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
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
glorie give Free passage to ascend Who is the king of glorie say Oh say who might he be The Lord of Armies in aray That glorious king is he Seeing thou hast evidently declared oh Christ the Kinge of glorie who they are whome thou wilt admit into that kingdome whither thou art aseended and who are truly of that spirituall seed to whome thy promises appertaine Grant we beseech thee that we may make our Election sure by the workes of regeneration not be deluded by the false perswasions of a fruitles faith So all thy Creatures shall give both way and assistance to our Ascention after thee to whome with the father holy-spirit be ascribed all praise powre glorie now for evermore Amen Psa 25. A Psalme of David It containeth many petitions of an afflicted penitent Soul declares the excellence of the Lawe of Grace the priveledges of the regenerate c. It may be vsed when we are dejected by the sight of our guiltines are truly penitent c. I Lift my soul to thee My trust in thee is plac'd Oh let me Lord nor scorned be Nor by my foe disgrac'd But keep reproches all From those who thee attend And let on them Confusion fall That without Cause offend 2 Thy waies to me me impart Let me thy Truth be taught For thou oh God my Saviour art Whome I have alway sought Be still to me as kinde As thou of old hast binn And bear thou not those faults in minde which I have erred in 3 But grace to me afford Ev'u for thy goodnes sake As thou art good gratious Lord On me compassion take Direct al those that stray In iudgment guide the meek And them informe thou in thy way That humbly thee de seeke 4 For Truth Mercie Lord Are found in all thy wayes By ev'ry one who keeps thy word And thy Commands obayes Remit though great they are My sinns for thy Name sake And suffer him who thee doth fear His chosen-path to take 5 Then easd his hart shal growe His seed the Land shal fill And he that feares the Lord shall know His Counsells his will Myne eyes attend on thee That thou maist me release In mercie Lord returne to mee Forlorne in destresse 6 My greefs enlarged are Oh come me releeve My sorrowes heed regard my care And all my sinns forgive Observe oh Lord my foes Marke how abus'd I am And since I trust in thee repose Defend my soul from shame 7 Yea keep thou me vpright Because I hope in thee And from all wrongs all despight Let Isr'el saved be Remember not oh Lord our offences but of thy meer Mercie blot out all our transgressions Let neither the follies of our youth nor the greatnes of any other sinns deprive vs of thy wonted compassion Consider our weaknes our suffrings the condition of our adversaries as motives of thy pittie That our sinns beinge remitted our fetters vnlosed and thy secrets even the misteries of Saving-grace revealed wee may in true meeknes follow him who is the way the Truth and the Life be kept by thy speciall Grace from all future sinns dangers vnto our lives end Amen Another of the same A Loft I raise my soul oh Lord to thee And I in thee alone my trust have placed By those therfore that seek to mischeeve me Oh let me not be shamed nor disgraced Confound not those who seek to do thy will But shame those mē that Causeles have offended Direct thou me in thy Truths pathway still For Lord my health on thee I have attended Eternall God in mercie thinck on me As it hath bene of old thy gratious fashion Forgot let all my youthfull errors be For thy love sake Remember thy compassion Great is thy grace great thy Iustice Lord Therfor thy waies to sinful men thou showest Healp to thee meek thou dost likewise afford Whē he is iudgd guid'st him where thō goest In all thy waies both Truth Mercie be For such as have thy league word observed Keep therfor Lord thy grace in store for me For thy namesake though I have ill deserved Let those in whome thy sacred fear is found In their desired pathway Lord persever Make true content in all their soules abound And let their seed poslesse the land for ever No man oh Lord who stands in fear of thee Shall from thy league or Counsels be debarred On thee therfore mine eyes attending be That from the net my feet may be vnsnared Pleasd be in love to visit me againe For lo despis'd I am sore destressed Quit me from all my sorrowes my paine For my hart-greefs oh Lord are much encraesed Regard my wants Behold mark my woes Remitting all wherin I have offended See See oh Lord what numbers are my foes And what despights to me they have intended To help save my soul entreated be Thou art my Garde oh keep me vndisgraced Vpright pure because I trust in thee And from all Cares let Isr'el be released Psal 26. A Psalm of David It setts downe some marks of the true church of her members personates her iustifieing her self against the secret imputations of her foes from whome she desires to be distinguisht c. It is vsefull for those members of Christ whoe are falsly accused c. GIve sentence now oh Lord with me For I have walk'd aright And since I have relide on thee Preserve me still vpright Proue thou my hart Raines oh God Search there what thou canst finde For I the Paths of Truth have trodd And bear thy love in minde 2 With wicked men I have not sate Nor with dissemblers gone Prophane Assemblies I do hate And shunn the sinners throne With hands wash'd clean in simplenes I 'le round thine Altars goe And there in songs of thanckfulnes Thy wondrous works I 'le showe 3 For I that place affect oh God Where thou so much art fam'de Therfor with sinners thirsting blood Oh! let me not be nam'd Their hands their verie righthands be with bribes mischeefs fraught But Lord redeeme pitty me For I truths Paths have sought 4 In stedfast waies with fixed feet Firme standing I possesse For which where great Assemblies meet I will the Lord confesse Give vs grace oh Lord so to avoide the societie practises of wicked men that neither our consciences may accuse vs to be willfully guiltie of their crimes nor thou condemn vs for hypocrites when thou serchest iudgest the secrets of our harts Ioine to the puritie of manners a sincere devotion that honesty Religeon being knit married together in our soules by thee may never be divorced Let our zeal also to thy house our Love to thy Service be such as may distinguish vs from prophane worldlings so linck vs by charity to thy faithfull members that we may continue thine to our lives end Amen Psa 27. A Psalme of
