A paraphrase upon the psalms of David :: :: University of Virginia Library

And Thy experienc'd helps all times have known;
Though Time it self to Thee no Age do's bear,
And in comparison, would seem but Young:
For e're Thy Fertile Word, had made the Earth,
And the World travail'd with the Mountains birth,
Thy Days, Lord, with Thy Being first begun,
With that which no Beginning had,
And when an end of all things shall be made,
Only with that, which has no end, shall they be done.

252

II

Such is Thy Care, and such Thy Age,
Whil'st on Thy breath, Poor Man hangs all his trust,
And soon ha's run his last, and longest stage,
If whence He rose Thou sentence him to Dust:
That fond thing life, which he by years do's count,
(Should to a Thousand Suns the summ amount,
And all to come,) to Thee as yesterday,
When it is past and gone appears,
So looks the numerous train of coming years,
Or as a Watch, which on Sleeps Wings ha's flown away.

III

In times swift torrent down they roll,
Whose stream no sluces spend, or banks can stay;
In vain by Art, we would its course controll,
And stop that Flood, which shall bear all away:
Like a fleet aiery dream, Our Age do's fly,
Which springs from Fancy, and deludes the eye:
Like Flowers, which in the Morning gay and fine,
Rise with the Sun and mount their heads,
But Noon once past, look down upon their Beds,
And tow'rd the Earth, their grave with him at night decline.

IV

Our very pleasures haste our end,
And with ten thousand snares beset us round;
But when to these Thou dost Thy Armies send,
What scarce was felt, now gives a Mortal Wound:
Sickness and pains, the dire effects of Sin,
(Which makes their way,) at the wide breach rush in:
Our secret sins before Thee open lye,
And this Just punishment we bear,
The Tale of Life is done, e're we're aware,
And those Thy wrath consum'd, in Thy displeasure dye.

253

V

Our Life to seventy years we count,
And that he's Old, who thither do's arrive;
But if through Strength it should to Fourscore mount,
Age is a Sickness, and 'tis Death to live:
The swift wing'd years will soon be numb'red o're,
And overtake their fellows gone before;
Which though we see, and know, and each day hear,
As unconcern'd we still look on,
Till in the Common ruine we fall down,
And find too late Thy Wrath is equal to Our Fear.

VI

May We at last True Wisdom gain!
And having seen how much of life is spent,
And how uncertain's all that do's remain,
Be on Eternity and Heav'n intent!
Return, O Lord, for we have born Thy hand,
And Now expecting the dread Sentence stand!
Repent Thee then, Lo, how Thy Servants bow,
And to Thee all their sins confess,
Which more by tears than Words they would express;
And shall Thy Servants, Lord, repent, and wilt not Thou?

VII

For all that we have undergone,
Those years of our few dayes in troubles past,
Now make Thy Mercy and Thy Pow'r be known,
And let the Joy we wait for come at last!
Let it proportion to our sorrows bear,
As constant in its course, as e're they were!
Let us behold the beams of Love, and Grace,
Making our darkness disappear,
And having made Our Heav'n with glory clear,
Their kindest Influence, Lord, bestow upon our Race!

254

VIII

Let us uninterrupted see
On all Our wayes Thy choicest blessings shine!
Make those our guides to bring us up to Thee,
And with Thy Holy Flame our dross refine!
To Thee we look and Heav'n esteem Our Home,
But only through Thy Strength can thither come;
Thy Hand alone Our journeys must direct,
First shew, then lead us in the Way,
Uphold us that we never fall, or stray,
And what Ours cannot, let Thy Hand for us effect.

255

Psalm XCI. Qui habitat in Adjutorio. &c.

I

He, who do's with th' Almighty God reside,

A Psalm of David. Gr. Ανεπιγραφος apud Heb.

And in His secret place abide,
Under those feathers safe shall lye,
With which he thither first did flye,
Where trouble dares not come near the Most High.

II

Thither I'll fly, my God, I'll thither come,
No other place shall be my Home;
Thy Pow'r I will my Bulwark call,
My Fortress, and my Brazen Wall,
Which shall unmov'd remain, though Heav'n should fall.

III

Then fear not, Soul, for Thou preserv'd shalt be,
From all the Snares design'd for Thee;
The Plague that All-consuming ill,
Which do's the Air with Poysons fill,
Near Thee shall lose its force, and cease to kill.

IV

For as the Eagles wings protect her young,
Till they have pinnions of their own,
Under God's wings shalt Thou abide,
And either there securely hide,
Or from Thy Fears away upon them ride.

V

His Truth shall be Thy Battle-Ax, and Shield,
Both to maintain, and get the field;

256

Neither the Terrors of the Night,
Nor dangers of the Mid-day light,
Unseen shall touch, or seen shall thee affright.

VI

The Pestilence, which in thick darkness walks,
And in the empty City stalks,
The Sword, which on whole Lands do's prey,
And to bear witness calls the day,
When Thou appear'st, shall turn another way.

VII

On Thy left hand it shall a thousand smite,
And kill ten thousand on Thy right;
But nigher shall not come to Thee,
Only Thine eyes with joy shall see,
What the Rewards of all the wicked be.

VIII

Because Thou to my Rock for help did'st fly,
Above Thy fears, to the Most High,
There shall no evil Thee befall,
Near Thee shall come no Plague at all,
Who art beyond their reach, and lowdest call.

IX

Around in Bands His Angels shall attend,
And guard Thee to Thy Journeys end;
To lead Theesome, and some to strow
Those wayes with flowers, which others show,
And make the paths all smooth, where Thou shalt go.

X

Thou on the Basilisks proud neck shalt tread,
The Lion shall bow down his head;
With them shall conquer'd Dragons meet,
And humbly stooping at Thy Feet,
Their Captive Chains unto each other greet.

277

XI

“To Me, saies God, he look'd, and therefore I
“Will where he look'd set him on high;
“I was the Object of his Love,
“For as his Prayers did upward move,
“'Twas that they sounded in my ears above.

XII

“To Me in all his troubles shall he cry,
“I'le answer him, and speedily:
“Will bring him out with songs of praise,
“Give him long life, and happy daies,
“And after crown him with Eternal Bayes.

