon men,
are to be ſtudied by us as well as hard arguments? *
How have I mourned inwardly, to confider that even pious and
holy fouls have been ſo over-run with ignorance and zeal (that is,
with fire and darkneſs), and have been ſo poſſeſſed with narrow
thoughts and uncharitable notions, that it muſt be the work of an
age, or the power of a God, to corre&t their errors. Yet I refle&t
again, that my Maker in his wife providence diſpoſed my lot
amongſt perſons of this conſtitution, and expe&ts that I ſhould
carry it amongſt them, as it becomes one to whom he has indulged
higher favours; that I ſhould ſtrive with conſtancy to reduce my
neighbours to thoughtfulneſs, virtue and religion, and not be tired
and deſiſt, though I find but little ſucceſs. It is a coward ſoldier,
§ declines the fight, becauſe he cannot every day gain a new
V1&tory, - -
Wºn't recount how many weary months my Saviour ſpent in
preaching divine doćtrines to a wild multitude, and to their more
conceited leaders, and how little, very little fruit he found whilſt
he was upon earth ; I perſuade myſelf it was with a deſign to en-
courage his followers in the goſpel, and become a pattern of
patience to ſuch as ſhould meet with the ſame diſappointments.
“Though Iſrael be not gathered, yet ſurely my judgment is with
the Lord, and my reward with my God. If I cannot bring Jacob
again to his duty, yet ſhall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord,
and my God ſhall be my ſtrength;”. Iſ xlix. 4, 5. Theſe were
the encouragements of the Son of God himſelf, when dwelling in
feeble fleſh, and contending with an obſtinate and vicious age; and
St. Paul, the next in dignity to the man Jeſus, expe&ted to be “a
ſweet ſavour unto God in them that periſh, as well as in thoſe that
were ſaved ;” 2 Cor. ii. 15. If we cannot turn ſtupid and head-
ſtrong finners from the errors of their way, we muſt not ſuffer
ourſelves to ſwim with the tide, nor fall into a compliance with
their miſtaken notions and praćtices. It is our buſineſs to move
right onward towards heaven, through the midſt of a multitude
that are travelling another way. The greater the exerciſe of our
patience is, the weightier will be our crown; and if we have broke
through a multitude of difficulties in our journey toward paradife,
our rewards will not be few. “He that overcomes, ſhall eat of
the tree of life.” Large, and ſhining, and durable glories, in a
rich and pleaſing variety, are made over by promiſe to thoſe that
overcome, if we can but read the ſecond and third chapters of the
Revelation, and believe them.
M1SCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 373
Farewel, my Pocyon, and perſevere in patience to teach man-
kind, nor forget to continue your heartieſt love and inſtructions to
Your affectionate Lover and willing Diſciple.
Newington, 1697-8.
LI–Public Diſputations.
SINCE the true deſign of philoſophy is to learn and know the
truth, and to render that knowledge ſubſervient to our practice and
happineſs here and hereafter, how abſurd and impertinent are the
méthods of the Ariſtotelian ſchools, who have changed this deſign
into mere ſophiſtry and the art of diſputation ? They make logic
and prime philoſophy to be no longer the ſhop or work-houſe to
form proper inſtruments to ſearch out truth, or to teach virtue, for
they turn it into a feminary of altercations. When they ſpeak of a
young philoſopher, there is no enquiry how wiſe or how good a
man hé is, but how ſkilful a diſputer. He that knows how to
attack and foil his adverſary, to ſtand his ground and defend him-
ſelf and his theſis againſt all oppoſition; this is the man of merit
and honour. Then they imagine they have attained the moſt
pientiful fruits of philoſophy, when they can bravely oppoſe and
; any themes whatſoever in public, by arguments in form and
guité. -
ºf will not deny but fome private converſations in the mariner of
diſpute may have a tendency to diſcover truth, when they are
carried on without ſpectators, without paſſion or party-ſpirit; and
that on this condition, that on which fide foever probability and
truth appear, each of the diſputants ſhall be ready to give up his
own opinion, and ſurrender it to the force and evidence of reaſon.
But *. conteſts are ſo managed, that diſputations are become
public ſpe&tacles, and each of the combatants aim at nothing ſo
much as always to conquer, and ſiever to yield, it is impoſſible
that, truth ſhould ever be ſought or found in this manner. It is
much more likely that if ſhe were preſent, ſhe would withdraw
herſelf from ſo profane and ill-deſerving a rout of men. Truth is
loſt in ſuch diſputing. The genuine ſtudy of truth, which is true
philoſophy, is a ſerene and gentle thing, and may be compared te
the river Nile, that though it flows with a ſoft and placid ſtream,
yet it renders the whole country fruitful, and carries more profit
and plenty with it, than all the torrents and rapid rivers that pour
down with noiſe and violence.
But what a ridiculous ſcene is a ſcholaſtic diſputation f a mere
ſtage-play ! where two combatants meet, and with rounds and
flouriſhes, with many feints and approachings, and retirings, with
diſtinétions heaped upon diſtinétions, to exclude from the queſtion
what no man ever could doubt or diſpute, they come at laſt to
the point in hand; and their grand deſign is, that each of them
may eſcape ſafe, without being forced to yield up this point.
Thus when they are put to a plunge, they talk whatſoever comes
uppermoſt; they raiſe mutual ſcoffs and clamours and loud re-
proaches, and ſcarce withhold themſelves from manual conflićt, when
their tongues have done their utmoſt And if one of them happens
to filence and overwhelm his adverſary, how vain he grows how
he ſwells and exalts himſelf I What airs of arrogance he affumes I
as though like Hercules he had deſtroyed an Hydra, or like Atlas
he had ſupported a world; when perhaps the truth lies bleeding
ºn the ground, and by his ſophiſtic ſubtleties and his brawling
battle he has ſupported ſome groſs error, and eſtabliſhed falſehood
374 MISCE LLAN E O US THOUGHTS,
in triumph. The great Gaſlendus was deeply ſenſible of this folly
fourſcore years ago, and declaims againſt the profeſſors of Ariſ-
totelian logic and philoſophy in his day upon this account.
Yet perhaps, it is poſſible that academic diſputations may be
reduced to ſuch a form, and put under ſuch regulations, as to
render them ſerviceable for ſome good purpoſes among ſtudents in
the ſchools. But I have diſcourſed more largely on this ſubječt in
ſome papers relating to the various methods of improving the mind.
\ LII.—Devotional Writings. . . .
PERHAPS it is a wiſh too glorious and happy to be ever ful-
filled in this ſtate of mortality, to ſee all the diſciples of Chriſt
grown up into ſuch a catholic ſpirit, as to be ready to worſhip God
their common Father, through Jeſus their common Mediator, in
the ſame aſſembly, and to join in the ſame holy fellowſhip.
There are ſo many punétilios of difference to be adjuſted, and ſo
many jº. to be overcome, that ſuch a union of
hearts and ſentiments lies beyond our preſent hope. . Yet methinks
every ſtep towards ſuch a union, carries a bleſfing in it, and every
chriſtian ſhould defile to promote it. Bohemus was a German
divine, of various knowledge and ſedate judgment, of admirable tem-
per and uncommon piety: He had obſerved long the diſputes and
diviſions in England about the impoſition and the uſe of forms of
prayer; he ſtood by as a ſtranger and ſpectator, nor took any part
in the controverſy, but with an indifferent eye beheld their di putes,
and thought himſelf on that account the fitter to become a mo-
derator between both, being under the influence of no prejudice
nor party.,
I know, ſaid he, the church of England hath long preſcription
on their fide for the uſe of forms in their public aſſemblies, though
they cannot ſay from the firſt beginning of chriſtianity, nor will I.
They argue, and with much force and evidence, that what we
addreſs to the great God ought to be duly conſidered, nor ſhould
our lips pour out words raſhly, nor offer to our Maker the ſacrifice
of fools. What, ſay they, cannot men of learning, prudence and
piety compoſe better prayers for us than we can litter on a ſudden
before God, and much fitter for the ear of his Majeſty Ought we
not to ſerve God with our beſt ? And when we have ſuch happy,
devout and affectionate prayers made to our hands, by men of
great worth and ſingular goodneſs, why ſhould we offer up to God
ſuch poor, lean, raw ſacrifices, ſuch looſe fentences and weak
expreſſions, as our own thoughts on a ſudden can furniſh us with 2
Beſides, ſay they , is invention the chief talent we are called to
exerciſe when we bow our knees before God Is the toil of our
imagination, and, the labour of finding out proper thoughts and
words, our chief buſineſs at the throne of grace Should not our
faith, our hope, our love, our repentance for fin, our deſire of
mercy, and every chriſtian virtue which relates to worſhip, be the
chief exerciſes of our ſpirits Should not theſe be ſupremely
engaged at ſuch a ſeaſon? Let fancy and invention therefore lie at
reſt, which are meaner powers of the ſoul, while the graces and
virtues, and devout ſentiments of the heart are excited by reading
or hearing a well compoſed form. -
On the other hand, I know it is the opinion of the proteſtant
diſſenters, that ſince prayer is but the expreſſion of our ſenſe of
divine things to God, there is no man, who can ſpeak his mother-
MISC ELLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 375
tongue, ſo deſtitute of words, but that he is able with eaſe to ex-
preſs his own fins and ſorrows, his own hopes and fears, his own
faith and his deſires before God, in ſuch language as God under-
ſtands and accepts; and that there is no man called by providence
to pray in the preſence of others, and to lift up their joint addreſſes
to heaven, but he is, or ought to be, ſufficiently furniſhed with
knowledge and language to perform this part of worſhip in a
proper and becoming manner, to the edification of himſelf and
thoſe who join with him. I know alſo, faith he, it hath been mat-
ter of frequent complaint among them, that the conſtant and un-
varied repetition of ſet forms of prayer has a great tendency to
introduce coldneſs and formality into divine worſhip. Though the
confeſſions, the petitions and praiſes are never ſo happily framed,
and the expreſſions never ſo proper and pathetic, yet, ſay they,
where the ſame ſet of words and phraſes paſs over the ears in a
conſtant rehearſal, the ſoul by degrees loſes thoſe lively influences
and devout ſenſations which it at firſt received from them ; and
the continual round of uniform expreſſions rolling on in a beaten
track; makes little more impreſſion upon the heart, than a wheel
that has often travelled through a hardened road.
And yet, further they ſay, there is no man knows my thoughts,
my wants and my deſires ſo well as I do myſelf; and where the
heart and the thoughts of a chriſtian are impriſoned and reſtrained
by the words of any form, ſo as not to give himſelf the liberty of
expreſſing his own preſent devout breathings towards God, what-
ſoever holy elevations of ſoul he may feel within himſelf, this brings
a heavy damp upon the inward devotion of the heart, it binds the
ſoul in uneaſy fetters, it appears to carry in it a reſiſtance of theſe
good motions of the bleſſed Spirit, whoſe aſſiſtance is promiſed us
in prayer, becauſe, “we know not what to pray for as we ought, and
the Spirit maketh interceſſion for us orinus, according to the will of
God;” Rom; viii. Such a reſtraint is indeed painful to a holy and
devout worſhipper ; it cuts ſhort the chriſtian in the pleaſure of his
converſe with heaven, while it makes him ſpeak to God the
thoughts of other men, and he neglećts his own.
Having repreſented in ſhort, ſomething of the ſenſe of both.
parties on this ſubjećt, I ſhall not tarry now, ſaid Bohemus, to
relate how each party defend themſelves againſt the difficulties
objećted by the other; but I beg leave to interpoſe a little, and
enquire why mankind, when their ſentiments differ, ſhould be ſo
fond of running into extremes P Is there no uſe to be made of the
devout compoſures of holy men, without confining ourſelves to all
the words and ſyllables of their writings May we not enjoy their
help, without making them our abſolute dićtators Whatſoever
inconvenience may ariſe from the conſtant uſe or unalterable im-
i." of forms of prayer, yet certainly there is very confiderable
enefit and aſſiſtance in the chriſtian life to be derived from devo-
tional compoſitions. Such forms of pious addreſs to God as are
Jrawn from a ſerious ſenſe of divine things, and framed by a ſkil-
ful and judicious hand, has given rich advantages to a ſincere wor-
ſhipper, both in ſolitary and ſocial worſhip. Many a holy ſoul
has found its inward powers awakened and excited to lively religion
by ſuch aſſiſtances; many a penitent groan under the ſenſe of ſin,
many an ardent petition for ſome peculiar grace or virtue, many
3. £: aſpiration of heart, and many a joyful ſound of praiſe, has
aſcended towards heaven in the words and language of ſome well-
376 MISC E L L A N E O US THOUGHTS.
compoſed form. And I am well aſſured the bleſſed Spirit of God
neither confines his ſacred influences to thoſe who worſhip without
forms, nor withholds it from thoſe who uſe them. Both have need
of this aid, and I am perſuaded both do partake of it.
Indeed in the uſe of forms, there is no need of binding ourſelves
to a whole page together, as it ſtands in the book. In the name of
God, let us ſtand faſt in our chriſtian liberty, and maintain a juſt
freedom of ſoul in our addreſſes to heaven; let us change, enlarge
or contraćt, let us add or omit, according to our peculiar ſenti-
ments, or our preſent frame of ſpirit. Mr. Jenks, a pious divine
of the church of England, has written an excellent treatiſe of the
liberty of prayer, which I dare recommend to every ſort of reader.
But when weſfind the temper, the wants and the wiſhes of our hearts ſo
happily expreſſed in the words of the compoſer, as that we know not
how to frame other words ſo ſuitable and ſo expreſſive of our own
preſent ſtate and caſe, why ſhould we not addreſs our God and our
Saviour in this borrowed language I confeſs indeed, when long
cuſtom has induced a ſort of flatneſs into theſe founds, how hap-
pily ſoever the words might be at firſt choſen, then perhaps we
fhall want ſomething new and various to keep nature awake to
the devotion. Or if we ſtill confine ourſelves entirely to the forms
we read, and forbid our ſpirits to exert their own pious ſenti.
ments, we turn theſe engines of holy elevation into clogs and
fetters. But when chriſtians make a prudent uſe of them, they
have frequently experienged unknown advantage and delight. A
dull and heavy hour in the cloſet has been relieved by the uſe of
ſuch devout compoſures of mingled meditation and prayer ; and
many a dry and barren heart has been enabled to offer up the firſt-
fruits of a ſweet ſacrifice to God in the words of another man.
The fire of devotion has been kindled by the help of ſome ſerious
and pathetic forms, and the ſpirit of the worſhipper, which has
been ſtraitened and bound up in itſelf, has found a bleſſed releaſe by
the pen of ſome pious writer. The wings of the ſoul have been
firſt expanded towards God and heaven by ſome happy turn of
fervent and holy language ; ſhe has been lifted up by this affiſtance
above the earth and mortality ; then ſhe has given herſelf a more
unconfined and various flight in the upper regions, ſhe has tra-
verſed the heavenly world, ſhe has felt herſelf within the circle of
divine attračtion, and has dwelt an hour with God. k
The good man Bohemus had warmed his imagination a little
by this vivid manner of repreſenting the argument. . . His ſoul
catched fire, was ſeized with a ſacred enthuſiaſm, and broke out
in the following tranſport.
Hail, hebrew psalmist king! hail happy hour !
I see, I hear, I feel the sovereign pow'r
Of language so devout. Th’ immortal sound -
Thrills thro' my vitals with a pleasing wound,
And mortal passions die. Devotion reigns,
Earth disappears, her mountains and her plains;
I soar, I pray, I praise in David's heavenly strains,
Here thoughts divinein living words exprest, |
Pour’d out and copy’d glowing from the breast,
Spread o'er the sacred page; what eye, what heart,
Can read the rapture, and not bear its part
In holy elevation?
Where lave and joy exult, the glorious line
MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 377
Gives the same passions, spreads the fire divine,
And kindles all the reader. See him rise
On wings of extasy, shoot thro' the skies,
And mix with angels: Hail, ye choirs above,
Where all is holy joy, where all his heav'nly love.
If sins review’d in trickling sorrows flow ;
The page conveys the penitential woe, -
And strikes theinmost spirit, Conscience hears -
The words of anguish, and dissolves in tears.
Ev’n iron souls relent, and hearts of stone
Burst at these mournings, and repeat the groan :
--- God and his power are there. . . . w
Formiſtes and Libero were preſent while Bohemus was carried
away in this ſurpriſing rapturé. The laſt had been educated in
too great an averſion to forms of prayer, and the firſt never
thought of addreſſing God without thern ; but both were deeply
ſtruck with convićtion at this ſpeech of Bohemus: They confeſs-
ed that they had lived all their days in extremes, and begun to
confeſs their miſtake.
Surely, ſays Liberg, written prayers are not ſuch formidable
things as I once imagined them, eſpecially fince we are not pin-
ned down to every ſentence, but maintain a juſt liberty to alter as
we pleaſe. And yet further, now I think of it, chriſtians of every
party find it no hindrance to the devout melody and praiſe which
they offer to God, that they have the words of a ſacred ſong pro-
vided for them before-hand ; and it is as certain that compoſed
forms of prayer are evidently uſeful, if not neceſſary, for the
affiſtance of children, to train them up to this part of worſhip, and
lead them in the way to private devotion in their younger years;
and why ſhould they not be happy expedients to relieve the weak-
neſs of the bulk of chriſtians ? Certairſly they are ſo, replied Bohe-
mus ; for if we conſider mankind in the various ranks, conditions
and circumſtances of life, and take a juſt ſurvey of the many infir–
mities that ſurround human nature, and the numerous weights that
hang upon the ſoul; if we obſerve the perpetual diverſion from
the things of God, to which the mind is expoſed by conſtant buſi-
neſs in the world ; if we think of the low capacity, ſcanty furni-
ture and poor invention of many ſerious perſons whoſe hearts have
a ſincere tendency toward God, and their want of words to expreſs
even the pious thoughts that ariſe within them ; may we not ſup-
poſe that they would be thankful for ſome fuch affiſtances in this
work of inward religion, if they were but once furniſhed with them
by their friends, and encouraged to make uſe of them : and even the
wiſeſt and the beſt of men might be glad of them at ſome ſeaſons.
And, let me add alſo, ſaid, he, there is many a family which
would have lived to this day without paying homage to the God of
nature and grace in ſocial worſhip; which has been enabled by the
help of pious forms to maintain daily religion in the houſe, and
the children and the ſervants of the family have been trained up to
conſtant devotion and daily acknowledgment of God, by theſe
aſſiſtances, borrowed from holy and ſkilful writers. And God'
forbid that any houſe among chriſtians ſhould be prayerleſs, ſince.
theſe devout compoſitions are ſo eaſy to be had. -
This is well known and abundantly pračtiſed amongſt the chriſ-
tians of the eſtabliſhed church, and they rejoice in it as their pri-
vilege and their conſtant bleſfing; whereas I fear there are ſome
among the proteſtant diſſenters have been educated with ſuch an
Y O L = W H i. 3 B .
378 MISCE LLAN E O US THOUGHTS.
*
unreaſonable and ſuperſtitious averſion to all pre-Compoſed
prayers, that a few of them, even to this day, are hardly willing
that children and ignorant perſons ſhould uſe them. And there
are but few, I doubt, who give themſelves leave to make a full
and proper uſe of ſuch advantages with which our nation and our
age are furniſhed. Dr. Patrick, Dr. Innet, Dr. Meriton, and Mr.
Jenks, with ſeveral other worthy divines, have done much this
way; ſome of the diſſenters themſelves have given affiſtance in
this affair, and have compoſed forms of addreſs to God upon the
common occaſions of life, as well as upon the various themes of
the chriſtian religion. Mr. Baxter in the laſt age, and Mr. Howe,
and in this century Mr. Murray, Mr. Bourne, and others ; and I
wiſh this ſort of dévotional writings were multiplied among them.
I acknowledge, ſays Libero, this is the caſe ; we have ſome
unhappy prejudices ſtill hanging about our ſpirits, in making a
religious uſe of written or printed prayers, either in our retire-
ments, or in the family ; and Iann now ſenſible this has bereaved
us of thoſe advantages for the religion of the cloſet and the houſe-
hold, which our neighbours partake of, and which we might enjoy
with great liberty of ſoul, and rejoice in with rich improvement.
I #. you from my heart, dear Bohemus, for the leſſon I have
learnt of you this day, and I will endeavour that many of my
friends ſhall learn it too, that they may no more renounce that
ſpiritual affiſtance and relief which may be borrowed from pious
compoſures; and eſpecially that maſters of families may begin to
make a happy uſe of them in their houſehold, and worſhip God
by theſe helps, when they want them, without the leaſt reſtraint
laid either upon the juſt freedom of their own ſpirits, or the hopes
of divine influences.
And I, for my part, ſaith Formiſtes, return you my ſincere
thanks, good Bohemus, that you have marked out ſo happy a
medium between an utter rejećtion of all forms of prayer, and an
abſolute confinement of ourſelves to then]. I cannot but acknow-
ledge I have ſometimes found inward motions of repentance for
particular ſins, of humble deſires towards God, and wiſhes for
affiſtance againſt particular temptations and ſnares, while I have
been reading my written devotions ; and yet I was unwilling to
expreſs them with my tongue, leſt I ſhould utter any thing raſhly
before God. But upon what you have ſaid, I now give myſelf
leave to think, that the ſincere workings of a man’s heart towards
virtue and religion, and things of the upper world, are beſt known
to himſelf, and may be expreſſed by himſelf, when they ariſe in
his heart, in ſuch language as a gracious God will accept. I ſhall
never more therefore ſuppreſs, theſe good deſires for want of
courage to utter them ; but while I make uſe of forms of worſhip
compoſed by pious and learned men, I ſhall remember that they
were deſigned only as affiſtances to my devotion, and not impoſe
them on my conſcience as reſtraints upon all the good motions of
the bleſſed Spirit, which our church teaches us humbly to pray for,
and to expect according to the divine promiſe. And ſince the holy
ſcripture often requires us to pray to God, but never preſcribes to
us whether we ſhould uſe our own words, or the words of other
men, I will learn for the future to look upon that as a matter of
greater indifference than I once thought it, and not make that a
duty for myſelf, which God has not made ſo, nor charge my neigh-
bour Libero with fin, for praying in ſuch a free manner as God has
never forbid. *
MISCE L L ANEO US THOUGHTS
379
LIII.—An Elegy on Sophronia, who died of the Small-Por, 1711.
Sophron is introduced Speaking. -
l FoRBEAR, my friends, forbear, and
aſk no more,
Where all my chearful airs are fled?
Why will ye make me talk my torments
o'cr,
My life, my joy, my comfort's dead.
2 Deep from my ſoul, mark how the ſobs
ariſe,
Hear the long groans that waſte my
breath, -
And read the mighty ſorrows in my eyes,
Lovely Sophronia ſleeps in death.
3 Unkind diſeaſe, to veil that roſy face
With tumours of a mortal pale,
While mortal purples with their diſmal
grace
And double horror ſpot the veil.
4. Uncomely veil, and moſt unkind diſeaſe!
Is this Sophronia, once the fair P
Are theſe the features that were born to
pleaſe ?
And beauty ſpread her enſigns there
5 I was all love, and ſhe was all delight.
Let me run back to ſeaſons paſt;
Ah flow'ry days, when firſt ſhe charm'd
my ſight! 4.
But roſes, will not always laſt.
6 Yet ſtill Sophronia pleaſ'd, Nor time,
nor care,
Could take her youthful bloom away :
Virtue has charms which nothing can
impair;
Beauty like hers could ne'er decay.
* Grace is a ſacred plant of heav'nly birth :
The ſeed deſcending from above
Boots in a ſoil refin'd, grows high on
earth, -
And blooms with life, and joy and
love. -
8 Such was Sophronia's ſoul. Celeſtial
dew,
And angels food were her repaſt :
Devotion was her work; and thence ſhe
drew
Delights which ſtrangers never taſte.
9 Not the gay ſplendors of a flatt’ring
COurt
Could tempt her to appear and
fhine :
Her ſolemn airs forbid the world’s re-
fort.
But I was bleſt and ſhe was mine.
10 Safe º her welfare all my pleaſures
UiTM º
Her ſmiles could all my pains con-
troul : *
Her ſoul was made of ſoftneſs, and her
tongue
Was ſoft and gentle as her ſoul.
11 She was my guide, my friend, my
earthly all ;
Love grew with every waning moon:
Had heav'n a length of years delay'd its
call,
Still I had thought it call'd too ſoon.
12 But peace, my ſorrows nor with mur-
muring voice
Dare to accuſe heav'n's high de-
Cree :
. She was firſt ripe for everlaſting joys;
Sophron, ſhe waits above for thee.
LIV.—An Elegy on the much lamented Death of Mrs. Elizabeth Bury, late
Wife of the Reverend Mr. Samuel Bury ºf Briſtol, annexed to ſome Memoirs
of her Life, drawn up by him; but collected out of her own Papers.
SHE must ascend; her treasure lies on high,
And there her heart is. Bear her thro’ the sk
On wings of harmony, ye sons of light, -
And with surrounding shields protect her flight.
Teach her the wond’rous songs yourselves compose
For yon bright world; she'll learn 'em as she goes ;
The sense was known before: Those sacred themes,
The God, the Saviour, and the flowing streams
That ting’d the cursed tree with blood divine,
Purchas'd a heav'n, and wash’d a world from sin;
The beams, the bliss, the vision of that face
Where the whole godhead shines in mildest grace;
3 B2
380
MISCE L LAN E O US THOUGHTS.
These are the notes ſor which your harps are strung,
These were the joy and labour of her tongue
In our dark regions. These exalted strains
Brought paradise to earth, and sooth'd her pains.
“Souls made of pious harmony and love,
“Can be no strangers to their work above.”
But must we lose her hence? The muse in pain
Regrets her flight, and calls the saint again.
Stay, gentle spirit, stay. Can nature find
No chârms to hold the once unfetter'd mind
Must all those virtues, all those graces soar
Far from our sight, and bless the earth no more ?
Must the fair saint to worlds immortal climb,
For ever lost to all the sons of time
O, no; she is not lost. Behold her here,
How just the form how soft the lines appear !
The features of her soul, without disguise,
Drawn by her own bless'd pen: A sweet surprise
To mourning friends. The partner of her cares
Seiz'd the fair piece, and wash’d it o'er with tears,
Dress'd it in flow’rs, then hung it on her urn,
A pattern for her sex in ages yet unborn.
Daughters of Eve, come, trace these heav'nly lines,
Feel with what power the bright example shines;
She was what you should be. Young virgins, come,
Drop a kind tear, and dress you at her tomb:
Gay silks and diamonds are a vulgar road;
Her radiant virtues should create the mode.
Matrons, attend her hearse with thoughts refin'd,
Gaze and transcribe the beauties of her mind,
And let her live in you. The meek, the great,
The chaste, yet free; the chearful, yet sedate:
Swift to forgiveness, but to anger slow,
And rich in solid learning more than show,
With charity and zeal, that rarely join,
And all the human graces and divine,
Reign'd in her breast, and held a pleasing strife
Thro’ every shifting scene of various life,
The maid, the bride, the widow, and the wife.
Nor need a manly spirit blush to gain
Exalted thoughts from her superior vein.
Attend her hints, ye sages of the schools,
And by her nobler practice frame your rules.
Let her inform you to address the ear
With conquering suasion, or reproof severe,
And still without offence. Thrice happy soul,
That could our passions, and her own controul ;
Could wield, and govern that unruly train,
Sense, fancy, pleasure, fear, grief, hope and pain,
And live sublimely good l Behold her move
Thro' earth's rude Sgames, yet point her thoughts above.
“Seraphs on earth pant for their native skies, -
“And nature feels it painful not to rise.”
Ye venerable tribes of holy men, -
Read the devotions of her heart and pen,
And learn to pray and die. Burissa knew
To make life happy, and resign it too.
The soul that oft had walk'd the ethereal road,
Pleas'd with her summons, took her farewel flight to God,
MISCE L L A N E O U S THOUGHTS. 381
But ne'er shall words, or lines, or colours paint
Th’ immortal passions of th’ expiring Saint,
What beams of joy, angelic airs, arise
O'er her pale cheeks, and sparkle thro’ her eyes
In that dark hour ! how all serene she lay
Beneath the openings of celestial day !
Her soul retires from sense, refines from sin,
While the descending glory wrought within;
Then in a sacred calm resign'd her breath,
And as her eyelids clos'd, she smil’d in death.
O may some pious friend who weeping stands'
Near my last pillow with uplifted hands,
Or wipes the mortal dew from off my face,
Witness such triumphs in my soul; and trace
The dawn of glory in my dying mien,
While on my lifeless lips such heav'nly smiles are seen
N-
September 29, 1720. . *
H.V.-An Elegiac Ode on the death of Sir Thomas Abney, Knight and Alder-
man of London, February 6, 1721-2, in the 83d year of his age. Affixed
to ſome Memoirs of his life, and inſcribed to the Lady Abney.
Madam,
“YOUR grief is great and juſt. It is not in the power of verſe
to charm it: your comforts muſt ariſe from a diviner ſpring. My
reſidence in your family hath made me a witneſs to the luſtre of Sir
Thomas Abney’s charāčter, and to the years of your felicity; and
I bear a ſenſible ſhare in the forrows that are ſhed on his tomb.”
“The nation mourns a good man loft from the midſt of us, as
public bleſfing vaniſhed from the earth. The city mourns the loſs
of a moſt excellent magiſtrate, a ſure friend to virtue, and a guard-
ian to the public peace. The church of Chriſt mourns a beauti-
ful pillar taken from the ſupport and ornament of the temple. All
theſe are public ſorrows ; but your loſs, madam, carries a pain in
it, that muſt be unknown to all but ſuch as knew the domeſtic vir-
tues of the deceaſed.”
“Thoſe who have the honour of your lady ſhip's acquaintance,
can tell whence you derive your daily conſolations ; even from that
world where your departed relative drinks, them at the fountain-
head. O may thoſe ſtreams deſcend in full meaſure hourly, and
refreſh }ºf and your mourning houſe !”
“But if a verſe cannot give comfort to the living, yet it may do
honour to the dead : and it is for this reaſon that your ladyſhip de-
ſires a verſe to attend theſe few memorials of Sir Thomas Abney’s
life. His modeſty hath concealed a thouſand things from the world
which might have ſtood as witneſſes of his piety and goodneſs, but
he thought it ſufficient that his record was on high : yet your un-
feigned love follows him to the grave, and would do every thing
that might adorn his name and memory. Since you have called
me to this piece of ſervice, the obligations that your lady ſhip hath
laid upon me are ſtrong enough to ſummon up my youthful powers'
and talents, even when I look upon them as buried and almoſt for-
Otten. A. . . . .
g “ Beſides, madam, there are ſome occurences that can of them-
ſelves rouſe the muſe from the deepeſt ſleep. Poeſy is not always
ſ
382 M | SC E L L A N E O U S T H O U GHTS.
under the command of the will. As there have been occaſions
heretofore when I have wiſhed to write, but the imagination has
refuſed to attend the wiſh ; ſo there are ſeaſons when verſe comes
almoſt without a call, and the will might reſiſtin vain. A few ſuch
feaſons have I met with in the courſe of my life, and ſome of them
have found me even in the chambers of death. When I have ſpent
days in the midſt of mourning, and the whole ſoul hath been turned
to forrow, the harp hath ſounded of its own accord, and awakened
all the doleful ſtrings. Such was the hour when your dear and
honoured brother Mr. Thomas Gunſton departed this life : and
fuch is the preſent providence. Uncommon worth forſaking our
world, ſtrikes all the powers of nature with ſentiments of honour
and grief, and the hand and the heart conſent to raiſe a monument
of love and ſorrow.”
“ Accept then, honoured madam, theſe lines of elegy, as a fin-
cere pledge of the greateſt veneration which my heart pays to the
memory of Sir Thomas Abney. How far ſo ever the verſe may
fall belów, the theme, yet now it muſt always live, fince it is joined
to theſe memoirs, and attached to a charaćter that cannot die. And
while ſucceeding ages ſhall read the honours due to the deceaſed,
let them know alſo the gratitude I pay to your ladyſhip, for the fig-
nal benefits of many years conferred on.
Your Ladyſhip's moſt obliged, and obedient ſervant,
- I, WATTS.
At the Death of that excellent Man Sir Thomas Abney,
A Soliloquy, or Mourning Meditations
“ Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus
“Tam chari capitis pracipelugubres
“Cantus, Melpomene. ~f
“Ergone Abneium perpetuus Sopor
“Urget Cui pudor & justitia soror
“Incorrupta fides, nudaque veritas,
“Quandoullum invenient paren " Hor.
PART I. ſº
IIis ſtrivate Life, & The drops of ſympathetic woe
Convey the heav'nly cordial warmer to
1 A £NEY expires. A general groan the heart.
* Sounds thro’ the houſe, How muſt a t
friend behave * We mourn a thouſand joys deceas'd,
Where death and grief have rais’d a || " We name the huſband with a mournful
throne, : . ſº tongue ;
And the ſad chambers ſeem th' apart- He, when the pow’rs of life decreas'd,
ments of the grave * & Felt the diviner flames of love for ever
J. " young.
2. Sháll I appear amongſt the chief r
Of mourners, wailing 'o'er the dear de- || 5 Thrice happy man Thrice happy
ceas'd 3 & * *
- air |
Or muſt I ſeek to charm their grief, If love could bid approaching death re-
And in diſtreſs of ſoul to comfort the dis- move,
treſs'd 2 t ? I The painful name of widow here
Had ever been unknown: But death is
* * deaf to love. -e -
I mourn by turns, and comfort too;
He that can feel can eaſe another's ſmart;
MISCELLAN E O US THQ UGHTS. 383
6 * Albiná mourns, ſhe mourns alone, We bleſs thee, that he ſhone ſo long,
Her grief unrival’d in a houſe of tears, And left ſo fair a track of pious life be-
The partner of her ſoul is gone, hind.
Who doubled all her joys, and half ſuſ-
tained her cares. PART II.
7 See the fair offspring of the dead, His ſublic Chara&#er and Death.
With their young griefs Albina they in- || 1 BUT can domeſtic ſorrow ſhew
cloſe, A nation’s loſs Can private tears
Beſide the father's dying bed : ſuffice
And as her woes increaſe, their love and To mourn the ſaint and ruler too,
duty grows. Great names, ſo rarely join’d below the
bliſsful ſkies *
8 The children feel the mother’s pain,
Down their pale cheeks the trickling for- || 2 Could Abney in our world be born,
rows roll ; º Could Abney live, and not Britannia
The mother ſees and weeps again, - ſmile 2
With all the tender paſſions ſtruggling in Or die, and not Britannia mourh, I
her ſoul. When ſuch ethereal worth left our dege-
nerate iſle *
8 The tender paſſions reign and ſpread
Thro' the whole houſe, and to the courts || 3 "Twas heav’āly wiſdom, zeal divine,
deſcend : Taught him the balance and the ſword
We mourn the beſt of brothers dead; to hold :
We mourn the kindeſt maſter, and the His looks with ſacred, juſtice ſhine
firmeſt friend. Beyond the ſcarlet honours, or the wrea-
then gold.
IO We mourn; but not as wretches do,
Where vicious lives all hope in death || 4 Truth, freedom, courage, prudence
deſtroy : ſtood
A falling tear is nature's due ; Attending, when he fill'd the ſolemn
But hope climbs high and borders on ce- chair :
leſtial joy. He knew no friendſhips, birth, nor
blood, '.
| I There fits the late departed ſaint ;t Nor wealth, nor gay attire, when cri-
There dwells the huſband, father, bro- mipals where there ||
ther, friend : *
Then let us ceaſe the fore complaint, 5 He ſign'd their doom with ſteady
Or mingled with our groans let notes of hand ;
praiſe aſcend. Yet drops of pity from his eyelids roll .
§ He puniſh’d to reform the land,
12 Great God, to thee we raiſe our ſong, With terror on his brow, and mercy in
Thine were the graces that enrich'd his his ſoul. *
* mind ; *
* The Lady Abney.
+ Juſtum & tenacem propoſitivirum, &c.
Hac arte—Enixus arces attigit igneas. Hor.
I Cunétis ille bonis flebilis occidit. Hor,
| —Eſt animus tibi
Rerumque prudens, & ſecundis
Temporibus, dubiiſque reëtus ;
Vindex avarae fraudis, & abſtinens
Ducentis ad ſe cuneta pecuniae.
—Bonus atque fidus
Judex homeſtum praetulit utili, &
Rejecit alto dono nocentium
g- Vultu—Hor.
Qui quaerit Pater urbium
Subſcribi ſtatuis, indomitam audeat
Refrenare licentiam,
Caedes, & rabiem tollere civium-Hor.
384 MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS.
6 His tongue was much unſkill'd to II 11 See the good man with head reclin'd,
chide ; And peaceful heart, reſign his precious
Soft were his lips, and all his language breath :
ſweet : ; No guilty thoughts oppreſs his mind;
His ſoul disdain'd the airs of pride, || Calm and ſerene his life, ſerene and calm
Yet love and reverence greet him thro' || his death.
the crouded ſtreet. |
- T2 Laden with honours and with years,
7 Godlike he lived and ačted here, His vigorous virtue ſhot a youthful ray;
Moving unſeen, and ſtill ſublimely great; And while he ends his race, appears
Yet when his country claim’d his Bright as the ſetting-ſun of a long cloud-
care, leſs day. *
Deſcending he appear'd, and bore the
pomp of ſtate. I 3 Spcnt with the toil of buſy hours,
Nature retir’d and life ſunk down to
3 He more than once oblig'd the ſleep :
throne, Come, dreſs the bed with fadeleſs
And ſav'd the nation ; yet he ſhun'd the flow'rs,
fame, Come, angels, round his tomb immortal
Careleſs to make his merit known vigils keep.
The chriſtian hath enough, that heav'n -
records his name. I4. The heart of every Briton rears
A monument to Abney’s ſpotleſs fame ;
His humble ſoul convers'd on high ; The pencil faints, the muſe def-
Heav'n was his hope, his reſt, his native pairs;
home : , His country’s grief and love muſt eter-
His treaſures lay above the ſky; niſe his name.
Much he poſſeſs'd on earth, but more in
worlds to come. Sic cecinit. maerehs,
Inter maerores domeſicos,
IO With filent ſteps he trac'd the way Et ſhatriae ſuae lučius,
To the fair courts of light, his wiſhed
abode : - I, W.
Nor would he aſk a moment’s ſtay,
Nor make the convoy wait, that call’d
his ſoul to God. *
LVI.-Entrance upon the World.
CURINO was a young man brought up to a reputable trade ;
the term of his apprenticeſhip was almoſt expired, and he was con-
triving how he might venture into the world with ſafety, and pur-
ſue buſineſs with innocence and ſucceſs. Among his near kindred,
Serenus was one, a gentleman of confiderable charaćter in the
ſacred profeſſion ; and after he had conſulted with his father, who
was a merchant of great eſteem and experience, he alſo thought fit
to ſeek a word of advice from the divine. Serenus had ſuch a reſ-
pe&t for his young kinſman, that he ſet his thoughts at work on this
ſubjećt, and with ſome tender expreſſions, which melted the youth
into tears, he put into his hand a paper of his beſt counſels. Cu-
rino entered upon buſineſs, purſued his employment with uncommon
advantage, and under the bleſſing of heaven advanced himſelf to a
conſiderable eſtate. He lived with honour in the world, and gave
a luſtre to the religion which he profeſſed; and after a long life of
piety and uſefulneſs, he died with a ſacred compoſure of ſoul, un-
der the influences of the chriſtian hope. . Some of his neighbours
wondered at his felicity in this world, joined with ſo much inno-
cence, and ſuch ſevere virtue. But after his death this paper was
found in his cloſet, which was drawn up by hiskinſman in holy or-
# and was ſuppoſed to have a large ſhare in procuring his hap-
pinels. w
MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS• 385
Advices to a Young Man.
I, KINSMAN, I preſume you deſire to be happy here, and
hereafter : you know F. 3 T€ } thouſand jś º; attend
this purſuit; ſome of them perhaps you foreſee, but there are multi-
tudes which you could never think of . Never truſt therefore to your
own underſtanding in the things of this world, where you can have
the advice of a wiſe and faithful friend ; nor dare venture the more
important concerns of your ſoul, and your eternal intereſts in the
world to come, upon the mere light of nature, and the dićtates of
your own reaſon ; ſince the word of God, and the advice of hea-
ven, lies in your hands. Vain and thoughtleſs indeed are thoſe
children of pride, who chooſe to turn heathens in the midſt of
Great Britain ; who live upon the mere religion of nature and their
own ſtock, when they have been trained up among all the ſuperior
advantages of chriſtianity, and the bleſfings of divine revelation and
TalCC. +
g II. Whatſoever your circumſtances may be in this world, ſtill
value your bible as your beſt treaſure ; and whatſoever be your
employment here, ſtill look upon religion as your beſt buſineſs.
Your bible contains eternal life in it, and all the riches of the upper
world; and religion is the only way to become a poſſeſſor of
them. º
III. To dire&t your carriage towards God, converſe particularly
with the book of Pſalms ; David was a man of ſincere and eminent
devotion. To behave aright among men, acquaint yourſelf with
the whole book of Proverbs : Solomon was a man of large experi-
ence and wiſdom. And to perfeót your direétions in both theſe,
read the goſpels and the epiſtles ; you will find the beſt of rules and
the beſt of examples there, and thoſe more immediately ſuited to
the chriſtian life.
IV. As a man, maintain ſtrićt temperance and ſobriety, by a
wiſe government of your appetites and paſſions ; as a neighbour,
influence and engage all around you to be your friends, by a temper
and carriage made up of prudence and goodneſs; and let the poor
have a certain ſhare in all your yearly profits. As a trader, keep
that golden ſentence of our Saviour's ever before you, “Whatſo-
j you would that men ſhould do unto you, do you alſo unto
them.” -
V. While you make the precepts of ſcripture the conſtant rule of
your duty, you may with courage reſt upon the promiſes of ſcrip-
ture as the ſprings of your encouragement. All divine aſſiſtances
and divine récompences are contained in them. The ſpirit of light
and grace is promiſed to affiſt them that aſk it. Heaven and glory
are promiſed to reward the faithful and the obedient.
VI. In every affair of life, begin with God. Conſult him in
every thing that concerns you. View him as the author of all
your bleſſings and all your hopes, as your beſt friend and your eter-
mal portion. Meditate on him in this view, with a continual re-
newal of your truſt in him, and a daily ſurrender of yourſelf to him,
till you feel that you love him moſt entirely, that you ſerve him
with ſincere delight, and that you cannot live a day without God
in the world. *
VII. You know yourſelf to be a man, an indigent creature and a
finner, and you profeſs to be a chriſtian, a diſciple of the bleſſed
Jeſus ; but never think you know Chriſt nor yourſelf as you ought,
WO L. VII. * 3 C |
386 MISCE L LAN E O US THOUGHTS.
till you find a daily need of him for righteouſneſs and ſtrength, for
pardon and ſančtification ; and let him be your conſtant introducer
to the great God, though he ſit upon a throne of grace. . Remem-
ber his own words ; John xiv. 6. “ No man cometh to the Father
tout by me.”
VIII. Make prayer a pleaſure and not a taſk, and then you will
not forget nor omit it. If ever you have lived in a praying family,
never let it be your fault if you do not live in one always, T Believe
that day, that hour, or thoſe minutes to be all waſted and loſt,
which any worldly pretences would tempt you to ſave out of the
public worſhip of the church, the certain and conſtant duties of the
cloſet, or any neceſſary ſervices for God and godlineſs. Beware
left a blaſt attend it, and not a bleſſing. If God had not reſerved
one day in ſeven to himſelf, I fear religion would have been loſt out
of the world ; and every day of the week is expoſed to a curſe,
which has no morning religion.
IX. See that you watch and labour, as well as pray. Diligence
and dependence muſt be united in the praćtice of every chriſtian.
It is the ſame wife man acquaints us, “ that the hand of the dili-
gent and the bleſfing of the Lord join together to make us rich ;”
Prov. x. 4–22. rich in the treaſures of body or mind, of time or
etermity. * * *
It is your duty indeed, under a ſenſe of your own weakneſs, to
pray daily againſt fin; but if you would effectually avoid, it, you
Inuſt alſo avoid temptation, and every dangerous opportunity. Set
a double guard whereſoever you feel or ſuſpect an enemy at hand.
The world without, and the heart within, have ſo much flattery and
deceit in them, that we muſt keep a ſharp eye upon both, left we
are trapt into miſchief between them.
X. Honour, profit, and pleaſure have been ſometimes called the
world’s trinity, they are its three chief idols; each of them is ſuffi-
cient to draw a ſoul off from God, and ruin it for ever. Beware of
them therefore, and of all their ſubtle inſinuations, if you would be
innocent or happy. g
Remember that the honour which comes from God, the appro-
bation of heaven, and of your own conſcience, are infinitely more
valuable than all the eſteem or applauſe of men. Dare not venture
one ſtep out of the road of heaven, for fear of being laughed at for
walking ſtrićtly in it. It is a poor religion that cannot ſtand againſt
a jeſt. *
Self not your hopes of heavenly treaſures, nor any thing that be-
longs to your eternal intereſt, for any of the advantages of the pre-
fent life : “What ſhall it profit a man to gain the whole world
ant. Toſe his own ſoul ?”
Remember alſo the words of the wiſe man, “ He that loveth
pleaſure ſhall be a poor man; he that indulges himſelf in wine and
oil, that is, in drinking, in feaſting, and in ſenſual gratifications,
ſhall net be rich.” It is one of St. Paul’s charaćters of a moſt-de-
generate age, when men become lovers of pleaſure more than
Hovers of God. , And that fleſhly luſts war againſt the ſoul, is St.
Peter’s caveat to the chriſtians of his time. *
XI. Preſerveyour conſcience always ſoft and ſenſible. If but
one fin forces its way into that tender E. of the ſoul, and dwell
eaſy there, the road is paved for a thouſand iniquities.
And take heed that under any ſcruple, doubt or temptation
whatſoever, you never let any reaſonings, ſatisfy your conſcience,
MiscellANEous THoughts. 387
which will not be a ſufficient anſwer or apology to the great Judge
f
at the laſt day. e tº & a dº ſº
XII. Keep this thought ever in your mind, it is a world of va:
nity and vexation in which you live; the flatteries and promiſes of
it are vain and deceitful; prepare therefore to meet diſappoint-
ments. Many of its occurrences are teizing and vexatious. In
every ruffling ſtorm without, poſſeſs your ſpirit in patience, and let
all be calm and ſerene within. Clouds and tempeſts are only found
in the lower ſkies; the heavens above are ever bright and clear.
Let your heart and hope dwell much in theſe ſerene regions; live
as a ſtranger here on earth, but as a citizen of heaven, if you will
maintain a ſoul at eaſe. -
XIII. Since in many things we offend all, and there is not a day
paſſes which is perfeótly free from ſin, let repentance towards {...}.
and faith in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, be your daily work. A frequent
renewal of theſe exerciſes which make a chriſtian at firſt, will be a
conſtant evidence of your ſincere chriſtianity, and give you peace
in life, and hope in death.
XIV. Ever carry about with you ſuch a ſenſe of the uncertainty
of every thing in this life, and of life itſelf, as to put nothing off tiſt
to-morrow, which you can conveniently do to-day. Dilatory per-
ſons are frequently expoſed to ſurpriſe and hurry in every thing that
belongs to them : the time is come, and they are unprepared. Let
the concerns of your ſoul and your ſhop, your trade and your reli-
gion, lie always in ſuch order, as far as poſſible, that death at a
ſhort warning may be no occaſion of a diſquieting tumult in your
{pirit, and that you may eſcape the anguiſh of a bitter repentance
in a dying hour. Farewell.
Phronimus, a confiderable eaſt-land merchant, happened upon
a copy of theſe advices about the time when he permitted his ſon
to commence a partnerſhip with him in his trade ; he tranſcribed
them with his own hand, and made a preſent of them to the youth,
together with the articles of º: Here, young man, ſaid:
he, is a paper of more worth than theſe articles. Read it over once
a month, till it is wrought in your very ſoul and temper. Walk by
theſe rules, and I can truſt my eſtate in your hands. Copy out
theſe counſels in your life, and you will make me and yourſelf eaſy
and happy.
LVII.-Souls in Fetters,
WHAT a ſore unhappineſs is it to the chriſtian world, that men
are confined in parties ſ There are ſome noble ſouls impriſoned
from their infancy within the pales of a particular clan, or narrow
tribe, and they muſt never dare to think beyond thoſe limits.
What ſhameful bars are laid in the way to obſtruct the progreſs of
knowledge, and the growth of the intelle&tual world ! Generous
ſentiments are ſtified and forbid to be born, left the parent of them,
who belongs perhaps to one ſe&t, ſhould be ſuſpe&ted of too much
intimacy with another ; and a thouſand bravé and free thoughts .
are cruſhed to death in the very bud, leſt they ſhould look like the
offspring of a foreign tribe, when they appear in open light. What
a wretched influence, names, and ſe&ts, and parties have upon the
commonwealth of chriſtianity . We hardly dare believe ourſelves.
when we have found out a truth, if our anceſtors did not believe
It to O.
3 C 2 w - f
388 MISCE LL ANFO US THOUGHTS.
A few days ago Aleutherus told me, that when he was a boy, he
firmly believed the myſtery of the maſs, and thought the prieſt
could turn bread into fleſh and blood, for all his relations were of that
mind; but when I began to think for myſelf a little, ſaid he, my
faith ſtaggered, the falſehood ſeemed too big for my relief; and yet
I know not what ſtrange ſecret attachment to the religion of my fa-
thers forbid me to deny what they had profeſſed. "So I ſhut my
eyes, and laid all my riſing doubts to ſleep; I ſtretched my faith to
its former ſize, and ſwallowed the old doćtrine again. Without
thinking whether it were poſfible, I called it divine; for I could not
bear the thoughts of being a heretic. *
Clerico would gladly have heard Euphonus preach, if he durſt
have ventured the cenſure of his friends, and been ſeen in a meet-
ing-houſe. He could willingly have let his ſoul looſe from all hu-
man forms and inventions, if he had not lately ſubſcribed the
twentieth article of the church among the reſt, and declared that ſhe
has power to ordain rites and ceremonies. But ſince he has ſub-
ſcribed, he does not care to indulge his thoughts in ſo much
freedom. -
Phileuchus happened to lodge a week at the houſe of Sebaſtes,
where he heard Mr. Jenk's prayers read daily in the family with
great devotion; he prevailed with himſelf to join in the worſhip,
and felt his ſoul refreſhed by it; yet his own houſe continued
prayerleſs ſtill ; for though he loved religion at his heart, yet he
could not expreſs himſelf with any tolerable decency, propriety or
courage in family-worſhip, and he was aſhamed to let his friends
know that he made uſe of forms.
What a poor fooliſh thing is man! Human nature in all ages is
too much like itſelf. What is now pračtiſed among chriſtians, to
the reproach and injury. of revealed truth, has been a bar to the
profeſſion and improvement of natural religion, in the days and the
nations of ancient heatheniſm.
Socrates is famous in hiſtory for his belief of the one true God, in
oppoſition to the polytheiſm of the world, and the numerous idols
of the prieſt and the people : But he is reported by this means to
have expoſed himſelf to the reſentment and popular fury of ſome of
his countrymen, ſo that he is counted a fort of martyr for that
cauſe. Yet, as ſome report, he was ſcarce able to ſupport his
courage in the public profeſſion of that one true God in a dying
hour; for it is ſaid that he ordered a cock to be offered as a ſacrifice
to Eſculapius the god of phyſic. I confeſs it is ſo mean and ſervile
a compliance, that I can hardly believe it concerning Socrates. -
But if the ſoul of the noble Grecian was bound in theſe fetters of
a popular religion, which forbid his bold and final profeſſion of his
diviner ſentiments; it is not Greece only, but Rome alſo has pro-
duced examples of the ſame weakneſs among ſome of its heroes.
It muſt be acknowledged, they had ſome heavenly flights of thought,
and courage enough to let their notions juſt ſtart into light, and give
broad hints of their faith; but they were forced to cramp and diſ-
courage the progreſs and the growth of it, for fear of the national
idolatry which reigned in their age. They had not ſtrength of
foul and bravery enough to become martyrs for the truth.
Cicero was a greatman, but he was afraid to ſpeak what he knew
of the unity of the eternal God, the Maker of all. “. It is hard,
ſays he, to find out him who is the parent of this univerſe; and
when you have found him, it is not lawful to ſhew him to the
MiscELLANeous THoughts. 389
vulgar world. Illum quaſi parentem hujus univerſitatis, invenire
difficile: & cum inveneris, indicare in vulgus nefas;” Lib. de
Univerſ. p. 2. And the ſame he faith again, Lib. II. de Nat. Deor.
Let not our men of heatheniſm then, or Britiſh infidels, charge all
this folly upon chriſtians alone, ſince their pagan predeceſſors were
guilty of it as well as we.
O where ſhall that city ſtand, whoſe inhabitants ſhall traffic in
'intelle&tual treaſures, and ſet forth all their new improvements and
acquiſitions in open day-light, without the danger of public penal-
ties or reproach Where ſhall that happy race of men be born,
who ſhall ſee truth with an unbiaſſed ſoul; and ſhall ſpeak it freely
to mankind, without the fear of parties, or the odium of ſingularity?
When ſhall that golden age ariſe in Great Britain, in which every
rich genius ſhall produce his brighteſt ſentiments to the honour of
God, and to the general profit of men, and yet ſtand exempted
from common ſlander When ſhall the ſacred mines of ſcripture be
digged yet deeper than ever, and the hidden riches thereof be
brought out of their long obſcurity, to adorn the doćtrine of God
our Saviour O that theſe dark and ſtormy days of party and pre-
judice were rolled away, that men would onee give leave to their
fellow chriſtians to ſpell out and read ſome ancient and unknown
glories of the perſon of Chriſt, which are contained in ſcripture,
and to unfold ſome hidden wonders of his goſpel ! The wifeſt of
men know yet but in part; and it is always poſſible to grow wiſer,
at leaſt on this ſide heaven: but public prejudice is a friend to dark-
neſs ; nor could ignorance and error, without this ſhield, have de-
fended their thrones ſo long among creatures of reaſon, under the
light of divine fun-beams.
LVIII.—To Lucius, on the Death of Serena.
DEAR SIR, -
SOME of theſe verſes attempted to ſooth your ſorrows in a
melancholy and diſtreſſing hour : They were all finiſhed near the
ſame time, and united in this form, though they have thus long
lain in ſilence, nor ventured to preſent themſelves to you. I am
almoſt in pain already, left they ſhould awake your heart-ach by a
recolle&tion of ſome dear mournful images, and vaniſhed ſcenes of
grief. Let theſe lines rather'call your views upward to the better
manſions of your abſent kindred, and awaken you to aim every ſtep
of life toward thoſe regions of holineſs and joy. Adieu, and be
happy. I am,
SIR,
Yours, &c.
Death and Heaven. In five Lyric Odes.
ODE I. To live at large in regions, where *
The Shirit's Farewel to the Body after long - Nor cloud norveil ſhall hide my God!
* Sickneſs. || 3 Farewel this fleſh, theſe ears, theſe eyes,
I HOW am I held a priſoner now, Theſe ſnares and fetters of the mind;
Far from my God! This mortal || My God, nor let this frame ariſe
chain Till every duſt be well refin'd.
Binds me to ſorrow : 'All below
Is ſhort liv'd eaſe or tireſome pain. ||4 Jeſus, who mak’ſt our natures whole,
Mold me a body like thy own:
2 When ſhall that wondrous hour appear, Then ſhall it better ſerve my ſoul
Which frees me from this dark In works of praiſe and worlds un-
abode, | known.
\
390
MiscellANEo US THOUGHTS.
oDE II. } :
The Departing Moment; Or, Abſent from
- • the Body. !
1 ABSENT from fleſh! O bliſsful ||
thought;"
What unknown joys this moment
brings -
Freed from the miſchiefs fin hath wrought, ll
From pains, and tears, and all their |
ſprings.
2 Abſent from fleſh! Illuſtrious day!
Surpriſing ſcene! triumphant ſtroke,
That rends the priſon of my clay,
• And I can feel my ſetters broke
3 Abſent from fleſh! Then riſe, my ſoul,
Where feet or wings could never
climb,
Beyond the heav'ns where planets roll,
Meaſuring the cares and joys of
time. *
4 F go where God and glory ſhine:
His preſence makes eternal day.
My all that’s mortal I reſign,
For Uriel waits and points my way.
ODE III. |
Entrance into Paradiſe: Or, Preſent with
– the Lord.
! AND is this heav'n 2 And am I there !
How ſhort the road ; how ſwift the
flight!
I am all life, all eye, all ear;
Jeſus is here, my ſoul's delight.
2 is this the heav'nly Friend who hung
In blood and anguiſh on the tree,
Whom Paul proclaim’d, whom David
ung,
Who dy’d for them, who dy’d for
me f -
-
3 How fair thou offspring of my God!
\ Thou firſt-born image of his face
Thy death procur'd this bleſt abode,
Thy vital beams adorn the place.
N
4 Lo, he preſents me at the throne
All ſpotleſs ; there the godhead
reigns
Sublime and peaceful thro' the Son: . .
Awake, my voice, in heav'nly .
ſtrains.
ODE IV.
The Sight of God in Heaven.
1 CREATOR-gop, sternal light,
Fountain of good, tremendous
power,
Ocean of wonders, bliſsful fight !
Beauty and love unknown before!
2 Thy grace, thy nature, all unknöwn
In yon dark region whence I came;
Where languid glimpſes from thy throne
And feeble whiſpers teach thy name.
3 I’m in a world where all is new ;
| Myſelf, my God; O bleſt amaze :
Not my beſt hopes or wiſhes knew
' 'To form a ſhadow of this grace.
4 Fix’d on my God, my heart, adore:
My reſtleſs thoughts, forbear to
rove’:
Ye meaner paſſions, ſtir no more;
But all my powers bejoy and lové.
ODE V. -
- A Funeral Ode at the Interment of the Body;
ſuſ/loſed to be ſung by the Mourners.
| 1 UNVEIL thy boſom, faithful tomb ;
Take this new treaſure to thy truſt,
A nd give theſe ſacred relics room
To ſeek a ſlumber in the duſt.
2 Nor pain, nor grief, nor anxious fear
Invade thy bounds. No mortal-
WOCS f
Can reach the lovely ſleeper here,
And angels watch her foft repoſe.
3 so Jeſus ſlept : God’s dying Son
Paſt through the grave, and
bed.
bleſt the
Reft here, fair Saint; till from his throne
The morning break and pierce the
ſhade.
4 Break from his throne, illuſtrious morn;
Attend, O earth, his ſov’reign word;
Reſtore thy truſt, a glorious form;
She muſt aſcend to meet her Lord.
LIX—Divine Condućt diſputed and juſtified.
WHEN we meet with any thing in the condućt of men which
appears ſtrange and unaccountable to us, if at the ſame time it.
ſeems to carry in it the aſpect of ſomething low and trifling, we are
too ready to think ourſelves ſuch ſons of wiſdom as to pronounce
puerility and contempt upon the perſons and their pračtice. So
haſty are we to paſs ſudden and raſh judgments on the preſent ap-
pearances of things, and to imagine every thing is unreaſonable
when we do not immediately ſee the reaſon of it; as if all reaſon
MISCE L LAN E O US THO UGHTS. 391
were ingroſſed in our boſoms, and wiſdom had no other abode,
Gelotes, to ſhew his own ſuperior genius, treats the rites of Moſes,
and the ceremonies of the Jewiſh religion, in the ſame manner; he
cannot deviſe what all theſe bells and pomegranates, and twenty
other little fineries, were made for upon the garments of the high
prieſt; nor can he gueſs the reaſon of all the petty punétilios
about lambs, and rams, and red heifers, about pigeons, hyſſop, and
fearlet, ſprinklings and waſhings. . He is utterly at a loſs what they
were deſigned for ; and therefore he roundly declares his opinion,
that Moſes had little to do, who could employ his mind in contriving
fuch trifles. It is unaccountable, ſays he, that a perſon who ſeems
in other things to be a man of ſenſe, ſhould preſcribe ſuch afi'end-
leſs ritual with minute dire&tions about a hundred little matters re-
łating to the pins and tacks, the boards and curtains of the taber-
nacle, and all that ſcenery of puerile worſhip, which a wiſe man
would neither command nor pračtiſe. And thus he goes on to ſhoot
inis bolts of blaſphemy at divine wiſdom over the ſhoulders of
- Moſes, and through his ſides to ſmite the God of Iſrael with ridi-
cule and reproaches. How often does ſuch a ſudden and raſh
cenſure diſcover its own folly when it is paſſed on the ačtions of
men, by a further inſight into their wiſe deſigns ; and the man who
poured out his laughter and contempt upon others, how juſtly does
he become the objećt of contempt and ridicule himſelf, on the ac-
count of his pride and raſhneſs But when the counſels and ap-
pointments of the bleſſed God, when the works of his wiſdom, which
is vaſt and deep, beyond our ken and fathom, are thus taken to taſk
by filly mortals, and derided becauſe they do not underſtand the pur-
poſe and intent of them, what flagrant, impiety is this What im-
pudence added to their raſhneſs? And héw much does it deferve
the divine indignation ?
This very man, this Gelotes, a few days ago was carried by his
neighbour Typiger, to ſee agentleman of his acquaintance ; they
found him ſtanding at the window of his chamber, moving and
turning round a glaſs priſm, near a round hole which he had made
in the window-ſhutter, and caſting all the colours of the rainbow
wpon the wall of the room: they were unwilling to diſturb him,
though he amuſed himſelf at this rate for half an hour together,
merely to pleaſe and entertain his eye-fight, as Gelotes imagined,
with º Ítrength of the reds and the blues, theºreens
and the purples, in many ſhifting forms of fituation ; while ſeveral
little implements lay about him, of white paper and ſhreds of co-
loured filk, pieces of tin with holes in them, ſpectacles and burning-
glaſſes. When the gentleman at laſt ſpied his company, he came
down and entertained them agreeably enough upon other ſubjećts,
and diſmiſſed them. - -
At another time Gelotes beheld the ſame gentleman blowing up
large bubbles with a tobacco-pipe out of a bowl of water well im.
pregnated with ſoap, which is a common diverfion of boys. As
the bubbles roſe, he marked the little changeable colours on the ſur-
face of them with great attention, till they broke and vaniſhed into
air and water. He ſeemed to be very grave and ſolemn in this ſort
of recreation, and now and then ſmiled to ſee the little appearances
and diſappearances of colours, as the bubble grew thinner toward
the top, while the watry particles of it ran down along the fide to the
bottom; and the ſurface grew too thin and feeble to include the air,
then it burſt to pieces, and was loſt. *.
\
392 MiscellANEous THoughts.
Well, ſays Gelotes to his friend, I did not think you would have
carried me into the acquaintance of a madman : ſurely he can
never be right in his ſenſes who waſtes his hours in ſuch fooleries as
theſe. Whatſoever good opinion I had conceived of a gentleman
of your intimacy, I am amazed now that you ſhould keep up any
degree of acquaintance with him, when his reaſon is goné, and he
is become a mere child. What are all theſe little ſcenes of ſport
and amuſement, but proofs of the abſence of his underſtanding
Poor gentleman I pity him in his unhappy circumſtances; but I
hope he has friends to take care of him under this degree of diſtrac-
tron. §
Typiger was not a little pleaſed to ſee that his projećt, with re-
gard to his neighbour Gelötes, had ſucceeded ſo well; and when he
had ſuffered him to run on at this rate for ſome minutes, he inter-
rupted him with a ſurpriſing word : this very gentleman, ſays he, is
the great Sir Iſaac Newton, the firſt of philoſophers, the glory of
Great Britain, and renowned among the nations. You have be-
held him now making theſe experiments over again, by which he
firſt found out the nature of light and colours, and penetrated deeper
into the myſteries of them, than all mankind ever knew before
him. This is the man, and theſe his contrivances, upon which you
ſo freely eaſt your contempt, and pronounce him diſtraćted. You
know not the depth of his defigns, and therefore you cenſured them
all as fooleries; whereas the learned world has eſteemed them the
utmoſt reach of human ſagacity. w t • ‘
Gelotes was all confuſion and ſilence. Whereupon Typiger pro-
ceeded thus ; Go now and ridicule the lawgiver of Iſrael, and the
ceremonies of the Jewiſh church, which Moſes taught them : Go,
repeat your folly and your ſlanders, and laugh at theſe divine cere-
monies, merely becauſe you know not the meaning of them : Go
and affront the God of Iſrael, and reproach him for ſending Moſes
to teach fuch forms of worſhip to the Jews. There is not the leaſt
of them but was appointed by the greateſt of beings , and has ſome
fpecial deſign and purpoſe in the eye of divine wiſdom. Many of
them were explained by the apoſtle Paul, in his letter to the He-
brews, as types and emblems of the glories and bleſfings of the New
Teſtament; and the reſt of them, whoſe reaſon has not been diſco-
vered to us, remain perhaps to be made known at the converſion of
the Jews, when divine light ſhall be ſpread over all the ancient diſ-
penſations, and a brighter glory diffuſed over all the rites and forms
of religion, which God ever inſtituted among the race of Adam.
Thus far Typiger ; while Gelotes was ſtill ſilent, being pierced to
the heart with a convićtion of his raſhneſs and folly, and ſtung in-
wardly with bitter remorſe at the thoughts of his impious and pro-
fane raillery. . He went home mournful, and ſet himſelf with a fin-
cere and humble enquiry to learn all the ſucceſſive religions of the
bible, which he had ridiculed, and found ſo much reaſon in a great
part of them, that he ſubmitted to believe the dignity of them all,
and profeſſed himſelf a hearty chriſtian.
. The book of nature and the book of providence have ſome ob-
ſcure pages in them, as well as the book of religion and grace.
There are many appearances in the creation of God, and many
more in his government of the world, which are thus impudently
arraigned by thoughtleſs mortals. They diſcover not the ſymmetry
and exačt proportién between the ſeveral parts of them, and there-
fore they pronounce them the works of chance, and mere caprices
MISC ELLAN E O US THOUGHTS, 393
of nature. They cannot penetrate into the diſtant deſigns of the
all-wiſe Creator and Ruler of the univerſe, and they are ready to
conclude that there is no deſign, no wiſdom in them. But he was a
much wiſer man who tells us, “ that God has made everything
beautiful in its ſeaſon, but man has this world in his heart,” that is
he is ſo intent upon the preſent little ſpot of ground on which he
ſtands, and the little incidents of that inch of time in which he ap-
pears, that he cannot diſcern the work that God does from the be-
ginning to the end thereof; and therefore men are not able to
comprehend the admirable beauty of his works, and they are re-
ſolved to believe no farther than they can ſee. Vain animals of
fleſh and blood | Proud ſwelling reptiles of the earth! As if a com-
pany of worms who are juſt crept out of their native glebe, and re-
tiring into it again after a few moments, ſhould pretend to arraign
and cenſure the motions and phaſes of the moon, and all the rules
and movements of the planetary worlds. That man ſurely ſhould
have a ſtretch of thought equal to deity, and with one ſingle ſurvey
graſp all the atoms of created matter, and all the world of minds
with all their ideas, he ſhould view at once all their infinite rela-
tions to each other, with all the ſcenes and appearances in the upper
and lower regions of creation, from the beginning of time far into
eternity, who would dare to conteſt the wiſdom of providence, or
of any of the works or the appointments of his Maker “How
manifold are thy works, O Lord In wiſdom haft thou made them
all. How unſearchable are thy ways, and thy judgment untrace-
able by all the ſons of men I Who has known the mind of the Lord,
and who has been his counſellor Of him, and by him, and for
him, are all things; to whom be glory for ever and ever.” Amen.
LX.—Sinful Anger for God’s Sake.
IT is a very poſſible thing for us to be ſinfully angry with our
neighbour, even upon the account of ſin : we have hearts of un-
ſearchable ſubtlety and unfathomable deceit. The beſt of us are
too often ten ted to follow the violence of our own carnal affec-
tions, under an appearance of zeal and duty, and ſcreen our own
wrath to man, under the covert of love to God. And when the an-
gry powers of our nature are ſet at work under the colour of ſo di-
vine a principle, they are impatient of all reſtraint, and know no
bounds; for we cannot do too much for God and his honour.
Deirus is ready to think, that if he let fly all his wrath againſt a
man for a ſinful ačtion, that wrath cannot riſe to exceſs ; he per-
ſuades himſelf that it is rather a work of righteouſneſs than a fault,
and puts it amongſt his virtues and his honours. I wiſh Deirus
would take heed, left he mingle the heat of corrupt fleſh and blood
with holy zeal, and offer iniquity for a ſacrifice. In order to ma-
nage well in this matter, I would admoniſh him to take notice of
theſe things: f
Firſt, When an action offends both God and ourſelves at the ſame
time, we muſt watch with the utmoſt diligence, leſt ſelf-love diſ-
guite itſelf in the form of zeal, and command our paſſions entirely
into our own ſervice, while we think they are at work for God.
Suppoſe I have often inſtrućted young Pravo, as to his morals; ſup-
poſe I have earneſtly perſuaded him to any duty, or cautioned him
often againſt ſome evil pračtice, and I fee him nevertheleſs obſti-
nately proceed in his own way; perhaps I ſhall be ready to indulge
D
W O L. Y 1 I, g \
394 MISCELLANEO US THOUGHTS.
my anger againſt him, becauſe he diſobeys me, more than becauſe
he diſpleaſes God. Or, ſuppoſe my neighbour Calumnio rails at
me as a puritan and a madman, becauſe I am ſeen often at public
prayers, and upbraid and reproach me with odious charges for the
ſake of my religion ; I am tempted to kindle perhaps into ſudden
indignation, chiefly becauſe ſelf is reviled, and not becauſe God is
diſhonoured.
