the Silk-worms womb Such as a Conquerer become Great God! So perishall thy Foes Love such as love thee O let those Shine like the Sun when he displaies I' th' Orient his increasing Raies 1 SAMVEL II. As the 29. Psalme GOD hath rais'd my head on high O my Heart inlarge thy joy God hath now my Tongue unti'd To retort their scorne and pride In thy Grace I will rejoyce Praise thee while I have a voyce VVho so holy as our Lord VVho but he to be ador'd VVho such Wonders can effect Who so strongly can protect Be no longer arrogant Nor in Folly proudly vaunt God our secret thoughts displaies All our works his Ballance weighes Giants Bowes his Forces breake He with strength invests the Weake Who were full now serve for bread Those who serv'd infranchised Barren VVombs with Children flow Fruitfull Mothers childlesse grow Part. 2 God fraile Man of life deprives Those who sleepe in Death revives Leads us to our silent Tombes Brings us from those horrid Roomes Riches sends sends Poverty Casteth downe and lifts on high He from the despised Dust From the Dunghill takes the Just To the height of Honour brings Plants them in the Thrones of Kings God Earths mighty Pillars made He the World upon them laid He his Servants feet will guide Wicked Soules who swell with Pride Will in endlesse Darknesse chaine Since all humane strength is vaine He shall grind his Enemies Blast with Lightning from the Skies Judge the habitable Earth All of high and humble birth Shall with strength his King renowne And his Christ with Glory crowne II. SAMUVEL I. As the 39. Psalme THY Beauty Israel is fled Sunke to the Dead How are the Valiant fal'n the Slaine Thy Mountaines staine O let it not in Gath be knowne Nor in the streets of Ascalon Lest that sad Story should excite Their dire delight Lest in the Torrent of our woe Their pleasure flow Lest their triumphant Daughters ring Their Cymbals and curs'd Paeans sing You Hils of Gilboa never may You Offrings pay No Morning Deaw nor fruitfull showers Cloth you with Flowers Saul and his Armes there made a Spoile As if untoucht with sacred Oyle The Bow of noble Jonathan Great Battailes wan His Arrows on the Mighty fed With Slaughter red Saul never rais'd his Arme in vaine His Sword still glutted with the Slaine How lovely O how pleasant when They liv'd with Men Then Eagles swifter stronger farre Then Lions are Whom love in life so strongly ty'd The stroke of Death could not divide Sad Israels Daughters weepe for Saul Lament his fall Who fed you with the Earths increase And crown'd with Peace With Robes of Tyrian Purple deckt And Gems which sparkling light reflect How are thy Worthies by the Sword Of Warre devour'd O Jonathan the better part Of my torne Heart The salvage Rocks have drunke thy bloud My Brother O how kind how good Thy love was great O never more To Man Man bore No Woman when most passionate Lov'd at that rate How are the Mighty fal'n in fight They and their Glory set in Night II. SAMVEL VII As the 4. Psalme MY Lord my God O who am I Or what is my poore Family That thou should'st crowne With Power renowne And raise my Throne on high As this were little in my place Hast promis'd to confirme my Race Doe men O Lord To men afford Such such transcendent Grace Not to be hop'd for nor desir'd Not to be utter'd but admir'd My Thoughts to me Then they to thee Lesse knowne when most retir'd These great things did'st Thou to fulfill Thy Word and never-changing Will Into my Sight This knowing Light Thy Wisdomes Beames distill In Goodnesse as in Power compleat No God but thee O who so great All this of old Our Fathers told And often did repeat What Nation breaths who can or dare With thee O Israel compare For whom alone God left his Throne As his peculiar Care To amplifie his Name to doe Such great such fearefull things for you Such Wonders wrought From Aegypt brought From men from gods withdrew Establisht by divine Decree That thou might'st be our God and we For evermore Thy Name adore As consecrate to Thee Part. 2 Now Lord effect what thou hast said The Promise to thy Servant made Confirme by Deed What to his Seed Thy Word long since displaid Great God O be thou magnifi'd VVhose Hands the strife of VVarre decide Let Davids Race Before thy Face For ever fixt abide Thou saidst who Israel dost protect I will my Servants House erect My Thoughts indu'd With gratitude These Prayers to Thee direct Thou Lord in Goodnesse infinite VVhose VVord and Truth like Twins unite Thy Promise hath Confirm'd my Faith And fill'd me with delight Be then