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.
PSALM VI. Aug. 13. 1653.
LORD, in thine 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 ev'n with anguish ache,
Are troubled, yea my soul is troubled sore, And thou, O Lord, how long? turn Lord, restore My soul, O 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' th' midst of all mine enemies that mark.
Depart from me, for the voice of my weeping
The Lord hath heard, the Lord hath heard my pray'r, 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.
PSALM VII. Aug. 14. 1653.*
Upon the words of Chush 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.
And wake for me, their fury' assuage;
Judgment here thou didst engage And command which I desire.
So th' 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 pow'r 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 th' 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.
PSALM VIII. Aug. 14. 1653.
O JEHOVAH our Lord, how wondrous great And glorious is thy name through all the earth! 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 sucklings thou
Hast founded strength because of all thy foes, To stint th' enemy, and slack th' avenger's brow, That bends his rage thy providence to❜ oppose.
When I behold thy heav'ns, thy fingers art, The moon and stars which thou so bright hast set 10 In the pure firmament, then saith my heart, O what is man that thou rememb❜rest yet,
And think'st upon 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 state thou hast him crown'd.
O'er the works of thy hand thou mad'st him, Lord, Thou hast put all under his lordly feet, All flocks, and herds, by thy commanding word, All beasts that in the field or forest meet,
Fowl of the heav'ns, and fish that through the wet Sea paths in shoals do slide, and know no dearth. O Jehovah our Lord, how wondrous great And glorious is thy name through all the earth!
7. To stint th' enemy, and slack th' avenger's brow,] Here is a most violent cesure in the last
syllable of Enemy. See also above, Ps. v. 16. Ps. vii. 22. T. Warton.
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