Hymn LI. Another Rocking Hymn.
[_]
The Nurse is here taught a forme of Blessing,
whereby (she may by faithfully singing, or saying the
same) call downe Gods Benediction, both upon her
selfe, and her Infant, to the prevention of temporall and spirituall mischiefs.
Sing this as Te Deum, or the 1 Psalme.
[1]
Since now, my Babe, of sleep possest,
His lovely eies hath clos'd;
To praise the Author of his rest,
My heart is well-dispos'd:
And, to implore, that God, who makes
My Darling, thus to sleep;
Would present be, when he awakes,
And, him in sleeping keep.
2
Thou, praises from an Infants tongue,
Disdainest not to hear:
Reject not then, my Blessing-Song;
But, Lord, decline thine ear.
For, though a single voice I raise,
My Offrings, triple be.
My Self, my Babie, and my praise,
I offer up to Thee.
3
Dear Son of God! who thoughtst no scorn,
(To leave thy Throne on high)
Of lowly parents to be born,
And, in a Crib to lie:
On this my Babe, thy Grace reflect;
Infold him in thine Armes.
From outward perils, him protect,
And from internall Harmes.
4
Let not that Feind which ev'ry howre,
Doth watch and hover here,
To mischiefe us, obtain the Powre;
Or cause my Childe to fear.
But, let an Angell-guard be nigh,
To put that Foe to flight:
And, round about his cradle flye,
To keep him from despight.
5
As Time, his Body shall increase,
Increase his knowledge too;
And cause him, ev'ry day in grace
With God, and Man, to grow.
Preserve him streight in ev'ry Limbe,
And sound in ev'ry Sense:
Yea, all his life time, keep thou him,
From ev'ry grosse offence.
6
To thee, let him be alwayes true,
And, ever kinde to those,
Who kindnesses to him do shew
Er'e Good, or Ill, he knows.
And, let not, (for thy passion sake)
This Babie (now, so dear)
Those vaine, or evill Courses take,
Whose end, we justly fear.
7
Oh let not him, whose meanest pain,
We can with tears deplore,
Be one of those, who shall remain
In torments, evermore.
But, so to live, and so to die,
Vouchsafe him grace, ô God!
That, he may rise to live on high,
Where thou hast thine abode.
