A concluding Hymne.
[1]
Yet, among those many Creatures,
UUhich for living-breath are debters,
(Though vnworthy) I am one.
But, not many weekes are passed,
Since, the Blast that's now possessed,
VVas in danger to be gone.
2
They, that prayd for my Salvation,
(Far beyond their expectation)
My desired presence have:
And, I sing, among Livinge,
Songs of Thancks, & praises-givinge,
VVhome they look'd for, in my Grave.
3
Hee, (oh Freinds) for whome yee mourned,
From thee Pitt, is back returned:
Ioie, with him, in God, therefore.
Hee (my Foes) whome you oppressed,
Lives; & praies you may be blessed:
VVish him evill, now, no more.
4
Come; imagine, I were lieng
In my Grave, & let envieng,
(Spight, & evill Censures) goe:
VVee shall all (er'e long) come thither;
And, be quiet, there, togither:
Let us, whil'st wee live, be soe.
5
Or, though God hath so permitted,
That wee must, for him, be fitted,
By each others wounding blowes:
Naitheles, his praise, endeavour;
And, Assent in what soever,
(Any way) his glorie showes.
6
VVhen I sawe life's Taper wasting,
(And, my end by sicknes hasting)
Many things, to minde it brought:
And, among my Meditations
Musings, & Expostulations,
These, were often in my thought.
7
Lord, are all those hopes bereaved,
VVhich I formerly conceaved,
That I should have here enioy'd?
Shall, as well my good intentions,
As my vaine & fond Inventions,
Now, be frustrate, & destroi'd?
8
I haved looked, everie Morrowe,
For an ending of may sorrowe.
And, once thought, an end I had,
But, perceaving newe Afflictions
God, (sayd I) whoe gives Corrections,
May, yet, one day make mee glad.
9
He hath seene such Follies in mee,
That his Mercies cannot winn mee;
Therefor, he his Rodd extends:
But, when that hath purer made me,
Peradventure he will glad mee,
And, declare that wee are freinds.
10
Thus, from tyme to tyme, I eased
My nigh fainting hart, & pleased
My Desires, which did rebell:
And I strongly, Lord, beleived
I, some Good should have received;
Till this deadlie Arrow fell.
11
But, I finde, my great Corruption
Hath bene such an Interruption
To my Earthlie hopes in mee;
That, ther's now no expectation
Save, the hope of that Salvation
VVhich my Soul in heav'n shall see.
12
VVhen my Sicknes mee tormented
Thus I mus'd; & was contented,
In my Soul, it should be thus.
And, I praised God in Spirit,
For the lot shee should inherit;
But, ther's Flesh & bloud in vs.
13
T'was enough this Grace was showne me:
But, my Fleshlie-part, was on me,
UUhich was loth, her works to lose.
I, (Said shee) have watch'd, & cared,
Holy Hymns to have prepared:
VVhat shall now become of those?
14
All my Youth I have consumed,
(VVhere as els, it is presumed:
VVealth or ease, I might have wonn)
Pyous Laies to have composed,
To restraine men ill-disposed,
From those Paths in which they runn.
15
Had I Honour sought, or Treasure;
I had witt in equall Measure,
To the most that walk those waies:
But, another Path I prized,
VVherein, Death hath mee surprised
Iust at Noonetide of my daies.
16
And I see, & see it plainely,
That I spent my time as vainely
As the most whome I condemn'd:
They, had Fruits of their Endeavor;
Mine, to me, is lost for ever;
And, of others, is contemn'd.
17
Many things that I intended,
Are begunn, & almost ended;
VVherein, I my paines have lost.
UVhat, on David's Hymns I mused.
Lies vnperfect, vnpervsed;
And, (of all) that, greeves me most.
18
Suchlike Thinckings, partly holie,
(Guilt with Good, & mixt with Follie)
Did possesse my wasting braine.
God, had promis'd Isack to mee,
(And, the Blessing he did show me)
Yet, of Ism'el I was faine.
19
On the Handmaid of Perfection
(By her Mistresse's direction)
I begot the Birth you see;
And, when Life was halfe expired,
In my hart, I much desired,
That the Fruite might spared be.
20
which, behold, my God hath granted;
And, some hopes I have not wanted
That I shall preceave the Same
Glad my hart, (that hath bene sory)
And, be sung vnto the glory,
And the honor of his Name.
21
Be it so, as God hath willed:
Though this hope, be not fulfilled,
I have Hopes that shall remaine.
Nay; those Hopings which have failed
Are not lost: but, much prevailed
My cheef Longings, to attaine.
22
For which Grace, Almighty maker,
And, for that I am partaker
Of the Common-life, this day;
I do offer, as Oblations,
These my harty Meditations:
Them, & mee, accept I pray.
23
All my former sinns forgivinge,
Grant, that (since among the living,
I obtaine a second Breath)
I, in manners, & Affection,
May beginn that Resurrection,
UUhich prevents the Second-death.
24
Here, let these my Meditations
Yeald mee, still, sweet Consolations,
UUhilst thy Grace this life prolongs.
And, at last, advance me thither,
VVhere all Blessed Saints, togither,
Sing to thee, eternall Songs.
Amen.