In ſuch inſtances as theſe, there is an eaſy way to find whether
our zeal be more ſelfiſh or divine. Let me aſk my own heart,
“Should I have been ſo angry with this youth, if he had negle&t-
ed another friend's pious advice in the ſame caſe wherein he has
negle&ted mine f" and yet the ſin againſt God would have been the
ſame. Again, “Should I have grown ſo warm againſt Calumnio
for reproaching my fellow-chriſtian on account of his devotions,
as I am for reproaching me 2" and yet his offence againſt the
goſpel had been the ſame ſtill. Thus by putting ſelf out of the
caſe, we guard againſt the deceit of ſelf love, and paſs a juſter ſen-
tence on our own ačtions. . *
Now if upon due ſearch we fitid that our wrath is awakened ra-
ther becauſe an ačtion offends us, than becauſe it offends God,
this is a work of the fleſh, and muſt be mortified ; our paſſions
ſhould all be pure. Our bleſſed Lord Jeſus bore a load of perſonal
reproaches falling heavy upon himſelf, and opened not his mouth ;
but when the Jewiſh buyers and ſellers profaned his Father's houſe
of prayer, then indeed he aſſumed an extraordinary chara&ter, and
gave an inſtance of ſevere zeal by ſcourging them out of the temple;
John ii. 17. -
Secondly, Take care of giving up the reins entirely to any
paſſion, though it pretend fin for its objećt, left it run to an un-
governable exceſs. It is St. Paul's counſel, “Be angry and ſin
not ;” Eph. iv. 26. ſo hard it is to be angry upon any account
without finning. It was a happy compariſon, whoſoever firſt in-
vented it, that the paſſions of our Saviour were like pure water in
a clear glaſs : ſhake it never ſo much, and it is pure ſtill ; there
was no defilement in his holy ſoul by the warmeſt agitation of all
thoſe powers of his animal nature ; but ours are like water with
mud at the bottom, and we can ſcarce ſhake the glaſs with the
gentleſt motion, but the mud ariſes, and diffuſes itſelf abroad,
olluting both the water and the veſſel. Our iraſcible paſſions can
carce be indulged a moment, but they are ready to defile the
whole man.
We may find whether our anger ariſe to a ſinful exceſs or no, by
ſuch enquiries as theſe :
Does it fire my blood into rage, and kindle my ſpirits into a
ſudden blaze, like a train of gunpowder Then it looks too much
like a work of the fleſh, .# may create a juſt ſuſpicion of the
pious purity of it; for this has not, the appearance of a chriſtian
virtue. Our holy religion is a more reaſonable, a more gentle thing,
and never teaches us to ačt with a thoughtleſs violence, though it
ſometimes calls the ačtive powers of fleſh and blood in to the aſſiſt-
ance of ſincere zeal. -
Does it tranſport us away to the pračtice of any thing unbecom-
'ing our charaćter Does it arm our tongues with vile and ſcan-
dalous names, or our hands with haſty weapons of outrage and
cruelty This ſort of condućt carries in it more of the reſemblance.
of the evil ſpirit that ſeeks revenge and miſchief. I confeſs there
MISCELLAN E O US THQ UGH T8, 395
have been ſome examples of ſevere and terrible zeal among the
pious Jews ; but we muſt remember that the meek and peaceful
religion of the goſpel was not then eſtabliſhed ; and we muſt con;
ſider too, that moſt of theſe examples had a divine commiſſion, and
were immediately inſpired by God himſelf. Such was the caſe of
Phineas, when he ſlew the two offenders in the camp of Iſrael:
So Elijah called for fire from heaven, to deſtroy the two captains
and their companies ; and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, under the ſame
divine influence, ſcourged the merchants out of the temple. But
our Lord himſelf reproved his own diſciples when they had a mind
to imitate the wrath of Elijah, and taught them, that under this
diſpenſation, which was ſhortly to be ſet up, zeal was a gentler
virtue, and more of apiece with the reſt of that religion which he
deſigned to inſtitute.
Another queſtion we ſhould put to ourſelves to find whether our
anger be exceſſive, or no, is this: Does it throw us off from our
guard, diſpoſſes us of our temper, and darken our judgment :
Does it make us fierce and poſitive Does it robus of our patience,
and render us deaf to all ſober remonſtrances and excuſes : Then
it can never be from God, though it pretend to be for him; for
felf-government is an eternal duty ; and the wiſdom which is from
above is ſwift to hear, and ſlow to ſpeak; it is eaſy to be entreat-
ed, and full of forgiveneſs. -
Finally, let us aſk, Does the paſſion render us unfit for any duty
to God, tempt us to omit any duty to man, or hinder us in the
performance of either We may then aſſure ourſelves it riſes to
exceſs, and becomes in ſome meaſure criminal.
It is a certain rule of prudence, that all theſe animal powers, be
they never ſo juſtly employed, deſerve a watchful and ſevere guard
upon then), left they grow unruly and extravagant. º
The laſt piece of advice that I would give to my friends, and
learn to take myſelf, is this, That where the mere appearance of
an angry paſſion will attain the ſame end, I will not chooſe to give
smyſelf the trouble and diſquietude of feeling a real one: , Why
ſhould I ſuffer my blood and ſpirits to riſe into diſorder, if the pić-
ture of anger in my countenance, and the ſound of it imitated in
my voice, will effectually diſcourage and reprove the voice I would
forbid If I am but wiſe enough to raiſe an appearance of reſent-
ment, I need not be at the pains to throw myſelf into this, uneaſy
ferment. Is it not better for me, as a man and a chriſtian, to
maintain a calm, ſedate averſion to the ſin, and expreſs my diſlike
of it, ſometimes at leaſt, rather by a counterfeit than real anger ?
If hypocriſy be lawful any where, ſurely it may be allowed in this
caſe to diſſemble a little. ... *
And to carry the matter yet further, I think I may aſſert, there
are ſeveral ſuch occurrences in life, wherein it is better not ſo much
as to imitate anger, and to expreſs nothing like it, though the fin
may be heinous: Anorgus, an excellent man, and an exemplary
chriſtian, would not only fuppreſs all wrath, but conceal all ap-
Pearance of it, left the offending perſon, by ſeeing him diſcom-
poſed or reſenting, might be kindled into the ſame paſſion, and
thus be rendered unfit to receive a reproof from him, and grow
deaf to all his divine reaſonings.
It is a certain and ſhameful truth, that in this frail and ſinful ſtate,
we love ourſelves ſo much, and God ſo little, that we ſeldom begin
3 D 2 .
\
396 MiscellANeous THOUGHTS.
to grow angry for God's ſake, but we ſoon grow more angry for
our own: Therefore upon almoſt all accounts it may be given as a
piece of general and ſafe advice, That let the occaſion be never
fo provoking, yet the leſs fury the better. “The wrath of man
never works the righteouſneſs of God.” }
LXI.—On the Coronation of their Majeſties King George II, and
Queen Caroline. Oétober 11, 1727.
“ERGO armis invicte heros age: fortibus apta.
* Ensem humeris; meritam clementia temperetiram
“Dum regis, & leges molli clementer acerbas.
“Te super acquavos omnes regnator olympi
“l)iligit, & lieto vultum exhilaravit olivo ;
“ Ille tuum sacro cingit diademate clinem,
“Transmittetaue tuam longaeva in Sascula famam.
“En regina tori consors tibi dextera adhaeret,
“Auro picta sinus, auro radiata capillos ;
“Tota decens, tota est gemmisque insignis & auro :
“At facies cultum illustrat, facieque decorå
“Pulchrior est animus. Buchan.
The Coronation-Day. An Ode.
i RISE happy morn; fair ſun ariſe; 8 Hail, royal fair! divinely wiſe !
** Shed radiant gold around the ſkies, Not Auſtrian crownst could tempt thy
And rich in beams and bleſfings ſhine eyes -
Profuſe on George and Caroline. To part with truth, "Twas brave diſ.
dain,
2 Illuſtrious pair! no tear to-day When Caeſar figh'd, and lov’d in vain.
Bedew the royal parents clay:
'Tis George the bleſt remounts the 9 But heav'n provides a rich reward :
throne, George is thy lover and thy lord :
With double vigour in his ſon. The britiſh lion bears thy fame,
Where Auſtrian eagles have no name.
3 Lo, the majeſtic form appears,
Sparkling in life and manly years : . 10 See the fair train of princes near :
The kingdom's pride, the nation's Come, Frederic, royal youth, appear,
choice, And grace the day. Shall foreignt
And heav'n approves Britannia's voice, . charms
Still hold thee from thy country's arms,
4. Monarch, aſſume thy pow'rs, and ſtand ,
The guardian-hero of our land : 11 Britain, thy country f : Prince ariſe,
Let Albion's ſons thy ſtile proclaim, The morning-ſtar to gild our ſkies;
And diſtant realms revere thy name. (O may no cloud thy luſtre ſtain ()
Come, lead along the ſhining train,
5 Bear on thy brows th’ imperial crown;
Rebellion dies beneath thy frown: 12 Each in parental virtues dreſs'd,
A thouſand gems of luſtre ſhed Each born to make a nation bleſs'd :
Their lights and honours round thy head. What kings, what heroes yet ungrown,
Shall court the nymphs to grace their
& Lift up thy rod of majeſty”, throne
The foes of God and man ſhall flee : -
Vice with her execrable band 13 Mark that young branch Sofriſing fame,
Shakes at the ſword in George's hand. Proud of our great deliverer's name:
g He promiſes in infant-bloom,
* Law, juſtice, valour, mercy ride To ſcourge ſome tyrant-power of Rome.
In arms of triumph at his ſide; t
And each celeſtial grace is ſeen 14 Bloom on, fair ſtem | Each flow'r that
in milder glories round the Queen. Y blows,
Adds new deſpair to Albion's foes,
* The ſceptre, + Archducal and Imperial. H
, t That ingenious device of the figures of Great Britain and the proteſtant religion attendr
ing her majeſty on her coronation medal, with the motto, Hic amor, Haec patria, may
^ ſupport and juſtify theſe expreſſions. 4 º
t M - § Prince William.
Misce LLANEOUS THoughts. 397
And kills their hearts. O glorious view ſ Great William ſhall rejoice to know,
Of joys for Albion, ever new
That George the ſecond reigns below.
|
15 Religion, duty, truth and love, LXI [.—A Loyal JWiſh on her Ma-
In ranks of honours ſhine and move ; 'effy's Birth-Day. Marc wº
Pale envy, ſlander, fraud and ſpite, jeſty’s Birth- Jay, March l, Coºn-
Retire, and hide in caves of night, monly called St. David's-Day.
j6 Europe behold the amazing ſcene: º Borrowed from Pſ. cxxxii. 10, 11.
Empire and liberty convene *
To join their joys and wiſhes here, 1 SILENCE ye nations; Iſrael hear:
While Rome and hell conſent to fear. Thus hath the Lord to David ſworn,
$ “Train up thy ſons to learn my
17 Eternal God, whoſe boundleſs ſway º fear,
Angels and ſtarry worlds obey, “And fudah’s crown ſhall all thy race
*Command thy choiceſt favours down, . adorn; º
Where thy own hands have fix’d the “Theirs by the royal honours thou haſt
£13 ºn, - won, t
| “Long as the ſtarry wheels of nature run:
18 Come, light divine, and grace unknown, l “Nature, be thou my pledge; my wit-
Come, aid the labours of the throne: neſs be the ſun, &
älet Britain's golden ages run:
in circles laſting as the ſun. 2 Now, Britain, let thy vows ariſe,
* - j May George the royal ſaint aſſume !
39 Bid ſome bright legion from the ſky Then aſk permiſfion of the ſkies,
Aſſiſt the glad ſolemnity: | To put the favourite name in David's
Ye hoſts, that wait on favourite kings, roſ) [I] :
Wave your broad ſwords, and clap your Fair Carolina, join thy pious cares
wings. . . To train in virtues path your royal heirs,
And be the Britiſh crown witi, endleſs
20 Then riſe and to your realms convey § honours theirs.
The glorious tidings of the day:
Madam,
LXIII.—Piety in a Court.—To Philomela.
I KNOW not by what train of ideas I was led this morning to
muſe on theſe four lines which I read ſomewhere many years ago :
This deſcrip
“'The court’s a golden but a fatal circle,
“Upon whose magic skirts a thousand devils
“In crystal forms sit tempting innocence,
“And beckon early virtue from its centre.”
tion of a court gave occaſion to the following enquiries:
Is there a lovely soul, so much divine,
Can act her glorious part, and move and shine
Qn this enchanted spot of treach’rous ground,
Norgive her virtue nor her fame a wound 2
Is there a soul so temper’d, so refin'd,
That pomp nor feeds hersense, nor fires the mind,
That soars above the globe with high disdain,
While earth's gay triflestempt her thoughts in vain?
Is there a soul can fix her raptur'd eyes,
And glance warm wishes at her kindred skies
Thro' roofs of vaulted gold, while round her burn
Love's wanton fires, and die beneath her scorn ?
Is there a soul at court that seeks the grove
Or lonely hill to muse on heav'nly love;
And when to crowds and state her hour descends,
She keeps her conscience and her God her friends?
Have ye not met her, angels, in her flight,
Wing'd with devotion, thro’ meridian night,
Nearheavins high portal? Angels, speak her name,
Consign Eusebia to celestial fame: *
} ~
* .*
398 MISCE L LANFO US THOUGHTS,
While Philomel in language like your own
To mortal ears makes her young victºries known;
Let Raphael to the skies her honours sing,
And triumphs daily new. With friendly wing
Gabriel in arms attend her thro’ the field
Of sacred war, and mercy be her shield,
While with unsully’d charms she makes her way
Thro' scenes of dangerous life, to realms of endless day.
I perſuade myſelf, Madam, you will acknowledge that theſe
queries are determined with much truth and juſtice, and centre
in a natine that anſwers every enquiry. Euſebia has ſuch a guard
of modeſty ever attending, as forbids theſe lines to appear before
her from my hand.— tº &
Alethina fººd to fit among a few intimate friends while this
letter was read thus far ; and here ſhe interrupted the reading with
a friendly impatience to confirm it. “I know Euſebia’s modeſty,
ſaid ſhe, and a bluſh will be eaſily raiſed in the face of ſo much
virtue; yet.H do not think the writer hath miſtook her charašter,
In my opinion it is juſt and ſincere ; her whole converſation is of
a piece: Her public and her private hours are of the ſame colour and
hue : She is much a chriſtian in the family and the cloſet, nor doth
ſhe put off any part of that glorious profeſſion at court. ... I have
been favoured with ſome of the fruits of her retired meditations,
and as I have long had the happineſs of her acquaintance, I dare
pronounce that ſhe lives what ſhe writes. It ſo happens at pre-
ſent, that I can give you a taſte of her piety and her acquaintance
with the muſes together, for I have had leave to tranſcribe three
or four copies with which I have been much entertained, and Ian,
perſuaded you will thank me for the entertainment they give you,
1.—A Rural Meditation.
HERE in the tuneful groves and flow'ry fields,
Nature a thousand various beauties yields:
The daisy and tall cowslip we behold
Array’d in Snowy white, or freckled gold.
The verdant prospect cherishes our sight,
Affording joy unmix’d, and calm delight;
The forest-walks and venerable shade,
Wide-spreading lawns, bright rills, and silent glade,
With a religious awe our souls inspire,
And to the heav'ns our raptur'd thoughts aspire,
To him who sits in majesty on high,
Who turn'd the starry arches of the sky ;
Whose word ordain'd the silver Thames to flow,
Rais'd all the hills, and laid the vallies low;
Who taught the nightingale in shades to sing,
And bid the sky-lark warble on the wing ;
Makes the young steer obedient till the land,
And lowing beifers own the milker's hand;
Calms the rough sea, and stills the raging wind,
And rules the passions of the human mind.
2–4 Penitential Thought. *
CAN I then grieve for ev'ry wretches woe,
And weep if I but hear a tale of sorrow
Say, Can I share in ev'ry one's affection,
Yet still remain thus stupid to my own?
Is then my heart to all the world beside
Softer than melting wax or summer Snow,
But to ; harder than adamant
Can I behold the ruin sin has made,
MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS. 399
And feel God’s image in my soul defac’d
Nor heave a sigh, nor drop a pitying tear,
At my sad fate, nor lift my eyes to heav'n
For aid against the flattºries of the world,
The wiles of Satan, and the joys of sense 2
Give me, ye springs, O give me all your streams
That I may weep; nor thus with stupid gaze
Behold my ruin, like a wretch inchanted
Whose faculties are bound with pow'rful charms,
To some accursed spot of earth confin'd.
Give me, ye gentle winds, your balmy breath
To heave my bosom with continued sighs.--
Teach me, ye wood-doves, your complaining note,
To mourn my fall, to mourn my rocky heart,
My headstrong will, and every sinful thought.
In silent shades retir’d I long to dwell,
Far from the tumults of the busy world, w
And all the sounds of mirth and clamorous joy,
*Till every stormy passion is stbdu’d,
And God has full possession of my soul;
*Till all my wishes centre in his will,
And l no more am ſetter'd to the world;
*Till all the business of my life is praise,
And my full heart o'erflows with heav'nly love,
While all created beauties lose their charms,
And God is all in all.
3.—A Midnight Hymn.
TO thee, all glorious, ever-blessed pow'r,
Iconsecrate this silent midnight hour,
While solemn darkness covers o'er the sky,
And all things wrap'd in gentle slumbers lie,
Unwearied let me praise thy holy name,
And ev’ry thought with gratitude inflame,
For the rich mercies which thy hands impart,
Health to my flesh, and comfort to my heart.
O may my prayers before thy throne arise,
An humble but accepted sacrifice!
And when thou shalt my weary eyelids close,
And to my body grant a soft repose,
May my etherial Guardian kindly spread
His wings, and from the tempter screen my head
Grant of celestial light some piercing beams,
To bless my sleep and sanctify my dreams.
4.—The dying Chriſtian's Hope.
WHEN faint and sinking to the shades of death,
J gasp with pain for ev'ry lab’ring breath, `
O may my soul by some blest foretaste know
That she's deliver'd from eternal woe
May hope in Christ dispel each gloomy fear,
And thoughts like these my drooping spirits chear.
What tho' my sins are of a crimson stain,
My Saviour's blood can wash me white again:
Tho' numerous as the twinkling stars they be,
Or sands along the margin of the sea;
9r as smooth pebbles on some beachy shore,
The mercies of th' Almighty still are more:
He looks upon my soul with pitying eyes,
Sees all my fears, and listens to my cries:
He knows the frailty of each human breast,
What passions our unguarded hearts molest,
400 M \, SCE LLAN E O US THQ UGHTS,
And for the sake of his dear dying Son
Will pardon all the ills that I have done.
Arm'd with so bright a hope, I shall net fear
To see my death hourly approach more near;
, But my faith strength'ning as my life decays,
My dying breath shall mount to heav’n in praise.
The company was not a little charmed with the unaffected air
of piety and devotion which runs through all theſe Odes, and pro-
nounced the pen which wrote Euſebia's charaćter guiltleſs of flat-
tery, where the life correſponds with ſuch ſacred poeſy as this,
and makes the moſt tuneful harmony in the ears of the bleſſed
God, and of all the inhabitants of heaven.
LXIV.-The Courteous and the Peeviſh.
THERE are two evident reaſons why a creature who is proud
and angry in youth, generally grows old in theſe vices, and never
eorreóts them. Some who were born near neighbours to Veſpus,
and have known his condućt from the cradle, have named him to
me as a very remarkable example, in whom theſe two reaſons ple-
Vail, to keep him an everlaſting ſlave to theſe paſſions; for in the
firſt place he had always ſuch an unchangeable good opinion of
himſelf and his own condućt, that he could never ſpy out his own
blemiſhes, nor could he find any occaſion to chargé himſelf with
thefe iniquities, and therefore he indulged them without ſelf-
reproof; and then alſo he is of ſo very waſpiſh a temper, that he
will not bear any friend to give him the gentleſt notice of his own
follies. He kindles at once, upon the ſofteſt; ſyllables of remon-
{trances, into a ſudden fit of indignation ; his ſpirits riſe into a
blaze all in a moment, and with fire and thunder he ſilences the
moſt friendly admoniſher. The peeviſh and the furious boy
by this means is become a man of péeviſhneſs and fury. He wears
his native crimes to old age : Growing years and decaying nature
increaſe theſe unhappy paſſions, theſe inward uneaſy ferments;
and while vegetables loſe their four juices, and are mellowed by
time, this animal grows ſourer ſtill by age ; he appears daily more
fretful and more imperious. Though he will bear no admonition
himſelf, yet he deals out his rebukes to others with a fovereign air;
and while many fear him, there are few or none that love him.
He has paſſed through ſeveral indiſpoſitions in the courſe of life,
and been often confined to his chamber by ſickneſs ; but at ſuch
feaſons the whole family is in terror, for the peeviſh humour grows
intolerable. No perſon or thing can pleaſe him ; whether things,
or perſons, or circumſtances, all offend. Not a motion, not a ſtep,
not a word is right. He is ever teizing his attendants with ſharp
and infolent language, though they do all that nature and alt can
do to comport with his will. He has bived uneaſy in the midſt of
health and eaſe, and no wonder that he is all chagrin and impa-
tience when pain attacks him ; and he ſeems to fret then with fome
colour or pretence. Hm ſhort, he inwardly murmurs at providence
which has ſmitten him ; and while he reſents the condućt of hea-
ven, he makes all who are near him on earth feel his reſentment.
He is now in the laſt ſtage of life, and the ſame man ſtill: , “ The
Jeopard cannot put off his ſpots, nor the ethiopian change his ſkin:''
And he that has indulged his vices throughout his whole life againſt
all admonitions, has little reaſon to expect that he ſhall be deſi-
vered from theſe iniquities at death. The fins of his nature ſeem
to go down with him to the duſt, and they cleave ſo cloſe to the
**
MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 4O1
whole man, that it is well if they do not riſe again with him, and
attend him for ever. r
Not ſo Placentia, the wiſe and the courteous. Though ſhe has
been ſurrounded with temptations to pride and anger, yet ſhe had
but little of thoſe vices in her original conſtitution, and has almoſt
nullified that little by rules of virtue, by the labours of piety: and
the aids of divine grâce. She was educated from her cradle in all
the forms of grandeur; ſhe has been ſurrounded with complai-
ſance of every kind, and the civilities due to the ſex have leſs ex-
poſed her to rudeneſs and contradićtion ; yet ſhe has learnt tº bear
an oppoſition, both to her ſentiments and her will, withºut
awakening an angry paſſion, or feeling an uneaſy ferment within.
She receives the ſentiments of her companions, when they are
different from her own, with all the ſerene airs of a philoſopher,
who has nothing in purſuit but reaſon and truth; and if ſhe happens
to take a ſtep amits, the admgnition of a friend is numbered
amongſt her benefits and her obligations. - *
Her nature is not robuſt, but rather of a ſickly make ; yet nei-
ther pain nor ſickneſs provoke a peeviſh word from her. She has
learnt to receive the afflićtion as an awakening ſtroke from heaven,
deſigned to looſen her heart from all that is mortal: She is all
ſubmiſſion to the hand of a heavenly Father, and weans herſelf
daily from everything beneath and beſide God. She knows, or
believes at leaſt, that her friends and her attendants ſeek her eaſe,
and ſhe accepts all they do with a grateful pleaſure. She had ra-
ther bear an inconvenience herſelf, than give an uneaſineſs even
to the meaner figures of mankind. Every one loves to do kind
offices for Placentia, and happy are they who can adminiſter any
relief to her in all her painful hours. *
If ſhe ever finds occaſion to give a reproof, it is with ſo much
addreſs, with ſuch freedom and ſuch ſweetneſs, that the perſon
reproved is convinced and pleaſed at once, and his reformation is
effectually begun. A few days ago ſhe made this appear with pe-
culiar happineſs. e º
Critillo happened to pay his morning attendance, and heard
divine ſervice at the ſame church which Placentia frequented.
When prayers were done, the preacher begun; he ſpoke many
ſubſtantial truths, agreeable enough to the text whence he derived
his diſcourſe, and he drew ſome pračtical inferences at the cloſe,
with juſtice, and with ſome degree of fervency. But, alas ! ſaid
Critillo, there were ſo many old-faſhioned ſimilitudes and aukward
flouriſhes with which he ſeemed to garniſh his ſermon ; ſometimes
the language was ſo mean and creeping, ſome of the phraſes ap-
peared ſo antiquated, others ſo vulgar, and many of them carried
fuch an affected air of the ſublime and magnificent, that all my
devotion was ſpoiled. I think I went to church with a good heart
and deſires of improvement, but I had no appetite even to ſpiritual
food, when it was dreſſed and diſhed out in ſo diſagreeable a man-
her. I muſt confeſs I came home much out of humour, and found
no profit at all. Placentia made but few and gentle replies; but
in order to obtain more converſation on the ſubjećt, ſhe invited
Critillo to dinner laſt Wedneſday. She provided wholeſome and
proper food in a becoming variety, but the diſhes were of a very
antic mold, the diſpoſition of them quite out of faſhion, and while
the garniſh of ſome was profuſely rich and gay, that of others was
V O L. W I I, - 3 E *
402 MISC E L L A N E O U S THOUGHTS,
&
very coarſe and poor. Critillo knowing his fingere welcome, ſat
down, and confeſſed he eat very heartily ; but after dinner he took
the freedom to aſk the lady whether this was the neweſt mode of
entertainment, or what ſhe meant by ſuch an odd ſort of elegance
in the economy of her table. I meant, ſaid Placentia, to try
whether your ſtomach was not in a more healthy ſtate than your
ſoul and conſcience. You complaimed laſt Sunday, that the ſer-
mon was ſo diſhed and dreſſed, that you could not reliſh it ; and
though you confeſſed there was much truth and duty contained in
it, yet you were ſo diſguſted with the ſtyle of the preacher and
his aukward manner, that you went away fretting at the diſcourſe
and received no profit at all ; but you own you fed º upon
the proviſions of my table to-day, nor was your ſtomach ſo ſqeam-
iſh as to keep your faſt, though the diſhes and garniture were
inelegant. enough, and very much a-kin to the ſermon you de-
ſcribed. Critillo took the hint, and was convinced of his folly,
begged pardon of Placentia, and learnt for the future to attend
with a better ſpirit on publie-worſhip : “For you have now taught
me, ſays he, to make this obſervation, that if the ſoul of a chriſ-
tian be found in a healthy ſtate, it will not grow peeviſh and refuſe
all ſpiritual food, becauſe it is not ſurrounded with every proper
and modiſh elegance in the diſpenſing of it.”
But this is but one inſtance of her prudence and addreſs in re-
claiming mankind from their follies; thoſe who have the happineſs
of her intimate acquaintance, have been witneſſes to many ſuch
pieces of gentle and effectual reproof. A pleaſing ſerenity of ſoul
has run through her whole courſe : But ſome years ago, when
ſhe was verging towards the decline of life, ſhe happened for ſeve-
ral months together to be ruffled and teized with two or three un-
happy occurrences, which came upon her at once, and gave her
to much diſquietude, as made her carriage to thoſe round about her
favour a little of the inward vexation. She was ſoon conſcious of
the inroad which was made upon her gentle virtues ; ſhe found the
angry ferment ariſe too often, and work too near her heart; ſhe
gave herſelf many ſilent rebukes, and by repeated prayer and reli-
gious watchfulneſs, ſhe ſupprefied the growing evil and recovered
her native ferenity. Happy thoſe, who in ſuch an hour of tempt—
ation do not loſe their temper entirely beyond all recovery.
She is now far advanced in years, and the infirmities which tend
to put a period to life are growing upon her ; yet ſhe is not ever
loading the company with her complaints, nor repeating to them
the hiſtory of her daily pains and aches, nor does ſhe often ſpeak of
them even amóngſt her friends, but when it ſeems neceſſary to ex-
cuſe her ina&tivity, or the omiſſion of any of the duties of her place,
or to prevent too much expe&tation from her under her preſent in-
capacity and weakneſs. “What can I get, ſays ſhe, by buzzing
all my ails into the ears of my friends T ſhall but render myſelf
diſagreeable to the world, and my company more unpleaſant to
thoſe whom I love ; and when I have talked my diſeaſes all over to
them, they cannot relieve me ; therefore I chooſe to complain in
ſecret, only to him who can ſend relief, or give me a complete and
joyful releaſe.”
In the long ſeries of her life ſhe met with few enemies, and thoſe
have chiefly ſprung from envy at her happineſs. Even while ſhe
has been ſcattering her bleſfings among mankind, ſhe has now and
then met a very unmerited reproach ; yet Placentia has never
MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 403
ceaſed her kind offices to them, but travelled on ſtill in the paths of
virtue and goodneſs with a ſublime diſregard of their malice.
“So glides the moon along th’ ethereal plains,
“ Bright'ning the midnight world with silver blaze,
“And great in silent majesty disdains
“The clamorous envy of the barking race ;
“Yet shines upon them still with generous light,
“ While brutes abuse her beams but to direct their spite.”
Philagatha, a lady of ſix and twenty years old, was preſent while
this bright charaćter was rehearſed; ſhe had been the mother of
three children, and was ſtill proceeding ; ſhe was ſo charmed with
the many agreeable parts .#. a life, that ſhe reſolved if ever ſhe
had another daughter, it ſhould be named Placentia.
LXIV.-Common Occurrences moraliſed.
AS Theophron one evening was ſitting ſolitary by the fire, which
was ſunk low, and glimmering in aſhes, he muſed on the forrows
that ſurrounded human nature, and beſet the ſpirits that dwell in
fleſh. . By chance he caſt his eye on a worm which was lodged on
the ſafer end of a ſhort firebrand; it ſeemed very uneaſy at its warm
ftation, writhing and ſtretching itſelf every way for relief. He
watched the creeping creature in all its motions. I ſaw it, ſaid he,
when he told this incident to Philemus, I ſaw it reach forward, and
there it met the living coal; backward, and on each fide, and then
it touched the burning embers : ſtill ſtarting from the preſent tor-
ment, it retreated and ſhrunk away from every place where it had
juſt before ſought a refuge, and ſtill met with new diſquietude and
all II .
At laſt I obſerved, ſaid he, that having turned on all ſides in vain,
it lifted its head upward, and raiſed its length as high as poſſible in
the air, where it found nothing to annoy it ; but the chief part of
the body ſtill lay prone on the wood ; its lower or worſer half hung
heavy on the aſpiring animal, and forbid its aſcent. How happy
would the worm have been, could it then have put on wings and
become a flying inſe&t
. Such, ſaid he, is the caſe of every holy ſoul on earth ; it is out of
its proper element, like the worm lodged amongſt hot embers. The
uneaſy ſpirit is ſometimes ready to ſtretch its powers, its deſires
and wiſhes on every ſide, to find reſt and happineſs amongſt ſenſible
goods : but theſe things, inſtead of ſatisfying its nobler appetites,
rather give ſome new pain, variety of vexation, and everlaiting diſ-
appointment. The ſoul finding every experiment vain, retires and
ſhrinks backward from all mortal objećts, and being touched with
a divine influence, it raiſes itſelf up towards heaven to ſeek its God :
butthe fleſh, the body, the meaner and worſer half of the man, hangs
heavy, and drags it down again, that it cannot aſcend thither,
where reſt and eaſe are only to be found.
..What ſhould ſuch a ſoul do now, but pant and long hourly for a
flight to the upper world, and breathe after the moment of its re-
leaſe ? What ſhould be more joyful to ſuch a ſpirit, than the di-
vine and almighty ſummons to départ from fleſh º O bleſſed voice
from heaven that ſhall ſay to it, “ Come up hither º’’ and in the
fame inſtant ſhall break off all its fetters, give it the wings of an
angel, and inſpire it with double zeal to aſcend. ‘.
* 3 E 2
404 MISC E L L AN E O U S T H O U GHT S.
At another time, ſaid Philemus, I happened to be with this good
man when he was walking through a grove, and we unperched a
ſquirrel and a lark. The ſquirrel leaped ninbly from bough to
bough, and ran round half the trees of the grove to ſecure itſelf;
but the lark, after it had juſt tried a bough or two, took wing up-
ward, and we ſaw it no more. Juſt ſuch is the difference, ſaid
Theophron, between a chriſtian and a man of this world. . When
the ſons of earth are beat off from one mortal hope, they run
ſtill to others, they ſearch round among all the creatures to find re-
lief, and dwell upon earthly comforts ſtill ; but the ſoul of a chrif-
tian, unperched from his reſt on earth, flies immediately towards
heaven, and takes its relief in the upper world among things that
are inviſible.
When Philemus told theſe little occurrences of Theophron, toge-
ther with his pious remarks upon them, Ridelio, ſat ſimpering with
an air of contempt till the ſtory was done, and then burſt out into a
loud laugh. “What, ſays he, is the old puritanical age returned
again Muſt we ſpiritualiſe the affairs of larks, and worms, and
ſquirrels, and learn religion from all the trifles in nature At church
let us be grave, and mind the buſineſs of the church ; but let us not
fill our chimney with leſſons of godlineſs, nor ſadden our fire-ſide
with devotion ; let us never be ſo exceſſively religious as to make
temples of the fields and the groves, and talk of God and heaven
there.”
Philemus could hold no longer, but, with a ſolemn and ſevere
countenance, gave Ridelio a juſt rebuke. Muſt we never think of
heaven but at church 2 I fear we ſhall then baniſh religion out of
the world. , Hath not the bleſſed God given us notices of himſelf
among all the creatures, and muſt we never dare to take notice of
him in any of them, left we be out of the mode, and ridiculed as
unfaſhionable * Periſh all theſe faſhions of an ungodly world,
which would thruſt heaven from our thoughts | Let the faſhion of
our Saviour obtain among us, who when he came down from God
and dwelt annong men, from every occurrence of life took occaſion
to raiſe the thoughts of his hearers to things divine and heavenly.
He drew the leſſons of his goſpel from the fig-tree and the muſtard-
feed, from a loſt ſheep and a louring ſky, and there was ſcarce any
occurrence of the meaneſt kind which he did not improve to holy
purpoſes ; nor does it become any man who wears the name of a
chriſtian, to laugh at the pračtice of his Saviour, or to forbid his fol-
lowers the imitation of ſo ſacred an example.
Here follow ſeveral Epigrams, Inſcriptions, and Fragments of Poeff.
PERHAPS there is no perſon who hath amuſed himſelf with
verſe from fifteen years old to fifty, but hath ſometimes writ upon
low and common themes, or mingled fragments of poeſy on more
important ſubjećts in proſe; and when friends have been innocently
entertained with thoſe little things, and copies are once gone abroad
into the world, they are in danger of being publiſhed in a very im–
perfeół and mangled manner. To avoid this, it is better they ſhould
appear as they are, and if they can give any further innocent
amuſement to young perſons who delight in verſe, this may ſerve
for an apology for their publication, though they were written in
the early parts of life, and eſpecially ſince moſt . them bear ſome
divine or moral ſentiment. -
MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS• 405
LXV.—Fragments of Verſe.
1. The Preface of a Letter, written Auguſt 1692.
E’ER since the morning of that day
Which bid my dearest friends adieu,
And rolling wheels bore me away
Far from my native town and you,
E’er since I lost through distant place,
The pleasures of a parent's face,
This is the first whose language Sues
For your release from waxen bands;
Laden with humble love it bows
To kiss a welcome from your hands :
Accept the duty which it brings,
And pardon its delaying wings.
2. The Sun in Eclipſe.—To Horatio.
Dear H.
THE firſt thought which I glanced upon after I had ſet pen to
paper, was the approach of the ſolar eclipſe, and it impreſſed me
with ſuch force, that I was conſtrained to ſpend a few lines to dreſs
up a ſudden thought on that ſubjećt, in the ſtrain which we learnt
not many years ago among the heathen poets.
Now, now ’tis just at hand
Mow the bright sun leaves his meridian stage,
Rolls down the hill, and meets his sister's rage;
Her gloomy wheels full at his chariot run,
And join fierce combat with her brother Sun.
The gentle monarch of the azure plain R
Still paints and silvers her rebellious wain,
And shoots his wonted fires, but shoots his fires in vain. W
Th'ungrateful planet does as fast requite
Th’ o'erflowing measures of her borrow’d light !
With an impetuous deluge of her resistless night.
His flaming coursers toss their raging heads,
And heave and grapple with the stubborn shades 2
Their eyeballs flash, their brazen bellows puff,
And belch ethereal fire to guard the darkness off;
In vain their brazen lungs, in vain their eyes,
Night spreads her banners o'er the wond'ring skies.
Say, peaceful muse, what fury did excite
The kindred stars to this prodigious fight 2
Are these the rules of nature ? Will the skies
Let such dark scenes of dreadful battle rise 2
What dire events hang threat’ning o'er the earth
What plagues, what wars, just bursting into birth 2
Now for his teeming glebe the ploughman fears,
Lest it should yield a crop of iron spears :
Shepherds see death spread o'er the fleecy downs,
Monarchs grow pale, and tremble for their crowns:
Vain dreams of mortal weakness
Awake, philosophy, with radiant eye,
Who searcheth all that’s deep, and all that’s high:
Awake, survey the spheres, explain the laws
Of heav'n, and bring to light th' eternal cause.
Of present darkness, &c,
Southampton, June 1695.
406 MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS.
3. In a Letter to Marinda, ſpeaking concerning our bleſſed Saviour.
LET your immortal thoughts arise,
Survey him crown'd with every grace,
Jesus, the wonder of the skies,
The great, the meek, the lovely and the wise,
The joy and glory of the place.
Here angels fix their gazing sight,
Here saints releas'd from earth and sin,
Dwell on his face divinely bright,
Copy his beauties with intense delight,
And with advancing lustre shine.
\
{XVI.-The inſcriptions on ſeveral ſmall French Pićtures, tranſlated.
Angelica ſinging.
WHAT, muſic and devotion too
This is the buſineſs angels do : *
When hearts, and hymns, and voices join,
It makes the pleaſant work divine.
Chloris ſtringing of Pearls.
Virtue and truth in heart and head,
Which teach you how to act and ſpeak,
Are brighter pearls than thoſe you thread,
Chloris, to tie about your neck.
Phyllis playing with a Parror.
If women will not be inclin’d
To ſeek th’ improvements of the mind,
Believe me, Phyllis, for ’tis true,
Parrots will talk as well as you.
Claudina the Cook-Maid.
The cook, who in her humble poſt
Provides the family with food,
Excels thoſe empty dames that boaſt
Of charms and lovers, birth and blood.
Florella ſinging to her Harp.
Florella fings and plays ſo well,
Which ſhe doth beſt is hard to tell 5
But ’tis a poor account to ſay,
All ſhe can do is ſing and play.
Amaryllis fpinning
O what a pretty ſpinner’s here
How ſweet her looks l how neat her kinen
lf love and youth came both to ſee her,
Youth wou’d at once ſet love a ſpinning.
Dorinda ſewing.
We ſtand expos'd to every fin
While idle, and without employ ;
But buſineſs holds our paſſions in,
And keeps out all unlawful joy.
I, is ſuckling three Lah-Dogs.
Fond fooliſh woman while you nurſe
Thoſe puppies at your breaſt,
Your name and credit tares the worſe
For every drop they taſte.
Iris, for ſhame, thoſe brutes remove,
And better learn to place your love.
Pomona the Market-Maid,
Virtue adorns her ſoul within,
Her homely garb is ever clean ;
| Such innocence diſdaining art
Gives love an honourable dart.
LXVII.-Inſcriptions on Dials.
Written on a Sun-dial in a Circle.
“SIC petit oceanum Phoebus, ſic vita ſe-
pulchrum, y
“ Dum ſenfim tacita volvitur hora
rota ;
“ Secula fic fugient, fic lux, fic umbra,
theatrum
© (; * ſtelligerum clauſerit una
ClléS,
Afterwards turned into Engli/.
Thus ſteal the filent hours away, -
The ſun thus haſtes to reach the ſea, }
, And men to mingle with their clay.
Thus light and ſhade divide the year,
Thus, till the laſt great day appear,
And ſhut the ſtarry theatre.
..Another.
So ſlide the hours, ſo wears the day,
Theſe moments, meaſure life away
With all its trains of hope and fear,
Till ſhifting ſcenes of ſhade and light
Riſe to eternal day, or fink in endleſs
night,
, Where all is joy or all deſpair.
On a Ceiling Dial, uſually called a Shot - Dial,
made at a Weſlern Window at Theobalds.
Little ſun upon the ceiling,
Ever moving, ever ſtealing
Moments, minutes, hours away ;
May no ſhade forbid thy ſhining,
While the heav'nly ſun declining.
Calls us to improve the day.
M [SC ELLANE O U S THO U G H TS.
407
Another for a Shot- Dial.
Shînîng fpot, but ever fliding 1
Brightcft bours have no abiding:
Ufe the golden moments well :
Life is wafting,
Death is hafting,
Peath configns to heav'n or hell.
4nother. '
See the little day-flar moving ;
Hlife and time are worth improving,
Seite the moments while they ftay ;
Seize and ufe them,
Left you 1o(e them,
And lament the wafted day.
Other ?Mot/os om Dia/s.
« Feftinat fuprema.
«« Proxima non noftrâ eff.
« Vehimur properantibus horis
*« Ad coelum aut erebum.
«« Sic imus ad atria lucis
« « Aut umbras erebi.
LXVIII.—Infcriptions om Portraits.
The Lines under Dr. Gwen's Pi&ure, written by himfelf.
« UMBRA refert fragiles dederint quas cura dolorque
** Reliquias, studis assiduusque labor.
** Mentem huiìmilem sacri servantem limina veri
** Votis supplicibus qui dedit, ille videt.”
Emglifhed thus.
Behold the shade, the fraii remaias
«Of sickness, cares, aad studious pains.
The mind in humble posture waits
At sacred truth's celestial gates,
And keeps those bounds with hofy fear,
While he who gave it, sees it there.
J/arious Mottos for an Effigy.
1
* DO tibi terra quod umbra refert : satis exhibet umbra
** Quod modò pulvis erat, quod citò purlvis erit.
* Mens donata Deo cupit immortalia, cœlum
** Suspicit, æthereis associanda choris,
** Monstrat iter nihi sola fides: Amor adjicit alas:
■
4 C
& 6
2.
;
In uno Jesu omnia.
3.
Toz ozyω άπτοιμεν
“ Surgo : levatricem, gratia, tende manum.
Nox, error, dolor, ira, metus, caro, Inunde, valete:
Lux, via, vita, salus, oinnia CHRISTUS erit.
* In Christo mea vita latet: mea gloria Christus :
* Hunc lingua, hunc calamus celebrat,
nec imago tacebit.
»
Aληθεvoyτ ες εν αγαπε.
Seeking the things above, And speaking truth and love.
4.
** Est mihi Christus vivere, & lucrum mori.
5.
Xpv5-og sp.o\ to $y.
Κερδο; spxoi το Sozygy.
6.
** Sic levis umbra virum, vir Paulum, Paulus Jesum.
** Sequitur, non assequitur.
LXIX.—Epigrams.
I. In mirum maris meridionalis thefauri incrernentum, Anno 17zo,
“ EXORTA è medio jam fortitèr aura popello
** Spirat in Australes fructus: Argentea spuma
408
MISCE L R A N E O U S T H O U GHTS.
“ Tollitur in montes ; (mirandum) atque aurea regna
* Exurgunt ponto. Circumfremit undique turba
* Mercantún, in coelum aspirans: Summa aequora nauta:
* Certatin scandunt, & se mirantur in astris: -
* Quisque sibi diadema facit, nam'plurimus extat
Croesus. At inſidos, O qui sapis, eſſuge fluctus,
* Nec tumidae, credas (licet auro splendeat) unda,
* Ne repetas miserum per mille pericla profundum,
Rex brevis. Heu ! simulac subsiderit aura popelli.
“ Unda jacet : montes pereunt ; evanida regna ;
* Nil suberit spuma, nisi forte marina * vorago.”
2. On the wondrous Riſe of the South-ſea Stock, 1720-
'Tis said the citizens have sold
Faith, truth and trade, for South-sea gold :
‘Tis false ; for those that know can swear
“ All is not gold that glisters there.”
&&
6.
. Inſcribendum maris Meridionalis Gazophylacio, ſive officina.
“ QUISQUIS es, hic intra, cui crescere nummulus ardet,
“ Cuive crumena gravis nimis est: Hic gaza paratur
“ Ampla magis, Sed onusta minus; centena talenta
* Australi videas citó ter triplicata sub undā ;
“ Quod gravitatis abest numerum supplere videbis,
* Hic bullae, fumus, rumor, spes, lana Caprina,
“ Nix aestiva, umbre, phantasmata, Soundia, venti.
“ Praedia in Utopicis regionibus, aurea spuma,
“ Aeria?q; arces venduntur, emuntur in horas.
&
&
Vel si brevior inscriptio magis arridit.
—“ Non onne quod hic micat aurum est.
April 6, 1720.
4. Sabina and her Companions travelling together to ſee fine Buildings and
Gardens.
WHILE round the gardens and the groves
... .Your foot, your eye, your fancy roves,
With still new forms of pleasure in a warm pursuit,
Let every tree yield knowledge too,
Safer than that in Eden grew,
Where your own mother Eve found poison in the fruit.
5. The same.
Go, view the dwellings of the great,
The spacious court, the tow’ring seat,
The roofs of costly form, the fret-work and the gold
Mark the bright tap'stry scenes, and say,
Will these make wrinkled age delay,
Or warm the cheek, and paint it gay, t
When death spreads o'er the face her frightful pale and cold?
6. The same
In vain to search the verdant scenes,
The shaded walks, the flow'ry greens,
The trees of golden fruit for what can ne'er be found:
You search for bliss, where 'twill not grow,
. There is no paradise below,
Since life's immortal tree is perish'd from the ground.
7. Ratio, Fides, Charitas.
(6. RECTA fidem ratio juvat ; alma fides rationem :
“Sed ratio atque fides nil sine amore juvant.
* Alii legendum vellent mortimerina.
MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 409
Idem.
* Et ratio fidei est, & amica fides rationi:
“At nihilambo valent simihi desitamor.
LXX-Epitaphs.
2. An Inſcription on a Monumental Stone in Cheſſunt Church in Hertfordſhire. In me •
mory of Thomas Pickard, Eſq.; Citizen of London, who died ſuddenly, Jan. 29. A. D.
1719. 4St. So,
A SOURL prepar’d needs no delays,
The summons come, the saint obeys:
Swift was his flight, and short the road,
He clos'd his eyes, and saw his God.
The flesh rests here till Jesus come,
And claims the treasure from the tomb.
2. On the Grave-ſtone of Mr. John May, a young Student in Divinity, who died after
a lingering and painful Sickneſs, and was buried in Cheſſunt Church-yard, in Hertford-
£hire. -
SO sleep the saints, and cease to groan,
When sin and death have done their worst,
Christ hath a glory like his own,
Which waits to clothe their waking dust.
3. Written for a Grate-stone of a near Relation.
IN faith she died ? in dust she lies;
But faith foresees that dust shall rise
When Jesus calls, while hope assumes
And boasts her joy among the tombs.
Or thus.
Beneath this stone death's prisoner lies,
The stone shall move, the prisoner rise,
When Jesus with almighty word
Calls his dead Saints to meet their Lord.
4. To the pious Memory of the Reverend Mr. Samuel Harvey of London, who
died April 17, 1729. Aft. 30.
<< He was a perſon of a very low ſtature, but of an excellent ſpirit, adorned with all the
“ graces of a miniſter and a chriſtian in a moſt uncommon degree. His fickneſs was a
“ ſlow fever ; but while the diſorder was upon him, he ventured abroad, according to a
“ promiſe made ſome time before, and his zeal exhauſted all his ſpirits in pious and pro-
“fitable converſation with ſome younger perſons who greatly valued his miniſtry; in a
“ few days the diſtemper prevailed beyond the reach and power of medicine.”
An Epitaph.
FIFRE lie the ruins of a lowly tent,
Where the seraphic soul of Harvey spent
Its mortal years. How did his genius shine,
Like heav'n's bright envoy, clad in pow'rs divine #
When from his lips the grace or vengeance broke,
*Twas majesty in arms, ’twas melting mercy spoke.
What worlds of worth lay crowded in that breast :
Too strait the mansion for th’ illustrious guest.
Zeal, like a flame shot from the realms of day,
Aids the slow fever to consume the clay,
And bears the saint up through the starry road
Triumphant. So Elijah went to God. .
V O L. W II, 3 F
-410 - MISCELLANEO US THOUGHTS.
What happy prophet shall his mantle find,
Heir to the double portion of his mind
Sic musá jam veterascenti
Inter justissimios amicorum & ecclesia,
Fletus Harvaeosuo parentat. I. W.
3. An Epitaph ontlie Reverend Mr. Matthew Clarke,
“ In hoc sepulchro conditur
X “ MATTHEUS CLARKE,
* Patris venerandi filius cognominis,
“, nec ipse minus venerandus :
“ Literis sacris & humanis
“ a primâ atate innutritus :
“ Linguarum scientissimus:
“ In munere concionatorio
“ eximius, opeiosus & felix:
“ In officio pastorali
“ fidelis & vigilans: *-
“ Inter theologorum dissidia.
“ moderatus & pacificus:
J “ Ad omnia pietatis munia
“ promptus semper & alacris:
“Conjux, frater, pater, amicus,
“ inter praestantissimos:
“Erga omnes hominum ordines
“egregie benevolus.
Quas verö innumeras invicta modestia dotes
Celavit, nec fama profert, nec copia fandi
Est tumulo con&essa: Sed olim marmore rupto
Ostendet venſura dies; praeconia coeli
Narrabunt; judex agnoscet, & omnia plaudent.
“Abi, viator, ubicunq; terrarum fueris,
“ hatc audies.
Natus est in agro Leicestriensi, A. D. 1664.
Obiit Londini, 27 o die Martii, 1726.
, AEtat. suae 62.
Multum dilectus, multüm desideratus.
In Engliſh thus.
Sacred to memory. +
In this sepulchre lies buried
MATTHEW CLARKE,
A son bearing the name
of his venerable father
nor less venerable himself:
Train'd up ſtom his youngest years
in sacred and human learning :
Very skilful in the languages:
In the gift of preaching
excellent, laborious and successful:
* In the pastoral office
t faithful and vigilant :
Among the controversies of divines
moderate always and pacific:
Ever ready for all the duties of piety:
Among husbands, brothers, fathers, friends,
he had few equals:
And his carriage toward all mankind was
#. eminently benevolent. \
But what rich stores of grace lay hid behind
The veil of modesty, no human mind
Aſ ºf
&
&
&
&
g
&
&
{
MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS, . 411 .
Can search, no friend declare, nor fame reveal, .
Nor has this mournful marble power to tell.
Yet there's a hast’ning hour, it comes, it comes,
To rouse the sleeping dead, to burst the tombs
And set the saint in view. All eyes behold:
While the vast records of the skies unroll’d, ,
Rehearse his works, and spread his worth abroad;
The judge approves, and ..., and earth applaud.
Go, traveller; and wheresoe'er
Thy wand'ring feet shall rest
In distant lands, thy ear shall hear
His name pronounc'd and blest.
He was born in Leicestershire, in the year 1664.
He died at London, March 27, 1726,
Aged sixty-two years,
Much beloved and much lamented.
6. An Epitaph on the Reverend Mr. Edward Brodhurſt.
“ Hoc marmore commemoratur
“ Vir in sacris supra socios peritus,
“ Nec in literis humanis minus sciens:
“ Rebus divinis a primâ actate deditus,
“Veritatis liberê studiosus,
“ Fidei christianae strenuus assertor,
“ Et pietate nulli secundus.
“Concionator eximius,
“. Ratione, suadelà eloquio potens:
“Pastor erga gregem sibi commissum
“Vigil, & solicitus penè supra modum:
“ Moribus facilis, vità beneficus,
“Omnigemae charitatis exemplar:
“ Mille virtutibus instructus
“ Quas sacra celavit modestia;
“ Sedmon usque celabuntur :
“ I lector, & expecta diem
“Quá coelo terrisque simul innotescet
* Qualis & quantus fuit
<< EDWARDUS BRODHURST
Agro Derbiensi natus est, A. D. 1691.
Birmingamiae defunctus Julii die 21, 1730.
Animam ad superos avolantem
Ecclesia militans luget;
Triumphans plaudit,
SuScipit Christus, agoscit Deus.
* Euge, fidelis serve.”
bone into Engliſh by another hand.
This marble calls to our rerilèffibrāhce
A person of superior skill in divinity,
Nor less acquainted with human literature :-
Inclined from his infancy to things sacréd,
An impartial enquifer after trúth,
An able defender of the christian faith,
A truly pious āfīd devout man.
A preacher that exéelled
In force of reason aſid art of persuasion:
A pastor vigilant beyond his strength
Over the flock committed to his º $
Of courteous béhaviour and beneficent life:
3 F 2
412 MISCELLANEO US THOUGHTS.
A pattern of charity in all its branches :
A man adorn'd with many virtues,
Conceal’d under a veil of modesty;
But shall not for ever be conceal’d.
Go, reader, expect the day,
When heaven and earth at once shall know
t How deserving a person
-- o Mr. EDWARD BRÖIDHURST was,
He was born in Derbyshire, 1691.
Dy’d at Birmingham, July 21, 1730.
His soul ascending to the blest above,
The church on earth bemoans,
The church triumphant congratulates,
Is received by Christ, approved of God ;
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
1. The following Epitah on Sir Iſaac Newton, was compoſed by ºy
worthy Friend, Mr. John Eames, with a few Decorations added at his
Requeſt.
“Hic sepultus est.
• ISAICUS NEWTONUS, ~.
“Eques auratus,
“Moribus verè antiquis, sanctissimis ;
“Quinec inter atheos Dei cultun),
“Nec inter philosophos Christi fidem
** ~ “Erubuit.
“Ingenio supra hominum sortem sagaci,
“Mathesin immane quantum adauxit ditavitaue;
“Quă juvante
“Naturae, quaquà patet, motus & vires
“Coelo, terrà, marique examussim dimensus est:
“Perplexos vagantis lunae, circuitus
“Strictis cancellis solus coercuit :
“ Oceani fluentis refluigue leges athereas
“ Terricolis notas fecit;
“Temporisque metas
“A multis retrô seculis vagas & erroneas
“Certis astrorum periodis alligavit, fixitgue;
“ Qualis in semitas
“ Vi gravitatis flectuntur cometae,
“Advena, profugi, reducesve, monstravit,
. “Pallidumque eorum jubar
“Beneficum potius quam ferale,
“Planeticolis exhibuit optandum.
“ Lucis simplicis ortum multiformem,
“Variegate simplicem,
* Colorum sc. miran, theoriam
... ... “Primūs & penitàs exploravit.
“Fidis experimentis non fictis hypothesibus, innixus
“Scientia: humanac limites,
“Ultrà quam fas erat mortalibus sperare,
“Proprio marte promovit,
“Posterisque ulterius promovendos
“Nostrum super athera scandens
“Monuit & indigitavit. '
“Vale, coelestis anima, dº
“Seculigentisque tuæ lumen ingens
f Ac ingés desiderium,
* Generis humani decus, vale.”
LXXII.-The Cadence of Verſe.
IN writings of every kind, an author ſhould be ſolicitous ſo to
compoſe his work, that the ear may be able to take in all the ideas,
MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS, 413
as well as the eye, and to convey his complete fenſe to the mind
with eaſe and pleaſure. Since every ſentence has ſome words in
it which are more emphatical than the reſt, and upon which the
meaning, the beauty, the force, and the pleaſure of the ſentence
depend, the writerſhould take great care that the hearer may have
a diſtinguiſhing perception of all theſe, as well as the perſon who
reads. "All the parts of a ſentence from one end to the other, aer
not to be pronounced with the ſame tone of voice; ſuch a conſtant
uniformity would not only be heavy and tireſome, but the hearer
would never be impreſſed with the true ſenſe of the period, unleſs
the voice of the reader were changed agreeably, as the ſenſe of
words require. This is properly called cadence.
A good cadence in verſe, is much the ſame thing as the proper
and graceful ſound of a period in proſe. This ariſes partly from
the harſhneſs or ſoftneſs of the words, and the happy diſpoſition of
them, in a ſort of harmony with the ideas which are repreſented,
artly from the long and ſhort accents which belong to the ſylla-
É. well mingled, and partly alſo from the length and ſhortneſs of
the ſentences, and a proper ſituation of the pauſes or ſtops, as well
as from putting the emphatical words in their due places. All
this might be made evident in a variety of inſtances, by ſhewing
how obſcure or how languid the ſenſe, ſometimes would be found.
if the proper cadences be not obſerved by the writer or reader; how
ungraceful, how unmuſical, and even offenſive would ſome ſen-
tences appear in proſe, or ſome lines in verſe,if harſh-ſounding words
were put when the ſofter are required, if ſyllables of a ſhort accent
were placed in the room of long, if the emphatical words or pauſes
were diſpoſed in improper places The moſt ſkilful and melo-
dious reader, with his utmoſt labour and art of pronunciation, can
never entertain a judicious auditory agreeably, if the writer has not
done his part in this reſpe&t. And though theſe matters are of far
leſs importance in poeſy, than the propriety, grandeur, beauty and
force of the ideas and the elegant diſpoſition of them ; yet the late
duke of B. in his famous Eſſay on Poetry, ſuppoſes them to be of
ſome neceſſity to make good verſe. *
* Number and rhyme, and that harmonious sound
“Which never does the ear with harshness wound,
“Are necessary, tho’ but vulgar arts.”
This theme would furniſh ſufficient matter for many pages;
but upon occaſion of a queſtion put to me a few days ago upon this
fubjećt, I ſhall here take notice only of thoſe vicious cadences in
verſe, which ariſe from long or ſhort ſyllables ill-placed, or from
colons, commas and periods ill-diſpoſed, as far as my amuſements
in § have given me any knowledge of this kind.
t has been an old and juſt obſervation, that Engliſh verſe gene-
rally conſiſts of iambic feet : An iambic foot has two ſyllables,
whereof the firſt is ſhort, and the latter long. . An Engliſh verſe
of the heroic kind, conſiſts of five ſuch feet; ſo that in reading
it, the accent is uſually laid upon the ſecond, fourth, fixth, eighth,
and tenth ſyllables.
Mr. Dryden, who was counted the beſt verſifier of the laſt age,
is generally very true to this iambic meaſure, and obſerves it pet-
haps with too conſtant a regularity. So in his Virgil he deſcribes
two ſerpents in ten lines, with ſcarce one foot of any other kind,
or the alteration of a ſingle ſyllable.
414 MISC E L E, AN E 6 iſ 8 THOUGHTS.
“Two serpents rank’d abreast, the seas divide,
“And smoothly sweep along the swelling tide.
* Their flaming crest above the waves they show,
“Their bellies seem to burn the seas below :
* Their speckled tails advance to stees their course,
“And on the sounding shore the flying billows force.
“And now the strand, and now the plain they held,
“Their ardent eyes with bloody streaks were fill'd ;
“Their nimble tongues they brandish'd as they came.
“And lick'd their hissing jaws, that spatter'd flanie”
Though all theſe ten lines glide on ſo ſmoothly, and ſeem to
careſs the ear, yet perhaps this is too long a uniformity to be truly
grateful, unleſs we excuſe it by ſuppoſing the poet to imitate the
fmoothneſs of the ſerpents ſwift, eaſy and uniform motion over the
ſea and land, without the leaſt ſtop or interruption. ge
In the lines of heroic meature, there are ſome parts of the line
which will admit a ſpondee, thatis, a foot made of two long ſyllables;
or a troche, where the firſt ſyllable is long, and the latter ſhort :
A happy intermixture of theſe will prevent that ſameneſs of toilé,
and Čadence which is tedious and painful to a judicious reader,
and will pleaſe the ear with a greater variety of notes ; prºvided
ſtill that the iambic ſound prevails. Andhere, according to the beſt
obſervation I can make, a ſpondee may be placed in the firſt, fe-
cond, third, fourth, or fifth place. But a trochee uſually finds rio.
room, except in the firſt or third, where they are ſometimes placed
with much elegance of found. - * *
That a ſpondee may be uſed in any part of the verſe, appears.
from this conſideration, that ten ſingle words, which are all of long.
accents, will make a verſe, though not a very graceful one:
“Blue skies look fair, while stars shoot beams like gold.”
So that ingenious mimic line of Mr. Pope, in his Artof Criticiſm:
“Where ten low words creep on in one dall line.”
In ſuch verſe every foot may be a ſpondee, or every ſyllable in
the verſe long. *
Trochees are frequently uſed for the firſt foot. This ſounds,
yery agreeably, as in the firſt line of the famous poem called the
Splendid Shilling, by Mr. Philips:
“Happy the man who void of care and strife.”
And ſometimes, though not often, for the third foot as well as
the firſt : Milton deſcribes the devils: •
“Hovering on wing, under the cope of hell.”
The words happy in º: and under in Milton, are both
trochees; but ſcarce any other place in the verſe, beſides the
firſt and the third, will well endure a trochee, without endangering
the harmony, ſpeiling the cadence of the verſe, and offending the
e3?'. k - *
There are ſome lines in our old poets faulty in this particular; as,
“None think rewards render'd worthy their worth,
“And both lowers, both thy disciples were.”—Davenant.
Where worthy in the fourth place, and lovers in the ſecond, are
very unharmonious, and turn the line into perfeół proſe. Perhaps
there may be ſome places found in Milton’s works, where he has
Misc ELLANE oxyg THOUGHTS. 4 5
not been ſo nice an obſerver of this matter* ; but it is granted,
even by his admirers, that his numbers are not always ſo accurate
and tuneful as they ſhould be. He has indeed too much negle&ted
this part of poeſy, though he has in many places recompenſed the
pains of the reader's ear by the pleaſure he gives in the dignity
and ſublimity of the ſeaſe, as well as by the rich variety of his
cadences, which are moſt times juſt and graceful.
Here let it be obſerved, that where double rhymes are uſed,
there indeed a trochee comes laſt ; but it is not deſigned there to
be a foot of the verſe, for it ſtands only in the place of the laſt
ſyllable, which is always long, and the ſhort ſyllable following
is but a ſort of ſuperfluous turn or flouriſh added to the laſt long
ſyllable, as in Dryden's Abſalom, &c. . .
“Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking,
“Besides ten thousand freaks that dy’d in thinking.”
Note, Theſe trochees, inſtead of the laſt long ſyllable, are very
ſeldama admitted in grave poems in rhyme, but only for burleſque and
Yidicule, as in the lines now cited; nor doth Milton much uſe
them in his blank verſe, though they are frequently uſed in blank
verſe by more modern writers, and eſpecially in dramatic poeſy.
Mr. Pope, as well as Mr. Dryden, are more careful in their
numbers, and never indulge ſuch irregular licence, except where
they deſign ſomething comical ; yet there is one inſtance in Mr.
Pope's tranſlation of Homer, wherein he has introduced a trochee
for the fourth foot, but it is with a beautiful intent, and with equal
fucceſs, when he repreſents a chariot's uneven motion in a rugged
way by the abrupt cadences and rugged ſound of his verſe.
. . “Jumping high o'er the routs of the rough ground,
“ Rattled the clatt’ring cars, and the shock’d axles bound.”
In the firſt of theſe lines there is but one iambic, namely, the
routs; the reſt are ſpondees and trochees: and particularly the
two trochees, namely, “jumping,’ and “ of the are inſerted in the
firſt and fourth places, to make the verſe the rougher. The tranſ-
poſition of the clattering cars, which is the nominative caſe after
the verb rattled, adds ſomething, farther to the graceful confuſion
which ariſes in the verſe from the jumbling idea which the poet
deſcribes. - 4.
Thus much for the cadence of verſe, as it depends upon long
and ſhort ſyllables.
“Thus much indeed (ſays Cenſorio, who read theſe five or ſix
pages) and a great deal too much for any man to write upon theſe
trifles, whoſe profeſſion calls him to ſacred ſtudies.”
Uraniq, who delighted to read divine poems, took up the cauſe,
and forbid the reprover. Are all verſes, ſaid he, profane things;
If ſo, how will the royal pſalmiſt eſcape f. But if verſe may lawfully
be written, there muſt be ſome knowledge of the rules of it, and
ſome acquaintance with the elegance of ſound as well as ſenſe.
The chearful and pious half-hours which have been ſpent in the
cloſet as well as in the church, by the help of devout poeſy, give
too much encouragement to this art, to have it for ever forbidden
to chriſtians.
Beſides, if verſe were but a mere recreation, may not a life de-
voted to divine offices be indulged in ſome ſort of amuſements in
this animal and feeble ſtate, to divert a heavy hour, and relieve the
* Yet it may be allowed, that upon a ſpecial occaſion, a trochee is found in the
fourth place not utterly-diſagreeable in Milton's poem, -
416 Misc ELLANEo Us THou GH1's.
mind a little, when fatigued with intenſe labours of a ſuperior kind?
Was the charaćter of that ſpiritual man, the Archbiſhop of Cam-
bray, ever thought to be tarniſhed by his epiſtolary converſe with
De la Motte the French poet, on ſuch ſubjećts as theſe ? Go home,
Cenſorio, and ſubdue your ſnarling humour; or learn to employ
your reproofs with more juſtice. For my part, I will proceed to
ratify myſelf in reading, the next four or five pages too ; though
; find by the title, that the argument is much the ſame.
LXXII.-Of the different Stops and Cadences in Blank Verſe.
Mr. Milton is eſteemed the parent and author of blank verſe
among us: he has given us a noble example of it in his incompar-
ahle poem called Paradiſe Loſt, and has recommended it to the
world in his preface. There he aſſures us, “ that true muſical
delight does not conſiſt in rhyme, or the jingling ſound of like end-
ings, but only in apt numbers, fit quantity of ſyllables, and the
fenſe variouſly drawn out from one verſe into another.” Yet
however the ſentence be often prolonged beyond the end of the
line, this does by no means imply that no verſe ſhould have a
period at the end of it, for that would be running out of one ex-
treme into another, and by avoiding one error to fall into a worſe;
as I ſhall make appear in what follows:
Where rhyme is uſed, there has too generally been placed a .
colon or a period at the end of every couplet, though without
neceffity; and thus the whole poem uſually runs on in the ſame
pace with ſuch a perpetual return of the ſame ſort of numbers and
the ſame cadences and pauſes, that the conſtant uniformity has
grown tireſome and offenſive to every muſical ear, and is contrary
to the rules of true harmony ; according to that known remark of
Horace, r
“Ridetur chordā qui semper oberrat eaden).”
But it does not follow from this obſervation, that blank verſe ſhould
abandon all colons and periods at the end of the lines; but only
that they ſhould be diſpoſed of with care and judgment in a greater
variety through ſeveral parts of the line, as well as at the end of
it. This will aſſiſt the poet in forming true harmony, and in mak-
ing his different numbers and the different cadences of the verſe
appear more various and grateful: It will conſtrain the reader to
give different reſts to his voice ; and thus take away that dull uni-
formity of ſound which too often overſpreads a poem writin rhyme.
Now theſe pauſes in the ſenſe, and conſequently theſe reſts in
the voice, ſhould be judiciouſly fixed through all the parts of the
verſe or line in ſuch a manner, that no one ſort of pauſe or cadence
ſhould return too often and offend the ear; and this may be happi-
ly performed in ſome meaſure in verſe with rhyme, though not ſo
well as where there is none.* . To render blank verſe more perfeót
in this kind, what if one ſhould propoſe the following rules
1. Since there are ten ſyllables in a line of heroic meaſure, it
follows that there are ten places where the ſenſe may be finiſhed,
and a ſtop may be placed ; and therefore, if we would obſerve
any thing of proportion, there ſhould be at leaſt a colon or period
at the end of one line in ten ; but perhaps the eaſe and reſt of the
ear, the proper partition of the verſes one from another, and the
* In verſe with rhyme, cuſtom has almoſt made it neceſſary that there ſhould be
more colons and periods diſpoſed at the end of couplets, than blank verſe ſtands in
need of, which knows no diſtinétion of couplets, nor any ſort of ſtanzas.
/
--& ^.
MISCELLANEO US THOUGHTS. 4.17
giftinétion of poeſy from proſe, would require it rather a little more
frequent, . This Milton himſelf has by no means obſerved, but
has ſometimes drawn out his ſenſe from one verſe into another, as
he expreſſes it, to ſuch a length, as to run on for ſixteen or twenty
lines together, without ſo large a ſtop as a ſemicolon at the end of
a line ; and in many places there is not ſo much as a comma for
four or five lines ſucceſſively, or ſometimes for ſix or ſeven. There
are ſo many inſtances of this in his work, that I need not point to
any particular page.
2. Though there are ten places in a line, wherein the ſenſe may
end, or a ſtrong ſtop may be fixed, yet I think a very ſtrong ſtop
ſhould ſcarce ever be placed at the firſt ſyllable, or the ninth,
without ſome very extraordinary reaſon for it; the gracefulneſs of
ſound will hardly admit it: it ſéems too abrupt, unleſs ſome pecu-
liar beauty, in the ſenſe is ſuppoſed to be expreſſed thereby.
3.Two lines ſhould not very often come together, where the ſtop
is placed at the ſame ſyllable of the line, whether it be comma,
colon, or period; three lines very ſeldom, and four never; for
this would bring in that unpleaſing uniformity, which it is the deſign
and glory of blank verſe to avoid. This Milton ſeems to have ob-
ſerved almoſt every where with great care.
4. Where there is a very ſtrong period, or the end of a para-
graph, there the line ſhould generally end with the ſenſe; and an
entire new ſcene, or epiſode, ought generally to begin a new line. .
5. The end of a line demands always ſome ſmall pauſe of half
a comma in the reading, whether there be any in the ſenſe or no,
that hereby the ear of the hearer may obtain a plain and diſtinét
idea of the ſeveral verſes, which the eye of the reader receives by
looking on the book: And for this reaſon a line ſhould never end
with a word which is ſo cloſely conneéted in grammer with the
word following, that it requires a continued voice to unite them;
therefore an adjećtive ought ſcarce ever to be divided from its
ſubſtantive ; yet may Iventure to ſay Milton has done it too often:
As Book VIII. Line 5, 6. in two verſes together,
“What thanks sufficient, or what recompence
.* “Equal have I to render thee, divine
“ Historian P
And in Book IX. Line 44.
& & unless an age too late, or cold
“Climate, or years damp my intended wing.”
Book VII. Line 373. ſpeaking of the ſun,
“Invested with bright rays, jocund to run
“His longitude thro’ heav'n's high road : the grey
* “Dawn and the pleiades before him danc'd.”
It muſt be confeſſed, where ſome important adjećtive of two or
more ſyllables follows the ſubſtantive, they may be much better
feparated, as Book VII. Line 194.
“Girt with omnipotence, with radiance crown'd
“9fmajesty divine, sapience and love
“Immense, and all his father in him shone.”
And book IV. Line 844. Y -- -
“So spake the cherub and his grave rebuke,
“Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
“ Invincible.” -
vo L. v II. 3 G
*...*.
4, 18 MISCE L L ANEO US THOUGHTS
Where the adjećtive has any thing dependent upon it, then it may
be very elegantly divided from the ſubſtantive, and begin a new
line ; as in the midmoſt of the three laſt cited, Severe in youthful
beauty. º
, Milton has ſometimes ſeparated other words at the end of a
line, which nature, and grammar, and muſic ſeem to unite too
nearly for ſuch a ſeparation ; as Book IV. Line 25. tº
“Now conscience wakes the bitter memory
“Of what he was, what is, and what must be
“Worse; of worse deed, worse suffering must ensue...”
Book VIII. Line 419.
- “——No need that thou
“Should'st propagate, already infinite.”
