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
And cast your Nets to try your Luck again Into the watry Chambers of the Deep And thence on Shoar the Scaly Dwellers sweep But Simon told him we have all the night Labour'd in vain and on no Fish could light And now at noon day and a Sky serene To think we shall be more successful than We yet have been is a conceit so vain That none who knows the Trade can entertain Nevertheless at thy request we 'll wet Once more our Nets although no Fish we get Then down into the deep they hopeless cast Their fatal Engines and inclos'd at last So vast a draught of Fish both great and small That their Nets brake and they were forc'd to call To James and John to come and help them take The slutt'ring Pris'oners forth the crystal Lake Come to their help with much ado they got Part of the loaden Net into the Boat Still by degrees they more of it did pull Till they had heap'd with Fish their Boat so full That down into the deep they sinking were At which the greedy Simon full of fear Fell at the knees of Jesus and besought Him to depart out of the sinking Boat For Lord said he my Sins so num'rous are They 'l render me unfit to reap a share Of this great draught so great as ne're was known Which is a cause of admiration To me and my Companions who before Ne're saw the like nor ever shall see more But Jesus bid him lay aside all fear They were as safe as if on Land they were Besides said he if thou and these will be Who are thy Partners Followers of me Ye shall have all by much a nobler Trade Than this of men ye shall be Fishers made And with the Gospel-Net which you shall use Millions of Gentiles ye shall take and Jews And through Death's Chambers safely to the Shore Of Life and Bliss bring them for evermore Now when the four their Vessels safe had brought Unto the Shore which once they never thought Alive they should have reacht from that same time They forsook all they had and follow'd him MIRACLE II. The Cure of a Demoniack in the City of Capernaum JEsus to Capernaum went straightway With his Disciples on the Sabbath-day When a great number of the City were Assembled in the Synagogue to hear Their Rabbies with a reverence profound Erroneously Gods sacred Law expound Jesus came in and while they did unfold Their wronged Law and strange Traditions told His patient ear attentively did lend Unto their roving talk till it did end Then stretching forth his Arm th' eternal Son Of the great God his heav'nly Speech begun Teaching the Jews sublimer Truths than they By their conceited Priests were taught that day Preaching as one Commission'd from above Th' unheard of Mercies of the God of Love With so much pow'r that they wonder'd all Having ne're heard the like from any fall Now that same restless Spirit who doth go Round the vast Orb to work the overthrow Of fallen Man had then among the rest Of the assembled Jews a Man possest Who when he heard the ever blessed Lord Divinely teach most hellishly he roar'd And thus he spake Can't we be let alone Since we are banisht from the heav'nly Throne To have the freedom of this lower World Must we from hence as from above be hurl'd What have we Jesus for to do with thee Are we not here from thy Dominion free Art thou with pow'r come down to make us leave Those conquer'd Souls which by our wiles we have Fetter'd with a design to make them be Companions with us in our misery I know thee who thou art and must thee own To be the mighty Saviour and the Son Of that just God whom by our fatal Pride We would have equall'd but in vain we try'd Then Jesus sharply did rebuke the Fiend And to his saucy Questions put an end Commanding him to hold his peace and quit The captiv'd Body and ne're argue it Th' enraged Fiend who durst no longer stay Within his conquer'd Tenement of Clay All foaming threw him on the paved Floor Beating his Face till 't was imbru'd all o're With Froth and Blood then with an hideous yell Forth sally'd the infernal Imp of Hell Now when the Standers by beheld the deed They all astonisht were and all agreed That sure his Doctrin must be heav'nly And that the Teacher more than Man must be Whom the affrighted Devils do obey Tremble when he commands and sneak away Then through the Coasts of Galilee his Name Tryumphing rode upon the Wings of Fame MIRACLE III. The Cure of Peter's Wives Mother who was sick of a Feaver NO sooner was the Sabbath-duty done And to their homes th' amazed Jews all gone But Jesus James and John with Simon went And Andrew to their poor retirement Where almost till the dawn of the next day With the two pair of Brothers he did stay Within the house sick at that time did lye Simon 's Wives Mother at the point to dye Whose aged blood caus'd by a feav'rish flame Boyl'd with such fury that no Art could tame Whom the Physitians had quite given o're Knowing their skill could not her health restore Peter who just before had seen his Lord Effect a Cure by his Almighty VVord Upon a Man whom Satan had possest Fell on his Knees and humbly did request That by his mighty Pow'r he would cure