Psalm 75

(C.M.D.)

To the cheef Musitian, an Altaschith, a Psalme or song for Asaph. God is praised for his ready healp. Christ promiseth to support & judge his Church. Oppressors are reprooved, & the different portion of them & of the Godly, is declared. It is usefull to comfort against the insolencies of spiritual foes.

1. Thee, Lord, we praise & magnifie;
To thee we thanckfull are:
For that thy Name approcheth nigh,
Thy wondrous works declare.
When I, the people, have assum’d,
I, Justice, will maintaine:
For when Earth’s dwellers are consum’d,
Her pillers I sustaine. (Selah.)

2. To Fooles, I said, more prudent growe;
To Sinners, thus I spake,
Your horne (your horne) advance not soe,
Nor such proud boasting make.
Nor East, nor west, advancements come,
Nor from the Mountaines flowe;
But God him self preferreth some,
And some doth overthrowe.

3. From his full Cupp within his hand,
He, mixt redd-wine, doth poure;
Which ev’rie Sinner in the land,
Shall dreggs & all devoure.
But I, of Jacob’s God, will speak
And alway sing his praise:
The hornes of Sinners I will break;
And high the Righteous raise.

O Christ, the Sonn of God, so establish thy Kingdome in our harts that Righteousnes may be continued in the Land. Support those whome thou hast raised to be, as it were, pillers in thy Church or Commonwealth; keep them from being so impudent or vaine glorious in their preferment, as if it came either causuallie, or by their owne Industrie, or deservings: But so cause them & us to perceive thy purpose & thy providence, both in our severall advancements & humiliations, that we may the better discharge our perticuler duties. And when thou shalt fill out the redwine of thy wrath to all obstinate malefactors, let us be refreshed by taking the Cupp of Salvation which thou hast prepared for all them who shall be justified through the merrits of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(C.M.D.) Common Meter Double or 86.86.D

(86.86.86.86; rhyme scheme: ababcdcd)

Tunes (First Lines): Antioch: Joy to the World; Carol: It came upon the midnight clear; Forest Green: O little town of Bethlehem; I sing the almighty power of God; As those of old their first-fruits; Halifax: And have the bright immensities; We limit not the truth of God; Kingsfold: I heard the voice of Jesus say; Laramie: I know not where the road will lead; Materna: O beautiful for spacious skies; Noel: It came upon the midnight clear; Praise God for John, evangelist; Resignation: My Shepherd will supply my need; Salvation: When Stephen, full of power and grace; St. Louis: O little town of Bethlehem; St. Matthew: Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old; The Church’s Desolation: From thee all skill and science; The Third Tune: To mock your reign; I heard the voice of Jesus say.

Psalm 69

(L.M.D.)

To the cheef Musitian, Shosannim, a Psalme of David. It personates Christ taking upon him our sinns & infirmities; humbling him self before his Father; declaring the Condition of his Adversaries; shewing the bitternes of his passion; signifieng the Judgments prepared for Sinners; & prayeng for his Elect, &c. Christ’s members may use it to those purposes.

1. Healp, Lord, for Flouds enclose my Soul;
In groundles depths I am bemir’d;
Above my head, great waters rowle:
My parchèd throate, with cries is tir’de;
Mine eyes are dim’d in seeking thee.
More than my haires, my Foes are growne;
My spoilers are too strong for me,
And take as theirs, what is mine owne.

2. Thou knowest how I am to blame;
But for my sake, let none of those
(Lord, God of Isr’el) suffer blame,
Who do in thee their trust repose.
For I sustaine reprochfull scorne,
And am disgracèd for thy sake.
My brethren of my mother borne,
Of me, likewise, a stranger make.

3. Zeal to thy house hath worne me out;
Thy scorners, my reprochers be;
My Fastings & my teares they flout,
And when I mourne, they laugh at me.
Of me, the Rulers evill spake;
The Drunckerds made of me their songs:
But Lord, my moane I timelie make;
In Mercie, mark therefore my wrongs.

4. Me, by thy Truth’s protection, keep;
That miry-depths, nor spightfull-foes,
Devouring-Flouds, nor whirl-pooles deep,
Nor Dungeon’s Mouth, my soul enclose.
But Lord, of thy abounding grace,
(For thy Love-sake) returne & hear;
To me, thy servant shew thy face,
And in my need, incline thine ear.

5. Drawe nigh, & save & sett thou free,
My soul from those who bear me spight;
For all my wrongs are knowne to thee,
And all my Foes are in thy sight.
Rebukes & scornes, my hart nigh broke;
With greefs opprest, I made my mone,
But where I did for pittie looke,
They would (alas) afford me none.

6. They, for my meat, did gall prepare;
Sharp Vineger to quench my thirst.
Their Bourd, therfore, shall them ensnare,
And Blessings be to them accurst.
Their eye shall be depriv’d of sight;
A cure-les greef, their back shall shake;
God’s heavie wrath shall on them ’light,
His Vengance, them shall overtake.

