Divine Songs and Meditacions Composed by An Collins |
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A Song expressing their happinesse who have Communion with Christ.
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 | Divine Songs and Meditacions |  |
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A Song expressing their happinesse who have Communion with Christ.
When scorched with distracting care,
My minde findes out a shade
Which fruitlesse Trees, false fear, dispair
And melancoly made,
Where neither bird did sing
Nor fragrant flowers spring,
Nor any plant of use:
No sound of happynesse,
Had there at all ingresse,
Such comforts to produce,
But Sorrow there frequents,
The Nurce of Discontents,
And Murmering her Mayd
Whose harsh unpleasant noise
All mentall fruits destroyes
Whereby delight's convayd.
My minde findes out a shade
Which fruitlesse Trees, false fear, dispair
And melancoly made,
Where neither bird did sing
Nor fragrant flowers spring,
Nor any plant of use:
No sound of happynesse,
Had there at all ingresse,
Such comforts to produce,
But Sorrow there frequents,
The Nurce of Discontents,
And Murmering her Mayd
Whose harsh unpleasant noise
All mentall fruits destroyes
Whereby delight's convayd.
Whereof my judgment being certifide
My mind from thence did move,
For her concepcion so to provide,
That it might not abortive prove,
VVhich fruit to signifie
It was conceaved by
Most true intelligence
Of this sweet truth divine
Who formed thee is thine,
Whence sprang this inference;
He too, thats Lord of all
Will thee beloved call,
Though all else prove unkind;
Then chearfull may I sing
Sith I enjoy the Spring,
Though Sesterns dry I find.
My mind from thence did move,
For her concepcion so to provide,
That it might not abortive prove,
VVhich fruit to signifie
It was conceaved by
Most true intelligence
Of this sweet truth divine
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Whence sprang this inference;
He too, thats Lord of all
Will thee beloved call,
Though all else prove unkind;
Then chearfull may I sing
Sith I enjoy the Spring,
Though Sesterns dry I find.
For in our Vnion with the Lord alone,
Consists our happinesse,
Certainly such who are with Christ at one
He leaves not comfortlesse,
But come to them he will
Their Souls with joy to fill,
And them to Fortifie
Their works to undergo
And beare their Crosse also,
VVith much alacrity:
VVho his assisting grace
Do feelingly imbrace,
VVith confidence may say,
Through Christ that strengthens me
No thing so hard I see
But what perform I may.
Consists our happinesse,
Certainly such who are with Christ at one
He leaves not comfortlesse,
But come to them he will
Their Souls with joy to fill,
And them to Fortifie
Their works to undergo
And beare their Crosse also,
VVith much alacrity:
VVho his assisting grace
Do feelingly imbrace,
VVith confidence may say,
Through Christ that strengthens me
No thing so hard I see
But what perform I may.
But when the Soul no help can see
Through sins interposicion,
Then quite forlorn that while is she,
Bewailling her condicion;
In which deplored case
Now such a Soul hath space,
To think how she delayd
Her Saviour to admit
Who shu'd to her for it,
And to this purpose sayd,
Open to me my Love,
My Sister, and my Dove,
My Locks with dew wet are
Yet she remissive grew,
Till he himselfe with-drew
Before she was aware.
Through sins interposicion,
Then quite forlorn that while is she,
Bewailling her condicion;
In which deplored case
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To think how she delayd
Her Saviour to admit
Who shu'd to her for it,
And to this purpose sayd,
Open to me my Love,
My Sister, and my Dove,
My Locks with dew wet are
Yet she remissive grew,
Till he himselfe with-drew
Before she was aware.
But tasting once how sweet he is,
And smelling his perfumes,
Long can she not his presence misse,
But griefe her strainth consumes:
For when he visits one
He cometh not alone,
But brings abundant grace
True Light, and Holynesse
And Spirit to expresse
Ones wants in every case;
For as he wisedome is,
So is he unto his
VVisedome and Purity,
Which when he seemes to hide,
The soul missing her guide,
Must needs confused lie.
And smelling his perfumes,
Long can she not his presence misse,
But griefe her strainth consumes:
For when he visits one
He cometh not alone,
But brings abundant grace
True Light, and Holynesse
And Spirit to expresse
Ones wants in every case;
For as he wisedome is,
So is he unto his
VVisedome and Purity,
Which when he seemes to hide,
The soul missing her guide,
Must needs confused lie.
Then let them know, that would enjoy
The firme fruition,
Of his Sweet presence, he will stay
With single hearts alone,
Who [[illeg.]] their former mate,
Doe quite exterminate:
With all things that defile
They that are Christs, truly,
The Flesh do Crucifie
With its affections vile
Then grounds of truth are sought
New Principles are wrought
Of grace and holinesse,
Which plantings of the heart
Will spring in every part,
And so it selfe expresse.
The firme fruition,
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With single hearts alone,
Who [[illeg.]] their former mate,
Doe quite exterminate:
With all things that defile
They that are Christs, truly,
The Flesh do Crucifie
With its affections vile
Then grounds of truth are sought
New Principles are wrought
Of grace and holinesse,
Which plantings of the heart
Will spring in every part,
And so it selfe expresse.
Then shall the Soul like morning bright
Vnto her Lord appeare,
And as the Moone when full of Light
So fayr is she and cleare,
With that inherent grace
Thats darted from the Face
Of Christ, that Sunne divine,
Which hath a purging power
Corruption to devour,
And Conscience to refine;
Perfection thus begun
As pure as the Sunne,
The Soul shall be likewise
With that great Blessednesse,
Imputed Righteoussenesse
Which freely Justifies.
Vnto her Lord appeare,
And as the Moone when full of Light
So fayr is she and cleare,
With that inherent grace
Thats darted from the Face
Of Christ, that Sunne divine,
Which hath a purging power
Corruption to devour,
And Conscience to refine;
Perfection thus begun
As pure as the Sunne,
The Soul shall be likewise
With that great Blessednesse,
Imputed Righteoussenesse
Which freely Justifies.
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They that are thus compleat with Grace
And know that they are so,
For Glory must set Sayle apace
Whilst wind doth fitly blow,
Now is the tide of Love,
Now doth the Angell move;
If that there be defect
That Soul which sin doth wound,
Here now is healing found,
If she no time neglect;
To whom shall be reveald
What erst hath been conceald,
When brought unto that Light,
Which in the Soul doth shine
When he thats most divine,
Declares his presence bright.
And know that they are so,
For Glory must set Sayle apace
Whilst wind doth fitly blow,
Now is the tide of Love,
Now doth the Angell move;
If that there be defect
That Soul which sin doth wound,
Here now is healing found,
If she no time neglect;
To whom shall be reveald
What erst hath been conceald,
When brought unto that Light,
Which in the Soul doth shine
When he thats most divine,
Declares his presence bright.
Then he will his beloved shew
The reason wherefore she
Is seated in a place so low,
Not from all troubles free;
And wherefore they do thrive
That wicked works contrive;
Christ telleth his also
For who as friends he takes
He of his Councell makes,
And they shall secrets know:
Such need not pine with cares
Seeing all things are theirs,
If they are Christs indeed;
Therefore let such confesse
They are not comfortlesse,
Nor left in time of Need.
The reason wherefore she
Is seated in a place so low,
Not from all troubles free;
And wherefore they do thrive
That wicked works contrive;
Christ telleth his also
For who as friends he takes
He of his Councell makes,
And they shall secrets know:
Such need not pine with cares
Seeing all things are theirs,
If they are Christs indeed;
Therefore let such confesse
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Nor left in time of Need.
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