His aged Mother's raging Calenture Jesus who ever ready was to give Relief to those who did in him believe Came to the Bed where the distemper'd Soul Tortur'd with scorching heat did toss and rowl And in the view of all who there did stand He took the woman by the burning hand And raising her upright the Feaver straight Did by his Sov'raign touch its rage abate So well she was that forthwith she did go And made Provision for her Guests below MIRACLE IV. The Cure of divers sick persons in the Evening of that Sabbath NOw when the fiery Chariot of the Sun Had round this part of our Horizon run Most of the City hearing of the Fame Of Jesus to the door of Peter came Bringing their Sick their Blind their Lame and all Those whom the Devil had long held in thrall Jesus whose love no limits ever knew When he beheld the sad diseased Crew And heard their dying groans and fearful crys Arising from their various miseries Out of a tender pity to Mankind Cur'd the Possest the Sick the Lame and Blind And the infernal Fiends would not allow Whom he cast forth to say they did him know MIRACLE V. The healing of several Sick and Diseased Persons by Jesus as he went through Galilee and more particularly the Cure of a Leper BEfore the guilded Planet of the East Had from his watry Bed arose and drest His nimble Body with a fulgent ray Up Jesus got and went aside to pray Into a solitary place when soon He was by Simon Andrew James and John Follow'd and
Sion in Prayer to God 1. BE mindful thou of all our Woes whose Throne In Heaven is on our reproach look down 2. The Land thou gav'st us to Possess is Till'd By Heathens and our Houses with them fill'd 3. No King we have our Cities all are left As mournful Widows of their Loves bereft 4. We can't fetch Water from the Chrystal Spring Nor Fuel get unless its price we bring 5. Our Necks are with a grievous Bondage prest Wearied we are and can obtain no rest 6. We have for Bread implored Egypts Aid And a firm League with wicked Ashur made 7. Our Fathers have transgrest and are no more We their Transgressions and our own have bore 8. Servants have rul'd and had o're us command None would us free from their imperious Hand 9. We ran the hazard of our lives for Meat Because the Sword around did for us wait 10. Our Skin did black as is the Oven look Because lank-Famine rag'd in ev'ry nook 11. They forc'd the Wives in Sion and in wild And burning Lust their lovely Maids defil'd 12. They hang'd our Princes up and had no care To honour them who Priests or Aged were 13. They made the Young-Men labour at the Mill With weighty Burdens did the Children kill 14. No Law-dispensing-Elder now doth sit In Sions Gate nor 's Musick heard in it 15. The Joy and Pleasure of our Heart is fled Our Daunce we now in mournful Measures Tread 16. The State and glory of our Realm is gone Wo to us for our Sins have it undone 17. For this our Hearts are Faint our Griefs increase And for these things our Eyes ne're Weeping cease 18. But chiefly for that Sion fam'd of Old To be thy Joy is now the Foxes hold 19. But why O Lord thou sole Eternal One Who hast an everlasting settled Throne 20. Do'st thou so long forget and leave us here And to our Out-cries wilt not lend an Ear 21. Turn thou Lord and we shall turned be And let us have the Days we once did see 22. But thou hast cast us off thine angry look Shows that thou hast thy Sion quite forsook CONCLVSION THus hath my Pen through various Troubles past Traverst the Woes of Sion and at last Unto the end of her Complaint is come Grant that our Sion may not find her Doom In Thee we hope in Thee we Trust alone To thee we fly save us Thou Mighty One This Favour from our Princes can't be had Thou only can'st preserve and make us glad A Prayer for the Church ETernal God to whom all Knees shall bow Unto whose goodness we our Beings owe How have we all from thy Commandments Following our vain Imagination Hast thou not seen thy Mercies slighted all gone Thy Laws and Judgments in contempt to fall And heard how we with impious Mouths have said There is no God no God who hath us made I cannot Lord but tremble when I muse On these our fearful Sin nor can I chuse But burst into a sad and doleful Cry What merit we for our Impiety We here deserve to feel thy heaviest Doom And those eternal Flames i' th' World to come But thou who art an ever gracious God To anger slow unwilling with thy Rod To grieve the Sons of Men who ready art Fully to pardon the returning heart But a consuming Fire that will burn The Soul that will not be induc'd to turn Make us sincerely sorrowful for all Make us sincerely sorrowful for all Our crying Sins that for thy Vengeance call Forgive us all our secret and our known Transgressions which we against thee done And grant that we may willingly no more Provoke thy furious Wrath as heretofore And since our Hearts are in thy Hands O Lord Make them obed'ent to thy Will and Word Send into ev'ry Breast that peaceful Dove Thy holy and eternal Sp'rit of Love To rule and lead us in the way of Peace Whose end is everlasting Happiness That for