their Laws And break the rest of that same sacred day Which he was strictly bound to keep alway But unto this the man could nothing say For then he knew not Jesus who that day Had healed him and to the Jews unknown VVas stept aside and from their envy gone After a while the ever-blessed Lord Found him i' th' Temple whom he had restor'd VVho out of tender pity to the man Bid him be careful how he sinn'd again Since of his tedious Sickness he was well Lest a more fearful Judgment him befell But straight unto the Jews this silly Soul Went and inform'd them Jesus made him whole Therefore they sought the ever-Blest to slay Because he heal'd him on the Sabbath-day MIRACLE VIII The Cure of one who had a wither'd Hand wrought in Galilee AS Jesus travell'd through the Fields of Corn With his Disciples on the Sabbath Morn His little Flock with gnawing Hunger took T' appease its rage the full-ear'd Corn did pluck When this the formal Pharisees did see VVho no respect had to necessity They told the ever-blessed Jesus how His Follow'rs did what they ought not to do They broke upon that Solemn Day their Fast Before the publick Services were past Which strictly by their Moses was forbid In his own Law and which they never did Jesus who through this Vail their envy saw And better knew the meaning of the Law Than these dissembling Zealots did reply'd Have ye not read what God 's Anointed did And his Companions when from Saul they fled How they did eat the consecrated Bread Which to the Temple and the Priests belong'd And by this action thought the Law not wrong'd And in the Law have ye not notice ta'ne How that the Priests i' th' Temple do prophane The sacred Sabbath And yet blameless are Although the work they then performed were But for the service of the Temple not To be allow'd on that day to be wrought Now if that David and his men who were With Hunger pinch'd might safely without fear The Shew-bread take and without sinning eat Those hallow'd Loaves for want of other Meat Why may not my Disciples be allow'd Since they were destitute of other Food To pluck and eat the ripened ears of Corn Although they did it on the Sabbath Morn That which they did being but to abate Their raging Hunger which requir'd Meat And in the Laws intention sure they are No more blame-worthy than the other were Their Cases are alike and therefore must Both sinful be or both accounted just And if th' appeasing Sacrifices may Be by the Priests drest on the Sabbath-day Why may not my Disciples crop the Corn As they walk'd through it on the Sabbath Morn Since holy days as well as things may be Prophan'd in cases of necessity If inhumane ye were not as ye are And so unlike to God who doth declare That Mercy is more pleasing in his Eyes By far than is the richest Sacrifice You would as 't was your duty to have done Put on this act the best construction And not have charg'd my Follow'rs for this deed With an offence ' cause what they herein did Was but in order to my Service done And with my liking and permission Who Lord am of the Sabbath and so may Forgive the breach of that Religious day This said and having justify'd this Deed And his Disciple from the Cavils freed Of the most spightful Pharisees the place He forthwith left where the Contention was And went another Sabbath day into Their Synagogue and as he us'd to do The silly People most divinely taught Where this ensuing Miracle he wrought Among the great Assembly there did stand A poor disabled Person whose right hand Was shrivel'd up he hearing of the Fame Of Jesus to be heal'd unto him came The baffled Scribes and Pharisees who were Thirsty for an occasion to ensnare The blessed Jesus waiting for him lay To see him heal upon the Sabbath-day A deed which they accounted such a Crime That 't would condemn him in the Sanhedrim But Jesus who their thoughts did understand Commanded him who had the wither'd Hand To rise and in the mid'st stand forth of all Those who their Malice did Religion call Straight he arose and this command obey'd Then Jesus sternly looking on them said One thing I 'le ask of you who seem so wise To think all knowledge in your bosom lyes Who so great Criticks in your Laws are known Is good or evil lawful to be done Upon your Sabbath-days Or is it fit To destroy Life or else to rescue it But they so puzzled were at what he said That to his Queries they no answer made Then went he on Who is there of you all Shall have a Sheep that by a chance shall fall Into a steepy-pit o' th' Sabbath-day And will not take the liberty to lay Hold on it and endeavour all he can To pull it out How much more is a Man Better than such a Creature Wherefore know Men may good actions on the Sabbath do Then fiercely looking on the thronging Croud Who there around him full of envy stood Griev'd at the very Soul to find not one That had the Bowels of Compassion He bid the Man who had the wither'd Hand And in the middle of the Throng did stand To stretch it forth who did as Jesus said And whole that Hand was as the other made MIRACLE IX The Cure of several Persons by our Saviour when he came down from the Mountain JEsus whose Soul was on Devotion bent Having all night in fervent Prayer spent Upon a Mountain when the Worlds great Eye Pierc'd through the sable Clouds and made them fly Call'd his Disciples to him and of them Made choice of twelve for to attend on him These he Apostles nam'd because that he Purpos'd so soon as they were fit to be Employ'd by him to send them forth to Preach Those right'ous Laws which he came down to Teach But first in Jewry they were to make known Th' eternal Precepts of the mighty One And after that when he was Thron'd on High Throughout the World to Preach up Piety Th' Apostles thus made choice of to fulfil The pleasure of his just and sacred Will He from the Leavy-Mountains shady Brow On which he Pray'd did with his Follow'rs go Into the spacious Plain and there he stood As most convenient for the Multitude Who with more ease might there his Doctrin hear And to him come those who diseased were Being there besides the residue of those Who Jesus for their blessed Master chose Great multitudes of People to him came Out of Judea and Jerusalem And from the Sea-coasts of the stately Tyre And pop'lous Sydon some with a desire To hear him Preach and some infirm that were In hope once come they should be healed there Herein so gracious was the blessed Son Of the Almighty that there was not one That mist his expectation for he Preach'd The Gospel to them and his Virtue
Is now returning whence it came For the blood-thirsty have beset And clos'd me round my Hands and Feet They have transfixt distended on The shameful Cross I ev'ry Bone Can truly count as if I were A Monster they upon me stare And having got me in their Toyl They reckon all I have their Spoil They part my Garments but the Lot Is cast upon my seamless Coat Contented rather than it tear The whole should go to one Mans share But be not far from me O Lord My chiefest strength thy help afford And from these bloody-Men set free Thine only One O rescue me And as in former time thine Ear Hath open been unto my pray'r Be ready now my Life to save From the devouring Jaws o' th' Grave Then in the Congregation I Will sing thy praise contin'ally And to thy Faithful there declare How great thy Love and Mercies are Ye Seed of Jacob spend your days In Songs of Thanks and hearty Praise For he hath not despis'd my Pray'r When in Affliction but his Ear Hath been attentive and his Face He hath not vail'd in my disgrace All my discourses Lord shall be Of these thy Favours shown to me My Vows within thine House I 'le pay Among the Faithful that they may Joyn in Devotion and each one Send up their thanks unto thy Throne Remembring that in times of want Thou evermore art pleas'd to grant Unto the poor when they do call Refreshments to rejoyce them all Those Nations who thy Laws do scorn When they hear this shall to thee turn And joyntly yield with one accord To worship thee as Supreme Lord For thou art Governour of all And all must to thy Footstool fall Those thou hast fill'd with good shall bow And they who to the Pit do go Who none of all thy VVonders know Their Seed shall serve thee they thy worth And righteousness shall warble forth From age to age shall be made known This that thou Lord for me hast done That all men may as well as I Confide in thee for Victory PSALM 23. 1. THe Lord my Shepheard is whose care Doth over me preside No want nor any tort'ring fear Shall long with me abide 2. He into flow'ry Meads doth bring Me where I feed all day And leads me to the bubling Spring Where I my thirst allay 3. His Spirit doth my Soul revive And for his Name-sake he Doth gently lead me while I live In paths of Piety 4. Though I should greatly be distrest O're-whelm'd in deep despair On thy protection Lord I 'd rest And would no evil fear 5. For thou my Shepherd art thy Sheep Thou never do'st neglect My Soul thou wilt from danger keep And safely me protect 6. In presence of envious Foes Thou do'st my Table spread My Cup with sprightly Wine o're-flows Sweet Oyls anoint my Head 7. Mercy and Truth in a full Tyde Shall ever follow me Within thine House I will reside And sing my praise of thee PSALM 25. 1. MY God in deep distress I lift my Soul to thee There 's none so timely can redress As thou my misery 2. Since I my trust repose In thee my sure defence Exalt my name lest that my Foes Deride my confidence 3. Shame none who love thy Laws Let the perfideous be Cloath'd with contempt who without cause contemn thy Saints and Thee 4. Each minute I implore Thy special Grace O show Thy Servant how he evermore Thy sacred Will may do 5. Keep me as thou hast done In thine unerring way Thou God of my Salvation Permit me not to stray 6. But call to mind that love And bounty I have seen A God of tender mercies prove As thou of old hast been 7. As for those days I spent In Sins of high degrees Remember not now I repent Those grand impurities 8. But as thy mercy 's great Let thy compassions shine Upon a wretched Profligate Who humbly now is thine 9. Thou art most good and just And 't is thy glory Lord To teach transgressors how they must Conform unto thy Word 10. All those who humble are In Judgment he will guide From vertuous paths he doth declare Their Feet shall never slide 11. His mercy ever lives His truth doth never dye Of these the fruits he ever gives To his continually 12. Forgive me then O Lord Those Sins of high degree Which I have wrought O loose the Cord Of mine Iniquity 13. Who dreads to disobey The Lord will not refuse To teach that man the saving way His Soul should always chuse 14. His Barns and Coffers shall Enjoy the richest store His Seed shall here inherit all He leaves and ten times more 15. Nor will he e're conceal Those duties he should do What is of moment to reveal He shall be sure to know 16. So now what ever strait Attends my wandring Feet On my Salvation I will wait who 'l free me from the Net 17. Thy help I now implore Have mercy Lord on me Make bare thine Arm as heretofore For I have need of thee 18. Free me in my distress The pressures of my heart Do ev'ry minute Lord encrease O show thy saving art 19. Forgive those Sins which are The cause of all this hate Which my malicious Foes declare My ease commiserate 20. For dayly they encrease And hate mine innocence Unjustly they disturb my peace Chastise their insolence 21. And in thine arms infold My Soul which trusts in thee Mine innocence O God uphold As thou hast promis'd me 22. O free thine Israel From troubles which inclose His habitations make him dwell Secure amidst his Foes PSALM 31. 