after time preserved and defended them from one enemy after another till he brought them safe to the very skirts of Canaan the type of heaven a land long before promised them and designed for the special place of his worship and residence of his Church where when they were ready to enter and he to give them possession how did they then also murmur and disbelieve so that that generation was not permitted to enter but wandered in the wilderness till they perished there but their posteritie lived to enjoy it God brought them into possession of this promised land by as great victories and miracles as their fore-fathers had seen in Egypt and the wilderness casting out the inhabitants from before them in every place where they came yea the scornfull self-confident Jebusites by the hands of his servant David whom he made able to dislodge them from of mount Sion that strong fort so long detained and possess it for his special use and service placing his Sanctuary there 55 As great and gyant-like as the natives of Canaan were and as high and strong as were the walls yet God made way for his people to pass through the land as conquerours where ever they came no enemy could stand before them but were either put to flight or taken and killed So that they were enriched with the spoils of the land which they became Lords and masters of the heathen-native Canaanites by Gods just judgements and mighty power being ejected the whole countrie was apportioned amongst them as they thought good each tribe being possessed of those cities towns and houses that fell to their lot which were built to their hands 56 Yet these Israelites to whom God gave possession of this promised land notwithstanding all the wondrous works he wrought for them and the terrible judgements they saw executed before their faces and by their very hands upon their Idolatrous enemies yet did they from time to time even in the land of Canaan do as did their fore-fathers in the way thither provoke the Lord to anger even the God of whom they had had such experience for his power to punish them in case they sinned and faithfulness to fulfil his promise in case they believed and obeyed which they did neither 57 Never cared for God further than to serve their turns upon him when they had need of him then they could flatter and dissemble with fair promises and pretended good affections just as did their forefathers and made good nothing they said but fell off presently from God both disbelieved and disobeyed as did their perfidious ancestours before them whom therefore God destroyed in the wilderness and would not suffer to enter Canaan which yet he gave to these their posteritie in hope they would take example from their predecessours sins and his punishments to walk more closely and believe more firmly But they utterly deceived his expectation and warped from the rule he gave them to walk by both in faith and manners as an arrow deviates from the mark when shot by an unsteadie hand or out of a crooked wrycast bow 58 For in stead of frequenting his tabernacle to worship him there as he appointed they built altars in high places an invention of their own not commanded of God and so provoked God to anger by worshipping not onely the true God in a false manner but even other Gods graven images strange things for the chosen people of the living and great God to worship especially after such and so wonderful declarations of himself and his power whereby they grievously incensed him to see them go a whoring in this sort to whom he bare such conjugal affections being his onely spouse and of whose reciprocal respect and love to him he was so jealous 59 When the Lord saw this and heard the crie of their ungrateful back-sliding in this manner come up to heaven he could not hold but grew extream angrie at such base abuse and rejection of him and the more he had loved them the more now upon this occasion he hated and abhorred his own chosen Israel 60 So that having cast off his people that would not worship him he cast off the place too where he was to be worshipped afforded no protection to Shiloh nor presence there where the Ark and Tabernacle had been so long the pledge of his presence where he hath vouchsafed to dwell and onely there of all the earth in his Tabernacle as in a tent whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain 61 But in anger and discontent at such ingratitude and neglect from a people that he had done so much for and took such delight in he at last even gave up his Ark that pledge of his presence and consequently of his gracious and powerful assistance by which and for which he had given them so many deliverances from and victories over their enemies into their enemies hand whom he then made absolute victors over them and the Ark too suffering the Philistines to take it prisoner and carrie it away captive into their own countrey and so left Israel naked and destitute of divine power and protection and stript off the visible sign of the presence of the invisible God amongst them and for them a most glorious priviledge afforded them above and beyond all the whole World which they lost and the Philistines in punishment of their sins and to the everlasting shame and reproch of their cowardise specially Ephraims took and carried from them 62 And to shew their strength was gone when God had left them and suffered his Ark the token both of him and it to be taken by the uncircumcised Philistines and how little he cared for them that cared not for him he utterly forsook his people that day and let the enemie kill and slay as they would themselves so that there fell that day at Eben-Ezer thirtie thousand foot-men they cowardly deserting the battel and fled every man to his tent and this was the issue of their provoking God to anger they lost him and themselves too 63 For the jealousie of the Lord which was kindled against them suddenly consumed them in his fierce displeasure did he expose them to the merciless sword of the Philistines which hewed down so many thousands of the choice young men of Israel that day which so unpeopled them that the maids could not have husbands there not being men enow to marrie them nor if there had would those times the saddest that ever befel Israel have been oportune for bride-feasts when all eyes were full of tears and hearts full of sorrow at so great disaster upon such a slaughter and the loss of the Ark of God their strength and glorie 64 At which time also Hophni and Phinehas the two sons of Eli that waited upon the Ark were likewise slain wose widows were so transported with the loss of the Ark as the loss of their husbands was swallowed up in it
good he abhorreth not evil 5 Thy mercy O Lord is in the heavens and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds 6 Thy righteousnes is like the great mountains thy judgements are a great deep O Lord thou preservest man and beast 7 How excellent is thy loving kindness ' O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow oâ— thy wings 8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures 9 For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light 10 O continue thy loving kindness unto them that know thee and thy righteousness to the upright in heart 11 Let not the foot of pride come against me and let not the hand of the wicked remove me 12 There are the workers of iniquitie fallen they are cast down and shall not be able to rise Psalm xxxvii A Psalm of David 1 FRet not thy self because of evil doers neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquitie 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb 3 Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed 4 Delight thy self also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy judgement as the noon-day 7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him fret not thy self because of him who prospereth in his way because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass Cease from anger 〈◊〉 forsake wrath â—â—et not thy self in any wise to do evil 9 For evil doers shall be cut off but those that wait upon the Lord they shall inherit the land 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be yeâ— thou shalt diligently consider his place and iâ— shall not be 11 But the meek shal inherit the earth shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace 12 The wicked plotteth against the just and gnasheth upon him with his teeth 13 The Lord shall laugh at him for he seeth that his day is coming 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword and have bent their bow to cast down the poor and needie and to slay such as be of upright conversation 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart and their bows shall he broken 16 A little that a righteous man hath is is better than the riches of many wicked 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken but the Lord upholdeth the righteous 18 The Lord knoweth the days of the upright and their inheritance shall be for ever 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time and in the days of famin they shall be satisfied 20 But the wicked shall perish and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs they shall consume into smoak shall they consume away 21 The wicked borroweth and payeth not again but the righteous sheweth mercie and giveth 22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way 24 Though he fall he shall not utterly be cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand 25 I have been young and now am old yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread 26 He is ever merciful and lendeth and his seed is blessed 27 Depart from evil and do good dwell for evermore 28 For the Lord loveth judgement and forsaketh not his saints they are preserved for ever but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off 29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell therein for ever 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom his tongue talketh of judgement 31 The Law of his God is in his heart none of his steps shall slide 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous and seeketh to slay him 33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand nor condemn him when he is judged 34 Wait on the Lord and keep his way and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land when the wicked are cut off thou shalt see it 35 I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green bay-tree 36 Yet he passed away and so he was not yea I sought him but he could not be found 37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace 38 But the transgressours shall be destroyed together the end of the wicked shall be cut off 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord he is their strength in time of trouble 40 And the Lord shall help them and deliver them he shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in him Psalm xxxviii A Psalm of David to bring to remembrance 1 O Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me and thine hand presseth me soar 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness 6 I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long 7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease there is no soundness in my flesh 8 I am feeble sore broken I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart 9 Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee 10 My heart panteth my strength faileth me as for the light of mine eyes it also is gone from me 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore and my kinsmen stand far off 12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me they that seek my hurt â—peak mischievous things and imagin deceits all the day long 13 But I as a deaf man heard not and I was as a dumb man that opened not his mouth 14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofs 15 For in thee O Lord do I hope thou wilt hear O Lord my God 16 For I said Hear me least otherwise they should reâ—oyce over me when my foot slippeth they magnifie themselves against me 17 For I am readie to halt and my sorrow is continually before me 18 For I will declare mine iniquitie I will be sorie for my sin 19 But mine enemies are lively and they are strong and they that hate me wrongfully
places they shall hear my words for they are sweet 7 Our bones are scatterâ—d the graves mouth as whâ—n one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth 8 But mine eyes are unto thee O God the Lord in thee is my trust leave not my soul destitute 9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me and the grins of the workers of iniquitie 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets whilest that I withall escape Psalm cxlii Masâ—hil of David a pâ—ayer when he was in the cave 1 I cried unto the Lord with my voice with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication 2 I poured out my complaint before him I shewed before him my trouble 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me then thou knewest my path in the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me 4 I looked on my right hand and beheld but there was no man that would know me refuge failed me no man cared for my soul. 5 I cried unto thee O Lord I said thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living 6 Attend unto my cry for I am brought very low deliver me from my persecutours for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison that I may praise thy name the righteous shall compass me about for thou shalt deal bountifully with me Psalm cxliii A Psalm of David 1 HEar my prayer O Lord give ear to my supplications in thy faithfulness answer me in thy righteousness 2 And enter not into judgement with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified 3 For the enemie hath persecuted my soul he hath smitten my life down to the ground he hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been long dead 4 Therefore is my spirit over-whelmed within me my heart within me is desolate 5 I remember the dayes of old I meditate on all thy works I muse on the work of thine hands 6 I stretch forth mine hands unto thee my soul thin steth after thee as a thâ—rsty land Sâ—laâ— 7 Heaâ— me speedily O Lord my spirit saileth hide not thy face from me least I be like unto them that go down into the pit 8 Cause me to heathy loving kindness in the morning for in thee do I trust cause me to know the way wherein I shall walk for I lift up my soul unto thee 9 Deliver me O Lord from mine enemies I flie unto thee to hide me 10 Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God thy spirit is good lead me in the land of uprightness 11 Quicken me O Lord for thy names sake for thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble 12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies and destroy all them that afflict my soul for I am thy servant Psalm cxliv. A Psalm of David BLessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war and my fingers to fight 2 My goodness and my fortress my high tower and my deliverer my shield and he in whom I trust who subdueth my people under me 3 Lord what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the son of man that thou makest account of him 4 Man is like to vanitie his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away 5 Bow thy heavenâ— O Lord and come down touch the mountains and they shall smoke 6 Cast forth lightning and scatter them shoot out thine arrows destroy them 7 Send thine hand from above rid me and deliver me out of great waters from the hand of strange children 8 Whose mouth speaketh vanitie and their right hand is a right hand of falshood 9 I will sing a new song unto thee O God upon a â—saltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee 10 It is he that giveth salvation unto Kings who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword 11 Rid me and deliver me from the hand of strange children whose mouth speaketh vanity and their right hand is a right hand of falshood 12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth that our daugâ—ters may be as corner stones polished after the similitude of a palace 13 That our garners may be full affording all manner of store that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets 14 That our oxen may be strong to labour that there be no breaking in nor going out that there be no complaining in our streets 15 Happy is that people that is in such a case yea happy is that people whose God is the Lord. Psalm cxlv Davids Psalm of praise 1 I Will extol thee my God O King and I will bless thy name for ever and ever 2 Every day will I bless thee and I will praise thy name for ever and ever 3 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable 4 One generation shall praise thy works to another and shall declare thy mightie acts 5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy Majestie and of thy wonderous works 6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts and will declare thy greatness 7 They shall abundantly utter the memorie of thy great goodness and shall sing of thy righteousness 8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercie 9 The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works 10 All thy works shall praise thee O Lord and the saints shall bless thee 11 They shall speak of the glorie of thy Kingdom and talk of thy power 12 To make known to the sons of men his mightie acts and the glorious Majestie of his Kingdom 13 Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations 14 The Lord upholdeth all that fall raiseth up all those that be bowed down 15 The eyes of all wait upon thee and and thou givest them their meat in due season 16 Thou openest thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing 17 The Lord is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his works 18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth 19 He 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 that fear 〈…〉 will hâ—ar their crie and will save them 20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him but all the wicked will he destroy 21 My mouth â—hall speak the praise of the Lord and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever Psalm cxlvi 1 PRaise ye the Lord praise the Lord O my soul. 2 While I live will I praise the Lord I will sing praise unto my God while I have any being 3 Put not your trâ—st in Princes nor in the son of men in whom there is no help 4 His breath goeth forth be returneth to this
BRIEF NOTES Upon the whole Book of PSALMS Put forth for the help of such who desire to exercise themselves in them and cannot understand without a Guid. Being a pithie and clear opening of the Scope and Meaning of the Text to the capacitie of the Weakest By GEORGE ABBOT ACTS 18. vers 30 31. And Philip said unto the Eunuch Vnderstandest thou what thou Readest And he said How can I except some man should Guid me LONDON Printed by WILLIAM BENTLEY and are to be sold by Iohn Williams at the Crown and Francis Eglesfield at the Mary-gold in S. Pauls Church-yard Anno Dom. 1651. TO The truly Religious and Virtuous M ris JOAN PUREFOY Wife to the Honourable Colonell William Purefoy of Caldecote in Warwickshire Esquire a Member of this present PARLIAMENT THe Authours name bespeaks entertainment for this Book with those that knew him and the work it selfe with those that knew him not The return of it unto you whose interest and property therein is greater than can be derived by any dedication may peradventure at the first sight have the like operation upon you which those words of Jospeph's brethren had upon their father Jacob. Is not this thy sons Coat But upon further insight into and more inward acquaintance with it you shall find that he who took a great part of your heart with him out of this World Hath distilled into this work so much of those sweet spirits and graces which were fragrant in him while he lived as may represent and continew unto you the fruition of him in that which was his better part besides whom you had no other object of maternall affection and by whom there was left no other off-spring but the fruit of his studies and pen the more lively characters of his heart and spirit of which this is the last drawn forth unto the life immediately before his death left as a legacy to the people of God and as an account of his expence of that time which by reason of bodily infirmities could not be imployed in the service of the Common-wealth in Parliament whereof he was a Member There is not a line added to it by any other pencill neither did it need any thing but midwifery to bring it forth into the World and present it unto you as his or if you please as him The honour of which service pardon me if I claim as of a kind of right upon my acquaintance with his studies and his both frequent communications with me and obligations put upon me for the greater part of twenty years together in which he lived under my Ministery and in intimate correspondence with me whereby he put me into a greater debt to him than I can exonerate by this acknowledgment which indeed might lessen my testimonie by misprision of partiality had he not left a blessed memory behind him for my justification and incouragement If I should set forth his spirituall abilities to the life which I decline and rather chuse to point out the way and means of his improvement to so great a measure and maturity of them and thereby render the point at which he aimed attainable by others that shall transcribe his copy by shewing the line in which he moved to it The method or discipline which God used towards him at his first entrance into the school of Christ was not unlike to that of the Wilderness wherein through the frequent recesses of the spirit and Gods turning the dark side of the cloud towards him he was exercised with fresh agitations discomposures of spirit so as like massive bodies he could not settle upon his true center without previous trepidation whereupon he converted his studies and indeavours to the settlement of his spirituall estate and began to search the Scriptures for the treasure hidden in that field which together with his assiduity in hearing the word Preached his sucking the sweet out of such Books as had marrow and experience in them his constant trade with Heaven by Prayer his communication of experience and conversation with such as knew Jesus Christ brought him to such firmness of consistence in his own spirit as one that was the better rooted by former shakings to such fixedness in his principles as one that did not onely understand the truth of them but had tasted the goodness and felt the power of them to such riches of spirituall experiences as he became the resort of troubled consciences and a dexterous artist in swathing up tender and weak infants in grace and to such spiritualty of affection as in whom the primogeniall virtue and sence of Gods dispensations toward and impressions upon him in his conversion or as the Scripture speaks the love of his espousalls continued fresh and vigorous As for his proficiency and progress in the way of Christianity it was thus advanced in matter of knowledge or doctrine his chiefest inquiry upon any point was cui bono of what proper use and conducement it was unto practicall holiness or fruition of good c. Searching out the nutrimentall pith or marrow that was in it and not greatly ingaging his thoughts into opinions of contention or mere notion which had no kernell In duties altogether unsatisfied except he found the spirit acting and stirring in him or were particularly sensible of the absence withdrawments of it In company communicative and trading in the staple commodities of Heaven Especially upon the Sabbath-day wherein he used to sequester his thoughts and words to the proper work of that day and to divert common and obvious occurrences into matter of spirituall insinuation which day he also vindicated in his Book entituled Vindiciae Sabbati when that controversie was rife and hot and some began to lay open Gods inclosure into common fields and upon which day the Lord of the day honoured him in the defence of an unfortified House by a very few assistants against the furious assaults by fire and sword of a numerous and potent enemy The memory of which deliverance he kept alive in himself and exprest his sence thereof even in his last will and Testament the rather doubtless in respect that you his ever honoured Mother being imbarked in the same bottom with him at that time was supported with courage above your sex and with faith above present sence and so brought clear off that threatning storm by the good hand of the Lord your God unto whom as you have learned and do know it is all one to save by few as by many I shall say no more of him thereby to aggravate your loss which yet was not all yours for the Family the Town the Countrey were sensible of the influence of his exemplary holiness but shall pray for you a heart to make a gain of it by learning to walk with God without a crutch and in him onely to make out all deficiency and wants of secondary helps in whom every creature-comfort is virtually and eminently contained and so shall you quench
me and my small company from place to place and have now overtaken and begirt us round using all diligence to find us out wheresoever we hide our selves that they may destroy us 12 Greedily lion-like gaping after us to prey upon us and either by strength or policy utterly to ruine us 13 Consider my strait O Lord and step into my rescue defeat his purpose and disable his power save my life now endangered by my wicked enemies and destroy them that would destroy me by thy might and in thy justice 14 Save me from men which though they are too hard for me are not able to stand under thy hand O Lord God of power yea from such men as care never to see thy face in heaven nor shall they on whom thou liberally bestowest temporal favours for that 's all they are to have from thee as the fat and sweet of the earth and store of children to whom they leave store of wealth and that 's all they care for 15 But Lord this is not my care nor herein consists not my happiness but in this that I can appeal to thee in the faith of thy grace and the sense of mine own innocency This is my care and comfort at present and I am sure for future I shall be happy when they are miserable at the day of the resurrection of all flesh when I shall appear acceptable to thee clothed in thine Image of holiness and righteousness which they shall not and so be received into life and immortality when they shall be rejected The xviii PSALM David having upon the consideration and view of his great and many benefits first kindled the love of God in his heart then falls to praising him for them which he performs with much divine Art and elegancy in musical Identities poetical strains and Hyperbolical allusions similitudes and comparisons of his deliverances for substance with the most wonderful ones that ever God wrought for his Church or servants by any his notoriousest miracles Then he shâ—ws the ground hereof to wit the innocency of his cause the uprightness of his wayes and the grace and righteousness of his good God And thence raises conclusions of future mercies both to himself and others in like case that walk with and depend on the Lord as he had done to whom he thankfully ascribes all his preservation deliverance victories advancement and promises himself victory for time to come and enlargement of his dominions as a type of Christs Kingdom over as well Heathens as Israelites And resuming his acknowledgements above all he records his deliverance from Saul as most remarkable and thank-worthy By all which he gives to understand the ratification of the Kingdom to him by God and his appointment to signifie for the comfort of the faithful Christs conquests by the power of his father in the Churchâ—s behalf in and over which he shall râ—ign foâ— ever To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire is recommended for the care and ordering of it to be sung by David whose greatest honour in this his high advancement is that he is the designed and dedicated servant of the Lord this Psalm which he composed at the end of his troubles when the Lord had delivered him from the power and violence of all his home-bred enemies but principally from Saul who was his greatest persecutor and potent adversary and made him King in his stead And upon this occasion he gave thanks and praised God as followeth 1 AS I have cause so I ever will bear in mind thy mercies and love thee for them O Lord in whom I repose all my trust and stay and so have ever done 2 I have bottomed my self on the Lord onely and made him my defendor and trusted in him for deliverance which he hath sent me I own him and no other God but him for my God I will never think my self weak while I have him for my strength whom I will choose to trust in as mine all in all my defendor and mine enemies strong offendor in my behalf my safeguard from them and advancer above them 3 I have often called on the Lord in prayer in mine adversity and now I will change my note and sing a Psalm of praise to him who is right worthy to be praised by me for what he hath done for me and so I shall still be sure of him for my God and Saviour as well against those that shall be mine enemies as those that have been 4 I have been many times brought into inextricable dangers of death so that I have even given my self for lost and have thought it impossible to escape the hands of such a wicked multitude as sought my bloud 5 Yea I have made full account of my grave so near have I been to mine end in mine own apprehension I judged it utterly impossible ever to escape the deadly dangers I have been in 6 But ever in my distress I made my repair to God I called to him who I knew was of power to help me and made my earnest supplication to him that I believed loved me and would be good unto me and accordingly I found it so for he failed me not but heard my prayer and answered it from Heaven the place of his presence as shall be the Temple and was moved by my pitiful case and earnest supplication which he took special notice of and ever lent me relief according to it 7 For thereupon he miraculously delivered me and wrought wonderfully for me and against mine enemies in effect as much and as marvellously as he did of old either in the punishment or for the terrour of his own people when they rebelled against him and his servant Moses or at any time for the deliverance of Israel whether in Egypt the red sea wilderness or since yea as conspicuously did he appear for me in the acts of providence and power as if he had really and in letter created all those revolutions and transmutations in the aire and elements hereafter mentioned as to instance when at any time in his wrath he did or as if he had sent terrible earth-quakes that as it were shook the whole earth and the most unmoveable mountains from top to bottom 8 And like as when supernaturally he sent forth fire and smoak which consumed the ungodly and rebellious with all they had to ashes and strangely kindled and set on fire combustible materials as natural fire naturally uses to do coals and such like 9 Or manifested his presence in thick and darksome clouds descending as it were down to the earth 10 Or when at any time he used the powerful ministration of Angels and winds wherewith himself also was present 11 Or terribly appeared by overcasting the aire with an unwonted darkness occasioned by an extraordinarie concourse of dark watery clouds all over the skie benighting the day and obscuring the
the righteous whose confidence is in God and can find in his heart in obedience to him to be charitable with that he hath is blessed of God with enough for his own comfortable subsistence and the relief of the needie 22 For he hath temporal blessings in store for them on whom he hath bestowed his favour and grace and they shall have a comfortable subsistence when as others far greater and of more account in the world living in sin and being in hatred with God shall unexspectedly be undone and destroyed 23 God prospers him that is good and gives a good issue to his undertakings because he takes pleasure in and receives honour from his conscionable and serviceable walking 24 He may be low brought and hard set but he shall never be quite forsaken of God nor rendred to the will of his enemies to his utter undoing For the Lord hath an eye to him and an hand on him to keep him from drowning though he let him sink they may be cast down but not destroyed 25 All my life long which is no short one I have ever taken notice of Gods dealing with his people and have always observed his faithfulness to the faithful how that they that have trusted in him and walked with him have never been quite forsaken of him though they have oft and many a time been put soar to it yet hath he never falsified his word of promise and providence but whereas I have seen the wicked turned naked out of all and glad to be beholden to to the righteous as Esau was to Jacob for a mess of pottage the Lord on the contrarie hath always provided so competently and contentedly for them that they have never needed to crave relief from the ungodly 26 The righteous mans propertie is still to be doing good trusting in the Lord more than in riches and therefore whereas others hoard up all they can get he lends gives as there is cause to them that want and hopes to be never the poorer for it counting it his riches to lay out not to lay up nor is he for God rewards his good deeds upon his posteritie after him and blesseth them for his sake 27 Wouldst thou then have a blessing upon thy self and derive it to thy posteritie take the course the godly do forsake sin and serve God and thou shalt find that that 's the onely way for thee and thine to be happie from generation to generation 28 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness and will bless them that love and practise it they that are holy and practise holiness hee l stick as close to them as they do to him and will never fail them of his promises that he hath made to them and theirs but the wicked shall find he as much hates them as he loves the godly either they or their posteritie shall smart for their wickedness and be rooted out by it 29 The righteous liver shall by the blessing of God subsist and derive a subsistence from himself to his children of peace and happiness and the favour of God generation after generation 30 The righteous man as he himself is good so he loves to be doing good and to instruct others as oportunitie serves specially his own like as God hath instructed him with the knowledge of his wayes of holiness and righteousness wherein he is conversant both in walking and talking 31 The Law of God whom he loves and who he knows loves him is written in his heart and naturalized therein which shall keep him from sin and for which God will prosper and preserve him from evil maugre Satan and the World 32 Yea though the wicked watch him never so narrowly by power or policie to ruine him 33 For the Lord will not forget his promise nor withdraw his providence so as to expose him without support or supply nor will God judge him as they do nor condemn him upon their accusations but will defend him acquit his innocencie and revenge his wrong 34 Trust stedfastly in the Lord patiently waiting upon him in his own time to fulfil his own promise and shew forth his mercie to thee in thy trouble and keep a good conscience by walking unweariedly and with a constant course in and after his commandments and he will at last do great things for thee thou shalt certainly be a top of the wheel and shall see the wicked under thee how ever they at present over-top thee 35 I speak what I have seen and what others shall see if they wait and observe to wit The wicked most formidably powerful and priding themselves in great prosperitie flourishing like a bay-tree in earthly felicitie 36 Yet have I lived to see him quite blasted and withered so as if he never had been such a man and all this in my time 37 So likewise have I marked the righteous man and so I would have others to do to prevent rash judgement and that they may see what I say to be true to wit That though he that is faithful and sincere towards God may have a time of sadness and suffering yet it s most certain his end shall be most comfortable for either he shall out-live his miseries here as oft they do or leave them behind him with a peaceable and joyful departure out of this life from them to the Lord his God who will receive him into everlasting happiness 38 Whereas on the contrarie well may the wicked fare for a while but in the end judgement shall devour them and as they have been brethren in evil so shall they be fellows in punishment none shall escape The end of the wicked shall not be death but destruction wrath shall slay them happines forsake them and confusion receive them 39 So it is with them but so shall it not be with the righteous whose salvation is not placed in false refuges as is wicked mens but in the power and faithfulness of the Lord he is their strength and trust in time of trouble 40 Who will not deceive them but will certainly relieve and release them he both must and will do it for he is bound by his grace and truth to save them that trust in him and destroy the wicked enemies of his Church and that bond hee 'l never break The xxxviii PSALM David lying soar oppressed at once both under some bodily distemper and many enemies humbly repairs to God in prayer Wherein first he bewaileth his sin and Gods displeasure and then his sufferings both in bodie which were very grievous and also in mind But yet comforts himself in this that the groans and prayers which those miseries forced from him were heard and regarded of God though he had not present relief but continued worse and worse And still holds out praying and ripping up his whole estate to God how it fared with him on the one side and with
1 BEing grievously tempted to impatiencie by extream afflictions mine enemies provocations I was fain to watch my self narrowly to take up a vow and resolution not to give the reins to my tongue but to bridle it from taking libertie to exceed in intemperate speeches specially whilest I had to do with wicked men who lay at advantage to take scandal at me and my profession by any miscarriage they could espie 2 Wherefere I abstained utterly from speaking even that which was truth in mine own defence and their reproof least therewith impatiencie should get vent though thereby I was much troubled and had much ado to do it 3 In so much as my heart was full and so heated with smothering my grief that I burst out in prayerful expostulation betwixt God and me and said 4 Lord mine afflictions are so many and great as that they make me wearie of my life comfort me so far as to inform me how near I am to mine end and how few my miserable dayes shall be Let me know this of thee that so I may hope of deliverance at least by mortalitie 5 Sure I am my life is not long and at longest it is but short compared with thine eternal being its as nothing and what is mans life considered in it self Even when it is at best its very vanitie void of true satisfaction Would men would consider it 6 Surely every man hath here but an imaginarie happiness certainly they cark and care to be that which this life can never make them labouring in vain to be happie in it What a deal of pains does a man take to be rich yea richer and richer and can never live to use all he hath nor knows not how soon he shall depart with it nor how it will be spent nor into whose hands it will come when he is gone witness the state I had and was in erewhile whereof how soon and unexpectedly am I deprived 7 And now Lord seeing every thing is thus emptie and unprofitable why should I trust in or desire to be happie by any thing short of thee no I do not Thy favour and grace is that I prize and hope in most of all I wait for and desire it above all earthly felicitie the restorement of it is more to me than my Kingdom and happier shall I be in it 8 Grant me for my happiness the pardon of my sins that have brought me into this miserie and let not my wicked enemies prevail against me to destroy me and insult over me and God in me 9 Though I endured very much yet I bare it patiently without fretfulness because I know in justice I had deserved it and thou inflictedst it 10 Good Lord be intreated to pitie me and to ease me of my grief for I am almost utterly perished by thine afflicting hand and heavie judgement for my sin 11 When thou punisheth and correcteth man for iniquitie thou changest him quite from what he was both in condition and constitution his honour thou layest in the dust and himself thou makest little less every way defacest him and makest him comparatively to what he was as a beautifull garment when its moth-eaten and consumed thus am I yea surely every man even the whole kind of him in thine hands is as nothing To thy glory and mans abasing and humbling be it spoken 12 O Lord hear the prayer I put up unto thee and the cries I pour forth in mine extremity let my tears be effectual and prevalent in mine own behalf and against mine enemies for my help is wholly in thee and must be from thee in the faith of whose truth and goodness I subsist in my travel through this world as did my godly forefathers who were heirs of promise and lived by faith being though in the world yet not of it but belonged to thee and so do I who therefore suffer therein as they did 13 O take me not away in thy displeasure but in mercy revive and restore me to a comfortable feeling of thy favour again in the sensible pardon of my sin remission of my punishment and re-establishment in mine estate that so I may end this my short and transitory life when I do end it which is not long to in thy grace both to mine own sense and the worlds sight when I bid it adeiu The xl PSALM David being in trouble probably under Absaloms rebellion reckons up his former experiences of Gods goodness and his great deliverances first from Saul and then from after evils pronouncing a blessing upon himself and others that trust firmely in the Lord extolling his wonderfull mercies to such And shews what manner of praise he hath wont to offer to God for them not ceremoniall but reall and thus winds in upon God by recounting his favours to him and his service back again to God both in praising and publishing his goodness and truth And then after a self-judging preamble comes upon him with new requests for instant deliverance both from sin and punishment and for confusion of his enemies and lastly chears up himself and all his faithfull well-willers and partakers with a hopefull prayer notwithstanding his present condition To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung 1 I have endured much and long but having a promise I staid my self upon it and have patiently undergone all his providence in a faithfull expectation of the Lord in truth and goodness to fulfil it at last which he hath done and hath most graciously vouchsafed me audience and deliverance 2 I was low sunk in fear and danger even of utter ruine whence he hath marvellously delivered me out of a very miserable condition hath he brought me that no power but his could ever have freed me from but he hath done it and not onely delivered me from an ill estate but estated me in a good and safe one and confirmed it to me spite of all those mine enemies and opposers and all they could do to the contrary 3 And hath given me further occasion of thanksgiving and praises by new and fresh mercies even to the full accomplishment of his promise and my happiness his wonderful power and goodness to me-ward shall amaze many that never thought to see it and affect them both with fear of and faith in the Lord that bringeth great things to pass 4 That man is a blessed man and shall be a successfull man that stedfastly relies upon the Lord alone and regards not the threatnings of the proud presumptuous boaster nor the brags of such as put their confidence in sinfull practises and self-refuges to dissettle his faith or follow their example 5 Manifold O most powerfull and gracious Lord God are the wonderfull providences protections and deliverances which thou hast done and
that office whereof he shall give me possession as far remote as I seem to be from it now and that not onely to my joy but to the rejoycing of all his faithfull people who in sincerity of heart profess and serve him they shall joy and glory in me as the type of the Messiah his rule and governance over his Church who shall come as hardly by it and in the eyes of the world shall seem as unlike for it as I to be King of Israel And when it s their turn and mine to rejoyce on the contrary those that now make no conscience of any thing they do or say shall hang their heads and not have a word to speak in excuse or justification of themselves because of despondencie of spirit and their self-accusing consciencies as also shall Christs enemies at last The lxiv. PSALM David having some advertisement of great desigâ—s upon him by his â—â—â—mies prays God to preserve him from them who are so wickedly and mischievously bent against him and accordingly is confident of his deliverance and that Gods just and remarkable judgements shall beâ—al his adversaries to the aâ—â—esting of some with fear and others with joy To him that is the chief and principal of all the Quire do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung 1 O Lord my present calamitie puts me upon great and earnest importunity hear me I pray thee that am sore put to it and therefore both with heart and voice press hard upon thee for the rescue of my life out of mine enemies hands that endanger it greatly 2 Let thy protection equal mine enemies projects who turn every stone to compass mine undoing They have their private plottings conspirings to surprize or betray me but Lord do thou hide me that these hidden stratagems may never find me as also from their open violence for such is their malice and so cruelly are they bent that nothing shall be unattempted upon me 3 Incensing all they can against me with false and slanderous reports to the wounding of mine innocencie and set me up as a mark to discharge all their callumnies and falshoods upon 4 They know they believe me and yet though conscious to their own wickedness and mine innocencie they spare not to backbite me and privily to inform all manner of untruths against me to Saul they suggest and let flie any thing against me that they either hear or imagine never caring to wrong me nor fearing to offend God and provoke his justice 5 They animate one another with hopes to prevail against me at last and that I shall not scape them they consult to ensnare me at unawares by fraud and treaherie any way so it be done and think to carry the matter so privately and to cloak it so cunningly as that none shall suspect them nor nothing can prevent them of their hopes 6 They contrive exceeding subtilly and cast about in their thoughts and imaginations with a great deal of studie and diligence how and which way they may likeliest deceive and destroy me and many times make sure of it and indeed so close and dissembling they are that it is impossible for me to know or avoid them by any skill or power of mine 7 But though I miss the mark and shoot far short of finding out their devices and may be deceived by their dissemblings I am sure God he knows them they cannot scape him for all they lye at a close ward he knows how when and where to hit them even when they are most confident and least fear any ill to befall them shall his judgements overtake them 8 This shall be the want of all their lying reports and slanderous back-bitings instead of bringing evil upon me upon whom they design it they shall bring sin and that sin shall bring judgement upon themselves yea so remarkable shall the hand of God be upon them that men shall shun them as they did Korah and his complices 9 The justice and terrour of the Lord shall astonish men and make them both fear themselves and caveat others to beware of the judgements of God from this example for it shall awaken the minds of men and put them all that have any eyes in their heads to consider the justice power and terrour that accompanies this judgement in bringing their wickedness thus upon themselves and delivering me an innocent person 10 A wonderfull confirmation shall it be to all that are upright and cause of rejoycing to see the care that God hath over such to vindicate their integrities against evil doers and to deliver them out of their sufferings by executing apparent judgemens upon their enemies for their sakes how shall this make them trust God and trust in God what ever betide them Yea it shall make all that are sincerely Godly from this example of my deliverance and mine enemies overthrow with confidence to bear up themselves in God and despise the power and malice of all wicked men be they never so potent and politick The lxv PSALM David tells God with what saithfull expectations his people wait upon him for mercies to the end they might have new occasions to praise him and though for their sins they deserve no good from God yet shall be of Free-grace do them good which is a point of special comfort to the faithfull to whom God is a sure friend and ever will be and an enemie to their enemies and accordingly will keep and protect them all the world over for whose sake it is that mankind and all creatures enjoy such temporal blessings and needfull mercies as they do To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be both sung and plaid by voices and instruments 1 O God we desire to be mindfull of thy mercies and still as thou givest occasion of praise not to fail to return it we are ready O Lord if thou wilt administer fresh mercies to render thee the thanks of them and to worship thee for them as thou hast appointed not onely inwardly in spirit but also in thine Ordinances with Sacrifices and Free-will-offerings according to thy law will we do it 2 Thou Lord art the onely God of thy peoples prayers Let it more and more appear that thou hearest us and that our prayers are powerfull with thee for the good of this poor Church and thy servants and people under this administration that it may be upon Scripture-record for thy Church in after-ages to encourage their faith and to invite them all the world over to seek unto thee in hope and confidence of like audience grace and success from thee 3 Mine own and my peoples sins are they that stand in the way of our prayers and hinder good things from us so that I
given them Canaan the type of heaven which his people what ever they may suffer heâ—e shall be sure of For which mercies to all Israel but principally for his own particular ones which have been extraordinarie he promiseth praise with a free heart and a libâ—ral hand in all sorts of sacrifices appointed by God and would have the upright take notice for their learning that he never praid but was answered which he speaks to incourage such not Hypocrites who have no such priviledge as he and the rest of the â—aithful have whose prayers shall be effectual as his was To the President of the Quire is this Psalm committed for his ordering it to be sung and plaid by voices and instruments 1 THough all nations but we are as forreiners to God yet shall he have a Church of larger extent even all the World over that shall worship and praise him with joyful acclamations for his saving truths and benefits vouchsafed to them 2 They shall have their temple as well as we even the Gentils shall partake so liberally of his saving graces as that in the Antitype and complement of all our ceremonious musick they shall upon the coming of Christ his having a Church amongst them spiritually in a more divine strain than ours honour and magnifie his saving goodness gloriously praise him for it in higher degrees of faith and knowledge 3 Magnifie God for the terrible victories he hath at sundry times wrought upon the Gentils by the power of his might on the behalf of us his chosen people through the greatness of the power of whose grace shall these same rebellious Idolatrous Gentils one day be won to take Laws from God and become his people that now are in open enmitie against him and his Church to destroy it for which he so destroyes them 4 The time shall come that not we onely but the whole World shall know thee fear thee and believe in thee the Lord and shall offer thee that worship in substance which ours portrayes out in shadows the whole earth shall be thy temple and Quire for thy Church shall every where praise thee and magnifie thy saving goodness to them Lord let this thy Kingdom come 5 I would have all that are Gods in all ages often to recollect and consider for the strengthening of their faith and glorifying of God the wondrous things from time to time that he hath done for his Church and the works he hath wrought for the preservation of it how terribly he hath ever proceeded against the men of this World that have offended them and what judgements he hath alwayes executed upon such and ever will 6 How of old when his people Israel were in jeopardie and humanely impossible to escape being encompassed on all hands with unavoidable dangers the sea before and Pharaoh and his host behind how then the Lord by miracle wrought for them and divided the sea through which they passed upon drie land so also when they entred the land of Canaan what way the Lord made for them over Jordan in like sort though at that time it overflowed not going over it by help of boats or bridges but just as they did before through the red-sea the waters were divided miraculously and they went through on foot in the face of their enemies as if there had been no river betwixt O the joy that then was apprehended by our fore-fathers at the sight and experience of such wonderful power and goodness of God extended to his Church in their so supernatural accommodations for their safe transporting and their enemis destruction and disheartning which ought also in the memorie of it to rejoyce us and the people of God for ever being wrought by God as a pledge and assurance of his continual love towards the whole bodie of his Church and that he is the eternal Saviour of it from which act therefore ought to flow cause of rejoycing to us and all the Godly in all ages in the faith of the same immutable goodness 7 And power which shall never be weakened but as he then was so he is and ever will be of the same strength and sufficiencie to stand his Church in steed and to over-master their enemies nor will he be one jot less careful of his people hereafter than heretofore but as circumspect over them for their good in all parts of the world when they are universally called and gathered out of all nations to be peculiarly his as he was then to those that were so And as that ought to be an example and incouragement of joy and confidence for ever to the Church of God so of terrour and humbling to her enemies that having such a president before their eyes upon sacred and everlasting record dare rebel against God by wronging his people thinking to suppress and root them out because they are few and short of them for power and policie but it shall turn to their ruin in after-ages as well as then They may be sure of it 8 All Gods people ought to bless God and magnifie him for what he hath done and assuredly will do for his Church but especially we that are before-hand possessed of so many mercies and great deliverances we ought to resound and publish the praise of his famous acts for the Gentils to take notice thereof thence to be confirmed in faith and hope 9 From what he hath done for us who but for his care over us had long ere this been swallowed up a thousand times over of death and destruction by our many enemies which yet were never able to have their will of us but that still we are a people and have been upheld against as it were the whole world who because of Gods peculiar choice have a special malignant hatred to us 10 For Lord thou knowst what troubles we have undergone since we have been a people to thee and all to the end thou mightest have occasion to shew how firm thou art to us as thou hast ever made it to appear and to trie whether we will be as firm to thee in our faith in thee and worship of thee thou hast proved us over and over again by afflictions to give us testimonie of thee and that thou mightest have assurance of us a faithful sincere people 11 Thou thus to trie us and shew thy self hast many times led us into inavoidable dangers and to outward appearance exposed us into the power of our enemies to be destroyed by them and suffered them to oppress us sore as in Aegypt and otherwise 12 We have undergone as base and cruel usage as can be imagined counted no more of them than the dirt in the streets enduring the uttermost hardships under cruel task-masters and bloudie enemies as could possibly be invented and contrived against us and such things must thy Church alwayes look for in this World but thou hast made us
us or presence with us are now remaining all such signs have quite left us neither know we whither to go nor how to do to enquire of thee as formerly our predecessours were wont to do in straits never age nor miserie was like to this since thy people were a people for we have not so much as one prophet that were wont to have whole schools of them nor prophetess in all the whole land who can either instruct us what to do to reconcile our selves to thee nor how long it will be before thou beest reconciled and thy favour renewed to us as it was ever heretofore wont to be after some short space 10 O God find out a way to let us know the end of our miseries and the rather for the disgrace thou sufferest the whilest for thine honour lies in the dust as well as we through our sides thou art wounded and divided as if thou also wert conquered and that thou canst not deliver nor restore us now as heretofore though thou hast been too hard for our enemies yet now they are too hard for thee thus thine omnipotencie is impeached and thou scorned as a God that art not able to succour and befriend thy people Let the consideration hereof move thee 11 Lord why doest thou suffer thy self thus to be dishonoured and thy people thus to be destroyed heretofore thou wast alwayes wont to appear for them upon less occasions and powerfully to preserve them and to be jealous for thy worship and Lord why art thou not so now why doest thou not put forth thy power and magnifie thy grace now as then Good Lord be intreated to do so who canst if thou wilt 12 For Lord thou knowest how thou hast ever been related to us and we to thee above all the World as King and people and what remarkable protection and great deliverances both before and since we were planted in Canaan thou hast vouchsafed us answerable to such relations in the sight and to the admiration of all both far and near upholding us thus long a people to thee in the navel of the earth in despight of all the enmitie and combinations that have been against us round about We have not forgotten and we pray thee also to remember it what thou didst for us when thou broughtest us thitherward out of Egypt how thou miraculously made the sea drie-drie-land for us to pass through and by thine Almightie power madest the water to stand like walls on our right hand and on our left till we were safely landed on the other side and till the whole Host of the Egyptians in pursuit of us was ingaged and ensnared in the deep and then thou causedst the waters to come together again and so destroyedst that bloud-thirstie and mightie armie in their own element even the Egyptians by inundation of water that are a nation above all the World blessed and preserved by it and as it were bred and born in it like the Crocodile in Nilus 14 Even Pharaoh himself and all his armie utterly perished there whose countrey of Egypt by the mightie over-flowings of that famous river is as it were a Sea and he the whale and master-fish therein even he with all his host was drowned in the red-sea where whale-like he purposed to have devoured the whole Host of Israel and cast up on that side towards the wilderness where thy people were safe on shore to be a prey to them and provision for them of many necessaries in that their journey towards Canaan through the wilderness chiefly for their faith to feed upon in all their after-straits and necessities and their carcasses to be devoured by wild beasts and ravenous birds 15 Thou then wast pleased to work wonders every way for us as well for our preservation against extremities of nature hunger and cold as from our enemies Insomuch as when thy people Israel extreamly provoked thee yet wast thou gracious to them and in their distress didst cleave the rock in Horeb and after that too and madest thence to flow sweet and plentiful streams for their refreshing and supply of them and their cattel and when they were to possess the promised land thou didst make way through Jordan even then when it overflowed all its banks for their entering into Canaan as thou didst before at the red-sea for their comming out of Aegypt that is madest it drie land for them to pass 16 17 Thou canst do but what thou wilt there are no bounds to thy power but thy will Thou that rulest all times and in all places ordeining and ordering day and night sun and moon and stars in the heavens above and hath scituated the earth and the several climates thereof so as they are accommodating it and the inhabitants thereof with meet and fruitful seasons of summer and winter 18 Thou art the God whom we worship above all the World thou that art thus Almightie whilst our enemies worship stocks and stones and yet they triumphing in their success reproch us with thee even with thee O Lord and this heathenish Idolatrous nation magnifie their Gods above thee because they are now above us saying thou didst not because thou couldest not deliver us and so blaspheme thine omnipotencie and nullifie thy very essence and being Now O Lord as thou art severe to punish us so forget not we pray thee to vindicate thine honour and to plague them answerably to the greatness of their provocations 19 Resume thy goodness toward us Thou hast but one spouse one nation and people in all the World that by contract are married to thee do not thou O Lord so far obdurate thy self against this wife of thy bosom thine helpless and harmless Israel to expose her to a barbarous prophane nation to be preyed upon and devoured as a Turtle by a Hawk or a Lamb by a Wolf but work their deliverance and restauration and forget not thy poor distressed and captived people to leave them in that estate for ever 20 But remember and fulfill the obligations of grace thou boundest thy self in to our forefathers thy friends and servants how thou wouldest be their God and the God of their seed after them to bless them which we are even we that are now led captive out of the land of the living God into the dark corners of the world amongst a people that know not the Lord and that have as little true humanity as divinity for for thy sake because we belong to thee and worship thee whom they neither know nor serve are we used with all manner of barbarism and cruelty by them 21 O let not no more now then heretofore in Egypt the pressures of thy people go unpunished but magnifie thy power in our wonderfull deliverances and our enemies confusion that for thy sake have reproached us Let us find thou art a God that hearest prayer and fulfillest the desire of thy poor necessitated people
Egyptians both King and people citie and countrey all the land over even in the very Court and royal citie it self whilest yet they in Goshen felt no harm 13 And to secure them after he had brought them out from Pharaoh and his host who pursued them why he quite changed the course of nature turned water into dry land and made the sea it self foardable for them fixing those fluid waters like stone walls on each hand of them whilest they passed through with ease and safetie 14 Nor did he leave them there but conducted them himself along the wilderness and gave them eminent and special tokens of his presence with them as a guid and protector to them in the day time by reason of the scorching sun going before them encompassing and over-shadowing them with a cool refreshing cloud from morning to night a Baptismal pledge of Christ his gracious interposing and protecting his faithfull people from the justice and wrath of God and therefore ought to have been the more set by as also in the night time by a pillar of fire lightening them when the sun was down so that both night and day God was carefull of them as Christ will be of his in all times and states 15 Once and again did God by Moses open as before the waters for dry land so now the dry and stony rocks to give them and their cattel water in the wilderness when they were necessitated with thirst he miraculously supplied them as Christ will spiritually his people out of the inmost parts of the earth in that dry and sandie wilderness where naturally were few or no veins or springs of water 16 In this unlikely place yea out of the very rocks in the wilderness did he bring them water in such abundance that upon a sudden it ran like a stream and had as perfect a current as if it had been an ancient river in a known channel 17 And they well requited him for as he in mercie multiplied miracles for them they multiplied sins against him every foot provoking him by murmuring against and misbelieving the most high and mighty Lord God even in that very place where he was so specially present with them and for them in their protection and supply 18 Their carnal hearts not making spiritual use of any the things God did for them either by returning the praise and thanks they were worthy of or improving them to the increase of faith nor picking out the spiritual kernel and Gospel-sense that lay hid in those misterious yet significant mercies but for carnal ends for lust sake putting God to it to shew forth his omnipotencie and to work still more and more miracles for them and yet believing never the more in him neither nor having never the more contented minds for having him their God so present with them and powerful for them but if at any time they had not what they would they would be discontent at what they had murmuring at Manna because they had not flesh also to please their carnal appetite 19 Despising Manna that glorious type of Christ speaking against it and against him that gave it quarrelling God for what they wanted but blessed him not for that they had and not onely quarrelled him but also questioned his power thinking because it was their wills to have it that therefore either it was not just in God to deny it or that else it was his will to have given it if he could have done it and so they limited his good will towards them and power for them to just so much and no more as at present he did for them thinking that he did not love them if he did not please them and every while stitch saying can God do this and can God give that he hath given us bread and water but can he give us variety of meats to such as we had in Egypt can he please our palates as well as sustain our natures No he cannot so they quarrelled his providence and blasphemed his omnipotence 20 They could not but acknowledge what he had done to be very great things and to argue him to be no less than omnipotent and yet they could not believe in him one jot further than what they saw already done to their hands but upon the very next occasion questioned the self same power that but ere-while they adored and admired quite perverting the use they ought to have made for instead of arguing from his will to his power thus he that gave water enough if he please can give bread also and he that gave bread enough can give flesh and if not seeing he does not because he will not we ought to submit They on the contrary argue from his power to his will and say presumptiously He that could give us water no doubt if he could would give us bread too and he that gave us bread would if he could give us flesh for that we are the self-same people related to him and he to us but seeing he does not therefore he cannot or if he can why does he not we will not believe it except we see it 21 Seeing they would never cease provoking God nor learn to believe and submit but still every foot murmur quarrel and question him he therefore could hold no longer but however he was willingly deaf to them once and again yet he could not alwaies bear them though they were his people and for Jocobs sake was loth to punish them but at last let them know he saw and heard their carriage before but passed it over in silence and patience which now he would do no longer but made it appear how ill he resented their baseness by inflicting both a severe and strange kind of punishment upon them even a fire the fire of the Lord burnt amongst them at Taberah kindled and maintained by and from the anger of the Almighty which fearfully flaming up towards heaven consumed many of them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp of Israel 22 Because they submitted not themselves to God with quiet and contented minds in the faith of his power and promise and assured hope of his grace and providence to be answerable in their behalfs for their preservation and provision still as there was cause 23 24 Although their eyes were witnesses what God in their necessities had done already as to bread how he had strangely altered the course of nature for them for whereas the corn that sustains us ordinarily and naturally grows out of the ground God at this time and place in their need extraordinarily ordained the clouds over their heads plentifully from heaven to distil down Manna which fell round about their camp and lay like dew upon the earth for them to gather thus miraculously did God send them provision for their hunger as it were corn from heaven to sustain them 25 Insomuch as that rather than God would break
they were in Egypt insomuch that the Egyptians grew to be afraid of their numerousness least they should be able in time to over-master them in their own land which fear turned into enmity against them 25 Insomuch that as well as at first they were received amongst the Egyptians and for all the good offices Joseph had done to that nation yet the Lord so ordered it according to his predictions that Egypt soon after grew ungratefull and unmindfull of all that was past and so hated Israel as they laid plots to suppress them and keep them so at an under that they should not multiply after that sort and to imbase and enervate their spirits that so by base drudgeries imposed upon them they should never have the courage to attempt their liberty and departure thence but should serve the Egyptians everlastingly for slaves and labourers 26 Which they were a long time till the appointed period came and that they cried to the Lord by reason of their insupportable pressures And then did the Lord miraculously preserve Moses and sent him as his great Embassabour to Pharaoh he and Aaron these two onely he chose to carry on and perfect that great work of Israels deliverance out of Egypt the one of them his extraordinary Prophet and servant and the other afterwards his High-Priest 27 Which deliverance was marvellously compassed by strange and miraculous wonders wrought by these men through the power of the Almighty to let those Egyptians the posterity of Cham that cursed progenitour see what a God of power the God of Israel was 28 The Lord therefore at Moses his stretching forth his hand towards heaven when Pharaoh would not let Israel go sent strange and extraordinary darkness both for its nature and continuance upon the whole land of Egypt Yea what ever the Lord commanded those two faithfull servants of his to do or say in the whole transaction of this great business betwixt Pharaoh and him for the deliverance of his people they failed not either in their messages or commands but though with never so much perill to themselves did whatsoever they were appointed of God continually and all creatures obeyed as readily 29 By their Ministery when Pharaoh would not yet let Israel go God also turned the waters into bloud throughout all the land of Egypt every where both in their rivers pooles and houshold-cisternes so that neither they could drink it nor the fish live in it but were killed 30 Also by Aarons stretching out his hand over the waters of Egypt upon Pharaohs further hardening God brought infinite of frogs upon the land like grass that grows upon the ground which dispersed themselves into all places so that Pharaoh and his Princes even their very bed-chambers were full of those crawling creatures no place free 31 Furthermore Aaron stretched out his rod upon the dust of Egypt and the dust became lice all the land over which crept upon man and beast also God commanded and there was likewise grievous swarms of severall sorts of uncouth flies in all the land thus with base vermin did the Lord plague the proud Egyptians for lording it over his people 32 There where useth to be no hail nor rain the Lord at Pharaohs refusall to let his people go sent by the hand of Moses stretched forth to heaven a grievous storm of hail mixt with fire and accompanied with terrible thunder-claps which fell as thick as rain from the clouds the hail and fire killing and consuming all without doores that was in the field 33 Yea so forcible was the storm and so extraordinary the hail that it spoiled their vines fig-trees and brake all other sorts of trees also throughout the coasts and quarters of Egypt 34 35 After this the Lord commanded an East-wind to blow which brought strange kinds of locusts and cater-pillars in such an infinite number that they darkened the land which every where throughout all Egypt devoured every thing that was green hearb or tree which the hail had not consumed 36 When nothing else would do he smote all the first-born in Egypt both of men and beast King and people so that in one night the flour of all Egypt perished because of Pharaohs hardened heart that would not let Israel go 37 38 Whereupon according as God had foretold Pharaoh let Israel go and glad he and his people were to be rid of them for whose sake God had so destroied his countrey and by the conduct of Moses the Lord led them thence when first he had given them favour in the sight of the Egyptians to depart to them their Jewels of silver and gold and raiment all which they carried away with them to the spoil of the Egyptians and their own exceeding enriching and though they were so many hundred thousands yet of all that number in none of all the twelve Tribes was there any one that for all the plagues that had befallen the Egyptians amongst whom they lived was a hair the worse nor that either by their cruell usage hard burdens old age or sickness was creepled or enfeebled unfit for travel but every man woman and child was lusty and strong to undertake their journey 39 Nor did God leave them when he had thus delivered them but provided for them in and along their journey through the wilderness ordained supernaturally a cool refreshing cloud in the day-time to wait upon them and travell along with them which like a Canopie covered them from the scorchings of the Sun in that hot desart as also in the night-time for light to travell by he gave them a pillar of fire in both which he himself conducted them 40 41 And as he provided for them light and shade for their well-being and better travelling so did he above the course of nature which could not then and there supply them give them livelihood and things necessary for their strength and being as meat and drink and both by extraordinary and miraculous means Manna that memorable bread and dew-fall of heaven they had it in abundance enough to serve that huge Host during all the time of their travell in the wilderness besides which when they asked though not in that manner they ought he gave them further provision and by a wind which he caused to blow brought Quails that fell round about the Camp enow to serve that numerous people also when they were thirstie he caused the rock of Horeb upon Moses his smiting it to open and the waters to flow forth of it which ran in that desart wilderness along as they travelled as it had been a river that there had its naturall course for the sustenance of them and their cattell 42 For though our fathers in that their journey did often sin grievously against God and tempted him to have destroied them rather than thus miraculously to provide for them yet was he still mindfull of
