any other I had rather be a Door-keeper in thy Tabernacle than to dwell in the Tents of Wickedness Help us then to joyn with the blessed Choir both of the Church Militant and Triumphant in a Lesson of the best Service even Love and Charity which is the compleatest Religion the fulfiller of the Law the filler full of Heaven For see the Jerusalem that comes down thence as well as that which is above agrees in all its Parts and Graces and by its lovely Symmetry makes up the sweetest Harmony of Heaven and Earth declaring Charity the bond of Peace as Peace the breeder of Felicity Therefore while we see the present Concord and Conformity thou hast afforded our Nation we look with joy upon an Emblem of that glorious Day when thou shalt gather thy Children from the four Winds and bring then together in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and to live with him for ever Lord 'till that time come preserve thy Church among us from Rent and Spot from Breach and Blemish and meet with us graciously as thou didst with Elijah in the soft mild Voice of thy Gospel in the savoury Breath of thy Spirit in the sweet Airs of our pious and public Services wherein make us to consent to Pray for the Peace of our Souls and of thy People as also for the Plenty of our Land for the Piety of our Governours for the Prosperity of their Government and Persons for the Purity of Religion for the Perpetuity of thy Church among us as also for Unanimity and Uniformity in the way of thy Worship that we may endeavour as well as desire the most durable Good here and an eternal Good hereafter to our selves and ours and all thine Which we beseech thee grant for Jesus Christ 's sake who is of the Stock and Lineage of David to whom belongs the Seat of Judgment for ever and ever Amen THE FOURTH Psalm of Degrees BEING The CXXIII PSALM Is agreeable to the condition of David in the third Psalm as also to the sad State of the Israelites Composed perhaps by Ezra at Babylon and from that time frequent in use being Calculated for the Times of Trouble and Tyranny Wherein the Church as under Antiochus or some such insulting Oppressor prayeth complaineth and trusts to God The Priest beginning as it were with an Oremus to the People in the first Verse and then the whole Congregation joyning and going on with him to the end of the Psalm TO thee who dost a bide a bove the Starry Spheres yet hast our Griefs with Pi ty ey'd to thee we send our Tears To Heav'n this Spring of Tears From hence doth bubling rise Psal 121.1 Which from low Grounds our Passion rears To thee that hast our Eyes By Hand in the Text is understood help strength or protection by those who take the words of this Verse to imply the Servant's repairing to his Lord for succour and defence from Foreign injuries It also signifies bounty direction and correction to those who take the meaning as I apprehend it Nor do we need an Eye But to observe thy Hands Which way for Blessing us they lye By Chast'nings or Commands Since oft Gen. 48.14 19. like Israel's Hands Thine as a-cross are spread For God not Man best understands How to Crown Ephraim's Head Therefore we raise our Heads Not to repine but pray To mark how our chief Joshua leads And how we him obey As Soldiers still obey Their Leader's Staff and Rod And at their Becks do go or stay So wait we on our God Thy Smile or Frowns O God Like humblest Handmaids we Do bear and from our Lord's aboad Gen. 21.14 Do not like Hagar flee Jon. 1.3 No Jonas here will fly From thee Jon. 4.8 though Chasten'd thus We 2 King 5.2 as meek Servants carefully Stay 'till thou pity us Thy Mercy we implore Multum saturata est Anima subsannatione As if play'd upon and scossed at by the Soldiery while led in Triumph according to the expression in Psal 137.3 Thy speedy Mercy Lord For now our Lives are scorn'd nay more Our very Souls abhorr'd By those we are abhorr'd As we do loath their Pride Who can with Insolence afford To wrong us and deride But God shall them deride Whose Scorns o're-charge our Hearts When these are full and can abide No more God takes our parts And since God takes our parts To him our Tears shall glide To him we 'll lift our Looks and Hearts Who doth in Heav'n abide Now since God takes our part To him our Tears shall glide To him we 'll lift our Looks and Hearts Who doth in Heav'n abide Gloria Patri c. All Glory Praise and Bliss To th' Three in Unity Who as at first was God now is And evermore shall be CONTEMPLATIONS and COLLECTS ON THE Fourth PSALM of DEGREES BEING The CXXIII PSALM O Thou great Lord and King that dwellest in the Heavens David hath taught me to lift up mine Eyes to thee and the Son of David hath better instructed me to call thee by thy Spirit Abba Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name c. That gracious Name of Our Father invites us Lord to call upon thee in the needful time of Trouble For though thou dwellest in the highest Heavens thou art not contained by them but from that thy Throne vouchsafest to look down upon what is done and suffered upon Earth So that in the deepest evils of our Sufferance as in all the good of our Enjoyment here we may still look up and see thy doing and be satisfied in the Wonder that thou dost so much for our advantage Ah! how marvellous is it in our Eyes that when Hope and Help both fail on Earth we can seek much higher for them and even then too when we are justly corrected because thou art a merciful King and behold we are thy Servants for all that thou hast afforded us We submit to thee with humble Fear and wait on thee with Thanksgiving and Praise thee for smiting and subduing us thy People under thee For thou dost as the King of Israel did to Benhadad thou beatest that thou mayest bring us to thy self thou conquerest that thou mayest be kind taking away a little that thou mightest give a better Kingdom Wherefore we beg and trust that when thou hast convinced us how worthy we all are of Hate Death and Disgrace that then thou wilt restore us to Life Favour and Prosperity Well may we be watchful Suppliants and Expectants for some Token of thy Pity when thy left Hand some sinister Providence is laid upon us because thou hast still thy right Hand the Man of thy right Hand to embrace thy Spouse when thy afflicting Hand is never so heavy upon her either by the Tyranny of Oppressors or by the Rod of Tribulation Let us rightly hearken to this Rod and see the Hand which hath appointed it and not look
