A PARAPHRASE UPON THE PSALMS OF DAVID .

By SAM. WOODFORD .

LONDON , Printed by R. White , for Octavian Pullein , neer the Pump in Little-Brittain , 1667.

IT is not my intention to spend time in transcribing those several Elogies , which Holy men in their writings have given the Book of Psalmes ; For to do that here , were but to make a tedious repetition of the same thing , and usurping anothers Province , but meanly to pursue that , which is no less powerfully , than frequently inculcated by the Divine Oratory of the Church . I think there is none but will acknowledge that it is a part of Scripture , which is , and shall for ever be esteemed worthy the care , and study both of the greatest Scholars , and sublimest Wits of all ages ; and where , as the weakest understandings may finde enough for their satisfaction , the severest and most curious Criticks , may have scope and opportunity to exercise , and improve their richest Talent . For what can be more pleasant than to inquire , who were the Composers , to explain the many obscure Titles , and frequent allusions to several customs by us utterly unknown , and to let the World understand , what it is yet ignorant of , wherein consisted the true nature of the Hebrew Poesy ? But these , as above my Capacity , I shall purposely omit , and make it my business only to give some little account of the design , and conduct of the following Work .

But before I can proceed to that , I must here , by way of Apology for my undertaking it , freely confess that such an argument as this , would have appear'd much better in the hands of one , who had made Divinity his chiefest study : and can only say for myself , that as I did it to please some particular friends , and for my own diversion ( next to that great design of the glory of God , and service of his Church : ) so having now at length finisht it , and by them , and several others urg'd to make it more publick , I thought my self bound , by some such Preface as this , to provide for this issue of my brain , with the same diligence and care that other Parents are wont for their legitimate Children . Not that I have so good an Opinion of these labours , as fondly to believe they deserve it , but because their natural deformities require the greater Portion to put them off . For I am too conscious of their many defects , and my own inabilities for so great an affaire , as in good earnest to attempt their defence : or , if I would have no way left to make it , but that , which to all ingenuous spirits is very disagreeable , by throwing the blame on others better able , and who have had , it may be , much fairer opportunities than my felf of performing so worthy an enterprise . Had any such excellent person so employ'd his vacant hours , it might have prevented the publishing these rude Essays of mine ; whereas now all that I can expect from them is , that after a severe censure , they may happily be so fortunate , as to give occasion to anothers better thoughts : And I heartily wish some One of Our many Reverend , and Learned Divines , who have a true understanding and gust for Poesy , would hereby be provok't to undertake so noble a subject . For as there is not any condition of men so fitted for the sublime notions of Poesy as they ; there is no study whatsoever , which either is so truly worthy of , or comes neerer their Profession . Theology and Poesy have in all ages of the World gone hand in hand , nor is there really such a disparity between their Natures , as is generally , though without any reason , imagined . For if one has been lookt on as containing the Will and Pleasure , the other no less has been reckoned the Stile , and Language of Heaven . Musick and Numbers , the chiefest of the Liberal Arts , serve but as Hand-maids to this Great and All-commanding Mistriss . 'T is I know not what kind of Divine Science , purely singular , and only like it self , which even in the Opinion of all , has more of Divinity in it than words can express , and therefore was continually allowed a Stall in the Temple , and received into the Devotions of the most Religious , and Civilized , as well as Barbarous Nations . If we look into the Jewish Administration , we shall finde that the People of Israel were no sooner delivered from the Aegyptian chains , and that the same Sea , which parted it self to make them way , returned upon their Enemies , but immediately Moses , their great Law-giver , continues the remembrance both of the Miracle , and their deliverance in a most excellent and Poetical song : which I verily believe is not only the most antient piece of Poetry now extant , but written as soon , if not before any other part of the Pentateuch . Nay God himself , we afterwards finde , gave him particular charge , and inspiration , a little before his death , to compose another Hymn , with strict command to teach it the People who thereby having it continually in their mouths , ( such he knew was the charm of verse , ) might both be encouraged in their duty , and become witnesses against themselves , when at any time they turned to Idolatry . If the Book of Job shall be esteemed by any of an ancienter date ( which I should very hardly be persuaded to assent to , as imagined to be done , though by the same hand , yet during his retirement with his Father-in-law , before he was sent on his great Embassy to Pharao ) from the beginning of the third chapter , to the middle of the