Church which by a mightie and out-stretched arm thou hast bought and brought thither there to remain in perfect happiness with thee and under me for ever 2 The Lord Almighty who is able to bring to pass great things by weak means shall raise up glorious lights in Jerusalem and Jurie where thou first manifests thy self as Aopstles Evangelist c. that shall give light to them that sit in darkness the glad tidings of the Gospel which is the mightie power of God to salvation that rod of Moses to save Israel shall by these his emissareis be held forth and preached to the Gentiles people of all nations and languages whereby they that now are forreigners shall be brought within the pale and shall take laws from thee and be subjected to thee O blessed Saviour that art advanced in the humane nature wherein thou sufferedst in such power and glorie at the right hand of the most high God there by his appointment to sway the Scepter of thy Mediatorian Kingdom by the power whereof the preaching of the Gospel through the eternal spirit accompanying it shall maugre all opposition of Gentilism who now are thy professed enemies and then shall strongly oppose thy Kingdom prevail to set up thy throne in the hearts of thy chosen all the world over who shall every where make glorious profession of thy name and own thee for their Lord and King spite of all earthly opposing powers and contemners of a crucified Saviour who shall be no more able to hinder thy Church from flourishing than thee from rising out of the grave 3 Those that are given to thee of God the Father and redeemed by thee out of the world when thou shalt have offered thy self a propitiatorie and taken possession of thy Kingdom at his right hand through thy mission of the spirit thence and his mighty working by the word upon the hearts of those thy people they shall thick and three-fold be converted neither the pravitie of their natures nor their long accustomed Idolatries shall obstruct their ready and chearfull compliance with the Gospel but shall willingly imbrace the tender of grace and come under thy governance in the Church which shall then so multiply as to assemble and conveen in all places for the exercise of Christian religion as thy people the Jews do at the beautifull and holy Temple that type of Christ in which Christian Synagogues especially in the first breaking forth of the light of the Gospel as the morning sun upon the face of the earth shall be born unto thee out of the then pregnant productive womb thereof begotten by the holy Ghost in those thy first loves and nuptial imbraces of the Church thy Spouse immediately upon thine ascention and investiture into glory an off-spring spread far and wide upon the whole earth as innumerable as the dew drops which insensibly fall from the heavens as the spirit shall then invisibly upon their hearts at the preaching of the word 4 For the great God of heaven by his everlasting decree and immutable oath revealed for the consolation of his people and corroboration of their faith hath never to revoke it conferred upon thee their Mediatour and Saviour the honour and office of that everlasting Priest-hood not temporary as the Levitical but without change or succession pourtraied in Melchisedeck Yea to be a King and Priest in one person as he was and none else to typifie that glorious priviledge to belong to thee and none other who therefore at thy Fathers right hand for thy Church and people transacts a royal Priesthood of righteousnes and peace according to the office person and name of Melchisedeck King of Salem 5 The Lord the God and Father who onely hath the preheminencie of thee as thou hast under him of of all things else shall imploy his power for the advancement of thine honour and revenge of thy dishonour wrathfully destroying Kings Kingdoms that shall oppose themselves and hinder the coming of thy Kingdom in thy Churches growth and felicity in the time when he thinks fit to judge them for it 6 Thou who art paramount the onely He or the promised Messiah for the Churhes comfort shalt rule the world the Gentiles shall be under his Judicature he will preserve his people that are converted to him and profess his name every where among the heathen taking vengeance on their enemies whom he shall remarkably destroy as he was wont to do the enemies of Israel The earthly Potentates of the world shall find him to be above them if they bruise his heel afflict his people as they will in all places he will bruise their heads their greatness shall not priviledge them at all 7 If you will know the reason of this high preferment of Christ in our nature at Gods right hand and of the power and head-ship he hath there it is because he shall drink deep of the wrath of the Almighty streamed down upon him in the way thereunto and for the obtaining thereof by suffering a cursed death upon the Cross with bodily torments and unutterable soul-agonies the unavoidable means of effecting his Mediatour-ship and mans redemption therefore shall he upon that full and faithfull discharge of his office here upon earth ascend unto and sit for ever at the right hand of his Father which is in heaven to act there the glorified part thereof in full powerâ— and absolute dominion over all there and here Angels and men Jews and Gentiles friends and foes The cxi PSALM The Psalmist first gives the word and then the example for praising the Lord which he tels us Gods works gives us cause enough to do if we consider them well especially to his Church supplying them in their need possessing them of the promised land fulfilling his promises of grace to them and for their sakes his judgements threatened upon their enemies for which he looks his commandements should be respected which are as binding to us as his covenant to him and through grace his covenant is as binding to him as they are to us Therefore he shews a man is never wise pretend what he will till he have gotten God upon this lock to be his by being Gods in faith and obedience And concludes as he begun with invitation to praise him 1 LEt all of us be diligent and cordial in praising the Lord. I will not be wanting on my part and in mine own example herein for he shall have the heartiest thanks that I can give him both in lesser meetings of entire Israelites that voluntarily and frequently assemble themselves to perform such holy exercises as also in those more solemn rare and mixed congregations that at times appointed assemble themselves at thy Sanctuarie 2 Greatly doth the Lord appear in his wonderous works of Creation Providence and Redemption his manifold attributes are made manifest therein yet not to all but onely to those that in love to God love to busie
escaped God hath alwayes preserved me and in stead of mine enemies destroying me he hath destroyed them I am confident I must and shall ever do so God inabling me as he hath done I have been as hard beset as a man that hath a swarm of bees about his ears not knowing 'i th world how to avoid them ready to fall upon me on every hand with deadly devouring hatred which though it was very terrible for the time yet the Lord put an end to it made their malice to me the destruction of themselves like thorns consumed in their own flame and so shall he ever inable me against all mine enemies I am confident and that they shall never have better success 13 Mine utter ruin as an obstruction to this preferment hath been strongly endeavoured by him that had no small power in his hands nor small malice towards me but God hath both preserved me and advanced me maugre all that Saul could do and all his complices 14 The Lord alone was my defence and the ruiner of mine enemies who else had ruined me a thousand times over the glorie and praise belongs to him and he shall have it who hath perfected his promise given me final deliverance from all those troubles and seated me above the reach of those mine enemies 15 What cause of rejoycing hath God given to the families in Israel that fear the Lord how glad are they to see this day and such a change of things I and they so preserved and delivered from the malice of those that hated and sought the ruin of goodness and good-men and now to see them conquered and quite subdued and that by so apparent providence and Almighty power must needs rejoyce them greatly 16 It is he that deserves and I hope shall accordingly have the honour of it who by his sole power and victorious providence hath mightily effected it 17 As near as I have been to destruction many and many a time and as hopeful as mine enemies were of it so that both they and I my self have given me for a gone man yet God hath purposed otherwayes die I must not and therefore die I did not but am alive at this day and in a good condition preserved purposely of God by example and acknowledgement to manifest and magnifie what he hath done for me and what he can and will do for his Church whose person I bare and represented in all my troubles and enfranchisements 18 The Lord gave mine enemies much power over me so that I under-went sore trials and sad chastisements to teach me to know my self and sin but though he gave them liberty to afflict me yet not to destroy me as they hoped to have done but maugre their malice hath preserved my life though often endangered 19 O ye that are the porters and door-keepers of the Lords holy sanctuarie a place of late years disfrequented and sequestred from good and righteous men that properly have onely right and title to it Now by Gods good providence the case is well altered I and other such as I am that with upright hearts desire to serve the Lord have liberty and opportunity to do it therefore set the doors of the courts of the Tabernacle wide open for us that I and they may comfortably come and worship the righteous Lord there specially present and give him the due praises of all his faithful performances of those his gracious promises touching me and his Church in my time 20 I mean I say the gate of the Lords own Tabernacle where he is so peculiarly resident and will therefore there be especially worshipped set that open for me and all my fellow-saints and servants of God who as of right they ought so now I have power they shall have free access unto it having been too long secluded 21 Lord my heart is full and there I am purposed to empty it upon thee in most affectionate thanks and praises for thine often audiences gracious and effectual answers and principally for this complement of all thy promises in saving me from mine enemies and advancing me to the Kingdom so far above their power to hurt me 22 Insomuch as now I who heretofore was by Saul and his Grandees those great Artificers of State hatefully persecuted and disdainfully rejected as unworthy and unfit for this preferment like a refuse stone that is broken and cast out of the way by master-workmen as altogether useless and unserviceable for building and as the Messiah whom I prefigure shall be by Cajaphas with his confederates the chief Priests and Scribes those ring-leaders of the Jews who shall despightfully use him and cruelly crucifie him I say I that was thus refused am advanced from this my despicable condition to fit in the throne and wield the Scepter of Israel upon whom under God the Government and wellfare of Church and Common-wealth principally depends even as it shall be with Christ whom both in weal and woe I typifie he shall rise again from the dead and be gloriously advanced even in his humane nature so much contemned and hardly used to be Saviour Mediatour and King of and over the Church consisting then of Jews and Gentiles united in him and supported by him maugre her enemies as the sides and weight of a building are by a principal binding corner stone against all blasts 23 This strange transversion of a persecuted abject to become a King and a contemned condemned crucified man to be the sole Saviour and Monarch of the world is by the holy and wise ordination and effectual operation of God brought to pass both which are worth our wonder and admiration to see persecution produce dignitie and death life and glorie 24 This day of mine inthronization resembling that of Christs resurrection and glorious exaltation at his fathers right hand is the time and means whereby God hath and will make good all his promises of grace and happiness to his Church who lives therefore that hath the faith and acknowledge of these things and joyes not that he hath lived to so happie an hour as to see them thus fulfilled 25 O Lord it s a day indeed that thy Church hath cause to be glad of and so she is and prayes thee to add to her joyes and that now from henceforth all those blessed promises of happiness to thy King and people may be effectual and they prosperous 26 As Christ himself who is the Messiah and sent of God for the good and salvation of his people is blessed and diffuseth blessings to his people whom they again that are his Priests and the living Temples of the living God do gratifie with the return of blessings in behalf of his Kingdom praying the increase and consummation of it and offering the sacrifice of praise to him that by Gods gracious emission came to offer himself in sacrifice for them So let David the anointed of the Lord
sure to do it and no doubt had done it long ere this but that God would not let them but still preserved and wonderfully delivered us from being swept away with a total destruction as was intended and easie else to have been effected by them 6 O let us lay it seriously to heart and heartily bless and praise the Lord our God for so long preserving and so many sundry times delivering us by no less than miraculous power from the crueltie and outrage of such barbarous bloudie enemies and that hath not been provoked by our sinful ingratitude himself to give us for a prey to their destructive malice as in justice he might 7 But hath brought us notwithstanding all their power malice and treacherie wherewith we have been long insnared and indangered on all hands into a state of libertie and freedom not onely given us our lives for a prey but a libertie from them yea a superioritie above them insomuch as now we are asmuch too strong for them as they were wont to be too strong for us and have them asmuch at an under as they had us their strength is become weakness and by his goodness our weakness is become strength too strong for them 8 Let the power and goodness of God have the praise and glorie of what is done and wrought for us both as to our preservation and exaltation and as in time past we have found him so for time to come let us believe in him as ought the Church and people of God to do in all ages of the world Let us and they magnifie his power and goodness in all estates and times not despairing in adversitie nor presuming in prosperitie but in the one hopefully and in the other humbly believe in him as our all-sufficient and onely deliverer and preserver not fearing nor Idolizing an arm of flesh or second causes but rely on and seek to the onely true God that made all things and disposeth all things and is able to help above all power to hurt if we believe and to hurt above all power to help if we presume The cxxv PSALM For the encouragement of the faithful and sincere hearted the Psalmist tells them as what they must meet with so what they may trust in firm protection in their sorest affliction And addeth praier to promise But bids the hypocrites hands off tells them their doom that are in but not of the Church to whom onely blessedness belongs See the title of the 120 Psalm 1 BElieve firmly in the Lord and you shall be established every such an one is as dear to God as mount Sion it self where is his Temple Ark and all his sanctuarie-worship every faithful servant of God being spiritually all these a living Temple Priest and sacrifice a very heaven on earth in whom God is really more than typically present and to whom belongs all the promises made to the Church in general so that though he may be externally assaulted and seemingly indangered with ghostly enemies and manifold temptations and trials as Jerusalem by the Gentile nations round about yet shall the same invincible guard and protection be upon him and them that so believe as upon it so that the gates of hell shall never prevail against them to un-establish or disinterest them as to the rock whereon they and the whole Church of God are built unmoveably by faith Christ Jesus 2 See you the hills that compass this Citie Jerusalem hence let your faith helped by setting your imagination on work raise a suitable Idea of Gods encompassing his faithful Church and people yea every such one by his Almighty power and guard of Angels for their sure defence and preservation against all assaults of the world and divel who also surround them and this is as everlasting as those mountains an infallible truth for all and every faithful servant of the Lord in all ages and places of the world now and ever to trust unto 3 Not that the godly are in this world exempt from oppression and temptation no for they are the great eye-sore of Satan the Prince of the world and all his malignant instruments and natural Subjects the men of the world which with their utmost malice and power shall labour to afflict the faithful as the Gentile nations do Israel and partly for their sins partly for their trial and exercise of their graces which God sets much by they may be permitted to sit sore upon their skirts and put them to it but this be sure of that the siedge shall be raised before the Town be taken no afflictions nor afflictors by what ever wicked practises shall any longer be permitted to oppress the righteous than they have grace to sustain them under it God allwayes gages one by the other afflictions to the faithful are often less never more tempted they may be and sint hey may by their frailtie and strength of temptation but fall away by sinning they never shall for God is faithfull who will not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able but will with the temptation make a way to escape that they may be able to bear it 4 This is thy promise which as in faithfulness it is made so as faithfully shall it be performed to those that are faithful and holy but thou wilt be sought unto by them and for them for thy promise and its performance is of grace not of debt even to the righteous themselves O Lord therefore be intreated in the name and for the sake of all thy people to be ever mindful of it to do according to it in time of need Let mercie and protection be extended seasonably and effectually to those that themselves are good and suffer in a cause that is good by those that are evil Yea bless with all manner of blessings those that in sinceritie of heart believe in thee and are careful to please thee with integritie of soul and universalitie of obedience active and passive 5 But as for those linsy-woolfy professours Israelites after the flesh that have a room in the Church but no firm rooting in religion that serve the Lord in shew and not in substance neither know him perfectly believe in him firmly nor serve him sincerely either with a right heart or by a right rule but are divided in their faith and affections trusting and obeying by halves deviating into by-wayes and carnal confidences of their own to their own self-pleasing such hypocrites counterfeits in pietie how ever commixed with the Godly partakers of their outward priviledges and formal worshippers of the same God in the self-same ordinances yet the all-seeing and heart-searching eye of God knows them notes them and esteems them as bad as the very Gentiles who worship Idols these making an Idol of the true God when they worship him and their reward and portion shall be alike judgement shall be pronounced against them both and they cast out
my greatest dangers mine enemies were too cunning for me and all the shift I could make and by their subtility and secrecy had certainly surprized me hadst not thou mightily prevented it 4 I ruminated with my self and thought as men in such cases are apt sometimes to hope and sometimes to fear that sure this or the other man would intercede to Saul for me and stand up in the defence of mine innocency to save my life and that I had some friends and acquaintance yet left me that would appear for me in such a time of need but there was none all were against me not a man for me all sought my ruin none pitied my case nor offered to speak a word in my behalf when my life lay at stake so utterly destitute was I and humanely helpless 5 My last and best refuge was therefore to thee O Lord whom I earnestly beseeched to be helpfull to me in that so great extremity shewed thee how all helps else failed me that thou onely and alone wast left me to flie to and hope in who art the stay and strength of mine heart my never-failing deliverer and how that being stript of all interest and propriety in the promised land and all in it as if I were an utter stranger and no Israelite nothing is left me but thy self a naked God in promise is all my part and portion therein 6 Lord forget not thy servant that is so mindfull of thee whose all in all thou art but make this mine extremity thine opportunity hear me effectually that cry unto thee ardently as mine extremity enforceth me to do having as it were one foot within the door of death never man was nearer it and scape be thou that art Almighty my powerfull deliverer from my potent enemies and bloudy persecutours that so surround me and so far surpass me 7 Deliver me from out this present danger and inclusion yea put a finall end to my persecution whereby my life is held in continuall danger and set me at liberty from the oppressing power of mine enemie that as thy free-man when freed I may glorifie thee thy power and goodness that hath done so great things for me And then shall the good and well-meaning people though now misled too many of them flock about me with admiration and praise of thy wonderfull works in my strange manifold and manifest deliverances by the good hand of God to me which shall clearly shew it self to the conviction of all that I am the man which under thee must rule over them as Christ over his Church The cxliii PSALM David under great persecution and trouble prayes earnestly that God would not as he might proceed against him in relation to himself but against his enemies in relation to him for though as to God he was a sinner to them he was none who therefore injuriously sought his life to his extream perplexity Yet he comforts himelf in God his former mercies and prayers to him for present deliverance and perseverance in holiness and concludeth with prayer for his own preservation and his enemies destruction A Psalm made by David 1 MY calamities are such as put me upon vehement and often supplications to thy Majesty for deliverance O that thou wouldest hear me once for all by putting a period to my misery according to the faithfulness of thy promise in that behalf and the gracious nature that is in thee in justice to deliver the oppressed 2 Let not mine afflictions be the punishments of my sins as I confess they justly may for then shall I be hopeless and they endless but remember me under another notion as one chosen and called through grace to be thy servant and that in eminent place in thy Church consider me as such I pray thee in mercy to pardon and pass by my sinfulness for it is not mine innocency but thy clemency that must acquit me as to thee though as to mine enemies I dare plead it but not as to thee who art a God of pure eyes and seest sin enough in me and every one else seem he never so righteous in the eye of the world or his own utterly and for ever to sentence us to hell much more to punish us here 3 It is justice betwixt me and mine enemies that I sue for to be of grace vouchsafed me for they have unjustly hunted after my life for a long time together and have brought it as near to death as could be possible and banished me the society and communion of men to seek sanctuary in wildernesses and caves solitary and desolate disregarded and given of all for lost never to recover any better fortune no more than for a man that is dead and buried to arise 4 Which uncomfortable forlorn cast-away condition doth grievously affect me with trouble of mind and makes my heart as void of comfort within as my life is without 5 Yet Lord do not I altogether count my self as others do but for all I am so as I am my hope is still in thee I consider how it hath been both with my self and other thy servants of old what difficulties they have waded through what deliverances and preservations they have had and from what an ebb-condition thou hast by thy mighty power and goodness raised them and truly this holds mine head still above water and sustains me in faith and hope 6 So that I cease not to pray my danger stops not my mouth nor makes me desperate but in the hope I have in thee though destitute of all else I make my fervent addresses to thee with an eager desire to be heard and to enjoy the fruits of thy promises never did the chawned earth more need and desire the rain to moisten it in time of drought than doth this heart of mine thirst after the supplement of grace in this my calamity Thou Lord knowest it 7 And therefore accordingly vouchsafe to expedite help unto me for truly such outward miseries inward perplexities and forcible heart-breathings after thee will quickly expire me I cannot long live under such heavy burdens and depressions of nature they will consume me if thou doest not quickly afford some reviving by timely redress and effectuall favour which I beseech thee to do least death and destruction seize suddenly upon me which to speak humanely I am within a very little of 8 Whilest yet there is hope before life extinct make hast to help me and as it were to revive my dying decaying spirits with some cordiall of grace and timoâ—s deliverance for my trust is still in thee for it how low soever I am brought point me out by thy singer of direction and hand of providence how I may come safe out of this inextricable labyrinth of troubles wherewith I am incumbred and know no way to escape them but by immediate and miraculous mercy for which I am an humble suitour to thee with all
of Jacob yet by their wicked malicious deportment might be as well infidels and heathens and as much charitie and humanity may I expect from those as these 8 Who are perfect proficients in all kind of treachery and dissimulation practising nothing else but how they may deceive and intrap the innocent no tie can hold them whatsoever they promise they break and their contracts though never so solemnly smitten are but snares and traps one can believe nothing they say or do so false are they 9 As thy mercies multiply so shall my praises which hitherto have gone along foot by foot with all thy gratious dispensations every remarkable mercie hath inspired me afresh and brought forth a suitable Psalm of praise and thanks-giving and so shall they that are to succeed when thou shalt compleat mine establishment and work out my final deliverance I will not be behind hand to express it to the full in a full and open acknowledgement answerably magnifying thee with the uttermost of my skill both by voice and instrument tuned to thy praise 10 And I will say that the Lord alone is worthie to be magnified by all his vice-gerents upon earth who disposeth of Kings and Kingdoms as pleaseth him none though never so great standing or prevailing by their own power but by his either in victorie over their enemies or peaceable government over their people and I least of all who am most of all bound to acknowledge his protection and deliverance of me out of otherwayes unavoidable deaths yea many an one that had else swallowed me up had not his hand of power answered his word of promise in the preservation and preferment of me to this place of honour and service to rule his people Israel 11 Thou hast made some good riddance of mine enemies but more remain do by these as by those who are no better Israelites at large onely by birth-priviledge have they got the start of heathens savouring the things of honesty truth no more than they See further the 7 and 8 verses foregoing of this Psalm 12 Settle us in a peaceable and prosperous condition by ridding out those that stand in the way of Israels wel-fare and flourishing estate under me and mine that the times may come which are not far off according to the date of thine ordination and promise when we shall have even a heaven upon earth thy blessings of all sorts abounding to us and our posterities and the Common-wealth be peopled and re-edified as it were with handsome well educated youth the effects of peace both men and women that hath been so long unpolished and in the rough void of all order and comliness 13 And when the blessings of corn and cattel shall to admiration be poured out upon us in so great abundance as ever either room within doors can receive or pasturage without all the land over can maintain 14 And when by peace and plentie our beasts of labour and burden shall be blessed with strength thereto and the Kingdom enriched therewith and that there shall be no more wasting robbing plundering spoiling killing and captiving as lamentably hath been by invasions and inroads of cruel enemies nor no need of flying for our securitie or fighting for our defence but that in stead of wringing our hands and wailing our misfortunes at home we may carrie sorrow to our enemies doors abroad whilest nothing but peace and tranquillitie is in the borders of Israel 15 O the blessedness of such a change what a happy age will be that brings with it such an affluence of posteritie peace and plentie which are the riches of a Kingdom and thus shall it be with us nothing shall be wanting to the perfecting our felicitie even in these above all the nations upon earth and which is more worth and sets a Crown upon the head of all the rest God himself will be ours to bless us and remain with us whose grace and favour is our greatest felicitie when our felicitie is at greatest a happiness of all other most desireable and an enjoyment incomparable when and to whom God vouchsafes it as in goodness and faithfulness under the reign and government of me and mine now at hand he will to us his peculiar people The cxlv PSALM It is noted of this Psalm as also of some others tending to praise as Psalm 111 112 that they are written according in the Hebrew Alphabet each verse beginning with the letters as they lie in order of succession some onely pretermitted This particular Psalm it is conceived was composed when the Kingdom of David flourished wherein he insists much upon the supremacie and empire of God over all in general and his people in special promising as high as he is to set God above him confessing him onely to be great that rules and does all by an Almighty power and greatness consounding his enemies and exercising all manner of grace to his Church and people and though just yet beneficent deserving praise from all but his saints especially who are under the covenant and Kingdom of grace which hath been so powerfully administred in their behalfs and shall continue to the end of the world as it hath done from the beginning for the preservation of his people by him who is pitiful to the oppressed to right and raise them He shews his goodness to be universal and that as all things have an instinct towards him so he towards them to do them good and as he hath given them â— Being so he maintains it which he doth by manifold dispensations of good creatures in sit seasons And whose transcendencie appears chiefly in this that nothing falls out in the administration of his government but what is holy and righteous And though he be bountiful to all yet is he graciously propitious but to few and yet to all those which yet are but few that serve him in sinceritie salvation is there portion and destruction the wickeds For all which he promiseth to magnifie God and bespeaks all else to do so A Psalm made by David wherein himself praiseth God abundantly and incites all others to it exceedingly by setting forth before them his praise-worthy acts and excellencies 1 THou Lord hast highly exalted me and so will I thee as well thou deservest at my hands I will magnifie thy bountie to me and do my homage to thee the King of Kings and more peculiarly of me thine anointed who hold what I have by thy donation and am what I am in subordination to thee the Sovereign Lord of all the Kingdoms of the world but more especially of mine Thy greatness and goodness shall for ever be acknowledged and magnified by me whilest I live were I to live everlastingly and I will leave it upon record to posteritie to do so too 2 The memorie of thy mercies shall never depart from me nor shall the dutie of thanks-giving be intermitted by me time shall
his bow and made it readie 13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors 14 Behold he travelleth with iniquitie and hath conceived mischief and brought forth falshood 15 He made a pit and digged it and is fallen into the ditch which he made 16 His mischief shall return upon his own head and his violent dealing shall come upon his own pate 17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousnes and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high Psalm 8. To the chief musician upon Gittith A Psalm of David 1 O Lord our God how excellent is thy name in all the earth who hast set thy glory above the Heavens 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thineâ— enemies that thou mightest still thâ— enemie and the avenger 3 When I consider thy Heavens the work of thy fingers the Moon and the Starrs which thou hast ordained 4 What is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that thou visitest him 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the Angels hast crowned him with glory and honour 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands thou hast put all things under his feet 7 All sheep and Oxen yea and the beasts of the field 8 The fowl of the aire and the fish of the sea and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea 9 O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth Psalm 9. To the chief musiciâ—n upon Muth-labben A Psalm of David 1 I will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart I will shew forth all thy marvellous works 2 I will be glad and rejoyce in thee I will sing praise to thy name O thou most high 3 When mine enemies are turned back they shall fall and perish at thy presence 4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause thou â—atest in the throne judgeing right 5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen thou hast destroied the wicked thou hast put out their name for ever and ever 6 O thou enemy destructions are come to a perpetual end and thou hast destroied cities their memory is perished with them 7 But the Lord shall endure for ever he hath prepared his throne for judgement 8 And he shall judge the world in righteousnesse he shall minister judgement to the people in uprightness 9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in times of trouble 10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee 11 Sing praises to the Lord which dwelleth in Sion declare among the people his doings 12 When he maketh inquisition for blood he remembreth them he forgetteth not the cry of the humble 13 Have mercy upon me O Lord consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me thou that liftest me up from the gates of death 14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Sion I will rejoyce in thy salvation 15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made in the net which they hid is their own foot taken 16 The Lord is known by the judgement which he executeth the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands Higgaion Selah 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten the exspectation of the poor shall not perish for ever 19 Arise O Lord let not man prevail let the heathen be judged in thy sight 20 Put them in fear O Lord that the nations may know themselves to be but men Selah Psalm 10. 1 WHy standest thou afar of O Lord why hidest thou thy self in times of trouble 2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined 3 For the wicked boasteth of his hearts desire and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth 4 The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts 5 His ways are always grievous thy judgements are far above out of his sight 6 He hath said in his heart I shall not be moved for I shall never be in adversity 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud under his tongue is mischief and vanitie 8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages in the secret places doth he murder the innocent his eyes are privily â—et against the poor 9 He lieth in wait secretly as a Lion in his den he lieth in wait to catch the poor he doth catâ—h the poor when he draweth him into his net 10 He croucheth and humbleth himself that the poor may fall by his strong ones 11 He hath said in his heart God hath forgotten he hideth his face he will never see it 12 Arise O Lord O God lift up thine hand forget not the humble 13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God he hath said in his heart Thou wilt not require it 14 Thou hast seen it for thoâ— beholdest mischief and spite to require it with thy hand the poor committeth himself unto thee thou art the â—eâ—per of the fatherless 15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man seek out his wickâ—dness till thou find none 16 The Lord is King for ever and ever the heathen are perished out of his land 17 Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear 18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed that the man of the earth may no more oppress Psalm xi To the chief musician A Psalm of David 1 IN the Lord put â— my trust how say ye to my soul flee as a bird to your mountain 2 For lo the wicked bend their bow they make ready their arrow upon the string that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart 3 If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do 4 The Lord is in his holy temple the Lords throne is in heaven his eyes behold his eye lids trie the children of men 5 The Lord trieth the righteous but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth 6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousnes his countenanâ—e doth behold the upright Psalm xii To the chief musician upon Sheminith A Psalm of David 1 HElp Lord for the godly man ceaseth for the faithful fail from among the children oâ— men 2 They speak vanitie every one with hiâ— neighbour with flattering lips and witâ— a double heart 〈◊〉 they speak 3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips and
was wroth 8 There went up a smoak out of his nostrils and fire out of his mouth devoured coals were kindled by it 9 He bowed the heavens also came down and darkness was under his feet 10 And he rode upon a cherub and did flie yea he did flie upon the wings of the wind 11 He made darkness his secret place his pavilion â—round about him were dark watters and thick clouds of the skies 12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed hail-stones and coals of fire 13 The Lord also thundred in the heavens and the highest gave his voice hailstones coals of fire 14 Yea he sent out his arrows and scattered them and be shot out lightnings discomfited them 15 Then the chanels of waters were seen and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke O Lord at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils 16 He sent from above he took me he drew me out of many waters 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy and from them whiâ—h hated me for they were too strong for me 18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity but the Lord was my stay 19 He brought me forth also into a large place he delivered me because he delighted in me 20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hand hath he recompâ—nced me 21 For I have kept the wayes of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God 22 For all his judgements were before me and I did not put away his statutes from me 23 I was also upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity 24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands in his eye-sight 25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thy self merciful with an upright man thou wilt shew thy self upright 26 With the pure thou wilt shew thy self pure and with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward 27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people but wilt bring down high looks 28 For thou wilt light my candle the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness 29 For by thee I have run through a troupâ— and by my God have I leaped over a wall 30 As for God his way is perfect the word of the Lord is tried he is a buckler to all those that trust in him 31 For who is God save the Lord or who is a rock save our God 32 It is God that girdeâ—h me with strength and maketh my way perfect 33 He maketh my feet like hindes feet setteth me upon my high plaâ—es 34 He teacheth my hands to warre so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms 35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation and thy right hand hath holden me up thy gentleness hath made me great 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me that my feet did not slip 37 I have pursued mine enemies and overtaken them nâ—ither did I turn again till they were consumed 38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise they are fallen under my feet 39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto battel thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me 40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies that I might destroy them that hate me 41 They cried but there was none to save them even unto the Lord but he answered them not 42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets 43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people and thou hast made me the head of the heathen a people whom I have not known shall serve me 44 As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me the strangers shall submit themselves unto me 45 The strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close places 46 The Lord liveth blessed be my rock and let the God of my salvation be exalted 47 It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the people under me 48 He delivereth me from mine enemies yea thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me thou hast delivered me from the violent man 49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee O Lord among the heathen and sing pâ—aiâ—â—â—â— unto thy name 50 Great deliverance giveth he to his King and sheweth mercy to his annointed to David and to his seed for evermore Psalm 19. To the chief musician A Psalm of David 1 THe heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work 2 Day unto day uttereth speech night unto night sheweth knowledg 3 There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard 4 Their line is gone out throughout all the earth and their words to the end of the world in them hath he set a Tabernacle for the sun 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoyceth as a strong man to run a â—ace 6 His going forth is from the end of the Heaven and his circuit unto the ends of it and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof 7 The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple 8 The statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes 9 The fear of the Lord is clean enduring for ever the iudgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether 10 More to be desired are they than gold yea than much fine gold sweeter also then honey and the honey-comb 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward 12 Who can understand his errours cleanse thou me from secret faults 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sâ—â—s let them not have dominion over me then shall I be upright and I shall be innocent from the great transgression 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Psalm xx To the chief musician A Psalm of David 1 THe Lord bear thee in the day of trouble the name of the God of Jacob defend thee 2 Send thee help from the sanctuarie and strengthen thee out of Sion 3 Remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifice Selah 4 Grant thee according to thine own heart and fulfil all thy counsel 5 We will rejoyce in thy salvation and in the name of our God we will set up our banners the Lord fulfil all thy petitions 6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his annointed he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his â—ight hand 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we will remember the name of the Lord our God 8 They
are brought down and fallen but we are risen and stand up â—ight 9 Save Lord let the King hear us when we call Psalm xxi To the chief musician A Psalm of David 1 THe King shall joy in thy strength O Lord and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoyce 2 Thou hast given him his hearts desire and hast not withholden the request of his lips Selâ—h 3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head 4 He asked life thee and thou gavest it him even length of dayes for ever and ever 5 His glorie is great in thy salvation honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him 6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance 7 For the King trusteth in the Lord and through the mercie of the most high he shall not be moved 8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee 9 Thou shalt make them as a fierie oven in the time of thine anger the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath and the fire shall devour them 10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth and their seed from among the children of men 11 For they intended evil against thee they imagined a mischievous device which they are not able to perform 12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them 13 Be thou exalted Lord in thine own strength so will we sing and praise thy power Psalm xxii To the chief musician upon Aijeleth-Shahar A Psalm of David 1 MY God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring 2 O my God I crie in the day time but thou hearest not and in the night season and am not silent 3 But thou art holy O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel 4 Our father 's trusted in thee they trusted and thou didst deliver them 5 They cried unto thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not confounded 6 But I am a worm and no man a reproch of men and despised of the people 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn they shoot out the lip they shake the head saying 8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him let him deliver him seeing he delighted in him 9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mothers breasts 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb thou art my God from my mothers belly 11 Be not far from me for trouble is near for there is none to help 12 Many buls have compassed me strong buls of Bashan have beset me round 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths as a ravening and roaring Lion 14 I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joynt my heart is like wax it is melted in the midst of my bowels 15 My strength is dried up like a pot-sheard and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws thou hast brought me into the dust of death 16 For dogs have compassed me the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me they pierced my hands and my feet 17 I may tell all my bones they look and stare upon me 18 They part my garments among them and cast lots for my vesture 19 But be not thou far from me O Lord O â—â—y strength hast theâ— to help me 20 Deliver my soul from the sword my darling from the power of the dog 21 Save me from the Lions mouth for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee 23 Ye that fear the Lord praise him all ye the seed of Jacob glorifie him and fear him all ye seed of Israel 24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted neither hath he hid his face from him but when he cried unto him he heard 25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation I will pay my vows before them that fear him 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied they shall praise the Lord that seek him your heart shall live for ever 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord and all the kinreds of the nations shall worship before thee 28 For the Kingdom is the Lords and he is the Governour among the nations 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him and none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him it shall be accounted to the Lord for a Generation 31 They shall come and shall declare his righteousnes unto a people that shall be born that he hath done this Psalm xxiii A Psalm of David 1 THe Lord is my shepheard I shall not want 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures he leadeth me besides the still waters 3 He restoreth my soul he leadeth me in the paths of righteousnes for his names sake 4 Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff they comfort me 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies thou anointest my head with oyl my cup runneth over 6 Surely goodnes and mercie shall follow me all the dayes of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever Psalm xxiiii A Psalm of David 1 THe earth is the Lords and the fulnes thereof the world and they that dwell therein 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas and established it upon the flouds 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord and who shall stand in his holy place 4 He that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his soul unto vanitie nor sworn deceitfully 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousnes from the God of his salvation 6 This is the generation of them that seek him that seek thy face O Jacob. Selah 7 Lift up your heads O ye gates â—â—d be ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the King of glorie shall come in 8 Who is this King of glorie the Lord strong and mightie the Lord mightie in battel 9 Lift up your heads O ye gates even lift them up ye everlasting doors and the King of glorie shall come in 10 Who is this King of glorie the Lord of hosts he is the King of glorie Selah Psalm xxxv A Psalm of David 1 UNto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God I trust in thee let me not be ashamed let
springing thereof 11 Thou crownest the earth with thy goodness and thy paths drop â—atness 12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness and the little hills rejoyce on every side 13 The pastures are clothed with flocks the valleys also are covered over with corn they shout for joy they also sung Psalm lxvi To the chief musician A song or Psalm 1 MAke a joyful noise unto God all ye lands 2 Sing forth the honour or his name make his praise glorious 3 Say unto God How tâ—rrible art thou in thy works through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee 4 All the earth shall worship thee shall sing unto thee they shall sing to thy name Selah 5 Come and see the works of God he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men 6 He turned the sea into drie land they went through the floud on foot there did we rejoyce in him 7 He ruleth by his power for ever his eyes behold the nations let not the rebellious exalt themselves Selah 8 O bless our God ye people and make the voice of his praise to be heard 9 Which holdeth our soul in life and suffereth not our feet to be moved 10 For thou O God hast reproved us thou hast tried us as silver is tried 11 Thou broughtest us into the net thou laidst affliction upon our loins 12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads we went through â—fire and through waterâ— but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place 13 I will go into thy house with burnt-offerings I will pay thee my vous 14 Which my lips have uttered and my mouth hath spoken when I was in trouble 15 I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings 〈…〉 incâ—nse of rams I will offer bullocks witâ— goats Selah 16 Come and hear all ye that fear God I will deâ—lare what he hath done for my soul. 17 I cried unto him with my mouth and he was extolled with my tongue 18 If I regard iniquitie in my heart the Lord will not hear me 19 But verily God hath heard me he hath attended to the voice of my prayer 20 Blessed be God which hath not turned away my prayer nor his mercie from me Psalm lxvii To the chief musician on Neginoth A psalm or song 1 GOd be merciful unto us and bless us and cause his face to shine upon us Selah 2 That thy way may be known upon earth thy saving health among all nations 3 Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy for thou shalt judge the people righteously and govern the nations upon earth Selah 5 Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee 6 Then shall the earth yield her increase and God even our own God shall bless us 7 God shall bless us and all the ends of the earth shall fear him Psalm lxviii To the chief musician A psalm or song of David 1 LEt God arise let his enemies be scattered let them also that hate him slie before him 2 As smoke is driven away so drive them away as wax melteth before the fire so let the wicked perish at the presence of God 3 But let the righteous be glad let them rejoyce before God yea let them exceedingly rejoyce 4 Sing unto God sing praises to his name extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Iab and rejoyce before him 5 A father of the fatherless and a judge of the widows is God in his holy habitation 6 God setteth the solitarie in families he bringeth out those that are bound with chains but the rebellious dwell in a drie land 7 O God when thou wentest forth before thy people when thou didst march through the wilderness Selah 8 The earth shook the heavens also dropped at the presence of God even Sinai it self was moved at the presence of God the God of Israel 9 Thou O God didst send a plentiful rain whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance when it was wearie 10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein thou O God hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor 11 The Lord gave the word great was the company of those that published it 12 Kings of armies did flie apace and she that tarried at home divided the spoil 13 Though ye have lien among the pots yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold 14 When the Almightie scattered Kings in it it was white as snow in Salmon 15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan an high hill as the hill of Bashan 16 Why leap ye ye high hills this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in yea the Lord will dwell in it for ever 17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels the Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place 18 Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivitie captive thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them 19 Blessed be the Lord who dayly loadeth us with benefits even the God of our salvation Selah 20 He that is our God is the God of salvation and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death 21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses 22 The Lord said I will bring again from Bashan I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea 23 That thy foot may be dipped in the bloud of thine enemies and the tongue of thy dogs in the same 24 They have seen thy goings O God even the goings of my God my King in the sanctuary 25 The singers went before the players on instruments followed after amongst them were the damsels playing with timbrels 26 Bless ye God in the congregations even the Lord from the fountain of Israel 27 There is little Benjamin with their ruler the princes of Judah and their councel the princes of Zebulon and the princes of Naphtali 28 Thy God hath coÌ„manded thy strength strengthen O God that which thou hast wrought for us 29 Because of thy Temple at Jerusalem shall Kings bring presents unto thee 30 Rebuke the company of spear-men the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the people till every one submit himself with pieces of silver scatter thou the people that delight in war 31 Princes shall come out of Egypt Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God 32 Sing unto God ye Kingdoms of the earth O sing praises unto the Lord. Selah 33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens which were of old lo he doth send out his voice and that a mightie voice 34 Ascrib ye strength unto God his excellencie is over Israel and his
also out of the rock and caused waters to run down like rivers 17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most high in the wilderness 18 And they tempted God in their hearts by asking meat for their lust 19 Yea they spake against God they said Can God furnish a table in the wilderness 20 Behold he smâ—te the rock that the waters gushed out the streams over-flowed can he give bread also can he provide flesh for his people 21 Therefore the Lord heard this and was wroth so a fire was kindled against Jacob and anger also came up against Israel 22 Because they believed not in God and trusted not in his salvation 23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above and opened the doors of heaven 24 And had rained down Manna upon them to eat and had given them of the corn of heaven 25 Man did eat angels food he sent them meat to the full 26 He caused an East-wind to blow in the heavens and by his power he brought the South-wind 27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust and feathered fowls like the sand of the sea 28 And he let it fall in the middest of their camp râ—und about their habitations 29 So they did eat and were well filled for he gave them their own desire 30 They were not estranged from their lust but whilest the meat was in their mouths 31 The wrath of God came upon them and slew the fattest of them and smote down the chosen men oâ— Israel 32 For all this they sinned stâ—ll and believed not for his wonderous works 33 Therâ—fore their days did he consume in vanity and their years in trouble 34 When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God 35 And they remembred that God was their rock and the high God their redeemer 36 Nevertheless they did â—latter him with thâ—ir mâ—uth and they lyed unto him with their to â—gueâ— 37 For their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his covenant 38 But he being full of compaâ—â—ion forgave their iniquitie and destroyed them not yea many a time turned he his anger away and did not stir up all his wrath 39 For he remembered that they were but flesh a wind that passeth away and cometh not again 40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness and grieve him in the desert 41 Yea they turned back and tempted God and limited the holy one of Israel 42 They remembered not his hand nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy 43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt and his wonders in the field of Zoan 44 And had turned their rivers into bloud and their flouds that they could not dâ—ink 45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them which devoured them and frogs which destroyed them 46 He gave also their increase unto the catterpiller and their labour unto the locust 47 He destroyed their vines with hail and their syromore trees with frost 48 He gave their cattel also to the hail and their flocks to hot thunderbolts 49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger wrath and indignation and trouble by sending evil angels among them 50 He made a way to his anger he spared not their soul from death but gave their life over to the pestilence 51 And smote all the first-born of Egypt the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham. 52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock 53 And he led them on safely so that they feared not but the sea over-whelmed their enemies 54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary even to his mountain which his right hand had purchased 55 He câ—st out the hâ—athen also beâ—ore them anâ— divided thâ—m aâ— inheritance by 〈◊〉 and made the tribes of Israel to dwel in their tents 56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God and kept not his testimonies 57 But turned back and delt unfaithfully like their fathers they were turned aside like a deceitful bowe 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places and moved him to jealousie with their graven images 59 When God heard this he was wroth and greatly abhorred Israel 60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh the tent which he placed among men 61 And delivered his strength into captivitie and his glorie into the enemies hand 62 He gave his people over also unto the sword and was wroth with his inheritance 63 The fire consumed their young men and their maidens were not given in marriage 64 Their priests fell by the sword and their widows made no lamentation 65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep and like a mightie man that shouteth by reason of wine 66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts he put them to a perpetual reproch 67 Moreover he refused the Tabernacle of Joseph and chose not the tribe of Ephraim 68 But chose the tribe of Judah the mount Sion which he loved 69 And he built his sanctuarie like high palaces like the earth which he had established for ever 70 He chose David also his servant and took him from the sheep-folds 71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people and Israel his inheritance 72 So he fed them according to the integritie of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands Psalm lxxix A Psalm of or for Asaph 1 O God the heathen are come into thine inheritance thy holy Temple have they defiled they have laid Jerusalem on heaps 2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of heaven the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth 3 Their bloud have they shed like water round about Jerusalem and there was none to burie them 4 We are become a reproch to our neighbours a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us 5 How long Lord wilt thou be angrie for ever shall thy jealousie burn like fire 6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee and upon the Kingdoms that have not called upon thy name 7 For they have devoured Jacob and laid wast his dwelling place 8 O remember not against us former iniquities let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us for we are brought very low 9 Help us O God of our salvation for the glorie of thy name and deliver us and purge away our sins for thy names sake 10 Wherefore should the heathen say where is their God let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the bloud of his servants which is shed 11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to
David my servant 4 Thy seed will I establish for ever and build up thy throne to all generations Selah 5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders O Lord thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints 6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord who among the sons of the mightie can be likened unto the Lord. 7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him 8 O Lord God of hosts who is a strong Lord like unto thee or to thy faithfulness round about thee 9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea when the waves thereof arise thou stillest them 10 Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces as one that is slain thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm 11 The heavens are thine the earth also is thine as for the world and the fulness thereof thou hast founded them 12 The North and the South thou hast created them Tabor and Hermon shall rejoyce in thy name 13 Thou hast a mightie arm strong is thine hand and high is thy right hand 14 Justice judgement are the habitation of thy throne mercy and truth shall go before thy face 15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound they shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance 16 In thy name shall they rejoyce all the day and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted 17 For thou art the glorie of their strength and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted 18 For the Lord is our defence and the holy one of Israel is our King 19 Then thou spaâ—est in vision unto thy holy one and saidst I have laid help upon one that is mightie I have exalted one chosen out of the people 20 I have found David my servant with my holy oil have I anointed him 21 With whom my hand shall be established mine arm also shall strengthen him 22 The enemy shall not exact upon him nor the son of wickedness afflict him 23 And I will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him 24 But my faithfulness and my mercie shall be with him and in my name shall his horn be exalted 25 I will set his hand also in the sea and his right hand in the rivers 26 He shall crie unto me Thou art my Father my God and the rock of my salvation 27 Also I will make him my first born higher than the Kings oâ— the earth 28 My mercie will I keep for him for evermore and my covenant shall stand fast with him 29 His sâ—ed also will I make to endure for ever and his throne as the dayes of heaven 30 If his children forsake my Law and walk not in my judgements 31 If they break my statutes and keep not in my judgements 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquitie with stripes 33 Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail 34 My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips 35 Once have I sworn by mine Holiness that I will not lie unto David 36 His seed shall endure for ever and his throne as the sun before me 37 It shall be established for ever as the Moon and as a faithful witness in heaven Selah 38 But thou hast cast off and abhorred thou hast been wroth with thine anointed 39 Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground 40 Thou hast broken down all his hedges thou hast brought his strong holds to ruine 41 All that pass by the way spoil him he is a reproch to his neighbours 42 Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversarie thou hast made all his enemies to rejoyce 43 Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword and hast not made him to stand in the battel 44 Thou hast made his glorie to cease and cast his throne down to the ground 45 The dayes of his youth hast thou shortned thou hast covered him with shamâ— Selah 46 How long Lord wilt thou hide thy self for ever shall thy wrath burn like fire 47 Remember how short my time is wherefore hast thou made all men in vain 48 What man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave Selah 49 Lord where are thy former loving kindnesses which thou swarest unto David in thy truth 50 Remember Lord the reproch of thy servant how I do bear in my bosom the reproch of all the mightie people 51 Wherewith thine enemies have reproched O Lord wherewith they have reproched the footsteps of thine anointed 52 Blessed be the Lord for evermore Amen and Amen Psalm xc A Prayer of Moses the man of God 1 LOrd thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations 2 Before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God 3 Thou turnest man to destruction and saiest return ye children of men 4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night 5 Thou carriest them away as with a floud they are as a sleep in the morning they are like grass which groweth up 6 In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up in the evening it is cut down and withereth 7 For we are consumed by thine anger and by thy wrath are we troubled 8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance 9 For all our dayes are passed away in thy wrath we spend our years as a tale that is told 10 The dayes of our years are threescore years and ten and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years yet is their strength labour sorrow for it is soon cut off and we flie away 11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger even according to thy fear so is thy wrath 12 So teach us to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom 13 Return O Lord how long and let it repent thee concerning thy servants 14 O satisfie us early with thy mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our days 15 Make us glad according to the dayes wherein thou hast afflicted us and the years wherein we have seen evil 16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants and thy glory unto their children 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us establish thou the works of our hands upon us yea the woâ—k of our hands establish thou it Psalm xci 1 HE that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty 2 I will say of the Lord he is my
reâ—uge and my fortress my God in him will I trust 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snâ—re of the fowler anâ— from the noysom pestilence 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust his trust shall be thy shield and buckler 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrour by night nor for the arrow that flieth by day 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh ie darkness nor for thâ— destruction that wasteth at noon-day 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee 8 Onely with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked 9 Because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge even the most high thy habitation 10 There shall no evil befall thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling 11 For he shall give his Angelâ— charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands least thou dash thy foot against a stone 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder the young lion the dragon shalt thou trample under feet 14 Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him I will set him on high because he hath known my name 15 He shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him and honour him 16 With long life will I satisfie him and shew him my salvation Psalm cxii A Psalm or song for the Sabbath-day 1 IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord to sing praises unto thy name O most high 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning thy faithfulness every night 3 Upon an instrument of ten strings upon the Psaltery upon the harp with a solemn â—ound 4 For thou Lord hast made me glad through thy work I will triumph in the works of thy hands 5 O Lord how great art thy works and thy thoughts are very deep 6 A bruitish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this 7 When the wicked spring as the grass and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish it is that they shall be destroied for ever 8 But thou Lord art most high for evermore 9 For lo thine enemies O Lord for lo thine enemies shall perish all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered 10 But my horn shall thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn I shall be anointed with fresh oyl 11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me 12 The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-tree he shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon 13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing 15 To shew that the Lord is upright he is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in him Psalm cxiii 1 THe Lord reigneth he is clothed with majesty the Lord is clothed with strength wherewith he hath girded himself the world also is established that it cannot be moved 2 Thy throne is established of old thou art from everlasting 3 The flouds have lifted up O Lord the flouds have lifted up their voice the flouds lift up their waves 4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters yea than the mighty waves of the sea 5 Thy testimonies are very sure holines becometh thine house O Lord for ever Psalm xciv 1 O Lord God to to whom vengeance belongeth O God to whom vengeance belongeth shew thy self 2 Lift up thy self thou Judge of the earth â—ender a reward to the proud 3 Lord how long shall the wicked how long shall the wicked triumph 4 How shall they utter and speak hard things and all the workers of iniquitie boast themselves 5 They break in pieces thy people O Lord and afflict thine heritage 6 They slay the widow and the stranger and murther the fatherless 7 Yet they say The Lord shall not see neither shall the God of Jacob regard it 8 Understand ye bruitish among the people and ye fools when will ye be wise 9 He that planted the ear shall he not hear he that formed the eye shall he not see 10 He that chastiseth the heathen shall not he correct he that teacheth man knowledge shall not he know 11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that they are vanitie 12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy law 13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversitie untill the pit be digged for the wicked 14 For the Lord will not cast off his people neither will he forsake his inheritance 15 But judgement shall return unto righteousness and the upright in heart shall follow it 16 Who will rise up for me against the evil doers or who will stand with me against the workers of iniquitie 17 Unless the Lord had been my help my soul had dwelt in silence 18 When I said my foot slippeth Thy mercie O Lord held me up 19 In the multitude of the thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. 20 Shall the throne of iniquitie have fellowship with thee which frameth mischief by a law 21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous condemn the innocent bloud 22 But the Lord is my defence and my God is the rock of my refuge 23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquitie and shall cut them off in their own wickednes yea the Lord our God shall cut them off Psalm xcv 1 O Come let us â—ing unto the Lord let us make a joyfull noise to the rock of our salvation 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyfull noise unto him with Psalms 3 For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all Gods 4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth the strength of the hils is his also 5 The sea is his and he made it and his hands formed the drie land 6 O come let us worship bow down let us kneel before the Lord our maker 7 For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand to day if you will hear his voice 8 Harden not your heart as in the provocation and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness 9 When your fathers tempted me proved me and saw my works 10 Fourty years long was I grieved with this generation and said It is a people that do erre in their heart and they have not known my ways 11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest Psalm xcvi 1 O Sing unto the
