he timely brings And his leaf shall neuer perish Ev'rie thing shall prosper to Which he vndertakes to do 3 Thus the wicked shall not fare But be like such dustie matter As the whirl-winde here there On the spatious earth doth scatter Nor shall they withstand their doomes When the day of Judgment comes 4 Neither haue they place or stay In the righteous congregation For God knowes the Just-mans waie With a gratious approbation But those paths that Sinners tread To assured ruine lead Psa 2. It is a prophecie of Christ his kingdom Act. 4. declaring the vaine furie of his Opposers the wrath of God against them his eternall Decree concerning that King the powre extent of his kingdom c. It exhorts Kings subiects also to fear serue him It may be sung to encrease Faith amid the Churches persecutions c. WHat mooves the Gentiles to repine What makes the people foolish growe That Earthlie Kings do thus combine And Rulers meet in Counsell so The Lord his beloved Christ Rebelliously they disobay His powre say these let vs resist And break cast their cords away 2 But God who sitts in heav'n aboue Their foolish purpose will deride His anger shall their torment proue And them in wrath he then shall chide Ev'n I' saith God my King did place Vpon my holy Syon hill And by the Lord what vttred was To me saith Christ now sing I will 3 Thou art my Sonn begot by me This day and if thou make demande The gentiles I will give to thee And make thee King of e'vry land An yron scepter thou shalt sway And if thy Lore they followe not Thou shalt compel them to obay Or break them like an earthen pott 4 Then Kings be wise Rulers lerne To serue the Lord with awfull joy Yea kisse the Sonn lest wroth he turne And ouerthrow you in your way For when his wrath inflamed growes Though but a litle moon'd he seem Then blest are all who shall repose Their constant hopes faith in him Blessed Sonn of God begotten before all time and by thy Father appointed to be King over the whole world let thy Kingdom come all the oppositions of thy adversaries be turned to thy glorie let thy grace erable vs to pluck downe that Antichrist which the world the flesh or the Devil shal seek to set vp against thee in the TeÌ„ple of our harts that wee yealding due obedience to thee thy commands may escape thy burning indignation sincerely embrace thy Gospell with awful ioy persevere in the way leading to that felicity which is prepared for those who put their trust in thee Amen Another of the same SUch uproars mad why do the Gentiles make What follies do the people doate upon Earths Kings conspire Rulers counsel take Against the Lord his Anointed-one Oh come let us break their bands they say Come let vs cast from vs their cords away 2 But God in heav'n deriding their designe Shall vexing them his minde in wrath declare Who e're saies he repines this King of mine On Syon fitts 't was I that plac'd him there And what the Lord himself to me hath told Concerning him I purpose to vnfold 3 Thou art my sonn this day begot I thee Demand therfore he said I will giue The Gentiles thine inheritance to be And rule of all the world thou shalt receiue An iron mace thou shalt vpon them lay And break them like a sherd of potters clay 4 Therfore yee Kings Rulers be more wise Come serve the Lord your God with awfull ioy And kisse the Sonn lest if his wrath arise You be destroid perish from the way For when inflam'd his burning anger growes Right blest are all who trust in him repose Psa 3. Apsalm of David when he fled from Absolom his Son It mistically Prophecied the multitude of Christs foes their bitter censures the great love of God the effects of Prayer Christ his Death Resurrection the confusion of his Adversaries the safety of his Elect. c It is vsefull to strengthen faith in our temptations c. MY foes how many Lord are they What swarmes of them there be And of my soul how many say In God no part hath he Yet thou art Lord my praise my gard Thou didst my head vprear And from thy holy-hill hast heard What my entreaties were 2 I lay slept safe arose Because thou brought'st me ayd And though tenn thousands me enclose I will not be afraid Rise Lord my God from all foes Me safe now also make Their Jaw-bone smite let thy blows The teeth of Sinners breake 3 For saving health alone to thee To thee oh Lord pertaines And whosoe're thy people be Thy peace on them remaines Sweet Iesu who being causesly compassed about with all those innumerable emnities persecutions which wee deserued didst nevertheles trusting in the powre of thy God head ly down without fear sleeping as it were in the midst of them by a voluntary Death wake againe the third day by the same powre to the confusion of thy foes Grant we pray thee that the multitude of our corporall spirituall enemies never make vs despaire of thy mercy but that in all troubles temptations we reioicing trusting in thy love may be kept harmles confesse that our salvation is by thee only who livest raignest world without end Amen Psa 4. To the cheef musician on Neginoth a Psalm of David It vpraides those who deride the Truth exhorts to faith Repentance The common with of world-lings the desire also of a faithful-soul is here expressed It serves to confirme vs against the scornes of Atheists meer carnal men c. OH God my Righteousnes give ear Enlargd I was by thee My humble suite now also hear And pitty take on me Vaine Sonns of men how long will yee My glorie thus abuse Though lies you seek assured be That God the just will chuse 2 Yea God will hear me when I cry Fear therfore to offend And on your bedd serch privatly Your thinckings amend Make Righteousnes your sacrifize On God assurance place For worldly Goods the world-ling cries But grant me Lord thy grace 3 For thou my hart hast joyed more Then corne wine's encrease Thou mak'st me safe I therefore In thee will sleep in peace Olthou fountaine of all righteousnes free justifier of thne Elect seeing by thy common grace we are som what enlarged from our natural bondage grant a full delverance from all our corruptions by thy speciall favour Let neither frailties discouragments nor alurements incline vâ—to vanitie But so cause vs to consider whome thou chusest that with a filial fear we may refrain from sinn having our inward man renewed as well as our outward actions reformed we may offer the true sacrifize of righteousnes Encourage vs also through assurance of thy favour that
