A paraphrase vpon the divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

And of his Victory we sing:
Who in the Seas with horrid force
O'rethrew the Rider and his Horse.
My Strength, my God, my Argument,
My Fathers God, hath safety sent.
To him will I a Mansion raise;
There celebrate his glorious Praise.
His Sword hath won eternall fame;
And great Jehovah is his Name.
Lo Pharaoh's Chariots, his proud Hoast,
Are in the swallowing Billowes lost.
God, in the fathomlesse Profound,
Hath all his choice Commanders drown'd.
Downe sunk they, like a falling stone,
By raging Whirl-pits ovethrowne.
Thy pow'rfull Hand these VVonders wrought;
Our Foes by Thee to ruine brought.
Thou all that durst against thee fight
Hast crusht by thy prevailing Might.
Thy VVrath thy Foes to Cinders turnes,
As Fire the Sun-dri'd Stubble burnes.

Part 2.

Blowne by thy Nostrils breath, the Floud
In heaps, like solid Mountains, stood.

The Seas divided Heart congeal'd;
Her sandy Bottom first reveal'd.
Pursue, o're take, th'Ægyptians cry'd;
Let us their wealthy Spoile divide;
Our Sword these Fugitives destroy,
And with their Slaughter feast our Joy.
Thou blew'st; those Hils their Billowes spread:
In mightie Seas they sunke like Lead.
What God is like our God! so high!
So excellent in Sanctitie!
Whose glorious Praise such terror breeds!
So wonderfull in all thy Deeds!
Thy Hand out-stretcht; the closing VVomb
Of VVaves gave all his Host one Tomb.
But us, who have thy Mercy try'd
In our Redemption, thou wilt guide:
Guide by thy Power, till we possesse
The Mansion of thy Holinesse.

Part. 3.

Our Foes shall this with terrour heare;
Sad Palæstine grow pale with feare.
Those who the Edomites command,
And Moabs Chiefs shall trembling stand.
The Hearts of Canaan melt away,
Like Snow before the Suns bright Ray.
Horror shall seize on all; not one
But stand like Statues cut in Stone:
Vntill thy People passe; even those,
VVhom thou hast ransom'd from their Foes.
Thou shalt conduct, and plant them, where
Thy fruitfull Hils their Shoulders reare:
By thy Election dignifi'd;
VVhere thou for ever shalt abide.
Thy Reigne, eternall King, shall last,
VVhen Heaven and Earth in vapours waste.
While Pharaoh's Chariots and his Horse
'Twixt walls of Seas their way inforce:
Thy Hand reduc'd th'obedient Waves,
VVhich clos'd them in their rowling Graves:
But Israel through the bottome sand
Securely past, as on dry Land.

Devteronomy. XXXII.

As the 1. Psalme.

[Part 1.]

Lend, O you Heavens, unto my voyce an eare:
And thou, O Earth, what I shall utter, heare.
My words shall fall like Deaw, like April showers
On tender Herbs, and new-disclosed Flowers;

VVhile I the Goodnesse of our God proclaime:
O celebrate his great and glorious Name!
Our Rocke, whose VVorks are perfect. Justice leads,
And equall Judgement walks the VVay he treads.
In him unstain'd Sincerity excels;
The God of Truth, in whom no falshood dwels.
But you are all corrupt, perverse; nor beare
Those Marks about you, which his Children weare.
O fooles! depriv'd of intellectuall Light!
Doe you your great Preserver thus requite?
Your Father? He who made you? did select
From all the World, and with his Beauty deck'd?
Remember; aske the Ancient: They will tell
What in old times, and Ages past, befell:
VVhen the most High did distribute the Earth,
VVith liberall hand, to all of humane birth:
VVhen yet you were not, He, according to
Your numerous Race, design'd a Seat for you.

Part. 2.

