Two hymns, OR spiritual SONGS; Sung in Mr. Goodwins Congregation on Friday last being the 24. of Octob. 1651. Which was a day set apart by Authority of Parliament for a solemn Thanksgiving unto GOD by this Nation, for that most wonderful and happy success of the English Army under the conduct of his Excellency the Lord General Cromwell over the Scottish Forces at Worcester. ALSO A Letter for satisfaction of some Presbyterian Ministers, and others, who hold it unlawful to give thanks for the shedding of blood.  Psal. 97. 8. Zion heard, and was glad; because of thy righteous judgements, O Lord. Revel. 14. 3. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, &c. 
LONDON: Printed by F: N: in Aldersgatestreet. 1651.   

To those Presbyterian Ministers and others, who are unsatisfied with the lawfulness of giving thanks to GOD for the shedding of blood.  
THe objection of a Friend at our late meeting was, that he was unsatisfied in his judgement, that it is lawful to rejoice at the shedding of blood, though it were granted to be in the destruction of an Enemy. To which I answer; That considering of it simply of itself, it is a sad thing, and a matter rather of sorrow then rejoicing, to see so Noble a Creature as man, to lose his life in such a manner, but as it is to be considered in the relative, and by the effects and drift of the Enemy, which sought for our lives, Liberty, and freedom, even in the Ordinances of God; I say if men become thus stubborn and wilful, their destruction becomes a matter of joy and delight. Then shall the righteous rejoice and be glad. Zion heard and was glad and the Daughters of Judah rejoiced, because of thy judgements O Lord. Psal. 97. 8. He casteth the wicked to the ground, sing unto the Lord with Thanksgiving. These places show the behaviour of the righteous, when God ariseth and putteth forth his strength for the destruction of his Enemies, They exceedingly rejoice: Psal. 68, 1, 2 and they express that Joy before the Lord verse 3. from which places it is evident, that the Church and people of God when they have victory, are enjoined to rejoice, from whence I conclude, that solemn days of Tanksgiving for Victories obtained, are not only lawful, but enjoined as a duty, and when the people of God, do come before God to perform this duty, they ought exceedingly to rejoice, Ps. 58. 10. The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance, he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, what vengeance this is you may see in the former verse where the wicked are destroyed like thorns under a Pet. Gen. 15. 19 Melchisedick blesseth God for the Victory and success given unto Abraham. And when the Lord drowned Pharaoh and all his host: Moses and Meriam rejoiced and sung praises unto God, Judges 5. So when David was compassed about with many Enemies, and the Lord had scattered them, the voice of joy and gladness was in every godly heart, and certainly there is great reason why it should be so, for God is much glorified in this work of power, we see when pharoh's Chariot wheels flew off, than he acknowledged that God fought for Israel, Exod. 14. and the like in Psal. 83. 13. Etc Now are the enemies of God by this means, brought to glorify God, and shall not his own people in whom he puts forth his power, give evidence of thank fullness unto him. Psal. 50 23 He that offereth praise and thanks, glorifieth God. Again, this joy and gladness comes from the benefits that come to God's people, when their Enemies are destroyed. First their subduing of the Enemy gives them the more freedom and liberty in the service of God, as when Saul was dead, than David could frequent the Sanctuary. Secondly, it gives evidence of God's favour, to be renewed and confirmed to his people, and therefore they cannot but reign Psal. 41. 11. By this I know thou favourest me, because mine Enemy doth not triumph over me.  
Thus far have I thought good, briefly to communicate these Meditations unto you, which if you please to ponder and consider seriously of, I hope not only yourself, but others of the Presbyterian Brethren will be so far from censuring us, that they will join with us in this Heavenly duty, from whence doth arise an over flow or breaking forth of the spirit into Songs of joy and gladness.  

Mr. Jo: Goodwins Song or Hym.  

THis is the day the Lord hath made,  
On purpose to rejoice.  
To raise his praises to the Heaven,  
Spare neither heart nor voice.   

The Heavens on high have bowed down,  
The Earth with joy doth ring:  
For what he hath prepared and done,  
On Earth he makes us sing.   

Prepare and sanctify yourselves,  
You Priests of God most high.  
In likeness of a Man of War,  
Your God to you's come nigh.   

In heaven a glorious victory,  
For you prepared he has:  
And what he hath prepared in heaven,  
On earth for us he does.   

You have seen, you have seen; his vision high,  
The glory of your God:  
Make hearts and bodies clean and pure,  
Sacred for his abode.   

Your enemy's rage and cruelty  
Between them they had still:  
No wonder God in flesh, they fell  
Opposers of his will.   

Your Enemies were not, afterward,  
Why God himself had hid.  
Though at their cost they lately had,  
His presence with you tried:   

But fell into his ambushment,  
And tumbled on his sword.  
And by the sound of dreadful fall,  
Proclaimed truth in his word.   

And taught the world this victory,  
In anguish of their blood:  
That God to wicked men did pay  
The Judgements in his word.   

The Lord that Mountains he had touched,  
And made them smoke before:  
This smoke it healed not their pride,  
They swelled still more and more.   

And Scottish ground for their proud look  
They thought too mean and base:  
And would no longer there be born,  
Their land of such disgrace.   

Up from their native soil they rise,  
With lofty pace they move  
To England's honoured ground, on which  
They pitched their hopes and love.  
As commodation fit to bear  
Their glory and their weight:   

This Land they judged of measure just,  
But God a fire prepared:  
In place near Worcester Town it was,  
At England's feet they lay.   

