A
PREFACE
TO
THE
READER
.
Christian
Reader
,
IT
hath
been
usual
with
most
Persons
who
have
formerly
attempted
any
thing
Poetically
upon
this
Book
of
the
Psalms
,
to
preface
something
either
concerning
the
great
Antiquity
,
singular
usefulness
,
and
excellent
advantage
of
that
way
of
praising
God
,
which
is
performed
by
tuneable
voices
,
in
sacred
Songs
,
Psalms
and
Hymns
;
or
else
,
concerning
the
great
Serviceableness
of
the
Art
of
Poetry
to
that
noble
end
,
both
to
assist
the
invention
of
the
Composers
,
and
the
devotion
of
the
Singers
of
them
.
Whose
labours
in
this
Argument
,
render
it
the
less
needfull
for
me
to
insist
much
upon
those
Heads
,
to
prepare
thee
for
the
entertainment
of
what
I
here
put
into
thy
hands
of
that
Nature
:
and
therefore
I
design
to
say
very
little
of
either
now
;
farther
then
it
may
serve
for
an
introduction
to
what
I
am
more
especially
obliged
to
acquaint
thee
with
,
in
reference
to
this
version
of
mine
which
follows
.
I
think
,
(
in
the
first
place
)
that
it
needs
no
proof
to
any
one
that
is
but
ordinarily
conversant
with
ancient
History
,
that
the
Praises
of
God
,
and
famous
Men
,
were
the
most
Primitive
Themes
of
Poetical
composures
:
and
that
accordingly
the
Poetry
of
all
Nations
hath
been
most
anciently
employed
,
towards
the
assistance
and
improvement
of
that
general
inclination
of
mankind
to
admire
and
extoll
the
divine
,
and
humane
.
Authours
of
any
eminent
good
to
them
,
in
that
way
,
with
the
most
elevated
Notions
and
Expressions
.
Nor
is
it
(
secondly
)
less
clear
to
any
considering
Persons
,
that
the
declination
and
debasement
of
that
noble
Art
,
to
the
service
of
those
propensions
of
humane
Nature
which
are
more
allyed
to
sensuality
,
is
a
meer
perversion
,
and
notorious
abuse
of
it
;
contrived
and
promoted
by
the
Artifice
of
Satan
,
the
sworn
Enemy
of
God's
Glory
,
and
mans
greatest
good
which
in
this
life
he
is
capable
of
(
the
entertaining
of
it
with
an
exercise
,
and
imployment
much
of
the
same
Nature
with
that
of
blessed
Angels
and
glorified
Saints
,
)
with
design
to
turn
the
stream
of
its
noblest
faculties
out
of
that
pure
channel
,
into
the
foul
and
nasty
Sinks
and
By-gutters
,
of
lust
and
intemperance
,
flattery
and
malice
;
and
every
thing
indeed
,
that
tends
to
the
immersing
the
humane
soul
the
more
deeply
into
all
manner
of
viciousness
and
debauchery
,
by
the
means
of
that
pleasure
and
delight
,
which
Poetical
measures
commonly
contribute
to
those
Arguments
about
which
they
are
imployed
.
Whence
,
(
thirdly
)
it
follows
,
(
as
a
consequence
of
easie
deduction
from
these
Premisses
,
)
that
there
can
be
no
better
service
done
to
God
,
or
Man
,
in
this
World
than
that
,
of
attempting
to
recover
this
Original
inclination
of
mankind
to
its
first
perfection
,
by
assisting
its
noblest
affections
in
that
which
is
their
most
proper
and
pleasurable
intertainment
;
so
,
as
that
it
may
be
reclaimed
from
vice
,
and
reduced
again
to
a
love
of
God
and
Vertue
,
by
a
kind
of
holy
guile
:
to
wit
,
by
supplanting
and
undermining
its
corrupt
propensions
by
the
right
use
of
that
Art
,
by
the
abuse
whereof
they
were
first
ingendred
and
nourished
.
And
this
I
take
to
be
the
proper
import
and
design
of
those
Apostolical
Exhortations
of
St.
Paul
to
the
Ephesians
,
and
Colossians
,
speak
to
themselves
,
and
to
teach
and
admonish
one
another
,
in
Psalms
,
and
Hymns
,
and
Spiritual
Songs
,
making
melody
in
their
hearts
to
the
Lord
:
as
also
of
that
of
St.
James
,
cheerfully
disposed
,
to
vent
their
mirth
in
singing
of
Psalms
.
And
to
this
end
,
it
is
not
to
be
doubted
,
that
the
gift
of
Psalmody
,
whatever
it
were
,
was
peculiarly
bestowed
on
some
Persons
in
the
Apostolical
Churches
.
For
the
Apostle
Paul
telling
us
(
in
1
Cor.
14.
26.
)
that
among
the
rest
of
the
eminent
Gifts
of
the
Holy
Spirit
in
those
Times
,
that
was
one
;
and
in
his
directions
for
the
use
of
that
,
as
well
as
the
other
there
mentioned
,
appointing
it
to
be
managed
so
as
might
best
promote
Edification
:
it
is
hardly
to
be
conceived
,
how
that
way
of
one
gifted
mans
singing
alone
,
could
edify
many
,
except
,
by
excercising
the
birsk
and
airy
inclinations
of
mens
souls
in
an
holy
and
spirtual
manner
,
and
turning
those
passions
on
which
they
are
wont
to
operate
into
their
right
channel
,
and
thereby
rendering
them
more
spritual
,
heavenly
,
and
divine
.
