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SELECTION 17.

From the xxii. Psalm of David.

PART I. C. M.

MY God, my God, why leav'st thou me

When I with anguish faint?
O, why so far from me removed,
And from my loud complaint?
2 Lo! I am treated like a worm,
Like none of human birth;
Not only by the great reviled,
But made the rabble's mirth.

3 With laughter, all the gazing crowd
My agonies survey;

They shoot the lip, they shake the head
And thus deriding say:

4 "In God he trusted, boasting oft
That he was Heaven's delight;

Let God come down to save him now,
And own his favourite."

5 Withdraw not, then, so far from me,
When trouble is so nigh;

O send me help! thy help, on which
Alone I can rely.

PART II. C. M.

1 LIKE water is my life pour'd out,
My joints are out of frame;
My heart dissolves within my breast,
Like wax before the flame.

2 My strength is like a potsherd dried,
My tongue is parch'd with drought;
And to the dismal shades of death
My fainting soul is brought.

3 Like dogs, to compass me, my foes
In wicked counsel meet;

They pierced my inoffensive hands,
They pierced my harmless feet.

A

4 My body's rack'd, till all my
Distinctly may be told;
Yet such a spectacle of wo
As pastime they behold.

bones

5 As spoil, my garments they divide,
Lots for my vesture cast:-
Therefore, O leave me not, my God,
But to my succour haste.

PART III. C. M.

1 LORD, to my brethren I'll declare
The triumphs of thy Name;
In presence of assembled saints
Thy glory thus proclaim:

2 "Ye worshippers of Jacob's God,
All you of İsrael's line,

O praise the Lord, and to your praise
Sincere obedience join.

3 "He ne'er disdain'd on low distress
To cast a gracious eye;
Nor turn from misery his face,
But hears its humble cry."

4 Thus in thy sacred courts, will I
My cheerful thanks express;
In presence of thy saints perform
The vows of my distress.

5 The meek companions of my grief
Shall find my table spread;

And all that seek the Lord shall be
With joys immortal fed.

6 Then shall the glad converted world
To God their homage pay;
And scatter'd nations of the earth
One sovereign Lord obey.

7 'Tis his supreme prerogative

O'er all mankind to reign;

'Tis just that he should rule the world, Who does the world sustain.

8 The rich who are with plenty fed
His bounty must confess;

The sons of want, by him relieved,
Their generous patron bless.

9 With humble worship to his throne
They all for aid resort;

That power, which first their being gave, Alone can them support.

10 Then shall a chosen spotless race,
Devoted to his Name,

To their adoring sons his truth
And glorious acts proclaim.

THE

SELECTION 18. C. M.

From the xxiii. Psalm of David.

HE Lord himself, the mighty Lord,
Vouchsafes to be my guide;

The shepherd, by whose constant care
My wants are all supplied.

2 In tender grass he makes me feed,
And gently there repose;

Then leads me to cool shades, and where
Refreshing water flows.

3 He does my wandering soul reclaim,
And, to his endless praise,
Instruct with humble zeal to walk
In his most righteous ways.

4 I pass the gloomy vale of death,
From fear and danger free;
For there his aiding rod and staff
Defend and comfort me.

5 Since God doth thus his wondrous love
Through all my life extend,
That life to him I will devote,
And in his temple spend.

SELECTION 19. C. M.

From the xxiv. Psalm of David.

THE spacious earth is all the Lord's,

The Lord's her fulness is;

The world, and they that dwell therein,
By sovereign right are his.

2 He framed and fix'd it on the seas
And his almighty hand

Upon inconstant floods has made
The stable fabric stand.

3 But for himself, this Lord of all
One chosen seat design'd;

O who shall to that sacred hill
Deserved admittance find?

4 The man whose hands and heart are pure, Whose thoughts from pride are free; Who honest poverty prefers

To gainful perjury.

5 This, this is he, on whom the Lord
Shall shower his blessings down;
Whom God, his Saviour, shall vouchsafe
With righteousness to crown.

6 Such is the race of saints, by whom
The sacred courts are trod;

And such the proselytes that seek
Thy face, O Jacob's God.

7 Erect your heads, eternal gates;
Unfold, to entertain

The King of glory: see! he comes
With his celestial train.

8 Who is the King of glory? who?
The Lord, for strength renown'd;
In battle mighty; o'er his foes
Eternal victor crown'd.

9 Erect your heads, ye gates; unfold,

In state to entertain

The King of glory: see! he comes
With all his shining train.

10 Who is the King of glory? who?
The Lord of hosts renown'd;
Of glory he alone is King,
Who is with glory crown'd.

10

SELECTION 20. S. M.
From the xxv. Psalm of David.

TO God, in whom I trust,

I lift my heart and voice:
O let me not be put to shame,
Nor let thy foes rejoice.

2 Those who on thee rely,
Let no disgrace attend;

Be that the shameful lot of such
As wilfully offend.

3 To me thy truth impart,

And lead me in thy way;

For thou art he that brings me help;
On thee I wait all day.

4 Thy mercies and thy love,
O Lord, recall to mind;
And graciously continue still,
As thou wert ever, kind.

5 Let all my youthful crimes
Be blotted out by thee;

And, for thy wondrous goodness' sake,
In mercy think on me.

6 His mercy and his truth

The righteous Lord displays,
In bringing wandering sinners home,
And teaching them his ways.

7 He those in justice guides

Who his direction seek;

And in his sacred paths shall lead
The humble and the meek.

8 Through all the ways of God
Both truth and mercy shine,
To such as, with religious hearts,
To his blest will incline.

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