my House for ever blest Of thy deare Presence still possest Thus hast thou said This Promise made O with thy Grace invest ESAY V. As the 9. Psalme NOw I to my Beloved will A Song of my Beloved sing He hath a Vineyard on a Hill VVhich all the Yeare enjoy'd the Spring This he inclosed with a Mound Pickt up the Stones which scatter'd lay VVith generous Vines plants the rich Ground Dig'd pruin'd and weeded every day To presse the Clusters made a Frame Plac'd in a new erected Tower But when th' expected Vintage came For good the Grapes prov'd wild and sowre You who on Judah's Hils reside VVho Citizens of Salem be Doe you the Controverse decide Betweene my Vineyard judge and me Though partiall Judge Could I have more To my ungratefull Vineyard done Yet such unpleasant Clusters bore Vnworthy of the soyle or Sunne Then know This Vineyard late my Joy Manured with such diligence Wild Bores and Foxes shall destroy When I have trampled downe her Fence Then shall she unregarded lye Vndig'd unpruin'd with Brambles spread No gentle Clouds shall on her dry And thirsty Wombe their moisture shed That ancient House of Israel The great Jehovahs Vineyard is They who on Judah's Mountaines dwell Those choice and pleasant Plants of his From whom he Justice did expect But Rapine and Oppression found Thought they sweet Concord would affect When all with Strife and Cryes abound ESAY XXVI As the 2. Psalme OVR Sion strongly is secur'd Which God himselfe hath fortifi'd High Bulwarks rais'd on every side And with immortall Walls immur'd Her Gates at their approach display Who Justice love and Truth obey Who fix on him their confidence He will in constant Peace preserve O then with Faith Jehovah serve Your strong and ever sure Defence VVho hurles the Mighty from their Thrones And Cities turnes to Heaps of stones Their Structures levels with the Floore VVhich Sepulchres of Dust inclose Trod underneath the Feet of those That were of late Despis'd and Poore Straight is the VVay the Righteous tread By Thee at once inform'd and led For we thy Judgements Lord expect And onely on thy Grace relye To thy great Name and Memory Th' Affections of our Soules erect My
teares My sufferings with astonishment survay And on your silent lips your fingers lay For should my Enemy endure the like The Story would my Soule with horror strike Why live the wicked they by vices thrive Saile on smooth Seas and at their port arrive Confirme a long succession and behold Their numerous off-spring in excesse grow old Their Houses on secure foundations stand Nor are they humbled by the Almighties hand Their lusty Bulls serve not their Kine in vaine Their Calves the Breeders their full time retaine Abroad like flocks their little ones they send Their Children dance in active Sports contend Strike the melodious Harpe shrill Timbrels ring And to the warbling Lute soft Ditties sing Life is to them a long-continued Feast And sleepe is not more calme then Deaths arrest To God they say Enjoy thy Heaven alone Be thou to us as we to thee unknowne For what is he that we should him obey Or fruitlesse vowes before his Altar pay Yet their Felicitie from him proceeds Nor am I culpable of their misdeeds When are their tapers quencht doe they expire Struck by the Thunderer with Darts of fire How oft are they like chaffe by whirl-winds tost Or early Blossomes bitten by the Frost When are their Vices punish't in their seed When for their owne offences doe they bleed How often tread destructions horrid Path And drinke the dregs of the Revengers wrath Care they for their deserted Families When Deaths all-curing hand shall close their eyes Shall Man his Maker teach who sits on high And swayes the worlds inferior Monarchy Two Men at once behold the one possest Of his desires with peace and plenty blest From whose swolne breast a streame of milke distils Whose bones high feeding with hot marrow fils The other miserable from his birth A burthen to himselfe and to the Earth Who never could his Hungers rage suffice That in perfection This in Sorrow dies Yet Death more equall these extreames conformes And covers their corrupting flesh with wormes I know your Councels can your thoughts detect The forged Crimes you purpose to object Where are say you those Palaces that blas'd With burnisht Gold on carved Columns rais'd Built on the Ruines of the poore the soile By extortion purchas'd and adorn'd with spoile Be judg'd by travellers they will confute What falsely you suggest and strike you mute For these and those who high in