Book VI. Line 452.
& ©
—yet hard
sº “For gods, and too unequal work we find.”
Again Verſe 462.
“But pain is perfect misery, the worst
- “Of evils.”
And you may find a number of inſtances of this kind in this great
poet, whereby he has ſometimes reduced his verſe too much into a
roſaic form. Whether this was negligence or deſign in the poet,
is hard to ſay, but it is evident that by this unreaſonable run of the
fenſe out of one line into another, and by his too frequent avoiding
not only colons and periods, but even commas at the end of the
line, it becomes hardly poſſible for the ear to diſtinguiſh all the
ends and beginnings of his verſes; nor is the reader able to obſerve
ſuch accents and ſuch pauſes as may give and maintain ſufficient
diſtinétion. Now if the beginning and ending of every verſe is
not diſtinguiſhed by the hearer, it differs too little from a ſort of
poetical proſt.
LXXIII.-A dying World, and a durable Heaven.
WOULD one think it poſſible for the ſons and daughters of
Adam, who ſee all things round them upon the face of the earth
in periſhing and dying circumſtances, to ſpeak, and ačt, and live
as though they ſhould never die P. The vegetable world with all its
beauties ſeems to paſs under a ſpreading death every year; the
glory of the field, the foreſt, and the garden periſh. Animal
nature is born to die and mingle with its original duſt ; not the
Ítrength of beaſts, the ox, or the lion, can refift their fate; nor the
fowl of the ſwifteſt wing eſcape it; nor can the nations of inſe&ts
hide from it in their dark holes and caverns, where they ſeek to
prolong their little beings, and keep the vital atoms together through
the changing ſeaſons. Our own fleſh and blood is much of the ſame
make, it is borrowed from the ſame materials as theirs, it has a
ſimilar compoſition, and ſin has mingled many more diſeaſes in our
frame, than are known to the vegetable or brutal kinds. We ſee
our anceſtors go before us to the grave, and yet we live as though we
ſhould never follow them, . We behold our neighbours carried
away from the midſt of us daily to their beds of earth, and yet we
are as thoughtleſs of this awful and important hour, as though our
own turn would never come. Let us ſurvey mankind a little :
How are all their tribes employed What is the grand buſineſs of
life Are not all their powers of fleſh and mind devoted to the pur-
MISCE L LAN E O US THQ UGHTS. 4] §
poſes of this poor, ſhort, , mortal period, as though there were
nothing to ſucceed it? And yet if we aſk thoſe who dwell around
us in our nation, Do you not believe a heaven and an eternity of
happineſs for thoſe who ſeek it ſincerely, and labour for it they
confeſs this divine truth by the force of reaſon and conſcience, and
by the light of ſcripture; but they forget it in a few moments, and
return to their follies again, and with a greedy and inceſſant deſire
they repeat the purſuit of periſhing vanities.
O that we could but keep ourſelves awake awhile from the in-
toxicating pleaſures and cares of this life, and ſhake of all theſe
golden dreams that perpetually ſurround our fancy 1, we ſhould then
ſurely employ our nobler powers to a diviner purpoſe: If we did but
dwell a little with a fixation of thought upon the ſcenes of death all
around us here on earth, and if we now and then ſurveyed the
viſible heavens, their brightneſs and their duration, we might per-
haps be put in mind of thoſe momentous truths which might direét
our condućt, might wean us from our fondneſs of theſe ſenſible and
periſhing, trifles, and animate us in good earneſt to purſue the
durable glories of heaven. A walk through a church-yard by fun or
ſtar-light, would afford ſuch a meditation as this:
All born on earth must die. Destruction reigns
Round the whole globe, and changes all its scenes.
Time brushes off our lives with sweeping wing:
But heav'n defies its power. There angels sing
immortal to that world direct thy sight, r
My soul, ethereal-born, and thither aim thy flight:
There virtue finds reward; eternal joy,
Unknown on earth, shall the full soul employ.
This glebe of death we tread, these shining skies,
lıold out the moral lessons to our eyes.
The sun still travels his illustrious round,
While ages bury ages under ground:
While heroes sink forgotten in their urns,
''Still Phosphor *glitters, and still Syrius * burns.
Light reigns thro' worlds above, and life with all her springs:
Yet man lies grov'ling on the earth,
The soul forgets its heav'nly birth,
Nor mourns her exile thence, nor homeward tries her wings.
Thus far with regard to the bulk of mankind, whoſe ſouls are im-
merſed in fleſh, and blood, who mind none but earthly things,
whoſe God is this world, and whoſe end is deſtrućtion: But it is a
melancholy thing alſo to conſider, that where a divine ray from
above has penetrated the heart, has begun to operate a heavenly
temper, to kindle a new life in the ſoul, and ſet it a breathing after
eternal things, it is ſtill aſhamed to make this new life appear, and
this divine ray diſcover itſelf; it is aſhamed to ſhine like a Son of
God in ſuch a dark and vicious world, amongſt men of degenerate
minds, who have an averſion to all that is holy and heavenly. We
would fain be always in the mode, and are afraid to be looked at in
the dreſs of piety among thouſands whoſe negle&t of God have
ftamped the faſhion. Are there not ſeveral ſuch chriſtians amongſt
us, who dare not open their lips in the language of paradiſe, nor
let the world know they belong to heaven, till death and the in-
yiſible ſtate are brought near them, and ſet in full view by ſome
ſevere ſickneſs or ſome terrible accident which threatens their
removal hence? It is a near view of the grave and eternity, that
* The morning-ſtar and the dog-ſtar.
3 G 2 ;
420 MISCE LLAN E O US THOUGHTS.
ſubdues all other lº, into devotion, that makes them begin to
ſpeak and ačt publicly like the children of God, and gives them a
ſacred fortitude, a bleſſed ſuperiority of ſoul over all their fooliſh
fears, and all the reproaches of ſinful men.
1 WHEN death and everlaſting things
Approach and ſtrike the ſight,
The ſoul unfolds itſelf, and brings
Its hidden thoughts to light.
2 The filent chriſtian ſpeaks for God,
With courage owns his name,
And ſpreads the Saviour’s grace abroad :
The zeal ſubdues the ſhame.
3 Lord, ſhall my ſoul again conceal
Her faith, if death retire *
Shall ſhame ſubdue the lively zeal,
And quench th' ethereal fire 2
4 O may my thoughts for ever keep
The grave and heav’n in view,
Leſt if my zeal and courage ſleep,
My lips grow ſilent too !
LXXIV.-The Rewards of Poeſy.
Damon, Thalia, Uranio.
Damon.
MUSE, 'tis enough that in the fairy bow’rs
My youth has lost a thousand sprightly hours,
Attending thy vagaries, in pursuit
Of painted blossoms or inchanted fruit.
Forbear to tease my riper age: 'Tis hard
To be a slave so long, and find no small reward.
Thalia
Man, 'tis enough that in the books of fame
On brazen leaves the muse shall write thy name, {
Illustrious as ber own, and make thy years the same.
Fame with her silver trump shall spread the sound. \
Of Damon’s verse, wide as the distant bound
Of British empire, or the world’s vast round. $
I see, I see from far the falling oars,
And flying sails that bear to western shores
Thy shining name; it shoots from sea to sea;
Envy pursues, but faints amidst the way.
In vision my prophetic tube descries |
Behind five hundred years new ages rise, }
Who read thy works with rapture in their eyes.
Cities unbuilt shall bless the lyric bard. -
O glorious memory ! O immense reward!
Damon.
Ah flatt’ring muse! how fruitless and how fair
These visionary scenes and sounding air 2
Fruitless and vain to me! Can noisy breath
Or fame's loud trumpet reach the courts of death?
I shall be stretch’d upon my earthy bed,
Unthinking dust, nor know the honours paid
To my surviving song. Thalia, say
Have I no more to hope 2 Hast thou no more to pay 3
Thalia.
Say, what had Horace, what had Homer more,
My favourite sons, whom men almost adore;
And youth in learned ranks for ever sings,
While perish'd heroes and forgotten kings
Have lost their names? 'Tis sov’reign wit has bought
| This deathless glory: This the wise have thought
Prodigious recompence *
MISC ELLANEO US THQ UGHTS. 421
Damon.
w Prodigious fools,
To think the hum and buz of paltry schools,
And aukward tones of boys are prizes meet
For Roman harmony and Grecian wit!
lºise from thy long repose, old Homer's ghost
Horace arise ! Are these the palms you boast
For your victorious verse? Great poets, tell,
Can echos of a name reward you well,
For labours so sublime Or have you found
Praise make your slumbers sweeter in the ground.
Thalia.
Yes, their sweet slumbers, guarded by my wing,
Are lull'd and soften’d by th’ eternal spring
Of bubbling praises from th’ Aonian hill,
Whose branching streams divide a silver rill
To every kindred urn: And thine shall share
These purling blessings under hallow’d air
The poets dreams in death are still the Inuses care.
Oamon.
Once, thou fair tempter of my heedless youth,
Once and by chance thy tropes have hit the truth;
Praise is but empty air, a purling stream, .
Poets are paid with bubbles in a dream.
Hast thou no songs to entertain thy dead?
No phantom-lights to glimmer round Iny shade?
Thalia.
Believeme, mortal, where thy relics sleep,
My nightingales shall tuneful vigils keep,
And chearthy silent tomb: The glow-worm shine
With evening lamp, to mark which earth is thine:
While midnight fairies tripping round thy bed,
‘Collect a moon beam glory for thy head.
Fair hyacinths thy hilloc shall adorn,
And living ivy creep about thy urn: *
Sweet violets scent the ground, while laurels throw
Their leafy shade o'er the green turf below, }
And borrow life from thee to crown some poet's brow. .
Damon.
Muse, thy last blessings sink below the first; \
Ah wretched trifler To array my dust
In thy green flow'ry forms, and think the payment just! §
Poor is my gain should nations join to praise;
And now must chirping birds reward my lays?
What! shall the travels of my soul be paid
With glow-worm light, and with a leafy shade,
Violets and creeping ivies Is this all
The muse can promise, or the poet call
His glorious hope and joy
Arethese the honours of thy favourite sons,
To have their flesh, their limbs, their mouldring bones
Fatten the glebe to make a laurel grow,
Which the foul carcase of a dog might do,
Or any vile manure? Away, be gone;
Tempt me no more: I now renounce thy throne:
My indignation swells. Here, fetch me fire,
Bring me my odes, the labours of the lyre;
I doom theià all to ashes,
422 MISCELLANEO US THOUGHT3.
Urania.
Rash man restrain thy wrath, these odes are mine;
Small is thy right in gifts so much divine.
Was it thy skill that to a Saviour's name R
Strung David's harp, and drew th’ illustrious theme
From smoking altars and a bleeding Lainbº
Who form'd thy sounding shell? Who fixed the strings,
Or taught thy hand to play eternal things?
Was't not my aid that rais'd thy notes so high
And they must live till time and nature die.
Here heav'n and virtue reign : Here joy and love *
Tune the retir’d devotion of the grove, *
And train up mortals for the thrones above,
Sinners shall start, and, struck with dread divine,
Shrink from the vengeance of some flaming line,
Shall melt in trickling woes for fallies past;
Yet all amidst their piercing sorrows taste
The sweets of pious hope: Emanuel's blood
Flows in the verse, and seals the pardon good.
Salvation triumphs here, and heals the smart
Of wounded conscience and a breaking heart.
Youth shall learn temp'rance from these hallow'd strains.
Shall bind their passions in harmonious chains;
And virgins learn to love with cautious fear,
Nor virtue needs her guard of blushes here.
Matrons, grown reverend in their silver hairs,
Sooth the sad memory of their ancient cares
With these soft hymns; while on their trembling knee
Sits their young offspring of the fourth degree
With list’ning wonder, till their infant tongue
Stammers and lisps, and learns th’ immortal song,
And lays up the fair lesson to repeat
To the fourth distant age, when sitting round their feet,
Each heav'n-born heart shall choose a favourite ode
To bear their morning homage to their God,
And pay their nightly vows. These sacred themes
Inspire the pillow with ethereal dreams;
And oft amidst the burdens of the day
Some devout couplet wings the soul away,
Forgetful of this globe: Adieu, the cares
Of mortal life! Adieu, the sins, the snares 1
She talks with angels, and walk’s o'er the stars.
Amidst th’ º: raptures of the lyre,
O'er whelm'd with bliss, shall aged saints expire,
And mix their notes at once with some celestial choir.
Damon
What holy sounds are these ? What strains divine?
Is it thy voice, O blest Urania; thine? v
Enough; I claim no more. My toils are paid,
My midnight-lamp, and my o'er-labour'd head,
My early sighs for thy propitious pow'r
And my wing’d zeal to seize the lyric hour:
Thy words reward them all. And when I die,
May the great Ruler of the rolling sky . .
Give thy predictions birth, with blºsing: from his eye.
I lay my flesh to rest, with heart resign'd .
And smiling hope. Arise, my deathless mind,
Ascend, where all the blisful passions flow -
\ In sweeter numbers; and let mortals know,
Urania leaves these odes to chear their toils below,
MISCE LLAN E O US THOUGHTS. 423
LXXV-A moral Argument to prove the natural Immortality of the Soul.
THE great God has manifeſted aſtoniſhing wiſdom in the works
of his creation, contriving, forming and endowing every creature
with powers and properties ſuitable to the various purpoſes of its
deſigned exiſtence, and of his own government,
God has given to his creature man an underſtanding and will,
and various powers whereby he is capable of knowing, loving,
and ſerving his Maker; by theſe ſame powers he alſo becomes
capable of diſhonouring, affronting and blaſpheming him.
an is formed alſo with a power or capacity of receiving recom-
pences according to his works, that is, pleaſure and happineſs
anſwerable to his obedience, or puniſhment and miſery if he diſ-
obey: And the great God, as a righteous Governor of the world,
has thought fit to aſſign happineſs to virtue, and miſery to vice, as
a reward or recompence of good or evil ačtions.
Man is alſo created with a power to deſtroy his own animal life,
as well as the animal life of his fellow-creatures.
Now if a man be never ſo pious, and has no ſurviving ſpirit, no
conſcious power remaining after this animal life be deſtroyed,
God cannot certainly reward him according to the courſe of nature;
becauſe a wicked man may put a ſpeedy end to the animal life of
the righteous, by ſword of club, and thus he may infolently forbid
or prevent all Göd’s rewarding goodneſs and juſtice, with regard to
that righteous man.
Or if a man be never ſo vicious; if he blaſpheme and inſult his
Maker with never ſo much indignity, and commit all outrages
poſſible againſt his neighbours; yet, God cannot puniſh him for
ſuch aggravated guilt, according to the courſe of nature, if he has
no ſurviving ſpirit, no conſciºus power remaining beyond this
animal life: for by the ſword, halter or poiſon, he may put a
ſpeedy end to his own animal life, and to all his conſciouſneſs of
being, and to all power of ſuffering puniſhment.
But ſurely the all-wiſe God would never form creatures of ſuch a
nature, and with ſuch powers, as that they might inſolently
prevent his governing juſtice from diſtributing rewards and puniſh-
ments according to their works: He would never make a creatufe
capable of breaking his laws and inſulting his authority, and then
º his Maker to puniſh him; a creature who might do outrage
to his Creator, and yet have power to eſcape beyond the reach of
his avenging hand. This would be ſuch a piece of conduct as would
tempt one to ſuſpe&t great weakneſs in the Creator and Governor of
the world ; which God forbid. -
Perhaps it may be ſaid here, that God can find a way to reward
or puniſh, by raiſing his creatures again from the dead to a more
firm and durable life.
To this I anſwer two ways.
Firſt, If the thinking ſpirit in man, or the conſcious principle, be
entirely extinguiſhed at the death of the body, the reſurre&tion of
man to a new conſciouſneſs, is the creation of a new conſcious
being, and it is not the ſame conſcious being, which once merited
reward or puniſhment; and where would be the juſtice of ſuch
puniſhments or rewards It is poſfible indeed, that almighty power
might make a new conſcious being which ſhould ſuppoſe itſelf to
remember things done in a former ſtate, before it had any ex-
iſtence; but this would be properly a falſe apprehenſion, an error,
424 MISCE LLAN E O US THOUGHTS.
and not real memory of what was done before, and would lay no
juſt foundation for the recompences of vice or virtue.
Secondly, This very reſurre&tion muſt be a miracle, a ſupernatural
exerciſe of divine power, in contradićtion to the laws of nature,
and not according to the courſe of nature. Now is it not hard to
fay, and very unreaſonable to ſuppofe, that God has ſo contrived
the nature of his creature man, that though he be capable of high
degrees of virtue, or of moſt inſolent and horrid vices, yet, accord-
ing to the courſe of nature, he cannot effectually and certainly
reward or puniſh him; or that the wiſe Creator and righteous
Governor of the univerſe cannot effectually and certainly diſtribute
the recompences of virtue and vice without a miracle
Upon the whole, doth it not evidently follow from this argument,
that ſince God is a wiſe Creator and Governor of the world,
ſince man is capable of voluntary vice or virtue, and con-
ſequently of deſerving rewards or puniſhments, there is, and there
muſt be, ſome living conſcious principle in man which may be
naturally capable of rewards and puniſhments, anſwerable to his
behaviour That there is a ſoul in man which ſurvives his animal
life, and is immortal, which cannot put an end to its own life and
conſciouſneſs, nor to the life and conſciouſneſs of its fellow-ſouls
And by this natural immortality of the ſoul it comes to paſs, that
it is not in the power of a wicked man to prevent the rewards of
the righteous, nor to convey himſelf out of the reach of his Maker's
vengeance. -
And may it not be hence inferred, in the firſt place, that the ſoul
of man is ſo immortal, that it is not in the power of any mere
creature to kill it? For it doth not ſeem fit that the great Lord of the
univerſe ſhould give the prerogative of rewards and puniſhments'
fo far out of his own hand, as to put it entirely into the power of a
creature, to defraud the righteous of their reward, or ſecure the
wicked from due puniſhment. It is fit that God only, who gave
life and being and conſciouſneſs to the ſoul, ſhould be able to
deſtroy it, or take away its conſciouſneſs, or make it ceaſe to be.
May we not alſo infer yet farther, in the ſecond place, that there
is no ſuch thing as the ſleep of the ſoul; or at leaſt that neither the
ſoul itſelf, nor any other creature, can put the ſoul into a ſleeping
ſtate For this is a ſtate without perception or conſciouſneſs ; and
if this could be done, then the deſigned rewards and puniſhments
of divine juſtice might be as effectually diſappointed by creatures as
if they could kill or annihilate the ſoul. .
Perhaps you will here ſay alſo, that the ſoul may be awakened
again by divine power to receive puniſhments or rewards. To this
I anſwer, that if the ſoul is laid to ſleep, or finks into an inſenſible
ſtate when the animal body dies, wilſ it ever awake again of itſelf
naturally to be puniſhed or rewarded; or can any creature awaken
it? If not, then God alone who works ſupernaturally, can awaken
it. And thus, in the order of nature, there is no capacity in this
ſoul to be puniſhed or rewarded, nor can it be done without a
miracle. f -
I think therefore we may draw this concluſion, namely, that
every intelligent being, as it is made capable of virtue and vice, of
rewards and puniſhments, ſo it muſt neceſſarily be made immortal
in its own nature, and hath ſuch an eſſential and perpetual con-
ſciouſneſs belonging to it, as is not in the power of creatures either
to ſtupify or deſtroy, left the recompences of vice and virtue be
M 1 SCE LL ANEO US THOUGHT3. 425
wreſted out of the hands of God, as the God of nature, the wiſe
Creator, and the righteous Governor of all intelligent creatures.
And may we not draw a third inference alſo, namely, that the
mere death of the body is not the only puniſhment of the fin of
man againſt the God of nature, and againſt the natural law; for
then the worſt of criminals, by a doſe of opium, or a halter, might
finiſh his puniſhment at once, he might convey himſelf away from
the reach of puniſhing juſtice, and the crimes of men could not be
puniſhed in proportion to their aggravations It is the immortality
of the ſoul that ſays the foundation of different degrees of puniſh-
ment according to crimes. dº º ºs
After all, perhaps ſome perſons may raiſe another objećtion
againſt my argument, namely, if there be ſuch ſufficient proviſion
in the very nature of man after death, to receive the due rewards of
virtue or vice in his immortal part, or his ſoul, what neceſſity is
there of a reſurre&tion of the body? And yet we find that in the
New Teſtament, where the inviſible world and future ſtate of
rewards and puniſhments is moſt particularly diſcovered, the holy
writers generally repreſent thoſe rewards and puniſhments as con-
ſequents of this reſurre&tion. -
To this I think there is a full anſwer given in the laſt pages of a
late “Eſſay towards the Proof of a Separate State of Souls,” to
which I refer the reader. But in this place I think it ſufficient to
ſay, that the ſoul only is the moral agent, and the God of nature
can effectually reward or puniſh the virtues or the vices of man in
his immortal part, or his ſoul, which naturally ſurvives the body;
but the God of grace having introduced a goſpel for the recovery of
ſinful mankind from ruin, whereby the reſurrečtion of the body is
promiſed to thoſe who comply with it, for an increaſe of happineſs,
he thought it proper alſo and juſt, that the rejećtion of this goſpel,
or the utter impenitence of men, ſhould be puniſhed with a reſur-
reëtion of the body, for an increaſe of miſery. It is the goſpel
only which introduces the reſurrečtion of the body; the original law
of God knows nothing of it. “As by man, that is Adam, came in
death, ſo by man, that is Chriſt, came in the reſurrečtion of the
dead ;” I Cor. xv. 21.
And thence may I not take occaſion to infer, that the goſpel, or
the covenant of grace, which is founded in the undertaking of
Chriſt, hath been ſome way or other made known to all mankind,
at leaſt by ſome obſcure and general notices of it; and that the
great God doth ačtually deal with all men now upon terms of grace,
from this very argument, becauſe “all mankind are to be raiſed
again from the dead, who have done good or evil;" John v. 28, 29.
Whereas thoſe who never finned againſt a goſpel, or againſt the
grace or mercy of God, but only againſt God as the God of nature,
would perhaps only lie expoſed to ſuch a ſentence as the light of
nature might find out, or as might be executed according to the
courſe of nature, without the miracle of a reſurre&tion, that is, by
the death of the body, and the puniſhment of the ſurviving ſpirit in
a ſeparate ſtate.
If this laſt inference ſhould be found to run counter to the ſenſe
of any one text of ſcripture, I renounce it upon the ſpot: But if by
Yenturing to ſtep out of the common track of the ſchools, we may
find any little beam of light ſhed upon the condućt of Gód toward
man, and be thereby enabled the better to vindicate the wiſdom
Y O La W II. * 3 H -
426 Misde LLANEGUs THoud HTs.
and righteouſneſs of the God of nature and the God of grace; let
not that little beam be quenched, merely becauſe it, has not the
jupport of vulgar opinion, nor been conſecrated by creeds or
councils. -
LXXVI.--Three modern Abſurdities.
SENSE, conſciouſneſs and reaſon are three of the chief principles
or mediums of our knowledge of thihgs. This, I ſuppoſe, will be
acknowledged by men of all religions, and of none, Senſe informs
us chiefly of the things that are without us, even all that we know
by fight of hearing, by ſmell, taſte, or feeling. Conſciouſneſs
acquaints us with all that paſſes, within us, and particularly the
ideas we have in our mind, the inclination of our hearts, the con-
fent, the choice, or any ačtion of our wills. And then reaſon
aſſures is of the truth of a concluſion which is evidently derived
from other propoſitions which we know to be true before. Now
the deiſts, the papiſts, and the fataliſts among them do really
renounce all theſe ; they run on blindly, and reſolutely in their
opinions, and maintain ſeveral articles of their own belief, in direét
contradićtion to theſe three principles of knowledge, how much
ſoever they may profeſs to be led by them. . - *
Firſt, The papiſt tells you, that in all the inſtances of common
life he believes the dićtates of his ſenſes about things which are near
to him, and which he hath all proper advantages to examine; but
in the buſineſs of tranſubſtantiation he begs your excuſe, for he
believes a piece of bread to be real fleſh †d. and gives the
lie groſsly and obſtinately to his eye-fight and his feeling, his ſmell
and his taſte at once, and his religion requires him to contradićt all
sº
his ſenſes.
Crucifer, a man of this profeſſion, believes the reſurre&tion of
the body of Chriſt from the dead, and confeſſes that it could not be
known nor proved without giving credit to our ſenſes, our ſeeing
and feeling; and yet he renounces the dićtates of theſe ſenſes
utterly, when they tell him that the bread of the ſacrament is not
the body of the riſen Saviour: And thus he chooſes to overthrow
the foundation on which he believes the doćtrine of the reſurre&tion
of Chriſt, (which doćtrine is the foundation of all his chriſtianity)
rather than believe what his ſenſes tell him, when they aſſure him
the body of Chriſt is not a wafer-cake. Monſtrous vićtory and
dominion of the church of Rome over all the powers of ſenſe and
reaſon at once, and the very principles of ourfaith !
In the next place, Hylander, a young fataliſt, will acknowledge
in general, that though he cannot aſſent to any of the religions of
men, nor believe a word of what they preach about vice and
virtue, a heaven and a hell, yet he believes what he himſelf feels,
and what he is conſcious of within himſelf. But if you aſk him
preſently, Whether man be a free creature ? Whether he himſelf
hath a liberty of choice in any motion of his will, or in any ačtion
of his life he denies it. No ; he is neceſſarily moved by a train
of other cauſes to every particular volition and ačtion, and has not,
nor ever had, any free choice. Aſk him, Whether he is not con-
ſcious in himſelf, that he can walk or ſtand ſtill, riſe or fit, move
his finger to the north or to the ſouth No, he can do none of
theſe ; he is but a mere machine, ačted by certain inviſible ſprings;
and that when two things are offered him, he cannot chooſe or
refuſe this or that, but is neceſſarily impelled to every thing that he
MiscELLANEous THoughts, 427
thinks, or wills, or ačts*. Enquire of him yet further, when he
1huns the church, when he dwells at the tayern till midnight, when
he ſeeks out the partners of his vices, and purſues forbidden plea-
ſures, whether he does not feel his own ſelf, or his own inward
powers chooſing and ačting all this with freedom He will own
that he ſeems to chooſe and ačt theſe things ; but he ſtill perfiſts in
direét contradićtion to his own feeling and conſciouſneſs, that it is
God ačts all this in him and by him; and while he feels himſelf ſo
wilful and vile a criminal, blaſphemes the bleſſed God, and makes
him the author of all his crimes. -
Contrary to all the dièates of his conſcience, he affirms there is
no virtue or vice, no ſuch things as good or evil ačtions in a moral
ſenſe; and conſequently that §§ provided no heaven or hell,
no rewards or puniſhments for any thing which is done by us in
this life : for whatſoever we ſeem to do, it is all really effected by
the will of God putting the train of cauſes in motion at firſt, and
none of us could ever ačt otherwiſe than we do. And yet after all
this mechanical account of themſelves, and this denial of all
freedom, theſe men of matter and motion have the impudence, in
oppoſition to common ſenſe, reaſon, and grammar, to abuſe
language ſo far as to call themſelves free-thinkers. Strange and
prodigious ! that men ſhould ever hope for the honours of that
title which their own opinions conſtantly diſclaim! That they
ſhould with ſuch a ſteady effrontery deny what they feel conti-
nually in themſelves, and what they jºiſ. ten times in an hour; .
to gratify a humour, and ſupport a moſt abſurd opinion, which
takes away all virtue, order" and peace from this world, and all
hope and happineſs from the next -
The third ſort of men of this odd compoſition, are the deiſts
among us. , Apiſtus profeſſes he is a friend to reaſon above all
things, and he is led by nothing ſo much as reaſon ; it is by reaſon
that he believes there is a God who made, and who governs all
things ; that he is bound to honour this God, and obey his will ;
that he muſt make it his buſineſs to love God and his neighbour,
that there is an eternal difference between vice and virtue: that
man is an intelligent and free agent; and by reaſon he is convinced
that there are rewards and puniſhments provided for man in a
future ſtate, according to his behaviour here. He believes alſo by
the force of reaſon, according to ancient hiſtory, and the ſecure
conveyance of it by writing, that there was ſuch a man as Jeſus
Chriſt, as well as he believes there was ſuch a man as Julius Caeſar;
and as he confeſſes this julius was a Roman and a general, and
fought many battles, he cannot but confeſs by the ſame reaſonings,
that this Jeſus lived in Judea and Galilee ; that he was the ſon of a
carpenter, and that he taught many excellent rules about vice and
virtue, and the love of God and our neighbour; and by the ſame
exerciſe of his reaſon on the hiſtorical account of the facts of paſt
ages, he is perſuaded that there were ſeveral men of mean educa-
tion and circumſtances who followed this Jeſus, and without the
help of arms or bribery, carried his doćtrine afterward through the
world. And yet, contrary to all reaſon, this very Apiſtus believes,
that this obſcure young man, Jeſus of Nazareth, this ſon of a coun-
try carpenter, who was brought up to his father's trade, gave a
* See the true liberty of choice explained and proved in a late Eſſay of the Freedom of
Will in God and Man, ... --
3 H 2
428 . . MISCE LL AN E O US THOUGHTS.
better ſet of rules for the honour of God, for the love of our
neighbour, and the condućt of our lives, than ever any philoſopher
did in Greece or Rome, and that he did all this without human
literature, without any divine aſſiſtance, without any inſpiration
from God.
He believes farther, contrary to all reaſon, that this poor car-
penter had art and cunning enough to impoſe falſe miracles on
thouſands of people in Judea and Galilee, and even in Jeruſalem
itſelf; that he made them believe that he cured the blind, that he
gave hearing to the deaf, and feet to the lame, that he healed all
manner of diſeaſes by his word or his touch, and raiſed ſeveral who
were dead to life again, without doing one real miracle, or having
any extraordinary power given him by God. tº º
He believes yet farther ſtill, and in oppoſition to all the principles
of true reaſoning, that the diſciples of this Jeſus, poor illiterate
creatures and fiſhermen as they generally were, except one Paul,
who was a ſcholar; I ſay, he believes that theſe men went about
the world, and perſuaded mankind to believe that this Jeſus Chriſt
aroſe from the dead after he had been crucified and buried ſome
days, and made multitudes of his own countrymen and ſtrangers,
rich and poor, wife men and philoſophers, and whole countries,
believe it, though there was not a É. of truth in it, ſays he,
and it is ſcarce poſſible that it ſhould be true. He believes yet
again that theſe filly men were ſometimes cheats and impoſtors,
who pračtiſed the greateſt ſubtleties, and artifice to deceive the
world'; that ſometimes they were wild enthuſiaſts, and half mad
with devotion, though reaſon might aſſure him, that impoſture and
enthuſiaſm cannot long reſide together in the ſame breaſt, but one
will betray or deſtroy the other.
He believes on ſtill, that theſe impoſtors or enthuſiaſts, be they
what they will, engaged mankind to receive all the doćtrines of
this Jeſus, and his religion, either by their tricks of art, or their
fooleries of honeſt zeal, beyond what any of the wiſeſt men of the
world with all their ſkill and learning could ever do in the like caſe,
and went on ſucceſsfully to propagate his doćtrine, and foretold it
Íhould ſtand and continue to the world’s end, without any extra-
ordinary commiſſion from heaven, or preſence of God with them.
He believes alſo very unreaſonably, that ſuch a band of knaves, as
he ſuppoſes them génerally to be, carried on this impoſture with .
ſuch unanimity and faithfulneſs for many years, even to the end of
their lives, that not any one of them ever diſcovered the cheat,
though they could expećt to get nothing by, it here in this world,
but poverty, ſhame, perſecution, impriſonments, ſtripes, , and a
*: y death ; and in the other world, the wrath of God, for ſuch
In a Very.
His belief goes further yet, contrary to all reaſonable grounds ;
for he believes theſe followers of this Jeſus Chriſt, by mere falſe
pretences to miracles and gifts of tongues, ſpread his religism
through the nations, though he knows that they appealed in a
public manner to whole ſocieties of men concerning the truth of
theſe miraculous gifts conferred upon themſelves and other chriſ-
tians, and concerning this power of miracles, which diſplayed
itſelf with ſuch evidence and glory particularly in Corinth, where
St. Paul muſt have been confuted with ſhame, and utterly con-
founded, if theſe things had not been true, becauſe that was a city
of great learning and knowledge; and yet Apiſtus obſtimately be-
\
MISCELLAN E O US THOUGHTS, 429
lieves ſtill that neither theſe men, nor Paul himſelf, nor any of
their followers, ever wrought one real miracle, nor ſpoke one
tongue but what they learnt before in the common way: And that
they ſpread this religion ſo widely among the nations, and ſo effec-
tually, without any commiſſion or help from God, though this
religion contained in it doćtrines contrary to the faſhions and
cuſtoms of the world, to the idolatrous religions of the nations, to
the vicious inclinations of mankind and their corrupt appetites and
paſſions. And though he cannot but ſee evidently that theſe men,
and their ſucceſſors in this opinion, have turned many thouſands of
erſons to more virtue and piety than all the philoſophers could do
with all their learning; yet he believes ſtill that theſe men had no
divine power attending them, nor any aſſiſtance from heaven.
. In ſhort, he believes contrary to all reaſon, theſe things which
are far harder to believe than any of the peculiar articles of the
chriſtian faith; and yet Apiſtus pretends he cannot believe thoſe
articles, becauſe they do not carry reaſon with them.
My God, deliver me from the blinding and ſtupifying prejudices
of theſe three ſorts of men, who contradićt the plaineſt evidences
of truth, and to maintain their abſurd peculiarities, renounce the
chief ſprings of all our knowledge; and let me be led honeſtly and
fincerely by theſe faculties of ſenſation and conſciouſneſs which
thou haſt given me, in conjunétion and harmony with eagh other,
and undef the guard and improvement of right reaſon. The exer.
ciſe of theſe powers, under thy holy influence, will effectually
bring me to faith in the goſpel of my bleſſed Saviour, and in com.
º with the rules of that goſpel I truſt I ſhall find eternal life.
77267, -
REMNANTS OF TIME
- employed in
PROSE AND VERSE :
Short Eſſays and Compoſures on Various Subjećls.
ADVERTISEMENT.
Dr. Watts's Opinion about publiſhing theſe Papers, appears in the following
Advertiſement prefixed to them by himſelf.
THESE papers were written at ſeveral ſeaſons and intervals of leiſure, and on
various occaſions ariſing through the greateſt part of my life, Many of them were,
* deſigned to be publiſhed among the Reliquiaº Juveniles, but for ſome reaſon or
other, not worth preſent notice, were laid by at that time. Whether I ſhall ever
publiſh them I know not, though far the greateſt part of them have long ſtood cor-
rečted among my unanuſcripts; nor do I ſuppoſe many of them inferior to thoſe
Eſſays and Remarks of this kind which have before appeared in the world with
foune acceptance. If they are not publiſhed in my life-time, my worthy friends,
who have the Gare of my papers, may leave out what they pleaſe. J. W.
July 3, 1740. ſº W
*4. + - T- r-
I.—Juſtice and Grace.
Never was there any hour ſince the creation of all things, nor
ever will be till the laſt conflagration, wherein the holy God ſo
remarkably diſplayed his juſtice and his grace, as that hour that
faw out Lörd Jeſus Chriſt hanging upon the croſs, forſaken of his
Father and expiring. What a dreadful glory was given to vindic-
tive juſtice when the great and terribie God made the ſoul of his own
Son a painful ſacrifice for fin | What an amazing inſtance of grace
that he ſhould redeem ſuch worthleſs ſinners as we are from the
vengeance by expoſing his beloved Son to it ! When I view the
ſeverity or the compaſſion of that hour, my thoughts are loſt in aſto-
niſhment: It is not for me, it is not for Paul or Apollos, it is not
for the tongue of men or angels to ſay which was greateſt, the com-
afion of the ſeverity. , Humble adoration becomes us beſt, and a
thankful acceptance of the pardon that was purchaſed at ſo dear a
Tāf €.
Next to this I know not a more eminent diſplay of terror and
mercy, than the dying hour of a pious but deſponding chriſtian
under the tumultuous and diſquieting temptations of the devil,
See within thoſe curtains a perſon of faith and ſerious piety, but
of a melancholy, conſtitution and expećting death. While his
fleſh is tortured with ſharp agonies and terribly convulſed, a ghaſtly
horror fits on his countenance, and he groans under extreme an-
guilh. Behold, the man a favourite of heaven, a child of light,
aſſaulted with the darts of hell, and his ſoul ſurrounded with thick
darkneſs: All his fins ſtand in dreadful array before him, and
threaten him with the execution of all the curſes in the bible,
Though he loves God with all his heart, he is in the dark, he knows
it not, nor can he believe that God has any love for him; and
REMN ANTS OF TIME. 43 |
though he cannot utterly let go his hold of his Sayiguº, and the
oſpé, yet in his own apprehenſion he is. abandoned both of the
#. and the Son. In every new pang that he feels his own
ears perſuade him that the gates of hell are now opening, upºn
i. :"He hangshovering over the burning pit, and at the laſt gaſ
of life, when he ſeems to be ſinking into eternal death, he quits
the body with all its ſad circumſtances, and feels himſelf ſafe in
the arms of his Saviour, and in the preſence of his God.
what amazing tranſport | What agreeable ſurpriſe not to be
uttered by the words of our ſcanty, mºrtal language, nor conceived
but by the perſon who feels it. . The body indeed, which was the
habitation of ſo pious a ſpirit, is demoliſhed at once: Behold the
lifeleſs carcaſe; it makes haſte to putrefaction. The releaſed foul
in extaſy feels and ſurveys its own happineſs, appeº; before the
throne, is acknowledged there as one of the fors of God, and in-
veſted with the glories of the upper world. Sorrows and fins,
guilt, fetters and darkneſs vaniſh for ever : It exults in liberty and
#. and dwells for ever under the ſmiles of God.
*
What was it could provoke the wife and gracious God to permit .
the wicked ſpirit to věx one of his own children at this rate, and
to deal ſo ſeverely with the man whom he loves f To expoſe that
foul to exquiſite anguiſh in the fleſh which he deſigned the ſame
day to make a partner with bleſſed ſpirits To exprefs in one hour
ſo much terror and ſo much mercy tº
St. Paul will give a ſhort and plain anſwer to this enquiry; Rom.
viii. 10. “The body is dead becauſe of fin, but the ſpirit is life
becauſe of righteouſneſs.” Hence that anguiſh, thoſe agonies and
convulſions in the ſinful fleſh that muſt die, and theſe will be felt in
ſome meaſure by the partner-ſpirit; though that ſpirit being veſted
with divine righteouſneſs, or juſtified in the fight of God, ſhall ſurvive
theſe agonies in a peaceful immortality. Though the ſufferings of
the Son of God have redeemed it from an everlaſting hell, yet it
becomes the offended Majeſty of heaven ſometimes to give ſen-
ſible inſtances what miſery the pardoned finner has deſerved ; and
the moment that he receives him into full bleſſedneſs, may, on
ſome accounts, be the fitteft to make a diſplay of all his terror,
that the ſoul may have the full taſte of felicity, and pay the higher
honours to recovering grace. . The domolition of the earthly taber-
nacle with all the pangs and the groans that attend it, are a ſhadow.
of that vengeance which was due even to the beſt of ſaints : It is
fit we ſhould ſee the pićture of windićtive juſtice, before we are
taken into the arms of eternal mercy.
Beſides, there may be another reaſon that renders the dying hour
of this man more dreadful too : Perhaps he had walked unwatch-
fully before God, and had given too much indulgence to fome
congenial iniquity, ſome vice that eaſily befet him ; now it be-
comes the great God to write his own hatred offin in deep and
iercing charaćters ſometimes on his own children, that he may
et the world know that he is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.
any where without reſentment. The man had “built much hay
and ſtubble upon the divine foundation Chriſt Jeſus, and it was
proper that he ſhould be ſaved ſo as by fire;” I Cor. iii. 15. . .
Will the papiſt therefore attempt to ſupport the ſtrućture of his
purgatory upon ſuch a text as this? An uſeleſs ſtrućture, and vain
attempt That place was erected by the ſuperſtitious fancy of men
to purge out the fins of a dead man by his own ſufferings, and to
432 * REM N ANTS OF T1 M E.
make him fit for heaven in times hereafter ; as though the atoning
blood of Chriſt were not ſufficient for complete pardon, or the ſanc-
tifying work of the Spirit, were imperfeót even after death.
Whereas the deſign of God in ſome ſuch inſtances of terror,
is chiefly to give now and then an example to ſurvivors in this life
how highly he is diſpleaſed with fin, and to diſcourage his own
people from an indulgence of the works of the fleſh. Now this
end could not be attained by all the pains of their pretended pur-
gatory, even though it were a real place of torment, becauſe it is
fo inviſible and unknown.
But whatſoever ſorrows the dying chriſtian ſuſtains in the wiſe
adminiſtrations of providence, it is by no means to make compen-
ſation to God for ſin ; the atoning work of Chriſt is complete ſtill,
and the ſančtifying work of the ſpirit perfe&t as ſoon as the ſoul is
diſmifled from earth ; therefore it has an entrance into full bleſſed-
neſs, ſuch as becomes a God infinite in mercy to beſtow on a
penitent finner, preſented before the throne in the name and right-
eouſneſs of his own Son. “We are complete in him;” Col. ii.10.
By him made perfectly acceptable to God at our death, we arefilled
with all grace and introduced into complete glory.
II.-The Death of a young Son.—In a Letter to a Friend.
MADAM, it has been the delight and pračtice of the pious in
all ages, to talk in the words of ſcripture and in the language of
their God : The images of that book are bright and beautiful 5 and
where they happily correſpond with any preſent providence, there
is a certain divine pleaſure in the paralfel. The Jews have ever
uſed it as a faſhionable ſtyle, and it has always been the cuſtom of
chriſtians in the moſt religious times, till iniquity and profane-
neſs called it cant and fanaticiſm. The evangeliſts and the
apoſtles have juſtified the praćtice ; thoſe later inſpired authors
have often indulged it even where the prophet or firſt writer of
the text had quite another ſubject in view; and though an alluſion to
the words of ſcripture will by no means ſtand in the place of a
proper expoſition, yet it carries ſomething divine and affecting in
it, and by this means it may ſhine in a ſermon or a familiar epiſtle,
and make a pleaſing ſimilitude. Accept then a few hints of conſo-
lation from a part of ſcripture, which by an eaſy turn of thought
may be applied to your caſe.
Rev. xii. 1. “A woman clothed with the ſun, and the moon
under her feet. ver, 2. Being with child, travailed in birth. ver, 5.
And ſhe brought forth a man-child, and it was caught up to God
and his throne. verſe 6. And the woman had a place prepared of
God in the wilderneſs. ver. 14. To be nouriſhed for a time and
times, ver, 9. But the great dragon that was caſt out of heaven,
the old ſerpent called the devil and ſatan. ver. 13. Perſecuted the
woman. ver. 15. And caſt out of his mouth water as a flood. ver.
17. And went to make war with the remnant of her ſeed.”—Thus
far the words of ſcripture.
Now, madam, if you have put on Chriſt, and are clothed by
faith with the ſun of righteouſneſs, if you are dreſt in the ſhining
graces of heaven, and have the pale and changing glories of this
world under your feet, then you may be aſſured the child you have
brought forth is not loſt, but is caught up to God, and his throne,
by virtue of that extenſive covenant that includes ſincere chriſtians
REM N ANTS OF TIME. 433
and their offspring together. Mourn not therefore for your ſon who
is with God, but rather for yourſelf who are yet in the wilderneſs
of this world, where the old ſerpent has ſo much power ; where
he will perſecute you with the flood of his temptations, if poſſible,
to carry you away with them ; but I truſt God has prepared a place
for your ſafety, even his church, his goſpel, his own everlaſting
&ll I'll S.
Yet ſhall the ſerpent make war with the remnant of your ſeed;
your little daughter that remains in the wilderneſs muſt go through
this war, and be expoſed to theſe temptations. O turn your tears
for your ſon into pity and prayer for yourſelf and your daughter,
that ye may never be carried away by theſe floods : but when the
times are paſt which God has appointed for your abode and nou-
riſhment in the wilderneſs, you may rejoice to find yourſelf, with
. your offspring, in everlaſting ſafety before the throne of God.
778677,
So prays your affectionale, &c.
May 2, 1719. * I. W.
III—Heathen Poeſy Chriſtianized. 1736.
IT is a piece of ancient and ſacred hiſtory which Moſes informs
us of, that when the tribes of Iſrael departed from the land of
£gypt, they borrowed of their neighbours gold and jewels by the
appointment of God, for the decoration of their ſacrifices and
folemn worſhip when they ſhould arrive at the appointed place in
the wilderneſs. God himſelf taſight his people, how the richeſt of
metals which had ever been abuſed to the worſhip of idols, might
be purificq by the fire, and being melted up into a new form might
be conſecrated to the ſervice of the living God, and add to the mag-
nificence and grandeur of his tabernacle and temple. Such are
Home of the poetical writings of the ancient heathens ; they have a
great deal of native beauty and luſtre in them, and through ſome
happy turn given them by the pen of a chriſtian poet may be trans-
formed into divine meditations, and may aſſiſt the devout and pious
ſoul in ſeveral parts of the chriſtian life and worſhip.
Amongſt all the reſt of the Pagan writers, I know none ſo fit for
this ſervice as the odes of Horace as vile a ſinner as he was. Their
manner of compoſure comes nearer the ſpirit and force of the pſalms
of Dayid than any other; and as we take the devotions of the Jew-
iſh kº, and bring them into our chriſtian churches, by changing
the ſcene and the chronology, and ſuperadding ſome of the glories
of the goſpel, ſo may the repreſentation of ſome of the heathen
virtues, by a little more labour, be changed into chriſtian graces,
or at leaſt into the image of them ſo far as human power can reach.
One day muſing on this ſubjećt, I made an experiment on the two
laſt ſtanzas of Ode 29. Book III.
“ Non meum est, si mugiat Africis
“ Malus procellis, ad miseras preces
“Decurrere, & votis pacisci,
“Ne Cypriae Tyriaeque merces
“Addant avaro divitias mari.
“Tunc me biremis praesidio scaphae,
“Tutum per Ægeos tumultus
Aura feret, geminisque Pollux.”
& O L., VII, 3 I
434
REMN ANTs of TIME.
IV.-The Britiſh Fiſherman.
I LET Spain's proud traders, when the maſt
* Bends groaning to the ſtormy blaſt,
Run to their beads with wretched plaints,
And vow and bargain with their ſaints,
Left Turkiſh filks or Tyrian wares
Sink in the drowning ſhip,
Or the rich duſt Peru prepares,
Defraud their long projecting cares,
And add new treaſures to the greedy deep.
2 My little ſkiff, that ſkims the ſhores,
With half a ſail and two ſhort oars,
Provides me food in gentler waves :
But if they gape in watry graves,
I truſt th' eternal pow'r, whoſe hand
Has ſwell'd the ſtorm ſo high,
To waft my boat and me to land,
Or give ſome angel ſwift command
To bear the drowning ſailor to the ſky
V.—Redemption.
1 THE mighty frame of glorious grace,
That brighteſt monument of praiſe
That eler the God of love deſign'd,
Employs and fills my labouring mind.
2 Begin, my muſe, the heav'nly ſong,
A burden for an angel’s tongue:
When Gabriel ſounds theſe awful things,
He tunes and ſummons all his ſtrings.
3 Proclaim inimitable love :
Jeſus, the Lord of worlds above,
Puts off the beams of bright array,
And veils the God in mortal clay.
4 What black reproach defil’d his name,
When with our ſin he took our ſhame!
~~
The pow'r whom kneeling angels bleſt
Is made the impious rabble’s jeſt.
5 He that diſtributes crowns and thrones
Hangs on a tree and bleeds and groans:
The Prince of life reſigns his breath,
The King of glory bows to death.
6 But ſee the wonders of his pow'r,
He triumphs in his dying hour, ..
And whilſt by Satan's rage he fell
He daſh'd the riſing hopes of hell.
7 Thus were the hoſts of death ſubdu’d,
And fin was drown'd in Jeſus’ blood :
Then he aroſe, and reigns above,
And conquers finners by his love.
*
“If I could purſue all the wondrous atchievements of a dying
and a riſing Saviour in verſe as faſt and as far as my thoughts ſome-
times attempt to trace them, I ſhould lengthen this ode to many
ſtanzas, and yet at laſt I ſhould loſe both my thoughts and my verſe
amongſt the unknown wonders of his glory and the ages of eternity.
Who shall fulfil this boundless song?
What vain pretender dares 2
The theme surmounts an angel's tongue,
And Gabriel's harp despairs.”
*
VI.-Complaint and Hope under great Pain. 1736.
I LORP, I am pain’d ; but I reſign
To thy ſuperior will ;
•Tis grace, ’tis wiſdom all divine,
Appoints the pains I feel.
2 Dark are thy ways of providence,
While thoſe that love thee groafi :
Thy reaſons lie conceal’d from ſenſe,
Myſterious and unknown,
3 Yet nature may have leave to ſpeak,
And plead before her God, *
\
Left the o'er-burden'd heart ſhould break
Beneath thy heavy rod.
4 Will nothing but ſuch daily pain
Secure my ſoul from hell ?
* Canft thou not make my health attain
Thy kind deſigns as well ? * ,
5 How ſhall my tongue proclaim thy grace
While thus at home confin’d
What can I write, while painful fleſh
Hangs heavy on the mind 7
-
* In this ode there are three or four lines taken from Mr. Stennet's ſacramental Hymns :
for when I found they expreſt my thought and deſign in proper and beautiful language, I
chooſe rather to borrow and to acknowledge the debt, than to labour hard for worſe lines
that I might have the poor pleaſure of calling them my own.
REM N ANTS OF TIME. 435
6 Theſe groans and ſighs and flowing tears ſ 7 Is not ſome ſmiling hour at hand
Give my poor ſpirit eaſe, With peace upon its wings
While every groan my Father hears, Give it, O God, thy ſwift command,
And ev'ry tear he ſees. With all the joys it brings.
VII.—On an Elegy written by the Right Honourable the Counteſs of Hertford,
on the death of Mrs. Rowe, 1737,
STRUCK with the sight of Philomela's urn
Eusebia weeps, and calls her muse to mourn:
While from her lips the tuneful sorrows fell
The groves confess a rising Philomel.
VIII.--Dr. Young's admirable Deſcription of the Peacock enlarged.
VIEW next the Peacock: What bright glories run
From plume to plume, and vary in the sun ?
Proudly he boasts them to the heav'nly ray,
Gives all his colours, and adorns the day.
Was it thy pencil, Job, divinely bold,
T}rest his rich form in azure, green and gold?
Thy hand his crest with starry radiance crown'd
Or spread his sweepy train? His train disdains the ground, ;
And kindles living lamps thro' all the spacious round.
- Mark with what conscious state the bird displays
His native gems, and 'midst the waving blaze
On the slow step of majesty he moves,
Asserts his honours, and demands his loves.
IX.—Wanity inſcribed on all Things.
TIME, like a long flowing ſtream, makes haſte into eternity,
and is for ever loſt and ſwallowed up there ; and while it is haſten-
ing to its period, it ſweeps away all things with it which are not im-
mortal. There is a limit appointed by providence to the duration
of all the pleaſant and deſirable ſcenes of life, to all the works of the
hands of men, with all the glories and excellencies of animal na-
ture, and all that is made of fleſh and blood. , Let us not dote upon
any thing here below, for heaven hath inforibed vanity upon it.
The moment is haſtening when the decree of heaven ſhall be ut-
tered, and providence ſhall pronounce upon every glory of the earth,
“ Its time ſhall be no longer.”
What is that ſtately building, that princely palace, which now
entertains and amuſes our fight with ranks of marble columns and
wide-ſpreading arches, that gay edifice which enriches our imagina-
tion with a thouſand royal ornaments, and a profuſion of gay and
glittering furniture ? Time, and all its circling hours, with a ſwift
wing are bruſhing it away; decay ſteals upon it inſenſibly, and a
few years hence it ſhall lie in moldering ruin and deſolation. Un-
happy poſſeſſor, if he has no better inheritance
What are thoſe fine and elegant gardens, thoſe delightful walks,
thoſe gentle aſcents and ſoft declining ſlopes which raiſe and fink
the cye by turns to a thouſand vegetable pleaſures How lovely are
thoſe ſweet borders, and thoſe growing varieties of bloom and fruit
which recal loſt paradiſe to mind Thoſe living parterres which re-
gale the ſenſe with vital fragrancy and make glad the ſº by their
refreſhing verdure and entertaining flowery beauties : The ſcythe
of time is paſſing over them all ; they wither, they die away, they
3 l 2
436 R.E.M. N. A NTS OF TIME.
drop and waniſh into duſt ; their duration is ſhort; a few months
deface, all their yearly glories; and within a few years perhaps all
theſe riſing terrace-walks, theſe gentle verging declivities, ſhall loſe
all order and elegance, and become a rugged heap of ruins : Thofe
well-diſtinguiſhed borders and pal terres ſhall be levelled in confuſion,
and thrown into common earth again for the ox and the aſs to graze
upon them. Unhappy man, who poſſeſſes this agreeable ſpot of
ground, if he has no paradiſe more durable than this
And no wonder that theſe labours of the hands of men ſhould pe-
riſh, when even the works of God are periſhable.
What are theſe viſible heavens, theſe lower ſkies, and this globe
of earth ! They are indeed the glorious workmanſhip of the Al-
mighty; but they are waxing old and waiting their period too, when
the angel ſhall pronounce upon them, “That time ſhall be no
more. The heavens ſhall be folded up as a veſture; the elements
of the lower world ſhall melt with fervent heat, and the earth and
all the works thereof, ſhall be burnt up with fire.” May the un-
ruinable world be but my portion, and the heaven of heavens my
inheritance, which is built for an eternal manſion for the ſons of
God: . Theſe buildings ſhall out-live time and nature, and exiſt,
through unknown ages of felicity.
What have we mortals to he proud of in our preſent ſtate, when
every human glory is ſo fugitive and fading 2 Let the brighteſt and
the beſt of us ſay to ourſelves, “That we are but duſt and vanity.”
Is my body formed upon a graceful model? Are my limbs well
turned, and my complexion better coloured than my neighbours ?
Beauty even in perfeótion is of ſhorteſt date ; a few years will in-
form me that its bloom vaniſhes, its flower withers, its luſtre grows
dim, its duration ſhall be no longer; and if life be prolonged, yet
the pride and glory of it is for ever loſt in age and wrinkles: or per-
haps our vanity meets a ſpeedier fate. Death and the grave with
a ſovereign and irreſiſtible command, ſummon the brighteſt
as well as the coarſeſt pieces of human nature to lie down
early in their cold embraces ; and at laſt they muſt all mix together
among worms and corruption. Æſop the deformed, and Helena
the fair, are loft and undiſtinguiſhed in common earth. Nature in
its gayeft bloom is but a painted vanity.
#. my nerves well ſtrung and vigorous 2 Is my ačtivity and
ſtrength far ſuperior to my neighbours in the days of youth But
youth hath its appointed limit: age ſteals upon it, unſtrings the
nerves, and makes the force of nature languiſh into infirmity and
feebleneſs. Samſon and Goliah would have loſt their boaſted ad- .
vantages of ſtature and their brawny limbs in the courſe of half a
century, though the one had eſcaped the fling of David and the
other the vengeance of his own hands in the ruin of Dagon's temple.
Man in his beſt eſtate is a flying ſhadow and vanity.
Even thoſe nobler powers of human life which ſeem to have
ſomething angelical in them, I mean the powers of wit and fancy,
gay imagination and capacious memory, they are all ſubjećt to the
fame laws of decay and death. What though they can raiſe and
animate beautiful ſcenes in a moment, and, in imitation of creating
power, can ſpread bright appearances, and new worlds before the
ſenſes and the ſouls of their friends? What though they can entertain
the better part of mankind, the refined and polite world with high
delight and rapture ? Theſe ſcenes of rapturous delight grow flat
and old by a frequent review, and the very powers that raiſed them
R.E.M N ANTS OF TH M E. 437
\
grow feeble apace. What though they can give immortal applauſe
|and fame to their poſſeſſors l. It is but the immortality of an empty
name, a mere ſucceſſion of the breath of men; and it is a ſhort #.
of immortality too, which muſt die and periſh when this world pe-
riſhes. A poor ſhadow of duration indeed, while the real period of
theſe powers is haſtening every day; they languiſh and die as fait
as animal nature, which has a large ſhare in them, make haſte to
its decay; and the time of their exerciſe ſhall ſhortly be no more.
In vain the aged poet or the painter would call up the mute and
genius of their youth, and ſummon all the arts of their imagination
to ſpread and dreſs out ſome viſionary ſcene : in vain the elegant
orator would recal the bold and maſterly figures, and all thoſe
flowery images which gave ardour, grace and dignity to his younger
compoſures, and charmed every ear: they are gone, they are #.
beyond the reach of their owner's call: There time is paſt, they are
vaniſhed and loſt beyond all hope of diſcovery.
The God of nature has pronounced an unpaſſable period upon
all the powers and pleaſures and glories of this mortal ſtate. Let
us then be afraid to make any of them our boaſt or our happineſs;
but point our affections to thoſe diviner objećts whoſe nature is ever-
iaſting; let us ſeck thoſe religious attainments and thoſe new-created
powers of a ſanétified mind, concerning which it ſhall never be pro-
ilounced, “ that their time ſhall be no longer.” &
O may every one of us be humbly content at the call of heaven
to part with all that is pleaſing or magnificent here on earth; let us
reſign even theſe agreeable talents when the God of nature de-
mands; and when the hour arrives that ſhall cloſe our eyes to all
viſible things, and lay our fleſhly ſtructure in the duſt, let us yield
up our whole ſelves to the hands of our Creator, who ſhall reſerve
our ſpirits with himſelf; and while we chearfully give up all that
was mortal to the grave, we may lie down full of the joyful hope of
a riſing immortality. , New and unknown powers and glories,
brighter flames of imagination, richer ſcenes of wit and fancy and
diviner talents are preparing for us when we ſhall awake from the
duſt; and the mind itſelf ſhall have all its faculties in a ſublime ſtate
of improvement. Theſe ſhall make us equal, if not ſuperior, to
angels, for we are nearer a-kin to the Son of God than they are, and
therefore we ſhall be made more like him.
X.—The Rake reformed in the Houſe of Mourning.
FLORINO was young and idle ; he gave himſelf up to all the di-
verſions of the town, and roved wild among the pleaſures of ſenſe;
nor did he confine himſelf within the limits of virtue, or withhold
his heart from any forbidden joy. Often hath he been heard to ri-
dicule marriage, and affirm that no man can mourn heartily for a
dead wife, for then he hath leave by the law to chooſe a new com-
panion, to riot in all the gayer ſcenes of a new courtſhip, and per-
haps to advance his fortune too.
When he heard of the death of Serena, “ Well, ſaid he, I will
go viſit my friend Lucius, and rally him a little on this occaſion.”
He went the next day in all the wantonneſs of his heart to fulfil his
deſign, inhuman and barbarous as it was, and to ſport with ſolemn
forrów. But when Lucius appeared, the man of gaiety was ſtrangely
ſurpriſed, he ſaw ſuch a ſincere and inimitable diſtreſs fitting on his
countenance, and diſcovering itſelf in every air and ačlion, that he
4.38 REMNANTs of TIME.
dropt his cruel purpoſe, his foul began to melt and he aſſumed the
comforter. *
Florino's methods of conſolation were all drawn from two topics:
Some from fate and receffity, adviſing an héroic indoléncé about
unavoidable events which are paſt and cannot be reverſed; and
ſome were derived from the various amuſements of life which call
the foul abroad, and divide and ſcatter the thoughts, and ſuffer not
the mind to attend to its inward anguiſh. “Come, Lucius, ſaid
he, come, ſmooth your brows a little and brighten up for an hour
or two : Come along with me to a cºncert this evening where you ſhall
hear ſome of the beſt pieces of muſic that ever were compoſed, and
performed, by ſome of the beſt hands that ever touched an inſtru-
ment, To-morrow I will wait on you to the play, or, if you pleaſe,
to the new opera, where the ſcenes are ſo ſurpriſing and ſo gay, that
they would almoſt tempt an old hermit from his beloved cell, and call
back his years to three and twenty. Come my friend, what have
the living to do with the dead Do but forget your grievances a lit-
tle and they will die too: Come, ſhake of the ſpleen, divert your
heart with the entertainments of wit and melody, and call away
your fancy from theſe gloomy and uſeleſs contemplations.” Thus
he ran on in his own way of talking, and opened to his mourning
friend the beſt ſprings of comfort that he was acquainted with.
Lucius endured this prattle as long as he was able to endure it,
but it had no manner of influence to ſtanch the bleeding wound or
to abate his ſmarting ſorrows. His pain waxed more intenſe by
fuch fort of applications, and the grief ſoon grew too unruly to con-
tain itſelf. - -
Lucius then aſked leave to retire a little ; Flotino followed hitnº
ſoftly at a diſtance to the door of his cloſet, where indeed he ob-
ſerved not any of the rules of civility or juſt decency, but placed .
himſelf near enough to liſten how the paſſion took its vent: And
there he heard the diſtreſſed Lucius mourning over Serena's death'
in ſuch language as this:
What did Florino talk about Neceſſity and fate Alas; this is
my miſery, that ſo painful an event cannot be reverſed, that the
divine will has made it fate, and there is a neceſſity of my endu-
ring it.
Plays and muſic and operas! What poor trifles are theſe to give
eaſe to a wounded heart! To a heart that has loſt its choiceſt half-
A heart that lies bleeding in deep anguiſh under ſuch a keen part-
ing ſtroke, and the long, long abſence of my Serenal She is gone.
The deſire of my eyes and the delight of my ſoul is gone.—The
firſt of earthly comforts and the beſt of mortal bleſfings.-She
is gone, and ſhe has taken with her all that was pleaſant, all that
could brighten the gloomy hours of life, that could ſoften the cares
and relieve the burdens of it. She is gone, and the beſt portion
and joy of my life is departed: Will ſhe never return, never come
back and bleſs my eyes again No ; never, never.—She will no
more come back to viſit this wretched world and to dry' theſe weep-
ing eyes. That beſt portion of my life, that deareſt bleſfing is gone,
and will return no móre. Sorrows in long ſucceſſion await me while
I live ; all my future days are marked out for grief and darkneſs.
Let the man, who feels no inward pain at the loſs of ſuch a part-
ner, dreſs his dwelling in black ſhades arid diſmat formalities: Let
him draw the curtains of darkneſs around him and teach his cham-
bers a faſhionable mourning : But real anguiſh of heart needs none
\ .
REMN ANTS OF TIME. 439
of theſe modiſh and diſſembled ſorrows. My ſoul is hung round
with dark images in all her apartments, and every ſcene is ſincere
lamentation and death.
... I thought once I had ſome pretences to the courage of a man :
But this is a ſeaſon of untried diſtreſs : I now ſhudder at a thought,
I ſtart at ſhadows, my ſpirits are funk, and horror has taken hold of
me. I feel paſſions in me that were unknown before ; love has its
own proper grief and its peculiar anguiſh. Mourning love has thoſe
agonies and thoſe ſinkings of ſpirit which are known only to be-
reaved and virtuous lovers.
I ſtalk about like a ghoſtin muſing ſilence, till the gathering for-
row grows too big for the heart and burſts out into weak and un-
many wailings. Strange and overwhelming ſtroke indeed It has
melted all the man within me down to ſoftneſs : My nature is gone
back to childhood again : I would maintain the dignity of my age
and my ſex, but theſe eyes rebel and betray me ; the eyelids are
full, thy overflow ; the drops of love and grief triekle down my
cheeks, and plow the furrows of age there before their time. *
How often in a day are theſe ſluices opened afreſh The fight of
every friend that knew her calls up my weakneſs and betrays m
frailty. I am quite aſhamed of myſelf. What ſhall I do Is there
nothing of manhood left about my heart I will refift the paſſion, I
will ſtruggle with nature, I will grow indolent and forbid my tears.
Alas, poor feeble wretch that I am I. In vain I ſtruggle ; in vain. I
reſiſt: The aſſumed indolence vaniſhes; the real paſſion works
within, it ſwells and bears down all before it: The torrent riſes and
prevails hourly, and nature will have its way. Even the Son of
God when he became Man, was found weeping at the tomb of a
darling friend. Lazarus died and Jeſus wept.
O my ſoul, what ſhall I do to relieve this heart-ach How ſhall
I cure this painful ſenſibility ? Is there no opiate will reach it Whi-
ther ſhall I go to leave my ſorrows behind me ! I wander from one
room to another, and wherever I go I ſtill ſeem to ſeek her, but I
miſs her ſtill. My imagination flatters me, with her lovely image,
and tempts me to doubt, is ſhe dead indeed : My fond imagination
would fain forget her death-bed, and impoſe upon my hope that I
ſhall find lier ſomewhere. I viſit her apartment, I ſteal into her
cloſet: in days paſt when I have miſſed her in the parlour, how of.
ten have I found the dear creature in that beloved corner of the
houſe, that ſweet place of divine retirement and converſe with hea-
ven But even that cloſet is empty now. I go thither, and I retire
in diſappointment and confuſion. º
Methinks I ſhould meet her in ſome of her walks, in ſome of her
family cares or innocent amuſements : I ſhould ſee her face, me-
thinks, I ſhould hear her voice and exchange a tender word or
two—Ah fooliſh rovings of a diſtreſſed and diſquieted fancy
Every room is empty and ſilent ; cloſets, parlours, chambers, all
empty, all filent; and that very filence and emptineſs proclaim my
º: even emptineſs, and deep filence join to confeſs the pain-
Ull lolS. t sº
Shall I try then to put her quite out of my thought, ſince ſhe will
come no more within the reach, of my ſenſes . Shall. I looſen the
fair pićture and, drop it from my heart, ſince the fairer original is for
ever gone? Go, then, fair pićture, go from my boſom, and appear
to my ſoul no more. Hard word l But it muſt be done: Go, de-
part thou deareſt form.; thou moſt lovely of images, go from my
440 R RM N ANTS OF TIME.
heart : thy preſence is now too painful in that tender part of me.
O unhappy word | Thy preſence painful ? A diſmal change in-
deed . When thou wert wont to ariſe and ſhew thyſelf there,
graces and joys were wont to ariſe and ſhew thenaſelyes: Graces
and joys went always with her, nor did her image ever appear
without them, till that dark and bitter day that ſpread the veil of
death over her : But her image dreſt in that gloomy veil hath loſt
all the attendant joys and graces. Let her pićture vaniſh from my
ſoul then, ſince it has loſt thoſe endearing attendants: Let it vaniſh
away, into forgetfulneſs, for death has robbed it of every grace and
every joy. tº º
Yet ſtay a little there, tempting image, let me, once more ſurvey
thee : Stay a little moment, and let me take one laſt glance, one ſo-
lemn farewel. Is there not ſomething in the reſemblance of her
too lovely ſtill to have it quite baniſhed from my heart Can I ſet
my ſoul at work to try to forget her ? Can I deal ſo unkindly with
one who would never have forgotten me Can my ſoul live with-
out her image on it Is it not ſtampt there too deep-ever to be ef-
faced 2 *
Methinks I feel all my heart-ſtrings wrap around her, and grow
ſo faſt to that dear pićture in my fancy, they ſeem to be rooted
there. To be divided from it is to die. Why ſhould I then purſue
ſo vain and fruitleſs an attempt? What? forget myſelf? forget my
life 2 No ; it cannot be ; nor can I bear to think of ſuch a rude and
cruel treatment of an image ſo much deſerving and ſo much be-
loved. Neither paſſion nor reaſon permits me to forget her, nor is
it within my power. She is preſent almoſt to all my thoughts : She
is with me in all my motions; grief has arrows with her name upon
them, that ſtick as faſt and as deep as thoſe of love; they cleave to
my vitals wherefoever Igo, but with a quicker ſenſation and a
keener pain. Alas it is love and grief together that have ſhot all
their arrows into my heart, and filled every vein with acute anguiſh
and long diſtreſs. * ,
Whither then ſhall I fly to find ſolace and eaſe ? I cannot depart
from myſelf: I cannot abandon theſe tender and ſmarting ſenſa-
tions. Shall I quit the houſe and all the apartments of it which re-
new her dear memory P. Shall I rove in theſe open fields which lie
near my dwelling, and ſpread wide their pleaſing verdure ? Shall I
give my ſoul a looſe to all nature that ſmiles around me, or ſhall I
confine my daily walk to this ſhady and delightful garden 2 Oh,
no : neither of theſe will relieve my anguiſh. Serena has too often
bleſſed me with her company both in this garden and in theſe
fields. Her very name ſeems written on every tree : I ſhall think
of her and fancy I ſee her in every ſtep I take. Here ſhe preſt the
graſs with her feet, here ſhe gathered violets and roſes and re-
freſhing herbs, and gave the lovely colle&tion of ſweetneſs into my
hand. But alas, the ſweeteſt violet and the faireſt roſe is fallen, is
withered; and is no more. Farewel then, ye fields and gardens,
with all your varieties of green and flowery joys / Ye are all a de-
fart, a barren wilderneſs, #. Serena has for ever left you and will
be ſeen there no more. -
But can friends do nothing to comfort a mourner Come, my
wiſe friends, ſurround me and divert my cares with your agreeable
converſation. Can books afford no relief ? Come, my books, ye
volumes of knowledge, ye labours of the learned dead; come, fill
up my hours with ſome ſoothing amuſement. I call my better
REMN ANTS OF TIMEs , 44 i
friends about me, I fly to the heroes and the philoſophers of ancient
ages to employ my ſoul among them. But alas ! neither learning
nor books amuſe me, nor green and ſmiling proſpe&ts of nature de-
light me, nor converſation with my wiſeſt and beſt friends can enter-
tain me in theſe dark and melancholy hours. Solitude, ſolitude in
ſome unſeen corner, ſome lonely grotto, overgrown with ſhades;
This is my deareſt choice ; let me dwell in my beloved ſolitude
where none ſhall come near me ; midnight and ſolitude are the
moſt pleaſing things to a man who is weary of day-light and of all
the ſcenes of this viſible and buſy world. I would eat and drink
and dwell alone, though this loneſome humour ſooths and gratifies
the painful paſſion, and gives me up to the tyranny of my ſharpeſt
ſprrows. Strange mixture that I am made of 1 I mourn and grieve
even to death, and yet I ſeem fond of nothing but grief and mourn- '
IIlº.
woe is me ! Is there nothing on earth can divert, nothing relieve
me? Then let my thoughts aſcend to paradiſe and heaven, there I
ſhall find her better part, and grief muſt not enter there. From this
hour take a new turn, O my ſoul, and never think of Serena but as
ihining and rejoicing among the ſpirits of the bleſt, and in the pre-
ſence of her God. Riſe often in holy meditation to the celeſtial
world, and betake thyſelf to more intenſe piety. Devotion has
wings that will bear thee high above the tumults and paſſions of
lower life: Devotion will dire&t and ſpeed thy flight to a country of
brighter ſcenes.
