University of Virginia Library

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HYMN 92. Hymns on the Divine Authority of the Sacred Scriptures.

[The First Part.]

The sacred Scriptures are sublime,
Although mysterious be;
Their Matter shews they are divine,
Nay, their divinity

Is seen by what they do treat of,
Or unto us make known,
There we do read of great Jehovah,
The high and lofty One,

Of his dread Essence, nature pure,
And of the Unity
Between the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Or holy Trinity;

There do we read of his great works
Who did this World frame;
How out of nothing by his Word
All things at the first came.

There we may see and wonder too
How infinite Wisdom shone
With' glorious compact made between
The Father and the Son,

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In finding out, and bringing in
A way for to unite
Justice and Mercy, that so they
Might equally shine bright.

Here Justice doth with Mercy meet
Like an endeared Brother;
And Mercy doth God's Justice greet,
And both do kiss each other.

From hence ye may see cause to sing
Th'Eternal One's high praise
(In bringing in of Jesus Christ)
With thankful hearts always.

The second Part.

Th'Antiquity of Scripture show
That they are most divine;
For no Writings did the World know
So soon as they did shine.

This was the first and chiefest Book
That e're was made or pen'd;
O therefore love in it to look,
Though you can't comprehend

The Mysteries that lye therein
Hid from all carnal Eyes;
Yet since it hath so ancient been,
O see these lines ye prize!

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Their Royal descent from God alone
Also does plain appear
By their high Style and Majesty,
That shines in them most clear.

The Third Part.

The holiness which they promote
To such a high degree,
May clearly ev'ry Soul convince
Of their Authority:

So pure and perfect is God's Word
It silence may all them
Who it oppose, and Saints from hence
It love and much esteem.

Ps. 119. 140.

This is the cause wherefore they love
God's Words better than Gold
Or Jewels rich, which are esteem'd
By most who them behold.

They see God's Precepts are most just,
It doth all sins descry,
And ev'ry Lust and false way they
Hate therefore bitterly.

Th'admirable and sweet consent,
And blessed harmony
That's in the whole and ev'ry part
Shews their divinity.

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The credit of their Pen-men too,
Whom none could ever charge
With the least forgery or guile,
Doth prove to us at large,

That they from God alone proceed,
Who did their Souls inspire
In writing all they written have,
That Grace we might admire.

The Fourth Part.

Their Prophecies accomplish'd were,
(Which shews they are divine,)
Exactly as to time and thing,
To matter and design:

And the Miracles which were wrought
These VVritings do confirm,
Must needs also herein be brought,
To shew from whence they came.

The preservation they have had
Was strange and marvellous,
And to their truth doth glory add
For to be priz'd by us.

The great success with which they met
In midst of bitter Foes,
And how their power has prevail'd,
Their lasting glory shows:

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The VVorld by a few Fishermen,
By this most sacred Word,
Without the help of carnal force,
VVere turned to the Lord.

The Fifth Part.

The harmony and joynt consent
Of holy Men and good,
And Martyrs who seal'd to the Truth
Of them with their dear Blood,

Do shew their great veracity,
And may all Men convince
They came from God, therefore we must
Bear up in their defence

Against all such who them oppose,
Or count them not divine;
For doubtless in all wise Mens sight
By these their glory shine.

The Evidence unto the heart
VVhich to good Men they give
Of God's great love, who doth impart
To all who them receive

(In life and power) his Image clear:
Bringing the old Man down,
Renewing of their inward Man,
So that they can't but own

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The work which by this Word is wrought
On them to be divine;
Thus from these hints which we have brought
Gods VVord doth glorious shine.

The very Heathen witness bear
As to Matter of Fact,
Touching such things Scriptures declare
That God and Christ did act.

The Sixth Part.

Berolus, as Josephus shews,
Doth mention Noah's Flood;
And Pliny, with some others, speak
How the most mighty God

Did Sodom turn by dreadful Flames
Unto a dismal Lake:
Of Moses and his VVonders too
VVe find the Egyptians speak

In their Records; yea, the Chaldeans
And Grecians own the same:
And others shew with what high hand
Isræl from Egypt came.

The Star which at Christ Jesus Birth
To th'VVise-men did appear,

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Pliny and Calcidius both
Most plain and full declare.

But there's no need of Man's Record,
To Men we do not fly;
The witness of the glorious Lord
Is full of certainty.