attempts of our Adversaries enable us to sustaine with Christian patience that part of thy Crosse which thou appointest us to bear that being chearfull partakers of thy suffrings we may partake also thy victorious Trivmphs in the Kingdome of heaven Amen Psa 130. A song of Degrees Another Ascent is earnest prayer VVhich the Faithfull soul here powreth forth for assistance c. It may serve as a forme of prayer in great extremities LOrd from the depths to thee I sue My vocall prayer hear And when my Voice my wants doth shewe Encline to mee thine ear Lord who cann bear it if severe To mark our faults thou be But that wee faint not in thy fear Compassion waites on thee 2 On God I waite on his word My soul her hopes doth lay My soul more waiteth for the Lord Then watchmen for the day Oh Isr'ell trust in God for hee Hath gratious help in store And from thy sinns delivers thee Both now evermore Gratiously hear our prayers oh Lord in all our troubles enter not into iudgment with us thy servants vnles thou overshaddowe us by the wings of thy Mercy for our iustice is vnrighteousnes in thy sight Give us grace to hope in thee with patient expectation of thy good pleasure soe enable vs at least in our true desire to fufill our promises to thee that without infringment of thy Justice we may be delivered both from the guilt punishment of our sinns through thy Mercie in Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psa 131. A song of Degrees Another Degree is vnfained humilitie For such as humble them selves shall be exalted Here all arrogance ambition selftrust is disclaimed a sole dependance on God professed and others exhorted to the same It is vsefull to beget humility OH Lord I have no scornefull eie Nor proud nor loftie minde I seek not things that are too high But humbly am inclinde My soul is like an infant wean'd Ev'n from his mothers brest And Isr'el so to be sustaind On God should alway rest None of thy Creatures oh God have made them selves to be so vile as wee yet none are more proud or selfeconceited none more presumptiously inquifitive into thy forbidden Seacrets Oh give us more humility lesse desire to those curiosities which are above vs pertinent to advance the Kingdome of Sathan rather then the Kingdome of Heaven which is to be entred which a Childlike Obedience humiliation This Humiliation wee againe beseech thee to grant vs for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Psa 132 A song of Degrees Another Degree is a hartie purpose to prepare a Temple for God in our harts to endeavour the setling of his outward worship which is here mistically implied It is vsefull to stirr vs to this Degree REmember Lord what David's troubles be And what to Iacob's mightie God he swore In house or bedd I will not rest said he Nor shall mine eyes or sleep or slumber more Vntill a place be found of my providing For Iacob's God the mighty Lord's abiding 2 Lo Ephrata wee heard the place should be And in the forrest-feilds wee found the same Thy house therefore to enter purpose wee And at thy footstoole will adore thy Name Arise oh Lord ascend thy resting bowre Thou the Arck of thy Almightie powre 3 Let righteousnes thy sacred Preists aray And. let thy saints a ioyfull tryvmph make Oh turne not thy Messiah's face away For thy beloved Servant David's sake To whome thou swar'st thy promise vnrecalled That on his Throne his Seed should be installed 4 If they saidst thou my League word respect Thy Children on thy Throne shall ever sitt For I the Lord did Syon hill elect And for my dwelling I have chosen it My setled rest is there I 'le possesse it I love it with plenties I will blesse it 5 The pore thereof with bread I will sustaine Her Preists I 'le clothe will health her saints shal A Lamp for mine Anointed I 'le ordaine sing And I will make the horne of David spring I those will shame that for is harme endeavor But on himself his Crowne shall flourish ever Suffer vs not oh Lord to take rest in any thing vntill wee have provided thee a dwelling in our seules then let vs entertaine there nought els but that which may be serviceable vnto thee Take thou possession of vs furnish vs as becommeth Temples for thy presence Remember all thy promises to the Faithfull for they only are that seed of David to whome thy Covenants belong they are those Elected-ones whome thou hast promised never to forsake Give vs all outward meanes of this invisible grace Continue among vs the succession of holy faithfull Pastors The Bread of thy Word the Clothings of Righteousnes the Lampe of Illumination the Horne of good Government the Ioye of the Holy-ghost that the enimies of thy Church may be ashamed shee crowned with honour blessednes for ever Amen Psa 133. A song of Degrees Another Step is that which the preposterous Zeal of Schismaticks hath much defaced to wit Charitie brotherly Vnitie which is here excellenly Illustrated to moove vs to ascend it Wee should sing it to encrease Vnitie Love SEe Breth'ren see how sweet a