1. IN thee O Lord I place my trust Bow down thine Ear and from the Grave Preserve my Life as thou art just And shew thy mighty Arm can save O let me never suffer shame For my affiance in thy Name 2. Be thou my Rock and Castle strong When any threat'ning storms appear Where I may rest secure from wrong Till all the Clouds dispersed are Direct and guide me all my days Through all the Lab'rinths of my ways 3. Into thy hands I do commit My very Soul redeem'd by thee Enlarge my Feet from out the Net In secret laid to mischief me Thou know'st O Lord thou God of truth Thine I have been up from my youth 4. In thee the Saviour of the Just Not in the Gentile Vanities I have repos'd my chiefest trust Lord I abhor their practices And always thought their Auguries And Divinations to be lies 5. All my delight and joy shall be To reckon up thy mercies shown In Troubles thou hast thought on me And set my Feet in a large room Free from the rage of all my Foes Whose malice did my Life inclose 6. Yet I no end of trouble know I sigh and mourn my years away My Sins have brought me very low For want of Flesh my Bones decay Mine Eye it is consum'd with grief Have mercy Lord and send relief 7. For I am made the mirth and scorn
will his Salvation show PSALM 111. 1. I 'le ever bless the Lord and praise His Name in secret with th' upright And in his Courts extol his ways Those Wonders done in Isr'els sight 2. His VVorks so great and many are They are a Meditation fit For the most Pious and by far Than other studies benefit 3. He great and glorious things hath done His Truth for ever shall abide He made us and to ev'ry one Hath been a Fort and constant guide 4. Those worthy deeds which he hath wrought VVithin each breast have left behind Impressions time can never blot The Lord is merciful and kind 5. VVhat-e're it is the Faithful want They never fail of a supply He will perform his Covenant To all his Servants faithfully 6. The Vertue of his VVorks were shown Unto his People in their sight The Heathen from their Lands were thrown And Israel enjoy'd their Right 7. His Actions just and righteous are All his appointments stand so fast And that exact uprightness bear They never alter to the last 8. From the Egyptian-Yoke he freed As he did vow to Abraham The Jews his own peculiar Seed Holy and Rev'rend his Name 9. Then let us all his Laws obey And of his Judgments stand in dread These teach us VVisdom and the way To our eternal Joys they lead 10. And while we here a Being have Let 's celebrate our Makers praise Translated hence we never leave To chant above the self same Lays PSALM 134. HAd not the Lord in a most signal way Stood up against our Foes may Isr'el say Had not the God of Jacob set us free VVhen held in Fetters of Captivity The Torrent of their Fury had o're-run Our Souls with ruine and destruction But now his glorious Name be ever prais'd He to renown our abject State hath rais'd And hath preserv'd us from their cruel Rage VVhich nothing but his Power coule asswage Safely at length our Souls escaped are Though late entangled from the Fowlers Snare Yet not our Strength nor Merits do we own To be the Cause of our Salvation It was the Arm of the Almighty Lord Who Fought and Conquer'd and our Joys restor'd PSALM 125. 1. WHoso on God relyes stands fixt sure As Sions holy Mount which shall endure Upon whose sacred Top the Lord declares He will reside and hear his Servants Pray'rs 2. As Salem's safe from storms on ev'ry hand Fenc'd with those lofty-Hills which round her stand So are the Faithful in th' Almighty's Arms Impail'd secure from all destructive harms 3. Yet for a while Oppression may take place And prosper here disturbing Isr'el's peace But the ungodly shall not long bear sway Lest that the Righteous prove as bad as they 4. For God is good his care is over those Who are sincere in heart who do repose Their confidence in him he 'l Crown their Love With all those Joys the Blessed reap above 5. As for those Souls who basely turn aside From all his Laws and wont his Yoke abide Whom none of all his Judgments can forewarn In endless-Flames they shall for ever burn While in perpet'al peace his Israel That Her'tage of his own shall ever dwell PSALM 133. 1. Lord How glorious in thine Eyes do those appear Who follow peace and as Religion binds In perfect union communion are Having no discords in their ways and minds 2. Such happy concord yields a fragrant smell Like to that precious Oyntment which was shed Upon thy High Priests Crown and downwards fell Upon his Beard and o're his Garments spread 3. As the refreshing-Dew did gently fall And cherish Hermon and bless Sions Hill So on the peaceful Heads of such Men shall The blessings of the Lord each Morn distill PSALM 140. 1. DEfend me Lord from Malice and Deceit From all those Snares the Proud have laid in wait To catch my Soul my ways they have beset VVith treach'rous Gins and Nets my Life to get But Lord their VViles without thy leave I know Cannot effect my wish'd-for overthrow 2. Like as a Serpent from his poys'nous Tongue Darts forth his Venome so they all day long From their destructive Tongues without just ground With slaund'rous Lyes my spotless Life do wound But thou my Shield art under whom I dwell Secure or in this Conflict I had fell 3. Yet Lord lest these Men should exalted be As sure they will if that they should go free Let their Device take no effect at all Wherein they thought to make me make them fall And rise no more let them in Flames expire And with thy burning VVrath Lord Fan the Fire 4. This fatal Doom let it for ever be The VVicked's Portion that the Just may see Thou wilt maintain their Cause and from thy Throne Confound the lying and backbiteing-Tongue Then shall the Righteous flourish in thy sight And Laud thy Name who do'st defend their Right The end of the Psalms THRENODIA OR THE LAMENTATIONS OF Jeremiah PARAPHRAS'D WITH A PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH By James Chamberlaine LONDON Printed by R. E. for R. Bentley and M. Magnes in Russel-Street in Covent-Garden 1680. LAMENTATIONS CHAP. I. 1. The miserable estate of Jerusalem by reason of her Sin 12. She complaineth of her Grief 18. And confesseth Gods Judgment to be Righteous 1. HOw doth the City she that once was known To have her Temples circled with a Crown Sit with a mournful Wreath of Cypress now Like a forsaken VVidow on her Brow She that was once among the Nations great And as a glorious Princess ruling sate Among the lesser Provinces is made Unto the Foe to bow her stately Head 2. Down her pale Cheeks the pearly drops do trill Both Day and Night which from her Eyes distill Amongst her Lovers she hath found not one That doth the troubles of her Soul bemoan And that which adds fresh Fuel to her Woes Is that her Friends are now become her Foes 3. Judah for all those Cruelties which She Hath done is gone into Captivity She dwells among the Heathen where her mind Doth no repose from all her Trouble find All her Pursuers who did for her look Have in the narrow ways her overtook 4. The Ways of Sion mourn because no Guests As they were wont approach her solemn Feasts All her frequented Gates forsaken are No more Oblations in her Courts appear Because these fail her Rev'rend Priests do grieve Her lovely Virgins do in Sorrow live And She who once an undisturbed Peace And plenty had sits now in heaviness 5. Her Foes the only Chief are who command Within her Gates with an imperious Hand They prosper happy and successful are While She the Judgments of the Lord doth bear For her Transgressions are her Children gone Captives before her Foes to Babylon 6. From Sions Daughter all the lovely Grace Departed is that once adorn'd her Face Her Princes are with Hunger almost pin'd Become like Harts that can no Pasture find Vainly they think with fainting Limbs to fly Before the
