A paraphrase vpon the divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

But fraile man, daily dying, must
At thy Command returne to Dust:
Or should he Ages last;
Ten thousand yeares are in thy sight
But like a quadrant of the Night,
Or as a Day that's past.

He by thy Torrent swept from hence;
An empty Dreame, which mocks the Sense;
And from the Phansie flies:
Such as the beauty of the Rose,
Which in the dewy Morning blows,
Then hangs the head and dies.

Through daily anguish we expire:
Thy anger a consuming Fire,
To our offences due.
Our sinnes (although by Night conceal'd,
By shame, and feare) are all reveal'd,
And naked to thy view.

112

Thus in thy wrath our yeares we spend;
And like a sad discourse they end,
Nor but to seventy last:
Or if to eighty they arrive,
We then with Age, and Sicknesse strive;
Cut off with winged haste.

Part. 2.

Who knowes the terror of thy wrath,
Or to thy dreadfull anger hath
Proportion'd his due feare?
Teach us to number our fraile Daies,
That we our hearts to Thee may raise,
And wisely sinne forbeare.

Lord, O how long! at length relent!
And of our miseries repent;
Thy Early Mercy shew:
That we may unknowne comfort taste:
For those long daies in sorrow past,
As long of joy bestow.

The works of thy accustom'd Grace
Shew to thy Servants: on their Race
Thy chearefull beames reflect,
O let on us thy Beauty shine!
Blesse our attempts with aide divine,
And by thy Hand direct.

Psalme XCI.

As the 9.

VVho makes th'Almighty his retreat,
Shall rest beneath his shady Wings;
Free from th'oppression of the Great,
Thē rage of Warre, or wrath of Kings.
Free from the cunning Fowlers traine;
The tainted aires infectious breath:
His Truth in perils shall susteine,
And shield thee from the stroke of Death.
No terrors shall thy sleeps affright;
Nor deadly flying Arrowes slay:
Nor Pestilence devoure by Night,
Or Slaughter massacre by Day.
A thousand and ten thousand shall
Sinke on thy Right hand and thy Left:
Yet thou secure shall see their fall;
By vengeance, of their lives bereft.

113

Since God thou hast thy Refuge made,
And do'st to him thy Vowes direct;
No evill shall thy strength invade,
Nor wasting plagues thy roofe infect.
Thee shall his Angels safely guide;
Upheld by winged Legions,
Lest thou at any time should'st slide.
And dash thy Foot against the Stones.
Thou on the Basiliske shalt tread;
The Mountaine Lion boldly meet,
And trample on the Dragons Head;
The Leopard prostrate at thy Feet.
Since he hath fix't his love on me,
Saith God, and walked in my wayes;
I will his Soule from danger free,
And from the reach of Envie raise.
To him I his desires will give;
From danger guard; in honour place:
He long, long happily shall live,
And flourish in my saving Grace.

Psalme XCII.

[Thou, who art inthron'd above]

[Part 1.]

Thou, who art inthron'd above;

As the 29.

Thou, by whom we live, and move;
O how sweet, how excellent,
Is't with tongue and hearts consent,
Thankefull hearts and joyfull tongues,
To renowne thy Name in Songs!
When the Morning paints the Skies;
When the sparkling Starres arise;
Thy high favours to rehearse,
Thy firme faith, in gratefull Verse.
Take the Lute, and Violin;
Let the solemne Harpe begin;
Instruments strung with ten strings;
While the Silver Cimbal rings.
From thy VVorkes my joy proceeds:
How I triumph in thy Deeds!
VVho thy Wonders can expresse!
All thy Thoughts are fathomlesse;
Hid from Men in Knowledge blinde;
Hid from Fooles to Vice inclin'd.
Who that Tyrant Sin obey;
Though they spring like Flowers in May
Parch't with Heat, and nipt with Frost,
Soone shall fade, for ever lost.

114

Part. 2.

Lord, thou art most Great, most High;
Such from all Eternitie.
Perish shall thy Enemies,
Rebels that against thee rise.
All, who in their Sins delight,
Shall be scatter'd by thy Might.
But thou shalt exalt my Horne,
Like a youthfull Vnicorn;
Fresh and fragrant Odors shed
On thy crowned Prophets head.
I shall see my Foes defeat,
Shortly heare of their retreat:
But the Just like Palmes shall flourish,
VVhich the Plains of Judah nourish:
Like tall Cedars mounted on
Cloud ascending Lebanon.
Plants set in thy Court, below
Spread their roots, and upwards grow;
Fruit in their Old-age shall bring;
Ever fat and flourishing.
This Gods Justice celebrates;
He, my Rocke, Injustice hates.

Psalme XCIII.

As the 47.

Now great Jehovah raignes,
VVith Majesty aray'd;
His Power all powers restraines,
By men and gods obey'd.
The round Earth hung
In liquid Aire;
Establisht there
But by his Tongue.

Thy Throne more old then Time,
And after, as before.
The Flouds in billowes clime,
And foming loudly rore.
VVith horrid Noise
The Ocean raves,
And breaks his Waves
Against the Skies.

But thou more to be fear'd,
More terrible then these:
Thy Voice in Thunder heard;

115

Thy Nod rebukes the Seas.
Thee Truth renowns;
Pure Sanctitie
Eternally
Thy Temple crowns.

Psalme XCIV.

[Great God of Hosts revenge our Wrong]

[Part 1.]

Great God of Hosts revenge our Wrong

As the 10.

On those, who are in Mischiefe strong.
Vpon thy Foes
Inflict our VVoes:
For Vengeance doth to Thee belong.
Judge of the World, prevent
The Proud and Insolent.

How long shall they the Just oppresse,
And triumph in their Wickednesse!
How long supplant!
Ah! how long vaunt,
And glory in their dire successe!
Thy Saints asunder break,
Insulting o're the Weak!

Who Strangers, and poore VViddowes kill;
The blood of wretched Orphans spill:
And say, Can he
Or heare, or see?
Doth God regard what's good or ill?
Brute Beasts, without a mind!
O Fools in knowledge blind!

Shall not th'Almighty see and heare,
VVho form'd the Eye, and fram'd the Eare?
VVho Nations slew,
Not punish you?
VVho taught, not know? to him appeare
Darke Counsels, secret Fires,
Vaine Hopes, and vast Desires.

Part. 2.

But O! thrice blessed he, whom God
Chastiseth with his gentle Rod;
Informes, and awes
By sacred Lawes.
In stormes brought to a safe aboad:
VVhile the Unrighteous shall
By winged Vengeance fall.

116

For he will not forsake th'Elect;
Nor who adore his Name reject:
But Judgement then
Shall turne agen
To Justice, and her Throne Erect:
VVho are in Heart upright
Shall follow that cleare Light.

VVhat mortall will th'Afflicted aid?
Depend when impious Foes invade?
Lord, hadst not thou,
My Soule ere now
In silent shades of Death had laid:
For he my Out-cries heard;
And from the Centre rear'd.

VVhen Griefe my labouring Soule confounds;
Thou powrest Balme into her wounds.
Shall Tyrannie
VVith thee complie?
VVho Mischiefe for a Law propounds?
VVho swarme to circumvent,
And doome the Innocent.

But thou, O Lord, art my Defence,
My Refuge, and my Recompence.
The Vicious shall
By Vices fall;
By their owne Sinnes be swept from hence.
God shall cut off their breath,
And give them up to Death.

Psalme XCV.

As the 34.

Come Sing the great Jehovah's Praise,
VVhose Mercies have prolong'd our Dayes;
Sing with a joyfull voyce.
VVith bending Knees, and raised Eyes
Adore your God: ô sacrifice;
In sacred Hymnes rejoyce.

Great is the God of our Defence,
Transcending all in eminence:
His Hand the Earth sustaines;
The Depths, the loftie Mountaines made;
The Land and liquid Plaines displaid,
And curbs them with his Reines.

117

O come, before his Foot-stoole fall,
Our onely God, who form'd us all;
Through Stormes of danger led.
He is our Shepheard, we his Sheepe;
His Hands from Wolves and Rapine keepe,
In pleasant Pastures fed.

The Voice of God thus spake this Day;
Repine not as at Meribah,
As in the Wildernesse:
Where your Fore-fathers tempted me;
Who did my Workes of Wonder see,
And to their shame confesse.

VVhen vex't for fortie yeares, I said;
This People in their hearts have strai'd;
Rebellious to command:
To whom I in my Anger swore,
That Death should seise on them, before
They knew this pleasant Land.

Psalme XCVI.

[New composed Ditties sing]

[Part 1.]

New composed Ditties sing

As the 29.

To our Everlasting King:
You, all you of Humane birth,
Fed and nourisht by the Earth,
Celebrate Jehovah's Praise,
Daily his Deliveries blase.
His Glory let the Gentiles know;
To the VVorld his wonders show.
O how gracious! ô how great!
Earth his Foot-stoole, Heaven his Seat.
To be fear'd and honor'd more
Then those gods, whom Fooles adore;
Idols by their Servants made:
But our God the Heavens display'd.
Honour, Beautie, Power Divine,
In his Sanctuarie shine.
All, who by his Favour live,
Glory to Jehovah give;
Glory due unto his Name,
And his Mightie Deeds proclame.
Offerings on his Altar lay;
There your Vowes devoutly pay.

118

Part. 2.

In his beauteous Holinesse
To the Lord your Prayer addresse.
All, whom Earths round shoulders beare,
Serve the Lord with Joy and Feare.
Tell Mankinde, Jehovah raignes:
He shall bind the world in Chaines,
So as it shall never slide;
And with sacred Justice guide.
Let the smiling Heavens rejoyce;
Joyfull Earth exalt her Voice:
Let the dancing Billowes rore;
Ecchoes answer from the Shore:
Fields their flowrie Mantles shake;
All shall in their Joy partake:
VVhile the VVoods Musicians sing
To the ever-youthfull Spring.
Fill his Courts with sacred Mirth;
He, He comes to judge the Earth.
Justly He the VVorld shall sway,
And his Truth to men display.

Psalme XCVII.

As the 8.

O Earth! joy in Jehovah's Raigne;
You numerous Iles, claspt by the Maine.
Him rolling Clouds and Shades infold.
Judgement and Truth his Throne uphold.
VVho fierie Darts before him throwes;
VVith winged flames consumes his Foes.
His Lightning made a Day of Night;
Earth trembled at so fear'd a sight.
The Mountaines at his Presence sweat,
Like pliant VVax dissolv'd with Heat;
At his Descension from the Skie,
VVho rules the VVorlds great Monarchie.
The Heavens declare his Righteousnesse;
His Glorie wondering men confesse.
Let those with shame to Hell descend,
VVhose Knees to cursed Idols bend;
VVhose rockes for Deities implore:
O all you gods, our God adore.
Rejoycing Sion heard her King:
Her Daughters of his Judgements sing.
Thou art exalted above all
Mankinde, and Pow'rs Angelicall.

119

Those Saints thy shady Wings protect,
VVho Sin abhorre, and thee affect.
For thou hast sown the Seeds of Light,
And joy, which shall invest th'Vpright.
You Just, your joyfull Hearts elate;
His blest Memoriall celebrate.

Psalme XCVIII.

[Sing to the King of kings]

Sing to the King of kings,

As the 47.

Sing in unusuall Laies;
That hath wrought wondrous things,
His Conquest crown with Praise:
Whose Armes alone,
And sacred Hands,
Their impious Bands
Have overthrown.

He Justice brings to light;
His saving Truth extends,
Even in the Gentiles sight,
To Earths remotest Ends.
His Heavenly Grace
At full displayd,
And promise made
To Jacobs Race.

Let all that dwell on Earth
Their high Affections raise,
VVith universall Mirth,
And loudly sing his Praise:
To Musick joyne
The warbling Voice,
Let all rejoyce
With Joy divine.

The sprightly Trumpet sound;
The shrill-voic'd Cornet bring:
Let all with Joy abound
Before the Lord our King.
Rore out you Seas,
You spangled Skies,
All you comprise,
Rejoyce with these.

Flouds clap your thronging waves;
You Hils exalt your mirth:

120

He, who his People saves,
Now comes to judge the Earth:
The round World shall
VVith Justice trie;
His Equitie
Dispenst to all.

Psalme XCIX.

As the 29.

Let our Foes with terrour quake;
Let the Earths Foundation shake:
Now the Lord his Raigne begins,
Thron'd betweene the Cherubins.
O how great in Sions Towers!
High above all Mortall Powers.
Great and terrible his Name:
Since so holy, praise the same.
Judgement his great Power affects;
Yet by Equitie directs.
These celestiall Twins imbrace;
These reflect on Jacobs Race.
O how holy! above all
Honour; at his Foot-stoole fall,
Moses: Aaron heretofore
Among those who Mitres wore:
Samuel by Vow desir'd,
Among those who were inspir'd.
These to him their Praiers preferr'd,
These by him as soone were heard.
These his Statutes rarely brake:
Unto these th'Almightie spake,
In the Pillar of a Cloud:
To his Service ever vow'd.
He did their Petitions heare,
Mercifull, and yet severe.
The Holy, on his holy Hill
Glorifie, and worship still.

Psalme C.

As the 47.

All from the Suns uprise,
Unto his Setting Raies,
Resound in Jubilees
The great Jehovah's Praise.
Him serve alone;
In triumph bring
Your Gifts, and sing
Before his Throne.

121

Man drew from Man his Birth,
But God his noble Frame
Built of the ruddy Earth,
Fill'd with cælestiall Flame.
His Sons we are;
Sheep by him led,
Preserv'd, and fed
With tender care.

O, to his Portals presse
In your divine resorts:
VVith Thanks his Power professe,
And praise him in his Courts.
How good! how pure!
His Mercies last:
His Promise past
For ever sure.

Psalme CI.

[Of Justice I and Mercy sing]

Of Justice I and Mercy sing,

As the 46.

Which, Lord, from thee, their Fountain spring;
The Graces that adorn a King.

Grave Wisdome shall my steps direct,
No Vice my heart nor Roofe infect.
When wilt thou visit thine Elect!

No pleasure shall mine eyes misguide:
Who from the Tract of Vertue slide,
Just Hate shall from my Soul divide.

Who mischief in their Hearts contrive,
Delight in Wrong, in Factions strive,
I from my peacefull Court will drive.

Who hath his Friend with Slander strook,
I will cut off; nor ever brook
A proud Heart, and a haughty Look.

Mine Eyes the Faithfull shall observe;
Those in my Family shall serve,
Who never from pure Vertue swerve,

But who are exercis'd in Guile,
Whose Tongues malicious Lies defile,
I from my Presence will exile.

122

And all the VVicked in the Land
VVill cut off with a timely Hand;
Nor shall they in Gods Citie stand.

Psalme CII.

As the 22.

[Part 1.]

Accept my Prayers, nor to the Cry
Of my Affliction stop thine Eare:
Lord, in the time of Misery
And sad restraint serene appeare:
The Sighings of my Spirit heare;
And when I call, with speed reply.

As Smoke, so fleets my Soule away;
My marrow dry'd, as Harths with heat:
My heart struck down, like withered Hay;
Through Sorrow I forsake my meat,
While meagre cares my Liver eate:
The clinging Skin my Bones display.

Like Desert-haunting Pelicans;
In Cities not lesse desolate:
Like Screech-Owles, who with ominous straines
Disturb the Night, and day-light hate:
A Sparrow which hath lost his Mate,
And on a Pinacle complaines.

Reviling Foes my Honour blast,
And frantick men my ruine sweare.
For Bread, I roll'd-on ashes tast;
Each drop I drink mixt with a teare.
For, Lord, O who thy Wrath can beare
Thou raisest, and dost head-long cast.

My Daies short, as the Evening shade;
As Morning Dew consume away:
As Grasse cut downe with Sithes, I fade,
Or like a flower cropt yesterday
But, Lord thou suffer'st no decay:
Thy Promises shall never vade.

For thou shalt from thy Rest arise,
(Since now th'appointed time drawes neare)
And look on Sions miseries,
Her Walls and batter'd Buildings reare;
VVhose ruins to thy Saints are deare;
For they her Dust as sacred prise.

123

Part. 2.

Thy Name then shall the Gentiles praise;
All Kings thy Honour celebrate:
For when the Lord shall Sion raise,
His Glory shall ascend in State:
So prone to heare the Desolate,
And succour them in all assaies.

Unto eternall Memory
Our Histories shall this record;
And all that are created by
His pow'rfull Hand, shall feare the Lord,
Who doth such Grace to his afford,
And on the Earth looks from on high;

To heare the pensive Captives grone;
The Sons of Death by him unbound:
His Name againe in Sion known,
That Salem may his Praise resound:
When in his Service all the Round
Of Earth shall there be joyn'd in one.

Yet, Lord, amidst these Hopes thou hast
Consum'd my strength, abridg'd my yeares:
Before my Noon of Life be past
Let me not die thus drown'd in teares.
Time wasts not thee, which all out-weares;
Thy happy Daies for ever last.

Thou mad'st the Earth, thou didst display
The Heavens in various motion roll'd:
These and their Glories shall decay;
But thou shalt thy existence hold:
They like a Garment shall grow old,
And in their changes passe away.

But thou art still the same: before
The World, and after shalt remaine.
You blessed Soules, who God adore,
VVith Patient Hope your harmes sustaine:
For you shall prosper in his Reign
And yours, subsist for evermore.

Psalme CIII.

[My Soule, and all my Faculties]

[Part 1.]

My Soule, and all my Faculties

As the 8.

Jehovah praise; sing till the Skies

124

Re-eccho his ascending Fame:
My Soule, O celebrate his Name!
Nor ever let the memory
Of his surpassing Favours die.
He gently pardons our misdeeds,
And cures the VVound which inward bleeds.
Hath from the Chains of Death unbound;
With Clemency and Mercy crown'd.
VVith Food our Hunger he subdues:
And Eagle-like our Youth renues.
His Justice he extends to all;
Oppressors by his Vengeance fall.
His sacred Paths to Moses shown;
His Miracles to Israel known:
From Him the Springs of Mercy flow;
Swift to forgive, to anger slow.
For he will not for ever chide;
Nor constant to his VVrath abide:
But mildly from his Rage relents,
And shortens our due Punishments.
For as the Heavens in amplitude
Exceed the Centre they include:
So ample is his Clemencie
To all who on his Grace relie.

Part. 2.

As farre as the bright Orient
Is distant from the Suns Descent;
So farre he sets from his Aspect
Their Cuilt, who him with feare affect.
And as a Father to his Child,
So soft, so quickly reconcil'd.
He knowes the Fabrick of us all;
That dust is our Originall.
Man flourisheth like Grasse, a Flower
That blowes and withers in an houre:
By scorching heat, by blasting Wind
Deflowr'd, and leaves no print behind.
But his firme Mercy shall imbrace
His Saints for ever, and their Race:
Those who his equall Lawes fulfill,
Remember, and performe his VVill.
In Heaven the great Jehovah reigns,
And governs all that Earth contains:
You Angels, who in strength exceed,
VVho him obey with winged speed;
You ordred Hosts of radiant Stars;
O you his flaming Ministers;

125

All, whom his VVisdome did create;
Through his large Empire celebrate
His glorious Name with sweet accord:
Joyne thou, my Soule, to praise the Lord.

Psalme CIV.

[My ravisht Soule, great God, thy praises sings]

[Part 1.]

My ravisht Soule, great God, thy praises sings;

As the 72.

VVhom Glory circles with her radiant VVings,
And Majesty invests: then Day more bright;
Cloth'd with the beames of new-created Light.
He, like an all-infolding Canopy,
Fram'd the vast concave of the spangled Skie:
And in the Aire-embraced Waters set
The Basis of his hanging Cabinet.
VVho on the Clouds, as on a Chariot, rides;
And with a reine the flying Tempest guides.
Bright Angels his attendant Spirits made;
By flame-dispersing Seraphims obey'd.
The ever-fixed Earth cloth'd with the Floud;
In whose calme bosome unseene Mountains stood;
At his rebuke it shrunke with sudden dread,
And from his voices Thunder swiftly fled.
Then Hils their late concealed Heads extend,
And sinking Valleies to their Feet descend.
The trembling VVaters through their bottomes winde,
Till they the Sea, their Nurse and Mother, finde.
He to the swelling Waves prescribes a bound;
Lest Earth againe should by their rage be drown'd.
Springs through the pleasant Medows powre their drils,
VVhich Snake-like glide betweene the bordring Hils;
Till they to Rivers grow; where beasts of prey
Their thirst asswage, and such as man obey.

Part. 2.

In neighbouring Groves the Ayr's Musicians sing,
And with their Musicke entertaine the Spring.
He from cœlestiall Casements showres distills,
And with renew'd increase his Creatures fills.
He makes the food-full Earth her fruit produce;
For Cattell grasse, and Herbs for humane use.
The spreading Vine long purple clusters bears,
VVhose juyce the hearts of pensive Mortals chears:
Fat Olives smooth our browes with suppling Oyle;
And strengthning Corne rewards the Reapers toile.
His Fruit affording trees with sap abound.
The Lord hath Lebanon with Cedars crown'd:
They to the warbling Birds a shelter yield,
And wandring Storks in lofty Fir-trees build.

126

Wild Goats to craggy Cliffs for refuge flie;
And Conies in the Rocks darke entrails lie.
He guides the changing Moones alternate face:
The Suns diurnall and his annuall Race.
T'was he that made the all-informing Light;
And with darke shadowes cloths the aged Night.
Then Beasts of prey breake from their Mountaine Caves;
The roring Lion pinch't with hunger craves
Food from his hand. But when Heavens greatest Fire.
Obscures the Stars, they to their dens retire.
Men with the Morning rise, to labour prest;
Toile all the Day, at Night returne to rest.

