Hymn LIX. A Hymn encouraging sicke persons to be willing to dye.
[_]
Sicke-persons are not usually disposed to sing; yet
some are somtime desirous to chear up their hearts,
and strengthen themselves against the feares of
Death, by considering the Priviledges of Life-eternall:
And, perhaps they who want strength to sing
this Hymn, shall receive comfort to heare these
Meditations sung by others in their presence.
Sing this as the Pater-noster.
[1]
If by the Signes foresee we may,
When our short Lease of Life is done;
Now neer unto me seems the day,
In which my Glasse will quite be run:
And, I that here, yet lie, and grone,
Shall to my resting place be gone.
2
My moisture, and my vitall heat,
In me, do now begin to cease.
My pulses out of Order beat;
Strength failes, and Weaknesse doth increase.
Therefore, ere Death all sense bereave,
Thus, of the World, I take my leave.
3
First, my Deare Friends, farewell to you,
Live blessed in a true belief.
Disturbe you not my last adieu,
By fruitlesse Teares, or needlesse grief:
For, from a prison full of woe,
To Bowres of Joy, and Rest I goe.
4
For aye, adue my hopes of health;
Farewell to all my vain Desires.
I have no pleasure now in wealth:
My Soul to better things, aspires.
All earthly pleasures are untrue:
I, therefore bid them all adue.
5
My flesh, oh! be not thou afraid,
To let my Soul depart from thee.
Or, when thou all alone art laid,
Where thou must quite corrupted be,
For since my Saviour lodged there,
He from the Grave hath banish'd fear.
6
What though within that lonely place,
In darknesse, and in stench thou lie,
Where wormes thy feature shall deface,
And make thee lothsome to the eie?
Thou shalt to life again arise;
Renewed in a glorious wise.
7
Thy Soul (of which thou art so fain)
Although from thee it shall depart;
Will come and find thee out again,
However hid, or chang'd thou art.
You shall be joined, as before;
And, never be divided more.
8
What pleasure in thy life appears,
As thou art now deform'd and pain'd?
What get'st thou but renewed cares,
If Life with Health might be regain'd?
This Life is nought but pain and grief:
Yea, pain, somtime, without relief.
9
My Flesh then goe; yea, gladly go
Of thy last Bed, to be possest.
O! wherefore dost thou linger so,
In Torments, when thou may'st have rest?
Know'st thou, what followes after Death,
Thou could'st not love this aiërie Breath.
10
Thou shalt in Beauty passe the Stars;
And no defect on thee shall rest.
Thou shalt be swifter then the Sphears;
And wear perfections of the best.
Death is a Gate (though somwhat low)
Through which to highest Blisse we go.
11
In Thee, now, Sins and Sicknes dwels,
Vncertain hopes, and certain pain:
And thou art fit for nothing els,
But, thy Corruptions to retain.
Thy Mates by Death, shall Angels be,
And God himself, shall dwell in Thee.
12
Since nothing more thou canst desire,
Now give thy Soul, a free release.
To thy Great-Grandames wombe, retire;
There, take thy rest, in Hope and Peace:
And, God (who formed thee of Clay)
Grant thee a Ioyfull rising-Day.
