PSALM XII. [L. M.] The saints safety and hope in evil times; or, sins of the tongue complained of, namely, blasphemy, falsehood, &c.

1 LORD, 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.

The whole discourse, when neighbours meet,

Is fill'd with trifles loose and vain ;
Their lips are flatt'ry and deceit,

none:

"Where is the Lord will ask us why?
"Or say, our lips are not our own?"

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

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, seven times purify'd From dross and mixture,shines so clear. 7 Thy grace shall, in the darkest hour, Defend the holy soul from harm; Tho' when the vilest men have pow'r, On every side will sinners swarm.

PSALM XII. [C. M.] Complaint of a general corruption of manners; or, the promise and sign of Christ's coming to judgment.

1 HELP, Lord, for men of virtue fail,
Religion loses ground;
The sons of violence prevail,
And treacheries abound.

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 lye,
How is their fury stirr'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.
PAUSE.

5 Lord, when iniquities abound,

And blasphemy grows bold,
When faith is hardly to be found,
And love is waxing cold.
6.1s not thy chariot hast'ning on?
Hast thou not giv'n this sign?

hope in darkness.

HOW long, O Lord, shall I complain, Like one that seeks his God in vain? Canst thou thy face for ever hide? And I still pray, and be deny'd? 2 Shall I for ever be forgot,

3

As one whom thou regardest not?
Still shall my soul thine absence mourn?
And still despair of thy return?

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?
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 chearful voice to songs of praise.

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 his eyes,
And throws his fiery darts.

4 Be thou my sun, and thou my shield, My soul in saf 'ty 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.

PSALM XIV. PART I.

By nature all men are sinners.

1 FOOLS in their heart believe and say, "That all religion's vain,

"There is no God that 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 inan that sought his grace,
Or did his justice know.

4 By nature all are gone astray,

Their practice all the same; [hand,
There's none that fears his Maker's
There's none that loves his name.

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.

PSALM XIV. PART I.
The folly of persecutors.

1 ARE sinners now so senseless grown,
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 hope to shame.

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

That we should makethyname our trust; Great God! confound their pride. 4 O that the joyful day were come To finish our distress! WhenGod shallbring his children home, Our songs shall never cease.

PSALM XV. [C. M.] Characters of a saint; or, a citizen of Zion; or, the qualifications of a christian. 1 WHO shall inhabit in thy hill, O God of holiness? Whom will the Lord admit to dwell So near his throne of grace?

2 The man that walks in pious ways,
And works with righteous hands;
That 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 that fear the Lord;
And tho' to his own hurt he swears,
Still he performs his word.

5 His hands disdain a golden bribe,
And never gripe the poor:
This man shall dwell with God on earth,'
And find his heav'n secure.

PSALM XV. [L. M.]

Religion and justice, goodness and truth; or, duties to God and man; or, the qualifications of a christian.

1 WHO shall ascend thy heav'nly place, Great God, and dwell before thy face? The man that minds religion now, And humbly walks with God below. 2 Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean, [mean; Whose lips still speak the thing they No slanders dwell upon his tongue; He hates to do his neighbour wrong. 3 [Scarce will he trust an ill report, Nor vents it to his neighbour's hurt: Sinners of state he can despise, But saints are honour'd in his eyes.] 4 [Firm to his word he ever stood, And always makes his promise good; Nor dares to change the thing he swears, Whatever pain or loss he bears.]

5 [He never deals in bribing gold,
And mourns that justice should be sold,
While others gripe and grind the poor,
Sweet charity attends his door.]

6 He loves his enemies, and prays
For those that curse him to his face;
And doth to all men still the same
That he would hope or wish from them.
7 Yet when his holiest works are done,
His soul depends on grace alone:
This is the man thy face shall see,
And dwell for ever, Lord, with thee.

PSALM XVI. PARTI. [L. M.] Confession of our poverty, and saints the best company; or, good works profit men, not God.