due to Thee ERRATA PAge 14. l. 1. Assembly r. Synagogue l. 14. include in a Parenthesis p. 18. l. 22. needful r. sacred p. 24. l. 15. tyr'd r. tyred p. 39. l. 2. work r. works p. 40 l. 8. Disciple r. Disciples p. 50. l. 27. unto r. into p. 55. l. 11. inconsistant r. inconsistent p. 57. l. 23. ingen'ous r. ingenuous p. 63. l. 5. r. make p. 65. l. 6. hear r. here p. 68. l. 17. r. when to the three p. 69. l. 16. hea'vny r. heav'nly p. 88. l. 25. the r. their Souls p. 90. l. 2. those cruel marks the Jews p. 119. l. 12. soon r. some p. 136. l. 2. coule r. could p. 137. l. 13. r. and communion p. 145. l. 15. mounful r. mournful p. 152. l. 21. false r. base lyes p. 165. l. 6. Age r. Ag'd l. 7. looked r. look'd l. 19. are r. was tan'e p. 168. l. 11. r. Turn thou us Lord p. 169. l. 14. Sin r. Sins p. 170. l. 4. r. we have against thee done p. 187. l. 9. should r. shouldst l. 15. Women r. Woman p. 192. l. 18. higer r. high'r A SACRED POEM The Birth of S. John and the most holy Jesus Luke the first SInce there are many who have undertook Of those great Wonders to compile a Book Which of late years were in this Nation done Just in that order as they were made known To them by those who at the same time were Eye-witnesses of what they did declare To me who from the first have understood Exactly sev'ral things it seemed good To write Divine Theophilus to thee This following matter as 't was told to me That thou the truth of all those things may'st know Which I suppose was taught thee long ago In Herod's days who King of Jewry was There liv'd a sacred Priest call'd Zacha'ras One of Abia's Course he had to Wife Elizabeth of an Exemplar life The Virgin was before she knew his Bed Nor was she less devout when married Both righteous were both blamelesly did live In all those Laws God to the Jews did give No Child they had nor e're were like to have Elizabeth too old was to Conceive It came to pass while that he went to burn Within the Temple Incense in his turn Before the Lord and all the People were Without devoutly on their knees at Pray'r On the right hand o' th' flaming Altar he Perceiv'd an Angel of the Lord to be His aged Limbs scar'd at the Vision shook Trembling he stood until the Angel spoke The Promise of John's Birth and Office Fear not said he thy Prayers are heard a Son Thy Wife shall bear and thou shalt call him John Thousands of hearts glad at his birth shall be As well as thou and praise the Lord with thee He shall be great in the Almighty's sight For abstinence a perfect Nazarite Not tasting Drink that 's strong nor any Wine Endu'd early with the Spirit Divine Many of Isr'el's Children to the Lord Shall be converted by his pow'rful Word He shall before the true Messiah go I' th' Pow'r and Spirit of Elijah so That he shall make the Ceremonious Jews Admire Justice and her Paths to chuse And so prepare them to be wise that they Shall Christ receive and his Commands obey How shall I know since I am now grown old Said Zacharias what thou hast foretold Shall come to pass my Wife is likewise known Through heatless age past hopes to have a Son Gabriel's my name by the great God's command Before whose sacred presence I do stand With these glad Tydings I am sent to thee But since thou faithless art and wilt not be Perswaded of the truth of what I say Deaf shalt thou be and dumb until that day Thine aged Wife shall bring forth to thy joy From her now barren Womb this promis'd Boy Long did the People with amazement wait For Zacharias at the Temple Gate Forth at the length the aged Priest did come Deaf as the Angel said and likewise dumb Soon they perceiv'd something reveal'd had been By a wing'd Herald which he there had seen Beck'ning he stood but could not for his heart What he had heard and seen to them impart The Conception of S. John Baptist It came to pass so soon as he had done His priestly Office and the Crowd was gone The silent Priest departed to his home And streight his Wife receiv'd a pregnant Womb. Five Months from home not willing to abide The People's Censure she withdrew aside Although assur'd she was her marr'age Bed Was never stain'd with a disloyal deed She knew this Mercy in her aged days Was an unwonted Gift and so gave praise Unto the Lord who had remov'd that day From her the shame of barrenness away In the sixth Month the glorious Gabriel came From the Almighty to a Town whose name Was Nazareth within whose happy Wall There liv'd a Virgin whom they Mary call Youthful and florid as the blooming May Devout and piously imploy'd each day Of Body chast and humble too in mind In whom all Heavenly Graces brightly shin'd She was betroth'd to Joseph for a Wife A man all just and of a pious life And was descended from that valiant King Who Isr'el freed with a smooth Stone and Sling To her the Angel came as she alone On bended Knees was praying to the Throne Of the great God and thus to her he said The Salutation Hail thou most lovely person happy Maid The Lord is with thee thou art highly blest Of all thy Sex thou art the happiest When she beheld the glorious Messenger Who in this manner had saluted her A Rosy Blush diffus'd it self all o're Her lovely Face and shame-fac'd on the Flore She cast her Eyes troubled and in her mind seeking th' importance of his words to find But while she musing was silence he broke And thus the borrow'd Form to Mary spoke The Promise of Conception of the most Holy Jesus Fear not thou lovely Maid from Heavens King Before whose Face thou hast found Grace I bring Most joyful news Thou shalt conceive a Son Who shall to Isr'el bring Salvation Him thou shalt Jesus call he great shall be The happy product of Divinity He shall his Father David's Throne ascend His Scepter over Isr'el shall extend Of his Dominion there shall be no end To him the Rulers of the Earth shall bring Their borrow'd Crowns and own him as their King How can I hope blest Gabriel said she While I a Virgin am that this to me Can ever happen to conceive a Son A thing ne're heard off nor was ever known Thy God doth know how I have always led Throne A single life and ne're defil'd my Bed Therefore said Gabriel from the glorious Of the most High his Spirit shall come down And fruitful make thine hallow'd Womb to bear Jesus the Son of God thy Saviour What I have said th' Almighty will fulfill His Pow'r is able to effect his Will And as a Token
terribly affraid The Publication of Christ's Birth Fear not said he most joyful News I bring To you and all the World this day a King And a Redeemer's born the Christ is He To Bethle'm haste and your Salvation see Yet that you may not when you come mistake And for the Lord of Life another take Within a Stable you shall find him lye With none but Joseph and his Mother by Then with the Angel of the Lord there stood An Host of heav'nly Spirits praising God Singing this following Hymn By those above Angels Archangels to the God of Love Be glory given for this Infants Birth And to the good a lasting peace on Earth Up from the Earth unto Heav'ns radiant Throne This blessed Quire was no sooner gone But that the trembling Shepheards by consent To see what they were told to Bethle'm went Thither they came there the Child they saw Lye in the Stable on a heap of Straw With Joseph and his Wife abroad they spread What they had seen and what the Angel said And all who heard them with amazement were Seiz'd at the Story which they did declare But Mary ponder'd these things o're and o're And grew in Faith and knowledg more more Back to their Flocks the joyful Shepheards went And all the time of their returning spent In glorifying of th' Almighty's Name For all those things which he reveal'd to them The Circumcision On the eighth day after the Child was born The pious Joseph early in the Morn With his Redeemer to th' Assembly came Who Circumcised was and by the Name Of Jesus call'd as Gabriel order gave Unto the Virgin e're she did conceive And when her forty days accomplisht were According to the Law they did repair With the Messiah to Jerusalem His Presentation in the Temple Where to the Priest they both presented him For by the Law the First-born Male among The Jews unto Jehovah did belong E're since that fatal night wherein he smote Aegypts First-born and thence his Isr'el brought Two Turtle Doves she for her self did bring Although a poor yet legal Offering Unto the Lord from out the bleating Flock A Lamb she could not purchase with her Stock Within the Town of Solyma liv'd one Who just and pious was call'd Simeon Full of the Holy Ghost attending there When Isr'els Consolation would appear To him the Spirit did reveal that he Should e're he dy'd the promis'd Blessing see He by divine impulse to th' Temple came Just as the Father and his pious Dame Arriv'd with the blest Off-spring of her Womb To do for him what the strict Law did doom Where in his presence they a tender made Of their First-born and his cheap ransome paid Then in his feeble Arms old Simeon took The heav'nly Babe and thus divinely spoke Nunc Dimittis Lord let me now into the silent Grave In peace depart since with mine Eyes I have Beheld the Christ which thou hast long foretold Whom now thy People in this place behold A Light to those who do in Darkness dwell And the great Glory of thine Israel Joseph and Mary much surprized were At those mysterious Truths the rev'rend Seer Concerning Jesus in that place declar'd Such as before their Ears had never heard Simeons Prophecy Then Simeon blest them and to Mary said Behold this Child of thine thou lovely Maid Is for the ruine of the Ungodly sent And the redemption of the Penitent And for a Sign in Isr'el he shall stand ' Gainst whom the wicked of the World shall band That all the thoughts of men which are conceal'd Both of the good and bad may be reveal'd And thou the Mother of this blessed Son When thou behold'st their barb'rous cruelty Shalt find thy Soul with sorrow over-run Some great affliction it shall bring to thee Anna's Prophecy Into the Temple at this instant came Of Asers Tribe a Widdow who by name Was Hannah call'd who in her younger life But seven years had liv'd a married Wife Eighty and four years old this woman was A strict observer of the Jewish Laws Who duly did the Temple-Prayers frequent And every Week two days in Fasting spent She likewise thank'd the Lord and spoke of him To all who dwelt within Jerusalem Now when the Parents had the Law fulfill'd Both unto Bethlem with the blessed Child Return'd again where for a while they were Till in a Dream th' Almighty did appear To Joseph with a strict command that he Should take the Child and into Aegypt flee There they remain'd until the Tyrant's death And afterwards return'd to Nazareth In Spirit strong and Stature Jesus grew Whom God with mighty Wisdome did indue When twelve years old the blessed Jesus was His Parents who devoutly kept the Laws Of the great God the time now drawing near To celebrate the annual Passover Took this same hopeful Child along with them To keep this great Feast at Jerusalem And when the days of it accomplisht were Joseph and Mary homewards did repair With their Acquaintance and Relations who In Naz'reth did dwell or near thereto Christ's stay at Jerusalem and conferring with the Doctors Onwards they travell'd but ne're mist their Son Who in Jerus'lem staid to them unknown Until they had a whole days Journey gone Then ' mongst their Kindred and their Friends they went Inquiring for him but no news they learnt With thoughtful care for their neglect of him They back return'd unto Jerusalem After a three days search their Child they found Within the Temple Porch encompass'd round With the most noted Rabbies of the Jews Asking such things which did the Scribes amuse So that they all with wonder seised were At his wise answers and discourses there When ' midst the learned of the Jewish Land His Mother and her Husband saw him stand Th' amazed Virgin to her Son did go Jesus said she thou did'st unkindly do To raise such fears within thy Fathers mind And mine as thou did'st by thy stay behind But he reply'd the fittest place for me Is where I am know ye not I must be About my Fathers business But they could Not this mysterious Speech of his unfold However back to Nazareth he came With his ore-joyed Parents at that same Laborious Calling eighteen years he wrought Which Joseph did profess and him had taught And to their just Commands was never known To shew himself a disrespectful Son His Baptism Up to the Age of thirty years being grown He forthwith went to be Baptiz'd by John Who at the River Jordan was that time Baptizing sev'ral that did come to him But John this Office at the first did wave Until the Ever-blest such Reasons gave To have it done that in the Peoples sight He there conferr'd on him that needful Rite When lo th' Eternal Spirit from above Hov'ring descended on him as a Dove And from the Clouds at that same time was heard A thundring Voice which these same words declar'd This is my well-beloved Son in whom I
