highest on the corner plac't God hath reveal'd these Mysteries So full of Wonder to our Eyes This is his Day a Day of Joy Of everlasting Memory Great God of gods thy King protect Propitious prove to thy Elect. O blest be he whom God shall send We who within his Courts attend You from his Sanctuary blesse And daily pray for your successe God even the Lord hath shed his light Into our Soules and clear'd our sight Bind to the Altars hornes a Lambe New-weaned from the bleating Dam. Thou art my God my Songs shall praise And to the Stars thy Glory raise Praise our good God The King of kings From whom eternall Mercy springs PSALME CXIX ALEPH. As the 1. BLest are the Undefil'd who God obey Seeke with their hearts nor from his Precepts stray Not tempting Vice shall those from Vertue draw Who with unfainting Zeale observe his Law Lord by thy sacred Rule my steps direct Those shall not blush who thy Commands affect Thy Justice learnt my Soule shall sing thy Praise Forsake me not O guide me in thy Waies BETH Part. 2 Young man thy Actions by his Precepts guide From these let not thy zealous Servant slide Thy Word writ in my heart shall curb my Will O teach me how I may thy Lawes fulfill Those by thy Tongue pronounc'd I will unfold Thy Testaments by me more pris'd then Gold On these I meditate admire there set My Souls delight these never will forget GIMEL Part. 3 O let me live t' observe thy Lawes mine Eyes Illuminate to view those Mysteries Me a poore Pilgrim with thy Truth inspire For whom my Soule even fainteth with desire The Proud is curst who from thy Precepts straies Blesse and preserve my Soule which these obeies No hate of Princes from thy Law deters My Study my Delight my Counsellers DALETH Part. 4 My down-cast Soule as thou hast promis'd raise Thou know'st my Thoughts direct me in thy Waies Informe and I thy Wonders will professe O strengthen me that labour in Distresse Shew thy cleare Paths false Errours mist remov'd I have thy chosen Truth and Judgement lov'd To these I cleave O shield me from Disgrace Inlarge my heart to runne that heavenly race HE. Part. 5 Teach thou and I thy Statutes will observe Nor from that sacred Knowledge ever swerve My Soule to those delightfull Paths confine From Avarice purge and to thy Lawes incline Divert from vaine desires my darknesse cleare Confirme the Soule devoted to thy Feare Free from fear'd shame thy Judgements are upright O quicken me who in thy Word delight VAV Part. 6 His Soule protect who on thy VVord relies And silence my reprochfull Enemies O thou my Hope in me thy Truth preserve So I thy Lawes for ever shall observe Will freely walke in thy affected way Will boldly before Kings thy Truth display For in thy Statutes I my comfort place Those study love and with my Soule imbrace ZAIN Part. 7 Thinke of thy Promise which my Hopes hath fed All stormes appeas'd and rais'd me from the Dead Nor for proud scoffs have I thy Lawes declin'd Confirm'd when I thy Judgements call to mind They who thy Lawes desert incense my rage Sung in the mansion of my Pilgrimage Thy Name great God I prais'd when others slept This comfort had since I thy Statutes kept CHETH Part. 8 Thou art my Portion I will thee adore They Lawes observe and promis'd Grace implore My Actions by thy sacred Rules direct Aud thy Commands with forward Zeale effect The Wicked rob but I thy Statutes prise At Midnight to applaud thy Justice rise VVho feare and keepe thy Lawes such are my Friends Instruct thy Mercie through the World extends TETH Part. 9 Thou to thy Servant hast perform'd thy VVord Discerning knowledge to his Faith afford Thu Sea of Goodnesse that my Soule conformes Unto thy Statutes by Afflictions stormes The Proud fat at the Heart base Slanders raise But I will trust in thy affected Waies Me blest Affliction to thy Courts hath brought Thy Lawes more pris'd then Ships with treasure fraught JOD Part. 10 Informe me my Creator in thy Lawes That thine may see thy Observer with applause Thou ever just in favour dost correct With promis'd Mercy comfort thine Elect. That I may live who in thy Precepts joy Those keepe the Proud who causlesse hate destroy VVho feare and know thy Lawes to me unite O lest I perish guide me by their light CAPH Part. 11 With Expectation faint and blind yet still My Soule expects Thy Promise Lord fulfill I though a bladder on thy Word depend Confound my Foes when shall my Sorrows end The Proud have pitcht their toils infring'd thy Laws O sacred Justice snatch me from their jawes They had almost devour'd but I affect Thy Precepts quicken and by those direct LAMED Part. 12 Thy faithfull Promises are fixt above Firme as the Poles or Earth which never move By thy eternall Ordinance dispos'd Thy Lawes my Life else Griefe my eyes had clos'd Nor will I these forget by these renew'd Thy chosen save who hath thy Truth pursu'd The VVicked chase my Soule which thee obeies Thy Word shall last when Heaven and Earth decaies MEM. Part. 13 O how I love thy Lawes those exercise By them made wiser then my Enemies More then my Teachers know more then the Old VVith Vertue these inflame from Vice with-hold That they may guide me I have cleans'd my Heart And from thy Precepts never will depart Then Hermons Honey to my taste more sweet By-waies I hate by thine become discreet NVN. Part. 14 Thy Word my Light a Lamp to guide my way I sware t' observe thy Truth and will not stray My wounded Soule with promis'd mercy heale Accept my offerings and thy Will reveale Although inclos'd with Death though Foes have laid Snares for my Soule yet have I thee obei'd My comforts my eternall Heritage O may I keepe them till I die for age SAMECH Part. 15 I love thy Law my hate to sin is great O thou my hope my Shield my safe retreat My Will shall thine obey Hence you prophane Lord save my Soule nor let me hope in vaine Uphold and I thy Justice shall applaud Thou hast intrapt thy Foes in their owne fraud Cast out like Drosse My heart affects thy path Yet trembles with the horror of thy wrath AIN Part. 16 O leave me not to my outragious Foes Nor to their scorne my righteous Soule expose Mine Eyes even faile while I thy aide expect Be mercifull and in thy Wayes direct Inlarge my mind thy Wayes to understand 'T is time for they infringe thy just Command Which more then Gold then Gold refin'd I prise In all upright But hate deceitfull lies PE. Part. 17 Thy Word the Gate of Life even Babes inspires With Knowledge this my obsequious Soule admires This I with thirsty appetite devoure Thy streams of Mercy on thy Servant powre Compose my steps so shall not sinne subject Nor man oppresse for I
his hands both good and ill Dispense that Fate depends upon his will All that have Life are subject to his sway And at his pleasure prosper or decay Is not the Eare the Judge of Eloquence Gives not the Pallate to the Tast his sense Sure knowledge is deriv'd from length of yeares And Wisedomes browes are cloth'd with Silver haires Gods power is as his prudence equall great In Counsell and Intelligence compleat VVho can what he shall ruine build againe Loose whom he binds or his strong Arme restraine At his rebuke the Living waters flye To their old Springs and leave their Channels dry When he commands in Cataracts they roare And the wild Ocean leaves it selfe no shoare His Wisedome and his Power our thoughts transcend Both the Deceiver and deceiv'd depend Vpon his beck He those who others rule Infatuates and makes the Judge a foole Dissolves the Nerves of Empire Kings deprives Of Soveraignty their Crownes exchang'd for gyves Impoverisht Nobles into exile leades And on the Carcases of Princes treads Takes from the Orator his eloquence From ancient Sages their discerning sense Subjects the worthy to contempt and wrong The valiant terrifies disarmes the strong Vnvailes the secrets of the silent Night Brings what the shades of death obscures to light A Nation makes more numerous then the Stars Againe devours with Famine Plagues and VVars Now like a Deluge they the Earth surround Forthwith reduc'd into a narrow bound He Fortitude and Counsell takes away From their Commanders who in Deserts stray Grope in the Darke and to no Seat confine Their wandring feet but reele as drunke with wine This by mine Eyes and eares have I convay'd Chap. 13 Downe to my heart and in that Closet laid Need I in depth of knowledge yeild to you Is not as much to my discretion due Oh that th' All-seeing Judge who cannot erre VVould heare me plead and with a wretch conferre You Corrasives into my wounds distill And ignorant ' Artists with your physick kill Ah! shame you not to vent such forgeries Seale up your lips and be in silence wise And since you are by farre more fit to heare Then to instruct afford my tongue an eare Oh will you wickedly for God dispute And by deceitfull wayes strive to confute Are you in favour of his person bent Thus to prejudicate the Innocent Need's he an Advocate to plead his Cause To justifie untruth's against his Lawes Can you on him such falsities obtrude And as a Mortall the most wise delude VVill it availe you when he shall remove Your painted vizors will not he reprove And sharply punish if in secret you For favour or reward Injustice doe Shall not his Excellence your Soules affright His Horrors on your heads like Thunder light Your memories to ashes must decay And your fraile bodies are but built of clay Forbeare to speake till my Conceptions shall Discharge their Birth then let what will befall VVhy should I teare my flesh cast of the care Of future life and languish in despaire Though God should kill me I my confidence On him would fixe nor quit my owne defence He shall restore me by his saving might Nor shall the Hypocrite approach his sight Give me your eares Oh you who were my Friends VVhile injur'd Innocence it selfe defends I am prepar'd and wish my Cause were try'd In full assurance to be justifi'd Begin who will accuse should I not speake In such a truth my heart with griefe would breake Just Judge two lets remove that free from dread I may before thy high Tribunall plead Oh let these torments from my flesh