me from offending thee I thought Oh Lord my God thou alwaies blessed art Vouchsafe to me thy Statutes may be taught Betweene my lipps I oft have sounded forth The Iudgments of thy mouth and I have deem'd Thy Testimonies path of greater worth Then riches are by others most esteem'd Both on thy sacred Precepts I do muse And ever to thy UUaies have borne respect Thy Statutes as my pleasures I will vse And Lord they word I never will neglect Suffer vs not oh God to deferr the amendment of our lives vntill we be decrepit with age but let thy word reform us in our youth at least from this present howre let us beginn the cleansing of our waies with our whole harts Let us seek thee blesse thee speak of thee Muse on thee so delight in thee that thou maist delight in us keep us in the way of thy Commandements for ever ever Amen Gimel 3. LOrd grace thy servant so that he May live keep thy VVord The wonders of thy Lawe to see Enlight mine eyes oh Lord. A stranger here on earth I am Thy Precepts let me knowe My soul with longings faint became Thy Iudgments love I so 2 Their Cursed pride thou hast contrould Who from thy Lawes do swarve But shame scorne from mee withhold For I thy Truth observe Enthroned Princes mee reproov'd Yet on thy Lawes I thought Thy Testimonies I have lov'd To mee they Counsell taught Another of the same COnfer such Bountie on thy servant Lord That to fulfill thy Lawe survive I may That I may see the wonders of thy UUord Vnclose likewise Oh Lord mine eyes I pray Consid'ring that on earth I am a stranger Hide not from me the knowledge of thy Truth My soul to leave the body is in danger Shee so desires the Iudgments of thy mouth Controld thou hast the Cursed pride of them Who from thy iust Commandements have swarved Remoove away their scornes who mee contemn For I thy Testimonies have observed Contested with by Princes I have binn Yet I thy servant on thy Statutes muse Thy Testimonies my delights are in And them to be my Counsellers I chuse Almighty God seeing wee are but Pilgrims here on earth subiect to many wants many Infirmities many oppressions gratiously vouchsafe us that which is out wardly necessary for the body Supply that which is defective in our seules let thy Lawe arme us against the opposition of all our Adversaries through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Daleth 4. ACcording to thy word now chear My soul which lowe is brought My life's Consession thou shalt heare Let mee thy Lawe be taught Mee in thy way appointed set And I 'le they works record Greef tires my soul oh comfort it According to thy word 2 Me from the path of Lies remoove And by thy Lawe direct For I the waies of Truth do love Thy Iudgments I affect Disgrace me not for firme I stand To what thou hast decreed And I will runn at thy Command When thou my hart hast freed Another of the same DEclined is my soul ev'n to the ground Oh quicken mee according to thy word My waies I shew'd I thine answere found Thy Statutes also teach to mee oh Lord. Disclose to me thy Testimonies path And of thy wondrous works my talke shall be My life consumes because much greef it hath According to thy UUord establish mee Divide mee from that Path which liers love And gratiously vouchsafe to mee thy Lawe The way of Truth is that which I approve And of thy Iudgments I do stand in awe Distrustfull of thy word I never grewe Permit me not oh Lord to be disgrac't The way of thy Commands I will persue As soone at thou my hart enlarged hast Indowe our harts oh God! with such vnfained humiliation with such true Confession with such harty contrition with such love to thy Truth with hatred of error with a renewing of the whole man that wee may be more more enlarged from our sinns Corruptions vntill wee be perfectly restored to the full liberty of the Sonns of God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen He. 5. SHewe mee thy Truth from that way I never will depart Teach mee thy Lawes them for aye I 'le keep with all my hart Thy Statutes Paths to mee declare For I delight theron To love thy VVord my hart prepare And Avarice to shunn 2 From folly turne mine eyes oh Lord And keep mee in thy way Confirm thy Servant in thy VVord That so I fear thee may Because thy Iudgments gratious be My feared shame remove And in thy Statutes quicken me For Lord thy Lawes I love Another of the same ETernall God thy Statutes teach to mee That til their end I may fulfill them all To keep thy Lawe let me instructed be And I with all my hart observe it shall Enable me to keep each Lawe of thine Because that in their path I pleasure take My hart vnto thy Testaments incline That so all Avarice I may forsake Estrange mine eye from Obiects that are vaine And let mee be revived in thy Path. Thy word to mee thy servant now make plaine Who to thy fear him self devoted hath Expell thou far away the shame I fear For just good oh Lord thy Iudgments be See what my longings for thy Precepts are And in they righteousnes revive thou mee Oh Lord Ignorance of thy Lawe is the Cause that wee neither love nor beleeve it want of Love Beleef are the occasions of all our errors Give us therfor wee pray thee that Love that knowledge that beleef of thy word which may keep us in thy Paths Root Covetuosnes out of our harts let no solly allure our eyes to wander aside hereafter because there is Mercy in all thy Iudgments keep us from the shame which wee fear have already deserved Even for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Vau. 6. THy loving ayde vouchsafe mee still As thou hast promis'd Lord So I my scorners answere will For I beleeve thy word Since on thy Iudgments I rely Oh! do not Lord with drawe Thy VVord of Truth then shall I For ever keep thy Lawe 2 Now I to seek thy way am bent I cann with freedome walke And I will of thy Testament To Kings with boldnes talke In thy Commands I will delight For I have them approov'd I 'le minde thy word keep aright Thy Lawes which I have lov'd Another of the same FVfill thy promisd word favour daigne Yea grat thou mee thy saving-health oh Lord So I shall make replies to them againe Who flout at me because I trust thy word Firme trust vnto thy Iudgments Lord I have Therefor to leave thy Truth permit me never But make me to thyne Ordinances cleave And keep thy Lawes for ever for ever Free shall my walkings be vncontrould Because thy precepts are belov'd of me Thy Testaments to kings I will vnfold And of the same
