flecks the Skies All power to his Dominion bends His Glory the bright Stars transcends What God can be compar'd with ours Who Thron'd in Heavens superiour towers Submits himself to guide and move All that is done in Heaven above And from that height vouchsafes to throw His eyes on us who creep below The poor he raiseth from the Dust Even from the Dunghill lifts the Just Whom he to height of honour brings And sets him in the Thrones of Kings He fructifies the barren Womb The Childless Mothers now become Hallelu-jah PSALM CXIV WHen Israel left th' Egyptian Land Freed from a tyrannous command God his own People sanctifi'd And he himself became their Guide Th' amazed Seas this seeing fled And Iordan shrunk into his Head The cloudy Mountains skipt like Rams The little Hills like frisking Lambs Recoyling Seas what caus'd your dread Why Iordan shrunk'st thou to the Head Why Mountains did you skip like Rains And why you little Hills like Lambs Earth tremble thou before his Face Before the God of Iacobs Race Who turn'd hard Rocks into a Lake When Springs from flinty intrails brake PSALM CXV WE nothing can of merit clame Not for our sakes thy aid afford But for the honour of thy Name Thy Mercy and unfailing Word Why should th' insulting Heathen cry Where 's now the God they vainly praise Our Lord inthron'd above the Skie All underneath at pleasure swaies Their Gods but Gold and Silver be Made by a frail Artificer For they have eyes that cannot see Dumb mouths and ears that cannot hear Fools on their Altars incense throw Who nothing smell their Feet are bound Nor have they power to move or goe Their throats give passage to no sound Their hands can neither give nor take Unapt to punish or defend As senseless they who Idols make Or to their carved Statues bend Your hopes on God O Israel place He is your Help and strong Defence Be he you Priests of Aarons Race The object of your confidence In him all you that fear him trust He shall protect you in distress The Lord is of his Promise just And will his faithful Servants bless The House of chosen Israel And Aarons holy Family The poor and who in power excel That love and on his aid rely They shall a mighty People grow Their Children happy from their birth He will increase of gifts bestow Whose hands created Heaven and Earth He in the Heaven of Heavens resides And over all his Creatures reigns Among the sons of men divides The Earth and all that Earth contains Who sleep within the vaults of Death No Offerings to his Altars bring O praise his Name while we have breath And loudly Halelu-jah sing PSALM CXVI MY Soul intirely shall affect The Lord whose ears my grones respect In misery He heard thy cry To him thy Prayers direct Sorrows of Death my Soul assail'd The greedy jaws of Hell prevail'd Deprest with grief When all relief And humane pity fail'd I cry'd My God O look on me Thou ever Just th' afflicted free O from the Grave Thy Servant save For mercy lives in thee The Innocent and long distrest The humble mind by wrongs opprest Thy Favour still Preserves from ill My Soul then take thy rest God staid my feet and dry'd my tears Redeem'd from Death and deadly fears That still I might Walk in his sight And number many years Thus with a firm belief I pray'd Yet in extreams of trouble said All on the Earth Of mortal birth Even all of Lies are made What shall I unto God restore For all his Mercies Fall before His holy Throne And him alone With sacred Rites adore I will perform my Vows this day Where they frequent who God obey Right precious is The Death of His He sees and will repay Lord I am thine thy Hand-maids Seed By Thee from raging Tyrants freed My Prayers shall rise In Sacrifice My thanks thy Altar feed I will perform my Vows this day Where they frequent who God obey Even in his Court Within thy Fort Renowned Solyma PSALM CXVII YOu Nations of the Earth Our great Preserver praise All you of humane birth To Heaven his Glory raise Whose Mercy hath No end nor bound His Promise crown'd With constant Faith PSALM CXVIII PRaise our good God that King of kings From whom eternal Mercy springs Let Israel let Aarons Race Let all that flourish in his Grace Confess that from the King of kings Eternity of Mercy springs He in my trouble heard my Prayers And freed me from their deadly snares He fights my Battails then how can â— fear the Power of feeble Man Assists my Friends my Enemies Shall with their slaughter feast mine eyes Far better to have Confidence â—n God than trust to mans Defence On him much safer to relie Than on the strength of Monarchy The Nations all at once assail'd But by his Aid my Sword prevail'd Their Armies had beset me round â— with their Bodies strew'd the ground Though they like Bees about me swarm His holy Name and pow'rful Arm Shall soon consume their numerous powers As Fire the crackling Thorn devours Mad men his Fall you seek in vain Whom great Jehovah's Hands sustain He is my Strength his Praise my Song By him preserv'd from powerful Wrong Our Tents with publick Joy shall ring The Just of their Deliverance sing He with his own Right hand hath fought His own Right hand hath Wonders wrought â— shall not dye but live to praise The Lord who hath prolong'd my Daies He with his Scourge my Sin corrects â—et from the Darts of Death protects You to his Service sanctifi'd The Temple Doors set open wide That I may enter in his Name And celebrate his glorious Fame Those are the Doors at which all they Shall enter who his Will obey His Praise with Hymns immortallize My Saviour who hath heard my Cries That Stone the Builders from them cast Is highest on the corner plac't God hath reveal'd these Mysteries So full of Wonder to our Eyes This is his Day a Day of Joy Of everlasting Memory Great God of gods thy King protect Propitious prove to thy Elect. O blest be he whom God shall send We who within his Courts attend You from his Sanctuary bless And daily pray for your success God even the Lord hath shed his light Into our Souls and clear'd our sight Bind to the Altars horns a Lamb New-weaned from the bleating Dam. Thou art my God my Songs shall praise And to the Stars thy Glory raise Praise our good God The King of kings From whom eternal Mercy springs PSALM CXIX ALEPH. BLest are the Undefil'd who God obey Seek with their hearts nor from his Precepts stray No tempting Vice shall those from Virtue draw Who with unfainting Zeal observe his Law â—â—rd by thy sacred Rule my steps direct â—hose shall not blush who thy Commands affect â—y Justice learnt my Soul shall sing thy Praise â—â—rsake me