To melt these Mountains that would not  
By smoking, but by fire  
Consume and melt, this is the way  
Of God's provoked ire.   

Glory this day to our Land is come,  
In glory swell not here:  
The first born sons of Godly shape  
To the world we shall appear.   

For when God comes to visit men  
In such a shining path,  
He ne'er departs till sin doth say,  
D●part with high disgrace.   

And sin when God hath once then showed  
His lovely face to men,  
It's no great matter to disdain,  
And fear the same again.  
O let this great salvation 〈…〉  
Which greets us now from heaven  
Be kept a sacred record,  
And on our hearts be graven.   

And let it be our councillor,  
To instruct us what to render:  
That God who it to us hath given  
Out of his bowels tender.   

The heavens in travail lately were  
Of England's joy and peace:  
They are delivered, and brought forth  
A crop of pleasant fare.   

The Heavens do pipe, come let us dance,  
They call to joy and gladness:  
Let's answer in the voice of man,  
Saved by God from sadness.   

And after this days sacred joy,  
Where is no place for sorrow:  
Abstain from sin, than this day joy  
Shall be your joy too morrow.   

Yea than they shall ne'er take away  
The voice of joy from our Land,  
Our joys without or clips or clouds,  
Like Sun and morn shall stand.    

Mr. 〈◊〉 Song or Hym.  

AWake, awake, Let's all arise,  
With loud voice let us Sing.  
To God our Lord and Saviour,  
A Song of Thanksgiving.   

O all ye Saints behold and see  
The beauty of your God:  
Who hath prepared another Glass,  
Besides that of his Word.   

For you to see his Glory in,  
Who are so much in's heart;  
He loves to show his glorious Face,  
Though we have no desert.   

Look full his Sons of glory then,  
Be struck with admiration:  
To see the wondrous works of God,  
The God of your Salvation.   

Near twenty thousand men of Arms,  
Of late crept in this Nation.  
Whose face was principally set,  
Against God's Habitation.   

Princes and great men more than one,  
In this works had their hands.  
The liberty of English Saints,  
To put in Iron bands.   

They said within themselves, all's well,  
How rich is our design.  
To kill and slay, spoil and destroy,  
The Company of English men.   

So stout and big the Sons of Pride,  
Whose hearts were full of Lust,  
The great and mighty God hath sent,  
What they for us did trust.   

He crushed their rage and cruelty,  
The proud which did advance;  
The wicked he hath now brought low,  
And trodden down their place.   

Amongst Princes and Nobles all,  
The Lord contended sore.  
This is the fruit of cruelty,  
The Saints they have the more.   

O all ye Enemies abroad,  
Why should you vainly think:  
Of thorns to gather Grapes, and make  
Your sweet and pleasant Drink.   

'tis righteousness and peace doth kiss,  
And truth them both embrace.  
If ever you would taste such fruit,  
Let righteousness take place.   

And yea O sons and Saints of God,  
What say you to this sight,  
Shall not the goodness of your God,  
Be greatly your delight?   

And now O Saints, what Creatures then,  
Can carry you away.  
Who have been blessed with such a sight,  
To make you go astray.   

Let all agree with us this day,  
Let this be our Thanksgiving:  
To give ourselves and ours to God,  
And bring in all men living.    

Another him of Mr. John Goodwins.  
THe mighty God hath once again  
Appeared from Heaven high,  
His people to deliver from  
The house of slavery.  
The Iron yoke he lately broke  
which men prepared had,  
To put upon the necks of Saints  
to make their hearts full sad.  
The Northern waves lift up their voice,  
and roared so terribly,  
That English Land thereat 'gan quake,  
and tremble fearfully.  
Of Men, and Horses fierce and stout  
Their Armies were prepared,  
Gebal and Ammon, Amalek,  
and Tyre were ensnared,  
To join in sinful league against  
the Lord, the Lord of might,  
And his despised ones, because  
they weak appeared in fight.  
Come, let us tread them down (said they)  
Like clay and mire in street:  
we'll give them Laws, and Lords, and Kings,  
And all as we think meet.  
Our Sword shall teach them what to know  
Of God, what to believe:  
To worship God as they think meet,  
No longer will we give.  
Their lives upon their knees they shall  
Of us beg and entreat:  
The dust o'th' Earth we will compel  
Them to lick at our feet.  
These swelling words the Heavens above  
Disdeigned long to bear:  
The stars made ready for to fight,  
Each one out of his sphere.  
And God, the holy one of those,  
Who thus despised were,  
To stop the way 'gainst such rebukes,  
Brought forth both shield and spear.  
His enemy's heart he takes away,  
And gives unto his Friends  
To them the wings of fear, for flight;  
To these, a Sword he sends,  
To execute his judgement just  
On them that sought their woe,  
To teach them violence to hate,  
And righteous things to do,  
The Lord, and his, together thus  
Triumphed gloriously,  
Thousands by death, yet thousands more  
Fell by Captivity.  
This mighty work recalls to mind  
The days of ancient date,  
When God on high the swelling power  
Of Egypt did abate.  
And when the staff of Midian  
Was by him broke in sunder,  
Wherewith he smote the innocent,  
And sought to bring them under.  
This is a day the Lord hath made,  
A day of grace and wonder,  
Where in our prayers from the heavens  
He answered hath in thunder.  
Out of the hands and bands of those,  
Who sought to make us thrall,  
He hath delivered us by an Hand  
Far higher than they all.  
He that hath thus delivered us,  
Shall be our God forever;  
Him will we love, Him will we serve,  
Forsake us be will never.    
FINIS.