7 RETURN, O GOD of HOSTS, return!
How long fhall we thine Abfence mourn!
Return, and let thy wonted Love
Our Sins fubdue, our Griefs remove
8 O vifit with enliv'ning Grace
Thy Servants labouring in Diftrefs;
Regard thy Mercy's dear Defign,
And raife with Lenity divine
9 Thy bounteous Goodness, LORD, impart,
And fill with Joy each drooping Heart :
In thine Indulgence may we reft,
Since wretched Man alone is bleft
10 On Souls devoted to be thine,
And on their Race, through Ages fhine;
Their pious Labours deign to own,
Aid them in doing, and, when done,
Accept and blefs.
PSALM XCI. Metre i.
I OW bleft the Man, how fafe from Harm,
Who to his SAVIOUR flies!
And on his Truth and mighty Arm
Alone for Help relies!
2 He from the Fowler's fecret Snare
Thy trembling Feet fhall guide;
And fhield from Plagues that walk the Air
With Death's gigantic Stride.
3 His overfpreading Wings of Love
Shall fure Protection yield;
While his eternal Truth fhall prove
Thine adamantine Shield.
4 What though ftrange Terrors fill the Night? Death's Shafts obfcure the Day?
He, thy Salvation's Strength and Light,
Shall chafe each Fear away.
5 What tho' fierce Plagues, through horrid Gloom, With wild Deftruction reign?
Though Thousands round thee crowd the Tomb,
Ten Thoufand prefs the Plain?
6 Thine Eyes fhall fee his vengeful Rod,.
And not one Fear moleft;
In the high Friendship of thy GoD
Supremely fafe and bleft.
7 YE Sons of Men, a feeble Race,
Expos'd to ev'ry Snare,
Come, make the LORD your Dwelling-place,
And try, and truft his Care..
8 No Ill fhall enter where you dwell;
Or if the Plague come nigh,
And fweep the Wicked down to Hell,
"Twill raise the Saints on high.
9 He'll give his Angels Charge to keep
Your Feet in all their Ways;
To watch your Pillow while you fleep,
And guard your happy Days.
10 Their Hands fhall bear you, left you fall
And dafh against the Stones :
Are they not Servants at his Call,
And fent t' attend his Sons ?.
11 Adders and Lions ye fhall tread ;
The Tempter's Wiles defeat:
He that hath broke the Serpent's Head,
Puts him beneath your Feet.
12" Because on Me they fet their Love,
"I'll fave them, (faith the LORD)
"I'll bear their joyful Souls above
"Destruction, and the Sword.
13 "My Grace fhall answer when they call;
"In Trouble I'll be nigh:
<< My Pow'r fhall help them when they fall,
"And raise them when they die.
14 "Those that on Earth my Name have known,
"I'll honour them in Heav'n;
"There my Salvation shall be shown,
"And endless Life be giv'n."
PSALM XCI. Metre ii..
HE that hath made his Refuge GOD,
Shall find a moft fecure Abode;
Shall walk all Day beneath his Shade,
And there at Night fhall reft his Head.
2 Then will I fay, "My God, thy Pow'r
"Shall be my Fortrefs and my Tow'r ;
"I, that am form'd of feeble Duft,.
"Make thine Almighty-Arm my Trust.”
3 Thrice happy Man! Thy Maker's Care
Shall keep thee from the Fowler's Snare,
Satan the Fowler, who betrays
Unguarded Souls a Thoufand Ways.
4 Juft as a Hen protects her Brood
From Birds of Prey that feek their Blood.
Under her Feathers; fo the LORD
Makes his own Arm his People's Guard..
5 If burning Beams of Noon conspire
To dart a peftilential Fire,
GOD is their Life, his Wings are spread
To fhield them with an healthful Shade.
6 If Vapours with malignant Breath
Rife thick, and fcatter Midnight-Death,
Ifrael is fafe: The poifon'd Air
Grows pure, if Ifrael's GOD be there..
THOUGH Thoufands by thy Side are flain,.
And Myriads round Thee prefs the Plain,
No Dart fhall thy Deftruction dare,
Nor Wound whom God has bid to fpare.
8 And fince thy Heart (to GOD refign'd)
In HIM its Refuge boafts to find ;
No Dangers fhall thy Path await,
Nor enter thy protected Gate.
While round thee plac'd, th' Angelic-Train
Thy Steps with tend'reft Care fuftain,
Safe fhalt thou walk through Ways unknown,
Nor ftrike thy Foot against a Stone.
10 Go, fearless on the Dragon tread,
And prefs the proftrate Lion's Head:
Go, crufh the Serpent, though his Veins
Lodge half the Poifon of the Plains.
11 Thus faith the LORD, "Thy filial Love
“ I mark, and all thy Acts approve :
"For this thy Head aloft I'll rear,
"Bow to thy Pray'r my willing Ear.
12" Thy Fears avert, thy Griefs attend,
"(Thy GoD, thy GUARDIAN, and thy FRIEND)
"Thy Years prolong; and to thy Heart
My health-difpenfing Grace impart."
HOU who art enthron'd above,
Thou by whom we live and move;
O how fweet with joyful Tongue
To refound thy Praife in Song!
When the Morning paints the Skies,
When the fparkling Stars arife,
All thy Favours to rehearfe,
And give Thanks in grateful Verse.
2 Sweet the Day of facred Reft
When Devotion fills the Breaft;
When we dwell within thy House,
Hear thy Word, and pay our Vows:
Notes to Heav'n let us raife,
Fill its Courts with joyful Praife;
Let repeated Hymns proclaim
Great JEHOVAH's awful Name.
From thy Works our Joys arife,
O Thou only good and wife!
Who thy Wonders can declare?
How profound thy Counfels are!
Warm our Hearts with facred Fire,
Grateful Fervors ftill infpire;
All our Pow'rs, with all their Might,
Ever in thy Praise unite.
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