A paraphrase upon the divine poems. By George Sandys

A PARAPHRASE VPON THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE PSALMES OF DAVID.

PSALME XC.

As the 34.

O Thou the Father of us all, Our refuge from th'Originall; That wert our God, before The aëry Mountaines had their birth, Or Fabricke of the peopled Earth; And art for evermore.

But fraile man, daily dying, must At thy Command returne to Dust: Or should he Ages last; Ten thousand yeares are in thy sight But like a quadrant of the Night, Or as a Day that's past.

He by the Torrent swept from hence; An empty Dreame, which mocks the Sense, And from the Phansie flies: Such as the beauty of the Rose, Which in the dewy Morning blows, Then hangs the head and dies.

Through daily anguish we expire: Thy anger a consuming Fire, To our offences due. Our sinnes (although by Night conceal'd, By shame, and feare) are all reveal'd, And naked to thy view.

Thus in thy wrath our yeares we spend; And like a sad discourse they end, Nor but to seventy last: Or if to eighty they arrive, We then with Age, and Sicknesse strive; Cut off with winged haste.

[Part. 2] Who knowes the terror of thy wrath, Or to thy dreadfull anger hath Proportion'd his due feare? Teach us to number our fraile Daies, That we our hearts to Thee may raise, And wisely sinne forbeare.

Lord, O how long! at length relent! And of our miseries repent; Thy Early Mercy shew: That we may unknowne comfort taste: For those long daies in sorrow past, As long of joy bestow.

The works of thy accustom'd Grace Shew to thy Servants: on their Race Thy chearefull beames reflect, O let on us thy Beauty shine! Blesse our attempts with aide divine, And by thy Hand direct.

PSALME XCI.

As the 9.

VVHo makes th'Almighty his retreat, Shall rest beneath his shady Wings; Free from th'oppression of the Great, The rage of Warre, or wrath of Kings. Free from the cunning Fowlers traine; The tainted aires infectious breath: His Truth in perils shall susteine, And shield thee from the stroke of Death. No terrors shall thy sleeps affright; Nor deadly flying Arrowes slay: Nor Pestilence devoure by Night, Or Slaughter massacre by Day. A thousand and ten thousand shall Sinke on thy Right hand and thy Left: Yet thou secure shall see their fall; By vengeance, of their lives bereft.

Since God thou hast thy Refuge made, And do'st to him thy Vowes direct; No evill shall thy strength invade, Nor wasting plagues thy roofe infect. Thee shall his Angels safely guide; Upheld by winged Legions, Left thou at any time should'st slide. And dash thy Foot against the Stones. Thou on the Basiliske shalt tread; The Mountaine Lion boldly meet, And trample on the Dragons Head; The Leopard prostrate at thy Feet. Since he hath fix't his love on me, Saith God, and walked in my wayes; I will his Soule from danger free, And from the reach of Envie raise. To him I his desires will give; From danger guard; in honour place: He long, long happily shall live, And flourish in my saving Grace.

PSALME XCII.

As the 29.

THou, who art inthron'd above; Thou, by whom we live, and move; O how sweet, how excellent, Is't with tongue and hearts consent, Thankefull hearts and joyfull tongues, To renowne thy Name in Songs! When the Morning paints the Skies, When the sparkling Starres arise; Thy high favours to rehearse, Thy firme faith, in gratefull Verse, Take the Lute, and Violin; Let the solemne Harpe begin; Instruments strung with ten strings; While the Silver Cimbal rings. From thy VVorkes my joy proceeds: How I triumph in thy Deeds! VVho thy Wonders can expresse! All thy Thoughts are fathomlesse; Hid from Men in Knowledge blinde; Hid from Fooles to Vice inclin'd. Who that Tyrant Sin obey; Though they spring like Flowers in May Parch't with Heat, and nipt with Frost, Soone shall fade, for ever lost.

[Part. 2] Lord, thou art most Great, most High; Such from all Eternitie. Perish shall thy Enemies, Rebels that against thee rise. All, who in their Sins delight, Shall be scatter'd by thy Might. But thou shalt exalt my Horne, Like a youthfull Vnicorn; Fresh and fragrant Odors shed On thy crowned Prophets head. I shall see my Foes defeat, Shortly heare of their retreat: But the Just like Palmes shall flourish, VVhich the Plains of Judah nourish: Like tall Cedars mounted on Cloud ascending Lebanon. Plants set in thy Court, below Spread their roots, and upwards grow; Fruit in their Old-age shall bring; Ever fat and flourishing. This Gods Justice celebrates; He, my Rocke, Injustice hates.