dight This shall the Meek with pleased Eyes Behold and centuple their joys Their Day shall never set in Night For God the Poor regards and those Who for his sake affliction try Round Earth deep Seas what Seas inclose You Orbs that move so orderly Our great Jehovah magnify Who crowns his Saints with sweet Repose For God his Sion shall immure And Iudah's Cities build again Where they shall ever live secure A fair inheritance obtain There shall their blessed Seed remain And safely that rich Soil manure PSALM LXX HAst Lord from such as would devour Defend by thy almighty Power Delay not in so fear'd an Hour But let confusion seize on those Who seek my soul to shame expose Be sudden in their overthrows Let those with infamy return Dejected and unpittyed mourn Who laugh and blast me with their scorn Who love thy Name with joy invest Let them in shades of Safety feast And ever say The Lord be blest But I am poor and full of need Hast Lord deliver me with speed Our Strength our Help from Thee proceed PSALM LXXI I To thy Wing for refuge flie Protect me from foul Infamie Lord in thy Justice â—ave Deliver from their treacherous Snares O favourably hear my Prayers Snatch from the yawning Grave Be thou my Fortress of Defence There let me fix my Residence O Thou my Rock my Tower Who hast thy Angels given in charge That they thy Servants should inlarge From circumventing Power Deliver from their cruel might Whose wicked hands in blood delight Lest I their pray become Thou art my hope even from my Youth Have I rely'd upon thy Truth By Thee kept in the womb From thence extracted by thy Care Though as a Prodigy they stare On me with wondring eyes Yet Thee my strength my Song shall praise And to the Stars thy glory raise While Suns shall set and rise O cast not off when full of days Forsake not when my Strength decays Watch'd by conspiring Foes God hath abandon'd him say they Now let us make his life our prey Who shall our power oppose My God close to thy servant stand And help him with a speedy hand Those in their pride confound Who persecute my wretched Soul Let Death their impious rage controul And with dishonour wound But I will ever hope and raise My Voice to multiply thy Praise Thy Righteousness display Thy manifold Deliveries Which O! no number can comprise Thus spend the harmless Day I in thy Strength though old and weak Will walk and of thy Justice speak Of thine even thine alone Thou hast inform'd me from my Youth I to this hour with single Truth Thy wondrous works have shown Now in the Winter of my years When Time hath snow'd upon my hairs Abandon not O Lord Till I unto this Age proclame Thy Mighty Power in Songs the same Unto the next record Thy Counsels depth our search exceeds How admirable are thy Deeds O who is like to Thee Thou hast afflictions on me lain Yet shalt thou quicken me again And from Earths entrails free Still thou my glory wilt increase And comfort with the joys of Peace I in a living verse Unto my warbling Harp will sing Thy praises O eternal King Thy noble Acts rehearse Unto my Voice and Instrument Shall my exalted Soul consent By Thee redeem'd from Death Thy Justice every Day proclame That now hast cloth'd my Foes with Shame Dispersed by thy breath PSALM LXXII He King Jehovah with thy Justice crown And in a God-like reign his Son renown He shall with e qui ty thy People sway And Judgement in the scales of Justice weigh Then little Hills shall riot with increase And Mountains flourish in the fruits of Peace He shall the Poor from Violence protect Exalt the Humble and the Proud deject They while the restless Sun directs the Year While Moons increase and wain thy Name shall fear He shall descend like plenty-dropping Showers Which cloath the earth and fill her lap with flowers The Just shall flourish in his happy Dayes And Peace abound while Stars extend their Rayes He shall from Sea to Sea inlarge his Reign From swift Euphrates to the farthest Main The wild Inhabitants that live by prey In scorched Deserts shall his Rule obey His Foes shall lick the Dust rich with their Spoils Kings of the Ocean and Sea-grasped Isles Shall orient Pearl and sparkling Stones present Gold from the Sun-burnt Aethiopians sent The swart Sabaeans and Panchaia's King Shall Casâ—ia Myrrhe and sacred Incense bring All Kings shall homage to this King afford All Nations shall receive him for their Lord. He shall th' Oppressed hear the Poor defend The Needy save and such as have no friend Redeem their Souls from Fraud and Violence And shall with Blood revenge their Bloods expense For this he long and happily shall live To him they shall the Gold of Sheba give The People for their King shall hourly pray His Praises sing and bless him day by day Rank crops of Corn shall on high Mountains grow And shake like Cedars when rough Tempests blow The Citizens shall prosper and abound Like blades of Grass which cloath the pregnant ground His Name shall last to all Eternitie Even while the Sun illuminates the Skie All Nations shall in Him be blest Him all The habitable Earth shall blessed call O praised be