None took religion for their guide, Not one of all the sinful race. 4 But can these workers of deceit

Be all so dull and senseless grown, That they, like bread, my people eat, And God's almighty power disown? 5 How will they tremble, then, for fear, When his just wrath shall them o'ertake? For, to the righteous, God is near,

And never will their cause forsake.
6 Ill men, in vain, with scorn expose
Those methods which the good pursue;
Since God a Refuge is for those

Whom his just eyes with favour view.
7 Would he his saving power employ
To break his people's servile band,
Then shouts of universal joy

Should loudly echo through the land.

PSALM 15.

ORD, who's the happy man that may
To thy blessed courts repair,

Not, stranger-like, to visit them,

But to inhabit there?

2 'Tis he, whose every thought and deed By rules of virtue moves,

Whose generous tongue disdains to speak The thing his heart disproves : 3 Who never did a slander forge, His neighbour's fame to wound Nor hearken to a false report, By malice whispered round:

4 Who vice, in all its pomp and power,
Can treat with just neglect;

And piety, though clothed in rags,
Religiously respect:

5 Who to his plighted vows and trust
Has ever firmly stood;

And, though he promise to his loss,
He makes his promise good:

6 Whose soul in usury disdains
His treasure to employ:

Whom no rewards can ever bribe
The guiltless to destroy.

7 The man, who, by his steady course,
Has happiness ensured,

1

When earth's foundation shakes, shall stand,
By Providence secured.

PRO

PSALM 16.

ROTECT me from my cruel foes,
And shield me, Lord, from harm;

Because my trust I still repose

On thy almighty arm.

2 My soul all help but thine does slight,
All gods but thee disown;
Yet can no deeds of mine requite
The goodness thou hast shown.

3 But those that strictly virtuous are,
And love the thing that's right,
To favour always, and prefer,
Shall be my chief delight.

4 How shall their sorrows be increased,
Who other gods adore!

Their bloody offerings I detest,
Their very names abhor.

5 My lot is fallen in that blessed land
Where God is truly known;

He fills my cup with liberal hand,
"Tis he supports my throne.

6 In nature's most delightful scene
My happy portion lies;

The place of my appointed reign
All other lands outvies.

7 Therefore my soul shall bless the Lord,
Whose precepts give me light,
And private counsels still afford
In sorrow's dismal night.

8 I strive each action to approve
To his all-seeing eye;

No danger shall my hopes remove,
Because he still is nigh.

9 Therefore my heart all grief defies,
My glory does rejoice;

My flesh shall rest, in hope to rise,
Waked by his powerful voice.

10 Thou, Lord, when I resign my breath,
My soul from hell shalt free;
Nor let thy Holy One, in death,
The least corruption see.

11 Thou shalt the paths of life display,
Which to thy presence lead,
Where pleasures dwell without allay,
And joys that never fade.

1 To

PSALM 17.

O my just plea and sad complaint
Attend, O righteous Lord,

And to my prayer, as 'tis unfeigned,
A gracious ear afford.

2 As in thy sight I am approved,
So let my sentence be;

And with impartial eyes, O Lord,
My upright dealing see.

3 For thou hast searched my heart by day,
And visited by night;
And, on the strictest trial, found,
Its secret motions right.

Nor shall thy justice, Lord, alone

My heart's designs acquit;

For I have purposed that my tongue
Shall no offence commit.

4 I know what wicked men would do,
Their safety to maintain;

But me thy just and mild commands
From bloody paths restrain.

5 That I may still, in spite of wrongs,
My innocence secure,

O guide me in thy righteous ways,
And make my footsteps sure.

6 Since, heretofore, I ne'er in vain
To thee my prayer addressed,
O! now, my God, incline thine ear
To this my just request.

7 The wonders of thy truth and love
In my defence engage,

Thou, whose right hand preserves thy saints
From their oppressors' rage.

PART II.

8, 9 O! keep me in thy tenderest care;
Thy sheltering wings stretch out,
To guard me safe from savage foes,
That compass me about.

10 O'ergrown with luxury, enclosed
In their own fat, they lie,

And, with a proud, blaspheming mouth,
Both God and man defy.

11 Well may they boast, for they have now
My paths encompassed round;

Their eyes at watch, their bodies bowed,
And couching on the ground;

12 In posture of a lion set,

When greedy of his prey,
Or a young lion, when he lurks
Within a covert way.

13 Arise, O Lord; defeat their plots,
Their swelling rage control;

From wicked men, who are thy sword,
Deliver thou my soul;-

14 From worldly men, thy sharpest scourge,
Whose portion's here below,

Who, filled with earthly stores, aspire
No other bliss to know.

15 Their race is numerous, that partake
Their substance while they live;
Their heirs survive, to whom they may
The vast remainder give.

16 But I, in uprightness, thy face
Shall view without control,
And, waking, shall its image find
Reflected in my soul.

1

PSALM 18.

O change of time shall ever shock
My firm affection, Lord, to thee;
For thou hast always been my Rock,
A Fortress and Defence to me.

2 Thou

my Deliverer art, my God;
My trust is in thy mighty power;
Thou art my Shield from foes abroad,
At home my Safeguard and my Tower.
3 To thee I will address my prayer,

To whom all praise we justly owe;
So shall I, by thy watchful care,

Be guarded from my treacherous foe.
4, 5 By floods of wicked men distressed,
With seas of sorrow compassed round,
With dire infernal pangs oppressed,

In death's unwieldy fetters bound ;-
6 To heaven I made my mournful prayer,
To God addressed my humble moan,
Who graciously inclined his ear,

And heard me from his lofty throne.

PART II.

7 When God arose my part to take, The conscious earth was struck with fear; The hills did at his presence shake, Nor could his dreadful fury bear. 8 Thick clouds of smoke, dispersed abroad, Ensigns of wrath, before him came ; Devouring fire around him glowed,

That coals were kindled at its flame.

9 He left the beauteous realms of light,
Whilst heaven bowed down its awful head;
Beneath his feet substantial night
Was, like a sable carpet, spread.

10 The chariot of the King of kings,
Which active troops of angels drew,
On a strong tempest's rapid wings,
With most amazing swiftness, flew.

11, 12 Black watery mists and clouds conspired
With thickest shades his face to veil;
But at his brightness soon retired,

And fell in showers of fire and hail.

13 Through heaven's wide arch a thundering peal God's angry voice did loudly roar,.

While earth's sad face with heaps of hail
And flakes of fire was covered o'er.