A paraphrase upon the canticles :: :: University of Virginia Library

A paraphrase upon the canticles

and some select hymns of the New and Old Testament, with other occasional compositions in English verse. By Samuel Woodford

Woodford, Samuel (1636-1700)

[dedication]

[section]

Upon a Paraphrase of Salomon's Song, Done by his Worthy Friend, Dr. Samuel Woodford.

ODE. To his Honoured Friend Dr. Woodford, On his Excellent Paraphrase of SALOMON'S SONG.

To my dear Old Friend, the Reverend Dr. Samuel Woodford, On his Sacred Rimes.

A PARAPHRASE ON THE Canticles, In English Rhythms.

[subsection]

A PARAPHRASE UPON Some Select HYMNS OF THE New and Old TESTAMENT, With some other Occasional Compositions IN English RIMES.

The VI great HYMNS of St. LUKE.

The VIII Great HYMNS of the Apocalyps.

I. HYMN. The Adoration of the XXIV ELDERS.

II.

II. HYMN. The Acclamation of Heaven, upon MICHAEL's overthrow of the Dragon and his Angels.

III.

III. HYMN. The Happy Dead.

IV.

IV. HYMN. The Song of MOSES and of the LAMB.

V. HYMN. The Angel of the Waters Lauds.

VI.

VI. HYMN. The holy Company of Heaven rejoycing at the overthrow of BABYLON.

VII.

VII. HYMN. Epithalamium on the LAMBS Marriage.

VIII.

VIII. HYMN. The Exultation of Heaven, at the Descent of the New JERUSALEM.

Our Blessed Lord's Thanksgiving.

The Song of MOSES.

The WELL.

The Prayer of JABEZ.

Ode. The Song of DEBORA.

David's ELEGY Upon the death of Saul and Jonathan.

DAVID's Thansgiving and Prayer.

The last words of DAVID.

The Song of HEZEKIAH.

Three Psalms according to the old Version, and Meeter, ordinarily used in Churches, a little alter'd.

Job cursing his Birth.

The Prayer of HABAKKUK.

OCCASIONAL RIMES.

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A PARAPHRASE UPON Some Select HYMNS OF THE New and Old TESTAMENT, With some other Occasional Compositions IN English RIMES.

The VI great HYMNS of St. LUKE.

I. HYMN. The ANGELS Salutation.

Ave Gratiâ plena. Lucæ 1. 28.

Hail of Heaven highly Grace'd,
Hail, O VIRGIN full of Grace!
Heav'ns Blessings all on Thee be place'd,
In whom Heav'ns GOD takes up his Place!
Blest Thou among all Women be,
Blest be Thy Name and Memory,
Blest VIRGIN-MOTHER be Thy Stile to' Eternity!

II. HYMN. The Salutation of ELIZABETH.

Benedicta Tu inter Mulieres. Lucæ 1. 42.

I

Blest Thou among all Women be,
And blest the FRUIT, which Thou dost bear!
But whence is this great Honour done to me,
That my LORD'S MOTHER should approach thus near
And greater joys supprest at Home,
In mine to 'assist should hither come?

II

Yet not at Home those greater Joys,
Tho there supprest, couldst Thou wholly leave;
For scarce was heard Thy salutations Voice,
But my glad Womb the Signal did receive:
And there with joy the Babe did spring,
It's present GOD to' attest, and King.

III

Thrice blest the Faith, which firm does hold!
For a Performance there shall be
Of all, that was by th' Heav'nly Message told,
And, or Thy happy FRUIT concerns, or Thee;
The Sender was the Eternal Lord,
Who having past will Crown his Word.

III. HYMN. The Song of the BLESSED VIRGIN.

Et ait Maria,—Magnificat anima, &c. Lucæ 1. 47.

I

My SOUL does Magnifie the Lord,
My Spirit in God my Saviour does rejoyce;
My Spirit his thankful Praises shall record,
And my Soul, thence awak't, provoke my Voice:
Nor Soul, nor Spirit, my Judgment, or my Will,
My Voice, or Lyre, shall in his Praise lie still,
But all my Powers I'll summon, and their noblest skill.

II

For (Lo!) his Hand-Maids low estate,
He from on High has view'd with kind regard;
His Hand-Maids, to th' encrease of whose sad Fate,
The Royal Blood, from whence she sprang, prest hard:
But now all Nations shall Record me BLEST,
And David's Seed, of David's Throne possest,
To' his Blood the Glory shall return, to' his Land its rest.

III

Great are the things, which He hath done,
And done for me, who' Himself is great of Might;
Great tho He be, 'tis Holiness alone,
Wherein He of all Names does most delight:

All but of's Mercy, which in him the same,
He to Gen'erations therefore does Proclaim,
And keep with them, who fear Him, and his Holy Name.

IV

To all beside, by His Arm He is known,
And strength Almighty, which none can repel;
His Arm, that from their height the Proud pulls down,
And open throws their Plots hid deep as Hell:
That Kings and Kingdoms at its Will does sway,
And gives their Crowns to those ith' dust who lay,
With good things th' Hungry fills, the' Rich empty sends away.

V

Israel thus hath He fill'd, thus rais'd,
And rais'd up thus, will with his Hand uphold;
Israel his First-born; And our God be prais'd,
Who mindful of th' Inheritance past of Old,
Warrants to' His Child, and with it all Decreed
By' His Word to our Fathers, to' Abraham and his Seed,
And all whom Abraham's Faith makes Parties to the Deed.

IV. HYMN. The Song of ZACHARIAS.

Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel. Lucæ 1. 68.

I

Israels Great God eternally be Prais'd,
Who Israel from the Dust at length hath rais'd;
And mindful of his Ancient Care,
Forgotten, when we thought we were,
Israel to visit has himself come down,
The Prison Doors wide open thrown,
And by th' Redemption wrought, made his great Presence known.

II

Redemption for his People has he wrought,
And to the Throne the Royal Pris'ner brought;
To David's Throne, and 'tis his Son
Sprung from his Loyns, holds David's Throne;
With Empire, which no place or time can bound,
With Subjects, in all Countrys found,
Subjects, which like him shall be Kings, and like him Crown'd.

III

This by his Prophets, which have been of old,
In every Age he wondrously foretold;
(For every Age have Prophets been,
From since the World did first begin,

This to foretel, which now we Celebrate;)
That God our Wrongs would vindicate,
And from one Ruine save us, and our threatned State.

IV

Not for our Righteousness, but to perform
The Mercy promis'd, and his Covenant sworn;
Promis'd the Fathers, who first were,
But which himself did to' Abraham swear,
By Oath most Sacred; for to be no more
Doubted, tho stablisht 'twas before,
By' himself, Heav'ns greatest Oath, the God most Highest swore.

V

So God most Highest, so by' Himself he Swore,
And that from Heav'n we should receive the Power,
(Deliver'd from our Enemies Hands,
Their Captive Chains and Servile Bands)
His own more Noble Service to attend,
Fearless of all that may offend,
In Righteousness, and holy Praise, which ne're shall end.

VI

And now he comes, O Child, who this hath wrought;
He comes, who has the great Salvation brought:
Be thou his Prophet, and his Ways
Prepare, while He a moment stays,
Only till thou before Him canst prepare
His Ways, which deep and wondrous are,
By laying down his own, the Life o'th' World to spare.

VII

Teach the World, Child, and make his Israel know
Whence their Salvations mighty Source does flow;
That from Remission of their Sin,
The mighty Source does first begin:
Through our God's tender Mercy, who the Way
To Pardon does by Penance lay;
Penance, which does the glories of his Grace display.

VIII

That Grace, whereby the Day-spring from on High,
Now visits us with Streams, which ne're shall die.
Streams of pure Æthereal Light,
To shine on those, who in darkness sit;
Which Death's pale shadow shall with Rays encrease,
And hopes long Pris'ners thence release,
And both theirs guide, and our feet into th' way of Peace.

V. HYMN. The ANGELIC Hymn.

Gloria in Altissimis, &c. Lucæ 2. 24.

Glory be to God on High!
Ith' Highest Great Jehovah bless!
Good will tow'rds Men, on Earth be Peace!
Glory to God on High!
And may this Round, begun thus, last eternally.

VI. HYMN. The Song of SIMEON.

Nunc dimittis servum tuum, &c. Lucæ 2. 29.

I

Enough, my God, enough! I beg no more:
Nor Thou, tho begg'd, canst greater Grace bestow;
My Prayers at length are answer'd, and I 'adore
The Word, which from thy Mouth did go,
The Word, which like thy Self no change does know:
And now Thy Servant is content to die,
Now, as the best time, since Thy Word and Life's so nigh.

II

Nigh is the Word, which Thou to me didst pass,
Nor has Death come, me and Thy CHRIST between;
As nigh is Life, Thy other Word, which I embrace,
And who, that has thus happy been,
In two great Words, fulfill'd one, t'other seen,
Would not like me desire in peace to die,
And mortal Life exchange for Immortality?