depart Nor with thy terrors daunt my trembling heart Then charge so I my life may justifie And to my just complaint doe thou reply What Sinnes are those that so pollute my brest Oh shew how oft I have thy Lawes transgrest Wilt thou thy Servant of thy sight deprive And as an Enemy to Ruine drive Wilt thou a withered leafe to powder grind Tost in the aire by every breath of wind Or with thy Lightning into Ashes turne Such worthlesse Stubble only dry'd to burne Thou hast indited me of bitter Crimes Now punisht for the faults of former times Lo my restrained feet thy fetters wound Watcht with a Guard and rooted in the ground Like rotten fruit I fall worne like a cloth Gnawne into rags by the devouring Moth. Chap. 14 Ah! few and full of Sorrow are the Dayes Of Man from Woman sprung His Life decayes Like that fraile flower which with the Sunnes uprise Her bud unfolds and with the Evening Dies He like an emptie Shadow glides away And all his Life is but a Winters Day Wilt thou thine Eye upon a vapour bend Or with so weake an opposite contend Who can a pure and Christall Current bring From such a muddy and polluted Spring Oh since his Dayes are numbred since thou hast Prescrib'd him bounds that are not to be past A little with his punishment dispence Till he have serv'd his time and part from hence A tree though hewne with axes to the ground Renew's his growth and springs from his greene wound Although his root waxe old his fivers dry Although the saplesse bole begin to dye Yet will at sent of Water freshly sprout And like a plant thrust his young Branches out But Man when once cut downe when his pale ghost Fleets into aire he is for ever lost As Meteors vanish which the Seas exhale As Torrents in the drouth of Summer faile So perisht Man from Death shall never rise But sleepe in silent Shades with seal'd-up Eyes While the Caelestiall Orbes in order roule And turne their flames about the stedfast Pole Oh that thou would'st conceale me in the Grave Immure with marble in that secret Cave Vntill the Tempest of thy wrath were past A time prefix and thinke of me at last Can man recover his departed Breath I will expect untill my change in Death And answer at thy call Thou wilt renew VVhat thou hast ruin'd and my feares subdue But now thou tell'st my Steps mark'st when I erre Nor wilt the vengeance due to Sinne deferre Thou in a Bag hast my Transgressions seal'd And only by their Punishments reveal'd As Mountaines tost by Earth-quakes downe are throwne Rocks torne up by the roots as hardest Stone The softly-falling drops of water weare As Inundations all before them beare And leave the Earth abandoned so shall The aspiring hopes of Man to nothing fall Thy wrath prevailes against him every Day Whom with a changed Face thou send'st away Then knowes not if his Sonnes to honour rise Or struggle with their strong necessities But here his wasting Flesh with anguish burnes And his perturbed Soule within him mournes Chap. 15 Iob paus'd to whom the Themanite replies Can man such follies utter and be wise VVhich bluster from the Tempest of thy mind As if thy breast inclos'd the Easterne wind Wilt thou thy idle rage by Reason prove Or speake those Thoughts which have no power
dreadfull breach With equall fury they upon me roule Even to the desolation of my soule Besieging Terrors storme-like roare aloud Pursue and chase me like an emptie Cloud O how my soule is powr'd upon the ground Full growne Affliction hath a subject found Torments by Night my wasted marrow boyle My Pulses labour with unequall toyle My soares pollute my garments Plagues infest My poysoned skin and like a Coat invest O I am Dust and Ashes Lord thou hast Downe in the durt the broken-hearted cast Thy eares the incense of my prayers reject No teares nor vowes can alter thy neglect Ah! hast thou lost thy mercy Wilt thou fight Against a worme and in his groanes delight Thou setst me on the winds with every blast Tost too and fro while I to nothing wast I see my Death approach I to the wombe Of earth am cal'd of all the generall Tomb. Thou never wilt the Dead to Life restore Though heere in Sorrow they thy grace implore How oft have I for those that suffer'd wept Afflicted for the poore when others slept Yet when I lookt for joy for cheerefull light Then griefe fell on and shades more blacke than night My tortur'd Bowels found no hower of rest By troopes of sodaine miseries opprest Unknowne to Day I mourn'd my clamors tare The eares soft Labyrinth and cleft the Aire The hissing Dragon and the screeching Owle Became Companions to my pensive Soule My flesh is cover'd with a vaile of jet And all my Bones consume with burning heat My Harp her mournfull Straines in Sorrow steep's My Organ sighes sad aires as one that weepes Chap. 31 I with my Eyes a Covenant made that they Should not my Soule nor she their lights betray To the deceit of sin why then should I Behold a Virgin with a burning eye What Judgements are reserv'd what Vengeance due To those who their intemperate Lusts pursue Destruction and eternall Ruine shall From Heaven like lightning on the wicked fall Do not his searching Eyes my wayes behold Are not my steps by him observ'd and told If tempting Sinne could ever yet entice My feet to wander in the Quest of Vice Let that great Arbiter of Wrong and Right Waigh in his Scales and cast me if to light If I from vertues path have stept awry Or let my heart be govern'd by mine eye If I oh Justice have thy Rites profan'd If bribes or guiltlesse blood my hands have stain'd Then let another reape what I have sowne Nor let my Race be to the Living knowne If ever woman could to sinne allure If I have waited at my Neighbours doore Let my laicivious wife with others grin'd And by her lust repay my guilt in kind This were a hainous crime so foule a fact As would due vengeance from the Judge exact A wasting fire which violently burnes And all to povertie and ruine turnes If I by Power my Servants should oppresse Nor would their crying Grievances redresse What should I doe or say when God shall come To judge the world that might divert his Doome Both made he in the wombe of equall worth Though to unequall Destiny brought forth If from the poore I did their hopes detaine Or made the widowes Eyes expect in vaine If I alone have at my Table fed Or from the fatherlesse withheld my bread Nor fosterd from my youth their wants supplide To him a father and to her a guide If I have seene the naked starve for cold While Avarice my Charitie controld If their cloth'd Loines have not my bounty blest Warme with the fleeces which my flocks divest If I my armes have rais'd to crush the weake The Judge prepar'd the witnesse taught to speake Be all their ligaments at once unbound And their disjoynted bones to powder grownd Divine Revenge my Soule from sinne deterr'd For I the anger of th' Almighty fear'd I never Idolized Gold embrac'd Nor said In thee my Confidence is plac'd Nor on decitfull Riches fixt my heart Together scrap'd by no omitted Art If when I saw the early Sunne ascend Or the new Moone her silver hornes extend I bowing kist my hand those Lights ador'd As Deities and their releife implor'd The Sinne had beene flagitious and had cry'd To him for vengeance whom my Deed 's defi'd Have I with joy beheld my ruin'd foe Have I exulted in his overthrow Or in the tempest of my passion burst Into offences and his Issue curst Though my Domesticks said oh let us teare His hated flesh nor after death forbeare Who made the Stones their bed or sigh'd for food If knowne my house to strangers open stood Suppose I were corrupt and foule within Yet to what end should I disguise my Sinne Need I so much contempt or censure dread As not to speake my thoughts or hide my head Where shall I meet with an indifferent Eare Oh that the Soveraigne Judge my Cause would heare Peruse the Adversaries evidence Try and determine my suppos'd offence I on my shoulders their complaints would beare And as a Diadem their Slanders weare More like a Prince then a Delinquent would Approach his presence and my life unfold If the usurped Fields against me cry Their ravisht Furrowes weepe if ever I Have forced from them their unpaid for Graine Their Husbandmen and ancient Owners slaine For wheat let thistles from their clods ascend For barley cockle Iobs complaints here end Chap. 32 Nor would his Friends proceed in their replyes Since he appear'd so pure in his owne Eyes When Elihu Barachels sonne who drew His Birth from Aram much incensed grew Not only against Iob that durst defend His Innocency and with God contend But with his three austere Companions since They would condemne before they could convince When he perceiv'd the rest no answer made But like dumb Statues sate the Buzite said Till now I durst not venture to unfold My labouring thoughts to you that are so old For gray Experience is with wisedome fraught And sacred knowledge by the aged taught Yet oh how darke is mans presuming sence Not lightned with caelestiall Influence The great in Honor are not alwayes wise Nor Judgement under silver Tresses lies Since so at length vouchsafe to heare a youth And his opinion in the search of Truth For I your words have weigh'd your reasons heard The Instances by each of you inferr'd And yet in all the heate of your dispute Not one could answer Iob much lesse confute Know therefore least too rashly you conclude It is not Man but God that hath subdu'd Against me Iob did not his speech direct No more will I your Arguments object You all were at his Confidence amaz'd And silently upon each other gaz'd VVhen I your answers had expected long Nor could discerne the motion of a tongue I said behold I now will act my part And utter the Conceptions of my heart My Soule is rapt with fury and my brest Containes a flame that will not be supprest My Bowels boyle like wine that hath
