Epithalamium, or Solomons Song :: :: University of Virginia Library

Epithalamium, or Solomons Song

Together with the Songs of Moses, Exod. 15 & Deut. 32. ... Digested into a known and familiar meeter, by Samuel Slater

Slater, Samuel

[dedication]

The SONG of MOSES.

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

The SONG of MOSES.

Exodus xv.

1.

Unto the Lord I will sing praise,
for he hath gloriously
Tryumph'd, the Horse and Rider he
hath thrown into the sea.

2.

Jehovah is my strength and song,
yea my salvation;
My God, for him I will prepare
an habitation.
My fathers God, him will I then
exalt and spread his fame:

3.

Jehovah is a man of war,
Jehovah is his name.

4.

He Pharaoh's chariots, and his host,
into the sea hath thrown;
His chosen captains he likewise
in the red sea did drown.

5.

The depths below have cov'red them
yea they did sink each one
Into the bottom of the sea,
even like unto a stone.

6.

Thy right hand Lord it is become
glorious in power, yea lo
Thy right hand (Lord) to pieces hath
dash'd and destroy'd thy foe.

7.

In thine excelling greatness thou
hast vanquish'd them that rose
Against thee yea thy wrath consum'd
(as stubble) hath thy foes.

8.

And by the breath and blast which was
out of thy Nostrils sent,
The waters which divided were,
again together went.
The floods likewise did stand upright
and as an heap appear:
And in the heart even of the sea,
the depths congealed were.

9.

The enemy said, I will pursue,
yea I will overtake;
And of the spoyl which shal be found
I will division make.
Upon them I will satisfie
my lust, and it fulfil;
I will draw out my sword, my hand
shall them destroy and kill.

10.

Thy winds did blow, and over them
the sea it self did spread;
And in the mighty waters they
sank down like lumps of lead.

11.

O who is there that's like to thee,
O Lord? sure there is none;
Who is there like to thee among
the Gods? there is not one.
Glorious thou art in holiness,
yea and in praises, thou
Art very fearful, and thou dost
abroad thy wonders show.

12.

Thou didst put forth, & stretchedst out
the right hand of thy power;

And then the earth did swallow up
thy foes, & them devour.

13.

The people which thou hast redeem'd
thou ledst forth in thy grace:
Guiding them by thy strength, unto
thy holy dwelling place.

14.

The people they shall hear of this
and fear shall them oppress;
And such as dwell in Palestine,
sorrow shall them possess.

15.

Then Edoms dukes shal be amaz'd
and trembling shall take hold
On Moabs mighties, Canaans folk
shall melt when this is told:

16.

Yea fear and dread shall fall on them,
and they shall be each one
By greatness of thine arm and power
as still as is a stone.
Until the people which are thine,
O Lord, are passed over;
I say, until the folk which thou
hast purchased, pass over.

17.

Thou Lord shalt bring this people in,
and planted they shall be
Even in the mountain which belongs
as heritage to thee.
The place O Lord, where thou wilt dwell
and where thy house shall stand,
The sanctuary which thou hast
establish'd with thy hand.

18.

The Lord shal reign for evermore

19.

For Pharaohs horse did go
With charets & with horsemen eke
into the sea below.

The Lord then made the sea return,
and over them to stand;
But Israels folk in midst of Sea
did walk upon dry land.

DEUT. XXXII.

1.

Give ear to me, ye heavens high,
and I will utter speech;
And hear O earth, attend unto
the words my mouth shal teach.

2.

My doctrine as the rain shall drop
my speech as dew shall pass;
As rain that's small, on tender herb,
as showers upon the grass.

3.

Because that I will utter forth,
and publish all abroad
His name, who is the Lord, ascribe
ye greatness to our God.

4.

He is the rock, perfect his work,
his ways all judgement be;
A God of truth, without all sin,
yea just and right is he.

5.

They have themselves corrupted yea
the spot which they do bear,
Is not his childrens spot, perverse
and crooked ones they are.

6.

