My life down to the earth, and roll In the dust, and there outspread Rise, Jehovah, in thine ire; Of my foes that urge like fire; So the assemblies of each nation Judge me, Lord; be judge in this And their power that do amiss. But the just establish fast, Since thou art the just God that tries God is a just judge and severe, If the unjust will not forbear, His sword he whets; his bow hath bended 20 30 40 Already, and for him intended The tools of death that waits him near. (His arrows purposely made he As in a womb, and from that mould He digg'd a pit, and delved it deep, His mischief, that due course doth keep, Of violence will undelayed Fall on his crown with ruin steep. Then will I Jehovah's praise 50 60 PSALM VIII. August 14, 1653. O JEHOVAH our Lord, how wondrous great The moon and stars, which thou so bright hast set In the pure firmament, then saith my heart, That him thou visit'st, and of him art found? II With honour and with state thou hast him crowned. O'er the works of thy hand thou mad'st him lord; All flocks and herds, by thy commanding word, 20 All beasts that in the field or forest meet, Fowl of the heavens, and fish that through the wet Sea-paths in shoals do slide, and know no dearth. O Jehovah our Lord, how wondrous great And glorious is thy name through all the earth! SCRAPS FROM THE PROSE WRITINGS. FROM "OF REFORMATION TOUCHING CHURCH DISCIPLINE IN ENGLAND," 1641 [DANTE, Inferno, xix. 115.] AH, Constantine, of how much ill was cause, [PETRARCH, Sonnet 107.] FOUNDED in chaste and humble poverty, 'Gainst them that raised thee dost thou lift thy horn, [ARIOSTO, Orl. Fur. xxxiv. Stanz. 80.] THEN passed he to a flowery mountain green, FROM THE APOLOGY FOR SMECTYMNUUS, 1642. [HORACE, Sat. i. 1, 24.] LAUGHING to teach the truth What hinders? as some teachers give to boys [HORACE, Sat. i. 10, 14.] JOKING decides great things Stronglier and better oft than earnest can. [SOPHOCLES, Electra, 624.] 'TIS you that say it, not I. You do the deeds, And your ungodly deeds find me the words. FROM AREOPAGITICA, 1644. [EURIPIDES, Supplices, 438.] THIS is true liberty, when freeborn men, FROM TETRACHORDON, 1645. [HORACE, Epist. i. 16, 40.] WHOM do we count a good man? Whom but he FROM "THE TENURE OF KINGS AND MAGISTRATES," 1649. [SENECA, Her. Fur. 922.] THERE can be slain No sacrifice to God more acceptable Than an unjust and wicked king. |