Six centuries of select hymns and spiritual songs collected out of the Holy Bible together with a catechism, the canticles, and a catalogue of vertuous women / by William Barton.

HYMN 91. The true fast.

Isa. 58.6.

THIS is the fast, and none but this, chosen, saith God, by me, To loose the bands of wickedness, and let th' opprest go free. The heavy burdens to unbind, all injuries to redress, To deal thy bread to th' hunger-pind▪ and house the harbourless.

To cloth the naked, when thou seest in what great need he ••••ood, And not to hide thy self (i'th least) from thine own flesh and blood. Then shall thy light break forth as day, thy health shall soon appear, Thy righteousness shall lead the way, God's glory be thy rear.

And thou unto the Lord shalt pray, and answer shall be made: And thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Lo! here am I thine aid.

If thou shalt take away from thee the yoke of Tyranny, The beckning fingers mockery, and speaking vanity.

2. PART.

10, 11, 12.

If thou draw out thy tender soul, the hungry to relieve, And with th' afflicted dost condole to satiate souls that grieve. Then shall thy light arise to thee in thine obscurest night: And all thy darkness then shall be as noontide shining bright.

The Lord shall guide thee evermore, suffice thy soul in drought, And make thee fat with plenteous store of blessings poured out. Thou shalt be like the watred soil within the garden pale, And as a spring, whose waters boil, break forth, and never fail.

And they that be produc'd of thee shall build the old decays: And ground-works laid for many an age thy buildings shall up-raise. And thou shalt then be call'd of men repairer of the breach, Restorer of the dwelling-paths; so far thy fame shall reach.