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PSALM III. AUG. 9, 1653.

WHEN HE FLED FROM ABSALOM.

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

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[Lord;

Hast broke the teeth. This help was from the

Thy blessing on thy people flows.

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

PSALM IV. AUG. 10, 1653.

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

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

Great ones, how long will ye

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My glory have in scorn,

How long be thus forborne

Still to love vanity,

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To love, to seek, to prize

Things false and vain, and nothing else but lies?

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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.

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

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Thou, Lord, alone in safety mak'st me dwell.

PSALM V. AUG. 12, 1653.

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,

I' 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;

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[smooth.

An open grave their throat, their tongue they
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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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 e'en with anguish ache, 5
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? 10
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. 15
Depart all ye that work iniquity,
Depart from me, for the voice of my weeping

The Lord hath heard, the Lord hath heard my My supplication with acceptance fair [prayer, 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.

21 blank] Comus, 452.

that dash'd brute violence

With sudden adoration and blank awe. Warton

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