Psalm XXXIII. Exultate Justi in Domino! &c.
I
Rejoyce ye Righteous, and to God sing praise,
With all the Numbers Musick can invent,
The Harp, and Lute, and ten-string'd instrument,
And with their sound to Heav'n your voices raise!
Express your thanks thus, and your love;
And in the Consort joyn with Saints above;
In Anthems His great Name adore,
Nothing can please Him better, or become you more!
II
Make Him your Song; and of His Acts reherse,
Whose Word is like the God, who spake it, true;
And every day His constant praise renew,
Who is the Soveraign of the Universe!
Who the whole Earth with goodness fills,
With Flowers the valleys cloaths, and crowns the hills;
Whose care to all His Works extends,
And the strait bounds of Time, as well as Space transcends!
III
Beyond new Lands, which undiscovered lye,
Beyond the Circuit of the Tractless Air,
Beyond those Heav'ns which first created were,
And in the skirts of His vast Empire bee;
His breath did all the Frame compose,
The Heav'nly Hosts by it from nothing rose;
Those sparkling fires we see above,
In which His power appears, declare to us His love.
IV
He spake the Word, and Seas obedient prove,
Stood up in heaps the Earth to overflow,
Till He their bounds set out, plac'd some below,
And treasur'd others in His stores above:
The raging Deep in Prison laid,
And of its Jaylor bid it be afraid;
The sand which chains it to the shore,
With Law to over-look, but never to pass o're.
V
Let the whole World before their Maker fall,
And of His Power the Nations stand in aw!
For He, whose Spirit from nothing all did draw,
Has ruin no less ready at His Call.
His Counsels shall for ever stand,
Their plots though ne're so deep to countermand,
Making them know they are but Men,
And less than so, when He His breath shall call again.
VI
Thrice happy Soul, who here has fixt his joyes,
And on the Lord alone for help depends,
Such constant happiness His Love attends,
That even their land is so, who are His choyce,
Gods, who from Heav'n with curious eyes
Sees every heart, and all their actions tryes;
To whom all hearts are better known,
For He first made them, than t'each single Man his own.
VII
In vain Fond Kings expect sure Victories
From numerous Armies, and a mighty Host,
For Victory on airy wings is tost,
And only to the side He favours, flies:
The greatest Champion cannot save
His own head, sentenc'd by Him to the grave;
And all the speed his horse can make,
In flying one, is a worse ruin to o'retake.
VIII
Those only are secure, who have His eye,
On whom He looks for good, who fear His Name,
And present hopes by ancient love can claim;
When they in need for help, or mercy cry,
Their lives He from the pit brings back,
And what was once their fear, their Song do's make:
In famine they by Him are fed,
Who is at once th' Eternal God, and living bread.
IX
On Thee, O God, we wait, Thou art our shield;
Nor will we to another fortress flie,
There have we plac'd our trust, resolv'd to die,
If the Almighty will no succour yield:
But He will help, and send new joyes,
To fill our hearts, and to employ our voyce;
And only as we trust in Thee,
So let Thy Mercy, Lord, and our Salvation bee.