And
this
notion
,
special
Artifice
of
the
H
Ghost
,
to
endeavour
the
cure
of
the
proneness
of
humane
nature
to
the
charms
of
vicious
pleasure
,
by
inspiring
holy
men
with
sacred
Poetical
raptures
,
wherein
they
mix
the
delights
of
musick
,
with
the
precepts
of
Religion
and
Vertue
:
that
they
might
thereby
tempt
men
(
as
we
ordinarily
do
children
to
swallow
unpalatable
medicines
,
by
tempering
them
with
honey
,
)
to
admit
into
their
minds
and
hearts
the
unpleasant
Doctrines
,
which
,
conduce
to
the
healing
their
souls
,
by
the
pleasure
they
find
in
the
harmonious
measures
wherein
they
are
conveighed
to
them
.
This
is
also
,
the
reason
,
why
our
Church
in
all
its
services
,
mixeth
singing
,
at
convenient
Periods
,
with
the
other
offices
of
Liturgy
:
to
wit
,
that
thereby
the
tediousness
of
sacred
Exercises
,
may
,
to
the
generality
of
men
,
be
alleviated
,
by
the
mixing
of
that
which
pleaseth
the
ear
,
with
that
which
conduceth
to
the
sanctifying
of
the
heart
.
And
from
the
great
usefulness
of
this
sacred
Exercise
to
edification
in
holiness
and
vertue
,
it
is
,
that
Divine
Poems
have
been
in
all
Ages
of
the
Church
so
greatly
esteemed
:
and
especially
the
Psalms
of
David
;
which
have
therefore
been
always
admitted
,
in
large
proportions
,
into
all
offices
of
publick
worship
.
And
thence
also
,
to
make
them
more
usefull
to
that
great
end
,
divers
great
men
have
not
contented
themselves
with
the
rendering
them
into
the
Languages
of
their
own
Countries
,
that
so
the
matter
of
them
might
be
understood
by
the
Congregations
where
they
were
read
;
but
they
have
endeavoured
also
,
to
reduce
them
to
such
kinds
of
Metre
,
as
were
most
acceptable
in
their
Times
,
that
the
spirit
of
them
likewise
might
be
diffused
among
Christians
,
and
raise
their
affections
by
their
harmonious
composure
:
The
advantage
of
which
undertaking
,
was
notably
seen
in
the
early
days
of
the
Church
;
in
the
diverting
the
natural
inclinations
of
the
younger
sort
to
songs
of
a
worse
constitution
,
into
that
current
,
in
which
St.
James
before
quoted
,
directs
holy
mirth
to
run
.
A
great
assistance
whereunto
,
was
,
the
facility
of
receiving
into
,
and
retaining
in
memory
,
those
devout
composures
of
holy
Men
,
which
were
then
in
esteem
in
the
Church
,
by
means
of
Poetical
Measures
:
So
that
they
had
generally
at
all
times
a
stock
of
sacred
Hymns
stored
up
in
their
minds
;
and
were
thereby
enabled
to
give
vent
to
the
gayety
of
humour
which
their
age
and
constitution
furnished
them
withall
,
in
a
serious
and
holy
manner
.
In
so
much
,
that
St.
Basil
before-mentioned
,
in
the
same
Homily
,
tells
us
,
that
the
ordinary
Christians
in
his
time
,
sung
David's
Psalms
,
at
home
in
their
houses
;
and
whenever
they
went
abroad
also
,
they
muttered
them
to
themselves
,
as
the
solitary
entertainment
of
their
minds
,
in
their
travels
and
other
imployments
.
Romish
Prefacer
to
the
Commentary
upon
the
Psalms
attributed
to
Arnobius
,
speaks
more
largely
concerning
the
Time
of
his
Authour
,
and
tells
his
Reader
,
that
the
Psalms
then
,
were
sung
by
the
Plough-man
over
his
Plough
,
the
Pilot
at
his
Helm
,
the
Rowers
over
their
Oars
,
the
Digger
whiles
he
handled
his
Spade
,
the
Weaver
in
his
Loom
,
the
Spinster
at
her
Distaff
,
and
very
Infants
that
could
not
speak
plain
,
upon
their
Nurses
Laps
:
and
withall
,
makes
a
serious
complaint
of
his
Catholick
Church
,
for
being
so
far
degenerated
from
the
ancient
usage
in
this
particular
,
that
this
holy
exercise
was
not
onely
disused
,
but
also
,
even
disdained
among
them
,
which
was
,
certainly
,
the
Reason
,
why
,
when
the
Reformation
began
in
divers
parts
of
Europe
,
the
vulgar
People
,
who
had
been
long
used
to
no
devotions
,
But
such
as
they
understood
not
,
were
so
much
taken
with
singing
the
Psalms
of
David
,
poetically
translated
into
their
own
languages
,
as
finding
that
inward
warmth
in
that
exercising
of
Religion
,
which
they
never
felt
in
any
before
.
And
this
,
no
doubt
,
upon
the
Reformation
of
this
our
Church
,
in
particular
,
was
one
of
the
things
which
very
much
promoted
it
.
