Songs of Zion

SONGS OF SION.

Set for the joy of gods deer ones, who sit here by the brooks of this worlds Babel, & weep when they think on Jerusalem which is on high.

By W. L.

To all such of the Congregation both men, women, and children o •… discretion that are of the English nation▪ residing at Hamborough that seek, & serve god in sincerity without hypocrisy or faction.

B Lessed, & beloved in the lord. The Christian sobriety▪ & comfortable charity which I observed in my table brothers occasioned the cōposing of these hymns. It was their goodness to make them public for the benefitt of others also. They are all divine songs, yea from meditations of the scripture are they drawn. If you shall use them in your private families to gods glory, •… ur own solace, & to the instructiō, •… edification of your children I have •… e end of my desire. Receaue them as •… e symptoms of my souls affection the general aduancment of gods •… uice, to the private consolation of you your children, & to the praise, and •… nour of our own mother tongue. •… us in the midst of many harshe •… mes of grudge, and despite I have •… arned to tune the songs of Zion. For which I praise god, and shall never •… ase to pray for your blessedness in the •… uing mercies of Jesus Christ his •… uours. resting

An hymn or song.

Of seven strains, or strings •… et to the tone of seven sobs, and sighs of a seven times seven s •… d soul for sin, and is to be song i •… the tune of

When the spright of mā doth sighe and sob to god, and is lift up on high, the spright of god doth bow it self to man in joy, and peace.

CYPRIAN.

To his much esteemed good friend Mr. •… OHN POWELL one of •… he assistants of the worthy company of the Merchants Aduenturers residing at Hamborough.

W Orthy friend. When Juliā the Apostate infested the church of god, sontimes by barbarous cruelty, & sometimes by devilish policy, among other his wicked practices that was not the least, nor the last when •… e interdicted the Christians all use of books, both privately, & public •… for their children to learn except Poetry. It pleased almighty god in that distress of his church to stir up a learned man one Apollinarius a singular Metaphrast to put into heroical Greek verse all the psalms of David by which blessing the children of god had use, and comfort of that excel lent book of the psalm, & the tyrants decree took no hold of thē, because now it was become divine poesie, & poetry they might read. Which shows unto us gods especial, & singular providence for his church upon all occasions. And now albeit (god be blessed) there is no cause to complain either of any such Apostatical power, for we have an Apostolical king, nor of any such wicked policy, for we have had kings, & Queēs nursing fathers, & nursing mothers of our church; yet in these Hal •… yon days of ours I have presumed to metaphrase some passages of David psalms as an Essay to know whether we might express our harts to god in our holy soliloquies by mōasillables in our own mother tongue, or no. It being a received opinion amongst many of those who seem rather to be iuditious, then caprichious, that heretofore our english tongue in the true idiom thereof consisted altogether of Monasillables, until it came to be blended, and mingled with the commixture of Exotique languages. And I myself have seen all the lord prayer used in the time of John Wickleefe to be expressed in words of one syllable. And because gods children did reckon seven times seven years before they could enjoy their year of Jubilee. I have made allusion in this little Essay to tune forth seauē times seven sad sobbs for sin, that when we have spent the remaynder of our wretched days of our pilgrimage here, god may in his mercy wipe away all tears from our eyes, & bring us to our eternal Jubilee in his glorious kingdom. Which god grant to you, to me, & to all Christian people for his own rich mercy sake, and the satisfactory meritts of Jesus Christ our lord Amen.

Written from my study within the English house at Hamborough Jan. 24.

A months mind.

•… o Think on death, & muse 〈◊〉 the grave, that the fear of death •… ay not be fierce when Christ shall call us out of this world, & is to be song in the tune of.

I said I will look to my way

HAMBOROUGH Januarij 24. 1620.

To his much respected good friend Mr. THOMAS BARKER one of •… e assistants of the worthy company •… f the Merchants Aduenturers residing at Hamborough.

