The pit they digg'd for me be made their own untimely tomb. 11 Though slander's breath may raise a storm, it quickly will decay: Their rage does but the torrent swell, 12 God will assert the poor man's cause, PSALM 141. To thee, O Lord, my cries ascend, And with accustom'd pity hear 2 Instead of offerings, let my prayer like morning incense rise; My lifted hand supply the place of evening sacrifice. 3 From hasty language curb my tongue, and let a constant guard Still keep the portal of my lips with wary silence barr'd. 4 From wicked men's designs and deeds my heart and hands restrain; Nor let me in the booty share of their unrighteous gain. 5 Let upright men reprove my faults, Like balm that heals a wounded head, And, in return, my fervent prayer When they are tempted and reduced, 6 When skulking in Engedi's rock, 7 Yet us they persecute to death; As thick as from the hewer's axe the sever'd splinters fly. 8 But, Lord, to thee I still direct my supplicating eyes; O leave not destitute my soul, whose trust on thee relies. 9 Do thou preserve me from the snares that wicked hands have laid; Let them in their own nets be caught, while my escape is made. PSALM 142. 10 God, with mournful voice, Tin deep distress I pray'd; 2 Made him the umpire of my cause, my wrongs before him laid. 3 Thou didst my steps direct, when my grieved soul despair'd; For where I thought to walk secure, they had their traps prepared. 4 look'd, but found no friend to own me in distress; All refuge fail'd, no man vouchsafed his pity or redress. 5 To God at last I pray'd; thou, Lord, my refuge art, My portion in the land of life, till life itself depart. 6 Reduced to greatest straits, to thee I make my moan; O save me from oppressing foes, for me too powerful grown. 7 That I may praise thy name, my soul from prison bring; Whilst of thy kind regard to me assembled saints shall sing. PSALM 143. LORD, hear my prayer, and to my cry thy wonted audience lend; In thy accustom'd faith and truth 2 Nor at thy strict tribunal bring 3 The spiteful foe pursues my life, He drives me into caves as dark 4 My spirit therefore is o'erwhelm'd, 5 I call to mind the days of old, 6 To thee my hands in humble prayer 7 Hear me with speed; my spirit fails; 8 Thy kindness early let me hear, whose trust on thee depends; Teach me the way where I should go; my soul to thee ascends. 9 Do thou, O Lord, from all my preserve and set me free; A safe retreat against their rage my soul implores from thee. foes 10 Thou art my God, thy righteous will instruct me to obey; Let thy good spirit lead and keep my soul in thy right way. 11 O! for the sake of thy great name, revive my drooping heart; For thy truth's sake, to me distress'd, the promised aid impart. 12 In pity to my sufferings, Lord, PSALM 144. FOR ever bless'd be God the Lord, who does his needful aid impart, At once both strength and skill afford, to wield my arms with warlike art. 2 His goodness is my fort and tower, my strong deliverance, and my shield; In him I trust whose matchless power makes to my sway fierce nations yield. 3 Lord, what's in man, that thou shouldst love of him such tender care to take? What in his offspring could thee move such great account of him to make? 4 The life of man does quickly fade, his thoughts but empty are and vain, His days are like of whose short remain. 5 In solemn state, O God, descend, whilst heaven its lofty head inclines; The smoking hills asunder rend, of thy approach the awful signs. 6 Discharge thy awful lightnings round, and make thy scatter'd foes retreat; Then with thy pointed arrows wound, and their destruction soon complete. 7, 8 Do thou, O Lord, from heaven engage thy boundless power my foes to quell, And snatch me from the stormy rage of threatening waves, that proudly swell. Fight thou against my foreign foes, who utter speeches false and vain; Who, though in solemn leagues they close, their sworn engagements ne'er maintain. 9 So I to thee, O King of kings, in new-made hymns my voice shall raise, And instruments of may strings shall help me thus to sing thy praise : 10" God does to kings his aid afford, "to them his sure salvation sends; "Tis he that from the murdering sword "his servant David still defends." 11 Fight thou against my foreign foes, who utter speeches false and vain ; Who, though in solemn leagues they close, their sworn engagements ne'er maintain. 