Divine Songs and Meditacions (1653)

I inform you, that by divine Providence, I have been restrained from bodily employments, suting with my disposicion, which enforced me to a retired Course of life; Wherin it pleased God to give me such inlargednesse of mind, and activity of spirit, so that this seeming desolate condicion, proved to me most delightfull: To be breif, I became affected to Poetry, insomuch that I proceeded to practise the same; and though the helps I had therein were small, yet the thing it self appeared unto me so amiable, as that it enflamed my faculties, to put forth themselvs, in a practise so pleasing.

Now the furtherances I had herein, was what I could gather (by the benifit of hearing,) at first from prophane Histories; which gave not that satisfactory contentment, before mencioned; but it was the manifestacion of Divine Truth, or rather the Truth it self, that reduced my mind to a peacefull temper, and spirituall calmnesse, taking up my thoughts for Theologicall employments.

Witnesse hereof, this Discourse, Songs and Meditacions following; which I have set forth (as I trust) for the benifit, and comfort of others, Cheifly for those Christians who are of disconsolat Spirits, who may perceive herein, the Faithfullnesse Love, & Tender Compassionatnesse of God to his people, in that according to his gracious Promise, He doth not leave nor forsake them. Heb. 13.5. But causeth all things to work for theyr good. Rom. 8.28. This I doubt not, but most Saints in som measure, do experimentally know, therefore I will not seek by argument, to prove a thing so perspicuous. And now (Courteous Reader) I have delivered unto you, what I intended, onely it remains that I tell you, That with my Labours, you have my Prayers to God through Jesus Christ; whose I am, and in him,

Yours, in all Christian affection An Collins.

The Preface.

Being through weakness to the house confin’d, My mentall powers seeming long to sleep, were summond up, by want of wakeing mind, Their wonted course of exercise to keep, And not to waste themselves in slumber deep; Though no work can bee so from error kept But some against it boldly will except:

Yet sith it was my morning exercise The fruit of intellectuals to vent, In Songs or counterfets of Poesies, And haveing therein found no small content, To keep that course my thoughts are therfore bent, And rather former workes to vindicate Than any new conception to relate.

Our glorious God his creatures weaknesse sees, And therefore deales with them accordingly, Giveing the meanes of knowledg by degrees, Vnfoulding more and more the Mystery, And opening the Seales successively, Rev. 6. So of his goodnesse gives forth demonstracions, To his Elect in divers Dispensacions.

In legall wise hee did himself expresse To be the only Lord Omnipotent A just avenger of all wickednesse, A jelous God in power emminent, Which terror workes, and pale astonishment; Sith plagues for sin are holden forth thereby, But with no strength to crush inniquity.

Now with the Law the Gospell oft appeares, But under vailes, perspicuous unto few Who were as those which of good tydings heares, Rejoyceing much at the report or show Of that the Saints now by possessing know; Oft spake the Prophets Evangelicall, Whose words like kindly drops of rain did fall.

But when the plenerie of time was come The springs of grace their plesant streams out deald Felicitie did evidence on her some Salvacion and the way thereto reveald, Who wounded were in spirit, might be heald; Here God declares the Beauties of his Face, Great Love, rich Mercy, free Eternall Grace.

This time was when the Sonne of Righteousnesse His Luster in the world began to spread, Which more and more to his he doth expresse In tearms so large that they that run may read, And to himselfe he doth the weaker lead; He to his bosum will his Lambs collect, And gently those that feeble are direct. Isa. 40. 11

And so in them a life of grace instill Whereby they shall be able to obay All Gospell precepts suting with his will, And that without regard of servill pay, But with free hearts, where Christ alone doth sway Causing the apprehensions of his love, To gender love, which still doth active prove.

Where Christ thus ruleth, I suppose remaines No heart that hankers after Novelties Whose ground is but the Scum of frothy braines Perhaps extracted from old Heresies, New formd with Glosses to deceive the eyes Of those who like to Children, do incline To every new device that seemes to shine.

I am perswaded they that relish right, The Dainties of Religion, Food divine, Have therby such a permanent delight, And of best Treasures, such a lasting mine, As that their hearts to change do not incline, I therfore think theyr tastes of Truth is ill, Who Truths profession, quickly alter will.

I speak not this to manifest despight To tru Religions growth or augmentacion, Nor do I take offence of greater Light Which brings probatum est, or commendacion From Truth it selfe, having therto relacion, But rather with the Saints I doe rejoyce, When God appeares to his in Gospel-voyce.

Now touching that I hasten to expresse Concerning these, the ofspring of my mind, Who though they here appeare in homly dresse And as they are my works, I do not find But ranked with others, they may go behind, Yet for theyr matter, I suppose they bee Not worthlesse quite, whilst they with Truth agree.

Indeed I grant that sounder judgments may (Directed by a greater Light) declare The ground of Truth more in a Gospel-way, But who time past with present will compare Shall find more mysteries unfolded are, So that they may who have right informacion More plainly shew the path-way to Salvacion.

