Behold I bow to meet the dust,
Prepare me for the grave.

2 Be thou my refuge, strong and sure,
When hosts of hell assail;

Thy words of truth must long endure,
Thy promise cannot fail.

3 I long have known thy holy ways,
And serv'd thee from my youth,
O God, my life from infant days,
Mine hope is in thy truth.

4 Existance from Jehovah springs,
In God creation lives;

Successive course to dying things,
Our heavenly Father gives.

He did mine embryo* life uphold,
Till pulse and thought began;
And took me safe from nature's mold,
The miniaturet of man.

'Twas by thy power, O God of life,
My lungs began to heave;

And while my lungs maintain their strife, My cares with God I leave.

Cast me not off when hoary hairs

Are seen in every lock;

Life must decline, but faith repairs,

To God my living Rock.

The joyful saints their songs shall raise,
If God my life prolong;

But death shall fill my soul with praise,
And yield a nobler song.

*

Embryo life, existence before pulsation.

Miniature, representation in a small compass.

PSALM 71. Part 2. C. M.

Christ our strength and righteousness 1 MY Savior, mine almighty Friend, Thy goodness I'll adore,

I'll on thy sovreign grace depend,
And try to praise thee more.

? In God I place my living hope,
And since I knew thy love,
My faith has oft enlarg'd her scope,
And wing'd my soul above.

3 I from my youth have known thy name,
And thou hast blest my days;
But oft my soul with inward shame,
Reviews my devious* ways.

4 I'll march a pilgrim all the length
To thy divine abode,

I'll trust thy wisdom, grace, and strength,
And try to keep the road.

5 But should my feet thy ways decline,
I'll on thy promise rest,
Thy righteousness, and only thine,
Can make a sinner blest.

6 How will my lips rejoice to tell,
The victories of my King!

My soul redeem'd from sin and hell,
Shall thy salvation sing.

7 I'll sing the conquest Jesus won,
And tell the world his grace;

What wonders has Immanuel done,
To save our sinful race!

8 Awake, awake, my tuneful powers,
With this delightful song,

* Devious, wand'ring, erring.

R

I'll entertain the darkest hours,
Nor think the season long.

PSALM 71. Part 1. L. M.
The aged christain's prayer and song.
1 ALMIGHTY God, eternal King,
Again thy dreadful name I sing;
Oft have I prais'd my God before,
But now have cause to praise him more.
2 It was thine hand that form'd my frame,
From thee, my God, my spirit came;
Thou didst my young existence save,
And thou shalt guide me to the grave.
3 Thou wilt regard my silvery hairs,
Thy strength my tottering frame repairs;
As plants revive to feel the dew,
So does thy grace mine age renew.
4 O, may thy love my life attend,
To cheer my soul, to bless mine end;
I could not live one gloomy year
Should God my glory disappear.
5 I would declare thy power and truth,
Thy love proclaim to listening youth,
And well instruct the rising age,
Before I quit this mortal stage.

: 6 When all mine earthly joys are filed,
And death comes hovering 'round my
May Jesus all his grace display,
And angels bear my soul away.

PSALM 71. Part 2. L. M.
Organic life, old age, and death.

bed

1 ALMIGHTY God, what power can scan
Thy wondrous ways with dying man?
How searchless are thy mighty deeds,
Thy glory far my praise exceeds.

2 When first I lay in nature's mold,
Thou didst the germ of life behold,
And at the sure appointed term,

The world receiv'd the finish'd germ.*
3 Born helpless midst a world of strife
Thou didst sustain mine infant life,
When dandling on my mother's knee,
The stranger found a friend in thee.
4 But since I first thy grace have known,
Thou hast unceasing kindness shown;
The hand that sav'd my soul from hell,
Has oft restor'd me when I fell.

5 Forsake me not, O God, when grey,
But to my soul thy love convey,
Encrease my faith, enflame my zeal,
And brighter views of heaven reveal.

6 While time and thought my tempes bleach,
I would to youth thy goodness ichung
And leave the counsels of my pen
To guide the younger sons of micu.
7 Now let the lamp of life expire,
My soul enjoys a warmer fire;

Thy love, dear Jesus, cheers mine heart,
For thou my life and comfort art.

8 Exulting in thy power to save

My faith shall triumph o'er the grave,
At thy command I'll yield my breath,
More than a conquerer over death.

9 Let death and darkness haunt the ground, Where awful silence reigns around,

I trust in Christ my living head,
His power can raise me from the dead.

* Germ, a sprout, a shoot.

PSALM 72. Part 1. L. M.

The kingdom of Christ.

1 GREAT God, whose universal sway The known and unknown worlds obey, The kingdom now to Jesus give,

In Christ let all the nations live.

2 Thy scepter well becomes his hands, All heaven submits to his commands, And all, who dwell on earth below, Shall Christ and his salvation know. 3 In righteousness he reigns alone, Judgment and truth support his throne; To him the great their homage bring, And all the poor proclaim him King. 4 With power he vindicates the just, And treads the 'oppressor in the dust; His worship and his fear shall last,

Till hours, and years, and time be past. 5 As grass receives the falling shower, So shall his word descend with power; His grace on fainting souls distills, Like heavenly dew on thirsty hills. 6 The heathen lands that lie beneath The shades of overspreading death, Revive at his first dawning light, And desarts blossom at the sight. 7 The saints shall flourish in his days, Long as the moon emits* her rays; His kingdom o'er the world extend From sea to sea, and never end. 8 No more diseases, war, and dearth Shall spread destruction o'er this earth; But peace and plenty, health and love, Descend like rivers from above.

To emit, to send forth.