Part. 3.

Great God! how manifold, how infinite
Are all thy works! with what a cleere fore-sight
Didst thou create and multiply their birth!
Thy riches fill the far extended Earth.
The ample Sea; in whose unfathom'd Deep
Innumerable sorts of Creatures creep:
Bright-scaled Fishes in her Entrailes glide,
And high-built Ships upon her bosome ride:
About whose sides the crooked Dolphin playes,
And monstrous Whales huge spouts of water raise.
All on the Land, or in the Ocean bred,
On Thee depend; in their due season fed.
They gather what thy bounteous Hands bestow,
And in the Summer of thy Favour grow.
When thou contract'st thy clouded Brows, they mourn;
And dying, to their former dust return.
Againe created by thy quickning breath,
To resupply the Massacres of Death.
No Tract of Time his Glory shall destroy:
He in th'Obedience of his Works shall joy:
But when their wild revolts his Wrath provoke,
Earth trembles, and the aery Mountains smoke.
I all my life will my Creator praise;
And to his Service dedicate my Daies.
May he accept the Musicke of my Voice,
While I with sacred Harmony rejoyce.
Hence you profane, who in your Sins delight;
God shall extirp, and cast you from his Sight.
My Soule, blesse thou this all-commanding King:
You Saints and Angels, Hallelu-jah sing.

Psalme CV.

As the 72.

[Part 1.]

To God O pay your vowes; invoke his Name,
And to the VVorld his noble Acts proclaime!

127

O sing his praises in immortall Verse,
And his stupendious Miracles rehearse!
You Saints, rejoyce, and glory in his Grace;
His power adore; for ever seeke his Face.
Old Abrahams Seed, you Sons of the Elect;
You Israelites; O you, who God affect,
Report the Wonders by his finger wrought,
VVhen in your cause th'inferiour creatures fought.
Jehovah rules the many-peopled Earth;
His judgement knowne to all of humane birth.
He never will forget his Promise past;
His Covenants inviolable last,
VVhich he to faithfull Abraham made before,
And after to the holy Isaac swore:
To Jacob sign'd, confirm'd to Israel;
That their large Off-spring should in Canaan dwell.
VVhen they, but few in number, wandered
In unknowne Regions, and their Cattell fed:
He did their lives from violence protect,
And for their sakes even mighty Princes checkt.
Touch not, said he, my Anointed: feare to wrong
Those sacred Prophets, who to Me belong.

Part. 2.

VVhen raging Famine in these Climats reign'd,
He broke the Staffe of Bread, which life sustain'd:
But Joseph sent before them; sold to save
His Brethren, by whose envy made a slave.
There for th'Accusers guilt in prison throwne;
With galling fetters bound, for crimes unknowne;
Tri'd with affliction, at the time decreed,
At once by Pharaoh both advanc'd and freed.
He of his houshold gave him the command,
And made him Ruler over all his Land:
His Princes to his government Subjects.
The prudent Youth grave Senators directs.
Then aged Jacob into Egypt came,
And sojourn'd in the fruitfull Fields of Ham.
God in that Land his people multipli'd;
Their Foes, which now their greater strength envi'd,
Hate what they feare: he alienates their hearts,
To seeke their ruine by deceitfull Arts.

Part. 3.

Then Moses on a sacred Embassie
And Aaron sent; th'Elect of the most High.
There wrought his dreadfull Wonders; from the Ile
Of Sea-girt Pharo's to the Fals of Nile.
He bade Cimmerian darknesse dim the Day:
Th'assembled Vapours his commands obey.

128

He their seven chanel'd VVaters turn'd to Bloud;
The Fishes strangled in their native Floud.
Frogs from the slimy, Earth in Millions spring;
And skip about the Chambers of the King.
All parts with swarms of noisome Flies abound:
And Lice, like quickned dust, crawle on the ground.
He storms of killing Haile, for Showers, bestowes;
And from the breaking clouds his lightning throws:
Blasts all the Vines, and Fig-trees in the Land;
The VVoods, with Tempests torne, or naked stand.
Innumerable Locusts these succeed;
And Caterpillars on their leavings feed:
They bite the tender Herbe, the bud, and flower;
And all the virdure of the Earth devoure.
Their Strength (the First-borne) slew: which fill'd their eares
VVith Female screeches, and their hearts with feares.

Part. 4.

Then He the Hebrews out of Goshen brought,
In able health, with Gold, and Silver fraught.
Th'inhabitants, whose teares augment the Nile,
At their departure Joy, and Feare exile.
A Cloud to shade them from the Sun was spread;
And Nightly by a flaming Pillar led.
At their request he sends them showres of Quailes;
And Bread from Heaven, like Coriander, hailes.
Cleaves the hard Rocks, from whence a Fountaine flowes,
And unknowne Rivers to those Deserts showes:
For he his sacred Promise call'd to minde,
To Abraham his Friend and Servant sign'd.
Thus he his People brought from servitude,
VVhose long-felt miseries in joy conclude.
From hence the Heathen by our Weapons chac'd;
And us his sonnes in their possessions plac'd:
That from his Statutes we might never swerve.
O praise the Lord, and him devoutly serve!

Psalme CVI.

As the 72.

[Part 1.]

VVith gratefull hearts Jehovahs praise resound;
In goodnesse great; whose Mercy hath no bound.
VVhat Language can expresse his mighty deeds,
Or utter his due praise, which words exceeds!
Thrice blessed they, who his commands observe,
Nor ever from the tract of Justice swerve.
Great God, O with benevolent aspect
(Even with the love thou bear'st to thine Elect)
Behold and succour; That my ravisht Eyes
May see a period of their miseries,

129

VVho Thee adore: that I may give a voice
To thy great Acts, and in their joy rejoyce.
We as our Fathers, have thy Grace exil'd;
Revolted, and our Souls with Sin defil'd.
They, of thy Miracles in Egypt wrought,
So full of Feare and Wonder, never thought;
Thy Mercies, then their haires in number, more:
But murmur'd on the Erythræan Shore.
Yet for his Honour sav'd them from the Foe,
That all the VVorld his wondrous Power might know.
There the commanded Sea asunder rent,
VVhile Israel through his dusty Chanel went:
VVhom He from Pharaoh and his Army saves;
The swift-returning Flouds their fatall Graves.

Part. 2.

Then they his VVord believ'd, and sung his Praise;
Yet soone forgot: and wandred from his VVaies.
VVho long for flesh to pamper their excesse;
And tempt him in the barren Wildernesse.
He grants their wish, and with a Flight of Fowles
Sent meager Death into their hungry Soules.
They, Moses gentle Government, oppose;
And envy Aaron, whom the Lord had chose.
The yawning Earth then in her silent womb
Did Dathan and Abirams Troups intomb.
A swiftly-spreading Fire among them burnes,
And those Conspirators to Ashes turnes.
Yet they, the slaves of Sin in Horeb made
A Calfe of Gold, and to an Idol prai'd.
The Lord, their Glory, thus exchanged they
For th'Image of a Beast that feeds on Hay:
Forgot their Saviour, all his Wonders shown
In Zoan, and the Plains by Nile o'reflown;
The VVonders acted by his pow'rfull Hand;
VVhere the Red-Sea obey'd his stern Command.
God had pronounc'd their ruine: Moses then,
His Servant Moses, and the best of Men,
Stood in the Breach, which their Rebellion made;
And by his Prayer the hand of Vengeance staid.

Part. 3.

Yea they this fruitfull Paradise despis'd,
Nor his so-oft-confirmed Promise priz'd:
But mutined against their faithfull Guide,
And basely wisht they had in Egypt dy'd.
For this, the Lord advanc'd his dreadfull Hand,
To overthrow them on th'Arabian Sand;
To scatter their rebellious Seed among
Their Foes; expos'd to Poverty and Wrong.

130

Besides; Baal-Peor they ador'd, and fed
On Sacrifices offer'd to the Dead.
Thus their Impieties the Lord incense,
Who smote them with devouring Pestilence.
But when with noble anger Phinees slew
The bold Offenders, He his Plagues with-drew.
This was reputed for a righteous Deed,
Which should for ever consecrate his Seed.
So they at Meribah his Anger mov'd;
The sacred Prophet for their sakes reprov'd:
Their Cries his Saint-like sufferance provoke;
Who rashly in his Soules distemper spoke,
Nor ever entred the affected Land.
They, still rebellious to divine Command,
Preserv'd those Nations by his Wrath subdu'd;
Mixt with the Heathen, and their Sins pursu'd.
Their cursed Idols serve with Rites profane,
(Snares to their Soule) and from no Crime abstaine.

Part. 4.

Their Sons and Virgin daughters sacrifice
To Divels; and looke on with tearelesse eyes.
Defil'd the Land with innocent blood, which sprung
From their owne loines, on flaming Altars flung.
Vnto adulterate Deities they praid,
And worshipped those Gods their hands had made.
These crying Sins exasperate the Lord;
VVho now his owne inheritance abhorr'd:
Given up unto the Heathen for a Prey;
Slaves to their Foes; who hate them most, obey.
Deliver'd oft; as oft his Wrath provoke,
And with increasing Sins renew their Yoke.
Yet he compassionates their miseries,
And with soft pity heares their mournfull Cries:
His former Promise calls to mind, relents;
And in his Mercy of his Wrath repents.
In salvage Hearts unknowne Compassion bred,
By whom but lately into thraldome led.
Great God of gods, thy Votaries protect,
And from among the Barbarous recollect:
That we to Thee may dedicate our Daies,
And joyntly triumph in thy glorious Praise.
Blest, O for ever blest, be Israels King:
All you his People, Halelu-jah sing.

Amen, Amen.

131

A PARAPHRASE VPON THE FIFTH BOOKE OF THE PSALMES OF DAVID.

Psalme CVII.

[Extoll, and our good God adore]

[Part 1.]

Extoll, and our good God adore,

As the 8.

Whose Sea of Mercy hath no Shore.
O you by Tyrants late opprest,
Now from your servile Yokes releast;
Praise him, who your Redemption wrought,
And home from barbarous Nations brought.
From where the Morn her Wings displaies;
From where the Evening crowns the Daies;
Beneath the burning Zone, and neare
The Influence of the freezing Beare.
They in unpeopled Deserts straid;
The Heavens their Roofe, the Clouds their shade:
Their Soules with thirst and hunger faint;
None by, to pity their Complaint:
VVhen to the Lord their God they cry'd,
His Mercy their extreams supply'd.
He led them through the Wildernesse,
And gave them Cities to possesse.
O you, his Goodnesse celebrate!
His Acts to all the World relate!
For he in foodlesse Deserts fed
The Hungry with cœlestiall Bread.
From wondring Rocks new Currents roule,
To satisfie the thirsty Soule.

Part. 2.

Those Rebels, who his Counsell slight,
Imprison'd in the shades of Night;
Horrors of Guilt their Souls suprise:
When humbled with their miseries,

132

They to the Lord addrest their Praiers;
His Mercy comforts their Despaires,
From Darknesse drawes, dissolves their Gieves;
And from Deaths Jawes preserves their lives.
O you his Goodnesse celebrate!
His Acts to all the World relate?
He breaks Steel-barres, and Gates of Brasse,
To force a way for His to passe.
Those Fools, whom pleasing Sins intice,
Are punisht by their darling Vice.
Their Souls all sorts of Food distaste:
Whom Troops of pale Diseases waste.
When they to God direct their Praiers,
His Mercy comforts their Despaires.
His Word restores them from their Graves,
And from a dreadfull Ruine saves.
O you his Goodnesse celebrate!
His Acts to all the World relate!
Due Praises to his Altar bring,
And of your great Redemption sing.

Part. 3.

VVho saile upon the toiling Maine,
And traffick in pursuit of Gaine,
To such his Power is not unknowne,
Nor wonders in the Ocean showne.
At his Command black Tempests rise;
Then mount they to the troubled Skies,
Thence sinking to the Depths below.
The Ship Hulls as the Billowes flow;
And all Aboord at every seele,
Like Drunkards, on the Hatches reele.
VVhen they to God direct their Prayers,
His Mercy comforts their Despaires.
Forthwith the bitter Storms asswage,
And foming Seas suppresse their Rage:
Then, singing, with a prosperous gale
To their desired Harbour saile.
O you his Goodnesse celebrate!
His Acts to all the World relate!
His Fame in your Assemblies raise,
And in the sacred Senate praise.

Part. 4.

He Rivers turnes t'a Wildernesse;
Springs dry'd up by the Suns accesse.
To scourge their Sins, he makes the Soile
Vngratefull to the Owners toile:
Turnes sandy Deserts into Pooles,
And parched Earth with Fountains cooles:

133

There plants his hungry Colonies,
VVhere strongly-fenced Cities rise:
The Fields their yellow Mantles weare,
And spreading Vines full clusters beare.
They infinitely multiply:
Their Heards of no diseases die.
But when their Sins his Wrath incense,
Then Famine, Warre, and Pestilence,
Their miserable Lives devoure:
Their Princes he deprives of Power,
Who in the Path-lesse Wildernesse
Conceal'd themselves from Mans accesse.
The Poore he raiseth from the ground;
Their Families like flocks abound.
The Just shall this with joy behold;
Th'Unjust with feare and shame controll'd.
The Wise these Changes will record,
That they may know and serve the Lord.

Psalme CVIII.

[My Thoughts the Lord their Object make]

My Thoughts the Lord their Object make;

[_]

As the 2.

Before the ruddy Morning spring,
My Glory of his Praise shall sing:
Awake, my Lute; my Harp, awake;
While I to all the VVorld rehearse
His praises in a living Verse.

Thy Mercy (O how great!) extends
Above the Starry Firmament;
Still unto tender pity bent:
Thy Truth the soaring clouds transcends.
Thy Head above the Heavens erect;
Thy Glory on the Earth reflect.

O heare us, who thy aide implore;
And with thy owne Right hand defend:
To thy Beloved Succour send.
God by his Sanctitie thus swore;
I Succoths Valley will divide:
In Sichems Spoils be magnifi'd.

Manasseh, Gilead, both are mine:
Ephraim my Strength, in Battaile bold.
Thou Judah, shalt my Scepter hold.
I will triumph o're Palæstine.

134

Base Servitude shall Moab waste.
O're Edom I my Shooe will cast.

Who will our forward Troups direct
To Rabbah strongly fortifi'd?
Or into sandy Edom guide?
Lord, wilt not thou, that didst reject,
Nor wouldst before our Armies goe,
Now lead our Host against the Foe?

VVhen Death and Horrour most affright,
Doe thou our troubled Souls sustaine.
For O, the helpe of Man is vaine!
Lead; and we valiantly shall fight.
Thy Feet our Foes shall trample downe;
Thy Hands our Browes with Conquest crowne.

Psalme CIX.

As the 1.

[Part 1.]

My God, my Glory, leave not in Distresse;
Nor let prevailing Fraud the Truth oppresse.
They who delight in Subtilties and Wrongs,
Afflict me with the Poison of their Tongues.
VVith Slander and Detraction gird me round,
And would, without a Cause, my life confound.
Good turnes with evill proudly recompense,
And Love with Hate; my Merit, my offence.
But I in these Extremes to thee repaire,
And poure out my perplexed Soule in Praire.
Subject him to a Tyrants sterne command;
Subverting Satan place at his Right hand;
Found guilty, when arraign'd: in that fear'd time
Let his rejected Prairs augment his Crime.
May he by violence untimely die,
And let another his Command supply.
Let his distressed Widow weep in vaine;
His wretched Orphans to deafe Eares complaine.
Let them the wandring Paths of Exile tread,
And in unpeopled Deserts seeke their bread.
Let griping Vsurers divide his spoile;
And Strangers reape the harvest of his toile.

Part. 2.

In his long misery may he find no Friend;
None to his Race so much as Pity lend.
Let his Posterity be overthrowne;
Their Names to the succeeding Age unknowne.
Let not the Lord his Fathers Sins forget;
His Mothers Infamy before him set.

135

O let them be the Object of his Eye,
Till hee out-root their hated Memory:
That to the wretched would no Mercy show;
But cruelly pursu'd his Overthrow.
Laid Trains to kill the Broken and Contrite.
On his owne head let his dire Curses light.
He hated Blessing; never be he blest:
Let cursing like a Robe his Loines invest;
And like a fatall Girdle gird him round;
As he with Execrations did abound.
Let them like Water in his Bowels boile,
And eate into his Bones like burning Oyle.
Thus let the Lord reward my Enemies,
VVho seeke to blast me with malicious lies.

Part. 3.

But, Lord, in my deliverance proclaime
Thy Mercy, for the honour of thy Name.
For I am poore, with misery opprest;
My wounded heart bleeds in my panting brest.
I like the Evening shadow am declin'd,
And like the Locust toss'd with every Wind.
My feeble knees beneath their burden bend;
My Flesh with fasting falls, my Bones ascend.
Reproch hath seis'd on me; my Foes revile;
And in derision shake their heads, and smile.
My God, O snatch me from the swallowing grave!
Thy servant with accustom'd Mercy save:
That they may know it was thy powerfull Hand;
And how I by divine Supportance stand.
Still may they vainely curse whom thou dost blesse;
And pine with envy at my good successe.
Let them be cloth'd with shame: O be their owne
Confusion on them like a Mantle throwne.
But I thy praise will duly celebrate;
And to the multitude thy Deeds relate:
That hast th'afflicted Soule from sorrow freed,
And from their snares who had his death decreed.

Psalme CX.

[The Lord unto my Lord thus spake]

The Lord unto my Lord thus spake,

As the 34.

Sit at my right hand, till I make
A Foot-stoole of thy Foes.
He will thy Rod from Zion send,
Unto whose Power all powers shall bend,
That dare thy Rule oppose.

136

Thy People willingly shall pay
Their vowes in that triumphant Day,
VVith their united Powers:
Aray'd in Ephods; nor so few
As are those Pearles of morning-dew,
VVhich hang on Herbs and Flowers.

He swore, who never Oath did breake,
Of th'order of Melchisedek
That thou a Priest should'st raigne:
Even while the Sun disperst his Light;
VVhile Moones should rule th'alternate Night,
Or Stars their course maintaine.

God, in that Day at thy right hand,
Their Bloud, who Tyrant-like command,
Shall in his fury spill.
He, in his Justice shall confound
The Heathen, and the purple ground
VVith heaps of slaughter fill.

VVho over many Nations sway,
And onely their owne Wils obey,
Shall sinke beneath his rage.
Then shall this all-subduing King
VVith VVater of the Chrystall spring
His burning thirst asswage.

Psalme CXI.

[My Soule the honor of our King]

My Soule the honor of our King,
Shall in the great Assembly sing.
Great are the wonders He hath showne;

137

With joy by their admirers knowne.
His glorious deedes all praise transcend;
His equall Justice knowes no end:

Left in eternall Monuments;
VVhose Mercy Death and Hell prevents:
Feeds those who feare his Name, and will
His Promise faithfully fulfill.
VVho planted with a powerfull Hand
His people in this pleasant Land.
Just Judgement executes; directs
By sacred Lawes; and Truth affects.
These fretting Time shall never waste;
But squar'd by Justice ever last.
His Word to us confirm'd by deed;
So often from oppression freed.
His Name is terrible to all:
His feare is the Originall
Of VVisdome; and they onely wise
VVho make his Lawes their Exercise.
His praise, while men have memory,
And power of speech, shall never die.

Psalme CXII.

[That man is blest who feares the Lord]

Hallelu-jah.

That man is blest who feares the Lord,

As the 111.

And chearfully obeies his VVord.
His Seed shall flourish on the Earth;
Their Off-spring happy from their birth.
His House with riches shall abound:
His truth with endlesse honour crown'd.
To him in darknesse light ascends:
Mild, gracious, just in all his ends.
His bounty for the poore provides:
Discretion all his actions guides.

138

No violence shall cast him downe;
No time deface his just renowne;
Nor rumours shake his confidence:
The Lord his Hope, and strong Defence:
Confirm'd in fearelesse fortitude,
Till he have all his Foes subdu'd.
He the necessitated feeds.
The honour of his vertuous Deeds
Shall live in sacred memory;
His Glories shall ascend on high.
Th'unjust inrag'd their teeth shall grin'd,
And languish with the griefe of mind:
Pale envy shall their flesh consume,
And all their hopes convert to fume.

Psalme CXIII.

As the cxi.

Hallelu-jah.

O you, who serve the living Lord,
Due praises to his Name afford:
Now and for ever celebrate;
Let all his noble Acts relate.
Even from the purple Morn's uprise,
To where the Evening flecks the Skies.
All power to his Dominion bends:
His Glory the bright Stars transcends.
What God can be compar'd with ours?
VVho Thron'd in Heavens superiour towres
Submits himselfe to guide and move
All that is done in Heaven above:
And from that height vouchsafes to throw
His eyes on us, who creepe below.
The poore he raiseth from the Dust:
Even from the Dunghill lifts the Just;
Whom he to height of honour brings,
And sets him in the Thrones of Kings.
He fructifies the barren Wombe;
The Childlesse, Mothers now become.

Hallelu-jah.

139

Psalme CXIV.

[VVhen Israel left th'Egyptian Land]

VVhen Israel left th'Egyptian Land,

As the cxi

Freed from a tyrannous command;
God his owne People sanctifi'd,
And he himselfe became their Guide:
Th'amazed Seas, this seeing, fled;
And Jordan shrunke into his Head:
The cloudy Mountaines skipt like Rams;
The little Hils like frisking Lambs.
Recoyling Seas, what caus'd your dread?
Why Jordan, shrunk'ft thou to thy Head?
Why, Mountaines, did you skip like Rams?
And why you little Hils, like Lambs?
Earth, tremble thou before his Face;
Before the God of Jacobs Race;
VVho turn'd hard Rocks into a Lake;
VVhen Springs from flinty intrailes brake.

