Enmities off-shake For of such jarring Parts it was contriv'd And of such contrarieties did partake That it by Discord and Confusion liv'd A life such as it was with Death to be surviv'd XLVII So strove they thus would they have striven ever Till pittying their debate the Spirit of Love Calm'd the discordant Mole and did dissever Th' Eternal Combatants plac'd some above Others did to the deep Abysse remove Fast to be held in Adamantine Chain Whilst those few Parts that did more ductile prove Into Four Principles which all contain Themselves in all contain'd were solely left to reign XLVIII FIRE which as lightest took the highest place And upward rais'd its towring Head then AIR That followâ—d it but with unequal pace And tho it vy'd to be and look as fair Forc'd in the midst to hang self-ballanc'd there Next WATER which the Surface cover'd o're That pregnant Mother of the EARTH less rare In its vast Womb conceiv'd but which before It could emerge lackt mighty Love to force the Door XLIX And so it did but LIGHT was first to shine And an whole Day for that which makes the Day But little enough was thought i th' Mind Divine Through Darkness palpable to clear its way And all its various Beauties to display Darkness which tho but counted Privative Such claims to th heap whence 't was call'd out did lay That Love like equal shares to both did give Alternately each Day in Day and Night to live L. But harder were the teeming Waters Throes When on the second Day Earth nearer came To its great Birth like weight that heavier grows Long born and to break through disjoynts the frame The Waters pangs compar'd thus were the same When they divided burst but ne're to close Stopt by the solid FIRMAMENT whose Name Immoveable Partition does suppose By ' whose Shoar disjoyn'd upper and nether Ocean flows LI. And now the third Day of her Monstrous Child Half way deliver'd the Great Mother was Monstrous unsightly yet with Horrour fill'd Which in its Oasy Arms it did embrace And half supprest to the' Birth would ne're let pass But with it joyn'd one Monstrous Body made Above DRY GROUND below a confus'd Mass Part Earth with Briny Hatchments overlaid Part unmixt Water upon empty Nothing staid LII And called SEA as what appear'd was LAND Rough bare mishape't tho dry unbeautifi'd It self unbeautiful vast plains of Sand More horribly deform'd with terrors Pride Mountains that to ' Heav'n aspir'd and gaping wide With rais'd up Jaws threatned to swallow down In gorge unsatiate glories there envy'd And wrinkled Forehead which scarce made did frown And Omens give of Future War from cause unknown LIII Nor could there cause be gi'ven for a new Face From the' Love Divine it took and Nakedness Was cloath'd upon with all the Charming Grace Of Fruit and Flower and the grim Gyantess Its own Eternal Goodness to express Kind Heav'n illumin'd with a double Light The fourth Day made the greater and the less By Day the SUN with vital heat and bright To warm the MOON with starry Robe to ' invest at night LIV. Nor was this all but at the fifth Days dawn Earth and her Mother Sea replenished With new Inhab'itants were and every Laune And every Hill scar'd Solitude thence fled Legions of FOWL produc'd and kindly bred Which on large Wings above the Ground did fly But perching on some Tree made that their Bed Whilst Lakes and Streams and the huge Sea fast by With mighty WHALES were fill'd and with the lesser FRY LV. Fill'd were the Floods with these but still the Earth As whose Wing'd-People most partook of th' Air Their haunt impregnate with a second Birth For which disclos'd 't had room enough to spare Did on the sixth Day to disclose prepare And out all BEASTS and REPTILS in their kind Sprang from the fertile Womb proportion'd fair Each to its Nature but with Look declin'd To th' Earth whence tane to th' Earth whereto confin'd LVI Of these and other Works of God they sang In Lays harmonious as Love utterance gave Yet these and others which they lowdly rang Were but as Praeludes which with Mast'ry brave Their Voice shew'd and what compass Verse might have Verse which then triumpht in Recitative When they all other Grounds resolv'd to wave Sang of themselves and Him who at once did give One power to Sing thus to Him and like Him to live LVII A wondrous Work it was from Nothing thus All things in weight and measure up to raise And perfect Order form'd most beauteous Subordinate as different were the Ways Whereby their Maker would direct his Praise But none so Wondrous did and strange appear Of Power and Beauty with so rich displays As Mans Formation made the Rule to bear