Sacred hymns Consisting of fifti select psalms of David and others, paraphrastically turned into English verse. And by Robert Tailour, set to be sung in five parts, as also to the viole, and lute or orph-arion. Published for the vse of such as delight in the exercise of music in hir original honour.

PSALM 119. (Book 119)

This Psalm, conceived to be Davids, and after a long time of persecution under King Saul, for that God had declared David for his successour; is a treasuri of mani excellent parts of de∣votion, mani choise things for instruction: each Section beeing not incoherent within it self for matter, though not so in form of speach, by reason of tying the verse to an alphabetical order; (vzed also in som other Psalm•…•…, but in differing maner;) either in assistance of memori, or to make the matter more remarkable. David then first laieth here the ground of true blessed∣nes to consist in converting our harts to God, by seeking to knowe him in his woord, and by ben∣ding to serve him in observing his commandments: which infer an aversion from their contra∣ries, namely lying ways and sin. He sheweth (and often by his owne example) the excellenci, and blessed effects of Gods Law and Woord. Gods woord is a light of heavenlitrueth: It illu∣minateth the understanding: and bringeth life unto man; conducting him thereunto, as a lamp or star, through the pilgrimage of this cloudi world, wherein we are strangers. The Law also of God comprized in this woord, is a law everlasting; a law of perfect righteousnes, con∣tinuing when all worldli perfections shall perish. Wonderful are the treasures of Wisdom, Vertu, and Ioy, wrapped up in this woord and law of God: and which beeing unfolded, bring under∣standing to the simple: and are directions even for the yong. They advance man in wisdom, above the wit of his enimies, the science of the learned, the experience of the aged. In cases doutful, they are counselers; in dangers, they are hopes; in disgraces, countenancers; in afflicted estate, comforters; in calm meditations, most pure delights and ioys, far exceeding the ioys of wealth and worldli prosperiti. Lastly they place their foloers in so great repose of soule, that no offence from the world can subvert or interrupt it. Contrariwise we beeing all the woork of Gods hands, who hath made the whole world and all parts thereof to serve him, even as at this day they continue; and seeing also our waysly open to the sight of God: what can the proud despizers of Gods Law expect, but the curse of divine vengeance persuing them by divers iudgements to everlasting d•…•…struction, til as dross they be consumed from off Gods earth? For although it be true that the mercies of God are great, yea and that the whole earth is reple∣nished with them; yet far is salvation from the obduredly wicked. The horrour of whose ends reprezented to prudent mynds, breedeth in them a fear of the iudgements of God; and maketh them more resolvedly to hate the vain inventions of godles persons, whose trics and falshoods are but deceivings of themselves; as also more carefully to consider their owne coorses, and choo∣zing the way of trueth, to make hast to serve God, refraining from everi evil and unapprooved way which might to his divine Maiesti be displeasing. But David now applying these generals to his owne particular, discovereth an extraordinari spirit and admirable desire, toward God, his woord, his law, and iudgements: professing they were his studi, meditation, delight, yea and matter of his speach: that he dezired nothing so much, as to have his hart, and ways so addressed toward God, as to knowe him, and keepe his laws. Seven times a day, did he praize God for his iustice: His praiers to God for assisting grace and protection, were earlier then the dawning of the toilsom day: his meditation on the woord of God and heavenli misteries, prevented the nightli watches: yea all the day long, his loving and longing thoughts, ran wholy upon the law of God: And at midnight also, when other men were at their natural rest, and slept; he wakening roze up to give thanks unto God in contemplation of his righteous iudgements. These were his trust, hope, comfort, and ioy. Love of these bred an hatred in him of all lying and false ways: a care to refrain from transgressing their rules in ani thing: a lothing of the veri compani of ungodli persons: an endevour to make his companions of them who feared God and kept his precepts: a zele that even consumed him with bitternes of grief, to see his enimes not forget only and viclate the law of God, but with wicked desires and the pride of an high hand attempt utterly to displace it; which called on God himself to take his quarrel