O Lord who shall stand 4 But there is forgiveness with thee that thou maiest befeared 5 I wait for the Lord my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning I say more than they that watch for the morning 7 Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption 8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities Psalm cxxxi A song of degrees of David 1 LOrd my heart is not haughtie nor mine eyes loftie neither do I exercise my self in great matters or in things too high for me 2 Surely I have behaved and quieted my self as a child that is weaned of his mother my soul is even as a weaned child 3 Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever Psalm cxxxii A song of degrees 1 LOrd remember David and all his afflictions 2 How he sware unto the Lord and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob. 3 Surely I will not come into the Tabernacle of my house nor go up into my bed 4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes or slumber to my eye-lids 5 Until I find out a place for the Lord an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. 6 Lo we heard of it at Ephratah we found it in the fields of the wood 7 We will go into thy Tabernacles we will worship at thy foot-stool 8 Arise O Lord into thy rest thou and the Ark of thy strength 9 Let thy Priests be clothed with righteousnâ—s and let thy saints shout for joy 10 For thy servan Davids sake turn not away the face of thine anointed 11 The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David he will not turn from it of the fruit of thy bodie will I set upon thy throne 12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimonie that I shall teach them their children also shall fit on thy throne for evermore 13 For the Lord hath chosen Sion he hath desired it for his habitation 14 This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it 15 I will abundantly bless her provision I will satisfie her poor with bread 16 I will also clothe her Priests with salvation and her saints shall shout aloud for joy 17 There will I make the horn of David to bud I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed 18 His enemies will I clothe with shame but upon himself shall his Crown flourish A song of degrees of David Psalm cxxxiii 1 BEhold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unitie 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard even Aarons beard that went down to the skirts of his garment 3 As the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Sion for there the Lord commanded the blessing even life for evermore Psalm cxxxiv. A song of degrees 1 BEhold bless ye the Lord all ye servants of the Lord which by night stand in the house of the Lord. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuarie and bless the Lord. 3 The Lord that made heaven earth bless thee out of Sion Psalm cxxxv 1 PRaise ye the Lord praise ye the name of the Lord praise him O ye servants of the Lord. 2 Ye that stand in the house of the Lord in the courts of the house of our God 3 Praise ye the Lord for the Lord is good sing praises unto his name for it is pleasant 4 For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his peculiar treasure 5 For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all Gods 6 Whatsoever tâ—e Lord pleased that did â—e in heaven and in earth 7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth he maketh lightnâ—ngs for the rain he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries 8 Who smote the first-born of Egypt both of man and beast 9 Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee O Egypt upon Pharaoh and upon all his servants 10 Who smote great nations slew mightie Kings 11 Sihon King of the Amorites and Og King of Bashan and all the Kingdoms of Canaan 12 And gave their land for an heritage unto Israel his people 13 Thy name O Lord endureth for ever and thy memorial O Lord through all generations 14 For the Lord will judge his people and he will repâ—nt himself concerning his servants 15 The Idols of the heathen are silver and gold the work of mens hands 16 They have mouthes but they speak not eyes have they but they see not 17 They have eaâ—s but they heâ—r not neither is there any breath in their mouthes 18 They that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them 19 Bless the Lord O houâ—e of Israel bless the Lord O house of Aaron 20 Bless the Lord O house of Levi ye that fear the Lord bless the Lord. 21 Blessed be the Lord out of Sion which dwelleth at Jerusalem Praise ye the Lord. Psalm cxxxvi 1 O Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercie endureth for ever 2 O give thanks unto the God of Gods for his mercie endureth for ever 3 O give thanks to the Lord of Lords for his mercie endureth for ever 4 To him who alone doth great wonders for his mercie endureth for ever 5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens for his mercie endureth for ever 6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters for his mercie endureth for ever 7 To him that made great lights for his mercie endureth for ever 8 The son to rule by day â—or his mercie endureth for ever 9 The moon and stars to rule by night for his mercie endureth for ever 10 To him that smote Egypt in their first-born for his mercie endureth for-ever 11 And brought out Israel from among them for his mercie endureth for ever 12 With a strong hand and a stretched-out arm for his mercie endureth for ever 13 To him which divided the red-sea into parts for his mercie endureth for ever 14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it for his mercie endureth for ever 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the red-sea for his mercie endureth for ever 16 To him which led his people through the wilderness for his mercie endureth for ever 17 To him which smote great Kings for his mercie endureth for ever 18 And slew famous Kings for his mercie endureth for ever 19 Sihon King of the Amorites for his mercie endureth for ever 20 And Og the King of Bashan for his mercie endureth for ever 21 And gave their land for an heritage for his mercie endureth for ever 22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant for his mercie endureth
cannot I so easily yield up my faith and distrust thy promise and goodness But am confident thou that art the Lord Almighty and my good God wilt now deliver me from mine enemies as thou hast ever done and wilt restore me to and maintain me in mine honour which thou hast given me and turn my sorrow into joy 4 Nor do I speak this presumptiously or by guess but am well assured of it by a special answer I received from God in mine earnest prayer which I made towards mount Sion where his Ark resides And this my confidence to find mercy with God I care not who know so sure am I of it 5 Which hath so comfortably secured me in mine own mind as that for all my trouble I can sleep as quietly and wake as chearfully as at any time before The Lord hath given me such a spirit of confidence and assurance that he will be the same God to me that he hath been and will sustain me now as he hath done heretofore maugre mine enemies 6 So that though I must needs confess in outward appearance my condition is very forlorn beeing fain to flie before mine enemies yet I am so comforted in God as that my faith is far above my fear so that though multitudes oppose me and the whole Kingdom as it were on every hand rebel against me and but a very few left to take my part whilest God is for me I care not who or how many be against me 7 And now O Lord let it appear that I speak the truth shew thy self in my behalf put forth thine Almighty power and save me who thou knowest am thine and one that trusts in thee and cause I have to do so for thou hast ever been gracious to me and defeated mine enemies though they have been never so strong and I in never such peril yet hast thou brought me out and set me free from the malicious cruelty of all those ungodly ones that have opposed me for such and none other have ever been mine enemies 8 So that it is neither the power of mine adversaries nor the straits I am in that shall make me doubt of deliverance whilest I have a God to trust in who can and will preserve me as he hath done for to him belongeth the glory of my preservation because he hath firmly purposed and faithfully promised his chief and choisest blessing to his Church and people by me which shall not be frustrated even his Son Christ to rule over them and to be victorious for them of whom he hath made me the Type Oh that Israel would understand this submit to it and praise him for it Fourth PSALM David first speaks to God by prayer and gaining comfort and confidence thereby he then speaks to his enemies by advice to leave off troubling him and themselves in vain for that they should never be able to get his Kingdom from him because God had given it to him and would keep it for him do what they could and therefore admonisheth them not headily to persist in sinning by rebelling but to advise with their pillow in a point of so great concernment and infallibility and to desist and subject themselves to the will of God so should they find pardon and favour with him which would be better to them than all worldly happiness which they were so greedy of and which for his part seeing he had done he feared nothing To him that is most skilful upon the stringed instrument Neginoth to which this Psalm is chiefly set do I David that made it recommend it for the care and ordering of it in the Quire 1 O Lord suffer much in thy quarrel am put to many straits in all which I flie to thee therefore good Lord hear my prayer in such cases for though I my self be a sinner yet I trust in thy righteousness and make thee the judge of mine innocencie of whose goodness I have had large experiences for thou hast ever been faithful to deliver me out of all my dangers And therefore I will still believe in thee and pray to thee that thou wilt continue thy mercie as mine enemies continue their malice and hear me still as they give me cause to crie to thee for help 2 O ye that are too weak to resist the Almighty and as weak in understanding heavenly things how long will you perversly refuse to give and acknowledge that honour which God hath designed to me and will certainly fulfil in making me the Kingly type of the promised Messiah and in that relation to submit unto me Will you never be reclaimed But still vainly seek to destroy Christs spiritual Kingdom by indeavouring to dispossess me of mine which you shall never be able to compass though you labour it never so in hope to have it from me but deceive your selves and lose your labour I would you would take warning to seek the heavenly and not the earthly Kingdom which you are so greedie of 3 Indeed be advised and know to save you further trouble that I have not laboured to advance my self to this honour of a King for ambition sake but it was God who had a favour to me for the grace sake he hath wrought in me that hath designed me to this place and office wherein he is pleased to use me and as he hath raised me to it so will he never suffer me to be divested of it but will be sure to relieve me and give me the better of mine enemies whensoever in my need I call upon him 4 O that you would take my counsel to fear God not proudly passionately go on in sinning against him by opposing your selves against me Weigh but with your selves seriously the consequence of mine advice as to your everlasting welfare and in cold bloud consider the strange providences that have thus far carried on the work of mine advancement to the Kingdom maugre mine enemies and judge whether that do not promise as much as I prophecie and whether it were not therefore best for you to give over and be quiet I would you would consider it for your good 5 Come be perswaded to submit and render your selves the righteous and obedient servants and subjects of the Lord as a sacrifice due to him that deserves and expects it from you and in so doing trust in the Lord for mercie and grace which you shall be sure to find and trust not in your own power and policie to frustrate his will and pleasure 6 How many gape after this worldly and outward prosperitie and labour it tooth and nail as if that were their chiefest good But let me tell you the way to be happie indeed is to get the grace and favour of God to belong unto you this I for my part would have above all for me and mine to be happie by 7 For for my own part I am able to speak it to
their hope and desire having heard his prayer and pittied his case and assures them it shall not be long before they see it to their shame and grief To him that is most skilful upon the stringed instrument Neginoth to be sung with a high voice to the eighth tune or instrument of eight strings called Sheminith whereto this Psalm is chiefly set do I David that made it recommend it 1 O Lord thou hast many ways afflicted me for besides my many enemies thou hast now brought upon me a very soar and painful sickness which make me fear thine anger is kindled against me which I humbly knowledge my sins have deserved But good Lord remember mercie and chastize me for them not in thy heavie displeasure but according to thy Fatherly compassion 2 For though sin doth provoke thee to anger yet miserie is wont to move thee to shew mercie and truly O Lord my case is very woful for I am exceeding low brought by my disease therefore have pittie upon me for certainly thou mayest do a great cure and get thee a great deal of honour in recovering me now I am grown to that extremitie that my very bones are tortured with pain and are not of strength to support me 3 Nor am I onely sick in bodie but that which most makes me fear thy displeasure towards me is this That my soul is also soar troubled and as my bodie can find no ease so nor my soul find comfort which indeed is a grievous sadning to me But thou O Lord who I am sure art a God of mercie and compassion as well as of just displeasure how long canst thou behold me in this case and forbear to help me specially with soul-comfort 4 Good Lord change thy mind and now after so great and long affliction become my God again by setting my soul at least at libertie from its comfortless state Look no longer at my sins to punish them but consider and cast an eye upon thine own merciful nature now a while and for its sake restore me to health and inward peace 5 And so shall I live to praise thee whereas if thou pursue me to death what good wilt thou get by that here if thou letst me live I shall remember from time to time this mercie of my recoverie with many other good turns done me to thy glorie and praise but in the grave I shall forget all for both the knowledge of thee and the remembrance of all the mercies thou hast shewed me which I was wont to celebrate with thankfulness in this life must needs vanish when life it self departs and be buried in the grave with me in oblivion and silence 6 Truly Lord I have had a very sad time of it and a heavie burthen have I born a long while which hath cost me much sorrow and grief in so much as my groans have been incessant and without any ease or intermission so that I am now quite spent and wearie ready to give over for want of breath and spirit to express my moanings night nor day have I had any quiet nor taken any rest but instead of sleep I have spent the night in continual weeping and in stead of repose upon my couch in the day time I have done nothing but shed tears 7 In so much as my sight is decaied and mine eyes wasted with incessant sorrowing and sunck into my head as it were with old age because of thy heavie hand and chiefly for the insultations of my many enemies over me because of mine affliction 8 But blessed be thy name me thinks of a sudden upon this my prayer I find my heart much cleared and my spirit well assured of thy favour and future mercie to me so that now I hope mine enemies shall have small cause to rejoyce over me for that I know thou wilt speedily disappoint that malicious and wicked desire they had of my destruction and wilt restore me for though my grief hath cost me many tears yet the Lord I perceive hath taken notice of them and pitied me for them 9 Yea he hath listned to the supplications I made in mine extremitie and will not reject them but according to my prayer will shew me mercie receive me to favour and restore me to health and comfort 10 So that now I am confident it shall be mine enemies turn to hang their heads for shame and vexation and mine to triumph over them when they see such an unexpected and sudden alteration and God to appear so much for me in it who they thought had been quite out of favour and should have now perished in his displeasure Seventh PSALM David being falsely accused to Saul by Cush to have abused his favour and made use of his reconciliation to strengthen himself against him and supplant him in the Kingdom and Saul by this slanderous report being inraged against David prosecutes him with greater hatred than before whereupon David flies to God by prayer for deliverance from Sauls inraged cruelty pleading his innocencie in the thing whereof he was accused whereupon he stirs up God to stand for him against his cruel adversaries for the promise sake which he had made him of the Kingdom and the service he would procure him in Israel thereby and withall prayes him that he will judge him according to his innocencie and the wicked according to their wickedness for that he knew who was in fault he or his enemies And in confidence thereof prophesies his enemies ruin and disappointment and that he shall live to see the day when he shall have cause to praise God for it and when that day comes he promises not to fail to do it A Psalm which David made and set to the tune of Shiggaion whereby he sought the Lord when as he was endangered by false accusation of him to Saul by that pick-thank flatterer Cush the Benjamite 1 MOst Almighty Lord and my most gracious God unto thy power and goodness do I flie for safe-guard relying onely on thee and therefore pray thee undertake my defence against my many adversaries Saul and his partizans who do most wrongfully persecute me from whose hands therefore good Lord deliver me 2 Lest if I fall into his hands he take away my life and put me to death by torments now that he is so inraged by false flatterers and I have none left about him that will or dare stand my friend and speak a good word for me 3 My most righteous Lord and God if this thing be true that Saul is informed off against me and for which he thus persecutes me if I have had any treacherous design upon him or broken Covenant with him as is suggested 4 If under the colour of peace and agreement I have sought to bring to pass any treacherous or treasonable thing or since our capitulation have falsified my word nay I am so far from thinking evil
to Saul that though he be mine utter enemie and hath wrongfully and without any cause at any time given by me laboured my destruction which nature can ill brook yet even then in that time of open hostilitie when I had him at advantage and might have rid my self of him once or twice such was my respect and loyaltie to him and fear of sinning against thee that I delivered him though to the hazard of mine own life thereby 5 If thou Lord who knowest all things know me guilty of this persidious treacherie whereof I am accused then in thy righteous judgement let Saul never cease to seek my life till he have it and then let him put me to as shameful a death as ever any suffered and brand me for a most treacherous ignominious wretch to all posteritie even from my heart I wish it 6 But Lord thou knowest its otherways therefore in thy just displeasure and in the greatness of thy power bestir thee in my behalf to right me on my false accusers and bloudie persecutors because of their unjust violence against me and delay no longer but take this season of their sinning to destroy them and fulfil that righteous decree and judgement which is gone forth of thy mouth concerning the making me the Kingly type of Christ over Israel 7 And I will cause thy sanctuarie to be erected upon Sion so shall all Israel meet solemnly to worship thee therefore for thy peoples sake who do now want the means of serving and seeking thee as they desire seat thy self upon thy Tribunal to do justice which now thou hast long forborn and shew forth thy power from heaven as formerly thou hast done in their behalfs 8 The Lord will right this wrong which his people sustain in having his worship deteined from them and I pray thee consider my case too O Lord to right me also on mine enemies who have deprived me of thine ordinances for that thou knowest me just in my behaviour and in mine heart upright towards Saul and most falsly slandered in those things whereof I am accused and for which I am persecuted 9 O Lord do thou put an end to the wicked practises of mine ungodly enemies but make good thy promise of mine establishment in the throne of Israel who fears thy name and am just in all my dealings for thou that knowest the inward thoughts and desires of mens hearts canst judge whether I or mine enemies be the wrong-doors 10 My trust is wholly in the Lord for my preservation against the furie of mine implacable and malicious adversaries who I know will not let the upright hearted man perish who fears to sin and hath a care to walk honestly 11 God though he seem slack yet will sooner or later judge the righteous mans cause and as well as the wicked seem to prosper yet hath God a continual eye upon them and their evil ways whereby his displeasure is daily increased against them 12 He indeed waits a time to see if the wicked will repent and turn from his evil ways but if after he have waited a while he turn not then will he be the more inraged severe in the execution of justice for which he hath all things in a readiness when the time comes 13 Yea he is preparing all the while he lets him live in sin to bring upon him utter destruction for it at last and the proud persecutors of the poor and godly he means in the end to make them the marks at whom he will discharge all his quiver of plagues and punishments 14 The world shall see that after he hath taken a great deal of pains and been at much trouble to compass his wicked ends by wicked means and hath with much studie contrived mischievous devices against the innocent the end will be that he will be deceived in his expectation both of the righteous mans ruin and his own prospering for he shall be the man that shall perish with all his machinations but the upright man shall be preserved in his innocencie 15 After he hath long set his wits a work and moiled and toiled to compass the godly mans destruction God shall so bring it about that his very design upon the righteous shall turn to his own utter undoing 16 All the ill he meant to others shall light upon himself and his violence against the good shall fall heavie upon him to his utter destruction 17 That day I know and am sure I shall live to see though it seems afar off when I shall have cause to praise the Lord for keeping promise with me and for all his righteous judging me according to mine innocencie in my deliverance and mine enemies downfall and when this is which I am sure will be I promise before hand in the faith of it that I will praise the power and goodness of the Lord God Almightie who rules over all and raiseth and abaseth whom he pleaseth Eighth PSALM David having honoured God with his absolute and relative title of Sovereigntie extols the excellencie of his manifested attributes which appear in his works by way of interrogation as unable otherways to express them to their worth shewing how both great and small yea the smallest things most convincingly set forth the praise of his admirable power and gracious goodness and providence towards mankind even to the confounding and confuting all ungodly and perverse Atheists And shews that for his own part when he seriously considers the workmanship of God in the Heavens and his creating the lights that shine therein for mans use together with his gracious rebestowing the use and dominion of the creature upon him by a new title of Redemption and heaven to boot when as he had lost all by sin and was worthie of none he cannot but with admiration acknowledge his great goodnes to man yea he cannot enough admire both his greatnes and goodnes To him that is most skilful upon Gittith the instrument used by Obed-Edom the Gittite and his family do I David that made this Psalm commit it for his ordering it in the Quire 1 MOst glorious Lord who hast the dominion over all the world and specially over us thy chosen how full of renown is thy power wisdom and greatness all the world over by reason of those admirable creatures and glorious Lights the Sun Moon and Starrs which thou hast created and placed up on high to shine through the ayrie regions to give light and convey heat to all that live upon earth 2 Yea every thing high and low great and small hold forth thy glory and manifest thy prais-worthy power and providence The very instinct and infant oratory that thou puttest into the new born babe to cry after the Mothers breasts making that silly creature so wise as to seek its subsistence so soon as it hath a Beeing and by moving pity therewith to be able also
yet the Lord abhors and counts the greatest fools 4 The wicked have had such a time of it against the godly and therewith are grown so high-minded and self-confident that he never cares whether God be with him or against him he thinks least of him or sets least by him of any thing 5 Leading a life as if there were no God for his whole trade and course is composed of nothing else but disobedience to God and injurie to men and because he feels not thy judgements he is therefore fearless and thinks they will never befal him but that he is safe enough not caring a jot but setting at nought both God and all that take Gods part with me against him 6 And hath fully concluded in the pride of his heart and confidence of his present condition that he shall never be worse than he is but shall ever prosper and never taste of misfortune 7 He stands in no aw of God nor scruples no sin but gives libertie of speech to himself to curse swear and forswear lie and dissemble in so much as that he is altogether conversant in mischievous speeches and self confident boastings not any truth or good comes from him 8 He every where fore-laids me lying in wait near high ways and neighbour Towns to catch me and seeks in holes and corners where he thinks I hide my self or may pass by to find me out and murder me without any cause given watching diligently all opportunities and means to take me at unawares who am poor and friendless 9 He is as greedily affected and as cruelly disposed towards me as a Lion to his prey seeking all advantages against me never regarding mine innocencie and the unjust sufferings he exposeth me to studying by all means possible to seduce and to entrap me in my simplicitie that he may circumvent me to destroy me 10 And as proud as he is yet in subtilty he can abase himself and with glavering speeches and fawning behaviour indirectly endeavour the overthrow of the innocent and distressed that by fair pretences he may deceive and bring them under his power and execute his rage upon them by the hands of his privado's desperate Assassinats 11 And in all this is confident of impunitie taking for granted because at present he perceives not God to mind him that therefore he never will but as he thinks what 's past is forgotten so he shall speed no worse for the time to come 12 But Lord let him find it otherways by some manifestation of thy self in judgement good God have a care of thine honour and mine innocence and other thy people who are concerned in me yea of thy whole Church which is resembled by me by executing some remarkable judgement and let not the world have cause to think thee careless of the afflicted that humbly depend upon thee 13 Why shouldest thou by thy forbearance give the wicked such occasion to insult over thee and slight thy judgements confidently promising himself that thou wilt never call him to an account for what he does 14 But its sure enough that thou takest notice of the mischievous and spiteful carriage of the wicked both against God and those that are godly for what ever they think yet I know thou precisely markest them to pay them home with condigne punishment in the faith whereof it is that the poor afflicted man I and others that in this world must look to fare as I do puts himself and his cause over into thine hands to be righted for that thou art the helper of the helpless and distressed against oppressors 15 Weaken thou the power of the wicked wherein he so much trusteth and which he imploys to evil purposes trase him quite through the course and trade of his iniquities even to the uttermost end of them and punish him accordingly 16 The Lord that governs his Church and people hath approved himself and ever wil to be the supream commander and disposer of all and over all for their sakes as appears by his wonderful works for how hath he destroyed the heathen in this land which he promised to bestow upon Israel and made it holy of prophane in so much as they are wasted to just nothing who were potent and numerous and his worship and worshippers planted in it maugre their resistance after that sort shall he do by the enemies of his Church and people destroy them as these 17 For it hath been alwayes Gods manner to trie his peoples faith and patience till they see a need of him and make their humble addresses to him and then to help them Yea when he has a purpose and sees it time to work their deliverance and destroy their enemies then doth he inspire them with a more than ordinarie spirit of prayer and faith to seek and hope for those very things 18 Which shall certainly come to pass for therefore hath God deferred it and always doth until most remarkably for his peoples greater good and his greater glorie he may vindicate their oppressions and enfranchise them from under the tyrannie of their oppressors who when they are at the highest in carnal confidence and the godly at the lowest in worldly diffidence that 's Gods time to rescue these and ruin those The xi PSALM David by protesting his trust in God silences his companions and rejects the advice they gave him to save himself by flight and give over expecting the Kingdom disswades them from disheartning him and shews how he no whit doubteth but by the justice of God his wicked enemies for all their malicious designs upon him should perish in their wickednes and that he should be sustained in his uprightnes To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung 1 IN the Lord whom I know to be a sufficient safeguard do I trust to fulfil his promise How then is it that you my companions dispair and to the grief of my soul counsel me distrustfully to give all for lost abandon the cause and never more to look after it but how to save my self 2 For though its true the power and malice of mine enemies is great yet consider this They are wicked and manage an unrighteous cause maliciously seeking my destruction whom they in their own consciences know to be upright and innocent and therefore I am confident it shall turn to theirs 3 Do not ye tempt me by despair to relinquish a righteous cause and to distrust a righteous God For faith and an upright heart are the onely foundations that a righteous man hath to support himself withall and if you undermine them you quite undoe him 4 Be confident of this therefore that God is neither absent nor idle but is present in his tabernacle here below to hear the prayer of the
the end for on thee only on thy good grace do I trust for preservatiō unto salvatiō 2 My soul hath firmly entred covenant with thee and chosen thee for its Lord to serve thee and to be saved by thee of thy free mercie abandoning all worth or goodnes of mine own as any ways meritorious or beneficial to thee that needeth nothing but hast all fulnes and cause of full contentednes in th◠self alone 3 Onely to thy children and sanctified ones here on earth do I labour to express my gratitude by what offices of love and respect I can shew for thy sake as they that to me are most excellent of all men in the world be their outward condition never so mean being happy to be a fellow servant and true worshipper of thee amongst them 4 Discomfort and destruction insted of peace and salvation shall be heaped upon them that forsaking thee have their hearts set upon any other God For my part I renounce all but thee and will serve and sacrifice to thee alone and will have nothing to do with their false worship nor once open my lips to any God but thee to swear by him or to pray to him 5 With the Lord alone am I well satisfied a singular portion rich inheritance do I account my knowledge of him interest in him thou art full content to me in thee and by thee shall I be ever happie blessed when other men of other confidences shall be miserable 6 In having thee for my God I have my hearts desire and think my self enriched beyond all earthly pleasures and profits which many in the world have which have not thee 7 I will ever bless and praise the Lord for revealing to me in his word the way of life and salvation when others sit in darknes and in the shadow of death and also teaching me effectually by the inward and secret inspiration and whisperings of his spirit consciously to walk in it when as others that know it externally for want of inspiration do wander from it 8 In what condition soever I have been I have still kept the eye of my faith full upon God and not suffered it to take to other things and because I make God my support and lean so wholly upon him I know he will not deceive my confidence but will sustain me in his favour and support me with his power and grace for ever till he bring me to glorie 9 And in the faith hereof my heart is comforted above all worldly sorrows even to the causing my tongue to break out in holy boastings and praises that instrument of speech wherein man transcends other creatures Yea in this confidence I dare die as well as live and by virtue of it cheerfully bequeath my body to the grave in certain expectation of a blessed resurrection thence 10 For as thou wilt enable Christ whose type I am and who shall spring from me to overcome all his sufferings and preserve him who is thy beloved son and solely without sin from the putrefaction which all men else that are sinners must sustain in the grave making him to triumph over death who is the resurrection and the life So by Christ shall I be set free in soul and body from wrath and mortality by a glorious resurrection to immortality and life 11 Yea thou wilt teach me the way of life and salvation and lead me in it until thou bring me into thy heavenly presence to partake and be possessed of those soul-satisfying and substantial joyes that are there and of those everlasting and immortal pleasures which Christ the head of his Church at thy right hand hath to bestow on all his glorified members The xvii PSALM David probably when he was in the cave encompassed by Saul makes his prayer and appeal to God impartially pleading his innocency against his enemies Further testifies that in conscience to God he durst never do as he was done by nor praies he never may but commits his matter over to God in prayer to be righted by him and delivered from the violence of his proud outragious enemies in his extream straights And again presseth hard upon the Lord to shew himself for him against them that have no interest in his special and saving favour onely share in his common mercies which he hath and prizeth as an happiness above all A Psalm of David in way of prayer 1 THou that art a righteous God hear the prayer of the righteous and innocent person heed my humble and vehement supplication let my prayer have audience which speaks nothing but truth of my self and enemies 2 Judge thou my cause against mine adversaries by clearing mine innocency behold the wrong I sustain and by thy just judgements do me right upon them according to my righteousness 3 Mine integrity is not unknown to thee for thou hast searched mine heart as well as seen mine actions thou hast put me upon the scrutiny and discovery of my self in my most retired thoughts yea in thought word and deed hast thou tried me and sifted me through great and many afflictions and neither hast nor shalt find unrighteousness in me for I am by thy blessed assistance fully purposed as to think so to speak the truth in all uprightness and not to seek mine advantage by lying and dissembling as do mine enemies 4 Concerning the wrongs they have done me I have been careful for all their unjust provocations to walk by the rule of thy word not rendring evil for evil nor requiting their injurious cruelty with the like though it lay in my power 5 And so Lord inable me ever to do to walk after thy word that I may never erre from thy truth nor by sinning forfeit my well doing and good success in the end which by thy promise in the way of obedience I am sure of 6 I have made thee my confidence and ever addressed me to thee for I know and believe according to thy promise thou wilt hear and do for me now Lord is a fit time and a needful I pray thee therefore withdraw not thy self but be intreated to take notice of me and to hear mine instant prayer 7 Shew thy love to me in marvellously delivering me and fulfilling the wonderful things thou hast promised me O Lord that usest to imploy thy power for their preservation that trust in thee for deliverance from them that unjustly oppress them 8 Do thou Lord watch carefully over me that am dear to thee and in tender compassion preserve thy weak and innocent one 9 From them that unjustly seek my ruine and pursue me to the death with mighty ods of power and strength 10 They bear themselves high in confidence of their own greatness and power wallowing in abundance and give out great swelling words in disdain and contempt of me an abject 11 They have hunted
sun by their blackness and greatness 12 And then suddainly changing the face of the heavens from that immensity of darkness to such an extraordinary and supernatural brightness which ushered in his presence as instantly dispelled those foresaid clouds wherein before he terribly appeared and then again as terribly in the contrary temperament of the sky being all of a light fire by flashes of lightening which even consumed and burnt up what was combustible accompanied with showers of hail issuing from those clouds so broken with the brightness of his appearing 13 Or when as the Lord raised terrible thunder-claps in the heavens and sent forth that dreadful voice of his to the amazement of his peoples enemies the Egyptians and others and therewith powred down upon them hailstones mingled with fire which beat them and burnt them up like straw or stubble 14 Yea when he shot his mortal thunderbolts amongst them and put them to flight frighting them out of all order and array and discharged his swift and penetrating lightnings upon them and utterly routed and discomfited them 15 And when his people being in danger upon their prayer God made the very sea it self dry and fordable for their safe retreat and their enemies ruine And the bottom of that deep concave and Abisse whereinto the earth received the water at the creation was disclosed by the seas dividing it self at the Lords command and by the winds that he raised to interrupt its course and force it to a stand 16 As much as all this hath he done for me though by a more occult way of providence he hath wrought and fought from heaven for me many a time and after diverse manners he ever had a special eye to me and care of my safety and from manifold and great dangers hath he powerfully maugre the force and malice of mine enemies delivered me 17 Yea from Saul who was my mightiest and cruelest enemy and from all that sided with him against me in hatred to me hath he most miraculously delivered me whom else I could never have escaped nor prevailed against considering their strength above mine 18 For in humane power and policy they were ever too hard for me in the time of mine adversity and persecution But I firmly trusted in the Lord who was alwayes on my side and still sustained and delivered me notwithstanding all they could do 19 Yea he hath not onely brought me out of my troubles but moreover hath advanced me highly and stated me in a most happy condition from out those straits I was in And the reason why he thus wrought for me and had such care over me to deliver me was his good grace and free favour to me 20 And to the honest cause which I maintained and which he sustained in my behalf prospering me in it and for it and mine innocent and just behaviour against mine enemies injustice and cruelty hath he recompenced with their downfal and mine advancement 21 For in all my troubles I was careful to keep a good conscience towards God in doing justly and walking uprightly and did not saving the slips of humane frailty and infirmity at any time perversly step aside or fail in my duty to God whom I ever found so gratious 22 For I was sincere and had alwayes his righteous precepts in mind and memory to order my self and my wayes impartially thereafter and did not refuse upon any reason or occasion to yield obedience to them 23 Nor was mine inward man wanting but he that sees all things knows my obedience was performed from my heart in faith and affection to the commander as well as to the commandment and that in love to him I bridled and refrained my self from the sin that either by nature or occasion I was most prone and tempted to 24 And now I find I am no loser by it for the Lord in mercy hath had consideration of the justice of my cause and of mine innocent and holy demeanour and hath rewarded me accordingly with the ruine of mine enemies and mine own preservation and advancement 25 I and mine enemies are a pattern of thy truth and justice and that thou wilt reward all manner of men according to their works they that shew mercy shall find mercy at thine hands as I have done in my deliverance and they that exercise their faith and love towards thee shall find both love and faithfulness from thee again 26 And such as are undefiled in the way careful to walk uprightly and do justly according to thy commandments shall in the end find thee just in thy promises and gracious in thy providences and on the contrary so shall they find thee cross in providence and just in judgements that proudly and perversly erre from thy precepts 27 For thou wilt not fail to save and deliver the innocent and oppressed that trust in thee and call upon thee but on the other hand wilt be sure to bring to ruine those that set light by thee and thine 28 I may say it for so I have and shall find it more and more to be true for thou both hast and wilt make my condition prosperous and happy the Lord in whom I trust and whom I have ever found trusty to me as he hath out of love and faithfulness begun so I know and believe he will go on until he have estated me in perfect peace and prosperity and made me as happy as ever I was miserable 29 For by what thou hast done I know what thou wilt do in that by thy power I have been wonderfully preserved in battel and defeated mine enemies and by thy assistance have escaped many perils and skaled their fortresses even so shall I do still 30 As for God you need not doubt him for his way of proceeding towards his people is a most absolute and perfect way full of wisdome justice and truth his promises have alwayes been found true and never deceived them that trusted to them for according to them he ever was and ever will be a preserver and defender of all them that faithfully depend upon him 31 And the contrary is very foolishness for who is a God to be trusted in and depended on save the Lord Almighty onely and who can defend and protect but that God who hath shewed such wonderful strength and power in our preservation that relied on him 32 It is God and God alone that hath made me of mean and impotent to become thus considerable and potent above mine enemies and that maketh all my proceedings prosperous and successefull 33 He enables me to over-run conquer all mine enemies with ease and expedition and subdues them under me making me Lord of them and all their strength 34 He puts power and skill into me and makes me both too cunning and too strong for mine enemies 35 Thou hast not onely thus given me power
happines and preservation we promise our selves under thee as the Church shall have under the Messiah and with much assurance and boldnes in our God and thine will we triumphantly and in confidence of victorie march against thine and our enemies And to that purpose the Lord hear and effectually answer all thy petitions 6 We have had good experience and sufficient proof of Gods great good will towards thee and that ever since thy first anointing by Samuel the Lord hath so preserved and kept thee and spite of all thine enemies placed thee in the throne as that we doubt not but that still God will be the same in grace and good will to thee hearing thy further requests which thou shalt put up against thine and our enemies and answering thee from heaven with preservation and victorie 7 Our enemies according to their national accommodations and militarie provisions so is their confidence some in one thing some in another But we will strengthen our selves in the Lord and repose our trust in him alone by virtue of his many gracious promises made to us and his former mightie works wrought for us 8 And cause we have to do so if we consider How helpless they have found them whose trust was in other things and how notwithstanding their pride and power it hath brought them to ruin Whilest we by trusting in the Lord are through his power and goodness attained to great felicitie and superioritie above them from a low and despicable condition 9 Good Lord be still our preserver and our Kings and so strengthen him with power and endow him with clemency and justice That he may be both able to keep us in peace from our enemies that seek to annoy us and in righteousness preserve us from civil oppression amongst our selves As Christ can and will his Church and people when they crie to him The xxi PSALM David in the name of Israel foretels much happiness to him and to themselves in him their King answerable to the Churches happiness in her head Christ the onely Saviour of his people and they ground it upon experience of Gods former extraordinarie favours to him which makes them in him confidently boast themselves on the Lord for that he still trusts in God who therefore will preserve him and with fierce wrath destroy his enemies as rebels and traitors against God himself for so are all the enemies of Christ whom David typifies Having thus declared their faith they end with prayer and promise praise To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung 1 DAvid whom thou hast made head and King over us thy people as Christ is over his Church shall we are confident find thee a never failing God unto him and that thou wilt give him continual cause of rejoycing in that gracious assistance thou wilt ever afford him against his enemies Yea it s not to be expressed how great things thou hast done for him and what further favours thou wilt shew him in the preservation of him and his people to his and their unspeakable joy 2 Thou hast brought all things to pass after a mervellous manner which long since thou promisedst him and which accordingly he hath long expected nor hast thou disappointed his faithful waiting and fervent praying but hast fulfilled them to the uttermost as thou shalt the Messiahs To thy praise be it spoken 3 Thou hast done more for him and shown more bounteous goodnes to him than ever he could have asked for himself for of thine own good pleasure unthought of and undesired hast thou advanced him from a mean estate and brought him out of a turbulent condition to be the King of thy people Israel in much glorie and rest 4 He did but beg deliverance of thee out of his troubles that he might not be destroyed in them and so frustrate thy promise of the Kingdom to him and thou gavest him his desire and more for thou hast entailed the crown upon him and his heirs for ever nay and moreover hast advanced him to be a type and progenitor of Christ whose Kingdom shall last for ever and ever 5 His faith and ours emboldens both him and us in him to glorie and boast our selves on thee in assurance of preservation and deliverance which we ground upon that that thou hast done already for him in fulfilling the promise of the Kingdom to him 6 For thou hast wonderfully blessed him both realy in his own person and promissorily in his seed which shall also inherit the Kingdom after him And that which yields him and us most content in all his worldly felicitie is that it is the gift of thy grace and a token of thy love and favour to him which is more worth than all besides 7 And as thou hast done so he and we make sure account thou wilt do for though thou hast advanced him to great authority and furnished him with strength and power Yet as heretofore so still now he is King his trust is never the less in thee and in nothing else and therefore he and we are confident that as thou hast raised him to this condition so of thy good grace thou wilt establish him in it and us under him in happiness 8 We verily believe that as thou hast already done by thine and his enemies so still thou wilt continue to hunt them down and by thy power to root them out that in him make opposition to thee and thy Christ. 9 Thou wilt bitterly enrage thy self against them and execute fierce destruction upon them even as thou wilt upon the enemies of Christ at the day of judgement whom everlasting burnings shall devour 10 Root and branch of them shalt thou cut off that refuse to come under thy scepter and seek to destroy thy Kingdom as not worthie to live upon the earth 11 For they are rebels and traitors not so much against him as thee whose annointed he is to typifie Christ notwithstanding they have attempted to unthrone him and to take Israel out of his hands and so out of thine which though they have strongly endeavored yet all in vain for they cannot bring it to pass no more than the world shall Christs people out of his 12 Therefore though thou mayest suffer much and be loth to do execution upon them yet when they put thee to it that thou must shew thy self on thy King and peoples behalf thou wilt make them know to their conviction whom they fight against by the woful destruction thou wilt bring upon them 13 Lord do thou answer our faith and confidence in thee for our King and us by putting forth thy glorious strength in his and our behalves against our enemies that we may exalt thee To whose power and goodness we promise with all self-denying
his enemies on the other A Psalm made by David in soar affliction both to mind God of his pitious state to gain relief and himself of sin and the fruit thereof to humble him under it 1 O Lord I confess my self a sinner and to deserve thy punishment but remember thou art good and merciful therefore let thy chastisements be fatherly not in rigour void of compassion and forgivenes 2 Which me thinks thou art for thou hast wounded me deep in body and mind thy punishing hand is exceeding heavie upon me 3 My diseased body is all over tormented with extream pain which in thy displeasure thou hast cast me into My sin hath brought me into a miserable condition my very bones feel the smart of it 4 For mine iniquities have overwhelmed me with a deluge of wrath and like a thick cloud have intercepted thy favour from me They and their sad effects lie so heavie upon me that my spirit is almost overwhelmed by them and my very life endangered 5 My disease is very grievous painful and loathsome for which I condemn my self and acquit thee for I may thank mine own folly my sin hath caused my suffering 6 Yea it hath brought me into a heavie case for my trouble is great by reason of it the weight thereof presseth me soar I have no ease but continual sorrow for it and by it 7 For I lie under a grievous maladie noisomly diseased all my body over tormented so that by reason thereof my loins fail me that should support me and my strength every where else is decayed 8 Through the length and nature of my distemper I am extreamly weakned in nature and constitution my bones are as if they were broken And my mind is as much out of order as my bodie through the extream anguish of my sins guilt and Gods heavie displeasure which hath forced upon out-cries from me 9 But yet this comforts me that thou O Lord takest notice and art privie to my cries which in faithfulness I put up unto thee though thou doest not seem to do so and my groans are known to thee though hitherto they bring no relief from thee 10 For yet it s worse with me and no better for still mine heart languisheth with sorrow more and more and my strength it decayes and my sight through sorrowful mournings is grown dim and mine eyes almost quite benighted 11 I am very forlorn and destitute of help and comfort for my disease is so dangerous and lothsome that my very friends are forced from me who in their hearts entirely love me and would not forgo me could they safely accompanie me and possibly endure me yea all men not onely my friends and acquaintance but my nearest kindred and allies are so too 12 And at once both thus my friends forsake me and mine enemies endanger me endeavouring mine utter destruction by all possible means secret or open any way by word or deed to do me mischief which they terribly threaten is their desire and continual endeavour 13 But I sustained my self in faith and patience not rendring evil for evil in the sense of mine unworthines and faith of thy goodnes I was silent commending my self and them respectively unto thee for mercie and justice 14 I refrained both from impatience and revengeful retributions of any kind committing my cause to thee in meekness and humilitie 15 I gave place to wrath for that in thee O Lord is my hope and confidence that in thy good time thou wilt do me right on them that injure me and will hear the crie of my wronged innocencie and my prayer for deliverance O Lord my God in whose faithfulness I trust and whose servant I am 16 For to thee have I and do I make my prayer for support and deliverance least if mine enemies should procure mine undoing it would be thy dishonouring and the shame of my faith and profession I know that would be the issue by those experiences I have had of their behaviour for upon all advantages they have disparaged me and my cause and been raised in self-confidence above me and my hopes 17 I crie unto thee for support and deliverance for God knows of my self without it I am readie every foot to perish and to be utterly depressed with the greatness of my calamitie such and so uncessant is my grief that I must needs else sinke under it 18 Yea I have prayd unto thee for mercie and that with promise and full purpose of heart to repent of my sin that caused my suffering I have promised humbly to confess it and heartily to lament it and have done it accordingly 19 This Lord hath been my manner to confess my sin pray thy pardon submit to thy punishment wait for thy mercie and yet still I remain sick and weak in miserie and distress whilest my wicked and graceless enemies are notwithstanding in health and strength feel nothing of that I doâ— yea I every way decrease and they increase my friends grow less and mine enemies more the combination of such as mortally and injuriously hate me greatens exceedingly 20 And such and so ill-natured men are my adversaries that as I render not them evil for evil so contrarily they render me evil for good and hate me for no other cause but because I am good and do good 21 Now Lord consider what I have said and the arguments I have used both touching my self and mine enemies and do accordingly Let me that am thus destitute of all help but thine and that walk close with thee and depend firmly on thee not be forsaken but find thee faithful and gracious to uphold and deliver me 22 Vouchsafe me thine helping hand before I perish which I am in imminent danger to do O Lord that by thy promise and my faith art my onely preserver and deliverer The xxxix PSALM David for his sin suffering as is most probable under Absaloms rebellion resolves patiently to bear the opprobries that were cast upon him by his adversaries and so did onely makes his address to God by prayerful expostulation desiring to know an end of his miseries though it were with the end of his life shewing the vanitie of him every man and everything and that happiness is onely to be had in the grace and favour of God Praying him to pardon his sins for which he justly suffered and in mercie to mitigate his displeasure which had almost quite consumed him and so is able to do the whole world And lastly with cries and tears intreats for pitie in this short sojourning state of mortallitie and that he may tast and see the favour of God in his restorement before he die To Jeduthun one of the prime musicians and the principal of all his linage do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung
wrought for thy children and servants from time to time and the thoughts of mercy and goodness which thou hast had towards us and shewed upon us that have believed in thee they are so many that we cannot count them nor orderly declare them should I go about particularly to praise thee for them or to tell the world of them my memory would yea could not but deceive me they are so numberless 6 Sacrifices and offerings though they be by the appointment of thy Law yet as they are commonly used or rather abused by formal and outward devotion thou carest not for them it is the kernel and not the shell comparatively that thou regardest to wit a bored pliable ear and yielding heart to do thy will in faith and obedience which blessed be thy name thou hast bestowed upon me whom herein thou hast made a type of thy sonne and servant Christ the onely acceptable sacrifice and substance of all shadows and which I know thou valuest in me above never so many burnt and sinne-offerings wherein others for most part put their religion 7 For by thy bestowing on me this spiritual ear and regenerate heart I am made apt and ready to offer and consecrate my self in all filial alacrity a sacrifice to thy service as it is written and prophesied of me in resemblance of Christ of whose son-like love and perfect obedience the whole Scripture foretells 8 I do as he much more shall delight to please and obey thee in all things O my God and his thy holy and righteous law is not to me as it is to the world untoothsome and harsh but pleasing and connatural as it shall be to Christ. 9 And what I have learned and known to be thy righteous will as a Prophet and faithfull servant of the Lord I have as Christ shall taken occasion to declare and teach it to thy people in the most solemn feasts and greatest concourse as might make most for thy glory and their edifying I have not ceased to do my duty to thee and them but have informed and instructed them O Lord I know thou knowst this and takest notice of my poor weak but sincere service herein 10 I have kept back nothing which I knew and whereof I ought to have informed them touching thee and thy good grace but both by mine example in praising thee and also by doctrine have I declared to them the faithfulness that is in thee and that thou hast and ever wilt shew to them that believe in thy promises for grace and salvation I have not smothered mine own experimented knowledg of thy mercifull loving kindness to such and thy truth in fulfilling what thou hast promised them but have taken the best opportunity to make it known most to thy praise and thy peoples edification 11 And as I have done so I will do still as thou givest me occasion therefore be as gracious and merciful as thou hast been let me find thy love and faithfulness ever at hand to preserve me 12 For I am now in as great need as ever I was being surrounded with manifold miseries and great dangers deserved punishments for mine iniquities which have arrested me and keep me prisoner under the burden of thy heavy displeasure which makes me of a dejected heart and countenance ashamed and afeard to make mine addresses to a God so displeased with a sinner so exceeding sinful as I am doubting my success and thy favour 13 Nor yet can I be silent my dangers on the other hand press so soar upon me therefore of thine own good grace O Lord deliver me from the burden of my sin and misery O Lord consider my great straits and delay not to relieve me for thou art gracious and pitiful 14 Let the shame and confusion which mine enemies would bring upon me fall upon themselves let them as they sin together so perish together that seek my life let them be defeated of their expectation and desire and come to a shameful end themselves that seek mine undoing 15 Let them be utterly ruinated and made desolate for a just reward and punishment of their shameful and sinful behaviour towards me that rejoyce unjustly and undeservedly at my misery 16 But contrariwise let all those that love me for Christs sake whose type I am and that trust in thee and religiously pray unto thee in their own and my behalf let both me and they have cause of joy and gladness in thy mercy towards us let such as love thy saving grace to trust in it and be happy by it ever have cause to speak and sing the praises of thee and it 17 But as yet it s otherwayes with me I am poor and desolate distressed both without and within yet I know I am not forgotten nor forsaken of God but that he is mindful of me at the worst and purposeth to do me good at the last My faith makes him all in all to me mine onely helper and deliverer and my condition presseth hard upon him to be so out of hand which is very desperate and therefore I beseech thee that art the God of all my faith and hope delay not to deliver me speedily least I perish utterly The xli PSALM Though this Psalm by the proprietie of its language is applicable in time of sickness yet the Scripture no where in the historical part of it mentioning any such bodily distemperature as the Psalmist here insists on it is conceived by interpretors and yet Psalms the sixth and thirtie eight import otherwayes rather to be spoken allegoricallie by David than reallie in allusion to his condition under Absaloms rebellion whereby being brought low and in a desperate state he was sorelie censured by his enemies and shamefully deserted by reason of his affliction which he here reproves commending the contrarie virtue of charitie and pittie which he knows is in God though it fail in men and accordinglie makes his prayer to find it from him his enemies and false friends so deceiving and traducinglie judgeing him which he prayes he may live to punish and hopes he shall upon probable signs of favour from God for which he blesseth him and for the assured confidence he hath that God will be as good as his word to his Israel and to him in Israels behalf To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung 1 HOw rash are most mens judgements of men in affliction and thereupon how apt are they to abandon them But blessed is and shall be the man that judgeth with righteous judgement and not according to appearance knowing that God is both gracious and faithful and though he do cast down yet he can and will raise up again the afflicted that repent towards him and trust in him 2 Yea for all his dangers the Lord will and
can preserve and keep him safe and according to his faithfulness will again restore him to a happy condition be he at present never so miserable and will not expose him into the hands of his wicked and malicious enemies though he seem very near it 3 When he is at weakest God will put strength into him yea thou O Lord what ever men think and though upon misprisions they forsake the poor distressed as if he had some plague-sore or infectious disease yet wilt thou be mindful of him and charitable and helpful to him in his helpless condition and be an all in all to him when all forsake him 4 This I verily believed and therefore I prayed accordingly to God to be merciful to me and reconciled with me and to ease and relieve me of my misery which by my sin I had brought upon my self and justly deserved from the Lord. 5 Mine enemies and they that are hollow-hearted toward me give out hard speeches against me and revile and curse me because of mine affliction conceiving me rejected and reprobated of God wishing and prophesying the utter destruction of me and mine honour 6 And if under dissembled friendship they come to visit me they lie to me studying how to deceive me with false pretences and then boasts themselves to their treacherous brotherhood of their base behaviour 7 All that bear me ill will plot and conspire my undoing how they may compass it 8 For they count me a cast-away and by reason of my present affliction they condemn me as rejected of God and plagued by him as with some pestilential mortal disease never to recover or find mercy 9 Yea I am deserted by those that in my prosperity were near and dear unto me to whom I imparted my counsels and on whom I conferred many favours and made them my companions even they have reproachfully and malignantly turned against me and endeavoured my downfal as Judas shall do Christs in like manner treacherously betraying him though dipping with him in the dish 10 But these are but men though friends in pretence and shew themselves accordingly subject to change But thou art an unchangeable God and maiest be trusted and therefore the more I am forsaken of man the more I repair to thee to be merciful to me and befriend me with deliverance from them and success against them that being restored to my former State and Authority which they hope never to see I may be inabled to punish their disloyaltie and ingratitude 11 And truly I have good hopes thou wilt restore me and that for all my sin and thy severity thou bearest good will towards me because in all this while notwithstanding the great advantage mine enemies have against me he hath not been able to crush me but hath been hitherto disappointed and put besides his aim 12 And as for me how ever thou punishest my sin yet thou hast consideration of mine unjust suffering at the hands of mine enemies and favourest mine innocent cause and gratiously remembrest thy promise of grace and favour to me and mine to fulfil it by establishing the throne of Israel upon me to many generations and upon Christ who shall be the seed of David to all eternity 13 In the faith whereof I dare and do praise thee thy power goodness and truth in Israels behalf and mine and pronounce thee infallible and unchangeable to thy faithful people how ever the state of things seem now to contradict it what thou hast said thou wilt make good from first to last therefore in confidence of thy faithfulness we bless and praise thee for it in full assurance it shall be fulfilled to thy glory and our happiness The xlii PSALM David under Sauls persecution being driven from the sanctuarie and publick worship of God where aâ—oretime he had been conversant bewailes his condition testifies his ardent desire after it and his sorrowful apprehensions of his enemies blasphemous misjudgeing him for his afflictions But yet he blames himself with hope of better promising to worship God as he is able in such a suffering condition And though he be greatly overwhelmed with outward sorrows yâ—t he inwardly comforts himself in the Lord and takes incouragement humbly to expostulate with God concerning himself and his enemies whose blasphemies go to his heart And again rebukes his dejectedness and quickens his faith A Psalm made by David for direction of his soul to trust in the Lord and committed to Heman the the chief musician of the family of the Korathites for him and them to sing 1 AS the hunted and heated Hart greedily thirsts after the water-brooks to quench and cool him so is my soul extreamly affected after those refreshing communions and sweet enjoyments I was wont to have of thee in thy sanctuary and publick ordinances from which I am hunted and driven and kept per-force by my persecuting enemies 2 My heart and affections do keenly earn after God his worship and ordinances and the enlivening communion of him therein who is the true and everliving no idol God I cannot but think it extream long till I be restored to the happiness of worshipping him at his sanctuary again 3 I have sustained great and uncessant grief at the reproachful blasphemy of mine enemies who through me deride the Lord himself and his faithfulness wherein I have trusted and by mine afflictions censure me a cast-away and rejected of God banished his presence 4 When as these considerations offer themselves to my thoughts I cannot but lay them sadly to heart and express my self accordingly by sorrowful bewailings for that I am debarred the happiness which once I had to go with and accompany my brethren and fellow-Israelites the people of God to the sanctuary of the Lord to worship and praise him and rejoyce there before him with peace-offerings and feasts of thanksgivings at solemn appointed times 5 But why art thou O my soul so dejected at thy present condition and disquieted with inward grief gather up thy self and fasten thy hope and confidence in Gods goodness and faithfulness for I verily believe he will find a time to restore me and fulfil his promise to me so that I know how ever it is with me at present I shall one day have ample occasion of praise and thanksgiving for his grace and favour to me 6 O my God towards whom is all my desire my soul is much troubled at my long exile from thine ordinances therefore will I as I am able in this my banishment longingly and prayerfully look towards thine holy sanctuary wheresoever I am driven and how far soever distant from it be it in the countrey beyond Jordan whether oft times I am forced to fly or in that bordering upon mount Hermon where I am fain to take refuge in one of the tops thereof being a little obscure hill called Mizar whence I send many a longing look and