our God! that King of kings Who only can accomplish wondrous things For ever celebrate his glorious Name And fill the World with his illustrious Fame Amen Amen Here end the Prayers of David the Son of Jesse A PARAPHRASE Upon the Third BOOK OF THE PSALMS of DAVID PSALM LXXIII THat Power of powers who Israel protects The Pure of heart eternally affects Yet I began to stagger in my Faith My Feet almost had swerved from his Path When I the Fool beheld with envious eyes Saw prosperous Vice to Wealth and Honour rise Their Thread of Life is close and firmly spun Whom feeble Age and pale Diseases shun They while we suffer surfeit in content As if alone exempt from punishment Pride hangs like precious Chains about their necks And Violence in robes of Purple decks Their swoln eyes shine with uncontroll'd excess Who more than what their hearts can wish possess Even glory in their foul Impiety And speak like Thunder from the troubled Sky Dire Blasphemies against high Heaven they cast The suffering Earth their Pride and Slander blast The Good not seldom through their Scandal stray And prest with Miseries in Passion say O how can we the Lord All-seeing call Or think he cares what unto men befall When lo the Wicked with success are crown'd And in the pleasures of this world abound I to no end have purg'd my heart of stain In Innocence have cleans'd my hands in vain That thus with daily punishments am worn And still chastised with the rising Morn If I gave words unto such thoughts as these I should th' assemblies of
sway The Parts th' are Blest-with some more Blessed way Fate can against Thee but two Foes advance Sharp-sighted Envy and Blind Ignorance The first by Nature like a shadow near To all great Acts I rather Hate than Fear For them since whatsoever most they Raise In Private That they most in Throngs Dispraise And know the Ill they Act Condemn'd within Who envies Thee may no man envy Him The last I Fear not much but Pity more For though they cannot the least Fault explore Yet if they might the high Tribunal Clime To Them thy Excellence would be thy Crime For Eloquence with things Prophane they joyn Nor count it fit to Mix with what 's Divine Like Art and Paintings laid upon a Face Of it self sweet which more Deform than Grace Yet as the Church with Ornaments is Fraught Why may not That be too which There is Taught And sure that Vessel of Election Paul Who Judais'd with Jews who All to All So to Gain some would be at least Content Some for the Curious should be Eloquent For since the Way to Heaven is Rugged who Would have the Way to that Way be so too Or thinks it fit we should not Leave obtain To learn with Pleasure what we Act with Pain Since then Some stop unless their Path be Even Nor will be led by Soloecismes to Heaven And through a Habit scarce to be control'd Refuse a Cordial when not brought in Gold Much like to them to that Disease Inur'd Which can be no way but by Musick cur'd I Ioy in Hope that no small Piety Will in their Colder Hearts be Warm'd by Thee For as none could more Harmony dispense So neither could thy flowing Eloquence So well in any Task be us'd as this To Sound His Praises forth whose Gift it is Cui non certaverit ulla Aut tantum fluere aut totidem durare per annos Virg. Georg. 2. FALKLAND An ODE to my worthy Kinsman Mr. GEORGE SANDYS Upon his excellent Paraphrase on the PSALMS O Breath again that holy Lay Did convay Unto my soul so sweet a Fire I desire That all my Senses charm'd to Ear Should fix there O might this sacred Anthem last 'Till Time's past Until we warble forth a higher In the Quire Of Angels till the Sphears keep time To your Rime Amphion did a City raise By his Layes The Stones did dance into a Wall At his call But your divinely-tuned Air Doth repair Ev'n Man himself whose stony Heart By this Art Rebuildeth of its own accord To the Lord A Temple breathing holy Songs In strange Tongues You fit both Davids Lyre and Notes To our Throats See the green Willow now not wears Of their Tears The sadly silent Trophyes we From the Tree Take down the Hebrew Harps and reach In our speech What ever we do hate what fear What love dear Now in faint Accents praising God For his Rod Since that his punishing a Child Must be stil'd A Blessing But our thankful Layes Do his Praise Sound in the loudest Key when e're He draws near In Mercy not affrighting Power In that Hour New Life approacheth Then our Joy Doth employ Each Faculty and Tune each Air To a Prayer But by and by our Sins do cause A sad Pause Our Hands lift-up and cast-down Eyes Our faint Cryes Do in their sadly-pleasing Tones Speak our Mones In stead of Harps we strike our Breasts All the Rests Attend his Musick are a Tear Which Sighs bear In their soft Language up on high To the Skie Whence God delighted with our Grief Sends Relief Thus unto You we owe the Joys The Sweet Noise Of our ravish'd Souls we borrow Hence our Sorrow Repentant Sorrow which doth glad Not make sad We weep in your Lines we rejoyce In your Voyce Whose pleasing Language fans the Fire Of Desire Which flames in Zeal and calmly fashions All our Passions Which you so sweetly have exprest Some have guest We Hallelu-jahs shall rehearse In your Verse Then be secure your well-tun'd Breath Shall now out-live the Date of Death And when Fate pleases you shall have Still-Musick in the silent Grave You from Above shall hear each day One Dirge dispatch'd unto your Clay These your own Anthems shall become Your lasting Epicedium Dudly Digges To the Reader THe Paraphrase upon the Psalms though he rank'd according to the Chronology was fâ—â— Writ and Published and therefore these Verses 〈◊〉 in time precede those that are fixt in the Front of 〈◊〉 Volume A PARAPHRASE Upon the FIRST BOOK OF THE PSALMS of DAVID PSALM I. THat Man is truly blest who never strays By false advice