For
as
the
principal
Instruments
in
that
Reformation
composed
the
Book
of
Common
Prayer
so
,
as
to
reduce
all
publick
offices
therein
to
as
near
a
conformity
to
the
primitive
Order
as
might
be
;
and
especially
in
making
the
whole
worship
intelligible
to
the
vulgar
,
and
taking
care
that
not
onely
the
Scriptures
appointed
to
be
read
,
should
be
translated
into
English
,
but
also
the
Psalms
of
David
;
and
these
last
(
though
in
Prose
,
)
yet
should
be
so
pointed
as
that
they
might
be
sung
,
as
they
have
been
ever
since
in
Cathedral
,
and
Collegiate
Churches
,
by
all
that
can
read
:
So
divers
Persons
used
the
best
skill
which
those
times
afforded
,
to
diffuse
that
part
of
God's
publick
service
,
more
largely
among
the
common
people
,
by
a
second
version
of
them
into
English
verse
,
in
that
translation
which
ever
since
hath
been
bound
up
with
our
Bibles
,
and
Common-Prayer
Books
,
and
is
usually
sung
in
Parochial
Congregations
to
this
day
.
Of
the
Persons
,
who
then
did
the
Church
of
England
that
remarkable
service
,
I
can
give
little
account
beyond
their
Names
:
and
those
,
(
as
to
three
of
them
)
the
very
Book
informs
me
of
,
(
viz.
)
Thomas
Sternhold
,
John
Hopkins
,
and
Robert
Wisedom
.
Onely
,
concerning
the
first
of
them
(
Tho.
Sternhold
)
Mr.
Fuller
,
in
his
Church
History
,
tells
,
me
was
first
,
Groom
of
the
Robes
,
to
K.
Henry
the
VIIIth
.
and
afterwards
,
of
the
Privy-Chamber
(
as
he
says
in
one
place
,
but
in
another
of
the
Bed-Chamber
)
to
Edw.
VI.
He
had
,
(
as
appears
by
his
Will
)
a
Legacy
given
him
by
King
Henry
.
He
translated
for
his
part
,
37
Psalms
,
by
Fuller's
account
;
John
Hopkins
,
65
;
and
the
rest
were
done
by
W.
W.
W.
K.
R.
W.
(
that
is
,
Robert
Wisedom
)
and
others
,
whose
Names
deserved
not
to
be
lost
in
oblivion
,
nor
their
labours
to
be
mentioned
with
so
much
scorn
and
contempt
,
as
they
are
by
too
many
Persons
of
a
profane
humour
amongst
us
,
for
the
baldness
and
flatness
of
the
Style
,
and
some
Phrases
which
sound
odly
in
the
ears
of
this
Age
,
used
to
a
sort
of
more
refined
English
.
It
ought
rather
to
be
remembred
to
their
honour
,
that
they
served
the
Church
with
the
best
they
had
,
and
probably
,
as
well
as
the
Poetry
of
that
Age
would
afford
:
and
that
God
hath
received
a
great
deal
of
praise
,
and
the
ordinary
sort
of
Christians
a
great
deal
of
Edification
and
Comfort
,
by
the
use
of
that
Version
of
theirs
,
for
above
an
hundred
years
in
this
Church
.
And
therefore
,
though
it
be
to
be
desired
,
that
as
both
English
,
and
Poetry
,
are
very
much
improved
since
that
time
,
so
these
holy
Poems
should
partake
also
of
that
improvement
,
by
being
rendred
more
sutably
to
the
Genius
of
this
Age
:
yet
it
were
(
in
my
judgment
)
but
decent
,
to
bury
that
former
Translation
with
honour
,
for
the
service
it
hath
done
,
when
ever
it
shall
be
,
if
ever
it
be
,
exchanged
for
a
better
.
And
now
,
having
said
so
much
in
general
,
by
I
way
of
Preface
to
this
Translation
of
mine
;
I
think
fit
,
in
the
next
place
,
to
descend
to
some
particularities
in
reference
thereunto
,
which
I
judge
necessary
the
Reader
should
take
notice
of
,
in
order
to
the
Judgment
be
makes
of
the
sutableness
thereof
,
to
the
design
aimed
at
by
me
therein
.
The
design
aimed
at
,
by
me
in
this
version
,
was
not
to
vaunt
my
skill
in
Poetry
,
for
had
that
been
my
aim
,
I
should
have
chosen
a
subject
,
wherein
I
might
have
given
my self
greater
liberty
both
of
fancy
,
and
language
,
then
the
version
of
a
book
of
Holy
Scripture
will
allow
me
:
nor
was
it
,
to
entertain
the
devout
inclinations
of
the
more
ingenious
sort
of
Christians
,
with
strains
of
elevated
invention
and
expression
,
suited
to
their
Genius
;
for
this
,
I
know
is
already
done
by
many
,
better
then
I
can
ever
hope
to
do
,
should
I
undertake
it
.
But
,
that
which
I
at
first
designed
when
I
undertook
this
work
,
was
meerly
to
render
these
pieces
of
holy
writ
,
which
are
thought
fit
to
be
made
parts
of
God's
publick
worship
,
in
such
a
tolerable
manner
,
as
they
might
be
for
the
use
of
all
Christians
;
gratifying
the
more
ingenious
and
learned
Parts
of
all
Congregations
,
with
that
smoothness
and
cleanness
of
style
,
which
might
make
them
not
to
nauseate
it
;
and
the
more
ordinary
sort
of
those
holy
societies
with
that
easiness
and
clearness
of
expression
,
which
might
not
shoot
over
their
heads
,
whiles
I
endeavoured
to
affect
their
hearts
in
so
religious
a
service
.
