help me 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep seek thy servant for I do not forget thy commandments A song of degrees Psalm cxx 1 IN my distress I cried unto the Lord and he heard me 2 Deliver my Soul O Lord from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue 3 What shall be given unto thee or what shall be done unto thee thou false tongue 4 Sharp arrows of the mightie with coals of juniper 5 Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the tents of Kedar 6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace 7 I am for peace but when I speak they are for war Psalm cxxi A song of degrees 1 I Will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help 2 My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven earth 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved he that keepeth thee will not slamber 4 Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep 5 The Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day nor the moon by night 7 The Lord shall reserve thee from all evil he shall preserve thy soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even for evermore Psalm cxxii A song of degrees of David 1 I Was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord. 2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates O Jerusalem 3 Jerusalem is builded as a Citie that is compact together 4 Whither the tribes go up the tribes of the Lord unto the testimonie of Israel to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. 5 For there are set thrones of judgement the thrones of the house of David 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee 7 Peace be within thy walls and prosperiâ—ie within thy palaces 8 For my brethren and companions sake I will now say Peace be with thee 9 Because of tâ—e house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good Psalm cxxiii A song of degreeâ— 1 UNto thee lift I up mine eyeâ— O thou that dwellest in the heavens 2 Behoâ—d as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their maiters and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God until that he have mercie upon us 3 Have mercie upon us O Lord have mercie upon us for we are exceedingly filled with contempt 4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud Psalm cxxiv A song of degrees of David 1 IF it had not been the Lord who was on our side now may Israel say 2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us 3 Then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us 4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over our soul. 5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 6 Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth 7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers the snare is broken and we are escaped 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth Psalm cxxv A song of degrees 1 THey that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever 2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever 3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquitie 4 Do good O Lord unto those that be good and to them that are upright in their hearts 5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked wayes the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquitie but peace shall be upon Israel Psalm cxxvi A song of degrees 1 WHen the Lord turned again the captivitie of Sion we were like them that dream 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter our toÌ„gue with singing then said they among the heathen the Lord hath done great things for them 3 The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad 4 Turn again our captivity O Lord as the streams in the south 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth hearing pretious seed shall doubtless â—ome again wiâ—h reioycing bringing his sheaves with him Psalm cxxvii A Song of degrees for or as in the margin of Solomon 1 EXcept the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it except the Lord keep the citie the watchman waketh but in vain 2 It is vain for you to rise up early to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrow for so he giveth his beloved sleep 3 Lo children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward 4 As arrows are in the hands of a mighty man so are children of the youth 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them they shall not be ashamed but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate Psalm cxxviii A Song of degrees 1 BLessed is every one that feareth the Lord that walketh in his waies 2 〈◊〉 thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull vine by the sides of thine house thy children like olive plants round about thy table 4 Behold that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. 5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Sion and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life 7 Yea thou shalt see thy childrens children and peaâ—e upon Israel Psalm cxxix 1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say 2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth yet they have not prevailed against me 3 The plowers plowed upon my back they made long their furrows 4 The Lord is righteous he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked 5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion 6 Let them be as the grass upon the house tops which withereth before it springeth up 7 Wherewith the mowe silieth not his hand nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom 8 Neither do they whiâ—h go by say the blessing of the Lord be upon you we bless you in the name of the Lord. Psalm CXXX A song of degrees 1 OUt of the depths have I cried uno thee O Lord. 2 Lord hear my vioce let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication 3 If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities
shall have no more power to hurt thee through his gracious providence and protection over thee than a worm under thy feet 7 Fear neither less nor more great nor small for God shall certainly protect thee as well from one evil as another especially thy soul whether respecting life temporal or eternal shall have a special guard fear that least because as it is most of wroth in it self so also in Gods esteem and valuation 8 God is every where in all places at all times thou needest not put cases of fear and doubt to thy self of this though not that may befal me and then though not now for whatsoever thou doest and whither ever thou goest God is with thee and it and will ever be so to keep thee from evil and bless thee with good and to prosper thee in all thy wayes of well-doing believe it stedfastly and live comfortably in the faith thereof The cxxii PSALM David overjoyed to see the universal concord and conformitie in his people for the bringing the Ark to Ierusalem and worshipping the Lord there as God had appointed the more to sharpen them to it and ingratiate it to them highly commends the prerogative of that place and that people by reason of it and