The Psalms of David in English Meter, Title page – To the reader
THE PSALMES OF DAVID IN English Meeter, set forth by FRANCIS Rous.
Psal. 47. Ver. 7.
foreign
Aprill 17. 1643.
IT is this day ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament for printing, that … Book, entituled, The Psalmes of David, & (according to the desires of many reverend Ministers) be published for the generall use: And for the true correcting of it, be printed by those the Author shall appoint.
Iohn White.
I do appoint Philip N…ill and Peter … to print these Psalmes.
Francis Rous.
LONDON,
Printed by Ia… …, for Philip …, … … sign… of … … … … 164….
A PREFACE.
THe excellent uses of the Psalmes are manifold, yea universall; for they are good for all spirituall uses and advantages. They have in them Instruction, to increase our knowledge; Spirituall Fervour, to inflame our zeale; Consolation, to refresh & revive our fainting soules; Praiers, to fetch blessings from God; and Praises, to returne to God for his blessings. Yea, the very afflictions of the Saints therein expressed (even their outward sufferings, and inward dejections and desertions) are no small consolations to us. For, by them wee see that fiery Tryalls are no strange matters to Saints, and Saints wee may bee amid all these fiery Tryalls. But withall, if wee marke the issue of th…se Tryalls (often set forth in these Psalmes) then wee cannot but see strong and vehement incouragements of Faith, and of that praier of Faith, which saveth the sick, even those that are sick at h…art: yea, sick at the very soule. For how often doe wee see a sick soule to begin a Psalme, even in the belly of Hell, and yet end it in Heaven? So that a Saints soul being as it were in Hell, yet is neare unto Heaven, if it can be earnest with God in these melodious Praiers of Faith. For God, being thus called on, turnes in to the soule; and when God comes into a soule, hee makes a Heaven there, though a Hell were there before. And then naturally (I speak of a godly nature) do arise in the soule high Jubilations and Extasies, and not these onelyonly, but glorious Thanksgivings to God; to whom alone must be ascribed the bringing of light out of darknesse: and that voice of joy and gladnesse, which the Saints doe heare even at the same time, when their bones are broken with humiliation.
Briefly, the Psalmes are characters and representations of the thoughts, meditations, and affections of a sanctified soule, throughout all the changes of her pilgrimage; so that a good man can be in no kind of estate, but he shall find his owne estate in a Psalme: and in a Psalme, he may find thoughts and expressions which doe well agree with that estate, and make it good unto him.
Thus, while the Psalmes are …itted to all the members of the Catholike Church in all their estates, they may be truly called Catholike Songs, and accordingly should be ever ready for the use of the truly Catholike members of the Church, in all the changes of their severall estates. And toward this universall use of them, divers well-affected persons have turned them into their own languages; and not onelyonly so, but they have turned them also into harmonious Measures, that they may be still used as Psalmes, that is, as spirituall and heavenly Songs.
For the advancement of this profitable use, apprehending many years past (which experience hath shewed to be a true conjecture) that a forme wholly new would not please many, who are fastned to things usuall and accustomed (though if Psalms of a new form be read before they be sung, there is no hinderance, but that they may be presently used; and after a little use will grow familiar, as the former) I assaied onelyonly to change some pieces of the usuall version, even such as seemed to call aloud, and, as it were, undeniably for a change.
These being seen, it was desired that they should bee increased; which being done, they are here subjoyned. I doubt not but the reasons of the changes will mostly appeare in the changes themselves; and the Reader may easily find, that the places changed might well receive a change, for their Cadence or Currence, or for some old and abolished words; or, which is more, for agreeing lesse with the new Translation, yea, with the Originall it selfe.
If hereby any Saint shal receive an increase of light in his understanding, or of fervour in his will and affections, I shall desire, first, that God may have the glory, who is the giver of every good gift; an… then, that he will requite the messenger by whom God hath sent him a blessing, with this praier (wherein hee may joyne himselfe as a Partner;) That, being freed from the guilt, spot, and power of sin, and daily renewed in the inner man, amid the decayes of the outward, by the free mercy of a most gracious Father, and the precious Merits of a most sufficient Saviour, and the communion of a most holy and hallowing Spirit, hee may be admitted into the heavenly Quire of glorified Saints and Angels, and with them sing everlasting Hallelujahs, to the most glorious Trinitie, in eternall felicity.
To the READER, for his more full and easie satisfaction.
IF it bee too much to compare all the following Psalmes with the old, and both with the new Translation or Originall, the Reader may take a taste of what hath been done by comparing onelyonly these Psalmes (or some of them) whose numbers here immediately follow:
2. 7. 10. 17. 18. 22. 27. 29. 31. 35. 36. 37. 42. 46. 49. 55. 57. 58. 62. 63. 71. 73. 74. 78. 80. 83. 89. 90. 91. 92. 104. 107. 119. 135. 137. 143.
Or if hee desire to see some paternes of places, that seem to call aloud for amendment (among divers) these are presented to him:
Psal. 24. 6.
This is the Bro…d of Travellers in seeking of his grace,
As Iacob did the Israelites in that time of his race.
Psal. 35. 8.
Lord, when will thou amend this geare? why dost thou stay and pause?
O rid my soule, my onelyonly deare, out of these Lions clawes.
Psal. 58. 6.
O God, breake thou their teeth at once, within their mouthes throughout:
The tuskes, that in their great jaw-bones, like Lions whelps hang out.
Psal. 74. 12.
Why dost thou draw thy hand a-backe, and hide it in thy lap?
O plucke it out; and be not slacke to give thy soes a rap.
Psal. 91. 10.
Thou shalt not need none ill to feare, with thee it shall not …ell.
Psal. 92. 6.
The man unwise hath not the wit this geare to passe to bring.
Psal. 119 110.
In wisdome I do passe also the ancient men indeed;
And all because to keep thy Lawes I held it aye best reed.
Verse 120.
My fl…sh, alas, is taken with feare, as though it were benum'd:
For when I see thy judgements, straight I am as one aston'd.
Psal. 135. 9.
Hee hath in thee shew'd wonders great, O Egypt, void of vaunts,
On Pharaoh thy cursed King, …nd his severe servants.
These, and the like places, may the Reader find amended; and some Psalms set to harder Tunes, (and not easily sung by the unskilfull, nor done without roughnesse) changed: and the whole body of the Psalmes not much short of a tolerable smoothnesse.
THE PSALMES OF DAVID.
PSAL. I.
THe man is blessed, that to walk in wicked waies doth feare;
And stands not in the sinners path▪ nor sits in scomers chair.
verse 2 But in the perfect Law of God he greatly doth delight;
And on that Law doth meditate with pleasure, day and night.
verse 3 He shall be like a tree by streames of waters planted neare,
Which in his season doth no… …aile his pleasant fruit to bea…e.
Whose leaf shall never fade nor fall, but flourish still and stand:
Even so all things shall prosper well that this man takes in hand.
verse 4 So shall not the ungodly men, they shall be nothing so;
But as the dust, which from the earth the wind drives to and fro.
verse 5 Therefore shall not the wicked men in judgement stand approv'…
But sinners from the just shall divided, and remov'd.
verse 6 Because the way of righteous men God doth with favour know,
Whereas the way of wicked men ends in their overthrow.