on him And no disgrace or shame or those cann fall For he in all their troubles helpeth them And hears the pore when he on him doth call God's Angell-gards round those that fear him be Encamped still to keep them from their Foes His greatnes and his goodnes tast see For all are blest who trust in him repose In him let all his Saints confine their fear For povertie from such resttained is Kept hungry oft the whelps of Lions are But they who fear the Lord no goodnes misse Let me from you yee babes attention gaine That I the fear of God to you may showe Mark also this all yee that would attaine Long life on earth happie daies to knowe No sland'rous tales envre your tongues to tell And let your lipps dissembling speach eschewe Of wicked words beware Vprightly deal Enquire our Peace after it persue Plac'd are Gods eyes vpon the Righteous race He to their cries an open ear doth lay Quite opposite to sinners is his face And from the land he rootes their name away Right willingly the Lord inclines his ear To hear save the righteous when they cry Sinn-wounded soules harts that broken are He never shunns but vnto such is nigh Though many greefs vpon the Godly fall The Lord will ev'ry one of them remove Vnbroke ev'n all his bones preserve he shall But sinn the death of sinful men shal prove Whoe so doth hate the Iust shall hated be For God his faithful servants wil redeem Yea all their soules from thral he setteth free And leaveth none that put their trust in him Psa 35. A Psalm of David It containes divers petitions prophetical Imprecations concerning the Adversaries of Christ of his members perticulerly mentioneth some of those misusages which he suffred by the Iewes c. We may properly sing it when we commemorate the Passion c. WIth such oh Lord as me oppose Vouchsafe to plead my right And pleased be to warr on those Who now against me fight Both sheild Buckler take in hand Rise for my help I pray Bring out the spear for me stand In my Persuers way 2 Say to my soul Thy health I am And bring to shameful wrack All those who seek my death or shame Yea sham'd repell them back Let them before God's Angel fly As chaff before the winde Let them before God's Angel fly Through paths vnsafe blinde 3 Since pitts they digg'd therein snares For me vniustly laid Let them be slaine at vn-awares In their owne trapps betraide Then Lord in thee my soul shal ioy Thy help my mirth shall be And all my bones oh Lord shal say That none cann equall thee 4 Thou sav'st thee pore men opprest From those that are too strong Thou free'st the pore who are destrest From such as do them wrong False witnesse rose charged me With words I never sayd And that my soul might spoiled be They Good with Ill repaide 5 Yet when great sicknes them opprest In sack-cloth cladd I mourn'd I fasted into my brest My prayers back return'd I greev'd for them as men bemone A Brother or a freind And sadly walk'd as when that one Bewailes his Mothers end 6 But when my greefs did me besett Their Merry-meetings were The baser sort in private mett And none did scofs forbear Yea at their Feasts in mock of me The Scorners gnash'd their teeth No longer Lord spectator be But save my soul from death 7 My Darling from the Lion save So thy great love oh Lord Where many folk their meetings have I 'le to thy praise record Oh! let not those who me despize Deride my pore estate Or lear on me with scornful eyes Whome they vniustly hate 8 They seek not Peace but Projects lay For them that peaceful be With gaping mouthes AH HA say they Our wish we now do see Thou saw'st it Therfor make no pawse Nor absent long abide But wake arise let my cause By thee Lord God be tri'de 9 Lord judge me in thy righteousnes That they deride not me And say in hart this Fall of his Is that which wee would see Oh! never give them cause to say We have devour'd him quite But shame root them out for aye That in my harme delight 10 Let them with shame scorne be cladd That have my soul deseas'd And let them trivmph be gladd Who in my cause are pleasd The Lord be prais'd let all men say That wish thy Servants Peace And with my tongue I 'le all the day Extol thy Righteousnes Oh blessed Redeemer let thy gratious assistance be alwaies readie to garde vs from the furious malice of our Foes And seeing their condition is not hidd from thee let thy iudgments be executed vpon all those who shall continue vnrepentant in their wickednes that thy Justice may be glorified as wel as thy Mercie Make vs also mindful oh Christ from what height of glorie thou didst voluntarilie humble thy self to what extream contempt thou wort abased how vnkindiie yea how despightfully handled even by those for whose Redemption thou wert pleased to descend And by thy example teach vs to be humble patient charitable in our suffrings that bearing thy crosse imitating thy virtues we may be pertakers of thy exaltation who livest raignest world without end Amen Psa 36. To the cheef Musitian a Psalm of David the servant of the Lord. It mentions the impiety corruptions of the wicked