nor walks in Sinners ways Nor sits infected with their scornful pride Who God contemn and Pi-e-ty deride But wholly fixeth his sincere delight On heav'nly Laws those studies day and night He shall be like a Tree that spreads his Root By living Streams producing timely Fruit His Leaf shall never fall the Lord shall bless All his indeavours with desir'd success Men lost in Sin unlike rewards shall find Disperst like Chaff before the furious Wind Their guilt shall not that horrid day indure Nor they approach th' Assemblies of the Pure For God approves those ways the Righteous tread But Sinful Paths to â—ure Destruction lead PSALM II. HOw are the Gentiles all on fire Whâ—â— rage they with vain menacings Earths haughty Potentates and Kings 'Gainst God against his Christ conspire Break we say they their fervile bands And cast their cords from our free hands But God from his Coelestial Throne Shall laugh and their attempts deride Then high incenst thus check their pride â—His Wrath in their confusion shown Loe I my King have Crown'd and will Inthrone on Sions sacred Hill That great Decree I shall declare For thus I heard Jehovah say Thou art my Son begot this day Request and I will grant thy Prayer Subject all Nations to thy Throne And make the Sea-bound Earth thine own Thou shalt an Iron Scepter sway Like earthen Vessels break their Bones Be wise O you who sit on Thrones And Judges grave advice obey With joyful Fear O serve the Lord With trembling Joy embrace his Word In due of Homage kiss the Son Lest He his wrathful looks display And so you perish in the way His anger newly but begun Then blessed only are the Just Who on th' Anointed fix their trust PSALM III. MY God how are my foes increast What multitudes against me rise Who say giâ—â— we his Soul no rest Whom God forsakes and Men despise But thou art my Support my Tower My Safety my choice Ornament Before thy Throne my Prayers I pow'r Heard from thy Sions high ascent No fears affright my soft repose Thou my Night-watch my Guard by Day Not Miriads of Armed Foes Nor Treasons secret hands dismay Arise O vindicate my Cause My Foes whom wicked Hate provoke Thou Lord hast smit their cankred Jaws And all their Teeth asunder broke Thou Lord the
now a general Reproach to all The Syrian and base Edomite Deride and in our woes delight How long Lord shall thy jealous ire Devour like Fire Thy Anger in a dreadful show'r Of vengeance pow'r On those who know not thy great Name And think thy Worship but a shame For they have laid our Country waste Our Cities ras't Lord O remember not the crimes Of former times But for thy tender mercy save Our souls now humbled to the grave Lord for the glory of thy Name Redeem from shame O purge us and propitious be From thraldom free Why should the Heathen thus blaspheme And say Your God is but a Dream Against them let thy Vengeance rise Before our eyes And for our blood shed by their guilt Let theirs be spilt O hear the sighing Prisoners cry And save whom they have doom'd to die Our spiteful Neighbours Lord deride Thee in their pride With seven-fold vengeance recompense Their insolence So we thy flock our God will praise And to the Stars thy Glory raise PSALM LXXX THou Shepherd of thy Israel That Flock-like leadest Iosephs Race Who 'twixt the Cherubims dost dwell O hear shew thy inlightning Face Exalt thy saving power before Manasseh Ephraim Benjamin O from Captivity restore And let thy beams upon us shine Great God of Battail wilt thou still Be angry and our prayers despise Bread steep'd in tears our stomachs fill We drink the rivers of our eyes Our scoffing Neighbours fall at strife Among themselves to share our right Great God restore the dead to life And comfort by the quick'ning light This Vine from Aegypt brought the Foe Expel'd was planted by thy hand Thou gav'st it room and strength to grow Untill her branches fill'd the Land The Mountains took a shade from these Which like a grove of Cedars stood Extending to the Tyrian Seas And to Euphrates rowling Flood O why hast thou her Fences ras't Whilst every Stragler pulls her Fruit The browsing Heard her branches waste And salvage Boars plow-up her root Great God return this trampled Vine From Heaven behold with mild aspect Once planted by that Hand of thine The branches of thy own Elect. Which now cut down wild Flames devour Through thy fierce wrath to ruin brought Protect thy People by thy Power And perfect what thy self hath wrought Reviv'd we will thy Name adore Nor ever from thy Pleasure swerve O from Captivity restore And by thy powerful grace preserve PSALM LXXXI TO God our Strength your voices raise In sacred numbers sing his praise The warbling Lute sweet Viol bring And solemn Harp loud Timbrels ring The new Moon seen shrill Trumpets sound Your sacred Feasts with Triumph crown'd These Rites our God established When Israel He from Aegypt led Their necks with Yokes of bondage wrung Inured to an unknown tongue Your burdens I have cast away Said he and cleans'd your hands from clay Then sav'd when in your fears you cry'd And from the thundring Cloud reply'd I try'd you heard your murmurings At Meribah's admired Springs You Sons of Israel give ear I will instruct you would you hear Beware no foreign gods adore Nor their adulterate Powers implore I Thee alone brought from the Land Of Bondage with a mighty Hand I know and will supply thy need When naked cloath when hungry feed Yet would not they my Counsel brook But desperately their God forsook Whom I unto their lusts resign'd And errors of their wandring Mind O that they had my voice obey'd Nor from the paths of Virtue straid Then Victory their brows had crown'd Their slaughter'd Foes had spread the ground Then had I made their enemy Submit and at their mercy lye Themselves blest with eternal Peace Inriched with the Earths