Shall, like a fiery oven's rage, Their hopes and them consume. 6 Thus, Lord, thy wondrous power deAnd thus exalt thy fame; [clare, While we glad songs of praise prepare For thine almighty name. 593} I will Warning to magistrates. UDGES, who rule the world by laws, Will ye despise the righteous cause, When th' injur'd poor before you stands? Dare ye condemn the righteous poor, And let rich sinners 'scape secure, While gold and greatness bribe your hands? 2 Have ye forgot, or never knew, That God will judge the judges too? High in the heavens his justice reigns; Yet you invade the rights of God, And send your bold. decrees abroad, To bind the conscience in your chains. 3 A poison'd arrow is your tongue, The arrow sharp, the poison strong, And death attends where'er it wounds: You hear no counsels, cries or tears; So the deaf adder stops her ears Against the power of charming sounds. 4 Break out their teeth, eternal God, Those teeth of lions dy'd in blood; And crush the serpents in the dust: As empty chaff, when whirlwinds rise, Before the sweeping tempest flies, So let their hopes and names be lost. 5Th Almighty thunders from the sky, Their grandeur melts, their titles die, As hills of snow dissolve and run, Or snails that perish in their slime, Or births that come before their time, Vain births, that never see the sun. Thus shall the vengeance of the Lord Safety and joy to saints afford;' And all that bear shall join and say, "Sure there's a God that rules on high, "A God that hears his children cry, "And will their sufferings well repay." 12 Why will ye then frame wicked laws? Or why support th' unrighteous cause? When will ye once defend the poor, That sinners vex the saints no more? 3 They know not, Lord, nor will they know; Dark are the ways in which they go: Their name of earthly gods is vain, For they shall fall and die like men. 4 Arise, O Lord, and let thy Son Possess his universal throne, And rule the nations with his rod; He is our Judge, and he our God. SICKNESS AND RECOVERY. 9 To souls that feel the frown; Lord, 'twas thy hand advanc'd me high, Thy hand hath cast me down. My locks like wither'd leaves appear, 10 But thou forever art the same, 12 He hears his saints, he knows their cry, 596} PSALM 39. 3d Part. C. M. b Plympton, Colchester. Sick-bed devotion; or, pleading without repining. OD of my life, look gently down, Behold the pains I feel; But I am dumb before thy throne, Nor dare dispute thy will. 2 Diseases are thy servants, Lord; They come at thy command ; I'll not attempt a murmuring word Against thy chastening, hand. 3. Yet I may plead with humble cries, "Remove thy sharp rebukes;" My strength consumes, my spirit dies, Through thy repeated strokes. 4 Crush'd as a moth beneath thy hand, We moulder to the dust; Our feeble powers can ne'er withstand, And all our beauty's lost. 5 [This mortal life decays apace, How soon the bubble's broke! Adam and all his numerous race Are vanity and smoke] 6 Pm but a sojourner below, As all my fathers were; 7 But if my life be spar'd a while, 2 Yet I have found 'tis good for me To bear my Father's rod; 6 Verse 75. know thy judgments, Lord, are right, The sharpest sufferings I endure Though they may seem severe : Flow from thy faithful care. Verse 74, 5.Thy hands have made my mortal frame, 599 Blendon, Armley. Temptations in sickness overcome. Afflictions make me learn thy law, LORD, I can suffer thy rebukes, And live upon my God, When thou with kindness dost chastise; But thy fierce wrath I cannot bear; O let it not against me rise! 2 Pity my languishing estate, And ease the sorrows which I feel; The wounds thine heavy hand hath made, O let thy gentler touches heal! 3 See how I pass my weary days, In sighs and groans; and when 'tis night, My bed is water'd with my tears; My grief consumes and dims my sight. Look how the powers of nature mourn! How long, Almighty God, how long When shall thine hour of grace return? When shall I make thy grace my song? 5 I feel my flesh so near the grave, My thoughts are tempted to despair: But graves can never praise the Lord, For all is dust and silence there. 6 Depart, ye tempters, from my soul; And all despairing thoughts, depart; My God, who hears my humble moan, Will ease my flesh, and cheer my heart. PSALM 6. C. M. bor Plymouth, London. Complaint in sickness; or, diseases healed. Nanger, Lord, rebuke me not, Withdraw the dreadful sto Nor let thy fury grow so hot Against a feeble" worm. IN 2 My soul's bow'd down with heavy cares, 5 He hears when dust and ashes speak; 3 Shall walk all day beneath his shade, And there at night shall rest his head. 2 Then will I say, "My God, thy power "Shall be my fortress and my tower: “I, that am form'd of feeble dust, "Make thine almighty arm my trust." Thrice happy man! thy Maker's care Shall keep thee from the fowler's snare ; Satan, the fowler, who betrays Unguarded souls a thousand ways. 4 Just as a hen protects her brood (From birds of prey that seek their blood) Under her feathers, so the Lord Makes his own arm his people's guard. 5 If burning beams of noon conspire To dart a pestilential fire, God is their life, his wings are spread To shield them with an healthful shade. 6 If vapours, with malignant breath, Rise thick, and scatter midnight death, Israel is safe: The poison'd air Grows pure, if Israel's God be there. PAUSE. 7 What though a thousand at thy side, 9 But if the fire, or plague, or sword, Receive commission from the Lord To strike his saints among the rest, Their very pains and deaths are blest. 10 The sword, the pestilence, or fire, Shall but fulfil their best desire; From sins and sorrows set them free, And bring thy children, Lord, to thee. To watch your pillow while you sleep, 604 4 Their hands shall bear you, lest you fall, 5 Adders and lions ye shall tread; 6" Because on me they set their love, 8" Those that on earth my name have PSALM 30. 2d Part. L. M. 603} Portugal, Armley. 2 3 PSALM 30. 1st Part. L. M. X Sickness healed, and sorrow removed, 605 PSALM 31. 1st Part. C. M. Health, sickness, and recovery. IRM was my health, my day was bright, 1FIRM And I presum'd 'twould ne'er be night; Fondly I said within my heart, "Pleasure and peace shall ne'er depart." 2 But I forgot thine arm was strong, Which made my mountain stand so long; Soon as thy face began to hide, My health was gone, my comforts died. 3 I cried aloud to thee, my God, "What canst thou profit by my blood? "Deep in the dust, can I declare "Thy truth, or sing thy goodness there? 4"Hear me, O God of grace," I said, "And bring me from among the dead:" Thy word rebuk'd the pains I felt, Thy pardoning love remov'd my guilt. 5 My groans, and tears, and forms of wo Are turn'd to joy and praises now; I throw my sackcloth on the ground, And ease and gladness gird me round. 6 My tongue, the glory of my frame, Shall never be silent of thy name; Thy praise shall sound through earth and heaven, For sickness heal'd, and sins forgiven. 5 ['Twas in my haste my spirit said "I must despair and die, 6 "I am cut off before thine eyes;" 606 PSALM 116, 1st Part. C. M. b I love the Lord: he bow'd his ear, Hezekiah's song; or, sickness and recovery WH Our God deserves a song; 2 The gates of the devouring grave 5 Jehovah speaks the healing word, PSALM 118. 2d Part. C. M. X Now shall he live: (and none can die, 3 4 608} TIME AND ETERNITY. HYMN 88. B. 1. L. M. b or * 609 German Hymn, Wells. 09} Life, the day of grace and hope. 1LIFE is the time to serve the Lord, 3 The time t' ensure the great reward; |