PSALME XCIII.

As the 47.

NOw great Jehovah raignes, VVith Majesty aray'd; His Power all powers restraines, By men and gods obey'd. The round Earth hung In liquid Aire; Establisht there But by his Tongue.

Thy Throne more old then Time, And after, as before. The Flouds in billowes clime, And foming loudly rore. VVith horrid Noise The Ocean raves, And breaks his Waves Against the Skies.

But thou more to be fear'd, More terrible then these: Thy Voice in Thunder heard;

Thy Nod rebukes the Seas. Thee Truth renowns; Pure Sanctitie Eternally Thy Temple crowns.

PSALME XCIV.

As the 10.

GReat God of Hosts revenge our Wrong On those, who are in Mischiefe strong. Vpon thy Foes Inflict our VVoes: For Vengeance doth to Thee belong. Judge of the World, prevent The Proud and Insolent.

How long shall they the Just oppresse, And triumphin their Wickednesse! How long supplant! Ah! how long vaunt, And glory in their dire successe! Thy Saints asunder break, Insulting o're the Weak!

Who Strangers, and poore VViddowes kill; The blood of wretched Orphans spill: And say, Can he Or heare, or see? Doth God regard what's good or ill? Brute Beasts, without a mind! O Fools in knowledge blind!

Shall not th'Almighty see and heare, VVho form'd the Eye, and fram'd the Eare? VVho Nations slew, Not punish you? VVho taught, not know? to him appeare Darke Counsels, secret Fires, Vaine Hopes, and vast Desires.

[Part. 2] But O! thrice blessed he, whom God Chastiseth with his gentle Rod; Informes, and awes By sacred Lawes. In stormes brought to a safe aboad: VVhile the Unrighteous shall By winged Vengeance fall.

For he will not forsake th'Elect; Nor who adore his Name reject: But Judgement then Shall turne agen To Justice, and her Throne Erect: VVho are in Heart upright Shall follow that cleare Light.

VVhat mortall will th'Afflicted aid? Depend when impious Foes invade? Lord, hadst not thou, My Soule ere now In silent shades of Death had laid: For he my Out-cries heard; And from the Centre rear'd.

VVhen Griefe my labouring Soule confounds; Thou powrest Balme into her wounds. Shall Tyrannie VVith thee complie? VVho Mischiefe for a Law propounds? VVho swarme to circumvent, And doome the Innocent.

But thou, O Lord, art my Defence, My Refuge, and my Recompence. The Vicious shall By Vices fall; By their owne Sinnes be swept from hence. God shall cut off their breath, And give them up to Death.

PSALME XCV.

As the 34.

COme Sing the great Jehovah's Praise, VVhose Mercies have prolong'd our Dayes; Sing with a joyfull voyce. VVith bending Knees, and raised Eyes Adore your God: ô sacrifice; In sacred Hymnes rejoyce.

Great is the God of our Defence, Transcending all in eminence: His Hand the Earth sustaines; The Depths, the loftie Mountaines made; The Land and liquid Plaines displaid, And curbs them with his Reines.

O come, before his Foot-stoole fall, Our onely God, who form'd us all; Through Stormes of danger led. He is our Shepheard, we his Sheepe; His Hands from Wolves and Rapine keepe, In pleasant Pastures fed.

The Voice of God thus spake this Day; Repine not as at Meribah, As in the Wildernesse: Where your Fore-fathers tempted me; Who did my Workes of Wonder see, And to their shame confesse.

VVhen vex't for fortie yeares, I said; This People in their hearts have strai'd; Rebellious to command: To whom I in my Anger swore, That Death should seise on them, before They knew this pleasant Land.

PSALME XCVI.

As the 29.

NEw composed Ditties sing To our Everlasting King: You, all you of Humane birth, Fed and nourisht by the Earth, Celebrate Jehovah's Praise, Daily his Deliveries blase. His Glory let the Gentiles know; To the VVorld his wonders show. O how gracious! ô how great! Earth his Foot-stoole, Heaven his Seat. To be fear'd and honor'd more Then those gods, whom Fooles adore; Idols by their Servants made: But our God the Heavens display'd. Honour, Beautie, Power Divine, In his Sanctuarie shine. All, who by his Favour live, Glory to Jehovah give; Glory due unto his Name, And his Mightie Deeds proclame. Offerings on his Altar lay; There your Vowes devoutly pay.

