PSALMS and HYMNS Composed and fitted For the present Occasion Of public thanksgiving, October 24. 1651. By W. Barton Preacher of God's Word. LONDON, Printed by William Du-Gard, October 21. M. DC. LI. Psal. 47. 6. Sing praises to God, sing praises, sing praises to our King, sing praises. Psal. 66. 2. Make a joiful noise unto God all ye lands, sing forth the honour of his Name, make his prais glorious. To the Right honourable THE parliament OF THE commonwealth OF ENGLAND. Most Renowned, Prospered, and most Candid Christian SENATORS! THe LORD of Life and glory, who asscended up on high, and led our captivity captive, hath in these later days appeared on Earth (as he ever doth in Heaven) in behalf of his Spous, and hath dispensed unto you (the friends of the Bridegroom) most incomparable Signal Victories and Conquests in her behalf; for which you have worthily enacted many Sweet and Solemn days of Triumphant Thanksgivings; which Thanksgivings being indeed much advanced by singing of Psalms, it is a thousand pities that the Psalms in use are not by this day cured of so many grievous defects and gross absurdities, as have been of long time discovered in them: For although those gross faults were generally corrected by a worthy Member of your honourable house, in an Edition by him put forth many years ago; yet was that endeavour wholly dashed by a reference to the assembly, who, under an opinion of bringing them most strictly to the Original, made them in many places more dark and disorder lie then could be well amended for the present: upon which consideration I was emboldened, with the assent of Mr Rous (the first author) and with the assistance of some godly Learned men, to endeavour a new Translation, both clear and smooth, and accurately compared with the Original; which having effected & presented, it pleased your honours to refer it to Mr N. Mr B. and Others to review, & report to the house; but they, accounting the said Translation too Poëtical, do intend to compile a new one out of it, more strictly to the words, which doubtless will produce that obscurity of Phrase, and deformity of Style, which marred the other, and made it less acceptable and profitable to the People: and for which very reason this new Composure of mine was more accurately framed, having formerly put forth a Translation of mine own, which was not wholly innocent of that Original error, which indeed the Translators do not always so easily apprehend. Now, because this Review of the Committee may be very tedious to wait for, (it being a year and more since the Order past the house, and I cannot perceiv they are half way in the work) and when it is done, it must needs vary from the express Text by Paraphrase or Metaphrase, for a great part; and because the Opportunities are become indeed Importunities, and very urgent, I presume to dedicate to your honours this short assay of Psalms and Hymns, being ready to print and publish the whole Book, if it pleas your honours to allow me the security of my copy, that no man print it from me, and those that are interessed therein; without which favour, the present printing of the whole would endanger my utter undoing, having already indebted myself so deeply upon the said account: But if after publication of all, your honours shall receive better satisfaction by any other endeavours, I shall fully rest satisfied in this, that it shall be determined by the Supreme authority of England, which, from the first, I have publicly owned, obeyed, honoured, prayed for, pleaded for, and praised God for, as a singular Blessing to this Nation, under which we may lead peaceable and quiet lives in all Godliness and honesty; and if any fearing God be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto them. In conscience and confidence whereof, I rest Your honour's most dutiful and devoted Servant, for Jesus sake, W. Barton. TO HIS excellency The Lord General Cromwell. Right honourable! YOu do very well know, that no Opinion is more unscriptural or irrational, then to deny the duty itself of Singing Psalms, and Spiritual Songs of Prais to the glory of God; for even Nature dictateth no less to the very Heathens; and the Scripture is so express and urgent for it, that as well we may deny prayer, as this kind of Prais: Neither can the mistake of many dissuade the pious practiser of this duty to desist, but rather provoke his zeal, like David dancing before the Ark; blind Bartimeus, crying after Christ; or the Children, crying Hosanna; and Verily, if such should altogether hold their peace, the Stones would sing. I acknowledge that most of the Psalms exstant do want a more exquisite Composure; and I deny not but Christians, gifted that way, may compose and sing new Songs to the glory of God, in the Congregations; but if those Songs be not composed out of Scripture, I believe they will want that gravity and weight, that majesty and authority, which these have to excite affection, and edify the understanding. Wherefore, having Composed a few of this kind, very proper for the