blisse It is our lives in love to lead It like that pretious Oyntment is Which once anointed Aron's head And on his heard from thence did flowe Ev'n to his garment skirts belowe 2 It like refreshing dewe doth prove Which downe on Hermon's topp distills Ev'n like the dewe which from above Descendeth downe on Syon hills For there God promisd heretofore To blesse with life for ever more Oh God! so deare to thee is brotherly Love that all Faith yea Martirdome wanting that Uirtue is of no esteeme So profitable is it vnto vs That like pretious oyntment on the head or like shewres falling on high mountaines it descends spreads vntill every member be refreshed therewith Encrease therfor wee beseech thee this Virtue among vs without which all others are counterfeits let vs so preserve Vnity brotherly kindnes in this life that wee may enioy thy eternall Love Vniō in the life to come through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psa 134. A song of Degrees This is the last Degree For the highest Ascent is the glorifieng of God Note that the first last Degrees only are placed according to their Order because necessarily our first step to Godward must be the fight of our Misery The highest is to praise him The rest are not ascended by all in one and the same order therefore no precise order is observed in their placing Wee should sing it to provoke to this Dutie COme now praise the Lord all yee That his attendants are Ev'n you that in God's temple be And praise him nightly there Your hands within Gods holy-place Advance praise his Name And yov from Syon he shall blesse That heav'n
back my Folk as once frō thēce they came That thou maist wash thy feet in thy foes bloud And that thy dogs may come lick the same For they oh God my king thy goengs heeded They saw how in thy house thou hast proceeded 9 The singers first the minstrells next had place With whom the maids on timbrels plaieng wēt And then the Choire of Isr'els blessed race Did all in one to praise the Lord concent There went young Beniamin's Iudah's Guiders And Zabulon's Nepthalies Providers Oh Lord whoe bid'st that we should courage take Cōfirm thi work which thou for vs hast wrought At Salem then and for thy Temple sake To thee by kings shal guifts of price be brouht Their brutish troupes that armes do love to carrie Rebuke disperse make them tributarie 11 Then Egipts kings will seek vnto the Lord And Chush will then to God advance her hands His praise therfore yee kingdomes all record And sing aloud his praises all yee Lands For whē he rides the sphears his horse he maketh And lo his voice is thunder when he speaketh 12 All powre praise ascribe to God alone For his renowne is through all Isr'ell spread God is in heav'n the great Almighty-one And in his holy-place is full of dread His peoples powre by God is much encreased By Isr'els God let him therefore he blessed Eternal Sonn of God who art ascended vnto the right-hand of thy Father shalt come againe with maiestie to be our Vniversall Iudge Deliver vs from the thraldome of Sinn by the powre of thy Righteousnes And though wee have yet our conversations among Dragons in defiled habitions make us innocent as Doves as vnpoluted as the mountaine snowe Encrease the meanes of publishing thy Gospel and preserve Vnitie order good discipline in thy Church that the comelines thereof may allure all beholders to desire fellowship in thy Congregation that hereticks hirelings contentious persons may be reprooved reformed or cutt of that they who are yet without may be received into the Covenant that wee who are admitted may be confirmed without waveringe that the God head may be feared praised blessed now for ever more Amen Psa 69. To the cheef Musitian Shosannim a Psalme of David It personates Christ taking vpon him our sinns infirmities humbling himself before his Father declaring the Condition of his Adversaries shewing the bitternes of his passion signifieng the iudgments prepared for Sinners prayeng for his Elect c. Christs members may vse it to those purposes HEalp Lord for Flouds enclose my Soul In groundles depths I am bemir'd Above my head great waters rowle My parched throate with cries is tir'de Mine eyes are dim'd in seeking thee Moe then my haires my Foes are growne My spoilers are too strong for me And take as theirs what is mine owne 2 Thou knowest how I am too blame But for my sake let none of those Lord God of Isr'el suffer blame Who do in thee their trust repose For I sustaine reprochfull scorne And am disgraced for thy sake My brethren of my mother borne Of mee likewise a stranger make 3 Zeal to thy house hath worne mee out Thy scorners my reprochers be My Fastings my teares they flout And when I mourne they laugh at mee Of mee the Rulers evill spake The Drunckerds made of mee their songs But Lord my moane I timelie make In Mercie mark therefore my wrongs 4 Mee by thy Truth 's protection keep That miry-depths nor spightfull-foes Devouring-Flouds nor whirl-pooles deep Nor Dungeons Mouth my soul enclose But Lord of thy abounding grace For thy Love-sake returne hear To mee thy servant shew thy face And in my need incline thine ear 5 Drawe nigh save sett thou free My soul from those who bear me spight For all my wrongs are knowne to thee And all my Foes are in thy sight Rebukes scornes my hart nigh broke With greefs opprest I made my mone But where I did for pittie looke They would alas afford me none 6 They for my meat did gall prepare Sharp Vineger to quench my thirst Their Bourd therfore shall them ensnare And Blessings be to them accurst Their eye shall be depriv'd of sight A cure-les greef their back shall shake God's heavie wrath shall on them light His Vengance them