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Spiritual Melody

Containing near Three Hundred Sacred Hymns. By Benjamin Keach
  
  

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PART VII. Containing several SACRED HYMNS, Setting forth The Glory of God's CHURCH: Likewise Of Afflictions, the Day of Grace; And of the four last things, viz. Death and Judgment, Heaven and Hell.
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VII. PART VII. Containing several SACRED HYMNS, Setting forth The Glory of God's CHURCH: Likewise Of Afflictions, the Day of Grace; And of the four last things, viz. Death and Judgment, Heaven and Hell.

HYMN 119.

[Glorious things are spread abroad]

Psal. 87. 3. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O City of God.

Glorious things are spread abroad
Of Sion, far and near,
That blessed City of our God,
Whose beauty is most rare:
There is a quiet stream makes glad
The City of the Lord;

280

His presence will secure her peace,
And timely help afford.
Her Building is of Precious-stone,
Her Foundation's sure;
No Jasper ever hath so shone
Like it, it is so pure.
'Tis God who did this City raise,
And he will it repair,
That it may be to his high praise,
Himself also dwells there:
It is his Dwelling-place below,
The Palace of our King;
And all great Kings shall Gifts bestow,
To make her glory ring
Throughout the Earth, to such degree
Shall she her beauty spread;
Her glory shall by great and small
Be much admired.
Then sing, ye Saints, lift up your voice,
Who do in Sion dwell;
What People like unto you are,
O happy Israel!

281

HYMN 120.

[Now even will I sing a Song]

Isa. 5. 1. Now will I sing to my Well-beloved a Song of my Beloved, touching his Vineyard, &c.

[The First Part.]

Now even will I sing a Song
To my Beloved dear,
A Song of his own Vineyard 'tis
Which he hath planted here.
My Beloved he a Vineyard hath
In a most fruitful Hill,
And he also fenc'd it about
With care and greatest skill:
He planted it with the choice Vine,
And built a Tower too,
Where he doth dwell, who is divine,
This doth its glory show.
A Wine Press too he made therein,
Which Wine pours forth amain,
Of which he doth delight to drink,
Due glory to obtain.
'Twas to this end he took such pains,
And such great cost laid out;
'Twas for his praise, and for our good
'Twas planted without doubt.

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He gathered also out the stones
Which did the same annoy,
And did preserve it ev'ry day,
That none might it destroy.

The Second Part.

And then he looked it should bring
Forth Grapes both sweet and good,
But ah! it was a grievous thing
If rightly understood,
That after all his cost and pains
It should wild Grapes bring forth,
When no Vineyard was like to it
Planted in all the Earth.
But hark now what the Lord doth say
The Hedge I'll take away,
And also waste I will it lay
To evil Beasts of prey;
For what, alas, could he do more
For it than he hath done!
And doth it still wild Grapes bring forth?
This made his wrath to burn
Within his Breast, and therefore did
Resolve for to restrain
The precious Clouds that watered it
With sweet and blessed Rain:
Or make his Ministers who preach
His good and holy Word,

283

Useless to it, so that they might
To it no good afford.
O then, ye Saints take heed and fear
Lest you should barren prove;
For if you do, God may from you
His presence quite remove:
But if that you who are his Church
Bring forth the Fruit of Grace,
He never will deal with you thus,
Your glory to deface.

HYMN 121.

[Ev'ry natural Body hath]

1 Cor. 10. 15. All baptized into one Body.

Col. 1. 18. He is the Head of the Body, the Church.

[The First Part.]

Ev'ry natural Body hath
A Head, and hath but one;
The Head, Lord, of thy Church thou art,
Thou art her Head alone.
And all her Members joyned be
To thee in sacred bonds,
And influence they have from thee,
In thee her glory stands.
And all Members of the Body are
Of use unto the whole,

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So of some use unto thy Church
Is every gracious Soul
Who is a Member of the same;
If any rotten are,
And past all hope of being heal'd,
No being must have there,
But off they must be cut with speed,
Lest worser dangers fall;
For one polluted Member may
Even soon corrupt them all.

The Second Part.

