Song V

1

Our Saviour, for the joy
That was before him set,
Endur'd the Cross, despis'd the shame,
And paid for all our debt.
And as himself did eye
The future glorious 'state:
So would we have the thoughts thereof
Our souls to animate.

2

To him that hath begun
And will compleat our Faith,
We are commanded for to look;
Who thus despised hath
The Ignominious shame
For that most glorious joy;
And having suffered is set down
At God's right hand on high.

3

And though some Gospellers
Call this an Hireling Spirit:
Yet more of such a Sprite, Lord,
Grant that we may inherit
For surely thou didst more
Thy Father's Glory prize,
Then these, that at this rich Reward
Would seem to shut their eyes.

4

Oh but the love of Christ
Should wholly us constrain
To do all duties, bear the Cross,
And suffer every Pain
True; and the love of Christ
In this most strongly moves us,
That he'l regard us, and thus reward us
Meerly because he loves us.

5

If Christ hath purchased
A glorious rich Reward
For all his Followers: shall not we
This Recompence regard?
If he Rewards propound
To whet our diligence:
Is not our over-looking them
The way to Negligence?

6

Unto this Recompence
Moses had such respect,
That all the Glory of the world,
He could for this reject.
Esteeming Christ's reproach
More rich then Egypt's treasures,
Chusing affliction with God's church
Rather then sinful pleasures.

7

Since then we do expect
Such glorious things as these
How ought we to bestir ourselves
So good a God to please
How should the ways of Christ
Most pleasant to us seem?
How should this make the heaviest Cross,
Grow light in our esteem.

8

Oh let the thoughts of this
Incorruptible Crown,
Which shall on patient suffering saints
So frankly be bestown,
Effectually perswade us
For to amend our pace,
And with more chearfulness and speed,
To run our heavenly race.

9

More readily to do
And willingly to bear
Whatever Christ shall call us to
So long as we are here,
Knowing that all our pains
Though worthless, poor, and vile,
Shall such a rich reward obtain
Within a little while.

10

How many men can wade
Up to the knees in Blood
To win an Earthly kingdom, which
Can do them little good,
Which brings them nought but sorrow,
Which cannot satisfie,
Which may be lost before to Morrow
And must be, when they die.

11

And shall not we take pains;
To win a heavenly Crown,
Which having once through grace obtain'd
Shall ever be our own?
A glorious massie Crown,
A rich Inheritance,
That's undefil'd, that never fades,
Not Subject unto chance.

12

Good Lord increase our Faith:
And help us to believe,
That thou wilt such a rich Reward
To all thy Servants give
And let this love constrain us
To give our selves to thee:
Thou hast us bought and thine we are,
Thine let us ever be.

13

Now unto him that lov'd us
And wash'd us from our sins
With his own Blood, and made us Priests
To God, and also Kings;
That we might live and reign
The face of God before;
To him be Glory, Honour, Power,
Both now and evermore.

Be chearful Suffering Saint,
Let nothing cast thee down:
Our Saviour Christ e're long will turn
Thy Cross into a Crown.