no vent Ready to breake the swelling Continent Words therefore must my toiling thoughts relieve And to restrained Truth inlargement give No personall Respects my thoughts shall move Nor will I Man with flattering titles smooth Should I so prostitute my servile Breath My Maker soone would cut me of by Death Chap. 33 And now O Iob what I shall utter heare As I my lips so open thou thine eare I sacred knowledge clearely will impart Drawne from the fountaine of a single heart God made us both with breath of Life inspir'd In shrouds of fraile Mortalitie attyr'd Then since we shall with equall Armes contend Arise and if thou canst thy cause defend Behold according to thy wish I stand In steed of God though made of slime and Sand. I will not with sterne Menaces affright Nor shall my hand on thee like Thunder-light For I with griefe O Iob have heard thee vaunt And breake into this passionate Complaint My Heart is uncorrupt my Innocence Without a Staine my life free from offence Yet he occasion seekes to overthrow And trample on me as his mortall foe Who least I should escape in fetters binds Observes my steps and makes the faults he finds How rash is thy bold charge God is compleat In his owne Essence much than man more great And yet dar'st thou contend his patience grieve Will He a reason for his Actions give Oft he to Mortals speaks yet will not they The Counsell of his Oracles obey Sometimes by Dreames in silence of the Night Sometimes by Visions he informes their sight When sleepe his Poppy on their Temples sheds Or they lye musing on their restlesse beds The cause of their afflictions then reveales And on their Hearts his reprehension seales That he may man prevent his pride repell Save from the sword and greedy jawes of Hell For this diseased on his bed he groanes While unrelenting Torments gnaw his bones The sight of Food his emptie stomack fils And Dainties to his taste are lothsome Pils By wasting Hecticks of his flesh bereft Bones late unseene alone apparant left His Soule sits mourning at the gates of Death While anguish strives to suffocate his breath But if a Prophet or Interpreter One of a thousand with the sicke conferre Before his eyes his ugly sinnes detect And to a better life his Steps direct Then Mercy thus will cry Release the bound From Sinne and Hell I have a Ransome found Then shall his bones the flesh of Babes indue His youth and beauty like the spring renew He shall his God implore his glorious Face VVith joy behold and flourish in his grace For God will his Integritie regard His vertue with a Bounteous hand reward His Eyes the secrets of all hearts survay VVhen the contrite and bleeding Soule shall say How have I Justice forc'd the poore undone Sinne heapt on Sinne to my owne Ruine run Then God shall raise him from the shades of Night And he shall live to see th' etheriall Light Thus oft to man that Power which wounds and heales The way to Joy by Misery Reveales That he may longer with the living dwell Snatcht from th'extended jawes of Death and Hell O thou of men most wretched heare me speake Nor in thy frantick passion silence breake If thou thy selfe canst cleare at large reply For I thy life would gladly justifie If not my words with wisedome shall informe Thy erring Soule and mitigate this Storme Chap. 34 Then Elihu his speech directs to those Who in a Ring the Disputants inclose You that are wise said he my Doctrine heare You who have knowing Soules afford an Eare. For sence is by that Organ understood Even as the taste distinguisheth of Food By Equitie let us our Judgements guide And this long controverted Cause decide Iob cries I guiltlesse fall to God appeale Yet will not he the clouded truth reveale Shall I with lyes betray my Innocence My wound is mortall ô for what offence VVho of himselfe but he so vainely thinks Who contumacy like cold water drinks He is in shackles by the wicked led And walkes the way which his Associates tread VVhat bootes it man sayes he to take delight In God! and live as alwayes in his sight O heare me you who high in knowledge sit Is it with God that he should Sinne commit No each according to his Merit shall Receive his hire to Justice stand or fall O can Compassion in Destruction joy Or will the righteous Judge the just destroy Shall he the world by mans direction sway VVhom Heaven and Powers Angelicall obey In his disposure is the Orbe of Earth The Throne of Kings and all of humane Birth O if he should the heart of man survay Reduce and take the breath he gave away All Living in a moment would expire And swiftly to there former dust retire Then Iob if thou hast reason if a mind Not partiall let my words acceptance find Shall he who Justice hates rule by his lust Or will 't thou him condemne who is most just Shall Subjects taxe their Kings their Princes blame And with detractions poys'nous breath defame Much lesse upbraid his just Dominion To whom both Lords and vassals are all one Who Rich and Poore alike regards since they By him were form'd from the same lump of clay Pale Death shall in an instant quench their light Whole Nations ravish in the dead of Night Sweep from the Earth the mightie in Command Shall from their Thrones be snatcht without a hand He all beholds with eyes that never close Observes their Steps and their Intentions knowes No mufling Clouds nor Shades infernall can From his inquiry hide offending Man Nor shall the Punishment which guilt pursues Exceed the Crime lest he should God accuse He shall for sinnes unknowne the mighty breake And to their empty thrones advance the weake The Misteries of Night reveale to Day And in their falls their secret faults display Nor his exemplary revenge deferre Presented on the Worlds great Theatre Since they revolt from God with open jawes Blaspheme his Justice and despise his Lawes So that the cries of their oppressions rend The suffering Aire and to his eares ascend Who can disturbe the peace which he bestowes VVhat tumult waken their secure repose VVhat Nation or what one of Mortall Race Shall God behold if he withdraw his Face That Hypocrites no more may tyrannize Nor in their snares the credulous surprize Say thou I will not with my God contend But beare his Chastisements nor more offend My Ignorance informe if I have lent An Eare to vice lest I my sinnes augment VVill he with thy Arbitrement comply VVhither thou should'st consent or shouldst deny His censure is the same Shall I transgresse In not reproving what thou know'st professe And you my Auditors by God indu'd VVith sacred wisedome will I hope conclude That Job on Justice hath aspersions flung And spoken indiscreetly with his tongue O Father give his Miseries no end VVhile he shall his impietie defend
tak'st Those Parts wherein the most Perverse may see Divinity and Poesie agree Afflicted Iob a Veile of Sorrow shrouds But heavenly Beames dispell those envious Clouds The Royall Psalmist borne on Angels wings Now weepes in Verse now Halelu-jahs sings Converted Salomon to our eyes presents Deluding Ioyes and curelesse Discontents That good Iosiah's Name may never dye Thy Muse revives his Mournfull Elegy With the same Zeale doth to our Numbers fit All the Poeticke Parts of Holy Writ And thus Salvation thou maist bring to those Who never would have sought for it in Prose Henry Rainsford To his VVorthy Friend Mr. George Sandys on his Sacred Poems HOw bold a Worke attempts that Pen Which would enrich our Vulgar tongue With the high Raptures of those Men VVho here with the same Spirit sung VVherewith they now assist the Quire Of Angels who their Songs admire VVhat ever those inspired Soules VVere urged to expresse did shake The Aged Deepe and both the Poles Their numerous Thunder could awake Dull Earth which doth with Heav'n consent To all They wrought and all They meant Say Sacred Bard what could bestow Courage on thee to soare so high Tell mee Brave Friend what help'd thee so To shake off all Mortalitie To Light this Torch thou hast climb'd higher Then he who stole caelestiall Fire Edward Waller To my worthy Friend Mr. George Sandys INspir'd by Thee who art thy selfe a Muse Not crown'd with Ivy or neglected Baies But with a sacred Light which doth infuse Into our Soules her intellectuall Raies Among these Starres of the first Magnitude I in affection my dimne Taper bring For though my Voice be horce my Numbers rude On such a Theame who could forbeare to sing Immortall Sands whose Nectar-dropping Pen Delights instructs and with that holy Fire Which fell from Heaven warmes the cold brests of men And in their Minds creats a new Desire For Truth in Poesie so sweetly strikes Vpon the Cords and Fivers of the Heart That it all other Harmony dislikes And happily is Vanquisht by her Art These God-like Formes inspir'd with Breath divine Blest in themselves and making others Blest For us are by that curious hand of thine In English Habits elegantly drest May our great Master to whose sacred Name Thy Studious Houres such usuall Gifts direct As Caesar to his Maro prove the Same And equall Beames upon thy Muse reflect Wintoure Grant A PARAPHRASE VPON IOB Chap. 1 IN Hus a Land which neare the Suns uprise And Northern confines of Sabaea lies A great Example of Perfection reign'd His Name was Iob his Soul with guilt unstaind None with more zeale the Deitie ador'd Affected Vertue more Vice more abhorr'd Three beauteous Daughters and seven hopefull Boyes Renew'd his youth and crown'd his Nuptiall Ioyes Lord of much Riches which the use renownes Seven thousand broad-taild Sheepe gras'd on his Downes Three thousand Camels his ranke Pastures fed Arabia's wandring Ships for traffick bred His gratefull Fields a thousand Oxen till'd They with their rich increase the hungry fill'd Five hundred Asses yearely tooke the Horse Producing Mules of greater speed and force The Master of a mighty Family Well ord'red and directed by his Eye None was more opulent in all the East Of greater Power yet such as still increast By daily turnes the Brothers entertaine Each other with the weeke begin againe This constant custome held Not to excite And pamper the voluptuous Appetite But to preserve the Vnion of their