3 City of God, most glorious things Of thee abroad are spoke ; 4 I mention Egypt, where proud kings Did our forefathers yoke. I mention Babel to my friends, And Tyre with Ethiop's utmost ends, 5 But twice that praise shall in our ear This and this man was born in her; 6 The Lord shall write it in a scroli 7 Both they who sing, and they who dance, In thee fresh brooks and soft streams glance, PSALM LXXXVIII. 1 LORD God, that dost me save and keep, And all night long before thee weep, 2 Into thy presence let my prayer And to my cries, that ceaseless are, 3 For, cloy'd with woes and trouble store. 4 Reckon'd I am with them that pass I am a man, but weak, alas! 5 From life discharg'd and parted quite Whom thou rememberest no more. Them, from thy hand deliver'd o'er, 6 Thou in the lowest pit profound Where thickest darkness hovers round, 7 Thy wrath, from which no shelter saves, Full sore doth press on me; Thou break'st upon me all thy waves, 8 Thou dost my friends from me estrange, And mak'st me odious, Me to them odious, for they change, thus. 9 Through sorrow, and affliction great, 10 Wilt thou do wonders on the dead? And praise thee from their loathsome bed 11 Shall they thy loving-kindness tell, 12 In darkness can thy mighty hand 13 But I to thee, O Lord, do cry, 14 Why wilt thou, Lord, my soul forsake, And hide thy face from me, 15 That am already bruis'd, and shake With terror sent from thee? Bruis'd, and afflicted, and so low 16 Thy fierce wrath over me doth flow; Thy threatenings cut me through : 17 All day they round about me go, Like waves they me pursue. 18 Lover and friend thou hast remov'd, A PARAPHRASE ON PSALM CXIV. This and the following Psalm were done by the Author at fifteen years oli. WHEN the blest seed of Terah's faithful son, Why fled the ocean? And why skipt the mountains? PSALM CXXXVI. LET us, with a gladsome mind, Let us blaze his name abroad, For of Gods he is the God; For his, &c. O, let us his praises tell, Who doth the wrathful tyrants queit; For his, &c. Who, with his miracles, doth make For his, &c. Who, by his wisdom, did create The painted heavens so full of state; For his, &c. Who did the solid earth ordain To rise above the watery plain; For his, &c. Who, by his all-commanding might, Did fill the new-made world with light; For his, &c. |