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in hand. Lastly this love of Gods woord and law, cauzed him to speak boldly thereof before Kings. And though Princes traduced him in unprinceli maner; yea and persecuted him with∣out a cause: though the pride of his enimies sought maliciously and wrongfully, to bereave and deprive him, of his goods, by robbing him; of his good name and reputation, by forging lys and dispersing reproaches against him; and lastly of life it self, by lying in ambush to surprize him: yet his hart beeing held in aw by the woord of God, he forbare to repay wrong with wrong, sin with sin: but in silent sorro, even with streams of tears, bewailed their offences, and ensuing punishment. And for himself he confesseth this affliction was for his good; that God sent it him in veri faithfulnes, to reform his straying coorses; which effect it had wrought: and that his delight in the law of God, and hope in his woord, did both preserve and comfort him in all those troubles. This beeing Davids estate and disposition of soule, his praiers are sutable. He praieth God, that looking upon him, and considering he was his, and a lover of his law; he would vouchsafe to teach him it, by inlightning his understanding, and by induing him with good sense and iudgement: that he would give him a sound hart; and so inlarge and quicken it with heavenli ioy and cheerfulnes, as redily to run the way of Gods commandments: That having inclined him to the way of righteousnes, he would disturn his eys, from regarding vaniti; his hart, from beeing caught with covetousnes: that he would deliver him from lying ways; and preserve him in such strength of vertu, that no iniquiti might get ani dominion over him. And where it had pleazed God, by private message, to cauze David to be anointed King over Israel; and on that promise to rely; for which his proud enimies did deride and persue him: he praieth God to be myndful and confirm that woord; that having how to answer the reproach∣ing him with that trust; the shame might redound upon his scorning adversaries. From whose oppression also he praieth now at length to be delivered: that walking at liberti, he might freely apply and exercise the law of God: and good men might freely also associate themselves unto him. And for observance of the divine law for the time to com, he maketh here a solemn vow unto God: whom he humbly withall praieth to accept that and other free offrings of his mouth, vows, praiers, and praises, beeing all he could offer. Finally he concludeth with the sum of his suit, the gift of understanding, and freedom from his enimies: that his life beeing continued, he might praize the goodnes of God: who now beeing chased out by Saul, and wandring up and doun like a sheep that had straied, yet did not, ne could forget Gods commandments; whose fa∣vour he again imploreth, to give end to that extremiti. This Psalm (for the woorthines thus largely abridged) remaineth a cleer mirrour of the godli hart of David: which cauzed him to be a man after the hart of God, and to wear the honour of that incomparable title.

ALEPH.

O BLESSED they; who men upright in mynd and way, In Gods pure law delight, his sacred will obey. Yea blessed, who embrace his woord that witnes true: And God their sovĕrain good with flaming harts pursue. Such men sure sin decline; in paths divine proceed: Them careful hold: which held, have high reward decreed.

O THEN, fith thow so strait thy hests to keep hast chargĕd; My ways were so addresd, my feet so, Lord, enlargĕd, As free thy steps to trace: no blot shal mee distain, No shame confound; on thee while fixt myn eys remain. Right hart thy praise shal sound, for law of iustice taught: Which learnd, Ile keep: at length reduce me ô to thought.

BETH.

VVHEREWITH may careles youth his falti paths amend? If heedful by thy woord he them to guid attend. Ah Lord, with hart entire I thee have truly sought: O let not straying soule with trains of vice be caught. Long I thy precious laws have treasŭred in my hart, To purge out sin: Blest Lord, stil teach that sacred art.

REMEMBER Lord, my lips, and not unthankful tong, How free thy woord have taught, how glad thy praise have song: How deer delight I take in way from heavĕn declarĕd: Vain ioys breeds world of wealth, with these true ioys comparĕd. With muzing mynd I vieu, and still thy law admire: Nor sight gives end to search; nor search to sweet desire.

GIMEL.

THIS gift, this favour, Lord, on servant thyn bestowe; That live I may; and live, thy saving grace to knowe, Yea sacred woord to keep. Then thow myn eys unsele; And wonders of thy law to groping mynd revele. I stranger rome on earth; my seat with thee abides: O hide not heavĕnli way which to thy presence guids.

DESIRE my soule consumes, stil muzing on that path: Which pride derides; dead pride, devowd to firi wrath. But thou repell their scorns. Ah zele to sacred law, From Princes seats did griev'd unprinceli censures draw. Yet still, I still thy woord in studious thoughts renue: Sole solace in my griefs, in douts adviser true.

DALETH.