III

In Peace I die, and Thou dismissest me,
My God, in Peace, since with these very Eyes,
Before their change, I Thy Salvation see,

And lack not from the Dead to rise,
As Prophets must to 'approve their Prophecies:
By Faith they only at a distance saw,
What in my Arms I hold, the end of all their Law.

IV

Hail, blest Salvation of the Eternal King!
Hail Thou, who hither bringst it, Blessed Child!
In whom, as holy Bards inspir'd do sing,
Those wondrous Truths shall be fulfill'd,
Which to Immortal Verse shall subject yield!
Hail to you both, prepar'd of God to be,
This Worlds Redemption, Heav'ns and Angels scrutiny!

V

Such is the great Behest; such is Thy Will,
Who now before all Nations dost prepare
What shall with joyous Praise all Nations fill,
As in Him all have equal share:
Thy Son, who shall to those who' in darkness are,
Rise, as the World's Sun does, with scattered Light,
But Israels Glory be, with Rays like 'his own Flames bright.

Comiato.

To Sir Nicholas Stuart, Baronet.

Songs, made in lieu of many more,
(And more than Songs,) which to his Love I owe,
Who, when your Master waited at the Door,
First let him in, and sacred Honours did bestow;
(You, blessed Songs, ith' Temple first to sing,
And then to Descant, on an humbler thing.)
To his, and your lov'd Patron go,
And tho you ne're can recompence
The ease, and leasure both of us have thence,
Proffer the utmost service Verse can do;
And as He is your Ornament,
Be of my grat'itude and his Virtue the fixt Monument.

The VIII Great HYMNS of the Apocalyps.

I. HYMN. The Adoration of the XXIV ELDERS.

Gratias agimus tibi Domine Deus Optime. Apoc. 11. 17.

I

Worthy Thou art all Honour to receive,
Thrice Honour'd we, who may that Honour give,
Blest King, who in One undivided now,
The scatter'd Parts of Time collected, hast,
The Future, Present, and the Past;
And every Time and Age dost in one moment know.

II

We praise Thee', Almighty God, for that Thou' hast tane
To Thee thy great Power, and at length dost Reign;
Thou Reign'st, and tho the Nations troubled are,
Thy Wrath is come, and therewith come the Time,
When Thou wilt sentence every Crime,
And all the Dead shall for the Great Assize prepare.

III

Up shall they rise; and as their Works have been,
Or Shame, or Glory, on all Brows be seen;

Thy Prophets, and Thy Saints shall shout for joy,
And all who fear Thy Name, both small and great;
But Vengeance, from Thy Judgment Seat,
Th' Earths bold Destroyers shall eternally destroy.

II. HYMN. The Acclamation of Heaven, upon MICHAEL's overthrow of the Dragon and his Angels.

Nunc facta est Salus & Virtus, &c. Apoc. 12. 10.

I

Now is Salvation, now is come the Hour,
That long expected, never shall be done;
Now Reigns our God, with whom in equal Power,
And strength Enthron'd, sits his Anointed Son:
They Reign and Judg, and having Judgment past,
The Brethrens great Accuser, or'e the Bar have cast.

II

Both Night and Day the Brethren he accus'd,
Heav'ns common Barrettor, with Charge unjust;
(Their Patience, and the Judges Grace abus'd)
Tho from them the forg'd Calumny they thrust,
And his false Evidence or'e-rul'd, bore down,
By the Lambs Blood in Court attested, and their own.

III

These were the Pleas whereby they overcame,
And these the Witnesses call'd, and allow'd;

Which ev'n the Devil their slanderer heard with shame,
And self-condemn'd, to the just Sentence bow'd:
Greater their Word was than could be deni'd,
But greater yet their Testimony, that they Di'd.

IV

For this, O Heav'ns, rejoyce, and ye who there
In Sacred Bliss uninterrupted dwell,
Rejoyce, and a part with you let them bear,
Who from below shall of your Justice tell!
With joy shall Sing, how the' Dragon overthrown,
From Heav'ns high-top to th' Earth was tumbled down.

V

But wo worth you, to whom in wrath he's come,
Of Earth and Sea the miserable 'out-cast,
On whom he'll seek to be aveng'd, the Doom
Was on himself, and curs'd Abettors past;
With rage he comes, and whole Hells last effort,
Fury incenst, because he knows his time's but short.

III. HYMN. The Happy Dead.

Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur. Apoc. 14. 13.

I

Blest are the Dead who in the Lord depart,
From henceforth Blessed write them down!
For Labours tho, and Pain they have known,
Of neither feel they more the irksome smart.

II

So says the Spiri't; for but to' enjoy full rest,
From all their Toils are they remov'd;
And of their Works, by God approv'd,
That follow close, in Bliss they are possest.

IV. HYMN. The Song of MOSES and of the LAMB.

Magna & Mirabilia sunt opera, &c. Apoc. 15. 3.

I

Great are thy Works, and marvelous thy Praise,
Lord God Almighty, just and true Thy Ways,
Blest King of Saints; who would not fear
In Thy dread Presence to appear,
Whom Angels, and attending Thrones revere?

II

Who would not Fear Thee, Lord, and Glorifie
That Name of Thine, which Thou hast rais'd so high!
Thy Holy Name by which Thou art known,
(For Holiness is Thine alone,)
But better, than each single Man by' his own.

III

Take then, Blest King, what is Thy proper due,
And through all Lands and Coasts, Thy Right persue!

That eve'ry Coast and every Land,
Who wondring at thy Judgments stand,
May Worship Thee, and stoop to their Command.

V. HYMN. The Angel of the Waters Lauds.

Justus es Domine qui es & qui eras, &c. Apoc. 16. 5.

I

Righteous art Thou, O God, who art, and wast,

I. Angel.

And shalt be, when all time is past,
The first who reignedst, and the last:
Righteous art Thou, who hast this Day,
Thy Kingdoms Justice to display,
Righteously judg'd, that Blood shall Blood repay.

II

Thy Servants Blood they without mercy shed,
And to be' aveng'd of th' happy Dead,
Made by curst hands the Living bleed:
With big swoln Veins Thy Prophets stood,
Each Saint, the Genius of his Flood,
Pour'd from his opened Heart true streams of Blood.

III

For Blood they thirsted; and to drink have now

II. Angel.

Pure Blood, wherewith their Rivers flow:
So worthy they, so Righteous Thou!
Et audivi alterum dicentem, Etiam Domine.

So Righteous Thou, so worthy they,
Who did Thy Saints, and Prophets slay,
For Blood to' have Blood, and Blood in Blood repay.

VI. HYMN. The holy Company of Heaven rejoycing at the overthrow of BABYLON.

Allelu-ja. Laus & Gloria & Virtus. Apoc. 9. 1.

I

Hallelujah! To our King,
Honour, Power, and Glory sing:
Laud and Worship to Him bring,
True and Righteous are whose Ways;
Both deserves, and has our Praise.

II

True and Righteous is his Doom,
For in Judgment overcome,
Chain'd the great Whore stands, and Dumb:
Chain'd she stands, and Dumb withal,
Without Friend, or Voice to call.

III

Judg'd she is, who th' Earth did stain
With her Prostituted Train:
Justly judg'd to 'Eternal Pain,
And aveng'd the Blood she shed,
Dying ever, is never dead.

Et dixerunt iterum Halleluja.

IV

Hallelujah; to our King
Worship, Laud, and Praises bring,
Glory, Power, and Honour sing!
Lo! how up her Smoke does rise,
Who dead ever, never Dies!

Ceciderùntque viginti quatuor Seniores, &c. & dixerunt Amen, &c.

V

Even so, Lord, be it so!
That the Earth Thy Power may know,
And thence make Thy Praise to grow!
One bless'd Song with us may sing,
Halleluja to our King!

VII. HYMN. Epithalamium on the LAMBS Marriage.

Et vox de Throno exivit dicens, laudem dicite Deo, &c. Apoc. 19. 5.

I.

Praise Him, ye Servants of th' Eternal King,
To God your noblest Praises sing,
And make Heav'ns vault with the loud Eccho ring!
Praise Him, all ye, who fear his Name,
And o're th' Expanse his Lauds proclaim;

Both great and small in tuneful Shouts accord,
And with one Heart and Voice adore our Lord!

Et audivi quasi vocem turbæ magnæ, & sicut vocem aquarum multaram & sicut vocem tonitruorum magnorum dicentium Alleluja! quoniam, &c.

II.

Hallelujah! Sing aloud!
Lowder still th' harmonious Voice,
Till it drown a Thunders Noise,
And with gay Horror fill th' admiring Crowd!
For (Lo!) our God Omnipotent does Reign,
And to himself resumes the Rule again.

III.

Let us be glad now, and let us rejoyce,
And give him due Honour, who made us this Day;
A Day that compensates for all our Annoys,
And Ages that we for its Coming did pray:
The Lamb's Marriage-day, which tho long e're it came,
We meet, and greet thus with our Songs purest flame.

