Psalme. I.
It shewes wherein Happines
consisteth; Illustrates the present and future estate both of the Iust
& vniust; and comforts the Righteous
by declaring Gods approbation of their Way. It may be sung for an incoragment in the right Path. &c.
THe man is blest, who neither straies,
Where Godles counsellers haue gone,
Nor standeth in the Sinners waies,
Nor sitteth on the Scorners throne.
For, in Gods Lawe his pleasures be;
Theron, he day & night bestowes.
And, therfore shal be like a tree
Which near vnto the riuer growes.
2.
His fruits, in season, he doth give,
Green leaues he shal for euer wear:
All things he takes in hand shall thrive
But, thus the Sinner doth not fare.
For, Wicked men with e'vry winde,
Like dust or chaff, are blown aside,
And therfor shall no standing finde,
When they their Judgment must abide,
3.
Nor place, nor fellowship haue they,
Among those men that are vpright:
For, God approoves the Just-mans way
But, Sinners path-waies perish quite.
Grant oh mercifull God, that shunning all the paths & seats
of impietie, we may exercize & rest our selves in the true love & practise of thy Law:
& that (being planted in thy Church,
& refreshed by the living waters of thy Word)
wee may florish to our comfort & in due time, so
[Page 2]
fructifie to thy glorie, that we may be numbred among thine Elect;
be iustified in the general judgment;
& become partakers of eternal blessednes in the kingdome of heaven, through Iesus Christ
our lord, Amen.
Another of the same.
BLest is he, who neither straies
Where the Godles man misguideth,
Neither stands in Sinners waies,
Nor in Scorners chair abideth:
But, in Gods pure Lawe delights,
Theron muzing, daies & nights.
2
Like a tree sett near the springs,
He doth alway freshlie florish,
Still, his fruits he timely brings,
And his leaf shall neuer perish:
Ev'rie thing shall prosper to,
Which he vndertakes to do.
3
Thus, the wicked shall not fare,
But, be like such dustie matter,
As the whirl-winde here & there,
On the spatious earth doth scatter:
Nor shall they withstand their doomes,
When the day of Judgment comes.
4
Neither haue they place, or stay,
In the righteous congregation:
For, God knowes the Just-mans waie,
With a gratious approbation:
But, those paths that Sinners tread,
To assured ruine lead.
Psa. 2.
It is a prophecie
of Christ
& his kingdom, Act. 4.
declaring the vaine furie of his Opposers;
the wrath of God against them; his eternall Decree
concerning that King;
& the powre & extent of his kingdom. &c. It
[Page 3]
exhorts Kings, & subiects also, to fear & serue him. It may be sung to encrease Faith amid the Churches persecutions
&c.
WHat mooves the Gentiles to repine?
What makes the people foolish growe,
That Earthlie Kings do thus combine,
And Rulers meet in Counsell so?
The Lord, & his beloved
Christ,
Rebelliously they disobay:
His powre (say these) let vs resist
And break, & cast their cords away,
2
But, God who sitts in heav'n aboue,
Their foolish purpose will deride:
His anger shall their torment proue,
And, them, in wrath he then shall chide,
Ev'n I'
(saith God) my King did place
Vpon my holy
Syon hill.
And, by the
Lord, what vttred was
To me (saith
Christ) now sing I will,
3
Thou art my Sonn begot by me
This day; and (if thou make demande)
The gentiles I will give to thee,
And make thee King of e'vry land.
An yron scepter thou shalt sway,
And (if thy Lore they followe not)
Thou shalt compel them to obay
Or break them like an earthen pott.
4
Then Kings be wise; & Rulers lerne
To serue the Lord, with awfull joy:
Yea, kisse the
Sonn, lest wroth he turne
And ouerthrow you in your way.
For, when his wrath inflamed growes,
(Though but a litle moon'd he seem)
Then blest are all who shall repose
[Page 4] Their constant hopes, & faith in him.
Blessed Sonn of God,
begotten before all time (and by. thy Father,
appointed to be King
over the whole world) let thy Kingdom
come, & all the oppositions of thy adversaries, be turned to thy glorie. let thy grace erable vs to pluck downe that Antichrist,
which the world,
the flesh
or the Devil
shal seek to set vp against thee in the Tēple
of our harts; that wee yealding due obedience to thee & thy commands, may escape thy burning indignation, sincerely embrace thy Gospell,
& with awful ioy persevere in the way leading to that felicity which is prepared for those who put their trust in thee. Amen.
Another of the same.
SUch uproars mad, why do the Gentiles make?
What follies do the people doate upon?
Earths Kings conspire, & Rulers counsel take,
Against the
Lord, & his
Anointed-one.
Oh come! & let us break their bands (they say)
Come, let vs cast from vs, their cords away.
2
But God in heav'n deriding their designe
Shall (vexing them) his minde in wrath declare:
Who e're (saies he) repines this King of mine
On
Syon fitts; 'twas I that plac'd him there.
And, what the Lord himself, to me hath told,
(Concerning him) I purpose to vnfold.
3
Thou art my sonn, this day begot I thee;
Demand therfore (he said) & I will giue
The Gentiles, thine inheritance to be;
And rule of all the world thou shalt receiue.
An iron mace; thou shalt vpon them lay;
And break them like a sherd of potters clay.
4
Therfore yee Kings & Rulers be more wise:
Come serve the
Lord your God, with awfull ioy.
[Page 5] And kisse the
Sonn; lest, if his wrath arise,
You be destroid, & perish from the way.
For, when inflam'd his burning anger growes,
Right blest are all who trust in him repose.
Psa. 3.
Apsalm of David when he fled from Absolom his Son.
It mistically Prophecied the multitude of Christs
foes; their bitter censures; the great love of God; the effects of Prayer; Christ
his Death & Resurrection;
the confusion of his Adversaries,
& the safety of his Elect.
&c It is vsefull to strengthen faith in our temptations
&c.
MY foes, how many Lord are they!
What swarmes of them there be!
And of my soul, how many say,
In God no part hath he!
Yet thou art, Lord, my praise, my gard;
Thou didst my head vprear:
And from thy holy-hill, hast heard,
What my entreaties were.
2
I lay & slept, & safe arose;
Because thou brought'st me ayd:
And though tenn thousands me enclose,
I will not be afraid.
Rise, Lord my God; & from all foes
Me safe, now also, make:
Their Jaw-bone smite, & let thy blows
The teeth of Sinners breake.
3
For, saving health, alone to thee,
To thee, oh Lord, pertaines:
And whosoe're thy people be,
Thy peace on them remaines.
Sweet Iesu
who being causesly compassed about with all those innumerable emnities & persecutions which wee deserued,
[Page 4]
[...]
[Page 5]
[...]
[Page 6]
didst nevertheles (trusting in the powre of thy God head)
ly down without fear, sleeping (as it were) in the midst of them by a voluntary Death,
& wake againe the third day,
by the same powre, to the confusion of thy foes: Grant we pray thee, that the multitude of our corporall & spirituall enemies never make vs despaire of thy mercy; but that in all troubles & temptations, we reioicing & trusting in thy love, may be kept harmles; & confesse that our salvation,
is by thee only, who livest & raignest world without end. Amen.
Psa. 4.
To the cheef musician on Neginoth a Psalm of David.
It vpraides those who deride the Truth,
& exhorts to faith
& Repentance.
The common with of world-lings,
& the desire also of a faithful-soul,
is here expressed. It serves to confirme vs against the scornes of Atheists, & meer carnal men.
&c.
OH God my Righteousnes, give ear;
Enlargd I was by thee:
My humble suite, now also, hear,
And pitty take on me.
Vaine Sonns of men, how long will yee
My glorie thus abuse?
Though lies you seek, assured be
That God the just will chuse.
2
Yea God will hear me when I cry,
Fear therfore to offend;
And, on your bedd serch privatly
Your thinckings, & amend.
Make Righteousnes your sacrifize,
On God, assurance place.
For worldly Goods, the world-ling cries;
But grant me, Lord, thy grace.
3
For, thou my hart hast joyed more
Then corne & wine's encrease:
Thou mak'st me safe, & I, therefore,
In thee will sleep in peace.
Olthou fountaine
of all righteousnes, & free justifier
of thne Elect,
seeing, by thy common grace
we are som:-what enlarged from our natural bondage; grant a full delverance from all our corruptions, by thy speciall favour. Let neither frailties, discouragments, nor alurements, incline v
[...]to vanitie:
But, so cause vs to consider whome thou chusest,
that with a filial fear we may refrain from sinn; & having our inward man renewed, as well as our outward actions reformed, we may offer the true sacrifize
of righteousnes,
Encourage vs also through, assurance of thy favour, that contemning the desire of world-lings,
& reioicing more in thy gratious aspect, then in al temporal advantages, we may ly downe to sleep our last sleep
without horror; & rest in the firme hope of a glorious Resurrection. Amen.
Psa. 5.
To the cheef musician on Neginoth a Psalm of David.
It beseecheth audience of God, for sundry respects; & prayeth that he would subvert his Adversaries,
& be mercifull to his Church. It may be vsefull when we are oppressed by the enimies of Christ, for his Cause
&c.
LOrd, weigh my thoughts, my words attend,
My King, my God, encline thine ear:
My suites I will to thee commend,
And thou my voice betime shalt hear.
I will, oh Lord, betimes arise,
And pray, & wait for thy supplies.
2
For, thou in sinn hast no delight,
[Page 8] No evills, in thy dwellings be;
The foole abides not in thy sight,
The wicked are abhord of thee.
Thou root'st out all who falshoods prate,
And bloud, & guile, in man, dost hate.
3
But, I, in thy abounding grace,
Thy house will visite in thy fear,
And worship in thy holy-place;
Oh teach me, Lord, thy Justice there:
Unto my vewe, thy way disclose,
Because of them, that are my foes.
4
Their words & thoughts are false & naught;
Their throte is like a gaping graue:
Therfore, oh God, let them be caught
And fall by what they plotted haue,
Yea, seeing they thy foes haue binn,
Expose them to their swarmes of sinn.
5
But, chear vp those who trust in thee,
That such as well thy name affect,
May, still, therin triumphant be,
And joy that thou dost them protect.
For Lord, the just thou shalt reward;
And, sheild-like, make thy grace their gard.
Oh, soveraigne Lord God,
make vs both timely & diligent seekers of thy grace. Let the due consideration of thy perfections,
& of our natural unworthines
cause vs humbly to attend on thee; vnfainedly frequenting thy Congregation;
& there, truly serving thee according to thine owne ordinance.
Instruct vs fully in thy way,
left our spiritual adversaries drawe vs into error: Let our experience of their malice & subtilety, keep vs the more cautious: Let them be taken in their owne snares
to thy glorie, & let the faithfull
alwaies reioice in thy protection, through, Iesus Christ,
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 6.
To the cheef musitian on Neginoth vpon Sheminith a Psalm of David.
It bewailes the miseries & corruptions of the humane nature, & with penitential expressions emplores Gods mercy &c. It may be sung when oppressed by our sinns & infirmities, we haue invoked God, & received comforts.
LOrd, in thy rage correct me not;
To me, oh! do not roughly speake,
Nor chide me when thy wrath is hott
But, pitty me, for I am weake.
Oh Lord, vouchsafe to cure my paines;
For, through my bones, the torments goe:
My hart is vext, & much complaines,
Good God! hów long shal this be soe?
2
Returne, & help my soul oh Lord;
Mee, let thy meer compassion saue:
For, who in death shall thee record,
Or give thee praises in the grave?
With groanes I tire; & in the nights
My bedd in flouds of teares doth swim;
Through in-ward greefs, & foes despights,
Mine cies decay, my sight growes dimm,
3
But, Sinners, now depart fro mee:
God heares my suite, my plaint, my crie;
Which let my foes with blushing see,
And vext, & greeu'd, my presence fly.
Most awfull God,
speake favourably to vs, in this day of thy offered grace,
lest in the day of thy wrathfull indignation
we be cast into hell sire. Behol'd our frailties,
our torments,
& our horrible distempers:
Observe into how great perills our desperation may cast vs, & have mercy (oh lord) have mercy vpon us miserable offenders. Turify
[Page 10]
our poluted flesh;
enlighten our bleared eyes;
cure our wounded harts;
chear our afflicted spirits;
revive our fainting soules,
& chase away all our malitious accusers;
that we (escaping the dungeon
in which thy praise is forgotten) may magnify thy mercies in the land of the living;
to the vexation of malignant spirits, & to the honor of thy name,
for euer & euer. Amen.
Psa. 7.
Shiggaijon of David which he sung to the Lord concerninge the wòrds of Chush the Benjamite.
It is the Complaint of an innocent,
vniustly accused, & referring himself to be iudged according to his inno-cency. It may be vsed, when the true Church or any members thereof are slandred by their foes &c.
LOrd God, on thee I do depend,
Me, from the spoiler save:
Lest Lion-like my soul he rend
When I no helper have.
For, if oh Lord my God, in this,
My hands found guiltie be;
If I rewarded him amisse
That was at peace with me.
2
Nay, I to him did mercy shewe
Who sought my causeles blame;
Els, let my foe my soul persue
And ouertake the same.
Yea, let hlm tread (when down I fall)
My life into the clay;
And, in a dust-heap, there-withall,
Mine honor let him lay.
3
Oh Lord! thy selfe, in wrath advance,
For, wroth my spoilers be:
According to thine ordinance.
That multitudes to thee may come,
(For their sakes) great appear:
Yea judge them Lord, & giue me doome
As just, ag I am clear.
4
Confounde the sinners wickednes;
But, still, the just maintaine:
For, thou (oh God of righteousnes)
Canst serch both Hart & Reine.
God is my sheild, & he protects
The Godly from decay.
His doomes are just, & he corrects
The wicked ev'ry day,
5
Except they turne, his blade he whetts,
A bowe, still bent, he hath:
He, shafts for persecutors getts,
And instruments of death.
For, lo; with mischeeues being bigg,
They first conceive a sinn;
Next, bring forth lies; then pitt-falls digg,
Where, they themselues fal in.
6
Thus, on their heads, their mischeeus all
Do justly tumble downe;
And wicked mens devises fall
On their devizers crowne.
For which, the justice of the Lord,
I'le strive to glorify;
And, will, in songs of praise, record
The name of God, most high.
Eternal God,
defend vs from slanderous accusations, & from that roaring Lion
who is alway ready to devour vs: And, though our accusers are often so malitious, that in respect of them we may have some appearance of innoceny; yet, cause vs so to acknowledg our selves guiltie in thy sight,
[Page 12]
that we may be Iustifed by the righteousnes,
which we have by imputation from thy dear sonn:
for, we have no Innocency
but his; No Saviour
but he; nor dare we (in our greatest puritie) appeare any where, but at the Throne
of thy mercy.
which let us, who seek the same, alwaies obtain; & let the severity of thy iustice, fall only on our Adversaries who despise thy grace; that both in mercy & iustice,
thou maist be magnifyed for euer & euer. Amen.
Psa. 8.
To the cheef Musitian vpon Gittith a Psalm of David.
It sings the glory, powre, & dominion of Christ;
& magnifies the love of God in the admirable exaltation of the humane nature, by the incarnation of his Sonn &c. It may be vsed, to praise God for the great priveledges which we haue receaved thereby.
HOw famous, Lord, our God, appears
Throughout, the world, thy glorious Name?
Above the height of all the Sphears,
Thou spreadst the splendor of thy fame.
The mouths of babes, thy powr to show;
And sucklings tongues, thou didst ordaine:
To stopp the mouth of ev'ry foe;
And, their avengings to restraine.
2
When on the heav'ns I sixe mine eye,
And moone & starrs (thy creatures) heed;
Why careth God for man (think I)
Or why regardeth he his seed!
He was below thine Angells plac'd,
And, higher, now advanc'd is he:
To rule thy works, him raisd thou hast,
And, at his feet, all creatures be.
3
O're heards & flocks, in stall & solde,
O're cattell which at randome goe,
[Page 13] The sov'raigne place he now doth holde
And, over foules & fishes, to.
Yea, rule throughout the sea, he bears,
And over all within the same:
How famous, Lord our God, appears
Throughout the world, thy glorious Name!
Most glorious Lord God,
thou so lovedst the humane nature, that it pleased thee to be made man; by the mouths of babes & sucklings magnifienge thy great powre; & by humbling (as it were) of the Deitie
for a tyme, to exalt the Manhood
for euer. For this thy vnexpressible humiliation, & incomprehensible favour, we submissively prostrat our soules, and bend the knees of our bodyes to the honor of thy Name;
beseeching thee, that as all other creatures are obediently subiected to thy Sonns
Dominion, so wee may truly submit our wills to his good pleasure; & in Act, word & thought,
be thanckful for our many priveledges, by his blessed Incarnation, Resurrection, & Ascention,
now & for euer. Amen.
Psa. 9.
To the cheef Musitian vpon Muth-labben a psalm of David.
Herein, the faithfull praise God, for many good causes, & exhort others to do the same. It may be vsed, to praise the Lord, for his many fold mercies vouchsafed to his Church; &, for his just judgments on their foes. &c.
NOw, Lord. with all my hart, & voice,
Thy wondrous works I, le magnify:
Of thee, I'le sing; Of thee, reioice;
And praise thy name (oh God most high)
For, thou didst put my foes to slight;
They fell, & fled out of thy sight.
2
My lawfull cause thou dost vpholde;
[Page 14] Thou fit'st enthron'd; thou judgest right;
The Gentiles, are by thee contrould;
The wicked, thou destroiest quite:
And, thou their names away dost blot,
For evermore, to be forgot.
3
Thy slaughters, now, thou cruel Foe,
Are to an end, for ever, brought;
Those Townes which thou did'st overthrowe,
Are nameles now, & out of thought:
But, God still sitteth on his throne,
Preparing judgment thervpon.
4
The world, he shall vprightly doome;
And, justly judge the nations all.
The pore, when times of trouble come,
He gardeth, like a castle wall.
And, they who seek & know his name,
Are safe, by trusting in the same.
5
To God, therfore, in
Syon sing;
To nations all, make knowne his deeds:
For, when to light, he blood will bring,
He poremens wrongs, & criengs, heeds.
Now also, Lord, thy grace I crave:
Oh! mark what woes, & foes I have.
6
Thou sav'st me from the gates of hell
That I thy praise, with chearfull voice,
To
Syon's daughters may reveal,
And in thy saving-health rejoice.
The Gentiles, had a pitt-fall wrought;
But, they themselves therin were caught.
7
Their Nets have their owne feet en-inar'de,
And, God is by his iudgments knowne;
The Sinners hands have trapps preparde,
Whereby them selves were ouerthrowue.
Shiggaijon. Selah.
Thus, downe to hell the wicked goe,
[Page 15] As, all who fear not God shall doe.
8
There is a time to minde the pore,
Their hope shall not, for ever, faile;
To judge the Gentiles Lord, therfere,
Arise, & let not man prevaile.
The Nations fright, vntill they see,
That they are men as others be.
Selah.
UUe haue often experience, oh God,
that by thy favour all oppressions, insultings, & secret cruelties, shall come to an end; and that thy Mercies,
& thy Justice,
shall everlastingly continue, both for the savegard of thy servants, & to reward the wicked, according to their deserts. Let this experience, therfor, be alwaies remembred when we are persecuted or afflicted, & let our confidence be ever so fixed vpon thee, that we may neither be discouraged in Adversitie,
nor forgetfull in prosperitie,
to magnifie thy mercies; but, be readie vpon all occasions, to glorifie thee, both for the suppression of our foes, & for all our other deliverances, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 10.
The Pride, Crueltie, Prophanesse, & Fraude of Antichrist, Atheists, & Hipocrites
is described: God is invoked to redresse it: his Dominion acknowledged, & his mercifull regard of the afflicted is, confessed. It may be vsed, when we are oppressed by temporall or Spirituall Oppressors.
THy face, oh Lord, why dost thou hide,
And stand aloofe, so farr?
Lo, Sinners, meerly out of pride,
The Spoile of poremen are.
Insnare them, by their owne devise,
For, of their Lust they boast
And praise those Freindes to Avarice,
2
Their scornefull eyes regard not thee,
Their hartes do thee denay.
Too high for them thy judgments be;
Stil greeuous is their way.
They snuff, & sleight their greatest Foes,
And (come what mischeeves will)
Within their hartes, they do suppose,
That they shal prosper still.
3
Their mouthes, with cursings overflowe,
Their tongues, lie. swear, & vaunt:
The pore to catch & overthrowe,
Obscured paths they haunt.
They watch, unseene, for simple-men,
To ceaze them vn-aware.
They lurck like Lions in their denn,
And slielie them insnare.
4
To catch the pore, by lowlie shewes
Their strength, doth help them on,
They think in hart. that God nor vewes,
Nor careth what is done.
But, rise oh Lord, thy powre to showe;
Leaue not the pore forgot.
For, why should Sinners sleight thee soe
And think, thou mind'st them not?
5
Thou see'st, yea see'st their wickednes,
That punishd it may be:
And loe, the pore & Fatherles,
Commit their Cause to thee.
Lord God (their helper) break the strength
Of ev'ry wicked-one;
Serch out their sinnes, & thou (at length)
Shalt cause them to have none,
6
Our ever-lasting king thou art:
Hast forc'd the Gentiles to depart,
And heard the poremans cries.
Their harts thou shalt establish to,
And hear & judge, the pore;
That, earth-bred man, the Orphanes foe,
May them oppresse no more.
Almighty God,
seeing our safetie consisteth in thy loving presence, be thou near at hand, to defend & assist in all extremities. Abate the malice & wickednes of our foes, & let their pride, fraude, & crueltie, make vs the more heedfull that we depart not willingly out of thy protection.
Uouchsafe also, so to raigne in our soules, to the suppression of all intrusions, that (our affections being ordered by illuminated Reason,
& sanctified by Grace) Christ
may have the sole dominion
there; &, that we may sincerely embrace him with our whole harts;
honor him with all our faculties;
confesse him with our tongues;
& glorify him by our works,
together with thee, oh father,
& the blessed Spirit,
now & for ever. Amen.
Another of the same.
LOrd, why standest thou so farr?
Why at need, am I forsaken?
Poremen, wrondg'd by Tirants are;
Let them in those guiles, be taken,
Which by them contrived were.
2
For, in boast, the Sinner sayes;
That, his longings he possesseth:
He, the Covetous doth praise,
(And their practises he blesseth)
Though the Lord abhors their waies.
3
Proud & loftie lookes, hath he,
God, nor seeking, nor beleeving:
And thy judgments
(past conceivinge)
Are too high for him to see.
4
With contempt he sleights his foes,
Fearing neither falls nor sliding:
From his mouth much cursing flowes,
Vnderneath his tongue, still hiding,
Mischeef, sinn, & guilefull showes.
In blinde paths, he lurks & pries,
Harmles men to spoile & murther:
At the pore he darts his eyes,
And (unseene) his drifts to further,
Like the denned lion, lies.
He doth watch the pore to spoile,
Whome he snares & ouerthroweth:
For, to take him in his toyle,
He with humble crowchings boweth,
Ceazing him by force, the while.
Then, in hart, thus muzeth he;
God shall sleightly passe it over;
Hide his face, & never see:
But, rise Lord, thy strength discover,
That the meek aven'gd may be.
Let not Sinners mock thee soe,
As if thou didst nought regard it:
Lo: thou see'st, yea see'st them do
Spightfull wrong; &, to reward it,
Thou shalt set thy hand there-to.
Thou, art poremens hopefull stay,
Orphanes helper, in oppression:
Break the Sinners armes I pray,
Serch thou after his transgression,
And, then, purg it all away,
God who raignes for evermore,
[Page 19] From his land, the Gentiles driveth;
Hears, & chears, & helps the pore;
And, the Orphane so reviveth,
That, he feares not, as before.
Psa. 11.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalm of David.
The faithful soule (being tempted to despaire) makes fast the Anchor of his Hope by considering Gods powre, his love to such as trust in him, & his hatred to their vnfaithful adversaries &c. It may be vsed, to comfort vs in desperate temptations, & imminent perills,
IN God, my trust is placed still;
Then, wherefor do you say,
That, as a bird vnto the hill,
My soul should fly away?
For, loe, their bow the wicked bend,
And arrowes they prepare,
That they, vnseene, their shafts may send,
At such as needie are.
If overthrowne the Ground-works lie,
What cann the best men do?
Gods holy seat, is heav'n on high,
And he must look therto.
Man-kinde, with closd, & open eyes,
(Ev'n righteous men) God prooues;
And, him he doth, in soul, despize,
That wicked Courses loves.
For wicked men, the Lord prepares,
(And raines into thir eupp)
A storme of brimstone, fire, & snares,
Which they must swallow up.
But, being in himself vpright,
He, justice doth affect;
A looke of good respect.
Permit not oh God!
the accusings of our consciences,
nor the bitter censures of others, (whether iustly or vniustly pronounced) to overthrow our hopes of thy Mercy.
Let not the groundworks
of our faith be vndermined by any Temptation;
but, seeing thou serchest the secrets of our harts, & findest that (raked vp among our many frailties & corruptions) there are yet vnquenched in our soules, the smokings
of that fire,
which was first kindled by thy grace;
Re-inflame, we pray thee, our spiritual affections to thee
& thy lawe. That, when malitious offenders receive the bitter draught
prepared for them, we may thanckfully take the Cupp of Salvation,
& reioice in thy gratious favours, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 12.
To the cheef Musitian vpon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.
The elect are prayd for; The circumventions & insultings of the wicked are mentioned, with a promise of redresse; & the stabilitie of Gods word is declared. It may be vsed when heresie, or prophanesse beginnes to spread.
&c.
HElp Lord; for, no Good man is left:
All faithfulnes is quite bereft,
And from the race of men departs:
They, lies vnto their neighbours, tell;
Vpon their lipps, faire speaches dwell,
When falshood lurketh in their hartes.
2
But, God shall cut their lipps that gloze,
And, pluck away the tongues of those
Who proudly make their vauntings, thus:
Wee of our tongues will masters be;
Our lipps are ours, & who is he
3
But, I (saith God) will now arise,
Ev'n for the sighengs & the cries
Of those that wrong'd or greeved are:
And, I will them in saftie sett,
Beyond their powre, who in their nett,
The poremans footsteps would ensnare,
4
Gods wordes refinde, the Test will bide,
Like silver seav'n tymes purifide;
And, God will keep them ever true:
Though, for a while, men lewd & base,
Do sitt in honors higest place,
And, ev'ry where their folly shewe.
Consider (oh Lord)
the general vnfaithfulnes which now overpreads the whole earth; Observe the falshood, pride, hypocrisie, & insolencies of the Adversaris
of Truth; Behold the suffrings of thy small flock;
Convert or confound their oppressors; fulfill thy gratious promises made to the pore in Spirit;
preserve thy word
from being made frustrate or perverted, by those wicked-ones, who are now exalted, both in church
& commonwealth, to thy dishonor; and (when they have acted their follies, during the tyme which thou shalt permit) let thy purified word
prevaile to the purging of this corrupt world, & to the encreasing of the number of thy elect,
through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 13.
To the Cheef Musitian a Psalm of David.
It expresseth hartie longinges after spirituall Consolations, & shews the perplexties of a soule, seeking rest in her owne Counsells &c. It may besung, when feeling our natural defects, & the malice of our foes, we desire the comforts of the Holy-glost &c.
Shall thus obscured be
Thy cheerful face, oh Lord, for aye?
Still, in my soul, shal I
Perplext, & muzing lie,
With hart oppressed all the day?
2
My God! shall still my foe,
Insult vpon me foe?
Hear, & mine eyes enlighten thou:
Els, death wil me surprize;
And then mine enimies,
Will say; we haue prevailed, now.
3
For, they who malice mee,
Will Ioy my fall to see:
But, Lord, thy mercies I will minde.
I'le in thine ayde rejoice,
And praise thee, with my voice;
Because, to me thou hast bene kinde.
Dear God;
vnsufferable is a troubled spirit
seeking rest in it selfe. Or in any thinge without thee. when thou art absent, the presence of all temporal consolations doe but encrease torment; & vnles thou speake peace to our soules, all thy creatures help to aggravate our afflictions.
Revive therfor our hartes by thy sweet presence; Enlighten the eyes
of our mindes that we sleep
not in sinn, & so cbear vs by the light of thy Countenance
that our foes insult not over vs: but grant rather, that we reioicing in thy Saluation,
may both live & dy with Comfort, to the honor of thy blessed Name. Amen.
Another of the same.
OH Lord, how long wilt thou drawe back,
And hide thy face fro me?
How long shal I selfe-Counsell take
How long shal my oppressors thrive,
And, I their scornings beare?
Lest, of my life, it me deptive,
Behold, oh Lord, & heare.
2
For, els my foes will say, in boast,
That I the foile have had,
And, they who now afflict me most,
Will of my fall be gladd.
But, in my hart, are hopes of thee
Which health & joy will bringe;
And, thou hast dealt so wel with mee
That I thy praise will sing.
Psal. 14.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalme of David.
It sheweth mans general corruption, & our natural estate before we become regenerated by Gods especiall Grace &c. We should sing it to minde vs, what we are of our selves, & how much we should desire a Renovation.
THe foole, his God in hart denayes;
And, quite corrupt mankinde is growne:
Their walkings are in hatefull waies;
Vpright, or good, there is not one.
The Lord, from heav'n declinde his eye,
And, all the sonns of men he scannd!
That he from thence might search & trie,
Who did him seek, or vnderstand.
2
But, all of them corrupted were,
All men beside the way are gone,
He saw not one deal justlie there,
Not one man good; oh no, not one,
So bruitish are Transgressors all.
[Page 24] That they like bread my people eat:
On God, (likewise) they never call;
And, therfor is their terror great.
3
For, God preserves the faithfull seed,
Ev'n them who righteous waies affect;
And, though his Counsel none doth heed,
Yet, God, the poreman will protect.
Would we Gods ayde from
Syon had,
Which must his folke, from thraldome bringe!
For,
Iacob would therof be glad,
And Isr'el should rejoice & sing.
Acknowledginge (oh! most gratious Redeemer)
our general corruption, & that in vs there is no goodnes; we humbly beseech thee (by the Salvation
promised out of Syon)
to deliver us from our spirituall captivitie;
& so to sanctify our poluted nature,
that our terrors
may be removed; our lives
amended; thy evangelical counsells
hartelie embraced; and that we (becomming true Israelites
inwhome there is no guile) may at last be saved by thy Mercie,
& reioice among the faith full in thy new Jerusalem,
for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 15.
A Psalm of David.
It questions & answeres, who shal be admitted into Gods famelie (to wit) such as are sanctified in thought, word, & deed, &c. It is vsefull to inform vs, what our Conversations ought to be, who professe our selues to be of God's houshold.
LOrd, who shall rest within thy tent,
Or on thy holy hill?
But, he that's trulie innocent,
And sheweth mercy, still.
Whose hart emploies a truth-full tongue;
And none by slander greeves:
[Page 25] Who neither doth his neighbours wronge;
Nor lies of them beleeves.
2
Who favours those that feare the Lord,
And, sinners doth abhor:
Who shifts not from his promis'd word,
Though to his losse he swore.
Who putts not coine to griping loane,
Nor takes a wicked fee,
He, doubtles, is a blessed one,
And, shall vnmooved be?
Flesh & bloud,
oh God,
is neither able to fulfill thy lawe, nor to enter into the kingdome of heaven before it be purged & sanctified by the pretious body & bloud
of thy dear Sonn.
Seeing, therfor, thou requirest that both our outward & inward
man should be conformable to that example of perfect Righteousnes
which he hath left who is gone up, before (into thy holy Tabernacles,
to prepare mansions for all who desire to be followers of him) make vs we beseech thee, so obedient to the discipline of the Catholick Church
(his dwelling place on earth) that we may have his righteosnes
imputed; & be kept immovable in thy favour, vntill we shalbe translated to those heavenly habitations,
where thou livest & raignest world without end. Amen.
Psa. 16.
Michtam of David.
It is a literal prophecie of Christ. Act. 2. 25. &
it hath relation to the communion of saints, The sole-mediatorship of Christ,
his resurrection, & his sitting at the right-hand of God, &c. It is usefull to confirm vs in these articles of our faith afore mentioned,
&c.
SAve me, oh Lord; for, I haue laid
My trustfull hope, alone, on thee:
[Page 26] And, to thy self, my Soul hath said,
That thou (oh Lord) her Lord shalt be.
My goods, to thee are nothing worth:
But, in their vse I will declare,
That I affect thy Saints on earth;
And, such as well-deservers are.
2
All they who serve another God,
Shall gaine encrease of greefs & blame;
Their drinck-oblation staind with bloud,
I'le nor prefer, nor speake their Name.
God is my birth-right, & my share;
He fills my Cupp; maintaines my Lot;
Faire portions, my divisions are,
And pleasant places I have gott.
3
The Lord be praisd, who wrought it so:
For, he in this, did me advize.
My Reines, by night, inform'd me to;
And, God I place before mine eyes.
Who stands at my right-hand so near,
That, me no fears of chaing molest:
It both my hart & voice, doth cheare;
My flesh likewise, in hope doth rest.
4
For, Lord, thou neither wilt permit
That left in hell my soul should lie;
Nor wilt thou suffer in the Pitt,
Thy holy-one to putrifie.
But (through lifes path-way) me shalt bring,
Where, in thy sight (at thy right hand)
All Ioyes, and each delightfull thinge
For ever, & for ever, stand.
Grant, oh Lord,
our soules may so truly affect thee, that thy pore members
may reap the fruites of our charitable affections. Let vs continue so constant also, in thy true worship, that all our offrings may be made acceptable by the
[Page 27]
mediation of Christ Iesus,
& that we may inherit our portion
with him: So, his blessed Soul
& body
(against which nor hell
nor corruption
could prevaile) shall drawe after him, our soules,
out of the hell
of an aflicted conscience,
& our bodies
from the graves of sinn,
& mortalitie,
to enioy with him, a ioyfull resurrection at his right-hand;
& the fullnes of all pleasures, in thy glorious presence, for evermore. Amen.
Another of the same.
PReserve me Lord; for, I on thee depend;
And, for her Lord, my soul professes thee.
Though to thy self, my wealth no profit lend,
Thy Saints on earth, my love shall therby see.
But, they shall feel their sorrow still encreased,
Whose offrings are to other Gods addressed.
2
Their bloudie-drinck-oblation to present,
Or, with my lipps so name them, I disdaine:
Thou art my Lott, where with I am content;
Thou for my cupp, a portion shalt maintaine.
To me, the Lines a goodly share divided;
And praisd be God, that me so well hath guided.
3
My reines likewise, instruct me in the night:
Before mine eyes, the Lord still seemes to stand;
And, sure, I shall preserved be vpright,
Because, the Lord remaines at my right-hand.
It glads my hart; with joy my tongue now singeth;
And, hopefull rest, vnto my fleash it bringeth.
4
For why; my soul thou shalt not leave in hell,
Nor let thy holy-one corruption see:
But, vnto me, thy path of life reveal,
Which thither tends, wher joies perfections be;
Ev'n thither, where at thy right-hand attending,
Those plaesures are, which never shal haue ending.
Psa. 17.
A prayer of David,
It personates Christs
members in persecution desiring succour, & comforting thē selves in hope of the blessed vision of God, after their Resurrection; &c. It is vsefull, when we have cōsidered the quality of our foes, & by faith applyed vnto our selves, the innocency of Christ, with an affection therevnto.
LOrd, hear my cause, my suites, my cries.
Which from vnfained lipps do flowe;
To rightfull things decline thine eyes,
And, from thy self, let sentence goe.
My secret thoughts are in thy sight;
Thou vew'st them, in the darkest night.
2
Thou trid'st my fault, & foundst it none;
For, from offence I kept my tongue:
And (as for things by others done)
My words preserved me from wrong.
Oh! be thou pleasd, my course to guide;
And stay my feet, lest els they slide.
3
On thee I call; for thou wilt hear:
Lord, hear, & my complaint attend.
Let thy great love to me appeare,
And thy right-hand my life defend;
Ev'n that right-hand which from their foes,
Gards them, who trust in thee repose:
4
From Tiraunts, me beseiging-round,
From Sinners, who my harme assay,
Lord, as thine eye-ball keep me sound;
And, over me, thy wings display.
For, they with fatt, quite round are clad;
And, haughtie braggs, their mouths have made,
5
Me, in my waies, they have withstood,
And sought about with downe-cast eyes,
[Page 29] Like lions (when they hunt for food)
Or lions whelp, which lurking lies.
But, rise, resist; & foile them Lord:
From Sinners, gard me, by thy sword.
6
Lord, from those world-lings gard thou me,
Who in this life, their lot receive;
Who full of wealth, & children be,
And for their babes large portions leave.
To wake from sinn, & looke on thee,
In thine owne forme, cententeth mee.
Accept oh Lord,
our weak endeavours, & so teach us to moderate our thoughts,
to govern our tongues,
& to order our conversations;
that no temporal or spirituall adversarie, may iustly accuse or harm vs. Take vs into thy speciall protection;
because, our foes are powrfull, crue!, & deligent in seeking our destruction: but, above all, keep vs from the poluted conversations & affections, of those whose belly is their God; and whose portion of happines, is in this life; that when we shal awake out of our graves,
we may appear in thy righteousnes;
reioice in our happy lot;
& be fully satified in the fruition of thee, who livest & raignest world without end. Amen.
Psa. 18.
A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who sung vnto the Lord, the words of this song, when the Lord delivered him from the hand of al his foes, & from the hand of Saul.
It mysticallie declareth Gods maiestical proceeding in the work of our redēption. And it may be vsed to praise God for our deliverances, by the Incarnation, resurrection, & exaltation of Christ; & for the benifits which we receive thereby.
I Love the Lord; for, my support,
My horne of health, is he:
[Page 30] My Rock, my trust, my Sheild, my fort,
And, oft hath helped me.
He merrits praise; for, when I cry
Me, from all foes he saves;
Though wrapt in pangs of death, I lie
And plungd in sorrowes waves?
2
Yea, when by death & hell en-snar'd,
I sought the Lord, in fear;
My God, within his Temple heard,
And my complaints did hear:
Earths ground-work shook to feel his yre;
The trembling hills, did quake:
His nostrills fum'de, his mouth breath'd fire,
Which burning coales did make.
3
Then, downe he came, & heavu he bow'd
His feet thick darknes hid.
A flieng Cherube he bestrode;
The winged windes, he ridd.
A duskie fogg, his Cov'ring was;
Dark waters were his tent:
Before the brightnes of his face,
Clouds. fire, & hayle, he sent.
4
The Lord, from heav'n did also make
His thunders to be heard:
Yea, when that great Almighty Spake,
Both fire & haile appear'd:
His darts, on ev'ry side he threwe,
Till they dispersed were:
His burning Lightninghs, flashing flewe,
And caused them to fear.
5
When he did frown, a dreadfull blast
He from his nostrills blow'd,
Which, vp the seas lowe Depths did cast,
And, Earths foundation show'd,
Great flouds, advanced me;
And from those foes that were too strong;
He likewise garded me.
6
They in my Cares did me prevent;
But, still, God was my hope:
He, for his love-sake, succour sent,
And gave me larger scope.
The Lord, my Righteousnes observ'd,
His favour he bestow'd;
And, as mine innocence deserv'd,
So, he his mercy show'd.
7
For, in Gods wayes my walkings were,
From him I have not stept;
Still in my sight, his iudgments are,
And I his lawes haue kept.
In him, I instifide became;
For, I did leave my sinn:
And, as I iust & righteous am,
Rewarded I haue binn.
8
As he my hands did guiltles finde,
He, so did me require:
For, to the meek the Lord is kinde,
To righteous men vpright.
Among the pure, he will be pure,
And, on the froward frowne.
The poreman he will make secure,
And, pluck the proud-man downe.
9
My Darknes, God shall brightnes make;
My Lampe, enlight he shall.
By him, I through an Army brake,
And overleap'd a wall,
Gods way is right, pure is his word;
He saves if sought he be:
Or who cann save but he?
10
About my Loines, he strength did binde,
He, sett my path-way streight:
He, made my feet out runn the Hinde,
And rais'd me to this height
My hands to fight; my Armes to bend
A bowe of steel, he taught;
His Buckler, he to me did lend,
And, saving-health it brought.
11
His right-hand hath supported me,
His love hath made me great;
My stepps, by him enlarged be,
And, safe my feet are sett.
I did persue (yea tooke) my Foes,
And slewe til all were slaine.
They fell downe wounded by my blowes,
And could not rise againe.
12
For, he (to fitt me for the war)
With powre, did me indue,
And, those who my opposers are,
Beneath my feet he threwe.
To conquer them, who mee envide,
Me, strong enough, he made.
They cride, and (though to God they cride)
Replies, nor helps, they had.
13
Then, as the dust which whirl-windes tosse,
So small, I them did beat;
And threw them forth, as my rie-drosse,
Which lies about the streat.
Thus, from the peoples vp-roares freed,
I (through his grace) became:
And, now to be the Gentiles
Head;
By him, advanc'd I am.
14
A nation shall my Servants be,
which knowes me not, as yet:
Assoone as they have heard of me,
Themselves they shall submit.
The stranger shall stand out no more;
But, in his Bullworks feare:
Oh praise the living Lord, therfore;
Aloud, Gods praise declare.
15
Let God, my saving-health, be praisd,
By whome to passe it came,
That, I above the people raisd,
And thus avenged am.
Above all them that me oppose,
He doth exalt my throne;
And, saveth me from all my foes,
Ev'n from the Cruel-one.
16
Among the gentiles, now, therefore
I'le thanck him for the same;
My song shall be for evermore,
In honor of his Name.
His king, & his anointed-one
He gloriously hath freed;
And, everlasting mercie shown
To David & his seed.
Vouchsafe, most gratious Lord, according to thy accustomed mercie, to be still our Protector;
& let thy Name
be alwaies glorified for the miraculous deliverances of thy Church,
now & in al Ages; especially for the great worke of mans generall redemption.
Instruct vs in the spiritual warfar;
enable vs against all our visible & invisible foes;
subdue vnto vs all our owne rebellious Affections;
deliver vs out of all our suffrings;
Give vs victorie over everie temptation;
Encrease thy kingdome by the calling of those, who are not yet thy People;
And make vs vnfainedlie
[Page 34]
thanckful vnto thee for these, & all the rest of thy mercies through Iesus Christ,
our Lord, Amen.
Psal. 19.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalme of David.
It declares the vniversal preaching of Gods Divinity
by the book
of his Creatures,
& it is a prophecie
of the generall pub
[...]iation of the Gospel,
Rom. 10.
It sheweth a so, the properties, of the divine word.
It may be used to praise God for the priveledges which we have by his word; &, as a prayer for sanctification,
&c.
GOds glorie, shines among the Sphears;
The heav'ns, his handle-works disclose;
Their daylie speach, his powre declares;
And e'vry night, his wisdome showes.
Their language, in al tongues is found;
Their Line, about Earths globe, doth runn:
Through-out the world their words do sound;
And, there's the Pallace of the Sunn.
2
He Bride-groome-like, refresh'd appears,
When he forgoes his lodging place;
Or gyant-like, when vp he rears
And chears himself, to runn a Race.
His Iorn
[...]ies are from thence begun,
Ev'n where, the bounds of heav'n are sett;
And, he quite round the world doth runn,
Refreshing all things with his heat.
3
God's Rule is plaine, & soules convarts;
His witnes firme, & maketh wise:
His lawes are just, & glad our harts;
His Precepts pure, & clear our eyes.
His blamles Feare is vn-confin'de,
Both true & right, are all his doomes,
More worth then gold (ev'n gold refin'de)
[Page 35] More sweet, then hony in the combes,
4
Moreover, they thy servant warne,
By keeping them, he profit winns:
But, Lord, his guilt who cann descerne?
Oh! therfor purge my secreat sinns.
From daring Crimes. thy sarvant save,
And, let them bear no sway in me:
So, I the lesse rebuke shall have,
And, from the great-offence, be free.
5
Oh! when I speake, let ev'ry word,
And ev'rie muzing of my hart,
Be pleasing in thy sight, oh Lord,
For, thou my strength, & saviour art.
No excuse is lest, oh mercifull Father,
if we be ignorant of thee, or vnconformable to thy will:
for, by the book of thy Creatures,
it was long-since declared vnto the whole world.
which Text,
being corrupted by humane Inventions,
thou didst explaine it againe in the volumes of the Prophets:
Since then, it was more illustrated by the writings of the Apostles;
And the prime scope of all these Bookes,
thy blessed Spirit
daylie preacheth & interpreteth throughout the world, by ordinarie or extraordinarie meanes. The powre, truth, puritie, sweetnes, & profitabelnes of this divine word
wee do, or must, confesse also, to be evident, Nevertheles (because wee have much wilful ignorance, & many secret corruptions, we humbly pray thee, so extraordinarilie to enlighten our darknes,
& to purge our concealed polutions,
that (we being illuminated & sanctified by the holie-ghost)
the vnpardonable Sinn
may be avoided, & we made acceptable to thee in Christ Iesus,
Amen.
Psa. 20.
To the cheef Musitian A Psalme of David.
It is
[Page 36]
a prayer for spirituall graces, with a protestation of affiance in God; & it mistically toucheth the Prest-hood & royal dignity of Christ &c. It may be vsed to desire Gods acceptance of vs in his Sonn; & may serve, in some cases, as a prayer for christian princes and pastors.
&c.
THe Lord, at need, vouchsafe thee grace,
Let Jacobs God, thy cause defend,
Protect thee from his holy-place,
And, strength to thee from Syon send.
Thy guifts, let him remember, still,
Let him accept thy Sacrifize,
Selah,
Thy harts request, let him fulfill,
And, prosper all thou shalt devise.
2
We wil reioice thy peace to see,
And in Gods name our Ensignes wave,
When al thy suites are granted thee:
For, God (I know) his Christ will save.
By his right-hand's almightie force,
God hears vs from his holy-hill.
Some trust in charrets, or in horse,
But, we Gods Name remember, still.
3
In that regard, we raised are,
And stand vpright, when they do fal.
Oh! let the king, our prayers hear,
And save vs, Lord, when we do call.
Assist vs mercifully oh God,
in all our Aflictions;
Accept the Sacrifise
offred for vs by Christ Iesus,
the high-preist
of our seules; & in his Mediations,
grant vnto vs, all our faithful petitions; That so (renouncing al temporall Assurances, & trustinge only in thy defence) we may arise from those sinns, into which many fall without repentance; and that we may be made partakers of thy Salvation,
with our kinglie Mediatour,
who liveth &
[Page 37]
raighneth with thee oh father,
& thy holy-spirit,
world without end. Amen.
Psa. 21.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalm of David.
It is a literal prophecie of the kingly dignitie of Christ,
mentioninge some of his royall prerogatives, &c. It may be vsed as a thanckfull commemoration of the preheminence of our spirituall king.
&c.
LOrd, in thy strength, how joies the king?
And, of thine aide, how glad is he?
His harts desires, in ev'rie thing,
Have bene bestow'd on him, by thee
Selah.
With blessings, thou didst him prevent,
With purest gold, thou cowud'st his head,
To ask for life, was his intent;
And, he of endles life, hath sped.
2
Through thy defence, he famous growes,
And, is to high preferment reard;
On him, thy blisse-evernal flowes,
Thy gratious lookes his hart have chear'd.
Through thy meer love, the king shal stand
Still firme, if he on thee tepose.
And, Lord, thy hand (ev'n thy right-hand)
Shall serch, & finde out all thy foes.
3
As ovens, hot with flames, will do,
So, thou shalt scorch them in thyne yre:
And, in thy wrath consume them so,
As if they burned in the fire.
Yea, thou shalt from the race of man,
Root out their fruite, & pluck their seed;
Because, to wrong thee, they begann,
Although they could not act the deed.
4
Thou shalt expose them (as it were)
[Page 38] A Marke, within thy shooting-place;
Thy stringed shafts thou shalt prepare
And, stick thine Arrowes in their face.
Thus, be thou still exalted, Lord,
By thine owne powre, thy trophies raise:
And then, with joye wee will record
Thy Matchles might, in songs of praise.
Blessed be thy Name, oh God,
for that high preferment which thou hast ouchsafed the Manhood,
by assuming the same to thy Deitie,
& by bestowing theron a soveraigntie,
over al the rest of thy Creatures. Give vs humility
to ascribe al the glorie therof to Christ Iesus;
Hear all our petitions in him; Teach vs by his example, so to trust in thee, that we may obtaine the priveledges
of his glorious kingdome,
& become partakers of that Life-eternal to which he ascended. So; escaping those terrible Iudgments which thou inflictest on thy malitious foes, we shall behold their confusion, to the exaltation of the powre,
to whome he all honor & glorie,
now & for evermore. Amen.
Psa. 22.
To the cheef Musitian vpon Aijleth Shaha
[...] A Psalm of David.
It is a prophecie of Christ his passion, vnfolding divers passages thereof, & mētioning also the calling of the Gentiles, &c. It may be sung to commemorate the Passion, & some other misteries of our Redemption,
&c.
WHy hast thou, oh my God, my God.
Why hast thou me forgone?
Why, nearer is not thy abode;
To hear & help my mone?
Vnheard of thee, I cry whole daies;
Whole nights the same I doe;
Yet, thou art Isr'els cheefest praise,
2
Our fathers did on thee depend,
And. thou didst them secure:
They cride, & thou didst them defend;
Their faith did them assure.
But, I, pore worme, an Abiect am,
No man, but one forlorne:
The people make of me their game,
Their proverb, & their scorne.
3
When me they vewe, their heads they nod,
Make mouths, & jeering, say;
God was his hope, now then, if God
Him loves, him save he may.
But, thou didst gard me in the wombe,
Thou didst convay me thence:
At nurse, my hope thou didst become,
And, keptst me eversince.
4
Er'e-since my birth, my God thou art;
My trust is all in thee:
Oh! do not far fro me depart,
For, perills compasse mee.
Strong Bulls (ev'n herds of Bashan race)
Beset me round about:
They stand wide-gaping in my face;
Like Lions, roaring-out.
