Hymn XXIII. For a Wife.
[_]
Wives, are hereby taught, to seek in and from God,
the perfection of their conjugall Amitie; this
Hymn endeavours also, to insinuate the Affection
and Obedience beseeming, pious and vertuous
wives, by teaching their tongues to confesse, and expresse their duties.
Sing this as the former.
[1]
Except, when kindest we appear,
(And faithfullest are thought)
Our Loves, in God, confirmed are,
They quickly come to nought.
For, our own Vertue, at the best,
Is but a guilded-sin.
And, when most friendship is profest,
Much falshood, lurks therein.
[2]
No Joy, or grief, can in this life,
More sweet, or bitter be;
Then, when the Husband and the Wife,
Shall well, or ill agree.
Where they shall rightly simpathize,
The dearest friendship growes:
And, if betwixt them, strifes arise,
They prove the greatest foes.
3
Lord, rectifie our hearts, therefore,
And sanctifie them so,
That, to each other more and more,
Endeared we may grow;
Vntill our fraile imperfect Love,
By steps, up-raised be.
From things below, to things above;
And, perfected in thee.
4
Betwixt us let no Jarr's be found,
Or breach of faith befear'd:
Within our walks, let not the sound
Of bitter words be heard:
But, let the peacefull Turtle dove,
In quiet, nestle there,
Learn out the Songs of blamelesse-Love,
And sing them all the year.
5
Preserve me from those peevish-tricks,
Which merit scorn or hate;
From all those humours of my sexe,
Which wise mens love abate.
From gaming-hands, from wandring-feet,
From fond and vain attires;
From eyes that rowle about the street,
And, bring home loose desires.
6
Let this in mind be alwaies had
(My husband to prefer)
The Woman for the Man was made,
And, not the Man, for her.
Yea, since thy holy word hath said,
The Wife should him obay,
As Christ is of his Church obayd;
Lord, grant that so I may.
7
And, that my heart may not despise
His pleasure to fulfill;
Let his commands be just and wise,
Discreet, and loving still:
For, when the Husband loves the Wife,
As Christ example gives;
Subjection, yeelds the sweetest life,
That any creature lives.
8
It causeth him that is above,
The kinder still to grow.
It drawes him by the cords of love,
To set himself below:
And She that his Inferiour was,
By Order, and Degree;
Through Love, Humilitie, and Grace,
His equall, stoops to be.