no vent Ready to breake the swelling Continent Words therefore must my toiling thoughts relieve And to restrained Truth inlargement give No personall Respects my thoughts shall move Nor will I Man with flattering titles smooth Should I so prostitute my servile Breath My Maker soone would cut me of by Death Chap. 33 And now O Iob what I shall utter heare As I my lips so open thou thine eare I sacred knowledge clearely will impart Drawne from the fountaine of a single heart God made us both with breath of Life inspir'd In shrouds of fraile Mortalitie attyr'd Then since we shall with equall Armes contend Arise and if thou canst thy cause defend Behold according to thy wish I stand In steed of God though made of slime and Sand. I will not with sterne Menaces affright Nor shall my hand on thee like Thunder-light For I with griefe O Iob have heard thee vaunt And breake into this passionate Complaint My Heart is uncorrupt my Innocence Without a Staine my life free from offence Yet he occasion seekes to overthrow And trample on me as his mortall foe Who least I should escape in fetters binds Observes my steps and makes the faults he finds How rash is thy bold charge God is compleat In his owne Essence much than man more great And yet dar'st thou contend his patience grieve Will He a reason for his Actions give Oft he to Mortals speaks yet will not they The Counsell of his Oracles obey Sometimes by Dreames in silence of the Night Sometimes by Visions he informes their sight When sleepe his Poppy on their Temples sheds Or they lye musing on their restlesse beds The cause of their afflictions then reveales And on their Hearts his reprehension seales That he may man prevent his pride repell Save from the sword and greedy jawes of Hell For this diseased on his bed he groanes While unrelenting Torments gnaw his bones The sight of Food his emptie stomack fils And Dainties to his taste are lothsome Pils By wasting Hecticks of his flesh bereft Bones late unseene alone apparant left His Soule sits mourning at the gates of Death While anguish strives to suffocate his breath But if a Prophet or Interpreter One of a thousand with the sicke conferre Before his eyes his ugly sinnes detect And to a better life his Steps direct Then Mercy thus will cry Release the bound From Sinne and Hell I have a Ransome found Then shall his bones the flesh of Babes indue His youth and beauty like the spring renew He shall his God implore his glorious Face VVith joy behold and flourish in his grace For God will his Integritie regard His vertue with a Bounteous hand reward His Eyes the secrets of all hearts survay VVhen the contrite and bleeding Soule shall say How have I Justice forc'd the poore undone Sinne heapt on Sinne to my owne Ruine run Then God shall raise him from the shades of Night And he shall live to see th' etheriall Light Thus oft to man that Power which wounds and heales The way to Joy by Misery Reveales That he may longer with the living dwell Snatcht from th'extended jawes of Death and Hell O thou of men most wretched heare me speake Nor in thy frantick passion silence breake If thou thy selfe canst cleare at large reply For I thy life would gladly justifie If not my words with wisedome shall informe Thy erring Soule and mitigate this Storme Chap. 34 Then Elihu his speech directs to those Who in a Ring the Disputants inclose You that are wise said he my Doctrine heare You who have knowing Soules afford an Eare. For sence is by that Organ understood Even as the taste distinguisheth of Food By Equitie let us our Judgements guide And this long controverted Cause decide Iob cries I guiltlesse fall to God appeale Yet will not he the clouded truth reveale Shall I with lyes betray my Innocence My wound is mortall ô for what offence VVho of himselfe but he so vainely thinks Who contumacy like cold water drinks He is in shackles by the wicked led And walkes the way which his Associates tread VVhat bootes it man sayes he to take delight In God! and live as alwayes in his sight O heare me you who high in knowledge sit Is it with God that he should Sinne commit No each according to his Merit shall Receive his hire to Justice stand or fall O can Compassion in Destruction joy Or will the righteous Judge the just destroy Shall he the world by mans direction sway VVhom Heaven and Powers Angelicall obey In his disposure is the Orbe of Earth The Throne of Kings and all of humane Birth O if he should the heart of man survay Reduce and take the breath he gave away All Living in a moment would expire And swiftly to there former dust retire Then Iob if thou hast reason if a mind Not partiall let my words acceptance find Shall he who Justice hates rule by his lust Or will 't thou him condemne who is most just Shall Subjects taxe their Kings their Princes blame And with detractions poys'nous breath defame Much lesse upbraid his just Dominion To whom both Lords and vassals are all one Who Rich and Poore alike regards since they By him were form'd from the same lump of clay Pale Death shall in an instant quench their light Whole Nations ravish in the dead of Night Sweep from the Earth the mightie in Command Shall from their Thrones be snatcht without a hand He all beholds with eyes that never close Observes their Steps and their Intentions knowes No mufling Clouds nor Shades infernall can From his inquiry hide offending Man Nor shall the Punishment which guilt pursues Exceed the Crime lest he should God accuse He shall for sinnes unknowne the mighty breake And to their empty thrones advance the weake The Misteries of Night reveale to Day And in their falls their secret faults display Nor his exemplary revenge deferre Presented on the Worlds great Theatre Since they revolt from God with open jawes Blaspheme his Justice and despise his Lawes So that the cries of their oppressions rend The suffering Aire and to his eares ascend Who can disturbe the peace which he bestowes VVhat tumult waken their secure repose VVhat Nation or what one of Mortall Race Shall God behold if he withdraw his Face That Hypocrites no more may tyrannize Nor in their snares the credulous surprize Say thou I will not with my God contend But beare his Chastisements nor more offend My Ignorance informe if I have lent An Eare to vice lest I my sinnes augment VVill he with thy Arbitrement comply VVhither thou should'st consent or shouldst deny His censure is the same Shall I transgresse In not reproving what thou know'st professe And you my Auditors by God indu'd VVith sacred wisedome will I hope conclude That Job on Justice hath aspersions flung And spoken indiscreetly with his tongue O Father give his Miseries no end VVhile he shall his impietie defend
place your hopes on high But earthly Mindes false wealth admire And toyle with uncontrol'd desire With cleare aspect Thy beames reflect And heavenly thoughts inspire O let my joy exempt from feares Their joyes transcend when Autumne beares His pleasant wines On clustred vines And graine-replenisht eares Now shall the peacefull hand of Sleep In heavenly Deaw my senses steep Whom thy large wings O King of Kings In shades of safety keep PSALME V. CANT BASS TO heare me Lord be thou inclin'd My thoughts O ponder in thy minde And let my cryes acceptance finde Thou hear'st my morning Sacrifice To thee before the Day-star rise My prayers ascend with stedfast eyes Thou lov'st no vice none dwells with thee Nor glorious Fooles thy Beautie see All sinne-defil'd detested bee Liars shall sinke beneath thy hate Who thirst for blood and weave deceit Thy Rage shall swiftly ruinate I to thy Temple will repayre Since infinite thy Mercies are And thee adore with Feare and Praier My God conduct me by thy Grace For many have my Soule in chase Set thy strait Paths before my face False are their tongues their hearts are hollow Like gaping Sepulchres they swallow Fawne and betray even those they follow With vengeance girt these Rebels round In their owne counsels them confound Since their Transgressions thus abound Joy they with an exalted voice That trust in thee who guard'st thy Choice Let those who love thy Name rejoyce Thy blessings shall in showers descend Thy favour as a shield defend All those who Righteousnesse intend PSALME VI. As the 3. LOrd thy deserved Wrath asswage Nor punish in thy burniug Ire Let Mercie mitigate thy Rage Before my fainting life expire O heale my bones with anguish ake My pensive heart with sorrow worne How long wilt thou my soule forsake O pitie and at length returne O let thy Mercies comfort me And thy afflicted Servant save Who will in death remember thee Or praise thee in the silent Grave Vext by insulting enemies My groanes disturbe the peacefull Night My bed washt with my streaming eyes Through griefe growne old and dim of sight All you of wicked life depart The Lord my God hath heard my cry He will recure my wounded heart And turne my teares to tides of joy Who hate me let dishonour wound Let feare their guiltie soules affright With shame their haughtie lookes confound And let them vanish from my sight PSALME VII CANT BASS O Thou that art my Confidence And strong Defence From those who my sad fall intend Great God defend Lest Lion-like if none controule They teare my persecuted Soule If I am guiltie if there be Deceit in me If ill I ever to my friend Did but intend Or rather have not succour'd those Who were my undeserved foes Let them my stained Soule pursue With hate subdue Let their proud feet in Triumph tread Upon my head My life out of her mansion thrust And lay my Honour in the dust Against my dreadfull Enemies Great God arise Just Judge thy sleeping Wrath awake And vengeance take Then all shall Thee adore alone O King of Kings ascend thy Throne Part. 2 Judge thou my foes as I am free So judge thou me Declare thou my integritie For thou do'st trie The heart and reines the Just defend The malice of the Wicked end God is my shield he helpe imparts To sincere hearts The good protects but menaceth The bad with death Nor will unlesse they change relent He whets his sword his bow is bent Dire instruments prepared hath Of deadly wrath And will at those who persecute swift arrowes shoot Who wicked thoughts conceiv'd now great With Mischiefe travell hatch Deceit Who digg'd a pit first fell therein Caught by his sinne On his owne head his outrage shall