5
Like water, I am pour'de aside;
My bones are strain'd apart:
E'vn potsherd-like, my strength is dride;
Like wax, dissolues my hart.
Vnto my Iawes, my tongue is glew'd;
For, thou didst me confound.
With cruel doggs I am persu'de;
By Sinners, closed round.
6
My hands & feet, they nailed fast;
Vpon my vesture, lots they cast,
My garments they did share.
Thine ayde, therfore, no more delay,
But, Lord my strength, draw near,
Cause not the sword, my soul to slay,
Nor doggs to rend my dear.
7
Me, from the mouthes of Lions, garde,
As I, in former daies,
From hornes of vnicornes was heard:
So, I will sing thy praise.
Thy fame, I'le in thy church record,
My brethren being there.
Oh! praise him yee that fear the Lord,
And Jacobs ofspring are.
8
Him, oh yee seed of Isr'el, fear;
For, he doth nor despize
Afflicted soules, nor stop his eare,
Nor turne from them his eyes.
But, when thy crie, their cries are heard;
For which, his praise I sing:
And, in great throngs, where God is feard,
My vowes to him I'le bring.
9
The meek shal feed till they are full,
And praise the Lord therfore.
All yee, who seek him in your soul,
Shal live for evermore.
The worlds far ends, to minde shall call
Their dutie to the Lord:
And, he of heathen kingdomes, all,
Shall see him self ador'de.
10
For, his the kingdome is, indeed,
All nations, ruleth he.
Earths fatlings on his bread shal feed,
Yea, they shall all before him bowe
Whose lodging is the grave,
For, none but he hath powre enough,
The soul from death to save.
11
A seed, whome he shall count his owne,
Shal then, to God returne;
And, make his Acts of Justice known
To people yet vnborn.
Oh! thou glorie of Israel,
& the hope of all who trust in thee; seeing by a voluntarie humiliation,
thou hast in thine own person felt the bitternes of reproches,
the crueltie of persecuters,
the sharpnes of povertie;
the extream torments of the flesh,
the strongest Agonies of the soul,
and every horror
which may affright vs (when in our greatest tryalls & temptations
we seem (as it were) vtterly for saken both of God & man)
remember (oh remember) thine owne passion,
& have mercie vpon vs. Hear
vs, when we crie; help
vs, when we can crie no longer: And when all our strength faileth, let thy powre plnck vs out of our tormenters Iawes; that we & they whom thou hast promised to collect from al places & Ages
of the world, may meet in thy heavenly kingdome,
to glorify thee, for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 23.
A Psalm of David.
The Christian soul acknowledgeth Christ her pastor enritching, feedinge, retoicinge, reforming, beautifieng her, & providing for her an eternall habitation, in this owne presence &c. It may be sung to praise God for the benifits herein mentioned, &c.
THe Lord my Pastor daignes to be,
I nothing, now, shall need:
To drinck sweet springs he bringeth mee,
For his Name-sake, my hart he glads,
He makes my wayes vpright:
And, I, the vase of deaths black shades,
Cann passe, without affright.
2
Thy staffe, thy presence, & thy rodd,
My joyfull comforts are,
And, thou before my foes (oh God)
My Table shalt prepare.
Oyle on my head. pour'd out thou hast,
My Cupp doth over-flowe,
And thou, on me, whilst life doth last,
Thy favours wilt bestowe.
3
Yea, Lord, thy goodnes & thy grace,
Shall alwayes follow me:
And, in thy house, my dwelling place
For evermore shall be.
Keep vs, oh thou faithfull Sheapherd of our soules,
that the Devil
take vs not out of thy folde,
nor entise vs from thy pastures
by faire alurements. Setle vs in thy Church,
Refresh vs by thy Spirit,
Instruct vs by thy Sacraments,
Guide vs by thy example,
reforme vs by thy father'y correction,
& so comfort vs by thy presence;
that we may acknowledge, there is no need of those beggerly assistances whereon worldlings
depend; and, that we may walke without repininge, through the aflictions of this life;
& without fear, through the shaddowes of Death,
to those mansions, which thou hast appointed for thy chosen flock;
in the kingdome of heaven. Amen.
Psa. 24.
A psalme of David.
It describes the largnes of Christs inheritance, & shewes who are members of his Church.
Then, by a poetical prosopopeia,
the everlasting Gates
[Page 43]
are summoned to give passage for the Ascention
of that glorious King, It is vsed, in commemoration of the Ascention.
THe Earth's the Lords, with her encrease;
The world, & all her goods:
He founded it vpon the seas,
And layd it on the Flouds.
What man is he that shal have grace
To climbe the hill of God?
Or Who shall in his holy-place,
Obtaine their free abode?
2
Sure, they whose hands are innocent,
Whose meanings are vpright.
Whose harts to folly are not bent,
Who swear, without deceit.
Such, gaine from God, a blessed meed,
And, from their faviour grace:
And, such (oh Iacob) are their seed
Who truly seek thy face.
3
Yee Gates, lift vp your heades on high,
(Yee dores which last for aye)
The king of glory passeth-by,
Vnclose, & give him way.
Who is the king of glorie? tell,
Oh tell! who might he be?
The Lord, who doth in strength excell,
That glorious king, is he.
4
Yee Gates, aloft your Arches heave,
(Yee dores that have no ende)
Vnto the king of glorie, give
Free passage to ascend.
Who is the king of glorie? say,
Oh say! who might he be?
The Lord of Armies in aray,
Seeing thou hast evidently declared, oh Christ the Kinge of glorie,
who they are whome thou wilt admit into that kingdome
whither thou art aseended; and who are truly of that spirituall seed,
to whome thy promises appertaine. Grant, we beseech thee, that we may make our Election
sure, by the workes of regeneration,
& not be deluded by the false perswasions of a fruitles faith.
So, all thy Creatures, shall give both way, and assistance, to our Ascention
after thee; to whome with the father
& holy-spirit,
be ascribed all praise, powre, & glorie, now & for evermore. Amen.
Psa. 25.
A Psalme of David.
It containeth many petitions of an afflicted penitent Soul; declares the excellence of the Lawe of Grace, & the priveledges of the regenerate &c. It may be vsed when we are dejected by the sight of our guiltines, & are truly penitent,
&c.
I Lift my soul to thee;
My trust in thee is plac'd:
Oh let me, Lord, nor scorned be,
Nor by my foe disgrac'd,
But, keep reproches all
From those who thee attend,
And, let on them Confusion fall
That without Cause offend.
2
Thy waies to me me impart,
Let me thy Truth be taught;
For, thou, oh God, my Saviour art:
Whome I have alway sought.
Be still, to me as kinde
As thou of old hast binn;
And, bear thou not those faults in minde,
3
But, grace to me afford,
Ev'u for thy goodnes sake;
As thou art good, & gratious, Lord,
On me compassion take.
Direct al those that stray,
In iudgment, guide the meek,
And, them informe thou in thy way,
That humbly, thee de seeke.
4
For, Truth & Mercie, Lord,
Are found in all thy wayes,
By ev'ry one who keeps thy word,
And thy Commands obayes.
Remit (though great they are)
My sinns, for thy Name sake,
And, suffer him who thee doth fear,
His chosen-path to take.
5
Then, easd his hart shal growe,
His seed the Land shal fill,
And, he that feares the Lord, shall know
His Counsells, & his will.
Myne eyes attend on thee,
That thou maist me release:
In mercie, Lord, returne to mee
Forlorne & in destresse.
6
My greefs enlarged are;
Oh come, & me releeve.
My sorrowes heed, regard my care,
And all my sinns forgive.
Observe, oh Lord, my foes;
Marke how abus'd I am;
And (since I trust in thee repose)
Defend my soul from shame.
7
Yea, keep thou me vpright;
And, from all wrongs, & all despight,
Let Isr'el saved be.
Remember not, oh Lord,
our offences; but of thy meer Mercie blot out all our transgressions. Let neither the follies of our youth,
nor the greatnes of any other sinns, deprive vs of thy wonted compassion.
Consider our weaknes, our suffrings, & the condition of our adversaries,
as motives of thy pittie; That our sinns beinge remitted, our fetters vnlosed, and thy secrets (even the misteries of Savinggrace)
revealed; wee may in true meeknes. follow him, who is the way,
the Truth,
and the Life;
& be kept by thy speciall Grace
from all future sinns & dangers, vnto our lives end. Amen.
Another of the same,
A Loft, I raise my soul, oh Lord, to thee;
And I in thee alone, my trust have placed,
By those therfore, that seek to mischeeve me,
Oh, let me not be shamed, nor disgraced.
Confound not those who seek to do thy will;
But, shame those mē that Causeles have offended,
Direct thou me in thy Truths pathway, still;
For (Lord my health) on thee I have attended.
Eternall God, in mercie, thinck on me,
As it hath bene of old thy gratious fashion:
Forgot, let all my youthfull errors be;
For thy love sake, Remember thy compassion.
Great is thy grace, & great thy Iustice, Lord:
Therfor, thy waies to sinful men thou showest
Healp to thee meek, thou dost, likewise, afford
Whē he is iudgd; & guid'st him where thō goest,
In all thy waies, both Truth & Mercie be,
[Page 47] For such, as have thy league, & word observed:
Keep therfor, Lord, thy grace in store for me;
(For thy namesake) though I have ill deserved.
Let those, in whome thy sacred fear is found,
In their desired pathway, Lord, persever.
Make true content, in all their soules abound;
And, let their seed, poslesse the land, for ever.
No man oh Lord, who stands in fear of thee,
Shall from thy league or Counsels, be debarred.
On thee, therfore, mine eyes attending be,
That from the net, my feet may be vnsnared;
Pleasd be, in love, to visit me againe;
For, lo; despis'd I am, & sore destressed.
Quit me, from all my sorrowes & my paine;
For, my hart-greefs (oh Lord) are much encraesed,
Regard my wants; Behold, & mark my woes;
Remitting all wherin I have offended.
See, See, oh Lord, what numbers are my foes;
And, what despights to me they have intended.
To help & save my soul, entreated be:
Thou art my Garde, oh! keep me vndisgraced,
Vpright, & pure; because, I trust in thee:
And, from all Cares, let Isr'el be released.
Psal. 26.
A Psalm of David.
It setts downe some marks of the true church
& of her members; & personates her, iustifieing her self against the secret imputations of her foes (from whome she desires to be distinguisht) &c. It is vsefull for those members of Christ, whoe are falsly accused.
&c.
GIve sentence, now, oh Lord, with me;
For, I have walk'd aright;
Preserve me still vpright.
Proue thou my hart & Raines, oh God;
Search there, what thou canst finde:
For, I the Paths of Truth have trodd;
And, bear thy love in minde.
2
With wicked men I have not sate,
Nor with dissemblers gone:
Prophane Assemblies I do hate,
And shunn the sinners throne.
With hands wash'd clean in simplenes,
I'le round thine Altars goe;
And there; in songs of thanckfulnes,
Thy wondrous works I'le showe.
3
For, I that place affect, oh God,
Where thou so much art fam'de:
Therfor, with sinners, thirsting blood,
Oh! let me not be nam'd.
Their hands (their verie righthands) be
with bribes, & mischeefs fraught:
But, Lord, redeeme & pitty me;
For, I truths Paths have sought.
4
In stedfast waies, with fixed feet,
Firme standing, I possesse:
For which, where great Assemblies meet,
I, will the Lord confesse.
Give vs grace, oh Lord,
so to avoide the societie, &
practises of wicked men; that neither our consciences
may accuse vs, to be willfully guiltie of their crimes, nor thou condemn vs for hypocrites,
when thou serchest & iudgest the secrets of our harts. Ioine, to the puritie of manners.
a sincere devotion;
that honesty & Religeon
(being knit & married together in our soules by thee) may never be divorced, Let our zeal
also to thy
[Page 49]
house, & our Love to thy Service, be such as may distinguish vs from prophane worldlings;
& so linck vs by charity
to thy faithfull members,
that we may continue thine to our lives end. Amen.
Psa. 27.
A Psalme of David.
It expresseth confidence in God. & a longing to enioye the priveledges of his sanctuarie. It vowes also to seek & serve him; desires Gods assistance, & exhort, to faith & perseverance &c. It is vsefull, for all Christians, to these purposes.
GOd is my light, my health mine Ayde;
My lifes defence: whome should I fear?
When wicked foes my death assayd,
They tript, & fell, & ruinde were.
I, therfor, will nor faint, nor fly,
Although an hoast beseigeth me;
If God, will not this boone deny,
For which, I'le now a suiter be.
2
Ev'n that he grace to me afford,
My life-time in his house to spend;
To vewe the beautie of the Lord.
And in his Temple to attend.
For, in his Tent, when dangers threat,
In secret, he should me enclose;
Vpon a Rock, my footing set,
And, raise my head above my foes.
3
Then, in God's house, a Sacrifise
Of praises, I would also give:
Hear therfor, Lord; & let my cries
A gratious Answere, now receive.
When thou dost bid me seek thy face;
Thy face I'le seek, my hart replies:
Reiect not therfor, nor disgrace.
4
Oh Lord, who didst my soul preserve
When, me my parents did forsake;
(Because of them who me observe)
Now, plaine to me, thy path-waies make.
Yea, from the pleasure of my foes,
Protect me Lord: for, lo; with lies,
False witnesses do me oppose;
And, cruel words they do devise.
5
That, had I not beleef to see
Gods grace (within that land of blisse
Where endles life shal granted be)
My soul had fainted, long e're this.
Attend thou still vpon the Lord,
And faint thou not
(who e're thou art)
Attend I say, vpon the Lord;
And, he shall fortify thy hart.
It is an vnspeakable favour oh Lord, to live where wee may peaceably assemble in thy house,
& obtaine thy comfortable presence in thy blessed word
& Sacraments.
How many, oh God!
how many? are deprived of this consolation? And, oh how long? & with how litle sense of our happines,
have wee enioyed this great blessing?
Grant vnto vs, we beseech thee, mere thanckfulnes, lest thou iustlie withdrawe thy abused grace;
Give in due time, this great Benifit,
to all who vnfainedlie desire it for thy glorie: In the mean while, vouchsafe them patience, to sustaine their burthen
without fainting; & let the hope of that, which is prepared for thie saints,
in the Land of the living,
stir vp them & vs, to a faithfull performance of our whole dutie towards thee, through the assistance of thy holyspirit, Amen.
Psa. 28.
A Psalme of David,
It craves Gods assistance, imprecates
[Page 51]
his Iudgments against the wicked, professeth assurance in the divine protection, & ascribes glorie, & powre, & thancks, to the Almighty, &c. It may be vsed as a prayer, & protestation of our faith in persecution.
OH Lord My strength, I crie to thee,
Give eare, & Silence do not keep:
Lest, not vnlike to those I be,
Which downe descend, into the deep.
Observe my Cries, & what I pray,
When to thine Arke, my hands I rear:
With sinners, pluck me not, away,
Who speake of peace, yet purpose warr.
2
Give them what their ill deeds require;
As they deserve, so them reward.
For their lew'd works, pay them their hire,
Because, thy works they nought regard.
Yea, seeing they thy works despize,
Destroy them, never to be raisd:
But, hear my suite, & heed my cries,
And be thou, Lord, for ever praisd.
3
For, thou art, Lord, my sheild, mine ayde;
My strength, of whome I hopeful am:
Therof, my hart is well apaid,
And, of thy praise, my Songs I frame.
Thy Christ, thou alway shalt protect:
Thou art his rock; &, sav'd by thee,
Thine heritage & thine Elect,
(Blest, fedd, & magnifide) shall be.
Immortal God,
so manie & so great perills do alway threaten vs, that we are still at the brinck of destruction; & vnles thou be gratious, we shall soone be swallowed vp. Hear vs therfor, when we cal on thee, in the Mediation of Iesus Christ;
& gather vs not among Hypocrites,
or
[Page 52]
notorious Malefactors:
But, when they shal receive their due reward, who by a dissembled Vnitie,
trouble the peace of thy Church,
or dishonor thy Name,
by Atheisme
or prophanes; let vs reap the fructe of our hopes,
to our ioyfull exaltation among thine elect,
& to the glorifieng of thy Mercie,
through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 29.
A Psalme of David
It mistically expresseth the powre of Gods voice (or evangelical word) over all sorts of people, in all places. It may be vsed to praise God, for having thereby
(according to this prophecie) converted those, who were naturally as obdurate as trees, mountaines, feilds, & brute-creatures.
AScribe, yee Mightie, to the Lord,
Ascribe al powre & same:
Let him be in his house ador'd,
And, honor yee his Name.
The Lord, commandeth, with his voice,
The seas, & greatest Floud;
And, when the thunder makes a noise,
It is the voice of God.
2
With powre, the God of glorie, speaks,
And, awfull are his words.
His voice, the strongest cedars breaks,
That
Libanon affords.
Eu'n
Libanon &
Shirion to,
He makes to start (through feare)
As Vnicornes & Bullocks do,
That yonge & frightful are.
3
God's voice, between the flames doth flie,
God's voice, the Desert shakes:
God's Voice, doth
(adesh terrifie,
The Hinde, it Calfeles makes.
[Page 53] Yea, with his Voice, the thickest grove,
To plainest veiwe he laies;
And, in his Temple, those things move
All tongues, to sing his praise.
4
The Lord, likewise, doth in the Floud
An endles rule possesse;
And, blesseth al the Folke of God,
With fortitude, & peace.
Honor & praise, be given to thee, oh Lord God,
for the powrful preaching of thy word,
let the sound of thie voice be still in our eares. When we rage like a troubled sea, let it calme
vs; UUhen we are like over-loftie Cedars,
let it humble
vs; when me are as vnmoveable as mountaines
(in our owne opinions)
let it shake
vs, when we are wanton like young Bullocks,
let it tame vs; when we are as rude,
or barren
as a wildernes,
let it civilize
& make vs fructful; when we are pregnant
with anie, mischeef, let it make our conceptions abortive;
when we are ensnared among, the thick bushes
of ignorance,
or worldlie Cares,
let it discover a passage out of error,
& disentangle our harts from carnall affections:
that, the whole world may be subiected vnto thee; & that we & al tongues may praise & magnifie thy Name,
for ever & ever Amen.
Psa. 30.
A Psalm or song of the dedication of the house of David.
It seems a thancksgivinge for the resurrection of Christ, whose true house or Temple, was his Body.
It confesseth Gods gratiousnes, & mans weaknes, &c. We may vse it, when, arising from our sinns, we resolve to dedicate our selves as tēples to the holy-ghost.
LOrd God, thy praise I will declare;
For why, thou me hast magnifide?
My foes insultings thou did'st bar,
[Page 54] And, sav'dst me, when for help I cride.
Yea, from the dungeon & the pit,
Thou keptst my soul & life, oh Lord;
Let all thy saints (remembring it)
With praise, thy holines recorde.
2
Thy wrath, abides not long in thee,
But, in thy favour, life appears;
And, joy shall in the morning be,
Though, over-night, there may be teares.
In my advancement, once I sayd,
That nothing should my foot remove;
Because, my mountaine thou hadst laid
So firmelie, Lord, by thy meer love.
3
Yet, when thy face thou didst but hide,
I quickly was opprest, againe;
And, then, to thee againe I cride;
And in my crie, did thus complaine.
What profit will my bloud afford,
When, I, shal to the grave descend?
Oh! cann it sing thy praises, Lord?
Or cann the dust thy truth comend?
4
Lord, hear, & pittie take on me;
To succour me, thy help employ:
That, chang'd to songs, my sighes, may be;
My mourning-weeds to robes of ioy,
So, I, for ever, with my tongue
Will praise the, (oh my God my Lord)
And, in a never-ending song,
Thy mercies, thanckfully record.
Sweet Iesu,
so great are thy Mercies,
that in a night thou convertest into trivmphs,
the most desperate Afflictions;
yea, in the very moment of greatest horrors, thou strangly infusest vnexpressible ioyes: yet, such is our corruption, that vpon thy favours,
we often build those false assurances
[Page 55]
which beget more pride
then thanckfulnes;
& so, we are iustly shakē againe frō our confidence; tha
[...]akinge the foundation thereof more firme (by true humiliation
grounded meerly on thy mercies)
we way stand immoveable for-ever. Oh! grant, that by meditating thy voluntarie-humiliation
we may descend to the true Annihilation
& renouncing of our selves, & that by virtue of thy Burial
& Resurrection
we w
[...] escape the Dungeons of the Grave
& Hell;
Change the mourning-garmēt
of our flesh, into the robes
of immortalitie, & praise thee for thy mercies, world without end, Amen.
Psa. 31.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalm of David.
It personates Christ & his Church in persecution; containes a large intermixture of many petitions, complaints &c, & admirably fets forth the varietie of affections, incident to a soul, working out salvation with star & trembling. It is vsefull in great agonies & afflictions of minde,
&c.
BEcause, I do on thee depend,
(That sham'd I may not be)
Lord, in thy Iustice me defend,
And, quickly hear thou me.
Be still my rock, my walled-bowre;
And, me vouchsafe to save:
For, thou art my defensive towre,
And, all the strength I have.
2
Be pleas'd (for thy namesake) to come
And be my hopeful stay;
Direct thou me, & pluck me from
Those netts my foes do lay.
Thou art my strength, & vnto thee
My spirit I commit:
For, thou Lord God of Truth, art he
Who hast redeemed it.
3
I, them abhorr who lies approve;
But, Lord, I trust in thee:
And of thy grace, & in thy love,
My whole reioicings be.
For, me thou didst from cares discharge;
Thou knew'st my soul in woe:
My fettred feet thou didst enlarge,
And keptst me from my foe.
4
Have mercie, Lord, for I am vext;
Mine eies with greef decay:
In soul & flesh, I am perplext;
Greef, wasts my life away.
My yeares, with sigheng, shortned are;
My sight, to faile beginns:
My bones consume, my strength doth wear;
And, al is for my sinns.
5
My scornefull foes do me vpraid;
My neighbours, more then they:
My freinds, to see me are afrayd,
And, far they fly away.
As one long dead, (vnthought vpon)
Ev'n pot-sherd like, I fare.
I flander'd am of many a one,
And, round me, terrors are.
6
Yet (when to take my life fro me
They plotts against me layd)
Relieng still, oh Lord, on thee.
Thou art my God, I sayd,
Thou know'st the times, when me to take
From my persueng soes:
Therfor, to me (for mercie sake)
Thy cheerfull face disclose.
7
Lord, let me not be made asham'd,
Because, thy help I crave:
And, silenc'd in the grave.
Their lieng lips, for ever close,
Who murmur in despight,
Disdainfull words, in scorne of those,
Whose courses are vpright.
8
Oh! what great favours wilt thou shew,
To such as honor thee.
And bring to passe, in publike vewe,
For them that faithfull be?
Thy secret presence shal prevent
The Tyrants hautie wrongs;
And, they shall in thy privie-tent
Avoyd the strife of tongues.
9
Praise God; for, when I rash lie thought,
That I quite lost had binn;
Me, to a warlike Towne he brought,
And, honord me therein.
My suites, & cries, he likewise heard:
Yee saints of his, therfore,
The Lord your God, with good regard,
Love, honor, & adore.
10
The faithfull, he doth keep from harme,
And their proud foes contemn.
Be bolde: & he your harts will arme
Who put your trust in him.
Our sinns (oh Lord)
bring on vs many great afflictions: They consume our flesh,
blinde our eyes,
rott our bones,
fright our harts, &
afflict our consciences:
They cause vs to be vprayded, scorned, betrayed, & persecuted, by our foes;
They make vs to be envyed, contemned, reproched, & abused among our neighbours;
They occasion, that we are miscensured, for sakē, yea & forgotten of our best affected freinds;
and (which is worst of all) they bring on vs thy
[Page 58] displeasure,
& make vs almost desperatly to forsake thee. Deliver vs (oh deliver vs) from these evills:
but especially from the sinns
which occasion them. Thou art our sole refuge, & the God into whose hands we have committed our spirits:
So embolden vs therfor, in thy grace,
that we, & the rest of thy Saints
(seeing how great favours thou bestowest on all them that fear thee) may praise thy Name,
for ever & ever, Amen.
Psa. 32.
A Psalm of David Maschil.
It shewes the free forgivenes of sinn by grace, Rom, 4. 6.
The danger of hidinge, the benifit of confessing our sinns, and the powre of timely prayer; It exhorts also, that we do not brutishly abuse the grace of God &c, It should be sung, to remember vs of Gods mercies,
& of these duties, &c.
A Blest estate, that man is in
Whose crimes the Lord forgives, & hides!
Ev'n he, to whome God laies no sinn,
And in whose hart no fraud abides.
Till I, my faults, did open lay,
My bones with paine were tired out:
Thy hand opprest me night and day,
And, I became like Summers drought.
2
My Trespas, I reveald therfore:
I shewd my secret faults to thee;
And vowd to hide my sinns no more:
So, thou, their guilt forgavest me.
For this: the Iust, on thee shall call,
At seasons when thou maist be found:
And he shall have no harme at all,
Though mighty Flouds enclose him round.
3
Thou art, oh Lord, my hiding-place,
Wherein; (when peril greatest growes)
[Page 59] From dangers, thou shalt me release,
And, me with songs of health enclose.
(Selah.)
Thus, thou dost also seem to say:
I will instruct thee with mine eye,
And, so inform thee in the way;
That thou shalt never walk awrie.
4
Then, be not like the Horse or Mule,
That void of vnderstanding be;
Which thou with Bitt, & Raines, must rule,
Lest, els, they fling, or fall on thee.
The Sinners plagues grow more & more;
But, they finde grace, who trust in God.
Let just, & righteous men therfore,
With Shouts, proclaime theyr joye, abrode.
It is not, oh gratious Redeemer,
our Innocencie,
or any good which of our selves we can performe, that iustifies vs in thy sight; but thy free grace,
thy hiding,
& thy not-imputing
our sinns. That, which thou expect est & acceptest from vs, toward the procuring of this favour, is nothing els but humbled soules,
contrite spirits,
vnfaigned harts,
& sincere confessions;
which, thou thy self also, must prepare & help perfect in vs, or we shall never perform them: no, though all the dangers & torments of the world were before our eies. Take therfor, from vs, our brutish ignorance; curb our head-strong wilfulnes;
Rain our vnbridled appetites;
instruct vs, by thy favorable aspect; &, so guide vs by the bridle of reason,
& religeous awe; that (we being governed according to thy will)
thou mayst be found of vs in all troubles, at all seasons; &, we reioice in thy mercy, for ever & ever, Amen.
Psa. 33.
It exhorts to praise God;
declares who are most obliged therevnto; In what manner we should performe this dutie;
[Page 60]
& for what principall causes &c. We should often vse it to put vs in minde how much we are obliged to praise God, &c.
YE Righteous, in the Lord reioice:
For, praise with Godly men doth sute:
Praise God with Psaltry, Harpe, & Voice,
And on the twice-five-stringed Lute,
To him, new ditties, sing & play;
And tune them to the loudest kay.
2
For, God is righteous in his word,
His Actions, ful of truth appear:
His Bounty, all the world hath storde:
His Darlings, Truth, & Iustice are.
The Heav'ns were form'd when he but spake;
His breath, did all their Armies make.
3
The seas huge waves, aloft he rear'd,
The Deeps, as vp in store, he layd:
Oh! let him through the world be fear'd,
And make Earths-dwellers all afraide.
For, his Commandings are fulfill'd;
And all is done as he hath will'd.
4
God, makes the Gentiles proiects vaine,
And, brings the Peoples plotts to nought:
But, his decrees, for aye remaine,
And, everlasting is his thought.
Most surely blest therefore are those,
Whome for his owne, the Lord hath chose.
5
For, God from heav'n. doth cast his eye,
The Sonn's of men to veiwe & knowe:
Yea, from his dwelling-place on high,
He marketh all on earth belowe:
Their hearts, alike, he shapeth to,
And heeds, ev'n ev'ry work they do.
6
Great Armies cannot save a kinge,
[Page 61] No strong-mans powre his life preserves,
The strength of horse, vaine succours bringe;
But, those who fear him, God observes:
And, whosoe're on him depends,
From dearth, & death, he them defends.
7
Our soul vpon the Lord shall waite,
Who hath our sheild & shelter binn;
And, he shall be our harts delight;
Because, his Name, we trusted in.
Oh! let vs Lord, still succour'd be,
As we repose our trust in thee.
Blessed God!
at thy word
allthings were created, & by thy providence
they are stil governed. Thou hast fashioned the harts of all men, to be in some measure capable of thy grace;
& observest how they emploie that Talent.
Thy eternal decree
remaines firme; & therfor, theie whome thou chusest
shall be blessed for ever. Neither their owne strength, nor any powre (but thine) is able to keep them safe: Thou therfor, on whome their soul waiteth, shalt prevent the famine
of that which is the meanes of their preservation;
& therby, keep them from totall
or final-falling.
Lord, make vs, to reioice in this vnspeakable mercie.
Encrease our faith,
& continue vs in the meanes whereby we are to make our Election
sure. VVe beleeve it is alreadie granted; & yet we praie for it, because it is our dutie; & because we cannot chuse but praie for that, which we beleeve, & hope, to obtaine, through Iesus Christ
our Lord, Amen.
Psa. 34.
A Psalme of David when he changed his behaviour before Abimeleck, who drove him away & he departed.
It seems to typefy Christ, who being (as it were) disguised by taking our nature, & infirmities, became therby contemptible to the great-ones of the world. We should sing
[Page 62] it to praise God. for discovering to vs, what is hid from the wordly wise, &c.
NOw shall the Lords, eternal praise,
The subiect of my song be made:
My Soul shall sing it, all her daies;
The meek shall hear it, & be glad,
Let others come, & ready be,
To ioine in praising of his Name:
For, when I cti'de, he helped me;
And kept away my feared blame.
2
He lightneth such as him observe,
And, no disgrace vpon them falls:
He heares the pore, & will preserve
From all his troubles, when he calls.
His Angell-gards, will them enclose,
Who, of his God head, awfull be:
Therfor, his goodnes, vnto those
Who trust in him, come Tast, & See.
3
Yea, fear the Lord, yee Saints of his:
For, he to such will al things grant.
The Lions whelps their food may misse,
But, they that serve him, nothing want.
Yee Children come, attention give;
And I will teach th'Almighties feare,
How, yee long time on earth may live,
And, gaine a blessed-being, here.
4
Your tongues from slandrous words preserve,
Dissembling, let your lipps eschewe;
Ill deeds avoid, good works observe,
Seek peace, & after it persue.
For, God beholdeth such as those,
And heares the Righteous when they pray:
But, wicked men he doth oppose,
And, roots their Name & Fame away,
5
The Lord, will hear the Righteous crie;
From dangers he will them assure;
He, to the broken hart is nigh,
And, wounded Spirits, he will cure.
Although the Iust hath many greeves,
The Lord so helps, that they are gone;
In all his troubles, him releeves,
And keeps him sound, in ev'rie bone.
6
By sinn, the sinners death is wrought:
He shall not thrive, that hates the Iust.
But, God his servants lives hath bought;
And, faileth none that in him trust.
Hear vs oh merciful God,
in cur present necessities, and preserve vs from those future evills which we may iustlie fear. Enlighten our vnderstandings,
rectifie our affections,
guide our tongues,
sanctifie our actions,
cure our deseased bodies, &
heal our wounded soules.
Let thine Angells,
gard vs; let thine owne eyes,
watch over vs; and let vs be so instructed in thy fear;
that when our lion-like adversaries
are emptie, we maie be filled with thy goodnes, &
delighted in thy sweetnes:
Grant, also, that when their memorial perisheth, we (being preserved sound both in soul & body)
may
[...]nicie the promised blessing os long-life,
even of life-eternall
in thy heavenlie kingdom,
for ever & ever, Amen.
Another of the same.
AT al tymes with my tongue I'le blesse the Lord;
To sing of him I never will forbear,
But, in my Soul, his praise with mirth record;
And publish what the meek shall ioy to hear,
Come, therfor, helpe his praises to declare;
To magnify his Name, let vs agree.
Discharg'd I was, by him, of all my fear;
[Page 64] And, when his ayde I sought, he ayded me.
Enlightned are their eyes that look on him;
And, no disgrace or shame, or those cann fall:
For, he in all their troubles helpeth them;
And hears the pore, when he on him doth call.
God's Angell-gards, round those that fear him, be
Encamped still to keep them from their Foes.
His greatnes, and his goodnes, tast, & see;
For, all are blest, who trust in him repose.
In him, let all his Saints, confine their fear;
For, povertie from such resttained is.
Kept hungry, oft, the whelps of Lions are,
But, they who fear the Lord, no goodnes misse.
Let me from you (yee babes) attention gaine;
That, I the fear of God to you may showe.
Mark also this (all yee that would attaine
Long life on earth, & happie daies, to knowe)
No sland'rous tales envre your tongues to tell;
And, let your lipps dissembling speach eschewe:
Of wicked words beware; Vprightly deal;
Enquire our Peace, & after it persue.
Plac'd are Gods eyes, vpon the Righteous race;
He to their cries, an open ear doth lay:
Quite opposite to sinners, is his face;
And from the land, he rootes their name away.
Right willingly, the Lord inclines his ear,
To hear, & save the righteous, when they cry.
Sinn-wounded soules, & harts that broken are,
He never shunns; but, vnto such is nigh.
Though many greefs, vpon the Godly fall,
The Lord, will ev'ry one of them remove.
Vnbroke, ev'n all his bones, preserve he shall;
But, sinn, the death of sinful men shal prove.
Whoe so doth hate the Iust, shall hated be,
[Page 65] For, God his faithful servants wil redeem,
Yea, all their soules from thral he setteth free,
And leaveth none, that put their trust in him.
Psa. 35.
A Psalm of David.
It containes divers petitions, & prophetical Imprecations, concerning the Adversaries of Christ,
& of his members; & perticulerly mentioneth some of those misusages which he suffred by the Iewes &c. We may properly sing it, when we commemorate the Passion
&c.
WIth such oh Lord, as me oppose,
Vouchsafe to plead my right;
And, pleased be to warr on those,
Who now against me fight.
Both sheild & Buckler, take in hand;
Rise, for my help, I pray:
Bring out the spear, & for me stand,
In my Persuers way.
2
Say to my soul; Thy health, I am;
And, bring to shameful wrack,
All those who seek my death or shame;
Yea, sham'd repell them back.
Let them before God's Angel fly,
As chaff, before the winde;
Let them before God's Angel fly.
Through paths, vnsafe & blinde.
3
Since pitts they digg'd; &, therein snares
For me, vniustly, laid;
Let them be slaine at vn-awares,
In their owne trapps, betraide.
Then, Lord, in thee, my soul shal ioy;
Thy help, my mirth shall be:
And, all my bones, oh Lord, shal say,
4
Thou sav'st thee pore, & men opprest,
From those that are too strong:
Thou free'st the pore, who are destrest,
From such as do them wrong.
False witnesse rose, & charged me
With words I never sayd;
And, that my soul might spoiled be,
They, Good with Ill, repaide.
5
Yet, when great sicknes them opprest,
In sack-cloth cladd, I mourn'd:
I fasted; &, into my brest,
My prayers back return'd.
I greev'd for them, as men bemone
A Brother or a freind;
And sadly walk'd, as when that one
Bewailes his Mothers end.
6
But, when my greefs did me besett,
Their Merry-meetings were:
The baser sort, in private mett,
And, none did scofs forbear.
Yea, at their Feasts, in mock of me,
The Scorners gnash'd their teeth.
No longer, Lord, spectator be,
But, save my soul from death.
7
My Darling, from the Lion save:
So, thy great love, oh Lord,
Where many folk their meetings have,
I'le to thy praise record.
Oh! let not those who me despize,
Deride my pore estate;
Or, lear on me with scornful eyes,
Whome they vniustly hate.
8
They seek not Peace, but Projects lay
With gaping mouthes, AH! HA, say they,
Our wish, we now do see,
Thou saw'st it; Therfor, make no pawse,
Nor absent, long, abide:
But, wake, arise, & let my cause
By thee, Lord God, be tri'de.
9
Lord, judge me in thy righteousnes,
That they deride not me;
And say in hart, this Fall of his
Is that, which wee would see.
Oh! never give them cause to say,
We have devour'd him quite;
But, shame, & root them out, for aye,
That in my harme delight.
10
Let them, with shame, & scorne, be cladd;
That have my soul deseas'd:
And, let them trivmph & be gladd,
Who in my cause are pleasd.
The Lord be prais'd, let all men say,
That wish thy Servants Peace:
And, with my tongue, I'le all the day,
Extol thy Righteousnes.
Oh blessed Redeemer!
let thy gratious assistance be alwaies readie to garde vs from the furious malice of our Foes: And, seeing their condition is not hidd from thee, let thy iudgments be executed vpon all those who shall continue vnrepentant in their wickednes; that thy Justice
may be glorified, as wel as thy Mercie.
Make vs, also, mindful (oh Christ) from what height of glorie, thou didst voluntarilie humble thy self; to what extream contempt thou wort, abased; how vnkindiie, yea, how despightfully handled (even by those for whose Redemption thou wert pleased to descend) And, by thy example teach vs to be humble,
[Page 68]
patient, & charitable in our suffrings; that bearing thy crosse,
& imitating thy virtues;
we may be pertakers of thy exaltation,
who livest & raignest, world without end. Amen.
Psa. 36.
To the cheef Musitian, a Psalm of David the servant of the Lord.
It mentions the impiety & corruptions of the wicked. It declareth also, the infinite Love, mercie, sweetnes, & Iustice of God &c. It may be sung to bring to consideration, God's goodnes, whē the over-flowings of vngodlines circumvent vs?
MY hart, within me, sayes;
That, Sinners fear not God:
And, their self-pleasing course, displaies
Their hatefull guilt abrode.
Their words, are wicked wiles;
Nor wise, nor just are they:
Vpon their bedds they study Guiles,
And, cursed is their way.
2
The heav'ns, thy Mercy fills;
Thy Truth doth reach the skye:
Thy justice, Lord, or'e-topps the hills,
And, deep thy judgments lie.
Thou sav'st both man & beast;
For, Lord, thy grace excells;
And, vnderneath thy wings, in rest,
Man-kinde securely dwells.
3
With daineties of thy house,
They shall replenish'd be;
And, streames of blisse, they shall carowse:
For, Life doth flowe from thee.
Thy light is, Lord, our light:
Therfore (where thou art knowne)
[Page 69] Prolong thy grace, that men vpright,
May make thy works, their owne.
4
Let not the foot of pride,
Oppose, or hinder me;
Nor let me be remoov'd aside,
By hands that wicked be.
For, thence the overthrowe,
Of Sinners, first begann;
And, when they fell, they fell so lowe,
That, rise they never cann.
UUee confesse (oh Lord) that by the corruption still remaining in our owne harts, we are plainlie informed, how Sinn,
being first conceived in thought,
will at last break forth into publike Act,
if thy great Mercie prevent not. Uouch safe vs, therfor, not onlie thy common grace,
which thou spreadest over all; but be pleased also, to displaie over vs, the wings of thy special Mercies,
that being nourished in thy house with spiritual Banquets
(such as thy word,
thy Sacraments,
& the Illuminations
of thy Spirit)
we may escape the falling into those offēces from which there is no risingagaine; Let thy Saving-grace, be extended also to those who yet know thee not, to the multiplieng of thy Elect,
through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 37.
A Psalm of David.
It proposeth many counsells, & experimental Arguments, to move vs, not to be offended at the Prosperitie of world-lings, & to persuade a patient perseverance in well-doeng &c. It is vsefull, to keep vs contented with our estates, & hopefull in all temptations, & afslictions &c.
AT Sinners, take thou no offence,
Nor vex thy self, at such as they:
For, they shall soone be swept from hence,
[Page 70] And, like the grasse consume a way.
Beleeve in God, & live vpright;
So, where thou dwell'st, thou shalt be fedd:
And, if in him, thou take delight,
Of all thy hopes, thou shalt be spedd.
Commit thou, to the Lord, thy way;
Trust him, & all shall well be done:
Thy Iustice shall out-shine the day,
Thy judgment, passe the sunn at noone.
Delight in God; his leasure bide;
And, fret thou not that others thrive;
But, thy displeasure lay aside;
Lest, thou offence, by vexing give.
Expect awhile, & thou shalt see
The wicked fall; & men vpright
Possessors of the land to be,
When Sinners dwellings vanish quite.
For, meek-men shall possesse the land,
And, peace enioy (at full) therein;
Though wicked men, do them withstand,
Conspire, & gnash their teeth, & grinn.
God, sees & mocks the Sinners end.
His Blade, in vaine he drawes to smite,
He shall his Bowe as vainely bend,
To slay the pore, & men vpright.
His Blade, ev'n his owne hart shall gore;
His bowe shall breake; and, that small share
The Right'ous hath, shall profit more
Then all their heaps, that wicked are.
It shall be soe; because, the Lord
(Who breaks their arme, that are vniust)
To Godlie-men, will healps afford,
Which never shall deceive their trust.
Knowne to the Lord, are all their waies;
They shall not feare in ev'll-daies:
Nor emptie be, when others Fast.
Lewd men (& they who parte have tooke
Against the Lord) shall, then, become
Like fatt of Lambes, or like the smoke,
Which melts, or quite away doth fume.
Much, borrowe those; but, never pay.
The Righteous lends, & mercie shewes.
Where he doth blesse, right blest are they;
Where he doth curse, a curse ensues.
No course he takes, but God will guide
His feet; & in his waye delight:
He falls not quite, although he slide;
Because, God holds him, still, vpright.
Olde-age & youth, I now have seene,
Yet, saw no Iust-man, or his seed,
Forlorne or begg: For, they have beene
So kinde; that they finde healp, at need.
Proceed thou in this way, therfore,
Depart from Sinn, tread virtues path;
That thou maist live for ever more:
For, God, in Iudgment, pleasure hath,
Quite, roots he out the Sinners race;
But, still, his saints preserved are.
The Land, they fully shall possesse;
And, safelie dwell, for ever, there.
Right fitt; for, they discreetly talke,
The Lawe of God, they ponder, still,
And in their waies, directly walke;
Though Sinners wait, their life to spill.
Still, therfor, God will them defend,
And, clear them, when araign'd they be.
If thou, likewise, on him attend,
[Page 72] God, in the Land, will prosper thee.
The Sinners fall, thine eye shall veiwe:
For, I have seene them, like the Bay,
Spread wide, and make a goodlie shewe
Then, suddenly consume away.
Veiwe thou the Iust; Observe them all;
For, peace their later daies attends:
But, wicked men togither fall;
And, mischeef brings them to their ends,
Which comes to passe, because the Iust,
The Lord (at need) their helper have:
For they in him do put their trust,
And, them from Sinners, he doth & save.
Almightie God!
make vs contented with our portion,
without medling in what appertaines to others. Let not the prosperitie of the wicked, cause vs to be envious, fretfull, or discouraged; considering the ficklenes, & perill of their estate: But, give vs grace to be rather carefull, that we discharge our owne duties. Make vs faithfull, chearfull, patient, meek, charitable, prudent, diligent & constant
in the wayes of well-doeng; that so we may be delivered from despaires, scornes, slanders, conspiracies, persecutions, wants,
& all other temporal disadvantages of this life; & be iustified in sight of the whole world at the Resurrection:
where, it will be evident, that the florishings of the wicked
were never worth our envie; & that (according to thy word) the later end of the Righteous,
is the beginning of Blessednes,
for ever more. Amē.
Psa. 38.
A Psalme of David to bring to Remembrance.
It is a penitentiall Psalme, emploring the pacification of God's wrath, & expressing our natural miseries, & corruptions &c. It is vsefull when we feel the guilt & punishment of Sinn, with a true repentance, &
[Page 73] harty desire of pardon
& e.
LOrd, chide not when thou wroth shalt be,
Nor in thy rage, my sinn chastise;
For, deep thy shafts do stick in me,
And, strict, thy hand vpon me lies.
Paines in my flesh, thy frownes have bredd;
My faults have rob'd my bones of rest:
My flouds of Sinn, have drown'd my head,
And by their waight I am opprest.
2
My wounds corrupt, & foule they growe;
My Crimes have causd that thus I fare:
With sorrowes, I am pressed lowe;
And, all day long, my mournings are.
My Raines are grip'd, & sore deseas'd;
Throughout my body I am sore:
A wastinge-greef on me hath ceas'd;
And paind at hart, aloud I roare.
3
Oh Lord! thou know'st what things I want;
My mournings are not hidd from thee:
My strength decayes, my hart doth pant,
Mine eye-sight also faileth me.
My friends & kindred, shunn my greef;
My lovers, hide themselves away:
And, they who seek to take my life,
Close-engines, to ensnare me, lay.
4
Yea, they who for my harme awaite,
Speake words, that full of mischeef are:
Yet, how, al day they muze deceit,
I (hearing) will not seeme to hear.
Nay, I have stood, as mute, as he
Whose tongue is partcht, whose throte is dry,
Whose eares depriv'd of hearing be;
And, in whose mouth is no replie.
5
For, I oh Lord, on thee relie,
Oh! therfor, now attend my crie,
Lest els my foes insult on me.
For, if my foote but slip aside,
They, in my fall, them selves delight;
My feet (alas) are prone to slide,
And, still, my greefs are in my sight.
6
Beholde, for my offence I greeve;
And, my transgressions I bewaile:
Yet, still, my foes encrease & live;
Yea, still, my causles-foes, prevaile.
Moreover, they, who render ill
For doeng well; have mee with stood,
And, borne me hate for my good-will,
Because, I love the thing that's good.
7
Lord, go not far, therfore, from hence;
From me, my God! depart not farr:
But, make thou speed in my defence;
Because, from thee, my succours are.
Most awfull God!
dreadfull is thy frown when we beholde thee angrie for Sinn: lothsome are our sinns, when they appeare to a wounded conscience: & vnsufferable our afflictions when our consciences accuse vs: VVe have sinned, oh Lord, (we have sinned) and are therfor tormented both in soul & bodie: yet, we beseech thee deal not with vs according to our sinns; but, for thy mercie-sake vouchsafe vs a favorable correction, & those remedies & consolations which thou knowest best for our infirmities: VVhē thou art offended, our foes are not only mischeevous vexations, but our kindred also forsake vs; our best beloved freinds afflict vs; & (which is yet more) we our selves are our owne tormenters. VVhatsoever therfor, betides vs (or whosoever is iniurious) wee have nothing to replie, nor any to accuse, but our selves. Oh! pittie our distempers, hear vs, help vs, & deliver vs, for the
[Page 75]
bitter passion sake of Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 39.
To the cheef Musitian to Iduthun a psalme of David.
The Prophet resolves a patient watchfulnes over the tongue; Bemoanes the vanitie, & miserie of mankinde, & petitions for God's mercie, &c. It may serve to instruct & comfort vs, during the provocations of the wicked, & in other afflictions,
IVow'd to keep my waies vpright,
And, that in words, I none would wrong.
While sinners were, therfore, in sight,
I shut my lipps, & stayd my tongue:
What er'e they sayd, I silent stood;
Refraining words, though they were good.
2
But, greefs did then to stirr beginn,
Which, hot in me, my hart did make;
My thoughts inflam'd a fire within,
Which loos'd my tongue, & then I spake.
Lord, of my end, informe thou me;
And, what my dayes, & frailties, be.
3
For, loe, my life is but a spann;
It seems as nothing, in thine eyes:
Ev'n at his best, most vaine is man,
And, like the shade away he flies,
He tires himself, with needles paines,
And knowes not who shall reap his gaines.
4
On thee, therefore, I do attend;
My trust, oh Lord, I place on thee.
From all my sinns, my soul defend;
From flouting-fooles, preserve thou mee:
For, I forbare to speak a word,
Because, it was thy doeng, Lord.
5
Thy hand, with blowes, doth me afflict;
Oh! take thy heavie strokes away.
[Page 76] When thou for sinn dost man correct,
Thou, Moth-like sretst their Forme awaie.
Therfore, no cause of doubts remaine,
That ev'ry man is wholie vaine.
6
Lord, hear my suite; my criengs hear;
Let not my teares vnmention'd goe:
For, as thy Guests, my Fathers were,
(And strangers here) ev'n I, am soe.
Oh! spare, & grant me strength, I pray,
Before I passe from hence, for aye.
Give vs Grace, oh Lord,
that our tongues neither offend, by vndiscreet or evill speakings, nor by continueng silent whē we ought to speake. Remember vs how short and vaine our lives are, & how foolish it is to wearie our selves, & consume our time, for that with we may never enioy; loosing, in the meane while, assured blessings. Enable vs to sustaine the crosse
(which thou shalt lay vpon vs) without repininge, & lay no more on vs then thou shalt make vs able to beare. Deliver vs from the scorne of fooles;
but especiallie, from those transgressions, by which our beauty
is consumed. Mark our teares,
hear our cries,
and spare vs in this our pilgrimage,
vntill we have atained the strength by which we may stand firm in thy favour, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa, 40.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalme of David.
It is applied vnto Christ, Hebr. 10.
It praiseth God for our Redemption, declares the abolishing of the Ceremonial Law,
the obedience of Christ, & the preaching of the Gospell, &c. It is vsefull to commemorate Christs obedience; to give praise for former deliverances, & to pray for future preservation.
MY constant hopes on God are sett,
Who, when I cride, gave eare to me:
Ev'n from the denn, where horrors be.
Vpon a Rock, my feet he plac't;
He setled there, my standing fast.
2
And, that his praise I might declare,
A new-made song, to me he taught;
Which many men shall hear, with fear,
And, to depend on God, be brought.
For, they, who trust in him, are blest:
And, they who pride & lies, detest.
3
Those wonders, Lord, which thou hast wrought;
Those things (my God) so many are
Which thou concerning vs hast thought;
That none cann them to thee declare:
O Lord! to order them to thee,
Is far too great a task for me.
4
No offrings thou dost now require,
But, only, that thy words I hear:
No Sacrifize consum'd in fire,
By thee, for sinns, desired are.
Then, Loe,
(I sayd) I come, to be
That, which thy
Book foretold of me.
5
I ioy to do thy will, oh God!
Thy Law, is in my hart enrowld;
And, Lord, thy Iustice, all abrode,
In great Assemblies, I have tolde.
