Diuine poems containing the history of [brace] Ionah, Ester, Iob, Sampson : Sions [brace] sonets, elegies / written and newly augmented by Fra. Quarles.

A HYMNE to GOD.

WHo gives me then an Adamantine quill? A marble tablet? And a Davids skill? To blazon forth the praise of my deare Lord In deepe-grav'n Characters, upon record To last, for times etc••nall processe, suer, So long, as Sunne, and Moone, and Starres endure: Had I as many mouthes, as Sands there are, Had I a nimble tongue for every Starre, And every word I speake, a Character, And every minutes time ten Ages were, To chaunt forth all thy prayse it no'te availe, For tongues, & words, and time and all would faile: Much lesse can I, poore Weakling, tune my tongue, To take a taske befits an Angels song; Sing what thou canst▪ when thou canst sing no more Weepe then as fast, that thou canst sing no more, Beblurre thy booke with teares, and go thy wayes, For every blurre will prove a booke of prayse. Thine eye that viewes the moving Spheares above Let it give praise to him that makes them move: Thou riches hast; Thy hands that hold, & have them, Let them give praise to him, that freely gave them: Thine armes defend thee; then for recompence, Let them praise him, that gave thee such defence: Thy tongue was given to praise thy Lord, the Giver; Then, let thy tongue praise highest God for ever: Faith comes by hearing, & thy Faith will save thee; Thē let thine cars prais him that hearing gave thee: Thy beart is beg'd by him whose hands did make it, My Sonne, Give me thy Heart; Lord, free••y take it: Eyes, ••ands, and armes, tongues, eares and hearts of men Sing praise, and let the people say, Amen.

¶Tune you your Instruments, and let them vary, Praise him upon them in his Sanctuary, Praise him within the highest Firmament, Which shewes his Power, and his Government; Praise him for all his mighty Acts are knowne, And suit thy praises to his high Renowne, Praise him with Trump victorious, shrill, & sharpe, With Psaltry lowd, and many-stringed Harpe, With sounding Timbrell, and the warbling Flute, With (Musicks full Interpreter) the Lute; Praise him upon the Maiden Virginalls, Vpon the Clerick Organs, and Cymballs, Vpon the sweet Majestick Vyalls touch, Double your joyes, and let your prayse be such; Let all, in whom is life and breath, give praise To heav'ns eternall God, in endlesse dayes; Let every Soule, to whom a voyce is given, Sing Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Heaven; For loe, a Lambe is found, that undertooke To break the seven-fold-Seale, & ope the BOOK••, ¶O let my life adde number to my dayes, To shew thy glory, and to sing thy praise; Let every minute in thy praise be spent, Let every head be bare, and knee be bent To thee (deare Lambe,)▪ Who ere thy praises hide, Clos'd be his Lippes, and tongue for ever ty'de.

Hallelujah. Gloria DEO in excelsis.