pray and hope like a Souldier that God would be his Shade as well as his Shield as near to him as his shadow that the Sun might not hurt him by Day nor the Moon by Night as Absalom and Achitophel the one by Day and the other by Night intended to have done And if we look on David as he went up the Ascent of Mount Olivet This Psalm was very proper for his Condition then as it is for any Person 's now in the interval of War the Phrases being throughout the whole Psalm Military and allusive to Souldiers besieged as in the first Verse relieved as in the second all-arm'd as in the third secured watched and guarded as in the fourth shielded and surrounded as in the fifth and sixth in the seventh and eighth hemm'd in and convoy'd out for Victory and Triumph For the Second of September and October Here shall I seek for aid where shall I set mine Eyes mine Eyes and Pray'rs like Birds afraid up to the Hills would rise But whither would they rise un to some dangerous height O no this Quarry thither flies whence springs our help and light Nor hath our Health and Light From things below their Birth But from the highest Rock of Might Who made both Heav'n and Earth Therefore though false foul Earth Thy Soul with Foes surround Shall it be mov'd from holy Mirth Shall Cares run it on Ground Gen. 8.11 Christ is the Ark to ground Thy Heart on when distrest From head to foot he 'll make thee sound Gen. 28.11 On him did Jacob rest Non dormitabit multo minù◠dormiet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quamvis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex impatientiâ lugentis Deus obdormire dicitut Psal 44.24 But he doth never rest From doing good nor sleeps Gen. 32.2 That with such Guards thou may'st be blest As he his Israel keeps Psal 22.1 4. Good Shepherd he doth keep His Flock ev'n in Death's shade See then if thou art of his Sheep How on thy side he 's laid Though Dangers have way-laid Thy going out or in See how thy Husband's Arm 's display'd Isa 54.5 To save thy very Skin Dan. 3.27 Like the three Children's Skin Thine shall be scorch'd by none Whatever Heat thou may'st be in Whatever Star hath shown Nor shall the Moon nor Sun Hurt thee by Night or Day No Mischief seen nor closely done Shall touch thee any way God shall preserve thy Ways And Mind from all that 's ill In Youth And when thy Life decays Blessed thou shalt be still Then trust and bless him still Who endless Safety sends God through this Vale of Sorrows will Guide us to joyful ends The Entrance Progress Ends Public and private Pow'rs Labours and Studies of his Friends God blesses at all hours Then trust and bless him still Who still did us defend God doth and ever will Antistrophe Give Blessings without end Give Blessings without end God doth and ever will He still did us defend Then trust and bless him still The Entrance Progress Ends Public and private Pow'rs And Works of all his Friends God blesses Lord bless Ours Gloria Patri c. To God the Father and the Son And to the Holy-Ghost Be Glory And let ev'ry one Strive who shall praise God most CONTEMPLATIONS and COLLECTS ON THE Second PSALM of DEGREES BEING The CXXI PSALM I Will lift up my Heart to thee O Lord And though it be cast down with the dangers and diffidence I am in while mine Afflictions and mine Enemies have cast a Mount about me to hinder me from the sight and hope of Succour yet have I God's Hill to fly unto and from thy House I can survey the end of the Wicked the Redemption of thy Captives and the height of thy Power that is higher than the highest But O the depth of thy Love What a pleasant Vale is this under it How doth this smile and sing and stand full of Corn that strengthens Man's Heart So that although I remain in the Valley of the shadow of Death if I can but look up to the Rock that is higher than I to Christ the Shecinah the true Mercy Seat that is placed above the Cherubims all Types and Symbols of his Presence I shall neither lose my Faith nor my Life I shall not be discomfitted nor enslaved like a surprized Zedekiah I shall not be famished nor broken up like a long besieged Jerusalem Though mine Enemies hem me in on every side and carnal Fear cause me to cry out as the Prophet's Servant What shall we do Yet if I can but lift up mine Eyes to thee which indeed are naturally as heavy as Moses his Hand I shall perceive somewhat else besides Perils and Foes on every side I shall find the Mountains full of Chariots of Fire and more for me than can be against me For an Host of Angels shall pitch their Tents about me to secure me and those mighty Ministers of thy good pleasure shall keep me like Daniel from the power of the Lyon So that my most Savage Enemies shall lack and suffer hunger while I want nothing that is good For though my way be hedged up that I cannot pass which way I would nor follow the Lusts of my Heart and the desires of mine Eyes as many do yet I may look up with joy and confidence as I trust I shall at the last day because my Salvation is drawing nigh My Hope my Help cometh from the Lord not from the Angels in his Presence but from the Angel of his Presence and of his Covenant the Blessed JESUS who having taken our Nature that he might be sensible of our Infirmities ever abides with Humanity at thy right Hand making Intercession for us And as he made the Heavens and the Earth for us so he makes a new Heaven and a new Earth of us by justifying and sanctifying both our Souls and Bodies through the mighty Work of his Spirit in his Word and Sacraments For these are the Mountains of the Lord wherein he is apparently seen Glorious in Holiness Fearful in Praises doing Wonders and abounding in Goodness and Truth If we Worship him as our Fathers did in these Mountains in the heights of Sincerity and Devotion we may expect to hear God promising us graciously as he did Abraham that he will be a God to us and to our Seed after us And we may hope to see him as Manoah and his Wife did in the Zealous performances of his holy Worship in the Flame arising from the Altar of our Hearts from whence God would not accept a Service if he desired the Death of Sinners Therefore we may be assured that if we keep in his ways he will keep us in ours as he did his Israel both by the Pillar of Fire and by the Pillar of a Cloud by the flame of Affliction as well as by the light of Prosperity And while we lay hold on these as Sampson did