without effecting any thing against it whence the pen-man takes occasion to commend the happie estate and condition of that Citie above all places in the world partly for the natural scituation but chiefly for the divine priviledges and protection God had vouchsafed it And from their present experience argues unto future confidence of grace and mercie in like sort like as in their distress they had been incouraged by calling to mind former acts of power and grace to them and their forefathers For which their so wonderful deliverance he sayes God will have praise every where but acknowledgeth it chiefly due from them and that both of his power goodness and faithfulness exciting all that partake of that happiness to express their thankfulness joyfully and that they may the better do it he wishes them to survey as the glorie of Ierusalem so withall the glorious power and providence of God that hath preserved it undefaced maugre their enemies the memory whereof he would have entailed upon posterity for ever for the help of the saith of Gods Church and people in all ages and distresses A Psalm to be both sung and plaid by voices and instruments by the family of the Korathites to whom it is committed for that purpose 1 GOd in his Majesty and Power hath manifested himself to be exceeding great all the world over in all places to all people by his works of creation and dayly providence but beyond all these he is declared unto us and hath declared himself for us both great and gracious in most remarkable mercies of transcendent natures in the behalf of his own Citie Jerusalem chosen for the peculiar place of his worship and service where therefore he is to be praised accordingly for his more than ordinary favours vouchsafed to that place and people and chiefly in mount Sion the glory of Jerusalem where the Ark resideth and with it his special presence there therefore is he principally to be magnified 2 A place it is of it self naturally pleasant and sweetly scituated beautified also with the glorious splendour of the Temple built thereon admirable to behold but more to be admired for the spirituall beauty and glory that shines forth thence to all the world holding forth the saving Gospel-truths of Jesus Christ the promised Messiah in their types and lively representations to all that by faith will lay hold of him and come in unto him from the four corners of the earth and from whence shall spring the doctrin of salvation which shall be preached all the world over to the joy of all that shall receive it specially Northerly whether by its situation it partly looks and is thereby pleasantly refreshed with the coole winds that blow from thence in that hot countrey Every way commendable it is but in nothing more than in this That it is the chosen Metropolis of King David and Salomon where they specially resided and swayed the Scepter over Jews and Gentils in representation of Christ rule and dominion in and over his Church universall 3 Nor doth the strength of this beautifull Citie Jerusalem consist onely in that of Art and Nature which yet is very considerable in her above others but chiefly in the favour and protection of God himself there specially residing by the Ark in the Temple that glorious structure and in those Kingly types inhabiting the royall places thereof to which and to the whole Citie for their sakes he hath sundry times yielded admirable preservations and given great deliverances as God shall to his Church and people for Christs sake their King and Priest 4 Many instances may be given wherein God hath appeared miraculously in the behalf of this his Citie the holy mountain in it against sundry potent and combined forces of heathenish Kings that have endeavoured the destruction of it more times than once and have pitched before it for that purpose but have been disappointed of their aimes and sent away without their errand having been able for all their great preparation and joynt combinations against it to do it no more harm than as if they had been so many wayfaring men that passed by it 5 Nay though they came with minds full fraught with pride and hatred against it yet when they come to be eye-witnesses of the excellencies humane and divine that appeared in the Citie and Temple their hearts misgave them and they were struck into astonishment and admiration of what they saw God so awing their hearts and doing such supernaturall execution upon their armies that they wished they had never undertaken the enterprise and thereupon got them gone as fast as they could when they saw it was a place defended by the living God 6 Though when they came to beseidge it in their thoughts they had as good as taken it promising themselves infallible success by the greatness of their power but when they once set to work about it and should have done execution upon it God appeared against them and then their courage quickly failed them on a sudden their hearts were dashed and they discomfited with extream distraction and unexpected terrour 7 Thou O God didst by them even by these mighty armies as thou dost sometimes by the strong and tall ships at sea dashest them one against another by the storms thou raisest and so splits and scatters them that a whole Navie is brought to nothing and so were they before Jerusalem by the mighty and immediate hand against them 8 God hath approved himself of the self-same goodness to us as to our forefathers and of the same faithfulness in performing as in promising for what deliverances God wrought in the times of the Patriarks and what he promised by the mouths of his Prophets we in our times are able as concerning his wonderfull deliverances of Jerusalem and this Nation to draw a parallel line to any that went before and to write probatum est to what ever promise God made for the good of his chosen people for he hath marvellously improved his power in the defence of this place which is so peculiarly his above all places in the world shewing himself to have the command of all earthly powers and that he onely is the Lord of Hosts having sovereign Authority over them and their Kings which hath been manifested by the glorious and marvellous victories he hath given this Citie against such potent enemies as have come against it because it is his after a peculiar sort and he ours so too in a differing manner from all the people upon earth and what he hath done is a sure sign and pledge of his future favour and grace that he will still continue to be the same God to it and us we continuing so to him as Christ will be to his Church and people everlastingly Even so be it 9 In our distresses we had the happiness to have thy Temple O Lord to go unto and in it the Ark of the
and reproves not onely for a sinfull but an ungratefull and a despising people that having those excellent priviledges of his worship and presence amongst them so shamefully play the hypocrits with him pretending holiness in outward ceremoniall worship and performances but never heed how faith and grace acts in their services nay many of them are not onely formall but even prophane hypocrites that dare to live in sin even gross sins and yet be frequent in duties thus mocking God to his face and yet think he likes well enough of that they do because they smart not for it but God tells them they shall tast the bitter fruit of their wayes if they repent not And for them that spiritually and uprightly worship him amongst them as they honour him so he will reward them to their hearts content A Psalm made by Asaph THe onely true and Almighty God the Lord of all the earth having noted thē Idolatrous miscarriages and false worships that are every where practised summons all men in all the world to take notice 2 That though the whole world be in sinfull darkness and ignorance of the true God and the right way of serving him Yet there is a corner of the earth that God hath vouchsafed to shine out of as the sun when it arises in the East and spreads its light by degrees over the face of the whole heavens a place and people that he hath chosen to reveal himself in and amongst it is his people Israel in the land of Canaan principally in the Citie Jerusalem but most especially upon mout Sion there shall you find and see in a breife map of lively types and representations God manifested not onely in his majesty but in his true and saving way of worship grace and truth shining there and from thence shall take its rise to overspread the whole world 3 This God that is so peculiarly ours and at present seems comparatively to be professour of no part of the earth but this that his people dwell in nor to have no dominion over any else for none serve him but they This God of ours shall one day make it appear that he is Lord of all the world when he shall come to judge it which he will do though now he forbear and suffer it to lie in ignorance and Idolatry but he will appear in terrour and great glory to the astonishing and confounding of all men all the world over that believe not in him nor worship him aright 4 None shall escape his judgement the heavens and the earth which he made he shall command to render up all mankind alive or dead and dissolved into their elements or first principles as subject to him to be judged by him from the four corners of the world 5 Then shall it appear that but some of all the world are Gods peculiar sanctified ones a people sprinkled with the bloud of the covenant keeping faith and a good conscience which the Angels by speciall appointment shall gather together from out the rest of the world and set them on Gods right hand in heaven as now his Israel his onely covenanting and sacrificing people severed from all the world besides are by a powerfull hand settled in Canaan 6 His righteous justice shall be made manifest over all the earth in condemning the wicked be they never so many and saving those that are godly from amongst them be they never so few for the righteous and omnipotent God that is Lord over all and hath all power both in heaven and earth who is of wisdom to judge aright of all men and of power to execute his judgement shall himself pass sentance infallibly from heaven upon them Even so be it 7 What have been said of my peculiar favour to you above all the world besides is true how that I have chosen you out of the whole earth placed you in the promised land vouchsafed you my speciall presence in my speciall place of worship entered covenant with you to be your God and you likewise with me to be my people mine Israel to tread in the steps of your faithfull forefathers and therefore though I have a quarrell with all the world for their sinfull evil ways for which I will one day judge them as I have said yet you that are my people even because you are so I would have you know and therefore do I passionately press it upon you that your sins in your ignorance of me and abuse of my name and worship in an outward pretence of holiness without faith and affection are my greatest trouble and which I cannot but with griefe complain of as a great unkindness against me the God of all the world but more especially your God above and beyond all the world besides and therefore exspect to be served in sincerity and not in hypocriticall shews and formalities by you 8 It is not your sacrifices that I so much care for nor do I complain the want of them I have had enough and too many of such ceremonies from you that I even surfet again of them 9 Those are things which thou valuest thy Bullocks and thy Goats they are thy livelihood and sustenance which makes thee set by such kind of service but they are not of that value to me nor of that use it is not they that give me content I had rather be without them than have them after that carnall and formall manner you offer them you think you do me a pleasure by being at such charges and that you feast me as you do your selves with the sacrifices you offer me whereas did I need such things I would not be beholden to your stalls or folds for them 10 I would go where there is better choice and more variety and take either what I wanted or what I pleased all the world over for they are all mine the whole store that the whole earth is furnished with and where you can plead no propriety 11 Yea I can command also the fowls that flie in the air or that breed in the mountains out of your reach and those beasts that naturally are wild and untameable and never will be at your command they are all mine 12 So that if I were an hungry and had an appetite to eat and feed upon the creature as thou dost as by your manner of service you seem to fancy me to be I need not take the meat out of thy mouth by appointing you sacrifices to any such end who am the God of all the world and can serve my self as I please upon the creature which I have replenished the whole earth withall 13 Can you have such low and base thoughts of me as to think me to have appointed the sacrifices I command you for any such carnall and sensuall respects that am a spirit and look to be worshipped in spirit or are you so void of reason and understanding as
and dividing them and their counsels that are set at libertie by their own deboisherie and their ring-leaders authoritie to practise all manner of wickedness against thy Church and me without any restraint or punishment as if there were no Law nor Government in Israel neither indeed is there nothing is practised now adaies but how to wrong and oppress the innocent every where 10 These are the things that all sorts of people all the Kingdom over watch and are solicitous to bring to pass nothing but dissolutenes and wrong-doing in stead of good Laws and orders are practised under Saul to the exceeding great sorrow and sufferings of the faithful in the land 11 Not onely the out-skirts of the Kingdom that border upon heathens and infidels but even the heart and principal parts of it are adulterated and as wicked as the rest and so are the principal men too that should know and do better they that should give good example stick not openly and professedly to plot and practise treacherie and collusion against me under that very name and notion to make themselves great with Saul â—2 Yea principally those that were mine intimates are now become mine accusers to Saul and of all others profess most hatred to me and speak the foulest against me which I confess is a great trouble and temptation to me to see my self deserted of such as for others that allwayes maligned me I should not have mattered it from them had they onely that had allwayes born me ill will to raise themselves in the Kings favour vapoured against me and tempted my ruin I should not have been exposed to such dangers by it as now I am by mine own credulitie and my dissembling adherents but would have shifted for my safetie in another manner 13 But I am betrayed by such as I durst have put my life into their hands one that seemed to draw the same breath with me hath opened his mouth against me one that formerly I set by as if he had been my brother whom I allways took for my bosom friend and relied much on him in all matters of concernment as such an one 14 Communicating mine affairs to him and he his to me with mutual and friendly advisements thereupon and have many a time conferred together I thinking him sincere both to God and me in matters divine as well as humane and joyntly frequented the publick worship of God as fellow-heirs of heaven never imagining then that ever he would have turned persecutor of Gods Church and people 15 O that God would now execute just and exemplarie vengeance upon such hypocrites as he hath done formerly in like case upon Korah and his companie for the terrour of others and way-making for his peoples and Churches peace who conspire together by fraud or violence to do all the mischief they can against them 16 But how ever I am thus forsaken and betrayed yet I have one sure friend God in whom I have and still do trust and firmly believe I will stick to him though none but he stick to me and in the faith of his faithfulness and friendship will in all times of danger make mine addresses to him by prayer and doubt not of preservation and deliverance maugre all the malice of mine open enemies and treacherous friends 17 I will not cease to worship him still though mine old companions fellow-worshippers have forsaken both me and it I will dayly and duly frequent him as heretofore and my prayers and cries shall be answerable to my griefs they shall put an edge upon them and make me both incessant and importunate with God who I am sure will not turn the deaf ear towards me but I shall find he hears effectually 18 He hath done so heretofore when I have been in exceeding great straits the Lord hath set my soul free from the fear and trouble it was in defeating mine enemies and given me the victorie over them when by outward appearance I was very unlikely to obtain it but that God from heaven fought for me and was in stead of legions to me 19 And as God hath been and done for me upon my prayers so will he do still hear and deliver me from mine enemies and put them to the worst continually they shall find him no changeling but ever the same towards me and against them So be it O Lord delay not to bring them under the wheel that they may tast of adversitie as I have done for their temporal felicitie and the unalterableness of it notwithstanding their sinfull courses for which they receive no punishment either by humane Law or divine hand maketh them boldly persist not fearing thy justice the smart whereof they never yet felt 20 That implacable enemie of mine Saul how doth he still persist to war upon me though he hath been more than once convinced of mine innocencie and loyaltie towards him not sticking to break all bonds humane and divine yea though never so sacred to effect his malicious designs against me 21 Many a time when I have given good proof of mine integritie towards him by sparing his life when he was in my power how hath he then bespoke me with specious shews of love and friendship commending me and condemning himself when yet he meant me nothing but mischief as appeared in the event for so soon as ever he thought to take me at advantage he notwithstanding what he had said attempted my destruction that saved his life 22 But God hath still delivered me both from his open violence and secret machinations and so will still both me and all others that humbly and faithfully repose themselves and cast their care upon him he will succour and sustain them such as keep a good conscience and walk uprightly God will take their parts and disappoint the purposes of wicked men against them and not subject them to their power and malice 23 But as thou wilt be just to protect thine and deliver them so to punish their oppressours who because they seek to destroy the righteous shall themselves be destroyed even with everlasting destruction from which there shall be no deliverance cruel bloud-thirsty and treacherous minded men may for a time oppress the innocent but they shall find that God can preserve them when as they themselves shall come to an untimely end such and at such a time as they never dreamed of So that let Saul and the rest of mine enemies hold on their course though at present they lead me a miserable life and they themselves have the world at will yet shall it not abate of my confidence but that they shall come to a speedy and miserable end and I shall enjoy the fruit of mine innocencie and thy faithfulness The lvi PSALM David being extreamly persecuted by Saul and his complices and driven to fly out of Israel amongst the Philistines his deadly enemies praies God to stand his
ever was so from the beginning as the poison of a serpent is to a man whom he maliced even in paradise And they are every whit as unalterable from this their cursed indisposition as an Adder is from his venemous nature no truth can take place nor reason prevail with them to be other than they are to the godly but are wilfully prejudiced and resolve to continue so and to do them all the mischief they can 5 Nothing can do good upon them but as the Adder will not suffer himself to be charmed and hindred from doing hurt but resists by stopping the Organ of hearing that inchantment cannot operate upon him so are they hardened against all right reason good advice threats and judgements nothing can fasten upon them to make them better disposed towards God and his faithfull servants 6 And as the serpent hath not more poison in him than mine enemies malice to me so nor have the Beast of prey more rage and fury in them in their hunger and anger than these men have against me not the fiercest sort of lions therefore O Lord watch over me narrowly to disable their attempts and disappoint their rage 7 Lord put a speedie end to them and their destructive purposes let them be as a teemed vessel wasting by degrees but yet speedily till there be none left let all their enterprises be fruitless and ineffectuall as he that discharges a broken arrow which falls aâ— his feet 8 Let these wicked wretches that are good for nothing but to do hurt to them that are good be like other unprofitable creatures of no long continuance yea the sooner they come to nought the better for if they live but to be able they have will enough to do all manner of mischief 9 Yea and so it shall be for when they are as it were putting the match to the powder ready to blow up the godly and innocent person God shall yet prevent them and by some suddain and remarkable judgement upon them swifter than thought shall disappoint and disable them when they least look for it and in their own conceits are furthest from death and danger shall the Lord in his fierce wrath suddainly snatch them hence 10 So that however they afflict the godly so long as God gives them leave yet the time will certainly come when the righteous shall see an end of their miseries and of their enemies too to their no small rejoycing to see God so mindfull of them and themselves so much in favour with him as to have the wicked destroied for their sakes and to fall at their feet who once hoped to tread upon their necks 11 So that any man that observes shall see and cannot but acknowledge that its good trusting in God and walking obediently to his will for such shall not lose their labour nor their confidence but God will recompence both in due time and that how ever the good and godly are for a time under the wheel and the wicked a top and things seem quite out of order yet God that while is not idle in heaven but takes notice of good men and their sufferings and of wicked men and their doings to judge them accordingly The lix PSALM David being beseidged in his own house prayes for deliverance alledging his enemies cruelty and his own innocency and that they may not prosper in their wicked indeavours and contempt of God which he assures himself and strengthens his faith in God against his bloud-thirstie adversaries whom he would not have quite cut off but brought to disgrace and indigency to exemplifie his wrath and justice against such both to his own people for their incouragement and the heathen for their instruction and that they may live to tast the bitter fruit of their own prodigious malice Lastly he rejoyces in God because of his present deliverance To the President of the Quire is this Psalm made by David committed for his ordering of it to be sung to the speciall tune of Michtam the sum and substance whereof is comprised in this one word Al-taschith signifying destroy not upon occasion of the danger David was in when Saul sent messengers which beset Davids house and watched it round about all night to have killed him in the morning 1 Sam. 19. 1 I must now as at all other times flie to thee for refuge O God of my salvation when I am in straits as at present thou knowest me to be out of which I pray thee to deliver me which else is impossible I am like to be assaulted so on every side by men that have laid an ambuscado for me and intend suddainly to surprize me the Lord shew me a way to escape them 2 I am thou knowest O Lord thy servant whom they go about to destroy and they are wicked wretches and bloudy-minded men deliver me therefore from such and let me not fall into their hands 3 For it is my life thou seest that they seek Saul and his wicked Courtiers contrive and attempt my destruction not that they have any just cause so to do for I have never done any thing but what stood with loyalty nor ever had a thought of other towards him Lord thou knowst it 4 When Saul bids them go how ready and diligent are they to be imploied against me that never did any thing to deserve it either from him or them be thou O Lord as watchfull to help me as they to destroy me and behold me specially in this my present danger to free me from it whom thou knowest to be guiltless and innocent 5 Therefore O Lord that art of infinite power and absolute command and a faithfull God to thy faithfull servants appear in the behalf of thine oppressed people and me more especially and pour out thy just displeasure upon all those that have no knowledge nor fear of thee but after an heathenish and irreligious manner are enemies to those that are thine Israel indeed though themselves be Israelites thou that art no respecter of persons shew no favour to any such wicked wretches nor be no more mercifull to them than if they were Infidels and Pagans indeed for their malice is as much against the godly and their sins against thee as great if not greater But execute righteous judgement upon all unrighteous men one as another 6 They are incessantly industrious to find me out rising early and ferreting every place where they think to have me and hold on so from morning to night and so from day to day asking and enquiring after me of every one they meet with railing and slanderous speeches backbiting and snarling at me and thus they do every where from house to house in Town and Countrey where they think to hear of me 7 They spare for no railing but let flie against me to all men cursing and threatning what they would do if they could catch me and what they
amends at last and all that thou promisedst hast thou performed for thou hast by a strong hand invested us in a happie condition and possessed us of a fruitful land spite of all our enemies so shall thy Church have deliverances here but let not them never doubt of heaven hereafter 13 14 What I would have others do I hope I shall not fail for mine own part to practise I am resolved upon consideration of what I have recounted that thou hast done for us and I am sure wilt do for thy Church to give thee praise and thanks not onely inwardly in my heart but also outwardly in the eyes and for the example sake of all others according to thine appointment by solemn sacrifices and especially for my self who have been in not a few nor those no small troubles at what time I vowed them to thee and have tasted accordingly of not a few and those no small deliverances 15 What ever thou hast commanded to be offered thee I will do it to the full in the performance of my thanks and acknowledgement of thy mercies both for number and worth even the best I can get what charge soever I am at And that with a free heart 16 Thou hast set me up as a pillar and monument of thy unspeakable goodness to thy servants which I hope and do desire that all thy people in all ages of the World would take notice of and to that end I will leave it upon record even the wondrous mercies I have partaked of and miraculous preservation that I have had 17 How that I never in my need put up my prayer to him in fervour and faith but I had a return answerable and my prayer was turned to praise 18 I speak not this to embolden hypocrits as if they were so priviledged who are apt enough to pray in their need as well as the Godly but for the incouragement of the sincere and upright such as I bless God I am harbouring the love of no known sin in me I know how I should have sped if I had not as I have done but have had the deaf ear turned upon me and well I had deserved it as all hypocrits and carnal formal professers do 19 But assuredly the Lord from time to time hath heard me and answered me too very graciously yea he hath carefully had respect to me whensoever I poured out my heart before him in the anguish thereof in time of trouble 20 I bless the Lord he hath blessed me and not sent me away without mine errand when as I have come to him in prayer and supplication nor withheld his mercie from me in mine extremitie but hath effectually appeared for me and so he will for all that trust in him and seek to him as I have done The lxvii PSALM The Psalmist praies that God would in such a sort be good to Israel that the Gentils may note it and be won by it to imbrace his saving truth and serve him as well as they But for the full â—ffecting of their conversion he wishes heartily for the comming of Christ and his Kingdom and the happie dayes that shall be then all the World over To him that is most skilful upon the stringed instrument Neginoth to which this Psalm is chiefly set is it committed for his care and ordering it be sung and plaid 1 THe good Lord be merciful unto us in the pardon of our sins and graciously benevolent and propitious in multiplying blessings upon us and manifesting his favour to us so as it may be notorious in the eyes of the World Even so be it 2 That the whole earth that now wander out of the way may be brought to acknowledge thee for the only true God to worship thee aright when they perceive the mercies that we that do so do enjoy above all others may be brought to hearken enquire after the saving righteousness thou hast revealed to us whereof they are utterly ignorant 3 Lord let the Gentils as well as we have the knowledge and experience of thy rich mercie and saving goodness that they may praise thee for it yea spread and proclaim it to all the World that thou mayest every where have a people to magnifie thee for it upon the whole earth 4 When shall Christ come to proclaim the year of Jubile even life and salvation to the Gentils to their unspeakable joy and thy unspeakable praise and to take the Government into his hands which he shall sway with equitie and justice both to the good and to the bad Lord hasten it 5 Let the Gentils as well as we have the knowledge and experience of thy rich mercie and saving goodness that they may praise thee for it yea spread and proclaim it to all the World that thou mayest every where have a people to magnifie thee for it upon the whole earth 6 O that this time were now for when it is happie shall those dayes be when the Messiah shall come infinite of blessings of every sort temporal and spiritual will he bring with him The whole earth that is cursed by the fall shall by him be blessedly restored and made a Canaan fruitful to God and man and God who was become a stranger by it shall by and in him be as much and more his peoples in more near proprietie and relation than ever and bless them with better blessings through grace than ever they were and could be capable of other wayes 7 Then shall be a time of sweet harmonious interchangeable correspondencies betwixt heaven and earth God he shall pour out his spirit upon all flesh and spread his Gospel over the whole earth and accompany it with no small store of temporal mercies and his people shall from all the ends of the World be hereby gathered to him and give up themselves in faith and obedience to be his The lxviii PSALM David upon the great victories he had had over his enemies and the remove of the Ark to its setled abode in Ierusalem praies and prophesus the infelicitie of the adversaries of Gods Church and the prospâ—ritie of the righteous whereof he advises them to be confident and therein to rejoyce for God in mercie will be mindful of the oppressed and injustice of the oppressors whereof they had had ample experience by marvellous deliverance out of Aegypt settlement in Canaan in the gaining whereof he gave them wonderful victories and as their case was prospâ—rous then so he prefigures it shall be again now in his time both Church and Common-wealth shall flourish because of the favour of God to them and his protection over them for he is to be a resemblance of Christ after his ascension victor over all his enemies Having shewn the happie consequences of the Arks remove he amplifies the manner of its transportation from the house of Obed-Edom in what order and with what harmonie
in and upon thine enemies as well as upon thy friends that profess and worship thee to make them do the like and bring them also in favour with God 19 We who are the people of God do at present day by day blessed be thy name for it reap the happy fruits of Christs virtuall ascention in his power and goodness what mercies of all sorts spirituall temporall are heaped and showred down upon us And what salvation hath the Lord wrought for us time after time which ought to be ascribed to him Amen 20 We can speak by experience that the God we worship and believe in can save and deliver I think we have found it so and indeed he onely can deliver and save alive who onely hath vanquished and overcome death it self and hath the sole dominion and disposall of it and all the means and ways that lead to it to prevent them be they never so imminent as to his people 21 And to succeed them to his enemies and theirs they shall feel the weight of his hand if they persist to bruise the heel of his Church at last he will break their head let him be who he will be as sure as his head grows upon his shoulders or hair upon his head so sure will God meet with him sooner or later that doth so if he will not repent and be converted 22 The Lord hath purposed and promised to do as great things under me for his people as ever he did heretofore when he vanquished great and Giant-like Kings as Og the King of Bashan for their sakes and delivered his people out of his hands as also out of the hands of Pharaoh by deviding the red sea conducting them thorough we may be and have been driven into straits since then and so shall the Church in all times but the same power shall still appear for us to relieve us in our greatest extremities whereof those things were a pledge 23 Yea such fearfull vengeance shall God take of the implacable enemies of his Church as that he shall make way thorough their bloud for his peoples felicity which he shall inable them by his power and assistants to shed in abundance like water spilt upon the ground of no more regard shall it be 24 Thy people have often had occasions by thy mercies vouchsafed them heretofore to praise thee in thy sanctuary they have seen there upon great victories solemn thanksgivings but was ever seen the like to this happy day wherein the Ark of God is carried to the Tabernacle pitched in its place of residence the mount of God with what infinite solace and expression of joy all Israel joyned their forces unanimously to accompany it following me their King attending the Ark of thee my God and my King unto the place of its abode thy holy mount 25 It joyes me to think in what comely order and with what sweet harmony of affections and musick it was done How the voices they marched in the fore-ranck singing thy praises and exalting thy name the instruments came next ecchoing to them and resounding thy glory amongst which were orderly intermixt the Damsels playing upon Timbrels so universall was this joy and so glorious was the show that both men and women did their uttermost to express their zeal and forwardness in it 26 And now the Ark is set in Sion forget not to congregate your selves to it but come in flocks and troops to bless this God which is your God and Lord that rules over you and for you all that are the faithfull of-spring of our blessed fountain and forefather Jacob whose name of Israel purchased by his prevailing with God is ever since named upon us come repair to it to the Arke and presence of the Lord and be you also wrestlers and prevailers with him there 27 And I cannot doubt of your forwardness and faithfulness so to do that express so much of joy in its transportation from the least to the greatest both those that are near and those that are afar off will be mindfull of this mercy and of their duty to frequent his service and seek his presence and protection Benjamin that was so dear to Jacob his youngest darling child I am sure will follow his fathers steps and though he was the last of his sons yet will be the first and forwardest to worship the God of his father even the whole Tribe of them with their godly ruler an example to the rest Nor I hope shall Judah the royall Tribe with their Cheiftaines and Senatours be behind who ought indeed to give exsample of zeal that are preferred in Authority above the rest no nor will I am confident Zebulon and Nephtali plead excuse by reason of their remoteness but even they also together with their heads and elders quickening them thereunto will be forward to worship the Lord in his sanctuary at Jerusalem 28 Into what a glorious and powerfull condition hath our God brought us how hath he by his sovereign all-disposing power and Authority made thee O Israel to be thus potent and exalted in strength and dominion over thine enemies that ere-while wast so much at an under O therefore seek to God let it be your prayer slack not your hands grow not sinfull and secure but be you stirred up by his mercies to frequent him duly and pray to him earnestly to continue to be gracious and to establish us in this estate whereinto he hath brought us 29 Wait and pray for the building of the glorious Temple in Jerusalem the type and figure of Christ and his Gospel-Church instead of this Tabernacle which will be a flourishing time indeed then shall not onely God be worshipped within the boundaries of Canaan but the renown of the God of Israel shall so spread as even forrain potentates shall further both the work and the worship and acknowledge him the sole sovereign of the world 30 For this purpose Lord prepare the way to that Triumphant golden age of peace by me a man of war and thy Church militant under me chastising those opposite enemies of thine and ours that notwithstanding all the evidence thou hast given and clear demonstration of thy power and goodness to us thy people are in arms and hostility against us let them know to their cost that it is neither their number nor their rage that shall prevail let both they that lead and they that are misled know thus much let them see their labour in vain and be brought to own thee for their God and to do thee homage and such as will not but chuse rather to hold on their course of enmity and opposition Lord take a course with such to destroy them out of the way that they may not alwayes be thorns in thy peoples sides 31 O that the Lord would hasten the coming of the Messiah and his Kingdom which all these things portend like as the glorious and
the contrarie 8 For affliction is the portion of all men all have sinned and all must feel the smart of it more or less Gods anger is enkindled generally against all mankind experience shews this for who have not their share of sufferings do God 's own people escape no his displeasure lights oft times in this life very heavie even upon them who drink and that deep too of the cup of his justice and terrour almost to their astonishment and inebriation I know it to be true by what I have undergone But though the godly may drink deep yet not to the bottom the worst is the last and that is reserved for the ungodly he may punish the good who yet are bad enough but he will destroy the wicked and pour out all his indignation upon him yea his fierce wrath shall certainly overtake all such Jews or Gentiles as oppose the Kingdom of his Son and refuse to submit to it which I prefigure in all ages and all places of the world none shall scape the everlasting torments prepared for them which they must and shall endure besides what oft befalls them in this life as you see by Saul forced to lay violent hands upon himself 9 This sad end hath he made but though he was the persecutour and I the persecuted yet do I live to survive my miseries and to inherit the promises for which as I am bound so I will not fail to publish at present and to leave upon record for ever to all after ages of his Church the glorious deliverances and wonderfull preservations he hath wrought for me and will praise him for the faithfull performance of his covenant and those gracious promises made of old to our forefathers especially to Jacob and his seed of whom we are more immediately discended how that he would be their God raise them a saviour which I am to be even the type of his annointed the sole King and Saviour of his Church Christ Jesus 10 And as he in his spirituall Kingdom so shall I in this my temporall be made able to suppress all rebellious power but such as submit to me his figure and fore-runner shall thereby be rendered happy and blessed as the Church shall under him The lxxvi PSALM The Psalmist illustrates the wonderfull miraculous deliverance of Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Ierusalem yea indeed of all Israel and the whole worship of God from being utterly destroyed by that blasphemous boasting army of Senacherib by the immediate hand of God destroying in one night a hundred four-score and five thousand for which he magnifies the happy condition of Gods people and God himself and excites both Israel to be thankfull to their God and the neighbour-nations to own and reverence him and their Kings to take warning lest themselves be made examples in like sort A Psalm either made prophetically by Asaph himself or some other man of God and by him committed to Asaphs successours that bare his name principally to him that is most skilfull upon the stringed instrument Neginoth to which it is chiefly set for his ordering it to be sung and plaied 1 AS God is more especialy worshipped within the confines of Judah so hath he most wonderfully magnified and manifested himself there by a most miraculous deliverance of his people out of the cruell hands of proud and potent invadours which though it was acted in that Tribe yet the God of all Israel did it and ought to be magnified by them all joyntly for it who are concerned all of them in it and who are become terrible to their enemies through the power and goodness of their God that wrought this great deliverance for them 2 At Jerusalem aunciently called Salem there it was done which is the place famous for it and for the Tabernacle also which is in it and for which Tabernacle sake he did it because of his residence and presence there typified in his Ark scituate upon mount Sion signifying his vigorous and gracious defence and protection of his Church misticall and every member of it in whom he hath a reall and spirituall residence 3 There it was when he wrought this wonderfull deliverance of his people and defeat of their enemies O the miserable slaughter and havock that from heaven by the hand of an Angel he made of that numerous army of Senacherib which beseidged Jerusalem infinite of men kild and of armes broken and spoild as if it had been in a set battel utterly ruined them To his name be the praise 4 It is true that the great and infinite armies of the Assirians have been too strong for diverse neighbour-nations they have conquered them plundered and preyed upon them at their pleasure and enriched themselves with their spoils and destroied and burnt their Gods as they make their boasts so that none could deliver out of their hands but let them brag of what they have got at thine this huge mountainous army that thought it self able to carry all before it thou Lord hast given a stop to it and approved thy self far beyond it for power and might 5 For thou hast quite destroied it Those God-damme Gallants that in the confidence of their strength and pride of their hearts stuck not to blaspheme thee before Jerusalem where thou art to be worshipped how hast thou in a moment overthrown them yea so many thousands of them in one night by the stroke of death hast thou made to sleep their last never to wake again those mighty Warriours and stout Champions that were wont to conquer and kill whole nations and a little before had boasted what they would do to us when it stood then upon they were not able to resist or abide the stroke of thine onely one destroying Angel but perished without power to defend themselves or oppose their assailant 6 When thou that art the God of our father Jacob and of Israel his seed didst vouchsafe to appear in behalf of thy people thy bare command without ever a stroke striking served the turn to overturn and utterly to ruinate this invincible and potent army yea their Princes Nobles and mighty men with all their military accommodations of Horses and Chariots and whatsoever they most confided in 7 O that our faith might guide our fear then should we not thus be startled at created Powers that we see thou canst annihilate in a moment thou and thou onely hast power to kill and save alive and therefore art thou and thou onely the object both of faith and fear for who are able to abide the least frown of thy countenance or one word of anger from thee not this mighty army could not when once thou wast disposed to hear the cries of thy people and their proud blasphemies which incensed thee against them 8 Thou Lord didst this thing by such remarkable and clear evidence of thine immediate and omnipotent hand as that none can share
his word or suffer them to perish for want of sustenance he did supernaturally supply them and whereas he could have done it with materials of nature terrestrial corn or bread he chose rather to do it with the bread of heaven such food as nature never did produce extraordinary provision as well as in an extraordinary way descended from the heavenly mansion of the blessed angels to shew in what a degree of honour and amity God admits his chosen people that are on earth fellow-servants and of the same houshould with the angels whereof God is the Lord as really by faith feeding them with Christ the son of God that spiritual soul-sustaining bread of life Mediator of angels and men figured by Manna as the angels do feed their eyes and desires in continually beholding him in heaven and are there sustained by him in that their blessed and unchangeable state nay he gave them not onely bread but flesh too in abundance 26 27 28 For in regard they tempted him and mis-doubted his power to do it therefore to vindicate his omnipotencie not in favour and respect to them he by a South-west wind which he then raised and caused to blow full upon the place where they pitched from the sea-ward brought home to their doors infinite of Quails which fell as thick as rain and lay for a days journey like sea sand round about their camp at Kibroth-hattaavah two cubits high upon the face of the earth 29 30 So that they both saw and felt by experience that God could do what they thought he could not even furnish a table in the wilderness with dainties far fetched upon the wings of the wind such as they fed not on in Egypt whereof they had plenty and eat their fill for God stinted them not but gave them enough to glut themselves and so they did of that they so inordinately desired not to sustain or suffice nature but to palliate their lusts wherein God gave them the full length of teather abridged them not but withall this sweet meat had sowre sauce even whilest these unbelievers were greedily feeding upon these dainties without confessing their sin and giving the glory to God 31 The wrath of the Lord was kindled against them and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague which God so disposed as that it chiefly swept away the more insolent carnal-minded ringleaders in this mutiny they that having been used to dainties in in Egypt could not be without them in the wilderness but whether God would or not must have them or murmur and quarrel for want of them and set the rest to do so too these chief mutiners principal men in the camp of Israel did God chiefly slay by the plague to affright the rest 32 But nothing could reclaim this stubborn people nothing that God could do for them or against them no blessings though miraculous no punishments though never so formidable and capital could do good upon them to make them leave their murmuring and live by faith 33 Therefore whereas he promised them Canaan if they had believed in him and been obedient to him contrarily he adjudged them to wander out their days in that wilderness where they so murmured and misbelieved even all in effect that came out of Egypt wasted out their lives in a vain unprofitable pilgrimage there to their exceeding great trouble and in Gods disfavour for forty years space after they were arrived at the skirts of Canaan in which time they were all destroyed by their sins and Gods just judgements 34 They were a people that God could do no good on by mercies and benefits but the better he was the worse they were onely when for their rebelliousness God was forced to fall heavy upon them and to destroy them sometimes by one judgement sometimes by another then upon the same principles that before they murmured against him would they then seek unto him the one for self-pleasing the other for self-saving when the fire was burning and the plague consuming then down on their knees and up with their hands promising any thing to be spared Oh what a reformed and changed people they will be then they post as fast as they can to Moses to pray for them and save their carcasses and desiring but to know their sin Oh how would they then repent of it and their duty how they might but please God for the time to come and they would never fail to perform it 35 Then there was none but God with them they could then remember all the great deliverances he had wrought for them and recount them one by one how this time and the other time God saved them from being destroyed by their enemies and his own judgements then they could give him his titles and acknowledge his attributes of Sovereignty and Omnipotencie he that they never thought well of nor could afford a good word now is becom their onely saviour they cannot say too much of him nor give too much to him 36 But all this was but to deceive God to carry fair towards him to work their ends upon him pretending sorrow for sin and resolution of amendment when as all that was spoken by them was but from teeth outward so long as the blow smarted never meant as they spake nor made good any thing they said 37 For all was but pretences to serve their own turns there was no true inward remorse for all their shew of sorrow nor no sincere change for all their fair promises their hearts were as wicked as ever and as bad principled towards God breaking promises as fast as they made them yea the grand charter the covenant it self so solemnly contracted and so often renewed between God their fore-fathers and themselves that God would be their God and that they would be his people and walk thereafter this they made not good but notwithstanding all Gods promises to them and theirs to him they sinned against him deviated from him and falsified with him 38 But the Lord having chosen them for his people and remembring the ancient league of amity and friendship that was betwixt him and their fore-fathers could not find in his heart to do to them as their sins deserved but being a people that for his names sake he would be good unto and preserve himself a Church and holy seed amongst he from time to time with patience and pitie overcame their provocations and his own hot displeasure that justice called to destroy them but mercie staid his hands and moderated his furie so that his punishments were rather examplary than otherwise never destroying all that offended which yet justice called upon his wrath to do again and again 39 For the Lord knew if he should give way to his anger according to the instigation of his justice and their demerit they that were mortal and short lived by nature would quickly perish
for Phinehas his wife giving up the ghost at the dolour of it her last words were The glorie is departed from Israel for the Ark of God is taken forgetting her husband 65 The Lord himself was amazed at what was done to see himself as it were taken prisoner his strength gone like Sampsons and as it were a binding by the Philistines to be made their pastime and reproch as he was whereupon the Lord whom the Philistines thought they had vanquished as well as his people having the Ark their prisoner or that he had quite cast off care either of it or them on a sudden he alone fell foul upon the Philistines by his own immediate power in their own countrey he took them to task for the rescue of his Ark and vindicating his honour from their insolencies and laid about him like Sampson awakened out of his sleep when his strength was upon him or as some mightie Giant enraged and transported with wine and passion dealing judgements on all hands to every Town and people Lords and Commons where the Ark came at Ashdod Gath and Ekron destroying them with deadly destruction so that their crie went up to heaven 66 For the plague he sent amonst them made them die a pace tormented with grievous pain and horrour the disease being sore Emerods in their secret hinder parts Neither could their God Dagon stand before it but paid his head in homage to it when it came into his house so that the Ark made such destruction wheresoever it came of them and their Gods that these great conquerours made no brags of their booty but sent it home again and glad they were to be rid of it accompanied with the Images and representations of those so shameful Emerods in their secret parts by the advice of their priests sent as a trespass-offering but ordered by providence to be indeed a perpetual monument and memorial among the Israelites of that disgraceful punishment and ignominious disease God inflicted on them to whom they to their own shame were thus enforced to give glorie even to the God of Israel and ask him pardon whom they thought they had overcome and taken prisoner when they had his Ark captive 67 But though God thus plagued his enemies and rescued his Ark out of their hands and brought it home to Israel yet to shew his displeasure against them too he abandoned Shilo quite and would not suffer that testimonie of his presence to return any more thither whence it was taken captive for their sins but refused to reside and be worshipped any longer in the tribe of Ephraim the sons of Joseph behaved themselves so ill within whose lotment Shiloh was where his Ark had so long sojourned and he had been so much neglected 68 But instead thereof chose Jerusalem mount Sion there which he preferred to all the earth to be the place for his Ark to reside on there in the tribe of Judah did he chuse to fix his presence appoint his worship where he knew he should be faithfully served to his content and established the Kingdom there also which both Kingdom and Priest-hood in the tribe of Judah shall continue and be preserved when as Ephraim and that opposit Kingdom of the ten tribes with their Idolatrous service shall be quite extinct and led away captive 69 There did he build himself a glorious Temple in the glorious flourishing times of Solomon for his Ark to abide in immoveably and with it his presence beautified and enriched with all the ornaments and precious things that nature or Art could contribute to it raised upon a mount exceeding sightly for scituation and it self stately for building and Architecture there to flourish and abide firm as the earth by the mightie power of God protecting that as he supports this for so shall his Church spiritual which Christ shall build and beautifie figured by the Temple be established upon the earth as the earth and in heaven for ever 70 And as that tribe and place was honoured with the temple sacred service also so with the Kingdom and that eminent servant and Kingly type of the Messiah David who was chosen thence to rule his people whom he advanced thereunto from a mean condition even from keeping his fathers sheep in token of Christs abasement before his glorious and sovereign advancement over his Church and Kingdom 71 From taking care of his fathers flock the yeanning ewes and tender lambs did the Lord raise him to be the Kingly shepheard of his own espoused people that have been his inheritance ever since they were Jacobs posteritie that he might yield protection to these and deliver them from their enemies as he did those from the Lion and the Bear and in tender love and care administer mercie and justice to them instructing them in the fear of the Lord as Christ shall do his Church 72 And David did not fail of his dutie no more shall Christ of his but with an upright honest heart both towards God above him and those under him did he discharge his place providing for them protecting of them and administring to them and indeed throughout his reign ruled them very prosperously with much sagacitie of wisdom and happie success in all his great undertakings The spirit of God being with him as he shall be with Christ. The lxxix PSALM The Psalmist sadly relates to God the condition of his people the land the holy Citie the Temple under either the Assyrian or Antiochus what cruelty and devastation was every where executed what reproch he and they were fallen into by it and prayeth for redress and remarkable judgement upon their cruel oppressours and the blasphemers of his name promising everlasting remembrance of his mercie and praise for it if vouchsafed A Psalm made either by Asaph himself in a prophetical prediction of Jerusalems calamities or committed to his successours bearing his name by some man of God that made it after they fell out 1 O God that didst chuse and set apart this land of Canaan specially Judea for thy self and Church to inhabit and to worship thee in and didst drive out them that were not thy people and tookest and keptst possession of it hitherto till now that the heathen no whit related to thee have re-assumed it broken in with rage and cruelty and dispossessed both thee and thy people for now Jerusalem which thou hast formerly so wonderfully preserved from them and the Temple there that place of thy special presence and sacred worship have they also mastered as well as the rest of the land of Israel and Judah the one of them they have done all manner of spight to for thy sake defiled that sacred place with the bloud of thine own people that were wont there to worship thee and introduced their prophane Idolatries into it The other they have devastated the walls and houses are demolished inhabitants slaughtred all ruinated 2 It
wherein he minds God of his tender care of his people when they were in Egypt and praies for the like now that he will appear for a few in which his Church is as much concerned as in those many which are in great calamitie this prayer he enforceth with an elegant Metaphor of their being as a choice vine to him and the enemie as a wild boar to them Promiseth if this single tribe so many wayes considerable may be re-instated and revived that they will live to him and to his praise A Psalm either prophetically made by Asaph himself or some other man of God upon the captivitie and committed to Asaphs successours principally to him that is most skilful upon the sweet instrument of six strings Shoshannim whereunto it is set for his ordering of it 1 O God of our fathers that leddest the posteritie of Jacob and Joseph out of their Egyptian bondage through the Red sea and wilderness as a shepheard leads his flock yielding them powerful protection and gracious provision give ear to us now in our Babylonish captivitie pitie us and do for us now as then who are the remainder all that is left of those progenitors And thou that wast wont also to be intreated by thy people in thy sanctuarie and to evidence thy presence there in thy mercie-seat between the wings of the Cherubims vouchsafing them many a gracious answer and deliverance when they prayed for it in their extremitie thou that art the same God now as then hear us the same people though not in the same place in Babylon appear for us calling on thee in this our banishment and captivation 2 At the apostacie of the ten tribes thou knowest how that many well-affected of the tribe of Ephraim Benjamin and Manasseh forsook their habitations and transplanted themselves into Judea to be partakers of thy worship and now the posteritie of these that did cleave so close to thee then at the defection of their brethren are held captive here in Babylon Lord remember it unto them for good and now stick close to them as then they did to thee and powerfully transplant them back again into their own countrey and deliver them out of this captivitie whereinto thou hast brought them that when time was were voluntarie exiles for thy sake 3 Lord how ever our condition is very desperate and miserable yet art thou able to change it to what it was and to carrie us into our own land and give us the enjoyment and practice of thy worship again if thou wilt but turn thy frowns into favour and thy face upon us in stead of thy back-parts pardoning our sins and receiving us again into grace we shall be a happie people and see good days for all this 4 O Lord God of alsufficient and Almigtie power how long wilt thou that hast the command of all and art able to help us suffer us to remain helpless and be angrie at us now in our miserie for sins committed in our prosperitie so that our prayers are of no power but thou rejected them and us that are thy people and suffer as well for thee as for our sins 5 Thou makest us altogether miserable our sighs and tears are the best repast we have the uttering of our grief is the sustaining of our nature which we are forced to do with bitter lamentation 6 Thou hast made us an absolute prey to our neighbour nations that have long looked for this day insomuch that they are ready to fall out among themselves for the dividing the spoil of us and our countrey the whilest we are here captives in a strange nation amongst our mortal enemies that have no better pastime than to deride our miserable condition 7 See the third verse of this Psalm which is the same with this 8 With no small cost and care didst thou when time was transplant Israel as a vine of great account out of Egypt where it was stocked and thrive not unto a land where thou undertookest it should take root and grow even Canaan which thou emptiedst of its heathenish inhabitants to make way for thy people where thou didst implant whereof thou didst possess them 9 Thou miraculously madest way for their implantation by destroying and expulsing the natives thereof and making thy people victors still as they went on from one end of the land to the other insomuch as that they were settled in it by thy special gift and grace and enjoyed it both by right of conquest and long prescription of peaceable possession and peopled it from corner to corner successively one generation after another for many ages 10 They multiplied by thy blessing in such sort as that the hills and valleys were all full of them both best and worst of the countrey was inhabited and improved so mightily did they encrease and not onely in number but in stature also they were tall and goodly people such as hewed down Giants before them 11 So far as ever thou didst ordain the limits of that land to stretch even from the Mediterranean sea to the river Euphrates of old appointed by thee to be her boundaries did thy people inhabit her in a flourishing condition both of Church and State 12 Lord since thou wast pleased to do so much for a people and to husband and bless this vine of thine in this sort why hast thou thus utterly withdrawn thy protection from them as if they had never belonged unto thee nor had been cared for by thee exposing them and their land to all the outrages and obloquies that any that have a mind will inflict upon them and make bootie both of their persons and estates which at pleasure they share amongst them 13 Look as a savage boar breaking into a well formed garden would demean himself by turning all things upside down so hath this Heathenish Babylonish tyrant the land we possessed and the people in it making havock and destruction of all old and young root and branch in so ruinous a manner as if his armie had been so many wild beasts in stead of men 14 O Lord think it long enough to have estranged thy self thus from thy people resume thy grace of old towards us we humbly pray thee thou that hast command over all things whose dominion is in heaven far above all earthly powers look propitiously from thence upon us and own this vine of thine once again to replant it 15 Both vine and vineyard people countrey Lord look graciously upon them to reunite them repossess them of that which once by a strong hand outstretched arm thou gavest them the tribe of Judah O Lord remēber in which as it were alone thou didst uphold maintain the Church and Kingdom of Christ when all besides fell from thee 16 This single branch all that 's left of the florishing vine the onely Tribe in effect of all the
twelve even it is destroied Judea the place where it grew is miserably wasted with fire and the people with the sword in thy wrathfull displeasure hast thou blasted this tender branch which is the more dejected at thy frowns because thy former favours were so resplendent upon it 17 Let thy power and grace appear in protecting and delivering this single Tribe of Judah's posterity the sole remainder of Jacobs sons who hath ever hitherto been mightily favoured and prospered by thee even for Davids sake that man after thine own heart who sprung out thence and whom thou madest a mighty King ruling Jews and Gentiles and endowing him with singular gifts and graces fit for that place and imploiment thou conferest upon him out of whose loins must also come the Messiah whom he tipified for as he is thy Son so shall he be Davids and Judah's whom thou hast set apart for that high office and glorious work of mediation placed him at thy right hand in power and furnished him with graces fit for this imploiment to rule sanctifie and save thy people his Church even the man that is thy fellow God and man the Almighty Mediatour and Sovereign King for his sake therefore put forth thy power in poor Judah's behalf for to restore her 18 Lord if thou wilt do thus for us thou wilt bind us to thee everlastingly we will then renew our covenant and keep it which by our back-sliding we have broken the cause of all our misery Let us but live again and we will not live to our selves but to thee thou shalt have the praise of our restauration and the obedience of our lives and conversation 19 Lord how ever our condition is very forlorne and miserably yet art thou that commandest the whole creation able to change it to what it was and to carry us into our own land and give us the use and enjoyment of thy worship again if thou wilt but turn thy frowns into favours and thy face upon us instead of thy back parts pardoning our sins and receiving us again into grace we shall be a happy people and see good dayes for all this The lxxxi PSALM The Psalmist quickens up the people of Israel to pour out praises to God as God himself also hath commanded them to do for all his mercies to them specially that great deliverance out of Egypt and by way of caution hints notwithstanding Israels ingratitude and unmindfulness of Gods providence and goodness at the bitter waters in the wilderness where they murmured and believed not as also after in Canaan which cost them full dear who else had been always a prosperous people and their land a plentifull land To him that is most skilfull upon Gittith the instrument used by Obed-edom the Gittite and his family do I Asaph that made this Psalm commit it for his ordering it in the Quire 1 AS we have received mercies and favours of great extraordinary natures from God so let our praises be sutable with heart and voice let all Israel in their solemn conventions magnifie the Lord acknowledge all those great things thankfully which by a mighty hand he hath done and wrought for them Let them with infinite exultation and confidence in God as theirs be loud and large in their praises 2 All we can do will be too little and come short of what the Lord demerits but let not us be wanting to the utmost of our power but with voice and instrument yea all manner of musicall instruments one and other specially the sweetest and choicest of them let us sound forth his praises that heaven and earth may ring of us 3 Be sure when you celebrate those solemn festivities appointed in the law as the new moon c. That you perform it in a faithfull chearfull manner and express it heartily by sound of trumpet and all other wayes as may most testifie your inward joy and best enliven it 4 This you ought to do not onely of gratuity but also of duty for God doth not onely deserve it but hath expresly enjoyned it as a statute and everlasting law for Israel to yield obedience to even these solemn meetings for solemn thanksgivings appointed of old by the God of our forefather Jacob. 5 Even then did he institute it when Josephs posterity had the precedency among all the Tribes not Judah as now it is ever since the time that God destroied the first born in Egypt and thereupon ordained the Passeover when miraculously he brought us out thence from being imbondaged under a people whom we understood not saving by blows as beasts do men they not speaking our language nor we theirs a people strange to God and as strangely using his Church that uncomfortably sojourned amongst them without civil converse 6 From the wofull slavery and cruell bondage of those Egyptian Tyrants and Task-masters did God by a strong hand wonderfully deliver us and made us free-men to serve him of bondmen serving them in hard labour of bearing burdens and doing base offices of brick-clamping and pot-making in kills furnaces 7 Thou criedst unto me sayes God in thy bondage in Egypt after also in thy danger at the red sea and I thou knowst heard thee and by a mighty hand and apparent signs of favour delivered thee from the one the other from on high plaguing and troubling thine enemies the Egyptians with thunder and lightning and delivering thee which I thought thou wouldst have remembred and for which I could not but believe thou wouldst have been thankfull and believing in my grace and providence in after-times but did I find it so when I tried thy faith meekness and patience a little after at the waters of strife no thou knowst I did not 8 9 10 Where yet for all thine ungratefull murmurings thou remembrest I did not reject thee nor so much as punish thee but took occasion thence to enter and renew my covenant with thee and to take thee into my service and make further proof of thee whereupon I made a statute and an ordinance that if thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God and walk as my people before me in obedience of those laws which I shall give thee worshipping none but me and keeping your distance to all other Gods worshipped by those that are not my people chusing me onely for yours by the same token I powerfully and with such sign of favour brought you out of the land of Egypt the Type indeed of a nearer spirituall relation whereby we are or ought to be united that then if thou wouldest but do thus if ever thou wantedst what thou wouldst have and was usefull for thee it should not be because I would not give it for then would I withhold no needfull blessings from thee but because thou didst not ask it the fault should be thine and not mine if in the faith of my gracious covenant-engagements
rotting upon the superficies of the earth in multitudes unburied 11 Let their Nobles and great men all the Princes and chieftains of this aggregate body that comes to invade us speed as did those Kings and Princes of the Midianites Oreb and Zeeb which were taken in their flight and beheaded Zeba and Zalmunna whose Host was smitten themselves slain by Gideons own hand 12 Let these proud enemies of ours and thine come to the same end that with such malice and carnall confidence invade thy land and people and stick not to promise themselves the possession of the one and the enslaving of the other and utterly to dispossess thee of both and to ruin both thy worship and all those places where it was used to be performed the Temple and Synagogues or to pervert and turn them to their own Idolatrous usages 13 O God in whom we thy poor Church do trust for preservation and defence against this confederation turn their projects upside down make giddy their counsellours and amuze their designs let them no sooner rise but fall have no success in what they project or attempt bring nothing to an issue let them and their undertakings be as vain uncertain and ineffectuall as light and loose straw before the wind that 's scattered and tossed hither and thither 14 As a fire caused by thunder and lightening and enkindled with the wind violently breaks forth and consumes whole woods and forrests the flames whereof reach the tallest tops of trees that grow upon the highest mountains formidably appearing to spectatours far and near and consumes them as easily as the lowest shrubs 15 Such Lord let be thine anger and so do thou break forth in thy fiery indignation upon this huge army of numerous associats that march like a wood against us by an Almighty power and with terrible judgements as tempests from heaven do thou confound and astonish them that thus affright and purpose to destroy thy whole Church and people at once to the amazement and terrour of all that see or hear it spare neither great nor small high nor low but in thine enraged jealousie destroy the destroyer as well Prince as people 16 So cross their designs disappoint their hopes and confound their confidences that this enterprise may be for their shame not for their honour and that by experience of thy power to deliver thy people and subdue thine enemies they may be wrought upon and forced to beg pardon and compassion at thine hands acknowledging thee for sole Lord and God of all the earth whom they now so much contemn and mean to despight if thou wilt suffer them 17 Do thou Lord so affright and astonish them as they may never dare to enterprise against thee any more and so shamefully defeat by some strange overthrow this their invincible confederation that these invadours may have neither heart nor power to meddle in this sort again 18 That so not onely thine own people but others even all these Idolatrous nations that know nothing of thee but what thou enforcest upon them by sense and experience may be made to confess that thou who indeed art and onely art the Almighty and everliving Lord art not onely to be acknowledged by us but that the whole earth as well as we ought to pay thee Homage as the sole Sovereign God of Gods and Lord of Lords The lxxxiv PSALM David after his restaurationâ— from banishment and settlement both of him in the Kingdom and the Ark on mount Sion yet personates that estate in this Psalm and the mind he then was in shewing what longings he then had after the sanctuary and ordinances of God how he envied the priviledge the very birds had and blessed the priviledge others of Gods people had and he wanted the least whereof he would have been glad of but still believed and hoped to find God gracious and true of his word To him that is most skilfull upon Gittith the instrument used by Obed-Edom the Gittite and his family is this Psalm committed for his ordering of it to be sung by the Korathites 1 TO a spirituall minded man who knows the worth and excellency of thy worship and service in each part and circumstance of it and how to improve it to edification and exercise of his graces O how delicious and affecting are thine ordinances acted in thy sanctuary O most mighty God of heaven and earth and Lord of all the innumerable creatures in both 2 My soul which was wont to be feasted with heavenly and divine delicacies in the courts of thy Sanctuary where I worshipped thee longeth incessantly to frequent them again yea so vehement is my desire that the long frustration of it makes me ready to swound away like a woman with child disappointed of her longing My whole man soul and body gaspeth after and earnestly importunes to be restored to my former communions with thee and lively soul-quickning participations of thee whereof to mine unspeakable grief I have been so long deprived 3 I envy the happiness of the very irrationall creature the poor birds for that they have a priviledge far beyond me they can dwell in thy land amongst thy people the sparrow and swallow have their freedom there harbour themselves and make their nests where they will in view of and near to thy very Altar whereas I a son of Abraham an heir of the promise one that have a right and title to all the emoluments of thy Church and people am notwithstanding forced into exile among the heathen as if I were not related to thee nor had no right to worship thee O Lord whom yet in mind and heart I will and do worship acknowledging no God besides thee and adoring thee for the sole sovereign Creatour and commander of heaven and earth and all in both whose subject and servant I am though Saul will not own me for his and in whom I yet trust in hope to find thee gracious to me for all this 4 O happy condition are they in whose function and office makes them not onely frequenters but indwellers in thy sanctuary the Preists and Levites they have their fill of what I want that is opportunities to magnifie and praise thee in the dayly sacrifices and solemn ordinances there administred 5 Blessed and onely blessed is he that in diffidence of his own self-sufficiency specially spirituall-self makes his diligent humble and faithfull resort to thee after thy prescript and rule and lives the life which he lives by faith in thee and continuall addresses to thee for spirit and grace in prayer and supplication In whose heart is throughly grounded this belief and accordingly frames his practise walking as all those do that faithfully believe thus 6 And therefore overcome all difficulties for those sweet injoyments it is neither length of way nor deficiency of accommodation in the journey that can hinder such sure I am it