It declareth also the infinite Love mercie sweetnes Iustice of God c. It may be sung to bring to consideration God's goodnes whē the over-flowings of vngodlines circumvent vs MY hart within me sayes That Sinners fear not God And their self-pleasing course displaies Their hatefull guilt abrode Their words are wicked wiles Nor wise nor just are they Vpon their bedds they study Guiles And cursed is their way 2 The heav'ns thy Mercy fills Thy Truth doth reach the skye Thy justice Lord or'e-topps the hills And deep thy judgments lie Thou sav'st both man beast For Lord thy grace excells And vnderneath thy wings in rest Man-kinde securely dwells 3 With daineties of thy house They shall replenish'd be And streames of blisse they shall carowse For Life doth flowe from thee Thy light is Lord our light Therfore where thou art knowne Prolong thy grace that men vpright May make thy works their owne 4 Let not the foot of pride Oppose or hinder me Nor let me be remoov'd aside By hands that wicked be For thence the overthrowe Of Sinners first begann And when they fell they fell so lowe That rise they never cann UUee confesse oh Lord that by the corruption still remaining in our owne harts we are plainlie informed how Sinn being first conceived in thought will at last break forth into publike Act if thy great Mercie prevent not Uouch safe vs therfor not onlie thy common grace which thou spreadest over all but be pleased also
thoughts from thy Commandements withdrawe Thy Iustice an eternall Iustice is And Truth it self thou givest for thy Lavve Sore paines sorrowes have layd hold on mee Yet I from thy Commands content receive Thy righteous Testimonies endles be Oh let me know them Lord that I may live It is true oh Lord that vvhat ever thou willest is Just needs no other reason thereof but that thou Willest it because thy Will is Truth Justice it self Keep us therfor from questioning the Justice of any thing vvhich thou hast Willed or Decreed preserue us also from their madnes vvho fancie Decrees vvhich thou never mad'st such as doe not make thee iustifiable by humane Reason Teach us to knovve that though thy Justice is incomprehensible yet so much as thy vvord hath expressed of it is such a Justice as makes thee even in our capacities Justifiable when thou art iudged such as may encourage us to endeavour to be just as thou art just holie as thou art holy by thy example This grant for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Coph 19. LOrd hear for in my hart I crie And I thy VVord obay To hear my call thine ear apply That keep thy Lavves I may Relieng on thy VVord I call'd Before the Morning-light To mark thy VVords mine eyes forestald The Watches of the night 2 As iust loving Lord thou art So hear quicken mee Lo such as from thy Lavve depart For mischeefe comming be Oh Lord to mee now nearer drawe Thy VVord all truth containes And long agoe I knewe thy Lavve Eternally remaines Another of the same THey healp oh Lord with all my hart I crave Thy just Commands resolving to obay To thee I call aloud mee daigne to save That so thy Testimonies keep I may To thee before the break of day I call And for my certaine ayde thy VVord I take The watches of the night mine eyes forestall That on thy Lavve my muzings I may make Thine ear vnto my voice in mercy bowe That mee thy Iudgments may revive oh Lord. They fast approach who seek my overthrowe Ev'n they who strangers are vnto thy VVord To mee oh Lord at all tymes be thou nigh Thy Statutes all perfection do containe And many daies agoe informed was I That thy Commands for ever shall remaine VVee rise early oh Lord cann sit vp late at night to prosecute our common affaires or to prevent the mischeevous purposes of any temporall Adversary Cause us vvee tray thee to be as vigilant in seeking thee in Meditating the deep Misteries of thy Lawe in foreseeing vvhat spirituall enimies are approching to endanger our soules Vouchsafe this oh Lord in all our endeavours assist us in all our prayers hear us in all our necessities be present vvith us in Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Resh 20. REgard my greef save me Lord For I obaie thy Lavves Hear me according to thy VVord Oh save plead my Cause Because thy VVord they muse not on From health are sinners far Revive mee Lord as thou hast done For great thy Mercies are 2 My foes spoilers many be Yet I thy VVord professe And greeve when I the wicked see Thy Statutes to transgresse Thy Lawe I love oh quicken mee As thou hast promis'd Lord. For endles thy just Iudgments be And ever true thy UUord Another of the same VEwe Lord what sorrowes have oppressed mee For to observe Lawe My minde I give Let mee adiudged deliver'd be And mee according to thy vvord revive Vngodly men from saving health are far Because they do not seek thy Statutes Lord Exceding great thy Tender-mercies are Reviue thou mee according to thy vvord Vext persude by many I have beene And yet I from thy Precepts have not straid I greeved was when sinners I had seene Because thy holy vvord they disobayd Vnto thy Lawe observe what love I shew And of thy tender mercie quicken mee Thy vvord through all eternitie is true And everlasting thy just Iudgments be Oh Christ the Mediatour in our minds wee are lovers observers of thy Lawe but in our mēbers wee are captivated vnto the Lawe of Sinn for which our greeved spirits do complaine with sighes groanes that are neither vtterable by the voice nor sensible to the flesh Oh deliver us from this bondage Plead thou our cause to thy Father Comfort our deiected soules let our love practise of thy Lawe quicken us in the way of Righteousnes make us partakers of thy Tender-Mercies for ever more Amen Schin 21. THough Princes causeles