last , it is one continued Poem : in which there are such lofty and exalted Metaphors , lively Similitudes , pompous Descriptions , strength of Elocution , and prodigious flights of Wit and Fancy , that you cannot meet any thing to compare with it in the choicest collections of all the Old Poets . You there may see Divinity flourishing upon a root of Poesy ; and that again loaded with the generous productions of Divinity : both so inseparably united each to other , that like stock and cyon they make but one plant , and leave it hard to be judged whether the Author were the greater Divine , or Poet. The Latines very properly comprehended both these sublime Functions under the single Title of their Vates , accounting it no less unfit than unreasonable , that two offices so straitly united of those of the Priest and Poet should be known by distinct , and different Names . I shall not here inquire into the Reasons they had for so doing , only this I am assured , how many and strong so ever they were , they cannot compare with Ours of the true Religion . The inspirations of both proceed from the same Father of Spirits , and are Celestial flames , that darted from above , are never well but when they are thither rising up again : Only Poesy like that Sacred fire , which God sent down of Old to consume the Sacrifices , returns with a little more smoke . They both came down from Heaven , and thither are alwaies taking their flight ; but Divinity never seems to make such hast , as on the wings of good Poesy . I must confess at this day , but by what ill Fate I know not , they are looked upon without the least relation to each other , and grown themselves so much strangers , that like sister-streams once parted from the Spring , they run different courses , and are so far from meeting again , that they very seldom come in sight of each other . For though the Precepts of the School serve excellently , if rightly applyed , to adorn and enrich his Fancy , who hath a natural Genius to Poesy , yet we dayly see them ineffectual to create it . And he who findes not in himself those hidden Mines of Invention , and most happy and unaffected Facility , which only make the Poet , should never be persuaded by me to attempt the ravishing her by force , whom by fair means he cannot allure to be his Mistriss . For to what but this may we attribute those many lame , and imperfect draughts of Poems , both Originals , and Translations , which are to be seen in almost every language ? where , if they have been the Authors own , they are his bare thoughts and lifeless Prose ( for I speak now especially of Modern Poesy ) made worse by the uneasy shackles of confining Metre : and if versions so exactly laboured ad verbum , that what by the unlucky transposing of words , what by leaving out some little particles , wherein the grace of the sentence did consist , they lose all their former beauty , and from excellent Prose , though the language continue the same , degenerate into very indifferent , and untuneable Rhyme . This has been a failing so general , that I need not seek far to illustrate it by examples . But none in my opinion have been so guilty of it , as those , who have had for their argument some excellent piece of Scripture , or pious matter , which with the embellishments of Art , and the true Poets easiness , and invention would , upon the most durable foundations , have made the fairest superstructures in the World . But how miserably have the greatest part been overseen , whilst all their pains have been bestow'd to compose a few ill-contriv'd Cadences , putting themselves to an unimaginable torture to make those conceptions intolerable by the straitness of verse , which else might have done well enough in looser Prose . These are the men to whom we are in a great measure beholden for the low esteem . Poesy now has amongst us , though at the same time they have not only rendred that ridiculous , but humbled Divinity , which supplyes the Poet with his noblest , and most lofty subjects . And I am very apt to believe , that a man of an Harmonious soul ( such as all true Poets are ) though he be but indifferently skil'd in the controversies of the School-men , and the nicer points of Divinity , ( by which possibly the Peace of the Church has been more disturbed , than ever it was advantag'd ) shall make much better work in his way of an Argument taken from the Holy-Bible , than the sublimest and most Scholastical Wit , who is unacquainted with the laws of Poesy . But how few are there of these severe Scholars , and only learned men ( as they would be thought ) in an age , who have any rellish , or the least esteem for Poesy , but rather judging it by the abuse , look on it as a fruitless , and most unprofitable study , unworthy the thoughts of such as are advanc't in years ; and the greatest incentive to loosness , and debauchery in youth ? Others there are of a quite different humor , who though possibly they may have for it the highest , and most reverend esteem , yet think Holy-Writ is barren of all good subjects , and the only thing that is incapable of its gay and splendid embroyderies . I shall make it my business therefore , in shaping an answer to both these , at once to defend Poesy in the general from those calumnies , which are no less maliciously , than falsly charged upon it , and then give a short assay to the restoring Divine Poesy to its ancient dignity and lustre .

