Ecclesiastes, otherwise called the Preacher :: :: University of Virginia Library

Ecclesiastes, otherwise called the Preacher

Containing Salomons Sermons or Commentaries (as it may probably be collected) vpon the 49. Psalme of Dauid his father. Compendiously abridged, and also paraphrastically dilated in English poesie, according to the analogie of Scripture, and consent of the most approued writer thereof. Composed by H. L. Gentleman [i.e. Henry Lok]. Whereunto are annexed sundrie Sonets of Christian Passions heretofore printed, and now corrected and augmented, with other affectionate Sonets of a feeling conscience of the same Authors

Lok, Henry

[epigraph]

[dedication]

[section]

To the vertuous Lady, the Lady Woollie.

Certaine poems to the Authour of the worke.

To the worke.

To the Author.

TO THE QVEENES MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE.

[1. These sacred words king Dauids son did preach, who Israel taught ]

II.

III.

10.

11.

12.

Adue to worlds vaine delight.

Sundry Psalmes of Dauid translated into verse, as briefly and significantly as the scope of the text will suffer; by the same Author.

Psalme. 119.

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Psalme. 119.

[Part. 1.]

Blessed are those whose wayes are right, and in Gods lawes do walke,
Whose heart obeyeth to his will, and lips thereof do talke.
Such do not worke iniquitie, but so their wayes direct,
That in their life, by straying steps thy lawes they not neglect.
O would to God, my deedes therefore, so straightly I might frame,
That with regard of thy precepts, I might be free from blame;
Then shold I prayse with vpright hart, thy righteous iudgemēts known
Which whilst I study to obserue, Lord let thy helpe be showne.

Part. 2.

By looking to thy lawes, most soone a man may perfect grow.
Since then my heart hath sought the same, astray let me not go.
Thy promises in mind I beare, which me from shine withdraw:
Thou gracious God and blessed guide, teach me thy perfect law:
My tongue hath testifi'd thy prayse, and iustice thou doest vse:
To follow freely thy beheast, I'le worldly wealth refuse.
For of thee will I meditate, and studie whilst I liue;
And to obey thy iust precepts, my mind will wholly giue.

Part. 3.

Be gracious to thy seruant Lord, giue life and powre to mee;
Open my eyes, that of thy lawes, I may the wonders fee.
I am a stranger vpon earth, hide not from me thy will:
My heart doth swell with hoat desire to know thy iudgements still.
Thou hast destroyd the proud, and curst are they which go astray:
Shame and contempt yet take from me, who keepe thy lawes alway.
Though Princes hate me for thy truth, yet will I thee obay:
Thy lawes shall be my studie still, and comfort night and day.

Part. 4.

My soule with sorrow is opprest, giue me thy promist aide:
Thou knowst my sinnes I do confesse, thy wrath makes me affraid.
But teach thou me thy truth, that I thy wonders may admire:
For shame of sinne so daunts my hope, it dares not helpe desire.
If thou redresse my blinded steps, and teach to me thy will,
Thy ordinances will I keepe, and looke vpon them still.
Thou art the portion I do chuse, ô Lord confound me not,
But guide my steps to run that race, the which thy lawes alot.

Part. 5.

Teach thou thy statutes vnto me, that I may keepe them all;
Giue thou the knowledge of thy will, and turne my hart withall
Direct me in thy path, ô Lord, therein is my delight:
Incline my mind vnto thy word, and sinne put thou to flight.
Turne thou my eyes from vanities, and do thou quicken mee:
Performe thy promise made to me, whose hope depends on thee.
Preuent the shame I feare, because thy iudgements all are iust;
Behold I would performe thy will, thy grace relieue me must.

121

Part 6.

Then let thy promise kindly made (O Lord) fulfilled be:
So shall I scuse my iust rebuke, and giue the praise to thee,
Take not away from me thy truth, for on thee I attend;
But let my lips speake of thy praise, vntill my life doe end.
My feete shall freely follow thee, vntill the truth I find.
I will not shame, to Kings thy truth to preach, with constant mind;
Yea all my solace shall be still, my loue of thee t'expresse:
My lifted handes vnto the heauens, thy glory shall confesse.

