The Book of Psalms in metre close and proper to the Hebrew, smooth and pleasant for the metre, plain and easie for the tunes : with musical notes, arguments, annotations, and index : fitted for the ready use and understanding of all good Christians.

PSAL. CIII.

York tune.

An exhortation to praise God for his incom∣parable mercies to his Church and chil∣dren.

MY soul I charge thee to express The Lords renown and fame: Let all within me praise and bless His great and sacred name. [verse 2] Forget not all his benefits, But bless the Lord my soul: [verse 3] VVho thine offences all remits And makes thee sound and whole. [verse 4] Who hath redeem'd thee from the dead, Destruction threatning sore: VVith loving kindness crown'd thy head, And tender mercies store. [verse 5] VVho with his gifts large multitude, Thy mouth sufficing, fils:

So that thy youth is now renew'd, As Eagles casting bills.* 1.1 [verse 6] The Lord doth judgment execute, And righteousness conclude: For persons that are destitute, Opprest by tyrants rude. [verse 7] His ways to Moses he made known, His acts to Isr'els seed: [verse 8] The Lord's a very gracious one, And mercifull indeed. To anger slow, aboundless deep Of mercies multipli'd: [verse 9] He will not always anger keep, Nor everlasting chide. [verse 10] He hath not dealt as our offence, And wickedness hath bin: Nor given us due recompence, According to our sin. [verse 11] For as the heav'nly Orbs appear The earth so far above: So great to them that do him fear, Is Gods surpassing love. [verse 12] The sins whereby we have transgrest, Removing, by his grace, As far from us, as East and West Are separate in space.

2. Part.

Argument.

He magnifies the sweet compassion of God, exhorts all creatures to praise him for his greatnes also.

[verse 13] AS fathers are compassionate Unto their children dear: So God doth them commiserate

That truly do him fear. [verse 14] For he remembers we are dust, Our crasie frame he knows: [verse 15] The days of man resemble just The grass which short time grows. He prospers as a flower in field, [verse 16] Which, when the winds pass ore, Is perisht, and the place can yield No knowledge of it more. [verse 17] But lo, the Lords abundant grace, Eternitie doth fill: His constant righteousness takes place To childrens children still. [verse 18] To every person that consents To keep his cov'nant true: And thinks on his commandements, For observation due. [verse 19] In heaven, as a glorious King, The Lord hath set his throne: And over every kind of thing, His kingdom rules alone. [verse 20] Ye Angels that in strength excell, And Gods commandments do: That know his voice and word so well, Still hearkning thereunto. [verse 21] Bless ye the Lord, ô bless him still, Ye glorious hoasts of his: Ye Ministers that do fulfill What ere his pleasure is.* 1.2 [verse 22] Yea all his works both far and neer, Bless ye the Lords great Name: Through his Dominions every where, My soul bless thou the same.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Her bill in old age grows so crooked, she cannot eat till it fall off and then she revives. Psal. 147. 29.
• * 1.2

  Numerous Angels.