8 That he the humble soul will save, And crush the haughty's boasted might, In me the LORD an instance gave, Whose darkness he has turn'd to light. 4 Who then deserves to be adored, But GOD, on whom my hopes depend? Or who, except the mighty LORD, Can with resistless power defend? 5 Let the eternal LORD be praised, The rock on whose defence I rest! To highest heavens his name be raised, Who me with his salvation bless'd! 6 My GOD, to celebrate thy fame, My grateful voice to heaven I'll raise; And nations, strangers to thy name, Shall learn to sing thy glorious praise. PSALM 15. From the xix. Psalm of David. From the xx. Psalm of David. 1 MAY Jacob's GOD defend 2 May he accept our vow, 1 THE heavens declare thy glory, LORD, Our heart's devout request allow. Which that alone can fill; 2 The dawn of each returning day 3 Their powerful language to no realm Or region is confined; Tis nature's voice, and understood 4 Their doctrine does its sacred sense 5 From east to west, from west to east, 1 GOD's perfect law converts the soul, 2 The statutes of the LORD are just, 3 His perfect worship here is fix'd, Of truth and justice weigh'd; 4 Of more esteem than golden mines, Our holy wishes give! 8 O LORD! thy saving grace We joyfully declare; Our banner in thy name we raise"The LORD fulfil our prayer!" 4 Now know we that the LORD His chosen will defend; From heaven will strength divine afford, 5 Some earthly succor trust. 6 Still save us, LORD! and still 1 MY GOD, my GOD, why leav'st thou me, But made the rabble's mirth. They shoot the lip, they shake the head, 4"In GoD he trusted, boasting oft That he was Heaven's delight; 5 Withdraw not, then, so far from me O send me help! thy help, on which 1 LIKE water is my life pour'd out, 2 My strength is like a potsherd dried, 3 Like dogs, to compass me, my foes 4 My body's rack'd, till all my bones 5 As spoil, my garments they divide, I LORD, to my brethren I'll declare In presence of assembled saints 2 "Ye worshippers of Jacob's GOD, O praise the LORD, and to your praise 8" He ne'er disdain'd on low distress 4 Thus, in thy sacred courts, will 1 5 The meek companions of my grief 6 Then shall the glad converted world 7 "T is his supreme prerogative "T is just that he should rule the world, Who does the world sustain. 8 The rich, who are with plenty fed, 9 With humble worship to his throne They all for aid resort; That power, which first their being gave, Alone can them support. From the xxiii. Psalm of David. 1 THE LORD himself, the mighty LORD Vouchsafes to be my guide; The Shepherd, by whose constant care 2 In tender grass he makes me feed, Then leads me to cool shades, and where 3 He does my wand'ring soul reclaim, 4 I pass the gloomy vale of death, 5 Since GOD doth thus his wondrous love From the xxiv. Psalm of David. 1 THE spacious earth is all the LORD'S. 2 He framed and fix'd it on the seas; Upon inconstant floods has made 3 But for himself this LORD of all Oh who shall to that sacred hill Deserved admittance find? 4 The man whose hands and heart are pure, Whose thoughts from pride are free; Who honest poverty prefers To gainful perjury. 5 This, this is he, on whom the LORD 6 Such is the race of saints, by whom 7 Erect your heads, eternal gates; The King of glory: see! he comes 8 Who is the King of glory? who? 9 Erect your heads, ye gates; unfold In state to entertain The King of glory: see! he comes 10 Who is the King of glory? who? PSALM 20. S. M. From the xxv. Psalm of David. TO GOD, in whom I trust, I lift my heart and voice; O let me not be put to shame, Nor let thy foes rejoice. 2 Those who on thee rely, Be that the shameful lot of such 3 To me thy truth impart, And lead me in thy way, For thou art he that brings me help; 4 Thy mercies and thy love, 5 Let all my youthful crimes Be blotted out by thee; And, for thy wondrous goodness' sake In mercy think on me. 6 His mercy and his truth The righteous LORD displays, 8 Through all the ways of GOD 9 Since mercy is the grace That most exalts thy fame, Forgive my heinous sin, O LORD, And so advance thy name. 10 Whoe'er with humble fear, To GOD his duty pays, Shall find the LORD a faithful guide, In all his righteous ways. 11 For GOD to all his saints His secret will imparts, And does his gracious covenant write In their obedient hearts. 12 To Israel's chosen race Continue ever kind; And, in the midst of all their wants, Let them thy succor find. From the xxvii. Psalm of David. 