Carmen Eucharisticon: A PRIVATE THANK-OBLATION, Exhibited to the Glory of THE LORD OF HOSTS, FOR The timely and wonderful Deliverance, vouchsafed to this NATION, in the routing of a numerous Army of Irish Rebels before Dublin, by the Sword of his valiant Servant, MICHAEL JONES, Lieutenant-generall for the Parliament of ENGLAND.  
Composed by Geo. Whither Esquire, August 29. 1649.  
The longest lasting Sacrifice  
Is that, which most neglected lies.  
Sweet Incense into nothing fumes;  
The Fat of Beasts away consumes;  
A Song, which doth GOD's Works commend,  
Continues longer; yet, hath end:  
But perfect-love is an Oblation,  
Which hath no final consummation.  
Aug: 30 London: Printed by Robert Austin. 1649.   

Carmen Eucharisticon: A PRIVATE THANK-OBLATION, EXHIBITED To the Glory of the LORD OF HOSTS, etc.  

PVblike-Duties being done,  
By myself, I'll now alone,  
Consummate a Private-one.  
Therefore, O my Soul! awake;  
And, let both, with heart and tongue,  
Such a Song of Praise be sung,  
That, thereby, both old and young,  
Of GOD's mercies heed may take.   

For, such Trophies (though now waved)  
Moses, Deborah, and David,  
When they from their foes were saved,  
Did, with good acceptance, raise:  
And (though other Thank-Oblations  
Perished, with their Generations)  
GOD is, yet, throughout all Nations,  
Honoured by their Songs of Praise.   

We, to thee, O LORD! have prayed,  
Thanks returned, sung, and said,  
And, our common-duty paid,  
As we could perform the same:  
That, which we have seen, and heard,  
Of thy merciful regard,  
Hath been openly declared,  
To the glory of thy Name.   

But, O GOD! we may as well  
Close the Seas up, in a shell,  
As enabled be to tell  
Thy Compassions large extent;  
Or, to make full illustration  
Of thy favours to this Nation,  
In our frequent preservation  
From the furious Foes intent.   

For, that single-mercy, LORD,  
Which this Day we do record,  
Many mercies doth afford,  
More than all men can perceive.  
That Deliverance, made way  
For another joyfull-day,  
And that, peradventure, may  
Bring to pass, what we would have.   

With vain Moab, did conspire  
Ammon, Amalek, and Tyre,  
Threatening, like consuming fire,  
To destroy thy chosen Flock;  
And, in hope, their will to do,  
They have hired Balaam too,  
With false Prophets many more,  
To advance a stumbling-block.   

Of their vain presuming proud,  
They like Thunder from a cloud,  
Did begin to roar aloud  
In deluded people's ears;  
And their empty vanities,  
Blushless brags, and shameless lies,  
Filled the hearts of men unwise,  
With false hopes, and causeless fears.   

The fooled Welsh, the faithless Scot,  
And our English mis-begot,  
Joining in an Irish plot,  
Sought to root us from the Land:  
They with Sulphur, Sword, and Flame,  
Round about our dwellings came,  
And, had brought us all to shame,  
Had not, GOD, stretched forth his hand.   

But, he, thereof notice took;  
And, as Sisera he struck,  
With his Host, by Kishon-brook;  
So, he smote them in their pride:  
And, the same success they had  
Which befell to Benhadad,  
When, the like account he made,  
That, the spoil he should divide.   

For, whilst Ormond, and while Taaff,  
In their Tents, did game, and quaff,  
(At our sad condition laugh)  
And, of Captives predisposed;  
Then, that Arm, which they despised,  
Suddenly, their Camp surprised;  
And, the snares, which they devised  
For our feet, their own enclosed.   

Mich'el, and his Angels, there  
Threw their Dragon-Cavaliere,  
With his Angels, from our Sphere,  
In confusion, to their own;  
Where, unable to repent,  
They despairingly lament,  
And blaspheme with discontent,  
Him, that hath such mercy shown.   

