 | Cotton Mather's verse in English |  |
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1. Part One: Religious Meditations
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The Body of Divinity Versifyed.
A God there is, a God of boundless Might,In Wisdom, Justice, Goodness, Infinite.
God is but One and yet in Persons Three.
The Father, Son, and Spirit, One God we see.
Our God, by His Great Name JEHOVAH known,
HE the World Made, and Keeps, and Rules Alone.
To Glorify the Glorious God, is That
For which He did all men, and me Create.
God a Just Rule doth in our Bible give,
A Rule, both what to Think, and how to Live.
Holy & Happy our First Parents came
From Gods Hand, with Gods Image in our Frame.
Tasting Forbidden Fruit our Parents fell;
This Taste has plung'd Mankind all down to Hell.
Our Blest Lord JESUS CHRIST, in our Distress,
Comes to fetch us from Hell to Blessedness.
Into his Person, the Bright Son of God,
A Virgins Son took; There He makes Abode.
Life as a Priest CHRIST will His People bring,
Light as a Prophet, & Law as a King.
For us our Surety Liv'd, for us he Dy'd,
And Rising did to Heaven in Triumph Ride.
By Faith to Christ we for Salvation go;
Faith too, as well as That must He bestow.
For Sin will the Renew'd Believer Mourn,
And from all Sin, he'l by Repentance Turn.
Sinners receiving of Gods Pardon, they
Gods Precept will, made Saints, with Love Obey.
All Homage we must yield unto the Lord;
In all directed, by His Heavenly Word.
His Works and Names, we may not use in Vain;
Nor by our Works thereon His Days Profane.
With Honours due we must our Neighbours treat;
And sweetly wish them Lives both Long & Sweet.
With Chastity we must our selves Behave;
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Truth we must utter, & abhor to Lye;
And be Content, tho' in Adversity.
Them who to be in CHRIST, thro' Grace, Consent,
God brings into His Gracious Covenant.
The Baptism of the Lord, assures that we
Both Wash'd from Sin, & Rais'd from Death, shall be.
To See the Lord, we at His Table Sitt,
And Show, that we shall in His Kingdom Eat.
Gods Children His good Promises Enjoy:
And Good comes of what Ill may them annoy.
His Angels He to them does Guardians make,
And these their Souls, at their Departure take.
To Judge the World, CHRIST will descend at Last;
A Righteous Doom shall by that Judge be past.
The Wicked shall bear bitter Pain and Shame,
With Wicked Spirits in Eternal Flame.
The Godly shall, with their Great GOD, on High,
Reap Joyes, High Joyes, to all Eternity.
Conversion Exemplified.
AND now, to Life Rais'd by the Heav'nly Call,
Henceforth Vain Idols, I Renounce you all.
Vile Flesh, Thy raging Lust, and sordid Ease,
My winged Soul now shall not serve and please.
False World, Thy Laws shall be no longer mine,
Nor to thy Wayes my New-born Soul incline.
Satan, Thou wilt, I know, my Tempter be;
But thy Temptation shall not Govern me.
Foolish I've been; O Lord, I blush, I grieve;
And gladly would my Woful Folly leave.
Fain would I Turn to God; but can't alone:
Help, Sovereign Grace, or it will ne'er be done!
To the Great GOD of Heaven I repair,
And Help'd by Heaven, thus to Him declare.
Great GOD, Since to be Mine Thou willing art,
Oh! Be Thou mine! Replies my Conquered Heart.
To Glorify Thee, Glorious Lord, I take,
For That alone, which can me Happy make.
O FATHER, of all Things Creator Great,
Wilt thou all Happiness for me Create?
Eternal SON of God, Wilt thou me Save,
That I the Hopes may of a Gods Children have?
Eternal SPIRIT of God, Poor me wilt thou
With Spiritual Blessings of all sorts Endow?
Lord, Ravish'd at thy wondrous Grace, I do
These Gracious Offers now Conform unto.