Thou know'st. my lipps thy Truth reveald;
And. that my hart hath nought conceald.
6
I, made thy faithful-dealing knowne;
I, did thy saving-health declare;
I have not kept thy Love vnshowne,
Nor hidd thy Truth, where hearers were,
Therfor, to me thy mercy showe;
Thy Truth, & Love, Lord, make me know.
7
For, mischeeves more then cann be tolde,
Have now enclos'd me round about;
My sinns, on me have layd such holde,
There is no place of looking out:
Their number doth my haires out goe,
And, therfor, faint my hart doth growe.
8
Oh Lord! vouchsafe my life to save,
With speed oh God! assist I pray;
That they with shame, a fall may have,
Who seek to take my Soul away:
Let those that wish amisse to me,
With shame & scorne, repelled be.
9
With rooting-out, those men require,
(And paie them with deserved shame)
Whoe in those words of scorne delight,
Which bring on me, disgrace, or blame,
But, give him ioy in his desires,
Who after thee, oh Lord, enquires.
10
Let them who love thy saving-health,
Confesse thee Lord, for evermore:
For, thou art mindfull of my wealth,
And, heedest me, though I am pore.
Lord God my helper, make thou speed,
To help me, still, at ev'rie need.
Allmightie God,
by whose divine powre, Iesus Christ
was raised out of the myrie pitt
of the Grave,
& with tryvmph ascended from the Dungeons
of Hell,
into the highest heavens: Grant, that by his example we may continually offer vp the sweet, & ever acceptable Sacrifize,
of Obedience
to thy Will.
UUrite thy Lawe
in our Harts;
Let our Tongues
publish thy Righteousnes,
& thy Truth,
to all the world. And, though our manyfold Sinns make vs vnworthy of thy grace, yet deliver vs from that shame & punishmēt which they deserve. that our Foes
may be disappointed
[Page 79]
of their hope; & that, we, (together with all thy Saints)
may ioyfully confesse thy great Mercie, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psal. 41.
To the cheef Musitian, a Psalm of David.
It declares the reward of Charitie towards, the pore members of Christ; expresseth the Hypocrisy of his foes; Beseecheth God's assistance, & praiseth him for our exaltation by Christ. It is vsefull, for these purposes aforementioned.
&c.
THe man is blest that heeds the pore,
From dangers, God will him repreeve;
He will preserve his life, therefore,
And, vnto him preferment give.
The Lord, will gard him from his foes,
When him they labour to surprize;
Refresh him, when that weak he growes,
And, make his bedd, when sick he lies.
2
In mercie, cure my Soul I pray;
For, Lord, ev'n thee. I did offend.
Vile words, of me, my foes do say;
And, wish my fame & Life, had end.
When me they spie, fair showes they make:
But, in their harts my harm desire;
Which when they come abrode, they speake,
Where all my foes, my wrong conspire.
5
Some ill desease hath he (they sedd)
Hee's downe, & shall no more arise:
Nay, he whome I have lov'd & fedd,
(My trusted-freind) did me despise.
But, help me Lord, & raise, me now,
That, I their dealings may requite.
I shall thereby, thy favour knowe,
6
Thou dost maintaine my Righteousnes,
And, in thy sight-still placest me:
The Lord, the God of Isr'el, blesse;
Oh! let him blest for ever be.
Amen. Amen.
Infuse into vs, oh Christ,
such brotherly compassion, & such true Charitie toward thy pore members, that we may obtaine all timely consolations in this life, & be well-comed with Come yee blessed,
at the last-day. UUee confesse, there is a desease in our soules, disenabling vs to performe this dutie; and, as wee are neither truly compassionate to others, nor faithfull acknowledgers of thy love to vs; So, we finde others iustly vnmerciful, in our Afflictions, & encreasing our vexations, by neglect, conspiracies, or bitter Censures: Yea, they whome wee have cherished & releeved, in their wants & sorrowes, do vnthanckfully take part with our Oppressors. Oh! deliver vs therefor, from our owne vnthanckfullnes, & want of charity, that we may be comforted by others, in our need; & become more perfect and constant, in all good works, to the praise & glory of thy Name. Amen.
Psal. 42.
To the cheef Musitian Maschil for the Sonns of Chorah.
It mistically expresseth a Christian mans estate wandring through the Hopes, Doubts, & Feares, of this life &c. It is vsefull, when inward or out ward afflictions tempt to despaire of God's love; or, when we are hindred from frequenting
his assemblies, &c.
LOrd, as that Hart which water wants,
So, longs, my soul for thee:
Eternal God! so thirsts & pants
My soul, thy face to see.
My teares, are day & night my meat:
VVhere is thy God? the greef of it
Consumes my hart awaie.
2
For, heretofore I went among
Thy folke on holy-dayes;
Them, to thy house, I ledd along,
And, there wee sung thy praise.
My Soul, why art thou so opprest:
In mee, why art thou sad?
Still, praise thou God, & on him rest;
For, he will make thee glad.
3
My Soul, oh God! is faint in mee,
Yet, thinck on thee I will,
Though
Iordans land I cannot see,
Nor
Hermons litle Hill.
The, deepes vpon each other call,
When thy loud stormes descend;
And, over me, thy Billowes fall.
But, Lord, thou help wilt send.
4
For day & night, I'le sing & pray
Oh God (my life) to thee:
My God my Rock; to thee, I'le say,
Why thus forsak'st thou mee?
Why am I suffred still to mourne,
Afflicted by my foes?
UUhere is thy God? they say in scorne;
And, through my bones it goes.
5
My soul, why art thou so opprest?
Why art thou sad in mee?
Stil praise thou God; & on him rest
For; he my God will be.
How desirable (oh Holy-ghost the Comforter)
are thy consolations to afflicted souls! & how thirstely swallowed, being mingled with our teares! Our sinns oft greeve
[Page 82]
thee; therfor, thou iustly greevest vs to make vs sensible of our vnkindnesses: Therfore, wee are somtime censured as Hypocrites; & have all our piety & devotion mentioned with scorne, to our vexatiō: Therfor, mischeeves like waves, follow vs, one after another; yea, & therfor also, our owne consciences so accuse vs, that wee are somtime sorrowfull to the death, & almost desperate of thy favour. But, blessed Spirit,
speake thou (oh speake thou) comfortably to our scules; & to whatscever outward miserie thou expose vs, (yea though we appear miserable to our selves) be thou still our God,
& our Comforter,
that our sorrowes may at the last be turned into ioy, to thy glorie & our everlasting consolation. Amen.
Psa. 43.
The Prophet
prayeth for assistance, promiseth to be thanckefull, & concludes, with rowzing vp his deiected Soul to persevere in praising, & relieng on God. It may be sung, to keep vs vndiscouraged in our spiritual greevances.
LOrd, judg thou me & plead my right
With such as cruel be;
From wicked men, that vse deceit
Oh God! deliver meet.
For, since thou Lord, my fortresse art
Why shouldst thou fro me goe?
Why should I walke so sad in hart
Oppressed by my foe?
2
Mee, let thy light & Truths bright raies,
Vnto thy dwelling bring:
And, at thine Altars, to thy praise
Oh! God my Ioye, I'le sing.
My Soul, why art thou so opprest?
Why art thou sadd in mee?
Still praise thou God, & on him rest:
For he my God will be.
[Page 8]
VVhen our scules are afflicted, expose vs not (oh God
to suffer longe, the scornes of our Adversaries; nor leave vs to the terror of those cruel iudgements which our owne consciences do often pronounce against vs: But, when wee are most severely iudged by the world, & by our owne selves, doe thou absolve vs: Depart not from vs, when wee are compassed about with iniuries, neither give vs over to those melancholy cogitations which will oppresse our harts when sorrowe hath entred into our soules. But, let the truth of thy promises,
& the light of thy countenance,
so appeare to vs, that we may be revived thereby; to the encrease & continuance of our consolation; and, that (depending alwaies on thee as our sole comforter) we may magnifie thy Name for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 44.
To the Cheef Musitian, for the Sonns of Chorah.
The Church pleads for Gods mercie, because hee is her auncient deliverer; & because he is yet her only Trust, though shee hath long sustained the scornes & oppressions of Tyrants, &c. It may be vsed, when the Church or commonwealth is afflicted,
&c.
Oh God! thy work's in Ages past
Wee heard our fathers tell:
How, thou the Gentiles forth didst cast,
And, broughtst them, there to dwell.
For, nor their sword nor Arme it was
By which that land they gaind
But, Lord, thy hand, thyne arme, thy grace,
And favour, them sustain'd.
2
Oh Lord my God, my king thou art,
Thy
Iacob. still, defend,
And, we shall those through thee subvart
That harm to vs intend.
[Page 84] Wee. through thy Name shall tread them lowe,
That vs resist, oh Lord;
For, I depend not on my bowe,
Nor trust I to my sword.
3
Wee from our foes were kept by thee,
And thou didst work them shame:
In thee therfore, much joy'd were wee
And, wee did praise thy Name.
Yet, now disgrac'd, thou throw'st vs by;
Our Hoast thou dost forsake:
Before our foes, thou mak'st vs fly
And, spoiles from vs they take.
4
Thou makest vs the Gentiles meat,
And, vs like sheep they slaie;
We, scattred, & for sale, are sett
To those, who nothing paie.
At vs our neighbours laugh & ieer,
Of vs, they proverbs make:
The people round vs, mock & fleer;
At vs, their heads they shake.
5
Disgrace is alwaies in my sight;
And, redd with shame, I grow,
To hear the scornfull words of spight,
And, railings of my foe:
Yet, wee, O Lord, forget not thee,
Nor from thy cov'nant stray;
Nor changed in our harts are we,
Nor gone out of thy way.
6
Nay, though (opprest, in death's black shade)
Wee lodg'd with Dragons, lie;
Thy Name, wee nor forgotten had,
Nor to strang Gods did crie.
Yea Lord, thou know'st (who know'st each thought)
That, daylie, for thy sake,
[Page 85] We fare like sheep, to slaughter brought
And, so our deaths wee take.
7
Lord, wake, & rise; why sleepst thou so!
Reiect vs no for aye.
Why shouldst thou disrespect our woe,
And hide thy face away?
Behold, ev'n to the dust wee make
Our soules & bodies bend:
Redeem vs for thy mercie sake;
Arise, & vs defend.
Deliver vs, oh Lord,
from all our adversaries: & make vs to be still mindfull what wee have aunciently heard concerning thee, from others; & what experience we our selves have had of thy iudgments and Mercies, from time to time: that, neither our prosperities make vs arrogate any thing to our selves, nor our Afflictions or persecutions cause vs to blaspheame, or forget thee. Yea, though we should become the scorne & laughing-stock of our Neighbours, a prey to our foes, & be alwaies as the sheep appointed for slaugher; yet, keep vs vnchanged in the true Religeon,
& in our love
to thee: That, thou (to whome both our outward Trialls,
& our inward sinceritie,
is ever knowne) mayst in due time, help & save vs whome thou hast redeemed, through Iesus Christ
our Lord, Amen.
Psa. 45.
To the Cheef Musitian vpon Shosannim for the Sonns of Chorah Maschil.
It is, as it were, Christ's marriage-song, and setts forth the glorie of that bridegroome & of his Spouze. It is vsefull to stir vp our spirituall affection to Christs, &c.
MY tongue shall prompt the writers penn,
My thoughts of thee, oh King! to tell:
For, thou excellst the Sonns of men;
[Page 86] And, on thy lipps, all graces dwell.
God, wil thee blesse, for evermore.
Great Conquerour, vnto thy side,
With honor, gird thy sword, therefore,
And, forward in thy Triumphs ride.
2
Thy Righthand shall, by deeds vpright,
(By Truth, & Meeknes) wonders doe:
Thy shafts, thy foes, to death shall smite,
And, make the people serve thee to.
Eternal is thy Throne of state;
Thy Scepter, from all wrong is free;
Thou Iustice lov'st, thou Sinn dost hate;
And, therfor, God anointed thee.
3
Yea, thine owne God, thy head anoints,
Ev'n with his oyle of Ioyfulnes;
And, thee (above thy Mates) appoints,
The place of Sov'raigne to possesse.
The pretious Robes, which thou put'st on
Of
Aloes, Cassia, & of
Mirrh,
Smell round about thine yv'rie throne,
When, they thy hart have cheared, there.
4
Kings daughters, have at all times bene
Among thy Maides of honour, found:
And, at thy righthand, stands the Queene,
In
Ophir gold, arayd, & crown'd.
Hear, daughter, & my words respect;
Forget thy fathers kindred, now:
And, that the king may thee affect,
Him, for thy Lord, acknowledg thou.
5
Then, shall the Daughters come from
Tyre,
And, bring rich presents vnto thee;
The wealthy, shall thy grace desire,
And, Suitors, for thy favours be.
The Daughter of the King, doth wear
[Page 87] An vpper garment wrought with gold:
But, if her in-side should appear,
You, all perfections would behold.
6
Her, to the kinge, present they shall,
In Robes which are by needels wrought;
Ev'n with her fellowe Virgines all,
(Attending her) shee shall be brought.
They shall into his pallace come,
With ioyfull hart, & merry chear:
And, shee, shall in her fathers Roome,
To be her comforts, Children bear.
7
Great kings, (on earth) shee, them shall make;
And, cause, that men in future daies,
Such notice of her Name shall take,
That nations all, shall sing her praise.
Most amiable Bridegroome
of our seules, (whose excellencies ravish, with spirituall affections, all those who cann apprehend the beamings of thy maiesty, with true faith.) Proceed on, in the manifestation of thy powre; Enflame our hart: by the vision of thy perfections;
make our persons acceptable by the reflection of thy beauties;
enrich vs outwardly with the goldē embroideries of goodworks;
adorne vs inwardly with the Iewells of Divine graces;
and let thy holie-Spirit
brings vs vnto thee, acompanied with so many vnpoluted Affections; that, thou maiest take pleasure in our comelines; and, that we, forgetting our carnall desires, (and wholie renouncing our selves) may have our full contentation in thy dear embraces; and enioy all the priveledges belonging to thy Spouze,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Psa. 46.
To the cheef Musitian for the sonns of Chorah, a song vpon Alamoth.
It expresseth on Assurance of
[Page 88]
God's protection, & the reasons thereof, with an exhortation also, to take notise of God's powre. It is vsefull to vs, for those purposes, &c.
God, is my strength, when dangers are;
A ready healp approoved:
Therfore, wee would not stand in feare,
Though all the world were mooved.
No, though the Flouds had flowed-o're
The highest earthlie dwellings;
And Seas did make the hillie shore,
To tremble at their swellings.
(Selah.)
2
There is a River, which doth glad
The place where God resideth;
And, happie is that Cittie made,
Because, he there abideth.
Her, vn-remoov'd, & firme to sett,
He, timelie vndertaketh;
And, though Realmes rave, & heathens frett,
Earth melts, when he but speaketh.
3
The Lord of hoasts, our part will take;
Vs,
Iacobs God, protecteth.
(Selah,
Oh come therefore, & notise take
What wonders God effecteth:
What wast, & spoiles, when he shall please,
Among mankinde he sendeth;
And, how he makes, both warr & peace,
As far as land extendeth.
4
He cutts the spear, he breakes the bowe,
And, he the Charret fireth:
Be still, saith hee, & also, know
Your God the samer equireth.
I will divulge my fame abrode
To ev'ry ethnick Nation.
The Lord of Hoasts, ev'n
Iacobs God,
[Page 89] (With vs) is our Salvation.
(Selah)
No distrust have our soules, oh Lord,
of thy loving protection; yet, when the contract betwixt thee & vs was first published, the whole world of our enimies raged at our preferment; & all the Corruptions of our Nature did furiously oppose our vnion: And, but that wee were strengthned by thy continuall presence (& refreshed by the ever-flowing River of thy grace) they had shaken (& perhaps overthrown) our Constancie. Oh! continue thy assistance to our comfort, & their further vexation. Protect vs from every evill; confirm vs in all goodnes; & so break the weapons & engines of vngodlines; that, all the world may extoll thy works; &, wee continue, for ever, in thy Salvation, through Iesus Christ
our Lord Amen.
Psa. 47.
To the cheef Musitian, a Psalme for the Sonns of Chorah.
It provoketh to reioicinge, for the Ascention of Christ; praiseth him, for subiecting the world to his spiritual dominion; & for vniting Iewes & Gentiles &c. Wee should vse it to those purposes.
TO God, all people, ioyfullie
Clapp hands, with exultation;
For, dreadfull is the Lord, most high,
Great king of ev'ry Nation.
He, vnto vs, by his great powre,
Much people hath subjected;
And, made our heritage, the flowre
Of
Iacob, his elected.
(Selah)
2
With trumpets, & with merry noise,
Is God the Lord ascended:
Oh! let him be (with joyfull voice)
In songs of praise, commended.
Of God our kinge, the praise now sing;
The Lord, of all the world is king;
Sing praise, with knowledge, to him,
3
God sitts vpon his holy throne
Or'e all the Gentiles raigninge;
And, calleth ev'ry willing-one,
To
Iacobs God pertaininge.
For, vnto God (whome ev'rie tongue
With high applause commendeth)
The worlds protection doth belonge;
And, he the same defendeth,
Eternal Sonn God,
great in powre, terrible in Iudgment, King of Kings, & Lord of Lords; who sitting on the right-hand of thy Father, hast subiected the world to thy Dominion,
& elected vnto thy selfe out of all Nations those willing-ones
who are obedient to thy Call.
Oh grant, that wee may not hide thy Talent,
or belie thy bountie (by their perswasions, who tell vs that, thou expectest to reap where thou sowedst not)
but, let vs thanckfully, acknowledge thy Common grace:
VVhen we are perticulerly called, let vs runn vnto thee by thy assisting Spirit; & obtain that speciall Favour, which makes a sure Election,
and from which there is no falling.
So, we shall see that Truth,
at which so many slumble; & with cheerfull harts, & triumphant voices, ascribe our salvation, wholy, to thee; & all honor, & powre, & glory, to thy maiesty, now & for ever more. Amen.
Psa. 48.
A Psalm & songe for the Sonns of Chorah.
It extolls the Lord, & the place of his dwelling; confesseth his mercy, his Bounty, & exhorts others to consider & publish he same. Wee, above many other Nations, should vse this, to praise God for our Syon,
&c.
THe Lord is great, & great his Fame
Should in his holy mountaine be:
For,
Syon is a goodly Frame;
The praise of all the world, is shee.
Shee north-ward stands, & shee doth hight
The Cittie of the King of might.
2
The Lord, is knowne to be her garde;
For, when great kings against her came,
They much admir'd; admiring, feard;
And, fearing, fledd away with shame:
Ev'n with such pangs, & suchlike feare,
As women that in travaile are.
3
For, thou, didst raise an Easterne winde,
Which all the shipps of
Tarsus brake:
And, Lord of Hoasts, now true we finde,
What others of thy Cittie spake:
Yea, wee have heard, & now wee see,
That, God will still her keeper be.
(Selah)
4
Within thy Temple, wee oh God,
Vpon thy loving-kindnes thought;
Thy Name is published abrode;
With Justice, thy Right-hand is fraught:
And, in thy Iudgments,
Syon shall
Reioice, with
Iudah's daughters all.
Through
Syon goe; about her walke,
Her Bullworks marke, her Turrets heed;
That, of her beauties you may talke
And, tell her glories to your seed:
For, God in life, will be our guide;
And, in our death, our God abide.
Thou art worthy oh Lord God,
to receive honor, & praise & powre; for, thou hast beautified, & soe fortified thy Cittie
the Catholick Church; & thy
auncient promises concerning her, are so gratiouslie fulfilled, that many
[Page 92]
famous Nations, Kingdomes & potentates, (who despised & opposed her small beginning) having, since, vewed her (with reverence terror & admiration) are driven back from their Idolatries & ashamed of their malitious Intentions. Make vs oh God! faithfull Citizens of this thy Citty,
& delighted, so to observe & publish the beauties & priveledges thereof, that the number of her inhabitans may be increased, & that wee & they, may there live, vnder they protection, for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 49.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalm for the Sonns of Chorah.
It declares the common vanity, & the solly of men in honor &c. It is vsefull, to comfort the weak Christian against the scandalls of the Crosse; & strengthens him that is offendeth at the prosperities of the wicked
&c.
YEe dwellers all on earth, give eare,
Both rich & pore, & high, & lowe;
For, musings deep, I will declare,
And, wisdome from my tongue shall flowe.
Dark Problems I will harken out,
A Ridle to my harpe, I'le sing;
For, of that day, what should I doubt,
Which, all my faults, will round me bring?
2
They, who their trust in Riches have,
And, glorie in their wealths encrease,
Their brothers life, shall neither save,
Nor with his God, procure him peace.
For, soules redemptions are so deare,
That, no man cann sufficient have
To purchase life, for ever, here;
Or, scape the Dungeon of the grave.
3
Men see, both fooles & wisemen die,
[Page 93] And, that their gettings others wast:
Yet, to their Names, their lands they tie,
And, thinck their house will ever last.
But, man's vaine honor soone decaies,
Ev'n as the bruitish creature dies:
And, (though their seed, their course do praise)
Their waies are neither safe, nor wise.
Selah
4
Like sheep, they food for death are made,
Who shall a cov'ring on them laie:
Their glories in the grave shall fade,
And, Iust-men rise more blest, then they.
Selah
Despaire not then, though some thou see,
Surpassing thee in place, or pelfe:
Since, God, thy soul from hell will free,
And, home receive thee to him self.
5
For, though their life more blest they thought,
(And, others did their path commend)
They to their grave shall carry nought,
Nor shall their pompe to them descend.
No; to their Fathers, they must passe,
And lie in darknes quite forgott;
For, foolish men in honor'd place,
Are like the beast, which dies, to rott.
It is a Riddle (oh Father of Wisdome)
that happines, should be attained without wealth honours
and such transitorie things; Therfor, worldings magnify them selves, & applaud others, according to their temporal Acheivments; But, when Sinn followes at the heels to Iudgment; when the grave shall devour our beauties; & when the price of Soules is required; then, their vanity will be apparant. Grant therfor, oh Lord,
that neither the worlds esteem of such things, make vs to overvalue them; nor our want of them, to be discouraged; but,
[...]t vs be fully contented in our salvation by thee: So, when they perish like beasts, (& are
[Page 94]
consumed & forgotten in the grave) who were honorable & rich, without understanding; wee, whome they iudged vnhappie, shal at the Resurrection arise blessed and glorified, through Iesus Christ,
our Lord, Amen.
Psa. 50.
A Psalm for Asaph.
It prophecies of the last Iudgement, & summons Iewes & Gentiles there vnto; It declares by what lawe they shall be iudged; Reprehends Hypocrites; & exhorts to repentance, &c. It is vseful, to warne that wee be not hypocriticall; in regard, all shall one day be disclosed, &c.
THe Lord our God, th'Almightie-one
Hath spoke, & summon'd all,
That are bewixt the rising Sunn,
And places of his fall.
God's glorie,
Syon, first will showe,
With noise, approch will hee;
Before him, burning fire shall goe,
A storme, shall round him be.
2
Through heav'n & earth, he shall, aloud,
His folke to iudgment call;
His Saints, that Sacrisizes vow'd,
Appear before him shall.
His Iustice, heav'n shall shewe abrode;
For, God the Iudge will be.
Hark
Isr'el; for, ev'n I, thy God,
Will thee accuse, saith hee.
3
I, for thine Offrings blame thee not,
Which were my due of olde;
Nor Bullock ask I, neither Goate,
Out of thy Stall or Folde.
For, I, more heards of Cattell owne,
Then all the Mountaines yeald;
[Page 95] To mee all Beasts, & Birds are known,
That live in wood or feild.
4
If I were hungrie, dost thou thinck,
(Since all the world is mine)
Thy Goates bloud, I would ask to drinck?
Or, feed on Bulls of thine?
No; rather pay, in thanckfulnes,
Thy Vowes; and call on me:
So, I shall pittie thy destresse
And, have due praise from thee.
5
But, to the wicked, saies the Lord,
How darest thou to prate
Of my commands, & of my word,
Whilst thou dost Counsell hate?
For, when thou dost a Theef perceive,
A share with him thou tak'st;
Thou, in Adulterie dost live,
And, wicked words thou speak'st.
6
Thy Brother, (thine owne Mothers sonn)
Thou causles, dost revile.
I, silent was, & thou hast done
These wicked things, the while.
Yea, thou hast therevpon suppos'd,
That, I, was like to thee;
But, all thy folly shall disclos'd,
And, now apparant be.
7
Yee, that of God forgetfull are,
Of this, Remembrance have;
Els, I shall you in peeces tear,
When there is none to save,
For, I am glorifide of those,
That give due praise to mee,
And, such as well their lives dispose
My saving-health shall see.
[Page 96]
Allmighty God,
who with maiestic & terror, shalt come to iudge the world & require an Account of everie one according to the Talent receaved (especially of vs, who are Saints,
by an ordinarie & visible Callinge)
give vs grace to offer the acceptable Sacrifize of Righteousnes & true obedience. Let not our Religion be meerly formall, without the fruites of good life. Let vs not be of those hypocriticall talkers & professers of thy word, whoe hate reformation, & vncharitably censure their owne Brethren; neither let thy long forbearance of our Sinns cause vs any way to abuse thy mercies: But, grant rather, that we may so vnfaignedly embrace thee in our harts, & so truly serve thee in our lives, that thou maist be glorified by vs, & wee saved by thee in the last Iudgment, Amen.
Psa. 51.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalme of David when Nathan the prophet came vnto him, after he had gone into Bethsheba.
It personates a man trulie penitent; and, a true confession, contrition, & purpose of amendment, is the subiect of this Psalme, Everie true penitentiarie may sing it in his humiliation, &c.
OH Lord, of thy abounding Love
To my offence, remissive be:
My Follies Purge, my Sinn remove,
And, of thy grace, daigne grace to me.
For, still, my fault before me lies;
Yea, by my selfe, I am accus'd:
Thee, thee alone, my conscience cries,
Ev'n to thy face, I have abus'd.
2
Which, here I do confesse, oh Lord,
That, when to censure thou art brought,
Men, true my finde thy Truthfull word,
And, judge thy Iudgments as they ought.
[Page 97] For, (sinnfull though my parents made,
My Beeing, & my Birth to bee)
From thee, a secret grace I had,
To forme the Truth thou seek'st in mee.
3
And, if I purg'd with hysope were,
Mee, thou shouldst make more white then snowe:
Yea, thy Glad-message when I heare,
The bones thou brak'st, will healthfull growe.
Then, from my faults, thy face divart;
Blot all my follies out of sight;
Creat in me a spotles hart,
And, make my Spirit, Lord, vpright.
4
Oh! let me not rejected be;
Take not thy Holie-ghost away;
To joiefull health, restore thou mee;
Let thy free Spirit be my stay.
So, I will other Sinners guide,
To seek thy grace, & walk thy waies;
And, (if my bloudie sinn thou hide)
Thy Iustice, oh my God, I'le praise.
5
Which praises, that my tongue may sing,
My lipps, oh Lord my God, vnclose:
For, Burnt-oblations I would bring;
But, thou hast quite reiected those,
A greeved Soul, a contrite hart,
Is God's best-liked Sacrifize:
With such, oh God! thou pleased art;
And, such thou never shalt despise.
6
As thou art pleas'd, Mount
-Syon blesse,
And wall about
Ierusalem.
The Sacrifize of Righteousnes,
Shall then obtaine thy good esteem.
Yea, thou shalt then their Guifts receive,
And, they shall all their Offrings pay;
[Page 98] Ev'n whole Burnt-offrings they shall give,
And, Oxen on thine Altar slay.
Oh Lord! our owne Consciences accuse vs, & will pronounce thee iust if thou condemn vs: for though it might somewhat moove thy compassion, to consider our disabilities, by Original Polution; yet, knowing what grace thou hast secretly infused, both, to resist that naturall corruption, and to forme also within vs that Righteousnes which thou requirest; wee have no excuse (no hope) but to appeal to thy mercie. To thy Mercie therfor, wee appeal, beleeving to be perfectly purified by the sprinckling of thy dear Sonns bloud. Oh! forgive vs for his sake; Restore vs to thy favour; repaire what is decaied in soul or bodie; & so comfort, renue, guide, & strengthen vs, by the continuall presence of the Holy-ghost; that our conversation may be more vpright; & all our future endeavours become acceptable; to thy glorie, to the saving of our Soules, & to the consolation of other penitent Sinners, through Iesus Christ
our Lord: Amen.
Psal. 52.
To the cheef Musitian Maschil a Psalm of David when Doeg the Edomite came & told Saul, & said vnto him, David is come vnto the house of Abhimelech.
It mistically, personates the Elect, vpraiding their persecutors, foretelling their shamfull ruine, & reicicing in their owne deliverances, &c. It is vsefull in persecutions.
WHy vaunt'st thou Tiraunt of thy wrong?
God's love will still the same appear,
Although thy mischeef-working tongue,
Faines lies, as keen as Razors are.
Thou, evill more then Good respect'st;
Thou lovest falshood more then right:
(Selah.)
[Page 99] All harmfull speaches thou affect'st,
And, tongues which publish forth deceit.
2
But, thee from hence, the Lord shall tear,
And, from the Land thy dwelling take.
(Selah.)
The Iust shall see the same with feare,
And, sport at thy destruction make.
Yea, they shall say; Loe, this was hee
Who sought not God to make him stronge;
But, labour'd how he great might be,
By getting wealth, & doeng wrong.
3
Then, as for mee, I prosper shall
As Olive trees that have their place
Within Gods holie temple wall,
And, still depend vpon his grace.
There, Lord, I'le spread abrode thy fame;
Yea, then, I'le praise thee for thy love,
And, trust for ever in thy Name;
Which, all thy Saints will well approve.
Deliver vs oh gratious Lord,
from the cruell insolencies & falshood of those, who seek their Advancement
by iniurious & wicked meanes. Preserve vs also from the guilt of their abhominations; but especially from being so shameles, as to make vaunts of oppression, or of any other sinn. Disenable, & root out of the land, all such insolent offenders; that the righteous florishing as green Olive trees, & beholding thy Iudgments, may with reverent awe, reioice in their subversion who are friends to Vnrighteousnes;
& (with a fearles confidence in thy love) magnify thy Holy Name,
for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 53.
To the cheef Musitian Maschil, A Psalm of David.
It is almost the same with the 14.
Psalm. And may be vsed to minde vs that our Nature was wholie depraved,
[Page 100] and that wee should desire the comming of Christ, by whome wee are to be renewed, &c.
THe foole, doth God in hart denay,
And, all corrupt are growne;
Perverse & wicked is their way,
There is no Righteous-one.
For, God from heav'n his eye declin'de,
Man's of-spring to behold;
And, searched who did seek to finde,
Or, know him as they should.
2
But, all their waies prepostrous were;
All, fillthie & vnsound:
None sawe he live vprightlie, there;
Not one good man, he found.
Ev'n brutishlie, fond Sinners eat
God's people, as their bread.
They, seek not God; and horrors great
They feel, where is no dread.
3
The Lord will breake the bones of them
That have beseiged thee;
And, thou shalt shame them, since, of him
They disrespected be.
Would wee God's healp from
Syon had!
For,
Iacob, triumph shall,
And, Isr'el, will there of be glad,
When them he brings from thrall.
Free vs, oh Lord,
from that vniversall corruption which overspreadeth our Nature;
that wee neither become so foolish to deny thee in our harts, nor so perverse as to dishonour thee in our waies. Soe behold our polutions,
that thou maist cleanse vs from them; Soe consider our weaknes,
that thou maist breake the bands of all our foes; So make vs to fear
thee, that all our other feares may be turned into
[Page 101]
ioye; And cause vs to be so desirous of that salvation,
which was promised out of Syon,
that (being delivered from the thraldome of sinn and death) wee & every true Israelite,
may triumph in our Salvation & Redemption through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen,
Psa. 54.
To the cheef Musitian on Neginoth Maschil. A Psalm of David when the Ziphims came & said to Saul, doth not David hide himself with vs?
It mystically prophecied the Iewes trecheries & tirannies against Christ &c. It is vsefull, when wee are (or have beene) betraied or persecuted by false brethren,
&c.
DEfend mee Lord, for thy Name sake,
In thy great powre, adjudg thou mee,
Of all thy suites quick notise take;
And, let my words well heeded be.
For, Strangers doe against me rise,
And, Tirants for my life have sought,
(Not setting thee before their eyes)
Although my healp, thou still hast wrought,
2
The Lord, my Soules vpholders, gards;
His Truth hath chas'd my foes away;
And, them with Vengance he rewards:
For which, my Vowes I'le freely pay.
To laud thy Name is wel approv'd
And, I oh Lord, thy praise will sing;
Because, my greefs thou hast remoov'd
And, on my foes, my wish dost bring.
Encline thtne eare (oh mercifull father) vnto all our iust petitions, & suffer vs not to be oppressed by our professed foes, nor to be betraied into their hands, by those Aliens vnto thy Truth & Goodnes, from whome wee have better deserved;
[Page 102]
But, as thou hast bene alwaies heretofore our Healper (and the vpholder of them who have befreinded vs.) So, continue, we pray thee, to reward our friends, according to their kindnes; to requite our foes according to their deservings; & to deliver vs from all our sorrowes, through Iesus Christ; To whome, with thy blessed Spirit, wee will offer vp the free Sacrifize of praise and thancksgivinge, now & for ever. Amen,
Psa. 55.
To the cheef Musitian Neginoth Maschil, a Psalm of David.
It personatet the faithfull, complaining & petitioning against the inhumanitie of their foes. It deciphers, also, false brethren; declares their destruction, & the securitie of the Elect. It may be vsed as the former.
OH God! my praiers hear;
Hide not away thine eare;
But, hear, & cast on mee thine eye.
For, loud my foes doe roare;
The wicked greeve me sore;
And, therfore Lord, thus loud I crie.
2
With wrongs, they mee persue,
A wrathfull spight they shewe,
And, I, at hart am greatlie vext:
Deaths torments mee oppresse,
I shake through fearfullnes,
With horrors great, I am perplext.
3
I sayd; Doves wings, had I,
To rest, I then would flie.
Lo, then farr hence I would abide,
I, then would haste away,
And, in some Desert stay
Which frō the Tempest mee should hide.
(Selah.)
4
Destroy & slitt their tongues;
For, strife, oh Lord, & wrongs,
In midst thereof I spi'de
Sinn, fraud, & guile abide;
These, in her streats, still made their stay.
5
A foes contempt, or scorne,
I could have shund or borne;
But, mee no publike foe abus'de:
It was my trusted Peer;
As friends, wee freindlie were,
And, wee God's house togither vs'd.
6
Arrest them, Death & Hell,
With whome such Mischeevs dwell:
For, I, vpon the Lord will call.
To God, at night I'le pray,
At morninge, at nooneday;
And, mee both hear, & save, he shall.
7
In warr, he gave mee peace,
And, mee will still release:
Ev'n me, the Lord will hear, and save.
But, God will punish them:
(Selah.)
For, they his feare contemn;
Because, that they no Changes have.
8
Their hands, the Peace did breake,
(Where they a league did make)
And, though their speach most freindlie were,
Yet are, sometime, their words,
Like darts or naked swords.
Let God, therefore, thy Burthen bear.
8
For, God is thy defence,
He gardeth innocence;
And, Sinners downe to Hell will thrust.
Not half their daies they live,
Who murther or deceive:
But, in the Lord I put my trust.
[Page 104]
Many & greevous (oh Lord)
are those troubles which exercise thy Children; especially in those places, where prophanes,
or false worship
is openly approoved: but, the greatest Afflictions are occasioned by Hypocrites, False breathren,
& those who abuse us vnder cullour of Religeon, or by pretences of dearest Amitie. Defend vs therfor, oh God,
from those harmfull Serpents; Give us the wings of Dovelike innocence, to carry us above their snares: Grant us those enterchanges of Prosperitie & Adversity, which may keep us both in thy Fear, & Love: Suffer not the tribulations of the world, nor the temptations of the Devill, nor the miseries of the Flesh, to oppresse us: But, let us lay all our burthens vpon thee, confidently; Trust in thee firmly; Seek thee duly; love thee sincerely; & enioy thy gratious protection for ever more Amen.
Psa. 56.
To the cheef Musitian vpon the mute Dove in the Desert, a golden Psalm of David, when the Philistims took him in Gath.
It typically personates the Church
in persecution, & is a prayer, & a complaint against her Foes, acknowledging Gods regard of her suffrings, professing assurance in him, & promising to be thanckfull &c. It is vsefull to those ends.
&c.
HAve Mercie Lord, for, man hath sought
To swallowe vp, & mischeeve mee.
My Foes with mee have daylie fought;
And (Lord most high) they many bee.
Thou art my hope, when doubts arise,
Thy word hath brought me comforts, to,
On thee alone, my hart relies,
And, fearles is, what Flesh cann do.
2
They wrest my words, Lord, ev'rie day;
To worke me harme, they still devise:
And, how they might my Soul surprise.
Therfore, in thy just wrath, oh God!
Correct them for this Crime of theirs:
And, as thou dost my Faults record,
Recorde, & botle vp my teares.
3
For, thou wilt save me, Lord, I knowe;
When thee I seek, my Foes flie back:
Thy promise makes mee joyfull growe,
And, of thy word, my songs I make.
My, trust, oh God! is all in thee,
And, of man's powre, I fearles am.
Thy vowes are all perform'd on mee
And, I will praise thee for the same.
4
For thou hast freed my Soul from death;
From falls, thou dost my footing stay,
To walke, by thee, within that Path,
Which leads to Life, a lightsome way.
Oh thou faithfull preserver of all who put their trust in thee! Our visible & invisible Adversaries do continually seek the destruction of our soules & bodies, by many secret & mischeevous devises: But, our trust being placed vpon thee, wee need not fear the malice of any Adversarie. Grant vs grace therfore, so to depend on thy promises, & so to lament our errors (with teares of true Repentance) that as our enimies mark our wayes to entrap vs, wee our selves may mark them to prevent ensnarings; & that thou observing their hatred, & our penitence, mayst cause vs to walke ioyfully, in the way of eternal life, through Iesus Christ. Amen.
Psal. 57.
To the cheef Musitian Altaschith, A Psalm of David, when he fledd from Saul in the Cave.
It
[Page 106]
mystically expressed the Iewes
persecutinge Christ, even vnto his Grave. wee that are his members, & partake in his suffrings, may sing it, to declare our iniuries, & to pray, & praise God, for deliverances. &c.
LOrd, grant (oh grant) me thy compassion;
For, I, in thee my trust have placed,
Display thy wings for my Salvation,
Vntill my greefs are over-passed.
To thee I sue (oh God most high)
To thee, that canst all want supplie.
2
From their despights who seek to rend mee,
Let help, oh Lord, from heav'n be daigned,
And let thy Truth & Love defend me;
For, I with Lions am detained:
With men inflam'd, whose biting words,
Are shafts, & spears, & naked swords.
3
Let over heav'n God's praise be reared,
And through the world, his glorie showed.
For, they who netts for mee prepared,
(They who my soul to ground had bowed)
Ev'n they, with in those trapps are caught,
Which for my fall, their hāds had wrought.
Selah
4
Oh God! my hart now ready maketh,
My hart is for thy praise preparing;
My Tongue, my Harpe, my Lute awaketh
And, I my selfe, betimes vprearing,
Will speake & sing, in praise of thee,
Where greatest throngs of people be.
5
For, Lord, thy Mercies forth are stretched,
As farr as are the Sphears extended;
Thy Truth vnto the Clouds hath reached
And, thou thy self art high ascended
Let, still, thy, Fame & praise, oh God!
Through heav'n & earth be spread abrode.
[Page 107]
Oh Lord to whome Mercy belongeth,
have mercy vpon vs; & let the Wings
of thy protection
be gratiously spread over vs, vntill the Stormes
of this life be overpast: For, so great & so manyfold are those dangers, & those Miseries wherewith wee are alwaies enclosed, by spirituall & temporal foes; that they have brought our bodies to the Grave,
& our seules near vnto Hell.
Oh! let thy Truth
& Love
defend vs from our Lion-like persecuters; that our Harts
(being timely cheared) our Thoughts, Words
& Actions,
may harmoniously agree in manifesting thy praises. And, seeing thy holy Spirit hath plainely declared the Vniversality
of thy proffered Grace;
let not vs presume to sett Limmits there vnto; but publish thy glorie as vniversaly as thou hast extended thy Mercies, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 58.
To the cheef Musitian Altaschith Michtam of David.
It reprehends & characters, that Serpentine generation, whoe are obstinate enimies to the Gospell of Christ, & prophecies & illustrates their destruction, &c. It is vsefull to encourage vs against their malice. &c.
YEe congregation, said yee right?
Yee Mortalls, are your Doomes vpright?
No; for you muse on works of Sinn:
Your hands with mischeevs filled are,
You from your Births vntoward were;
And, from the wombe have liers binn.
1
Your poyson, like the serpents, flowes;
Deaf-Adder-like, your eares you close,
Though powrfull Charmes are wisely sung.
Oh God! their mouthes of teeth disarme;
And, that their Fangs may do no harme,
Make tootheles (Lord) the Lion's young.
3
Like sudden Flouds, their furie slale;
When they would shoot; their arrowes, breake:
Yea make them quite consume away.
Like snailes, consume them from the earth;
Or els, like some vntimely birth,
Destroy, them, er'e they see the day.
4
Before wee feel them, prick or burne,
Them, whirle-winde-like, Lord, overturne;
And sweep them hence, in wrath alive.
Which Vengance. when the Righteous vewe,
(And vewing Sinn receive her due)
They, joyfull thancks, to thee shall give.
5
Yea, they shall trample on their bloud,
Who have bene Foes to doeng good;
And ev'rie man shall say, & see,
That Righteous men shall have their meed;
And, that there is a God, indeed,
By whome the world shall iudged be.
Keep vs, oh Lord,
from having fellowship in the Congregations
of those, who are perverted in their Iudgment,
mischeevous in their Conversation;
Draf to good Instructions,
Obstinate in their heresies;
& willfull continuers in all their natural Corruptions.
Deliver us from their malice; Breake their Instruments of mischeef; and let their deserved confusion fall suddenly vpon them: That, the Faithfull Congregation, may vewe it; & that all men may see & confesse thee, to be the Righteous Iudge
of the world, & the rewarder of all those who put their trust in thee. Amen.
Psa. 59.
To the cheef Musitian Altaschith Michtam a Psalm of David, when Saul sent & they watched the house to kill him.
It cheefly prophecied the Iewes
[Page 109]
dogged crueltie to Christ, & that they should be preserved to wander in a vagabond Condition (as wee see at this day) for an example to others &c. It serves to warne vs, that wee resist not God's grace once offred. &c.
MY God, protect mee from my Foes;
From them, who strive with mee:
From Sinners gard mee, & from those,
That bloodie-minded be.
For, loe, the mightie do combine;
They waite my soul to teare:
And, without cause or fault of mine,
With speed there to prepare.
2
Lord God of Hoasts, & Isr'el, wake,
To heed & succour mee:
The Gentiles Curbe, & vengance take,
Where sinns malitious be.
(Selah)
At night, like Doggs, they Bawling come,
They round the Cittie goe
And slanders ranck, & threatnings, from
Their Mouthes, & lipps, do flowe.
3
For why, say they, none hears the same;
But, God shall them detect:
The Gentiles also to defame,
His ayde I will expect.
For, God's my strength, God healpeth mee,
Preventing grace bestowes;
And, what my hart requires to see,
Inflicts vpon my Foes.
4
Oh Lord our help, disperse with shame,
Disperse them by thy powre;
But, lest my Folke forget the same,
Them, doe not quite devoure.
Vntill their tongue, all words of spight
And falshood, vttred hath;
[Page 110] And, when their pride is at the height,
Consume them in thy wrath.
5
Yea Lord, consume them vtterlie,
Till, notise they obtaine,
That, God, throughout eternitie;
Doth over
Iacob raigne.
Selah
At night, vnto the Cittie wall
Like doggs they shall retreat;
Without it, they shal bark & bawle,
And whine, for want of meat.
6
But, in the Morne, aloud I'le sing,
Both of thy powre & grace;
And speake what succours thou didst bring
When sore destrest I was.
Ev'n vnto thee, oh God my powre.
My praise-full song shall be:
For, thou art my defensive Towre,
And, gratious vnto mee.
Iust Avenger of all malitious iniuries; According to thy promises thou hast subiected the Gentiles
to thy Sonns
Dominion, & scattred the Iewes
(with a Cain
-like marke preventing their vtter extirpation) that so, their vagabond life may be a perpetuall memoriall, both of their crueltie, & of our Savious
Passion. Let all those who shall make themselves partakers of their malitious heresie (without repentance) be partners in their punishment; and let them hunt through the earth in error, bawling like doggs without the walls of thy new Ierusalē
(for an example to all Ages): But, let so many of them as have bene misseled, by ignorance only (without willfull malice) oh let them, returne from their obstinacie, in the Evening of their life (or of this world) & let them hunger & thirst after the true Messiah;
that in the Morning
of their & our Resurrection,
we may, altogether, praise & glorifie thy holy Name. Amen.
Psa. 60.
To the cheef Musitian vpon Shushan Eduth Michtam
of David, to teach when he strove with Aram Naharaym & with Aram Zobath, when Ioab returned & slew of Edom in the salt vallie 12000.
It bemoanes the present calamitie; mitigates it by remembring God's promises; Desires his conduct; & professeth Assurance in him. It is vsefull to encourage those who fight vnder God's banner. &c.
OH God! wee are despis'd of thee,
And, in thy wrath dispersed be:
But, now returne to vs againe.
Thou smot'st our land, & Loe it quakes,
Oh! stopp the breach, for, still it shakes;
And, many cares thy folk sustaine.
2
A giddie wine thou mad'st vs drink;
Yet, they that feare thee, do not shrinck
They Truths displaied Flagg to beare.
Selah
Oh! that thy Darling, safe may be,
Let thy Right-hand or'e shaddow mee;
And, bowe thou downe to me thine ear.
3
Then (as God's holy-voice declar'd)
All
Shechem, shall by mee be shar'd;
I'le
Succhoth Dale by Line receive:
I'le
Gilead &
Manasseth take;
Mount
Eph'rim, I my gard will make;
In
Iudah, I, my law will give.
4
My servile worke shall
Moab doe;
O're
Edom I will fling my shoe;
And
Palestine, of mee shall boast
For, who to
Edom is my Guide?
Or to the Cittie fortifide,
But, God, that had forsook our Hoast?
5
That Lord, who did our Hoast forsake,
Shall of our greefs an ending make:
For, man's vaine help wee do contemn.
Through God, wee valiant Acts have done,
Our Foes, by him, shall downe be throwne
And, Hee shall set his feet on them.
Notwithstanding our many outward Afflictions make vs appeare as reprobates in the worlds opinion; & though (by reason of our sinns) wee our selves are sometime half afraids, that thou, oh God,
hast for saken & despized vs: yet, havinge among vs the Ensigne
of Truth
as a testimonie of thy favour; wee beleeve that thy spirituall kingdome shall be continued with vs, & be established in those places also, which are not yet of thy visible Church.
Fulfill oh Lord, our hopes herein; that wee may break through the fortifications of the mistical Babilon,
& that thy Spirituall Armies may be victorious, through the conduct of our Lord & Captaine Iesus Christ.
Amen.
Psa. 61.
To the cheef Musitian a psalme of David.
It desireth God's assistance; confesseth former protections, & promiseth future trust in him. It containes also, a prediction of Christs kingdome, a petition for Grace, and a vowe of thanckefulnes. To these ends it may be vsed.
LOrd, let my plaint attention move,
When greev'd at hart I lie;
And, lead mee to the Rock above,
When from Earth's ends I crie.
For, as a Cittie fortifide,
From foes thou gardest mee,
Within thy Tent, still, safe I bide;
Thy Wings my Cov'ring bee.
Selah.
2
Thou hear'dst my vowes, & gav'st mee shares,
And, spar'dst the king, till hee in yeares
An aged man became.
Oh! let thy Truth & Mercie, Lord,
Preserve him still by thee;
That, still thy praise I may record,
And pay my vowes to thee.
Hear our Prayers, oh Lord,
& let our cries come vnto thee. So firmlie establish vs on that Rock
whereon thy Church
is founded, that it may be our Bullwork
of defense in all dangers. Cover vs with the wings of thy Mercie; Succour vs in thy Tent;
& be gratious vnto vs, from what place, or in whatsoever affliction, wee call vpon thee: That so (having an outward portion among those who professe thee, & performing those vowes, which wee made vnto thee in our Baptisme) wee may be continued in thy favour, vntil we shal be admitted into thy triumphant Church,
& enioy life eternall with Christ Iesus.
Amen.
Psa. 62.
To the Cheef Musitian to Iduthun a Psalm of David.
It professeth trust in God; threatens & Characters out, Antichrist & his Members; Exhorts to faith in Christ; & declares the vanitie of man & of all tēporall assistances & e. It may be sung to encrease Piety. Faith, Hope, & the contempt of temporall Vanities.
&c.
STill wait thou, oh my Soul, on God;
For, he my helpe doth prove,
My Rock, my Garde, my Safe-abode;
Whence, none cann mee remove.
Those, therfor, who conspire my fall,
His Blade shall root from hence,
And, shake them like a rotten wall,
Or, like a broken fence.
2
They seek my shame; They lies commend:
And hate when faire they speake.
Selah.
My Soul, therfore, on God attend;
Thy hope, him only make.
For, God (my strength, my healp, my sort)
From harme will succour mee:
My praise, my garde, my firme support,
And my sole trust, is hee.
3
In God, yee people, alwaies hope;
To him, your harts declare:
For, he will prove a certaine propp,
When men deceitfull are.
Selah.
Men high & lowe, are lesse in weight,
Then things that are most vile:
Trust not therfore, nor take delight,
In wealth, in wrongs, or guile.
4
For, once God said, & oft I heard,
That, God (both strong & kinde)
On all men, will bestowe reward,
As he, desert shall finde.