on the two Columns let us invoke thy help O Lord saying O Lord Though thou mayest call to Baldness to Weeping to Weakness or to Want though thou mayest touch the Sinew and make it shrink or strive with me as thou didst with Israel and begin to afflict me or seem to depart from me so that my Flesh and my Heart may fail yet O suffer not my Soul to slip let not my Foot my Foundation be removed but let it rest with thy Dove upon the Ark of thy Covenant and be fixed on the Rock Christ Jesus that thou mayest order all my goings O! do thou go out and in before me that my going out and coming in may be ever blessed If thou go not out with us carry us not abroad nor let us stay at home without thee Let not the Vanities of the Day nor the Visions of the Night disturb our Senses or abuse our Souls O Lord prevent the Mid-day Devils and the Arrows that fly by Noon from blasting or hurting of us nor let Nocturnal Evils or any mischief in the dark have Power to smite us But be thou a Succour a Second a God not a far off to preserve and prosper us in all our Actions publick and private in our Labours in our Studies in our Rest in our Retirements in our weak Beginnings in our happier Progresses and in our best Conclusions O Lord be with us in our entrance on the Stage of this World in our Parts here in our Exit hence even now and for evermore Amen THE THIRD Psalm of Degrees BEING The CXXII PSALM Describeth David's Joy which is expressed in the 30th Psalm at the bringing of the Ark and Offering for the Temple and Dedication of his House to God's Service And it is a Preparative Hymn for the Devout in their going up to the Places of Religion and Solemn Worship containing their Thanks Praise and Pleasure in the return of the Comfort and Company which they enjoyed in the public Adoration of God and their Prayers for the longer continuance of such signal Blessings Made by David as it is thought upon his return to Jerusalem after his slight from Absalom and solemnly sung by the Levites at their coming out of Captivity Jerusalem in general as the Temple more especially being the Type of God's Church both Militant and Triumphant that is built with the precious Stones of the Apostles and Prophets CHRIST himself being the Rock Caput Anguli Caput Angelorum to whom when many come there is much Joy The Poem is Dramatick like the 118th Psalm in which the King Priest and People seem to bear their Parts of Rejoycing at the public Festivals which were thrice every Year to be solemnized at Jerusalem according to the Command of God which occasioned the great Beautifying Enlarging and Fortifying of the City intimated in the 2d 3d 6th and 7th Verses as well as the other reason of its Happiness and Amplitude from the Temple of God and Throne of David mentioned in the 1st 5th 8th and 9th Verses To which may be added this reason because there was the great Senate of the LXXII or Sanhedrim The King beginneth the Psalm in the 1st Verse the Priests follow in the 2d the People in the 3d and they go on in the 4th Then the King takes it again in the 5th the Priests in the 6th and the People go on in the 7th as in a Procession and good order The Priests take it again in the 8th and the the King concludes in the best though last place with a fixt and pious Resolution This may properly be set for the 29th of May. BLes sed be God for the good News and Freedom which he doth afford From th' House of Bondage like glad Jews we come un to thy House O Lord. Our Woes and Wand'rings now shall cease While rooted fast like Trees we stand Within thy Courts who dost with Peace Plant us again in our own Land Our Joys shoot up with fresh encrease While rooted fast like Trees we stand Within thy Courts who dost with Peace Plant us again in our own Land See Hierosolyma optime instituta concors ideo duratura see how comely how compact Peace makes this Gyant-City seem Our Union makes her Form exact Like th' Heav'nly New Jerusalem Whither to an Eternal Feast All the Lord's Tribes at last shall go And on his Hill above find rest As we do in his House below Here now as at a Passover Our Tribes like Streams i' th' Ocean meet To serve thee as thy Laws averr And Praise thy Name that is so great Here now as at a Passover Our Tribes like Streams i' th' Ocean meet To serve thee as thy Statutes are And Praise thy Name that is so great Here is God's Temple David's Throne The Bench of Justice Mercy 's Seat Here Princes Prophets Priests make known How good our Church our State how great Here 's the Blest Type of Heav'n above Pray then for Salem here for Peace Since they who love this Place do prove Happy and blest with much Encrease Lord bless us and this Place with Peace With Plenty and with Piety For thy Name 's sake let our's encrease Our King 's and Friends Prosperity All Tyes both Humane and Divine Our Love for Men our Zeal for God What we can do or wish Fiat Pax Antemurali tuo Abundantia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Palatiis Turriam ad instar structis combine To seek the Bliss of this aboad Gloria Patri c. In the Lord's Praise let none be Dumb But Father Son and Ghost adore Who was and is and is to come Thrice Blessed God for evermore CONTEMPLATIONS and COLLECTS ON THE Third PSALM of DEGREES BEING The CXXII PSALM O Glorious God! to whom Praise and Worship is due to whom Vengeance and Holiness belongs accept the Joys and Adorations of our Souls and Bodies for that we have not only Freedom in our own Persons but also Encouragement from our Relations to come along with them and many more of thy People to the most proper place and by the appointed way of public Worshipping and Praising of thee Oh! how glad as if we had found great Spoils may we be to find not only that we can but also that others will plant themselves within thy Courts and not stand in the way of Sinners that we may prosper together like Trees by the Water side and bring forth Fruit and that in due season Dear and gracious Lord when we go hence and shall be called away by Death how happy should we be could we come to thee as easily as we now can come to the Church and bring this Olive-branch in our Mouths into thy Ark Let us go up into the House of the Lord let us ascend unto his holy Hill let us be transplanted from the Gates of Death to be rooted in the Porches of the New Jerusalem for one day in thy Courts is better than a thousand in