Part. 7.

Remember then thy promise made, wherein thy seruant trusts;
In trouble it doth comfort me, my soule thereafter lusts.
The wicked haue derided me, thy lawes yet haue I kept:
I cald to minde thy iudgements past, whereby in peace I slept.
Sorrow and feare afflicted me, to see how wicked men
Thy lawes transgresse, in pilgrims life yet sing I to thee then:
In darknesse and by night thy name and lawes I keepe and feare;
Which blessing thou bestowed on me, thy will in mind to beare,

Part. 8.

O Lord thou art my portion, I thy law will still obserue;
My hearty prayers made to thee, and promise thine preserue,
I haue reform'd my wayes, and will to thy behests obay:
With speed I will my life amend, and make no more delay.
The wicked haue inticed me, but I will turne againe:
At midnight will I rise to pray, till iustice I attaine.
My company shall such be still, as do thy precepts know;
Thy mercie fils the earth ô Lord, to me thy pleasure show.

Part. 9.

According to thy word (ô Lord) thou graciously hast dealt;
Teach wisedome to thy seruant Lord, who in thy law hath dwelt:
Before I felt thy scourge, as then my feete did go astray,
But gracious God direct me now, that keepe thy lawes I may.
The proud against me worke deceipt, yet will I follow thee:
Their hart on folly feedes, thy lawes yet shall my comfort bee.
This fruit affliction brought to me, which made me learne thy law,
A greater treasure my mind, then heretofore I law.

Part. 10.

Thy hand heth fashioned me, therefore teach me thy holy will:
So shall thy seruants all reioyce, and I obey thee still:
Thy iudgements Lord (I graunt) are iust, I did thy wrath deserue;
Haue mercie yet and pardon me, thy promise cannot swarue.
Lord let me liue I thee beseech, thy law is my delight:
Bring thou to shame my foes, and driue the wicked out of sight;
And let thy seruants all behold, thy mercies showd to me,
Who walking in thy statutes iust, shall not ashamed be.

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Part. 11.

My soule is almost faint for feare, yot on thy word I trust
My eyes are dim with looking sore; send me thy comfort iust.
My bones are withered with despaire, till thou thy promise pay:
My life is short, thy iustice on the wicked Lord betrays,
By fraud they seeke to take my life, contrary vnto right;
But thou art iust, vniust are they, therefore put them to flight.
They had almost consumed me, my faith yet did not faint:
Reuiue thou me, and with thy truth, my mouth I will acquaint.

Part. 12.

O Lord thy word immutable in heauen doth still indure:
Thy truth from euer was, thou laidst the earths foundation sure.
All things continue at a stay, and do thy people serue:
Vnlesse thy word did comfort me, my faith with griefe would sterue.
I neuer therefore will forget, thy lawes which quicken me;
I am thy seruant, saue thou me, who vnto thee do flye.
The wicked seeke me to destroy, but in thoe will I trust,
Thy truth endures for aye, but elso all things returne to dust.

Part. 13.

So much I loue thy law ô Lord, I studie on it still:
Thy grace beyond my enimies doth me with true knowledge fill.
I better vnderstand thy will, then they which do me teach;
I better know thy lawes to keepe, then they which should them preach.
That I thy word might keepe; my feete refraine each euill way:
My iudgement grees vnto thy law, which taught me what to say.
Then hony combe vnto my tast, thy word is far more sweet,
Thereby thy will I learne and falshood shun at most vnmeet.

Part. 14.

Thy word is light vnto my feete, and guides me in my way:
My hart hath sworne, I will performe, thy statutes night and day.
My soule is sore opprest ô Lord do thou me ioy now send;
Teach me thy will, so, my request a gratefull hearing lend,
Though I in daunger daily be, thy lawes I not forget,
But keepe them still, while me to snare, the prow'd a bayt haue see.
They are the portion I haue chose, they are my harts delight;
My hart is vowd thy lawes to keepe with all my power and might.

