7 No politics shall recommend His country's foe to be my friend: None e'er shall to my favour rise, By flattering or malicious lies.
8 All those who wicked courses take, An early sacrifice I'll make; Cut off, destroy, till none remain God's holy city to profane.
THEN I pour out my soul in prayer, Do thon, O Lord. attend; To thy eternal throne of grace Let my sad cry ascend.
2 0 hide not thou thy glorious face In times of deep distress: Incline thine ear, and when I call, My sorrows soon redress.
3 Each cloudy portion of my life, Like scatter'd smoke expires;
My shrivell'd bones are like a hearth Parch'd with continual fires.
4 My heart, like grass that feels the blast
Of some infectious wind,
14 Her scatter'd ruins by thy saints With pity are survey'd; They grieve to see her lofty spires
In dust and rubbish laid.
15, 16 The name and glory of the Lord
All heathen kings shall fear; When he shall Sion build again, And in full state appear.
17, 18 When he regards the poor's re- quest,
Nor slights their earnest prayer; Our sons, for their recorded grace, Shall his just praise declare.
19 For God, from his abode on high, His gracious beams display'd: The Lord, from heaven, his lofty throne, Hath all the earth survey'd.
20 He listen'd to the captives' moans, He heard their mournful cry, And freed, by his resistless power, The wretches doom'd to die.
21 That they in Sion, where he dwells, Might celebrate his fame,
Does languish so with grief, that scarce And through the holy city sing
My needful food I mind.
5 By reason of my sad estate
I spend my breath in groans; My flesh is worn away, my skin Scarce hides my starting bones. 6 I'm like a pelican become,
That does in deserts mourn; Or like an owl, that sits all day
On barren trees forlorn.
7 In watchings, or in restless dreams, The night by me is spent,
As by those solitary birds.
That lonesome roofs trequent.
8 All day by railing foes I'm made The subject of their scorn; Who all, possess'd with furious rage, Have my destruction sworn. 9 When grov'ling on the ground I lie, Oppress'd with grief and fears, My bread is strew'd with ashes o'er, My drink is mix'd with tears. 10 Because on me with double weight Thy heavy wrath doth lie;
For thou, to make my fall more great, Didst lift me up on high.
11 My days, just hast'ning to their end,
Are like an evening shade; My beauty does, like wither'd grass, With waning lustre fade. 12 But thy eternal state, O Lord,
No length of time shall waste; The memory of thy wondrous works From age to age shall last. 13 Thou shalt arise, and Sion view With an unclouded face;
For now her time is come, thy own Appointed day of grace.
Loud praises to his name:
22 When all the tribes assembling there, Their solemn vows address, And neighb'ring lands, with glad con-
The Lord their God confess. 23 But e'er my race is run, my strength Through his fierce wrath decays; He has, when all my wishes bloom'd, Cut short my hopeful days.
24 Lord, end not thou my life, said I, When half is scarcely past;
Thy years, from worldly changes free, To endless ages last.
25 The strong foundations of the earth Of old by thee were laid;
Thy hands the beauteous arch of heaven With wondrous skill have made. 26, 27 Whilst thou for ever shalt endure, They soon shall pass away; And, like a garment often worn, Shall tarnish and decay.
Like that, when thou ordain'st their change,
To thy command they bend; But thou continuest still the same, Nor have thy years an end.
28 Thou to the children of thy saints Shalt lasting quiet give; Whose happy race, securely fix'd, Shall in thy presence live, PSALM CIII.
My soul, inspir'd with sacred love,
God's holy name for ever bless; Of all his favours mindful prove,
And still thy grateful thanks express. 3, 4 "Tis he that all thy sins forgives, And after sickness makes thee sound;
From danger he thy life retrieves, By him with grace and mercy crown'd. 5, 6 He with good things thy mouth supplies,
Thy vigour, eagle-like, renews: He, when the guiltless sufferer cries, His foe with just revenge pursues. 7 God made of old his righteous ways To Moses and our fathers known; His works, to his eternal praise,
Were to the sons of Jacob shown. 8 The Lord abounds with tender love, And unexampled acts of grace; His waken'd wrath doth slowly move, is willing mercy flies apace. 9, 10 God will not always harshly chide, But with his anger quickly part; And loves his punishments to guide More by his love than our desert. 11 As high as heaven its arch extends Above this little spot of clay, So much his boundless love transcends The small respects that we can pay. 12, 13 As far as 'tis from east to west, So far has he our sins reinoved; Who, with a father's tender breast,
4 As bright as flame, as swift as wind, His ministers heaven's palace fill, To have their sundry tasks assign'd,
All proud to serve their Sovereign's will.