For
I
considered
,
that
most
of
the
versions
extant
in
this
kind
(
at
least
,
of
those
that
I
have
seen
)
were
peccant
,
either
in
the
one
,
or
the
other
,
of
two
extremes
:
That
is
,
either
they
were
too
Poetically
done
,
above
the
reach
of
ordinary
capacities
,
and
adapted
onely
to
the
gust
of
persons
of
scholastical
breeding
,
who
onely
are
able
to
relish
those
high
flights
of
fancy
,
and
that
elaborate
richness
of
language
with
which
divers
of
them
are
so
luxuriantly
endowed
,
as
(
it
may
be
)
is
hardly
to
be
found
in
any
of
the
Translatours
,
either
ancient
,
or
modern
,
in
any
other
Tongue
,
but
the
English
:
or
else
,
performed
(
by
those
who
have
pretended
to
amend
that
fault
)
so
flatly
and
slovenly
,
to
accommodate
their
Versions
to
the
cappcities
of
the
vulgar
,
that
how
gratefull
soever
they
were
to
such
palates
,
yet
they
as
much
disrelished
those
of
all
others
,
whose
breeding
had
elevated
their
under
standings
above
the
ordinary
level
.
Wherefore
,
I
thought
it
expedient
,
to
attempt
something
in
the
midle
,
betwixt
both
these
extremes
;
by
avoiding
those
heights
of
fancy
,
or
language
,
on
the
one
side
,
as
might
render
the
Translation
unintelligible
to
persons
of
ordinary
capacities
;
and
also
,
all
such
flatness
and
dulness
of
invention
,
and
expression
,
on
the
other
,
as
might
make
it
subject
to
disgust
those
of
more
learned
palates
in
the
use
thereof
.
This
,
therefore
,
being
my
professed
design
,
I
must
next
acquaint
those
that
are
pleased
to
be
my
readers
,
what
Course
I
have
taken
in
pursuance
of
it
.
I.
And
(
first
)
as
to
the
Words
and
Phrases
of
this
version
,
I
endeavoured
to
keep
as
near
to
the
New
Translation
of
the
Psalms
,
made
in
the
Time
,
and
by
the
command
,
of
K.
James
I.
as
conveniently
I
could
,
sometimes
taking
its
very
expressions
where
they
would
handsomely
fall
into
verse
,
and
,
where
they
would
not
,
I
laboured
to
give
the
full
sense
of
them
in
other
words
;
except
now
and
then
,
where
the
Original
words
or
Phrases
had
something
ef
Emphasis
in
them
,
which
I
thought
fitter
to
comply
withall
.
And
this
I
did
,
both
because
that
Tranflation
is
confessedly
the
best
,
which
is
extant
in
the
English
Tongue
:
and
also
,
because
it
is
now
generally
in
the
hands
of
all
persons
,
and
the
other
,
by
disuse
(
for
the
,
most
part
)
in
a
sort
superannuated
.
Wherefore
,
I
judged
it
most
expedient
,
not
to
give
any
occasion
to
any
person
of
doubtfull
apprehensions
concerning
the
meaning
of
any
Psalm
,
or
any
verse
of
a
Psalm
,
by
variety
of
Interpretations
.
Which
is
also
the
true
Reason
,
why
,
(
though
I
think
their
labours
of
great
use
to
those
who
expound
the
sacred
Text
in
a
way
of
instruction
to
other
,
)
yet
I
have
waved
the
senses
given
by
the
reverend
and
learned
Dr.
Hammond
,
and
others
:
and
chosen
rather
,
in
such
Texts
,
as
by
reason
of
their
difficulty
,
may
admit
of
different
expositions
,
to
render
them
in
words
expressing
the
strict
literal
sense
of
that
Translation
;
then
to
expound
them
,
either
according
to
theirs
,
or
mine
own
apprehensions
;
that
so
,
those
that
shall
sing
any
part
of
this
version
,
where
such
Texts
occur
,
may
rather
apply
their
own
sense
to
what
they
sing
,
then
be
restrained
,
and
confined
to
a
determinate
sense
,
in
which
,
it
may
be
,
they
are
not
satisfied
.
II.
I
have
also
declined
all
running
out
into
Paraphrase
,
beyond
what
,
either
the
Scope
of
any
Text
,
compared
with
the
context
,
or
the
general
evident
design
of
the
Psalm
,
or
the
apparent
occasion
of
penning
it
,
or
the
Emphasis
of
the
words
themselves
,
or
the
reference
they
have
to
other
Scriptures
,
wherein
the
things
uttered
in
any
Psalm
briefly
and
obscurely
,
or
it
may
be
barely
glanced
at
,
are
more
largely
,
and
professedly
handled
;
or
the
like
considerations
,
will
well
allow
.
So
that
,
I
think
,
I
may
safely
averr
,
that
this
version
,
is
as
close
to
the
Text
it
renders
,
as
any
of
this
kind
extant
;
not
excepting
even
those
,
whose
Authours
pretend
to
tye
themselves
the
most
strictly
and
even
superstitiously
to
the
words
and
phrases
,
either
of
the
original
Hebrew
,
or
the
English
Prose-Translation
.
For
even
the
exactest
of
those
Authours
,
who
,
to
the
mangling
the
Syntax
of
words
,
to
the
making
incoherent
ruptures
in
the
sense
,
and
the
destruction
of
Measures
and
Rhythm
,
have
so
fettered
themselves
:
yet
are
fain
,
ever
,
and
anon
,
to
insert
some
such
Particles
,
or
Parentheses
,
or
Synonymons
expressions
,
as
really
make
Paraphrases
upon
the
Text
,
though
they
endeavour
as
much
as
may
be
to
hide
their
so
doing
.