O All-sufficient ONE, Wilt thou supply
My Wants from Stores of rich Immensity?
Shall Boundless Wisdome for my Good Contrive?
And Boundless Power ye Fruits of Goodness Give?
Shall Spotless Holiness on me Imprint,
An Holy Temper, with thine Image in't?
Lord, Thy Perfections all I do adore,
And to a Perfect Love my mind would soar.
Henceforth Vain Idols, I Renounce you all.
Vile Flesh, Thy raging Lust, and sordid Ease,
My winged Soul now shall not serve and please.
False World, Thy Laws shall be no longer mine,
Nor to thy Wayes my New-born Soul incline.
Satan, Thou wilt, I know, my Tempter be;
But thy Temptation shall not Govern me.
Foolish I've been; O Lord, I blush, I grieve;
And gladly would my Woful Folly leave.
Fain would I Turn to God; but can't alone:
Help, Sovereign Grace, or it will ne'er be done!
To the Great GOD of Heaven I repair,
And Help'd by Heaven, thus to Him declare.
Great GOD, Since to be Mine Thou willing art,
Oh! Be Thou mine! Replies my Conquered Heart.
To Glorify Thee, Glorious Lord, I take,
For That alone, which can me Happy make.
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Wilt thou all Happiness for me Create?
Eternal SON of God, Wilt thou me Save,
That I the Hopes may of a Gods Children have?
Eternal SPIRIT of God, Poor me wilt thou
With Spiritual Blessings of all sorts Endow?
Lord, Ravish'd at thy wondrous Grace, I do
These Gracious Offers now Conform unto.
O All-sufficient ONE, Wilt thou supply
My Wants from Stores of rich Immensity?
Shall Boundless Wisdome for my Good Contrive?
And Boundless Power ye Fruits of Goodness Give?
Shall Spotless Holiness on me Imprint,
An Holy Temper, with thine Image in't?
Lord, Thy Perfections all I do adore,
And to a Perfect Love my mind would soar.
A State of BLISS, according to thy Word
Thou wilt unto thy Chosen Ones afford.
A State of Blissful Rest and Joy, wherein
Rais'd from the Dead, they shall be freed from Sin.
There Bath'd in Rivers of Eternal Joy,
No Sorrows more shall them at all annoy.
GOD shall be All in All; Brought nigh to God,
In Him they shall forever make Abode.
They shall See God; The Beatific Sight
And their own God shall take in them Delight.
My Soul, Make now thy Choice. O say; Is This
What thou dost Choose for thy Chief Blessedness?
Things of this Present Time! now Refuse;
My Blessed GOD, Thee, Thee, and This, I Chuse.
May the sweet JESUS me to Glory bring,
And be my Glorious Prophet, Priest, and King.
Does the Almighty SON of God, to those
That Will, an Union with Himself propose?
My Lord, I will! The Will thou didst bestow:
To Thee, Oh, Let me be United so.
Thou wilt unto thy Chosen Ones afford.
A State of Blissful Rest and Joy, wherein
Rais'd from the Dead, they shall be freed from Sin.
There Bath'd in Rivers of Eternal Joy,
No Sorrows more shall them at all annoy.
GOD shall be All in All; Brought nigh to God,
In Him they shall forever make Abode.
They shall See God; The Beatific Sight
And their own God shall take in them Delight.
My Soul, Make now thy Choice. O say; Is This
What thou dost Choose for thy Chief Blessedness?
Things of this Present Time! now Refuse;
My Blessed GOD, Thee, Thee, and This, I Chuse.
May the sweet JESUS me to Glory bring,
And be my Glorious Prophet, Priest, and King.
Does the Almighty SON of God, to those
That Will, an Union with Himself propose?
My Lord, I will! The Will thou didst bestow:
To Thee, Oh, Let me be United so.
The full Obedience which my Surety paid
To God, may That my Righteousness be made.