therefore exhorts them not to degenerate but in love and zeal still to labour and pray for the happiness of it promising happiness to those that do so and so does he himself and shews the reasons why See the title of the 120 Psalm the Authors name superadded here 1 HOw infinitly did it rejoyce me to hear and see such an universal unanimity in my people Israel to submit to and approve of the transportation and fixing the Ark and sanctuarie in Jerusalem where God had appointed it with desire and forwardness to worship God there without the least scruple or question 2 Saying amongst themselves with rejoycing now is the time and Jerusalem is the place that God will fulfil his promise by giving his Ark a settled condition which hitherto hath moved and removed from place to place and together with his Ark his Church and people Israel who have been both for worship and Government in an unsetled and various state but now shall there be an happie establishment as both Christ and the Church by Christ shall have at his glorifying 3 And indeed a blessed and desireable place Jerusalem is exceeding lovely for uniformitie of structure order in Government and harmonie of hearts and affections in the inhabitants towards the true worship of the onely true God stately and strong both in men and materials sweetly composed and well compact a Citie specially blessed of God to represent the happie condition of his Church both under Christ on earth united by faith in him their head and with Christ in heaven 4 It is the most beautiful place of the world and enriched with the most singular and Divine priviledges of any on earth being a resemblance of heaven it self and the Church both there and here for as thither the twelve tribes of Israel a chosen generation out of the whole world do congregate and ascend to the mount of God solemnly to worship him before the Ark the testimonie of his covenant and presence with his people so shall his elect the Church of the first born all the world over be gathered to Jesus and ascend into the heavenly Jerusalem evermore to praise him in that general assembly the celestial Quire of innumerable Angels and spirits of just men made perfect Yea by spirit and faith they shall meet in one bodie mystical on earth and with raised affections worship one God in Christ that blessed Emmanuel the mediatour of the new testament upon mount Sion in spiritual Jerusalem the Church that Citie of the living God 5 And as Christs Priestly office is established and clearly held forth in the sanctuarie-worship in Jerusalem so also is his Kingly in those thrones of honour and justice civil and ecclesiastical erected and perpetuated there in the royal line of David his posterity Kings of Judah the figure and progenitours of Christ according to the flesh as is his tribunal in heaven where he hath dominion over his Church and the whole world and from whence he shall come to judge all flesh at the latter day 6 Many are the enemies of this flourishing Citie Jerusalem as shall be to the Church yea all the world is against it and the worship and Government that is in it but yet we need not fear for God is for it able to preserve it in peace and prosperitie maugre all its adversaries if our sins and carnal presumption do not indispose him to it Therefore all ye Israelites specially ye that with a spiritual understanding are inlightned to know the worth and excellencie of the place which is in the world as the sun is in the firmament mystically comprehending all that Divine light and life that the sun of righteousness the Messiah shall illuminate the world withall when he comes to save his Church as Gods High-priest and take possession of his Kingdom as King of Kings and Lord of Lords do you serve the Lord and seek to him for the continuation of his grace and favour to it and his blessing upon it that it may be evermore happie with his love and presence and as a consequent thereof have rest and quiet from its enemies And of this be confident that they that thus for Christ and religion sake under that notion and relation sincerely love pray for and endeavour the happiness of it shall how ever it may suffer by other mens sins and formal hypocrisies within the pale or without by external violence of Gentile enemies be themselves happie and blessedly rewarded of God with grace peace and protection in their own particulars 7 It is and shall be my heartie prayer that the Lord will preserve thee as from outward forrain enemies so also from intestine civil broils and disunions in peace unanimity and concord within thy self as the Church shall be in heaven and ought to be on earth as one so at one under their one and onely head the Lord Christ. And that the throne of David his royal seed successours over his people Israel here in Jerusalem may successively flourish in peace and prosperitie and by the blessing and favour of God be established in judgement and righteousness there administred in honourable equipage as shall the Prince of peace Christ Jesus the righteous his throne and dominion over his Church be for ever in heaven 8 Nor am I a self-seeker in my well-wishes to this place no the Lord can witness for me that I desire the good and happiness of all the faithful yea of all Israel as mine own who to me are as dear as my nearest kindred and acquaintance by that relation natural and civil that God hath given me to them knowing right well that in the peace and
prosperitie of it the Government and worship in it consists the happiness and tranquillitie of all Israel chiefly the Israel of God whose heaven upon earth Jerusalem is where they worship and serve the God of Israel seek his face and enjoy his presence therefore pray I for her prosperitie and well-fare that they may be blessed with her and by her who are interessed and concerned equally in her felicitie with my self I as the head and they as the bodie 9 It is the zeal I have to the Church and glorie of God that makes me pray thus and for which I will spend and be spent therefore will I lay out mine uttermost endeavours to compass the good and well-fare of Jerusalem that that singular happiness and priviledge of the sanctuarie and sanctuarie-worship of the Lord God of Israel who there is present with us his people and from thence hears our prayers and to which appertains so many excellent promises and by it to us redounds so many precious priviledges and benefits and where is performed the onely true honour and service to the onely true God in all the world Therefore for these reasons do I will I evermore pray and faithfully endeavour the good of this place and so let all others do that are good together with me as members of the Church bodie mystical typified in this resemblance The cxxiii PSALM The Church and people of Israel being at present either under Babylons captivitie or Antiochus his crueltie some Prophet or holy man of God bespake the Lord in this pathetical short psalm in her behalf uttering much of the spirit in few words for afflictions commonly swell the heart too big