Hymn LIII. For St. Iames his Day.
[_]
This Day we glorifie God for his Apostle James,
who was one of the two, for whom their Mother
desired that they might sit, the one at his right hand,
and the other at his left hand in his Kingdome:
And by occasion of that Petition, they and others are
taught what they should rather desire to obtain.
Sing this as the 10. Commandements.
[1]
They who their Father had forsook,
And follow'd Christ at his command,
(By humane frailtie overtook)
Did for preferment, seeme to stand.
But, by their Master they were taught,
What fitteth an Apostles care;
What should by them, be rather sought;
And, what their chiefest honours are.
2
By them, we see much Folly grows,
Where Virtues their best rooting take;
And that the man which Wealth forgoes,
May not Ambition quite forsake.
And fear we may, that Sin resides
In many Persons at this day,
Who chosen are for Lights, and Guids,
To shew to other men their way.
3
To Thee, therefore, oh Lord, we pray,
That, humblenesse, in us may dwell,
To charm that Fiend of Pride away,
Which would thy Graces, quite expell.
Vouchsafe thou, chiefly, those to keep
From this Delusion of the Foe,
Who are the Pastors of thy Sheep,
And should each good Example show.
4
For, they who still pursuing be
That Greatnesse, which the World respects,
Their vanitie do neither see,
Nor feel thy Spirits good effects.
By them, prophanenesse doth increase;
By them, Disunion, is begun,
By them, the Church is robb'd of Peace;
By them, the World will be undone.
5
He therefore, that will stop the Rent,
Which his Ambitious aymes hath made,
(Like this Apostle) must repent
The vain Desires, which he hath had.
For, he which to performe that Place,
With Lowlinesse, himselfe applies,
Endow'd is, with speciall-grace,
And, shall to highest Honours rise.
