The Songs of the Old Testament Translated into English Measures, Song 1
THE Firſt ſong of MOSES. Exod. 15.
The Argument and the Vſe.
THis Song (as appeares in the hiſtory of Iſraels deliuerie out of Aegypt) was ſung by Moſes and the people, to the praiſe of God, for their wonderfull preſeruation; and the ſeuerity which he vſed againſt their enemies the Aegiptians, in the red Sea. Wherein, they glorifie the Lord for his Power, his Knowledge in warre, his Maieſtie, his incomparable Dietie, his Sanctitie, his Awfulneſſe, his Fame, his merueilous Acts, and the eternitie of his Kingdome. Moreouer, they here ſet forth the malitious violence of their aduerſaries, before their deſtruction, the ſudaine ruine of thoſe that were deſtroyed: with the terrour, which this ouerthrow ſhould ſtrike into their ſuruiuing enemies. And laſtly, they doe at once prophecie, and pray for, the poſſeſſion of that promiſed Land, in which the holy Temple ſhould be builded.
This Song was made, and ordained by the holy Ghoſt, to be ſung, as well by eueryevery Chriſtian Congregation, as by Moſes, and the Iewes. For, this preſeruation of theirs, was a tipe of our deliuerance from the bondage of our Spirituall Aduerſaries. Pharaoh, which (in the originall tongue) ſignifieth Vengeance, (being Miſtically and anagogically conſidered) was a Tipe, both of Antichriſt, a temporall aduerſarie of the Church; and of our enemie the Deuill, who purſues to ouerthrow vsus in our voyage towards heauen, which was alſo in a third ſence figured by the land of Promiſe. Pharaohs hoaſt, ſignifieth all kindes of perſecutions, ſinnes, and temptations. The Red Sea, which we paſſe through, and wherein they are drowned, meaneth our Baptiſme, 1 Cor. 10.2. By Paleſtine, and Canaan, which were names of the promiſed Country, before the Church was remoued thither, (and which the holy-Ghoſt here ſaith, ſhall grieue, and faint, at the newes of our regeneration) are thoſe vnderſtood, who hauehave falſly and wrongfully vſurped the priuiledges belonging to the faithfull congregation. By the Dukes of Edom, with the Princes of Moab, (who are ſaid to tremble at this deliuerie) all the ſeuerall powers of the kingdome of darkeneſſe are vnderſtood.
Now eueryevery good Chriſtian, may (at any time) ſing this Hymne to the praiſe of his Redeemer and in memory of the Churches (with his owne particular) deliuerance from the ſlauerie of Sinne and the Deuill. Yea, and not vnfitly vponupon ſome temporall deliuerances. But it will be indeed moſt properly vſed, both in publike and priuate, after the adminiſtration of Baptiſme: Seeing the paſſage through the Red Sea, and the deſtruction of the Aegyptians there, was a type of that Sacrament, according to the Interpretation of St. Paul.
The Song.
Then ſang Moſes and the Children of Jſrael this Song vntounto the LORD, and ſpake, ſaying:
… NOw to the Lord my ſong of praiſe ſhall be, Who hath a moſt renowned triumph woone: This is the Lord that makes me ſtrong, For in the ſea, the horſe and horſe-man he, Hath both at once together ouer-throwne. Hee is my ſafety and my ſong; My God for whom I will a houſe prepare, My Fathers God whom I on high will reare. …
Well knowes the LORD to war what doth pertaine;
And for that reaſon is the LORD his name:
He, Pharo'hs Charr'ots, and his armed Traine,
Amid the Sea ore'-whelming overcame.
He, in the Ruddy-ſea hath drown'd,
His Captaines that were moſt renownd:
The deeps a couering ouer them hath throwne,
And to the bottome ſunke they, like a ſtone.
LORD by thy power thy right hand's famous grow'n,
Thy right hand LORD, thy foe deſtroyed hath;
Thou by thy glorie haſt thy Foes ore-thrown;
And ſtuble-like, conſum'ſt them in thy wrath.
Thou by thy noſtrils angry blaſt,
The waters backward driuen haſt
And (rowl'd on heapes,) the billowes and the floud,
In middle of the Sea, congealed ſtood.
I will purſue them (thus the Foe did crye)
I will ore'take them and the ſpoile enioy;
My pleaſure on them, now fulfill will I;
With ſword vnſheath'd my hand ſhall them deſtroy.
Then with thy breath thou didſt but blow;
And ouer them the Sea did flow:
Where they, the mighty waters ſanke into,
As we may ſee a peece of lead will doe.
LORD, who like thee among the gods is there?
In holineſſe, ſo glorious who may be?
Whoſe praiſes, ſo exceeding dreadfull are?
Or who in doing wonders i… like thee?
Thy right hand thou aloft didſt reare,
And in the earth they ſwallow'd were:
Whil'ſt thou, didſt by thy mercy, forward lead,
This people, whoſe redemption thou haſt paid.
Them, by thy ſtrength, thou haſt been pleaſ'd to bear
VntoUnto a holy dwelling place of thine:
The Nations at report thereof ſhall feare,
And they ſhall grieue, who dwell in Paleſtine.
On Ed…ms Dukes will horror fall;
Yea Moabs mightie Princes ſhall
With trembling ſhake, when they of this heare tell:
And they ſhall faint that doe in Canaan dwell.
By that great power, which in thine Arm… thou haſt,
Let feare and terrour vponupon them be brought:
Stone-quiet make them till thy people paſſe;
LORD, till this people pas, which thou haſt bought.
Then, to thy hill, let them repaire,
LORD plant them there, where thou art heire:
Eu'n where thy place of dwelling is prepar'd,
That holy place, which thine own hands hauehave rear'd
The LORD ſhall euer, and for euer raigne,
No ending, ſhall his large dominion know;
For, when as Pharaoh downe into the Maine
Did with his Charr'ots and his Horſemen goe,
The LORD the waues did then recall,
And brought the ſea vponupon them all;
Whil'ſt, through the place where deepeſt waters lye,
The ſeed of Iſrael paſſed ouer drye.