Psa. 74.
[_]
A Psalm for Asaph. It mysticallie prophecied what
havoke should be made in the Church, by aluding to the
destruction of the material Temple; & God is desired to
vouchsafe his wonted Mercie, in regard of the Foes outrage;
but, especially, for his owne honour sake. It is a prayer
for the Church in perseeution.
[1]
Oh God! for ever, why despis'd are wee?
Why is in rage, thy pasturage laid wast?
Oh minde thy Flock, redeem'd of old by thee,
(That heritage, which dearly bought thou hast)
Ev'n Syon mount, whereon thy Name is plac't.
2
Come Lord (oh come) destroy for evermore,
The Foe, that on thy holy-place hath preyd;
Thy foes, that in thy Congregation roare,
Who, there, for signes, their ensignes have displaid
And, on the carved works their axes laid.
3
For, as if they some grove were hewing downe
With Axe & Maul, the costly works they breake;
They flaming fires, into thy house have throwne;
Thy name's cheef seat, a place prophane they make
And, in their harts, of spoiling all, they speake.
4
Troughout the Land, thy houses burned be;
Yet, to declare the date of this our woe,
Nor visions now, nor Prophets word have wee.
Lord, when shall end, these ragings of the Foe?
Shall he blaspheam thy Name, for ever, so?
5
No more, thy hād (thy right-hād) Lord, withhold:
Within thy brest, the same no longer hide:
For, thou oh God! thou art our king of old,
And, here on earth, for vs thou didst provide,
When, by thy powre, thou didst the Sea divide.
6
The Dragons Heads thou woundedst in the floud;
Leviathan's vast heads, thou didst prepare,
In places wilde, to be thy peoples food:
Yea, frō dry rocks, thou hewdst out fountains there
And ma'dst firm land, where mighty waters were.
7
Thine, is the day, the night is also thine;
Thou ma'dst the light, & thou did'st form the sunn
The world, within her Zones, thou didst confine;
& shewdst what cours, times hot & cold should run
Lord, mind those things, & what the foe hath don.
8
Observe, how fools blaspheā thy name oh Lord?
Thy Turtles life, defend from Sinners wrongs:
Observe our greefs, & thinck vpon thy word;
For, to the world, a darksome denn belongs,
Which harbors fraud, inhumane deeds, & wrōgs.
9
That so the pore (vnsham'd) may praise thy name,
To plead thy cause (thine owne just cause) arise;
Observe how fooles, thee daylie do defame;
Yea, bear in minde, thy Foes malitious cries,
And to what height, their shouts against vs rise.