increase With flour of Wheat and Honey fill'd From breaches of the Rock distill'd PSALM LXXXII GOd sits upon the Throne of Kings And Judges unto judgement brings Why then so long Maintain you wrong And favour Lawless things Defend the Poor the Fatherless Their crying injuries redress And vindicate The Desolate Whom wicked men oppress For they of Knowledge have no Light Nor Will to know but walk in Night Earths Bases fail No Laws prevail Scarce one in heart upright Though Gods and Sons of the most High Yet you like common men shall die Like Princes fall Great God judge all The Earth thy Monarchy PSALM LXXXIII LOrd sit not still as deaf unto our cries For lo our Enemies in tumults rise Even those who thy Omnipotence deny And hate thy Name advance their Crests on high Dark counsels take and secretly contrive Their slaughter whom thy Mercy keeps alive Come say they let us with incessant strokes Hew down this Nation like a grove of Okes Till they no longer be and Israel die Both in his Race and ruin'd Memory They all in one confederacy have made A solemn League supply'd with foreign aid Fierce Idumaeans who in Nomades stray And shaggy Ismaelites that live by prey Th' incestuous Race that border on the Lake Of salt Asphalthis Savage Thieves who take Their name from servile Hagar they who dwell In Gebal Ammonites who Peace expell Stern Palaestines and wild Amalekites False Tyrians Ashur with Lots Sons unites Let them like Midian fall by mutual wounds Like Siscra fall like Iabin on the bounds Of Endor where swift Kison takes his birth Who lay like Dung upon the faâ—ned Earth Like Zeb and Orebs Princes made a prey For Wolves like Zeba and proud Zaâ—muna Who said let us these Israelites destroy And all the Cities of their God enjoy O let them like a wheel be hurried round Like chaff which whirlwinds ravish from the ground As Woods grown dry with age imbrac'd with fire Whose flames above the singed Hills aspire So in the Tempest of thy Wrath pursue And with thy Storms thy trembling Foes subdue O fill their hearts with grief their looks with shame Till they invoke thy late blasphemed Name Confound them with eternal Infamie That they through anguish of their Souls may die That men Jehovah's Wonders may rehearse The great Commander of this Universe PSALM LXXXIV O How amiable are Thy Aboads great God of War How I languish through restraint How my longing Spirits faint Lord for thee I daily crie Iâ— thy absence hourly die Sparrows there their young ones rear And the Summers Harbinger By thy Altar builds her nest Where they take their envy'd rest O my King O thou most High Arbiter of Victorie Happy men who spend their Days In thy Courts there sing thy Praise Happy who on Thee depend Thine their Way and thou their End Who through Baca travelling Make that thirsty Vale a Spring Or soft Show'rs from Clouds destill And their empty Cisterns fill Fresh in strength their course pursue Till they thee in Sion view Lord of Hosts incline thine Ear. O thou God of Iacob hear Thou our Rock extend thy Grace Look on thy Anointed's Face One Day in thy Courts alone Far exceeds
Judgement his great Power affects Yet by Equity directs These celestial Twins imbrace These reflect on Iacobs Race O how holy above all Honour at his Foot-stool fall Moses Aaron heretofore Among those who Mitres wore Samuel by Vow desir'd Among those who were inspir'd These to him their Prayers preferr'd These by him as soon were heard These his Statutes rarely brake Unto these th' Almighty spake In the Pillar of a Cloud To his Service ever vow'd He did their Petitions hear Merciful and yet severe The Holy on his Holy Hill Glorifie and worship still PSALM C. ALL from the Suns uprise Unto his Setting Raies Resound in Jubilees The great Jehovah's Praise Him serve alone In triumph bring Your Gifts and sing Before his Throne Man drew from Man his Birth But God his noble Frame Built of the ruddy Earth Fill'd with caelestial Flame His Sons we are Sheep by him led Preserv'd and fed With tender care O to his Portals press In your divine resorts With Thanks his Power profess And praise him in his Courts How good how pure His Mercies last His Promise past For ever sure PSALM CI. OF Justice I and Mercy sing Which Lord from thee their Fountain spring The Graces that adorn a King Grave Wisdom shall my steps direct No Vice my heart nor Roof infect When wilt thou visit thine Elect No pleasure shall mine eyes misguide Who from the Tract of Virtue slide Just Hate shall from my Soul divide Who mischief in their Hearts contrive Delight in Wrong in Factions strive I from my peaceful Court will drive Who hath his Friend with Slander strook I will cut off nor ever brook A proud Heart and a haughty Look Mine Eyes the Faithful shall observe Those in my Family shall serve Who never from pure Virtue swerve But who are exercis'd in Guile Whose Tongues malicious Lies defile I from my Presence will exile And all the Wicked in the Land Will cut off with a timely Hand Nor shall they in Gods City stand PSALM CII ACcept my Prayers nor to the Cry Of my Afflictions stop thine Ear Lord in the time of Misery And sad restraint serene appear The Sighings of my Spirit hear And when I call with speed reply As Smoak so fleets my Soul away My marrow dry'd as Hearths with heat My heart struck down like withered Hay Through Sorrow I forsake my meat While meagre cares my Liver eat The clinging Skin my Bones display Like Desert-haunting Pelicans In Cities not less desolate Like Screech-Owls who with ominous strains Disturb the Night and day-light hate A Sparrow which hath lost his Mate And on a Pinacle complains Reviling Foes my Honour blast And frantick men my ruin swear For Bread I roll'd-on ashes tast Each drop I drink mixt with a tear For Lord O who thy Wrath can bear Thou raisest and dost head-long