SELECTIONS

FROM THE PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE

SELECTION 1. C. M.

From the i. Psalm of David.

HOW blest is he, who ne'er consents
By ill advice to walk,

Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits
Where men profanely talk;

2 But makes the perfect law of God
His business and delight;
Devoutly reads therein by day,
And meditates by night.

3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by streams With timely fruit does bend,

He still shall flourish, and success
All his designs attend.

4 Ungodly men, and their attempts,
No lasting root shall find;
Untimely blasted, and dispersed

Like chaff before the wind.

5 Their guilt shall strike the wicked dumb Before their Judge's face:

No formal hypocrite shall then

Among the saints have place.

6 For God approves the just man's ways;
To happiness they tend:

But sinners, and the paths they tread,
Shall both in ruin end.

SELECTION 2. C. M.

From the ii. Psalm of David.

THUS God declares his sovereign will:
"The King that I ordain,

Whose throne is fix'd on Sion's hill,
Shall there securely reign."

2 Attend, O earth, whilst I declare God's uncontroll'd decree:

"Thou art my Son, this day my heir Have I begotten thee.

"

3 Ask, and receive thy full demands; Thine shall the heathen be;

The utmost limits of the lands
Shall be possess'd by thee."

4 Learn then, ye princes; and give ear,
Ye judges of the earth;
Worship the Lord with holy fear,
Rejoice with awful mirth.

5 Appease the Son with due respect,
Your timely homage pay:
Lest he revenge the bold neglect,
Incensed by your delay.

6 If but in part his anger rise,
Who can endure the flame!

Then blest are they, whose hope relies
On his most holy Name.

SELECTION 3. C. M.

From the iii. Psalm of David.

THOU, gracious God, art my defence;
On thee my hopes rely:
Thou art my glory, and shalt yet
Lif: up my head on high.

2 Since whensoe'er, in my distress,
To God I made my prayer,
He heard me from his holy hill;
Why should I now despair?

3 Guarded by him, I lay me down
My sweet repose to take;
For 1 through him securely sleep,
Through him in safety wake

4 Salvation to the Lord belongs;
He only can defend;

His blessing he extends to all
That on his power depend.

SELECTION 4. C. M.

From the iv. Psalm of David.

CONSIDER that the righteous man
Is God's peculiar choice;

And when to him I make my prayer,
He always hears my voice.

2 Then stand in awe of his commands,
Flee every thing, that's ill;
Commune in private with your hearts,
And bend them to his will.

3 The sacrifice of righteousness
Present to God on high;

And let your hope, securely fix'd,
On him alone rely

4 While worldly minds impatient grow
More prosperous times to see,
Still let the glories of thy face
Shine brightly, Lord, on me.

5 So shall my heart o'erflow with joy,
More lasting and more true

Than theirs, who stores of corn and wine
Successively renew.

6 Then down in peace I'll lay my head,
And take my needful rest;
No other guard, O Lord, I crave,
Of thy defence possess'd.

SELECTION 5. C. M.

From the v. I'salm of David.

REGARD my words, O gracious Lord
Accept my secret prayer;

To thee alone, my King, my God,
Will I for help repair.

2 Thou in the morn my voice shalt hear,
And, with the dawning day,

To thee devoutly I'll look up,

To thee devoutly pray.

3 Lord, I within thy house will come,

In thy abundant grace;

And I will worship in thy fear,
Tow'rd thy most holy place.

4 Let those, O Lord, who trust in thee,
With shouts their joy proclaim;
Let them rejoice whom thou preserv❜st,
And all that love thy Name.

5 To righteous men, the righteous Lord
His blessing will extend;
And with his favour all his saints,
As with a shield, defend.

SELECTION 6. S. M.
From the vi. Psalm of David.

IN mercy, not in wrath,

Rebuke me, gracious God!
Lest, if thy whole displeasure rise,
I sink beneath thy rod.

2 Touch'd by thy quickening power,
My load of guilt I feel;

The wounds thy Spirit hath unclosed,
O let that Spirit heal.

3 In trouble and in gloom,
Must I for ever mourn?

And wilt thou not, at length, O God,

In pitying love return?

4 O come, ere life expire,

Send down thy power to save,
For who shall sing thy Name in death
Or praise thee in the grave?

5 Why should I doubt thy grace,
Or yield to dread despair?
Thou wilt fulfil thy promised word,
And grant me all my prayer.

SELECTION 7. C. M.

From the viii. Psalm of David.

THOU, to whom all creatures bow
Within this earthly frame,

Through all the world how great art thou!
How glorious is thy Name!

2 In heaven thy wondrous acts are sung,
Nor fully reckon'd there;

And yet thou mak'st the infant tongue
Thy boundless praise declare

3 When heaven, thy beauteous work on high, Employs my wondering sight;

The moon, that nightly rules the sky,
With stars of feebler light;

4 O, what is man, that, Lord, thou lov'st
To keep him in thy mind?

Or what his offspring, that thou prov'st
To them so wondrous kind?

5 Him next in power thou didst create
To thy celestial train;
Ordain'd with dignity and state
O'er all thy works to reign.

6 They jointly own his powerful sway;
The beasts that prey or graze ;
The bird that wings its airy way;
The fish that cuts the seas.

70 Thou, to whom all creatures bow
Within this earthly frame,

Through all the world how great art thou.
How glorious is thy Name!

SELECTION 8. C. M.

From the ix. Psalm of David.

To celebrate thy praise, O Lord,
I will my heart prepare;
To all the listening world thy works,
Thy wondrous works, declare.

2 The thought of them shall to my soul
Exalted pleasure bring;

Whilst to thy Name, O thou Most High,
Triumphant praise I sing.

3 The Lord for ever lives, who has

His righteous throne prepared,

Impartial justice to dispense,
To punish or reward.