12 Then our young sons like trees shall grow, well planted in some fruitful place; Our daughters shall like pillars show, design'd some royal court to grace. 13 Our garners fill'd with various store, shall us and ours with plenty feed; Our sheep, increasing more and more, shall thousands and ten thousands breed. 14 Strong shall our labouring oxen grow, nor in their constant labour faint; Whilst we no war nor slavery know, and in our streets hear no complaint. 15 Thrice happy is that people's case, whose various blessings thus abound; Who God's true worship still embrace, and are with his protection crown'd. PSALM 145. 5, 6 Whilst I thy glory and renown, 7 The praise that to thy love belongs, 8 The Lord is good; fresh acts of grace His anger moves with slowest pace, his willing mercy flies. 9, 10 Thy love through earth extends its fame to all thy works exprest; These show thy praise, whilst thy great name is by thy servants blest. 11 They, with a glorious prospect fired, 12 God's glorious works of ancient date with public splendour shown. 13 His steadfast throne, from changes free, shall stand for ever fast; His boundless sway no end shall see, but time itself outlast. PART II. 14, 15 The Lord does them support that fall, 16 Whate'er their various wants require, of every thing that lives. 17, 18 How holy is the Lord, how just, 19 He grants the full desire of those And will their troubles soon compose, when they his aid implore. 20 The Lord preserves all those with care, whom grateful love employs; But sinners, who his vengeance dare, 21 My time to come, in praises spent, 5 Then happy he, who Jacob's God for his protector takes; Who still, with well-placed hope, the Lord his constant refuge makes. 14, 15 Through all their borders he gives peace, with finest wheat they're fed; He speaks the word, and what he wills is done as soon as said. Will never quit his steadfast truth, nor make his promise vain. 7 The poor, opprest, from all their wrongs are eased by his decree; He gives the hungry needful food, and sets the prisoners free 8 By him the blind receive their sight, he for the righteous cares. 9 The strangers he preserves from harm, the orphan kindly treats; Defends the widow, and the wiles of wicked men defeats. 10 The God that does in Sion dwell is our eternal King: From age to age his reign endures: let all his praises sing. For pleasant, good, and comely 'tis 2 His holy city God will build, 3, 4 He kindly heals the broken hearts, their several names he knows. 5, 6 Great is the Lord, and great his power, his wisdom has no bound; The meek he raises, and throws down the wicked to the ground. 7To God, the Lord, a hymn of praise with grateful voices sing; To songs of triumph tune the harp, and strike each warbling string. 8 He covers heaven with clouds, and thence refreshing rain bestows; Through him, on mountain tops, the grass with wondrous plenty grows. 9 He savage beasts, that loosely range, with timely food supplies; He feeds the raven's tender brood, and stops their hungry cries. 10 He values not the warlike steed, Wel 11 But he to him that fears his name Who fenced their gates with massy bars, and does their children bless. 3 Thy gifts are manifold, thou writ'st God's law in each true heart; The promise of the Father, thou dost heavenly speech impart. 4 Enlighten our dark souls, till they thy sacred love embrace; Assist our minds, by nature frail, with thy celestial grace. 6 Drive far from us the mortal foe, and give us peace within, That, by thy guidance blest, we may escape the snares of sin. 6 Teach us the Father to confess, and Son from death revived, And thee with both, O Holy Ghost, who art from both derived. HYMN 7. For the same. COME, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, with all thy quickening powers; Kindle a flame of sacred love in these cold hearts of ours. 2 See how we grovel here below, 3 In vain we tune our lifeless songs, 4 Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, with all thy quickening powers; Come, shed abroad a Saviour's love, and that shall kindle ours. HYMN 8. For the same. Hall hearts new joy resume; 2 What greater gift, what greater love, Angels for this rejoice above, let man rejoice below! 