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 THIRD Psalm of Degrees, BEING The CXXII. PSALM,

Describeth David's Joy, which is expressed in the 30^th Psalm, at the bringing of the Ark, and Offering for the Temple, and Dedication of his House to God's Service: And it is a Preparative Hymn for the Devout, in their going up to the Places of Religion and Solemn Worship; con∣taining their Thanks, Praise, and Pleasure, in the return of the Comfort and Company, which they enjoyed in the public Adoration of God; and their Prayers for the longer continuance of such signal Blessings: Made by David (as it is thought) upon his return to Jeru∣salem, after his slight from Absalom; and solemnly sung by the Levites at their coming out of Captivity. Jerusalem in general (as the Temple more especially) being the Type of God's Church, both Militant and Triumphant, that is built with the precious Stones of the Apostles and Prophets, CHRIST himself being the Rock, Caput Anguli, & Caput Angelorum; to whom when many come, there is much Joy.

The Poem is Dramatick, (like the 118^th Psalm) in which the King, Priest, and People, seem to bear their Parts of Rejoycing at the public Festi∣vals (which were thrice every Year to be solemnized at Jerusalem) accor∣ding to the Command of God; which occasioned the great Beautifying, Enlarging, and Fortifying of the City, intimated in the 2^d, 3^d, 6^th, and 7^th Verses; as well as the other reason of its Happiness and Amplitude, (from the Temple of God, and Throne of David) mentioned in the 1^st, 5^th, 8^th, and 9^th Verses: To which may be added this reason, because there was the great Senate of the LXXII. or Sanhedrim.

The King beginneth the Psalm in the 1^st Verse, the Priests follow in the 2^d, the People in the 3^d, and they go on in the 4^th. Then the King takes it again in the 5^th, the Priests in the 6^th, and the People go on in the 7^th (as in a Procession, and good order): The Priests take it again in the 8^th, and the the King concludes in the best, (though last place) with a fixt and pious Resolution.

This may properly be set for the 29^th of May.

〈♫〉〈♫〉

BLes—sed be God for the good News, and Freedom, which he doth afford: From th'House of Bondage, like glad Jews, we come un—to thy House, O Lord.

Our Woes and Wand'rings now shall cease, While rooted fast, like Trees, we stand Within thy Courts; who dost with Peace Plant us again in our own Land.

Our Joys shoot up with fresh encrease, While rooted fast, like Trees, we stand Within thy Courts; who dost with Peace Plant us again in our own Land.

See,* 1.1 see, how comely! how compact! Peace makes this Gyant-City seem: Our Union makes her Form exact, Like th' Heav'nly New Jerusalem.

Whither, to an Eternal Feast All the Lord's Tribes at last shall go; And on his Hill above find rest, As we do in his House below.

Here now, (as at a Passover) Our Tribes (like Streams) i' th' Ocean meet; To serve thee, as thy Laws averr: And Praise thy Name, that is so great.

Here now, (as at a Passover) Our Tribes (like Streams) i' th' Ocean meet; To serve thee, as thy Statutes are: And Praise thy Name, that is so great.

Here is God's Temple, David's Throne, The Bench of Justice, Mercy's Seat: Here Princes, Prophets, Priests make known How good our Church! our State how great!

Here's the Blest Type of Heav'n above, Pray then for Salem; here for Peace: Since they who love this Place, do prove Happy, and blest with much Encrease.

Lord, bless us, and this Place, with Peace, With Plenty, and with Piety: For thy Name's sake, let our's encrease, Our King's, and Friends Prosperity.

All Tyes, both Humane, and Divine; Our Love for Men, our Zeal for God, What we can do, or wish,* 1.2 combine To seek the Bliss of this aboad.

Gloria Patri, &c.

In the Lord's Praise let none be Dumb, But Father, Son, and Ghost adore; Who was, and is, and is to come, Thrice Blessed God for evermore.

CONTEMPLATIONS and COLLECTS ON THE Third PSALM of DEGREES, BEING The CXXII. PSALM.

O Glorious God! to whom Praise and Worship is due, to whom Vengeance and Holiness belongs; accept the Joys, and Adorations of our Souls and Bodies, for that we have not only Freedom in our own Persons, but also Encourage∣ment from our Relations to come along with them, and many more of thy People, to the most proper place, and by the appointed way, of public Worshipping and Praising of thee.

Oh! how glad (as if we had found great Spoils) may we be to find, not only that we can, but also that others will plant themselves within thy Courts, and not stand in the way of Sinners, that we may prosper together like Trees by the Water side, and bring forth Fruit, and that in due season?

Dear, and gracious Lord! when we go hence, and shall be called away by Death, how happy should we be, could we come to thee as easily as we now can come to the Church, and bring this Olive-branch in our Mouths into thy Ark!

Let us go up into the House of the Lord, let us ascend unto his holy Hill; let us be transplanted from the Gates of Death, to be rooted in the Porches of the New Jerusalem; for one day in thy Courts is better than a thousand in any other. I had rather be a Door-keeper in thy Tabernacle, than to dwell in the Tents of Wickedness.

Help us then to joyn with the blessed Choir, both of the Church Militant and Triumphant, in a Lesson of the best Service, even Love and Charity, which is the compleatest Religion, the fulfiller of the Law, the filler full of Heaven.

For see the Jerusalem that comes down thence, as well as that which is above, agrees in all its Parts and Graces, and by its lovely Symmetry makes up the sweetest Harmony of Heaven and Earth, declaring Charity the bond of Peace, as Peace the breeder of Felicity.

Therefore while we see the present Concord and Conformity thou hast afforded our Nation, we look with joy upon an Emblem of that glorious Day, when thou shalt gather thy Children from the four Winds, and bring then together in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, and to live with him for ever.

Lord! 'till that time come, preserve thy Church among us from Rent and Spot, from Breach and Blemish, and meet with us graciously (as thou didst with Elijah) in the soft mild Voice of thy Gospel, in the savoury Breath of thy Spirit, in the sweet Airs of our pious and public Services; wherein make us to consent to Pray for the Peace of our Souls, and of thy People; as also for the Plenty of our Land, for the Piety of our Governours, for the Prosperity of their Government and Persons; for the Purity of Religion, for the Perpe∣tuity of thy Church among us; as also for Unanimity, and Uniformity in the way of thy Worship, that we may endeavour, as well as desire, the most durable Good here, and an eternal Good hereafter, to our selves, and ours, and all thine.

Which we beseech thee grant for Jesus Christ's sake, who is of the Stock and Lineage of David, to whom belongs the Seat of Judgment for ever and ever. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hierosolyma optime instituta concors, & ideo duratura.
• * 1.2

  Fiat Pax An∣temurali tuo, & Abundantia, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Palatiis, Turriam ad in∣star structis.