Psalme CXV.

[VVe nothing can of merit clame]

[Part 1.]

VVe nothing can of merit clame:

As the 9.

Not for our sakes thy aide afford;
But for the honour of thy Name,
Thy Mercy, and unsailing VVord.
VVhy should th'insulting Heathen cry;
VVher's now the God they vainly praise?
Our Lord inthron'd above the Skie,
All underneath at pleasure swaies.
Their Gods but Gold and silver be,
Made by a fraile Artificer:
For they have eyes, that cannot see;
Dumbe mouthes, and eares that cannot heare.
Fooles on their Altars incense throw,
VVho nothing smell; their Feet are bound,
Nor have they power to moove or goe:
Their throats give passage to no sound.
Their hands can neither give nor take;
Unapt to punish or defend:
As senselesse they who Idols make,
Or to their carved Statues bend.

Part. 2.

Your hopes on God, O Israel, place;

140

He is your Helpe, and strong Defence:
Be he, you Priests of Aarons Race,
The object of your confidence.
In him, all you that feare him, trust;
He shall protect you in distresse.
The Lord is of his Promise just,
And will his faithfull Servants blesse:
The House of chosen Israel,
And Aarons holy Family:
The poore, and who in power excell;
That love, and on his aide relye.
They shall a mighty People grow;
Their Children happy from their birth:
He will increase of gifts bestow,
VVhose hands created Heaven and Earth.
He in the Heaven of Heavens resides,
And over all his Creatures reignes:
Among the sonnes of men divides
The Earth, and all that Earth containes.
VVho sleepe within the vaults of Death,
No Offerings to his Altars bring:
O praise his Name, while we have breath;
And loudly Halelu-jah sing.

Psalme CXVI.

As the 4.

[Part 1.]

My Soule intirely shall affect
The Lord, whose eares my grones respect.
In misery
He heard thy cry;
To him thy Prayers direct.

Sorrows of Death my Soule assail'd;
The greedy jawes of Hell prevail'd:
Deprest with griefe,
When all reliefe,
And humane pitty fail'd;

I cri'd; My God, O looke on me;
Thou ever Just, th'afflicted free.
O from the Grave
Thy Servant save;
For mercy lives in thee.

141

The Innocent, and long distrest;
The humble minde by wrongs opprest;
Thy Favour still
Preserves from ill:
My Soule then take thy rest.

God staid my feet, and dry'd my teares;
Redeem'd from Death, and deadly feares:
That still I might
Walke in his sight,
And number many yeares.

Part. 2.

Thus with a firme beliefe I prai'd:
Yet in extreames of trouble said;
All on the Earth
Of mortall birth,
Even all of Lies are made.

VVhat shall I unto God restore
For all his Mercies? Fall before
His holy Throne,
And him alone
With sacred Rites adore.

I will performe my Vowes this day,
VVhere they frequent, who God obey.
Right precious is
The Death of His:
He sees, and will repay.

Lord, I am thine, thy Hand-maids Seed;
By Thee from raging Tyrants freed.
My Prayers shall rise
In Sacrifice;
My thanks thy Altar feed.

I will performe my Vowes this day,
Where they frequent who God obey:
Even in his Court;
Within thy Fort,
Renowned Solyma.

142

Psalme CXVII.

As the 47.

You Nations of the Earth,
Our great Preserver praise.
All you of humane birth,
To Heaven his Glory raise:
Whose Mercy hath
No end, nor bound:
His Promise crown'd
VVith constant Faith.

Psalme CXVIII.

As the cxi.

[Part 1.]

Praise our good God, that King of kings,
From whom eternall Mercy springs.
Let Israel, let Aarons Race,
Let all that flourish in his Grace,
Confesse, that from the King of kings
Eternity of Mercie springs.
He in my trouble heard my Prayers,
And freed me from their deadly snares:
He fights my Battailes; then how can
I feare the Power of feeble Man?
Assists my Friends; my Enemies
Shall with their slaughter feast mine eyes.
Farre better to have Confidence
In God, then trust to mans Defence:
On him much safer to relie,
Then on the strength of Monarchy.
The Nations all at once assail'd;
But by his Aid my Sword prevail'd.
Their Armies had beset me round;
I with their Bodies strew'd the ground.
Though they like Bees about me swarme;
His holy Name and pow'rfull Arme
Shall soone consume their numerous powers,
As Fire the crackling Thorne devoures.

Part. 2.

Mad men! his Fall you seeke in vaine,
VVhom great Jehovah's Hands sustaine.
He is my Strength; his Praise my Song:
By him preserv'd from powerfull Wrong.
Our Tents with publike Joy shall ring:
The Just of their Deliverance sing.
He with his owne Right hand hath fought;
His owne Right hand hath Wonders wrought.

143

I shall not die, but live to praise
The Lord, who hath prolong'd my Daies.
He with his Scourge my Sin corrects;
Yet from the Darts of Death protects.
You to his Service sanctifi'd,
The Temple Doores set open wide;
That I may enter in his Name,
And celebrate his glorious Fame.
Those are the Doores, at which all they
Shall enter, who his Will obey.
His Praise with Hymnes immortallize!
My Saviour, who hath heard my Cries.

Part. 3.

That Stone the Builders from them cast;
Is highest on the corner plac't.
God hath reveal'd these Mysteries,
So full of Wonder, to our Eyes.
This is his Day; a Day of Joy;
Of everlasting Memory.
Great God of gods, thy King protect;
Propitious prove to thy Elect.
O blest be he, whom God shall send!
We, who within his Courts attend,
You from his Sanctuary blesse;
And daily pray for your successe.
God, even the Lord, hath shed his light
Into our Soules, and clear'd our sight.
Bind to the Altars hornes a Lambe,
New-weaned from the bleating Dam.
Thou art my God; my Songs shall praise,
And to the Stars thy Glory raise.
Praise our good God, The King of kings;
From whom eternall Mercy springs.

Psalme CXIX.

[Blest are the Undefil'd, who God obey]

ALEPH.

[Part 1.]

Blest are the Undefil'd, who God obey;

As the 1.

Seeke with their hearts, nor from his Precepts stray.
No tempting Vice shall those from Vertue draw,
Who with unfainting Zeale observe his Law.
Lord, by thy sacred Rule my steps direct.
Those shall not blush who thy Commands affect.
Thy Justice learnt, my Soule shall sing thy Praise.
Forsake me not, O guide me in thy Waies!

144

BETH.

Part. 2.

Young man, thy Actions by his Precepts guide:
From those let not thy zealous Servant slide.
Thy Word, writ in my heart, shall curb my Will.
O teach me how I may thy Lawes fulfill!
Those, by thy Tongue pronounc'd, I will unfold.
Thy Testaments by me more pris'd then Gold.
On these I meditate, admire; there set
My Souls delight: these never will forget.

GIMEL.

Part. 3.

O let me live t'observe thy Lawes: mine Eyes
Illuminate to view those Mysteries.
Me; a poore Pilgrim, with thy Truth inspire:
For whom my Soule even fainteth with desire.
The Proud is curst, who from thy Precepts straies.
Blesse, and preserve my Soule, which these obeies.
No hate of Princes from thy Law deters:
My Study, my Delight, my Counsellers.

DALETH.

Part. 4.

My down-cast Soule, as thou hast promis'd, raise.
Thou know'st my Thoughts; direct me in thy Waies.
Informe, and I thy Wonders will professe.
O strengthen me, that labour in Distresse!
Shew thy cleare Paths, false Errours mist remov'd.
I have thy chosen Truth and Judgements lov'd.
To these I cleave: O shield me from Disgrace.
Inlarge my heart to runne that heavenly race.

HE.

Part. 5.

Teach thou, and I thy Statutes will observe:
Nor from that sacred Knowledge ever swerve.
My Soule to those delightfull Paths confine:
From Avarice purge, and to thy Lawes incline.
Divert from vaine desires, my darknesse cleare:
Confirme the Soule devoted to thy Feare.
Free from fear'd shame: thy Judgements are upright.
O quicken me, who in thy Word delight.

145

VAV.

Part. 6.

His Soule protect, who on thy VVord relies;
And silence my reprochfull Enemies.
O thou my Hope, in me thy Truth preserve:
So I thy Lawes for ever shall observe;
Will freely walke in thy affected way:
Will boldly before Kings thy Truth display.
For in thy Statutes I my comfort place;
Those study, love, and with my Soule imbrace.

ZAIN.

Part. 7.

Thinke of thy Promise, which my Hopes hath fed,
All stormes appeas'd, and rais'd me from the Dead.
Nor for proud scoffs have I thy Lawes declin'd:
Confirm'd, when I thy Judgements call to mind.
They, who thy Lawes desert, incense my rage:
Sung in the mansion of my Pilgrimage.
Thy Name, great God, I prais'd, when others slept;
This comfort had, since I thy Statutes kept.

CHETH.

Part. 8.

Thou art my Portion: I will thee adore,
Thy Lawes observe, and promis'd Grace implore,
My Actions by thy sacred Rules direct;
And thy Commands with forward Zeale effect.
The Wicked rob; but I thy Statutes prise:
At Midnight to applaud thy Justice rise.
VVho feare and keepe thy Lawes, such are my Friends,
Instruct; thy Mercie through the World extends.

TETH.

Part. 9.

Thou to thy Servant hast perform'd thy VVord:
Discerning knowledge to his Faith afford.
Thou Sea of Goodnesse, that my Soule conformes
Unto thy Statutes, by Afflictions stormes.
The Proud, fat at the Heart, base Slanders raise:
But I will trust in thy affected Waies.
Me blest Affliction to thy Courts hath brought.
Thy Lawes more pris'd then Ships with treasure fraught.

146

JOD.

Part. 10.

Informe me, my Creator, in thy Lawes;
That thine may see thy Observer with applause,
Thou ever just, in favour dost correct.
With promis'd Mercy comfort thine Elect.
That I may live, who in thy Precepts joy;
Those keepe: the Proud, who causlesse hate, destroy.
VVho feare and know thy Lawes, to me unite:
O, lest I perish, guide me by their light!

CAPH.

Part. 11.

With Expectation faint, and blind; yet still
My Soule expects. Thy Promise, Lord, fulfill.
I, though a bladder, on thy Word depend.
Confound my Foes: when shall my Sorrows end!
The Proud have pitcht their toils; infring'd thy Laws:
O sacred Justice, snatch me from their jawes.
They had almost devour'd; but I affect
Thy Precepts: quicken, and by those direct.

LAMED.

Part. 12.

Thy faithfull Promises are fixt above;
Firme as the Poles, or Earth; which never move:
By thy eternall Ordinance dispos'd.
Thy Lawes my Life; else Griefe my eyes had clos'd.
Nor will I these forget; by these renew'd,
Thy chosen save, who hath thy Truth pursu'd.
The VVicked chase my Soule, which thee obeies.
Thy Word shall last, when Heaven and Earth decaies.

MEM.

Part. 13.

O how I love thy Lawes! those exercise!
By them made wiser then my Enemies.
More then my Teachers know, more then the Old:
VVith Vertue these inflame, from Vice with-hold.
That they may guide me, I have cleans'd my Heart:
And from thy Precepts never will depart:
Then Hermons Honey to my taste more sweet.
By-waies I hate; by thine become discreet.

147

NVN.

Part 14.

Thy Word, my Light; a Lamp to guide my way.
I sware t'observe thy Truth, and will not stray.
My wounded Soule with promis'd mercy heale:
Accept my offerings, and thy Will reveale.
Although inclos'd with Death; though Foes have laid
Snares for my Soule; yet have I thee obei'd.
My comforts, my eternall Heritage.
O may I keepe them, till I die for age.

SAMECH.

Part 15.

I love thy Law; my hate to sin is great:
O thou my hope, my Shield, my safe retreat!
My Will shall thine obey. Hence you prophane.
Lord, save my Soule, nor let me hope in vaine.
Uphold; and I thy Justice shall applaud.
Thou hast intrapt thy Foes in their owne fraud;
Cast out like Drosse. My heart affects thy path,
Yet trembles with the horror of thy wrath.

AIN.

Part 16.

O leave me not to my outragious Foes:
Nor to their scorne my righteous Soule expose.
Mine Eyes even faile, while I thy aide expect.
Be mercifull, and in thy Wayes direct.
Inlarge my mind, thy Wayes to understand:
'Tis time; for they infringe thy just Command,
Which more then Gold; then Gold refin'd I prise;
In all upright. But hate deceitfull lies.

PE.

Part 17.

Thy Word, the Gate of Life, even Babes inspires
With Knowledge: this my obsequious Soule admires:
This I with thirsty appetite devoure.
Thy streams of Mercy on thy Servant powre.
Compose my steps: so shall not sinne subject,
Nor man oppresse: for I thy Lawes affect.
Shine on my Soule; thy Statutes teach: mine Eyes
Shed showres of teares, when men thy Lawes despise.

148

Tsaddi.

Part. 18.

As Thou thy Selfe, so all thy Lawes are just:
Faithfull to those, who in thy Promise trust.
Zeale hath consum'd me, for my Foes neglect
Of thy pure Lawes, which I in heart affect.
Those to observe, though meane and scorn'd, intend.
Truth crownes thy Word; thy Justice without end.
These in my griefe, and trouble comfort give.
Informe with Knowledge, that my Soule may live.

Coph.

Part 19.

O heare my cries! preserve his life, who will
Thy Laws obey, and just Commands fulfill.
My Eies out-watch the Night; my cries prevent
The early Morne, in due Devotion spent.
Heare, and revive; thy Justice execute
On lawlesse men: preserve from their pursuit.
Thy oft-tri'd Mercy ever is at hand.
Thy Judgements on eternall Bases stand.

Resch.

Part 20.

Behold my sorrowes; patronize my cause.
Thy Word performe to him, that keepes thy Lawes.
Death shall devoure, who thy Commands neglect.
Thou, great in Mercy, my sought life protect.
In all extreames I have thy VVill observ'd:
Griev'd, when Transgressors from thy Statutes swerv'd.
To me, who love thy Lawes, thy Grace extend:
Thy Truth began with Time, and knowes no end.

Schin.

Part 21.

Tyrants oppresse; thy VVord restraines my Minde:
VVherein I joy, like those who Treasure finde.
Fraud I abhorre; inamour'd on thy VVaies.
Seven times a Day my Lips thy Justice praise.
VVho love thy Lawes, sweet Peace, and Safetie blesse.
In Thee I hope, nor thy just Will transgresse.
Thy Word observe: thy Statutes I affect;
Which through these humane Seas my course direct.

149

Tav.

Part 22.

Accept my Prayers: with Knowledge, Lord, indue;
From Death redeeme; since to thy Promise true.
Thy Statutes taught, I will thy Praise resound.
Thy Word extoll, and Lawes with Justice crown'd.
These are my choice: uphold with thy right Hand;
Who feed on Hope, and joy in thy Command.
Prolong my life, that I thy Praise may sing.
Lord, thy straid Sheepe backe to thy Pasture bring.

Psalme CXX.

[Distrest, and in my minde dismay'd]

Distrest, and in my minde dismay'd,

As the 5.

When destitute of humane aid,
To Thee successefully I prai'd.

Lord, shield me from the Fraudulent;
From those that are on malice bent;
Who envious Calumnies invent.

O thou false tongue, steep't in the gall
Of Serpents! what reward, for all
Thy mischiefe, shall to thee befall!

Like Arrowes shot from Parthian strings,
Fir'd Juniper, and Scorpions stings;
Such art thou, ô thou worst of things!

Wo's me, that I from Israel
Exiled, must in Mesech dwell;
And in the Tents of Ismael!

O how long shall I live with those,
Whose savage minds sweet Peace oppose;
Where Fury by disswasion growes:

Psalme CXXI.

[To the Hils thine Eies erect]

To the Hils thine Eies erect,

As the 15.

Helpe from those alone expect.
He who Heaven and Earth hath made,
Shall from Sion send thee aid.
God thy ever-watchfull Guide,
Will not suffer thee to slide.

150

He, even he, who Israel keepes,
Never slumbers, never sleepes.
He, thy Guard, with Wings display'd,
Shall refresh Thee in their Shade:
Suns shall not with heat infect,
But their temperate beames reflect:
Nor unwholsome Serene shall
From the Moones moyst influence fall.
When thou travel'st on the way,
VVhen at home thou spend'st the Day,
VVhen sweet Peace thy life delights,
VVhen imbroil'd in bloudie Fights,
God shall all thy steps attend,
Now, and evermore defend.

Psalme CXXII.

As the cxi.

O happy Summons! to the Court
And Temple of the Lord resort.
Jerusalem, our Feet shall tread
VVithin thy VValls! O thou the Head
Of all the Earth and Judah's Throne;
Three Cities strongly joyn'd in one!
The Tribes in throngs to Thee ascend;
The Tribes which on the Lord depend:
Fat Offerings to his Altar bring,
And his immortall Praises sing.
There shall he his Tribunall place,
The Judgement-seat of Davids Race.
Your joyes shall with your daies increase,
VVho love and pray for Salems Peace,
May Peace within thy VValls abound;
Thy Palaces with joy resound:
Even for my Friends and Kindreds sake,
May never VVarre thy Bulwarkes shake:
Even for the hope of Israel,
And House, where God vouchsafes to dwell.

Psalme CXXIII.

As the 34.

Thou mover of the rolling Spheares,
I through the Glasses of my Teares,
To Thee my Eies erect.
As Servants marke their Masters hands:
As Maids their Mistresses commands,
And liberty expect:

151

So we, deprest by enemies,
And growing troubles, fixe our Eies
On God, who sits on High:
Till he in mercy shall descend
To give our miseries an end,
And turne our teares to joy.

O save us, Lord, by all forlorne;
The subject of contempt, and scorne.
Defend us from their pride,
VVho live in fluency and ease;
VVho with our woes their malice please,
And miseries deride.

Psalme CXXIV.

[Bvt that God fought for us, may Israel say]

Bvt that God fought for us, may Israel say;

As the 72.

But that God fought for us, in that sad Day;
VVhen men inflam'd with wrath; against us rose:
VVe had alive beene swallowed by our Foes:
Then had we sunke beneath the roaring Waves,
And in their horrid entrailes found our graves:
Then had their violence, like torrents powr'd
From melting Hils, our wretched lives devour'd.
O blest be God! who hath not given our bloud
To quench their thirst, nor made our flesh their food.
Our Soules, like Birds, have scap't the Fowlers Net;
The snares are broke, which for our lives were set.
Our onely confidence is in his Name,
VVho made the Earth, and Heavens immortall frame.

Psalme CXXV.

[They, who the Lord their Fortresse make]

They, who the Lord their Fortresse make,

As the 9.

Shall like the Towers of Sion rise;
VVhich dreadfull Earth-quakes never shake,
Nor raging tumults of the skies.
Lo! as the Hils of Solyma
Divine Jerusalem enclose:
So shall his Angels in the Day
Of danger, shield them from their Foes.
The Wicked shall not long subject
Their holy Race; lest through despaire
They should the Lawes of God neglect,
And be as their Commanders are.
Lord, to the Good be good; the Just
Protect: Their punishments increase,

152

Who follow their rebellious lust:
But crowne thy Israel with Peace.

Psalme CXXVI.

As the cxi

VVhen God had our deliverance wrought,
And Sion out of Bondage brought;
It seem'd to us a Dreame; who were
Distracted betweene Hope and Feare.
Then sacred Joy fill'd every Brest:
In flowing Mirth, and Songs exprest.
The wondring Heathen oft would say;
How good! how great a God have they!
Great things for us the Lord hath wrought;
Above the reach of humane thought:
We therefore will his praises sing.
The Remnant, Lord, from Bondage bring;
As Rivers through the parched Sand,
Or showres which fall on thirsty land.
VVho sow in Teares, shall reape in Joy.
We after long Captivity,
Unto our native Soile retire;
The scope and crowne of our desire.

Psalme CXXVII.

As the 7.

Vnlesse the Lord the house sustaine,
They build in vaine;
In vaine they watch, unlesse the Lord
The City guard.
In vaine you rise before the Light,
And breake the slumbers of the Night.

In vaine the bread of sorrow eat,
Got by your sweat;
Unlesse the Lord with good successe
Your labours blesse:
For he all good on his bestows,
And crownes their eyes with sweet repose.

Increasing sons, his Heritage,
Renew their age;
The pledges of their fruitfull love,
Given from above:
As formidable to the Foe,
As Arrows from a Giants bow.

153

He is belov'd of God, and blest
Above the rest;
Whose Quivers with such Shafts abound;
By men renown'd:
Nor shall his adversary dread;
VVhen they at the Tribunall plead.

Psalme CXXVIII.

[Happy he, who God obeys]

Happy he, who God obeys,

As the 15.

Nor from his direction straies:
Thou shalt of thy labours feed;
All shall to thy wish succeed:
Like a faire and fruitfull Vine,
By thy House, thy Wife shall joyne:
Sons, obedient to command,
Shall about thy Table stand;
Like greene plants of Olives, set
By the moistning rivulet.
He who feares the Power above,
Thus shall prosper in his love.
God shall thee from Sion blesse;
Thou shalt joy in the successe
VVhich the Lord will Salem give,
While thou hast a day to live:
Thou shalt see our Israels peace,
And thy childrens large increase.

Psalme CXXIX.