the future there may not arise Amongst us baneful Animosities Be gracious to thy Church and scatter all That dayly seek and Plot to make her Fall Make them to perish in their strange device And never rise to work her Miseries But let thy Goodness and thy Mercies flow Upon her Head with her always go And since a dismal Cloud with frowning Brow Hovers o're thy despised Sion now O let thy Goodness a quick-piercing-Ray Send down and chase this direful Cloud away That it upon her may not fall and we For our Offences thereby Ruin'd be But chiefly Lord we here do thee invoke To save her from Romes hateful hellish Yoke Let not that Man of Sin wh ' exalts his Throne Above the Powers that on Earth are known Subject her to his most imperious Sway And make her to his Avarice a Prey Infat'ate his Designs and on him lay The Mischiefs purpos'd to Her day by day Cover with thy out-stretched Wings the Great And Gracious Sov'raign of our Church State In spight of those who rage and cursing stand To see the Scepter flourish in his Hand Preserve his sacred Life and make them all Who seek his Ruine by his Hand to fall Here Crown him with a long and blessed Peace And when he Dyes with endless Happiness Bless likewise those who at thy Altar serve Grant that their Lips may right'ous Truths preserve Let both their Lives and Doctrins be sincere And let them like the Stars shine bright and clear Bless all inferiour Ministers of State Fill them with wholsome Justice in the Gate Let well weigh'd Judgment from their Mouths proceed And not the name of Friend or Foe to heed Be good to all thy People ev'ry where And keep them in thy Faith and in thy Fear Convert the unconverted make us all To own one Shepheard and to know his Call Then we thy People who to thee belong From day to day will with a thankful Song Set forth thy Praise and to the World declare How great thy Goodness and thy Mercies are POEMS ON SEVERAL Occasions By the same Hand LONDON Printed by R. E. for R. Bentley and M. Magnes in Russel-Street in Covent-Garden 1680. Poems on several Occasions The Sinners Wish AH could I Lord at thy blest Hands Receive a Freedom from my Bands From killing Sins and worldly-Cares From future Torments dismal Fears Were I as certain of thy Love As Angels that enjoy 't above Beauty with her bewitching-Smiles VVhich Fetters Millions with her Wiles Should ne're embrace me in her Arms I 'de stand unconquer'd at her Charms Those wealthy Treasures of the Shoar The costly Gems the glitt'ring Oar These I 'de contemn upon this score That I might Heavens Treasures know And when I dye may thither go Say Lord the Word and 't shall be so On Lazarus rais'd Lord THe Grave obey'd Deaths Bands did fall Asunder at thy pow'rful Call And all those faithless Lookers on Beheld his Resurrection Such charming Rhet'rick's in thy Voice The Dead Revive the
Sad Rejoyce And the lov'd Laz'rus did return From the close Prison of his Urn. As thou was pleas'd to raise from dust His sensless Carkass so I trust Thou 'lt call my Soul from ev'ry trust And from this earthly Prison free It to a glorious Liberty To Death 1. SInce Adam sinn'd and by that fatal Fall Gave thee a Sov'raign Power over all It is decreed we must obey thy Call 2. To thy dark Cell when thou command'st I 'le go Since my dear Lord hath trod that Path I know No Terrors I shall meet in th' Shades below 3. Pale Fear adieu go find some other Breast For thine abode ne're think that thou shalt rest Within my Bosom I 'le have no such Guest 4. And since it is decreed my Body must Return from whence it had it's Birth at first Pronounce thy Sentence discharge thy Trust 5. But know thy conq'ring-Dart in time will fly Into thy cruel-Heart then thou shalt dye But ne're with me enjoy Eternity 6. Yet I declare thou art my real Friend Since from this earthly Prison thou dost send My Soul unto those Joys which have no end The Morning Sacrifice 1. NO sooner doth the chearful Light Dispel the Horrours of the Night But like the Lark my Soul aloft Mounts to her God in Notes most soft Recounts to Him with great delight All her past Mercies of the Night 2. And since thou dearest Lord do'st prize A thankful Heart since in thine Eyes It is of value ev'ry day This grateful Tribute I will pay And 't were a madness since no more Thou do'st exact to run o' th' Score 3. For O my Soul what more befits Thee to return for benefits Than what the Angels do always Chant forth his most deserved Praise Who ev'ry dawn doth give new Birth To all thy solid Joys on Earth On Reprobation 1. I Cannot think my God thou didst create Some Men on purpose for no happier State Than endless Torments which shall know no date 2. Nor dare I own a thought that Christ did dye Only for Some not All intention'lly These Doctrines I abhor most perfectly 3. That Man the noblest of thy Works should be By thee design'd for endless Misery To shew thy Justice and thy Sov'raignty 4. My Soul shall never entertain a thought Of so much horrour of that God who sought Our Restauration and redemption bought 5. When all along thou promises do'st make To all Mankind who will their Sins forsake Thou wilt forgive shall I thy Word not take 6. Yes Lord I will though boldly some declare Thy known and secret Will so diff'rent are When thou say'st live thou ne're intend'st to spare 7. 