His People are his Portion: Jacob is
Th'Inheritance alone reserv'd for His.
He, when he wandred through a desert land,
And in a horrid Wildernesse of sand;
Conducted, taught him his high Mysteries;
And kept him as the Apples of his Eyes.
As the old Eagle on her Ayery spreads
Her fostring Plumes; renewes their downy beds,
Feeds, traines them for the flight, subdues their feares;
And on her soaring wings her Eaglets beares:
So he sustein'd, So led him; He alone:
No stranger-Gods to Israel then were knowne.
Whom like a Horse the towring Mountaines bore;
That those rich fields might feast him with their store.
With Honey the hard Rocks supply'd his want;
And pure Oyle dril'd from cliffes of Adamant:
Him with the Milke of Ewes, with Butter fed;
With fat of Lambs, and Rams in Bashan bred;
With flesh of Goats, with Wheats pure Kernels fill'd;
And dranke the Bloud, which from the Grape distill'd.

Part. 3.

But Jesurun grew fat; kickt like a Horse,
Full of high feeding, and untamed force:
Forsooke his God, who made, sustein'd, adorn'd;
And that strong Rocke of his Salvation scorn'd:
VVith barbarous Gods, and execrable Rites,
His Jealousie and Wrath at once excites.
To Divels they profanely sacrific'd;
Gods made with hands, before their Maker priz'd:

Gods brought from forraigne Nations; strange and new:
Gods, which their Ancestors nor fear'd, nor knew.
Their Father, their firme Rocke, remembred not;
And Him, who had created them, forgot.
This having seene with burning eyes, the Lord
His Daughters, and degenerate Sons, abhor'd:
Said, from these Rebels I will hide my face,
And see the end of this unfaithfull Race.
Since they with Gods, that are but Gods in Name,
My Soule with so great Jelousie inflame;
And through their vanities my wrath incense;
I, by the like will punish their offence.
Their Glory to an unknowne Nation grant,
And in their roome a foolish People plant.

Part. 4.

A fire is kindled in my wrath, which shall
Even in the depth of Hell devoure them all:
Polluted Earth with her productions burne;
And ayery Mountaines into ashes turne.
One misery another shall invite,
And all my arrowes in their bosomes light:
Famine shall eate them, hot Diseases burne;
And all by violent deaths to Earth returne.
The teeth of salvage Beasts their blood shall spill;
And Serpents with their fatall poyson kill.
The Sword without, and home-bred Terrors shall
Devoure their lives. Their Youth untimely fall;
Betrothed Virgins, such as stoope with Age,
And sucking Babes, shall sinke beneath my Rage.
Scatter I would like Chaffe by Tempests blowne,
Nor should their Memory to Man be knowne:
If not withheld by their insulting Foe;
Lest he should triumph in their overthrow:
And boasting say; This our owne hands have done;
Our Swords, the Gods which have their battaile won.

Part. 5.

A Nation which hath no Intelligence:
Vncapable of Councell; void of sense.
O that my Words could to their hearts descend;
To make them wise, and thinke of their last End!
How would One man a Thousand put to flight!
And Two a Myriad overthrow in Fight!
But that their Strength hath sold them to their Foes;
And left them naked to their deadly blowes.
For, though our Enemies should judge, their Powers
Are faint to His; their Rocke no Rocke to ours:
Their Vine of Sodom, of Gomorrahs fields;
Which Grapes of Gall, and bitter clusters yields.

Poison of Dragons is their deadly Wine;
To which cold Aspes their drowsie venome joyne.
Is not all this unto my Sight reveal'd?
Laid up in store? and with my Signet seal'd?
To me belongs Revenge and Recompence:
Which I will in the time decree'd dispense.
The Day is neere which their destruction brings;
And Punishment now flies with speedy wings.

Part. 6.