278

Psalm XCII. Bonum est confiteri Dominum, &c.

I

A Psalm for the Sabbath-day.

What Saints in Heav'n and Angels do,
I'le count my Duty, and my Honour too:
Morning and Night, Great God, to raise
My Song as high as Thou hast set Thy Praise;
With all the Numbers Musick can invent,
My Voice, and Harp, and Ten-string'd Instrument,
That what from Thee first came, may back to Thee be sent.

II

Thou hast deserv'd it, and my Song
Shall tell abroad, what Thy great hand ha's done;
And in Thy wondrous Works I will rejoyce,
And with the lofty subject fill my voice;
But Lord, what Verse can with thy Power compare,
And shew Thy thoughts, or what Thy Counsels are,
Which Fools despise, and none can as they ought declare?

III

For when like Grass the wicked spring,
And prosper for a season in their sin,
'Tis that like Grass they may be mown,
And dung that Field, which they before did crown;
Thou, who on high dost all their malice see,
And that less mine, than they were foes to Thee,
Hast thus design'd, that their eternal fall should be.

IV

But Thou on high shalt raise my head,
And on it make the Sacred Oyl be shed;
Shalt raise it as the Unicorn,
To guard his Empire, lifts his Sovereign Horn:

279

And then upon my bloody Enemies
My ears have their wish, and theirs my eyes.
Without regret their misery shall see, and hear their cryes.

V

Then like the Palm the Just shall grow,
And as if under weights, more beauteous show;
Like Cedars shall be ever green,
The World's renown, as they the Woods have been;
His hand, which planted them, shall make them thrive,
The Sacred Earth new roots and sap shall give,
Both in His Courts to flourish, and in His House to live.

VI

There shall they live, and have a Spring,
As constant as the soil they're planted in;
Age shall but render them more fair,
More gay and fruitful than in youth they were;
That all the World Thy Power, O God, may know,
And to Thy Kingdom's Righteous Scepter bow,
Who mak'st the Green Tree wither, and the Dry to grow.

280

Psalm XCIII. Dominus regnavit, decorem, &c.

I

Submit your Crowns, O Kings, for God do's reign,
And ha's Himself put on His Crown;
Throw at His Feet your Scepters down,
And pardon by your quick submission gain!
Unto your selves ascribe His Power no more,
But what He first gave you, to him again restore!

II

Girt round with Majesty the Lord do's reign,
His Kingdom is the World He made,
And on such sure Foundations laid,
That like his Word it shall unmov'd remain;
'Tis there he rules, but Heav'n is fit alone
For our best Wishes, since He there ha's set His Throne.

III

There as He sits, the Floods would to Him rise,
Their threatning heads on high they bear;
But hopeless ever to come near,
Roar, and send up their clamours to the skyes;
Above He hears, and scorns them, stills their noise,
And in their loudest roaring, makes them hear His voice.

IV

All things obey His Will, whose Law's so sure,
That all things by it firmly stand;
From Nothing that did first command
Their Beings, and now makes them to endure:
Thy Power, O God, do's reach us every where,
But in Thy Temple do's Thy Holiness appear.

281

Psalm XCIV. Deus ultionum Dominus, &c.

I

Judge of the Universe, Great Lord of All,
Equal Disposer of Rewards, and Punishments,
Arise, and to Thy Barr, the Nations call,
Both for their Actions to be judg'd, and their intents!
Arise, Great Judge, that by Thy Just Decree,
As are the Proud Man's Merits, his Reward may be!

II

How long, my God, shall He unpunisht go,
And then most prosper, when he most do's Thee offend?
Speaking hard things of what he do's not know,
And make to patient Heav'n his blasphemies ascend?
To Heav'n he raises his exalted Crown,
And under-foot Heaven's Holy seed the while treads down.

III

A Widdow now, and then a Stranger slayes,
And with theirs drinks the blood of th' murd'red Fatherless;
Ha's several baits to throw for several preys,
And several snares, which he can unsuspected dress,
So close, he saith, and from suspition free,
That Jacob's God, though He stood by, should never see.

IV

Canst thou be then so brutish and unwise,
Fond Man, to think He sees not, or not hears,
Who made at first the light, and gave Thee eyes,
And form'd for sounds the subtil windings of thy ears?
Or can the World's just Ruler partial be,
Or God Himself know nothing, who at first taught thee?

282

V

He knows the Heart, and the most secret thought,
How vain are Our desires, Our hatred, love, and fears;
And happy Man, who ha's the skill been taught,
To know Himself, though he with chastening learn't, & tears!
In trouble God will give him rest, and peace,
And by the wicked's fall his glory shall increase.

VI

For the Wise God will not His choice forsake,
Nor His inheritance to strangers ever leave;
Justice, and Right again the Chair shall take,
And injur'd Innocence then clear'd its Crown receive:
Never to be opprest, or suffer more,
But have rewards above the wrongs it felt before.

VII

“But whence, said I, shall come my present aid,
“Or who against my foes my Title will defend?
Hadst not Thou, Lord, my help, and shield been made,
The grave e're this had put to that, and me an end:
But when I slipt, Thy Mercies me sustain'd,
And in the tumults of my thoughts Thy Comforts reign'd

VIII

“For can God, said I, or the Holy One,
“Be joyn'd with them, who set up mischief by a Law?
“Shall Justice, and Oppression share the Throne?
“Or rapine to its party conquer'd virtue draw,
“Against the Just together to conspire,
“And doom the Innocent, and guilty to one fire?

IX

But God's my help; the Rock whereto I fly,
My Fortress, and high Tower, where darts in vain are sent,
Their feathers cannot bear them up so high,
But on the Caster they shall turn in punishment:
And falling thus in wrath be so hurl'd down,
That wounded, every man shall say, the Dart's his Own.

283

Psalm XCV. Venite exultemus Domino, &c.

I

Come! let us sing unto the Lord,
And all His deeds with thankfulness record!
Unto Our God, Come, let us sing,
And to His Courts with shouts Our Presents bring!
He is Our Rock to Him Our Verse we'll raise,
And He, who heard Our Prayers, shall now attend Our Praise.