[Oft from my early youth have they]

Oft from my early youth have they

As the cxi.

Afflicted me, may Israel say:
Oft from my early youth assaild;
As oft have their endeavours fail'd.
My backe with long deepe furrowes wound;
As Plow-shares teare the patient ground.
The ever Just hath broke their bands,
And sav'd me from their cruell hands.
Let Sions Foes with infamy
Be clothed, and untimely die.
Be they like Corne on Houses tops,
Which Reapers sickle never crops,
Nor Binder in his bosome beares:
But withers still before it eares.
No Travailer their labours blesse,
Nor say, We wish you good successe.

154

Psalme CXXX.

As the 10.

Ovt of the horrour of the Deepe,
Where feare and sorrow never sleepe,
To thee my cries
In sighes arise:
Lord from despaire thy servant keepe:
O lend a gracious eare,
And my petitions heare.

For if thou should'st our sinnes observe:
And punish us, as we deserve:
Not one of all
But then must fall;
Since all from their obedience swerve:
Yet art not thou severe,
That we thy Name might feare.

Thy mercies our mis-deeds transcend:
My hopes upon thy Truth depend:
Disconsolate
On thee I waite;
As weary Centinels attend
The chearefull Morns uprise
With long-expecting eyes.

O you that are of Jacobs Race,
In him your Hopes, and Comforts place;
His praises sing;
The living Spring
Of Mercy and redundant Grace:
For he will Israel
Redeeme from Sin and Hell.

Psalme CXXXI.

As the 32.

Thou Lord my witnesse art;
I am not proud of heart;
Nor looke with lofty eyes;
None envy, nor despise;
Nor to vaine pomp apply
My thoughts, nor sore too high:
But in behaviour mild;
And as a tender child,
Wean'd from his Mothers brest,
On thee alone I rest.

155

O Israel, adore
The Lord for evermore:
Be He the onely scope
Of thy unfainting hope.

Psalme CXXXII.

[Remember David, Lord; remember Thou]

Remember David, Lord; remember Thou

As the 72.

His Troubles; thy Redemptions; and the Vow
He to the mighty God of Jacob made;
Bound by an Oath; and in these words convay'd:
No Roofe shall cover me, nor sweet repose
Refresh my Limbs, or sleepe my eye-lids close,
Till I have found a place for his Abode;
Even for the Temple of the living God.
The Arke, we heard, in Ephrata long stood;
And found it in the valley cloth'd with Wood.
We will into thy Tabernacle goe,
And there our selves before thy Foot-stoole throw.
Ascend to thy eternall Rest at length;
Thou, and the Arke of thy admired strength.
O let thy Priests be cloth'd with sanctitie,
And all thy Saints sing with triumphant joy:
For Davids sake receive into thy Grace:
From thy Anointed never turne thy Face.
For thus thou swor'st who never wilt forget;
Thy Son shall long possesse thy royall Seat:
And if thy Children my commands observe,
Nor from the rules of my prescription swerve;
Their Off-spring shall the Hebrew Scepter sway,
Even while the Sun illuminates the Day.
For Sion I have chosen; Sion great
In my affections, my eternall Seat.
I will abundantly increase her store;
And with the flower of Wheat susteine her poore:
Her Priests shall blessings to her People bring;
Her joyfull Saints in sacred measures sing.
There shall the Horne of David freshly sprout;
Their lamp of glory never shall burne out:
His Diadem shall flourish on his head:
But Nets of shame his Foes shall over-spread.

Psalme CXXXIII.

[O blest estate! blest from above!]

O blest estate! blest from above!

As the cxi

When Brethren joyne in mutuall love.

156

'Tis like the precious Odors shed
On consecrated Aarons head:
Which trickled from his Beard and Breast,
Downe to the borders of his Vest.
'Tis like the pearles of Dew that drop
On Hermons ever-fragrant top:
Or which the smiling Heavens distill
On happy Sions sacred Hill.
For God hath there his favours plac't,
And joy, which shall for ever last.

Psalme CXXXIV.

As the 47.

You, who the Lord adore,
And at his Altar wait;
VVho keepe your watch before
The threshold of his Gate;
His praises sing
By silent Night,
Till cheerefull light
I'th'Orient spring.

Your hands devoutly raise
To his divine Recesse;
The Worlds Creator praise,
And thus the People blesse;
The God of Love,
From Sions Towers,
To you and yours
Propitious prove.

Psalme CXXXV.

As the 72.

[Part 1.]

O you, who Ephods weare and Incense fling
On sacred flames; Jehovah's praises sing.
You, who his Temple guard, O celebrate
His glorious Name; his noble Acts relate.
How great a joy with such sincere delight
To crowne the Day, and entertaine the Night!
For Israel is his choice; and Jacobs Race
His treasure, and the object of his Grace.
In power how infinite! how much before
Those mortall gods, whom franticke men adore!
All on his Will depend; all homage owe,
In Heaven, in Earth, and in the Depths below.
At his command exhaled Vapors rise,

157

And in condensed clouds obscure the Skies.
From thence, in showres He horrid Lightning flings;
And from their Caves the strugling Tempests brings.
He the first-borne of Men and Cattell slew;
Fresh streams of bloud the Towns and Plains imbrew.
Th'inhabitants that drinke of Nilus floud,
At his confounding Wonders trembling stood.

Part. 2.

Great Princes, who excell'd in fortitude,
And mighty Nations by his power subdu'd.
Strong Sihon, whom the Amorites obey'd;
And strenuous Og, who Bashans Scepter sway'd;
With all the Kingdomes of the Cananites,
Who to the Conquerours resigne their rights:
To whom he their dismantled Cities grants,
And in those fruitfull fields his Hebrews plants.
Thy Name shall last unto eternity;
And thy immortall Fame shall never die.
Thou dost thy Servant pardon and protect;
Advance the Humble, and the Proud deject.
Those helplesse gods, ador'd in forraign Lands,
Are Gold, and Silver; wrought by humane hands:
Blind Eyes have they, deafe Eares, still silent Tongues:
Nor breath exhale from their unactive lungs.
VVho made, resemble them; and such are those,
VVho in such senselesse stocks their hopes repose.
O praise the Lord, you who from Israel spring;
His Praises, O you Sons of Aaron, sing:
You of the House of Levi praise his Name:
All you who God adore, his Praise proclaime.
From Sion praise the onely Good and Great;
Who in Jerusalem hath fixt his Seat.

Psalme CXXXVI.

[The Bountie of Jehovah praise]

The Bountie of Jehovah praise:
This God of gods all Scepters swaies.
Thankes to the Lord of lords afford;
And his amazing Wonders blaze:

158

For from the King of kings
Eternall Mercie springs.

Him praise, who fram'd the arched Skie;
Those Orbs that move so orderly.
Firme Earth above,
The Flouds that move
Display'd, and rais'd the Hils on high.
For from the King of kings
Eternall Mercy springs.

Who Sun and Moone inform'd with Light,
To guide the Day, and rule the Night:
The fixed Starres,
And Wanderers
Created by divine fore-sight.
For from the King of kings
Eternall Mercy springs.

The first-borne of Ægyptians slew;
VVhose wounds the thirsty Earth imbrew:
And from that Land,
With powerfull hand,
Th'oppressed sonnes of Jacob drew.
For from the King of kings
Eternall mercy springs.

The parted Seas before them fled,
VVho in their empty chanels tread:
The joyning waves,
Ægyptian graves:
And his through food-lesse Deserts led.
For from the King of Kings
Eternall mercy springs.

159

VVho numerous Armies put to flight,
And mighty Princes slew in fight:
Og prostrate laid,
VVho Bashan swai'd;
And Sihon the crown'd Amorite.
For from the King of kings
Eternall mercy springs.

By his strong hand those Giants fell;
And gave their Lands to Israel:
Confirm'd by deed
Vnto their Seed:
VVho in their conquer'd Cities dwell.
For from the King of kings
Eternall mercy springs.

Remembred us in our distresse;
And freed from those, who did oppresse.
He food doth give
To all that live.
The God of Heaven, O Israel, blesse.
For from the King of kings
Eternall Mercy springs.

Psalme CXXXVII.

[As on Euphrates shady banks we lay]

As on Euphrates shady banks we lay,

As the 1.

And there, O Sion, to thy Ashes pay
Our funerall teares: our silent Harps, unstrung,
And unregarded, on the Willowes hung.
Lo, they who had thy desolation wrought,
And captiv'd Judah unto Babel brought,
Deride the teares which from our Sorrowes spring;
And say in scorne, A Song of Sion sing.
Shall we prophane our Harps at their command?
Or holy Hymnes sing in a forraigne Land?
O Solyma! thou that art now become
A heape of stones, and to thy selfe a Tomb!
When I forget thee, my deare Mother, let
My fingers their melodious skill forget:
When I a joy disjoyn'd from thine, receive;
Then may my tongue unto my palate cleave.
Remember Edom, Lord; their cruell pride,
Who in the Sack of wretched Salem cry'd;
Downe with their Buildings, rase them to the ground,
Nor let one Stone be on another found.

160

Thou Babylon, whose Towers now touch the Skie,
That shortly shalt as low in ruines lie;
O happy! O thrice happy they, who shall
VVith equall cruelty revenge our fall!
That dash thy Childrens braines against the stones:
And without pity heare their dying grones.

Psalme CXXXVIII.

As the 46.

My Soule, applaud our glorious King;
Before the Gods his praises sing:
His Mercy an eternall Spring.

For this, on consecrated ground
Will I adore; thy Truth resound;
Thy VVord above all Names renown'd.

Thou heard'st me, when to thee I cri'd;
VVhen Danger charg'd on every side;
By thee confirm'd and fortifi'd.

All those, who awfull Scepters beare,
VVhen they of thy Performance heare,
Shall worship thee with reverent feare.

They shall his Truth and Mercy praise,
VVho all the World with Justice swaies;
VVhose VVonders Adoration raise.

Although inthron'd above the Skies,
He on the lowly casts his eyes,
But doth the Insolent despise.

Though stormes of Troubles me inclose;
Yet thou shalt save me from my Foes,
And raise me in their overthrowes.

For God his Promise will effect;
The Faithfull faithfully protect;
Nor ever his owne Choice reject.

Psalme CXXXIX.

As the cxi.

[Part 1.]

Thou know'st me, O thou onely Wise;
Seest when I sit, and when I rise;
Canst my concealed thoughts disclose;
Observ'st my Labours and Repose;

161

Know'st all my Counsels, all my Deeds,
Each word which from my Tongue proceeds:
Behind, before, by thee inclos'd;
Thy Hand on every part impos'd.
Such knowledge my capacitie
Transcends; so wonderfull, so high!
O which way shall I take my flight?
Or where conceale me from thy sight?
Ascend I Heaven; Heaven is thy Throne:
Dive I to Hell; there art thou knowne.
Should I the Mornings wings obtaine,
And flie beyond th'Hesperian Maine;
Thy powerfull Arme would reach me there,
Reduce, and curb me with thy feare.
Were I involv'd in shades of Night;
That Darknesse would convert to Light.
VVhat Clouds can from discovery free!
VVhat Night, wherein thou canst not see!
The Night would shine like Daies cleare flame;
Darknesse and Light, to Thee the same.
Thou sift'st my reines, even thoughts to come:
Thou cloth'dst me in my Mothers womb.
Great God, that hast so strangely rais'd
This Fabrick; be thou ever prais'd.

Part. 2.

O full of Admiration
Are these thy VVorks! to me well-knowne.
My bones were to thy view displaid,
VVhen I in secret shades was made;
VVhen wrought by thee with curious art,
As in the Earths inferiour part.
On me, an Embryon, didst thou looke:
My members written in thy Booke
Before they were: which perfect grew
In time, and open to the view.
Thy Counsels admirable are;
And yet as infinite as rare.
O could I number them, farre more
Then Sands upon the murmuring shore!
VVhen I awake, thy VVorks againe
My thoughts with wonder entertaine.
The VVicked thou wilt surely kill.
Hence you, who bloud with pleasure spill.
Their tongues thy Majestie profane;
They take thy sacred Name in vaine.
Lord, hate not I thy Enemies?
And grieve, when they against thee rise?

162

I hate them with a perfect hate;
And, as my Foes, would ruinate.
Search and explore my heart: O try
My thoughts, and their Integritie.
Behold, if I from Vertue stray:
And lead in thy eternall Way.

Psalme CXL.

As the 14.

Lord, save me from the Violent;
From him who takes delight in ill:
Whose heart Deceit and Mischiefe fill;
On bloudy Warre and Outrage bent.

Their wounding Tongues, like Serpents whet;
Poison of Asps their Lips inclose.
O save from fierce and Wicked Foes;
Who toiles, to overthrow me, set!

The Proud have hid their cords and snares;
Spread all their Nets; their Gins have laid.
To God, Thou art my God, I said;
O gently heare thy Suppliant's pray'rs.

My strong Preserver in the fight,
As with a Helme, my head defends.
Let not the Wicked gaine their ends;
Lord, lest their pride rise with their might.

Themselves let their owne Slanders wound:
Destroy Him who their fury leads.
Let burning coles fall on their heads;
And quenchlesse flames imbrace them round.

Cast them into the Depths below;
From thence, O never let them rise!
Let Death the Slanderer surprise;
And Mischiefe salvage Wrath o'rethrow.

God to th'Afflicted aid will give;
The Poore defend from Death and Shame.
The Just shall celebrate thy Name;
And ever in thy Presence live.

163

Psalme CXLI.

[To Thee I cry; Lord, heare my cries]

To Thee I cry; Lord, heare my cries;

As the 22.

O come with speed unto my aid:
Let my sad Prayres before Thee rise,
Like Incense on the Altar laid;
Or as when I, with hands displaid,
Present my Evening Sacrifice.

Before my mouth a Guardian set;
My Lips with barres of Silence close.
O let me not thy Lawes forget;
And wickedly combine with those,
VVho Thee, and all that's good, oppose;
Nor of their deadly Dainties eat.

But let the Just wound and reprove;
Such stripes and checks, an argument
Of their sincere and prudent love;
Like Odours of a fragrant Sent,
Pour'd on my head, no breaches rent.
My prayers shall for their safety move.

Mongst Rocks their Chiefes in ambush lie:
Yet have my suff'rings understood.
Our severed bones are scattered by
The mouthes of graves, like clefts of VVood.
Lord, save from those, that hunt for bloud:
On Thee with faith I cast mine eye.

O from their Machinations free,
That would my guiltlesse Soule betray;
From those who in my wrongs agree,
And for my life their engines lay.
May they by their owne craft decay;
But let me thy Salvation see.

Psalme CXLII.

[VVith sighes and cries to God I praid]

VVith sighes and cries to God I praid;

As the 4.

To him my supplication made;
Pour'd out my teares,
My cares and feares;
My wrongs before him laid.

164

My fainting spirits almost spent:
He knew the path in which I went.
Yet in my way
Their snares they lay,
With mercilesse intent.

My Eyes I round about me throw;
None see, that will th'Oppressed know;
No refuge left;
Of hope bereft;
Vaine pity none bestow.

Then unto God I cri'd, and said,
Thou art my Hope, and onely Aid;
The Portion
I build upon,
While with fraile flesh araid.

O Sourse of Mercy, heare my cry,
Left I with wasting sorrow die:
Shield from my foes,
Who now inclose;
Since of more strength then I.

My Soule out of this Prison bring,
That I may praise thee, O my King.
VVho trust in thee,
Shall compasse me,
And of thy Bounty sing.

Psalme CXLIII.

As the 39.

[Part 1.]

Lord, to my cries afford an eare,
Th'afflicted heare;
According to thy Equity,
And Truth reply;
Nor prove severe: for in thy sight
None living shall be found upright.

The Foe my Soule besiegeth round,
Strikes to the ground:
In darknesse hath inveloped,
Like men long dead:
My mind with sorrow overthrowne;
My heart within me stupid growne.

165

I call to minde those ancient Daies
Fill'd with thy praise:
Thy Works alone possesse my thought,
With wonder wrought.
To thee I stretch my zealous Hand;
Desir'd like raine by thirsty land.

Part. 2.

Approach with speed; my Spirits faile;
Thy Face unveile:
Least I forthwith grow like to those,
Whom graves inclose.
O let me of thy Mercy heare,
Before the morning Sun appeare.

My God, thou art the onely scope
Of all my hope:
O shew me thy prescribed way,
Lest I should stray.
For to thy Throne I raise mine eyes;
My Soule, and all my faculties.

Save from my Foes: to Thee loe I
For refuge flie:
Informe me, that I may fulfill
Thy sacred Will.
My God, let thy good Spirit lead,
That in thy paths my Feet may tread.

O for thy Honour quicken me,
VVho trust in Thee:
Out of these Straights, for Justice sake,
Thy Servant take.
In mercy cut Thou off my Foes,
Whose hate hath multipli'd my woes.

Psalme CXLIV.

[The Lord, my Strength, be onely prais'd]

[Part 1.]

The Lord, my Strength, be onely prais'd;

As the cxi

The Lord, who hath my courage rais'd:
In doubtfull Battell given me might,
And skill how to direct, and fight.
My Fautor, Fortresse, high-built Tower;
My Rocke, Redeemer, Shield and Power;
My onely Confidence; who still
Subjects my People to my will.
Lord, what is Man, or his fraile Race,
That thou should'st such a vapour grace!

166

Man nothing is but vanitie;
A shadow swiftly gliding by.
Great God, stoope from the bending Skies,
The Mountaines touch, and Clouds shall rise;
From thence thy winged Lightning throw;
Rout and confound the flying Foe;
Stretch downe thy hand, which onely saves,
And snatch me from the furious Waves.
Free from rebellious Enemies,
Inur'd to perjuries, and lies:
Their Hands defil'd with fraud and wrong.
Then will I in a new-made Song,
Unto the softly-warbling string,
Of thy Illustrious Praises sing.

Part. 2.

Thou Kings preserv'st; hast me preserv'd;
Even David, who thy Will observ'd;
Free from rebellious Enemies,
Inur'd to perjuries and lies:
Foule deeds their violent hands defile;
Hands prone to treacherie and guile:
That in their Youth our Sonnes may grow
Like Lawrell Groves; our Daughters show
Like polish't pillars deck't with Gold;
Which high and Royall roofes uphold:
Our Magazines abound with Graine,
Provision of all sorts containe:
Increasing Flockes our Pastures fill,
And wel-fed Steeres the Fallowes till;
That no incursions Peace affright;
No Armies joyne in dreadfull fight;
No daring Foe our Walls invest,
Nor fearefull shriekes disturbe our rest.
Blest People! who in this estate
Injoy your selves without debate:
And happie, ô thrice happy they,
Who for their God, the Lord obey!

Psalme CXLV.

As the cxi

[Part 1.]

I still will of thy Glorie sing;
Thy Name extoll, my God, my King.
No day shall passe without thy praise;
Prais'd while the Sunne his Beames displayes.
Great is the Lord, whose praise exceeds:
Inscrutable are all his Deeds.
One Age shall to another tell
Thy Workes, which so in power excell.

167

The Beautie of thy Excellence,
And Oracles intrance my Sense.
Men shall thy dreadfull Acts relate;
My Verse thy Greatnes celebrate;
To memory thy Favours bring,
And of thy noble Iustice sing.
For in Thee Grace and Pitie live;
To anger slow, swift to forgive.
All on thy Goodnesse, Lord, depend:
Thy Mercies all thy Workes transcend;
Even all thy Workes shall praise thy Name;
Thy Saints shall celebrate the same:
Of thy farre-spreading Empire speake;
Thy Power, to which all Powers are weake;
To make thy Acts to Mortals knowne,
And glory of thy awefull Throne.

Part. 2.

Thy Kingdome never shall have end:
Thy Rule beyond Times flight extend.
The Lord shall those, who fall, sustaine;
And Soules dejected raise againe.
All seeke from Thee their livelyhood;
Thou in due season giv'st them food:
Thy liberall Hand, Men, Birds, and Beasts,
Even all that live, with plenty feasts.
The Lord is Just in all his VVaies,
VVho Mercie in his VVorkes displaies;
Is present by his power with all,
VVho on his Name sincerely call:
For he will their desires effect;
Regard their cries; from Foes protect.
VVho love Him, Safetie shall enjoy:
The Lord the VVicked will destroy,
My Tongue his Goodnesse shall proclame.
Man-kinde, for ever praise his Name.

Psalme CXLVI.

[O my Soule, praise thou the Lord]

Halelu-jah.

O my Soule, praise thou the Lord:

As the 29.

Whilst thou liv'st, his praise record.
Whilst I am, eternall King,
I will of thy praises sing.
O, no hope in Princes place;
Trust in none of humane race;
Who can give no helpe at all,
Nor prevent his proper fall.

168

VVhen his parting breath expires,
He againe to Earth retires.
Ev'n in that uncertaine day
All his thoughts with him decay.
Happy he, whom God protects;
He, on whom his Grace reflects.
Happy he, who plants his trust
On the onely Good and Just.
He who Heavens blew Arch displai'd;
He who Earths Foundation laid;
Spread the Land-imbracing Maine;
Made what ever all containe:
True to what his Word profest;
He revengeth the opprest;
Hungry Soules with food sustaines,
And unbinds the Prisoners chaines:
To the blind restores his sight:
Reares, who fall by wicked might.
Righteousnesse his Soule affects.
Friendlesse Strangers he protects,
Widdowes, and the Fatherlesse;
Those confounds who these oppresse.
Zion, God, thy God shall raigne,
While the Poles their Orbs sustaine.

Halelu-jah.

Psalme CXLVII.

As the cxi

[Part 1.]

