2 I choose the path of heavenly truth, And glory in my choice; Not all the riches of the earth
Can make me fo rejoice.
The teftimonies of thy grace
I fet before my eyes;
Thence I derive my daily ftrength, And there my comfort lies.
If e'er I wander from thy path,
I think upon my ways,
Then turn my feet to thy commands, And truft thy pard'ning grace. If thou incline this wandering heart Thy precepts to fulfil;
Then, till my mortal life fhall end, I fhall perform thy will,
Pfalm CXIX. 4th Part. C. M. [or b]
Inftruction from Scripture.
HY word is like a heavenly light, Which guides us all the day;
And through the dangers of the night, A lamp to lead our way.
? When once it enters to the mind, It fpreads fuch light abroad, The meaneft fouls inftruction find, And raise their thoughts to God. 3 The starry heavens thy rule obey, The earth preferves her place; In nature's volume night and day, Thy power and fkill we trace.
But in thy law, and gofpel, Lord,
Are leffons more divine;
Not earth ftands firmer than thy word, Nor ftars fo nobly shine. 5 Thy word is everlasting truth; How pure is every page!
That holy book fhall guide our youth, And well fupport our age.
Plaim CXIX. Fifth Part. L. M. D Godly Sorrow for the Sins of Men.
ARISE, my tender thoughts, arife ;
Let torrents drown my weeping eyes; And thou, my heart, with anguish feel Thofe evils which thou canst not heal. 2 See human beings funk in fhame; See fcandals pour'd on Jefus' name; See God infulted through his Son, The world abus'd, the foul undone. 3 My heart with reverence hears thy word, And trembles at thy threat'nings, Lord; I know the wretched, dreadful end To which their careless steps descend. 4 My God, the mournful fcene I view, With horror and with pity too; O could my fympathy reclaim
The wretches from deftructive flame ! 5 But feeble my compaffion proves, It can but weep, where moft it loves; Thy own all-faving grace employ, And turn thefe drops of grief to joy.
Pfalm CXIX. 6th Part. C. M. [* or b]
Delight in the Word of God.
HOW I love thy holy law, love
'Tis daily my delight;
And thence my meditations draw Divine advice by night.
2 My waking eyes prevent the day, To meditate thy word;
My foul with longing melts away, To hear thy gofpel, Lord.
3 When midnight darkness veils the skies, I call thy words to mind; My thoughts in warm devotion rife, And God's acceptance find.
4 How doth thy word my heart engage; How well employ my tongue! It cheers my tiresome pilgrimage, And yields a heav'nly song !
5 Am I a stranger, or at home, 'Tis my continual feaft:
Not honey dropping from the comb So much allures the tafte.
6 No treasures so enrich the mind, Nor fhall thy word be fold For loads of filver well refin'd, Nor heaps of fhining gold.
7 When nature finks and fpirits droop, Thy promises of grace
Are pillars to fupport my hope, And elevate my praife.
Plaim CXIX. 7th Part. C. M. [* or
The Variety and Comfort of the divine Word.
LORD, I have made thy word my choice
Thy ftatutes all are juft;
They make my nobleft powers rejoice, And mortify my luft.
2 Thy precepts often I furvey, And keep thy laws in fight; Through all the bufinefs of the day, To form my actions right.
3 And when my fpirit takes her fill From fountains fo divine, Not mighty men that fhare the fpoil, Have joy compar'd to mine.
4 I read the hift'ries of thy love, And keep thy grace in fight; Whilft through the promifes I rove With ever new delight.
'Tis like a land of wealth unknown, Where living fprings arife;
Seeds of immortal blifs are fown, And hidden glory lies.
The beft relief that mourners have It makes our forrows bleft;
Our faireft hope beyond the grave, And our eternal reft.
Pfalm CXIX. 8th Part. C. M. [* or
The Perfection of Scripture.
ET all the heathen writers join To form one perfect book;
Great God, if once compar'd with thine, How mean their writings look!
2 Not the most perfect rules they gave, Could fhow one fin forgiven; Nor lead a step beyond the grave; But thine conduct to heaven.
I've seen an end of what we call Perfection, here below;
How fhort the powers of nature fall,
And can no farther
4 But thy commands, O righteous Lord, Pervade the heart within; Thy perfect law, exceeding broad, Detects the fecret fin.
5 In vain we boaft perfection here, While fin defiles our frame, And finks our virtues down fo far, They fcarce deserve the name. 6 Our faith, and love, and every grace Fall far beneath thy word;
But perfect truth and righteousness Dwell only with the Lord.
Plaim CXIX. 9th Part. C. M. [* or b]
Defire of Divine Knowledge.
HY mercies fill the earth, O Lord, How great thy works appear! Open my eyes to read thy word, And see thy wonders there. 2 My flesh, by thy creating hands, Is form'd with care and skill;
O make me learn thy just commands, That I may them fulfil.
3 Since I'm a ftranger here below, Be thou my conftant guide;
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