University of Virginia Library


14

Psalm 17.

[High Iudge of world, cast doun thy rightĕous eys]

High Iudge of world, cast doun thy rightĕous eys;
Attentive hear, while right for iustice humbly crys.
Not causeles fear, nor sleight of faining lips,
Or needles douts prezents, or plot disguisĕd uprips:
Iust grief appeals; and sentence from thy face,
Of thee craves due redress: thou then iust plea embrace.
THOU oft my soule, yea oft in night didst vieu;
When thoughts in silent rest prezent appearance true:
And oft my hart with firi storms hast seen
Dissolv'd; and trial made what dross therein hath been.
Nought counterfeit, no palliate thing hast found:
What secret mynd dooth think, that mouth dooth truly sound.
All as my woords, so deeds towărd men doo frame:
Thy sacred woord my rule: the viŏlent wrongers blame,
I see, and shun. O still my feet contain
In rightĕous paths; stil hands from acts not iust restrain.
THEE Lord I call: for sure thou wilt me hear:
Ah then receive the plaint which faithful soule dooth rear.
Divide thy acts: display thy mercies free,
(Thou Saviour of thy Saints from those who them and thee
With wicked hate attempt): as light of ey
Me fenced, under, Lord, thy shadŏing wing let fly.
There let me rest; there safe from impious crue,
My deadli foes, protect: who circling rage renue,
My strength to wast, my life to earth to bring;
Engrosd with fat; and proud, out thundring threats doo ring.

15

As Lion fierce, with ireful hunger whet,
Flings out his prey to seek; which ioious having met,
Stands foming rage: or else as Lions whelp,
Who coucheth close in cave, his strength with sleight to help,
Nor bold, nor yet afraid: so Lord my foes,
Now round with ramping troops our ways and walks enclose,
Prezenting death: and now with spiteful ey,
Doun-cast, dissembling leer, advantage to espy.
THEN Lord arize, and with encounter swift
Affront their savage looks: and bloud since is their drift,
Midst wicked troops, that bloud may bloud repay,
To save us by thy hand, with swoord mowe doun thy way.
SO Lord from men, my grieving soule enfree,
From men of baser world: who here we beast-like see
In fading life their portion all posses;
And panches vile, their God, from thy rich storehouse bless.
Like sire, like son: same coorse their ofspring runs;
Ful gorge themselues; what's left, that to their infants comes.
BVT I, by faith, in rightĕous life, shal vieu
Thy gracious face. And when thy powĕr shal death subdue;
Awakened, Lord, eternal glorious sight
Of semblance thyn, me like, shal fill with pure delight.