The banquetting-house, or, A feast of fat things a divine poem, opening many sacred Scripture mysteries ... / written by Benjamin Keach, author of War with the Devil.

PART V. Containing SACRED HYMNS Setting out and illustrating the transcendent Excellencies of the GRACES of the HOLY SPIRIT. (Book 5)

HYMN 98.

Mark 9. 50.

Have Salt in your selves.

1

HOw unsavoury, O Lord, are things, Unless they salted be! And so indeed were all our Souls, Till seasoned by thee

2

With thy most sweet and precious Grace, That is the Salt whereby We sav'ry do become, O Lord, Thy Salt, O then apply.

3

Salt is of such a quality That it doth search each part

Of Flesh, that it is laid upon, So Grace searches the Heart:

4

The Spirit searches all deep things, Yea, the deep things of God; It will find out what sin in us Doth still make its abode;

5

And then (like Salt) doth purge it out, 'Tis Grace which purifies The heart and life, there is no doubt But such, like vertue, lyes

6

In that most precious Grace of thine, O then let's look and see Whether we search'd and purged are, And then sing praise to thee.

The second Part.

1

Salt doth preserve, 'tis evident, Both Meat and other things, Else they'll corrupt and quickly taint; Like Vertue also springs

2

From thy good Grace, 'tis that, O Lord, Which doth preserve from sin All graceless Sinners odious stink, So filt hy are within,

3

That all their inward parts corrupt, And they like Carrion lye

In a vile Ditch, or Common-shore, In their iniquity.

4

But such in whom Gods Grace is wrought, Grace does their Souls preserve From sin, in heart, in life, in thought, Uprightly God to serve.

5

Most sweet are they and savoury To God and unto Men, And all their works they have perform'd By Grace have season'd been.

The Third Part.

1

Salt is of universal use, There's nothing Men want more; Without God's Grace there's none can live, Let them be rich or poor.

2

Such absolute need have we thereof, Without it can't live here A holy life; nor can we stand When Jesus doth appear.

3

All ranks of Men both high and low, Both Kings and Peasants too, Must salted be with Grace on Earth, Or down to Hell must go;

4

In ev'ry state, where-er'e they be, By Sea as well as Land, They Grace do need continually If sin they would withstand:

5

Our speech, and all that we do say, Must season'd be with Salt; Or else our words and breath will stink, And all be good for nought.

The Fourth Part.

1

Salt, Naturalists do oft declare, Is good against the stings Of Serpents; and does Worms destroy Which from Corruption springs.

2

Grace is a sovereign remedy Against the sting within; And kills the Worm of Conscience too, The product 'tis of sin:

3

Sin is a thing most venomous, A sting it is likewise▪ Of the old Serpent, and 'tis worse Than what in Poyson lyes:

4

This kills the Soul and Body too, And poysons ev'ry part; And doth corrupt each faculty Of ev'ry Sinners heart.

5

Salt was of use under the Law; For ev'ry Sacrifice Must salted be, and so must we Before All-seeing Eyes:

6

Yea, ev'ry Prayer and Offering That's offered up on high;

Your Duties all must season'd be With Grace continually.

7

But other Salt, if Meat do stink, It can't it sav'ry make, But Grace will such recover who Most filthy ways do take,

8

And in God's Nostrils loathsom are, Yet Grace will sweeten them; Nay, they will such a savour bear He'll highly such esteem.

The Fifth Part.

1

But we, alas, do often see Salt lose its savour may; Or things may over-salted be, If too much on they lay:

2

But Grace in both these things excells, Its savour cannot lose; Nor can we have of it too much, Most savoury are all those

3

Who most are salted with this Salt, O therefore loudly cry For Grace good store, and do not fear, God will your wants supply.

4

Then sing forth Praises to the Lord With Grace in all your hearts, And see that you well-season'd are In all your inward parts.

HYMN 99.

Eph. 6. 14.

