Psa. 18.
[_]
A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who
sung vnto the Lord, the words of this song, when
the Lord delivered him from the hand of al his
foes, & from the hand of Saul. It mysticallie declareth
Gods maiestical proeeding in the work of our redēption.
And it may be vsed to praise God for our deliverances,
by the Incarnation, resurrection, & exaltation
of Christ; & for the benifits which we receive thereby.
[1]
I love the Lord; for, my support,
My horne of health, is he:
My Rock, my trust, my Sheild, my fort,
And, oft hath helped me.
He merrits praise; for, when I cry
Me, from all foes he saves;
Though wrapt in pangs of death, I lie
And plungd in sorrowes waves?
2
Yea, when by death & hell en-snar'd,
I sought the Lord, in fear;
My God, within his Temple heard,
And my complaints did hear:
Earths ground-work shook to feel his yre;
The trembling hills, did quake:
His nostrills fum'de, his mouth breath'd fire,
Which burning coales did make.
3
Then, downe he came, & heavn he bow'd
His feet thick darknes hid.
A flieng Cherube he bestrode;
The winged windes, he ridd.
A duskie fogg, his Cov'ring was;
Dark waters were his tent:
Before the brightnes of his face,
Clouds, fire, & hayle, he sent.
4
The Lord, from heav'n did also make
His thunders to be heard:
Yea, when that great Almighty Spake,
Both fire & haile appear'd:
His darts, on ev'ry side he threwe,
Till they dispersed were:
His burning Lightninghs, flashiug flewe,
And caused them to fear.
5
When he did frown, a dreadfull blast
He from his nostrills blow'd,
Which, vp the seas lowe Depths did cast,
And, Earths foundation show'd,
Then down he sent, & from among
Great flouds, advanced me;
And from those foes that were too strong;
He likewise garded me.
6
They in my Cares did me prevent;
But, still, God was my hope:
He, for his love-sake, succour sent,
And gave me larger scope.
The Lord, my Righteousnes observ'd,
His favour he bestow'd;
And, as mine innocence deserv'd,
So, he his mercy show'd.
7
For, in Gods wayes my walkings were,
From him I have not stept;
Still in my sight, his iudgments are,
And I his lawes haue kept.
In him, I instifide became;
For, I did leave my sinn:
And, as I iust & righteous am,
Rewarded I haue binn.
8
As he my hands did guiltles finde,
He, so did me require:
For, to the meek the Lord is kinde,
To righteous men vpright.
Among the pure, he will be pure,
And, on the froward frowne.
The poreman he will make secure,
And, pluck the proud-man downe.
9
My Darknes, God shall brightnes make;
My Lampe, enlight he shall.
By him, I through an Army brake,
And overleap'd a wall,
Gods way is right, pure is his word;
He saves if sought he be:
For, who is God, except the Lord,
Or who cann save but he?
10
About my Loines, he strength did binde,
He, sett my path-way streight:
He, made my feet out runn the Hinde,
And rais'd me to this height
My hands to fight; my Armes to bend
A bowe of steel, he taught;
His Buckler, he to me did lend,
And, saving-health it brought.
11
His right-hand hath supported me,
His love hath made me great;
My stepps, by him enlarged be,
And, safe my feet are sett.
I did persue (yea tooke) my Foes,
And slewe til all were slaine.
They fell downe wounded by my blowes,
And could not rise againe.
12
For, he (to fitt me for the war)
With powre, did me indue,
And, those who my opposers are,
Beneath my feet he threwe.
To conquer them, who mee envide,
Me, strong enough, he made.
They cride, and (though to God they cride)
Replies, nor helps, they had.
13
Then, as the dust which whirl-windes tosse,
So small, I them did beat;
And threw them forth, as myrie-drosse,
Which lies about the streat.
Thus, from the peoples vp-roares freed,
I (through his grace) became:
And, now to be the Gentiles Head;
By him, advanc'd I am.
14
A nation shall my Servants be,
which knowes me not, as yet:
Assoone as they have heard of me,
Themselves they shall submit.
The stranger shall stand out no more;
But, in his Bullworks feare:
Oh praise the living Lord, therfore;
Aloud, Gods praise declare.
15
Let God, my saving-health, be praisd,
By whome to passe it came,
That, I above the people raisd,
And thus avenged am.
Above all them that me oppose,
He doth exalt my throne;
And, saveth me from all my foes,
Ev'n from the Cruel-one.
16
Among the gentiles, now, therefore
I'le thanck him for the same;
My song shall be for evermore,
In honor of his Name.
His king, & his anointed-one
He gloriously hath freed;
And, everlasting mercie shown
To David & his seed.