Grant oh Lord, that wee may alway, so patientlie attend on thee, that persecutors, falseteachers,
and all they who seek our fall or dishonour, may be quite subverted or converted. Make vs ever mindfull how strong a supporter thou art vnto all those who put their trust in thee; & how iust a rewarder of every one according to his deserving. Seeing also, wee cann have no safe assurance in the best men, nor in the best outward meanes (without thy speciall Assistance) let vs never depend vpon them; much lesse, seek to be secured, or to profit our selves, by fraudulent or wicked practises: But endeavoring rather, to fulfill all righteousnes for thy sake; and making our petitions to thee only; at vs depend wholie on thy protection, for ever and ever, Amen.
Psa. 63.
A Psalm of David when he was in the wildernes of Iudah.
It may be sung by those who are afflicted in the wildernes of this life, hungring & thirsting after righteousnes. It expresseth their longing to be pertakers of the publike worship, who are debarred from the same; & may be vsed also by them, &c.
OH God! my God thou allwaies art;
For thee, betimes, I seeking pant,
With longing soul, & thirsting hart,
Ev'n as the land, which raine doth want.
Yea, Lord, my soul doth long, full sore,
Thy powre & glorie to behold,
As I have seene them heretofore,
Ev'n in thy holie-place of olde.
2
For why! thy love doth life surpasse;
And, I therfore will sing thy praise:
Thy Name, I'le all my lifetime blesse,
And, vnto thee my hands I'le raise.
For, when I minde thee on my bed,
And muze upon thee in the Night;
It fills me, as with marrowe fedd;
And I with ioye thy praise recite.
3
Since, me thou healp'st in my destresse;
Beneath thy wings I gladd remaine,
My Soul, to thee doth closelie presse;
And, thy Righthand shall mee sustaine.
But, they shal to their grave descend,
Whose purpose is my soul to slay:
The Sword shall bring them to their end,
And, they shall be the foxes prey.
4
The king, & they who swear, in truth,
By God's great Name; in God shall ioy:
But, he shall stop the liers mouth,
Cause vs to seeke thee timely (oh Lord
our God)
and when wee are wandring in the deserts of this life, let vs hunger and thyrst after thee and thy righteousnes; that wee may be satisfied according, to thy promise. Let our muzings be vpon thee, both in the night
of our Afflictions,
and vpon the bedd
of our prosperities.
Let the contemplation of thy powre and glorie fill vs, as with marrowe and fatnes: Let thy Love be pretious vnto vs; yea, more pretious vnto vs then our lives: Let the wings of thy Mercy, and the powre of thine Arme, so shaddowe and protect vs, that (both our Lionlike & foxlike Adversaries being destroied, and the mouth of all vnrighteousnes being stopped.) VVee and thy whole Church
may reioice in thy Salvatoon, for ever and ever. Amen.
Psa. 64.
To the Cheef Musitian a Psalme of David.
It prophecies the Iewish malice against the Messiah at his passon; and that accordinge to their owne imprecation, the avengment of his bloud should be vpon them and their children, &c. It serves to minde vs, what manner of foes wee have, and for what assistance wee may hope,
&c.
LOrd, hear my voice, & me acquite
From terrors of the foe;
And from their plotts, & feirce despight
That mischeefe seek to doe.
For, they like swords, their tongues prepare;
With words, like arrowes keen,
They shoote the righteous without fear,
With quicknes, & vnseene.
2
Themselves in Mischeefe, strong they make,
Their plotts they thinck vnspide;
Which in their harts they hide.
But, God shall wound them with a shaft,
Before they be aware;
So, they shall fall by their owne craft,
And their owne sentence beare.
3
Thereat, beholders, all, shall flie,
And, ev'rie man, with feare,
The works of God shall magnifie,
And, ponder what they are,
The righteous also, with delight,
On God, their hope shall build:
And, they that are in hart vpright,
Shall with true joie be filld.
Oh Lord,
wee have so manie visible, and invissble Adversaries, secretly and continually plotting our destruction; that our Soules are afflicted with great terror. Some, by whispering of slanders, or by privie conspiracies, seek to endanger our bodies; Others, by hidinge false Doctrines vnder appearances of Truth, or masks of pietie; or els, by insinuating carnall or spirituall wickednesses (before wee be aware) deeplie wound our Consciences, and very dangerously peirce our Soules with venemous arrowes. Oh God!
break, and quench these fierie darts of Sathan;
Deliver vs from their cunninge Proiects; shoot back their arrowes into their owne bosomes; and let their predictions be fulfilled on themselves: But, grant that wee may still depend on thee; & that being delivered from all our terrors, wee may serve thee in holines & righteousnes,
all the daies of our life Amen.
Psa. 65.
To the Cheef Musitian a Psalme & song of David.
It acknowledgeth God's manifold benifits; First,
[Page 118]
those which are peculier to the Elect; & then, his Universall providence over all his Creatures &c. Wee should sing it to those ends.
&c.
IN
Syon, Lord, thine honor lies;
There, vowes to thee are brought:
Ev'n there, thou answer'st all mens cries,
And, of all Flesh art sought.
Though many sinns do me oppresse,
From them thou purgest mee;
For, thou thy Chosen-one dost blesse,
And bringst him near to thee.
2
Within thy courts & holie-place,
His dwelling he doth gaine;
Ev'n there, where wee shall (of thy grace)
Our wished fill obtaine.
Thou in thy Iustice dreadfull art,
Yet, in thy grace wee stand;
And thou the hope of all men art,
That live on sea, or land.
3
Girt round with powre, thy Vigor laies,
A ground-work for the hills:
The noise of seas & Flouds it staies,
The peoples rage it stills.
Thy signes, remotest Clymates feare;
Thee, daye & night they praise;
Their Lands to visite, thou hast care;
And, rich encrease it paies.
4
To water all their furrowes there,
Thy River overflowes:
To feed them, corne thou dost prepare;
And, blessest that which growes.
Thou Crown'st the year with plentiousnes,
And, fat thy paths are made:
It dropps vpon the wildernes
5
Faire flocks, their fruitfull meads adorne;
Their vallies freshlie springe,
And, are so filld with cropps of Corne;
That they do laugh & sing.
In thy visible Church,
oh Father of Mercie,
thine honour & thy Grace are most evident: Nevertheles, thy Mercie is not so confined, but that thy Church invisibly extends it self into everie corner of the earth; yea, thy overflowing River makes vp thy harvest even in those deserts where wee behold no fertilitie; & there (thou havinge regard as well to the soul as the bodic) visitest them, not only with temporal, but with spiritual Blessings. For which thy great providence & mercie, wee blesse thy holy name; beseeching thee, so to moisten the clodds of our harts with dewes from above, that wee whome thou hast planted in thy visible Garden, may not, be lesse fruitfull then those, to whome thou hast not yet vouchsafed the same priveledges; But grant that both wee & they (according to what we have received) may bring forth fruites acceptable vnto thee, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 66.
A song a Psalme.
It praiseth God both for temporall & spirituall blessings, especially for the great benifit of our vniversall Redēption, which is typically expressed, by allusion to the Iewes deliverance from the Egiptian bondage &c. It may be sung to praise God for our deliverances from sinn & the Devil. &c.
YEe kingdomes all, God's praise expresse;
In songs, exalt & land his Name:
To him, his dreadfull Acts confesse;
And, how his Arme his foes doth tame.
Let all the world before him bowe.
With singing to his Name & him;
Selah.
What dreadfull things he did for them.
2
The sea he dri'de, & through the Maine
Wee walk'd on foote, him praising there.
He hath obtain'd a boundles raigne,
And, of all Nations, he hath care.
He will not let the Rebells thrive.
Selah.
Oh! blesse our God, & sing his praise;
For, he preserves our soul alive,
And, he from slipps our footing staies.
3
By thee, oh God! wee prooved were,
Like silver tried & refin'de:
Thou didst entrap vs in a snare,
And round our loines affllictions binde.
Above our heads, thou mad'st men ride;
And, through both Flouds & fires, we came:
But, thou didst rest, at last, provide;
And, I will praise thee for the same.
4
Ev'n in thy house those vowes I'le pay,
Which in destresse were sworne by mee;
Fatt Rams & Bullocks I will slay,
And burne sweet incense vnto thee.
Selah.
Come hither, yee that fear the Lord,
And, hear what for my soule he wrought,
When his assistance I emplor'd,
And, him with praise-full voice besought.
5
If any sinn, my hart affects,
The Lord, will then withdraw his eare:
But, surelie, God my suite affects;
For, he my vocall moane did hear.
Oh! let him ever praised be,
For not reiecting my request:
And, for his Mercie shew'd to me,
Oh! let him be for ever blest.
[Page 121]
Blessed be thy Name (oh gratious God) for all thy benifitts; especially for our many spiritual deliverances, which are, everie day as wonderfull now, as when the Reddsea
was dried up. For, through Seas
of terrors, & Deserts
of tribulations, wee passe many Dangers, many trialls, & many enterchanges of Adversitie & prosperitie in this life, to refine & prepare us for a blessed habitation, &, that without impeachment to thy Iustice, wee may be made capable of thy free-Mercie. Oh! root out of our harts that affection to sinn which interrupts thy hearing of our prayers; and grant that (by sacrifizinge our brutish affections, & offring vp the sweet Incense of a Faith fruitfull in Good works) wee may declare our selves thanckfull vnto thee; and that wee & our Oblation may be made acceptable through the Merrits of Iesus Christ. Amen.
Psa. 67.
To the cheef Musitian vpon Neginoth, a Psalme a song.
It expresseth a longing for the vniversall spreading of that saving grace which is offred to Iewes, & Gentiles;
& shewes the blessednes which will succeed the same. It is daylie sung in our Liturgie for the enlargment of the Catholick Faith.
THy blessing, Lord, bestowe;
Shewe vs thy glorious Face
Selah.
That, all the world, thy waies may knowe,
And, see thy saving-grace.
2
Let all men give thee praise;
Let all sing praise to thee:
Let nations all sing out thy praise,
For, thou their Iudge must be.
3
God, is the Nations kinge,
Selah.
Let Nations all therefore,
Let Nations all, vnto him sing,
4
Then earth shall give encrease;
And, God, whose Folke wee are,
That God, shall vs vouchsafe to blesse,
And, him, the world shall fear.
Allmighty God,
vouchsafe, that wee whome thou hast alreadie enlightned with a gratious measure of thy Savingknowledge,
may so evidently enioy also, thy protection, & the continuall brightnes of thy Favour; that all the Nations of the world, beholding the benifit of thy Service may be allured to ioyne with us in magnifienge of thee. Let also, a due consideration, that thou art Vniversall king,
makes vs beleeve that thou hast provided means of salvation for all thy Subiects: and let the remembrance that thou art vniversall Iudge,
make vs all, so fruitfull; that thou maist be vniversally feared, & glorified; & wee blessed world without end. Amen.
Psa. 68.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalme or song of David.
It is a Prophecie of Christ Heb. 4. 8.
Herein, by allusion to some passages in the olde Testament,
many Evangelical
mysteries are shaddowed out (to witt) the Resurrection, Ascention, sending of the holy-ghost, Callinge of the Gentiles,
&c. It is vsefull to commemorate those mysteries, &c.
LEt God arise, & all his Foes affright,
Let those that hate him, be despers'd & flie;
Let Sinners, passe like smoke out of his sight,
And melt like wax which in the fire doth lie.
But, from the Iust, let him expel their sadnes,
And make them glad in him, with perfect gladnes.
2
Oh! prais
Gods name, who rides above the
sphear!
His
Name Eternal in your Songs commend;
[Page 123] For, in his holy-place, he still appeares
The
Orphanes Father, & the
widdowes freind.
He captives frees, he strangers entertaineth,
And for the proud, a fruitles land ordaineth.
3
Whē thou didst,
Lord, thy peoples passage make
(And, waies, for thē through
deserts vast prepare)
At sight of thee, both heav'n & earth did shake;
Yea,
Sinai shook, when
Isr'els God was there.
Thou gav'st thy
flock, sweet raines as need required
And, mad'st thē strōg whē they were weak & tired.
4
There dwelleth now, thy
Congregation, Lord,
Where, for the pore thy goodnes roō had made:
Whē thou thy self hadst first proclaim'd the word
Great Armies, thē, of
Preachers, there they had.
Kings troupes did flie, &
shee the spoile divided,
Who came not forth, but, in her tent resided.
5
Ye shal be made (tho lodg'd with pots ye were)
As fair as doves, with gold & silver wings,
As white, as snowe in
Salmon did appeare,
When there, the Lord dispersed mighty
Kings.
Like
Bashan hill, God's holy mountaine sheweth,
And,
Bashan-like, all other hills or'e veweth.
6
This hill is God's, & hee inhabits here;
Then why insult yee soe, yee meaner hills?
God's charrets, twice ten thousand Augells are,
And, he, by them, in holy
Sinai dwells.
Ascending high, ev'n thraldome, he enthralled,
And bought vs guifts, whē we his foes were called.
7
Thus
God hath done, that he might dwel in vs.
Oh! let this God, our saviour, blessed be;
Selah.
For, with good things, he dailie lodeth vs,
And, God of Life, & Lord of death is hee.
He breaks the heads of those, that him receive not
And wounds the crown of him, that sinning leavs
8
From
Bashan, & the Deeps I wil (saith God)
Bring back my Folk as once frō thēce they came
That thou maist wash thy feet, in thy foes bloud,
And, that thy dogs, may come & lick the same:
For, they, oh God my king! thy goengs heeded;
They saw, how in thy house, thou hast proceeded.
9
The singers first, the minstrells next had place,
With whom, the maids, on timbrels plaieng wēt:
And then, the Choire of Isr'els blessed race,
Did all in one, to praise the Lord, concent.
There went young
Beniamin's, &
Iudah's Guiders,
And
Zabulon's, &
Nepthalies Providers.
Oh Lord! whoe bid'st that we should courage take
Cōfirm thi work which thou for vs hast wrought;
At
Salem then, (and, for thy Temple sake)
To thee by kings, shal guifts of price be brouht.
Their brutish troupes, that armes do love to carrie
Rebuke, disperse, & make them tributarie,
11
Then,
Egipts kings will seek vnto the Lord,
And
Chush will then, to God advance her hands.
His praise therfore, yee kingdomes all record,
And, sing aloud his praises, all yee Lands.
For, whē he rides, the sphears his horse he maketh
And lo, his voice is thunder when he speaketh.
12
All powre & praise, ascribe to God alone,
For, his renowne is through all Isr'ell spread:
God is in heav'n, the great Almighty-one,
And, in his holy-place, is full of dread.
His peoples powre, by God is much encreased
(By Isr'els God) let him therefore he blessed,
Eternal Sonn of God,
who art ascended vnto the righthand of thy Father,
& shalt come againe with maiestie to be our Vniversall Iudge;
Deliver vs from the thraldome of Sinn,
by the powre of thy Righteousnes: And (though wee
[Page 125]
have yet our conversations among Dragons,
& in defiled habitions) make us innocent as Doves,
& as vnpoluted as the mountaine snowe. Encrease the meanes of publishing thy Gospel;
and preserve Vnitie, order, & good discipline, in thy Church:
that the comelines thereof may allure all beholders, to desire fellowship in thy Congregation; that, hereticks, hirelings & contentious persons, may be reprooved & reformed, or cutt of; that, they who are, yet, without, may be received into the Covenant; that wee who are admitted, may be confirmed, without waveringe; & that the God head
may be feared, & praised, & blessed, now & for ever more Amen.
Psa. 69.
To the cheef Musitian Shosannim a Psalme of David.
It personates Christ taking vpon him our sinns & infirmities; humbling himself before his Father; declaring the Condition of his Adversaries; shewing the bitternes of his passion; signifieng the iudgments prepared for Sinners; & prayeng for his Elect &c. Christs members may vse it to those purposes.
HEalp Lord, for, Flouds enclose my Soul,
In groundles depths I am bemir'd,
Above my head, great waters rowle,
My parched throate, with cries is tir'de.
Mine eyes are dim'd in seeking thee,
Moe then my haires, my Foes are growne,
My spoilers are too strong for me;
And, take as theirs, what is mine owne.
2
Thou knowest how I am too blame;
But, for my sake, let none of those
(Lord God of Isr'el) suffer blame,
Who do in thee their trust repose.
For, I sustaine reprochfull scorne.
My brethren, of my mother borne,
Of mee, likewise, a stranger make.
3
Zeal to thy house, hath worne mee out,
Thy scorners, my reprochers be;
My Fastings, & my teares they flout,
And, when I mourne, they laugh at mee.
Of mee, the Rulers, evill, spake;
The Drunckerds, made of mee their songs:
But, Lord, my moane, I timelie make,
In Mercie, mark therefore my wrongs.
4
Mee, by thy Truth's protection keep,
That miry-depths, nor spightfull-foes,
Devouring-Flouds, nor whirl-pooles deep,
Nor Dungeons Mouth my soul enclose.
But, Lord, of thy abounding grace,
(For thy Love-sake) returne, & hear;
To mee, thy servant shew thy face,
And, in my need, incline thine ear.
5
Drawe nigh, & save, & sett thou free
My soul, from those who bear me spight;
For, all my wrongs, are knowne to thee,
And, all my Foes, are in thy sight.
Rebukes & scornes, my hart nigh broke,
With greefs opprest, I made my mone;
But, where I did for pittie looke
They would (alas) afford me none.
6
They, for my meat, did gall prepare,
Sharp Vineger to quench my thirst;
Their Bourd, therfore, shall them ensnare,
And, Blessings, be to them accurst.
Their eye shall be depriv'd of sight:
A cure-les greef, their back shall shake:
God's heavie wrath, shall on them light,
7
None shall in their abiding-place,
Or in their Tent, be dwelling found:
For, whome thou smot'st, those they did chase,
And, greeved him, whome thou didst wound.
More sinnfull still, they shall become,
And, in God's Iustice have no share,
Nor in that book of life have roome,
Wherein, the Iust enrowled are.
8
But, I, that pore & scorned am
Shall by thyne ayde, oh Lord, be raisd;
For which, I'le magnify thy Name,
And, in my songs, thou shalt be praisd.
And, that, oh Lord, more pleases thee,
Then, horn'd & hoofed Oxe to give;
Which, when the Meek (thee seeking) see,
It shall with ioye, their hart revive.
9
God's praise, yee heav'ns & earth declare▪
Him praise thou sea, & all in thee:
For, to the pore, he lends his ear.
And, hee doth sett the pris'ner free.
He,
Syon saves in time of need,
And, Iudah's Townes he will erect,
To be for those, & for their seed,
Who serving him, his Name affect.
Oh Lambe of God!
which takest away the sinns of the world, have mercie vpon vs.
Thou, that hast taken on thee our sinns, felt our infirmities, & suffred all which wee deserved, have mercie vpon vs.
Thou, who for our salvation, didest bear the vnkindnesses of kindred & familiers, the reproches of Neighbours, the scornes, & oppressions of strangers, the reproofs of Magistrates, & the contempt of the basest people, have mercy vpon vs.
Thou, who for cursakes, hast endured, insufferable torments of the bodie,
[Page 128]
the vnspeakable agonies of the soul, & tasted the gall & vineger of everie bitter passion, have mercie vpon vs.
Deliver us from them who seek to crucifie thee againe, in thy members. Raise us by thy Resurrection,
whome thou hast redeemed by thy passiō;
Glorifie us by thy Ascentiō,
in life eternall, whome thou hast secured frō Damnation,
by thy Death
& Buriall;
And, for that which thou hast done, & prepared, for thine Elect;
let heaven & earth praise thee, world without end Amen.
Psa, 70.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalme of David to bring to Remembrance.
The Church praies for deliverance from her persecutors; prophetically imprecates their confusion; & desires the prosperitie of the Godlie, &c. It may be sung when oppressors insult over vs. &c.
DEferr not Lord, thy succours longe
But, bring my Foes to shame;
Ev'n those, who plott my soul to wronge,
Bring back, with losse & blame.
On them who skoffe, & flout at mee,
Bestowe the Scorners hire:
But, make them glad, & ioye in thee,
Who after thee enquire.
2
Still,
God be prais'd, let all men say,
Who, on his ayde relie;
And, make, oh Lord, no more delay,
For, in great want, am I.
I will no other aide emplore,
Then, what thou shalt afford;
To bring me succours, now therfore,
Thy healp, defer not, Lord.
Healp vs, oh Lord;
for thou only art our healper,
& wee have no other hopes but in thee. Make us not the spoile
[Page 129]
or scorne of those, who desire, & practise the destruction of our soules: But, grant rather, oh God! that all they who fear thee, may be comforted in our speedy deliverances; Reioice in thy Mercies; relie on thee in their necessities; & ascribe all thancks, honour, & glorie to thy blessed Name,
for ever more. Amen.
Psa. 71.
The Church
acknowledgeth God's preservation of her in her severall Ages,
& from her manyfold Oppressers, desiring to be preserved also, in her last & worst age. &c. wee, on whome the worst Age is come, should vse it as a prayer, to be delivered from the same.
KEep me from shame; for, Lord in thee I trust;
Incline thine ear, to healp & set mee free:
Yea, save thou mee, oh Lord, as thou art iust,
My Rock, my Fort, my Refuge daigne to be;
For,
Lord my strēgth, thou help dost promise me,
2
Mee from the powre of sinnful men defend,
And from their hands, oh Lord, that cruel are.
My soul, on thee did in the wombe depend,
And, since my birth, thou hast of mee had care:
For which my tongue shal stil thy praise declare,
3
Thou art my hope, though wondred at I be,
And, I will fing thy praises all the day.
When I am weake & old, Lord, leave not mee:
For, with despight, my haters mee gainsay,
And, for my soul, they plotts & engines lay.
4
God, leaves him quite (say these) persue & take;
He, now, hath none to rescue him from thral.
But, come, oh God! & speed to healp me make;
Oh come! & smite my soules Oppressors, all,
Bring scorn & shame, on those who seek my fal.
5
Thē, still, I'le hope; thy love I'le still commend;
[Page 130] Yea, still, relate what favours thou hast done:
And, of thy grace, since I perceave no end,
Thy strength, Lord God, I will depend vpon,
And, magnifie thy Righteousnes alone,
6
Till now, oh God! thy Marvailes I have told,
As from my youth I have bin taught by thee:
Oh leave me not, when I am gray & olde,
Till Ages all, thy powre have learn'd of mee;
And, then extold, thy Iustice, Lord, shall be.
7
None ever did such works as thou hast wrought;
And, though my soul thou keptst awhile in paine,
At last, as one who from the grave was brought,
Me, to my ioyes thou didst restore againe;
For which, my harpe, to praise thy Name, I strain,
8
My tongue, likewise; in setting out thy prais,
Oh thou cheef saint of
Isr'el! part shal bear;
So shal my soul, whose price thy bountie paies,
And, ev'rie day, thy Iustice I'le declare,
Because, my foes defam'd, & ruin'de are.
Oh Lord, in the wombe wee had extraordinarie nourishmēt & breathing for our bodies, & (no doubt) our seules had there, a due nourishment by thy Spirit. Being borne, wee are brought into thy visible Church by Baptisine,
& long time after sustained by thee, both in soul & body, without having any outward work required at our hands; & when we are capable of the outward Covenant, al thou requirest is but to give thee that hart which thou hast prepared so to doe. Yet helps vs, oh God, in this dutie; & never leave us in our own hands. And as thou hast in all her former ages, preserved thy Church,
both from the rage of Iewes, Gentiles,
& Heriticks; so, in this her old & worst age, preserve her from those Hypocrites
& lukewarme professors,
who have added seacret mischeeves, to publike oppressions. Yea preserve her, & us, oh God,
from those, & all other Adversaries,
[Page 131]
that thy Truth
may be continued to all ages; the ioye of her Children
restored; & thy blessed Name
glorified, for ever end ever. Amen.
Psa. 72.
A Psalm for Solomon.
It setts forth the maiestie of Christ & his kingdome (for, only, of that
Salomon are many passages of this Psalme verified)
it declares his Universal iudicature; The Churches happines therein; His marvailous Incarnation; The extent, Riches, & peaceablenes of his Kingdome &c. Wee should sing it to glorify God for those things &c.
THe King oh God! with judgment blesse,
And, give thy Iustice to his Sonn;
That, to thy people, in destresse,
With judgment, Iustice may be done.
Then, Truth & Iustice florish will,
On ev'rie great & litle hill.
2
Then, poorest men shall be secure,
For, he will all Oppressors tear;
And, whilst the sunn & Moone endure
From age to age, they, him shall fear.
On Earth, like dropps descend he shall;
Like those, which on the Fleece did fall.
3
The Iust, shall whilst he rules have peace,
So long as doth the moone remaine:
He from the River to the seas,
(And quite throughout the world) shal raigne,
The salvages, adore him shall,
And all his foes, before him fall.
4
Arabia's prince, &
Saba's Kinge,
The Lords of Seas, & Ilands to,
Shal guifts to him, with homage, bring;
So shall all Kings, & people doe.
The pore & meek, that helples be.
5
The pore & humble he respects,
He saves their soules that healples are:
From fraud & force, he them protects;
For, in his eye, their bloud is dear.
To him, they
Sheba's gold shall give;
And, he shall prais'd, & prayd for, live.
6
His Corne, shall from a handfull, growe
To cover all the mountaines topps;
Like
Libanon, his fruit shall showe,
And fill the Citties with his cropps.
His Fame through Ages, all shall runn,
As everlasting as thee sunn.
7
In him, the Nations all abrode,
Shall blessed be, & praise him to;
Oh praise the Lord! ev'n
Isr'els God,
For, he alone cann wonders do.
Still, blessed be his glorious Name,
And, earth still filled, with his Flame.
Amē. Amē,
Sweet Iesu
who being invisible in thy Deitie,
didst become visible in thy humanitie,
by descending miraculously into the Virgines
wombe, like raine into Gideons
fleece; Grant wee beseech thee, thy divine spirit may so infuse it selfe into our harts that (Iustice, Peace
& Charitie,
encreasing & continueng vpon the earth) all thy afllicted Children may be comforted & secured; the barbarous Nations converted; thy Kingdome enlarged; thyne enimies be brought into subiection; thy feilds become abundantly fruitfull; & heaven & earth be filled with thy glorie, world without end, Amen.
Psa. 73.
A Psalm for Asaph.
It expresseth, how the faithfull
[Page 133]
are sometime discouraged, by the prosperities of the wicked; & is an excellent description of such conflicts as are between the Flesh & the spirit in everie Christian. &c. We may vse it, to comfort vs in such tēptations, & to remember vs whither to repaire in such conflicts.
NO doubt, God counts his Isr'el dear,
And, loves the righteous man;
Yet was my foot quite gone, wel-near
And, I to fall begann.
For, when I fooles did honor'd vewe,
And Sinners lifted high,
And that nor sick, nor weak they grewe,
Their weal I did envie.
2
From greefs like ours, they seemed free,
Their pride & Cruelties,
To them as clothes or bracelets be;
And, fatt stuffs out their eyes.
They have their wills, & are so base,
To boast of Sinns & wrongs:
And neither earth nor heav'nly place,
Escapes their evill tongues.
3
To such Ful-springs, as wel as they,
God's Children seek to goe:
For, God (the God most high) they say,
Regards not what wee do.
Lo, wicked men the world possesse,
And, wealth & honors gaine;
But, wee have cleans'd in righteousnes.
Our harts & hands in vaine.
4
Yea, wee still pininge goe (say they)
Lamenting all day long:
Yet, thus I, speak not, lest I may,
Thy weaker Children wrong.
I sought a reason for the same,
Till to the house of God I came,
And, there their end I learn'd.
5
On slipp'rie seats, them sett thou hast,
From whence with shame & feare,
Ev'n suddainly, they downe are cast;
And never more appeare.
For, as a dream (when thou dost wake)
Thou dost their Forme deface:
At such therefore, offence to take,
Thou seest, how fond I was.
6
But, still, with mee thou dost abide,
Thou hold'st my Right-hand fast;
And, by thy Counsells, mee shalt guide
To Glory's throne, at last.
In heav'n or Earth, account I make
Of nothing but of thee:
And, though my soul & Flesh be weake,
Thou alway strengthnest mee.
7
For, thou oh God! my portion art;
And, thou shalt them destroy,
Who runn a whooring in their hart,
Another, to enioy.
Because, right good, the same doth seem,
To God, approaching near,
(And, placing all my trust in him)
His works I will declare.
Direct thou so (oh Lord)
all our works, words
& thoughts,
that wee neither murmur at any afliction where with wee are exercised, nor be discouraged in thy service, because the wicked are more flourishing, for a time. VVee confesse it is oft our frailty to iudg of thy love by outward prosperities; & that great Adversities have tempted some to call into question thy providence, to the shaking & endangering
[Page 135]
of their Faith. But, grant (wee pray thee) that by frequenting thy house
& vsing the meanes of Perseverance,
wee may be so informed touching the fickle estate of wicked men, in prosperitie (& of that happines which thou preparest for constant professors of thy Truth) that wee never commit spiritual fornication against thee: But, that chusing thee for our portion, & supporting our weakenes by thy strength, wee may continue in thy Fear, Favour
& protection,
to our lives end. Amen.
Psa. 74.
A Psalm for Asaph.
It mysticallie prophecied what havoke should be made in the Church,
by aluding to the destruction of the material Temple; & God is desired to vouchsafe his wonted Mercie, in regard of the Foes outrage; but, especially, for his owne honour sake. It is a prayer for the Church in perseeution.
OH God! for ever, why despis'd are wee?
Why is in rage, thy pasturage laid wast?
Oh minde thy Flock, redeem'd of old by thee,
(That heritage, which dearly bought thou hast)
Ev'n
Syon mount, whereon thy Name is plac't.
2
Come Lord (oh come) destroy for evermore,
The Foe, that on thy holy-place hath preyd;
Thy foes, that in thy Congregation roare,
Who, there, for signes, their ensignes have displaid
And, on the carved works their axes laid.
3
For, as if they some grove were hewing downe
With Axe & Maul, the costly works they breake;
They flaming fires, into thy house have throwne;
Thy name's cheef seat, a place prophane they make
And, in their harts, of spoiling all, they speake,
4
Troughout the Land, thy houses burned be;
Yet, to declare the date of this our woe,
[Page 136] Nor visions now, nor Prophets word have wee.
Lord, when shall end, these ragings of the Foe?
Shall he blaspheam thy Name, for ever, so?
5
No more, thy hād (thy right-hād) Lord, withhold:
Within thy brest, the same no longer hide:
For, thou oh God! thou art our king of old,
And, here on earth, for vs thou didst provide,
When, by thy powre, thou didst the Sea divide.
6
The Dragons Heads thou woundedst in the floud;
Leviathan's vast heads, thou didst prepare,
In places wilde, to be thy peoples food:
Yea, frō dry rocks, thou hewdst out fountains there
And ma'dst firm land, where mighty waters were.
7
Thine, is the day, the night is also thine;
Thou ma'dst the light, & thou did'st form the sunn
The world, within her
Zones, thou didst confine;
& shewdst what cours, times hot & cold should run
Lord, mind those things, & what the foe hath don.
8
Observe, how fools blaspheā thy name oh
Lord?
Thy Turtles life, defend from Sinners wrongs:
Observe our greefs, & thinck vpon thy word;
For, to the world, a darksome denn belongs,
Which harbors fraud, inhumane deeds, & wrōgs.
9
That so the pore (vnsham'd) may praise thy name,
To plead thy cause (thine owne just cause) arise;
Observe how fooles, thee daylie do defame;
Yea, bear in minde, thy Foes malitious cries,
And to what height, their shouts against vs rise.
Oh Lord God,
dreadful in iudgmēts & infinit in mercies! the devastation typified in thy Material Temple,
is fulfilled vpon thy spirituall Sanctuary.
Thy open Adversaries batter the maine Fabrick without, whilst Schysmaticks & Hypocrites
break downe the Ornaments within: & betwixt both; terrors, confusions, & dissentions are so encreased, that
[Page 137]
thy Church,
is indangered. Have mercie vpon the people whome thou hast bought, & (as heretofore) shew thy selfe the King & protector,
of thine Inheritance,
to the confusion of thy blaspheamers. Though not for ours, yet, for thine honour sake, let neither the temporall enimies of thy visible Church,
make spoile thereof; nor our spirituall Destroier,
deface those Temples
of thy holy-spirit which are erected in our harts: But, keep them alwaies vndefaced, vnpoluted, & fitting receptacles, for thee & thy Graces, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 75.
To the cheef Musitian Altaschith, a Psalme or song for Asaph.
God is praised for his ready healp. Christ promiseth to support & iudge his Church.
Oppressors are reprooved, & the different portion of them, & of the Godly, is declared. It is vsefull, to comfort against the insolencies of spiritual foes.
THee Lord, wee praise & magnifie;
To thee wee thanckfull are:
For, that thy Name approcheth nigh,
Thy wondrous works declare.
When I the people have assum'd,
I, Iustice will maintaine:
For, when Earth's dwellers are consum'd
Her pillers I sustaine,
(Selah)
2
To Fooles, I said, more prudent growe;
To Sinners, thus I spake,
Your horne (your horne) advance not soe,
Nor, such proud boasting make.
Nor East, nor west, advancements come,
Nor from the Mountaines flowe;
But, God him self preferreth some,
And, some doth overthrowe.
3
From his full Cupp, within his hand,
He mixt redd-wine doth poure;
Which ev'rie Sinner in the land,
Shall dreggs & all devoure.
But, I of
Iacob's God will speak,
And alway sing his praise:
The hornes of Sinners I will break;
And, high, the Righteous raise.
Oh Christ,
the Sonn of God! so establish thy Kingdome in our harts, that Righteousnes may be continued in the Land. Support those whome thou hast raised to be as it were pillers in thy Church
or Commonwealth;
keep them from being so impudent, or vaine glorious in their preferment, as if it came either causuallie, or by their owne Industrie, or deservings: But, so cause thē & us to perceive thy purpose & thy providence, both in our severall advancements, & humiliations, that we may the better discharge our perticuler duties. And, when thou shalt fill out the redwine of thy wrath
to all obstinate malefactors, let us be refreshed by taking the Cupp of Salvation,
which thou hast prepared for all them, who shall be iustified, through the merrits of Iesus Christ
our Lord Amen.
Psa. 76.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalme or song for Asaph.
It is a Triumph-song to praise God, for that knowledge of him, which he hath vouchsafed vnto his Church
typified by Iudah, Ierusalem, & Syon. It glorifieth Christ also, for his conquests over sinn, Death & the Devill. The vse is manyfest.
IN
Iurie, God is knowne full well;
His Name's in Isr'el great:
He, in
Ierusalem doth dwell,
And,
Syon is his seat.
[Page 139] Shaft, sword, & sheild, he battred there;
Yea, there he wonn the Feild;
Selah
And, more his powrs, and honors are,
Then spoilers Burroughts, yeald.
2
The strong are foilde; their dream is flowne
Their strength hath not prevaild:
For, at the God of
Iacob's frowne,
Both horse & Charret faild.
Thou dreadfull art, & none, oh Lord,
Thine angry looks cann bear;
For, when thy voice from heav'n is heard.
The Earth is dumbe with fear.
3
The meek on earth, when thou to save,
And judge them (Lord) shalt please,
Selah.
Thou by man's wrath, shalt honour have,
And, his hot rage appease.
To God make vowes; & presents give
All yee that round him are.
For, he doth kings of breath deprive
And makes great princes fear.
Glorify thy self, oh Lord God!
in thy holy Catholick Church,
by the final overthrowe of all her enimies: Let thy powre break all their Instruments of mischeef: Let the preaching of thy Gospell,
& the thundring of thy Iudgments (which have already destroyed the powre, & made frustrate the Dreames, of the old heathnish Idolaters, & their false Philosophie) vtterly overthrowe the strength of that carnal wisdome, which at this day standeth in opposition to thy Truth. Let our furious dissentions be appeased; & let the frowardnes, rage, & blind zeal of all men, become a meanes of encreasing thy glory; to the confusion of thy stoutest opposers, & to the Salvation of the meekeharted, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psal. 77.
To the cheef Musitian to Iduthun a Psalm for Asaph,
It expresseth those interchanges of Doubts, Hopes, Feares, Comforts & Assurances, through which wee work out salvation with fear & trembling. It serves to minde vs of our fraile condition, & shewes how to order our throughts in spiritual combats.
TO God, ev'n to the Lord, I prayd,
And, hee did hear my moanes;
Both day & night I sought his aide,
With never-ceasing groanes.
My hart no comforts entertain'd,
But fixt on him her thought;
Selah,
And so I greev'd, & so complain'd
That, lowe my soul was brought.
2
Mine eyes from sleep hee did with holde,
With paine, I lost my tongue:
I mus'd on daies, & yeares of olde,
And what was once my song.
Yea, all alone, at night I lay,
Thus musing in my minde;
Lord, wilt thou cast mee quite away,
And, never more bee kinde?
3
Is thy compassion lost out right?
Shall thy sirme promise faile?
Hast thou for got thy Mercie quite?
O're Love, shall hate prevaile?
No; this my frailtie is, quoth I,
And, these, but changes are,
Wrought by the powre of God most high,
Which, I, in minde will bear.
4
Thy works, & wonders past, oh Lord,
I'le therfor muse vpon;
And, shewe what thou hast done.
Thy walkings, in thy house, declare,
That, there's no God like thee:
And, what thy powre & marvailes are,
Thou mak'st all people see.
5
For
Iacob's, & for
Ioseph's race,
Thine arme did purchase aide;
Selah
And, seas, & Flouds, to vewe thy face,
Were troubled & afraide.
The Clouds did melt, the Vapours crasht,
Thine Arrowes, forth were shott,
Thy thunders roar'd, the lightnings flasht,
And, Earth a trembling got.
6
Thou wentst through seas with steps vn-eide,
Thy paths were in the Deep;
And,
Moses did with
Aron, guide
Thy people, there, like sheep.
Father of mercy, &
God of all consolation (who hast often tymes, gloriously, & miraculously hertofore delivered thy Children, & made safe passage for them through horrible Feares troubles perills & temptations) be mercifull vnto us, wee beseech thee, in all our inward & outward offlictions; especially, when our sinns cause thee to exercise us with such chaunges,
as may make us fearfull wee have lost thy favour. UUee deserve to be deprived of thy compassion, & of all those comforts & protections, which wee have long enioyed, by thy free grace: Nevertheles, grant that wee never fall quite away from thy regard, but may so returne alwaies vnto thee; that our frailties may be pitied, our peni tence accepted, our petitions entertained, & wee continued in a full fruition of all thy mercies, & gratious promises, in Christ Iesus. Amen.
Psa. 78.
Maschil, for Asaph.
It commemorates the Iewes obstinate increduli
[...]itie, with God's plagues & Mercies interchangeably sent among them vntill the tyme of David. Wee should vse it, to warne vs of God's long-suffring toward the whole humane Nature, whose perversenes, is here mistically set forth,
as also, the sending of the true David, Iesus Christ.
NOw to my Law (my people) give thine eare,
&, wel observ what weighty things are tolde:
For, lo, my lipps a problem shal declare
And, plainely sing, grave sayengs, dark, & old:
That, nether what our Fathers have revealed,
Nor what we know, be from our babes concealed.
2
God's powr & praisfull wonders I wil blaze,
His Testaments, to
Iacob, I will showe;
How he, likwise, in Isr'el setled lawes,
Which they were bound to let their childrē know
That so, they might to their next ages teach them,
And, Age to age, for ever after preach them.
3
That they, in God, a faithful hope might place,
And not forget his works, or his command,
As heretofore their Fathers head strong race,
Whose hart, with God, vprightly did not stand;
Like Ephr'ims brood, who bows & weapōs bearing
Forsook the Feild, the day of hattell fearing.
4
Gods law they brak, his cov'nant they did slite
And on his works or marvailes never thought:
Yet, many signes & wonders in their sight,
In
Zoan feildes, &
Egipt-land he wrought.
To make their way, the sea, in twaine he cleaved
And, high on heaps, the rowling waters heaved.
5
A pillerd-Cloud, by day he made their guide,
[Page 143] A Column-fir'd, to clear the night he sent.
More over, he the Rocks did then divide,
And streams like seas, along the Desert went.
From craggy flints, sweet waters forth he brused,
And springs from thēce, like Rivers were diffused.
6
But they went on to move his anger, still,
And much provokd the wrath of God, most high,
By tempting him their lustings to fulfil,
And craving flesh, their longings to supplie.
For, with distrust, they ask'd if God were able,
In that wilde place, to furnish out a table.
7
Springs flowd indeed (sed they) when rocks he smot,
But, can he bread & flesh as wel provide?
Which when God heard, with
Iacob he was hot,
And, in his wrath he did with
Isr'el chide;
Because, no faith to his firm promise giving,
They stil remain'd in trustles vnbeleeving.
8
He naitheles, the gates of heav'n vnclos'd,
And made the clouds, raine
Manna for their meat
The bread of heav'n, among them he dispos'd,
And Angells food, vnworthy men did eat.
A wind South-East-by East, he then ordained,
And flesh as dust, & foules as sand, it rained.
9
These fild ther camp, & fluttred round their tēts
Til they were cloid with what their lust persu'd:
Yet none of them his fleshlie minde repents;
which God avengd, ev'n whē the meat thei chewd
For, his feirce wrath, on
Isr'el down he poured,
And, of their cheefs, the fattest he devoured.
10
Yet, sin'd they stil, & set his works at naught;
For which, their time he wasted out in vaine,
(Afflicting them, til after him they sought)
And, then in shew, they did repent againe.
Yea, then his powre to bear in mind they seemed,
[Page 144] And said, he was the God that them redeemed.
11
In which altho he knew their flattring mouth
And lieng tōgues, did nought but falshood speak;
Tho, him, their hart affected not in truth,
And, tho, they stil his holy League did break,
Of his meer grace, he naitheles forgave them,
And, from his wrath, ev'n he himself, did save thē.
12
For, them to be but flesh, in minde he bare,
And gone like windes, which never shal retire;
That they perverse eu'n in the Deserts were,
Yea, that ev'n there, they much incens'd his yre,
Provoking him, by false & fain'd repenting,
The holy-one of
Isr'el discontenting.
13
Nor on his powre, nor on those daies they thought,
Wherin he from their foes did set them free;
They minded not, the signes in
Egipt wrought,
Nor those which they in
Zoan feilds did see:
How, he with bloud, the wholsom springs distasted
How, them with flies of divers kinds he wasted.
14
How, he with frogs their stubborn foes anoyd
How, their encrease, the Caterpillers pild.
How, then, the Locust al their fruits enioy'd
Nor how the frost, their vines destroid & kild;
Nor how, cold haile, & burning bolts of thunder,
Did slay their flocks, & break their trees asunder.
15
For, he did hurl on them his furious wrath;
To them, both fears, & harmful-sprites he sent;
Vnto their deaths, his rage did make a path,
And then, to wrack, both men & cattel went;
He, of their lives, their eldest-born bereaved
Through
Egipt-land, where
Cham his lot receaved,
16
Then, like a flock, his people forth he led,
Through places wilde cōducting thē like sheep.
He kept them safe, without all cause of dread,
[Page 145] Whil'st he, their foes o'rewhelmed in the deep;
And also gave, when al this grace was done them,
That holy hill, which his right-hand had won thē.
17
Before their face, the gentiles thēce he took,
And what was theirs, to Isr'el gave by lot,
Yet stil, almighty God they did provoke,
And his commands, they still regarded not;
But, being like their Fathers, double-harted,
Like broken bowes, from him, aside they started,
18
The
Lord was wroth & Iealous when he saw
Their Images, & their hill-alters rear'd,
And, ther-vpon, from Isr'el did with drawe
His former love, & so incens'd appear'd
That, of his place among them, he repented
And left his Tent in
Siloh, vnfrequented.
19
By thraldom then, he took way their powr,
He gave their strength & glorie to their foe,
He caus'd the sword his people to devour,
And with his Land, exceeding wroth did grow.
Consuming heat, their yongmens vigor tired:
Their maides, by none, in wedlock were desired.
20
Then by the sword, his preists away he took,
Whome to bewaile, the widdows were not spar'd
But, lo, the Lord from sleeping then awook,
As when with wine a mighty man is chear'd.
Their hinder parts, with secret-sores he wounded;
And al his foes with lasting shame confounded.
21
Then he the Tent of
Ioseph did refuse,
And Ephr'ims tent he did likewise reiect:
But,
Iudah's tribe it pleased him to chuse,
Ev'n
Syon hill. which he did best affect;
And, there, aloft he rais'd his habitation,
To be as firm, as is the Earth's foundation.
22
He from the flocks, his servant
David chose,
[Page 146] Frō bigwombd ewes, & from attending sheep:
His heritage, to him, he did dispose,
And
Iacob's flock, & Isr'els heards to keep.
So, with pure thoughts, discreetly thē he guided.
And, food for them, sincerely he provided.
O Lord God!
we have often bitterly censured the Iewes,
not considering that their storie,
is a Problem,
mistically decipheringe our condition: Or that wee. like David
by Nathan's
parable, are therby, made Iudges & condemners of our selves. If we overlooke the course of our lives, we shal finde verified in our owne persons, all those things which are mentioned of that People.
VVe have the like Covenant of grace; wee have had miraculous deliverances both temporal & spiritual; some of us have tempted him as long (& longer) in this wildernes
of our Pilgrimage; Our murmurings, despairings, longings, yea our frowardnes & infidelity hath bene as much as theirs; VVe have had as many several pardons to winn us; as many enterchanges of prosperity & Adversitie, to reform us; & have had them, also, for our examples; yet are as disobedient & as negligent as they. Oh Good God, lay not this to our Charge; but, grant we may so apply what thou hast left written of them for our warning; that the fear of thy Iudgments,
& the love of thy Mercies,
may reclaime us; and that our great Sheapherd (ev'n the true David Iesus Christ) may guide us out of our wandrings,
& bring us out of this wildernes,
into his eternal Rest, Amen.
Psa. 79.
A Psalm for Asaph.
It is vsefull for any perticuler Church, when it is tirannised over, by Turks,
hereticks, or such like members of Antichrist:
For the Church
of Christ
(whose persecutions & martirdomes were prefigured by those which fell on Ierusalem)
is here personated, prayeng,
[Page 147]
& expressing her suffrings. &c.
VPon thine heritage, oh God!
The Gentiles, Ryots de commit:
Within thy Temple, they have trod,
And, wasted & prophaned it,
The bodies of thy saints, bestrowe
The feilds about
Ierusalem;
Their blood, ev'n in the streets doth flowe,
And, birds & beasts do feed onthem.
2
Their bones without a grave remaine,
And, all our neighbours vs defame:
Oh Lord, how long shal wee sustaine,
Thy burning rage, thy iealous flame!
Let thy incensed wrath be pour'd.
On heathen lands, that knowe not thee;
For, they thy
Iacob have devour'd,
And, quite consum'd his dwellings be.
3
Remember not our follies past,
(Oh God! from whome our help doth flowe)
But thy sweet grace, Lord, let vs tast;
For, wee are brought exceeding lowe.
Healp (for thy Mercy's cause) wee pray,
For thy Name-sake, forgive our sinn;
Lest, els, of thee the heathen say,
Where is their God, they trusted in?
4
But, let it bee (before our eyes)
Of all the Gentiles vnderstood,
By hearing of the pris'ners cries,
And, by revenging of our bloud.
Them, save likewise (ev'n through thy might)
That vnto death appointed be;
And seaven fold, oh God! requite
Our neighbours scornful spights to thee.
5
So, wee thy pasture-sheep, oh Lord,
[Page 148] Will give thee praise, & thancks therfore,
Yea we thy praises will record,
From age to age, for ever more.
Looke downe, 'oh Christ,
vpon the persecutions of thy Church;
behold the bloud of thy Martirs;
the prophanation of thy holy Ordinances;
the scorneful vpraidings, & the great calamities, which are publikely inflicted on many true professors of thy Gospel
(even among those who are their neighbours
in Beleif)
& in the very streets of thine owne Cittie.
Though our sinns have deserved more; yet, for thy mercie sake, & for thine owne honor sake, compassionate our humiliation, forgive our offences, & let thy displeasure be rather manifested against those who are enimies to thy Truth. So, they, who have (in derision) questioned thy regard of us, shall be assured thereof, by thy avenging our cause; & wee being secured from our Oppressors, shal magnifiy thy holy Name for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 80.
To the cheef Musitian vpon Shosannim Eduth a Psalm for Asaph.
By the allegory of a Vine, is expressed God's great care of the Iewish Church,
typifieng also, the Christian Church,
whose complaints & desires in her suffrings, are here exprest. It may be vsed by any congregations of the faithful, when they are delivered vp to their foes &c.
HEar thou, that Flock-like,
Ioseph guidest,
And twixt the Cherubims residest;
Now,
Isr'els Pastor shine thou clear:
To
Beniamin's &
Eph'rims vewe,
Thy strength before
Manasseth shewe;
And, to defend vs, drawe thou near.
2
Returne, & of thy grace assure vs;
For, that alone will save & cure vs.
For aye therfor, close not thime ears
Though, long, thou mak'st vs drinck our teares,
And giv'st vs weepings for our meat.
3
Our Neighbours are at strife about vs,
Thou mak'st our foes to scorne & flout vs,
Lord God of Hoasts! our sorrow slake:
To save vs, cause thy face to shine:
For, thou from
Egipt broughtst this Vine,
And, threw'st out Nations for her sake.
4
The place, thou hadst before so tilled,
That, rooting well, the land shee filled,
And cov'red mountaines with her shade:
Her boughs did Cedar-like extend,
Shee, branches to the sea did send,
And, to the River, shee did spread.
5
Why of her hedge hast thou bereft her?
Why to the spoile of strangers left her?
And of the feirce vntamed swine?
The Forrest herds, have her or'ethrowne;
Oh Lord of Hoasts! from heav'n look downe,
Behold, & visite this thy Vine.
6
That Vine, which thy right-hand hath cherisht
That branch, which for thine owne was nourisht,
Is burn't & spoild, while thou dost frowne:
Oh! send, for our defence to stand,
That Sonn of Man, whome thy Right-hand,
Hath arm'd, & chosen for thine owne.
