3 While tyrants are a fmarting fcourge,
To drive them near to God,
Divine compaffion does allay
The fury of the rod.

4 Deal gently, Lord, with fouls fincere,
And lead them fafely on
To the bright gates of paradife,
Where Chrift their Lord is gone.
5 But if we trace thofe crooked ways
That the old ferpent drew,

I

3

4

5

The wrath that drove him firft to hell
Shall fmite his follow'rs too.

PSALM CXXV. Short Metre. The faint's trial and fafety; or, moderated af

F

Aillions.

IRM and unmov'd are they
That reft their fouls on God;

Firm as the mount where David dwelt,
Or where the ark abode.

As mountains flood to guard
The city's facred ground,
So God, and his almighty love,
Embrace his faints around.

What though the Father's rod
Drop a chaftifing ftroke,

Yet, left it wound their fouls too deep,
Its fury fhall be broke.

Deal gently, Lord, with thofe

Whofe faith and pious fear,

Whofe hope and love, and ev'ry grace,

Proclaim their hearts fincere.

Nor fhall the tyrant's rage
Too long opprefs the faint;

6

The God of Ifrael will fupport
His children, left they faint.

But if our flavish fear

Will choose the road to hell, We must expect our portion there, Where bolder finners dwell.

PSALM CXXVI. Long Metre.
Surprising deliverance.

WHEN God reftor'd our captive state,

Joy was our fong, and grace our theme; The grace beyond our hopes fo great, That joy appear'd a painted dream. 2 The fcoffer owns thy hand, and pays Unwilling honours to thy name; While we with pleafure fhout thy praife, With cheerful notes thy love proclaim.. 3 When we review our difmal fears, 'Twas hard to think they'd vanish fo With God we left our flowing tears, He makes our joys like rivers flow. 4 The man that in his furrow'd field, His fcatter'd feed with fadness leaves, Will fhout to fee the harveft yield A welcome load of joyful fheaves. PSALM CXXVI. Common Metre. The joy of a remarkable converfion; or, melancholy removed.

WHEN God reveal'd his gracious name,

And chang'd my mournful ftate,

My rapture feem'd a pleafing dream,
The grace appear'd fo great.

2 The world beheld the glorious change,
And did thy hand confefs;

My tongue broke out in unknown ftrains, And fung furprising grace.

3 "Great is the work," my neighbours cry'd,
And own'd thy pow'r divine;
"Great is the work," my heart reply'd,
"And be the glory thine."

4 The Lord can clear the darkest skies,
Can give us day for night;
Make drops of facred forrow rise
To rivers of delight.

5 Let thofe that fow in sadness wait
Till the fair harvest come,

They fhall confefs their fheaves are great, And fhout the bleffings home.

6 Though feed lie bury'd long in dust,
It than't deceive their hope!

The precious grain can ne'er be loft,
For grace infures the

crop.

PSALM CXXVII. Long Metre. The blefing of God on the bufinefs and comforts of life.

I F God fucceed not, all the coft

If God the city will not keep,

are, loft;

The watchful guards as well may sleep, 2 What if you rife before the fun, And work and toil when day is done, Careful and fparing eat your bread, To fun that poverty you dread; 3 'Tis all in vain, 'till God hath bleft; He can make rich, yet give us reft; Children and friends are bleffings too, If God our fov'reign make them fo.

4 Happy the man to whom he fends
Obedient children, faithful friends!
How fweet our daily comforts prove,
When they are feafon'd with his love!

PSALM CXXVII.

Common Metre.

God all in all.

F God to build the houfe deny,
The builders work in vain;

And towns, without his wakeful eye,
An ufelefs watch maintain.

2 Before the morning beams arise,
Your painful work renew,
And, till the ftars afcend the skies,
Your tiresome toil purfue,

3 Short be your fleep, and coarfe your fare,
In vain, till God has bleft;
But if his fmiles attend your care,
You fhall have food and reft.

4 Nor children, relatives, nor friends,
Shall real bleffings prove,

Nor all the earthly joys he fends,
If fent without his love.

PSALM CXXVIII.

I

Ο

Common Metre.

Family blefings.

HAPPY man, whofe foul is fill'd
With zeal and rev'rend awe!
His lips to God their honours yield,
His life adorns the law.

2 A careful Providence fhall stand,
And ever guard thy head,
Shall on the labours of thy hand
Its kindly bleffings fhed.

3 Thy wife fhall be a fruitful vine;
Thy children round thy board,
Each like a plant of honour shine,
And learn to fear the Lord.

4 The Lord fhall thy best hopes fulfil
For months and years to come;
The Lord who dwells on Zion's hill
Shall fend thee bleffings home.

5 This is the man whofe happy eyes.
Shall fee his houfe increafe,
Shall fee the finking church arife,
Then leave the world in peace.

I

PSALM CXXIX. Common Metre. Perfecutors punished.

[P from my youth, may Ifrael fay, Have I been nurs'd in tears;

UP

My griefs were conftant as the day,
And tedious as the years.

2 Up from my youth I bore the rage
Of all the fons of ftrife;
Oft they affail'd my riper age,
But not destroy'd my life.

3 Their cruel plough had torn my flesh, With furrows long and deep,

Hourly they vex'd my wounds afresh,
Nor let my forrows fleep.

4 The Lord grew angry on his throne, And with impartial eye,

5

Meafur'd the mifchiefs they had done,
Then let his arrows fly.

How was their infolence furpris'd
To hear his thunders roll!