Wo unto him who shall attempt
This Body to divide,
Or make a Schism, 'tis all one,
With piercing of Christ's side;
For O the nearness that's between
The Body and the Head,
Don't cut Christ's Veins, remember well
What once he suffered.
O wound him not again, I say,
His Body don't annoy;
If it you mangle, he will you
For evermore destroy:
But see that ev'ry one doth seek
To do good to each other,
And pity take continually
Of the poorest Brother.

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O live in love, and see how near
You to each other are,
And equally your Duties do,
And nothing do you fear.

HYMN 122.

[Thy Church, Lord, in her self is poor]

Exod. 3. 2. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of Fire out of the midst of a Bush.

Thy Church, Lord, in her self is poor,
Like to a Bramble dry;
'Tis, Lord, in thee, in thee alone
Doth all her glory lye.
But though a Bush, yet in it thou
Dost dwell for evermore,
And therefore she is not consum'd
Ev'n now as heretofore.
This Bush long time on fire has been,
O 'tis a wond'rous sight,
Though in the fire, yet not burn'd,
This may our Souls invite
To take a view, as Moses did,
O why is this thing so?
Alas, thy Church is dear to thee,
Beyond all things below!

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O then let all those precious Birds
Who in this Bush are hid,
Sing forth thy praise continually,
And none their Souls forbid.
The time of singing, O 'tis come,
Since the sweet Turtle-Dove
Did let us hear, in this our Land,
His voice from Heav'n above.

HYMN 123.

[Thy Churches, Lord, are like unto]

Rev. 1. 20. The Golden Candle-sticks are the seven Churches.

Thy Churches, Lord, are like unto
Rich Candle-sticks of Gold,
In whom shines forth that glorious light
Which Sinners do behold.
Those Candlesticks which are so rich
Are seldom to be found
But in the House of a great Prince,
Whose glory is renown'd.
This shews the Churches of the Saints
Do, Lord, belong to thee,
Who art the glorious King of Kings,
They useful also be,

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As Candlesticks in a large House,
In which the Light they place;
And also are for Ornament
Ev'n thus, through thine own Grace,
Are all thy Churches here on Earth
Of use, Lord, unto thee,
And unto others, who likewise
Thy Riches in them see.
Thy Candlesticks then don't remove,
But let their Light so shine,
That all the Earth may lighted be
Into all Truths of thine.

HYMN 124.

[Thy Church is like a Flock of Sheep]

Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little Flock, &c.

Thy Church is like a Flock of Sheep,
Whose number is but small,
Which thou thy self dost always keep,
And wilt preserve them all.
Thy Saints, like Sheep, are innocent,
Most harmless, also meek;
If any of them go astray,
'Tis thou who dost them seek.
Thou also dost them feed and lead
In Pastures flourishing,

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And hast for them a resting-place,
Besides the Water-spring.
They subject are for to get Soyl,
But thou dost wash them in
The Fountain of thy precious Blood,
From ev'ry stain of sin.
As Sheep are fruitful, so thy Church
And Children are, O Lord;
They honour bring to thee, and then
To Men profit afford.
Fear not, ye Saints, tho' Wolves abound,
And other Beasts of prey;
For Christ will keep you safe and sound
Unto the Judgment-day:
And you the Kingdom shall receive,
Rejoyce and sing therefore;
Keep close to Christ, and mind the Flock
Which follow'd him before.

HYMN 125.

[Ah! what mean and despis'd things]

Job 25. 6. The Son of Man a Worm.

Ah! what mean and despis'd things
Are Worms that crawl on Earth!
Man is a Worm, he from Earth sprung,
From thence were we brought forth.

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No, beauty in a sorry Worm,
Man's glory that is gone,
Contemptible is in thy sight,
Each vile and wicked one.
What can a Worm do to preserve
It self from hurt or wrong,
That is in danger by each foot?
So we are all day long.
We can't preserve our selves one day,
Our Life is but a blast;
And one small sin, if not purg'd out,
May damn the Soul at last.
Then do not pride it in your selves,
You to the Worms must go;
For all your beauty soon will fly,
You must corruption know.