The joyful Mary came and did declare How she had seen the Lord and likewise what He did command but they believ'd her not When in the Ev'ning of that day they were Assembled with the Doors close shut for fear Of the malicious Jews in Jesus came They knew not how anâ—â—â—hers saâ—uted them Peace be unto you when he had so said They trembling stood most terribly affraid Concluding that it could not Jesus be But a delusion which they tâ—ere did see Yet when he show'd his Hands and wounded Side Those Marks which he receiv'd when Crucify'd The Souls rejoyc'd and all with one accord Acknowledg'd him to be their Sov'raign Lord. He therefore to confirm their Faith begun T' expound the Scriptures which had long foreshown His cruel Death and Resurrection And by his Spirit made them plainly see The full import of ev'ry Prophecy And now farewell said he yet 'fore I go The same Commission I do give to you Which I receiv'd to plant a Church I came Do ye succeed me and compleat the same Be of good comfort to assist you here I 'le send you down the blessed Comforter But here attend ye till he doth come down Then did he go and breath on ev'ry one And by so doing did his Followers fit For that unerring guide the Holy Sp'rit Which at the Feast of Pentecost came down And sate like flaming-Fire on ev'ry one He gave the Keys of Heav'ns glorious Gate Into their Hands to Excommunicate The stubborn Sinner to absolve or bind They Power had as they just cause did find But Thomas called Dydimus the Twin Who was not with them when the Lord came in Now being come they up and told him how Jesus had with them been but even now But he declar'd unless his Eyes did see And Hands did touch his Wounds he 'd faithless be When his Disciples that day sev'nights were Met at their usual Place to joyn in Pray'r The Lord of Life the second time did come They knew not how into the close-shut Room Thomas said he since you will not believe Your Fellow-Servants that I am alive Except your Hands do touch and Eyes do see Those cruel Marks bestow'd on me Behold my Wounds thy Fingers thrust into This Side of mine and be not faithless now My Lord and God! said Thomas now I know And am convin'd the very God art thou Had'st thou before believ'd what thou hast seen Thy Faith said Jesus had then nobler been Than now it is my blessing I do give To them who see me not and yet believe His Ascension Full forty days th' Eternal Son of God After he rose again on Earth abode Teaching his Followers what they ought to do To make the World his Fathers Will to know And now just ready to ascend his Throne To take possession of his purchas'd Crown He went unto Mount Olivet with them Sev'n Furlongs distant from Jerusalem Upon whose lofty Brow with Hands lift high Unto the sacred Throne of Majesty He blessed them which having done a bright And shining Cloud convey'd him from their sight Up to the glorious Seat of Bliss where He Triumphant sits to all Eternity To the Eternal Three above Father Son and Spirit of Love By all the glorious Host in Heav'n And Men on Earth be Glory giv'n On Christ's Sufferings LOrd what is Man that thou from Bliss Where Love in full perfection is Should'st send thy Son thine only One To be contemn'd and spit upon To be the abject and the scorn Of ev'ry Villain to be torn With cruel Rods to be revil'd And live as 't were a live exil'd And after all this ignomy To hang on the accursed Tree That the eternal God above Should chuse this way to show his love To such as we who do return Instead of gratitude our scorn That he his only Son should send To suffer an inglorious end And make the Innocent to be An Offering for Impiety It raises wonder but 't was so Jesus did all this undergo Not by compulsion 't was his choice He suffer'd that we might rejoyce All this he did for to regain Lost Souls from an eternal pain And Jesus shall not we express Our thanks to thee for happiness Had'st thou not dy'd we had remain'd As Satans Victims ever chain'd No act of ours could e're have wrought That Reconcilement thou hast bought With thy dear Blood thou Heav'ns Rage Did'st fully with thy Death asswage Such obligations Lord should move Our stony-hearts to melt with Love And in the strictest duty bind To thee the Souls of all Man-kind CANTATE DOMINO CANTICVM NOVUM Praise the Lord up on the harp sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving EIGHTEEN OF David's PSALMS PARAPHRAS'D By the same Hand LONDON Printed by R. E. for R. Bentley and M. Magnes in Russel-Street in Covent-Garden 1680. Eighteen of Davids Psalms Paraphras'd PSALM 22. MY God my God! Why am I left Helpless in my distress bereft Of that protection I have had Why are my Foes with Conquest clad I call and weep both day and night To thee my God to thee for right But O my Crys and Tears are vain There 's no redress no ease of pain All this shall not discourage me Since I do know thou just wilt be And true to ev'ry promise Thou Hast bound thy Self to me by Vow And though Thou let'st mine Enemys Insult and deaf art to my Crys Yet Lord thou holy art and still Deserv'st the praise of Israel Our Fathers they rely'd on thee Thou Lord wast their security When dangers did their Souls surround To thee they call'd and freedom found But I my Foes most deadly scorn With patience hitherto have born The vulgar and ignobler sort Do make my misery their sport In an insulting way they cry Let his Salvation now draw nigh He trusted in the Lord that he Would help him in adversity Let him stretch out his arm and save If either strength or pow'r he have But Lord their scorn and cruelty Shall not dismay or trouble me Since I have always found thine arm Able to rescue me from harm Since from the Womb I came alone Thou hast been my Salvation And from my Mothers tender Breast My God my hope wert and my rest Now be not far from me but save Permit not the triumphing Grave Insaâ—â—te as my cruel-Foes My Life untimely to enclose Redeem my Soul there 's none I know Except my God can help me now For I am close besieg'd and brought To that distress I can't get out Like as a rav'ning Lyon doth Roaring pursue with open mouth The helpless Creature that he may Affrighted fall and be his Prey So do my Foes threaten and rave To bring my Soul unto the Grave So week and feeble I am grown Wasted to nothing ev'ry bone Disjoynted from its place doth start Like Wax dissolv'd so is my Heart And as a Potsheard so my strength Is dryed up my Tongue at length Cleaves to my Jaws my earthly-Frame
the end of these Mens days 16 Sure on High thou do'st them set That their fall may be more great In a moment they come down Headlong in destruction 17. O those Horrours that possess Their sad Souls who can express Sins like Furies on each hand In most dreadful Forms do stand 18. Thou shalt make their Shaddow fly In the twinkling of an Eye Riches Pleasures and their All Vanish and to nothing fall 19. Then what Folly was 't in me To conceive a slight from thee Like a Beast to show dislike VVhen thy Rod did friendly strike 20. For thou had'st a careful Eye Over me partic'larly Free from danger did I stand By thine All-protecting hand 21. Thou shalt me most safely lead Through those troubles which I dread Bringing me to great Renown And a never-fading Crown 22. Than thy Self I do not know Any God that can do so Thou the God art whom I love Other Gods I don't approve 23. For I find thou ever art VVhen Afflictions seize my Heart Always to me a strong Fort Whereunto I may resort 24. As for those who put their trust In another 't is but just That they should for ever dye For their base Apostacy 25. But for me I will adhere Lord to thee while I am here And excite Men to a Sense Of thy gracious Providence PSALM 49. HEar all ye People my Discourse will be A Meditation fit for each degree I 'll treat of Wisdom that both Rich and Poor May gather Knowledg from her immense Store When Death and the Distempers of old Age Knock at my Door to leave this earthly Stage Wherefore should I repine and show more Love To this low Mansion than that blest above Where I shall far more lasting Treasures find In value greater than those left behind They who in Riches trust and do adore Within their Iron-Shrines their Idol Oar Cannot with it themselves or others save From the close Hug of the respectless Grave Riches were never known to have that strength To rescue Men from Death they must at length Turn to their Mother Earth from whence they all Had their first Birth and back again must fall The VVise this Fate as well as Brutish have Death takes not one and doth the other leave Yet do these Wretches live as if they were Exempt in this same Doom to bear a share They heap up Riches but their Treasures will Fly from their own and others Coffers fill For dye they must and when they dye who knows But all their Stores go to enrich their Foes Yet their Possessions by their Names they call And fondly think their Dwellings firmly shall Last while the World remains their Heirs we see Have the same thoughts of their Posterity But Death will come where in the Grave that hold They all must lye as Flocks together fold Until the Resurrection of the Just Who with the Lord that day in Judgment must Help to condemn them Lord I hope that Morn Thou wilt my Temples with a Crown adorn As for the Honours and the large encrease Of the Ungodly and his short-liv'd peace None should be troubled for that dismal night In which he sets his Glories take their flight Though while he liv'd he thought himself most blest And said unto his Soul ' Soul take thy rest ' For I have laid me up a lasting Store ' Of Wealth Honour which the World adore ' These