God will his People judge; at length relent;
And of his Servants miseries repent:
Then when they are of all their power bereft,
No strength, no hope of humane succour left.
And say, Where are the God's of your defence,
Those Rockes of your presuming confidence;
Whose flaming Altars you so often fed
VVith fat of Bieves, and VVine profusely shed?
Now let them from their crowned Banquets rise,
And shield you from your furious enemies.
Behold! I am your God; I, onely I,
Assisted by no forraigne Deity.
I kill, revive; I wound and heale; no hand
Or power of Mortals can my strength withstand.
I, to the Heavens I made, my armes extend;
Pronounce, I ever was, and have no end.
VVhet I my glittering Sword; if I advance
My hand in Judgement; woes past utterance,
And vengeance, equall to their merits, shall
Vpon my Foes, and those who hate me, fall.
The hungry Sword shall eat their flesh, like Food,
My thirsty Arrows shall be drunke with bloud:
For Captives slaine, and for the bloud they spilt,
I will with horrour recompence their guilt.
You wiser Nations, with his People joy;
For he will all their Enemies destroy:
His Servants vindicate from their proud Foe;
And to their Land, and them, his Mercy show.

Judges V.

[Your great Preserver celebrate]

[Part 1.]

Your great Preserver celebrate:

As the 8. Psalme.

He who reveng'd our wrongs of late;
When you, his sonnes, in Israels Aid
Of life so brave a Tender made.
You Princes, with attention heare;
And you who awfull Scepters beare;

While I in sacred Numbers sing
The Praise of our eternall King.
When he through Seir his Army led,
In Edoms fields his Ensignes spread;
Earth shooke, the Heavens in drops descend;
And Clouds in teares their substance spend.
Before his Face the Mountaines melt:
Old Sinai unknowne fervor felt.
When Israel Sangars Rule obey'd,
And Jael, that Virago, sway'd;
She bold of heart, He great in Warre;
Yet to the fearefull Travailer
All wayes were then unsafe: who crept
Through Woods, or past when others slept.
The Land uncultivated lay:
When I arose, I Deborah,
A Mother to my Countrey grew;
At once their Foes, and feares subdue.

Part. 2.

When to themselves new Gods they chose,
Then were their Wals besieg'd by Foes.
Did One of Forty Thousand weare
A Cote of Steele? or shooke a Speare?
You, who with such alacrity
Led to the Battaile; O how I
Affect your Valour! with me raise
Your voyces; Sing Jehovahs Praise.
Sing You who on white Asses ride,
And Justice equally divide:
You, who those VVayes so fear'd of late,
VVhere now no Thieves assassinate:
You lately from your Fountaines barr'd,
VVhere you their clattering Quivers heard,
There, with united joy record
The righteous Judgements of the Lord.
You who your Cities repossesse,
VVho reape in peace, his Praise professe.
Arise, O Deborah, arise;
In heavenly Hymnes expresse thy Joyes.
Arise, O Barak; Thou the Fame
And Off-spring of Abinoam;
Of Israel the renowned Head,
Captivitie now captive lead.

Part. 3.

Nor shall the noble Memory
Of our strong Aids in silence die:
The Quiver-bearing Ephramite
March't from his Mountaine to the Fight:

Those who on Amalek confine,
The small Remaines of Benjamin:
From Machir, Princes: Not a few
VVise Zebulun with Letters drew:
The valiant Chiefes of Issachar,
VVith Deborah, troopt to this Warre;
VVho downe into the Valley tread
The way which noble Barak led.
But Reuben from the rest disjoyn'd
By Hils and Flouds, was so in mind.
Did'st thou these glorious VVars refuse,
To heare the bleating of the Ewes?
O great in Councell! O how wise!
That couldst both Faith and Fame despise.
Gilead' of thundring Drums afraid,
Or slothfull, beyond Jordan staid.
Dan his swift-sailing Ships affects,
And publique Liberty neglects:
VVhile Ashur on his Cliffes resides,
And fortifies against the Tides.
But Zebulun, and Nepthali,
VVho never would from danger flye,
VVere ready, for the publike good,
On Tabors top to shed their bloud.

Part. 4.

Then Kings, Kings of the Canaanites,
On Taanach Plaines addrest their Fights;
VVhere swift Megiddo's VVaters ran:
Yet neither Spoile nor Trophee wan.
The Heavens 'gainst Sisera fought; The Stars
Mov'd in Battalia to those VVars:
By ancient Kishon swept from thence;
VVhose Torrent falling Clouds incense.
Thou, O my joyfull Soule, at length
Hast trod to Dirt their puissant Strength.
Their wounded Horse with flying haste
Fall head-long, and their Riders cast.
Thus spake an Angel; Cursed be
Thou Meroz, all who dwell in thee;
That basely would'st no aid afford,
In that great Battaile to the Lord.
Cinœian Hebers VVife, thou best
Of VVomen, be thou ever blest;
Blest above all: Let all that dwell
In Tents, thy Act, O Jaell, tell.
She brought him Milke, above his wish;
And Butter in a Princely Dish.