Vice command Against the Thunders rage securely stand And flourish in the Day of wrath when all About them by the stroake of Slaughter fall Who dare against the great in Mischiefe plead Or turne his Injuries upon his head They shall his Corps with funerall Pompe interre And lodge him in a sumptuous Sepulchre The Flowers which in the cirkling valley grow Shall on his Monument their odors throw All that survive shall follow him and tread That common path b'innumerable led Why vainely then pretend you my reliefe And with false comforts aggravate my griefe Chap. 22 Can Man his Maker benefit replide The THEMANITE as he by wisedomes guide May his owne joyes advance can he delight From him receive because his heart 's upright Availes it him that thou from vice art cleare Makes he thee guilty or condemnes for feare No Iob thy Sinnes these punishments beget Thy Sinnes which are as infinite as great Thou of their garments oft hast stript the poore Thy Brothers pledge refusing to restore No water would'st unto the thirsty give Nor with thy bread the Hungry Soule relieve While mighty men and those who more possest Then serv'd for Ryot surfeit at thy feast Sad widowes by thee rifled weepe in vaine And ruin'd Orphants of thy Rapes complaine For this unthought of snares begirt thee round And sodaine feares thy troubled Soule confound Darke clouds before thine Eyes their Vapors spread And thronging Billowes roule above thy head Perhaps these fumes from thy distemper rise Sits not Jehova on the arched Skies Behold the Stars which underneath display Their sparkling fires how farre remov'd are they What can he at so great a distance know Can he from thence behold our deeds below Thicke interposing Mists his eye-sight bound Who free from trouble treads th' Etheriall Round Hast thou observ'd those crooked paths wherein They blindly wander who are slaves to Sin Snatcht from their hopes by an untimely end Cast downe like Torrents never to ascend Who said to God us to our fortunes leave From thee what benefit doe we receive Yet he their Houses with aboundance stor'd With Showers of Gold the God their soules ador'd Oh how my Soule their wicked Counsell hates The Righteous shall behold their tragick fates Joy at their early-Ruine then deride Their flattered Glory and now-humbled Pride But we and ours shall flourish in his Grace When searching Flames devoure their cursed Race Consult with God thy troubled mind compose So he shall give a period to thy woes Receive the Lawes his sacred Lips impart And lodge them in the closet of thy heart If thou returne he will thy fall erect Nor shall contagious Sinne thy Roofe infect Then shalt thou gather shining heaps of Gold As pebles which the purling Streames infold Trod under foot like dust Thy God shall be A Silver shield a Tower of Gold to thee For thou on him shalt thy affections place And humbly to his Throne exalt thy face Thou at his Altar shalt devoutly pray He shall consent and thou thy vowes shalt pay He shall thy wishes to fruition raise And shed celestiall Beames upon thy Wayes When Men are from their Noone of Glory throwne And under Sinne and Sorrowes burthen grone Then shalt thou say Th' Almighty from the grave Hath me redeem'd He will the humble save Those guilty Soules who languish in Dispaire God shall restore and strengthen at thy Prayer Chap. 23 Then Iob though my complaints observe no bounds Yet Oh how farre lesse bitter then my wounds Would his divine Recesse to me were knowne That I at length might plead before his Throne I would such waighty arguments inforce As should convert his Fury to Remorse Then should my longing Soule his answer heare Would be object his power or daunt with feare Oh no his Goodnesse rather would impart New vigor and repaire my broken Heart He would the Plea of Innocence admit And me for ever by his Sentence quit But is not to be found though I should runne To those disclosing Portals of the Sunne And walke his way untill his Horses steepe Their fiery fetlocks in the Iberian Deepe Or should I to the opposed Poles repaire Where equall cold congeales the fixed aire And yet his searching Eyes my paths behold When he hath try'd me I shall shine like gold For in his tract my wary feet have stept His undeclined wayes precisely kept Nor ever have revolted from his Lawes To me more sweet then food to hungry Jawes But he is still the same oh who can shun Or change his Fate what he decrees is done This truth