Seasons and Solemnities GOD's gracious Providence bestows upon us, I humbly crave leave (▪ most Noble LORD!) to present these, and especially the soldier's Hymn, to Your Lordship's pious and prudent Animadversion, hoping to obtain Your honour's Approbation of this Scriptural Collection, as a lively Description of the Condition You have so much experienced; And that You will say, and many after You, That this Scripture is (at this day) fulfilled in our ears, and in Your persons. GOD almighty preserve Your excellency to be an happy Instrument of Our full Deliverance, and the strong Establishment of England's commonwealth, together with the Flourishing Estate of the whole Church of Christ, as prayeth▪ Your EXCELLENCIE'S most humble Servant, W. Barton. To the Courteous Reader. THE poor and imperfect Translation of the present Psalm-Book (not yet throughly amended by any hand) gave occasion to some to say more wittily then wisely, That Hopkins and Sternhold had persecuted David more than Saul did, and hath made some men to abhor the offering of the Lord: Yet those authors did rarely (doubtless) for those Times, and are registered in Chronicles among men of Note, and their labours have certainly edified godly men, and glorified God, although in these Times of glittering knowledge, and the perfection of Language and other Gifts, the great defects and faults of these Psalms cry aloud for amendment; and certainly when once we have in our flock a male, I mean, a complete Book, Mal. 1. 14. then to offer these lame and blind Psalms, and so to sacrifice a corrupt thing, will be cursedly evil: but to desert the duty wholly (since some Psalms are tolerably translated) is certainly a sin. I conjecture with myself what hath more prejudiced this duty, than the weakness of the Translation; namely, the wicked application of Psalms by malevolent Spirits, as I heard sometime a hedge-priest give forth the 21 Psalm, at such time as the Book of Sports was commanded to be read, to the grieving of the Spirits of the godly: Nevertheless this wicked purpose did not corrupt God's Ordinance, though (to their sin only) it did abuse it, lest by that argument we should forfeit all prayer and preaching. These I say are the true causes of the decay of the most heavenly duty and Exercise of that Ordinance of Psalm-singing; yet lest the amendment of the Psalm Book, and of the Times themselves by universal and powerful reformation, should reduce Christians to that Primitive duty of singing Psalms, Satan hath suggested some witty scruples amongst godly spirits, which for present satisfaction and future preparation of good Christians, I shall hope, though briefly, yet clearly and fully to answer. I. It is objected that they cannot Psal. 131. 44. 119. say they are not puffed in mind; we have not gone back from thee. I have kept thy Testimonies with my whole heart, &c. Answ. 1. Every true Christian can say so in some measure, or in some sens, 1 Joh. 2. 27. You have an anointing that teacheth you all things— and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Gal. 5. 24. Those that are Christ s have crucified the flesh, with the affections and jousts thereof. 2. Thou oughtest yet to learn to be able to say so; Col. 3. 16. Teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns, &c. he that takes special notice of his lesson begins to learn it. II. They object, that is not proper for them to say, Whenas we sale in Babylon: I will divide Sechem, &c. Answ. Are they not yet in Babylon think you? Sure if God have called his people out of Babylon, Rev. 18. 4. they (at least) were in it. As for Sechem, and such like, David glory's in his Conquests, wherein he is both a Type of Christ, (in whose Conquests we are made partakers) and of the Church; and his Temptations and Deliverances do in a Figure represent ours. As Paul saith, Heb. 11. 19 That Abraham received his son from death in a Figure, and that Mount Zion and Mount Sinai, Sarah and Hagar, were an allegory, Galat. 4. ver. 24. III. some object, that more pertinent expressions may be used by Psalms composed on purpose, and of our own invention, as they did in the Primitive times. 1 Cor. 14. 26. Answ. 1. You cannot show so much Scripture, that they used unscriptural Psalms, as we can, that they did use Scriptural; For Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs which Paul commands to be used, Col. 3. 10. are proper terms of the O. Test. Psalms, as Mr Cotton fully proveth in his defence of this Ordinance. And if our Saviour did allude to the Jewish Custom of Thanksgiving at the Sacrament, as Weems saith, we think no less at his singing of an Hymn, Mat. 26. 30. whereas they have not a word to intimate the custom of unscriptural Psalms. 2. When the Psalms were first penned by David, some were Histories of Ancient matters, 77, 78, 114, 135. and many more: some were Prophecies of things to come, as Psal. 79, 85, 126. and others; yet the Spirit of God thought fit to edify the present generation with the Records and Meditation of past and future things, yea, Were not these best of all for such uses? Was it not most sweet to them in times of Invasion and hostility, to call to mind God's protecting, prospering, and avenging of Israël coming out of Egypt, Psal. 114. and 136? And are not these things written for our learning as well as theirs? Rom. 15. 