HYMN 126.

[On Earth our days will be but few]

Job 14. 2. He fleeth also as a shadow, and abideth not.

On Earth our days will be but few,
Like as the shadow flies;
Or like unto the Morning-Dew,
Doth pass when Sun doth rise;
So do our Days, our Months, and Years,
Make haste to fly away,

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Much like the Blossom he appears,
Which quickly doth decay;
Or like the Flower in the Spring,
Whose beauty's very rare;
And as the Birds in Summer sing,
We may our selves compare.
The glory of the Flowers fail,
The Summer ends also;
The Birds do then themselves bewail,
And know not what to do.
The Blossom withers soon away,
Like Jonah's Gourd 'tis gone;
So we sprout up, and shall not stay,
Our lives will soon be done.

HYMN 127.

[If we are Children of the Lord]

Rom. 8. 17. If Children, then Heirs.

If we are Children of the Lord
By being born again,
Then are we also Heirs with Christ,
And with him we shall reign.
He that's an Heir to a great King,
He is a Prince by birth;
And so is each true Child of God,
The holy Scripture faith.

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The Heir shall the Inheritance
At last Possession have,
And so shall all Believers too
The Crown at last receive.
But as the Heir must wait awhile
Until he comes to age,
So must we all with patience wait
Till we have run our stage.
The Heir is likely richly cloath'd,
Whereby it is he's known;
So all God's Saints with holiness
Are cloathed ev'ry one.
The Heir, as the Birth-right of old,
The Blessing had always;
So all the Saints chief Blessings have,
And therefore sing God's praise.

HYMN 128.

[He that the Prize doth think to have]

1 Cor. 9. So run that ye may obtain.

He that the Prize doth think to have,
Must take the greatest care
To set out timely, must begin
Before old age draws near.
He that would win the Prize also,
Must know what way to run;

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And must hold out, not weary be,
Until the Prize he's won.
All weights he must cast off with speed,
And temp'rate also be,
Or else he'll faint, and never will
God's blessed Kingdom see.
Such who do run a race, sometimes
Have many Lookers on;
Both Men and Angels view the Saints,
And mind how they do run.
They who do run an earthly Race,
Run for some earthly thing;
But ev'ry Saint that gains the Prize,
Shall Crown'd be as a King.
O then, ye Saints, run you apace
In ways of Piety;
Gird up your Loyns, and nothing fear,
Look up, lift up your Eye
The Prize to see: Ah! 'tis your own,
And when you end your days,
You shall receive it, therefore now
Break sorth and sing God's praise.

293

HYMN 129.

[Lord, we are Pilgrims on the Earth]

Heb. 11. 13. They confessed they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth.

Lord, we are Pilgrims on the Earth,
As all our Fathers were;
For this is not our dwelling-place,
No 'biding for us here.
As Pilgrims go up hill and down,
And meet with troubles do;
So, Lord, thy Saints, while they are here,
Do many sorrows know.
A Pilgrim is a Stranger in
Those places where he lyes,
And therefore is not taken with
Those things which he espyes,
Or doth behold where he doth come:
What are these things to me?
Saith a poor Saint; I must be gone,
I better things do see.
A Pilgrim loves good company,
Don't care to go alone;
So do God's Saints delight in such
Who do Christ Jesus own;
And walk with them in the same way,
If that they be sincere,

294

They prize their precious company,
They helpful to each are.
A Pilgrim, when he's come near home,
He greatly doth rejoyce;
O let such Saints whose work's near done,
Lift up with joy their voice.

HYMN 130.

[Lord, if we do thy Word transgress]

Job 9. 34. Let him take his Rod from me.

Lord, if we do thy Word transgress,
And against thee offend,
Thou wilt chastise us, more or less,
By tryals thou dost send:
But thou wilt not thy love remove,
Thy Covenant is sure;
'Tis but our Souls to try and prove
To make us all more pure.
Fathers, we know, have divers Rods,
And as the offence may be,
They lighter or the heavier strike,
And so likewise doth he.
'Tis always for our good we know
He puts our Souls to grief,
And thou great bowels, Lord, dost show,
And sends us then relief.