And sublim'd Earth equal to highest Heaven rear LVIII That Dust could Live in what was done before Was plainly told but that it too could love As Love all life in it contains and more All that or Reason knows or can improve Th' Eternal Treasures only were enough To drein and to be drein'd For God but spake And all below and all the Hosts above Being and Life from the great Word did take But Hands Divine Man's model were employ'd to make LIX By Hands Divine his Body first was wrought The full Abridgment of this World to be With curious Art to ' its last perfection brought But infinitely base in its degree To th' Soul the Pourtraict of the Deity Into his Nostrils breath'd that in his Brain Might be infixt the Heav'nly Ima'gry And Life with Vital Blood in every Vein To th' Parts extream convey'd the Character retain LX. Love was that Character in Holiness And perfect Purity exemplifi'd And Innocence which that first state did bless And Reason with them Empire to divide And o're th' Inferiour Appetite preside Which it restrain'd and furnisht with true Skill It self in all its Acts to curb and guide At least had power to do so and fulfil The Charge Divine close backt by Freedom of the Will LXI Blest Qualities which made him Lord and King Of all this lower World and Majesty On his Erected Countenance stampt did bring Heav'n down to Earth and Earth that flat did lie Advance'd to be for Angels Company Nay farther and what Angels did admire For its Aetern Exemplar the Most High Who with his Work delighted would retire Frequent from Heav'n as to divert and view it nighe'r LXII Himself hereby Man dexterously did guide And o're himself so absolutely reign The greatest Kingdom in the World beside And which all other Kingdoms did contain In ' it self in Chief or Vassalages Chain That only Peace and only what was Good And only Love was given for Love again With Charms that by no force could be withstood And centred in one Point Indivisible GOD. LXIII Hail happy state of Innocence thrice Hail Hail to Thy Love and Thee And may my Verse From thence inspir'd with generous Souls
they rose with Bays and Ivy Crown'd Not such as Mortal Poets wear below But what i th' Heav'nly Tempâ—e grow And with whose Wreaths the first great Makers Brows are bound IX Go Shepherds go and kiss th' Eternal Son To Bethle'hem go and the first Tributes bring To Israels Saviour and Heav'ns New-born King To you this more than common Honour 's done To ' approach your God and Worship at his humble Throne Make haste nor by your own delay For others to prevent your Joys give way Why should they first be happy whilst you only stay For Kings shall come e're long from th' East By a less Flame than what 's your Guide Directed hi'ther to find that Rest Which seems not theirs till by ' you accepted or deny'd Of you God takes the first and greatest Care Who thus by Angels Summon'd are When they tho Kings and coming from afar Shall wait and both to call and lead them only have a Star 14 Jan. 166â— The STAR A Carol For the Epiphany by the III Kings SEe how that Glorious Star at Noon does rise And like another Sun new Guilds the Skies Look how it dares the Ruler of the Light And in His clearest Beams appears more bright Calling before its time the sluggish Night Rather the Conquer'd Sun to ' its Rays gives way And but a Phospher seems to its new Day The Conquer'd Sun c. Chorus trium Sure 't is no common Star see where it goes A daring Passage it self only knows And cross the Heav'n points out to Palestine And as it that way leads more bright does shine Come let us follow where it leads and see What may the Cause of its appearing be Whether it set a Star or some Divinity Come let us c. Chorus alter trium Some greater Power which to direct our Way Has chose this borrowed Shape and glorious Ray And when we knew not well which Road to go Does tow'rds Judea our great Journey show That way it points that way we must along No fear when Heaven 's out Guide we should go wrong That way c. Chorus trium tertius O're Bethle'm lo at length the Flame does rest Bethle'm that with the Prince of Peace is blest Bethle'm which must by ancient Prophecy The Tyring-House of the Almighty be Where he will cloath Himself with base Humanity And that 's the House where we our Gifts must bring To the World's God and Israel's Infant King Chorus Omnium Hither 't was hither the bright Star did lead Let 's enter humbly and approach with Fear The Star which brought will shew him us more clear And be a Glory round the Infants Head O this is He fall down and worship him fall down And kiss his Feet whose Head ev'n Heav'n thus stoops to Crown 23. Decemb. 