he did Job's Sons nor from the Wilderness assault us as he did our Saviour to spoil our Labours or our hopes Nor shall the storms of Tribulation be able to beat upon our House so as to make it shake or totter For though our building of Faith be raised high even unto the Heavens yet it is no Babel it is no Jericho but a Fabrick that the Lord will bless and defend and because it stands upright it shall stand fast for ever The strength of our confidence in God shall put to flight the Armies of those Aliens that would enter and destroy its strong holds for there are Mountains of Horses and Chariots of Fire round about the Faithful to secure them so that they cannot be immur'd or shut up when never so closely begirt by Adversaries They can still look up nay go up to the Hill of Sion from whence comes their help even to Jesus the Author and finisher of their Faith who not only pitched the forces of his Word and Miracles but the red Standard of his Cross and the first Camp of his Martyrs and Apostles upon the Hills of Jerusalem to Convoy all Comers to the City of our God and to draw all to him from the Center of the World Oh therefore let neither the Rod nor the Staff of the Wicked be laid or left upon my score or part lest I do or suffer the evil of Sinners but let thy Rod and thy Shepherds Staff both thy Cross and mine dear Jesu comfort and fill up my Cup and make mine Heritage and Lot like thine For then it shall be good and thou that art so ever wilt do good to me making and keeping me upright in Heart clean in my Hands single in mine Eye of Faith and sound in the Feet of mine Affections steady in the ways of thy Commandments Lord if thy hand be not graciously when most heavily upon me how soon may I put forth my hand unto wickedness like Cain Pharaoh Balaam Achan and Jeroboam and like Judas Ananias and Simon Magus This makes me yet pray more earnestly that Christ may still pray for me since he that Christ prays for shall believe aright and he that so believes shall not find upon his lot the Scepter of Unrighteousness the Rule of Satan the Domination of Sin the Rod of the Wicked the Guilt or Punishment of Reprobates Oh then that my lot and last end may be in the Righteousness of Jesus my Lord that I may not fall presumptuously nor fear greatly nor be driven forth with evil doers but be led forth into the Paths of Peace into the straight way that leads to life there to taste of the Brook in the way the quiet and sufficiency thou affordest thy Flock here and to drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures hereafter to lye down like thy Sheep in the green Pastures of Hope in the never fading never failing enclosure of thine Arms and to rise in Glory with thine Inheritance for evermore Amen THE SEVENTH Psalm of Degrees BEING The CXXVI PSALM Is thought to be composed by Esdras or some of that time after the Babylonish Bondage because in the first part of the Psalm it joyfully Celebrates the Return of some as in the second part heartily wishes the Restoration of all the rest of the Captivity from the Land of the North as the Realm of Babylon is called Jer. 13.19 20. Jer. 16.15 in regard of its site to Judea making that apt and excellent resemblance of them to Streams running into the dry and desolate parts of the South which must needs be very welcome there and are said to flow thither as Torrents in great abundance upon the melting of the Snows and producing of Showers by the South Wind So that whether you take 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the South Wind or South part of the World the comparison may hold to either acceptation of the Word very full and elegant The Jews flocking Southwards home but not all together as the Spirit of God moved on the Waters in Babylon in the Days of Cyrus Darius and Xerxes stirring up Zerubbabel Ezra Nehemiah and others to bring back the Hebrews restore Religion rebuild the Temple and repair Jerusalem which had been demolished and burnt by Nebuzaradan in the fifth Month 2 Kin. 25.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in that same Month about Harvest time was the Return of the Jews with Ezra c. 7. v. 9. who had been led away Captive at their Sowing time Therefore the Simile of the Husbandman here was rarely apposite both to the occasion of their Joy and season of the Year and their manner of Exaltation This PSALM is very proper for our 23d of April and 29th of May or any such happy Time of recovery from Trouble Danger and Oppression AFTER the long Night of a State so dark as ours so de so late who could so much as Dream that we should wake out of Cap ti vi ty But when God took that Plague a way that E gypt which on Si on lay our Pangs like Dreams a way did fly and we had safe de li ve ry Pleas'd and transported with our Change By a Recovery so strange Acts 3.9 As Cripples cur'd by Wonders we Soon got both Strength and Liberty Soon we got well well home and found Grief did no Soul no Body wound But Hearts and Tongues in Psalms agree And they got Feet as well as we Then both our Chains and Silence broke Then Pagans too the Truth thus spoke The Lord hath done great things for ye The Lord hath done so answer'd we Therefore God's Works with joy we tell Which may convince the Infidel And call up Pray'rs for such as be Not yet return'd from Slavery O! were our Friends our Foes and all Redeem'd from their Egyptian Thrall From Satan and from Sin set free How welcome were their Liberty Welcom as Nilus in the South And sweet as Show'rs in days of Drouth For all with us we long to see Reap Mirth who plough'd in Misery Sure Lord thy Lab'rers 2 Thes 3.7 8 9. in the heat Who take the pains shall tast the Wheat And may with shouts receive from thee A Largess of Prosperity We who dropt little hopes in Tears When driven hence by Foes or Fears Now loaded back with Solace see Rich Incomes from Captivity Endo ibit flendo portans pretium seminis pretiosum ob caritatem Thus the poor Seeds-man sadly goes While on the ground his Wealth he strows But when the Harvest Crowns him he Veniendo veniet cum exuitatione Jogs home with Sheaves and jollity So they who shed a few small Tears I' th' Seed-time of their Hopes and Fears Shall glad Returns from Sadness see And shock up more Felicity Nay he that goes from hence and bears To Earth his Dust to Heav'n his Tears Shall find those precious Grains to be Vast Crops in blest Eternity Gloria Patri c. In the Lord's Praise