high will raise me on the Wings of Fame ' And give me here a never-dying Name ' But when Death comes in that same needful day ' These like deceitful Friends will slip away ' Nor can they as thou think'st an Arch of praise ' Upon their Airy-Bottoms for thee raise ' Nothing but heav'nly Wisdom can ensure ' Praises unto thy Name which shall endure ' Wisdom which for the future doth take care ' And seeks for Treasures which immortal are ' Man that in Honour in Wealth doth grow ' And understands not whence these Blessings flow ' Than the dumb Beasts doth no more Wisdom show Such Fools as he shall never have a sight Of those eternal Joys of the upright PSALM 78. ATtend ye Sons of Jacob I 'le unfold To you those Parables our Fathers told To us that we should to our Children show What mighty deeds God did for Isr'el do That all succeeding Ages may sing forth His noble Acts the greatness of his Worth This duty God did lay on Israel And strictly charge they should their Children tell That Generations which were yet unborn Might know the wondrous-Work of their return And not his Mercies and his Judgments scorn And like their Fathers slight his easie Yoke Contemn this God and other Gods invoke The Ephramites well Arm'd with Swords and Bows Able to Conquer fled before their Foes And why they did forsake their chiefest stay Forgot the Wonders done the other day How God had brought them out of Pharoah's Land From their hard Tasks by his All-conqu'ring hand The Sea divided and the Waters round As Bulwarks stood they past through on dry ground A Cloud did Vail them as they walk'd by day I' th' night a Firy-Pillar show'd the way He water'd them as Shepheards do their Flocks Not in hew'n-Cisterns but from unhew'n Rocks Streams from those craggy-Pyramids did flow And step by step did with his Isr'el go Yet still they murmur'd as they did before And with fresh Sins provok'd him more more They quarrell'd God and did his care distrust They ask'd for Meat not for their wants but Lust Can God say they here furnish us a Table Of Flesh and Bread he can't he is not able 'T is true he quench'd our thirst from yonder Rock But where 's the Flesh to feed his hungry Flock When God heard this his wrath like Fire did burn His long-try'd Mercy did to anger turn Because they disbeliev'd what he had done And gave no credence to 's Salvation Though he had shown such tokens of his Love By op'ning all the Clouds of Heav'n above And raining Manna that they all might eat That heav'nly-Bread he gave them for their Meat He fill'd and fed them with the Angels Food And as the Waters when they make a Flood Come tumbling down so Flesh showr'd on the ground Vast heaps of Quails did all their Camps surround Yet though at their requests he sent this Meat They disbelieve him still and murm'ring eat Then was his Anger kindled and the Chief Of all their Tribes he slew for disbelief Though Plagues throughout their Camps like Lightning run Their hearts were stubborn and they would not turn But still they Sinn'd and sinning did declare They'd not believe in vain his Wonders were Therefore their Rebel-lives he made them waste In that same place but two escap'd at last But when exemplar punishments did fall They then return'd and on their God did call Then they acknowledg'd that they were his Flock He was their Saviour and their mighty Rock Their Tongues did
this declare their Hearts the while Were as before as hollow and as vile But God being full of Mercy did forgive Their feign'd Repentance willing they should live His Justice to his Mercy did give way Unwilling to consume them in one day For he remember'd what they were alas But as a Wind which soon away doth pass Ten times their diffidence they did express And long'd for Egypt in the Wilderness So sensless were they that they never thought What there they suffer'd nor how God had brought Them forth from thence and by their Moses hand Destroy'd the Pride and Glories of that Land He turn'd their wholesome Rivers into Blood Vast Swarms of Flies and Frogs devour'd their Food The fruitful burdens of the Earth were lost Their Vines with Hail were kill'd their Trees with Frost Their Cows their Sheep their Asses and their Colts Either with Hail were slain or Thunder-bolts So great his Anger was his Wrath so fierce He did his Plagues throughout the Land disperse But while poor Egypt was thus fore opprest To have their first-born slain of Man and Beast His Mercies and his care did still attend On Israel he did their All defend He led them through the Sea as on dry ground In which proud Pharoah and his Hosts were drown'd He led them all along and Wonders wrought Till at the length he them to Sion brought Then dreadful Fears upon the Heathen fell These Tribes o'recame them in their Tents did dwell They had not long possest but soon were cloy'd They wanted something though they all enjoy'd And as their Fathers did Apostatize So they to Idols offer'd Sacrifice When God heard this he suffer'd Ark and all His chosen Ones in Heath'nish hands to fall So sore displeas'd and angry was the Lord He gave them up to the devouring Sword Their young-Men were destroy'd their Virgins now Liv'd single lives by force and not by Vow Their sacred Priests did perish by their Swords Their Wives exprest no sorrow by their words But Grief sate lively painted on each Face Such consternations were in ev'ry place That God took pity and arose at length Gave their enfeebled-Hearts and Arms fresh strength He smote with Botches in their hinder parts The Philistims and gave them tim'rous Hearts Their Dagon-God they in their Temple found Before the Ark lye shatter'd on the ground So what they got they durst not now defend But richly laded back again it send Moreover Judah of all Jacobs race God chose and Sion for his resting-place And this conspic'ous-Hill 'bove all he blest Decreeing here his Ark should ever rest He lowly David from his Sheep did take From that Employ he made him undertake The care of all his People which with skill He did perform according to his VVill. He govern'd them with Wisdom and with Art Walking before his God with all his heart PSALM 90. 1. THou who art God from all Eternity Long 'fore this Globe of Earth was form'd by thee Thou who hast since blest be thy glorious Name Upheld both us and this same earthly Frame Hear thou the fervent Pray'rs the hearty-Groans That are sent up by thine afflicted Ones 2. When Man thine Image which thou did'st create Apostatiz'd from his first happy State Unhappy we by our Fore-fathers deed Have an entail of Death upon our Seed Our times are in thy Hands and 't is but just When thou command'st we should return to dust 3. Should we be suffer'd Lord to linger here A tedious Life as our Forefathers were That length of time Methusalah did see What is it Lord to thy immensity A thousand years are nothing in thy sight As yesterday or as a Watch i' th' night 4. Death as a Torrent sweeps us clean away And in a moment all our Joys decay Like as the Grass i' th' Morn so ev'ry one Doth flourish then but is at Noon cut down So vain are we and of so short a time That all our Glories wither in their Prime 5. Thus are we snatch'd from off this worldly-Stage In the full strength and verdure of our Age For thou hast set before thy searching Eyes As well our close as known Apostacies In thy displeasure all our days we spend And as a Vapour so our Lives do end 6. Threescore and ten is the computed length Of our Terrestrial Lives but if through strength We do attain unto the fourthscore year Then they are interwove with Grief and Care Like as a Dream so soon they pass away So fading are our Joys so short's our stay 7. And though thy Wrath is equal to our fear Yet we so sensess are and void of care That we contemn thy Rod and think we shall Inhabit here and never dye at all But teach us so to number all our days That we may hate the Follies of our ways 8 Return O Lord at length how long wilt thou Look on thy Servants with an angry Brow O give us now thine everlasting Love And from our harrass'd-Souls do thou remove The sentence of Excision long have we Expected Lord thy promis'd-Land to see 9. Give days of Joys so many as may last Longer than all those years of Sorrows past Now magnifie thy glorious work of Grace Not only unto us but to our Race Thy gracious Favour and thy Mercy show And frame our Wills thy sacred Will to do PSALM 91. 1. He who his whole concern entirely flings Under the Shaddow of the Almighty's Wings Shall find a pow'rful God a faithful Friend A certain Refuge to his Journeys end 2. This never-failing Axiome makes me go To him as to a Fort in which I know No bloody-Wars nor sweeping Pestilence Nor wit of Man can snatch my Life from thence 3. For as the stately Eagle guards from wrong Under her spreading Wings her helpless Young So will the God of all the Earth be sure Under his care that I shall live secure 4. Though Deaths empoyson'd Arrows take their flight And slaughter thousands both by day night Not one of all these deadly Shafts shall be So rightly levell'd as to mischief me 5. Yet I shall see the Wicked's just reward Vast piles of those who did not fear the Lord 〈◊〉 in these heaps my Carkass shall not lye Because I did upon the Lord rely 6. For he his holy Angels shall command When heavy Judgments post throughout the Land That neither I nor those within my Wall Shall taste those evils on the Wicked fall 7. The Lyon and the Adder without dread I shall encounter on their Necks shall tread The rav'nous Beasts like tame ones shall submit And yield themselves as conquer'd at my Feet 8. Because my whole delight was to fulfill The Laws of God and to obey his Will Because I did respect his glorious Name With honour he 'll exalt me for the same 9. I shall no sooner call but he will hear And free me from those Judgments others bear He 'll crown my Life with length of days below And me above
