University of Virginia Library


60

Psalm 73.

[Yet surely God benign to Israĕl stands]

Yet surely God benign to Israĕl stands;
To pure in hart. But I was sore declynd.
Griev'd vieu of fools, of wicked prospering hands,
Had welnigh sapt my weak unwari mynd.
FROM bands of death, by sicnes, force, or snare,
They free pass on: live lusti; puft with ioy:
With humane toils and cares untroubled are:
Yea publick plagues them least and last annoy.
THIS makes with pride, their out-stretcht necks, like chein;
With violence fierce, as robe, they lims attire.
Their plentĕous fare red strouting eys proclaim:
While heaping wealth surmounts evĕn harts desire.
FROM poizŏning filth their lothsom talk they change
Oppressions proud with lofti stile to sound.
Their tongs through earth in wronging men doo range:
And hellish mouths gainst heavĕn dead curse upbound.
THESE sights Gods folk to grievous thoughts reduce:
(To whom full cups of mingled bitter geer
“Are wringd:) Dooth Heavĕn, say they, knowe earths abuse?
“Or mortals coorse dooth powĕr immortal steer?
“But vieu these men; the heavĕnli leaug who shun,
“Earths shame, mans wrong: see how in calmest peace,
“Devoid of storm, here lengthned race they run:
“They health stil keep; stil wealth and powĕr encrease.
IN vain then I, ah all in vain have sought,
With careful thoughts my hart from stain to cleer:
In vain my hands, in woorthiĕst actions wrought,
Themselves to God in purenes washt doo rear.

61

For as stern sires their sons of sweet of life
With sour reproofs, and bitter strokes bereve:
With mee so griefs, so blowes are daily rife;
Ne ioy sharp fits of mornli chastment leve.
BUT ô my God, should I these thoughts embrace;
Should mazed soule illusions these entrance:
Lo, impious wrong, gainst thee, gainst happiĕst race
Of children thyn, I faithles should advance.
PERPLEXED I, then sought this dout t'untwine:
But ah in vain; stil tangled stood my wit.
At length I piercĕd the Sanctuări divine:
There learnd mens ends: then then the knot unknit.
SURE wicked men aloft on slippĕri brows
Thy hand dooth place, with greater noise to fall.
Doun headlong rush they: vain fly faithles vows.
How soon, how sore, thy frights their ioys appall?
MUCH like as dream unguided fanci fils
With shapes untrue; which wakened all are gone:
So when thou stirst, their image Lord it spils;
Their pompous shews despiz'd from world are flowne.
THUS whilĕst my soule on bitter grief did bite;
While thorni thoughts my fuming hart did wound:
As brutified, my mynd had lost hir light;
Yea groveling beast I in thyn eys was found.
YET still was thyn: and thyn shal ay abide:
By right hand takĕn thou staidst me with thy grace:
Thy counseil mee in beautĕous way shal guid:
And lastly safe in happiĕst glori place.
FOR whom can heavĕn, whom earth save thee display,
In whom or ioy, or rest, my soule might fynd?
O spring of life! when flesh, when hart decay,
Towĕr, partage thow eternal standst assignd.
LO Creatures strangĕd, to thee, Creatour great,
Alegiance due who faithles soules deny,
Shal fail; who thee of spouzed love defeat,
Adultring harts, in ireful vengeance dy.
THAT good for mee, estrangĕd from pleazing sin,
With God sole spring of pure delights to dwell;
There fixt to rest. My trust then ioy in him:
His gracious woorks my thankful hart foorth-tell.