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Against the Lord and his Messiah dear?

Let us break off, say they, by strength of hand Their bonds, and cast from us, no more to wear,

Their twisted cords : He who in heav'n doth dwell

Shall laugh, the Lord shall scoff them, then severe Speak to them in his wrath, and in his fell

And fierce ire trouble them ; but I, saith he,

Anointed have my King (though ye rebel) On Sion my holy hill. A firm decree

I will declare; the Lord to me hath said

Thou art my Son, I have begotten thee This day; ask of me, and the grant is made ;

As thy possession I on thee bestow

Th’ Heathen, and as thy conquest to be sway'd Earth's utmost bounds: them shalt thou bring full low

With iron sceptre bruised, and them disperse

Like to a potter's vessel shiver'd so.
And now be wise at length, ye Kings averse ;

Be taught, ye Judges of the earth ; with fear

Jehovah serve, and let your joy converse With trembling; kiss the Son, lest he appear In anger, and ye perish in the way,

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PSALM III. Aug. 9, 1653.

WHEN HE FLED FROM ABSALOM.

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LORD, how many are my foes !

How many those
That in arms against me rise !

Many are they
That of my life distrustfully thus say,
No help for him in God there lies.
But thou, Lord, art my shield, my glory,

Thee through my story
Th’ exalter of my head I count;

Aloud I cried
Unto Jehovah, he full soon replied
And heard me from his holy mount.
I lay and slept, I wak'd again,

For my sustain
Was the Lord. Of many millions

The populous rout
I fear not, though encamping round about
They pitch against me their pavilions.
Rise, Lord, save me, my God, for thou

Hast smote ere now
On the cheek-bone all my foes,
Of men abhorr'd

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

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my sustain] The verb converted into disturb,' in P. L. vi. 549. Todd.

PSALM IV. Aug. 10, 1653.

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ANSWER me when I call,
God of my righteousness,
In straits and in distress
Thou didst me disenthrall
And set at large ; now spare,

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Now pity me, and hear my earnest pray’r.
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 aw'd, 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;

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But, Lord, thus let me pray,
On us lift up the light,

Lift up the favour of thy count'nance bright. 30
Into my heart more joy
And gladness thou hast put,
Than when a year of glut
Their stores doth overcloy,
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 mak'st me dwell.

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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' th’ morning I to thee with choice
Will rank my pray’rs, 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.

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All workers of iniquity

Thou hat'st; 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 falt’ring 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.

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