II

Great is Our God, and rules o're all,
Above all gods, who at His Footstool fall;
The Earth is His, and all its Deeps,
His Word the Hills on their Foundation keeps;
He made the Sea, and bounded it with Sand,
And bid the heavy earth above the waters stand.

III

Come! let us worship and fall down,
And as we ought, Our Great Creator own!
He is Our God, His Flock we are,
The Sheep of's hand, the People of his Care:
Look, how He calls, look, how He bends His ear,
Thus by inclining His, to see if Ours will hear!

IV

To day let's hear, nor be like them,
Who in the desert did His Power contemn!
That hardened there did God provoke,
And though He still kept His, their Covenant's broke!
“'Twas then, saies God, they prov'd and tempted me,
“When all around I had my Wonders made them see.

284

V

“Forty years long their sins I bore,
“And from destroying them as long forbore;
“Fond People, said I, thus to stray,
“And when I shew'd it, not to know my way!
“Therefore in wrath I did against them swear,
“Since they despis'd my Rest, they never should come there.

285

Psalm XCVI. Cantate Domino Canticum, &c.

I

New Songs of Praise to the Almighty sing,
And to Him let the World their Offerings bring!
Sing to Our God, and bless His Holy Name,
From day to day His Acts declare,
How wondrous, and how great they are,
And let the Nations joyn to celebrate His Fame.

II

Great is the Lord, and worthy of all Praise,
Above the Trophys we can to Him raise!
No Pow'r like His we can adore, or fear,
For those to whom the Gentiles bow,
Are Idols, and an empty show,
But He made Heav'n, and all the Hosts, which serve Him there.

III

Honour and Majesty attend His Throne,
Beauty, and Strength His Temple's built upon;
Therefore to Him alone ye People bow,
His Praise with daily thanks renew,
Restore to Him, what is His due,
And at His Altar pay, what there you first did vow!

IV

Let the Earth tremble, and its Kingdoms fear,
And all unto the Mighty Word give ear;
Among the Heathen say, That God do's reign,
Who made the World, and bid it stand,
Till He shall judge it, whose Command
To its first Nothing shall return it back again.

286

V

Be glad, O Heav'ns, and Thou O Earth rejoyce,
And to your Consort take the Seas Deep Voice!
Let the huge Sea in dancing billows rise,
And though confin'd within its Shore,
By Sands which barr the Mighty Door,
Send up to Heav'n its shouts, and force the yielding Skyes!

VI

Let joyfull Songs be heard in every Plain,
And Hills reflect the Voices Face again!
Then let the Trees, the Glories of the Wood,
In mutual Murmurs all conspire,
And joyn with Birds to fill the Quire,
As if like Men they Parts, and Musick understood!

VII

At their Own Numbers let them come away,
And where their God shall pass, lead on the way;
He comes! But who His Presence can abide,
That the Great Judge of all shall be,
Yet who would not His Entrance see,
When He with equal Justice, shall each cause decide?

287

Psalm XCVII. Dominus regnavit, exultet Terra, &c.

The Lord do's reign, let the whole Earth rejoyce,
The Isles be glad, and lift on high their voice;
Louder than Seas, which all around them roar,
And with their shouts shake Heav'n, and rend the Shore!
In the thick darkness God His Glory shrouds,
And o're His Brightness throws a veil of clouds:
Justice and Righteousness uphold His Throne,
And their firm Basis it do's rest upon.
In vain for Him their Toils His Enemies lay,
That Fire consumes them, which prepares His Way.
For on the Nations He His Lightning threw,
And o're the World the swift-wing'd Terrour flew.
The Earth beheld it, and began to fear,
The Hills complain'd, that Heav'n approach'd too near;
And melted with the heat, like Wax, flow'd down,
Whilst in the Plains ran streams of burning Stone.
At the Almighty Presence they did flow,
Whose breath the Fire His eye had made did blow.
The Heav'ns His Justice, and His Power declare,
And to His Truth the Earth do's witness bear.
May then all perish, who to Idols bow,
And boast of Gods, which they make only so!
Worship Him, all ye Gods, Angels fall down,
And at His Feet cast every One His Crown!
Sion with joy shall hear, Jerusalem
Shall send her Daughters to improve the Theam;
For He above all Gods is rais'd so high,
To Him we only by Our Praise can fly.
Praise Him, ye Righteous, who advanc't above,
Would have you thus express, and send your Love!
Your Love upon Himself alone bestow,
And Hatred only to what's evil show.

288

So with deliverance He shall surely come,
And having here preserv'd you, take you home.
To Heav'n, in whose large fields refined Light,
Sown for the Just, looks against Harvest white.
Harvests, which as they reap, the Righteous sing,
And with Eternal shoutings carry in;
Be glad, ye Righteous, and in God rejoyce,
For what His hands have done deserves your Voice!

289

Psalm XCVIII. Cantate Domino Canticum novum, &c.

I

New Songs of Praise to the Almighty sing,

A Psalm.

Triumphall Songs to our Victorious King:
Whose own right Hand ha's got Him Victory,
And for us mighty Wonders done,
Has mighty En'mies overthrown,
And by its Holiness has made the Wicked flye!

II

The Lord ha's sav'd us, and His Power display'd,
His Righteousness made all the World afraid;
Th' amazed World stood, and admir'd His hand,
And when poor Israel seem'd to be
Hopeless of ever getting free,
Wondred how He could then such miracles command.

III

Praise Him, O World, and fear His Mighty Name,
From whence all that at which Thou wondrest came!
Call all Thy forces up the Song to raise,
With Trumpets, and with Harps rejoice,
The Sackbut, Clarion, and the voice,
And with shrill Cornets up to Heav'n send all Thy praise!

IV

Let the Sea roar, and all that dwells therein
Joyn in His praise, when thus the Shores begin!
Let the Floods too their parts in answering bear,
Lift up their heads, and clap their hands,
Rise, and look o're their bounding sands,
And see what's done at Land, though they cannot come there!

290

V

Let them see how the Mountains, glad as they,
Look from their tops, when God will come away!
He comes! But who His Presence can abide,
That the Great Judge of all shall be;
Yet who would not His entrance see,
When He with equall Justice shall each cause decide?