wrong'd mee much Thy Lawe I sleighted not But in thy word my ioies were such As his that Spoiles hath got The lienge lipps I do abhorr But I affect thy vvord Seav'n times a day I praise thee for Thy righteous Doomes oh Lord. 2 The Lovers of thy Lawe have peace And harme they shall have none Lord on thine aide my hopes I place And thy Commands have done My soul thy Testimonie kept In love therewith I grewe I from thy Precepts have not stept For thou my waies dost veiwe Another of the same WHē cause was none ev'n Princes wronged mee But of thy word alone my hart had feare And in that word my Ioies moreover be As great as their's that sharing booties are With much dislike all falshood I detest And I thy Lawe vnfainedlie affect Sev'n times a day thy praise I have exprest Because thy righteous Iudgments I respect What perfect peace have they that love thy word Ev'n such that nothing cann their quiet marr For thy salvation I have hoped Lord And thy Commands by mee performed are Well pleas'd with exceeding much delight My soul thy Testimonies keepeth still Thou know'st for all my waies are in thy sight That I thy Precepts thy Lawes fulfill Oh blessed Redeemer who wert persecuted by Princes for my sake without a Cause Thy many Prayers daylie offred to thy Father thy true delight in his Word thy detestation of falshood thy perfect fulfilling of the Lawe have obtained that thy righteousnes may be ascribed vnto us Oh grant that by performing what thou hast enabled us to do wee may retaine encrease the Talent freely given enioy thy Peace which passeth all vnderstanding for ever ever Amen Tau 22. REceive my cry guide thou mee As thou hast promisd Lord. Give ear saved let mee be According to thy vvord When thou to me hast showne thy vvaies My lipps thy praise will shewe My tongue thy blessed vvord shall praise For all thy Lawes are true 2 Mee let thy powrfull hand protect For I thy Lawe approove Thy Saving-health I do affect Thy Precepts I do love Oh let mee live to sing thy praise In Iudgment mee preserve Thy servant seek who sheep-like straies For I thy Lawe observe Another of the same YEald my Complaint oh Lord thy graitious ear And knowledge of thy Lawe to me afford My humble suite vouchsafe I pray to
an extraordinary manner But all those consolations Hopes Deliverances promises of Mercye Favours enioyed Resolutions of Praise Thanksgiving with others of this nature throughout the Psalms are in a singuler manner pertinēt also to you no doubt so applied by your Ma in your owne hart as occasion is offred Which when I had considered for your Highnes as a glorious Member of Christ Iesus is often in my serious retired thoughts And I remenbring also that long since I vowed a Pilgrimage to your Ma. tie so soone as I could be furnished with some Presēt I thought this my endevour would not be impertinētly presented therefore I thus prepared the same am now come to accomplish my Vowe Which I humbly desire may be acceptable to your Ma. tie I doubt not but you often peruse this Booke in other Translations Yet these Meditations may perhaps occasion either now or hereafter some vse or application of them to your extraordinary comfort Howsoever It is in my owne esteeme the best Iewel that I have and if it were answerable to my humble Affections it would be the richest that ever was presented to a Princesse But lest my over-long Epistle become tedious I will thinck by my selfe what I have more to Say cravinge pardon for thus presuminge vpon my hopes of your Acceptation and for my conceiving it possible that after so many yeares the memory of his Name should be retained with your Highnesse who hath in all this time produced vnto your veiwe no Testimony that he retaines any Memoriall of the benifits which he long agoe receaved by your favour I distrust not the obtaining of that which I desire for my hart tells mee I am thanckfull Some live who have heard mee professe it God it witnesse of it every time I come vnto him for my owne Soul And I am in all that I am Your MAIESTIES Most humble and Long-professed servant GEORGE WITHER A Preface to the Reader THis Translation long since finished in blurred papers and often called for I lately made legible to others it had my leave to seek a publike Passe into the world which if it merrit to obtaine Be the fault theirs who shall oppose it I waited long to see a more exact performance But none appearing answerable to the dignitie of our English-Muses I have sent forth my Essay to provoke others to discover their endeavours on this subject that choice being had the best might receive the best Approbatton I have had more care to suite the Capacitie of the Vulger then to observe those Critiscismes which arride the Learned yet I hope with so much descretion that the best Iudgments shall have no cause to despise it For though the Language be plaine it is significant such a Dialect as is likely to continue vnchanged when fantasticall expressions will growe as vnfashionable as our clothes It is also breifer by above a fourth Part then the Translations which I have yet seene in any language of Europe and preserves likewise the words of the Prose the fulnes of the Sence the relish of the Scripture phrase as well as any of them VVhich considering how much other vulger Tongues have ignorantly bene preferred before our how difficultly the Hebrewismes are contracted how much the often Transition from one Matter from one Person to another interrupts breife knitting of things together how much the frequent Rimes other things considerable in Lyrick Translations interrupt such Breifnes is a great honour to our Language Especially seeing my Brevitie hath made no Psalme obscurer But rather so easie to be vnderstood that some