Blood With sober Banquets and unpurchas'd Food Th'invited Sisters with their graces blest Their festivals and were themselves a Feast Their turnes accomplisht Iobs religious care His Sonnes assembles whose united praier Like sweet perfumes from golden Censors rise Then with divine Lustrations sanctifies And when the Rosy-finger'd Morne arose From bleating Flocks unblemisht fatlings chose Proportion'd to their number these he slew And bleeding on the flaming Altar threw Perhaps said he my Children in the heat Of wine and mirth their Maker may forget And give accesse to Sinne. Thus they the Round Of Concord Keepe by his Devotions crownd Iehova from the summit of the skie Environ'd with his winged Hierarchie The world survaid When lo the Prince of Hell Who whilome from that envy'd Glory fell Like an infectious Exhalation Shot through the Spheares and stood before his Throne False Spirit said th' Almighty that all shapes Do'st counterfeit to perpetrate thy Rapes Whence com'st thou He reply'd I with the Sun Have circl'd the round World much People won From thy strict Rule to my indulgent Raigne Taught that no pleasure can result from paine Hast thou said God observ'd my servant Iob Is their a Mortall treading on the Globe Of Earth so perfect can thy wicked Arts Corrupt his goodnesse all thy fiery Darts The Armour of his fortitude repels In Iustice he as thou in fraud excels Our power adores with sacrifices feasts Loves what thou hat'st and all thy works detests Hath Iob serv'd God for nothing Satan said Or unrewarded at thy Altar paid His frequent vowes Hast thou not him and all Which he cals his inclosed with a wall Of strength impregnable his labours blest And almost with prosperitie opprest Left nothing to desire yet should'st thou lay Thy hand upon him or but take away What thy Indulgence gave in foule disgrace He would blaspheme and curse thee to thy face Iehova said his Children all he hath Are subject to the venome of thy wrath Alone his Person spare The tempter then Shrunke from his presence to th'aboads of Men. As at their elder Brother 's all the rest Of that faire off-spring celebrate is feast With liberall joy and coole th'inflaming blood Of generous grapes with christall of the flood A Messenger arriv'd halfe out of breath Yet pale with horror of escaped Death And cry'd Oh Iob as thy strong Oxen till'd The stubborne fallowes while thy Asses fill'd Themselves with Herbage all became a prey To arm'd Sabaeans who in ambush lay Thy Servants by their cursed fury slaine And I the only Messenger remaine Another entred ere his tale was told With singed haire and said I must unfold A dreadfull Accident At Noone a Night Of clouds arose that Day depriv'd of Light Whose roaring conflicts from their breaches threw Darts of inevitable flames which slew Thy Sheepe and Shepheards I of all alone Escap'd to make the sad Disaster knowne This hardly said a third with blood imbrew'd Brake through the Presse and thus his griefe pursu'd The fierce Chaldaeans in three Troopes assaild Our Guards till they their Soules through wounds exhal'd Then drave away thy Camels only I Thus wounded live to tell thy losse and Die As thronging Billowes one another drive To murmuring shores so thicke and fast arrive These Messengers of Death The fourth and last With staring haire wild lookes and breathlesse haste Rusht in and said Oh Iob prepare to heare The saddest newes that ever pierc'd an eare Loe as thy Children on soft Couches lay And with
House of polisht Marble build VVith Jasper floor'd and carved Cedar seil'd Yet shall it ruine like the Moth's fraile cell Or sheds of Reedes which Summers heat repell He shall lye downe neglected as unknowne And when he wakes see nothing of his owne Terrors like swallowing Deluges shall fright Swept from his Bed by Tempests in the Night Like scatter'd Downe by howling Eurus blowne By rapid Hurl-winds from his Mansion throwne God shall transfix him with his winged Dart Though he avoyd him like the flying Hart Men shall pursue with merited disgrace Hiss clap their hands and from his Country chase Chap. 28 There are rich Veines of Gold and silver Mines VVhose Ore the fire in crucibles refines So dig'd up Ir'on is in the furnace blowne And Brasse extracted from the melting Stone Men through the wounded Earth inforce their way And shew the under Shades an unknowne Day While from her bowels they her Treasure teare And to their avarice subject their feare Their they with Subterranean Waters meet And Currents never touch't by humane feet These by their bold endeavors are made dry And from the Industry of Mortals flye The Earth with yellow eares her browes attires Although her Jawes exhale imbosom'd fires Torne Rocks the sparkling Diamond unfold The blushing Ruby and pure graines of Gold Those gloomy vaults no wandring foule descries Nor are they pierced by the Vultures eyes Swift Tygres which in pathlesse Deserts stray Nor solitary Lyons tread that way Their restlesse Labors cleave the living Stone Cloud-touching Mountaines by their Roots ore'throwne New streames through wondering Rocks their tract pursue VVhile they the Magazines of Nature view VVho swelling Floods with narrow bounds inclose And what in Darknesse lurkt to Light expose But where above the Earth or under ground Can VVisedome by the search of Man be found Her worth his estimation farre excels Conceal'd from sence nor with the living dwels The Seas reply shee lies not in our Deeps Nor in our floods her radiant tresses steeps Nor are her rare endowments to be sold For silver Hils or Rivers pav'd with gold Nor for the glittering sand by Ophir showne The blew-ey'd Saphir or rich Onix stone For Rocks of Christall from the Ocean brought Nor Jewels by the rarest workeman wrought Can blazing Carbuncles with her compare Or groves of Corrall hardned by the Aire The Tophas sent from scorched Meroë Or Pearles presented by the Indian Sea VVhence comes shee from what undiscover'd Land Or where doth her concealed palace stand Since O invisible to mortall Eye Or winged Travellers that trace the skie Death and Destruction say her fame alone Hath reach'd our Eares but to our Eyes unknowne God onely understands her sacred wayes The Temple knowes where shee her Light displayes For he at once the Orbe of Earth beholds And all that Heav'ns blew Canopie infolds To measure out the strugling Winds by weight That else the world would teare in their debate And bridle the wilds Floods least they their bound Againe should passe and all the Earth surrown'd When he in Clouds the dropping waters hung And through their roaring jawes his Lightning flung Then he beheld her face her light displaid Prepar'd her paths and thus to Mortals said The feare of God is wisedome and to flye From Evill is of vertues the most high Chap. 29 Iob paus'd forthwith these words his sigh's pursue O that those happy Dayes would now renew When God beneath his shield my safety plac'd When his cleare lamp a sacred Splendor cast About my Browes by whose directing light I trod securely through the Shades of Night That now I had what I in youth possest VVhen he my Mansion with his presence blest VVhen those who from my veines deriv'd their blood Like springing Lawrels round about me stood VVhen Butter washt my Steps when Streames of oyle Gusht from the Rocks and Plenty free from toyle VVhen through the gazing Streets I past in State To my Tribunall in the Cities Gate The blushing Youth their vertuous awe disclose And from their Seats the reverend Elders rose Attentive Princes such a silence kept As if their Soules had in their Bodies slept Th'astonish't Nobles stood like men that were Depriv'd of all their Sences but the eare All eares that heard my equall Justice prais'd All eyes that saw their Lids with wonder rais'd I from Oppressors did the Poore defend The Fatherlesse and such as had no friend Those sav'd whom wicked Power sought to destroy And made the widowes heart to spring with joy I put on Truth shee cloth'd me with renowne My Justice was to me a precious Crowne Eyes lent I to the blind feet to the Lame A Father to the Comfortlesse became I search't what from my knowledge was conceal'd And clouded Truth by her owne light reveal'd Oft with my Scepter brake the Lyons jawes And snatcht the prey out of his armed pawes Then said my Dayes shall as the Sand increase And I in my owne nest shall dye in peace My Root was by the living water spred And Night her dew upon my Branches shed My Glories Crescent to a Circle grew And I my Bow with doubled vigor drew When I but spake they hung upon my looke And as an Oracle my Counsell tooke None spake but I each his owne Judgement feares My words like honey dropt into their eares Which readily with joy they entertaine As Yawning Earth devoures the latter Raine Although I smil'd none would my thoughts suspect Nor on my Mirth a frowning looke reflect But trod the path which I their Chiefe propos'd I King-like sate with armed troopes inclos'd Gave timely Comforts to the Soule that mourn'd Rais'd from the Dust and teares to Laughter turn'd Chap. 30 O bitter change now Boyes my grones deride The wretched object of their scorne and pride Whose Fathers I unworthy held to keepe With lesse contemned Dogs my Flocks of sheepe How could their youth to my advantage turne Or elder age with weakning vices worne Who pale with famine to the Desert fled On roots of Juniper and Mallowes fed Whom Men from their Societie exclude Detested and like Theeves with cryes pursu'd Conceal'd in hollow Rocks in gloomy Caves And Cliffes deepe vaulted by the fretting waves Among the Bushes they like Asses braide And in the Brakes their Conventicles made The Sonnes of Idiots of ignoble Birth Contaminate and viler then the Earth Yet now am I obnoxious to their wrongs A By-word and the Subject of their song's Who exercise their tongues in my disgrace Abhorre my paths and spit upon my face They ever since the inrag'd omnipotent Dissolv'd my Sinewes and my Bowunbent Like head-strong Horses twixt their teeth have tane The masterd Bridle and contemn'd the reyne Lo Boyes against me rise and strow my way With Snares then watch the cruell traps they lay Who now my path's pervert their hate extend To multiply his woes that hath no friend As Seas against the Shores strong Rampires stretch Their battering waves and force a