'T is strange they should some few dark places wrest To speak their Sense when Lord thou dost protest Such thoughts were never harbour'd in thy Breast 8. How vile's that Man whose heart doth not agree With 's Tongue good God and just how is' t that we What Man 's asham'd of attribute to thee 9. What in my heart I think to All I 'le tell Such contradictions sure can never dwell With perfect Purity their Mansion's Hell 10. Were I to represent to th' publick-View A Devil Hypocrite or Trayt'rous Jew I would delineate them as these do you 11. What strange presumption do these Gnosticks show To make as if they did thy Secrets know Which none can tell who doth converse below 12. In thy most sacred Writ 't is manifest There 's none excluded all Men may be blest If they are willing with eternal Rest 13. For thou art good and gracious unto all Long-suffering to us Sinners and dost call All to repentance would'st have none to fall 14. And for this purpose Christ for all did dye He hath affirm'd this Truth who cannot lye To doubt of which confronts Divinity 15. Most safe it is to rest on this belief Most satisfactory it eases Grief And yields a poor desponding Soul relief A Meditation on Mans Folly LOrd what a foolish thing is Man How fond is he of Toys How doth he spend that little Span Of his in empty Joys But for that precious Soul of his He takes no future care To fit it for immortal Bliss Such thoughts too serious are Himself to ev'ry pleasure gives And drowns his Soul in Lust In all destructive Sins he lives Till levell'd with the Dust Give me O Lord that pious care And that obsequious love That all my Actions may declare I seek that place above Where we from Sin exempt shall be From Sorrow and from Tears And where no Trouble we shall see Nor frighted be with Fears A Vow I Vow Lord give me grace no beauteous smile No Wedg nor Honor shall my Soul beguile From strict obedience no not all the art Of the seducing Fiend shall tempt my Heart Though all the Glories of the World should be Amass'd together in one Treasury And by him tender'd yet I would not bow To his damn'd Scepter but I 'de keep my Vow Deus mi. BLess me with peace of Conscience And in my Soul with innocence Love of my God and dearest Friends And my Ambition hath its ends This Lord 's the All I must confess I dare on Earth call happiness I limit not thy Providence To act according to my sence Dispose of me as thou think'st fit And make my Will to thine submit Domine Jesu 1. THe Vertue of that Balm which did distill From thy pierc'd side infuse into my Will That thy good pleasure here I may fulfill 2. Make me to Thee as to the Center move Each thought and act refine inslame my love To all thy ways that I may faithful prove 3. And since to thee the Cross must be my guide That joy which made thee make me to abide Its weight till I in Paradise reside To a young Person that was about to Vow Celibacy 1 Tim. Chap. 5. Ver. 14. I will therefore that the younger Women marry bear Children guide the House give none occasion to the Adversary to speak reproachfully SHe who her Reason lays aside And Superstition makes her Guide Can never hope by that false Light To do an action that is right In all religious Duties know Most principally e're we Vow Right Reason should be sought unto Those which endure her rigid Test Them to embrace and leave the rest Then must thou love that state as best Which God in Paradise hath blest There Marr'age took its early Date There they began to Procreate Gen. 2.18 1.21 A single Life He did foresee Was inconvenient Multiply The great Creator did command And what he Wills none should withstand Had not his Wisdom lik'd by far The marryed Life though link'd to care As tending to a nobler end Than Celibacy can pretend Thy Sex had never had its Birth Thy Being was to Man the Earth And not to live a strict Recluse Neither to God or Man of use Is it in thee a pious part The great Design of Heav'n to thwart To vow a
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
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
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
