Hymn XXXIX. For Trinitie-Sunday.
[_]
After the Arrian Heresie had troubled many with
doubts concerning the Mysterie of the Blessed
Trinitie. It seemed convenient to some Churches,
that one Day should yearly be set apart, both
to commemorate, and instruct us concerning this
Mysterie. To which end, we observe the Sunday
next after Whitsunday, and others, the Sunday
next before the Advent.
Sing this as the Lords Prayer.
[1]
They, ô thrice Holy, Three in One!
Who seek thy nature to explain,
By Means to Humane Reason known;
Shall find their Labour spent in vain.
And, that they might contain, as well,
The British Ocean in a shell.
2
More, therefore, then we may conceive,
We will not curious be to know:
But rather, when thou bid'st us to believe,
Obey, and let uain Reas'ning goe.
For, far more sure, Faith's Objects be;
Then those, which Reasons eies do see.
3
Yet, as by looking on the Sun,
(Though to his Essence, we are blinde)
And by the Course, we see him run,
We may of him, true Notions find.
So; what thy Brightnes doth conceal,
Thy Word, and Works (in part) reveal.
4
Most Glorious-Essence, we confesse
In Thee (whom by Faith's eies we view)
Three Persons, neither moe, nor lesse,
Whose Workings, them, distinctly shew:
And, sure we are those Persons Three,
One
God (and but one God-head be)
5
The Sun, a Motion hath, we know,
That Motion shews to us his Light.
The Heate proceedeth from those two.
Each, works his proper Works aright.
The Motion drawes out Time, a Line;
The Heat doth warm; The Light doth shine.
6
But though this Motion, Light, and Heat,
Distinctly, by themselves we take,
Each in the other hath his seat;
And, but one Svn, these Three do make.
For, whatsoe're the One will do,
It worketh by the other Two.
7
So, in the God-head, there is knit
A wondrous Threefold-Truelove knot;
And perfect Vnion fastens it,
Though Flesh and Blood conceive it not;
And what is by One Person done,
Is wrought by all the Three-in-One.
8
Their Works they joyntly do pursue,
Though they their Offices divide;
And though, as things distinctly due,
Some Attributes may be appli'd.
For, One in Substance, they are still;
In Vertue, One, and one in Will.
9
Eternall all these Persons be;
And, yet, Eternall, there's but One.
So likewise, Infinite all Three;
Yet, Infinite, but One, alone.
And, neither, any thing doth misse,
Which of the God-heads ESSENCE is.
In Vnitie, and Trinitie,
Thus (oh CREATOR) we adore
Thine ever-praised DEITIE;
And, Thee confesse, for evermore,
One FATHER, one Begotten SON;
One HOLY-GHOST, in God-head one