For, though (blinded in their sin)  
Outwardly, they jeer and grin;  
Hellish horrors lurk within,  
Filling their faint hearts with fears:  
Their chief refuge, is a lie;  
And, which way soe'er they fly,  
Gild pursues them with a cry,  
Which the GOD of Justice hears.   

Their accusing conscience, feels  
Vengeance following them at heels,  
And, her dreadful Chariot wheels  
Threatening, what to them is due:  
Yet, infernal indignation,  
Stirs them up to vindication,  
heightened by a desperation  
Of those ends, which they pursue.   

And, that made them take the field,  
(Trusting in their sword and shield)  
When their conscience bid them yield:  
But, they soon did back retire,  
And, to fly away began,  
As when the Philistines ran,  
From the sword of Jonathan,  
And, but one sleight armed Squire.   

Never was there such a day  
Seen till then at 
* Dublin.  Ballacleagh,  
Since the 
† The River at Dublin.  Liffy washed her Kea,  
And, there, first, the 
‖ The Sea Water.  Sea-nymphs met:  
For, GOD's arm, did there, and then,  
Give us Limster back again,  
When it was nigh lost; and, when,  
Hope, was with despairs beset.   

Yet, as if that day's success,  
Had too little been, unless  
He considered our distress,  
In our London-Derry friends;  
Or, lest else, blind ignorance  
Might judge, that an act of chance,  
He, our free deliverance,  
Into Ulster, too, extends.   

And, by that redoubled blow,  
Gave another overthrow;  
For, Designments one or two,  
By that means dissolved be:  
Which hath so enraged them,  
That, they rail, revile, blaspheme,  
And their own belief condemn,  
For believing what they see.   

Oh! what pen, or tongue is there  
Fully able to declare,  
What, to us, GOD'S Mercies were  
Since our Champion he hath been?  
Nay, who can half that recite,  
Which for us, in open sight,  
He hath done since Nasby-Fight,  
Where, he, first, was plainly seen?   

He hath magnified his worth  
In most glorious marchings forth,  
From the South, unto the North,  
And, through all our British-Coasts;  
England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales,  
Towns, and Fields, and Hills, and Dales,  
Sea, and Land, him, justly calls  
The Victorious LORD of HOSTS.   

Frequently, our eyes behold,  
Mercies, great and manifold,  
Such, as were in times of old,  
By his Chosen Flock enjoyed:  
Such, as were vouchsafed, when  
Hundreds, chased were by ten;  
Thousands, by a hundred men,  
And great Hosts, by few destroyed.   

We have seen God marching, so,  
With our Friends, against our Foe,  
As he did, long time ago,  
When his- Isr'el were oppressed:  
And, securing us from fear;  
When our hopes at lowest were;  
When despised, we did appear,  
And our-perill most increased.   

When all seemed at once on fire;  
When our Brethren did conspire,  
With our Foes, to blow that higher,  
Which did flame too high, before;  
When within their hearts they said,  
We so deep, our Plots have laid,  
That divine, with humane aid,  
Shall prevent them, now no more.   

Yea, when said it was by some,  
What is of their God become,  
Who, they dreamed, should save them from  
What our Counsel hath decreed?  
Then, did God, himself, arise;  
Then, his Arm, in glorious wise,  
Saves us from our Enemies,  
In the times of greatest need.   

And not only from their power,  
(Armed, and gaping to devour,)  
Hath he kept this Land of our,  
But, he more than this hath done;  
Them, who to enslave us thought,  
And, our causeless ruin sought,  
Underneath our feet he brought,  
That they might be trod upon.   

Nay, we have, yet more to say:  
Though our Foes, lie night and day,  
In our bosoms, to betray;  
And disguised are like Friends;  
God, hath still prevented so,  
What their malice prompts them to,  
That, themselves, they still undo;  
But, accomplish not their ends.   

