La scala santa, or, A scale of devotions musical and gradual being descants on the fifteen Psalms of Degrees, in metre : with contemplations and collects upon them, in prose, 1670.

For Shrove-Tuesday, or a Wedding.

〈♫〉〈♫〉

TIL God the House doth build, and Fa—mi∣ly maintain; Workmen, tho' ne're so strong, or skill'd, La—bour, a—las! in vain.

Fa—thers get Sons in vain; in vain the Watchmen ward our Gates, un—less the Lord or—dain his Host, to be our Guard.

In vain a Life we keep, Rise early, late take Rest; Fare hardly,* 1.1 lose our loved Sleep, 'Till God our Stock hath blest.

But they, whom God hath blest, Like Job, regain their Peace; * 1.2God gives his Jedidiahs Rest, And with their Rest, Encrease.

Look,* 1.3 ev'n our best Encrease, * 1.4Children come from the Lord; Those Fruits of th'Womb; which some may guess Man's Work; are God's Reward.

Children both give, and Ward A blow; for (though but young) To Parents they 're a double Guard, Like Weapons to the Strong.

Those Shafts help against wrong, Life against Death provide; Like Jonathan's, they home are flung To shield our threaten'd fide.

Happy the Man, whose side Bears Quivers of such Arms; For wheresoe're his Cause is try'd, He's quit of Shame and Harms.

Thus we, whom God hath Blest, Like Job, regain our Peace; Since God gives his Beloved Rest, And with our Rest encrease.

Gloria Patri, &c.

To God the Father, Son, And God the Holy-Ghost, Be Glory; and let every one Strive who shall praise God most.

HOSANNA.

Notes

• * 1.1

  For I take it with the 72 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, when others take pains with care to provide for their Fami∣lies, God's Beloved thrive better, and yet do not so much as lose their sleep, or rest, in pursuit of thòse enjoyments, which others incessantly toyl for. This shews the vanity of our Solicitude, as the other sence (viz. so he gives) speaks God's Blessing of honest Labour, whereby he brings Rest, and makes both it, and what else got by Labour, pleasant, according to Eccless. 5.11.
• * 1.2

  Nempe Dile∣ctis Domini, viz. Jedi∣diah's, such as Solomon.
• * 1.3

  All Children are given as an Inheri∣tance, passing from the Fa∣ther of Hea∣ven to us, not purchased by our own Ability; but the Wise and Good are more than David's plea∣sant and goodly Heri∣tage; for they are also a Reward (as here) and a Crown, especially such as are born to us in our stronger and youthful Age, who may be grown up, and able to give advice and assistance, and ready at hand to help or adorn, as Arrows in the Quiver of an Archer; so that we may go in or out of the Gates of our House, City, or Lie, with honour and safety, and speak either with Friends or Foes, strong or great, the Judge or General.

  Whether it be in public in the sight of all, (as Aben Ezra construes in Portâ) or whether it be in the place where the People assemble, where the Nobles meet, where the Thrones are set, the Prophets prophecy, the Right is pleaded, the Guards are kept, the Soldiers stand, and the Judges fit, as they did formerly in the Gate. Vide Ruth 4.1. 1 King. 22.10. 2 King. 7.20. Judg. 9.52. &c.
• * 1.4

  Ruth 4.13. Gen. 30.2.