still And much provokd the wrath of God most high By tempting him their lustings to fulfil And craving flesh their longings to supplie For with distrust they ask'd if God were able In that wilde place to furnish out a table 7 Springs flowd indeed sed they when rocks he smot But can he bread flesh as wel provide Which when God heard with Iacob he was hot And in his wrath he did with Isr'el chide Because no faith to his firm promise giving They stil remain'd in trustles vnbeleeving 8 He naitheles the gates of heav'n vnclos'd And made the clouds raine Manna for their meat The bread of heav'n among them he dispos'd And Angells food vnworthy men did eat A wind South-East-by East he then ordained And flesh as dust foules as sand it rained 9 These fild ther camp fluttred round their tēts Til they were cloid with what their lust persu'd Yet none of them his fleshlie minde repents which God avengd ev'n whē the meat thei chewd For his feirce wrath on Isr'el down he poured And of their cheefs the fattest he devoured 10 Yet sin'd they stil set his works at naught For which their time he wasted out in vaine Afflicting them til after him they sought And then in shew they did repent againe Yea then his powre to bear in mind they seemed And said he was the God that them redeemed 11 In which altho he knew their flattring mouth And lieng tōgues did nought but falshood speak Tho him their hart affected not in truth And tho they stil his holy League did break Of his meer grace he naitheles forgave them And from his wrath ev'n he himself did save thē 12 For them to be but flesh in minde he bare And gone like windes which never shal retire That they perverse eu'n in the Deserts were Yea that ev'n there they much incens'd his yre Provoking him by false fain'd repenting The holy-one of Isr'el discontenting 13 Nor on his powre nor on those daies they thought Wherin he from their foes did set them free They minded not the signes in Egipt wrought Nor those which they in Zoan feilds did see How he with bloud the wholsom springs distasted How them with flies of divers kinds he wasted 14 How he with frogs their stubborn foes anoyd How their encrease the Caterpillers pild How then the Locust al their fruits enioy'd Nor how the frost their vines destroid kild Nor how cold haile burning bolts of thunder Did slay their flocks break their trees asunder 15 For he did hurl on them his furious wrath To them both fears harmful-sprites he sent Vnto their deaths his rage did make a path And then to wrack both men cattel went He of their lives their eldest-born bereaved Through Egipt-land where C ham his lot receaved 16 Then like a flock his people forth he led Through places wilde cōducting thē like sheep He kept them safe without all cause of dread Whil'st he their foes o'rewhelmed in the deep And also gave when al this grace was done them That holy hill which his right-hand had won thē 17 Before their face the gentiles thēce he took And what was theirs to Isr'el gave by lot Yet stil almighty God they did provoke And his commands they still regarded not But being like their Fathers double-harted Like broken bowes from him aside they started 18 The Lord was wroth Iealous when he saw Their Images their hill-alters rear'd And ther-vpon from Isr'el did with drawe His former love so incens'd appear'd That of his place among them he repented And left his Tent in Siloh vnfrequented 19 By thraldom then he took way their powr He gave their strength glorie to their foe He caus'd the sword his people to devour And with his Land exceeding wroth did grow Consuming heat their yongmens vigor tired Their maides by none in wedlock were desired 20 Then by the sword his preists away he took Whome to bewaile the widdows were not spar'd But lo the Lord from sleeping then awook As when with wine a mighty man is chear'd Their hinder parts with secret-sores he wounded And al his foes with lasting shame confounded 21 Then he the Tent of Ioseph did refuse And Ephr'ims tent he did likewise reiect But Iudah's tribe it pleased him to chuse Ev'n Syon hill which he did best affect And there aloft he rais'd his habitation To be as firm as is the Earth's foundation 22 He from the flocks his servant David chose Frō bigwombd ewes from attending sheep His heritage to him he did dispose And Iacob's flock Isr'els heards to keep So with pure thoughts discreetly thē he guided And food for them sincerely he provided O Lord God! we have often bitterly censured the Iewes not considering that their storie is a Problem mistically decipheringe our condition Or that wee like David by Nathan's parable are therby made Iudges condemners of our selves If we overlooke the course of our lives we shal finde verified in our owne persons all those things which are mentioned of that People VVe have the like Covenant of grace wee have had miraculous deliverances both temporal spiritual some of us have tempted him as long longer in this wildernes of our Pilgrimage Our murmurings despairings longings yea our frowardnes infidelity hath bene as much as theirs VVe have had as many several pardons to winn us as many enterchanges of prosperity Adversitie to reform us have had them also for our examples yet are as disobedient as negligent as they Oh Good God lay not this to our Charge but grant we may so apply what thou hast left written of them for our warning that the fear of thy Iudgments the love of thy Mercies may reclaime us and that our great Sheapherd ev'n the true David Iesus Christ may guide us out of our wandrings bring us out of this wildernes into his eternal Rest Amen Psa 79. A Psalm for Asaph It is vsefull for any perticuler Church when it is tirannised over by Turks hereticks or such like members of Antichrist For the Church of Christ whose persecutions martirdomes were prefigured by those which fell on Ierusalem is here personated prayeng expressing her suffrings c. VPon thine heritage oh God! The Gentiles Ryots de commit Within thy Temple they have trod And wasted prophaned it The bodies of thy saints bestrowe The feilds about Ierusalem Their blood ev'n in the streets doth flowe And birds beasts do feed onthem 2 Their bones without a grave remaine And all our neighbours vs defame Oh Lord how long shal wee sustaine Thy burning rage thy iealous flame Let thy incensed wrath be pour'd On heathen lands that knowe not thee For they thy Iacob have devour'd And quite consum'd his dwellings be 3 Remember not our follies past Oh God! from whome our help doth flowe But thy sweet grace Lord let vs tast For wee are brought exceeding lowe Healp for thy Mercy 's cause wee