1 WHOM should I fear, since GOD to re Is saving health and light? Since strongly he my life supports, 2 Henceforth within his house to dwell His wondrous beauty there to view, 3 For there I may with comfort rest, In that secure recess. 4 When us to seek thy glorious face Thou kindly dost advise;" "Thy glorious face I'll always seek," My grateful heart replies. 5 Then hide not thou thy face, O LORD Nor me in wrath reject; My GoD and Saviour, leave not him 6 Though all of nearest earthly ties Yet thou, whose love excels them all, 7 Instruct me in thy paths, O LORD, 8 I trusted that my future life Should with thy love be crown'd; Or else my fainting soul had sunk, With sorrow compass'd round. 9 GOD's time with patient faith expect, Who will inspire thy breast With inward strength: do thou thy part, And leave to him the rest. * Extract from the Journal of the General Convention, 1832. "4. Resolved, As the sense and declaration of this Convention, that so much of the rubrics in the form of consecration of a church or chapel as requires the singing of Psalm 25, verses 6, 7, and 8,' will hereafter be duly comphed with by singing verses 2 and 3. in the selection from the 26th Psalm, included in the Psalms in Metre authorized by these resolutions to be set forth." PSALM 26. 2 He is my strength and shield; my heart Has trusted in his Name; And now relieved, my heart, with joy, 3 The LORD, the everlasting GOD, The saving health, the saving strength, 40 save and bless thy people, LORD, Feed, strengthen, and support their hearts, That they may never swerve. From the xxix. Psalm of David. 1 YE that in might and power excel, Your grateful sacrifice prepare; GOD's glorious actions loudly tell, His wondrous power to all declare. 2 To his great Name fresh altars raise; Devoutly due respect afford; Him in his holy temple praise, Where he's with solemn state adored. 8 "T is he that, with amazing noise, The watery clouds in sunder breaks; The ocean trembles at his voice, When he from heaven in thunder speaks. 4 How full of power his voice appears! With what majestic terror crown'd! Which from their roots tall cedars tears, And strews their scatter'd branches round. 5 GOD rules the angry floods on high; His boundless sway shall never cease; His saints with strength he will supply, And bless his own with constant peace. PSALM 25. C. M. From the xxx. Psalm of David. 1 IN my distress to GOD I cried, Who kindly did relieve, And from the grave's expecting mouth 20 to his courts, ye saints of his, 3 His wrath has but a moment's reign, His favor no decay; The night of grief is recompensed 4 Therefore, O LORD, I'll gladly sing S. M. From the xxxi. Psalm of David. 1 DEFEND me, LORD, from shame, For still I trust in thee; As just and righteous is thy Name, 2 Bow down thy gracious ear, 3 To thee, the GOD of truth, (For thou preserv'st me from my youth,) I willingly resign. 4 My hope, my steadfast trust, I on thy help repose: That thou, my GOD, art good and just, My soul with comfort knows. 5 Whate'er events betide, Thy wisdom times them all; 6 The brightness of thy face 7 How great thy mercies are 8 O all ye saints, the LORD With eager love pursue; Courageously proceed; From the xxxii. Psalm of David. 1 HE's blest, whose sins have pardon gain'd, No more in judgment to appear; Whose guilt remission has obtain'd, And whose repentance is sincere. 2 No sooner I my wound disclosed, The guilt that tortured me within, But thy forgiveness interposed, And mercy's healing balm pour'd in. 3 Sorrows on sorrows multiplied, The harden'd sinner shall confound 4 His saints, that have perform'd his laws 1 LET all the just to God, with joy, 2 Let harps, and psalteries, and lutes. In joyful concert meet; And new-made songs of loud applause 3 For faithful is the word of God; 5 Let earth, and all that dwell therein, Before him trembling stand; For, when he spake the word, 't was made, "T was fix'd at his command. 1 WHATE'ER the mighty LORD decrees, 2 How happy then are they, to whom 3 Our soul on GOD with patience waits; 4 The riches of thy mercy, LORD, Since we, for all we want or wish, 1 APPROACH, ye children of the LORD, 2 Let him who length of life desires, 3 The crooked paths of vice decline, 4 The LORD from heaven beholds the just With favorable eyes; And, when distress'd, his gracious ear 5 But turns his wrathful look on those 6 Deliv'rance to his saints he gives 7 Great troubles may afflict the just, 8 The wicked, from their wickedness, Whilst righteous men, whom they detest, Shall them and their's survive. 9 For GOD preserves the souls of those To them, and their posterity, |