In his beauteous Holinesse [Part. 2] To the Lord your Prayer addresse. All, whom Earths round shoulders beare, Serve the Lord with Joy and Feare. Tell Mankinde, Jehovah raignes: He shall bind the world in Chaines, So as it shall never slide; And with sacred Justice guide. Let the smiling Heavens rejoyce; Joyfull Earth exalt her Voice: Let the dancing Billowes rore; Ecchoes answer from the Shore: Fields their flowrie Mantles shake; All shall in their Joy partake: VVhile the VVoods Musicians sing To the ever-youthfull Spring. Fill his Courts with sacred Mirth; He, He comes to judge the Earth. Justly He the VVorld shall sway, And his Truth to men display.

PSALME XCVII.

As the 8.

O Earth! joy in Jehovah's Raigne; You numerous Iles, claspt by the Maine. Him rolling Clouds and Shades infold. Judgement and Truth his Throne uphold. VVho fierie Darts before him throwes; VVith winged flames consumes his Foes. His Lightning made a Day of Night; Earth trembled at so fear'd a sight. The Mountaines at his Presence sweat, Like pliant VVax dissolv'd with Heat; At his Descension from the Skie, VVho rules the VVorlds great Monarchie. The Heavens declare his Righteousnesse; His Glorie wondering men confesse. Let those with shame to Hell descend, VVhose Knees to cursed Idols bend; VVhose rockes for Deities implore: O all you gods, our God adore. Rejoycing Sion heard her King: Her Daughters of his Judgements sing. Thou art exalted above all Mankinde, and Pow'rs Angelicall.

Those Saints thy shady Wings protect, VVho Sin abhorre, and thee affect. For thou hast sown the Seeds of Light, And joy, which shall invest th'Vpright. You Just, your joyfull Hearts elate; His blest Memoriall celebrate.

PSALME XCVIII.

As the 47.

SING to the King of kings, Sing in unusuall Laies; That hath wrought wondrous things, His Conquest crown with Praise: Whose Armes alone, And sacred Hands, Their impious Bands Have overthrown.

He Justice brings to light; His saving Truth extends, Even in the Gentiles sight, To Earths remotest Ends. His Heavenly Grace At full displayd, And promise made To Jacobs Race.

Let all that dwell on Earth Their high Affections raise, VVith universall Mirth, And loudly sing his Praise: To Musick joyne The warbling Voice, Let all rejoyce With Joy divine.

The sprightly Trumpet sound; The shrill-voic'd Cornet bring: Let all with Joy abound Before the Lord our King. Rore out you Seas, You spangled Skies, All you comprise, Rejoyce with these.

Flouds clap your thronging waves; You Hils exalt your mirth:

He, who his People saves, Now comes to judge the Earth: The round World shall VVith Justice trie; His Equitie Dispenst to all.

PSALME XCIX.

As the 29.

LEt our Foes with terrour quake; Let the Earths Foundation shake: Now the Lord his Raigne begins, Thron'd betweene the Cherubins. O how great in Sions Towers! High above all Mortall Powers. Great and terrible his Name: Since so holy, praise the same. Judgement his great Power affects; Yet by Equitie directs. These celestiall Twins imbrace; These reflect on Jacobs Race. O how holy! above all Honour; at his Foot-stoole fall, Moses: Aaron heretofore Among those who Mitres wore: Samuel by Vow desir'd, Among those who were inspir'd. These to him their Praiers preferr'd, These by him as soone were heard. These his Statutes rarely brake: Unto these th' Almightie spake, In the Pillar of a Cloud: To his Service ever vow'd. He did their Petitions heare, Mercifull, and yet severe. The Holy, on his holy Hill Glorifie, and worship still.

PSALME C.

As the 47.

All from the Suns uprise, Unto his Setting Raies, Resound in Jubilees The great Jehovah's Praise. Him serve alone; In triumph bring Your Gifts, and sing Before his Throne.

