A Song demonstrating The vanities of Earthly things; A Song manifesting The Saints eternall Happinesse; A Song exciting to spirituall Alacrity; A Song composed in time of Civill Warr, when the wicked did much insult over the godly; The third Meditacion; The fourth Meditacion; The fifth Meditacion; Verses on the twelvth Chapter of Ecclesiastes. Divine SONGS and MEDITACIONS Composed By _An Collins_. _LONDON_, Printed by _R. Bishop_. Anno Dom. 1653 To the Reader _Christian Reader_, I inform you, that by divine Providence, I have been restrained from bodily employments, suting with my disposicion, which enforced me to a retired Course of life; Wherin it pleased God to give me such inlargednesse of mind, and activity of spirit, so that this seeming desolate condicion, proved to me most delightfull: To be breif, I became affected to Poetry, insomuch that I proceeded to practise the same; and though the helps I had therein were small, yet the thing it self appeared unto me so amiable, as that it enflamed my faculties, to put forth themselvs, in a practise so pleasing. Now the furtherances I had herein, was what I could gather (by the benifit of hearing,) at first from prophane Histories; which gave not that satisfactory contentment, before mencioned; but it was the manifestacion of Divine Truth, or rather the Truth it self, that reduced my mind to a peacefull temper, and spirituall calmnesse, taking up my thoughts for Theologicall employments. Witnesse hereof, this Discourse, Songs and Meditacions following; which I have set forth (as I trust) for the benifit, and comfort of others, Cheifly for those Christians who are of disconsolat Spirits, who may perceive herein, the Faithfullnesse Love, & Tender Compassionatnesse of God to his people, in that according to his gracious Promise, _He doth not leave nor forsake them. Heb. 13.5._ But causeth _all things to work for theyr good. Rom. 8.28._ This I doubt not, but most Saints in som measure, do experimentally know, therefore I will not seek by argument, to prove a thing so perspicuous. And now (Courteous Reader) I have delivered unto you, what I intended, onely it remains that I tell you, That with my Labours, you have my Prayers to God through Jesus Christ; whose I am, and in him, _Yours,_ _in all Christian affection_ An Collins. The Preface.