The Enchiridion

John Mason: Spiritual Songs

John Mason : Spiritual Songs (1683); Title pages and Preface transcribed from a copy in Dr Williams's Library of the "Seventh Edition Corrected", 1701; this volume also includes Penitential Cries, by John Mason and "another Hand", with its own Title page marked "Fifth Edition Corrected", 1701.

John Mason's name does not appear anywhere in this volume.

[ Title Page, 7th edition ]

Spiritual Songs:

OR,

Songs of Praise

TO

Almighty God,

Upon several Occasions.

Together with the

SONG of SONGS

Which is

SOLOMON'S:

First Turn'd, then Paraphrased in English Verse.

To which may be Added,

Penitential Cries

__________________________________________________

The Seventh Edition Corrected. With an Addition of

a Sacred Poem on Dives and Lazarus

London: Printed for Tho. Parkhurst, at the Bible

and Three Crowns, at the Lower End of Cheap-

side, near Mercers-Chaple, 1701

[ in the same volume as the above ]

Penitential

C R I E S ,

Begun by the Author of the

SONGS of PRAISE,

And carried on by another Hand.

________________________________

Licensed and Entred Sept. 12. 1693

________________________________

The Fifth Edition Corrected.

________________________________

LONDON

Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bi-

ble and Three Crowns, at the lower

End of Cheap-side near Mercers-

Chappel, 1701

_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._

[ (? Mason's) Preface to Songs of Praise; mostly printed in italic, with occasional lapses to roman type ]

THE

P R E F A C E .

Our Blessed Saviour immediately before he went out to Suffer, Sung an Hymn, and his Disciples Sung with Him; after his Ascension into Heaven, the Apostles Sung the Praises of God, and Taught others to do so. After them, Primitive Christians Sung; and so must the Christians of this time. For if these should hold their Peace, the Stones would immediately Cry out: Should we be Silent, even the Heathens might shame us. One of them said formerly to his Friends, If I was a Nightingale, I would Sing like a Nightingale; but now I am a Man, I will Sing the Praises of God as long as I live; and I would have you to Sing with Me! Sing we then heartily to our good God as it ever becometh us: so dear to us should the Concernment of God's Honour be, that we should Solemnly own his Goodness, Power and Wisdom, even in those Works of His, wherein we have no special Interest; for this we have the Example of Holy David and others. But if we have not attained to so Divine a Frame, yet we should at least praise God for our own Mercies; which are scarce Mercies, scarce our own, if they be not thankfully acknowledged to Him that gave Them; some of which are taken Notice of in the First Part of the Book. But who can express the Noble Acts of the Lord, or shew forth all his Praises?

Solomon's Song is an Heavenly Discourse betwixt Christ and his Church; and O how he loves Her! How he adores Her! How he rejoices in Her! It is a thing which cannot be duly Thought upon without an Holy Astonishment; as is His Majesty, so is his Mercy, so is his Love, his Joy. Hence it is, that the Day of his Espousals, (a Day that Crown'd his Church with Infinite Happiness) it's styled the Day of the Gladness of his Heart, Chap.5.11.

In the Version I look'd at the Words; In the Paraphrase at the Spiritual Sense, In the whole at the Edification of those that Love our Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity.

Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain to receive Power, and Riches, and Wisdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Blessing.

Let Heaven and Earth praise Him, let Saints and Angels praise Him.

Let God's Holy Church throughout all the World praise Him: Let all the Tongues and Tribes of the Earth praise Him, Let Time praise Him, Let Eternity praise Him, Let our Lips and our Lives praise Him, Let our Souls praise Him; And O may they be a Praise to the Riches of his Grace for ever!

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(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 3/8/02)