th But thy forgiveness interpos'd, And mercy's healing balm pour'd in. True penitents shall thus succeed, Who seek thee whilst thou may'st be atend from the common deluge freed, Ye that would truth's safe path descry; frondour progress I'll securely guide, And keep you in my watchful eye. and Submit yourselves to wisdom's rule, Like men that reason have attain'd; inversp theot like th' ungovern'd horse and mule, ebra Whose fury must be curb'd and rein'd. Sorrows on sorrows multiply'd, greath The harden'd sinner shall confound; the wa eep by the roud goes Their life in triumph shall employ; w them, as they alone have cause, p grateful raptures shout for joy. forrands me be PSALM XXXIII. ET all the just to God, with joy, eine Their cheerful voices raise; Orwell the righteous it becomes d new-made songs of loud applause rent By his Almighty Word, at first, d lays, as in a store-house safe, The wat'ry treasures by. Let earth, and all that dwell therein, Before him trembling stand; or, when he spake the word, 'twas made; Twas fix'd at his command. PART II. 12 How happy then are they, to whom Whom he, from all the world besides, 13, 14, 15 He all the nations of the earth, By him their hearts were made. 18, 19 'Tis God, who those that trust in Beholds with gracious eyes; He frees their souls from death; their want, In time of dearth supplies. 20, 21 Our soul on God with patience waits; Our help and shield is he; Then, Lord, let still our hearts rejoice, 22 The riches of thy mercy, Lord, PSALM XXXIV. THROUGH all the changing scenes of life, TH In trouble and in joy, 4 When in distress to him I call'd, 5 Their drooping hearts were soon re- Who look'd to him for aid; 6 Behold,' say they, 'behold the man, 7 The hosts of God encamp around He, when the heathen closely plot, Deliv'rance he affords to all Their counsels undermines; Who on his succour trust. How blest they are, and only they, 9 Fear him, ye saints; and you will then Make you his service your delight, PART II. 11 Approach, ye piously dispos'd, 12 Let him who length of life desires, tongue; His lips from falsehood free; 14 The crooked paths of vice decline, And virtue's ways pursue; Establish peace, where 'tis begun; And where 'tis lost, renew. 15 The Lord from heav'n beholds the just With favourable eyes; And, when distress'd, his gracious ear Is open to their cries; 16. But turns his wrathful look on those Whom mercy can't reclaim, To cut them off, and from the earth 18 He's nigh to heal the broken heart, 21 The wicked, from their wicked arts, 22 For God preserves the souls of those Who on his truth depend; To them, and their posterity, PSALM XXXV. And such as did my harm devise, God's vengeful minister of wrath 6 And when, through dark and slippy ways, They strive his rage to shun, Did without cause, prepare; 8 Surpris'd by mischiefs unforeseen, Their feet shall fall into the net By their own arts betray'd, Which they for me had laid: 9 Whilst my glad soul shall God's great name For this deliv'rance bless, And, by his saving health securd, Its grateful joy express. 10 My very bones shall say, 'O Lord, Who sett'st the poor and helpless man "Who can compare with thee? 'From strong oppressors free? PART II. 11 False witnesses, with forg'd com plaints, And to my charge such things they laid, 12 The good which I to them had done, I 14 Had they my friends or brethren been, I could have done no more; Nor with more decent signs of grief A mother's loss deplore. AGAINST all those that strive with 15 How diff'rent did their carriage prove, In times of my distress! When they, in crowds, together met, Did savage joy express. The rabble too, in num'rous throngs, By their example came; And ceas'd not with reviling words, To wound my spotless fame. 16 Scoffers, that noble tables haunt, And earn their bread with lies, Did gnash their teeth, and sland'ring jests 17 But, Lord, how long wilt thou look on Maliciously devise. On my behalf appear; da save my guiltless soul, which they True wisdom's banish'd from his breast, ike rav'ning beasts would tear. PART III. So I, before the list'ning world, e open joy, or secret signs, goad den debr or they, with hearts averse to peace, dustriously devise, inst the men of quiet minds forge malicious lies. Tor with these private arts content, oud they vent their spite; say "At last we found him out, le did it in our sight.' ut thou, who doth both them and me ith righteous eyes survey, Srt my innocence, O Lord, dd keep not far away. bir up thyself in my behalf; judgment, Lord, awake; righteous servant's cause, O God, thy decision take. ord, as my heart has upright been, int me thy justice find; let my cruel foes obtain e triumph they design'd. let them not, amongst themselves, boasting language say, ength our wishes are complete; het last he's made our prey. mt such as in my harm rejoic'd, Sr shame their faces hide; foul dishonour wait on those, at proudly me defy'd: shilst they with cheerful voices shout, o my just cause befriend; bless the Lord, who loves to make dencess his saints attend. de shall my tongue thy judgments sing, pir'd with grateful joy; PSALM XXXVI. Y crafty foe, with flatt'ring art, His wicked purpose would disguise; eason whispers to my heart, ne'er sets God before his eyes. sooths himself, retir'd from sight; kure he thinks his treach'rous game; his dark plots, expos'd to light, eir false contriver brand with shame. deeds he is my foe confess'd, ilst with his tongue he speaks me fair; And vice has sole dominion there. 4 His wakeful malice spends the night In forging his accurs'd designs; His obstinate, ungen'rous spite No execrable means declines. 