PSALM XII. [L. M.] The saints safety and hope in evil times; or, sins of the tongue complained of, namely, blasphemy, falsehood, &c. 1 LORD, if thou dost not soon appear, The whole discourse, when neighbours meet, Is fill'd with trifles loose and vain ; And their proud language is profane. || Pleading with God under desertion; or, 3 But lips, that with deceit abound, none: "Where is the Lord will ask us why? 5 The Lord, who sees the poor opprest, And hears th' oppressor's haughty strain, Will rise to give his children rest, Nor shall they trust his word in vain. 6 Thy word, O Lord, tho' often try'd, Void of deceit shall still appear; Not silver, seven times purify'd From dross and mixture,shines so clear. 7 Thy grace shall, in the darkest hour, Defend the holy soul from harm; Tho' when the vilest men have pow'r, On every side will sinners swarm. PSALM XII. [C. M.] Complaint of a general corruption of manners; or, the promise and sign of Christ's coming to judgment. 1 HELP, Lord, for men of virtue fail, 2 Their oaths and promises they break, 3 If we reprove some hateful lye, 4 Scoffers appear on every side, Is rais'd to seats of pow'r and pride, 5 Lord, when iniquities abound, And blasphemy grows bold, hope in darkness. HOW long, O Lord, shall I complain, Like one that seeks his God in vain? Canst thou thy face for ever hide? And I still pray, and be deny'd? 2 Shall I for ever be forgot, 3 As one whom thou regardest not? How long shall my poor troubled breast 4 Hear, Lord, and grant me quick relief, 5 How will the pow'rs of darkness boast, Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest; 2 How long shall my poor lab'ring soul 3 See how the prince of darkness tries He spreads a mist around his eyes, 4 Be thou my sun, and thou my shield, My soul in saf 'ty keep; Make haste before mine eyes are seal'd 5 How would the tempter boast aloud Behold, the sons of hell grow proud 6 But they shall fly at thy rebuke, PSALM XIV. PART I. By nature all men are sinners. 1 FOOLS in their heart believe and say, "That all religion's vain, "There is no God that reigns on high, 2 From thoughts so dreadful and profane 3 The Lord from his celestial throne To find the inan that sought his grace, 4 By nature all are gone astray, Their practice all the same; [hand, Their tongues are used to speak deceit, 6 Such seeds of sin (that bitter root) PSALM XIV. PART I. 1 ARE sinners now so senseless grown, 2 Great God! appear to their surprise, 3 Dost thou not dwell among the just, That we should makethyname our trust; Great God! confound their pride. 4 O that the joyful day were come To finish our distress! WhenGod shallbring his children home, Our songs shall never cease. PSALM XV. [C. M.] Characters of a saint; or, a citizen of Zion; or, the qualifications of a christian. 1 WHO shall inhabit in thy hill, O God of holiness? Whom will the Lord admit to dwell So near his throne of grace? 2 The man that walks in pious ways, 3 He speaks the meaning of his heart, 4 The wealthy sinner he contemns, 5 His hands disdain a golden bribe, PSALM XV. [L. M.] Religion and justice, goodness and truth; or, duties to God and man; or, the qualifications of a christian. 1 WHO shall ascend thy heav'nly place, Great God, and dwell before thy face? The man that minds religion now, And humbly walks with God below. 2 Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean, [mean; Whose lips still speak the thing they No slanders dwell upon his tongue; He hates to do his neighbour wrong. 3 [Scarce will he trust an ill report, Nor vents it to his neighbour's hurt: Sinners of state he can despise, But saints are honour'd in his eyes.] 4 [Firm to his word he ever stood, And always makes his promise good; Nor dares to change the thing he swears, Whatever pain or loss he bears.] 5 [He never deals in bribing gold, 6 He loves his enemies, and prays PSALM XVI. PARTI. [L. M.] Confession of our poverty, and saints the best company; or, good works profit men, not God. 1 PRESERVE me, Lord, in time of need; 3 Yet, Lord,thysaints on earth may reap, Some profit by the good we do; These are the company I keep, These are the choicest friends I know. 4 Let others choose the sons of mirth, To give a relish to their wine; I love the men of heav'nly birth, Whose thoughts and language are divine. PSALM XVI. PART II. [L. M.] Christ's all-sufficiency. 1 HOW fast their guilt and sorrows rise, Who haste to seek some idol god; I will not taste their sacrifice, Their off'rings of forbidden blood. 2 My God provides a richer cup, And nobler food to live upon : He for my life has offer'd up Jesus, his best beloved Son. 3 His love is my perpetual feast; By day his counsels guide me right: And be his name for ever blest, Who gives me sweet advice by night. 4 I set him still before mine eyes; At my right-hand he stands prepar'd To keep my soul from all surprise, And be my everlasting guard. PSALM XVI. PART III. [L. M.] Courage in death, and hope of resurrection. 1 WHEN God is nigh, my faith is strong, His arm is my almighty prop: Be glad, my heart, rejoice, my tongue, My dying flesh shall rest in hope. 2 Though in the dust I lay my head, Yet,gracious God, thou wilt not leave My soul for ever with the dead, Nor lose thy children in the grave. 3 My flesh shall thy first call obey, Shake off the dust and rise on high Then shalt thou lead the wond'rousway, Up to thy throne above the sky. 4 There streams of endless pleasure flow; And full discoveries of thy grace, (Which we but tasted here below) Spread heav'nly joys thro' all the place. PSALM XVI. 1---8. PART I. [C. M.] Support and counsel from God, without merit. 