Shake off this earthlineſs of mind, this duſt of mortality that
hangs about thee; riſe upward often in an hour, and dwell much
in thoſe regions whither thy devout partner is gone : Thy, better
half is ſafely arrived there, and that world knows nothing but joy
and love.
She is gone; the prophets and the apoſtles and the beſt of de-
arted ſouls have marked out her way to heaven : Bear witneſs
ye apoſtles and holy prophets, the beſt of departed ſouls bear wit–
neſs, that I am ſeeking to follow her in the appointed moment.
Let the wheels of nature and time roll on apace in their deſtined
way. Let ſuns and moons ariſe and ſet apace, and light a loneſome
traveller onward to his home. Bleſſed Jeſus, be thou my livin
leader Virtue, and the track of Serena’s feet be my daily an
delightful path. The track leads upward to the regions of love and
joy. How can I dare to wander from the path of virtue left I loſe
that beloved track Remember, O my ſoul, her footſteps are found
in no other road.
If my love to virtue ſhould ever fail me, the ſteps of my Serena
would mark out my way, and help to ſecure me from wandering.
Q may the kind influences of heaven deſcend from above and
eſtabliſh and guard my pious reſolutions ! May the divine powers
of religion be my continual ſtrength, and the hope of eternal things
my never-failing ſupport, till I am diſmiſſed from this priſon of the
fleſh and called to aſcend to the ſpirits of the juſt made perfect, till
I bid adieu to all that is not immortal, and go dwell with my God
and my adored Saviour ; there ſhall I find my loſt Serena again and
ſhare with her unutterable joys of paradiſe.
Here Lucius threw himſelf on the couch and lay ſilent in pro-
found meditation. - -
When Florino had heard all this mournful rhapſody, he retired and
ftole away in ſecret, for he was now aſhamed of his firſt barbarous
Y O L. VII, 3 K
442 REMN ANTS OF TIME,
deſign : He felt a ſort of ſtrange ſympathy of ſorrow fuch as he
never knew before, and with it ſome ſparks of virtue began to
kindle in his boſom. As he muſed the fire burnt within, and at
laſt it made its way to his lips and vented itſelf. “Well, ſaid
he, I have learnt two excellent leſſons to-day, and I hope I ſhall
never forget them. There muſt be ſome vaſt and unknown plea-
Íure in a virtuous love beyond all the madneſs of wild and tran-
fient amours ; otherwiſe the loſs of thc objećt could never have
wrought ſuch deep and unfeigned woe in a ſoul ſo firm and manly
as that of Lucius. I begin now to believe what Milton ſung,
though I always read the lines before as mere poeſy and fable.
“Hail wedded love, mysterious law, true source
“Of human offspring, sole propriety
“In paradise, of all things common else:
“By thee adulterous lust was driv'n, from men
“Among the beastial herds to range; by thee -:
“Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure
“Relations dear, and all the charities
“Of father, son and brother, first were known :
“Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets.
“Here love his golden shafts employs, here lights
“His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
“Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile
“Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unindear'd,
“Casual amours, mixt dance, or wanton mask
“Or midnight ball, &c. ! §
“Bleſſed poet, that could ſo happily unite love and virtue, and
draw ſo beautiful a ſcene of real felicity, which till this day I al-
ways thought was merely romantic and viſionary 1 Lucius has
taught me to underſtand theſe lines, for he has felt them ; and
methinks while I repeat them now I feel a ſtrange new ſenſation.
I am convinced the blind poet ſaw deeper into nature and truth
than I could have imagined. There is, there is ſuch a thing as a
union of virtuous ſouls, where happineſs is only found. I find
ſome glimmerings of ſacred light riſing upon me, ſome unknown
pantings within after ſuch a partner and ſuch a life.”
“Nor is the other leſion which I have learnt at all inferior to
this, but in truth it is of higher and more durable importance. I
confeſs ſince I was nineteen years old I never thought virtue and
religion had been good for any thing, but to tie up children from
miſchief, and frighten fools: But now ºr find by the condućt of my
friend Lucius, that as the ſweeteſt and fincereſt joys of life are
derived from virtue, ſo the moſt diſtreſſing ſorrows my find a juſt
relief in rcligion and ſincere piety. Hear me, thou almight
Maker of my frame, pity and aſſiſt a º; wanderer, and
. thy hand ſtamp theſe leſſons upon my ſouſ in everlaſting cha-
raēters.”
XI.-Thou hast received Gifts for Men. Pſalm lxviii. 18.
JESUS the Mediator emptied himſelf for our ſakes when he de-
ſcended to earth in order to die for us, and by his death to ſubdue
our enemies. Now the Father has filled him again at his aſcent to
heaven with every glory and every bleſſing, with all authority and
power to bellow bleſfings, graces and glories on the ſons of men.
“It pleaſed the Father that in him all fulneſs ſhould dweh. All
R E M N ANTS OF TIME, 443
power in heaven and earth was given into his hands;”. Col. i., 19.
Mat. xxviii. 18. And when he received the power he diſtributed the
bleſfing. See Aćis ii. 33. “Being by the right-hand of God exalted,
and having received of the Father the promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt,
he hath ſhed forth this, which ye now ſee and hear.” He hath
ſhed abroad miracles and graces in abundance among the inhabit-
ants of the lower world. *
The triumphs of majeſty muſt have ſome mercy in them, and
enſigns of vićtory muſt be interwoven with fignal diſplays of boun-
ty and grace. When he led captivity captive he received gifts
for men. Our conquering Redeemer was not ſo elevated with the
omp of his triumphs over the angels his captive enemies, as to
orget the captives that he releaſed among the children of Adam.
He received many donatives from his Father on high to ſhower
down among them upon his coronation-day, that illuſtrious day
when “he that in righteouſneſs had made war and conquered, re-
ceived on his own head many crowns ;” Rev. xix. I 1, 12.
He that could take ſo much pleaſure on earth in his labours of
love, takes more delight in heaven in the diſtributions of grace.
This is the ſweeteſt part of his triumph and the moſt viſible among
men, even the gifts of the Spirit that he ſent down after his aſcen-
ſion. It was neceſſary that his grace ſhould have ſome ſhare of the
glory of that day. *
What was ſaid of the great day of diliverance, when the Jews
obtained vićtory over their deſigned murderers, may be applied
with honour to the day when our Lord aſcended to heaven and
celebrated his triumph over the ſpirits of darkneſs. “This was
a good day for Iſrael, for all the ſaints ; a day when Jeſus reſted
from his enemies, and a month which was turned unto him from
ſorrow to joy, and from mourning into a day, of gladneſs. This
was a day of receiving portions for his brethren and of ſending
gifts to the poor;” Efther ix. 22. f
Jeſus our King is the Prince of power and the Prince of peace, he
ſolemnized his vićtory with ačts of mercy and begun his reign with
gifts of grace. He led ſatan the arch-traitor bound at his chariot
wheels, and ſcattered donatives of pardon and life among the ſons
of Adam that had been ſeduced into the great rebellion,
It is another pleaſant meditation on this text, “That God the
Father had not given away all his gifts to men even when he gave
them his only begotten Son;” for ſince that time he hath given
his Son more gifts to be diſtributed among them. Leara hence
the unwearied love of God, the inexhauſted ſtores of divine mercy.
John iv. 10, Chriſt is called “the gift of God.” And 2 Cor. ix. 15.
“The unſpeakable gift.” He gave his own Son out of his boſom
and gave him up to death forus. His Son that was neareſt his
heart, his Son the delight of his ſoul and darling of his éternal
. ; and yet he is not weary of giving. O the immeaſur-
able treaſures of grace. O the unlimitable bounties of our God.
Stand annazed, O heavens, and let the earth lie low in thankful-
neſs and wonder, and every holy ſoul adore this ſurpriſing love
Our meditations may take another ſtep and ſee here the divine
condeſcenſion to human weakneſs: How a giving God ſtoops to
the capacity of receiving creatures, and beſtows the richeſt bleſ-
fings on us in a ſweet and alluring manner of conveyance. When
he gave his Son to us he firſt arrayed him in fleſh and blood that the
glories of the deity might not affright us, nor his terror make us
3 K 2
444 REMN ANTS OF TIME.
*fraid.: When he proceeds to confer on us further gifts, he puts
them into the hands of his Son dwelling in our nature that we might
have eaſy acceſs to him without fear, and receive gifts from him
as a delightful medium, by whom a God of infinite purity hath
a mind to confer favours on ſinful man. *
He has put all grace into thoſe hands whence we ourſelves would
chooſe to fetch it. If a God of ſhining holineſs and burning juſtice
ſhould appear like himſelf and call to us, guilty wretches, and hold
forth his hand, here are gifts, here are pardons, here are ſalva-
tions for you, we ſhould be ready to ſay with Job xiii. 21. “With-
draw thine hand far from me, and let not thy dread make me
afraid.” But here we ſinners come to a man, to one that has worn
our fleſh and blood, that is our brother and of our own compoſi-
tion, we come with courage to him that looks like one of us to
receive the gifts of a holy God, and the terrors of his holineſs ſink
us not, nor the fire of his juſtice devour us... O my ſoul bow down
and worſhip that God that ſtoops ſo low to thee, and has found ſuch
t mild and gentle method of conferring his heavenly favours on
tllee.
XII.-The Gift of the Spirit.
WHAT is dearer to God the Father than his only Son 2 And
what diviner bleſfing has he to beſtow upon men than his holy
Spirit P. Yet has he given his Son for us, and by the hands of his
Son he confers his bleſſed Spirit on us. “Jeſus having received
of the Father the promiſe of the Spirit ſhed it forth on men;” A&s
II. 33. *. §
How the wondrous doćtrine of the bleſſed trinity ſhines through
the whole of our religion, and ſheds a glory upon every part of it !
Here is God the Father, a King of infinite riches and glory, has
conſtituted his beloved Son the High Treaſurer of heaven, and the
holy Spirit is the divine and ineſtinable treaſure. What amazing
doćtrines of ſacred love are written in our bibles | What myſteries
of mercy, what miracles of glory are theſe ! Our boldeſt defires
and . raiſed hopes durſt never aim at ſuch bleſfings : There is
nothing in all nature that can lead us to a thought of ſuch grace.
The Spirit was given by the Father to the Son, for men ; for
rebellious and ſinful men to make favourites and ſaints of them :
This was the noble gift the Son received, when he aſcended on
high. Pſ. lxviii. 18. “And he diſtributed it to grace his triumph.”
Was it not a divine honour which Jeſus our Lord diſplayed on
that day when the tongues of fire ſat on his twelve apoſtles; when
he ſent his ambaſſadors to every nation to addreſs them in their
own language, to notify his acceſſion to the throne of heaven, and
to demand ſubjećtion to his government When he conferred
power upon his envoys to reverſe the laws of nature and imitate
creation? To give eyes to the blind, and to raiſe the dead All
this was done by the Spirit which he ſent down upon them in the
days of Pentecoſt. e
But is this Spirit given to none but his apoſtles and the prime
miniſters in his kingdom Was that rich treaſure exhauſted in the
firſt ages of the goſpel and none left for us God forbid Every
one of his ſubječts have the ſame favour beſtowed upon them,
though not in the ſame degree : Every humble and holy ſoul in
our day, every true chriſtian is poſſeſt of this ſpirit, for “he that
has not the Spirit of Chriſt is none of his ;” Rom. viii. 9, and where-
K.EMN ANTS OF TIME. 445
tº
ever this Spirit is it works miracles too; it changes the finner to a
faint, it opens his blind eyes, it new-creates his nature ; it raiſes
the dead to a divine life, and teaches Egypt and Aſſyria, and the
Britiſh iſles, to ſpeak the language of 8. It is this gift of
the Spirit which the Son ſends down to us continually, from the
Father that is the original and ſpring of all theſe ſtrange bleſfings.
The Father has a heart of large bounty to the poor ruined race
of Adam : The Son has a hand fit to be almoner to the King of
glèry; and the Spirit is the rich alms. This bleſſed donative has
enriched ten thouſand ſouls already, and there remains enough to
enrich ten thouſand worlds.
The Father, what a glorious giver ! The Son, what a glorious
medium of communication and the Spirit, what a glorious giftſ
We bluſh and adore while we partake of ſuch immenſe favours,
and gratitude is even over-whelmed with wonder.
O let our ſpirits rejoice in this bleſſed article of our religion l and
may all the temptations that we meet with from men of reaſon.
Inever, never baffle ſo ſweet a faith !
|XIII.-The Day of Grace.
IF you aſk the opinion of ſome divines concerning the day of
grace, they will tell you that it ſignifies that particular ſeaſon of a
man's life when the Spirit of God by convićtions and good motions
{tirs him up to ſeek after ſalvation, and gives him ſufficient grace
to convert him ; and all this while it was poſſible for him to be
ſaved, and it was within the reach of his own power to make this
#. effectual :—But this is determined to a certain, though un-
nown day, which if a man paſſes without being converted, then
his ſalvation becomes impoffible. Now, though I would not chooſe
to borrow all my ſentiments in the chief doćtrines of the goſpel
from the ſermons of a biſhop publiſhed on the Terms of Salvation,
yet againſt this ſcheme I may venture to uſe an argument taken
from that book.
Let us ſuppoſe, that it was declared in the goſpel that there was
a certain number of ſins, or a certain period of time, beyond
which God would not pardon ; and not any particular number,
or time, was ſpecified to the world : Yet ſtill moſt men, it is too
juſtly to be feared, would firſt be led by hope to commit many
fins, with a flattering perſuaſion that they ſhould not come to
that number, or arrive at that period; and then, when the habit
was become ſtrong, they would be fixed by deſpair in this opinion,
that being probably got paſt that number of ſińs, and that period
of grace, they had even as good continue in their ſins, as their
inclination powerfully dire&ts them ; they would go on in great
wickedneſs and ſay, “ There is no hope.” And thus we ſee that
even his ſuppoſition which ſeems to take moſt care of the cauſe of
holineſs, leaves it not only in a naked, and unguarded, but in very
deſperate condition.
Concerning a day of grace thus much may be ſaid, and this is
all that I can underſtand by it, namely, That in the life of a man,
there are particular ſeaſons when he enjoys more of the outward
means of grace, or advantages for the good of his ſoul, than at
other times; that is, more conſtant opportunities of hearing the .
word, a more uſeful and affecting miniſtry, better company,
warmer admonitions, and plainer warnings by divine providence,
more leiſure and conveniences for reading, meditation, and
446 REMN ANTS OF TIME,
prayer ; or if all this continue all his life-time, yet there are ſea-
ſons when the Spirit of God by his common operations does more
powerfully convince of ſin, and ſtir up the conſcience to duty, and
impreſs his word with more force upon the heart; but being op-
poſed and refifted he is grieved and departs, his workings grow
daily fewer and feebler; or it may be he retires at once and leaves
the ſoul in a ſtupid frame and returns no more.
Yet we could not ſay heretofore, That the Spirit of God in his
former operations, gave him a full and proximate ſufficiency of
inward converting grace before, ſince it proved ſo inſufficient in
the event and ineffectual: Nor can we ſay now, That his day of
grace is quite paſt and gone ; becauſe the Spirit of God who is
ſovereign in mercy may return again. º
Yet it is a very good motive to urge upon delaying ſinners, That
it is a daring and dangerous piece of impiety and rebellion to
quench the motions of the holy Spirit; left he depart grieved and
never return again, left he never give them ſo fair an opportunity
i. converſion, never bring them ſo near again to the kingdom of
lèaw Cil,
XIV.-God and Nature unſearchable.
HOW poor and imperfect a creature is man How unequal his
knowledge of things I How large and almoſt immenſely diffuſive
his acquaintance with ſome parts of nature, but how exceeding
limited and narrow in others: The man of learning who has the
higheſt temptations to pride, has alſo the moſt powerful motives
to humility.
Man can meaſure the heavens, tell how many miles the planet
Venus is diſtant from Jupiter, and how far the earth from the ſun.
He has found out with certainty the periods of their revolutions,
and the hour of their eclipſes; he can adjuſt the affairs of the
planetary world to a moment, their vaſt variety of appearances
with all their prodigious circuits. But this great artiſt man is
puzzled at a worm or a fly, a grain of ſand or a drop of water :
There is not the leaſt atom in the whole creation but has queſtions
about it unſearchable to human nature ; no, nor the leaſt part of
empty ſpace but ſets all the wifeſt philoſophers at variance when
they attempt to tell what it is, or whether it be any thing or no-
thing.
This ſort of talk, my neighbours will ſay, is a flouriſh of wit
to teach us to undervalue our reaſon, a mere rant of rhetoric, an
hyperbole of reproach to our underſtanding: But while I leave it to
aſtronomers to confirm what I have ſaid concerning the vaſt ex-
tent of their acquaintance with the heavens,. I ſhall make it ap-
pear, even to demonſtration, that our knowledge of the things on
earth is as mean as I have expreſt in the literal and proper ſenſe.
There is not the leaſt grain of ſand on the ſhore, nor the leaſt
atom in the whole creation, but has queſtions about it unſearchable
by human nature. • *
This atom may be divided into millions of millions of pieces, and
after all this the leaſt part of it will be infinitely diviſible. The
infinite diviſibility of matter is ſo often proved and ſo univerſally
granted by all modern plailoſophers that P. not ſtand to prove
it here : Yet that my unlearned readers may ſee and believe, I will
ſet down a plain vulgar demonſtration or two of this matter.
I. It is certain that if matter be not infinitely diviſible, then there
REMN ANTS OF TIME. 447
is, or may be, ſo ſmall a part of matter which cannot be divided
further: Now take this ſuppoſed ſmalleſt part, this fancied atom,
and put it between the points of a pair of compaſles made of ſtiff
and inflexible matter; it is evident that the legs of the compaſſes in
leſs and leſs degrees will be divided aſunder quite to the centre :
and from the points to the centre there is room for ſtill leſs and leſs
pieces of matter to be put between the legs. Therefore that very
ſuppoſed atom may be conceived to be divided ſtill further into
leſs parts, and conſequently it was not indiviſible.
II. If there be any indiviſible part of matter, the ſhape of it muſt
be ſpherical, or a perfeót globe, wherein every part of the ſurface
is equally diſtant from the centre; for if you ſuppoſe it of any other
ſhape, then ſome parts of it will be farther from its centre than
other parts; and all theſe longer parts may be ſhortened or pared
off till every part be equally ſhort, or equally diſtant from the cen-
tre; that is, till it be reduced to a globe. Now from the centre of
this little globe to the ſurface, the parts of it are but half ſo long as
from any part of the ſurface to its oppoſite part, and therefore this
globe may be ſtill divided into two hemiſpheres or ſemicircles,
which are not the ſmalleſt parts of matter that can be, becauſe they
are not of a ſpherical figure as in the beginning of the argument.
And then by a repetition of the ſame reaſoning, thoſe little ſemi-
circles or half globes, by paring of the parts which are fartheft from
their centre, may be reduced to ſmaller globes again, and thoſe
ſmaller globes again divided in halves as before : There is no end
of theſe diviſions, and therefore matter is infinitely diviſible.
To carry on this argument yet further to the ſurpriſe of my un-
learned readers; let us take notice that all matter has three dimen-
'ſions in it, namely, length, breadth and depth : Now every part of
matter, every grain of ſand, is infinitely diviſible as to each of theſe
dimenſions ; that is, every part which reſults from an infinite divi-
ſion of the length of it, may be yet again infinitely divided accord-
ing to its breadth ; thus the diviſion of this grain of ſand, becomes
infinitely infinite. And yet ſtill it may be further infinitely divided
according to the depth or thickneſs of it: , Thus the diviſibility of
matter ſwells beyond all imagination, and is more than infinitely
infinite, and that with refiftleſs evidence and aſtoniſhment to the
eye of reaſon. ,
Go now, vain man, and find fault with any part of the creation
of God, and play the fooliſh critic on his works of providence; go
and cenſure the juſtice of his condućt toward Adam or any of his
children, or blame the wiſdom of his inſtitutions in the diſpenſa-
tions of his grace : Monſtrous arrogance, and proud impiety Ra-
ther go firſt and learn what an atom is, or the meaneſt part of the
duſt of this vaſt creation which God has made. It has ſome-
thing of infinity in it, it confounds thee in perplexing darkneſs, and
reaches far beyond all the little ſtretch of thy boaſted powers of rea-
ſoning. Be dumb in filence, O vain creature, at the foot of this
infinite and eternal being, nor pretend to meaſure his ſteps, to cen-
fure his motions and direét his condućt, till thou art better able to
give an account of the duſt which he has put under the feet of the
meaneſt of his ſlaves.
XV.-The Diamond painted.
HOW wide and unhappy a miſtake it is when chriſtians endea-
vour to adorn their pure divine worſhip by the mixture of it with
4.48 REMN ANTS OF TEM E.
ceremonies of human invention. The ſymbolical ordinances of
the goſpel have a noble ſimplicity in them: Their materiaks are
water, bread and wine, three of the moſt neceſſary and valuable
things in human life; and their myſtic ſenſe is plain, natural and
eaſy. By water we are cleanſed when we have been defiled; ſo by
the grace of the holy Spirit we are purified from fin, which poſ-
lutes our ſouls in the fight of God. By bread we are fed when we
are hungry, and nouriſhed into ſtrength for ſervice: By wine we
are refreſhed and revived when thirſty and fainting ; , ſo from the
body of Chriſt which was broken as an atoning ſacrifice, and his
blood which was poured out for us, we derive our ſpiritual life and
itrength. The application of theſe ſymbols is moſt ſimple, and na-
tural alſo : We are commanded to waſh with the water, to eat the
bread, and to drink the wine; moſt proper repreſentations of our
participation of theſe benefits.
Thus much of figures and emblems did the all-wiſe God think
proper to appoint and continue in his church, when he brake the
yokes of Jewiſh bondage, and aboliſhed a multitude of rites and ce-
remonies of his own ancient appointment. How plain, how natu-
ral, how glorious, how divine are theſe two .#. inſtitutions,
Baptiſm and the Lord’s-fupper, if ſurveyed and pračtiſed in their
original fimplicity but they are debaſed by the addition of any
fantaſtic ornaments.
What think ye of all the gaudy trappings and golden finery that
is mingled with the chriſtian worſhip by the imaginations of men
in the church of Rome? Are they not like ſo many ſpots and ble-
miſhes caſt upon a fair jewel by ſome fooliſh painter Let the
colours be never ſo ſprightly and glowing, and the luſtre of the
paint never ſo rich, yet if you place them on a diamond they are
ſpots and blemiſhes ſtill. Is not this a juſt emblem to repreſent all
the gay airs, and rich and glittering accoutrements wherewith the
church of Rome hath furrounded her devotions and her public reli-
ion f
§ The reformers of our worſhip of the church of England were
much of this mind, for they boldly paſs this cenſure on many of the
Popiſh ceremonies, “That they entered into the church by undit-
creet devotion and zeal without Kºi. They blinded the peo-
ple, and obſcured the glory of God, and are worthy to be cut away
and clean rejećted : That they did more confound and darken,
than declare and, ſet forth Chriſt’s benefits unto us, and reduced us
again to a ceremonial law, like that of Moſes, and to the bondage
of figures and ſhadows :” This is their ſentence and judgment con-
cerning many of the Romiſh rites, in the preface to the book of
Common Prayer. Happy had it been for Great-Britain if they had
thought ſo concerning all of them, ſince they had all the ſame or a
worſe original, and they all tend to the ſame unhappy end How-
ever, let others take their liberty of colouring all their jewels with
what greens and purples and ſcarlets they pleaſe ; but for my own
part I like a diamond beſt that has no paint upon it.
XVI.-Bills of Exchange. 1705.
WHEN a rich merchant who dwells in a foreign land afar off,
commits his treaſure to the hands of a banker, it is to be drawn out
in ſmaller ſums by his ſervants or his friends here at home as their
neceſſities ſhall require; and he furniſhes them with bills of ex-
change drawn upon his banker or treaſurer, which are paid ho-
R.E.M. NANTS OF TIME. 449
nourably to the perſon who offers the bill, according to the time when
the words of the bill appoint the payment.
Is it not poſſible to draw a beautiful allegory hence to repreſent
the condućt of the bleſſed God in his promiſes of grace, without de-
baſing ſo divine a ſubjećt * → w -
God the Father, the ſpring and fountain of all grace, dwells in
regions of light and holineſs inacceffible, too far off for us to con-
verſe with him or receive ſupplies from him in an immediate way;
but he has ſent the Son to dwell in human nature, and conſtituted
him Treaſurer of all his bleſfings, that we might derive perpetual
ſupplies from his hand: he has intruſted him with all the riches of
grace and glory ; he has laid up infinite ſtores of love, wiſdom,
iſtrength, pardón, peace and conſolation in the hands of his Son for
this very purpoſe, to be drawn out thence as faſt as the neceſſities
of his ſaints require. “It pleaſed the Father that in him ſhould all
fulneſs dwell. He has received gifts for men.” Col. i. 19. Pºulin
lxviii. 18.
Now all the promiſes in the bible, are ſo many bills of exchange
drawn by God the Father in heaven upon his Son Jeſus Chriſt,
and payable to every pious bearer; that is, to every one that comes
to the mercy-ſeat and offers the promiſe for acceptance, and pleads
it in a way of obedient faith and prayer. Fº the High-Trea-
ſurer of heaven, knows every letter of his Father’s hand-writing,
and can never be impoſed upon by a forged note ; he will ever put
due honour upon his Father’s bills, ; he accepts them all, for “all
the promiſes in him are yea,and in him amen. In him they are all
ſure to the glory of the Father ; 2 Cor. i. 20. It is for the Father’s
honour that his bills never fail of acceptance and payment.
If you apply to the bleſſed Jeſus and offer him a bill of the largeſt
fum, a promiſe of the biggeſt bleſfings, he will never ſay, “I have
not ſo much of my Father’s treaſure in my hand.” For he has re-
ceived all things. John iii. 35. “The Father loveth the Son, and
hath given all things into his hand:” And may I not venture to
fay, This whole treaſure is made over to the ſaints, “All things are
yours ;” I Cor. iii. 22. And they are parcelled out into bills of pro-
miſe, and notes under the Father's hand. So the whole treaſure
of a nation ſometimes conſiſts in credit and in promiſſory notes more
than in preſent ſums of gold and filver. *
Some of theſe divine bills are payable at fight, and we receive
the ſum as ſoon as we offer the bill, namely, thoſe that muſt ſupply
our preſent wants; ſuch as, “ Call upon me in the day of trouble,
and I will deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorify me;” Pſalm l. 15.
And there have been many examples of ſuch ſpeedy payment.
Pſalm cviii. 3. “In the day when l cried thou anſweredſt me, and
ftrengthenedſt me with ſtrength in my ſoul.”
Some are only payable in general at a diſtant time, and that is left
to the diſcretion of Chriſt the treaſurer, namely, “As thy day is
fo thy ſtrength ſhall be ;” Deut. xxxiii. 25. and we need never fear
truſting him long, for this bank in the hands of Chriſt can never
fail; “ for in him dwelleth allthe fulneſs of the godhead bodily;”
§ #9. And Eph. iii. 8. we are told of the unſearchable riches of
1T lit.
Sometimes Chriſt may put us off with a general kind anſwer, or
give us a note under his hand payable at demand in ſeveral parcels,
inſtead of a full payment all at Önce: Thus he dealt with his deat
Y O L. W II. & L
450 REMN ANTS OF TIME.
friend and ſervant Paul, in 2 Cor. xii. 9. Doubtleſs Paul, in his
ſeeking the Lord thrice for the removal of his thorn in the fleſh,
had pleaded ſeveral large promiſes of God, had offered thoſe di-
vine bills to Chriſt for acceptance and payment ; but inſtead of
this our Lord gives him a note under his own hand, which ran in this
language, “My grace is ſufficient for thee.” And if we had but
the faith which that bleſſed Apoſtle had, we might live upon this
hope . This would be as good as preſent payment; for if he delay
to give the full ſum, it is only becauſe he ſees we have not need of
it at preſent: He knows our neceſſities better than we ourſelves ;
he will not truſt us with too much at once in our own hands; but he
pays us thoſe bills when he ſees the fitteſt time, and we have often
found it ſo, and confeſt his faithfulneſs.
At other times he pays us, but not in the ſame kind of mercy
which is mentioned in the promiſe, yet in ſomething more uſeful
and valuable. If the promiſe mention a temporal bleſfing, he may
give us a ſpiritual one: if it expreſs eaſe, he may give patience :
and thus his Father’s bills are always honoured, and we have no
reaſon to complain. So the banker may diſcharge a bill of a hun-
dred pounds not with money, but with ſuch goods and merchandiſe
2S ºy yield us two hundred, and we gladly confeſs the bill is well
all Cl,
p Some of theſe promiſes, theſe bills of heavenly treaſure, are not
made payable till the hour of our death, as, “Bleſſed are thoſe ſer-
vants whom when the Lord comes he ſhall find watching, &c.”
Luke xii. 37. “ He that endureth to the end, the ſame ſhall be
ſaved.” Matt. xxiv. 13. “Be thou faithful to the death and I will
give thee a crown of life.” Rev. ii. 10.
Others are not due till the day of the reſurre&tion ; as, “ Them
who ſleep in Jeſus will God bring with him.” I Theſſ. iv. 14. “I will
deem them from death.” Hoſ. xiii. 14, Col. iii. 4. “When Chriſt who
is our life ſhall appear, then ſhall ye alſo appear with him in glory.”
Phil. iii. 21. “He ſhall change our vile body, that it may be faſhioned
like unto his glorious body.” I Pet. v. 4. “And when the chief
ſhepherd ſhall appear, ye ſhall receive a crown of glory that fadeth
not away,
Now, when the great day ſhall come in which our Lord Jeſus
Chriſt ſhall give up his mediatorial kingdom to the Father, and ren-
der an account of all his ſtewardſhip, how fair will his books ap:
ear ! How juſt a balance will ſtand at the foot of all his accounts
Then ſhall be ſhow in what manner he has fulfilled the promiſes to
the ſaints, and preſent to the Father all the bills that he has received
and diſcharged ; while all the ſaints ſhall with one voice atteſt it to
the honour of the High-Treaſurer of heaven, that he has not failed
in payment even to the ſmalleſt farthing.
XVII.--The Saints unknown in this World.
OUT of the millions of mankind that ſpread over the earth in
every age, the great God has been pleaſed to take ſome into his own
family, has given them a heavenly and divine nature, and made
them his ſons and his daughters. But he has ſet no outward mark
of glory upon them; there is nothing in their figure or in their coun-
tenance to diſtinguiſh them from the rabble of mankind. And it is
fit that they ſhould be in ſome meaſure unknown among their fel-
low-mortals: Their charaćter and dignity is too ſacred and ſublime
to be made public here on earth, where the circumſtances that at-
REM N ANTS OF TIME, 451
tend them are generally ſo mean and deſpicable. Divine wiſdom
has appointed the other world for the place of their full diſcovery :
there they ſhall appear like themſelves, in ſtate equipage and array
becoming the . of God and heirs of heaven.
Their § Lord himſelf who is God’s firſt-born Son, was a
mere ſtranger and unknown amongſt men ; he laid aſide the rays
of divinity and the form of a God when he came down to dwell with
men, and he took upon him the form of a ſervant. He wore no di-
vine majeſty on his face, no ſparks of godhead beaming from his
eyes, no glaring evidence of his high dignity in all his outward ap-
pearance. Therefore the world knoweth us not, becauſe it knew
him not. But he ſhall be known and adored when he comes in the
i. of his Father with legions of angels, and we know that when
he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him. The life of the ſaints is hid-
den with Chriſt in God. But when Chriſt, who is their life, ſhallap-
pear, they alſo ſhall appear with him in glory. 1/ohn iii. 1, 2. Col. iii.
3, 4. In that day they ſhall ſtand forth before the whole creation in
fair evidence ; they ſhall ſhine in diſtinguiſhed light, and appear
veſted in their own undoubted honours. But here it ſeems proper
there ſhould be ſomething of a cloud upon them, both upon the ac-
count of the men of this world, and upon their own account too,
as well as in conformity to Chriſt Jeſus their Lord.
Firſt, Upon their own account, becauſe the preſent ſtate of a chriſ-
tian is a ſtate of trial. We are not to walk by ſight as the ſaints
above and angels do; they know they are poſſeſſed of life and bleſ-
ſedneſs, for they ſee God himſelf near them, Chriſt in the midſt of
them, and glory all around them. Our work is to live by faith,
and therefore God has not made either his love to us or his grace
in us ſo obvious and apparent to ourſelves, as that every chriſtian,
even the weak and the unwatchful, ſhould be fully aſſured of this
ſalvation. He has not appointed the principle of life within us to
ſparkle in ſo divine a manner as to be always ſelf-evident to the beſt
of chriſtians, much leſs to the lukewarm and the backſlider. It is fit
that it ſhould not be too ſenſibly manifeſt, becauſe it is ſo ſenſibly
imperfect, that we Inight examine ourſelves whether we are in the
faith, and prove ourſelves, whether Chriſt, as a principle of life,
dwell in us, or no. 2 Cor. xiii. 5. While ſo many ſnares, and fins,
and dangers attend us, and mingle with our ſpiritual life, there will
be ſomething of darkneſs ready to riſe and obſcure it, that ſo we
nlay maintain a holy jealouſy and ſolicitude about our own ſtate,
that we may ſearch with diligence to find whether we have a divine
life or no, and be called and urged often to look inwards.
This degree of remaining darkneſs, and the doubtful ſtate of a
ſlothful chriſtian, is ſometimes of great uſe to ſpur him onward in
his race of holineſs, and quicken him to aſpire after the higheſt
meaſures of the ſpiritual life ; that when its ačts are more vigorous
it may ſhine with the brighteſt evidence, and give the ſoul of the
Believer full ſatisfaction and joy. It ſerves alſo to awaken the
drowſy chriſtian to keep a holy watch over his heart and pračtice,
left fin and temptation make a foul inroad upon his divine life,
'ſpread ſtill a thicker cloud over his beſt hopes, and break the peace
of his conſcience. Though the principle of grace be not always
ſelf-evident, yet we are required to give diligence to make and to
keep it ſure. 2 Pet. i. 10. And as it was proper that every little ſeed
of grace ſhould not ſhine with ſelf-ſufficient and conſtant evidence
on the account of the chriſtian himſelf, ſo, ſecondly, it was fit that
3 L 2
453 R. E M N AN IS OF T IME,
their ſtate and dignity ſhould not be too obvious to the men of the
world, that they might neither adore nor deſtroy the ſaints. A prin-
ciple of ſuperſtition might tempt ſome weaker ſouls .."; extra-
vagant honours to the chriſtian, if he carried heaven in his face,
and it were viſible in his countenance that he was the Son of God.
On the other hand, the malicious and perverſe part of mankind
hº imitate the rage of Satan, and attempt the fooner to deſtroy
the ſaint.
This was the caſe of the bleſſed Paul. When he had wrought a
miracle at Lyſtra, and appeared with ſomething divine about him,
when he had healed the cripple by a mere word of command, the
people cried out with exalted voices, “ The Gods are come down
to us in the likeneſs of men;” immediately they made a Mercury
of St Paul, they turned Barnabas into Jupiter, and the prieſt brought
.oxen and garlands to the gates to have done ſacrifice to them ; this
was the humour of the ſuperſtitious Gentiles. But in ſeveral of the
Jews their malice and envy wrought a very different effect ; for
they perſuaded the people into fury, ſo that they ſtoned the bleſſed
Apoſtle, and drew him out of the city for dead. Aćis xiv.
Thus it fared with our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf in the days of
his fleſh : For the moſt part be lived unknown among men, he did
not cry nor make his voice be heard in the ſtreets ; but when he
diſcovered himſelf to them on any ſpecial occaſion, the people ran
into different extremes. Once when the charaćters of the Meſſiah
appeared with evidence upon him, they would have raiſed him to a
throne and made an earthly king of him. John vi. 15. At another
time, when his holy condućt did not ſuit their humour, they were
“filled with wrath, and led him to the brow of a hill to caſt him
down headlong.” Luke iv. 29. Therefore our bleſſed Lord did notwalk
through the ſtreets, and tell the world he was the Meſfiah ; but by
degrees he let the charaćters of his miſſion appear upon him, and
diſcovered himſelf, in wiſdom as his diſciples and the world could
bear it, and as the Father had appointed.
Let us imitate our bleſſed Lord, and copy after ſo divine a pat-
tern ; let our works bear a bright and growing witneſs to our inward
and real chriſtianity. This is ſuch a gentle ſort of evidence, that
though it may work convićtion in the hearts of ſpectators, yet it
does not ſtrike the ſenſe with ſo glaring a light as to dazzle the
weaker fort who behold it into ſuperſtitious folly; nor does it give
ſuch provocation to the envy of the malicious, as if the ſaints had
born the fign of their high dignity in ſome more ſurpriſing manner
in their figure or countenance.
I might add alſo, There is ſomething in this ſort of evidence of
their ſaintſhip, that carries more true honour in it, than if ſome hea-
venly name had been written in their forehead, or their ſkin had
ſhone like the face of Moſes when he came down from the
mount. It is a more ſubline glory for a Prince to be found amongſt
the vulgar in undiſtinguiſhed raiment, and by his ſuperior condućt
and ſhining virtues to force the world to confeſs that he is the Son
of a King, than to walk through the rabble with enſigns of royalty,
and demand honour from them by the mere blaze of his orna-
Inherits. * -
XVIII.-Praiſe waiteth for thee O God in Sion. Pſalm lxv. 1.
AND does praiſe wait for God in the congregation of his ſaints
Surely it doth not uſe to be ſo. Mercy uſes to be beforehand with
REMNANTs of TIME. 453
us, and the Lord waiteth to be gracious. Mercy is wont to be ready
in the hands of God, before praiſe is ready on the tongues of men;
and we are ſure he waited on us to ſhew his grace long before we
had any ſongs ready for him, or any thought of praiſing him.
Yet ſometimes it is ſo in this lower world : Holy ſouls may be
waiting at the throne of grace with their praiſes ready to aſcend as
ſoon as mercy appears: Mercy may be filent for a ſeaſon, and then
raiſe for a ſeaſon is ſilent too. This is the original language of the
ſalm, and this the ſtate of things when the Pſalmiſt wrote ;
“ Praiſe is ſilent for thee in Zion” When the church of God under
trouble has been long ſeeking any particular bleſfing or deliverance,
and God’s appointed hour of ſalvation is not yet come, then the
ſongs of the church are ſilent : Yet ſhe ſtands watching and waiting
for the deſired moment, that ſhe may meet the ſalvation with praiſe.
But why ſhould God ſuffer praiſe to be ſilent at all in Zion ? Is
not the church the habitation of his praiſes Yes, but it is the
houſe of prayer too : Prayer and patience muſt have their proper
exerciſe. If praiſe were never ſilent on earth, where would there
be any room for prayer to ſpeak When would there be any ſeaſon
for the grace of patience to ſhew itſelf f God loves prayer as well as
praiſe : His ſovereignty is honoured by humble waiting, as well as
his goodneſs by holy gratitude and joy. If praiſe be ſilent, then let
prayer be more fervent. The abſent Saviour loves to hear the voice
of his beloved ; the lips of the church, muſt never be quite filent,
though they are not always employed in hallelujahs.
Praiſe is the ſweeteſt part of divine worſhip ; it is a ſhort heaven
here on earth. God lets our praiſes be filent ſometimes to teach us
that this is not a ſtate of complete bleſſedneſs. After the great day
of deciſion, praiſe ſhall be continual and unceaſing, when there ſhall
be no more ſighing for the faints, no more death, no more pain.
Then churches ſhall want ordinances no more, nor ſaints abſtain
from the bread of life. Jeſus their everlaſting Paſtor ſhall feed them
in paſtures ever green, and from the tree of life, and lead them to
the fountains of joy and the ſtreams where eternal pleaſures run. O
may our ſouls wait with joyful hope for that day, and our praiſes
fhail not be ſilent.
Yet it is not with the church as it is with the world when praiſe is
filent in both. It is ever filent among the wicked, becauſe they are
forgetful of God their Maker ; it is only filent among the ſaints for
a ſeaſon, when their God ſeems to frown and hide himſelf, and as
it were to forget his people.
Beſides, Let us conſider that all praiſe is not filent there. Daily
incenſe ariſes before God in his temple, though particular thank-
offerings wait till particular mercies are received. Praiſe for all the
greateſt mercies, namely; for redeeming grace, for eleēting love,
for the ſančtifying Spirit, is never ſilent in Zion. Pſalm lxxxiv. 4.
“Bleſſed are they that dwell in thine houſe, they will be ſtill praiſ-
ing thee.” But praiſe for ſome ſpecial favours may be filent for a
ſeaſon, as well as that large revenue of praiſe that ſhall grow due at
the accompliſhment of all the promiſes and the conſummation of
bleſſedneſs.
Again, The praiſes of God are filent in the world without any de-
fign of breaking forth, but the filence of the church longs to be loſt
in joyful ſongs of thankſgiving. It is like an engine charged with
praiſe that wants only the warm touch of mercy to make it ſhine
with the glories of heavenly worſhip, and found aloud the name of
the God of Zion.
454 REMN ANTS OF TIME.
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Sometimes God is as well pleaſed that praiſe ſhould wait with
humble ſilence, as that it ſhould ſpeak. It ſhows a well-diſpoſed
frame and temper of foul that longs to honour God. The hearts of
his ſaints are inſtruments of muſic to the Lord; he has formed their
ſouls for his glory, and tuned their heart-ſtrings to his own praiſe.
Now he loves to ſee them kept ſtill in tune, though he does not al-
ways play his own praiſes upon them ; he neither wants our ſervi-
ces nor our ſongs, for his own perfeótions are an everlaſting
harmony to himſelf without the ſlender notes that we can ſound.
We may make this ſweet remark at laſt, That Zion on earth
ſhall be joined to Jeruſalem above; the family below ſhall be joined
to the upper houſe, for they have learnt the work of heaven, their
hearts are tuned to praiſe; they want only ſuch harps as angels
have to bring glory down and make a heaven on this earth. In the
1 Chron. xi. 4. we are told that David took Zion from §º;
and built it round about, and added it to Jeruſalem. So ſhall Jeſus
the true David, the King of ſaints, take this earthly Zion from the
powers of this wicked world, and ſhall build and adorn it around .
with glory and ſtrength, with perfeót beauty and complete grace,
and add it to the jº. which is above. Look upwards O
ſouls who are full of praiſes, and are even impatient to ſpeak the
glories of your God, look to Jeruſalem above, where praiſe is con-
itant and never ceaſing, and rejoice to think that you ſhall be made
inhabitants of that city, and united to the glorious church. It is
your chief pleaſure here to be praiſing your God, and it is the chief
pleaſure of your fellow-ſaints on high: Where happineſs is perfeót,
praiſe is perfeót too and never filent.
It is the chief delight of º ſouls there to run over the glories
of their God, and tell one another joyfully, and humbly tell their
God, what a wife, what a holy, what an almighty and all-gracious
God he is. Every breath of praiſe is a new gale of pleaſure there ;
it is ſweet breathing in air perfumed with praiſes, and this climate is
moſt agreeable to your new nature and your conſtitution, you that
are members and parts of Zion ; and you ſhall be tranſlated thither
to your kindred fouls. In heaven the river of pleaſure ſprings from
God’s right-hand, becauſe Jeſus the Saviour ſits there. It is a river
that makes glad the city of God, and every ſtream, as it flows along
the golden ſtreets, murmurs ſweet praiſes to the fountain. g
But heaven and the ſtate of glory are not yet complete : The
church waits above for many promiſes that are not yet fülfilled, and
future bleſfings that are yet unknown. The work of grace is not
finiſhed till the great reſurrečtion-day; and heaven itſelf, in all the
bliſsful regions of it, waits for ſuch praiſes as the ear of men or an-
gels has never yet heard.
While the whole church of God on earth is in a ſtate of imperfec-
tion and trial, a ſtate of fins and ſorrows, praiſe waits in all the ſanc-
tuaries below, and in Zion above too. The ſouls in glory wait for
complete ſalvation and the redemption of their bodies from the
grave. On the harps of angels praiſe ſits waiting, and it waits alſo
on the tongue of Jeſus the interceſſor. His prayers ſhall one day
change all at once into praiſes, and lift the praiſes of angels and of
embodied ſaints to higher notes than ever yet they knew. O the
voices, and the ſongs, the joys, the raptures of that moment, of that
day, of that eternity, when ſuch a multitude of praiſes ſhall burſt out
at once, that have been waiting long in that Zion, and ſhall become
an everlaſting praiſe ! When Jeſus the Son of God the Mediator,
R.E.M N ANTS OF TIME. 455
ſhall lead the worſhip, and the praiſes that have been growing theſe
ſeventeen hundred years on his tongue ſhall break forth and ſpread
themſelves abroad, and all the creation ſhall hear, and all echo to
his ſong, glory to God in the higheſt. This is what we wait and
hope for, and long to bear a part in thoſe pleaſures and thoſe
praiſes.
XIX. —Job. xxiii. 3. O that I knew where I might find him t
AMONG all the various kinds and orders of God’s intelle&tual
creation, there is not one that uſes this language beſides a mourning
ſaint in this lower world. As for all other ſpirits, whether dwelling
in fleſh or not, their wiſhes are expreſt in a very different man.
ner, nor do they ſeek and long to find out an abſent God.
If we aſcend up to heaven and enquire there what are the wiſhes
of thoſe bleſſed ſpirits, we ſhall find that their enjoyments are ſo
glorious and their ſatisfactions riſe ſo high in the immediate pre-
fence of God amongſt them, that they have nothing of this nature
left to wiſh for : They know that their God is with them, and all
their wiſh is, what they are aſſured to enjoy, that this God will be
with them for ever, gº
If we deſcend to the regions of hell where God reigns in venge-
ance, we ſhall hear thoſe unhappy ſpirits groaning out many a
fruitleſs wiſh, “O that I knew where I might avoid him that I
might get out of his fight, out of his notice and reach for ever. I
feel his dreadfui preſence, and O that it were poſſible for me to be
utterly abſent from him and to find a place where God is not l”
If we take the wings of the morning, and fly to the utmoſt parts
of the eaſtern or the weſtern world, we ſhall find the language of
thoſe ignorant heathens, “O that I knew where I might find food,
and plenty, and all ſenſual delights I" but they ſend not a wiſh af.
ter the great God, though he has been ſo many ages abſent from
them and their fathers. He is unknown to them, and they have
no defires working in them after an unknown God.
If we tarry at home and ſurvey the bulk of mankind around us,
the voice of their wiſhes founds much the ſame as that of the hea'.
then world, “O that I knew where I might find trade and mer-
chandiſe, riches and honours, corn, wine and oil, the neceſſaries or
the ſuperfluous luxuries, of life I’” but God is not in all their
thoughts. . If they frequent the temples and attend the ſeaſons of
worſhip, they are well enough ſatisfied with outward forms with-
out the fight of God in them. There is no natural man that with a
#: longing of foul cries out, “O that I knew where to find
him I’” * -
As for the children of God that live in the light of their Father’s
countenance, they walk with him daily and hourly, they behold
him near them by the eye of faith, and they feel the ſweet in-
fluences of his gracious preſence; their higheſt ambition and their
deareſt wiſhes are, “O that he might abide for ever with me, and
keep me for ever near to himſelf "
The words of this ſcripture therefore can only be the language of
a ſaint on earth in diſtreſs and darkneſs, when God who was wont
to viſit him with divine communications, and to meet him in his
addreſſes to the throne of grace, has withdrawn himſelf for a ſeaſon,
and left the ſoul to grapple with many difficulties alone.
This was the caſe of that holy man whoſe ſorrows and complaints
have furniſhed out almoſt a wliole book of ſcripture, and ſupplied
436 REMN ANTs of TIME.
the ſaints in all ſucceeding ages with the forms and ſpeeches of
pious mourning. . It is the voice of a ſacred impatience that Job here
utters, “O that I knew where I might find him 1" and by a plain
paraphraſe we may learn both the meaning and the reaſon of ſuch
º and be taught by his example to lament after an abſent
od.
Let us ſuppoſe the ſaint therefore pouring out his ſoul in ſuch
fort of expreſſions as theſe, in which I ſhall not entirely confine
myſelf to the darkneſs of the patriarchal diſpenſation under which
Job lived, but indulge the language of the New Teſtament and
perſonate a mourning chriſtian.
Time was when I had a God near me, and upon every new
diſtreſs and difficulty I made him my preſent refuge ; I was wont to
call upon him in an hour of darkneſs, and he ſhone upon my path
with divine light. He has often taught me to read my duty in his
providences, or in his word, or by ſome ſecret hints of his own
Spirit, even while I have been kneeling at the throne of grace; but
now. I find not my uſual figns and tokens. My Guide and my
sºlo is withdrawn; “O that I knew §e: I might find
im l’ -
He was once my kind Aſſiſtant in every duty, and my iſupport
under every burden: I have found the grâce of my Lord ſufficient
for me in my ſharpeſt conflićts, his ſtrength has appeared in my
weakneſs. When my ſpiritual enemies have beſet me round, he
has ſcattered them before me, or ſubdued them under me; and
being held up by his everlaſting arms I have ſtood my ground, and
borne up my head under the weight of heavy ſorrows; but now I am
attacked on all ſides, my foul wreſtles hard with fins and tempta-
tions, and I find no affiſtance, no vićtory: I fink under my preſent
forrows; for my God, my ſtrength, and my Comforter is abſent,
and afar off; “O that I knew where I might find him 1"
My God was wont to deal with me as a compaſſionate friend ;
when Satan accuſed, he has juſtified. He has ſhown me the all.
fufficient ſacrifice of his Son, and that ſpotlets righteouſneſs of his
which has anſwered all the demands of his own holy jaw, and can-
celled all the charges of guilt that the devil or my own conſcience
could bring againſt me. He has taught me by faith to put my ſoul
under the ſprinklings of this ſacred blood, and to wrap around me
the robe of this divine righteouſneſs; he himſelf has arrayed me in
garments of ſalvation. But now the army of my fins riſes up before
me and overwhelms my ſpirit with many terrors ; ſatan the accuſer
urges on the charge, and my Saviour and his righteouſneſs are as
| were hidden from me. “O that I knew where I might find
him 1'.'
Many a cenſure have I borne from men, and had my reputation
aſſaulted and my good name blackened with many a ſcandal. But
when man reproached me God has undertook my cauſe, and made
my righteouſneſs ſhire as the light, and my innocence as the noon-
day; I could then pour out my ſoul before him, tell him all my ſor-
rows in flowing language, and feel ſweet relief; but now, alas,
troubles and reproaches are multiplied upon me, and he does not
ſeem to take my part; my ſpirit is bound and ſhut up, and I am cut
off from that free converſe, that humble holy intimacy which I once
enjoyed with my God ; I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I
cry aloud but there is no judgment. Will he not help me to pray º'
Will he not hear my groans and requeſts Hath God forgotten to
R.E.M. NAN ('S OF TIME, 457
be gracious yet I would ſeek his face ſtill, and “O that I knew
where I might find him l’’ -
Often have I ſeen him in his own ordinances in the place of
public worſhip; I have ſeen his power and his glory in the ſanc-
tuary: I have found him in ſecret corners, and my meditation of
him has been exceeding ſweet. In dark retirements he has ſmiled
on my ſoul, and has often given me reviving light. I have found
him in his works, and I have had a fairer fight of him in his word;
I can name the places, the pleaſant lines in my bible, and ſay, “I
have ſeen the face of my God here;” But now the bible itſelf is
like a ſealed book, or like a ſtrange language which I cannot under-
ſtand ; I hear not the voice of my God ſpeaking to me there; I go
forward to his promiſes, and read what he will do for his people,
but I perceive him not; backward to his paſt providences of to my
own experiences, and review what he has done, but there is a
darkneſs there too: I turn to my left-hand amongſt his works of
nature, but I do not ſee him ; I ſeek him on my right-hand amongſt
his works of grace, but ſtill he hides himſelf that I cannot behold
him. Ver. 8, 9. “I wander in the night and enquire after him, I
watch for him more than they that watch for the morning, I ſay
more than they that watch for the morning; O that I knew where I
might find him " . . . . .
Ånd it is no wonder that I am ſo impatient under the painful ſenſe
of his preſent diſtance from me, and ſo importunate for his return:
for I have known the dreadful caſe of utter diſtance from him in a
ſtate of nature and ſin, and I have taſted ſomething of the pleaſure
of being brought nigh by grace, and now I dread every thing that
looks like that old diſtance, that eſtrangement; I would fain renew
thoſe divine pleaſures of a returning and a reconciled God: “O that
I knew where I might find him 1" ſº
Beſides, I bethink myſelf and ſay, , “What ſhall I do without a
God I" for I find all creatures utterly inſufficient to relieve and help
me; and I have known ſomething of God’s all-ſufficiency ; he has
been my helper in ſix troubles and in ſeven ; he is my only hope :
When creatures ſtand aloof from me, and each of them ſay,
“There is no help in me,” whither ſhould I go then but to my God
“O that I knew where I might find him l’”
I have been ſo much uſed to live upon him, and found his divine
aids and influences ſo neceſſary to my life and my peace, that I ſink
and die at his abſence. I feel within myſelf a ſort of heavenly in-
ftinét that I want his preſence, and cannot live without him. I
know he ſtands in no need of me, for he gives to all his creatures
life and breath, and being; but I need his counſels and his com-
forts, his ſtrength and his love : My ſoul is touched with ſuch a
divine influence that it cannot reſt while God withdraws, as the
needle trembles and hunts after the hidden loadſtone. If my God
retire and hide himſelf, he will forgive a creature that loves him
ſo well as to follow hard after him without ceaſing, and is impatient
and reſtleſs till he ſearch him out : “O that I knew where I might
find him ''',
Though God is pleaſed to depart from me for a ſeaſon, yet I can-
not let go all my hope ; he hides himſelf from my ſoul, yet I dare
not think him an enemy, but only a concealed friend : If I could
get near him even to his ſeat, I know I ſhould find it a mercy-ſeat,
though perhaps judgment may fit there too. It is a throne of grace,
Vol. V 11. 3 M --
458 REMN ANTs of TIME.
§ -
ſays a chriſtian, becauſe Jeſus is there with the blood of atonement;
and having ſuch an high-prieſt over the houſe of God, and ſuch a
new and living way of acceſs by the blood of Chriſt, I will ſeek
after him and addreſs myſelf to him; I will confeſs mine iniquities
before him, and be ſorry for my fins, which may have beclouded
or eclipſed my heavenly ſun, and hid his face from me, I fear I.
have grieved his bleſſed Spirit, and provoked him to withdraw his
kind influences of light, ſtrength and comfort; nor will I ceaſe
grieving for his abſence till he return again.
Come, O eternal Spirit, come and viſit my poor dark and diſcon-
ſolate ſoul; come and awaken all my powers to follow hard after
my Father and mv God. Come, invigorate my faith, and lead me
to the Mediator, the bleſied Jeſus; come, open to me the promiſes
and let me into the covenant of his unchangeable love ratified and
ſealed with blood. . If ever I find my God again, it is there, I know,
I muſt find him ; Chriſt is the only way to the Father. It is by the
intereſt of his Son I ſhall get near to him, even to his ſeat; then
will I pour out all my woes and my wants in his fight, I will order
my cauſe before him and fill ny mouth with arguments. Will he
plead againſt me with his great power? No, but he will put ſtrength
in me, and affift and ſuffer me to prevail with him.
... Then, when I have found him whom my ſoul foveth, I will hold
him faſt and not let him go : I will charge all the powers and paſſions
of my nature not to yield to one finful pračtice, nor provoke him
to depart; for he is my everlaſting and my alſnighty friend.
Then, though I ſhould have a thouſand enemies ſet themſelves
againſt me, I would not be afraid ; yea, though I walk through the
valley of the ſhadow of death, I will fear no evil, for I have found
my God, and my God is with me.
XX.-The Figure of a Cherub.
A CHERUB is a name uſed in ſcripture to denote ſome angelic
power or powers under the figure of ſome ſtrange animal: The
plural number in the Hebrew is Cherubim, which ſignifies Cherubs,
and I know not how our tranſlators of the bible came ſo often to
ſpeak of Cherubims, adding an s to the Hebrew plural number
inſtead of the Engliſh plural, namely, Cherubs. Perhaps ſome
learned writers uſing the word Cherubini in Latin inſtead of Cherubi,
might lead them into this grammatical irregularity.
... The Jews themſelves greatly differ about the form or figure of a
Cherub. Joſephus in his Antiquities, Book III. chap. 6. tells us,
That cherubs are flying animals, like to none that were ever ſeen
by man, and whoſe form no man knoweth. Abenezra, a learned
Jew, ſuppoſes it to be a general name extending itſelf to all forms
or figures, though in the writings of Moſes he ſuppoſes it to come
nearer the figure of a young man or boy.
Some have imagined that the mere face of a boy with wings is
ſufficient to deſcribe a cherub, and accordingly ſuch figures are
wrought into the ornaments of buildings and curtains, &c. but I
know no juſt ground for this imagination, except it be that thoſe on
the ark were beaten out of the ſame maſs of gold which made the
mercy-ſeat: and it muſt be confeſt this ſort of figure is more eaſy to
be thus formed that, any tall ſhape with a body and feet; Exod xxv.
10. and xxxvii. 7.
It is generally repreſented in ſcripture like, ſome ſtrange living
creature with one or more faces, having both wings and feet: When
REMN ANTS OF T 1 M E. 459
it has four faces, they are borrowed from a man, an ox, a lion and
an eagle: the wings are deſcribed as very large, and the feet, when
they are particularly deſcribed, are like thoſe of an ox or calf: but
whether the whole figure be more like that of an ox or of a man,
the learned are not agreed. This is certain that the ſeveral ſcriptures
wherein cherubs are mentioned, can hardly be reconciled without
ſuppoſing them repreſented in different forms, ſometimes nearer to
one of thoſe forms, and ſometimes to the other. If therefore after
all our ſearches we cannot eome to a full determination, we muſt
be content to acknowledge our ignorance, though perhaps by dili-
gent enquiry we may come pretty near to the truth. *
If we conſult the derivation of the word it ſeems to come from
an: Charab, which in the Chaldee, Syriac and Arabic languages
ſignifies “to plow,” which is the known work of oxen. This favours
the ſentinent of thoſe who deſcribe it as a flying ox.
Others tell us that nº-ha cherub, in Arabic is “a ſhip that carries
merchandiſe,’ and that a cherub is a chariot of God, appointed to
carry the Shecinah, or bright glory, which is the ſymbol of God’s
preſence; and therefore God is ſaid to ride upon a cherub. Pſalm
xviii. I 1. nºn-, ºy nº-º jirchab al cherub, he rode on a cherub: and
Pſalm civ. 3. it is ſaid he maketh the clouds his chariot, ºn
rechub, ſo that by the tranſpoſition of a letter, which is frequent
with the Hebrews, it ſeems to fignify a chariot ; and in I Chron.
xxviii. 18. the cherubs upon the ark are called ‘the chariots of the
cherubims,’ and the whole figure in Ezekiel’s viſion had wheels all
about it as a chariot, and yet it is ſometimes called the cherub in the
ſingular and ſometimes cherubim or cherubs.
All this is true ; but in a chariot there are generally ſome animals
repreſented as moying, drawing or carrying it. And though in
Ezekiel’s viſion it is a living or animated chariot with living wheels
which had the ſpirit of the animals in them ; Ezek. i. 20. yet there
are winged animals to move it, or to move with it. The whole is
.compoſed of four living creatures which had faces and wings, and
feet and hands, joined together in a living machine with wheels,
and the God of glory rode upon it. Butlet us proceed and confider
ſeveral ſcriptures more particularly and in order.
The firſt place where we find the name mentioned is Gen. iii. ult.
“God placed cherubs and a flaming ſword to guard the way to the
tree of life.” This does not ſeem to mean a chariot or chariots, but
living creatures ; If they were in the ſhape of men, then a flaming
ſword is waving in their hands. If in the form of flying oxen, then
with flames about them flaſhing out like a ſword from their eyes,
noſtrils or mouth. Perhaps the brazen-footed bulls breathing out
flames which guarded the golden fleece in Colchos, may be derived
hence by the fabulous Greeks.
& £
- Adamanteis Volcanum naribus eſtlant
“A ripides Tauri.” ~ Otjd.
Or, as the Greeks were wont to compound and divide ſtories at
pleaſure, theſe bulls might keep the gardens of the Heſperides
where golden apples grew, that is, by the fabling interpretation,
the fruit of the trée of life; though generally I confeſs a dragon is
made the guardian of them, which wild fable night ariſe from the
ſerpent being there ; Gen. iii. 1; for ſtories taken from the bible ale
variouſly mangled and confounded by the heathens.
* 3 M 2
46O R.E.M N ANTS OF Ti M.E.
Some have ſuppoſed indeed theſe cherubs and flaming ſword are
only a flaming diviſion viſible, made of burning pitch and ſuch mate-
rials, and that this was kindled in the borders of that ground to
uard it from men, and that it is attributed to angels after the
i. wiſh manner: Others think it the divine Shecinah itſelf guarding
the paſſage to the tree of life, and cherubs are added by Moſes to
repreſent God’s being attended with inviſible angels. But neither
of theſe two laſt ſuppoſitions carry probability with them, becauſe
the word cherub is never uſed in narratives for mere inviſible
powers, nor for viſible inanimate beings; but it always ſignifies
jome viſible figure of one animated being or more joined together,
though it is deſigned to denote theſe inviſible angelic powers.
The next ſcripture where it is mentioned is Ex. xxv. 18. Among
the orders given to Moſes for making the ark and the mercy-ſeat,
with the two cherubs to cover it with their wings, one at one end
and the other at the other end. Ver, 19, 20. * And whatfoever
figure belonged to theſe cherubs which is ſo much unknown to us,
it was certainly a common idea and well known figure to the Jews
in that day; for Moſes doth not concern himſelf to give any par-
ticular deſcription of them as he does almoſt of every thing elſe,
and yet the Jewiſh artificers made them right.
Some think that theſe two cherubs on the ark were in the ſhape
of flying oxen, or ſomething near to that figure, and that for theſe
reaſons:
I. Becauſe both their faces looked toward one another, and yet
both faces downward toward the mercy-ſeat; Ex. xxv. 20. and
xxxvii. 9, which poſture and deſcription is well ſuited to an ox, but
not ſo happily adapted to the figure and aſpect of the face of a man.
2. Becauſe the ſame face which is called the face of an ox; Ezek.
i. 10. is called the face of a cherub; Ezek. x. 14. and thus a cherub's
face is ačtually and expreſsly diſtinguiſhed from that of a man, and
determined to be the face of an ox.
3. Becauſe God is ſaid to ride upon a cherub ; Pſ: xviii. 10.
Though this be a metaphorical expreſſion to deſcribe the grandeur
and majeſty of God, yet the metaphor muſt be derived from ſome
correſpondent ſenſible figure: Now the figure of a winged ox, or at
leaſt of a chariot carried or drawn by winged oxen, is a much fitter
vehicle to ride upon in glory and grandeur, in majeſty and terror,
than the figure of a man. |
4. Aaron’s calf is reaſonably ſuppoſed to be a cherub, for neither
he nor his abettors can well be imagined ſo fooliſh as to make the
figure of a mere calf, as ſome would have it, or of the Egyptian
god Apis, who was worſhipped under the form of an ox, when it
was made as an idol for the Iſraelites to adore, ſince the Egyptian
gods as well as men partook of the vengeance of the God of Iſrael
for the oppreſſion of his people; Numb. xxxiii. 4.
It is therefore much more credible that Aaron's calf was deſigned
* The Cherubs in Solomon's temple ſtand in another ſituation; 1 Kings vi. 23 fothey
are placed ſide by ſide, ſo that their four wings reached the whole length of the moſt holy
plate. But theſe ſeem to be made as ſome further attendants on the Shecinah or divine
glory, beſides the two cherubs which were on the mercy-ſeat; for it was the very ſame ark
which Moſes made that was introduced into Solomon's temple; 1 Kings viii. 6. and the
cherubs on it were beaten out of the ſame maſs of gold which made the mercy-ſeat or
covering of the ark ; Exod. xxxvii. 7, 8. ſo that it is moſt likely thoſe ancient cherubs
continued there ſtill, and Solomon's were additional attendants in the moſt holy place, of a
much larger ſize and overſhadowing thoſe on the mercy-ſeat,
\
R.E.M N ANTS OF TIME. & 461
as a viſible ſymbol of the preſence of the God of Iſrael, even that
very God who releaſed them from their Egyptian maſters. The
proclamation made before this image was this, “Theſe are thy gods,
O Iſrael, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt;” Erod.
xxxii. 4. It would be contrary to all reaſon to repreſent the
Egyptian gods as bringing Iſrael from Egypt, for then they would
have been kinder to the Iſraelites who were ſtrangers, than they
were to their own worſhippers the Egyptians. Beſides, it was a
feaſt to Jehovah, the God of Iſrael, which they celebrated ; Exod.
xxxii. 5. and therefore it is more likely that Aaron’s calf was ſome
ſymbol of the preſence of the God of Iſrael; and that it might be
the figure of a cherub, on or over which they would ſuppoſe the
divine Shecinah or glory of God to fit, for ſo it appeared on the ark
when it was made, and ſo it appeared in Ezekiel’s viſions; Ezek.
i. 26–28. and x. 18, 19. So David deſcribes it, Pſ. Xviii. 10, when
the God of Iſrael rode on a cherub. * -
Shall it be ſaid, that Aaron had not yet received the order for
m.iking the cherubs on the ark, and therefore could not know the
figures But I anſwer, that Cherubs were well known to the Jews
of that age, as I hinted before, ſince Moſes gives no º of
them to inſtrućt the artificers: They were known of old probably to
the patriarchs and to mankind, as emblems of divine majeſty and
terror guarding the way to the tree of life ; Gen. iii. 24. and ſome
have ſuppoſed that Aaron with his ſons and ſeventy elders ſaw God
in the mount; Ezod. xxiv. 20. riding on a cherub as in Ezek. i. ſince
the other part of that deſcription of God in Exodus is much like that
in Ezek. i. 26. and x, 1. But I proceed to another argument to
prove cherubs to be flying oxen.
5. Another reaſon why a cherub is ſuppoſed to be a winged ox is
this, Jeroboam the king of Iſrael is moſt ... ſuppoſed to
imitate the worſhip of Jeruſalem, when he ſet up golden calves at
Dan and Bethel, and thus to repreſent God dwelling between the
cherubs on the mercy-ſeat, that the other tribes of Iſrael might have
the ſame worſhip as the Jews at Jeruſalem, and that the ten tribes
might not be inclined to go up to Jeruſalem to worſhip, and be in
danger of returning to their king Rehoboham again : for it is hardly
to be ſuppoſed that Jeroboam ſhould ſo ſoon perſuade all the ten
tribes into ſuch groſs idolatry as to worſhip mere calves, though the
feripture calls them ſo, as uſually it does all idols by ſome word of
contempt.
This idolatry or worſhipping a mere calf would have been too
plain and too groſs to be impoſed upon the people at firſt, and that
ſo ſoon after their ſeparation from Judah and Jeruſalem, this being
ſo expreſsly contrary to the ſecond command, “Thou ſhalt not
make unto thyſelf any graven image, nor the likeneſs of any thing
that is in heaven, or earth, or the water, &c.” Now if we ſuppoſe a
cherub to be the figure of a winged ox, or any other winged figure
with the face and feet of an ox ſuperadded, it will not be the likeneſs
or image of any thing in heaven, earth or water, and conſequently
Jeroboam might perſuade the people that this was not plainly for-
bidden ; nay, more, that it was ordered by Moſes in the tabernacle,
and ſuch figures were in the temple,
, Let it be further added, that when the worſhip of Baal was in-
troduced into [ſrael by Ahab, it ſeems to be a different idol from
the calves at Dan and Bethel, and yet it was ſomething a-kin to it.
The image of Baal was the image of a heifer as we are told in the
462 R E M N ANTS OF TIME.
firſt chapter of Tobit, ver. 5. and it is evident that Baal is ſometimes
in the feminine. See I Kings xvi. 31. in the Septuagint ; 1 Kings
xix. 18. and the citation of that text in Rom. xi. 4. But if Baal was
a common heifer, it is probable theſe calves of Jeroboam were
fonething different; for it is plain from many ſcriptures that Baal
was an idol of the Canaanites which Ahab worſhipped when both
king and people had grown bold in their idolatry: But the calves
were deſigned by Jeroboam for ſymbols of the preſence of Jehovah
the God of Iſrael, and therefore probably they were not common
Calves, but cherubs, or winged oxen, or a figure near a-kin to thoſe
in the temple of Jeruſalem.
6. It is further added as another reaſon, that though the tribe of
Judah imitated Iſrael in all their other ſhapes of idolatry, yet they
never imitated Jeroboam’s calves: Now what reaſon can be given
for this, unleſs it be becauſe the Jews are ſuppoſed to have had the
very originals at Jeruſalem, that is, the cherubs upon the mercy-
feat in the form of flying calves or oxen. *
Theſe arguments ſeem to carry great weight with them, yet
others have ſuppoſed the cherub to be a winged man, becauſe it is
deſcribed often with one face at leaſt as a man, and alſo with
hands in ſcripture. Some of the Jews ſay, it is a young man in
beauty and vigour, becauſe it has been generally taken for granted
that the cherubs repreſent angels, which are God’s attendants,
whoſe vigour and beauty are ever freſh and immortal, and angels,
they ſay, always appear under the figure of men: and they ſuppoſe
that in this form multitudes of them were wrought in the curtains
and veil and all the parts of the tabernacle and temple, as intimating
the preſence of angels where God dwells.