for the mouth which makes him here to pray rather by signs than words with his eies rather than his tongue yea with both he presseth hard upon God for free grace to shew them mercie in their unspeakable miserie professing their patient waiting till then See the title of the 120 Psalm 1 WHat the present distress and calamities of thy poor Church and people Israel are thou Lord knowest right well utterly helpless and hopeless forlorn and disconsolate none on earth favouring us shewing any mercie or compassion to us but exercise all manner of crueltie and scorn towards us yet Lord in thy Churches and mine own behalf I am an humble suitor to thee in the agonie of my heart who I dare not can not believe hast quite forgotten to be gracious though thou seemest so as things frame here below but O thou that inhabitest the heavens and hast thy reserves of good will and pleasure there known to thy self unknown to us but hoped in by us and power to bring them to pass though to us impossible as much above all sublunarie powers as heaven is above earth to thee there with groans and sighs lift we up our eyes speechless with grief for thee graciously to look down upon us here in this our calamitie 2 Look how bond-men and bond-women who by their condition are as we exposed to hard and uncourteous usage depend upon the free grace and beneficence of their masters and mistesses can chalenge nothing no wages nor reward but wait with patience till pitie and compassion move them to extend their hand of favour and good will to them so do we under this just deserved punishment of long and grievous thraldom by cruel task-masters humbly and patiently wait till thine own mercie move thee towards us a sinful undeserving people yet thy people and thou our God by grace and election which hold us in hope 3 Good Lord take our case into consideration and commiseration to pitie us at last and to shew mercie to us a people that are made the very scum and scorn of our proud imperious enemies who for thy sake whose name we bear and whose we are do Lord it over us with disdain which imbitters our sorrows and breaks our hearts 4 Yea Lord it is not to be spoken how afflictive the reprochful vilifications of our insolent enemies are to us who judging by events because of our calamities scoff and scorn us as a vain besotted people that believe in we know not what and worship we know not whom and boast themselves unmeasurably over us our God and religion to our unutterable grief because of their superioritie and present felicitie which puffs them up with pride and contempt even to blasphemie The cxxiv PSALM David mindes Israel in their prosperitie of their adversitie to make them mindful of God praiseful to God and evermore dependent on God as his Church and people ought ever to be in their transmutations of estates and fortunes See the title of the 120 Psalm the Authors name superadded here 1 2 3 NOw that the Lord hath been pleased to bring us to the happie condition we are in we should do well to look back we the Israel and and Church of God and consider from the beginning to this day ever since we were a people chosen of the Lord out of the world to name his name upon what a world of enemies we have had and perils we have waded through before and since we came into this land where we have been a continual eye-sore not onely to the natives remaining in it but to all the mightie nations and Gentile people bordering round about it who severally and joyntly by combination of great men and Potentates have sundry times and wayes subtilly projected and violently attempted our utter abolition which to speak humanely was inavoidable had not the Lord our good God miraculously from time to time delivered us from their furie and preserved us a people to this day maugre all they could do as he shall his Church spite of the wicked world its power and malice who else long ere this had been no people nor nation but destroyed again and again by those many mightie barbarous enemies of ours that on all hands from all quarters have assailed us with most mortal and bloudie purposes greedy to prey upon us and with that odds of strength that they were able to have devoured us and as it were swallowed us alive as easily as the great fish does the little ones or the savage and ravenous beast tears his prey in pieces if God had not over-powered them and been for us against them when we were altogether unable to make resistance which now we should do well to weigh seriously and in all humilitie to acknowledge thankfully to his praise and glorie 4 5 Yea to consider that when all mankind was as it were against us and we were like sheep in the midst of Wolves and Bears that with mightie power and rage have broken in upon us like an unresistable torrent able to over-run the whole land and destroy man woman and child as easily as the sea or some mightie river drowns the countrey when it breaketh the banks and with pride and confident disdain made
sun by their blackness and greatness 12 And then suddainly changing the face of the heavens from that immensity of darkness to such an extraordinary and supernatural brightness which ushered in his presence as instantly dispelled those foresaid clouds wherein before he terribly appeared and then again as terribly in the contrary temperament of the sky being all of a light fire by flashes of lightening which even consumed and burnt up what was combustible accompanied with showers of hail issuing from those clouds so broken with the brightness of his appearing 13 Or when as the Lord raised terrible thunder-claps in the heavens and sent forth that dreadful voice of his to the amazement of his peoples enemies the Egyptians and others and therewith powred down upon them hailstones mingled with fire which beat them and burnt them up like straw or stubble 14 Yea when he shot his mortal thunderbolts amongst them and put them to flight frighting them out of all order and array and discharged his swift and penetrating lightnings upon them and utterly routed and discomfited them 15 And when his people being in danger upon their prayer God made the very sea it self dry and fordable for their safe retreat and their enemies ruine And the bottom of that deep concave and Abisse whereinto the earth received the water at the creation was disclosed by the seas dividing it self at the Lords command and by the winds that he raised to interrupt its course and force it to a stand 16 As much as all this hath he done for me though by a more occult way of providence he hath wrought and fought from heaven for me many a time and after diverse manners he ever had a special eye to me and care of my safety and from manifold and great dangers hath he powerfully maugre the force and malice of mine enemies delivered me 17 Yea from Saul who was my mightiest and cruelest enemy and from all that sided with him against me in hatred to me hath he most miraculously delivered me whom else I could never have escaped nor prevailed against considering their strength above mine 18 