295

O then, ye Saints, don't think it strange
That God his Rod doth use,
But bear it, and give praise to him,
And mark what next ensues.
After he hath you try'd, ye shall
Come forth like pure Gold,
And in Afflictions to you all
God will his love unfold.

HYMN 131.

[Darkness sometimes, Lord, doth invade]

Lam. 3. 2. And brought me into darkness.

Darkness sometimes, Lord, doth invade
The Children of the Day;
Yet we should, when we want sweet Light,
Our Souls upon thee stay.
The Sun sometimes is hid from us,
And then with us 'tis Night;
So Darkness doth upon us seize,
When we have lost the sight
Of thee, O Lord, if thou art hid,
That we can't see thy face;
O then 'tis night, and we bewail
Our sad and woful case.
But though dark Clouds do cover us,
And we are in the night;
Yet will our Sun rise up and shine,
And we shall have sweet light.

296

But O how sad and comfortless
Is it i'th' dark to dwell!
But what's the darkness Saints see here,
To th'darkness that's in Hell!
Then do not mourn, ye gracious Souls,
Your darkness soon will fly,
And you shall precious Light enjoy
Unto eternity.

HYMN 132.

[Sad Storms and Tempests we expect]

Isa. 4. 6. A Covert from the Storm, &c.

Sad Storms and Tempests we expect
Whilst Winter-days do last;
And so do Saints, whilst they are here,
Look for a piercing blast.
As by some certain Signs Men know
A Storm is very near,
So do thy Saints, O Lord, likewise
Foresee their troubles here;
And therefore should prepare for them
By warning thou dost give,
And carefully their lives amend,
And all more godly live:
And also with the greatest care
Haste to their hiding-place

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By Faith and Prayer get into thee;
For whilst they see thy face,
And do enjoy thy presence sweet,
They nothing need to fear;
But we, alas, through unbelief,
Astonish'd often are.
But let us know, O Lord, we pray,
That Ship can nevr sink
In which the blessed Jesus is,
Whatever we may think.
In this also much comfort lyes,
Thou canst the Winds command,
And still the Seas, and make a calm
By thy own mighty hand.

HYMN 133.

[The Floods, O Lord, the Floods do rise]

Psal. 42. 7. All thy Floods and Waves are gone over me.

The Floods, O Lord, the Floods do rise,
They roar, and make a noise;
The Floods break out and swell amain,
And do lift up their voice.
There's many Waters we do see
That threaten us full sore;
The wicked rage and swell in wrath,
O Lord, still more and more.

298

They all conspire with one heart
How they may thee withstand;
Arise, O Lord, and take our part,
They are in league and band.
The Tents of all the Edomites,
The Ishmaelites also,
The Hagarens and the Moabites,
With divers others too.
Gebal with Amon, and likewise
Doth Amaleck conspire;
The Philistines against thee rise,
With them that dwell at Tyre.
O thou who sits upon the Floods
To rule and govern all,
Break forth upon thine Enemies,
And give them their last fall.

HYMN 134.

[One grief, and then another doth]

The Second Part.

One grief, and then another doth
Like Clouds their Waters pour;
The Floods of cursed evil Men
Do threaten to devour
Thy People all: O Lord, look down!
Rebuke them in thy wrath!
Thou art our hope and our defence,
O stretch thine Arm now forth,

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And let them know they are but Men,
And must subject to thee;
What evil they intend to do,
Let it prevented be;
And we will lift thy Name on high,
And them we will not fear,
If thou wilt, Lord, our sins forgive,
And for our help appear.

HYMN 135.

[To day, O hear God's gracious Call]

Heb. 3. 7. To day if you will hear his voice.

To day, O hear God's gracious Call,
O don't the time delay!
The morrow you must not boast of,
'Tis now whilst 'tis to day.
Night is no time to do work in,
And Night will soon be here;
O then repent and leave your sin I.
To Jesus lend your Ear.
To Day, whilst the sweet Sun doth shine,
O hearken to God's Word!
Now whilst you have the Means of Grace,
Turn ye unto the Lord.
The Morning of your Day is gone,
Nay 'tis already Noon;
The Evening too is coming on,
And here it will be soon.