IV.

'Tis come, and does with hallow'd Glory shine,
So bright a Day in Heav'n did ne're appear,
(Tho ever Day, and bright 'tis ever there)
As this, illumin'd by the Sun Divine,
And for 'his own Nuptials made with high Design.
But yet how bright so e're it is,
His Bride new Lustre to it gives,
Who in her Glory waits Him, as He her in his.

V.

See, where She stands array'd in Glorious wise,
Second alone to Him, who ever lives:
Above the boldest flight wing'd Seraph strives,
Who ne're such Beauties with Immortal Eyes,
E're gaz'd on, save in Him whose is the Prize.
For beside what's Her proper Dower,
(Charms, which th' Almighty overcame)
Heav'n all its riches on Her Dress does pour.

VI.

Choice of rich Garments has She thence, and store,
(Presented from the Wardrobe of the Lamb)
Of Gems that blaze with an Ethereal flame,
Enough all but the Wearer to devour,
And all but Heav'n to apprize them find too poor:
Choice of fine Linnen, clean and bright,
Beyond the skill of Mortal Art,
Washt in the Lambs pure Blood, and there made White.

VII.

These are Her Robes, and these Her Lord's delight,
(Who from His Presence ne're will let Her part,
But thus Array'd, resigns to Her his Heart)
The Righteousness of th' Saints, with sacred Light,
Communicated from his own blest Sight.
Thrice happy they, thrice happy he!
Who when their Mortal Life is done,
The Bridgroom's Friends, to' his Supper call'd shall be!

L'envoy.

Thrice happy I, my God, if I be one,
One of the few, whom then Thou shalt invite!
No matter how Thou shalt dispose of me,
The meanest service Regal Honours does impart.

VIII. HYMN. The Exultation of Heaven, at the Descent of the New JERUSALEM.

Et audivi magnam vocem de Throno dicentem, Ecce Tabernaculum Dei cum, &c. Apoc. 21. 5.

I

Blest state of Innocence,
When out of his just Makers Hand,
The first Man came, with sacred influence,
If what he might, he' had kept the' unhard Command!
But happier far that state,
To which he is restored, tho late,
By him, who, (made Man) Man did first Create!

II

A greater Work this was,
(As to redeem it more did cost,
Than barely make;) the one by a Word did pass,
His Life, the WORD to' effect the other lost;
But there-with did provide,
What none could hope, or do beside,
That they should th' happiest be, for whom he Died.

III

Happy were both, but these
By this the more, that when God went
To Paradise, himself in' his Works to please,
And pleas'd to Heav'n strait took his great Ascent;
A longer stay below,
To make with his Redeemed now,
Heav'ns richest Grace he does on Earth bestow:

IV

For now (behold!) his Tent
With Man is pitcht, and there Hee'l dwell,
Late to return; and I'm his Herald sent,
The mighty News to the whole World to tell;
That God to Man comes down,
With Man to dwell, as Man be known,
Whose Form assum'd, he keeps still joyn'd to' his own.

V

With them Hee'l dwell, and they
His People, he their God will be;
Not as of Old alone, but in a way
Unthought, and of exalted Dignity:
Where each Relations Band,
By various Titles on each hand,
Made Indissoluble, fast knit does stand.

VI

God from their Eyes all Tears
Away shall wipe, they in his Praise

Endless Eternity shall spend: No fears,
No sighs more tempests in their Brests shall raise:
Eve'n Death shall be no more,
Nor Sin, that to it op'd the Door,
Nor pain: for former things are all past or'e.

VII

Past o're they are, and gone,
So says the Faithful and the True,
The High, the Holy God, who from his Throne
Pronounces thus, (Lo!) I make all things New!
And thou to whom it's made known,
O Man belov'd, The words write down,
Nor doubt; for he who does it, says, 'Tis done.

Our Blessed Lord's Thanksgiving.

Confiteor tibi Pater Domine. Matt. 11. 25.

I

I thank Thee, Father, Lord of all,
Of Heav'n, and Earth the Blessed King,
That to reveal Thy Discipline,
The Prudent of this World Thou dost not call,
The Mighty, Noble, and the Wise;
But such, whom they, as Foolish, Base, and Weak despise.

II

From those Thou hast Thy Counsels hid,
Who first Thy Counsels did refuse;
And Babes to publish them dost chuse,
That no Flesh take what Power Almighty did,
And when Thy Hand alone hath done
The weighty Enterprise, ascribe it to their own.

III

Eve'n so, O Father, so it is!
Thy Will, Thy Love do hence appear,
And that great Power, which every where
In all things Rules, but more in none than this;
For so to Thee it seemeth good,
Thy Grace should none withstand, but those who it withstood.

The Song of MOSES.

—Tunc cecinit Moyses, & Filii Israel carmen hoc Domino; & dixerunt, Cantemus Domino, &c. Exod. 15.

Επινικιον.

I.

Since the Almighty has in Triumph led,
Not by our Battels, but his Arm o're-thrown,
The Proud Egyptian King, and from his Head,
On ours to put it, tane the Crown,
What more accepted Trophy can we raise,
Than an eternal arch of Duty and of Praise?
Begin, my Song and thou Immortal Verse,
(Now truly such, since him Thou dost Record,
Who only is th' Immortal Lord)
I my self will begin too, and rehearse
The wondrous Conquests of his Word:
To him I'll Sing, who gloriously,
His Promise, and his Ancient Faith to keep,
Has gotten himself, and us the Victory,
And Horse, and Rider hurld, at once, into the Deep.

II.

God is my Strength, and he shall be my Song,
From whom my great Salvation came;
Who is my God, approv'd in dangers long,
My Father's God, the Puissant, and the Strong,
Israel's tri'd Champion, and Jehovah is his Name.
Him will I Sing, of him shall be my Praise,

And of the Works, that he hath done;
Th' Eternal Glories he hath won,
But ours no less, than his own Fame to raise.
For Pharao and his host,
(Their way, their hopes, themselves ith' Ruine lost)
Into the Sea he hurld, the Red Sea, as a Stone
By a Giants arm is lightly thrown,
Him and his chosen Captains at a cast.
They flew; they sank; the wounded Sea did groan,
But into it's bottom headlong let them down,
Through thousand Waves that murmured, as along they whirling past.

III.

There were they Drownd; there cover'd with the Deep;
There sank they, never to be rais'd again;
In Adamantine Chains Thou didst the Pris'ners keep,
The same Thou threwst before upon the Main,
And now on them, o're both to show Thy equal Reign.
Glorious Thou didst that Day, O Lord, appear;
Glorious in Power appear'd then thy Right Hand;
Thine Enemies the Shock could not withstand,
And found too late its Wrath was heavier than their fear;
When dasht in pieces they all scattered lay,
And to th' Leviathans became a Prey.
So on a sudden were they gone,
So soon, so eas'ly, by Thy Breath o're-thrown,
As when a raging Fire does Stubble seise,
And with it Thorns, to' unequal Battel press.
Such was Thy Wrath, tho in a different kind,
(And different was the Element,
But Death as certain, and as sudden sent)
Thy Wrath tow'rds them, which like a mighty Wind
Stood up and up the Floods bid stand,
As on an heap to let Thy People go;

The Floods obey'd the great Command,
And like a Wall, on either Hand,
Of congeal'd Chrystal, in the heart of th' Sea did show.

IV.

This as the Spoyler saw, “Tis now, he said,
“Now is the time an end to make;
“I will pursue, I will o're-take,
“Lo! how the Sea the Fugitives has betray'd,
“And, to leave us a way, its dri'd up Channel do's forsake!
“Now shall my Sword with slaughter glutted be,
“My Lust shall on them now be satisfied,
“Nor till they 'are totally destroyed,
“This Arm withdraw, or let them other Conquerors see;
“With Charms their Leader staind the sacred Flood,
“But I'll the Sea, or perish, new Dye with their Blood.
Scarce said; Thou with Thy Wind
Upon the parted Sea didst blow;
The parted Sea its hold invisible let go,
And hollow'd to its fellow Waves behind.
They came; and having traverst them around;
The Chamiam Hosts did in their Arms enclose;
A while they floated, diving where they rose,
Till touching thrice the fatal Ground,
Like Lead they sank, and all the Deaths they had threatned, found.

V.

Amongst the Gods, Who is there like the Lord?
Or with Him, who can once compare?
So 'unsearchable His Counsels are,
So great the Wonders of His Word;
In holy Glories, who does all excel,
And Terrour strikes in us, who would his Praises tell.

For Thou thy Hand didst only wave,
And Israels way was Egypts Grave,
Which th' opening Earth, and Seas, conspiring gave.
Thus perisht they: Thus sav'd by Thy Right Hand,
Thy ransom'd People hitherto Thou' hast brought;
Whilst of the Miracles it wrought,
We and our Children living Monuments here stand.
Nations shall hear this, Lord, and be afraid;
Horrour on Palestine fast hold shall take;
Courage the Dukes of Edom shall forsake:
And Moabs daring Warriers, ill appaid,
Shall on themselves feel unknown Terrors laid:
Whole Canaan ready to expire,
With dread dissolv'd, as Wax shall melt before the Fire.