Part. 15.

Thy word I loue, but do detest the vanities of minde:
My shield thou art, my refuge safe, in whom I trust do finde.
Away from me ye wicked men, my God alone I serue,
He will performe my hope, his word from truth doth neuer swerue.
Support thou me, then am I safe, in thee is all my trust:
Thou hast supprest the proud, and such as follow worldly lust.
I loue thee Lord, because thou doest from earth the vaine remoue,
Yet do I feare thy iudgements Lord, which shall my sinnes reproue.

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Part. 16.

Let me not then oppressed be, I iustice do obserue:
Plead thou my cause gainst wicked men, which frō thy will do swerue
My eyes are dim with longing Lord to see thy promist ayde;
Teach me my God, and let thy seruant be with mercy payd.
I wait on thee, let me therefore of wisedome thine haue part:
Helpe Lord in time, for all the world do from thy lawes depart.
Yet do I thy precepts esteeme, more then the richest gold:
Most iust: are they, but such I hate as vnto sinne are sold.

Part. 17.

Thy testimonies I admire on them my soule doth muse:
The wayes thereto do shine so bright, the simple it may chuse.
The zeale I bare vnto thy law, did make my hart to moue,
Looke on me then in mercy Lord, because thy law I loue.
Direct my deedes, so that no sinne may beare in me a sway:
I keepe thy will, to wicked men let me not be a pray.
Thy shining face vnto me turne, thy statutes teach thou mee:
With teares my eyes do daily flow, because they trespasse thee.

Part. 18.

Thou righteous God, most iust indeed thy iudgements all are found;
To truth aud equitie alone, thy lawes thy seruants bound.
My zeale doth burne, because my foes thy lawes haue cleane forgot,
Thy word we finde most pure, and I haue chose it to my lot.
Though I be poore and in contempt, I do remember well,
Thy righteous precepts, which for aye, in glorious truth excell.
Anguish and cares vpon me come, thy law yet do I loue:
Teach me thy truth, that I may liue eternally aboue.

Part. 19.

Heare me ô Lord, to thee I cry, thy statutes I will keepe:
Saue me, and grant that in thy house, I may in safetie sleepe.
Before the twylight vnto thee I call, and wait thy will:
By night I watch, to meditate and studie of thee still.
Heare me ô gracious God in time, and quicken thou my spright:
They are at hand that hate thy law, and me pursue with spight.
Thy promises assure me Lord, that thou art nigh at hand:
I knew long since thy high decree, should firme for euer stand.

Part. 20.

Behold my sorrowes then and helpe: thy pleasure I obay;
Plead thou my cause, deliver me, vpon thy word I stay:
The wicked they are farre from helpe, which do not thee regard:
But for thy seruants we do know, thy mercy is prepard.
Many they are that me pursue, yet will I follow thee:
I see the wicked scorne thy word, and much it grieueth mee.
Consider Lord my loue to thee; so quicker thou my mynde:
For, from for aye, thy word of truth, and righteousnesse I finde.

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Part. 21.

Princes of might do me pursue, yet onely thee I feare:
Thy word delights my hart, as if my richesse great it weare.
Thy law I loue, but do abhorre all falshood and deceit.
Seauen times a day I praise thy name, and on thee alwayes wait.
The keepers of thy law, shall stand from danger alwayes free;
I keepe thy heasts, because I hope thy sauing health to see.
Yea for the loue I beare to them, I will them not transgresse.
Thou seest (ô Lord) in all my wayes, thy name I do confesse.

Part. 22.

Let then my plaint before thee come, and be thou still my guide:
Giue eare vnto my sute, and let thy promise firme abide.
When thou hast me thy statutes taught, my lips shal speake thy praise;
My tongue shall tell thy word of truth, and walke thy righteons wayes.
Helpe with thy hand, for I entend, thy precepts to pursue:
Thy sauing helpe and law I seeke, Lord do my faith renue.
Let liue my soule, to praise thy name, thy mercie me vphold.
I feare thy law, then clense my sinnes, and bring me to thy fold.