300

Your Sun begins to draw full low,
And quickly will go down;
Rouze up and do your work apace,
Before your Day is gone.

HYMN 136.

[That Soul, O Lord, in whom's begun]

Mat. 12. 20. A bruised Reed shall he not break, and smoaking Flax shall he not quench.

That Soul, O Lord, in whom's begun
The blessed work of Grace,
Tho' he may droop, and broken be,
Yet shall behold thy face.
The feeble and desponding Soul
That's like a bruised Reed,
Thou wilt; Lord, take pity upon,
And soon supply his need.
Altho' he's like to smoaking Flax,
Where little fire is seen;
Yet he shall see that work go on
Which shall destroy his sin.
Grace at the first seems to be small,
Which makes the Soul to doubt,
That in him there is none at all,
Yet thou wilt bring him out

301

Of all his fears, and he shall have
A glorious victory,
And triumph shall in Songs of Praise
To all eternity.

HYMN 137.

[Like as the Seed which Men do sow]

1 Cor. 15. 36. Thou Fool, that which thou sowest is not quickned, unless it die.

[The First Part.]

Like as the Seed which Men do sow
Some time lyes in the Earth;
And then it sprours, and we all see
A Resurrection hath.
And as the Seed, unless it die,
It is not quickened;
So we first die, and afterwards
Are raised from the dead.
Death doth approach, all Men must die,
And turn unto the dust;
The Grave that is the House for all,
And thither go we must.
Uncertain is the time of death,
'Tis certain all must die;
And certain 'tis when death doth come,
Comes in eternity.
No Mortal can himself deliver
From th'power of the Grave;
And as we die, so we are sure
Another life to have.

The Second Part.

The Resurrection-day will come,
When we shall rise again;

302

Remember well the Day of Doom,
And where you must remain;
For if in sin at last you die,
To Hell you shall be cast;
But if in Christ you fall asleep,
Your happiness will last
For evermore; you shall then be
With Christ and holy Men,
Where you shall with the Angels sing
All praise to God, Amen.
Blessed are they who in the Lord
At last do come to die;
For as all such from labour rest,
So shall assuredly
At the great day, when Christ appears,
Appear in glory bright,
And in God's Kingdom shall henceforth
Shine like the Morning light.
Then do not mourn for such who die
In Christ their dearest Friend;
Their gain is great, of all their grief
There is a final end.

HYMN 138.

[Death is a sleep, it is a rest]

1 Thess. 4. 14. Them that sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him.

Death is a sleep, it is a rest
From all our labour here,
And to the Saints it is the best,
And so it will appear
They fall asleep in a sweet place,
They sleep in Jesus do;

303

They Union have with him through Grace,
Which death can't overthrow.
Death can't dissolve that blessed Knot,
That union doth remain,
And unto Jesus Christ do go,
Death unto Saints is gain.
But though the Sinner falls asleep,
His sleep is troublesome;
His Spirits shall no rest receive
Till the last day doth come;
But under wrath and dreadful Ire
His Spirit then shall lye;
When death dos come, he feels Hell-fire,
He sleeps in misery.
'Tis but one part that taketh rest,
That Sleep too soon will o're,
When God will on Body and Soul
Eternal vengeance pour.

HYMN 139.

[Depart from what? and whither go?]

Phil. 1. 13. Having a desire to depart and be with Christ, &c.

Depart from what? and whither go?
But why art in such haste?
O 'tis because thou well didst know
How sweet Christ's love doth taste.
Depart from Earth, and go to Heav'n,
From Saints that dwell below,
To them to whom bless'd Crowns are given,
Who do no sorrow know.
Depart from Sin and Suffering,
To go to lasting bliss;

304

From being Poor, to be a King!
What change is there like this?
But yet thou must wait till the time
That God prefixed hath;
And then thou shalt depart in peace,
And have the end of Faith.
O happy Man, thou art the Lord's,
Let death come when it will:
And he thy precious Soul at last
Will with his glory fill.