VI.

Trembling and Fear, Anguish, Dispair, and Dread,
On every Land shall fall, on every Head.
As Thine Arm is, such shall their Horrours be,
And not a Soul from the' Consternation free.
Close shall they lie within their Dens,
Still as the Rocks, wherewith they are cover'd, lie;
And fearful once to issue thence,
Scarce to their helpless Gods send forth a cry,
Or let their Groans be heard, while Israel passes by.
Till to Thy Promis'd Land they' are come,
And, where they have been strangers long, their ancient Home.
Thither, my God, through thousand dangers past,
To Sion, by Thy self prepar'd to be
Thy Dwelling Place to 'Eternity,
The Sanctuary, with Thy Presence grac'd,
Thither be pleas'd Thy purchas'd Flock to bring at last!
So shalt Thou through all Ages Reign,
And in all Lands new Subjects to Thy Empire gain.

Sumpsit ergo Maria Prophetissa soror Aaron tympanum in manu suâ: egressæque sunt omnes Mulieres post eam cum tympanis, & choris, quibus præcinebat dicens.

CHORUS Mulierum.

Sing to the Lord, who gloriously,
His Promise, and his Ancient Faith to keep,
Has gotten Himself, and us the Victory,
And Horse, and Rider hurld at once into the Deep!

The WELL.

—Tunc cecinit Israel Carmen istud. Ascendat Puteus! concinebat. Puteus quem foderunt Principes, & paraverunt duces multitudinis, in Datore legis, & in baculis suis. Num. 21.

Sacred Fountain, Mystic Spring,
Lo! how to Thy Dance we Sing,
And Cymbals tun'd by thy soft Purlings ring!
Spring eternally, O Well,
Spring up, and into Rivers swell!

For why, no common Well art Thou,
Nor was it chance first found Thee out;
But having for Thee searcht about,
To Princes Thou thy rise dost owe,
Who digg'd Thee first, and made Thee flow.

Spring, happy Well, by Princes made,
Without or Mattocks help, or Spade,
(The' ill-boading Instruments of Graves)
But digg'd by Princes, with their Staves,
And by their Lawgiver survey'd!

'Twas He to th' Work those Worthies sent;
Spring Well, and teach his great Intent,
And what He by the Mystery meant!
“That as to all Thy Waters flow,
“So should their equal Justice do.

Sacred Fountain, Mystic Spring,
Lo! how to Thy Dance we Sing,
And Cymbals tun'd by Thy soft purlings Ring!
Spring Eternally, O Well,
Spring up, and into Rivers swell!

The Prayer of JABEZ.

—Invocavit autem Jabez Deum Israel, dicens. Si benedicens benedixeris mihi, & dilataveris terminos meos, & fuerit manus tua mecum, & feceris me à malitia non opprimi!—Et præstitit Deus quæ precatus est. 11. Part. 4.

I

Thus Jabez pray'd, and thus pray I;
Great God, O, that it might Thee please,
Thy Servant, who upon Thee does relie,
With Thy choice Favours, and indeed to bless!
Tis Prayer alone can this obtain,
And, but to Thee, even Prayer is vain.

II

Enlarge those Coasts, wherein I dwell,
Nor let me ever live retir'd;
But in Thy CHURCH those mighty Wonders tell,
Which have my Verse with Heav'nly Flame inspir'd:
Lord to my House Thy Love secure,
And let it, like Thy Word, endure!

III

Yet not for Greatness do I pray,
Nor, e're Thy Time is, to be known;
But do Thy Will, I can its Pleasure stay,
Waiting that Harvest, for which Thou hast sown:
Only till then, make me content,
And leave to Thee th' whole Management!

IV

Thou know'st I do Thy Temple love,
I know there's time enough behind;
Why should I make th' Enjoyment bitter prove,
By hasting, what I'm sure Thou hast design'd?
In hope at present, I rejoyce,
And both my Heart employ and Voice.

V

For what concerns my poor estate,
Since I to Thee my All commit;
No time, when e're it falls, shall be too late,
To soon it may, if I encumber it
With Wishes, that unlawful be,
And vain affects, which move not Thee:

VI

No! I'll never think the time too long,
How long so e're the time may be;
Let but Thy Hand, through Patience make me strong,
And keep off Evil from disturbing me!
If Jabez thus to Thee did cry,
And could be heard, Lord, why not I?

Hæc Sacrorum Ordinum desiderio raptus, mihimet ipsi meus Vates, cecini, III Nonas Decemb. M. DC. LX. VII. In quos post multas hujusce vitæ varietates, mediâ & maturâ ætate, ab ærumnosis sæculi curis, & otio (neutiqam licet ignobili) hoc juxta Vaticinium, biennio post redemptus fui XIV. Kalend. Januar. Per Reverendum admodùm in Christo Patrem & Dominum Dominum GEORGIUM Episcopum Wintoniensem, cujus R. R. Paternitati hîc, impares licet tanto Beneficio, grates, quas tamen Divino Numini imprimis debeo, secundas saltem, ex toto animo in conspectu Populi & Ecclesiæ refero. —Manda Deus virtuti & confirma quod operatus es a Templo Sancto tuo!

Ode. The Song of DEBORA.

Cecineruntque Debora & Barac filius Abinoem in illo die, dicentes.—Qui sponte obtulistis de Israel, &c. Judic. 5.

I.

Israel , the blest and happy State,
For whom th' Almighty all his Wonders show'd;
Israel, your great Redeemer celebrate,
And what for you he did, rehearse aloud!
Tell, how he made his hand appear,
And when the willing Tribes their Youth an Off'ring sent,
How God before the Sacred Army went,
And vengeful Ruine follow'd in the Reer!
And ye, O Kings, (whose awful Sway
The many-headed Multitude obey,
And at whose feet they both their Necks and Tributes lay;)
Princes and Rulers, to my Song attend,
Whose lofty Subject challenges your Ear,
By all that can a Verse commend,
Or greatest Kings perswade to hear,
A tuneful Voice, with Charms divinely strong,
A Woman begs your audience now;
And if that will not do,
Deb'rah a Judg in Israel sings, and Israels God's the Song.

II.

Domine cum exires de Seir.

Lord, out of Seir, when Thou didst go,
Marching the Hill, before Thine Host adown,
When Thou mad'st Edoms Fields Thy Conquests know,
And with Arm'd Troops the Wilderness didst crown;
Affrighted Earth did at Thy Presence quake,
Heav'ns labo'ring Machin did the Warning take,
And from its torn sides dreary Tempests shake.
It thundred, and down fell from Heavens high Tow'r,
Of Stones and scalding Rain a mighty show'r;
With Darkness all the Sky was cover'd o're,
Through which the blew-wing'd Lightning flew,
And after it a trail of kindled Brimstone drew.
It strook the Rocks, and they took fire;
The Mountains with excessive heat did melt,
Unusual scorchings Sinai felt;
And tho than other Hills exalted higher,
Tho with its head it did to th' Clouds aspire,
Sinai nor could resist, nor bear the Flame,
But down in a burning Torrent headlong came.

III.

In diebus Samgar, &c.

Samgar and Jahel wondrous Saviours were,
And did in Counsel and in Arms excel;
Of Jahels Prudence we the Trophies are,
Six hundred Philistims by Samgar fell,
All with an Ox-goad slain, and driv'n like Beasts to Hell.
But yet the Roads untrodden lay,
Scar'd Passengers through Woods did stray,

And but to Dens & Caves led not the Mountainous highway.
Woods, and thick Bushes in all Pastures grew,
The Plough-man, and his Labour ceast,
The Land as Curst enjoy'd its rest,
And not each Seventh alone, but every Year a Sabbath knew.
It rested, till I Debora rose at last,
At last in Israel I a Mother rose,
Then when new Gods the People chose,
And from Rebellion to Idolatry had past.
But see the Vengeance that pursu'd their Sin,
Slavery and Cowardise at the Breach rusht in,
And not a Shield, or Spear was found midst forty thousand Men.

IV.

Cor meum diligit Principes, &c.

Fly, fly, my Muse, from this unmanly race,
And to new Pomps thy strains address;
Israels great Generals, who to efface
Of all our foregone Miseries the very trace,
Couragiously did to the Battel press,
And, where in Irons we lay, with Laurels strew'd the place.
With them my Heart, with them my Praise shall be.
And ye, O Fathers, who at Home reside,
And you, who equal Justice to dispense,
Unguarded to your peaceful Cities ride,
And Justice done, return unguarded thence;
Judges, and People by their arms set free,
Come in and joyn with me,
And let us bless the Lord, as we their Spoils divide!
Come let us bless Him, and proclaim
The Wonders of his Reverend Name;
There, whence we exil'd were of late,
And at our Fountains first begin,
Where we so oft have rescu'd been,

Scaping the Death we saw upon the Wing;
Our Fountains tuneful numbers will inspire,
And by their purling falls direct the Quire,
Which well tun'd there, we may advance in state,
And bring with Harps and Songs our Praises to the City Gate.