May Parch't with Heat and nipt with Frost Soone shall fade for ever lost Part. 2 Lord thou art most Great most High Such from all Eternitie Perish shall thy Enemies Rebels that against thee rise All who in their Sins delight Shall be scatter'd by thy Might But thou shalt exalt my Horne Like a youthfull Vnicorn Fresh and fragrant Odors shed On thy crowned Prophets head I shall see my Foes defeat Shortly heare of their retreat But the Just like Palmes shall flourish VVhich the Plains of Judah nourish Like tall Cedars mounted on Cloud ascending Lebanon Plants set in thy Court below Spread their roots and upwards grow Fruit in their Old-age shall bring Ever fat and flourishing This Gods Justice celebrates He my Rocke Injustice hates PSALME XCIII As the 47. NOw great Jehovah raignes VVith Majesty aray'd His Power all powers restraines By men and gods obey'd The round Earth hung In liquid Aire Establisht there But by his Tongue Thy Throne more old then Time And after as before The Flouds in billowes clime And foming loudly rore VVith horrid Noise The Ocean raves And breaks his Waves Against the Skies But thou more to be fear'd More terrible then these Thy Voice in Thunder heard Thy Nod rebukes the Seas Thee Truth renowns Pure Sanctitie Eternally Thy Temple crowns PSALME XCIV As the 10. GReat God of Hosts revenge our Wrong On those who are in Mischiefe strong Vpon thy Foes Inflict our VVoes For Vengeance doth to Thee belong Judge of the World prevent The Proud and Insolent How long shall they the Just oppresse And triumphin their Wickednesse How long supplant Ah! how long vaunt And glory in their dire successe Thy Saints asunder break Insulting o're the Weak Who Strangers and poore VViddowes kill The blood of wretched Orphans spill And say Can he Or heare or see Doth God regard what 's good or ill Brute Beasts without a mind O Fools in knowledge blind Shall not th' Almighty see and heare VVho form'd the Eye and fram'd the Eare VVho Nations slew Not punish you VVho taught not know to him appeare Darke Counsels secret Fires Vaine Hopes and vast Desires Part. 2 But O! thrice blessed he whom God Chastiseth with his gentle Rod Informes and awes By sacred Lawes In stormes brought to a safe aboad VVhile the Unrighteous shall By winged Vengeance fall For he will not forsake th'Elect Nor who adore his Name reject But Judgement then Shall turne agen To Justice and her Throne Erect VVho are in Heart upright Shall follow that cleare Light VVhat mortall will th' Afflicted aid Depend when impious Foes invade Lord hadst not thou My Soule ere now In silent shades of Death had laid For he my Out-cries heard And from the Centre rear'd VVhen Griefe my labouring Soule confounds Thou powrest Balme into her wounds Shall Tyrannie VVith thee complie VVho Mischiefe for a Law propounds VVho swarme to circumvent And doome the Innocent But thou O Lord art my Defence My Refuge and my Recompence The Vicious shall By Vices fall By their owne Sinnes be swept from hence God shall cut off their breath And give them up to Death PSALME XCV As the 34. COme Sing the great Jehovah's Praise VVhose Mercies have prolong'd our Dayes Sing with a joyfull voyce VVith bending Knees and raised Eyes Adore your God ô sacrifice In sacred Hymnes rejoyce Great is the God of our Defence Transcending all in eminence His Hand the Earth sustaines The Depths the loftie Mountaines made The Land and liquid Plaines displaid And curbs them with his Reines O come before his Foot-stoole fall Our onely God who form'd us all Through Stormes of danger led He is our Shepheard we his Sheepe His Hands from Wolves and Rapine keepe In pleasant Pastures fed The Voice of God thus spake this Day Repine not as at Meribah As in the Wildernesse Where your Fore-fathers tempted me Who did my Workes of Wonder see And to their shame confesse VVhen vex't for fortie yeares I said This People in their hearts have strai'd Rebellious to command To whom I in my Anger swore That Death should seise on them before They knew this pleasant Land PSALME XCVI As the 29. NEw composed Ditties sing To our Everlasting King You all you of Humane birth Fed and nourisht by the Earth Celebrate Jehovah's Praise Daily his Deliveries blase His Glory let the Gentiles know To the VVorld his wonders show O how gracious ô how great Earth his Foot-stoole Heaven his Seat To be fear'd and honor'd more Then those gods whom Fooles adore Idols by their Servants made But our God the Heavens display'd Honour Beautie Power Divine In his Sanctuarie shine All who by his Favour live Glory to Jehovah give Glory due unto his Name And his Mightie