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.

THE SECOND Psalm of Degrees, BEING The CXXI. PSALM,

Is an Act of Acquiescence and Trust in God's Power and Presence, made by David (as it is thought) when hunted like a Partridg on the Mountains; and pursued by Saul, when he made the 54^th, 55^th, and 57^th Psalm: And this, being much used by the Jews in Babylon, (as most suitable for times of Persecution or Sick∣ness) was at their going up from thence appointed to be one of their Psalms of Ascents, and therefore to be sung frequently, loudly, and by Responses; which occasioned this Composing it like an Anthem, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: The Stanza's being so pointed and divided as to answer alternately by Disticks (if it may better suit the Musick.)

The Title of it hath a difference from the rest, (as the Rabbins observe) being 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and not as in others 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉:

It may be stiled David's March, made by him (or some other considerable Person) while he kept the Field, either for the safety of his Flocks (as Jacob did), or of his Friends (as Abram): Thus did the Royal Shepherd, and sweet Singer of Israel exercise, and employ his Mind in the grateful Memory of the Divine Goodness. Well might he then here pray and hope like a Souldier, that God would be his Shade (as well as his Shield) as near to him as his shadow; that the Sun might not hurt him by Day, nor the Moon by Night, (as Absalom, and Achitophel, the one by Day, and the other by Night, intended to have done.)

And if we look on David, as he went up the Ascent of Mount Olivet: This Psalm was very proper for his Condition then, as it is for any Person's now, in the interval of War; the Phrases being throughout the whole Psalm Military; and allusive to Souldiers besieged, as in the first Verse; relieved, as in the second; all-arm'd, as in the third; secured, watched, and guarded, as in the fourth; shielded and surrounded, as in the fifth and sixth; in the seventh and eighth hemm'd in, and convoy'd out for Victory and Triumph.

For the Se∣cond of Sep∣tember and October.

〈♫〉〈♫〉

Here shall I seek for aid? where shall I set mine Eyes? mine Eyes and Pray'rs, like Birds afraid, up to the Hills would rise.

But whither would they rise? un—to some dangerous height? O no, this Quarry thither flies, whence springs our help, and light.

Nor hath our Health and Light From things below their Birth: But from the highest Rock of Might, Who made both Heav'n and Earth.

Therefore, though false foul Earth Thy Soul with Foes surround: Shall it be mov'd from holy Mirth? Shall Cares run it on Ground?

* 1.1Christ is the Ark to ground Thy Heart on, when distrest: From head to foot he'll make thee sound; * 1.2On him did Jacob rest.

* 1.3But he doth never rest From doing good, nor sleeps: * 1.4That with such Guards thou may'st be blest, As he his Israel keeps.

* 1.5Good Shepherd he doth keep His Flock, ev'n in Death's shade: See then (if thou art of his Sheep) How on thy side he's laid.

Though Dangers have way-laid Thy going out, or in: See how thy Husband's Arm's display'd, * 1.6To save thy very Skin.

* 1.7Like the three Children's Skin, Thine shall be scorch'd by none: Whatever Heat thou may'st be in, Whatever Star hath shown.

Nor shall the Moon, nor Sun Hurt thee, by Night or Day: No Mischief seen, nor closely done, Shall touch thee any way.

God shall preserve thy Ways And Mind, from all that's ill In Youth: And when thy Life decays, Blessed thou shalt be still.

Then trust and bless him still, Who endless Safety sends: God through this Vale of Sorrows, will Guide us to joyful ends.

The Entrance, Progress, Ends, Public and private Pow'rs; Labours, and Studies of his Friends, God blesses at all hours.

Then trust and bless him still, Who still did us defend: God doth, and ever will, * 1.8Give Blessings without end: (Give Blessings without end,) God doth and ever will; He still did us defend, Then trust and bless him still.

The Entrance, Progress, Ends, Public and private Pow'rs: And Works of all his Friends, God blesses: Lord bless Ours.

Gloria Patri, &c.

To God the Father, and the Son, And to the Holy-Ghost, Be Glory: And let ev'ry one Strive who shall praise God most.

CONTEMPLATIONS and COLLECTS ON THE Second PSALM of DEGREES, BEING The CXXI. PSALM.