place your hopes on high But earthly Mindes false wealth admire And toyle with uncontrol'd desire With cleare aspect Thy beames reflect And heavenly thoughts inspire O let my joy exempt from feares Their joyes transcend when Autumne beares His pleasant wines On clustred vines And graine-replenisht eares Now shall the peacefull hand of Sleep In heavenly Deaw my senses steep Whom thy large wings O King of Kings In shades of safety keep PSALME V. CANT BASS TO heare me Lord be thou inclin'd My thoughts O ponder in thy minde And let my cryes acceptance finde Thou hear'st my morning Sacrifice To thee before the Day-star rise My prayers ascend with stedfast eyes Thou lov'st no vice none dwells with thee Nor glorious Fooles thy Beautie see All sinne-defil'd detested bee Liars shall sinke beneath thy hate Who thirst for blood and weave deceit Thy Rage shall swiftly ruinate I to thy Temple will repayre Since infinite thy Mercies are And thee adore with Feare and Praier My God conduct me by thy Grace For many have my Soule in chase Set thy strait Paths before my face False are their tongues their hearts are hollow Like gaping Sepulchres they swallow Fawne and betray even those they follow With vengeance girt these Rebels round In their owne counsels them confound Since their Transgressions thus abound Joy they with an exalted voice That trust in thee who guard'st thy Choice Let those who love thy Name rejoyce Thy blessings shall in showers descend Thy favour as a shield defend All those who Righteousnesse intend PSALME VI. As the 3. LOrd thy deserved Wrath asswage Nor punish in thy burniug Ire Let Mercie mitigate thy Rage Before my fainting life expire O heale my bones with anguish ake My pensive heart with sorrow worne How long wilt thou my soule forsake O pitie and at length returne O let thy Mercies comfort me And thy afflicted Servant save Who will in death remember thee Or praise thee in the silent Grave Vext by insulting enemies My groanes disturbe the peacefull Night My bed washt with my streaming eyes Through griefe growne old and dim of sight All you of wicked life depart The Lord my God hath heard my cry He will recure my wounded heart And turne my teares to tides of joy Who hate me let dishonour wound Let feare their guiltie soules affright With shame their haughtie lookes confound And let them vanish from my sight PSALME VII CANT BASS O Thou that art my Confidence And strong Defence From those who my sad fall intend Great God defend Lest Lion-like if none controule They teare my persecuted Soule If I am guiltie if there be Deceit in me If ill I ever to my friend Did but intend Or rather have not succour'd those Who were my undeserved foes Let them my stained Soule pursue With hate subdue Let their proud feet in Triumph tread Upon my head My life out of her mansion thrust And lay my Honour in the dust Against my dreadfull Enemies Great God arise Just Judge thy sleeping Wrath awake And vengeance take Then all shall Thee adore alone O King of Kings ascend thy Throne Part. 2 Judge thou my foes as I am free So judge thou me Declare thou my integritie For thou do'st trie The heart and reines the Just defend The malice of the Wicked end God is my shield he helpe imparts To sincere hearts The good protects but menaceth The bad with death Nor will unlesse they change relent He whets his sword his bow is bent Dire instruments prepared hath Of deadly wrath And will at those who persecute swift arrowes shoot Who wicked thoughts conceiv'd now great With Mischiefe travell hatch Deceit Who digg'd a pit first fell therein Caught by his sinne On his owne head his outrage shall Like ruines fall But I O thou eternall King VVill of thy Truth and Justice sing PSALME VIII CANT BASS LOrd how illustrious is thy Name VVhose Power both Heav'n Earth proclame Thy Glory thou hast set on high Above the Marble-arched Skie The wonders of thy Power thou hast In mouthes of babes and sucklings plac't That so thou might'st thy foes confound And who in malice most abound When I pure Heaven thy fabricke see The Moone and Starres dispos'd by thee O what is Man or his fraile Race That thou shouldst such a Shadow grace Next to thy Angels most renown'd With Majestie and Glory crown'd The King of all thy Creatures made That all beneath his feet hast laid All that on Dales or Mountaines feed That shady Woods or Deserts breed What in the aierie Region glide Or through the rowling Ocean slide Lord how illustrious is thy Name Whose Power both Heaven and Earth proclame PSALME IX CANT BASS THee will I praise with Heart and Voice Thy wondrous Workes aloud resound In thee O Lord will I rejoyce Thy Name with zealous praises crown'd My Foes fell by inglorious flight Before thy terrible Aspect Thy powerfull Hands support my Right Thou Judgement justly dost direct The proud are falne the Heathen flie Oblivion shall their names intombe Destruction O thou Enemie Hath now receiv'd a finall doome Thou Townes and Cities hast destroy'd Their memorie with them decayes But God for ever shall abide And high his Throne of Justice raise A righteous Scepter shall extend And Judgement distribute to all He will oppressed Soules defend That in the time of Trouble call Who know thy Name in thee will trust Part. 2 Thou never wilt forsake thine Owne Praise Sions King O praise the Just And make his noble Actions knowne Bloud scapes not his revenging hand He vindicates the Poore mans Cause Lord my insulting Foes withstand And draw me from Deaths greedy Jawes That I may in the Royall Gate Of Sions Daughter raise my Voice Thy ample Praises celebrate And in thy saving health rejoyce They falne into the Pit they made Are caught in Nets themselves prepar'd The Lord his Judgements hath displayd The Wicked in their workes insnar'd The Wicked downe to Hell shall sinke And all that doe the Lord disdaine But God will on the Needy thinke Nor shall the Poore expect in vaine Lord let not Man prevaile arise Th' Insulting Heathen judge O then Let trembling Feare their heart surprize That they may know they are but Men. PSALME X. CANT BASS VVIthdraw not O my God my guid In time of trouble dost thou hide Thy cheerfull face Who want thy Grace The poore pursue with cruell pride O be they by their owne Inventions overthrowne The wicked boast of their successe The covetous profanely blesse By thee O Lord So much abhorr'd Their pride will not thy power confesse Nor have thy favour sought Or had of thee a thought They in oppression take delight Thy Judgements farre above their sight Their enemies Scoffe and despise Who say in heart No opposite Can us remove nor shall Our greatnesse ever fall Their mouths detested curses fill Fraud mischiefe ever prone to ill In secret they Lurke to betray The Innocent in
The Land by his faire Race possest To him his Counsels shall impart And seale his Covenants in his heart On thee with fixed Eyes I wait My feet inlarge thou from their snares O pittie me so worne with cares Despised poore and desolate The troubles of my mind increase Lord from their galling yoke release Behold thou my affliction The toile and straits wherein I live My sinnes so infinite forgive Behold my Foes how potent growne How are they multipli'd of late VVho hate me with a deadly hate Deliver ô from shame ptotect Since from my Faith I never swerve Let Innocence and Truth preserve VVho constantly thy ayd expect Redeeme thy chosen Israel And sorrow from his brest expell PSALME XXVI As the 4. LOrd judge my cause thy piercing Eye Beholds my Soules integritie How can I fall VVhen I and all My hopes on thee relie Examine try my reines and heart Thou Mercies Source my object art Nor from thy Truth Have I in Youth Or will in Age depart Men sold to sinne offend my sight I hate the two-tongu'd Hypocrite Those who devise Malicious lies And in their crimes delight But will with hands immaculate And offerings at thy Altar wait Thy Praise disperse In gratefull verse Thy Noble Acts relate Thy House in my esteeme excels The Mansion where thy Glory dwels My life ô close Not up with those VVhose sinne thy Grace expels VVho guiltlesse bloud with pleasure spill Subverting bribes their right-hands fill Bold in offence But Innocence And Truth shall guard me still Redeeme O with thy Grace sustaine My feet now stand upon the plaine Thy Justice I VVill magnifie VVith those who feare thy Name PSALME XXVII As the 10. GOD is my Saviour my cleare light VVho then can my repose affright Or what appeare Worth such a feare My life protected by his Might Vaine hatred vaine their power That would my life devoure These fell when they against me fought The Wicked suffer'd what they sought Though troops of foes At once in close Of feare I would not lodge a thought Should Armies compasse me So confident in thee One thing I have and shall request That I may in thy Mansion rest Till Death surprize My closing eyes That they may on thy beauty feast That in thy Temple still I may enquire thy Will When stormes arise on every side He will in his Pavillion hide How ever great In that retreat I shall conceal'd and safe abide He to resist their shocke Hath fixt me on a Rocke Now is my head advanc'd renown'd Above my foes who gird me round That in my Tent I may present My sacrifice with Trumpets sound There I thy praise will sing Set to a well-tun'd string Part 2 O heare thou my afflicted cry Extend thy pitty and reply VVhen thus the Lord In sweet accord Seeke thou my Face with searching Eye Directed by thy Grace Lord I will seeke thy Face Thy Face O therefore never hide Nor in thine anger turne aside From him that hath Serv'd thee with faith Forsake me not my ancient Guide So oft in dangers knowne O leave me not alone Although my Parents should forsake Yet Lord thou wouldst to Harbour take O lest I stray Teach me thy Way And in thy Precepts perfect make Because my enemies Watch like so many Spies Expose me not to their desire For lying witnesses conspire Who in their breath Beare