Selah Thine anger thou hast quite appeas'd And thy just wrath for borne Oh Lord of Hoasts now thou art pleas'd Let vs to thee returne 2 For why shouldst thou still wroth remaine And vexed rather be Then chear thy people's harts againe That they may joy in thee To save vs Lord thy favour showe And let vs hear in peace Thy word among vs preached soe That wee from sinn may cease 3 Then shall thy saving-health abide Near those who fear thy Name And in our Land shall still reside Thy glories thy fame Then Truth Love shall meet kisse And Iustice Peace embrace Yea Truth on earth Righteousnes From heav'n shal shew her face 4 The Lord with ev'rie needfull store Shall make our Kingdome flowe And send his Righteousnes before That wee his way may know Oh Lord wee acknowledge that from tyme to tyme thou hast bene exceeding gratious to thy whole Church to this parte thereof in perticuler For when thy Blessings made us wanton thou didst alwaies humble us by thy fatherly corrections when thou hadst worthilie afflicted us according as thy wisdome sawe cōvenient thou didst ever mercifully comfort restore us againe to thy favour Continue oh God wee pray thee this thy gratious respect vnto our infirmities grant wee may so repent of our sinns so vnfainedly professe thy Truth so diligently practise the works of righteousnes that Honestie Religeon Faith Good-works may inseperably be vnited in every one of vs that the abundance of thy temporal spiritual blessings may be powred forth on this Kingdome on thy whole Church for ever ever Amen Psa 86. A prayer of David It personates Christ in his humiliation prayeng in the behalfe of his mystical body for several necessities thereof intermixing some vowes of praise acknowledgments of Gods Attributes c. It is an vsefull forme of prayer in many temptations afflictions LOrd hear me for great wants I have My soules defender be My God! thy Saint servant save Who puts his trust in thee That thou thy grace to me afford My daylie crie requires Thy servants hart revive oh Lord Which vp to thee aspires 2 For thou good Lord soone pard'nest all Who seek thy grace to finde Oh! hear me now to thee I call And bear my suite in minde My dangers I to thee will show That thou mayst healp assigne For there is no such God as thou Nor any works like thine 3 All nations whome thou dist creat Shall praise worship thee For thou alone oh God art great And great thy wonders be Teach me thy waies in thy fear My soul to thee vnite So never shall my hart forbear Thy praises to indight 4 I scap'd the grave by thy large grace When proud cruel foes Who set not thee before their face To take my soul arose Oh God! thou art a gratious Lord Long-suffring kinde free With Truth Love most largly stor'd Now therefore pitty mee 5 Return oh Lord mee revive Let mee thy favour have Thy strength to me thy servant give Thy Handmaids of-spring save Yea for my good vouchsafe some signe That all my foes may know I am a Favorite of thine And blush they wrong'd me soe Almighty most mercifull Father have pitty vpon us according to thine infinite goodnes compassion Let vs not alwayes wander after our owne imaginations nor be continually exercised with such Afflictions as may make vs the scorne of all that hate vs but according to thy infinite mercy vnparaleld goodnes Have mercy vpon vs And not on vs only but on all those people whome thou hast created that according to thy promise they may all serve praise thee Setle them vs in thy Truth guide vs in thy waies so restore confirme vs in thy favour by some apparant signes of thy love speciall grace that our adversaries may be ashamed of their hatred we thanckfull for al thy Mercies through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Psa 87. A Psalm or song for the sonns of Chorah It describes the scituation glorie of the Church typified by Syon prophetically declareth that all Kingdomes shall be incorporated into that Citty of God that all Nations shall there obtaine their New-birth c. It serves among other vses to informe that God's Church excludeth no Nation c. THe Lord hath his Foundations plac'd Above the heighest mountaines crownes Yea Syons ports he more hath grac't Then all the rest of Iacob's Townes And glorious things are fam'd abrode Of thee oh Cittie lov'd of God Selah 2 For God accounts as borne in thee Egiptians if they him desire Nay though from Babell sprung they be From Chush Philistia or from Tyre For he hath sayd that all on earth In Syon may renew their Birth 3 The God most high will strengthen her And shall record each faithful soul As having had first-beeing there Selah When hee his people doth enrowl For there are all that play or sing And thence proceeds each blessed thing Thou oh Lord art no accepter of persons but every one that feares thee worketh righteousnes of what place soever he be or from whom soever he were descended hath promise of admission into thy Church to be regestred as a free-borne Citizen of thy spiritual Syon Make vs thanckfull Oh God for this large priveledge And seeing none are exempted but such as willfully exclude themselves seing also it is manifest to thee only who they are let us hope charitably of all men whilst there is time of grace and repentance endeavoureng by our prayers instructions freindly reproofs good examples as much as wee are able to bring them to become the Members of this Corporation to enioy a Christian fellowship with vs in Christ Iesu our Lord. Amen Psal 88. A song or Psalm for the Sonns of Chorah to the cheef Musitian vpon Mahalath Leanoth Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite It personates Christ his members complaining of his their sorrowes contempts suffrings c. And it is full of passionate petitions expostulations We may vse it in private or Publike afflicctions LOrd of whose assisting might I was never yet denied All the day all the night I to thee have call'd cried Now regard my wofull plight 2 Let thine Ear thy Minde thine Eyes To the dropping pleading eryeng Of my Teares my Cause my Cries Grant me hearing weighing eyeng For my soul afflicted lies 3 I to Death am drawing nigh And am priz'd as one interred Like a strengthles man I lye As algeady slaine and buried Free among the dead am I. 4 Yea as one forgot of thee Or as from thy hand Abiected Darksome pitts my lodging be And in Dungeons deep afflicted Thy strict hand oppresseth mee 5 All thy wayes I doe sustaine Thou dost make my Lovers flee mee Selah And my freinds fro me restarine Shutt I am where none cann free me Then
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