If therefore we consider Poesy in her first institution , e're she became a common Prostitute to lust , flattery , ignorance , and ambition , we shall find her alone acknowledged as the Soveraign Princess of the civiliz'd World , and behold her from her Throne giving Laws , not only to their Religion and Policy , but also to their manners . Her Court was esteemed the proper , and only school of Virtue , to which the greatest Princes form'd theirs , and under her custody alone was kept seal'd that Fountain , whence all the profitable instructions of life were to be drawn . Phylosophy it self was a thing of no use , and destitute of arms , till she supply'd them , nor durst it appear in the World without the easy chain of Verse , in token of submission to her , for its pass-port . And when afterward the Porch and Academy by main force brake it off , the strictest Precepts of the most rigid Sect , as to the regulating of Manners , came infinitely short of those examples , which she exhibited on her Theaters . The same may be said of almost all other Arts , that from her they receiv'd their birth and vigor . Neither was this Divine Mistriss less courteously receiv'd into the Camp , where her soft Numbers were with pleasure heard amids the confused noise of Arms. Hence mighty Generals had the best Instruction both for their Conduct , and Valour , and were encouraged by the Records of Antiquity , which some Poet had faithfully preserv'd , to do themselves famous Acts , worthy the like praise of Posterity . This was that , which in all their Victories they especially sought , and in perpetual acknowledgement , that they thence receiv'd their greatest honour , in their most solemn Triumphs , when Crowns of Gold were only in state carried before them , they chose themselves to wear the Poets Meede , Laurel , Chaplets .

Such was Poesy of old , with a command as absolute , and unconfin'd as her Dominions , and alwayes found either serving at the Altars , or of Counsel Royal to the greatest Princes . But it was not long that she continu'd in this great dignity and repute ; For in punishment for her early defection from the service of the True God , where she first attended , to that of Devils , of a Princess she became a slave , and sensibly , though by degrees lost all her Title to Soveraignty , and absolute jurisdiction , for in the Temples of the Heathen Deities , though by a kind of Spiritual Authority , she kept in awe whole Nations , which from her mouth receiv'd all their Oracles , yet even there , by her own Priests was she her self abus'd , and knew no Inspirations , but what either they did invent , or were suggested to her by the great Deceiver . Here it was , that by frequent use , she learnt all manner of Prophaness , and by often ascribing that to false gods , which was the alone glory of the True , from low , and mean thoughts of him , she brake forth into open rebellion , pursuing Heaven with her blasphemies , and sending all her impieties up thither , whence at first she obtained all her Power ; like a River , whose passage is obstructed , that runs back upon its own spring , carrying mud and slime along with it , and overflows , and defiles those Altars , which in its clear and un-interrupted course before it did but wash . Having thus humbled her , it was some ages e're the grand Tyrant offered her any other violence , and even fearless of a revolt , permitted her the free use of that command she had gain'd o're the minds of men , and still continue to be , according to her own nature , the Patroness of all true and Heroical virtue . But in process of time from his and the Priests , she was made the peoples Idol , and no longer remaining so much as a suppos'd Virgin , became perfectly obsequious to the wills and humors of such as had the confidence to debauch her ( though a perpetual curse of Poverty constantly followed the committers of so great a Rape ) to please them she began to affect new , and immodest dresses , which to all the world else rendred her still more deform'd , and in a while guilty of all that obscenity , which she had before condemned upon the stage .

And in this state of slavery is she look't on by the most part of men , who only judging of her by the present , and what hurt she may do , by what she has already done ( like Artillery by surprise come into the Enemies hand ) forget how serviceable she has notwithstanding formerly been to the civiliz'd , and may yet be to the Christian World . Instead of censuring and condemning her , it were good I think , to take her by force , and restore her to the Church of God , where she has been too long a stranger . Poems of Morality , which have been of late no less auspiciously , than worthily begun ( such Epique and Lyrique Poems I chiefly mean , though the Drammatique also may be of excellent use , so it be kept within its due bounds , as with all the liberty of Invention , riches of Fancy and the true Poets Art , have been contriv'd to express the real Portraict of Virtue in all its various appearances , and to describe Vice in its lively , though otherwayes most hateful colours , these I say ) make the first step to her conversion : and it may in my poor opinion be promoted amongst us , by translating anew the best of the ancient and some few modern Poets , who have made it their business to cloath excellent Morality , and various learning in a chast stile , and by gracefully rendring them in our own language : so that the sense may neither seem tortur'd , and put on the rack by too strait a version , nor be out of knowledge in one too loose and flowing . But this great task can never be perfected , since we are to expect no new Revelations , till Poesy comes again to be settled upon her first great Basis , The Divine inspiration , reveal'd in the holy Scriptures .

