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DAVID's Thansgiving and Prayer.

—Ingressus est autem Rex David & sedit coram Domino, & dixit, Quis ego sum Domine & quæ? 2 Sam. 7.

I

Who am I Lord, and what's my Family,

1 Paral. 17.

The youngest House of the Jessean Race,
In all things little, but that Grace,
Which Thou on us hast shour'd, but most on me?
Who am I, that Thou hitherto
Hast brought me, Lord, Thy Bounty and Thy Power to show?

II

Hitherto Thou hast brought me, and that Hand,
Which for a Sling, and Sheephook was design'd;
A nobler Service is enjoyn'd,
And Men, instead of Flocks, are my command:
Israel the Flock, and care Divine,
And my exalted Name does midst rich Trophies shine.

III

Like the great Mens of th' Earth, Thou' hast made my Name,
And yet (as if all this were not enough,
And thousand Pledges more of Love,
But the foundation only of that Frame,
Thou in Thy mind hadst cast to raise)
Of future Glories Thou foretell'st, and growing Praise.
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IV

Of Times to come Thou' hast told, long hence to come,
And that my House, and Throne upheld shall be;
Like a Prince born, Thou' hast treated me,
As having, what Thou' art making for me room;
And are Men, Lord, thus wont to do,
Who rather than exalt the Poor, will keep them low?

V

Yet thus Thou' hast done, and what can I say more,
Or greater, for Thy Honour, Lord, or mine,
Which both here equal issues joyn,
That all, who th' Work admire, may Thee adore?
Greater I'd say, Thou knowst full well,
And more, but what I know not, how I cannot tell.

VI

Unless I add, that for Thy great Words sake
Thou didst it, that Thou mightst at once fulfil
The secret Counsels of Thy Will,
And, what they were, known to Thy People make:
For Thine own sake, my God, and mine,
For Thou thy Servant knowst, and that his will is Thine.

VII

Great art Thou, Lord, and wondrous are Thy Ways,
The best and greatest, the only God alone;
Beside, or like whom, there is none,
Glorious in Holiness, fearful in Praise:
Thus sing we, who did first receive
The Truth from our Fore-fathers, but seeing, now believe.
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VIII

For what one Nation, as from them of Old
We' have often heard, with Israel can compare?
For whom Himself God did not spare,
But came from Heav'n in Person to behold
The Mise'ries they did undergo,
And not to see alone, but to Revenge them too?

IX

From Heav'n he came, from Heav'n himself came down
All cloath'd in Tempest, and sulphureous Flame,
To get Himself the greater Name,
And do, what by His Word He might have done:
That thus from Egypts Gods set free,
Himself he might declare His Peoples God to be.

X

This our Fore-fathers told us; but we' have seen
Our selves as mighty Wonders of Thy Love;
Nor need we fetch from them our Proof,
Who' our selves as mighty Wonders oft have been:
Confirm'd by Thy after vast expence,
(And more's to come) to be Thy great Inheritance.

XI

And now, my God, the Word, which Thou hast said,
Th' irrevocable Word concerning me,
Let it for ever stablisht be!
And stablisht be that House, which Thou hast made!
Thy Servant David, thus approv'd,
Establish with his House, nor let them be remov'd.
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XII

So shall Thy Word and Name be ever prais'd;
“And Israels Holy God, shall Israel sing,
“Is God alone, and Israel's King:
“He His Anointeds Horn on high has rais'd,
“Of David, and his House approv'd,
“David and 'his House establisht ne're to be remov'd.

XIII

Not that I'm worthy, Thou shouldst hear my Vows,
Only Thy self was pleas'd the Word to pass;
Lord, since I 'have with Thee found this Grace,
To be assur'd Thou 'lt build Thy Servants House,
Another Grace turn not away,
Which in my Heart I since have found, even thus to pray.

XIV

Thy Promise 'tis this holy boldness gives,
That Word of Thine, which like Thy self is sure,
And through all Ages shall endure,
True, as its Speaker, who for ever Lives:
The God of Truth, who cannot Lye,
Nor his own Goodness, promis'd thus to his Child, deny.

XV

Please it Thee therefore, may it please Thee, Lord,
Thy Servant, and Thy Servants House to bless,
With Blessings that may never cease;
Blessings, as fixt as Thy Eternal Word,
For Thou, my God, canst bless alone,
Thus bless; and once thus blessing me indeed, I'have done.
1677.
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