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 CVI.

WIth grateful hearts Jehovahs praise re∣sound; In goodness great; whose Mercy hath no bound. What Language can express 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 ravish'd Eyes May see a period of their miseries, Who 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 Fear and Wonder, never thought; Thy Mercies, than their hairs in number, more: But murmur'd on the Erythraean Shore. Yet for his Honour sav'd them from the Foe, That all the World his wondrous Power might know. There the commanded Sea asunder rent, While Israel through his dusty Chanel went▪ Whom He from Phaeroah and his Army saves; The swift-returning Floods their fatal Graves.

Then they his Word believ'd, and sung his Praise; Yet soon forgot: and wandred from his Waies. Who long for flesh to pamper their excess; And tempt him in the barren Wilderness. He grants their wish, and with a Flight of Fowls, Sent meager Death into their hungry Souls. 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 Troops intomb. A swiftly-spreading Fire among them burns, And tho••e Conspirators to Ashes turns. Yet they, the slaves of Sin, in Horeb made A Calf of Gold, and to an Idol pray'd.

The Lord, their Glory, thus exchanged they For th' Image of a Beast that feeds on Hey: Forgot their Saviour, all his Wonders shown In Zoan, and the Plains by Nile o're-flown; The Wonders acted by his pow'rful Hand; Where the Red-Sea obey'd his stern Command. God hath pronounc'd their ruin: 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.

Yea they this fruitful Paradise despis'd, Nor his so-oft-confirmed Promise priz'd: But mutined against their faithful Guide, And basely wish'd, they had in Aegypt dy'd. For this, the Lord advanc'd his dreadful 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 Phineas 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 Souls 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 Soul) and from no Crime abstain.

Their Sons and Virgin daughters sacrifice To Devils; and look on with tearless eyes. Defil'd the Land with innocent blood, which sprung From their own loins, on flaming Altars flung. Unto adulterate Deities they pray'd, And worshipped those Gods their hands had made. These crying Sins exasperate the Lord; Who now his own 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 hears their mournful Cries: His former Promise calls to mind, relents; And in his Mercy, of his Wrath repents. In salvage Hearts unknown 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, Halelujah sing.

Amen, Amen.

Notes

• As th•• 72.
• Part 2.
• Part 3.
• Part 4.