The Songs of the Old Testament Translated into English Measures, Song 5
THE Prayer of NEHEMIAH. Nehem. 1.5.
The Argument and Vſe.
NEhemiah, being in Babilon; and hauing receiued intelligence by one of his brethren that came from Iudea, of the miſerable eſtate wherein Ieruſalem, and the houſe of God then ſtood. The Text ſaith, he wept at the re…ation; faſted, and made this prayer vntounto God, in behalfe of the Iſraelites. In which Prayer, (firſt acknowledging the Maieſtie, Juſtice, and mercy of God) he humbly deſireth his importunate ſuit may hauehave fauourable audience: And the ſooner to obtaine it, (he renouncing all worthineſſe in his owne or his peoples merits) confeſſeth the hainouſneſſe both of his, and their offences. Secondly, he vrgeth Gods promiſed mercies, vponupon repentance. Thirdly, he is earneſt, in regard they are his owne elected people, for whom he prayes; and thereupon renewes againe his petition: The effect whereof is, that God would be pleaſed to proſper him in the affaires he had in hand, and graunt him fauour in the Kings ſight, whom (as by the ſequell in the ſtory it appeared) he then intended to ſolicite; touching the re-edifying of the Cittie and houſe of God.
This Prayer, may be (in a literall ſence) ſaid, or ſung by the Church of God, when in any affaire of hers, ſhe needeth the fauour of ſome temporall Prince. Or by any member of hers (in her perſon) vponupon a publike occaſion. Yea, for his particular neceſſitie and in his owne perſon alſo he may vſe it when he would deſire the goodwill of man, in ſuch things as nearely concerne him and his family. And me thinkes it ſhould not onelyonly beget in vsus a great hope of good-ſpeed, when we come to God with thoſe words whereunto he hath giuen … proſperous ſucceſſe, (as he did to theſe) but we may be the more confident alſo in our prayers; when we vſe thoſe formes of ſpeech, which the holy-spirit hath inuented. Moreouer, this Prayer, leauing out the two laſt lines, will ſerue for a confeſſion of our ſinnes, before any ſuit which we would preſent vntounto the Maieſtie of God. Or, if we will but alter according to our ſeuerall neceſſities; it will ſerue for a Hymne in many other occaſions. As for example, if thou wouldeſt vſe it before thou and thy family beginne their labour, in ſtead of the laſt Diſticke ſing thus:
And be thou pleaſ'd (Oh LOLD) to bleſſe
Our labours, with a good ſucceſſe.
If thou, with others haſt any iourney in hand, change it thus:
And LORD, all dangers keepe vsus from,
Both going forth, and comming home.
If thou be a commander and leading thy company to the battell; alter it thus:
And be thou pleaſed in the fight;
To make vsus victors, by thy might.
If it be in a time of great famine, turne it thus:
And LORD, vouchſafe thou in this need;
Our ſoul…s and bodi…s both to feed.
If thou be a Diuine, or Schoolemaſter, imployed abo…t the inſtruction of others, and wouldeſt beginne thy exerciſes with this Hymne, end it thus:
And grant that we LORD, in thy feare;
M…y to our profit, ſpeake and heare.
And thus, you may due vponupon many other occaſions, according as your nec…ſſities, and deuotion ſhall moue you. But leſt the ignorant may thinke, the Title of the Sons of Jſrael will be improperly applied to vsus Chriſtians: Or, leſt they may imagine, that the mentioning of Gods threatning a diſperſion, with his promiſe of gathering his people againe vntounto his houſe, will be impertinent to vsus, or our occaſions. For the firſt, let them read Saint Paul, and he will tell them who are true Iewes and Iſraelites. Romans 2.28. and Romans 9.6.7.8. And as for the laſt ſuppoſition. They muſt know, that eueryevery Childe of God, may be (in a ſpirituall ſence) ſaid to be disperſed among the heathen, whenſoeuer by his ſinnes, he is driuen from the preſence of God, and diſtracted by the ſeuerall vanities of the world. And as often as he returnes by repentance, with hearty prayer, he is brought backe from his wand…ings to be more ſetled in the Church, which is the place God hath choſen for his Name. And ſo no part of this Hymne will ſeeme impertinent to vsus.
The Song.
… LOrd God of heauen, thou that art, The mighty God, and full of fear…, Who neuer promiſe-breaker wert, But euer ſhewing mercy where, They doe affection beare to thee, And of thy lawes obſeruers be. …
GiueGive eare, and lift thine eyes I pray,
That heard thy ſeruants ſuit may be,
Made in thy preſence night and day;
For Iſraels ſeed, that ſerueth thee:
For Iſraels ſeed; who (I confeſſe)
Againſt thee grieuouſly tranſgreſſe.
I, and my fathers houſe did ſinne,
Againſt thy will hauehave we miſdone;
Our dealing hath corrupted bin,
Law, or decree obſeru'd we none:
Not thoſe Commands, which to keepe faſt
Thou charg'd thy ſeruant Moſes haſt.
Oh! yet remember I thee pray,
Theſe words which thou didſt heretofore
VntoUnto thy ſeruant Moſes ſay,
If ere (ſaidſt thou) they vexe me more,
I will diſperſe them here and there
Among the nations eueryevery where.
But if to me they ſhall conuert,
To doe thoſe things my lawes containe,
Though ſpread to heauen's extreameſt part…
I would collect them thence againe.
And bring them there to make repoſe
Whereas to place my name I choſe.
Now theſe thy people are of right,
The ſeruants who to thee belong,
Whom thou haſt purchaſt by thy might
And by thine Arme, exceeding ſtrong.
O let thine eare LORD I thee pray
Attentiue be to what I ſay.
The prayer of thy ſeruant heare,
Oh heare thy ſeruants when they pray,
(Who hauehave a will thy name to feare.)
Thy ſeruant proſper thou to day:
And be thou pleaſ'd to grant that he
In this mans ſight may fauour'd be.