1660. The PASSION An Ode I. TWice sixteen Years have almost o're Thee past Twice sixteen more Thou mayst as fondly waste In expectation Sylvius as thou hast The swift-wing'd Years which in their Passage scap'd thee last The Kalendar is searcht and all in vain Wouldst Thou have this Day return To the same Point as when in ' it Thou wert Born But 't will not be this Age if it e're come again Enough 'tis that Thou once didst see The great Conjunction Wait not o're long for what may be Too late for Thee And is sufficient of it self alone Without that Circumstance to fill Thy Song For grant it now what could to Thee be ' apply'd But that thy Birth fell out the Night thy Saviour Di'd II. Rise then my Muse but from a nobler Ground And sing in Numbers mournful as the Day Of Natures fright and disarray Which did Philosophy confound And scattered dismal Horrours all around When Heaven and Earth and Hell partook In the Darkness and the Night Which like a Sea o'reflow'd the plains of Light And all Spectators with amazement strook Unlike to that which once in Egypt raign'd When solid Night did Rhamases invest But Goshen of the Sun possest Over the Gleam a Prospect gain'd And uninvellopt saw how far the Heav'ns were stain'd Nor was it to the Antipodes The Day had hastned his access For they unsensible of Light Lay buried all the while in Night And without Miracle could not behold it bright Unless Thou add'st the Prodigie to raise And which none else but Thou O Muse dares say Th' Antipodes at Midnight rose to gaze And Night Jerusalem less admir'd than they the Day III. A thought too wild this and extravagant And which does all but its own airy basis want Say rather that the Pangs and Agonies Of a new and better World Which was thence to take its rise Were thus conceal'd from Mortal Eyes And Darkness as at first o're all th' Expansion hurld God's sacred Kingdom was that Birth The same New Heaven and new Earth Which the belov'd Disciple saw In all its Beauties as it did appear And to provoke Adventurers there A Chart thereof by Vision did exactly draw For on the Cross as our great Saviour hung And just Expiring bow'd his Conquering Head From the black Skies bright beams like Lightning sprung But as the Day continued long Chasing wing'd Darkness which before them fled And as the first Creations Work begun By the commanding Word which He To Nothing and to Chaos sed Making when He spake only Let there be By a no less Word this too was done Created by that Voice which cry'd T is Finished IV. 'T is Finished the Mighty Victor cry'd All reaking in Triumphal Gore Which his own Wounds not Enemies Necks supply'd For tho with them He Skirmisht had before And oft rebated had their Power He could not throughly for us Conquer till He Di'd Alone He did the Wine-press tread Of his Just Father's Wrath alone Israels to raise stoopt his own Head And to assist Him was there none So far from that that i th' pursuit Of Satan Sin and Death when He cry'd out With fainting Groans I Thirst His Patience some and some his Conquest Curst And Gall and Vinacre of the bitter Tree was all the Fruit. Till having tasted of the Brook i th' way Anew He follow'd till He gain'd the Day And to compleat his Victory Got thence more Aids and strength enough to Die V. Blest Saviour who but Thou couldst Live so long And in one Soul so many Deaths endure And different all and all their Pains so strong That their rehearsal does fresh Griefs ensure And again pierce those Hearts Thou bledst to Cure When in the Garden Thou didst first begin Gethsemane for ease design'd And safe retirements of a troubled Mind Purging thence all th' effects of Sin Which still tho hid remaind behind The dregs of what on Man in Paradise brake in Fatal but happy Place that where did grow Midst whole Woods no less beauteous but one Tree That even by Wilfulness alone could be The occasion of our Misery