soul escaped from the ginn The nett is broke wee deliver'd are And God whose work the heav'ns earth have binn Is hee whose Name our healp consisteth in Many times oh Lord wee are delivered by thy Mercy from evident vnavoidable perills But there is no moment in which wee are not compassed about with invisible foes vnthought of Dangers far more fearfull more impossible to be avoyded vnles thou didst gratiously defēd us Grāt therfor that a filiall awe of thy Iudgmēts a true esteeme of thy Mercies may make us hartily thanckfull vnto thee for them now for ever Amen Psa 125. A song of Degrees Another Ascent is firme Beleef in God The safetie of such is here alluded to the impregnability of Mount-Syon Ierusalem the punishment of wavering Apostates is threatned c. It is vsefull to raise vs to this Degree c. MOunt-Syon like for ever fixt are those Whose hopefull trust vpon the Lord is founded For he his faithfull People will enclose Ev'n as with hills Ierusalem is rounded As long as Time's perpetuall motion goes 2 The Rod of wicked men shall not alight Where God the Lot of righteousnes bestoweth Lest righteous men pertake in evill might For to the Good the Lord his mercy showeth And favours all that are in hart vpright 3 But Sliders-back such as wander wide In their owne crooked paths waies vneven Shall by the Lord be thither ledd aside Where portions due to hypocrites are given But Isr'el shall in endles peace abide Oh God many ignorances errors both in Iudgment Manners wee are naturally subiect vnto Teach us therfore what wee ought to Beleeve or practise then preserve vs vnwavering in our Faith so sincerely constant in a holy Life That wee may not have our portion with Apostates or Hypocrites but be pertakers in the true Peace of Isr'el through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psa 126. A song of Degrees another Degree is a reioicing in our Electiō spirituall freedome which is here typically expressed with a prophetical prayer for that ioye promised by Christ vnto the true Mourners Ioh. 16. 20. Wee may sing it as a thancksgiving for our Redemption to comfort in spirituall mournings WHen God made Syon free And her from thrall did bring It seemed as a Dreame to be And wee did laugh sing 2 The Lord the heathen sedd Great Marvailes wrought for vs. Great marvailes he hath wrought indeed And therfor sing wee thus 3 Lord back our Captives bringe As Flouds to sea-ward flowe So they shall then reioice sing Who did in sorrowe sowe 4 Who outward-bound doth mourne If he good seed employ Shall doubtles back againe returne And bring home sheaves with ioy Let our greatest reioicings oh Lord be in thy redeeming us from the Bondage of Sinn that our Names are in the Book of life for marvailous was this deliverance Let our greatest sorrowes be for our Offences and for the losse of thy favour which are indeed Causes of the greatest Lamentation soe our short sorrowe shall be turned in to everlasting Ioyes glorious Trivmphs world without end Amen Psa 127. A song of Degrees for Solomon Another Staire is to ascribe our beeing well-being to the Mercie providence of God It may be sung to acknowledge the same in all our works endeavours c. IF God the Pallace build not The workmen loose their paine If God the Cittie sheild not The watchman wakes in vaine In vaine is early stirring In vaine late watch wee keep Or eat the bread of caringe But those God loves may sleep 2 A fruithfull wombes possessing At God's disposing stands And Children are a blessing Like shafts in Giants hands Right blest is he that beareth His Quiver ful of those For in the Gate he dareth To meet smite his foes Grant almighty God that whether wee endeavour for our soules or bodies we never glory or trust in our owne workings For thou must blesse the beginning proceeding conlusion of every endeavour or all our industry is lost Nay wee have not so much as powre over our bodie or the fruite therof Let us therfor neither forget thee in the vse of the meanes nor neglect the meanes which thou hast appointed That what ever the events be our vndertakings may bring profit to us glory to thy holy Name So be it Psa 128. A song of Degrees Another Stepp is filiall feare of God to which many temporall blessings are here promised It is vsed at the solemnization of mariages serves to encrease in vs the feare of God IF God thou feare keep his way He blessings will bestowe Thy labour shall thy food purvay And happie thou shalt growe Like fruit-full vines vpon thy house Thy wife shall proove to thee Thy Children like faire olive-boughes Shall round thy Table be 2 Thus thon that fearest God shalt thrive From Syon he shall blesse And thou shalt see whilst thou dost live Ierusalem in peace He shall prolong thy life till thou Thy Childrens Children see And that thy ioye may greater growe In Isr'ell rest shall bee Oh Lord of thy abundant Mercy thou hast promised not only the blessings of the next life But alsoe all those which are most comfortable in this world so far forth as shall conduce to their happines who truly serve seare thee Oh teach us that filiall fear that obedience for which thou hast made those promises that wee may performe what thou requirest Yet not for the outward blessing sake but meerly for the love of Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psa 129. A song of Degrees Another Step is a patient susstaining of the Crosse VVhich patience of the saints is here mentioned both the tiranny condition of their oppressors breefly illustrated Wee may vse it to increase continue Christian Patience FUll often since my youth may Isr'el say Full often since my youth they mee assailed And still without successe they went away trailed Yea on my back their ploughs the ploughers And on the same long furrowes ploughed they 2 The Lord who is a perfect Righteous-one The Cords of wicked men in peeces breaketh And Syons foes shall quite be overthrowne Ev'n like that grasse which root on houses taketh And fades away before it ripe is growne 3 For nor his Armefull nor his handful there Remaines for him that bindes or him that moweth Nor is there any high-way Passenger Who there is blessing in God's Name bestoweth Or doth so much as bidd them well to fare Sweet Iesu who wert persecuted even from thy cradle to thy grave on whose back the sharpe stripes ploughed long furrowes for our Sinns worthelie have wee deserved to be whipped with reproches to our face to be furrowed with slanders behinde our backs and to suffer all other indignities Nevertheles since by thy suffrings thou hast as well prevailed for us as for thy self make voyd the