For in humane power and policy they were ever too hard for me in the time of mine adversity and persecution But I firmly trusted in the Lord who was alwayes on my side and still sustained and delivered me notwithstanding all they could do 19 Yea he hath not onely brought me out of my troubles but moreover hath advanced me highly and stated me in a most happy condition from out those straits I was in And the reason why he thus wrought for me and had such care over me to deliver me was his good grace and free favour to me 20 And to the honest cause which I maintained and which he sustained in my behalf prospering me in it and for it and mine innocent and just behaviour against mine enemies injustice and cruelty hath he recompenced with their downfal and mine advancement 21 For in all my troubles I was careful to keep a good conscience towards God in doing justly and walking uprightly and did not saving the slips of humane frailty and infirmity at any time perversly step aside or fail in my duty to God whom I ever found so gratious 22 For I was sincere and had alwayes his righteous precepts in mind and memory to order my self and my wayes impartially thereafter and did not refuse upon any reason or occasion to yield obedience to them 23 Nor was mine inward man wanting but he that sees all things knows my obedience was performed from my heart in faith and affection to the commander as well as to the commandment and that in love to him I bridled and refrained my self from the sin that either by nature or occasion I was most prone and tempted to 24 And now I find I am no loser by it for the Lord in mercy hath had consideration of the justice of my cause and of mine innocent and holy demeanour and hath rewarded me accordingly with the ruine of mine enemies and mine own preservation and advancement 25 I and mine enemies are a pattern of thy truth and justice and that thou wilt reward all manner of men according to their works they that shew mercy shall find mercy at thine hands as I have done in my deliverance and they that exercise their faith and love towards thee shall find both love and faithfulness from thee again 26 And such as are undefiled in the way careful to walk uprightly and do justly according to thy commandments shall in the end find thee just in thy promises and gracious in thy providences and on the contrary so shall they find thee cross in providence and just in judgements that proudly and perversly erre from thy precepts 27 For thou wilt not fail to save and deliver the innocent and oppressed that trust in thee and call upon thee but on the other hand wilt be sure to bring to ruine those that set light by thee and thine 28 I may say it for so I have and shall find it more and more to be true for thou both hast and wilt make my condition prosperous and happy the Lord in whom I trust and whom I have ever found trusty to me as he hath out of love and faithfulness begun so I know and believe he will go on until he have estated me in perfect peace and prosperity and made me as happy as ever I was miserable 29 For by what thou hast done I know what thou wilt do in that by thy power I have been wonderfully preserved in battel and defeated mine enemies and by thy assistance have escaped many perils and skaled their fortresses even so shall I do still 30 As for God you need not doubt him for his way of proceeding towards his people is a most absolute and perfect way full of wisdome justice and truth his promises have alwayes been found true and never deceived them that trusted to them for according to them he ever was and ever will be a preserver and defender of all them that faithfully depend upon him 31 And the contrary is very foolishness for who is a God to be trusted in and depended on save the Lord Almighty onely and who can defend and protect but that God who hath shewed such wonderful strength and power in our preservation that relied on him 32 It is God and God alone that hath made me of mean and impotent to become thus considerable and potent above mine enemies and that maketh all my proceedings prosperous and successefull 33 He enables me to over-run conquer all mine enemies with ease and expedition and subdues them under me making me Lord of them and all their strength 34 He puts power and skill into me and makes me both too cunning and too strong for mine enemies 35 Thou hast not onely thus given me power
warrant of his own word and his former remarkable providences as also his strong affiance and trust in him and his enemies malice against him and so concludes with great incouragement to himself and every one of Gods people to wait and trust everlastingly in a promise never to give out but incourage themselves in God his goodness be their condition never so desperate A Psalm made by David 1 IN my most afflicted state and darksome condition the Lord hath and doth afford me both comfort and direction yea and also preservation and deliverance and so hath promised to do alwayes and I believe no less by him from whom then need I fear any harm The Lord is he that according to his promise and my trust in him defends and upholds me spite of all the power of men and devils of whom then need I be afraid be they who they will and do they what they can 2 When as multitude of wicked ones with cruel hatred conspired against me and joyned all their forces to wreak their teen upon me and barbarously destroy me what got they by it but ruine to themselves which they thought to bring upon me by the just judgement of God upon them for my sake 3 Whilst thus I am sure of God on my side though an whole army of men should be ready to make an assault upon me my heart by faith shall bear up in God without dismaiedness Though I were never so implunged in warres by forraign enemies or domestick insurrections yet by faith in Gods grace and powerful assistance will I confidently exspect an happy issue out of them all 4 The thing I have alwayes in all conditions mainly desired of God and which still I do and ever will principally sue to him for is that he will so order mine affairs that I may not be put besides my hope and desires of that transcendent happiness of frequenting his presence and enjoying his ordinances in his tabernacle where I could gladly lead my life there to behold through those many legal types and shadows the admirable grace and wisdom of God in the salvation of man through Christ and to make there my dayly prayers and to ask advice of him upon all occasions as the people of God shall one day do in his holy Temple 5 Nor shall I entreat this of him in vain for he that hath stirred me up to seek it will fulfil it and to that end in my greatest trouble I am confident he will preserve and safely protect me Yea as if I were shut up in his holy Ark so shall I be kept and secured by him he shall make me invincible spite of all mine adversaries and set me above and out of their reach to hurt me 6 And sure I am it is not long too before I shall have the better of all mine enemies one and other and shall live in a