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Now void, it fits thy people: thither bend
Thy course; there shalt thou find a lasting seat;
There to thy sons another Troy shall rise,

And kings be born of thee, whose dreadful might
Shall awe the world, and conquer nations bold.

FROM DANTE.

AH, Constantine, of how much ill was cause,
Not thy conversion, but those rich domains
That the first wealthy pope received of thee.

FROM DANTE.

FOUNDED in chaste and humble poverty,

'Gainst them that rais'd thee dost thou lift thy horn,
Impudent whore, where hast thou plac'd thy hope?
In thy adulterers, or thy ill-got wealth?
Another Constantine comes not in haste.

FROM ARIOSTO.

THEN pass'd he to a flowery mountain green,
Which once smelt sweet, now stinks as odiously:
This was the gift, if you the truth will have,
That Constantine to good Sylvester gave.

FROM HORACE.

WHOм do we count a good man? Whom but he
Who keeps the laws and statutes of the senate,
Who judges in great suits and controversies,
Whose witness and opinion wins the cause?
But his own house, and the whole neighbourhood,
Sees his foul inside through his whited skin.

FROM EURIPIDES.

THIS is true liberty, when freeborn men,
Having t' advise the public, may speak free;
Which he who can, and will, deserves high praise.
Who neither can, nor will, may hold his peace;
What can be juster in a state than this?

FROM HORACE.

-Laughing, to teach the truth,

What hinders? As some teachers give to boys
Junkets and knacks, that they may learn apace

FROM HORACE.

-Joking decides great things,

Stronger and better oft than earnest can,

FROM SOPHOCLES.

'Tis you that say it, not I. You do the deeds, And your ungodly deeds find me the words

FROM SENECA.

-There can be slain

No sacrifice to God more acceptable,
Than an unjust and wicked king.

PSALM I.

Done in verse, 1653

BLESSED is the man who hath not walk'd astray

In counsel of the wicked, and in the way
Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat
Of scorners hath not sat.
But in the great
Jehovah's law is ever his delight,
And in his law he studies day and night.
He shall be as a tree which planted grows
By watery streams, and in his season knows
To yield his fruit, and his leaf shall not fall,
And what he takes in hand shall prosper all.
Not so the wicked, but as chaff which fann'd
The wind drives, so the wicked shall not stand
In judgment, or abide their trial then,
Nor sinners in the assembly of just men.
For the Lord knows th' upright way of the just
And the way of bad men to ruin must.

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WHY do the Gentiles tumult, and the Nations
Muse a vain thing, the kings of the earth upstand
With power, and princes in their congregations
Lay deep their plots together through each land.
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 Heaven 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

The Heathen, and, as thy conquest to be sway'd Earth's utmost bounds: them shalt thou bring full With iron sceptre bruis'd, and them disperse [low 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, If once his wrath take fire like fuel sere. Happy all those who have him in their stay.

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 Goa 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

Of men abhorr'd

my

foes,

Hast broke the teeth. This help was from the Lord;

Thy blessing on thy people flows.

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 prayer.

Great ones how long will ye
My glory have in scorn,
How long be thus forlorn

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;

But, Lord, thus let me pray,

On us lift up the light,

Lift up the favour of thy countenance 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

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.

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' the morning I to thee with choice

Will rank my prayers, 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.
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 faltering mouth unstable

No word is firm or sooth;

Their inside, troubles miserable; [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.

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 even with anguish ake,
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;

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