And having your Loyns girt about with Truth, &c.

1

TRue Grace, and true Sincerity Is like a Girdle rare, Which some about their Loins do love Continually to wear.

2

Like as a Girdle cleaves to Men, And doth them compass in; So Grace should cleave unto our Souls, To keep us from all sin.

3

We in the bonds of Truth and Grace Should evermore abide, And never from God's Grace and Truth Go back, nor turn aside.

4

And as a Girdle strengthneth The Loyns of ev'ry one, So will this Girdle of Truth also All such who have it on.

5

If you in the true Doctrine are, And in sincerity Do firmly stand in every Truth, Small weakness you'll espy

6

To be in you, for strength you'll have, If that your hearts be ••ound; And every Gospel blessed Truth Be evermore your bound.

The Second Part.

1

The Souldier in the days of old His Armour did gird on, And then compleatly harnessed Was he to look upon:

2

So must the Christians Armour be Girt with sincerity, What will Mens Faith, or Righteousness, Or Hope else signifie,

3

If they are not upright in heart, And Truth is not their bound, They Hypocrites be sure will then (If so) at last be found

4

To have the Loyns well girt, denotes That Preparation we Unto the Battel ought to make, So ready must we be

5

For to encounter or engage With all our cruel Foes, To have our Armour girt with Truth, And then need fear no blows.

The Third Part.

1

Girdling also service denotes, Let Loyns be girt about; And let your Lights be shining too, And let them not go out;

2

That ye may on your Master wait, Whose coming doth draw near; Be ready therefore every Saint, O now your selves prepare!

3

Let ev'ry thing in truth be done, And Grace the Girdle be; And then with joy shall ev'ry one Their blessed Master see.

4

A Girdle is an Ornament, It fastens all together, And covers Joynts the Armour hath That Men cannot tell whether

5

'Tis all one piece, or 'tis in parts, It doth them so unite; Thus doth Uprightness us adorn, That in Jehovah's sight

6

There seems no flaw, nor no defects, Uprightness covers all; God doth that Soul who is sincere, A perfect Christian call.

The Fourth Part.

1

Come, art thou low, of mean descent, And of ignoble birth? Grace covers this deformity, Its glory so shines forth:

2

Or art thou lame, or outwardly May blemishes be seen? Yet Grace doth cover this defect, Thy Beauty's great within:

3

Or art thou poor, and so art brought Unto contempt and scorn? Sincerity doth make thee rich, Nay more, to be high born.

4

May be thy parts and gifts are small, And hence Men thee dispise? Sincerity hides this in all, In this thy Glory lyes;

5

For Grace excells the greatest Gifts, Gifts may to Man commend; But Grace commends thee now to God, And so 'twill in the end.

The Fifth Part.

1

Soul, hast thou worse defects than these, Infirmities within? Sincerity doth God so please, It covers all thy sin.

2

He it esteems so as if thou Hadst never broke his Law, And through Christ's Righteousness he doth In thee behold no flaw.

3

O get this Girdle on, ye Saints, It glitters more than Gold; It never can besides be lost, And doth its Beauty hold

4

As fresh as 'twas when first put on, O bless'd Sincerity! How glorious art thou! how dost thou Shine in Jehovah's Eye!

5

See then that ye the Truth hold fast, And with it girted be; Then no delusion needst thou fear, Nor cursed Heresie;

6

But the right Girdle take be sure, And not the counterfeit, The true by this you may descry, Christ's Truth is stampt on it.

7

It with the written Word agrees Exact in ev'ry thing; If all Christ's Precepts you don't own, Contempt on you 'twill bring.

8

That Girdle will not hold but break, Though you may seem sincere

So far as you cleave unto Truth, Yet will at last appear

9

A false Professor, 'cause you have Some blessed Truth withstood, Into which you did Light receive, But not obey it wou'd.

The Sixth Part, with Psal. 117.

