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 VI. Containing divers SACRED HYMNS, Setting forth The Nature, Work, Office, and Excellencies of the holy Angels, and the Spirit or Soul of Man. (Book 6)

HYMN 109.

Dan. 4. 17.

This matter is by the decree of the Watchers.

THe holy Angels have a charge To watch continually; They do not sleep, but evermore Have us in their sweet eye.

2

They have a charge to keep us here, And compass us about, And warning give oft-times also When trouble's breaking out.

3

Watch-men are useful in the night, They dangers do prevent; So Angels useful are to those Unto whom they are sent.

4

Was not Elisha safe whilst he Was compassed quite round With these blest Chariots and Horsemen Who did his Foes confound?

5

O what are we, most holy God, That thou shouldst take such care Of us who so unworthy be, And sinful Creatures are!

The Second Part.

1

Behold the Angels of the Lord Do encompass round about All them that fear him, for their Guard, To keep all dangers out;

2

For he hath giv'n his Angels charge To keep thee day by day, That thou mayst walk abroad at large With safety in thy way;

3

For they this charge must execute, And bear thee in their Arms, Lest ever thou shouldst dash thy feet Against a stone for harm;

4

For are they not all Ministers Sent forth for ministration In their behalf, that shall be Heirs Of God's assur'd Salvation?

5

Ye Saints, behold the Love of God, And sing his Praises forth; No wicked Prince has such a Guard As th' meanest Saint on Earth.

HYMN 110.

Job 38. 7.

When the Morning-stars sang together, &c.

HOw glorious are the Morning-Stars! How doth their glory shine! Angels most glorious Creatures are, Yea, holy and divine:

They sang together at the first Jehovah's glorious praise, And we of them also learn must To sing to God always.;

Nay, with united voices sing In Consort with much joy, ••ince Christ has overcome our Foes, Who would our Souls destroy:

4

And did they not a second time Sing unto God on high, When Jesus Christ our Lord was born? And yet shall Saints deny

5

This is our work? No, no, it doth Sharply indeed reprove Such who would rob the holy God Of that which he doth love.

6

It is his due, and it belongs To him as his just Right; His Praise to celebrate in Songs Is lovely in his sight.

Psalm 89.

7

Thy Mercies, Lord, then we will sing Thy Truth to all proclaim; The heav'nly Angels sacred Choir Shall celebrate the same.

8

These never with the Lord dispute, Nor his Commands contest, But give attendance at his Throne, With awful fear possess'd.

HYMN 111.

Job 38. 8.

And all the Sons of God shouted for joy.

1

SOns in their Father do rejoyce, Whose Off-spring all they be, And hence the Angels lift their voice In Songs, Lord, unto thee,

2

By whom they all created were, And on whom they attend, And from whom all their dignity Doth unto them descend:

3

They cloathed are like unto Sons With might and glorious power, And serve the Lord most willingly, With greatest zeal each hour:

4

One part of their sweet work's to sing To God melodiously, And we by them also are taught To sing continually.

5

Then as God's will is done by them, Let us do it on Earth; Like flames of fire let us be, And sing God's Praises forth.

HYMN 112.

Gen. 32. 1.

This is God's Host, &c.

1

THe glorious God, the Lord above, Hath a most mighty Host, Who have a Prince their General, Of whom they daily boast:

2

Christ is their Head, he's Head of all Princ'palities and Powrs, And these do keep and save the Saints From him that Souls devours.

3

This mighty Host and Army's rais'd Under their Prince to fight, And one of them hath thousands slain Of Rebels in a night.

4

This Host sometimes does suddenly Vile Sinners so invade By Plague and Famine, and by War, That all are soon dismaid.

5

They slaughtering Weapons have each one And Execution do; And as Commission they receive, They save, or do o'nethrow.

HYMN 113.

Ezek 1. 6, 10.

And every one had four Faces, the Face of a Man, of a Lion, of an Oxe, and of an Eagle.

1

THe Face of a Man has majesty, And shews a Soul doth dwell In him that hath rare faculties, In knowledge doth excell:

2

So Angels look with awful frowns When they in wrath appear, And are endu'd with wisdom great Beyond what Mortals are.

3

Th' Face of a Man also denotes What beauty is in them, Who are most glorious in themselves, And so in our esteem.

4

Face of a Lion shews their strength, A Lion is so strong That he will turn away from none, Nor fears he any wrong.

5

Face of an Oxe may signifie How painful they all be,

And any service patiently Perform, O Lord, for thee.

6

An Eagle hath a piercing Eye, And swift she is in flight; The Angels do God's Face behold, And fly with greatest might.

HYMN 114.

Psal. 104. 4.

He maketh his Angels Spirits, and his Ministers a flaming Fire.

1

ANgels as swift as Air, as bright As Flames, with quick obedience move, To publish and effect below That charge given to them above.

2

As Fire burns and doth consume, So th' Seraphims signifie A burning to shew what zeal's in them Who do attend on God most high:

3

And also how with flaming zeal, When they from God Commission have, They do break forth at his dread Word To kill his Foes, his Saints to save.

4

Let wicked ones amazed stand, Who can escape a flaming Fire;

Let Saints also do God's Command With zeal, like to the heavenly Quire:

5

And let them learn likewise from hence What comfort this to them may bring; These Angels come for your defence Swift, like to Flames, or Eagles Wings.