Hunter but fall down and dye 7. Jerusalem did to remembrance call When she afflicted was and made to fall Those pleasant and delightful things which she Lost when she went into Captivity Her jeering Foes upon her Sorrows play'd And May-Games at her sacred Sabbaths made 8. Jerusalem hath sinned grievously And is remov'd for her Impiety All that ador'd her do her now despise Having beheld her lew'd Adulteries Sighing she turns her mounful Face aside And vents her Sorrows in a Briny Tide 9. Fill'd with Pollution in her wanton mind Her fearful end could no admittance find Therefore when least she did of Judgment dream Down from her fancy'd Bliss she headlong came In a most fearful manner and no Eye Let fall a Tear at her Calamity Behold O Lord the troubles of my Breast And how they are by a proud Foe encreast 10. His impious hand hath from her Eyes remov'd Those sacred things which she so dearly lov'd Within her Courts the Heathen have been seen Who were forbad by Thee to enter in 11. Her starving People for the want of Bread Do sighing sit not to be comforted All their delightful things they given have For Food to save them from the noisome Grave Behold O Lord consider how I now Am held in no esteem and made to bow 12. Have ye no sense of my afflicted case Ye savage Monsters who this way do pass Stay but a while and tell me if your Eyes Have seen such sad amazing Miseries As my incensed God is pleas'd to lay Upon my Soul in this his wrathful day 13. He from above into my Bones hath sent Consuming-Fire as a punishment He for my Feet an unseen Net hath spread Amid'st those sinful Paths I us'd to tread And backwards turn'd me so that now I lye Wasting and fainting in my Misery 14. He round my Neck hath put the heavy Band Of my Transgressions with his angry Hand And my Herculean Strength hath weaken'd so That I am captiv'd by a feeble Foe Nor shall I ever able be again To burst asunder my uneasie Chain 15. The Lord hath trampled under foot the strong And valiant Men which did to me belong In fury he hath sent an armed Host To slay my Youth and spoil my fertile Coast As in a Wine-Press the Almighty hath Trod Judah's Daughter in his burning Wrath. 16. No downy Sleep can on mine Eye-lids creep For these Afflictions day and night I weep Adown my Cheeks the briny Tears do rowl Because the Lord who should relieve my Soul Is far from me my Children des'olate are And Pris'ners made unto the Foe in War 17. Sion for Succour hath her Hands stretch'd out But all in vain the Lord hath round about Girt Jacob with his Foes Jerusalem Is as a menstr'ous Wretch abhorr'd by them 18. The Lord is Righteous and his Judgments all For my notorious Sins do justly fall Upon my wanton head I all my days Have been a Rebel to his sacred ways Hear I beseech you all ye passers by Look how forsaken I in Sorrow lye My Maids and young Men by a conq'ring-hand Are Captives led into another Land 19. I call'd on those whom I my Lovers thought To come and help me but they help'd me not My Priests and Elders in the Streets fell Dead Famish'd with Hunger for the want of Bread 20. Behold O Lord the Judgments of my Sin My Bowels work my heart can't rest within Sad and dejected in the midst of Woes I trembling sit to see the slaughtring Blows Of the devouring Sword abroad the while Within my Gates pale Famine makes a spoil 21. My treach'rous Friends have heard how sadly I Have mourn'd but none would to my help draw nigh My Foes have likewise all my Trouble known And greatly joy at what thy Hand hath done But thou wilt bring their stablish'd day at last And plague them sorely who have laid me waste 22. Then let their Sins in their full measure come Before thy Face and let them have their Doom A Doom as sharp as I have found from thee Do unto them as thou hast done to me It 's time O Lord that thou should'st take my part And ease the Pains of my afflicted Heart CHAP. II. 1. Jeremiah lamenteth the Misery of Jerusalem 20. He camplaineth thereof to God 1. HOw hath the Lord forsaken his delight And mask'd his Sion in the Shade of Night Took from her lovely Brow the awful Crown And hath from Heav'n to Earth her Beauties thrown Rememb'ring not in this his wrathful day The sacred Temple where we us'd to Pray 2. He ruin'd hath and utterly destroy'd Those pleasant Tents which Jacob long enjoy'd Thrown down the Holds of Judah's Daughter round And raz'd and made them level with the ground Yea as a thing unclean hath made the Land And all her Princes in his Eye-sight stand 3. He in his Fury Isr'els Strength hath quell'd And his all-sisting-Arm from him with-held Before the Foe in his consuming Ire Hath Jacob wasted with devouring Fire 4. To its full bent like a revengeful Foe His sin'wy-Arm hath drawn the fatal Bow And slew whate're in Sions Tent was known To be with pleasure and delight look'd on 5. He as a Foe hath Isr'els Land laid waste And all his Forts and Palaces defac'd In universal sorrow Judah lies Rending the gentle Air with mournful Cries 6. He from his Temple hath his presence took Like an unfruitful Garden it forsook In Rubbish laid his hallow'd House and those Scatter'd who there to serve in Course were chose Hath caus'd the solemn Feasts and Sabbaths too Of Sion to forgotten be and go Without their due observance and in 's Wrath The sacred King and Priest despised hath 7. No mounting Flames upon his Altar rise His Temple hateful is unto his Eyes Her Walls within whose Guards we us'd to stand Are given up into the Heathens Hand As in a solemn Feast their Voices are Heard in our Courts to rend the sounding Air. 8. The Lord hath purpos'd level as the ground To lay the Walls that compass Sion round And hath stretch'd out a Line resolved on Her utter Ruine and Subversion Therefore the shielding-Rampart and the Wall Together sunk and to the ground did fall 9. Her Brass-Ribb'd Gates which none could ever wound And Iron-Bars lye broken on the ground Her Kings and Princes who in Purple sate Dispencing Justice in her peaceful Gate Are Captives now among the Heathen gone No Law nor Justice in her Gates are known Her Prophets find no Vision from the Lord Nor in his House sounds forth the sacred Word 10. In a deep silence on the dusty ground The Elders sit with Woes encompast round With fulsome Dust strow'd on each hoary-Head And with repenting Sack-cloath covered The lovely Maids of Sion who would not Within their Breasts admit a ruffling thought Prest down with sorrow like the Aged go With palsi'd Limbs and Heads that downwards bow 11. My spungy Eyes which from their Channels ne're
Fail'd to assist me with a moistning Tear Keep back their kind asswaging Dews from me Now I should use them in my Misery My Bowels tremble to behold the Fall And fatal Ruine of my People all To hear the little Sucklings make complaint Seeking for Food and as they seek it faint 12. They to their Mothers say with mournful Voice O where 's the Corn and Wine that should rejoyce Our drooping Souls In vain for Food they cry Fainting they sink within their Arms and Dye 13. Tell me forsaken Sion tell what thing Shall I to Witness take for thee or bring That can with thee compare O how shall I Think on a way to ease thy Misery No 't is beyond my Art thy Wound to reach For like the Sea so wide and deep a Breach Thy Sins have made that to close up thy Wound And make it whole no Balsome can be found 14. Thy Prophets have been busied with the Wind Taught thee according to thy wanton Mind They have not as they ought display'd thy Sin To turn thee from the Bondage thou art in But have pronounc'd instead of Truths false Lyes Which have ensnar'd thee in these Miseries 15. All that pass by insulting o're thy Bands Do hissing wag their Heads and clap their Hands Saying is this the City that Men call The joy of the whole Earth and chief of all 16. Thy hellish Foes joyful to see thy day As they walk by do gnash their Teeth and say What we have look'd for long proud Sions Doom Is on her now in all its rigour come Now we her Judgments have both seen and found Sion destroy'd and levell'd with the ground 17. VVhat God hath purpos'd in the days of Old And by his Prophets long ago foretold He hath fulfill'd unto the Earth hath thrown Thy stately Buildings without pity shown Nay he hath made thee to thy Foes a scorn And over thee exalted hath their Horn. 18. They cry'd unto the Lord O Sions Wall How art thou ruin'd and forsook by all Let Tears like an o'reflowing River rowl Down from thy weeping Eyes and to thy Soul Give no repose no respite to thine Eye Let it for ever flow and ne're be dry 19. Arise and cry in the first Watch o' th' Night Pour out thine Heart like water in the sight Of the Almighty and with Hands lift high Implore thy Sucklings Lives that fainting lye VVith Hunger in the top of ev'ry Street Beg till thou can'st with his Compassion meet 20. See and consider Lord on whom it is That thou hast laid so great a Plague as this Shall Women eat the tender fruit o' th' Womb Their Span-long-Children Shall thy House a Tomb Both to the Priest and Prophet now become 21. In ev'ry Street the youthful Heads are found With the Gray-hairs to kiss the flinty ground Thou hast my Virgins and my Young-Men all Slain and made pit'less by the Sword to fall 22. As in a Solemn Day thou hast call'd out Thy Terrours and beset me round about So that not one in this thy wrathful Day Remain'd or could by Flight escape away Those that I swadled and brought up the Foe Hath now O Lord consumed to my VVoe CHAP. III. 1. The Faithful bewail their Calamities 31. They acknowledge God's Justice 1. I Am the Man that hath Afflictions known By that smart Rod which he hath sent me down 2. Into sad darkness he my Soul hath brought And from mine Eyes the chearful Light shut out 3. Hath me forsaken and hath turn'd his Hand Against me that I now do trembling stand 4. He hath my tender Flesh Snow-white Skin Shrivell'd and broken all my Bones within 5. He hath Besieg'd me that I can't get free Walling me round with dreadful Misery 6. In dark and hideous places hath me put As are the Dead who in the Grave are shut 7. Hath round about me made so strong a Fence So weighty made my Chains I can't get hence 8. When I with a loud cry assail his Ear He shuts my Prayer out and will not hear 9. He hath block'd up my ways made me forsake The beaten Road and unknown Paths to take 10. Like as a rav'ning Bear he was to me Or as a Lyon lurking secretly 11. He stop'd me and in pieces did me Tear And left me mangled and unpityed there 12. He bent his murth'ring Bow made me stand Like a most certain Mark to guide his Hand 13. He caus'd the winged-Darts from 's horned-Bow With a swift flight into my Reins to go 14. I was a scorn to all my People they Made me the Subject of their Mirth all day 15. He hath me fill'd with bitter things and me Made drunk with Wormwood to my Misery 16. He hath me wounded with afflictions sore And me with Ashes covered all o're 17. He also hath my Soul remov'd from peace And I forget my former happiness 18. And said my Courage and my strength is fled And from the Lord my hope is perished 19. When I remember all those Sorrows I Have undergone and under which I lye 20. My Soul keeps them in mind and for all this She in my Bosome truly humbled is 21. This gives me hopes that the Almighty will Be my Defence and my Preserver still 22. And this must say that of his Mercy 't is That we are not consum'd because that his 23. Compassions fail not dayly they increase And great 's to us his Love and Faithfulness 24. The Lord my Portion is and therefore I Will hope in him in all my Misery 25. Good is the Lord and gracious to those Who seek him and their Trust in him repose 26. 