O God! whose righteousnes by grace is mine,
A gracious eare vnto my voyce encline:
Thou that hast set mee free when I was thrall,
Bee mercifull, and heare my prayer withall.
Vaine, worldly men, how long will yee dispise
God's honnour, and His truth, and trust in lies?
God for Himselfe, the good man doth select,
And when I crie Hee doth not mee reject.
Bee angrie, but be angrie without synne;
Try your owne hearts in silence, close within.
To God, of godly workes, an offeringe make,
Then trust in Him that will not His forsake.
For that which good is, many seeke and pray,
'And who shall shew the same to vs'? say they,
Lord! shew to vs thy countenance diuine,
And cause the Beames thereof on vs to shyne:
Soe shall my heart more joyfull bee and glad,
Then if encrease of corne and wine I had.
To peace therefore lye downe will I and sleepe[183]
For God alone doth mee in safetie keepe.
PSALM V.
Lord weigh my words, and take consideration
Of my sad thoughts and silent meditation:
My God, my Kinge, bowe downe Thine eare to mee,
While I send vp mine humble prayer to Thee.
Early, before the morne doth bringe the day,
I will O Lord, look vp to Thee and pray:
For Thou with synne art neuer pleasèd well,
Nor any[184] ill may with Thy goodnes dwell:
The foole may not before Thy wisdome stand,
Nor shall the impious scape Thy wrathfull hand:
Thou wilt destroy all such as vtter lies;
Blood and deceit are odious in Thine eyes;
But, trustinge in Thy manie mercies deare,
I will approch Thy house with holy feare.
Teach me Thy plaine and righteous way to goe,
That I may neuer fall before my foe,
Whose flatteringe tongue is false and heart jmpure,
And throat, an open place of SEPULTURE.
Destroy them, Lord, and frustrate their devices,
Cast out those Rebells for their manie vices;
But all that trust in Thee and loue Thy name,
Make them rejoyce and rescue them from shame.
Thou wilt thy blessinge to the righteous yeild
And guard them with Thy grace as with a SHEILD.
PSALM VI.
To iudge me, Lord, in Thy just wrath forbeare,
To punish mee in thy displeasure spare;
O! I am weake: haue mercie, Lord, therefore,
And heale my bruisèd bones which payne mee sore.
My soule is alsoe trubled and dismayed;
But, Lord, how long shall I expect Thine aid!
Turne Thee, O Lord, my soule from death deliuer,
Euen for Thy mercie's sake which lasteth euer:
They which are dead remember not Thy name,
Nor doth the silent Graue thy praise proclaime;
I faint and melt away with greifes and feares,
And euery night my bed doth swymme with teares.
Myne eyes are suncke and weaknèd is my sight;
My foes haue vexèd mee with such dispight.
Away from mee, yee sinfull men, away!
The Lord of Heauen doth heare mee when I pray.
The Lord hath my petition heard indeed:
Receaue my prayer and I shall surely speed;
But shame and sorrow on my foes shall light,
They shall be turn'd and put to suddaine flight.
PSALM VII.
O Lord, my God! I put my trust in Thee,
From all my Persecutors rescue mee:
Lest my proud foe doth like a lyon rend mee,
While there is non to succour and defend mee:
Lord God! if I bee guilty found in this,
Wherewith my foes haue chargèd mee amisse,
If I did vse my freind vnfreindly soe,
Nay, if I did not helpe my causlesse foe,
Let him preuaile, although my cause bee just,
And lay my life and honnour in the dust.
Vp, Lord! and stand against my furious foes,
Thy judgement against them for mee disclose;
Soe shall Thy People flocke about Thee nigh,
For their sakes therefore lift Thy selfe on high.
Judge of the world, giue sentence on my parte,
Accordinge to the cleannes of my heart:
Let wickednes be brought vnto an end,
And guide the just, that they may not offend.
Thou God art just, and Thou Searcher art
Of hart and raynes, and euery inward part:
My helpe proceedeth from the Lord of Might,
Who saueth those which are of hart vpright;
A powerfull and a patient Judge is Hee,
Though euery day His wrath prouokèd bee:
But, if men will not turne, His sword Hee whets,
And bends His bowe, and to the stringe Hee setts
The instruments of death, His arrowes keene,
Gainst such as rebells to His will haue beene.
The jmpious man conceaues jniquity,
Trauailes with mischief, and brings forth a ly:
The Righteous to entrapp hee digs a pitt,
But hee himselfe first falls and sinks in it.
The wicked plotts his workinge braine doth cast,
Light with a mischeife on himselfe at last.
My thankes with God's great justice shall accord,
and I will highly praise the highest Lord.
PSALM VIII.