7
Then, we shall never more denie thee;
But, being still revived by thee,
For ever, call vpon thy Name.
Oh Lord of Hoasts, convert vs nowe,
A gratious look, on vs bestowe,
And, thou shalt save vs, by the same.
[Page 150]
Notwithstanding (oh gratious Father)
thou dost often water us with our owne teares, & expose us iustly to the beasts of the Forrest (even to our owne brutish appetites) & though our vnthankfulnes hath worthilie deserved that wee should be chastised with many stormes of Adversitie: Yet, Remember, wee beseech thee, that wee are plants of thine owne Vineyeard,
& branches of that goodly Vine,
which thou hast elected for thy self. Behold, & visite us with a favourable aspect; repaire those decayed Fences, through which any strang lust,
or swinish Condition,
hath broken in vpon us. Let our Foes (by whome wee are persecuted) our neighbours (by whome we were mocked, or preyed vpon) & our brethren (who were censorious beholders of our afflicctions) become witnesses also, of thy renewing Favours: That we may be comforted in thee, & continue for ever hereafter, constant in thy fear & service, through the assistance of that man of thy Right-hand, Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 81.
To the Cheef Musitian on Gittith a Psalm for Asaph.
It is vsefull to commend vnto us the observation of our Christian Sabaths
& Solemnities, which are piously to be regarded in all Ages; because we commemorate in them our Deliverances,
from our spiritual Bondage,
typified by the Egiptian-thraldom. &c. It vpraideth man's in gratitude, & neglect of God &c.
IN God our strength, let vs reioice;
To
Iacob's God, let vs now sing,
And in our Psalmes, to help the voice,
The tymbrel, harpe, & Psalt'rie bring.
The Moone renewing, trumpets blowe,
And, when the solemne feastings be:
For,
Iacobs God, long time agoe,
2
This Testimonie he prepar'd,
When
Ioseph came from
Egipt-land
And liv'd where hee a language heard,
Whose words he did not vnderstand.
From Burthens, & the potters task,
Thy hands & shoulders I did free,
I help'd, when thou for help didst ask,
And, heard thee from the storme, said he.
3
Ev'n at the waters of debate
Selah.
I sayd (that might prove thee there)
Oh
Isr'el mark, what I relate,
And, to my words incline thine ear.
Thou shalt no other God's at all,
But me the Lord thy God, receive;
For, thee I brought from
Egipts thrall,
And, will thy largest askings give.
4
But
Isr'el did my words contemn;
Of me, my people would have none:
So, to their pleasures left I them,
Who, after their owne lusts are gone.
Oh! had my people mee obayd.
If Isr'el had my waies persu'de,
I on their foes my hand had laid;
Their haters, I had soone subdew'd.
5
My Foes had then obayd my powre,
And, I had still my Folk vphild:
I, them had fedd with purest flowre
And, with rock-hony, them had fild.
Make us ever mindfull, oh God, to magnify thy Name
for delivering us from our spiritual Bondage; But, at those times which thy Church
(according to the laudable custome of the Patriarks)
hath set apart to commemorate thy extraordinarie Mercies,
let us, especially, performe this,
[Page 152]
dutie; neither falsly counting it superstitiō to meet in the publike solemnization of thy praise; nor vnthanckfully omit the continuation of so necessarie a service. Give us grace also, to consider that it is no constraining Decree of thine, which hath made any of us vncaple of thy free grace,
but that it is meerly our owne wilfulnes,
which compels thy Iustice
to leave us to our owne wills, if we be cast off: So, we shall be kept the more obedient to thy commands; & thou (who ren
[...] west the will,
before thou exact est obedience from it) shalt accept the willingnes for the deed;
& in due time work in us the Deed
also, to our eternall salvation through Iesus Christ. Amen.
Psa. 82.
A Psalme for Asaph.
It may be sung at our publike Iudicatures, before them who administer in the great affaires of Church
or Commonwealth;
to minde them of their duties. &c. For, it instructs & reproves Princes, Pastors & Magistrates,
abusing their Authority, declares the reward of their Iniustice, & invokes God to take the iudicature to himself.
GOd stands, where he doth see
The
Lords to Counsell goe;
And, when the
Gods in Iudgment be,
He judgeth what they do.
22
Yee Nobles, wherfor, then,
Are yee vnjust so long?
Why favour yee, vngodlie men
To do the righteous wrong?
Selah.
4
The pore, young Orphanes greev'd,
The needie & opprest,
Should by your Iustice be releev'd,
And from proud hands releast.
4
But, yee are men vnwise,
Ev'n you, on whome the land relies,
Are out of order, quite.
5
You, therefore, whome I call
The sonns of God most high,
(And termed
Gods) like men, shall fall;
And, like such Princes dye.
6
Thy self, oh God! advance
And, give the world her doome;
For, thine by due Inheritance,
All nations are become.
Grant almighty God,
that they to whome thou committest the goverment of thy Churches
or Commonweales,
may not (as it often happneth) Be their greatest oppressors: But give thy grace (oh heavenly Father) to all whome thou settest in Authority, that they (considering whose powre they have, what they were, & what they shal be hereafter, may become so wise, in them selves, & such lights to others; that Righteousnes may be advanced, Vngodlines suppressed, the pore & fatherles releeved, all abuses reformed; and that such Dignities,
may be still conferred & continued, to the publike profit, & to thy eternal glorie. Amen.
Psa. 83.
A Psalme or song for Asaph.
It may be vsed as a prayer against the Leagues
& Confederacies
of the Churches
soes, such as Pagans, Turks, Hereticks
and Falsebrethren;
for, the whole List of them, is here typically registred, vnder their Names who were enimies to the Iewish Church.
BE e silent Lord, no longer now,
To speak, oh God, no more forbear:
For lo, thy foes do furious grow,
They plot, thy people to betray,
And, thy intirest freinds to take;
Come, & of Isr'el, now (say they)
A nameles nation wee will make.
2
As in one League, all these combine,
And, are against thee Lord, agreed;
Ev'n
Edom land, &
Ism'els line,
And
Moab's race, &
Hagar's breed.
Philistim's, Gebal, Ammon, Tyre,
Huge
Amaleck, &
Ashur to,
To help the Sonns of
Lot, conspire,
Assisting them in all they do.
Selah.
3
But, Lord, like
Madian make thou them,
Like
Sisera and
Iabin's traines,
Who slaughtred were by
Kishon stream,
And, lay like dung on
Endor plaines.
Their dukes, like
Zeb, &
Oreb make,
Like
Zeba and
Zalmana's Peers,
Who said, they would God's houses take,
And his Possessions, to be theirs.
4
Lord, wheel them round, as turn'd wee see
The dust or chaf, when whirl-winds blowe.
And, let thy wrath, among them be
Like flames on hills, where woods do grow.
Yea, let a dreadful storm arise,
Persueng them with death & shame:
Let feares & troubles, them surprise,
Vntill they seek, & praise thy Name.
5
So, when that men behold their fall,
They shall confesse, there none cann be,
Whome wee ETERNAL ought to call
Or sov'raigne of the world, but thee?
Permit not, oh Lord,
those enimies to praile who have
[Page 155]
made Leagues & confederacies,
against thy Church;
But, as heretofore thou hast overthrowne al those Nations who were great oppressors of thy auncient people the Iewes
(& who were types
of our confederated Adversaries) So, wee beseech thee, bring to suddaine destruction, all the plotts enterprises and combinations, of Turks, hereticks, vnbeleevers, & false brethren. Protect us also, we pray thee, from the snares, powre & subtilties, of our spiritual foes; that thou being known our defender & our trust being alwaies in thy defence, wee may not fear the powre of any adversaries; But, for our manyfold protections, praise & magnify thy Eternal
name, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen,
Psa. 84.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalm for the sonns of Chorah.
It setts forth the soules longings, to be pertaker of the blessed Communion of saints,
& the frution of God; It shewes also, the happines of such, & their demeanour in this vale of their Miserie. &c. It is vseful, to stir vp in our soules, on ardēt love to God & his house
&c.
OH Lord of Hoasts! how pleasant are
Thy dwellings, & thy courts to me?
In soul & flesh, for entrance there,
Eternal God, my longings be,
The Sparrow findeth an abode
The Swallow builds, & breedeth, to,
(Oh Lord of Hoasts! my King, my God)
Ev'n at thine alters, thus they doe.
2
Right blessed, all thy houshold be,
For, they are singing, still, thy praise:
Selah.
And, blessed are, the strong in thee,
Who in their harts affect thy waies.
As, through the vale of tears they goe,
They find sweet springs of comforts there,
And, they from strength to strength shal growe,
2
Lord God of Hoasts, give ear to me,
And, mark, oh
Iacob's God, my moane.
Selah.
Oh God our sheild! behold & see,
The face of thy
Anointed-one.
For, in thy house, one day is more,
Then thousands, any other where;
And, I had rather keep thy dore,
Then live in pompe, where sinners are.
3
For, as the Sunn, thou shinest bright,
And, wee from thee our light receive:
Thou art the sheild of men vpright,
And, thou dost grace, & Glories give.
From such as walk the righteous way,
No needfull things withheld shall be;
For ever blest, therefore, are they
Who trust (oh Lord of Hoasts) in thee.
Kindle in our harts oh Lord,
such an affection to thee, & such a longing after thy spiritual habitations, that we may obtaine the measure of grace
in this life, that will fit us for the portion of glory,
in the life to come, which thou hast prepared for all those, who do hunger & thrist after thee. Number us among thy houshold-servants;
Make us to take pleasure in thy will,
& in thy presence,
above all earthly preferments; So enable us to walk from strength to strength, that wee may become strong Walkers
in thy waies; and so instruct us to make a comfortable vse, of all those afflictions, which wee suffer in our Pilgrimage;
that wee may sincerely acknowledge, our safetie, our honor, our sustenance, & all our temporal & spiritual happines to be only, from thee, oh God, who livest & raignest, world without end Amen.
Psa. 85.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalm for the sonns of
[Page 157] Chorah.
The Church
acknowledgeth God's benifits; desires their continuance, & the forbearance of his wrath &c. Wee may sing it to praise God for his bounty to his Church & kingdome, & to desire the continuatiō of our happines, by stil vouchsafing Mercy with his Iustice.
THou hast, oh God, thy Kingdome grac'st
And,
Iacob's thrall repeald;
Thy peoples faults, thou pard'ned hast,
And all their sinns conceald.
Selah.
Thine anger, thou hast quite appeas'd,
And, thy just wrath for borne;
Oh Lord of Hoasts, now thou art pleas'd
Let vs to thee returne.
2
For, why shouldst thou still wroth remaine?
And vexed rather be,
Then chear thy people's harts againe,
That they may joy in thee?
To save vs, Lord, thy favour showe,
And, let vs hear (in peace)
Thy word among vs preached soe,
That wee from sinn may cease.
3
Then, shall thy saving-health abide,
Near those who fear thy Name;
And, in our Land, shall still reside,
Thy glories & thy fame.
Then Truth & Love shall meet & kisse,
And, Iustice, Peace embrace;
Yea, Truth on earth, & Righteousnes
From heav'n shal shew her face.
4
The Lord, with ev'rie needfull store
Shall make our Kingdome flowe;
And, send his Righteousnes, before,
That wee his way may know.
[Page 158]
Oh Lord,
wee acknowledge that from tyme to tyme, thou hast bene exceeding gratious to thy whole Church,
& to this parte thereof in perticuler: For, when thy Blessings made us wanton, thou didst alwaies humble us by thy fatherly corrections; & when thou hadst worthilie afflicted us according as thy wisdome sawe cōvenient, thou didst ever mercifully comfort, & restore us againe to thy favour. Continue, oh God,
wee pray thee, this thy gratious respect vnto our infirmities; & grant, wee may so repent of our sinns, so vnfainedly professe thy Truth, & so diligently practise the works of righteousnes: that. Honestie
& Religeon (Faith
& Good-works
may inseperably be vnited in every one of vs; & that the abundance of thy temporal & spiritual blessings, may be powred forth on this Kingdome,
& on thy whole Church,
for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 86.
A prayer of David.
It personates Christ in his humiliation, prayeng in the behalfe of his mystical body, for several necessities thereof; intermixing some vowes of praise, & acknowledgments of Gods Attributes &c. It is an vsefull, forme of prayer, in many temptations, & afflictions.
LOrd, hear me; for great wants I have;
My soules defender be:
My God! thy Saint, & servant save,
Who puts his trust in thee.
That, thou thy grace to me afford,
My daylie crie requires;
Thy servants hart, revive, oh Lord!
Which vp to thee aspires.
2
For, thou good Lord, soone pard'nest all,
Who seek thy grace to finde;
And, bear my suite in minde.
My dangers, I, to thee will show,
That thou mayst healp assigne;
For, there is no such God, as thou,
Nor any works like thine.
3
All nations whome thou dist creat,
Shall praise & worship thee;
For, thou alone (oh God) art great,
And, great thy wonders be.
Teach me thy waies, & in thy fear,
My soul to thee vnite:
So, never shall my hart forbear
Thy praises to indight.
4
I scap'd the grave, by thy large grace,
When proud & cruel foes,
(Who set not thee before their face)
To take my soul arose.
Oh God! thou art a gratious Lord,
Long-suffring, kinde, & free;
With Truth & Love, most largly stor'd:
Now therefore, pitty mee.
5
Return, oh Lord, & mee revive;
Let mee thy favour have:
Thy strength to me thy servant give;
Thy Handmaids of-spring save.
Yea, for my good, vouchsafe some signe,
That, all my foes may know,
I am a Favorite of thine;
And, blush, they wrong'd me soe.
Almighty & most mercifull Father, have pitty vpon us according to thine infinite goodnes & compassion. Let vs not alwayes wander after our owne imaginations; nor be continually exercised with such Afflictions as may make vs the
[Page 160]
scorne of all that hate vs; but according to thy infinite mercy & vnparaleld goodnes, Have mercy vpon vs: And not on vs only, but on all those people whome thou hast created; that, according to thy promise, they may all serve & praise thee. Setle them & vs, in thy Truth; guide vs in thy waies; & so restore & confirme vs in thy favour, by some apparant signes of thy love, & speciall grace; that our adversaries may be ashamed of their hatred, & we thanckfull for al thy Mercies, through Iesus Christ
our Lord, Amen.
Psa. 87.
A Psalm or song for the sonns of Chorah.
It describes the scituation & glorie of the Church
typified by Syon;
prophetically declareth, that all Kingdomes shall be incorporated into that Citty of God;
& that all Nations shall there obtaine their New-birth
&c. It serves
(among other vses) to informe, that God's Church excludeth no Nation &c.
THe Lord, hath his Foundations plac'd
Above the heighest mountaines crownes;
Yea,
Syons ports, he more hath grac't
Then all the rest of Iacob's Townes:
And, glorious things, are fam'd abrode
Of thee (oh Cittie) lov'd of God.
Selah.
2
For, God accounts, as borne in thee,
Egiptians, if they him desire;
Nay; though from
Babell sprung they be
From
Chush, Philistia, or from
Tyre.
For, he hath sayd, that all on earth
In
Syon, may renew their Birth.
3
The God most high will strengthen her,
And shall record each faithful soul,
As having had first-beeing, there:
Selah.
When hee his people doth enrowl,
And, thence proceeds each blessed thing.
Thou, oh Lord,
art no accepter of persons, but every one that feares thee, & worketh righteousnes (of what place soever he be, or from whom soever he were descended) hath promise, of admission into thy Church,
& to be regestred as a free-borne Citizen of thy spiritual Syon.
Make vs thanckfull, Oh God, for this large priveledge; And, seeing none are exempted, but such as willfully exclude themselves (seing also it is manifest to thee only who they are) let us hope charitably of all men, whilst there is time of grace and repentance; endeavoureng, by our prayers, instructions, freindly reproofs, & good examples, as much as wee are able, to bring them, to become the Members of this Corporation;
& to enioy a Christian fellowship with vs, in Christ Iesu
our Lord. Amen.
Psal. 88.
A song or Psalm for the Sonns of Chorah, to the cheef Musitian vpon Mahalath Leanoth Maschil of Heman, the Ezrahite.
It personates Christ & his members complaining of his & their sorrowes, contempts & suffrings &c. And it is full of passionate petitions & expostulations. We may vse it in private or Publike afflicctions.
LOrd, of whose assisting might,
I was never yet denied;
All the day, & all the night,
I, to thee have call'd & cried:
Now, regard my wofull plight.
2
Let thine
Ear, thy
Minde, thine
Eyes,
To the
dropping, pleading, eryeng;
Of my
Teares, my
Cause, my
Cries,
Grant me,
hearing, weighing, eyeng;
3
I, to Death am drawing nigh,
And am priz'd as one interred;
Like a strengthles man I lye,
As algeady slaine, and buried:
Free among the dead, am I.
4
Yea, as one forgot of thee,
(Or, as from thy hand Abiected)
Darksome pitts, my lodging be,
And in Dungeons deep afflicted,
Thy strict hand oppresseth mee.
5
All thy, wayes I doe sustaine,
Thou dost make my Lovers flee mee;
Selah.
And my freinds fro me restarine:
Shutt I am, where none cann free me,
Then, how cann I tears refraine?
6
Lord, my greefs to thee I showe,
With my hands to thee vp-raised.
Cann the dead thy wonders knowe?
Or thy Love or truth be praised,
By the Sonns of Death belowe?
Selah,
7
Cann, thy Marvailes, they vnfold,
Who in darknes, quite are blinded?
Or thy Ius;tice, there be tolde,
Where, is nothing said or minded,
Which was done in times of olde.
8
Vnto thee, oh Lord I crie,
And, my suites prevent the Morninge;
Oh! why dost thou cast me by?
Still fro mee thy presence turninge,
Who am greev'd, & like to dy?
9
Fro my youth oh Lord, till now,
Mee, thy terror hath destressed,
Nigh distract, it makes me grow;
And, thy feares have brought me lowe,
10
They, besett me ev'rie day,
Floud-like, flowing alltogether;
And no freinds, to help me, stay
(Lovers, nor Familiers neither)
For, thou driv'st them all away.
Help us, oh gratious Redeemer,
so to bear the manifold infirmities & afflictions of our flesh;
so to endure the contempts, neglects, & iniuries of the world; &
so constantly to sustaine all the Assaults of our spiritual Adversaries; that (though we be deprived of all outward Freindships & consolations) wee may be inwardly satisfied, & comforted, against every terror, in every temptation. Let us seek soe earnestly & so early, for thy assistance, that (escaping the spiritual blindnes,
which makes vncapable of thy praise;
that dungeon of vtter Darknes,
in which thy Righteousnes
is obscured; & that everlasting Death,
from which there is no Resurrection)
we may enioy thy blessed presence, where we shall magnify thy Mercies,
for ever & ever. Amen.
Another of the same.
LOrd God, my healper! day & night,
To thee my moanings are:
Admit my suites vnto thy sight,
And, my complainings hear.
For, in my soul, great sorrowes be,
My life drawes nigh the grave,
As one inter'd, they count of mee,
And, litle strength I have.
2
As hee, that's dead, & buried long,
Death's free-man I became;
As one, out of thy presence flung,
Thou laidst mee in the lowest ward,
Where darksome Dungeons are:
On mee thine Anger presseth hard;
And, all thy stormes I bear.
Selah.
3
Thou hast my freinds fro me restraind,
My Lovers, mee despize;
I, fast in prison am detain'd
And, sorrow dimms mine eyes.
Oh Lord! all day to thee I sue,
My hands, I meekly raise:
Thy wonders, cann men buried shewe?
Or, wake to sing thy praise?
Selah.
4
Lord, cann the grave thy Love expresse?
Thy Faith, cann ruines teach?
Thy wonders, or thy righteousnes,
Cann dumb Oblivion preach?
Betimes, oh Lord, I will erect,
My suites & cries to thee;
Why shouldst thou then, my soul reject,
And, hide thy face fro mee?
5
My soul is pain'd ev'n to the death;
And all my life I bear,
The heavy burthens of thy wrath,
Thy terrors, & thy fear.
They clos'd mee round, like waters deep,
Where, whilst begirt I lay
Fro me, my Lovers thou didst keep,
And hidst my freinds away.
Psa. 89.
Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
It celebrates the mercy, Goodnes, Iustice, & power of God &c. Mentioneth his League
with David,
& mystically declares, that those covenants belong to his spiritual seed, in the cheef place, &c.
[Page 165] It instructs vs, who are the right heyres of the promises. &c.
NOw, in a song of endles praise,
Thy Mercies, I will sing, oh Lord;
And vnto all succeeding dayes,
Thy faithfulnes I will record:
For, I have sayd, that thy great Love,
And Mercy, shalbe raised high;
And, that thou shalt in heav'n above,
Thy Faith, confirm & magnify.
2
Thou hast both vowed & decreed,
To
David, thine Elected-one,
To multiply his faithful seed,
And build him vp an endles throne.
Selah.
Which heav'n shall to thy praise declare,
In works to be admired at,
And, where thy Saints assembled are,
Thy Faithfulnes they shall relate.
3
For, whome like thee, doth heav'n afford?
What earthly Kings thy equalls be?
Who, art among they Saints ador'd,
And, fear'd of all that wait on thee?
Oh Lord of Hoasts, what Lord is found
So faithful or so strong as thou?
Who setts the raging seas, their bound
And, calm'st them, when thy furious grow?
4
Thou didst afflict all
Egipt-land,
As one made weake, by wounds & blowes;
And, by the powre of thy strong hand,
Thou hast dispersed all thy foes.
Thine, heav'n & earth & all things be,
For, thou alone didst all things frame.
The North & South, were made by thee;
And East & West, extoll thy Name,
5
Strong armes thou hast, with powrful hands,
And, where thou dost thy Throne prepare,
With Iudgment, Iustice alway stands,
And, Truth & Love, thy Vshers are.
Oh! blest are they who know thy voice:
Thy look shall chear them in their waies;
They, in thy Name shall still reioice;
And, them, thy Iustice high shal raise.
6
For, thou art, Lord, our strengths renowne,
Our horne shall by thy favour spring:
Thou art our strong defensive Towne,
The Saint of Isr'el, & our King.
By vision, thou didst once declare,
And, to thy Holy-one disclose,
That thou a healper wouldst prepare,
Among thy people to be chose.
7
I have, saidst thou, my David found;
My holy oyle on shall flowe:
By mine owne Arme, he shall be crown'd,
My hand, shal strength on him bestowe.
His Foe, shall do him no disgrace,
The Sonn of sinn, he shall not fear;
For, I will smite, before his face,
All them, that his Opposers are.
8
My faith & love, on him shal stay,
My Name, his honour shall mainetaine;
His hand shall make the seas obay,
His right-hand shall the flouds restraine.
His Father, he shall knowledg me,
His God, his Rock, & his defence:
For, he my eldest borne shalbe,
And, King of ev'ry earthly Prince.
9
To him, I still, will mercy grant,
He shall enioy my promise given;
His Throne shall stand as firme as heav'n?
And, if my Lawes his Children break,
If they shall fro my precepts flye,
My statutes. if they shall forsake,
Or, from my Iudgments walk awry;
10
Their sinns with stripes I wil correct,
And, scourg them, when amisse they do;
But, those whome I do well-affect,
My Love, will never quite forgoe.
For, once ev'n by my self I swore,
I would no lye to
David make;
My League I will not break therfore,
Nor change a word, of that I spake.
11
Lord, thus thou saydst; & that a Throne,
Vnto his yssue should be given,
As lasting as the Sunn & Moone.
Or, as the witnesses of heav'n.
Selah.
But, now (as if he were abhor'd)
Thou dost on thyne Anointed frowne;
Thou makest voyd thy league, oh Lord,
And on the ground, hast hurld his crowne.
12
His Fences, thou didst rend away,
His warlike forts, thou downe dost race;
All passers-by on him do prey,
His Neighbours flout at his disgrace.
His foes, thou hast Victorious made;
Whereat, his haters, ioyfull be;
Thou dull'st the sharpnes of his blade,
And, in the fight, made faint, was he.
13
Thou hast obscur'd his glories raies,
His Throne, thou castest on the ground;
Selah.
Thou hast cut short his youthful daies,
And, him with shame thou dost confound.
Shall still thy face obscur'd remaine?
Oh, minde the shortnes of mine age!
Why shouldst thy make mankind in vanie?
14
Who lives, whome Death shal not remove?
Or, who, from Death is ever free?
Selah.
Oh Lord; where now, is all that Love,
To
David vow'd, of old, by thee?
Thy servants great reproach, record,
And, in my breast what scornes I bear,
Among those mightie Nations, Lord,
Who, likewise, thy blaspheamers are.
15
Oh God! ev'n thy Anointed-one,
They have derided in his waies;
But, Lord, what ever they have done,
To thee, for evermore, be praise.
Most gratious, God,
thou hast not only promised thy mercifull assistance to all true beleevers; but, with an Oath
also, confirmed the same for the better strengthning of our weak faith. Grant we pray thee, that we neither become distrustfull of so gratious an Assurance;
neither discouraged by those Afflictions & persecutions, where withal thou shalt please to purg our corruptions; nor be overcome by those tēptatiōs, whereby our faith is exercised in the day of triall: but, cause us to depend on thy promise, & to be couragious & victorious in all our battailes. Give us wisdome likewise, so to descern who are the true seed
of David
(& to whom the performāce of thy Covenant
doth cheefly appertaine) that wee deceave not our selves by a false application of thy spiritual promises; nor delude our soules with temporarie hopes or fears: But, make vs ever constant both in that which wee ought to beleeve on thy part; & in that which is to be performed on our parts, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 90.
The prayer of Moses the man of God.
In this Psalme the humane Nature, which (as the word Moses
signifieth) was Drawne out,
ev'n from the waters of perdition, praiseth God, for his eternal decree
of her Restauration;
& confesseth her vanity, & mortality &c. To the same purpose wee should vse it.
LOrd, thou art alwaies our abode!
Before the world, beginning had
Thou wer't eternally our God;
Yea, long, e're heav'n & earth were made.
Thou say'st, yee sonns of men, returne;
And, streight return'd to dust they be:
As one nights watch, or day outworne,
So, are a thousand yeares to thee.
2
Thou, like a Floud (as in a dream)
Shalt sweep them suddenly away;
For, like the flowring grasse they seem,
That springs, & fadeth, in a day.
One frowne of thine, consumes vs quite;
Thy wrath, our troubles doth renewe;
Thou set'st our sinns before thy sight,
And, bring'st our secret faults to vewe.
3
Our tyme, through thy displeasure wears,
And, like a Tale that's told are wee,
Our life is done at seaventie years,
Or eighty, when wee strongest be.
For, all the rest wee spend in woe,
And, vanish e're wee be aware.
Thine Angers force, Lord, who doth knowe!
As is thy wrath, such is thy fear.
4
Instruct vs how to count our dayes,
That so, our harts may wisdome learne;
But, pleased now, to me returne.
To vs, betimes, thy favour daigne,
That wee may all our life be glad,
And, dayes & years, of joye obtaine,
For those of greef, which wee have had.
5
Thy workings, let thy servants vewe,
Thy glories, let their Children see.
Oh Lord our God! thy Beautie shewe:
Still shining on vs, let it bee.
And, all our works (oh God) we pray,
Establish thou, & so direct;
That, well our labours prosper may,
And, blessed be with good effect.
Instruct vs (oh blessed God)
so to consider our vanities, our errors, & the vncertainty of our short lives, that wee may redeem the time. & (by true Faith, ioind with Christian prudence) so order our Conversations; that thy wrath may be appeased, our sinns blotted away, & all our sorrowes turned into Ioyes. Moreover, during our short abiding here, vouchsafe vs thy favour; &, so assist our weak endeavours; that wee may, to thy glory, finish the worke
for which thou hast placed vs in this world. And, though our works be vnprofitable, or such as like stuble will not abide the Fiery-triall;
yet, let that which we shall build vp, be (at least) grounded on the right Foundation;
that wee our selves may be safe, through the free mercies, of Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 91.
This Psalme, shewes, that such as abide & beleeve in Christ, shal be secured from publike & private calamities, (by an especiall protection) of what nature soever their perills be; at least, the mischeef of them shall be prevented,
[Page 171]
& life eternal vouchsafed, &c. It is vsefull to strengthen Faith in great plagues & general dangers.
WHo, in the Closet, & the shade
Of God almighty, still resides;
Is, by his Highnes, fearles made,
And, alway, safe with him abides.
For, I confesse, the Lord hath binn
A Fortresse, & a Rock to mee;
My God, alone, I trusted in,
And, he my trust shall all waies be.
2
He will, no doubt, secure thee from
The Fowlers traps, & noysome Pest:
His wings, thy shelter shall become;
Thou shalt, beneath his feathers rest.
Thou, for thy Sheild his Truth shalt bear,
And, nothing then shall thee dismay;
Not that, which wee at Midnight fear,
Nor any shaft that flies by day.
3
No secret plague offend thee shall,
Nor what in publike wasts the Land;
Though at thy side a thousand fall,
And tenn tymes more, at thy right-hand.
But, thou shalt live to mark & see,
The due reward of men vniust;
For, God (most high) will favour thee,
Because, in him thou putst thy trust.
4
No mischeef, shall to thee betide,
Nor any plague thy house infect;
For, he doth Angell-gards provide,
Which in thy waies will thee protect.
Their hands, will thee vprightly lead,
And from thy Paths, all harmes expell:
Thou shalt on Aspes, & Lions tread,
On Lions younge, on Dragons fell.
5
For, seeing his delight I am,
I will (saith God) be still his garde:
And, since he knowes my holy Name,
To honours high, he shall be rear'd.
When he doth call, an ear I'le give,
In troubles, I with him, will be;
On earth, he longe shall honor'd live,
And, he my saving-health shall see.
Blessed God;
giue us such assured confidence in thee, that wee may be secured in those publike calamities, for which our publike sinns have deserved thy scourge; & be delivered also from the mischeef of those perticuler punishments, which our personal offences may iustly bring vpon vs. But (how soever thou dealest with our bodies in this life) let our soules be saved from the plauge
of everlasting Death. Let thy holy Angells,
keep vs in all our waies; & give vs thy grace to keep the waies in which thou, hast appointed vs to walk. VVhatsoever perills or terrors affront vs, give courage to passe through them, in the execution of our lawfull Callings, without dismay or distrust: And, though they bring some smart, let them not hinder (but rather further) the accomplishment of our eternal safety through Iesus Christ
our Lord, Amen.
Another of the same.
WHo, resteth in the shade of God most high,
Within his privy-Chambers is reposed:
And, therfor, in my selfe, thus mused I;
Thee, as a Fort, thy God hath round enclosed,
And, is that Rock on which thou shalt rely.
2
For, he no doubt, wil thy defender be
From fowlers netts, & pestilent infection:
He, with his wings will overshaddowe thee;
His Feathers, wil become thy safe protection;
And, for thy Sheild, his Truth provideth he.
3
No fear, that lurks in darknes, thee shal fright
No arrow, that abrode by day-time flieth:
No secret plague, that walks about by night,
Nor that which in the street, at noon-day slayeth,
Shal make thee fear, how nigh soe're it light.
4
A thousand faint, & sinck beside thee, shall,
At thy right-hand, ten thousand breathles lieng:
And yet, thou shalt receive no harme at all;
But, only, see God's Iustice, by espieng
The due reward of sinners, in their fall.
5
For, thou dost hope in him; &, therfore hee
(Ev'n God that is most hye, & most excelling)
Wil neither let thee wrong'd, nor harmed be,
Nor suffer any plague to touch thy dwelling;
But, place his gard of Angells, over thee.
6
They in thy waies, will thee conduct along,
And in their hands, vphold thee, as thy leaders;
That not a stone shal do thy footing wrong.
Yea, thou vnhurt, shalt sett thy foot on adders,
On dragons, & on lions, old & yong.
7
For, him, that mee doth love (th'
Almighty sayes)
I will secure from sorrowes & oppression:
That man, likewise, to honour I wil raise,
Who knowes my
Name, & lives in that profession;
And, I will give an answere when he prayes.
8
In troublous times, to him I will be nigh,
And out of all his cares, I will repreeve him;
Him, I will blesse, & greatlie dignify:
His fill of dayes, I will, moreover, give him;
And, granr him grace, to live eternally.
Psa. 92.
A Psalm or song for the Sabbath.
It seems not vnproper, for that great Sabbath in which wee commemorate
[Page 174]
our Saviours
resurrection; for it magnifieth God, for the exaltation of the Righteous,
& for the blessednes of his later end.
&c.
RIght good it is, oh Lord, most hye!
Thy praises to recite,
Thy Truth & Love to magnifie,
At morning, & at night.
With tenn-string'd Instruments to sing,
The praises of thy Name;
And, that wee harpes, & Psalt'ries bring,
To solemnize the same.
2
For, Lord, thy works reioice my hart,
Thy Deeds, my soul do chear:
How wonderfull in them thou are!
How deep thy muzings are!
The Foole & Wordling, nether knowe,
Nor heed such things at all,
And, though like flowrs, the wicked showe,
Their prospring, proves their fall.
3
But, Lord, thou allwaies art most hye;
Mark, therfor; Mark I pray,
How sinnfull men despersed flye,
And, how thy foes decay.
My horne, the Vnicorne's o're-topps;
Sweet-oyle is pourd on me;
And, on my Foes, my wished hopes,
I shall both hear, & see
4
The Iust, shall flourish as the boughs
Of Palmes & Cedars do;
Or, as the trees which round God's house,
Within his Courts do growe.
Yea, they when age on them doth light,
Growe fruitfull, fatt, & greene;
To prove the Lord my Rock, vpright
VVonderfull art thou, oh Lord,
in all thy workings: &, though thy purposes are deeper then our imaginations; Yet (by that which thou hast manifested) wee behold in them great cause of much reioicing; & wee desire to praise thee for them, with all our harts. VVee have heretofore, repined at the flourishings of the wicked, & at our owne suffrings; But, make vs hereafter, to vnderstand that their prosperities are permitted to encrease their shame; & our humiliations vouchsafed, that they may the more dignify our exaltations: as it befell our blessed Saviour,
whose infamous Death,
occasioned that glorious resurrection,
which we commemorate in our Christian Sabbath.
Oh! make vs in due time, partakers of his Rest;
& grant, that our olde age, & our last howres, may be found fruitfull to thy glory, & our salvation, through Iesus Christ, Amen.
Psa. 93.
This Psalme
prophecied the powre & maiesty of Christ;
& the perpetuity of his Kingdome, in despight of all their fury who should rage against it. &c. Wee may sing it to comfort vs, against the rage of the Devill & his members.
THe Lord is King, & weareth
A Robe of Glory bright;
He cloth'd with strength appeareth,
And, girt with powrfull might.
The Earth, he so hath grounded,
That, moov'd it cannot be;
His Throne, long since was founded,
More old then Time, is he.
2
The waters, highly flowed,
And raisd their voice, oh Lord;
The seas, their furie showed,
But, God, in strength excelleth
Strong seas, & powrfull deeps;
With him, still, purenes dwelleth,
And, firm his Truth he keeps.
Oh Lord God, Kings
of Kings,
incomprehensible in Maiestie, and in powre infinite; give vs grace so to meditate thy vnspeakable Attributes, that neither the frailties within vs, nor the terrers without, make vs distrustfull of our safety in thee: For, thou art our King,
our Lord,
& our God.
Thou hast Wisdome
enough to know what is best for vs; Powre
enough to effect it; Love
enough to grant it; & Perpetuitie
enough to continue it: Oh! give vs, but grace & faith
enough, to beleeve & apply it; & (though the Waters
rage never so horribly) we shall, vndoubtedly be safe, for ever and ever. Amen.
Psa. 94.
The Church
invokes Christ
to come to Iudgment,
in regard of the cruelty of her Oppressors; & shewes the cause of their folly, & presumption. &c. It serves to informe how ignorant carnall men are of the powre & waies of God; & may help to keep vs vndiscouraged, during their Insultings. &c.
LOrd God, whose claime avengments are!
Thy selfe, the Iust Avenger, showe;
Thou judge of all, arise, draw near,
And, on the proud their meed bestowe.
For, Lord, how long! alas, how long!
Shall sinners Ioye, in doeng wrong?
2
Despightfull words, their tongues have spoke,
Great braggs, the wicked have exprest;
Yea, Lord, thy people they have strook,
And thine Inheritance opprest:
They, Orphanes vnto death betray.
3
For, God (say those) will never knowe;
This,
Iacob's God shall never see.
Oh learne, (yee fooles) more wise to growe,
Yee people fond, more prudent be.
Cann, hee or deaf, or blinde be made,
From whome, both ears, & eyes you had?
4
He, to the Nations, ev'ry where,
Corrections & Instructions gives;
To scourg you (then) will hee forbear,
Who, all mens fruitles thoughts perceives?
They blessed are, whome Lord, thou chid'st,
And, they whome in thy Lawe thou guid'st.
5
Thou giv'st them rest, when mischeevs rage,
Till pitts prepar'd for Sinners be:
And, Lord, thy Flock, & Heritage
Shall never quite be left of thee.
In Iudgment, Iustice shall be shewed;
And, of all faithfull harts persued.
6
Who will with mee, lew'd men, resist?
Or, take my part against the badd?
Sure, God himself, doth mee assist;
My soul, had els bene silent made.
But, when I sayd, that fall I should,
Mee, Lord, thy grace did then vphold.
7
When many thoughts, opprest me much,
Thy comforts did my soul delight:
For, thou partakest not with such,
Whoe sentence give against the right;
Or such, as have the Iust withstood,
To death, condemning, guiltles blood.
8
But thou, oh Lord shalt me defend.
Thou art my God, my Rock my Fort,
Thou shalt vpon themselves retort;
Yea, for the guilt of their offence,
Thou, Lord our God, shalt root them hence.
Oh thou supream Iudge
of the world, & severe Avenger
of all wrongs; Behold the fury, the despight, & insolent Cruelties of our Adversaries; and deliver the pore, the widdowe, the Fatherles, & all thy Oppressed Children out of their wicked hands. Thy forbearance, hath made the perverters of Iustice, seeme to conceive that thou either see'st not, or els regardest not their impieties: Yea, those oppressers, are growne so powrfull, & so many, that wee scarce finde any to take part with vs against their Iniuries; &, but that wee have assurance of thy Assistance, wee should be vtterly without hope. Oh! continue our hopes in thee; Sett thou in order, all that is amisse; destroy all the Favourers of Iniustice; & keep vs alway harmles, both in soul & body, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 95.
This Psalme
exhorts to praise God, and warnes to harken to his voice whilst wee have tyme, lest (like our fore-Fathers) wee be deprived of his Rest, for our obstinacie. It should be often sung to remember vs, that wee embrace God's free grace, whilst it is offred.
TO God our Saviour, lett's renewe
Our songs, with chearfull voice,
Our thanckfulnes before him shewe;
With Psalmes, in him rejoice.
For, God, the Lord most powrfull is,
The King of Gods is hee;
The earth's obscurest vales are his,
And, his, high mountaines be.
2
The seas, he made; they are his owne:
Come, serve him then, & fall wee downe,
Before our Makers face.
He is our God, his flock wee are,
His pasture-sheep, are wee:
That, you his voice, may therfor heare,
More tender-harted be.
3
Not like your Fathers, when that in
The Desert, proov'd they were;
And tempted him, though they had seene,
His works of wonder, there.
Full forty years, they moov'd his wrath,
And, therfor, thus sayd hee;
A wandring hart, this people hath,
My waies, they will see.
4
And, I to them, in my iust rage,
Did by mine Oath protest;
That, none of all that froward age,
Should come within my rest.
Oh God!
the Creator, preserver, & governour of all things; UUee give thee thancks, for making vs after thine owne Image,
& for sending thy Eternal-word
to regenerate vs, when wee were made worse then nothing. So far, wee ought to be, from arrogating the powre either of our Beeing,
or Well-beeing;
that (wee must confesse) to vndoe our selves,
is all which wee are able, of our selves do.
Like our fore Fathers, our harts are wandring from thy waies, all our life long; & wee do more & mere harden them, by custome in sinn. Yet, oh Lord, seeing wee are the sheep of thy pasture;
bring us home to thy Fo de: seeing we are thy People,
soften our harts; & givs us grace, so to harken to thy voice
in this Day of our Trial;
that, in the Day of thy Iudgment,
wee may enter into thy Rest,
through Iesus Christ
our Lord, Amen.
Psa. 96.
UUee are herein exhorted, to sing & preach, the Newsongs
of the Gospell,
to the praise of Christ
our King. And (in regard, other Gods are but vanities) all nations are provoked to ioyne in praising him. &c. We should sing it to glorify Christ, for his powre, & his Truth, &c.
COme now, & in some New-indighting,
Blesse God (the world's Almightie King)
His Name's due praise, in songs reciting,
Of his Salvation, daylie sing.
His Fame, & works of admiration,
Yee people heed, yee Nations hear:
His powre deserves, high exaltation;
For, all the Gods, lesse dreadfull are.
2
The Gentiles Gods, are foolish fictions,
But our great God, did heav'n creat;
Powr, glory, praise, & all perfections,
Attend him, in his holy-seat.
To him, due praise, yee kindreds render;
Extoll his powre, his glory sing:
To God's great Name, fitt honours tender,
Approach his Courts, & offrings bring.
3
Within his house, with praise, professe him,
And, let him be adored there;
Let all the world, their God confesse him,
And, serve him with a holy feare.
Yea, to the Gentiles let them publish,
The Lord their King, & that his might
The wav'ring earth shall fast establish;
And, do the wronged people right.
4
Let heav'n & earth, with joy-excelling,
Reioice before him ever more;
[Page 181] The seas, & all things in them dwelling,
The feilds, the woods, & all their store:
For, lo, the Lord, approcheth nearlie,
Behold, to judge the world he comes,
The wicked, he will judge serverely;
And, give the people righteous doomes.
Honour & wisdome, & powre, & praise, be ascribed vnto thee (oh king of the world)
by all thy Creatures, according to the severall faculties which thou hast bestowed vpon them. Be thou glorified, in thy selfe also; according to that which thy In comprehensiblenes
deserveth, beyond what thy creatures are able to ascribe. Let all heathenish deities,
& all those Idolls,
which carnall men have set vp in their harts, appear such vanities as they are; & let thy Soveraignty
be acknow ledged, (& thy worship truely celebrated) by Iewes, Gentiles,
& all Nations
throughout the world. Let vs, especially (who are of thy visible Church)
performe this duty, & let our harts be so established, & so filled with Holines,
& filial awe,
that wee may expect thy comming to Iudgment,
with comefort; & wellcome thy opproach, with shouts of tryvmphs, & songs of exvltation. Amen.
Psa. 97.
The soveraignty of Christ,
with his comming to Iudgment;
the Ioy which the faithfull shall conceive thereby, & the confusion which will fall on the wicked, is here foretold, &c. It may be mystically applied also, to our Saviours first coramling: And may be sung, to stir vp our spirituall reioicing, in both his
Advents.
THe Lord is king; be therfor glad
Yee Lands & Iles, now this is known;
With Clouds & darknes, he is cladd,
And Truth & Iustice, gard his throne.
A burning flame before him goes,
2
He, to the world his Glory shew'd,
And, earth beheld the same with fear;
Like waxe, hills melted, when they vew'd
The Lord (the world's great Lord) appear.
His Righteousnes, the heav'ns have showne;
His glories, are to all men knowne.
3
All Idoll servers, he destroies,
And, of all Gods will honor'd be.
It
Syon gladds, &
Iacob, ioyes,
His righteous doomes, to hear & see.
Above the highest hills he dwells:
And, all the Gods, he farr excells.
4
Hate sinn, yee Lovers of the Lord,
For, he his holie-ones, will save:
And, light & Truth, to those afford,
That, harts vpright, & faithfull have.
Yee saints therefore, record, confesse,
And, praise with Ioy, God's holines.
Oh Christ
(the everlasting sonn of the Father) Thou only art the Catholick king;
& it is no lesse then blasphemy for any other to assume that Title.
Rule thou, therfor, in thine owne Kingdome, & cast all Vsurpers out of thy Throne. Publish thy glories to the world; Let thy Truth & Iustice, terrify thy Foes, & consume all Ungodlines out of the land. Root out all Idolatries; that, Iacob
& Syon
(thy Church
& her Children) may reioice. Enthrone thy self also in our harts, & let thy presence consume thence, the Mountaines
of our presumption (with every thing, which there exalts it self, against thee) that, the hatred of Sinn, the Love of thy presence, the light of thy Truth, & the Ioye of the holy-ghost, may be there established, for ever & ever, Amen.
Psa. 98.
A Psalm.
The whole world, is exhorted to sing the new songs of the Gospell,
& the great powre & Victories, of Christ.
It showes also, how we ought to praise him. To these ends, we should vse it &c.
NEw songs, vnto the Lord indite;
For, mighty marvailes he hath done.
His Right-hand, hath prevaild in fight,
His holy Arme, the conquest wonn.
The Gentiles have in publike vew'd,
Howiust & healpfull, he hath beene:
To
Isr'el, Truth & Love he shew'd;
His Mercies, all the world hath seene,
2
Then, through the world his glory sing;
Sing praises, with triumphant voice:
To praise the Lord, the Psalt'rie bringe,
And on the Harp, with Psalmes reioice.
The Lord, the King, with mirth adore;
With Trump & Flute, this Ioye beginn;
Yee seas, with all your fullnes, roare;
Thou earth be glad, & all therein.
3
Before the Lord, your ioyes expresse,
Yee Flouds & hills: for, lo, he comes
To judge the world, with equalnes,
And, give the people, righteous doomes.
Almighty Sonn of God, wee blesse & praise thee for the manifestation of thy Mercy to the whole world, in the miraculous work of our Redemption. Thou didst come to us in despised weaknes;
Yet hast thou therein showne such vnresistable powre, that it prevailed against the wisdome of the worldly-wise; & magnified thy derided Crosse,
above all the most renowned Deities
of the Gentiles. This thou didst, by appearing in a contemptible estate: Oh! how glorious,
[Page 184]
& how powrfull wilt thou be in thy second comming! It now draweth nigh. Oh! let it not come vpon vs, as a theef in the night;
but, as the Travaile
vpon a womam, who keepeth a iust reconing; & ioyeth in the hopes of her Birth
more then shee feares the paines of her Travaile: So, according to the counsell of thy holy spirit, wee may expect, & receive thee, with praises, Triumphs, & reioicings. Amen.
Psa. 99.
It magnifieth the royall dignity of Christ,
& exhorts to feare, serve, & praise him, according to the example of Moses, Aron,
& Samuel.
UUe may vse this, to informe vs, that wee & the Patriarks have but one, & the same, Christ our saviour.
THe Lord is King, & he doth make
Betwixt the Cherubins, his throne:
Yee people fear, yee Kingdomes quake.
For, great in
Syon, he is growne.
Or'e Nations all, himself he rais'd:
His Name is fear'd, & holy to.
Oh! let this powrfull king be prais'd,
For, he vprightly loves to do.
2
His powre delights in righteous waies;
With
Iacob, he will justly deal.
The Lord our God, oh therfore praise,
And, at his holy footstool, kneel.
His Preist, with
Moses, A'ron was;
And
Samuel did invoke his Name:
These humbly sought the Lord for grace,
And, they from him, obtaind the same.
3
Hee, from the Cloudie-piller spake;
And on his words those men relide:
They, of his lawes did conscience make,
Yea (though their errors, he did blame)
To them, he did his grace afford;
Oh, serve our God, & praise his Name;
For, sacred is, our God the Lord.
Oh Christ
(who sittest betweene the Cherubims,
& rulest both in heaven & earth) wee thy subiects, do humbly tender our homage to thy royall Maiestie; magnifieng thy Iustice, thy Mercy, & thy powre. Thou art the same yesterday, to day, & for ever.
VVee beseech thee therfor, to make vs both followers of the Patriarks thy servants, in their faithfull obedience; & partakers also, of those mercies which thou hast vouchsafed them. Though iustly, thou correc test our errors; yet, in pitty regard our infirmities, accept our penitence, & hear our prayers; even for the sake of thy bitter passion, sweet Iesus. Amen.
Psa. 100.
A Psalme of praise.
It commemorates two great Benifits:
our Creation
(which is common to all) & that Free Election,
which is peculier to the Chosen Flock of Christ;
& whereby, they have the Freedom of his pasturage, and of his protection. It is therfore vsefull, to praise God for the same.
REioyce in God, yee Nations,
In chearfulnes, adore him;
With ioyfull acclamations,
Present your Selves before him:
For, God the Lord, did make vs,
No hand therein had wee;
He, for his flock doth take vs,
His Pasture-sheep wee be.
2
His Gates & Courts, possesse yee,
To thanck him, goe yee thither;
And sing his praise togither:
For, God is kinde, for ever,
His grace, he freely daignes;
His Truth, will faile vs never,
For, endles, it remaines,
Thy hands, oh Lord, did make vs: therfor we praise thee for our Creation, & for all the naturall Faculties, where with it pleased thee, to endowe our soules & bodies. Thou hast also redeemed us: wee therfor likwise, praise thee; & for our Election, Vocation, Iustification, Sanctification, Illumination, Preservation, hope of Glorification, & for all the pretious Lincks of that golden Chaine,
wherein are ioyned together the meanes of our Salvation.
Thou hast, (wee confesse) done already so much for vs, that we have almost nothing to pray for, but thanckfulnes, & the cōtinuatiō of thy free Mercies, hitherto vouchsafed: for which, wee humbly beseech thee; & that wee may truly praise thee for thē, for ever & ever. Amen.
Another of the same.
OH! all yee Kingdomes, praise the Lord,
Before him, let your Ioy be showne:
With singing, let him be ador'd;
And, for your God, let him be knowne.
2
He made vs, & his owne wee be,
His Flock, & pasture-sheep wee are;
His Gates, & Courts, then, enter yee,
And, give him thancks, & praises there.
3
Yea, praise him, & his Name confesse:
For, in the Lord, all good resides;
His Mercies, & his Faithfulnes
Throughout all Ages, firme abides.