And this brings my discourse to them , who confidently , though without any reason , assert that the sacred Word has not subjects agreeable enough for this kind of writing . But because Mr. Cowley in that part of his Preface before his Poems , which concerns his incomparable Davideci has taken the pains fully to remove that ill report , which was brought on this happy Land , if I may so call it , either ignorantly or maliciously , I shall give my self the less trouble , and refer my Reader to the place it self , where he may have all that satisfaction that either Reason or Religion can expect . Nor can those authorities he brings be excepted against , seeing he hath so strongly confirmed them by the Poem it self , where though the Argument be wholy Divine , there is to be found , as much as could be expected for the first sitting , what ever is requisite to make an Heroick Poem beautiful : sound judgement , happy invention , graceful disposition , unaffected facility , strict observance of decencies , and all set off with that majesty and sweetness of verse , that it is to be lamented he had not an opportunity before his death , to finish it according to his own Model , and the provision he had laid up to that purpose . And truly all his Divine Poems , have I know not what greatness of spirit , which you shall seldom meet with elsewhere , and in which generally he has as much out-done himself , as in the rest equal'd the most happy of our modern Poets . So that if Religious , and Pious compositions , as has been often observed , please not , the fault can be no longer unjustly thrown upon the Materials , but must return upon the Composers want of skill to manage them to the best advantage . The Holy Bible doubtless is an excellent Soil , and of such kindly nature , that if it were cultivated either as it ought , or only as the barren sand of Antiquity , and all the tedious fables of the Heathenish superstition too often have been , it would produce the greatest , and most rich increase . For besides , that like them it has never yet been throughly broken up , the most unfruitful part of it , at least that which may seem so , abounds with inexhaustible Mines , which would plentifully reward any that should labour in them . And it were beside unreasonable to think that Palestine alone , which was so fruitful of all things else , should be barren only of Laurels .

The blame our language is a fondness every whit as extravagant , especially considering the great supply , which hath been of late years , and is daily brought to it by unexpected discoveries of Nature , and improvement of the Arts , which do not only furnish the Poet with incredible variety of new and unusual conceits to exercise his Fancy , but with an immense company of words also to enrich his expression But to such Objectors I shall only say , that if the English Dialect , not only as it is spoken at this day , but as it was in use the last age , were seriously and impartially examined , it will appear not only as copious and significant for Prose , but as comprehensive of the sublimest notions of Verse as any modern Language in Europe , and to equal , if not in some qualities exceed , those of old Rome and Athens . But for Numbers it is so naturally suited that excepting the Rhyme , which in so great a choice of words as we have is very easie to be found , even in ordinary speaking , or writing , they can hardly and not without some pain ( if it were curiously inquired into ) be avoided . But my zeal for Poesy has carried me , I am afraid , too far , and made me almost forget what I promised in the beginning , to give a short account of the following work .

