Chapter XIV: Psalm of David

1 Hence virtue in the world declines, Without question virtue
And all men vicious grow. declines with a vengeance
when all men
grow vicious.

2 And see who would His being own, What other way is
And Him, as God, adore: there of adoring?

3 (2) But they were all perverted grown, (2) But they were all
Polluted all with blood, perverted grown,
And other impious crimes; not one In spite of Dr. Gibbs
Was either just (3) or good. his blood:
Of all his impious
rhimes not one
Was either just or good.

(3) For a man (it seems)
may be good and not
just.

4 Are they so stupid (4) then, said (5) God, (4) The fault was not_
Who thus My (6) saints devour! that they devoured__
These (7) crimes have they not understood, saints,_ but that they
Nor thought upon My power! were stupid.
Qu: Whether stupidity
makes men devour saints,
or devouring saints
makes a man stupid? I
believe the latter,
because they may be apt
to lie heavy in one's
stomach.

(5) Clod.

(6) Strains.

(7) Rhimes.

7 (1) O, that His aid we now might have (1) And O that every
From Sion's holy hill, parish clerk,
That God the captive just would save, Who hums what Brady cribs
And glad all Israel. From Hopkins, would read
this work,
And glad the
heart with Gibbs.