Readers have confessed it hath bene insteed of a Comment vnto them in sundry hard places If you expect such elegant-seeming Paraphrases as are composed by those who selecting easy and Passionate Psalmes have trimmed them vp with Rhetoricall Illustrations sutable to their fancies the changable garbe of Affected Language I shall deceave your expectation For I have purposely avoyded those Descants confined my self to the grave simple Language of the Text And I was thereby the better kept from wandring after mine owne sense as in their Circumlocutions they have done Beside their Versions are sitted rather to be Read then Sung which giveth a greater Libertie to the Translator For though it be most gracefull in a reading Poeme when the Period is cast sometime into one parte of the Line or Stanza and sometime into another Yet in a Lyrick Composition where the same Staff is often reiterated to one Tune the Periods and words of the same Quantity must be alwaies observed in the same Places For if there be not allwaies a decent pawse in the Matter when the Tune is ended or if in the singing the naturall quantity of the word be adulterated or if wee be not carefull that a full-point fall not where the Tune is in the height of a continueng straine It will sound verie absurdly to a iuditious eare as may appear by offring to sing some of those Composures which are plausible in Reading I have vsed some varietie of Verse Because Prayers Praises Lamentations Tryumphs and subiects which are Pastoral Heroical Elegiacall and mixt all which are found in the Psalmes are not properly exprest in one sort of Measure Yet respecting thē who cannot attaine to many Tunes I confined my selfe to such kinds of Uerse as I found in the old Psalmebook fitting them in such manner that every Psalme in this Booke may sung to some Tune formerly in vse either in the single or in one of the double Translations And because some will thinck to examine my Version by the Prose Translations I doe here inform them that the Language of the Muses in which the Psalmes were Orignally written is not so properly exprest in the prose dialect as in verse that there is a poeticall emphasis in many places which requires such an alteration in the Grammaticall expressiō as will seeme to make some difference in the iudgment of the Common Reader whereas it giveth best life to the Author's intention makes that perspicuous which was made obscure by those meer Grammaticall Interpreters who were not acquainted with the proprieties Liberties of this kinde of writing I do likewise inform them that I have not alwaies vsed the Metaphor which is in the Original but otherwhile tendring the vulger capacity do expresse it by what it signifies For the Hebrewismes being in some places obscure as where the Tongue is interpreted Glorie and in many other suchlike perticulers I do vse expressions best agreeable with our English Dialect the vulger Capacity Moreover when the Repetition of the same word or Clause Or when two or three Synonama's togither in one sentence as Heare give ear attend or where either a Periphrasis or a transposition of some words seemes not soe gracefull in English as in the Hebrewe nor so powrfully to expresse the meaning of the Holy-Ghost by the same Idioms of speach
receaved thereby HOw famous Lord our God appears Throughout the world thy glorious Name Above the height of all the Sphears Thou spreadst the splendor of thy fame The mouths of babes thy powr to show And sucklings tongues thou didst ordaine To stopp the mouth of ev'ry foe And their avengings to restraine 2 When on the heav'ns I sixe mine eye And moone starrs thy creatures heed Why careth God for man think I Or why regardeth he his seed He was below thine Angells plac'd And higher now advanc'd is he To rule thy works him raisd thou hast And at his feet all creatures be 3 O're heards flocks in stall solde O're cattell which at randome goe The sov'raigne place he now doth holde And over foules fishes to Yea rule throughout the sea he bears And over all within the same How famous Lord our God appears Throughout the world thy glorious Name Most glorious Lord God thou so lovedst the humane nature that it pleased thee to be made man by the mouths of babes sucklings magnifienge thy great powre by humbling as it were of the Deitie for a tyme to exalt the Manhood for euer For this thy vnexpressible humiliation incomprehensible favour we submissively prostrat our soules and bend the knees of our bodyes to the honor of thy Name beseeching thee that as all other creatures are obediently subiected to thy Sonns Dominion so wee may truly submit our wills to his good pleasure in Act word thought be thanckful for our many priveledges by his blessed Incarnation Resurrection Ascention now for euer Amen Psa 9. To the cheef Musitian vpon Muth-labben a psalm of David Herein the faithfull praise God for many good causes exhort others to do the same It may be vsed to praise the Lord for his many fold mercies vouchsafed to his Church for his just judgments on their foes c. NOw Lord. with all my hart voice Thy wondrous works I le magnify Of thee I 'le sing Of thee reioice And praise thy name oh God most high For thou didst put my foes to slight They fell fled out of thy sight 2 My lawfull cause thou dost vpholde Thou fit'st enthron'd thou judgest right The Gentiles are by thee contrould The wicked thou destroiest quite And thou their names away dost blot For evermore to be forgot 3 Thy slaughters now thou cruel Foe Are to an end for ever brought Those Townes which thou did'st overthrowe Are nameles now out of thought But God still sitteth on his throne Preparing judgment thervpon 4 The world he shall vprightly doome And justly judge the