shall overtake 7 None shall in their abiding-place Or in their Tent be dwelling found For whome thou smot'st those they did chase And greeved him whome thou didst wound More sinnfull still they shall become And in God's Iustice have no share Nor in that book of life have roome Wherein the Iust enrowled are 8 But I that pore scorned am Shall by thyne ayde oh Lord be raisd For which I 'le magnify thy Name And in my songs thou shalt be praisd And that oh Lord more pleases thee Then horn'd hoofed Oxe to give Which when the Meek thee seeking see It shall with ioye their hart revive 9 God's praise yee heav'ns earth declare Him praise thou sea all in thee For to the pore he lends his ear And hee doth sett the pris'ner free He Syon saves in time of need And Iudah's Townes he will erect To be for those for their seed Who serving him his Name affect Oh Lambe of God! which takest away the sinns of the world have mercie vpon vs. Thou that hast taken on thee our sinns felt our infirmities suffred all which wee deserved have mercie vpon vs. Thou who for our salvation didest bear the vnkindnesses of kindred familiers the reproches of Neighbours the scornes oppressions of strangers the reproofs of Magistrates the contempt of the basest people have mercy vpon vs. Thou who for cursakes hast endured insufferable torments of the bodie the vnspeakable agonies of the soul tasted the gall vineger of everie bitter passion have mercie vpon vs. Deliver us from them who seek to crucifie thee againe in thy members Raise us by thy Resurrection whome thou hast redeemed by thy passiō Glorifie us by thy Ascentiō in life eternall whome thou hast secured frō Damnation by thy Death Buriall And for that which thou hast done prepared for thine Elect let heaven earth praise thee world without end Amen Psa 70. To the cheef Musitian a Psalme of David to bring to Remembrance The Church praies for deliverance from her persecutors prophetically imprecates their confusion desires the prosperitie of the Godlie c. It may be sung when oppressors insult over vs. c. DEferr not Lord thy succours longe But bring my Foes to shame Ev'n those who plott my soul to wronge Bring back with losse blame On them who skoffe flout at mee Bestowe the Scorners hire But make them glad ioye in thee Who after thee enquire 2 Still God be prais'd let all men say Who on his ayde relie And make oh Lord no more delay For in great want am
thy grace did then vphold 7 When many thoughts opprest me much Thy comforts did my soul delight For thou partakest not with such Whoe sentence give against the right Or such as have the Iust withstood To death condemning guiltles blood 8 But thou oh Lord shalt me defend Thou art my God my Rock my Fort And all the harmes my Foes intend Thou shalt vpon themselves retort Yea for the guilt of their offence Thou Lord our God shalt root them hence Oh thou supream Iudge of the world severe Avenger of all wrongs Behold the fury the despight insolent Cruelties of our Adversaries and deliver the pore the widdowe the Fatherles all thy Oppressed Children out of their wicked hands Thy forbearance hath made the perverters of Iustice seeme to conceive that thou either see'st not or els regardest not their impieties Yea those oppressers are growne so powrfull so many that wee scarce finde any to take part with vs against their Iniuries but that wee have assurance of thy Assistance wee should be vtterly without hope Oh! continue our hopes in thee Sett thou in order all that is amisse destroy all the Favourers of Iniustice keep vs alway harmles both in soul body through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psa 95. This Psalme exhorts to praise God and warnes to harken to his voice whilst wee have tyme lest like our fore-Fathers wee be deprived of his Rest for our obstinacie It should be often sung to remember vs that wee embrace God's free grace whilst it is offred TO God our Saviour lett 's renewe Our songs with chearfull voice Our thanckfulnes before him shewe With Psalmes in him rejoice For God the Lord most powrfull is The King of Gods is hee The earth's obscurest vales are his And his high mountaines be 2 The seas he made they are his owne Drie land his Creature was Come serve him then fall wee downe Before our Makers face He is our God his flock wee are His pasture-sheep are wee That you his voice may therfor heare More tender-harted be 3 Not like your Fathers when that in The Desert proov'd they were And tempted him though they had seene His works of wonder there Full forty years they moov'd his wrath And therfor thus sayd hee A wandring hart this people hath My waies they will see 4 And I to them in my iust rage Did by mine Oath protest That none of all that froward age Should come within my rest Oh God! the Creator preserver governour of all things UUee give thee thancks for making vs after thine owne Image for sending thy Eternal-word to regenerate vs when wee were made worse then nothing So far wee ought to be from arrogating the powre either of our Beeing or Well-beeing that wee must confesse to vndoe our selves is all which wee are able of our selves do Like our fore Fathers our harts are wandring from thy waies all our life long wee do more mere harden them by custome in sinn Yet oh Lord seeing wee are the sheep of thy pasture bring us home to thy Fo de seeing we are thy People soften our harts givs us grace so to harken to thy voice in this Day of our Trial that in the Day of thy Iudgment wee may enter into thy Rest through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Psa 96. UUee are herein exhorted to sing preach the New-songs of the Gospell to the praise of Christ our King And in regard other Gods are