It is granted that cherubs repreſent angelic powers, attending on
the great God, but whether the form of a winged man were wrought
on the curtains or veil is, yet in doubt: and whether this argument
be ſufficient to outweigh all that is ſaid in favour of the ſhape of
winged oxen let the reader judge. *
This I think is remarkable, that though angels are always intro-
duced ſpeaking as men with a voice and ſeraphs alſo ſpeak, as
Iſ; vi. 3, 6, 7, yet I do not find that cherubs ever ſpoke : and when
Ezckiel tells us in ſo diſtinguiſhing a manner, they had the hands
of a man under their wings; Ezek. i. 8. it looks as if all the reſt of
their parts were not exactly thoſe of a man, but of a creature
which is not ſo much deſigned to perform rational or humane offices,
fince it appears there and in other places as ſome kind of living
vehicle or divine equipage, rather than as a rational attendant on
the majeſty of God, exerciſing its intelle&tual powers. t
Perhaps we have not any place of º: from which we can
derive the complete figure of a cherub better than the firſt, and
tenth, and forty-firſt chapters of Ezekiel; for all the four animals in
Ezekiel's viſion which are mentioned, Ezek. i. 5. and x. 14. are
feveral times called cherubs. -
If we enquire what their body or general figure was, the prophet
fays, it was the figure or likeneſs of a man; Ezek. i. 5. But each of
them had four faces, and each had four wings, ver. 6. Their legs
were ſtraight, probably like the fore legs of a calf or ox, or like
that of a man; and their feet were cloven as an ox's foot, wer, 7.
Under their wings they had the hands of a man on their four ſides,
Ver, 8.
Each of them had the face of a man before, and this ſtood in the
REMN ANTS OF TH ME. 453
middle between the face of a lion on the right-ſide and the face of
an ox or a calf on the left-ſide; and the face of an eagle perhaps was
placed in the middle above them or behind, though it is not ex-
reſsly ſaid it was behind, or above ; but it is probable the four
faces looked four different ways.
. But here it muſt be obſerved, that what is called the face of an
ox; Ezek, i. 10. is called the face of a cherub, ſuppoſing them the
ſame; Ezek. x: 14. A cherub has alſo the feet of a calf or ox as
before mentioned. So that a cherub appears upon the whole to be
nearer to the figures of a winged ox and a man with wings, than to
any other creature, for it has the hands, body and face of a man,
and it has alſo the face and feet of an ox: It has nothing of a lion
but the face, and that is not always mentioned : It has indeed the
wings of an eagle always, but an eagle's face is mentioned as one
part of a cherub no where elſe but in this viſion.
Note, This viſion does not deſcribe whether each of thoſe animals
had four feet or two ; but it is probable they had but two feet, be-
cauſe it is ſaid, they had the likeneſs of a man, that is, the figure
of his body. -
It is plain they had four wings, ver. 6. two of their wings were
itretched upward as for flight, and two covered their bodies, that
is, the lower part of their body, for which decency requires a
covering. It is very ridiculous therefore to deſcribe them, as ſome
painters do, like naked boys with little wings on their ſhoulders
only. - *
i. theſe four various faces, the various properties of angels ſeem
to be repreſented, namely, The underſtanding and beauty of a man,
the obedience and labour or diligence of an ox, the courage and
ſtrength of a lion, together with the ſharp fight and ſwiftneſs of an
eagle in fulfilling the commands of God, and in adminiſtring his
providence.
It may not be improper alſo to take notice here, that theſe fou
creatures, namely, a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle, are unani-
mouſly reported by the Jews, though not with ſufficient proof, to
have been wrought upon the ſtandards of the four leading tribes of
the camp of Iſrael as they are ranged, Numb. ii. namely, a lion the
ftandard of Judah, a man the ſtandard of Reuben, an ox the ſtandard
of Ephraim, and an eagle the ſtandard of Dan. And theſe alſo
were the figures of the four living creatures, in Greek 3.2, which
ought not to be tranſlated beaſts; Rev. iv. 6. which are before the
throne of God; who had each of them ſix wings; and were ful of
eyes, and are ever engaged in divine worſhip. Theſe figures in
theſe ſeveral places may denote that wherever God is, the crea-
tures that attend him, whether they be men or angels, ſhould be
furniſhed with theſe qualifications, namely, underſtanding, obe-
dience, courage and ſwiftneſs.
But let us proceed to ſearch out what is ſaid yet further concern-
ing a cherub in ſcripture, *
n Ezek. xli. 19, 25. The inner part of Ezekiel’s temple was
adorned with internmingled cherubs and palm-trees earved on the
walls and the doors. Here every cherub had two faces, namely,
that of a man and that of a lion; but as they are called cherubs,
we may ſtill conclude their feet were the feet of a calf or ox. And
why may not Solomon's temple be adorned with the ſame fort of
cherubs and palm-trees; 1 Kings vi. 29, that is, with the faces of a
464 REM NANTs of TIME.
man and a lion, and the feet of an ox, though their faces aré not
expreſsly mentioned in that place. o
Solomon's ten lavers for the temple had their ſeveral baſes
adorned in the border between the ledges with lions, oxen and
cherubs, I Kings vii. 29. ſo that here a chereb ièems to be men-
tioned inſtead of the face of a man, and to be diſtinguiſhed from an
ox, though in Ezekiel’s viſion chap. i. and x. the face of a cherub is
lainly the ſame with the face of an ox. Yet on the plates of the
edges were cherubims, lions and palm-trees; 1 Kiugs vii. 36.
where neither the face of an ox nor man is mentioned.
Perhaps theſe differences may be in ſome meaſure reconciled if
we obſerve that theſe cherubs which adorned the walls of Ezekiel’s
viſionary temple, and of Solomon’s real temple, and the borders of
the brazen lavers, are only graven or carved upon the flat or plane,
or at leaſt with ſome little protuberance above the flat, which the
Italians call Baſſo Relievo: And then that figure which would have
had all four faces viſible if it had ſtood forth by itſelf as a real
animal, or a ſtatue, namely, that of a man, a lion, an ox and an
eagle, can have but two faces viſible, or three at the moſt, when
figured upon a plain or flat ſurface; the other one or two being hid
behind: And thus the cherubs may be in all theſe places the ſame
four-faced animals, and yet only two or three of their faces appear
according to their deſigned ſituation and the art of perſpective.
And perhaps Solomon might diverſify theſe figures for the ſake of
variety in different parts of theſe ſacred works”.
Upon the whole what if we ſhould conclude a cherub to be moſt
uſually figured with a body like a man with four wings, two whereof
are ſtretched for flight, and two covering the lower parts; with the
feet of an ox or calf; with the head of a man or an ox, whatever
other faces were joined to it whether lions’ or eagles’, or whether it
had any other face or no. It is more likely there was but one ſort
of face belonged to each of the two cherubs on the mercy-ſeat,
becauſe it is ſaid, their faces looked toward one another, but
whether this was the face of an ox or a man is not yet abſolutely
determined.
I think we may allow Jeroboam to be ſuppoſed to imitate theſe
cherubs which were on the mercy-ſeat in his idolatrous worſhip ;
and though they had not the perfe&t ſhape of a calf, yet they might
be called calves in ſcripture language, by way of reproach and con-
tempt, becauſe they had the feet of a calf if not the head alſo.
It is evident that Aaron’s idol, which was called the golden calf,
had more of the reſemblance of an ox or calf than of a man, becauſe
the Iſraelites are ſaid to change their glory, that is, their God, into
the fimilitude of an ox that eateth graſs; Pſ, cvi. 19, 20. which
would hardly have been thus expreſt if the idol had nothing of a
calf but its feet. § w
If any will imagine that in Pſ: xviii. where God is ſaid to ride
upon a cherub, the grandeur and terror of the appearance may
require the whole figure of a flying ox rather than of a flying man,
* It is the opinion of ſome learned men that Ezekiel's temple was but a kind of a repe-
tition of the pattern of the ſame temple which God gave to David, and by which Solomon
built his temple. And that this pattern was given to Ezekiel that he might ſhew it the
Jews, if they were pious and obedient, to animate them to hope for another temple in their
own land, and to inſtrućt them in the building of it when they ſhould be releaſed from
Babylon; Ezek. xl. 4. and xliii. 10, 1 1. ſince it was ſuppoſed none remained who could
remember ſo much of their old temple as to give particular directions for the building of it.
\
REMN ANTS OF TIME. 475
or rather of a flying animal with all theſe four faces, I will not
oppoſe it, ſince it is plain from this whole account that a cherub is
deſcribed ſomctimes more like a winged ox and ſometimes more
like a winged man with feet like oxen or calves. . But where it is
repreſented complete in all its various forms united as in the firſt
and tenth chapters of Ezekiel, it ſeems to be the body of a winged
man with calves’ feet, and with four faces, namely, that of a man,
an ox, a lion, and an eagle; and thus it is always deſigned to re-
preſent the various properties of angels, which are attendants upon
the bleſſed God, more perfeótly than any one of theſe creatüres
could do alone. *
Perhaps when the Jewiſh nation ſhall be converted and become
believers in Chriſt, there may be ſuch a new effuſion of the Spirit
on men, or ſuch a happy diſcovery ſome way made of the darker
parts of the Moſaic economy and the writings of the prophets, as
may ſhew us much more of the reſemblance which God deſigned
between the types of the law in the temple and prieſthood, and
their antitypes in the goſpel, than has ever yet appeared ; and
among other things the form of a Cherub, as an attendance of an-
gelic beings on the majeſty of God in the holy of holies, may ap-
pear more conſpicuouſly in its original truth and glory.
XXI.—The Author's ſolemn Addreſs to the great and ever-bleſſed God on a
Review of what he had written in the Trinitarian Controverſy, prefixed by
him to ſome Pieces on that Suljećt, which it was not judged neceſſary to
publiſh. *
RIGHTEOUS art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee; yet I
may talk with thee concerning thy judgments. Permit me, O my
God and Father, to plead with thee concerning the revelations of thy
nature and thy grace, which are made in thy goſpel: And let me do
it with all that humble reverence, and that holy awe of thy Majeſty,
which becomes a creature in the preſence of his God. sº
Haft thou not, O Lord God Almighty, haſt thou not tranſa&ted
by divine and important affairs among men by thy Son Jeſus Chriſt,
and by thy holy Spirit and haft thou not ordained that men ſhould
tranſact their higheſt and moſt momentous concerns with thee, by
thy Son and by thy Spirit Haft thou not, by the mouth of thy Son
Jeſus, required all that profeſs his religion to be waſhed with water
in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt Is it
not . duty then, to enquire, who or what are theſe ſacred names
and what they ſignify Muſt I not know thee, the only true God,
and Jesus Chriſt thy Son, whom thou haſt ſent, that I may fulfil all
my reſpective duties towards thyſelf and thy Son, in hope of eternal
life P. Hath not thy Son himſelf appealed to thee in his laſt prayer,
that eternal life depends upon this knowledge And ſince thou §
made ſo much uſe of thy holy Spirit in our religion, muſt I not have
ſome knowledge of this thy Spirit alſo, that I may pay thee all theſe
honours thou requireſt from this divine revelation?
Haſt thou not aſcribed divine names, and titles, and charaćters to
thy Son and thy holy Spirit in thy word, as well as aſſumed them to
thyſelf And haſt thou not appointed to them ſuch glorious offices
as cannot be executed without ſomething of divinity or true god-
head in them And yet art not thou, and thou alone, the true God?
How ſhall a poor weak creature be able to adjuſt and reconcile
WOL. VII, 3 N
476 R. E M N ANTS OF TIME.
theſe claſhing ideas, and to underſtand this myſtery Or muſt I be-
lieve and ačt blindfold, without underſtanding :
Holy Father, thou knoweſt, how firmly I believe, with all my ſoul,
whatſoever thou haſt plainly written and revealed in thy word. . I
believe thee to be the only true God, the ſupreme of beings, ſelf-
ſufficient for thine own exiſtence, and for all thy infinite affairs and
tranſačtions among creatures. I believe thy Son Jeſus Chriſt to be
all-ſufficient for the glorious work of mediation between God and
man, to which thou haſt appointed him. I believe he is a man, in
whom dwells all the fulneſs of the godhead bodily. I believe he is
one with God ; he is God manifeſted in the fleſh ; and that the
Man Jeſus is ſo cloſely and inſeparably united with the true and
eternal godhead, as to become one perſon, even as the human ſoul
and body make one man. I believe that this illuſtrious perſon is
hereby poſſeſſed of divine dignity, ſufficient to make full atonement
for the fins of men by his ſufferings and death, even though fin be
accounted an infinite evil ; and that he hath all-ſufficient power to
raiſe himſelf from the dead, to aſcend to heaven, and fulfil the
bleſſed works for which thou haſt exalted him, and to govern and
judge the world in thine appointed time.
I believe alſo thy bleſſed Spirit hath almighty power and influence
to do all thy will, to inſtrućt men effectually in divine truths, to
change the hearts of fallen mankind from fin to holineſs, to carry
on thy work of illumination, ſanétification, and conſolation on the
ſouls of all thy children, and to bring them ſafe to the heavenly
world. I yield myſelf up joyfully and thankfully to this method of
thy ſalvation, as it is revealed in thy goſpel... But I acknowledge
my darkneſs ſtill. I want to have this wonderful doćtrine of the all-
ſufficience of thy Son and thy Spirit, for theſe divine works, made
a little plainer. May not thy humble creature be permitted to
know what ſhare they can have in thy deity Is it a vain and fin-
ful curioſity to deſire to have this article ſet in ſuch a light, as may
not diminiſh the eternal glory of the unity of the true God, nor of
the ſupremacy of Thee the Father of all.
Hadſt thou informed me, gracious Father, in any place of thy
word, that this divine doćtrine is not to be underſtood by men, and
yet they were required to believe it, I would have ſubdued all my
curioſity to faith, and ſubmitted my wandering and doubtful imagi-
nations, as far as it was poſſible, to the holy and wife determinations
of thy word. But I cannot find thou haſt any where forbid me to
underſtand it, or to make theſe enquiries. My conſcience is the
beſt natural light thou haſt put within me, and ſince thou haft given
me the ſcriptures, my own conſcience bids me ſearch the ſcriptures,
to find out truth and eternal life. It bids me try all things, and
hold faſt that which is good. And thy own word, by the ſame ex-
preſſions, encourages this holy practice. I have, therefore, been
long ſearching into this divine doćtrine, that I may pay thee due
honour with underſtanding. Surely I ought to know the God whom
I worſhip, whether he be one pure and ſimple being, or whether
thou art a threefold deity, dº. of the Father, the Son, and the
holy Spirit. .* -
É. and bleſſed God, hadſt thou been pleaſed, in any one plain
ſcripture, to have informed me which of the different opinions about
the holy Trinity, among the contending parties of chriſtians, had
been true, thou knoweſt with how much zeal, ſatisfaction, and joy
my unbiaſſed heart would have opened itſelf to receive and em-
REM N ANTS OF TIME. 477
brace the divine diſcovery. Hadſt thou told me plainly, in any
ſingle text, that the Father, Son, and holy Spirit, are three real diſ-
tin&t Perſons in thy divine nature, I had never ſuffered myſelf to be
bewildered in ſo many doubts, nor embarraſſed with ſo many ſtrong
fears of aſſenting to the mere inventions of men, inſtead of divine
dočtrine; but I ſhould have humbly and immediately accepted thy
words, ſo far as it was poſſible for me to underſtand them as the
only rule of my faith ? Or, hadſt thou been pleaſed ſo to expreſs
and include this propoſition in the ſeveral ſcattered parts of thy
book, from whence my reaſon and conſcience might with eaſe find
out, and with certainty infer this doćtrine, I ſhould have joyfully
employed all my reaſoning powers, with their utmoſt ſkill and ačti-
}. to have found out this inference, and ingrafted it into my
oul.
Thou haſt taught me, holy Father, by thy prophets, that the way
of holineſs in the times of the goſpel, or under the kingdom of the
Meſſiah, ſhall be a high-way, a plain and eaſy path; ſo that the
wayfaring man, or the ſtranger, though a fool, ſhall not err therein.
And thou haft called the poor and the ignorant, the mean and
fooliſh things of this world, to the knowledge of thyſelf and thy
Son, and taught them to receive and partake of the ſalvation which
thou haſt provided. But how can ſuch weak creatures ever take in
fo ſtrange, ſo difficult, and ſo abſtruſe a doćtrine as this; in the ex-
plication and defence whereof, multitudes of men, even men of
learning and piety, have loſt themſelves in infinite ſubtilties of diſ-
pute, and endleſs mazes of darkneſs And can this ſtrange and per-
plexing notion of three real Perſons going to make up one true God,
be ſo neceſſary and ſo important a part of that chriſtian doćtrine,
which, in the Old Teſtament and the New, is repreſented as ſo
plain and ſo eaſy, even to the meaneſt underſtandings
O thou ſearcher of hearts who knoweſt all things, I appeal to
thee, concerning the ſincerity of my enquiries into theſe diſcoveries
of thy word. Thou knoweſt me, thou haſt ſeen me, and haſt tried
my heart towards, thee: if there be any lurking hypocriſy in my
heart, any ſecret bias towards any thing but truth, uncover it, O
Father of lights, and baniſh it from my ſoul for ever. If thine eye
diſcovers the leaſt ſpark of criminal prejudice in any corner of my
ſoul, extinguiſh it utterly, that I may not be led aſtray from the
truth, in matters of ſuch importance, by the leaſt glance of error or
miſtake. • - +
Thou art witneſs, O my God, with what diligence, with what
conſtancy and care, I have read and ſearched thy holy word, how
early and late, by night and by day, I have been making theſe en-
quiries. How fervently have I been ſeeking thee on my bended
knees, and dire&ting my humble addreſſes to thee, to enlighten my
darkneſs, and to ſhew me the meaning of thy word, that I may learn
what I muſt believe, and what I muſt praćtiſe with regard to this
doćtrine, in order to pleaſe thee, and obtain eternal life
Great God, who ſeeſt all things, thou haſt beheld what buſy temp-
tations have been often fluttering about my heart to call, it off
from theſe laborious and difficult enquiries, and to give up thy word
and thy goſpel as an unintelligible book, and betake myſelf to the
light of natüre and reaſon : but thou haſt been pleaſed by thy di-
vine power to ſcatter theſe temptations, and fix my heart and my
hope again upon that Saviour and that eternal life, which thou haft
irevealed in thy word, and propoſed therein, to our knowledge and our
3 N 2
478 R.E.M N ANTS OF TIME,
acceptance. Bleſſed be the name of my God, that has not ſuffered
me to abandon the goſpel of his Son Jeſus ! and bleſſed be º i
Spirit that has kept me attentive to the truth delivered in thy goſ-
pel, and inclined me to wait longer in my ſearch of theſe divine
truths under the hope of thy gracious illumination.
I humbly call thee to witneſs, O my God, what a holy jealouſy I
ever wear about my heart, left I ſhould do the ſlighteſt diſhonour
to thy ſupreme Majeſty, in any of my enquiries or determinations.
Thou ſeeſt what a religious fear, and what a tender ſolicitude I
maintain on my ſoul, left I ſhould think or ſpeak anything to dimi-
niſh the grandeurs and honours of thy Son Jeſus, my dear Mediator,
to whom I owe my everlaſting hopes. Thou knoweſt how much
afraid I am of ſpeaking one word, which may be conſtrued into a
negle&t of thy bleſſed Spirit, from whom I hope I am daily receiving
happy influences of light and ſtrength. Guard all the motions of
my mind, O almighty God, againſt every thing that borders upon
theſe dangers. Forbid my thoughts to indulge, and forbid my pen
to write one word, that ſhould ſink thoſe grand ideas which belong
to thy ſelf, or thy Son, or thy holy Spirit. Forbid it, O my God,
that ever I ſhould be ſo unhappy as to unglorify my Father, my Sa-
viour, or my Sanétifier, in any of my ſentiments or expreſſions con-
cerning them. s -
Bleſſed and faithful God, haſt thou not promiſed that the meek
thou wilt guide in judgment, the meek thou wilt teach thy way
Haft thou not told us by Iſaiah thy prophet, that thou wilt bring the
blind by a way which they knew not, and wilt lead them in paths
which they have not known Haſt thou not informed us by thy
prophet Hoſea, that if we follow on to know the Lord, then we
fhall know him Hath not thy Son, our Saviour, aſſured us, that our
heavenly Father will give his holy Spirit to them who aſk him *
And is he not appointed to guide us into all truth Have I not
fought the gracious guidance of thy good Spirit continually Am I
not truly ſenfible of my own darkneſs and weakneſs, my dangerous
prejudices on every ſide, and my utter inſufficiency for my own con-
dućt Wilt thou leave ſuch a poor creature bewildered among a
thouſand perplexities, which are raiſed by the various opinions and
contrivances of men to explain thy divine truth.
Help me, heavenly Father, for I am quite tired and weary of
theſe human explainings, ſo various and uncertain. When will
thou explain it to me thyſelf, O my God, by the ſecret and certain
dićtates of thy Spirit, according to the intimations of thy word nor
let any pride of reaſon, nor any affe &tation of novelty, nor any cri-
minal bias whatſoever, turn my heart aſide from hº to
theſe divine dićtates of thy word and thy Spirit. Suffer not any of
my native corruptions, nor the vanity of my imagination to caſt a
miſt over my eyes, while I am ſearching after the knowledge of thy
mind and will, for my eternal ſalvation.
I entreat, O moſt merciful Father, that thou wilt not ſuffer the
remnant of my ſhort life to be waſted in ſuch endleſs wanderings, in
queſt of thee and thy Son Jeſus, as a great part of my paſt days have
been ; but let my ſincere endeavours to know thee, in all the ways
whereby thou haſt diſcovered thyſelf in thy word, be crowned with
ſuch ſucceſs, that my ſoul being eſtabliſhed in every needful truth
by thy, holy Spirit, I may ſpend my remaining life according to the
rules of thy goſpel, and may with all the holy and happy Creation
aſcribe glory and honour, wiſdom and power to thee, who fitteſt
upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.
*-
Tº ºn
A TABLE
OF
SUCH SCRIPTURES AS ARE EXPLAINED AND ILLUSTRATED
IN
THESE WORKS.
N.B. The Paſſages diſtinguiſhed by an Aſteriſk are the Texts of particular Diſcourſes.
GENESIS. Chap. Per. Vol. Page.
28 30 4, 368
Chap. Ver. Vol. Page. 31 7–1 l 4 366
1 26 5 45 32 I 4, 379
* 29 5 3 || 0 33 6, 7 4 365
*2 3 | 587 * 18 5 314
— 7 5 468 40 9 4 362
sº 16 5 3 || 0
tºº 17 1 487, 583
* {º} 2 37 LEVITICUS.
3 2 5 3 15
tºmsº 6 2 126 5 17 2 569
* 8 5 147 10 1, 2 2 564
* 15, &c. 1 397 I6 21 3 538
* IT 1 440 17 I0, 14 2 654
* 17, 19 3 386, 437 amºm — 4, 505
tºº 21 1 398 I9 17 1 352
4. I 5 344 19 32 I 318
5 I–3 3 456 23 2 4. 37 I
*mºng 22 4 350
7 - 23 4, 351
9 1, &c. 3 442
1 1 27 4. 352 NUMBERS.
15 1 5 312 16 1, 31–35 2 565
| 8 2 5 213 21 8 2 57
— 19 4 103 24, 17 I 167
28 2, 5 4 355 25 1 I l 640
39 9 1 312 27 21 4; 368
42 36 1 443
48 15, 16 5 176 7
U 18 5 150 g
49 DEUTERONOMY.
^: 13 1—5 5 111
ExoDUs. 23 5 I 504
24 14, 15 1. 279
* , ; , ; ; 25 13–15 I 376
9 29 25 7 330
*
17 11 I 625 32 39 6 643
19 24 2 450
20 I3 6 645 f
$º 19 2 490
23 2 4. 77 JOSHUA.
* S 1 383
gº- 20 5 148 l 11 4 381
24 14 1 627 2 4, 5 1 255, 256
25 9, 40 2 562 24 I 4 384
480
PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE.
JUDGES.
Chap. Ver. Vol. Page.
6. 1 1 5. 323
tº- 1 1-14. 4. 386
8. 23 4. 375
13. 24. 4. 387
I SAMUEL.
l 17, &c. 7 335
1 20 .4 387
14 27 I 23
16. 1 F 4. 389
II SAMUEL.
H 23 2 . 155
12 20 2 175
Y 9 35 2 339
I KINGS.
3. T2. 4. 393
17 1, &c. 4 398
r HH KINGS,
l,0. I6 2 514
21 2---26 4, 405
23 3--14 4 405
I CHRONICLES.
I [. 4. 7 454
II. CHRONICLES,
26 16–21 2 565
29 3 4. 404
EZRA.
I 7–1 l 4 408
5 1, 2 4 410
6 15, 22 4 410
7 23. 3 3:13
NEHEMIAH.
4. I7 1 613
S 4–8 4 425
$. 10. 2. 300
ESTHER.
2 5, 6 4 422
S 22. 7 443
f
JOB.
Chap. Wer. Vol. Page.
l 1---3 4. 413
Ǻºms 6 3 128
5 23 I 426
S 30 l 59
I H 12 l HA 1
14 I 3 439
15 7 5 415
*— 13–15 5 622
16 19 I 127
19 24, 25 3 45
23 3 7 45
tºº 2 f 54
*— 3, 4, 1 53, 65
tºº 7 I 57
39 14—17 4 35
PSALMS.
3 3, 6 1 363.
8 3. I 535
* 4. 5 242
9 }0 2 83
15 4. l 232
16 | 1 I 566
36 S 2 544
39 1, 2 4 38.
ſº 3 2 347
* 16 6 567
42 1, 2 2 351
*— 2 l 155
62 1, 2, &c. 1 58
63 3 l 134
º 24–26 5. 45 1
65 !, 1 71
*g 1. 7 452
*— 4. I 131
68 Hº! 5. 337
* ES 7 442
73 2, &c. 7 353
77 I l l 367
80 15 5 150
83. 18 5 309
84. 5–7 3 3.19
87 6. 3. 1.63
89 19 l 546
* 27 5 237
94. 9, 10 1 72
103 20, 21 1 17
104 2 5 311
* 22, 23 l 333
*msº 24 2 281
| | 1 2, 3 2 185
1 15 | 1 217
l 16 I2, 14 6 668
I 19 29 I 246
*g 63 4. 7 I
139 21, 22 1 82
— 23, 24 2 95
147 ll l 1.51
PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE.
43?
PROVERBS.
Chap. Wer. Wol. Page.
4. 18 I 234
8 22 5 160
ſº 24 6 382
13 10 2 335
* 18 4. l 606
19 15 5 497
20 27 2 94.
22 3 I 314
tºº 6 6 386
tºme 29 1 328
23 5 1 430
ºmmºn 19,21 1 303
º 33 l 302
24 S 2 383
tºm 11, 12 1 352
26 18, 19 1 300
28 l 1 339
TCCLESIASTES.
3 1, 17 6 364
* 1, 11 1 608
pa- 1 1 2 326
4. 2 3 514
5 3 2 130
* 5, 6 1 251
ºmº 6 5 159
7 4. 1 266
gºmºn 29 3 16, 376
8 5, 6 6 364
gº | | 5 654
9 10 I 447
10 i. 2 162
12 7 5 452
ISALAH.
I 15. \6 661
umºsº 18 l 67
lºmº ſº 2 42
2 3. 2. 33
* 5 12 l 642
ºsmº 25 I 477
6 l 2 75, 374
9 6 2 '74,
36 20 l }25
27 11 2 477
28 16 1 301
* * 5 631
32 2 I 1.25
42 3. l 224
44 3 5 205
45 18, 6 435
*— 22 2 49, 59
tºº 24, 25 2 51
49 4, 5 7 372
50 20 1 236
55 1, 2 l 222
Chap. Wer. Wol. Page.
55 8—ll 3 322
56 1–7 1 593
* 4-7 3 322
58 9 1 153
º 13, 14 1 595
59 2 1 135
63 I 2 59
* 16 2 190
65 23 3 4.99
66 I 3 157
* 24 5 4638
JEREMIAH.
l 1–7 4 415
12 1 4. 120
I 3 23 2 266
23 29 2 312
31 15 3 499
48 1Q 4. 32
LAMENTATIONS,
3 33 2 304
EZEKIEL.
20 20 3 134,
24 16 2 Hé4
33 3I l 158
DANIEL.
l 1–6 4 419
2 33 3 368
7 13 5 243
tºº 9-14 5 326
9 24 l S.
tºº * 2 71
Fº 27 4. 436
12 I 5 327
*a 2, 3 2 172
HOSEA.
I 6–9 3 I84.
4. 1, 1 l 632
6 7 3 436
8 3 6 664
AMOS,
3 3 1 619
gºtº mºs 3 19'ſ
8 5 2 239
482 PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE.

JONAH. Chap. Wer. Wol. Page.
1 l 12 2 488
Chap. Ver. Vol. Page. tº-sº 20 1 5 15
I l 4 414 º * 2 249
2 4. I 163 *s 25 1 190
ºs *sº 2 56 * *e 2 376
3 8, 9 2 593 * 29 2 249
4. S 2 244 19 20 1 224
* 25 3 290
* 36 1 270
MICAH. 13 3, &c. 4 48 1
15 12 5 269
6 6 2 47.1 — 21 2 T
— 6, 7 1 397 17 4. 2 I 09
… 18 3 3 390
sº 20 3 162
19 17 2 443
HABAKKUK, *sºme 28 2 172
, 20 1–6 4 482
I 16 2 377 21 33, &c. 4, 482
22 37, 38 1 375
* 46 3 36) 1
ZEPHANIAH. 23 23 1 287
| 25 1, &c. 4, 482
3 17 5 634. *g 14, &c. 4, 482
-T- vºn I 5 1 448
* 32 1 167
ZECHARIAH. 26 28 3 4.73
* *28 19 1 597
6 12 5 153
14 S 2 545
tºº 21 I 170 MARK.
6 2 3 300
MALACHI. 7 21,23 2 114
- 9 24 2 81
3 17 I I 14 *— 46 5 637, 659
- 10 21 1 76, 88
tºº 23 1 110
MATTHEW. * 12 30 2 2.73
13 32 5 102, 103
2 17, 18 3 499 *— 35, 36 5 508
4. 10 5 1 13 16 16 | 2 569
5 3 2 249, 379
* 11 1 345 --------em-
-*se 13–16 1 107,451 LUKE.
tº-sº 17 1 579
* 20 2 149 2 52 l 99
*...* * 23 2 263 Rºss 8 5 266
-se 28 2 125 5 26 1 344,
* 29 3 28 I 8 18 3 $3
-* 37 4. 83 9 30, 31 5 452
6 21, 24 2 342 10 30, &c. 4 482
* 25 2 291 I I 54 5 253
7 12 1 259 * 12 37 5 494
*— — 1 373 * 48 2 339
8 3 5 373 13 32 2 121
10 20 1 515 ºmº 34 5 674,
Aº 28 5 456 14 23 3 362
º 32 2 90 15 7–10 2 191
11 4, 5 1 189 | * 11, 12 4 482
PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE.
483
Chap. Wer. , Vol. Page.
15 19, &c. 4 482
16 22–28 5 457
17 5 5 266
20 37, 38 5 458
22 31, 32 1 429
º 42 2 256
23 28 2 209
sº 42, 43 5 458
24 32 4. 51
JOHN.
I I 5 146
cºmmºne 14 5 140, 141
tºmº 13 I 85
tºmº 14, 16 l l 19
Gººg 29 3 609
* 3ſ) 5 179
2 15 1 636
*g 17 3 299
3 3 3 I 83
*ºne 13 5 384
* 5 2 558
Ǻmº 6 I 38,41
tºne 16 3 591
4. 24 I 157
*== 29 3 305
5 19, 20 5 438
* 23 5 127
6 38 5 393
wº 54 3 599
*g 62 5 394
#7 46 3 296
gºme 48 l 188
S 38 5 247
tºº 44 l 245
*sº *sºng 5 24'ſ
10 18 6 647
*=º 33 5 1 || 1
12 43 l 345
13 I 2 73
14 $ 5 469
tºº 6 5 } 31
*ºme 6 l 124
*— * 2 471, 484
Ǻsmºs 7–1 l 5 287
£ºssº 16 l 548
* * 5 60
* 28 5 168
15 26 5 204,
16 13–15 4 180
* 23, 24, 4 122
ſº 30 5 269
ſº 32 5 284
17 3 2 52
*sºng 4. 5 387
18 37 3 606
21 15–17 1 489
ſº 20 I 100
tºº 21, 22 1 330
V O L, V II.
ACTS.
Chap. Ver. Vol. Page.
2 1-6 4 496
fº 31 5 463
tº 32 7 444,
*— 33 I 565
6 !---6 1 622
7 59 2 205
* sº 5 453
9 I, &c. 4 501
* 14. 15–17 1 532
*sº 16 1 540
15 2 3 215
*mºg 28 3 221
18 24–28 2 330
19 2 5 16 L Ay
20 18, 31 | 234,
ſº 23, 24, 1 35
23 l 2 9
*25 18, 19 2 3, 10
ROMANS.
1 14. l 176
&ºm== I6 1 175, 187, 197,
208
êºmº 21 I 18
* = . 32 3 447
2 8–10 I 218
*sº * 3 436
ſºmº 25 3 181
3 4. 3 48 i
tºº 25 1 385,396, 410
º 25–27 l 215
4. 3–6 2 572, 632
* 17 2 35
5 12, &c. 3 440
* IS 3 473
6 21 1 476
tºº 23 3 396
7 22 l 45
ęsº 23, 24 3 391
tºmºmºs 25 ! 43
*8 1 l 37
tºmsºmº I 2 105
*=ms 3 2 449
wº 5 l 40
§ -º 7, 8 3 479
tºº 10 7 431
*— 16 2 90, 99
tºmº 23 2 193
*— $º 5 607
10 9 2 457
wº 11 5 453
º 12 5 347
12 I 7 367
tºº 8 3 314,
º S I 332
13 1--4 3 330
tºº 13, 14 I 304
14 l 2 525
484 PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE.
Chap. Wer. Vol. Page. Chap. Wer. Vol. Page.
14 1–3, 1 618 2 15 7 372
17, 18 3 2, 3 I 22
16 1, 2 3 253 tº tº sº. 5 2 375
tºms 2 3 228 wºme tº 6 l 561
ſº 26 5 8 | -- 18 2 58
- 4. 4. 5 14
----------------------4----~~~~~~~~~<s-ºn-3 t wºº tº 6 5 48
* 5 5 5 566
I CORINTHIANS. tº sººn 1, 2, 6, 8 5 453,460
nº ºn tº 8 l 51
I 2 5 117 tº ºg tº * = - 2 124
*se 23 H 180 tºº sº * tº wº 6 553
* 29, 30 1 216 • º º gº | 0 3 497
3 2 5 274, * * * 14 3 465
--- . 6 l 1.59 tº sº 18, 19 1 304
tºº me 12--- 15 2 173 tº ºtº 21. 3 605
sºng tº ºs 16 l 122 7 10 2 258, 304
*--- 21 l 422, 434 8 5 3 323
*--- 22 1 446,458,473, I 1 5, 6 2 395
487,495 {L_* as tº 14 l 237
4. 11 1 423 f tº tºº 23 l 123
5 10, 11 4 70 12 9 2 107
wººs ºr I } 3 245 13 9 2 209
6 l i l 13
7 6, &c. 4 26 --— — — — ºr *-* –-aº.
S l 4, 535
tº- 7~-13 2 654 * GALATIANS.
tº ºs | 1 3 473 -
S 19-22 2 442 | 13, 14 2 575
* - tºº 27 l 48 2 | | I 179
10 S 5 33 3 4. I 96
tºº-ºº: 20 3 27 tº-sº Zººm se 4. 76
ºn tº 24 H 330 *==ss 14 3 180
I 1 14, 15 3 231 *— 21, 22 2 18, 26
tº tº ſº | 6 I 336 tºº 24 2 467
12 4. 5 205 *sº 29 2 20
** * 8--- 1 1 1 572 4. 3 3 173
tº tº 28 3 220 5 ~6 2 299
I3 9---12 2 160 6 IO 1 620
tºº-g 12 ! 496 - tº 14 2 285
14 S 4. 148
15 13, &c. 5 470, --- - —
tºº IO l 145 *
tºº 21 3 459 EPHESIANS.
*--- 26 2 140
tº ºr ºf 28 5 248 * 1 3---5 1 543
* * ſº 31 2 349 * 8 l 117 -
tºº º 33 I 334 2 2 1 42
i lººk 41 4. 110 *º 3, &c. 3 177
º 47, 49 5 395 *--- 18 . I 5 10
tºº tº 56, 57 2 149 %3 8 2 3'70
* 16 13 I 347, 358 4. 10 6 551
g_º tº ºf 15, 16 2 544 dº tº nº 11, 12 1. 425
tºº 19 3 215 ºf ºn tº 19' I 634
tºº ºn 22, &c. 3 444
rººf —ºf tº ºr 24 2 158
**gne 25 I 230
II CORINTHIANS. --- 26 7 394
gº tº ſº; 26, 27 1 3.19
I 12 2 103 tºº lº 28 l 298
I 20 7 449 tº ſº tº 32 1 4.17
2 10 5 189 6 18 4. 135
PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE.
PHILIPPIANS.
Chap. Ver. Wol. Page.
l 21 5 455
*ºmºsº, 23 6 553
* 23, 24 1 451
^* * 5 4.62
2 5 2 375
* 5, 6, 7 5 389
*s 9 5 38 1
*m 6, 7 2 378
tºsº 15 1 228
3 8 2 294,
*4. 8 1 228, 240, 250
262, 272,283
293,306, 313
326, 337
COLOSSIANS.
I 13 2 93
* 15, &c. 5 403,437,441
* 16 5 123
*= 2:1 1 64()
* 27 l 31
2 9 2 78
*-ºº: 12 | 602
3 4. 1 129
tºmº, 15. 1 465
tº-sº 17 2 34.7
4. 17 4. 7
I THESSALONIANS.
4. 11 l 327
ºw 18 4. 86
5 7 5 458
* 23 2 33 1
II THESSALONIANS.
* 1 10 5 521
2 2 3 189
3 14 3 2
I TIMOTHY.
l S 1 581
&ºe 13 2 S
3 13 3 314,
*— dº 3 308
4. 8 l 140
gº 13–15 4 10
* 16 6 335
5 17 6 395
ºna 21 3 309
II TIMOTHY.
Chap. Wer. Wol. Page.
l 12 1 .. 4
*g * 2 434
*===sº $ºmºsº 2 . 66, 78
* 5 2 554
tº-se 15 4. 21
gººms 22 2 128
3 15 6 384
4. 18 2 85
TITUS.
1 12 1 329
2 11, 12 1 289
3 2—4, 2 5 17
* 3 I 18
sºmºg *s 3 188
* 8 2 461
HEBREWS.
} 3 2 248, 344
* *s-s 5 405
2 9 3 465
Bºssº * 5 38 I
*=sº 10 2 4, 17
ſºmeºs 15 2 144,
4. 4, 7 H 590
Ǻmºsº 15 2 269
6 9 I 36
7 22 2 497
*8 6 l 555
9. S–13 2 639
* 14 I 392
10 1, &c. 1 8
— 1 1, 12, 24 l 522
* 19 1 16
*=º 25 1 617
* 26, 27 1 41 I
*sº *=== 2 518
11 4. 2 37
*sºng 6 2 365
* *s-sº 4. 166
*= a 32 6 64.8
12 1 2 1 16
£º- 7 2 92
sºme 8 I 244
*— 22, 23 2 159
*g fººt 5 463
13 20 2 48
JAMES.
I 25 2 428
2 8, 10 2 473
4. 7 6 665
3 O 2
486 PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE.
I PETER.
Chap. Wer. Wol. Page.
1 3, &c. 2 307
lººrs 8 2
*ºn 18, 19 5 438
* 23 l 32
3 I5 5 80
* 18, 20 5 455
4. 4. l 13, 108
5 8 I 610
II PETER.
1 4. 2 136
sº 5 1 338
*º 13, 14 5 464
2 I 3 473
— — , 5 84
3 6, 7, 10 3 381
*s 18 2 83
-- * = 5 351
I JOHN.
I 3 3 233
* → 9 l 286
2 | 2 496
º 1, 2 1 414
*m. 16 1. 38
* 19 I 196
3 2 1 l 14, 171
*— 4. I 576
&=º 6 I 12
&º 7 2 158
*=se 8 2 36
* | 0 2 92
4 19 2 484
&ºm== 21 3 325
5 1, 4, 1 14
* 3 2 64
attºº 6, 7 2 76
Chap. Wer. Vol. Page.
5 7 l 148
Hººgº 7, 8 5 206, 229
Rººm 10 1 1, 1 1, 21
II JOHN.
I 8 1 593
JUDE.
tºº 4. 3 473
* 7 2 2 [5
tºº tºº 5 456
*sº 14, 15 4 350
TEVELATION.
l 1 I 567
tºº 10 3 124
&ºm=d 14 2 473
tºº 18 1 500, 653
* tºº 5 495
3 14 3 271
— *mºs 5 408
4. 6–8 5 456
5 5 2 I 89
*: * 5 355
6 9 5 456
*— 15–17 5 537, 544
7 14 2 202
* 10 5, 6 5 480
12 l 7 4.32
13 8 1 545
*— — 2 34, 41
19 8 2 194
20 12 1 - 554
*21 4. 5 584
21 27 I 12
22 8, 9 2 180
tºg S 5 1 15
*… 2 430
12, 14
GENERAL INDEX
Of the principal Subjects treated on in the foregoing horks.
*
Vol. Page.
62
A
BADDON ii
Abijah iv
Abney, Lady, letter to vii
Sir Thomas, ſermons to i
Mrs. charaćter of , V.
Abraham’s, hiſtory iy
Abſence from God vii
of Chriſt
Abſtraćtion vi
Abſtraćt notions
Abuſe of the paſſions in religion ii
Accompliſhments of life vi
Account balanced vii
Accounts, books of i
Aćtion and paſſion vi
Aét and power
Adam brought death i
fin
ii
miſery i
fell ſoon ii
his paſſions
Adam ſecond, brought life i
a repreſentative of his people ii
Addreſs to children, on prayer iy
Addreſſes to the author of Horae
Lyricae & vii
Ad Jeſum Chriſtum
Admiration, paſſion of ii
Adoption, marks of
Adoration iy
Advice to children, on prayer
Adventureus muſe vii
Advocate, Chriſt i
Adultery
Affectionate chriſtian vindicated ii
Afflićtions
improvement of iv.
make us long for heaven v
ſent for our good
- of a friend vii
Africa vi
Againſt uncharitableneſs ii
Age, benefits of ſº
diſadvantages of iii
exhorted iy
fins of 11
valuable l
Aged ſinner
Agony, Chriſt's
Agreement and difference vi
4O1
289
I 55
502
362
357
24.9
63
635
3.18
364.
28o
2.99
615
615
I26
216
2. I
44.O
35
I 25
I 26
497
339
219
24. I
22. I
9 I
98
II 5
339
262
523
3o?
333
65
§
73
624
263
428
506
143
5XI
Io 5
II 9
448
4I 5
360
395
4O4
409
631
594
Agrotes
Ahab
Ahaz
Ahaziah
Alcimus
Aleutherus
Alexander
Alexandra
Alexandrian library
Algebra
Allegoriſts
Alms, duty of
limitation of
no place in heaven
inſufficient to ſave
Altitude
Amarillis ſpinning
Amaziah
Ameliſtus
Amen, explained
America
Amon
Amorphus
Amplitude
Analyſis, nature of
Anergus
Angelica ſinging
Angels
at Chriſt's reſurre&tion
number and order
at Sinai
powers of
not to be worſhipped
evil
Anger, government of
a natural paſſion
miſery of -
ſinful for God’s ſake
Animal food
Animals, noxious
Annas
Annihilation
Antigone
Antinomians
Antiochus
Antipodes
Antacci
Antonius
Apiſtus
Vol. Page.
vii
336
iv 397
vii
iw
ill
ii
yi
vit
vii
iv.
vi
iv.
vii
vi
vii
ii
iii
i
4C2.
274.
279
374.
461
481
4. I2
436
406
4O3
328
126
429
405
359
412.
437
I64.
322
4O6
429
117
337
357
II 5
I2,O
4 I3
3.19
236
259
643
393
Agrippa iii
wii
iii
iv.
iii
vi
iii
iv.
vi
iv.
wii
383
462
391
275
434
318
4.18
49
367
426
#88.
{}ENERAL INDEX.

Vol. P
Apparelſ l
vii
Apparitions
Appearance before God here and .
hereafter l
Second part &
Appearances of Chriſt before his
incarnation v
Appetites and paſſions iii
Apocrypha º I
Apology for difference in judg- .
In Cht 1.
Apoſtacy *
how prevented ii
Apoſtles called º
ačts of
Apoſtles vindicated ii
Arabic tongue vi
Aratus k
Arians iii
V.
Arian, invited to the orthodox faith
Arianiſm
Archangel
Archilaus iy
Argument, kinds of vi
Ariſtobulus iy
Arminians iii
Artaxerxes iv.
Articles of religion iii
Art of reading and writing engliſh iv
Aſa
Aſcending to Chriſt in heaven vii
Aſcenſion of Chriſt ii
IV
Aſcenſional difference vi
Aſebina vii
Afebiqu
Aſia vi
Aſking leave to ſing vii
Aſſideans iv
Aſſurance i
particular inſtances of ii
the work of the ſpirit i
grows by experience ii
felicity thereof
JAſtrape vii
Aſtronomy improved i
r recommended to be
known by miniſters iv.
treatiſe on vi
Atahouta iii
Athaliah iv.
Athanafius W
Atheiſm vi
Atheiſts miſtake vii
Atonement of Chriſt i
why neceſſary
how far neceſſary ii
age.
I 53
263
2O5
466
I 55
1.65
3C9
*
I93
546
I95
605
485
496
518
303
239
S3 I
274
422
43 I
588
88
II 9
148
461
I 49
45 I
274
4. To
258
559
4OI
249
I88
495'
437
32.5
32.5
427
22, 2.
4.38
IO 5
21 I
77
1 or
Io9
35o
533
I2
430
61
493
169
2.9 I
643
228
38 t
390.
4 IO
387
490
3 I ||
|
Vol. Page.
Atonement iii. 598
626
635
648
Atonement, no ſalvation without 44
vindicated V 4o
voluntary i 546
ſermon on 385
for reconciliation 522.
ſor encouragement to
penitents ii. 71
manifeſted early 36
extent of its efficacy iii 460
ſubſtance of the goſpel ii 4.08
objections anſwered i 403
ll 4. I
Atoms iii #
Attention, how fixed vi 254
Attributes of God y 17
Averſion, and deſire ii. 230
Auſtin v 165
Authority, its uſe and abuſe vi 323
Authors recommended ii. 666
Azimuth explained vi 412
* B
BAAL vii 461
Babylon deſtroyed 328
Bacchides iv 443
Backbiting i 298
Backſliding, how recovered 124
hope for 4 I4.
improvement aſter - 4.54.
Backſliders uncomfortable death v 512
Bagoſes iv 429
Balaam iii 61 o
Balguy’s eſſay 55 I
Bankrupts i 296
Baptiſm 559
what 597
to whom adminiſtered 601
mode of 608
V 3
deſign of ii :
iii. 622
ſeal of regeneration ii. 421
introdućtion to the viſible
church iii 183
in the church of England iv. 57
Baptiſts confeſſion of faith ii 529
Baxter, Richard 171
v 38r
3eatific viſion IO
Beauty, the prey of death vii. 436
Being, in general vi Io
and not being 6o:3
affections of 608
diſtribution of 64o
Believers, happineſs of i 6
ii. 142
Belles letters iv 13
Bendiſh, Henry, epiſtle to Wii 268
Mrs. againſt tears 265
Benefits to all, by Chriſt iii. 465
Benevolence ii. 226
Bewailing my inconſtancy 'vii 2.5.x
‘GENERAL INDEX.
489
- Vol. Page.
Bible, a rich treaſure i 542
ſelf explication 564 |
dear to the ſaints ii. 64
tranſlation of i 262
Bills of exchange, an allegory vii. 443
Bigotry, epitaph on 329
Birth of Chriſt iv 459
... 476
v1.1 225
Bleſfing, in prayer iv. 126
Blind beggar vii. 309
Bliſs, degrees of here i 142
in heaven I44.
of Chriſt 145
of the trinity 143
Body, its inconveniences ii 197
Bohemus vii. 374
Bonzes iii. 72
Book of life i 545
Books, religious to be improved iv. 94
Boyle, Robert ii. 17o
Brachmans iii. 4o
Brazen ſerpent, a type of Jeſus
Chriſt ii 57
Breathing toward the heavenly
country vii. 242
Bright viſion *- 276
Brief ſcheme of ontology vi 608
Brittain, the ends of the earth ii 5o
Brotherly love vii 2.04
Brutes and man compared vi 577
their paſſions ii 1.21
Burial ſervice (note) iv 6o
Burnett, Biſhop ii 17o
Burning mountains iii. 397
Buſineſs, attention to i 327
- C
Cadence of verſe - vii. 412
Cadences and ſtops in blank verſe 4.16
‘C2ſar iv 455
Caiaphas 462
(Salvin’s opinion on the extent of
Chriſt’s death iii. 472
‘Calvin on the trinity w 218
Calvin, on the logos I4 I
“Calviniſts’ tenets iii 2.75
Canaan poſſeſſed iv 381
typical ii 20
Cannibals - iii. 397
Capacity of the mind, how enlarged vi 256
Captivity of the Jews iv 407
return from 408
Cards and draughts, &c. vi 373
Carolina, law there iii. 345
Catechiſms ii 607
- rules for compoſing iv 219
Catechiſms 2 IO
for various ages 2 II
aſſemblies conſidered 2 I 2
firſt 235
fecond 237
aſſemblies explained 2.5o
of ſcripture names 274
A - Vol. Page.
Catechiſms, hiſtorical iy 278
on prayer for youth 3 Io
Categories ten of Ariſtotle vi 17
Caveat againſt infidelity ii 554
| Cavenor iii. 597.
Cauſes and cffeóts vi 290
Cauſes moral and natural iii. 57
Ceremonial law iv 362
Ceremonies iii. 232
Chaldee tongue vi 3o4
Chance, ſignification of iii 58o
Charistes 597
Chariſtus vii 308
Charity, its office in this world i 462
its praiſes ii 52
recommended 523
boundaries, of iii. 638
ſchools, eſſay on iv 526-
Charts of the ſea deſcribed vi 423
Chaſtity deſcribed i 306
duty of 308
Children ſhould not be deceived 259
Children’s powers improved vi 35o
ſelf government 355
ſports 372.
reading and writing 750
guard againſt evil influ-
CºnCeS 37o
trade or employment 36 I
rules of prudence 363
China, idolatries there iii. 71
Chloris ſtringing of pearls vii. 406
Chriſt, all ſufficiency of ii 54
69
angel, how - V 2. I
aſcenſion to heaven i 566
captain of ſalvation v. 53o
charaćters, why various ii 5oo
childhood iv 476
Creator v 416
death ii F46
iy 490
V11 430
divinity i 392
513
5O
62
ii 44.6
v 18
24.
27
36
Chriſt’s dying, riſing and reigning vii. 237
early exiſtence, of his human
nature v 381
* exaltation i 566
569
V 351
428
example 53o
forerunner i I2O
is God and man v 98
government 356
head of the church 36c
heir of all things i 436
human nature v 350
496)
GENERAL INDEX.
Chriſt, human ſout V
image of the Father
image of God
interceſſor i
inſtruction to the diſciples
reſpecting himſelf
judge of all
king of Iſrael,
knowledge i
V
Lord of all things i
omnipreſence V
omniſcience
a pattern to diſſenters iy
power over all things i
preaching contraſted with
the Jewiſh iii
prieſt V
~~ a prince and ſaviour
a prophet
ſon of God
ſufferings of
treaſurer of divine benefits i
Chriſtianity ii
COm men CGII) CInt
fuperiority i
Chriſtian baptiſm
diligence with the bleſfings
that attend it, in oppoſi-
tion to ſloth, ſecurity,
backſliding, &c.
doćtrine of the trinity
fellowſhip, with its duties
and advantages i
morality, viz. truth, fin-
cerity, &c. -
ſecond part
third part
viz. gravity, de-
cency, &c.
juſtice equity,
and truth, &c.
V
5
94.
I 59
I 74
I31
2. I4.
274.
289
330
29O
405
4. I 5
36 I
26 I
362
412
567
355
364
435
24.
24
46
568
296
530
358
53O
77
598
II 3
555
650
I6
597
25o
262
treaſure
exhorted
Clıurch and ſtate
ſecurity by Chriſt
ii
iii
ii
chriſtian iii
Church
advantages from
CO Ven 2. In t
diſcipline • i
diſcord in iii
fellowſhip iv.
bencſits therefrom i
272
422
434
6of
367
44
194
2. I4.
236
225
249
62. I
24O
IO4.
607
Vol. Page.
s
Vol. Page,
Church formation of - i 615
as civil ſocieties iii. 223
origin 363
duty of fellowſhip 32.3
fellowſhip invitations to 316
government ii 537
not defined rii 2.16
members who i 618
duties of 62o
miniſters impoſed on the
people by a patron iv 65
officers i 62 I
iii 173
powers of 228
power of iv 23
terms of communion iii. 233
242.
256
266
269
yard vii. 338
Cicero iii. 92
vii 388
Circumnavigation iii 136
Circles, greater vi 400
leſſer 493
Citations and inſcriptions vii. 344
Civility . . ii 382
Civil governors no power in religion 4.
power, in things ſacred iii. 328
356
government, why 328
forms of , 328
duty of 330
Laws and morality taught 334
Limitation of civil power 365
Civil liſt 349
Civil ſociety, entrance into 34o
Clark, Samuel ii Io.4.
Clarke, Dr. iii 16
629
Clemens v 164
Cleopatra iv 451
Cloſet religion 95
Colures vi 591
Colours 4OS
Come Lord Jeſus vii 2.5o
Comets vi 432
Comfort to the weak i 63
Comſorts of a friend vii. 264
Coming of Chriſt v 495
Coming to God, by Chriſt ii 484
Common occurrences moralized vii 403
Communication of knowledge vi 31 I
Communion, church iii 186
with God, through
Chriſt i 12 f
of Chriſt, with God 148
occaſional iii. 252
Company, danger of i 238
334
keep the beſt 3.34.
choſen by parents vi 389
evil Wii 2.04
Compariſon and complaint 2.35
63
GENERAL INDEX. 491
Vol. Page.
Complacency e ii 228
Complaint and hope under pain 434
Child's complaint 2O5
Claudina, the cookmaid 4O6
Clark Nicholas, the complaint , 263
Compliance with others .* 233
Commiſſion of St. Paul 11 3
Conception comprehenſive vi 63
extenſive 6 :
exemplified 68
of things, ſpecial rules
for 43
complete 6o
orderly 67
rules illuſtrated by ſimi-
litudes vi 69
Concert of praiſe, ſacred v1.1 3 I 5
Condeſcending grace 234
Condeſcenſion, amiable 317
Confeſſion of faith iii. 262
fin i 66
a part of prayer iy 116
and pardon vil 234
Confirmation conſidered ly 59
Conflagration general vii. 436
Conqueſt over death 1, 140
Conſcience natural i 337
intimates a future judg-
In ent 536
is the light within ii 94
implies freedem of will iii 572
a part of nature i 46
improved vi 353
weakneſs thereof iii. 33
Conſciouſneſs vi 89
Conſecrated ground iii 157
Conſervation vi. 613
Conſtancy deſcribed 1 235
part of our duty 61 I
Conſtellations or ſigns vi 401
405
43 I
Conſtitutional ſins i 50
ii 131
Contempt ii. 223
Contentment 3.96
Continent, geography vi 418
Controverſy ſhould not be intro-
duced in ſermons iv 22
Controveſies, writing vi 343
reading 345
Controverſy, to Pocyon vii 368
Converſation vi 189
rules for 22 7.
Converſe with Chriſt vii 2.47
Converſion deſcribed v 563
Inſtantaneous converſion iii. 248
Converts from all ranks v 522
Convincing perſons of truth vi 318
Copernican ſyſtem 435
Corinthian church iii. 363
Cornwall miners 86
Coronation ode vii 396
£ovenant of grace, its bleſfings i 363
excels the old covenant I 55
- 557
WOL. VII,
Vol. Page.
Covenant of redemption between
the father and the ſon i 547
of redemption made with
Chriſt as God-man v 398
of works deſcribed i 2 Iz
different from the cove-
nant of grace 556
Covetouſneſs 2.99
Courage and hºnour 337
Courteouſneſs 89
92.
exemplified I OO
Courteous and per v1ſh vii 4oo
Cowardice and ſelf-love 363
Craftineſs i 243
Craſſus iv 454
Crato vii 336
Creation, wonderful i 534
the word explained vi 613
and providence v. 6 II
of infants iii 5oo
animals 5oo
how no benefit $23
Creator and creatures vii. 224
Creating wiſdom, fong to 232
Creeds, uſefulneſs of iii. 264
ſhould not be impoſed by
laws v 3O4.
Criterion of the Spirit’s influences ii Ioë
Criticiſm, what vi 309
reproved vii 4or
Critillo 401
Crito vi 573
Cloiſades, folly of iii 156
Croſs in baptiſm iv 61
Crucifer vii. 426
Cruelty to animals vi 373
Curino vii. 384
Cynics i I 6
Cyrus iv 408
409
D
Dancing, obſervations thereon vi 369
Dangerous employments v 517
Daniel - iv 419
Darkneſs, natural v 555
Darius . iv 4.08
4O9
4 to
David, hiſtory of 391
David’s lamentatibn vii. 334
Day of grace 445
Diamond, painted 447
Digeſtion vi 57r
574.
Diligence, benefits of i 612
t chriſtian 607
Diſappointment and relief vii 260
Diſeaſes iii 396
42&
affect the mind ji II 7
Diſciples opinion of Chriſt's deity v 2.58
26
Diſcontented and unquiet vii :
Religious diſcourſe t i 35o
3 P.
492
GENERAL INDEX.
* Vol. Page.[
Diſhoneſty i 2.88
Diſpenſation of innocency ii 628 ||
aíl ClG m t 1 527 ||
patriarchal 198||
of Noah ii 634||
of Abraham 635
ewiſh i 528
of Moſes ii 637
oſ Sinai 633
of Chriſt 644
Diſpenſations of God harmonized 626
Diſplicence - 228
Diſputation vi 231
rules for 232
ſocratical 238
forenſic 24o
academic ... 242
vil 373
Diſſenters, addreſs to iv *:
40 ||
proteſtant 55:
their ſuperior advantages 56
diverſions, abſtincrice
from 89
condućt watched 72
diſcipline ſuperior 7of
education pious 9 I }
family worſhip 86
friends of liberty 79
frugality 33
inconveicnces 75
Lord’s-day obſerved 84
obligations of 73
regularity 36
reputation 90
fingularity 77
Ípeech 83
ſtrićtneſs 82
hearers fii 306
Diſſenting meeting houſes I 53
preachers iii. 305
Difficulties in ſcripture ii 53o
Diſtant thunder vii 333
Diſtruſt of providence i 3oo
Divine condućt diſputed and juſ-
tified vii 390
goodneſs in creation 3I4
judgments 2.2.2
|fon gs for children 2OO .
Diviſibility of matter, infinite 446
Diviſion and rules of vi 61
Divorce, why permitted iii 140
Deacons 2 I I
fermon on 308
Death, a bleſfing to the ſaints i 113
end of ſorrows 128
different views of ii. 65
of ſaint and finner contraſted 611
proof of original ſin iii. 395 |
threatened to Adam 45.5
and eternity vii. 227
bed repentance v. 509
benefits and bleſſings thereoſ i 52
496
tº v 498
circumſtances appointed i 5oo
concomitants of ii i41
|
Vol. Page.
Death, conqueſt over ii 14o
deſtroyed I49
an enemy I4O
u etcrual iii 458
fear of ii. 144
I45
I 52.
improved to our advantage i 473
of friends ii I44
2O5
208
of George I. i 64.2
of godly friends ii. 89
of kindred improved i 487
v 628
506
636
of Lazarus vii. 332
of Moſes 249
of the ſaints i 48o
4.95
of a ſinner v. 509
£piritual iii. 456
ſudden v 5or
516
of a wife lamented vii 438
of a young ſon 432.
why called ſleep ii 1.51
Debts i 278
296
3.54
Decency 262
Decrees of God revealed in the
promiſes * 435
of God from eternity ii 35
Declination of the ſun and ſtars vi 3.
43
Defence againſt the temptation to
ſelf-murder vi 643
Defilement of ſin iii 545
transfer of it to Adam 549
|Dedication to death and heaven, to
to Sir John Hartopp,
Bart. ii 137
to evangelical diſcourſes I
of miſcellaneous thoughts
in proſe and verſe, to
the Right Hon. the
Counteſs of Hertford vii 3oo
of Logic to Sir John Har-
topp, Barts vi 7
to parents and governors
of families iv. 203
to the firſt volume of ſer-
lºſt ODS i 25
Definition of words vi 44.
direčtions for 4.5
of things 52.
rules for 5
obſervations on - 5
Degrees of puniſhment hereafter iri 113
e ... 447
of trial 11 I 33
Deiſts vii. 426
and chriſtian 367
objećtions anſwered i 26
ii. 567
GENERAL INDEX.
493
Vol. Page.
Deirus vii. 393
Delay danger of 2O3
Delight in God i 16
Demetrius iv 442
Denham, Sir John vii. 307
Departing ſoul vi 550
Depravity of man iii. 387
Des Cartes 558
v 298
Deſire deſcribed ii. 230
Deſiring Chriſt's deſcent to earth vii. 249 |
to love Chriſt 244
Deſpondency ii. 82
Devil, temptations of i 137
ſubječt to Chriſt 429
worſhipped by heathens iii. 27
caſting out devil vii. 351
Devotional writings 374
Difference between the law and
goſpel ii. 18
26
Difficulties in ſcripture ii 53o ||
JDomeſtic female virtues vi 393
Doxologies' w 72
I97
Drawing vi 369
Dreams obſerved by heathens ii. 6 i
philoſophical account of vi 530
when ſinful ii. 129
Dreſs vi 574
Druids iii. 40
... 73
vil 3 Io ||
Diſcourſes on the way of inſtruction
by catechiſms iv 2 of
Divine love the commanding paſ-
fion 4. ii a $1
Doetrine of the paſſions 2 I 7
Dočtrine of the trinity, and the uſe
of it i 51 o
Dorinda ſewing vii 4 of
Drunkenneſs, evils of i 3o I
no excuſe for crimes ii I.29 |
vii. 347
Duelling is murder before God vi 675 |
Duration 592
6.13
Dying, ſcar of i 370
42O |
fear overcome 469
part of a chriſtian’s treaſure" SOS
in Chriſt ii. 86
pains thereof I4 I
chriſtian vii 430
chriſtian's hope 399
world, and durable heaven 4 i8
E
Early appointment of Chriſt’s atone-
InC I) t ii. 34
4 *
Early piety v 504
examples of vii 203
religion, its advantages 2O2
riſing recommended i 333
- favourable to devotion 609
Earth and heaven vii. 223
Vol. Page.
Karth, heaven, and hell 342.
Earthquakes - iii. 397
Eaſy circumſtances, improvement of iv 96 .
not neceſſarily a
ſnare I O I
Ecliptick vi 40 I
Education, benefits of i 44
duty of parents 468
helps thcrein . . ii 83
remonſtrances thereon iii 164
v 582
fhould be begun early iv 206
treatiſe on vi 347
importance of 347
- religious 348
Effigies of Prince of Denmark vii. 341
Egridia 354
Egyptian theft iii 3o
Election, the fountain of ſalvation i 1 - 8
accompliſhed here 446
ſerinon thereon 543
through Chriſt ii 35
from the reſt of mankind 487
why neceſſary iii 4.52
4.62
not excluding others 5O4.
objections anſwered i 55o
Elegy on Sir Thomas Abney vii 381
Mrs. Elizabeth Bury 379
Thomas Gunſton, eſq. 290
Mrs. Mary Peacock 285
a relative 288
Mrs. Rowe's death 435
Sophronia 379
Mrs. Anne Warner 286
Elijah iv 398
Eliſha 399
Emera vii. 337
Emmett, or Ant 2O6
Employment, neceſſary i 269
Enoch and Elijah v 467
Enquiry for fitting the pſalms for
chriſtian worſhip vii 2.1
Enquiring the meaning of writers
or ſpeakers vi 22 o
Enthuſiaſm falſely ſurmiſed I I
not belonging to chriſti- f
anity I off
chriſłians windicated
therefrom I I4
Enthuſiaſts dcſcribed iii. 274
Entrance upon the world vii 384
Envy, its vile nature i 299
cautions againſt 443
rules to prevent ii 2.49
diſcovered vii 35?
Epićtetus iv 49
Epicurcans, their tenets i 15
- deny providence iii. 25
Epigramma vii. 242
Epigram on Duke of Glouceſter and
Dryden 28 f
of Martial, to Civinus 28r
Epigrams 4O7
Epiſtola fratri fuo 282
Epitaphium, Nath. Matheri 2.85
Epitaph on William III.
3 P 2.
4.94 GENERAL INDEX.

Vol. Page.
Epitaphs, various vii 409
Equator vi 40 I
Equinox, proceſſion of vi 405
Equity, univerſal rule of i 373
Eſſay on civil pow cr in things ſa-
cred iii. 328
appendix 633
Eſſay towards the encouragement
of charity ſchools, particularly
among Proteſtant Diſſenters iv 526
Eſſay on the freedom of will in
God and creaturcs iii. 553
appendix 5c6
Eſſay on the true importance of
any human ſchemes to explain
the ſacred doćtrine of the trinity v 297
Eſau and Jacob iv 355
Eſſay on pſalmody vii I
Eſſenes, a Jewiſh ſect deſcribed iv. 450
Eſſentials of chriſtianity ili 643
Eſtabliſhments, religious 347
not derived from
feripture i 616
evils ariſing there-
from iii 360
Eſteem ii 2.23
Eſther iv 422
Ether, not a vacuity vi 581
Evans, John iii. 635
Euclid 454
Evening ſong vii. 205
Eugenio vi 385
Evidences for heaven v 575
Evidences of the goſpel ſufficient ii 587
Evil of ſin v 552
653
661
Evil thoughts when ſinful ii I. 16
125
Europe vi 424
Euſebius ii 170
Example of chriſtians uſeful i 449.
Fxample of Chriſt iv 485
Excellency of the bible vii 2.01
Txaltation of Chriſt to his king-
dom, and his ſending down the
holy ſpirit i 565
Excellency and advantage of the
chriſtian diſpenſation, with the
invitations and promiſes of the
goſpel i 355
Excitatio cordis vii. 242
Excommunication iii 2.00
* * * - s 239
Exhibitions, ſhould be ſhown to
children ; vi 357
Exhortation to miniſters iv 7
Exiſtence, kinds of vi 61 I
Experience of miniſters iv 23
Extemporary prayer i 74
Extraordinary witneſs of the ſpirit if 99
Eyes, hints for children vi 353
Eye ſervants i 238
Ezra iv 4 Io
- p
Faireſt and only beloved vii 245
|
Vol. Page.
Faith in Chriſt deſcribed i 3
ii 28
55
6o
67
69
79
484
5O3
V 525
vi 9o
built on knowledge ii 66
r 78
ačts of i 227
a duty iii 574
its grounds ii. 74
tº º 49 I
in its loweſt degrees 59. I
no place in heaven i 458
ſupport under trouble 442
way to ſalvation 209
Faculties, duty of the three 379
Falſe greatneſs vii 2.54
Family worſhip i 161
Famine iii. 397
Fancy, care of it ii 130
its powers * I2O
Farewel, vii. 239
Faſhions, how far to be followed
\or refuſed i 335
* A 35 I
exemplified vi 394
Faſting, its uſes ii 136
Faſts, &c. public iii. 357
Fataliſts vii. 426
Fate, obſervations thereon iii 572
. 584
Favour of God l 8
Fear, how overcome ii. 232
deſcribed 253
a natural paſſion i 361
365
368
6
Fear of man : :
361
362
# Fencing vi 369
Felicity above vii. 223
Fellowſhip, chriſtian i 614.
Ferventio iii. 597
Feſtivals, Jewiſh iv 371
Few happy matches vii 265
Few ſaved iii. 89
s II 5.
Figure of a cherub vii 458
Finite and infinite vi 638
Fire, air, &c. praiſe ye the Lord vii. 233
Firſt day of the week • i 589
iii 132
Firſt lyric hour vii. 306
Firmneſs recommended i 61 r
Fiſherman, britiſh vii. 434
Fitncſs of a&tions ii 356
Flavel’s diſplay of Chriſt v 2.75
covenant of redemption 278
Flavel, experience of ii to3
GENERAL INDEX.
495
Vol. Page.
Flcſh an enemy to the ſoul i 64
cautions againſt ii I.23
I 37
ſhould be denied 364
and ſpirit, or the principles
of ſin and holineſs 37
contraſted ji I I I
hindcrances therefrom i I 64
how ſinful ii I 2
Fleming, Robert v 158
Florello ſinging to her harp vii 406
Florino 437
Flying fowl, &c. praiſe the Lord 235
Follics and frailties of children iv 269
of men iii 506
Forbearance recommended i I 64
Foreknowledge of God iii 48o
Forctaſtes of heaven v. 607
62o
Formaliſts alarmed ii 481
Formality and ſuperſtition vii. 359
Formiſtes 377
Form of the goſpel ii 4.18
of prayer vii. 374
377
Formulo 324
Fornication condemncd i 307.
Forſaken, yet hoping vii 2.51
Fortitude of chriſtians i I.23
or courage 338
cxamples of 359
need of 347
origin of ii 36
Fratris E. W. olim navigaturo vii. 282
Freedom * 261
Freedom of the will iii. 553
Free grace 574
and free will 575
Friend of-finners, Chriſt ii. 499
religious iv 93
French tongue vi 365
Funeral, leſſons ſrom v 487
oration 636
G
Gabinus - iv 455
Gaming, its evils i 296
obſervations on vi 373
cenſured 379
Gardens vii 435
Gedaliah iv 407
Gelotes vii. 391
General ſong of praiſe 2OO
Genius, improper uſe of i 9o
Gentiles’ admiſſion into the church iii 185
Geography recommended vi 366
and aſtronomy, treatiſe
OIl 399
Geometry 257
366
German preface ii I 39
George I. death of i 642
improved 643
chara&ter 648
ſucceſſor 652.
Gift of the ſpirit vii. 444
Vol. Pages
Giſts for men in Chriſt vii 442
Gladiators condemned vi 674
Globes of heaven and earth 399
celeſtial 43O
terreſtial 42O
Glory.of Chriſt as God-man diſplayed v 309
an appendix 436
Gluttony i 3oz.