Man drew from Man his Birth, But God his noble Frame Built of the ruddy Earth, Fill'd with caelestiall Flame. His Sons we are; Sheep by him led, Preserv'd, and fed With tender care.

O, to his Portals presse In your divine resorts: VVith Thanks his Power professe, And praise him in his Courts. How good! how pure! His Mercies last: His promise past For ever sure.

PSALME CI.

As the 46.

OF Justice I and Mercy sing, Which, Lord, from thee, their Fountain spring; The Graces that adorn a King.

Grave Wisdome shall my steps direct, No Vice my heart nor Roofe infect. When wilt thou visit thine Elect!

No pleasure shall mine eyes misguide: Who from the Tract of Vertue slide, Just Hate shall from my Soul divide.

Who mischief in their Hearts contrive, Delight in Wrong, in Factions strive, I from my peacefull Court will drive.

Who hath his Friend with Slander strook, I will cut off; nor ever brook A proud Heart, and a haughty Look.

Mine Eyes the Faithfull shall observe; Those in my Family shall serve, Who never from pure Vertue swerve,

But who are exercis'd in Guile, Whose Tongues malicious Lies defile, I from my Presence will exile.

And all the VVicked in the Land VVill cut off with a timely Hand; Nor shall they in Gods Citie stand.

PSALME CII.

As the 22.

ACcept my Prayers, nor to the Cry Of my Affliction stop thine Eare: Lord, in the time of Misery And sad restraint serene appeare: The Sighings of my Spirit heare; And when I call, with speed reply.

As Smoke, so fleets my Soule away; My marrow dry'd, as Harths with heat: My heart struck down, like withered Hay; Through Sorrow I forsake my meat, While meagre cares my Liver eate: The clinging Skin my Bones display.

Like Desert-haunting Pelicans; In Cities not lesse desolate: Like Screech-Owles, who with ominous straines Disturb the Night, and day-light hate: A Sparrow which hath lost his Mate, And on a Pinacle complaines.

Reviling Foes my Honour blast, And frantick men my ruine sweare. For Bread, I roll'd-on ashes tast; Each drop I drink mixt with a teare. For, Lord, O who thy Wrath can beare Thou raisest, and dost head-long cast.

My Daies short, as the Evening shade; As Morning Dew consume away: As Grasse cut downe with Sithes, I fade, Or like a flower cropt yesterday But, Lord thou suffer'st no decay: Thy Promises shall never vade.

For thou shalt from thy Rest arise, (Since now th'appointed time drawes neare) And look on Sions miseries, Her Walls and batter'd Buildings reare; VVhose ruins to thy Saints are deare; For they her Dust as sacred prise.

[Part. 2] Thy Name then shall the Gentiles praise; All Kings thy Honour celebrate: For when the Lord shall Sion raise, His Glory shall ascend in State: So prone to heare the Desolate, And succour them in all assaies.

Unto eternall Memory Our Histories shall this record; And all that are created by His pow'rfull Hand, shall feare the Lord, Who doth such Grace to his afford, And on the Earth looks from on high;

To heare the pensive Captives grone; The Sons of Death by him unbound: His Name againe in Sion known, That Salem may his Praise resound: When in his Service all the Round Of Earth shall there be joyn'd in one.

Yet, Lord, amidst these Hopes thou hast Consum'd my strength, abridg'd my yeares: Before my Noon of Life be past Let me not die thus drown'd in teares. Time wasts not thee, which all out-weares; Thy happy Daies for ever last.

Thou mad'st the Earth, thou didst display The Heavens in various motion roll'd: These and their Glories shall decay; But thou shalt thy existence hold: They like a Garment shall grow old, And in their changes passe away.

But thou art still the same: before The World, and after shalt remaine. You blessed Soules, who God adore, VVith Patient Hope your harmes sustaine: For you shall prosper in his Reign And yours, subsist for evermore.

PSALME CIII.

As the 8.

