PSALM 14.
The Depravity of Man.
1 THE Lord, from his celestial throne,
Look'd down on things below,
To find the man that sought his grace,
Or did his justice know.
2 By nature all are gone astray,
Their practice all the same;
There's none that fears his Maker's hand,
There's none that loves his name.
3 Their tongues are us'd to speak deceit,
Their slanders never cease;
How swift to mischief are their feet,
Nor know the paths of peace!
4 Such seeds of sin (that bitter root)
In every heart are found;
Nor can they bear diviner fruit
Till grace refine the ground.
PSALM 16.
Confidence in Death.
1 I SET the Lord before mine eyes;
At my right-hand he stands, prepar'd
To keep my soul from all surprise,
And be my everlasting guard.
2 When He is nigh, my faith is strong,
And confidence inspires my breast:
Be glad, my heart; rejoice, my tongue;
In hope my dying flesh shall rest.
3 Though in the dust I lay my head,
Yet, gracious God, thou wilt not leave
My soul for ever with the dead,
Nor lose thy children in the grave.
4 My flesh shall thy first call obey,
Shake off the dust, and rise on high;
Then shalt thou lead the wond'rous way,
Up to thy throne above the sky.
PSALM 17.
The Saint's Hope.
1 WHAT sinners value, I resign;
Lord, 'tis enough that Thou art mine
I shall behold thy blissful face,
And stand complete in righteousness.
2 This life's a dream—an empty show;
But the bright world to which I go
Hath joys substantial and sincere ;—
When shall I wake and find me there?
3 O glorious hour! O blest abode !
I shall be near and like my God;
And flesh and sin no more control
The sacred pleasures of the soul.
4 My flesh shall slumber in the ground,
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound;
Then burst its chains, with sweet surprise,
And in my Saviour's image rise.
PSALM 18.
The Majesty of God.
1 THE Lord descended from above,
And bow'd the heavens most high;
And underneath his feet he cast
The darkness of the sky.
2 On cherub and on cherubim
Full royally he rode,
And on the wings of mighty winds
Came flying all abroad.
3 O God, my strength and fortitude,
Of force I must love thee;
Thou art my castle and defence,
In my necessity.
PSALM 19. VERSION 1. L. M. D.
Divine Glory displayed in the Creation.
I THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their Great Original proclaim.
Th' unwearied sun from day to day
Doth his Creator's power display,
And publisheth to every land
The work of an Almighty hand.
2 Soon as the ev'ning shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wond'rous tale,
And nightly to the list'ning earth
Repeats the story of her birth;
Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings, as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
3 What, though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball;
What, though no real vcice or sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found;
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice ;
For ever singing, as they shine,
The Hand that made us is divine!"
PSALM 19. VERSION 2.
The Word the Light of the World.
1 THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
In every star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold the Word,
We read thy Name in fairer lines.
2 The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days, thy power confess; But the blest volume thou hast writ Reveals thy justice and thy grace. 3 Thy noblest wonders here we view, In souls renew'd and sins forgiven: Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew, And make thy word my guide to heaven !
4 Great Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Bless the dark world with heavenly light; Thy gospel makes the simple wise;
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.
5 Let not thy spreading gospel rest,
Till through the world thy truth has run ; Till Christ has all the nations blest,
That see the light or feel the sun.
PSALM 19. VERSION 3.
The Excellency of the Gospel.
BEHOLD, the morning sun
Begins his glorious way;
His beams through all the nations run,
And light and life convey!
But where the gospel comes,
It spreads diviner light;
It calls dead sinners from the tombs,
And gives the blind their sight.
How perfect is thy word,
And all thy judgments just!
For ever sure thy promise, Lord,
And men securely trust.
I hear thy word with love,
And I would fain obey:
Send thy good Spirit from above,
To guide me, lest I stray!
Warn me of every sin,
Forgive my secret faults,
And cleanse this guilty soul of mine,
Whose crimes exceed my thoughts.
While with my heart and tongue
I spread thy praise abroad,
Accept the worship and the song,
My Saviour and my God!
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