cast My Dayes short as the Evening shade As Morning dew consume away As Gâ—ass cut down with Sithes I fade Or like a flower crop'd yesterday But Lord thou suffer'st no decay Thy Promises shall never vade For thou shalt from thy Rest arise Since now th' appointed time draws near And look on Sions miseries Her Walls and batter'd Buildings rear Whose ruins to thy Saints are dear For they her Dust as sacred prise Thy Name then shall the Gentiles praise All Kings thy Honour celebrate For when the Lord shall Sion raise His Glory shall ascend in State So prone to hear the Desolate And succour them in all assaies Unto eternal Memory Our Histories shall this record And all that are created by His pow'rful Hand shall fear the Lord Who doth such Grace to his afford And on the Earth looks from on high To hear the pensive Captives grone The Sons of Death by him unbound His Name again in Sion known That Salem may his Praise resound When in his Service all the Round Of Earth shall there be joyn'd in one Yet Lord amidst these Hopes thou hast Consum'd my strength abridg'd my years Before my Noon of Life be past Let me not die thus drown'd in tears Time wasts not thee which all out-wears Thy happy Daies for ever last Thou mad'st the Earth thou didst display The Heavens in various motion roll'd These and their Glories shall decay But thou shalt thy existence hold They like a Garment shall grow old And in their changes pass away But thou art still the same before The World and after shalt remain You blessed Souls who God adore With Patient Hope your harms sustain For you shall prosper in his Reign And yours subsist for evermore PSALM CIII MY Soul and all my Faculties Jehovah praise sing till the Skies Re-eccho his ascending Fame My Soul O celebrate his Name Nor ever let the memory Of his surpassing Favours die He gently pardons our misdeeds And cures the Wounds which inward bleeds Hath from the Chains of Death unbound With Clemency and Mercy crown'd With Food our Hunger he subdues And Eagle-like our Youth renues His Justice he extends to all Oppressors by his Vengeance fall His sacred Paths to Moses shown His Miracles to Israel known From Him the Springs of Mercy flow Swift to forgive to anger slow For he will not for ever chide Nor constant to his Wrath abide But mildly from his Rage relents And shortens our due Punishments For as the Heavens in amplitude Exceed the Centre they include So ample is his Clemency To all who on his Grace rely As far as the bright Orient Is distant from the Suns Descent So far he sets from his Aspect Their Guilt who him with fear affect And as a Father to his Child So soft so quickly reconcil'd He knows the Fabrick of us all That dust is our Original Man flourisheth like Grass a Flower That blows and withers in an hour By scorching heat by blasting Wind Deflower'd and leaves no print behind But his firm Mercy shall imbrace His Saints for ever and their Race Those who his equal Laws fulfill Remember and perform his Will In Heaven the great Jehovah reigns And governs all that Earth contains You Angels who in strength exceed Who him obey with winged speed You ordred Hosts of radiant Stars O you his flaming Ministers All whom his Wisdom did create Through his large Empire celebrate His glorious Name with sweet accord Joyn thou my Soul to praise the Lord. PSALM CIV MY ravish'd Soul great God thy praises sings Whom Glory circles with her radiant Wings And Majesty invests then Day more bright Cloth'd with the beams of new-created Light He like an all-infolding Canopy Fram'd the vast concave of the spangled Skie And in the Air-imbraced Waters set The Basis of his hanging Cabinet Who on the Clouds as on a Chariot rides And with a reign the flying Tempest guides Bright Angels his attendant Spirits made By flame-dispersing Seraphims obey'd The ever-fixed Earth cloth'd with the Flood In whose calm bosome unseen Mountains stood At his rebuke it shrunk with
Thee adore that I may give a voice To thy great Acts and in their joy rejoyce We as our Fathers have thy Grace exil'd Revolted and our Souls with Sin defil'd They of thy Miracles in Egypt wrought So full of Fear and Wonder never thought Thy Mercies than their hairs in number more But murmur'd on the Erythraean Shore Yet for his Honour sav'd them from the Foe That all the World his wondrous Power might know There the commanded Sea asunder rent While Israel through his dusty Chanel went Whom He from Phaeroah and his Army saves The swift-returning Floods their fatal Graves Then they his Word believ'd and sung his Praise Yet soon forgot and wandred from his Waies Who long for flesh to pamper their excess And tempt him in the barren Wilderness He grants their wish and with a Flight of Fowls Sent meager Death into their hungry Souls They Moses gentle Government oppose And envy Aaron whom the Lord had chose The yawning Earth then in her silent womb Did Dathan and Abirams Troops intomb A swiftly-spreading Fire among them burns And thoâ—e Conspirators to Ashes turns Yet they the slaves of Sin in Horeb made A Calf of Gold and to an Idol pray'd The Lord their Glory thus exchanged they For th' Image of a Beast that feeds on Hey Forgot their Saviour all his Wonders shown In Zoan and the Plains by Nile o're-flown The Wonders acted by his pow'rful Hand Where the Red-Sea obey'd his stern Command God hath pronounc'd their ruin Moses then His Servant Moses and the best of Men Stood in the Breach which their Rebellion made And by his Prayer the hand of Vengeance staid Yea they this fruitful Paradise despis'd Nor his so-oft-confirmed Promise priz'd But mutined against their faithful Guide And basely wish'd they had in Aegypt dy'd For this the Lord advanc'd his dreadful Hand To overthrow them on th' Arabian Sand To scatter their rebellious Seed among Their Foes expos'd to