291

Psalm XCIX. Dominus regnavit, irascantur, &c.

I

The Lord do's reign, let the Earth fear,
And tremble, till its old Foundations shake!
For though Mount Sion He His Court do's make,
His Empire reaches every where;
Let the whole World before His Name fall low,

Versiculus.

For it is Holy, and most rais'd when they do so!

II

He Righteousness and Truth do's love,
Is the Kings strength, as they His glory are;
Jacob His Judgements had, and was His Care;
Exalt our God, who reigns above,
The Holy God, and at His Footstool bow,

Versus.

For then you raise Him most, when there you fall most low!

III

Moses, and Aaron, and the Quire
Of Priests, which alwayes in His Court attend,
Samuel, with those whose praises there ascend,
And from His Altar have their fire,
In their distress, when they did to Him fly,
He, who their troubles saw, as freely heard their cry.

IV

He heard them, and that very Flame,
Which to His Presence did their Prayers conveigh,
No less for His return prepar'd the way,
Which through the Cloudy Pillar came;
He answer'd them, and as He heard forgave,
And though reveng'd the sin, yet did the sinner save.

292

V

Thus He of old their Faith did prove,
And unseen by them, through the darkness saw
How they observ'd His Word, and kept His Law:
Exalt our God, who reigns above,

Versus.

The Holy God, and in His Temple bow,
For then you raise Him most, when there you fall most low!

293

Psalm C. Jubilate Deo omnis terra!

I

You, who throughout the World that Power adore,
Which first made it, and then made you,
Give to the Lord, what is His due,
And what Man ha's usurpt, His Praise restore!

II

'Tis God alone, who by His Word made All,
And by His Word that All sustains;
And Nothing by the Wonder gains,
Except to save and hear us when we call.

III

We are His People, He Our Maker is,
Our Shepheard He, and we His sheep,
Whom He secure do's ever keep,
And praise is all that He expects for this.

IV

Approach His Courts, and enter them with praise,
And of His Mighty Power rehearse!
Make that the subject of your Verse,
And up to Heav'n with it His Goodness raise!

V

Who most shall bless Him, let's together strive!
His Mercies have been ever sure,
His Truth for ever shall endure,
What can we less, when He so much do's give?

294

Psalm CI. Misericordiam & Justitiam, &c.

I

A Psalm of David.

I will of Judgement, and of mercy sing,
The greatest Praises of the greatest King,
And since mine's nothing worth, His own unto Him bring.

II

'Twas He discover'd to me first the Way,
I'll follow where He shew'd the passage lay;
O, come, and lead me, Lord, that I may never stray!

III

With my integrity I'll never part,
But be my Seed's as Thou my Pattern art,
And as Thy Way is perfect, so shall be my Heart.

IV

No wicked thing will I with pleasure see,
My Innocent eyes no more shall guilty be,
Or look so low, since they have once been rais'd to Thee.

V

I'll hate the work of him, who turns aside,
His way from life, and happiness lyes wide,
And as he shuns me, from him I my face will hide.

VI

The Privy slanderer I will ore'throw,
Reject the Proud, nor with the froward go,
Their great heights, when they fall, shall make them sink more low.

295

VII

But he in mine shall be, as in Thy sight,
Whose heart, and wayes Thy Laws have made upright,
To Thee a Servant, but my Friend and chief delight.

VIII

He in my house shall dwell, but never there
Shall the deceitful, or false Man appear;
Destruction cannot be far of, when they are near.

IX

Early I will destroy them, and my hand
Shall cut them off, and guiltless make the Land,
And on their spoils, Gods City shall triumphing stand!

296

Psalm CII. Domine exaudi orationem, &c.

I

The V Penitential Psal.

My dearest God, let my Pray'r come to Thee,
Nor at my sighes, and cry offended be!
Dart through these pitchy clouds one ray Divine,

A Prayer of the Afflicted when he is overwhelmed and poures out his complaint before the Lord.

And make Thy glorious Face appear;
If Thou art pleas'd again to shine,
I will no longer fear,
But hope that He, who sees my Pain, will bend His ear.

II

But hear me then, and answer speedily
'Ere 'tis too late, and I no more can cry!
For as dry wood do's in the fornace burn,
And vanishes in smoak away,
So all my strength to smoak do's turn,
And feels its own decay,
Whil'st on my bones, and heart a fire unseen do's prey.

III

So fierce it rages, that I quite forget,
Through pain, and grief my very bread to eat;
The tears I shed do but the flame encrease,
My bones, and flesh become more dry;
And all the while I held my peace,
Less burnt, then now I cry;
And grass the Sun ha's toucht, is not so scorch't as I.

IV

And as the solitary Pelican,
And widdow'd Turtle for their mates complain,

297

Just like the Owle, which do's in desarts dwell,
Hating, and hated of the light,
That to the Rocks her moans do's tell,
So shun I every sight
By day, and weary with my mournfull cryes the night.

V

Both night, and day I'm made the common scorn,
And those, who hate me, are against me sworn;
Ashes and Tears have been my meat, and drink,
Whil'st I continually did grieve,
Of Thy Just wrath, and hand to think,
What mortal wounds they give,
Lifting me up a greater fall but to receive.

VI

And as the shaddow with the Sun declines,
And disappears, when that no longer shines:
As with the Summer heat flowers pine away;
So pass my years e're well begun:
But an Eternal Now do's stay
On Thyne, ne're to be done,
When thousand Ages shall their several Race have run.

VII

The mis'ries of Thy Sion Thou hast seen,
How great Her Sorrows, what her Cares have been;
To save Thy Sion, Lord, at length arise!
Her mighty Jubilee is come,
And now her very dust we prize,
Her rubbish and Her lome,
And humbly begg Thou would'st return her captives home!

VIII

So shall the heathen fear Thy Holy Name,
And all their Kings Thy Kingdomes rule proclaim:

298

When thus again Thou Sion shalt rebuild,
And in Thy glory there appear,
When all Her Courts with Vowes are fill'd,
And Thou inclin'st Thine Ear,
The Prayer of the Forsaken, and their groans to hear.

