Page images
PDF
EPUB

2 His sovereign power, without our aid,
Made us of clay, and form'd us men;
And when like wandering sheep we stray'd,
He brought us to his fold again.

3 We'll crowd thy gates with thankful songs; High as the heavens our voices raise;

And earth, with her ten thousand tongues, Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise. 4 Wide as the world is thy command; Vast as eternity thy love;

1

2

Firm as a rock thy truth shall stand,
When rolling years shall cease to move.

33.

The soul excited to praise God.-Psalm ciii.

3

O BLESS the Lord, my soul!
His grace to Thee proclaim :
And all that is within me join
To bless his holy name.
O bless the Lord, my soul !
His mercies bear in mind;
Forget not all his benefits,-
The Lord to thee is kind.

He will not always chide;
He will with patience wait :
His wrath is ever slow to rise,
And ready to abate.

He pardons all thy sins,
Prolongs thy feeble breath;
He healeth thine infirmities,
And ransoms thee from death.

He clothes thee with his love,
Upholds thee with his truth,
And, like the eagle, He renews
The vigour of thy youth.

Then bless his holy name,

Whose grace hath made thee whole;

Whose loving-kindness crowns thy days;-
O bless the Lord, my soul!

D

25

25

34.

Gratitude for deliverance.-Psalm cxvi. 1 My soul, through my Redeemer's care, Saved from the second death I feel; Mine eyes from tears of dark despair, My feet from falling into hell.

2 Wherefore to Him my feet shall run;
Mine eyes on his perfections gaze?
My soul shall live for God alone,
And all within me shout his praise.

35.

Vows paid in the Sanctuary.-Psalm cxvi.
1 WHAT shall I render to my God
For all his kindness shown?
My feet shall visit thine abode,
My songs address thy throne.

2 Among the saints that fill thine house,
My offerings shall be paid;
There shall my zeal perform the vows
My soul in anguish made.

3 How much is mercy thy delight,
Thou ever-blessed God!

How dear thy servants in thy sight!
How precious is their blood!

4 How happy all thy servants are!
How great thy grace to me!

My life, which Thou hast made thy care,
Lord, I devote to Thee.

5 Now I am thine, for ever thine,

Nor shall my purpose move;
Thy hand hath loosed my bonds of pain,
And bound my with thy love.

6 Here in thy courts I leave my vow,
And thy rich grace record:

Witness, ye saints, who hear me now,
If I forsake the Lord.

36.

Breathing after Holiness of Life.-Psalm cxix. 10 THAT the Lord would guide my ways To keep his statutes still!

O that my God would grant me grace

To know and do his will.

2 O send thy Spirit down to write
Thy law upon my heart!

Nor let my tongue indulge deceit,
Nor act the liar's part.

3 From vanity turn off my eyes:
Let no corrupt design,
Nor covetous desires arise
Within this soul of mine.

4 Order my footsteps by thy word,
And make my heart sincere,
Let sin have no dominion, Lord,
But keep my conscience clear.

5 My soul hath gone too far astray,
My feet too often slip;
Yet I have not forgot thy way,
Restore thy wandering sheep.

6 Make me to walk in thy commands,
'Tis a delightful road;

Nor let my head, or heart, or hands,
Offend against my God.

37.

Going to the Temple.-Psalm cxxii.
1 How did my heart rejoice to hear
My friends devoutly say,

"In Zion let us all appear,
And keep the solemn day!"

2 I love her gates, I love the road;

The church, adorn'd with grace,
Stands like a palace built for God,
To show his milder face.

3 Up to her courts with joys unknown
The holy tribes repair;

The Son of David holds his throne,
And sits in judgment there.

4 He hears our praises and complaints;
And while his awful voice
Divides the sinners from the saints,
We tremble and rejoice.

5 Peace be within this sacred place,
And joy a constant guest!

With holy gifts and heavenly grace
Be her attendants blest!

6 My soul shall pray for Zion still,
While life or breath remains;
There my best friends, my kindred dwell,
There God my Saviour reigns.

38.

Brotherly Love.-Psalm cxxxiii.

1 How sweet, how heavenly is the sight,
When those who love the Lord
In one another's peace delight,
And so fulfil his word!

2 O may we feel each brother's Ligh,
And with him bear a part;
May sorrows flow from eye to eye,
And joy from heart to heart!

3 Free us from envy, scorn, and pride,
Our wishes fix above;

May each his brother's failing hide,
And show a brother's love.

4 Let love, in one delightful stream,
Through every bosom flow;

And union sweet, and fond esteem,
In every action glow.

5 Love is the golden chain that binds
The happy souls above;

And he's an heir of heaven who finds
His bosom glow with love.

39.

God praised for his mercies.-Psalm cxxxvi.
1 LET us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the Lord, for He is kind :
For his mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

2 He, with all-commanding might,
Fill'd the new-made world with light:
For his mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

3 All things living He doth feed :
His full hand supplies their need:
For his mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

4 He his chosen race did bless,
In the wasteful wilderness :
For his mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

5 He hath with a piteous eye,
Look'd upon our misery:
For his mercy shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

6 Let us then, with gladsome mind,
Praise the Lord, for He is kind:
For his mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

40.

God All-Seeing.-Psalm cxxxix.

1 LORD, Thou hast search'd and seen me through; Thine eye commands with piercing view

My rising and my resting hours,
My heart and flesh with all their powers.

2 My thoughts, before they are my own,
Are to my God distinctly known;

« PreviousContinue »