It is now therefore some years since I had my first and great desire to turn the Book of Psalms into English verse , and in order thereto did , very little different from what at present it is , the CIV . Psalm . But I know not how , on a suddain , all my heat was laid , and the greatness of the labour , together with my own insufficiency , deterr'd me at that time from proceeding any further . Hereupon for about three years the design slept with me , till reading over with a little more than ordinary intention the CXIV . Psalm of Mr. Cowleys , I was again warm'd , and in imitation of him I was resolved once more to try how well or ill I could write after so excellent a Copy . Not because I was by that time grown more confident of my strength ( which I must confess I found all along very unequal to so weighty an affair ) but because I hoped thereby to encrease it , and fix my mind otherwise fleeting and uncertain upon something that might be of advantage , if not to the Publick , yet at least to my Freinds , and my own private Meditations . Considering also the infinite variety with which this part of Holy Scripture was replenish't , I judged the tediousness of the passage would thence , and by the many resting places I should meet with by the way , be very much abated . And that my Fancy might be as little confin'd as my time , I ever us'd to take that Psalm to paraphrase , which best suited with my present temper , and so letting out the chain a little longer , and never trying how far it reach 't , I scarce remembred that I was bound . And this is some reason , though not the whole , of that different manner , which is to be seen in my Version . For even the Psalms themselves are not all of a kind , that being no more necessary than that all precious stones should be Rubies , or Diamonds . If you look in one place you shall see some , taking rise from their lofty subjects , sore above the clouds , like Birds of Paradise , as it were , all wing , and as if design'd for nothing lower than the Heavens : If in another , some of an humbler sort , in their strains lowly , and trailing on the ground , so far from attempting such a bold flight , that they dare hardly look so high : some are all gaudy , and embroydred , others again in a sad , and mournful dress , according as the condition of the Church or Author was at the time they were composed . This so great difference therefore being in the Original , no wonder if it yet appear more plainly in my rude and imperfect Copy . Besides I have been forc'd to make use , though as sparingly as I could , of several terms , and manners of speaking not to be found in our late exact Writers , nor so well fitted for the numerosity of verse as might be wisht , which yet by reason of our Translation of the Holy Bible , and by frequent use seem not altogether so rough as else they would : rather chusing to confine my self to expressions and phrases generally known , and allowed of in the Church , than appear guilty of any innovation . This may particularly be observ'd in the CXIX . Psalm , where I have kept exactly ( as they fell in our Text without synonimous names ) the Words , Statutes , Wayes , Testaments , Precepts , &c. Nor was it more ease to my self , than I hope it will be a pleasure to some few , who prefer such a translation before any other , where is taken a greater liberty . But I must confess ingenuously , I did it meerly to save the labour of a larger Paraphrase , which in a Psalm of that length , and plainness , would have been both tedious , and unnecessary . In other places I have done what lay in my power to make the Psalmists speak as intelligible and proper English as I could ( though I have not altogether neglected it even in that ) not introducing any obsolete , or fantastical words , or omitting those little particles of speech , the grace of any language , which make Poesy of all other kinds of writing the most distastful , and obscure . And indeed the manner of speaking amongst the Jews , by reason of their insensible connections , and frequent change and shifting of persons , discernable enough by our own versions , is so difficult and harsh to our ears , even in the prose , that it very ill needs the straitness of Numbers to make it more dark , and uniuneable . To avoid this fault possibly I have been more prolix than I ought , though I cannot but say I was forewarned of it by a very judicious friend Mr. Thomas Sprat . Yet if it be an error I have chosen rather to offend with Sieur Godeau , a forreigner , in the fulness of my Paraphrase , than with any of our own Countrymen in too strait a confinement . The only Person who seems to have kept a mean between these two extreams , is G. Buchanan , by that bare name better known , than all my art is able to express him . It would be too long to reckon up the many worthy men in this nation , ( without mentioning King James of blessed memory , who amids the great affairs of his Crown thought it not unbecoming his Royal cares to divert himself with these Meditations of the princely Prophet and Poet ) who have within this last age bestow'd their labours on this Book , among whom the most known are the Right Reverend Bishop of Chichester , now living , and Mr. George Sandys . There is also in private hands a Manuscript of somewhat an ancienter date , which for the Persons sake , though out of its due time and place I shall joyn with them , and that is of the truly Honorable and Learned Gentleman Sir Philip Sidney . It was a long time , from my first hearing of it e're I could get a sight of the Papers , neither should I at last have obtained the favour , had I not us'd the mediation ( amongst several others , to whom I am obliged , ) of one to whom all good Learning of what kind soever it be , must remain perpetually indebted ; and in this all will agree with me when they know I mean the Learned Dr. John Wilkins Dean of Rippon . This Paraphrase as I remember Dr. Donne calls by the name of Sir Philips and the Countess of Pembroks translation , and not without good reason , as far as I could judge by that cursory view I had of it , during the short time it remained in my hands ; There appearing that difference as I conceived in the composition , which is wont to be in the aires of Brother , and Sister , not so unlike , as to have no resemblance , nor yet so perfectly resembling , as to have nothing but the sex to distinguish them . I mention not here a thousand others who have done excellently particular Psalms , as my Lord Bacon , Sir Hen. Wotton , Bishop Hall , Mr. Herbert , &c. and instead of many more , that absolutely compleat Gentlewoman , whose leave I very hardly obtained to honour this volume of mine with two or three versions , long since done by her , the truly vertuous Mrs. Mary Beale , amongst whose least accomplishments it is , that she has made Painting and Poesy which in the Fancies of others had only before a kind of likeness , in her own to be really the same . The Reader I hope will pardon this publick acknowledgement which I make to so deserving a person , when I shall tell him that while as a Friend and one of the Family , I had the convenience of a private and most delightful retirement in the company of her worthy Husband and her self I both began and perfected this Paraphrase .