never to live again Lord think other thoughts towards us bring us again into a comfortable condition and raise us up in joy as much as thou hast cast us down in sorrow by the return of thy reconciled favour to us which will infinitely rejoyce us 7 Let us be so happy as to see and feel the sweet effects of thy pardoning grace O good God by granting us a powerfull deliverance from under this misery and bondage 8 As pray so I will also expect an answer my faith shall listen diligently to the promise of God what it sayes as also to his providence what it will speak effectually by way of performance for his promises are then words he will do as he sayes and therefore I am confident how ever Gods time is now of punishing us so it will be of pardoning us his people shall have rest from these their troubles for his Saints the invisible Church sake that are amongst them but let them take heed of abusing such goodness by provoking the Lord again to wrath with back-sliding ingratitude lest he never take their words more 9 Surely deliverance from the Lord will make haste for the enfranchizing of all those that faithfully wait for it and will heartily imbrace it when it comes to the promoting and re-establishing his worship and service again in that land of his and ours though we are wrongfully disseiz'd of it and restoring it to its former glorie and splendour 10 Our return as it shall doubtless be so it shall be exceeding happie the very embleme of the salvation that comes by the Messiah to the Church and the glorious effects thereof for in our restauration there shall be an admirable commixtion of the mercie and truth of God thereby graciously fulfilling his promise touching the well-fare of his Church and freedom from her enemies together with a righteous obediential walking of his people with him in peace and tranquillitie Like as in Christ and in the restauration that he shall make of poor distressed sinners to a spiritual Libertie from their ghostly enemies sin and Satan there shall be a glorious reconciliation of those cross pleading attributes and properties in Gods divine nature and in the soul of every justified regenerate member of the Church for according to truth and righteousness Man that sinned hath died Christ being made a sacrifice and according to mercie and peace Man that hath sinned is saved and God he are reconciled and at one in the propitiation of his son so that in him the Laws threatnings and Gospels promises are agreed the rigour of Gods justice is fully satisfied all things in God peaceably accorded and God and man sweetly reconciled and man in his own conscience by the faith of all these comfortably quieted 11 We shall serve and obey God in truth and uprightness such sweet fruit shall Judea yield upon our restitution and God shall take pleasure in us and from heaven pour forth his righteous blessings upon us in grace and favour to us as it shall be with the Church when the Messiah that Truth of God shall be born in our nature of earthly parents with what satisfactorie content shall God then behold him and those justified sanctified members of his here below aswell as those glorified ones in heaven above and how shall he bless them 12 Yea the Lord shall be so reconciled to us that our evils shall be turned into their contrarie blessings he shall be our friend and make every thing else befriend us for good the creature shall be reconciled aswell as the creator and the land that our sins have made barren and fruitless shall by the blessing of God upon it be restored to that fertilitie it had heretofore when God was better served and it was better blessed and made to resemble the plenteous spiritual blessings that Christs enfranchized Church shall abound with here 13 God himself shall plentifully vouchsafe his graces and make us walk to his well-pleasing in holiness and righteousness as Christ shall his Church and set us in the right way which we have so miserably strayed from and enable us to walk it even the path of his precepts The lxxxvi PSALM David in this Psalm made probably either during Sauls persecution of him or after in mindfulness of that his estate personating himself as then it was with him praies for audience and deliverance because of his incessant intercessions and Gods innate goodness and promises himself what he praies for he extols God and prophesies all the World shall do so too prayeth for direction and establishment under his pressures promiseth praise for what God hath done for him and relates what manner of enemies his are as bad as bad can be but comforts himself in Gods opposit grace and goodness which he praies for a sensible sight and taste of by some remarkable act of providence and power for him against them to their shame and confusion and to his corroboration and consolation A praier that David made in the time of his grievous affliction recorded as a pattern and for the use of every faithful afflicted member of the Church 1 THou Lord that hast an ear for men in my case and heart too Let me I pray thee prevail for a gracious audience and though thou beest of so immense greatness and inhabitest heavens in unaccessable glorie yet Lord have regard to a poor worm on earth in this my deplorable helpless condition 2 That my life Lord is in danger thou knowest it and that my heart is upright towards thee and innocent towards man even to my very enemies thou Lord art not ignorant of it Therefore in righteousness deliver me out of their hands and save my life which they would destroy O Lord that art my God both in near relation and dear affection save me that thou knowest am entirely thine in loving obedience and faithful dependance and reliance 3 Let thy goodness and my miserie move thee to have mercie on me O Almightie Lord and to vouchsafe me deliverance for as I have cause my pressures being exceeding great and incessant so are my cries unto thee vehement and quotidian because my faith and hope is in thee 4 Set me free from my troubles and these despondencies of spirit that accompany them that I may with a joyful and thankful heart apprehend thy grace and mercie to me for Lord thou knowest my trust and confidence is in none besides thee as thou mayest perceive by my faithful and fervent addresses 5 For I know both from thine own word which I believe and mine own experience that thou art of a gracious compassionate nature to poor distressed suppliants and though just to punish sinners yet as ready to pardon penitents and to shew mercie of every kind both of forgiveness to humbled sinners and of deliverance to distressed innocents that in the faith thereof pray earnestly unto thee 6 And
being himself the master builder 2 The Lord hath made a special choice of and expressed therein a particular respect before all the rest of the land of Judah and Israel to the hill of Sion scituate in Jerusalem and to Jerusalem in the whole circumference therof for Sions sake where his Tabernacle Ark and Temple is for there true religion must abide till the coming of the Messiah and hence it must be spread over all the world 3 However outwardly Jerusalem is by the heavy mis-fortunes that have befallen her much lessened in beauty and glory to what she was yet glorious prophesies of spiritual excellencies whereof the former splendour was but adumbrations are recorded concerning her which are not yet fulfilled O thou citie of Gods peculiar love and election be yet comforted and confident they shall be doubt it not 4 Such glory shall shine from the tops of thy holy mountains and from thy holy citie as much changed as it is as shall be resplendent all the world over insomuch as I dare promise thee a mighty access of free-denizons members of the Church a glorious recruit of many that God shall call from all the parts teach to know and reverence him and thee for his sake even out of remote countries and from amongst thy bitter enemies as Egypt Babylon the Philistines Tyre and Ethiopia they shall flock to thee when the Messiah is known to be in thee and being partakers of the new birth shall be ambitious to be called after thy name children of the new Jerusalem 5 And as they shall be ambitious to be citizens of Jerusalem so also to be sons and daughters of Sion in a word they shall think themselves happy and blessed that they are begotten to God made partakers of the spiritual and new birth regenerated by the holy ghost and so incorporated in the seed and posteritie of faithful Abraham heirs of the Covenant and grace of salvation with us and so naturalized into the priviledge and participation of God and his worship practized in the Church typified by Sion which new Jerusalem and her denizons Sion and her children shall be founded upon the power of God who shall uphold and maintain her to perpetuitie so that the gates of hell shall not prevail against her Kingdoms and Empires shall have their period but the Church Christs Kingdom who is above all blessed for ever shall be everlasting 6 Yea the Lord himself shall name thy name upon his called and elect ones he shall muster them in the role of thy souldiers and number them in the catalogue of thy Citizens all that are his shall also be thine sons and daughters begotten of God but born in Sion as God shall be their Father so Sion shall be their mother by which name the Church it self shall be called A glorious priviledge 7 And as Sion shall be glorious in a numerous spiritual of-spring so in equivalent solemnities to what she was wont to have nay beyond it for whereas all Israel had but one Temple then every Israelite every member of this new Jerusalem shall be a Temple and every one of those Temples furnished with the substances of all those shadowish significant ceremonies the Church shall have no want of voices and musical instruments to praise the Lord withall they shall be in abundance men of large graces and enlarged hearts My heart is ravished with the apprehension of the happiness of those times what graces what comforts all that a faithful soul can desire or a hungrie soul stands in need of shall be plentifully supplied to the Church and the members thereof in this new Jerusalem and spiritual Sion wherewith I desire to be happie and hereof to share as being indeed the onely comfortable soul-refreshing musick The lxxxviii PSALM Heman a man extraordinarie wise exercised with extraordinarie trouble yea even all his life long applies himself to God by a faithful insinuation pathetical narration of the superlative nature of his afflictions and humble interrogation or expostulation touching the long continuance of them in such extremitie upon him is in hope because God hath stirred him up to pray that he himself will be moved to hear and that though he live miserable yet he shall not die so concludes as he began with expostulation and narration A Psalm made to be both sung played by the Korathites and committed to him that is most skilful upon the instrument Mahalath Leannoth to which it is chiefly set for his ordering it being a Psalm of instruction an exemplarie pattern how every sincere servant of the Lord is to demean himself towards God by ardent prayer and humble expostulation when his hand is heavie upon him in the pressure of a troubled spirit or other grievous adversitie penned by Heman one of the sons of Zerah of the posteritie of Judah famous for his wisdom 1 Kings 4.31 1 O Lord God who for all thy heavy hand upon me art my souls Saviour and I am sure must be my sole deliverer out of this anxietie and I hope wilt be so as my grief is extream so are my complaints pathetical and my prayers unto thee exceeding ardent and that without ceasing as is my misery 2 Let a poor mournfull man have admittance and his prayer audience with thee the great God estrange not thy self alwaies but vouchsafe a gracious condescention to me a poor crying creature in great extremity 3 For the anguishments of my soul are an inseparable burthen which are heaped brim-full upon it in so great a measure as the weight of them almost presseth my life and soul out of my body and I am reduced to the very point of death by them 4 By the troubles of my mind my body is quite wasted I am a very skelliton nothing but skin and bones as weak as water no strength left in me so that by all symptoms I am by all that see me given for a dead man irrecoverable 5 Though I live yet my soul is as if it were departed for it administers no comfortable communion to my body which is as a corps laid out for burying and I no more to be reckoned amongst the living but a free-denizon of another society of that moietie of mankind which are dead nor do I die as others by a natural death in the ordinarie way and by ordinarie means of sickness or old-age but I languish under a wounded spirit God as an enraged enemie thrusts mine heart through as it were with a sharp sword and sends me by a violent death down into the grave where is ended all that care and providence thou hast over us whilest we are living there I shall be as it were laid out of thy sight and forgotten thy hand of providence which was wont to provide and care for me then shall be quite quite of me and I both untimely and violently ravished from it as they that lose their lives by some ireful
judgement portending thy everlasting displeasure and disregard as well of their souls as bodies 6 Thou Lord hast brought me into such an estate as I can scare tell how to express it or find fit tearms to parallel the condition and dimensions of my miserie I am as it were shut up under ground excluded the societie of mankind in an Abiss void of the suns comfortable light a very dungeon of darkness in the bottom of the bottomless sea with all the waters a top of me so extream uncomfortable is this my condition so full of horrour and perturbation of spirit and so overwhelmed with grief and withall so remediless 7 For thou hast afflicted me with such a weight of wrath and so loaden me with judgements that I am even pressed to death all comforts are gone and life it self is going after thou as it were hast let in the sea upon my soul thy terrours and affrightments come so thick one in the neck of another that they bear down all before them no hope nor comfort can stand in their way My grief is very great 8 Thou hast made me so uncomfortable a companion that my old friends and acquaintance seperate from me they have abandoned all societie and converse with me for indeed I am like no man nor fit companie for any being miserably inclaved in this forlorn comfortless condition whence I cannot extricate my self nor none for me but am as without comfort so without hope and help 9 I have almost wept my self blind by reason of the long duration and heavie oppression of this mine affliction Lord thou knowest with what uncessant prayers and hands lifted up to heaven I have importuned thy favour and mitigation of this my terrour 10 Lord how long shall it be before thy mercie and truth relieve me if it be whilest I live it must not be much longer deferred if thou hast a purpose to do me good thou must either do it suddenly before the breath go out of my bodie which truly is expiring or else miraculously when I am quite departed but that is not likely it is not thy manner to shew mercie to men dead but living as yet I am I expect not to be raised out of my grave to live again after I am dead to praise thee on earth no therefore I hope to do it ere I die for all this 11 Thy love and faithfulness will certainly be better manifested and fulfill'd in preservation and deliverance than in death and destruction and thy people can better magnifie thee for them living than dead 12 Is it under-ground that thou wilt manifest thy power where none shall see it and fulfil thy promise in the gravem when we are in an incapacitie for it where nothing is taken notice of but thy power grace and faithfulness will die and be buried with us 13 But Lord as I have not deferred my prayers to the grave so I hope nor wilt thou thine answers and whilest I live that the evening of death do not close up mine eyes and shut my mouth I will not cease to importune thee and hope to prevent so sad a farewel by obtaining mercie before I die 14 Lord what is the cause of this grievous desertion and seeming rejection of my soul why am I thus benighted thy face over-clouded no beam of divine favour shining into me nor no spark of renewing grace glowing in me 15 Lord thou knowest I am sure I for my part remember well that ever since I could remember I have scarce had a good day my trials and troubles have been so grievous they have brought me I know not how often to deaths door so tedious and comfortless a life have I led being almost alwayes exercised either under the present sence or future expectation and fear of their return to my no small torment and distraction 16 Lord it is no small matter that I complain of thou knowest I have cause for my burden is greater than I can bear or any man alive that had the feeling of it as I have Thy fierce wrath who can stand under it and yet I am made to bear it and to undergo the surges and waves thereof which are raised like storms and tempests in my soul readie to overwhelm it my terrours and perplexities of mind are such that they have cut me off of all comfort in my self and almost of all hope in thee 17 They brake in upon me like a fierce torrent dayly they do so I have seldom any ease or quiet they fill every crannie of my soul and so begirt me round that I can come at no comfort by no means I can use with complicate evils on all sides am I besiedged so that comfort can enter in at no door 18 Mine intimates avoid me and mine old acquaintance will not now know me I am as a man dead and buried out of their sight having no companion but grief and sorrow not any to make my moan to besides thy self or that can or will comfort me The lxxxix PSALM Expositours differ upon the occasion of this Psalm some make it to be in reference to the salling of the ten tribes from Rehoboam others to Absalons rebellion others to the Babylonish captivitie to which I encline conceiving it prophetically to be composed by Ethan for them to use in that estate It contains matter of praise to God for his covenant for his power to make it good which he both hath done and will do But expostulates how that captivitie and the matter of that covenant can be reconciled and puts God in mind of dangerous inconvenience that must needs insue upon breach of covenant and abolition of Davids Kingdom as also of the enemies reprochful blasphemies And concludes with faithful praises notwithstanding all seeming discouragements An instruction for the people of God how to demean themselves in publick calamities and concussions of Church or Common-wealth by sad complaining humble expostulating and earnest prayer to God penned by Ethan one of the sons of Zerah of the posteritie of Judah famous for his wisdom 1 Kings 4.31 1 WHat ever befal I will be confident of the mercies God hath promised that they shall be fulfilled I will set them forth and sing their praises whilest I live and leave them upon record to thy Church for ever to do the like Thy faithfulness to thy people according to thy promises I will publish and assert it to this age and all that are to come 2 For upon a deliberate well-grounded faith I believe and therefore do and dare affirm and have ever done so in the midst of the greatest concussions that ever befel us that mercie shall be built up from one age of the Church to another like so many stories untill it come in the end like a building perfected to its full accomplishment the Churches perfection in her glorified condition to all eternitie
and natural reason thou hast broken all the ties that were upon thee oath promise faithfulness holiness covenant which seems to be quite made void even that thou mad'st with thy servant David concerning the establishment of his throne and dignitie upon him and his posteritie for ever For thou hast suffered as much despight to be done to that royal diadem as the prophane ignorant Idolatrous heathen can devise to do by captivating King and Kingdom contemptibly subjugated and transplanted into another nation far remote where they are made bon dmen even the people and posteritie of David his throne is thus abased of whom thou saidst The enemy shall not exact nor the son of wickedness afflict him 40 Instead of protection thou hast brought upon it utter devastation thou hast quite ruinated all the strength of the Kingdom defensive and offensive and made the enemy absolute there 41 He is brought to so forlorn a condition that the whole Kingdom countrey cities people goods every thing are preid upon and spoiled at pleasure by all that will houses gardens vine-yards all the whole land is a very through-fare for all commers and goers that take and leave as they list themselves there is no bodie nor nothing to resist them Those Idolatrous prophane people the Ammonites Moabites c. that border about us whom thou saidest should be under him are got above him and most insultingly reproch him upon this occasion and deridingly ask if this be the King whose throne shall endure so long as the Sun and Moon which extreamly reflects upon the Messiah himself and calls in question thy covenant as to him 42 Thou hast given strength courage and success to his enemies and made them triumphant over him 43 On the contrarie thou hast weakned his power made ineffectual all his indeavours and turned the courage wherewith he was wont to be endowed into cowardise and made him to flie before the enemie who was wont to flie before him 44 Thou hast put an end to that honour and dignitie which thou saidst nay swearest should continue for ever his throne which thou covenantest to establish is utterly demolished he is laid level with the common people nay a very bondman in captivitie 45 Instead of estating him and his Kingdom in everlasting happiness thou hast brought sudden and speedie desolation it is true some few dayes of glorie and felicitie he hath seen but they soon have an end nay a shameful end Lord this is true 46 Lord instead of being everlastingly gracious wilt thou be everlastingly displeased shall we never partake of favour and grace again art thou utterly estranged and we utterly rejected shall we be quite consumed in thine anger without any mixture of mercie or mitigation of thy wrath 47 48 Lord consider the shortness and vanitie of my life and by me judge of all other men that by course of nature are as I am short-lived and sure to die Now then if thou thus breakest covenant casts off thy people nullifies thy Church and hereby overthrows all possibilitie of the Messiah and his Kingdom what a vain thing must it needs be for thee to have made man if all the happiness he shall have is but to live a few dayes on earth and so die or if that be all the honour and service thou art like to have of him and truly Lord if thy Church and covenant be null that is all can come on 't for none shall be saved but thy people and no people are so but by Covenant if then the one be not and so the other be frustrate we are all reduced into the sinful mass of mankind at best to live miserably and die wretchedly This will be the issue 49 Lord thou doest infinitly amaze us to consider what loving kindness thou hast heretofore covenanted to shew to David and his seed for ever and ratified it with a deep and solemn Oath obliging thee in thine infinit truth and faithfulness to fulfil it we are at a stand to think on this and withall how this thy word and these thy works are consistent and reconcileable 50 Lord for all this make it appear thou canst keep Covenant and preserve thy Church and people as low as they be brought and that thou mayest be moved hereunto Remember and take notice of the reprochful contumelious usage thy servants have at their enemies hands for thy sake more than their own and to thy dishonour more than theirs Weigh well to what an ebb of fortune we are fallen when subjugated and captivated under the insolentest and mightiest nation upon earth whose reprochful insufferable abuse of thy people they are forced to put up and with infinit patience to dissemble their grief which goes to my heart to think of and am as sensible of it as if I bare the whole burden on my own back 51 Even those blasphemous reprochful taunts which those victorious heathen enemies to thee and for thy sake to thy people do cast upon their hope in thy promises and their faithful expectation of the coming and near approch of the Messiah their King thine anointed now in this their so low miserable and irrecoverable estate 52 But how ever it be neither our miserie the enemies insolencie thy severitie and seeming perfidie nor our amazements upon all these shall eradicate the faith and hope mine heart hath in thee and thy covenant nor stop my mouth from praising thee for it but that I do affirm thee holy faithful and gracious for all these even to David to whom thou wilt make good all that ever thou hast promised yea to the end of the World shall his Kingdom last The Messiah for all this shall come whose shall be the Kingdom power and glorie for evermore And in the faith hereof I do bless thee now as if it were and pronounce thee worthie of blessing praise and thanksgiving throughout all ages of the World so long as Sun and Moon endures so be it yea Lord dispose the hearts of thy people to believe that so it shall be that in the hope thereof we may praise thee and in the happie enjoyment thereof all ages hereafter may do so too The xc PSALM This praier of Moses in likelihood was made by him some time before his death betwixt the Israelites being inhabited Canaan because of their murmuring and misbelief when the spies brought an evil report upon the land in that long peregrination of theirs in the wilderness and the time they entered it wherein he first mentions the continual care that he the everlasting God hath had over them in all their travels and sojournings and next the often afflictions and destructions to which their sins and his displeasure brought them and the great deliverances he hath afforded them as it were a resurrection from the dead Then declares how its worse with them his people than the rest of mankind for though all must and
do perish by frailty and casualty yet his wrath is upon none so sore as them they perish by that more than thâ—se All life is short and all old age wearisome but their shortest and wearisomest of any he praies that a good use may be made both of the naturall and supernaturall brevity of their lives and that God would after so long estrangement be gracious to them and make good his promise touching the promised land and their happy condition therein A Psalm being a Prayer made by Moses that extraordinary servant and Prophet of the Lord. 1 LOrd ever since we were thy people even from Abraham and so downward successively we have wandered and sojourned as strangers in one place after another by thy appointment and providence who hast still gone along with us provided for us and been a harbour shelter and protection to us in all places and throughout all ages to this day as thou wilt be to thy Church to the end of the world 2 There is no God besides thee who art eternall the Creatour of all things for before the huge mountains which seem to have had no beginning but to have been from everlasting yet before them thou hadst thy being when they had none nor no appearance of any both which thou causedst providing the Abyss and huge concave of the sea to receive the waters which till then overflowed their highest tops yea before the earth both sea and land and heavens too had any existence thou Lord hadst thine and formedst them as now they are Before the world was thou wast for else it had not been yea before time was even from everlasting thou wast God and so shalt be to everlasting even when time and all this world shall have an end and thy peoples God from their everlasting predestination to their everlasting glorification 3 Living and dead mans sin and frailty thy power and mercy appears For thou often bringest him to the point of ruin and yet pronounceth a reprieve and lengthenest his life as we well know that else would soon expire under thy hand when thou laiest it upon him and when death it self hath swallowed him thou by thine Almighty power shalt command the grave to give up her dead after she hath long detained them and make all mankind at last to live again at the resurrection whereof we have been a figure 4 For however we judge and measure things by time being subject to futurity and so think a little a great deal and that which is short to be long but to thee who comprehendeth Eternity and before whose eyes all things past and to come are present a thousand years are nothing they are as it were at an end so soon as begun what time past is to us such time to come is with thee an hour day year age are all alike even all the time we lie in the grave though a thousand years which to our thoughts seems a kind of Eternity it is to thee but as a piece of a night a few hours the watch of one Centry 5 6 Lord how in thy displeasure doest thou sweep away the sinfull sons of men what examples of it have we seen both amongst our enemies and our selves like an over-flowing torrent that bears down all before it so vain a thing is man and so frail a thing his life as transient or momentary as a sleep or dream as short-lived as grass In the youthfull part of their time which is as it were the morning of their age they are strong and busie for a while like unto grass which in the morning of the day is green and flourishing and before night is mowed down and withered so short and uncertain is the life of man 7 We of all men have experience of it that have so often and so many of us perished in thy displeasure and by terrible judgements been strangely and suddenly slain to the amazement and terrour of the rest 8 For our sins and provocations as such times as thou hast been pleased to take notice of them and to reckon with us for them which thou hast done very severely even those sinnes which we had thought thou hadst scarce taken notice of the murmurings and secret misbelief of our hearts these thou hast clearly seen and we have felt as much thy grace and favour being be-clouded towards us by their interposition 9 Insomuch as we that had a flourishing time of it when first we came out of Egypt having the light of thy countenance shining sweetly upon us for some season are now in a quite other condition and for a many years have wandred and wasted away in thy displeasure our carcases falling in the wilderness vainly and unprofitably exhausting our time living uselesly and dying regardlesly 10 The ordinary rate of mans life is seventy years and if by speciall blessing or bitterness of constitution any surmount that number and attain to fourscore yet by reason of the infirmities incident to old age that surplusage of time is of little or no content saving that they live so accompanied is that remainder of their life with pains and irksomness such as we have had our shares of in this time of thy disfavour for their strength then is not vigorous meerly yields subsistance and being but no well-being and that very being so frail and feeble that almost any thing serves to annihilate it so uncertain and transient is our life alwayes especially then at that decrepit age that we are gone in a moment 11 We have had experience of thine anger and thy power to execute it though in a remiss degree what infinite numbers of us momentany short-lived creatures have untimely perished by it and not reached that proportion of years which our infirm natures might else have attained unto and yet hast thou been mercifull to us too considering how able thou wast to have cut us all off at a blow for it can neither be expressed nor conceived how Almighty thou art to vindicate thy dishonour upon such sinners as we have been if thou wouldst have stirred up all thy wrath and put forth thy power to the uttermost but this terrour of thine is hid from most mens eyes the world hath not the faith of it because they have not the fear of thee onely thine own people nor they neither saving such of them as thou hast by an inward call begotten to thee and made to fear thee have any right understanding of the greatness of it they that filially fear thee which is the true knowledge of thee do onely tremblingly reverence thine irefulness 12 Naturally we know nothing neither the power of thine anger nor our own brevity of life and imbecillity of nature thou must teach us not onely what concerns thee but what concerns our selves also doctrine will not do it it is thou that must be our teacher else we shall never learn practically and profitably
dispensation men die and fall as thick as hail round about thee by the pestilence which of it self knows no difference nor makes none betwixt one man and another whose natures are alike mortall and their constitutions alike apt to infection yet shall God whose judgement it is and whose will it performs so order and dispose the dispensation of it that thou shalt be as it were shot-free when thousands and ten thousands drop dead at thy feet 8 Thou in thine own person shalt feel no harm thou shalt onely be a spectatour of other mens destruction and Gods judgement executed upon sinners by suddain and untimely death overtaking many thousands that misimploied their life-time living in sin and impenitency and would have continued so 9 Because thou hast done as I do thou shalt speed as I have sped for God his promise and performance shall be one and the same to all believers and therefore as I made him my refuge and so he was so thou doing the like he shall be the like even the Almighty God from heaven shall safeguard thee as well as me if thou take sanctuary in him 10 So doing thou shalt be like Israel in Egypt when the first born were smitten how ever it happen to others thy faith shall secure thee yea both thee and thine even from commonest judgements 11 For all the powers of heaven shall be imploid to preserve thee if there be need besides both the ordinary and extraordinary providence of God he shall double his guard upon thee yea not one but many nor many but all the Angels of heaven shall stand charged with thee if there be cause to protect thee from miscarriage by any power or accidents on earth whilest thou walkest in wayes pleasing to God and believest stedfastly in him 12 For as the faithfull have many and great enemies so have they many more and greater friends If Sathan and his Angels lay stumbling blocks in thy way God and his Angels shall either remove them that is enable thee to keep on thy course without making a stand or turning back thou shalt either not stumble or so as not to fall thou shalt catch no hurt though thou maiest be endangered 13 Manifold dangers and fierce enemies men and divels the faithfull shall meet with secret plotters and open assailers but neither the one nor the other shall do them any hurt but instead thereof both they and their attempts shall miscarry Gods faithfull people shall take no hurt by the most hurtfull creatures be they never so poisonous or ravenous nor by men of like dispositions to whom the godly are great eye-sores living amongst them they are a trouble and vexation to them against whom they act their rage and malice but to their own destruction 14 Besides my doctrine and example hear God himself bespeaking thee with promises as from his own mouth whom I his Prophet personate Because saith he he that is faithfull hath out of love to me and my faithfulness put his affiance in me he shall have no cause to repent him I will not deceive him he shall not miscarry I will deliver him out of trouble and danger set him quite out of gun-shot they shall as soon hurt heaven as him because out of a right understanding and belief of my power and faithfulness he hath honoured me by believing in me with sutable recumbency 15 Such an one shall but ask and have if he be in trouble I will have an eye to him and an ear for him if he call for deliverance it shall come at his call I will deliver him and in such a manner as that because he honours me I also will honour him with speciall marks of my favour such as his very enemies men or divels shall honour or envy him for here on earth and reward him with glory in heaven 16 Thus will I preserve and lengthen his life to his own desire maugre all that would shorten it he shall know I can and will save him if he trust in me yea my everlasting salvation more worth than my temporall will I open his eyes to see and desire above it and if he believe me for it he shall be sure of it and he that hath the comfort and assurance of that by my spirits ascertaining it unto him will have no cause to think I break faith with him or deceive his faith in me whatever happen The xcii PSALM The Psalmist for the better sanctifying of the Sabbath having penned this Psalm shews the proper and adequate service of that day is to praise the Lord for his manifestations of himself and thank him for his gracious and beneficiall administrations to his people richly declared in his works of creation redemption providence and just judgements all which are nothing in the eyes of worldlings that mind the creature and not the Creatour but how ever they neglect God yet be neglects not to punish them and bless his people who by him and in him shall be happy here and hereafter A Psalm to be both sung and plaied by voices and instruments principally of use upon the Sabbath-day for its better celebrating and the peoples edifying when then they are solemnly assembled to serve the Lord. 1 IT is an acceptable service to God and a commendable imploiment for his people to be much conversant specially on the Sabbath-day in the meditation and recollection of all the benefits of what nature soever which God hath and doth bestow upon us whether of creation providence or redemption and to have our hearts affected and enflamed with them so as to be exceeding thankfull for them And to view and consider his power goodness and mercy manifested and exhibited in them so as to be moved thereby with reverence love and admiration devoutly and solemnly to worship before him and to celebrate his glory and praise as the great and onely God worthy of honour 2 Our duty is to take continuall notice of thy continued and renewed benefits and always to have our hearts upheld thereby in a sweet gratuitous frame and temper with the eye of faith piercing into the love and faithfulness answerable to his grace and promises which shine forth in them that should take us more than the things themselves and cause our thanksgivings far beyond them 3 Which cannot be too solemnly celebrated all the musick of the Temple is too little to do it therefore lay out your utmost strength and skill you that are especially appointed to that honour and service and gifted for it resembling the heavenly Quire raise up your hearts and in that holy place at the appointed times tune up all your instruments those chiefly that are most affecting and heart-ravishing to this work chiefly on this day 4 For though O Lord thou art exceeding beneficiall to all mankind yet of all the world thou hast done most for us which I and the rest of thy peculiar
it and will for as he raiseth sea-tempests and therefore can lay them so he by his providence and appointment sends land-storms therefore can order quit them in like sort 5 And as thou art powerfull so art thou faithfull we need no more doubt of the one than of the other what thou hast promised as thou hast power so likewise hast thou will to perform it Thy grace of protection is as certain and infallible as thy power is omnipotent The obediential faith of thy holy performance of all that thou hast promised becomes thy Church the house of the living God which O Lord ought to be fixed and established by it and in it for ever what ever befall her The xciv PSALM In some very heavie pressure that lay upon the people of God in generall by by the heathens or else upon the faithfull under the wicked Kings and Iudges of Israel this Psalm seems to be made wherein God is earnestly called upon to take off the yoke which lay so heavily upon them by the tyrannie and persecution of bloudie and 〈◊〉 hemous wretches whom be counsells to do better and from their abuse of Gods own clemencie to their own perdition shews the blessed estate of Gods own people because of Gods fatherly chastisements He acknowledgeth God for his sole support which is his comfort when he is at a loss and is confident God will not always suffer tyrants to sit in his seat and rule over his Church but that he will find a time to judge them and deliver her out of their hands 1 2 O Almightie and righteous Lord God who hast power and to whom of right it belongs to revenge the injuries oppressions of thy Church appear in her behalf so that both she and her oppressours may see thou doest so Let her proud insulting enemies feellingly find that thou that art judge of all the earth favourest her cause and doest her right upon them 3 4 Lord it is not without cause that we crie to thee for as our pressures have been very great so they have been very long The wicked have had a long reign and lorded it with a witness over the good and by reason of thy delay they glory in their doings as if either thou couldst not or wouldst not punish them And what they think they stick not to speak even blasphemies against thee and cruelties against us and the more wickedness they commit the more they give themselves content boasting one to another and vying one with another who can do most mischief thy impunitie being their immunitie 5 6 They make pot-sheards of thy people O Lord loading them with such merciless oppressions and afflictions even thine own chosen and peculiar heritage and that because they are so as they break their very hearts and leave them not the name or face of a people scarce upon earth destroying all before them mercilesly breaking all laws humane and divine respecting neither age nor sex pitying none in any kind or condition though never such objects of compassion 7 And so hardened are they in their wicked courses and so presumptious by thy forbearance that they are confident thou regardest not what they do to thy people nor never will call them to account for it making a very aw-word of the God of Jacob. 8 Be men of more understanding than to harbour such vain thoughts of so great a God ye that though ye be heads and chief among the vulgar yet are as void of understanding and true judgement as the common people themselves be not still so foolish to persist in wickedness provoking the Lord but consider that the end must needs be bad and that you will repent when it is too late 9 For weigh with your selves whether it be reasonable to think that you can either act such things or speak such words and God not see nor hear them that gives ears and eyes to all men living shall the authour of those senses be senseless 10 He that is Judge of all the earth and punisheth the very heathens for their exorbitancies and unjust oppressions among themselves shall not he much more be righteous to revenge the wrongs done to his own people and have you such mean thoughts of God as to judge him any thing less than omniscient think you to escape or deceive him that gives you your selves the knowledge you have and all men else 11 The Lord very well knows what vain and wicked thoughts men naturally have of him how they abuse his clemencie as if he neither saw heard regarded nor will judge them for their wickedness because he delays to do it 12 Therefore what ever the world think of the godly under afflictions yet blessed is the man that is so much favoured of God as to be chastised for his faults and admonished of his dutie to Gods commandments whilst he suffers others to run riot without check or control 13 That he may make him meet for the inheritance of the saints prepare him for heaven which shall be the end of his course which is accompanied with sorrows as hell shall be of the wicked when they are prepared for it by a consummation of the number and measure of their sins by their libertie of sinning 14 For whatever we through shortness of spirit and impatience under afflictions may think of God as if he had disregarded his people yet it s nothing so God may cast them into afflictions but not because he rejects them but because he loves them he will find a time to make it appear so that for all that nay that therefore he is their God and they his dearly beloved because he doth afflict them when as he saves them by it suffering others to go to hell for want of it 15 But how ever things seem to be topsi-turvie the wicked a top of the wheel and the good under it yet there is a time when the world shall be set right again each man shall be paid his wages God shall take the government into his hands whereas now the reins seem to be let loose and in righteousness judge the good and the bad which is the time that all upright-hearted sincere Godly-ones long for and in hope of it shall notwithstanding all obstructions follow it in the way of pietie 16 Who is there beside thee O Lord willing or able to deliver me from under this tyrannicall oppression of wicked workers surely none in all the world If thou doest not save me I perish 17 Yea hadst not thou when time was been a present help so near was I to destruction I had certainly died and been silent in the grave instead of being now speaking to thee and praising of thee 18 When I concluded with my self there was no way but death then of a sudden beyond expectation in so eminent a danger did thy mercie appear to
my wonderfull preservation and deliverance 19 When I was at the fullest of anxious cares and troublous thoughts were revolved in my breast by reason of my desperate condition what would become of me then when I but cast the eys of my mind upon thine all-sufficiencie and faithfulness I was presently quieted and never am so deep plunged in sorrow but these bladders bear me up again and make my joy and hope surmount them 20 Lord wilt thou that art the Judge of all the World not judge righteously shall the wicked scape thee as they do the corrupt Judges here on earth No thou wilt not suffer tyrants and persecutors of thy people always to rule over them in thy stead whose King thou properly art such as make laws flat against thine enact sin and legitimate their unjust and mischievous practises against thy people 21 They conspire and plot the destruction of the righteous yea sit in judgement upon the godly as upon malefactours and right or wrong condemn them to death though they can find no just accusation against them 22 But maugre the malice and injustice of mine enemies I doubt not of defence from them I have found God an al-sufficient refuge and safe hiding-place and my faith is in him as it was therefore I fear not but to find him the same God now as ever heretofore in my defence and preservation 23 Yea he shall compass my deliverance and the deliverance of his Church by her enemies confusion their fall shall be her rise what they purpose against Gods people shall redound upon themselves to their own mortal wounding this our good and Almightie Lord God is able to do and to the glorie of his faithfulness and praise of his power he shall effect it to all mens admiration The xcv PSALM David as appears by Heb. 4.7 was authour of this Psalm wherein he incites the people solemnly unanimously and affectionately to sing praise and thanks to God for his grace to them and his greatness in himself and over the world and not to be like their fore-fathers rebellious and unbelieving but to hear and obey lest imitating their sins they share in their plagues 1 2 O How meet a thing it is for all us Israelites the adopted people of the Lord frequently to meet together and with willing minds and thankfull hearts to set forth the praises of the Lord in solemn assemblies let us unanimously and cheerfully do so even sing aloud the praise-worthy preservations that he the Rock of our salvation hath in all ages vouchsafed unto us Let us joyfully repair to his sanctuary in the faith of his presence according to his promise with our hearts full-fraught with the memorie of his mercies and our lips gratuitously pouring out the praises of them before him there singing joyfully with all the melodious harmonie of voyces and instruments the Psalms made for that purpose 3 For who is there like him or who is besides him worthy of worship He onely is God great in might and majestie doing whatsoever pleaseth him the onely Potentate whose is the kingdom power and glory The maker of all things besides whom there is no God though falsly and abusively there are gods many and lords many as heathenish idols civil majestrates glorified Angels yea divels also bear that name but he is above every thing so called and commanded them as well as us 4 5 What is there that he hath not fashioned and framed in all the world and consequently which are not at his command and dispose from the bottom of the bottomless sea to the top of the mightiest mountains in the whole earth for both land and sea were made by him and possessed of those places they enjoy at first he commanded the al-over-flowing waters now the sea to the abyss prepared for them that the face of the earth might appear above them for the use of man and beast and so it did 6 O let me exhort you again and again chearfully and joyntly with unanimitie and gratuitie to frequent the tabernacle of this immense majestie there to worship him in all the ways and ordinances he hath appointed and adore his great and glorious name by humbling and prostrating our selves before him with lowly hearts and bended knees in token of giving our whole selves a living and reasonable sacrifice unto him as a homage due to so Almighty a God and our Creatour of whom we as well as all other things had our beeings and have still 7 8 9 Nor is that all but besides the common interest of Creation he is our God by special Election who governs us not onely by common providence as all mankind but by special gubernation as his Church and chosen people to whom and on whom he hath bestowed his saving truths and ordinances for us to feed upon and grow by unto everlasting life and happiness we are not of his flock which he turns out to the wide world as sheep-masters do some sheep to commons and fallows but we are his pasture-sheep yea his cades brought up at hand his very domesticks these priviledges we have if we know how to use them and walk worthy of them obedientially hearkening to the voice and submitting to the guidance of this shepherd of Israel and not after so much and so long experience as we have of him his goodness faithfulness and power at this time above what our fore-fathers had formerly and the light that now shines amongst us towards the perfect day more than it did then harden our hearts as they at Meribah and Massah the place where they chid with Moses and with ungratefull unbelief questioned the power and presence of the Almightie whether he were with them and would or could supply their want of water after the great things he had done for them all along from Egypt thither when as he expected far other from them considering what things he had even then done for them but much more for us since then and therefore expects much more from us for this was in the wilderness long ago during their peregrination there short of our times and what we have seen when yet God expected even then and there their faith and obedience to have been answerable to his care and providence and therefore there proved them purposely but instead of hearkening to the voice of Moses and of his miracles to trust in him faithfully and walk before him humbly in a meek and patient depending on him and seeking to him in their necessities they speak rebelliously mutined and murmured at God and his servant ungratefully and instead of submitting themselves to the will and dispensations of God to be proved by him that they might have opportunity to shew forth their faith and obedience in and to him that had done such great things for them they turned it to a contrarie use obstinately tempting and proving him by misbelieving and
wert not God alone yet thou wilt now set their judgements right and let them know that none can pretend to Godhead but thy self as heaven is thy throne so the earth is thy foot-stool and shall be subdued unto Jesus Christ for that in him thou shalt be magnified beyond all that are called Gods who shall then appear to be what indeed they are Lying vanities and so shall be accounted of 10 Great shall be the numbers of Professours and pretenders to Christianity infinite will give their names to Christ and be ambitious to have his name named upon them in those dayes but there is more belongs to it than so He that is indeed the Lord Christs a loyall subject of his Kingdom and member of his Church must sincerely love him and that must appear by an upright walking with him and believing on him he must fear to offend him and therefore hate sin because it doth so and so doing be fearless as touching his salvation and preservation faithfully relying upon the truth and providence of God for both maugre both his ghostly and temporall enemies which God may suffer to hazard his Church and people for the triall of their faith and exercise of their graces but never to ruine them 11 For when ever God seems to plow and harrow his Church by persecutions and troubles that is his and her seeds-time then is he but husbanding his field weeding and clodding it all that time of darkness and infelicity is but the seed-season and preparatory to the breaking out of greater favour and grace upon her which he preserves in store she shall not lose but gain by it when the spring and harvest comes her joy shall be redoubled when the ecclipse is over Thus shall it be not with all professours but with the uncorrupt and pure in heart who are the Lords as well within as without in affections as actions whose ends and motives are principled from God and for God by faith in him and love to him 12 Let such righteous ones though they meet with never so many rubs in the way be so far from being dismaid at them as to go on with full sails of assurance and joy in God making no stop but over-topping all fear by faith still casting their eye upon Gods never-failing faithfulness and being as thankfull for a happy issue and deliverance out of their afflictions as if they had it because of the ingagement of Gods holiness which cannot deceive them The xcviii PSALM This Psalm is as if it had been made by Iohn Baptist himself pointing out Christ and his Kingdom already come through the propinquity and certainty of it shewing sorth the prais-worthy deliverance and universall benefit that to Iew and Gentile shall accrue thereby yea to the very irrationall and unsensible creatures whereupon be excites all rationall and irrationall to praise the Lord proportionably A Psalm to be sung 1 O what wonderfull occasions from time to time hath God given his people Israel of frequent and fresh praises by deliverance upon deliverance and all of them so strange and miraculous that we could not have the face to ascribe them to any but to him to whom we have endited and sung many a new Psalm for new mercies all which temporall salvations and our thanksgivings for them were but prefigurations of that one onely salvation of his Church by Christ God incarnate whose powerfull triumphant death and holy life active and passive obedience hath gotten so glorious a victory to his everlasting praise over all the spirituall enemies of his elect and faithfull people which as it is the deliverance whereof all others were but adumbrations so ought it to have the praise above them all joyntly or severally A Quire of Angels are but fit to celebrate this great and Gospel salvation the good news whereof ought much more to set the spirituall Preists and people of God on work to praise him for it that are saved by it 2 The heathen people have admired our salvations and wondrous deliverances many a time which the Lord hath wrought for us in their sight and hearing But they shall have much more cause to admire their own when God shall proclaim the year of Jubilee to the Gentiles and bring them by the redemption of the Messiah which is at hand out of the power of Hell sin death and darkness setting wide open to them the doore of life that were shut out and Preaching salvation of free-grace to all the world according to his promise 3 The promised Messiah which was to come of the seed of Israel our Father and in whom is to be accomplished all those covenanted engagements and Gospel promises made with Abraham of grace and mercy pardon and atonement God in faithfulness and fulness of time hath sent him in whom all the nations of the earth are to be blessed for the benefit both of Jews and Gentiles whose all-sufficient merit and common salvation shall in the fame and promulgation of it extend it self by a gracious and free tender to all people in all places of the world without exception our God is their God in and through Christ and his salvation both ours and theirs they being through grace adopted and ingrafted into one stock with us the faithfull seed of faithfull Abraham every where sharers in the blessing 4 5 6 We a corner of the world a few in comparison of the whole O how were we wont to resound and eccho out the Honour and praises of the Lord in that onely Temple with all manner of musicall Instruments and Voices for our temporall and comparatively petty deliverances from earthly enemies and humane captivities and imbondagements O with what ineffable rejoycings in the superlativest manner we could devise did we magnifie the Lord and set the Crown of all glory upon his head How much more now are his praises to exceed when as all the earth is his Church Christ himself the Saviour and the termes to and from which we are saved are heaven and hell the subject of his salvation our pretious souls as well as mortall bodies both redeemed not onely into a capacity but certainty of spirituall and eternall life and freed from death of both sorts What praises are enough for this how can the redeemed of the Lord each whereof is a Temple and each Temple a Quire sufficiently extoll the Lord the King Christ Jesus dead and risen yea ascended into glory Go not less in the praises of such a Saviour for his salvation in the universall Catholick Church than we did for ours in our particular nationall Sinagogue But let your faith praise him in full assurance your joy in heart-ravishment your love by being such as many waters cannot quench your hope anchored within the vail Let all these graces by a joynt harmony like the voices and instruments of the Temple be sublimated to their highest sphear of activity in the celebration of
in pieces lifts it on high with the greater violence to dash it against the ground 11 Thy poor Church O Lord whom I personate to thee it is even at sun-setting it is but a shadow of a Church and people no substance or Being left and that shadow too is extinguishing it is expiring like the shadows that towards sun-setting now are and anon are not so soon as the sun is gone down Like the grass that is mown withered with the sun and sapless such are thy people miserably parched with grief and sorrow and utterly comfortless 12 Thus it is with thy Church she is at last gasp she hath as it were received the sentence of death in her self But thou that art her God her support and strength canst never die nor she as considered in thee interessed in thy faithfulness though in outward appearance she be perishing yet thy truth past in promise to her which is thy self cannot fail thou wilt certainly remember to make it good to the uttermost period even to the Worlds end shall it endure and therefore so shall thy Church as low as it is brought at present 13 Therefore Lord though we seem to be dying our faith begins to sprout we are in hope that these our greatest extremities are thine immediate opportunities and that as thou hast lifted us up and cast us down so now thou casts us down to lift us up Yea we are very confident our sorrows are shorter-lived than we that we shall out-live them for all this yea we shall see a speedy end of them and that thou art even now about to shew thy self for us and to restore thy Church and in mercie pardon her sins which thou hast punished all this while and suddenly ease her of her miseries which she hath so long undergone and make Sion that was the glorie of the whole earth flourish again for as thou art mindfull of thy promise so are we that is that livens our faith and clears our heart even the thought of the expiration of the seventy years which is now drawing on the time appointed prophesied and promised by thee to end our captivitie and restore us to mercy which time is now accomplished revives our hopes 14 For such is the love thy servants bear to thee thy worship and the place appointed for it where thou hast promised thy presence that it is not the devastations which before hand they know they shall find there that does any whit discourage them no they are joyed to think that ever they shall set footing there and see that sacred rubbish that remains of that glorious fabrick what travel or pains so ever they undergo which they purpose to re-edifie 15 When thou hast thus wonderfully brought about our restauration after so long captivitie and the re-edification of that thy ruinated Temple what an amazement shall it put the heathen into how shall they admire thine omnipotencie that thus raised the dead and saved us as a brand out of the fire Yea the Princes and potentates of the whole earth hearing shall be strucken with astonishment at so glorious and Almightie a work 16 When the time comes which is now at hand that both thy spiritual and local Sion O Lord shall be restored and repaired by thee thy worship and worshippers in statu quo O how glorious wilt thou then appear in the eyes of Jews and Gentiles 17 And this be confident of that as God at this time hath extraordinarily stirred up his people to hope and pray to be delivered out of his destitute condition and made them more than ordinarily sensible of the loss of their countrey and happie priviledges they there enjoyed and ardently desire to return thither again so will he effect it and not let them lose their labour and pray in vain 18 This deliverance like that out of Egypt shall be upon everlasting record and renown for all posteritie and after-ages to admire and be strengthned thereby in the faith of Gods all-sufficiencie truth and grace And those of us that shall be gathered together again into the land of Judah in a formed bodie and an orderly way of worshipping the Lord from out this confusion and Chaos where we are neither a people nor a Church but a scattered mixture of vagrant folk O how shall we jointly praise the Lord and his power that hath thus raised us from the grave and as it were created us again out of the very dust nay the nothing whereinto we are resolved as Christ shall his Church 19 For from heaven which his sanctuarie was wont to represent hath the Lord heard and seen our moans and miseries though he be there in unaccessable glorie and majesty yet from that height hath he vouchsafed to pitie us here below that are no better then the earth we tread on 20 And to hear the groans we sent up to him in that sorrowful condition and save the lives and restore the liberties of his people a poor remainder of them who were destined to death and destruction aswel as the rest that they killed in hot bloud having sworn to root us all out every mothers son and not leave us a name upon earth 21 This shall the Lord do to the end his people so heard and so saved may magnifie the glorious power and rich grace of God in Sion as aforetime and praise him in Jerusalem his royal Citie and place of special residence 22 Which they shall do when they are embodied there again and reduced from that dissipation and confusion they now lie under which shall be a lively adumbration of the calling of the Gentiles and the gathering of Church and Kingdom from out the Kingdoms of the earth every where to believe in and and worship him many whereof shall be won and induced to give in their names unto him by that great deliverance like as when that great Jubile and goal-delivery by Christ himself shall be which is not far behind 23 Long have we looked for his coming and much hath his people suffered in the profession of his truth and for it in the interim the whilest they have lived in expectation of that happiness even to the loss of many yea almost of all his whole Church here in Babylon as must be the lot of the Church inhabitant in this world to suffer even death it self in way to the end the salvation of their souls 24 But I put my self before the Lord in the name of his faithful people and poor Church still remaining The ciii PSALM 2 O thou soul of mine that art of such transcendent excellencie to all sublunarie created beings and so adapted for to praise the Lord above them all do not thou burie thy talent in a napkin nor steward it unseeming thy trust to whom he hath committed such praise-worthie endowments and on whom he hath bestowed such thank-worthie benefits natural and divine which
his sacred and gracious engagement which he had promised and sworn concerning the people he had made choice of how he would be their God and possess them of the land of Canaan and therefore would he not for his own holiness sake break his word as also for his faithfull servant Abrahams sake to whom he made that promise and whose seed by promise they were 43 Thus from first to last was the Lord propitious to and protectour of his Church and people whom he brought out of Egypt with an Almighty hand after so long and cruell an embondagement delivering them and at the red-sea destroying all those their cruell taskmasters and mortall enemies the Egyptians in their sight and there setting them for ever free from them to the infinite joy of those his people and chosen ones when they thus saw themselves so dear to God and regarded by him and so freed from their adversaries and hardship 44 And so at last as well as at first was he faithfull to his promise and powerfull for his people bringing them to the land of Canaan which he wholly bestowed upon them and estated them in it where they possessed Houses and Cities that they built not and Vineyards that they planted not he destroying and driving out before them the heathenish inhabitants and nations that possessed it made them Lords of it which we hold and possess at this day and have done ever since by that tenure of the gift of God 45 All which benefits the Lord bestowed upon them to the end he might win their love gain their hearts and engage them in dutifull and obedient walking towards him according to those laws and commandments which he had given them especially to be observed in this very land for as they were his speciall people so he chose this for the place of his speciall worship before all the world and to that end gave it them Be you therefore for your parts now and hereafter O ye Israelites mindfull of these his mercies to praise him for them and of your duties to walk worthy of them The cvi PSALM In some great and generall affliction and dispersion of the Iewish nation probably that under Antiochus The Psalmist exhorts for all that the Israelites to believe in and praise the Lord for his goodness of old to that nation and which remains in him still to it if they walk holily He confesseth God just in punishing as well them as their forefathers for their sins and prayes that he will hold on in the vicissitude of his mercies and deliverances as well as of his punishments Confesseth that they have alwayes been shamefull sinners and great provokers of him from Egypt all along throughout the wilderness as also in Canaan it self nevertheless he let them perish though often made them smart as they well deserved his covenant and mercy were ever prevailing motives and so prayes they may be still to effect their present deliverance and restauration and promises thanks and praise for it exhorting all Gods people in what ever condition alwayes to give the Lord his due praise by remembring his past and believing his future and infallible grace and goodness to his Church 1 LEt not our sins and misdeservings though they have been great and our sufferings for them manifold any white detract from what is due to God of praise and thanks for those great and gracious mercies which he hath expressed to and bestowed on us his people in the dayes of old and that goodness that still remains with him in our behalves as bad as we are by virtue of his covenant which makes that neither his mercies shall determine nor we be destroyed but that we shall ever reap the benefit of his gracious ingagement till all be fulfilled that is promised concerning us and his Chruch to the end of the world 2 Who is able to tell what wonderfull things the Lord hath done and what Almighty power he hath shewed in his Churches behalf since he was first pleased to select and own a people for himself out of the rest of the world no tongue can reckon his praise-worthy mercies and miracles since then 3 And as God hath been so he will never fail to be they that be faithfull to him he will be so to them so that who ever they are that in conscience to God walk closely to the rules of Justice and Pietie prescribed by him to do thereafter and what man soever makes it his constant course to do righteously without being drawn or tempted into wayes of impiety and iniquity that man or nation of men shall be blessed of God 4 Lord order my wayes so as that I may share in that blessing bless me with the sight and sense of thy gracious favour towards me such as thou bearest unto those that are thy chosen people and faithfull obedient servants Let me O Lord have the comfortable inward feeling and assurance of thy saving grace and good will towards me freely bestowed let it often affect my heart as so many sweet visits and gracious Messages sent from God into it 5 That I may enjoy the happiness appropriated to thy chosen and rejoyce with those saving joyes thy faithfull and adopted ones are and shall be made partakers of whereof the often deliverances and manifold joyfull preservations of this nation of thine sometimes from fear of imminent destruction and sometimes from under reall imbondagements hath been lively figures that I may boast of thee and mine interest in thee such as all thy people have and we though unworthy have found it so 6 For notwithstanding all our priviledges and speciall favours which thou hast shewed us from time to to time both we and our forefathers have ill requited thee being rebellious ungratefull and very perverse 7 Our fathers made not application and benefit of those admirable Miracles thou for their sakes wrought in Egypt to the ends thou didst them for the strengthening of their faith in thee and the assuring of thy love to them they had but carnall considerations of them valued them as transient things without any result or improvement either of thee to them or of themselves to thee thereby supinely forgot them even all those many miraculous wonders thou shewedst upon the Egyptians in mercy to them whereby thou so powerfully compassed their deliverance for so soon as ever thou broughtest them out of Egypt the very next triall thou madest of them at the red sea that remarkable place where thou didst so wonderfully preserve them they instead of addressing themselves in humble and thankfull sort to seek deliverance from thee of whose power they had had such foregoing immediate experiments fell into misbelief hard and unworthy thoughts of thee and thy servant Moses even for their very deliverance out of Egypt as if thou hadst done all for them to no other end but to bring them thither to be destroyed 8 Notwithstanding
their unthankfull provocations yet would he not take vengeance on them nor let those enemies triumph in their destruction from under whose power he had newly delivered them but for the honour of his own name that was named upon them they being now noted more than ever for his peculiar people and for the further glorifying of his power and grace in their behalves he brought them safe out of that inextricable strait by an Almighty hand for ever to be had in thankfull remembrance 9 For rather than he would there let them perish and dishonour himself though they deserved it he wrought a Miracle beyond any the rest contrary to the course of nature commanded the very Sea to give place and divide it self to make them way and for all its propensity to return into its course God conjured it to abide as a Wall on their right hand and on their left which it did and could do no other untill they were quite passed through the bottom of it upon the dry land as if it had been part of that Wilderness which afterward they travelled 10 And thus with infinite long suffering and glorious power did he save them because they were his chosen people out of the hands of Pharaoh that perfect enemy of theirs that pursued them with a deadly design either to have reduced them into bondage or slain them all upon the place 11 And these waters that thus gave way to preserve our fathers so soon as they were all passed over and God had revoked his word of command they presently returned into their Chanell and closed again upon the whole Host of the Egyptians all which were drowned therewith so that not a man of them escaped 12 The gladsomness of that deliverance by such a Miracle made them for all their hard hearts at present whilest the sense and memory of it was warm which lasted but a while to credit what God spake by Moses touching his good will to them and his safe and certain bringing them into the land of promise and for a flash they were as full of faith as a bladder full of wind and sang the praise of his rich mercy goodness and power manifested in that their so late and great salvation with abundance of joy and delight in God 13 But alas neither this faith nor praise was out of any well grounded principle towards God but out of the present sense which self-love had of the present good-turn he did them for they had not travelled above three dayes from the red-sea to the waters of Pharaoh but there they were at old ward falling into unbelief and discontent against God and Moses and forgat all that was past as if it had never been even all those wonders within and without Egypt that God wrought for them to have gained their hearts to believe in him and relie on him but it would not be all was one they were in cold bloud the self-same men at one time as at another whensoever God tried them and would never in an humble gratuitous belief of him make their addresses to him and enquire of him in this or that strait but streight-way fell foul ready to flie in Moses his face and consequently in Gods so soon as ever they at any time suffered they had not patience nor piety in the faith of his former transactions which they had experimentally seen managed to the best of advantage and opportunity to wait upon such his wise and seasonable dispensations as might accordingly in the issue still most evince his glory and conduce to their spirituall benefit and edification as his precedent acts had done 14 But they were a carnall-minded people nothing spiritualized nor bettered towards God by all heâ— did for them but made their belly their God settting light by Angels food for they saw nothing Angelicall or Divine in it being mere sensualists inordinately lusting after belly-chear and variety of acates in the very Wilderness where they saw and knew that by course of nature nothing could be had they must either be supernaturally maintained or starve yet in that barren place where God notwithstanding had so long and often miraculously supplied them with all needfull things they were not therewith content but murmured for superfluities questioning the power and not submitting to the will of God as if what they wanted and had not as they desired was because he had not power to give it them 15 But the Lord to vindicate his power which they had impeached saying who shall give us flesh to eat or can God furnish a Table in the Wilderness and to let them see the unprofitableness of creature-contentment though in never so great abundance if not sanctified by the word of God and prayer sent them their desire even plenty of Quails-flesh to their bread but they had better have been without it than to have had it given them in anger accompanied with judgement as it was not onely bodily so many perishing at Kibroth Hataavah with meat in their mouthes and so destroying instead of nourishing them for being obtained but not in Gods way though it was his gift yet it wanted his grace was empty of blessing being no act of favour and therefore pleased the sense but edified not the soul the proper tendency of all he bestowes and the best effect even of temporall benefits which else are a shell without a kernell blessings accursed and so was this to them feeding on it a moneth together gluttonously without fear or spirituall descerning till at last it wrought their overthrow by surfetting instead of nourishing for God gave them up to wear it as they won it spend it as they got it to wit lustfully which excess and carnall mindedness he severely plagued both in body and soul. 16 They gave themselves up to studied provocations not onely murmuring upon emergentcases but by combination conspiring among themselves against Moses and Aaron those approved holy men and speciall servants of the Lord one whereof to wit Aaron was his declared High-Priest officiating in speciall before him for their good in expiating their sins and diverting Christ-like Gods judgements yet no relation of them to God nor of advantage to themselves could perswade but these men whom God had substituted in those places of conduct and Priest-hood and set so many seals upon must at their pleasure be removed suspected after so long experience to be Impostors and another government and Preist-hood agitated by other men must be erected and this which God had ordained demolished 17 And it is never to be forgotten what fearfull vengeance God executed upon the chief ringleaders of that conspiracy and with what a fearfull death he visited them causing the earth to open and swallow up Korah Dathan and Abiram those chieftains with all that belonged to them and to close upon them in the sight and to the amazement of all Israel so that with a fearfull cry they
