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It seem'd at first a pleasing dream of what we wish'd to see:

2 But soon in unaccustom'd mirth, we did our voice employ,

And sung our great Restorer's praise in thankful hymns of joy.

Our heathen foes repining stood,

yet were compell'd to own

That great and wondrous was the work our God for us had done.

3 ""Twas great," say they, "twas wondrous great;" much more should we confess,

The Lord has done great things, whereof the glad success,

we reap

4 To us bring back the remnant, Lord, of Israel's captive bands.

More welcome than refreshing showers to parch'd and thirsty lands;

5 That we, whose work commenc'd in tears, may see our labours thrive,

Till finish'd with success, to make our drooping hearts revive.

6 Though he desponds that sows his grain, vet doubtless he shall come

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To bind his full-ear'd sheaves, and bring the joyful harvest home.

PSALM CXXVII.

TE build with fruitless cost, unless
the Lord the pile sustain

Unless the Lord the city keep,
the watchman wakes in vain.

2 In vain we rise before the day, and late to rest repair,

Allow no respite to our toil,

:

and eat the bread of care. Supplies of life, with ease to them, he on his saints bestows;

He crowns their labours with success,
their nights with sound repose.

3 Children, those comforts of our life,
are presents from the Lord;
He gives a num'rous race of heirs,
as piety's reward.

4 As arrows in a giant's hand,

when marching forth to war; Ev'n so the sons of sprightly youth, their parents' safeguard are

5 Happy the man whose quiver's fill'd with these prevailing arms;

He need not fear to meet his foe, at law or war's alarms.

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THE

PSALM CXXVIII,

HE man is blest that fears the Lord,
nor only worship pays,

But keeps his steps confin'd with care
to his appointed ways.

2 He shall upon the sweet returns
of his own labour feed;

Without dependence live, and see
his wishes all succeed.

3 His wife, like a fair fertile vine,
her lovely fruit shall bring;

His children, like young olive plants,
about his table spring.

4 Who fears the Lord shall prosper thus ; him Sion's God shall bless,

5 And grant him all his days to see Jerusalem's success.

6 He shall live on, till heirs from him descend with vast increase;

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Much bless'd in his own prosperous state, and more in Israel's peace.

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PSALM CXXIX.

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ROM my youth up, may Israel say, they oft have me assail'd,

2 Reduc'd me oft to heavy straits,

but never quite prevail'd.

3 They oft have plough'd my patient back with furrows deep and long;

4 But our just God has broke their chains, and rescu'd us from wrong.

5 Defeat, confusion, shameful rout
be still the doom of those,
Their righteous doom, who Sion hate,
and Sion's God oppose.

6 Like corn upon our houses' tops,

untimely let them fade,

Which too much heat, and want of root,

has blasted in the blade:

7 Which in his arms no reaper takes,
but unregarded leaves;

No binder thinks it worth his pains
to fold it into sheaves.

8 No traveller that passes by

vouchsafes a minute's stop,

To give it one kind look, or crave
heaven's blessing on the crop.

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2 Lord, hear my supplicating voice, and graciously reply.

3 Shouldst thou severely judge,
who can the trial bear?

4 But thou forgiv'st, lest we despond,
and quite renounce thy fear.
5 My soul with patience waits
for thee, the living Lord;
My hopes are on thy promise built,
thy never-failing word.

6 My longing eyes look out

for thy enlivening ray,

More duly than the morning watch,

to spy the dawning day.

Let Israel trust in God,

no bounds his mercy knows;

The plenteous source and spring from whence eternal succour flows;

8 Whose friendly streams to us
supplies in want convey;
A healing spring to cleanse,
and wash our guilt away.

0

PSALM CXXXI.

LORD, I am not proud of heart,
nor cast a scornful eye;

Nor my aspiring thoughts employ

in things for me too high.

2 With infant innocence thou know'st
I have myself demean'd;
Compos'd to quiet, like a babe
that from the breast is wean'd.

3 Like me let Israel hope in God,
his aid alone implore;

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Both now and ever trust in him, who lives for evermore.

PSALM CXXXII.

ET David, Lord, a constant place
in thy remembrance find;

Let all the sorrows he endur’'d

be ever in thy mind.

2 Remember what a solemn oath

to thee, his Lord, he swore; How to the mighty God he vow'd, whom Jacob's sons adoré;

3, 4 I will not go into my house, nor to my bed ascend;

No soft repose shall close my eyes, nor sleep my eye-lids bend;

5 Till for the Lord's design'd abode I mark the destin'd ground;

Till I a decent place of rest

for Jacob's God have found.

6 Th' appointed place, with shouts of joy, at Ephrata we found,

And made the woods and neighb'ring fields our glad applause resound.

7 O with due rev'rence let us then

to his abode repair;

And, prostrate at his footstool fall'n,

pour

out our humble

prayer. 8 Arise, O Lord, and now possess thy constant place of rest; Be that, not only with thy ark, but with thy presence, blest.

9, 10 Clothe thou thy priests with righteousness, make thou thy saints rejoice; And, for thy servant David's sake, hear thy Anointed's voice. 11 God sware to David in his truth, nor shall his oath be vain, One of thy offspring after thee, upon thy throne shall reign: 12 And if thy seed my cov'nant keep, and to my laws submit,

Their children too upon thy throne

for evermore shall sit.

13, 14 For Sion does in God's esteem, all other seats excel;

His place of everlasting rest,

where he desires to dwell.

15, 16 Her store, says he, I will increase, her poor with plenty bless;

Her saints shall shout for joy, her priests my saving health confess.

17 There David's power shall long remain in his successive line,

And my anointed servant there

shall with fresh lustre shine.

18 The faces of his vanquish'd foes confusion shall o'erspread;

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Whilst, with confirm'd success, shall flourish on his head.

HOW

his crown

PSALM CXXXIII.

TOW vast must their advantage be,
how great their pleasure prove,

Who live like brethren, and consent
in offices of love!

2 True love is like that precious oil,
which, pour'd on Aaron's head,
Ran down his beard, and o'er his robes
its costly moisture shed.

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PSALM CXXXV.

PRAISE the Lord, with one consent, and magnify his name;

Let all the servants of the Lord

his worthy praise proclaim.

2 Praise him all ye that in his house

attend with constant care; With those that to his outmost courts with humble zeal repair.

3 For this our truest int'rest is,

glad hymns of praise to sing;

And with loud songs to bless his name, a most delightful thing.

4 For God his own peculiar choice the sons of Jacob makes;

And Israel's offspring for his own
most valu'd treasure takes.

5 That God is great, we often have
by glad experience found;
And seen how he, with wondrous power,
above all gods is crown'd.

6 For he, with unresisted strength,

performs his sov'reign will,

In heaven and earth, and wat❜ry stores that earth's deep caverns fill.

7 He raises vapours from the ground,

which, pois'd in liquid air,

Fall down at last in showers, through which his dreadful lightnings glare.

8 He from his store-house brings the winds; and he, with vengeful hand,

The first-born slew of man and beast, through Egypt's mourning land.

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