University of Virginia Library

SOLOMONS PRAYER &c &c

Then said Solomon the Lord hath made known
He would dwell in thick darkness with nature alone
But I've built an house where faith bows the knee
& built up a grand habitation for thee
& made thee a place for thy dwelling forever
There thy mercey may rest & thy love never sever
& the king turned his face & blessed while he turned
The whole congregation that hither sojourned
He blest them forever for God & his good
& the whole congregation of Israel stood
& he said blessed be God of Israel the Lord
Who hath with his hands fullfilled his own word
That he spake unto David my father & said
‘Since the day that I brought forth my people from dread
‘From Egypt & bondage no city was named
‘In the tribes of all Israel no dwelling proclaimed
‘To build me an house that my name might be there
‘Nor chose I a king for their comfort or care
‘But my name now shall dwell in fair Jerusalem
‘& David I've chosen as king over them’
Now it was in the heart of my father to raise
A house for the Lord whom all Israel should praise
But the Lord to my Father this thing did proclaim
As it was in thy heart to build an house to my name
As it was in thine heart to do so thou didst well
But thou shalt not build the house where my mercey shall dwell
Yet my mercey shall live & the thing shall be done
By the offspring that comes from thy loins & thy son
So the Lord hath performed all the words he hath spoken
& fulfilled all he vowed to my Father unbroken
For I'm set up as King upon Davids high throne
& have built up a house to Jehovah alone
& the ark of the covenant stands in its shade
Which God with the childern of Israel made
By the alter of God in thy presence Israel
He spread forth his hands in true worship & zeal
A scaffold of brass made King Solomon there
The height three cubits & five cubits square
In the midst of the court great Jehovah to please
& upon it he stood & then kneeled on his knees
Before the whole congregation whom God had forgiven
& spread forth his hands in the presence of heaven
& said O Lord God of all Israel—forgiven
There is no God like thee in the earth or the heaven
Who keepests thy covenant truth as thy own
& still to thy servants thy mercey is shown
While still they will walk with their whole hearts before thee
Thou who crownest David my Father with glory
Thou promised my Father & made it to stand
& spak'st with thy mouth & fullfilled with thy hand
Thou hast kept every promise nor took none away
But all are fullfilled as it is on this day
Now therefore God almighty of Israel the Lord
Still keep with David my father thy word
The promise thou made him saying that which is right
& ‘there shall not fail thee a man in my sight
To sit over Israels great people & throne
So thy childern take heed to the law as my own
To walk in the way as I've laid before thee
In my law as thou hitherto hast before me
Now then God of Israel their being & Lord
Verifye that thou hast spoken—thy word
With David thy servant—O speak it agen
But will God in deed make his dwelling with men
On the earth will our prayers & petitions so gain thee
When the heaven of heavens hath not room to contain thee
How much less this temple which now I have built
Though the earth with thy love & thy glory is gilt
Therefore have respect to thy servant his prayer
Let not supplications be vapour & air
O Lord God almighty do list to the cry
Of thy servant who prays to his maker on high
Thou God of all Israel before thee I pray
That thy eyes may look over this house night & day
On the place of Jehovah the glory of fame
On the place thou hast chose as the house of thy name
& harken & heed as a symbol of grace
To the prayer which thy servant now prays to this place
Hear thou from thy dwelling place even in heaven
& hearing O Lord let our sins be forgiven
If a man sin against his neighbour—almighty forbear
& an oath be laid on him to make him to swear
& the oath to this house on thy alter they bring
Then hear thou from heaven & do the just thing
By requiteing the wicked doing justice to all
On his own head let the wickeds own reccompense fall
Justifying the righteous—his ways to approve
& giving his righteousness—mercey & love
If Israel get worse & from enemies flee
Because they have sinned against goodness & thee
& again shall confess thy great name & return
& make in this house supplication & mourn
Then hear thou from heaven & evil forgive
In Israel thy people that mercey may live
& bring them again like a wreck to the strand
To the place which thou gav'st them their fathers own land
When the heavens shut up have no season of rain
Because they have sinned against thee—once again
Yet if they turn toward this place & pray
& confess thy great name & return from their way
When thou dost afflict them—in mercy believe
Then hear thou from heaven o Lord & forgive
The sins of thy people & Israel shall know
The good way wherein thou hast taught them to go
On their land of inheritance scatter thy rain
& the land & thy people shall flourish again
If there be pestilence blastings & dearth
& mildews & locusts spreading deserts oer earth
If their enemies come & lay cities in thrall
& sickness & sores threaten death over all
Then what prayer soever by man shall be made
Or of thy people Israel when wronged & affraid
When every one knows his own grief to proclaim
& spreads forth his hands in this house to thy name
Then hear thou from heaven thy own dwelling place
& render to every man blessings & grace
According to truth do thou raise them agen
For thou knowest the hearts of the childern of men
Which thou gave to our fathers our birthright to be—
That they may fear thee & walk in thy ways
So long as they live in the land of thy praise
Moreover conscerning the stranger with thee
Which is not of Israel but come from afar
For thy great name & justice in peace or in war
For thy hand that's almighty & outstre[tc]hed arm
If they pray in this house—do thou keep them from harm
Then hear from the heavens thy dwelling on high
To the strangers petition do thou heed & reply
Though a stranger may plead do thou grant his request
That the people of earth may believe thee as best
As Israel doth know of thy goodness & fame
& may know that this temple is called by thy name
If thy people go out to thy enemies far
In the way that thy guideance shall send them to war
& their prayers unto thee towards this city proclaim
Towards the place & the house I have built for thy name
Then hear from the heavens—petitions & prayers
& mentain thy own cause in thy peoples affairs
If they should sin against goodness & thee
For there is not a man that from sin is all free
& thou in thy anger sends strifes roughest waves
& deliver'st them up to their foemen as slaves
& they carry them captives in terror & fear
To lands & strange countrys far off or near
Yet should they bethink them whose childern they are
While they are captives & pray to thee there
In the midst of captivity saying aright
‘That we have dealt wickedly Lord in thy sight’
If to thee they return with their soul & their heart
In the land of captivity—thither thou art
Although they are captives let them pray towards their land
& the citys to stay the dread wrath of thy hand
The land of their fathers great Lord & thy fame
& toward the house I have built for thy name
Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place—hear
Their prayers, supplications, & terrible fear
Forgive thy own people & dwell in their cause
& bring them once more to their land & thy laws
& though they have sinned before thee let them live
The erring restore before thee &—forgive
Let thine eyes Lord be open in mercey & grace
& attend to the prayer that is made in this place
Arise o Lord God in thy resting place—thou
Let thy priests o Lord God as before thee they bow
Be cloathed with salvation thy mercies to prove
& thy saints all rejoice in thy goodness & love
From th'face of thine anointed Lord turn not away
But remember the mercies of David for aye