HYMN 115.

Zach. 1. 8.

Behold a Man upon a red Horse, and behind him were red Horses, speckled, and white.

1

A Horse is strong, and nothing fears, And swift they are to run, Angels are cloath'd with mighty strength, And fly like to the Sun.

2

Horses and Chariots of Fire do Shew how fierce and agil The glorious Angels are always In doing of God's Will.

3

By Horses red thou dost, Lord shew Those dreadful slaughters they Do make of Men, when thou bids them * 1.1 Go forth with Swords and slay.

4

By speckled Horses thou mak'st known A mixed Dispensation, When Mercy mingled is with Wrath In any sinful Nation.

5

The white Horses notes that sweet peace Which thou at last will send; For Wars on Earth thou wilt make cease Before the World end:

6

And that in Christ's dread Government He Angels oft doth use; And they are often also sent To shew what next ensues.

HYMN 116.

Prov. 20. 27.

The Spirit of a Man is the Candle of the Lord, &c.

1

ONce was our Candle lighted, Lord, And did most clearly burn; But soon did Satan blow it out, And we were all undone:

2

Left in the darkness of the night, And were bewilder'd so, That we for want of thy sweet light Knew not which way to go.

3

O let our Candle lighted be! O light it once again, And by it search to find out sin Which may in us remain.

4

'Tis thou must light our Candle, Lord, With th' Fire of thy Grace; O let it burn and ne're go out Till we have run our race;

5

That in thy sight we may see light, And thereby may rejoyce, And sing thy Praises day and night With heart and chearful voice.

HYMN 117.

Rom. 9. 1.

My Conscience bearing witness in the Holy Ghost, &c.

1

COnscience a Witness is, O Lord, Of all we do and say, And such who sin against their Light, He will the matter lay

2

Before the Soul, because he knows The Thoughts of each Man's Heart, And never will be brib'd by them, Nor from his Charge depart.

3

How careful should each Person be They do not him offend; For if God's Word doth side with him, It will appear i'th' end;

4

The Soul as Guilty will be found, And Cast too shall such be, And by the Judge Condemn'd also To all eternity;

5

Then wo to such who treach'rously Their Conscience do abuse, Or stifle him whom God thinks good In this great Case to use

6

Ev'n as a Witness for himself In ev'ry Man's own Heart, To Evidence to Matter of Fact, And Judgment to impart,

7

As God's true Witness, for to clear Him who would judge aright, And make it also to appear So in each Man's own sight.

The Second Part.

1

Then look to it, ye Sinners, who Your Conscience stifle now; For he against you will be call'd One day, and make you bow;

2

And though you think to silence him, So that he cannot speak,

Yet in the Judgment-day he'll rouse, And make your hearts to ake.

3

If you live not up to your Light, Then fear what will ensue; For when he doth receive more sight, He quickly will renew

4

His dread Commission from the Lord, And you condemn'd shall be; If he accuses by God's Word, No help there is for thee,

5

Unless thou dost leave off thy sin, To end the bitter strife, He'll make thee quickly to cry out, As weary of thy life.

6

But O how happy is the Man That Conscience by God's Word Doth quite discharge from guilt of sin In sight of the bless'd Lord!

7

From this great Witness none can fly, He will also appear At the last day, and will accuse, Or otherwise will clear.

HYMN 118.

The Third Part.

Sing this as the Hundredth Psalm.

1

IF Conscience is become my Friend, And chearfully doth speak to me, And I do to his motions bend, No matter though I hated be:

2

No matter 'tis who doth revile, If Conscience doth his witness bear For us, and doth upon us smile, Most easie will all things appear.

3

If Conscience now doth give us rest, And from all burthens sets us free, Again we would not be opprest In the old bonds of misery,

4

For Kingdoms, nor for Crowns of Gold, Such inward joy doth he afford, That nothing can the lame unfold, It so aboundeth in the Lord.

5

'Tis Conscience which with peecious Food Doth feed God's Saints continually; Its Dainties also are so good, All other Sweets they do defie.

6

This Banquet lasting is also, 'Tis here they feast both night and day, With all supplies they meet with do, And none their joys can take away.

7

'Tis Conscience which doth chearful make When Saints possessed are with grief; And when they suffer for his sake, He brings them joy and sweet relief.

The Fourth Part.

1

When Troubles rise and do encrease, And Sinners to the Mountains fly, Conscience to Saints doth speak much peace, And makes them sing when they do die.

2

When others do amazed stand, A place of shelter, Lord, have we, And Conscience will lend us a hand, That we may hide our selves in thee;

3

And in safe Chambers lock us up Whilst all the Troubles here shall last, And free us from the bitter cup 'Till all the indignation's past.

4

At Death, and in the Judgment-day, What would Men give for such a Friend?

All those which do him disobey, They'll find themselves undone it' th' end.

5

How will such Souls repent too late, And wofully will howl and cry! But whilst such do condole their sate, Our Souls shall sing continually

6

In joyful Hymns unto our God, Who has preserved us from harms, And ever will protect us still From Satan's base alluring Charms.

The End of the Sixth Part.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ezek. 9. 2, 4.