Wrath and Death My Soule had sunke beneath their ire But that I did relye On thy benignity In hope to see within the Land Of those that live thy saving hand He shall impart Strength to thy heart Wait on the Lord undanted stand His heavenly Will attend VVho timely aide will send PSALME XXVIII As the 5. MY God my Rocke regard my Crie Lest I unheard like those that die In shades of darke Oblivion lie To my ascending Griefe give eare VVhen I my hands devoutly reare Before thy Mercie-seat with feare VVith wicked men mix not my Fate Nor drag me with the Reprobate VVho speake of Peace but foster hate Such as their workes their dire intent And practices to circumvent Such be their dreadfull punishment Since they will not thy Choice renowne But hate whom thou intend'st to crowne O build not up but pull them downe He heares his Name be magnifi'd My Strength secur'd on everie side Since all my hope on him rely'd These Seas of Joy my teares devoure My Songs shall celebrate thy Power O thou that art to thine a Tower O thou my strong Deliverance Thy People thine Inheritance Blesse feed preserve and still advance PSALME XXIX YOu that are of Princely Birth Praise the Lord of Heaven and Earth Glorie give his Power proclame Magnifie and praise his Name VVorship in the Beautie blesse Beautie of his Holinesse From a darke and showring Cloud On the floods that roare aloud Harke his Voice with terrour breakes God our God in Thunder speakes Powerfull in his Voice on high Full of Power and Majestie Loftie Cedars overthrowne Cedars of steepe Libanon Calfe-like skipping on the ground Libanon and Sirion bound Like a youthfull Unicorne Lab'ring Clouds with Lightning torne At his Voice the Desert shakes Kadish thy vast Desert quakes Trembling Hindes then calve for feare Shadie Forrests bare appeare His renowne by everie tongue Through his Holy Temple sung He the raging Flouds restraines He a King for ever raignes God his People shall increase Arme with Strength and blesse with Peace PSALME XXX As the 14. MY Verse shall in thy praises flow Lord thou hast rais'd my head on high Nor suffered the proud Enemie To triumph in my overthrow I cry'd aloud thy Arme did save Thou drew'st me from the shades of Death Repealing my exiled breath When almost swallow'd by the Grave You Saints of his oh sing his praise Present your Vowes unto the Lord His perfect Holinesse record Whose Wrath but for a moment stayes His quickning Favour life bestowes Teares may continue for a night But Joy springs with the Morning Light Long-lasting Joyes soone-ending Woes Part. 2 In my Prosperitie I said My feet shall ever fixt abide I by thy favour fortify'd Am like a stedfast Mountaine made But when thou hid'st thy cheerfull Face How infinite my Troubles grew My cries then with my griefe renew VVhich thus implor'd thy saving Grace VVhat profit can by bloud afford VVhen I shall to the Grave descend Can senselesse Dust thy Praise extend Can Death thy living Truth record To my Complaints attentive be Thy Mercie in my aid advance O perfect my Deliverance That have no other Hope but Thee Thou Lord hast made th' Afflicted glad My Sorrow into Dauncing turn'd The Sack-cloth torne wherein I mourn'd And me in Tyrian Purple clad That so my Glorie might proclame Thy Favours in a joyfull Verse Uncessantly thy Praise rehearse And magnifie thy sacred Name PSALME XXXI CANT BASS VVHo trusts in Thee ô let not shame deject Thou ever Just my chased Soule secure Lord lend a willing eare with speed protect
all the Earth shall sway VVhile the cleere Sunne directs the Day My Song shall celebrate thy Name And to the world divulge thy Fame PSALME XLVI CANT BASS GOd is our Refuge our strong Tower Securing by his mightie Power VVhen Dangers threaten to devoure Thus arm'd no feares shall chill our blood Though Earth no longer stedfast stood And shooke her Hills into to the flood Although the troubled Ocean rise In foaming billowes to the Skies And Mountaines shake with horrid noise Cleare streames purle from a Crystall Spring Which gladnesse to Gods City bring The Mansion of th' eternall King He in her Centre takes his place What Foe can her faire Towers deface Protected by his early Grace Tumultuary Nations rose And armed Troops our walls inclose But his fear'd Voice unnerv'd our Foes The Lord of Hosts is on our side The God by Jacob magnifi'd Our Strength on whom we have reli'd Come see the wonders he hath wrought Who hath to desolation brought Those Kingdomes which our ruine sought He makes destructive Warre surcease The Earth deflowr'd of her Increase Restores with universall Peace He breaks their Bowes unarmes their Quivers The bloody Speare in pieces shivers Their Chariots to the Flame delivers Forbeare and know that I the Lord Will by all Nations be ador'd Prais'd with unanimous accord The Lord of Hosts is on our side The God by Jacob magnifi'd Our Strength on whom we have reli'd PSALME XLVII CANT BASS LEt all in sweet accord Clap Hands their Voices raise In Honour of the Lord And loudly sing his praise VVho From above Dire Lightning flings The King of Kings Of all that move VVhole Nations of our Foes Beneath our Feet hath throwne A faire Possession chose For us that are his Owne The dignitie Of Israel Belov'd so well By the most High In Triumph God ascends VVith Trumpet shrill and Shalmes Praise him who his defends O praise our King with Psalmes For God is King Of all the Earth With sacred Mirth His Praises sing God o're the Heathen reignes Sits on his holy Throne All whom the Earth sustaines Shall worship him alone His Shield extends In their Defence His Excellence All height transcends PSALME XLVIII As the 8. THe Lord is most Majesticall Most highly to be prais'd by all Within the Citie of our God And Mansion blest by his abode Faire Sion hath a pleasant Site Of Earth the Beautie and Delight Upon the North-side bordering The Citie of the Mightie King God dwels within her loftie Towers Secur'd from all assailing Powers Conspiring Kings her ruine sought Who armed Troupes before her brought Part. 2 At once they saw admir'd and fled Their hearts surpriz'd with sudden Dread Such feare such pangs possest our foes As women suffer in their Throwes At thy command blacke Eurus rores And spreads his wracks on Tharsian shores VVe what we heard our Fathers tell Have seene who in this Citie dwell The Citie of our God which Hee Shall ever from destruction free Thy Favours Lord with Thankfulnesse VVe in thy Temple still professe As is thy Name thou God of Might So are thy Praises infinite And stretch to Earths remotest Bound Thy Hand for Justice farre renown'd O Sion Judah's Diadem You Daughters of Jerusalem Unite your Joyes and glory in His Judgement which your eyes have seene Goe walke the Round of Sion tell Her Towers observe her Bulwarks well On her faire Buildings cast thine eye Declare it to Posteritie For God will still our God remaine And us unto our Last sustaine PSALME XLIX As the 1. ALL you who dwell upon the foodfull Earth Both Rich and Poore of base and noble birth Attend my Tongue deep wisdome shall impart And knowledge from the fountaine of my heart I unto light darke Parables will bring And to my solemne Harpe Aenigmaes sing In Misery and Age why should I feare When Sin pursues my steps and Death draws neare O you who Riches as your God adore And glory in your scarce possessed Store VVho can redeeme his Brother for one Day Or to the Lord his high-pris'd Ransome pay For O not all the Gold which Streames conceale Or Hils inclose can banisht Life repeale That he might live unto Eternity Nor in the Earths corrupting Entrailes lye They see the Wise and Fooles to Death descend While others their congested treasures spend Yet hoping to perpetuate their fame Proud Structures raise and call them by their Name Part 2 But Man in honour is a Vanitie That fleets away and as a Beast must die In this vaine course they circularly move And their Posterity their words approve Death shall as Sheep devour them in the Dust Till that great Day subject them to the Just Their Strength and Beauty shall to nothing wast All naked from their sumptuous Houses cast But God shall from the greedy Sepulchre My Soule redeeme and to his Joyes preferre Despaire not when a man growes Opulent And that the Glories of his House augment For with his thread of Life his Riches end Nor shall his Honours with his Soule descend Though here he live in luxury and ease And those are prais'd who their owne Genius please Yet as his Fathers he shall set in Night Nor ever rise to see the cheerfull Light Man high in honour whose ignoble brest No knowledge holds shall perish like a beast PSALME L. As the 1. THE God of Gods Jehovah shall convent All from the Orient to the Suns descent From Sions Towers of Beauty the Divine And full Perfection shall his Glory shine Nor silent comes devouring flames before And round about him horrid Tempests rore The righteous Judge to judge his People shall High Heaven and conscious Earth to witnesse call Assemble all my Saints who with one mind My Testaments with Sacrifice have sign'd Then thundring Skies shall make his Justice knowne When he our God ascends his Judgements Throne My People heare Thy God O Israel Will thee convince and thy Transgressions tell I blame not thy unfrequent Sacrifice Nor fumes which rarely from my Altars rise I from thy Stall will take no well-fed Steere Nor from thy Folds a Male-goat of that yeare For all are Mine that Woods or Deserts breed And Herds which on a thousand mountaines feed I know all Fowle which Hils or Valleys yield And number all the Cattell of the Field Part. 2 Will I if hungry unto Thee complaine When all is Mine which Sea and Land containe Will I eat flesh of Bulls or canst thou thinke That I the blood of shaggy Goats will drinke A thankfull heart upon my Altar lay And righteous Vowes to high Jehovah pay Then call on me in trouble I will raise Thy Soule from Death and thou my Name shalt praise But O thou Hypocrite Dar'st thou explaine My Law My Covenants with thy lips prophane That scorn'st instruction dost my Word despise Consent'st with Theeves and hast adulterous eyes Deceit and slander tip thy impious tongue Thy brother woundst with Infamy and Wrong Thus didst thou
