6 Make me to walk in thy commands,
'Tis a delightful road;
Nor let my head, or heart, or hands,
Offend against my God.
1 O THAT thy statutes every hour
Might dwell upon my mind!
Thence I derive a quickening power,
And daily comfort find.
2 Thy word shall dwell upon my heart,
To keep me pure within ;
And be an everlasting guard
From every rising sin.
3 To meditate thy precepts, Lord,
Shall be my sweet employ ;
My soul shall ne'er forget thy word,
Thy word is all my joy.
4 How would I run in thy commands,
If thou my heart discharge
From sin's deceit and folly's bands,
And set my feet at large!
5 My lips with courage shall declare
Thy statutes and thy name;
I'll speak thy word, though tyrants hear,
Nor yield to sinful shame.
6 Depart from me, ye wicked race,
Whose hands and hearts are ill;
I love my God, I love his ways,
And must obey his will.
PSALM CXIX. 12th Part. C. M.
The Benefit of Afflictions.
1 CONSIDER all my sorrows, Lord,
And thy deliverance send;
My soul for thy salvation waits;
When will my troubles end!
2 Yet I have found 'tis good for me
To bear my Father's rod;
Afflictions make me learn the law,
And reverence my God.
3 This is the comfort I enjoy,
When now distress begins;
I read thy word, I run thy ways,
And hate my former sins.
4 Had not thy word been my delight,
When earthly joys were fled,
My soul, oppress'd with sorrow's weight,
Had sunk among the dead.
5 I know thy judgments, Lord, are right,
Though they may seem severe ;
In all the sufferings I endure,
Thy grace and love appear.
5 Before I knew thy chastening rod,
My feet were apt to stray ;
But now I learn to keep thy word,
Nor wander from thy way.
PSALM CXIX. 13th Part. C. M.
Prayer for quickening Grace.
1 MY soul lies cleaving to the dust, Lord, give me life divine;
From vain desires, and every lust,
Turn off these eyes of mine.
2 I need the influence of thy grace,
To speed me in my way;
Lest I should loiter in my race,
Or turn my feet astray.
3 When sore afflictions press me down,
I need thy quickening powers;
Thy word, that I have rested on,
Shall help my heaviest hours.
4 Are not thy mercies sovereign still?
And thou a faithful God?
Wilt thou not grant me warmer zeal,
To run the heavenly road?
5 Does not my heart thy precepts love?
And long to see thy face?
And yet how slow my spirits move,
Without enlivening grace!
6. Then shall I love thy gospel more,
And ne'er forget thy word,
When I have felt its quickening power,
To draw me near the Lord.
1 FATHER, I bless thy gentle hand;
How kind was thy chastising rod,
That forc'd my conscience to a stand,
And brought my wandering soul to God!
2 Foolish and vain, I went astray,
Ere I had felt thy scourges, Lord;
I left my guide, and lost my way;
But now I love and keep thy word.
3''Tis good for me to wear the yoke,
For pride is apt to rise and swell;
'Tis good to bear my Father's stroke,
That I may learn his statutes well.
4 The law that issues from thy mouth,
Shall raise my cheerful passions more
Than all the treasures of the south,
Or western hills of golden ore.
5 Thy hands have made my mortal frame,
Thy Spirit form'd my soul within;
Teach me to love thy holy name,
And guard me safe from every sin.
6 Then those who love and fear the Lord,
In my salvation shall rejoice;
For I have trusted in thy word,
And make thy grace my only choice.
PSALM CXX. Common Metre.
Complaint against Enemies,
1 THOU God of love, thou ever blest,
Pity my suffering state;
When wilt thou set my soul at rest
From men who love deceit.
2 Ah, wo is me, to have my seat
Among the sons of strife!
Perpetual insult doom'd to meet,
From men of restless life.
3 Oh might I fly to change my place,
I'd rather choose to roam
In some wide, lonesome wilderness,
To find a silent home!
4 Peace is the blessing that I seek,
And friendly terms prepare;
But when to them of peace I speak,
They all for war declare.
5 New passions still their souls engage,
And keep their malice strong;
What shall be done to curb thy rage,
O thou provoking tongue!..
6 Should deadly arrows strike thee through,
Strict justice would approve;
But I had rather spare my foe,
And melt his heart with love.
PSALM CXXI. Common Metre.
1 FROM Zion's hill my help descends;
To God I lift mine eyes;.
My strength alone on him depends,
Who built the earth and skies.
2 He, ever watchful, ever nigh,
Forbids my feet to slide;
No sleep nor slumber seals the eye
Of Israel's faithful Guide.
3 He will sustain my feeble powers
With his almighty arm;
And watch my most unguarded hours
Against all fatal harm.
4 Then let my soul securely rest,
My guardian is the Lord;
His power, which makes my slumbers blest,
Protection will afford.
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