Toward folid good what leads the nearest way; For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains, And difapproves that care, though wife in fhow, That with fuperfluous burden loads the day, And when God fends a chearful hour, refrains. XXII.

To the fame.

Cyriac, this three years day these eyes, though clear.
To outward view, of blemish or of spot,
Bereft of light their feeing have forgot,
Nor to their idle orbs doth fight appear
Of fun, or moon, or ftar throughout the year,
Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not

5

Against Heav'n's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope; but ftill bear up and steer Right onward. What supports me, doft thou ask? The conscience, Friend, to' have loft them overIn liberty's defence, my noble task, ply'd Of which all Europe talks from side to side. (mask This thought might lead me thro' the world's vain Content though blind, had I no better guide.

XXIII.

On his deceafed WIFE.

Methought I saw my late efpoufed faint

Brought to me like Alceftis from the grave, Whom Jove's great fon to her glad husband gave, Rescued from death by force, tho' pale and faint.

Mine, as whom wash'd from spot of child-bed taint 5 Purification in the old Law did fave,

And fuch, as yet once more I trust to have Full fight of her in Heav'n without restraint, Came vested all in white, pure as her mind:

Her face was veil'd, yet to my fancied fight 10 Love, sweetness, goodness, in her perfon fhin'd So clear, as in no face with more delight.

But O as to embrace me fhe inclin'd, I wak'd, she fled, and day brought back my night.

PSALMS.

PSAL. I. Done into verfe, 1653.

B

Lefs'd is the man who hath not walk'd astray
In counsel of the wicked, and i'th'way
and in the seat

Of finners hath not stood,
Of fcorners hath not fat. But in the great
Jehovah's law is ever his delight,
And in his law he ftudies day and night.
He shall be as a tree which planted grows
By watry streams, and in his feafon knows
To yield his fruit, and his leaf shall not fall,
And what he takes in hand shall profper all.
Not fo the wicked, but as chaff which fann'd
The wind drives, fo the wicked fhall not ftand
In judgment, or abide their trial then,

5

10

Nor

Nor finners in the assembly of just men.
For the Lord knows th'upright way of the just, 15
And the way of bad men to ruin must.

PSAL. II. done Aug. 8. 1653. Terzette.

WH

HY do the Gentiles tumult, and the nations Mufe a vain thing, the kings of th'earth upWith pow'r,and princes in their congregations (stand Lay deep their plots together through each land Against the Lord and his Messiah dear?

5

Let us break off, say they, by strength of hand Their bonds, and caft from us, no more to wear, Their twisted cords: He who in Heav'n doth dwell

Shall laugh, the Lord fhall fcoff them, then severe Speak to them in his wrath, and in his fell

10

And fierce ire trouble them; but I, faith he, Anointed have my King (though ye rebel) On Sion, my holy' hill. A firm decree

I will declare; the Lord to me hath faid, Thou art my Son, I have begotten thee This day; ask of me, and the grant is made; As thy poffeffion I on thee bestow

Th' Heathen, and as thy conqueft to be sway'd Earth's utmost bounds: them shalt thou bring fulllow With iron scepter bruis'd, and them disperse 20 Like to a potter's vessel shiver'd fo.

And now be wife at length ye Kings averse,
Be taught ye Judges of the earth; with fear
N n

Je

15

Jehovah ferve, and let your joy converse With trembling; kifs the Son left he appear In anger and ye perish in the way,

If once his wrath take fire like fuel fere. Happy all those who have him in their stay.

25

PSAL. III. Aug. 9. 1653. When he fled from
Abfalom.

ORD how many are my foes!
How many those

That in arms against me rise!
Many are they

That of my life diftruftfully thus fay,
No help for him in God there lies.
But thou Lord art my fhield, my glory
Thee through my story

Th' exalter of my head I count;
Aloud I cry'd

Unto Jehovah, he full foon reply'd
And heard me from his holy mount.
I lay and flept, I wak'd again,

For my fuftain
Was the Lord.

Of
many millions
The populous rout

I fear not, though incamping round about
They pitch against me their pavilions.
Rife, Lord, fave me my God, for thou
· Haft fmote ere now

LO

5

10

15

20 On

my foes,

On the cheek-bone all
Of men abhorr'd

Hast broke the teeth. This help was from the Lord; Thy bleffing on thy people flows.

PSA L. IV. Aug. 10. 1653.

NSWER me when I call, God of my righteousness, In ftraits and in diftrefs

A

Thou didft me disinthrall

And fet at large; now spare,

Now pity me, and hear my earnest pray'r.

Great ones how long will ye

My glory have in scorn,

How long be thus forborn
Still to love vanity,

Jehovah from on high

Will hear my voice what time to him I cry.

Be aw'd, and do not fin,
Speak to your hearts alone,
Upon your beds, each one,
And be at peace within.

Nn 2

5

To love, to seek, to prize

Things falfe and vain, and nothing else but lies?

Yet know the Lord hath chofe,

Chose to himself apart,

The good and meek of heart

(For whom to choose he knows)

IO

15

20

Offer