We have seen GOD, in our days,  
Walking on, in all those ways,  
Which (to his eternal praise)  
Were in former Ages, trod:  
In our joys, and when we weep,  
In our wake, in our sleep,  
On the Heights, and in the Deep,  
We have seen thy steps O GOD!   

We have seen, here, where we dwell,  
Works of thine, which parallel  
All that ancient-stories tell  
Touching either Foes, or Friends.  
Yea, if all Records were lost,  
We by that, which now thou dost,  
Might collect what do we must,  
And, what each man's way attends.   

We have seen (and see we shall)  
What to Pharaoh did befall,  
And ordained is for all  
Who shall obstinate remain:  
We have seen, that upon such,  
Plagues, or Mercies work not much,  
And, that these two often touch  
On some, softened hearts, in vain.   

We have known men, once or twice,  
Warned; yea, afflicted thrice;  
Yet, habituated Vice,  
In her posture doth abide  
And, her Lovers, without stop,  
Prosecute their fruitless hope,  
Though their Partners daily drop,  
Down to hell, on every side.   

We have seen the pride of Kings,  
With those much desired things,  
Whence their vain ambition springs,  
Scorned, despised, and set at nought.  
We, their silk, their pearls, their gold,  
And their prccious Jemms, behold  
Scattered, pawned, bought and sold;  
And to shame, their glory brought.   

We have seen fair seeming Stars,  
Thither tumbled from high Spheres,  
Where their vanity appears;  
And that wisemen may dispense  
With deluding Sophistries,  
To promote, what they devise,  
Till they put their trust in lies,  
Through a reprobated sense.   

We have seen, when GOD, once, makes  
Search for Blood, what hills he shakes;  
What high Cedars, down he breaks;  
And what portion he prepares  
For Apostates, Balaamites,  
For bloodthirsty Canaanites,  
And selfseeking Hypocrites,  
When their sin at full appears.   

All these things, and many moe  
Such as these, we see and know:  
Oh! that we could mind them too!  
And our lives thereby amend:  
For his Mercy shown of late,  
(And which we commemorate,  
By Commandment from the State)  
Was vouchsafed to that end.   

Let us therefore not suppose,  
'Tis enough to do like those,  
Who make only Verbal shows  
Of the duties in command;  
For, unless, in deeds, as well  
As in words, our thanks we tell,  
As unthankfully we deal,  
As if we had cursed, and baned.   

Yea, although our Temples ring  
Of GOD'S praise; though loud we sing,  
And all those Thank-offrings bring,  
Which the Formalist oblates;  
Yet, if we perform no more,  
He our presents doth abhor,  
As the hiring of a whore,  
And our vain Lip-service hates.   

If, we therewith, do not heed,  
How with us GOD doth proceed;  
And, how, he at every need,  
Hears us, timely, when we call,  
That, to such, as helpless lie,  
We may yield the like supply,  
When to us, for help they cry;  
We, ere long time, rue it shall.   

Yea, unless we pity more  
The oppressions of the poor,  
Then wehave done heretofore,  
And to Justice more adhere;  
This, will prove but a delusion,  
And all mercies in conclusion,  
Bring upon us just confusion,  
When such vengeance we least fear.   

Still, in selfness if we live;  
Much receive, but nothing give;  
Cheer ourselves, and others grieve;  
We are in the way of death:  
And, of whatsoever esteem,  
In our own conceits, we seem,  
God will cast us quite from him,  
If we settle in that path.   

For, it is for nothing less  
Than this Nation's righteousness,  
Or, our sakes, that GOD doth bless  
Those designs we undertake:  
But, 'tis rather from their sin,  
Who have our opposers been,  
Whence our Victories begin,  
And, for GOD's free mercy sake.   

For no goodness of our own,  
Did GOD's hand the King uncrown,  
And pull other Tyrants down;  
Nor, because, he, yet, doth see  
That our zealous Protestations,  
Or pretended Reformations  
Of our great abominations,  
With our practices agree.   