A Hammer, and a Naile she tooke,
This into Sisera's Temples strooke.
He fell, fell downe, downe to the Flore;
Lay where he fell, bath'd in his Gore;
Lay groveling at her Feet: and there
His wretched Soule sigh'd into Aire.

Part 5.

His Mother at her window staid,
And thrusting out her shoulders said;
Why are his Chariots wheeles so slow!
Nor yet my Sonne in Triumph show!
VVhen her wise Ladies standing by,
(Yea she her selfe) made this reply;
Have not their Swords now won the Day?
Have they not shar'd the wealthy Prey?
Now every Souldier for his paines
An Hebrew Dame or Virgin gaines:
VVhile Sisera, choosing, layes aside
Rich Robes, in various Colours dy'd;
Rich Robes with curious Needles wrought
On either side, from Phrygia brought:
The Thread spun from the Silk-worms womb,
Such as a Conquerer become.
Great God! So perish all thy Foes;
Love such as love thee: O let those
Shine like the Sun, when he displaies
I'th' Orient his increasing Raies.

Samvel. II.

As the 29. Psalme.

[Part 1.]

God hath rais'd my head on high:
O my Heart, inlarge thy joy!
God hath now my Tongue unti'd,
To retort their scorne, and pride.
In thy Grace I will rejoyce;
Praise thee, while I have a voyce.
VVho so holy as our Lord!
VVho but he to be ador'd!
VVho such Wonders can effect!
VVho so strongly can protect!
Be no longer arrogant,
Nor in Folly, proudly vaunt:
God our secret thoughts displaies;
All our works his Ballance weighes.
Giants Bowes his Forces breake;
He with strength invests the Weake.
Who were full, now serve for bread;
Those who serv'd, infranchised.

Barren VVombs with Children flow;
Fruitfull Mothers childlesse grow.

Part 2.

God fraile Man of life deprives;
Those who sleepe in Death, revives:
Leads us to our silent Tombes;
Brings us from those horrid Roomes:
Riches sends; sends Poverty:
Casteth downe, and lifts on high.
He from the despised Dust,
From the Dunghill takes the Just;
To the height of Honour brings;
Plants them in the Thrones of Kings.
God, Earths mighty Pillars made;
He the World upon them laid.
He his Servants feet will guide:
Wicked Soules, who swell with Pride,
Will in endlesse Darknesse chaine;
Since all humane strength is vaine.
He shall grind his Enemies;
Blast with Lightning from the Skies:
Judge the habitable Earth,
All of high and humble birth:
Shall with strength his King renowne,
And his Christ with Glory crowne.

II. Samuvel I.

[Thy Beauty, Israel, is fled]

Thy Beauty, Israel, is fled,

As the 39. Psalme.

Sunke to the Dead.
How are the Valiant fal'n! the Slaine
Thy Mountaines staine.
O let it not in Gath be knowne;
Nor in the streets of Ascalon!

Lest that sad Story should excite
Their dire delight:
Lest in the Torrent of our woe
Their pleasure flow:
Lest their triumphant Daughters ring
Their Cymbals, and curs'd Pæans sing.

You Hils of Gilboa, never may
You Offprings pay;
No morning Deaw, nor fruitfull showers
Cloth you with I lowers:

Saul, and his Armes there made a Spoile;
As if untoucht with sacred Oyle.

The Bow of noble Jonathan
Great Battailes wan:
His Arrows on the Mighty fed,
With Slaughter red.
Saul never rais'd his Arme in vaine;
His Sword still glutted with the Slaine.

How lovely! O how pleasant! when
They liv'd with Men!
Then Eagles swifter; stronger farre
Then Lions are:
Whom love in life so strongly ty'd,
The stroke of Death could not divide.