earth did frame Lord wee were created for thy Glorie All the time of our Pilgrimage on earth is to fitt vs for thy praise the highest Degree which wee cann attaine to either in this life or the next is to sing Halelujah vnto thy Name Oh grant wee may so honour thee in these Temples of our Bodies here vpon the Way on whome the Nights of affliction the Dayes of consolation doe interchangably succeed that in thy Ierusalem wee may sing praises vnto thee in that spirituall Temple wherein the presence of the Lambe maketh a continuation of Day of Ioy of all happines for ever more Amen Psa 135. Halelujah It exhorts to praise God in regard of his greatnes for our election for his omnipotency Mercy Iustice eternitie because other Gods are but ridiculons fictions c. To this end wee who are mistically the Sonns of Aron Levy should sing it c. OH all yee servants of the Lord His Name with praise confesse Ev'n you that of our God the Lord The house Courts possesse Oh praise God's Name for sweet it is To sing of his renowne For Iacob he hath chose for his And Isr'el for his owne 2 God is I knowe a powrfull-one He doth all Gods excell In heav'n his pleasure he hath done In earth in sea in hell He maketh vapours to arise Ev'n from Earth's farthest ends And he out of his Treasuries Winde raine lighting sends 3 The first-borne through the Egiptian coast Of man beast he slewe And on king Pharoh his hoast Rare wonders hee did shewe Great kings kingdomes downe he brought Ev'n Sehon Heshbon's king And Og of Bashan yea to nought All Can'an's Realmes did bring 4 Then for his Isr'els heritage Their lands he did bestowe For which hee 's fam'd from age to age And still shall famous growe When he to judge them doth appeare His people shall be sav'd But heathen God's man's makings were Of gold silver grav'd 5 Their carved mouthes are speachles found Their eyes no light cann see Though they have eares they heare no sound Their throates quite breathles be Much like to these their Makers are And they that serve them toe The Lord therefore let Isr'el fear And so let Aron doe 6 The Lord let Levie's houshould blesse In Syon let all them Who fear the Lord the Lord confesse That keeps Ierusalem Haleluiah Oh Lord our God wee hartely thanck thee for our creation preservation VVee magnify thy wisdom thy powre thy providence thy Iudgments thy Mercies and we acknowledge that the Deities of heathenish and carnall men yea all other things in which wee trust are but vanities false Gods fashioned by our owne wicked fancies Grant therfore that all of us even preist people who in Word professe thee may in hart fear thee in deed faithfully serve thee now for ever Amen Psa 136. This Psalme exhorts to praise God both for generall and perticuler benifits shewes that all are bestowed for his meer mercy-sake which is eternall It may be sung literally to commemorate what God did for the Patriarks or mistically as a thancksgivinge for the spirituall deliverances which these typified THe Lord is Good him therfore blesse And for his Grace that lasteth ever The God of Gods let vs confesse Because his Mercie faileth never The Lord of Lords with praise extoll For where he loves he alway loveth His Acts alone are wonderfull Because his Favour endles proveth 2 His Wisdome did creat the spheares For to all times his Kindnes lasteth And earth above the seas he rears Because his Pittie never wasteth He did the greater Lights provide For through each Age his Grace extendeth He made the Sunn the day to guide Because his Goodnes never endeth 3 He fram'd the Moone starrs for night For without bound is his Compassion And Egipts eldest-borne did smite Because his grace hath no cessation He brought forth Isr'el from their land For soe his endles grace procured With stretcht-out Arme powrfull hand Because his Mercie still endured 4 Hee did the Red sea then divide For. still his Kindnes he retaineth And Isr'el through the same did guide Because his Favour still remaineth There he did Pharoh's Army drowne For Love hee freely still bestoweth And through the Deserts brought his owne Because eternall Grace he showeth 5 Both huge powrfull kings he slewe For everlasting are his Graces Yea famous kings he overthrewe Because his Love times date surpasses Great Sehon king of th' Amorites For his Affection never faileth And Og that ruld the Bashamites Because his Mercy still prevaileth 6 Their heritage bestow'd hath he For so his endles Love required His Isr'el's heritage to be Because his Grace is vnexpired He did exalt vs from belowe For he to Pittie still enclineth And hee redeem'd vs from our foe Because no time his Grace confineth 7 Hee to all flesh their food hath given For his great Mercy faileth never Oh glorify the God of heav'n Because his Grace abideth ever VVhen wee looke back oh Lord vnto the beginning of thy visible workings pondering the never interrupted succession of thy Mercies vnto this day therewithall observe the performance of all thy promises to thy Church heretofore the continuance of thy abundant Loving-kindnes to us at this present UUee are assured that thy Goodnes Compassion is eternall VVee therfore beseech thee to give vs true thanckfulnes for the same that wee may confesse it aswell in deed as word praise magnify thy Name for ever ever Amen Psa 137. This Elegiacal Hymne mistically expresseth the Zeal love of the Faithfull to the Citty of God And Prophecies the fall of the spirituall Babilon Wee may sing it to comfort vs during the continuance of our Naturall bondage the tirranies of Antichrist AS wee nigh Babel River sate Wee overcharg'd with weepings were To thinck on Syon's pore estate And hung our harpes on willowes there For they to whome wee were inthralled On vs for songs of Syon called 2 Come sing they sayd a Syon-hymne Lord cann wee sing thy songs in thrall Vnles Oh dear Ierusalem Thee in my mirth preferr I shall Or if the thought of thee forgoe mee Let hand tongue prove vseles to me 3 Oh Lord remember Edom's brood And how whilst they Ierusalem Vnsackt vndefaced stood Her spoile was hast'ned on by them For loud thy cryed race it race it And to the groundwork downe deface it 4 Oh daughter of proud Babilon Thou shalt likewise destroyed be And he will prove a blessed-one Who shall avenge our Cause on thee Ev'n hee that payes thee our disgraces And braines thy babes in stony-places Oh Lord many of thy people suffer the scornes insultings of that Babilon which was typified by the Chaldean Citty And the Mysticall Edomites labour the vtter defacing of thy Church But deliver us oh Lord reward them according to their