but vanities all nations are provoked to ioyne in praising him c. We should sing it to glorify Christ for his powre his Truth c. COme now in some New-indighting Blesse God the world's Almightie King His Name 's due praise in songs reciting Of his Salvation daylie sing His Fame works of admiration Yee people heed yee Nations hear His powre deserves high exaltation For all the Gods lesse dreadfull are 2 The Gentiles Gods are foolish fictions But our great God did heav'n creat Powr glory praise all perfections Attend him in his holy-seat To him due praise yee kindreds render Extoll his powre his glory sing To God's great Name fitt honours tender Approach his Courts offrings bring 3 Within his house with praise professe him And let him be adored there Let all the world their God confesse him And serve him with a holy feare Yea to the Gentiles let them publish The Lord their King that his might The wav'ring earth shall fast establish And do the wronged people right 4 Let heav'n earth with joy-excelling Reioice before him ever more The seas all things in them dwelling The feilds the woods all their store For lo the Lord approcheth nearlie Behold to judge the world he comes The wicked he will judge serverely And give the people righteous doomes Honour wisdome powre praise be ascribed vnto thee oh king of the world by all thy Creatures according to the severall faculties which thou hast bestowed vpon them Be thou glorified in thy selfe also according to that which thy In comprehensiblenes deserveth beyond what thy creatures are able to ascribe Let all heathenish deities all those Idolls which carnall men have set vp in their harts appear such vanities as they are let thy Soveraignty be acknow ledged thy worship truely celebrated by Iewes Gentiles all Nations throughout the world Let vs especially who are of thy visible Church performe this duty let our harts be so established so filled with Holines filial awe that wee may expect thy comming to Iudgment with comefort wellcome thy opproach with shouts of tryvmphs songs of exvltation Amen Psa 97. The soveraignty of Christ with his comming to Iudgment the Ioy which the faithfull shall conceive thereby the confusion which will fall on the wicked is here foretold c. It may be mystically applied also to our Saviours first coramling And may be sung to stir vp our spirituall reioicing in both his Advents THe Lord is king be therfor glad Yee Lands Iles now this is known With Clouds darknes he is cladd And Truth Iustice gard his throne A burning flame before him goes Wherewith he shall consume his foes 2 He to the world his Glory shew'd And earth beheld the same with fear Like waxe hills melted when they vew'd The Lord the world's great Lord appear His Righteousnes the heav'ns have showne His glories are to all men knowne 3 All Idoll servers he destroies And of all Gods will honor'd be It Syon gladds Iacob ioyes His righteous doomes to hear see Above the highest hills he dwells And all the Gods he farr excells 4 Hate sinn yee Lovers of the Lord For he his holie-ones will save And light Truth to those afford That harts vpright faithfull have Yee saints therefore record confesse And praise with Ioy God's holines Oh Christ the everlasting sonn of the Father Thou
Ev'n of his people to be King And he a joyfull mother made Of her that erst no children had Vnto the Lord oh therefor sing To God the Father To the Sonn And holy-Ghost those three in one And that eternall One in three All glory bee for ever more All powre praise as heretofore Ascribed now ever be Psa 114. By alluding to the deliverance from Egipt to the driving back of Iordan the Redsea to the trembling of Sinay forcing waters from hard rocks our spirituall deliverances Reformations are typified Therfore our Church vseth this Psalme as proper for Easterday WHen Isr'el brought from Egipt was And Iacob from a forraigne tongue In Iudah was his holy place To him did Isre'ls rule belong The Sea saw that fledd away Ev'n Iordan also backward slipt The mountaines then like Rams did play Like Lambes the lesser hillocks tript 2 Thou sea what made thee so to fly Why didst thou Iordan backward goe Why daunc't like Rams the mountaines hye Yee hills like Lambs why tript yee so Shake earth at presence of the Lord When Iacob's God is present shake For he from Rocks a standing Ford And fountaines in the flints doth make Almighty God the deliverer of all pore destressed Captives wee are hy Nature the slaves of Sinn Death the Devill who do labour to hold us in eternall bondage But wee praise thee thou hast made a miraculous passage for our escape Oh! grant therfor that thy presēce may so startle us out of our securitie soe mollifie our flintie nature that the teares of true penitence may flowe plentifully from vs that we thanckfully walking in that way which thou hast prepared for our entrance into the Land of the living may be quite freed from our servitude enioy peace rest in thy Kingdome for ever ever Amen Psal 115. The Faithfull desire that al honor may be ascribed to God alone that their foes may not blaspheamously question his powre Then in the name of heathen Idolls their worshippers reprooves the vanity of all those assistances whereon carnall men rely c. It is vsefull when false worshippers blaspheame God by reason of our affliction c. NOt ours the glory make Lord give not vs the fame But for thy Truth Mercy sake Ascribe it to thy Name 2 To say where is their God! Why should the Gentiles dare Since he in heav'n hath his abode And works his pleasure there 3 Men's hands their Idolls make They gold silver be Possessing mouthes that cannot speake And eyes that cannot see 4 Their eares are senseles to Their nostril