HYMN 20.
[Thou mighty King, whose glories shine]
Matth. 25. 6. Christ the Bridegroom of o{ur} Souls.
1.
[The First Part.]
Thou mighty King, whose glories shine,
A secret didst disclose
Unto that blessed Son of thine,
Which was for to dispose
Of him, in a sweet Marriage state,
And unto him likewise
All things about it didst relate,
Who quickly cast his eyes
Upon our Souls, for we were those
With whom he fell in love;
And whom for him the Father chose,
Who nothing had to move
His dear affections, for alas!
We loathsom were to see;
And were in a most dismal case
Through our iniquity.
But yet thy love it was so great,
A Journey didst thou take
From Heav'n to Earth, that so thou might
A Marriage with us make.
But ah! what didst thou suffer first
Before this could be done;
For we were Cast, Lord, for our Lives,
And Condemn'd every one.
And thou couldst never us obtain,
Nor with us marriage make,
Unless to free us from that pain
Didst die, Lord, for our sake.
And this thou didst most readily,
All praise unto thy Name;
We purchas'd were with thy dear Blood,
And so thine own became.
2.
The second Part.
The glorious Bridegroom.
O what a choice, Lord, hast thou made!
Are such vile ones as we
Unto thy lovely bosom laid,
And joyned unto thee?
Are we espous'd to such a Prince,
The King of Heav'n and Earth?
Who has o're all preheminence,
Whose glories thus shine forth.
Angelick Nature didst pass by,
And set thy tender heart
On such as we: O let us cry,
Thou lovely, lovely art.
Yet ah! how long was it before
Thou couldst make us to yield?
We were so dark, but now, O Lord,
Thou, thou hast won the Field.
Let us our selves give up to thee,
As overcome with love;
And comfort us continually
With Cordials from above.
Ah! at this door our joys come in,
This is the blessed spring
Of all true good; for having thee,
We have, Lord, ev'ry thing.
And if Communion we enjoy,
And find thy comfort sweet,
Our Souls shall sing, and raise thy praise,
Whilst we lye at thy feet.
3.
The Third Part.
The praise of the sacred Bridegroom.
Praise in the highest, joys betide
These sacred Lovers dear;
The holy Bridegroom and his Bride
Most glorious do appear.
Let Heaven above be fill'd with Songs,
Who see how they do shine
On Eath beneath, let all Mens Tongues
Sing forth his praise divine.
If sullen Man refuse to speak,
(Since Heaven and Earth combine,)
Let Rocks and stones their silence break,
And sing his praise divine.
Ah! 'twas this sacred Bridal Knot
To tye thou didst design;
O let such love ne're be forgot,
Such sacred love of thine.
Ye holy Seraphims above,
O haste and come away,
Who do admire Jesus love,
Sing ye his praise each day.
With Saints on Earth your joys divide,
With speed O do ye come;
Earth ne're produc'd so fair a Bride,
Nor Heaven a Bridegroom.
Whose Feet are like to burning Brass,
Whose Eyes a flaming Fire;
Who bringeth mighty things to pass,
Sing to him, him admire.
4.
The fourth Part.
Our hearts the praises must express
Of Juda's glorious Lion;
The sweet and fragrant Flower of Jess
The blessed King of Zion.
To him that on the Throne doth sit,
Oh 'tis his praise alone
That we will sing: O it is fit
We praise the holy One.
Our hearts and tongues should all rejoyce
(Angels in consort sing)
Aloud with a melodious voice,
Praise ye our glorious King;
Whose Head is whiter than the Snow
That's driven with the Wind;
Whose Visage like a flame doth show,
And doth all things confin'd.
And yet he unconfined is,
Magnifie him alone;
What Lover is there like to this,
Sing praise to th'holy One.
Let's raise his Name who hath reveal'd
His sweet eternal love;
Who by his stripes our Souls hath heal'd,
Now is enthron'd above.
Let trumps of praise ascend on high,
Let them be loudly blown;
So that an Eccho pierce the skie
Of praise to th'Three in One.
5.
The fifth Part.
If Saints neglect this duty should,
Or to sing be averse;
Sure rugged Rocks and Mountains would
God's Praises soon reherse.
The twinkling Stars that day and night
Do their long circuits run:
The Moon too in her monthly flight,
Also the glorious Sun.
All these do through the Universe
God's blessed praise make known;
How can the Saints be then averse,
To sing to th'Holy One.
Let every Saint on Earth rejoyce,
O therefore let them msing,
Since Christ hath made them his sweet choice,
Let them praise their dear King.
Especially all you who be
Filled with joy, raptur'd in bliss;
Who can say, My Beloved's mine,
And I am also his.
Sing this as the Hundredth Psalm.
Hail glor'ous Prince, the precious Air
Eccho's Praise to th'illustrious Pair!
Let no dark Clouds of Night obscure
This blessed Day, but thus endure:
Let Mortals now in Consort sing
Anthems to th'Eternal King:
Nor Frost, nor scorching Heat of June,
Ne're put thy Singers out of Tune.
Hail glorious Prince, whose matchless love
Brought thee from thy high Throne above
To court thy Spouse in a poor dress,
Yet was thy Glory ne're the less:
Though thou wast treated with disdain,
Yet Angels waited on thy Train;
Shepherds thy joyful Welcom sing,
And Wise Men do their Oblations bring:
Blessed Espousals our Freedom bought,
A Match that our Redemption wrought.
Hail glorious Spouse, blessed in him
That Crowns thee with Heav'ns Diadem:
Behold an unparallel'd story,
A Slave advanc'd to lasting glory;
A Virgin fetter'd in her sin,
Once vile, but now glorious within;
From base estate, a Queen of Honour,
And peerless Beauty put upon her:
Since words can't do't (Conceptions weak)
Our Joys in Extasies let's speak.
