Hymn XVI. For Anniversary Sermon-dayes.
[_]
Devout Persons have to sundry Places lest meanes
to procure Anniversary-Sermons to be there
preached; on such, or such Daies of the yeere: And perhaps it might further their Founders
good Intentions, if this Hymn were then Sung.
Sing this as the 23. Psalme.
[1]
The
Sun, hath since we last were here,
Quite through the Zodiack run;
And, on this Day, another yeer.
Is happily begun.
To God therefore, this Anniverse,
(In honour of his Name)
With Heart and Voice, we do reherse,
And, praise him in the same.
2
For, Lord, if Thanks men owe to Thee
For those who give them bread,
Sure, thou for them shouldst praised be,
By whom our Souls are fed.
And we desire this Due to pay
For them who did prepare
The means whereby we meet this Day
Thy blessed Word to hear.
3
Blesse thou this means, and suffer not
Thy Voice to sound in vain.
Let not those Lessons be forgot
Which to our Weal pertain.
But, so let us improve this Grace,
Which yeerly is conferr'd
That, we leave that lawlesse Race,
In which we long have err'd.
4
For, Dayes, and Yeers if we still add
Vnto a wicked Course,
We shall proceed from being bad,
To be a great deal worse.
And, ev'ry Day and Yeer, wherein
Thy Grace thou tendred hast,
Shall help to aggravate our Sin,
And to condemn at last.
5
This, to prevent, let what we hear,
And have, this day, been taught,
Somewhat improve us, ere this Year,
About again be brought.
That neither this dayes pious Gift,
Nor thy good-seed be lost.
But rather by our Christian Thrift,
Repay this pains, and cost.