As well of Friends as Enemies They count me as a man forlorn Because thou deaf art to my cries Strangers and Friends as men affraid Fly from me and withdraw their Aid 8. Like as a man that 's dead and gone Or as a Potters broken Pot Fit for no use I 'm look'd upon Thrown out of Doors and quite forgot But show thy skill and save my Soul As thou hast broke so make me whole 9 Lord I have heard the slaundrous lyes And scoffs of my invet'rate Foes Up in Rebellion they devise To cut me off but interpose For I have put my trust in thee Thou art my God O rescue me 10. Thou better know'st O Lord than I When is the fittest time to send Thy ready Succours then draw nigh To all my troubles put an end Upon me make thy Face to shine And save him who was ever thine 11. For since I have addrest my Pray'rs To thee thine honour lies at stake To set me free from all my fears The Wicked who thy Laws forsake Cut off but Lord my Life defend And let confusion be their end 12. Silence the lying Lips of those Who in a proud and scornful way Asperse thy Saints the righteous Before the Sons of Men one day Thou wilt their injur'd Fames restore To their full Shine they had before 13. Under thy Wings they shall abide Secure from the Oppressours wrongs In thy Pavillion thou shalt hide And keep them safe from strife of Tongues Blest be my God whose help I found When num'rous Foes begirt me round 14. Yet I was tempted in my flight To think I should a Victim fall Though thou had'st often shown thy might Unto the furious Rage of Saul But I no sooner did address My Pray'rs to thee but found redress 15. Let all his Saints with me adore And love the Lord who doth preserve The faithful but doth evermore Reward the proud as they deserve Courage like Men but act your parts And God shall strengthen all your hearts PSALM 40. 3. FUlly resolv'd with patience to attend Until the Lord had granted my request I found at length my Pray'rs obtain'd their end He calm'd those fears which gave my Soul no rest 2. And brought me safe out of that dreadful Pit Of misery wherein I long was held As on a Rock he firmly set my feet And all my goings afterwards upheld 3. For these his Mercies I 'le extol his Name And will from day to day extol his praise Many shall fear him when they hear this same And render true obedience to his ways 4. That Soul is blest who wholly doth rely Not in the strength of Man whose frame is dust Who dis-regards the Proud and those that lye Contemns their aid but in the Lord doth trust 5. Those gracious works which thou for us hast done Should I endeavour to recount them all In order Lord I cannot set them down Not the one half to my remembrance call 6. I know full well thou do'st no pleasure take In Sacrifices or Burnt-Offerings These are but Shaddows and will prove too weak To take away the guilt of all our Sins 7. Thy Son must come and then our sins they shall By an Oblation of himself Lord be For ever pardon'd and thy Servants all From the observance of these Rites set free 8. Lo he will come O God to do thy Will To live a life most spotless in thine Eyes Thy Laws he will most perfectly fulfill And then give up himself a Sacrifice 9. Thy Righteousness and Truth as thou can'st tell And thy Salvation I have publish'd forth To all thy Saints who in thy Courts do dwell I have not hid but magnify'd thy worth 10. Do thou O God my fainting heart preserve Against those Foes who seek my overthrow And though I justly for my Sins deserve Thy greatest Plagues yet Lord thy mercies show 11. Confound with shame all those who lye at watch To take away my life do thou afford Thy timely succour and their own lives catch In those same snares which they have set O Lord. 12. As for the bitter scoffs th 'ave thrown at me Return them on themselves as their reward Let me O God their speedy ruine see And when they call let not their cries be heard 13. Then shall those pious Souls who trust in thee Rejoyce that thou art just in all thy ways Inflam'd with love they shall contin'ally Applaud thy Mercies and sing forth thy Praise 14. When I am low and in great misery Thou art my Help my Fortress and my Stay To thee O God for succour do I fly To my Salvation haste make no delay PSALM 41. 1. BLest is the Man who takes a tender care Of those who on the Bed of Sickness lye He need not in his Visitation fear But to find favour and that speedily In all his troubles God will interpose For his relief and bless him from his Foes 2. When that Diseases on his Body seize And on the Bed of Sorow he is cast Where others tumble and can find no ease Rack'd with tortures of their actions past Then will the Lord for mercies he hath shown Soften his Bed and strengthen him when down 3. I humbly therefore at the Throne of Grace Beg that the guilt of all my Sins may be For ever pardon'd hide not Lord thy face But heal my Soul as thou hast promis'd me Though I deserve thy Wrath yet love express And ev'ry thought and crooked act redress 4. My Foes a thousand ways my ruine plot Concerning me they speak maliciously When will he dye say they and be forgot Let his name perish to Eternity Before my Face none more obliging are Behind my back their hatred they declare 5. Thus underhand they secretly combine To make me odious in the Eyes of all Invention's rack'd to compass this design And Slaunders are contriv'd to work my fall Defam'd they think my Name shall never rise Under the load of all their Calumnies 6. My own familiar Friend who always eat At my own Board and in my Bosom lay Whom with the great'st endearments I did treat My most retir'd Counsels did betray But Lord restore me to my Throne and Right That their perfidious acts I may requite 7. By this I guess thou hast a love for me Because I find thy watchful Providence Hath disappointed them of Victory And hitherto preserv'd mine Innocence For which both I and all with one accord Will sing Eternal Hymns to Isr'els Lord. PSALM 51. 1. CLeanse me O Lord from that most horrid Sin Of guiltless Blood which Lust hath brought me in And from the boundless Ocean of thy Love Let not my other sins my ruine prove To such an high degree I have transgrest That wheresoe're I go I find no rest 2. And though no earthly Judge can claim a right To punish my Transgressions in thy sight I stand arraign'd and to thy Sentence must Or stand or fall as to a doom most just If to eternal