with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as being sung with loud and frequent Responses by the Levites at the erecting and re-edifying of the Temple and therefore intended by me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as an Anthem for the Day of a Nativity or Baptism For Shrove-Tuesday or a Wedding TIL God the House doth build and Fa mily maintain Workmen tho' ne're so strong or skill'd La bour a las in vain Fa ther 's get Sons in vain in vain the Watchmen ward our Gates un less the Lord or dain his Host to be our Guard In vain a Life we keep Rise early late take Rest Fare hardly For I take it with the 72 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when others take pains with care to provide for their Families God's Beloved thrive better and yet do not so much as lose their sleep or rest in pursuit of thòse enjoyments which others incessantly toyl for This shews the vanity of our Solicitude as the other sence viz. so he gives speaks God's Blessing of honest Labour whereby he brings Rest and makes both it and what else got by Labour pleasant according to Eccless 5.11 lose our loved Sleep 'Till God our Stock hath blest But they whom God hath blest Like Job regain their Peace Nempe Dilectis Domini viz. Jedidiah's such as Solomon God gives his Jedidiahs Rest And with their Rest Encrease Look All Children are given as an Inheritance passing from the Father of Heaven to us not purchased by our own Ability but the Wise and Good are more than David's pleasant and goodly Heritage for they are also a Reward as here and a Crown especially such as are born to us in our stronger and youthful Age who may be grown up and able to give advice and assistance and ready at hand to help or adorn as Arrows in the Quiver of an Archer so that we may go in or out of the Gates of our House City or Lie with honour and safety and speak either with Friends or Foes strong or great the Judge or General Whether it be in public in the sight of all as Aben Ezra construes in Portâ or whether it be in the place where the People assemble where the Nobles meet where the Thrones are set the Prophets prophecy the Right is pleaded the Guards are kept the Soldiers stand and the Judges fit as they did formerly in the Gate Vide Ruth 4.1 1 King 22.10 2 King 7.20 Judg. 9.52 c. ev'n our best Encrease Ruth 4.13 Gen. 30.2 Children come from the Lord Those Fruits of th'Womb which some may guess Man's Work are God's Reward Children both give and Ward A blow for though but young To Parents they 're a double Guard Like Weapons to the Strong Those Shafts help against wrong Life against Death provide Like Jonathan's they home are flung To shield our threaten'd fide Happy the Man whose side Bears Quivers of such Arms For wheresoe're his Cause is try'd He 's quit of Shame and Harms Thus we whom God hath Blest Like Job regain our Peace Since God gives his Beloved Rest And with our Rest encrease Gloria Patri c. To God the Father Son And God the Holy-Ghost Be Glory and let every one Strive who shall praise God most HOSANNA CONTEMPLATIONS and COLLECTS ON THE Eighth PSALM of DEGREES BEING The GXXVII PSALM GRacious Father who workest hitherto as thy Son also worketh look upon us thy Workmanship make us thy Building who as lively Stones well wrought and figured would be built up a Spiritual House unto thee And we know except thy Divine Wisdom thus frame and raise us bearing up the Pillars of our Strength hewing out the Stones of our hard Hearts to be polished Corners of thy Temple we shall prove but sorry Tabernacles but foolish Builders and Labourers in vain For who amongst us can say that he hath made his Heart clean Who can come to the Rock to lay a good Foundation except it be given him from above Or who can keep himself so clean as that the foul and wicked Spirit touch him not nor enter in again after he hath been cast out of a Man except thou O Lord who art stronger than the Enemy dost watch and defend the House of the poor Soul Thou must work all our Works in us and for us for without thee we can do nothing O therefore raise strengthen stablish and compleat us thou glorious Solomon thou who must edifie us by thy Apostles and Teachers and instruct us how to be Temples for thy holiest Spirit and the Heritage of the Lord for evermore We must acknowledge that our best Skill and carefullest Actions our Watchings and Fastings our Righteousness and Charities are as Stones which thou O Master Builder mightest refuse being fit for nothing but to debase and throw us down to Hell affording us no prop or safe reliance upon them 'T is thou alone O truest Jedidiah that foundest thy beloved Church upon the Corner-Stone of Faith which edifies with joy and peace with rest and firmness in believing So build us up we beseech thee and watch over our Souls that we may not be found to have watch'd or to have work'd to have instructed our Hearts to have cleansed our Hands in vain but to have done the Work and compleated the Task which thou hast appointed us to do by edifying both our selves and others in our most holy Faith We throw our selves Lord Jesus on thy gentlest Bosom of Compassions to be regarded and instructed by thee and trust that we are not Judas's whilst we eat of thy Bread and drink of thy Cup but shall be unto thee Sons and Daughters such an Inheritance as may be the Crown of thy Rejoycing the purchase of thy Labours the proof of thy Power the Arrows in thy Quiver with which thou mayest triumphantly come to the Almighty and say Behold me and the Children which thou hast given me Let not thine Arms be full or weary dear Lord 'till thou hast enclosed our Souls within them and made us so the Children of thy strength as that we may be able to come with boldness to the Throne of Grace and neither be affrighted when we meet with our Enemies in the Gate of Death nor when we shall speak with our Accuser and our Judge at the great Tribunal of the last day From the various Proofs of thy tenderness over thy Flock in giving them repose and comfort and blest content in the midst of their hard fare hard work and harder want O skilful Shepherd of our Souls let us learn to cast our Care upon thee for our protection and provision for thy presérvation of our Persons and propagation of our Families and if thou carest for us we need take no more care than Abraham did for God will provide for us for our Off-spring for our chief Good and for his Glory The Lord shall build his David a House and he will be an exceeding great Reward even above that of the