Sad Israels Daughters, weepe for Saul;
Lament his fall.
Who fed you with the Earths increase,
And crown'd with Peace:
With Robes of Tyrian Purple deckt,
And Gems, which sparkling light reflect.

How are thy Worthies by the Sword
Of Warre devour'd!
O Jonathan, the better part
Of my torne Heart!
The salvage Rocks have drunke thy bloud:
My Brother! O how kind! how good!

Thy love was great; O never more
To Man, Man bore!
No Woman, when most passionate,
Lov'd at that rate!
How are the Mighty fal'n in fight!
They, and their Glory set in Night!

II. Samvel VII.

As the 4. Psalme.

[Part 1.]

My Lord, my God, O who am I!
Or what is my poore Family,
That thou should'st crowne,
With Power renowne,
And raise my Throne on high!

As this were little; in my place
Hast promis'd to confirme my Race.
Doe men, O Lord,
To men afford
Such, such transcendent Grace!

Not to be hop'd for, nor desir'd;
Not to be utter'd, but admir'd:
My Thoughts to me,
Then they to thee,
Lesse knowne, when most retir'd.

These great things did'st Thou, to fulfill
Thy Word and never-changing Will.
Into my Sight
This knowing Light,
Thy Wisdomes Beames, distill.

In Goodnesse, as in Power corupleat:
No God but thee: O who so great!
All this of old
Our Fathers told;
And often did repeat.

What Nation breaths, who can or dare
With thee, O Israel, compare?
For whom alone
God left his Throne,
As his peculiar Care.

To amplifie his Name; to doe
Such great, such fearefull things for you:
Such Wonders wrought;
From Ægypt brought;
From men, from gods withdrew.

Establisht by divine Decree;
That thou might'st be our God, and we
For evermore
Thy Name adore;
As consecrate to Thee.

Part. 2.

Now, Lord, effect what thou hast said;
The Promise to thy Servant made.
Confirme by Deed,
What to his Seed
Thy Word long since displaid.

Great God, O be thou magnifi'd!
VVhose Hands the strife of VVarre decide:
Let Davids Race,
Before thy Face
For ever fixt abide.

Thou saidst (who Israel dost protect)
I will my Servants House erect.
My Thoughts indu'd
With gratitude
These Prayers to Thee direct.

Thou Lord, in Goodnesse infinite!
VVhose VVord and Truth like Twins unite.
Thy Promise hath
Confirm'd my Faith,
And fill'd me with delight.

Be then my House for ever blest,
Of thy deare Presence still possest.
Thus hast thou said;
This Promise made:
O with thy Grace invest!

Esay V.

As the 9. Psalme.

Now I, to my Beloved, will
A Song of my Beloved sing:
He hath a Vineyard on a Hill,
VVhich all the Yeare enjoy'd the Spring.
This he inclosed with a Mound,
Pickt up the Stones which scatter'd lay:
VVith generous Vines plants the rich Ground;
Dig'd, pruin'd, and weeded every day.
To presse the Clusters made a Frame,
Plac'd in a new erected Tower:
But when th'expected Vintage came,
For good, the Grapes prov'd wild and sowre.
You who on Judah's Hils reside,
VVho Citizens of Salem be;
Doe you the Controverse decide
Betweene my Vineyard judge, and me.
Though partiall Judge. Could I have more
To my ungratefull Vineyard done?
Yet such unpleasant Clusters bore,
Vnworthy of the soyle, or Sunne.

Then know; This Vineyard, late my Joy,
Manured with such diligence;
Wild Bores, and Foxes shall destroy,
When I have trampled downe her Fence.
Then shall she unregarded lye,
Vndig'd, unpruin'd, with Brambles spread:
No gentle Clouds shall on her dry
And thirsty Wombe their moisture shed.
That ancient House of Israel,
The great Jehovahs Vineyard is:
They who on Judah's Mountaines dwell,
Those choice, and pleasant Plants of his:
From whom he Justice did expect,
But Rapine, and Oppression found:
Thought they sweet Concord would affect;
When all with Strife, and Cryes abound.