Like ruines fall But I O thou eternall King VVill of thy Truth and Justice sing PSALME VIII CANT BASS LOrd how illustrious is thy Name VVhose Power both Heav'n Earth proclame Thy Glory thou hast set on high Above the Marble-arched Skie The wonders of thy Power thou hast In mouthes of babes and sucklings plac't That so thou might'st thy foes confound And who in malice most abound When I pure Heaven thy fabricke see The Moone and Starres dispos'd by thee O what is Man or his fraile Race That thou shouldst such a Shadow grace Next to thy Angels most renown'd With Majestie and Glory crown'd The King of all thy Creatures made That all beneath his feet hast laid All that on Dales or Mountaines feed That shady Woods or Deserts breed What in the aierie Region glide Or through the rowling Ocean slide Lord how illustrious is thy Name Whose Power both Heaven and Earth proclame PSALME IX CANT BASS THee will I praise with Heart and Voice Thy wondrous Workes aloud resound In thee O Lord will I rejoyce Thy Name with zealous praises crown'd My Foes fell by inglorious flight Before thy terrible Aspect Thy powerfull Hands support my Right Thou Judgement justly dost direct The proud are falne the Heathen flie Oblivion shall their names intombe Destruction O thou Enemie Hath now receiv'd a finall doome Thou Townes and Cities hast destroy'd Their memorie with them decayes But God for ever shall abide And high his Throne of Justice raise A righteous Scepter shall extend And Judgement distribute to all He will oppressed Soules defend That in the time of Trouble call Who know thy Name in thee will trust Part. 2 Thou never wilt forsake thine Owne Praise Sions King O praise the Just And make his noble Actions knowne Bloud scapes not his revenging hand He vindicates the Poore mans Cause Lord my insulting Foes withstand And draw me from Deaths greedy Jawes That I may in the Royall Gate Of Sions Daughter raise my Voice Thy ample Praises celebrate And in thy saving health rejoyce They falne into the Pit they made Are caught in Nets themselves prepar'd The Lord his Judgements hath displayd The Wicked in their workes insnar'd The Wicked downe to Hell shall sinke And all that doe the Lord disdaine But God will on the Needy thinke Nor shall the Poore expect in vaine Lord let not Man prevaile arise Th' Insulting Heathen judge O then Let trembling Feare their heart surprize That they may know they are but Men. PSALME X. CANT BASS VVIthdraw not O my God my guid In time of trouble dost thou hide Thy cheerfull face Who want thy Grace The poore pursue with cruell pride O be they by their owne Inventions overthrowne The wicked boast of their successe The covetous profanely blesse By thee O Lord So much abhorr'd Their pride will not thy power confesse Nor have thy favour sought Or had of thee a thought They in oppression take delight Thy Judgements farre above their sight Their enemies Scoffe and despise Who say in heart No opposite Can us remove nor shall Our greatnesse ever fall Their mouths detested curses fill Fraud mischiefe ever prone to ill In secret they Lurke to betray The Innocent in
Wicked I have seene in wealth to flow Exceed in power and like a Laurell grow Yet vanish hence as he had never beene I sought him but he was not to be seene Observe the perfect and the pure of heart They die in peace and happily depart But the Vngodly are at once cut downe And perish without pitty or renowne The Lord is the salvation of the Just Their strength in trouble since in him they trust Will those assist who on his aide depend Deliver and from impious Foes defend PSALME XXXVIII As the 4. NOT in thy wrath against me rise Nor in thy fury Lord chastise Thy Arrowes wound Naile to the Ground Thy hand upon me lies No Limb from paine and anguish free Because I have incensed thee Nor rest can take My bones so ake Such sinne abounds in me Like Billowes they my head transcend Beneath their heavy load I bend My Ulcers swell Corrupt and smell Of Folly the sad end Perplext in mind I pine away And mourning wast the tedious day My Flesh no more Then all one Sore All parts at once decay Much broken all my strength o'rethrowne Through anguish of my Soule I groane Lord thou dost see My thoughts and mee My Sighs to thee are knowne My sad Heart pants my nerves relent My Sight growes dim and to augment My miseries All my Allies And Friends themselves absent Part. 2 Who seeke my life their Snares extend Their wicked thoughts on Mischiefe bend Calumniate And lye in wait To bring me to my end But I as deafe to them appeare As mute as if I tonguelesse were My passion rul'd Like one that could At all not speake nor heare Because my hopes on thee relye My God I said O heare my cry Lest they should boast Who hate me most And in my ruine joy For O! I droop with struggling spent My thoughts are on my sorrowes bent My sinnes excesse I will confesse In showres of teares repent My foes are full of strength and pride Who causelesse hate are multipli'd Who good with ill Repay would kill Because I just abide Depart not Lord O pity take Nor me in my extremes forsake Salvation Is thine alone Hast to my succour make PSALME XXXIX CANT BASS I Said I will my wayes observe Lest I should swerve VVith Bit and Reines my Tongue keepe in Too prone to Sinne. Nor to their calumnie replie VVho glorie in Impietie I like a Statue silent stood Dumbe even to good My Sorrowes boyling in my brest Exil'd my rest But when my Heart incenst with wrong Grew hot I gave my Griefe a tongue Of those few dayes I have to spend And my last End Informe me Lord that I may so My Frailty know My time is made short as a Span As nothing is the Age of man Man nothing is but Vanitie Though thron'd on high Walks like a Shadow and in vaine Turmoiles with paine He heaps up wealth with wretched care Yet knowes not who shall prove his Heire Part. 2 Lord what expect I thou the Scope Of all my Hope Him from his loath'd Transgressions free Who trusts in Thee Nor O subject me to the Rule And proud derision of a Foole With silence since thy Will was such I suffered much O now forbeare lest instant Death Force my faint breath VVhen thou dost with thy Rod chastise Offending man his courage dies His Beauty wasted like a cloth Gnawne by the Moth Himselfe a short-lif'd vanitie And borne to die Lord to my Prayers incline thine Eare And thy afflicted Servant heare Nor these salt rivers of mine Eyes My God despise A Stranger as my Fathers were I sojourne here O let me gather strength before I passe away and be no more PSALME XL. As the 2. FOR God I patiently did looke He to my cryes inclin'd his Eare And when invironed with feare From that Abysse of horror tooke Drew from the Mud and on a Rocke Establisht to indure the shocke Then did into my mouth convey Songs of his Praise unsung before Many shall see with feare adore And trusting in th' Almighty say Who on the Lord depend are blest Who Liers and the Proud detest Many and full of wonder are The Works O Lord which Thou hast wrought What Thou to raise our joyes hast thought O who in order can declare 'T were lost endeavour to expresse Their number that are numberlesse Thou Gifts nor Offerings dost desire But pierced hast thy Servants eare To Thee Oblations are not deare Nor Sacrifice consum'd with fire Then said I Lo I come thus it Is of me in Thy Volume writ Thy Lawes are written in my Heart My Joy Thy Pleasure to fulfill I in the great Assembly still Thy Righteousnesse to all impart My lips are unrestrein'd by me Which Lord is onely knowne to Thee Thy Justice I have not conceal'd Within the closure of my brest But Thy Fidelity profest And saving health at large reveal'd Amidst the Congregation Thy constant Truth and Mercy showne Part. 2 Withdraw not Lord thy long'd for Aide With Truth and Mercy still inclose For O! innumerable woes On every side my Soule invade So changed with Iniquities That they even blind my fearefull eyes In number they my haires exceed My fainting heart pants in my brest Be pleas'd to succour the Distrest And Lord deliver me with speed Let Shame at once confound them all That seeke my Soule and plot my fall Be they repulst with Infamy Who persecute with deadly hate Deservedly left desolate Who Ha Ha! in derision cry Let all who seeke thy Helpe rejoyce And praise Thee with a cheerfull Voice Let them who thy Salvation love Still say The Lord be magnifi'd Though I be poore and cast aside Yet he regards me from above My Safety my Deliverer No longer thy reliefe deferre PSALME XLI As the 7. VVHo duly shall the Poore regard Hath his Reward The Lord in time of Trouble shall Prevent his fall He shall among the Living rest And with the Earths increase be blest Lord render him not up to those VVho are his Foes VVhen he in sorrow languisheth Neere unto Death Let him by Thee be comforted And in his Sicknesse make his bed I said O Lord thy Mercy show And Health bestow For O! my Soule the lothsome staines Of Sin retaines My Foes have said VVhen shall he die And yet out-live his Memory If any visit they devise Deceitfull Lies Their hollow Hearts with Mischiefe load Divulg'd abroad Who hate me whisper and contrive How they may swallow me alive Behold say they this Punishment From Heaven is sent He from the bed whereon he lies Shall never rise Yea even my Friend my Confident My Guest his heele against me bent But Lord thy Mercy I implore My Health restore O raise me that forthwith I may Their Hate repay In this thy Love thou dost expresse That none triumph in my distresse For thou art of my Innocence The strong Defence I shall inlightned by thy Grace Behold thy Face Jehovah Israels God be