Psa. 101.
A Psalme of David.
It personates Christ
proposing the divine, morrall, political, & Oeconomical dutie of good Princes; & promising the execution there of, in his Kingdome & Famely. This is, indeed, the right singing of Mercy
& Iudgmēt, & this Psalme is vsefull, at the Coronatiō of Kings, or when Magistrates, are admitted into their places.
OF Iudgment, & of Love to thee,
Now, Lord, a song I will indite;
Oh come! vnite thy selfe to me,
And, I will keep my waies vpright.
With perfect hart, my house I'le guide,
No wicked thinge, shall please mine eyes;
I'le those detest who turne aside,
And, all their deeds, I will despise.
2
No froward hart with me shall stay,
I will elect no wicked mate;
The slandrous tongue I'le cutt away,
High-lookes I shun, proude mindes, I hate.
But, through the land, to dwell with mee,
I will equire for men vpright;
And, those men shall my servants be,
Whose harts, in perfect waies delight.
3
No Cheater, shall with mee have place,
No Liers, in my sight shall stay;
And, from God's Land, I soone will chase,
And, root all wicked men away.
Oh Lord God! all Authoritie is from thee; and, thou placest good Magistrates
& Governours,
both in church
& Commōwealth,
for a blessinge: or, permittest Tirants, Fooles, & corrupt persons, for the punishment of a wicked people. Defend us, wee pray thee, from this plague; and,
[Page 188]
grant, that they whome thou settest over us, may be suppressers of all vices;
protectors of al virtues;
favourers of true Pietie;
& be alwaies, good examples (in life & conversation) both to their Equalls & Inferiors. Let us also, be the same in our severall places & Callings; that (walking with good consciences,
& vpright harts,
in an vndefiled way)
wee may as well sing of thy Iudgments,
as of thy mercios. Amen.
Psa. 102.
A prayer of the Afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord.
The Title shewes, it may properly be sung by the
pore in spirit, who are
afflicted, by the sight of their owne vnworthines &c. It containes, a confession, with a prediction of the benifits of the Gospell;
& shewes the eternity of Christ's
Kingdome.
LOrd, mark my suite, receive my crie,
Be present at my need:
Thine eares to my complaints apply,
And, hear my suite with speed.
For, smoke-like, fumes my tyme away,
My bones are parcht with heat;
My wounded hart, dries vp like hay,
And, I forgoe my meat.
2
My panifull groanes, have made me leane,
And nought but skinn & bone;
I fare, ev'n like a Pelicane,
In deserts, left alone.
Yea, like the desert owle, am I;
And, watching, I have sate,
As when alone, on buildings high,
A Sparrow, wants her mate.
3
Mee, all day long, my foes revile,
And, Ashes are my bread the while;
My drinck, my Weepings are.
For, thou in wrath advanced'st me,
That, vile I might be made.
My dayes, like shades declininge be,
Like new-sprung grasse, I fade.
4
But, Lord, thy tymes, are without end,
All Ages thee record;
Now then, arise thou, & befreind
Afflicted Sion, Lord.
For, now the tyme to favour her,
Fullfilled is outright,
And, greeved all thy servants are,
To vewe her wofull plight.
5
That, Earthlie Kings, may stand in feare,
And, Princes dread thy Fame,
Build
Syon's wall, & shew thou, there,
The glorie of thy Name.
Then, thou shalt hear all those that mourne,
Then, thou shalt healp the pore;
Which I'le record, that men vn-borne
May praise thee, Lord, therefore.
6
For, from thy holy-place, on high,
The world survayeng, then,
Thou, Lord, shalt hear the pris'ners cry,
And save condemned men:
Thy Name in
Syon to declare;
And in Ierusalem;
(Where Nations all, Assembled are)
To shewe thy praise to them.
7
Short-liv'd, & weak, & ful of greefe,
Thou mad'st me, in my way;
But, Lord, at noonetyde of my life
Thy yeares, through ages all extend,
Thy hands, long since, did frame,
Both heav'n and earth; yet, when they end,
Thou shalt remaine the same.
8
They old shall growe, as garments do,
And, be renew'd by thee:
Yea, thou, oh Lord, shalt change them so,
And, they shall changed.
But, from all Changes thou art free'd,
Thy yeares, for aye endure:
And, all thy servants, & their seed,
Shall bide in thee, secure.
Oh Lord, the sole comforter of all destressed soules! pittie the sighes & complaints of thy pore afflicted Childrē, whome thy displeasure for Sinn, hath worthily deseased, both in minde & Body. Open vnto us, the Armes of thy compassion; & grant, that what we have lost by our Offenses,
wee may recover by thy Bounty, vpon our true repentance, & amendment of life: which amendment, wee beseech thee to hasten; lest wee be cut short in the midst of our hopes. Repaire alsoe, the Decayes of thy Church
(in thy tyme appointed) that her children may praise thee for it, before mē, during their short abiding here; & that, when thou hast changed our Corruption into incorruption, we may glorify thee among thy blessed Angels, world without end. Amen,
Psa. 103.
A Psalme of David.
The Prophet, praiseth & exhorts to praise God, for many perticuler Benifits, magnifieng his Compassion, longsuffring, Iustice &c. & declares the frailty of man. &c. It is vsefull to magnify the manifold Mercyes which wee have receaved by Iesus Christ.
COme praise the Lord; come praise his Name,
My soul, & all that is in mee.
My soul, come praise his holy Name,
And, of his favours mindfull be.
For, all thine errors he forgave;
He cur'd thy greefs, he clos'd thy wound;
Thy Life, he saved from the grave,
And, thee with tender mercies crown'd.
2
With Goodnes, he, thy mouth doth fill,
He like on Eagle, makes thee younge;
And, righteous Doomes he giveth still,
To ev'ry one that suffers wrong.
His waies to
Moses he declar'd,
His deeds to
Isr'el, he did showe;
And, kinde, & gratious is our Lord,
To mercy, prone; to Anger, slowe.
2
He, will not alwaies vs vprayd;
Nor, evermore displeasd is hee:
Nor, hath he soe our sinns repaid,
As, justly they deserve to be.
For, they that fear him, finde his grace,
Out-reach the spreadings of the skye;
And, he from vs, our sinns doth place,
As farr, as East from West doth lie.
4
He pitties them who fear his Name,
As fathers pitty their owne seed:
For, well he knowes our britle frame,
And, that from dust, wee did proceed.
Our tyme, is like the feild-bred-flowres,
Which, now doe make a goodly shewe;
Anon, some blast their forme devours,
And leaves no token where they grewe.
5
But, still there's mercy in the Lord,
For them, that awfull of him bee:
His righteousnes, imputeth hee.
His Throne aboue the heav'ns is rais'd,
And, over all, he beareth sway:
Of powrfull Angells, he, is prais'd;
They hear his voice, & him obay.
6
Let all his hoasts; his servants to,
Performe his will, and praise his name:
Yea, soe let all his creatures doe,
And oh! my soul; do thou the same.
Father of all pittie
(who art slowe to anger, & ready to forgive) Looke vpon our infirmities; consider our frailties; in thy abundant compassion, forgive our trespasses; and deal not with us according to our deserts. Cause us to be renewed like Eagles
by casting of, the old Man:
Fill our Mouths, with songs of thy praise; & our harts, with thine owne selfe, that vnmatchable sweetnes! that vnspeakable goodnos! Cure all our infirmities;
& healp in all our weaknesses, by thy fatherly
care. Preserve vs in thy feare;
in the remenbrance of thy Covenant;
and in the wayes of thy Commandements, to our lives end. That, wee honouring thee, by thy Creatures
here; may glorifie thee among thy Angells
& Saints
hereafter, world without end. Amen.
Psal. 104.
The Majestie, wisdome,
& powre
of God,
in the Creation & preservation of all his Creatures, is here described, by excellent Metaphors. We may sing it to praise him, for making & preserving all things, to his owne glorie, & for our confortable vse. &c.
The Title is; Halelujah.
NOw, shall my soul to praise the Lord assay;
For, Lord my God! vnbounded is thy might:
With glories beames, thy self thou dost aray,
[Page 193] And as with Robes, art cloth'd about, with Light.
Thou curtaine-like, the heav'ns abrode displayest;
And, in great flouds, thy chābers roofs thou layest.
2
The rowling Clouds, thy speedy Charrets are,
And winged windes, thy swift-pasd Coursers be;
Thy Messages, the glorious Angells beare,
And burning fires, like servants, waite on thee.
The Globe of Earth, so firmly thou hast grounded,
That none can shake the structur thou hast foūded.
3
As with a robe, wth flouds thou clothdst the same
And, then, the waves above the hills aspir'd:
But, at thy Check, soone downe againe they came,
And, when thy voice did thunder, back retir'd:
From lofty heights, by winding Vallies, tracinge;
They thither fel, where first they had their placing.
4
And, strongly there, thou boundest them about,
That they, no more, the world should overflowe;
Among the Dales, clear springs, thou sendest out,
Which run between the mountaines to & fro.
Thou drink from thence, to forrest heards convaiest
And, there, the thirst of Asses wilde, alayest.
5
Then by the Bancks of all those running Rills,
Among the boughs the, birdes make melodies:
Thou from above, with shewres bedew'st the hills,
And giv'st enough, all Creatures to suffice.
For Cattell, grasse, for man, thou herbs ordainest;
And, him with food, out of the earth sustainest,
6
From thence proceeds, the hart-reioicing-wine;
Refreshing oyle, from thence doth also flowe;
That pretious oyle, which makes the face to shine;
& bread, wherby man's hart more strōg may grow.
Thy Cedars tall, due moysture have not wanted;
Not they, which high, on
Libanon, are planted.
7
The feather'd foules, their nests on thē do build,
[Page 194] The lofty Firrs, are dwellings for the storke;
For clyming goats, the mountains, refuge yeald,
In craggy Rocks, the fearfull connies lurke.
The changing Moon, the tymes apointed showeth
The constant Sunn, his howr of setting knoweth.
8
Thou Darknes cal'st; so, night shutts vp the day;
And, then, abrode the Forresters do roame:
With roarings loud, the Lions hunt theyr prey,
And, vnto thee (oh God) for meat, they come.
The rising sunn, anon returneth hither
And, in their denns, they couch againe togither.
9
Then, man till night, afresh, his labour plies.
How many, be thy wondrous works oh Lord!
In ev'ry thing, thou art exceeding wise.
The spatious Earth, by thee is fully stor'd;
And, in the sea are many creatures dwelling,
Both great & small, whose number passeth telling.
10
There, sail the shipps, &, there thou didst creat
Leviathan, to sport vpon the Floud.
Thy Creatures all, from thee expect their meat;
And, that thou shouldst in season, give them food,
Which thou bestow'st, & they (the same receiving)
Are filld with Goodnes, of thy bounteous giving.
11
Thou hid'st thy face, & loe, they troubled are;
Thou stopt'st their breath, & lifeles dust they bee:
Againe, thou breath'st; & they reviv'd appear,
And, all the earth is new arayd by thee.
Oh! let the Lord, with honour still be named,
And, let him joy in that which he hath framed.
12
If with his eye, the earth he but survay,
The fearfull earth, doth tremble at his look;
If on the hills, he but a singer lay,
His very touch, doth make the hills to smoke.
And, whil'st my Life, or beeing, is enioyed,
[Page 195] To praise my God my, tongue shall be employed.
13
Sweet thoughts of him, conceaved are in me;
And, in the Lord my hart shal ever ioye:
For, from his Land, the wicked rooted be;
And, he, will them, perpetually destroy.
Oh let his praise, for ever, be confessed;
Praise God my soul, & say:
The Lord be blessed.
Most glorious Lord God!
thy admirable powre & wisdome created the world (which having once overflowed for Sinn, thou didst againe replenish the same) continueng the maine Fabrick
ever since; &, therein mainetaining a succession of innumerable different Creatures, by a wonderfull providenee (& with a speciall regard vnto mankinde above them all) Give us therfore, grace, wee beseech thee, so to meditate thy workmanship, thy wisdome, & thy great mercies herein; that our harts beeing regenerated & revived (by the breathings of thy holy spirit) wee may be thanckfull for thy great Favours: & that when our wickednes is rooted out, wee (perceaving all to be good which thou hast created or ordained) may praise thy wisdome, thy goodnes, & thy bountie, for ever & ever Amen.
Psa. 105.
Halelujah.
It typically expresseth (by God's deliverances of the Iewes, & his Covenant with them) the spiritual League & graces, vouchsafed to us &c. We should therfor sing it, not only historically, but with a respect also, to the Covenant of grace, & his mercies,
by Christ Iesus.
COme praise the Lord, invoke his Name;
To all men make his actions knowne:
In Psalmes of praise, sing forth his fame,
And, speak what wonders he hath done.
Let them, who seek the Lord, be glad,
2
Oh search God's powre, & seek his face;
Still, minde what wonders he hath done:
Let all, that are of
Abraham's race,
And
Iacob's, his elected-one,
God's wondrous works, record with heed,
And, minde what he hath fore-decreed.
3
He, is our God, our mighty Lord;
His Iudgments through the world are spread:
He beares in minde, his promis'd word,
Vnto a thousand Ages made;
Ev'n that, which he to
Abr'ham swore,
And vow'd to
Isa'ck heretofore.
4
To
Iacob, came the same decree,
In
Isr'el to continue still;
To thee, & all thy seed, sayd hee,
The Land of
Can'an give I will.
Yea, thus he spake, when fewe they were,
And, they themselves, meer strangers there,
5
When forraigners, they liv'd among,
(And, oft from place to place remoov'd)
He suffred none to do them wrong;
But, for their sakes, ev'n kings reproov'd,
My prophets, harme yee not, sayd hee;
Vntouch'd, let my Anointed be,
6
Then, he by dearth, their Land made pore,
And, did the staff of bread withhold;
But,
Ioseph, he, first sent before,
Eu'n him, whome for a Slave they solde.
With fetters, there, his feet they pain'd;
And, him in irons, they detain'd.
7
But, when his Triall was decreed,
God's word, his innocence disclos'd;
The king did send, to have him freed,
His cheef commander he was made,
To rule his house, & all he had.
8
Of all his Lords, he had command;
That he his Counsellers might guide,
Then,
Isr'el came to Egipt land,
And,
Iacob did with
Cham reside:
And, so his Children thrived there,
That, stronger then his foes they were.
9
Whose hate, & fraudulent intent
When to his Folk, he well made knowne,
His servant
Moses, then he sent,
And
A'ron his Elected-one,
Who wrought great marvailes in his Name,
And wonders in the Land of
Ham.
10
He darknes cal'd; & dark it grewe;
(For his commands were not withstood)
Throughout their Coast, their fish he slewe.
And chang'd their waters into bloud.
Vpon their land he froggs did bring
Which climb'd the chambers of the king.
11
He spake, & flies of divers formes,
And, lice through ev'ry quarter craw'ld;
Insteed of raine, he gave them stormes,
And, hayle, & lightnings forth he cald.
Which, downe, their vines, & figtrees brake,
And in their groves, great spoile did make,
12
The Locust came at his command;
And Caterpillers did abound:
The grasse they wasted from the land,
And ev'ry fruite, vpon the ground.
Then, he their Eldest-borne did smite,
The very prime of all their might.
13
His people, rich from thence he brought:
All
Egipt ioy'd when they went out;
For why? of them, they stood in feare.
A Canopy of Clouds they had;
To give them light, a fire he made.
14
The people askt, & quailes he gave,
With heav'nly bread, he filled them:
The Rocks likewise, for them he clave,
And through dry Lands he sent a Streame:
Because, to minde that promise came,
Which he had made to Abraham.
16
His people, & his chosen bands,
He brought away with loyfulnes,
To them, he gave the Gentiles lands,
And, they their labours did possesse:
That, they might mark what he decreed,
And keep his lawes, with carefull heed.
Preserve us oh Lord,
from that hardnes of hart for which thou sendest thy dreadfull iudgments into the world; & withhold alsoe thy plaugues from our Kingdome: But, especially, that spirituall Darknes,
& those Iudgments,
which are mistically signifiied, by Lice, froggs, Locusts,
& the rest of the Egiptiā
plagues: And, as a meanes of this favour, make us mindfull of that Covenant,
which then hast made vnto vs, & wee vnto thee, in Christ Iesus.
VVee confesse thou didst gratiously lead our Fore-fathers in the wildernes;
feeding, guiding & preserving them, by thy miraculous powre; Be thou also, we pray thee, our Assistance & protector in this our Pilgrimage; feeding us with that heavenly Manna,
& refreshing us out of that spirituall Rock,
whereof, they had the type; that wee may followe them who are gone before into the Land of the living,
& there praise thee, world without end. Amen.
Psa. 106.
Halelujah.
It commemorates the perversenes of the Iewes,
in whome the humane Nature,
was typified: therefore (changing the persons,
to our selves.) We may sing it to set forth, God's Grace & long-suffring toward vs; Who have enioyed the same favours, & are guilty of the same perversenes.
COme praise the Lord; for wondrous good is he;
And, without end, his tender mercies are.
His powrfull Acts, by none cann vttred be:
His praises due, none fully cann declare.
They blessed are, that have true judgment heeded,
And in the paths of righteousnes prooceeded.
2
With such respect, let me remembred be,
As that, which to thy chosen thou dost bear:
Thy saving-health, vouchsafe thou vnto me;
And place me there, where thyne Elected are.
That, I may tast, the pleasures of thy Nation,
And partner be in all their exvltation:
3
Wee have amisse, like our fore-fathers done,
God's wondrous works, in Egipt moov'd not thē.
His mercies great, they never thought vpon,
But, at the Sea (the red-sea) vexed him.
Who, naitheles, them (for his namesake) spared;
That, his great powr, might be by them declared,
4
The Red-sea, then, was dride, at his command,
And, there, as through the desert, they do goe,
He, saved them from their oppressors hand,
And, them redeemd, from their stronghanded foe.
For, in the sloud he overwhelmd their haters,
And, non of them, escaped from the waters.
5
Then, they beleev'd, & praisd him in a song;
But, soone his words, & works forgotten were:
[Page 200] For flesh, ev'n in the Deserts, they did long,
And much provok'd the Lord's displeasure there,
Their brutish lust, with flesh, indeed, he served;
But therewithal, their lustful souls were sterved.
6
Their Campe, at
Moses grudgd; & with despight
God's holy-one, e'vn
Aron, did persue:
For which, the Earth did Swallow
Dathan quite,
And, quick-devour'd,
Abiram, & his crewe.
A sudden flame, their Congregation fired;
And, made an end of those that had conspired.
7
An Idoll then, in
Horeb, they did raise;
A molten Calfe, as God, adored they:
And gave to God (their
Glory, & their
Praise)
An Oxes forme, that eateth grasse, & hay.
For God their Garde, nor for his powre they cared
In
Egyipt, Cham, or at the sea declared.
8
God, therefore sayd, he quite had ruin'd them,
But that, his wrath by
Moses was alayd.
The pleasant Land, likewise, they did contemn,
Beleeving not the words that he had sayd.
And, in their tents, their murmurs were a token,
They did nor hear, nor heed, what God had spokē.
9
Another tyme, his hand advanced was,
Them, in the Desert, to have overthrowne;
To mixe their seed, among the gentile-race,
And, scatter them, through many lands vnknowne.
Because, vnto
Baal-peor, they had bowed;
And, fedd on meats, to lifeles Idolls vowed.
10
Yea, then, the Plague did fast among thē run,
Because their fault God's anger had encreast.
But, Iustice was by
Phineas, timely done;
And, there vpon, that mischeef quickly ceast.
His righteousnes, therefore, shall be commended
Through Ages all, till Ages all are ended.
11
At
Meribath, they made him angry, to,
And, wroth likewise, with
Moses, for their sake;
For, they provokt his humble spirit soe,
That, he, some words without advisement spake.
They did not slay their foes, as God forewarned,
But, mixt with such, and their ill customs learned.
12
Their Idol-Gods they serv'd; which proov'd a snare.
To Devills, they did sacrifize their seed:
They spilt the bloud of those that guiltles were;
Ev'n their owne sonns, & Daughters blood, they shed
To
Canans Gods, for offrings, thē they killed;
And all the Land with bloody sinns defiled.
13
Thus, by their works, poluted they became,
And, whorishlie, persude what they deviz'd:
Which did Gods wrath against them so inflame,
That he therefore, his heritage despiz'd
For, them to serve the Nations he constrained,
And, over them, their Adversaries raigned.
14
Their Foes, opprest & brought thē verie lowe;
And then (though him their Courses did provoke)
He helped them, when they did helples growe;
And, when they cride, compassion on them tooke.
His Cov'nant, & his grace, to minde he called,
And succour'd thē, by those, who them enthralled.
15
Oh Lord our God! still, send vs healp frō thee,
That wee therfore may laud thy holy Name,
Divided from the Gentiles, let vs be,
To sing thy praise & trivmph in the same.
Let Isre'ls God, with praise be still confessed;
And, let al people say;
The Lord be blessed.
UUee confesse, oh Lord God, that wee have sinned according to all the transgressions of our forefathers; & added many Offences vnto theirs. UUee confesse also, that (as to them) thou hast multiplied thy mercies towards us; Insomuch
[Page 202]
that our enimies, yea our Afflictions, have beene made comfortable: And in steed of Plagues (whose encrease & continuance wee rather deserved) thou hast alured vs vnto thy love, by many extraordinario blessings. Oh God! let us no longer abuse thy patience; but make us now, soe to mind our part of the covenant
which is betwixt us; that wee may be seperated from our heathenish conversations;
be remembrend among thy people;
behold the good of thy Chosen;
reioice in the gladnes of thy Nation;
& be pertakers in the glory of thine Inheritance,
for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 107.
Halelujah.
It exhorts, to praise God, for his vniversall Grace; Acknowledgeth him, the deliverer of all men, in all places, and in all troubles; Confesseth him the Corrector, Orderer, and disposer of kingdomes, persons, & famelies, &c. It is vsefull both for temporall & spirituall belssings:
for, by bodiey suffrings; spirituall miseries, are mystically signified.
COme praise the Lord, & thanckfully confesse,
That he is good, & gratious, without end,
Let those whome God redeem'd, his praise expers,
Ev'n those whome he did from their foes defend;
Collecting them, from East, & westerne Nations,
From Northern Clymes, & southern habitations.
2
In deserts wilde, & where no dwellings were,
They wandred on, with drought, & hunger, faint:
And, them he freed, from all destresses there,
When they to him, had vttred their complaint.
He ledd them on, in paths directly guiding
To Citties faire, whear they had safe abiding.
3
Oh! let men praise the goodnes of the Lord,
And publish out, his wonders to their seed:
[Page 203] For, he to hungry men doth meat afford;
And, with good things, the longing soul doth feed.
He, those vnbinds, that are in fetters chained;
And in the bands, & shades of death detained.
4
The word, of God most high, they did reject,
And small account, of his advise they made;
With heat, & toile, he therfor did afflict
And cast them downe, when they no helper had.
But, in their need (when they againe complained)
He tooke away the greef, which they sustained.
5
Frō deaths black shades, he shew'd thē light some
And, all their bands, did quite asunder break; (wais
Let all mankinde, therfore, his wonders praise,
And of his works, among their Children speake,
The brazen Gates, he crakt, & open sett them:
Their yron barrs he broke, & forth he fett them.
6
He plaugeth fooles, because they have transgrest;
And, for their sinns, they much afflicted are:
Their fainting soules, doe pleasant meats detest,
They to the gates of death approached near:
But, seeking God (when they were so oppressed)
From all their paines, & feares, he them released.
7
He sent his word, which did their greevāce heal,
Preventing so, their fall, which hastned on.
Oh let all men! God's goodnes, therfore tell,
And shewe their seed, what wonders he hath done,
Let them declare his works, with joyfull singing,
The sacrifize, of thanckfull praises, bringing.
8
They that in shipps, at sea employed are,
(And for their gaine to crosse the waves are bold)
May vewe the works of God-almighty there,
And in the deepes his wondrous deeds behold.
For, he but breaths, & streight a storm appeareth
Which vp aloft, the rowling billowes beareth.
9
Now mounts to heav'n; anon, descēds the keel,
And they grow faint, with labour & with fear:
As druncken men, they stagger, & they reel;
And of their skill, they quite deprived are,
Then, to the Lord they cry, who them releases,
From all their feares, their dangers, & destresses.
10
For, he, the stormes, to gentle calmes cōvarts,
And, quiet then the raging sea, becomes;
Then they are joy'd; Then eased are their harts,
And, them he brings, to their desired homes.
Of these his works, let all men make relations,
And shewe his deeds, to future generations.
11
Oh sing his praise, where great Assemblies are,
And him, among your elders, glorify;
He deserts makes, where once great waters were;
He draines the springs of mighty Rivers drie.
And, from rich Lands, their fatnes, oft he taketh;
When by their sinn, her dwellers, him forsaketh.
12
The Deserts vast, he turnes to standing Lakes;
And springs convaies, to lands which barren were:
For hungry soules, a dwelling there he makes,
Who, for themselues do build a Citty there.
They sowe & plant, & reap the hoped blessing,
Both of their seed, & of their Vines encreasing.
13
He prospers them; & lo, they are encreast,
Their flocks & heards, do fatt & fruitfull grow.
Yet, otherwhile, he letts them be opprest, (low,
And with great plagues, he, sometime, brings thē
He takes from kings, their princely estimation;
And, makes them stray, in pathles desolation.
14
But frō all greefs, the meek he still doth raise,
And, makes like flocks, his housholds to appear;
At sight thereof, the Iust will sing his praise,
And they shall dumbe be strook, that wicked are.
[Page 205] All this, they mark; that have true wisdom learned:
And, God's great love, by them is well descerned.
Most mercifull God! what Affliction is there, from which wee are not howrely delivered, or preserved, by thee? Nay, what necessarie benifitts are there, which wee have not in the best season, receaved from thee, in what place soever, or of what Nation, or condition soever wee are? In our wandrings, in our poverty, in our sicknesses, in our imprisonments; in our Iournyes at sea & land, in our labours, in our goods, in our children, in our sorrowes, in our prosperities, in our persons, in our famelies, in life, in death, yea in everie thing, wee have continuall experience of thy Mercies; insomuch, that we may confesse thou delightest in nothing, but in shewing Mercy; vnles our sinns compel thy Iustice to afflict us, that thy Mercies may not be despised: and, there is great Mercy, even in that, also. Oh good God! make us ever mindful hereof; & give us wisdome so to mark & consider these things, that both wee & our posteritie, may magnifie thy vnspeakable bounty, & declare thy wonderful workings, for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 108.
A song or Psalme of David.
This is composed of the later parts of the 57. & 60 Psalmes;
yet differs from both: for, those beginn with lamentations, & end with reioieings; but, this is wholy triumphant, & personates the Church praising God for her enlargment: &c. Wee may sing it, when the Church is released from some persecution, or her limitts extended farther &c.
MY hart is sixt; & I, oh Lord,
Will in my songs, thy fame record,
And, with my tongue, sing praise to thee:
My Harp & Psaltry, are awake;
And, I, my selfe, will readie make
2
For, through the heav'ns thy Truth doth stretch;
Above the Sphears thy mercies reach.
Oh God! be still exalted high.
Thy praise, through heav'n & earth extend;
Let thy righthand, thy Dear defend,
And, still vouchsafe me thy replie.
3
For, as thy holy Voice declard,
With trivmphs,
Shechem I have sharde;
And, I have measur'd
Succoth Vale.
Mine,
Gilead &
Manasseth are,
My head, mount
Ephraim high doth bear,
In
Iudah, stands my judgment Stall.
4
Proud
Moab is my drugding slave,
My foot in
Edom, fixt I have;
And,
Palestine doth ioye in me.
For, who to
Edom was my guide?
Or, to the Citty fortifide?
But, God of whome despisd were wee.
5
Oh God! who didst our hoasts forsake,
From vs, our greefs, thus, alwaies take;
For, man's vaine succours wee contemn.
Through God, wee valiant Acts have done;
Our foes, by him, are overthrowne:
And, he shall sett his feet on them.
Oh Lord God of Hoasts! true in thy word, & powrful in thy performances. According to thy auncient promises, thy Church is wonderfully enlarged; & thou hast now thy lot of Inheritance in those places, where they have bene enimies to thy Truth. UUee beseech th
[...], more & more, to enlarge thy Kingdome, & to be continually present with us, in all our spiritual conflicts: that, by thy powre we may tread vnder foot, the world,
the flesh,
& the Devill;
making servants vnto us (in the execution of thy will)
those affections, which
[Page 207]
have heretofore prevailed against us. VVee rely on thee only: On thee only, our harts are fixed: And, for thy goodnes; we desire, with all our faculties, to praise & magnify thy Name, for evermore. Amen.
Psa. 109.
To the cheef Musition a Psalme of David.
It is applied vnto Iudas
Acts 1. 20.
and is it vsefull to terrify Gods Foes, & all Hypocrites, by shewing the Iudgments pronounced by the holy-ghost, against all such.
But, let none abuse this, or any such like Psalmes,
by repeating them in their owne quarrells, lest the Curses
fall on themselves.
OH God my praise! now silence breake;
For, wicked men that guileful be,
With open Iawes, against me speake,
And, with false tongues, have slandred mee.
With hatefull words they mee enclose;
Without all Cause, with mee they warr,
And for my Love, they are my foes:
Yet, for their weal, my prayers are.
2
For my goodworks, ill deeds I gett;
My love with hate, they do requite:
Or'e them therefore, some Tyrant set;
At his right-hand, let Sathan waite.
Let Iustice, them to death persue;
Account it sinn for them to pray:
Cutt short their dayes; & make them fewe:
Let others take their place away.
3
Keep fatherles, their Orphane-breed,
And, husbandies, their widdow'd wives;
Yea, Cause thou their accursed seed,
To begg & wander all their lives.
Their vncouth denns, let then forsake;
[Page 208] To begg, what must their life sustaine:
Their labors, let oppressors take,
And, Strangers rob them of their gaine.
4
Let none regard, though they lament,
Nor pitty take on such a race:
But, quite away (in one descent)
Their of-spring, & their Name deface.
Let God, still, minde the guilt they drewe,
From both their parents, at their birth,
And, keep it allway's in his vewe,
Till they are nam'd no more, on earth.
5
For why, they no compassion shew'd,
To him that greev'd & pained lay.
But, they the needy soul persu'de:
The broken hart, they sought, to slay.
They Cursings Lov'd: let them be made
The part, therefore, of their just lot.
In Blessings, they no pleasures had;
And, therfor, they possesse them not.
6
With curses, they, themselves did clothe,
As with a gowne, or with a cloke;
Therefore, as oyle or water doth,
Through bones & bowells, let them soke;
Let Curses, them like Belts, inclose;
And, as their clothes, such men aray:
Ev'n thus, oh Lord, require my Foes
Who of my soul, amisse do say.
7
But, (for thy Name sake) save thou mee;
Deal wel with me, & mercy daigne:
For, wounded is my hart in mee;
And, I am pore, & full of paine.
I vanish like an Evening shade,
I, Locust like, am tost about:
My knees, are weake through fasting made;
8
They, mee despise ev'n to my face,
And, scornfull nods, at mee they make.
Oh Lord my God! of thy meer grace,
To bring me help, now vndertake,
Make them to see, & then confesse,
That by thy hand I helped am;
Lord, though they Curse, yet do thou blesse.
And, let them rise, to see their shame.
9
But, make oh Lord, thy Servants glad;
Whilst they, that my illwillers are,
With shame (ev'n their owne shame) are clad,
As if with Robes arayd they were.
My tongue shall praise thee then, therfore,
Confessing, where Assemblies be,
That God is Patron of the pore;
And, from false doomes, their soules doth free.
Oh God! terrible art thou in those iudgments, which thou dost pronounce against all malitious & vnrepētāt Sinners. UUee beseech thee therfore grant us grace, to repent all our transgressions, & to shewe compassion to all thy pore members in their Afflictions; that we may finde Mercy in our sorrowes. UUee often see thy iudgments; but, wee neither know whome thou correctest in love to amendment, nor whome in fury to their destruction: For, thou reservest that secret vnto thy self (To keep vs, both in our dealings & Censures, alway charitable to those whome thou smitest) Oh teach us, therefore, true Charity; & let us never doe, or wish evill to any man, in our owne Causes: But, let us apply thy iudgmēts, to sinn in generall; & imprecate that they may fall only, on the enimies of our Lord and saviour Iesus Christ. Amen.
Psa. 110.
A Psalme of David,
It is literally of Christ, Math. 22.
[Page 210]
& it mentioneth, the Deity, Humanity, Soveraignety, Preisthood, Powre, Conquests, Passion, & Resurrection of the Messiah. We may sing it with respect to those perticulers.
VNto my Lord, the Lord, thus spake,
Sitt downe at my right hand;
And, of thy foes, I'le footstooles make,
Whereon thy feet shall stand.
The Lord, shall out of
Syon bring,
The scepter of thy might;
And, over them thou shalt be king,
Who now resist thy right.
2
On thy great Day, in serving thee,
Men, willing mindes will shewe;
And, from the wombe, thy birth shall be,
As is the morninge dewe.
The Lord, hath sworne, (& will nor check,
Nor change the word he swore)
Thou art, (as was Melchizedek)
A preist, for evermore.
3
The Lord, shall smite when wroth he growes
Great kings, at thy righthand.
The Gentiles judge, &, slay his foes
Which are in ev'ry land.
The heads of kingdomes he shall slay;
And, as he passeth-by,
Shall drinck the Torrent in the way,
And, raise his head on high.
Almighty God, who hast given thy eternal Sonn (with whome thou art the same in Essence) to be in an unspeakable manner conceaved in the Virgines wombe:
To be made an everlasting preist,
for us, after the Order of Melchizedek. And in his Passage through this life, to
[Page 211]
drinck the bitter Torrent
of his Passion:
Grant wee beseech thee, that by virtue of his blessed Incarnation,
our nature may be sanctified & prepared for Grace; that by his Death,
we may dye to sinn; that by the powre of his Resurrection
wee may arise to righteousnes; & by his glorious Ascention,
be victorious ever all our enimies, both spiritual & temporall, for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 111.
Halelujah.
It praiseth God, for his miraculous works, his wisdome, Mercy, Iustice, & for the Covenant of has Grace &c. It may be sung to continue in vs, the fear of God, & to praise him for his benefits; especially, for our Redemption.
WIth all my hart, God's praise I'le sing,
Where saints assembled are.
For, they, God's works to minde will bring,
Who, love to them doe bear.
Most famous deeds, the Lord hath done,
His Iustice, hath no ends:
His works are worthy to be knowne,
His bounty, farr extends.
2
All them that feare his Name, he feeds;
His League he thinks vpon;
And, for his folke, by wondrous deeds,
The Gentiles Realmes he wonn.
His hands, have Truth & Iustice, wrought;
His precepts, all, are sure;
With Truth & Iudgment, fully fraught,
For ever to endure.
3
God sent, and hath his Flock redeemd;
His Leagues eternall are:
His Name is rev'rently esteem'd;
And, full of holy-feare.
And, therefore wise is he,
Who seekes to enter in thereat:
His praises, endles be.
Most mercifull Father (wōderfull in thy workings, dreadfull in thy iudgments, vnfallable in thy Truth, & vnspeakable in thy Mercies) fill us we pray thee with that sanctified Feare which is the beginning of true UUisdome; So manifest vnto us thy eternall Truth; so remember us of thy Covenant; & so feede us with spirituall nourishments, that we may be strengthned to walk in thy wayes; & at the last, enter the Gates of eternall blessednes, through the mediation of Iesus Christ
our Lord Amen.
Another of the same.
AL praise to God, my hart now render shall.
Before the Iust; of him I'le mention make,
Confessing that his wond'rous Actions, all,
Deserve that wee should pleasure in them take.
Exceeding great, his glorious deeds appear,
From age to Age, his Iustice doth extend;
Growne famous, all his glorious workings are,
His Bounties, & his Mercies have no end.
In feeding such as feare him, he is free;
Kept firme, his promise is, from age to age.
Long since, that so, his Folk his powr might see,
Made were, the Gentiles lands their heritage.
Nor Truth nor Iustice passe, but from his hand.
Of all his lawes, the firme fullfillings, be,
Provided soe; that, they shall ever stand
Quit, from all wrongs, & from all falshoods, free
Redeemer of his people, he became.
So firme a League likewise, he did ordaine,
That, he hath fixt, & fortifide the same,
With holines & feare, he clothes his Name:
Yea, Wisdome's first foundation is his fear.
Right wise are they, that well observe the same:
And such, from Age to age, commended are.
Psa. 112.
Halelujah.
It mentions many priveledges & properties of the Elect;
& shewes, that the wicked (for their greater vexation) shall behold their happines &c. It is a consolatory Hymne; and serves to keep vndiscouraged, those whoe are exercised by the skoffs & prosperities of worldlings.
WHo on Gods lawe his love doth place,
And, feareth him, right blest is hee:
God, will on earth advance his race,
And, blest his faithfull seed shall be.
His house with plenty shall be dight,
His Iustice, shall not be confinde;
In darknes, he shall still have light,
For, he is meek, & just, & kinde.
2
The righteous lends, & helps the pore,
His dealings, he discreetly weighes;
His fame, abides for evermore,
And in a state vnchangd, he staies.
He starts not, evill Newes to heare.
On God, his hopes & muzings be.
His hart is fixt, & will not fear
Till on his foes, his wish he see.
3
He, on the pore, doth Almes bestowe,
And, alway just, he doth abide.
For which, his horne shall powrfull growe,
And, with renowne be dignifide.
Which, when vngodly men perceave,
Growe furious, gnash their teeth, & greeve.
And, loose thir hopes, & longings quite.
VVe humbly beseech thee oh mercifull God, to infuse into our harts, such a filial fear of thee; Such a firme trust in thy Mercies; Such a prudent regard to all things which are necessarily pertinent to our selves; So charitable a respect vnto the necessities of our pore brethren; & soe constant a willingnes, to performe all the duties in which we are obliged to any of thy Creatures: That, being without slavish terrors, we may be couragious, what rumors soever we hear; & enioy the commodities of this life, to the vexation of our spiritual foes; & eternall Blessednes
hereafter, to thy glory. Amen.
Another of the same.
ALl they that fear the Lord, attaine to blisse;
Because, that, such delight God's will to doe.
Conferd on them, shall honors be, for this,
Deriving to their seed, great blessings to.
Encreasing wealth, their houses, full shall fill.
For aye, the Iustman's righteousnes remaines.
Great light, on him, in darknes beameth still.
He righteous is, & kinde, & Mercy daignes,
If need require he lends, & gives besides.
Kept streight are all his waies, by prudent care.
Layd fast his groundworke are; & firme he bides.
Made endles, his memorialls (likewise) are.
No fears he feels, though evill Newes there be;
On God with fixed hart he doth relie:
Puts trust in him; not shrincking, till that hee
Quite overthrowne doth all his foes espie.
Releef among the pore bestoweth he;
So keeping, still, his dealings, all, vpright,
[Page 215] That, him advanc'd, Vngodly men shall see;
Vex, gnash their teeth, & loose their lōgings quite.
Psa. 113.
Halelujah.
It magnifieth God for his great love to mankinde both in generall, & perticuler. But, cheefly for extending his Church
so vniversally; for raising us from the dunghills of corrupted Nature,
to the thrones of Grace;
& for taking away our spiritual sterrillity. &c. The vse appears,
YEe servants of the Lord,
With praise, Gods Name, adore;
The Name of God the Lord,
Blesse, now & evermore.
Oh sing his praise!
Through ev'ry place, which in his race,
The Sunn, survaies.
2
All nations, fear his powres,
His glory mounts the sky.
There is no God like ours:
No other Lord, so high.
Yet, he doth bowe,
All things to see, that in heavn be▪
Or Earth belowe.
3
The pore, from ground he fetts,
From dyrt, the meek, he brings;
And, them with kings he setts,
Ev'n with his peoples kings.
And, her that had
A barren wombe; he, made become
A mother glad.
Glorious Lord God! who (to the confusion of the proud & hauty) hast made choise of the vile & despised things of this world, thereby to magnify thy Name. Raise us, we pray
[Page 216]
thee, from the Dunghill of our Corrupted Nature;
that by thy Grace,
wee may become Rulers
over our owne Affections: And make us also (who have bene heretofore barren in all Goodnes) so fruitfull, hereafter, in Faith & goodworks, that our soules may be saved, & thy Name glorified, through out the whole world, for ever & ever. Amen.
Another of the same.
PRaise yee the Lord, & blesse his Name;
Yea, now & ever blesse the same,
Yee servants, of the Lord our God.
For, from the Sunns ascending place,
Ev'n to the vtmost of his race,
His Name's due praise, is fam'd abrode.
Or'e Nations all, yea, or'e the Sphears,
The Lord our God, his glory rears,
And, never was his equall found.
For, though his dwelling he on high,
He doth beholde with humbled eye,
All things in heav'n, & on the ground.
2
The pore, from dust & mire he brings,
To sit with Princes, & with Kings;
Ev'n of his people to be King.
And, he, a joyfull mother made
Of her, that erst no children had.
Vnto the Lord, oh therefor sing.
To
God the
Father, To the
Sonn,
And
holy-Ghost, (those,
three in one
And, that eternall
One in three)
All
glory bee, for ever more;
All
powre &
praise, as heretofore,
Ascribed, now & ever be.
Psa. 114.
By alluding to the deliverance from Egipt,
to the driving back of Iordan
& the Redsea,
to the trembling of Sinay,
& forcing waters from hard rocks; our spirituall deliverances, & Reformations, are typified. Therfore, our Church vseth this Psalme, as proper for
Easterday.
WHen
Isr'el, brought from Egipt was
And,
Iacob from a forraigne tongue;
In
Iudah was his holy place,
To him, did
Isre'ls rule belong.
The Sea saw that, & fledd away,
Ev'n
Iordan also, backward slipt.
The mountaines then, like Rams did play;
Like Lambes, the lesser hillocks tript.
2
Thou sea, what made thee so to fly?
Why didst thou,
Iordan, backward goe?
Why daunc't like Rams the mountaines hye?
Yee hills, like Lambs, why tript yee so?
Shake earth, at presence of the Lord,
When
Iacob's God is present, shake;
For, he, from Rocks, a standing Ford,
And, fountaines, in the flints doth make.
Almighty God, the deliverer of all pore destressed Captives; wee are hy Nature the slaves of Sinn, Death
& the Devill,
who do labour to hold us in eternall bondage: But, wee praise thee, thou hast made a miraculous passage for our escape: Oh! grant therfor that thy presēce, may so startle us out of our securitie, & soe mollifie our flintie nature, that the teares of true penitence may flowe plentifully from vs; & that, we (thanckfully walking in that way which thou hast prepared for our: entrance into the Land of the living)
may be quite freed from our servitude; & enioy peace & rest in thy Kingdome, for ever & ever. Amen.
Psal. 115.
The Faithfull desire that al honor may be ascribed to God alone; & that their foes may not blaspheamously question his powre. Then, in the name of heathen Idolls,
& their worshippers, reprooves the vanity of all those assistances whereon carnall men rely &c. It is vsefull when false worshippers blaspheame God, by reason of our affliction &c.
NOt ours the glory make,
Lord, give not vs the fame:
But, for thy Truth & Mercy sake,
Ascribe it, to thy Name.
2
To say, where is their God!
Why should the Gentiles dare?
Since, he in heav'n hath his abode,
And, works his pleasure there?
3
Men's hands, their Idolls, make;
They, gold & silver be:
Possessing mouthes that cannot speake
And, eyes that cannot see.
4
Their eares are senseles to;
Their nostril smelleth not:
Their hands & feet, nor feel, nor goe;
No breath is in their throte.
5
All they, whoe those adore,
(Or forme them) like them be:
In God, let
Isr'el trust therefore,
For, their defence is he.
6
On God, preserving them,
Let
Aron's house depend:
Let those, who feare him, trust in him;
For, he will such defend,
7
God, will remember vs,
On
Isr'el, & on
Aron's house,
He, blessings will bestowe.
8
He prospers great & small,
That, fear of him professe:
You & your seed, likewise, he shall
Still, more & more, encrease.
9
Of God, you blessed be
Who made both earth & heav'n:
The heav'n of heav'ns, inhabits, he.
And, earth to men hath given.
10
Lord, none cann thee adore,
Who dead, & silenc't are:
But, I, both now & evermore,
Thy praises will declare.
Not for our owne deservings, cann wee claime any thing (oh Lord God) neither for our owne sakes, or our owne glorie, ought wee to desire any deliverances, or benifits from thy Maiestie. As much, therfor, as our self-love
will permit, wee desire, meerly for thine owne honour sake, that publike Idolaters, & carnall minded men (who serve Gods of their owne making) may not scandalize thee, or thy Truth, by Occasion of such Miseries or Disgraces, as fall on vs, who professe the same. But, make vs (oh God) to love thee & thy glory, so farr above our owne lives & reputations; That, whether wee be delivered or no, wee may submit our selves to thy pleasure; & be truly comforted, hartely pleased, & reioyce vnfainedly, that wee are counted worthie to suffer for thy glory. Amen.
Psa. 116.
The Faithfull professe affection to Christ;
Acknowledg their condition, both by Nature & Grace;
encourage others to trust in Gods favour; & resolve the same in them selves.
[Page 220] We may sing it, when, after some great Affliction or temptation, wee are comforted, & sensible of our present, & passed estate &c.
I love the Lord; for, hee an eare
To my complaints doth give:
And, since he pleaseth me to hear,
I'le seek him, whil'st I live.
The feares of death, enclosd me round;
Hell torments, mee enthrald.
But, still, when paind my self I found,
On God's great Name, I cal'd.
2
Preserve my soul, oh Lord, I sayd;
For, thou art full of grace.
Iust, kinde, & ev'ry pore man's ayde.
My healp, when greev'd I was.
My soul, to this thy refuge fly;
For, God is thy larg meed.
From death my soul; from teares, mine eye;
From falls, my feet he freed.
3
I shall, with God, enioy my life
Where livinge men abide.
This I professe, with firme beleif,
Though I was terrifide.
Yea, though in rashnes I did say,
That all men liers were;
What for thy guifts I should repay,
Now, Lord, my questions are.
4
Thy Cupp of saving-health I'le take.
Vpon thy name, I'le call;
And of my vowes, I'le payment make
Before thy servants all.
Thy saints, their deaths, & suffrings, be
Right pretious in thine eye.
Oh Lord, thy servant serving thee,
5
My fetters all, thou brak'st away,
And, I, oh Lord, therfore,
The sacrifize of thancks will pay;
And, thy great Name adore.
To thee, oh Lord, I'le pay my vowes,
Where thy Assemblies be;
Ev'n in the Courts of Gods owne house
Ierusalem, in thee.
Haleluiah.
Hear our prayers oh Lord God,
& deliver our soules from the Death of Sinn. For, we are compassed with many perills & fearfull Temptations; Insomuch, that wee are sometime almost ready to despaire, & distrust that there is noe Truth in any of our hopes. Oh keep us (by thy speciall grace) from falling into those whirlpooles, out of which there is no returning. VVhen the guilt of Sinn, the fears of Death, the torments of hell, & the sugestions of the Devill (conspiring with our frailties) have once enclosed vs. UUee have then, no powre of resistance in our selves; & it is thy great Mercy, if the litle spark of our faith be not wholy quenched. Help vs therfore in our extremityes. Break the chaines of our Sinns, vnlose the snares of Sathan, & give us grace to praise thee in thy Ierusalem,
& to magnify thy Mercy in the Land of the living, world without end. Amen.
Psa. 117.
This is the least Psalme;
but it hath respect vnto the greatest Mysterie.
For it provokes all Nations to praise God, for extending his grace to the whole world; as appeares, Rom. 15. We should sing it to praise God for his
Universal Grace.
GOd's praise, yee Nations all declare;
The Lord, yee people all adore:
His Truth endures for evermore.
Haleluiah.
VVee praise thee oh Father of Mercy, for that Vniversall Grace
which thou hast vouchsafed, in offring thy salvation (without respect of persons) vnto all mankinde, forsaking none vntill they have first forsaken thee. Make effectuall vnto vs, wee beseech thee, this generall favour; That wee embracing the same, by the Will
(which thou first makest capable of what thou presentest therevnto) and that co-operating with thy Spirit
(according to the powre which thou shalt give vs) we may be pertakers of that speciall grace,
which makes vs the Obiects of thy eternall Election;
& from which there is no falling away. Grant this, even for Iesus Christ
his sake. Amen.
Psa. 118.
This Psalme Christ
applied vnto himself. Math 24.
For, he is that Corner-stone here mentioned. Here also are mistically touched vpon, his Passion, Resurrection,
& sonne other Evangelicall Uerities. It is therefore vsed by our Church,
as proper for Easterday.
THe Lord is good, him therfor blesse;
And, for his Grace that faileth never.
Let Isr'el also, now confesse,
His Mercy doth abide for ever.
Yea, let the house of
Aron say,
His Mercies have no ending day.
2
Let all, who fear him, publish out,
His Mercies that eternal be:
For, when at need, his healp I sought,
Hee, heard my plaint, & sett me free:
And, since the Lord, is thus mine Aide
Of man, I cannot be afraid.
3
My helpers. God's assistance have;
More safe it is God's help to crave,
Then on man's healping to repose,
Yea, faith in God, more safety brings,
Then to rely on mighty kings.
4
All nations, seige to mee did lay,
But, in Gods Name, I them destroyd;
They me beleaguer'd ev'ry way,
But, in Gods Name, I them destroy'd.
As Bees, they compast me about,
Like fire in thornes, soone in, soone out,
5
I soone destroy'd them in Gods Name,
For, when they sought to do, me wrong,
The Lord, my gratious ayde became,
My strength, my health, my ioyfull song.
And, in his house, the Iust may sing,
What God's right-hand to passe did bring.
6
For, God's right-hand is lifted high,
Greats things the Lords right-hand hath wrought;
And, from the Grave escap'd am I
To tell, what God to passe hath brought,
For, though he sore afflicted me,
Yet, he from death did sett me free.
