As when the heathens felt thy sword,
And perish'd from thy land.

Thou wilt prepare our hearts to pray,
And cause thine ear to hear;
He hearkens what his children say,
And puts the world in fear.

Proud tyrants shall no more oppress,
No more despise the just;
And mighty sinners shall confess
They are but earth and dust.

Fo

PSALM 14. C. M.

By nature all men are sinners.

DOLS in their heart believe and say, "That all religion's vain;

"There is no God that reigns on high, "Or minds th' affairs of men."

2 From thoughts so dreadfully profane,
Corrupt discourse proceeds;

And in their impious hands are found
Abominable deeds.

3 The Lord from his celestial throne
Look'd down on things below,
To find the man that sought his grace,
Or did his justice know.

4 By nature all are gone astray,
Their practice all the same;

There's none that fears his Maker's hand; There's none that loves his name.

5 Their tongues are used to speak deceit,
Their slanders never cease;

How swift to mischief are their feet,
Nor know the paths of peace!

1

6 Such seeds of sin (that bitter root)
In ev'ry heart are found;
Nor can they bear diviner fruit,
Till grace refine the ground.

PSALM 15. L. M.

Religion and justice, goodness and truth.

WE

WHO shall ascend thy heavenly place, Great God, and dwell before thy face? The man that minds religion now,

And humbly walks with God below; 2 Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean, Whose lips still speak the thing they mean; No slanders dwell upon his tongue; He hates to do his neighbour wrong. 3 [Scarce will he trust an ill report, Nor vents it to his neighbour's hurt: Sinners of state he can despise, But saints are honoured in his eyes.] 4 [Firm to his word he ever stood, And always makes his promise good; Nor dares to change the thing he swears, Whatever pain or loss he bears.] 5 [He never deals in bribing gold,

And mourns that justice should be sold;
While others gripe and grind the poor,
Sweet charity attends his door.]

6 He loves his enemies, and prays
For those that curse him to his face;
And doth to all men still the same
That he would hope or wish from them.
7 Yet, when his holiest works are done,
His soul depends on grace alone:
This is the man thy face shall see,
And dwell for ever, Lord, with thee.

1

PR

Confession of our poverty.

RESERVE me, Lord, in time of need;
For succour to thy throne I flee,
But have no merits there to plead :
My goodness cannot reach to thee.
2 Oft have my heart and tongue confess'd
How empty and how poor I am;

My praise can never make thee bless'd,
Nor add new glories to thy name.

3 Yet, Lord, thy saints on earth may read
Some profit by the good we do;
These are the company I keep,

These are the choicest friends I know.
4 Let others choose the sons of mirth
To give a relish to their wine;
I love the men of heavenly birth,
Whose thoughts and language are divine.
PSALM 16. Part 2. L.M.

Christ's all-sufficiency.

How fast their guilt and sorrows rise

Who haste to seek some idol god!

I will not taste their sacrifice,
Their off'rings of forbidden blood.
2 My God provides a richer cup,
And nobler food to live upon;
He for my life has offer'd up
Jesus, his best-beloved Son.
3 His love is my perpetual feast;
By day his counsels guide me right;
And be his name for ever bless'd
Who gives me sweet advice by night.
4 I set him still before mine eyes;
At my right hand he stands prepar'd
To keep my soul from all surprise,
And be my everlasting guard.

1

Courage in death, and hope of the resurrection.

WHEN God is nigh, my faith is strong,
His arm is my almighty prop:

Be glad, my heart, rejoice my tongue,
My dying flesh shall rest in hope.
2 Though in the dust I lay my head,
Yet, gracious God, thou wilt not leave
My soul for ever with the dead,
Nor lose thy children in the grave.
3 My flesh shall thy first call obey,
Shake off the dust and rise on high;
Then shalt thou lead the wondrous way
Up to thy throne above the sky.

4 There streams of endless pleasure flow;
And full discov'ries of thy grace
(Which we but tasted here below)
Spread heavenly joys through all the place.
PSALM 16. C. M.

66

The death and resurrection of Christ.
SET the Lord before my face,
"He bears my courage up;

"My heart and tongue their joys express,

My flesh shall rest in hope.

"My spirit, Lord, thou wilt not leave
"Where souls departed are;
"Nor quit my body to the grave,
"To see corruption there.

3 "Thou wilt reveal the path of life,
"And raise me to thy throne;

"Thy courts immortal pleasure give,
Thy presence joys unknown."

4 [Thus, in the name of Christ, the Lord, The holy David sung;

And Providence fulfils the word
Of his prophetic tongue.

5 Jesus, whom every saint adores,
Was crucified and slain :

L

Behold, the tomb its prey restores!
Behold, he lives again!]

PSALM 17. L. M.

The sinner's portion and saint's hope. ORD, I am thine; but thou wilt prove My faith, my patience, and my love: When men of spite against me join, They are the sword, the hand is thine. 2 Their hope and portion lies below: "Tis all the happiness they know,

"Tis all they seek; they take their shares, And leave the rest among their heirs. 3 What sinners value I resign;

Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mine:
I shall behold thy blissful face,
And stand complete in righteousness.
4 This life's a dream, an empty show;
But the bright world to which I go
Hath joys substantial and sincere:
When shall I wake and find me there?
5 O glorious hour! O bless'd abode!
I shall be near and like my God!
And flesh and sin no more control
The sacred pleasures of the soul.

6 My flesh shall slumber in the ground
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound;

Then burst the chains with sweet surprise, And in my Saviour's image rise.