The Hymnes and Songs of the Chvrch Diuided into two parts. The first part comprehends the Canonicall Hymnes, and such parcels of Holy Scripture, as may properly be sung, with some other ancient Songs and Creeds. The second part consists of Spirituall Songs, appropriated to the seuerall Times and Occasions obserueable in the Church of England. Translated and Composed by G. VV. [i.e. George Wither] |
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| I. |
| III. |
| V. |
| VI. |
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| XXIIII. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. | SONG. XXVI. Lament. 3. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
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| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIIII. |
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 | The Hymnes and Songs of the Chvrch |  |
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SONG. XXVI. Lament. 3.
[1]
I am the Man, who (scourged in his wrath)Haue in all sorrowe I throughly tried beene:
Into obscuritie he led me hath:
He brought me thither where no light is seene:
And so aduerse himselfe to me he showes,
That all the day his hand doth me oppose.
2
My flesh and skinne with age he tired out:He bruiz'd my bones as they had broken beene:
Hee with a Wall enclosed me about:
With cares and labours he hath shut me in;
And me to such a place of darkenesse led,
As those are in that be for euer dead.
3
He shut me where I found no passage out;And there my heauy chaines vpon me laid.
Moreouer, though I loudly cried out,
He tooke no heede at all for what I praid:
My Way, with hewed stones he stopped hath,
And left me wandring, in a winding path.
86
4
He was to me like some way-laying Beare;Or as a Lyon that doth lurke vnseene:
My course he hindring, me in peeces tare,
Till I quite ruin'd and laid wast had beene;
His Bow he bended, and that being bent,
I was the marke, at which his Arrow went
5
His Arrowes from his Quiuer forth he caught,And through my verie Raines he made them passe:
Eu'n mine owne people set me then at naught;
And all the day their sporting-Song I was:
From him my fill of bitternesse I had;
And me with Wormwood likewise drunke he made.
6
With stones my teeth he all to pieces brake:He dust and ashes ouer me hath strowne:
All rest hee from my weary soule did take,
As if contentment I had neuer none.
And then I cried; Oh, I am vndone;
All my dependance on the Lord is gone.
7
Oh, mind thou my afflictions and my care;My miseries, my Wormewood, and my Gall:
For, they still fresh in my remembrance are;
And downe in me my humbled soule doth fall.
I this forget not, and when this I minde,
Some helpe againe, I doe begin to finde.
8
It is thy mercy, Lord, that we now be:For, had thy pitty fail'd, not one had liu'd:
The faithfulnesse is great that is in Thee;
87
And Lord, such claime my soule vnto thee laies,
That she will euer trust in thee, shee saies.
9
For, thou art kinde to those that worke thy will;And to their soules that after thee attend,
Good therefore is it, that in quiet still
We hope that safety, which thou Lord, wilt send.
And happie he that timely doth enure
His youthfull necke, the burthen to endure.
10
He downe will sit alone, and nothing say;But, since 'tis cast vpon him beare it out.
(Yea, though his mouth vpon the dust they lay)
And, while there may be hope, will not misdoubt.
His cheeke to him that smiteth, offers he;
And is content, though he reuiled be.
11
For, sure is he (what euer doth befall)The Lord, will not forsake for euermore:
But that he hauing punish't, pittie shall;
Because he many mercies hath in store.
For, God in plaguing take no pleasure can,
Nor willingly afflicteth any man.
12
The Lord delighteth not to trample downeThose men that here on earth enthralled are:
Or that a righteous man should be o'rethrowne,
When hee before the highest doth appeare.
Nor is the Lord well pleased in the sight,
When he beholds the wrong, subuert the Right.
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13
Let no man mutter then, as if he thoughtSome things were done in spight of Gods decree?
For, all things at his word to passe are brought,
That either for our good or euill be.
Why then liues man such murmures to begin?
Oh! let him rather murmur at his sinne.
14
Our owne lewd Courses let vs search and trie,Wee may to thee againe, Oh Lord, conuart.
To God that dwelleth in the heauens on high,
Let vs (oh let vs) lift both hand and heart:
For, wee haue sinned; we rebellious were;
And therefore was it that thou didst not spare.
15
For this (with wrath o'reshadow'd) thou hast chac'tAnd slaughter made of vs without remorse:
Thy selfe obscured with a cloud thou hast,
That so our praiers might haue no recourse;
And loe, among the Heathen-people, we
As out-casts, and off-scourings reckon'd be.
16
Our Aduersaries all (and euery where)Themselues, with open mouth, against vs set.
On vs is falne a Terrour, and a snare,
Where Ruine hath with Desolation met;
And, for the Daughter of my Peoples cares,
Mine eies doe cast forth Rivulets of teares.
17
Mine eies perpetually were ouerflowne;And yet there is no ceasing of my Teares.
For, if the Lord in mercie looke not downe,
89
They will not stint: But, for my peoples sake,
Mine eies will weep, vntill my heart doth breake.
18
As, when a Bird is chased to and fro,My Foes pursued me when cause was none:
Into the Dungeon they my life did throw;
And there they rowled ouer me a stone.
The waters likewise ouerflow'd me quite;
And then me thought I perished out-right.
19
Yet on thy Name, Oh Lord, I called there;(Eu'n when in that Low Dungeon I did lye)
Whence thou wert pleased my complaint to heare;
Not sleighting me when I did sighing cry:
That very day I called, thou drew'st neare,
And saidst vnto me, that I should not feare.
20
Thou Lord, my soule maintainest in her right:My life by thee alone redeemed was;
Thou hast, Oh Lord, obserued my despight;
Vouchsafe thy iudgment also in my cause.
For, all the grudge they heare me, thou hast seene;
And all their plots that haue against me beene.
21
Thou heardst what slanders they against me laid,And all those mischiefes they deuiz'd for me:
Thou notest what their lips of me haue said,
Eu'n what their daily closest whisprings be;
And how (when ere they rise or downe doe lye)
Their Song, and subiect of their mirth am I.
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22
But, Lord, thou shalt reward and pay them allThat meede their actions merit to receiue:
Thy heauy malediction ceaze them shall;
Eu'n this; Sad hearts they shall for euer haue:
And by thy wrath pursude they shall be driuen,
Till they are chased out from vnder heauen.
| The Hymnes and Songs of the Chvrch | |