TO THE VENERABLE

THE ARCHDEACON OF ELY,

THE FOLLOWING SELECTION,

COMPILED FOR THE USE OF THE CHURCH

IN WHICH HIS OFFICIAL VISITATIONS ARE HELD,

AND EMBODYING, IT IS HOPED,

THE GREAT DOCTRINES OF CHRISTIANITY

HELD FORTH IN HIS OFFICIAL CHARGES,

IS WITH PERMISSION DEDICATED,

AS A SMALL TOKEN OF UNFEIGNED RESPECT,

BY THE COMPILER.

For "The palace," read "Thy palace.”

PSALM S.

PSALM I.

1 HAPPY the man whose cautious feet Shun the broad way that sinners go; Who hates the place where atheists meet, And fears to talk as scoffers do.

2 He loves t'employ his morning light Among the statutes of the Lord;

And spends the wakeful hours of night, With pleasure pond'ring o'er his word. 3 He, like a plant by gentle streams, Shall flourish in immortal green; And Heav'n will shine with kindest beams On ev'ry work his hands begin.

4 But sinners find their counsels crost,
As chaff before the tempest flies;
So shall their hopes be blown and lost,
When the last trumpet shakes the skies.
5 In vain the rebel seeks to stand

In judgment with the pious race:
The dreadful Judge, with stern command,
Divides him to a diff'rent place.

6 " Straight is the way my saints have trod;
"I bless'd the path, and drew it plain:
"But you would choose the crooked road,
"And down it leads to endless pain."

B

PSALM II.

1 WHY did the nations join to slay
The Lord's anointed Son?

Why did they cast his laws away,
And tread his gospel down?

2 The Lord, that sits above the skies,
Derides their rage below;

He speaks with vengeance in his eyes,
And strikes their spirits through.

3 "I call him my eternal Son,

"And raise him from the dead; "I make my holy hill his throne, "And wide his kingdom spread. 4 "Ask me, my Son, and then enjoy "The utmost heathen lands:

Thy rod of iron shall destroy
"The rebel that withstands."

5 Be wise, ye rulers of the earth,
Obey th' anointed Lord;

Adore the King of heav'nly birth,
And tremble at his word.

6 With humble love address his throne;
For, if he frown, ye die:
Those are secure, and those alone,
Who on his grace rely.

PSALM IV.

1 IN vain the erring world inquires
For some substantial good:

While earth confines their low desires,
They live on airy food.

2 Not all the bliss which earth bestows Can fill the craving mind:

Its highest joys have mingled woes,
And leave a sting behind.

3 Begone, ye gilded vanities;
I seek some solid good:
To real bliss my wishes rise,
The favour of my God.

4 Grant, O my God, this one request:
Oh! be thy grace alone
My ample portion-here I rest,
For heaven is in the boon.

PSALM V.

1 LORD, in the morning thou shalt hear
My voice ascending high;
To thee will I direct my prayer,
To thee lift up mine eye:

2 Up to the hills, where Christ is gone
To plead for all his saints,
Presenting at his Father's throne
Our songs and our complaints.

3 Thou art a God, before whose sight
The wicked shall not stand:

Sinners shall ne'er be thy delight,
Nor dwell at thy right hand.

4 But to thy house will I resort,
To taste thy mercies there;
I will frequent thy holy court,
And worship in thy fear.

5 O may thy Spirit guide my feet
In ways of righteousness!
Make every path of duty straight
And plain before my face.