And do ye in this sort requite
the Lord, O ye that are
A foolish people, and unwise,
so ye your selves declare?
Is not the Lord thy father? yea
and hath he not thee bought?

Hath he not made & stablish'd thee?
Oh hath he not thus wrought?

7.

Look back unto the days of old,
do ye the same remember;
The many generations past,
do ye likewise consider.
Ask thou thy father, and enquire,
and he to thee will show;
Ask thou the Elders, they will tell,
and thou by them shalt know.

8.

When the most high divided to
the Nations their estate
For heritage, and Adam's sons
did likewise separate.
Then did he set the peoples bounds,
within the same to dwell,
According to the number of
the seed of Israel.

9.

For why? the Lord his people doth
his portion take to be:
The lot of his inheritance,
Jacob alone is he.

10.

Even in a dry and desart land
he found him to be cast;
And in the houling wilderness,
both desolate and wast.
He did him gently lead about
instruction also gave;
And as the apple of his eye
he did him keep and save.

11.

As Eagle stirreth up her nest,
and flutters o're her young,
Spreads forth her wings, doth take & bear
them on her wings along.

12.

So did the Lord him lead & guide
yea he himself alone;
And as for other stranger god,
with him there was not one.

13.

Upon high places of the earth
he made him ride, that he
Might eat of such increase as in
the fields abroad should be:
Yea from the rock he made him suck
honey, and thereon feed;
And likewise oyl, which did from hard
and flinty rock proceed.

14.

Butter of kine, and milk of sheep,
was that whereon he fed;
Yea also fat of lambs and rams
that were in Bashan bred.
On goats he fed, yea with the fat
of kidneys of the wheat;
Yea and the pure blood o'th grape
thou drankest with thy meat.

15.

But Jesurun he waxed fat,
and did begin to kick;
Even thou I say art waxen fat,
and likewise art grown thick.
Covered with fat; then he forsook
God which did him redeem,
The rock of his salvation
he lightly did esteem.

16.

With strange gods, unto jealousie
they did him much provoke;
And with abominations, they
his anger made to smoke.

17.

To divels (not to God) they did
their sacrifice present;

Yea unto Gods they did not know,
their wicked heart was bent.
New gods (I say) whom they did serve
newly come up they were;
They were such gods as formerly
your fathers did not fear.

18.

Thou art unmindful of the rock,
even him that thee begate;
Yea thou forgotten hast the God
that form'd thee to this state.

19.

And when the Lord saw this, they were
abhorr'd of him therefore,
Because his sons and daughters eke
provoked him so sore.

20.

And being thus provok'd, he said
I will now from them hide
My face, and likewise I will see
what end shall them betide.
For why, a generation
of froward ones they be;
Yea they are children in whose hearts
no faith at all I see.

21.

With that which is not god, they made
my jealousie to smoke:
To anger with their vanities,
they did me much provoke:
I will them move to jealousie,
their anger eke shall rise,
And be provok'd by such as are
no people, folk unwise.

22.

For in mine anger kindled is
a fire, which I will shew;
Yea I will make it burn unto
the deeps of hell below.

The earth with her increase it shall
consume and waste away;
Foundations it shall set on fire
whereon the mountains stay.

23.

Yea mischiefs I will multiply,
by heaps upon them send;
The arrows also of my wrath
I will upon them spend.

24.

They shall be burnt with hunger, and
also a burning heat;
Bitter destruction shall devour
and eat them up like meat.
Yea I will send the teeth of beasts,
wherewith they shall be crusht
Together, with the poyson of
the serpents of the dust.

25.

The sword without, terror within
shall stroy, and shall not spare
Yongman, nor Virgin, sucking babe,
nor him that hath gray hair.

26.

I said that I would scatter them,
and into corners chase;
And cause that their remembrance should
wth men have any place.

27.

Were it not for the enemy
that I his wrath did fear,
And adversary should himself
strangely behave and bear;
And lest that they should speak & say
our hand full high it is,
And lifted up; as for the Lord,
he hath not done all this.

