Halelviah or, Britans Second Remembrancer, bringing to Remembrance (in praisefull and Poenitentiall Hymns, Spirituall Songs, and Morall-Odes): Meditations, advancing the glory of God, in the practise of Pietie and Vertue; and applyed to easie Tunes, to be Sung in Families, &c. Composed in a three-fold Volume, by George Wither. The first, contains Hymns-Occasionall. The second, Hymns-Temporary. The third, Hymns-Personall. That all Persons, according to their Degrees, and Qualities, may at all Times, and upon all eminent Occasions, be remembred to praise God; and to be mindfull of their Duties |
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Hymn LXXXVII. A Hymn of Instruction for Youth.
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 | Halelviah |  |
Hymn LXXXVII. A Hymn of Instruction for Youth.
[_]
This is a pious Descant upon the 12. Chap. of Ecclesiastes, and wherein the young man is put in mind to Remember his Creator, before decrepit Age disables him: It offers to consideration the vanity and Transitorinesse of the Beauty, Strength, and Pleasure, wherein youth delights.
[1]
To those that in Folly,Their youth do mispend,
164
Till life shall have end;
A Song Instruction,
We now have begun,
To warn them, and learn them,
Destruction to shun.
Lord, send them, to mend them,
The gift of thy Grace;
And Reason, to season
A Reasonlesse Race.
2
Thou Yongling, whose glories,And Beauties, appear
Like Sun-shine, or Blossomes,
In Spring of the year;
Whose vigorous Body,
Whose Courage, and Wit,
Are Jolly, and wholly
Vnperished, yet;
Come neer me, and hear me
Things future foretell;
Then, learn thou, Discern thou,
The way to do well.
3
Misspend not a MorningSo lovely, so faire,
A moment may rarest
Perfections impaire.
The Noon-tide of Life-time,
Yeelds little delight;
And, Sorrow, on Sorrow,
May follow ere Night.
165
What now I declare;
Attend me, and lend me
A diligent ear.
4
Thy Beauties, and Features,That grace thee this day,
To morrow, may perish,
And vanish away.
Thy Riches, and Pleasures,
Now precious to Thee,
My leave thee, deceive thee,
And comfortles be.
Now come then; oh, Come then!
And learn to eschew
Those Errors, and Terrors,
Which else may ensue.
5
Thy Joints are yet nimble,Thy Sinewes unslack;
Thy Marrow unwasted,
Yet, strengthens thy back.
Youth! keepeth Diseases
From crazing thy Brain;
Blood rilleth and swelleth,
In every vein.
Imploy then, enjoy then
This vigour of thine,
In willing, fulfilling,
What God shall injoin.
6
Believe me, it will notFor ever be so.
166
Will staggering go.
Thy Shoulders well shaped,
And strong enough now,
Vncomely, and homely,
And weaker will grow.
Then lengthen, and strengthen,
Thy gifts by right use;
Possessing each Blessing,
Still, free from abuse.
7
Thy Beautifull ForeheadWhereon we may view,
Neat smoothnes and whitenes,
Enamel'd with blew,
Shall change that perfection
Which youth yet maintains,
To sallownes, hallownes,
Wrinckles and Stains.
Thy liking, and seeking
Then, learn to bestow
On Pleasures, and Treasures,
That perish not so.
8
Thine Eares are now list'ningFor Heaven on Earth,
And, nothing will please them
But Musick and Mirth.
And, to thy Corruption
No Passage, or Strain,
Seems better, or sweeter,
Then that which is vain.
167
Some penitent dew;
Lest, after much laughter,
More Sadnes ensue.
9
Those Tresses, whose curlingThy Temples adornes,
Will Hassocks resemble
In winterly mornes.
And, where fresh Vermilion
Is mixed with Snow,
A sallow, and yellow
Complexion will flow.
The fuller the Colour,
The fouler the Stain.
Then boast not; and trust not
In things that are vain.
10
Thine Eies, whose bright sparklings,Thy Lovers admire,
(And, which with vain longings
Set thousands on fire)
Shall closed in darknes
Vnusefull remain;
And, never for ever,
See day-light again.
Then mind thou, oh mind thou
Thy Maker above:
Observe him, and serve him
If safety thou love.
11
Thy Mouth, whose fair portallBoth wears, and incloses
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Of Rubies and Roses,
Shall so be transformed,
That no man will care,
Perceive, or believe,
What perfection was there.
Vain Creature, thy feature
Then value not so,
Take pleasure, in measure,
As wisdome will do.
12
Thy Teeth, that stand firmlyLike Pearles on a Row,
Will rotten, and scatter'd,
Disorderly grow.
Thy Lips, whose neat motions,
Great wonders have wrought;
Shall slaver, and quaver,
And, lothsome be thought.
Then, ever endeavor
Those things to eschew;
Whence, nothing, but lothing,
At last, will ensue.
13
Thy Fancie, that sings theeVain Dreams of delight;
Hereafter, will bring thee
A comfortlesse night:
And, thou, who yet heedst not
How Time, comes, or goes.
(With care) wilt give ear,
To each Cockrell that crowes.
169
Then do not misspend;
Foreslowing, well-doing,
Till Time hath an end.
14
Then, Thou who to thousandsDo'st gracious appear,
To no man shalt either
Be welcome or dear.
Which, when thou perceivest,
Thy Life, unto Thee
Vnpeacefull, diseasefull,
And lothsome will be.
No pow'r of our,
This Judgement can shun;
Till duly, and truly
Our Duties be done.
15
Thy Lusts, and thy Pleasures,(Yet, hard to forgoe)
Will leave thee, and leave thee,
In sorrow and woe.
And, then, in what pleasure
Content canst thou have?
Of what Rest, be possest,
But a desolate Grave?
Youths Folly, unholy
Learn, therefore, to shun,
And ever persever
In what should be done.
16
For, when this Lifes vapoursAre breathed away,
170
Will rot into clay.
And, thy best beloved
Thy Body may throw,
Where none, thereupon,
Compassion bestow.
Then, leaving, deceiving
Contentments to tast,
Prevent and Repent
What affected thou hast.
17
A worse thing remaineth,Then, yet, hath been said;
If reall Amendment
Too long be delai'd.
The pains which hereafter,
On Sinners attend,
Last ever, and ever,
And, never have end.
Then approving, and loving,
The Truth, I have sung,
Remember thy Maker,
Ev'n whil'st thou art yong.
| Halelviah | |