nations all The pore when times of trouble come He gardeth like a castle wall And they who seek know his name Are safe by trusting in the same 5 To God therfore in Syon sing To nations all make knowne his deeds For when to light he blood will bring He poremens wrongs criengs heeds Now also Lord thy grace I crave Oh! mark what woes foes I have 6 Thou sav'st me from the gates of hell That I thy praise with chearfull voice To Syon's daughters may reveal And in thy saving-health rejoice The Gentiles had a pitt-fall wrought But they themselves therin were caught 7 Their Nets have their owne feet en-inar'de And God is by his iudgments knowne The Sinners hands have trapps preparde Whereby them selves were ouerthrowue Thus downe to hell the wicked goe As all who fear not God shall doe 8 There is a time to minde the pore Their hope shall not for ever faile To judge the Gentiles Lord therfere Arise let not man prevaile The Nations fright vntill they see That they are men as others be Selah UUe haue often experience oh God that by thy favour all oppressions insultings secret cruelties shall come to an end and that thy Mercies thy Justice shall everlastingly continue both for the savegard of thy servants to reward the wicked according to their deserts Let this experience therfor be alwaies remembred when we are persecuted or afflicted let our confidence be ever so fixed vpon thee that we may neither be discouraged in Adversitie nor forgetfull in prosperitie to magnifie thy mercies but be readie vpon all occasions to glorifie thee both for the suppression of our foes for all our other deliverances through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psa 10. The Pride Crueltie Prophanesse Fraude of Antichrist Atheists Hipocrites is described God is invoked to redresse it his Dominion acknowledged his mercifull regard of the afflicted is confessed It may be vsed when we are oppressed by temporall or Spirituall Oppressors THy face oh Lord why dost thou hide And stand aloofe so farr Lo Sinners meerly out of pride The Spoile of poremen are Insnare them by their owne devise For of their Lust they boast And praise those Freindes to Avarice VVhome God abborreth most 2 Their scornefull eyes regard not thee Their hartes do thee denay Too high for them thy judgments be Stil greeuous is their way They snuff sleight their greatest Foes And come what mischeeves will Within their hartes they do suppose That they shal prosper still 3 Their mouthes with cursings overflowe Their tongues lie swear vaunt The pore to catch overthrowe Obscured paths they haunt They watch unseene for simple-men To ceaze them vn-aware They lurck like Lions in their denn And slielie them insnare 4 To catch the pore by lowlie shewes Their strength doth help them on They think in hart that God nor vewes Nor careth what is done But rise oh Lord thy powre to showe Leaue not the pore forgot For why should Sinners sleight thee soe And think thou mind'st them not 5 Thou see'st yea see'st their wickednes That punishd it may be And loe the pore Fatherles Commit their Cause to thee Lord God their helper break the strength Of ev'ry wicked-one Serch out their sinnes thou at length Shalt cause them to have none 6 Our ever-lasting king thou art Thou from the Realme likewise Hast forc'd the Gentiles to depart And heard the poremans cries Their harts thou shalt establish to And hear judge the pore That earth-bred man the Orphanes foe May them oppresse no more Almighty God seeing our safetie consisteth in thy loving presence be thou near at hand to defend assist in all extremities Abate the malice wickednes of our foes let their pride fraude crueltie make vs the more heedfull that we depart not willingly out of thy protection Uouchsafe also so to raigne in our soules to the suppression of all intrusions that our affections being ordered by illuminated Reason sanctified by Grace Christ may have the sole dominion there that we may sincerely embrace him with our whole harts honor him with all our faculties confesse him with our tongues glorify him by our works together with thee oh father the blessed Spirit now for ever
He gloriously hath freed And everlasting mercie shown To David his seed Vouchsafe most gratious Lord according to thy accustomed mercie to be still our Protector let thy Name be alwaies glorified for the miraculous deliverances of thy Church now in al Ages especially for the great worke of mans generall redemption Instruct vs in the spiritual warfar enable vs against all our visible invisible foes subdue vnto vs all our owne rebellious Affections deliver vs out of all our suffrings Give vs victorie over everie temptation Encrease thy kingdome by the calling of those who are not yet thy People And make vs vnfainedlie thanckful vnto thee for these all the rest of thy mercies through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Psal 19. To the cheef Musitian a Psalme of David It declares the vniversal preaching of Gods Divinity by the book of his Creatures it is a prophecie of the generall pubâ—iation of the Gospel Rom. 10. It sheweth a so the properties of the divine word It may be used to praise God for the priveledges which we have by his word as a prayer for sanctification c. GOds glorie shines among the Sphears The heav'ns his handle-works disclose Their daylie speach his powre declares And e'vry night his wisdome showes Their language in al tongues is found Their Line about Earths globe doth runn Through-out the world their words do sound And there 's the Pallace of the Sunn 2 He Bride-groome-like refresh'd appears When he forgoes his lodging place Or gyant-like when vp he rears And chears himself to runn a Race His Iornâ—ies are from thence begun Ev'n where