Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden

George Sandys (1578–1644)

From the Paraphrase upon Luke I

O PRAISE the Lord, his wonders tell,

Whose mercy shines in Israel,

At length redeem’d from sin and hell.

The crown of our salvation,

Deriv’d from David’s royal throne,

He now hath to His people shown.

This to His prophets did unfold,

By all successively foretold,

Until the infant world grew old.

That He our wrongs would vindicate,

Save from our foes’ inveterate hate,

And raise our long depress’d estate.

To ratify His ancient deed,

His promis’d grace, by oath decreed,

To Abraham and his faithful seed.

That we might our Preserver praise,

Walk purely in His perfect ways,

And fearless serve Him all our days.

His path Thou shalt prepare, sweet Child,

And run before the Undefil’d,

And Prophet of th’ Almighty styl’d.

Our knowledge to inform, from whence

Salvation springs: from penitence,

And pardon of each foul offence.

Through mercy, O how infinite!

Of our Great God, Who clears our sight,

And from the Orient sheds His light.

A leading Star t’ enlighten those

Whom night and shades of death inclose,

Which that high track to glory shows.