And
sure
I
am
,
it
is
closer
a
great
deal
to
the
Text
which
I
render
,
then
that
very
version
which
hath
been
so
long
used
in
this
Church
:
the
Authours
whereof
(
as
might
appear
by
several
instances
,
)
have
often
altered
the
Texts
they
paraphrased
,
into
quite
a
different
sense
from
what
they
naturally
will
afford
:
and
made
the
holy
Pen-men
speak
what
they
never
intended
.
III.
As
to
the
manner
,
wherein
I
have
performed
this
work
,
take
these
particulars
following
,
to
enable
you
to
make
a
clearer
Judgment
of
it
.
(
1.
)
That
I
have
waved
,
(
for
the
generality
of
this
version
)
all
learned
words
,
other
then
such
as
are
by
common
use
make
familiar
to
English
ears
:
and
I
think
,
that
it
will
be
hard
to
find
any
particular
Psalm
,
or
verse
of
a
Psalm
throughout
the
Book
,
where
I
have
overlooked
any
such
in
my
review
of
it
.
As
,
(
2.
)
On
the
other
side
,
I
have
avoided
all
obsolete
,
course
,
and
unhandsome
words
,
or
phrases
,
such
as
are
beneath
the
dignity
of
the
matter
expressed
,
as
also
,
all
tautological
expressions
,
or
insignificant
words
,
that
are
onely
serviceable
to
assist
the
Rhythm
.
Insomuch
,
that
if
there
be
any
such
,
they
have
very
narrowly
escaped
both
mine
own
observation
,
and
that
of
many
others
who
have
done
me
the
favour
,
on
that
design
,
to
examine
the
Copy
,
and
to
whom
I
have
particularly
made
it
my
request
,
that
they
would
mark
all
of
that
kind
,
and
inform
me
thereof
,
that
I
might
alter
them
.
(
3.
)
Next
,
I
have
denyed
my self
,
and
mine
own
inclination
,
very
much
,
in
many
places
the
use
of
those
flights
of
elevated
fancy
,
which
offered
themselves
to
me
in
the
composure
of
the
work
;
and
since
,
upon
frequent
reviews
of
it
,
expunged
many
Words
,
and
Phrases
,
which
seemed
to
me
too
Poetical
for
ordinary
capacities
,
to
which
height
of
fancy
is
as
unintelligible
,
as
learned
language
.
And
though
in
some
Psalms
,
where
,
in
the
original
language
it self
,
there
is
more
Poetry
then
ordinary
,
in
the
composure
,
sutable
to
the
matters
treated
of
in
them
;
it
seemed
but
equal
to
me
,
that
there
should
be
something
of
extraordinary
in
the
rendring
of
them
:
yet
I
have
endeavoured
so
to
govern
my
invention
,
and
language
,
in
the
translation
of
them
,
that
,
though
there
be
more
loftiness
of
style
in
them
then
in
others
,
yet
,
I
think
,
there
is
not
a
line
difficult
to
be
understood
,
even
by
the
meanest
,
Person
,
that
is
not
altogether
a
stranger
to
smooth
and
polite
English
.
(
4.
)
I
have
,
(
as
I
must
ingenuously
confess
)
contrary
to
the
advice
of
divers
of
my
learned
and
judicious
friends
,
whom
I
consulted
when
I
undertook
this
task
,
made
use
of
Rhythm
at
least
twice
in
every
four
lines
;
whereof
,
I
think
my self
obliged
,
to
give
them
,
and
others
,
this
short
account
.
Those
that
dissuaded
me
from
it
,
laid
before
me
the
danger
of
being
too
much
fettered
in
my
invention
and
expression
by
studying
to
make
so
frequent
a
chime
of
words
,
and
the
occasioning
the
drawing
in
of
many
useless
and
impertinent
words
for
cadencies
sake
.
But
I
was
prevailed
withall
to
act
otherwise
'
then
they
advised
;
by
considering
(
on
the
other
side
)
(
1.
)
That
our
English
Poetry
for
many
Ages
,
hath
been
constantly
(
excepting
some
few
instances
of
the
contrary
)
managed
in
that
manner
.
(
2.
)
That
the
greatest
Poets
this
Nation
hath
afforded
,
have
made
use
of
the
frequent
Rhythm
as
an
ornament
,
rather
then
a
disparagement
to
their
Poems
;
and
have
been
so
happy
in
it
,
as
that
the
most
critical
Readers
,
if
they
will
speak
truth
,
must
confess
,
they
cannot
mend
their
conceits
,
(
or
language
,
so
fettered
.
)
in
other
expressions
left
at
their
own
liberty
.
(
3.
)
That
there
are
divers
peculiarities
in
the
English
Tongue
(
which
,
if
this
were
a
place
for
it
,
I
could
easily
here
assign
)
seeming
to
direct
to
the
choice
of
such
frequent
Rhythms
in
our
Poetry
;
and
making
it
more
easie
to
us
to
write
in
that
way
,
then
can
be
done
in
most
other
languages
.
(
4.
)
That
English
ears
generally
entertain
it
with
great
satisfaction
and
delight
,
and
disrelish
all
Poetical
compositions
,
(
though
never
so
excellent
for
all
other
ornamental
requisites
)
that
are
without
it
.
(
5.
)
And
lastly
,
that
it
affords
a
great
assistance
to
memory
(
which
in
such
Poems
as
are
penned
for
devotional
Uses
,
should
be
much
regarded
)
whereby
,
when
men
have
lost
one
part
of
a
stanza
,
they
are
enabled
more
easily
to
recover
it
,
by
running
over
in
their
minds
such
words
as
chime
to
the
periodical
ones
of
that
other
,
which
they
remember
.
