3 If we reprove some hateful lie,
They scorn our faithful word!
"Are not our lips our own," they cry,
"And who shall be our Lord?"
4 Scoffers appear on every side,
Where a vile race of men
Is raised to seats of power and pride,
And bears the sword in vain.
5 Lord, when iniquities abound,
And blasphemy grows bold,
When faith is rarely to be found,
And love is waxing cold,
6 Is not thy chariot hastening on?
Hast thou not given the sign?
May we not trust and live upon
A promise so divine?
7 "Yes," saith the Lord, "now will I rise, And make th' oppressors flee;
I shall appear to their surprise,
And set my servants free."
8 Thy word, like silver seven times tried, Through ages shall endure;
The men that in thy truth confide
Shall find thy promise sure.
PSALM 13. C. M.
HOW long wilt thou conceal thy face?
My God, how long delay?
When shall I feel those heavenly rays
That chase my fears away?
2 How long shall my poor labouring soul Wrestle and toil in vain ?
Thy word can all my foes control,
And ease my raging pain.
3 See how the prince of darkness tries
All his malicious arts;
He spreads a mist around my eyes,
And throws his fiery darts.
4 Be thou my sun, and thou my shield,
My soul in safety keep;
Make haste before mine eyes are sealed
In death's eternal sleep.
5 How would the tempter boast aloud
Should I become his prey!
Behold the sons of hell grow proud
To see thy long delay.
6 But they shall flee at thy rebuke,
And Satan hide his head;
He knows the terrors of thy look,
And hears thy voice with dread.
7 Thou wilt display thy sovereign grace,
Whence all my comforts spring;
I shall employ my lips in praise,
And thy salvation sing.
OOLS in their hearts believe and say,
That all religion 's vain,
"There is no God that reigns on high,
Or minds th' affairs of men."
2 From thoughts so dreadful and profane Corrupt discourse proceeds;
And in their impious hands are found
Abominable deeds.
3 The Lord from his celestial throne,
Looked down on things below,
To find the man that sought his grace,
Or did his justice know.
4 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.
5 Their tongues are used to speak deceit,
Their slanders never cease:
How swift to mischief are their feet,
Nor know the paths of peace!
6 Such seeds of sin (that bitter root)
In every heart are found;
Nor can they bear diviner fruit,
grace refine the ground.
7 O that salvation might proceed
From Zion's sacred place,
Till Israel's captives all are freed,
And sing recovering grace.
PSALM 15. FIRST PART. C. M.
HO shall inhabit in thy hill,
O God of holiness?
Whom will the Lord admit to dwell
So near his throne of grace?
2 The man that walks in pious ways,
And works with righteous hands;
That trusts his Maker's promised grace,
And follows his commands.
3 He speaks the meaning of his heart,
Nor slanders with his tongue;
Will scarce believe an ill report,
Nor do his neighbour wrong.
4 The wealthy sinner he contemns,
Loves all that fear the Lord;
And though to his own hurt he swears,
Still he performs his word.
5 His hands disdain a golden bribe,
And never wrong the poor:
This man shall dwell with God on earth,
And find his heaven secure.
PSALM 15. SECOND PART. L. M.
WHO shall ascend thy heavenly place,
Great God, and dwell before thy face
The man that minds religion now,
And humbly walks with God below:
2 Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean,
Whose lips still speak the thing they mean;
No slanders dwell upon his tongue;
He hates to do his neighbour wrong.
3 Scarce will he trust an ill report,
Or vent it to his neighbour's hurt:
Sinners of state he can despise,
But saints are honoured in his eyes.
4 Firm to his word he ever stood,
And always makes his promise good;
Nor dares to change the thing he swears,
Whatever pain or loss he bears.
5 He never deals in bribing gold,
And mourns that justice should be sold:
While others scorn and wrong the poor,
Sweet charity attends his door.
6 He loves his enemies, and prays
For those that curse him to his face;
And doth to all men still the same
That he would hope or wish from them.
7 Yet, when his holiest works are done,
His soul depends on grace alone:
This is the man thy face shall see,
And dwell for ever, Lord, with thee.
PSALM 16. FIRST PART. L. M.
RESERVE me, Lord, in time of need;
For succour to thy throne I flee,
But have no merits there to plead :
My goodness cannot reach to thee.
2 Oft have my heart and tongue confest
How empty and how poor I am:
My praise can never make thee blest,
Nor add new glories to thy name.
3 Yet, Lord, thy saints on earth may reap
Some profit by the good we do;
These are the company I keep,
These are the choicest friends I know.
4 How fast their guilt and sorrows rise,
Who haste to seek some idol-god!
I will not taste their sacrifice,
Their offerings of forbidden blood.
5 My God provides a richer cup,
And nobler food to live upon;
He for my life has offered up
Jesus, his best beloved Son.
6 His love is my perpetual feast;
By day his counsels guide me right;
And be his name for ever blest,
Who gives me sweet advice by night.
7 I set him still before mine eyes;
At my right hand he stands prepared
To keep my soul from all surprise,
And be my everlasting guard.
PSALM 16. SECOND PART. L. M.
HEN God is nigh, my faith is strong,
His arm is my almighty prop:
Be glad my heart, rejoice my tongue,
My dying flesh shall rest in hope.
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