will I celebrate thy Praise My thankefull Heart no time shall spot This will Jehovah more delight Then Buls prepar'd for Sacrifice Their guilded Hornes with Garlands dight This shall the Meeke with pleased Eyes Behold and centuple their joyes Their Day shall never set in Night For God the Poore regards and those VVho for his sake affliction trie Round Earth deepe Seas what Seas inclose You Orbs that move so orderly Our great Jehovah magnifie VVho crownes his Saints with sweet Repose For God his Sion shall immure And Judah's Cities build againe VVhere they shall ever live secure A faire inheritance obtaine There shall their blessed Seed remaine And safely that rich Soile manure PSALME LXX As the 5. HAst Lord from such as would devoure Defend by thy almightie Power Delay not in so fear'd an Houre But let confusion seaze on those Who seeke my Soule to shame expose Be sudden in their overthrowes Let those with infamie returne Dejected and unpittied mourne Who laugh and blast me with their scorne Who love thy Name with joy invest Let them in shades of Safetie feast And ever say The Lord be blest But I am poore and full of need Hast Lord deliver me with speed Our Strength our Help from Thee proceed PSALME LXXI As the 34. I To thy Wing for refuge flie Protect me from foule Infamy Lord in thy Justice save Deliver from their treacherous Snares O favourably heare my Prayers Snatch from the yawning Grave Be thou my Fortresse of Defence There let me fix my Residence O Thou my Rocke my Tower Who hast thy Angels given in charge That they thy Seruants should inlarge From circumventing Power Deliver from their cruell might Whose wicked hands in blood delight Lest I their prey become Thou art my hope even from my Youth Have I reli'd upon thy Truth By Thee kept in the wombe From thence extracted by thy Care Though as a Prodigie they stare On me with wondring eyes Yet thee my strength my Song shall praise And to the Starres thy glory raise While Sunnes shall set and rise Part 2 O cast not off when full of dayes Forsake not when my Strength decayes Watcht by conspiring Foes God hath abandon'd him say they Now let us make his life our prey VVho shall our power oppose My God close to thy servant stand And helpe him with a speedy hand Those in their pride confound Who persecute my wretched Soule Let Death their impious rage controule And with dishonour wound But I will ever hope and raise My Voice to multiply thy Praise Thy Righteousnesse display Thy manifold Deliveries VVhich ô no number can comprise Thus spend the harmelesse Day I in thy Strength though old and weake VVill walke and of thy Justice speake Of thine even thine alone Thou hast inform'd me from my Youth I to this houre with single Truth Thy wondrous workes have showne Part 3 Now in the VVinter of my yeares VVhen Time hath snow'd upon my haires Abandon not ô Lord Till I unto this Age proclame Thy Mightie Power in Songs the same Unto the next record Thy Counsels depth our search exceeds How admirable are thy Deeds O who is like to Thee Thou hast afflictions on me laine Yet shalt thou quicken me againe And from Earths entrailes free Still thou my glorie wilt increase And comfort with the joyes of Peace I in a living verse Unto my warbling Harpe will sing Thy praises O eternall King Thy noble Acts rehearse Unto my Voice and Instrument Shall my exalted Soule consent By Thee redeem'd from Death Thy Justice every Day proclaime That now hast cloth'd my Foes with Shame Dispersed by thy breath PSALME LXXII CANT BASS THe King Jehovah with thy Justice crowne And in a God-like reigne his Son renowne He shall with equitie thy People sway And Judgement in the scales of Justice waigh Then little Hils shall riot with increase And Mountaines flourish in the fruits of Peace He shall the Poore from Violence protect Exalt the Humble and the Proud deject They while the restlesse Sunne directs the Yeare While Moones increase and waine thy Name shall feare He shall descend like plenty-dropping Showres Which cloath the Earth and fill her Lap with flowers The Just shall flourish in his happy Dayes And Peace abound while Stars extend their Raies He shall from Sea to Sea inlarge his Reigne From swift Euphrates to the farthest Maine The wilde Inhabitants that live by prey In scortched Deserts shall his Rule obey His Foes shall licke the Dust rich with their Spoyles Kings of the Ocean and Sea-grasped Iles Shall orient Pearle and sparkling Stones present Gold from the Sun-burnt Aethiopians sent The swart Sabaeans and Panchaia's King Shall Cassia Myrrhe and sacred Incense bring Part. 2 All Kings shall homage to this King affoord All Nations shall receive him for their Lord. He shall th' Oppressed heare the Poore defend The Needie save and such as have no friend Redeeme their Soules from Fraud and Violence And shall with Blood revenge their Bloods expense For this he long and happily shall live To him they shall the Gold of Sheba give The People for their King shall hourely pray His Praises sing and blesse him Day by Day Ranke crops of Corne shall on high Mountaines grow And shake like Cedars when rough Tempests blow The Citizens shall prosper and abound Like blades of Grasse which cloath the pregnant ground His Name shall last to all Eternitie Even while the Sunne illuminates the Skie All Nations shall in Him be blest Him all The habitable Earth shall blessed call O praised be our God! That King of Kings Who onely can accomplish wondrous things For ever celebrate his glorious Name And fill the World with his illustrious Fame Amen Amen Here end the Prayers of David the Sonne of Iesse A PARAPHRASE VPON THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE PSALMES OF DAVID PSALME LXXIII As the 1. THat Power of powers who Israel protects The Pure of heart eternally affects Yet I began to stagger in my Faith My Feet almost had swerved from his Path VVhen I the Foole beheld with envious eyes Saw prosperous Vice to Wealth and Honour rise Their Thread of Life is close and firmly spun Whom feeble Age and pale Diseases shun They while we suffer surfeit in content As if alone exempt from punishment Pride hangs like precious Chains about their necks And Violence in robes of Purple decks Their swolne eyes shine with uncontroll'd excesse Who more then what their hearts can wish possesse Even glory in their foule Impietie And speake like Thunder from the troubled Skie Dire Blasphemies against high Heaven they cast The suffering Earth their Pride and Slander blast The Good not seldome through their Scandall stray And prest with Miseries in Passion say O how can we the Lord All-seeing call Or think he cares what unto men befall When lo the Wicked with successe are crown'd And in the pleasures of this world abound I to no end have purg'd my heart of
May Parch't with Heat and nipt with Frost Soone shall fade for ever lost Part. 2 Lord thou art most Great most High Such from all Eternitie Perish shall thy Enemies Rebels that against thee rise All who in their Sins delight Shall be scatter'd by thy Might But thou shalt exalt my Horne Like a youthfull Vnicorn Fresh and fragrant Odors shed On thy crowned Prophets head I shall see my Foes defeat Shortly heare of their retreat But the Just like Palmes shall flourish VVhich the Plains of Judah nourish Like tall Cedars mounted on Cloud ascending Lebanon Plants set in thy Court below Spread their roots and upwards grow Fruit in their Old-age shall bring Ever fat and flourishing This Gods Justice celebrates He my Rocke Injustice hates PSALME XCIII As the 47. NOw great Jehovah raignes VVith Majesty aray'd His Power all powers restraines By men and gods obey'd The round Earth hung In liquid Aire Establisht there But by his Tongue Thy Throne more old then Time And after as before The Flouds in billowes clime And foming loudly rore VVith horrid Noise The Ocean raves And breaks his Waves Against the Skies But thou more to be fear'd More terrible then these Thy Voice in Thunder heard Thy Nod rebukes the Seas Thee Truth renowns Pure Sanctitie Eternally Thy Temple crowns PSALME XCIV As the 10. GReat God of Hosts revenge our Wrong On those who are in Mischiefe strong Vpon thy Foes Inflict our VVoes For Vengeance doth to Thee belong Judge of the World prevent The Proud and Insolent How long shall they the Just oppresse And triumphin their Wickednesse How long supplant Ah! how long vaunt And glory in their dire successe Thy Saints asunder break Insulting o're the Weak Who Strangers and poore VViddowes kill The blood of wretched Orphans spill And say Can he Or heare or see Doth God regard what 's good or ill Brute Beasts without a mind O Fools in knowledge blind Shall not th' Almighty see and heare VVho form'd the Eye and fram'd the Eare VVho Nations slew Not punish you VVho taught not know to him appeare Darke Counsels secret Fires Vaine Hopes and vast Desires Part. 2 But O! thrice blessed he whom God Chastiseth with his gentle Rod Informes and awes By sacred Lawes In stormes brought to a safe aboad VVhile the Unrighteous shall By winged Vengeance fall For he will not forsake th'Elect Nor who adore his Name reject But Judgement then Shall turne agen To Justice and her Throne Erect VVho are in Heart upright Shall follow that cleare Light VVhat mortall will th' Afflicted aid Depend when impious Foes invade Lord hadst not thou My Soule ere now In silent shades of Death had laid For he my Out-cries heard And from the Centre rear'd VVhen Griefe my labouring Soule confounds Thou powrest Balme into her wounds Shall Tyrannie VVith thee complie VVho Mischiefe for a Law propounds VVho swarme to circumvent And doome the Innocent But thou O Lord art my Defence My Refuge and my Recompence The Vicious shall By Vices fall By their owne Sinnes be swept from hence God shall cut off their breath And give them up to Death PSALME XCV As the 34. COme Sing the great Jehovah's Praise VVhose Mercies have prolong'd our Dayes Sing with a joyfull voyce VVith bending Knees and raised Eyes Adore your God ô sacrifice In sacred Hymnes rejoyce Great is the God of