Mother with infant down the rocks. Their Which others at their har fo often wrench; [fire Where fhall we fometimes mect, and by the Help waste a fullen day what may be won From the hard feafon gaining? time will run On smoother, till Favanious re-inspire The frozen earth, and cloth in fresh attire The lily' and rose, that neither fow'd nor fpun. What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice Of Attic tafte, with wine, whence we may rife To hear the lute well touch'd, or artful voice Warble immortal notes and Tuscan air He who of those delights can judge, and spare To interpofe them oft, is not unwife. XXI. To Cyriac Skinner. CYRIAC, whofe grandfire on the royal bench To day deep thoughts refolve with me to drench To measure life learn thou betimes, and know Tow'ard folid good what leads the nearest way; For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains' And difapproves that care, though wife in fhew, That with fuperfluous burden loads the day, XXII. To the fame. CYRIAC, this three years day thefe eyes, tho' clear, To outward view, of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their feeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs doth fight appear Of fun, or moon, or ftar, throughout the year, Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not Against Heav'n's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope; but still bear up, and steer Right onward. What fupports me? doit thou afk: The confcience, Friend, to' have loft them overply'd In liberty's defence, my noble task, Of which all Europe talks from fide to fide. This thought might lead me thro' the world's vain mask, Content though blind, had I no better guide. XXIII. On bis deceafed Wife. METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused faint Brought to me like Alceftis from the grave, Whom Jove's great fon to her glad husband gave Refcued from death by force though pale and faint. Mine, as whom wash'd from spot of child-bed taint, Purification in the old law did fave, And fuch, as yet once more I trust to have Full fight of her in Heav'n without restraint, Came vefted all in white, pure as her mind : Her face was veil'd, yet to my fancied fight Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd So clear, as in no face with more delight. But O, as to embrace me the inclin'd, I wak'd, fhe fled, and day brought back my night. BLESSED is the man who hath not walk'd astray Be taught ye Judges of the earth; with fear Pfalm 111. Aug. 9, 1653. When be fled from LORD how many are my foes? That in arms against me rise! That of my life diftruftfully thus fay, For the Lord knows th' upright way of the juft, But thou, Lord! art my fhield, my glory, And the way of bad men to ruin must. Pfalm 11. Done Aug. 8, 1653. Terzette. Way do the Gentiles tumult, and the nations Mufe a vain thing, the kings of th' earth upftand With power, and princes in their congregations Lay deep their plots together through each land Against the Lord, and his Meffiah dear? Let us break off,say they, by strength of hand, Their bonds, and caft from us, no more to wear Their twisted cords: he who in Heav'n doth dwell Shall laugh, the Lord fhall fcoff them, then fe vere Speak to them in his wrath, and in his fell I will deelare; the Lord to me hath faid Th' Heathen, and as thy conquest to be fway'd Earth's utmost bounds: them shalt thou bring full low With iron fceptre bruis'd, and them disperse Like to a potters veffel fhiver'd fo. And now be wife, at length, ye Kings averse, Thee through my story Th' exalter of my head I count ; Aloud I cry'd Unto Jehovah, he full foon reply'd, And heard me from his holy mount. Was the Lord. Of many millions I fear not, though encamping round about On the cheek-bone all my foes, Haft broke the teeth. This help was from the Lord; Thy bleffing on thy people flows. Still to love vanity, To love, to feck, to prize Things falfe and vain, and nothing else but lies? Yet know the Lord hath chofe, Chofe to himfelf apart, The good and meek of heart (For whom to choose he knows) Jehovah from on high Will hear my voice what time to him I cry. Be aw'd; and do not fin; Speak to your hearts alone, Upon your beds, each one, And be at peace within. Offer the offerings just Of righteoufnefs, and in Jehovah trust. Many there be that fay, Who yet will fhew us good? Talking like this world's brood; But, Lord, thus let me pray, On us lift up the light, Lift up the favour of thy count'nance bright. Into my heart more joy And gladness thou haft put, 'Than when a year of glut Their ftores doth over-cloy, And from their plenteous grounds With vast increafe their corn and wine a bounds. In peace at once will I Both lay me down and sleep, For thou alone doft keep Me fafe where'er I lie ; As in a rocky cell Pfalm vi. Aug. 13, 1653. LORD! in thine anger do not reprehend me, Are troubled, yea my foul is troubled fore, My foul, O fave me for thy goodness fake: Wearied I am with fighing out my days. Thou, Lord, alone, in fafety mak'ft me dwell. Depart all ye that work iniquity, The bloody' and guileful man God doth deteft. Tearing, and no refcue nigh. But I will in thy mercies dear, Thy numerous mercies, go Into thy houfe; I in thy fear, Will tow'ards thy holy temple worship low. Lord, lead me in thy righteoufnefs, Lead me because of those That do obferve if I tranfgrefs, Set thy ways right before, where my step goes. For in his faltring mouth unstable No word is