MY humbled soule to dust, prostrate on earth, dooth cleve; Remynd thy woord; and up revived servant heve. My hart, my state, and ways, to thee I did unfold: Thou heard'st with grace: then still me precepts thyn, enrold In faithful brest, direct. Discloze thy beauteŏus way: And moorning soule recheerd thy merveils let display:

REMOOVE by-paths of lys: thy trueth hath been my choise; Thy law my mirrour. O, make cleer thy gracious voice: And foloĕr of thy woords grant through that favour high, Be nor asham'd to live, nor Lord afraid to dy. Yea when my narroĕd hart shal noble grace enlarge; Base lets despiz'd, I'le run what race thy mandates charge.

HE.

GREAT Guid of men, my feet address in righteŏus way: My feet; by thee addrest, which ne're from thee shal stray. Recleer my dimmed mynd, sweet beauti of thy laws To vieu: which vieud, from hart like love abundant draws. Thus hart deiect erect, thy rizing paths to clime; Thy woord, my high delight, in raized thoughts to shrine.

BUT from unwoorthi gain; from vain aspects, which fire Unwari brests; disturn myn eys and frail desire. And quickĕn me in thy way. Ah to thy servant true, Devoted to thy fear, thy roial woord renue. So feard reproach discharge: with iudgements iust recheer The fainting soule which longs thy statutes to endeer.

VAV.

LET then thy mercies deer, salvătion, favours high, Foretold by gracious woord, at length great Lord draw nigh. That those who mee reproach depending thus on thee; Confounded quite, their scorns my glori high may see. Mene while let woord so true towărd him not wholy sleep, Who trusts in thy decree, still still thy law wil keep.

AND keeping thus thy law, abroad I'le boldly walk: And of thy woord fore kings undanted freely talk. O King of kings, thou thow my love and sole delight: Thy hests my ioy; on them I still defix my sight; Towărd them my hands I'le raize, to act what they require; Who sole possess my thoughts, command my chief desire.

ZAIIN.

THEN myndful of thy speach, thou Lord stil true and iust, Shine foorth; sith in that woord hast causd thy servant trust. Sole this to grieved mynd sweet comfort still derives; This pressed state supports; this dulled sprites revives. The proud both it and mee with scorns profane deride: Nor pride, nor scorns profane, from thee can mee divide.

FOR iudgements thyn of old my muzing thoughts revieu: Which mee secure: but ah stil horror then renue, When ends of lawles men my pityĭng mynd foresees. But I, in pilgrim life, stil singing thy decrees; In silent night, with ioy revolving Lord thy name; Thy statutes keep; which kept, these ioys in mee enframe.

CHETH.

MY portion, Lord, art thow: my thankful mynd, resolv'd Thy woords to keep, hir cares on thee hath all devolv'd. And hart with fervent suit thy gracious face hath sought: Let then those mercies shine which gracious woord hath taught. For strait my earthli ways, with vieu unpartial eyd, Delay cut off, I glad to heavĕnli coorse applyd.

THIS worldlings hate procures; whose troops make me their prey. Nor hate of world, nor wrongs, me from thy paths can fray. Thou witness, Night; whose midst with thanks me rize dooth hear Gods iudgements iust to bless: thou Day; which God who fear, His laws who love, my deer companions all doost see. Thow then, whose grace earth fils, thow, Lord, my leader bee.

TET.

I MUST confess, my Lord, that graciously with mee, As was thy woord, hast dealt: ô grant, from passions free, With sence and science right, thy servant still esteem. For evĕn afflictions all I now thy favours deem: Which straying soule reducĕd; who since beleeves thy law. Thow good, and good who doost; still me to goodnes draw,

THE proud with conscious gilt have lys gainst mee devizĕd: I careful kept thy woord; that kept, their lys despizĕd. Their harts hath tallo' obdurĕd: thy hests are my delight. And since thy chastning hand my humbled soule aright In wisdoms school hath framĕd; more deer thy laws I hold, Then streams of silver fine, then hils of purest gold.

IOD.

THY hands me made, and formd: reform thy servant, Lord; And understanding give, which sin may make abhor'd. Thy iudgements all are iust: I knowe, in faithful trueth, And for my good, thy love, thus scurged hath my youth. But now let promis'd grace, with comfort shine: that they Who fear thee, knowĕing my case, thy praise may glad display.