Yet this cannot prevayl to hinder me From publishing those Truths I do intend, As strong perfumes will not concealed be, And who esteemes the favours of a Freind, So little, as in silence let them end, Nor will I therfore only keep in thought, But tell what God still for my Soule hath wrought.

When Clouds of Melancholy over-cast My heart, sustaining heavinesse therby, But long that sad condicion would not last For soon the Spring of Light would blessedly Send forth a beam, for helps discovery, Then dark discomforts would give place to joy, Which not the World could give or quite destroy.

So sorrow serv’d but as springing raine To ripen fruits, indowments of the minde, VVho thereby did abillitie attaine To send forth flowers, of so rare a kinde, VVhich wither not by force of Sun or VVinde: Retaining vertue in their operacions, VVhich are the matter of those Meditacions.

From whence if evill matter be extracted Tis only by a spider generacion, Whose natures are of vennom so compacted, As that their touch occasions depravacion Though lighting in the fragrantest plantacion: Let such conceale the evill hence they pluck And not disgorg themselves of what they suck.

So shall they not the humble sort offend Who like the Bee, by natures secret act Convert to sweetnesse, fit for some good end That which they from small things of worth extract, Wisely supplying every place that lackt, By helping to discover what was meant Where they perceive there is a good intent.

So trusting that the only Sov’rain Power Which in this work alwaies assisted mee, Will still remain its firme defensive Tower, From spite of enemies the same to free And make it useful in some sort to bee, That Rock I trust on whom I doe depend, Will his and all their works for him defend.

A Song expressing their happinesse who have Communion with Christ.

When scorched with distracting care, My minde finds out a shade Which fruitlesse Trees, false fear, dispair And melancoly made, Where neither bird did sing Nor fragrant flowers spring, Nor any plant of use: No sound of happynesse, Had there at all ingresse, Such comforts to produce, But Sorrow there frequents, The Nurce of Discontents, And Murmering her Mayd Whose harsh unpleasant noise All mentall fruits destroyes Whereby delight’s convayd.

Whereof my judgment being certifide My mind from thence did move, For her conception so to provide, That it might not abortive prove, VVhich fruit to signifie It was conceaved by Most true intelligence Of this sweet truth divine Who formed thee is thine, Esay. 54. 5 Whence sprang this inference; He too, thats Lord of all Will thee beloved call, Though all else prove unkind; Then chearfull may I sing Sith I enjoy the Spring, Though Sesterns dry I find.

For in our Vnion with the Lord alone, Consists our happinesse. Certainly such who are with Christ at one He leaves not comfortlesse. But come to them he will Their Souls with joy to fill. And them to Fortifie Their works to undergo And beare their Crosse also, VVith much alacrity: VVho his assisting grace Do feelingly imbrace, VVith confidence may say, Through Christ that strengthens me No thing so hard I see Phil. 4. 14 But what perform I may.

But when the Soul no help can see Through sins interposicion, Then quite forlorn that while is she, Bewailling her condicion; In which deplored case Now such a Soul hath space, To think how she delayd Her Saviour to admit Who shu’d to her for it, And to this purpose sayd, Open to me my Love, My Sister, and my Dove, Can. 5 My Locks with dew wet are Yet she remissive grew, Till he himselfe with-drew Before she was aware.

But tasting once how sweet he is, And smelling his perfumes, Long can she not his presence misse, But griefe her strainth consumes: For when he visits one He cometh not alone, But brings abundant grace True Light, and Holynesse And Spirit to expresse Ones wants in every case; For as he wisedome is, So is he unto his VVisedome and Purity, 1 Cor. 1.30 Which when he seemes to hide, The soul missing her guide, Must needs confused lie.

Then let them know, that would enjoy The firme fruition, Of his Sweet presence, he will stay With single hearts alone, Who but their former mate, Doe quite exterminate: With all things that defile They that are Christs, truly, The Flesh do Crucifie With its affections vile Gal. 5. Then grounds of truth are sought New Principles are wrought Of grace and holinesse, Which plantings of the heart Will spring in every part, And so it selfe expresse.

Then shall the Soul like morning bright Vnto her Lord appeare, Can. 6.10 And as the Moone when full of Light So fayr is she and cleare, With that inherent grace Thats darted from the Face Of Christ, that Sunne divine, Which hath a purging power Corruption to devour, And Conscience to refine; Perfection thus begun As pure as the Sonne, The Soul shall be likewise With that great Blessednesse, Imputed Righteoussenesse Which freely Justifies.

They that are thus compleat with Grace And know that they are so, For Glory must set Sayle apace Whilst wind doth fitly blow, Now is the tide of Love, Now doth the Angell move; If that there be defect That Soul which sin doth wound, Here now is healing found, If she no time neglect; To whom shall be reveald What erst hath been conceald, When brought unto that Light, Which in the Soul doth shine When he thats most divine, Declares his presence bright.