vexation and affliction when they become a vexation unto him chastising them with wars plagues and civil oppressions that minisheth their number impoverisheth their plentie and renders their lives uncomfortable 40 Nor doth the Lord onely afflict wicked and degenerated underlings but Kings and Princes also are judged by him If they forget their duties unto him he makes their people do the like to them and casts their honour in the dust at home and abroad rendring them scornful and contemptible and intricates them into such Labyrinths of troubles that all their policie and King-craft cannot extricate them or shew them a way out 41 And as he pulleth down unjust and wicked Princes from the top of honour and voluptuousness into penury and disgrace so on the other hand is he as mindful to protect and deliver the poor oppressed people from under the inhumanity of such tyrants when they crie to him and maketh them able to overtop their oppressions and oppressours by advancing them and abasing these blessing them with a numerous of-spring and making them able in a state of liberty and freedom to spread forth their branches that ere-while were stocked by tyrannie and oppression witness our condition under and from under Pharaoh 42 Those that have eyes in their heads the godly-wise shall take notice of such dispensations of justice and providence respectively to good and bad and shall rejoyce in confidence and hope of Gods goodness to them and in the goodness of their conscience and conversation towards him when they see that God takes notice of men and their manners and that sooner or later he will make it appear so and as the good rejoyce to see the reins of government in Gods hand so the wicked are sorrie for it and down in the mouth to see they are under judicature and not lawless as they hoped they had been 43 Those whom God hath endowed with grace and spiritual understanding the onely true wisdom and will set themselves faithfully and heedfully to consider and observe his judgements upon wicked oppressours and his strange providences in the behalf of the innocent and humble suppliant to deliver bless and prosper him as he hath done us They shall experimentally perceive the love and tender affection the Lord bears his people that sincerely serve him trust in him and call upon him and how safe and comfortable it is to do so The cviii PSALM A Psalm made by David to be sung and plaid by voices and instruments THis 108 Psalm is made up or composed of the two latter parts of two foregoing Psalms viz. the 57. and 60. which being joyned together upon the same or like occasion of success and victory do here make one entire Psalm Therefore for these five first verses of this Psalm see the Paraphrase upon the five last verses viz. the 7 8 9 10 11. of the 57. Psalm they being the same And for these eight last verses of this Psalm see the Paraphrase upon the eight last verses viz. the 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. of the 60. Psalm they also being the same The cix PSALM David doth promiscuously and prophetically in this Psalm treat of Christ and himself And though Saul Doeg and Judas be eminently to be understood one or all of them by the third person singular in diverse verses yet for most part he intends thereby his enemies in the general as they were united in conspiracie against him together with the nation of the Iews embodied as it were in one â—oint combination against Christ as appears by the third person plural used in other verses chieflie in the 20th which is a summinarie and explanatorie conclusion to his fore-going maledictions shewing the persons he meant them to and for what And so passeth from his adversaries to himself where Christ is still here and there to be taken in Praying as their confusion so his preservation argued from Gods mercie his own miserie and the glorie that God will get and praises that he will give thereupon To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for his care and ordering it to be sung 1 O Lord as I know thou art not regardless of my unjust calumniations so I pray thee make it appear upon my calumniators let them find thou takest notice of the wrong they do me O God who hath all my life long given me cause to praise thee for thy goodness and with whom I am well accepted though of men rejected as the Messiah shall be 2 For such as make no conscience of what they say and that studiously abuse the ears of Saul whom they know hates me they spare not to let flie aginst me all manner of lies and slanders to gain them his favour and me his dis-favour 3 They do me all the wrong they can in word or deed reproching and threatening me on all hands as if they would eat me up alive and causelesly with open violence attempt to take away my life 4 5 Nay I did not onely walk inoffenssively towards them but did them many actual good offices and ever expressed my self a friend to them as occasion served and the more I have endeavoured to express my love and loyalty the more I am requited with hatred and malignity seeking my life that have saved theirs as the Jews do Christs but as he so I desire nor seek not revenge or like for like as to my self but refer me and my cause to be judged by God upon whose faith and protection I cast my self praying onely deliverance from them and that they may be of better minds 6 But in zeal to thee as they are enemies to thy Church and people and fore-runners of those that shall betray and murther the Messiah and as a Prophet and publick person so I wish that their deserts may over-take them let them reap oppression as they sow it let those that hate and persecute me for thy sake because I am thy select and anointed servant be as the Jews and Judas shall for betraying and crucifying the Lord of life how shall the one be captivated to the heathenish Roman Empire and the other exposed to Satan that enemy of mankind to prevail against him and destroy him even with his own very hands by making away himself 7 Let them find such favour as shall Judas at the hands of the Chief-priests and Elders upon his repentance even to be judged and condemned from his own confession out of his own mouth yea both by God and man be unpitied and unpardoned 8 Let them not live to the end of their lives as they may be prolonged by nature but cut short their daies by some violent and unnatural death such as Judas shall die and possess another more worthy of their place and office as Judas his
Apostleship shall be transferred upon Matthias and the Jewish priviledges translated to the Gentiles for crucifying Christ. 9 As the sin of my persecutour and Christs crucifiers is communicative and tendeth to the destruction not of me onely but of Christ his Church and Spouse also so let their punishment be derivative let their wives and children become widows and fatherless by their untimely ends pitied and relieved of none for that they oppress and are merciless to the innocent and afflicted 10 Let my persecutours prosperity be hatefull as shall the Jews amongst all nations let them that have made me an exile out of my own Countrey among the heathen Idolaters be themselves and their children after them no better but be like the wandering Jews that when they have crucifyed the Lord of glorie shall not be restored into Canaan as aforetime out of their captivities but be continual vagabonds a dispersed people in all countries glad to beg an abiding place any where being hatefull every where and driven so from place to place that very necessitie shall inforce them to take up and seek relief in the most abject desolate places of the world such as will scarce yield them to keep life and soul and glad they may 11 12 Let them become a prey to all manner of men let the griping usurious extortioner so entangle their estates in bonds and bils and use upon use that they may never be able to come out of debt till the creditor seize on all they have and turn them out of doors a begging let them find no manner of mercy but be esteemed as enemies of mankind every where where they are let them be made a prey counted for intruders and exposed to the spoil and rapine of the inhabitants and natives of all countries where they come as a people not fit to be entertained any where into scocietie and protection both they and their children though never so fatherless and destitute let them be relict and deserted of all according to the curse of guiltless bloud which they brought upon them and theirs so let it be with them and upon them 13 Let my persecutours by the sword of thy justice weilded in the hands of their enemies be quite cut off let them be destroyed root and branch so that after a while no succession or name of them may remain though in yet not over Israel but the rule thereof be utterly and for ever trans-ferred from them to another as shall befall the rebellious Jews Christs persecutours by the Romans no name nor place of any such nation once so famous shall remain but be quite blotted out a Lo-ammi or vagabond people they shall be at best and Christian written in the room of it in the next age of thy Church which shall be among the Gentiles to whom thou wilt trans-fer thy grace and favour for ever 14 Let the persisting in the same sin of abrenunciation and blaspheming Christ by their scattered progeny bring to remembrance the guilt of all their stiff-necked predecessours transgressions and rebellions ever since they were a Church espoused to thee their Lord and husband the punishment whereof was then sparingly inflicted by thee but now upon divorce and putting away let justice and judgement run down like a torrent upon them without any mixture and stop of mercie 15 As the bloud of Christ shall alwaies appear before God so let the sins of them do that murtherously shed it that as they would have destroyed the Messiah whom yet God raised again so his vengeance may root out them either to have no being or to be hatefull and odious where ever they are 16 Let such things befall mine enemies whose mercilesness to me doth in a figure pourtray out the usage of Christ himself for as they shew me no more mercie in miserie but are the more cruel and pitiless by how much I am the more miserable and the more they see me implunged into distress and insupportable grief of bodie and mind by so much the more eagerly lust they after my life to take it away thus shall it be with him and so as aforesaid let it be with them 17 Let the cursed calumnies and balsphemies of mine and his enemies wherein they are so conversant bring like evil upon their own heads as they intend to others let their curses light upon themselves that refuse salvation and blessing and put it far from them when God graciously visites them with it renouncing me for their King and Christ when he comes for their Saviour 18 Let such as take the curse and bring the guilt of mine and Christs guiltless bloud upon themselves have enough for it as they are ambitious to be known to be his crucifiers and my persecutours and voluntarily involve themselves into so great a sin and the deadly consequences that attend it by acting the one and labouring the other so let it be unto them let hardness of heart blindness of mind and seared consciences be the cursed product of such wicked bloud-suckers 19 Let the guilt and curse they so sinfully bring upn themselves never depart from them but stick by them and accompanie them in all places and throughout all ages 20 Let these foresaid maledictions be the judgement and reward of mine and my Lord Christs adversaries who can right himself and me though all men joyn together to wrong us and devise to take away both good name and life it self as mine enemies and his do endeavour and shall in great measure effect but wo be to them by whom such offences do come 21 But Lord as much as others are against me and mine Anti-type the Lord Christ so thou that art his God and father and in him mine be thou as much for me and him for thy covenant and righteousness sake wherein and whereby thy grace and faithfulness is engaged to approve thy self a mercifull good God protector of the innocent and deliverer of the oppressed be thou so to me let my preservation and deliverance from mine enemies by thine Almighty power adumbrate Christs powerfull resurrection out of the grave whence thou shalt raise him and the Churches final deliverance out of all her terrestial miseries by thy mercie both whom I personate 22 Let both thy mercie and my misery move thee who am low brought by reason of outward afflictions inward fears and terrours which affect me deeply and distress me sore as Christ himself shall be with complicate evils within and without in soul and body-sufferings 23 My life seemeth to me by reason of mine imminent dangers that threaten death every moment to be but as a shadow when the sun is setting ready to extinguish and whilest I do live I have no setlement but am harrowed hither and thither from place to place by the incessant persecutions and various contrivances of mine enemies to take away my life even as the grashopper
that never rests in a place but by every blast of wind is driven to and fro 24 My sorrows are so great perils so many and mind so restless that through voluntarie abstinence and involuntarie faintness and decay of nature I am become stomackless and strengthless my joints enfeebled and my flesh macerated 25 And this my misery was so far from moving mercie or pitie in my persecutours that they rejoyced to see it and mocked at me yea and at thee too for it reviling me with taunting tearms saying in derision Is this the man that must be King of Israel and in disdainfull diffidence of any such matter wagging their heads at me by that reproachfull gesture scornfully concluding the contrarie like as they shall demean themselves to Christ hanging upon the Cross pass by him look upon him and in that dolorous posture afford him no other pitie then scornfull nods and bitter mocks 26 I am in a condition so desperate hopeless and friendless that none but thy self can or will stand me in any stead But though it be so with me yea if it were worse if worse could be I would not doubt either thy power or mercie nor shall the badness of my condition overthrow my faith of relation but I still believe thee to be as my God in Christ so as able and gracious to deliver me as powerfull and faithfull to raise him which I pray thee to do for thy mercies sake in him 27 That my wicked and ungodly enemies may by experience of thy just judgements upon themselves and evident signes of favour unto me know thou hast done it for me because none but an Almighty power and goodness could have effected it as shall appear to be in Christ his resurrection and Jews dispersion 28 Their cursed wishes false slanders and wicked devices Lord frustrate them nay let them bring forth quite contrary effects the more ill they intend me let the greater good befall me and let the evil befall themselves let them do nothing that they may have cause to brag of in the issue when they are most confident let them be least successfull in what they unjustly attempt but let me have cause to make my boasts of thee and rejoice when as they hang their heads for sorrow and shame 29 Let mine adversaries have no cause of insulting over me but be ashamed of all they have done when they see that it is not against me but thee they did it by the event let them see what a fair thread they have spun that ends in nothing but shame and confusion that that is the web they have taken so much pains to weave for themselves all this while 30 When thou shalt have so done whereof I am most sure and certain then will I publish thy praises and magnifie thy mercies in the sight and hearing of all thy people by Sacrifices and Psalms 31 For all my sad condition and the grievous plight I am in yet it shall appear God is not so far from me as they think for but that he is at hand to help when his mine and their time is come spight of what they can do to hinder and notwithstanding their confidence because of their power and my povertie yet he can and will save me from those that in their own thoughts have adjudged and concluded me to death The cx PSALM David that Kingly Prophet and sweet singer in this Psalm shews the glorious exaltation of Christ in our nature at Gods right hand there to rule as sole sovereign whence it shall come to pass that by his divine spiritual omnipotencie his Gospel shall be effectual to the creating this King a Kingdom of loving loyal subjects maugre all his and their enemies and opposers speciallie upon his first inthronization and royal nuptials his Church shall get ground spight of the divel and all those earthly Potentates he sâ—ts on work to hinder it Such power hath he by virtue of his Kingly office to protect his people against men and divels and of such â—fficacie is his Priesthood with God able to save his Church to the uttermost ever living to make propitiatorie intercession for them in the heavens And he concludes with rendering the reason of all this his high esteem and powerfull prevailancie with God and power over angels and men even because for the effecting of this his Mediatourship and mans redemption he shall drink of a full cup the bitter waters of affliction shall be poured out upon him and wrung out to him with an Almightie hand A Psalm which David made in the spirit of Prophecie 1 GOd the Father in his eternal councel and covenant said to his son who is God and man my Lord and Saviour whose resurrection ascention and sitting at Gods right hand in dominion and power I shadow out in mine advancement from my low and troublelous state to the throne and scepter of Israel for that thou who art my fellow in the God-head hast undertaken to do my whole will in the Redemption of man and condescended to take his nature the better to effect it and therein hath effectually wrought it by dying for sin but being without sin hath conquered death which could not hold thee and art risen and ascended into heaven I give thee therefore there all power and authority in that very nature to rule and exercise sovereign and supream Jurisdiction over the Church which thou hast purchased by thy bloud together with the empire and absolute dominion of all things else for the Churches sake whose King and sole Mediatour thou art and this thy government I give thee to execute in a throne of majestie equal with my self in the highest heavens thence in thy humane nature with divine power to dispense and transact all things belonging to this thy Kingdom whilest there is any Church or that I have any people on earth to be governed officiated for by thee even until I who am as solicitous of thine honour as thou art of mine by my power dispenced by thy self shall have subdued unto that thy humane nature once so contemptible all thine enemies whether divels men or things Jews or Gentiles that shall oppose or not submit to thy regiment yea death it self or whatsoever shall impede the compleating of that glorious Kingdom of thy Mediatourship in for and over the Church bone of thy bone and flesh of thy flesh until thou hast fulfilled her number and safely brought the last man and member of that thy mystical bodie to heaven there in body and soul to be glorified with thee till then I say shall this royal office of thine continue whereof having then given me a just account according to thy undertaking and my covenant thou shalt deliver up the regal state and Kingdom of that thy Mediatour-ship in the humane nature into my hands as God alone for ever after of my self in the divine nature onely to govern that glorified
canst give me or do for me shall better please me and more oblige me to praise and thank thee with an honest gratuitous heart and conversation than thy teaching of me by thy word and spirit to know and do thy commandments the onely righteous rule of faith and manners 8 O Lord my purpose of heart is to keep thy commandments and to walk exactly in faith love and obedience as thou enjoynest but alas I know mine own imbecillity and the necessity of thy continuall inablement hereunto by thy spirit and grace which if withdrawn I am at a loss therefore Lord in pitie of my weakness and in prosecution of the good work begun in me that desire to fear thy name leave me not to my self nor lead me not into temptation to buckle with it in mine own strength let no sinne cause separation though correction but remember mercy and renew in me a right spirit when I do go wrong as who doth not Beth. The second letter of the Hebrew Alphabet signifying the second part 9 Young men are aptest to go astray and therefore had need to be inquisitive and circumspect of themselves and their wayes how to avoid the pollutions of mind and manners whereunto their age prompts them with a more than ordinary aptitude and doubtless I speak it knowingly the onely remedy for such distemperature is for them to be conversant in thy word and thence to observe with a child-like disposition what pleaseth and displeaseth thee their heavenly father and in conscience thereunto carefully to regulate their inward and outward man accordingly by believing and obeying 10 O Lord thou knowest my heart to be perfect with thee for thou hast made it so how that I have neither been partiall nor unsincere in mine obedience but entirely endeavoured alwayes in all things to please thee as desirous above all things of thy grace and favour fearing to forfeit it which good Lord grant I may never do by going astray from thy precepts therefore I beseech thee watch over me that no temptation mislead me on the right or left hand out of the way of thy commandments in which I desire to walk from one end of my life to the other without deviating 11 I have Lord stored up thy word in mind and memory especially such and so much of it as I knew was of present and practicall concernment to me in my condition with full purpose of heart to keep close thereunto and not sinfully to suffer my self to be seduced there-from what ever happened 12 Thou Lord art onely blessed in and of thy self from whom as from a fountain flowes forth all derived blessedness unto thy creature which thou art wont to confer most upon them that please thee best as a gracious remuneration of their love and service Lord therefore teach me to know and enable me to do thy will revealed in thy word that I may partake thy blessedness be sharer in thy holiness and happiness here and hereafter 13 As I have found thy law usefull to me by my knowledge of it and framing my course of life according to it so have I endeavoured to make it to be to others and therefore have I according to my measure of light and the duty of my place and office taught it publickly and privately not concealing any truth I knew might make for thy glory and their edifying when I had oportunity of time and occasion 14 My delight and care I bless thee for giving me such an heart hath been more to hear understand and practise those things which in thy word are testified to be thy will and more sweet peace and consolation have I had when I have been so happy as to attain the knowing and doing of them than they that set their hearts to heap up riches when they have their desire of opulency and affluence 15 Therefore whereas worldlings cast in their minds and occupy their thoughts how to enhance their earthly store because their delight is there my meditations shall be otherwayes imploied my care and thoughts shall be how to know more and practise better thy will revealed for therein is my delight and thereto will I bend my mind studying how best to please thee 16 To know and do what pleaseth thee shall be a pleasure unto me yea nothing shall more delight me and therefore am I fully purposed to make thy word the subject of my meditation day and night and the rule of mine obedience in weal and wo. Gimel The third letter of the Hebrew Alphabet signifying the third part 17 Lord thy promises to thy people are comprehensive of all good things as thou hast made them so fulfill them Let me thy servant reap the blessed fruits of thy grace and bounty according to them touching life temporall and spirituall grant me both and what conduces unto both as a faithfull creatour and gracious redeemer that by grace I may live both the life of grace and nature 18 Lord thou knowest what great impediments there are that hinder our knowledge and acquaintance with thee even in those things thou hast revealed of which yet we are ignorant and seeing we see not there being a two-fold vail that interposeth betwixt a right understanding and them the one over our hearts blindly mistaking the mind and meaning of the spirit and stumbling at the stumbling stone the letter The other over thy law and covenant it self exprest in dark and typicall umbrages and dispensations full of wonderous divine excellency in their signification and antitypicall meaning but impossible to be understood but by thy more than litterall revelation Therefore dispense thy spirit who onely knows the mind of God and can onely make it known unto thy servant draw aside thy curtaines of my blindness and thy laws darkness that in thy light I may see light and be made able to behold the mysticall and spirituall tenderness of thy whole law and covenant both in the morall typicall dispensation of it which unfolded to a spirituall eye are admirable and ravishing portraying as in a table the divine history and mistery of mans redemption and salvation with all that heavenly wisdome free-grace and Almighty power that shines therein 19 I am thine and properly belong to another world onely here I must for a time lead a transient life because it is thy will more than mine who though I am in the world yet not of the world but in mind and heart estranged from it therefore seeing it is thy pleasure that I must live mine appointed time to serve thee on earth take it into consideration what divine light and guidance is requisite so to do and vouchsafe me it proportionably least I wander out of thy way the world and flesh with which I here converse being strangers and estranged thereunto and apt to mislead me if thy word and spirit be not alwayes a light and guide unto me 20
Lord my soul is as the broken and chawned earth in time of drought labouring alwayes in unsatiable desire after the soul-nourishing and refreshing knowledge of the divine excellencies comprehended in thy righteous precepts and covenant-dispensations as it doth incessantly after rain that so I may alwayes live the life of faith and fear love and obedience 21 That 's my desire to understand the fear of the Lord that I may walk humbly with my God for the proud disobedient gain-sayers of his will that have taken cursed and displeasing curses the Lord hath sooner or later met with them as they are hatefull to him so he hath made it appear upon them by heavy judgements 22 Which I am confident shall still be their portion even the portion of my proud disdainfull enemies who think scorn of me and basely asperse me because of my faith in and obedience unto God but Lord I hope that both I and they are accepted at thine hands and that thou takest notice of mine Ismaelitish persecution by mine arrogant foes and wilt find a time to quit me of them who thou knowest hath not been ashamed of thee nor deserted either my faith or fear of thee for fear of men 23 I have been the by-word of high and low those that should have been by their places men of more integrity and good example yet did not they stick to abuse their authority and me by casting scorn upon me in the audience of others but I patiently bear it and my thoughts the while were upon thy word and my duty in such cases that so I might approve my self to thee not caring to be judged by mans day 24 And though I had cause enough of sorrow and trouble yet my comfort is they made me not break covenant nor falsifie my faith but still I kept a good conscience and followed my rule and had the comfort of it in mine own spirit not consulting with flesh and bloud what to do at such times when temptations were sore upon me but with thy word which I knew was the will and wisdom of God the mighty Counsellour and Prince of Princes Daleth The fourth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet signifying the fourth part 25 I am exceeding low brought by thine afflicting hand my discomfitures make my life a very death oh do thou raise me restore comfort and thereby life unto me according as thou hast graciously promised 26 For I have not hid mine offences but confessed and declared them to thee as I have done every thing else in the whole course of my life I have alwayes acquainted thee how it was with me in my temptations and troubles and I have ever found thee gracious and so doubt not still to do speak peace and holiness therefore now to my soul that I may sinne no more but learn to love and serve thee 27 Lord instruct me and over-power my naturall pravity and corrupt disposition to walk holily and steadily in the fear of thy name and obedience of thy commandments by thy renewing of my joyes and strengthening of my graces so shall I magnifie thy power in my weakness and animate the faith of others 28 The sense of my sinne and thy displeasure for it lies so heavy upon my spirit that I sensibly decay and wast under it speak reconciliation and absolution to me that may revive and restore me according to thy promise of grace and mercy to poor penitents and suppliants such as I am 29 The sinne that hath brought me into this distemper is my want of faith to carry me through and my making now and then in extremity of temptation lies my refuge which repents me that ever I did so the Lord forgive it and remove that spirit of fear and diffidence that caused it that I may no more tread in such by-paths of thine own free goodness grant me the mercy and grace promised in thy word and exhibited in the typicall ordinances of thy law 30 Lord how ever I have slipt through frailty yet thou knowest the bent and bias of my heart is to love truth and not falshood it is the way I have chosen to walk in and have used the means that might aw me to it and direct me in it by serious pondering thy righteous commandments penally inhibiting such sinfull aversations though my grace being weak my endeavours through temptation have sometimes been ineffectuall 31 I have not ordinarily no nor willingly at any time given the reins to my corruption though otherwhiles they have been too strong for me but have carefully and conscionably in the main and course of my life though troublous and temptatious walked exactly and kept me closely to thy will testified in thy word O Lord therefore compassionate me in this my sinne and trouble for it and so order my wayes that I sinne no more to provoke thee against me to the loss of thy favour and the forfeiting my self to mine enemies 32 I have been faithfull though with some failings which if thou wilt but please to pass by and renew thy favour to me and grace in me whereby my heart may again be comforted and consequently enlarged and enabled for thy joy is my strength then do I promise for my self being confident in the power of thy grace to yield universall and chearfull obedience to thy commandments maugre impediments He. The fifth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet signifying the fifth part 33 I know my whole life throughout is to be expended in thy service but how to persevere with unwearied and unvaried constancy I see not but by thy speciall and spirituall guidance who canst either order mine affaires to be free from temptation or teach and enable me to wade through them without warping from the rule and way of thy commandments pitie therefore my weakness and humane frailty and by thy spirit supply and prompt me continually so shall I do what else I cannot avoid sinne and persevere in holiness all my life in all the various alterations of it 34 How many are befooled with worldly wisdom and carnall reason Lord thou knowest and truly so shall I amongst the rest if thou beest not more mercifull unto me to teach me better yea contrary to such things as those principles dictate even the wholesome rudiments of thy law and covenant dispensation which if thou wilt of thy good grace vouchsafe to do I shall gladlier serve thee than sinne yea if thou wilt effectually lead me I will gladly and cordially follow and obey thee in whatsoever thou commandest for to will is present with me but how else to perform I see not 35 Both the will and the deed is thine and of thee now therefore as thou hast enabled me in the one for through thy grace my heart is byassed to obedience so that my desire is to it and my delight is in it so do thou no less graciously and
not found thy grace or truth to fail me but as I have endeavoured to approve my self a good servant so O Lord have I found thee a good master true of thy promise and as good as thy word 66 Lord give me a right understanding of things that differ let me not mistake falshood for truth nor evil for good but teach me to know the thing that good is and dispose mine heart and affections practically thereunto for so far as I have been taught by thy spirit I have gladly imbraced and conscionably obeyed and not refused either belief or subjection to any thy commandments 67 My very afflictions through thy grace and faithfulness are become wholsom physick and good documents to me for I was apt to wander out of thy way until I smarted for my folly but now I have learned another lesson and have ever since run another course kept close to thy will revealed in thy word without hearkening to the dictates of corrupt reason tending to self-pleasing or self-saving which before were too prevailing 68 Goodness of all kinds O Lord is natural to thee so it is not to us in any kind for there is none good but God and flows plentifully from thee as all creatures but man especially can witness of whose bountie they have their beings and those beings their subsistencies all the world over but Lord it is thy saving goodness that I pray to partake of my soul is more to me than my bodie and grace than nature therefore do I beg special and supernatural grace and wisdom to know and do thy will which I prefer before common and natural benefits the pleasing of thee before either profit or pleasure to my self of thy goodness grant me this which is part of the divine nature and onely makes man like to God in being and doing good which I would both be and do 69 My proud disdainful enemies that fear not God nor care not what wickedness they commit in word or deed to discredit me have falsly aspersed me for a traiterous conspiratour and that it is my ambition not thy determination that puts me upon expectancie of the Kingdom but I am resolved this slaunder shall not stagger me but in confidence of thy truth and mine own integritie I will persist to serve thee in sinceritie of heart who I know wilt vindicate mine innocencie and make appear their forgerie 70 Their worldly pomp and plentie hath made their hearts so gross and carnal as that their consciences are benummed and sensless and their minds puft up with pride and arrogance they sin without restraint and scoffe at pietie as pusillanimitie but thy Law is my delight though not theirs I am troubled when I break it and glad at heart when I do and can keep it through thy gracious enablement 71 Yea such is my love to holiness that I never think it a dear purchase whatsoever it cost me and therefore value mine afflictions which in mercie thou sentest to beget in me a teachable and tractable heart to thy commandments above their prosperitie that hardeneth their hearts in ignorance and carnallitie 72 Thy word and Law written in my heart effectually taught and wrought there by thy spirit however it is counter to my corruptions yet because as it is thine so pliable hast thou made my will to thy will even therefore do I praise it and apprehend my self more enriched with my knowledge of it and love to it than if I had the wealth the world so dotes on in never so great abundance Iod. The tenth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet signifying the tenth part 73 Thou Lord that madest me was pleased to difference me from other creatures by endowing me with natural capacities above them so that though I have lost my created perfections of righteousness and holiness yet not my created and passive capacities of thy renewing them again in me my soul hath the same faculties and my bodie the same parts and Organs thou gavest me at the first in and upon which thou art able to re-imprint thine image vouchsafe me I pray thee thy renewing grace more and more powerfully enlighten my dark understanding encline my whole man O Lord to the loving and obeying of thy whole will I am still thy creature renew thy likeness 74 If Lord thou wilt strengthen thy graces in me and enable me to hold out stedfast in faith and holy obedience to the end and then reward thine own graces in me with a happie issue and close of things how will it rejoyce the hearts of thy servants that fear thee and hope in thee when they shall see me have overcome all my miseries and be possessed of my hopes and thy promises because of thy gracious enabling me to hold out in affiance of thy word it will affect them greatly 75 I know O Lord that thou art righteous in what thou sayest and doest thy word and thy works are consentaneous thy faithfulness is fulfilled in my very afflictions though seemingly otherwayes thy judgements and mercies and shall conduce to bring about thy promises made to me 76 Let I pray thee thy mercie of favour and grace long since promised me be in the faith of it a continual comfort to me yea Lord comfort me thy servant chosen and called with the accomplishment of it according to thy word 77 Make me inwardly sensible of those tender affections which thou bearest me that they may help to revive me in this comfortless condition whilest it lasts and express them also in outward manifestations let me see thy pitie and compassion in a comfortable deliverance and conclusion that I may live free from these troubles which makes my life a very death for how ever by frailtie I have and cannot but offend thee yet thou knowest thou hast mine heart and good will in all things to serve and obey thee that is my desire and in that I delight 78 Let not me therefore miscarrie by the hands of proud men and evil doers that are lawless and scorn subjection Lord let them miscarrie in their designs and evil purposes for thou knowest how contrarie to their consciences they have persecuted me as nocent when as they know me to be an innocent person but their dealing shall not make me forget my dutie I will keep mine eye still fixed upon that and walk stedfastly in the way of thy precepts in confidence of my reward and their punishment 79 Give me such remarkable deliverance and so change the scene that those of thy people that truly fear thee and have been savingly enlightened by thee whom my afflictions have staggered or that have been misled by delusions and false reports may see convincing signs of thy special favour to me and purposes concerning me and thereby be encouraged and invited in the faith of thy promises and my innocent cause to take part and joyn with me against mine
and temptations for I have not cast off thy Law though through strength of temptation I have warped but recollect my self and remember thy commandments approving and justifying as holy and desireable to conform thereunto The cxx PSALM David grounding his hopes upon former experience of mercie praies to be delivered from that sad disaster which Doegs slanderous misre-presentation of him to Saul had brought him into Prophetically he delivers his doom for it and sadly laments his own banishment by it whereof he shews the necessitie and pleads his own integrity Why these Psalms are called songs of degrees is unresolved amongst expositors nor is the thing much material to be known but it is concluded most probably for one of those two reasons Either from the ascending of the voice by a gradual rising in the tune or else because the Levites or Priests did sing them in the ascent of the stairs to the Temple or else standing upon the tops of the stairs or on some high place above the people where either they sung them alone or begun them to the people the better to be seen and heard 1 I Have had experience of Gods good grace to me for heretofore when I have been in jeopardie I put up my earnest prayer to him and truly I was heard in what I prayed for had deliverance and preservation out of my danger 2 And this incourageth me still to apply my self to him when ever I have need or that any thing aileth me Good Lord look upon my wronged innocencie the cause of my cruel persecution and deliver me from the mischievous false reports suggested against me by Doeg to Saul that fawning sycophant and lying informer for which I run hazard to lose my life if God preserve it not 3 Thou art in hope to get favour and preferment for this thy wicked officiousness whereas thy reward shall be of a far other nature I doubt not but God will requite thee he will give thee thy desert and pay thee thy wages for such service done against his chosen thy false and slanderous tongue shall have its recompence 4 Even the mischief that by falshood it brings upon me exasperating the displeasure and implacably inkindling the anger of Saul against me to destroy me shall justly by a mightier hand be retorted upon thy self for God shall one day let thy conscience loose upon thee which shall be as so many pointed arrows in thy bosom shot from an Almighty arm yea the unutterable torments and unquenchable fire of hell it self shall be thy portion 5 Wo is me that by thy pernicious lies I am persecuted and driven into exile from the enjoyment of Gods ordinances and Communion of his people in the land of the living to wander in strange places and cohabit amongst Gentiles void of the knowledge and fear of God and common humanity as bad to me as if I were in the barbarous and savage countrey and confines of Arabia being forced out of the pale of the Church to shift for my life 6 My life hath been in a great deal of danger along time and sundry wayes in the land of Canaan where I inhabited as long as possibly I could being loth to leave it till I must needs labouring by all means possible to be in peace with Saul that I might be quiet but nothing would do to gain his good opinion or perswade with him such deadly hatred does he and his partie bear me and so irreconcileable are they to me 7 Lord thou knowest how I have laboured for attonement and how much I desire peace contrarie to what is falsly suggested against me as if by rebellion I sought to get the Kingdom nor can I be heard speak for my self to acquit mine innocencie but am condemned and proscribed nothing will serve them but my bloud that they are resolved to have and with hostile rage proclaim it The cxxi PSALM The Psalmist abasing all false and earthly subtersuges advanceth God onely in his valuation and recommends him for sole protectour to the whole Church and every member of it to trust in and relie upon promising to such in his name safety against all annoyances and direction and success in their affairs and enterprises See the title of the 120 Psalm 1 MAny men have many refuges and different confidences whereunto in time of danger they flie and wherein they trust but for my part I put more confidence in faithful prayer addressed towards the sanctuarie of God that pledge of his presence scituate upon those hills Moriah and Sion in Jerusalem than in the highest mountain or strongest Fort on earth thence is my help and hope and from thence will I seek and expect it in greatest danger like as the faithful shall from heaven where shall be their confidence and whither the Churches prayers shall be addressed in all emergencies 2 Because the Lord God is there as in heaven especially resident for mine aid and assistance no Idol God do I mean such as the heathen worship and expect aid from but the onely true God that by his Allmighty power made heaven and earth from him and onely him who both can and will bestead me and all the faithful it is that I hope for help and so shall they 3 Be thou confident of it for thy self and let others for themselves be so too that are his and trust faithfully in him that he will protect and have a care of such that they shall not miscarry by any power or malice on earth no accident or emergencie can befal thee that he is not privy to whose eie is never off his church every member of it yea upon every member of that member from head to foot 4 Take it for a truth infallible That God that by his covenant of grace hath taken upon him the guidance and guardianship of his faithful Church and people will never break his word his protection is not as mans is subject to miscarriage and who himself had need be protected but he is omniscient as well as omnipotent he sees and knows all things allwayes so that nothing at no time acts without him nor can act against him to the prejudice of his people 5 And what he is to all his whole Church that he is to every one each member may apply the covenant and promises to it self that are made to the bodie touching grace and protection that God is particularly his undoubted helper and preserver yea that allwayes at all times in all perils he is at hand to shelter and shield him 6 Night and day will God protect thee from whatsoever would annoy thee no created Being whatsoever of it self hath or shall have power to offend thee The creatures above thee in the heavens sun moon and stars whose influences and operations thou of thy self canst not avoid by any humane wisdom or power are yet subject to God under him
eyes let them not fear it how improbable soever as he hath done from us Jeremiahs good sighs that went out of Canaan submittingly carrying along with us the faithfull hope and expectation of Gods engagement though loth to depart from that good land which God had given us to worship him in but yet did put our selves upon adventure and have out-lived our sorrows and at last enjoy those promises in their accomplishment though after so many years in all which time God hath preserved us and his promise sustained us in hope and now at the appointed period delivered us by an Almighty hand and strange providence to our admiration and joy unspeakable and should encourage us to take the opportunity God hath now put into our hands not consulting with flesh and bloud to break through all difficulties and discommodities either in the journey or at the journeys end which fear and faithlesness may represent to deter us in confidence that as they that obedientially came do live to go so they that in this imperfect condition adventures upon God obey his call and rely upon his grace shall in like sort be enabled to undergo and survive all imaginable evils and have their faith and patience abundantly rewarded with grace and peace and themselves at last established again in quiet in the holy Land and Citie The cxxvii PSALM This Psalm is conceived to be penned rather by Solomon himself than by David â—or him and to be a compendium of his Ecclesiastes the stile and matter owns him the subject it treats being politicks government civil and domestick the part appointed him by God more especially to act both in scripture and in practise which he handleth not as a meer moralist or Philosopher but as a divine instructing in all civil and natural affairs to eye God by faith and to make him the efficient and final cause in all publick transanctions and private business or blessing else we take course to set God against us and so to loose all our labour in all we do and in all we hope and desire And sheweth what is the best and most desirable blessing under heaven that brings most happiness to a mans self and makes him most usefull to the publick to wit a numerous and godly off-spring See the Title of the 120. Psalm the Authours name super-added here 1 MOst men act upon their own principles in their own affairs and callings without any eye to God or faith in God for direction or success apprehending issues naturally to ensue upon use of means as they project and design whereas it is far otherwaies for the Lord is all in all nothing can prosper without him it is not enough towards the building of an house whether materially or civilly considered to have the persons and things that conduce thereunto the art of Artificers and the wisdom of a Pater-familias will not serve to erect or order and well govern it or raise and enrich posterity without the blessing of God he can and doth therefore often times blast their endeavours and befool their skil because he is not made the first cause and the last end not sought to for a blessing nor intended to be blessed for the success when second causes are set up above him and a man is his own Idol and kisseth his own hands And as in government domestick so in that which is civil and popular there is the same errour committed men of place States-men and politicians stand on their heads like children and shake their heels at heaven but let such learn from me that know it and by the blessing of God have as much wisdom if not more than other men that it is neither wise for sight and advice nor vigilancie and diligence nor power and strength it is indeed nothing either in a militarie or civil way that can order or secure any countrey place or people from forreign or intestine evils but the gracious provident and watchfull eye and ruling hand of God none can prevent accidents over-rule hearts frustrate designs bless endeavours but the Lord alone infinite unexpected occurrences will nay shall purposely fall out to endanger and deceive them that are carnally confident in an arm of fleshly wisdom strength or diligence if not to ruin them Therefore use the means but subserviently trust in the Lord onely seek him and seek to him faithfully and self-denyingly else look not to succeed or prosper or not to be blessed but cursed in prospering either in the one or other 2 How do men moil and toil in the world some to compass riches others other designs their heads and hands in continual action scarce allowing themselves time to cherish and sustain nature by sleep or food which very repasts are also imbittered by inordinate carefulness through diffidence and vnacquaintance with God not considering that all they do is fruitless and labour lost if God pronounce not a Fiat and say not Amen to what they design and sollicit though never so eagerly which yet is certainly true if they did believe it and knew to live by faith how would it moderate and quiet their thoughts make their lives much more comfortable and enjoy themselves and the blessings God gives them with contentment for so do all they that inwardly feed upon the sweet sense and assurance of Gods love and are happier in that than the cares of the world can make them and whose hearts by believing are staied on the Lord for this he recompenceth it into their bosoms with recumbancy of spirit so that they enjoy him themselves and the blessings less or more he bestows upon them free from perplexities with abundant soul-satisfaction and continual quiet which carking wordly-minded men loose and their labour besides 3 And as some mens ambition and contentment is in honour and riches and such like earthly felicities whereto they bend themselves with might and main and think to compass them by wit and industrie but are deceived so others desire to be rich in children and a good desire it is if moderated by submission and mixed with faith but in this also do men and women miscarrie having their expectation more upon natural causes in natural production than upon Gods supernatural agencie Whereas it is nor strength nor pregnancie of nature in either sex that can assure posterity but the power and free-gift of God that can onely make parents happy with a happy issue which he dispenseth of grace to whom he pleases 4 A numerous and virtuous off-spring is an unspeakable blessing of God he that hath them is fitted by them for all assaies as a strong and valiant man skilful in martial affairs and plentifully provided of ammunition darts and arrows can with honour and advantage to himself them that imploy him for offence and defence discharge them hither and thither so a father blessed with an hopefull and plentifull issue in the flower of his age is himself blessed by it and of
evermore had and which many and many a time hath crushed them sore yet could never through the over-ruling hand of our Almightie and good God prevail to supplant and eradicate it as was their aim and desire to have done no nor never shall no more now than heretofore fear it not 3 4 The poor Church and people of God have undergone great hardship by the ungodly men of this world to whom it hath been meat and drink to afflict us witness our late Babylonish task-masters and as much pains have they taken to do it by plots and practices as the plow-man does to tear the ground in pieces and as cruelly they have handled us so far as ever God gave them leave and so they shall Christ himself whose husbandmen they are and ever have been and the Church his field wherein thereby he hath always sown his seed and reaped his harvest that hath been the use he put the Churches afflictions and persecutions to always notwithstanding them approving himself righteous and faithfull to his word and promise of grace and so is still and ever will be to remember mercie though the wicked world know none to abate of what it intends against them both for length of time and measure of affliction as we have experience in our late deliverance and to disappoint their purposes and machinations as he hath always done to his churches preservation and their destruction in his own time and by his almightie power maugre their malice 5 And as Lord thou hast ruined Babylon for our sakes so vouchsafe still to appear for thy Church against her enemies bringing them all to confusion that would do so by Sion the place of thy worship and type of thy Church for ever let not their malicious combinations and wicked projects take effect against the type or anti-type but utterly and shamefully defeat and frustrate them for it is for thy sake that they bear evil will to thy place and people 6 7 8 Lord let such haters of God and godliness however they seem to flourish and over-top thy poor Church come to nought both they all their wicked designs as the light corn that makes a fair shew on the ridge of an house for want of rooting withers in a moment before it ripen and comes to any perfection by the heat of the sun and is of no use nor regard so let alwaies the Churches enemies that are under a curse and not a blessing and at present our persecuting neighbours be blasted and in thy wrathfull displeasure destroyed both their persons and purposes let neither the one nor the other ever come to good like those empty ears let them be found by those they curry-favour with a dissembling lying generation great promisers and no performers and find favour accordingly Let not those that are spectatours of us and them whose pendulous judgements the event will preponderate the common errour of the world to judge and side according to success let them not have cause by their prospering against us to bless them and curse us and to misuse thy name against thine own people in behalf of thine and our enemies by blessing those whom thou cursest and cursing those whom thou blessest The cxxx PSALM The Psalmist sore afflicted under the sense of sin and miserie cries to the Lord for mercie making mercie his onely plea for himself and incouragement to persist in the obedience of faith and patient waiting and eager longing for appearance of grace And draws his practise into precept to all the faithfull people of God willing them to hold out hoping in mercie for deliverance through Christ whatever be their pressure sin or suffering See the Title of the 120. Psalm 1 IN the extream agony of my spirit now that I am to mine own sense and in all appearance quite over-whelmed with outward distress and inward terrour death on the one hand ready to devour me my sins and thy wrath on the other hand grievously afflicting and affrighting me yet as from the bottom of this gulph and sea of miseries have I sent forth mine ardent prayer in the faith of thy power and hopes of thy goodness O Almighty and mercifull Lord. 2 In such a case as this Lord let me not speak to a deaf ear but graciously grant me audience yea watch for my prayers at such a time for they shall never fail thee neither do thou fail them especially in such straits 3 If thou O Lord who art the righteous and terrible Judge of all the world a jealous God and a consuming fire doth take strict notice of our sins to take us to task and punish us for them according to our deservings by the law of righteousness and rule of justice alas in such a case what man can stand before thee in his own justification either to acquit himself as sinless or to make satisfaction being sinfull or in case he be able to do neither as no man can how shall he be able to bear and undergo thy judgement and heavy displeasure for sin without sinking under it no flesh can do it 4 But the case is otherwaies with thee towards poor humble hearted sinners and suitours to such thou standest not upon such terms of strictness for thou hast proclamed pardon to all such which by faith they may take out and plead for themselves as also a gracious acceptance of their weak but filiall services whereby they may be and are incouraged knowing thy loving kindness and mercy to worship and serve thee both by believing in thy promises though with much mixture of unbelief and doing thy commandments though in frailty and weakness short of perfection which none can reach yet in sincerity 5 Though my sinns be heavy and mine affliction burdensome upon me and have been so along time yet I despair not but in the faith of his forgiveness and compassion I wait for the sun to break out from under this cloud my soul is in continuall expectation of it and so long as I have his word for it I will hope and look for deliverance and mercy what ever be my fears and dangers 6 My soul longs for and looks out after the comfortable appearance of the grace of God to set me free from these my tedious insupportable miseries of his disfavour and the sad effects thereof with as eager a desire yea far more earnestly and affectionately do I and will I hold on to expect it than ever the poor weary Watch-man or Centry that hath been kept waking all Night prayes for Day-break that he may be discharged and have his liberty to take his rest 7 What ever be the afflictions of faithfull Israel the people of God let them for all that by no means relinquish their hope in the Lord his power and goodness but hold out in the assured confidence that God both is mercifull in himself however he seem and will be
comparison for brotherly love is a celestial benefit how the spiritual dew is dispensed from God in heaven on those holy consecrated mountains Sion and Moriah where he vouchsafes his presence unto his people who resort thither to worship him and where they meet with soul-enriching graces and consolations othergets blessings than the dew of Hermon which makes them abound in faith and godliness to their own eternal as well as temporal felicitie such like is peace and love among the Israel and people of God it self is a special blessing from heaven and brings with it all manner of blessings from thence both temporal and spiritual if ever we mean to be rich and happie this is the way to live and love as sons of one father and mother God and the Church members of one body under one head the Messiah as all Israel shall be through love and obedience to David and his successours ruling in Sion as types of Christ. The cxxxiv. PSALM David being a man of fervour and affection in the service of God gives a watch-word to the watch-men of the Temple the Priests and Levites and in them to gospel-Ministers not regardlesly to passe over their duties but to be imployed for the whilst as Christ himself is for ever in praying for the people and Church of God and blessing both God and them and that in a proportionable zeal here to Christ and his saints in heaven in their respective imployments there See the title of the 120 Psalm 1 YOu that are by the special appointment and ordination of God chosen as Christ himself from among all your brethren and preferred to the honour of sanctuarie-administration continually in his presence consider the place you hold whom and what you personate even Jesus Christ in his Priestly office at the right hand of God who ever liveth to make intercession and offer thanks-givings for his Church to his father have that allwayes in your eie and be active suitably stand not idle in your offices nor keep not sleepie centry in the sanctuarie but as your turns come to watch do service there as well night as day rouse up your spirits call to mind the moral meaning of your imployments which is to improve your nearer interest in God by virtue of your offices for the good of his Church and people as Christ does in heaven continually through Christ presenting to God in the Churches behalf the spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanks-giving for his mercies vouchsafed together with prayers and supplications for the continuation and constant gracious dispensation of them still as there is need 2 I say again busie and lay out your selves in those sacred and religious imployments of praise and prayer neither idle nor nifle out your time and Turn in the sanctuarie nor yet with formalitie or hypocrisie do you do your service to him as bare pretenders but as holy and real performers clap your wings in your night-watches let your hearts be in heaven and your hands in token of the fervour of your spirits lifted up thitherwards and so bless the Lord not betwixt sleeping and waking but with the whole soul and bodie too considering he whom you worship is a spirit and his proper place of residence is above in the heavens whose service there for condiscention sake you personate in the sanctuarie here in types shadows wherein you must not stick but by them mount up higher even to him where he is in spirit and faith externally manifested by suitable comportment of bodily action and expression such as are significant and adorative commensurable to Gods glorie and greatness your own hearts puritie faith and fervour and the Divine condition of the Church-Triumphant in heaven 3 Your office is double faced upward and downward you are in Christs stead like Jacobs ladder on which and by which blessings are to ascend and descend for as you are the mouth of the Church and people of God to offer him their thanks and praises blessing him continually in their behalfs as Christ does the father for the elect so likewise are you to be the mouth of God down to his people to bless them from him which doubtless is as an honourable so a full imployment if you set your selves to do it as it ought to be done with that zeal and reverence the Church oweth to her head and with that delight and love the head hath in and to his bodie and fellow-members Pray therefore for and as presenting the person of Jesus Christ that effectual mediatour in his name also faithfully bless ye the Israel of God that do worship him in Sion his place of residence with the blessings of his special protection and salvation who is the onely true God and Allmighty master of heaven and earth The cxxxv PSALM The Psalmist quickens up the people of Israel in general the Priests and Levites more particularly but most especially the faithful of both sorts to magnifie and praise the Lord and this he doth by way of argument taken from the congruitie delectabilitie and dutie of it from such a people to such a God who as he is greatly to be preferred for his self-sake and the excellent power that is in him so for the effects of it towards them the grateful memorie whereof should ever be upheld for his glorie and his peoples faith sake All other Gods being but puppits he onely is God and onely to be blessed as such especially of them that are his onely people and Priests his Church preferred by him of all the world to that honour who therefore ought to honour him how and where he will be worshipped 1 O That all sorts of people would consider their dutie of praising God conscionably to discharge it in spirit and power to magnifie him for his greatness as Lord of and over all yea for his excellent attributes and properties not onely absolute but relative of grace and goodness and for his alonenes for as there is no God like him so there is no God but him O ye servants of the Lord chosen by him and set apart for that purpose what ever others do forget not you your duties not onely of your persons but of your places to praise the Lord worthily with hearts enlarged with the apprehensions of him and his manifold excellencies 2 I mean ye Priests and Levites principally be you especially conversant in this service of praising the Lord in his holy Temple where you are priviledged to administer like to the glorified saints in heaven that stand in his presence for ever more praising the Lord. Yea and all others also that are admitted to the participation of grace and that worship him in his ordinances though at greater distance whether Levites or people whose persons and praises faithfully tendered in spirit are yet really accepted and graciously regarded by the God of Israel whose presence is as well in the courts which also are sanctified as in
the promised time of my deliverance with confidence 4 All even the heathen Kings that have little knowledge or sence of God round about when they hear and understand how this thing is brought to pass that I am become King of Israel a poor persecuted abject man how that it was fore-told by thy Prophet that it should be so and answerably fulfilled by thy power it shall convince those very infidels to believe and admire thee for thy word of truth and the wonderfull unquestionable truth of that thy word to the praise thereof 5 Yea they shall be ravished in their spirits at the consideration of circumstances and providences and shall not contain themselves but in praisefull expressions shall vent their apprehensions of thee touching those strange and circumferent waies thou hast taken and untroden paths of unlikely means and providences which thou hast made use of to bring to pass thy purpose towards me so manifestly shalt thou appear even to them to be the sole author of it so glorious shalt thou appear in those manifestations of my preservation exaltation and mine enemies confusion notwithstanding the great disproportion that was betwixt me and them 6 For though the Lord be in heaven swaying there the universal scepter and that such greatness seems to be at too infinite a distance and disparitie to one man of mankind and he also a mean one as I was that he should regard him yet is that no cause of disregard in God I have found it so that this almightie glorious Lord and heavenly Potentate is notwithstanding respectfull of the poor in spirit that suffer wrongfully and walk dependingly on his grace to relieve and protect them whereas those that walk presumptuously to God or oppressively towards their brethren and think their places or personal excellencies as Gods on earth engage him or prefer them in his favour such shall find that humble adversitie is more regarded of God than proud prosperitie he is near to those that to the world seem to be far from him and far from those that upon mistaken grounds think themselves near unto him and much respected by him for such he knows indeed but with no good intentions towards them to judge them not to save them I and mine enemies have found it so and so shall others too 7 The experience I have had of thy power and faithfulness makes me confident for future that however I may have troubles still yea though my life be a continual war-fare and that I may seem to be crushed by them yet my greatest extremity shall be but thine opportunitie even from the grave it self as it were wilt thou restore me as thou shalt Christ. Mine enemies rage against me shall enrage thee against them and instead of hurting me they shall undo themselves for in judgement shalt thou mightily destroy them and with almighty mercie preserve me from them 8 What the Lord had purposed and promised concerning me though it seem impossible to be brought to pass yet he that hath thus far advanced it will as certainly perfect it as he will the Kingdom of Christ it shall not miscarrie by any malice or power of men for God is not as man to say and unsay do and undo the works and calling of God are without repentance what thou O Lord in mercy purposeth to and for thy Church and people that thou wilt in mercy perfect thy Covenant is an everlasting Covenant as mercie moved thee to it so nothing shall remove thee from it or make the grace faithfulness of God of none effect in mercy therefore persevere to finish and lay the top-stone of grace concerning me who am brought thus far onwards towards it by thine almightie goodness and efficiencie who hath done all that hath been done and so must do still The cxxxix PSALM David to evince God of his integritie and freedom from close hypocrisie a sin too common in the world useth several arguments of his knowledge of Gods omnisciencie omnipresencie and omnipotencie as appears in his works of creation but specially in himself so artificially framed for which with reverence and fear he magnifieth and praiseth God as also for his gracious purposes towards him which also are ever in his eye as the one to deter him so the other to affect and dispose him better than to dissemble with such a God who is severe against sinners with whom therefore he dare hold no correspondencie in their wicked ungodly courses but from his heart abandons them and bears them as much ill will that are so minded towards God as if they were open enemies to himself for all which both on his integritie of heart towards God and sincere hatred of sin and sinners he puts himself upon Gods soul-searching inquisition praying if he be in any thing mistaken God would rectifie him To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung 1 O Lord that art all-seeing and all-knowing thou hast exercised me under many trying temptations for a long time and what hath been my behaviour under them thou knowest right-well having put me to it thou knowest me by it what mine heart is and how it stands affected towards thee thy commandements 2 Thou knowest me throughout in thought word and deed all the actions of my life are apparent to thee from one to another of what kind or nature soever they be none excepted yea my very thoughts whence originally spring those mine actions are also known unto thee yea before my mind conceive them thou fore-seest them much more before I act them whilest I think them 3 Wheresoever I am whithersoever I go whatsoever I do night or day thou art with me and knowest both me and it nothing can scape thee no time nor place for thou art present with me every step I take and every thing I do all my life long to judge both it and me 4 For there is not the least word which at any time I have a purpose to speak but sure enough thou knowest it before I utter it yea the motives and ends whereupon and whereunto I do speak it are known to thee though oftentimes they are concealed from man who can judge onely by the letter but thou knowest the spirit 5 Thine omnipresencie hath and doth begirt me round there is no avoiding thee if one had a mind to it for as thou willest or permittest so it is and must be even as a child in a mans hand is guided which way he will so am I by thine all-disposing hand of power and providence in all I do think or speak 6 Lord such incomprehensible wisdom as thou hast that thus wonderfully knowest all things before they are and when they are in their causes motives ends is too deep for me to fathom and too high for me to climbe