HYMN 140.

[The Morning comes when Night is gone]

Psal. 49. 14. And the Righteous shall have dominion over them in the morning.

The Morning comes when Night is gone,
The Night is now far spent;
The Resurrection day comes on,
When Jesus shall be sent
To call the Dead out of their Graves,
That is the Morning sure
Which will not have another Night,
That Day will last for ever.
Thy Sun will rise, and ne're go down,
And then thou shalt awake
Out of thy Bed, and have a Crown
That will thee happy make.
Thou wast of no esteem on Earth,
But a poor Underlin;
But shalt at last dominion have
When that day doth begin.
It will a Morning be in which
No Clouds shall more appear;

305

Thy Sun shall rise, and shine he shall
Beyond all shinings here.
O wait, ye Saints, then for the Morn!
Look up, it is ev'n day!
Break forth and sing all Saints of God,
Who dwell in House of Clay:
Your day doth hasten on apace,
Look up, lift up your Eyes,
The Morning comes when you shall rule
O're all your Enemies.

HYMN 141.

[Hark how the mighty Trumpet sounds]

Rev. 20. 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the Books were opened, &c.

Hark how the mighty Trumpet sounds,
The Judge is on the Throne!
Now joy to Saints shall much abound,
But hark how Sinners groan!
Now, now the Books shall opened be,
The Judgment-day is come;
And Christ will judge impartially,
And Sinners shall be dumb;
Nothing to say: Ah! no excuse!
All silent, all are mute,
And shall the Sentence now receive,
Which wrath will execute.
Rejoyce, ye Saints, for Christ will say,
O Come who are blessed!
Ye blessed of my Father, now
With joy lift up your head,
And take the Kingdom long prepar'd
For you: But ah! alas!

306

The wicked then will houl and cry
To see their woful case.

HYMN 142. Of Heaven.

2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, &c.

No sooner shall the Judgment end,
But Saints shall crowned be,
And shine they shall in glorious Robes
Unto eternity.
Then shall we see the blessed One
Who crowned was with Thorns,
Who shed for us his precious Blood,
Whose Heart was broke with scorns:
Him whom our Souls so dearly love,
We all shall shortly see
With open face, and shall above
With him for ever be.
That Man that here met with disgrace,
We there shall see so bright,
That Angels can't behold his face
For its exceeding light.
What gladness will possess our heart
When we shall see these things!
For light and life in ev'ry part
Will rise like lasting Springs.
Next unto Christ we shall behold
Saints Souls in glory shine,
Whose Bodies shall be made like his,
All glorious, all divine.

307

HYMN 143.

[Each Saint shall then shine more or less]

The Second Part.

Each Saint shall then shine more or less
In Crowns excelling Gold,
Triumph they shall in heavenly bliss
Amazing to behold;
And each of them in majesty
Shall represent a King;
Yea, Angel-like for dignity,
And shall with Cherubs sing:
Immortal are they ev'ry one,
And shine like to the Sun;
Their glory also shall abide,
Their day shall ne're be done:
Their Bodies which sometimes were torn,
And Bones that broken were,
For Jesus's sake he will adorn
With health and glory fair.
They shall also with Angels then
Joyn in sweet harmony,
To sing and celebrate God's praise
Unto eternity.
This we shall hear, this we shall see,
While raptured in bliss,
When we with blessed Jesus be;
What happiness like this?

308

HYMN 144.

[Our Friends that lived Godly here]

The Third Part

Our Friends that lived Godly here
Shall there be found again;
Ah! we shall meet, and then we shall
Together all remain.
This is the place, this is the state
Of all that are sincere,
Which Men nor Angels can relate,
So great's the glory there.
Grace here doth tune our hearts and tongues
For heav'nly harmony,
That sing we may with Angels all
Unto eternity.
Here run the Chrystal streams of Life
Quite thorough all our Veins;
Grace doth our Souls to God unite,
Like glorious Golden Chains:
We here are made both fit and meet
For that Inheritance,
Where we shall reign triumphantly,
And have preheminence.
Now that which sweeter [illeg.] is this,
Our glory will remain;
No end will there be of our bliss,
When we begin to raign.
In hopes of that high glory [illeg.]
Break forth, ye Saints, and sing
And also live unto the praise
Of your most glorious King.