wrought Then when neere to ruine brought Fervently to Him I cry'd This Goodnesse magnifi'd If I Vices should affect VVould not He my Prayers reject But the Lord my Prayers hath heard VVhich my tongue with teares preferr'd Sourse of Mercy be Thou blest That hast granted my Request PSALME LXVII As the 47. LORD showre on us thy Grace Inrich with Gifts divine Let thy illustrious Face Upon thy Servants shine That all below The arched Skie May Thee and thy Salvation know Let all thy Praise rehearse With one united Voyce Sing in melodious Verse Eternally rejoyce Thy Power obey Whose Justice shall Dispose of All All Scepters sway Let all extoll thy Worth Then shall the smiling Earth Her pleasant fruits bring forth Nor ever mourne in Dearth We who implore Thy Blessings find And all Mankind With feare adore PSALME LXVIII As the 8. LET God the God of Battaile rise And scatter his proud Enemies O let them flee before his face Like smoke which driving tempests chace As Wax dissolves with scorching Fire So perish in his burning Ire But let the Just with joy abound In joyfull Songs his Praise resound VVho riding on the rowling Spheares The Name of great Jehovah beares Before his Face your joyes expresse A Father to the fatherlesse He wipes the teares from Widowes eyes The single plants in Families Inlarging those who late were bound VVhile Rebels starve on thirsty Ground When he our numerous Army led And march't through Deserts full of dread Heaven melted and Earths Centre shooke With his majesticke Presence strooke VVhen Israels God in Clouds came downe Part. 2 High Sinai bow'd his trembling Crowne He in th'approach of meager Dearth VVith showres refresht the fainting Earth VVhere his owne Flocke in safety fed The Needy unto plenty led By Him we conquer Virgins sing Our Victories and Timbrels ring He Kings with their vast Armies foiles While women share their wealthy spoiles You who among the Pots have laine In Soot and Smoke shall shine againe Bright as the silver-feather'd Dove VVhose wings with golden Splendor move VVhen he the Kings had overthrowne Our Land like snowy Salmon shone Gods Mountaine Bashans Mount transcends Though he his many Heads extends VVhy boast you so ye meaner Hils God with his Glory Sion fils This his beloved Residence Nor ever will depart from hence Part. 3 His Chariots twenty thousand were VVhich Myriads of Angels beare He in the midst as when he crown'd High Sinai's sanctified ground Lord Thou thy Selfe hast rais'd on high Thou captivat'st Captivitie Deckt with the trophees of his Foes The gifts receiv'd on his bestowes Reducing those who did rebell That both might in his Sion dwell O praised be the God of gods VVho his with daily blessings loads The God of our Salvation On whom our hopes depend alone The Controverse of Life and Death Is arbitrated by his Breath He on their heads his Foes shall wound Their hairy scalps whose sins abound And in their trespasses proceed Thus spake Jehovah Jacobs Seed I will from Bashan bring againe And through the bottome of the Maine That Dogs may lap their enemies bloud And they wade through a crimson Floud Part. 4 We in thy Sanctuary late My God my King beheld thy State The sacred Singers marcht before VVho instruments of Musicke bore In order followed every Maid Vpon her pleasant Timbrell plaid His Praise in your Assemblies sing You who from Israels Fountaine spring Nor little Benjamin alone But Judah from his Mountaine-throne The farre removed Zebulun And Naphtali which borders on Old Jordan where his streame dilates Joyn'd all their Powers and Potentates For us his winged Souldiers fought Lord strengthen what thy hand hath wrought He that supports a Diadem To Thee divine Jerusalem Shall in Devotion treasure bring To build the Temple of his King Part. 5 Break through their Pikes the multitude Of Buls with savage strength indu'd Till they with gifts sweet Peace invite But scatter those whom Wars delight Far off from Sun-burnt Meroë From falling Nilus from the Sea VVhich beats on the Aegyptian shore Shall Princes come and here adore You Kingdomes through the VVorld renown'd Sing to the Lord his praise resound He who Heavens upper Heaven bestrides And on her aged shoulders rides VVhose voyce the Clouds asunder rends In Thunder terrible descends O praise his Strength whose Majesty In Israel shines his Power on high He from his Sanctuary throwes A trembling horror on his Foes VVhile us his Power and Strength invest O Israel praise the Ever-blest PSALME LXIX As the 22. LORD snatch me from the raging Floud Now in deepe Eddies almost drown'd That struggle in the yeelding mud There where no bottome can be found The rising waves my head surround And with their terrors chill my Bloud Tir'd with complaining hoarse and sore Sight failes my long-expecting Eyes My Haires are not in number more Then my uninjur'd Enemies The great in wrong against me rise I what I never tooke restore My God Thou know'st my Innocence Let not the faithfull blush for me Traduc'd by slanderous Impudence Nor ô let those that call on Thee Their shame in my Confusion see Since Thou art our profest Defence For Thee I suffer Calumnies To Men become a generall scorne Deserted by my neare Allies By children of my Mother borne Through zeale unto thy Honour worne While thy reproch upon me lies I fasted wept in Sack-cloth mourn'd My anguish in my lookes exprest Yet this to my derision turn'd By Drunkards sung at every Feast Even Judges at my sorrow jest My Innocence by slander spurn'd Part 2 Yet shall my Praiers and Sighes ascend Even in an acceptable houre Thy Mercie gracious Lord extend And save by thy Almightie Power Let not the swallowing mud devoure Preserve from such a shamefull end Deliver from th' insulting Foe My strugling Feet from sinking keepe Let not the Billowes overflow Nor Whirle-pits sucke into their Deepe O pitie Thou the Eies that weepe And thy Transcendent Mercie show Heare and redeeme without delay Nor in my trouble hide thy Face Lest I become a wretched prey To such as have my Soule in chase My shame indignities disgrace And all their crimes before Thee lay Reproach my bleeding heart hath pierc't VVas ever Sorrow halfe so great Compassion hath her Eyes averst My Griefe no comfort could intreat They gave me bitter Gall to eate And Vineger to quench my Thirst O be their board a snare to those Prosperitie it selfe a Bait Their Eyes in clouds of darkenesse close And let them fall by their owne weight Powre on them thy Eternall hate VVith vengeance multiply their woes Part 3 In Ruines let their Houses lie None in their silent Tents be found That would whom thou hast smit destroy And wounded Soules with slander wound Let their iniquities abound Nor ever in thy Mercie joy Their names out of thy Volume blot Nor with the Just inthrone their Dayes Though poore to misery begot Yet Thoushalt my dejection raise Then
Deserts showes For he his sacred Promise call'd to minde To Abraham his Friend and Servant sign'd Thus he his People brought from servitude VVhose long-felt miseries in joy conclude From hence the Heathen by our Weapons chac'd And us his sonnes in their possessions plac'd That from his Statutes we might never swerve O praise the Lord and him devoutly serve PSALME CVI. As the 72. VVITH gratefull hearts Jehovahs praise resound In goodnesse great whose Mercy hath no bound VVhat Language can expresse his mighty deeds Or utter his due praise which words exceeds Thrice blessed they who his commands observe Nor ever from the tract of Justice swerve Great God O with benevolent aspect Even with the love thou bear'st to thine Elect Behold and succour That my ravisht Eyes May see a period of their miseries VVho Thee adore that I may give a voice To thy great Acts and in their joy rejoyce We as our Fathers have thy Grace exil'd Revolted and our Souls with Sin defil'd They of thy Miracles in Egypt wrought So full of Feare and Wonder never thought Thy Mercies then their haires in number more But murmur'd on the Erythraean Shore Yet for his Honour sav'd them from the Foe That all the VVorld his wondrous Power might know There the commanded Sea asunder rent VVhile Israel through his dusty Chanel went VVhom He from Pharaoh and his Army saves The swift-returning Flouds their fatall Graves Part. 2 Then they his VVord believ'd and sung his Praise Yet soone forgot and wandred from his VVaies VVho long for flesh to pamper their excesse And tempt him in the barren Wildernesse He grants their wish and with a Flight of Fowles Sent meager Death into their hungry Soules They Moses gentle Government oppose And envy Aaron whom the Lord had chose The yawning Earth then in her silent womb Did Dathan and Abirams Troups intomb A swiftly-spreading Fire among them burnes And those Conspirators to Ashes turnes Yet they the slaves of Sin in Horeb made A Calfe of Gold and to an Idol prai'd The Lord their Glory thus exchanged they For th' Image of a Beast that feeds on Hay Forgot their Saviour all his Wonders shown In Zoan and the Plains by Nile o'reflown The VVonders acted by his pow'rfull Hand VVhere the Red-Sea obey'd his stern Command God had pronounc'd their ruine Moses then His Servant Moses and the best of Men Stood in the Breach which their Rebellion made And by his Prayer the hand of Vengeance staid Part. 3 Yea they this fruitfull Paradise despis'd Nor his so-oft-confirmed Promise priz'd But mutined against their faithfull Guide And basely wisht they had in Egypt dy'd For this the Lord advanc'd his dreadfull Hand To overthrow them on th' Arabian Sand To scatter their rebellious Seed among Their Foes expos'd to Poverty and Wrong Besides Baal-Peor they ador'd and fed On Sacrifices offer'd to the Dead Thus their Impieties the Lord incense Who smote them with devouring Pestilence But when with noble anger Phinees slew The bold Offenders He his Plagues with-drew This was reputed for a righteous Deed Which should for ever consecrate his Seed So they at Meribah his Anger mov'd The sacred Prophet for their sakes reprov'd Their Cries his Saint-like sufferance provoke Who rashly in his Soules distemper spoke Nor ever entred the affected Land They still rebellious to divine Command Preserv'd those Nations by his Wrath subdu'd Mixt with the Heathen and their Sins pursu'd Their cursed Idols serve with Rites profane Snares to their Soule and from no Crime abstaine Their Sons and Virgin daughters sacrifice Part. 4 To Divels and looke on with tearelesse eyes Defil'd the Land with innocent blood which sprung From their owne loines on flaming Altars flung Vnto adulterate Deities they praid