1 PRESERVE me, Lord, in time of need;
For succour to thy throne 1 flee,
But have no merits there to plead ;
My goodness cannot reach to thee.
2 Oft have my heart and tongue confest
How empty and how poor I am ;
My praise can never make thee blest,
Nor add new glories to thy name.

3 Yet, Lord,thysaints on earth may reap, Some profit by the good we do; These are the company I keep,

These are the choicest friends I know. 4 Let others choose the sons of mirth, To give a relish to their wine; I love the men of heav'nly birth, Whose thoughts and language are divine.

PSALM XVI. PART II. [L. M.]

Christ's all-sufficiency.

1 HOW fast their guilt and sorrows rise, Who haste to seek some idol god; I will not taste their sacrifice,

Their off'rings of forbidden blood. 2 My God provides a richer cup, And nobler food to live upon : He for my life has offer'd up Jesus, his best beloved Son. 3 His love is my perpetual feast;

By day his counsels guide me right: And be his name for ever blest, Who gives me sweet advice by night. 4 I set him still before mine eyes;

At my right-hand he stands prepar'd To keep my soul from all surprise, And be my everlasting guard.

PSALM XVI. PART III. [L. M.] Courage in death, and hope of resurrection.

1 WHEN God is nigh, my faith is strong, His arm is my almighty prop: Be glad, my heart, rejoice, my tongue, My dying flesh shall rest in hope. 2 Though in the dust I lay my head, Yet,gracious God, thou wilt not leave My soul for ever with the dead,

Nor lose thy children in the grave. 3 My flesh shall thy first call obey,

Shake off the dust and rise on high Then shalt thou lead the wond'rousway, Up to thy throne above the sky. 4 There streams of endless pleasure flow; And full discoveries of thy grace, (Which we but tasted here below) Spread heav'nly joys thro' all the place.

PSALM XVI. 1---8. PART I. [C. M.] Support and counsel from God, without

merit.

1 SAVE me, O Lord, from ev'ry foe;
In thee my trust I place;
Though all the good that I can do
Can ne'er deserve thy grace.

2 Yet if my God prolong my breath,
The saints may profit by't;
The saints, the glory of the earth,"
The men of my delight.

Let heathens to their idols haste,
And worship wood or stone;
But my delightful lot is cast
Where the true God is known.

4 His hand provides my constant food;
He fills my daily cup;
Much am I pleas'd with present good,
But more rejoice in hope.

5 God is my portion and my joy;
His counsels are my light:
He gives me sweet advice by day,
And gentle hints by night.

6

1

My soul would all her thoughts approve To his all-seeing eye;

Nor death,nor hell,my hope shall move, While such a friend is nigh.

PSALM XVI. PART II. [C. M.]

The death and resurrection of Christ.

I SET the Lord before my face, "He bears my courage up: "My heart and tongue their joy express,

"My flesh shall rest in hope.

2 "My spirit, Lord, thou wilt not leave "Where souls departed are; "Nor quit my body to the grave, "To see corruption there.

3" Thou wilt reveal the path of life,
"And raise me to thy throne;
"Thy courts immortal pleasures give,
"Thy presence joys unknown."
4 [Thus in the name of Christ the Lord,
The holy David sung:

And Providence fulfils the word
Of his prophetic tongue.

5 Jesus, whom ev'ry saint adores,
Was crucify'd and slain;
Behold, the tomb its prey restores!
Behold, he lives again!

6 When shall my feet arise, and stand
On heav'n's eternal hills?
There sits the Son at God's right-hand,
And there the Father smiles.]

PSALM XVII. ver. 15, &c. [S. M.] : Portion of saints and sinners: or, hope and despair in death.

1 ARISE, my gracious God,
And make the wicked flee:
They are but thy chastising rod,
To drive thy saints to thee.
2 Behold the sinner dies,

His haughty words are vain:
Here in this life his pleasure lies,
And all beyond is pain.

3 Then let his pride advance,
And boast of all his store;
The Lord is my inheritance,
My soul can wish no more.

4 I shall behold the face

Of my forgiving God;

And stand complete in righteousness,
Wash'd in my Saviour's blood.