W Elbeloued. There is nothing more comfortable to a spiritual minded mā •… n to muse, & meditate of his •… arture hence into the blessed •… t of Christ in the other life: •… to a worldling that would •… ld up a rest for his body here, & •… g a requiem to his soul in this •… le of tears nothing is more fearful, & hiddeous then for hi •… to hear death spoken of. We m •… therefore examine our selves whether we can sing a song of •… in this exile, and banishment, whther we can solace our selves, in hymns, & songs of our ends, a •… departure hence. For we m •… hence Nothing more sure, but t •… time when, the place where, 〈◊〉 the manner how Nothing mor •… unsure. It is sufficient that g •… telleth us our life is but a flov •… that fadeth, an hour th •… passeth a shadow that depart •… a vanity that vexeth, a moment t •… warneth, a nothing when w •… have done all we can. For •… thoughts, our faults, our purpose •… our projects, our loves, our liu •… when our breath departet •… perisheth in the twinkling of O then let us meditate, & muse our selves, and sing, & say to our •… les, that our end, & the last •… ings are not the least, but the best •… ngs that we can consider of to •… rtifie us, & make us meet for •… e saving mercies of god in Christ, which I recomend you in my •… arest love, & rest.

Alls Paul's Prayers.

Metphrased into words of one syllable of great Britons language, & are to be used by a devout Christian soul in his private soliloquies, & holy solaces with his god.

And are set to the tune of I love the lord because my voice.

To his much esteemed good friend Mr. NICHOLAS BACKHOUSE •… archant one of the assistants of the worthy company of the Merchant Aduenturers residing at Hamborough.

M Uch endeered. The chiefest parts of gods service are either prayer •… r praise Prayer for what we want. Praise in thanks giving for what we have received.

The sweet singer of Israel in his heavenly composed hymes useth •… oth to pray to god, & to praise •… od. I need not recomend unto you prayer I hope you use it as I know you do publicly soe I doubt no •… but you use it also privately Preaching is gods speech to you Prayer is ours to him. Preaching belongs to me, I preach to you •… your pastor, & pray for you also Prayer belongs to you to pray for me, yourself, all yours, all go •… childrē. For the manner howe no •… better president, no more perfect pattern, then S. Paulls practice 〈◊〉 his prayers, which I have here metaphrased for you in the syllables of your own mother tongue. Go •… the father is the objecte of your prayers, & praises. God the son the presenter of them as the only master of requests in heaven. Go •… the holy ghost the very breath 〈◊〉 your prayers, the simle of you •… soul. Use this blessed exercise both of prayer, & praise. Be in love with it, & god will love you. To which love of his in this model of my best love to you I recomend your well disposed thoughts in the saving mercies of Christ Jesus your lord, & mine. Resting

The song of songs

Or the Canticle of Solomon between Christ, & his spouse, the two first chapters, & is set to the tune of, Blessed are they that perfect are

To his much esteemed good freend Mr. WILLIAM CHRISTMAS Merchant one of the deacons of the English Church residing at Hamborough:

Grace here, glory forever in Christ.

L Ouing, & beloved friend. The title of this heavenly hymn showeth the excellency thereof. For it is called the song of songs, or the Canticles of wise Soloman. The subject is most sacred, for it is the •… uptiall love song between Christ, & his spouse. Wherein their mutual loves by sweet resēblāces are mystically, & maruelously expressed What more comfortable song then to sing our harts love we bear to Christ in the blessed union by one spirit whereby we have everlasting life. Two of the first chapters of which song I have metaphrased into Monosyllables, which I have bequethed to your love as a sign of mine, & to seal both ours. Receaue it as the rest of your colleagues, for I wish you all the happiness of both worlds in the saving mercies of Christ t •… which I recommend you, & a •… that look upon you with love resting.

A Canticle, or song.

Of the third & fourth chapters of the song of Solomon being Meta •… hrased into Monosylables of Great Britons language, & is to be used by every devout soul in his private conference with his god.

And is set to the tune of Help lord for good, & godly men
PSAL. XII.

To his much esteemed good friend Mr. ISAAC LEE one of the assistants of the most worthy company of the merchants-Adventurers residing at Hamb:

M Ore thē much beloved when god brought man forth at the first he put him not into a wilderness, but into a garden, a paradise, & place of pleasure whereby I see that his sacred majesty did not rejoice in the misery, but in the delight & happiness of his creatures. Cheerefulnes therefore pleaseth god better then dullness, 〈◊〉 & heaviness of heart. Let us be▪ godly, & good in our pleasures, & it will never displease our maker) neither will he grudge, or repin •… at our joy. To this purpose have I framed certain hymns for th •… private solace of such as shall take delight there in. One portion whereof I have consecrated to you▪ Let yt have acceptance of you by your practice of yt▪ I expect 〈◊〉 other guerdon for my pains. For the highest knows with what an honest heart I composed this, & the rest, & what a desire I had in the framing thereof for the good of many. I have ever hated epicurean resolution▪ Let us eat, & drink tomorrow we shall die. But I have ever loved entire 〈◊〉 exhortation. Let 〈◊〉 us pray, & praise god, To morrow we shall live For to love, is to live, & where we love, the •… e we live▪ If we love god, we shall live in him by our prayers, by our praises, & all by one spirit. O then let us so love him, that we may live in him in our daily voices, that they may be hard to his glory, our comfort, & good example of our brethren. The god of heaven joy your •… art in all your life, & in your death that we may all meet to sing together in the quire of heaven with the angels in the saving mercies of our Savior Christ.