MY Soule, and all my Faculties Jehovah praise; sing till the Skies

Re-eccho his ascending Fame: My Soule, O celebrate his Name! Nor ever let the memory Of his surpassing Favours die. He gently pardons our misdeeds, And cures the VVound which inward bleeds. Hath from the Chains of Death unbound; With Clemency and Mercy crown'd. VVith Food our Hunger he subdues: And Eagle-like our Youth renues. His Justice he extends to all; Oppressors by his Vengeance fall. His sacred Paths to Moses shown; His Miracles to Israel known: From Him the Springs of Mercy flow; Swift to forgive, to anger slow. For he will not for ever chide; Nor constant to his VVrath abide: But mildly from his Rage relents, And shortens our due Punishments. For as the Heavens in amplitude Exceed the Centre they include: So ample is his Clemencie To all who on his Grace relie. [Part. 2] As farre as the bright Orient Is distant from the Suns Descent; So farre he sets from his Aspect Their Cuilt, who him with feare affect. And as a Father to his Child, So soft, so quickly reconcil'd. He knowes the Fabrick of us all; That dust is our Originall. Man flourisheth like Grasse, a Flower That blowes and withers in an houre: By scorching heat, by blasting Wind Deflowr'd, and leaves no print behind. But his firme Mercy shall imbrace His Saints for ever, and their Race: Those who his equall Lawes fulfill, Remember, and performe his VVill. In Heaven the great Jehovah reigns, And governs all that Earth contains: You Angels, who in strength exceed, VVho him obey with winged speed; You ordred Hosts of radiant Stars; O you his flaming Ministers;

All, whom his VVisdome did create; Through his large Empire celebrate His glorious Name with sweet accord: Joyne thou, my Soule, to praise the Lord.

PSALME CIV.

As the 72.

MY ravisht Soule, great God, thy praises sings; VVhom Glory circles with her radiant VVings, And Majesty invests: then Day more bright; Cloth'd with the beames of new-created Light. He, like an all-infolding Canopy, Fram'd the vast concave of the spangled Skie: And in the Aire-embraced Waters set The Basis of his hanging Cabinet. VVho on the Clouds, as on a Chariot, rides; And with a reine the flying Tempest guides. Bright Angels his attendant Spirits made; By flame-dispersing Seraphims obey'd. The ever-fixed Earth cloth'd with the Floud; In whose calme bosome unseene Mountains stood; At his rebuke it shrunke with sudden dread, And from his voices Thunder swiftly fled. Then Hils their late concealed Heads extend, And sinking Valleies to their Feet descend. The trembling VVaters through their bottomes winde, Till they the Sea, their Nurse and Mother, finde. He to the swelling Waves prescribes a bound; Lest Earth againe should by their rage be drown'd. Springs through the pleasant Medows powre their drils, VVhich Snake-like glide betweene the bordring Hils; Till they to Rivers grow; where beasts of prey Their thirst asswage, and such as man obey. [Part. 2] In neighbouring Groves the Ayr's Musicians sing, And with their Musicke entertaine the Spring. He from coelestiall Casements showres distills, And with renew'd increase his Creatures fills. He makes the food-full Earth her fruit produce; For Cattell grasse, and Herbs for humane use. The spreading Vine long purple clusters bears, VVhose juyce the hearts of pensive Mortals chears: Fat Olives smooth our browes with suppling Oyle; And strengthning Corne rewards the Reapers toile. His Fruit affording trees with sap abound. The Lord hath Lebanon with Cedars crown'd: They to the warbling Birds a shelter yield, And wandring Storks in lofty Fir-trees build.

Wild Goats to craggy Cliffs for refuge flie; And Conies in the Rocks darke entrails lie. He guides the changing Moones alternate face: The Suns diurnall and his annuall Race. T'was he that made the all-informing Light; And with darke shadowes cloths the aged Night. Then Beasts of prey breake from their Mountaine Caves; The roring Lion pinch't with hunger craves Food from his hand. But when Heavens greatest Fire. Obscures the Stars, they to their dens retire. Men with the Morning rise, to labour prest; Toile all the Day, at Night returne to rest. [Part. 3] Great God! how manifold, how infinite Are all thy works! with what a cleere fore-sight Didst thou create and multiply their birth! Thy riches fill the far extended Earth. The ample Sea; in whose unfathom'd Deep Innumerable sorts of Creatures creep: Bright-scaled Fishes in her Entrailes glide, And high-built Ships upon her bosome ride: About whose sides the crooked Dolphin playes, And monstrous Whales huge spouts of water raise. All on the Land, or in the Ocean bred, On Thee depend; in their due season fed. They gather what thy bounteous Hands bestow, And in the Summer of thy Favour grow. When thou contract'st thy clouded Brows, they mourn; And dying, to their former dust return. Againe created by thy quickning breath, To resupply the Massacres of Death. No Tract of Time his Glory shall destroy: He in th'Obedience of his Works shall joy: But when their wild revolts his Wrath provoke, Earth trembles, and the aery Mountains smoke. I all my life will my Creator praise; And to his Service dedicate my Daies. May he accept the Musicke of my Voice, While I with sacred Harmony rejoyce. Hence you profane, who in your Sins delight; God shall extirp, and cast you from his Sight. My Soule, blesse thou this all-commanding King: You Saints and Angels, Hallelu-jah sing.