4. yea consider if our Invention can equal the pat and pertinent expressions taken out of Scripture upon all occasion: for then certainly we should be to seek for Texts, as much as for Psalms. IV. some object, that none can render the Scripture into verse, but must needs vary from the Original, in the signification of many words. Answ. So they must do also in the prose Translation: For that which is elegant in the Hebrew, would be Barbarism, at least solecism in our Languages, as abundantly appears by Ainsworth's Translation. 2. Sometimes by means of the latitude of poesy, more full and proper significations may be expressed, then in the prose Translation, as Psal. 1. 6. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} To know with favour; Psal. 118. 22. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} To refuse with disgrace; Psal. 106. 38. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} To shed abundantly, and hundreds such, which the Prose doth more sparingly. 3. Consider the property and nature of verse, that if David had Translated his own Psalms, the expression must have been different in another Language, though to the same effect, and the Spirit of God (using the Translation of the LXX) much varie's the Words of the Old Testament. And if I had as much to spare as I have spent about the work, I could easily demonstrate, out of uncontrolled authorities, how closely I have followed the Original, though now I must content myself with on apology, and putting forth some special Hebraïsms in a Capital letter. Lastly, some object that they dare not sing, because of a mixed multitude, that, they say, curs themselves. Answ. And therefore we shall not bless God and his Church; Surely their faults cannot be charged upon us, if they should sing damnation to themselves. 2. The same objection would deny us all prayer, and spiritual Communion, which is not so far admitted unto them now adays, but should they come in as strangers, they could not pollute the Ordinance nor the Church, and the majesty of it might be blessed to their good. 1 Cor. 14. 14, 25. To them that imagine one should sing the Psalm and the rest hear, it is but an imagination, and that groundless; Where's your Scripture for it? We learn thence to join Voices as well as Votes, Psalm 34. 3. Com and let us exalt his Name together. Psal. 66. 4. All the earth shall worship Thee, and shall sing unto Thee, they shall sing unto Thy Name. Yet it might suffice to answer such fond surmises with 1 Cor. 11. 16. we have no such custom, nor yet the Churches of God. PSAL. XLVIII. GReat is the LORD; his praise no less; for so must we record, In this his hill of holiness, and city of our Lord. 2 Mount Zion is a beauteous thing, and on her Northern side The city of the mighty King, the whole earth's joy and pride. 3 The Lord, within her palace there, is known a refuge nigh: For lo the kings assembled were, together they passed by. 5 They saw it, and they marvelled, but there they durst not stay, But, troubled and astonished, they made great haste away. 6 Great terror there fell on our foes, and grievous pangs of pain: As sharp as women in their throws, at any time, sustain. 7 And like as when, at thy Command, the furious east-wind roars, And spreads his wracks in sight of land, upon the Tarsian shores. OR, And as a furious Eastern wind puts Tharsian ships to wrack, Such furious force our foes did find, when thy hand drove them back. 8 Ith' city of this King of powers We saw, as we were told: This city of this God of ours God ever will uphold. 9 And these thy sure Compassions, Lord, thy kindness and thy grace Most quietly did we record within thy holy place. 10 For like thy Name, so is thy prais, as far as Land extends: And store of righteousness always thy right hand comprehends. 11 Therefore, let Zion plenteously of heavenly joys partake: And Judah's Daughters leap for joy, for thy just judgement's sake. 12 Walk round about, and Zion view, her stately turrets tell: 13 Her palaces consider you, and mark her bulwarks well; Tell it to all posterity, 14 For this God doth abide Our God and guide perpetually, till death he'll be our guide. OR, Tell it to all posterity, for even to our last breath This God 's our God perpetually, And our safe guide till death. PSAL. Lxxvi. THe Lord is known in Judah well, and his most glorious Name Is very great in Israël, which doth extol his fame. 2 The tabernacles of his grace at Salem you may see: And Zion is the dwelling place where he desire's to be. 3 The burning arrows broke he there, the arrows of the bow, The battle-sword, and shield that were the weapons of the foe. 4 Much brighter is thy glorious Crown, more excellent each way, And worthy of much more renown Than all the mounts of prey. 5 Lo, thou hast spoiled the stout of mind, and they have slept their sleep: Their hands the mighty could not find, their lives they could not keep. 6 O God of Jacob thy reproof sent many a daring head, Chariot and horse, with thundering hoof, to sleep among the dead. 7 Thou, Lord, alone deservest fear due to thy dreadful Name: For who may in thy sight appear when once thy wrath doth flame. 