HYMN V.

A Morning Hymn.

MANY dangers hang over us all the day. Therefore, before we adventure forth to follow our affairs we might be the more safe, if we were first charmed by such invocations as these.

Sing this as the Paternoster.

INCE Thou hast added now, O God!
Unto my life another day,

And giv'st me leave to walk abroad,

And labour in my lawful way:

My walks and works with me begin;
Conduct me forth, and bring me in.
2 In ev'ry power my soul enjoys
Internal virtues to improve;
In ev'ry sense that she employs,
In her external works to move,

Bless her, O God! and keep me sound,
From outward harm and inward wound.

3 Let sin nor Satan's fraud prevail,
To make mine eye of reason blind,
Or faith, or hope, or love to fail,
Or any virtues of the mind;

But more and more let them increase,
And bring me to mine end in peace.
4 Lewd courses let my feet forbear,
Keep Thou my hands from doing wrong;
Let not ill counsels pierce mine ear,
Nor wicked words defile my tongue.
And keep the windows of each eye
That no strange lust climb in thereby.
5 But guard Thou safe my heart in chief,
That neither hate, revenge, nor fear;

Nor vain desire, vain joy, or grief, Obtain command or dwelling there: And, Lord! with ev'ry saving grace, Still, true to Thee, maintain that place. 6 From open wrongs, from secret hates, Preserve me, likewise, Lord! this day; From slanderous tongues, from wicked mates, From ev'ry danger in my way:

My goods to me, secure thou too, And prosper all the works I do. 7 So till the evening of this morn, My time shall then so well be spent, That when the twilight shall return, may enjoy it with content;

I

And to Thy praise and honour say,
That this hath proved a happy day.

HYMN VI.

A Hymn whilst we are washing.

THOUGH water be a common blessing, yet we receive many great benefits thereby, and cannot live conveniently without it. If, therefore, we sometimes remember to be thankful in the use of it, and to sanctify it with such-like meditations as these, it will become holy water unto us.

Sing this as the 1st, 2nd, or 30th Psalms.

S we by water wash away
Uncleanness from our flesh,

And sometimes often in a day,
Ourselves are fain to wash :

So ev'ry day, thoughts, words, or deeds,
The soul do sully so,

That often every day she needs

Unto her cleanser go.

2 Our sins purgation doth require,
Sometime a flood of tears;
Sometime the painful purging fire
Of torments, griefs, or fears:
And all this cleansing will be lost,
When we our best shall do,
Unless we by the Holy Ghost,
May be baptized too.

3 Lord, by Thy sanctifying Spirit,
And through my faith in Thee
Made acceptable by Thy merit,

Purge, wash and cleanse Thou me.

And as this water purifies

My body's outward blots,

So cleanse Thou, by Thy blood likewise,
My soul's internal spots.

4 And since this useful element
Thou freely dost afford,

In using it let me present

Due thanks to Thee, O Lord!
And then accept that sacrifice,
Though cheap and mean it be,
And do not those requests despise,
Which I prefer to Thee.

HYMN VII.

When we enjoy the benefit of the Fire.

FIRE is a creature both beneficial and harmful, according to our heedfulness, and God's blessing. Therefore, this Hymn serves both to remember us to be thankful for the good received; and to beseech God's protection from the dangers of it.

Sing this as the 2nd, 6th, or 7th Psalms.

B

UT that no wonders things appear
Which ev'ry day we see,

[cheer,

This fire, whose warmth our flesh doth

A wondrous thing would be:
For while by fuel it is fed,

Which we therefore provide,
Array'd in shining white and red,
It will with us abide.

2 But when the same we do neglect,
It quickly flies away;
And sometime, for our disrespect,
Upon our goods doth prey.

If guided well, it is a friend;
If not, it proves a foe,
Which bringeth cities to an end,
And realms may overthrow.

3 Lord! since this creature much we need,
And harm'd thereby may be,

Unless we take thereof good heed,
From harms preserve us free.

Yea, thankful make for that which warms,
And which we now enjoy;

And keep us ever from the harms
Of that which doth destroy.

HYMN VIII.

Before we begin our Work.

WHEN we are preparing towards our daily employments, their beginnings would find the better successful endings, if we did otherwhile sing, say, or think somewhat to this purpose.

Sing this as the Ten Commandments.

INCE Thou hast, Lord! appointed so,
That man by labour must be fed ;
Lo, with a cheerful mind I go

To labour for my daily bread.

I do not at my lot repine,

Though others live much more at ease;

But I subject my will to Thine,

And Thy good pleasure me shall please.
2 Let what I purpose now to do,
Be fully pleasing unto Thee;
And give a good success thereto,
That profit thence may spring to me.
Be Thou the author of each deed
Which now by me shall be begun;
With me throughout my works proceed,
And perfect them when I have done.

HYMN IX.

When we are at our Labour.

MANY use to mitigate the tediousness of their labours by singing. Therefore, to encourage labouring men at their work, some privileges of a laborious life, and some petitions befitting such as live by labour, are the subject of this Hymn.

Sing this as the 14th or 15th Psalms.

HY should I grieve that I was made
Whilst others take no pain,

To labour at a toilsome trade,
My body to maintain ?

And that to compass cloth and meat,

My lot no means doth grant,
Until my brows or brains do sweat
To get me what I want?

2 Or wherefore by a murm'ring tongue,
Should I augment my care,

Because I am not ranged among
Those drones that idlers are?

For labour yields me true content,
Though few the same do see;
And when my toiling hours are spent,
My sleeps the sweeter be.