28.

For they are such a Nation, as
is void of counsel sound,

For understanding there is none
in them for to be found.

29.

O that these men were wise, that they
hereto their minds would bend,
To understand this thing, and would
ponder their latter end.

30.

How should one chase a thousand men
and two ten thousand put
To flight, except the Lord their rock
had sold and shut them up.

31.

For why, their rock, it is not like
the rock whereon we stay;
Our enemies themselves, if they
be judges, thus will say.

32.

Their vine of Sodom is the vine,
and of Gomorrahs field,
Yea grapes of gall, and bitter are
the clusters which they yeild.

33.

As Dragons poyson, is the wine
that doth thereout proceed;
Yea cruel venome of the Aspe,
even such it is indeed.

34.

Is not this laid in store with me,
my treasures seal'd among:

35.

Vengeance & recompense, it doth
of right to me belong.
Their foot shal slide even in due time
the day that shall them waste
It is at hand, the things that shall
come on them, do make haste.

36.

For God shall judge his folk, and shal
repent when he shall see
His servants power is gone, and that
shut up or left none be.

37.

And then the Lord himself shall speak
yea on this wise shall say,
Where are their gods, their rock, in whom
they trusted, and did stay?

38.

Which of their sacrifices ate
the fat, and drunk the wine
They offer'd? let them rise, and for
your safety now combine.

39.

See now that I, even I am he,
and with me there is none,
No God with me, I kill, I make
alive, even I alone.
I wound, and I do heal again,
and surely there is none
That can deliver from my hand,
or rescue, no not one.

40.

For I lift up my hand on high
to heaven, and then I give
This word, and of my self do say
for ever do I live.

41.

If I my bright & glittering sword
shall go about to whet,
On judgement if my hand take hold,
and thereunto be set:
Vengeance I render will on them
mine enemies that are;
And eke they shall rewarded be,
to me a hate that bear.

41. [42.]

Mine arrows they shal drunken be
with blood, which shall be shed,
My sword also shall flesh devour,
therewith it shall be fed.
The blood I say even of the slain,
and them that captives be,

From the beginning of revenge
upon the enemy.

43.

Rejoyce then O ye nations with
his people, for he will
Avenge his servants blood upon
all them that do it spill.
Upon his adversaries he
the vengeance just will send,
But to his land and people he
his mercy will extend.

The SONG of DEBORAH,

Judges v.

2.

Praise ye the Lord, for that he did
revenge for Israel take,
When as the people of themselves
did willing offer make.

[_]

There is no section 1 in the source document.

3.

Hear O ye kings, ye Princes eke,
give ear unto this thing;
Even I will praise the Lord, yea I
to Israels God will sing.

4.

Lord when thou went'st from Seir & didst
march out of Edoms field,
The earth did tremble, heaven drop,
the clouds did water yeild.

5.

The mountains frō before the Lord
even they on melting fell,

Yea Sinai from before the Lord,
the God of Israel.

6.

In days of Shamgar, Anaths son,
and eke in Jaels days
The common paths were left, & men
did travel in by-ways.

7.

They that in villages did dwell,
they ceast in Israel,
Till I arose, I Deborah,
a mother in Israel.

8.

They chose new gods, and then within
the gates did war appear:
Mongst forty thousand Israelites
was there a shield or spear?

9.

Towards Israels rulers is my heart,
that did with free accord
Offer themselves among the flock,
for this bless ye the Lord.

10.

Ye that upon white asses ride,
see that ye speak and talk;
Ye also that in judgement sit,
and by the way do walk.

11.

They that are freed from the noise shal
and fear of Archers fierce,
Where they did draw their water,
Gods righteous acts rehearse.
The acts perform'd for Villagers,
in Israel that were;
Then shall the people of the Lord
within the gates appear.

12.

Awake, awake, O Deborah,
I say awake, awake,
And to the uttering of a song
do thou thy self betake.