These
things
,
and
the
like
,
being
taken
into
my
consideration
,
I
chose
rather
,
to
run
the
risk
of
the
dangers
,
and
disadvantages
suggested
,
in
the
moderate
use
of
Rhythm
,
then
to
take
the
contrary
course
I
was
advised
to
.
I
say
,
moderate
use
;
because
I
judge
the
proportion
I
have
generally
made
use
of
,
to
be
so
:
whereas
,
the
crowding
it
into
shorter
periods
,
as
some
have
done
,
too
much
emasculates
a
grave
Poem
,
by
spreading
the
matter
too
thin
,
and
occasioning
indeed
the
drawing
in
many
useless
and
impertinent
words
to
perfect
the
chime
,
which
my
disswaders
were
afraid
,
(
though
I
hope
it
will
appear
,
causelesly
)
my
using
it
at
the
distances
I
design'd
,
would
constrain
me
to
.
I
must
confess
,
the
recurring
of
Rhythms
so
frequently
,
has
given
me
some
trouble
in
some
Psalms
,
and
Verses
of
others
:
But
I
persuade
my self
,
that
I
have
,
in
a
competent
measure
,
overcome
it
;
at
least
,
that
I
can
,
in
case
any
one
will
be
so
friendly
,
as
to
let
me
know
in
what
particular
Instances
the
Rhythm
hath
enervated
the
sense
,
with
no
great
labour
,
amend
it
,
and
yet
not
vary
from
my
intended
measures
in
that
particular
.
(
5.
)
As
to
the
Tunes
,
to
which
I
have
adapted
each
Psalm
,
they
are
such
as
are
most
in
use
among
us
.
Such
Psalms
as
are
composed
of
eights
and
sixes
,
will
fall
into
any
of
the
ordinary
Tunes
,
suited
to
that
proportion
of
syllables
,
in
the
old
Version
.
The
rest
of
the
Tunes
that
I
have
made
choice
of
,
are
these
.
First
that
of
the
Old
100th
.
Ps
[
All
people
,
&c.
]
To
which
all
the
Psalms
that
are
composed
of
4
eights
to
a
stanza
,
may
be
sung
;
or
(
according
to
the
matter
of
the
Psalm
)
may
be
varied
to
that
of
Ps.
51.
or
the
Lamentation
,
in
the
old
Psalm
Book
.
Then
to
the
measures
of
Psal.
113.
[
Ye
children
,
&c.
]
I
have
turned
divers
of
mine
;
that
being
a
Tune
easily
sung
,
and
withall
,
sufficiently
grave
and
solemn
,
as
well
as
pleasant
,
and
very
musical
.
Among
those
that
are
rendred
in
that
Tune
,
is
the
first
Metre
of
Psalm
119.
wherein
,
according
to
the
measures
therein
required
,
every
three
lines
make
up
a
verse
,
which
reduceth
all
of
its
Parts
to
an
equality
.
I
have
not
omitted
that
of
the
old
25th
.
Psalm
;
nor
that
of
the
148th
.
to
both
which
,
divers
of
these
are
adapted
.
And
some
few
are
so
ordered
,
as
that
they
may
be
sung
to
the
Tunes
of
the
old
111th
,
112th
,
and
127th
.
Psalms
;
but
those
have
commonly
others
in
easier
Tunes
to
attend
them
.
(
6.
)
I
have
designedly
,
for
the
most
part
,
suited
the
Matter
of
each
Psalm
,
to
proportionable
Metre
,
and
Tune
.
Heroical
Psalms
,
(
those
I
mean
,
whose
matter
is
more
lofty
,
and
the
style
in
which
they
are
penned
,
more
stately
,
and
majestical
,
if
I
may
so
say
,
in
the
original
Language
,
)
I
have
not
onely
endeavoured
,
as
far
as
my
designed
plainness
would
permit
,
to
fit
with
a
sutable
style
in
the
English
:
but
have
also
in
the
measures
accommodated
them
with
the
gravest
and
most
solemn
Tunes
.
And
the
like
I
have
done
to
the
Penitential
Psalms
,
and
generally
,
to
all
such
as
are
penned
in
a
querulous
and
lamenting
strain
:
which
as
I
have
endeavoured
to
express
more
pathetically
,
so
have
I
suted
them
to
such
Tunes
,
as
most
aptly
comply
with
the
Passions
delineated
and
represented
in
them
.
(
7.
)
In
most
of
the
Psalms
,
which
are
commonly
sung
,
in
the
old
version
,
if
they
be
tolerably
there
translated
,
I
have
waved
the
measures
in
which
they
are
therein
composed
,
and
put
them
in
this
of
mine
into
other
Measures
,
and
Tunes
,
that
so
,
those
that
are
used
to
sing
them
,
may
take
their
own
choice
of
the
one
or
the
other
:
which
I
chose
rather
to
doe
,
then
to
undertake
,
in
all
,
(
as
I
have
done
for
trials
sake
,
in
one
,
or
two
,
of
them
)
onely
,
to
amend
the
sense
,
and
words
,
where
they
seemed
most
to
need
it
,
and
let
the
main
substance
of
them
stand
in
my
version
:
because
I
found
it
by
experience
,
more
easie
to
my self
,
and
thought
it
would
be
more
acceptable
to
my
Readers
,
as
well
as
more
civil
to
the
Authours
of
the
former
version
,
to
raise
a
new
frame
altogether
,
then
to
patch
up
an
old
one
with
such
pieces
,
as
,
when
all
was
done
,
would
not
exactly
suit
with
the
building
they
were
intended
to
beautify
.