firm or footh; Their infide, troubles miferable; Lord my God, if I have thought And overtake it let him tread In the dult, and there foread, Lodge it with dishonour foul. Roufe thyfelf amidst the rage And wake for me, their fury' affwage; Return on high, and in their fight. According to my righteoufness, Upon me: caufe at length to cease Since thou art the just God that tries in him who both just and wise Saves th' upright of heart at last. God is a juft judge and severe, And God is every day offended; If the unjust will not forbear, His fword he whets, his bow hath bended Already, and for him intended The tools of death, that waits him near. (His arrows purposely made he For them that perfecute) Behold He travels big with vanity; Trouble he hath conceiv'd of old As in a womb, and from that mould His mifchief that due courfe doth keep, Pfulm VIII. Aug. 14. 1653. O JEHOVAH, our Lord, how wondrous great And glorious is thy name through all the carth! So as above the Heav'ns thy praise to set Out of the tender mouths of latest birth. Out of the mouths of babes and fucklings thou Haft founded strength because of all thy foes, To ftint th' enemy, and flack th' avengers' brow, That bends his rage thy providence to' oppose. When I behold thy Heav'ns, thy fingers' art, The moon and stars which thou fo bright haft In the pure firmament, then faith my heart, [fet O what is man that thou remembrest yet, And think it upou him; or of man begot, That him thou visit'st, and of him art found? Scarce to be less than gods, thou mad'st his lot; With honour and with ftate thou haft him crown'd. O'er the works of thy hand thou mad'st him lord, All flocks, and herds, by thy commanding word, wet See paths in fhoals do flide, and know no dearth. O Jehovah, our Lord, how wondrous great And glorious is thy name through all the earth. Nine of the Pfalms done into metre, wherein all, but what is in a different character, are the very words of the text, tranflated from the original. April 1648. J. M. Pfalm LXXX. I THOU Shepherd that doft Ifrael keep. Give ear in time of need, Who leadeft like a flock of sheep Thy loved Jofeph's feed, That fitft between the cherubs bright Shine forth, and from thy cloud give light, 2 In Ephraim's view and Benjamin's, Awake thy ftrength, come, and be feen 3 Turn us again, thy grace divine Caufe thou thy face on us to fhine, And then we shall be safe. 4 Lord God of Hofts, how long wilt thou, How long wilt thou declare Thy smoking wrath, and angry brow Against thy people's pray'r! 5 Thou feedit them with the bread of tears Their bread with tears they eat, And mak'it them largely drink the tears 6 A ftrife thou mak'ft us, and a prey Among themselves they laugh, they play, 7 Return us, and thy grace divine And then we shall be safe. 8 A vine from Egypt thou haft brought, And drov'ft our nations, proud and haut, 9 Thou didst prepare for it a place, And fill'd the land at left. 10 With her green shade that cover'd all, Advanc'd their lofty bead. II Her branches on the western fide And upward to that river wide Her other branches went. 12 Why haft thou laid her hedges low, And broken down her fence, That all may pluck her, as they go, With rudeft violence? 13 The tufked boar out of the wood Up turns it by the roots; Wild beafts there brouze, and make their food Her grapes and tender foots. 14 Return now, God of Hofts, look down And vifit this thy vine. 15 Visit this vine, which thy right hand At thy rebuke and frown. 17 Upon the Man of thy right hand 18 So fhall we not go back from thee Pfalm LXXXI. I To God our frength fing loud, and clear, Sing loud to God our King, may bear To Jacob's God, that all Loud acclamations ring. 2 Prepare a hymn, prepare a fong, The timbrel hither bring, The cheerful pfaltry bring along, And harp with pleasant firing. 3 Blow, as is wont, in the new moon A law of Jacob's God, to Lold, From whence they might not faverve. 5 This he a teftimony' ordain'd In Jofeph, not to change, When as he pafs'd through Egypt land; The tongue I heard was strange. 6 From burden, and from flavib toil I fet his fhoulder free: His hands from pots, and miry foil 7 When trouble did thee fore affail, I answer'd thee in thunder deep Of Merbia renown'd. 8 Hear, O my people, bearken well, I teftify to thee, Thou ancient flock of Ifrael, If thou wilt lift to me, 9 Throughout the land of thy abode No alien god fhall be, Nor fhalt thou to a foreign god In honour bend thy knee. 10 I am the Lord thy God which brought Thee out of Egypt's land; Afk large enough, and I, befought, Will grant thy full demand. II And yet my people would not bear, And Ifrael, whom I lov'd fo dear, 12 Then did I leave them to their will, 13 O that my people would be wife, And O that Ifrael would advise To walk my righteous ways! 14 Then would I foon bring down their foes, That now fo proudly rife, And turn my hand against all thofe That are their enemies. 15 Who hate the Lord fhould then be fain To bow to him and bend, But they, his people, fbould remain, Their time fhould have no end. 16 And he would feed them from the foock And fatisfy them from the rock Pfalm LXXXII. I GOD in the great affembly ftands 2 How long will ye pervert the right 4 Defend the poor and defolate, Of him that help demands. 5 They know not, nor will understand, In darkness they walk on; The earth's foundations all are mov'd, And out of order gone. 6 I faid that ye were gods, yea all The fons of God most high; |