GEORGE WITHER'S "HYMNS AND SONGS OF THE CHURCH."
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.".1 Sus,—It may interest many people to read to-day the very straightforward and comprehensive loyal stanzas on James I. with which George Wither brought his "Hymns and Songs of the Church," l623, to a close. As a poem to be sung in praise of English kingship in the abstract it could hardly be improved, either in sentiment or technique. Wither states in his dedica- tion that tunes were fitted to his hymns by Master Orlando Gibbons ; it might be worth while to revive his setting of this poem, and, in default of any better modern production, to sing certain of its stanzas. Wither obtained a Royal Warrant that his hymns should be included in all the Psalm-books in English metre, a privilege, however, which involved him in conflict with the Stationers' Company, who objected. A long and bitter warfare was waged in consequence. But
this is by the way.—I am, Sir, &c., E. V. LUCAS. Froghole, Edenbridge, Kent.
“Fon THE KING'S DAY.
When, Lord ! we call to mind those things That should be sought of thee, Rememb'ring that the hearts of kings At thy disposings be, And how, of all those blessings which Are outwardly possest,
To snake a kingdom safe and rich,
Good princes are the best ; We thus are inov'd to sing thy praise, For him thou deigned hast, And humbly beg, that all our days Thy care of us may last.
0 bless our Ling, and let him reign In peaceful safety long, The faith's defender to remain, And shield the truth from wrong !
With awful love and loving dread, Let us observe him, Lord ! And, as the members with their head, In Christian peace accord ; And fill him with such royal care To cherish us for this, As if his heart did feel we are Some living part of his.
Let neither party struggle from That duty should be shown, Lest each to other plagues be- come, And both be overthrown : For o'er a disobedient land Thou dost a tyrant set, And those, that tyrant-like com- mand, Have still with rebels met.
0 never let so sad a doom Upon these kingdoms fall, And to assure it may not conic, Our sins forgive us all ; Yea, let the parties innocent Some damage rather share, Than, by unchristian discontent, A double curse to bear.
Make us, that placed are below, Our callings to apply, Not over curious be to know What he intends on high ; But teach him justly to com- mand, Us rightly to obey, So both shall safe together stand, And doubts shall fly away.
When hearts of kings we pry into Our own we do beguile, And what we ought ourselves to do, We leave undone the while: Whereas, if each man would attend The way he lath to live, And all the rest to thee com- mend, Then all would better thrive.
0 make us, Lord! disposed thus, And our dread sovereign save; Bless us in him, and him in us, We both may blessings have; That many years for him we may
This song devoutly sing. And mark it for a happy day, When he became our king."
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