CV. Thomas Sternhold

First Part

Diligam te, Domine.

O GOD, my strength and fortitude,

Of force I must loue thee;

Thou art my castle and defence

In my necessitie:

My God, my rock, in whom I trust,

The worker of my wealth,

My refuge, buckler, and my shield,

The home of all my health.

When I sing laud vnto the Lord,

Most worthie to be serued,

Then from my foes I am right sure

That I shall be preserued.

The pangs of death did compasse me,

And bound me euerie where;

The flowing waues of wickednesse

Did put me in great feare.

The sly and suttle snares of hell

Were round about me set;

And for my death there was prepard

A deadly trapping net.

I, thus beset with paine and grief,

Did pray to God for grace;

And he forthwith did heare my plaint

Out of his holie place.

Such is his power, that in his wrath

He made the earth to quake,

Yea, the foundation of the mount

Of Basan for to shake.

And from his nostrels came a smoke,

When kindled was his ire;

And from his mouth came kindled coales

Of hoat consuming fire.

The Lord descended from aboue,

And bowd the heauens hie;

And vnderneth his feet he cast

The darknesse of the skie.

On cherubes and on cherubins

Full roially he road;

And on the wings of all the winds

Came flying all abroad.