V.

Surge, surge Debora, surge, &c.

Awake, O Debora, awake,
And from this hint fresh vigour take!
Encourage, and provoke Thy Lyre,
Till all its speaking Chords conspire,
And with Thy Voice a perfect Concert make!
Up Barak, at th' harmonious Sound,
Abinoams warlike Son arise!
Lo! Thy Captivity stands in Fetters bound,
To be Thy valours early Prize,
And dreadfully adorn Thy entrance with its Exequies!
Lead on, Great Prince, by God ordain'd
To be Thy Nations Glory, and this Days;
Who hast Thy self the heat of th' War sustain'd;
Tho Women with Thee share divided Praise!
And all the while Thou dost the sacred Mount ascend,
Boldly Thy Ransom'd Peoples shouts attend,
The Bays Thou wearest will Thy Head defend!
Yea, speak Thy self, how God made Thee,
The Captain of his Armies be;
And when retir'd Thou long hadst lain at Home,
How forth he call'd Thee to o'recome:
The strange deliv'erance by Thy Hands he wrought,
And how to mine he Judgment gave;
And let the Tribes, which with us fought,
A just Memorial in our Triumphs have!

VI.

Ex Ephraim delevit eos.

Place Ephraim here, Ephraim whose Fortitude
In Amaleks first overthrow was try'd,
When stoutly he th' Uncircumcis'd defi'd,
And with unerring Shafts their flying Troops pursu'd.
Benjamin, with his Squadron follow'd close,
And his scorn'd Life more nobly to expose,
The Tribe, he dearest lov'd, for witness of his Courage, chose.
From Machir Princes to the Battel came,
And Counsellors from Zabulon,
Who to encrease the glory of their Name,
Kept by the Sword, what by the Pen they won.
Then Issachar and Napthali,
By Debora that, and this by Barak led,
Both valiant Tribes, and both resolv'd to die,
Or conquer with so brave an Head.
But had you seen the Emulation there,
And how they strove each other to out-fight;
You would have thought them arm'd with Heav'nly Might,
And (all so terrible they did appear
Such Trophies of Mail'd Corps did round them rear,)
That every Isra'elite a destroying Angel were.

VII.

Diviso contra se Ruben.

Ruben the while did with his Flocks abide,
And blest the Flood, whose streams the parted Land divide.
Careless of what his Brethr'en thought,
And what the fears his cold indifference wrought;
Strange and distracted fears his cold indifference brought.

But why, O Ruben, why didst thou refuse
An Enterprize so great and good?
Was it to hear thy bleating Ews;
Or could thy Honour be so little understood,
That their plain Fleeces thou shouldst chuse,
Before a Robe di'd Purple, in thine Enemies blood?
This cold indifference, Ruben, lost thee more,
Than ever thou in Arms hadst gain'd before.
Ah! hadst thou been alone! but far behind,
By thy example, Gilead stai'd;
On Shipboard Dan drove on his Trade,
And Asser, that he might be signally unkind.
Tho of pale Death too Womanly affraid,
Rather than yield his aid,
Watcht on his naked Beaches, torn with Seas and Wind.
Unlike to Zabulon, and Nepthali,
Who best knew how to Live, yet fear'd the least to Die.

VIII.

Zabulon vero & Nepthali, &c.

Thither, my Song, behold their Ensigns spred
On the High-places, and how equally endu'd
With Learning, and with Conduct too, they shew'd,
That never friendlier those best gifts inhabited,
And softer thoughts designs more noble bred.
The Cananitish Kings approacht the Hill,
Tabor, by their defeat to be renown'd,
But fearful to ascend its top, did fill
The Plains of Tanaach, with their Camps around,
And lowd Megiddos Waters with their shoutings drown'd.
They came, and fought, but Heav'n, that took our part,
Bore the first shock, and on them turn'd the War;
A mortal shaft was sent from every Star,
Which sank like Lead, into the Spoilers Heart.

No Gain or Pay, the Sacred Legions took,
But to the Service arm'd, in Diamond marcht on,
And, whom they spar'd, Kison, that ancient Brook,
Kison in its swoln Torrent carri'd down.
In vain the Horse assay'd the Flood to stem,
Which hurld their Riders with them down the rapid stream.

IX.

Conculca Anima mea robustos.

Enough, my Soul, enough, the chase give o're!
Those Enemies thou hast seen, thou shalt behold no more.
Stop, for at length the War is done,
And thou in Blood, I know, tak'st no delight!
Sound a Retreat, the Day's thine own,
And so shall Sisera too, e're Night,
Finding the Death he'd shun by an inglorious flight.
But first confirm a Curse was laid
By our God's Angel, and a Charge divine,
“Curse ye Meros, the Angel said!
“Curse Meros bitterly, and join
Yours to Jehovah's Curse and mine!
Curse all, who dwell there, and be this their Doom,
Who like them to th' Almighty's standard will not come!
But blessed above Women be,
Israels and Hebers Ornament,
Jahel above all Women blest ith' Tent.
And let this Song preserve her Memory!
Never was greater Name
Recorded, ith' Eternal Monuments of Fame.

X.

Aquam petenti lac dedit.

To her on foot Sisa'ra his flight addrest:
The courteous Wife to meet him went:
The courteous Wife invited him into her Tent,
And future Joys with thoughtful Cares supprest.
He askt her Water, and she ran in haste,
To execute her own, and to prevent his Wish,
And pour'd him Milk into a Royal Dish:
(A ready and a quick repast.)
And having give'n the fatal Bait,
Humbly at his Feet did wait,
And smil'd to see how greedily he drank and slept his last.
“Sleep, Tyrant, sleep she said!
And up a Nail and Hammer took,
The Nail into his Temples struck,
And with his own unbloody Sword smote off his Head.
He bowd, he fell, and at her Feet he lay,
Down at her Feet he bow'd, fell, groan'd his Soul away,
Where he bow'd, there he fell down dead.

XI.

Per fenestram respiciens.

Out at a Window his blith Mother gaz'd,
And waiting there his coming, cry'd,
“Why lies the Dust so long unrais'd,
“Nor Sisara yet, with Captives by his side,
“Exalted high in his triumphal Chariot ride?
Her Ladies answer'd her, Those Ora'cles of her Court,
Yea, to her self she made her own report.

“Have they not sped, have they not gain'd the Day,
“Have they not shar'd the Israelitish Prey?
“To every Man a Dame, or two,
“To Sisara as the General's due,
“Choice of rich Slaves, and choice of Garments too?
“A curious Vest, with Needles wrought,
“With curious Needles wrought on either side,
“And all in Royal Colours dy'd,
“By th' Hebrews of their Neighbour Tyrians bought;
“And only fit the Victors bloody arms to hide?

So, Lord, may all Thine Enemies die,
So Conquer, and be Conquered so;
When such, as on Thy Power relie,
In Heav'n alone their equals know,
And like the Sun, which triumphs there,
Crown'd with illustrious Beams, and robe'd in Light appear.

Comiato.

To the Reverend the now Dr. James Gardiner Sub-Dean of Lincoln.

Song, in the Country little understood,
For my dear Gardiner, at the Town inquire,
And all thy heat into his gen'rous Brest inspire,
To mingle with a nobler Fire,
Which lies at present smouldring in his Blood!
Perchance thou may'st effectual prove,
To make that upward, tow'rds its Center, move,
And him in softest lays rehearse the HOLIEST LOVE.

1668.

David's ELEGY Upon the death of Saul and Jonathan.

Considera Israel pro hiis, qui mortui. 2 Sam. 1.

I

Israels delight, the glory of our Land,
How are the Mighty overthrown!
Before their Enemies Swords they could not stand,
Nor conquer'd fall by any but their own:
In Thy High-places Israel, both did fall,
A publick Victim for their Land, in view of all.

II

Let not in Gath the mournful News be known,
Nor in Philistia publish it;
Stop the Report, e're it reach Ascalon,
Nor let our Captive names their Arches fit:
Lest fearful Women, whom they left at Home,
With Songs to share the Spoil, and meet their Triumph come!

III

And ye, Gilboas Mounts, may never Rain,
Or fertile Showres descend on you;
But on your Heads let there abide that stain,
Which Seas, should they pour down, would but renew:
Let the curst Earth no more an Offering yield,
Nor God expect his First-fruits from the empty Field.

IV

'Twas there the valiant Saul resign'd his Breath,
And there his Shield was thrown away;
Never was such a Trophy rear'd to Death,
Nor ever sacred arms so scattered lay:
The valiant Saul's, as if he ne're had been
The Lord's Anointed, or his Chosen Peoples King.

V

From the pursuit the Bow of Jonathan,
Some Regal Spoil, did daily bring;
Destruction after his fleet arrows ran,
And at the Wounds they made, Death entred in:
The Sword of Saul did never empty come,
But a new Purple, from the Blood of Kings, brought home.