smelleth not Their hands feet nor feel nor goe No breath is in their throte 5 All they whoe those adore Or forme them like them be In God let Isr'el trust therefore For their defence is he 6 On God preserving them Let Aron's house depend Let those who feare him trust in him For he will such defend 7 God will remember vs And on vs Mercy showe On Isr'el on Aron's house He blessings will bestowe 8 He prospers great small That fear of him professe You your seed likewise he shall Still more more encrease 9 Of God you blessed be Who made both earth heav'n The heav'n of heav'ns inhabits he And earth to men hath given 10 Lord none cann thee adore Who dead silenc't are But I both now evermore Thy praises will declare Not for our owne deservings cann wee claime any thing oh Lord God neither for our owne sakes or our owne glorie ought wee to desire any deliverances or benifits from thy Maiestie As much therfor as our self-love will permit wee desire meerly for thine owne honour sake that publike Idolaters carnall minded men who serve Gods of their owne making may not scandalize thee or thy Truth by Occasion of such Miseries or Disgraces as fall on vs who professe the same But make vs oh God to love thee thy glory so farr above our owne lives reputations That whether wee be delivered or no wee may submit our selves to thy pleasure be truly comforted hartely pleased reioyce vnfainedly that wee are counted worthie to suffer for thy glory Amen Psa 116. The Faithfull professe affection to Christ Acknowledg their condition both by Nature Grace encourage others to trust in Gods favour resolve the same in them selves We may sing it when after some great Affliction or temptation wee are comforted sensible of our present passed estate c. I love the Lord for hee an eare To my complaints doth give And since he pleaseth me to hear I 'le seek him whil'st I live The feares of death enclosd me round Hell torments mee enthrald But still when paind my self I found On God's great Name I cal'd 2 Preserve my soul oh Lord I sayd For thou art full of grace Iust kinde ev'ry pore man's ayde My healp when greev'd I was My soul to this thy refuge fly For God is thy larg meed From death my soul from teares mine eye From falls my feet he freed 3 I shall with God enioy my life Where livinge men abide This I professe with firme beleif Though I was terrifide Yea though in rashnes I did say That all men liers were What for thy guifts I should repay Now Lord my questions are 4 Thy Cupp of saving-health I 'le take Vpon thy name I 'le call And of my vowes I 'le payment make Before thy servants all Thy saints their deaths suffrings be Right pretious in thine eye Oh Lord thy servant serving thee Thy handmayds Childe am I. 5 My fetters all thou brak'st away And I oh Lord therfore The sacrifize of thancks will pay And thy great Name adore To thee oh Lord I 'le pay my vowes Where thy Assemblies be Ev'n in the Courts of Gods owne house Ierusalem in thee Haleluiah Hear our prayers oh Lord God deliver our soules from the Death of Sinn For we are compassed with many perills fearfull Temptations Insomuch that wee are sometime almost ready to despaire distrust that there is noe Truth in any of our hopes Oh keep us by thy speciall grace from falling into those whirlpooles out of which there is no returning VVhen the guilt of Sinn the fears of Death the torments of hell the sugestions of the Devill conspiring with our frailties have once enclosed vs. UUee have then no powre of resistance in our selves it is thy great Mercy if the litle spark of our faith be not wholy quenched Help vs therfore in our extremityes Break the chaines of our Sinns vnlose the snares of Sathan give us grace to praise thee in thy Ierusalem to magnify thy Mercy in the Land of the living world without end Amen Psa 117. This is the least Psalme but it hath respect vnto the greatest Mysterie For it provokes all Nations to praise God for extending his grace to the whole
hear And save thou mee according to thy vvord Yea save thou mee I thy praise will preach When thou shalt thy Commands to mee declare Thy vvord likewise to others I will teach For all thy Precepts true righteous are Yeald me thy hand my saftie to assure For thy Commands my chosen part I make Thy Saving-health I labour to procure And in thy Lavve oh Lord I pleasure take Yet longer let me live to sing thy praise And let thy Iudgments Lord my helpers be Now mee thy servāt seek who sheep-like straies For never is thy Lawe forgot of mee Most mercifull Father wee have all erred strayed from thy waies like lost sheep give us therefore that Lawe of Faith by which wee may be brought home to thy Folde UUhen wee have obtained this Grace let us truely esteeme it hartly praise thee for it diligently preach it to others Oh spare our lives vntill the New-man shall be fully perfected in vs that wee may accomplish the work for which wee were created glorify thy Name world without end Amen Psa 120. A song of Degrees VVhy these Psalmes are so called it is vncertaine for Iewish fancies are not vvorth heeding but perhaps our Degrees tovvard the spirituall Temple are here mystically included for the first degree thithervvard is to have a sight of our misery a detestatiō of the worlds vanities figured by Mesech Kedar in this Psalme It is vsefull when wee are constrained to live among false worshippers or wearied by our owne corruptions c. I Call'd on God in my destresse Who heard mee when I prayd From lieng deceitfulnes Lord save my Soul I said What hire oh thou deceitfull tongue Prepared is for thee But arrowes that are sharp strong And coales that burning be 2 Ah! woe is mee that I so long In Mesech must reside And that perforce I