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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Hymn XLI. For a Shepherd.
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That Shepherds, might not muse altogether on Drudgerie or impertinent vanities, while they are, all alone, attending their Flocks, we have prepared, for them, a Pastorall-Song, to acquaint and exercise them, with nobler Meditations.
Sing this as the Lamentation.
[1]
Renowned men their Herds to keep,Delighted much in elder dayes:
437
Great Princes thought is no dispraise.
And, while they so employed were,
Sometime, oh God! it pleased thee
In wondrous manner, to appear,
And, gracious unto them to be.
2
The Joyfullest-news, that ere was told,Was unto Shepherds, first declar'd,
And, they did also, first behold
The blessing, whereof they, first, heard.
Lord! I am thine, as much as they,
(Although unworthy such respect)
Oh, let thy mercies, glorious Ray,
Vpon my low-estate, reflect.
3
Whilst all alone, I here attendThis harmlesse Flock; let, into me
Thy holy-Ghost, oh Christ! descend;
That, I may therewith filled be.
And, though my heart a Stall hath bin,
Where, Vice at Rack and manger, lay;
Vouchsafe thou, to be born, therein:
That, better guests possesse it may.
4
Lest Idle-musings, Thoughts beget,That, stir up longings, which are ill;
And, make me my endeavour set,
Forbidden Actions, to fulfill.
Vpon thy Love, and on thy Law,
Let me, my lovely houres, employ.
That, I may serve with Joy-full-awe;
And, love thee, with an awfull-Joy.
438
5
When I my stragling-sheep behold,Let me conceive, what I had bin;
Hadst thou not brought me to thy Fold,
And, fed and succour'd me, therein.
And, when I well consider those,
Who Spoilers, of those creatures be;
Me, let it mindfull make, what Foes
Do seek, to make a spoile of me.
6
When, likewise, I behold them shorn,And, meekly yeelding up their fleece;
Or, when to slaughter they are born,
How patiently, their lives they leese:
That holy-Lambe, let me, I pray,
Thereby, in thankfull minding have,
Who, dumbe-before the Shearer lay;
And, slaughtred was my life to save.
7
Yea, whilst I watch and guide my sheep;Be thou my Shepherd, and my Guide,
Both me, and them, from harm to keep;
And, all things needfull, to provide.
That, when both Goats, and Sheep, shall stand
Before thy face, their doomes to bear;
I, may be plac'd at thy Right-hand,
And, Joy when I my Sentence hear.
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