Iehovah praise with one consent.
How comely! sweet! how excellent,
To sing our great Creators praise!
Whose hands late ruin'd Salem raise,
Collecting scattered Israel,
That they in their owne Townes may dwell:
He cures the sorrowes of our minds;
Our wounds imbalmes, and softly binds.
He numbers Heavens bright-sparkling Flames,
And calls them by their severall Names.
Great is our God, and great in might;
His knowledge O most infinite!
The Humble unto Thrones erects;
The Insolent to Earth dejects.
Present your thanks to our great King;
On solemne Harps his Praises sing;
Who Heaven with gloomy Vapors hides,
And timely Raine for Earth provides.

169

With grasse he cloths the pregnant Hils,
And hungry beasts with Herbage fils.
He feeds the Ravens croaking brood,
(Left by the Old) that cry for food.

Part. 2.

He cares not for the strength of Horse,
Nor mans strong limbs, and matchlesse force:
But those affects, who in his Path
Their feet direct with constant Faith.
O Solyma, Jehovah praise;
To God thy Voice, O Sion, raise:
Who hath thy City fortify'd;
Thy streets with Citizens supply'd:
Firme peace in all thy borders set,
And fed thee with the flowre of Wheat.
He sends forth his Commands, which flie
More swift then Lightning through the Skie:
The Snow-like VVooll on Mountains spreads;
And hoary Frosts like Ashes sheds;
While solid Flouds their course refraine,
VVhat Mortall can his cold sustain?
At his Command, by Wind and Sun
Dissolv'd, th'unfetter'd Rivers run.
His Lawes to Jacob he hath showne;
His Judgements are to Israel knowne.
Not so with other Nations deales,
From whom his Statutes he conceales.

Psalme CXLVIII.

[You, who dwell above the Skies]

Halelu-jah.

You, who dwell above the Skies,

As the 29.

Free from humane miseries;
You whom highest Heaven imbowres,
Praise the Lord with all your powers.
Angels, your cleare Voices raise;
Him you Heavenly Armies praise:
Sun, and Moone with borrow'd light;
All you sparkling Eyes of Night:
Waters hanging in the aire;
Heaven of Heavens his Praise declare.
His deserved Praise record;
His, who made you by his Word;
Made you evermore to last,
Set you bounds not to be past.
Let the Earth his Praise resound:
Monstrous Whales, and Seas profound;

170

Vapors, Lightning, Haile, and Snow;
Stormes, which when he bids them, blow:
Flowry Hils, and Mountains high;
Cedars, neighbours to the Skie;
Trees that fruit in season yield;
All the Cattell of the Field;
Salvage beasts; all creeping things;
All that cut the Aire with wings.
You who awfull Scepters sway;
You inured to obey;
Princes, Judges of the Earth;
All of high and humble birth;
Youths, and Virgins, flourishing
In the beauty of your spring:
You who bow with Ages weight;
You who were but borne of late:
Praise his Name with one consent:
O how great! how excellent!
Then the Earth profounder farre;
Higher then the highest Starre.
He will his to honour raise.
You his Saints, resound his Praise;
You who are of Jacobs Race,
And united to his Grace.

Halelu-jah.

Psalme CXLIX.

As the 29.

To the God, whom we adore,
Sing a Song unsung before:
His immortall Praise reherse,
Where his Holy Saints converse.
Israel, O thou his Choice,
In thy Makers Praise rejoyce:
Zions Sons, rejoyce, and sing
To the Honour of your King.
In the Dance his Praise resound;
Strike the Harp, let Timbrels sound.
God in Goodnesse infinite,
In his People takes delight.
God with safety will adorne
Those, whom men afflict with scorne.
Let his Saints in glory joy;
Sing as in their Beds they lie:
Highly praise the living Lord;
Arm'd with their two-edged Sword,

171

All the Heathen to confound;
And the Nations bordering round;
Binding all their Kings with cords;
Fettring their captived Lords:
That they in divine pursuit,
May his judgements execute;
As 'tis writ, such Honour shall
Unto all his Saints befall.

Halelu-jah.

Psalme CL.

[Praise the Lord inthron'd on high]

Halelu-jah.

Praise the Lord inthron'd on high;

As the 29.

Praise him in his Sanctitie;
Praise him for his mighty Deeds;
Praise him who in Power exceeds;
Praise with Trumpets, pierce the Skies;
Praise with Harps and Psalteries;
Praise with Timbrels, Organs, Flutes;
Praise with Violins, and Lutes;
Praise, with silver Cymbals sing;
Praise on those which loudly ring.
Angels, all of humane birth,
Praise the Lord of Heaven and Earth.

Halelu-jah.

A PARAPHRASE VPON ECCLESIASTES.

Chap. 1.

This Sermon the much-knowing Preacher made:
King Davids Sonne; who Judah's Scepter swai'd.
O restlesse vanitie of Vanities!
All is but vanitie, the Preacher cries.
What profit have we by our Labors won,
Of all beneath the Circuit of the Sun?
The Earth is fix't, we fleeting: as one Age
Departs, another enters on the Stage.
The setting Sunne resignes his Throne to Night:
Then hastens to restore the morning Light.
The Winde flyes to the South, shifts to the North;
And wheeles about to where it first brake forth.
All Rivers run into th'insatiate Maine;
From thence, to their old Fountaines creepe againe.
Incessantly all toyle. The searching Minde,
The Eye, and Eare, no satisfaction finde.
What is, hath beene; what hath beene shall ensue:
And nothing underneath the Sun is new.
Of what can it be truely said, Behold
This never was? The same hath beene of old.
For former Ages we remember not:
And what is now, will be in time forgot.
Lo I, the Preacher, King of Israel;
Who in abilitie and power excell;
In wisedomes search apply'd my Industrie,
To know what ever was beneath the skie:
(For God this toile, on Mans ambition layes,
To travell in so intricate a Maze.)

I all their workes have seene: all are but vaine;
Conceiv'd with sorrow, and brought forth with paine.
The crooked never can be rectifi'd;
Nor the defective numbred, or supply'd.
Thus in my Heart I said; Thou art arriv'd
At Honors hight; more wisedome hast achev'd
Then all that liv'd in Solyma before:
Thy Knowledge, Judgement, and Experience more.
As wisedome, so I folly did pursue;
And madnesse try'de: these were vexations too.
Much wisedome great anxieties infest:
And griefe of Minde by Knowledge is increast.

Chap. 2.

I said in my owne Heart, Goe on, and prove
What Mirth can do: tast the delights of Love.
In Pleasures change thy carelesse Houres imploy:
This also was a false and emptie Joy.
Avaunt, said I, O Laughter thou art mad!
Vaine Mirth, what canst thou to contentment adde?
Then sought the cares of Study to decline
With liberall feasts, and flowing Bowles of Wine.
With all my wisedome exercis'd, to try
If she at length with folly could comply:
And to discover that Beatitude,
VVhich Mortals all their lives so much pursu'd.
Great workes I finish'd; sumptuous Houses built:
My Cedar roofes with Gold of Ophir guilt.
Choice Vineyards planted: Paradises made;
Stor'd with all sorts of fruits, with Trees of shade:
And water'd with coole Rivolets, tha dril'd
Along the Borders: these my Fish-pooles fil'd.
For service, and Delight, I purchased
Both Men and Maides: more in my House were bred.
My Flocks and Heards abundantly increa'st:
So great, as never King before possest.
Silver and Gold, the Treasure of the Seas,
Of Kings, and Provinces, foment mine ease:
Sweet Voices, Musicke of all sorts, invite
My curious Eares; and feast with their delight.
In greater fluencie no Mortall raign'd:
In height of all, my wisedome I retain'd.
I had the Beauties which my Eyes admir'd;
Gave to my Heart what ever it desir'd:
In my owne workes rejoyc'd. The recompence
Of all my Labours was deriv'd from thence.
Then I survey'd all that my hands had done:
My troublesome delights. Beneath the Sun

VVhat solid good can mans indeavour finde?
All is but vanitie, and griefe of Minde.
At length I wisedome pond'red in my thought;
And madnesse weigh'd: for folly is distraught.
VVhat man can my untraced Steps pursue?
Or doe that Act which to the King is new?
Then found, how wisedome folly did excell;
As much as brightest Heaven the Shades of Hell.
The wisemans Eyes are towred in his head:
The foole in Darknesse walkes, by Error led:
Yet equall Miseries on either waite;
And both we see obnoxious to one fate.
Thus in my heart I said; The foole, and I
Suffer alike, and must together Dye:
Why then vexe I my braines to grow more wise?
Even this was not the least of Vanities.
Both must be swallowed by Oblivion;
What is, will not to after times be knowne:
The wise and foolish to the Earth descend;
And in the grave their various travels end.
For this I hated Life, which only feeds
Increasing Sorrowes: fruitlesse are our Deeds,
And wearisome; Man no content can find:
For all is vanitie, and griefe of Mind.
I hated all the Glory I had wonne;
My State, my Structures; all my hands had done:
Fore-seeing how that certaine houre would come,
When I must leave them; Nor yet know to whom.
VVho can divine if prudent or a foole?
Yet he must over all my Labours Rule;
Of all my wisedomes purchaces possest:
This vanitie was equall with the rest.
I therefore sought to make my Heart despaire;
To slight the fraile successe of all my Care.
What by Integritie, and honest toyle,
A wise man gathers; must become his spoile
Who only pleas'd his Sence: this is a great
Vexation, and an undiscern'd deceit.
What hath a Man for all his Industry,
And griefe of Soule, sustain'd beneath the sky?
All is but sorrow from the Houre of Birth;
Till he with age returne unto the Earth:
His Travell, paine; night yields him no repose:
This vanitie from our first Parents flowes.
To eate, to drinke, t'enjoy what we possesse
With freedome, is the greatest Happinesse

That Mortals can attaine unto: A good
Deriv'd from God, by Men not understood.
Who feasted more then I? who spent his store
More liberally? or cheer'd his Genius more?
God wisedome gives, gives Knowledge and Delight,
To those whose hearts are perfect in his sight:
To Sinners trouble; who their time employ
To gather what the Righteous shall enjoy;
By their owne Avarice in plenty pin'd:
This is a vanitie, and griefe of Mind.

Chap. 3.

Lo all things have their times, by God decreed
In Natures changes; all things which proceed
From Mans Intentions under the vast skie:
A Time when to be borne, a Time to Dye:
A time to plant, to extirpe; to Kill, to Cure:
A time to batter downe, a time to immure:
A time of laughter, and a time to turne
Our smiles to teares: a time to dance, to mourne:
To scatter Stones, to gather them againe;
A time to embrace, embraces to refraine:
A Time to get, to loose; to save, to spend:
To teare asunder, and the torne to mend:
A time to speake, from speaking to surcease:
A time for Love, for hate; for warre, for Peace.
What good can humane Industry obtaine,
When all things are so changeable and vaine?
For God on Man these various Labours throwes;
To afflict him with varietie of woes.
He in their times all beautifull hath made;
The world into our narrow hearts convay'd:
Yet cannot they the causes apprehend
Of his great workes; the Originall, nor End.
What other good can Man from these produce,
But to take pleasure in their present use?
To eate, to drinke, t'enjoy what is our owne;
Is such a gift as God bestowes alone.
His purpose is Eternall; nor can wee
Adde or Substract from his Divine Decree:
That Mortals might their bold Attempts forbeare;
And curbe their wild affections by his feare.
What hath beene, is; what shall be, was before:
And what is past, the Almighty will restore.
Besides; the seats of Justice I survay'd:
There saw how favour and corruption sway'd.
Then said I in my heart; God surely shall
Reward the just; the unjust to Judgement call.

All Purposes and Actions have their Times:
A time for Vengeance to pursue our Crimes.
As much as sense concernes, God manifests
To Men how little they dissent from Beasts:
One end to both befals; to equall Death
Are lyable; and breath the selfe same Breath.
Then what preheminence hath Man above
A Beast; since both so Transitory prove?
Both travell to one home: are Earth, and must
Returne to their Originary Dust.
Who knowes that Soules of men ascend the sky?
That those of Beasts with their fraile Bodies dye?
What Mortall then can make so good a choice,
As in his owne acquirements to rejoyce?
This is his Portion: for of things to come,
None can informe him in the Graves darke wombe.

Chap. 4.

Then I observ'd the Bold oppressions done,
In Presence of the all-survaying Sun:
Beheld the teares that fell from Sorrowes Eyes;
No Comforter t'asswage her Miseries:
With all th'oppressors powerfull Violence;
While weake Integritie found no defence.
For this, before the Living I prefer'd
Those whom the quiet Caves of Death interr'd:
Before them both, such as have yet not beene;
Nor these diversities of evils seene.
Againe observ'd, how our best Actions bred
Ignoble Envie; by our Vertue fed:
Nor friendship could so great a vice controule.
This was a Vanitie, and griefe of Soule.
The foole sits with his Armes a-crosse; his houres
In sloth consumes, and his owne flesh devoures.
Better, faith he, a handfull is obtain'd
With happy ease, then two by trouble gain'd.
While I this chace of Vanitie pursue;
A worse presents her folly to my view:
Lo, one who hath no Second, Child, nor Heire,
VVeares out his Life in restlesse toyle and care,
To gather Riches; nor can satisfie,
VVith all his store, the Avarice of his Eye:
Nor thinks, for whom doe I my Soule deceive?
And injur'd Nature of her Dues bereave?
This is a sore disease, if truly knowne:
And such a vanitie, as yields to none.
Two better are then one; of more regard:
Their Labour lesse, and greater their reward.

If either fall, one will the other raise;
When he who walkes alone, his Life betrayes.
If two together lye, both warmth beget;
But he who lies alone receives no heat.
If one prevaile; two may that one resist:
Coards hardly breake, which of three lines consist.
More reall worth a poore wise child adornes;
Then an old Foolish King, who counsell scornes.
He from a Prison, to a Throne ascends:
This, borne a Prince, his Life obscurely ends.
His Subjects after his successor runne;
As from the setting to the rising Sunne.
The vulgar are inconstant in their choice;
Nor in the present Government rejoyce:
The following, as the first, to change inclin'd.
This is a vanitie, and griefe of mind.

Chap. 5.

Whether thou goest conceive, and to what end,
When thy bold feet the House of God ascend.
There rather heare his Life-directing Rules;
Then offer up the sacrifice of Fooles.
For sinfull are their gifts, who neither know
What they to God should give, or what they owe.
The Ryot of thy tongue let feare restraine:
Nor with rash Orisons his Eares profane.
God sits in Heaven, with Rayes of Beauty crown'd;
Thou a poore Mortall creep'st upon the ground:
Since nothing lies concealed from his view,
Nor scapes his knowledge, let thy words be few.
As Dreames proceed from multitude of Cares:
So multitude of words a foole declares.
Performe thy vowes to God without delay:
Fooles please not him: thy vowes sincerely pay.
Since they are offerings of the gratefull will;
Vow not at all, or else thy vowes fulfill.
Let not thy tongue oblige thy flesh to sinne:
Nor say, I err'd: by that pretext to winne
Thy Angels Pardon. Why shouldst thou incense
Thy God, and draw his wrath on thy offence?
In multitudes of words and Dreames appeare
Like vanities: my Sonne, Jehova feare.
Nor let it quench thy Piety, when thou
Shalt see the poore beneath the mighty bow;
All Lawes perverted, Justice cast aside;
As if the Vniverse had lost her guide:
That Power to whom all are subordinate,
Shall crush them with an unsuspected fate.

The Mother Earth, to all her bosome yields:
Even Princes are beholding to the fields.
Who silver Covet, and Excesse of Gaine,
Shall ever want: this folly is as vaine.
As Riches multiply; even so doe they
VVho feed thereon, and on their Plenty prey.
What profit to the owner can arise,
But to behold them with his carefull Eyes?
Sweet is the sleepe, which honest toyle begets;
Whether he liberally, or little eates:
When ever-troublesome Abundance keeps
The wealthy waking, and affrights his sleeps.
What Penury than Riches can be worse,
If by the Owner turn'd into a Curse?
Or to consuming vice become a spoyle?
Who Sonnes begets to misery and toyle.
Naked he issu'd from his Mothers wombe:
And naked must descend into his Tombe.
Of all, with travell got, and kept with feare,
He nothing to the House of Death shall beare:
But must returne as Emptie as he came;
His Entrie, and his Exit, but the same.
What bootes it then to Labour for the winde?
This is a sore affliction to the Minde.
He feeds his sorrow in continuall Night:
Repleat with Anguish, Fury, and Despight.
This truth have I found out in her pursuite:
To feed our Bodies, to enjoy the fruit
Of our enricht endeavours, and to give
Our selves their comforts, whil'st on Earth we live;
Is good and Pleasurable: this alone
Is all we have, that can be call'd our owne.
For, to have Riches, and the Power with all
To use them freely, is the Principall
Of earthly Benefits: for God on those
He most affects, this Happinesse bestowes.
That man retaines no sence of former Ill's:
VVhose Heart the Lord of Life with gladnesse fills.

Chap. 6.

This, as a Common Misery, have I
With sorrow seene beneath the ambient Sky:
God Riches and Renowne to men imparts;
Even all they wish: and yet their narrow hearts
Cannot so great a fluency receive;
But their fruition to a Stranger leave.
What falser vanitie, or worse disease,
Could ever on the life of Mortals seaze?

Though he a hundred Children should beget,
Though many yeares should make his Age compleat;
Yet if he to himselfe his owne deny,
Then want a Grave, and violently dye:
Better were an abortive, borne in vaine,
That in obscuritie departs againe,
Enveloped with shrouds of endlesse Night;
Who never saw the Sunne display his Light,
Nor Good or Evill knew: he is more blest;
And soone descends to his perpetuall Rest.
Though th'other twenty Ages have surviv'd;
His Misery is but the longer Liv'd.
Yet both must to that fatall Mansion goe,
Where they to none are knowne, nor any know.
All that Man Labours for is but to Eate:
Yet is his soule not satisfi'd with Meate.
VVhat therefore hath the wife more then the foole?
VVhat wants the poore that can his Passions rule?
Farre better is a cleare and pleas'd aspect;
Then meagre lookes, which vast desires detect;
Such as can never satisfaction find:
Yet this is vanitie, and griefe of Mind.
For be he what he will, he must be Man;
A Name repleat with Misery: nor can
But desperately with such a Power contend,
On whom himselfe, and all the world depend.
As Riches, so our cares and feares increase:
O discontented Man, where is thy peace!
VVho knowes what's good for thee in these thy Dayes
Of Vanitie. A Shadow so decayes.
Or can informe thy Soule what will befall,
When thou art lost, in greedy Funerall?

Chap. 7.

An honest Name, acquir'd by vertuous deeds,
The fragrant smell of Precious Oyles exceeds.
Even so the Houre of Death, that of our Birth:
Which Fame secures, and Earth restores to Earth.
Better to be at Funerals a Guest;
Then entertained at a Nuptiall feast:
For all must to the shades of Death descend;
And those that live should thinke of their last End.
Sorrow then Mirth, more to perfection moves:
For a sad Countenance the Soule improves.
The wise will therefore ioyne with such as mourne:
But fooles into the Bowers of Laughter turne.
A wise mans reprehensions, though severe,
More then the songs of Fooles should please the eare.

As thornes beneath a Caldron catch the fire,
Blaze with a noise, and suddenly expire;
Such is the immoderate laughter of vaine fooles:
This Vanitie in our distemper rules.
Oppressions purchases the Judgement blind;
Make wise men mad; a Guift corrupts the Mind.
Beginnings in their Ends, their meed obtaine:
Humility more conquers then Disdaine.
Nor be thou to distracting Anger prone:
By her deformities a foole is knowne.
Nor murmuring say: Why are these dayes of ours
Worse then the former? doth the chiefe of Powers
So differently the affaires of mortals sway?
Such questions but thy Arrogance display.
Wisedome, with Ancient Wealth, not got by care,
Great blessings heape on those who breath this Aire.
Both are to mortals a protecting shade,
When bitter stormes, or scorching beames invade:
But if divided; he who is possest
Of Life-infusing Wisedome, is more blest.
Gods works consider: who can rectifie,
Or make that streight which he hath made awry?
In thy prosperitie let joy abound;
Nor let adversitie thy patience wound:
For these by him so intermixed are,
That no man should presume, nor yet despaire.
All perturbations, all things that have beene,
I, in my dayes of vanitie, have seene:
How their owne justice have the just destroy'd;
And how the vicious have their vice enjoy'd.
Be therefore not too righteous, nor too wise:
For why should'st thou thy safetie sacrifice?
Be not too wicked, nor too foolish: why
Should'st thou by violence untimely dye?
Tis best for thee, that thou to neither leane;
But warily observe the safer Meane.
For they shall all their miseries transcend,
Who God adore, and on his will depend.
A wise man is by wisedome fortifi'd:
More strong then twenty which the Citie guide.
For Justice is not to be found on Earth:
None good, nor innocent, of humane Birth.
Give not to all that's said an open eare;
Least thou thy Servants execrations heare:
For thy owne heart can tell, that thou hast done
The like to others. Thy example shun.

All this by wisedome try'd, I seemed wise:
But shee from humane apprehension flyes.
Can that which is so farre remov'd, and drown'd
In such profundities, by Man be found?
Yet in her search I exercis'd my Mind;
Of things the Causes, and Effects to find:
The wickednesse of Folly sought to know;
Folly and Madnesse from one fountaine flow.
More sharpe then Death I found her subtle Art,
Who nets spreds in her Eyes, snares in her Heart;
Her Armes inthralling chaines: the prudent shall
Escape; the foole by her enchantments fall.
Of all the Preacher hath experience made;
The reasons, one by one, distinctly waigh'd:
Yet could I not attaine to what I most
Desir'd to know: in my inquiry lost.
One good among a thousand Men have knowne:
Among the female, sex of all, not one.
Though in perfection God did Man create;
Yet we through vanitie degenerate.