A Wretched Sinner would appear in That,
Righteous before the dreadful Judgment-Seat.
Show me thy Way, O Lord, Lest that I shou'd
Fall by those Mockers that will me delude.
To thy Pure Scriptures-Way I will adhere,
And find the Rule of my whole Conduct there.
All the Rebellion of my Heart Subdue;
And for thy work, O Lord, my Strength Renew.
From thy vast Fulness let my Faith derive
Strength to do all things, and to Thee to Live.
To God, may That my Righteousness be made.
A Wretched Sinner would appear in That,
Righteous before the dreadful Judgment-Seat.
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Fall by those Mockers that will me delude.
To thy Pure Scriptures-Way I will adhere,
And find the Rule of my whole Conduct there.
All the Rebellion of my Heart Subdue;
And for thy work, O Lord, my Strength Renew.
From thy vast Fulness let my Faith derive
Strength to do all things, and to Thee to Live.
May thy Good SPIRIT me Possess, and Fill
With Light and Zeal, to Learn and Do thy Will.
With His Kind Flames may He upon me Sieze [sic],
And keep me alwayes on my Bended Knees.
May all I am and have, be us'd for Him
Whose is my All, for He did me Redeem.
To Thee, Good SPIRIT, I lift up my Cries,
That thou wilt fall upon the Sacrifice.
May thy Bright ANGELS, be my Guardians then;
For Thee, they'l Guard and Guide the Sons of Men.
By Thee assisted, LORD, Thus I Consent
Unto thy Everlasting COVENANT.
With Light and Zeal, to Learn and Do thy Will.
With His Kind Flames may He upon me Sieze [sic],
And keep me alwayes on my Bended Knees.
May all I am and have, be us'd for Him
Whose is my All, for He did me Redeem.
To Thee, Good SPIRIT, I lift up my Cries,
That thou wilt fall upon the Sacrifice.
May thy Bright ANGELS, be my Guardians then;
For Thee, they'l Guard and Guide the Sons of Men.
By Thee assisted, LORD, Thus I Consent
Unto thy Everlasting COVENANT.
My Satisfaction.
From Heb. XII. 5,6,11.
The Exhortation of the Lord,
With Consolation speaks to us;
As unto His Children, His Good Word,
We must Remember Speaking Thus,
With Consolation speaks to us;
As unto His Children, His Good Word,
We must Remember Speaking Thus,
My Child, When God shall Chasten Thee,
His Chastning do thou not contemn:
When thou His just Rebukes dost see,
Faint not Rebuked under them.
His Chastning do thou not contemn:
When thou His just Rebukes dost see,
Faint not Rebuked under them.
The Lord with Fit Afflictions will
Correct the Children of His Love;
He doth Himself their Father still,
By His most wise Corrections prove.
Correct the Children of His Love;
He doth Himself their Father still,
By His most wise Corrections prove.
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Afflictions for the present here
The vexed Flesh will Grievous call;
But Afterward there will appear,
Not Grief, but Peace, the End of all.
The vexed Flesh will Grievous call;
But Afterward there will appear,
Not Grief, but Peace, the End of all.
My Resignation.
[From Heb. 11.17. with Gen. 22.12.]
The Dearest Lord of Heaven gave
Himself an Offering once for me:
The Dearest Thing on Earth I have,
Now, Lord, I'll offer unto Thee.
Himself an Offering once for me:
The Dearest Thing on Earth I have,
Now, Lord, I'll offer unto Thee.
I see my best Enjoyments here,
Are Loans, and Flow'rs, and Vanities;
E're well Enjoy'd they disappear:
Vain Smoke, they prick and leave our Eyes.
Are Loans, and Flow'rs, and Vanities;
E're well Enjoy'd they disappear:
Vain Smoke, they prick and leave our Eyes.
But I Believe, O Glorious Lord,
That when I seem to Lose these Toyes,
What's Lost will fully be Restor'd
In Glory, with Eternal Joyes.
