wisdom. The proud and malicious thou dost reject, and to them the Lamp of thy Law gives no more light, than a Candle hid under a Bushel.
O make me then of an humble spirit, teach me to submit my natural and corrupted reason to thy divine revelations, never let me think my self so wise in my own eyes, that I néed not the teaching of thy Spirit, so shall I hope to understand the wonderful things of thy Law,
[Ver. 1] so shall my soul kéep them. That I may obtain so great a favour,
[Ver. 3] I have opened my mouth in prayer, never did any man that is anhelous and almost stified, more labour for breath, than I have panted for this grace, for I have excéedingly long∣ed and desired to come to a right understanding of thy Commandments.
Behold I turn my prayer unto thée, be thou converted and look upon me,
[Ver. 4] look upon me with the eye of that mercy, as thou usest to do upon those that love thy Name, and thy Honour; deal by me, as thou art wont to deal with thy friends and dutiful servants, for I desire to be in that number, though, O Lord, I must néeds confess my self to be an unprofitable servant. That I may be better hereafter, order my steps,
[Ver. 5] dispose and direct all my affections and actions according to the eract rule of thy Word, and never permit any iniquity to have the dominion over me. Though to my grief it will dwell, yet never let it reign in my mortal body, or so far dominéer, that I obey it in the lusts thereof.
[Ver. 7] I am sensible what a darkness comes over my soul upon thy displeasure, and the withdrawing of thy countenance, make then thy face to shine upon thy servant, that all mists and darkness being dispelled, I may be again refreshed and comforted by the bright beams of thy favour; and withal, teach me thy most just Statutes, without the knowledge of which I can expect neither protection from thée, nor felicity.
To with-hold and deter me from my duty to thée, I find too many impedi∣ments, tentations I have from men, who scoff and mock at me, because I keep thy Law, that calumniate and detract from my good name, because I adhere to thy Truth, that oppress and undo me,
[unspec 6] because I am constant in my obedience to thée, O deliver me from the scorns and oppression of man, and so being set at liberty, I shall more readily and chéerfully keep thy pre∣cepts. These are bitter enemies to thy truth, and sons of Belial, they have broke the yoke, and cast oft thy bonds,
[unspec 8] and yet for them my soul shall mourn in secret, Rivers of water shall run down my eyes, because they keep not thy Law. Turn, Lord, even to these, if it be thy good pleasure, and turn them to thée, for they are thy creatures, and bear thy Image; true it is, that they have defaced it by rebellion, but thou canst restore it by thy Spirit, which if they shall go on to ver and grieve, to rebell and provoke while he is at his work, then number them to the sword, and bow them down to the slaugh∣ter, because when thou calledst, they would not answer, when thou spakest, they would not hear, but continued to do evil before thy eyes, and did choose that, wherein thou didst not delight. Make them know that there is a God in Israel, that will avenge his own cause, and protect his people, and get him∣self glory upon his enemies. But let thy servants sing for joy of heart, and rejoice in thy salvation for ever and ever.