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
pray For thy Name-sake forgive our sinn Lest els of thee the heathen say Where is their God they trusted in 4 But let it bee before our eyes Of all the Gentiles vnderstood By hearing of the pris'ners cries And by revenging of our bloud Them save likewise ev'n through thy might That vnto death appointed be And seaven fold oh God! requite Our neighbours scornful spights to thee 5 So wee thy pasture-sheep oh Lord Will give thee praise thancks therfore Yea we thy praises will record From age to age for ever more Looke downe ' oh Christ vpon the persecutions of thy Church behold the bloud of thy Martirs the prophanation of thy holy Ordinances the scorneful vpraidings the great calamities which are publikely inflicted on many true professors of thy Gospel even among those who are their neighbours in Beleif in the very streets of thine owne Cittie Though our sinns have deserved more yet for thy mercie sake for thine owne honor sake compassionate our humiliation forgive our offences let thy displeasure be rather manifested against those who are enimies to thy Truth So they who have in derision questioned thy regard of us shall be assured thereof by thy avenging our cause wee being secured from our Oppressors shal magnifiy thy holy Name for ever ever Amen Psa 80. To the cheef Musitian vpon Shosannim Eduth a Psalm for Asaph By the allegory of a Vine is expressed God's great care of the Iewish Church typifieng also the Christian Church whose complaints desires in her suffrings are here exprest It may be vsed by any congregations of the faithful when they are delivered vp to their foes c. HEar thou that Flock-like Ioseph guidest And twixt the Cherubims residest Now Isr'els Pastor shine thou clear To Beniamin's Eph'rims vewe Thy strength before Manasseth shewe And to defend vs drawe thou near 2 Returne of thy grace assure vs For that alone will save cure vs. Oh Lord of hoasts wee thee entreat For aye therfor close not thime ears Though long thou mak'st vs drinck our teares And giv'st vs weepings for our meat 3 Our Neighbours are at strife about vs Thou mak'st our foes to scorne flout vs Lord God of Hoasts our sorrow slake To save vs cause thy face to shine For thou from Egipt broughtst this Vine And threw'st out Nations for her sake 4 The place thou hadst before so tilled That rooting well the land shee filled And cov'red mountaines with her shade Her boughs did Cedar-like extend Shee branches to the sea did send And to the River shee did spread 5 Why of her hedge hast thou bereft her Why to the spoile of strangers left her And of the feirce vntamed swine The Forrest herds have her or'ethrowne Oh Lord of Hoasts from heav'n look downe Behold visite this thy Vine 6 That Vine which thy right-hand hath cherisht That branch which for thine owne was nourisht Is burn't spoild while thou dost frowne Oh! send for our defence to stand That Sonn of Man whome thy Right-hand Hath arm'd chosen for thine owne 7 Then we shall never more denie thee But being still revived by thee For ever call vpon thy Name Oh Lord of Hoasts convert vs nowe A gratious look on vs bestowe And thou shalt save vs by the same Notwithstanding oh gratious Father thou dost often water us with our owne teares expose us iustly to the beasts of the Forrest even to our owne brutish appetites though our vnthankfulnes hath worthilie deserved that wee should be chastised with many stormes of Adversitie Yet Remember wee beseech thee that wee are plants of thine owne Vineyeard branches of that goodly Vine which thou hast elected for thy self Behold visite us with a favourable aspect repaire those decayed Fences through which any strang lust or swinish Condition hath broken in vpon us Let our Foes by whome wee are persecuted our neighbours by whome we were mocked or preyed vpon our brethren who were censorious beholders of our afflicctions become witnesses also of thy renewing Favours That we may be comforted in thee continue for ever hereafter constant in thy fear service through the assistance of that man of thy Right-hand Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psa 81. To the Cheef Musitian on Gittith a Psalm for Asaph It is vsefull to commend vnto us the observation of our Christian Sabaths Solemnities which are piously to be regarded in all Ages because we commemorate in them our Deliverances from our spiritual Bondage typified by the Egiptian-thraldom c. It vpraideth man's in gratitude neglect of God c. IN God our strength let vs reioice To Iacob's God let vs now sing And in our Psalmes to help the voice The tymbrel harpe Psalt'rie bring The Moone renewing trumpets blowe And when the solemne feastings be For Iacobs God long time agoe In Isr'el did this lawe decree 2 This Testimonie he prepar'd When Ioseph came from Egipt-land And liv'd where hee a language heard Whose words he did not vnderstand From Burthens the potters task Thy hands shoulders I did free I help'd when thou for help didst ask And heard thee from the storme said he 3 Ev'n at the waters of debate Selah I sayd that might prove thee there Oh Isr'el mark what I relate And to my words incline thine ear Thou shalt no other God's at all But me the Lord thy God receive For thee I brought from Egipts thrall And will thy largest askings give 4 But Isr'el did my words contemn Of me my people would have none So to their pleasures left I them Who after their owne lusts are gone Oh! had my people mee obayd If Isr'el had my waies persu'de I on their foes my hand had laid Their haters I had soone subdew'd 5 My Foes had then obayd my powre And I had still my Folk vphild I them had fedd with purest flowre And with rock-hony them had fild Make us ever mindfull oh God to magnify thy Name for delivering us from our spiritual Bondage But at those times which thy Church according to the laudable custome of the Patriarks hath set apart to commemorate thy extraordinarie Mercies let us especially performe this dutie neither falsly counting it superstitiō to meet in the publike solemnization of thy praise nor vnthanckfully omit the continuation of so necessarie a service Give us grace also to consider that it is no constraining Decree of thine which hath made any of us vncaple of thy free grace but that it is meerly our owne wilfulnes which compels thy Iustice to leave us to our owne wills if we be cast off So we shall be kept the more obedient to thy commands thou who ren◠west the will before thou exact est obedience from it shalt accept the willingnes for the deed in due time work in us the Deed also to our