7
Of Righteousnes vnclose the gate,
That, I God's praises may expresse:
This Gate is God's; yea, this is that,
By which the Righteous have accesse.
And, him I'le praise; for it is hee,
That heares, & healps, & saveth me.
8
That's now the cheefest Corner-stone,
Which once the builders did despise;
It was the work of God, alone,
And, seemeth wondrous in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord hath made;
9
Save Lord; oh save vs, Lord, wee pray;
Blesse him, that commeth in thy Name.
That, from his house God blesse vs may,
We pray, & much desire the same.
For, God's the Lord, by whome our fight
Obtaines the Vision of his Light.
13
With Cords the Sacrifices binde;
Them, to the Aulters Corners, tye.
Thou art my God, whose praise I'le minde;
My God, whome I will glorify.
Oh! praise the Lord. for, great is he,
And, without end his Mercies be.
Oh Lord Christ our saviour!
Thou art that pretious corner-stone
which vnites, nor Iewes
& Gentiles
only, but even the Godhead
& the Manhood
into one spirituall Buildinge. Thou, art he by whome all our Enimies are destroyed. Thou, art hee, by whome wee escape the grave
of sinn, & the terrors of everlasting Death. Thou, only, art that Gate of Righteousnes,
by which wee enter into life eternal; And, thou only, art that Light, in whose blessed Vision,
our happines doth consist. Oh give vs part in all that, which thy Incarnation, Passion, Death, Buriall, Resurrection,
& Ascention,
hath merrited & conquered for vs; & (if it please thee) let this be the Day, which thou hast made to fill vs with such a gladnes, as shall make vs ioyfull, for ever more. Amen.
Psa. 119.
This Psalme
consisteth of many exhortations, promises, prayers, complaints, consolations, directions, Resolutions, & thancksgivings; varciously intermixt, according to the Churches
various Occasions: & principally informes, that God's word is the Rule of Life. &c.
Alaph. 1.
HEe's blest, that in the perfect way
Of God's pure
Lawe hath trod
Who doth his
Testaments obay,
And, wholy seeketh God.
For, such will take no ill in hand,
Nor, from his
Pathway swarve,
But, Lord, as thou dost give command,
Thy
Precepts, they observe.
2
Would God! my waies were so direct
That keep thy
Lawes I might.
For, whilst I thy
Commandes respect
On mee, no shame cann light.
With vpright hart, thee praise I will,
When, learn'd thy
Iudgments be;
And, then I will thy
Lawes fullfill;
Therefore, forsake not mee.
Another of the same.
ALl those are blest that in a blameles way,
Have by the
Lawe of God their feet confinde,
As blest are those, that his
Decrees obay,
With all their harts, desiring him to finde.
An evill act, they never take in hand,
Nor frō Gods
Pathway, shall their footing swarve
Wee, likewise, are inioyn'd by thy Command,
That wee, thy
Precepts, duely should observe.
Ah! therefor, would my wayes were guided so,
That, all thy
Statutes, well observe I might.
For, if thy
Lawes, I have regard vnto,
No shame at all, on mee shall then alight.
And, when thy righteous
Iudgments I have learn'd
With hart sincere, I'le sing thy praise therefore,
To keep thy
Lawes, I will moreover learne.
[Page 226] Oh! then, forsake me not for ever more.
Give us, oh Lord, such perfect knowledge of thy Lawe;
such regard of thy Testimonies;
such practise in thy Waies;
such obedience to thy Precepts;
such love to thy Statutes;
Such diligence in thy commands, & such awe of thy Iudgments:
that our vnderstanding may be freed from error,
our Conversations
from polution,
our Affections
from vanity: & that thou mayst ever be glorified by us; & wee, never be forsaken of thee. Even for Iesus Christ
his sake. Amen.
Beth. 2.
HOw cann youth's pathway cleansed be
But by thy
word, oh Lord?
With all my hart, I seek to thee,
Oh! guide mee by thy
word.
I'le keep thy
Lawe, with all my hart,
That I displease not thee.
Oh Lord (that alway blessed art)
Thy
Statutes, teach to mee.
2
To preach the
Iudgments of thy Mouth,
My lipps I will employ.
For, in thy
Testimonies, truth;
As, in great wealth, I ioye.
Vpon thy
Lawes, &
VVaies, alone,
My thoughts, & Love are sett.
Thy
Statutes, my delight is on:
Thy
UUord, I'le not forget.
Another of the same.
BY what, may yongmēs wayes made blameles be;
But, by their taking heed vnto thy
UUord?
With all my hart, I have desired thee.
From thy
Commands, let me not wander, Lord.
By layeng vp thy
VVord within my hart,
[Page 227] To keep me from offending thee I thought.
Oh Lord my God, thou alwaies blessed art,
Vouchsafe, to me thy
Statutes may be taught.
Betweene my lipps, I oft have sounded forth
The
Iudgments of thy mouth; and I have deem'd
Thy
Testimonies path of greater worth
Then riches are, (by others most esteem'd)
Both on thy sacred
Precepts I do muse,
And, ever, to thy
UUaies have borne respect.
Thy
Statutes, as my pleasures I will vse;
And, Lord, they
word, I never will neglect.
Suffer vs not oh God,
to deferr the amendment of our lives vntill we be decrepit with age; but let thy word reform us, in our youth; at least, from this present howre, let us beginn the cleansing of our waies with our whole harts. Let us seek, thee, blesse thee, speak of thee, Muse on thee, & so delight in thee; that thou maist delight in us, & keep us in the way of thy Commandements, for ever & ever, Amen.
Gimel. 3.
LOrd, grace thy servant so, that he
May live, & keep thy
VVord.
The wonders of thy
Lawe to see,
Enlight mine eyes oh Lord.
A stranger here on earth, I, am;
Thy
Precepts let me knowe.
My soul, with longings, faint became,
Thy
Iudgments, love I so.
2
Their Cursed pride thou hast contrould,
Who from thy
Lawes do swarve:
But, shame & scorne, from mee withhold,
For, I thy
Truth observe.
Enthroned Princes mee reproov'd,
Thy
Testimonies I have lov'd:
To mee they Counsell taught.
Another of the same.
COnfer such Bountie on thy servant Lord,
That to fulfill thy
Lawe, survive I may:
That, I may see the wonders of thy
UUord
Vnclose, likewise (Oh Lord) mine eyes I pray.
Consid'ring that on earth I am a stranger,
Hide not from me the knowledge of thy
Truth.
My soul, to leave the body is in danger,
Shee so desires the
Iudgments of thy mouth.
Controld thou hast, the Cursed pride of them
Who from thy iust
Commandements have swarved.
Remoove away their scornes who mee contemn;
For, I thy
Testimonies have observed.
Contested with, by Princes, I have binn:
Yet, I thy servant, on thy
Statutes muse.
Thy
Testimonies, my delights are in,
And, them to be my Counsellers I chuse.
Almighty God
(seeing wee are but Pilgrims
here on earth (subiect to many wants, many Infirmities, & many oppressions) gratiously vouchsafe us, that which is out wardly necessary for the body; Supply that which is defective in our seules; & let thy Lawe
arme us against the opposition of all our Adversaries, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Daleth, 4.
ACcording to thy
word, now chear,
My soul, which lowe is brought.
My life's Consession, thou shalt heare,
Let mee thy
Lawe, be taught.
Mee, in thy
way appointed, set:
Greef tires my soul, oh comfort it,
According to thy
word.
2
Me, from the path of Lies, remoove,
And, by thy
Lawe, direct.
For, I the waies of Truth do love;
Thy
Iudgments, I affect.
Disgrace me not, for, firme I stand,
To what thou hast
decreed:
And, I will runn at thy
Command,
When thou my hart hast freed.
Another of the same.
DEclined is my soul, ev'n to the ground;
Oh quicken mee, according to thy word.
My waies I shew'd, & I thine answere found;
Thy
Statutes, also, teach to mee oh Lord.
Disclose to me thy
Testimonies path,
And, of thy wondrous works my talke shall be.
My life consumes, because much greef it hath;
According to thy
UUord, establish mee.
Divide mee from that Path which liers love,
And gratiously vouchsafe to mee thy
Lawe.
The way of
Truth, is that which I approve;
And, of thy
Iudgments, I do stand in awe.
Distrustfull of thy
word I never grewe,
Permit me not, oh Lord, to be disgrac't,
The way of thy
Commands I will persue,
As soone at thou my hart enlarged hast.
Indowe our harts oh God! with such vnfained humiliation,
with such true Confession,
with such harty contrition,
with such love to thy Truth, with hatred of error, & with a renewing of the whole man; that wee may be more & more enlarged from our sinns & Corruptions, vntill
[Page 230]
wee be perfectly restored to the full liberty of the Sonns of God,
through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
He. 5.
SHewe mee thy
Truth, & from that way,
I never will depart.
Teach mee thy
Lawes; & them, for aye,
I'le keep with all my hart.
Thy
Statutes Paths, to mee declare;
For, I delight theron.
To love thy
VVord, my hart prepare,
And, Avarice to shunn.
2
From folly, turne mine eyes, oh Lord,
And, keep mee in thy
way.
Confirm thy Servant in thy
VVord,
That, so, I fear thee may.
Because thy
Iudgments gratious be,
My feared shame remove.
And, in thy
Statutes quicken me,
For, Lord thy
Lawes I love.
Another of the same.
ETernall God, thy
Statutes teach to mee,
That til their end, I may fulfill them all,
To keep thy
Lawe let me instructed be,
And, I with all my hart, observe it shall.
Enable me, to keep each
Lawe of thine,
Because, that in their path, I pleasure take,
My hart vnto thy
Testaments, incline,
That so, all Avarice I may forsake,
Estrange mine eye, from Obiects that are vaine,
And, let mee be revived in thy
Path.
Thy
word, to mee thy servant, now make plaine
Who, to thy fear, him self devoted hath.
Expell thou far away, the shame I fear:
[Page 231] For, just, & good (oh Lord) thy
Iudgments be.
See, what my longings for thy
Precepts are,
And, in they righteousnes, revive thou mee.
Oh Lord! Ignorance of thy Lawe,
is the Cause that wee neither love nor beleeve it; & want of Love
& Beleef,
are the occasions of all our errors. Give us therfor, wee pray thee, that Love, that knowledge, & that beleef of thy word,
which may keep us in thy Paths. Root Covetuosnes,
out of our harts; let no solly allure our eyes to wander aside, hereafter: & (because there is Mercy in all thy Iudgments) keep us from the shame which wee fear, & have already deserved: Even for Iesus Christ
his sake. Amen.
Vau. 6.
THy loving ayde, vouchsafe mee still,
As thou hast
promis'd, Lord:
So, I my scorners answere will;
For, I beleeve thy
word.
Since, on thy
Iudgments I rely,
Oh! do not, Lord, with drawe
Thy
VVord of Truth; & then, shall I
For ever keep thy
Lawe.
2
Now I to seek thy
way, am bent,
I cann with freedome walke
And, I will of thy
Testament,
To Kings, with boldnes talke.
In thy
Commands, I will delight:
For, I have them approov'd.
I'le minde thy
word, & keep aright
Thy
Lawes; which I have lov'd.
Another of the same.
FVfill thy promisd
word, & favour daigne;
Yea, grat thou mee thy saving-health oh Lord!
[Page 232] So, I shall make replies to them, againe,
Who flout at me, because I trust thy
word.
Firme trust, vnto thy
Iudgments, Lord I have,
Therefor, to leave thy
Truth permit me never:
But, make me to thyne
Ordinances cleave;
And, keep thy
Lawes, for ever & for ever.
Free, shall my walkings be, & vncontrould;
Because thy
precepts are belov'd of me.
Thy
Testaments, to kings I will vnfold,
And, of the same, no whit ashamed be.
Full dearly, I have loved thy
commands;
And, they my most affected pleasures prove.
I'le in thy
precepte, exercise my hands,
And, muse vpon thy
Lawes; for, them I love.
UUrite thy Lawes in our harts, oh Lord, & engrave them in our minds wee humbly beseech thee. Soe regenerate us, that wee may become a Lawe
vnto our selves; & have no desires in us, but those which are agreable to thy Will.
So, wee shall neither slavishly fear, the powre of any Authority; nor be made ashamed by any bitter Censurers, or scornfull reproovers: but, may take confidently, & vse conscionably our liberty in Christ Iesus. Amen.
Zain. 7.
THat
promise keep, which thou hast made,
Thy servant's hope to be.
From thence (in greefs) I comforts had:
Thy
word, revived mee.
Though my disgrace, the proud have sought,
Vnto thy
Lawe I clave.
Vpon thy
Iudgments past, I thought:
And, ear to them I gave.
2
Of sinners, who thy
Lawe forsake,
I am in greevous feare.
My songs, thy
Precepts are.
I kept thy
Lawe, & on thy Name,
I mus'd when many slept.
And, thus to passe, oh Lord, it came,
Because thy
Lawe I kept.
Another of the same.
GIve heed vnto that
UUord which thou hast sayd;
That
UUord which thou didst make my hope to be,
For, thence in my Afflictions I have ayde:
It is thy
UUord that still reviveth mee.
Growne quite despis'd I was, in proudmens eyes,
And, yet, I from thy
Lawe, declined not.
Thy
Iudgments, past, did in my thought arise;
And Lord, from them, I consolation got.
Great horrors have surprized me, because,
The wicked from thy
precepts have gone wrong,
And, in my house of Pilgrimage, thy
Lawes,
And, thy
Commandements, have beene my song.
Good Lord! I mention of thy Name have made,
Ev'n in the night; & I thy
Lawe have kept.
And, ev'ry profitable thing I had;
Because, I from thy
Precepts, have not stept.
Oh Lord! there is no better comforter in trouble, then a faithfull remembrance of thy gratious promises; nor any meanes to prevent the feare, the disgraces, or the mischeevous practises of the proud oppressor, then by the Meditation, & practise
of thy Lawes.
Grant therfore, wee may soe minde
the One, & so performe
the other; That wee may reioice in this house of our Pilgrimage, all our life long. Amen.
Chith. 8.
I Vow'd oh Lord, to keep thy
UUord,
For, thou my portion art.
I begg them with my hart.
I turned to thy
Testaments,
When I had scann'd my waies;
In keeping thy
Commandements,
I vsed no delaies.
2
By troups of sinners, robd I was:
Thy
Lawes, yet, minde I still.
And, that thy
Iustice I may praise,
At midnight, rise I will.
Whoe e're dreads thee, & keeps thy
word,
Shall my Compainon be.
Thy Mercy fills the world, oh Lord,
Oh! teach thy
Lawes to mee.
Another of the same.
HOw that thou art my portion, Lord, I sayd,
And, I to keep thy
Lawe have made a vowe.
With all my hart, I for thy grace have prayd.
According to thy
VVord, have mercy now.
Here, I have called vnto minde thy
waies,
And, turn'd my feet vnto thy
Testaments.
Yea, I have ready bene, without delayes,
In executing thy
Commandements.
Huge Troupes of wicked men have robbed mee:
Yet, still thy
Precepts, in my hart I bear.
At midnight, I will rise, & sing to thee,
Because thy
Iudgments, true & righteous are.
Here, I have gain'd the fellowship of those,
Who stand in fear of thee, & keep thy
VVord.
Throughout the world, thy
tender-Mercy flowes.
Let me be train'd in all thy
Statutes, Lord.
Grant us Grace oh God! soe to examine the Course of our life past, & what waies wee intend to walk hereafter; that
[Page 235]
wee'may returne to thee with speedy repētance: & so resolve to keep thy commandements during the tyme to come; that wee may enioye thee for our Portion;
& (both in the Night
of our afflictions, & among the troups of our persecutors)
be comforted in the remembrance of thy abundant Mercyes, through Iesus Christ. Amen.
Teth. 9.
THy servant, Favour hath receiv'd
According to thy
word.
And, thy
Commands I have beleev'd,
Therfore instruct me, Lord.
Though till my troubles, I mis-trod,
Thy
VVord, I follow now.
Thy
Precepts, teach to mee, oh God:
For, Good, & Kinde, art thou.
2
Thy
Lawe, with all my hart I seek;
Though, mee the proud belye.
Their harts are fatt, (ev'n Brawner-like)
But, lov'd thy
Lawes, have I.
Now, I have learn'd thy
Statute's Truth,
My Cares, I blessings deem:
And, I the Precepts of thy Mouth,
Above all wealth esteem.
Another of the same.
IN all things, to thy Servant thou art just,
According as thy
UUord, oh Lord, hath showne:
Since, therefor, to thy
Covenant, I trust,
Thy
Iudgmēts, & thy Truth, to mee make knowe,
If that, I had not bene, by sorrowes crost,
I, still had err'd: But, now I keep thy
VVord.
Most Good thou art, & all is well thou dost:
Therefore, thy
Statutes teach to mee, oh Lord.
I, by the proud, have greatly bene belide;
[Page 236] Yet, still, I keep thy
Lawe within my brest:
Their hart (with fat) like brawne is stupifide;
But, with delight, thy
Lawe hath mee possest.
It is my weal, that I afflicted was;
For, by that meanes, thy
Statutes, now, I heed.
That
Lawe of thine, which from thy mouth did
Great sums of gold, & silver doth exceed. (passe,
Sanctifie vnto us (oh Lord, all our Afflictions; that, being by them purified from our Corruptions, wee may become vpright in all our wayes. Suffer us not to be so fatted in our prosterities as to become insensible of thy Mercies
or Iudgments
Let our experience in thy word, teach us, to see & acknowledge, that our Afflictions are blessings; And what soever Scandalls do arise, let us continue in Obedience to thy Lawe,
& thanckfully esteeme the same as wee ought, for ever & ever, Amen,
Iod. 10.
TO learne thy
Lawe, instruct mee, Lord,
For, mee thy hands have made:
So, when they see mee trust thy
word,
Thy servants will be glad.
I knowe thy
Iudgments righteous are;
And all thy Stripes are Love.
Now, let thy grace, thy servant chear
And, true, thy
UUord approve.
2
I love thy
Lawe, grant mee therfore,
Thy grace, that live I may,
Defame the proud, who wrong mee sore;
For, I thy
VVord obay.
Who knowes thy
VVill, & feareth thee,
All such to mee convart:
And, in thy
Lawes, lest sham'd I bee,
Lord, rectify my hart.
Another of the same.
KIndle the knowledge of thy
Lawe in mee.
For, by thy hands, I fashion'd was, oh Lord.
Thy servants will reioice, my face to see,
Because, I have relied on thy
word.
Knowne, well, thy
Iudgments are, to be vpright.
And, Lord, on mee thy stripes in love thou laydst,
Oh, make thy
Tender-mercies my delight,
And comfort mee, as in thy
VVord thou saydst.
Kinde, let mee finde thee Lord; that I may live:
Because contentement in thy
Lawe I finde.
Defame the
Proud, who me vniustly greeve;
For on thy
Precepts, I employ my minde.
Keepe those who thee do feare, & know thy
UVill,
That they may be converted vnto mee.
And in thy
Lawes, my hart confirme thou, still,
That from disgrace, I may preserved bee.
Lord, wee are the workmanship of thy hands: Soe instruct vs therfor, in the vnderstanding and performance of thy Lawe,
that wee may accomplish the end of our Creation. Make our knowledge of thy Statutes,
our Faith in thee, & our conformity to thy Will,
soe evident; that thy Servants may reioice, our foes become ashamed, our corrections appear tokens of thy Love; our shame be prevented, our harts cheared, & life eternal obtayned. Amen.
Caph. 11.
MY soul, for succour panting lies.
Yet, is thy
word my stay.
I seek thy
Truth with longing eyes,
Oh Comfort mee, they say.
I, like a smoke-dride botle seeme;
Yet, on thy
Lawe, I thought:
Summ vp my dayes, &
iudge all them,
2
For mee, the Proud sunck pitts, which be
Forbidden by thy
Lawes:
Thy
VVords are true, oh save thou mee,
Persu'de without a Cause.
Quite from the Land, they drove me nigh,
Yet, to thy
Lawes I cleave.
Oh chear mee, by thy grace, that I
Thy
VVord may never leave.
Another of the same.
LOrd, for thy healp my longing soul doth pant,
And, on thy
Promise al my hopes do lye.
Mynes eies do faile, because thy
VVord I want,
Come comfort mee, with speaking looks, they crie.
Like botles in the smoke, I do appear,
Yet, still, thy
Statutes minded are of mee.
How long shall I thy servant suffer hece!
Thy
Iudgments, on my foes, oh, let mee see.
Lo, for my life, the proud deep pitts have made,
Such as thy
Lawe forbiddeth to prepare.
They mee persued, though no cause they had;
Oh helpe; for all thy
Precepts, faithfull are.
Long since, my ruine they had nigh contriv'd:
I, naitheles, thy
Statutes did not leave.
Let mee by thy compassion be reviv'd.
And, to thy Testimonies, I will cleave.
Oh Lord,
wee have Adversaries, continually digging pitts for our soules. VVee are sensible of great Afflictions; & our life daylie wears out by vnperceaved infirmities. Yet, wee feel not that longing to obtaine an incorruptible estate, as to continue our present vanities. Oh let that experience,
which wee have of miseries here; & that Faith
which vve ought to have of vvhat thou hast promised hereafter, make
[Page 239]
our harts pant vvith longing after the accomplishment of thy Truth, & for our full fruition of thee, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Lamed. 12.
THy
VVord, in heav'n remaines for aye;
Thy
Truth shall still abide.
The earth, so firmely thou didst lay,
It cannot swarve aside.
Thy
Lawes keep ev'ry thing vpright;
For, all, thy servants be.
But that thy
VVorde was my delight,
My Cares had ruin'de mee.
2
I will not from thy
Truth decline;
For, life to mee it brought.
Oh save thou mee; for I am thine;
And, thy
Decrees, have sought.
Though sinners do my spoile intend,
Thy
VVord, in minde I bear.
Of all good works I see an end;
But, large thy precepts are.
Another of the same.
MAde firme in heav'n, thy
promise is, oh Lord,
And, shall for ever, & for ever, last.
Thy
Faith fullnes, all ages will record,
For as earths globe, the same thou fixed hast.
Most firme to thy
Decrees thy works do stand,
And, all things as thy servants, wait on thee.
But, that I pleasure take in thy
Command,
My sorrowes, long e're this, had ruin'd mee.
My hart shall never from thy
Lavves decline;
For, I, by them, to life againe, was brought.
Vouchsafe to succour mee, for I am thine:
And, after thy
Commandements have sought.
[Page 240] Much waiting, hath among the wicked bene,
My fall to see; but, I thy
Statutes minde.
Of all perfections, I an end have seene,
Save of thy
Lawe; which cannot be confinde.
Almighty God, by being obedient vnto the Lawe of their Creation, thy other Creatures are preserved in order, & cōtinue thy faithfull servants. Man-kinde only is rebellious; & yet, wee have had often experience that a litle delight in thy Lawe, is rewarded with great Blessings. Soe encrease therfor, our beleef of thy Truth,
& our love to thy Lawe;
that wee may be more & more conformable to thy Will,
& at last be saved, through Iesus Christ,
our Lord. Amen.
Mem. 13.
IN thy
Commands I pleasure take,
My dayly thoughts they bee;
Mee, wiser then my foes
they make,
And, still, remaine with mee.
More, learne I from thy
Statutes, then,
My Teachers vnderstand.
And, wiser am, then aged men,
By keeping thy
Command.
2
My feet, from evill waies I kept,
That keep thy
Lawe I might.
I, from thy
Iudgments have not stept.
For, mee thou holdst vpright.
Though hony to the mouth be sweet,
Thy
VVord more sweetnes hath.
Through thy
Commands I grewe discreet,
And shun'd the Liers Path.
Another of the same.
NO parte of all the day I cann forbear
To minde thy
Lawe; because I love the same.
It makes me wiser then my haters are.
[Page 241] For my companion still thy
Lawe became.
Nay, more then all my teachers I conceave;
Because, my Musings are vpon thy
VVill.
And, more then aged men I do perceave;
Because they
Testimonies I fulfill.
No wicked pase, or Path, my feet shall vse,
That so, thy
UUord the better keep I might.
And, I thy
Iudgments never will refuse,
Because thou hast instructed mee aright.
Not halfe so sweet is honie to my mouth,
As are thy
VVords: for, perfect sweet are they.
Thou hast encreast my knowledge, by thy
Truth:
And, therfor, I abhorr each evill way.
The wisdome (oh Lord)
of this world, is but foolishnes, in respect of that which is learned by thy Word:
For, nothing is see profitable or pleasant, as that; if it be meditated aright. Give us grace, therfor, wee pray thee, so to love it, & so to meditate thereon; that wee may crack the shell which hides the sweet kernell thereof, from the world; &, by help of thy spirit, thereby attaine that wisdome which (our Ordinary Teacher) the bare Letter hath not powre to discover; & let it guide us out of all error, both in life & doctrine, though Iesus Christ. Amen.
Nun. 14.
THy
word is to, my feet a light:
A Lampe, my way to showe,
I vow'd thy
Doomes to keep aright,
And I will keep my Vowe.
I, sore am greev'd; Lord, me revive,
According to thy
Truth.
Teach mee thy
Iudgments; & receive
The Praises of my mouth.
2
Although my soul in danger be
And keep thy
Lawes, although for mee,
The wicked, snares do lay.
Thy
Cov'nants are mine Heritage;
They much reioice my minde;
And, thy
Decrees, from age to age,
To keep, I am inclinde.
Another of the same.
OH God, thy
VVord like Lāps my way doth show,
And, to my feet, it is a shining flame.
To keep thy righteous
Iudgments, I did vowe;
And, I resolve that I will keep the same.
Opprest I am; Me, therefor Lord revive
As by thy
UUord, thy promise is to do.
Accept that praise which I shall freely give;
And, in thy
Iudgments Lord, instruct me to.
On thy
Commands, my thoughts are alway sett,
And, lo, my soul is alwaies in my hands.
Vngodly men, for mee have laid a nett;
Yet walk I not astray from thy
Commands.
Of all my Ioyes thy
UUord, alone, is cause:
Thy Testaments I make mine heritage.
My hart resolves, to love & keep thy
Lawes
While tyme endures, & throughout evry Age.
Many waies (oh Lord) is thy Lawe
healpfull vnto vs. It is a Schoolmaster,
to teach us; A Rule,
whereby to square our Actions; A glasse,
to shew us our deformities; A light,
to guide us out of error; & a Remembrancer,
to shewe vs what we are liable vnto by Nature;
That so, the terrors thereof may make the flesh more obedient to the spirit (& their harts the more thanck full, whome Grace
hath freed from the Curse & condemning powre thereof) yea, it is alwaies vsefull in some kinde or other. Oh, write it
[Page 143]
therfor in our harts & engrave it in our mindes, for ever & ever. Amen.
Samech. 15.
THy
Lawe I love with all my hart,
And wicked thoughts detest.
The place of my defence thou art;
And, on thy
VVord, I rest.
Lewd men avoyd; for I would faine
My God's
Commands obay.
According to thy
VVord, mainetaine
My life, & hopes, I pray.
2
Support mee, & I nought shall dread:
For, to thy word I cleave.
Vpon thy
Lawes transgressers tread:
For, guile shall them deceive.
Purgd out like drosse, the wicked be:
I therefore love thy
Lawe.
And, of thy
Iudgments, & of thee,
My flesh doth stand in awe.
Another of the same.
PRoud thonghts I hate, and such as cause offence
But, with much love thy
Lawe I do embrace.
Thou art my sheild, oh Lord, and my defence;
And in thy
VVord, my confidence I place.
Pack hence, all yee, that evill doers he;
For, all my God's
Commands, I will obay.
According to thy
VVord, vphold thou mee;
That both my life & hopes, enioy I may.
Protect me, & no dangers I shall fear:
For, in thy
Statutes, I will then delight.
Suppresse all those that from thy
Precepts err:
For why, they muse on nothing but deceit.
Purg'd out by thee, like drosse, thee wicked are;
And, I thy
Testimonies love therefore,
[Page 244] My flesh doth dread thee with a trembling fear;
And, by thy
Iudgments, I am frighted sore.
Oh Lord, let the consideration of thy Iudgmēts
purge out all our wickednes, & so terrify our wanton flesh, that it may tremble to offend thee. Let the Meditation of thy Lawe of Love,
so work vpō our harts, that our verie thinckings may be sanctified; And let us be continually supported by thy asisting Grace,
that in thought, word, & deed, wee may persevere in obedience to thy Will,
& be safe vnder thy protection, for ever & ever. Amen.
Aijn. 16.
IN Iudgment, I vprightly deal;
Let no man mee oppresse.
Be suretie, for thy servants weal;
From Tyrants, me release.
Mine eyes, are dimm'd since for thy
VVord,
And saving-health I sought.
Deal well with mee thy servant, Lord,
Let me thy
Lawe be taught.
2
Since, thee I serve, Lord, grant I may
Thy
Testimonies knowe.
Now, is the time to work; for they,
Thy
Law would overthrowe.
Far more then gold, (then finest gold)
Thy
Statutes I affect.
Thy
Lawe, in all things, I vphold,
And, errors way, reject.
Another of the same.
QUit me from such as doe my harme assay;
For, I according to thy
Lawe have wrought.
Be suretie, for thy Servants weal, I pray,
That, to the proud, in thrall I be not brought.
Quite wasted are mine eyes, & almost blinde,
Since thy just
VVord, & healp I did expect.
And, me thy servant, by thy
Law direct.
Quench not that light by which thy
Truth is known
But, give thy servant knowledg in thy
VVord:
For, they thy blessed
Lawe have overthrowne,
And, it is time that thou thy healp afford.
Quick therfore be: For, I above all gold,
Yea more then gold refinde, thy
VVord affect.
Thy
Statutes all, to be vpright I holde;
And all erroneous waies, I disrespect.
Preserve us, oh God, from their wickednes, who pretending a Christian Libertie,
seek to overthrowe, & make voyd thy Lawe
(to the quenching of the spirit, & to the fullfilling of their fleshly Will)
Grant rather, that the more wee are freed, from the Bondage of the Lawe
(& the lesse obliged to the works thereof, for our Justification)
the more we may labour to fullfill the same; even for the love of Righteousnes
in Iesus Christ, Amen.
Pe. 17.
RAre things, thy
Testaments comprise,
And are my soules delight.
Thy
Statutes make the simple wise.
Their knowledg giveth light.
Through longing for thy
Lawe, I drewe
My breath with panting Mouth.
Veiwe mee in Love, as thou dost veiwe
The Lovers of thy
Truth.
2
So guide my goengs by thy
VVord,
No sinn in mee may raigne.
From spoile of men, preserve me Lord.
For I thy
Truth retaine.
Teach mee thy
Lawes, & let thy face.
Vpon thy servant shine.
[Page 246] For, Streames I weep, when men transgresse,
Or break a
Lawe, of thine.
Another of the same.
RIght wonderfull thy
Testimonies are:
And, therfor Lord my soul to keep thē strives.
Thy
VVord's approching, makes great light appear,
And, Vnderstanding to the simple gives.
Respire & pant I did, with mouth vnclo'sd;
So greedy of thy
Precepts, I became.
Oh look on mee, as when thou art disposd,
To look vpon the Lovers of thy
Name.
Restraine my stepps according to thy
UUord;
And let no sinn, in me domion gaine.
From Cruel men, defend thou mee oh Lord,
So, I thy sacred
Precepts will retaine.
Reflect on mee the brightnes of thy face,
And, shewe thy
Testimonies vnto mee.
For, downe my cheeks the teares do flow apace,
Because, thy
Lawes despisd & broken be.
Sweet Iesu, though we desire to seeme wise; wee are very simple in the best knowledge: Oh encrease our vnderstanding. Though vvee professe great Affection to thee & thy Lawe;
yet vvee soone deny (yea forsvvear) both, if vvee are in danger to partake of thy suffrings. Oh look vpon vs therfor, vvith such an aspect, as thou didst cast on thy Apostle
St. Peter;
that vveeping bitterly for our Sinns & vnkindenesses as he did; vve may obtaine the same forgivenes. Amen.
Zade 18.
THou just in all thy doengs, Lord,
And in thy
Iudgments art.
Thy
Testimonies, & thy
VVord,
Are true in ev'ry part.
I burne with zeal, because I see
Thy
VVord is pure, which causeth mee
That I the same affect.
2
Thy precepts, I will still retaine,
Though I despisd am growne.
Thy
Iustice, alway shall remaine;
Thy
Lavve, & Truth, are one.
In thy
Commands, my pleasures are,
Though troubles on mee fall.
Thy just eternall
VVill declare,
And, thereby, live I shall.
Another of the same.
SIncere thou art, oh Lord, in all thou dost:
A true, & righteous
Iudgment thou hast past,
Thy
Testimonies are exceeding just:
And, so is all that thou
Commanded hast.
Spent, through my zeal I am, & almost pin'de,
Since of thy
Truth my foes regardles growe.
Thy
VVord, is to the vttermost refin'de;
And, for that cause, thy servant loves it soe.
Scorn'd & despis'd I am; yet cannot this,
My thoughts from thy
Commandements withdrawe,
Thy
Iustice an eternall
Iustice, is;
And,
Truth it self, thou givest for thy
Lavve.
Sore paines & sorrowes, have layd hold on mee:
Yet, I from thy
Commands content receive.
Thy righteous
Testimonies endles be:
Oh let me know them, Lord, that I may live.
It is true oh Lord, that vvhat ever thou willest
is Just,
& needs no other reason thereof, but that thou Willest
it; because thy Will
is Truth
& Justice
it self. Keep us therfor, from questioning the Justice
of any thing vvhich thou hast Willed
or Decreed; & preserue us, also, from
[Page 248]
their madnes, vvho fancie Decrees
vvhich thou never mad'st; & such as doe not make thee iustifiable by humane Reason. Teach us to knovve, that, though thy Justice
is incomprehensible, yet so much as thy vvord hath expressed of it, is such a Justice,
as makes thee (even in our capacities) Justifiable, when thou art iudged;
& such, as may encourage us, to endeavour, to be just as thou art just,
& holie as thou art holy,
by thy example. This grant, for Iesus Christ
his sake. Amen.
Coph. 19.
LOrd hear; for, in my hart I crie.
And I thy
VVord obay.
To hear my call, thine ear apply,
That keep thy
Lavves I may.
Relieng on thy
VVord, I call'd,
Before the Morning-light;
To mark thy
VVords mine eyes forestald,
The Watches of the night.
2
As
iust &
loving, Lord, thou art,
So, hear & quicken mee.
Lo, such as from thy
Lavve depart
For mischeefe, comming be.
Oh Lord, to mee, now nearer drawe:
Thy
VVord all truth containes,
And, long agoe, I knewe thy
Lavve,
Eternally remaines.
Another of the same.
THey, healp oh Lord, with all my hart I crave,
Thy just
Commands resolving to obay.
To thee I call aloud; mee daigne to save,
That so, thy
Testimonies, keep I may.
To thee, before the break of day, I call,
And, for my certaine ayde, thy
VVord I take.
[Page 249] The watches of the night mine eyes forestall.
That on thy
Lavve. my muzings I may make.
Thine ear, vnto my voice, in mercy, bowe;
That, mee, thy
Iudgments may revive, oh Lord.
They fast approach, who seek my overthrowe,
Ev'n they, who strangers are vnto thy
VVord.
To mee, oh Lord, at all tymes, be thou nigh.
Thy
Statutes, all perfection do containe.
And, many daies agoe, informed was I,
That thy
Commands, for ever shall remaine.
VVee rise early, (oh Lord) & cann sit vp late at night, to prosecute our common affaires, or to prevent the mischeevous purposes of any temporall Adversary. Cause us, vvee tray thee, to be as vigilant, in seeking thee; in Meditating the deep Misteries of thy Lawe;
& in foreseeing vvhat spirituall enimies are approching to endanger our soules. Vouchsafe this, oh Lord: & in all our endeavours, assist us; in all our prayers, hear us; & in all our necessities be present vvith us, in Iesus Christ
our Lord, Amen.
Resh. 20.
REgard my greef, & save me Lord,
For, I obaie thy
Lavves.
Hear me, according to thy
VVord,
Oh save, & plead my Cause.
Because thy
VVord they muse not on,
From health are sinners far.
Revive mee Lord, as thou hast done,
For, great thy
Mercies are.
2
My foes, & spoilers many be;
Yet, I thy
VVord professe,
And greeve when I the wicked see,
Thy
Statutes to transgresse.
Thy
Lawe I love; oh quicken mee,
For, endles thy just
Iudgments be;
And, ever true, thy
UUord.
Another of the same.
VEwe Lord, what sorrowes have oppressed mee:
For, to observe
Lawe, My minde I give.
Let mee adiudged, & deliver'd be;
And, mee according to thy
vvord revive.
Vngodly men from saving health are far,
Because they do not seek thy
Statutes, Lord;
Exceding great thy
Tender-mercies are;
Reviue thou mee according to thy
vvord.
Vext & persude, by many, I have beene;
And, yet, I from thy
Precepts have not straid.
I greeved was when sinners I had seene;
Because, thy holy
-vvord, they disobayd.
Vnto thy
Lawe, observe what love I shew;
And, of thy tender mercie, quicken mee.
Thy
vvord, through all eternitie is true;
And, everlasting thy just
Iudgments be.
Oh Christ the Mediatour; in our minds wee are lovers & observers of thy Lawe;
but in our mēbers wee are captivated vnto the Lawe
of Sinn:
for which, our greeved spirits do complaine with sighes & groanes, that are neither vtterable by the voice, nor sensible to the flesh. Oh deliver us from this bondage; Plead thou our cause to thy Father: Comfort our deiected soules; & let our love & practise of thy Lawe,
quicken us, in the way of Righteousnes, & make us partakers of thy Tender-Mercies,
for ever more. Amen.
Schin. 21.
THough Princes, causeles, wrong'd mee much,
Thy
Lawe I sleighted not:
But, in thy
word, my ioies were such
The lienge lipps I do abhorr;
But, I affect thy
vvord.
Seav'n times a day, I praise thee, for
Thy righteous
Doomes, oh Lord.
2
The Lovers of thy
Lawe have peace;
And, harme they shall have none.
Lord, on thine aide my hopes I place;
And, thy
Commands have done.
My soul thy
Testimonie kept;
In love therewith I grewe.
I, from thy
Precepts have not stept;
For, thou my waies dost veiwe.
Another of the same.
WHē cause was none, ev'n Princes wronged mee;
But, of thy
word alone, my hart had feare.
And, in that
word, my Ioies, moreover, be
As great as their's, that sharing booties are.
With much dislike, all falshood I detest:
And, I thy
Lawe, vnfainedlie affect,
Sev'n times a day, thy praise I have exprest;
Because thy righteous
Iudgments I respect.
What perfect peace have they that love thy
word?
Ev'n such, that nothing cann their quiet marr.
For thy salvation, I have hoped, Lord;
And, thy
Commands by mee performed are.
Well pleas'd, & with exceeding much delight,
My soul thy
Testimonies keepeth still;
Thou know'st; for all my waies are in thy sight;
That I, thy
Precepts, & thy
Lawes, fulfill.
Oh blessed Redeemer, who wert persecuted by Princes,
for my sake, without a Cause; Thy many Prayers,
daylie offred to thy Father;
thy true delight in his Word;
thy
[Page 252]
detestation of falshood; & thy perfect fulfilling of the Lawe,
have obtained, that thy righteousnes may be ascribed vnto us. Oh grant, that by performing what thou hast enabled us to do, wee may retaine & encrease the Talent
freely given; & enioy thy Peace,
which passeth all vnderstanding; for ever & ever. Amen.
Tau. 22.
REceive my cry, & guide thou mee
As thou hast promisd, Lord.
Give ear, & saved let mee be;
According to thy
vvord.
When thou to me hast showne thy
vvaies.
My lipps thy praise will shewe.
My tongue thy blessed
vvord shall praise;
For, all thy
Lawes are true.
2
Mee, let thy powrfull hand protect;
For, I thy
Lawe approove.
Thy
Saving-health I do affect,
Thy
Precepts I do love.
Oh, let mee live to sing thy praise;
In
Iudgment, mee preserve.
Thy servant seek, who sheep-like straies;
For, I thy
Lawe observe.
Another of the same.
YEald my Complaint, oh Lord, thy graitious ear,
And, knowledge of thy
Lawe, to me afford.
My humble suite, vouchsafe, I pray, to hear;
And, save thou mee, according to thy
vvord.
Yea, save thou mee; & I thy praise will preach.
When thou shalt thy
Commands to mee declare.
Thy
vvord likewise, to others I will teach;
For, all thy
Precepts, true & righteous are,
Yeald me thy hand, my saftie to assure;
[Page 253] For, thy
Commands my chosen part, I make.
Thy Saving-health, I labour to procure,
And, in thy
Lavve, oh Lord, I pleasure take,
Yet, longer let me live, to sing thy praise;
And, let thy
Iudgments Lord, my helpers be.
Now, mee thy servāt seek, who sheep-like straies,
For, never is thy
Lawe forgot of mee.
Most mercifull Father, wee have all erred & strayed from thy waies like lost sheep; give us therefore that Lawe of Faith,
by which wee may be brought home to thy Folde.
UUhen wee have obtained this Grace; let us truely esteeme it, hartly praise thee for it, & diligently preach it to others. Oh spare our lives, vntill the New-man
shall be fully perfected in vs; that wee may accomplish the work for which wee were created, & glorify thy Name, world without end. Amen.
Psa. 120.
A song of Degrees.
VVhy these Psalmes
are so called, it is vncertaine (for, Iewish fancies are not vvorth heeding) but, perhaps, our Degrees
tovvard the spirituall Temple,
are here mystically included: for, the first degree
thithervvard, is to have a sight of our misery, & a detestatiō of the worlds vanities (figured by Mesech,
& Kedar,
in this Psalme. It is vsefull, when wee are constrained to live among false worshippers, or wearied by our owne corruptions &c.
I Call'd on God in my destresse,
Who heard mee when I prayd:
From lieng & deceitfulnes,
Lord, save my Soul; I said.
What hire, oh thou deceitfull tongue!
Prepared is for thee?
But, arrowes that are sharp & strong,
2
Ah! woe is mee, that I so long,
In
Mesech must reside!
And, that, perforce, I must among
The Tents of
Kedar bide.
My soul hath beene too long, alas!
With such as wranglers are:
For, when I speake to them of peace,
For warr, they do prepare.
Father of Mercie;
Keep vs from the lieng deceits of the Devill,
& his Members;
& reward them according to their malice. Vouchsafe to us, also, such a sight, & loathing, of our naturall estate; that wee may have an earnest longinge to be translated from the Tents
of Vngodlines, & be incorporated into thy heavenly Ierusalem
through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 121.
A song of Degrees.
Another Degree,
is to fixe the eye of our soul on God, acknowledging him only, the meanes of our deliverance, & our defence &c. It directs vs, to whome wee should seek; & encourageth to depend on God in all our waies.
MIne eyes above the hills, I reare,
And, thence, of healp, I hopefull am;
For, from the Lord my succours are,
From him, that heav'n & earth did frame.
My feet vnmoov'd, he alway keeps;
He, is my garde, that ever wakes:
For, he nor slumbers, neither sleeps,
Who charge of
Isr'el vndertakes.
2
The Lord, ev'n as thy shade, will stay
On thy righthand, for thy defence.
Nor Moone by night, nor Sunne by day,
For, God will save thee from all woe,
Hee, will thy soul from dangers free;
And (whether in, or out, thou goe)
Thy gard, at all times, he will bee.
Gratious Protector;
Cause us, to expect all our deliverances from thee, with a constant dependance vpon thy savegard, in all proceedings. Keep us without slavish fear, or wavering, in our Faith:
And, be thou all way soe watchfull over us, & so near vnto vs; that neither those dangers whereto wee are commonly subiect, nor the extraordinarie Influences
of the heavens, nor any other vnexpectede Evēts, harme our bodies, endanger our soules, or interrupt our lawfull callings, either now, or hereafter. Amen.
Psa. 122.
A song of Degrees.
Another Stepp,
is a delight in the pietie of others, ioined with love to God's worship, & accompanied with harty wellwishing to his Church.
The Elect
are here personated reioicing on this Degree. Wee should vse it to provoke vs vnto the same.
I Ioyed, when they said to mee,
God's house let vs ascend vnto:
For, now
Ierusalem, to thee
And, through thy Ports, our feet shall goe,
Ierusalem is fairly Scited;
A Towne well-built, & well-vnited.
2
There meet the Tribes (God's Tribes alone)
Hus name in Isr'el, to declare.
There, placed is, the
Iudgment Throne;
The Thrones of
Davids house are there.
Oh seek her peare, for, they are blessed;
That have to
Salem, love expressed.
3
Let Peace, a Bullworke round her make,
Let Plenties in her Turrets be:
This Peace wee wish, ev'n for their sake,
Who, mates, & Brethren are to mee.
Yea, God our Lord's faire habitation,
Thus, makes mee pray for thy Salvation.
Inspire us, oh Lord, with a delight, & mutuall desires, to further each other in thy service. Let us take pleasure in thy Sanctuarie:
&, be alwaies, to our powre, healpfull & zealous, to effect & continue the Peace of Syon;
even for the sakes of our brethren, for our owne sakes, & for thy glory sake (oh Father)
that, wee may reap the benifit of her Peace & Plenties, through Iesus Christ,
our Lord, Amen.
Psa. 123.
A song of Degrees.
Another Stepp
is obedient attendance on God's will, in all suffrings, with assured faith in him; vvhich is here professed by the faithfull soul. It is vsefull, to advance vs to this Degree.
OH Lord, that in the heav'ns remainest,
Lo, wee advance our eyes to thee:
And, Lord our God, till healp thou daignest,
They shall on the affixed bee,
As men or Maides, that waiting stand,
Vpon their Lord, or Ladie's hand.
2
Oh, grant vs Lord, thy dear compassion;
For, wee extream contempts have borne.
Vouchsafe vs, Lord, thy Consolation,
For why? our harts are greev'd with scorne,
Ev'n by the scornes, & pride of them,
Who live at ease, & vs contemn.
Hovv ever thou shalt please to afflict vs, oh Lord (or hovv longsoever thou deferr any desired Blessing) let vs be
[Page 257]
contented to attend thy Pleasure; & watchfull, to performe what thou shalt require further at our hands; soe our suffrings, shall the sooner, be redressed, & our dutiful obedience, be rewarded through Iesus Christ
our Lord, Amen.
Psa. 124.
A song of Degrees.
Another Staire,
is acknowledgment of former deliverances, & of the beginnings of Gods graces already obtained, as in this Psalme. Wee may vse it after any Deliverances, but especially, such as are most publike.
BUt, that the Lord, our part did please to take,
But that God holpe vs,
(Isr'el now may say)
When men did their Assaults against vs make,
Wee to their throtes had bene a living-prey;
For, wroth at vs, with spighfull rage were they.
2
Wee by the Flouds, had then bene closed round;
Ev'n quite above our soul, the streames had gone:
The swelling flouds, our soul had surely drownd,
Wee, therfor, blesse & praise the Lord, alone,
That, by their teeth wee were not ceaz'd vpon.
3
For, as a bird, out of a fouling snare,
Ev'n so, our soul escaped from the ginn:
The nett is broke, & wee deliver'd are;
And, God, (whose work, the heav'ns & earth have (binn)
Is hee, whose Name, our healp consisteth in.
Many times oh Lord, wee are delivered, by thy Mercy, from evident & vnavoidable perills: But, there is no moment in which wee are not compassed about with invisible foes (& vnthought of Dangers) far more fearfull & more impossible to be avoyded; vnles thou didst gratiously defēd us. Grāt therfor, that a filiall awe of thy Iudgmēts
& a true esteeme of thy Mercies,
may make us hartily thanckfull
[Page 258]
vnto thee, for them, now & for ever. Amen.
Psa. 125.
A song of Degrees.
Another Ascent,
is firme Beleef in God. The safetie of such, is here alluded to the impregnability of Mount-Syon,
& Ierusalem:
& the punishment of wavering Apostates
is threatned &c. It is vsefull to raise vs to this
Degree &c.
MOunt-Syon like, for ever fixt are those
Whose hopefull trust vpon the Lord is founded
For, he his faithfull People will enclose
(Ev'n as with hills
Ierusalem is rounded)
As long as Time's perpetuall motion goes.
2
The Rod of wicked men shall not alight,
Where God the Lot of righteousnes bestoweth.
Lest righteous men pertake in evill might.
For, to the Good, the Lord his mercy showeth
And, favours all that are in hart vpright.
3
But, Sliders-back, & such as wander wide,
In their owne crooked paths, & waies vneven,
Shall by the Lord, be thither ledd aside,
Where, portions due to hypocrites, are given:
But,
Isr'el shall in endles peace abide.
Oh God, many ignorances & errors, both in Iudgment,
& Manners,
wee are naturally subiect vnto. Teach us therfore what wee ought to Beleeve,
or practise; & then preserve vs vnwavering in our Faith,
& so sincerely constant in a holy Life;
That wee may not have our portion, with Apostates,
or Hypocrites,
but, be pertakers in the true Peace
of Isr'el,
through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 126.
A song of Degrees
another Degree
is a reioicing in our Electiō
& spirituall freedome; which is here typically expressed,
[Page 259]
with a prophetical prayer for that ioye promised by Christ
vnto the true Mourners.
Ioh. 16. 20. Wee may sing it as a thancksgiving for our Redemption; & to comfort in spirituall mournings.
WHen God made
Syon free;
And her from thrall did bring,
It seemed as a Dreame to be;
And, wee did laugh & sing.
2
The Lord (the heathen sedd)
Great Marvailes wrought for vs.
Great marvailes he hath, wrought, indeed,
And, therfor, sing wee thus.
3
Lord, back our Captives bringe,
As Flouds to sea-ward flowe,
So, they shall then reioice & sing,
Who did in sorrowe sowe.
4
Who, outward-bound, doth mourne,
If he good seed employ,
Shall doubtles, back againe returne,
And, bring home sheaves with ioy.