1

Each Truth of God, O it is pure, God's Truth doth make us clean; It frees our Souls also for ever, Such glory in it's seen.* 1.1

2

Strong is the Truth you all will say, This Girdle then is strong; O buy it, Souls, whilst 'tis to day, 'Twill fit both old and young.

3

God's Saints did suffer grievous pain, Great tortures did endure Before they would part with the Truth, Such peace it did procure

4

Unto their Souls who faithful were Unto the Truth alway; O it will make you holy, bold In the great Judgment-day.

5

Now let all Nations of the Earth Their great Creator praise; Nay let the people all sing forth His mighty Name to raise;

6

Whose Kindness's great unto his Saints, His Mercies ever sure; O praise ye him for his bless'd Truth Which doth abide for ever!

HYMN 100.

Eph. 6. 14.

And having on the Breast∣plate of Righteousness, &c.

1

O Lord, we Souldiers are, and we Must fight, or else be slain; O let us all well armed be, For Foes come on amain!

2

And since our Enemies do aim To hit us on the Breast, Thy blessed Breast-plate let's have on, For that will hold the rest.

3

'Tis righteousness that will secure Our Souls from ev'ry wrong, And 'twill also, O Lord, endure As well as it is strong.

4

There's no engaging in these Wars Without a Righteousness; This Breast-plate scatters all our fears, Who do thy Name profess.

5

A Breast-plate 'tis that doth preserve The Body's chiefest part; 'Tis Righteousness which, Lord, doth save Our precious Souls and Heart.

The Second Part.

1

A Breast-plate doth the Souldier chear, It makes him very bold; So Righteousness doth make us all Our Sword with courage hold,

2

And not to fear i'th' day of evil What any man can do; Nay we hereby withstand the Devil, Who doth great malice show.

3

O then, ye Saints, see you maintain A good and holy life, And soon thereby you will obtain An end of all that strife

4

With which you meet from Foes with∣out, And also from within; O know it is God's great design To purge you from your sin;

5

And that you holy should all live, And hence 'tis you have Grace; The Seed of Holiness is sown, And it will grow apace,

6

If under God's shinings ye sit, And he his Rain doth send, Then will your Righteousness break forth, And peace will flow i'th' end;

7

And of God's Goodness ye shall sing, And lift your voice on high, And happy be when God doth bring You on Death-Beds to lye.

HYMN 101.

Eph. 6. 16.

Above all things take the shield of Faith.

1

FAith is a Grace that God hath wrought In us who do believe; If it be strong, we need not care What Gun-shots we receive

2

From Satan, who his fiery Darts Continually lets fly; Ah! 'tis our Shield to save all parts, Whatever danger's nigh.

3

A Shield is turned ev'ry way, That so no Dart may wound; And we by Faith, as with a Shield, Are compassed quite round.

4

The Will and Judgment it secures, And doth Affections keep Warm unto Christ, and Conscience too, It saves from drousie sleep.

5

A Shield preserves the other part Of Armour we have on; So Faith secures every Grace; That hurt be done to none.

6

Christ's Righteousness is very pure, To that 'tis we must flee; And unto us by Faith 'tis sure, And this by Faith we see.

HYMN 102.

1 Pet. 1. 7

That the tryal of your Faith, which is much more precious than Gold, &c.

1

BY Faith we do on Christ depend For all that he hath done; By Faith we do to God ascend With many a bitter groan:

2

And we receive what we do want, When we by Faith do cry; Faith doth sustain each drooping Saint, And all their needs supply.

3

Gold is a thing that has the Name Of things that precious are; For Preciousness Faith has the same, With which Gold can't compare.

4

Tho' Gold is precious when 'tis try'd, Yet tried Faith exceeds The finest Gold, 'tis more in worth, And does supply all needs:

5

'Tis more desirable far than Gold, O with it fall in love! And as hid Treasure seek it do Of God, through Christ above.

6

Gold by the Touch-stone must be try'd, So you must try your Faith; No Touch-stone but God's blessed Word Is there in all the Earth.

