Like darts his nimble light'nings flew, which fiercely rag'd that dreadful day. 16 The Lord did on my fide engage; from Heav'n, his throne, my cause upheld; And fnatch'd me from the furious rage of threat'ning waves, that proudly fwell'd. 17 God his refiftless pow'r employ'd my strongest foes attempts to break; Who elfe with ease had foon destroy'd the weak defence that I could make. 18 Their fubtle rage had near prevail'd, when I diftrefs'd and friendlefs lay; But ftill, when other fuccours fail'd, God was my firm fupport and stay. 19 From dangers that inclos'd me round, he brought me forth, and fet me free; For fome juft caufe his goodness found, that mov'd him to delight in me. 20 Because in me no guilt remains, God does his gracious help extend: My hands are free from bloody ftains; therefore the Lord is ftill my friend. 21, 22. For I his judgments kept in fight, In his juft paths I always trod; I never did his ftatutes flight, nor loosely wander'd from my God. 23, 24 But ftill my foul, fincere and pure, did ev'n from darling fins refrain; His favours therefore yet endure, because my heart and hands are clean. PART IV. 25, 26 Thou fuit'st, O Lord, thy righteous ways to various paths of human-kind; They who for mercy merit praise, With thee fhall wondrous mercy find. Thou to the juft fhall juftice fhow; the pure thy purity thall fee; Such as perverfely chufe to go, fhall meet with due returns from thee. 27, 28 That he the humble foul will fave, and crush the haughty's boafted might, In me the Lord an inftance gave, whofe darkness he has turn'd to light. 29 On his firm fuccour I rely'd, and did o'er num'rous foes prevail; Nor fear'd, whilft he was on my fide, the beft defended walls to scale. 30 For God's defigns fhall ftill fucceed; his word will bear the utmost test; He's a ftrong fhield to all that need, and on his fure protection reft. 31 Who then deferves to be ador'd, but God, on whom my hopes depend? Or who, except the mighty Lord, can with refiftlefs pow'r defend? PART V. 32, 33 'Tis God that girds my armour on, and all my just designs fulfils; Through him my feet can swiftly run, and nimbly climb the fteepeft hills. 34 Leffons of war from him I take, and manly weapons learn to wield; Strong bows of steel with ease I break, Forc'd by my ftronger arms to yield. 35 The buckler of his faving health protects me from affaulting foes; His hand fuftains me ftill; my wealth and greatness from his bounty flows. 36 My goings he enlarg'd abroad, till then to narrow paths confin'd; And, when in flippery ways I trod, the method of my steps defign'd. 37 Through him I num'rous hofts defeat, and flying fquadrons captive take; Nor from my fierce pursuit retreat, till I a final conqueft make. 38 Cover'd with wounds, in vain they try their vanquish'd heads again to rear ; Spite of their boafted ftrength, they lie beneath my feet, and grovel there. 39 God, when fresh armies take the field, recruits my ftrength, my courage warms; He makes my strong oppofers yield, fubdu'd by my prevailing arms. 40 Through him the necks of proftrate foes my conquering feet in triumph prefs; Aided by him, I root out thofe, Who hate and envy my success. 41 With loud complaints all friends they try'd; but none was able to defend ; At length to God for help they cry'd; but God would no affiftance lend. 42 Like flying duft, which winds pursue, their broken troops I fcattered round; Their flaughter'd bodies forth I threw, like loathfome dirt, that clogs the ground. PART VI. 43 Our factious tribes, at ftrife till now, the rock on whofe defence I reft! 48 My univerfal fafeguard he! from whom my lafting honours flow; 49 Therefore to celebrate his fame, And nations, ftrangers to his Name, fhall thus be taught to fing his praise : 50 "God to his king deliv'rance fends; "fhows his annointed fignal grace ; "his mercy evermore extends "to David, and his promis'd race. PSALM XIX. TH I THE Heav'ns declare thy glory, Lord, which that alone can fill; The firmament and stars express their great Creator's skill. 2 The dawn of each returning day fresh beams of knowledge brings; And from the dark returns of night divine inftruction fprings. 3 Their pow'rful language to no realm or region is confin'd; 'Tis nature's voice, and understood 4 Their doctrine does its facred fenfe 5 No giant does like him rejoice to run his glorious race. 6 From east to weft, from west to eaft, And, through his progrefs, cheerful light PART II. 7 God's perfect law converts the foul; reclaims from falfe defires ; With facred wifdom his fure word the ignorant infpires. 8 The ftatutes of the Lord are just, and bring fincere delight; His pure commands in fearch of truth affift the feeblest fight. 9 His perfect worship here is fix'd, on fure foundations laid ; His equal laws are in the fcales of truth and justice weigh'd; 10 Of more efteem than golden mines, or gold refin'd with skill; More fweet than honey, or the drops that from the comb diftil. 11 My trufty counfellors they are, and friendly warnings give; Divine rewards attend on thofe, who by thy precepts live. 12 But what frail man obferves how oft he does from virtue fall? O cleanse me from my fecret faults, thou God that know'ft them all! 13 Let no prefumptuous fin, O Lord, dominion have o'er me; That, by thy grace preferv'd, I may, the great tranfgreffion flee. 14 So fhall my pray'r and praises be with thy acceptance bleft; And I fecure on thy defence, my Strength and Saviour, reft. PSALM XX. TH HE Lord to thy requeft attend, 4 To compafs thy own heart's defire 5 To thy falvation, Lord, for aid we cheerfully repair, With banners in thy name difplay'd; 6 Our hopes are fix'd, that now the Lord, our fov'reign, will defend : From Heav'n refiftlefs aid afford, and to his pray'r attend. |