And flesh and sense no more control
The sacred pleasures of the soul.
4 My flesh shall slumber in the ground
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound;
Then burst the chains with glad surprise,
And in my Saviour's image rise.
WATTS.
PSALM XVIII. First Part. L. M. b
Confidence in divine Protection.
1 No change of times shall ever shock
My firm affection, Lord, to thee;
For thou hast always been a rock,
A fortress and defence to me.
2 Thou my deliv'rer 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 heaven I made my mournful prayer,
To God address'd my humble cry;
Who graciously inclin'd his ear,
And heard me from his throne on high.
4 The Lord did on my side engage,
From heaven my righteous cause upheld,
And sav'd me from the furious rage
Of threat'ning waves that proudly swell'd.
5 Thou to the just shalt justice show,
The pure thy purity shall see;
Such as perversely choose to go,
Shall meet with due returns from thee.
6 Who then deserves to be ador'd
But God, on whom my hopes depend?
Or who, except the mighty Lord,
Can with resistless power defend?
PSALM XVIII. Sec. Part. L. M. or b God executing Judgment on his Enemies. 1 INCUMBENT on the bending sky, The Lord descended from on high, And bade the darkness of the pole Beneath his feet tremendous roll. 2 Thick woven clouds around him clos'd, His secret residence compos'd; And waters, high suspended, spread Their dark pavilion o'er his head.
3 His voice th' Almighty Monarch rear'd, Thro' heaven's high vault in thunder heard; And down in fiercer conflict came Tremendous hail and mingled flame.
4 With aim direct, his shafts were sped,
In vain his foes before them fled;
Around his dreadful lightnings stray,
And sure destruction marks their way.
5 Earth's basis, open to the eye,
And ocean's springs were seen to lie,
As the tempestuous fury pass'd,
And o'er them rag'd the dreadful blast.
MERRICK.
PSALM XVIII. Third Part. L. M. b Sincerity proved, or the Equity of Providence. 1 LORD, thou hast seen my soul sincere, Hast made thy truth and love appear; Before my eyes, I set thy laws,
And thou hast own'd my righteous cause. 2 Since I have learnt thy holy ways, My actions have proclaim'd thy praise; Or if my feet did e'er depart,
Twas never with a wicked heart.
3 What sore temptations broke my rest;
What wars and strugglings in my breast!
But through thy grace that reigns within,
I hope to conquer every sin.
4 With an impartial hand, the Lord
Deals out to mortals their reward;
The kind and faithful souls shall find
A God more faithful and more kind.
5 The just and pure shall ever say
God is more pure and just than they ;
And men that love revenge shall know
God hath an arm of vengeance too.
WATTS.
PSALM XVIII. Fourth Part. C. M. %
Thanksgiving for Victory.
1 To thine almighty arm we owe
The triumph of the day;
Thy terrors, Lord, confound the foe,
And melt their strength away.
2 'Tis by thine aid our troops prevail,
And break united powers;
By thee their lofty walls we scale,
Or burn their proudest towers.
3 God speaks! and at his fierce rebuke
Whole armies are dismay'd;
His voice, his frown, his angry look,
Strike all their courage dead..
4 He forms our soldiers for the field,
With all their martial skill;
Instructs their hand the sword to wield,
And gives them hearts of steel.
5 The Lord our Saviour ever lives,
His name be ever blest ;
His powerful arm the vict'ry gives,
And gives his people rest.
PSALM XIX. First Part. C. M. *
The Voice of Nature proclaiming God.
1 THE heavens 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 instruction springs.
3 Their powerful language to no realm
Or region is confin'd;
'Tis nature's voice, and understood
Alike by all mankind.
4 Their doctrine does its sacred sense
Through earth's extent display,
Whose bright contents the circling sun
Does round the world convey.
5 No bridegroom, on his nuptial day,
Has such a cheerful face;
No giant does like him rejoice
To run his glorious race.
6 From east to west, from west to east,
His restless course he goes;
And, through his progress, cheerful light
And vital warmth bestows.
TATE.
The Excellency of Scripture.
1 God's perfect law converts the soul,
Reclaims from false desires;
With sacred wisdom his sure word
The ignorant inspires.
2 The statutes of the Lord are just,
And bring sincere delight;
His pure commands in search of truth
Assist the feeblest sight.
3 His perfect worship here is fix'd,
On sure foundations laid;
His equal laws are in the scales
Of truth and justice weigh'd.
4 Of more esteem than golden mines,
Or gold refin'd with skill;
More sweet than honey, or the drops
Which from the comb distil.
5 My trusty counsellors they are,
And friendly warning give;
Divine rewards attend on those
Who by thy precepts live.
6 But what frail man observes how oft He does from virtue fall?
O cleanse me from my secret faults,
Thou God, who know'st them all.
PSALM XIX. Long Metre.
Nature and Scripture compared.
1 THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
In every star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.
|