That when I seem to Lose these Toyes,
What's Lost will fully be Restor'd
In Glory, with Eternal Joyes.
I do Believe, That I and mine,
Shall come to Everlasting Rest;
Because, Blest Jesus, we are Thine,
And with thy Promises are Blest.
Shall come to Everlasting Rest;
Because, Blest Jesus, we are Thine,
And with thy Promises are Blest.
I do Believe, That ev'ry Bird
Of mine, which to the Ground shall fall,
Does fall at thy kind Will and Word;
Nor I, nor It, is hurt at all.
Of mine, which to the Ground shall fall,
Does fall at thy kind Will and Word;
Nor I, nor It, is hurt at all.
Now my Believing Soul does Hear
This among the Glad Angels told;
I know, thou dost thy Maker Fear,
From whom thou nothing dost withold!
This among the Glad Angels told;
I know, thou dost thy Maker Fear,
From whom thou nothing dost withold!
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My Resolution.
Job I. 21. Naked came I out of my Mothers womb, and Naked shall I
return thither: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed
be the Name of the Lord.
I Strip't of Earthly Comforts am:
Strip't let me duely Mourn:
Naked from Earth at first I came;
And Naked I return.
Strip't let me duely Mourn:
Naked from Earth at first I came;
And Naked I return.
What, but Gifts from Above were they?
GOD gave them unto me.
And now they Take their Flight away,
Taken by GOD they be.
GOD gave them unto me.
And now they Take their Flight away,
Taken by GOD they be.
The Name of my great GOD, I will
For ever then Adore:
HEE'S Wise, and Just, and Sov'raign still,
And Good for ever more.
For ever then Adore:
HEE'S Wise, and Just, and Sov'raign still,
And Good for ever more.
Songs in Such a Night.
Psal: 42.5,11.
Oppress'd with Loads of Grief Art thou
My Soul, O why dejected so?
Why do thy Grevious passions now
Into a Restless Tumult grow!
My Soul, O why dejected so?
Why do thy Grevious passions now
Into a Restless Tumult grow!
In God thy Hope Rejoycing place;
My God He is by Covenant;
I'll praise Him still: Joy to my Face
The Help of His will surely grant.
My God He is by Covenant;
I'll praise Him still: Joy to my Face
The Help of His will surely grant.
I Sam. 1.15,18.
My Spirit is, how Sorrowful!
But Lord, I do pour out before
Thy Grace the Sorrows of my Soul;
And now I will be Sad no more.
But Lord, I do pour out before
Thy Grace the Sorrows of my Soul;
And now I will be Sad no more.
I Pet. 1.8.
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The CHRIST I see not, yet I know,
I Trust and Love; Thro' CHRIST there is given
A Joy unutterable to
My Faith, a Joy that's full of Heaven.
I Trust and Love; Thro' CHRIST there is given
A Joy unutterable to
My Faith, a Joy that's full of Heaven.
My Text Paraphrased, and Faith Exhibited.
GODS Son Incarnate, now Akin
To miserable me,
From all the Miseries of Sin
Sets me at Libertie.
To miserable me,
From all the Miseries of Sin
Sets me at Libertie.
By His full Price to Justice paid,
my Bonds of Death are Eas'd:
By His Great Pow'r thereon display'd,
Deaths Prisoner is Releas'd.
my Bonds of Death are Eas'd:
By His Great Pow'r thereon display'd,
Deaths Prisoner is Releas'd.
That the Almighty JESUS is
My own Redeemer now,
By my Consenting to be His,
On Terms of Grace, I know.
My own Redeemer now,
By my Consenting to be His,
On Terms of Grace, I know.
I Know that my Redeemer Lives;
His Grave detain'd Him not;
Enthron'd, from His High Throne He gives,
What in His Grave He bought.
His Grave detain'd Him not;
Enthron'd, from His High Throne He gives,
What in His Grave He bought.