that thou wilt be meet with wicked workers and pay them in their kind they that unjustly seek to destroy others shall themselves justly be destroyed by thee the righteous God and judge of all the world therefore will I keep me free from partner-ship with them in those their evil and injurious waies of wrong or revenge no such guilt will I bring upon my head and so I declare my self I fear thee though they do not 20 For they stick not presumptuously to despise and despite thee by open blasphemies and reproches of thy justice power and faithfulness scornfully abusing in the height of their pride and malice against thee and thine all those thine excellencies which thy people fear and reverence thee for 21 Thou Lord knowest how little good-will I bear to wickedness and wicked men I am far from having fellowship with them that I see bear an evil will toward thee thy worship or people my very heart riseth at such with indignation out of zeal to thee and it is no small trouble to me to see wicked men to provoke thee and bear themselves so contemptuously toward thee so great a God as they do 22 Yea from my heart root do I abominate wicked men in their wicked courses nor do I dissemble the matter but profess my self no friend or favourer of them no more nor so much than if they were mine own very enemies and hated me for my love to thee makes me more sensible of the dishonour and indignitie that is done thee than my self and worse can I endure it or them that do it 23 And in regard many that are mine enemies are also thine such as perversly sin against thee as well as injure me and that therefore I may play the hypocrite and dissemblingly make shew of hatred to them for thy sake when covertly it is for mine own thinking thereby to commend my self unto thee and gain upon thee by such a profession therefore do I willingly lay my self open before thee and uncover every corner of my heart for thee to see into it whether it be not as I say and that my thoughts and affections in this point be not sincere and upright against wicked men purely for wickedness 24 Yea spare not to make such discovery of me whether although I speciously seem to hate their persons if yet secretly I love not their waies and could find in my heart to practise wickedness as they do rather than pietie yea if there be any the least root of bitterness remaining in me or the least sin unmortified or abetted by me whereby I may incur thy displeasure that art an all-discerning God or grieve thy spirit who am judge of mine and if there be any such unknown to me for I know mans heart is deceitful convince me of it and convert me from it that by thy gracious powerful manu-mission I may be set free from thraldom to sin that leads to perdition the reward of every such transgression and by thy no less gracious and powerful manu-diction be ordered and inabled in my whole man through my whole life to walke in a perfect way of holiness that onely leads to everlasting life and thy well pleasing this Lord is my desire The cxl PSALM David in way of prayer makes his complaint against his wicked and violent persecutours Saul and Doeg and the rest of their considerates that by a saynt combination plot and labour to take away both his life and good name by all under-hand contriâ—anâ—â—s that may be Therefore he applies himself to God that hath preserved him from open now to protect him from secret violence and bring the evil they intend to him upon themselves yea remarkable judgements upon such impâ—nitâ—nts And promiseth himself and all others that suffers in a good cause with a good conscience as he doth happy deliverance and their enemies confusion To him that is the first and principall of all the Quire do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung 1 O Lord that knowest the wrong I sustain by being thus unjustly persecuted of Saul and his complices that most wickedly and unmercifully prosecute me to the death that never wronged him nor them in all my life do thou that art a righteous Judge of oppressours and a gracious God to right the oppressed undertake my cause and me to vindicate the one and protect the other from the bloudy intentions of my causeless cruell enemy and enemies 2 Whose hearts are full of cursed contrivances how to mischief and undo me and to take away both my good name and life labouring to increase their party and stirre up others against me dayly by false suggestions plotting all manner of wayes and means by joynt advice and endeavour to wage war upon me that would fain be at peace 3 They labour to wound mine innocency as deep as they can possibly by lying and slanderous reports of me and vermin-like spit their venom at me behind my back by prejudicing the people against me with their false calumnies which they have ready at hand to poyson all ears that will give them the hearing It is their continuall practise 4 5 The good Lord watch for me to save me as they do against me to undo me and keep me from their destructive malice and power that have put in practise every way in the world to compass my ruin with extream and unappeasable violence doth Saul seek my life and to that end hath laid snares to catch and intrap me that I should not escape him as yet I bless thee I have done and pray still I may do by thy powerfull preservation and deliverance of me from him and those proud presumptuous wretches his Partizans that disdain the purpose though of God himself as touching me to be King over them and therefore try all conclusions and use their utmost endeavours to disappoint it by subtill stratagems and wicked devices laying as it were traps and toils nets and grins all manner of engins to catch me that craft can device the way they think I take as if I were some wild beast or monster among men of a perillous nature and dangerous consequence not fit to live They are restless to ruin me 6 In this my hazardous condition when I was thus way-laid on all hands I repaired to God as alwayes I do to extricate me out of it by faithfull prayer pleading my propriety in him and his grace which of grace he had vouchsafed me minded him of it and prayed him for it to lend me an hearing ear in my very great need for deliverance and preservation 7 Saying O gracious God the onely Lord Almighty the sole power I trust in and depend upon for safety I have found thee a deliverer and preserver in former dangers when my life hath laien at stake and been in hazard by open violence in the day
of battell against the enemie as now it doth by secret machinations of inveterate deadly foes no less endangering it 8 And as I pray for my self by virtue of mine interest and near relation to thee so give me leave to pray against my wicked enemies that are also thine that what they desire to bring to pass against me may not take effect blast thou their wicked designs which I am sure can take no place if thou doest not more or less allow them which I pray thee do not but the contrarie least they vain-gloriously magnifie their cause and disparage mine and being fleshed with success blasphemously set light by thee as well as me compared with themselves which else they will be sure to do 9 As for the chief hunts-men the principal ringleaders and occasioners of this my trouble and persecution Saul and Doeg that set the multitude on work to betray and entrap me every where where I come whom they have deceived and misled by their false reports let that they intend to bring upon me even destruction fall heavily and unavoidably upon them that they may by no means escape it but in thy justice be themselves taken in the net they laid for others 10 Let such impenitent reprobate minded men come to an exemplarie end by some severe and formidable judgement as did Sodom and Gomorrah consume them utterly by thy vengeance and fiery indignation yea by sudden and fearfull destruction as thou didst Korah and Dathan remove them once for all from off the face of the earth where they do so much mischief in opposing thee and the coming of thy Kingdom that they may rest in perpetuall darkness of death which onely can stitle them and hold their hands and whence they shall never more return to do as they have done being thereby everlastingly disposed of 11 Lord let not any man much less mine enemies by lying and slandering and such wicked unworthy wayes prosper in his designs against the plain and sincere hearted least it incourage other earth-worms that know not God nor care not for heaven to take the like courses when they see them thereby brought to ruin and the wicked contrivers succesfull and fortunate against them No I am confident and dare pronounce it in the name of the Lord that the wicked purposes and contrivances of the ungodly bloud-thirsty man be he higher or lower wherewith he hunts others to the death if he could catch them shall follow him at heeles and drive him into such a trap and snare at last that he shall never escape even utter destruction 12 And on the other hand I dare promise as much for God on the behalf of them that for his sake are unjustly wronged and persecuted be they never so poor and their oppressours never so potent God will patronize both them and their cause against the wrong-doers stand to them and appear for them to do them right and justifie their innocence of this I am confident for his truth is ingaged for it and his glory is concerned in it I doubt not to find it so in mine own particular though it fare ill with me now 13 Sure enough the time will come that they that with a good and honest heart mannage a righteous cause though they may and must be content to suffer for a time as long and as much as pleaseth God yet they shall see a happy end of their sufferings and the miserable catastrophe of their oppressours to their exceeding great cause of joy in and thankfulness to God that by his grace and power hath brought it so about beyond expectation or probability They that are upright and so hold out under affliction keeping a good conscience toward God and man patiently waiting and enduring shall happily survive their afflictions and afflictours here so that God shall lead them through and land them safe on the other side as I doubt not he will do me where the residue of their dayes they shall propitiously enjoy the Lord for their God or if they miscarry in them as so he may permit yet shall they not miscarry by them but shall be happier in heaven whither they shall translate them than earth could have made them in a full fruition of him there in that glorified estate whither no sorrow shall follow them The cxli. PSALM David and his men being in great danger by Sauls surprise probably either in the wilderness of Engeddi or of Ziph and having opportunity and temptation of revenge prayes that God would deliver him both from death and sinne in that strait Is greatly troubled that so many innocents should so prosecute him through misunderstanding wishes they would take another course more agreeable to charity for whom yet his charity shall move him to pray that they may not perish with their malicious mislâ—aders in hope that when they are removed out of the way by Gods just judgâ—ments these will then be reduced and hear reason though now their ears are charmed And lastly represents his and his partizans perillous case to God but withall his faith in God praying for his own deliverance and his enemies subversion A Psalm made by David 1 LOrd no danger is so great nor eminent as to stifle my faith or stop my mouth but be it what it will be I make my moan unto thee even now in this mine extremity wherein I am not a little concerned nor thee to make hast to my rescue being sore laid to be not therefore a stranger to me nor deaf to hear me but graciously compassionate my misery and hear me effectually now and alwayes when in such straits I supplicate thy Majesty 2 Let my prayer which I dayly put up unto thee in the virtue of Christs mediation ascend and be accepted of thee as the Type thereof that perpetuall fragrant incense-offering burnt each morning in the sanctuary â—nd let my supplication the spirituall sacrifice of a faithfull heart be as pleasing as the appointed meat-offering every evening 3 Lord my temptations are great and provocations many suffering so unjustly and ungratefully as I do under a tedious and trying persecution that exerciseth all the faith and patience I have and were it not for thy supporting auxiliary grace would be too hard for me notwithstanding mine which can of it self ill grapple with such adversaries and adversities without out-breaches of corruptions whereto my mind and mouth in thoughts and words are over prone therefore good Lord carefully keep and restrain me that through sinfull impatience or incogitancy I sometime or other forget not my self and imprudently let fall either words or rash discontent towards thee or of sinfull revenge towards mine adversaries unworthy the Mediatour and Lamb-like patience of him whom I prefigure in these my durances but may patiently wait and bear what is thy pleasure to the utmost time and measure as he shall not sinning so much as in word or thought 4 I
ones for ever in all ages to do them good protect and save them spite of all worldly power or malice Such a God is thy God O Israel whom thou worshippest in his sanctuary upon his holy hill Sion of which accordingly he will bless preserve as the type of his Church universal which as his shall be upheld by him who himself is everlasting whilest the world endures Therefore praise ye the Lord trust in him and in nothing else all ye that are now or shall hereafter be his people the true worshippers of the onely true God The cxlvii PSALM David exceedingly exciteth the people of God his Israel to be frequent and conversant in praising the Lord by sweet motives and powerfull arguments proper and common shewing sometimes his tender care in speciall over his Church then again illustrating him by his native excellencies also by his gracious just and different dispensations to good and bad all having relation to his people whom he again stirs up to the dutie of thanksgiving and praise by acts of powerfull providence above and below to beast and birds He further cautionizeth them not to be misled in judgement so as to think the favour of God or success from God is attainable by humane inducemâ—nes or probabilities no but by faith and holy fear which being the things that indear us to God he again incites gods people to praise him for the priviledge of such truths revealed and such graces exhibited whereby they are so blessed and prospered with peace and plentie by him who as Lord paramount commands the whole creation and is obeyed by it both in heaven and earth but he is Israels and Israel his after a more peculiar and excellent manner than any other nations or all the worlds besides for which he concludes they ought to praise him answerably 1 O Ye people of the Lord be much busied in praising him no greater testimonie of a good heart towards God than to be praisefully affected and disposed nothing we can do more profitable and available to our selves for it keeps the heart in a holy frame and tunableness in the exercise of faith and love to God-ward and gains upon him exceedingly who is much delighted with that kind of service and sacrifice to have the honour done him and homage paid him that 's due unto him from the creature specially his people that do it with faith and understanding it is a work well becoming these to magnifie the Lord both for what he is in himself considered and also to them in grace and gracious dispensations 2 Who indeed deserves praise but he That is all in all specially to his Church it is he that laieth the foundation of it in election and builds it progressively by faith and sanctification and finisheth his work of grace and his peoples happiness in glorification like as out of all the world Jerusalem is the chosen place of his worship and Israel a chosen people to worship him both which he of meer grace by an Almightie power doth bless and build up unto a flourishing state and condition and that notwithstanding their many enemies Yea he brings his people Israel out of their several mis-fortunes and dispersions to be the sole subjects of his Kingdom and to be united under me their head his substitute in a formed Church and Common-wealth thereby to live happilie and serve him acceptably as in like sort he shall call his chosen all the world over into one body his Church under one head Christ to serve and honour him and partake of his happiness It is he that doth both the one and the other 3 God many times is pleased to break and bruise his people with outward afflictions and inward depressions of mind and conscience by the weight of sins guilt or his dis-favour but it is but to find his grace and spirit work to shew his skill and to verifie his word who healeth them again with the balm of Gilead the light of his countenance ariseth upon such a soul after some conflict for God is tender over his people specially in distress and most specially in soul-agonies when they pant under a troublesom spirit he is the true Samaritan that poureth in wine and oyl and binds up the wound of his Church and chosen which the world without or trouble within hath made 4 He that can number the numberless stars from one end of the heavens to the other and knoweth them particularly and distinctly one by one as many as they are having indeed made them all and ordained each one its orb and office causing them to appear and act in their seasons orderly and successively without confusion notwithstanding their infinite number as also their variable manifold and inter-winding courses he as well knoweth the number of the stars on earth as in heaven his people wheresoever dispersed upon the face of the whole earth to gather them into his bodie as Israel into Canaan from their dispersions yea every particular person and member of his Church universal knows he to bring him in in his season age and generation and both where and how to imploy him in what station of the world and place in his Church for the service of him and it 5 For as the Lord is great in knowledge so also in power there can no bounds be set to either he is infinite in understanding past our capacitie a fit object of of our faith and subject of our praise in all his proceedings 6 As appears by the certain conclusions he brings out of uncertain providences how those that meekly and humbly undergo their time and portion of sufferings the share of all his servants wherein they seem to themselves and others to be forlorne and helpless he by an Almightie hand beyond imagination relieves and releaseth them makes them able with joy to over-top their sorrows how despicable soever they were in the eyes of the world whereas on the contrarie those that with worldly pomp and affluence are lifted up to do wickedly against him or his Church oppressing them or contemning him these as high as they are in power and pride and though they seem to the world and themselves in respect of their present condition to be as immoveable as a mountain God notwithstanding nay therefore ruinates them and lets the world see the difference of good and bad of them that fear him and also of them that fear him not 7 Consider the thank-worthy goodness of God to stir you up to zeal and gratitude when you praise him in Psalms and Hymns which neglect not to do even to do with all your might and the best of your skill both of voice and instrument and all too little to give God his due specially we his peculiar people cannot do too much in this way who by special priviledge are the onely people of all the world that worship the onely true God 8 For it is he
the tongue that speaketh proud things 4 Who have said with our tongue will we prevail our lips are our own who is Lord over us 5 For the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needie now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safetie from him that puffeth at him 6 The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times 7 Thou shalt keep them O Lord thou shalt preserve them from this Generation for ever 8 The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted Psalm xiii To the chief musician A Psalm of David 1 HOw long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever how long wilt thou hide thy face from me 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul having sorrow in my heart daily how long shall mine enemies be exalted over me 3 Consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten mine eyes least I sleep the sleep of death 4 Lest mine enemies say I have prevailed against him and those that trouble me rejoyce when I am moved 5 But I have trusted in thy mercie my heart shall rejoyce in thy salvation 6 I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me Psalm xiii To the chief musician A Psalm of David 1 THe fool hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good 2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God 3 They are all gone aside they are all together become filthy there is none that doth good no not one 4 Have all the workers of iniquitie no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread and call not upon the Lord. 5 There were they in great fear for God is in the generation of the righteous 6 You hâ—ve shamed the counsel of the poor because the Lord is his refuge 7 O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Sion when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people Jacob shall reioyce and Israel shall be glad Psalm xv A Psalm of David 1 LOrd who shall abide in thy tabernacle who shall dwell in thy holy hill 2 He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousnes and speaketh the truth in his heart 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue nor doth evil to his neighbour nor taketh up a reproch against his neighbour 4 In whose eyes a â—â—le person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord he that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not 5 He that putted not out his money to usurie nor taketh reward against the innocent He that doth these things shall never be moved Psalm xvi Michtam of David 1 PReserve me O God for in thee do I put my trust 2 O my soul thou hast said unto the Lord Thou art my Lord my goodnes extendeth not to thee 3 But to the sâ—â—ints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight 4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God their drink-offerings of bloud will I not offer nor take up their names into my lips 5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup thou maintainest my lot 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage 7 I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel my reins also instruct me in the night seasons 8 I have set the Lord alwayes before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glorie rejoyceth my flâ—sh also shall rest in hope 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell neither â—ilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Psalm 17. A prayer of David 1 Hear the right O Lord attend unto my cry give ear unto my prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips 2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence let thine eyes behold the things that are equal 3 Thou hast proved mine heart thou hast viâ—ited me in the night thou hast tried me and shalt find nothing I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgreâ—â— 4 Concerning the works of men by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer 5 Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not 6 I have called upon thee for thou wilt hear me O God incline thine ear unto me hear my speech 7 Shew thy marvellous loving kindness O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye hide me under the shadow of thy wings 9 From the wicked that oppress me from my deadly enemies who compass me about 10 They are inclosed in their own fat with their mouth they speak proudly 11 They have now compassed us in our steps they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth 12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places 13 Arise O Lord disappoint him cast him down deliver my soul from the wicked which is or as in the margin by thy sword 14 From men which are or as in the margin by thine hand O Lord from men of the world which have their portion in this life and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasurâ— they are full of children and leave the rest of their substance to their babes 15 As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Psalm xviii To the chief musician a Psalm of David the servant of the Lord who spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul And he said 1 I Will love theâ— O Lord my strength 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will trust my buckler and the born of my salvation and my high tower 3 I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praiâ—ed so shall I be saved from mine enemies 4 The sorrows of death compassed me and the flouds of ungodly men made me afraid 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about the snares of death prevented me 6 In my distresse I called upon the Lord and cried unto my God he heard my prayer out of his Temple and my cry came before him even into his ears 7 Then the earth shook and trembled the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken because he
not mine enemies triumph over me 3 Yea let none that wait on thee be ashamed which transgress without cause 4 Shew me thy wayes O Lord teach me thy paths 5 Lead me in thy truth and teach me for thou art the God of my salvation on thee do I wait all the day 6 Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old 7 Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness sake O Lord. 8 Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners in the way 9 The meek will he guide in judgement and the meek will he teach his way 10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies 11 For thy names sake O Lord pardon mine iniquity for it is great 12 What man is he that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose 13 His soul shall dwell at ease and his seed shall inherit the land 14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his covenant 15 Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord for he shall pluck my feet out of the net 16 Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged O bring thou me out of my distresses 18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain and forgive all my sinnes 19 Consider mine enemies for they are many and they hate me with cruel hatred 20 O keep my soul and deliver me let me not be ashamed for I put my trust in thee 21 Let integrity â— uprightness preserve me for I wait on thee 22 Redeem Israel O God out of all his troubles Psalm xxvi A Psalm of David 1 JUdge me O Lord for I have walked in mine innocency I have trusted also in the Lord therefore I shall not slide 2 Examine me O Lord and prove me try my reins and my heart 3 For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth 4 I have not sat with vain persons neither will I go in with dissemblers 5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers and will not sit with the wicked 6 I will wash mine hands in innocency so will I compass thine Altar O Lord. 7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works 8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house the place where thine honour dwelleth 9 Gather not my soul with sinners nor my life with bloudy men 10 In whose hands is mischief and their right hand is full of bribes 11 But as for me I will walk in mine integrity redeem me and be merciful unto me 12 My foot standeth in an even place in the congregations will I bless the Lord. Psalm xxvii A Psalm of David 1 THe Lord is my light and my salvation whoÌ„ shall I fear the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid 2 When the wicked even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh they stumbled and fell 3 Though an host should enâ—amp against me my heart shall not fear though warre should rise against me in this will I be confident 4 One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord to enquire in his Temple 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me he shall set me up upon a rock 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy I will sing yea I will sing praises unto the Lord. 7 Hear O Lord when I cry with my voice have mercy also upon me and answer me 8 When thou saidest seek ye my face my heart said unto thee thy face Lord will I seek 9 Hide not thy face farre from me put not thy servant away in anger thou hast been my help leave me not neither forsake me O God of my salvation 10 When my father and my mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up 11 Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me in a plain path because of mine enemies 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies for false witnesses are risen up against me and such as breath out cruelty 13 I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living 14 Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart wait I say on the Lord. Psalm xxviii A Psalm of David 1 UNto thee will I cry O Lord my rock be not silent to me lest if thou be silent to me I become like them that go down into the pit 2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto thee when I lift up mine hands toward thy holy oracle 3 Draw me not away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity which speak peace to their neighbours but mischief is in their hearts 4 Give them according to their deeds according to the wickedness of their endeavours give them after the works of their hands render to them their desert 5 Because they regard not the works of the lord nor the operation of his hands he shall destroy them not build them up 6 Blessed be the Lord because he hath heard the voice of my supplications 7 The Lord is my strength my shield my heart trusted in him and I am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoyceth and with my song will I praise him 8 The Lord is their strength and he is the saving strength of his annointed 9 Save thy people and bless thine inheritance feed them also and lift them up for ever Psalm xxix A Psalm of David 1 GIve unto the Lord O ye mighty give unto the Lord glory and strength 2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters the God of glory thundereth the Lord is upon many waters 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful the voice of the Lord is full of Majestie 5 The voice of the Lord breaketh Cedars yea the Lord breaketh the Cedars of Lebanon 6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn 7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire 8 The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadâ—sh 9 The voice of the Lord maketh the Hinds to calve and discovereth the forrests and in
his temple doth every one speak of his glorie 10 The Lord sitteth upon the floud yea the Lord sitteth King for ever 11 The Lord will give strength unto his people the Lord will bless his people with peaâ—e Psalm xxx A Psalm and song at the dedication of the house of David 1 I Will extol thee O Lord for thou hast lifted me up and hast not made my foes to rejoyce over me 2 O Lord my God I cried unto thee and thou hast healed me 3 O Lord thou hast brought up my soul from the grave thou hast kept me alive that I should not go down to the pit 4 Sing unto the Lord O ye saints of his and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness 5 For his anger endureth but a moment in his favour is life weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning 6 And in my prosperitie I said I should never be moved 7 Lord by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled 8 I cried to thee O Lord and unto the Lord I made supplication 9 What profit is there in my bloud when I go down to the pit shall the dust praise thee shall it declare thy truth 10 Hear O Lord and have mercie upon me Lord be thou mine helper 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness 12 To the end that my glorie may sing praise to thee and not be silent O Lord my God I will give thanks unto thee for ever Psalm xxxi To the chief musician A Psalm of David 1 IN thee O Lord do I put my trust let me never be ashamed deliver me in thy righteousnes 2 Bow down thine ear to me deliver me speedily be thou my strong rock for an house of defence to save me 3 For thou art my rock and my fortress therefore for thy name sake lead me and guid me 4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me for thou art my strength 5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth 6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities but I trust in the Lord. 7 I will be glâ—d and rejoyce in thy mercie for thou hast considered my trouble thou hast known my soul in adversities 8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemie thou hast set my feet in a large room 9 Have mercie upon me O Lord for I am in trouble mine eye is consumed with grief yea my soul and my belly 10 For my life is spent with grief and my years with sighing my strength faileth because of mine iniquitie and my bones are consumed 11 I was a reproch among all mine enemies but especially among my neighbours and a fear to mine acquaintance they that did see me without sled from me 12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind I am like a broken vessel 13 For I have heard the slaunder of many fear was on every side while they took counsel together against me they devised to take away my life 14 But I trusted in thee O Lord I said Thou art my God 15 My times are in thy hand deliver me from the hand of mine enemies and from them that persecute me 16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant save me for thy mercies sake 17 Let me not be ashamed O Lord for I have called upon thee let the wicked be ashamed and let them be silent in the grave 18 Let the lying lips be put to silence which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous 19 O how great is thy goodnes which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee whâ—ch thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sâ—ns of men 20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues 21 Blessed be the Lord for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong citie 22 For I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes nevertheless thou hearest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee 23 O love the Lord all ye his saints for the Lord preserveth the faithful and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer 24 Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the Lord. Psalm xxxii A Psalm of David Maschil 1 BLessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquitie and in whose spirit there is no guil 3 When I kept silence my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long 4 For day and night thy hand was heavie upon me my moisture is turned into the drought of summer Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee and mine iniquitie have I not hid I said I will confess my transgression unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquitie of my sin Selah 6 For this shall every one that is Godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found surely in the flouds of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him 7 Thou art my hiding place thou shalt preserve me from trouble thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance Selah 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go I will guid thee with mine eye 9 Be ye not as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding whose mouths must be held in with bit and bridle lest they come near unto thee 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked but he that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall compass him about 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upâ—ight in heart Psalm xxxiii 1 REjoyce in the Lord O ye righteous for praise is comely for the upright 2 Praise the Lord with harp sing unto him with the psalterie and an instrument of ten strings 3 Sing unto him a new song play skilfully with a loud noise 4 For the word of the Lord is right and all his works are done in truth 5 He loveth righteousness and judgement the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 6 By the word of the Lord weâ—e the heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap he layeth up the depth in store houses 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him 9 For he spake and it was done he commanded and it stood fast 10 The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought he maketh the devices of the people of none effect 11 The
are multiplied 20 They also that render evil for good are mine aduersaries because I follow the thing that good is 21 Forsake me not O Lord O my God be not far from me 22 Make hast to help me O Lord my salvation Psalm xxxvi To the chief musician even to Jeduthun A Psalm of David 1 I Said I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me 2 I was dumb with silence I held my peace even from good and my sorrow was stirred 3 My heart was hot within me while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my tongue 4 Lord make me to know mine end and the measure of my dayes what it is that I may know how frail I am 5 Behold thou hast made my dayes as an hand-bredth and mine age is as nothing before thee verily every man at his best state is altogether vanitie Selah 6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew surely they are disquieted in vain he heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them 7 And now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions make me not the reproch of the foolish 9 I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it 10 Remove thy stroke away from me I am consumed by the blow of thine hand 11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquitie thou makest his beautie to consume away like a moth surely every man is vanitie Selah 12 Hear my prayer O Lord and give ear unto my cry hold not thy peace at my tears for I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner as all my fathers were 13 O spare me that I may recover strength before I go hence be no more Psalm xl To the chief musician A Psalm of David 1 I waited patiently for the Lord and he enclined unto me and heard my cry 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit out of the mirie clay and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth even praise unto our God many shall see it and fear shall trust in the Lord. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust and respecteth not the proud nor such as turn aside to lies 5 Many O Lord my God are thy wonderfull works which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to us-ward they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee If I would declare speak of them they are more than can be numbred 6 Sacrifice offering thou didst not desire mine ears hast thou opened burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required 7 Then said I Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me 8 I delight to do thy will O my God yea thy law is within my heart 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation so I have not refrained my lips O Lord thou knowst 10 I have not hid thy righteousnes within my heart I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation 11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me O Lord let thy loving kindness and thy truth continually preserve me 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up they are more than the hairs of mine head therefore mine heart faileth me 13 Be pleased O Lord to deliver me O Lord make hast to help me 14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil 15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me Aha Aha 16 Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee let such as love thy salvation say continually the Lord be magnified 17 But I am poor and needy yet the Lord thinketh upon me thou art my help my deliverer make no tarrying O my God Psalm xl To the chief musician A Psalm of David 1 BLessed is he that considereth the poor the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble 2 The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed upon the earth and thou wilt not deliver him into the will of his enemies 3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness 4 I said Lord be merciful unto me heal my soul for I have sinned against thee 5 Mine enemies speak evil of me when shall he die and his name perish 6 And if he come to see me he speaketh vanity his heart gathereth iniquity to it self when he goeth abroad he telleth it 7 All that hate me whisper together against me against me do they devise my hurt 8 An evil disease say they cleaveth fast unto him and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more 9 Yea mine own familiar friend in whō I trusted which did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me 10 But thou O Lord be merciful unto me and raise me up that I may requite them 11 By this I know that thou favourest me because mine enemy doth not triumph over me 12 And as for me thou upholdest me in mine integrity and settest me before thy face for ever 13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting and to everlasting Amen and Amen Psalm xlii To the chief musician Maschil for the sons of Korah 1 As the Hart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God 2 My soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God 3 My tears have been my meat day and night while they continually say unto me where is thy God 4 When I remember these things I pour out my soul in me for I had gone with the multitude I went with them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with a multitude that kept holy-day 5 Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted in me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance 6 O my God my soul is cast down within me therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites from the hill Mizar 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water-spouts all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me 8 Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time and in the night his song shall be with me and my prayer unto the God of my life 9 I will sing unto God my rock why hast thou forgotten me why go I mourning because of the oppression of the
enemy 10 As with a sword in my bones mine enemies reproach me while they say dayly unto me where is thy God 11 Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him Psalm xliii 1 JUdge me O God plead my cause against an ungodly nation O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man 2 For thou art the God of my strength why dost thou cast me off why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy 3 O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy holy hill and to thy tabernacles 4 Then will I go unto the altar of God unto God my exceeding joy yea upon the harp will I praise thee O God my God 5 Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Psalm xliv To the chief musician for the sonnes of Korah Maschil 1 WE have heard with our ears O God our fathers have told us what work thou didst in their days in the times of old 2 How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand and plantedst them how thou didst afflict the people and cast them out 3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword neither did their own arm save them but thy right hand and thine arm and the light of thy countenance because thou hadst a favour unto them 4 Thou art my King O God command deliverances for Jacob. 5 Through thee will we push down our enemies through thy name will we tread them undâ—r that rise up against us 6 For I will not trust in my bow neither shall my sword save me 7 But thou hast saved us from our enemies hast put them to shame that hated us 8 In God we boast all the day long and praise thy name for ever Selah 9 But thou hast cast off put us to shame and goest not forth with our armies 10 Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy they which hate us spoil for themselves 11 Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat and hast scattered us among the heathen 12 Thou sellest thy people for nought and dost not increase thy wealth by their price 13 Thou makest us a reproch to our neighbours a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us 14 Thou makest us a by-word among the heathen a shaking of the head among the people 15 My confusion is continually before me and the shame of my face hath covered me 16 For the voâ—â—e of him that reprocheth and blasphemeth by reason of the enemie and avenger 17 All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy covenant 18 Our heart is not turned back neither have our steps deâ—lined from thy way 19 Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons and covered us with the shadow of death 20 If we have forgotten the name of our God or stretched out our hands to a strange God 21 Shall not God search this out for he knoweth the secrets of the heart 22 Yea for thy sake are we killed all the day long we are counted as sheep for the slaughter 23 Awake why sleepest thou O Lord arise cast us not off for ever 24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our affliction and our oppression 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust our belly cleaveth unto the earth 26 Arise for our help and redeem us for thy mercie sake The xlv Psalm To the chief musician upon Shoshannim for the sons of Korah Maschil A song of loves 1 MY heart is enditing a good matter I speak of the things which I have made touching the King my tongue is the pen of a ready writer 2 Thou art fairer than the children of men grace is poured into thy lips therefore God hath blessed thee for ever 3 Gird thy sword upon thy high O most mightie with thy glorie and thy majestie 4 And in thy majestie ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things 5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the Kings enâ—mies whereby the people fall under thee 6 Thy throne O God is for ever and ever the scepter of thy Kingdom is a right scepter 7 Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness therefore God thy God hath annointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows 8 All thy garments smell of myrrh and a loes and caslia out of the ivory palaces whereby they have made thee glad 9 Kings daughters were among thy honourable women upon thy right hand did stand the Queen in gold of Ophir 10 Hearken O daughter and consider and encline thine ear forget all thine own people and thy fathers house 11 So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty for he is thy Lord and worship thou him 12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour 13 The Kings daughter is all glorious within her clothing is of wrought gold 14 She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needle work the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee 15 With gladness and reâ—oycing shall they be brought they shall enter inâ—o the Kings place 16 In stead of thy fathers shall be thy children whom thou maiest make princes in all the earth 17 I will make thy name to be remembred in all Generations therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever Psalm xlvi To the chief musician for the sons of Korah A song upon Alamoth 1 GOd is our refuge strength a very present help in trouble 2 Therefore will not we fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof Selah 4 There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the Citie of God the holy place of the tabernacles of the most high 5 God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and that right early 6 The heathen raged the Kingdoms were moved he uttered his voice the earth melted 7 The Lord of hosts is with uâ— the God of Jacob is our refuge Selah 8 Come behold the works of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth he breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear insunder he burneth the chariot in the fire 10 Be still and know that I am God I will be exalted among the heathen I will be exalted in the earth 11 The
Lord of hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Selah Psalm xlvii To the chief musician A Psalm for the sons of Korah 1 O Clap your hands all ye people shout unto God with the voice of triumph 2 For the Lord most high is terrible he is a great King over all the earth 3 He shall subdue the people under us and the nations under our feet 4 For he shall chuse our inheritance for us the excellencie of Jacob whom he loved Selah 5 God is gone up with a shout The Lord with the sound of a trumpet 6 Sing praises to God sing praises sing praises unto our King sing praises 7 For God is the King of all the earth sing ye praises with understanding 8 God reigneth over the heathen God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness 9 The Princes of the people are gathered together even the people of the God of Abraham for the shields of the earth belong unto God he is greatly exalted Psalm xlviii A song and Psalm for the sonnes of Korah 1 GReat is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the Citie of our God in the mountain of his holiness 2 Beautifull for scituation the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion on the sides of the North the Citie of the great King 3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge 4 For â—o the Kings were assembled they passed by together 5 They saw it and so thâ—y marvelled they were troubled and hasted away 6 Fear took hold upon them there and pain as of a womaâ— in travell 7 Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an Eastwind 8 As we have heard so have we seen in the Citie of the Lord of hosts in the Citie of our God God will establish it for ever Selah 10 We have thought of thy loving kindness O God in the midst of thy Temple 10 According to thy name O God so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth thy right hand is full of righteousness 11 Let mount Sion rejoyce let the daughters of Judah be glad because of thy judgements 12 Walk about Sion and go round about her tell the towers thereof 13 Mark ye well her bulwarks consider her palaces that ye may tell it to the generation following 14 For this God is our God for ever and ever he will be our guid even unto death Psalm xlix To the chief musician A Psalm for the sons of Korah 1 HEar this all ye people give ear all ye inhabitants of the world 2 Both low high rich poor together 3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding 4 I will encline mine ear to a parable I will open my dark saying upon the Harp 5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil when the iniquity of mine heels shall compass me about 6 They that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother nor give to God a ransom for him 8 For the redemption of their soul is precious and it ceaseth for ever 9 That he should still live for ever and not see corruption 10 For he seeth that wise men die likewise the fool and the brutish person perish 11 Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever and their dwelling places to all generations they call their lands after their own names 12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not he is like the beasts that perish 13 This their way is their folly yet their posterity approve their sayings Selah 14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave death shall feâ—d on them and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave for he shall receive me Selah 16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich when the glory of his house is increased 17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away his glory shall not descend after him 18 Though whilst he lived he blessed his soul and mâ—n will praise thee when thou dost well to thy self 19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers they shall never see light 20 Man that is in honour and understandeth not is like the beasts that perish Psalm l. A Psalm of Asaph 1 THe mighty God even the Lord hath spoken called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof 2 Out of Sion the perfection of beauty God hath shined 3 Our God shall come and shall not keep silence a fire shall devour before him and it shall be very tempestuous round about him 4 He shall call to the heavens from above and to the earth that he may judge his people 5 Gather my saints together unto me those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice 6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness for God is judge himself Selah 7 Hear O my people and I will speakâ— O Israel and I will testifie against thee I am God even thy God 8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt-offerings to have been continually before me 9 I will take no Bullock out of thy house nor He-Goats out of thy folds 10 For every beast of the forrest is mine and the cattell upon a thousand hills 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains and the wild beasts of the field are mine 12 If I be hungry I would not tell thee for the world is mine the fulness thereof 13 Will I eat the flesh of Bulls or drink the bloud of goats 14 Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most high 15 And call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me 16 But unto the wicked God saith what hast thou to do to declare my statures or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth 17 Seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee 18 When thou sawest a thief then thou consentedst with him and hast been partaker with adulterers 19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil and thy tongue frameth deceit 20 Thou â—iâ—test and speakest against thy brother thou slanderest thine own mothers sonne 21 These things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine eyes 22 Now consider this ye that forget God least I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver 23 Who so offereth praise glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Psalm li. To the chief musician A Psalm of David when Nathan the Prophet came unto him after he had gone in to
strength is in the clouds 35 O God thou art terrible out of thy holy places the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people blessed be God Psalm lxix To the chief musician upon Shoshannim A Psalm of David 1 SAve me O God for the waters are come in unto my soul. 2 I sink in deep mire where there is no standing I am come into deep waters where the flouds overflow me 3 I am weary of my crying my throat is dried mine eyes fail while I wait for my God 4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head they that would destroy me being mine enemies wrongfully are mighty then I restored that which I took not away 5 O God thou knowest my foolishness and my sins are not hid from thee 6 Let not them that wait on thee O Lord God of hosts be ashamed for my sake let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake O God of Israel 7 Because for thy sake I have born reproach shame hath covered my face 8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren and an aliant unto my mothers children 9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up and the reproaches of them that 10 When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting that was to my reproach 11 I made sack-cloth also my garment and I became a proverb to them 12 They that sit in the gate spake against me and I was the song of the drunkards 13 But as for me my prayer is unto thee O Lord in an acceptable time O God in the multitude of thy mercy hear me in the truth of thy salvation 14 Deliver me out of the mire and let me not sink let me be delivered from them that hate me and out of the deep waters 15 Let not the water â—loud overflow me neither let the deep swallow me up and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me 16 Hear me O Lord for thy loving kindness is good turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies 17 And hide not thy face from thy servant for I am in trouble here me speedily 18 Draw nigh unto my soul and redeem it deliver me because of mine enemies 19 Thou hast known my reproach and my shame and my dishonour mine adversaries are all before thee 20 Reproach hath broken my heart and I am full of heaviness and I looked for some to take pitie but there was none for comforters but I found none 21 They gave me also gall for my meat and in my thirst they gave me vineger to drink 22 Let their table become a sâ—are before them and that which should have been for their welfare let it become a trap 23 Let their eyes be darkned that they see not and make their Ioiâ—es continually to shake 24 Pour out thine indignation upon them and let thy wrathfull angâ—r take hold of them 25 Let their habitation be desolate and let none dwell in their tents 26 For they pâ—rsecute him whom thou hast smitten and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded 27 Adde iniquitie to their iniquitie and let them not come into righteousness 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living and not be written with the righteous 29 But I am poor and sorrowfull let thy salvation O God set me up on high 30 I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnifie him with thanksgiving 31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs 32 The humble shall see this and be glad and your heart shall live that seek God 33 For the Lord heareth the poore and despiseth not his prisoners 34 Let the heaven and earth praise him the seas and every thing that moveth therein 35 For God will save Sion and will build the Cities of Judah that they may dwell there and have it in possession 36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit and they that love his name shall dwell therein Psalm lxx To the chief musician A Psalm made by David to bring to remembrance 1 MAke hast O God to deliver me make hast to help me O Lord. 2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soule let them be turned backward and put to confusion that desire my hurt 3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say Aha Aha 4 Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee and let such as love thy salvation say continually Let God be magnified 5 But I am poor and needy make hast unto me O God thou art my help and my deliverer O Lord make no tarrying Psalm lxxi 1 IN thee O Lord do I put my trust let me never be put to confusion 2 Deliver me in thy righteousness and cause me to escape incline thine ear unto me and save me 3 Be thou my strong habitation whereunto I may continually resort thou hast given commandment to save me for thou art my rock and my fortress 4 Deliver me O my God out of the hand of the wicked out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man 5 For thou art my hope O Lord God thou art my trust from my youth 6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb thou art he that took me out of my mothers bowels my praise shall be continually of thee 7 I am as a wonder unto many but thou art my strong refuge 8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day 9 Cast me not off in the time of old age forsake me not when my strength faileth 10 For mine enemies speak against me and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together 11 Saying God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him 12 O God be not far from me O my God make hast for my help 13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt 14 But I will hope continually and will yet praise thee more and more 15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day for I know not the numbers thereof 16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God I will make mention of thy righteousness even of thine onely 17 O God thou hast taught me from my youth and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works 18 Now also when I am old and gray-headed O God forsake me not until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation and thy power to every one that is to come 19 Thy righteousness also O God is very high who hast done great things O God who is like unto thee 20 Thou which hast shewed me great and sore troubles shalt quicken me again
day is thine the night also is thine thou hast prepared the light and the sun 17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth thou hast made summer and winter 18 Remember this that the enemy hath reproched O Lord and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name 19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the wicked forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever 20 Have respect unto the covenant for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of crueltie 21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed let the poor and needy praise thy name 22 Arise O God plead thine own cause remember how the foolish man reprocheth thee dayly 23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually Psalm lxxv To the chief musician Al-taschith A psalm or song of or for Asaph 1 UNto thee O God do we give thanks unto thee do we give thanks for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare 2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly 3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved I bear up the piâ—lars of it Selah 4 I said unto the fools deal not foolishly and to the wicked lift not up your horn 5 Lift not up your horn on high speak not with a stiff neck 6 For promotion cometh neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south 7 But God is the judge he putteth down one and setteth up another 8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup and the wine is red it is full of mixture and he poureth out of the same but the dregs thereof all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out and drink them 9 But I will declare for ever I will sing praise to the God of Jacob. 10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut oâ—f but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted Psalm lxxvi To the chief musician on Neginoth a Psalm or song of or for Asaph 1 IN Judah is God known his name is great in Israel 2 In Salem also is his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Sion 3 There brake he the arrows of the bow the shield and the sword and the battell Selah 4 Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey 5 The stout-hearted are spoiled they have slept their sleep and none of the men of might have found their hands 6 At thy rebuke O God of Jacob both the charriot and the horse are cast into a dead sleep 7 Thou even thou art to be feared and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry 8 Thou didst cause iudgement to be heard from heaven the earth feared and was still 9 When God arose to judgement to save all the meek of the earth Selah 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain 11 Vow and pay unto the Lord your God let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared 12 He shall cut off the spirit of Princes he is terrible to the Kings of the earth Psalm lxxvii To the chief musiâ—ian to Jeduthun A Psalm of Asaph 1 I cried unto God with my voice even unto God with my voice and he gave car unto me 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord my sore ran in the night and ceased not my soul refused to be comforted 3 I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed Selah 4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking I am so troubled that I cannot speak 5 I have considered the days of old the years of auncient times 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night I commune with my own heart and my spirit made diligent searâ—h 7 Will the Lord cast off for ever and will he be favourable no more 8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever doth his promise fail for evermore 9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies Selah 10 And I said this is my infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high 11 I will remember the works of the Lord surely I will remember thy wonders of old 12 I will meditate also of all thy work and talk of thy doings 13 Thy way O God is in the sanctuary who is so great a God as our God 14 Thou art the God that doest wonders thou hast declared thy strength among the people 15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people the sons of Jacob and Joseph Selah 16 The waters saw thee O God the waters saw thee they were afraid tâ—e deptâ—s also were troubled 17 The clouds poured out water the skies sent out a sound thine arrows also went abroad 18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven the lightnings lightned the world the earth trembled and shook 19 Thy way is in the sea and thy path in the great waters thy foot-steps are not known 20 Thou ledest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses Aaron Psalm lxxviii Maschil of or for Asaph 1 GIve ear O my people to my law encline your ears to the words of my mouth 2 I will open my mouth in a parable I will utter dark sayings of old 3 Which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us 4 We will not hide them from their children shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord and his strength and his wonderfull works that he hath done 5 For he established a testimony in Jaâ—ob and apâ—ointed a law in Israel which he commanded our fathers that they should make them known to their children 6 That the generation to come might know them even the children which should be born who should arise declare them to their children 7 That they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his commandments 8 And might not be as their fathers a stubbourn and rebellious generation a generation that set not their hearts aright and whose spirit was not stedfast with God 9 The children of Ephraim being armed and carrying bowes turned back in the day of battel 10 They kept not the covenant of God and refused to walk in his law 11 And forgat his works and his wonders that he had shewed them 12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt in the field of Zoan 13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through and he made the waters to stand as a heap 14 In the day time also he led them with a cloud and all the night with a light of fire 15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as out of the great depths 16 He brought streams
die 12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom the reproch wherewith they have reproched thee O Lord. 13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever we will shew forth thy praise to all generations Psalm lxxx To the chief musician upon Shoshannim-Edush A psalm of or for Asaph 1 GIve ear O shepheard of Israel thou that leadest Joseph like a flock thou that dwellest between the Cheâ—â—bims shine forth 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength and come and save us 3 Turn us again O God and cause thy face to shineâ— and we shall be saved 4 O Lord God of hosts how long wilt thou be angrie against the prayer of thy people 5 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears and givest them tears to drink in great measure 6 Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours and our enemies laugh among themselves 7 Turn us again O God of hosts and cause thy face to shine and we shall be saved 8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it 9 Thou preparedst room before it and didst cause it to take deep root and it filled the land 10 The hills were covered with the shadow of it and the boughs thereof were like the goodly Cedars 11 She sent out her boughs unto the sea and her branches unto the river 12 Why hast thou then broken down her hedges so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her 13 The boar out of the wood doth wast it and the wild beast of the field doth devour it 14 Return we beseech thee O God of hosts look down from heaven and behold and viâ—it tâ—is vine 15 And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted and the branch which thou madest strong for thy self 16 It is burnt with fire it is cut down they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance 17 Lâ—t thy hand be upon the man oâ— thy right hand upon the son of man whom 〈◊〉 madest strong for thy self 18 So will not we go back from thee quicken us we will call upon thy name 19 Turn us again O Lord God of hosts cause thy face to shine and we shall be saved Psalm lxxxi To the chief musician upon Gittith A Psalm of Asaph 1 SIng aloud unto God ourstrength make a joyfull noise unto the God of jacob 2 Take a Psalm bring hither the timbrel the pleasant harp with the Psaltery 3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon in the time appointed on our solemn feaâ—t day 4 For this was a statute for Israel and a law of the God of Jacob. 5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony when he went out through the land of Egypt where I heard a language that I understood not 6 I removed his shoulder from the burden his hands were delivered from the pots 7 Thou calledst in trouble and I delivered thee I answered thee in the secret place of thunder I proved thee at the waters of Meribah Selah 8 Hear O my people and I will testifie unto thee O Israel if thou wilt hearken unto me 9 There shall no strange God be in thee neither shalt thou worship any strange God 10 I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt open thy mouth wide and I will fill it 11 But my people would not hearken to my voice and Israel would none of me 12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts lust and they walked in their own counsels 13 O that my people had hearkned unto me and Israel had walked in my ways 14 I should soon have subdued their enemies and turned my hand against their adversaries 15 The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him but their time should have endured for ever 16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied them Psalm lxxxii A Psalm of Asaph 1 GOd standeth in the congregation of the mighty he judgeth among the Gods 2 How long will ye judge unjustly and accept the perâ—ons of the wicked Selah 3 Defend the poor and fatherless do justice to the afflicted and needy 4 Deliver the poor and needy rid them out of the hand of the wicked 5 They know not neither will they understand they walk on in darkness all the foundations of the earth are out of course 6 I have said ye are Gods and all of you are children of the most high 7 But ye shall die like men and fall like one of the Princes 8 Arise O God judge the earth for thou shalt inherit all nations Psalm lxxiii A song or Psalm or or for Asaph 1 KEep not thou silence O God hold not thy peace and be not still O God 2 For lo thine enemies make a tumult and they that hate thee have lift up the head 3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people and consulted against thy hidden ones 4 They have said come and let us cut them off from being a nation that the name of Israel may be no more is remembrance 5 For they have consulted together with one consent they are confederate against thee 6 The Tabernacles of Edom and the Ishmaelites of Moab and the Hagarens 7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre 8 Assur also is joyned with them they have holpen the children of Lot Selah 9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites as â—o Sisera as to Jabin at the brooks of Kâ—son 10 Which perished at En-dor they became as dung for the earth 11 Make their Nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb yea all their Princes as Zebah and as Zalmunna 12 Who said let us take to our selves the houses of God in possession 13 O my God make them like a wheel as the stubble before the wind 14 As the fire burneth the wood and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire 15 So persecute them with thy tempest and make them afraid with thy storm 16 Fill their faces with shame that they may seek thy name O Lord. 17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever yea let them be put to shame and perish 18 That men may know that thou whole name alone is Iehovah art them â—st high over all the earth Psalm lxxxiv To the chief musician upon Gittith A Psalm for the sons of Korah 1 HOw amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts 2 My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God 3 Yea the sparrow hath found an house the swallow a nest for her self where she may lay her young even thine Altar O Lord of hosts my King and my God 4 Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will be still praising thee