flourishing state of peace and prosperity therefore do I confidently aforehand vow peace-offerings to him which I will plentifully and publickly offer in his tabernacle with joyful thanksgiving in the congregation for my deliverances where I so much desire to serve him And where also I will sing his praises and publish his praise-worthy mercies to me in manifold Psalmes and Himnes 7 Thou that art the God of my faith and trust O hear me when mine afflictions cause me to cry and pour forth my prayers unto thee and in mercy answer me with deliverance 8 For whereas thy word warrants and enjoynes thy people in all their difficulties to seek thy gracious help and favour in prayer and faith my heart readily ecchoes and sayes Amen to it doth as it bids for it hath alwayes been my practise to prefer thy grace as my greatest good and onely support because of thy faithfulness 9 And still do I beg of thee above all things not to ecclipse thy favour or withdraw thine assistance from me take not such displeasure at me who though a sinner yet am thy servant as to divorce me from thy favour and protection Thou knowest and so do I what mercies and providences thou hast shewen me in my need which is wont to bind thee to further goodness and to incourage us to greater faith and therefore let me in the faith thereof humbly put thee in mind of thy former grace to move thee to second it now and alwayes as I have need and thou hast opportunity by standing for me and sticking to me not leaving me to mine enemies nor withdrawing thy help for thou hast been art and ever shall be the God that I onely have and will trust in for preservation 10 Truly my faith is more in thee and a nearer tie of love and affiance doth mine heart apprehend from thee than from the dearest bonds of nature and natural affections so that my father that begot me and my mother that bare me I more distrust to fail and forsake me in their love and care than thou who I am confident wilt never forsake me nor fail in thy love and promises to me whosoever do nay thou wilt then most of all be a freind unto me when I am left most friendless and forlorn 11 O Lord manifest thy love and care both in my protection and direction instructing me how to walk obediently towards thee in all my temptations and safely in regard of mine enemies by escaping their traps and snares who would be glad to see my fall both into sin that they may have whereof to accuse me and into danger to have their wills upon me 12 But Lord let mine enemies never have their wills and desires of me by my miscarriages any way though they seek and long for it every way by fraud and force endeavouring it forging lies against me and threatning all manner of cruelty to me 13 Certainly so many and grievous have been my pressures that I could never have subsisted under them unless I had had a promise to stay me and faith to stay upon the promise through the goodness of God for my deliverance and settlement one day in a happy condition free from persecution and banishment amongst the ordinances and people of God which I am sure I shall have before I die though in the nature of a resurrection from the dead 14 And truly this hath ever upheld me and so doth still to wait on the Lord which for the promise sake I will never fail to do for I know it shall be fulfilled therefore will I incourage my self by faith in God and so shall I be sure of him to give me heart-upholding grace and spirit No never will I give over waiting on the Lord till he cause me cease it by fulfilling what I wait for according to his promise And so let all and every one of the people of God be incouraged to do in like sort by mine example The xxviii PSALM David prayes to have his prayers heard
attired onely at such times as thou appearest in the worlds eye as ordinarie women are but art ever so even within thy palace as well as without as is the Church not formally hypocritical and to the worlds view onely but really and sincerely gracious adorned by Christ with his own justifying righteousousness and sanctifying graces 14 That so thou maiest delight and please thy Lord and King when ever thou art presented to him in raiment worthy thy high linage and royal marriage and art accompanied to him with a gallant train of damosels fitting thy state and dignitie As shall the Catholick Church be by Christ his sanctifying spirit presented to himself in holiness and righteousness even all the blessed company of saints gathered from out the whole world to make up that blessed society and onely spouse of Christ. 15 Thou with thy troup of damosels shalt by Somons command and his servants ready attendance and obedience be ushered to his royal presence and pallace with infinit rejoycings and acclamations at that meeting and mutual imbracing As shall the Church and spouse of Christ made up of all the holy saints and sanctified ones be brought and presented by their holy calling in the ministry and by the ministers of the word unto Christ his grace and favour and by Angels into his everlasting glorie and presence in heaven to the infinit joy of Gods ministers and servants and with the acclamation of all those ministring spirits 16 By forsaking thy fathers house God himself will become a father to thee and will bless thee and make thee a happie mother of many hopefull children who shall command both Jews and Gentils As shall the Church of Christ by choosing him the second Adam for her Lord and husband and forsaking the first she shall thereby have God for her father and shall be blessed with a numerous off-spring all the world over all which spiritual progenie are a royal Generation children of the most high and put in Kingly office by him to command over all their earthly corruptions 17 And by so doing thou shalt lose no honour but through my blessing upon thee for it I will make the renown of this glorious act of thine to be famous and thou for it from age to age and thy memorie shall be precious and thy praises recorded in everlasting remembrance by the people of the Lord. As shall be the Church and spouse of Christ successively famous and honoured in all Generations for being his and her memorie happie and blessed from age to age after Generations of Gods people honorably memorizing them that went before with estimation and imitation to the worlds end The xlvi PSALM Ierusalem or the people of Israel being at present in some great strait or siedge by a powerful enemie and receiving deliverance The Author of this Psalm expresseth it in a high and hyperbolical strain thereby to incourage the faith of Gods people to a strong and extraordinarie belief in God for ever from their late eminent experience of his power and readiness to help them his favour towards them and presence with them which ought to establish and secure them for future A Psalm or song made and set to Alamoth an instrument or tune for the treble and committed to the family of the Korathites for them to sing 1 GOd is to us his people that depend upon him and trust in him both safetie from and power