8 When thou didst make thy judgement come from heaven shining clear, The earth that heard it was struck dumb, and all sat still for fear. 9 even when the LORD to judgement rose, and sent those judgements forth, To save, from their incensed foes, all meek ones of the earth. 10 The fury that in man doth reign unto thy praise redound's: Remaining wrath thou shalt restrein, and set mens' passions bounds. 11 Vow to the LORD your God, and pay, let all about his throne Bring gifts to him, to him, I say, that is a dreadful one. 12 The Spirit of Princes (his proud foes) He cuts it clean away: And terrible he is to those that earthly sceptres sway. See a second Metre of this already printed, and some other Psalms, fit for the present occasions, as the 126, the 149, also the third Hymn, in any Common tune. To the tune of the old 148 follow these▪ PSAL. XL VI. Give laud unto, &c. GOd is our strength and stay, when dangers do abound: A present help always, and ready to be found: And we therefore Fear not at all, though th'earth should fall, or be no more. 2. And though the mountains high, were carried from the shore: In the deep seas to lie, and troubled waters roar, And though it make The billows rise, and with great noise the mountains shake. 3. For there's a river here, whose streams do flow abroad, And shall most sweetly cheer, and glad the city of God: Those tents of grace Where God most high doth sanctify his dwelling place. 4. Within the midst of her doth God himself abide Her sure Deliverer, therefore she shall not slide; For God, I say, Shall send her aid, ere be displayed the break of day. 5. The heathen raged with noise, the Kingdoms moved were, Than God put forth his voice, and earth did melt for fear: This God of power Hath here abode, and Jacob's God is our high tower. 6. O, come behold and see what works the Lord brings forth! What Desolations he hath wrought in all the earth! Whose mighty hand Make's war to cease, and settles peace in all the land. 7. He break's the spear and bow, and quite cuts off the same, The Chariot he doth throw into the burning flame. Be still, saith he, And know that I am God most high, and known will be. 8. I will be magnified, of all the heathen Coasts, And all the earth so wide of me shall make their boasts; This God of power Hath here abode, and Jacob's God is our high tower. PSAL. 135. I. Part. GIve laud unto the Lord, and praise his holy Name; Do ye his praise record, and spread abroad his fame. Ye that resort To our great God, and have abode in Zion's Court. 2. His honour O proclaim, for good and kind he is: Sing praises to his Name, a pleasant work it is: Jacob hath he, Chose to Himself, and all his wealth, must Israël be. 3. And this I clearly know, the Lord's a mighty one, And that all gods do owe subjection to his throne, for he brings forth Whatever he pleas, in deeps, in seas, in heaven, and earth. 4. He makes the vapours rise from earth's remotest ends: And lightnings (from the skies) With showers of rain he send's. The wind likewise Whatever it is, he brings from his large treasuries. 5. First-born of man and beast, in Egypt he smote dead: And tokens, not the least, in midst thereof he spread, And there let fall His dreadful hand on Pharaoh, and his servants all. 6. Who did great Nations smite, and mighty Kings did kill: The Giant Amorite, and him of Bashan hill: Sihon he slew Of famous note, and Og he smote, and overthrow. 7. And Canaan's Kingdoms all by him were overthrown, And so their land did fall an heritage to his own: An heritage For Israël therein to dwell, from age to age. 8. O Lord thy glory shall eternally endure: And thy memorial for ever shall stand sure: And Lord thy Name From ages past shall always last, and be the same. A new Hymn of Reformation out of Isai. 66. 8, 9, 7. Ye Children which &c. OH who hath heard of such a thing, as now God's power to pass doth bring! or who hath seen such things as these? For shall the earth (can any say) Be made to bring forth in one day? are Nations born at once, with eas? As soon as Zion traveled, She presently was brought to bed, and brought forth children without aid. Before she traveled she brought forth, before her pain came, came the birth, and of a brave man-child was laid. Ver. 9, 10. For shall I bring unto the birth, and shall I not cause to bring forth, saith the almighty Sovereign Lord? Or shall I cause to bring forth some, and then untimely shut the womb, thy God, O Zion, spoke this Word: Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and let her lovers, all of them, of her spiritual joys partake: Rejoice, I say, lift up your voice, Be glad with her and much rejoice, all ye that mourned for her sake. 12. 