YEA let thy mercies shour, and weariĕd soule refresh: That withĕring hart revivĕd may life from thee confess. Let pride ashamĕd remain to seek my causeles bane: Whose harmles thoughts thy law their sole delight doo frame. Let zelers of thy hests to mee themselves adioin: And clenze my hart; that shames sad scandal none eloin.

CAPH.

MY long erected soule, stil looking for thy grace, Thy woord stil trusting, now bends doun hir fainting face. Consumed are my spir̆its; consumĕd my waiting eys: Like bottle parch'd with smoke, my self now self despize. Yet still beleeve thy woord; thy precepts still apply. How mani rest my days? when draw thy comforts nigh?

AND when shal I my Lord see swoord of iustice draw, Gainst proud persuing foes; who pits, (not so thy law,) For righteŏus steps have delvĕd? Ah hate the most uniust! Thow then whose hests are trueth, my life neer trod to dust, If still thy law I love, if mercies thyn attend, In merci keep; which kept, I'le in thy service spend.

LAMED.

THY woord forevĕr, great Lord, in heavĕns enthronĕd remains: Thy woord, which all did make, and all things made sustains. Thy trueths through age to age with stedfast coorse proceed. Stands peized earth, ne mooves, by thee so Lord decreed. Thus lo, as thow ordainĕdst, they all this day persist; Thy servants all, to act what e're thy iudgements list.

MY woes had mee consumĕd, had solace in thy law Not cheerd that hart, which nought can e're from thence withdraw. For thyn I am: ô thyn preserve from wicked swoord, Which dogs my life; who live in studyĭng Lord thy woord, In tracing Lord thy ways. O ways of widening ioys! When else perfections all see fretting time destroys.

MEM.

VVHAT, Lord, what heat my soule with sacred love inspires Of law divine? what powĕr thus rapts my strong desires? All day to quicned cares, to pozed thoughts at night, It self prezents: stil shines high mynds admired light. A light, whose rays infuzĕd, more sciĕnt me make and sage; Then teachers, books; wit, foes; or gray experience, age.

O LAW, my thoughts delight! desire those mandates pure, Lawgiver great, to pleaze, dooth wari feet inure, All sinful ways to shun, thy woords high paths to hold; Makes iudgements thyn observe, which sacred rols have told. Yea sweetest iuice my tast not so with sweetnes feeds: As woord, which wisdom true, vyld falshoods hate, imbreeds.

NVN.

THY woord, a lamp divine, fair star that leads the day, To paths obscure dooth shine; and guids to heavĕnli way. And I by sacred vow, a vow in heavĕns enrold, Stand bound, and rest resolv'd that woords iust rules to hold. Afflictions mee extreme bere doun: let promis'd grace, Revive me:' ô then, I pray, poor lips frank gifts embrace.

MY soule see still in hand stands prest away to fly; Such snares my life beset: yet still thy hests I ey; Can not thy Law forget. O teach me Lord thy ways: Thy woord since all my state, sole ioy my hart to raize; And thow my sovĕrain good; since soule entire I bend Thy will to doo, in this lifes breth extreme to spend.

SAMECH.

THY Law I deerly love; mans vain conceipts despize; Thow refuge myn, and shield; whose woord my waiting eys Stil holds in hope. Avant, avant then crue profane; Gods mandates iust I'le keep: sole thow my hope from shame, (The hope thy speach hath raiz'd,) with life persuĕd, defend. Savĕd lifes so whole delight I'le in thy statutes spend.

AND lo transgressours proud, whose fraud shal self deceive, Thyn earths inutil load, of grace whom doost bereave; As basest mire doun trod, as dross with purging fire Consumĕd, shal sole remain sad marks of heavĕnli ire. Therfore thy woord I love: in love, yet quake with fear, When iudgements thyn I vieu; yea hair dire horrours rear.

HAIIN.

IRIGHT and iust have wrought; thy law hath been my guid. Abandon then me not t'uniust oppressing pride. But intercede with help, my sureti' and witnes true: And failing eys with strength of rightĕous speach renue. Thy servant, I: deer Lord, thy servant not forsake: Give sciĕnce, thy hests me teach; and to thy favour take.

THUS I thy will shal knowe. But time for thee, great Lord, For thee to woork: whose laws, of lawles mynds abhord, Quite now they would displace. I, Lord, so much the more Bove finest gold them prize; thee fountain iust adore; Their vertues high admire, in all things alwaies right: And falshoods ways perverse all spurn with iust despite.

