PSALM XIX. Sec. Part. C. M. * or b
The Excellency of Scripture.
1 GOD's perfect law converts the soul,
Reclaims from false desires;
With sacred wisdom his sure word
The ignorant inspires.
2 The statutes of the Lord are just,
And bring sincere delight;
His pure commands in search of truth
Assist the feeblest sight.
3 His perfect worship here is fix'd,
On sure foundations laid;
His equal laws are in the scales
Of truth and justice weigh'd.
4 Of more esteem than golden mines,
Or gold refin'd with skill;
More sweet than honey, or the drops
Which from the comb distil.
5 My trusty counsellors they are,
And friendly warning give;
Divine rewards attend on those
Who by thy precepts live.
6 But what frail man observes how oft
He does from virtue fall?
O cleanse me from my secret faults,
Thou God, who know'st them all.
Nature and Scripture compared.
1 THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
In every star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines
? The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days thy power confess;
But the blest volume thou hast writ
Reveals thy justice and thy grace.
Sun, moon and stars convey thy praise
Through the whole earth, and never stand;
So when thy truth began its race,
It touch'd and glanc'd on every land.
4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,
Till through the world thy truth has run ;
Till Christ hath all the nations blest
That see the light or feel the sun.
5 Great Sun of righteousness, arise;
Bless the dark world with heavenly light,
Thy gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.
6 Thy noblest wonders here we view,
In souls renew'd and sins forgiven;
Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew,
And make thy word my guide to heaven.
WATTS.
PSALM XIX. Six Line L. M. *
I GREAT God, the heaven's well order'd frame
Declares the glory of thy name;
Here thy rich works of wonder shine;
A thousand starry beauties there,
A thousand radiant marks appear
Of boundless power and skill divine.
From night to day, from day to night,
The dawning and the dying light
Lectures of heavenly wisdom read;
With silent eloquence, they raise
Our thoughts to our Creator's praise,
And neither sound nor language need.
3 Yet their divine instructions run Far as the circuit of the sun,
And every nation knows their voice; Where'er he spreads his beams abroad, He publishes his maker, God,
Rolls round, and makes the earth rejoice. 4 But when we read thy written word; What light and joy those leaves afford! These are our study and delight: Not honey so invites the taste, Nor gold that hath the furnace past, Appears so pleasing to the sight. 5 From the discoveries of thy law, The perfect rules of life we draw ; But 'tis thy blessed gospel, Lord, Which makes our guilty conscience clean, Converts our soul, subdues our sin,
And gives a free but large reward.
6 Who knows the errors of his thoughts!
Forgive, O Lord, our secret faults,
And from presumptuous sins restrain:
Accept the tribute of our praise,
That we have read thy book of grace,
And book of nature, not in vain.
PSALM XIX. Short Metre,
For the Lord's Day Morning.
1 BEHOLD, the morning sun
Begins his glorious way,
His beams through all the nations run,
And life and light convey.
But where the gospel comes,
spreads diviner light;
It calls dead sinners from their tomb
And gives the blind their sight.
How perfect is thy word!
And all thy judgments just!
For ever sure thy promise, Lord,
And we securely trust.
4 My gracious God, how plain
Are thy directions given !
0 may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven;
I hear thy word with love,
O help me to obey ;
Send thy good Spirit from above,
To guide me, lest I stray.
6 Whilst with my heart and tonguè
I spread thy praise abroad;
Accept the worship and the song,
My Saviour and my God.
PSALM XX. Long Metre.
For a Day of Prayer in War.
I NOW may the God of power and grace
Attend his people's humble cry;
Jehovah hears when Israel prays,
And sends deliverance from on high.
? The name of Jacob's God defends
Better than shields or brazen walls;
He from his sanctuary sends
Succour and strength when Zion calls,
* Well he remembers all our sighs,
His love exceeds our best deserts;
His love accepts the sacrifice'
Of humble groans and broken hearts.
4 In his salvation is our hope,
And in the name of God, the Lord,
Our troops shall lift their banners up,
Our ships shall spread their flags abroad.
5 Some trust in horses train'd for war,
And some of chariots make their boast;
Our surest expectations are
From thee, the Lord of heavenly host.
6 Save us, O Lord, from guilty fear,
And let our hopes be firm and strong;
Till thy salvation shall appear,
And joy and triumph raise the song.
PSALM XXI. Long Metre.
The Exaltation of Christ.
1 DAVID rejoic'd in God his strength,
Rais'd to the throne by special grace;
But Christ the Son appears at length,
Fulfils the triumph and the praise.
2 How great is the Messiah's joy
In the salvation of thy hand!
Lord, thou hast rais'd his kingdom high,
And given the world to his command.
3 Thy goodness grants whate'er he will,
Nor doth the least request withhold;
Blessings of love prevent him still,
And crowns of glory, not of gold.
4 Honour and majesty divine
Around his sacred temples shine;
Blest with the favour of thy face,
And length of everlasting days.
|