'T is good for Man to wait the leisure time Of Gods Salvation and to trust in him 27. 'T is good for Man in 's Youth his Neck to fit Unto the Yoke and to Gods Laws submit 28. Us'd to the Yoke he doth no murmurs vent But bears with patience Heaven's punishment 29. Humbles himself and doth with hopes attend When the Almighty will his succour lend 30. Reproach'd by those who do his Ruine seek Unto their Stroaks he gives his tender Cheek 31. Knowing that God wont him forsake but be A just Avenger of his Injury 32. That though he send Afflictions yet at last They who them suffer shall his Mercies taste 33. He takes no pleasure to chastise at all Or let Afflictions on his Creatures fall 34. To crush the Fetter'd Pris'ner of the Earth Under his Feet to whom he did give Birth 35. To turn aside the Right of any one That craves admittance to the sacred Throne 36. To overthrow the Cause that righteous is The Lord doth not nor will approve of this 37. Who is' t that says a thing and when 't is brought To pass dares say that Heaven will'd it not 38. Out from the sacred Lips of God can't come Both Good and Bad he gives a righteous Doom 39. Why then doth Man repine when struck by God Wer 't not for
's Sin he 'd never feel his Rod. 40. Let 's search and try our ways let 's turn unto Our angry God and see what he will do 41. Let 's with our Hands lift up our Hearts on high And thus bespeak the dreadful Deity 42. We all have sinn'd we all have Rebels been Therefore thou hast us plagued for our Sin 43. With Wrath thou hast o'rewhelm'd and clos'd us all And made us pit'less to thy Fury fall 44. In a thick Cloud thou hast thy self inshrin'd That through't our Prayers should no passage find 45. We are by all men the Off-scouring deem'd And look'd on as unfit to be esteem'd 46. With open Mouths our Foes their Joys express Glad to behold us plung'd in deep distress 47. Fear and a Snare are come on us and we Destroyed are with great severity 48. Mine Eyes with Rivers of salt Tears gush out For the Destruction on my People brought 49. Adown my Cheeks they glide and will not cease Till from my troubles he doth me release 50. Till that the Lord in mercy will look down They 'l never stop but Day and Night will run 51. My very Heart with grief within me 's torn To hear the Daughters of my City mourn 52. Like as a Bird so am I chas'd by those Who are without just cause my mortal Foes 53. Into a Dung'on dark they have me thrown And over-whelm'd me with a Massy-Stone 54. Billows of Sorrows o're my Head did pass Then I concluded that I ruin'd was 55. I call'd upon thy Name O Lord most high Out of the Dung'on in my Misery 56. Unto my Voice thou hast inclin'd thine Ear With-hold not now and be not deaf but hear 57. Thou in the day when I did call drew'st near Did'st answer and command me not to fear 58. Thou thou only Lord maintain'st my Cause And did'st my Life redeem from Bloody Paws 59. And now O Lord since thou hast seen my wrong Judg thou my Cause it doth to thee belong 60. Thou hast with watchful Eye their Vengeance seen And all their thoughts that have against me been 61. Thou hast O Lord both heard their Scoffs and known All that against me in their hearts is done 62. Unto those Lips who do against me rise Thou art no Stranger nor to their device 63. When they uprise or when they lye along I am the Subject of their mirthful Song 64. Give them O Lord their due and speedy Doom Full Cups of Vengeance let them flowing come 65. Let killing Sorrow sit on ev'ry Heart Let not thy Fatal Curse from them depart 66. Pursue and chase them in thine anger Lord And from the Earth destroy them with thy Sword CHAP. IV. 1. Sion bewaileth her pitiful estate 13. She confesseth her Sins 1. HOw is the beamy-Gold grown dim as Night How is the pure Gold chang'd which was most bright How are the Temple-stones with dirty Feet Defil'd and scatter'd into ev'ry Street 2. The Noble Men of Sion lik'ned to The most fine Gold how are they look'd on now But as the Potters handy-work of Clay No other Honour or esteem have they 3. The watry-Monsters ne're deny the Breast But give their Young the Teat when they request My People cruel to their Young Ones are Like th' unnatural Ostrich void of care 4. With scortching thirst the tender Suckling's Tongue Cleaves to the vaulted Roof of 's Mouth the Young And harmless Infants that can scarcely speak Ask of their Parents Bread but none they break 5. They who did use on choicest Food to feed Perish i' th' Streets and none their crys do heed They who were Rob'd with Cloath of Tyrian-Dy Naked upon a loathsome Dunghil lye 6. My People for their Sins more chast'ned are Than e're the People of lew'd Sodom were Their City soon consumed was to th' Ground And no appearing Foe Encamp'd it round 7. Her Nazarites who were more purely White Than is the Fleecy Snow and Milk to sight More Ruddy than the Rubies ever were And than the polish'd Saphyr shin'd more clear 8. So changed are as to their Faces now That one them cannot for their Blackness know Close to their Iv'ry-Bones their Skin is shrunk And wither'd like a dead Trees Sapless Trunk 9. Those who are killed by the Sword are far Better than they who slain by Famine are For these when stricken by it lingring lye And by degrees doe pine away and Dye 10. The half starv'd Mothers forced were to Eat The Fruit of their own Wombs for want of Meat So much distress'd and to this dismal pass Were they reduc'd when Sion ruin'd was 11. The Lord his furious Indignation hath Accomplish'd and pour'd out his burning Wrath He such a Fire hath in Sion made As hath in Rubbish her Foundations laid 12. The Crowned Heads and those of meaner Birth That trod the globous-Surface of the Earth Would not have thought that ever any Foe Should have on Sion seiz'd and brought it low 13. For the notorious Sins of those who were Her Priests Prophets all these Judgments are Upon her brought they are the Cause of all The Purple Blood that in her Streets did fall 14. Defil'd with Blood which in the Streets they shed Like Blind Men up and down they wandered And were so foul that Men did them detest And durst not come to touch their sacred Vest 15. The Rabble with a loud Stentorean cry Call'd to the Priests and bid them thence to fly Depart depart ye are unclean said they Therefore they fled and roved Night and Day The Heathen follow'd with a dreadful Yell And said they should no more in Sion dwell 16. The Wrath of God hath them dispersed quite He will no more abide them in his sight Because they neither to their Priests did give A due respect nor did their Age relieve 17. Whil'st we expecting looked towards the Coast Of Egypt waiting for a succ'ring Host Our gazing Eyes were dim and weary grown Looking for help from whence we could have none 18. From Street to Street they did pursue us so That we could no where from their Fury go Upon our Lives is past the fatal Doom Our Days are finish'd and our End is come 19. Our deadly Foes in Flight much swifter are Than is the quick Wing'd Eagle of the Air They have pursu'd us on the Mountains and Have waited for us in the Desart Sand. 20. The Lord 's Anointed in their Nets are ta'ne In whom we hop'd by their Hands is Slain Of whom we said under his Shaddow we Shall live secure and from our Fears be free 21. Rejoyce O Edom's Daughter be thou joy'd Who did'st insult when Sion was destroy'd Thou shalt e're-while the Cup of Fury taste Be sham'd as She was and like her laid Waste 22. Thy Woes O Sion are fulfill'd no more Shalt thou be Captive made as heretofore But O thou Edom Heaven will begin To visit thine Offence and show thy Sin CHAP. V. A pitiful Complaint of
to traduce His Glorious Name thinking thereby that they Might from him draw the peoples hearts away But on himself they did not dare to set Conscious that he would by the Contest get Therefore to bring their Hellish Plot to pass The rend'ring Jesus worthy of disgrace They knew no better and no surer way Than this to take it cannot be say they That this same Fellow should be David's Son As ye suppose who is of low Birth known The Son of David as ye all do know Shall be a mighty Prince shall great things do Here in a Glorious Manner shall Command And over us bear Rule from whose strong hand We must expect deliverance from those Who are our potent and our deadly Foes Whereas this Fellow is so mean a thing So far from being such a Glorious King That he deserves not to be thought on more Being a Wretch so despicably poor Besides his Deeds most inconsistant are With the high Birth of David's Son and Heir For he with such a Train goes up and down As is of no repute as 't is well known Teaching such Doctrines which no Mortal Ear Before his coming did the like e're hear Curing Diseases in their Natures such As the most Sov'raign'st Drugs could never â—ouch And casting Devils out of the possest By that Infernal Prince who sways the rest Thus they asperst his ever-Blessed Namâ— And by this means thought to Eclipse his Fame But what he did or to his Charge was laid His Friends as yet no Intimation had Till at the length unto their Ears was brought Both what he did and by what means he wrought And being then so generally known And talk'd of they so credulous were grown As to believe it true and so instead Of clearing his good Name they thought him mad And out they went with a resolved mind Him as one Frantick with strong Chains to bind But Jesus who as they suppos'd was mad Far other thoughts than his Relations had Of what the Pharisees did go about And had of him in secret given out He knew they had in a most high degree Injur'd his Father and notoriously Himself had slander'd telling it about The Pow'r by which he cast the Devils out Was to the Prince of the Insernal Club To be ascrib'd The mighty Be'lzebub Whereas the Pow'r by which he this did do Did solely and of right belong unto His Father who in Justice ought to have That Honour which to Be'lzebub they gave Calling therefore the Pharisees to him Who to his Charge had laid so foul a Crime And