our Defence Transcending all in eminence His Hand the Earth sustaines The Depths the loftie Mountaines made The Land and liquid Plaines displaid And curbs them with his Reines O come before his Foot-stoole fall Our onely God who form'd us all Through Stormes of danger led He is our Shepheard we his Sheepe His Hands from Wolves and Rapine keepe In pleasant Pastures fed The Voice of God thus spake this Day Repine not as at Meribah As in the Wildernesse Where your Fore-fathers tempted me Who did my Workes of Wonder see And to their shame confesse VVhen vex't for fortie yeares I said This People in their hearts have strai'd Rebellious to command To whom I in my Anger swore That Death should seise on them before They knew this pleasant Land PSALME XCVI As the 29. NEw composed Ditties sing To our Everlasting King You all you of Humane birth Fed and nourisht by the Earth Celebrate Jehovah's Praise Daily his Deliveries blase His Glory let the Gentiles know To the VVorld his wonders show O how gracious ô how great Earth his Foot-stoole Heaven his Seat To be fear'd and honor'd more Then those gods whom Fooles adore Idols by their Servants made But our God the Heavens display'd Honour Beautie Power Divine In his Sanctuarie shine All who by his Favour live Glory to Jehovah give Glory due unto his Name And his Mightie Deeds proclame Offerings on his Altar lay There your Vowes devoutly pay In his beauteous Holinesse Part. 2 To the Lord your Prayer addresse All whom Earths round shoulders beare Serve the Lord with Joy and Feare Tell Mankinde Jehovah raignes He shall bind the world in Chaines So as it shall never slide And with sacred Justice guide Let the smiling Heavens rejoyce Joyfull Earth exalt her Voice Let the dancing Billowes rore Ecchoes answer from the Shore Fields their flowrie Mantles shake All shall in their Joy partake VVhile the VVoods Musicians sing To the ever-youthfull Spring Fill his Courts with sacred Mirth He He comes to judge the Earth Justly He the VVorld shall sway And his Truth to men display PSALME XCVII As the 8. O Earth joy in Jehovah's Raigne You numerous Iles claspt by the Maine Him rolling Clouds and Shades infold Judgement and Truth his Throne uphold VVho fierie Darts before him throwes VVith winged flames consumes his Foes His Lightning made a Day of Night Earth trembled at so fear'd a sight The Mountaines at his Presence sweat Like pliant VVax dissolv'd with Heat At his Descension from the Skie VVho rules the VVorlds great Monarchie The Heavens declare his Righteousnesse His Glorie wondering men confesse Let those with shame to Hell descend VVhose Knees to cursed Idols bend VVhose rockes for Deities implore O all you gods our God adore Rejoycing Sion heard her King Her Daughters of his Judgements sing Thou art exalted above all Mankinde and Pow'rs Angelicall Those Saints thy shady Wings protect VVho Sin abhorre and thee affect For thou hast sown the Seeds of Light And joy which shall invest th'Vpright You Just your joyfull Hearts elate His blest Memoriall celebrate PSALME XCVIII As the 47. SING to the King of kings Sing in unusuall Laies That hath wrought wondrous things His Conquest crown with Praise Whose Armes alone And sacred Hands Their impious Bands Have overthrown He Justice brings to light His saving Truth extends Even in the Gentiles sight To Earths remotest Ends. His Heavenly Grace At full displayd And promise made To Jacobs Race Let all that dwell on Earth Their high Affections raise VVith universall Mirth And loudly sing his Praise To Musick joyne The warbling
Voice Let all rejoyce With Joy divine The sprightly Trumpet sound The shrill-voic'd Cornet bring Let all with Joy abound Before the Lord our King Rore out you Seas You spangled Skies All you comprise Rejoyce with these Flouds clap your thronging waves You Hils exalt your mirth He who his People saves Now comes to judge the Earth The round World shall VVith Justice trie His Equitie Dispenst to all PSALME XCIX As the 29. LEt our Foes with terrour quake Let the Earths Foundation shake Now the Lord his Raigne begins Thron'd betweene the Cherubins O how great in Sions Towers High above all Mortall Powers Great and terrible his Name Since so holy praise the same Judgement his great Power affects Yet by Equitie directs These celestiall Twins imbrace These reflect on Jacobs Race O how holy above all Honour at his Foot-stoole fall Moses Aaron heretofore Among those who Mitres wore Samuel by Vow desir'd Among those who were inspir'd These to him their Praiers preferr'd These by him as soone were heard These his Statutes rarely brake Unto these th' Almightie spake In the Pillar of a Cloud To his Service ever vow'd He did their Petitions heare Mercifull and yet severe The Holy on his holy Hill Glorifie and worship still PSALME C. As the 47. All from the Suns uprise Unto his Setting Raies Resound in Jubilees The great Jehovah's Praise Him serve alone In triumph bring Your Gifts and sing Before his Throne Man drew from Man his Birth But God his noble Frame Built of the ruddy Earth Fill'd with caelestiall Flame His Sons we are Sheep by him led Preserv'd and fed With tender care O to his Portals presse In your divine resorts VVith Thanks his Power professe And praise him in his Courts How good how pure His Mercies last His promise past For ever sure PSALME CI. As the 46. OF Justice I and Mercy sing Which Lord from thee their Fountain spring The Graces that adorn a King Grave Wisdome shall my steps direct No Vice my heart nor Roofe infect When wilt thou visit thine Elect No pleasure shall mine eyes misguide Who from the Tract of Vertue slide Just Hate shall from my Soul divide Who mischief in their Hearts contrive Delight in Wrong in Factions strive I from my peacefull Court will drive Who hath his Friend with Slander strook I will cut off nor ever brook A proud Heart and a haughty Look Mine Eyes the Faithfull shall observe Those in my Family shall serve Who never from pure Vertue swerve But who are exercis'd in Guile Whose Tongues malicious Lies defile I from my Presence will exile And all the VVicked in the Land VVill cut off with a timely Hand Nor shall they in Gods Citie stand PSALME CII As the 22. ACcept my Prayers nor to the Cry Of my Affliction stop thine Eare Lord in the time of Misery And sad restraint serene appeare The Sighings of my Spirit heare And when I call with speed reply As Smoke so fleets my Soule away My marrow dry'd as Harths with heat My heart struck down like withered Hay Through Sorrow I forsake my meat While meagre cares my Liver eate The clinging Skin my Bones display Like Desert-haunting Pelicans In Cities not lesse desolate Like Screech-Owles who with ominous straines Disturb the Night and day-light hate A Sparrow which hath lost his Mate And on a Pinacle complaines Reviling Foes my Honour blast And frantick men my ruine sweare For Bread I roll'd-on ashes tast Each drop I drink mixt with a teare For Lord O who thy Wrath can beare Thou raisest and dost head-long cast My Daies short as the Evening shade As Morning Dew consume away As Grasse cut downe with Sithes I fade Or like a flower cropt yesterday But Lord thou suffer'st no decay Thy Promises shall never vade For thou shalt from thy Rest arise Since now th' appointed time drawes neare And look on Sions miseries Her Walls and batter'd Buildings reare VVhose ruins to thy Saints are deare For they her Dust as sacred prise Part. 2 Thy Name then shall the Gentiles praise All Kings thy Honour celebrate For when the Lord shall Sion raise His Glory shall ascend in State So prone to heare the Desolate And succour them in all assaies Unto eternall Memory Our Histories shall this record And all that are created by His pow'rfull Hand shall feare the Lord Who doth such Grace to his afford And on the Earth looks from on high To heare the pensive Captives grone The Sons of Death by him unbound His Name againe in Sion known That Salem may his Praise resound When in his Service all the Round Of Earth shall there be joyn'd in one Yet Lord amidst these Hopes thou hast Consum'd my strength abridg'd my yeares Before my Noon of Life be past Let me not die thus drown'd in teares Time wasts not thee which all out-weares Thy happy Daies for ever last Thou mad'st the Earth thou didst display The Heavens in various motion roll'd These and their Glories shall decay But thou shalt thy existence hold They like a Garment shall grow old And in their changes passe away But thou art still the same before The World and after shalt remaine You blessed Soules who God adore VVith Patient Hope your harmes sustaine For you shall prosper in his Reign And yours subsist for evermore PSALME CIII As the 8. MY Soule and all my Faculties Jehovah praise sing till the Skies Re-eccho his ascending Fame My Soule O celebrate his Name Nor ever let the memory Of his surpassing Favours die He gently pardons our misdeeds And cures the VVound which inward bleeds Hath from the Chains of Death unbound With Clemency and Mercy crown'd VVith Food our Hunger he subdues And Eagle-like our Youth renues His Justice he extends to all Oppressors by his Vengeance fall His sacred Paths to Moses shown His Miracles to Israel known From Him the Springs of Mercy flow Swift to forgive to anger slow For he will not for ever chide Nor constant to his VVrath abide But mildly from his Rage relents And shortens our due Punishments For as the Heavens in amplitude Exceed the Centre they include So ample is his Clemencie To all who on his Grace relie Part. 2 As farre as the bright Orient Is distant from the Suns Descent So farre he sets from his Aspect Their Cuilt who him with feare affect And as a Father to his Child So soft so quickly reconcil'd He knowes the Fabrick of us all That dust is our Originall Man flourisheth like Grasse a Flower That blowes and withers in an houre By scorching heat by blasting Wind Deflowr'd and leaves no print behind But his firme Mercy shall imbrace His Saints for ever and their Race Those who his equall Lawes fulfill Remember and performe his VVill. In Heaven the great Jehovah reigns And governs all that Earth contains You Angels who in strength exceed VVho him obey with winged speed You ordred Hosts of radiant Stars O you his flaming Ministers All
