PART II. C. M.

1 WHATE'ER the mighty LORD decrees,
Shall stand for ever sure;

The settled purpose of his heart
To ages shall endure.

2 How happy then are they, to whom
The LORD for GoD is known!

Whom he, from all the world besides,
Has chosen for his own.

3 Our soul on GOD with patience waits;
Our help and shield is he;

Then, LORD, let still our hearts rejoice,
Because we trust in thee.

4 The riches of thy mercy, Lord,
Do thou to us extend;

Since we, for all we want or wish
On thee alone depend.

PSALM 29.

From the xxxiv. Psalm of David.

PART I. C. M.

1 THROUGH all the changing scenes of life, In trouble and in joy,

The praises of my GoD shall still
My heart and tongue employ.
2 Of his deliv'rance I will boast,
Till all that are distress'd
From my example comfort take,
And charm their griefs to rest.
3 0 magnify the LORD with me,
With me exalt his name:
When in distress to him I call'd,
He to my rescue came.

4 The Angel of the LORD encamps
Around the good and just;
Deliv'rance he affords to all
Who on his succor trust.

5 0 make but trial of his love,
Experience will decide

How blest they are, and only they,
Who in his truth confide.

6 Fear him, ye saints; and you will then
Have nothing else to fear:

Make you his service your delight,
Your wants shall be his care.

PART II. C. M.

1 APPROACH, ye children of the LORD,
And my instruction hear;
I'll teach you the true discipline
Of his religious fear

2 Let him who length of life desires,
And prosp'rous days would see,
From sland'ring language keep his tongue,
His lips from falsehood free;

3 The crooked paths of vice decline,
And virtue's ways pursue;
Establish peace, where 't is begun
And where 't is lost, renew.

4 The LORD from heaven beholds the just
With favorable eyes;

And, when distress'd, his gracious ear
Is open to their cries;

5 But turns his wrathful look on those
Whom mercy can't reclaim,

To cut them off, and from the earth
Blot out their evil name.

6 Deliv'rance to his saints he gives,
'When his relief they crave;
He's nigh to heal the broken heart,
And contrite spirit save.

7 Great troubles may afflict the just,
Yet God will save them still;

The righteous he will keep from harm,
And guard from every ill.

8 The wicked, from their wickedness,
Their ruin shall derive;

Whilst righteous men, whom they detest,
Shall them and their's survive.

9 For GoD preserves the souls of those
Who on his truth depend;

To them, and their posterity,
His blessings shall descond,

From the xxxvi. Psalm of David.

1 O LORD, thy mercy, my sure hope,
The highest orb of heaven transcends;
Thy sacred truth's unmeasured scope
Beyond the spreading sky extends.
2 Thy justice like the hills remains,
Unfathom'd depths thy judgments are;
Thy providence the world sustains,
The whole creation is thy care.

3 Since of thy goodness all partake,
With what assurance should the just
Thy shelt'ring wings their refuge make,
And saints to thy protection trust!

4 Such guests shall to thy courts be led,
To banquet on thy love's repast;
And drink, as from a fountain's head,
Of joys that shall for ever last.

1 THOUGH wicked men grow rich or great,
Yet let not their successful state
Thy anger or thy envy raise;
For they, cut down like tender grass,
Or like young flowers away shall pass,
Whose blooming beauty soon decays.
2 Depend on GOD, and him obey,
So thou within the land shalt stay,
Secure from danger and from want:
Make his commands thy chief delight,
And he, thy duty to requite,

Shall all thy earnest wishes grant.
3 In all thy ways trust thou the LORD,
And he will needful help afford,
To perfect every just design;
He'll make like light, serene and clear,
Thy clouded innocence appear,
And as a mid-day sun to shine.

4 With quiet mind on GoD depend,
And patiently for him attend,

Nor envy the success of crime;
For GOD will sinful men destroy,
Whilst they his presence shall enjoy,
Who trust on him, and wait his time.

1 THE good man's way is God's delight: He orders all the steps aright

Of him that moves by his command; Though he sometimes may be distress'd, Yet shall he ne'er be quite oppress'd,

For GoD upholds him with his hand 2 With caution shun each wicked deed, In virtue's ways with zeal proceed,

And so prolong your happy days; For God, who judgment loves, does still Preserve his saints secure from ill,

While soon the wicked race decays.

3 The upright shall possess the land, His portion shall for ages stand;

His mouth with wisdom is supplied, His tongue by rules of judgment moves, His heart the law of GoD approves: Therefore his footsteps never slide.

1 THE wicked I in power have seen, And like a bay-tree fresh and green

That spreads its pleasant branches round:
But he was gone as swift as thought;
And, though in every place I sought,
No sign or track of him I found.
2 Observe the perfect man with care,
And mark all such as upright are;
Their roughest days in peace shall end:
While on the latter end of those
Who dare God's sacred will oppose,
A common ruin shall attend.

3 GOD to the just will aid afford,
Their only safeguard is the LORD,
Their strength in time of need is he:
Because on him they still depend,
The LORD will timely succor send,
And from the wicked set them free.

From the xxxviii. Psalm of David.

1 THY chast'ning wrath, O LORD, restrain, Though I deserve it all;

Nor let on me the heavy storm
Of thy displeasure fall.

2 My sins, which to a deluge swell,
My sinking head o'erflow,

And, for my feeble strength to bear,
Too vast a burden grow.

3 But, LORD, before thy searching eyes
All my desires appear;

The groanings of my burden'd soul
Have reach'd thine open ear.

4 Forsake me not, O LORD, my God,
Nor far from me depart;

Make haste to my relief, O thou
Who my salvation art.

From the xxxix. Psalm of David.

1 LORD, let me know my term of days,
How soon my life will end:
The num'rous train of ills disclose,
Which this frail state attend.

2 My life, thou know'st, is but a span,
A cipher sums my years;

And every man, in best estate,
But vanity appears.

3 Man, like a shadow, vainly walks,
With fruitless cares oppress'd;
He heaps up wealth, but cannot tell
By whom 't will be possess'd.

3

From the xl. Psalm of David.

1 I WAITED meekly for the LORD, Till he vouchsafed a kind reply; Who did his gracious ear afford,

And heard from heaven my humble cry. 2 The wonders he for me has wrought Shall fill my mouth with songs of praise; And others, to his worship brought, To hopes of like deliv'rance raise. 3 For blessings shall that man reward, Who on th' Almighty LORD relies; Who treats the proud with disregard, And hates the hypocrite's disguise.

4 Who can the wondrous works recount Which thou, O God, for us hast wrought? The treasures of thy love surmount

The power of numbers, speech, and thought. 5 I've learnt that thou hast not desired Offerings and sacrifice alone; Nor blood of guiltless beasts required For man's transgression to atone. 6 I therefore come-come to fulfil The oracles thy books impart; 'Tis my delight to do thy will, Thy law is written in my heart.

7 In full assemblies I have told

Thy truth and righteousness at large: Nor did, thou know'st, my lips withhold From uttering what thou gav'st in charge:

8 Nor kept within my breast confined

Thy faithfulness and saving grace;
But preach'd thy love, for all design'd,
That all might that and truth embrace.
9 Then let those mercies I declared

To others, LORD, extend to me;
Thy loving-kindness my reward,
Thy truth my safe protection be.