Christian meditations upon eight Psalms of the prophet David. Made and newly set forthChristian meditations vpon eight Psalmes of the prophet Dauid. Made and newly set forth

¹⁴14 Yet ever at mine extremest need thou diddest send me Champions, and madest me to find force in feebleness, calm in tempest, felicity in misery, life in death: Thou diddest, I say, evermore cause me to see what difference there is between that fatherly rod wherewith thou correctest thy children to salvation, & that iron bar wherewith thou dashest thine enemies past all recovery. Egypt, Nineveh, Babel, and this lofty image of the monarchies teared by my ruins, and cemented with my children's blood, are now come down, while yet thy poor Zion stands and speaks. Thou, O God, evermore most like thy self, now that thou seest me more straitened then ever, show that thou hast set bounds to my miseries, as thou diddest in old time to ⟨image 50⟩those captivities of Egypt and Babylon. Raise up some Joshuas, and Esdras, some Nehemiahs and Constantines, which may rear again thy razed palaces, taking pity on our ruins and sackings. Above all, Lord, send us some Aarons and some Esdras, having thy spirit in their heart, and thy word in their mouth, as true instruments of thy power, to raise again this thy spiritual building which is thrown to the ground, and so disfigured, as with much a doe can a man track out so much as the very ancient foundation: And bless, Lord,¹⁵ the hand and the labours of thy faithful workmen, so as in stead of so many peoples at this day revolted from thee, some forced by Mahomet, others seduced by false pastors, profaning the chair ⟨image 50⟩of trueth by their coined and counterfeited doctrines,¹⁶ all may be brought back again to thee, in such wise, that thy glory may shine more then ever,¹⁷ and thy heavenly Zion, that workmanship of thine own very hand, may be lifted up again to her former brightness.

¹⁴14 Yet euer at mine extremest neede thou didest sende mee Champions, and madest me to finde force in feeblenesse, calme in tempest, felicitie in misery, life in death: Thou didest, I say, euermore cause mee to see what differēce there is betwene that fatherly rodde wherewith thou correctest thy children to saluation, & that yron barre wherewith thou dashest thine enemies past all recouerie. Egypt, Niniue, Babel, and this loftie image of the monarchies teared by my ruines, and cymented with my childrens blood, are nowe come downe, while yet thy poore Sion standes and speakes. Thou, O God, euermore most like thy selfe, nowe that thou seest me more streyghted then euer, shewe that thou hast set boundes to my miseries, as thou didest in olde time to