Deeds proclame Offerings on his Altar lay There your Vowes devoutly pay In his beauteous Holinesse Part. 2 To the Lord your Prayer addresse All whom Earths round shoulders beare Serve the Lord with Joy and Feare Tell Mankinde Jehovah raignes He shall bind the world in Chaines So as it shall never slide And with sacred Justice guide Let the smiling Heavens rejoyce Joyfull Earth exalt her Voice Let the dancing Billowes rore Ecchoes answer from the Shore Fields their flowrie Mantles shake All shall in their Joy partake VVhile the VVoods Musicians sing To the ever-youthfull Spring Fill his Courts with sacred Mirth He He comes to judge the Earth Justly He the VVorld shall sway And his Truth to men display PSALME XCVII As the 8. O Earth joy in Jehovah's Raigne You numerous Iles claspt by the Maine Him rolling Clouds and Shades infold Judgement and Truth his Throne uphold VVho fierie Darts before him throwes VVith winged flames consumes his Foes His Lightning made a Day of Night Earth trembled at so fear'd a sight The Mountaines at his Presence sweat Like pliant VVax dissolv'd with Heat At his Descension from the Skie VVho rules the VVorlds great Monarchie The Heavens declare his Righteousnesse His Glorie wondering men confesse Let those with shame to Hell descend VVhose Knees to cursed Idols bend VVhose rockes for Deities implore O all you gods our God adore Rejoycing Sion heard her King Her Daughters of his Judgements sing Thou art exalted above all Mankinde and Pow'rs Angelicall Those Saints thy shady Wings protect VVho Sin abhorre and thee affect For thou hast sown the Seeds of Light And joy which shall invest th'Vpright You Just your joyfull Hearts elate His blest Memoriall celebrate PSALME XCVIII As the 47. SING to the King of kings Sing in unusuall Laies That hath wrought wondrous things His Conquest crown with Praise Whose Armes alone And sacred Hands Their impious Bands Have overthrown He Justice brings to light His saving Truth extends Even in the Gentiles sight To Earths remotest Ends. His Heavenly Grace At full displayd And promise made To Jacobs Race Let all that dwell on Earth Their high Affections raise VVith universall Mirth And loudly sing his Praise To Musick joyne The warbling
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
Soule pursues thee in the Night And when the Morne displayes her Light Part. 2 Didst thou thy Judgements exercise Then Mortals should the Truth discerne And yet the Wicked would not learne But thy extended Grace despise Among the Just to Injustice sold Nor will thy Majesty behold Shouldst thou advance thine Arme on High Though wilfull-blind yet should they view The Shame and Vengeance which pursue All those who thy deare Saints envy Those vindicating Flames which burne Thy Foes shall them to Cinders turne Thou our eternall peace hast wrought And in our works thy Wonders showne Though other Lords besides our owne Had us to their subjection brought Yet through thy onely Goodnesse we Remembred both thy Name and Thee Dead are they never more to rise From those darke Caves of endlesse Night Nor ever shall the cheerefull Light Revisit with their closed eyes Thy Vengeance hath expel'd their Breath And clos'd their Memories in Death Part. 3 Thou Thou hast given us wounds on wounds In punishing thy Glory showne Far from thy chearfull Presence throwne Even to the Worlds extreamest bounds Amidst our stripes and sighings we Addrest our zealous Prayers to Thee As Women groaning with their Load The time of their Delivery neere Anticipating paine with feare Screeke in their Pangs So we to God So suffer'd when in thy Disgrace So cry'd out when thou hid'st thy Face For we with Sorrow's burthen fraught Paine and anxiety of Mind Brought onely forth an empty Wind Nor our desir'd Delivery wrought We neither could repulse our Foes Nor give a period to our Woes The Lord thus to his People spake Thy Dead shall live those who remaine In peacefull Graves shall rise againe O you who sleepe in Dust awake Now sing on you my Plants I 'le shed My Deaw the Graves shall cast their Dead Goe hide thee in thy inward Roomes A little till my Wrath passe by To punish Mans impiety The Lord from Heaven in Thunder comes The Earth then shall your Bloud reveale Nor longer shall the Slaine conceale ESAY XXXVIII As the 39. Psalme IN the substraction of my yeares I said with Teares Ah! now I to the Shades below Must naked goe Cut off by Death before my Time And like a Flower cropt in my Prime Lord in thy Temple I no more Shall Thee adore No