Lord a new song sing unto the Lord all the earth 2 Sing unto the Lord bless his name shew forth his salvation from day to day 3 Declare his glory among the heathen his wonders among all people 4 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised he is to be feared above all gods 5 For all the gods of the naâ—ions are idols but the Lord made the heavens 6 Honour and majestie are before him strength and beautie are in his sanctuarie 7 Give unto the Lord O ye kindreds of the people give unto the Lord glorie and strength 8 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name bring an offering and come into his courts 9 O worship the Lord in the beautie of holiness fear before him all the earth 10 Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved he shall judge the people righteously 11 Let the heavens rejoyce and let the earth be glad let the sea roar and the fulness thereof 12 Let the field be joyfull and all that is therein then shall all the trees of the wood rejoyce 13 Before the Lord for he cometh for he cometh to judge the earth he shall judge the world with righteousness and the people with his truth Psalm xcvii 1 THe Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce let the multitude of Isles be glad thereof 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him righteousness judgement are the habitations of his throne 3 A fire goeth before him and burneth up his enemies round about 4 His lightenings enlightned the world the earth saw and trembled 5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth 6 The heavens declare his righteousnes and all the people â—ee his glory 7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images that boast themselves of idols worship him all ye gods 8 Sion heard was glad and the daughters of Judah rejoyced because of thy judgements O Lord. 9 For thou Lord art high above all the earth thou art exalted far above all Gods 10 Ye that love the Lord hate evil he preserveth the souls of his Saints he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked 11 Light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart 12 Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous give thanks at the remembrance of his holinesâ— Psalm xcviii A Psalm 1 O sing unto the Lord a new song for he hath done marvellous things his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten himself the victory 2 The Lord hath made known his salvation his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen 3 He hath remembred his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God 4 Make a joyfull noise unto the Lord all the earth make a loud noise and rejoyce and sing praise 5 Sing unto the Lord with the harp with the harp and the voice of a Psalm 6 With trumpets sound of corner make a joyfull noise before the Lord the King 7 Let the sea roar the fulness thereof the world and they that dwell therein 8 Let the flouds clap their hands let the hils be joyful together 9 Before the Lord for he cometh to judge the earth with righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equitie Psalm xcix 1 THe Lord reigneth let the people tremble he sitteth between the cherubims let the earth be moved 2 The Lord is great in Sion and he is high above all people 3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name for it is holy 4 The Kings strength also loveth judgement thou doest establish equity thou executest judgement and righteousness in Jacob 5 Exalt ye the Lord your God and worship at his foot-stool for he is holy 6 Moses and Aaron among his Priests and Samuel among them that call upon his name they called upon the Lord and he answered them 7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar they kept his testimonies and the ordinance that he gave them 8 Thou answeredst them O Lord our God thou wast a God that forgavest them though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions 9 Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy hill for the Lord our God is holy A psalm of praise 1 MAke a joyfull noise unto the Lord all ye lands 2 Serve the Lord with gladness come before his presence with singing 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God it is he that hath made us and not we our selves we are his people and the sheep of his pasture 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise be thankfull unto him bless his name 5 For the Lord is good his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations Psalm ci A Psalm of David 1 I will sing of mercy judgement unto thee O Lord will I sing 2 I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way O when wilt thou come unto me 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes I hate the work of them that turn aside 4 A froward heart shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person 5 Who so privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer 6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me 7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight 8 I will early destroy all the wiâ—ked of the land that I may cut off all wicked doers from the citie of the Lord. Psalm cii A Prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed pourâ—th out his complaints before the Lord. 1 HEar my prayer O Lord and let my cry come unto thee 2 Hide not thy â—ace from me in the day that I am in trouble encline thine ear unto me in the day when I call answer me speedily 3 For my dayes are consumed like smoak my bones are burnt as an hearth 4 My heart is smittâ—â— and withered like grass so that I forget to eat my bread 5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin 6 I am like a Pelican of the wilderness I am like an Owl of the desert 7 I watch and anâ— as a sparrow alone upon the house top 8 Mine enemies reproch me all the day and they that are mad against me are sworn against me 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping 10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath for thou hast lifted me up and cast me down 11 My dayes are like a shadow that declineth
and I am withered like grass 12 But thou O Lord shalt endure for ever and thy remembrance unto all generations 13 Thou shalt arise and have mercie upon Sion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come 14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof 15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord and all the Kings of the earth thy glorie 16 When the Lord shall build Sion he shall appear in his glorie 17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer 18 This shall be written for the generation to come and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. 19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuarie from heaven did the Lord behold the earth 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner to loose those that are appointed to death 21 To declare the name of the Lord in Sion and his praise in Jerusalem 22 When the people are gathered together and the Kingdoms to serve the Lord. 23 He weakened my strength in the way he shortned my dayes 24 I said O my God take me not away in the midst of my daie 2 Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed as the Eagles 6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgement for all that are oppressed 7 He made known his wayes unto Moses his acts unto the children of Israel 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy 9 He will not allwayes chide neither will he keep his anger for ever 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercie toward them that fear him 12 As far as the East is from the West so far hath he removeth our transgressions from us 13 Like as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him 14 For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are dust 15 As for man his dayes are as grass as a flower of the field so he flourisheth 16 For the wind passeth over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more 17 But the mercie of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him and his righteousness unto childrens children 18 To such as keep his Covenant and to those that remember his commandments to do them 19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his Kingdom ruleth over all 20 Bless the Lord ye his angels that excel in strength that do his commandments hearkening unto the voice of his word 21 Bless ye the Lord all ye his hosts ye ministers of his that do his pleasure 22 Bless the Lord all his works in all places of his dominion bless the Lord O my soul. Psalm civ 1 BLess the Lord O my soul O Lord my God thou art very great thou art clothed with honour and Majestie 2 Who coverest thy self with light as with a garment who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain 3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters who maketh the clouds his chariot who walketh upon the wings of the wind 4 Who maketh his angels spirits his ministers a flaming â—ire 5 Who laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed for ever 6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment the waters stood above the mountains 7 At thy rebuke they fled at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away 8 They go up by the mountains they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them 9 Thou hast set a bound that they may may not pass over that they turn not again to cover the earth 10 He sendeth the springs into the valleys which run among the hils 11 They give drink to every beast of the field the wild asses quench their thirst 12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation which sing among the branches 13 He watereth the hils from his chambers the earth is satisfied with the fruit of his works 14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattel and hearb for the service of man that he may bring forth food out of the earth 15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man and oyl to make his face to shine and bread which strengtheneth mans heart 16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap the Cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted 17 Where the birds make their nests as for the stork the fir-trees are her house 18 The high hils are a refuge for the wild Goats and the rocks for the conies 19 He appointeth the moon for seasons the sun knoweth his going down 20 Thou makest darkness and it is night wherein all the beasts of the forrest do creep forth 21 The young lions roar after their prey and seek their meat from God 22 The sun ariseth they gather themselves together and lay them down in their dens 23 Man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening 24 O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches 25 So is the great and wide sea wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great 26 There go the ships there is that Leviathan whom thou hast made to play therein 27 These wait all upon thee that thou maist give them their meat in due season 28 That thou givest them they gather thou openest thine hand they are filled with good 29 Thou hidest thy face they are troubled thou takest away their breath they die and return to their dust 30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit they are created and thou renewest the face of the earth 31 The glorie of the Lord shall endure for ever the Lord shall rejoyce in his works 32 He looketh on the earth and it trembleth he toucheth the hills and they smoak 33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live I will sing praise unto my God while I have my being 34 My meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord. 35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth and let the wicked be no more bless thou the Lord O my soul. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm cv 1 O Give thanks unto the Lord call upon his name make known his deeds among the people 2 Sing unto him sing Psalms unto him talk ye of all his wonderous works 3 Glorie ye in his holy name let the heart of them rejoyce that â—ear the Lord. 4 Seek
polluted with bloud 39 Thus were theâ— defiled with their own works and went a whoring with their own inventions 40 Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people insomuch as he abhorred his own inheritanâ—e 41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen and they that hated them ruled over them 42 Their enemies also oppressed them they were brought into subjection under their hand 43 Many times did he deliver them but they provoked him with their counsel and were brought low for their iniquitie 44 Nevertheless he regarded their affliction when he heard their crie 45 And he remembred for them his Covenant and repented according to the multitude of his mercies 46 He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives 47 Save us O Lord our God and gather us from among the heathen to give thanks unto thy holy name and to triumph in thy praise 48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting let all the people say Amen Praise ye the Lord. 1 O Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercie endureth for ever 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so whom he hath redeemed from the hands of the enemy 3 And gathered them out of the lands from the East and from the West from the North and from the South 4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitarie way they found no Citie to dwell in 5 Hungrie and thirstie their soul fainted in them 6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them out of their distresses 7 And he led them forth by the right way that they might go to a Citie of habitation 8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men 9 For he satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness 10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death being bound in affliction and iron 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God and contemned the counsel of the most high 12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour they fell down and there was none to help 13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble and he saved them out of their distresses 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and brake their bands in sunder 15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children ofmen 16 For he hath broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in â—â—nder 17 Fools because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities are afflicted 18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat and they draw near unto the gates of death 19 Then they crie unto the Lord in their trouble he saveth them out of their distresses 20 He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction 21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men 22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanks-giving and declare his works with rejoycing 23 They that go down to the sea in ships that do business in great waters 24 These see the works of the Lord â—nd his wonders in the deep 25 For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind which lifteth up the waves thereof 26 They mount up to the heaven they go down again to the depths their soul is melted because of trouble 27 They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wits end 28 Then they crie unto the Lord in their trouble and he bringeth them out of their distresses 29 He maketh the storm a calm so that the waves thereof are still 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet so he bringeth them unto their desired haven 31 Ohâ— that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderfull works to the children of men 32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of the elders 33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness and the water-springs into drie ground 34 A fruitful land into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein 35 He turned the wilderness into a standing water and drie ground into water-springs 36 And there he maketh the hungrie to dwell that they may prepare a Citie for habitation 37 And sow the fields and plant vineyards which may yield fruits of increase 38 He blesseth them also so that they are multiplied greatly suffereth not their cattel to decrease 39 Again they are minished and brought low through oppression affliction and sorrow 40 He poureth contempt upon Princes and causeth them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way 41 Yet setteth he the poor on high and maketh him families like a â—lock 42 The righteous shall see it and rejoyce and all iniquitie shall stop her mouth 43 Who so is wise and will observe those things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. Psalm cviii A Song or Psalm of David 1 O God my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise even with my glorie 2 Awake Psalterie and harp I my self will awake early 3 I will praise thee O Lord among the People and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations 4 For thy mercie is great above the heavens and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds 5 Be thou exalted O God above the heavens and thy glorie above all the earth 6 That thy beloved may be delivered save with thy right hand and answer me 7 God hath spoken in his holiness I will rejoyce I will divide Sechem and meet out the valley of Succoth 8 Gilead is mine Manasseh is mine Ephraim also is the strength of mine head Judah is my law-giver 9 Moab is my wash-pot over Edom will I cast my shoe over Philistia will I triumph 10 Who will bring me into the strong citie who will lead me into Edom. 11 Wilt not thou O God who hast cast us off and wilt not thou O God go foâ—th with our hosts 12 Give us help from trouble for vain is the help of man 13 Through God we shall do valiantly for he it is that shall tread down our enemies Psalm cix To the chief musitian A Psalm of David 1 HOld not thy thy peace O God of my praise 2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceiptful are opened against me they have spoken against me with a lying tongue 3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred and fought against me without a cause 4 For my love they are mine advâ—rsaries but I give my self unto prayer 5 And they have rewarded me evil for good and hatred for my love 6 Set thou a wicked man over him and lâ—t
Satan stand at his right hand 7 When he shall be judged let him be condemned and let his prayer become sin 8 Let his daies be few and let another take his office 9 Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow 10 Let his children be continual vagabonds and beg let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places 11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath and let the stranger spoil his labour 12 Let there be none to extend mercie unto him neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children 13 Let his posterity be cut off and in the generation following let their name be blotted out 14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembred of the Lord and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out 15 Let them be before the Lord continually that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth 16 Because that he remembered not to shew mercie but persecuted the poor and needy man that he might even slay the broken in heart 17 As he loved cursing so let it come unto him as he delighted not in blessing so let it be far from him 18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with a garment so let it come into his bowels like water and like oyl into his bones 19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually 20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the Lord and of them that speak evil against my soul. 21 But do thou for me O God the Lord for thy names sake because thy mercy is good deliver thou me 22 For I am poor and needy and mine heart is wounded within me 23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth I am tossed up and down as the locust 24 My knees are weak through fasting and my flesh faileth of fatness 25 I became also a reproach unto them when they looked upon me they shaked their heads 26 Help me O Lord my God O save me according to thy mercie 27 That they may know that this is thy hand that thou Lord hast done it 28 Let them curse but bless thou when they arise let them be ashamâ—d but let thy servant rejoice 29 Let mine adversaâ—ies be clothed with shame and let them cover themselves with their own confusion as with a mantle 30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth yea I will praise him among the multitude 31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor to save him from those that condemn his soul. Psalm cx A Psalm of David 1 THe Lord said unto my Lord fit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy foot-stool 2 The Lord â—shall send the rod of thy strength out of Sion rule thou in the middest of thine enemies 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth 4 The Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck 5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath 6 He shall judge among the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead bodies he shall wound the heads over many countries 7 He shall drink of the brook in the way therefore shall he lift up the head Psalm cxi 1 PRraise ye the Lord I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation 2 The works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein 3 His work is honourable glorious and his righteousness endureth for ever 4 He hath made his wonderfull works to be remembred the Lord is gracious and full of compassion 5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him he will ever be mindfull of his covenant 6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works that he may give them the heritage of the heathen 7 The works of his hands are verity and judgement all his commandments are sure 8 They stand fast for ever and ever and are done in truth and uprigâ—tness 9 He sent redemption unto his people he hath commanded his covenant for ever holy and reverend is his name 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his commandments his praise endureth for ever Psalm cxii 1 PRaise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his commandments 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the upright shall be blessed 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house and his righteousness endureth forever 4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness he is gracious and full of compassion and righteous 5 A good man sheweth favour and lendeth he will guide his affairs with discretion 6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is established he shall not be afraid untill he see his desire upon his enemies 9 He hath dispersed he hath given to the poore his righteousness endureth for ever his horn shall be exhalted with honour 10 The wicked shall see it and be grieved he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away the desire of the wicked shall perish Psalm cxiii 1 PRaise ye the Lord praise O ye servants of the Lord praise the name of the Lord. 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermorâ— 3 From the 〈…〉 the sunne unto the 〈◊〉 down of the 〈◊〉 the Lords name is 〈◊〉 be praised 4 The Lord is high above all nations and his glory above the heavens 5 Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high 6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth 7 He raiseth up the poore out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill 8 That he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his people 9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyfull mother of children praise ye the Lord. Psalm cxiv 1 WHen Israel went out of Egypt the house of Jacob from a people of a strange language 2 Judah was his sanctuary and Israel his dominion 3 The sea saw it and fled Jordan was dâ—iven back 4 The mountains skipped like ramâ— and the little hills like lambs 5 What ailed thee O thou sea that thou fleddest thou Jordan that thou wast driven back 6 Ye mountains that ye skipped like rams and ye little hills like lambs 7 Tremble thou earth at the presence of the Lord at the
presence of the God of Jacob. 8 Which turned the rock into a standing water the flint into a fountain of waters Psalm cxv 1 NOt unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truths sake 2 Wherefore should the heathen say where 〈◊〉 now their God 3 But our God is in the heavens he hath done whatsoever he pleased 4 Their Idols are silver and gold the work of mens hands 5 They have mouths but they speak not eyes have they but they see not 6 They have ears but they hear not noses have they but they smell not 7 They have hands but they handle not feet have they but they walk not neither speak they through their throat 8 They that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them 9 O Israel trust thou in the Lord he is thy help and thy shield 10 O house of Aaron trust in the Lord he is their help and their shield 11 Ye that fear the Lord trust in the Lord he is their help and their shield 12 The Lord hath been mindfull of us he will bless us he will bless the house of Israel he will bless the house of Aaron 13 He will bless them that fear the Lord both small and great 14 The Lord shall increase you more and more you and your children 15 You are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth 16 The heaven even the heavens are the Lords but the earth hath he given to the children of men 17 The dead praise not the Lord neither any that go down into silence 18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore Praise the Lord. 1 I Love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications 2 Because he hath enclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live 3 The sorrows of death compassed me and the pains of hell-gate hold upon me I found trouble and sorrow 4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord O Lord I beseech thee deliver my Soul 5 Gracious is the Lord and righteousâ— yea our God is merciful 6 The Lord preserveth the simple I was brought low and he helped me 7 Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee 8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling 9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living 10 I believed therefore have I spoken I was greatly afflicted 11 I said in my hast All men are liars 12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me 13 I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints 16 Oh Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant and the son of thy handmaid thou hast loosed my bonds 17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanks-giving will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people 19 In the courts of the Lords house in the middest of thee O Jerusalem praise yâ— the Lord. Psalm cxvii 1 O Praise the Lord all ye nations praise him all ye people 2 For his merciful kindness is great towards us and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever praise ye the Lord. Psalm cxviii 1 O Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good because his mercie endureth for ever 2 Let Israel now say that his mercie endureth for ever 3 Let the house of Aaron now say that his mercie endureth for ever 4 Let them now that fear the Lord say that his mercy endureth for ever 5 I called upon the Lord in distress the Lord answered me and set me in a large place 6 The Lord is on my side I will not fâ—ar what can man do unto me 7 The Lord taketh my part with them that help me therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me 8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man 9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in Princeâ— 10 All nations compassed me about but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them 11 They compassed me about yea they compassed me about but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them 12 They compassed me about like bees they are quenched as the fire of thorns for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them 13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall but the Lord helped me 14 The Lord is my strength and song and is become my saltion 15 The voyce of rejoycing and salvation is in the Tabernacles of the righteous the right hand of the Lord doth valiantly 16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted the right hand of the Lord doth valiantly 17 I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. 18 The Lord hath chastened me sore but he hath not given me over unto death 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness I will go in to them I will praise the Lord. 20 This gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter 21 I will praise thee for thou hast heard me and art become my salvation 22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner 23 This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes 24 This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it 25 Save now I beseech thee O Lord O Lord I beseech thee send now prosperitie 26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. 27 God is the Lord which hath shewed us light bind the sacrifice with cords even unto the horns of the Altar 28 Thou art my God and I will praise thee thou art my God I will exalt thee 29 O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercie endureth for ever Aleph 1 BLessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the Law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart 3 They also do no iniquity they walk in his wayes 4 Thâ—u hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently 5 O that my wayeâ— were directed to keep thy statutes 6 Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy commandments 7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart when I shall have learned thy righteous judgements 8 I will keep thy statutes O forsake me not utterly Beth. 9 Wherewithall shall a
young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee O let me not wander from thy commandments 11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sinne against thee 12 Blessed art thou O Lord teach me thy statutes 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgements of thy mouth 14 I have rejoyced in the way of thy testimonies as much as in all riches 15 I will meditate in thy precepts and have respect unto thy wayes 16 I will delight my self in thy statutes I will not forget thy word Gimel 17 Deal bountifully with thy servant that I may live and keep thy word 18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wonderous things out of thy law 19 I am a stranger in the earth hide not thy commandments from me 20 My soul breaketh for the longing it hath to thy judgement at all times 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed which do erre from thy commandments 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt â—or I have kept thy testimonies 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes 24 Thy â—eâ—timonies also are my delight and my counsellours Daleth 25 My soul cleavetâ—â— unto the dust quicken thou me according to thy word I have declared my wayes and thou heardest me teach me thy statutes 27 Make me to unâ—derstand the way of thy precepts so shall I talk of thy wonderous works 28 My soul melteth for heaviness strengthen thou me according unto thy word 29 Remove from me the way of lying and grant me thy law graciously 30 I have chosen the way of truth thy judgemâ—nts have I laid before me 31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies O Lord put me not to shame 32 I will run the wayes of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart He. 33 Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it unto the end 34 Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart 35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments for therein do I delight 36 Encline my heart unto thy testimonies and not to covetousness 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant who is devoted to thy fear 39 Turn away my reproach which I fear for thy judgements are good 40 Behold I have longed after thy preceptsâ— quicken me in thy righteousness Vau. 41 Let thy mercies come also unto me O Lord even thy salvaâ—tion aâ—cording to thy word 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me for I trust in thy word 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth for I have hoped in thy judgements 44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever And I will walk at liberty for I seek thy precepts 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before Kings and will not be ashamed 47 And I will delight my self in thy commandments which I have loved 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments which I have loved and I will meditate in thy statutes Zain 49 Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope 50 This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickened me 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision yet have I not declined from thy law 52 I remembred thy judgements of old O Lord and have comforted my self 53 Horrour hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law 54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrim age 55 I have remembred thy name O Lord in the night and have kept thy law 56 This I had because I kept thy precepts Cheth 57 Thou art my portion O Lord I have said that I would keep thy words 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart be merciful unto me according to thy word 59 I thought on my wayes and turned my feet into thy testimonies 60 I made hast and delayed not to keep thy commandments 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me but I have not forgot thy Law 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgements 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy precepts 64 The earth O Lord is full of thy mercie teach me thy statutes Teth. 65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant O Lord according unto thy word 66 Teach me good judgement and knowledge for I have believed thy commandments 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word 68 Thou art good and doest good teach me thy statutes 69 The proud have forged a lie against me but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart 70 Their heart is as fat as grease but I delight in thy Law 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes 72 The Law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver Iod. 73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding that I may learn thy commandments 74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me because I have hoped in thy word 75 I know O Lord that thy judgements are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me 76 Let I pray thee thy merciful kindness be for my comfort according to thy word unto thy servant 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live for thy Law is my delight 78 Let the proud be ashamed for they dealt perversly with me without a cause but I will meditate in thy precepts 79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me and those that have known thy testimonies 80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be not ashamed Caph. 81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation but I hope in thy word 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word saying when wilt thou comfort me 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke yet do I not forget thy statutes 84 How many are the dayes of thy servant when wilt thou execute judgement on them that persecute me 85 The proud have digged pits for me which are not after thy Law 86 All thy commandments are faithful they persecute me wrongfully help thou me 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth but I forsook not thy precepts 88 Quicken me after thy loving kindness so shall I keep the testimonie of thy mouth Lamed 89 For ever O Lord thy word is setled in heaven 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations thou hast established the earth and it abideth 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances for all are
thy servants 92 Unless thy Law had been my delights I should then have perished in mine affliction 93 I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickened me 94 I am thine save me for I have sought thy precepts 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me but I will consider thy testimonies 96 I have seen an end of all perfection but thy commandment is exceeding broad Mem. 97 O how love I thy Law it is my meditation all the day 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies for they are ever with me 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers for thy testimonies are my mediation 100 I understand more than the ancients because I keep thy testimonies 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I may keep thy word 102 I have not departed from thy judgements for thou hast taught me 103 How sweet are thy words unto my tast yea sweeter than honey to my mouth 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding therefore I hate every false way Nun. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path 106 I have sworn and I will perform it that I will keep thy righteous judgements 107 I am afflicted very much quicken me O Lord according unto thy word 108 Accept I beseech thee the free-will-offerings of my mouth O Lord and teach me thy judgements 109 My soul is continually in my hand yet do I not forget thy Law 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me yet I erred not from thy precepts 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart 112 I have enclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway even unto the end Samech 113 I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I love 114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield I hope in thy word 115 Depart from my ye evil duers for I will keep the commandments of my God 116 Uphold me according unto thy word that I may live and let me not be ashamed of my hope 117 Hold thou me up and I shall be safe and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually 118 Thou hast troden down all them that erre from thy statutes for their deceit is falshood 119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross therefore I love thy testimonies 120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy judgements Ain 121 I have done judgement and justice leave me not to mine oppressours 122 Be surety for thy servant for good let not the proud oppress me 123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation and for the word of thy righteousness 124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercie teach me thy statutes 125 I am thy servant give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies 126 It is time for thee Lord to work for they have made void thy Law 127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold yea above fine gold 128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way Pe. 129 Thy testimonies are wonderful therefore doth my soul keep them 130 The enterance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple 131 I opened my mouth and panted for I longed for thy commandments 132 Look thou upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name 133 Order my steps in thy word and let not any iniquitie have dominion over me 134 Deliver me from the oppression of man so will I keep thy precepts 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant and teach me thy statutes 136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes because they keep not thy Law Tsaddi 137 Righteous art thou O Lord and upright are thy judgements 138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful 139 My zeal hath consumed me because mine enemies have forgotten thy words 140 Thy word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it 141 I am small and despised yet do I not forget thy precepts 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and thy Law is the truth 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me yet thy commandments are my delights 144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting give me understanding and I shall live Koph 145 I cried with my whole heart hear me O Lord I will keep thy statutes 146 I cried unto thee save me and I shall keep thy testimonies 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning and cried I hoped in thy word 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches that I might meditate in thy word 149 Hear my voyce according unto thy loving kindness O Lord quicken me according to thy judgement 150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief they are far from thy Law 151 Thou art near O Lord and all thy commandments are truth 152 Concerning thy testimonies I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever Resh 153 Consider mine affliction and deliver me for I do not forget thy Law 154 Plead my cause and deliver me quicken me according to thy word 155 Salvation is far from the wicked for they seek not thy statutes 156 Great are thy tender mercies O Lord quicken me according to thy judgements 157 Many are my persecutors mine enemies yet do I not decline from thy testimonies 158 I beheld the transgressours and was grâ—eved because they kept not thy word 159 Consider how I love thy precepts quicken me O Lord according to thy loving kindness 160 Thy word is true from the beginning and every one of thy righteous judgements endureth for ever Schin 161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause but mine heart standeth in aw of thy word 162 I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoil 163 I hate and abhor lying but thy Law do I love 164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgements 165 Great peace have they which love thy Law and nothing shall offend them 166 Lord I have hoped for thy salvation and done thy commandments 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies and I love them exceedingly 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies for all my wayes are before thee Tau 169 Let my cry come near before thee O Lord give me understanding according to thy word 170 Let my supplication come before thee deliver me according to thy word 171 My lips shall utter praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word for all thy commandments are righteousness 173 Let thine hand help me for I have chosen thy precepts 174 I have longed for thy salvation O Lord and thy Law is my delight 175 Let my soul live and it shall praise thee let thy judgements
help me 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep seek thy servant for I do not forget thy commandments A song of degrees Psalm cxx 1 IN my distress I cried unto the Lord and he heard me 2 Deliver my Soul O Lord from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue 3 What shall be given unto thee or what shall be done unto thee thou false tongue 4 Sharp arrows of the mightie with coals of juniper 5 Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the tents of Kedar 6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace 7 I am for peace but when I speak they are for war Psalm cxxi A song of degrees 1 I Will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help 2 My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven earth 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved he that keepeth thee will not slamber 4 Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep 5 The Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day nor the moon by night 7 The Lord shall reserve thee from all evil he shall preserve thy soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even for evermore Psalm cxxii A song of degrees of David 1 I Was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord. 2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates O Jerusalem 3 Jerusalem is builded as a Citie that is compact together 4 Whither the tribes go up the tribes of the Lord unto the testimonie of Israel to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. 5 For there are set thrones of judgement the thrones of the house of David 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee 7 Peace be within thy walls and prosperiâ—ie within thy palaces 8 For my brethren and companions sake I will now say Peace be with thee 9 Because of tâ—e house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good Psalm cxxiii A song of degreeâ— 1 UNto thee lift I up mine eyeâ— O thou that dwellest in the heavens 2 Behoâ—d as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their maiters and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God until that he have mercie upon us 3 Have mercie upon us O Lord have mercie upon us for we are exceedingly filled with contempt 4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud Psalm cxxiv A song of degrees of David 1 IF it had not been the Lord who was on our side now may Israel say 2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us 3 Then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us 4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over our soul. 5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 6 Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth 7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers the snare is broken and we are escaped 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth Psalm cxxv A song of degrees 1 THey that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever 2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever 3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquitie 4 Do good O Lord unto those that be good and to them that are upright in their hearts 5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked wayes the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquitie but peace shall be upon Israel Psalm cxxvi A song of degrees 1 WHen the Lord turned again the captivitie of Sion we were like them that dream 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter our toÌ„gue with singing then said they among the heathen the Lord hath done great things for them 3 The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad 4 Turn again our captivity O Lord as the streams in the south 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth hearing pretious seed shall doubtless â—ome again wiâ—h reioycing bringing his sheaves with him Psalm cxxvii A Song of degrees for or as in the margin of Solomon 1 EXcept the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it except the Lord keep the citie the watchman waketh but in vain 2 It is vain for you to rise up early to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrow for so he giveth his beloved sleep 3 Lo children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward 4 As arrows are in the hands of a mighty man so are children of the youth 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them they shall not be ashamed but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate Psalm cxxviii A Song of degrees 1 BLessed is every one that feareth the Lord that walketh in his waies 2 〈◊〉 thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull vine by the sides of thine house thy children like olive plants round about thy table 4 Behold that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. 5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Sion and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life 7 Yea thou shalt see thy childrens children and peaâ—e upon Israel Psalm cxxix 1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say 2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth yet they have not prevailed against me 3 The plowers plowed upon my back they made long their furrows 4 The Lord is righteous he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked 5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion 6 Let them be as the grass upon the house tops which withereth before it springeth up 7 Wherewith the mowe silieth not his hand nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom 8 Neither do they whiâ—h go by say the blessing of the Lord be upon you we bless you in the name of the Lord. Psalm CXXX A song of degrees 1 OUt of the depths have I cried uno thee O Lord. 2 Lord hear my vioce let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication 3 If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities
for ever 23 Who remembered us in our low estate for his mercie endureth for ever 24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies for his mercie endureth for ever 25 Who giveth food to all flesh â— for his mercie endureth for ever 26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven for his mercie endureth for ever Psalm cxxxvii 1 BY the rivers of Babylon there we sat down yea we wept when we remembred Sion 2 We haâ—ged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song and they that wasted us required of us mirth saying sing us one of the songs of Sion 4 How shall we sing the Lords song in a strange land 5 If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning 6 If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy 7 Remember O Lord the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof 8 O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us 9 Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones Psalm cxxxviii A Psalm of David 1 I will praise thee with my whole heart before thâ— Gods will I sing 〈◊〉 unto thee 2 I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name 3 In the day when I cried thou answeredsâ— me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 4 All the Kings of the earth shall praise thee O Lord when they hear the words of thy mouth 5 Yea they shall sing in the waies of the Lord for great is the glorie of the Lord. 6 Though the Lord be high yet hath he respect to the lowly but the proud he knoweth afar off 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revâ—ve me thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies and thy right hand shall save me 8 The Lord will perfect that which cocerneth me thy mercie O Lord endureth for ever forsake not the works of thine own hands Psalm cxxxix To the chief musitian A Psalm of David 1 O Lord thou hast searched me known me 2 Thou knowest my down â—itting and mine uprising thou understandest my thoughts afar off 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my waies 4 For there is not a word in my tongue but â—o O Lord thou knowest it altogether 5 Thou hast besâ—t me behind and before and laid thine haâ—d upon me 6 Such knowledge is too wonderfull for me it is high I cannot attain unto it 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence 8 If I ascend up into heaven thou art there if I make my bed in hell behold thou art there 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the 〈◊〉 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me 11 If I say surely the darkness shall cover me even the night shall be light about me 12 Yea the darkness hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to thee 13 For thou hast possessed my reins thou hast covered me in my mothers womb 14 I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well 15 My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth 16 Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book all my members are written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me O God how great is the summe of them 18 If I should count them they are moe in number than the sand when I wake I am still with thee 19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked O God depart from me tâ—erefore ye bloâ—dy men 20 For they speak against theâ— wickedly thine enâ—mies take thy name in 〈◊〉 21 Do not I hate them O Lord that haâ—â— thee and am I not grieved with these that rise up against theâ— 22 I hate them with perfect hatred I count them mine enemies 23 Search me O God and know my heart try me know my thoughts 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting Psalm cxl To the chief musitian A Psalm of David 1 DEveâ— me O Lord from the evil man preserve 〈◊〉 from the violent man 2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart continually are they gathered together for war 3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent adders poison is under their lips Selah 4 Keep me O Lord from the hands of the wicked preserve me from the violent man who have purposed to overthrow my goings 5 The proud have hid a snare for me and cords they have spread a net by the way side they have set grins for me Selaâ— 6 I said 〈…〉 Lord thou art my God hear the voice of my supplications O Lord. 7 O God the Lord the strength of my salvation thou hast covered my head in the day of battell 8 Grant not O Lord the desires of the wicked further not his wicked deviâ—e least they exalt themselves Selah 9 As for the head of those that compass me about let the mischief of their own lips cover them 10 Let buâ—ning coals â—all upon them let them be cast into the fire into deep pits that they rise not up again 11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth evil shall hunt the violent maâ— to overthrow him 12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name the upright shall dwell in thy presence Psalm cxli. A Psalm of David 1 LOrd I cry unto thee make hast unto me give ear unto my voice when I cry unto thee 2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice 3 Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the door of my lips 4 Encline not my heart to any evil thing to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity and let me not eat of their dainties 5 Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness and let him reprove me it shall be an excellent oyl which shall not break my head for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities 6 When their Judges are overthrown in stony
earth in that very day his thoughts perish 5 Happie is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God 6 Which made heaven and earth the sea and all that therein is which keepeth trust for ever 7 Which executeth judgement for the oppressed whiâ—h givâ—th food to the hungry the Lord looseth the prisoners 8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down the Lord loveth the righteous 9 The Lord preserveth the strangers he relieveth the fatherless and widow but the way of the wicked he turneth it upâ—side do 〈◊〉 10 The Lord shall reign for ever even thy God O Sion unto all generations Praise ye the Lord. Psalm cxlvii 1 PRaise ye the Lord for it is good to sing praises unto our God for it is pleasant and praise is coâ—ly 2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem he gathereth together the out-casts of Israel 3 He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds 4 He telleth the number of the stars he calleth them all by their names 5 Great is our Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite 6 The Lord lifteth up the meek he casteth the wicked down to the ground 7 Sings unto the Lord with thanks-giving sing praise upon the harp unto our God 8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds who prepareth rain for the earth who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains 9 He giveth to the beast his food and to the young ravens which crie 10 He delighteth not in the strenght of horse he taketh not pleasure in the leggs of a man 11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercie 12 Praise the Lord O Jerusalem praise thy God O Sion 13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates he hath blessed thy children within thee 14 He maketh peace in thy borders and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat 15 He sendeth forth his commandement upon earth his word runneth very swiftly 16 He giveth snow like wooll he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes 17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels who can stand before his cold 18 He sendeth out his word and meltâ—th them he causeth his wind to blow and the waters flow 19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes his judgements unto Israel 20 He hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgements they have not known them Praise ye the Lord. Psalm cxlviii 1 PRaise ye the Lord praise ye the Lord from the heavens praise him in the heights 2 Praise ye him all his Angels praise ye him all his hosts 3 Praise ye him sun and moon praise ye him all ye stars of light 4 Praise him ye heavens of heavens ye waters that be above the heavens 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord for he commanded they were created 6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever he hath made a decree which shall not pass 7 Praise the lord from the earth ye dragons all deeps 8 Fire hail snow and vapour stormy wind fulfilling his word 9 Mountains and all hils fruitful trees and all Cedars 10 Beasts and aâ— cattel creeping things and flying fowl 11 Kings of the earth and all people Princes all Judges of the earth 12 Both young men and maidens old men and children 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord for his name alone is excellent his glorie is above the earth and heaven 14 He also exalteth the horn of his people the praise of all his saints even of the children of Israel a people near unto him Praise ye the Lord. Psalm cxlix 1 PRaise ye the Lord sing unto Lord a new the song and his praise in the congregation of saints 2 Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him let the children of Sion be joyfull in their King 3 Let them praise his nâ—me in the dance let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp 4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people he will beautifie the meek with salvatâ—â—â— 5 Let the saints be joyful in glorie let them sing aloud upon their beds 6 Let the high praiseâ— of God be in their mouth and a two edged sword in their hand 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people 8 To bind their Kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron 9 To execute upon them the judgement written this honour have all his saints Praise ye the Lord. Psalm cl 1 PRaise ye the Lord praise God in his sanctuary praise him in the firmament of his power 2 Praise him for his mightie acts praise him according to his excellent greatness 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet praise him with the psaltery and harp 4 Praise him with the timbrel dance praiâ—e him with the stringed instruments and organs 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals praise him upon the high sounding cymbals 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
and power of God to all parts and people thereof In them may all men see how wonderfully God hath ordained the sun to reside and shine 5 Which at its first arising and mornings beautiful appearance is most welcome to all mens sight bringing light and as it were life with it from under the dark curtain of the sable night and with a free and natural motion fit for such an undertaking without difficulty sets upon the course it is to run and finish in the appointed time from one end of the heaven to the other 6 His setting forth is from the East and in a day he makes his progress to the West diffusing also his light and influence North and South whose penetrating heat in this his motion reacheth the very lowermost parts of the earth concocting minerals and quickening vegetables 7 Glorious is God in his works which declare his power and wisdom to all men but much more glorious is he in his word and doctrine delivered peculiarly to his people which holds forth to them his covenant of saving grace Those things by a natural propensity convey to men many common and bodily benefits But the word of God is far beyond them all restoring both our title to them lost by our fall and which is infinitely more supernaturally revealing to us the perfect and infallible way of life turning again to God and powerfully bringing it to pass upon us The truth delivered in it by the Lord touching our salvation is unquestionable and may be trusted to which understood and imbraced enriches us who foolishly lost our first estate of holines and happines with understanding how to get it again 8 The saving principles and ordinances which God gives us in his word to walk by are holy and righteous and such as being observed and obeyed in faith and conscience to the Law-giver brings joy and hearts ease in the comfortable sense of our sinceritie and assurance of Gods favour to us and acceptance of us The whole will of God revealed is it self pure void of errour or corruption and makes them so that walk according to it enlightning them with understanding to tread in the way of truth and life when others wander in by-paths of death and errour 9 The holy law of God which he hath ordained his people to fear and serve him by is free from corruption and makes them like it that observe it holy and pure and is everlastingly the same like God the giver of it not to be varied by us at no time nor occasion bringing with it the reward of everlasting happines The ordinances and commandments of the Lord by which he expects to be obeyed and purposes to judge the world are compleatly perfect free from all errour and injustice and onely makes men so 10 They are of more worth and yield a man more profit than all the riches of the world better are they to be prized and more to be desired than the most refined gold And more true pleasure and content do they bring to the soul and conscience by faithful observance than the sweetest honey does to the taste 11 After a special manner they are and ever have been useful to me and to all that fear thee shewing us how to stear a right course in every condition by chusing the good and refusing the evil And well worthie are they to be obeyed for they bring a blessed reward with them even peace of conscience and everlasting life 12 So holy are all thy foresaid laws and commandments and so binding both to the inward and outward man as who lives that can know how oft he offends against them Lord pardon me therefore my unknown sins and sanctifie my heart and spirit conformably to thy law which is spiritual 13 Protect me also who am thy servant and desire to yield thee universal obedience from outward and grosser iniquities committed against knowledge let not such prevail over me by strength of temptation And so being thus pardoned and sanctified notwithstanding my many frailties and daily infirmities I shall be uprightly righteous in thy sight and shall be though not innocent and free from all sin yet from known and presumptuous ones any of which lived in may justly stagger my sinceritie and covenant-peace which without thy special preventing grace I shall notwithstanding fall into 14 Yea cleanse me throughout Let my very words and thoughts as well as deeds be such as sute with thy law and will Thus Lord grant me grace and pardon who onely art my sanctifier and redeemer The xx PSALM David as a prophet instructs his people in a pattern and form of prayer to pray for him their King and to seek their own welfare in him as the Churches in Christ whereof he and they were respective types And to look at God for all the good they expected by his means and withal to be confident of it by saith grounded upon pregnant experiences of his grace and favour to him And how ever God might make them strong in outward things yet not to change their trust but to keep it firm in God by example both of their enemies miscarriages through their misgrounded confidence and of their own experienced success by trusting in the Lord. Closing up the prayer with a brief of all Praying God to preserve both them and their King and to make him able to govern and defend them in equitie and tranquillitie as Christ his Church To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung 1 WE the people of God and thee whom God hath set over us pray for thee That the Lord would hear thy prayers against thine enemies in time of need the grace and providence of God which he shewed to our father Jacob and promised to us his seed who are his peculiar people evermore accompany and preserve thee our King 2 Yea the good Lord answer thee succesfully from that place which he hath specially appointed to hear and for us to offer prayers in even his holy Tabernacle And grant thee his Almighty aid according to the daily prayers of his priests and people which they put up unto him in his holy mountain in thy behalf 3 The Lord keep in mind thy pious offerings of praise and thanksgivings for mercies past to give thee further cause to do the like and the Lord accept the propitiation for thy sins to pardon them and shew forth the gratious fruits and effects of his reconciled favour to thee All this we humbly and heartily pray for 4 God grant thee answers and issues according to thine own desire and bless all thy advice and undertakings for God and his people with sutable success 5 We are confident that God is and ever will be with thee and therefore rejoyce before hand in that
Bath-sheba 1 HAve mercy upon me O God acâ—ording to thy loving kindness according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies bloâ— out my transgressions 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me 4 Against thee thee onely have I sinned and done this evil in thy light that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest be clear when thou judgest 5 Behold I am shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me 6 Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom 7 Purge me with hysope and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than snow 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce 9 Hide thy face from my 〈◊〉 and blot out all mine iniquities 10 Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me 11 Cast me not away from thy prâ—sence and take not thy holy spirit from me 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways and sinners shall be converted unto thee 14 Deliver me from bloud-guiltiness O God thou God of my salvation and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousâ— 15 O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice else would I give it thou delightest not in burnt-offering 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion build thou the walls of Jerusalem 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness with burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering then shall they offer Bullocks upon thine altar Psalm li. To the chief musician Maschil A Psalm of David when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul and said unto him David is come to the house of Abimelech 1 WHy boastest thou thy self in mischief O mighty man the goodness of God endureth continually 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs like a sharp rasour working deceitfully 3 Thou lovest evil more than good and lying rather than to speak righteousness Selah 4 Thou lovest all devouring words O thou deceitful tongue 5 God shal likewise destroy thee for ever he shall take thee away and pluck thee out of thy dwelling-place and root thee out of the land of the living Selah 6 The righteous also shall see and fear and shall laugh at him 7 Lo this is the man that made not God his strength but trusted in the abundance of his riches and strengthened himself in his wickedness 8 But I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God I trust in the mercie of God for ever and ever 9 I will praise thee for ever because thou hast done it and I will wait on thy name Psalm liii To the chief musician upon Mahalath Maschil A Psalm of David 1 THe fool hath said in his heart there is no God corrupt are they and have done abominable iniquitie there is none that doth good 2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand that did seek God 3 Every one of them is gone back they are altogether become filthie there is none that doth good no not one 4 Have the workers of iniquitie no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread they have not called upon God 5 There were they in great fear where no fear was for God hath scatâ—ered the bones of him that encampeth against thee thou shalt put them to flame because God hath despised them 6 O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Sion when God bringeth back the captiâ—itie of his people Jacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be glad The liiii Psalm To the chief musician on Neginoth Maschil A Psalm of David when the Ziphims came and said to Saul Doth not David hide himself with us 1 SAve me O God by thy name and judge me by thy strength 2 Hear my prayer O God give ear to the words of my mouth 3 For strangers are risen up against me and oppressours seek after my soul they have not set God before them Selah 4 Behold God is my helper the Lord is with them that uphold my Soul 5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies cut them off in thy truth 6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee I will praise thy name O Lord for it is good 7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies Psalm lv To the chief musician on Neginoth Maschil A Psalm of David 1 GIve ear to my prayer O God and hide not thy self from my supplication 2 Attend unto me and hear me I mourn in my complaint and make a noise 3 Because of the voice of the enemie because of the oppression of the wicked for they cast iniquitie upon me and in wrath they hate me 4 My heart is sore pained within me and the terrours of death are fallen upon me 5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me and horrour hath over-whelmed me 6 And I said O that I had wings like a dove for then would I flie awâ—y and be at rest 7 Lo then would I wander far off and remain in the wilderderness Selah 8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest 9 Destroy O Lord and divide their rongues for I have seen violence and strife in the Citie 10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it 11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof deceit and guil depart not from her streets 12 For it was â—ot an enemy that reproched me then I could have borne it neither was it he that hated me that did magnifie himself against me then I would have hid my self from him 13 But it was thou a man mine equal my guid and mine acquaintance 14 We took sweet counsel together and walked unto the house of God in company 15 Let death seize upon them and let them go down quick into hell for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them 16 As for me I will call upon God and the Lord shall save me 17 Evening morning and at noon will I pray and crie aloud and he shall hear my voice 18 He hath delivered my Soul in peace from the battel that was against me for there were many with me 19 God shall hear and afflict them even he that abideth of old Selah because they have no changes therefore they fear not God 20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him he hath broken his covenant 21 The words of his
mouth were smoother than butter but war was in his heart his words were softer than oyl yet were they drawn swords 22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he will sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved 23 But thou O God shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction bloudie and deceitful men shall not live out half their dayes but I will trust in thee Psalm lvi To the chief musician upon Jonath-elem-rechokim Michtam of David when the Philistines took him in Gath. 1 BE merciful unto me O God for man would swallow me up he fighting daily oppresseth me 2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up for they be many that fight against me O thou most High 3 What time I am afraid I will trust in thee 4 In God I will praise his word in God I have put my trust I will not fear what flesh can do unto me 5 Every day they wrest my words all their thoughts are against me for evil 6 They gather themselves together they hide themselves they mark my steps when they wait for my soul. 7 Shall they escape by iniquitie in thine anger cast down the people O God 8 Thou tellest my wandrings put thou my tears into thy bottle are they not in thy book 9 When I crie unto thee then shall mine enemies turn back this I know for God is for me 10 In God will I praise his word in the Lord will I praise his word 11 In God will I put my trust I will not be afraid what man can do unto me 12 Thy vows are upon me O God I will render praises unto thee 13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death wilt not thou deliverâ— my feet from falling that I may walk before God in the light of the living Psalm lvii To the chief musician Altaschith Michtam of David when he fled from Saul in the cave 1 BE mercifull unto me O God be mercifull unto me for my soul trusteth in thee yea in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge untill these calamities be overpast 2 I will cry unto God most high unto God that performâ—th all things for me 3 He shall send from heaven and save me from the reproch of him that would swallow me up Selah God shall send forth his mercy and his truth 4 My soul is among lions and I lie even among them that are set on fire even the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword 5 Be thou exalted O God above the heavens let thy glory be above all the earth 6 They have prepared a net for my steps my soul is bowed down they have digged a pit before me into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves Selah 7 My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise 8 Awake up my glory awake Psaltery and Harp I my self will awake early 9 I will praise thee O Lord among the people I will sing unto thee among the nations 10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens and thy truth unto the clouds 11 Be thou exalted O God above the heavens let thy glory be above all the earth Psalm lviii To the chief musician Altaschith â— Michtam of David 1 DO ye indeed speak righteousness O generation do ye judge uprightly O ye sons of men 2 Yea in heart you work wickedness you weigh the violence of your hands in the earth 3 The wicked are estranged from the womb they go astray assoon as they be born speaking lies 4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent they are like the deaf Adder that stoppeth her ear 5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers charming never so wisely 6 Break their teeth O God in their mouth break out the great teeth of the young lions O Lord. 7 Let them melt away as waters which run continually when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows let them be as cut in peices 8 As a snail which melteth let every one of them pass away like the untimely birth of a woman that they may not see the sun 9 Before your pots can â—eel the thornes he shall take them away as with a whirlwind 10 The righteous shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance he shall wash his feet in the bloud of the wicked 11 So that a man shall say verily there is a reward for the righteous verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth Psalm lix To the chief musician Al-taschith Michtam of David when Saul sent and they watched the house to kill him 1 DEliver me from mine enemies O my God defend me from them that rise up against me 2 Deliver me from the wrâ—kers of iniquity and save me from bloudy men 3 For lo they lie in wait for my soul the mighty are gathered against me not for my transgression nor for my sin O Lord. 4 They run prepare themselves without my fault awake to help me behold 5 Thou therefore O Lord God of hosts the God of Israel awake to visit all the heathen be not mercifull to any wicked transgressours 6 They return at evening they make a noise like a dog and go round about the Citie 7 Behold they belch out with their mouth swords are in their lips for who say they doth hear 8 But thou O Lord shalt laugh at them thou shalt have all the heathen in derision 9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee for God is my defence 10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies 11 Slay them not least my people forget scatter them by thy power and bring them down O Lord our shield 12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride and for cursing lying which they speak 13 Consume them in wrath consume them that they may not be and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth 14 And at evening let them return and let them make a noise like a dog and go round about the citie 15 Let them wander up and down for meat and grudge if they be not satisfied 16 But I will sing of thy power yea I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble 17 Unto thee O my strength will I sing for God is my defence and the God of my mercy Psalm lx To the chief musician upon Shushan Eduth Michtam of David to teach when he strove with Aram Naharaim and with Aram Zobah when Joab returned and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand 1 O God thou hast cast us off thou hast scattered us thou hast been displeased O turn thy self to us again 2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble