Halelviah or, Britans Second Remembrancer, bringing to Remembrance (in praisefull and Poenitentiall Hymns, Spirituall Songs, and Morall-Odes): Meditations, advancing the glory of God, in the practise of Pietie and Vertue; and applyed to easie Tunes, to be Sung in Families, &c. Composed in a three-fold Volume, by George Wither. The first, contains Hymns-Occasionall. The second, Hymns-Temporary. The third, Hymns-Personall. That all Persons, according to their Degrees, and Qualities, may at all Times, and upon all eminent Occasions, be remembred to praise God; and to be mindfull of their Duties |
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| LIX. |
Hymn LIX. For troublesome, and dangerous Times.
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Hymn LIX. For troublesome, and dangerous Times.
[_]
No Kingdome is alwaies free from troublesome and dangerous Times. Therefore Hymns of consolation; and such as may move to penitence, or preserve the minde patiently contented with GODS Visitations in that kind, are necessary for uncomfortable Seasons, and will no doubt, be both liked, and used by some.
Sing this as, VVE praise thee oh God .
[1]
Now are the Times; These are the Daies,VVhich will those men approve,
VVho take delight in honest-Waies,
And pious-Courses love.
Now, to the VVorld, it will appear,
That Innocence of heart,
VVill keep us far more free from fear,
Then Helmet, Shield, or Dart.
2
A cunning Polititians Brain,A wealthy Merchants-purse,
A Princely Style, a Portly Train;
(Though with a publike Curse)
(In Grace to be with Lords and Kings,
And, of their Slaves admir'd)
A while agoe, seem'd glorious Things;
And, most to be desir'd.
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3
But fully Ripe now Sins are come,And bring those Plagues-foretold;
Which make the Times grow perilsome,
Good-Conscience passeth Gold.
And, they the bravest Lots possesse,
Which may on earth be had,
Who by an Inward-Happines
Are safe, and fearles made.
4
As Lions they couragious are,Now mischiefs most increase.
And, though still dreadfull newes they hear,
Their Courage doth increase.
For, now, they see be drawing nigh,
And, hast'ning to requite,
Their Insolence, and Tiranny,
Who did in wrongs delight.
5
And why should Innocencie grieve,That, liv'd it hath to see
Fulfilled; what it did believe,
And could foretell, should be?
Yea, why should it be discontent,
That, GOD hath verifi'd
His threat'nings, by a sad event,
On those who Truth decide?
6
What can it lose, now broiles increase?Or Fear, in Times of blood?
Which was opprest in Times of Peace;
And Ill receiv'd for Good?
Since none doth grudge to see his Field,
Stubd up, and set on fire;
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In stead of Bush and Bri'r.
7
The best which could have hoped bin,By long abused Rest;
Was that our Follies, and our Sin,
Should more have bin increast.
For, though some have bewail'd the Time,
And Reformation sought;
But, few do sorrow for their crimes,
Or, mend themselves in ought.
8
Yea, few had either fear or sense,Of Justice, in their waies;
Or favour'd much, that Innocence
Which giveth peacefull daies.
We, therefore are afflicted thus;
And God, hath powred now,
A Violl of his wrath on us,
That we might wiser grow.
9
Like those Egyptians if we be,Whose hearts obdurate grow,
All his old plagues, in store hath he,
Our Follies to pursue;
But by returning unto him,
We, yet may scape the smart,
That without Mercy, fals on them,
Which have a hard'ned heart.
10
Lord, this effect, vouchsafe to grantIn these our Troublous Times.
Let our lost Peace, which now we want,
Reclaim us from our Crimes.
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Till better Daies we see;
This Troublous Time we shall perceive,
A Time of Grace to be.
11
For Pestilences, Deaths, and War,To them, who shall repent.
Not Evill, but Good-Angels are,
For their amendment sent:
And Righteous men, sometime, by these,
In Love, are taken from
Those worse, and those more dreadfull daies;
Which must on others come.
12
Prepare, and fit me, LORD, therefore,With meek, and humble mind,
To meet thy Judgements at the dore;
And, take the Lot I find.
And, if I shall be one of those,
Who for example sake,
Must suffer by these publike-woes,
On me thy pleasure take.
13
But, LORD, remember Mercy still,(Thy Sword, through Justice drawes)
Yea, though to bring this publike Ill,
My Sins, in part, were cause;
Remember too, that I am one
(A Sinner, though it be)
Who grieves, for what I have misdone,
And put my trust in Thee.
| Halelviah | |