A Canticle, or song.

Between Christ, & his church of the fifth, & sixth chapters of the Song of Solomon metaphrased into Monosyllabls of Great Britons language, & is to be used by every devout soul in his private conference with his god.

And is set to the tune of Lord be my judge, & thou shalt see
PSAL. CXXVI.

To his much esteemed good friend Mr. WALTER PELL one of the assistants of the most worthy company of the merchants-Adventurers residing at Hamb:

L Ouing friend. If you would die well, you must endeavor to live well. Then let your death be never so sudden, It will not come unexpected neither will you be unprepared. The days, & houers of days that you have spent in gods service either in praying, or praising him shall be so many cordials of comforts, •… consciences of well led purposes, & will so take up your heart in joy, & solace, that no terror of death, or darkness shall appale yt. Who would not then be busy in this so serious, so sacred a business? Let us never think to be soundly merry, if this be not our music. Reason, & Religion guides us here unto. For veary Reason showeth unto us that we must all die, & Religion enlighteneth us howe we may die well. Fools judge actions by events, But the wise for see by judgment of reason, & faith what will inevitably ensue. To this purpose all this is said. That as I have in mine endeered love sent you an introduction hereunto in this paper token so you would accept, & practice it. So shall I ever rest your votary praying to god for your eternal happiness in Christ Jesus his saving mercies.

A Canticle, or song.

Of the seventh, & eight chapters of the song of Solomon being Metaphrased into Monosylabls of great Britons language, & is to be used by every devout soul in his private conference with his god

And is set to the tune of Give thanks unto the lord our god.
PSAL. CVII.

To his much esteemed good friend Mr. WILLIAM WALCOT merchant, one of the most worthy company of Merchant Adventurers residing at Hamborough.

Happines forever.

K Ind friend. Forced favors were ever slighted, & thankles. But voluntary respects had ever with the best, and most noble minds courteous acceptāce howe small, & mean soever the thing was. For a mā to give his soul to his Creator when he sees he must die, & his goods to the poor, when he sees he must part with them, & to forgo our sin, w •… we can no longer follow yt are cold, yea unkind obediences. But for a young man to remember his creator in the days of his yout •… & in his best, & strongest age 〈◊〉 bequeath himself every day to god in prayer, & praise is thatreasonable, & seasonable sacrifice where with the most high is most pleased. To this purpose and no other god knoweth I have tendered these voluntary Essaies to diverse of my masters, & Tablebrothers. Let me not seem to to officious, while I desire to do good, & express my love. For 〈◊〉 unto the rest so unto you Beloved Gā-naunt have I sent this parcel. Receaue yt, as I mean yt both with hand, & heart, & then •… am assured; it will never repent you of your acceptation, nor me of my dedication. The great lord keeper of heaven, & earth keep you in his fear all the days of your life, & preserve you for his saving mercies in Christ Jesus in the end of your life, & forever.

A METAPHRASE.

Of the first, and second chap •… ers of Jeremiah's Lamentations for •… he sacking, & burning of Jerusalem, and •… he temple, by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel, and by Nebuzaradan the captain of his gard, put into monosyllables of great Britons language.

And is set to the tune of I lift mine heart to thee.
PSAL. XXV.

To his much esteemed good friend Mr. EDWARD MEEDE one of the assistants of the most worthy company of Merchants Aduenturers residing at Hamborough.

A LL happiness in the lord Jesus. I present unto you a part of Jeremiah's Lamentations metaphrased. You may see herein my true heart unto you all. In the midst of lamentable discōtents I tuned my soul, tongue, & pen to the land of god. And the rather in these lamentations for that they sorted some what to my retired meditations. One time, or other all men are not as they would be. It is the condition of gods children. Happy is that man that can use gods scourge to his amen dement. The great moderator of all things knows his children fittest to be made palms, to be spread with burdens, & weights, & not to be Olives. That so we might more think of our victory, then of our rest. It is enough for us that we shall once triumph in heaven, & rest for all. To this holy rest, and eternal tranquility godgiude us all, into whose blessed keeping I recommend you in Christ saving mercies. And rest.