VI

Alike in Life, in Death alike they were,
Not more in Blood ally'd, than Mind;
Themselves alone, you with them could compare,
Who none their equals saw, or left behind:
And on their arms there hung such Victory,
That Men they only seem'd, because they both could die.

VII

For as the Eagle, to her Prey does haste,
And hovering o're the Quarry flies;
Or the fierce Lion, having once a taste
Of Blood, does all the Shepherds noise despise,
And at their Slings no shew of fear does make;
Like Lions they o're-came, like Eagles did o're-take.

VIII

And you, O Daughters of so great a King,
(Our Tribes support) his Death lament,
Whose Victories you before were wont to Sing,
And clad in Scarlet to adorn them, went:
Now put on Mourning, to attend his Hearse,
Sad as your own complaints, and mournful as my Verse.

IX

For (Lo!) the Glories of our State, and Land,
(Lo!) how the Mighty are o're-thrown;
Before their Enemies Swords, they could not stand,
Tho Saul by none could perish, but his own:
In thy High-places, Jonathan, thou didst fall,
A publick Victim, where thou shouldst have reigned o're all.

X

For thee, my Brother, 'tis for thee I grieve,
The best of Friends, as well as Men;
In whose Death I that fatal Wound receive,
Which clos'd will ne're be, till we meet again;
And in the Mansions of the Saints above,
Enjoy, what here we vow'd, our more than mortal love.

XI

Israels Delight, the Glory of our Land,
How are the Mighty overthrown!
Before his Enemies Sword one could not stand,
Nor th' other fall by any but his own:
In thy High-places, Israel, both did fall,
A publick Victim for their Land, in view of all.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The last words of DAVID.

Dixit David filius Isai, dixit vir, &c. 2 Sam. 23.

Terzetti.

Thus David, Jesse's Royal Son did sing,
Thus spake the Man, who the great Promise had,
That from his Loyns the CHRIST of God should spring.
On whose Eternal Shoulders should be laid
The Government, Psalmist of Israel,
Thus sang he, thus from Heav'n inspir'd he said:
The Spirit of God in Vision on me fell,
And by my Mouth Himself th' Almighty spake,
His Words they are, which I his Prophet tell,
His, who the Care of Israel does take,
And hitherto ne're falsifi'd His Trust,
Nor will, tho Heav'n and Earths Foundations shake.
“The Man, who rules o're others must be Just,
“Ruling himself, and them, ith' sacred Fear
“Of Heav'ns dread King, to whom account he must;
“For all the wrongs he does, or makes them bear;
“By an Impartial Judgment to be tri'd,
“Whose Doom definitive he forc'd shall hear.
Thrice happy Prince, who (e're that Oyes cry'd,)
The God within his Brest, his Conscience,
Appealing, and appeal'd has satisfi'd!
There, first absolv'd, with approv'd Innocence,
His Righteousness shall shine, as Morning Light,
When th' early Sun, his Glories to dispense,
New guilds the Sullys of the murky Night;
And without Cloud between his Beams to pass,
As higher he ascends, appears more bright.

So shall he shine; or as the tender Grass,
Shooting its verdant Head above the Ground,
With gems of pearly Dew, midst Flowers, takes place.
This I'll not say, that in my Rule I've found,
A perfect and uninterrupted Bliss,
(For what's my House, or Rule thus to be own'd?)
Yet for my Kingdoms Justice I'll say this,
That with me God a lasting Cove'nant made,
In all things sure, as His great Promise is:
Order'd and sure, nor e're to be o'resway'd,
Tho I too oft have forfeited His Love,
And when I should have rul'd, my Lusts obey'd.
But even then did I, and do now reprove
The Follies I so passionately pursu'd,
And whose remembrance greater Passions move.
Blest God forgive me! be Thy Word renew'd!
For all before Thee is my whole desire,
All in Thy sight, as it by me is view'd;
Confirm Thy Promise, humbly I require,
Not for my sake, O Lord, but for Thine own;
And double Zeal into my Son inspire!
So shall he grow up as a Plant alone,
And in his Fame, tho dead, I too shall grow,
The happy Father of an happier Son:
Whilst those, who will not to his Scepter bow,
As Thorns shall all of them be thrust away,
Thorns, which th' unguarded Hand tho they pierce through,
To th' Hook and Fire shall be an easie Prey:
Justice, which in his time from th' Earth shall spring,
And Peace, from Heaven descending, meet half way.

The Song of HEZEKIAH.

Ego dixi in dimidio dierum meorum. Isa. 38.

I

Revolving the sharp Sentence past,
And how an end, e're thought was on me come;
How soon, said I, have I approacht my last,
And unawares reacht Natures farthest Home?
Ah! now I to the Grave must go,
No more, or Life, or Pleasure know,
But a long doleful Night, in darkness deep below.

II

No more, my God, shall I see Thee,
Nor the great Works of Thy Almighty Hand;
No more a Votary at Thy Altar be,
Nor in the crouds of them, who praise Thee, stand:
Mankind no more shall I behold,
Nor tell, nor of Thy Love be told,
Eve'n mine to Thee, shall like my ashes, Lord, be cold.

III

Lo! as a Tent am I remov'd,
And my lives thread, which I thought wondrous strong,
Too weak to bear the Looms extension prov'd,
Ith' midst broke off, too sleasie to run long:
With Sickness I am pine'd away,
And feel each moment some decay,
All Night in Terrors, and in Grief die all the Day.

IV

For as a Lion hasts to 'his Prey,
And having gripe'd it, breaks the yielding Bones;
So on me came th' Almighty, whilst I lay
In vain expecting help, but from my Groans:
O take, said I, Thy Hand away,
See how I feel my Loins decay,
All Night in Terrors, and in Grief die all the Day!

V

Then like a Swallow, or a Crane,
I chatt'red o're my Fears, his Heart to move;
The widow'd Turtle does not more complain,
When in the Woods she' has lost her faithful Love:
My Eyes, O God, with waiting fail,
Why shouldst Thou thus a Worm assail?
I'm Thine, O let for once th' Almighty not prevail!

VI

Yet do Thy Will, I must confess,
Worse Plagues than these, my Sins deserve from Thee;
The Sentence past is than my Crimes far less,
And only Hell a fit reward can be:
Ah! let my Prayers that Doom prevent!
My age in Mournings shall be spent,
And all the Years Thou giv'st, shall be, but to repent.

VII

On Thy great Pleasure all depend,
During which only, I and Mankind live;
To teach us this Thou dost Diseases send,

And daily claim'st the Life, which Thou didst give:
Yet such is Thy resistless Power,
That when our age is quite past o're,
What Thou at first didst give, Thou canst our Life restore.

VIII

And thus with me, Lord, hast Thou dealt,
Tho I for peace had only bitterness;
Th' effects of mighty Goodness thus have felt,
Beyond what words, or numbers can express:
For from the Pit Thou drew'st me back,
And that I might no pleasures lack,
Upon Thy Self the burden of my Sins didst take.

IX

Triumphant Saviour! the still Grave,
For so great Love, Thy Name can never praise;
Nor in the Pit canst Thou Memorial have,
Thy Truth, or hop'd for, or ador'd Thy Ways:
The Living, Lord, the Living are
The Men, who must Thy Power declare,
And of them chiefly such, whom Thou like me, shalt spare.

X

They to their Children shall make known,
As I do now, the Wonders of Thy Hand;
How when we eve'n to Hell did head-long run,
To stop our passage, Thou ith' way didst stand:
Lord, since Thou 'hast thus deliver'd me,
Thus made me Thy Salvation see,
My Life, and Harp, and Song, I'll consecrate to Thee.

ΤΩΙ ΘΕΩΙ ΣΩΤΗΡΙ ΑΝΑΘΗΜΑ. III. ID. NOV. 1667.

Three Psalms according to the old Version, and Meeter, ordinarily used in Churches, a little alter'd.

Psal. I.

Beatus Vir qui non abiit.

The Man is blest, whose doubtful Paths
Unrul'd by Sinners are;
Who in their Council never stood,
Nor sat ith' Scorners Chair.
But in the Law of God the Lord
Hath fixt his whole delight;
And in that Law does exercise
Himself both Day and Night.

He shall be like a Tree, which grows
Close by the Rivers side;
Whose loaded Boughs in Fruits return
Their Tribute to the Tide.
No Storm or Drought shall make him fade,
But he unmov'd shall stand;
Nor shall Success less prosp'rous crown,
What e're he takes in hand.

Not so the Wicked, who as Chaff
By Tempests rais'd on high,
The triumph of fierce Winds are made,
And as they drive them, flie.
Unlike in Life, unlike shall be
The ends which on them wait;
Whilst these in Judgment cannot stand,
And those are prais'd ith' Gate.

For why the ways of Righteous Men
Unto the Lord are known:
But Sinners ways, hid to themselves,
Unto the Dead lead down.