poverty and Wrong Besides Baal-Peor they ador'd and fed On Sacrifices offer'd to the Dead Thus their Impieties the Lord incense Who smote them with devouring Pestilence But when with noble anger Phineas slew The bold Offenders He his Plagues with-drew This was reputed for a righteous Deed Which should for ever consecrate his Seed So they at Meribah his Anger mov'd The sacred Prophet for their sakes reprov'd Their Cries his Saint-like sufferance provoke Who rashly in his Souls distemper spoke Nor ever entred the affected Land They still rebellious to divine Command Preserv'd those Nations by his Wrath subdu'd Mixt with the Heathen and their Sins pursu'd Their cursed Idols serve with Rites profane Snares to their Soul and from no Crime abstain Their Sons and Virgin daughters sacrifice To Devils and look on with tearless eyes Defil'd the Land with innocent blood which sprung From their own loins on flaming Altars flung Unto adulterate Deities they pray'd And worshipped those Gods their hands had made These crying Sins exasperate the Lord Who now his own Inheritance abhorr'd Given up unto the Heathen for a Prey Slaves to their Foes who hate them most obey Deliver'd oft as oft his Wrath provoke And with increasing Sins renew their Yoke Yet he compassionates their miseries And with soft pity hears their mournful Cries His former Promise calls to mind relents And in his Mercy of his Wrath repents In salvage Hearts unknown Compassion bred By whom but lately into thraldome led Great God of gods thy Votaries protect And from among the Barbarous recollect That we to Thee may dedicate our Daies And joyntly triumph in thy glorious Praise Blest O for ever blest be Israels King All you his People Halelujah sing Amen Amen A PARAPHRASE Upon the Fifth BOOK OF THE PSALMS of DAVID PSALM CVII EXtoll and our good God adore Whose Sea of Mercy hath no Shore O you by Tyrants late opprest Now from your servile Yokes releast Praise him who your Redemption wrought And home from barbarous Nations brought From where the Morn her Wings displays From where the Evening crowns the Dayes Beneath the burning Zone and near The Influence of the freezing Bear They in unpeopled Deserts straid The Heavens their Roof the Clouds their shade Their Souls with thirst and hunger faint None by to pity their Complaint When to the Lord their God they cry'd His Mercy their extreams suppli'd He led them through the Wilderness And gave them Cities to possess O you his Goodness celebrate His Acts to all the World relate For he in foodless Deserts fed The Hungry with coelestial Bread From wondring Rocks new Currents roul To satisfie the thirsty Soul Those Rebels who his Counsel slight Imprison'd in the shades of Night Horrors of Guilt their Souls surprise When humbled with their miseries They to the Lord addrest their Prayers His Mercy comforts their Despairs From Darkness draws dissolves their Grieves And from Deaths Jaws preserves their lives O you his Goodness celebrate His Acts to all the World relate He breaks Steel-bars and Gates of Brass To force a way for His to pass Those Fools whom pleasing Sins intice Are punish'd by their darling Vice Their Souls all sorts of Food distast Whom Troops of pale Diseases waste When they to God direct their Prayers His Mercy comforts their Despairs His Word restores them from their Graves And from a dreadful Ruin saves O you his Goodness celebrate His Acts to all the World relate Due Praises to his Altar bring And of your great Redemption sing Who sail upon the toiling Main And traffick in pursuit of Gain To such his Power is not unknown Nor wonders in the Ocean shown At his Command black Tempests rise Then mount they to the troubled Skies Thence sinking to the Depths below The Ship Hulls as the Billows flow And all Aboard at every seel Like Drunkards on the Hatches reel When they to God direct their Prayers His Mercy comforts their Despairs Forthwith the bitter Storms asswage And foming Seas suppress their Rage Then singing with a prosperous Gale To their desired Harbour sail O you his Goodness celebrate His Acts to all the World relate His Fame in your Assemblies raise And in the sacred Senate praise He Rivers turns t' a Wilderness â—prings dry'd up by the Suns access To scourge their Sins he makes the Soil Ungrateful to the Owners toil Turns sandy Deserts into Pools And parched Earth with Fountains cools There plants his hungry Colonies Where strongly-fenced Cities rise The Fields their yellow Mantles wear And spreading Vines full clusters bear They infinitely multiply Their Heards of no diseases die â—ut when their Sins his Wrath incense Then Famine War and Pestilence Their miserable Lives devour Their Princes he deprives of Power Who in the Path-less Wilderness Conceal'd themselves from Mans access The Poor he raiseth from the ground Their Families like flocks abound The Just shall this with Joy behold Th' Unjust with fear and shame controll'd The Wise these Changes will
