The psalms :: :: University of Virginia Library

Lorde, our fathers true relation
Often made, hath made us knowe
How thy pow'r in each occasion,
Thou of old for them didst showe;
How thy hand the Pagan foe
Rooting hence, thie folke implanting,
Leavelesse made that braunch to grow,
This to spring, noe verdure wanting.

Never could their sword procure them
Conquest of the promist land:
Never could their force assure them
When theie did in danger stand.
Noe, it was thie arme, thie hand,
Noe, it was thie favors treasure
Spent uppon thie loved band,
Loved, whie? for thy wise pleasure.

Unto thee stand I subjected,
I that did of Jacob spring:
Bidd then that I be protected,
Thou that art my God, my king:
By that succour thou didst bring,
Wee their pride that us assailed,
Downe did tread, and back did fling,
In thy name confus'd and quailed.

For my trust was not reposed
In my owne though strongest, bowe:
Nor my scabberd held enclosed
That, whence should my saftie flowe
Thou, O God, from every foe
Didst us shield, our haters shaming:
Thence thy dailie praise wee showe,
Still thy name with honor naming.

But aloofe thou now dost hover,
Grieving us with all disgrace:
Hast resign'd and given over
In our Campe thy Captaines place.
Back wee turne, that turned face,
Flieng them, that erst wee foiled:
See our goods (O changed case,)
Spoil'd by them, that late we spoiled.

Right as sheepe to be devowred,
Helplesse heere wee lie alone:
Scattringlie by thee out-powred,
Slaves to dwell with lords unknown.
Sold wee are, but silver none
Told for us: by thee so prised,
As for nought to bee forgone,
Gracelesse, worthlesse, vile, despised.

By them all that dwell about us,
Tos'd we flie as balls of scorne;
All our neighbours laugh and flout us,
Men by thee in shame forlorne.
Proverb-like our name is worne,
O how fast in foraine places!
What hed-shakings are forborne!
Wordlesse taunts and dumbe disgraces!

Soe rebuke before mee goeth,
As my self doe daily goe:
Soe Confusion on me groweth,
That my face I blush to show.
By reviling slaundring foe
Inly wounded thus I languish:
Wreakfull spight with outward blow
Anguish adds to inward anguish.

All, this all on us hath lighted,
Yet to thee our love doth last:
As wee weare, wee are delighted
Still to hold thie cov'nant fast.
Unto none our hartes have past:
Unto none our feete have slidden:
Though us downe to dragons cast
Thou in deadly shade hast hidden.

If our God wee had forsaken,
Or forgott what hee assign'd:
If our selves we had betaken
Godds to serve of other kind
Should not hee our doubling find
Though conceal'd, and closlie lurking?
Since his eye of deepest minde
Deeper sincks then deepest working?

Surelie Lord, this daily murther
For thie sake we thus sustaine:
For thy sake esteem'd no further
Then as sheepe, that must be slaine.
Upp O Lord, up once againe:
Sleepe not ever, slack not ever:
Why does thou forgett our paine?
Why to hid thy face persever?

Heavie grief our soule abaseth,
Prostrate it on dust doth lie:
Earth our bodie fast embraceth,
Nothing can the Claspe untie.
Rise, and us with help supplie:
Lord, in mercie soe esteeme us,
That we may thy mercie trie,
Mercie may from thrall redeeme us.