for he who does it says 'T is done Our Blessed Lord's Thanksgiving Confiteor tibi Pater Domine I. I THANK Thee Father Lord of all Of Heav'n and Earth the Blessed King That to reveal Thy Discipline The Prudent of this World Thou dost not call The Mighty Noble and the Wise But such whom they as Foolish Base and Weak despise II. From those Thou hast Thy Counsels hid Who first Thy Counsels did refuse And Babes to publish them dost chuse That no Flesh take what Power Almighty did And when Thy Hand alone hath done The weighty Enterprise ascribe it to their own III. Eve'n so O Father so it is Thy Will Thy Love do hence appear And that great Power which every where In all things Rules but more in none than this For so to Thee it seemeth good Thy Grace should none withstand but those who it withstood The Song of MOSES Tunc cecinit Moyses Filii Israel carmen hoc Domino diâ—â—runt Cantemus Domino c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I. SINCE the Almighty has in Triumph led Not by câ—r Battels but his Arm â—'re-thrown The Proud 〈◊〉 King and from his Head On ours to put it 〈◊〉 Crown What more acceptâ—â— Trophy can we raise Than an eternal arch of Duty and of Praise Begin my Song and thou Immortal Verse Now truly such since him Thou dost Record Who only is th' Immortal Lord I my self will begin too and rehearse The wondrous Conquests of his Word To him I 'll Sing who gloriously His Promise and his Ancient Faith to keep Has gotten himself and us the Victory And Horse and Rider hurld at once into the Deep II. God is my Strength and he shall be my Song From whom my great Salvation came Who is my God approv'd in dangers long My Father's God the Puissant and the Strong Israel's tri'd Champion and Jehovah is his Name Him will I Sing of him shall be my Praise And of the Works that he hath done Th' Eternal Glories he hath won But ours no less than his own Fame to raise For Pharao and his host Their way their hopes themselves i th' Ruine lost Into the Sea he hurld the Red Sea as a Stone By a Giants arm is lightly thrown Him and his chosen Captains at a cast They flew they sank the wounded Sea did groan But into it's bottom headlong let them down Through thousand Waves that murmured as along they whirling past III. There were they Drownd there cover'd with the Deep There sank they never to be rais'd again In Adamantine Chains Thou didst the Pris'ners keep The same Thou thrâ—wst before upon the Main And now on them o're both to show Thy equal Reign Glorious Thou didst that Day O Lord appear Glorious in Power appear'd then thy Right Hand Thine Enemies the Shock could not withstand And found too late its Wrath was heavier than their fear When dasht in pieces they all scattered lay And to th' Leviathans became a Prey So on a sudden were they gone So soon so eas'ly by Thy Breath o're-thrown As when a raging Fire does Stubble seise And with it Thorns to ' unequal Battel press Such was Thy Wrath tho in a different kind And different was the Element But Death as certain and as sudden sent Thy Wrath tow'rds them which like a mighty Wind Stood up and up the Floods bid stand As on an heap to let Thy People go The Floods obey'd the great Command And like a Wall on either Hand Of congeal'd Chrystal in the heart of th' Sea did show IV. This as the Spoyler saw T is now he said Now is the time an end to make I will pursue I will o're-take Lo how the Sea the Fugitives has betray'd And to leave us a way it s dri'd up Channel do's forsake Now shall my Sword with slaughter glutted be My Lust shall on them now be satisfied Nor till they ' are totally destroyed This Arm withdraw or let them other Conquerors see With Charms their Leader staind the sacred Flood But I 'll the Sea or perish new Dye with their Blood Scarce said Thou with Thy Wind Upon the parted Sea didst blow The parted Sea its hold invisible let go And hollow'd to its fellow Waves behind They came and having traverst them around The Chamiam Hosts did in their Arms enclose A while they floated diving where they rose Till touching thrice the fatal Ground Like Lead they sank and all the Deaths they had threatned found V. Amongst the Gods Who is there like the Lord Or with Him who can once compare So ' unsearchable His Counsels are So great the Wonders of His Word In holy Glories who does all excel And Terrour strikes in us who would his Praises tell For Thou thy Hand didst only wave And Israels way was Egypts Grave Which th' opening Earth and Seas conspiring gave Thus perisht they Thus sav'd by Thy Right Hand Thy ransom'd People hitherto Thou ' hast brought Whilst of the Miracles it wrought We and our Children living Monuments here stand Nations shall hear this Lord and be afraid Horrour on Palestine fast hold shall take Courage the Dukes of Edom shall forsake And Moabs daring Warriers ill appaid Shall on themselves feel unknown Terrors laid Whole Canaan ready to expire With dread dissolv'd as Wax shall melt before the Fire VI. Trembling and Fear Anguish Dispair and Dread On every Land shall fall on every Head As Thine Arm is such shall their Horrours be And not a Soul from the' Consternation free Close shall they lie within their Dens Still as the Rocks wherewith they are cover'd lie And fearful once to issue thence Scarce to their helpless Gods send