Esay XXVI.

[Ovr Sion strongly is secur'd]

[Part 1.]

Ovr Sion strongly is secur'd,

As the 2. Psalme.

Which God himselfe hath fortifi'd;
High Bulwarks rais'd on every side,
And with immortall Walls immur'd:
Her Gates at their approach display,
Who Justice love, and Truth obey.

Who fix on him their confidence,
He will in constant Peace preserve.
O then with Faith Jehovah serve;
Your strong and ever sure Defence:
VVho hurles the Mighty from their Thrones,
And Cities turnes to Heaps of stones.

Their Structures levels with the Floore,
VVhich Sepulchres of Dust inclose:
Trod underneath the Feet of those,
That were of late Despis'd and Poore.
Straight is the VVay the Righteous tread;
By Thee at once inform'd and led.

For we thy Judgements, Lord, expect,
And onely on thy Grace relye:
To thy great Name and Memory
Th'Affections of our Soules erect.
My Soule pursues thee in the Night,
And when the Morne displayes her Light.

Part. 2.

Didst thou thy Judgements exercise,
Then Mortals should the Truth discerne:
And yet the Wicked would not learne;
But thy extended Grace despise:
Among the Just to Injustice fold;
Nor will thy Majesty behold.

Shouldst thou advance thine Arme on High,
Though wilfull-blind, yet should they view
The Shame and Vengeance which pursue
All those, who thy deare Saints envy:
Those vindicating Flames, which burne
Thy Foes, shall them to Cinders turne.

Thou our eternall peace hast wrought,
And in our works, thy Wonders showne.
Though other Lords, besides our owne,
Had us to their subjection brought;
Yet, through thy onely Goodnesse, we
Remembred both thy Name and Thee.

Dead are they, never more to rise
From those darke Caves of endlesse Night;
Nor ever shall the cheerefull Light
Revisit with their closed eyes.
Thy Vengeance hath expel'd their Breath,
And clos'd their Memories in Death.

Part. 3.

Thou, Thou hast given us wounds on wounds;
In punishing thy Glory showne:
Far from thy chearfull Presence throwne;
Even to the Worlds extreamest bounds:
Amidst our stripes, and sighings, we
Addrest our zealous Prayers to Thee.

As Women groaning with their Load,
The time of their Delivery neere,
Anticipating paine with feare,
Screeke in their Pangs; So we to God:
So suffer'd, when in thy Disgrace;
So cry'd out, when thou hid'st thy Face.

For we, with Sorrow's burthen fraught,
Paine, and anxiety of Mind,
Brought onely forth an empty Wind;
Nor our desir'd Delivery wrought.

We neither could repulse our Foes,
Nor give a period to our Woes.

The Lord thus to his People spake;
Thy Dead shall live; those who remaine
In peacefull Graves, shall rise againe.
O you who sleepe in Dust, awake;
Now sing: on you my Plants I'le shed
My Deaw; the Graves shall cast their Dead.

Goe, hide thee in thy inward Roomes
A little, till my Wrath passe by:
To punish Mans impiety,
The Lord from Heaven in Thunder comes:
The Earth then shall your Bloud reveale,
Nor longer shall the Slaine conceale.

Esay XXXVIII.

[Part 1.]

In the substraction of my yeares,

As the 39. Psalme.

I said with Teares;
Ah! now I to the Shades below
Must naked goe:
Cut off by Death before my Time;
And like a Flower cropt in my Prime.

Lord in thy Temple I no more
Shall Thee adore:
No longer with Mankind converse,
In my cold Herse.
My Age is past ere it be spent;
Removed like a Shepheards Tent.

My fraile Life, like a Weavers thred,
My Sins have shred:
My vitall powers Diseases waste
With greedy haste:
Even from the Evening to the Day
I languish, and consume away.

And when the Morning Watch is past,
Thinke that my last.
Thou like a Lion break'st my bones,
Nor hear'st my groanes:
Even from the Dawning to the Night,
Death waites to close my failing Sight.