State according to thy Will CONTEMPLATIONS and COLLECTS ON THE Twelfth PSALM of DEGREES BEING The CXXXI PSALM O Thou Son of David of whom we ought to learn to be Meek and Lowly let us see what kind of Disciples we are by regarding our dear Master and find what Proficients in thy School by minding the Copy thou hast set us There appeared not the least glance of Pride Arrogance or Self-love in thy Behaviour there was not the least Roof of Bitterness in thy Breast for thou camest to Attone the first Sin of our first Parents and so for all thou wert exalted far above all that are here called Gods yet thy Spirit was not haughty as Lucifer's not thine Eyes lift up to the forbidden Fruit. Mark 13 32 Thou wert willing to be ignorant as Man of those things which did not befit Men to pry nicely into that thou mightest stoop to the weaknesses of thy Body the Church and comply more absolutely with the divine Will and Compassionate more sensibly the Infirmities or Ignorances of Mankind O most gracious condescending Jesus how were thy Delights among the Children of Men while thou didst not behave thy self like a Simon Magus like an Impostor that would be admired for some God below but like thy Servant Moses didst vail thy self that thou mightest be conversed withall and didst not walk too much obscured by thine own Lustre and Transcendency but didst leave the Doctors and Learned Jews to go down with thy humble Mother into Galilee and to be subject unto her as a weaned Child And though thou wouldest not exercise thy self in things too high for thee yet O! how low wouldest thou appear in thy Employments How plain in thy Countenance how easie and affable in thy Conversation that Publicans and Sinners and little Children might come unto thee and hear thy excellent Discourses and taste thy miraculous Provisions while thou wentest about doing good and telling Men that they should follow thy steps in being meek humble quiet and contented doing Good readily suffering Evil patiently as dear Children Lord How then should we abhor our selves when we either think of thee or of our selves How unlike are we become to thee if we claim any Kindred with thee For do we not still continue like Leviathan among the Sons of Pride Do we seem little in our own Eyes as thy Servant David did when thou didst make him a great King Or rather do we not lift up our Wills and Understandings and walk with a stiff Neck of Perversness in opposition to thee as it were aiming even at Heaven it self like the Tail of the old Serpent So far are we from receiving the Kingdom of Heaven like little Children But O! when then shall it once be that we shall not be High-minded but fear and love and own thee to be Lord over us Then shall we not rashly venture with Uzzal to meddle with those things which are unmeet for us or forbidden to us but we shall be weaned from our Mother Earth from the love of this dirty World and from loving its foul Inclinations and we shall cast our Cares and Affairs on thee renouncing all Self-Trusts or Conceits to level the face of our Souls before the feet of the holy Jesus that when thou comest O most holy Spirit to prepare the way of the Lord in us he may find no Rock nor Mountain nothing too hard or haughty in us nothing untractable or inaccessible to obstruct or oppose his Progress But O! let the too mighty Elevations of my vain Thoughts be brought down and the crooked ways of my Heart be made strait and the rough ways of my Condition be made smooth that my Soul may be still quiet with me and still'd and quietted by thee Rebuke the tempestuous Motions of a froward Mind that I may repose my self sweetly and safely on thy Promises on thy Provisions and resign my self wholly to thy Inspirations And God grant that all thine Israel may like Jacob wrastle with Principalities and Powers even in the highest and most heavenly Things and though never so much in a Night of Cares and darkest perplexities or to encounter with enraged Enemies yet let them wait and hope on the Lord and stay and strengthen themselves on their God as David did at Ziklag for he is a sure Reward and a constant Reward a Pillar of Fire and a Pillar of a Cloud a Sun and a Shield in whose Name we ought to trust denying our own Conjectures Affections and Desires rather than an absolute Dependance on him for ever and ever AMEN THE THIRTEENTH Psalm of Degrees BEING The CXXXII PSALM Is a Narration of David's Devotion and of God's Promises and Appointment as to David and his Seed and the setling of the Ark on Sion which was a Type of the stability of Christ's Kingdom and of the future Felicities of his Servants in the Reign of the Son of David the Messiah the Horn spoken of here in Verse 17 as the Rabbins agree which the Apostle proves Acts 2.30 Therefore it was solemnly used at the Rebuilding of Jerusalem 2 Chron. 6.41 42. Deut. 12.11 1 Chron. 17.11 12. and most probably as Grotius thinks a composition of Solomon's at his raising of the Temple for the Honour of God and the Place containing in it part of Solomon's Prayer part of God's Promise to the Jews and to David But Kimchi and others think it made by David at that very time 1 Chron. 21.26 1 Chron. 22.1 when the scituation of the future Temple was miraculously shewn unto him as it is hinted in the word Invenimus by the Sign from Heaven For as David was absolutely forbidden the building of a Temple so 'till the Prophet Gad came to him with a Divine Command That he should build an Altar in the Threshing-Floor of Araunah For all his great desire like Abraham's 1 Chron. 17.12 to see such a glorious Day and notwithstanding his Devotion like Jacob to the Service of God yet he knew not the place that God would chuse as his Heaven upon Earth for his most eminent and suitable Habitation Therefore his Care and Concern chiefly reflecting on his Vows here made were the more considerable and might well be stiled Afflictions worthy to be Commemorated as well as his former Persecutions His constant Humility Meekness pious Sollicitude and Affection for God's Service demonstrated in 2 Sam. 7.2 and 1 Chron. 17.16 and all these senses the word Afflictions will bear as I have shewn in my Version Hic versus plurimum Hebraeos fatigat inquit clarius Where also I have endeavoured to be as clear as I could in the Exposition of that dark place of the sixth Verse which by some Commentators like the Jewish Arab. here is render'd much more shady and obscure so that the Elegant Castalio was forced to confess That he understood not the meaning of the Text viz. Verse 6. Therefore herein as all along by the help of the Critics