PSALME CV.

As the 72.

TO God O pay your vowes; invoke his Name, And to the VVorld his noble Acts proclaime!

O sing his praises in immortall Verse, And his stupendious Miracles rehearse! You Saints, rejoyce, and glory in his Grace; His power adore; for ever seeke his Face. Old Abrahams Seed, you Sons of the Elect; You Israelites; O you, who God affect, Report the Wonders by his finger wrought, VVhen in your cause th'inferiour creatures fought. Jehovah rules the many-peopled Earth; His judgement knowne to all of humane birth. He never will forget his Promise past; His Covenants inviolable last, VVhich he to faithfull Abraham made before, And after to the holy Isaac swore: To Jacob sign'd, confirm'd to Israel; That their large Off-spring should in Canaan dwell. VVhen they, but few in number, wandered In unknowne Regions, and their Cattell fed: He did their lives from violence protect, And for their sakes even mighty Princes checkt. Touch not, said he, my Anointed: feare to wrong Those sacred Prophets, who to Me belong. [Part. 2] VVhen raging Famine in these Climats reign'd, He broke the Staffe of Bread, which life sustain'd: But Joseph sent before them; sold to save His Brethren, by whose envy made a slave. There for th'Accusers guilt in prison throwne; With galling fetters bound, for crimes unknowne; Tri'd with affliction, at the time decreed, At once by Pharaoh both advanc'd and freed. He of his houshold gave him the command, And made him Ruler over all his Land: His Princes to his government Subjects. The prudent Youth grave Senators directs. Then aged Jacob into Egypt came, And sojourn'd in the fruitfull Fields of Ham. God in that Land his people multipli'd; Their Foes, which now their greater strength envi'd, Hate what they feare: he alienates their hearts, To seeke their ruine by deceitfull Arts. Then Moses on a sacred Embassie [Part. 3] And Aaron sent; th'Elect of the most High. There wrought his dreadfull Wonders; from the Ile Of Sea-girt Pharo's to the Fals of Nile. He bade Cimmerian darknesse dim the Day: Th'assembled Vapours his commands obey.

He their seven chanel'd VVaters turn'd to Bloud; The Fishes strangled intheir native Floud. Frogs from the slimy, Earth in Millions spring; And skip about the Chambers of the King. All parts with swarms of noisome Flies abound: And Lice, like quickned dust, crawle on the ground. He storms of killing Haile, for Showers, bestowes; And from the breaking clouds his lightning throws: Blasts all the Vines, and Fig-trees in the Land; The VVoods, with Tempests torne, or naked stand. Innumerable Locusts these succeed; And Caterpillars on their leavings feed: They bite the tender Herbe, the bud, and flower; And all the virdure of the Earth devoure. Their Strength (the First-borne) slew: which fill'd their eares VVith Female screeches, and their hearts with feares. [Part. 4] Then He the Hebrews out of Goshen brought, In able health, with Gold, and Silver fraught. Th'inhabitants, whose teares augment the Nile, At their departure Joy, and Feare exile. A Cloud to shade them from the Sun was spread; And Nightly by a flaming Pillar led. At their request he sends them showres of Quailes; And Bread from Heaven, like Coriander, hailes. Cleaves the hard Rocks, from whence a Fountaine flowes, And unknowne Rivers to those Deserts showes: For he his sacred Promise call'd to minde, To Abraham his Friend and Servant sign'd. Thus he his People brought from servitude, VVhose long-felt miseries in joy conclude. From hence the Heathen by our Weapons chac'd; And us his sonnes in their possessions plac'd: That from his Statutes we might never swerve. O praise the Lord, and him devoutly serve!

PSALME CVI.

As the 72.