3 II
God i 51 o
abſolute dominion vii. 233
all ſufficient i 1 17
all ſufficiency for our ſalvation ii 59
dominion and decrees vii. 224
election of a people for him-
ſelf among men, and giv-
ing them to his Son, in the
covenant of redemption i 343
eternity 25
613
exalted above all praiſe vii. 251
exiſtence .# 533
11 359
proved v II
faithſulneſs i 242
glorious and ſinners ſaved vii 225
holineſs v 615
immenſity 614
incomprehenſible vii. 227
iii 1.21
infinite vii. 234.
liberty of will iii. 553
omnipreſence i 132
* V1 549
omniſcience v 365
vii. 202
only known to himſelf 239
power i 56
I 18
ſovereignty v 615
fupreme and ſelf ſufficient vii. 236
wiſdom i 117
head of Chriſt and the Father v 2.82.
fathers and godmothers iv 61
of thunder vii. 237
goodneſs i 117
contemplations on v 616
goodnets ſalſly pleaded ii. 476
gods figuratively v 13
2O
good name i 326
... 342
Goodwin, Dr. Thomas 11 17o
loq.
- v 38o
abridged 436
Good works ii 46
Gorgias iv 440
Goſpel deſcribed i 176
... 404
11 32
. 435
epitome of i 188
form of ii 418
morality and nature con-
traſted
t 190
49&
GENERAL INDEX.
Vol. Page.
Goſpel offered to all i 22 I
power of ’ * 24
iv 16
fucceſs of v 619
ſuperiority i 73
truth of i 185
GovernincIlt i 427
of appetites vi 356
Gouge, Mr. elegy on vii. 297
Gounja Gounja iii. 62
Grace and duty y 579
at meat v1.1 324
offered to all iii 469
opinions on, reconciled 482
ſhining and nature fainting vii. 248
to reſiſt ſin * i 59
Grammar, its uſe vi 305
Gratitude, duty of i 276.
deſcription ii. 236
Grave, ſafety in v 622
Gravity a part of chriſtian charaćter i 264
Gravonius vii. 352
Greek tongue vi 6
303
Grimace, its odiouſneſs i 265
Guide to prayer iv 1 T4
Guilt, deſcribed iii. 544
transfer of 542.
Gulf vi 419
Gunpowder plot vii. 226
Gunſton, Thomas Eſq. happy ſoli-
tude 272
Gymnaſtic exerciſes vi 354
H
Hale, Mr. anecdote of i 479
Hallelujah, univerſal vii. 227
Haman iv 422
Happineſs of ſeparate ſpirits ii 157
Happy frailty vii. 240
TO A \\ 269
Harmony of all the religions ap-
pointed by God ii 625
Hatred, the paſſion deſcribed 223
of ſin, a part of holineſs i 12
when moſt awakened 58
Haughtineſs ii 381
Hands, impoſition of iii 312
Hardy. ſoldier, to Lord Cuts vii. 264
Hartopp, Jolin Eſq. 272
Sir John dedication to ii 137
character 2 I O
the diſdain vii. 273
funeral ſermon ii 157
Lady I40
Hartoppium Johannem vii. 284
Hearing the word i 158
Heart given away vii 245
Heathens ii. 609
$ º ºr tº 657
poeſy chriſtianized vii. 433
falvation of iii 13 ||
itate of 493
Heaven and hell wii 2.02 |
a place of bliſs i 75
., degrees of bliſs ii 17 I
Vol. Page.
Heaven encreaſing bliſs i 453
company I3O
I 7o
compared with earth 47o
ii I 54
concealed at preſent i I Iz
employments in ii 167
177
v. 57
foreſight of i 5:
glory 361
28
ii 4.1
* * * 49
continual improvement 34.
184
* g 193
its locality vi 551
no troubles there ii. 345
g 353
preparation for v 566
revealed v 568
ſight of God in ii 289
612.
fight of Jeſus i 421
Hebrew poet º vii 307
Heliodorus iv 435
Hell, abſence from God ii 2.89
darkneſs v 562
degrees of puniſhment 647
652
encreaſing miſery i 453
eternity v 659
fire 648
its miſeries 637
why revealed i 201
2.
Helleniſts iv #
Hennepin’s hiſtory iii. 59
Henry, Rev. Matthew iv 2.09
Hereſies i 194
Herod iv 448
45.5
* 456
Herodians 45O
tlero's ſchool of morality vii 260
Hezekiah iv 4.04
Hidden life of a chriſtian i Ior
Hidings of God’s face vii 4.56
Hierarchy Chriſtian iii 308
Hiſtorical catcchiſm for children
and youth iv 278
Hiſtory recommended vi 297
of New Teſtament iv 473
Hippolytus v 163
Holineſs deſcribed i Iz
neceſſity thereof i 2 I 5
ii. 29
v 57o
of jewiſh and chriſtian
churches cosopared iii 177
of places 148
iv 365
g 367
of times, &c. preface to iii 123
of God
GENERAL INDEX.
497
Vol. Page. I Vol. Page.
Holloway, Mr. vi 567 || Janus's temple 1V 459
Holy ſortitude, or remedies againſt aſon * ... 435
fear i 347 || Ideal truths iii. 567
353 || Ideas v 426
Holy Ghoſt is God 514|| direétions for Wa 39
v 3 I || complex 596
4O diſtribution 55
6o diviſion 24.
183 nature of 9
294 ſorts of W 9
given i 436 origin $13.
57 I Locke’s refutation of com-
573 mon opinions 52:
gifts miraculous 572 iſ innate 522.
influences 184 how innate 523
2O3 ſucceſſion of 592.
409|| Identity 597
522|| Idiots wii 309
ii 93|| Idleneſs i 297
95 3-3
iii. 652 and miſchief wii zoº.
operations i 25|| Idolatry .# 595
perſonality iii. 62o iii 2.
652 W T 5
Honourable magiſtrate vii. 320|| Jeſus the only ſaviour, (vid. chriſt.) vii 2.56
Hope deſcribed ii. 232 || Jehoahaz iv 405
in darkneſs vil 25o|| Jehoiachin 42%
a neceſſary grace ii. 569|| Jehoiakim 4.2%
not in heaven i 458||Jehoram 4:CŞ.
Horace vii. 433 || Jehoſhaphat 492.
Horac Lyricae, preface 2 Iol. Jehovah 7 a.3
Hornets neſt deſtroyed 343|| Jehu iv 3.9%
Horizon vi 401 || Jereboam 39S
Hoſhea iv. 490 || Jeremiah *...] §
Hottentots' iii. 62 Jews 50
Hour circles vi 408 why fo called ;47 353
436 || Jewiſh and chriſtian worſhip cem-
Houſehold furniture 573 pared iii 1.7%
Howe John ii. 17o || hiſtory continuation of iv 428,
experience of J O3 diſpenſation deſeótive i Sº
Human ſacrifices i 540 objećtions anſwerc d 23
Humble attempt toward the rcvi- | Jews, deſtruction of iy 462.
val of practical religion iv 7 guilt and miſery 1 219
enquiry vii 225 || Jews opinion of Mediah v 253)
Humility a great virtue i 316 privileges of à 2 J&
benefits of in 375 || Jewiſh religion abrogated &
leſſon of vii. 321 || Ignorance ii. 533,
of Chriſt ii 4oo no plea $ii ºoº-
rcpreſented in the charac- of ourſelves vii. 355
ter of St. Paul ii 369 || Images * 295
Hylander vii. 426 || Immortality of the ſout iii 4.17
Hymns and ſpiritual ſongs I 24. \ y 47%
Hyperbolcs, uſe of i 247 vii. 423
Hypocriſy and chriſtianity contraſted 236 || Impartiality of God ili 84
condemned by Chriſt 244 || Impatience ić $7.7
temporiſing 344 || Impenitence W 5 #3.
Hypoſtatical union' V I O2 Impenitent dying § 47 &
2 Io || Imperfeótions here +$.
2.93 *S
352 || Improvement cf the mind vi : . .
37.2 general rules for # 79
429 || Imputed ſin and righteouſneſs iii. 5 Sa
617 || Inability to believe ii 539
Hyrcanus iv 447 || Incarnation of Chriſt i F38
\ 453 • neceſſary 399
redemption thcroby 547
r n: faculotus 5 §3
498
GENERAL INDEX,
Incarnation for mediation
voluntary
ii
of a virgin - * *
Ill
by the Holy Ghoſt V
lower than angels
Inconſiſtency rebuked i
Inconſtancy
Increaſe of grace
Indian philoſopher vii
Indians, their ignorance iii
Infancy
Infanticide
Infants, future ſtate of
of the wicked annihilated
of believers raiſed
of the pious ſaved
falvation of diſputed
ſufferings
vii
Infidelity a growing evil i
Infidels, their attacks ii
Infinity vi
Influences of the ſpirit iv.
Innocency pleaded ii
Inſcriptions on dials vii
tranſlated
Infects, &c.
Inſpiration deſcribed ii
In ſanétum Ardalionem
Intelhgence vi
Hntemperance
Intercefficn of Chriſt ii
others i
Interceſſor, everlaſting ii
Introdućtion and general ſcheme
of logick - vi
Invaſion, ſpaniſh vii
Invido
Invitations to church fellowſhip iii
Invocation, a part of prayer iv
Inward witneſs to chriſtianity i
Joaſh, king of Iſrael iv.
Joaſh, king of Judah
Job, hiſtory of
book of i
John baptiſt iv
Jonah
Jonathan
Joſiah
Jotham
Joy and ſorrow ii
Iris ſuckling three Iap dogs vil
Irenaeus V
Iſland vi
Iſrael, a type of the church iii
Iſrael from Egypt iv.
Iſthmus vi
Judaiſm aboliſhed ii
Judgment, laſt i
vii
advantages to ſaints V
deſcribed -
equity ii
522
7o
439
95
335
23?
234
3 I
452.
226
32O
316
II 5
4oo
403
4I 3
53
473
4 I4.
445
405
4O4.
233
406
I42
4.18
18o
358
418
653
I66.
237
5.53
537
658
Vol. Page. Iſ
Vol. Page,
Judgment, equity iii 1 12
motive to conſtancy i 208
univerſal ii. 68
Judges of Iſrael * iv 384
Judging, general directions for vi 13
ſpecial I 2.2,
in reaſon and ſpeculation I24.
morality and religion I 27
human prudcnce I 29
teſtimony I 30
divine I 32
things paſt, preſent, and
future I 34
Judgment and propoſition 72
of books 2O5
to be improved 352
Juſtice i 273
287
commutative 2.74.
diſtributive 2.74.
278
and grace vii 430
of God i 56
ii. 32
Juſtification fi 420
448
by ſaith 648
Juſtin, martyr v 171
* K
Karaites iv 45o
Kings of Iſrael 396
Kings of Judah , 4OI
Kings, prayer for, &c. iii. 356
Kneeling at the Lord's ſupper rv 62
Knowledge of mankind vi 363
l the world 364
Korah, &c. ii. 565
L
Labour, child bearing iii. 385
and patience in inſtruct-
ing mankind vii 370
Lakes vi 419
Lamb of God i 4oz
ii 35
4. I
v 538
Languages vi 365
Languages, learning 2 I 5
3oz.
365
Landſcape iii. 99
Knowledge of God by the light of
nature, together with the uſes of
it and its defects i 532
Laplanders iii. 79
Large catalogue of remarkable
ſcripture names iv. 288
Law defined ii 423
and goſpel I8
2
33
422
vii 240
cannot juſtify ii I.3
GENERAL INDEX.
499
Vol. Page.
law cannot juſtify ii. 22
31
given at Sinai vii. 223
how binding Chriſtians ii. 29
lawyers, qualifications of vi 3oz
Lathyrus iv 451
Latin vi 2 16
3O2
poets quoted iii 389
prayers iv 216
Latriſſa vii. 351
Laughter i 265
Launching into eternity vii 24o
Hazar houſe iii. 508
Leótorius vii 337
Leótures vi 189
* - * 2 I 3
method of teaching, and -
- reading 31 I
£egal preaching i 586.
Letter to Marinda vii. 406
Levity, cure of a' i 268
Libero t vii 377.
Libertines V 549.
Liberty of conſcience iii. 343
Liberty and neceſſity vi 615
Liberty and reſtraint proper for a
ſon - 382
for a daughter 39 I
Liſe of Chriſt iv 478
* 488
Life improved i 446
... preſumed v 5 I 5
light of nature defective i
º ii. 593.
contraſted with the goſpel i 198
- ii. 618
ſermon on i 532
conſonant to reaſon iii 195
I.iturgy of the church of England iv 63
Locke iii 17
I8
- e. 558
Locke's annotations vi; 26 I
Locke, remarks on vi 59 I
Logic, its uſe for youth 366
- treatiſe on 9
Logiſto, chara&ter of iii 7
Logos I8
2O2.
- 2 I 3
‘definition of . I40
Hlongitude and latitude vi 406:
4II
• , * (436
Looking to Chriſt ii 54
- upward - - vii. 236
Longing for Chriſt's return 25o
Lord’s-day, or chriſtian ſabbath i 587
apoſtolick iii 199
firſt day of the week i 589
reſurreótion of Chriſt ii. 17
obligatory to chriſtians iii 124
Lord’s prayer paraphraſed iv 335
ſupper, duty of celebrating; i 419
WOL. VII,
7 ||
Lord’s ſupper, eaſy yoke
ſrequency of
uſes of
when, &c.
Love -
of God, diſcourſes on
powers thereof
of God
manifeſtation of
ſpecial, of God
on a croſs and a throne
to God
ſtronger than death
to enemies
10 men
Loving the creatures
Lovely carriage
Loyalty
Lucan
Lucius
Lutherans
Luxury, its injuſtice
degraded
Lycidas
Lying
* ſong againſt
Lyſias
Lyſimachus
M
Maccabees
Magiſtrates, how qualified
'Mahomet
Mahometails
Maintenance of miniſters
Malefactors
Malevolence
Malice -
how to avoid
Malicious conſtitutions
Manaſſah
Mandarins
Manhood 4.
Manifold ſalvation by Chriſt
Manitoo
Map of the world
Maps
Mariamne
Mariner’s compaſs
Marriage
‘Martyrdom
Martyrs
Marquis of Halifax
improvement by
to Chriſt, preſent or abſent vii
Vol. Page.
.1 559
11 1 7
iii. 622.
ii. 31.5
42. I
iv. IoA.
iii 1.45
ii 2.23
251
248
11 2.72.
28 I
i 134
53
83
vii 2.47
i 133
I 24.
vii 246
i 464
13
82.
32 I.
vii. 244
i 313
... 654
111 40
vii 437
y 379
1 294
... 329
w;1 352
i 239
246
* * 255
vii. 203
iv 439
435
... 438
111 34. I
f 205
ii 59t
111 2 Io.
v 673
ii. 226
i 299
ii 2.49
. 507
1V 405
iii. 337
... 5 ro
1: 493
iii. 6o
528
vi 420
42 i
iv 456
vi 420
i 307
it ‘.
l
º 484
v 526
iv 193
3 Q-
500
(GENERAL INDEX.
Vol. Page. [. Vol Page,
Maſs. i 411 || Miſeries of ºnan iii. 507
vii. 32.4 Miſery of ſinners t i 437
Maſquerades vi 375|| Miſtaken ways oſ coming to God
Matter and form 587 without Chriſt ii 47 I
609 || Mitro, a mourning piece vii. 274
changes of 572 || Modes, kinds of vi I 3.
laws of I92 diviſions . I 5
Mathematics vi 366 || Modes mixed 596
Mattathias . iv 437 || Moderation i 315
Means of exciting the devout aſ- Modelly, direétions for 3 IO
fections ii. 341 or humility in 393
Mediator, application to i 304|| Monogamy iii 14o
- iv. 122 || Moon vi 435
of the covenant i 559|| Moore, Henry, Dr. ii. 1 70
effectual r ii 72|| Montpelier church vii 243
worſhipped v 125 || Moral law, perpetuity of i 576
, neceſſary i I 58 | uſe under the goſpel ii 443
ii 488 queſtions reſpecting it iv 360
558|| Morality, heathen iii 28
562 || Mordecai iv 422
613 || Morning prayer s i 609
Medicine vi 673 ſong vii 205
Meditation in a grove vii 245|| Moroſity i 98
for the firſt day of May 313|| Mortality 475
Meekneſs recommended i 318 | Moſes and Aaron iv 357
no trials for it in heaven 464 || Moſollam 43O
Melancholy chriſtian comforted 226 || Murmuring # 442
Memoirs of Dr. Watts I || Muſic vi 368
Memory, abuſe of 92 in churches I I It
queſtioned iv 97 || Myſteries, goſpel ſº º º 18o
how improved vi 267 || Mytiery of the goſpeſ iii. 613
to improve 351
Menelaus iv 435 N.
Mental relations vi 635 || Nadab and Abihu iſ 564
Mercy of God * as i 57 || Natural religion vi 3oo
Mcſſiah ly 479 Nature and cſſence 585.
Meſſoo iii. 61 609
Metaphyſics vi 535||Nature, what 589
Metaphyſical neceſſity iii. 587 || Neal, Mr. * tº 379
Method, vi 163 || Nearneſs to God, the felicity of
rules of I68 CI Cat U15 CS i 13-r
Metatron y 149||Neceſſity iii. 533
Mexican cruelty iii. 35 || Nehemiah iv 41 r
7I || Newgate iii 117
Michael v 327 || New Teſtament y 635
Midnight aſſemblies vi 375 || Newton, Sir Iſaac vii 391
elevation vii. 3 19 || Nicanor iv 443
hymn ... 399 ||Nicholas, Armelle 54.
Millenium iii II 5 || St. iii. 7o
v 584 ||Noah, &c. ſcripture hiſtory iv 351
Milton, criticiſms on vii 4.17 ||Noah’s ark ii. 75
Miniſters, part of a chriſtian’s trea- flood iii 107
ſure i 424 || Nodes vi 412
authority of iii. 238 || Nominal chriſtians admoniſhed ii 62
choice of 2 oz || Non-elect iii. 468
converſation iv 35 || None excluded from hope i 2 18
exhorted i 467 ||No night in heaven V 554
not to be aſhamed 178 ||North American theology iii 6c
not to be partially reſpected 443 ||Not being vi 18
perſonal religion iv 8 || Number and order 634
private ſtudies - IO *
32. O
Miniſtry, evangelical 93 || Oaths i .239
Miracles v 193 how needful iii 33r
of Chriſt iv 434 form of 333
Miſcry of brutes #i 517 || Obedience to parents vii zos
not intenſe 52 o ||Objections to the goſpel i 182
~
GENERAL INDEX.
50i
Vol. Page.
obječtions anſwere d i 188
2O6
Obſervation vi 188
rules for 195
Occaſional communion iii. 212
Ocean vi 419
Oćtavius iv 457
Ode on Lockc's ſickneſs vii. 253
William Blackbourne, Eſq. . 257
Flcetwood, C. and S 257
free philoſophy, to Mr.
Thomas Rowe 259
Dr. Thomas Gibſon, on the
life of ſouls 2.54
Sir Nathaniel Gould 2.54
Rev. John Howe 26o
John Locke, Eſq. retired
from buſineſs 253
William Nokes, on friend-
fhip 254.
Sariſſa, 255
on the death of Serena 339
way of the multitude, to
Mr. Ben. Rowe 259
*Office of deacons iii 308
Omri iv 397
On the ſacrifice of Chriſt, and the
operations of the ſpirit 594.
Onias 4-35
44-5
. 453
Ontology, treatiſe on yi 608
Opinions, difference of ii 541
546
on the ſoul v 450
t ... 467
Oppoſing virtues 11 357
Optics v 367
Oratory iv I I
Ordinary witneſs of the ſpirit ii 90
Ordinances helps to heaven i 136
duty of attending I 39
preſence of God in ... 156
º I l I TO
wiſhing for them i 162
Ordination iii. 205
a charge thereon iv 7
4O
Origen y 166
I 7o
* º ... I 79
Origin of evil ill 409
Original ſin, arguments from reaſon iii Ioo
* 3 2.
feripture ; 5
condemned by the law ii. 31
conſeſſed in baptiſm i 598
diſcovered by the law ii 21
doćtrine improved ili 503
iv 16
doćtrine of it neceſſary iii. 372
vindicated 58o
effects thereof I I41
fountain of miſery iii 4oz
miſeries therefrom i 583
how derived 38
Original ſin, how derived
incapacity of good
no plea for actual ſin
propenſity to evil
Vol. Page.
II
iii
I
. iii
providence windicated
removed by Jeſus Chriſt ii
univerſal
Ornaments in churches
Orthodoxy and charity united
what
and charity
Otiº on *
Ovid
Owen, Dr.
Dr. John
Dr.
Pacerus
..Pain not in heaven
paradiſe
evils of
uſes of
Paganiſm
Painting *-
Painter reſtoring an old pićture
Palaces
Pallinodia
Parables
Paradiſe,
ode on
Pardon of ſin
and ſančtification
Partiality
Parts, natural good
farturition
Party ſpirit
Paſſions, abuſe of
and reaſon
deſcribed
devout excited
government
how moved
in children
in religion
when ſinful
uſe of
Patience needful here only
* towards men
under afflićtions
good effects of it
Patriotiſm
| Pattern ſor diſſenting preachers
Paul, St.
iii
*WI
wii
iv.
iii
vii
ii
vii
ii
iv
iii
ii
vii
ii
vi
ii
ii
i
iii
i
ii
1 22,
41 I
423
15
58o
177
4.14.
493
27
I 3o
IOS
189
III
403
39
493
61
39
506
IO4.
I 7o
52
455
• 584
596
585
592
539
369
339
435
2S3
481
15o
256
3 Q_*
502
GENERAL INDEX.
Vol. Page
Paul, St. iii 632
g character ii 8
- commiſſion 3
converſion I O ||
a miniſter Io 5
writings 12|
Paulinus iii. 594|
Peacock º vii 435
Peake in Derbyſhire iii. 85||
Pekah * . iv 4oo
Pelagians iii. 274
483
Penances i 48||
- - 4. ii 4.70 ||
Peninſula vi 418
Pentecoſt i 565
Penitent pardoned vii. 226
Penitential thought 398
Perfeótion, none here ii. 24
of ſaints in heaven I6 I
belongs to God only I 9.5
Periaeci , vi 418
Perpetual obligation of the moral
law ; the evil of ſin and its
deſert of puniſhment i 576||
* i 356
367
Perſecutions iſ .
ii 524
574
iii. 364
iv 24
v 594
Perſon 48
explained 208
Perſeverence proved i 32
comfort from 126
aſſurance of ii 45
duty of , 559
yields glory to Chriſt v 525
Perſuaſives to virtue iv I of
Peſtilence iii. 397
Petition, iv 1 18
Phariſees 449
hilemus vii. 493
bileuchus 388
Philo º I40
º, I 5 I
- 2 I 2
v 4oD
Philoſophers i 503
• * * heathen iii. 72
Philoſophical eſſays on various
" . . ſubjects. . . . vi. 485
ſociety iii. 294
Philoſophy i 1 Io
r º I33
V1 2
defeótive i #
17
heathen 539
Phroniſſa vi 393
Phyſicians 3O3
Phyllisplaying with a parrot vii 400
Phiſiology, comparative ii 12:1
contemplations on i., 534
** *
!
t
I
+
|Plurality of worlds known in hea-
| Plato
ſ
*.
|
i
effects of
• ? wonderful
Piety in a court
Phiſiology,
Pilate.
Pinhorne Johannem
Pithander, charaćter of
Pithon
Place, definition of
Placentia *
| Planets
Plants and animals procreation of
by laws of nature
Nouriſhment and growth
ſimilarity
in prayer
inſtructions for
Pleaſures human, degrading
s incomplete
Pleading
VG. In
probability of
conjećtures on
| Poems Burning ſeveral
| Poeſy ſtrictures thereon
Poiſons
Poles
Polhill, David Eſq.
Politencſs real
Polity of the Jews
Polytheiſm of heathens
* its effects
no part of chriſtianity
Pompey
Pomona the market maid
Pope election of
Popery its ſeveral errors exposed
Popery
Popiſh conſecration
Čf TOTS
Portraits
Poſitive inſtitutions.
laws juſtify not
why appointed
Poverty } *
t comforted
Power, ideas of
and conteſts of fleſh and
- ſpirit , ry
Praiſe ſor birth and education in
.*. a chriſtian land .
ii
vii
iv.
vii
iii
vli
vi
vii
vi
iii
iv.
iii
ii
iii
vii
vi
iii
vi
vii
iv
iii
V
iv
vli
iii
ii
1.
iii
vii
iii
ii
iii
ii
vi
vii
Vol. Page.
I I I
185.
397
462.
233
7
367
629
4 ot
4 I ſ
432.
559
562
568
576
539
38
146
72
I 2 O
4O4.
5 II
I & I
I 18
%
7
264
306
382
404
4OS
265
32 I
375
2O’
335
29.
454.
406.
24. I
47
32O
48o
524
607
88
628
49
2.2.2,
305
359
448
17o
134
492
I2.
25
25
366
369
44O
594
I I I
2Or

GENERAL INDEX.
503
- Vol. Page.
Praiſe for creation and providence vii zoo ||
of God w
for thc goſpel
for learning to read
for mercies
for our redemption
waiting for God
Prayer advantages therefrom
cautions in
directions for
expreſſions in
extemporary
family
by forms
geſture in
gift of
grace of
how to attain
guide to
long
mattter of
method of
morning
parts of -
perſuaſive to lear
ſpirit of • * *
proved
voice in : , ;
compoſed for the uſe and
imitation of children .
for the dead, (popiſh)
for infants
for young children
for youth * *
Pravo
Preaching
• * ~ } {
various intimations on
tº
inſtrućtions by
exemplified
Pre-exiſtent ſtate
Preface to the arian invited to the
• . orthodox faith . . .
to the art of reading and
writing Engliſh
to a brief ſcheme of on-
tology • , { } } ,
to catechiſm of ſcriptural
In 2.1TheS * * *- : i ,
to a caveat againſt infi-
delity: 1 * * *
to the chriſtian doćtline
of the trinity . . . .
to death and heaven
to a defence againſt the
temptation to ſelf-mur-
der
: ;
vii
ii
iii
IºW
vi
iii
V
iv.
vi
iv
ii
V.
ii
• Vi
to doćtrine of the paſſions ii
or an enquiry into the
right way of fitting the
* . " ; : ‘i .
3 II
2O I
2O2
2,O I
200 ||
452 |
364
196 ||
183 ||
188 |
I44 ||
I 3 P ||
I6o ||
128 |}
I 56
I27
book of pſalms for
chriſtian worſhip
| Preface to an eſſay towards the
crºcouragement of cha-
rity - ſchools, particu-
larly among proteſtant
diſſenters
to an eſſay on civil power
in things ſacred
to the glory of Chriſt, as
God-man
to a guide to prayer
to the harmony of all the
religions appointed by
God
to the hiſtorical
chiſm •
Cate-
I61
164
I69
I 14
F39||
I 34
I4 I
133
i
|
|
}
i
!
|
t
|
I35||
I9.5
6z
171.
172
I 53
306|
44 I |
306 ||
307
309
3 : 6
393
3.13
339
289.
480.
334
334
4 IO
83
556
6oë
273
552.
139
to holineſs of times pla-
ces, and people
to an humble attempt
towards the revival of
practical religion a-
mong chriſtians
to the hymns
to the improvement of
the mind
of a letter
in proſe and verſe
to philoſophical eſſays on
various ſubječts
to prayers compoſed for
the uſe and imitation
of children
to a preſervative from the
fins and follies of child-
hood and youth -
mankind
to a ſhort view of the
whole ſcripture hiſ-
tory ".
to ſtrength and weakneſs
of human reaſon
to uſeful and important
queſtions concerning
Jeſus the Son of God -
to the world to come
Prejudice ~ *
doćtrine of
from things
world
ourſelves
Others
management of
ſupper
Preſence of God in prayer
Preſervative from the fins and fol-
lies of childhood and youth
Pride º
641
216
t
t
- in poverty
Primaeval ſtate
Preparatory thoughts for the Lord's
vii
iv.
vii
vi
vii
to miſcellaneous thoughts
vi
to ruin and recovery of
vii
iv.
i
ii
Vol. Page.
2 I
523
327
3o 5
I I I
301
3os
26s
569
304
GENERAL INDEx.
s Vol. Page.
Primzevaſ ſtate iii. 433
4. 437
Principles, cauſes, and effects vi 62 I
Privilege of the living above the
dead | ..i 458
Probationary ſtate 111 23
377
Problems v1 437
449
Proccffion of the Holy Ghoſt V .#
2. I
Procraſtination i 47 I
- v 49 I
Progreſs of chriſtianity ii 652
Promedon t vii. 316 ||
Promiſes of God henefits from i 363
their certainty vii. 449
confidence in i 570
of the new teſtament 562
of the old teſtament iii 190
are for the ſaints i 435
human 232
Promontory vi 419
Propagation iii 430
Property origin of i 283
n Ot COm) in on 423
Prophecies of Chriſt and their ac-
compliſhment iv 463
Proſelytes 427
Profeuchai iii 156
Propoſition, nature and parts of vi 72
kinds of 74.
affirmative and negative 78
oppoſition and converſion 79
pure and modal 3o
‘ſingle 8 I
compound 82
true and falſe 85
certain and dubious 87
Providence, indiſcriminate i 364
111 24
knowledge of ii. 187
Providences v 527
Prudence, what i 314
worldly 9 I
Pſalms of David imitated in the
language of the new
teſtament and applicd
to the chriſtian ſtate and
worſhip vii 33
Ptolomy iv 430
433
º 434
Ptolemaick ſyſtem W1 435
Public worſhip, benefits of i 156
iii. 317
duty of i 615
62o
natural iii. 341
promiſes to 162
Purgatory 38
45o
v 590
vii 316
º 431
Puritans . v1 375
- Vol. Page.
Purity, temperance i 293
chaſtity, and modeſty 306
Puſillanimity ii 399
Pythagoras i 539
iii. 39
Quarrelling and fighting vii 203
Queen Anne, ode to 252
Mary, verſes on 34 r
Querelous chriſtian i 4.
Queries to arians, &c. ‘w ;
I 32
Queſtions proper for ſtudents in
divinity, &c. iv 5 13
young miniſters 517
for youth 519
determining vi 28o
R
Rachael weeping iii. 499
Rake reformed in the houſe of
mourning vii 437
Rank in life iv. Ioz.
Raptures, caution in i 63
Ray, John ii 17o
Ratio, fides, charitas - vii 408
Rational defence of the goſpel i 175
ſecond part i 187
third part I97
foundation of a chriſtian
church iii 194.
Rhetoric vi 305
Rhumbs ' 404
Riches, earthly, contraſted with
heavenly i 430
dangerous 86
e f II O
Ridelio y vii #.
Riding vi 369
Right aſcenſion 4O3
* * * * 436
Rites chriſtian I 558
moſaic vil 39 r
Ritillo 359
Rivals, devotion and the muſe 243
Reading vi 189
direétions for 199
the word ii. 343
Reaſon and revelation iii. 563
* 4 213
deſcribed 9
imperfeół i 181
how to improve it vi 352
proper uſe of 9 I
its uſe ili religion iv 26
ſubjećt to faith i Io
Reaſoning and ſyllogiſm vi 136
rules for I 57
Recreations s i 276
* g e e ., 329
| Reconciling; ſentiments iſ 433
Redeemer, Chriſt Jeſus 493
Redemption by Chriſt y 524
from guilt ii. 494
from fin
Vanity O
493.
GENERAL INDEX.
505
Vol. Page.
Redemption, ode to vii 434
Reformation i 353
outward ii 482
of manners, ſociety i 625
argued and approved 628
objections anſwered 635
ſucceſs 639
Regeneration implies original ſin iii. 527
- its nature i 4.1
neceſſity thereof iii 1.83
Regularity i 332
Kehoboam iv 396
Relative affections vi 617
duties i 276
I
Religio medici vii #,
Religion of nature epitomiſed iii 9
Reliquiae Juveniles vii. 303
Remember your creator 23O
Remiſſion iii. 36
Remnants of time employed in
proſe and verſe, or ſhort Cſſays
and compoſures on various ſub-
jećts
Remonſtrants
Renty, Monſieur
Repentance and faith
encouraged
iſ in heaven
neceſſary
not meritorious
how far natural
how far unavailable
urged
Reprobation conſidered
Reproof, duty of
queſtioned
how to be given
§.
eſolutions, good
Reſtitution
Reſurréétion of the body
vii
iii
ii
iłł
wii
43O
2.74.
379
53
58
4 I4.
466
557
24
35
43o
439
533
528
53o
590
605
630
646
554
24 I
42.5
|
‘Vol. Page.
Reſurreótion of Chriſt ii 6
& 1V 494
effects of it 11 I 3
why raiſed 46
7
proofs I O
Revelation iii 195
and reaſon agree 197
2 I O
neceſſary ii 366
Revolution by King William vii. 226
Revenge ii 2.59
Rewards of poeſy vii. 240
Right improvement of liſe i 446
Robbery 295
Rocks and mountains V 5+5
Roman idolatry vii. 3o4.
empire iii 30
Roſewell Samuel, laſt words i 483
Rough man ſoftened vii. 354
Ruin and recovery of mankind iii 369
Rural meditation * vii 398
Ruſſia iii. 7o
S -
Sabbath i 587
diſcourſe, perpetuity of iii 1.2
inſtituted iii 126
ſº tº e 345
primitive fathers on the 142:
civil 338
Sabellians 274.
Sabina and her companions travel-
1ng together to ſee fine buildings
and gardens vii 4.08
Sacraments iii 222.
-- iv 487
Sacrifices 369
appointed ii. 37
- 42.
why appointed i 397
... 555
Jewiſh iii. 607
6.13
heathen 61 I
of Chriſt 594
Sadducees iv 449
Saints a public bleſling i 451
unknown here vii 4.5o
Salvation ii 53
61
3. 63
vulgar idea of i 208
Samaritans iv 4or
28
|Sameneſs and oppoſites vi 63r
Sandtification ii 58
| 4r I
Sandius v 157
Satan ii Igg
Satan’s temptations i 49
Saul, king of Iſrael ii 565
iv 388
Scale of bleſſedneſs: or, bleſſed
ſaints, bleſſed ſaviour, and bleſſed
trinity i 14r
Scape goat iii. 533
Scandal ii 381
506
GENERAL INDEX.
Scandal -
Sciences, learning and uſe of
Scoffing and calling names
Scorn
Scripture
defined
to be conſulted
hiſtory -
before the flood
names explained
truth of ,
º vindicated
Scruples
Searching after God
Second probationary ſtate
Scots .
Sedentius d
Seeking communion with God .
Vol. Page.
vii
vi
vii
ii
iii
V
iv.
i
ii
vii
iii
vii
Seçking a divine calm in a reſtleſs
, world
Self conſecration
denial
dedication
examination
Knowledge
iove - d * *
and virtue reconciled on-
ly by religion
praiſe -
righteouſneſs vain
Seleucus
Senotus
Seaſe .
Separate ſtate
Septuagint
Serena,
Seren us -
Serious addreſs to the people
iv
vii
Short eſſay toward the improve-
ment of pſalmody. . .
Short view of the whole ſcripture
hiſtory
Sermon branched
direétions for
• *-
Servants
Severus
Shanag
Shekinah
Sickneſs
deliverance from
and recovery
vi
iv
'.vi*
vii
iv.
35 I
292 |
2O4|
248
3 I2 |
345
52 ||
28o ||
79
340
347
288
27
534
336
3O3
II 5
192
326
455
- 369 {
142 I
36 I |
‘. . . Vol. Page.
Sight of Chriſt - 246
Sight of heaven in ſickneſs vii. 227
Signs vi 636
Simon iv 430
! ~ ‘. . . . 446
| Sin, aggravations of ii i 31
deſcribed i 581
effects iii. 445
evil ii I45
: miſery i I 35
Sins and ſorrows ſpread before God 65
in the wilderneſs iv 378
againſt God 26 I
II) all 263
* v ourſclves 267
Sincere praiſe vii 231
Sincerity i 361
- * } . ii. 571
| Singer, Mrs. on her poems vii. 234
Sinner coming to God by Chriſt ii. 484
'Skcleton vii. 336
, Sleep v 478
- 539
Sloth i 6og
Socinians 177
: 385
: 405
... 41 r
11, 274
... . . . . vi 383
Socianiſm i 3
ii 403
} iii. 594
b 628
639
653
, ‘ v 3or
Socinus. ii 4.18
Socrates i 5oz.
iii 612
iv 49
... vii 388
Solemn addreſs to God upon the r
trinity 475
Solomon iv 393
Solſtices vi 404
Song of angels above vii. 237
Son of God, defined v 232
Sophiſms vi 151
ſolution of I 55
Sophronius, character iii 8
Sorrow ii 233
| . . . 255
|Sovereignty of God 1 55
; : G. and grace vii. 239
|Soul always thinks vi 528
- drawing near to God in prayer i 53
| sleepers V 449
1 ..., , in fetters vii 387:
|Space, enquiry of vi 485
! if ſomething or nothing 485
if a ſubſtance 486
if created 487
not God 488
t argument review 492.
our ideas of 493
compared to ſhadow 494
GENERAL INDEX.
307
Vol. Page.
Space, inačtive and impaſſive vi 465
re-examination 496
obječtions anſwered 499
nothing real 5oo
appendix $or
Sphere, right 4 IS
parallel 4. I 5.
oblique 416
Spiritual mindedneſs i 6o
ſins 42
Spirituous liquors vi 671
Spirits, hierarchy of ii 1.69
182
locality of 2 o'6
power of, to move matter vi 535
place and removal 54.O
ubi or whereneſs 548
Squirrel and lark vii 4.04
Stability in faith i 34
Stammering, &c. vi 354
Stars 43o
Stennett's ſacramental hymn vii 434
Stoics i I 5
* iii. 56
s k 76
Stoiciſm v 6oo
Storms iii. 397
Strait vi 419
Strength, corporeal vii 4.36
- and weakneſs of human
reaſon iii 7
Striót religion very rare vii 2.56
Students vi 2 14
248
* 309
Study 189
* -- 248
Style, inſtructive 3 I 5
Subjećt and adjunct 628
Subſtance and mode 637
Locke conſidered thereon 5oz.
idea applied 5C3
ſolid extenſion and a
thinking powcr 505.
miſtakes concerning 508.
Subſtances, kinds of ... II
Subſtance of the goſpel it 405
Suetonius 1v 474
Suicide . -' v. 627
contrary to reaſon . vi 644
- feripture 645
inſtances of 647
unnatural 651
Jſſuaſives frºm , , 653
pretences anſwered 656
fecurity againit | 662
eſcape from 667
approaches $0. ... 670
Sui ipſius increpatio vs. 242
Sullenneſs il 392
Sun v 37 o
560
in eclipſe vii 435
and ſtar beams vi 531
moon, and ſtars, praiſe ye the . .
Lord' vil 230
WOL, VII.
k
3 R
Vol. Page.
Supererogation i 388
Superiors, duty to 275
Surety ii. 497
Surprize in death v 598
Suſpenſe iii. 565
Swearing, curſing, &c. vii 2.04
Sylogiſm, nature and parts vi 136
kinds 138
univerſal and particular 133
plain and ſimple 138
moods and figures I4O
complex I42.
conjunctive 143
compound #46
teſts of true I 55
Sympathy i 3
385
4.63
- v Óo 3
Synagogues iii 156
176
- iv 42.5
Synods iii. 22 o
Syntheſis explained vi 164
Syriac tongue 3O3
- T
Tabernacle i 615
11 I 5 I
Table bleſſed vii. 324
Tables of ſun’s declination vi 475
right aſcenſion 4. So
* ſtars 479
Talmud iv 431
Targum 42.5
V 145
Tatling i 29.3
32
Taxes ... :
* lu 337
Temple of Solomon . I 53
* iv 394
rebuilt 408
458
of the ſun vii. 318
Temperance . i 3 or
... 335
Temperatures of the body ii I I 6
Tenoptations I Ig
Tenets of various ſects iii. 285
2 Q 2.
Terms, negative and poſitive vi º
ſimple and complex 3 I
.# concrete and abſtraćt 33
Tertullian v I4 I
* 164:
I69
w 17o
Teſt ačt iii 35o
Texts applied to Chriſt v 345
Thankful philoſopher vii 308
Thankſgiving iv 124
Theatre vi 375
Theft vii. 206
Theocracy iii. 336
Theory of the earth 379
Theophilus, w 163
508
GENERAL INDEX,
Theophilus
Theophron,
Therina
Theron
Things of good report
Thomas
Thomas a Kempis .
Thonillo
Thrcatenings
Three modern abſurditics
Thoughts of God and death
Thunder, &c.
Tillotſon, Archbiſhop
Time
to be accounted for
a burden to ſome
end
improved
value
wafted
Tithes, &c.
Toleration
Topics ,
Touquoa
Traditions
Tramarinus
Tranquillus
Tranſmigration
Tranſubſtantiation
Treaſure, chriſtian's
Tree of life
Trinity
Trinity, faith needful in the
London miniſters on the
modus of the
ſchemes to explain the
of the world -
"Tropics
True countage
learning
monarchy
riches
twiſdom
Truth, goodneſs and perſe&tion
What
in words
Tutors
Types
ſewiſh
Vol. Page.
v 177
vii. 403
v1 574.
572
i 326
ii Ioë
iv 53
vii 4.54
ii. 64
vii. 326
2 O2
i 366
ii 171
vi 629
V 484
488
48o
4.92
4.86
i 608
v 490
iii. 348
167
vi 148
iii. 64
... iv. 431
336
... 350
ill 39
72
V 464
iii. 601
624
v 302
vii. 305
388
426
i 422
iii. 435
i 143
181
5IO
V.
17
42.
184
... 219
vil 475
54
62
53
5O
297
vii. 386
vi 403
vii 258
23 I
258
262
232
vi 618
i 229
24O
230
vi 2.13
iii 179
ii 41 I
456
Vol. Page.
Types Jewiſh i 399
4.08
of Chriſt ii. 75
Typiger vii. 39 I
Tyrants, domeſtic ii 389
U
Valdo, Peter, angcdote of i 479
Vanity (or pride) conſcſſcd vii. 34.7
inſcril,cc or ail w 435
Vegetation \ iſ 343
V clina’s children dead 34 I
Veſpus 4 OO
Veſtry iii 162
Vicarious ſufferings i 182
39C
... 397
1) I 53.3
Vićtory of the Poles over Oſman vii 266
Villagers ii 53
Virgil iii 38
516
iv 474
Virtue in 355
foundation of vi 525
Ubiety vi 629
Unbelief - ..i 225
111 g74.
Uncharitableneſs ii 5, 6
Unchaſtity * i 307
Underſtanding to improve vi 351
Undutiful children iii. 65
Unfitneſs for heaven v 573
S
9
. J 4.
Union of Chriſt and the Father 286
Unity of the Godhead iii 19
44.
- . .93
2nd union vi 614
recommended i 53o
Univerſal offers - iii 504
rule of equity - i 373
Unnatural parents iii. 66
Unſearchableneſs of God and na-
ture .vii 4.46
Volatility in children vi 355
Uſeful and important queſtions
concerning Jeſus the Son of
God, frcCly propoſed v 232
Uſe of the moral law under th
goſpel ii. 443
of the paſſions in religion 296
inferences thcreſrom 309
Vows - i 232
and promiſes - - 2 SI
Uſher, Archbiſhop ii 170
Uſe of Jewiſh ceremonies iv 374
Uzzah - - ii 565
Uzziah iv 403
W
Wages - ... 2 . .
War iii 3"
lawſulneſs of . . . ;
Warfare chiiſtian
Wanderings in prayer, cure for . .
GENERAL INT)REX. 509
Vol. Page.
Vol. Page. e
Wanderings in worſhip In 119 | Worſhip º V 1:
Waſte of life vii. 322 ||* Oſ Cl] I’l 285
Watchful chriflian dying y 494/ 292
Watchfulneſs ! ; 2.94.
Watts, Dr experience of ...i 5 Io | ſubordinate d h I29
We, criticiſm on 111 º: 1I] . and €3rth GOIl- i 17o
We Cks e - 2. - º * © tº
Welcomic meſſenger vil . Wºp. * * :
Whitby, Dr. % wººl. i. iii. 276
Whole and parts yi 62o || Writing for the public v1 341
Wilkins Biſhop ly ; Y
Will, liberty of y: 59 d maidens, old men
of God how determined 1. 566 Yº, .. ye the Lord vii. 235
Witneſs of the ſpirit 11 ;: Youth adviſed vii 385
Io? amiable i 89
* & and age 11 339
Witneſſes three on earth * 19 and death vii. 327
Woodward, Dr. vi 567 progreſs of iii. 509
Words & 637 ſins of li I 18
Univocal and equivocal 33 evils therefrom 128
equivocal, cauſes of 37
kinds 34. Z
uſe of *7 || Zaleucus isi 606
common and proper ... 32 Zeal, party i 249
without ſpirit vil 337 for God in prayer 60
World i 64 in profeſſion 468
137 in heaven 17
contempt of . . ;3||Zedekiah iv 406
iſ inlarging v: 532 2enith and Nader vi 404
indifference to , * **2||Zerubbabel iv 4o8
made for ſaints, how 434. 4O9
not etcrpal $33||zodiack vi 403
to C() nn & v 448 Zones 417
Worldly pleaſuros ... 534 Zoology ii. 168
Worm embarraſſed vil 403
3 R 2
AN INDEX
To find a PS4LM suited to particular Subjects or Occasions.
*
Norf, In this Index I have not directed to the ſeveral parts or metres of the pſalm, left
it ſhould breed too great a confuſion of figures. What is ſought in any pſalm, may
eaſily be found by turning a leaf or two backward or forward to the dutinét parts
Or m C treS.
If you find not what word you ſeek in this Index, ſeek another of the ſame ſignification:
or, ſeek it under ſome of the more general words, ſuch as God, Chriſt, Church, Saints,
Pſalm, Prayer, Praiſe, Afflićion, Grace, Deliverance, Death, &c.
A
DAM, the firſt and ſecond, their domi-
nion, 8.
Afflićted, pity to them, 35, 41, and tempted,
ſupported, 55, 145, 146 their prayer, Ioz,
I43. faints happy, 73, 94, II 3, I 4th part.
Afflićtions, hope in them, I 3, 42, 77, ſup-
port and profit, I 19, 14th part inſtruction,
by them, 94, 119, 18th part ſančtified.
94, I 19, 18th part. courage in them, I 19,
I 7th part removed by prayer, 34, Io'ſ.
ſubmiſſion to them, 39, 123, 13 I. from
men, ſee perſecution, in mind and body,
I43, trying our graces, 66, I I 9, 17th part.
without rejećtion, 89, of ſaints and ſin-
ners different, 94. gentle, Io;. ºnoderated,
125, very great, 75, I O2, I43.
Aged ſaints refle&tion and hope, 71.
All ſeeing God, 139.
Angels, guardian, 34, 91. all ſubject to
Chriſt, 89, 97. praiſe the Lord, Io9. pre-
fent in churches, I 38.
Appeal to God againſt perſecutors, 7. con-
cerning our ſincerity, 139, our humility,
I 31.
Aſcenſion of Chriſt, 24, 47, 6 I, IIo.
Aſſiſtance from God, 138, 144.
Atheiſm practical, 12, 14, 36. puniſhed, Io
Attributes of God, 36, I I I, 145, 147
Authority from God, 75, 82.
B
Backſliding ſoul in diſtreſs and deſertion,
25. reſtored, 51. pardon, 78, 130.
Bleſſing of God in buſineſs and comforts of
life, 127.
Bleſſings of a family, 128, 133. of a nation,
I44, 147. of the country, 65, 147. of a
perſon, I, 32, I 12.
Blood of Chriſt cleanſing from ſin, 51, 69.
Book of nature and ſcripture, 19, 119, 4th
part
| Britain's proſperity, 67, delivered from fla-
very, 75. happineſs, 147
Brotherly love, I 33 reproof, 141.
i Buſineſs of life bleſt, 127.
C
| Care of God over his faints, 34:
Charity to the poor, 37, 41, 112. and juſtice,
I 5, 1 12, mixed with imprecations, 35.
Cnaſtiſement, ſee Afflićtions
Children praiſing God, 3. made bleſſings,
I27, 128, inſtructed, 34, 78.
Chriſt the Second Adam, his incarnation, his
dominion, 8. his all-ſufficiency, 16. his
aſcenſion, 24, 68, I 1 o. the church’s foun-
dation, I 18. his coming, the ſigns of
it, 12. his condeſcenſion and glorification,
8. Covenant made with him, 89 firſt and
ſecond coming, or his incarnation, king-
dom, and judgment, 96, 97, 98. the true
David, 35, 89. his death and reſurreótion,
I6, 22, 69. the eternal Creator, Ioz. ex-
alted to the kingdom, 2, 8, 21, 72, 1 Io.
our example, Io9. faith in his blood, 51.
God and man,89. his Godhead, Ioz. our
hope, 4, 51 his incarnation and ſacrifice,
40. the king, and the church his ſpouſe,
45. his kingdom among the Gentiles, 72,
87, 132. his love to enemies, 35, Io9, his
majeſty, 97, 99 his mediatorial kingdom,
5}2
INDEX TO THE PSALMS.
89, 11o. his obedience and death, 69, his
perſonal glories and government, 45,
praiſed by children, 8. prieſt and king,
I Io, his reſurreótion on the Lord’s-day,
#18. our ſtrength and righteouſneſs, 71.
his ſufferings and kingdom, 2, 22, 69. his
fufferings for our ſalvation, 69. his zeal
and reproaches, ib.
€hriſtian qualifications, I 5, 24. eburch made
of Jews and Gentiles, 87.
Church, its beauty, 4.5, 48, I22. the birth-
place of ſaints, 87. built on Jeſus Chriſt,
I 18. delight and ſafety in it, 27. de-
ſtrućtion of enemies proceeds from thence,
76. gathered and ſettled, 132, of the Gen-
tiles, 45, 47. God fights for her, Io, zo,
46. God’s preſence there, 84, 132. God’s
fpecial delight, 87, I 32. God’s garden,
92, going to it, 122. the heuſe and care of
God, 135. of the Jews and Gentiles, 87
its increaſe, 67. prayer in diſtreſs, 83. per-
fecuted, ſee perſecution, reſtored by pray-
er, 85, Ioz, Io'7. its ſafety in national de-
folations, 46. is thc ſafety and honour of
a nation, 48, the ſpouſe of Chriſt, 45. its
worſhip and order, 48, wrath againſt ene-
mies proceeds thence, 76.
Colonies planted, Ioy.
Comfort, holineſs, and pardon, 4, 32, 119,
1 Ith and 12th parts. and ſupport in God,
# 6, 94, from ancient providences, 77, 143,
of life bleſt, 127, and pardon, I32.
Company of ſaints, 16, Ioff.
Complaint of abſence from public worſhip,
42 of ſickneſs, 6. deſertion, 13. pride,
atheiſm, oppreſſion, &c. Io, 12, of tempt-
ation, 13 general, Ioz. of quarrelſome
meighbours, 12 o. of heavy afflićtions in
mind and body, 143.
Compaſſion of God, Io9, 145, 147.
Communion with ſaints, Ioé, 133.
Confeſſion of our poverty, 16, of ſin, repent-
ance, and pardon, 32, 38, 51, 130, 43.
Conſcience, tender, I fº, I 3th part. its guilt
relieved, 32, 38, 5 I, 130.
Contention complained of, Izo.
Converſe with God, 63, I I 9, 2d part.
Converſion and joy, 126, at the aſcenſion of
Chriſt, 1 Io. of Jews and Gentiles, 87,
96, Io9.
Correčtion, ſee Afflićtion.
Corruption of manners general, I I, 12.
Counſel and ſupport from God, I 6, I 19, 6th
part.
Courage in death, 16, 17, 71, in perſecuti-
on I I 9, 17th part.
Covenant made with Chriſt, 89, of grace
unchangeable, 89, Ioé.
Creation and providence, 33, Ioa, 135, 136,
147, 148.
Creatures, no truſt in them, 33. 62, 146,
vain, and God all-ſufficient, 33 praiſing
God, 148. -
D
Daily devotion, 55, 139.
Day of humiliation for diſappointments in
War, 60. -
Death and reſurreótion of Chriſt, 16, 69. of
faints and finners, 17, 37, 49. and ſuffer-
ings of Chriſt, 2.2, 69, deliverance ſron it,
31, and pride, 49. and the reſurrečtion,
49, 77, 89, courage in it, 16, 17, 23, the
effect of ſih, 90.
Defence in God, 3, 121. and ſalvation in
God, 18, 61. -
Pelaying finners warned, 95.
Pelight and ſafety in the church, 27, 48, 14.
in the law of God, 1 19, 5th, 8th, and
18th parts, in God, 18, 42,63, 73, 84.
Deliverance begun and perſe&ted, 85, from
deſpair, 18, from deep diſtreſs, 34, 40.
ſrom death, 31, 118. from oppreſſion and
falſehood, 56, from perſecution, 53, 94 by
Prayer, 34, 4o, 85, 126. ſrom ſhipwreck,
Io 7. from ſlander, 3.I. ſurpriſing, 126.
from temptation, 3, 6, 13, 13. Iron a tu-,
mult, I 18, - -
Deſertion and diſtreſs of ſoul, 13, 25, 38, I43.
Deſire of knowledge, I 19, 9th part of ho-
lineſs, I 19, 11th part. of comfort and de-
liverance, 19, 12th part. of quickening
grace, I IS, 16th part. -
Deſolations, the church’s ſafety in them, 46.
Deſpair and hope in death, 17, 49, deliver-
ance from it, 18, 130.
Devotion, daily, 55, 134, 141. on a fick-
º 6,38. ſee Morning, Evening, Lord’s-
ay.,
Direction and pardon, 25. and defence
Prayed for, 5, and hope, 42. ſee Know-
ledge.
Diſeaſe, ſee ſickneſs.
Diſtreſs of ſoul, or backſliding and deſertion,
25. relieved, 51, I 3o.
Dominion of man over creatures, 8.
Doubts and fears ſuppreſſed, 3, 31, 153.
Drunkard and glutton, To?. f
Duty to God and man, 15, 24.
Dwelling with God, ſee Heaven, Church,
&C.
* E
Education, religious, 54, 71.
Egypt's plagues, IoS.
End of the righteous and wicked, 1, 37.
Enemies overcome, 18 prayed for, 35, Io9.
deſtroyed, 12, 48, 76. ".
Envy and unbelief cured, 37, 49.
Equity and wiſdom of providence, 9.
Evening pſalm, 4, 139, 141.
Evidences of grace, or ſelf-examination, 26.
of ſincerity, 18, 19, 139,
£vil times, 12, neighbours, 120. magiſtrates,
II, 58, 32.
Exaltation of Chriſt to the kingdom, 2, 21,
22, 69, 72, I 1 o.
Examination, or cvidences of grace, 26,
I 39. -*.
Exhortations to peace and holineſs, 34.
F
Faith and prayer of perſecuted ſaints, 35.
in the blood of Chriſt, 32, 51. in divine
grace and power, 62, 130. *
| "aithfulneſs of God, 89, Ios, 111, 145, 146.
of man, I 5, 14 I
INDEX TO THE PSALMS.
513,
Falſehood, blaſphemy, &c. 12, and oppreſ.
..ſion, deliverance from them, 12, 56.
Family gºvernment, to 1. love and worſhip,
I 33. bleſlings, 128.
Feals and doubts ſuppreſſed, 3, 31, 34. in the
worſh'P of God, 89, 99. of God, I 19, 13th
part. -
Flattery and deceit complained of, I2, 36.
Forgiveneſs, ſee Pardon.
Formal worſhip, 5o.
Frailty of man, 89, 9o, 144.
Fretfulneſs diſcouraged, 37.
Friendſhip, its bleſſings, 133.
Funeral pſalm, 89,90.
zºv
Vºr
Gentiles given to Chrid, 2, 22, 72, church,
45, 65, 72,87. owning the true God, 47,
96, 98.
Glorification and condeſcenſion of Chriſt, 8,
cº, of God in our ſalvation, 69. and grace
promiſed, 84, 89, 97.
Glorification and condeſcenſion of Chriſt,
8, 45. ºf o
Glory of God in our ſalvation, 69. and grace
promiſed, 84, 89 97.
Glutton, 78. and drunkard, 1 o'7.
God all in all, 127, all ſeeing, 139, all-ſuffi-
cient, 16, 33, his being, attributes and pro-
vidence, 36, 65, 147. his care of iaints, 7,
34, his creation and providence, 33, Ioq,
&c. our deſcrice and ſalvation, 3, 33, 61.
1 15, eternal and ſovereign, and holy, 93.
eternal, and mcn mortal, go, Ioz faithful-
neſs, 89, Io 5, 1 ; 1. glorified, and ſinners
ſaved, 69, goodneſs and mercy, Io 2, 145.
goodncfs and truth, 145, 146. governing
power and goodneſs, 66. great and good,
68, 144, 145, I 47. heart-ſearching, 139,
our only hope and help, RA2, the judge, 9,
50, 97. kind tº his people, 145, 146, his
majetty, 97. and condeſcenſion, I I 3, 144.
mercy and truth, 36, 89, io9, 136, 145.
made man, 8. of nature and grace, 65;
his perfeótions, 36, I I I, 145, 147, our
portion, and Chriſt, our hope, 4. our por-
tion here and hereafter, 73, his power and
maieſty, 68, 89, 93, 96, praiſed by child-
ren, 8, our preſerver, 12 I, 138, preſent in
his churches, 84. our reluge in national
troubles,46. our ſhepherd, 23 his ſovereign-
ty and goodneſs to man, 8, 1 I 3, 144, our
ſupport and comfort, 94. ſupreme governor
75, 82, 93, his vengeance and compaſſion
63, 93. unchangeable, 89, I I I. his uni-
verſal dominion, log. his wifdom in his
works, I I I, , 59. worthy of all praiſe, 145,
I46, ISO.
Good works, 15, 24, II 2. profit men, not
God, 16.
Goodneſs cf God, 8, Iog, I I I, 145, 146,
Goſpel, its glorv and ſucceſs, 19, 45, IIo.
joyful ſound,39, 98. worſhip and order,48.
Glase, its exiac.nces, or ſelf-examination,
26, 139 above riches, 144, without merit,
I 3, 32, of Ch; iii, 45, 72. and providenee,
* - n
\
- f
33: 39, 135, 136, 147. preſerving and
reſtoring, I 38. truth and protećtion, 57.
tried by afflićtion, 17, 66, 125. and glory,
84, 97. Pardoning, 130. *
Guilt of conſcience relieved, 32, 33, 51,130.
H
Happy ſaint and curſed finner, 1.
Harveſt, 65, 126, 147.
Health, ſickneſs, and recovery, 6, 30, 31.
Prayed for, 6, 38, 39.
Heart knowl, to God, 132.
Hearing of prayer and falvation, 4, 10,
I O2.
Heaven of ſeparate ſouls and reſurreótion
I 7. the ſaints dwelling-place, 24. 3
Holineſs, pardon and comfort, 4. deſired,
* 19, I Ith part, profeſ!, * 19, 3d part, 139.
Hope in darkneſs, 13, 77, I43. of reſul rec-
toº, I 6, 71, and deſpair in death, 17, 49.
and prayer, 27, for vićtory, 20. and dí-
rection, 42. In afflićtions, 42, H43.
Hoſanna of the children, 3. for the Lord's-
day, I 18. -
Houſehold, ſee Family.
Humiliation day, Io. for diſappointment, 60.
Humility and ſubmiſſion, 13 I, I 39.
Hypocrites and hypocriſy, 12, 5o.
* I
jº º 16, II 5, 135.
Jehovah, 68, 83. reigns 6
Jews, ſee ń. 8 93. 90, 974
Images, ſee Idolatry.
Imprecations and charity, 35.
Incarnation, 97, 98. and ſacrifice of Chriſt,
4O. *
Infants, 139, ſee Children
Inſtruction from God, 25. from ſcripture,
19, 4th and 7th parts, in piety, 34-
Inſtructive afflićtions, 94.
Intemperance puniſhed, 78. and pardoned,
I O7.
Joy of converſation, 126. ſee Delight
Iſrael ſaved from the Aſſyrians, 76. ſaved
from Fgypt, and brought to Cannan, 77,
9. 197; 135, 136, rebellion and pu-
niſhment, 78, puniſhed and pardoned,
ro8, Koz. travels in the wilderneſs, Ioz,
II 4.
Judgment and mercy, 9, 68. day, I, 26, 5o,
97, 98, 149, ſeat of God, 9.
Juſtice of providence, 9, and
men, I 5
Juſtification free, 32, 130.
- t K
King is the care of heaven, 21.
King William and king George, 75.
Kingdom of Chriſt, ſee Chriſt.
Knowledge deſired, 19: I [9, 9th part.
L
Law of God, delight in it, Irg.
Liberality rewarded, 41, 112.
Life and riches, their vanity, 49, ſhort and
feeble, 89, 9o, 144.
Longing atter God, 42, 63.
66,
truth towards
514
INDEX TO THE PSAfMS,

Lord’s-day pſalm, 92, I 18, morning, 5, 19,63
Love of God to the righteous, and hatred t
the wicked, t, 11. to our neighbour, 15.
Chriſt to ſinners, 35 of God better than
life, 63, of God unchangeable, 89, Ioč.
to enemies, 35, Io9. brotherly, I 33. and ||
worſhip in a family I 33.
Luxury puniſhed, 78, and pardoned, Io'7.
M *
Magiſtrates warned, 53, 82. qualifications,
ro1 raiſed and depoſed, 75.
Majeſty of God, 63. ſee God.
Man, his vanity as mortal, 39, 89, 90, 144.
dominion over creatures, 8: mortal, and
Chriſt eternal, Io2. wonderful formation,
I39.
Mien pſalm, Io'7.
Marriage, myttical, 45.
Maſter of a family, Ior.
Meditation, I, 63, I 19, 5th and 6th parts
Melancholy reproved, 42, and hope, 77,
removed, 126.
Mercies, common and ſpecial, 68, Io:3.
ſpiritual and temporal, Io; innumerable,
139; everlaſting, 136, recorded, 107. and
judgment, 9, and truth of God, 36, 89,
Io3, 136, 145, 146.
Merit diſclaimed, 16
Meſſiah, ſee Chriſt
Midnight thoughts, 63, I 19, 5th and 6th
parts, I-39.
Miniſters ordained, 132.
Miracles in the wilderneſs, I 14,
Mººns pſalm, 3, 14:1. of a ſabbath 5, 19,
3-
Mortality of man, 32, 49, 9o, and hope, 89.
and God’s eternity, 9o. 102.
t N
Nation’s honour and ſafety, in the church, ;
48, proſpefity, 673 144, bleſt and puniſh-
ed, Io'7.
National deliveiance, '67,.75, 76, 124, 126.
defolations, the church’s ſafety and tri- ||
umph in them, 46. -
Nature and ſcripture, 'Is), 1.19; 7th part, of
man, I39:
New England pſalm, Io'ſ.
November the 5th, I 15, 124
O
Obedience, ſincere, 18, 32, 139. better
than ſacrifice, 50. ---
Old age, death, 9o, and reſurreótion, 71,
Omnipotence, omniſcience, omnipreſence,
&c, ſee God.
P. , *
Pardon, holineſs and cºmfort, 4. of back-
ſlidiig, 78; and direction, 25, and repen-
tance prayed for, 38, and confeſſion, 32.
of original and actual ſin, 51. plentiful
with God, 136..., *
Patience under afflićtions, 39, under perſe-
cutions, 37; 44, in darkneſs, 77, 130, 131
. Peace and holineſs encouraged, 34, with
men deſired, Izo.
ſ
Perfeótions of God, rrr, 136, 143, 147.
Perſecuted ſaints, their prayers and faith,
35, 44- 74, 8o, 83.
Perſecution, v. čtory over, and deliverance
from it, 7, 53, 94, courage in it, II 92.
17th part.
Perſecutors puniſhed, 7, 129. 149. their
folly, 14, complained of, 35, 44,74, 80,
83. deliveralice from them, 9, ro, 94.
Perſeverance, I 38 in trials, 19, 17th part .
Perſonal glories of Chriſt, 45.
Pettilence, preſervation in it, 91.
Piety, inſtructions therein, 34, ſee Saint.
Pity to the afflićted, 41, ſee Charity.
Pleading without repining, 39, i23, the
promiſes, I 19, Ioth part.
Poor, charity to them, I5, 37, 41; II 2.
Portion of faints and ſinners, 11, 17, 37;
Poverty confeſſed, 16.
*:::: and majeſty of God, 68, 89, 145. ſee
O ſº
Pračtical atheiſm, 14, 36.
Praiſe to God from children, 8. for creation
and providence, 33, roq. to our Creator,
ſoo, from all creatures, 148. ſor eminent
deliverances, 34, I 18. general, 86, I 452
150, for the goſpel, 98. for health reſ.
tored, 30, 116, for hearing prayer, 66,
roz. to Jeſus Chriſt, 45. from all nations,
1.17, and prayer public, 65. for protec-
tion, grace and truth, 57. for providence
and grace, 36. for rain, 65, 147, from
the ſaints, 149, 450. for temporal bleſ-
fings, 68, 147. for temptations overcome,
18, for vićtory in war, 18,
Prayer heard, 4, 34, 65, 66, in time of war;
20, and hope of vićtory, 20, praiſe, public,
65, and hope, 27. in church's diſtreſs, 80.
heard, and Zion reſtored, 1oz. and faith
of perſecuted faints, 35, 37, 56, and praiſe
for deliverance, 34, for lepeptance and
pardon, &c. 38, ſee Complaint.
Preſerving grace, 138.
Preſervation in public dangers, 46, 91, 112.
daily, 12 I. + ?
Pride and atheiſm, and oppreſſion puniſhed,
Io, 12. and death, 49.
Prieſthood of Chriſt, 51, 1 Io.
Princes vain, $2, 146. t -
Profeſſion of ſincerity and repentance, &c.
II 9, 1 oth part.
Proſperity dangerous, 55, 73.
Proſperous ſinners curied, 37,49, 73.
Protection, truth and grace, 57. by day and
night, 12 I. -
Providence, its wiſdom, and equity, 9. and
creation, 33, 135, 136, and grace, 36, 147.
and perfectic ns of God, 36. Its myſtery un-
folded, 73. recorded, 77, 73, Io'7. in air
earth, and ſea, 33, 65, 89, Ioa, Ioz, 147.
Prudence and zeal, 39. g
Pſalm for ſoldiers, 18, 6o. for old age, 71, for
huſbandmen, 65. for a funeral, 89, 99. for
the Lord's day, 92. before prayer, 95, bº
fore ſermon, 95 for magittrates, ior, for
houſeholders, IoI. for mariners, Ioy; for"
gluttons and drunkards, 197; for New
England, 107, for the 5th of November;
INDEX TO THE PSALMS.
515
115, 124. for Great Britain, 67, 147, ſee
Morning, Evening, &c.
Public praiſe for private mercies, 116, I 18.
for deliverance, 124. worſhip, abſence
from it complained of, 42, worſhip at-
tended on, 122. prayer and praiſe 65, 84.
Puniſhment of ſinners, I, II, 37, and ſaiva-
tion, 78, 81, 106. ſee Afflićtion.
Purpoſes, holy, 119, 15th part.
Q
Qualifications of a chriſtian, 15, 24. Quar-
relſome neighbours, I2O.
Ouickening grace, I 19, 16th part.
& R
Rain from heaven, 65, 135, 147.
Recovery from ſickneſs, 6, 30, 116.
Rejoicing in God, 18, ſee Joy, Delight.
Relative duties, I 5, 133. 4.
Religion and juſtice, 15, in words and deeds,
37.
Religious education, 34, 78.
Remembrance of former deliverances, 77,
I 43.
Repentance, confeſſion and pardon, 32. and
prayer for pardon and ſtrength, 38, and
faith in the blood of Chriſt, 51.
Reproach removed, 31, 37.
Reſignation, 39, 123, 13 I.
Reſolutions, holy, I 19, I 5th part.
Reſtoring grace, 138, 23.
Reſurreótion and, death of Chriſt, 2, 16, of
the ſaints, 16, 17, 49, 71. and death, 49,
71, 89.
Réºce in worſhip, 89, 99.
Revolution by King William, 75.
Riches, their vanity, 49. Compared with
grace, I 44.
Righteous, ſee Saints.
Righteouſneſs from Chriſt. 7 I, ſee Salvation,
Pardon, Chriſt.
S
Sabbath, ſee Lord's-day.
Sacrifice, 40, 51, 69., incarnation of Chriſt,
4O. * * *
Safety iſ public danger, 91. and triumph of
the church in national deſolations, 46. In
God, 61. and delight in the church, 27.
Saints happy, and ſinners curfed, I, II, I 19,
1ſt part. faicty in evil times, 12, 46. the
beſt company, 16. charaćteriſed, I 5, 24.
and finners’ portion, 1, iſ, dwell in hea-
ven, I 5, 24. puniſhed and ſaved, 78, Ice.
God’s care Óf them, 54. reward at laſt,
50, 9o, 92 and ſinners’ end, 37, I, II par
tience and world’s hatred, 37, chaſtiſed,
and ſinners deſtroyed, 94; die, but Chriſt
lives, to2, puniſhed and pardoncq, 106,
107. conducted to heaven, Ioč, Loz. tried
and preſerved, -66, 12.5. afflićtions mo-
derated, 125. Judging the world, 149.
Salvation of faints, Io, and triumph, 18. and
defence in God, 61. by Chriſt, 6.9, 35.
Sanétified afflićtions, 119, lait part, 94.
Satan ſubdued, 3, 6, 13.
WQL. VII.
Scripture compared with the book of nature,
89, 119, 7th part. inſtruction from it, 119,
4th part. delight in it, I 19, 5th and 18th
parts. holineſs and comfort from it, I 19,
6th part. perfeótions, I 19, 7th part, variety
and excellency, I 19, 8th part. attended
with the ſpirit, I 19, 9th part.
Seaſons of the year, 65, 147.
Seaman’s ſong, Ioy.
Secret devotion, 119, 2d part, 34,
Seeking God, 63, 27.
Self-examination, or evidences of grace, 26,
I 39. -
seſſie ſouls, heaven, 7.
Shepherd of ſaints is Ged, 23.
Shipwreck prevented, 107.
Sick-bed devotion, 6, 38, 39, 116.
Sickneſs healed, 6, 30, 116.
Signs of Chriſt’s coming, 12, 96, &c.
Sin of nature, 14, original and actual, Con-
feſſed and pardoned, 51. and chaſtiſement
of ſaints, 78, Ioff, unlverſal, I4.
Sincerity, 19, 26, 32, 139. proved and re-
warded, 18. profeſt, I 19, 3d part.
Sinner culſed and ſaint happy, I, II. and
ſaint’s portion, 1, 17, 37, 5o. hatred and
faint’s patience, 37. deſtroyed, and ſaints
chaſtiſed, 94.
Sins of tongue, I 2, 34, 5o.
Slander, deliverance from it, 3 I, I2O.
Song, ſee Pſalm.