Barak do thou also arise,
and now perform thy part,
Lead captive thy captivity,
Abinoams son that art.

13.

Then over Nobles of the folk
he made him rule to have,
That did remain, ore mighty ones
to me the rule he gave.

14.

Gaist Amaleck there was a root
of thee from Ephraim;
Among thy people after thee
O tribe of Benjamin.
And out of Machir governours
came down, and likewise men
From Zebulun, that handle well
the skilful writers pen.

15.

The princes eke of Issachar,
with Deborah they were;
Even Issachar and Barak too,
with her they did appear.
Into the valley was he sent,
yea sent on foot, but lo
Reubens divisions they did cause
great thoughts of heart to grow.

16.

Why didst thou bide among the folds
the bleating flocks to hear?
Reubens divisions they did cause
that great heart-searchings were

17.

Beyond the river Jordan, did
Gilead make his abode
And why did Dan remain within
his Ships that were at rode?
After continued on the shore,
the sea was at his side,

And in his breaches he remain'd,
yea there he did abide.

18.

But Zebulun and Nephtali
were people that did yeild
To run the hazard of their lives
even in the open field.

19.

Kings came, yea Canaans kings, & fought
in Tanaach, by the brook
And water of Megiddo: they
no gain of money took.

20.

They fought from heaven, yea the stars
that in their courses were,
Against the Captain Sisera
in sight they did appear.

21.

The ancient river Kishon, did
them sweep away and drown,
The river Kishon, thou my soul
their strength hath trodden down.

22.

Then did their horses fail them much
their hoofs in sunder brake,
By prancings of their mighty ones,
the prancings they did make.

23.

The Angel of the Lord thus said,
let Meroz cursed be;
Yea the inhabitants thereof,
even bitterly curse ye.
Because they came not to the help
the help even of the Lord,
Against the mighty, yea because
they did not help afford.

24.

Blessed be Jael, Hebers wife
the Kenite, blessed she;
Yea more then other women, in
the tent shall blessed be.

25.

He asked water, and she did
with milk the man refresh;
She brought forth butter, wch she did
present in lordly dish.

26.

Then did she put her hand unto
the nail which she had fet,
And to the workmans hammer she
her own right hand did set.
With hammer Sisera she smote,
his head she did remove,
When she had pierc'd his temples, &
through them the nail had drove

27.

And at her feet he bow'd himself
he fell, and down did ly;
He bow'd, & fell, & when he bow'd,
he did ly down and dy.

28.

The mother of the Captain from
the window cast her ey;
She looked through the lattess, and
after this sort did cry.
Why is it that his chariot is
so long upon the way?
Why is it that his Charet wheels
do make such long delay?

29.

The ladies wise that were wth her
thus did they answer make;
Yea even from her self also
she did this answer take.

30.

Have they not sped, and have they not
the prey divided so?
That every man hath for his part
a damsel, one or two.
To Sisera a prey, which is
with divers colours laid;

A prey of divers colours, and
of needle-work is made;
I say of divers colours, wrought
with needle on each side,
Meet for the necks of them that take
and do the spoyl divide

31.

So let thine enemies perish all,
O Lord, but as for those
That love him, be they like the sun
when forth in might he goes.

The SONG of HANNAH,

I Sam. 2.

1.

My heart rejoyceth in the Lord,
joyful in him am I.
Yea in the Lord my horn also
exalted is on high.
Over mine enemies my mouth
enlarged is likewise,
Because that my rejoycing doth
in thy salvation rise.

2.

There is none holy as the Lord,
for other there is none
Beside thee; neither any rock
like to our God, not one.

3.

Do ye no more so proudly talk,
do not so much exceed,

And arrogancy, let it not
out of your mouth proceed.
For why, the Lord he is a God
of knowledge, and thereby
The actions which performed are,
he doth them weigh and try.

4.

Broken in sunder are the bows
of mighty men and stout;
And they that stumbled, are with strength
begirded round about.

5.