Flames I must obey No rescue thence though I a Scepter sway 3. Thou better knowest O Lord my frame than I How I was shapen in iniquity When in my Mothers Womb I then put on The spotted-Garment of Corruption But this is no excuse for this foul fact Which my unbridled Lust hath made me act 4. Full well I know that in the inward-part Thou lov'st a spotless and a sincere heart I have suffic'ent Grace from thee to know What to forbear and what I ought to do Yet into wilful Sin I headlong run Against a clear and full Conviction 5. Purge me with Hysop and I shall be clean Whiter than is the purest Snow from stain Let not Vriah's blood which to thee cries For vengeance Lord to my confusion rise But be thou reconcil'd release from pain My tortur'd Soul unto her joys again 6. Return once more unto thy wonted Love And from thy sight for evermore remove My weighty Sins and by thy work of Grace Within my heart each lustful thought deface That I may never by a wanton glance Offend again and so my Crimes enhanse 7. Should'st thou for ever banish me thy sight And from my Soul withdraw thy saving Light I were undone but Lord afford thy Grace And vail not from mine Eyes thy glorious Face With thy free Sp'rit me to those Joys restore Which once I had and let me fall no more 8. Then shall I Sinners by thy Grace convert And make Transgressors in thy ways expert Then shall my Tongue when once my Soul is From the pollutions of this bloody deed Declare thy Truth my Lips and Mouth shall be freed From day to day employ'd in praising thee 9. Did'st thou a legal Sacrifice desire Thousands of Bulls Rams consum'd with Fire Upon thy flaming-Altar thou should'st see These offer'd up for my Adultery A broken and a contrite heart for Sin Is the burnt-Off'ring thou delightest in 10. Do good to Sion show thy Love to all Who tread her Courts and on thy Name do call Then shall the smoak of Bulls which we consume Upon thine Altar yield a sweet Perfume And with our Pray'rs and Praises reach thy Throne And Blessings thence upon our Heads pull down PSALM 55. 1. ALmighty God who evermore art near With thy Relief to those who injur'd are Give ear unto my Pray'r hear how I mourn Thrust from my Kingdom and pursu'd with scorn 2. My Son and Subjects on my ruine bent Tax me as guilty of mis-government They do complot my final overthrow With all the rancour that their hearts can show 3. At this I tremble and the dismal thought Of my apparent danger Lord hath brought Such apprehensions to my troubled mind That all the Terrours of the Grave I find 4. O that I had but Wings then would I flee Into some desart place where I might be Safe from the Storms and Tempests which my Son And Subjects raise by their Rebellion 5. But thou O Lord who always dost deride The Wisdom of the Wise do thou divide Their Consultations make them disagree In their rebellious projects against me 6. I have heard from a most faithful Friend 〈◊〉 the Archite whom I back did send 〈◊〉 strife violence is their whole discourse 〈◊〉 Tutelars to whom they have recourse 7. â—â—e guard the City day and night the round 〈◊〉 walk about the Walls within is found â—â—â—ief and Wrong and all the Cruelties 〈◊〉 Villany can act or wit devise 8. 〈◊〉 my reproach and all this misery 〈◊〉 â—â—eded from an open Enemy 〈◊〉 have born it sure I had foreseen â—â—so prevented this I now am in 9. 〈◊〉 was thou whom I esteem'd above â—â—ther men and as my Soul did love 〈◊〉 who did'st all my secret Counsels know â—â—ith me to the house of God did'st go 10. â—â—â—s persidious act of his he shall 〈◊〉 to perfect his designs but fall 〈◊〉 all his horrid Crimes down quick to Hell 〈◊〉 wickedness in all his thoughts doth dwell 11. 〈◊〉 for me I 'le call in my distress 〈◊〉 ev'ry day my Pray'r I will address 〈◊〉 is Mercy-Seat and he shall hear â—â—om the danger save me which I fear 12. Though this Rebellion with great strength â—â— Is manag'd and contriv'd God takes my paâ—â— Who will in peace restore me to my right Maintain my Cause and all my Battels figâ—â—â— 13. He will afflict them and my Feet uphold Ev'n that God who doth abide of Old But they despise his Rod because they are Successful in the courses which they steer 14. The Laws of their Allegiance they have 〈◊〉 They make and at their pleasure Oaths reâ— Words smooth as Oyl were dropt when a 〈◊〉 They were inventing how to do me wroâ—â— 15. But let their base designs be what they will Never so wicked my concerns shall still Be cast upon the Lord who will no doubt Restore me to my Throne though now 〈◊〉 16. But the Blood-thirsty and the Perjur'd 〈◊〉 In their full strength into destruction fall As for my self I 'le put my confidence In thine Almighty-Arm for my defence PSALM 73. 