Psal. LVII.

Miserere mei, Deus miserere.

Great God, on whom I have reli'd,
Whose Mercy is my stay;
Under Thy Wings, or let me hide,
Or on them flie away!
Or hide, or flie, until the Storm
Which threatens me is past;
Thou all things for me dost perform,
In Thee my hope is plac'd.

To God I'll cry, who shall descend
From Heav'n, ith' Fight to close;
And while his Love does me defend
His Truth shall slay my Foes.
With Lions, Lord, my Soul lies down,
shut up within their Den;
Lions so fierce were never known,
Cruel, and bloody Men.

Whose Tongues are Swords, and Eyes all Fire,
With gore and slaughter Red;
And who against me all conspire,
To look, or speak me Dead.
Yet set Thy Glory 'above the Skies,
O're th' Earth exalted be;

For tho so high I cannot rise,
Thou mayst stoop down to me

Thou didst so, for as I lookt round,
Pensive and full of care;
My prostrate Enemies strew'd the Ground,
Each tane in his own Snare.
Fixt is my Heart to sing Thy Praise,
Tis fixt, and I'll rejoyce;
Awake my Harp, and with Thee raise,
To Heav'n my tuneful Voice!

I will awake too, and my Song
To th' Nations shall rehearse
Mercies, whose Praise to Heav'n belong,
Worthy an Angels Verse.
Lord, set Thy Glory 'above the Skies,
O're the Earth exalted be!
Lo, how thy Son does thither rise,
Lift from the Grave by Thee!

Turn'd and Transcrib'd with the following Psalm, for an Hymn upon Easter-day, 1671.

Psal. CXIV.

In exitu Israel de, &c.

When Israel was by God's address,
And his Almighty Hand,
From Bondage led, and wondrously
Brought to the Promis'd Land;
In Judah God his Glory shew'd,
And did his Power declare;
Israel his great Inheritance,
Temple and Empire were.

The Sea it saw and suddenly
Amaz'd rose up and fled;
The parted streams of Jordans Flood
Ran trembling to their Head.
Aside the Mountains leapt like Rams,
And to the Hills did show,
(The Hills, which shook like frighted Lambs)
The way which they should go.

What ail'd the Sea that all amaz'd
So suddenly it fled?
And what made Jordans parted streams
Run trembling to their Head?
Why did the Mountains leap, like Rams,
And to the Hills first show,
(The Hills, which shook like frighted Lambs)
The way which they should go?

Confess, O Earth, thy Soveraign Lord,
And at his Presence quake!

Before the Face of Jacob's God
Bow, and Obeysance make!
'Tis he, who caus'd those Rocks to hear,
And when Thy Springs are dry,
Can from their flinty Bowels fetch
Streams, which shall never die.

Psal. CLI.

[_]

According to the LXXII.

—Εξωθεν του αριθμου, οτε εμονομαχησε τ[] γολιαδ Μικρος ημ[] εν τοις Αδελφοις μου, [] &c.

I

Youngest of all my Brethren, and the least
In Jesses House, to' a Service I enclin'd,
Which both my Age, and Innocence suited best,
And best the Throne, to which I was design'd:
My Fathers Flock, was early set to keep,
And how to govern Men, first learn among my Sheep.

II

I kept and fed them with a pious care,
And as they fed, my Harp, and Pipe assayd;
Them, and my self to please, did Songs prepare,
And variously, as pensive Shepherd, playd:
Till having wearied out an humbler String,
A bolder flight I dare'd, Israels Great God to Sing.

III

But who such Praise can worthily rehearse?
I strove my best, and it acceptance found,
With Heav'ns Blest King, who to approve my Verse,
A double Glory round my Temples bound;
By' his Prophets Hand there plac'd the Regal Crown,
(From the Flock calling me) the Poet's with his own.

IV

I many Brethren had, and great of Might,
All valiant Men, and all renown'd in War,
Oft tri'd, but God in them took no delight,
For Causes, tho from us removed far,
To' himself best known, who sees not as Man sees,
But as the Heart is, judges, and gives Dignities.

V

For that, and his own Pleasure He chose me,
And having chosen, call'd me forth to fight
With Raphas Giant-son, whose blasphemy
Levell'd at Heav'n, on his own Head did light:
By' his Gods he curst me, and his Gods he curst,
Himself as the chief God propitiating thus first.

VI

But such curse Proof, I out against him went,
The firmlier arm'd, as he disarm'd thereby;
And certain Death into his Fore-head sent,
E're he the place could guard, or turn to flie:
He fell: I ran, to th' lifeless Monster came,
From him with's own Sword took his Head, from Israel shame.

Job cursing his Birth.

After this opened Job his Mouth and cursed his Day: And Job spake and said. Pereat dies in qua natus sum.

May the Day perish, and its hasty flight
Be still, or retarded by a sluggish Night!
The Day, unhappy Day, whereon 'twas known,
My Mother could that name, and sorrows own.
Let it look black as Hell, no Ray appear,
Nor on it God in common Light draw near!
But unregarded may it from above,
To 'all other Days a different Circle move!
Augment the last Nights gloom, and ne're be found,
But in a Sea of Rapes, and Murder drownd!
Let Deaths grim Terrors on it ever dwell,
Of if't has Light, let it be such as fell
On Sodom, when avenging Heav'n did showr
Tempests of Fire, and flouds of Lightning pour!

And for the Night (if yet it were the Night,
For any Day too bad, which first disclos'd the sight)
Dark of it self, let Horrour on it seize!
And when all others welcome are for th' ease,
And respit, which they bring the toilsome care
Of pains, which in their Curtains hidden are,
Let it be Curst too, and by' a fatal Breath,
Doom'd not the shadow of it, but very Death!
Sad, dismal, solitary, know no Joys,
No chearful shouts, but a dull confus'd noise
Of Groans and Shrieks, as when the parting Soul
Labours in vain its dest'iny to controul!

And as the Criminal, who, to die next Morn,
The pity of the many, and their Scorn,
Curses its shortness, and does think it done,
Sooner than other Nights are well begun;
Let it abide Curst, and grown Ominous,
Its Tale in some prodigious ruine lose!
Black be its Twilight, in it rise no Star,
But such, as when 'tis seen, tho from a far,
Famine portends, and Blood, and the Worlds flame,
And all the Plagues that have, or have not Name!
Let it expect the Light, and pine away
To Darkness palpable, but see no Day!
With thousand Curses more—
And Day or Night be' it, Ev'ning, or the Morn,
From th' Years account let it be ever torn!
To me, it self, and Heav'n and all be lost,
And from the number of the Days be crost!
O had it never been, or had that Hour
But barr'd the Gate, and damn'd the fertil Door
(Unhappy Gate, but Hour unhappy more!)
Sorrow I ne're had known, nor had these Eyes
Beheld the Light, which none but Fools can prize.
Rather why di'd I not, making the Womb,
At once my busie tyring House and Tomb;
But by the Knees I must prevented be,
And live more Deaths than one to act, more Plagues to see
Draw th' hated Brests only to fetch supply,
After ten thousand Deaths, new deaths to try,
And at the last with greater sense and torment die!

Had I then dy'd, still as the Night, or Grave,
My Voice had been, without a Death to crave.
Still had I lain, and in Oblivion's brest
Enjoy'd a sweeter sleep and sounder rest.
The Earth, which does in its cold Lap enfold
All Arts and Arms, Princes and all their Gold,

Which Sepulchers does for their Tombs prepare,
Great in their Dust and in their Ruines fair,
For me, to Die then had I been allow'd,
Had markt a place, amidst the awful Crowd,
There where untimely Births ith' Pit are thrown,
And through the Earths soft pores the Plains with verdure crown.

An awful place it is, with Company
The best and great'st, where in appartments lie
Kings, and their Counsellors, each in his Bed,
With each his Sword clapt underneath his Head.
For there the proud Usurpors terrors cease,
And there the weary are at perfect ease,
And the whole Region riots in the spoils of Peace.
Pris'ners enjoy their Liberty, at least know
No other Chains, than what their Jaylors do.
Both small and great there undistinguisht be,
Undisturb'd by outworn Authority.
Masters and Servants throw those Names aside,
And for a nobler freedom both provide.
No fear of the Oppressor 's there, no wrong,
No Clamours, no Reproach amidst that throng;
But a deep silence fills the profound wast,
Deaf to all calls, but the last Trumpets blast.
Ah, might I rest there! Why is Death deni'd
To him, who seeks it, in those shades to hide?
Who for it digs, and would more gladly find
That Treasure, than the mines he leaves ith' way behind!
Light and this Life, which but encrease his pain,
Light and this Life, of which he does complain,
And would for 'one Death exchange, but all in vain.
Why is Life thrust on such a Man, who's dead,
Dead to himself, and God, all comfort fled?
Me why is't thrust on, who the Gift despise,
As th' worst of this Worlds great impert'nencies;
Nay more, its greatest Curse; unwelcome Guest,
That never, lets me never be at rest,

Nor Bed, nor Board their just refreshment give;
Ah! (who would thus?) thus I'd not always live;
Too long already, to feel what I fear'd,
Sadder than can be told, too doleful to be heard;
At rest I ne're was, but compar'd with this,
All former Grief as gone, and vanisht is,
And all, but very Hell, would be a kind of Bliss.