Mansion for us even in thy House O Father And with us be mindful of all Degrees amongst us from David upon the Throne to Job upon the Dunghill be good unto them in all their Cares Vows Prayers Devotions and Afflictions according to the multitude of thy most tender Mercies and comfortable Promises Let the King rejoyce in thy strength O Lord and do thou make his Power to flourish and his Righteousness to blossom like the Rod of Aaron ordain a lustre of Honour and Happiness for him and his House for evermore let not his Candle go out in obscurity nor quench the Light of Israel but let his Enemies be inveloped with disgrace and disappointments and cloath thy Priests and our Church of England with Honour Prosperity and perfect Redemption that the Horn of David may bud amongst us and the Power of Godliness shoot forth every where in our Land in the great City in Princes Courts and in thy House and ours so that thou mayest have Mercy on Zion and repair the breaches of thy Jerusalem while she that sate Disconsolate as a Widow may now be feasted with Bread from Heaven with the Manna of Divine Ordinances duly administred so that no Soul amongst us may go empty away but that even he who gathers least may have no lack Exod. 16.18 Lord thou canst make thy holy Viands like David's Provision at the Passover be dealt so plentifully to every one as that none shall be unprovided for or ashamed who depend like Ruth upon thy Bounty but they who despise thee shall be wrapt up in Confusion as in a Cloak Therefore let thy Servants joy in thy Salvation and all our People know the Lord acknowledging his Goodness and his Bounty that blesses the Abundance of the Rich and fills the Hungry with good things that both may have Bread enough and neither want nor repine but seek their Food of God while he makes those that depart wickedly from him to continue in shame and scarcity Ah! that we may stand in a we and not sin lest we inherit the promotion of Fools instead of the Kingdom and Crown of David so provide for us gracious Master in every state and condition as may seem best to thy God-like Wisdom and prove most to thine Eternal Glory if not to ours O! Our Father c. THE FOURTEENTH Psalm of Degrees BEING The CXXXIII PSALM Was composed by David as some think at his Coronation 2 Sam. 5. 1 Chr. â—1 2 Pet. 1.7 1 Sam. 17.29 after his eight years Civil War to exhort the People to Love and Amity according to the exhortation of the Apostle for those were the Graces which did most adorn his Life both when a public and a private Person and so this Psalm as the next 1 Sam. 18. 2 Sam. 1. 2 Sam. 3. 2 Sam. 10. 9. 18. c. was fitted for the most Solemn Times of Worship and the happy Return from Bondage and Captivity because it magnifies the pious Accord Uniformity and Blessed Communion of the Church of God in all Times It Celebrates the Excellencies of Love both in and towards God and Man it reflects much Joy from the Consideration of the Mystical Union between Christ and his Members whom he owns as Brethren who shall live and live together also with him though he is their High Priest Rock and Prince according to the most apt Comparisons of the holy Oyl and high-born Dew which Similies In Zorchabel and Joshua Types of the Messiah as well as the Subject were so well calculated to the Time when there was a Prince and an High Priest restored again to Israel that it is no wonder we find it placed among the Graduals Some apply it to all the Israelites Love one towards another who were Brethren of the same Stock as we are all in Adam and likewise to their Love of their Ruler who was higher than the rest as was shewn in Saul like Mount Hermon and Sion more advancing than other Hills Therefore to animate us with the like affections towards our Brethren Parents and Superiours they say the Priest's Blessing is compared to the Sacred Oyl and the Prince's Favour to the fruitful Dew according to that expression of the Wisest of Kings which descends from the highest to the lowest and is both pleasant and profitable to all Prov. 19.12 as the Heathen Poet Meander once quoted by St. Paul himself could say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some of the Rabbins think it a particular Eulogy of the Concord and Conformity among the Priests in their Religious Exercises and therefore mention is made of Aaron the most Anointed of the Lord as he may be termed rather than chief Anointed because most Oyl was expended on him For Saint George's or All-Saints Day BE hold how plea sant ' t is how good But O! how rare and hard to find Brethren of the same House and Blood be-come of the same way and mind Like Sampson's Honey Judg. 14.14 strong and sweet 'T is thus to see Men's Hearts and Hands As Jonathan's and David's meet 1 Sam. 18.3 Twisting together in Love's Bands When Prince and People so are one As that the Oyl 2 Sam. 19.39.5.3.19.23 pour'd on his Head Down to the lowest Limb doth run In Grace and Peace and Pardon spread 'T is like the precious Ointment shed Levit. 8.12 Upon the High Priest's hallow'd Crown Which both perfum'd his Beard and Head And thence upon his Clothes fell down Thus have I seen Clouds big with Rain First give their Dews to all the Hills And then show'r Wealth on the low Plain As Friendship benefits distills On Friendship 's Fleece God's Love brings down Blessings Judg. 6.38 39. Vide Hammond as numberless as Drops Which from Mount Sion deck the Town And cloath the Fields from Hermon's Tops As to the Vale these Mountains are So to the Weak the Potent prove Useful and kind though distant far Yet center'd like the World by Love For all our Comforts come from Love By Love God gives the Happy Life That Blest below and best above There without end here without strife Gloria Patri Glory to him who makes our Bliss To the one God in Persons three As in beginning was now is And shall be to Eternity AMEN CONTEMPLATIONS and COLLECTS ON THE Fourteenth PSALM of DEGREES BEING The CXXXIII PSALM O Blessed Father who hast made many of us of one Blood and Kind O blessed Saviour who hast made us many of one Bread and one Lump O blessed Spirit who art the Love both of the Father and of the Son shed this abroad into all our Hearts abundantly look upon us graciously O thou only one most loving and pitying Lord God! that we may look upon thee better though it be but darkly at the best in that Sea of Glass before the Throne in that clearest mirror and reflection of thy favour to Mankind to wit in Christ incarnate in whom God is most