5, 6 Earth on her centre fix'd, he set, Her face with waters overspread; Nor proudest mountains dared as yet To lift above the waves their head. 7 But when thy awful face appear'd, Th' insulting waves dispers'd; they fled, When once thy thunder's voice they heard,
Has such as fear'd him always loved. 14, 15 For God, who all our frame sur-19 veys,
Considers that we are but clay; How fresh soe'er we seem, our days
Like grass or flowers must fade away. 16, 17 Whilst they are nipt with sudden blasts,
Nor can we find their former place; God's faithful mercy ever lasts,
To those that fear him and their race. 18 This shall attend on such as still. Proceed in his appointed way; And who not only know his will, But to it just obedience pay. 19, 20 The Lord, the universal King, In heaven has fix'd his lofty throne: To him, ye angels, praises sing,
In whose great strength his power is shown.
Ye that his just commands obey,
And hear and do his sacred will, 21 Ye hosts of his, this tribute pay, Who still what he ordains fulfil 22 Let every creature jointly bless The mighty Lord; and thou, my heart, With grateful joy thy thanks express, And in this concert bear thy part. PSALM CIV.
QLESS God, my soul; thou, Lord, alone,
Possessest empire without bounds; With honour thou art crown'd, thy
Eternal majesty surrounds.
2 With light thou dost thyself enrobe, And glory for a garment take;
And by their haste confess'd their dread.
8 Thence up by secret tracts they creep, And,gushing from the mountain's side, Through valleys travel to the deep. Appointed to receive their tide. There hast thou fix'd the ocean's bounds,
The threat'ning surges to repel; That they no more o'erpass their mounds,
Nor to a second deluge swell. PART II.
10 Yet thence in smaller parties drawa The sea recovers her lost hills; And starting springs from every lawn Surprise the vales with plenteous rills.
11 The field's tame beasts are thither led, Weary with labour,faint with drought, And asses on wild mountains bred
Have sense to find these currents out 12 There shady trees from scorching beams
Vield shelter to the feather'd throng They drink,and to the bounteous streami Return the tribute of their song. 13 His rains from heaven parch'd hil recruit,
That soon transmit the liquid store, Till earth is burden'd with her fruit, And nature's lap can hold no more. 14 Grass, for our cattle to devour,
He makes the growth of every field: Herbs, for man's use, of various powe That either food or physic yield. 15 With cluster'd grapes he crowns the vine,
To cheer man's heart, oppress'd with
PART II. 16 The trees of God, without the care Or art of man, with sap are fed: The mountain-cedar looks as fair As those in royal gardens bred. 17 Safe in the lofty cedar's arms
The wanderers of the air may rest; The hospitable pine from harms
Protects the stork, her pious guest. 18 Wild goats the craggy rock ascend, Its towering heights their fortress make,
Whose cells in labyrinths extend,
Where feebler creatures refuge take. 19 The moon's inconstant aspect shows Th' appointed seasons of the year; Th' instructed sun his duty knows, His hour to rise and disappear. 20, 21 Darkness he makes the earth to shroud,
When forest beasts securely stray; Young lions roar their wants aloud To providence, that sends them prey. 22 They range all night on slaughter bent,
Till summon'd by the rising morn, To skulk in dens, with one consent The conscious ravagers return. 23 Forth to the tillage of his soil The husbandman securely goes, Commencing with the sun his toil, With him returns to his repose. 24 How various, Lord, thy works are found;
For which thy wisdom we adore! The earth is with thy treasure crown'd, Till nature's hand can grasp no more. PART IV.
25 But still the vast unfathom'd main, Of wonders a new scene supplies, Whose depths inhabitants contain
181 Thus through successive ages stands Firm fix'd thy providential care; Pleased with the work of thy own hands, Thou dost the waste of time repair. 32 One look of thine, one wrathful look, Earth's panting breast with terror fills;
One touch from thee, with clouds of smoke
In darkness shrouds the proudest hills. 33 In praising God, while he prolongs My breath, I will that breath employ; 34 And join devotion to my songs, Sincere, as in him is my joy. 35 While sinners from earth's face are hurl'd,
My soul, praise thou his holy name Till with my song the list'ning world Join concert, and his praise proclaim. PSALM CV.
