The Lord my Sheaperd is, Hee doth mee feed,
His bounty euermore supplies my need;
When I in pastures greene my fill haue tooke,
He leads mee forth into the siluer brooke;
Hee turnes my soule, when it is gon astray,
For His name's glory, to His right[eous][202] way;
Therefore although my soule detruded were,
Euen to Hell's gates, yet I not ill should feare;
When Thou art with mee, what should mee dismay?
Thy crooke, my comfort is; Thy staffe, my stay;
My table Thou hast spread and furnisht soe,
As glads my heart, and greiues my enuious foe;
Thy balme powr'd on my head, doth sweetly smell;
Thou makst my cup aboue the brimme to swell.
Thy mercy, while I breathe, shall follow mee,
And in Thy house my dwellinge-place shall bee.
PSALM XXIV.
The Earth, and all things which on the Earth remaine,
Euen all the world, doth to the Lord pertaine;
Amid the Sea, Hee founded hath the Land
And made this Globe aboue the floods to stand.
Who shall unto Jehouah's Mount ascend?
Or who shall in His holy place attend?
Euen hee whose hands are cleane, whose heart is pure,
Whose tongue is true, whose oath is just and sure.
He shall receaue both righteousnes and blisse
From God, Whose mercy his saluation is.
Such are the seed of Jacob's faithfull race,
Which seeke the Lord, and loue to see His face;
Ye euerlasting Gates, your heads upreare,
And let the King of Glory enter there.
That glorious name, to Whome doth it belong?
To God Most Mightie and in warr most stronge.
Eternall dores, lift [up] your heads, I say
That there, the King of Glorie enter may.
The King of Glory enters, what is Hee?
The Lord of Hosts is knowne that Kinge to bee.
PSALM XXV.
Mine humble soule O Lord! I lift to Thee,
On Whome my trust shall euer fixèd bee;
O suffer not my cheekes with shame to glowe,
Nor make me slaue to my insultinge foe;
For they which hope in Thee incurr noe blame,
But wilfull synners shall bee clothed with shame.
To mee, O Lord! vouchsafe Thy wayes to show,
And Thy right pathes, that I therein may goe;
Teach mee the way of truth, direct my will;
Thou art my Sauior, I attend Thee still;
Receaue mee Lord, and to remembrance call
Thy ould compassions, and Thy mercies all;
But of Thy wonted grace to mee, O Lord
Of the errours of my youth keep noe record;
The Lord is good, and for His goodnes' sake
Hee teaches sinners, godly wayes to take;
Yet Hee His learninge doth to non impart
But to the meeke and to the humble hart;
His pathes are grace and truth; that only way
Hee leads all those which doe His will obey.
For Thy name's glorie, I doe Thee intreat
To my great sinns, extend Thy mercie great
To him which feares the Lord, the Lord doth showe
How in his callinge hee may safely goe;
His soule shall bee at ease and all his race,
Shall in the Land possesse a blessed place;
His couenant and His counselles neare,[203]
God shewes to them in whome Hee plants His feare;
My looke to Him shall euer raisèd bee,
Who from the nett my captiue feet doth free.
Haue mercy Lord on mee! and turne Thy face
To see my desolate and wither'd case;
Enlargèd is my greife and heauines,
But Lord, enlarge Thou mee from my distresse!
Looke on the wofull State that I am in;
Remitt the cause thereof, which is my synne;
My foes consider, and their multitude
Which mee with deadly hatred hath pursude;
And keepe my soule[204] from sinne,[205] my face from shame,
Who trust in Thee and call upon Thy name.
Let truth and righteousnes without deceipt
Still wait on mee, because on Thee I wait;
And sett Thy faithfull Israell at rest
From all the trubles which doe him molest.
PSALM XXVI.
Bee thou my Iudge, O Lord! my cause is just;
I shall not stagger while in Thee I trust.
Weigh and examine mee, search all my vaines,
The bottom of my heart and inward raines;
I sett Thy goodnes euer in my sight,
Which in Thy truth doth guide my stepps aright;
I use not to conuerse with persons vaine,
Nor with dissemblers fellowship retaine;
My soule the assembly of the wicked hates.
Nor will I sitt among ungodly mates;
Repentence haueing made my conscience cleare,
Then will I Lord, approach Thine Alter neare;
That I may thanke [Thee] both with harte and voyce,
And tellinge of Thy wondrous workes rejoyce
Thy temple Lord, I loue exceeding well,
Wherein Thy Majestie and Glorie dwell.
O let not sinfull men my soule enclose,
Nor of my life let sinfull men dispose;
Whose hands are foule, their sinnes them foule doe make,
And full of guifts which they coruptly take;
But I to leaue a blamelesse life entend:
O Lord therein with mercie mee defend.
My foot stands right and therefore all my dayes
In all assemblies I the Lord will praise.
PSALM XXVII.
God is my light, saluation, strength and aid,
Of whome and what shall I then bee afraid?
The wicked came to haue devour'd mee quite,
But stumbled in their way, and fell downe-right.
Though mighty armies in my wayes were laid,
I stand secure, I cannot bee dismaid.
One thinge I wish, euen while I liue to dwell,
In God's faire House, where beauty doth excell;
His tent, in time of truble, shall mee hide,
And I shall on His rocke of safety bide;
Now shall Hee lift my head aboue my foes,
Which mee with armèd multitudes, enclose;
And now will I His praise in trihumph singe,
And joyfull offerings to His temple bringe;
And let my cries approach Thy gracious eare,
Vouchsafe in mercie my complaints to heare;
My heart doth tell that Thou bidst mee still
Thy face to seeke: Lord! seek Thy face I will.
Then doe not hide from mee Thy face soe bright,
Nor in Thy wrath exclude mee from Thy sight;
Thou euer wast mine aid, since I was borne:
God of my safety leaue me not forlorne.
My father and my mother both forsooke mee,
But then the Lord to his tuition tooke mee;
Teach mee the way that I therein may goe,
Soe shall I neuer fall before my foe;
Nor fall into their power which doe me hate,
And brought false oathes against mee in the gate.
My heart had fail'd but that my hope to see
God's endlesse blisse in heauen, did comfort mee.
Then stay God's time, Hee shall thee stay at length,
And Hee till then shall arme thy heart with strength.
PSALM XXVIII.