Sorrows, ſee afflićtion, ſickneſs, &c.
Souls in ſeparate ſtate, 17, 146, 15o.
Spirit given at Chriſt's aſsenſion, 68, his
teaching deſired, 1 19, 9th part, 51.
Spiritual enemies overcome, 3, 18, 144,
bleſfings and puniſhments, 81, minded-
neſs, I 19, 2d part, ſee Saint, Grace, &c.
Spouſe of Chriſt, the king, is the church, 45.
Spring of the year, 65, and ſummer, 65, 104.
and winter, 147.
Storm and thunder, 29, 135, T48.
Strength, repentance and pardon prayed for,
38. from Chriſt, 7 I. of grace, I 38.
Submiſſion, 123, 13 I. to Chriſt, 2, to fick-
neſs, 39.
Succeſs of the goſpel, 19, I Io.
Sufferings and death of Chriſt, 22. and king-
dom, 2, 22, 69, I Io.
Summer, 65. and winter, I47.
Support and counſel from God, 16. for the
afflićted and tempted, 55. and comfort in
God, 94, II 2, 14th part.
Surety and ſacrifice, Chriſt, 4o.
T
Temptations overcome, 3, 18. in ſickneſs,
6. eſcapes from them, 25. of the devil, 13.
fupport under them, 3, 55, 64.
Tempter, ſee Satan.
Tender conſcience, I 19, 13th part.
Thanks, public, for private mercies, I 16,
I 18. ſee Praiſe.
Threatenings and promiſes, 81.
Thunder and ſtorm, 29, 135, 136, 148.
Times, evil, I I, I 2.
Tongue governed, 34, 39.
3 S
5 16
INDEX TO THE PSALMS.
Trial of our graces by afflićtions, 66, 125, oſ
our hearts, 26, 139.
Triumph I or ſalvation, 18. and ſafety of the
church in national delolations, 46. at the
laſt day, 149.
Troubles, ſee Aſfiićtions, Tcnptations.
Thuſt in the creatures vain, 62, 146.
Truth, grace, and protećtion, 57, 145, 146
ſee God, Fauthfulneſs.
Tumult, deliverance from it, 1 18.
V
Vanity of man as mortal, 39, 89, 144, oſ liſe
and riches, 40.
VengeancC and compaſſion, 68, againſt ene-
mtes of the church, 79, 149
Vićtory hoped and prayed ſor, 20. over
temptations, 6, 18, 144, ovcr temporal
enemies, 18. and deliverance from per-
ſecution, 53.
Vineyard of God w afted, 8o.
Unbelief, and envy, cured, 37. puniſhed, 95.
Unchangcable God, 89, III,
Vows paid in the church, 116. of holincſs,
II 9, 15th part.
W
Waiting for pardon and direétion, 25, for
anſwer to prayer, 83, 130, 143.
War, prayer in time of it, 20. diſappoint-
ments thercin, 60. vićtory, 18. ſpiritual,
18, 144. -
Warnings of God to his people, 81.
Watchfulneſs, 19, 141. over the tonguc, 39.
Weathcr; 65, icy, 135, 147, 148,
Wicked, ſee Sinnel, Saunt.
Wickedneſs of man, 14, 36, 51.
Wind, ſee P. ovidence, Seaſons, Storms.
Winter and ſummer, 147.
Wiſdom and equity of providence, 9, of
God in his won ks, I I I,
Word of God, ſee Scripture.
Works of creation and providence, IO4,
147, 148, and grace, I 9, 33, I I I, 135, 136.
good, profit men, not God, 16,
World’s hatred, and ſaints’ paucrºce, 37.
Wol ſhip and on dcr of the goſpel, 48 delight
in it, 84, with reverence, 39, 99, daily,
55, 134, 14o in a family, 1 33 public, 63,
84, I 22, 132. abſcnce from it, 42, 63.
W lath and mercy from the judgment-ſeat,
9, ſee more in God, Puniſhment, Sumner,
Vengeance. z
Z.
Zeal and prudence, 39. Zion, its citizens,
15 ſee Chriſt,
A TABLE
To find out any PSALM, or part of a PSALM, by the first Line of it.
A
ALL ye that love the Lord rejoice
Alage II 9
Almighty ruler of the ſkies 37
Amidſt thy wrath remember love 54
Amidſt th' aſſemblics of the great 78
Among the plinces earthly gods 3o
And will the god of grace 78
Are all the foes of Zion fools 64
Are ſinners now ſo ſenſeleſs grown 4o
Ariſe, my gracious God 4 I
Awake, ye ſaints, to praiſe your King IIc
* B
Behold the lofty ſky 43
Behold the love, the generous love 52
Behold tile morning ſun 43
Behold the ſure foundation ſtone 99
Behold thy waiting ſervant, Lord I O2
Bleſs, O my ſoul, the living God 90
Bleſs'd are the ſons of peace I IO
Bleſs'd are the ſouls that hear and know 81
Bleſs'd are the undefil’d in heart IOO
Bleſs'd is the man, for ever bleſs'd 5o
Bleſs'd is the man whoſe bowels move 56
Bleſs'd is the man who ſhuns the place 33
Bleſs'd is the nation where the Lord 5o
C
Children in years and knowledge young 51
Come, children, learn to fear the Lord 52
Come let our voices join to raiſe 86
Come, ſound his praiſe abroad 86
Conſider all my ſorrows, Lord
Io:3
D . *
David rejoic’d in God his ſtrength 45
Deep in our hearts let us record 71
- E A
Early, my God, without delay 66
Exalt the Lord our God . $8
F
Far as thy name is known 59
Father, I bleſs thy gentle hand IO4.
Father, I ſing thy won drous grace 71
Firm and unmov’d are they 107
Firm was my health, my day was bright 49
| Fools in their hearts believe and ſay 4.O
For ever bloſſed be the Lord I I 5
For ever ſhall my ſong record 8o
From age to age exalt his name 93
From all that dwell below the ſkies 99
From deep diſtreſs and troubled thoughts IoS
G
Give thanks to God he reigns above 93
Give thanks to God, invoke his name 92
Give thanks to God the ſovereign Lord II r
Give to our God immortal praiſe II 2.
Give to the Lord ye ſons of fame 48
God in his earthly temple lays 8o
God is the refuge of his ſaints 58
God, my ſupporter and my hope 73
God of eternal love 93
God of my childhood and my youth 72
God of my life, look gently down SS
God of my mercy and my praiſe 95
Good is the Lord, the heavenly King 68
Great God, attend while Zion ſings 79
Gread God, how oft did Iſrael prove 77
Gread God, indulge my humble claim 67
Great God, the heaven’s well ordered
ſrame
* 44.
Great God, whoſe univerſal ſway 72.
Great is the Lord, exalted high I 1 O
Great is the Lord, his works of might 96
Great is the Lord our God 59
Great Shepherd of thine Iſrael 77
H
Had not the Lord may Iſrael ſay Ioô
Happy is he that fears the Lord 96
Happy the city where their ſons I LS
3 S 2.
518
TABLE TO THE PsALMs.
Happy the man to whom his God .. 50
Happy the man whoſe cautious cet 33
Hear me, O God, nor hide thy face 89
Heat what the Lord in viſion ſaid 8 )
Help, Lord, for men of virtue fail 39
He reigns, the Lord, the Saviour reigns 87
He that hath made his refuge God 83
High in the heavens, &c. 53
How awful is thy chaft’ning rod 76
How did my heart rejoice to hear IOG
How faſt their guilt and ſorrows riſe 4 I
How long, O Lord, ſhall I complain 39
How long wilt thou conceal thy face 39
ow pleaſant, how divinely fair 78
Hoºv pleaſant ’tis to ſee I [O
How pleas'd and bleſs'd was I Foé
How ſhall the young ſecure their hearts I or
Jehovah reigns, he dwells in light 84.
Jeſus our Lord, aſcend thy throne 95
eſus ſhall reign where-e’er the ſun 73
If God ſucceed not, all the coſt Io 7
Uſ God to build the houſe deny IoS
I liſt my ſoul to God 47
I’ll bleſs the Lord from day to day 5 I
I’ll praiſe my Maker with my breath 1 16
I’ll ſpeak the honours of my King 57
I love the Lord, he heard my cries 98
In all my vatt concerns with thee II 3
In anger, Lord, rebuke me not 36
In God’s own houſe pronounce his praiſe 119
In Judah God of old was known 75
Into thine hand, O God of truth 49
Joy to the world, &c. 87
I ſet the Lord be forc my face 4I
Is thcre ambition-in my heart Io9
It is the Lord our Saviour’s hand 89
Judge me, O Lord, and prove my ways 48
Judges who rule the world by laws 65
juſt are thy ways, and true thy word 42
I waited patient for the Lord 55
I will extol thee, &c.
49
z L
Let all the earth their voices raiſe 86
Let all the heathen writers join I O2
Let children hear the mighty deeds 76
Let cv’ry creature join I 19
Let ev’ry tongue thy goodneſs ſpeak I 16
Let God ariſe in ali his might 69
Let ſin ncis take their courſe 64
Let Zion in her King rojoice 58
Let Zion in her ſons rejoice 89
Lo, what a glorious corner ſtone IOO
Lo, what an entertaining ſight Io9
Long as I live I’ll bleſs thy name II 5
Ilord, baſt thou caſt the nation off 66
Lord, I am thine : But thou wilt prove 42
Lord, I am vilc, conceiv'd in ſin 63
Lord, I can ſuffer thy rebukes 36
Lord, I eſteem thy judgments right I () I.
Lord, if thine eyes ſurvey our faults 83
Lord, if thou doſt not ſoon appear 39
Lord, I have made thy word my choice Ioz
Lord, in the morning thou ſhalt hear 35
Lord, I will bleſs thee all my days 5 J
Lord, I would ſpread my forc diſtreſs
Lord of the worlds above - 79
Lord, thou haſt call'd thy grace to mind 8
Lord, thou haſ heard thy ſervant cry 99
Lord, thou haſt ſearch’d and ſeen me
thro' II 2.
Lord, thou haſt ſeen my ſoul ſincere 42.
Lord, thou wilt hear me when I pray 35
Lord, 'tis a pleaſant thing to ſtand 84
Lord, we have heard thy works of old 57
Lord, what a feeble piece 83
Lord, what a thoughtleſs wretch was I 73
Lord, what is man, poor feeble man II 5
Lord, what was man when made at firſt 37
Lord, when I count my mercies o'er 114
LCrd, when thou didſt aſcend on high 70
Loud hallelujahs to the Lord I 18
M
Maker and ſov’reign Lord 34
Mercy and judgment are my ſong 33
Mine eyes and my deſire 47
My God, accept my early vows I. I.4.
My God, confider my diſtreſs I O2
My God, how many are my fears 34.
My God, in whom are all the ſprings 65
My God, my everlaſting hope 72
My God, my King, thy various praiſe 115
My God, permit my tongue 67
My God, the ſteps of pious men 54
My God, what in ward grieſ I feel I 13
My heart rejoices in thy name - 49
My never-ceaſing ſongs ſhall ſhow 8o
My refuge is the God of love 38
My righteous Judge, my gracious God L14
|
My Saviour and my King, 57
My Saviour, my Almighty Friend 72
My Shepherd is the living Lord 46
My Shepherd will ſupply my need • 46
My ſoul, how lovely is the place 79
My ſoul lics cleaving to the duſt IO4.
My ſoul, repeat his praiſe 90
My ſoul, thy great Creator praiſe 9I
My Spirit looks to God alone 66,
My ſpirit ſinks within me, Lord 56
My truſt is in my heav'nly Friend 36
N
No ſleep nor ſlumber to his eyes Io9
Not to our names, thou only Juſt and
True 98
Not to ourſelves, who are but duſt 97
Now be my heart inſpir’d to ſing 258
Now from the roaring lion’s rage 45
Now I’m convinc'd the Lord is kind 73
Now let our lips with holy fear 7 I
Now let our mournful ſongs record 46
Now may the God of power and grade 44
Now plead my cauſe, Almighty God 52
Now ſhall my ſolemn vows be paid 69
O
O all ye nations praiſe the Lord 99
O bleſſed ſouls are they 49
O bleſs the Lord, my ſoul 90
O Britain, praiſe thy mighty God 1 r 7
Of juſlice and of grace I ſing 89
O for a ſhout of ſacred joy 53
63
TABLE TO THE PSALMS,
O God my reſuge hear my cries 64ſ
O God of grace and righteouſneſs 35
O God of mercy hear my call 64
O God to whom revenge belongs 85
O happy man, whoſe ſoul is fill’d IoS
O happy nation where the Lord 5 I
O how I love thy holy law f O I
O Lord, how many are my foes 35
O Lord our heav'nly King 36
37
Io 3
O Lord our God, how wond’rous great
O that the Lord would guide my ways
O that thy ſtatutes ev’ry hour ro4
O thou that beareſt when ſinners cry 63
O thou whoſe grace and juſtice reign fog
O thou whoſe juſtige reigns on high 65
Our God, our help in ages paſt 32
Out of the docps of long diſtreſs Io.8
O what a ſtiff rebellious houſe 76
P
Praiſe waits in Zion, Lord for thee 68
I IC)
Praiſe ye the Lord, exalt his name
Praiſe ye the Lord, my heart ſhall join I 16
Praiſe ye the Lord, 'tis good to raiſe 1 17
Preſerve me, Lord, in time of need 40
R
Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord 5o
Remember, Lord, our mortal ſtate 82
Return, O God of love, return 83
S
Salvation is for ever nigh 3o
Save me, O God, the ſwelling floods 7o
Save me, O Lord, from ev’ry ſoe 4. I
See what a living ſtone I OO
Shew pity, Lord, O Lord forgive 63
- Shine, mighty God, on Britain ſhine 69
Sing all ye nations to the Lord 69
Sing to the Lord aloud 78
Sing to the Lord Jehovah’s name 85
Sing to the Lord with joyful voice 83
Sing to the Lord, ye dittant lands 86
Songs of immortal praiſe belong 96
Soon as I heard my Father ſay 48
Sure there’s a righteous God 74 |
Sweet is the mem’ry of thy grace II 6
Sweet is the work, my God, my king 34
T
Teach me the meaſure of my days S5
Th' Almighty reigns exalted high 87
96
47
42
88
That man is bleſs'd who ſtands in awe
The earth for ever is the Lord’s
Thee will I love, O Lord, my ſtrength
The God Jehovah reigns
The God of glory ſends his ſummons
forth
The God of our ſalvation hears
6 I
68
The heav'n's declare thy glory, Lord 44
The King of ſaints, how fair his face 58
The King, O Lord, with ſongs of praiſe 45
The Lord appears my helper now 99
The Lord, how wondrous are his ways 90
The Lord Jehovah reigns 85
The Lord is come, the heav'ns proclaim 87
The Lord my Shepherd is
The Lord of glory, is my light
The Lord of glory reigns, he reigns on
high 4.
The Lord, the Judge, before his throne 6a
The Lord, the Judge, the churches
|
Warn S Ár
The Lord, the ſov’reign King Ž
The Lord, the Sov’reign ſends his ſum-
mons forth 5T
The man is ever blºſt 33
The praiſe of Zion waits for thee 67
The wonders, Lord, thy love has
wrought . 56
Think, mighty God, on feeble man $2.
This is the day the Lord hath made 99
This ſpacious earth is all the Lord’s 47
Thou art my portion, O my God J O I
Thou God of love, thou ever bleſt Io 5
Thro’ ev’ry age, cternal God 32.
Thrice happy man who fears the Lord 96
Thus I reſolv’d before the Lord 55
Thus ſaith the Lord, the ſpacious fields 6o
Thus faith the Lord, your work is vain 55
Thus the eternal Father ſpake 95
Thus the great Lord of earth and ſea 95
Thy mercies fill the earth, O Lord I O2,
Thy name, Almighty Lord 99
Thy works of glory, mighty Lord 94.
'Tis by thy ſtrength the mountains ſtand 68
To God I cry’d with mournful voice 75
To God I made my ſorrows known i 14.
To God the great, the ever bleſt 93
To heaven I lift my waiting eyes Io 5
To our Almighty Maker God 37
To thee, before the dawning light IOC
To thee, moſt holy and moſt high 75
To thine almighty arm we owe 43
'Twas for thy ſake, eternal God 7 F
'Twas from thy hand, my God, I came I 13
'Twas in the watches of the night 66
V
Vain man, on fooliſh pleaſures bent 94.
Unſhaken as the ſacred hill Ioy
Up from my youth, may Iſr’el ſay Io3.
Up to the hills I lift mine eyes IOS
Upward I liſt mine eyes IOS
W
We bleſs the Lord, the juſt, the good 7o
We love thee, Lord, and we adore 43
What ſhall I render to my God $
9
When Chriſt to judgment ſhall deſcend 6o
When God is nigh, my faith is ſtrong 4 I.
When God, provoked with daring crimes 94
When God reſtor’d our captive ſtate 107
| When God reveal’d his gracious name Io?
When Iſrael, freed from Pharaoh’s hand 97
When Iſrael ſins, the Lord reproves 77
When I with pleaſing wonder ſtand I 14
When man grows bold in ſin 53
66
|When overwhelm'd with grief
When paid and anguiſh ſeize me, Lord 104
When the great judge, ſupreme and juſt 38
520
"FABLE TO THE PSALMS,
Where ſhall the man be found
Where ſhall we go to ſeek and find
While men grow bold in wicked ways
While I keep ſilence, and conceal
Who ſhall aſcend thy heavenly place
47
Io9
53
So
4O
Who ſhall inhabit in thy hill 4.O
Who ſhall ariſe and plead my right 85
Why did the Jews proclaim their rage 34
Why did the nations join to ſlay 34.
60
54.
38
59
Why did the proud inſult the poor
Why do the wealthy wicked boaſt
Why doth the Lord ſtand off ſo far
Why doth the man of riches grow
Why has my God my ſoul forſook 45
Why ſhould I vex my ſoul and fret S3
Will God for ever caſt us off 74
With all my powers of heart and tongue 112
With earneſt longings of the mind 56
|
With my whole heart I’ll raiſe my ſong 37.
With my whole heart I’ve ſought thy
face IO3
With rev'rence let the ſaints appear 81
With ſongs and honours founding loud I 17
Would you behold the works of God 94
t Y
Ye holy ſouls, in God rejoice 5 I
Ye iſlands of the northern ſea 87
Ye nations round the earth rejoice 88
Ye ſervants of th’ Almighty King 97
Ye ſons of men a feeble race 84
Ye ſons of pride that hate the juſt 6o
Ye that delight to ſerve the Lord 97
Ye that obey th’ immortal King I [O
Ye tribes of Adam join II 7
Yet ſaith the Lord, if David’s race 31
AN INDEX-.
To find any HYMN by the Title or Contents of it.
Note, The letters, a b c, ſignify the firſt, ſecond, and third book; the figures direét to
the hymn.
If you find not what hymn you ſeek under one word of the title, ſeek
it under another, or by ſome word that is of the ſame ſignification, though perhaps
not mentioned in the title of the hymn.
+-
a-sºmºsºmºmºmº
&ºmºmºmº-ºº:
\ A.
ARON and Chriſt, a 145. Moſes and
** Joſhua, b 124.
Abraham’s bleſſing on the Gentiles, a 6o,
I 13, I 14 b 134. Offering his ſon, a 129.
Abſence and preſence of God, boa, 94, Ioo,
from God for ever, intolerable, b 107.
Acceſs to the throne, by a Mediator, b Io9.
Adam, his fall, a ro7. corrupt nature from
him, b 128, the firſt and the ſecond, a 57,
I24;
Adoption, a 64, 143, and eleētion, a 54.
Advocate, ſee Christ’s interceffion.
Affections inconſtant, b 2.0. unſanétified, b
I65.
Affil&ted, Chriſt’s compaſſion to them, a 125.
Afflićtions removed, a 87, ſubmitted to, a 5,
129. b Io9. ſupport and comfort under
them, b 5o, 65. and death under previ-
dence, a 83.
Almoſt chriſtian, b 158,
Angels ſinning, b 24. ſtanding and falling,
b 27, praiſe ye the Lord, b 27, puniſhed,
and man ſaved, b 96, 97, their miniſtry
to Chriſt and ſaints, b 18, 112, I 13.
Ambition, &c. b Ior.
Anger of God, ſee wrath, vengeance, hell.
Anſwer to the church’s prayers, a 3o.
Anti-Chriſt, his ruin, a 29, 56, 59. ſae ene-
IY) 16S
' pottate, b 158.
--poſtle’s commiſſion, a 128.
Aſcenſion and reſurreótion of Chriſt, b 76
Affittance againſt temptations, a 15, 32, b 65.
Aſſurance of heaven, a 27, b 65. of the love
of Chriſt, a 14. b 73. of faith, a Io9.
Attributes, ſee God.
*
B
f
Babylon fallen, a 56, 59. ſee Enemies.
Backſlid:ngs and returns, b 2.0.
Baptiſm, a 52. preaching and the Lord’s
ſuppºr, b 14.I. and circumciſion, a 12 I. b
I27, 134, burial with Chriſt, a 122.
Beatitudes, a IO2.
Belicve and be ſaved, a Too.
Believer baptiſed, a 52, 122.
Birth, firſt and ſecond, a 95, 99. of Chriſt,
miracles at 1t, b 136.
Bleſſed are the dead in the Lord, a 18. ſo-
ciety in heaven, b 33, 75.
Bleſſedneſs and buſineſs of heaven, a 40,
4 r. b 86, only in God, b 93, 94, Ioo.
Bleſſing of Abraham on the Gentiles, a
II.3, I 14, b I34.
Blood and fleſh of Chriſt is our food, c 17,
18, the ſeal of the New Teſtament, c 3-
the ſpirit and the water, c 9.
Boaſting excluded, a 96.
Bodies frail, ſee life, health, fleſh.
Book of God's decrees, b 99.
Bread of life, is Chriſt, c 5.
Breathing towards heaven, b 23.
Britain’s God praiſed, b I. for deliveranees,
b oz.
Bºº, b 93 with Chriſt in baptiſm, a 122.
and death of a ſaint, b 3.
C
Canaan and heaven, b 66, T 12.
Carnal joys parted with, b 10, I f. reaſon
humbled, a 1 1, 12.
Ceremonial, ſee Law, Types, Prieſt.
| Charaćters of the children of God, a 143. of
*-
Chriſt, a 146, I So. of bleſſedneſs, à IO2.
522
INDEX TO THE HYMNS.
charity and uncharitableneſs, a 126, and
love, a I 3O, 333.
Children in the covenant of grace, a 1 13,
114. devoted to God, a 121, b 127.
Chriſt, ſee Lord, and Aaron, a 145. and
Adam, a 124 his aſcenſion, b 76. Bea-
tific fight of him, b 75. Beloved, deſcrib-
ed, a 75, the dread of Life, c 5. his care
of the young and feeble, a 125 133, and
the church, ſeeking, finding, &c. fee
Church coming to judge, a 16, his come
miſſion, b 103, IO4. Communion with
him, a 66, 71. and ſaints, a 67, 76. c 2.
compared to inanimate things, a 146. his
coronation and eſpouſals, a 72, his croſs,
not to be aſhamed of, c 19: crucified
God’s wiſdom and power, C Io. -
David's ſon, a 16, 5o. his death cauſed by
fin, b 81. grace and glory by it, c 23
vićtory and kingdom, b 14, his divine
nature, a 21, 13, 92, b 5 I. dwells in hea-
ven, viſits the earth, a 76. . . -
Enjoyment of him, b 15, 16. his eternity, a
2, 92. example, b 139. excellencies, a
† b e
Fift ...; knowledge of him, a Tog. his
fleſh and blood our food, c 17, 18. found
and brought to the church, a 7 I. his
glory in heaven, b 91. God reconciled
in him, b 148. grace.given us in him, a
I 37. b 4o. -
High Prieſt and King, a 61, his human and
divine nature, a 2, 13, 16, humiliation
and exaltation, a I, 63, 141, 142. b. 5,
43, 81, 83, 84, c ro, 16. *
His incarnation, a 3, 13. interceſſion, b 36,
7, 118, invitation to finners, a 127.
The King at his table, a 66. his kingdom
among men, a 3, 21. knowledge and
faith in him, a Io9. -
The Lamb of God, a 1, 25, 62, 63, his love
to the church, a 14, 77. under deſertion,
b 5o. ſhed abroad in the heart, a 135. to
men, a 92. lifted up, a 1 12. -
Miniſtered to by angels, b II2, II 3, miracles
at the birth of Chriſt, b I36. miracles in
his life, death and reſurreótion, b 137. and
Moſes, a 1 18.
Names and titles, a 147, I48, 149, 15o. ma-
tivity, a 3, 13. e
Obeyed or reſiſted, a 93, his offices, a 149.
I So, b I 32. p
Pardon and ſtrength from him, c 24, our
paſſover, b 155, his perſon glorious and
gracious, a 75. b 47, our phyſician, a 1 12.
his pity to the afflićted and tempted, a
125 his prieſthood, a 145, b 113. his pie-
ſence, ſee preſence, prophecies, and
types of him, b 135, prophet, prieſt, and
king, a 25, b 132, our prophet and teach-
© I's 3 d
Redemption, ſee Redeem rejected by the
ews, a 14 r. reſurreóiion, b 72, 76, is
our hope, a 26. reſurrečtion, life, and
death miraculous, o f 37, revealed to man,
a ſo, to babes, a 1 1, T2, righteouſncſs and
ſtrength in him, a 84, 85, 97. righteouſ-
neſs valuable, a 199.
4
His ſacrifice, b 142 and interceſſion, b 118.
ſalvation, righteouſneſs and ſtrength in
him, a 15, 84, 35, 97, 98. our ſančifica-
tion, a 97, 98, ſatan at enmity, a Io'ſ.
faints in his hand, a 138 our ſhepherd, a
37, 142. the ſubſtance of the types, b 12.
£ent by the Father, a roo, b 103, 164. his
ſufferings, c 16. and godly ſorrow, b 9,
*06, and glory, a 1, 62, 63, b 43, 81, 83,
84 c 10.
His titles and kingdom, a 13. triumph over
our enemics, a 28, 29. types and prophe-
cies of him, b 135.
Vićtory over ſatan, a 58. b 89. death and
hell, c 21, unſeen and beloved, a log.
Wiſdom of God, a 92. our wiſdom and righ-
teouſneſs, a 97, 93. worſhipped by the
creation, a 62. t
Chriſtian, ſee Saints, Spiritual, &c. religion,
its excellency, b 131, almoſt, b 158. vir.
tues, b 161.
Church, ſee Worſhip, Saints, Spiritual, its
faſety and protećtion, a 8, 39, b 64, 92.
its enemies ſlain by Chrift, a 21, 29 con-
Yerſing with Chriſt, namely, ſeeking,
finding, calling, anſwering, a 66–71.
under God’s care, a 66. eſpouſals with
Chriſt, a 72. beauty in the eyes of Chriſt,
a 73, the garden of Chriſt, a 74.
Circumciſion aboliſhed, b 134. and baptiſm,
a 12 I, b 127.
Cloathing ſpiritual, a 7,40. -
Comfort in the covenant with Chriſt, b 4o.
reſtored, b 73. ſee pardon. in ſorrows of
mind and body, b 5o, 65.
Communion with Chriſt and ſaints, a 2. be-
tween Chriſt and the church, a 66–7 F.
b I5, 16.
Compaſſion of a dying Chriſt, c 22. to the
afflićted, a 125.
Complaint of a hard heart, b 89, of deſer-
tion and temptations, b 163, of dulneſs, b
34 of indwelling fin, a #15. of ingrati-
tude, b 74, of ſloth and negligence, b 25,
32. -
Condemnation by the law, a 94.
Condeſcenſion to our worſhip, b 45, affairs,
b 46.
Confeſſion and pardon, a I3 t
Conſcience good, the pleaſure of it, b 37.
focure, and awakened, a 115.
Conſtancy in the goſpel, b 4.
Contention and love, a 130.
Converſion, a 104, b I 59, the difficulty of
it, b 16 I. delayed, a 88–91, the joy of
heaven, a Tor.
Convićtion of fin by the law, a 94, 115, by
the croſs of Chriſt, b 81, 95.
Corrupt nature from Adam, a 57, 1 off. b
#28, 159.
Covenant of grace, a 9. children therein, a
I 13, II.4. ſealed and ſworn, a 139. c 3.
hope in it, a 139. made with Chriſt, our
comfort, b 4o. of works, ſee Law, Goſpel.
Covetouſneſs, &c. a 24. b 56, IoI.
Courage and conttancy, a 14, 15, 48. b 4,
65.
Crcation, a 92, b 71, 147, new, b 130. pre-
INDEX TO THE HYMNS.
5
2
3
fervation, &c. of this world, b 13.
Creatures praiſe the Lord, b 71. love dan-
gerous, b 48. God above them, a 32.
their vanity, b 146.
Croſs of Chriſt is our glory, c. 19. repen-
tance flowing from it, b loé. ſalvation in
it; b 4. crucifixion to the world by it, c. 7.
Curſe and promiſe, a 107.
Cuſtom in ſin, b 160.
D
Dangers of our earthly pilgrimage, b 53. of
death and hell, b 55. of love to the crea-
tures, b 48.
Darkneſs diſpelled by Chriſt's preſence, b
54 of providence, b Io9.
Day of grace, and time of duty, a 88, of
judgment, a 45, 61, 65, 89, 9o.
Dead in the Lord, their bleſſedneſs, a 18. to
ſin by the croſs of Chriſt, a 106.
Death, ſee Chriſt, and afflićtions under pro-
vidence, a 83. terrible to the unconvert-
ed, a 91, made eaſy by the ſight of Chriſt,
b 3 I. c 14, by a ſight of heaven, b 66
God’s preſence in it, b 49, 117. our fear
of it, b 31. deſirable, a 19. b 61. over-
come, a 17. triumphed over, a 6, b I Io.
prepared for, a 27, b 63. of a ſinner, a 24.
b 2. and burial of a ſaint, a 18. b 3. and
eternity, b 28. and glory, a 1 Io. b 6 I. and
the reſurreótion, b 3, Io2, 1 Io. of Moſes
at God’s command, b 49. dreadful and
delightful, b 52. -
Deceitfulneſs of ſin, b 150.
Decrees of God, a 1 1, 12, 96, II 7, b 99.
Deity of Chriſt, a 2, 13, 92. b 51.
Delay of converſion, a 88–91, b 25, 32.
Delight in worſhip, b 14. In God, b 2. in
converſe with Chriſt, b 15, 16.
Deliverance from death and the grave, b 3.
ſee Enemies, Church, and Submiſſion, a
. I29. from ſpiritual enemies, a 47. b 65,
82, I I I.
Dependence, ſee Faith.
Deſertion and temptation complained of,
b I63.
Deſire of Chriſt’s preſence, b roo. ſee more
in Heaven, Chriſt, Love, &c.
Deſpair and preſumption, a 1 1 5. b 156, 157.
Devil vanquiſhed, a 58. ſee Vićtory.
Devotion fervent, deſired, b 34.
Difficulty of converſion, b 161.
Diſſolution of this world, b 13, 164. $
Diſeaſe, ſee Sickneſs.
Diſtemper, folly and madneſs of fin, b 153.
Diſtinguiſhing love, a 1 1, 12, 96, 117. b 96,
97.
Divine, ſee God, Deity, &e.
Dominion of God and our deliverance, b
II i. eternal, b 67. over the ſea, b 70.
Doubts and fears ſuppreſt, b 73.
Doxologies, c 26–45.
Dulneſs, ſpiritual, b 25.
Earth, no reſt on it, b 146. and heaven, b ro,
II, 53.
VOL. VII,
Effuſion of the Spirit, b 144.
Election excludes boaſting, a 96. free, a 1 1,
12, 54, 117. ſee Decrees.
End of the world, b 164.
Enemies of the church diſappointed, b 9o,
92. ſalvation from them, b 82, 88. tri-
umphed over by Chriſt, a 28, 29 ſee
Church, Babylon, Michael.
Enjoyment of Chriſt, b 15, 16, ſee Worſhip.
Enmity between Chriſt and ſatan, a 107.
Envy and love, a 13o.
Eſpouſals of the church of Chriſt, a 72.
Eſtabliſhment in grace, b 82.
Eternity of God, b 17, of his dominion, b
67. and death, b 23 ſucceeding this life,
b 55. ſee Heaven, Death.
Evening and morning hymns, a 79, 30, 81,
b 6, 7, 8. *
Exaltation, ſee Chriſt, Glory, Sufferings, &c.
Example of Chriſt, b 139, of ſaints, b 14o.
Excellency of the chriſtian religion, b 131.
F
Faith in things unſecrl, a 12o. b 129 and
knowledge of Chriſt, a 103. love and joy,
a ro8. and unbelief, b 125. living and
dead, a 14o. aſſiſted by ſenſe, b 141. its
joy, b 162. in Chriſt our ſacrifice, b 142.
and ſalvation, a 10o. of aſſurance, a 103.
and ſight, a II 3, b 145. triumphing in
Chriſt, a 14, for pardon and ſanétification,
b 9o, faith and reaſon, b 87, Io9.
Faithfulneſs of God's promiſes, b 4o, 60, 69.
Fall of angels and men, b 24, and recovery
of men, a 107. b 78.
Fears and doubts ſuppreſt, b 73.
Feaſt of love, a 68. of triumph, c 2.I. of the
goſpel, a 7 c 12, 20, made, and gueſts
invited, c 13.
Fellowſhip, ſee Communion.
Fervency of devotion deſired, b 34.
Few ſaved, b 158.
Fleſh and blood of Chriſt the beſt food, c 17,
18, our tabernacle, a 1 ſo. and ſpirit, b 143.
Food ſpiritual, a 7, 67, 68,74 b 15, ſee Feaſi.
Folly and madneſs of ſin, b 153.
Forbearance, ſee Patier.ce.
Forgiveneſs, ſee Pardon.
Formality in worſhip, a 136.
Frail, ſee Life, Health, Forgetfulneſs, b 165.
Frailty and folly, b 32.
Free, ſee Grace, Ele&tion.
Freedom from fin and miſery in heaven, b
86.
Funeral thought, b 61, 63.ſee Death, Burial.
G
Garden of Chriſt is the Church, a 74.
Garment of ſalvation, a 7, 20.
Gentiles, Chriſt revealed to them, a 10, 13,
50 c 13, 14. Abraham's bleſſing on them,
a II 3, I I4, b I 34.
Glorified martyrs and ſaints, a 40, 41. body,
b II o,
Glory and death, a 1 Io. b 61, ſee Heavens
of God above our reaſon, b 37, of Chriſt
in heaven, b 96, ſee Chriſt, and grace by
the death of Chriſt, c 23. Juſtification and
3 T
5.
24
INDEX TO THE HYMNS.
ſanétification, a 3. to the Father, Son, and
Holy Ghoſt, c 26–41. of God in the goſ-
pel, b 126. and grace in the perſon of
Chriſt, b 47, and ſufferings of Chriſt, b
43, ſee Sufferings.
Glory if the croſs of Chriſt, c 19.
God all and in all, b 93, oA, his abſence, fee
Abſence, his attributes, b 51, 166, 169.
glorifica by Chriſt, b 126, c Io, the aven-
ger of his faints, b iſ 9.
Care of his church, a 39, condeſcenſion to
human affairs, b 46, to our worſhip, b
45, the Creator and Redeemer, b. 35.
Our delight, b 42. our defence, a 47- do-
minion over the ſea, b 70 douninion, and
our deliverance, b I I I. dwells with the
humble, a 87.
Eternity, b 17, eternal dominion, b 67. ever.
laſting abſence intolerable, b roo, Io".
Far above his creatures, a 82. the Father,
Son, and Spirit, c 26–4I. his faithfulneſs
to his promiſes, b 6o, 69.
Glory and deſcrice of Sion, b 64, his glory!
above our reaſon, b 87. his goodneſs, b 58,
8o, his, grace, ſee Grace. government
from him, b 149. holineſs, juſtice, and
fovereigntv, a 86.
Inviſible, b 26. incomprehenſible, b 87, 170.
His kingdom ſupreme, b II 5. his love in
ſending his Son, a Too.
And our neighbour loved, a II 6.
Our portion or chief good, b 93, 94 his
power, b 8o, and goodneſs, b 6, 7, 8.
his praiſe, ſee Praiſe. preſence in life,
and at death, b II 7. ſee Preſence, pre-
ferver of our lives, b 6, 7, 8, 19. promiſe
and truth unchangeable, a 1 39.
Sight of him weans us from earth, b 41, ſo-
vereign, b 17o.
Terrible majeſty, b 22, and mercy, b 8o. his
truth, b 60, 69.
Vengeance, b 44, 62. Unity and Trinity, c
26–41.
His word, a 53. wrath and mercy, a 42.
Goodneſs cf God, b 58, 74, ſee Grace. and
power of God, a 42, b 8o.
Goſpel feaſt, c 12. ſee Grace, Feaſt. invita-
tion and proviſion, a 7, c 2.0. times, their ||
bleſſedneſs, a Io. ſee Scripture. glorifies ||
God, b 126, no liberty to fin, a 106, -132,
I4o. not aſhamed of it, a yo5 c 19. and
law, a 94, b 120, 12 I, 124, finned againſt,
a 1 18. its different ſucceſs, a 1 19, b 144.
miniſtry, a 10 atteſted by miracles, a 128.
b 136, 137. its glorious effects, b 138.
Government from God, b 149.
Grace and glory by the death of Chriſt, c 23.
of the ſpirit, a 1 oz converting, b I 59, in
exercife, c 25. juſtifies, a 94. ſanétifies
and ſaves, a I I I, not conveyed by pa-
rents, a 99, all-ſufficient in duty and ſuf-
ferings, a 15, 32, 104, given in Chriſt, a
137. Covenant, a 9 children in it, a 1 13.
Ir4. and holineſs, a 132. electing, a 54.
its freedom and ſovereignty, a 1 1, 12, 96,
117. b 96, 97. and glory in the perſon of
Chriſt, b 47, adopting, a 64 perſevering,
a 5 I. Promiſes, a 7, 9.. throne aqceſſible
by Chriſt, b 36, 37, Io9, *
Gratitude for divine favours, b 1:16:
Great Britain's God praiſed, b 1.
H
Happineſs, ſee Bleſſed, Heaven.
Hardneſs of heart, b 98.
Hatred and love, a 130.
Health preſerved, b 6, 7,8, 19. reſtored, a 55.
Heaven and earth, b Io, I I, 53, and hell, a
45. inviſible and holy, a IoS, meditation
of it, b 162. joy there for repenting ſin-
ners, a IoI. Its bleſſedneſs and buſineſs, a
40, 41. the hope of it our ſupport, b 65. its
proſpect makes death eaſy, b 66. worſhip
of it humble, b 68. freedom from ſin and
miſery there, b 86. hoped for by Chriſt’s
reſuriedtion, a 26. inſured and prepared
ſor, a 27. Chriſt’s dwelling-place, a 76.
b 91. ſight of God and Chriſt there, b 23.
bleſſed ſociety there, b 33. deſired, b 68.
Heavenly mindedneſs, b 57, joy on earth,
b I5, 30, 59. *
Hell and death, b 2. and judgment, a 45, b
62. or the vengeance of God, b 22, 44.
the holy fear of it, b Io'7.
Hezekiah’s ſong, a 55.
Holy, ſee Spirit.
Holineſs, ſee Grace, Spiritual, Sanétifica-
tion, and ſovereignty of God, a 32, 86.
and grace, a 132, 140. its chara&ters, a
I O2.
Honour vain, b Ior, to magiſtrates, b 149.
Hope of the living, a 38. gives light and
ſtrength, b 129, in the covenant, a 139.
of heaven by Chriſt’s reſurreótion, a 26.
of heaven our ſupport under trials, b 65.
of the reſurreótion, b 3, 1 Io.
Hoſanna to Chriſt, a 16, c 42, &c.
Hyman affairs condeſcended to by God, b
46. nature of Chriſt, a 2, 3, 13, 6o.
Humble, God’s dwelling, a 87. enlightened,
a II, 12, 5o. worſhip of heaven, b 68.
Humiliation, ſee Chriſt’s Sufferings, &c.
and prayer public, a 30.
Humility and pride, a 127. and meekneſs,
a Ioz. in heaven, b 68.
Hypocriſy and ſincerity, a 136. hypocrite, or
almoſt Chriſtian, b I 58.
Jealouſy of our love to Chriſt, a 78.
Jeſus, ſee Lord, Chriſt.
Jews, ſee Moſes, Goſpel, Chriſt, Gentiles
{gnorance enlightened, a I I, 12.
is, norance and unfruitſulneſs, b 165.
Impenitence, b 125.
Incarnation of Chriſt, a 2, 3, 13, 60.
Incomprehenſible God, b 87. and inviſible,
b 26.
Inconſtancy of our love, b 2.0.
Infants, ſee Children.
Ingratitude complained of, b 74.
Inſpiration and prophecy, b 1.5I.
| Inttitution of the Lord's ſupper, c f.
Inſufficiency of ſelf-righteouſneſs, b 154,
Interceffice of Chriſt, b 36, 37, 118.
Invitation of Chriſt anſwered, a 70, of the
goſpel, a 79, 127. C 13, 20.
John the Baptiſt’s meſſage, a 50-
INDEX TO THE HYMNS.
525
Joſhua, Aaron and Moſes, b 124.
Joy, faith and love, a 193. of faith, b 162.
carnal, parted with, b Io, 11. heavenly
upon earth, a 135. b30, 59. ſpiritual re-
ſtored, b 73. ſee more in Delight, Comfort.
Judgment day, a 45, 61, 65, 89, 9o, and
hell, b 62. Chriſt coming to it, a 61.
Juttice, &c. of God, a 36.
Juſtification, a 14. ſee Pardon, by faith, not
by works, a 94, Io9, ſanctification, a 7,
20, 84, b 9o, and glory, a 3.
K
Kingdom and titles of Chriſt, a 13. of Chriſt
among men, a 21, 65, of God eternal, b
63. ſupreme, b II 5.
Knowledge and faith in Chriſt, a 103. ſav-
ing, from God, a II, 12, 93.
L
Lamb that was ſlain, a 1, 25, 62. ſee Chriſt.
Law convinces of ſin, a I 15, condemns, a
94, and goſpel, b 120, 121, 124. and goſ-
pel ſinned againſt, a 1 18.
Levitical prieſthood fulfilled in Chriſt, b 12.
Life frail and ſucceeding eternity, b 55. pre-
ſerved, b 6, 7, 8, 19. ſhort, frail, miſera-
ble, a 82. b 39, 58. the day of grace and
hope, a 88.
Light and ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt, a 5o. in
darkneſs by the preſence of God, b 44.
given to the blind, a 1 1, 12.
Long ſufferance, ſee Patience.
Lord Jeſus at his own table, a 66. c 15. ſup-
per, preaching, and baptiſm, b 141. ſup-
per inſtituted, c I. day, a 72, delightful, b
14, table provided for, c 2.0, ſee more in
Chriſt.
Love of Chriſt unchangeable, a 14, 39, ſhed
abroad in the heart, a 135, its banquet, a
68. c 13. of Chriſt in words and deeds, a
77. of Chriſt its ſtrength, a 78. unſeen, a
IoS. to Chriſt, b too. to God pleaſant, and
powerful, b .38 and hatred, a 130. faith
and joy, a IoS. and charity, a 133. of God
in ſending his Son, a Loo. b Ios, 104. to
God and our neighbour, a 116. religion
vain without it, a 184, peace and meek-
neſs, a Ioz. of Chriſt dying, c 4, 22. to
God inconſtant, b2O. to the cfeatures dan-
gerous, b 43. diſtinguiſhing, a 11, 12, b
96, 97.
* M
Madneſs, folly, and diſtemper of fin, b 153.
Magiſtrates honoured, b 149.
Majeſty of God terrible, b 22, 62.
Malice and love, a 130.
Man ſaved, and angels puniſhed, b 96, 97.
mortal and vain, a 82. his fall and reco-
very, a KO'ſ.
Martyrdom, a 14, b 4.
Martyrs glorified, a 40, 41.
Mary the virgin’s ſong, a 6o.
Mººr the way to the throne of grace, b
I O25,
Mediation of heaven, b 162. and retire-
ment, b I22.
Memory weak, b 165.
Memorial of our abſent Lord, c 6.
Mercies national, b 1, 111. ſee Grace, Wrath,
Thanks.
Meſſiah born, a 6o. come, b 12.
Michael's war with the dragon, a 53.
Miniſter's commiſſion, a 128.
Miniſtry of angels, b 18. of the goſpel, a ſo.
Miſery and ſin baniſhed from heaven, b 86.
and ſhortneſs of life, b 39. without God
in the world, b 56. of ſinners, ſee Sinner,
Death, Hell.
Morning and evening ſongs, a 79, 80, 81.
b 6, 7, 8.
Mortality and vanity of man, a 82.
Mortification to the world by the ſight of
God, b 41. by the croſs of Chriſt, b Io9 C 7.
Moſes and Chriſt, a 49, I 18.
Moſes dying, b 49. Aaron and Joſhua b 124.
Mourning, ſee Complaint, Repentance.
Myſteries revealed, a I I, I2.
N
National mercies and thanks, b I, II 1.
Nativity of Chriſt, a 2, 3, 13.
Nature and grace, a Ioa, corrupt from
Adam, a 57, b 128, 159.
Neighbour and God loved, a II 6.
New covenant ſealed, c 3. promiſes, a 7:
ſong, a 1. creature, a 9. te (tament in the
blood of Chriſt, 3. creation, a 95, b 130.
birth, a 95.
November 5th, a ſong of praiſe, b 92.
O
Obedience evangelical, a 14o, I43.
Old age and death of the unconverted, a 91.
Offence not to be given, a 126.
Offices and operations of the Holv Spirit, b
I 33, and of Chriſt, a 146-15o, b 132. '
Olive tree, the wild and good, a I (4.
Ordinances, ſee Worſhip, Lord’s Supper.
Original ſin, a 57. ſee Adam, Nature.
Pains, comfort under them, b 5o.
Paradiſe on earth, b 30, 59.
Pardon, a ſufficiency of it, b 85. and con-
feſſion, a 131. and ſtrength from Chriſt,
c 24, bought at a dear price, c.4 and ſanc-
tification by faith, a 9, b 9o, brought to
our ſenſes, c 11.
Parents and children, a II 3, I 14, convey
not grace, a 99- .
Paſſover, Chriſt is ours, b 155.
Paffion, ſee Chriſt, Sufferings, Anger, Love.
Patience under afflićtions, a 5, 129, b io9.
of God producing repentalice, b 74, IoS.
Peace of conſcience, b 57. and contention,
a 130, ſee Comfort, Joy.
Perfeótions of God, b 166–169.
Perſevering grace, a 26, 32,48, 51, 133.
Perſon of Chriſt-glorious and gracious, a 75.
b 47. . •
Perſécution, courage under it, a 14.
Phariſec and publican, a I 3 i.
Pilgrimage of the ſaints, b 53.
Pleaſure of a good conſcience, b 57. of re-
ligion, b 30, 59, ſinful forſaken, b Io, I I,
their vanity and dauger, b Iol.
3 T 2.
526
INDEX TO THE HYMNS.
Poverty of Spirit, a ro2, 127,
Power of God, a 36. and wiſdom in Chriſt
crucified, b 126. c 10. and goodneſs of
God awful, a 42. b 8o.
Praiſe imperfeót on earth, b 5. for daily
protećtion and preſervation, b 6, 7, 8
from angels, b 27, from the creation, b
7.I. to the Redeemer, b 5, 21, 29, 35, 78.
to the Trinity, c 26–41, for creation and
redemption, b 35.
Prayer and praiſe, a 1. for deliverance an-
ſwered, a 30.
Preaching, baptiſm, and the Lord's ſupper,
b 14 I.
Predeſtination, ſee Ele&tion.
Preparation for death, a 27. ſee Death.
Preſumption and deſpair, a 1 15, b I 56, I 57.
Preſence of God in worſhip, b 45. light in
darkneſs, b 54, in death, a 19. b 31, 49.
c I4. in life and death, b II 7. or abſence
of Chriſt, b 5o. of Chriſt in worſhip, a
66. b 15, 16. c 15. of God our life, b 93,
94, I Oo.
Preſervation of this world, b I 3. of our
graces, a 51, of our lives, b 6, 7, 8, 19.
Pride and humility, a 1 1, 12, , 27.
Prieſthood levitical cnding in Chriſt, b 12.
of Chriſt, b 118.
Prodigal repenting, a 123,
Profit and unprofitableneſs, a 1 18. b 165.
'Promiſed Meſfiah born, a 60, 1oz.
Promiſes of the covenant, a 9, 39, Io'7. ſee
Scripture, and truth of God unchangea-
ble, a 139. our ſecurity, b 4o, 60, 69.
Prophecies and types of Chriſt, b 135. and
inſpiration, b I 51.
Proſperity and adverſity, a 5, vain, b 56. IoI.
Protećtion from ſpiritual enemies, b 82. of
the church, a 8, 22, 23. ſee Church.
Providence, b 46 executed by Chriſt, a 1.
over afflićtions and death, a 83. its dark-
neſs, b 109 proſperous and afflićtive, a 5.
Proviſions, ſee Goſpel, Lord’s table.
Public Ordinances, ſee Worſhip.
Publican and Phariſee, a 131.
Puniſhment for fin, ſee Hell, a Too, I 18.
R
Race, chriſtian, a 48. b 53.
Reaſon, feeble, b 87. carnal, humbled, a
II, I 2. tº
Recovery from ſickneſs, a 53.
Reconciliation to God in Chriſt, b 14.8.
Redemption in Chriſt, a 97, 93. b 78. and
protećtion, b 82. by price, c 4. and by
pow cr; b 29. ſee Chriſt.
Regeneration, a 95 b 13o. ſee Ele&tion,
Adoption, Sanétification.
Religion negle&ted, b 32. vain without love,
a 134, chriſtianity, the excellency of it,
b 13 I. revealed, ſee Goſpel, Scripture.
Remembrance of Chriſt, c 6.
Repenting prodigal, a 123.
Repentance from God’s goodneſs and pa-
tience, b 74, 105, and humiliation, a 37.
at the croſs of Chriſt, b 9, Io9. and impe-
nitence, b 125. gives joy to heaven, a Ion.
Reſignation, ſee Submiſſion.
Reſurreótion, a 6. b 102, 11c. ſee Death,
Chriſt, Heaven.
Retirement and meditation, b 122,
Returns and backſlidings, b 2.0,
Revelation of Chriſt, ſee Gentile Goſpel.
Revenge and love, a 13o. z
Rich ſinner dying, a 24, b 56.
Riches, their vanity, b 56, 1or.
Righteouſneſs and ſtrength in Chriſt, a 84,
85, 97, 98, of Chriſt valuable, a IC3, our
robe, a 7, 20. and ſelf-righteouſneſs, a
13 I. our own inſufficient, b 154.
S
Sabbath delightful, b 14.
Sacrament, ſee Baptiſm, Lord’s Supper.
sº of Chriſt, b 142. and interceflion,
II & .
Safety of the church, a 8, b 64, 92.
Saints, ſee Church, Spiritual. God their
avenger, b 11 5. and hypocrites, a 136,
I40, their example, b 14o. chara&tcrs of
them, a 143. in the hand of Chriſt, a 138.
ſecurity, b 64, beloved in Chriſt, a 54.
adopted, a 64. death and burial, b 3, in
glory, a 40, 4 I. communion, c 2.
Salvation, b 88, of the worſt of ſinners, a
IoA. by grace, a II 1. in Chriſt, a 137. ſee
Chriſt, Croſs, Grace, Heaven, Light, Re-
deem, Righteouſneſs.
Sanétification, juſtification, and glory, a 3.
and pardon, a 9. through faith, b 9o.
Satan and Chriſt at enmity, a 107. his vari-
ous temptations, b 156, 157, conquered
by Chriſt,b 89, ſee Devil.
Scripture, a 53. b 119. ſee Goſpel.
Sea under the dominion of God, b 7o.
Sealing and witneſfing ſpirit, a 144.
Secure and awakened ſinncr, a 115.
Security in the promiſes, b 4o, 60, 69.
Seeking after Chriſt, a 67, 71.
Self-righteouſneſs, a 131, inſufficient, b 154.
Senſe aſſiſting our faith, b 141.
Senſual delights dangerous, b 1 o, 11, 48.
Serpent, brazen, a 1 12.
Shepherd, Chriſt, and his paſtures, a 67.
sº frailty and miſery of life, b 32,
39, 55.
sº and recovery, a 55.
Sight of God mortifies us to the world, b 41.
of Chriſt beatific, b 16, 75. and faith, rio,
Izo. b i29, I45, of Chriſt makes death
eaſy, C I4.
Simeon’s ſong, a 19. c 14.
Sinai and Sion, b 152.
Sincerity and hypocriſy, a 136.
Sin the cauſe of Chriſt’s death, b 81. and
miſery baniſhed from heaven, a ros. b
86. original, a 57, pardoned and ſubdu-
ed, a 9, 104, b 9o, indwelling, a 115, its
power, a I 15, b 86. the ruin of angels and
men, b 24. Cuſtom in it, b 16o. folly, mad-
neſs, and diſtemper of it, b 153. convic-
tion of it by the law, a 115. againſt the
law and goſpel, a i 18, crucified, a 106.
deceitfulneſs of it, b 1.5o.
Sinning and repenting, b 29.
Sinful pleaſures forſaken, b 10, 11.
INDEX TO THE HYMNS.
527
Sinner, the vileſt ſaved, a 104. and ſaints’
death, b 2, 3, 52. invited to Chriſt, a 127.
excluded heaven, a JoA, IoS, his death
terrible, a 91, b 2.
Sloth, ſpiritual, complained of, b 25.
Society in heaven bleſſed, b 53.
Son equal with the Father, b 51. ſee Chriſt.
Sons of God, a 64, 143. elect and new-born,
a 54.
Song of angels, a 3, ºf Simeon, a 19. c 14.
of Zechariah, a 50. of Moſes and the
Lamb, a 49, 56. of Hezekiah, a 55. of So-ſ
lomon paraphraſed, a 66-78. of the Vir-
gin Mary, a 6o. for November 5th, b 92.
Sorrow, ſee Repentance. comfort under it,
b 5o, 60, 69. for the dead, relieved, b 3.
Sovereignty, a 86. ſee Grace, Election, God
Soul ſeparate, ſee Death, Heaven, Hell.
Spirit breated after, a 74. b. 34. water and
blood, c 9. his officers, b 133. witneſfing
and ſcaling, a 144. its fruits, a 102.
Spiritual enemies. deliverance, a 47. b 65,
82, warfare, b 77. pilgrimage, b 53. ap-
parel, a 7, 20. race, a 43. ſloth and dul-
neſs, b 25, 34, joy, b 73, 75. meat, drink,
and clothing, a 7 food, ſee Feaſt.
State of nature and grace, a IoA.
Storm, ſee Thunder.
Strength from heaven, a 15, 32, 43, righte-
ouſneſs and pardon in Chriſt, a 84, 35,
C 24.
Submiſſion and deliverance, a 129. to afflic-
tions, a 5, b Io9.
Succeſs of the goſpel, a II, 12, I 19, b 144.
Sufferings for Chriſt, a 102. ſee Chriſt.
Supper of the Lord inſtituted, c 1. Baptiſm
and preaching, b 14 I.
Support under trials, b 5o, 65.
Sympathy of Chriſt, a 125,
T
Table of the Lord, ſee Lord
Temptations, hope under them, a 139. of
the world, b Ior. of the Devil, b 65, 156,
I 57. and deſertion complained of, b 163.
Tempted, Chriſt’s compaſſion to them a 125-
Terrors of death to the unconverted, a 9 r.
Teſtament, new, in the blood of Chriſt, c 3.
Thankſgiving for vićtory, b I I I. for mer-
cies, b II 6. national, b I.
Throne of Grace, ſee Grace.
Thunderer, God, b 62.
Time redeemed, a 88. ours, and eternity
God’s, b 67.
Tree of life, c 3. and river of love, c 20.
Trinity praiſed, c 26–41.
Trials on earth, and hope of heaven, b 65.
Triumph over death, a 6. b I ſo of faith in
Chriſt, a 14 at a feaſt, c 21, of Chriſt over
our enemics, a 28.
Truſt, ſee Faith.
|Truth and promiſes of God unchangeable,
a 1 39, b 6o, 69.
Types, b 12. and prophecies of Chriſt, b 135.
V
Vain proſperity, b 56, Ior.
Value of Chriſt and his righteouſneſs, a 109.
Vanity and mortality of man, a 3.2. of youth.
a 89, 9o. of the creatures, b 146.
Vićtory, a thankſgiving for it, b 1 1 r. over
death, a 17, ſin and ſorrow, a 14. of Chriſt
over Satan, a 58. b 89. ſee Enemies.
Virtues chriſtian, b 161. ſee Holineſs, Love,
Saint, Spiritual.
Unº and faith, a Loo, b. 125. puniſhed,
2 I I &.
Uncharitableneſs and charity, a 126.
Unconverted ſtate, b I 59. death terrible to
thcm, a 9 I.
Unfruitfulneſs, b 165.
Unſanétified affections, b 165.
Unſeen things, faith in them, a 12o.
W
Wandering affections, b zo. thoughts in
worſhip, a 136.
Warfare, chriſtian, b 77.
Water, the Spirit, and the blood, c 9.
Weak ſaints encouraged by Chriſt, a 125.
by the church, a 126.
Weakneſs our own, and Chriſt our ſtrength,
2 I S.
Wiſdom and power of God in Chriſt cruci-
fied, c Io. Carnal humbled, a II, 12.
Witneſſing and ſealing ſpirit, a 144,
Word of God, a 53. preached, a Io, I19.
fee Goſpel, Scripture.
World, crucifixion to it by the croſs, c 7.
the temptations of it, b Ior. its end, b
164. mortification of it by the fight of God,
b4 I. its creation, b 147, preſervation, b 13.
Worſhip of heaven humble, b 68. profitable,
b 123. condeſcended to by God, b 45.
Chriſt preſent at it, a 66, b 15, 16. c 15.
accepted through Chriſt, b 36, 37, form-
ality in it, a 136, delightful, b 14, 15, 16, 42.
Wrath and mercy of God, a 42, b 89, ſee
God, Hell.
Y
Yoke of Chriſt eaſy, a 127.
Youth, its vanities, a $9. 9o. adviſed, a 91.
Zechariah's ſong and John's meſſage, a 50.
Zeal in the chriſtian race, a 48. b 129. and
love, a 14. for the goſpel, a 103, b 4. the
want of it, b 2.5. againſt fin, b Ioff. for
God, b II 6. \
Zion, her glory and defence, b 64 ſee
Church.
A TABLE
To find any HYMN by the first Line.
A. page,
ADORE and tremble, for our God I3 I
Alas! and did my Saviour bleed 155
All mortal vanities be gone 128
And are we wretches yet alive 177
And muſt this body die 178
And now the ſcales have left mine eyes 171
Ariſe, my ſoul, my joyful pow’rs 171
At thy command, our deareſt Lord I94
Attend, while God’s exalted Son 181
Awake my heart, ariſe my tongue 128
Awake our ſouls, away our fears I3 I
Away from ev’ry mortal care I8o
- B
Backward with humble ſhame we look 133
Begin my tongue ſome heav'nly theme 168
Behold how ſinners diſagree I48
Behold the blind their fight receive 183
Behold the glories of the Lamb 124
Behold the grace appears I 24
Behold the potter and the clay I45
Behold the Roſe of Sharon here 136
Behold the woman’s promis'd ſeed I32
Behold the wretch whoſe luſt and winc 1.46
Behold what wond’rous grace 135
Bleſs'd are the humble ſouls that ſee 142
Bleſs'd be the everlaſting God I29
Bleſs'd be the Father and his love 196
Bleſs'd morning ! whoſe young dawning
rays f 169
Bleſs'd with the joys of innocence 181
Blood has a voice to pierce the ſkies 179
Bright King of glory, dreadful God I64
Broad is the road that leads to death 187
Bury’d in ſhadows of the night I42.
But few among the carnal wiſe H42
C
Can creatures to perfeótion find 189
Chrift and his Croſs is all our-theme I 46
Come, all harmonious tongues 172
Come, deareſt Lord, deſcend and dwell 148
Come happy ſouls, approach your God I76
Come hither, all ye weary ſouls I47
Come, Holy Spirit, heav'nly Dove I 6 I
Come, let us join a joyful tune I 9 I
Come, ſet us join our chearful ſongs I 34
Come, let us lift our joyful eyes 177
l
Come, let us lift our voices high 195
Come, we that love the Lord 16o
D
Daughters of Zion, come, behold 137
Dear Lord, behold our ſore diſtreſs I 33
Deareſt of all the names above 185
Death cannot make our ſouls afraid 164
Death may diſſolve my body now I29
Death 'tis a melancholy day 164
Deceiv'd by ſubtle ſnares of hell I43
Deep in the duſt before thy throne I46
Deſcend from heav'n, immortal Dove 158
Do we not know that ſolemn word I46
Down headlong from their native ſkies 175
Dread Sovereign, let my ev’ning ſong I 55
E
Ere the blue heav’ns were ſtretch'd
abroad 1 24.
Eternal Sovereign of the ſky 185
Eternal Spirit, we confeſs 182
Faith is the brighteſt evidence 146
Far from my thoughts, vain world, &c. I 57
Father, I long, I faint to ſee I68
Father, we wait to feel thy grace 195
Firm as the earth thy goſpel ſtands 149
From heav'n the ſinning angels fell I75
From thee, my God, my joys ſhall riſe 17o
G
Gentiles by nature, we belong I 45
Give me the wings of faith to riſe 183
Glory to God the Trinity 196
Glory to God that walks the ſky I 66
Glory to God the Father’s name 196
God is a Spirit juſt and wife 149
God of the morning, at whoſe voice I 38
God of the ſeas, thy thundering voice I 69
God, the eternal awful name I 59
God, who in various methods told I 32.
Go preach my goſpel, faith the Lord 147
Go worſhip at Immanuel’s feet I 5.1
Great God! how infinite art thou I68
Great God l I own thy ſentence juſt 125
Great God thy glories ſhall employ 188
Great God l to what a glorious height 178
TABLE TO THE HYMNS.
529
Great King of glory and of grace 187
Great was the day, the joy was great’ 184
H
Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews 148
Happy the church, thou ſacred place 167
Happy the heart where graces reign 162
Hark! from the tombs of doleful ſound 167
Hark! the Redeemer from on high 136
Hear what the voice from heav'n pro-
claims 127
Hence from my ſoul, ſad thoughts, be
gone 17o
Here at thy croſs, my dying God I 54
High as the heav'n's above the ground 179
High on a hill of dazzling light E 57
Hoſanna, &c. 198
Hoſanna to our conqu’ring King 173
Hoſanna to the Prince of light 17o
Hoſanna to the royal Son I27
Hoſanna with a chearful ſound I 55
How are thy glories here diſplay’d I95
How beauteous are their feet 126
How can I fink with ſuch a prop I79
How condeſcending, and how kind 190
How full of anguiſh is the thought 175
How heavy is the night 142
How honourable is the place I 25
How large the promiſe, how divine 144
How oft have ſin and Satan ſtrove I49
How rich are thy proviſions, Lord I92
How ſad our ſtate by nature is I73
How ſhall I praiſe th’ eternal God I88
How ſhort and haſty is our life 16o
How ſhall the ſons of Adam’s race 140
How ſtrong thine arm is, mighty God 132
How ſweet and awful is the place 193
How vain are all things here below I 64
How wond’rous great, how glorious
bright 173
I cannot beat thine abſence, Lord 179
I give immortal praiſe I97
I hate the tempter and his charms I86
I lift my banner, faith the Lord 129
I love the windows of thy grace I 84
I’m not aſham'd to own my Lord I43
I ſend the joys of earth away I 56
I ſigg my Saviour’s wond’rous death 179
Jehovah ſpeaks, let Iſr’al hear I 39
Jehovah reigns, his throne is high 189
Jeſus, in thee our eyes behold 15o
Jeſus invites his ſaints 190
Jeſus is gone above the ſkies I9 I
Jeſus, the man of conſtant grief I 26
Jeſus, we bleſs thy Father’s name I 33
Jeſus, we bow before thy feet I94
Jeſus, with all thy ſaints above I6o
In Gabriel’s hand a mighty ſtone I34.
In thine own ways, O God of love 130
In vain the wealthy mortals toil I28
In vain we laviſh out our lives 126
Infinite grief, amazing woe I 74.
Join all the glorious names IS 3
Join all the names of love and pow'r 152
Is this the kind return 17o
*
* K
Kind is the ſpeech of Chriſt our Lord 137
L
Laden with guilt, and full of fears 179
Let all our tongues be one I 92.
Let everlaſting glories crown I82.
Let ev’ry mortal car attend 125
Let God the Father live 196
Let him embrace my ſoul and prove 135
Let God the Maker’s name 197
Let me but hear my Saviour ſay 127
Let mortal tongues attempt to ſing 134.
Let others boaſt how ſtrong they be 157
Let Phariſees of high eſteem I48
Let the old heathens tune their ſongs 158
Let the ſeventh angel ſound on high 135
Let the whole race of creatures lie I75
Let the wild leopards of the wood 187
Let them neglect thy glory, Lord 16 I
Let us adore th’ eternal word I9 I
Life and immortal joys are giv'n 181
Life is the time to ſerve the Lord 14O
Lift up your eyes to th’ heav'nly ſeats 161
Like ſheep we went aſtray I 5o
Lo the deſtroying angel flies I86
Lo, the young tribes of Adam riſe 140
Lo, what a glorious ſight appears 123
Long have I ſat beneath the ſound 188
Lord, at thy temple we appear I23
Lord, how divine thy comforts are I 92.
Lord, how ſecure and bleſt are they 166
Lord, how ſecure my conſcience was 145
Lord, we adore thy bounteous hand I94.
Lord, we adore thy vaſt deſigns 178
Lord, we are blind, we mortals blind 159
Lord, we conſeſs our num’rous faults 144
Lord, what a feeble piece
Lord, what a heav’n of ſaving grace I 57
Lord, what a wretched land is this 165
Lord, when my thoughts with wonder
roll . I 55
Loud hallelujahs to the Lord
M
| Man has a ſoul of vaſt deſires 184
Miſtaken ſouls that dream of heav'n 149
My dear Redeemer and my Lord 183
My drowſy pow'rs, why ſleep ye ſo I 59
My God, how endleſs is thy love I 39
My God, my life, my love I 74
My God, my portion, and my love I74.
My God, permit me not to be I8o
My God, the ſpring of all my joys 165
My God, what endleſs pleaſures dwell 162
My heart, how dreadful hard it is I75
My Saviour God, my ſov’reign Prince 183
My ſoul, come meditate the day 167
fiy ſoul forſakes her vain delight I 56
My thoughts on awful ſubjećts roll I S4
My thoughts ſurmount theſe lower ſkies 187
Naked, as from the earth we came I25
Nature with all her pow’rs ſhall ſing 154
Nature with open volume ſtands 192
No, I’ll repine at death no more 176.
$30
TABLE TO THE IHYMNS.
No, I ſhall envy them no more
No more, my God, I boaſt no more
Nor eye has ſeen, nor ear has heard
Not all the blood of beaſts
Not all the outward forms on earth
Not diff'rent food, or diff'rent dreſs
Not from the duſt afflićtion grows
Not the malicious or profane
Not to condemn the ſons of men
Not to the terrors of the Lord
Not with our mortal eyes
Now be the God of Iſra’l bleſs'd
Now by the bowels of my God
Now for a tune of lofty praiſe
Now have our hearts embrac'd our God
Now in the gall’ries of his grace
Now in the heat of youthful blood
Now let a ſpacious world arºſe
Now let our pains be all forgot
Now let the Lord my Saviour ſmile
Now Satan comes with dreadful roar
Now ſhall my inward joys ariſe
Now to the Lord a noble ſong
Now to the Lord that makes us know
Now to the pow'r of God ſupreme
O
O for an overcoming faith
Oh if my foul were form'd for woe
Oh the almighty Lord
() the delights, the heav'nly joys
Often I ſeek my Lord by night
Once more, my ſoul, the riſing day
Our days, alas ! our mortal days
Our God, how firm his promiſe ſtands
Our ſins, alas ! how ſtrong they be
Our ſouls ſhall magnify the Lord
Our ſpirits join t” adore the Lamb
P
Plung’d in a gulph of dark deſpair
Praiſe, everlaſting praiſe be paid
R
Raiſe thee, my ſoul, fly up and run
Raiſe your triumphant ſongs
Riſe, riſe, my ſoul, and leave the ground
S
Saints, at your heav'nly Father’s word
Salvation, O the joyful ſound
See where the great incarnate God
Shall the vile race of fleſh and blood
Shall we go on to ſin
Shall wiſdom cry aloud
Shout to the Lord, and let our joys
Sin has a thouſand treach’rous arts
Sin, like a venomous diſeaſe
Sing to the Lord that built the ſkies
Sing to the Lord, ye heav'nly hoſts
Sitting around our Father’s board
So did the Hebrew prophet raiſe
So let our lips and lives expreſs
So new born babes deſire the breaſt
Stand up my ſoul, ſhake off thy fears
156
;:
I 44.
143
183
I4.1
147
I 39
#3
I42
185
T44
I 32
I48
I 63
193
I 38
I4. I
184
93
$64.
186
I 30
163
I 34
I49
I 57
147
173
I 31
I 39
f43
141
I74.
185
I 86
167
I95
I48
I 5o
170
Stoop down, my thoughts, that uſe to
riſe I 6d,
Strait is the way, the door is ſtrait 187
T
Terrible God, that reign'ſt on high 158
That awful day will ſurely come 177
Thee we adore, eternal name 165
The glories of my Maker God I69
The God of mercy be ador'd 196
The King of Glory ſends his Son 182
The lands that long in darkneſs lay 127
The law by Moſes came I 4-5
The law commands, and makes us know 186
The Lord declares his will 18O
The Lord deſcending from above 13 I
The Lord Jehovah reigns 189
The Lord on high proclaims I4o
The majeſty of Solomon 178
The mem’ry of our dying Lord I 93
The promiſe of my Father’s love I90
The promiſe was divinely free 182
The true Meſſiah now appears 156
The voice of my beloved ſounds I 36
The wond'ring world enquires to know 137
There is a houſe, not made with hands. I44
There is a land of pure delight I68
There was an hour when Chriſt rejoic’d 126
Theſe glorious minds, how bright they
ſhibe I3 I
This is the word of truth and love 183
| Thou, whom my ſoul admires above 135
Thus did the ſons of Abram paſs 18 I
Thus far the Lord has led me on I39
Thus ſaith the firſ, the great command 145
Thus faith the high and lofty One I4O
Thus faitla the Ruler of the ſkies 172
Thus ſaith the mercy of the Lord I46
| Thus ſaith the wiſdom of the Lord I4 I
Thy favours, Lord, ſurpriſe our ſouls 163
Time, what an empty vapour 'tis I66
'Tis by the faith of joys to come 181
'Tis from the treaſures of his word I 5 I
'Tis not the law of ten commands 18O
To God the only wiſe I 32
To him that choſe us firſt 197
'Twas by an order from the Lord 185
'Twas on that dark, that doleful night 190
'Twas the commiſſion of our Lord I 32
V
Vain are the hopes the ſons of men 141
Vain are the hopes that rebels place 142
Up to the fields where angels lie 162
Up to the Lord, that reigns on high 163
W
We are a garden wall’d around 137
We bleſs the prophet of the Lord 182
We ſing th’ amazing deeds I94
We ſing the glories of thy love I33
Welcome, ſweet day of reſt I 56
Well, the Redeemcr's gone I6 I
What diff'rent powers of grace and ſin 184
What equal honours ſhall we bring I34
What happy men or angels theſe 132 .