Render thanks, and bless the Lord; Invoke sacred name;
Acquaint the nations with his deeds, His matchless deeds proclaim.
2 Sing to his praise in lofty hymns; His wondrous works rehearse; Make them the theme of your discourse, And subject of your verse. 3 Rejoice in his Almighty name, Alone to be ador'd;
And let their hearts o'erflow with joy That humbly seek the Lord.
4 Seek ye the Lord, his saving strength Devoutly still implore;
And, where he's ever present, seek His face for evermore.
5 The wonders that his hands have wrought
Keep thankfully in mind; The righteous statutes of his mouth, And laws to us assign'd.
6 Know ye, his servant Abraham's seed, And Jacob's chosen race;
7 He's still our God, his judgments still Throughout the earth take place. 8 His cov'nant he hath kept in mind
Of every form, and every size. 26 Full-freighted ships from every port There cut their unmolested way; Leviathan, whom there to sport Thou mad'st, has compass there to play. 27 These various troops of sea and land In sense of common want agree; All wait on thy dispensing hand, And have their daily alms from thee.9 28 They gather what thy stores disperse, Without their trouble to provide; Thou op'st thy hand, the universe,
The craving worid, is all supply'd. 29 Thou for a moment hid'st thy face, The num'rous ranks of creatures mourn;
Thou tak'st their breath, all nature's race Forthwith to mother earth return. 30 Again thou send'st thy spirit forth T' inspire the mass with vital seed; Nature's restor'd, and parent earth Smiles on her new-created breed.
For num'rous ages past, Which yet for thousand ages more In equal force shall last.
First sign'd to Abra'm, next, by oath To Isaac made secure; 10 To Jacob and his heirs a law, For ever to endure:
11 That Canaan's land should be th lot,
When yet but few there were; 12 But few in number, and those few All friendless strangers there. 18 In pilgrimage, from realm to real Securely they removed;
14 Whilst proudest monarchs, for their sakes, Severely he reproved.
15' These mine anointed are,' said he; 'Let none my servants wrong; 'Nor treat the poorest prophet ill, That does to me belong.' 16 A dearth, at last, by his command, Did through the land prevail; Till corn, the chief support of life, Sustaining corn, did fail.
17 But his indulgent providence Had pious Joseph sent, Sold into Egypt, but their death, Who sold him, to prevent.
18 His feet with heavy chains were crush'd,
With calumny his fame;
19 Till God's appointed time and word To his deliv'rance came.
20 The king his sov'reign order sent, And rescu'd him with speed; Whom private malice bad confined, The people's ruler freed.
21 His court, revenues, realms, were all Subjected to his will;
22 His greatest princes to control, And teach his statesmen skill. PART II.
23 To Egypt then, invited guests, Half famish'd Israel came;
And Jacob held, by royal grant, The fertile soil of Ham.
34 He spake the word, and locusts came, And caterpillars join'd; They prey'd upon the poor remains The storm had left behind.
35 From trees to herbage they descend, No verdant thing they spare; But, like the naked fallow field; Leave all the pasture bare.
36 From fields to villages and towns, Commission'd vengeance flew; One fatal stroke their eldest hopes And strength of Egypt slew. 37 He brought his servants forth, en- rich'd
With Egypt's borrow'd wealth; And, what transcends all treasure else, Enrich'd with vig'rous health. 38 Egypt rejoiced, in hopes to find Her plagues with them removed; Taught dearly now to fear worse ills By those already proved. 39 Their shrouding canopy by day A journeying cloud was spread; A fiery pillar all the night
Their desert marches led.
40 They long'd for flesh; with evening quails
He furnish'd ev'ry tent;
From heaven's high granary, each
The bread of angels sent.
24 Th' Almighty there with such in- 41 He smote the rock, whose flinty
His people multiply'd,
Till with their proud oppressors they In strength and number vied.
25 Their vast increase th' Egyptians' hearts
With jealous anger fired, Till they his servants to destroy
By treacherous arts conspired. 26 His servant Moses then he sent, His chosen Aaron too,
27 Empower'd with signs and miracles, To prove their mission true.
28 He call'd for darkness, darkness came, Nature his summons knew ;
29 Each stream and lake, transform'd to blood,
The wand'ring fishes slew.