And worshipped those Gods their hands had made These crying Sins exasperate the Lord VVho now his owne inheritance abhorr'd Given up unto the Heathen for a Prey Slaves to their Foes who hate them most obey Deliver'd oft as oft his Wrath provoke And with increasing Sins renew their Yoke Yet he compassionates their miseries And with soft pity heares their mournfull Cries His former Promise calls to mind relents And in his Mercy of his Wrath repents In salvage Hearts unknowne Compassion bred By whom but lately into thraldome led Great God of gods thy Votaries protect And from among the Barbarous recollect That we to Thee may dedicate our Daies And joyntly triumph in thy glorious Praise Blest O for ever blest be Israels King All you his People Halelu-jah sing Amen Amen A PARAPHRASE VPON THE FIFTH BOOKE OF THE PSALMES OF DAVID PSALME CVII As the 8. EXtoll and our good God adore Whose Sea of Mercy hath no Shore O you by Tyrants late opprest Now from your servile Yokes releast Praise him who your Redemption wrought And home from barbarous Nations brought From where the Morn her Wings displaies From where the Evening crowns the Daies Beneath the burning Zone and neare The Influence of the freezing Beare They in unpeopled Deserts straid The Heavens their Roofe the Clouds their shade Their Soules with thirst and hunger faint None by to pity their Complaint VVhen to the Lord their God they cry'd His Mercy their extreams supply'd He led them through the Wildernesse And gave them Cities to possesse O you his Goodnesse celebrate His Acts to all the World relate For he in foodlesse Deserts fed The Hungry with coelestiall Bread From wondring Rocks new Currents roule Part. 2 To satisfie the thirsty Soule Those Rebels who his Counsell slight Imprison'd in the shades of Night Horrors of Guilt their Souls surprise When humbled with their miseries They to the Lord addrest their Praiers His Mercy comforts their Despaires From Darknesse drawes dissolves their Gieves And from Deaths Jawes preserves their lives O you his Goodnesse celebrate His Acts to all the World relate He breaks Steel-barres and Gates of Brasse To force a way for His to passe Those Fools whom pleasing Sins intice Are punisht by their darling Vice Their Souls all sorts of Food distaste Whom Troops of pale Disease waste When they to God direct their Praiers His Mercy comforts their Despaires His Word restores them from their Graves And from a dreadfull Ruine saves O you his Goodnesse celebrate His Acts to all the World relate Due Praises to his Altar bring And of your great Redemption sing Part. 3 VVho saile upon the toiling Maine And traffick in pursuit of Gaine To such his Power is not unknowne Nor wonders in the Ocean showne At his Command black Tempests rise Then mount they to the troubled Skies Thence sinking to the Depths below The Ship Hulls as the Billowes flow And all Aboord at every seele Like Drunkards on the Hatches reele VVhen they to God direct their Prayers His Mercy comforts their Despaires Forthwith the bitter Storms asswage And foming Seas suppresse their Rage Then singing with a prosperous gale To their desired Harbour saile O you his Goodnesse celebrate His Acts to
More reall worth a poore wise child adornes Then an old Foolish King who counsell scornes He from a Prison to a Throne ascends This borne a Prince his Life obscurely ends His Subjects after his successor runne As from the setting to the rising Sunne The vulgar are inconstant in their choice Nor in the present Government rejoyce The following as the first to change inclin'd This is a vanitie and griefe of mind Chap. 5 Whether thou goest conceive and to what end When thy bold feet the House of God ascend There rather heare his Life-directing Rules Then offer up the sacrifice of Fooles For sinfull are their gifts who neither know What they to God should give or what they owe. The Ryot of thy tongue let feare restraine Nor with rash Orisons his Eares profane God sits in Heaven with Rayes of Beauty crown'd Thou a poore Mortall creep'st upon the ground Since nothing lies concealed from his view Nor scapes his knowledge let thy words be few As Dreames proceed from multitude of Cares So multitude of words a foole declares Performe thy vowes to God without delay Fooles please not him thy vowes sincerely pay Since they are offerings of the gratefull will Vow not at all or else thy vowes fulfill Let not thy tongue oblige thy flesh to sinne Nor say I err'd by that pretext to winne Thy Angels Pardon Why shouldst thou incense Thy God and draw his wrath on thy offence In multitudes of words and Dreames appeare Like vanities my Sonne Jehova feare Nor let it quench thy Piety when thou Shalt see the poore beneath the mighty bow All Lawes perverted Justice cast aside As if the Vniverse had lost her guide That Power to whom all are subordinate Shall crush them with an unsuspected fate The Mother Earth to all her bosome yields Even Princes are beholding to the fields Who silver Covet and Excesse of Gaine Shall ever want this folly is as vaine As Riches multiply even so doe they VVho feed thereon and on their Plenty prey What profit to the owner can arise But to behold them with his carefull Eyes Sweet is the sleepe which honest toyle begets Whether he liberally or little eates When ever-troublesome Abundance keeps The wealthy waking and affrights his sleeps What Penury than Riches can be worse If by the Owner turn'd into a Curse Or to consuming vice become a spoyle Who Sonnes begets to misery and toyle Naked he issu'd from his Mothers wombe And naked must descend into his Tombe Of all with travell got and kept with feare He nothing to the House of Death shall beare But must returne as Emptie as he came His Entrie and his Exit but the same What bootes it then to Labour for the winde This is a sore affliction to the Minde He feeds his sorrow in continuall Night Repleat with Anguish Fury and Despight This truth have I found out in her pursuite To feed our Bodies to enjoy the fruit Of our enricht endeavours and to give Our selves their comforts whil'st on Earth we live Is good and Pleasurable this alone Is all we have that can be call'd our owne For to have Riches and the Power with all To use them freely is the Principall Of earthly Benefits for God on those He most affects this Happinesse bestowes That man retaines no sence of former Ill 's VVhose Heart the Lord of Life with gladnesse fills Chap. 6 This as a Common Misery have I With sorrow seene beneath the ambient Sky God Riches and Renowne to men imparts Even all they wish and yet their narrow hearts Cannot so great a fluency receive But their fruition to a Stranger leave What falser vanitie or worse disease Could ever on the life of Mortals seaze Though he a hundred Children should beget Though many yeares should make his Age compleat Yet if he to himselfe his owne deny Then want a Grave and violently dye Better were an abortive borne in vaine That in obscuritie departs againe Enveloped with shrouds of endlesse Night Who never saw the Sunne display his Light Nor Good or Evill knew he is more blest And soone descends to his perpetuall Rest Though th' other twenty Ages have surviv'd His Misery is but the longer Liv'd Yet both must to that fatall Mansion goe Where they to none are knowne nor any know All that Man Labours for is but to Eate Yet is his soule not satisfi'd with Meate VVhat therefore hath the wise more then the foole VVhat wants the poore that can his Passions rule Farre better is a cleare and pleas'd aspect Then meagre lookes which vast desires detect Such as can never satisfaction find Yet this is vanitie and griefe of Mind For be he what he will he must be Man A Name repleat with Misery nor can But desperately with such a Power contend On whom himselfe and all the world depend As Riches so our cares and feares increase O discontented Man where is thy peace VVho knowes what 's good for thee in these thy Dayes Of Vanitie A Shadow so decayes Or can informe thy Soule what will befall When thou art lost in greedy Funerall Chap. 7 An honest Name acquir'd by vertuous deeds The fragrant smell of Precious Oyles exceeds Even so the Houre of Death that of our Birth Which Fame secures and Earth restores to Earth Better to be at Funerals a Guest Then entertained at a Nuptiall feast For all must to the shades of Death descend And those that live should thinke of their last End Sorrow then Mirth more to perfection moves For a sad Countenance the Soule improves The wise will therefore ioyne with such as mourne But fooles into the Bowers of Laughter turne A wise mans reprehensions though severe More then the songs of Fooles should please the eare As thornes beneath a Caldron catch the fire Blaze with a noise and suddenly expire Such is the immoderate laughter of vaine fooles This Vanitie in our distemper rules Oppressions purchases the Judgement blind Make wise men mad a Guift corrupts the Mind Beginnings in their Ends their meed obtaine Humility more conquers then Disdaine Nor be thou to distracting Anger prone By her deformities a foole is knowne Nor murmuring say Why are these dayes of ours Worse then the former doth the chiefe of Powers So differently the affaires of mortals sway Such questions but thy Arrogance display Wisedome with Ancient Wealth not got by care Great blessings heape on those who breath this Aire Both are to mortals a protecting shade When bitter stormes or scorching beames invade But if divided he who is possest Of Life-infusing Wisedome is more blest Gods works consider who can rectifie Or make that streight which he hath made awry In thy prosperitie let joy abound Nor let adversitie thy patience wound For these by him so intermixed are That no man should presume nor yet despaire All perturbations all things that have beene I in my dayes of vanitie have seene How their owne justice have the just destroy'd And how the