wonderfully wisely and kindly seen to reconcile the World what is that but Vileness Vanity and Vexation Frailty and a Curse unto himself that Man might be far more able than he was by the Glasses and Laver of the Tabernacle both to see his Spots and Pollutions to get clean from them and that God might be consider'd and admired not so much in the broken Glass of Nature nor in the blotted Book of the Creature which shew us his power and greatness as in the Face of a Redeemer in the Testament of the holy Jesus which most plainly and yet most gloriously speaks thy Love and Goodness and calls for ours since if thou hast so loved this naughty World and us that help to make it worse how ought we to love thee and also to love one another O how good as well as how pleasant a thing it is to know Christ as our Head and we our selves his Members This is as sweet and useful as Life it self to make our short Lives here not tedious to our selves or others nay this is Life Eternal because Charity never fails We shall have that Grace for all if we are Christians we shall keep it always if we are Saints for it is Holiness and will be Happiness it is the Oyl that from our Head from our everlasting Aaron falls down to the very Skirts of his Clothing to revive and refresh the lowest and most humbled Sinner if believing and it is that Anointing from above which we must not want especially at the last Article of Life in the greatest extremities of Temptation but we must carry it along with us into our Father's presence then shall we be in his sight as a Field which the Lord hath blest then will he smell the Odour of our elder Brother's Vest upon us and we shall inherit the Promises and abide in his Love in the participation and in the propagation thereof Divine Love being the Dew of Heaven that causes the fruitfulness of the Earth it makes us high and white like Hermon pleasant and safe as Mount Sion it makes our Superiours and the great ones of the Earth not to be Rocks of Offence to us but to be rather as the shadows of a Rock in a dry Land needful Supports convenient Sanctuaries and Refreshments and it causes God to command a Blessing on us from all degrees of People above us and of conditions round about us Therefore Dear Lord help us to live in such Concord and brotherly Kindness as that we may be Blessed from all our Relations from our Superiours by having the Oyl of Spiritual Blessings and the Dew of Temporal Favours bestowed on us Love and good Will from Equals Prayers and good Wishes from Inferiours being so careful and affectionate both for thy Priests and for our Princes as that neither Moses nor Aaron may be murmured at but obeyed by us and we may be protected and guided by their Hands in the Spirit and Practice of all true Love and Charity for the honour of our Christian Profession and for the glory of thy holiest Name O Christ Jesus our Lord who livest and reignest c. THE FIFTEENTH Psalm of Degrees BEING The CXXXIV PSALM Was composed by David De Muys thinks as well as the former and appointed to put the People in mind of their more solemn Times of Meeting with that pious charitable and unspotted Souls with which they ought to approach God this being an Euge an incitement to all who are the Lord's Servants to be constant and pure in his Service as a particular hoc age to the Priests at the Canonical Hours of Prayer and stated Times of public Worship to lift up clean Hands and holy Hearts It is a proper Close to the preceding Hymns being often sung at Midnight at the end of the Nocturnal Offices by the Jews and design'd by me for the Eves of our greater Festivals It is an Exhortation generally directed not only to the Priests who kept the Watch in the Temple so to the People who watched their Days and Nights for many departed not as you may gather from Psal 92.2 and Luke 2.37 It seems to me most probable that this Psalm was composed by Ezra the Priest or some of his Time not only because it is the last of the Graduals which were accommodated for the Return from Captivity but because it is Dramatic chiefly concerning the Priests who stand by night in the House of the Lord or as the 72d in the Courts of the House which was not built in David's time and therefore it is not so likely a composition of David's but of Ezra when the holy manner of worshipping God was restored Ezra 8.6 and the Priests set in their Courses Vers 7. In the first Verse of this Psalm I should suppose the Choir joyning to the Music and then the Chief Priest for that Watch giving the rest Directions as in the second Verse and they again in the third Verse blessing him for it is Bless thee and not yee though in my version I use the Plural throughout A Nocturnis for Christmas Eve ALL ye whô God's Do me stics are see you with An gels wait and in your Courses like each Star by Night shine at Heav'ns Gate Look while ye stand Among the Jews the Choir stood the People kneeled the High-Priest sate and the washings of their Hands and Feet so frequent during the time of their officiating were call'd Sanctifications or kneel or sit Ye serve and bless the Lord Look that your Hands God's Altar fit And to his Praise accord Look ye be clean for Holiness Becomes God's holy Place Watch well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 72. is short of the Original though it means in holy Things as well as Places for it signifies Holiness in the Abstract Christ typified by the Ark of the Covenant and such Holiness in Men as could adapt them for the discharge of their Duty which is hinted by the Apostle 1 Tim. 2.8 And this was signified by the Jews often washing their Hands and Feet before their Praying which was stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sanctification Vt alibi indigitavi and Pray that Filthiness None of God's Works deface Then God who made the World and stays On Sion Grace shall send 'Till he shall Bless and we shall Praise From hence World without end Gloria Patri c. To God the Father God the Son And God the Holy-Ghost Be Glory giv'n by ev'ry one Who make the Lord their Boast AMEN CONTEMPLATIONS and COLLECTS ON THE Fifteenth PSALM of DEGREES BEING The CXXXIV PSALM O Thou that acceptest not the Persons of Princes nor regardest the Rich more than the Poor since they are all alike the Works of thy Hands grant that we may not be such Fools as to forget thee in any time of our quiet fulness or repose lest thou come at an Hour when thou art not look'd for by us and find us unfit for thy Appearance who canst