Citty fortifide But God of whome despisd were wee 5 Oh God! who didst our hoasts forsake From vs our greefs thus alwaies take For man's vaine succours wee contemn Through God wee valiant Acts have done Our foes by him are overthrowne And he shall sett his feet on them Oh Lord God of Hoasts true in thy word powrful in thy performances According to thy auncient promises thy Church is wonderfully enlarged thou hast now thy lot of Inheritance in those places where they have bene enimies to thy Truth UUee beseech thâ—â— more more to enlarge thy Kingdome to be continually present with us in all our spiritual conflicts that by thy powre we may tread vnder foot the world the flesh the Devill making servants vnto us in the execution of thy will those affections which have heretofore prevailed against us VVee rely on thee only On thee only our harts are fixed And for thy goodnes we desire with all our faculties to praise magnify thy Name for evermore Amen Psa 109. To the cheef Musition a Psalme of David It is applied vnto Iudas Acts 1. 20. and is it vsefull to terrify Gods Foes all Hypocrites by shewing the Iudgments pronounced by the holy-ghost against all such But let none abuse this or any such like Psalmes by repeating them in their owne quarrells lest the Curses fall on themselves OH God my praise now silence breake For wicked men that guileful be With open Iawes against me speake And with false tongues have slandred mee With hatefull words they mee enclose Without all Cause with mee they warr And for my Love they are my foes Yet for their weal my prayers are 2 For my goodworks ill deeds I gett My love with hate they do requite Or'e them therefore some Tyrant set At his right-hand let Sathan waite Let Iustice them to death persue Account it sinn for them to pray Cutt short their dayes make them fewe Let others take their place away 3 Keep fatherles their Orphane-breed And husbandies their widdow'd wives Yea Cause thou their accursed seed To begg wander all their lives Their vncouth denns let then forsake To begg what must their life sustaine Their labors let oppressors take And Strangers rob them of their gaine 4 Let none regard though they lament Nor pitty take on such a race But quite away in one descent Their of-spring their Name deface Let God still minde the guilt they drewe From both their parents at their birth And keep it allway's in his vewe Till they are nam'd no more on earth 5 For why they no compassion shew'd To him that greev'd pained lay But they the needy soul persu'de The broken hart they sought to slay They Cursings Lov'd let them be made The part therefore of their just lot In Blessings they no pleasures had And therfor they possesse them not 6 With curses they themselves did clothe As with a gowne or with a cloke Therefore as oyle or water doth Through bones bowells let them soke Let Curses them like Belts inclose And as their clothes such men aray Ev'n thus oh Lord require my Foes Who of my soul amisse do say 7 But for thy Name sake save thou mee Deal wel with me mercy daigne For wounded is my hart in mee And I am pore full of paine I vanish like an Evening shade I Locust like am tost about My knees are weake through fasting made My flesh is leane wasted out 8 They mee despise ev'n to my face And scornfull nods at mee they make Oh Lord my God! of thy meer grace To bring me help now vndertake Make them to see then confesse That by thy hand I helped am Lord though they Curse yet do thou blesse And let them rise to see their shame 9 But make oh Lord thy Servants glad Whilst they that my illwillers are With shame ev'n their owne shame are clad As if with Robes arayd they were My tongue shall praise thee then therfore Confessing where Assemblies be That God is Patron of the pore And from false doomes their soules doth free Oh God! terrible art thou in those iudgments which thou dost pronounce against all malitious vnrepeÌ„taÌ„t Sinners UUee beseech thee therfore grant us grace to repent all our transgressions to shewe compassion to all thy pore members in their Afflictions that we may finde Mercy in our sorrowes UUee often see thy iudgments but wee neither know whome thou correctest in love to amendment nor whome in fury to their destruction For thou reservest that secret vnto thy self To keep vs both in our dealings Censures alway charitable to those whome thou smitest Oh teach us therefore true Charity let us never doe or wish evill to any man in our owne Causes But let us apply thy iudgmeÌ„ts to sinn in generall imprecate that they may fall only on the enimies of our Lord and saviour Iesus Christ Amen Psa 110. A Psalme of David It is literally of Christ Math. 22. it mentioneth the Deity Humanity Soveraignety Preisthood Powre Conquests Passion Resurrection of the Messiah We may sing it with respect to those perticulers VNto my Lord the Lord thus spake Sitt downe at my right hand And of thy foes I 'le footstooles make Whereon thy feet shall stand The Lord shall out of Syon bring The scepter of thy might And over them thou shalt be king Who now resist thy right 2 On thy great Day in serving thee Men willing mindes will shewe And from the wombe thy birth shall be As is the morninge dewe The Lord hath sworne will nor check Nor change the word he swore Thou art as was Melchizedek A preist for evermore 3 The Lord shall smite when wroth he growes Great kings at thy righthand The Gentiles judge slay his foes Which are in ev'ry land The heads of kingdomes he shall slay And as he passeth-by Shall drinck the Torrent in the way And raise his head on high Almighty God who hast given thy eternal Sonn with whome thou art the same in Essence to be in an unspeakable manner conceaved in the Virgines wombe To be made an everlasting preist for us after the Order of Melchizedek And in his Passage through this life to drinck the bitter Torrent of his Passion Grant wee beseech thee that by virtue of his blessed Incarnation our nature may be sanctified prepared for Grace that by his Death we may dye to sinn that by the powre of his Resurrection wee may arise to righteousnes by his glorious Ascention be victorious ever all our enimies both spiritual temporall for ever ever Amen Psa 111. Halelujah It praiseth God for his miraculous works his wisdome Mercy Iustice for the Covenant of has Grace c. It may be sung to continue in vs the fear of God to praise him for his benefits especially for our Redemption WIth all my hart God's praise I 'le sing Where saints
