Hymne XXI. A generall thanksgiving.
[_]
Because the particular Benefits which we receive of
God, are so many, that we cannot sing particular
Hymns for every Mercy, this generall Thanksgiving
is provided for those who need such helps.
Sing this as the 100. Psalme.
[1]
O Lord I faine would sing thy praise,
But, know not where I should begin;
So often, and so many waies,
Thy Favours have conferred bin.
No blessing needfull to be had,
Are we, by thee debarred from
Whereby we happy may be made,
On earth; or, in the world to come.
2
I, for my Being, thanke thee first,
And, that when I the same possest,
I was no Creature of the worst;
But, had Endowments of the best.
And thy eternall-Providence,
I praise, with all the pow'rs in mee,
For ev'ry grace vouchsaf'd me since
I first receiv'd my life from thee.
3
For ev'ry Sense, for all my Limbs;
And, for each Gift, I praise returne,
Which outwardly my body trims;
Or, me doth inwardly adorne.
I praise thee, for my Strength, my Health,
My Shape; and also for that share
Which I have had of worldly-Wealth,
And, of some honest-Pleasures here.
4
I praise thee for my Friends and Foes;
(For, both have usefull been to mee)
Yea, for thy just-correcting blowes,
I render hearty thanks to thee.
I likewise magnifie ô God!
Thy wisedome, for that goodly Frame,
Which over us thou spread'st abroad;
And, for this Globe on which I am.
5
For all things in this lower-World;
For ev'ry Star, in ev'ry Sphere,
Which round about this Orbe is whirld,
I praise thee with a heart sincere.
But, most of all, I praise thee, Lord,
For pardoning what is done amisse;
And, for the meanes thou dost afford
To bring me to Eternall Blisse.
6
For chusing me, e're time was made;
For thy Creating me, in Time;
For my Redemption, when I had
Well-being lost, by Adams crime.
For me inlightning, by those Rayes,
Whereby the Paths of Truth I see;
For bringing me from Errors wayes;
For these things, Lord, I honour thee.
7
I blesse thy Name, that by thy Grace
I freely justified am;
And, that, when I polluted was,
I thereby sanctifide became.
I praise thee too, that I abide
Preserved in the State of Blisse;
And, that, of being Glorifide,
My wofull Soule, kept hopefull is.
8
Oh Lord, to sum up all, in One,
(In One, which ev'ry Blisse containes)
I give thee thanks for Christ thy Son,
Who all these gracious Favours daignes.
To Him, for whatsoever Hee
Hath suffred, said, or done, be praise.
And, to that Spirit, who to mee,
The meanes of all this Grace convayes.