1. ALL who are sincere shall find God most gracious just and kind Ever ready to reward Those who do his Laws regard 2. Yet my Faith was well-nigh gone When I saw the Wicked run In forbidden Paths at will And escap'd unpunish'd still 3. When as those who do obey Thy Commands and seldom stray Thine afflictive Rod do bear While these Wretches prosp'rous are 4. Full of Health and likely long Here to live of Body strong None of all those Plagues they know Which others feel and undergo 5. Rapine and Oppression As a Garment they put on In such base unlawful means They more Pride than in just gains 6. They in Wealth and Grandeur grow Suddenly and know not how And are Masters of a Mine Which they never did divine 7. To oppress is all their talk Those who piously do walk They prophanely take a pride God and goodness to deride 8. Therefore when the godly see This their horrid Blasphemy And those evils which they do Some their Eyes with Tears o're-flow 9. Thus they argue can God see And permit such Sins to be Here unpunish'd sure his Eye Can't discern Iniquity 10. These in worldly-wealth encrease Flourish here and are at peace In an even course they run Till their Web is almost spun 11. But each Morning when I rise Thou O Lord do'st me chastise Under pressures sore I live While the Wicked grow and thrive 12. Wherefore then have I in vain Kept my hands from unjust Gain Been in all my ways exact As to Thought as well as Act 13. Such sad thoughts did me confound But I soon mine errour found That it was a grand Offence To distrust thy Providence 14. Yet I was perplext in mind That the Wicked Lord should find So much favour this to me Seem'd at first a Mystery 15. Till I with my Feet drew high Lord unto thy Sanct'ary Then I understood thy ways And
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
'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
a lovely Face nor Eye Wherein we can contentment find 'T is none of all these things that can Yield solid comforts to a Man 4. It is a faithful-hearted-Friend Whose kindness to me knows no date Though Poverty should be my end Scorns to convert his Love to hate Who when I sin will always be A Faithful Monitor to me 5. Unto whose breast I dare commit A secret safe as in my own Who ne're will in angry fit Betray his Trust to any One Nor from my Interest will be Withdrawn by Frowns or Flattery 6. If such a Friend I chance to find I 'le Center all my Joys in this I have a Jewel to my mind There 's not on Earth a greater Bliss Ambition may eck on desire Mine here shall rest and soar no higer The Sensualist ALL that below this heav'nly Orb doth move For Man was made and so ordain'd above What reason is there that he should deny Himself the Pleasure to content his Eye Woman that lovely Creature here was plac'd For his delight to gaze on and to taste That fragrant Balm which on her Lips doth grow For him to wanton in her Vale below All those rich Treasures both of Sea and Land Were they not made to bow to his Command And whatsoever his vast mind doth crave Was he not freely his desires to have Then where 's the Sin or how doth he amiss If he doth use them as his pleasure is Sure Man by God above the Brutes was grac'd With Reason and for nobler ends here plac'd As Soveraign over all than to allow His Reason should to 's Will and Passions bow This never could be the Creator's thought When out of Clay this curious piece he wrought And none but Folly will pretend to own This he design'd in his Creation 'T is true that Woman by the lib'ral hand Of Heav'n was fram'd to be at Mans command So as to make a loyal loving Wife And prove a Comfort in his tedious Life But not to gaze on with a lustful Eye Much less unmarryed in her Arms to lye And though the Treasures of the wealthy Shoar And Sea are subject to Man's lordly Pow'r Yet can't he without yielding up his sense And proving guilty of an high offence Claim as a Soveraign with a wanton Hand At will to rifle both the Sea and Land And make them bow unto his boundless Lust Then own the action not to be unjust He had not his Dominion to abuse The things created for his needful use But was to have a most regardful Eye Not to enslave them to his Luxury If so there 's no Man but a Fool will say He as his pleasure is may them enjoy A Prayer 1. GReat God! whose providential Care Is over all bow down thine Ear Unto my Pray'r permit not Thou The Devil my invet'rate Foe To work my final overthrow 2. So closely on our Souls he waits With his bewitching-tempting-Baits That straight our Sensual parts we please Embrace a short and transient ease And hazard all than Flesh displease 3. With-hold not then thy saving-Grace From me my God one Minutes space Lest this my brittle House of Clay With my immortal Soul a Prey Becomes to him the damn'd obey 4. O let thy Love procure for me An easier Fate than Misery 'T is just in thee my God I know Since