must among The Tents of Kedar bide My soul hath beene too long alas With such as wranglers are For when I speake to them of peace For warr they do prepare Father of Mercie Keep vs from the lieng deceits of the Devill his Members reward them according to their malice Vouchsafe to us also such a sight loathing of our naturall estate that wee may have an earnest longinge to be translated from the Tents of Vngodlines be incorporated into thy heavenly Ierusalem through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psa 121. A song of Degrees Another Degree is to fixe the eye of our soul on God acknowledging him only the meanes of our deliverance our defence c. It directs vs to whome wee should seek encourageth to depend on God in all our waies MIne eyes above the hills I reare And thence of healp I hopefull am For from the Lord my succours are From him that heav'n earth did frame My feet vnmoov'd he alway keeps He is my garde that ever wakes For he nor slumbers neither sleeps Who charge of Isr'el vndertakes 2 The Lord ev'n as thy shade will stay On thy righthand for thy defence Nor Moone by night nor Sunne by day Shall harme thee by their Influence For God will save thee from all woe Hee will thy soul from dangers free And whether in or out thou goe Thy gard at all times he will bee Gratious Protector Cause us to expect all our deliverances from thee with a constant dependance vpon thy savegard in all proceedings Keep us without slavish fear or wavering in our Faith And be thou all way soe watchfull over us so near vnto vs that neither those dangers whereto wee are commonly subiect nor the extraordinarie Influences of the heavens nor any other vnexpectede Evēts harme our bodies endanger our soules or interrupt our lawfull callings either now or hereafter Amen Psa 122. A song of Degrees Another Stepp is a delight in the pietie of others ioined with love to God's worship accompanied with harty wellwishing to his Church The Elect are here personated reioicing on this Degree Wee should vse it to provoke vs vnto the same I Ioyed when they said to mee God's house let vs ascend vnto For now Ierusalem to thee And through thy Ports our feet shall goe Ierusalem is fairly Scited A Towne well-built well-vnited 2 There meet the Tribes God's Tribes alone Hus name in Isr'el to declare There placed is the Iudgment Throne The Thrones of Davids house are there Oh seek her peare for they are blessed That have to Salem love expressed 3 Let Peace a Bullworke round her make Let Plenties in her Turrets be This Peace wee wish ev'n for their sake Who mates Brethren are to mee Yea God our Lord 's faire habitation Thus makes mee pray for thy Salvation Inspire us oh Lord with a delight mutuall desires to further each other in thy service Let us take pleasure in thy Sanctuarie be alwaies to our powre healpfull zealous to effect continue the Peace of Syon even for the sakes of our brethren for our owne sakes for thy glory sake oh Father that wee may reap the benifit of her Peace Plenties through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Psa 123. A song of Degrees Another Stepp is obedient attendance on God's will in all suffrings with assured faith in him vvhich is here professed by the faithfull soul It is vsefull to advance vs to this Degree OH Lord that in the heav'ns remainest Lo wee advance our eyes to thee And Lord our God till healp thou daignest They shall on the affixed bee As men or Maides that waiting stand Vpon their Lord or Ladie 's hand 2 Oh grant vs Lord thy dear compassion For wee extream contempts have borne Vouchsafe vs Lord thy Consolation For why our harts are greev'd with scorne Ev'n by the scornes pride of them Who live at ease vs contemn Hovv ever thou shalt please to afflict vs oh Lord or hovv longsoever thou deferr any desired Blessing let vs be contented to attend thy Pleasure watchfull to performe what thou shalt require further at our hands soe our suffrings shall the sooner be redressed our dutiful obedience be rewarded through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Psa 124. A song of Degrees Another Staire is acknowledgment of former deliverances of the beginnings of Gods graces already obtained as in this Psalme Wee may vse it after any Deliverances but especially such as are most publike BUt that the Lord our part did please to take But that God holpe vs Isr'el now may say When men did their Assaults against vs make Wee to their throtes had bene a living-prey For wroth at vs with spighfull rage were they 2 Wee by the Flouds had then bene closed round Ev'n quite above our soul the streames had gone The swelling flouds our soul had surely drownd Wee therfor blesse praise the Lord alone That by their teeth wee were not ceaz'd vpon 3 For as a bird out of a fouling snare Ev'n so our
soul escaped from the ginn The nett is broke wee deliver'd are And God whose work the heav'ns earth have binn Is hee whose Name our healp consisteth in Many times oh Lord wee are delivered by thy Mercy from evident vnavoidable perills But there is no moment in which wee are not compassed about with invisible foes vnthought of Dangers far more fearfull more impossible to be avoyded vnles thou didst gratiously defēd us Grāt therfor that a filiall awe of thy Iudgmēts a true esteeme of thy Mercies may make us hartily thanckfull vnto thee for them now for ever Amen Psa 125. A song of Degrees Another Ascent is firme Beleef in God The safetie of such is here alluded to the impregnability of Mount-Syon Ierusalem the punishment of wavering Apostates is threatned c. It is vsefull to raise vs to this Degree c. MOunt-Syon like for ever fixt are those Whose hopefull trust vpon the Lord is founded For