Let Sions Foes with infamy Be clothed and untimely dye Be they like Corn on Houses tops Which Reapers sickle never crops Nor Binder in his bosome bears But withers still before it ears No Travailer their labours bless Nor say We wish you good success PSALM CXXX OUt of the horrour of the Deep Where fear and sorrow never sleep To the my cries In sighs arise Lord from despair thy servant keep O lend a gracious ear And my petitions hear For if thou should'st our sins observe And punish us as we deserve Not one of all But then must fall Since all from their obedience swerve Yet art not thou severe That we thy Name might fear Thy Mercies our misdeeds transcend My hopes upon thy Truth depend Disconsolate On thee I waite As weary Centinels attend The chearful Morns uprise With long-expecting eyes O you that are of Iacobs Race â—n him your Hopes and Comforts place His praises sing The living Spring Of Mercy and redundant Grace For he will Israel Redeem from Sin and Hell PSALM CXXXI THou Lord my witness art I am not proud of heart Nor look with lofty eyes None envy nor despise Nor to vain pomp apply My thoughts nor sore too high But in behaviour mild And as a tender child Wean'd from his Mothers breast On thee alone I rest O Israel adore The Lord for evermore Be He the only scope Of thy unfainting hope PSALM CXXXII REmember David Lord remember Thou His Troubles thy Redemptions and the Vow He to the mighty God of Iacob made Bound by an Oath and in these words convey'd No Roof shall cover me nor sweet repose Refresh my Limbs or sleep my eye-lids close 'Till I have found a place for his abode Even for the Temple of the living God The Ark we heard in Ephrata long stood And found it in the valley cloth'd with Wood. We will into thy Tabernacle go And there our selves before thy Foot-stool throw Ascend to thy eternal Rest at length â—hou and the Ark of thy admired strength â— let thy Priests be cloth'd with sanctity â—nd all thy Saints sing with triumphant joy â—or Davids sake receive into thy Grace â—rom thy Anointed never turn thy Face â—or thus thou swor'st who never wilt forget â—hy Son shall long possess thy royal Seat â—nd if thy Children my commands obâ—erve â—or from the rules of my prescription swerve â—heir Off-spring shall the Hebrew Scepter sway â—ven while the Sun illuminates the Day â—or Sion I have chosen Sion great 〈◊〉 my affections my eternal Seat â— will abundantly increase her store And with the flow'r of Wheat sustain her poor Her Priests shall blessings to her People bring Her joyful Saints in sacred measures sing There shall the Horn of David freshly sprout Their lamp of glory never shall burn out His Diadem shall flourish on his head But Nets of shame his Foes shall over-spread PSALM CXXXIII O Blest estate blest from above When Brethren joyn in mutual love 'T is like the precious Odors shed On consecrated Aarons head Which trickled from his Beard and Breast Down to the borders of his Vest. T is like the pearls of Dew that drop On Hermons ever-fragrant top Or which the smiling Heavens distill On happy Sions sacred Hill For God hath there his favours plac't And joy which shall for ever last PSALM CXXXIV YOu who the Lord adore And at his Altar wait Who keep your watch before The threshold of his Gate His praises sing By silent Night Till cheerful light In th' Orient spring Your hands devoutly raise To his divine Recess The Worlds Creator praise And thus the People bless The God of Love From Sions Towers To you and yours Propitious prove PSALM CXXXV O You who Ephods wear and Incense fling On sacred flames Jehovah's praises sing You who his Temple guard O celebrate His glorious Name his noble Acts relate How great a joy with such sincere delight To crown the Day and entertain the Night For Israel is his choice and Iacobs Race â—is treasure and the object of his Grace 〈◊〉 power how infinite how much before â—hose mortal gods whom frantick men adore â—ll on his Will depend all Homage owe 〈◊〉 Heaven in Earth and in the Depths below â—t his command exhaled Vapors rise â—nd in condensed clouds obscure the Skies â—rom thence in show'rs He horrid Lightning flings And from their Caves the strugling Tempests brings He the first-born of Men and Cattle slew â—resh streams of blood the Towns and Plains imbrew Th' Inhabitants that drink of Nilus flood At his confounding Wonders trembling stood Great Princes who excell'd in fortitude And mighty Nations by his power subdu'd Strong Sihon whom the Amorites obey'd And strenuous Og who Bashans Scepter sway'd With all the Kingdoms of the Canaanites Who to the Conquerours resign their rights To whom he their dismantled Cities grants And in those fruitful fields his Hebrews plants Thy Name shall last unto Eternity And thy immortal Fame shall never dye Thou dost thy Servant pardon and protect Advance the Humble and the Proud deject Those helpless gods ador'd in foreign Lands Are Gold and Silver wrought by humane hands Blind Eyes have they deaf Ears still silent Tongues Nor breath exhale from their unactive Lungs Who made resemble them and such are those Who in such senseless stocks their hopes repose O praise the Lord you who from Israel spring His Praises O you Sons of Aaron sing You of the House of Levi praise his Name All you who God adore his Praise proclaime From Sion praise the only Good and Great Who in Ierusalem hath fixt his Seat PSALM CXXXVI THe Bounty of Jehovah praise This God of gods all Scepters sways Thanks to the Lord of lords afford And his amazing Wonders blaze For from the King of kings E-ter-nal Mercy springs Him praise who fram'd the arched Sky Those Orbs that move so orderly Firm Earth above The Floods that move Display'd and rais'd the Hills on high For from the King of kings Eternal Mercy springs Who Sun and Moon inform'd with Light To guide the Day and rule the Night The fixed Stars And Wanderers Created by divine fore-sight For from the King of kings Eternal Mercy springs The first-born of Aegyptians slew Whose wounds the thirsty Earth imbrew And from that Land With powerful hand Th' oppressed sons of Iacob drew For from the King of kings Eternal Mercy springs The parted Seas before them fled Who in their empty chanels tread The joyning waves Aegyptian graves And his through food-less Deserts led For from the King of kings Eternal mercy springs Who numerous Armies put to flight And mighty Princes slew in fight Og prostrate laid Who Bashan swai'd And Sihon the crown'd Amorite For from the King of kings Eternal Mercy springs By his strong hand those Giants fell And gave their Lands to Israel Confirm'd by deed Unto their Seed Who in their conquer'd Cities dwell For from the King of