And now, I know that all He said,
must be for ever True;
His being Risen from the Dead
His glorious Truth doth shew.
must be for ever True;
His being Risen from the Dead
His glorious Truth doth shew.
I Know, when I or Mine shall Dy,
We shall to Heaven go;
Since our Fore-runner Lives on High
concern'd for us below.
We shall to Heaven go;
Since our Fore-runner Lives on High
concern'd for us below.
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[Go then, my Dove, but now no longer Mine!]
Go then, my Dove, but now no longer Mine!Leave Earth, & now in Heavenly Glory Shine.
Bright for thy Wisdom, Goodness, Beauty here;
Now Brighter in a more Angelick Sphære.
JESUS, with whom thy Soul did long to be,
Into His Ark, and Arms, has taken thee.
Dear Friends with whom thou didst so dearly Live,
Feel Thy one Death to Them a Thousand give.
Thy Prayers are done; thy Alms are spent; thy Pains
Are Ended now in Endless Joyes & Gains.
The Torch that gave my House its pleasant Light,
Extinguish'd leaves it in how dark a Night!
I faint, till thy last words to mind I call;
Rich Words! Heav'n, Heav'n will make amends for all.
The Language of a SOUL taken in, The Nets of Salvation.
Grace Irresistible subdues me, Lord;
And I no longer can Resist thy Word.
And I no longer can Resist thy Word.
My SOUL too long lies in its Grave forgot;
Whose price bright Pearls, yea, whole Worlds Equal not:
A SOUL whereto GOD such Respect ha's had;
And which Repenting, would make Angels glad.
Whose price bright Pearls, yea, whole Worlds Equal not:
A SOUL whereto GOD such Respect ha's had;
And which Repenting, would make Angels glad.
I Loathe & Leave now all the Paths of SIN,
And Mourn that I have stray'd so long therein.
The Paths of True Religion I prefer,
As what most Just & Good & Lovely are.
And Mourn that I have stray'd so long therein.
The Paths of True Religion I prefer,
As what most Just & Good & Lovely are.
O Great JEHOVAH, Thou my God shalt be;
And I my ALL surrender unto thee.
My Life is in thy FAVOUR; Let me live
In That, & to thy Name all Glory give.
And I my ALL surrender unto thee.
My Life is in thy FAVOUR; Let me live
In That, & to thy Name all Glory give.
Be though my Father, O Thou Three in One,
My Saviour be, my Leader, Thou alone.
Oh! May I know, & Love, & serve my God,
And fill'd with Him, in Him have my Abode.
I won't believe what the Destroyer sayes,
Nor will I walk in his Destructive wayes.
My Saviour be, my Leader, Thou alone.
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And fill'd with Him, in Him have my Abode.
I won't believe what the Destroyer sayes,
Nor will I walk in his Destructive wayes.
Thee, O my SAVIOUR, with a Lively Faith,
I ask to Save me from Eternal Death.
Me now Resign'd to thy most Glorious Hands;
Free by thy Merits, Rule by thy Commands.
O Wisdom, open thou my Sinful Eyes;
And with a Light from Heaven make me wise.
O Righteous One, let thy Obedience paid
To God for me, my Righteousness be made.
O Holy One, my Heart inflame with Zeal,
In Flights of Holiness to do thy Will.
O Strong Redeemer, Help a wretched Slave,
And from Deaths Chains let me Redemption have.
I ask to Save me from Eternal Death.
Me now Resign'd to thy most Glorious Hands;
Free by thy Merits, Rule by thy Commands.
O Wisdom, open thou my Sinful Eyes;
And with a Light from Heaven make me wise.
O Righteous One, let thy Obedience paid
To God for me, my Righteousness be made.
O Holy One, my Heart inflame with Zeal,
In Flights of Holiness to do thy Will.
O Strong Redeemer, Help a wretched Slave,
And from Deaths Chains let me Redemption have.