11. 12. again with Chap. 60. 4. For lo, saith God I will extend the peace of Israël far an end, that like a river it shall seem: Then shall the glorious dignity of the Converted Gentiles be like to an overflowing stream. That ye may suck and be at rest with Consolations from her breast milk forth, and much delighted be With her bright glory overjoied, suck and be nursed at her side, and dandled on your Mother's knee. Vers. 14. Psal. 24. With Psal. 149. 5. & Isa. Which when ye see your hearts shall joy, your bones shall flourish wondrously, like a sweet herb that freshly grows: Then shall the hand of God be known, towards his servants every one, and his displeasure towards his foes. For lo! their worm shall never die, their fire shall burn perpetually, and not be quenched night nor day: But Saints shall shout upon their beds, eternal joy shall Crown their heads, sorrow and sighs shall flee away. The downfall of Antichrist to the same tune. Revel. 12. 10, 11. Now is salvation come abroad, the strength and kingdom of our God, now hath his Christ displayed his might, For the accuser's made to fall. He that accused our Brethren all before our God, both day and night. And him they queled, and over-came, by the pure blood of Christ the Lamb, and by their testimony true, For by that double-edged sword, the witness of his faithful word, this enemy they overthrew. 11, 12. Nor did they spare their utmost breath, nor love their lives unto the death, but boldly laid down all at stake. Therefore, ye Heavens! lift up your voice, and ye that dwell in them rejoice, in this salvation to partake. But woe to you, to you, O SIRS! the Earth and Sea's Inhabiters, Guilty of this Accuser's Crime. For Satan is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knew He now must have but little time. Chap. 11. 17. Chap. 7. 10, 12. We give thee thanks with one consent, O Lord our God OMNIPOTENT. which art and wast and art to come. For thou hast taken unto Thee thy great power and authority, and reigned in despite of ROME. Salvation to OUR GOD therefore, Wisdom and blessing evermore, to him that on the throne doth sit. And to the Lamb be glory bright, thanksgiving, honour, power and might, Amen faith we, and SO be IT. A Song of Thanksgiving out of Isa. XII Chapt. All people, &c. LORD! I will praise thee now this day, though thou wast angry with me sore, Thine anger now is turned away, and thou my Comforts dost restore. Behold! God is my Saviour strong, I will confide, as not afraid, For great Jehovah is my song, also my strength and saving aid. Therefore, by means of this supply, Possessed with joy and great delight, Shall ye draw water plenteously, out of the wells of saving might. Then shall ye say, O praise the LORD, call on his NAME, declare his DEEDS Among the PEOPLE, and RECORD how far his NOBLE fame exceeds. Sing to the Lord the sweetest hymns of solemn prais, with joy and mirth, For he hath done transscendent things, and this is known in all the Earth. O thou that dost in Zion dwell Cry out, and shout for thou dost see, The holy ONE OF ISRAEL is mighty in the midst of thee. The soldier's Hymn, Out of Psal. 144. 1. & 2. and Psal. 18. To any general or common tune. BLessed for ever be the LORD, who is my strength and might, Who taught my hands to use the sword my fingers for to fight. My goodness and my fort likewise, my shield of saving power, My Saviour from mine enemies, and my exalted tower. Psal. 18. 32, 33. 'Tis God that by his power and might strongly gird's up my loins; And makes me take my way aright to perfect my designs. He makes my feet to be as swift as are the hinds in pace, And I must count it as his gift that gains me each high place. 35, 36. Thou gav'st me my Salvation's shield to arm me most complete: And thy right hand hath me upheld, thy favour made me great. Thou gav'st me scope and liberty, Enlarging it so wide. That still my feet stood steadfastly, and did not slip aside. 40, 48. The necks thou gav'st me of my foes, that I (Empowered by thee) Might utterly destroy all those that greatly hated me. 38 Thou lift'st my head above them all that did my hurt conspire, And savedst me from that tyrant Saul whom fury set on fire. 29 I ran through armed troops, by thee, and safely 'scap'd them all, And by my God assisting me have I leapt o'er a wall. 37 I overtook my foes that fled, for I pursued apace: Nor till they were extinguished did I forsake the chase. Mine enemies I did so greet with blows not dealt in vain, That down they fell under my feet, and could not rise again. They cried and called on every side, but there was not to save: Yea even to the Lord they cried, but he no answer gave. 49, 46. Therefore will I give thanks to thee among the Gentiles, LORD In songs of prais with melody, will I thy Name record. 46 O blessed be my rock of power, that ever doth abide, And let the Lord my Saviour Be highly magnified. 60 Deliverance great he gives indeed, and mercy keeps in store For David and his sacred seed, and that FOR EVERMORE. FINIS.