forth a cry Or let their Groans be heard while Israel passes by Till to Thy Promis'd Land they are come And where they have been strangers long their ancient Home Thither my God through thousand dangers past To Sion by Thy self prepar'd to be Thy Dwelling Place to ' Eternity The Sanctuary with Thy Presence grac'd Thither be pleas'd Thy purchas'd Flock to bring at last So shalt Thou through all Ages Reign And in all Lands new Subjects to Thy Empire gain Sumpsit ergo Maria Prophetissa soror Aâ—rm tympanum in manu suâ egressaeque sunt omnes Mulieres post eam cum tympanis choris quibus praecinebat dicens CHORVS Mulierum SIng to the Lord who gloriously His Promise and his Ancient Faith to keep Has gotten Himself and us the Victory And Horse and Rider hurld at once into the Deep The WELL. Num. 21. Tune cecinit Israel Carmen istud Ascendat Puteus concinebat Puteus quem soderunt Principes paraverunt duces multitudinis in Datore legis in baculis suis. SACRED Fountain Mystic Spring Lo how to Thy Dance we Sing And Cymbals tun'd by thy soft Purlings ring Spring eternally O Well Spring up and into Rivers swell For why no common Well art Thou Nor was it chance first found Thee out But having
by the Rivers side Whose loaded Boughs in Fruits return Their Tribute to the Tide No Storm or Drought shall make him fade But he unmov'd shall stand Nor shall Success less prosp'rous crown What e're he takes in hand No so the Wicked who as Chaff By Tempests rais'd on high The triumph of fierce Winds are made And as they drive them flie Unlike in Life unlike shall be The ends which on them wait Whilst these in Judgment cannot stand And those are prais'd i th' Gate For why the ways of Righteous Men Unto the Lord are known But Sinners ways hid to themselves Unto the Dead lead down PSAL. LVII Miserere mei Deus miserere GREAT God on whom I have reli'd Whose Mercy is my stay Under Thy Wings or let me hide Or on them flie away Or hide or flie until the Storm Which threatens me is past Thou all things for me dost perform In Thee my hope is plac'd To God I 'll cry who shall descend From Heav'n i th' Fight to close And while his Love does me defend His Truth shall slay my Foes With Lions Lord my Soul lies down shut up within their Den Lions so fierce were never known Cruel and bloody Men. Whose Tongues are Swords and Eyes all Fire With gore and slaughter Red And who against me all conspire To look or speak me Dead Yet set Thy Glory ' above the Skies O're th' Earth exalted be For tho so high I cannot rise Thou mayst stoop down to me Thou didst so for as I lookt round Pensive and full of care My prostrate Enemies strew'd the Ground Each tane in his own Snare Fixt is my Heart to sing Thy Praise T is fixt and I 'll rejoyce Awake my Harp and with Thee raise To Heav'n my tuneful Voice I will awake too and my Song To th' Nations shall rehearse Mercies whose Praise to Heav'n belong Worthy an Angels Verse Lord set Thy Glory ' above the Skies O're the Earth exalted be Lo how thy Son does thither rise Lift from the Grave by Thee Turn'd and Transcrib'd with the following Psalm for an Hymn upon Easter-day 1671. PSAL. CXIV In exitu Israel de c. WHEN Israel was by God's address And his Almighty Hand From Bondage led and wondrously Brought to the Promis'd Land In Judah God his Glory shew'd And did his Power declare Israel his great Inheritance Temple and Empire were The Sea it saw and suddenly Amaz'd rose up and fled The parted streams of Jordans Flood Ran trembling to their Head Aside the Mountains leapt like Rams And to the Hills did show The Hills which shook like frighted Lambs The way which they should go What ail'd the Sea that all amaz'd So suddenly it fled And what made Jordans parted streams Run trembling to their Head Why did the Mountains leap like Rams And to the Hills first show The Hills which shook like frighted Lambs The way which they should go Confess O Earth thy Soveraign Lord And at his Presence quake Before the Face of Jacob's God Bow and Obeysance make 'T is he who caus'd those Rocks to hear And when Thy Springs are dry Can from their flinty Bowels fetch Streams which shall never die PSAL. CLI According to the LXXII 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. I. YOUNGEST of all my Brethren and the least In the Jessean House to ' a Service I enclin'd Which both my Age and Innocence suited best And best the Throne to which I was design'd My Fathers Flock was early set to keep And how to govern Men first learn among my Sheep II. I kept and fed them with a pious care And as they fed my Harp and Pipe assayd Them and my self to please did