H

PSALM

I. Third Verfion. WATTS.

APPY the Man, whofe cautious Feet
Shun the broad Way the Wicked go,
Who ne'er is feen where Sinners meet,
And fears to talk as Scoffers do.

2 He loves t' employ his Morning-Light
Among the Statutes of the Lord;

And fpends the wakeful Hours of Night,
With Pleasure pond'ring o'er the Word.
3 He, like a Plant by gentle Streams,
Shall flourish in immortal Green;

And Heav'n will fhine with kindest Beams
On ev'ry Work his Hands begin.

4 But Sinners find their Counfels croft ;
As Chaff before the Tempest flies,
So fhall their Hopes be blown and loft,
When the last Trumpet shakes the Skies.
In vain the Rebel feeks to stand

5

In Judgment with the pious Race;

The righteous Judge with high Command
Divides him to a different Place.

6"Straight is the Way my Saints have trod,
"I drew the Path, to Bliss it tends;
"But you would chufe the crooked Road,
"Which now in direful Rain ends."

B

PSALM I. Fourth Verfion.

WATTS.

LEST is the Man who fhuns the Place
Where Sinners love to meet ;

Who fears to tread their wicked Ways,
And hates the Scoffer's Seat.

2 But in the Satutes of the Lord,
Has plac'd his chief Delight;
By Day he reads or hears the Word,
And meditates by Night.

3 He like a Plant of gen'rous Kind
By living Waters fet,

Safe from the Storms and blafting Wind,
Enjoys a peaceful State.

B z

4 Green

4 Green as the Leaf, and ever fair
Shall his Profeffion shine;
While Fruits of Holiness appear
Like Clufters on the Vine.

5 Not fo the Impious and Unjust;
What vain Designs they form!
Their Hopes are blown away like Duft,
Or Chaff before the Storm.

6 Sinners in Judgment fhall not stand
Among the Sons of Grace,
When Chrift the Judge at his Right-Hand
Appoints his Saints a Place.

7 His Eye beholds the Path they tread,
His Heart approves it well;
But crooked Ways of Sinners lead
Down to the Gates of Hell.

2

3

PSALM I. Fifth Verfion.

T

HE Man is ever bleft,

WATTS.

Who fhuns the Sinners' Ways,

Among their Counfels never ftands,
Nor takes the Scorner's Place.

But makes the Law of God
His Study and Delight,

Amid the Labors of the Day,
And Watches of the Night.

He like a Tree fhall thrive,

With Waters near the Root:

Fresh as the Leaf his Name fhall live,

His Works are heav'nly Fruit.

They no fuch Bleffings find:

Their Hopes fhall flee like empty Chaff

Before the driving Wind.

5

How will they bear to stand

Before that Judgment-Seat,

Where all the Saints at Chrift's Right-Hand

In full Affembly meet?

6

He knows, and he approves

The Way the Righteous go;

But Sinners and their Works shall meet
A dreadful Overthrow.

PSALM I. Sixth Verfion. BLACKLOCK.

'H°W

OW bleft the Man, how more than bleft!
Whofe Heart no guilty Thoughts employ ;

God's endless Sunshine fills his Breaft;

And fmiling Confcience whispers Peace and Joy.

2 Fair Rectitude's unerring Way

His heav'n-conducted Steps pursue;
While Crouds in Guilt and Error ftray,
Unftain'd his Soul, and undeceiv'd his View.

3 While with unmeaning Laughter gay,
Scorn, on her Throne erected high,
Emits a falfe delufive Ray,

To catch th' astonish'd Gaze of Folly's Eye.

4 Deep in herself his Soul retir'd,

Unmov'd beholds the Meteor blaze,

And, with all-perfect Beauty fir'd,

Nature, and Nature's God, intent furveys.

Him from high Heav'n, her native Seat,
Eternal Wisdom's Self infpires ;

While he, with Purpofe fix'd as Fate,

Pursues her Dictates, and her Charms admires.