But by mercy he makes way.  
To his fear; that, yet we may  
Hear his voice, while 'tis, to day;  
Whereunto, if we incline,  
Maugre, then, all former sinnings,  
Our late seasonable win,  
Shall be pledges, and beginnings  
Of a mercy more divine.   

Oh, now therefore, let our praise  
Be right-walkings, in his ways,  
And, believing what he says:  
Let our thankfulness be, still,  
In true charity expressed;  
In relieving men oppressed;  
And, endeavouring our best,  
In obedience, to his will.   

Let us prudently forbear  
To wax proud, or domineer,  
When GOD, for us, doth appear;  
And, with awe express our joy:  
Lest, if we presumptuous grow,  
He may (for our doing so)  
Turn his anger from our Foe;  
Or, both him and us destroy.   

We have seen the strong defeated;  
By himself, the cheater cheated;  
Men ambitious lower seated;  
And, long-fixed Powers removed;  
Nay, even such as we reputed  
Things divinely constituted,  
Are destroyed; and, they confuted,  
Who, have them, for such, approved.   

We have seen those things despised,  
Which our Fathers highly prized,  
And the whole earth Idolised;  
Therefore, let us, now, for ever,  
Constant be to that perfection,  
Which deserveth not rejection,  
And, renounce our vain affection  
To the ways of our deceiver.   

Let those things, which GOD hath done  
For these Isles, be thought upon,  
Not at such set times, alone,  
As the Civil Powers command;  
But; now let us; all our days,  
Meditate his works, and ways,  
And be mindful of his praise;  
Whilst there shall be Sea, or Land.   

And, Oh my eternal Lord!  
Let thy al-subduing Sword,  
But, that chief of thy Word,  
Thus prevail, for evermore;  
Make it still victorious grow,  
Till to thee all Monarch's bow,  
And, till vengeance thou shalt throw  
On the Dragon, and the Whore.   

Well accept, this day, what we  
Have in public offered thee;  
And, this private Mite, from me,  
Which I now presume to add:  
For, in every Act of Grace,  
Which by thee vouchsafed was,  
Since my breathe in this place,  
I, some special fruits have had.   

In the many variations  
Of thy works, and dispensations,  
Unto these divided Nations,  
I have learned to find out thee.  
I, by them, thy mind discover,  
And, I daily read thee over,  
As my God, King, Father, Lover;  
And, as all in all, to me.   

I have found thee in their failings;  
In their lose, and prevailings;  
In their joys, and their bewailings;  
In their hardness, and their blindness:  
In their Trust, and their suspicions,  
In their false, and true professions,  
In their good, and bad conditions;  
In their love, and their unkindness.   

And, although this Generation,  
Yet, beholds not what relation,  
To their fall; or preservation,  
My despised Poems have;  
Some, ere long, will better heed them,  
And (though few, now, think they need them)  
Thou, wilt give them cause to read them,  
When I shall be in my grave.   

Oh! till then, let me persever,  
My known duties to endeavour,  
With true patience, howsoever  
Thou shalt exercise my Faith:  
And, in every strong Temptation,  
Trial, Strait, or Tribulation,  
Mind me, for my Consolation,  
What, thy truthfull Spirit saith.   

To what ever, thou shalt call me,  
Or, what ever may befall me,  
Let no Terrene-Power appall me,  
From declaring of thy Truth;  
Let me, all my wits apply,  
Thy great Name to magnify,  
Whilst I live; and when I die,  
Let thy praise be in my mouth.   

And, when here I have completed,  
That, for which I was created,  
Let me thither be translated,  
Where thy Saints, the Lamb attend;  
That, I, may in praising him,  
There communicate with them,  
In that everlasting Hymn,  
Which, will never have an end.   
AMEN. hallelujah.   
FINIS.