all the World relate His Fame in your Assemblies raise And in the sacred Senate praise Part. 4 He Rivers turnes t' a Wildernesse Springs dry'd up by the Suns accesse To scourge their Sins he makes the Soile Vngratefull to the Owners toile Turnes sandy Deserts into Pooles And parched Earth with Fountains cooles There plants his hungry Colonies VVhere strongly-fenced Cities rise The Fields their yellow Mantles weare And spreading Vines full clusters beare They infinitely multiply Their Heards of no diseases die But when their Sins his Wrath incense Then Famine Warre and Pestilence Their miserable Lives devoure Their Princes he deprives of Power Who in the Path-lesse Wildernesse Conceal'd themselves from Mans accesse The Poore he raiseth from the ground Their Families like flocks abound The Just shall this with joy behold Th'Unjust with feare and shame controll'd The Wise these Changes will record That they may know and serve the Lord. PSALME CVIII As the 2. MY Thoughts the Lord their Object make Before the ruddy Morning spring My Glory of his Praise shall sing Awake my Lute my Harp awake While I to all the VVorld rehearse His praises in a living Verse Thy Mercy O how great extends Above the Starry Firmament Still unto tender pity bent Thy Truth the soaring clouds transcends Thy Head above the Heavens erect Thy Glory on the Earth reflect O heare us who thy aide implore And with thy owne Right hand defend To thy Beloved Succour send God by his Sanctitie thus swore I Succoths Valley will divide In Sichems Spoils be magnifi'd Manasseh Gilead both are mine Ephraim my Strength in Battaile bold Thou Judah shalt my Scepter hold I will triumph o're Palaestine Base Servitude shall Moab waste O're Edom I my Shooe will cast Who will our forward Troups direct To Rabbah strongly fortifi'd Or into sandy Edom guide Lord wilt not thou that didst reject Nor wouldst before our Armies goe Now lead our Host against the Foe VVhen Death and Horrour most affright Doe thou our troubled Souls sustaine For O the helpe of Man is vaine Lead and we valiantly shall fight Thy Feet our Foes shall trample downe Thy Hands our Browes with Conquest crowne PSALME CIX As the 1. MY God my Glory leave not in Distresse Nor let prevailing Fraud the Truth oppresse They who delight in Subtilties and Wrongs Afflict me with the Poison of their Tongues VVith Slander and Detraction gird me round And would without a Cause my life confound Good turnes with evill proudly recompense And Love with Hate my Merit my offence But I in these Extremes to thee repaire And poure out my perplexed Soule in Praire Subject him to a Tyrants sterne command Subverting Satan place at his Right hand Found guilty when arraign'd in that fear'd time Let his rejected Prairs augment his Crime May he by violence untimely die And let another his Command supply Let his distressed Widow weep in vaine His wretched Orphans to dease Eares complaine Let them the wandring Paths of Exile tread And in unpeopled Deserts seeke their bread Let griping Vsurers divide his spoile And Strangers reape the harvest of his toile Part. 2 In his long misery may he find no Friend None to his Race so much as Pity lend Let his Posterity be overthrowne Their Names to the succeeding Age unknowne Let not the Lord his Fathers Sins forget His Mothers Infamy before him set O let them be the Object of his Eye Till hee out-root their hated Memory That to the wretched would no Mercy show But cruelly pursu'd his Overthrow Laid Trains to kill the Broken and Contrite On his owne head let his dire Curses light He hated Blessing never be he blest Let cursing like a Robe his Loines invest And like a fatall Girdle gird him round As he with Execrations did abound Let them like Water in his Bowels boile And eate into his Bones like burning Oyle Thus let the Lord reward my Enemies VVho seeke to blast me with malicious lies Part. 3 But Lord in my deliverance proclaime Thy Mercy for the honour of thy Name For I am poore with misery opprest My wounded heart bleeds in my panting brest I like the Evening shadow am declin'd And like the Locust toss'd with every Wind. My feeble knees beneath their burden bend My Flesh with fasting falls my Bones ascend Reproch hath seis'd on me my Foes revile And in derision shake their heads and smile My God O snatch me from the swallowing grave Thy servant with accustom'd Mercy save That they may know it was thy powerfull Hand And how I by divine Supportance stand Still may they vainely curse whom thou dost blesse And pine with envy at my good successe Let them be cloth'd with shame O be their owne Confusion on them like a Mantle throwne But I thy praise will duly celebrate And to the multitude thy Deeds relate That hast th' afflicted Soule from sorrow freed And from their snares who had his death decreed PSALME CX As the 34. THE Lord unto my Lord thus spake Sit at my right hand till I make A Foot-stoole of thy Foes He will thy Rod from Zion send Unto whose Power all powers shall bend That dare thy Rule oppose Thy People willingly shall pay Their vowes in that triumphant Day VVith their united Powers Aray'd in Ephods nor so few As are those Pearles of morning-dew VVhich hang on Herbs and Flowers He swore who never Oath did breake Of th' order of Melchisedek That thou a Priest should'st raigne Even while the Sun disperst his Light VVhile Moones should rule th'alternate Night Or Stars their course maintaine God in that Day at thy right hand Their Bloud who Tyrant-like command Shall in his fury spill He in his Justice shall confound The Heathen and the purple ground VVith heaps of slaughter fill VVho over many Nations sway And onely their owne Wils obey Shall sinke beneath his rage Then shall this all-subduing King VVith VVater of the Chrystall spring His burning thirst asswage PSALME CXI CANT BASS MY Soule the honor of our King Shall in the great Assembly sing Great are the wonders He hath showne With joy by their admirers knowne His glorious deedes all praise transcend His equall Justice knowes no end Left in eternall Monuments VVhose Mercy Death and Hell prevents Feeds those who feare his Name and will His Promise faithfully fulfill VVho planted with a powerfull Hand His people in this pleasant Land Just Judgement executes directs By sacred Lawes and Truth affects These fretting Time shall never waste But squar'd by Justice ever last His Word to us confirm'd by deed So often from oppression freed His Name is terrible to all His feare is the Originall Of VVisdome and they onely wise VVho make his Lawes their Exercise His praise while men have memory And power of speech shall never die PSALME CXII As the 111. Hallelu-jah THat man is blest who feares the Lord And chearfully obeies his VVord His Seed shall flourish on the Earth Their Off-spring
Guardian set My Lips with barres of Silence close O let me not thy Lawes forget And wickedly combine with those VVho Thee and all that 's good oppose Nor of their deadly Dainties eat But let the Just wound and reprove Such stripes and checks an argument Of their sincere and prudent love Like Odours of a fragrant Sent Pour'd on my head no breaches rent My prayres shall for their safety move Mongst Rocks their Chiefes in ambush lie Yet have my suff'rings understood Our severed bones are scattered by The mouthes of graves like clefts of VVood. Lord save from those that hunt for bloud On Thee with faith I cast mine eye O from their Machinations free That would my guiltlesse Soule betray From those who in my wrongs agree And for my life their engines lay May they by their owne craft decay But let me thy Salvation see PSALME CXLII As the 4 VVIth sighes and cries to God I praid To him my supplication made Pour'd out my teares My cares and feares My wrongs before him laid My fainting spirits almost spent He knew the path in which I went Yet in my way Their snares they lay With mercilesse intent My Eyes I round about me throw None see that will th' Oppressed know No refuge left Of hope bereft Vaine pity none bestow Then unto God I cri'd and said Thou art my Hope and onely Aid The Portion I build upon While with fraile flesh araid O Sourse of Mercy heare my cry Lest I with wasting sorrow die Shield from my foes Who now inclose Since of more strength then I. My Soule out of this Prison bring That I may praise thee O my King VVho trust in thee Shall compasse me And of thy Bounty sing PSALME CXLIII As the 39. LOrd to my cries afford an eare Th' afflicted heare According to thy Equity And Truth reply Nor prove severe for in thy sight None living shall be found upright The Foe my Soule besiegeth round Strikes to the ground In darknesse hath inveloped Like men long dead My mind with sorrow overthrowne My heart within me stupid growne I call to minde those ancient Daies Fill'd with thy praise Thy Works alone possesse my thought With wonder wrought To thee I stretch my zealous Hand Desir'd like raine by thirsty land Part. 2 Approach with speed my Spirits faile Thy Face unveile Least I forthwith grow like to those Whom graves inclose O let me of thy Mercy heare Before the morning Sun appeare My God thou art the onely scope Of all my hope O shew me thy prescribed way Lest I should stray For to thy Throne I raise mine eyes My Soule and all my faculties Save from my Foes to Thee loe I For refuge flie Informe me that I may fulfill Thy sacred Will My God let thy good Spirit lead That in thy paths my Feet may tread O for thy Honour quicken me VVho trust in Thee Out of these Straights for Justice sake Thy Servant take In mercy cut Thou off my Foes Whose hate hath multipli'd my woes PSALME CXLIV As the cxi THE Lord my Strength be onely prais'd The Lord who hath my courage rais'd In doubtfull Battell given me might And skill how to direct and fight My Fautor Fortresse high-built Tower My Rocke Redeemer Shield and Power My onely Confidence who still Subjects my People to my will Lord what is Man or his fraile Race That thou should'st such a vapour grace Man nothing is but vanitie A shadow swiftly gliding by