intimating to them that he knew Their thoughts and how behind his Back as true They had reported that he went about By Beelzebub casting Devils out He plainly told them that it could not well Be thought that he should those damn'd Fiends expell In such a manner as they said he did Since Reason needs must such vain thoughts forbid Because it could not in the least consist With Hell's Imperial Monarch's Interest Herein to help him for suppose he should Lend his Infernal Aid to him it would Among his Subjects a division make And the Foundation of his Empire shake Laying the Pillars of his burning Throne In Fatal Ruine and Destruction Herein his Kingdom being like unto Our Earthly Princes Kingdoms which we know Cannot subsist unless upheld they be By Concord and among themselves agree Again those Men who do the Titles bear Of my Apostles and your Children are Do cast out Devils in my Name and yet From you they meet with no reproof for it If they such VVonders do and in my Name And by my Power and receive no blame VVhy then do ye so basely go about To censure me for casting Devils out Since in God's Name and for his Glory too And your Relief and Comfort this I do VVere ye but with ingenious Souls possest Not Slaves to Envy or Self-Interest You would not thus defame me as you do But would ascribe my Miracles unto The pow'r of God and by thus doing show You own his Kingdom is now come to you That this the time of the Messias is VVhos 's Mission God hath testify'd with these Amazing wonders which hee 'd ne're have done Had I not been his true but feigned Son Besides I do not as ye fancy stand In need of Hells black Monarch's helping hand To cast out Devils for let Reason sway You must me free from this unlawful way For I am stronger than he is and so Into his closest dwelling-place can go Bind him and spoil his goods when ever I Shall think it fit his sturdy force to try His pow'r I know compar'd to mine 's so small That let him use his utmost force it shall Not hinder me from turning of him out Of them he hath into 's possession got Once more ye most ungrateful Wretches I Declare unto you that I work not by That Stygian Prince for he 's my mortal Foe And truly merits to be reck'ned so For who 's not for me must against me be He being therefore so implacably Mine enemy and no way to be brought And reconcil'd to me it can't be thought Worthy of credit that he ever should Help me to cast the Damned from their hold So that what ever Miracles I do Must needs be own'd the work of God by you And by his power wrought who thinks not this Thinks both of God and of my works amiss Wherefore the causeless malice which you bear To me your Friend let me no more of 't hear And don 't against your Consciences defame My famous deeds and my immortal Name For seeing they were by the Spirit wrought Of the Eternal one to go about To slander and oppose them is a Crime So horrid and so odious unto him That if 'till death with an obdurate heart It meet there can be no forgivness for 't And ye most justly merit to receive This rigid doom since sland'rously ye have Imputed these my Miracles unto Man's restless Foe and have affirmed too I work them by his Spirit whereas I Do by his Spirit work who 's thron'd on High For by so doing if we must the Tree Judge by the fruit it bears then surely ye Imply that the eternal-Holy-Ghost A Spirit is of the Infernal Host Which is the highest blasphemy I know Can be immagin'd to affirm him so Shall I ye whited Sepulchers declare That ye a wretched sort of people are And an infectious brood of Vipers truly less I cannot must not say of you than this For what you are your Language doth relate Men of unhallow'd hearts and reprobate Your words which issue from them as the stream Doth from the Fountain verifie this same And as your words which the true Tables are To show your hearts all that 's treasur'd there Are highly sinful so by you they ought To be esteem'd as such and think them not Too light or worthless as ye seem to do To be accounted for one day by you For
I declare that ev'ry idle word That men shall speak before the dreadful Lord Shall be computed for in that great day Of Judgment when he will their Sins display Much more shall they be to a reck'ning brought Who have such words as yours are given out Words full of Defamations and of Lies Great slanders and notorious Blasphemies For these they shall the dreadful doom receive Of the damn'd Spirits and their Torments have As they shall cleared and rewarded be For words that good are to Eternity Then when the Scribes and Pharisees had heard These stabbing truths which Jesus had declar'd Dissembling in their hearts the deadly hate They bore unto him humbly did intreat That he a Token would from Heaven give Whereby they might upon good grounds believe That the undoubted Christ of God he was Sent from him to instruct them in his Laws But Jesus who did never guess amiss Knowing they had a different end in this That notwithstanding all their fair pretence 'T was but a snare to trap his innocence That their chief cause in asking such a Sign Was but to take occasion to begin A quarrel with him which with much more ease They might commence about such things as these Than about them which in their natures are Unto the outward Senses much more near Thus said A vile and wicked People call And seek for Signs but there shall none at all But that of Jonas granted to them be Who is a true and lively Type of me For as three days and nights the Prophet lay Excluded from a life-infusing Ray Within his moving Scaly-Tomb shut fast And was by God restor'd alive at last So shall the Son of Man of heav'nly Birth Almost three days and nights within the Earth Entombed lye and then again shall rise The third day crown'd with lasting Victories And they who by this means will not be wrought And to conviction and repentance brought Nor to the preaching of my Follo'wers give A willing ear and what they teach believe Shall by the Ninivites adjudged be Because though they were in a high degree Sinful so sinful that before the Face Of the great God came up their wickedness Crying aloud on them to shower down His dreadful vengeance from his sacred Throne Yet from the Prophets freedom from his Goal The slimy Belly of the monst'rous Whale And Preaching to them they in Sack-Cloath went And did sincerely of their Sins repent Whereas against my Preaching you are now So stubborn and so stifly bent that though I am by much a greater Prophet known Than Jonas being the Eternal Son God having testify'd of me this same By a loud Voice which from the Heavens came Yet to my Resurrection you 'l not give Credit nor be perswaded to believe What my Apostles by my Spirit shall Instruct you so as to repent at all That Famous Aethiopian Queen likewise Shall up i' th' Judgment ' gainst this Nation rise And it condemn because she came from far The Wisdom of King Solomon to hear Whereas against me you have entertain'd So great displeasure that you won't be gain'd To come and be inform'd of me although To do 't you need no tedious Steps to go And sure to most of you it must be known That I am greater much than Solomon And highly him in Wisdom do surpass And therefore abler am than e're he was To give you both instructions and advice How to attain to be divinely wise His Wisdom being in such things as here Occurr'd and Natural and Humane were Not such a Wisdom as was like to mine Perfect in matters Sacred and Divine And such a Wisdom that would you but be Perswaded to embrace it heartily Would mrke you wise and so direct your feet That you at last with endless Joys should meet But as for you and likewise for the rest Of this your Nation who have been so blest With all-sufficient means to bring you to A timely Sorrow for your Sins and who Have had so many Wonders 'mong you wrought So many Fiends of the Possest cast out And yet so far have hitherto been known From walking worthy of these Mercies shown That ye the God of Love blasphemed have By whom I Work and who me Power gave That let me tell you ye are highly in A sad Condition through your wilful Sin And that your State is much more hopeless now By Satans second coming into you Than 't was before I liv'd among you here Or than it would have been if I had ne're Cast Satan out for now he 'll with him take That he may safe his regain'd Conquest make More and worse Spirits than he did before To tempt you unto Sin and make you more Wicked each day than other until he Hath you involv'd in endless Misery Many more Wonders than we here do write Jesus perform'd in his Disciples sight These are recorded that you all might know Him the Messiah which was promis'd you And that believing him to be the same You might have Life through his Eternal Name The Prayer of the Most Holy Jesus before his Apprehension Saint John 1. NOw when the great and glorious Son of Love Who for our Bliss forsook his own above Had ended his Discourse with lift up Eyes And elevated Hands to Heav'n he cryes 2. Father the hour of my Death draws on For all Mankind now glorifie thy Son That I may be enabled to go through The weighty business which I come to do 3. And as my Power doth extend to All To give Eternal Life permit the fall Of none of those whom I came down to save Let them the Merits of my Passion have 4. All thou requirest to Enthrone Men there Where Joys most perfect and Eternal are Is this to own thee as the Supreme One Thy Laws obey and to embrace thy Son 5. This I have publish'd since I came below I have not fail'd thy sacred Will to show Having now finish'd what I came for here Attend O heavenly Father to my Pray'r 6. When I have suffer'd what is due to Man Receive me up unto thy Joys again Give me that Glory which I had with Thee Before the World was from Eternity 7. As for those Men whom from their Callings thou Gav'st to attend me hear thy Will they know From thee I did receive them thine they were My Will as thine they have obey'd with care 8. Those glorious things for which I did come down I have not secret kept but made them known They have embrac'd that Message brought by me Firmly believing that I came from thee 9. For these peculiar Men to thee I pray Confirm their Faith that no Temptation may Seduce their hearts nor Terrors e're withdraw Their skilful Tongues from publishing thy Law 10. For th' impenitent I no mention make Let them the fruit of all their Sins partake For them I pray and for their constancy Who are thy Gift and who have served me 11. These I commend unto thy gracious