A paraphrase upon the Psalms of David by George Sandys ; set to new tunes for private devotion and a thorough-base for voice or instrument by Henry Lawes ; and in this edition carefully revised and corrected from many errors which passed in former impressions by John Playford.

PSALM CV.

TO God,* 1.1 O pay your vows; invoke his Name, And to the World his noble Acts proclame! O sing his praises in immortal Verse, And his stupendious Miracles rehearse! You Saints, rejoyce, and glory in his Grace; His power adore; for ever seek his Face. Old Abrahams Seed, you Sons of the Elect; You Israelites; O you, who God affect, Report the Wonders by his finger wrought, When in your cause th' inferiour creatures fought. Jehovah rules the many-peopled Earth; His judgement known to all of humane birth. He never will forget his Promise past; His Covenants inviolable last, Which he to faithful Abraham made before, And after to the holy Isaac swore: To Iacob sign'd, confirm'd to Israel; That their large Off-spring should in Canaan dwell. When they, but few in number, wandered In unknown Regions, and their Cattel fed: He did their lives from violence protect, And for their sakes even mighty Princes checkt. Touch not, said he, my Anointed; fear to wrong Those sacred Prophets, who to Me belong.

When raging Famine in these Climates reign'd,* 1.2 He broke the Staff of Bread, which life sustain'd: But Ioseph sent before them; sold to save His Brethren, by whose envy made a slave. There for th' Accusers guilt in prison thrown; With galling fetters bound, for crimes unknown;

Try'd with affliction, at the time decreed, At once by Pharoah 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 Iacob into Egypt came, And sojourn'd in the fruitful Fields of Ham. God in that Land his people multiply'd; Their Foes, which now their greater strength envy'd, Hate what they fear; he alienates their hearts, To seek their ruin by deceitful Arts.

* 1.3Then Moses on a sacred Embassie And Aaron sent; th' Elect of the most High. There wrought his dreadful Wonders; from the Isle Of Sea-girt Pharo's, to the Falls of Nile. He bade Cimmerian darkness dim the Day: Th' assembled Vapours his commands obey. He their seven chanell'd Waters turn'd to Blood; The Fishes strangled in their native Flood. 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, crawl on the ground. He storms of killing Hail, for Showers, bestows; And from the breaking clouds his lightning throws: Blasts all the Vines, and Fig-trees in the Land; The Woods, with Tempests torn, or naked stand. Innumerable Locusts these succeed; And Caterpillars on their leavings feed: They bite the tender Herb, the bud, and flower; And all the verdure of the Earth Devour.

Their Strength (the First-born) slew: which fill'd their ears With Female screeches, and their hearts with fears.

Then He the Hebrews out of Goshen brought,* 1.4 In able health, with Gold and Silver fraught. Th' Inhabitants, whose tears augment the Nile, At their departure Joy, and Fear exile. A Cloud to shade them from the Sun was spread; And Nightly by a flaming Pillar led. At their request he sends them showers of Quails; And Bread from Heaven, like Coriander, hails▪ Cleaves the hard Rocks, from whence a Fountain flows, And unknown Rivers to those Deserts shows: For he his sacred Promise call'd to mind, To Abraham his Friend and Servant sign'd. Thus he his People brought from servitude, Whose long-felt miseries in joy conclude. From hence the Heathen by our Weapons chac'd; And us his sons in their possessions plac'd: That from his Statutes we might never swerve. O praise the Lord, and him devoutly serve!

Notes

• * 1.1

  As the 72.
• * 1.2

  Part 2.
• * 1.3

  Part 3.
• * 1.4

  Part 4.