Hymn XIII. For the fifth of November.
[_]
This Day we commemorate the admirable Deliverance,
of this Kingdome, from the terrible destruction and Massacre, intended by the damnable
Powder-Treason, to have been executed this
Day of the yeere; and from which God, upon
this Day graciously preserved, Prince and People, by discovering the same. To his praise, for that
Deliverance, this Hymn is Dedicated: and
may be most movingly Sung in Dialogue wise.
Voice. 1.
Wherefore are the Songs of Praise
Which now ev'ry where do sound?
Since among the Solemn-Dayes,
This, of old, hath not been found?
Vo. 2.
This is that known Day, wherein
Fiends (ascending from below)
Raised by the Man of Sin,
Sought to slay us at a blow.
Both.
Taught by their Infernall-Sire
Britain's Fall, they did conspire,
Both by Sulphur and by Fire.
Vo. 1.
Wherefore do the People sing,
As when they in Triumph are?
If so sad, so vile a thing,
For this Day designed were?
Vo. 2.
God, that is this Ilands guard,
Did this Day, contrive it so,
That, the Net, for us prepar'd,
Brought the mischiefe on our Foe.
Both.
And, this Day, which Hell Rome,
Thought to make our Day of Doome;
Their Confusion, did become.
V. 1.
Who were they who had the hopes
To effect so black a Deed?
V. 2.
Twelve Apostles of the Popes
True Professors of his Creed.
V. 1.
For begetting such a birth,
To those Monsters, what befell?
V. 2.
Death-deserved, here on earth;
And, what els we cannot tell.
Both.
If Repentance found no Grace,
They are Howling in the Place,
Where their Plot, first brooded was.
V. 1
How was their damn'd purpose known,
Er'e their Ends, they could affect?
V. 2.
By a writing of their own,
Which God made them misdirect.
V. 1.
When was that base Plot foreseen?
And where was that perill found?
V. 2.
When it should have acted been,
In a Dungeon under-ground.
Both.
None but God, could set us clear,
From a Danger, and a Fear,
So in Secret, and so near.
V. 1.
God, and none but God, indeed
Could have sav'd a Nation so,
V. 2.
None but God, at such a need,
Could have hindred such a blow.
V. 1.
None but God shall therefore share,
In the Honour of the same.
V. 2.
None save they who Traitors are,
Will refuse to praise his Name.
Both.
Lord, our Souls desirous be,
To ascribe all Praise, to Thee;
And, thy Love, confesse will we.