(
8.
)
I
have
made
a
double
version
of
divers
Psalms
,
some
of
them
quite
differing
each
from
other
;
and
some
,
by
addition
and
subtraction
,
or
alteration
of
some
few
words
onely
:
that
so
it
may
be
at
the
choice
of
the
singers
,
if
they
affect
one
of
the
Tunes
,
rather
then
the
other
,
in
such
pairs
,
to
take
which
of
them
they
please
.
(
9.
)
I
have
subjoyned
to
the
Psalms
of
David
,
the
rest
of
the
Hymns
used
in
our
Church
:
to
wit
,
that
excellent
one
of
St.
Ambrose
,
usually
called
,
Te
Deum
,
&c.
the
Magnificat
,
or
Song
of
the
blessed
Virgin
,
Mother
of
our
Lord
;
those
of
Zacharias
and
Simeon
,
entituled
,
Benedictus
,
and
Nunc
Dimittis
,
&c.
That
of
Gloria
Patri
,
I
have
adapted
to
all
the
Tunes
;
that
it
may
(
at
choice
)
be
sung
at
the
end
of
every
Psalm
.
So
that
those
,
who
cannot
sing
them
in
Prose
,
as
in
Cathedral
and
Collegiate
Churches
they
doe
;
may
have
them
at
hand
for
their
use
,
in
better
verse
,
I
hope
,
then
that
in
which
they
are
tendred
to
them
in
the
Common
Psalm-Book
.
(
10.
)
Lastly
,
(
for
the
different
opinions
of
picus
and
learned
Men
engage
me
to
a
conclusive
Apology
in
this
matter
)
I
have
taken
in
the
whole
Book
of
Psalms
into
my
version
:
and
not
confined
my self
(
as
some
would
have
confined
me
)
to
some
few
Psalms
,
and
parcels
of
Psalms
,
the
Matter
of
which
is
of
common
concern
to
all
Christians
;
because
the
reasons
urged
for
such
curtailing
of
them
,
seem
not
to
me
to
he
cogent
;
yea
rather
,
I
think
,
I
have
weightier
grounds
to
move
me
to
the
contrary
.
For
I
know
not
,
why
those
Psalms
which
express
the
troubles
which
David
lay
under
;
or
the
personal
mercies
which
he
received
;
or
,
refer
to
the
particular
political
State
of
the
Jews
,
or
their
peculiar
Worship
;
or
contain
promises
of
such
mercies
as
God
determined
to
bestow
on
them
,
or
Historical
Relations
of
their
miraculous
preservations
and
deliverances
;
or
(
lastly
)
such
as
tax
them
for
their
infidelity
,
ingratitude
,
Idolatrous
worship
of
false
Gods
,
or
Apostasie
from
the
true
God
,
&c.
may
not
be
sung
with
advantage
by
us
,
though
they
do
not
immediately
or
directly
concern
us
.
Considering
,
that
(
1.
)
the
State
of
David
,
both
as
to
his
troubles
and
mercies
,
generally
,
was
Typical
,
and
bare
relation
to
Christ
,
and
his
Circumstances
:
Especially
,
such
of
them
,
as
he
mentions
in
those
remarkably
Prophetical
Psalms
,
which
are
accommodated
to
our
Saviour
,
as
being
fulfilled
in
him
,
in
divers
Instances
noted
by
the
Evangelists
.
And
(
2.
)
the
Jewish
occurrences
are
by
the
Apostle
Paul
(
1
Cor.
10.
6
,
11.
)
said
to
befall
them
for
examples
to
us
:
And
(
3.
)
their
Rites
,
and
Ceremonies
,
were
notably
significative
of
the
spiritual
worship
of
the
Gospel
;
as
the
Epistle
to
the
Hebrews
every
where
shews
us
:
And
(
4ly
.
)
the
Prophesies
made
to
them
,
are
eminently
fulfilled
to
us
:
And
(
5ly
)
the
miraculous
deliverances
wrought
for
them
by
God
,
are
of
use
to
encourage
our
faith
in
like
cases
;
yea
(
lastly
)
the
charges
and
aggravations
of
the
sins
charged
on
them
are
warnings
(
as
we
are
told
Heb.
4.
11.
)
to
us
,
that
we
fall
not
after
the
same
examples
of
unbelief
or
disobedience
.
And
,
as
for
those
Psalms
,
which
contain
Imprecations
against
David's
Enemies
;
the
most
of
our
People
understand
,
that
,
as
he
was
a
Type
of
Christ
,
so
,
under
his
Enemies
names
,
Christ's
Enemies
are
cursed
,
or
prayed
against
,
in
the
Psalms
that
are
of
that
nature
.
And
they
are
often
told
,
that
David
himself
allowed
not
himself
to
call
for
God's
vengeance
upon
them
,
but
onely
,
as
they
were
looked
on
by
him
,
as
Enemies
to
God
rather
,
and
more
,
then
to
him
:
and
that
those
Imprecations
themselves
which
he
dischargeth
against
them
,
are
rather
Prophesies
of
what
evil
would
befall
them
,
then
Prayers
,
that
such
evils
might
befall
them
.
And
as
for
the
rest
,
that
are
properly
imprecating
,
they
are
(
secondarily
,
at
least
)
directed
against
Christ's
Enemies
,
as
well
as
God's
,
and
David's
.
