Hymn X. Another for the like Times.
[_]
This Hymn containes an humble confession of our
Guiltines in the breach of the whole Moral-Law;
and in our abuse of the Law of Grace also; with
an earnest desire, that God would have mercy upon us.
[1]
Plung'd in Grief and in distresse,
Humbly we intend oh God!
Our Transgressions to confesse,
In a sadly sounding Ode.
At thy Footstoole, we appear,
Grieved for our Follies past;
And untill our suites thou hear,
No refection we will tast.
Heed, with gracious eies we pray,
Our contrition, Lord, this day;
And wipe all our Sins away.
2
Thou oh God! ev'n Thou, art he
Who from Egypt mysticall,
(When as there, enslav'd were we)
Freely, didst Redeem us all.
For which grace, a vowe we made,
Thee to serve, as God, alone:
Yet, we other Gods have had;
And, forgot what Thou hast done,
We, (as Deities) ador'd.
Things, more fit to be abhor'd.
Yet, Have mercie on us Lord.
3
Though we know, that on thy Foes,
Dreadfull plagues thou dost inflict;
And, that thou art kind to those,
Who thy just Commands respect.
Yet, of Thee, our Fancie faines
Likenesses, which like thee not.
And Idea's in our braines,
To thy wrong, are oft begot.
Idol-makers we have bin:
Our chiefe zeale we spend therein
Lord, have mercie on our sin.
4
In thy Name, we were babtiz'd,
And thy Name, oh Christ, we beare.
But, that grace we have not priz'd,
As thereby, oblig'd we are.
We have tooke on us in vaine,
That great Name which we professe;
And yet seeme in hope, to gaine
Thy acceptance, ne're the lesse.
Many waies, we are to blame,
By prophaning of thy Name,
But, oh Lord, forgive the same.
5
In our hearts, it was imprest,
(Though corruption blurs it now)
That we should to Man, and Beast,
Times of needfull Rest, allow.
And, lest froward Nature might
This great Moral, take away,
(To preserve that common-right)
Hallow'd was the Seventh-day.
But, this Precept, we deprave.
This great Law, we broken have;
And, for this, we mercie crave.
6
We our Parents honour not,
(As thy Precepts do command)
Neither those, who us begot,
Nor the Fathers, of this Land.
Nay, our Ghostly-Parents, oft,
(Who, in us, would Grace beget)
For their Love, are Jeer'd and Scoft;
And, their words at nought are set.
Of this Fault, we now have sense:
Oh! forgive that great Offence;
Lest thy Justice root us hence.
7
We, of Murthers, are not cleare,
Though no Blood our hands have spilt;
For, in us those Passions are,
Which have drawn on us that Guilt.
Hate and Wrath, in us are found.
Cruell Thoughts, and slandrous Tongues,
Which ofttimes, our Neighbours wound,
Which no lesse then murdrous wrongs.
Double-di'd in blood are we:
For, oh Christ, we murdred Thee.
Yet, now, pardoned let us be.
8
We Adulterers have been;
Lustfull hearts, and wandring Eies,
Make us many waies uncleane,
Which no sight, but thine, espies.
Both by Deeds, and words unchast
Soild in Soul and Flesh, we are;
And, have greedily embrac't
Pleasures, which unlawfull were.
Cleanse us, Lord! from ev'ry spot:
Youthfull-Sins, remember not:
But, oh! let them be forgot.
9
Many waies we rob and Steal,
More then ev'ry Neighbour knows;
And, with few, so justly deal
In performance, as in shows.
By Deceit, or els by Force,
On our Breth'rens Right we ceaze:
And, although they bring a curse,
Stolen-waters, greatly please,
But, now, Lord we do repent:
Therefore, what thy Justice ment,
Let thy Mercy, still, prevent.
10
Falshood we have testifide,
When the Truth, we should have said.
God and Man, we have belide;
And, the Righteous-cause betrayd,
Whence, to others, often springs
Not Losse-temporall, alone;
But, in Everlasting-Things:
Some, are by our Lies, undone.
Lord! we now lament these wrongs:
Therefore, pardon what belongs,
To False-Hearts, and lying-Tongues,
11
Thanklesly we have repin'd,
At what is on us bestown;
And, in others Lots, we find
More Delight, then in our own.
And, such Longings, are the cause,
Of increasing our Offence.
Yea, the Breach of all thy Lawes,
And, all Folly flowes from hence.
Lord! with grace our hearts inspire,
To confine each loose-Desire;
Or, to quench that hell-bred-Fire.
12
We have broke, before thy Face,
Not thy Law of works, alone,
But, against thy Law of Grace,
We have oft, and much misdone.
In an humble Fast, this Day,
At thy feet, we therfore, fall.
Hear us, heed us, Lord, we pray;
And, forgive our errors all.
Let this Day of Penitence,
Blot out ev'ry past offence;
And, remove thy Judgements, hence.