HYMN 103.

1 Thess. 5. 8.

And for an Helmet the Hope of Salvation:

1

HOpe is a precious Grace, O Lord; And fixed it must be Upon thy self most patiently, No other Hope have we.

2

'Tis not on Gold, nor length of days, Nor on things here below;

But 'tis on Jesus Christ alone, From whence all Help doth flow:

3

And like a Helmet 'tis we find That doth preserve the Head; Hope stays on thee, always our mind, When we are hard bested;

4

And as a Helmet fearless makes A Souldier in the Field; So hope of glory makes us all Resolve we ne're will yield

5

To Satan, nor to other Foes, When we with them do meet; Nor need we fear their cruel blows, If we have this Helmet,

6

Since we compleatly armed are, Even from head to foot, ••ur head-piece makes us to appear Both fierce and very stout.

7

This Helmet will us never sail If that we have it on; ••he Soul it is, it doth preserve Till all our dangers gone.

HYMN 104.

Heb. 6. 19.

Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul.

1

THis World's a Sea, our Soul's a Ship With raging Tempest tost; And if she should her Anchor slip, She doubtless will be lost.

2

Thou, Lord, our skilful Pilot art, Thou know'st all Rocks and Sands; Our Seamen are our Faculties, Which must do thy commands.

3

Faith like a Cable doth appear, Hope is our Anchor sure; And if right cast, we need not fear We shall each Storm endure.

4

Repentance like a Bucket is To pump the water out; For leaky is our Ship, alas, Which makes us look about.

5

Thy Graces are our blessed Fraight, And Heaven is our Port; Thy Spirit, Lord, must fill our Sails If e're we bid fair for't.

The Second Part.

1

Lord, still the Seas, alas, they swell, And very tempestuous are; Our Compass is thy Holy Word, By that 'tis we must steer.

2

Lord, thou hast power o're the Seas, Let us not calmed be; And when the Waves do roar and swell, Let's cast our Hope in thee.,

3

Which like an Anchor doth take hold With that within the Veil; And if right cast, we may be bold, Our courage shall not fail.

4

We for our Anchor have a Rock That is most firm and sure, And thou wilt us, Lord, ne're deceive, But will our Souls secure.

5

Let Hope be fixt on Christ our Lord, And on thy Covenant; Thy Promises also afford Relief to ev'ry Saint.

6

Christ's Death and Resurrection too Our Hope is grounded on; If thus we cast our Anchor do, We safe are ev'ry one.

HYMN 105.

Cant. 8. 6.

Love is strong as Death, Jea∣lousie as cruel as the Grave, the Coals thereof are, as Coals of Fire, &c.

1

O Set thine Image on my Heart! O seal it on my Arm! For Love, like Death, doth cast its Dart, And Jealousie is warm.

2

'Tis like the Grave, whose keen desire Nothing can satisfie; The Coals thereof ate Coals of Fire That flame most vehemently.

3

Waters can't quench Love's Flames, nor Floods The same can ever drown; If some for Love would give his Goods, Despis'd is such an one.

4

Lord, bear our Name upon thy Breast, Engrave it on thy Heart, There let it be so sure possest It thence may ne're depart;

5

For Love we find is very strong, It wounds unto the quick; Thy presence, Lord, supports our Souls, Thy absence makes us sick.

6

Shouldst thou but seemingly disdain Our Souls that are engag'd, Like Fire it would put us to pain, Whose grief's not soon asswag'd.

The Second Part.

1

O love us then, or else we die; Is it not thee we crave? If thou thy Love shouldst once deny, We soon should find a Grave.

2

Death conquers all, and all submit Unto his pale command; So Love brings all unto its seet Who are therewith inflam'd.

3

The Grave is never satisfy'd, No more, alas, can he Who having tasted of thy Love, Till he enjoyeth thee.