God hath on me in his fury throwne He from the breaking Clouds his flames hath cast Which in my Bones the boyling Marrow wast Hath set snares for my feet throwne to the ground Left desolate and fainting with my wound Who of my Sins hath made a yoake to check My Insolence and cast it on my Neck My Strength hath broken to my Enemies Subdu'd my Powers now ah too weake to rise He in the mid'st of me hath trodden downe My mighty Men and those of most Renowne His Troopes on my strong youth like Torrents rush't As in a wine-presse Judah's Daughter crush't For this I weepe my eye my galled Eye Dissolves in Streames for he who should apply Balme to my wounds farre ô farre of is fled My Children desolate their Foe their head Her Hands sad Sion rais'd no Comfort found Jehova charg'd her foes to guir'd her round Jerusalem O thou of late belov'd Now like a Menstruous Woman art remov'd The Lord is just t is I that have rebell'd And by my wild revolt his Grace expell'd Heare and behold my woes my Orphans torne From my forc'd Armes and into exile borne I to my boasting Lovers call'd for ayd But they their vowes infring'd my trust betray'd My Priests and Princes while they seeke for bread To feed their hungry Soules augment the Dead Lord looke on me my heart roules in my Breast My Bowels stoyle like Seas with Stormes opprest I have provok't thy Vengeance with my Sinne Without the Sword destroyes and Dearth within My sighes no pitty move my cruell Foes Enjoy thy Wrath and glory in my Woes Yet that presaged Time will come when they Shall equall Sorrowes to thy Justice pay O set their impious deeds before thine eyes And presse them with my waighty Miseries The Birth of Sinne which breake into complaint My groanes are numberlesse my Spirits faint Chap. 2 How hath Jehova's wrath ô Sion spread A vaile of Clouds about thy Daughters head From Heaven to Earth thy beauty Israel throwne Nor in his fierce displeasure spar'd his owne How hath he swallow'd Judah's Mansions ra'st His Holds and to the ground his Bulwarks cast The Land in his relentlesse rage profan'd And with the Blood of her owne Princes stain'd He in his Indignation hath the Horne Of Israel from his bleeding forehead torne Before the Foe O forc't to flye with shame His wrath to Jacob a devouring flame Foe-like hath bent his Bow his Hostile hand Advanc't and slaine the Beauty of the Land All that the eye attracted with Desire And powr'd his anger forth like floods of Fire Against thee Solyma Converts his Powers Sad Israel and his Pallaces devoures His strong built Fortresses to ruines turnes Whil'st Judah's Daughter for her Children mournes His Tabernacle He with Violence Hath now demolish't like a Garden Fence None Sions feasts and Sabbaths celebrate Both King and Priest abnoxious to his hate Detests his Sanctuary and forsakes His flamelesse Altar while the Enemy takes His Palaces and Walles fill'd with their Cryes As late by us in our Solemnities The ruine of Jerusalem designes And levels the Foundation with his Lines Nor his fierce hand withdrawes the tottering walls And stooping Turrets languish in their falls Her Gates sinke to the Earth with shiver'd bars Her King and Princes Slaves or slaine in wars All Lawes surcease Jehova to her Seers No more by Visions or by Dreames appeares Her Elders sit on earth with silent Woe And Dust upon their Silver Tresses throw In sack-cloath mourne Her Virgins hang their heads Like drooping Flowers that bow to their cold Beds My Bowels toyle mine eyes with teares are drown'd My bleeding Liver powr'd upon the Ground To see my tender Babes unpittied lye On flinty Pavements and through famine dye While others to their weeping Mothers say O give us Food our hunger to allay Then fainting by the bloodlesse wound of Death In their infolding Armes sigh out their Breath How shall my tongue expresse ô how compare Thy matchlesse Sorrowes to asswage thy Care Distressed Sions Daughter for thy breach Is like the Seas whose rage no bounds impeach Vaine tales and foolish have thy Prophets told Nor would they thy exiling Sins unfold False Burthens and false Prophecies invent The fatall Authors of thy Banishment The Passengers they wry their heads aside Hisse at thee clap their hands and thus deride Is this their only Joy which they of all The world the Beauty and Perfection call Thy Foes make mouthes scoffe grind their teeth and say Now have we swallow'd our desired prey This is that Day we did so long expect VVherein our hopes have had their wish't effect God hath accomplished his old Decree VVe thy oft-menaced Destruction see Hath ruin'd without pitie made a Scorne To thy Triumphant Foe and rais'd his Horne To him their hearts now cry O Sions Towers All Day all Night let teares descend in Showers O never give thy labouring Thoughts repose Nor let the humid Night thy eye-lids close Arise and cry cry from the Nights first houre Thy Heart before thy God like water powre O raise thy Hands to Heaven least Famines force Thy Childrens soules from their pale corps divorce Lord see thy Masacre's shall cursed wombes Become their new-borne childrens fatall Tombes Thy Priests and Prophets by the sword are slaine And with their Blood thy Sanctuary staine Lo in the Streets old Men and Infants lye My Virgins and bold Youth by slaughter dye Thou with their Blood thy Vengeance didst imbrew Thy burning Fury without pitty slew As in a solemne Day thy Terrors have Inviron'd me thy Anger cloyes the Grave Those whom I swatled in my Bosome bred The Barbarous Foe hath sent unto the Dead Chap. 3 Lo I the Man who by the wrath of God Have seene afflictions stormes and felt his Rod He hath depriv'd me of the cheerefull Light Inveloped with Shades more darke then Night Against me his revengefull Forces bent Nor sets his Anger with the Suns descent My slesh hath wasted wrinckled my smooth skin With Sorrowes age and broke my Bones within Against me digg'd atrench cast up a mound With travels bitter gall besieg'd me round Imprison'd where no beames their brightnesse shed Like that darke Region people by the Dead On every side my Flight with Barres restraines And clogs my galled Legs with massie Chaines Who stops his eares against my Cryes and Prayers With Stone immures and spreads my Path with snares He like a Beare or Lion lyes in waite Diverts in pieces teares leaves Desolate At me as at a marke his Bow he drew Whose Arrowes in my Blood their wings imbrew He lets the People circle me in Throngs Who all the Day deride with spitefull Songs With wormewood made me drunke with gall hath fed My teeth with gravell broke with Ashes spread My soule to Peace is such a Stranger growne As if I never better Dayes had knowne When I my wrongs to memory recall My Miseries my Wormewood and my Gall My Passions thus
exclaime Ah! Perished Are all my hopes from me my strength is fled These thoughts my Soule have humbl'd trod to Earth My Pride and given my Hopes a second Birth T' was thy abundant goodnesse Lord that all Did not together in one Ruine fall Thy Mercies with the rising Light renue And thy Fidelitie as large as true My soule is arm'd with stedfast Confidence Since thou my Portion art and strong Defence To those how gracious who on thee relye Who seeke thee with unfainting Industry T is good to hope and rest upon thy Truth T is good to beare thy yoake in early youth Alone he silent sits nor will distrust Thy Promise when he hides his head in Dust His cheeke submits to blowes by all revil'd Yet knowes at length thou wilt be reconcil'd When God with griefe hath fixt thee to the ground His Mercy will powre balme into thy wound For He delights not in our Misery On those to trample who in fetters lye Hates that the weake should be opprest by might Or Justice suffer in the Judges sight O tell what can befall beneath the Sun That is not by the Lords appointment done Both good and bad from Him proceeds why then Grudge you at punishment vaine sinfull Men Turne we to God by tryall of our wayes To Heaven our hearts our hands and voyces raise We have transgres'd rebell'd no pardon gaine The Food of Wrath by thee pursu'd and slaine Thou hast with Cloud 's thy selfe inclos'd of late Through which no Prayers of ours can penetrate With Men the refuse and off-skouring made Whom all our Foes with open mouthes upbraid Fill'd with vastation ruines snares and feares While for my Childrens losse I melt in Teares Nor shall those briny Rivers cease to flow Till God looke downe with pitie on our woe Mine eye ah wounds my heart when I behold My Cities Daughters to Afflictions sold Those who thy Beauty Solyma deface My soule like a retrived Partridge chace Cut from the living in a Dungeon throwne And over-whelmed with a Pile of Stone Stormes ore my head their rowling billowes tost Then cry'd I ah I am for ever lost Thou from the Dungeon Lord my cryes didst heare O never from my sighes divert thine Eare Thou stood'st besides me in that horrid Day And said'st Take courage nor thy feare obey My cause thou Lord hast pleaded in this strife And from their greedy jawes redeem'd my Life Thou that hast seene my wrongs restore my right Thou hast their vengeance seene and cursed spight The malice heard which their false tongues disclose The thoughts and machinations of my Foes VVhen they sit downe and when they rise I still Become their Musick and their Laughter fill Rewards according to their works disburse Their Hearts with Sorrow wound blast with thy Curse Pursue destroy nor Lord thy wrath restraine Till none beneath the arch of Heaven remaine Chap. 4 How is our Gold growne dimme of all the most Refin'd and pure hath now his Lustre lost That Marble which the Temple beautifi'd Torne downe by impious Rage and cast aside The wretched Sons of Sion ah behold Of late so precious more esteem'd then Gold How slighted to how low a value brought Like Earthen vessels by the Potter wrought The Monsters of the Sea and Salvage Beasts Their young ones gently foster at their Breasts My Daughters ah more cruell are then these Or then the desert-haunting Estriges Their Children cry for Bread but none receive Whose thirsty tongues to their hot pallats cleave VVho fed Deliciously now sit forlorne And those who Scarlet wore on dung-hils mourne The Punishments as did their sinnes excell That which from Heaven on wicked