longer with Mankind converse In my cold Herse My Age is past ere it be spent Removed like a Shepheards Tent. My fraile Life like a Weavers thred My Sins have shred My vitall powers Diseases waste With greedy haste Even from the Evening to the Day I languish and consume away And when the Morning Watch is past Thinke that my last Thou like a Lion break'st my bones Nor hear'st my groanes Even from the Dawning to the Night Death waites to close my failing Sight Thus Swallow-like like to a Crane My Woes complaine Mourne like a Turtle-Dove but late Rob'd of his Mate I my dim eyes to Thee erect The Weake ô strengthen and protect Part 2 What praise can reach thy Clemency O thou Most High Thy Words are ever crown'd with Deeds Joy Griefe succeeds My bitter pangs at length are past And long my peacefull dayes shall last My lively vigour dost restore Increa'st with more My Yeares prolong'd now flourishing In their new Spring Thou hast with Joy dry'd up my Teares And with my Griefe exil'd my Feares Thy Love hath drawne me from the Pit Where Horrors sit My Soule-infecting Sins thou hast Behind Thee cast The Grave can not thy Praise relate Nor Death thy Goodnesse celebrate Can they expect thy Mercy whom Cold Earth intombe The Living must thy Truth display A I this Day This Fathers to their Sons shall tell While Soules in humane Bodies dwell The Lord as ready was to save As I to crave I therefore to the warbling string His Praise will sing And in his House till my last Day My gratefull Vowes devoutly pay JONAH I. As the 9. Psalme ON Thee my captiv'd Soule did call Thou who art present every where From the darke Entrailes of the Whale Didst thy intombed Servant heare Thy Hand into the Surges threw The Seas blacke armes forthwith unfold Downe to the horrid Bottom drew And all her Waves upon me rould Then said my Soule For ever I Am banisht from thy glorious sight And yet thy Temple with the Eye Of Faith review'd in that blind Night The Flouds my Soule involv'd below The swallowing Deeps besieg'd me round And Weeds which in the bottom grow My Head with funerall Dresses bound I to the roots of Mountaines div'd Whom bars of broken Rocks restraine Yet from that Tombe of death reviv'd And rais'd to see the Sun againe I when my Soule began to faint My Vowes and Prayers to thee prefer'd The Lord my passionate complaint Even from his holy Temple heard Those who affect false vanities The Mercy of their God betray But I my Thankes will sacrifice And Vowes to my Redeemer pay HABAKKVK III. As the 72. Psalme GReat God with terror I have heard thy Doome The fearefull punishments that are to come Yet in the midst of those devouring Yeares Then when thy Vengeance shall exceed our Feares Thy Worke in us revive confirme our Faith And still remember Mercy in thy Wrath. God came from Theman and the Holy-one From Parans Mountaine where his Glory shone VVhich fil'd the heav'ns themselves with brighter Raies And all the Earth replenisht with his Praise His Brightnesse as the Suns his Fingers Streames Of Light project his Power hid in those Beames Devouring Pestilence before him flew And wasting Flames his dreadfull Steps pursue Then fixt his Feet and measur'd with his Eyes The Earths Extent pale Feares her Sons surprise The ancient Mountaines shrunke eternall Hils Stoopt to their Bases All Amazement fils His Glory and his Terrour he displaies In his unknowne and everlasting Waies I saw th' afflicted Tents of Cushan quake And Midians Cortines in that Tempest shake Part 2 VVhen thou O Lord the Rivers didst divide And on the Chariots of Salvation ride Through the congested Billowes of the Seas VVas it because thou wast displeas'd with these According to thy Oath thou drew'st thy Sword Thy Oath sworne to our Tribes thy constant Word From cloven Rocks new Torrents tooke their flight And ayery Mountaines trembled at thy sight The over-flowing Streames inforce their Wayes The Deeps to Thee their Hands and Voyces raise The Sunne and Moone obedient to Command Till then in restlesse Motion made a Stand. Thy Darts and flaming Arrowes swift as Sight Confound thy Foes but give thy People Light He in his Fury marched through the Land And crusht the Heathen with a vengefull Hand Th' Anointed with thy Sword their Leaders slew The Joynts disclos'd where Heads of Princes grew VVith thy transfixing Speare their Subjects strake VVho like a blacke and dreadfull Tempest brake Vpon our Front with purpose to devoure And triumph over our despised Power He through the roaring Flouds his People guides