Great God stoope from the bending Skies The Mountaines touch and Clouds shall rise From thence thy winged Lightning throw Rout and confound the flying Foe Stretch downe thy hand which onely saves And snatch me from the furious Waves Free from rebellious Enemies Inur'd to perjuries and lies Their Hands defil'd with fraud and wrong Then will I in a new-made Song Unto the softly-warbling string Of thy Illustrious Praises sing Part. 2 Thou Kings preserv'st hast me preserv'd Even David who thy Will observ'd Free from rebellious Enemies Inur'd to perjuries and lies Foule deeds their violent hands defile Hands prone to treacherie and guile That in their Youth our Sonnes may grow Like Lawrell Groves our Daughters show Like polish't pillars deck't with Gold Which high and Royall roofes uphold Our Magazines abound with Graine Provision of all sorts containe Increasing Flockes our Pastures fill And wel-fed Steeres the Fallowes till That no incursions Peace affright No Armies joyne in dreadfull fight No daring Foe our Walls invest Nor fearefull shriekes disturbe our rest Blest People who in this estate Injoy your selves without debate And happie ô thrice happy they Who for their God the Lord obey PSALME CXLV As the cxi I Still will of thy Glorie sing Thy Name extoll my God my King No day shall passe without thy praise Prais'd while the Sunne his Beames displayes Great is the Lord whose praise exceeds Inscrutable are all his Deeds One Age shall to another tell Thy Workes which so in power excell The Beautie of thy Excellence And Oracles intrance my Senfe Men shall thy dreadfull Acts relate My Verse thy Greatnes celebrate To memory thy Favours bring And of thy noble Iustice sing For in Thee Grace and Pitie live To anger slow swift to forgive All on thy Goodnesse Lord depend Thy Mercies all thy Workes transcend Even all thy Workes shall praise thy Name Thy Saints shall celebrate the same Of thy farre-spreading Empire speake Thy Power to which all Powers are weake To make thy Acts to Mortals knowne And glory of thy awefull Throne Part. 2 Thy Kingdome never shall have end Thy Rule beyond Times flight extend The Lord shall those who fall sustaine And Soules dejected raise againe All seeke from Thee their livelyhood Thou in due season giv'st them food Thy liberall Hand Men Birds and Beasts Even all that live with plenty feasts The Lord is Just in all his VVaies VVho Mercie in his VVorkes displaies Is present by his power with all VVho on his Name sincerely call For he will their desires effect Regard their cries from Foes protect VVho love Him Safetie shall enjoy The Lord the VVicked will destroy My Tongue his Goodnesse shall proclame Man-kinde for ever praise his Name PSALME CXLVI As the 29. Halelu-jah O My Soule praise thou the Lord Whilst thou liv'st his praise record Whilst I am eternall King I will of thy praises sing O no hope in Princes place Trust in none of humane race Who can give no helpe at all Nor prevent his proper fall VVhen his parting breath expires He againe to Earth retires Ev'n in that uncertaine day All his thoughts with him decay Happy he whom God protects He on whom his Grace reflects Happy he who plants his trust On the onely Good and Just He who Heavens blew Arch displai'd He who Earths Foundation laid Spread the Land-imbracing Maine Made what ever all containe True to what his Word profest He revengeth the opprest Hungry Soules with food sustaines And unbinds the
More reall worth a poore wise child adornes Then an old Foolish King who counsell scornes He from a Prison to a Throne ascends This borne a Prince his Life obscurely ends His Subjects after his successor runne As from the setting to the rising Sunne The vulgar are inconstant in their choice Nor in the present Government rejoyce The following as the first to change inclin'd This is a vanitie and griefe of mind Chap. 5 Whether thou goest conceive and to what end When thy bold feet the House of God ascend There rather heare his Life-directing Rules Then offer up the sacrifice of Fooles For sinfull are their gifts who neither know What they to God should give or what they owe. The Ryot of thy tongue let feare restraine Nor with rash Orisons his Eares profane God sits in Heaven with Rayes of Beauty crown'd Thou a poore Mortall creep'st upon the ground Since nothing lies concealed from his view Nor scapes his knowledge let thy words be few As Dreames proceed from multitude of Cares So multitude of words a foole declares Performe thy vowes to God without delay Fooles please not him thy vowes sincerely pay Since they are offerings of the gratefull will Vow not at all or else thy vowes fulfill Let not thy tongue oblige thy flesh to sinne Nor say I err'd by that pretext to winne Thy Angels Pardon Why shouldst thou incense Thy God and draw his wrath on thy offence In multitudes of words and Dreames appeare Like vanities my Sonne Jehova feare Nor let it quench thy Piety when thou Shalt see the poore beneath the mighty bow All Lawes perverted Justice cast aside As if the Vniverse had lost her guide That Power to whom all are subordinate Shall crush them with an unsuspected fate The Mother Earth to all her bosome yields Even Princes are beholding to the fields Who silver Covet and Excesse of Gaine Shall ever want this folly is as vaine As Riches multiply even so doe they VVho feed thereon and on their Plenty prey What profit to the owner can arise But to behold them with his carefull Eyes Sweet is the sleepe which honest toyle begets Whether he liberally or little eates When ever-troublesome Abundance keeps The wealthy waking and affrights his sleeps What Penury than Riches can be worse If by the Owner turn'd into a Curse Or to consuming vice become a spoyle Who Sonnes begets to misery and toyle Naked he issu'd from his Mothers wombe And naked must descend into his Tombe Of all with travell got and kept with feare He nothing to the House of Death shall beare But must returne as Emptie as he came His Entrie and his Exit but the same What bootes it then to Labour for the winde This is a sore affliction to the Minde He feeds his sorrow in continuall Night Repleat with Anguish Fury and Despight This truth have I found out in her pursuite To feed our Bodies to enjoy the fruit Of our enricht endeavours and to give Our selves their comforts whil'st on Earth we live Is good and Pleasurable this alone Is all we have that can be call'd our owne For to have Riches and the Power with all To use them freely is the Principall Of earthly Benefits for God on those He most affects this Happinesse bestowes That man retaines no sence of former Ill 's VVhose Heart the Lord of Life with gladnesse fills Chap. 6 This as a Common Misery have I With sorrow seene beneath the ambient Sky God Riches and Renowne to men imparts Even all they wish and yet their narrow hearts Cannot so great a fluency receive But their fruition to a Stranger leave What falser vanitie or worse disease Could ever on the life of Mortals seaze Though he a hundred Children should beget Though many yeares should make his Age compleat Yet if he to himselfe his owne deny Then want a Grave and violently dye Better were an abortive borne in vaine That in obscuritie departs againe Enveloped with shrouds of endlesse Night Who never saw the Sunne display his Light Nor Good or Evill knew he is more blest And soone descends to his perpetuall Rest Though th' other twenty Ages have surviv'd His Misery is but the longer Liv'd Yet both must to that fatall Mansion goe Where they to none are knowne nor any know All that Man Labours for is but to Eate Yet is his soule not satisfi'd with Meate VVhat therefore hath the wise more then the foole VVhat wants the poore that can his Passions rule Farre better is a cleare and pleas'd aspect Then meagre lookes which vast desires detect Such as can never satisfaction find Yet this is vanitie and griefe of Mind For be he what he will he must be Man A Name repleat with Misery nor can But desperately with such a Power contend On whom himselfe and all the world depend As Riches so our cares and feares increase O discontented Man where is thy peace VVho knowes what 's good for thee in these thy Dayes Of Vanitie A Shadow so decayes Or can informe thy Soule what will befall When thou art lost in greedy Funerall Chap. 7 An honest Name acquir'd by vertuous deeds The fragrant smell of Precious Oyles exceeds Even so the Houre of Death that of our Birth Which Fame secures and Earth restores to Earth Better to be at Funerals a Guest Then entertained at a Nuptiall feast For all must to the shades of Death descend And those that live should thinke of their last End Sorrow then Mirth more to perfection moves For a sad Countenance the Soule improves The wise will therefore ioyne with such as mourne But fooles into the Bowers of Laughter turne A wise mans reprehensions though severe More then the songs of Fooles should please the eare As thornes beneath a Caldron catch the fire Blaze with a noise and suddenly expire Such is the immoderate laughter of vaine fooles This Vanitie in our distemper rules Oppressions purchases the Judgement blind Make wise men mad a Guift corrupts the Mind Beginnings in their Ends their meed obtaine Humility more conquers then Disdaine Nor be thou to distracting Anger prone By her deformities a foole is knowne Nor murmuring say Why are these dayes of ours Worse then the former doth the chiefe of Powers So differently the affaires of mortals sway Such questions but thy Arrogance display Wisedome with Ancient Wealth not got by care Great blessings heape on those who breath this Aire Both are to mortals a protecting shade When bitter stormes or scorching beames invade But if divided he who is possest Of Life-infusing Wisedome is more blest Gods works consider who can rectifie Or make that streight which he hath made awry In thy prosperitie let joy abound Nor let adversitie thy patience wound For these by him so intermixed are That no man should presume nor yet despaire All perturbations all things that have beene I in my dayes of vanitie have seene How their owne justice have the just destroy'd And how the