against our enemies he may be confided in to the uttermost peril for when we are nearest danger he is nearest to deliver 2 And therefore should there be never such revolutions in nature strange and terrible yet our faith in God shall keep us steadie yea though the center of the earth should shake and remove from its place and that by the violence of tempests the very mountains should be taken and hurled as a stone out of a sling from their place of residence far into the sea yet shall our faith establish our hearts in God his grace and protection how much more in the greatest tumults and commotions of civil affairs 3 Though storms both at land and sea should at once seem to overwhelm us and all the world and to dissolve the very course of nature it self the seas threatning an universal deluge by their tempestuous rising and fearful roaring and should even shake the very mountains with their violent and impetuous beating upon them yet in God shall our hearts hold up their heads 4 When the sea of troubles and combustions seem to overwhelm all the world besides and they be made to drink of most bitter and troubled waters even then shall the land of Jewry and especially the Citie of Jerusalem have peace and tranquillitie and drink their fill of the fresh and pleasant streams of Cedron for that it is Gods peculiar habitation and therefore hath it his peculiar protection and favour as shall have his holy and Catholick Church typified by his sanctuarie there the onely place of resort for all the Israel of God to worship him in 5 God in his worship and presence is there above all the world and therefore she shall be protected though the world be exposed she shall need to fear no danger for God shall both certainly and seasonably deliver her 6 The heathen people with great force and furie were inraged against us whole Kingdoms and conspiracies of the Gentil-nations were moved at us to seek our overthrow but the Lord Almighty took our parts and expressing his wrathful indignation by terrible thunder-claps from heaven against them dissipated and discomfited all their earthly power 7 Whatsoever armies are against us the powerful and great commander the Lord of hosts is with us the God of our father Jacob that mightily delivered him is on our side and in covenant with us to do the like for us Let us therefore be comforted in him 8 Consider well and thankfully remember the mighty mercies he hath shewn us in the powerful overthrows of our great and numerous enemies how for our sakes he hath wonderfully destroyed them more than once and nations more than one or two 9 He hath often times settled his people Israel in an universal peace spite of all the nations of the world their opposits whose forces he hath defeated and disabled their strength though great and as he hath done so his power and promises are still of force to do for his Church which he will preserve maugre her enemies and persecutors that infest her and will give her peace by their destruction and disablement as he hath done for us 10 Repose your hearts on God with inward content and securitie by a faithful expecting and apprehending of him for a God all-sufficient in your behalfs one that for your sakes will destroy the heathen and will honour his power and greatness upon the Gentils round about 11 Whatsoever armies are against us the powerful
with thee in it nor ascribe it to ought else besides thee such extraordinary and strange vengeance didst thou take upon those blasphemous enemies as if it had been with the stroke and terrour of a Thunder-bolt from heaven and so terrifying it was to all nations where the fame of it came and it spread not a little ground the report of this wonderfull overthrow of so mighty an army as that none of them had the heart to invade us but were quiet and durst not stir though their fingers itched to be at us 9 Upon Gods executing this just and fearfull judgement on the Assyrian army in rescue of his own poor distressed people even all his whole Church and faithfull servants at once which he had upon the face of the whole earth that were in a helpless hopeless condition and had no remedy left but prayer 10 Surely Lord thy servants need fear nothing but thee for the rage and fury of thy peoples and Churches enemies shall serve not for theirs but their own destruction thou shalt so order the matter as that it shall prove but the ripening of their sins and the hastening of thy righteous judgements upon their heads and be occasion of thy peoples praises and thanksgivings to thee and shalt so terribly affright others that are like minded towards thy Church that they shall have no mind to meddle when they hear so great an army that gave out so great words and threats could effect nothing but came to such an end 11 O Israel and chiefly you inhabitants of Jerusalem vow praises and thanksgivings to the Lord for this unspeakable deliverance and miraculous preservation and forget not to pay what you owe in that kind let neither supine negligence now you are in peace and quietness nor unfaithfull covetousness hinder your solemn returns to God both with inward fervour and outward legall solemnities and sacrifices yea let all the heathen people and nations round about that hear of this wondrous work of God do homage to him as the onely God worthy to be worshipped and feared of all the world even Israels God 12 For as he hath done by these so shall he do by others even the Princes and Potentates of the earth if they take not warning thus they shall be served it shall cost them their lives if they blaspheme and rebell against God contemn his worship or distress his Church in his wrath shall he destroy them suddainly and make them a terrour to the Kings of the earth like as he hath made Senacherib exemplary unto them The lxxvii PSALM The Psalmist in grievous affliction and desertion labours to comfort himself with the success of former prayers in former distresses and by parallel difficulty in prevailing then so now but is overpowered with the extremity and prolixity of his present grief and the ineffectualness of his endeavours to minister comfort to himself which puts him upon an expostulatory interrogating himself with some diffidence touching the nature and promise of God for which he chides himself at last takes up another resolution and falls to work in a quite other way incouraging himself by the faith of those very things and experiences God to his Church in their distress which before he perverted and made use of to the encrease of diffidence To Jeduthun one of the prime musicians and the principall of all his lineage do I Asaph that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung 1 O Lord how oft have I upon occasion put up my prayers unto thee even continually in my distresses of what sort soever I made thee still my sanctuary fled to thee by faithfull and fervent prayer and I do not know the time that ever I went without mine errant but was always heard and had my suite granted though long first and hardly gained 2 I will