the bounds of heav'n are sett And he quite round the world doth runn Refreshing all things with his heat 3 God's Rule is plaine soules convarts His witnes firme maketh wise His lawes are just glad our harts His Precepts pure clear our eyes His blamles Feare is vn-confin'de Both true right are all his doomes More worth then gold ev'n gold refin'de More sweet then hony in the combes 4 Moreover they thy servant warne By keeping them he profit winns But Lord his guilt who cann descerne Oh! therfor purge my secreat sinns From daring Crimes thy sarvant save And let them bear no sway in me So I the lesse rebuke shall have And from the great-offence be free 5 Oh! when I speake let ev'ry word And ev'rie muzing of my hart Be pleasing in thy sight oh Lord For thou my strength saviour art No excuse is lest oh mercifull Father if we be ignorant of thee or vnconformable to thy will for by the book of thy Creatures it was long-since declared vnto the whole world which Text being corrupted by humane Inventions thou didst explaine it againe in the volumes of the Prophets Since then it was more illustrated by the writings of the Apostles And the prime scope of all these Bookes thy blessed Spirit daylie preacheth interpreteth throughout the world by ordinarie or extraordinarie meanes The powre truth puritie sweetnes profitabelnes of this divine word wee do or must confesse also to be evident Nevertheles because wee have much wilful ignorance many secret corruptions we humbly pray thee so extraordinarilie to enlighten our darknes to purge our concealed polutions that we being illuminated sanctified by the holie-ghost the vnpardonable Sinn may be avoided we made acceptable to thee in Christ Iesus Amen Psa 20. To the cheef Musitian A Psalme of David It is a prayer for spirituall graces with a protestation of affiance in God it mistically toucheth the Prest-hood royal dignity of Christ c. It may be vsed to desire Gods acceptance of vs in his Sonn may serve in some cases as a prayer for christian princes and pastors c. THe Lord at need vouchsafe thee grace Let Jacobs God thy cause defend Protect thee from his holy-place And strength to thee from Syon send Thy guifts let him remember still Let him accept thy Sacrifize Selah Thy harts request let him fulfill And prosper all thou shalt devise 2 We wil reioice thy peace to see And in Gods name our Ensignes wave When al thy suites are granted thee For God I know his Christ will save By his right-hand's almightie force God hears vs from his holy-hill Some trust in charrets or in horse But we Gods Name remember still 3 In that regard we raised are And stand vpright when they do fal Oh! let the king our prayers hear And save vs Lord when we do call Assist vs mercifully oh God in all our Aflictions Accept the Sacrifise offred for vs by Christ Iesus the high-preist of our seules in his Mediations grant vnto vs all our faithful petitions That so renouncing al temporall Assurances trustinge only in thy defence we may arise from those sinns into which many fall without repentance and that we may be made partakers of thy Salvation with our kinglie Mediatour who liveth raighneth with thee oh father thy holy-spirit world without end Amen Psa 21. To the cheef Musitian a Psalm of David It is a literal prophecie of the kingly dignitie of Christ mentioninge some of his royall prerogatives c. It may be vsed as a thanckfull commemoration of the preheminence of our spirituall king c. LOrd in thy strength how joies the king And of thine aide how glad is he His harts desires in ev'rie thing Have bene bestow'd on him by thee Selah With blessings thou didst him prevent With purest gold thou cowud'st his head To ask for life was his intent And he of endles life hath sped 2 Through thy defence he famous growes And is to high preferment reard On him thy blisse-evernal flowes Thy gratious lookes his hart have chear'd Through thy meer love the king shal stand Still firme if he on thee tepose And Lord thy hand ev'n thy right-hand Shall serch finde out all thy foes 3 As ovens hot with flames will do So thou shalt scorch them in thyne yre And in thy wrath consume them so As if they burned in the fire Yea thou shalt from the race of man Root out their fruite pluck their seed Because to wrong thee they begann Although they could not act the deed 4 Thou shalt expose them as it were A Marke within thy shooting-place Thy stringed shafts thou shalt prepare And stick thine Arrowes in their face Thus be thou still exalted Lord By thine owne powre thy trophies raise And then with joye wee will record Thy Matchles might in songs of praise Blessed be thy Name oh God for that high preferment which thou hast ouchsafed the Manhood by assuming the same to thy Deitie by bestowing theron a soveraigntie over al the rest of thy Creatures Give vs humility to ascribe al the glorie therof to Christ Iesus Hear all our petitions in him Teach vs by his example so to trust in thee that we may obtaine the priveledges of his glorious