1 SAVE me, O Lord, from ev'ry foe; 2 Yet if my God prolong my breath, Let heathens to their idols haste, 4 His hand provides my constant food; 5 God is my portion and my joy; 6 1 My soul would all her thoughts approve To his all-seeing eye; Nor death,nor hell,my hope shall move, While such a friend is nigh. PSALM XVI. PART II. [C. M.] The death and resurrection of Christ. I SET the Lord before my face, "He bears my courage up: "My heart and tongue their joy express, "My flesh shall rest in hope. 2 "My spirit, Lord, thou wilt not leave "Where souls departed are; "Nor quit my body to the grave, "To see corruption there. 3" Thou wilt reveal the path of life, And Providence fulfils the word 5 Jesus, whom ev'ry saint adores, 6 When shall my feet arise, and stand PSALM XVII. ver. 15, &c. [S. M.] : Portion of saints and sinners: or, hope and despair in death. 1 ARISE, my gracious God, His haughty words are vain: 3 Then let his pride advance, 4 I shall behold the face Of my forgiving God; And stand complete in righteousness, 5 There's a new heav'n begun When I awake from death, Drest in the likeness of thy Son, And draw immortal breath. PSALM XVII. [L. M.] The sinner's portion and saint's hope : or, the heaven of separate souls, and the resurrection. 1 LORD, I am thine: But thou wilt prove My faith, my patience, and my love; When men of spite against me join, They are the sword, the hand is thine. 2 Their hope and portion lies below; "Tis all the happiness they know, 'Tis all they seek: They take their shares, And leave the rest among their heirs. 3 What sinners value, I resign; Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mine: I shall behold thy blissful face, And stand complete in righteousness. A This life's a dream, an empty show; But the bright world to which I go Hath joys substantial and sincere: When shall I wake and find me there? 5 O glorious hour, O blest abode! I shall he near! and like my God! And flesh and sin no more controul The sacred pleasures of the soul. 6 My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the last trumpet's joyful sound; Then burst the chains with sweet surprise, And in my Saviour's image rise. PSALM XVIII. ver. 1---6, 15---18. PART I. [L. M.] Deliverance from despair: or, temptations overcome. 1 THEE will I love, O Lord, my strength, Myrock, my tow'r, my high defence, Thy mighty arm shall be my trust, For I have found salvation thence. 2 Death and the terrors of the grave, Stood round me with their dismal shade, While floods of high temptation rose, And made my sinking soul afraid. 3 I saw the op'ning gates of hell, With endless pains and sorrows there; Which none but they that feel can tell, While I was hurried to despair. 4 In my distress I call'd my God, When I could scarce believe him He bow'd his ear to my complaint; As on a cherub's wing he rode; The blast of his almighty breath: 7 Great were my fears, my foes were great, Much was their strength, and more But Christ, my Lord, is conqu'ror still, 8 My song for ever shall record PSALM XVIII. ver. 20---26. Sincerity proved and rewarded. LORD, thou hast seen my soul sincere, Hast made thy truth and love appear ́s Before mine eyes I set thy laws, And thou hast own'd my righteous cause. 2 Since I have learn'd thy holy ways, 3 What sore temptations broke my rest! 4 That sin that close besets me still, 6 The just and pure shall ever say, PSALM XVIII. ver. 30, 31, 34,35, 46, &c." Rejoicing in God: or, salvation and triumph. 1 JUST are thy ways, and true thy word, Great Rock of my secure abode : Who is a God beside the Lord? Or where's a refuge like our God? 2 "Tis he that girds me with his might, Gives me his holy sword to wield: And while with sin and hell I fight, Spreads his salvation for my shield. 3 He lives (and blessed be my Rock!) The God of my salvation lives: The dark designs of hell are broke: Sweet is the peace my Father gives. 4 Before the scoffers of the age, I will exalt my Father's name; 5 To David and his royal seed Thy grace for ever shall extend: Thy love to saints in Christ their head, Knows not a limit, nor an end. PSALM XVIII. PART I. [C. M.] Victory and triumph over temporal. enemies. 1 WE love thee, Lord, and we adore; Now is thine arm reveal'd: Thou art our strength, our heav'nly 1 tow'r, Our bulwark, and our shield. 2 We fly to our Eternal Rock, 3 When God our leader shines in arms 4 He rides upon the winged wind, In millions wait to know his mind, 3 He speaks, and at his fierce rebuke 6 He forms our gen'rals for the field, 7 [He arms our captains to the fight, • Oft has the Lord whole nations blest, PSALM XVIII. PART II. [C. M.] The conqueror's song. 1 TO thine almighty arm we owe "Tis by thine aid our troops prevail, * How have we chas'd them thro' the field, 4 In vain to idol saints they cry, 5 The Rock of Isr'el ever lives, On kings that reign as David did, 2 3 5 6 7 8 PSALM XIX. PART I. [S. M.] The book of nature and scripture. For a Lord's-day morning. Still keep their course the same; In ev'ry diff'rent land, Their gen'ral voice is known; They shew the wonders of his hand, And orders of his throne. Ye British lands rejoice; He here reveals his word: We are not left to nature's voice His statutes and commands Are set before our eyes: He puts his gospel in our hands, His laws are just and pure, His truth without deceit ; And his rewards are great. [Not honey to the taste Nor gold that has the furnace past While of thy works I sing, Accept the praise, my God, my king, PSALM XIX. PART II. [S. M.] God's word most excellent: or, sincerity and watchfulness. For a Lord's-day morning. 1 BEHOLD the morning sun His beams thro' all the nations run, 2 But where the gospel comes It spreads diviner light, It calls dead sinners from their tombs, 3 How perfect is thy word! And all thy judgments just! 4 My gracious God, how plain But find the path to heav'n. PAUSE. 5 I hear thy word with love, D |