IX

For the next age this story we'll record,
That they, as well as We, may praise the Lord,
Who from the height of Heav'n, His Throne, look'd down,
And did from thence the Earth behold,
Thence heard the dying Pris'ners grone,
Saw Justice chain'd with gold,
And sav'd both Her, and them, for bribes unjustly sold.

X

He sav'd them, that they might His Power declare,
And tell in Sion, what his Praises are;
When all the Nations there shall gath'red be,
And to the Sacred Mount ascend;
When the whole World His Power shall see,
And all its Kings contend,
Who shall the lowest stoop, or richest presents send.

XI

O might I live to see that happy day,
And not be cut off in the middle way!
“My God, what are my years to Thee, said I?
“Or what my age compar'd with Thine,
“If e're my Noon is reach't I dye?
“For Thee no Times confine,
“Nor ages measure out Thy Dayes, as hours do mine.

XII

Of old Thou hast the Earth's Foundations laid,
And on Thy Word the Heav'ns all times have staid;

299

Thy Word shall make them both fall down again;
Be like a Garment thrown aside,
A Vest with some great rent, or stain;
And all their Ancient pride
Or shall destroy, or under Formes more glorious hide.

XIII

But Thou the same, which Thou hast alwayes been,
Shalt never end, as Thou did'st ne're begin;
When Time itself shall dye, and be no more:
And as Thou art, O God, like Thee,
(Excepting what Thou wert before)
Thy Servants Seed shall be,
And have for them, and theirs a Post-Eternity.

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Psalm CIII. Benedic anima mea Domino, &c.

I

A Psalm of David. Versiculus.

Arise my Soul, and to th' Almighty King,
Sprightly, and cheerful Hallelujahs sing!
Call all thy Forces up, thy Love, thy Fear,
And every part compleatly fill,
Be sure no Idle Passion, Soul, be there,
But to them joyn thy Judgement, Fancy, and thy Will!
With every sence, and every power rejoice,
And add to all a well tun'd voice;

Versiculus.

Thus rise, my Soul, and to th' Almighty King,
Sprightly, and cheerfull Hallelujahs sing!

II

Let thy Song be of what thy self ha's known,
And to the Worlds experience bring Thine own!
Sing of His Name, who cast thy sins away,
And made them all forgotten be,
And though His hand awhile upon thee lay,
'Twas only that restor'd thou might'st His Bounty see;
Who beyond Hope thy life from death did save,
When all had doom'd it to the grave;
And for those thorny cares, which girt it round,
Thy head with love, and tender mercies, crown'd.

III

He Thy Old Age do's with new favours bless,
And as thy years His kindnesses increase;
Thy years have not the Symptomes of decay;
For as the Eagle still grows young,
And moulting her old plumes again looks gay,
As youthfull as she ever was, and fall as strong,

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After her prey as lustily can fly,
As e're shee did, and soar as high,
He like the Eagles do's Thy youth renew,
And gives Thee both its strength, and beauty too.

IV

Those whom the Wicked with oppression grieve,
The Lord do's or avenge, or else relieve.
Thus unto Moses He His Way made known,
And helpless Israel this did see,
When from the cruel chains, which kept them down,
But farr more cruel Masters, He first set them free:
'Tis not a little thing His wrath will move,
Inflame His rage, or quench His love;
Nor for Our Sins will He for ever chide,
But seeks them rather, than his Face to hide.

V

Such are His Mercies, when we must confess
Our Sins might justly make their number less,
And him a sharper sentence to have past;
But when to be put farr from Thee,
Behind Thy back we fear'd, Lord, to be cast,
Our Sins were only set, where we deserv'd to be:
And this alone for Thy dear Mercies sake,
Without the least claim we could make,
To which Our good no more proportion beares,
Than the small point of Earth to Heaven's vast Sphears.

VI

How could it else be that they durst appear,
Whose guilt had added horror to their fear?
Love made Him break the knott, and set Our Sins
As far from us, but from Him more,
Than the bright East, where the young Sun begins
To take his Journy, is from the West where he gives o're
The most indulgent Fathers tender Love
Is hate, compar'd to His above;

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For none so well as He, who made, can spare,
Who both knows whence we came, and what we are.

VII

From Earth Our mean Original we have,
A part of what must be e're long Our grave?
Frail Mortal Man, whose dayes are like the grass,
A Short-liv'd flower, which stands a while,
But like those blustering storms, that o're it pass,
Flies with them, and is gon e're it began to smile:
But to Eternity Gods Love extends,
And all the blessings which He sends,
To Childrens Children, and their Seed endure,
To them, who keep it, like His Cov'nant sure,

VIII

Above the Heav'n God has prepar'd His Throne,
Heav'n's but the Cloth of State He treads upon;
There do's He rule, and Sovereign Laws dispence,
And Kingdoms where He please, bestow,
Scepters, and Crowns are all receiv'd from thence,
And Kings to Him their Thrones, as well as Beings ow;
The Angels are his Ministers of State,
And to observe His Pleasure wayt;
Bless Him ye Angels, who in strength excell,
And what His Will is, you who do it, tell!

IX

You hear the Words, which from His Mouth do flow,
And having hear'd, strait to perform them go,
As swift, as you are ready at His call,
Praise Him, who made your place so high,
And let weak Mortals, who did lower fall,
To whom you oft are sent, on your wings upward fly!
Praise Him His Works, 'tis all that you can do,
For Him, who did so much for you!

Versiculus.

Praise Him, my Soul, and to th' Almighty King,
Sprightly, and cheerfull Hallelujahs sing!

303

Psalm CIV. Benedic anima mea Domino, &c.

I.

Arise, My Soul, and to th' Almighty King,

Versiculus.

Sprightly, and cheerful Hallelujahs sing!
To God, who o're all gods renown'd,
With Majesty, and Glory crown'd,
Lets Thee His prayse resound;
And though Thy flame can never equal rise
Unto His height, accepts Thy Sacrifice!
'Tis He, who with Eternal Light
Obscures Himself, as we are hid in night;
Who in the clearest beams do's cover
A more sublime, and piercing ray,
Making Our Heav'n, and Common day,
But like a Curtain to be shifted over;
Who, as He is, to Blessed Souls is seen,
In glories farr above the Sky,
Without the help of sight, or ey,
The only meanes we see Him by,
Who alwayes see Him with the Veil of Heav'n between.