VVITH gratefull hearts Jehovahs praise resound; In goodnesse great; whose Mercy hath no bound. VVhat Language can expresse his mighty deeds, Or utter his due praise, which words exceeds! Thrice blessed they, who his commands observe, Nor ever from the tract of Justice swerve. Great God, O with benevolent aspect (Even with the love thou bear'st to thine Elect) Behold and succour; That my ravisht Eyes May see a period of their miseries,

VVho Thee adore: that I may give a voice To thy great Acts, and in their joy rejoyce. We as our Fathers, have thy Grace exil'd; Revolted, and our Souls with Sin defil'd. They, of thy Miracles in Egypt wrought, So full of Feare and Wonder, never thought; Thy Mercies, then their haires in number, more: But murmur'd on the Erythraean Shore. Yet for his Honour sav'd them from the Foe, That all the VVorld his wondrous Power might know. There the commanded Sea asunder rent, VVhile Israel through his dusty Chanel went: VVhom He from Pharaoh and his Army saves; The swift-returning Flouds their fatall Graves. [Part. 2] Then they his VVord believ'd, and sung his Praise; Yet soone forgot: and wandred from his VVaies. VVho long for flesh to pamper their excesse; And tempt him in the barren Wildernesse. He grants their wish, and with a Flight of Fowles Sent meager Death into their hungry Soules. They, Moses gentle Government, oppose; And envy Aaron, whom the Lord had chose. The yawning Earth then in her silent womb Did Dathan and Abirams Troups intomb. A swiftly-spreading Fire among them burnes, And those Conspirators to Ashes turnes. Yet they, the slaves of Sin in Horeb made A Calfe of Gold, and to an Idol prai'd. The Lord, their Glory, thus exchanged they For th'Image of a Beast that feeds on Hay: Forgot their Saviour, all his Wonders shown In Zoan, and the Plains by Nile o'reflown; The VVonders acted by his pow'rfull Hand; VVhere the Red-Sea obey'd his stern Command. God had pronounc'd their ruine: Moses then, His Servant Moses, and the best of Men, Stood in the Breach, which their Rebellion made; And by his Prayer the hand of Vengeance staid. [Part. 3] Yea they this fruitfull Paradise despis'd, Nor his so-oft-confirmed Promise priz'd: But mutined against their faithfull Guide, And basely wisht they had in Egypt dy'd. For this, the Lord advanc'd his dreadfull Hand, To overthrow them on th'Arabian Sand; To scatter their rebellious Seed among Their Foes; expos'd to Poverty and Wrong.

Besides; Baal-Peor they ador'd, and fed On Sacrifices offer'd to the Dead. Thus their Impieties the Lord incense, Who smote them with devouring Pestilence. But when with noble anger Phinees slew The bold Offenders, He his Plagues with-drew. This was reputed for a righteous Deed, Which should for ever consecrate his Seed. So they at Meribah his Anger mov'd; The sacred Prophet for their sakes reprov'd: Their Cries his Saint-like sufferance provoke; Who rashly in his Soules distemper spoke, Nor ever entred the affected Land. They, still rebellious to divine Command, Preserv'd those Nations by his Wrath subdu'd; Mixt with the Heathen, and their Sins pursu'd. Their cursed Idols serve with Rites profane, (Snares to their Soule) and from no Crime abstaine. Their Sons and Virgin daughters sacrifice [Part. 4] To Divels; and looke on with tearelesse eyes. Defil'd the Land with innocent blood, which sprung From their owne loines, on flaming Altars flung. Vnto adulterate Deities they praid, And worshipped those Gods their hands had made. These crying Sins exasperate the Lord; VVho now his owne inheritance abhorr'd: Given up unto the Heathen for a Prey; Slaves to their Foes; who hate them most, obey. Deliver'd oft; as oft his Wrath provoke, And with increasing Sins renew their Yoke. Yet he compassionates their miseries, And with soft pity heares their mournfull Cries: His former Promise calls to mind, relents; And in his Mercy of his Wrath repents. In salvage Hearts unknowne Compassion bred, By whom but lately into thraldome led. Great God of gods, thy Votaries protect, And from among the Barbarous recollect: That we to Thee may dedicate our Daies, And joyntly triumph in thy glorious Praise. Blest, O for ever blest, be Israels King: All you his People, Halelu-jah sing.

Amen, Amen.