Songs prepare And variously as pensive Shepherd playd Till having wearied out an humbler String A bolder flight I dare'd Israels Great God to Sing III. But who such Praise can worthily rehearse I strove my best and it acceptance found With Heav'ns Blest King who to approve my Verse A double Glory round my Temples bound By ' his Prophets Hand there plac'd the Regal Crown From the Flock calling me the Poet 's with his own IV. I many Brethren had and great of Might All valiant Men and all renown'd in War Oft tri'd but God in them took no delight For Causes tho from us removed far To ' himself best known who sees not as Man sees But as the Heart is judges and gives Dignities V. For that and his own Pleasure He chose me And having chosen call'd me forth to fight With Raphas Giant-son whose blasphemy Levell'd at Heav'n on his own Head did light By ' his Gods he curst me and his Gods he curst Himself as the chief God propitiating thus first VI. But such curse Proof I out against him went The firmlier arm'd as he disarm'd thereby And certain Death into his Fore-head sent E're he the place could guard or turn to flie He fell I ran to th' lifeless Monster came From him with 's own Sword took his Head from Israel shame Job cursing his Birth After this opened Job his Mouth and cursed his Day And Job spake and said Pereat dies in qua natus sum MAY the Day perish and it s hastly flight Be still be still retarded by a sluggish Night The Day unhappy Day whereon 't was known My Mother could that name and sorrows own Let it look black as Hell no Ray appear Nor on it God in common Light draw near But unregarded may it from above To ' all other Days a different Circle move Augment the last Nights gloom and ne're be found But in a Sea of Rapes and Murder drownd Let Deaths grim Terrors on it ever dwell Of if 't has Light let it be such as fell On Sodom when avenging Heav'n did showr Tempests of Fire and flouds of Lightning pour And for the Night if yet it were the Night For any Day too bad which first disclos'd the sight Dark of it self let Horrour on it seize And when all others welcome are for th' ease And respit which they bring the toilsome care Of pains which in their Curtains hidden are Let it be Curst too and by ' a fatal Breath Doom'd not the shadow of it but very Death Sad dismal solitary know no Joys No chearful shouts but a dull confus'd noise Of Groans and Shrieks as when the parting Soul Labours in vain its dest'iny to controul And as the Criminal who to die next Morn The pity of the many and their Scorn Curses its shortness and does think it done Sooner than other Nights are well begun Let it abide Curst and grown Ominous Its Tale in some prodigious ruine lose Black be its Twilight in it rise no Star But such as when 't is seen tho from a far Famine portends and Blood and the Worlds flame And all the Plagues that have or have not Name Let it expect the Light and pine away To Darkness palpable but see no Day With thousand Curses more And Day
Arrow on the string did hang It hung a while but when the Bow He drew Drawn to the head away it flew And flying gave a deadly twang The Air a good while after rang The sound how loud the Pile how keen How would it enter when no Mail could come between Such was his Word which did their Way prepare The Oath which to the Tribes He past Making them Conquerors every where Till they were in Canaan plac'd Till to the Promis'd Land He brought them safe at last VI. Semper fluvios scindes Tâ—rrae But first the War did rage at Home Thirst a worse Foe than Amaleck to be o'recome To God for Drink they cry Not with a Wet but envious Eye For Drought long since had made those Cisterns dry They cry'd and murmur'd to ' Egypt back would go Till from the Rock God bid the Waters flow The Rock obey'd and to the sacred Rod did bow Out gusht new Streams th' admiring Earth gave way But wondred how such Rivers should come there Yet lookt again to see her fear And as she saw it quak't and ready cut in Channels lay VII Viderunt te doluerunt Montes There as He marcht the Mountains saw their God And stagger'd as he shook His Rod The surly Deep past silent by And fearful any more to look on high In humble plains of liquid Chrystal flat did lie The bolder Waves which yet would rise And with their towring Billows dare the Skies Seeing Him started and shriekt out No more of their Defiance thought And of His Presence were asham'd to doubt As when one sees some Ruine near Ready upon his Head to fall Which yet he cannot help at all Cannot prevent but with unequal strength must bear Expecting the dead weight he stands Shrinks in