They that were ful, have hir'd them selves
for bread, they did decrease;
And they that hungry were, have found
their hunger for to cease.
So that to her are seven born,
before that barren was,
And she that many children hath,
is now in feeble case.

6.

It is the Lord that killeth, and
alive again doth make;
He bringeth down unto the grave,
and from the grave doth take.

7.

It is the Lord that maketh poor,
he maketh rich also;
He bringeth low, and then his power
in lifting up doth show.

8.

He raiseth up the poor from dust,
and doth the begger fet
From oft the dunghil, and among
Princes he doth him set.
That of the throne of glory, they
might be by him possest,
For pillars of the earth are Gods,
the world on them doth rest.

9.

The feet of saints he will them keep
whereas the wicked shall
Be silent in the dark, because
by strength shall none prevail.

10.

Gods adversaries they shall all
to pieces broken be;
Yea also out of heaven above,
thunder on them shall he.
The Lord shal judg the earth, he shal
give strength unto his king;
The horn of his anoynted he
to honour high shall bring.

The CHURCHES SONG,

Isa. xxvi.

1.

VVe have a City wch is strong
God will for it ordain
Salvation, and therewith as walls
and bulwarks it maintain.

2.

The gates thereof do ye set ope,
that thereinto may pass
the righteous Nation, wch doth keep
the truth, and it embrace.

3.

Thou wilt him keep in perfect peace
even so shall he be blest
Whose mind is staid on thee, because
on thee his trust doth rest.

4.

Trust ye for ever in the Lord,
let him be still your stay;
For in the Lord Jehovah, is
such strength as lasts for aye.

5.

He brings them down that dwel on high
he lays the City low,
Even to the ground, that lofty is,
to dust he makes it bow.

6.

It shall be trodden under foot,
the poor on it shall make
Their feet to stand, the needy ones
thereon their steps shall take.

7.

The just mans way is uprightness;
thou Lord that art also
The most upright, do streight the paths
wherein the just do go.

8.

Yea Lord, for thee we waited have
in way thy judgements be;
Our souls desire is to thy name,
remembrance eke of thee.

9.

Even unto thee, in the night time
hath been my souls desire,
Yea with my spirit, for thee I will
seek early, and enquire.
For when thy judgements in the earth
themselves abroad do show,
The worlds inhabitants will then
learn righteousness to know.

10.

Let favour shewed be unto
the wicked, ne'retheless
He will not set himself to learn
and practise righteousness.
Even in the land of uprightness
unjustly will he deal,

And not behold the Majesty
the Lord doth there reveal.

11.

Lord when thy hand is lifted up,
they will not it behold,
But yet they shall be made to see
shame shall on them take hold;
Even for the envy which their minds
against the people bear;
The fire even of thine enemies shall
devour, and shall not spare.

12.

Lord thou for us wilt peace ordain
to us it shall be brought,
For why, the works that are in us,
even thou thy self hast wrought.

13.

O Lord our God, even other lords
ore us the rule did take,
But by thee; only of thy name
the mention will we make.

14.

But they are dead, they shall not live
deceas'd, and shal not rise.
Thou hast them visited and stroy'd,
their mem'ry fades likewise.

15.

The nation Lord thou hast increast
and thou art glorify'd,
Thou hast remov'd it far abroad,
throughout the earth so wide.

16.

O Lord they have thee visited
when they in trouble were;
They poured out a prayer, when they
thy chast'ning hand did bear.

17.

Like one with child, whose time is neer
yea is in pain, and cries
By reason of her pangs, so we
have been (Lord) in thine eyes.

18.

We were with childe, & in that state
anguish and pain did find;
And that wch is by us brought forth,
is as it were the wind.
We have not wrought deliverance
in earth, no none at all:
Inhabitants eke of the world,
we have not made them fall.

19.

Thy dead shall live, they shal wth my
dead body rise and spring:
Ye that do dwell even in the dust,
do ye awake and sing.
For as the dew that falls upon
the herbs, and doth them spread,
So is thy dew, the earth also
it shall cast out the dead.

FINIS.