he his faithfull People will enclose Ev'n as with hills Ierusalem is rounded As long as Time's perpetuall motion goes 2 The Rod of wicked men shall not alight Where God the Lot of righteousnes bestoweth Lest righteous men pertake in evill might For to the Good the Lord his mercy showeth And favours all that are in hart vpright 3 But Sliders-back such as wander wide In their owne crooked paths waies vneven Shall by the Lord be thither ledd aside Where portions due to hypocrites are given But Isr'el shall in endles peace abide Oh God many ignorances errors both in Iudgment Manners wee are naturally subiect vnto Teach us therfore what wee ought to Beleeve or practise then preserve vs vnwavering in our Faith so sincerely constant in a holy Life That wee may not have our portion with Apostates or Hypocrites but be pertakers in the true Peace of Isr'el through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psa 126. A song of Degrees another Degree is a reioicing in our Electiō spirituall freedome which is here typically expressed with a prophetical prayer for that ioye promised by Christ vnto the true Mourners Ioh. 16. 20. Wee may sing it as a thancksgiving for our Redemption to comfort in spirituall mournings WHen God made Syon free And her from thrall did bring It seemed as a Dreame to be And wee did laugh sing 2 The Lord the heathen sedd Great Marvailes wrought for vs. Great marvailes he hath wrought indeed And therfor sing wee thus 3 Lord back our Captives bringe As Flouds to sea-ward flowe So they shall then reioice sing Who did in sorrowe sowe 4 Who outward-bound doth mourne If he good seed employ Shall doubtles back againe returne And bring home sheaves with ioy Let our greatest reioicings oh Lord be in thy redeeming us from the Bondage of Sinn that our Names are in the Book of life for marvailous was this deliverance Let our greatest sorrowes be for our Offences and for the losse of thy favour which are indeed Causes of the greatest Lamentation soe our short sorrowe shall be turned in to everlasting Ioyes glorious Trivmphs world without end Amen Psa 127. A song of Degrees for Solomon Another Staire is to ascribe our beeing well-being to the Mercie providence of God It may be sung to acknowledge the same in all our works endeavours c. IF God the Pallace build not The workmen loose their paine If God the Cittie sheild not The watchman wakes in vaine In vaine is early stirring In vaine late watch wee keep Or eat the bread of caringe But those God loves may sleep 2 A fruithfull wombes possessing At God's disposing stands And Children are a blessing Like shafts in Giants hands Right blest is he that beareth His Quiver ful of those For in the Gate he dareth To meet smite his foes Grant almighty God that whether wee endeavour for our soules or bodies we never glory or trust in our owne workings For thou must blesse the beginning proceeding conlusion of every endeavour or all our industry is lost Nay wee have not so much as powre over our bodie or the fruite therof Let us therfor neither forget thee in the vse of the meanes nor neglect the meanes which thou hast appointed That what ever the events be our vndertakings may bring profit to us glory to thy holy Name So be it Psa 128. A song of Degrees Another Stepp is filiall feare of God to which many temporall blessings are here promised It is vsed at the solemnization of mariages serves to encrease in vs the feare of God IF God thou feare keep his way He blessings will bestowe Thy labour shall thy food purvay And happie thou shalt growe Like fruit-full vines vpon thy house Thy wife shall proove to thee Thy Children like faire olive-boughes Shall round thy Table be 2 Thus thon that fearest God shalt thrive From Syon he shall blesse And thou shalt see whilst thou dost live Ierusalem in peace He shall prolong thy life till thou Thy Childrens Children see And that thy ioye may greater growe In Isr'ell rest shall bee Oh Lord of thy abundant Mercy thou hast promised not only the blessings of the next life But alsoe all those which are most comfortable in this world so far forth as shall conduce to their happines who truly serve seare thee Oh teach us that filiall fear that obedience for which thou hast made those promises that wee may performe what thou requirest Yet not for the outward blessing sake but meerly for the love of Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psa 129. A song of Degrees Another Step is a patient susstaining of the Crosse VVhich patience of the saints is here mentioned both the tiranny condition of their oppressors breefly illustrated Wee may vse it to increase continue Christian Patience FUll often since my youth may Isr'el say Full often since my youth they mee assailed And still without successe they went away trailed Yea on my back their ploughs the ploughers And on the same long furrowes ploughed they 2 The Lord who is a perfect Righteous-one The Cords of wicked men in peeces breaketh And Syons foes shall quite be overthrowne Ev'n like that grasse which root on houses taketh And fades away before it ripe is growne 3 For nor his Armefull nor his handful there Remaines for him that bindes or him that moweth Nor is there any high-way Passenger Who there is blessing in God's Name bestoweth Or doth so much as bidd them well to fare Sweet Iesu who wert persecuted even from thy cradle to thy grave on whose back the sharpe stripes ploughed long furrowes for our Sinns worthelie have wee deserved to be whipped with reproches to our face to be furrowed with slanders behinde our backs and to suffer all other indignities Nevertheles since by thy suffrings thou hast as well prevailed for us as for thy self make voyd the