TABLE TO THE HYMNS, 531
What mighty man, or mighty God 129 || Why do we mourn departing friends 154
Whence do our mournful thoughts ariſe 130 || Why is my heart ſo far from thee 158
When I can read my title clear 168 || Why ſhould the children of a King I So
When in the light of faith divine 176 || Why ſhould this earth delight us ſo 188
When I ſurvey the wond’rous croſs 191 || Why ſhould we ſtart and fear to die I 6o
When we are rais’d from deep diſticſs 133 || With chearful voice I ſing I52
When ſtrangers ſtand, and hear me tell 138 || With holy fear, and humble ſong If 3
When the firſt parents of our race 171 || With joy we meditate the grace I47
When the great Builder arch'd the ſkies 159
Where are the mourners ſaith the Lord 186 Y
Who can deſcribe the joys that riſ I42. º
Who has believ'd º 3. I T116 H. Ye ſons of Adam, vain and young 14o
Who is this fair one in diſtreſs 138 Z
Who ſhall the Lord’s elečt condemn 127
Why does your face, ye humble ſouls 172 || Zion rejoice, and Judah ſing 178
vol. VII. 3 U.
A TABLE
EN. iii. 1, 15, 17
xvii, 7.
xvii. 7, Io,
xxii. 6
Job i. 21
iii. 14, 15
iv. 17, 2 I
v. 6, 7, 8
ix. 2, 10
xiv. 4.
xix. 25, 26, 27
Pſalm iii. 5, 6
iv.
xix. 5, 8
xlix. 6.9
li. S
lxxiii. 24, 25
cxxxix. 23, 24
cxliii. 8
cxlvii. I 9, 20
Prov. viii. 1, 22, 32
viii. 34, 36
Eccleſ, viii. 8
ix. 4, 5, 6, Io
xi. 9
The ſame
xii. I, 7
Solo. R. i. 2, 5, I2; 17
Song {{ 7
ii. I, 2, 3, &c.
Solo. R. ii. 8, 9, &c.
Song Siji I, 2, 5
ii. I4, 16, 17
iii. I I
iv. 1, 7, 1 I
iv. 12, 14, 15
V. I
v. 9–16
vi. I, 2, 3, 12
vii. 5, 9, 13
viii. 5, 8, 14
Iſaiah v. 2, 7, Io
ix. 2, 6, 7
xxvi. 1, 2, &c.
xxvi. 8, 20
xxxviii. 9, &c.
x1, 27, 28, &c.
The ſame
xlv. 7
xlv. 21, 25
The ſame
xlix, 13, T4, &c."
liii. 1, 5, Io, 12
liii. 6, 9, 12
lv. I, 2, &c.
The ſame
Ivii. I 5, 16
lxi, Io
Luke iſ. 28
xiv. 16
xiv. I 7, 23
xxii. I9
Hymn,
Io.7
II 3
I 2 I
I 29
5
24
32
83
86
57
6
8O
8o
79
24
57
79
I 36
8o
53
92
93
24.
38
89
90
91
66
67
68
69
7 I
7o
72
73
7.4
74
75
76
77
78
IO
I 3
8
3O
55
32
48
8 I
84
85
39
T 4. I
I42
7
...]
Qf the Scriptures that are turned into Verst.
IN
| lxiii. 1, 2, 3, &c.
lxiii. 4, 5, 6, 7
Iſaiah lxv. 20
Lam. iii. 23
Ezek. xxxvi. 25, &c.
Mic. vii. 19
Nah. i. 1, 2, 3, &c.
Zech. xiii. 1
Matt. iii. 9
V. 3, I 2
xi. 28, 3o
xii. 2 o
xiii. 16, 17
xxi. 9
xxii. 37, 40
xxviii. 18, &c.
xxviii. 19
Mark x- 14
xvi. 15, &c.
Luke i. 3o, &c.
i. 46, &c.
i. 68
ii. Io, &c.
ii. 27
x. 2. I, 22
The ſame
xv. 7, Io
XV. I 3, &c.
xviii. Io, &c.
xix. 38, 4o
John i. 1, 3, 14
1, 13
i. 17
i. 29, 32
iii. 3, &c.
iii. I4, 16
iii. 16, 17, 18
iv. 24
x. 28, 29
Aćls ii. 38
xvi. I4, I5, 33
Rom. iii. 19, 22
V. X2, &C.
The ſame
vi. 1, 2, 6
vi. 3, 4, &c.
vii. 8, 9, 14, 24
viii. I4, 16
viii. 33, &c.
ix. 21, 22, &c.
xi. I 6, 17,
xiv. I7, 19
xv. 3, 9, 12
I Cor. i. 23, 24
i. 2 r > 3 I
i. 3o
The ſame
IN T H E THIRD
John vi. 31, 35, 39
xlv. 3
John xvi. 16
I ſºor, K, 16, 17
T H E FIRST B O O K.
Hymn.
• 28 ii. 9, Io
29 iii. 6, 7
91 V. Io, I
81 X. 32.
9 xiii. 1, 2, 3
9 X111, 2, 3, 7, 13
42 XV. 55, &c.
9 || 2 Cor. ii. 16
99 || v.1, 5, 8
I O2, X11. 7, 9, Io
127 || Gal. iv. 4
I 25 lv. 6
Io || Eph. i. 3, &c.
I6 i. I 3, 14
II 6 iii. 9. Io
I28 iii. I 6, &c.
52 iv. 8o, &c.
1 I 3 || Phil. ii. 2.
128 iii. 7, 8, 9
3 || Col. i. 16
6o ii. 15
I5o || 2 Tim. i. 9, 10
3 l, I 2.
I 9 iii. I 5, 16
I I iv. 6, 7, 8, 13
L2 || Tit. ii. Io, 13
IOI iii. 3, 7
123 || Heb. i. I
I 3 I | . iii. 3, 5, 6
16 iv. I 5, 16
2. v. 7
95 vi. 17, 19
118 vii.
50 ix.
95 || x. 28, 29
I [2. xi. 1, 3, 8, 1o
Iool I Pet. i. 3, 4, 5
I 36 i. 8
138|| 1 John iii. 1, &c.
52 || Jude 24, 25
12 I || Rcv. i. 5, 6, 7
94 v. 6, 8, 12
57 || | The ſame
I24 || v. II-I 3
IoG The ſame
I 2.2 vii. 13, &c.
1 I 5 The ſame
I 44 xi. I 5
I4 xii, 7
I 17 xiv. I 3
I 14. xv. iii. 49
126|| xvi. 19
I 13 xvii. 6
i Iy xviii. 20, 2
96|| xxi. 1, 2, 3, 4
97 xxi. 5, 6, 7, 8
98 || xxi. 27
B O O K.
5 xi. 23, &c.
6 || Gal. vi. 14
6 || 1 John v 6
2 ||
Hymn,
IoS
II 9
IO4.
126
1 34
I 33
17
I 19
I I @
I 5
Io?
64
54.
I44.
I 35
13 O
I 30
Io9
IoW
I37
1 of
14.
I2.
13
6
;
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.
ºmmemºry
** The following Liſt includes the aggregate Number of Copies ſubſcribed for by Miniſters, Bookſellers, &c.,
and the individual Names of their Subſcribers, at lcaſt, ſo far as the Returns were received,
A
Edw ARD Abney, Esq. King's Newton
Mr Abba, Kirby Hall
Mr Abel, bookseller, Northampton,
26 copies
Mr W. Abbot, St. Neots
Academy, Rotherham
Mr Achlem, Beverley
Mr Ainsworth, bookseller, Scarborough
Mr James Aspin, Hunslet -
Mr J. Adams, Rotherham
Mr G. Aked, Brigg
Mr J. Aked, Kershaw House
Mr Athers, Uttoxeter
Mr Albert, Stanley Green
Mr Aldred, Wakefield
Mr Aldred, Bolton
Mr Aldridge, Deptford
Mr Aldridge, Greenwich
Mrs Aldus, Bedſord Row, London
W. Alers, Esq. London
Mr Alger, Wortham
Mr W. Allen, Birmingham
Mr Allen, student at Hoxton
Mr Allen, Bedford
Mr Allford, Shaftsbury
Mr Allies, Temple Cloud
Mr Almond, Mile End
Mr T. A.--—d, Lewis
Mr P. Amos, Brentwood
Mr H. Anderson, North Sunderland
Rev. S. Andrews, Rochford, 8 copies
Mr Andrews, Romford
Mrs Antonic, Hull
. Mr J. Appleby, Alemouth
Mr J. Armatage, Woodhouse Hill.
Mr G. Armatage, Wakefield
Mr R. Armatage, Wakefield
Mr J. Armatage, Thirsland
Mr G. Arundall, No. 24, Everett-Street,
Russel-Square, London.
Mr Arundell, Student, at Rotherham
Mr C. Ashley, Deptford
Mr Ash, Wakefield
Mr J. Atkin, Nottingham
Mr G. Atkinson, Woodhouse Hill, near
Leeds
Mr J. Atkinson, Halifax
Mr Atkinson, Huby, near Weeton
Mr Atkinson, Newcastle upon Tyne
Rev. Mr. Atley, Romford, 20 copies
Mr C. Atmore, Manchester 9 copies
Mr Austin, General Post Office, Lombard
Street, London
Mr Austin, Hackney
Mrs Ayscough, Islington
Mr Ayton, near Bradford
B
Mr T. Badger, Tinsley
Mr J. Bailey, Bedford
Mr Bailey, Bristol
Mr T. daines, Preston
Mrs Baker, Winchester Street, London
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Mrs E. Baker, Derby
Mr Baker, Brittle Lane
Mr Baker, Sheffield
Mr Baldwin, Sheerness
Mr Ballen, Harlington
J
534
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES,
..º.
Mr W. Arding, London
Mr Barber, Sheffield
Mr Barclay, Aberdeen
Mr T. Barker, Rotherham
Mr James Barker, do.
Miss Barker, Leeds
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Rev. Mr. Barker, Henly Harding
Rev. Mr. Barker, Deptford
Mr P. Bärker, Rawmarsh
Rev. J. Barker,Towrester, Northamton-
shire
Mr R. Barlow, Bolton le Moors
r Barnard, Norwich
Mr E. Barmby, Malton
Mr C. Baron, Saffron Waldron
Mr H. Barret, near Rigton
Mr Barrett, Saffron Waldron
Mr T. Barron, Brigg
Mr T. Barrow, Kidderminster
Mr J. Barrow, do.
Mr Bateman, Bunhill Row
Mrs Bateman, do.
Mr C. Bateman, Sheffield tº
Mr Bates, Paradise St. Finsbury
Mr Bates, Hoxton
Mr Bates, Nottingham, 8 copies
Mr Batley, Meltam
B. Batley, Esq. Tooting
Mr Batson, Romford
Miss Batton, Haslington
Miss Batty, Fenoy
Mr Bawtree, London
Mr Baynes, bookseller, London
69 copies
Mr Bealey, Bury
Mr Beardshaw, Sheffield
Mr R. Beaumont, Honley
Mr S. Beaumont, Crosland Hill
Mr T. Beeching, Tunbridge
Mr T. Bedford, Leeds
Bedford Book Society
Mr Beddie, Creaky
Mr S. Beddome, Clapham
Mr J. Bellamy, Brigstock
Mr J. Beldam, jun. Roystone
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Mrs Bell, Uttoxeter
Mr Beley, Kirkburton
Mr Beley, do
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Mr D. Bennet, Hoober
Mrs Bennet, Bedford Row
Mr P. Bennett, Wakefield
Mr J. B. Benson, Snows Fields.
Miss Benstead, Bedford
Mr W. Benstead, Ialesworth
Mr T. Bentley, Lockwood
J. Benwell, Esq. Battersea
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Mr W. Berrill, Bedford
Mr Best, York
Mr J. Betterton, Hatherop, near Fair-
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Mr R. Bestland, Titchfield, Hants
Rev. J. C. Bicknell, Welford
Mr S. Bickers, Rotherham
Mr T. Biddle, Alcester
Mr Billamy, Brightstock
Mr Bills, Darleston
Mr T. Bingley, Danaby
Mr Binns, bookseller, Leeds, 54 copies
Mr Binns, Kirkburton
Mr Birch, Leeds
Mrs Bird, Beeston
Mr R. Biram, Ewe Green
Mr Birks, Sheffield
Mr E. Birks, do
Mr E. Bishop, Sheerness
Mr C. Blackwell, Nailsworth
Mr T. Blackie, Bridlington, 8 copies
Mr T. Blackburn, Holbeck, near Leeds
Mr B. Blackburn, do.
Mr Blackinan, Asden
Mr Blackmore, Birmingham
Mr Blanchard, London
Mr Blankhivon, Reeth
Rev. N. Bligh, Sunderland
Mr E. Bliss, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire
Miss Blundell, Bunwash
Mrs Boddington, Hackney
Rev. J. Boggie, Sunderland, 9 copies
Mr Boggis, Great Prescot Street, London
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J. Bond, Esq. Flockton
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SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.
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Mr T. Bookenham, Southwold
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Mr N. Bosworth, Cambridge
Mr Bothamley, bookseller, Leeds,
3 copies &
Tev. S. Botts, Preston, 8 copies
Rev. S. Bottomley, Scarbrough, 13 copies
Miss Bourfield, Caversham
Rev. Mr Bowden, Tooting, 8 copies
Rev. Mr Bowden, Sheffield
Rev. Mr Bowden, Darwen, 10 copies
Mr J. Bowden, Hull
Mr W. Bowden, do
Mr Bowman, Liverpool
Mr G. Bower, Birmingham
Mr J. Boyd, Rotherham
Mr Bowyer, Pall Mall, London
Mrs Boyes, Anlaby, 3 copies
Miss Bracken, Holm House
Mr Bracken, Dean Mill
Rev. S. Bradburn, Plymouth
Mr Bradford, Reading
Rev. Mr Bradley, Manchester, 4 copies
Mr R. Bradley, Halifax
Mr Bradshaw, Kirkstall, near Leeds
Mr J. Brameld, Rawmarsh
Mr D. Brown, Tunbridge Wells
Mr Brasett, London *
Rev. J. Brewer, Birmingham
Mr Brigg, Far-town
Mr Briggs, Leeds
Mr W. Briggs, do.
Mr J. Briggs, Hull
Mr T. Briggs, Brampton
Mr W. Brinton, Kidderminster
Mr Brook, surgeon, Leeds
Mr Brook, Longwood
Mr J. Brook, Cleckheaton
Mr Brook, Heckmondwicke
Mr Brook, Pudsey
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Mr Brook, Rotherham
Mr Brook, Hoober
Tev. Mr Brook, Derby
Mr Brook, Meltham Mill
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Mr C. Brookbank, Stourbridge
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Street, London
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Mr Bunnel, Bedford Street
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|Rev. S. Burder, St. Albans
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f{ev. Mr. Burket, Wales
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W. Burton, Esq. Stamford
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$$6
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
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115 copies
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C
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Mr J. Carlill, Hull
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Rev. W. Carver, Melbourn, 4 copies
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Mr.J. W. Chalk
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Rev. W. Chaplin, Bishop Storſord,
7 copies
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Mr Chapman, Bridgewater Square, Bar-
bican -
Mr Chapunan, bookseller, London,
75 copies
Mr J. Chapman, Elmden
Mr Chamley, bookseller,
upon Tyne
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Mr Chettle, 'Wellingborough
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Mr J. Child, Leeds
Messrs. Christopher and Jennitt, book-
sellers, Stockton
Newcastle
|
Mr Chubb, Newington Butts
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Mr J. Clapham, senior, Leeds
Mr J. Clapham, junior, do.
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Clayport Library
Rev. J. Clayton, Highbury Place, London
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Mr G. Clayton, Student at Hoxton,
8 copies
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8 copies
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Mrs Cockhill, fittle Town,
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ter, 9 copies
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8 copies -
Mr H. Coltman, Yelvertoft
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|Messrs. Collis and Dash, booksellets,
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Mr Conder, bookseller, London,
135 copics
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
537
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don *
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don
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Creaton Reading Society
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Mr Crooks, bookseller, Rotherham,
116 copies
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Mr Crosby, York
d
H
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Mrs Crosdale, Derby House, Liver-
pool, 3 copies ,
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Miss Cross, Warley
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D
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Mr T. 1)avison, Belford
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538
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
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Miss Devereux, London
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Mr Dickson, Bond Street
Mr Dickson, Church Street, Spital-
fields, London
Rev. Mr. Dixon, Waston
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Mr Dodson, Ilkeston
Rev. R. Doeg, Aberdeen, 16 copies
Mr T. A. Dolling, North City Road,
London
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London *
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tonshire
Mr Dufrene, Leeds
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H. Dunderdale, Esq. Leeds
Mr D. Dunderdale, do.
Mr Dunn, Sunderland
{
Messrs. Dunn and Biggs, booksellers,
Nottingham, 38 copies
Mr Duncan, Aberdeen
Messrs. J. and A. Duncan, Glasgow,
7 copies
Mr Duncan, Hull
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Rev. Mr. Durant, Pool
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J. Dyer, Esq. Greenwich
Mr W. Dyke, Orphan School
Mr G. Dyson, Botolph Lane, London
|E
Mr D. Eagland, Wakefield ...
Mr Eastburn, Leeds &’
Mr Eastwood, Mills Bridge
M1 Easton, Brayfield, Northamptonshire
Mr Eccles, Darwen
Mr T. Eccles, Blackburn
Rev. B. L. Edwards, Northamton
Mr W. Edwards, Birmingham, 8 copies
Mr Edmunds, Liverpool
Mrs Eggington, Hull
G. Eggington, Esq. do
J. Eggington, Esq. do
Mr Ellis, Derby
. Mr T. Ellis, Lockwood
Mr B. Ellis, Wakefield
Mr S. Ellis, Rotherham
|Rev. Mr Ellist
Mr Elstob, Placy &
Rev. Mr. Ely, Bury, 8 copies
Rev. H. Emmett, Manchester
Mr. J. England, Pontefract
Mr J. Entwisle, Bolton, 9 copies
Mr J. Erpe, Castle Domington
Mr J. Escout, Hull
Rev. J. P. Estlin, Bristol
Rev. W. Evans, Bridgenorth
Mrs Evans, London
Mr Thomas Evans, Boston
Mr Evans, Kingsbridge
Miss Evans, Tooting
Mr N. Everett, Haytesbury
Mr Everett, Capel
Mr Everest, Hartfield
Mr Everit, Cassel
- M. Everinghain, Cottingham
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.
539
'Mr Everington, Brigg
Rev. J. Eyre, Homerton
F
Mr T. Fairfax, Alcester
Rev. Mr Fancourt, London
Rev. Mr Fancourt, Bletsoe
Mrs Fanfield, Liverpool
Rev. Mr Farmer, Leeds, 8 copies
Mr D. Farrar, Hopton
Miss Farthing, Yawford, near Taunton
Mr Fawdon, Little Mill, near Alnwick
Mr Fearnley, Bradford
Mr R. Fearnley, Wakefield
Dr. Fearon, Ely Place
Mr Cox, Feary Bluntisham -
Rev. Mr. Feist, Beverley, 15 copies
Mr Fellows, Salisbury
Mrs Fenning, Harwich
Mr J. Fenning, do
Mr Fenwick, Collierly Dykes
W. Ferreday, Esq. Madley
Miss Field, Baldock
Mr Finlinson, Yeadon
Mr W. Fisher, Bladford . .
Mr Fisher, Rotherham
Mr Fisher, Chiswick
Mr Fisher, sen. Tipton
Mr Fisher, jun. do
Mr Fishwick, York
Mr T. Fletcher, Birmingham
Mr J. Fletcher, Rotherhaun
Mr A. Flint, Nailsworth, Gloucester-
shire
Mr T. Flintoff, Ampleforth
Rev. Mr Ftockton, Bristol Wells
Mr Flower, bookseller, Cambridge,
9 copies - -
Mrs Flower, Wigan *
Mr Folkes, Leadenhall Market, London
Mr J. Foolstone, Brampton
Rev. Dr. Ford, Long Melford
Mr Ford, Reading
E. K. Fordham, Esq. Royston
Mr. Forman, bookseller, Stirling,
4 copies
Mr Fortescue, Old Weston
Mr W. Foster, St. Neots
Mr Foster, Newcastle upon Tyne,
2 copies
VOL. VII,
| Mr Foster, Biggleswade
Mr Foster, Staviſoot
Mr W. Foster, Halifax
Rev. Mr Fowler, Sheerness, 5 copies
Mr Fowler, Chipping Norton
S. Foyster, Esq. Tottenham Street
Mr J. France, Blackburn
Mr Franceys, Liverpool
Mr W. Franklow, Spitalfields, London
Mr W. Frears, Birmingham
Miss Friend, Newbury
Mr J. Frith, Sheffield
Mr J. Frith, Heckmondwike
|Mr G. Frow, Brigg
Rev. Mr Fuller, Handcross
Mr Fyshe, London
G.
Mr Gale, Grittleton
Mr J. Gallant, Batley
Mrs Game, Harwich
Mr Garbut, Hull
Mr T. Gardiner, Prince's Street, Caven-
dish Square, London
Rev. H. W. Gardner, Southwold,
12 copies
Mr J. Gardner, London
Mr Gardner, Bolton le Moors
Mr Garlick, Malmesbury
Mr Garnet, Bradford
Mr Garnett, Wakefield
Mr Garnett, Huddersfield
Mr Garrat, Purston
Mr J. Garwock, Aberdeen
Mr Garwood, London
Mr Gautier, Halifax
Mr Gee, Halifax
Mr George, Leeds
Mr A. B. Gibson, Plymouth
Mr Gibb, Aberdeen
Mr Gibson, Newcastle, 2 copies
Mr Gifford, Cardington
Mr J. Gilder, Hull
Miss Giles, Caversham
Mr T. Giles, Leeds
Mr Moses Giles, do.
Mr Gill, Reading
| Mr Gillbertson, Aldborough
*
Rev. L. Glass, Aberdeen
Mr Gleadhall, Dernby
3 X
540
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES,
Mr J. Glendining, IIalifax
Mr A. Glendining, do.
Mr W. Glossop, Rotherham
Mr H. Glover, Leeds
Mr G. Goodwin, Bristol
Mr W. Goodchild, jun. Ipswich
Mr Goodlad, Sheffield -
Mr Goodland, Taunton
Mr W. Goodman, Long Buckby
Mr S. Goodman, do,
Mr J. Goodman, Slapton, Northamp-
tonshire
Mr S Goodwin, Leek
Mr W. Goodwin, Brigg
Mr J. Golden, Temple Cloud
Mr J. Goldthorp, Snowgate Head
Mr Golightly, South Shields
Rev. Dr. Gordon, St. Neots
Mr H. Gorthern, Elmden -
Mr J. Goth wait, Castleford
Rev. G. Gough, Southborough, 7 copies
Mr C. Gowling, Sunderland
Mr Grafton, Brittle Lane
Mr Graham, IIkestone
Mr Grant, Inverness, 2 copies
Mr Gray, Wilstrop.
Mr Gray, Collierly Dykes
Capt. Grayson, Pickering
Mr W. Grayson, do.
Mr J. Grayson, do.
B. Greaves, Esq. Greenwich
Mr O. Gregory, Cambridge”
Mr R. Green, Laxfield *.
Mr J. Green, Coxley
Mr Green, Alfreton
Mr J. Greenwood, Bridge House
Mr G. Greenwood, Hull
Mr W. Gregory, Halifax
Mr Gregory, Liverpool
Mr J. Gregory, Wakefield
Mr T. Gregson, Hull
Mr Griffiths, surgeon, Tottenham Court
Road
Mr Groce, Falstone
Rev. J. Gronow, Weedon Beck
Mr Groves, Sheffield
Tev. Mr Grundall, Halifax
Mr E. Grundy, Bury
Mr Gudgeon, Long Buckby
Rev. W. Gunn, Hadleigh
Mr Gurson, Newport
Nºe
|
|
Mr G. Gwilt, jun. Borough
H
Mr IIadfield, Simondley
Mr Hadfield, Wakefield
Mr Haigh, Almondbury
Mr Haigh, Farnley
|| R. Haines, Esq. Westbury
| Mr Hainsworth, Ogden
Miiss Ilaiton, Skipton
Mr Halas, Wakefield
Rev. Mir Hale, Heckmondwike,
1 1 Copies
Mr Hales, Great Chesterford
Rev. W. Hall, M. A. Iloydon Bridge
| Mr W. Hall, Leeds
Mrs Hall, Fenchtitch Street, Londoñ
Mr Hall, Hull -
Mrs Hall, do.
Mr E. Hall, IHorbling
Mr Hall, Stepney
Mr Hall, Islington
Mr J. Hall, Manchester
Rev. J. Haldane, Edinburgh
Mr Hallewell, Leeds
Mr W. P. Halley, Rotherham
Rev. Mr Halloway, Reading
Dr. Hamilton, Artillery Place, London
16 copies -
Mr Hamilton, Finch Lane, London
Mr T. Hamilton, [London
Mr F. Hamilton, Artillery Place
London -
Mr Hammond, Manchester
Mr llammond, student at Rotherham
Mr J. Hampshire, Elmley
Mr Hampshaw, Flockton
|Rev. Mr Hampshaw, Honley
Mr Handiside, Newcastle upon Tyne
Mr Hannam, bookseller, Leeds
Mr Hannah, Bury
Mr J. Hanson, Birmingham
Rev. P. Hardcastle, Darlington,
8 copies
|J. Hardcastle, Esq. Hatchem House,
Surry \
Mr Harding, Seven Oaks
Mr W. Harding, Westminster
Mr T. Harding, Camberwell
Mr Hargate, Wakefield
Mr Hargreaves, Holbeck, near Leeds
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
41
Mr Hargreaves, Bradford
Mr J. Harman, Tunbridge
Mr Harmer, Tunbridge Wells
Mr Harmes, "Blackburn
Rev. R. Harnies, Bridlington
Rev. Mr Harper, Northowram
22 copies
Rev. Mr Harper, Surry Road, London
Mr Harper, London
Mr Harper, Cornhill, London
Mr T. Harrice, Liverpool
Mr J. Harris, St. Albans
W. Harris, Esq. Bristol
Mrs Harris, Swansea
Mr Harris, Birmingham
Mr Harris, Alcester
Mr Harris, Morton Corbet
Mr W. Harris, Sexmundham
Mr G. Harrison, Student at Idle
Mr Harrison, Stamford
Mr Harrison, junior, Greasbro'
Mr Harrison, Ilkeston
Mr S. Harrop, Brittle Lane, London
Mr Hart, Bolton
Rev. Mr Hartley, Dublin
Rev. Mr Hartley, Lockwood, 45 copies
Mr Hartley, Glasgow f
Mr Hartley, Sunderland
Miss Harvey, Hinxworth
Mr Harvey, Rotherham
Rev. Mr Hassel, Manchester, 4 copies
Mr Hatch, London
Mr Hatfield, Wakefield
Mr P. Hatton, Oxford
Mr Haward, Haveningham
Mr Haward, Thirstland
Mr T. Hawkins, Volus, near Taunton
Mrs Hawksley, Hull
Mr A. Hay, Oxford Road, London
Mr J. S. Haycroft, Deptford
Mr J. Haycroft, do.
Mr Hayles, Isle of Wight
Mr W. Haylock, Ashden
Mr J. Heaps, Leeds
Mrs Heat, Baldock
Mr John Heatt, Deptford
Mr Hebden, Malton Banks
Mr W. Hebden, Pickering
Miss Hebelthwaite, Bridlington
Heckmondwike Reading Society
Rev. Mr Hedges, Thirbro’
*
d
Mr J. Hegingbottom, Charlesworth
S. Heineker, Esq. Bristol
| Mr Hemming, London
Mr W. Hemming, Alcester
Mr W. Hensman, Kimboiton
Mr J. Hepburn, Long Lane, London
Mr Hepenstall, Kirkburton
Air Hepworth, Adwick
3ev. Mr Herdsman, South Petherton,
7 copies
Mr E. Heron, Morpeth
Mir ſlewett, Grittleton
Mr Heudebourk, Taunton
Rev. J. Hey, Bristol, 8 copies
Mr Heywood, Bolton le Moors
Rev. Mr IHickman, Lavenham
Rev. Mr Hickman, Wattisfield
ºtev, Mr Hickman, Sudbury, 11 copies
Mr Hickmot, Tunbridge Wells
Mr Higham
\{r Hilliard, Sheffield
Miss Hills, Colchester
Mr Hillyand, East Haddon
Rev. S. Hillyard, Bedford
Mr Hilton, Blackburn
Rev. Mr Hinchliff, Hasleden, 8 copies
Mr J. W. Hinde, Sheffield
|T. Hunderwell, Esq. Scarborough
|Mr Hindle, Darwen
|Mr James Hindle, do.
| Mr T. Hindle,
do.
Rev. Mr Hinton, Oxford
| Mrs Hiron, Cottingham
Mr J. Hirst, Leeds
| Mr S. Hirst, do.
Mr J. Hirst; Rotherham
|Mr T. Hirst, Longwood
Rev. Mr Hoare, Newark
Mr G. Hobson, Apollo Buildings, Wal-
worth
Mr B. Hobson, Student at Rotherham
Mr Hobson, Elkington
Mr Hobson, Sheffield
Mrs Hobson, Lockwood
Mr Hobson, White Lion Street, London
|Miss Hodgson, Leeds
| Mr Hodgson, Thames Street, London
Mr Hoe, Rotherham
| Mr T. Hogg, Cursitor Street, London
| Mr Holden, bookseller, Halifax
Rev. Mr Holdgate, Bradford, 13 copies
| 3 X 2
542
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.
Mrs Holdsworth, Otley
Mr J. Holdsworth, Fewstone
Mr Hollick, Creaton
Rev. Mr Holmes, Ware, 21 copies
Mr Holmes, bookseller, Leeds, 5 copies
Mir Holmes, Deptford
Mr Holmes, Liverpool
Mr C. Holmes, Wakefield
Mr J. T. Holmes, Newgate Street,
London
Mr Holman, Lavenham
Mr Holstock, Hull
Mr O. Holt, Rochdale
Mr Holt, Sheffield
Mr J. Honeyman, Church Street, Spi-
talfields, London
Mr W. Hope, Liverpool, 6 copies
Mr Hope, Chatham -
Mr G. Hopwood, Alcester
Mr J. Hoppus, Poultry, London
Rev. Mr Hordle, Harwich, 11 copies
Mr Horsefall, Gomersal
Mrs Horsefold, Handroyd
S. Horner, Esq. Hull
Mr. Horner, Wakefield
Mr Howard, Thurstland
Rev. B. Howell, Bere Regis
Rev. Mr Howell, Knaresbrough,
8 copies
Mr Howell, Brigg
Mr N. Howell, Deptford *
Mr Howett, Hunslet, near Leeds
Mr Howston, Brigg -
Mr Hubbard, Bow
Mr Hubbard, Dogenham
Rev. Mr Hudson, Tentwistle 8 copies
Rev. Mr Hudswell, Bingley, 2 copies
Mr Hudsewell
Mr Hughes, Three Crown Square, South-
wark, London
Rev. Mr Hughes, Battersea
Mr. IIughes, Shelly
Mr Huit, Welford
Mr Huitt, Brompton
– Humble, Esq. Liverpool
Mr Hunt, Wath
Mr Hunt, Harmondsworth
Mr Hunt, Harwich
Mr J. Hunt, Southwold
Mr G. Hunter, Leeds
Mr J. Hunter, Lowfelton
| Mr Hutchinson, Reeth
Mr Hutton, Sheffield
i Mr W. Hutton, do.
Mrs Hurrell, London
Mr Hurrell, Sloane Street, London
Mr R. Hurst, Hopton
Mr Hurst, bookseller, London, 6 copies
Mr [Hurst, bookseller, Wakefield,
2 copies
Mr Hurst, bookseller, Halifax, 3 copies
Mr Hurst, Rotherham
Mr J. Hurst, Leeds .
Mir J. Huxley, Aldersgate Street,
London
Rev. Mr Hyde, Salendine Nook, 8 copies
*
J
Mr J. J. Grimsby
Rev. Mr Jackson, Warminster
Rev. Mr Jackson, Stockwell
Mr Jackson, West Melton
Mr Jackson, York
Mr Jackson, Hackney
Mr Jackson, Brigg
Mr Jackson, Marick
Mr Jackson, Simondly
Mr J’Anson, Aldgate
Rev. Mr Jacomb, Leicester, 7 copics
Mr Jagger, Taylor Hill
Mr Ibbotson, Wakefield
Mr.Jefferys, New Bond Street, London
Mr J. Jeſſery, Tunbridge
Mr G. Jefferson, Newcastle upon Tyne
Rev. W. Jenkins, Liverpool, 4 copies
Mr J. Jenkins, Swansea
Mr Jessop, Uttoxeter
Mr Ingham, Lockwood.
Mr Inkersley, Leeds
Mr W. Inkersole, St. Neots.
Rev. J. Jones, Halifax
Mr T. Jones, Swansea
Mr Jones, Liverpool, 8 copies
Mr Jones, Student at Rotherham
Mr M. G. Jones, Cheapside, London
Mr Johns, Saffron Walden
Rev. Mr Johnson, Manchester, 16 copies
Rev. Mr Johnson, Sunderland, 7 copies
Mr. Johnson, Stamford
Mr O. Johnson, Birmingham
Mr Johnson, Alcester
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.
543
Mr Johnson, bookseller, London,
7 copies
Mr Johnson, London
Mr W. Johnson, do.
Mr S. Johnson, Northampton
Mr B. Johnson, London
Mr J. Johnson, Leeds
Mr G. Johnson, Sheerness
Mr J. Johnson, Long Melford
Mr G. Johnson, Newcastle
Mr Jordan, bookseller, London, 4 copies
Mr. J. Jordan, No. 138, Leadenhall
Street, London,
Mr Jordan, Brackendall
Mr Jorshson, Beverley
Mr H. Josling, Brentwood
Mr Josling, Warley
Mr W. Joules, Manchester
Mr H. Joules, do.
Mr Joulerton, Wakefield
Mrs Joulerton, do.
Mr T. Julians, Southwold
Mr Jowett, Kimberworth
Mr Jones, Black Swan Court, Tower
Street, London
Mr J. Irwin, Halifax
Mr T. Irvin, do.
Mr Irvin, Preston
Mr J. Jubb, Leeds
Mr. W. Jubb, Rotherham
Rev. W. Judson, Saffron Walden,
16 copies
Mr John Judson, Leeds
Mr Juton, do.
K
Mr W. Kay, Liverpool
Rev. Mr Kay, Kendal
Mr Kay, Flockton
Mr Kayroyd, Sawood
Mr T. Kaye, Flockton
Mr G. Kave, Woodhouse Mill
Rev. G. Keeley, Northampton
Mr W. Keith, Bridlington
Mr Kelk, Brigg
Mr Kelsey, Mackinder, Virginia
Mr Kendrick, Stourbridge
Mr J. Keyworth, Newhill
Tev. Mr Kidd, Newcastle under Line
Rev. Mr Kidd, Cottingham, 5 copies
Mr A. Kidd, Scarborough
E. Kiiſwick, Esq. Southwold
Mr P. Kinder, Lockwood
Mr Kimber, Colnbrook
Mr G. King, Pickering
Mr W. King, Shaftsbury
Mr W. King, Rotherham
Mr King, Long Melford
Rev. Mr. Kirby, Heckmondwike,
5 copies
Mr Kirkpatrick, Clithero
Mr T. Kirkpatrick, Isle of Wight
Mr W. Kirkup, Urpeth.
Mr P. Kirkup, do
Mr J. Kitching, Pickering
Mr J. Knapp, Mile End, London
Rev. Mr Knight, Yelvertoſt, 9 copies
Rev. J. Knight, Camberwell
Rev. J. A. Knight, London, 8 copies
Rev. Mr Knight, do.
Mr Knight, Halifax
Mr Knowles, jun. Gomersal
L
Mr W. Lacy, Lingham
Rev. Mr Laird, Pudsey, 9 copies
Mr Lamb, Reading
Rev. Mr Lambert, Hull, 50 copies
Mr Lambert, Strand, London
J. W. Lang, Wakefield
Mr T. Langley, Lavenham
Mr W. Lascelles, Bolton
Rev. N. Lassel, do. 4 copies
Mr T. Lassel, do.
Mr Lawrence, Leeds
Mr Lawrence, Aberdeen
Mr Lanton, Wakefield
Mr P. Law, Sheffield
Mr Laycock, Keighley
Mr Lea, Birmingham
\}r R. Leach, Bedford
Mr J. Leane, Wiveliscombe
Mr Ledger, Wakefield
\lr G. Lee, Student at Cheshunt
Mr J. Lee, Wakefield
Mr J. Lee, Shelley
Mr Lees, Manchester
Rev. Mr Leggat, Colchester, 8 copies
Mr Legge, Reading
Mr Leigh, Brigstock
Mr Leighton, Wakefield
Mr E. Leslie, do. 6 copies
544
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.
Mr Letcher, Wooler
Mr N. Levitt, Hull
Mrs Levett, do
Mr Lewis, Covent Garden, London
I). Lister, Esq. Hackney
Mr Lister, York Street, London
Rev. R. Little, Perth, 9 copies
Mr P. Little, Manchester
Mr R. Littlejohn, Brigg
Mr Littlewood, Honley
Mr Livesey, Manchester
G. Livius, Esq, Bedford
Mr T. Lloyd, London
Mr J. Lloyd, Little Chapel Street,
Westminster, London
Mrs Lock, Plymouth
Mr Lockwood, Honley
Mr Lockwood, Wakefield
Rev. T. Loader, Fordingbridge
Mr Logan, Surgeon, Leeds
Mr Long, London
Mr Longden, Sheffield
Mr Longridge, Bishop Wearmouth
Mr C. Love, St. Neots
Mrs Loughbury, Hull
Rev. J. Low, Wentworth
Mr Low, Birthingham
Rev. S. Lowell, Bristol, 19 copies
Mr Lowers, Dogenham
Mr Luck, Tunbridge Wells
Mr D. Luckhurst, Seven Oaks
Mr J. Luckhurst, Tunbridge
Mr Lum, Bolton le Moors
Mr John Lum, Bolton
Mr Lundy, Brigg
Mr Lyne, Simondly
Rev. Mr Lyons, Hull
M
Macclesfield Theological Library
Mr Mac Clellan, Halifax
Mr Mac Goſfoy, Stamford
Mr Mac Gee, Aldermanliury, London
Mr Mac Kenie, Halifax
Mr Mac Kenzie, London
Mr Mac Kenzie, Hackney
Mr Mac Intosh, Queen's Square, London
Mr Mac Lean, Blackburn
Mr Mac Laurín, Sheffield
“Mr Mac Laurin, Rotherham
Rev. Mr Mac Quhal, do. 16 copies
| Rev. Mr Madan, Reading
E. Maitland, Esq. Clapham
A. Maitland, Esq.Coleman Street, London
Mr Making, near Bildeston
Mr Makinson, Bolton
Mr B. Malden, Bedford
Mr E. Malden, do.
Mr B. Mallinson, Huddersfield
Malton Religious Library
| Mr.J. Manchester, Wakefield
Manchester Reading Society
Rev. G. Mantle, Westbury, 7 copies
Mr Markeness, Houghton, Northamp-
tonshire -
Mr Markland, Norwich
Mr Marr, Beverley
Mr G. Marriot, Wakefield
Mr W. Marriot, do.
Mr T. Marriot, do.
Mr M. Marriott, Harwich
Mr G. March, Brittle Lane
Miss Marshall, Bridlington
Capt. Marshall, Hull
Mr Marshall, London
Mr J. Marshall, Horsforth
| Mr W. Martin, Headingley, near Leeds
Mr E. Martin, Pool, near Otley
Mr Mascoll, London
Mr W. Mathews, Aberdeen
Mr A. H. Mathewson, Collierly Dykes
Rev. Mr Mathias, Parsons Hill, Ireland
Capt. Matson, Hull
Mr Maule, Rothersthorp, Northamp-
- tonshire
Miss Maxey, Knatting
Mr J. Maxfield, Swinton
Mr P. May, Kidderminster
Mr Maynard, London
Mr J. Mayor, Little Moorfields, London
Mr G. Meason, Shipton
Mr Meak, Magdalen College, Cam-
bridge
Mr Medland, London
Mr W. Meeking, Lavenham
Miss N. Mellor, Lockwood
Mr J. Mellor, Farnley Hey
Mr G. Mellor, do.
Mr J. Mellor, Castle Houses
Mr Mercer, Liverpool
Mr Mercet, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London
Mr Merriweather, Greenholm Hill
i
t
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES,
Mr Merriweather, Yarm, 2 copies
Mr Messenger, Kirkburton
Methodist New Connexion, 60 copies
Methodist Library, Alnwick
Mr D. Mial, Portsea
Mr W. Middleton, Sunderland
Mr Middleton, London
Mr Millar, Liverpool
Rev. W. Millar, High Wycomb
Rev. Mr Mill, Torling
Mr J. Missing, Portsea
Rev. T. Mitchel, Brigstock, 5 copies
Mr S. Mitchel, Leeds
Mr R. Missildine, St. Andrew's Church
Yard, London
T. M. Minchin, Esq. Gosport
Mr B. Moody, Rotherham
Mr Moon, bookseller, Wakefield
Mr Morgan, Oxford
Mr E. Morley, Tunbridge Wells
Hon. Mrs Moor, Stamford
W. Moor, Esq. do.
Miss Moor, do.
Mr H. Moor, Halesworth
Mr T. Moor, Boiton le Moors
Mr T. Mordy, Sunderland .
Mr R. More, Halesworth
Rev. Mr Morgan, Oxford
Rev. Mr Morley, Rotherham
Mr E. Morley, Tunbridge Wells
Mr Morphew, Hartfield
Mr Morphell, Hartfield
Rev. S. Morrel, Little Baddon
Mr Morrison, Crofton
Mr Morrow, Low Felton
Mrs S. Moorsonne, Scarborough
Mr Morton, Wellingborough
Mr Morton, Shelly
Mr. Mosebury, Romford
Rev. Mr Moseley, Long Buckly,
8 copies
Rev. Mr Moseley, Guthleton, 5 copies
Mr J. Moseley, Birmingham
Mr Motley, Huddersfield
Mr Moxel, Wakefield
Mr Mullinger, Sheerness
Mr Munt, Harwich
Mr Murry, Tinwell Lodge, near
Stamford
Mr Muston, Devizes
Mr Myers, Sunderland
H
-*
N
| Mr J. Nattrass, Sunderland
Mr Naylor, Leeds
Mr J. Neal, Aylesbury
Mr G. Nesbit, Alnwick
Mr J. Newbald, Hull
Mr C. Newbald, do.
Mr Newell, Feversham
Mr Newbury, Camberwell
| Mr J. Newsom, Borough
Mr J. Newman, Plymouth
Mrs Newsom, Leeds
Mr Nicholson, bookseller, Halifax,
2 copies
| Mr D. Nickelson, Grimsby
Mr E. Nicklin, Birmingham
Mr R. Nickson, Preston, 8 copies
Mr W. Nicolds, Saffron Walden
Mr T. Nixon, Sheffield
Mr Noaks, Upminster
Mr Norice, Weatherby
Mr Norman, Rotherham
|Mr W. Norris, Halifax
Mr Norton, Yelvertoft
Mr.J. Nunnley, Market Harborough
Mr J. Nye, Tunbridge Wells
| Mr H. Nye, do.
O
Miss Ogden, Thames Street, London
Rev. Mr Ogilvie, Malton, 7 copies
Mr Ogle, bookseller, London, 72 copies
Mr W. Olivant, Manchester
Mr J. Orchard, No. 335, Wapping,
- London
Mr Ollin, Colchester
Mr Osborne, Plymouth
Osset Library
Mr J. Owen, Sipstone
Mr J. Oxley, Barnsley
Mr Oxley, surgeon, Hull
P
Mr E. T. Palmer, Bedford º
| Mr B. Palmer, do.
Mr Palmer, Leathrow
| Mr Palmer, Kimbolton
| H. Parker, Esq. Woodthorp
Vliss Parker, Rotherham
Mrs Parker, Brigg
|Mr. J. Parker, Cattesbrook ,
\
546
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.
Mrs Parke, Uttoxeter
Mr Parkhouse, Taunton
Rev. Mr Parkin, Rotherham
Mr J. Parkinson, Wakefield
Mr Parkinson, do.
Mr Parkinson, Pickering
Mr Parkinson, jun. London
Miss Parnall, Canterbury
Mr Parry, Birmingham
Mr G. Pashler, Old Weston
Mr Patterson, Alnwick, 6 copies
Mr Patterson, Hawick
Mr Patridge, Thames Street, London
Mr Paul, Aberdeen
Mr G. Paul, Bury
Mr R. Paul, Cambridge
Mr J. Paul, Mettingham
Mr R. Peaker, Hopton
Mr O. Pearce, Hans Common
Mr Pearson, Plymouth
Mr J. Pearson, Brittle Lane
Mr W. Pearson, Pudsey
Mr Pearson, Stamford
Mr Peart, bookseller, Birmingham,
44 copies
Rev. W. Pendered, Royston, 7 copies
Mr W. Penn, Baldock
Mr Pennington, bookseller, Kendal
Mr Pennee, Tetney
Mr P. Pennythorn, Scarborough
Mr Perram, Cheshunt *
Rev. J. W. Percy, Woolwich, 8 copies
Mr Stephen Percy, London
Rev. Mr Phillips, Rotherham
Mr Phillips, Stamford
Mr J. Phillips, Birmingham
Rev. Mr Phillimon, Kingston
Mr Philip, Harlington
Mrs J. Philliskirk, Scarborough
Mr Phipps, Westbury Leigh
Mr J. Phipson, Birmingham
Mr Pickering, Student at Rotherham
Rev. J. W. Piercy, Woolwich
Mr R. Piercy, Bedworth
Miss Piercy, Highbury Place, London
Mr J. Pincher, Brentwood
Mr J. Pinchion, Upminster
Mr Pinder, Sunderland
Mr W. Piper, London
Mr J. Piper, do.
Mr H. H. Piper, do.
Rev. R. Pittard, Rodwell, 8 copies
Mr Pix, London
Mr Pixton, Stratford
Mr Player, Saffron Walden
Mr Plimsoll, Plymouth
Mr Plint, Leeds
Rev. Mr Podmon, Tunbridge Wells,
7 copies
Pontefract Reading Society
Mr Pool, Derby
Mr H. Poole, Castleford
Mr S. Poole, Cheapside, Iondon
Mr Popple, Hull
Mr Popplewell, do.
Mr D. Porter, Bridlington
Mr Porter, Saffron Walden
J. Potter, Esq. Darwen Hall
Mr M. Potter, Dean Mill
Mr Potter, Newcastle upon Tyne
Mr Pottinger, Birmingham
Mr T. Potts, do.
Mr J. Potts, Newington Butts
Mrs Pownell, Liverpool
Rev. Mr Pratt, London
Mr H. Pratt, Birmingham
Mr Prentice, Bungoy
Rev. J. Price, Leeds
Mr Price, Fleet Street, London
Rev. W. Priestley, Devizes
Mr Pritchard, bookseller, Derby,
13 copies
Mr Procter, Leeds
Mr Punshon, Sunderland
Mr W. Purdon, Hull
Mrs Pye, Stone
t Q
Mr S. Quilter, Stondon
R
Mr J. R. Barnstaple
Mr L. Race, Wakefield
Rev. Dr. Rain, Master of the Charter-
house
Rev. Mr Ralph, Cleckheaton, 7 copies
Mr H. Ramsey, Chesham
Mrs Ramsden, near Huddersfield
Mr Rangeley, Leeds
Mr Rangeley, junior, do.
Mr W. Raynard, Kingston
Rev. Mr Rate, Alnwick
Mr T. Rathall, Sheffield
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES. - 547
Mr Ravenscroft, Manchester
Mr R Rawcliff, Leeds
Miss L. Rawson, Leeds
Messrs. Rawson and Co. booksellers,
Hull, 5 copies
Mr Ray, Drayton
Mr J. Ray, Wakefield
Mr J. Ray, Ipswich
Rev. Mr Rayson,Wakefield, 38 copies
Mr Read, Pickering
Mr E. T. Reeve, Wenden
Mr Renalds, Student at Rotherham
Mr J. Rennie, Aberdeen
J. Reyner, Esq. London
Mr Reyner, Leeds
Mr P. Rhodes, Otley
Mr Rhodes, Brigg
Mr G. Rhodes, Wetherby
Mr Rhodes, Hull, 2 copies
Mr Riach, Aberdeen
Mr Rebbeck, Devizes, 10 copies
Rev. Mr Richards, Hull
Mr. Richards, Student at Hoxton
Mr Richardson, Chester House:
Mr Richardson, Brentwood
Mr Richardson, Ramsden
Mr Richardson, Bolton le Moors
Mr Richardson, Wakefield
Rev. Mr Richmond, Brading
Mr E. Riddle, Hull
Mr T. Riddle, do.
Miss Rideal, Wakefield
Mr Ridgard, bookseller, Sheffield,
9 copies
Mr Ridley, Reeth
Rev. Mr Rigby, Blackley, 3 copies
Rev. Mr. Riles, Colchester
Rev. Mr Rickman, Isle of Wight
Mr Ripley, Holbeck, near Leeds
Rev. Mr Roberts, Bristol, 8 copies
Mr T. Roberts, Armley, near Leeds
Mr Roberts, Romford
Mr Roberts, Guilsborough
Mr J. Roberts, Wincobank
Mrs Roberson, Beverley
Rev. J. Robinson, Creaky
Rev. Mr Robinson, Sunderland
T. Robinson, Esq.. Hull
VOL, VII.
Mr W. Robinson, Bedford
Mr Robinson, Rotherham
Mr Robinson, Halifax
Mr Robinson, Aberdeen
Mr Robinson, Darfield
Mr W. Robinson, jun. Chesterfield
Mr W. Robinson, Saffron Walden
Mr Robinson, Knaresborough
Mr W. Robinson, Thornhill
Rev. S. Robson, Drumcree, Ireland
Mr W. Robson, Wakefield
Mr Robson, Liverpool
Rev. Mr Roby, Manchester, 11 copies
| Mr Rhodes, Wakefield
Mr Rodehouse, do.
Mr Rodick, Wellingborough
Mr Roe, Blandford
Mr Rogers, Taunton
Mr S. Rogers, Brittle Lane
Mr Rogerson, Leeds
Mr Rolfe, Blackburn
Mr Roome, Student at Rotherham
Mr C. Ross, Rochester
Mr Ross, Rotherham
Mr.J. Roseon, Bolton
Mr Rothery, Leeds
Mr Rothery, Hunslet
Mr Rothwell, Leeds
Mr J. Rothwell, Halifax
Mr C. Rousseau, London, 2 copies
Mr Rout, Deptford
Mr P. Rowland, Colchester
Mr Roley, Walsal
Mr Rugman, junior, Reading
Mr Runnington, Mile End, London
Mr Rusher, bookseller, Reading,
35 copies
Mr Rushworth, Leeds
Mr J. Rushworth, do.
Mrs. Russel, Muston
Mr Russel, Saddleworth
Mr J. Russel, Leeds
Mr W. Rust, Hull *
Mr J. T. Rutt, Witham
Mr Ryley, Orange Street, Bloomsbury,
London
- S
Mr Salmon, Dibden
3 Y
543
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES,
Miss Sanders, Harwich
Lady Sanderson, Clapham
Mr J. Sanderson, Alnwick
Mr Sanderson, Aberford, 7 copies
Mr Savill, London
Mr J. Savill, Holborn Hill, London
Mr Savill, Mills Bridge
Mr J. Savill, St. Neots
Mr J. Savill, Homerton
Mr Saunders, Student at Bristol
Mr Saunders, Corston
Mr Sawyer, Green Hammerton
Mr Saxby, Thames Dilton
Mr Sayner, Leeds
Mr J. Scarr, Leeds
Mr Scarth, Wakefield
Mr Seathergood, Ilkeston
Mr Schirrow, Lowlaith
Mr Schneider, jun. Holborn
Mr Schofield, Gowber Hill
Mr Schofield, Sheſlield
Rev. Mr Scott, Hull
Miss Scott, Hammersmith
Mr Scott, Aberdeen
Mr Scott, Wakefield
Mr Scriviner, Sewell, Northampton-
shire
Mr Seargent, near Brigg
Mr W. Selby, Newbridge
B. J. Sellon, Esq. Serjeant at Law,
London 's-,
Mr Senior, Bury
Mr Senior, Lepton
Mr Sergeant, Melton
Mr Sewell, Norwich
Mr Sewell, Yarmouth
Mr Share, Colebrook Dale
Mr Sharp, Leeds
Mr Sharrock, Darwen
Rev. Mr Shaw, Ilkeston, 8 copies
Rev. Mr Shaw, Moor Green
Mr Shaw, Sheffield
Mr G. Shaw, Lockwood
Mr J. Shaw, do.
Mr G. Shaw, Farnley Hey
Mr J. Shaw, Bolton
Mr Shaw, 13rittle Lane
Mr J. Sheldrake, Hitchen
Mr Shephard, Bermondsey
Mr B. Shephard, Plymouth
ſ
{
|Mr Sheppard, bookseller, Mansfield
Rev. W. Sheppard, Wrentham
Mr Sheepshanks, Leeds
Mr Sherref, London
Rev. Mr Shillermon, Kingston
Mr Shillito, Rotherham
Mr W. Sibary, Bramley
Mrs Sibley, IIarrington
Miss Sibley, Islington
Mr Simmonds, London
Mr Simmons, Coleman Street,
London
Mr Simpson, London
|Mr Sims, Stepney
| Mr Sissons, Beverley
Mr Sissons, Rotherham
Mr M. Sizer, Great Oakley
Mr Skidmore, Sheffield
| Mir Skirrow, Low Laith, near Bing,
ley
Mr J. Skynner, Birmingham
Mr W. Slack, Cumberworth
Messrs Slater and Bower, booksellers,
Sheffield, 50 copies
Rev. Mr Slatterie, Chatham, 6 copies
Mr Slowman, Deptford
Rev. Mr Smelle, Grimsby, 9 copies
Rev. J. P. Smith, Homerton
Rev. J. Smith, Manchester, 2 copies
Rev. Mr Smith, Melbourn, 9 copies
Rev. Mr Smith, Alcester, 10 copies
|Rev. Mr Smith, Brentwood, 8 copies
Mr J. Smith, Kennington Cross
Mr E. Smith, Houndsditch, London
Mr J. Smith, Carrington
Mr Smith, Hull
Mr Jer. Smith, do.
Mr R. Smith, do.
|Mr Smith, Hornchurch
|Mr Smith, bookseller, Sheffield
| 15 copies.
|Mr Smith, grocer, Sheffield
| Mr G. Smith,
|
do.
Mr Smith, Dogenham
|Mr Smith, Nottingham
Mr T. Smith, Boston
Mr T. Smith, Brigg
Mr C. Smith, Birmingham.
Mr J. Smith, do.
Mr John Smith, do.
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.
549
Mr Smith, Lees, near Oldham
Mr Smith, Morley, near Leeds
Mr Smith, Rellen
Mr Smith, Brigstock
Mr Smith, Poorfleet
Mr W. Smith, Bedford
Mr Smith, Howarth Lodge
Mr W. Smith, Howarth
Mr J. Smith, Melton
Mr W. Smith, Rotherham
Mr Smith, High Street, Bloomsbury
Mr W. Smith, Scarborough
Mr E. Smith, do.
Mr Smith, Newcastle
Mr Smith, North Shields
Mr J. Smith, do.
Mr Smithies, bookseller, Leeds,
50 copies
Mr B. Smoothy, Hudstock
Mr Snare, Reading
Rev. Mr Snow, Brittle Lane,
16 copies
Mr B. Snowden, Hull
Mr G. Somerfield, Walsall
Mr J. Southern, Usworth
Mr A, Spear, Cannon Street, London
Mr Special, Liverpool -
Mr Spence, Beverley
Mr Spencer, London
Mr Spencer, Nottingham
Mr Spilsbury, Lombard Street,
London
Mr Sprigg, Birmingham
Mr Spring, Brigg
Mr W. Spring, Swansea
Mr Squire, Beverley
Mr G. Stace, Romford
Mr W. Stace, Brentwood
T. Stack, Esq. Islington
Mr P. Stacy, Howarth
Mr G. Stancliff, Hopton
Mr Stanfield, bookseller, Bradford
Mrs Starkie, near Settle
Miss C. Starman, Melton
Mr Steel, Liverpool
Mr A. Steil, Kidderminster
Mr E. Stennet, Hull
Mr Stenton, Clifton
Mr Stephenson, Pimlico, London
Rev. W. Stevens, Aberdeen, 8 copies
º
Rev. G. Stevens, Chatham
Mr E. Stevens, Henwick
Mr Stevens, Bilderston
Mr R. Stevenson, Brigg
Mr Stewart, Pheturn
Mr T. Stiff, New Street, London
Mr C. Stock, Highbury Place, London
Miss Stock, do.
Mr T. O. Stock, do.
Mrs Stock, Dogenham
Mrs Stock, Nottingham
Mr G. Stocks, Hopton
Rev. T. Stolery, London
Rev. Mr Stone, Portsea
Mr Stone, Wednesbury
Mrs M. Stout, Sunderland
Mr T. Street, Reynold
Mr J. Strickland, Grulder
Mr Stutterd, near Lindley
Mr Stunton, Market Harborough
Mr Styles, Alcester
Mr Styles, London
Rev. B. Sugden, Skipton
Mrs Suland, Leicester
Mr Summerscales, Hull -
Mr J. Sunderland, Wakefield
Miss Sunderland, do.
Mr J. Sunderland, Leeds
C. Sundius, Esq. London
Mr J. Sutcliff, Woodhouse, near
Halifax
Mr T. Sutcliff, Woodhouse, near
Halifax
Mr Sutherland, Birmingham
Mr Sutton, bookseller, Nottingham,
60 copies
Mr Sutton, Liverpool
Mr J. Swaine, Halifax
Mr G. Swan, North Sunderland
Mr Swallow, Wakefield
Mr T. Swallow, Brentwood
Mrs Swift
Rev. Mr Sykes, Briston, 19 copies
Rev. J. Sykes, Guestwick
Mr M. Sykes, Hopton
T
Mr T. Taſs, Chatham
3 Y 2
550
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.
Mr W. Talbot, Lombard Street,
London
Mr Talfourd, Reading
Rev. Mr Tall, Swaveney
Mr J. Tarry, White Street, Finsbury
Square, London
Mr Tate, Lockwood
Rev. Mr Taylor, Osset, 2 copies
Rev. D. Taylor, London
Rev. Mr Taylor, Shrewsbury, 11 copies
Miss Taylor, Stamford
Mr W. Taylor, Henwick
Mr Taylor, Harwick
Mrs Taylor, Bridlington
Mr W. Taylor, Royston
Mr J. Taylor, Berwick
Mr Taylor, Rotherham
Mrs R. Taylor, Scarborough
Mr Taylor, Ninevah
Mr Taylor, Armitage, near Lockwood
Mrs M. Tavey, Creaton
Mr J. Teal, Leeds
Mr Tetley, Cleckheaton
Mr S. Thackrey, Cloyton
Mr Thickett, Braithwell
R. G. Thomas, Esq. London
Rev. Mr Thomas, Enfield
Mr J. Thomasin, Bell Yard, Grace
Church Street, London
T. Thompson, Esq.. Hull
Mr J. Thompson, Lower Ardwick
Mr S. Thompson, Halifax
Mr C. Thompson, Wakefield j
Mr Thompson, bookseller, Manchester,
6 copies
Mr.Thompson, Newburgh
Mr Thompson, Usworth
Mr Thompson, Rotherham
Mr J. Thompson, Reeth
Mr Thompson, Ilkeston
Mr Thorbourn, Wakefield
Mr Thomely, Charlesworth
Mr J. Thornton, Lower Ardwick
Mr Thornton, Leeds
Mr. Thornton, London
Mr Thornton, Bradford
Mr W. Tiffin, St. Andrew's Church
Yard, London
Miss H. Thoroughgood, Baldock
Mr Thurgar, Sheffield
Rev. Mr Thurgarland, York, 9 copies
Thurstland Book Society
Mr Tiley, Reading
Mr T. Tindale, Scarborough
Mr Titley, Bath
Mr J. Todd, Lower Ardwick
Mr R. Todd, Pickering
Mrs Tomling, Waddington
Mr Toms, Oxford
Mrs J. Tomkins, St. Helens, Abingdon
|Mr T. Tomkins, Walworth
Mr S. Tomkins, Bread Street, London
Mr Topham, York
Mr Topham, Halifax
Rev. Mr Tooling, Harlington
Rev. Mr Toothill, Hopton, 13 copies
Rev. Mr Townsend, Darwen, 36 copies
Rev. Mr Townsend, Sunderland,
16 copies -
Rev. Mr Townsend, Shelley
Rev. Mr Tozer, Taunton, 16 copies
Rev. Mr Trebeck, Wath
Mr Trother, Sunderland
Mr Trother, Hartford
Mr Trumble, Brigg
Mr Tuphom, Halifax
Mr Turner, Bristol
Mr Turner, Harwich
Mr Tutin, Birmingham
Mr T. Tweddle, near Morpeth
Mr T. Twist, Bolton
Mr Tyler, Harwich
U
Mr H. Vanvoorst, Edmund Hall,
Oxford
Rev. Mr Vardy, Warminster
Mr. C. Vaux, Sunderland
Mr Waynes, Catcliffe
Mr Vernon, Uttoxeter
Miss Vickers, Cumberland Place,
London
Mr T. Vicars, Brigstock
Mrs Vickars, Sandy Green
Mr J. Vickerman, Newsham
Mir J. Vickerman, Skircoat
Mr T. Vigurs, Penzance
Mr E. Vines, Reading
Rev. Mr Vint, Idle
Mr H. Wollom, Beverley
Mr T. Ulph, St. Ives
Uppingham Society
M. Unsworth, near Chorley
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.
551
W
Rev. Mr Wade, Hull
Mr Wade, Rotherham
Mr G. Wadkin, do.
Mr T. Wails, Newcastle
Mr J. Wainwright, Leeds
Mr Jon. Wainwright, Leeds
Mr W. Wake, Sunderland
Mr Wakefield, Chesterford
Mr Wakefield, Newport Pagnel,
6 copies
Wakefield Reading Society
Capt. Waldgrave, Hull
Rev. W. Walford, Yarmouth
Rev. Mr. Walker, Saffron Walden,
12 copies
J. Walker, Esq. Rotherham
Miss Walker, do.
Mr G. Walker, Horncliff
Mr Walker, York
Mr S. Walker, Mirfield
Mr T. Walker, Heckmondwike
Mr W. Walker, Chester le Street,
London
Mr T. Walley, Liverpool
Mr Walshaw, Ruley
Rev. S. Walter, A. M. Madely
Rev. J. Waltham, A. M. Darlaston
Mr Wane, South Shields
Miss E. Warnum, Cavendish Square,
London
Mr W. Ward, Winbourn
Mr Ward, near Fewstone
Mr W. Wardlow
Tev. Mr Warton, Haverford West
8 copies
Dr. Warwick, Rotherham
Mr Ware, surgeon, Wellington
Rev. Mr Washbourn, Wellingborough,
9 copies
Mr Washbourn, Holborn
Mr T. Wass, Smeaton
Mr Wasterney, Rotherham
Mr Waterhouse, Conisbro'
Mr Waters, Hartfield
Mr J. Watson, Highbury Place,
London
Mr G. Watson, Hull
Mr J. K. Watson, do.
Mrs Watson, Rotherham
ſ
r
Mr Wayte, bookseller, Burton,
2 copies
J. Weatherhall, Esq. Brompton, Kent
Mr B. Weaver, Student at Rotherham
Mr B. Webber, London
Mr G. Webster, Leeds
Mrs Webster, Nafferton
Mr E. Webster, Hull
Mr J. Weight, Manchester
Rev. Mr Wellbeloved, York
T. Wellman, Esq. Pourford Park, near
Taunton
Miss Wellmon, Pourford Park, near
Taunton,
Mr. A. Wells, Leeds
Mr H. Wellstead, Chatham
Rev. Mr West, Leicester, 4 copies
Rev. F. West, St. Ives, 16 copies
Mr West, Surgeon, London
Mr West, Shaftsbury
Mr Weston, London
Mr N. Westhorp, Henwick
Mr Westley, Blandford
H. Weymouth, Esq. Battersea
Mr Wheatley, Hoyland
Mr Wheelhouse, Linton
Mr Whetstone, Stepney
Mrs Whitacre, Longwood House, near
Huddersfield
Mr J. Whitaker, near Burley
Mr Whitaker, Macclesfield
Rev. Mr Whitchurch, Bramley, Hants
Mr A. White, Scarborough
Mr T. White, Westbury
Mr S. White, Debden
Mr White, Cottingham
Mr White, Sunderland
Mr W. White, Bedford
Rev. G. Whitfield, City Road, London,
16 copies
Mr J. Whitfield, Pudsey
Rev. Mr Whitehead, Charlesworth,
8 copies
Rev. Mr Whitehead, Creaton
Mr Whitmore, Cheapside, London
Mr W. Whitwell, Bethnal Green
Mr W. Wiley, near Oswald Kirk
Mrs Whyley, near West Bromwick
Mrs Wiakands, Sunderland
Mr Wickendon
1552
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.
Mr T. Wigfield, Rotherham
W. Wilberforce, Esq. M. P.
Mr. Wild, near Oldham
Mr Wild, Sipson
Rev. Mr Wilde, Roscrone
Mr Wildboar, Uttoxeter
Mr Wildsmith, surgeon, Rotherham
Mr Wildsmith, Ravensfield
Rev. Mr Wilkins, Odiam
Rev. Mr Wilkins, Goring
Mr J. Wilkinson, Beverley
Mr J. Wilkinson, do. 2 copies
Mr T. Wilkinson, do.
Mr Wilkinson, Welford
Mr Wilkinson, Cottingham
Mr W. Wilkinson, Bradford
Mr J. Wilkinson, do.
Mr Wilkinson, Hull
Mr Wilkinson, Rotherham
Mr Wilkinson, Great Prescot Street,
London
Mr Wilkinson, draper, Northampton
Mr W. Wilkinson, do.
Mr J. Wilkinson, Daventry, Northamp-
tonshire t
Mr T. Wilkinson, Daventry, Northamp-
tonshire --
Rev. M. Wilkes, Old Street Road
Mr Wilkes, Darlaston
Mr B. Willans, Hunslet, ngar Leeds
Rev. Dr. Williams, Rotherham
Rev. H. H. Williams, Cheltenham,
12 copies
Rev. J. Williams, Shaftsbury
Rev. D. Williams, Swanland, 6 copies
Mr Williams, bookseller, London,
69 copies
Mr B. Williams, Reading
Mr G. E. Williams, do.
Rev. Mu Williams, Hitchin
Mr T. Willet, Birmingham
Mr L. Williams, South End, Essex
Rev. Mr Willoughby, Pickering,
10 copies
Mr Wells, Bristol
Mr Willy, Hopton
Capt. James Wilson, Camberwell
Rev. G. Wilson, Leeds, 28 copies
Mr Ben. Wilson, do.
Mr Wilson, do.
|T. Wilson, Esq. Bishop Wearmouth
|T. Wilson, Esq. Artillery Place,
London
Mr Wilson, attorney, Woolwich
R. Wilson, Esq. Woolwich
Mr S. Wilson, London
Mr Wilson, do.
Mr R. Wilson, do.
Mr S. Wilson, Goldsmith Street,
London
Rev. Dan. Wilson, do.
Mr R. Wilson, do. 2 copies
Mrs Wilson, Hopton
Mr R. Wilson, Hanley
Mr Wilson, Cotton End, near North-
ampton
Mr W. Wilson, Hoxton
Mr Wilson, Oxford
Rev. Mr Wilson, Dyee
Mr J. B. Wilson, Plymouth Dock
Mr T. Wilson, sen. Sheffield
Mr J. Wilson, do.
Rev. J. Wilson, Dreyton
Mr J. Wilson, Newcastle under Line
Messrs Wilson and Spence, booksellers,
York, 200 copies
Mr Wood, Fleet Street, London
Mr J Wood, Sands Mills
Mr Wood, Brittle Lane
Mr Wood, Sunderland
Mr J. Wood, London
Mr Wood, Lepton
Mr Wood, Manchester
Mr Woodcock, Bury
Mr Woodcock, Conisbro'
Mr Woodhead, Holmfirth
Mr Woodroffe, Stamford
Mr Woodroffe, Wakefield
Mr C. Wolfe, Chester le Street
Mr C. Wooller, Hopton
Mr B. Woolbrough, Crotfield
Mr Woolrich, Uttoxeter
Mr T. Woolston, Adderbury, Oxford-
- shire
Mt Word, Wakefield
Mr Wormald, Wakefield
Mr Wormald, Lonviging
Mr Wootton
Mr Wraith, Blackburn
Mr Wrathall, Sheffield
SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES. - * 553
Mr E. Wray, Brigg
Mr C. Wright, Deptford
Mr B. Wright, Hull
Mr J. Wright, Manchester, 2 copies
Mr R. Yates, Duckworth Hall
Mr J. Yeardley, Parkgate
Mr Young, student at Rotherham
Mr Young, Tunbridge Wells
Mr Wrigglesworth, Leeds Mr Young, Alnwick
Mr Wyatt, Newington Green Mr W. Youngman, Walsham le
Y Willows
Mr Yate, Madeley
T H E E N D,
DEC 2 6 191'.
I, E E D S :
PRINTEP BY E. BAINEs.
*
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