 | PSALMOSTHEIOS[Greek], Or a Divine psalme or, Song, Wherein Predestination is maintained, yet the honour of Jehovah preserved and vindicated: And to that eternall song the holy Scripture dedicated. By John Davis [i.e. Davies]. Whereunto is annexed an Elogie upon the Patron, With certaine Divine Epigrams to whom the Author presented some of his Books |  |
An Elogie upon the incomparable Divine Patron of this little Book, the Sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testament.
If I should here presume to speak your praise,Some may object, I am too young of dayes,
And that is truth, and so's the oldest man,
Let him prepare to speak the best he can:
But yet although my juvenility
Impede my Muse from notes or strains so high,
I'ill speak what I have learn't in this my age,
And leave it to be judg'd by men more sage.
You are good and perfect, clean, sweet, & pure;
You are righteous , faithfull, sound, and sure.
You're the Casket wherein those jewels are,
Ev'n truth and peace, of late with us so rare.
You are the Mint of Doctrine, th'only Mine,
Where truth doth grow, the Orb from whence it shine.
For that your soūdnes doth preserve frō shame,
While we like Pilgrims here do walk along:
Your law doth prove to us, our chiefest song,
Your law we should inherit, what's that I say?
It should be our med'tation all the day;
For what the Lord our God did you ordain,
You do perform, you nere return in vain,
You are of no private stock, as some boast,
Your orig'nall is from the Holy Ghost:
You are unfeignedly the Spirits sword,
You are the way of truth, you are Gods Word.
When any of us here do go astray,
You call us back, and put us in the way,
Your power is such, you build, & plant a crown,
And then you root it up, and throw it down.
You convert souls, you make the simple wise;
Your Laws are pure, they'lluminate our eyes,
You're like a hammer, like a burning fire,
How you break the rocky heart I admire:
I'm not able of my self, this t'unfold,
How more you are to be desir'd than gold.
You are at liberty, you are not bound.
Nought that belōgs to you shal fal to groūd.
To Christ, and an Antagonist to sin.
He that keeps your law shall know no ill thing,
Your laws b'ing kept do take away deathsting.
If we could keep your laws, it would be thus,
What we asked it should be granted us.
But, oh! 'tis so with wretched lapsed man,
He cannot keep your laws do what he can,
'Tis God to man must understanding give,
Before he learn your laws, thereby to live;
Yet of the world the less we know and learn,
The more of you and yours we shall discern.
But what can man do any thing he ought,
Since of himself he hath not onegood thought?
No, the great God himself must these things teach,
Or else they are far 'nough out of mans reach:
He cannot know your will, much lesse obey,
Yet pray'r is truly termed heavens key.
From all that hath been said, let's all on you
Bestow our loves, our hearts, as only due.
Lord, draw us to this love, with thy love-cords,
That in hearts we be what w'express in words:
But lest I seem prolix, I'le here surcease,
Yet rest a breather after you and peace.
John Davis.
| PSALMOSTHEIOS[Greek], Or a Divine psalme or, Song, Wherein Predestination is maintained, yet the honour of Jehovah preserved and vindicated: And to that eternall song the holy Scripture dedicated. By John Davis [i.e. Davies]. Whereunto is annexed an Elogie upon the Patron, With certaine Divine Epigrams to whom the Author presented some of his Books | |