JO THAT the LORD would guide my Ways,
To keep his Statutes ftill?
O that my GOD would grant me Grace,
To know and do his Will!
2 O fend thy SPIRIT down to write
Thy Law upon my Heart!
Nor let my Tongue indulge Deceit,
Nor act the Liar's Part.
3 From Vanity turn off my Eyes;
Let no corrupt Defign,
Nor covetous Defires, arise
Within this Soul of mine.
4 Order my Footsteps by thy Word,
And make my Heart fincere;
Let Sin have no Dominion, LORD,
But keep my Confcience clear.
5 My Soul hath gone too far aftray;
My Feet too often flip;
Yet fince I've not forgot thy Way,
Reftore thy wand'ring Sheep.
6 Make me to walk in thy Commands,
'Tis a delightful Road;
Nor let my Head, or Heart, or Hands,
Offend against my God.
1 MY GOD, confider my Diftrefs,
Let Mercy plead my Caufe;
Though I have finn'd against thy Grace,
I can't forget thy Laws.
2 Forbid, forbid the fharp Reproach
Which I fo juftly fear;
Uphold my Life, uphold my Hopes,
Nor let my Shame appear.
3 Be Thou a Surety, LORD, for me,
Nor let the Proud opprefs;
But make thy waiting Servant fee
The Shinings of thy Face.
4 My Eyes with Expectation fail,
My Heart within me cries,
"When will the LORD his Truth fulfil,
"And make my Comforts rife ?"
5 Look down upon my Sorrows, Lord,
And fhew thy Grace the fame
As Thou art ever wont t' afford
To those that love thy Name.
1 WITH my whole Heart I've fought thy Face, O let me never ftray
From thy Commands, O GOD of Grace,
Nor tread the Sinners Way.
2 Thy Word I've hid within my Heart
To keep my Confcience clean;
And be an everlasting Guard
From ev'ry rifing Sin.
I'm a Companion of the Saints,
Who fear and love the LORD;
My Sorrows rife, my Nature faints,
When Men tranfgrefs thy Word.
4 While Sinners do thy Gofpel wrong,
My Spirit ftands in Awe;
My Soul abhors a lying Tongue,
But loves thy righteous Law.
5 My Heart with facred Rev'rence hears
The Threatnings of thy Word;
My Flesh with holy Trembling fears
The Judgments of the LORD.
6 My GOD, I long, I hope, I wait
For thy Salvation ftill;
While thy whole Law is my Delight,
And I obey thy Will.
I CONSIDER all my Sorrows, LORD,
And thy Deliv'rance fend;
My Soul for thy Salvation faints;
When will my Troubles end?
2 Yet I have found 'tis good for me
To bear my FATHER'S Rod:
Afflictions make me learn thy Law,
And live upon my God.
This is the Comfort I enjoy
When new Distress begins,
I read thy Word, I run thy Way,
And hate my former Sins.
4 Had not thy Word been my Delight,
When earthly Joys were fled,
My Soul, oppreft with Sorrow's Weight, Had funk amongst the Dead.
5 I know thy Judgments, LORD, are right,
Though they may feem fevere :
The fharpeft Suff'rings 1 endure
Flow from thy faithful Care.
6 Before I knew thy chaft'ning Rod,
My Feet were apt to ftray;
But now I learn to keep thy Word,
Nor wander from thy Way.
1 OTHAT thy Statutes ev'ry Hour
Might dwell upon my Mind!
Thence I derive a quick'ning Pow'r,
And daily Peace I find.
2 To meditate thy Precepts, Lord,
Shall be my fweet Employ;
My Soul fhall ne'er forget thy Word,
Thy Word is all my Joy.
3 How would I run in thy Commands,
If Thou my Heart discharge
From Sin and Satan's hateful Chains,
And fet my Feet at large?
4 My Lips with Courage fhall declare
Thy Statutes and thy Name;
I'll fpeak thy Word, though Kings should hear, Nor yield to finful Shame.
5 Let Bands of Perfecutors rife
To rob me of my Right,
Let Pride and Malice forge their Lyes,
Thy Law is my Delight.
6 Depart from me, ye wicked Race,
Whofe Hands and Hearts are ill : I love my God, I love his Ways, And must obey his Will.
1 My Soul lies cleaving to the Dust;
LORD, give me Life divine;
From vain Defires and ev'ry Luft
Turn off thefe Eyes of mine.
2 I need the Influence of thy Grace
To fpeed me in thy Way,
Left 1 fhould loiter in my Race,
Or turn my Feet aftray.
When fore Afflictions prefs me down,
I need thy quick'ning Pow'rs;
Thy Word that I have refted on,
Shall help my heaviest Hours.
4 Are not thy Mercies fov'reign ftill,
And Thou a faithful GOD?
Wilt Thou not grant me warmer Zeal
To run the heav'nly Road?
Does not my Heart thy Precepts love,
And long to fee thy Face?
And yet how flow my Spirits move
Without enliv'ning Grace!
6 Then fhall I love thy Gospel more,
And ne'er forget thy Word,
When I have felt its quick'ning Pow'r
To draw me near the LORD.
|