Thus Swallow-like, like to a Crane,
My Woes complaine:
Mourne like a Turtle-Dove, but late
Rob'd of his Mate.
I my dim eyes to Thee erect:
The Weake ô strengthen, and protect!

Part 2.

What praise can reach thy Clemency,
O thou Most High!
Thy Words are ever crown'd with Deeds:
Joy Griefe succeeds.
My bitter pangs at length are past;
And long my peacefull dayes shall last.

My lively vigour dost restore,
Increa'st with more:
My Yeares prolong'd, now flourishing
In their new Spring:
Thou hast with Joy dry'd up my Teares;
And with my Griefe exil'd my Feares.

Thy Love hath drawne me from the Pit,
Where Horrors sit:
My Soule-infecting Sins thou hast
Behind Thee cast.
The Grave can not thy Praise relate;
Nor Death thy Goodnesse celebrate.

Can they expect thy Mercy, whom
Cold Earth intombe?
The Living must thy Truth display;
A I this Day.
This Fathers to their Sons shall tell,
While Soules in humane Bodies dwell.

The Lord as ready was to save,
As I to crave:
I therefore to the warbling string
His Praise will sing:
And in his House, till my last Day,
My gratefull Vowes devoutly pay.

Jonah I.

As the 9. Psalme.

On Thee my captiv'd Soule did call;
Thou, who art present every where,

From the darke Entrailes of the Whale,
Didst thy intombed Servant heare.
Thy Hand into the Surges threw,
The Seas blacke armes forthwith unfold;
Downe to the horrid Bottom drew,
And all her Waves upon me rould.
Then said my Soule; For ever I
Am banisht from thy glorious sight:
And yet thy Temple with the Eye
Of Faith review'd, in that blind Night.
The Flouds my Soule involv'd below;
The swallowing Deeps besieg'd me round:
And Weeds, which in the bottom grow,
My Head with funerall Dresses bound.
I to the roots of Mountaines div'd,
Whom bars of broken Rocks restraine:
Yet from that Tombe of death reviv'd,
And rais'd to see the Sun againe.
I, when my Soule began to faint,
My Vowes and Prayers to thee prefer'd:
The Lord my passionate complaint,
Even from his holy Temple heard.
Those who affect false vanities,
The Mercy of their God betray:
But I my Thankes will sacrifice,
And Vowes to my Redeemer pay.

Habakkvk. III.

[Great God, with terror I have heard thy Doome]

[Part 1.]

Great God, with terror I have heard thy Doome;

As the 72. Psalme.

The fearefull punishments that are to come:
Yet in the midst of those devouring Yeares,
Then when thy Vengeance shall exceed our Feares,
Thy Worke in us revive; confirme our Faith,
And still remember Mercy in thy Wrath.
God came from Theman, and the Holy-one
From Parans Mountaine, where his Glory shone:
VVhich fil'd the heav'ns themselves with brighter Raies;
And all the Earth replenisht with his Praise.
His Brightnesse as the Suns: his Fingers Streames
Of Light project; his Power hid in those Beames.
Devouring Pestilence before him flew,
And wasting Flames his dreadfull Steps pursue.
Then fixt his Feet, and measur'd with his Eyes
The Earths Extent: pale Feares her Sons surprise,

The ancient Mountaines shrunke; eternall Hils
Stoopt to their Bases; All Amazement fils.
His Glory and his Terrour he displaies,
In his unknowne and everlasting Waies.
I saw th'afflicted Tents of Cushan quake,
And Midians Cortines in that Tempest shake.

Part 2.

