La scala santa, or, A scale of devotions musical and gradual being descants on the fifteen Psalms of Degrees, in metre : with contemplations and collects upon them, in prose, 1670.

CONTEMPLATIONS and COLLECTS ON THE First PSALM of DEGREES, BEING The CXX. PSALM.

O Lord, our Redeemer! a very present help in trouble, as I have found thee heretofore, blessed be thy powerful Com∣passion, so I desire to approve thee whensoever, as at this time, I cry unto thee to deliver my Soul. O God! I see that I am fallen into a dangerous Condition, by the Lies of the Serpent, the Treacheries of my own Flesh, and the Falshoods of the World, which I have sought and served, listened and trusted to, and so am justly appay'd with Cousenage and Disgrace, with Calumnies and Accusation. For what can be had from the Accuser of the Brethren, from the deceitfulness of Riches, and from the Cheats of all things here below, but disappointments, and vexation for such as follow lying Vanities; forsaking thy Mercies, and their own?

Alas! then woe is me! that I have heaped up such Coals of Ven∣geance on my own Head, and pierced my Heart through with so many Darts of Sorrow, by not delighting in the Tents of the Righteous, nor in the Tabernacles of thy Holiness, but in the Dwellings of Un∣godliness, and in the House of the Accursed; so that I have deserved indeed to be made a Vagabond like Cain, and a Slave like Cham, in a perpetual Banishment from Comfort, and in a Captivity unto Sin, by having my Conversation according to the evil fashion of this Age.

But, Lord! how long; how long shall I sojourn, either amongst the Enemies of thy Grace, or of my Peace? Amongst the Superstitious or Idolatrous? Amongst those who are after the way of Mesech? Or those who dwell in the black aboads of Kedar? O! prolong not my Danger and Unhappiness any more among them, nor protract my Wandrings with a backsliding People; for I seek Peace, Peace with Thee, with my own Conscience, and with all the World.

But can the Egyptian change his Skin? Had Zimri Peace, who slew his Master? No Lord. There is no Peace (thou hast said it) to the Wicked, who are at defiance with thee, and with themselves, and make War in the face of Heaven.

Therefore that I may find Peace, I seek thy Pardon, and my Soul's Purity, and desire thee to preserve me from the Pollutions and Snares of a perverse Generation, that dissemble as strange Children, that so (having no fellowship with the workers of Iniquity) I might live in the sweet Communion of thy Saints, and to be furthered by their Examples and Conversation in the way of Peace and Holiness.

For, Lord! I would be a pacifick Jacob, and dwell under the shadow of thy Wings, there accounting my self secure though I have no other

Covering. Thou art the best place to hide me in, and 'tis not my Sword or Bow shall settle or secure me, but thy Mercy, thy Grace, and thy Spirit. No strange Arms here can give me a certain or safe Abode, unless thou be on my side.

Therefore, dear God! whilst many rise up against me to trouble me, in saying, Where is thy God? (seeking to destroy me with their own quiet) be thou a God nigh at hand to deliver me from Treachery, Malice, Turbulence, and Hypocrisie. And while my Foes heap Coals of Fire on their own Heads by unjust Actions, and hard Speeches, let my Mouth be touched with a Coal from thine Altar, that I may know how to keep the Door of my Lips from all Cursing and Bitterness, Lying and Blasphemies, fraudulent and filthy Communication, and how to open it in Praying to thee, that I may find the Blessings of Peace within, above, abroad, about me, by Repentance of my Sins, Reforma∣tion of my Life, Regeneration of my Nature, and Reconciliation to thy Love.

O! let it suffice that I have stayed so long in their Habitations, where the Instruments of Cruelty remain, where I might have been drawn either unto base Earthly Sorrow and Distraction, or to foul Hellish Guilt and Desperation, and so to inevitable Destruction both of Soul and Body. Let it pity thee to see my poor Soul in such a Sink, such a Gaol and Mill, in such a nasty, vile, and slavish State as it hath endured. And do thou cover my Head while my Foes make them ready to Battel.

Then shall I be guarded from the strife of Tongues, from the contra∣diction of Sinners, from the reproach that I fear, and from Satan that is come forth against me with great wrath, because I have called on thy Name; while thou art not angry that I cry unto thee,

Our Father, &c.