6 In Sunshine mild, and temp'rate Air, Where fome refreshing Fountain flows, So nurs'd by Nature's tend'reft Care,

A lofty Tree with Autumn's Treasure glows.

7 [Around its Boughs the Summer Gale

With Pleasure waves the genial Wing; There no unfriendly Colds prevail,

To chill the Vigor of its endlefs Spring.]

8 [Amid its hofpitable Shade,

Heav'n's sweetest Warblers tune the Lay; Nor fhall its Honors ever fade,

Nor immature its plenteous Fruit decay.]

9 By God's Almighty Arm fuftain'd,
Thus Virtue foon or late fhall rife;
Enjoy her Conqueft nobly gain'd,

And share immortal Triumph in the Skies.
10 But Fools to facred Wifdom blind,
Who Vice's tempting Call obey,
A diff'rent Fate fhall quickly find,

To ev'ry roaring Storm an eafy Prey.
11 Thus when the warring Winds arise,
With all their lawless Fury driv'n,
Light Chaff or Duft inceffant flies,

Whirl'd in fwift Eddies through the Vault of Heav'n.

12 When in tremendous Pomp array'd,

Defcending from the op'ning Sky,
With full Omnipotence difplay'd,

Her God fhall call on Nature to reply:
13 Then Vice, with Shame and Grief deprefs'd,
Transfix'd with Horror and Despair,
Shall feel Hell kindling in her Breaft,
Nor to her Judge prefer her trembling Pray'r :

14 For, with a Father's fond Regard,
To blifs he views fair Virtue tend;
While Vice obtains her just Reward,
And all her Paths in deep Perdition end.

'H'

PSALM I. Seventh Verfion.

STEELE.

APPY the Man, whofe heav'n-directed Feet
Avoid the crouded Path where Sinners meet;
Who fhuns the lofty Seat of impious Pride;
Of Men, who dare JEHOVAH's Law deride.

2 He in that facred, venerable Law,

(Infpiring holy Thoughts and pious Awe)
Continual meditates with new Delight;
Guide of his Day, and Solace of his Night!

3 Beneath Heav'n's kindest Influence he fhall grow,
Like a fair Tree where cheering Waters flow;
Whofe grateful Boughs confefs the happy Soil,
And crown'd with Autumn's richest Bounty fmile.

4 Unfading

4 Unfading and fecure his Hope fhall stand,
And profp'rous be the Labors of his Hand;
Not fo the Sinner's Hope; he foon fhall find,
It flies like Chaff before the driving Wind.

; How will the guilty Tribes their Sentence bear,
When God in awful Judgment shall appear?
Then fhall no Sinner ftand before his Face,
Or in the bleft Affembly find a Place:

6 The Lord looks down, and guides his Childrens Way, Safe to the Regions of eternal Day.

But oh, the flow'ry Paths which Sinners tread,
To Darkness and to fure Perdition lead.

PSALM II. First Version. MERRICK.

Chrift is called to his Kingdom.

HY thus enrag'd, ye Tribes prophane?

WWhy Itrive the Nations thus in vain ?
WH

Earth's fcepter'd Lords rebellious rife
Against the Ruler of the Skies,

2 And Him on whofe diftinguifh'd Head
His Hand the facred Oil has fhed.

Quick let us each renounce their, Sway, "And caft their hated Bands away."

3 God from on high their Threats shall hear,
Laugh, as the Tumult meets his Ear,
And, arm'd with Power, thus aloud
Superior quell the frantic Croud.

4 Yet, Mortals, yet your Monarch fee, "And bow to him the humble Knee;

"His Throne on Sion's Hill my

Hand

"Has built, and what I build shall ftand."

5 Thy Will, great Father, I obey;
Pleas'd I accept the offer'd Sway,
And through the Earth's extended Frame
The Counfels of thy Love proclaim.
6" My Son, begotten this bleft Day,.
"Worthy thou art of royal Sway,
"Prefer thy Wifh, and to thy Hand
"Lo! I confign each Heathen Land:*

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