II.

The Waters are to God as ground,
Who in their floods has His foundations lay'd,
Has all their Ebbs, and Flowings stay'd,
And in their depth a bottom found;
Waters are solid, when He layes the Beams
Of'His Chambers in their swiftest streames;
He makes the Clouds His Chariots, Clouds which are
Envy'd by Angels wayting there,
That when they go before, the Clouds their God should bear.
Th' ambitious Winds aside their blust'ring lay,
And strew their downy Feathers in His way;

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The Heav'nly Host before Him run,
Swift as the Air they tread upon;
Flames of fire His way prepare,
So bright, and yet so terrible His Servants are.

III.

Below the Center of the Mighty Deep,
Where undisturb'd the Aged Waters keep,
And in Eternal Calms ly fast asleep,
There God the Piles for this huge World has lay'd,
And on their firm supporters bid it stand
Immoveable, unmov'd it rests at His command,
And one Vast Island of th' whole Earth is made.
The Sea about it hov'ring stood,
As though it knew not what to do,
Would have some shoare, yet would be wider too,
At last became a Mantle to the World,
And o're its shoulders hurld,
Let its head stand secure above the Flood:
Secure it stands by the Almighty Word,
By Him, who spake it, the Eternal Lord:
The Deep is to its service held,
Both to enrich, and to defend,
And though some times to Hills the strugling Billows Sweld,
Higher than steepest Hills, to Heav'n their rage extend,
Let Him but speak, away they fly,
Affrighted at his Thunders noyse,
Roaring Seas hearken to a Louder voyce,
And husht into a Calm with murmuring dy.

IV.

Thou gates, and barrs hast to the Ocean plac'd,
Thus far to go, and at this bound,
Since move it must, again go round,
One foot beyond it cannot wast;

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No, though it some, and the next wave
Press'd forward by a greater force,
That by an inexhausted source,
Threatning to make the Earth one watry grave;
Let thousands then on one another croud,
And of their Empire proud,
Exalt their Thrones above the Land,
When here Thy Hand
Moves a retreat, Hills into plains are tost,
And mounts of Seas in humble Vallies lost:
To their own place they go, their rage give o're,
And silent as they were before,
Only with trembling pay their Tribute to the shore.

V.

The other springs, those many veines
Which thou hast scattred here, and there,
Over the Earth fresh nutriment prepare,
And in perpetual Circulation.
Into the Sea their mighty Cistern run,
Whence they refunded are again,
With new supply
Alwayes to flow, and ne're be dry;
And in their streames have store of drink to give
The Beasts, which in the desart Live.
There the wild Asses their hot thirst allay,
By them the Fowles of Heav'n delighted stay,
Making by every Rivers side
Sure habitations for their young,
Where all the Quire intend their Song,
And tune their notes to th' bubling of the tyde:
The craggy rocks, which have not equal need,
Thou dost by other Conduits feed,
Rayning down showers; and with his dew
God do's the dry'd up moysture of the Hills renew.

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VI.

He the whole Earth do's satisfie, and food
For all that live do's from its bowels bring,
Causing the herbs to grow, and grass to spring,
(Roots of all sorts, which have the Name of Good)
And from this Common Parent gives us Life & Lively-hood.
No short allowance, and what may suffice
Barely to keep up Life, but great Varieties;
Wine that makes glad the heart, and gives
New Spirits, and lost powers retrives;
The grape with which a nobler dy
Staines all our cares, and makes them undistinguist ly;
And Oyl to make Our faces shine,
And be without as gay, as we are smooth within;
Bread, Wine, and Oyl without all measure
Th' Earth brings from her never failing Treasure.

VII.

Such is Our Mother Earth, on whose fair brow
The tall, and long-liv'd Cedars grow,
Trees which are full of Sap, whose heads defy
The Heav'ns, and near-approaching sky:
Cedars the glory of all Woods, and King of Trees;
In whose fair boughes the Eagle has her nest,
And undisturb'd can rest,
None but the Sun her Airy Sees,
When in his purer flames she tryes
How her young brood can dare the Light,
And had they wings, in'his beames directly rise,
Able to blind anothers sight,
And hazard more their plumes than eyes;
The Stork a Story Lower takes her place,
And for an house the Firr-tree has,
Till an appointed Time
Recall her to some other Clime;
Whilst underneath the craggy clift
A Refuge for the Goat is left;

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And weaker Conys by Gods Providence,
Have from strong rocks, more than their heels, a sure defence.

VIII.

I'th' Sky above the Power of God is seen,
Whether we view one single light,
The Empress of the silent night,
Or those innumerable flames between,
Which Heav'n in one continu'd flame unite;
The Moon, whether a World, or Star,
Or only as we judge the other Luminaries are,
For times and seasons set, to tell the day,
Now it must spring, now it must post away;
The Sun no less the minute knows,
When to set, and when to rise,
When to withdraw, and when to cheer Our eyes,
Giving by his retreat the darkness way
To rule the Night, as he doth guide the day.
Then from their denns the Savage Beasts walk out,
Fierce Lions roar, and for their prey beat all about;
Till at Cock-Crow,
Lions that men, and weapons scorn,
Alarm'd at the approach of Morn,
Through some undiscover'd Plain,
Steal to their Caves again;
And or for Work, or Pleasure leave the day to Man.

IX.

Eternal Minde, should we each Act of Thine
Recount, and mention every thing,
At which of Thy Great works should we begin?
Or what Almighty Numbers can confine
The Love, and Providence Divine?
Thy Works are like Thy Self sublime, and high,
The Power and Wisdom of the Deity,

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More numerous than the sand,
Embracing in its Armes the Sea,
Though every sand should reckoned be,
And all in one long row like Cyphers stand,
The Sea at head, for a great figure to command.
I'th' Sea His mighty aids appear,
In all the Armes and armies there,
The Gyant and the Pigmee fry,
Which in the Sounds, and Shallows ly,
And at His will or fight, or fly,
Where Great Leviathan Leads up the Vann,
Leviathan whom He made to play
In that great Waste, in that great Waste bear sway.
Scorning the rage of silly Man,
Leviathan, whom Seas, as He do's Thee obey.

