holiness and equity of God. Let me bless his holy name, for the multitude of his undeserved favours towards me, and towards the church. And though he cause grief, let me hope, that in due time, he will have compassion. Α A TTEND, my people, to The words that from my mouth proceed 2 My mouth shall speak a parable, 3 The same which we have heard and known, and us our fathers told. 4 We also will them not conceal from their posterity: Them to the generation to come declare will we : The wondrous works that he hath done, 5 His testimony and his law And charg'd our fathers it to show 6 That so the race which was to come, That they might set their hope in God, His mighty works out of their mind, 8 And might not, like their fathers, be A race not right in heart: with God whose sp'rit not stedfast was. 9 The sons of Ephraim, who nor bows nor other arms did lack, When as the day of battle was, they faintly turned back. 10 They brake God's cov'nant, and refus'd in his commands to go. 11 His works and wonders they forgot, 12 Things marvellous he brought to pass, 13 By him divided was the sea, he caus'd them through to pass; And made the waters so to stand, as like an heap it was. 14 With cloud by day, with light of fire all night he did them guide. 15 In desert, rocks he clave, and drink, as from great depths, supply'd. 16 He from the rocks brought streams, like made waters to run down. 17 Yet sinning more, in desart they provok'd the highest One. [floods 18 For in their heart they tempted God; and, speaking with mistrust, They greedily did meat require to satisfy their lust.. 19 Against the Lord himself they spake, A table in the wilderness 20 Behold, he smote the rock, and thence came streams and waters great ; But can he give his people bread? and send them flesh to eat? 21 The Lord did hear, and waxed wroth; so kindled was a flame 'Gainst Jacob, and 'gainst Israel 22 For they believ'd not God, nor trust 23 Though clouds above he did command, and heav'n's doors open made; 24 And manna rain'd on them, and gave them corn of Heaven to eat. 25 Man angel's food did eat; to them he to the full sent meat. 26 And in the heaven he did cause an eastern wind to blow; And by his power he let out the southern wind to go. 27 Then flesh as thick as dust he made And feather'd fowls, like as the sand 28 At his command, amidst their camp 20 They from their lust had not estrang'd their heart and their desire ; But while the meat was in their mouths, 31 God's wrath upon them came, and slew So that the choice of Israel, 32 Yet notwithstanding of all this, And though he had great wonders wrought, believ'd him not therefore. 33 Wherefore their days in vanity he did consume and waste; And by his wrath their wretched years away in trouble past. 34 But when he slew them, then they did 35 And that the Lord had been their rock Ev'n that the high Almighty God had their redeemer been. 36 Yet with their mouth they flatter'd him, and spake but feignedly; And they unto the God of truth with their false tongues did lie. 37 For tho' their words were good, their heart with him was not sincere : Unstedfast and perfidious they in his cov’nant were. 38 But, full of pity, he forgave their sin, them did not slay; Nor stirr'd up all his wrath, but oft 39 For that they were but fading flesh A wind that passeth soon away, 40 How often did they him provoke And in the desert him did grieve 41 Yea, turning back, they tempted God, and limits set upon Him, who in the midst of Isr'el is 42 They did not call to mind his pow'r, 43 Nor how great signs in Egypt land his hand to pass had brought. 44 How lakes and rivers every where he turned into blood: So that no man nor beast could drink of standing lake or flood. 45 He brought among them swarms of flies which did them sore annoy ; And divers kinds of filthy frogs he sent them to destroy 46 He to the caterpillar gave the fruits of all their soil; Their labours he deliver'd up unto the locusts' spoil. 47 Their vines with hail, their sycamores he with the frost did blast, |