I Will lift up my Heart to thee, O Lord! And though it be cast down with the dangers and diffidence I am in, while mine Af∣flictions and mine Enemies have cast a Mount about me, to hinder me from the sight and hope of Succour, yet have I God's Hill to fly unto; and from thy House I can survey the end of the Wicked, the Redemption of thy Captives, and the height of thy Power, that is higher than the highest. But O the depth of thy Love! What a pleasant Vale is this under it? How doth this smile and sing, and stand full of Corn, that strengthens Man's Heart? So that although I remain in the Valley of the shadow of Death, if I can but look up to the Rock that is higher than I, to Christ (the Shecinah) the true Mercy Seat, that is placed above the Cherubims, all Types and Symbols of his Pre∣sence, I shall neither lose my Faith, nor my Life; I shall not be discom∣fitted, nor enslaved like a surprized Zedekiah, I shall not be famished, nor broken up like a long besieged Jerusalem. Though mine Enemies hem me in on every side, and carnal Fear cause me to cry out (as the Prophet's Servant) What shall we do? Yet if I can but lift up mine Eyes to thee, which indeed are naturally as heavy as Moses his Hand, I shall perceive somewhat else besides Perils and Foes on every side, I shall find the Mountains full of Chariots of Fire, and more for me than can be against me. For an Host of Angels shall pitch their Tents about me to secure me, and those mighty Ministers of thy good pleasure shall keep me like Daniel from the power of the Lyon. So that my most Savage Enemies shall lack and suffer hunger, while I want nothing that is good. For though my way be hedged up that I cannot pass which way I would, nor follow the Lusts of my Heart, and the desires of mine Eyes, as many do, yet I may look up with joy and confidence (as I trust I shall) at the last day, because my Salvation is drawing nigh.

My Hope, my Help, cometh from the Lord, not from the Angels in his Presence, but from the Angel of his Presence, and of his Covenant, the Blessed JESUS, who having taken our Nature that he might be sensible of our Infirmities, ever abides with Humanity, at thy right Hand making Intercession for us. And as he made the Heavens and the Earth for us, so he makes a new Heaven and a new Earth of us, by justifying and sanctifying both our Souls and Bodies, through the mighty Work of his Spirit, in his Word and Sacraments: For these are the Mountains of the Lord, wherein he is apparently seen, Glorious in Holiness, Fearful in Praises, doing Wonders, and abounding in Good∣ness and Truth. If we Worship him (as our Fathers did) in these

Mountains, in the heights of Sincerity and Devotion, we may expect to hear God promising us graciously, as he did Abraham, that he will be a God to us, and to our Seed after us: And we may hope to see him, as Manoah and his Wife did, in the Zealous performances of his holy Wor∣ship, in the Flame arising from the Altar of our Hearts; from whence God would not accept a Service, if he desired the Death of Sinners.

Therefore we may be assured, that if we keep in his ways he will keep us in ours, as he did his Israel, both by the Pillar of Fire, and by the Pillar of a Cloud; by the flame of Affliction, as well as by the light of Prosperity. And while we lay hold on these, (as Sampson did on the two Columns) let us invoke thy help, O Lord; saying,

O Lord! Though thou mayest call to Baldness, to Weeping, to Weakness, or to Want; though thou mayest touch the Sinew, and make it shrink; or strive with me as thou didst with Israel, and begin to afflict me, or seem to depart from me, so that my Flesh and my Heart may fail, yet O suffer not my Soul to slip, let not my Foot my Foundation be removed, but let it rest with thy Dove upon the Ark of thy Covenant, and be fixed on the Rock Christ Jesus, that thou mayest order all my goings.

O! do thou go out and in before me, that my going out and coming in may be ever blessed. If thou go not out with us, carry us not abroad, nor let us stay at home without thee. Let not the Vanities of the Day, nor the Visions of the Night, disturb our Senses, or abuse our Souls. O Lord, prevent the Mid-day Devils, and the Arrows that fly by Noon, from blasting or hurting of us; nor let Nocturnal Evils, or any mischief in the dark, have Power to smite us: But be thou a Succour, a Second, a God, not a far off, to preserve and prosper us in all our Actions, publick and private, in our Labours, in our Studies, in our Rest, in our Retirements, in our weak Beginnings, in our happier Progresses, and in our best Conclusions. O Lord, be with us in our entrance on the Stage of this World, in our Parts here, in our Exit hence, even now and for evermore. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 8.11.
• * 1.2

  Gen. 28.11.
• * 1.3

  Non dormita∣bit, multo minù•• dormiet, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: quamvis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & ex impatientiâ lu∣gentis Deus ob∣dormire dicitut. Psal. 44.24.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 32.2.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 22.1, 4.
• * 1.6

  Isa. 54.5.
• * 1.7

  Dan. 3.27.
• * 1.8

  Antistrophe.