A METAPHRASE.

•… F THE THIRD Chap •… r of Jeremiah's Lamentations for •… e sacking, & burning of Jerusalem, and 〈◊〉 temple, by Nebuchadnezzar king of •… abell, and by Nebuzaradan the captain of his gard, put into monosyllables of great Britons language.

And is set to the tune of I lift mine heart to thee.
PSAL. XXV.

To his much esteemed good friend Mr. JOHN GREENWELL on of the Assistants of the most worthy company of merchants-Adventurers residing at Hamb:

W Elbeloued in the lord. We are all strangers here in the earth, our home is above in heaven. It was a great grief to gods Israel to tune the songs of Zion in a strange country. Howe then is it with us, that we like so well of the things here, & think not of the blessings above. Jerusalem was once the mistrisse of the world, th •… Metropolis of the earth, & ye •… when the worlds darling fo •… gatt god she was laid in the dus •… That is the cause of the Prophe •… lamentation. Indeed who would not shower down tears to 〈◊〉 the holy place de •… iled, & Ierusa •… made an heap of stones? But we see no place be it never so glorio •… in our eyes, no persons be they never so gracious in the sight of men that can escape gods 〈◊〉 whē he will scourge The Turks have encroched into Christendom, & made that •… itty of Constantinople which was once the glory of the east, a veary cage of unclean Mohammedans. What Christians heart doth not bleed to see yt? to hear of yt? We have cause to lament this. The prophe •… •… ad reason to condole that. O that our harts were touched with remorse for the poor distressed Christians that live tributaries to the misbeleeuing. Turk. Consider in these hymns the condition of gods people so subjecte to moan & misery. God direct all our •… arts toward him in wealth, in woe, in all. And so I commending you to god with the rest▪ in the saving mercies of Jesus Christ, Am.

A METAPHRASE.

Of the fourth, and fifth Chapters of Jeremiah's Lamentations for the sacking, & burning of Jerusalem, and the temple▪ by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel, and by Nebuzaradan the captain of 〈◊〉 gard, put into monosyllables of great Britons language.

And is set to the tune of I lift mine heart to thee.
PSAL. xxv.

To his much esteemed good friend Mr. JOHN STAMPE, merchant one of the company of the Merchants-Adventurers residing at Hamborough.

M YNE unfeigned love in Christ unto you. Noah wise man would sell his thoughts for all the world. For as they are much pleasing to a man's self so are they beneficial unto others. I little thought whe I began to make an Essay into this business that it would have enlarged it self into eleven branches. What it is, & as it is▪ Even the all of it I devote to all my table-brothers▪ Wherein yourself have a part. I shall desire your aecentance with the rest And even so herein I commond my love to you, my lines to the worlds rensure, & the use of thē to gods children; for whose s •… ke I have endeavored this Thus 〈◊〉 my prayers for your succesfu •… prosperity in all things. I leave yo •… to gods saving grace. Remaying

Seven dumps

ON THE SEAUEN WORDS •… hat Christ spake on the cross which show the seven depths of the laws curse, which our lord did feel for our sins.

And is set to the tune of I lift mine heart to thee.

To his much esteemed good friend Mr. GEORGE FRANKLYN on of the Assistants of the most worthy company of merchants-Adventurers residing at Hamb:

Grace here, Glory hereafter in Christ.

L Ouing, and beloved. The words of a dying father, or of a dying friend are wont to take deep impression in the minds, & memories of good natures. Whose words shall pierce, if the words of our Christ our dying Christ, and that for us, & his last also. Whose I say if not his? To you I send the last words of Christ, in the last place, yet you are not the least in my love. The first in intention, is last in excecution. And nothing is conveayed to the intellectual powers that is not first in the sensible parts. It was gods purpose of our Christ even in the creatiō, that he should be thus upon the cross. See then your Christ at his last. Tune your doleful dumps to a sad soul, and joy in sobbs. For he prays, cries, yells, promiseth, perfecteth all, that we may be all in all with god. What can be more? Christ passion is the model of our profession, yea the medall of our perfection. For gods strength is perfected in our weakness.

We may sow in tears, we shall reap in joy. Let my spring be wett so that I may have a plentiful Autume I care not. Vir dolorum can best tune his voice to dolours. If god will have it so, His will be done. He did so with his own. We cannot imagine our condition free. God giude us through all by his saving grace, To which I shall ever recommend you, and rest.