And set at large : now spare,
Now pity me, and hear
prayer.
Great ones, how long will ye
My glory have in scorn ?
How long be thus forborne
Still to love vanity?
To love, to seek, to prize
Things false and vain, and nothing else but lies ?
Yet know, the Lord hath chose,
Chose to himself 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 awed, and do not sin ;
Speak to your hearts alone,
Upon your beds, each one,
And be at peace within.
Offer the offerings just
Of righteousness, and in Jehovah trust.
Many there be that say,
Who yet will show 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 countenance bright.
Into
my
heart more joy
And gladness thou hast put,
Than when a year of glut
Their stores doth over-cloy,
And from their plenteous grounds,
With vast increase, their corn and wine abounds. In
peace at once will I Both lay me down and sleep;
For thou alone dost keep
Me safe where'er I lie ;
As in a rocky cell
Thou, Lord, alone, in safety makest me dwell.
(August 12, 1653.) Jehovah, to my words give ear,
My meditation weigh ;
The voice of my complaining hear,
My King and God; for unto thee I pray.
Jehovah, thou my early voice
Shalt in the morning hear; l' the morning I to thee with choice Will rank my prayers, and watch till thou appear.
For thou art not a God that takes
In wickedness delight;
Evil with thee no biding makes ;
Fools or mad men stand not within thy sight.
All workers of iniquity
Thou hatest; and them, unblest,
Thou wilt destroy that speak a lie;
The bloody and guileful man God doth detest.
But I will, in thy mercies dear,
Thy numerous mercies, go
Into thy house ; I, in thy fear,
Will towards thy holy temple worship low.
Lord, lead me in thy righteousness,
Lead me, because of those
That do observe, if I transgress ;
Set thy ways right before, where my step goes.
For in his faltering mouth, unstable,
No word is firm or sooth;
Their inside, troubles miserable ;
An open grave their throat, their tongue they smooth.
God, find them guilty, let them fall
By their own counsels quell'd;
Push them in their rebellions all
Still on ; for against thee they have rebell’d.
Then all who trust in thee shall bring
Their joy; while thou from blame
Defend’st them : they shall ever sing
And shall triumph in thee, who love thy name.
For thou, Jehovah, wilt be found
To bless the just man still :
As with a shield, thou wilt surround
Him with thy lasting favour and good will.
LORD, in thy anger do not reprehend me,
Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct;
Pity me, Lord, for I am much deject,
And
very
weak and faint ; heal and amend me : For all my bones, that even with anguish ache,
Are troubled ; yea, my soul is troubled sore ;
And thou, O Lord, how long? Turn, Lord; restore My soul; oh, save me, for thy goodness' sake: For in death no remembrance is of thee ;
Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise ?
Wearied I am with sighing out my days;
Nightly my couch I make a kind of sea ;
My bed I water with my tears ; mine
eye
Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark
I’ the midst of all mine enemies that mark.
Depart, all ye that work iniquity,
Depart from me; for the voice of my weeping
The Lord hath heard; the Lord hath heard my prayer;
My supplication with acceptance fair
The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping.
Mine enemies shall all be blank, and dash'd
With much confusion; then, grown red with shame,
They shall return in haste the way they came, And in a moment shall be quite abash'd.
(August 14, 1653.)
Upon the words of Cush the Benjamite against him.
LORD, my God, to thee I fly;
Save me, and secure me under
Thy protection while I cry ;
Lest, as a lion (and no wonder),
He haste to tear my soul asunder,
Tearing, and no rescue nigh.
Lord, my God, if I have thought
Or done this; if wickedness
Be in my hands; if I have wrought
Ill to him that meant me peace;
Or to him have rendered less,
And not freed my foe for naught;
Let the enemy pursue my soul,
And overtake it; let him tread
My life down to the earth, and roll
In the dust my glory dead,
In the dust; and, there outspread,
Lodge it with dishonour foul.
Rise, Jehovah, in thine ire,
Rouse thyself amidst the rage
foes that
like fire ;
And, 'wake for me, their fury assuage ;
Judgment here thou didst engage
And command, which I desire.
So the assemblies of each nation
Will surround thee, seeking right;
Thence to thy glorious habitation
Return on high, and in their sight.
Jehovah judgeth most upright
All people from the world's foundation.
Judge me, Lord; be Judge in this
According to my righteousness,
And the innocence which is
Upon me: cause at length to cease
Of evil men the wickedness,
And their power that do amiss.
But the just establish fast,
Since thou art the just God that tries
Hearts and reins. On God is cast
My defence, and in him lies ;
In him who, both just and wise,
Saves the upright of heart at last.
God is a just Judge and severe,
And God is every day offended;
If the unjust will not forbear,
His sword 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 persecute). Behold
He travails big with vanity ;
Trouble he hath conceived of old
As in a womb; and from that mould
Hath at length brought forth a lie.
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