Chap. 8.

Is any equall to the truly wise?
To him that can interpret Mysteries?
For wisedome makes the face of Man to shine
With awefull Majestie, and Light Divine.
Observe the Kings Commands: Remember thou,
Even in that Dutie, thy Religious vow.
Depart not discontented; nor Dispute
With him, who can with Punishments confute.
For Power is throned in the Breath of Kings:
And who dare say, they charge unlawfull things.
He who obayes, Destruction shall eschew:
A wise man knowes both when, and what, to doe.
For all our Purposes on Time depend,
And Judgement; to produce them to their end.
They wander in the Pensive shades of Night;
Who want the guide of this directing Light:
Surpriz'd by unexpected Miseries;
Nor can Instruction make the foolish wise.
What Guard of Teeth can keepe our parting Breath?
Or who resist the fatall Stroake of Death?
None shall returne with conquest from that field:
Nor Vice Protection to the vitious yield.
This Vanitie I saw beneath the Sun;
The Mighty by abused Power undone:
And though intomb'd with sumptuous funerall;
In his owne Citie soone forgot by all.

Impiety delights in her misdeeds;
In that Revenge so tardily succeeds.
Although a Sinner, sinne a hundred times;
And were his Yeares as numerous as his Crimes:
Yet God to those his Mercy will extend,
Whose humble Soules are fearefull to offend.
But bold Transgressors with destruction meet:
Their shortned Dayes shall like a shadow fleet.
Among the Sonnes of Men, this mischiefe raignes;
Exalted Vice the meed of Vertue gaines:
And those afflictions which to Vice are due,
Suppressed Vertue furiously pursue.
Then I commended Life-prolonging Mirth:
To feed upon the Bounty of the Earth,
And drinke the generous Grapes refreshing juyce;
Is all the good our Labours can produce.
This is the best of Life: by God alone
Bestow'd on Man; and only is his owne.

Chap. 9.

When I aspir'd to know, how God th'affaires
Of Men dispos'd: observ'd the restlesse Cares,
The travels, and disturbed thoughts, which keepe
The toyling Braine from the reliefe of sleepe:
I then perceived that humane industry
Could not the wayes, nor workes of God descry.
Though Men endeavour, though the wise suppose
They apprehend; yet none his wisedome knowes.
But this have found; that both the just and wise,
Their industry, even all their faculties
Are in his Rule, and by his Motion move:
Nor can determine of his Hate or Love.
All under Heaven succeeds alike to all;
To good and bad, the same events befall;
To pure, impure; to those who Sacrifice,
To those who Pietie, and God despise;
To th'innocent, the guiltie; such who feare
Flagitious Oathes, and those who fearelesse sweare.
What greater mischiefe rules beneath the Sunne,
Than this; that all unto one period runne?
Men, while they live are mad; profanely spend
Their flight of time; then to the dead descend.
Yet those have hope, who with the living dwell:
For living Dogs dead Lyons farre excell.
The living know that they at length must dye:
They nothing know who in Earths entrailes lye.
What better times can they expect, who rot
In silent graves, and are by All forgot?

Abolish'd is their Envy, Love, and Hate:
Bereft of all, which they possest of late.
Then take my Counsell; eate thy Bread with joy:
Let wine the Sorrowes of thy heart destroy.
Why should unfruitfull Cares our Soules molest?
Please thou thy God, and in his favour rest.
Be thy Apparell ever fresh, and faire;
Powre breathing Odors, on thy shining haire:
Enjoy the pleasures of thy gentle Wife,
Through all the Course of thy short-dated Life.
For this is all thy Industry hath wonne:
Even all thou canst expect beneath the Sunne.
Since Time hath wings, what thou intend'st to doe,
Doe quickly; and with all thy Power pursue:
No wisedome, knowledge, wit, or worke, will goe
Along with thee unto the Shades below.
I see the swift of foot winnes not the Race;
Nor wreathes of Victory the Valiant grace;
The wise, to feed his hunger wanteth Bread;
Riches are not by knowledge purchased;
Nor Popular suffrages Desert advance:
All rul'd by Opportunity and Chance.
Man knowes not his owne fate. As Birds are tane
With Tramels; Fishes by th'intangling Saine:
Even so the Sonnes of Men are un-awares
Prevented by Destructions secret Snares.
This also have I seene beneath the Sun,
So full of wonder; and by wisedome done:
A little Citie man'd but by a few;
To which a Mightie King his Army drew,
Erected Bulwarkes, and intrench't it round:
A poore wise man within the walles was found,
Whose wisedome rais'd the siege: But they ingrate
Neglected him who had preserv'd their State.
Then wisedome before Strength should be preferr'd:
Yet is, if poore, despis'd, her words unheard.
Men more should listen to her sober Rules,
Then to his Cryes, who governes among fooles.
Wisedome th'habilaments of warre exceeds:
But Folly is destroy'd by her owne Deeds.
Lo as dead flyes with their ill savour spoyle
Th'Apothecaries Aromaticke oyle:
Even so a little folly damnifies
The Dignitie and Honour of the wise.
A wise mans Heart to his right hand enclines:
A foole t'his left; and such are his designes.

His owne disordred Paths his life defame:
His gesture and his lookes a foole proclaime.

Chap. 10.

Although thy Ruler frowne, yet do not thou
Resent his Anger with a cloudie Brow:
Nor with obedience or thy faith dispence;
For yeelding pacifies a great offence.
This in a State no small disorder breeds;
Which from the errour of the Prince proceeds:
When vicious fooles in Dignitie are plac'd;
The rich in worth, trod under and disgrac'd.
Oft have I Servants seene on Horses ride:
The Free and Noble lacky by their side.
Who snares for others sets, therein shall light:
Who breakes a Hedge, him shall the Serpent bite.
The Stones shall bruise him who pulls downe a wall:
Who hewes a Tree, by his owne Axe shall fall.
If th'edge be blunt, in vaine his Strength he spends:
But Wisedome all directs to their just ends.
If Serpents bite before the charme be sung,
What then availes th'Inchanters babling tongue?
A wise-mans words are full of grace and power:
A fooles offending lips himselfe devoure.
His words begin in folly; which extend
To Acts of mischiefe, and in madnesse end.
He gives his tongue the reines; as if he knew
More then Man knowes: th'events that must insue,
VVho in the endlesse Maze of Errour treads;
Nor knowes the way which to his purpose leads.
VVoe to that Land, that miserable Land,
VVhich gaspes beneath a Childes unstai'd Command:
VVhose Nobles rise betimes to perpetrate
Their Luxuries; the ruine of the State.
Happy that Land, whose King is Nobly Borne:
VVhose Lords with Temperance his Court adorne.
By Sloths supine neglects the building falls:
The hands of Idlenesse pull downe her walls.
Feasts are for Laughter made, VVine cheares our hearts:
But soveraigne Mony all to all imparts.
Curse not thy Rulers though with vices fraught;
Not in thy Bed-Chamber, nor in thy thought:
For Birds will beare thy whisperings on their wings,
To the wide eares of Death-inflicting Kings.

Chap. 11.

Scatter thy Bread upon the hungry Maine:
This thou, in tract of time, shalt finde againe.
Thy Almes dispence to many; yet to more:
Famine or VVarre perhaps may make thee poore.

Be like the Clouds in bountie; which on all
The thirstie Earth, in showers profufely fall.
Like pregnant Trees, that shed on every side
Their riper fruit; to none that stoope deny'd.
They shall not sow who for a Calme deferre:
Nor shall they reape whom gloomy skies deterre.
Know'st thou from whence the strugling Tempests come?
Or how our bones are fashion'd in the wombe?
Much lesse his greatnesse canst comprize; who made
The Globe of Earth, and radiant Heaven displai'd.
The seed of Charitie at Sunne-rise sow;
And when he sets, into the furrowes throw:
Know'st thou if this, or that, increase shall yeeld?
Or both with gratefull Eares invest thy Field?
How sweet is Light! how pleasant to behold,
The mounted Sun discend in beames of Gold!
Yet, though a Man live long; long in delight:
Let him remember that approching Night
Which shall in endlesse darkenesse close his Eyes:
Then will he all, as vanitie, despise.
Young man, rejoyce; thy hearts desires fulfill;
No other Lord acknowledge but thy will;
Thy Sences freely feast: yet shalt thou come
To Gods Tribunall, and receive thy Doome:
Decline his wrath, and Sin-infflicting paine:
For both the bud and flower of Youth are vaine.
Thinke of thy Maker in thy better dayes;
Before the vigour of thy age decayes:
Before that sad and tedious time draw nigh,
When thou shalt loath thy life, and wish to die.
Before th'informing Sun, the cheerfull Light,
The various Moone, and Ornaments of Night,
In vaine for thee their shining Tapers beare:
Or fretting drops of Raine deepe furrowes weare.
When they shall tremble, who the House defend:
And the strong Columnes which support it bend:
The Grinders faile, reduced to a few;
The Watch no Objects through their Casements view:
Those Doores shut up that open to the Street;
And when th'unarmed Guarders softly meet:
The Bird of dawning raise thee with his voyce;
Nor thou in women, or their Songs rejoyce.
When thou shalt feare the roughnesse of the way;
When every Peble shall thy passage stay:
When th'Almond-tree his boughs invests with white;
The Locust stoopes: then dead to all delight.

Man must at length to his long home descend:
Behold, the Mourners at his gates attend.
Advise; before the Silver Cord growes slacke;
Before the golden Boule asunder crack:
Before the Pitcher at the fountaine leake;
Or wasted Wheele besides the Cisterne breake.
Man, made of Earth, resolves into the same:
His Soule ascends to God, from whom it came.
O Restlesse Vanitie of Vanities!
All is but Vanitie, the Preacher Cryes.
He who was wise, the People knowledge taught:
His Lines with well-digested Proverbs fraught.
He found out matter to delight the mind:
And every word he writ, by Truth was sign'd.
Wise Sentences are Goads; Nailes closely driven
By grave Instructors: by one Pastor given.
And now my Sonne, be thou admonished
By what thou hast already heard, and read.
There is of making many Bookes no End:
And studious Night th'intentive Spirits spend.
Of all the Sum; feare God, his Lawes obay:
Mans Dutie; to Felicitie the way.
For He shall every worke, each secret thing,
Both good and bad, to publike Judgement bring.

A PARAPHRASE VPON THE LAMENTATIONS OF IEREMIAH.

Chap. 1.

How like a Widow, ah! how desolate
This Citie sits! throwne from the pride of State!
How is this Potent Queene, who lawes to all
The neighbouring Nations gave, become a Thrall!
Who Nightly teares from her salt fountaines sheds:
Which fall upon her Cheekes in liquid Beads.
Of all her Lovers, none regard her woes:
And her perfidious Friends increase her Foes.
Judah in exile wanders: ah! subdu'd
By vast afflictions, and base servitude.
Among the Barbarous Heathen finds no rest:
At home, abroad, on every side opprest.
Ah! see how Sion mournes! Her Gates, and wayes,
Lye unfrequented on her solemne Dayes.
Her Virgins weepe; her Priests lament her fall:
And all her sustenance converts to gall.
A wretched vassall to her salvage Foes:
Her numerous Sinnes the Authors of these Woes.
Behold, how they, who by her losses thrive,
Into captivitie her Children drive!
O Sions Daughter, all thy Beauty's lost!
Thy chased Princes are like Harts imbost,
Which find no water; and infeebled flye
Before the Eager Hunters dreadfull Cry.

Jerusalem in these her Miseries,
And Dayes of Mourning, sets before her Eyes
Those vanish't Pleasures which shee once enjoy'd;
Her People now by hostile swords destroy'd:
Whil'st none afford Compassion to her woes;
Her Sabbaths scorn'd by her insulting foes.
Jerusalem hath sinn'd; is now remov'd
For her uncleannesse: those who lately lov'd,
As much despise; her nakednesse descry'd:
Who sighes for shame, and turnes her face aside.
Pollution staines her skirts; yet her last end
Remembred not: for this without a friend
Stupendiously shee fell. Great God behold
My Sorrowes, since the Foe is growne so bold!
Hath ravish't all wherein shee tooke delight;
His Insolence contending with his Might.
Ah! shee hath seene th'uncircumcis'd profane
Thy Temple, whose approach thy Lawes restraine.
Her People, sighing seeke for bread; who give
Their wealth for food, that their faint soules may live.
Consider Lord; ô looke on the forlorne!
Who am to all the world a generall Scorne.
You Passengers, though this concerne not you,
Here fixe your Steps, and my strange Sufferings view.
Was ever sorrow like my Sorrow knowne!
Which God hath on me in his fury throwne!
He from the breaking Clouds his flames hath cast;
Which in my Bones the boyling Marrow wast:
Hath set snares for my feet, throwne to the ground;
Left desolate, and fainting with my wound.
Who of my Sins hath made a yoake, to check
My Insolence; and cast it on my Neck.
My Strength hath broken; to my Enemies
Subdu'd my Powers: now, ah! too weake to rise.
He, in the mid'st of me, hath trodden downe
My mighty Men; and those of most Renowne.
His Troopes on my strong youth like Torrents rush't:
As in a wine-presse, Judah's Daughter crush't.
For this I weepe! my eye, my galled Eye,
Dissolves in Streames: for he who should apply
Balme to my wounds, farre, ô farre of is fled!
My Children desolate; their Foe, their head.
Her Hands sad Sion rais'd; no Comfort found:
Jehova charg'd her foes to guir'd her round.
Jerusalem, O thou of late belov'd;
Now like a Menstruous Woman art remov'd.

The Lord is just: tis I that have rebell'd;
And by my wild revolt his Grace expell'd.
Heare, and behold my woes: my Orphans torne
From my forc'd Armes, and into exile borne.
I to my boasting Lovers call'd for ayd:
But they their vowes infring'd, my trust betray'd.
My Priests and Princes, while they seeke for bread
To feed their hungry Soules, augment the Dead.
Lord looke on me! my heart roules in my Breast:
My Bowels toyle, like Seas with Stormes opprest.
I have provok't thy Vengeance with my Sinne:
Without the Sword destroyes, and Dearth within.
My sighes no pitty move: my cruell Foes
Enjoy thy Wrath, and glory in my Woes.
Yet that presaged Time will come, when they
Shall equall Sorrowes to thy Justice pay.
O set their impious deeds before thine eyes;
And presse them with my waighty Miseries:
(The Birth of Sinne) which breake into complaint;
My groanes are numberlesse, my Spirits faint.

Chap. 2.

How hath Jehova's wrath, ô Sion, spread
A vaile of Clouds about thy Daughters head!
From Heaven to Earth thy beauty, Israel, throwne!
Nor in his fierce displeasure spar'd his owne!
How hath he swallow'd Judah's Mansions! ra'st
His Holds! and to the ground his Bulwarks cast!
The Land in his relentlesse rage profan'd;
And with the Blood of her owne Princes stain'd!
He, in his Indignation, hath the Horne
Of Israel from his bleeding forehead torne.
Before the Foe, O forc't to flye with shame!
His wrath to Jacob a devouring flame.
Foe-like hath bent his Bow; his Hostile hand
Advanc't, and slaine the Beauty of the Land:
All that the eye attracted with Desire;
And powr'd his anger forth like floods of Fire.
Against thee, Solyma, Converts his Powers:
Sad Israel, and his Pallaces, devoures.
His strong built Fortresses to ruines turnes:
Whil'st Judah's Daughter for her Children mournes.
His Tabernacle He with Violence
Hath now demolish't, like a Garden Fence.
None Sions feasts and Sabbaths celebrate;
Both King and Priest obnoxious to his hate.

Detests his Sanctuary, and forsakes
His flamelesse Altar: while the Enemy takes
His Palaces and Walles, fill'd with their Cryes:
As late by us in our Solemnities.
The ruine of Jerusalem designes:
And levels the Foundation with his Lines.
Nor his fierce hand withdrawes: the tottering walls
And stooping Turrets, languish in their falls.
Her Gates sinke to the Earth, with shiver'd bars:
Her King and Princes Slaves, or slaine in wars.
All Lawes surcease. Jehova to her Seers
No more by Visions or by Dreames appeares.
Her Elders sit on earth, with silent Woe;
And Dust upon their Silver Tresses throw:
In sack-cloath mourne. Her Virgins hang their heads,
Like drooping Flowers that bow to their cold Beds.
My Bowels toyle; mine eyes with teares are drown'd;
My bleeding Liver powr'd upon the Ground:
To see my tender Babes, unpittied, lye
On flinty Pavements, and through famine dye.
While others to their weeping Mothers say:
O give us Food, our hunger to allay!
Then, fainting by the bloodlesse wound of Death,
In their infolding Armes sigh out their Breath.
How shall my tongue expresse, ô how compare
Thy matchlesse Sorrowes, to asswage thy Care,
Distressed Sions Daughter! for thy breach
Is like the Seas; whose rage no bounds impeach.
Vaine tales, and foolish, have thy Prophets told;
Nor would they thy exiling Sins unfold:
False Burthens, and false Prophecies, invent;
The fatall Authors of thy Banishment.
The Passengers, they wry their heads aside;
Hisse at thee, clap their hands, and thus deride:
Is this their only Joy? which they of all
The world the Beauty and Perfection call?
Thy Foes make mouthes, scoffe, grind their teeth, and say;
Now have we swallow'd our desired prey:
This is that Day we did so long expect,
VVherein our hopes have had their wish't effect.
God hath accomplished his old Decree;
VVe thy oft-menaced Destruction see:
Hath ruin'd without pitie; made a Scorne

To thy Triumphant Foe, and rais'd his Horne.
To him their hearts now cry: O Sions Towers!
All Day, all Night, let teares descend in Showers.
O never give thy labouring Thoughts repose!
Nor let the humid Night thy eye-lids close!
Arise, and cry; cry from the Nights first houre:
Thy Heart before thy God, like water, powre.
O raise thy Hands to Heaven; least Famines force
Thy Childrens soules from their pale corps divorce.
Lord, see thy Masacre's! shall cursed wombes
Become their new-borne childrens fatall Tombes!
Thy Priests and Prophets by the sword are slaine:
And with their Blood thy Sanctuary staine.
Lo! in the Streets old Men and Infants lye:
My Virgins and bold Youth by slaughter dye.
Thou with their Blood thy Vengeance didst imbrew:
Thy burning Fury without pitty slew.
As in a solemne Day, thy Terrors have
Inviron'd me: thy Anger cloyes the Grave.
Those whom I swatled, in my Bosome bred,
The Barbarous Foe hath sent unto the Dead.

Chap. 3.

Lo, I, the Man, who by the wrath of God,
Have seene afflictions stormes, and felt his Rod!
He hath depriv'd me of the cheerefull Light;
Inveloped with Shades more darke then Night:
Against me his revengefull Forces bent;
Nor sets his Anger with the Suns descent.
My flesh hath wasted; wrinckled my smooth skin
With Sorrowes age, and broke my Bones within.
Against me digg'd a trench, cast up a mound;
With travels bitter gall besieg'd me round.
Imprison'd where no beames their brightnesse shed:
Like that darke Region peopled by the Dead.
On every side my Flight with Barres restraines:
And clogs my galled Legs with massie Chaines.
Who stops his eares against my Cryes and Prayers:
With Stone immures, and spreads my Path with snares.
He like a Beare, or Lion, lyes in waite:
Diverts, in pieces teares, leaves Desolate.
At me, as at a marke, his Bow he drew:
Whose Arrowes in my Blood their wings imbrew,
He lets the People circle me in Throngs;
Who all the Day deride, with spitefull Songs.

With wormewood made me drunke, with gall hath fed:
My teeth with gravell broke, with Ashes spread.
My soule to Peace is such a Stranger growne;
As if I never better Dayes had knowne.
When I my wrongs to memory recall;
My Miseries, my Wormewood, and my Gall;
My Passions thus exclaime: Ah! Perished
Are all my hopes! from me my strength is fled!
These thoughts my Soule have humbl'd: trod to Earth
My Pride; and given my Hopes a second Birth.
T'was thy abundant goodnesse, Lord, that all
Did not together in one Ruine fall.
Thy Mercies with the rising Light renue:
And thy Fidelitie, as large as true.
My soule is arm'd with stedfast Confidence:
Since thou my Portion art, and strong Defence.
To those, how gracious, who on thee relye!
Who seeke thee with unfainting Industry!
Tis good to hope, and rest upon thy Truth:
Tis good to beare thy yoake in early youth.
Alone he silent sits; nor will distrust
Thy Promise, when he hides his head in Dust.
His cheeke submits to blowes, by all revil'd:
Yet knowes at length thou wilt be reconcil'd.
When God with griefe hath fixt thee to the ground:
His Mercy will powre balme into thy wound.
For He delights not in our Misery;
On those to trample who in fetters lye:
Hates that the weake should be opprest by might;
Or Justice suffer in the Judges sight.
O tell, what can befall beneath the Sun,
That is not by the Lords appointment done?
Both good and bad from Him proceeds: why then
Grudge you at punishment; vaine sinfull Men?
Turne we to God by tryall of our wayes:
To Heaven our hearts, our hands, and voyces, raise.
We have transgres'd, rebell'd; no pardon gaine:
The Food of Wrath; by thee pursu'd and slaine.
Thou hast with Cloud's thy selfe inclos'd of late:
Through which no Prayers of ours can penetrate.
With Men, the refuse and off-skouring made:
Whom all our Foes with open mouthes upbraid.
Fill'd with vastation, ruines, snares, and feares?
While for my Childrens losse I melt in Teares.