remember what a troublous fit I had under a painfull disease in what extremity I lay for a long time both in pain of body and anguish of mind finding neither remedy for the one nor comfort for the other though I sought to God earnestly and importunately in that my sad condition yet I could have no ease my pain was the same and my soul that nothing else could comfort could obtain no glimpse of Gods favour towards it to quiet and refresh it withall for a long season 3 Insomuch that I was even tired out with fruitless solicitations I was in such misery and found so little remedy though I prayed hard for it as that at last prayer it self became painfull to me I could not think of going to God having gone so oft and sped so ill but it troubled me when as all my complaints in so sad a condition moved nothing it even killed my very heart This case was I in and to this extremity was I brought 4 And as it was then so is it now thou hast cast me into such extream affliction and misery that it doth not onely take up whole dayes the pain of it but whole nights too without any intermission so that I can take no rest all the night long and so from night to night and I have praied so long and sped so ill that the trouble of my mind hath even stopped my mouth I can speak no more 5 I have cast about every way and considered every thing that might make for my comfort I have called to mind thy former gracious dispensations to thy people and servants of old in their distresses recorded purposely for thy Churches benefit in succeeding times 6 As also mine own former experiments and happy changes which thou hast made of sorrow into joy and praise I consider how many times thou hast ravished my heart with the sense of thy loving kindness and made me lie awake in the night season to bless and praise thee with a ravished heart not to weep and lament as now I do I think with my self what may comfort me and call to mind all things of that nature as also what should be the cause that no comfort can fasten but that there is so great and so long an estrangement and that I and comfort are so far asunder 7 Insomuch as then I think with my self surely I have seen all the comfort that ever I must have in this life and yet I cannot conclude it neither but the length and extremity of my grief makes me in some fear and doubtfulness interrogate with my self whether or no it will ever be other whether God is purposed thus to afflict me and withdraw the signs and sense of his favour from me always 8 Shall I never tast of mercy any more but must I wear away under trouble and sorrow thus shall his promise of pity and compassion whereupon I so much relie be for ever ineffectuall to me 9 Hath God quite forgotten me can he so contrary to his nature let me thus pine
that by his power so alters the face of the heavens as we often see from serene and clear suddenly over-spreading them with thick and dark clouds so disposing it for the use and benefit of the earth that needs as well rain as fair weather which he transmits by those clouds so convoked and thereby causeth the earth to fructifie which else would be barren and like fallow land yea the very mountains are made pasturable by this means that are not capable of the benefit of flouds like lower grounds yet by his blessing from above are usefull and productive of grass and hearbs 9 And so provideth sustentation for the irrational creature making nature to supply the want of art and husbandrie to the very beast and that variously too according to the several kinds thereof in apt times and places producing suitable food to the several Species of that vast Genus and the birds as well as beasts are sustained and provided for by him yea those that we least set by the raven that though it be not meat for man yet God it being his creature provides meat for it and that too when they are young and early forsaken of the old and so want skill to shift for themselves yet have they their cries heard which nature hath taught them to put up their need supplied by God who even hears them 10 Think not that it is any created excellencie that commends men to God he is not moved by such objects and arguments as man is he bestows not his blessings upon man either by or for his own or the creatures strength or exceellencie to give success either therefore or thereafter 11 No that whch moves with God is his own graces active and stirring in the hearts of his people if you would be blessed of him be in favour with him then with filial fear endeavour his pleasing in all you do and avoid the contrarie and so walking before him confidently trust in him for grace and mercie chear-up your hearts in hope of his goodness and faithfulness toward you this and onely this is the way to be accepted of him and blessed by him 12 Wherein you that are his Church and people have the odds of all the world who for those extrinsecal created priviledges of men and horses may go beyond you but not as to God it is your intrinsecal graces wrought by him and active towards him that prefers you above all the world in his esteem O therefore praise the Lord ye his Israel his Church chosÌ„e that have the happiness to congregate at Jerusalem to worship him there in his holy mountain which he hath peculiarely set apart for the place to be worshiped in like as you for the people representing his church universal chosen out of the world to have the honour to worship and serve him from all others on whom he bestows his grace and in whom he onely takes content and pleasure no creature but the new creature since the fall being delightfull to him for which they therefore that are so ought to praise him even for this their happie proprietie and interest in him 13 Whereby it is that Jerusalem both real and mystical is fortified against all earthly power by divine protection stronger than horse or man the sons and daughters of the Church whereof God is the father is blessed in that their relation and interest and are under the Lords special care and power for their preservation as Jerusalem with the inhabitants and faithfull worshippers therein is and shall be secured by the special presence of God there resident 14 To whom he giveth peace and preservation spite of her many enemies even in all the borders of Israel who by the blessing of God in their own land enjoy peace and tranquilitie as his Church and people shall peace of conscience yea and with peace plentie and that of the best of earthly blessings of the flower of wheat the staff of temporal life like as his Church shall be happie as in peace of conscience so in Angels food the joy of the holy Ghost testifying the mind of God his love and favour toward them the best upholder of life spiritual 15 This thy God O Israel is he that commands all the world over and whatsoever throughout the whole creation he pleaseth effectually to will is by all creatures obeyed accordingly and can be no other nothing can give impediment to his will all second causes being at his beck to do his pleasure so that the word of command