X.

There go the Ships those floting Isles,
Proud with the Lands, and Oceans spoiles,
Advancing to Our Shore
The Silver Mine, and Golden Oare,
And in their passage through the deep their God adore.
On Him all Creatures wayt,
And at that Common Table, which His hands have spred
With Providence, and plenty, all are fed;
A Table to which none can ever come too late.
Thou feed'st the Wicked, and the Good,
To Thee they look, Thou giv'st them food;
From Thine Own self art full, and ne're drawn dry,
Caust all alone, as thou dost all supply;
Hide but Thy Face and then this World
Has Horror and confusion o're it hurld;
They dye, and hasten to their dust,
They dye, and make one Common rust,
In which when they have Ages buried lain,
Thy Spirit bestows another birth,
Breath's a new life, new stocks the Earth,
And to the World, the World returns again.

309

XI.

So shall alternate life, and death
Make way for them, who must hereafter live;
Leave one and give another breath,
And from its Fate the Aged World reprieve:
Till God enough have liv'd shall see,
Till for His Glory God command an end to be.
'Tis Come—See how the Earth do's shake,
The Rocks bow down, and Mountains quake,
See how the Hills, all set on fire,
Are beacons to each other made,
One Hill is of another Hill afrai'd,
And melted in the All-consuming Flame expire.
Where are they? Just so shall the Sinner dy,
Just so consum'd; ever consuming ly.

XII.

I the meanwhile will to my God sing praise,
Unsearchable in all His Wayes;
My Meditation of Him shall be sweet,
And with my Praise I will His Wonders meet:
His who can Phœnexes from Our cold Ashes raise.
'Tis God alone, whose Mighty Power
Shall, when the Wicked be no more,
Refine His Chosen by these flames,
Give then new and better Names,
And make them farr more glorious than they were before!

Arise, my Soul, and to th' Almighty King,

Versiculus.

Sprightly, and Cheerful Hallelujahs sing!

310

Psalm CV. Confitemini Domino, & invocate, &c.

Give thanks unto Our God, and let your Verse
Both of His wondrous Acts and praise reherse!
Let them give life, and Numbers to your Song,
And count the Glorys, which to Him belong!
All you who fear His Name in it rejoice,
And shew your heart is cheerful by your voice!
Seek ye the Lord, and seek His Mighty Power,
And never, till you see His Face, give o're!
Remember all the Wonders He has done,
The Words He spake, the Signes His hand has shone!
You, who of Abraham, the Almighties Friend,
And of His chosen Jacobs Seed descend!
He is the Lord His Judgements are abroad,
And all the World by them shall fear Our God;
The Word He past is ever in His mind,
To thousand Ages, which are yet behind:
The Faithful Cov'nant He with Abraham made,
And unto Isaac with an Oath conveigh'd,
Confirm'd it then to Jacob for a Law,
From whence now Israel their best Title draw, Saying,
“To thee I'll Canaan give, that Happy land,
“And where Thou sojourn'st now, Thou shalt command.
He said it when they were in number few,
Hardly a Number, were but only two;
Two, who were one, and strangers, forc'd to flee
Those Kingdoms, which their own should after bee.

311

Yet then He suffered none to do them wrong,
Reprov'd Kings for them as they pass'd along;
“No hurt to my Annoynted, said He, do,
“Nor vex my Prophets, least it fall on you.

Then on the Land He for a dearth did call,
To break that staff, whose prop before was small.
The staff of bread that they again might hold,
He that must sell them bread, was by them sold.
Sold for a Slave, and that, in Prison cast,
Where his bruis'd feet in fetters were kept fast.
But that He bore; the smart t' his Soul did pass,
When he remembred by whose means it was.
Till the Word came, Joseph, good Word for Thee,
Which prov'd Thee guiltless and which made Thee free.
The King in haste to loose the Pris'ner sent,
And thought the Messengers too slowly went;
Made Him high Steward of his house, with Power
Greater than ever subject had before;
His Realms submitted to his ruling hand,
And that his will for Sovereign Law should stand.
Whether his Princes he in Chains would lay,
Or teach his wise Men how they should obey;
Pull down, set up, controll things as he please,
Be King in all except the Name, and Ease.

'Twas then that Israel into Egypt came,
And Jacob sojourn'd in the Land of Ham,
Where He increas'd, and did a Nation grow,
More numerous than the slaves, which kept them so.
And by Gods blessing did so propagate,
That whom their Enemies could not hurt, they hate,
New taskes impose, and harder bonds contrive,
And plott their death whom He had say'd should live.
Hence as Embassadors, before He went,
Moses and Aaron He to Egypt sent,
To make His wonders in their land be known,
Who were, and had so many of their own.

312

He to thick darkness turn'd their Noon day Light,
And made them feel, as well as see their night,
The Rivers did with Purple Streams abound,
And the true dye in every Fish was found.
The Land did princely Frogs unnumbred breed,
Which lay with Nobles, and with Kings did feed.
He spake the Word, and there came Hosts of Flyes,
Lice reign'd below, and they usurpt the skyes:
He gave them hail for rain, and fire for dew,
Both to o'rethrow, and to consume them too:
Smote all their vines, and with the Fatal Stroke,
What hail and Lightning spar'd, the Thunder broke:
Then came up armed Locusts, and their train,
In such great bands ne're to be seen again,
And what was left by all the plagues before,
Swept clean away and the whole Land run o're.
At last th' Almighty, when this would not do,
Came down Himself and Egypts First-born slew.
And for the Time that Israel there did stay,
They pay'd themselves, before they went away;
Took with them Egypts Silver, and its Gold,
By great, as it was Lent them, and untold;
Away they went more Lusty and more Strong,
Than when at first they came, Thousands for One.
And when they went, Egypt rejoyc'd to hear
Their parting whom She always saw with fear.

Thus freed a Cloud did their great journy show,
And in the Cloud which lead their way, they go.
A Cloud by day when all Heav'n else was bright,
But that obscur'd a dancing Flame by night:
And as they pass'd, and murmur'd there for meat,
He gave them Quayles, and Angels bread to eat:
Open'd the Rock which kept the Waters in,
And turn'd its flinty bowels to a spring;
A spring whose streams in Rivers did run o're,
And follow'd close the Camp which marcht before.

