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.

For Christ∣mas day, as it is appoin∣ted by the Church.

〈♫〉〈♫〉

LOrd! think on him whom thou didst find, the Man ac—cor—ding to thy Mind; who could for thee with all things part: With his Wives love, and his own State, that on thy Ser—vice he might wait. Remember Da—vid's humble Heart.

Think on his Hand that brings thee Praise, Strikes down thy Foes, ill Spirits lays, And Gifts and Musick doth afford: Though he did right, he had much wrong, Ev'n while he brought thy Ark along: Remember David's Troubles, Lord.

Think on the King, and on his Care, Who for thy Place did well prepare; Lord Bless his Heir, build up his House: He would have set, and trimm'd up thine, Lord! bless our acting his Design. Remember David, and his Vows.

Thus said he, when he took his Oath, To Jacob's God I plight my Troth, Though I am safe in my new Forts: I will not sleep, nor there sit still, 'Till the Ark rests on Zion's Hill, And from its Curtains comes to† Courts.

My House (though built) shall not be Blest; My Bed shall yield me no more† Rest, Than when 'twas searched for no good: 'Till here (with ours) God's Seat is found, Being with lofty Cedars crown'd, Instead of Kiriath-jearim's Wood.

For in the Woods we lately found Joys, which to Abram's Hill may sound, When God shall there be seen again: As first at Bethlem we did hear How glorious all his Goings were, Up to the Mountains from the Plain.

And while God comes with the glad Throng, In ev'ry place we hear this Song, See, see, where our Beloved goes: That he may stand on Sion still, Look how he leaps from Hill to Hill, And makes us skip for joy, like Roes.

Come, let's to Sion march along In order, (lest we Worship wrong) After the Ark our Course is bent: We'll worship with the solemn Cries, Rise, Lord! unto thy Rest arise, Rise to a Temple from a Tent.

The Train shall shout, and so will I, The Choir shall raise their Voices high; The Priests shall shew the Sanctity Both of thy Person, and their Place, By being cloath'd with Righteousness: And thine Anointed thou shalt bless, Nor from thy Presence turn his Face.

Oh! never turn from us thy Face, For David's sake, love David's Race; Do not his Stock (as Saul's) disown: Since, if his Sons thy Laws obey, Thou, Lord, hast sworn his Seed shall sway, And here for ever have a Throne.

For here hath God his Favour shown, And chose our Dwellings for his own; He will not stay with Edom still, But his Provisions shall bless ours, Since on the Rich he dainty's show'rs, And can with Bread the Hungry fill.

Here will I sit, saith God, and Carve To each poor Soul, that none may starve; All Wants I will so far supply, That a large Alb of Thankfulness Shall be my Priest's perpetual Dress, And Saints shall set their Joys on high.

On high shall David see my Love, As here in Sion; so above, Like Aaron's Rod, shall bud his Horn: †Glory's own Lamp lights up his Line, And on his Head my Crown shall shine; But on his Foes I'le‖ throw my Scorn.

Gloria Patri, &c.

Glory be to the Father, Son, And Holy-Ghost, the Three in One, Whom as one Being we adore: Tho ev'ry Person of the Three For ever was, shall ever be, And is, God Blessed evermore.

AMEN.

Notes

• 1 Sam. 17.49 16.16 2 Sam. 6.19.6.16.6.21.
• 1 Chr. 22.3.4.5.28.14 5.2.15.1.
• 2 Sam. 5.9.
• 2 Sam. 7.2.
• Tabernacula.
• †

  Ʋsus est numero mul∣titudinis, ad plures Templi partes indicandas; nam in Templo (inquit Kimchi) erant Domus tres.
• 1 Sam. 19.15, 16.
• It shall not be De∣dicated, and so not dwelt in 'till Consecrated; as the Jews did ever some part of their House for special Worship.
• †

  Tandem tam longè abest ut ego sim dormitu∣rus; ut ne oculis quidem rictaturus sim.
• 1 Chron. 13.5, 6.
• 1 Sam. 7.1.
• Gen. 22.13. 1 Sam. 16.1. Mic. 5.2.
• Cant. 2.8. Rev. 14.1. Psal. 114.4.
• John 2.22.
• Numb. 10.33, 35, 36.
• 1 Chr. 15.27.
• 2 Chr. 6.12, 13.
• Or Favour. See Grego∣ry's Notes on the word,
• 2 Sam. 6.21.
• 2 Chr. 9.17.
• De fructu Ventris tui, quoniam uterus Ʋxeris cum omni suo fructu ad Mari∣tum pertinet.
• 2 Sam. 6.12.13.
• Neither with Edom whom he hated; nor Obed Edom whom he blessed.
• 2 Chr. 6.41.
• Vi••tum eis (non vidu∣am) lenedicam.
• Significare vult apertam & ma∣nifestam salu∣tem quae omni∣bus pateat, cum sacerdotes salu∣te quasi veste circumdarentur; qui nunquam deerint gratia∣rum repetenda∣rum Officio.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as the 72 Interp. will ren∣der it, which properly signifies Venison (a dain∣ty indeed,) but it im∣plies more largely any Victuals or Prosions.
• His Royal Dignity, Power, and Off spring. 1 King. 11.36.
• †

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which mystically re∣fers to Christ. Psal. 4.2.
• ‖

  Haud secus ac Re∣tiarii; ut supra in com∣ment.