intentions against us Let us take no pleasure in any temporall thing till wee have prevailed against the fury of our spiritual destroyers give vs grace so to crush all sinns heresies in their first birth that we may be made eternally safe happy through Iesus Christ cur Lord. Amen Another of the same AS nigh Babel streames wee fate Full of greefs vnbefreinded Minding Syon's pore estate From our eyes the teares descended And our Harps wee hanged by On the willowes growing nigh 2 For insulting on our woe They that vs had there inthralled Their imperious powre to showe For a song of Syon called Come yee Captives come said they Sing vs now an Hebrewe Lay. 3 But oh Lord what hart had wee In a forraigne habitation To repeat our songs of thee For our spoiler's recreation Ah alas wee cannot yet Thee Ierusalem forget 4 Oh Ierusalem if I Do not mourne all pleasure shunninge Whilst thy walls defaced lie Let my righthand loose his cunninge And for ever let my tounge To my Pallet fast be Clung 5 Oh remember blessed Lord E're Ierusalem was wasted How the sonns of Edom roar'd And her totall ruine hasted Till they levell all had laid Rase it rase it quite they said 6 But thou shalt be spoiled thus And be vs'd oh Babels daughter Iust as thou hast vsed vs. And that man who in thy slaughter On the stones thy Child'ren braines Shall be blessed for his paines Psa 138. A Psalme of David God is here praised for the truth of his Word for glorifieng his Sonn Christ for confirming his Elect for the Common grace vouchsafed to all c. It may be sung for any Deliverance But especially for our Redemption WIth all my hart I 'le sing abrode thy fame And praise thee where the Gods assēbled are Ev'n in thy house I 'le magnifie thy Name And for thy Truth Love thy praise declare For thou thy Name word o're all dost rear 2 When I did call thou mad'st replie to mee And strength vnto my soul thou didst afford All Kings of earth shall therfor honour thee As soone oh God as they have heard thy word And sing thy praise in thine own Paths oh Lord. 3 For thou art great thou oh Lord art high Yet hast regard of humble men belowe Thou vew'st the proude but with a sleighting eye Therefore altho through many greefs I goe I certaine am thou comforts wilt bestowe 4 Thy righthand Lord shall my salvation bee My foes feirce rage thy stretcht-out hād shal stay Thou shalt performe all things concerning mee Thy mercies Lord abide the same for aye Reiect not then thy handy-work I pray Oh Lord our Creator thou causlesly reiect est none whome thou hast made neither art thou such an accepter of Persōs as too many fancie thee bee But impartially acceptest in every Person that which is the Obiect of thy eternall Election where soever thou findest the same lovest that vnto the end Therefore thou extendest thy Truth and Mercy to all vouchsafing also thy Assisting powre to perfect that work which thy free-grace hath begunn yea thou effectually perfectest that worke in soe many as do humbly submit them selves to thy will resist not proudly the motions of thy spirit And though they passe through many temptations hazards thy hand still reacheth vnto thē comforts meanes of safe perseverance vnto the end Oh give us wisdome to perceave grace humbly to acknowledge this great Mercie which who soever denies Denies thy greatest glory make thou our endeavours answereable to the grace powre which wee have receaved through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psa 139. To the cheef Musitian a Psalme of David It confesseth the all-seeing providence powre wisdome and Mercy of God And expresseth a desire of the Faithfull to be serched rectified by him c. It warnes vs not to live Hypocriticallie in regard God beholds vs at all times in all places c. OH Lord thy all-beholdinge eies Have serch'd well observed mee Thou see'st mee sitt thou see'st mee rise Thou know'st my thoughts e're thought they be Thou vew'st my wayes walkings Lord Thou see'st what in my bedd I doe And I do never speak a word But lo thyne ears do hear it to 2 Thou standst before me behinde Thy hand on mee doth alwaies lie Thy wisdome cannot be confinde And for my reach it is too high Then from thy spirit from thee Oh whither cann I fly or goe If heav'n I clime thou there wilt be If hell I dive there art thou to 3 If on the Mornings wings I ride And thinck to fly beyond the seas Thy hand ev'n there cann be my guide They right-hand there on mee cann ceaze Or if I say the Duskie night Shall hide mee Night will me bewray For darknes is to thee as light The day like night the night like day 4 My Reines to thee apparant are For in the wombe thou closedst mee I strangely was composed there And therefore I will honour thee Thy wondrous works my soul doth knowe And that my substance thou didst marke Ev'n when as in the earth belowe I was composed in the darke 5 Before I perfect Beeing tooke Or Forme or Matter for this frame My Members all were in thy booke And thou foresaw'st what now I am Therefore thy thoughts of vs how dear And Lord how infinite they bee As num'rous as the Sands they are And wake mee still to muze on thee 6 Vngodly men men of blood Destroy cause them to be gone For they speak ill of thee oh God And vainely proude thy foes are growne Thy haters I have hated Lord And greev'd at such as thee oppose With perfect hate I them abhord And those accounted as my foes 7 Oh God! a strict enquiry make My hart ev'ry thought survay Search if an evill Course I take And showe mee thy eternall way There is nothing oh Lord in the structure of our bodies or in the disposition of our mindes but it is knowne to thee with every Cause effect thereof Neither darknes nor distance of place cann so hide us from thee but that thou seest our Actions hearest our words perceavest our thoughts Yea what they are enclinable vnto before wee thinck them Give us grace therefor to behave our selves alwaies as in thy sight Let our secret intentions be vpright cause us to love and hate as thou dost Turge away all that which is evill in us infuse into our harts all those graces which may make us acceptable to thee in Christ Iesus Amen Psa 140. To the cheef Musitian a Psalme of David It personates Christ's mysticall body desiring deliverance from Oppressors And describing their malice pride Trechery c. It is vsefull when any Congregation is greeved by the bitter scandalls lieng doctrines or mischeevous insinuations of Atheists false brethren e. LEt me oh God from sinners