PSALM IX. ver. 10, 11. L. M. Encouragement to Faith.
1 SING to the Lord, who loud proclaims His various and his saving names; O may they not be heard alone, But by our sure experience known. 2 The great Jehovah be ador'd, Th' eternal, all-sufficient Lord; Through all the world, most high confess'd, By him 'twas form'd, and is possess'd.
3 Awake, our noblest powers, to bless The God of Abra'm, God of Peace ; Now, by a dearer title known, Father and God of Christ his Son. 4 Through every age his gracious ear Is open to his servant's prayer; Nor can one humble soul complain That he has sought his God in vain. 5 What unbelieving heart shall dare In whispers to suggest a fear,
While still he owns his ancient name, The same his power, his love the same. 6 To thee our souls in faith arise, To thee we lift expecting eyes,
And boldly through the desert tread, For God will guard where God shall lead.
PSALM X. Common Metre.
A Prayer for Deliverance from Oppression. 1 WHY doth the Lord stand off so far, And why conceal his face,
When great calamities appear, And times of deep distress?
2 Lord, shall the wicked stili deride Thy justice and thy power?
Shall they erect their heads in pride, And better men devour?
3 Arise, O God! lift up thy hand, Attend our humble cry;
No enemy shall dare to stand, When God our help is nigh.
4 Thou wilt prepare our hearts to pray, And still incline thine ear;
Thou knowest what thy children say, And thou their voice wilt hear. 5 Proud tyrants shall no more oppress, No more despise the just: And mighty sinners shall confess They are but earth and dust.
PSALM XI. Long Metre. The Justice of Divine Providence.
1 ON God my steadfast hopes rely; Why do my foes insulting cry, "Fly like a timorous, trembling dove, "And seek the mountain's lonesome grove?' 2 Behold the wicked aim their darts Against the men of upright hearts! If government be overthrown, Who then the injur'd cause will own? 3 The Lord, enthron'd above the sky, On suffering virtue casts his eye; Though he afflict his saints, to prove Their patience, and to try their love;
4 Yet lawless hands and hearts impure, His frowns vindictive will endure ; His lightning wings its rapid way, His thunder fills them with dismay. 5 Where truth and justice hold their place, God will reveal his gracious face; Delighted in the upright mind His own reflected beams to find.
Corruption of Manners.
? HELP, Lord! for men of virtue fail, Religion loses ground; The sons of wickedness prevail, And treacheries abound.
2 Their oaths and promises they break, Yet act the flatterer's part; With fair deceitful lips they speak, And with a double heart.
3 Scoffers appear on every side, Where a vile race of men Are rais'd to seats of power and pride, And bear the sword in vain.
4 Lord, when iniquities abound, And blasphemy grows bold; When faith is hardly to be found, And love is waxen cold;
5 Is not thy chariot hastening on? Hast thou not given the sign? May we not trust and live upon A promise so divine ?
6 Thy word, like silver seven times try'd, Through ages shall endure; The men who in thy truth confide, Shall find the promise sure.
PSALM XIII. Common Metre. b Complaint under Temptation.
1 HOW long wilt thou conceal thy face? My God, how long delay ? When wilt thou send thy heavenly rays To drive my fears away?
2 How long shall my distressed soul Struggle and toil in vain ?
Thy word can all my foes control, And ease my raging pain.
3 Be thou my sun, and thou my shield, My soul in safety keep;
Make haste, before my eyes are seal'd In death's eternal sleep.
4 How would the tempter boast aloud, If I become his prey,
And all the host of hell grow proud At thy so long delay!
5 But they shall fly at thy rebuke, And Satan hide his head; He knows the terrors of thy look, And hears thy voice with dread. 6 Thou wilt display that sovereign grace On which my hopes have hung; I shall employ my lips in praise, And victory shall be sung.
PSALM XIV. Common Metre.
Universal Depravity.
1 FOOLS in their hearts believe and say, "That all religion's vain :
"There is no God that reigns on high, "Or minds th' affairs of men."
2 From thoughts so dreadful and profane Corrupt discourse proceeds;
And by their impious hands are done Abominable deeds.
3 The Lord, from his celestial throne, Look'd down on things below,
To find the men that sought his grace, Or did his justice know.
4 He saw that all were gone astray, Their practice all the same;
That none did fear his Maker's hand, That none did love his name.
5 Their tongues are us❜d to speak deceit, Their slanders never cease, How swift to mischief are their feet, Nor know the paths of peace!
6 Such seeds of sin, that bitter root, In every heart are found; Nor will they bear diviner fruit Till grace refine the ground.
PSALM XV. Common Metre.
The Citizen of Zion.
1 LORD, who's the happy man that may To thy blest courts repair?
And whilst he bows before thy throne, Shall find acceptance there?
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