Psalm 53

Fooles, flattering their owne vices, say
Within their hearts; God is a Name
Devis'd to make the Strong obey;
To setter Nature; quench her flame:
When all this Vniversall Frame
The hands of potent Fortune sway.

Secure and prosperous in ill,
The feare and thought of God exile,
To follow their rebellious will;
Thinke nothing that delights them vile:
Their Soules with wicked thoughts defile;
And all their foule Desires fulfill.

God from the Tower of Heaven his eies
On men, and their endeavours, threw:
Not one beheld beneath the Skies,
That sought him, or his Statues knew:
All Vice with winged Feet pursue;
But none forsaken Vertue prise.

O deafe to good! in knowledge blind!
By Sinne through clouds of errour led!
Dull sensuall Formes, without a Mind!
Nor slow, though certaine, Vengeance dread!
The Righteous they devoure like bread;
All piety at once declin'd.

These, idle terrors shall affright;
Their sleeps disturb'd by guilty feare.
God shall their Bones asunder smite,
Who impious Armes against him beare;
Nor they their infamy out-weare;
Since despiseable in his sight.

O that unto thy Israel
The Day-starre might from Sion spring!
And all the shades of Night expell!
When Thou shalt us from Bondage bring,
How would we Lord thy Praises sing!
No joy should Jacobs joy excell.