5 But, Lord, thy mercy, my sure hope, Above the heav'nly orb ascends; Thy sacred truth's unmeasur'd scope Beyond the spreading sky extends. 6 Thy justice like the hills remains; Unfathom'd depths thy judgments are; Thy providence the world sustains; 9 With thee the springs of life remain; Thy presence is eternal day: 10 0 let thy saints thy favour gain; To upright hearts thy truth display. 11 Whilst pride's insulting foot would spurn, And wicked hands my life surprise, 12 Their mischiefs on themselves return; Down, down they're fall'n, no more to rise. PSALM XXXVII. THOUGH wicked men grow rich or great, Yet let not their successful state Whose blooming beauty soon decays. 3 Depend on God, and him obey, So thou within the land shalt stay, Secure from danger and from want: 4 Make his commands thy chief delight; And he, thy duty to requite, Shall all thy earnest wishes grant. 5 In all thy ways trust thou the Lord, And he will needful help afford, To perfect every just design; 6 He'll make, like light, serene and clear, Thy clouded innocence appear, And as a mid-day sun to shine. 7 With quiet mind on God depend, And patiently for him attend; Nor let thy anger fondly rise, Tho' wicked men with wealth abound, And with success the plots are crown'd Which they maliciously devise. 8 From anger cease, and wrath forsake; Let no ungovern'd passion make Thy wav'ring heart espouse their crime; 25 From my first youth, till age pre vail'd, 9 For God shall sinful men destroy; Rejoicing still with godly mirth, 12 While sinful crowds, with false design,| And gnash their teeth and threat'ning stand; 13 God shall their empty plots deride, And laugh at their defeated pride: He sees their ruin near at hand. 14 They draw the sword, and bend the bow, The poor and needy to o'erthrow, And men of upright lives to slay; 15 But their strong bows shall soon be broke, Their sharpen❜d weapon's mortal stroke 16 A little, with God's favour bless'd, cause: But as for those that break his laws, Their unsuccessful pow'r he quells. 18 His constant care the upright guides, And over all their life presides; Their portion shall for ever last: 19 They, when distress o'erwhelms the earth, Shall be unmov'd and ev'n in dearth, And vanish into smoke and air. PART III, 21 Whilst sinners, brought to sad decay, And those he curses shall not live. light; He orders all the steps aright Of him that moves by his command; Or want o'ertake his num'rous race; crease. 27 With caution shun each wicked deed In virtue's ways with zeal proceed, And so prolong your happy days; 28 For God, who judgment loves, des still Preserve his saints secure from ill, While soon the wicked race decay 29, 30, 31 The upright shall possess the land; His portion shall for ages stand; His mouth with wisdom is supply'd: In vain his ruin does decree: 34 Wait still on God; keep his comman And thou, exalted in the land, Thy blest possession ne'er shall qu The wicked soon destroy'd shall be, And at his dismal tragedy Thou shalt a safe spectator sit. $5 The wicked I in pow'r have seen, And, like a bay-tree, fresh and green, That spreads its pleasant branches round: 36 But he was gone as swift as thought And, though in ev'ry place I sought, No sign or track of him I found. 37 Observe the perfect man with care, And mark all such as upright are Their roughest days in peace shall end 38 While on the latter end of those Who dare God's sacred will oppose, A common ruin shall attend. 39 God to the just will aid afford; Their only safeguard is the Lord; Their strength in time of need is be 24 Though he sometimes may be dis-Nor let at once on me the storm tress'd, Yet shall he ne'er be quite oppress'd, L For God upholds him with his hand. Of thy displeasure fall 2 In ev'ry wretched part of me Thy arrows deep remain; y innocence to hear; rear'd that thou, the righteous God, dy injur'd cause wilt clear; was Hear me,' said I, 'lest my proud foes rt spiteful joy display; the ulting, if they see my foot ut once to go astray.' hend, with continual grief oppress'd, the sink I now begin; do thee, O Lord, I will confess, thee bewail my sin. justut whilst I languish, my proud foes heir strength and vigour boast; they that hate me without cause he grown a dreadful host. tiv'n they whom I oblig'd, return'd my kindness with despite: are my enemies, because Choose the path that's right. Forsake me not, O Lord my God, or far from me depart; lake haste to my relief, O thou, ho my salvation art. PSALM XXXIX. RESOLV'D to watch o'erall my ways, I kept my tongue in awe; I curb'd my hasty words, when I 2 Like one that's dumb, I silent stood, And did my tongue refrain From good discourse; but that restraint Increas'd my inward pain. 3 My heart did glow with working thoughts, Till strong reflection fann'd the fire, 4 Lord, let me know my term of days, 5 My life, thou know'st, is but a span; 6 Man, like a shadow, vainly walks, With fruitless cares oppress'd; He heaps up wealth, but cannot tell By whom 'twill be possess'd. 7 Why then should I on worthless toys With anxious cares attend? On thee alone my steadfast hope Shall ever, Lord, depend. 8, 9 Forgive my sins; nor let me scorn'd By foolish sinners be; For I was dumb, and murmur'd not, 10 The dreadful burden of thy wrath Lest my frail flesh, too weak to bear 11 For when thou chast'nest man for sin, Thou mak'st his beauty fade, (So vain a thing is he) like cloth 12 Lord, hear my cry, accept my tears, By fretting moths decay'd. And listen to my prayer, Who sojourn like a stranger here, As all my fathers were. 13 O spare me yet a little time; My wasted strength restore, Before I vanish quite from hence, And shall be seen no more. PSALM XL. |