Sodom fell Devour'd with sodaine flames No Creature found To whom his wrath could adde another wound Her Nazarites late pure as falling Snow More white then Streames which from stretcht udders flow Not Rubies of the rocke such red insphear'd Nor polisht Saphires like their Veines appear'd Their faces now more blacke then Cinders growne To such as meet them in the Streets unknowne VVhose wither'd Skins more dry then saplesse wood Cleave to their fleshlesse Bones for want of Food O farre lesse wretched they whose parting Breath Breaks through their wounds then those who starve to death For they in lingring torments pine away And find not Death so cruell as Delay Soft-hearted Mothers live by horrid spoile And their beloved Babes in Caldrons boyle On these with weeping Eyes and hearts that bleed The famisht Daughters of my People feed The Lord his vengeance now accomplish't hath And powred forth the Viols of his wrath Forsaken Sion sets on fire whose Towers And Palaces the hungry flame devoures You Kings that sway the many-Peopled Earth All who from groaning Mothers take your birth O would you have believ'd that thus the Foe Should have triumpht in her sad overthrow Her Priests and Prophets sins who should have taught By their Example have her ruine wrought VVith humane flesh her flaming Altars fed And blood of Innocents profusely shed VVho blindly wander so defil'd with gore That none would touch the Garments which they wore Depart they cry'd Depart and touch us not Depart ô you whom foule pollutions spot Thus chid they stray'd and to the Gentiles fled Yet said ere long we shall from hence be led For this the Lord hath scatter'd in his Ire Nor ever shall they to their homes retire Their unregarded Priests slaine by the Foe Who would no pitie to the aged show Yet vainely we in these our Miseries With expectation have consum'd our eyes And fostered flattering hopes built on their word Who can no ayd to our Extreames afford Like cruell Hunters they our steps pursue While we in Corners lurke from publike view That Fatall Day drawes neere wherein we must Descend to Death and mingle with the Dust Not Eagles fearefull Doves so swiftly chace As they with winged feet our foot-steps trace Pursue o're Mountaines watch at every Streight And to intrap us in the Defart waite The Lords Anointed even our nostrils Breath They have ensnar'd and rendred up to Death Of whom we said Among the Heathen wee Beneath his wings shall live in exile free Daughter of Edom thou that dwelst in Hus Exalt thy Joy This Cup to thee from us Shall swiftly passe thy braines inebriate so As thou thy nakednesse shalt boldly show Yet when thy Sins deserved Punishment O wretched Sions Daughter shall be spent Jehova will thy Banishment repeale Foment thy wounds and all thy bruises heale Then he on Edoms Issue shall impose Our yoake and her deformitie disclose Chap. 5 Remember Lord the Afflictions we have borne See how we are to all the world a Scorne Our Lands and Houses forreiners possesse Our Mothers Widdowes and we Fatherlesse To us our wood the greedy Strangersels And dearely purcha'st water from our wels Our necks with heavy burthens are opprest All Day we toyle at Night depriv'd of Rest We in the Egyptian and Assyrian Lands Are forc't to
beg our bread with stretcht-out hands Our Fathers who transgrest in Death remaine And we the pressure of their sins sustaine Who were our vassals now our Soveraignes are And none survive to comfort our despaire With perill of our lives we seeke our food The sword in pathlesse Deserts thirsts for blood While Stormes of Famine mutiny within And like a furnace tan the saplesse skin In Judah's Cities Virgins they deflowre In Sion ravisht wives their wrongs deplore They crucifie our Princes in their rage Nor honour the aspect of reverend Age. Our Youth enforce to grind with lashes gall And Boyes beneath their cruell Burthens fall No Judge on high Tribunals now appeares No Musick drawes our Soules into our Eares Joy from our broken hearts exiled flyes Our mirth is chang'd to mourning Elegies The crowne from our ecclipsed Browes is torne By all except thy punishments forlorne Woe to our Sins for these we waste our yeares In Servitude We drowne our Eyes with teares For thee deserted Sion Foxes dwell Among thy ruines who our woes can tell Yet Lord thou ever liv'st Thy Throne shall last When funerall Flames the World to Cinders waste O why hast thou so long forgot thine owne Wilt thou forsake us as if never knowne O call us back that we thy face may view Those happy Dayes we once enjoy'd renew But thou hast cast us off to tread the path Of Exile made the Object of thy wrath A PARAPHRASE VPON THE SONGS COLLECTED OVT OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS EXODVS 15. As the 8. Psalme THE Praise of our triumphant King And of his Victory we sing Who in the Seas with horrid force O'rethrew the Rider and his Horse My Strength my God my Argument My Fathers God hath safety sent To him will I a Mansion raise There celebrate his glorious Praise His Sword hath won eternall fame And great Jehovah is his Name Lo Pharaoh's Chariots his proud Hoast Are in the swallowing Billowes lost God in the fathomlesse Profound Hath all his choice Commanders drown'd Downe sunk they like a falling stone By raging Whirl-pits ovethrowne Thy pow'rfull Hand these VVonders wrought Our Foes by Thee to ruine brought Thou all that durst against thee fight Hast crusht by thy prevailing Might Thy VVrath thy Foes to Cinders turnes As Fire the Sun-dri'd Stubble burnes Part 2 Blowne by thy Nostrils breath the Floud In heaps like solid Mountains stood The Seas divided Heart congeal'd Her sandy Bottom first reveal'd Pursue o're take th' Aegyptians cry'd Let us their wealthy Spoile divide Our Sword these Fugitives destroy And with their Slaughter feast our Joy Thou blew'st those Hils their Billowes spread In mightie Seas they sunke like Lead What God is like our God! so high So excellent in Sanctitie Whose glorious Praise such terror breeds So wonderfull in all thy Deeds Thy Hand out-stretcht the closing VVomb Of VVaves gave all his Host one Tomb. But us who have thy Mercy try'd In our Redemption thou wilt guide Guide by thy Power till we possesse The Mansion of thy Holinesse Part. 3 Our Foes shall this with terrour heare Sad Palaestine grow pale with feare Those who the Edomites command And Moabs Chiefs shall trembling stand The Hearts of Canaan melt away Like Snow before the Suns bright Ray. Horror shall seize on all not one But stand like Statues cut in Stone Vntill thy People passe even those VVhom thou hast ransom'd from their Foes Thou shalt conduct and plant them where Thy fruitfull Hils their Shoulders reare By thy Election dignifi'd VVhere thou for ever shalt abide Thy Reigne eternall King shall last VVhen Heaven and Earth in vapours waste While Pharaoh's Chariots and his Horse 'Twixt walls of Seas their way inforce Thy Hand reduc'd th'obedient Waves VVhich clos'd them in their rowling Graves But Israel through the bottome sand Securely past as on dry Land DEVTERONOMY XXXII As the 1. Psalme LEND O you Heavens unto my voyce an eare And thou O Earth what I shall utter heare My words shall fall like Deaw like April showers On tender Herbs and new-disclosed Flowers VVhile I the Goodnesse of our God proclaime O celebrate his great and glorious Name Our Rocke whose VVorks are perfect Justice leads And equall Judgement walks the VVay he treads In him unstain'd Sincerity excels The God of Truth in whom no falshood dwels But you are all corrupt perverse nor beare Those Marks about you which his Children weare O fooles depriv'd of intellectuall Light Doe you your great Preserver thus requite Your Father He who made you did select From all the World and with his Beauty deck'd Remember aske the Ancient They will tell What in old times and Ages past befell VVhen the most High did distribute the Earth VVith liberall hand to all of humane birth VVhen yet you were not He according to Your numerous Race design'd a Seat for you Part. 2 His People are his Portion Jacobis Th' Inheritance alone reserv'd for His. He when he wandred through a desert land And in a horrid Wildernesse of sand Conducted taught him his high Mysteries And kept him as the Apples of his Eyes As the old Eagle on her Ayery spreads Her fostring Plumes renewes their downy beds Feeds traines them for the flight subdues their feares And on her soaring wings her Eaglets beares So he sustein'd So led him He alone No stranger-Gods to Israel then were knowne Whom like a Horse the towring Mountaines bore That those rich fields might feast him with their store With Honey the hard Rocks supply'd his want And pure Oyle dril'd from cliffes of Adamant Him with the Milke of Ewes with Butter fed With fat of Lambs and Rams in Bashan bred With flesh of Goats with Wheats pure Kernels fill'd And dranke the Bloud which from the Grape distill'd Part. 3 But Jesurun grew fat kickt like a Horse Full of high feeding and untamed force Forsooke his God who made sustein'd adorn'd And that strong Rocke of his Salvation scorn'd VVith barbarous Gods and execrable Rites His Jealousie and Wrath at once excites To Divels they profanely sacrific'd Gods made with hands before their Maker priz'd Gods brought from forraigne Nations strange and new Gods which their Ancestors nor fear'd nor knew Their Father their firme Rocke remembred not And Him who had created them forgot This having seene with burning eyes the Lord His Daughters and degenerate Sons abhor'd Said from these Rebels I will hide my face And see the end of this unfaithfull Race Since they with Gods that are but Gods in Name My Soule with so great Jelousie inflame And through their vanities my wrath incense I by the like will punish their offence Their Glory to an unknowne Nation grant And in their roome a foolish People plant Part. 4 A fire is kindled in my wrath which shall Even in the depth of Hell devoure them all Polluted Earth with her productions burne And ayery Mountaines into ashes turne One misery another shall invite And all my arrowes in