Lord, Me to thy Caelestial City bring,
Where thy dear Saints behold no grievous thing
There let me See, & with the Sight, possess
My JESUS, in Compleat and Endless Bliss.
In Hope of that Rich Bliss, I will despise
This Vain World, and its Lying Vanities.
Where thy dear Saints behold no grievous thing
There let me See, & with the Sight, possess
My JESUS, in Compleat and Endless Bliss.
In Hope of that Rich Bliss, I will despise
This Vain World, and its Lying Vanities.
FINIS
The Consent. In imitation of the Virgin's Answer to the Angel.
[Luk. i.38.]
Great GOD: Thy Chosen People shall
Each one to Thee be Called home:
And to a Choice of thee they All
On thy Heart-conq'ring Call shall come.
Each one to Thee be Called home:
And to a Choice of thee they All
On thy Heart-conq'ring Call shall come.
God, Father, Son, and Spirit, make
Tenders that overcome us quite:
I'll be your GOD; He sayes: I'll take
In you, as in dear Sons delight.
Tenders that overcome us quite:
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In you, as in dear Sons delight.
The Lord-Redeemer does propose
To Pay for us a wondrous Price;
To guide our Wayes; to quell our Foes;
And Lodge us in Eternal Bliss.
To Pay for us a wondrous Price;
To guide our Wayes; to quell our Foes;
And Lodge us in Eternal Bliss.
Dissolv'd by such sweet Rayes of Grace,
Darted from Thee, most Gracious Lord;
Behold, Thy willing Servant Prayes,
Fulfil to me thy Glorious Word.
Darted from Thee, most Gracious Lord;
Behold, Thy willing Servant Prayes,
Fulfil to me thy Glorious Word.
JESUS, Our Holy Surety did
Work out a Righteousness compleat;
Sinners, Tis yours, He sayes, to Plead,
Righteous before Gods Judgment-seat.
Work out a Righteousness compleat;
Sinners, Tis yours, He sayes, to Plead,
Righteous before Gods Judgment-seat.
Our Sin, of Enemies the worst,
This, God will Pardon and Subdue;
Tis this, O God, for which I thirst!
Sins Death, Saints as their Life pursue.
This, God will Pardon and Subdue;
Tis this, O God, for which I thirst!
Sins Death, Saints as their Life pursue.
When Tempted, our kind Friend on High,
Succours will send us down from thence;
To Him, we in Temptations fly;
And Favours Hee'l by them dispense.
Succours will send us down from thence;
To Him, we in Temptations fly;
And Favours Hee'l by them dispense.
Dissolv'd by such sweet Rayes of Grace,
Darted from Thee, most Gracious Lord;
Behold, Thy willing Servant Prayes,
Fulfill to me thy Glorious Word.
Darted from Thee, most Gracious Lord;
Behold, Thy willing Servant Prayes,
Fulfill to me thy Glorious Word.
Our Spirits Born from Heav'n above,
God will for Heav'nly Flights prepare;
Then them to Paradise remove,
And Blessed Visions grant them there.
God will for Heav'nly Flights prepare;
Then them to Paradise remove,
And Blessed Visions grant them there.
Our Cleansed Bodies from the Grave,
He to our Spirits will restore;
In them we shall New Mansions have,
Bright, Strong; And, death shall be no more.
He to our Spirits will restore;
In them we shall New Mansions have,
Bright, Strong; And, death shall be no more.
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So, in the CITY of our God,
Him we shall Serve, and Love, and See:
O City of our Long Abode;
How Long, till we arrive to thee!
Him we shall Serve, and Love, and See:
O City of our Long Abode;
How Long, till we arrive to thee!
Dissolv'd by such Sweet Rayes of Grace,
Darted from Thee, most Gracious Lord;
Behold, Thy willing Servant Prayes,
Fulfill to me thy Glorious Word.
Darted from Thee, most Gracious Lord;
Behold, Thy willing Servant Prayes,
Fulfill to me thy Glorious Word.
| Cotton Mather's verse in English | |