Nor shall those briny Rivers cease to flow,
Till God looke downe with pitie on our woe.
Mine eye, ah! wounds my heart; when I behold
My Cities Daughters to Afflictions sold.
Those who thy Beauty, Solyma, deface,
My soule like a retrived Partridge chace:
Cut from the living, in a Dungeon throwne;
And over-whelmed with a Pile of Stone.
Stormes ore my head their rowling billowes tost:
Then cry'd I, ah! I am for ever lost!
Thou from the Dungeon, Lord, my cryes didst heare:
O never from my sighes divert thine Eare!
Thou stood'st besides me in that horrid Day:
And said'st; Take courage; nor thy feare obey.
My cause, thou Lord, hast pleaded in this strife:
And from their greedy jawes redeem'd my Life.
Thou that hast seene my wrongs, restore my right:
Thou hast their vengeance seene, and cursed spight.
The malice heard which their false tongues disclose:
The thoughts and machinations of my Foes.
VVhen they sit downe, and when they rise, I still
Become their Musick, and their Laughter fill.
Rewards according to their works disburse:
Their Hearts with Sorrow wound, blast with thy Curse.
Pursue, destroy: nor, Lord thy wrath restraine;
Till none beneath the arch of Heaven remaine.

Chap. 4.

How is our Gold growne dimme! of all the most
Refin'd and pure, hath now his Lustre lost.
That Marble, which the Temple beautifi'd;
Torne downe by impious Rage, and cast aside.
The wretched Sons of Sion, ah! behold!
Of late so precious; more esteem'd then Gold:
How slighted! to how low a value brought!
Like Earthen vessels by the Potter wrought.
The Monsters of the Sea, and Salvage Beasts,
Their young ones gently foster at their Breasts:
My Daughters, ah! more cruell are then these:
Or then the desert-haunting Estriges.
Their Children cry for Bread, but none receive:
Whose thirsty tongues to their hot pallats cleave.
VVho fed Deliciously, now sit forlorne:
And those who Scarlet wore, on dung-hils mourne.
The Punishments, as did their sinnes, excell
That which from Heaven on wicked Sodom fell,
Devour'd with sodaine flames. No Creature found
To whom his wrath could adde another wound.

Her Nazarites, late pure, as falling Snow;
More white then Streames which from stretcht udders flow:
Not Rubies of the rocke such red insphear'd;
Nor polisht Saphires like their Veines appear'd:
Their faces now more blacke then Cinders growne;
To such as meet them in the Streets, unknowne.
VVhose wither'd Skins, more dry then saplesse wood,
Cleave to their fleshlesse Bones, for want of Food.
O farre lesse wretched they, whose parting Breath
Breaks through their wounds, then those who starve to death!
For they in lingring torments pine away:
And find not Death so cruell as Delay.
Soft-hearted Mothers live by horrid spoile:
And their beloved Babes in Caldrons boyle.
On these with weeping Eyes, and hearts that bleed,
The famisht Daughters of my People feed.
The Lord his vengeance now accomplish't hath;
And powred forth the Viols of his wrath:
Forsaken Sion sets on fire; whose Towers
And Palaces the hungry flame devoures.
You Kings that sway the many-Peopled Earth;
All who from groaning Mothers take your birth:
O would you have believ'd, that thus the Foe
Should have triumpht in her sad overthrow!
Her Priests and Prophets sins, who should have taught
By their Example, have her ruine wrought:
VVith humane flesh her flaming Altars fed;
And blood of Innocents profusely shed.
VVho blindly wander; so defil'd with gore,
That none would touch the Garments which they wore.
Depart, they cry'd, Depart, and touch us not:
Depart ô you whom foule pollutions spot.
Thus chid, they stray'd, and to the Gentiles fled:
Yet said, ere long we shall from hence be led.
For this, the Lord hath scatter'd in his Ire;
Nor ever shall they to their homes retire:
Their unregarded Priests slaine by the Foe;
Who would no pitie to the aged show.
Yet vainely we, in these our Miseries,
With expectation have consum'd our eyes;
And fostered flattering hopes: built on their word,
Who can no ayd to our Exstreames afford.
Like cruell Hunters they our steps pursue:
While we in Corners lurke from publike view.
That Fatall Day drawes neere; wherein we must
Descend to Death, and mingle with the Dust.

Not Eagles fearefull Doves so swiftly chace;
As they with winged feet our foot-steps trace:
Pursue o're Mountaines; watch at every Streight;
And to intrap us in the Defart waite.
The Lords Anointed, even our nostrils Breath,
They have ensnar'd, and rendred up to Death.
Of whom we said; Among the Heathen wee,
Beneath his wings, shall live in exile free.
Daughter of Edom, thou that dwelst in Hus,
Exalt thy Joy: This Cup to thee from us
Shall swiftly passe: thy braines inebriate so,
As thou thy nakednesse shalt boldly show.
Yet when thy Sins deserved Punishment,
O wretched Sions Daughter, shall be spent:
Jehova will thy Banishment repeale;
Foment thy wounds, and all thy bruises heale.
Then he on Edoms Issue shall impose
Our yoake, and her deformitie disclose.

Chap. 5.

Remember Lord the Afflictions we have borne:
See how we are to all the world a Scorne!
Our Lands and Houses forreiners possesse:
Our Mothers, Widdowes; and we Fatherlesse.
To us our wood the greedy Stranger sels;
And dearely purcha'st water from our wels.
Our necks with heavy burthens are opprest:
All Day we toyle, at Night depriv'd of Rest.
We, in the Egyptian and Assyrian Lands,
Are forc't to beg our bread with stretcht-out hands.
Our Fathers, who transgrest, in Death remaine:
And we the pressure of their sins sustaine.
Who were our vassals, now our Soveraignes are:
And none survive to comfort our despaire.
With perill of our lives we seeke our food;
The sword in pathlesse Deserts thirsts for blood:
While Stormes of Famine mutiny within;
And like a furnace tan the saplesse skin.
In Judah's Cities Virgins they deflowre:
In Sion, ravisht wives their wrongs deplore.
They crucifie our Princes in their rage;
Nor honour the aspect of reverend Age.
Our Youth enforce to grind, with lashes gall:
And Boyes beneath their cruell Burthens fall.
No Judge on high Tribunals now appeares:
No Musick drawes our Soules into our Eares.
Joy, from our broken hearts exiled, flyes:
Our mirth is chang'd to mourning Elegies.

The crowne from our ecclipsed Browes is torne:
By all, except thy punishments, forlorne.
Woe to our Sins! for these we waste our yeares
In Servitude. We drowne our Eyes with teares
For thee deserted Sion: Foxes dwell
Among thy ruines! who our woes can tell!
Yet, Lord, thou ever liv'st: Thy Throne shall last,
When funerall Flames the World to Cinders waste.
O why hast thou so long forgot thine owne!
Wilt thou forsake us as if never knowne!
O call us back, that we thy face may view:
Those happy Dayes we once enjoy'd, renew.
But thou hast cast us off to tread the path
Of Exile: made the Object of thy wrath.

A PARAPHRASE VPON THE SONGS COLLECTED OVT OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.

Exodvs 15.

[The Praise of our triumphant King]

[Part 1.]

The Praise of our triumphant King,

As the 8. Psalme.

And of his Victory we sing:
Who in the Seas with horrid force
O'rethrew the Rider and his Horse.
My Strength, my God, my Argument,
My Fathers God, hath safety sent.
To him will I a Mansion raise;
There celebrate his glorious Praise.
His Sword hath won eternall fame;
And great Jehovah is his Name.
Lo Pharaoh's Chariots, his proud Hoast,
Are in the swallowing Billowes lost.
God, in the fathomlesse Profound,
Hath all his choice Commanders drown'd.
Downe sunk they, like a falling stone,
By raging Whirl-pits ovethrowne.
Thy pow'rfull Hand these VVonders wrought;
Our Foes by Thee to ruine brought.
Thou all that durst against thee fight
Hast crusht by thy prevailing Might.
Thy VVrath thy Foes to Cinders turnes,
As Fire the Sun-dri'd Stubble burnes.

Part 2.

Blowne by thy Nostrils breath, the Floud
In heaps, like solid Mountains, stood.

The Seas divided Heart congeal'd;
Her sandy Bottom first reveal'd.
Pursue, o're take, th'Ægyptians cry'd;
Let us their wealthy Spoile divide;
Our Sword these Fugitives destroy,
And with their Slaughter feast our Joy.
Thou blew'st; those Hils their Billowes spread:
In mightie Seas they sunke like Lead.
What God is like our God! so high!
So excellent in Sanctitie!
Whose glorious Praise such terror breeds!
So wonderfull in all thy Deeds!
Thy Hand out-stretcht; the closing VVomb
Of VVaves gave all his Host one Tomb.
But us, who have thy Mercy try'd
In our Redemption, thou wilt guide:
Guide by thy Power, till we possesse
The Mansion of thy Holinesse.

Part. 3.

Our Foes shall this with terrour heare;
Sad Palæstine grow pale with feare.
Those who the Edomites command,
And Moabs Chiefs shall trembling stand.
The Hearts of Canaan melt away,
Like Snow before the Suns bright Ray.
Horror shall seize on all; not one
But stand like Statues cut in Stone:
Vntill thy People passe; even those,
VVhom thou hast ransom'd from their Foes.
Thou shalt conduct, and plant them, where
Thy fruitfull Hils their Shoulders reare:
By thy Election dignifi'd;
VVhere thou for ever shalt abide.
Thy Reigne, eternall King, shall last,
VVhen Heaven and Earth in vapours waste.
While Pharaoh's Chariots and his Horse
'Twixt walls of Seas their way inforce:
Thy Hand reduc'd th'obedient Waves,
VVhich clos'd them in their rowling Graves:
But Israel through the bottome sand
Securely past, as on dry Land.

Devteronomy. XXXII.

As the 1. Psalme.

[Part 1.]

Lend, O you Heavens, unto my voyce an eare:
And thou, O Earth, what I shall utter, heare.
My words shall fall like Deaw, like April showers
On tender Herbs, and new-disclosed Flowers;

VVhile I the Goodnesse of our God proclaime:
O celebrate his great and glorious Name!
Our Rocke, whose VVorks are perfect. Justice leads,
And equall Judgement walks the VVay he treads.
In him unstain'd Sincerity excels;
The God of Truth, in whom no falshood dwels.
But you are all corrupt, perverse; nor beare
Those Marks about you, which his Children weare.
O fooles! depriv'd of intellectuall Light!
Doe you your great Preserver thus requite?
Your Father? He who made you? did select
From all the World, and with his Beauty deck'd?
Remember; aske the Ancient: They will tell
What in old times, and Ages past, befell:
VVhen the most High did distribute the Earth,
VVith liberall hand, to all of humane birth:
VVhen yet you were not, He, according to
Your numerous Race, design'd a Seat for you.

Part. 2.

His People are his Portion: Jacob is
Th'Inheritance alone reserv'd for His.
He, when he wandred through a desert land,
And in a horrid Wildernesse of sand;
Conducted, taught him his high Mysteries;
And kept him as the Apples of his Eyes.
As the old Eagle on her Ayery spreads
Her fostring Plumes; renewes their downy beds,
Feeds, traines them for the flight, subdues their feares;
And on her soaring wings her Eaglets beares:
So he sustein'd, So led him; He alone:
No stranger-Gods to Israel then were knowne.
Whom like a Horse the towring Mountaines bore;
That those rich fields might feast him with their store.
With Honey the hard Rocks supply'd his want;
And pure Oyle dril'd from cliffes of Adamant:
Him with the Milke of Ewes, with Butter fed;
With fat of Lambs, and Rams in Bashan bred;
With flesh of Goats, with Wheats pure Kernels fill'd;
And dranke the Bloud, which from the Grape distill'd.

Part. 3.

But Jesurun grew fat; kickt like a Horse,
Full of high feeding, and untamed force:
Forsooke his God, who made, sustein'd, adorn'd;
And that strong Rocke of his Salvation scorn'd:
VVith barbarous Gods, and execrable Rites,
His Jealousie and Wrath at once excites.
To Divels they profanely sacrific'd;
Gods made with hands, before their Maker priz'd:

Gods brought from forraigne Nations; strange and new:
Gods, which their Ancestors nor fear'd, nor knew.
Their Father, their firme Rocke, remembred not;
And Him, who had created them, forgot.
This having seene with burning eyes, the Lord
His Daughters, and degenerate Sons, abhor'd:
Said, from these Rebels I will hide my face,
And see the end of this unfaithfull Race.
Since they with Gods, that are but Gods in Name,
My Soule with so great Jelousie inflame;
And through their vanities my wrath incense;
I, by the like will punish their offence.
Their Glory to an unknowne Nation grant,
And in their roome a foolish People plant.

Part. 4.

A fire is kindled in my wrath, which shall
Even in the depth of Hell devoure them all:
Polluted Earth with her productions burne;
And ayery Mountaines into ashes turne.
One misery another shall invite,
And all my arrowes in their bosomes light:
Famine shall eate them, hot Diseases burne;
And all by violent deaths to Earth returne.
The teeth of salvage Beasts their blood shall spill;
And Serpents with their fatall poyson kill.
The Sword without, and home-bred Terrors shall
Devoure their lives. Their Youth untimely fall;
Betrothed Virgins, such as stoope with Age,
And sucking Babes, shall sinke beneath my Rage.
Scatter I would like Chaffe by Tempests blowne,
Nor should their Memory to Man be knowne:
If not withheld by their insulting Foe;
Lest he should triumph in their overthrow:
And boasting say; This our owne hands have done;
Our Swords, the Gods which have their battaile won.

Part. 5.

A Nation which hath no Intelligence:
Vncapable of Councell; void of sense.
O that my Words could to their hearts descend;
To make them wise, and thinke of their last End!
How would One man a Thousand put to flight!
And Two a Myriad overthrow in Fight!
But that their Strength hath sold them to their Foes;
And left them naked to their deadly blowes.
For, though our Enemies should judge, their Powers
Are faint to His; their Rocke no Rocke to ours:
Their Vine of Sodom, of Gomorrahs fields;
Which Grapes of Gall, and bitter clusters yields.

Poison of Dragons is their deadly Wine;
To which cold Aspes their drowsie venome joyne.
Is not all this unto my Sight reveal'd?
Laid up in store? and with my Signet seal'd?
To me belongs Revenge and Recompence:
Which I will in the time decree'd dispense.
The Day is neere which their destruction brings;
And Punishment now flies with speedy wings.

Part. 6.

God will his People judge; at length relent;
And of his Servants miseries repent:
Then when they are of all their power bereft,
No strength, no hope of humane succour left.
And say, Where are the God's of your defence,
Those Rockes of your presuming confidence;
Whose flaming Altars you so often fed
VVith fat of Bieves, and VVine profusely shed?
Now let them from their crowned Banquets rise,
And shield you from your furious enemies.
Behold! I am your God; I, onely I,
Assisted by no forraigne Deity.
I kill, revive; I wound and heale; no hand
Or power of Mortals can my strength withstand.
I, to the Heavens I made, my armes extend;
Pronounce, I ever was, and have no end.
VVhet I my glittering Sword; if I advance
My hand in Judgement; woes past utterance,
And vengeance, equall to their merits, shall
Vpon my Foes, and those who hate me, fall.
The hungry Sword shall eat their flesh, like Food,
My thirsty Arrows shall be drunke with bloud:
For Captives slaine, and for the bloud they spilt,
I will with horrour recompence their guilt.
You wiser Nations, with his People joy;
For he will all their Enemies destroy:
His Servants vindicate from their proud Foe;
And to their Land, and them, his Mercy show.

Judges V.

[Your great Preserver celebrate]

[Part 1.]

Your great Preserver celebrate:

As the 8. Psalme.

He who reveng'd our wrongs of late;
When you, his sonnes, in Israels Aid
Of life so brave a Tender made.
You Princes, with attention heare;
And you who awfull Scepters beare;

While I in sacred Numbers sing
The Praise of our eternall King.
When he through Seir his Army led,
In Edoms fields his Ensignes spread;
Earth shooke, the Heavens in drops descend;
And Clouds in teares their substance spend.
Before his Face the Mountaines melt:
Old Sinai unknowne fervor felt.
When Israel Sangars Rule obey'd,
And Jael, that Virago, sway'd;
She bold of heart, He great in Warre;
Yet to the fearefull Travailer
All wayes were then unsafe: who crept
Through Woods, or past when others slept.
The Land uncultivated lay:
When I arose, I Deborah,
A Mother to my Countrey grew;
At once their Foes, and feares subdue.

Part. 2.

When to themselves new Gods they chose,
Then were their Wals besieg'd by Foes.
Did One of Forty Thousand weare
A Cote of Steele? or shooke a Speare?
You, who with such alacrity
Led to the Battaile; O how I
Affect your Valour! with me raise
Your voyces; Sing Jehovahs Praise.
Sing You who on white Asses ride,
And Justice equally divide:
You, who those VVayes so fear'd of late,
VVhere now no Thieves assassinate:
You lately from your Fountaines barr'd,
VVhere you their clattering Quivers heard,
There, with united joy record
The righteous Judgements of the Lord.
You who your Cities repossesse,
VVho reape in peace, his Praise professe.
Arise, O Deborah, arise;
In heavenly Hymnes expresse thy Joyes.
Arise, O Barak; Thou the Fame
And Off-spring of Abinoam;
Of Israel the renowned Head,
Captivitie now captive lead.

Part. 3.

Nor shall the noble Memory
Of our strong Aids in silence die:
The Quiver-bearing Ephramite
March't from his Mountaine to the Fight:

Those who on Amalek confine,
The small Remaines of Benjamin:
From Machir, Princes: Not a few
VVise Zebulun with Letters drew:
The valiant Chiefes of Issachar,
VVith Deborah, troopt to this Warre;
VVho downe into the Valley tread
The way which noble Barak led.
But Reuben from the rest disjoyn'd
By Hils and Flouds, was so in mind.
Did'st thou these glorious VVars refuse,
To heare the bleating of the Ewes?
O great in Councell! O how wise!
That couldst both Faith and Fame despise.
Gilead' of thundring Drums afraid,
Or slothfull, beyond Jordan staid.
Dan his swift-sailing Ships affects,
And publique Liberty neglects:
VVhile Ashur on his Cliffes resides,
And fortifies against the Tides.
But Zebulun, and Nepthali,
VVho never would from danger flye,
VVere ready, for the publike good,
On Tabors top to shed their bloud.

Part. 4.

Then Kings, Kings of the Canaanites,
On Taanach Plaines addrest their Fights;
VVhere swift Megiddo's VVaters ran:
Yet neither Spoile nor Trophee wan.
The Heavens 'gainst Sisera fought; The Stars
Mov'd in Battalia to those VVars:
By ancient Kishon swept from thence;
VVhose Torrent falling Clouds incense.
Thou, O my joyfull Soule, at length
Hast trod to Dirt their puissant Strength.
Their wounded Horse with flying haste
Fall head-long, and their Riders cast.
Thus spake an Angel; Cursed be
Thou Meroz, all who dwell in thee;
That basely would'st no aid afford,
In that great Battaile to the Lord.
Cinœian Hebers VVife, thou best
Of VVomen, be thou ever blest;
Blest above all: Let all that dwell
In Tents, thy Act, O Jaell, tell.
She brought him Milke, above his wish;
And Butter in a Princely Dish.

A Hammer, and a Naile she tooke,
This into Sisera's Temples strooke.
He fell, fell downe, downe to the Flore;
Lay where he fell, bath'd in his Gore;
Lay groveling at her Feet: and there
His wretched Soule sigh'd into Aire.

Part 5.

His Mother at her window staid,
And thrusting out her shoulders said;
Why are his Chariots wheeles so slow!
Nor yet my Sonne in Triumph show!
VVhen her wise Ladies standing by,
(Yea she her selfe) made this reply;
Have not their Swords now won the Day?
Have they not shar'd the wealthy Prey?
Now every Souldier for his paines
An Hebrew Dame or Virgin gaines:
VVhile Sisera, choosing, layes aside
Rich Robes, in various Colours dy'd;
Rich Robes with curious Needles wrought
On either side, from Phrygia brought:
The Thread spun from the Silk-worms womb,
Such as a Conquerer become.
Great God! So perish all thy Foes;
Love such as love thee: O let those
Shine like the Sun, when he displaies
I'th' Orient his increasing Raies.

Samvel. II.

As the 29. Psalme.

[Part 1.]

God hath rais'd my head on high:
O my Heart, inlarge thy joy!
God hath now my Tongue unti'd,
To retort their scorne, and pride.
In thy Grace I will rejoyce;
Praise thee, while I have a voyce.
VVho so holy as our Lord!
VVho but he to be ador'd!
VVho such Wonders can effect!
VVho so strongly can protect!
Be no longer arrogant,
Nor in Folly, proudly vaunt:
God our secret thoughts displaies;
All our works his Ballance weighes.
Giants Bowes his Forces breake;
He with strength invests the Weake.
Who were full, now serve for bread;
Those who serv'd, infranchised.

Barren VVombs with Children flow;
Fruitfull Mothers childlesse grow.

Part 2.