UVill That they may be converted vnto mee And in thy Lawes my hart confirme thou still That from disgrace I may preserved bee Lord wee are the workmanship of thy hands Soe instruct vs therfor in the vnderstanding and performance of thy Lawe that wee may accomplish the end of our Creation Make our knowledge of thy Statutes our Faith in thee our conformity to thy Will soe evident that thy Servants may reioice our foes become ashamed our corrections appear tokens of thy Love our shame be prevented our harts cheared life eternal obtayned Amen Caph. 11. MY soul for succour panting lies Yet is thy word my stay I seek thy Truth with longing eyes Oh Comfort mee they say I like a smoke-dride botle seeme Yet on thy Lawe I thought Summ vp my dayes iudge all them That have my ruine sought 2 For mee the Proud sunck pitts which be Forbidden by thy Lawes Thy VVords are true oh save thou mee Persu'de without a Cause Quite from the Land they drove me nigh Yet to thy Lawes I cleave Oh chear mee by thy grace that I Thy VVord may never leave Another of the same LOrd for thy healp my longing soul doth pant And on thy Promise al my hopes do lye Mynes eies do faile because thy VVord I want Come comfort mee with speaking looks they crie Like botles in the smoke I do appear Yet still thy Statutes minded are of mee How long shall I thy servant suffer hece Thy Iudgments on my foes oh let mee see Lo for my life the proud deep pitts have made Such as thy Lawe forbiddeth to prepare They mee persued though no cause they had Oh helpe for all thy Precepts faithfull are Long since my ruine they had nigh contriv'd I naitheles thy Statutes did not leave Let mee by thy compassion be reviv'd And to thy Testimonies I will cleave Oh Lord wee have Adversaries continually digging pitts for our soules VVee are sensible of great Afflictions our life daylie wears out by vnperceaved infirmities Yet wee feel not that longing to obtaine an incorruptible estate as to continue our present vanities Oh let that experience which wee have of miseries here that Faith which vve ought to have of vvhat thou hast promised hereafter make our harts pant vvith longing after the accomplishment of thy Truth for our full fruition of thee through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Lamed 12. THy VVord in heav'n remaines for aye Thy Truth shall still abide The earth so firmely thou didst lay It cannot swarve aside Thy Lawes keep ev'ry thing vpright For all thy servants be But that thy VVorde was my delight My Cares had ruin'de mee 2 I will not from thy Truth decline For life to mee it brought Oh save thou mee for I am thine And thy Decrees have sought Though sinners do my spoile intend Thy VVord in minde I bear Of all good works I see an end But large thy precepts are Another of the same MAde firme in heav'n thy promise is oh Lord And shall for ever for ever last Thy Faith fullnes all ages will record For as earths globe the same thou fixed hast Most firme to thy Decrees thy works do stand And all things as thy servants wait on thee But that I pleasure take in thy Command My sorrowes long e're this had ruin'd mee My hart shall never from thy Lavves decline For I by them to life againe was brought Vouchsafe to succour mee for I am thine And after thy Commandements have sought Much waiting hath among the wicked bene My fall to see but I thy Statutes minde Of all perfections I an end have seene Save of thy Lawe which cannot be confinde Almighty God by being obedient vnto the Lawe of their Creation thy other Creatures are preserved in order cōtinue thy faithfull servants Man-kinde only is rebellious yet wee have had often experience that a litle delight in thy Lawe is rewarded with great Blessings Soe encrease therfor our beleef of thy Truth our love to thy Lawe that wee may be more more conformable to thy Will at last be saved through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Mem. 13. IN thy Commands I pleasure take My dayly thoughts they bee Mee wiser then my foes they make And still remaine with mee More learne I from thy Statutes then My Teachers vnderstand And wiser am then aged men By keeping thy Command 2 My feet from evill waies I kept That keep thy Lawe I might I from thy Iudgments have not stept For mee thou holdst vpright Though hony to the mouth be sweet Thy VVord more sweetnes hath Through thy Commands I grewe discreet And shun'd the Liers Path. Another of the same NO parte of all the day I cann forbear To minde thy Lawe because I love the same It makes me wiser then my haters are For my companion still thy Lawe became Nay more then all my teachers I conceave Because my Musings are vpon thy VVill. And more then aged men I do perceave Because they Testimonies I fulfill No wicked pase or Path my feet shall vse That so thy UUord the better keep I might And I thy Iudgments never will refuse Because thou hast instructed mee aright Not halfe so sweet is honie to my mouth As are thy VVords for perfect sweet are they Thou hast encreast my knowledge by thy Truth And therfor I abhorr each evill way The wisdome oh Lord of this world is but foolishnes in respect of that which is learned by thy Word For nothing is see profitable or pleasant as that if it be meditated aright Give us grace therfor wee pray thee so to love it so to meditate thereon that wee may crack the shell which hides the sweet kernell thereof from the world by help of thy spirit thereby attaine that wisdome which our Ordinary Teacher the bare Letter hath not powre to discover let it guide us out of all error both in life doctrine though Iesus Christ Amen Nun. 14. THy word is to my feet a light A Lampe my way to showe I vow'd thy Doomes to keep aright And I will keep my Vowe I sore am greev'd Lord me revive According to thy Truth Teach mee thy Iudgments receive The Praises of my mouth 2 Although my soul in danger be Thy Statutes I obay And keep thy Lawes although for mee The wicked snares do lay Thy Cov'nants are mine Heritage They much reioice my minde And thy Decrees from age to age To keep I am inclinde Another of the same OH God thy VVord like Lāps my way doth show And to my feet it is a shining flame To keep thy righteous Iudgments I did vowe And I resolve that I will keep the same Opprest I am Me therefor Lord revive As by thy UUord thy promise is to do Accept that praise which I shall freely give And in thy Iudgments Lord instruct me to On thy Commands my thoughts are alway sett And lo my soul is alwaies in
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