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HYMN 145. Of Hell.

Mark 9. 46. Where the Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched.

When Saints shall glorified be,
The Sinners pangs excell;
When Saints shall all in Heaven sing,
Sinners shall houl in Hell.
The foolish Sinner little thinks
What sorrows will abound
Within himself, when on the brink
Of Tophet he is found.
Hell is, alas, beyond all thought
So frightful, and forlorn;
No mortal Creature can relate
The pangs that there are born.
God will exclude them evermore
From his most blessed face:
And them involve in misery,
In shame, and in disgrace.
God is the Fountain of all Good,
Of Life, of Light and peace;
They then must needs be wretched all
Who are depriv'd of these.
Unto a dreadful burning Lake
All on a fiery flame
Hell is compared; wo to them
Who once do feel the same.

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HYMN 146.

[No light, but darkness there doth dwell!]

The Second Part.

No light, but darkness there doth dwell!
No peace, but horror strange:
Ah! they who once do come to Hell,
Will find a dismal change;
A fiery Lake, a Furnace hot,
A Burning Oven too
It is compared in God's Word,
And thither Sinners go.
And further, God to shew their state
Who in their sins do die,
Compares it to burning Brimstone,
To shew their misery.
And as a stinking steam and smoak
Of Brimstone bad does smell,
And blinds the Eyes, and Stomach choaks,
So are the pangs of Hell.
To see a Sea of Brimstone burn,
Would it you not affright?
But they whom God to Hell doth turn,
Are in a worser plight.
This burning cannot quenched be,
No, not with Tears of Blood;
No mournful groans in misery
Will there do any good.
O damned Sinners see your fate,
The Day of Grace is done;
Repentance now is much too late,
All mercy's fled and gone.

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2. The Second Part.

Hell a Prison.

1 Pet. 3. 19. The Spirits in Prison.

Hell also, in another place,
Is call'd a Prison too;
And all to snew the woful case
Of such sin doth undo:
Which Prison, with its Lock and Barrs
Of God's lasting Decree,
Will hold them fast; O how this marrs
All thoughts of being free.
Out of these brazen Barrs may they
The Saints in glory see;
But this will not their grief allay,
But to them torment be.
Those Chains that darkness on them hangs,
Still ratling in their Ears,
Creates within them heavy pangs,
And still augments their Tears.
Thus hopeless of all remedy,
They dyingly do sink
Into the Jaws of Misery,
And Seas of Sorrows drink;
For being fill'd on every side
With helplesness and grief,
Headlong into despair they slide,
Bereft of all relief.

The Third Part.

Hell a bottomless Pit.

And Hell also is call'd a Pit.
Prepar'd for those that die
The Second Death, a term most fit
To shew their misery.
A Pit that's bottomless is this,
A Gulph of grief and woe,

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A Dungeon which they cannot miss,
That will them quite undo.
Thus without stay they always sink,
Thus fainting till they fail;
Despair they up like water drink,
These Prisoners have no Bail.
Here meets them now that Worm that gnaws,
And plucks their Bowels out;
The pit too on them shuts her Jaws,
This dreadful is no doubt.
This ghastly Worm is guilt of sin,
Which on their Conscience feeds,
With Vipers Teeth both sharp and keen,
Whereat it sorely bleeds.
This Worm is fed by memory,
Which strictly brings to mind
All things done in their Body here,
As we in Scripture find.
Their Conscience is the Slaughter-shop,
There hangs the Axe and Knife;
'Tis there the Worm doth them torment,
With most egregious strife.
They sooner may drink up the Sea
Than shake off these their fears,
Or make another in one day
As big with brinish tears.
They sooner may the Stars account
Than loose their dismal bands,
Or tell the number of their Hairs,
Or number of the Sands
Of the Sea-shore, as see the end
Of their sad misery;
O Sinners fear and tremble all!
Think on Eternity.
The End of the Seventh Part.