his Shoulders and lifts up his Hands So stood the Waves and without power to flie With rais'd up Hands and Eyes had hardly strength to cry VIII Sol Luna steterunt The Sun amaz'd stood still and at the sight Bid the Moon stop and see the bloody Fight Never was such a Fight never so long a Day When Heav'n it self did waiting stay Nor till it saw the Victors went away The Lord Himself that Day marcht out Hail-stones and Coals of Fire hurl'd all about In wrath He marcht through the whole Land And thresht the Nations as He past along His Arm so weighty and his Wrath so strong None durst against Him stand To save his People did He thus appear To them so Glorious to His Foes so full of Fear IX Percussisti Caput de domo c. To th' Earth He stroke their Princes down Their Villages destroy'd sack'd every Town Tho like a Whirlwind they against us came God for us fought in arms of Flame Flames which their blasts made fiercer burn And on themselves with double Vengeance turn In Fire God came against them and o'recame Did through the Sea on His great Horses ride Whilst Waves to make Him room stood up in heaps on either side X. Audivi contuâ—batus est c. This as I heard my Joynts unloos'd Through all my Veins chill Horrour was diffus'd My Belly trembled and my Lips did quake My Bones for very rottenness did shake Afraid I was yet could not chuse but fear When I such mighty things did here When e're I was aware The God who did them I perceiv'd drew near O may I rest when he to judg shall rise For when He does the wicked World chastise How heavy then will be His Hand how red his Eyes XI Ascendam ad Populum From Thee Lord then to my God now I flie And for Thy Mercy on Thy Power relie Propitious Thee thy Land has found and so shall I. Nothing shall make me quit my trust For Thou art Pitiful as well as Just. No tho the Fig-Tree blossom not And on the Vine the generous clusters rot Tho th' labours of the Olive cease And all the lesser Plants of Life With Man as He is with his God at strife Deny to give their rich encrease Let th' Earth threat Famine bear no Grass Iron below as Heav'n above is Brass No Fruit no Pasture yield But be with Thorns and Brambles fill'd And they burnt up whilst there 's a Furnace in each Field Let the Flocks die and in the Stall The Ox not by the Knife but want of Fodder fall Yet in my God will I rejoyce Whose care I am as I made him my choice 'T is He 's my strength and freed from fear For me on high He shall His Truth display Or when the Desolation's near Give me Hinds Feet to scape away Comiato Song wherewith I first Begun My Great Redeemers Praise to sing And from a far more noble string Than I was wont an Hebrew Descant run For the great Harp of Jesses Son To be prepar'd when Time should be Preserve that Times blest Memory And all that by Thee ' inspir'd I since have done That if with Men no Grace I find With Heav'n I may and Peace in my own Mind OCCASIONAL RIMES The Saying of CLEANTHES 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 DVC me Parens Celsique Dominator Poli Quocunque placuit nulla parendi mora est Adsum impiger fac nolle comitabor gemens Malusque patiar quod pati licuit bono I. LEAD me O Providence Divine Where e're Thou hast appointed me to go I 'll follow willingly and show By my quick pace that one design Tho hid to me acts Thy unerring Will and mine II. Briskly I 'll follow Thee for so I shall prevent my Fate which to decline Beyond my Compass is and Line Worse by resistance I shall grow And after all be driven whether I will or no. Vpon a terrible Storm of Thunder Wind and Rain 25 July 1670 done by Night in the midst of it I. GREAT God of Thunder at whose Voice The Earth and its Foundations shake And Man whom Thou hast made its Lord does quake Still the dreadful and amazing Noise Lo as Thy People Israel did of old By Fear surpriz'd yet by our fear made bold Lord lest we die we beg Thou wouldst Thy Voice withhold II. Yet speak for Lo Thy Servants hear And speak Thy self but not in Smoak and Flame The mighty Storm that by the Tishbite came And rent the Hills and did the Mountains tear The Tishbite saw unmov'd knowing Thou wert not there At length was heard an awful sound Whispers and murmers undistinct around With silence waited on profound And a soft Voice in which the Thunders shouts were drownd The Prophet listned and inclin'd his Head Fill'd with sacred and unusual Dread His Face did in his Mantle hide For Thou in triumph on the peaceful sound didst ride And He who brav'd the Thunder bow'd and worshipped III. With such another Voice Divine Lord speak to us and we will hear Thy Thunder