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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