Of
which
nature
,
(
for
instance
)
are
those
against
Doeg
,
and
Achitophel
;
which
are
in
the
New
Testament
appplied
to
Judas
,
and
his
Complices
,
the
Betrayer
,
and
Murtherers
of
the
Lord
Jesus
.
And
surely
,
it
is
not
at
all
(
whatever
some
imagine
)
unbecoming
the
Gospel-temper
,
for
Christians
,
with
holy
rejoycing
to
repeat
those
fulfilled
Imprecations
:
and
curse
the
memories
of
Judas
,
and
the
Murtherers
of
our
Lord
Jesus
.
Other
Psalms
there
are
,
wherein
David
,
indeed
,
prays
against
his
Personal
Enemies
,
as
(
for
instance
)
against
Saul
,
and
Absalom
:
but
then
,
the
matter
of
his
imprecations
against
them
,
onely
amounts
to
requests
that
God
would
divide
,
and
infatuate
their
Counsels
,
and
dissipate
,
and
overthrow
their
forces
,
and
convince
,
if
not
convert
them
,
by
the
remarkable
out-goings
of
his
providence
against
them
.
All
which
,
surely
,
we
may
pray
for
also
,
without
transgressing
against
the
meekness
and
gentleness
,
which
the
Gospel
Spirit
begets
in
the
hearts
of
Christians
;
whenever
we
have
to
doe
with
professed
Enemies
of
the
same
temper
with
them
.
So
that
,
in
summ
,
the
evil
of
using
such
Psalms
as
these
,
lies
onely
in
the
danger
of
misapplying
them
to
such
Persons
,
and
in
such
cases
;
,
wherein
they
suite
not
the
Design
of
the
Holy
Ghost
,
in
deriving
them
down
to
us
;
which
we
are
to
endeavour
to
prevent
,
by
instructing
our
People
,
when
occasion
is
offered
,
in
the
right
use
of
them
,
and
not
to
debar
them
the
using
of
them
altogether
.
Thus
much
may
suffice
for
the
particular
Answers
to
the
particular
Topicks
of
Argument
,
urged
usually
in
this
matter
.
But
there
is
one
consideration
more
,
which
reacheth
to
the
full
vindication
of
the
lawfulness
and
expediency
of
Christians
singing
all
the
Psalms
indifferently
;
which
(
because
it
is
,
to
us
of
this
Church
,
at
least
unanswerable
)
I
must
not
omit
.
And
that
is
,
that
the
Catholick
Church
,
for
so
many
Ages
in
all
parts
of
the
world
,
hath
thus
practised
,
without
scruple
,
or
contradiction
,
in
its
Publique
Congregations
And
our
Church
,
in
particular
,
makes
tke
Psalms
indiscriminately
,
a
part
its
daily
Liturgy
:
Dividing
them
into
such
parcels
,
as
,
they
may
be
said
,
or
sung
,
interlocutorily
,
(
as
they
are
in
Cathedral
and
Collegiate
Churches
,
as
well
as
other
Congregations
of
eminent
Note
)
throughout
,
once
in
each
Month.
And
I
know
no
warrant
given
to
any
one
,
that
officiates
or
partakes
of
those
devotions
daily
,
to
pick
and
choose
,
to
use
and
omit
or
skip
over
,
any
Psalm
or
Psalms
,
upon
any
of
the
accounts
before
mentioned
.
Nor
can
I
imagine
,
what
good
reason
can
be
given
,
why
they
may
not
be
sung
in
Metre
,
as
indiscriminately
,
as
the
Church
commands
them
to
be
in
Prose
.
And
now
,
Christian
Reader
,
having
given
thee
so
large
an
account
of
my
design
,
and
the
particulars
of
my
performance
in
this
undertaking
;
it
is
but
meet
,
that
I
detain
thee
no
longer
in
the
Porch
of
the
Edifice
,
but
give
thee
free
entrance
into
all
the
Rooms
of
it
,
and
leave
thee
to
pass
thy
Judgment
upon
the
contrivance
and
furniture
of
them
all
.
In
the
passing
of
which
Judgment
,
I
will
embolden
my self
to
presume
so
far
upon
thy
candid
Interpretation
of
my
endeavours
,
as
to
reckon
my self
secure
from
that
keen
censure
at
thy
hands
which
a
great
Poet
of
our
own
,
(
too
Poetically
,
I
think
)
Mr.
Cowley
passeth
upon
all
the
former
Translatours
of
these
Holy
Poems
,
that
they
do
their
holy
Authour
neither
honour
nor
justice
,
and
(
to
his
thinking
)
revile
him
worse
then
Shimei
.
For
all
that
I
desire
of
thee
,
is
,
to
consider
,
before
thou
pass
too
severe
a
sentence
on
this
Work
,
that
I
designed
not
in
this
Translation
:
(
what
he
requireth
in
such
a
Translation
as
he
affecteth
)
to
wit
,
to
imitate
,
or
represent
to
thee
the
true
Genius
and
Spirit
of
that
excellent
vein
of
Poetry
,
with
which
the
royal
Psalmist
wrote
:
But
onely
to
transcribe
the
Piety
and
Devotion
of
his
heavenly
Poems
,
in
words
proper
,
and
meet
to
beget
like
religious
sentiments
to
those
which
he
felt
when
he
wrote
,
in
the
hearts
and
souls
of
such
as
shall
with
well
disposed
minds
vouchsafe
to
bear
a
part
in
these
Divine
Songs
here
tendred
to
them
,
by
(
Christian
Reader
)
Their
unworthy
Authour
,
but
thy
servant
for
the
furthering
of
thy
Edification
.
S.
F.