is no sooner given to any creature or creatures from one end of the world to the other but it is obeyed and the thing acted that he commanded the whole course of nature being nothing else but a ready and actual fulfilling of those things which he commands 16 Witness the several and wonderfull effects thereof how in the winter time by Gods appointmen and transmutation the earth is quite changed in form and complexion being covered over with snow a white and light substance as sheep with wâ—oll which he transmits from above and makes the hoarie frost lye upon the face of the earth scattered and dispersed as ashes when they are blowne about by the wind 17 Also the hail when it falls it is he that as he formed it above so sends it down below not in one intire coagulated bodie as is the nature of ice which would overwhelm and destroy the creature but in those showers and dispersions piece-meal as we see Who lives that is not sensible of the pinching weather that in winter time he is pleased to send and that is able to endure the extremitie of cold without helps and arts whereby to keep them warm 18 And as before he sent out his word and that caused them to be both snow and frost when and whilest they were so when he pleaseth to change the scene and that the earth and waters shall return to their proper elementarie appearance again he doth but give the word and it is done as it made them so it dissolves them he commands but a moist thawing wind for the winds also are his and at his dispose to blow and that melts the snow and ice into the water whereof it was congealed and so reduceth the rivers which in that could season were bound up with a firm unmoveable bodie of ice into their motion and current as before with an over-flowing augmentation by the dissolving of those waterie Meteors 19 By the word of his power creative and providential he is thus seen and known all the world over no people nor nation but partake thereof evidently But to Israel Jacobs posteritie his Church and chosen people doth he besides that hold forth another manner of word to wit a word of grace declaring his whole will to them and government over them not onely as a Creatour but a Lord and Saviour and so also owning them for his not
earth in that very day his thoughts perish 5 Happie is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God 6 Which made heaven and earth the sea and all that therein is which keepeth trust for ever 7 Which executeth judgement for the oppressed whiâ—h givâ—th food to the hungry the Lord looseth the prisoners 8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down the Lord loveth the righteous 9 The Lord preserveth the strangers he relieveth the fatherless and widow but the way of the wicked he turneth it upâ—side do 〈◊〉 10 The Lord shall reign for ever even thy God O Sion unto all generations Praise ye the Lord. Psalm cxlvii 1 PRaise ye the Lord for it is good to sing praises unto our God for it is pleasant and praise is coâ—ly 2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem he gathereth together the out-casts of Israel 3 He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds 4 He telleth the number of the stars he calleth them all by their names 5 Great is our Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite 6 The Lord lifteth up the meek he casteth the wicked down to the ground 7 Sings unto the Lord with thanks-giving sing praise upon the harp unto our God 8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds who prepareth rain for the earth who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains 9 He giveth to the beast his food and to the young ravens which crie 10 He delighteth not in the strenght of horse he taketh not pleasure in the leggs of a man 11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercie 12 Praise the Lord O Jerusalem praise thy God O Sion 13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates he hath blessed thy children within thee 14 He maketh peace in thy borders and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat 15 He sendeth forth his commandement upon earth his word runneth very swiftly 16 He giveth snow like wooll he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes 17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels who can stand before his cold 18 He sendeth out his word and meltâ—th them he causeth his wind to blow and the waters flow 19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes his judgements unto Israel 20 He hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgements they have not known them Praise ye the Lord. Psalm cxlviii 1 PRaise ye the Lord praise ye the Lord from the heavens praise him in the heights 2 Praise ye him all his Angels praise ye him all his hosts 3 Praise ye him sun and moon praise ye him all ye stars of light 4 Praise him ye heavens of heavens ye waters that be above the heavens 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord for he commanded they were created 6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever he hath made a decree which shall not pass 7 Praise the lord from the earth ye dragons all deeps 8 Fire hail snow and vapour stormy wind fulfilling his word 9 Mountains and all hils fruitful trees and all Cedars 10 Beasts and aâ— cattel creeping things and flying fowl 11 Kings of the earth and all people Princes all Judges of the earth 12 Both young men and maidens old men and children 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord for his name alone is excellent his glorie is above the earth and heaven 14 He also exalteth the horn of his people the praise of all his saints even of the children of Israel a people near unto him Praise ye the Lord. Psalm cxlix 1 PRaise ye the Lord sing unto Lord a new the song and his praise in the congregation of saints 2 Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him let the children of Sion be joyfull in their King 3 Let them praise his nâ—me in the dance let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp 4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people he will beautifie the meek with salvatâ—â—â— 5 Let the saints be joyful in glorie let them sing aloud upon their beds 6 Let the high praiseâ— of God be in their mouth and a two edged sword in their hand 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people 8 To bind their Kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron 9 To execute upon them the judgement written this honour have all his saints Praise ye the Lord. Psalm cl 1 PRaise ye the Lord praise God in his sanctuary praise him in the firmament of his power 2 Praise him for his mightie acts praise him according to his excellent greatness 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet praise him with the psaltery and harp 4 Praise him with the timbrel dance praiâ—e him with the stringed instruments and organs 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals praise him upon the high sounding cymbals 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.