3 Hail, blessed Spirit! may each soul 4 Thou to the conscience dost convey FOR THE HOLY COMMUNION. "THOU, God, all glory, honour, power, art worthy to receive; Since all things by thy power were made, and by thy bounty live. 2 And worthy is the Lamb all power, honour, and wealth to gain, Glory and strength; who for our sins 3 All worthy thou, who has redeem'd, 4 Blessing and honour, glory, power, Chap. Iv. Chap. v. 12. Chap. v. 9. §Ver. 13. HYMN 10. For the same. Mod does thy cup with love o'erflow? Thither be all thy children led, God, and is thy table spread? and let them thy sweet mercies know! 2 Hail, sacred Feast, which Jesus makes! rich banquet of his flesh and blood! Thrice happy he who here partakes that sacred stream, that heavenly food? 3 Why are its dainties all in vain before unwilling hearts display'd? Was not for you the victim slain? are you forbid the children's bread? 4 0 let thy table honour'd be, 5 Drawn by thy quickening grace, O Lord, For the same. AND are we now brought near to God, who once at distance stood? And, to effect this glorious change, did Jesus shed his blood? 2 0 for a song of ardent praise, to bear our souls above! What should allay our lively hope, or damp our flaming love! 3 Then let us join the heavenly choirs, to praise our heavenly King! O may that love which spread this board, inspire us while we sing 4 "Glory to God in highest strains, "and to the earth be peace; "Good-will from heaven to men is come; "and let it never cease!" HYMN 12. ON THE NEW YEAR. HE God of life, whose constant care My scanty span doth still prolong, "Thus far, at least, in league with death?" 5 To thee our spirits we resign, 6 Thy children, panting to be gone, No groans to mingle with the songs, The Christian's Hope. WHEN rising from the bed of death, o'erwhelm'd with guilt and fear, I see my Maker face to face; O how shall I appear! 2 If yet, while pardon may be found, and mercy may be sought, My heart with inward horror shrinks, and trembles at the thought; 3 When thou, O Lord, shalt stand disclosed in Majesty severe, And sit in judgment on my soul O how shall I appear! 4 But thou hast told the troubled mind, who does her sins lament; The timely tribute of her tears Then see the sorrow of my heart, And hear my Saviour's dying groans, 6 For never shall my soul despair her pardon to procure, Who knows thy only Son has died, to make her pardon sure. 7 Great God! with wonder and with praise, on all thy works I look; But still thy wisdom, power, and grace, 8 The stars, that in their courses roll, 9 The fields provide me food, and show But fruits of life and glory grow in thy most holy word. 10 Here are my choicest treasures hid, 11 Lord, make me understand thy law, 12 Here would I learn how Christ has died such heavenly wonders tell. 13 Then let me love my Bible more, and take a fresh delight, By day to read these wonders o'er, and meditate by night. HYMN 14. On Gratitude to God. WHEN all thy mercies, O my God, my rising soul surveys; Transported with the view, I'm lost in wonder, love, and praise! 20 how shall words with equal warmth the gratitude declare, That glows within my ravish'd heart! but thou canst read it there. 3 Thy providence my life sustain'd, 4 To all my weak complaints and cries thy mercy lent an ear, E're yet my feeble thoughts had learnt to form themselves in prayer. 5 Unnumber'd comforts to my soul 6 When in the slippery paths of youth with heedless steps I ran, Thine arm, unseen, conveyed me safe, and led me up to man. 7 Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths, it gently clear'd my way, And through the pleasing snares of vice, 8 When worn with sickness, oft hast thou 9 Thy bounteous hand, with worldly bliss, And in a kind and faithful friend has doubled all my store. 10 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts my daily thanks employ; Nor is the least a cheerful heart, that tastes those gifts with joy. 11 Through every period of my life thy goodness I'll pursue; And after death, in distant worlds, the glorious theme renew. 12 When nature fails, and day and night divide thy works no more, My ever grateful heart, O Lord, 13 Through all eternity to thee David. HE spacious firmament on high, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, 2 The unwearied sun, from day to day, 3 Soon as the evening shades prevail, 4 Whilst all the stars that round her burn, And spread the truth from pole to pole. |