But without all these in naming the two first above , ( the Bishop of Chichester and Mr. Sandys ) I have said enough to call my self into question for daring to offer any thing at this part of Scripture , after them . I must therefore clear my self , and here do it , of all ambition to vie with , or envy to detract from the true value of their labours , which must be judged meriting all Praise : and I am sure neither of these can be longer objected against me , than till any one shall be pleased to take the pains to compare all three together , and then it will immediately appear , how great the difference is between us , both as to the stile , manner of composition and disposing of the Numbers . The Bishops is close , exactly answering the Text , and for that kind of measure , which himself has truly observ'd to be the least graceful of any , very smooth , and roundly expressed ; though that Essay of his on the CXXX . Psalm in Heroick verse , paraphrased for an Anthem , make it to be wish't , he had us'd a like freedom in the rest . Mr. Sandys on the otherside , though he has confin'd himself to almost as near a rendring of the words , has us'd greater variety of measures , and such as have by experience been found to be very agreeable to Musick the life and spirit of Poesy . In mine will yet appear a greater liberty , both as to the expression and the different sort of stanzas which I have us'd ; but with what success I must refer to my Reader , of whose favour I shall have greater need to excuse my faults , than justice , and severity to examine them . I know all that has ever yet been assay'd may be infinitely out-done , and I should be so far from grieving at it , though now a little concern'd , that I heartily wish this way of mine may give the first occasion to some excellent Person to undertake another version , and publish the Book of Psalms with greater beauties than ever it has appeared in , since it left Jerusalem . In the mean time I could be content , I must confess , that this tryal of mine might be kindly received , that so I might thereby be encouraged to prosecute another design ( in this way ) which at present lies before me , The History of the first great week of the World , wherein new discoveries of that , and nature , make the subject more large and comprehensive for verse than ever it has been ; and in the performance of which I promise my self great assistance , by the unwearied and most successful labours of The Royal Society ; which seems to be rais'd in this last age , not only for the improvement of Natural Philosophy in the general , but amids the invention of new , for the restauration of decay'd Arts , and amongst them all of none more than this of serious , profitable , and sober Poesy .

As for the manner , which I have endeavoured to observe , it has been to give , as near as I could , the true sense and meaning of the Psalm , and in as easy and obvious terms as was possible , suiting them to the Capacity of the meanest : which I found my self the better able to do , by having the difficulties resolv'd to my hands , by the labours of that truly Pious , and Learned Divine Dr. Hen. Hammond ( though I made use also as occasion required of other Commentators . ) If I have in any place not perfectly agreed with him , as in several left them , since it is not in matters of Faith , I beg that the same liberty may be given to me , which is indulg'd to all who write this way . I have bound my self all along to observe one certain measure in a Psalm , and after I had fixt the first stanza , made the rest like it , endeavouring so to dispose my Numbers , that neither the length of the staff should cause a too close and often repetition of the same Rhyme , nor the shortness of the measure confine the Fancy and hinder the freedom of expression : generally closing it with a verse of more than ordinary length , as being not only most proper for that place , as a band to the staff , and sense ; but more tuneable , and graceful . For this reason also have I taken notice of the Versus intercalares , as I may call them , where they fell and made no scruple , on occasion given in the text , though it may be the words were not the very same , to make them more evident in my Version . For the Historical Psalms I chose the Heroick ( or five foot couplets ) as most suitable , using it very sparingly elsewhere . The XVIII . L. LXVIII . and CIV . I have done after Mr. Cowleys Pindarick way , endeavouring by the kind of verse , which is various and uncertain , to imitate the many and suddain changes , which are in those Psalms . The XXI . and LXXII . I have with very little straining of the Text brought down to our times , and without offence to any , I hope , in the first parallel'd his Majesties sufferings with those of David ; in the other the Happiness and Glory of his Kingdom with that of Solomon , heartily wishing that the sincerity of my Prayers may make amends for the defects of my Numbers .