30 In putrid floods, throughout the land, The pest of frogs was bred;
From noisome fens sent up to croak At Pharaoh's board and bed. 31 He gave the sign, and swarms of flies Came down in cloudy hosts; Whilst earth's enliven'd dust below Bred lice through all their coasts. 32 He sent them batt'ring hail for rain, And fire for cooling dew;
33 He smote their vines, and forest plants,
And garden's pride o'erthrew.
Pour'd forth a gushing tide;
Whose flowing stream, where'er they march'd,
The desert's drought supply'd.
42 For still he did on Abra'm's faith And ancient league reflect;
43 He brought his people forth with joy, With triumph his elect.
44 Quite rooting out their heathen foes From Canaan's fertile soil,
To them in cheap possession gave The fruit of other's toil:
45 That they his statutes might observe, His sacred laws obey: For benefits so vast, let us Our songs of praise repay. PSALM CVI.
Render thanks to God above, The Fountain of eternal love; Whose mercy firm through ages past Has stood, and shall for ever last. 2 Who can his mighty deeds express, Not only vast, but numberless? What mortal eloquence can raise His tribute of immortal praise? 3 Happy are they, and only they, Who from thy judgments never stray, Who know what's right; nor only se, But always practise what they know.
4 Extend to me that favour, Lord, Thou to thy chosen dost afford: When thou return'st to set them free, Let thy salvation visit me. 50 may I worthy prove to see Thy saints in full prosperity; That I the joyful choir may join, And count thy people's triumph mine. 6 But ah! can we expect such grace, Of parents vile the viler race;
Who their misdeeds have acted o'er, And with new crimes increased the score? 7 Ingrateful, they no longer thought On all his works in Egypt wrought; The Red Sea they no sooner view'd, Than they their base distrust renew'd. 8 Yet he, to vindicate his name, Once more to their deliverance came; To make his sov'reign power be known, That he is God, and he alone.
9 To right and left, at his command, The parting deep disclosed her sand; Where firm and dry the passage lay, As through some parch'd and desert
28 Yet, unreclaim'd, this stubborn race Baal-Peor's worship did embrace; Became his impious guests, and fed On sacrifices to the dead.
29 Thus they persisted to provoke God's vengeance to the final stroke: 'Tis come-the deadly pest is come, To execute their general doom.
10 Thus rescued from their foes they 30 But Phineas, fired with holy rage,
That proved the rash pursuers' graves. 12 The watery mountains sudden fall Olerwhelm'd proud Pharaoh, host and all;
This proof did stupid Israel move To own God's truth, and praise his love. PART II.
18 But soon these wonders they forgot, And for his counsel waited not; 14 But lusting in the wilderness, Did him with fresh temptations press. 15 Strong food at their request he sent, But made their sin their punishment; 16 Yet still his saints they did oppose, The priest and prophet whom he chose. 17 But earth, the quarrel to decide, Her vengeful jaws extending wide, Rash Dathan to her centre drew, With proud Abiram's factious crew. 18 The rest of those who did conspire To kindle wild sedition's fire, With all their impious train, became A prey to heaven's devouring flame. 19 Near Horeb's mount a calf they made,
And to the molten image pray'd; 20 Adoring what their hands did frame, They changed their glory to their shame. 21 Their God and Saviour they forgot, And all his works in Egypt wrought; 22 His signs in Ham's astonish'd coast, And where proud Pharaoh's troops were lost.
Th' Almighty vengeance to assuage, Did, by two bold offenders' fall, Th' atonement make that ransom'd all 31 As him a heavenly zeal had moved, So heaven the zealous act approved; To him confirming, and his race, The priesthood he so well did grace. 32 At Meribah God's wrath they moved, Who Moses, for their sakes, reproved; 33 Whose patient soul they did provoke, Till rashly the meek prophet spoke. 34 Nor, when possess'd of Canaan's land,
Did they perform the Lord's command, Nor his commission'd sword employ The guilty nations to destroy. 35 Not only spared the pagan crew, But, mingling, learnt their vices too; 36 And worship to those idols paid, Which them to fatal snares betray'd. 37, 38 To devils they did sacrifice Their children with relentless eyes; Approach'd their altars through a flood Of their own sons' and daughters' blood. No cheaper victims would appease Canaan's remorseless deities; No blood her idols reconcile, But that which did the land defile. PART IV.
39 Nor did these savage cruelties The harden'd reprobates suffice; For after their heart's lust they went, And daily did new crimes invent. 40 But sins of such infernal hue God's wrath against his people drew, Till he, their once indulgent Lord, His own inheritance abhor 'd.
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