Page images
PDF
EPUB

o 5 O glorious type of heavenly grace!
Thus Christ the Lord appears;
-While sinners curse, the Saviour prays,
And pities them with tears.

e

-6 He, the true David, Israel's King, Blest and beloved of God,

o To save us rebels, dead in sin, Paid his own dearest blood.

PSALM 36. L. M. Old Hundred. Sheffield. [*] Ver. 5-9 Perfections, Providence, and Grace of God. TIGH in the heavens, eternal God,

1

H'G

Thy goodness in full glory shines; Thy truth shall break through every cloud, That veils and darkens thy designs.

2 Forever firm thy justice stands, As mountains their foundations keep; Wise are the wonders of thine hands, Thy judgments are a mighty deep. 3 Thy Providence is kind and large, Both man and beast thy bounty share; The whole creation is thy charge, o But saints are thy peculiar care.

e 4 My God, how excellent thy grace, Whence all our hope and comfort springs! -The sons of Adam, in distress,

Fly to the shadow of thy wings.

5 From the provisions of thy house,
We shall be fed with sweet repast;
o There mercy like a river flows,
And brings salvation to our taste.

o 6 Life, like a fountain rich and free,
Springs from the presence of my Lord;
And in thy light, our souls shall see
The glories promised in thy word.

1

C. M. Mear. [*]

Ver. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9. Practical Atheism exposed.

men grow bold in wicked ways,

WHILE
And yet a God they own;

My heart within me often says,

"Their thoughts believe there's none."

2 Their thoughts and ways at once declare,
Whate'er their lips profess;

God hath no wrath for them to fear,
Nor will they seek his grace.

e 3 What strange self-flattery blinds their eyes!
d But there's a hastening hour,

When they shall see with sore surprise,
The terrors of thy power.

4 Thy justice shall maintain its throne,
Though mountains melt away;
Thy judgments are a world unknown,
A deep unfathomed sea.

-5 Above these heavens' created rounds,
Thy mercies, Lord, extend;

o Thy truth outlives the narrow bounds,
Where time and nature end.

-6 Safety to man thy goodness brings,
Nor overlooks the beast;
Beneath the shadow of thy wings
Thy children choose to rest.

e 7 From thee, when creature-streams run low,
And mortal comforts die,

o Perpetual springs of life shall flow,
And raise our pleasures high.

e 8 Though all created light decay,
And death close up our eyes;
o Thy presence makes eternal day,
Where clouds can never rise.]

S. M. Watchman. [*]

Ver. 1-7. Wickedness of man, and Majesty of God.

1

WH

THEN man grows bold in sin, My heart within me cries, d" He hath no faith of God within, "Nor fear before his eyes."

2 He walks a while concealed,
In a self-flattering dream;

Till his dark crimes, at once revealed,
Expose his hateful name.

3 His heart is false and foul,

His words are smooth and fair;

Wisdom is banished from his soul,
And leaves no goodness there

4 He plots upon his bed,

New mischiefs to fulfill:

He sets his heart, and hands, and head,
To practise all that's ill.'

o 5 But there's a dreadful God,
Though men renounce his fear;
His justice, hid behind a cloud,
Shall one great day appear.

o 6 His truth transcends the sky,
In heaven his mercies dwell;
e Deep as the sea his judgments lie,
His anger burns to hell.

a

[ocr errors]

7 How excellent his love,

Whence all our safety springs;

e O never let my soul remove

From underneath his wings!]

PSALM 37. C. M. FIRST PART. Walsal. [b] Ver. 1-15. Cure of Envy, Fretfulness, and Unbelief.

€ 1

WHY should I vex my soul, and fret,

WHY

To see the wicked rise?

Or envy sinners, waxing great

By violence and lies?

2 As flowery grass, cut down at noon, Before the evening fades;

So shall their glories vanish soon,

In everlasting shades.

-3 Then let me make the Lord my trust, And practise all that's good;

o So shall I dwell among the just, And he'll provide me food.

-4 I to my God my ways commit, And cheerful wait his will;

[ocr errors]

Thy hand, which guides my doubtful feet,
Shall my desires fulfill.

5 Mine innocence shalt thou display,
And make thy judgments known,
Fair as the light of dawning day,
And glorious as the noon.

6 The meek at last the earth possess,
And are the heirs of heaven;

True riches, with abundant peace,
To humble souls are given.-

PAUSE.

7 [Rest in the Lord, and keep his way,
Nor let your anger rise,

Though Providence should long delay
To punish haughty vice.

8 Let sinners join to break your peace,
And plot, and rage, and foam;
The Lord derides them, for he sees
Their day of vengeance come.

9 They have drawn out the threatening sword,
Have bent the murderous bow,

To slay the men who fear the Lord,
And bring the righteous low.

10 My God shall break their bows, and burn

Their persecuting darts;

Shall their own swords against them turn,
And pain surprise their hearts.]

C. M.

Canterbury.

SECOND PART.

Abridge.

York. [*]

Ver. 16, 21—31. Religion in Words and Deeds.

1 W And grow profanely bold?

HY do the wealthy wicked boast,

The meanest portion of the just,
Excels the sinner's gold.

2 The wicked borrows of his friends,
But ne'er designs to pay;
The saint is merciful, and lends,
Nor turns the poor away.

3 His alms with liberal heart he gives,
Among the sons of need;

His memory to long ages lives,
And blessed is his seed.

4 His lips abhor to talk profane,
To slander, or defraud;

His ready tongue declares to men
What he has learned of God.

5 The law and gospel of the Lord,
Deep in his heart abide;

Led by the Spirit and the word,
His feet shall never slide.

6 When sinners fall, the righteous stand,
Preserved from every snare;

They shall possess the promised land,
And dwell forever there.

C. M. THIRD PART. Colchester. Arundel. [*]
Ver. 23-37. The Righteous and the Wicked.

1 MY God, the steps of pious men

Are ordered by thy will;

Though they should fall, they rise again,
Thy hand supports them still.

2 The Lord delights to see their ways,
Their virtue he approves;
He'll ne'er deprive them of his grace,
Nor leave the men he loves.

3 The heavenly heritage is theirs,
Their portion and their home;

He feeds them now, and makes them heirs
Of blessings long to come.

4 [Wait on the Lord, ye sons of men,
Nor fear when tyrants frown;
Ye shall confess their pride was vain,
When justice casts them down.]

PAUSE.

5 The haughty sinner I have seen,
Not fearing man, nor God;
Like a tall bay-tree, fair and green,
Spreading his arms abroad.

-6 And, lo, he vanished from the ground,
Destroyed by hands unseen;

e Nor root, nor branch, nor leaf, was found, Where all that pride had been.

d 7 But mark the man of righteousness, His several steps attend;

o True pleasure runs through all his ways, And peaceful is his end.

PSALM 38. C. M.

Plymouth. [b]

Guilt of Conscience and Relief.

MIDST thy wrath remember love;

1A Restore thy servant, Lord;

Nor let a father's chastening prove
Like an avenger's sword.

« PreviousContinue »