7. None shall in their abiding-place,
Or in their Tent be dwelling found:
For whome thou smot’st, those they did chase,
And greevèd him, whome thou didst wound.
More sinnfull still, they shall become,
And in God’s Justice, have no share,
Nor in that book of life have roome,
Wherein the Just enrowlèd are.

8. But I that pore & scornèd am,
Shall by thyne ayde, O Lord, be raisd;
For which, I’le magnify thy Name,
And in my songs, thou shalt be praisd.
And that, O Lord, more pleases thee
Than horn’d & hoofèd Oxe to give;
Which when the Meek (thee seeking) see,
It shall with joye, their hart revive.

9. God’s praise; ye heav’ns & earth declare
Him praise, thou sea & all in thee:
For to the pore, he lends his ear,
And he doth sett the pris’ner free.
He, Syon saves in time of need,
And Judah’s Townes he will erect,
To be for those & for their seed,
Who serving him, his Name affect.

O Lambe of God, which takest away the sinns of the world, have mercie upon us! Thou that hast taken on thee our sinns, felt our infirmities, & suffred all which we deserved, have mercie upon us. Thou, who for our salvation, didest bear the unkindnesses of kindred & familiers, the reproches of Neighbours, the scornes & oppressions of Strangers, the reproofs of Magistrates, & the contempt of the basest people, have mercy upon us. Then, who for our sakes, hast endured insufferable torments of the bodie, the unspeakable agonies of the soul, tasted the gall & vineger of everie bitter passion, have mercie upon us. Deliver us from them who seek to crucifie thee againe in thy members. Raise us by thy Resurrection, whome thou hast redeemed by thy passion; Glorifie us by thy Ascention, in life eternall, whome thou hast secured from Damnation by thy Death & Buriall; And for that which thou hast done & prepared for thine Elect; let heaven & earth praise thee, world without end. Amen.

(L.M.D.) Long Meter Double or 88.88.D

(88.88.88.88; rhyme scheme: ababcdcd)

Tunes (First Lines): Creation: The spacious firmament on high; Schmücke dich: Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness.

Psalm 67

(S.M.)

To the cheef Musitian, upon Neginoth, a Psalme, a song. It expresseth a longing for the universall Spreading of that saving grace which is offred to Jewes & Gentiles; & shewes the blessednes which will succeed the same. It is daylie sung in our Liturgie for the enlargment of the Catholick Faith.

1. Thy blessing, Lord, bestowe;
Shewe us thy glor’ous Face, (Selah.)
That all the world, thy waies may knowe
And see thy saving-grace.

2. Let all men give thee praise;
Let all sing praise to thee:
Let nations all sing out thy praise,
For thou their Judge must be.

3. God is the Nations’ kinge; (Selah.)
Let Nations all therefore,
Let Nations all, unto him, sing
And praise him ever more.

4. Then earth shall give encrease;
And God, whose Folke we are,
That God shall us vouchsafe to blesse,
And him, the world shall fear.

Allmighty God, vouchsafe that we, whome thou has alreadie enlightned with a gratious measure of thy Saving knowledge, may so evidently enjoy also thy protection & the continuall brightnes of thy Favour; that all the Nations of the world, beholding the benifit of thy Service, may be allured to joyne with us in magnifienge of thee. Let also a due consideration that thou art Universall king, & makes us beleeve that thou hast provided means of salvation for all thy Subjects: and let the remembrance that thou art universall Judge, make us all so fruitfull that thou maist be universally feared & glorified, & we blessed world without end. Amen.

(S.M.) Short Meter or 66.86

Tunes (First Lines): Bellwoods: O day of God, draw nigh; Boylston: A charge to keep I have; Carlisle: All praise to you, O Lord; Teach me, my God and King; Festal Song: Rise up, ye saints of God; Franconia: Blest are the pure in heart; Nova Vita: Breathe on me, Breath of God; Silver Street: Soldiers of Christ, arise; Southwell: Lord Jesus, think on me; St. Bride: Out of the depths I call; St. Ethelwald: Awake and sing the song; Help us, O Lord, to learn; St. George: Praise we the Lord this day; For thy dear saints, O Lord; St. Michael: O day of God, draw nigh; St. Thomas (Williams): O bless the Lord, my soul; I love Thy kingdom, Lord.

Psa. 57

(98.98.88)

To the cheef Musitian, an Altaschith, a Psalm of David, when he fledd from Saul in the Cave. It mystically expressed the Jewes persecutinge Christ, even unto his Grave; we, that are his members & partake in his suffrings, may sing it to declare our injuries & to pray & praise God for deliverances, &c.