313

His servant Abraham to His Minde did come,
His Cov'nant, what it was, and made with whom;
So He their Hosts did out of Bondage bring,
Whilst by the Way they did His Praises sing;
Brought them to Labours which were not their own,
And Loaded Harvests, that they had not sown;
To Canaan, thence to be remov'd no more,
But hold of Him, who was their Lord before;
Keeping such Lawes, such services to do,
As by His Covenants He had bound them to.

Hallelujah.

314

Psalm CVI. Confitemini Domino quoniam, &c.

Hallelujah.

Sing to the Lord, for He alone is Good,
His mercies sure, for ever so have stood!
But who their Verse can to His Glory raise,
Or as His Acts deserve, shew forth His Praise?
Thrice happy they, who His Commandments Love,
And by their Constancy their service prove!
On me, unworthy wretch, O God, look down,
And grant those favours, which Thou shewst Thine Own!
That I may tast how good 'tis to be Thine,
And in the Undersong to bless Thee join!

Lord, we have sinn'd, we, and Our Fathers too,
And what they vilely did, as vilely do.
In Egypt they could not Thy Wonders see,
As if its night had drawn a veile o're Thee;
They minded not the signes Thou there didst show,
And thence but to provoke Thee more did go;
Provoke Thee at the sea, the Red sea, where
Thou brought'st them down, to make Thy hand appear.
Yet then God sav'd them for His own Names sake,
That like their sins His Power He known might make.
He stroke the Sea, the Sea asunder broke,
Its Christall could not bear th' Almighty stroke.
And as it broken there in peices lay,
Gods secret path was Israels Great High Way.
Through which, as through the Wilderness they pass,
Only these sands were wall'd about with glass.
Thus from their Enemies He set them free,
Whilst the admiring waves stood up to see.
But when the sacred Army was gon o're,
The seas no longer own'd their new made shore;

315

But o're it leapt, as friends return'd to greet
And in their old embraces hast to meet;
Th' Egyptian Troops, which scattred lay between,
And thought to tell at home what they had seen,
Swift as that thought were buried in the waves,
And not one left to shew their empty Graves.

Then Israel fear'd His Word, and sang His Praise,
But soon forgot that, and His Wondrous wayes.
Did in the Wilderness His Power distrust,
And for full Tables in the Desert lust.
He gave it them, but therewith leaness sent,
Into their very Souls the Poyson went.

Next against Moses they in tumults rise,
And Aaron the Almightys choyce despise:
But God Himself from Heaven His Choice approv'd,
And from His sight the Murmurers remov'd.
The Sea before, the Earth do's now obey,
And frighted at His presence ran away:
Loosned its hold, and as apart it fell,
Let Dathan and Abiran quick to Hell.
And those, who to the Priesthood did aspire,
And off'red Incense, were consum'd by Fire.

At Horeb they had griev'd him long before,
When there they did their molten god adore.
At Horeb where they that great Voice did hear,
Which fill'd the most rebellious breast with fear,
And strook the Soul, as it surpriz'd the Eare.
Thus to an Ox their glory they compare,
And these, cry they, “Thy Gods O Israel are.
Not because they the true one did not know,
But their old love to Egypt thus would show;
Forgetting what in Egypt He had done,
Both for their Nations honour and His own.
And all His Wonders in the Mighty Deep,
Making a Causey there, that they their way might keep.

316

Wherefore about destroying them He spake,
And that He Moses a great Name would make;
Moses, who in the breach before Him stood,
And would have given His Own to save their blood.

That pass'd; the Happy Canaan they contemn,
But more the God, who promis'd it to them.
To Egypt they again had rather go,
Than serve new Masters whom they did not know.
Therefore in wrath He rais'd His vengefull Hand,
To Strike, and swear they should not see the Land;
And that all those, who fell not by His own,
Should by their En'mies swords be overthrown.

Sure they will try it, and to Poor turn'd,
Before dumb Idols ate, and Incense burn'd;
Thus were they only constant in their sin,
And knew no measure till the Plague brake in.
Had some new folly to enflame His Ire,
And set the Mine He lay'd so deep a fire;
Till Phineas stood up, and with dextrous skill,
Three En'mies at one happy blow did kill,
Zimri, and Cosbi and the Plague did stay,
Which weltring in their gore, and breathless lay.
An Act, whose Memory God Himself would save,
And for reward to His House the Priest-hood gave.

Another time at Meriba they strove,
And their meek Guide did with their murmurings prove.
Full ill it went with Moses for their sake,
Who unadvis'dly in His Passion spake,
And with them both in sin, and judgement did partake.
The Nations, of which God in charge did give
Should be destroy'd, they were resolv'd should live;
And come to Canaan, to preserve their seed,
Were mingled with them, and did by them breed.
Learn'd all their works, their Idols did adore,
Curs'd to Them now, though for their sakes before:

317

Idols, that Devils were, yet unto whom
All smear'd they in their Childrens blood must come.
No other Sacrifice but that will please;
Nor any blood, but the Innocent appease;
Their childrens blood, with which their Gods were stain'd,
They and their Gods, and with their own the land.
Thus justly plagu'd for their impiety,
That Gods of their own making should so cruel bee!

This blew the Heav'nly wrath up to a Flame,
Turn'd love to hatred, Mercy rage became;
Up to the Heathen He His People gave,
And Israel in His own land was a slave;
Those, who most hated them, for Lords did reign,
And those they conquer'd, conquer'd them again:
When God delivered them, they yet sinn'd more,
Tempting new plagues they never felt before;
Yet to their cry He gently bow'd His Ear,
And though they would not Him, their grones did hear.
According to His Cov'nant Mercy sent,
And taught them by His oft, once to Repent;
Made their proud Lords resent their Miseries,
And shew less cruel hands, and more indulgent eyes.

Save us O God, and bring Thy Captives home,
That we with prayse may to Thy Temple come!
To Israels King let thanks be ever pay'd,
And let Amen by all the World be say'd!

Hallelujah.

The end of the Fourth Book of Psalms.