1660.

The Prayer of HABAKKUK.

Domine, audivi auditionem. Hab. 3.

I.

My God, I have Thy Wonders heard,
And their report like those, who saw them feard.
I heard, what Thou of Old hast done,
Revive Thy Work, nor let it die;
But since to make us hope Thou hast begun,
Let our Deliverance too draw nigh!
Lord, in the midst of th' Years appear,
Nor ever, ever thus forbear,
To put an happy issue to our Fear!
Ith' midst of th' Years Thy Greatness show,
For we are ready if Thou 'art but so!
Let us in Wrath Thy Mercy see,
Remembred this, let that forgotten be!
What tho with us the full Time 's not expir'd,
With Thee 'tis ended, and by us desir'd.
Ages to come, and Ages long since past,
In Heav'n, where Thou art, present are,
'Tis ever now and now will ever last.
O, Now from Heav'n Thy Power declare,
And let it once be here, what it is ever there.

II.

Deus ab Austro veniet.

God came from Teman, and the Holy One,
Descended from Mount Paran, with a mighty Train:
The Earth to Heav'n did dart the Rays again,
And as He past the Skie with Glory shone.
Refined Light, without allay,
Such as above makes Angels Day,
Such was His Brightness, and such was His Way.
He was all Light, but from His Side
Shot forth a Beam, so clear, and pure,
That none to see it could endure;
And there, as in the dark, He did His Glories hide.
The Pestilence before Him went,
Gathering new Poysons, as the old were spent;
Ruine and Desolation, at His Feet,
Never to part again did meet,
But sworn to execute His Wrath on Man,
Kist and embrac'd each other close, as they before Him ran.

III.

Stetit, & mensus est Terram.

He stood and in His Hand
He held a Line, and measuring Wand,
Both to mete out, and to destroy his Land.
Over the Earth the fatal Line He threw,
And that it level on all sides might lie,
He smote the Nations, and they' in haste withdrew;
Th' affrighted Earth, that fain would flie,
Seeing it could not stir, the Line did take,
But did with horrour, and amazement shake;

The Rocks as it came o're their Backs, did quake;
Bow'd down their Heads, and griev'd they were so high.
The everlasting Mountains scatt'red lay,
And the perpetual Hills sank down, and stole away.

IV.

Pro iniquitate vidi Tentoria.

I saw the Tents of Egypt in distress,
Methoughts I heard their doleful groans;
The Land did tremble, and its emptiness
An hollow murmur added to its moans,
And shriekt a deadly eccho from the wounded Stones,
When not content to see their First-born slain,
Conquer'd on Land, they once again
Would try the fortune of the Main.
Since they the Tenth Shock could so stoutly brave,
They scorn'd to fear the Eleventh Wave,
Till they themselves, and that saw buried in a Grave.
What ail'd the Rivers, Lord, what ail'd the Flood,
That Thou shouldst make their streams true Veins of Blood?
What could the Sea, against Thee do,
So small against so great a Foe,
Exalted Thou so high, and that so low?
Could it deserve Thy Wrath, or roar so loud,
From Heav'n, Thy Throne, to call Thee down;
Or in its swellings was it grown so proud,
It 'sdeign'd a check from a single frown,
Unless in Triumph God would o're it ride,
And Seas, from Seas below, as first from those above divide?

V.

Suscitans suscitabis Arcum.

So on the Sea; ith' Air his Bow was seen;
Not by Reflection, like the Rain-bow made,
Where all the pleasing Colours are together laid,
That Man might be no more afraid
Of a new Deluge to be unsherd in,
And once more drown, what it could never purge, his Sin.
That is his Bow of Peace, but this of War,
The Skie about it was with Darkness spread,
Slaughter, and Gore had stain'd it red,
Ghastly and terrible it glistned from afar.
A poysoned Arrow on the string did hang,
It hung a while, but when the Bow He drew,
Drawn to the head away it flew,
And flying gave a deadly twang;
The Air a good while after rang.
The sound how loud, the Pile how keen,
How would it enter, when no Mail could come between?
Such was his Word, which did their Way prepare,
The Oath, which to the Tribes He past,
Making them Conquerors every where,
Till they were in Canaan plac'd,
Till to the Promis'd Land, He brought them safe at last.

VI.

Semper fluvios scindes Terræ.

But first the War did rage at Home,
Thirst, a worse Foe than Amaleck, to be o'recome.
To God for Drink they cry,
Not with a Wet, but envious Eye;

For Drought long since had made those Cisterns dry.
They cry'd, and murmur'd, to' Egypt back would go,
Till from the Rock God bid the Waters flow;
The Rock obey'd, and to the sacred Rod did bow.
Out gusht new Streams, th' admiring Earth gave way,
But wondred how such Rivers should come there;
Yet lookt again to see her fear,
And as she saw it quak't, and ready cut in Channels lay.

VII.

Viderunt te & doluerunt Montes.

There as He marcht, the Mountains saw their God,
And stagger'd as he shook His Rod;
The surly Deep past silent by,
And fearful any more to look on high,
In humble plains of liquid Chrystal flat did lie.
The bolder Waves, which yet would rise,
And with their towring Billows dare the Skies,
Seeing Him, started and shriekt out;
No more of their Defiance thought,
And of His Presence were asham'd to doubt.
As when one sees some Ruine near,
Ready upon his Head to fall,
Which yet he cannot help at all,
Cannot prevent; but with unequal strength must bear;
Expecting the dead weight he stands,
Shrinks in his Shoulders, and lifts up his Hands:
So stood the Waves, and without power to flie,
With rais'd up Hands and Eyes, had hardly strength to cry.

VIII.

Sol & Luna steterunt.

The Sun amaz'd stood still, and at the sight,
Bid the Moon stop, and see the bloody Fight;
Never was such a Fight, never so long a Day,
When Heav'n it self did waiting stay,
Nor till it saw the Victors went away.
The Lord Himself that Day marcht out,
Hail-stones and Coals of Fire hurl'd all about;
In wrath He marcht, through the whole Land,
And thresht the Nations, as He past along,
His Arm so weighty, and his Wrath so strong,
None durst against Him stand.
To save his People did He thus appear,
To them so Glorious, to His Foes so full of Fear.

IX.

Percussisti Caput de domo, &c.

To th' Earth He stroke their Princes down,
Their Villages destroy'd, sack'd every Town;
Tho like a Whirlwind, they against us came,
God for us fought in arms of Flame.
Flames, which their blasts made fiercer burn,
And on themselves with double Vengeance turn;
In Fire God came against them, and o'recame:
Did through the Sea on His great Horses ride,
Whilst Waves to make Him room, stood up in heaps, on either side.

X.

Audivi & conturbatus est, &c.

This as I heard my Joynts unloos'd,
Through all my Veins chill Horrour was diffus'd.
My Belly trembled, and my Lips did quake,
My Bones for very rottenness did shake.
Afraid I was, yet could not chuse but fear,
When I such mighty things did hear,
When e're I was aware,
The God, who did them I perceiv'd drew near.
O may I rest, when he to judg shall rise!
For when He does the wicked World chastise,
How heavy then will be His Hand, how red his Eyes!

XI.

Ascendam ad Populum.

From Thee, Lord, then, to my God now I flie,
And for Thy Mercy, on Thy Power relie,
Propitious Thee thy Land has found, and so shall I.
Nothing shall make me quit my trust,
For Thou art Pitiful, as well as Just
No, tho the Fig-Tree blossom not,
And on the Vine the generous clusters rot;
Tho th' labours of the Olive cease,
And all the lesser Plants of Life,
With Man, as He is with his God at strife,
Deny to give their rich encrease.
Let th' Earth threat Famine, bear no Grass,
Iron below, as Heav'n above, is Brass.
No Fruit, no Pasture yield,
But be with Thorns and Brambles fill'd,

And they burnt up, whilst there's a Furnace in each Field;
Let the Flocks die, and in the Stall
The Ox, not by the Knife, but want of Fodder fall;
Yet in my God will I rejoyce,
Whose care I am, as I made him my choice.
'Tis He's my strength, and freed from fear,
For me on high He shall His Truth display;
Or when the Desolation's near,
Give me Hinds Feet to scape away.

1663.

Comiato

Song wherewith I first Begun,
My Great Redeemers Praise to sing;
And from a far more noble string,
(Than I was wont) an Hebrew Descant run,
For the great Harp of Jesses Son,
To be prepar'd, when Time should be:
Preserve that Times blest Memory,
And all that, by Thee' inspir'd, I since have done,
That if with Men no Grace I find,
With Heav'n I may, and Peace in my own Mind!