Let our greatest reioicings (oh Lord) be in thy redeeming us from the Bondage of Sinn; & that our Names are in the Book of life: for, marvailous was this deliverance. Let our greatest sorrowes be for our Offences, and for the losse of thy favour; which are, indeed, Causes of the greatest Lamentation: soe, our short sorrowe shall be turned in to everlasting Ioyes, & glorious Trivmphs, world without end. Amen.
Psa. 127.
A song of Degrees for Solomon.
Another Staire
is to ascribe our beeing
& well-being
to the Mercie
& providence
of God, It may be sung to acknowledge the same, in all our works, & endeavours, &c.
IF God the Pallace build not,
The workmen loose their paine,
If God the Cittie sheild not,
The watchman wakes in vaine,
In vaine, is early stirring,
In vaine, late watch wee keep,
Or eat the bread of caringe,
But, those God loves, may sleep,
2
A fruithfull wombes possessing,
At God's disposing stands;
And, Children are a blessing,
Like shafts in Giants hands.
Right blest is he, that beareth
His Quiver ful of those;
For, in the Gate, he dareth,
To meet, & smite his foes.
Grant almighty God; that whether wee endeavour for our soules or bodies, we never glory or trust in our owne workings;
For, thou must blesse the beginning, proceeding, & conlusion
of every endeavour, or all our industry is lost Nay, wee have not, so much as powre over our bodie, or the fruite therof. Let us therfor, neither forget thee in the vse of the meanes, nor neglect the meanes which thou hast appointed. That, (what ever the events be) our vndertakings may, bring profit to us, & glory to thy holy Name, So be it.
Psa. 128.
A song of Degrees.
Another Stepp,
is filiall feare of God; to which, many temporall blessings are here promised. It is vsed at the solemnization of mariages; & serves to encrease in vs, the feare of God.
IF God thou feare, & keep his way,
He, blessings will bestowe;
And, happie thou shalt growe.
Like fruit-full vines vpon thy house,
Thy wife shall proove to thee;
Thy Children, like faire olive-boughes,
Shall round thy Table be.
2
Thus, thon that fearest God shalt thrive;
From
Syon he shall blesse:
And, thou shalt see (whilst thou dost live)
Ierusalem in peace.
He shall prolong thy life, till thou
Thy Childrens Children see;
And, that thy ioye may greater growe.
In
Isr'ell, rest shall bee.
Oh Lord; of thy abundant Mercy, thou hast promised, not only the blessings of the next life; But alsoe, all those which are most comfortable in this world, so far forth as shall conduce to their happines, who truly serve & seare thee. Oh teach us that filiall fear, & that obedience, for which thou hast made those promises, that wee may performe what thou requirest. Yet, not for the outward blessing sake, but meerly for the love of Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 129.
A song of Degrees.
Another Step,
is a patient susstaining of the Crosse. VVhich patience of the saints, is here mentioned; & both the tiranny & condition of their oppressors, breefly illustrated. Wee may, vse it to increase & continue Christian Patience.
FUll often since my youth, may
Isr'el say,
Full often since my youth, they mee assailed;
And, still, without successe they went away: (trailed,
Yea on my back, their ploughs, the ploughers
And, on the same, long furrowes ploughed they.
2
The Lord, (who is a perfect Righteous-one)
The Cords of wicked men in peeces breaketh.
And,
Syons foes, shall quite be overthrowne,
Ev'n like that grasse, which root on houses taketh,
And, fades away, before it ripe is growne.
3
For, nor his Armefull, nor his handful, there,
Remaines for him that bindes, or him that moweth,
Nor is there any high-way Passenger,
Who, there, is blessing, in God's Name bestoweth.
Or, doth so much, as, bidd them well to fare.
Sweet Iesu,
(who wert persecuted, even from thy cradle, to thy grave; & on whose back, the sharpe stripes, ploughed long furrowes for our Sinns) worthelie have wee deserved to be whipped with reproches to our face; to be furrowed with slanders behinde our backs, and to suffer all other indignities. Nevertheles, since by thy suffrings, thou hast as well prevailed for us, as for thy self; make voyd the attempts of our Adversaries; & enable us to sustaine with Christian patience, that part of thy Crosse
which thou appointest us to bear: that being chearfull partakers of thy suffrings, we may partake also, thy victorious Trivmphs in the Kingdome of heaven. Amen.
Psa. 130.
A song of Degrees.
Another Ascent,
is earnest prayer: VVhich the Faithfull soul here powreth forth for assistance, &c. It may serve as a forme of prayer in great extremities.
LOrd, from the depths, to thee I sue;
My vocall prayer hear.
And, when my Voice, my wants doth shewe
Encline to mee thine ear.
Lord, who cann bear it, if severe,
To mark our faults thou be?
But, that wee faint not in thy fear,
2
On God I waite, & on his word,
My soul her hopes doth lay:
My soul, more waiteth for the Lord,
Then watchmen, for the day.
Oh Isr'ell, trust in God; for hee;
Hath gratious help, in store.
And, from thy sinns delivers thee,
Both now, & evermore.
Gratiously hear our prayers, oh Lord, in all our troubles & enter not into iudgment with us thy servants, vnles thou overshaddowe us by the wings of thy Mercy; for, our iustice is vnrighteousnes in thy sight. Give us grace to hope in thee, with patient expectation of thy good pleasure; & soe enable vs (at least in our true desire) to fufill our promises to thee, that without infringment of thy Justice,
we may be delivered both from the guilt & punishment of our sinns, through thy Mercie
in Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 131.
A song of Degrees.
Another Degree
is vnfained humilitie:
For, such as humble them selves shall be exalted.
Here, all arrogance, ambition, & selftrust is disclaimed, a sole dependance on God professed, and others exhorted to the same. It is vsefull, to beget humility.
OH Lord, I have no scornefull eie,
Nor proud nor loftie minde.
I seek not things that are too high,
But, humbly am inclinde.
My soul is like an infant wean'd,
(Ev'n from his mothers brest)
And, Isr'el, so (to be sustaind)
On God, should alway rest.
None of thy Creatures, oh God, have made them selves
[Page 264]
to be so vile as wee; yet, none are more proud or selfeconceited; none more presumptiously inquifitive into thy forbidden Seacrets.
Oh give us more humility;
& lesse desire to those curiosities which are above vs, & pertinent to advance the Kingdome
of Sathan,
rather then the Kingdome
of Heaven;
which is to be entred which a Childlike
Obedience & humiliation.
This Humiliation,
wee againe beseech thee to grant vs, for Iesus Christ
his sake Amen.
Psa. 132,
A song of Degrees.
Another Degree,
is a hartie purpose to prepare a Temple
for God, in our harts; & to endeavour the setling of his outward worship,
which is here mistically implied. It is vsefull to stirr vs to this Degree.
REmember Lord, what
David's troubles be,
And, what to
Iacob's mightie God, he swore.
In house or bedd, I will not rest, said he,
Nor shall mine eyes, or sleep, or slumber more;
Vntill a place be found, of my providing,
For
Iacob's God, the mighty Lord's abiding.
2
Lo,
Ephrata, wee heard, the place should be,
And, in the forrest-feilds, wee found the same.
Thy house therefore, to enter, purpose wee,
And, at thy footstoole, will adore thy Name.
Arise, oh Lord, ascend thy resting bowre;
Thou, & the
Arck, of thy Almightie powre.
3
Let righteousnes, thy sacred Preists aray,
And. let thy saints, a ioyfull tryvmph make:
Oh turne not thy
Messiah's face away.
For, thy beloved Servant
David's sake,
To whome thou swar'st thy promise, vnrecalled,
That on his Throne, his Seed should be installed.
4
If they, saidst thou, my League & word respect;
Thy Children, on thy Throne shall ever sitt:
For, I the Lord, did
Syon hill, elect;
And, for my dwelling, I have chosen it.
My setled rest is there, & I'le possesse it;
I love it, & with plenties, I will blesse it.
5
The pore thereof, with bread I will sustaine,
Her Preists I'le clothe will health, her saints shal
A Lamp for mine Anointed, I'le ordaine, (sing.
And, I will make the horne of
David spring:
I, those will shame, that for is harme endeavor;
But, on himself, his Crowne shall flourish ever.
Suffer vs not, oh Lord, to take rest in any thing, vntill wee have provided thee a dwelling in our seules; & then, let vs entertaine there, nought els, but that which may be serviceable vnto thee. Take thou possession of vs, & furnish vs, as becommeth Temples for thy presence. Remember all thy promises to the Faithfull;
for they only are that seed of David,
to whome thy Covenants belong; they are those Elected-ones
whome thou hast promised never to forsake. Give vs, all outward meanes, of this invisible grace; Continue among vs the succession,
of holy & faithfull Pastors;
The Bread
of thy Word;
the Clothings
of Righteousnes;
the Lampe
of Illumination; the Horne
of good Government;
& the Ioye
of the Holy-ghost;
that the enimies of thy Church,
may be ashamed, & shee crowned, with honour & blessednes, for ever. Amen.
Psa. 133.
A song of Degrees.
Another Step,
is that, which the preposterous Zeal of Schismaticks
hath much defaced, (to wit) Charitie,
& brotherly Vnitie;
which is here, excellenly Illustrated, to moove vs to ascend it. Wee should sing it, to encrease
Vnitie &
Love.
SEe Breth'ren, see, how sweet a blisse
It is our lives in love to lead.
It like that pretious Oyntment is,
Which once anointed
Aron's head;
And, on his heard, from thence did flowe,
Ev'n to his garment skirts belowe.
2
It like refreshing dewe doth prove,
Which downe on
Hermon's topp distills;
Ev'n like the dewe, which from above
Descendeth downe on
Syon hills.
For, there, God promisd, heretofore,
To blesse with life, for ever more.
Oh God! so deare to thee, is brotherly Love, that all Faith,
(yea, & Martirdome)
wanting that Uirtue, is of no esteeme: So profitable is it vnto vs; That (like pretious oyntment on the head, or like shewres falling on high mountaines) it descends & spreads vntill every member be refreshed therewith. Encrease therfor, wee beseech thee, this Virtue
among vs (without which, all others are counterfeits) & let vs so preserve Vnity & brotherly kindnes
in this life, that wee may enioy thy eternall Love & Vniō,
in the life to come, through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 134.
A song of Degrees.
This is the last Degree:
For the highest Ascent,
is, the glorifieng of God.
Note, that the first & last Degrees
only, are placed according to their Order;
because, necessarily our first step to Godward, must be the fight of our Misery;
The highest, is, to praise him:
The rest are not ascended by all, in one and the same order; & therefore no precise order is observed in their placing. Wee should sing it to provoke to this Dutie.
COme now, & praise the Lord, all yee,
That his attendants are;
And praise him, nightly, there.
Your hands, within Gods holy-place,
Advance, & praise his Name;
And, yov, from
Syon, he shall blesse,
That heav'n & earth did frame.
Lord, wee were created for thy Glorie; All the time of our Pilgrimage on earth is to fitt vs for thy praise; & the highest Degree
which wee cann attaine to, either in this life, or the next, is to sing Halelujah
vnto thy Name.
Oh grant wee may so honour thee in these Temples
of our Bodies
(here, vpon the Way)
on whome the Nights
of affliction, & the Dayes
of consolation, doe interchangably succeed; that in thy Ierusalem
wee may sing praises vnto thee, in that spirituall Temple, wherein, the presence of the Lambe,
maketh a continuation of Day, of Ioy, & of all happines, for ever more. Amen.
Psa. 135.
Halelujah.
It exhorts to praise God, in regard. of his greatnes; for our election; for his omnipotency, Mercy, Iustice, eternitie; & because other Gods are but ridiculons fictions, &c. To this end, wee (who are mistically the Sonns of
Aron &
Levy) should sing it &c.
OH all yee servants of the Lord,
His Name with praise confesse;
Ev'n you, that of our God the Lord,
The house & Courts possesse.
Oh praise God's Name; for, sweet it is,
To sing of his renowne.
For,
Iacob, he hath chose for his,
And
Isr'el, for his owne.
2
God is, (I knowe) a powrfull-one;
He doth all Gods excell:
In earth, in sea, in hell.
He maketh vapours to arise,
Ev'n from Earth's farthest ends:
And, he out of his Treasuries,
Winde, raine, & lighting, sends.
3
The first-borne, through the
Egiptian coast,
Of man, & beast he slewe.
And, on king
Pharoh, & his hoast,
Rare wonders, hee did shewe.
Great kings & kingdomes, downe he brought,
Ev'n
Sehon, Heshbon's king,
And,
Og, of
Bashan; yea, to nought
All
Can'an's Realmes, did bring.
4
Then, for his
Isr'els heritage
Their lands, he did bestowe:
For which, hee's fam'd, from age to age,
And, still shall famous growe.
When he to judge them doth appeare,
His people, shall be sav'd:
But, heathen God's, man's makings were,
Of gold & silver grav'd.
5
Their carved mouthes are speachles found,
Their eyes, no light cann see:
Though they have eares, they heare no sound;
Their throates, quite breathles be.
Much like to these, their Makers are;
And they, that serve them, toe.
The Lord, therefore, let
Isr'el fear;
And, so, let
Aron doe.
6
The Lord, let
Levie's houshould blesse;
In
Syon, let all them
Who fear the Lord, the Lord confesse
That keeps
Ierusalem. Haleluiah.
[Page 269]
Oh Lord
our God,
wee hartely thanck thee, for our creation & preservation. VVee magnify thy wisdom, thy powre, thy providence, thy Iudgments, & thy Mercies; and we acknowledge that the Deities of heathenish and carnall men) yea & all other things in which wee trust (are but vanities, & false Gods, fashioned by our owne wicked fancies. Grant therfore, that all of us (even preist & people) who in Word
professe thee; may in hart,
fear thee; & in deed,
faithfully serve thee, now & for ever. Amen.
Psa. 136.
This Psalme,
exhorts to praise God both for generall and perticuler benifits; & shewes, that all are bestowed for his meer mercy-sake, which is eternall. It may be sung, literally to commemorate, what God did for the Patriarks; or, mistically, as a thancksgivinge for the spirituall deliverances, which these typified.
THe Lord is Good; him therfore blesse:
And, for his Grace,
that lasteth ever.
The God of Gods, let vs confesse;
Because, his Mercie
faileth never.
The Lord of Lords, with praise extoll;
For, where he loves,
he alway loveth.
His Acts, alone, are wonderfull;
Because, his Favour
endles proveth.
2
His Wisdome, did creat the spheares,
(For, to all times, his Kindnes
lasteth)
And, earth above the seas he rears;
Because, his Pittie
never wasteth.
He, did the greater Lights provide;
For, through each Age, his Grace
extendeth.
He made the Sunn, the day to guide:
Because, his Goodnes
never endeth.
3
He fram'd the Moone & starrs, for night;
For, without bound, is his Compassion.
Because, his grace
hath no cessation.
He brought forth
Isr'el from their land;
(For, soe his endles grace
procured)
With stretcht-out Arme, & powrfull hand;
Because, his Mercie
still endured.
4
Hee did the Red sea, then divide;
(For. still, his Kindnes,
he retaineth)
And,
Isr'el through the same did guide;
Because, his Favour,
still, remaineth.
There, he did
Pharoh's Army drowne;
(For, Love,
hee freely, still, bestoweth)
And through the Deserts brought his owne;
Because, eternall Grace,
he showeth.
5
Both huge, & powrfull kings he slewe;
(For, everlasting are his Graces)
Yea, famous kings he overthrewe;
Because, his Love,
times date surpasses.
Great
Sehon, king of th'
Amorites,
For, his Affection
never faileth
And,
Og that ruld the
Bashamites.
Because, his Mercy,
still, prevaileth.
6
Their heritage bestow'd hath he,
(For, so, his endles Love,
required)
His
Isr'el's heritage to be;
Because, his Grace
is vnexpired.
He did exalt vs, from belowe;
(For, he to Pittie,
still, enclineth)
And, hee redeem'd vs from our foe;
Because, no time his Grace
confineth.
7
Hee to all flesh their food hath given;
For, his great Mercy
faileth never.
Oh glorify, the God of heav'n:
Because his Grace
abideth ever.
[Page 171]
VVhen wee looke back, oh Lord, vnto the beginning of thy visible workings (pondering, the never interrupted succession of thy Mercies, vnto this day) & therewithall observe the performance of all thy promises to thy Church
heretofore; & the continuance of thy abundant Lovingkindnes,
to us at this present: UUee are assured that thy Goodnes & Compassion
is eternall.
VVee therfore, beseech thee to give vs true thanckfulnes, for the same; that wee may confesse it aswell in deed,
as word; &
praise & magnify thy Name
for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 137.
This Elegiacal Hymne,
mistically expresseth the Zeal, & love of the Faithfull, to the Citty of God:
And Prophecies, the fall of the spirituall Babilon. Wee may sing it to comfort vs during the continuance of our Naturall bondage, & the tirranies of
Antichrist.
AS wee nigh
Babel River sate,
Wee, overcharg'd with weepings were,
To thinck on
Syon's pore estate;
And hung our harpes, on willowes there:
For, they to whome wee were inthralled,
On vs, for songs of
Syon, called.
2
Come sing, they sayd, a
Syon-hymne.
Lord! cann wee sing thy songs in thrall?
Vnles (Oh dear
Ierusalem)
Thee, in my mirth, preferr I shall;
Or, if the thought of thee forgoe mee,
Let hand & tongue, prove vseles to me.
3
Oh Lord, remember
Edom's brood,
And, how, whilst they
Ierusalem,
Vnsackt, & vndefaced stood,
Her spoile was hast'ned on, by them.
And, to the groundwork, downe deface it.
4
Oh daughter of proud
Babilon,
Thou shalt, likewise, destroyed be;
And, he will prove a blessed-one,
Who shall avenge our Cause on thee:
Ev'n hee, that payes thee our disgraces;
And, braines thy babes, in stony-places.
Oh Lord,
many of thy people, suffer the scornes, & insultings, of that Babilon
which was typified, by the Chaldean
Citty; And the Mysticall Edomites,
labour the vtter defacing of thy Church.
But, deliver us oh Lord, & reward them according to their intentions against us. Let us take no pleasure in any temporall thing, till wee have prevailed against the fury of our spiritual destroyers: & give vs grace so to crush all sinns, & heresies, in their first birth; that we may be made eternally safe & happy, through Iesus Christ,
cur Lord. Amen.
Another of the same.
AS nigh
Babel streames wee fate,
(Full of greefs, & vnbefreinded)
Minding
Syon's pore estate,
From our eyes, the teares descended;
And, our Harps wee hanged, by,
On the willowes, growing nigh.
2
For, (insulting on our woe)
They, that vs had there inthralled,
(Their imperious powre to showe)
For a song of
Syon, called.
Come yee Captives, come, said they;
Sing vs now, an Hebrewe Lay.
3
But, oh Lord, what hart had wee?
In a forraigne habitation,
For our spoiler's recreation?
Ah, alas! wee cannot, yet,
Thee,
Ierusalem, forget.
4
Oh
Ierusalem! if I
Do not mourne, (all pleasure shunninge)
Whilst thy walls defaced lie;
Let my righthand, loose his cunninge:
And, for ever, let my tounge
To my Pallet, fast be Clung.
5
Oh remember, blessed Lord,
E're
Ierusalem was wasted,
How the sonns of
Edom roar'd;
And, her totall ruine hasted:
Till, they levell, all had laid,
Rase it, rase it quite, they said.
6
But, thou shalt be spoiled thus;
And, be vs'd (oh
Babels daughter)
Iust as thou hast vsed vs.
And, that man, who in thy slaughter,
On the stones, thy Child'ren braines,
Shall be blessed, for his paines.
Psa. 138.
A Psalme of David.
God is here praised, for the truth of his Word;
for glorifieng his Sonn Christ;
for confirming his Elect;
& for the Common grace
vouchsafed to all, &c. It may be sung for any Deliverance; But, especially for our Redemption.
WIth all my hart, I'le sing abrode thy fame,
And praise thee, where the Gods assēbled are;
Ev'n in thy house, I'le magnifie thy Name,
And, for thy Truth, & Love, thy praise declare:
For, thou thy Name, & word, o're all, dost rear,
2
When I did call, thou mad'st replie to mee,
And, strength vnto my soul, thou didst afford,
All Kings of earth, shall, therfor honour thee,
As soone (oh God) as they have heard thy word;
And, sing thy praise, in thine own Paths, oh Lord.
3
For, thou art great, & thou oh Lord, art high,
Yet, hast regard of humble men, belowe.
Thou vew'st the proude, but, with a sleighting eye.
Therefore, altho through many greefs I goe,
I certaine am, thou comforts wilt bestowe.
4
Thy righthand Lord; shall my salvation bee,
My foes feirce rage, thy stretcht-out hād shal stay.
Thou shalt performe all things concerning mee.
Thy mercies, Lord, abide the same, for aye;
Reiect not then, thy handy-work, I pray.
Oh Lord our Creator,
thou causlesly reiect est none whome thou hast made; neither art thou such an accepter of Persōs, as, too many fancie thee bee: But impartially acceptest in every Person that which is the Obiect of thy eternall Election; & (where soever thou findest the same) lovest that, vnto the end. Therefore, thou extendest thy Truth and Mercy to all; vouchsafing, also, thy Assisting powre, to perfect that work which thy free-grace
hath begunn; yea & thou effectually perfectest that worke, in soe many as do humbly submit them selves to thy will, & resist not proudly the motions of thy spirit: And (though they passe through many temptations & hazards) thy hand still reacheth vnto thē comforts, & meanes of safe perseverance vnto the end. Oh give us wisdome to perceave, & grace humbly to acknowledge this great Mercie
(which who soever denies; Denies thy greatest glory) & make thou, our endeavours answereable to the grace & powre which wee have receaved through Iesus Christ,
our Lord. Amen.
Psa. 139.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalme of David.
It confesseth, the all-seeing providence, powre, wisdome, and Mercy of God; And expresseth a desire of the Faithfull,
to be serched, & rectified, by him, &c. It warnes vs, not to live Hypocriticallie; in regard, God beholds vs, at all times, & in all places &c.
OH Lord, thy all-beholdinge eies,
Have serch'd, & well observed mee.
Thou, see'st mee sitt, thou see'st mee rise;
Thou, know'st my thoughts e're thought they be.
Thou, vew'st my wayes & walkings Lord;
Thou see'st what in my bedd I doe;
And, I do never speak a word,
But, lo, thyne ears do hear it to.
2
Thou standst before me, & behinde;
Thy hand, on mee, doth alwaies lie:
Thy wisdome cannot be confinde,
And, for my reach it is too high.
Then, from thy spirit, & from thee,
Oh whither cann I fly, or goe?
If heav'n I clime, thou there wilt be;
If hell I dive, there art thou to.
3
If on the Mornings wings I ride,
And, thinck to fly beyond the seas;
Thy hand, ev'n there, cann be my guide,
They right-hand, there, on mee cann ceaze.
Or, if I say, the Duskie night
Shall hide mee; Night will me bewray;
For, darknes, is to thee as light;
The day like night, the night like day.
4
My Reines, to thee apparant are;
For, in the wombe, thou closedst mee:
And, therefore, I will honour thee.
Thy wondrous works, my soul doth knowe;
And, that my substance thou didst marke,
Ev'n when (as in the earth belowe)
I was composed in the darke.
5
Before I perfect Beeing, tooke,
Or, Forme, or Matter, for this frame;
My Members all, were in thy booke,
And, thou foresaw'st what now I am.
Therefore, thy thoughts of vs, how dear!
And, Lord, how infinite they bee!
As num'rous as the Sands they are;
And, wake mee, still, to muze on thee.
6
Vngodly men, & men of blood,
Destroy, & cause them to be gone;
For, they speak ill of thee, oh God,
And, vainely proude, thy foes are growne,
Thy haters, I have hated, Lord,
And, greev'd at such as thee oppose;
With perfect hate, I them abhord,
And, those accounted as my foes.
7
Oh God! a strict enquiry make;
My hart, & ev'ry thought survay:
Search if an evill Course I take;
And, showe mee thy eternall way.
There is nothing, oh Lord, in the structure of our bodies or in the disposition of our mindes, but it is knowne to thee, with every Cause & effect thereof. Neither darknes nor distance of place cann so hide us from thee, but, that, thou seest our Actions, hearest our words, & perceavest our thoughts; Yea, & what they are enclinable vnto, before wee thinck them. Give us grace therefor, to behave our selves, alwaies, as in thy sight. Let our secret intentions be
[Page 277]
vpright; & cause us to love and hate, as thou dost. Turge away all that which is evill in us; & infuse into our harts all those graces, which may make us acceptable to thee in Christ Iesus. Amen.
Psa. 140.
To the cheef Musitian a Psalme of David.
It personates Christ's
mysticall body, desiring deliverance, from Oppressors; And describing their malice, pride & Trechery &c. It is vsefull, when any
Congregation is greeved by the bitter scandalls, lieng doctrines, or mischeevous insinuations, of Atheists, & false brethren & e.
LEt me, oh God, from sinners be defended.
From those that are to violence inclined:
For, in their harts, they mischeef, have intended,
And in malitious Leagues, are fast combined.
Their stinging tōgs the vipers teeth have matched
Between their lipps, is Adders poyson hatched.
2
Lord, frō the hands of wicked men release mee;
From Cruel-men, vouchafe secure to make me:
For, to supplant my goengs, they oppresse me;
And lo, the proud prepareth snares to take mee.
Yea, they have netts, & ginns, & trapps prepared.
In al my waies that I might be insnared.
3
Lord, hear I pray, & mark my supplication;
Thee, for my God, oh Lord, I have professed:
And, thou (Lord God, the strength of my Salvation)
Did'st gard mee, when in Fight I was oppressed.
Oh, grant not, what the wicked man desireth,
But, crosse his plotts, lest hee too high aspireth.
4
The Mischeef of their lipps will fal vpon them
Ev'n on their heads, that mee have circumvented.
Coales burning-hot; shall downe be hurled on thē.
They shal with flames, in dung'ons be tormented;
[Page 278] And, in those Pitts infernall, be detained,
From whence, Redemption never cann be gained.
5
On earth, hee shall not thrive, that's evill tōgued,
For, wicked men, Reveng, to death persueth.
But, God (I knowe) doth patronize the wronged
And, in the pore man's cause, his judgmet sheweth.
For which, the just, within his presence living,
Shall glorify his name, with praises-giving.
Deliver us, oh Mercifull God,
from the cruel purposes, stinging slanders, & mischeevous practises of our wicked & proud Adversaries, who seek the ruine of our soules. Arme us against them, as hither to thou hast bene pleased: Frustrate their devises; bring on them, their owne wickednes; & inflict on them that vengance which is prepared for impenitent Persecutors: That wee being saved by thee, thou mayst be glorified by us, for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 141.
A Psalme of David.
It personates Christ,
(the lifting vp of whose hands on the Crosse, is accepted, insteed of the legall sacrifice) prayeng in the behalse of his Members. And it is vsefull for vs, to desire God's acceptation of our Prayers; to give us the Goverment of our tongues, & to rectify our thoughts &c.
LOrd, hear with speed my voices lamentation;
Vouchsafe to give my mournfull clamors hearing.
As incense, or an Afternoones Oblation,
Accept my Prayers, & my hands vprearing.
Lord, let my mouth, as with a watch, be warded;
And, let the Portalls of my lipps be garded.
2
Lest I to sinn, with sinners, may be trained,
Preserve my hart, oh Lord, from sinns infection
Who, rather then, their pleasures to have gained,
Desire in Love, the righteous man's correction.
[Page 279] As curing balme, the same should be received;
And, I would pray for thē, whē they were greeved.
3
Whē frō the Roks, their judges down are heved,
The rest wil hear: for, I sweet words have spoken:
As on the Land, where blocks are hew'd & cleaved
Our bones before the grave, lie strow'd, & brokē,
Yet, still, mine eye on thee oh Lord attendeth,
And, still, my soul on thee alone, dependeth.
4
Then, suffer not my soul to be reiected.
And, (that I be not by their wiles ensnared)
Let me from those close engines be directed,
Which for my soul, the wicked have prepared.
Let their own snares, which they have layd, intrap thē
And, let me, Lord, for evermore, escape them.
Accept oh Lord, our petitions, in the mediation of Christ Iesus.
Make us watchfull over our tongues, & so purify our harts from all evil affections; that the pleasant baites of the wicked alure vs not to be partners in their sinns. To that end, teach us to bear patiently, & accept thanckfully, the reproofs & Corrections of thy Children; yea, let us pray for them, who shall charitably reforme us. And, though by persecution wee should be scattred like bones among graves, (or chipps vpon the face of the earth) yet, let us alway trust in thee; & at last be gathered vp, revive, & be made blessed everlastingly, through Iesus Christ, Amen.
Psa. 142.
Maschil of David, when he was in the Cave.
It seemeth mistically to personate Iesus Christ,
expressing the agony of his soul in the Garden; Or his being for saken at his Passion. It may be sung when wee are left comfortles of the world.
MY voice to thee, Oh God, I reare,
To thee, oh Lord, I sue;
My greefs, to thee I shew.
For, when o're whelm'd my spirit was,
My Path was knowne to thee:
Ev'n when they hidd, where I should passe,
A seacret snare for mee.
2
I looked on my right-hand side,
But, noe man knew mee there.
All succours faild; not one I spide,
That of my soul had care.
Then, Lord, thou art my hope said I,
My Lot, whilst life I have.
In my destresse, observe my crye;
From spoile, thy servant save.
3
Yea, since for mee they are too strong,
To praise thee, sett mee free:
So, righteous men to mee shall throng,
When thy great Love, they see.
Sweet Iesu,
in thy bitter Agony thou hadst not any one (no not among thyne owne desciples) so sensible thereof, as to watch with thee one howre.
A secret snare was layd for thee in that Garden,
whither thou went'st to pray for consolation: And, when they ledd thee to thy Passion;
None would knowe thee; None assist thee; Neither had any one, care of thy soul. Oh Dearest Redeemer,
this, is often the Case of us thy Members
in some Degree: And, when our Spirits are most overwhelmed with sorrowes, it so happens; That no man pitties it; No eye beholds it, but thyne. For, thy Passion sake, do thou behold us with commiseration in these extremities, that wee may be comforted; & that wee & others, may magnify thy great mercie, for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 143.
A psalme of David.
It expresseth with much forvencie,
[Page 281]
many conflicts of the spirit; emploreth God's free Mercy; in regard of our vniversall impurity, of the malice of our foes, & disability of our nature &c. The vse is manifest.
LOrd, my humble supplication,
Heed, & heare with acceptation,
In thy Doomes, of Truth & Right.
Iudge, but judge thou not severely;
For, if thou observe vs nearly,
None are blameles in thy sight.
2
By the foe, my soul is chased,
Wounded, & in darknes placed,
As one buried, long agoe.
I, am inwardly, perplexed,
Yea, my spirit sore is vexed;
And, my hart is full of woe,
3
On the times, now past, I ponder,
And, on all the works of wonder.
Which were framed by thy hands.
Thee, I seek, with due submission;
And, my soul, for thy fruition
Longeth, as the thirstie Lands.
Selah.
4
Lord, with speed, give ear vnto me,
And, thy face divart not fro me;
For, my spirits, feeble growe.
Since, on thee I have depended,
Let mee timely be defended,
Lest, into the grave I goe.
5
Guide my feet, by thy direction,
For, thou hast my hart's affection.
Me from all my foes release.
Lord my God (my safe abidinge)
Bring mee, by thy spirits guiding,
To the Land of Righteousnes
6
Grace, to do thy pleasure give mee:
For, thy Namesake, Lord, revive me;
Let thy Iustice be my gard.
Yea, destroy (of thy compassion)
Those that seek my soules vexation:
For, I am thy servant, Lord.
Oh Lord God;
if thou shouldst iudg us according to our deservings, wee & all flesh, should everlastingly perish. VVee appeall therefore, to thy Mercie; &, with a thirsty longing, desire speedy assistance, according to thy accustomed Loving-kindnes;
lest wee be swallowed vp by Despaire, or devoured by our Foes. For thine owne sake
(even for thy Iustice,
for thy Mercy,
& for thy Name sake)
direct us in thy waies; Instruct us in thy VVill; protect us from all evills; & bring vs into the Land of the Living,
through Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Another of the same.
LOrd, mark my suite; my sad complaining hear;
And, in thy Truth & Justice, answear give.
Iudg not thy servant, with a doome severe,
For, in thy sight, not one doth blameles live.
The foe hath chas'd my soul, of life nigh reft mee,
And in the dark, as one long dead hath left mee.
2
In mee, therfore, my spirits downe are cast;
My hart is fill'd with many a heavie thought:
I muse vpon the dayes, that now are past,
And on thy works, (ev'n al thy hāds have wrought)
With stretchtout hands, & with soul-thirsty pāting
I thirst for thee, as Land, when raine is wanting.
3
My spirit faints (oh God) with speed give ear.
If longer, thou thy face obscure, I dye.
Oh let thy Love to mee betimes appear;
For, I on thee; on thee alone, relye.
Yea, let me Lord, within thy Paths be trained;
[Page 283] For, vnto thee, I lift a soul vnfained.
4
Protect mee, Lord; in thee is my abode:
Keep off my foes, & teach thy will to mee.
Let thy good sp'rite, (because thou art my God)
My guide vnto the Land of Iustice be.
Yea, mee, oh Lord, for thy Namesake, revive thou,
My soul, ev'n for thy Iustice sake, reprive thou;
And, of thy grace, all those that mee oppressed,
Destroy thou Lord; for, I am thine professed.
Psa. 144.
A Psalme of David.
It blesseth God, for his regard of the humane Nature; Desires Christ's
approch to Iudgment; And requesteth to be delivered from worldlings &c. It is vsefull to these purposes, & to inform vs, that to be God's chose-ones, is the greatest happines &c.
OH praise the Lord, for, he is all my Powre,
My hands & Armes, in warlike feats directing;
My grace, my gard, my sheild, my healp, my Towre,
My trusty freind, my foes to mee subiecting.
Lord, what is mā that thou art pleasd to know him?
Or what his
child that thou sholdst favor show him?
2
Mā is as nought; his ioys like shades forsake him.
The heav'ns, oh Lord, decline, & down descēd thou
But touch, the Hils, & thou to smoke, shalt mak thē;
To scatter them, thy dreadfull lighting, send thou:
Shoot out thy shafts, vntill they be destroyed;
Let thy strong hand, to healp mee, be employed.
3
Oh save mee, from the water's over-swelling;
Let mee from forraigne Children be secured,
Whose mouthes, are alwaies lies & folly, telling,
And, whose righthands, to falshood, are envred.
Then, to thy praise, new songs, I will be singing,
[Page 284] On harp, & Psalt'ry of a tennfold stringing.
4
Let him, who doth on kings bestow salvation,
(And, from the sword, his servant
David saveth)
Protect me frō that forraine generation,
Whose mouth speakes lies, & whose right-hand deceaveth
Who beg for sonns & daughters, in their prayer,
Like plants & pretious stones, welshap'd, & faire.
5
Who pray for Granards, fully stored ever.
Whos floks yong breed, evn in their streets aboundeth:
Whose wellfed Oxe, in labour, faileth never;
&, in whose Townes, nor cry, nor tumult soundeth.
For, tho such men a blessing have possessed;
Yet, they whose
God's the
Lord, are much more blessed.
Father of Mercy & God of all Consolation; thou art alwaies, our powrefull deliverer. & becommest every thing vnto vs, which our harts cann desire. Oh, make vs thanckfull vnto thee, for thy great regard of soe vnworthy Creatures: And, though meer worldlings,
& Carnall Professors,
seeke thee for temporall Blessings; Let vs, love, serve, & praise thee, meerly for thine owne sake. Keep vs from their falshood, Hypocrisie, & selfelove, with all their other wicked Conditions; And, though they boast of thy transitorie Blessings, which wee enioy not: Let us be contented that thou art our God. Let that be our portion of happines, & let vs enioye it, (oh Lord) for ever & ever. Amen.
Psa. 145.
Davids Psalme of Praise.
It may be vsed as a Patterne wherby to glorify God, according to his principal Attributes, such, as his Infinitenes, Omnipotencie, Majesty, Justice, Mercie, Goodnes, Providence &c.
UUhich are mentioned in this Psalme.
I'Le honour thee oh God my king,
And, laud thy Name for aye:
And praise thee ev'rie day.
For, thou art great, beyond all bounds,
And, great, thy praises are:
Through Ages all, thy glory sounds,
Thy wonders they declare.
2
I'le, also, shew thy royall state,
And thy rare works vnfolde;
That men thy wonders may relate,
When I thy powre have tolde:
That, they thy Righteousnes may show,
And, much, thy glorie minde;
For, thou to anger, Lord, art slowe,
Right gratious, meek, & kinde.
3
Thy goodnes, & thy mercies, be
In all thy works exprest;
Ev'n all thy works, Lord, honour thee,
And, thee, thy Saints have blest.
Thy kingdomes glory they will showe,
And, sing thy greatnes forth;
That, all mankinde thy powre may knowe,
And, see thy Kingdoms worth.
4
For, thou for evermore shalt raigne,
And, rule through Ages all.
The weak, oh Lord, thou wilt sustaine
And, lift vp those, that fall.
On God, all creatures sixe their eyes,
And, fedd, in season be;
For, all things living to suffice,
An open hand hath hee.
5
The Lord is just in all his waies;
His works, are sacred all.
Nigh them who call on him, he staies;
Nigh those, who truly call,
Ands, hears, & saves all those:
Ev'n those who love him, God protects;
But, sinners overthrowes.
6
Oh let my mouth due praise, therefore,
Vnto the Lord expresse;
And, let all flesh, for evermore,
His holy Name confesse.
Great oh Lord, is thy Kingdome, thy Powre & thy Glory: great are thy VVorks, thy UUonders & thy Praises: Great also, is thy VVisdome, thy Goodnes, thy Iustice, & thy Mercy: Yea, so infinite art thou in these, & all other excellencies; That no attributes are sufficient to expresse thee. Nevertheles, wee thy Creatures, being partakers of thy Abundance, & witnesses of thy Bounty, towards all whome thou hast made; Do (according to the measure of our Capacities) blesse thee for the same: And desire, to praise and magnify thy Name,
for ever & ever. Amen.
Another of the same.
ADvance I will, thy Name, oh God my king;
For evermore, I will extoll the same.
Blesse thee, I will, oh Lord, & alway sing,
A davlie song of praises, to thy Name.
Consid'ring, that thy, Greatnesse, bound hath none
(And, how thine honor should as boundles be)
Declare I will, those wonders thou hast done;
That, men from age to age, may speak of thee.
Ev'n of thy Fame, & glories, I will treat,
And, shewe how rare, thy wondrous workings are:
For, when thy dreadfull Acts I shall repeat,
Then, other men their largnes will declare.
Great speach, of thy great goodnes, they shal make,
And, (singing of thy Iustice) they shalt showe,
[Page 287] How apt thou art: compassion still to take;
How prone to pitty; &, to wrath, how slowe.
In doeng good; to all, thou Lord, art free.
Thy Mercies are, vpon thy Creatures, all.
Kept glorious, by thy deeds, thy praises bee
And, therfor, all thy Saints, confesse thee shall.
Lord, of thy kingdome's glorie, they shall tell,
And (shewing ev'ry where, what powre, thou hast)
Make knowne how much thy mighty Acts excell;
And, with what state, thy royall Throne is plac't.
Not as a king that's only temporall;
For, endles & eternall is thy throne.
On thee, who e're depends, though he should fall,
Thou, Lord, wilt lift him vp, when he is down.
Plac'd are on thee, all creatures eyes, oh God!
And, thou dost give them food, in season, still.
Quite open, thou dost reach thy hand abrode,
Each living Creatures longing, to fulfill.
Right just, thou art, oh Lord, in all thy wayes;
And (as in all thy works thou holy art)
So, thou art near to ev'ry one that praies;
To all, that seek to thee, with honest hart.
To thē, that fear thy Name, their wish thou giv'st;
And, such as call vpon thee, thou wilt save.
Vngodly men, of safety thou depriv'st
But, all thy Lovers, thy protection have.
Wherefore, oh Lord to publish out thy fame,
In praisefull wise, my mouth shall still endeaver
Yea, & all flesh, shall blesse thy holy Name,
And praise the same, for ever, & for ever.
Oh Lord, thy spirit hath said, thou art good to all,
& that, thy Mercie is over all thy Works.
Stop the mouthes therfore of all those perverters of thy Truth (and blaspheamers of thy most glorious Attribute)
who dare affirme,
[Page 288]
that thou hast eternally Dereed,
purpossely Created,
& irrevocably necessitated,
that the greatest number of soules, should be vessells of wrath & condemnation, without any respect vnto Sinn; Good God, let this damnable blasphemy, spread no further. Give all men grace to perceave, that they who pretend to honour thee by this doctrine, do (consequently & vnavoydably) impute vnto thy sacred Majestie,
all the wickednes both of men, & Devills; contrary to all piety, contrarie to thy expresse Word
(which is perverted to maintaine this heresy) & contrarie to that which naturall Reason, hath written in our harts. Lord, these are they, which have made thousands hide their Talent, by sayeng, that thou expectest to reap where thou sowedst not:
& they have soe corrupted their owne iudgments (& most of their hearers) that there is no meanes to prevent this, pestilence of the soul but by prayer. Vnto thee, therfor wee pray. Oh hear us; even for thine owne honor sake, & for thy Mercie
sake, in Iesus Christ
our Lord Amen.
Psa. 146.
Haleluiah.
It stirreth vp the soul to perpetuall thanksgiving, & to depēdance vpon God alone; giving reasons for the same &c. Wee may sing it to minde vs of those duties.
MY soul, praise thou the Lord;
(As long as thou hast breath)
In song his praise record,
And, honour him till death.
No credit place
In earthlie kings, or such vaine things
As humane race.
2
Breath failes, & dust they be;
One day, their pompe destroies:
Right blest therefore, is hee
And hopes in him,
Who framed these, heav'n, earth, & seas,
And all in them.
3
For, God is faithfull, still,
Men wrong'd, assist will hee,
The hungry he doth fill,
And, setts the pris'ner free.
He, Sight bestowes,
Loves men vpright, & maketh streight
What crooked growes.
4
The stranger he receives,
To Orphanes, help imparts:
The widdowe he releives,
And Sinners paths subvarts.
The Lord, therefore,
Oh
Syon, shall be king of all
For evermore.
Haleluiah.
Almightie God, Creator of heav'n & earth, & the sure healper of all who trust in thee; pitty our oppressions; satisfy our spirituall hunger; free vs from the bondage of sinn; cure the blindnes of our Understandings, & be mercifull to vs in all the rest of our necessities & infirmities. Grant, also, that (renouncinge all other Confidence, & depending only, on thy favour) wee may praise thee, for these, & all thy Mercies, in Christ Iesus. Amen.
Psalme 147.
It exhorts to praise God, for encreasing & building his Church,
typyfied by Ierusalem;
for many particuler mercies to his people, & for overthrowing the proud &c. The vse is apparant.
OH glorifie the Lord;
For, of God's praise to sing,
Yea, 'tis a pleasant thing.
Ierusalem,
Hee will erect, and recollect
His Flock to him.
2
The Contrite hart, hee heales,
Hee cures their bruises, all.
The Starrs, he, also, tells;
And, them by Name cann call.
This Lord of our,
In wise foresight, is infinite,
And great in powre.
3
The Lord, the Meek doth raise,
The proud, he brings to ground.
Oh therfor, sing his praise,
Let Harps, his praise resound.
He, Clouds doth bring,
And, shewres distills, which on the hills,
Makes grasse to spring.
4
Ev'n Beasts, & Ravens yonge,
He feedeth when they call:
In horse, or footmen strong,
He ioyeth nought at all:
God loves all them;
Who in his grace, their hopes doe place,
And honor him.
5
Syon, &
Salem, blesse
The Lord your God, (in song)
Who doth your seed encrease,
And, hath your Gates made strong.
His Peace hath, yet,
Your bounds vphild; &, you he fild
With flowre of wheat.
6
Through earth, his Mandates goe,
Like wooll, he giveth snowe;
His frost; like Ashes lies:
And, then (beside)
He forth doth slice, cold flakes of Ice,
Which who cann bide?
7
He speakes, & streight it thawes:
He breaths, & water flowes.
His, statutes, & his Lawes,
He, to his people showes:
No nation els,
His Iudgments know, & therfore, soe
With none he deals.
Haleluiah.
Most mercifull God, who buildest vp thy heavenly Ierusalem,
by the gathering together of all the faithfull; Not only taking notise of them, who have starr-like perfections; but even of vs also, whoe are of those Blind
and Lame,
whome thou hast caused to be called to thy banquet: Nay; though wee are as brute Beasts, or vncleane Birds, thou art ready to extend thy Mercy, whensoever wee seek thee. Oh make vs thanckfull for thy great Bounty. Send out thy word to compell us by Stormes,
or to allure by Calmes,
according as it shal finde vs disposed: & let the graces of thy Spirit,
so thawe our congealed harts, that the teares of true penitence may flow from vs, & produce all such other effects, as may cause vs to know thy Iudgments; & to be of those people, whome thou lovest in Iesus Christ.
Amen.
Psa. 148.
Halelujah.
All Creatures are here, in a Poetical
manner exhorted to glorify their Creator. Wee should vse it to remember vs, that God requireth all his Creatures
(& vs especially) to praise him according to their natures.
THe Lord of heav'n, confesse;
On high, his glories raise:
Him, let all Angells blesse;
And, all his Armies praise.
Him, glorifie
Sunn, moone & starrs: yee higher Sphears,
And, Cloudie skie.
2
From God, your Beeings are;
Him, therefore, famous make:
You, all, Created were
When he the word, but, spake.
And, from that place,
Where fixt you be by his Decree,
You cannot passe.
3
Praise God, from Earth belowe,
Yee Dragons, & yee Deeps;
Fire, haile, Clouds, winde, & snowe,
Whome, in Command, he keeps.
Praise yee his Name
Hills, great & small; Trees, low & tall;
Beasts, wilde & tame.
4
All things, that creep or flye,
Yee Kings, yee vulger Throng,
All Princes, meane or hye,
Both men, & Virgines yonge:
Ev'n yong & old,
Exalt his Name; For, much his fame.
Should be extold.
5
Oh let God's Name be praisd
Above both earth & skye:
For, he his Saints hath raisd,
And, sett their horne on hye:
Yea, they that are
Of
Isr'els race, are in his grace
Almightie God
(worthie to be praised of all Creatures both in heaven & earth) vouchsafe, that thy whole Creation,
may ioyne in ascribing to thee, that glorie for which it was ordained: And let vs (whome thou hast exalted above the rest of thy workmanship) advance the highest Trophtes to thy glorie. At lest, grant this, that, wee who have dishonored thee in all thy Creatures, may some way (& in some degree) magnify thee, also, in every thing which thou hast made: That so, wee may be, yet, more exalted; & continue to be of those people whome thou hast elected, & lovest eternally, in Christ Iesus. Amen.
Psa. 149.
Halelujah.
This Psalme
exhorts to praise God in the New songs
of the Gospell;
& declares the powre, which shall be given thereby, both to convi
[...]ce the Consciences of heathen Idolators;
& to chaine vp our unperious Affections
&c. Wee should vse it, to provoke vs to praise God, for the many priveledges, given vnto his Saints. &c.
IN songs-newe made, your voice employ,
God's praise among his Saints to sing:
Let
Isr'el in his maker ioye,
And,
Syon tryvmph in her king.
The praises of his Name, advance;
With Harpe & Tymbrell, in the dance.
2
The Lord, his people doth respect;
And, with his healp, the meek arayes.
Then, let the Saints his praise affect,
And, on their bedds, gladd Voices raise.
Let in their mouths, his praise remaine:
And, two-edg'd blades, their hands retaine.
3
Vpon the heathen people, then,
And, binde their kings, & noblemen,
In yron Fetters, & in Chaines.
For, to fulfill the written doome;
The Saints, thus honor'd shall become.
Haleiulah.
Grant Almighty God,
that wee may sing vnto thy Glorie,
the New-songs
of the Gospell,
to the tennstringed Instrument
of thy Lawe;
& by thy grace, attaine that meeknes; & that holines which becommeth such, as are thy Saints,
by their Visible Callinge.
Replenish our harts with ioyes of the holy-ghost;
fill our mouthes with songs of thy praise;
Strengthē our handes to execute Iustice
without partialitie; give vs powre to chaine vp those heathenish Affections,
& those noble-seeming Passions,
which had the Soveraigntie
over vs heretofore; & so enable vs to fullfill all Righteousnes which thou hast commanded in thy word: that, wee may enioy all the Priveledges, & honours, pertaining to thy Saints,
in Christ Iesus Amen.
Psa. 150.
Halelujah,
It exhorts all Creatures to praise God, & shewes in what manner wee should praise him; mistically expressing the same by Instruments of Musick. Wee should vse it, to stirr vs vp to glorify God, with every facultie which he hath bestowed on vs.
COme praise the Lord, come praise him,
With in his holy-seat:
In all his glories, praise him,
And his great Acts repeat.
As he excelleth, praise him,
With Trumpet, and with Flute;
With Harp & Psaltry, praise him,
With Viol, & with Lute.
2
Vpon the Tymbrel praise him,
In Song, his praise advance:
And, praise him in the Dance.
On tingling Cimballs praise him,
On Cymballs loud that sound;
And, let all creatures praise him,
In whome, life-breath is found.
Haleluiah.
Oh blessed God; thou bestowest all things necessary, & requirest nothing back againe, but thanckfulnes. Grant therfor, wee pray thee, that our soul, & every faculty thereof; our body & every member of the same; our sighs, our teares, our grones, our ioyes, our paines, our prosperities, our Adversities, our Virtues which wee have by thy grace; our very sinns (which wee have committed by out owne corruption) our lives; our deaths, our salvations; the condemnations of the vnrepentant (& all other things which in vs, & in thy whole Creation, have either Beinge,
or possibility to bee,
or to be thought vpon; may altogether (& severally) both in their Discordes & Agreemēts; make vp a pleasant harmony, to the glorifieng of thy Maiesty, for ever & ever Amen.
FINIS.