unto Satan's Lure I bow Not to exalt but cast me low 5. Low as that Pit of Horrours where The Damned Howl and tortur'd are Where ' midst those Flames which them torment Which ever Blaze but ne're are spent They day and night their Curses vent 6. Although my Sins these Flames deserve Yet from their lasting Heats preserve My trembling Soul this I implore Except the same thing o're and o're I know not what to ask Thee more God's Goodness and Man's Folly WHen trembling Dust with awful fear Unto thy Throne of Grace draws near And in an humble posture brings To Thee his Catalogue of Sins No sooner he imparts his Grief But thou afford'st thy quick Relief And with forgiveness ready art To ease the Sorrows of his Heart Yet rather than we will forgo Some short-liv'd-Pleasures endless Wo We fondly Court and slight that Love Which will at length our Ruine prove Whereas would we obey thy Will Not suffering ours to have their fill If we thy Laws would not refuse Nor Favours willingly abuse We should enjoy that happiness The glorious Saints in Heav'n possess An Admonition 1. SOul let thy Contemplation be On Heaven and Eternity To fix thy thoughts on this base Earth Becomes not Thee of heav'nly Birth 2. Since all these worldly-Glories quite Will like thy empty Dreams i' th' Night Vanish e're thy bright Morn doth break Why should'st thou pleasure in them take 3. When the last dreadful Trump shall all With its shril Voice to Judgment call Those who their God this World did make Must not of heav'nly Joys partake 4. The Crown of Glory only shall As a Reward to Virtue fall It never shall the Temples bind Of those who earthly things did mind The Penitent 1. I Who that precious time which thou hast lent Have dearest God! in sinful courses spent I who have chose to feed on Husks with Swine Rather than live under thy Rules Divine I thy ungracious Son unto thee home With bleeding heart weeping Eyes do come Asham'd that I so miserably have Mispent those Favours which thy bounty gave 2. And yet what reason have I to presume That e're thy Lips will pass a gentle Doom On my rebellious Life since it hath been wholly devoted to the ways of Sin No I in Justice cannot think thou'lt own Such an ungrateful Wretch to be thy Son Whose wanton Ear would never yield to hear The wholsome counsels of a Parent dear 3. But O my Father by that pow'rful word Look on thy humbled Creature and afford Some glimps of Comfort to my troubled mind And as thou stil'st thy self to be a kind And gracious Father be thou so to me Forgiving him who truly turns to Thee Look not upon me with a rig'rous Eye Of Justice but of Mercy lest I dye A Prayer before the Sacrament THou God who always tak'st delight to be Conferring good on those who trust in Thee Who from thy Bosome by eternal Doom Did'st send thy Son from whence all Joys do come To take our nature on him and to dy Th' accursed death for our Impiety Let me adore Thee for this mighty Love For this my Soul do thou obedient prove And grant dear Lord that I who humbly now Approach thine Altar to remember how And what Christ suffer'd may of Thee obtain Those dear-bought Mercies which his Death did gain I must confess when I consider Lord How I have sinn'd against thy sacred Word How oft I have refus'd to come and eat When I was summon'd to this heav'nly Treat I have not left within my troubled Breast A glimm'ring hope to be a welcome Guest Yet should I still absent should I forbear T' approach thy Table where such offers are How can I ever hope dear Christ to be Partaker of thy Love and Victory No I must never think thou 'lt own me when Thou sits in Judgment on the Sons of Men. Therefore to thee my God I come and bring My Soul and Body for an Offering Vouchsafe that at thy Hands they may a kind And gracious entertainment this day find And be enabled by thy Grace to move In the delightful Steps of holy Love Let not my Sins of Youth or riper Years Engage thee to forsake me to my Tears Have some regard and let me now partake Of thy Sons Mercies for his merits sake Amen and Amen A Farewell to the World THou glorious Nothing now adieu I 'le be no more a Slave to you Hence-forward all my time will I To a more serious Court apply Heaven and all its Joys above Shall be the Object of my Love And study of my Life each day Till I my borrow'd Earth repay And thou immortal God who art The rightful Sov'raign of my Heart Dispose my Thoughts and Actions now Strictly to keep this sacred Vow Thou know'st what mighty Foes they are I must engage with in this War The World on one hand will be sure To bring its Glories to allure And its Temptations will combine To shake this firm Resolve of mine My Flesh will all its vigour show To make me to its Dictates bow And the industr'ous-wily-Fiend Against me all his Pow'rs will bend Forces too great to be withstood By a Compound of Flesh and Blood Needs must I Faint and be subdu'd Unless with heav'nly force indu'd Yet I am fully bent to try Their Strength and Fight them till I dye And do not doubt but at my Death To have the never-fading-Wreath SOLI DEO GLORIA FINIS