PSALMS

FOR

SOCIAL WORSHIP.

FIRST BOOK. LONG METRE.

PSALM I.

Godliness, its nature and reward.

I BLEST is the man whofe virtuous steps
No wicked counfels lead afide;

Who fhuns the finner's ways, nor fits
Where God and goodness men deride;

2 Who in the perfect law of God
Hath plac'd his foul's entire delight;
On this his mind is fix'd by day,
On this his wakeful thoughts by night.

3 He flourishes like fome fair tree

With living waters near the root,
Whofe leaves are ever fresh and green,
Whose branches bend with timely fruit.

4 Safe fhall his deareft hopes remain,
And the best pleasures of his mind;
When all the joys the wicked know
Shall flee like chaff before the wind,

5

God will reward the juft man's work,
For he approves the path he treads;
But that which thoughtless finners choose
To fure and fwift deftruction leads.

P.

PSALM II.

Hope and confidence in God our shepherd.
1 GOD is my fhepherd who will fee
That all my wants be well fupply'd;
In dangerous and in doubtful ways
He is my guard, and he my guide.

2 His comforts, which revive my foul,
My life's whole journey pleasant make:
And in the peaceful paths of grace
He leads me, for his goodness fake.

3 Tho' I fhould walk where black despair
And forrow caft a difmal fhade;

Thy power, O Lord, thy tender care Would chafe my fears, and make me glad.

4 Surely thy goodnefs, O my God, Shall ftill furround me all my days:

Thy houfe I will frequent, and there Difplay thy love, and fing thy praife. P.

PSALM III.

PSALM III.

God our confolation:

I O GOD, the fpring of all my joys,
For thee I long, to theé I look:
No chafed hart e'er panted more
To reach the cooling water-brook.

2. Thy mercy and thy truth difplay;
That, by the conduct of thy light,.
Thy courts above I may attain,
And have of thee a fuller fight..

3 Oft have I found thy worship here
My foul above it's forrows raise;
And thence again I'll seek relief,
Till my fad heart fhall learn to praife.

4 Why fhou'd I cherish gloomy thoughts,
Whence nothing but difquiet flows?
They can't procure me what I wish,
Why should they hinder my repose?

5

I have learnt, at last, a remedy
To keep my paffions calm and ftill;
I am nearer help by hope in God,
And refignation to his will.

A 2

P.

PSALM IV.

PSALM IV.

Stability of God's government.

1 JEHOVAH reigns; this King of Kings
Affumes his robes of glorious light;
Tremble, thou Earth, when he appears
Array'd in majesty and might.

2 He reigns, and the unquiet world
Shall gain ftability and peace:
His empire did of old begin,

And, like himself, fhall never cease.

3 In vain the world's rebellious powers
In tumults and commotions rife,
Like troubled waters of the fea,
To bid defiance to the fkies.

4 Oppose not his refiftless sway;
He is far above your angry noise;
And even the fea's unruly waves
Do calmly liften to his voice.

5 Lord, as thy power can never fail,
So all thy promifes are fure:

'Tis thy perfection to be true,

And their's that ferve thee to be

pure.

.P.

PSALM V.

PSALM V.

Joy in the government of God.

I COME let us all unite our joys,
And to the Lord our voices raise :
Before his gracious prefence come
With thankful hearts and pfalms of praife.

2 He reigns; let all the earth rejoice:
For tho' thick darkness may furround
And cloud his ways of providence,
Juftice and goodness is their ground.

3. O ye that love and praise the Lord,
See as ye praise that ye obey :
Hate what he hates, and hope in him
While ye pursue his perfect way.

4 Seeds of immortal light and bliss
For truly pious men are fown:

A joyful harvest will, at length,
Their labours and their forrows crown.

5 Then let your chearful temper fhew
The God you ferve is good and kind;
Praise him for all his mercies paft,
And wait with joy for thofe behind.

A 3

P.

PSALM VI.