5 There's a new heav'n begun When I awake from death, Drest in the likeness of thy Son, And draw immortal breath.

PSALM XVII. [L. M.]

The sinner's portion and saint's hope : or, the heaven of separate souls, and the resurrection.

1 LORD, I am thine: But thou wilt prove My faith, my patience, and my love; When men of spite against me join, They are the sword, the hand is thine. 2 Their hope and portion lies below; "Tis all the happiness they know, 'Tis all they seek: They take their shares,

And leave the rest among their heirs. 3 What sinners value, I resign;

Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mine: I shall behold thy blissful face, And stand complete in righteousness. A This life's a dream, an empty show; But the bright world to which I go Hath joys substantial and sincere: When shall I wake and find me there?

5 O glorious hour, O blest abode!

I shall he near! and like my God! And flesh and sin no more controul The sacred pleasures of the soul. 6 My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the last trumpet's joyful sound; Then burst the chains with sweet surprise,

And in my Saviour's image rise. PSALM XVIII. ver. 1---6, 15---18. PART I. [L. M.] Deliverance from despair: or, temptations overcome.

1 THEE will I love, O Lord, my strength, Myrock, my tow'r, my high defence, Thy mighty arm shall be my trust,

For I have found salvation thence. 2 Death and the terrors of the grave, Stood round me with their dismal shade,

While floods of high temptation rose, And made my sinking soul afraid. 3 I saw the op'ning gates of hell,

With endless pains and sorrows there; Which none but they that feel can tell, While I was hurried to despair. 4 In my distress I call'd my God,

When I could scarce believe him
anine;

He bow'd his ear to my complaint;
Then did his grace appear divine.
[With speed he flew to my relief,

As on a cherub's wing he rode;
Awful and bright as lightning shone
The face of my deliv'rer God.
6 Temptations fled at his rebuke,

The blast of his almighty breath:
He sent salvation from on high,
And drewme from the deeps ofdeath.]

7 Great were my fears, my foes were great,

Much was their strength, and more
their rage:

But Christ, my Lord, is conqu'ror still,
In all the wars that devils wage.

8 My song for ever shall record
That terrible, that joyful hour;
And give the glory to the Lord,
Due to his mercy, and his pow'r.

PSALM XVIII. ver. 20---26.
PART II. [L. M.]

Sincerity proved and rewarded. LORD, thou hast seen my soul sincere, Hast made thy truth and love appear ́s Before mine eyes I set thy laws,

And thou hast own'd my righteous

cause.

2 Since I have learn'd thy holy ways,
I've walk'd upright before thy face;
Or if my feet did e'er depart,
'Twas never with a wicked heart.

3 What sore temptations broke my rest!
What wars and struggles in my breast!
But thro' thy grace that reigns within,
I guard against my darling sin:

4 That sin that close besets me still,
That works and strives against my will;
When shall thy Spirit's sov'reign pow'r
Destroy it that it rise no more?
5 [With an impartial hand, the Lord
Deals out to mortals their reward:
The kind and faithful souls shall find
A God as faithful and as kind.

6 The just and pure shall ever say,
Thou art more pure,morejust thanthey:
And men that love revenge shall know,
God hath an arm of vengeance too.]

PSALM XVIII. ver. 30, 31, 34,35, 46, &c."
PART III. [L. M.]

Rejoicing in God: or, salvation and triumph.

1 JUST are thy ways, and true thy word, Great Rock of my secure abode : Who is a God beside the Lord?

Or where's a refuge like our God? 2 "Tis he that girds me with his might, Gives me his holy sword to wield: And while with sin and hell I fight, Spreads his salvation for my shield. 3 He lives (and blessed be my Rock!) The God of my salvation lives: The dark designs of hell are broke: Sweet is the peace my Father gives. 4 Before the scoffers of the age,

I will exalt my Father's name;
Nor tremble at their mighty rage,
But meet reproach, and bear the
shame.

5 To David and his royal seed

Thy grace for ever shall extend: Thy love to saints in Christ their head, Knows not a limit, nor an end.