VVhen thou, O Lord, the Rivers didst divide;
And on the Chariots of Salvation ride,
Through the congested Billowes of the Seas:
VVas it because thou wast displeas'd with these?
According to thy Oath thou drew'st thy Sword;
Thy Oath sworne to our Tribes; thy constant Word.
From cloven Rocks new Torrents tooke their flight,
And ayery Mountaines trembled at thy sight:
The over-flowing Streames inforce their Wayes;
The Deeps to Thee their Hands and Voyces raise;
The Sunne and Moone obedient to Command,
Till then in restlesse Motion, made a Stand.
Thy Darts and flaming Arrowes, swift as Sight;
Confound thy Foes, but give thy People Light.
He, in his Fury, marched through the Land;
And crusht the Heathen with a vengefull Hand.
Th'Anointed, with thy Sword, their Leaders slew;
The Joynts disclos'd, where Heads of Princes grew.
VVith thy transfixing Speare their Subjects strake:
VVho like a blacke and dreadfull Tempest brake
Vpon our Front, with purpose to devoure,
And triumph over our despised Power.
He through the roaring Flouds his People guides:
Through yielding Seas on fiery Horses rides.

Part 3.

When I thy Threatnings heard, my entrails shooke;
And my unnerved knees each other strooke.
My lips with panting swell, my cheeks grow wan;
Through all my bones a swift Consumption ran.
O where may I repose in that sad Day,
When armed Troups upon my Countrey prey!
Although the Fig-tree shall no blossomes beare;
Nor Vines with their pure bloud the pensive cheare:
Although the Olive no requitall yield;
Nor Corne apparell the deserted Field:
Though then our Flocks be ravisht from the Fold,
And though our Stalls no well-fed Oxen hold:
Yet will not I despaire, but chearfully
Expect, and in thy knowne Salvation joy.
For thou my Strength and my Protection art:
My feet, more nimble then the flying Hart,

Ascend the Hils; where I, with holy fire,
VVill sing thy Praises to my solemne Lyre.

Lvke I.

[My ravisht soule extols his Name]

My ravisht soule extols his Name,

As the 8. Psalme.

VVho rules the VVorlds admired Frame:
My Spirit, with exalted Voyce,
In God my Saviour shall rejoyce:
VVho hath his glorious Beames displayd,
Vpon a poore and humble Maid.
Me all succeeding Ages shall
The blessed Virgin-Mother call.
The Great, great things for me hath wrought;
His Sanctity past humane thought.
His Mercy still reflects on those,
VVho in his Truth their Trust repose.
He with his Arme hath Wonders showne:
The Proud in their owne pride ore throwne;
The Mighty from their Thrones dejects:
The Lowly from the dust erects.
The Hungry are his welcome Guests;
The Rich excluded from his Feasts.
He mindfull of his Promise, hath
Maintain'd, and crowned Israels Faith:
To Abraham promis'd, and decreed
For ever to his holy Seed.

Lvke I.

[O praise the Lord, his VVonders tell]

O praise the Lord, his VVonders tell,

As the 46. Psalme.

VVhose Mercy shines in Israel;
At length redeem'd from Sinne and Hell.

The Crowne of our Salvation,
Deriv'd from Davids royall Throne,
He now hath to his People showne.

This to his Prophets did unfold;
By all successively foretold,
Vntill the infant World grew old.

That he our wrongs would vindicate,
Save from our foes inveterate hate,
And raise our long deprest estate.

To ratifie his ancient Deed,
His promis'd Grace, by oath decreed,
To Abraham, and his faithfull Seed.

That we might our Preserver praise,
VValke purely in his perfect wayes,
And fearelesse serve him all our dayes.

His path thou shalt prepare, sweet Child,
And run before the Vndefil'd;
The Prophet of th'Almighty stil'd.

Our knowledge to informe, from whence
Salvation springs: from penitence,
And pardon of each foule offence.

Through mercy, O how infinite!
Of our great God, who cleares our sight,
And from the Orient sheds his Light.

A leading Starre t'enlighten those,
VVhom Night, and shades of Death inclose;
VVhich that high Tract to glory showes.

Luke II.

As the 34. Psalme.

O thou who art inthron'd on high,
In peace now let thy Servant die,
Whose hope on thee relies:
For thou, whose words and deeds are one,
At length hast thy Salvation showne
To these my ravisht Eyes.

By thee, before thy Hands displaid
The Heavens, and Earths Foundation laid,
Vnto the VVorld decree'd:
A Lampe to give the Gentiles Light;
A Glory, O how infinite!
To Israels faithfull Seed.

FINIS.

Gloria Deo in excelsis.