Such as he kindled on the plain
Of Sodom, with his angry breath.

-6 The righteous Lord loves righteous souls,
Whose thoughts and actions are sincere;
And with a gracious eye beholds
The men who his own image bear.

PSALM 12. L. M. Bath. [*]
Saint's Safety and hope in evil times.
ORD, if thou dost not soon appear,
Virtue and truth will fly away;

A faithful man amongst us here,
Will scarce be found, if thou delay.

2 The whole discourse, when neighbours meet, Is fill'd with trifles, loose and vain ; Their lips are flatt'ry and deceit, And their proud language is profane. 3 But lips that with deceit abound, Shall not maintain their triumph long; The God of vengeance will confound Their flatt'ring and blaspheming tongue. d 4 Yet shall our words be free, they cry; Our tongues shall be controll'd by none; 'Where is the Lord will ask us why? 'Or say our lips are not our own?'

-5 The Lord, who sees the poor oppress'd,
And hears th' oppressor's haughty strain,

o Will rise to give his children rest,
-Nor shall they trust his word in vain.

-6 Thy word, O Lord, tho' often try'd, Void of deceit shall still appear,

Not silver, sev'n times purify'd,

From dross and mixture shines so clear. o 7 Thy grace shall in the darkest hour Defend the holy soul from harm;

e Though when the vilest men have pow'r,
On ev'ry side will sinners swarm.]
C. M. Plymouth. [b]

General Corruption of Manners.
Lord! for men of virtue fail,

1 Hekeligion loses ground;

The sons of violence prevail,

And treacheries abound.

e 2 Their oaths and promises they break,
Yet act the flatt'rer's part;
With fair deceitful lips they speak,
And with a double heart.

[3 If we reprove some hateful lie,
How is their fury stirr'd!
d'Are not our lips our own, they cry;
'And who shall be our Lord?']

4 Scoffers appear on every side,
Where a vile race of men

Is rais'd to seats of pow'r and pride,
And bears the sword in vain.

5 Lord, when iniquities abound,
And blasphemy grows bold,
When faith is hardly to be found,
And love is waxing cold;—

o 6 Is not thy chariot hast'ning on?.
Hast thou not giv'n the sign?
May we not trust and live upon
A promise so divine?

d 7 [Yes, saith the Lord, now will I rise,
And make oppressors flee;

'I shall appear to their surprise, 'And set my servants free.']

g 8 Thy word like silver sey'n times try'd,
Through ages shall endure;

The men who in thy truth confide,
Shall find thy promise sure.

PSALM 13. L. M. Pleyel's. Armley. [b]
Pleading under Desertion: or, Hope in Darkness.
OW long, O Lord, shall I complain,

p 1

H

Like one who seeks his God in vain
Canst thou thy face for ever hide,
And I still pray and be denied?
2 Shall I for ever be forgot,
As one whom thou regardest not?
Still shall my soul thine absence mourn,
And still despair of thy return?

3 How long shall my poor troubled breast
Be with these anxious thoughts opprest?
And Satan, my malicious foe,
Rejoice to see me sunk so low.

-4 Hear, Lord, and grant me quick relief,
Before my death conclude my grief;
If thou withhold thy heav'nly light,
I sleep in everlasting night.

-5 How will the pow'rs of darkness boast,
If but one praying soul be lost?
o But I have trusted in thy grace,
And shall again behold thy face.
-6 Whate'er my fears or foes suggest,
Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest:
● My heart shall feel thy love, and raise
My cheerful voice to songs of praise.
C. M. Plymouth. [b]

Complaint under Temptations.

[OW long wilt thou conceal thy face? My God, how long delay?

H

When shall I feel those heav'nly rays,

That chase my fears away?

2 How long shall my poor lab'ring soul
Wrestle and toil in vain?

Thy word can all my foes control,
And ease my raging pain.

3 See how the prince of darkness tries
All his malicious arts;

He spreads a mist around my eyes,
And throws his fi'ry darts.

o 4 Be thou my sun, and thou my shield;
My soul in safety keep;

Make haste, before mine eyes are seal'd
In death's eternal sleep.

5 How would the tempter boast aloud,
If I become his prey?

Behold the sons of hell grow proud
At thy so long delay.

• 6 But they shall fly at thy rebuke,
And Satan hide his head;

He knows the terrours of thy look,
And hears thy voice with dread.

o 7 Thou wilt display that sov'reign grace,
Where all my hopes have hung;
I shall employ my lips in praise,
And vict'ry shall be sung.]

PSALM 14. C. M. FIRST PART. Reading. [b]
By Nature all Men are Sinners.

1

F

NOOLS, in their hearts, believe and say,
"That all religion's vain;

"There is no God who reigns on high,
"Or minds th' affairs of men."

2 From thoughts so dreadful and profane,
Corrupt discourse proceeds;

And in their impious hands are found
Abominable deeds.

3 The Lord, from his celestial throne,
Look'd down on things below,
To find the man who sought his grace,
Or did his justice know.

4 By nature all are gone astray,
Their practice all the same:

There's none who fears his Maker's hand;
There's none who loves his name.

5 Their tongues are used to speak deceit,
Their slanders never cease;

How swift to mischief are their feet,
Nor know the paths of peace.

6 Such seeds of sin, that bitter root,
In ev'ry heart are found;

Nor can they bear diviner fruit,
Till grace refine the ground.

1 [

Plymouth

C. M. SECOND PART. Reading. [b]

The Folly of Persecutors.

That they the saints devour?

And never worship at thy throne,

Nor fear thine awful pow'r.

2 Great God, appear, to their surprise,
Reveal thy dreadful name;

Let them no more thy wrath despise,
Nor turn our hopes to shame.

e 3 Dost thou not dwell among the just?
And yet our foes deride,

d

That we should make thy name our trust;
Great God, confound their pride.

o 4 0 that the joyful day were come,

To finish our distress!

• When God shall bring his children home,
Our song shall never cease.]

PSALM 15. C. M. St. Martin's. [*]
Character of a Citizen of Zion.

THO shall inhabit in thy hill,

1 [WHO

O God of holiness?

Whom will the Lord admit to dwell
So near his throne of grace?

2 The man who walks in pious ways,
And works with pious hands?
Who trusts his Maker's promises,
And follows his commands.

3 He speaks the meaning of his heart,
Nor slanders with his tongue;
Will scarce believe an ill report,
Nor do his neighbour wrong.

4 The wealthy sinner he contemns,
Loves all who fear the Lord!
And though to his own hurt he swears,
Still he performs his word.

e 1

5 His hands disdain a golden bribe,
And never gripe the poor:

This man shall dwell with God on earth,
And find his heaven secure.]

L. M. Leeds. Oporto. [*]

Duties to God and Man; or, the Christian.

WHO shall ascend thy heavenly place,

Great God, and dwell before thy face! -The man who minds religion now,

And humbly walks with God below.

2 Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean;
Whose lips still speak the thing they mean;
No slanders dwell upon his tongue :
He hates to do his neighbour wrong.
3 [Scarce will he trust an ill report,
Nor vent it to his neighbour's hurt:
Sinners of state he can despise,
But saints are honour'd in his eyes.]