1. Lord, grant (O grant) me thy compassion;
For I, in thee my trust have plac’d;
Display thy wings for my Salvation,
Untill my greefs are over-pass’d.
To thee, I sue (O God, most high)
To thee that canst all want supplie.

2. From their despights who seek to rend me,
Let help, O Lord, from heav’n be daign’d,
And let thy Truth & Love defend me;
For I with Lions am detain’d:
With men inflam’d, whose biting words
Are shafts & spears & naked swords.

3. Let over heav’n, God’s praise be rearèd,
And through the world, his glorie show’d.
For they who netts for me preparèd,
(They who my soul to ground had bow’d)
Ev’n they with in those trapps are caught,
Which for my fall, their hands had wrought. (Selah.)

4. O God, my hart now ready maketh;
My hart for thy praise preparing:
My Tongue, my Harpe, my Lute awaketh.
I my selfe betimes uprearing,
Will speake & sing in praise of thee
Where greatest throngs of people be.

5. For Lord, thy Mercies forth are stretchèd
As farr as the Sphears extended;
Thy Truth unto the Clouds hath reachèd,
And thy self art high ascended.
Let still thy Fame & praise, O God,
Through heav’n & earth be spread abrode.

O Lord, to whome Mercy belongeth, have mercy upon us; & let the Wings of thy protection be gratiously spread over us untill the Stormes of this life be overpast: For so great & so manyfold are those dangers & those Miseries, wherewith we are alwaies enclosed by spirituall & temporal foes; that they have brought our bodies to the Grave & our soules near unto Hell. O let thy Truth & Love defend us from our Lion-like persecuters! that our Harts (being timely cheared) our Thoughts, Words, & Actions, may harmoniously agree in manifesting thy praises. And seeing thy holy Spirit hath plainely declared the Universality of thy proffered Grace, let not us presume to sett Limmits there unto; but publish thy glorie as universaly as thou hast extended thy Mercies, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Meter: 98.98.88

Tune (First Line): Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten: If thou but trust in God to guide.

Psalm 55

Meter 668.668

To the cheef Musitian, upon Neginoth, a Maschil, a Psalm of David. It personated the faithfull, complaining & petitioning against the inhumanitie of their foes. It deciphers, also, false brethren, declares their destruction & the securitie of the Elect. It may be used as the former.

1. О God, my praiers hear!
Hide not away thine eare
But hear & cast on me thine eye,
For loud my foes doe roare.
The wicked greeve me sore,
And therfore Lord, thus loud I crie.

2. With wrongs, they me persue;
A wrathfull spight they shewe,
And I at hart am greatlie vext:
Death’s torments me oppresse;
I shake through fearfulness;
With horrors great, I am perplext.

3. I sayd Dove’s wings, had I,
To rest, I then would flie.
Lo, then farr hence I would abide.
I then would haste away,
And in some Desert stay,
Which from the Tempest me should hide. (Selah.)

4 Destroy & slitt their tongues;
For strife, O Lord, & wrongs,
Possesse their Cittie night & day,
In midst thereof I spi’de;
Sinn, fraud, & guile abide;
These in her streats still made their stay.

5. A foe’s contempt or scorne,
I could have shund or borne;
But me, no publike foe abus’de:
It was my trusted Peer;
As freinds, we freindlie were,
And we God’s house togither us’d.

6. Arrest them, Death & Hell,
With whome such Mischeevs dwell:
For I upon the Lord will call.
To God at night I’le pray,
At morninge, at nooneday;
And me, both hear & save, he shall.

7. In warr, he gave me peace,
And me will still release:
Ev’n me, the Lord will hear and save.
But God will punish them: (Selah.)
For they his feare contemn,
Because, that they no Changes have.

8. Their hands, the Peace did breake,
(Where they a league did make)
And though their speach most freindlie were,
Yet, are sometime their words
Like darts or naked swords.
Let God, therefore, thy Burthen bear.

9. For God is thy defence,
He gardeth innocence;
And Sinners downe to Hell will thrust.
Not half their daies they live
Who murther or deceive:
But in the Lord, I put my trust.

Many & greevous (O Lord) are those troubles which exercise thy Children, especially in those places where prophanes or false worship is openly approoved: but the greatest Afflictions are occasioned by Hypocrites, False breathren, & those who abuse us under cullour of Religeon or by pretences of dearest Amitie. Defend us therfor, O God, from those harmfull Serpents; Give us the wings of Dovelike innocence to carry us above their snares: Grant us those enterchanges of Prosperitie & Adversity which may keep us both in thy Fear & Love: Suffer not the tribulations of the world, nor the temptations of the Devill, nor the miseries of the Flesh, to oppresse us: But let us lay all our burthens upon thee confidently; Trust in thee firmly; Seek thee duly; love thee sincerely; & enjoy thy gratious protection for ever more. Amen.

Meter: 668.668
Tune (First Lines): Ascalon: Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of nature; Beautiful Savior, King of creation.