4

But Death destroys and also kills, But Love doth make alive; It kills our sin, and we thereby Do presently revive:

5

But if the Object be deny'd The Heart is set upon, We never can be satisfy'd Until our life is gone.

6

Love so doth flame, and Jealousie So burns the Heart and Eyes; The Soul must be embrac'd by thee, Or be Love's Sacrifice.

7

Whole Seas of trouble cannot quench Love's everlasting flame; Let what will come where true Love is, That Soul is still the same.

HYMN 106.

Col. 2. 12.

Buried with him in Baptism.

1

LOrd, are we dead? dead unto sin? Then buried let us be; Let sin be cover'd, the old Man Be slain, O Lord, by thee.

2

We have Baptized been, O Lord, As such who were all dead, To shew that thou didst lye i'th' Grave, We all were buried

3

Under the water, whereby we Do in a figure see, That as we shew'd how we are dead, So raised are with thee.

4

None buried are till dead they be, Those who baptized are

Ought to be dead to ev'ry sin, To self, and all things here.

5

Those who are buried, covered are All over in the Earth; In Baptism the self-same thing Must plain be holden forth:

6

Or else it answers not the end Of Christ, who did ordain That glorious Rite, if not so done, They do the same prophane.

HYMN 107.

Heb. 6. 1, 2.

Not laying again the Foun∣dation of Repentance from dead Works, and of Faith towards God, ver. 1.

Of the Doctrine of Baptism, and laying on of Hands, &c. ver. 2.

1

REpentance, when wrought in the Soul, And Faith for to believe, Then such on Jesus Christ rely, And truly him receive

2

As their dread Lord and Sovereign Him always to obey, And in all things o're them to reign, And govern night and day.

3

Christ's Baptism is very sweet, With laying on of Hands, Our Souls are brought to Jesus's Feet In owning his Commands.

4

Those Ordinances Men oppose, And count as carnal things; We have clos'd with, and tell to those, From them great comfort springs.

5

Thee, holy Lord, we must obey, Though Men reproach us still; Yet let us do what thou dost say, And yield unto thy Will;

6

And still alone on thee rely, And not on what-we do; In point of trust we fly to thee, And let our own works go;

7

And though in minding thy sweet truth Men do us vilifie, Yet we resolve, Lord, in thy strength, To own them till we die.

The Second Part.

1

O Lord, let us not turn our back On thee whom we do love; For we do know we shall not lack Thy presence from above;

2

For thou hast promis'd to the end To us that will be near, And be to us a faithful Friend, Which makes us not to fear

3

Whatever Men or Devils do In secret place design; For soon canst thou them overthrow, And help all Souls of thine.

4

The Resurrection of the Dead We constantly maintain, When all those who lye buried Shall rise to life again;

5

And that the Judgment-day will come, When Christ upon the Throne Shall pass a black eternal doom Upon each wicked one:

6

But all his Saints then joyfully With bowels he'll embrace, And Crowns to all eternity Upon their Heads he'll place;

7

And in the Kingdom shall they reign Prepared long before, And also shall with Christ remain In bliss for evermore.

HYMN 108.

1 Cor. 5. 7.

For Christ our Passover is sa∣crificed for us.

1

O Blessed Lamb of God, shall I Forget that love of thine! Thy life, O Lord, thou didst give up To save this Soul of mine.

2

Most harmless Lamb, and innocent, When come to a ripe age, Ah! then didst thou thy life give up God's anger to asswage.

3

Thy Blood is sprinkled on our Doors, Or rather on our Hearts, To shew God hath our sins pass'd o're, And Mercies he imparts.

5

The Lamb it was roasted with fire, Thou didst God's wrath sustain; And on thee we by Faith do feed, And life thereby obtain.

5

The Lamb was eat with bitter Herbs, So let us see our sin, And find it bitter unto us, It so to thee has been;

6

And so let us thy Praises sing Whilst thus we feast with thee, And with one heart exalt our King In all sincerity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  John 8