God fraile Man of life deprives;
Those who sleepe in Death, revives:
Leads us to our silent Tombes;
Brings us from those horrid Roomes:
Riches sends; sends Poverty:
Casteth downe, and lifts on high.
He from the despised Dust,
From the Dunghill takes the Just;
To the height of Honour brings;
Plants them in the Thrones of Kings.
God, Earths mighty Pillars made;
He the World upon them laid.
He his Servants feet will guide:
Wicked Soules, who swell with Pride,
Will in endlesse Darknesse chaine;
Since all humane strength is vaine.
He shall grind his Enemies;
Blast with Lightning from the Skies:
Judge the habitable Earth,
All of high and humble birth:
Shall with strength his King renowne,
And his Christ with Glory crowne.

II. Samuvel I.

[Thy Beauty, Israel, is fled]

Thy Beauty, Israel, is fled,

As the 39. Psalme.

Sunke to the Dead.
How are the Valiant fal'n! the Slaine
Thy Mountaines staine.
O let it not in Gath be knowne;
Nor in the streets of Ascalon!

Lest that sad Story should excite
Their dire delight:
Lest in the Torrent of our woe
Their pleasure flow:
Lest their triumphant Daughters ring
Their Cymbals, and curs'd Pæans sing.

You Hils of Gilboa, never may
You Offprings pay;
No morning Deaw, nor fruitfull showers
Cloth you with I lowers:

Saul, and his Armes there made a Spoile;
As if untoucht with sacred Oyle.

The Bow of noble Jonathan
Great Battailes wan:
His Arrows on the Mighty fed,
With Slaughter red.
Saul never rais'd his Arme in vaine;
His Sword still glutted with the Slaine.

How lovely! O how pleasant! when
They liv'd with Men!
Then Eagles swifter; stronger farre
Then Lions are:
Whom love in life so strongly ty'd,
The stroke of Death could not divide.

Sad Israels Daughters, weepe for Saul;
Lament his fall.
Who fed you with the Earths increase,
And crown'd with Peace:
With Robes of Tyrian Purple deckt,
And Gems, which sparkling light reflect.

How are thy Worthies by the Sword
Of Warre devour'd!
O Jonathan, the better part
Of my torne Heart!
The salvage Rocks have drunke thy bloud:
My Brother! O how kind! how good!

Thy love was great; O never more
To Man, Man bore!
No Woman, when most passionate,
Lov'd at that rate!
How are the Mighty fal'n in fight!
They, and their Glory set in Night!

II. Samvel VII.

As the 4. Psalme.

[Part 1.]

My Lord, my God, O who am I!
Or what is my poore Family,
That thou should'st crowne,
With Power renowne,
And raise my Throne on high!

As this were little; in my place
Hast promis'd to confirme my Race.
Doe men, O Lord,
To men afford
Such, such transcendent Grace!

Not to be hop'd for, nor desir'd;
Not to be utter'd, but admir'd:
My Thoughts to me,
Then they to thee,
Lesse knowne, when most retir'd.

These great things did'st Thou, to fulfill
Thy Word and never-changing Will.
Into my Sight
This knowing Light,
Thy Wisdomes Beames, distill.

In Goodnesse, as in Power corupleat:
No God but thee: O who so great!
All this of old
Our Fathers told;
And often did repeat.

What Nation breaths, who can or dare
With thee, O Israel, compare?
For whom alone
God left his Throne,
As his peculiar Care.

To amplifie his Name; to doe
Such great, such fearefull things for you:
Such Wonders wrought;
From Ægypt brought;
From men, from gods withdrew.

Establisht by divine Decree;
That thou might'st be our God, and we
For evermore
Thy Name adore;
As consecrate to Thee.

Part. 2.

Now, Lord, effect what thou hast said;
The Promise to thy Servant made.
Confirme by Deed,
What to his Seed
Thy Word long since displaid.

Great God, O be thou magnifi'd!
VVhose Hands the strife of VVarre decide:
Let Davids Race,
Before thy Face
For ever fixt abide.

Thou saidst (who Israel dost protect)
I will my Servants House erect.
My Thoughts indu'd
With gratitude
These Prayers to Thee direct.

Thou Lord, in Goodnesse infinite!
VVhose VVord and Truth like Twins unite.
Thy Promise hath
Confirm'd my Faith,
And fill'd me with delight.

Be then my House for ever blest,
Of thy deare Presence still possest.
Thus hast thou said;
This Promise made:
O with thy Grace invest!

Esay V.

As the 9. Psalme.

Now I, to my Beloved, will
A Song of my Beloved sing:
He hath a Vineyard on a Hill,
VVhich all the Yeare enjoy'd the Spring.
This he inclosed with a Mound,
Pickt up the Stones which scatter'd lay:
VVith generous Vines plants the rich Ground;
Dig'd, pruin'd, and weeded every day.
To presse the Clusters made a Frame,
Plac'd in a new erected Tower:
But when th'expected Vintage came,
For good, the Grapes prov'd wild and sowre.
You who on Judah's Hils reside,
VVho Citizens of Salem be;
Doe you the Controverse decide
Betweene my Vineyard judge, and me.
Though partiall Judge. Could I have more
To my ungratefull Vineyard done?
Yet such unpleasant Clusters bore,
Vnworthy of the soyle, or Sunne.

Then know; This Vineyard, late my Joy,
Manured with such diligence;
Wild Bores, and Foxes shall destroy,
When I have trampled downe her Fence.
Then shall she unregarded lye,
Vndig'd, unpruin'd, with Brambles spread:
No gentle Clouds shall on her dry
And thirsty Wombe their moisture shed.
That ancient House of Israel,
The great Jehovahs Vineyard is:
They who on Judah's Mountaines dwell,
Those choice, and pleasant Plants of his:
From whom he Justice did expect,
But Rapine, and Oppression found:
Thought they sweet Concord would affect;
When all with Strife, and Cryes abound.

Esay XXVI.

[Ovr Sion strongly is secur'd]

[Part 1.]

Ovr Sion strongly is secur'd,

As the 2. Psalme.

Which God himselfe hath fortifi'd;
High Bulwarks rais'd on every side,
And with immortall Walls immur'd:
Her Gates at their approach display,
Who Justice love, and Truth obey.

Who fix on him their confidence,
He will in constant Peace preserve.
O then with Faith Jehovah serve;
Your strong and ever sure Defence:
VVho hurles the Mighty from their Thrones,
And Cities turnes to Heaps of stones.

Their Structures levels with the Floore,
VVhich Sepulchres of Dust inclose:
Trod underneath the Feet of those,
That were of late Despis'd and Poore.
Straight is the VVay the Righteous tread;
By Thee at once inform'd and led.

For we thy Judgements, Lord, expect,
And onely on thy Grace relye:
To thy great Name and Memory
Th'Affections of our Soules erect.
My Soule pursues thee in the Night,
And when the Morne displayes her Light.

Part. 2.

Didst thou thy Judgements exercise,
Then Mortals should the Truth discerne:
And yet the Wicked would not learne;
But thy extended Grace despise:
Among the Just to Injustice fold;
Nor will thy Majesty behold.

Shouldst thou advance thine Arme on High,
Though wilfull-blind, yet should they view
The Shame and Vengeance which pursue
All those, who thy deare Saints envy:
Those vindicating Flames, which burne
Thy Foes, shall them to Cinders turne.

Thou our eternall peace hast wrought,
And in our works, thy Wonders showne.
Though other Lords, besides our owne,
Had us to their subjection brought;
Yet, through thy onely Goodnesse, we
Remembred both thy Name and Thee.

Dead are they, never more to rise
From those darke Caves of endlesse Night;
Nor ever shall the cheerefull Light
Revisit with their closed eyes.
Thy Vengeance hath expel'd their Breath,
And clos'd their Memories in Death.

Part. 3.

Thou, Thou hast given us wounds on wounds;
In punishing thy Glory showne:
Far from thy chearfull Presence throwne;
Even to the Worlds extreamest bounds:
Amidst our stripes, and sighings, we
Addrest our zealous Prayers to Thee.

As Women groaning with their Load,
The time of their Delivery neere,
Anticipating paine with feare,
Screeke in their Pangs; So we to God:
So suffer'd, when in thy Disgrace;
So cry'd out, when thou hid'st thy Face.

For we, with Sorrow's burthen fraught,
Paine, and anxiety of Mind,
Brought onely forth an empty Wind;
Nor our desir'd Delivery wrought.

We neither could repulse our Foes,
Nor give a period to our Woes.

The Lord thus to his People spake;
Thy Dead shall live; those who remaine
In peacefull Graves, shall rise againe.
O you who sleepe in Dust, awake;
Now sing: on you my Plants I'le shed
My Deaw; the Graves shall cast their Dead.

Goe, hide thee in thy inward Roomes
A little, till my Wrath passe by:
To punish Mans impiety,
The Lord from Heaven in Thunder comes:
The Earth then shall your Bloud reveale,
Nor longer shall the Slaine conceale.

Esay XXXVIII.

[Part 1.]

In the substraction of my yeares,

As the 39. Psalme.

I said with Teares;
Ah! now I to the Shades below
Must naked goe:
Cut off by Death before my Time;
And like a Flower cropt in my Prime.

Lord in thy Temple I no more
Shall Thee adore:
No longer with Mankind converse,
In my cold Herse.
My Age is past ere it be spent;
Removed like a Shepheards Tent.

My fraile Life, like a Weavers thred,
My Sins have shred:
My vitall powers Diseases waste
With greedy haste:
Even from the Evening to the Day
I languish, and consume away.

And when the Morning Watch is past,
Thinke that my last.
Thou like a Lion break'st my bones,
Nor hear'st my groanes:
Even from the Dawning to the Night,
Death waites to close my failing Sight.

Thus Swallow-like, like to a Crane,
My Woes complaine:
Mourne like a Turtle-Dove, but late
Rob'd of his Mate.
I my dim eyes to Thee erect:
The Weake ô strengthen, and protect!

Part 2.

What praise can reach thy Clemency,
O thou Most High!
Thy Words are ever crown'd with Deeds:
Joy Griefe succeeds.
My bitter pangs at length are past;
And long my peacefull dayes shall last.

My lively vigour dost restore,
Increa'st with more:
My Yeares prolong'd, now flourishing
In their new Spring:
Thou hast with Joy dry'd up my Teares;
And with my Griefe exil'd my Feares.

Thy Love hath drawne me from the Pit,
Where Horrors sit:
My Soule-infecting Sins thou hast
Behind Thee cast.
The Grave can not thy Praise relate;
Nor Death thy Goodnesse celebrate.

Can they expect thy Mercy, whom
Cold Earth intombe?
The Living must thy Truth display;
A I this Day.
This Fathers to their Sons shall tell,
While Soules in humane Bodies dwell.

The Lord as ready was to save,
As I to crave:
I therefore to the warbling string
His Praise will sing:
And in his House, till my last Day,
My gratefull Vowes devoutly pay.

Jonah I.

As the 9. Psalme.

On Thee my captiv'd Soule did call;
Thou, who art present every where,

From the darke Entrailes of the Whale,
Didst thy intombed Servant heare.
Thy Hand into the Surges threw,
The Seas blacke armes forthwith unfold;
Downe to the horrid Bottom drew,
And all her Waves upon me rould.
Then said my Soule; For ever I
Am banisht from thy glorious sight:
And yet thy Temple with the Eye
Of Faith review'd, in that blind Night.
The Flouds my Soule involv'd below;
The swallowing Deeps besieg'd me round:
And Weeds, which in the bottom grow,
My Head with funerall Dresses bound.
I to the roots of Mountaines div'd,
Whom bars of broken Rocks restraine:
Yet from that Tombe of death reviv'd,
And rais'd to see the Sun againe.
I, when my Soule began to faint,
My Vowes and Prayers to thee prefer'd:
The Lord my passionate complaint,
Even from his holy Temple heard.
Those who affect false vanities,
The Mercy of their God betray:
But I my Thankes will sacrifice,
And Vowes to my Redeemer pay.

Habakkvk. III.

[Great God, with terror I have heard thy Doome]

[Part 1.]

Great God, with terror I have heard thy Doome;

As the 72. Psalme.

The fearefull punishments that are to come:
Yet in the midst of those devouring Yeares,
Then when thy Vengeance shall exceed our Feares,
Thy Worke in us revive; confirme our Faith,
And still remember Mercy in thy Wrath.
God came from Theman, and the Holy-one
From Parans Mountaine, where his Glory shone:
VVhich fil'd the heav'ns themselves with brighter Raies;
And all the Earth replenisht with his Praise.
His Brightnesse as the Suns: his Fingers Streames
Of Light project; his Power hid in those Beames.
Devouring Pestilence before him flew,
And wasting Flames his dreadfull Steps pursue.
Then fixt his Feet, and measur'd with his Eyes
The Earths Extent: pale Feares her Sons surprise,

The ancient Mountaines shrunke; eternall Hils
Stoopt to their Bases; All Amazement fils.
His Glory and his Terrour he displaies,
In his unknowne and everlasting Waies.
I saw th'afflicted Tents of Cushan quake,
And Midians Cortines in that Tempest shake.

Part 2.

VVhen thou, O Lord, the Rivers didst divide;
And on the Chariots of Salvation ride,
Through the congested Billowes of the Seas:
VVas it because thou wast displeas'd with these?
According to thy Oath thou drew'st thy Sword;
Thy Oath sworne to our Tribes; thy constant Word.
From cloven Rocks new Torrents tooke their flight,
And ayery Mountaines trembled at thy sight:
The over-flowing Streames inforce their Wayes;
The Deeps to Thee their Hands and Voyces raise;
The Sunne and Moone obedient to Command,
Till then in restlesse Motion, made a Stand.
Thy Darts and flaming Arrowes, swift as Sight;
Confound thy Foes, but give thy People Light.
He, in his Fury, marched through the Land;
And crusht the Heathen with a vengefull Hand.
Th'Anointed, with thy Sword, their Leaders slew;
The Joynts disclos'd, where Heads of Princes grew.
VVith thy transfixing Speare their Subjects strake:
VVho like a blacke and dreadfull Tempest brake
Vpon our Front, with purpose to devoure,
And triumph over our despised Power.
He through the roaring Flouds his People guides:
Through yielding Seas on fiery Horses rides.

Part 3.

When I thy Threatnings heard, my entrails shooke;
And my unnerved knees each other strooke.
My lips with panting swell, my cheeks grow wan;
Through all my bones a swift Consumption ran.
O where may I repose in that sad Day,
When armed Troups upon my Countrey prey!
Although the Fig-tree shall no blossomes beare;
Nor Vines with their pure bloud the pensive cheare:
Although the Olive no requitall yield;
Nor Corne apparell the deserted Field:
Though then our Flocks be ravisht from the Fold,
And though our Stalls no well-fed Oxen hold:
Yet will not I despaire, but chearfully
Expect, and in thy knowne Salvation joy.
For thou my Strength and my Protection art:
My feet, more nimble then the flying Hart,

Ascend the Hils; where I, with holy fire,
VVill sing thy Praises to my solemne Lyre.

Lvke I.

[My ravisht soule extols his Name]

My ravisht soule extols his Name,

As the 8. Psalme.

VVho rules the VVorlds admired Frame:
My Spirit, with exalted Voyce,
In God my Saviour shall rejoyce:
VVho hath his glorious Beames displayd,
Vpon a poore and humble Maid.
Me all succeeding Ages shall
The blessed Virgin-Mother call.
The Great, great things for me hath wrought;
His Sanctity past humane thought.
His Mercy still reflects on those,
VVho in his Truth their Trust repose.
He with his Arme hath Wonders showne:
The Proud in their owne pride ore throwne;
The Mighty from their Thrones dejects:
The Lowly from the dust erects.
The Hungry are his welcome Guests;
The Rich excluded from his Feasts.
He mindfull of his Promise, hath
Maintain'd, and crowned Israels Faith:
To Abraham promis'd, and decreed
For ever to his holy Seed.

Lvke I.

[O praise the Lord, his VVonders tell]

O praise the Lord, his VVonders tell,

As the 46. Psalme.

VVhose Mercy shines in Israel;
At length redeem'd from Sinne and Hell.

The Crowne of our Salvation,
Deriv'd from Davids royall Throne,
He now hath to his People showne.

This to his Prophets did unfold;
By all successively foretold,
Vntill the infant World grew old.

That he our wrongs would vindicate,
Save from our foes inveterate hate,
And raise our long deprest estate.

To ratifie his ancient Deed,
His promis'd Grace, by oath decreed,
To Abraham, and his faithfull Seed.

That we might our Preserver praise,
VValke purely in his perfect wayes,
And fearelesse serve him all our dayes.

His path thou shalt prepare, sweet Child,
And run before the Vndefil'd;
The Prophet of th'Almighty stil'd.

Our knowledge to informe, from whence
Salvation springs: from penitence,
And pardon of each foule offence.

Through mercy, O how infinite!
Of our great God, who cleares our sight,
And from the Orient sheds his Light.

A leading Starre t'enlighten those,
VVhom Night, and shades of Death inclose;
VVhich that high Tract to glory showes.

Luke II.

As the 34. Psalme.

O thou who art inthron'd on high,
In peace now let thy Servant die,
Whose hope on thee relies:
For thou, whose words and deeds are one,
At length hast thy Salvation showne
To these my ravisht Eyes.

By thee, before thy Hands displaid
The Heavens, and Earths Foundation laid,
Vnto the VVorld decree'd:
A Lampe to give the Gentiles Light;
A Glory, O how infinite!
To Israels faithfull Seed.

FINIS.

Gloria Deo in excelsis.

Deo Opt. Max.

O thou who All-things hast of Nothing made,
Whose Hand the radiant Firmament displai'd,
With such an undiscerned swiftnesse hurl'd
About the stedfast Centre of the World:
Against whose rapid course the restlesse Sun,
And wandring Flames in varied Motions run;
Which Heat, Light, Life infuse; Time, Night, and Day
Distinguish; in our Humane Bodies sway:
That hung'st the solid Earth in fleeting Aire,
Vein'd with cleare Springs, wch ambient Seas repaire.
In Clouds the Mountaines wrap their hoary Heads;
Luxurious Valleies cloth'd with flowry Meads:
Her trees yield Fruit and Shade; with liberall Breasts
All creatures She (their common Mother) feasts.
Then Man thy Image mad'st; in Dignity,
In Knowledge, and in Beauty, like to Thee:
Plac'd in a Heaven on Earth: without his toile
The ever-flourishing and fruitfull Soile
Vnpurchas'd Food produc'd: all Creatures were
His Subjects, serving more for Love then Feare.
He knew no Lord, but Thee. But when he fell
From his Obedience, all at once rebell,
And in his Ruine exercise their Might:
Concurring Elements against him fight:
Troups of unknowne Diseases; Sorrow, Age,
And Death, assaile him with successive rage.
Hell let forth all her Furies: none so great,
As Man to Man. Ambition, Pride, Deceit,
Wrong arm'd with Power, Lust, Rapine, Slaughter reign'd:
And flatter'd Vice the name of Vertue gain'd.
Then Hils beneath the swelling Waters stood;
And all the Globe of Earth was but one Floud:

Yet could not cleanse their Guilt: the following Race
Worse then their Fathers, and their Sons more base.
Their God-like Beauty lost; Sins wretched Thrawle:
No sparke of their Divine Originall
Left unextinguisht: All inveloped
With Darknesse; in their bold Transgressions dead.
When thou didst from the East a Light display,
which rendred to the World a clearer Day:
Whose Prècepts from Hels jawes our Steps withdraw;
And whose Example was a living Law:
Who purg'd us with his Bloud; the Way prepar'd
To Heaven, & those long-chain'd-up Doores unbar'd.
How infinite thy Mercy! which exceeds
The World thou mad'st, as well as our Misdeeds!
Which greater Reverence then thy Iustice wins,
And still augments thy Honour by our Sins.
O who hath tasted of thy Clemency
In greater measure, or more oft then I!
My gratefull Verse thy Goodnesse shall display.
O Thou who went'st along in all my way;
To Where the Morning with perfumed Wings
From the high Mountaines of Panchæa springs:
To that New-found-out World, where sober Night
Takes from th'Antipodes her silent flight;
To those darke Seas where horrid Winter reignes,
And binds the stubborne Flouds in Icie chaines:
To Lybian Wasts, whose Thirst no showres asswage;
And where swolne Nilus cooles the Lions rage.
Thy Wonders in the Deepe have I beheld;
Yet all by those on Iudah's Hils excell'd:
There where the Virgins Son his Doctrine taught,
His Miracles, and our Redemption wrought:
Where I by Thee inspir'd his Praises sung;
And on his Sepulchre my Offering hung.
Which way so e're I turne my Face, or Feet;
I see thy Glory, and thy Mercy meet.

Met on the Thracian Shoares; when in the strife
Of frantick Simoans thou preserv'dst my Life.
So when Arabian Thieves belaid us round,
And when by all abandon'd, Thee I found.
That false Sidonian Wolfe, whose craft put on
A Sheepe soft Fleece, and me Bellerephon
To Ruine by his cruell Letter sent,
Thou didst by thy protecting Hand prevent.
Thou sav'dst me from the bloudy Massacres
Of faithlesse Indians; from their treacherous Wars;
From raging Feavers, from the sultry breath
Of tainted Aire; which cloy'd the jawes of Death.
Preserv'd from swallowing Seas; when towring Waves
Mixt with the Clouds, and opened their deep Graves.
From barbarous Pirats ransom'd: by those taught,
Successefully with Salian Moores we fought.
Then brought'st me Home in safety; that this Earth
Might bury me, which fed me from my Birth:
Blest with a healthfull Age; a quiet Mind,
Content with little; to this Worke design'd:
Which I at length have finisht by thy Aid;
And now my Vowes have at thy Altar paid.

Iam tetigi Portum, ------ Valete.