PE.

SO mervĕilous shines thy woord, in powĕr, in wisdom high, In goodnes; that my soule with wingd desire dooth fly, And pant, it to attain. Lo then thy sacred light I folo Lord with ioy: since understanding bright Disclozĕd evĕn simple mynds it gives. Thow mee with grace Aspect, as those who thee in highth of loves doe place.

AND first my steps so guid in path of heavĕnli woord, That sins dark powĕr decay. Then mee with Iustice swoord From mans oppression free: free man thy ways I'le trace: O thow thy servant teach. And with thy gracious face Cheer up my grieved eys: whence streaming tears doo thrill, To see unthankful man neglect thy saving will.

TZADE.

HIGH Iudge of worlds, from whom pure Iustice doun dooth flowe; Whose law, worlds perfect rule; whose woord, hid trueth makes knowe; And iudgements all are right: thou these with charge severe Hast man enioind to keep: that mee griev'd zele dooth wear, To see my foes forget thy speach proclaim'd above; Thy speach, which pure as heavĕns, drawth up thy servants love.

I SMALL, and am despizĕd: thy precepts yet apply: Which mirrour true of thee; which rule derivĕd from high Of iustice firmly pitcht, of never changing right; In toils, in grasping griefs, stil yield me sweet delight. Sole thow my dazeling mynd, (pure lights eternal spring,) Illuminate: which light shalt life eternal bring.

KOPH.

PROSTRATE with ardent hart, with tear-distilling eys, I call, I cry: ô thow who iust complaints despize Nor doost, nor canst, thou hear; and save him, who thy hests, And witnest will wil keep: if undefilĕd requests Morns dawning oft; if oft my waking thoughts prevent Nights watches, towărd thy woord, their hope, in muzing bent.

LO, fainting voice to thee my still unfainting hart Sends up: send doun thy strength: and Prince of grace who art, Revive me' as is thy wont. See, neer towărd me they draw, Who mischief dire pursue; far they from (Lord) thy law. But thou art neer: whose hests for never-changing trueth Long since thy teaching woord assurĕd my learning youth.

RESCH.

AT length let pityĭng ey respect afflicted wight. And thow, mans hart who seest, art conscious of my right, And pressing fo observĕst; plead thow my cause; and free Soule cheered through thy woord, addicted whole to thee. Thy mercies Lord are wide: yet far from godles crue; Who seek not thee, nor way to bliss that leads pursue.

BUT mee thy doom revive: whom now persuing foes, Not faithles to thy woord, with swarming troops encloze. O grief! myn ey to see men break thy rightĕous law; Despize celestiăl bliss: in lines of love which draw Thy servants soule: see Lord; and quickĕn them with thy grace, Who iust, eternal woord, trueths sum, with ioy embrace

SCHIN.

VVITH causeles hate, ô Lord, and not unwronging swoord, Have Princes mee persuĕd: yet aw of heavĕnli woord My hart restraind from sin. O woord, whose ioys more draw, My ly-detesting mynd, and mynd that loves thy law, Then ioy which Princes gifts, or foes rich spoils can bring! Sevĕn times yea daily I thy righteŏus iudgements sing.

IN throng of worldli waves, which sweet of life devour, Their mynds stil calm abide, no scandal there hath powĕr, Where love of thee directs. Lo then thy saving grace My hoping eys attend: sole thow his love embrace, Whose pure affection seeks thy pleasure to fulfill. I fain not, Lord: my ways, yea hart, thou vieust at will.

THAV.

THEN let at length approach, ô Lord, my fainting cry; Vouchsafe my suit access: sole understanding I, And riddance from my foes, (which promized hast,) require. Thus taught thy will, and free; towărd thee my quick desire Shal spring; my lips thy praise, glad tong thy woord shal sound, Where trueth, where wisdom pure, where statutes iust abound.

LET then thy hand now help; if not with cold pursuit Salvation thyn I seek. Vouchsafe me Lord this fruit Of making thee my hope, thy law my choise delight; O let my soule yet live, preserv'd from tyrants might; And it shal praize thy name. Seek then thy straying sheep, Who wandring now, as lost, yet strives thy law to keep.