So shall thy name arise
In songs of endless praise;
While on thy grace my soul relies,
And daily off'rings pays.
PSALM 62.
Confidence in divine grace and power.
1 MY soul for help on God relies: From him alone my safety flows; My rock, my health, that strength supplies To bear the shock of all my foes. 2 He will his saving power dispense, And flowing blessings daily send; He is my fortress and defence;
On him my soul shall still depend.
3 In him, ye people, always trust;
Before his throne pour out your hearts: Our God, the merciful and just,
His timely aid to us imparts.
The vanity of all merely worldly objects of confidence. 4 The vulgar fickle are and frail,
The great dissemble and betray;
Balanc'd in truth's impartial scale,
Mere vanity will both outweigh.
50 trust not in oppressive ways,
By wrong and rapine grow not vain:
Nor let your hearts, if wealth increase,
Be set on this world's sordid gain.
6 For God has oft this truth exprest,
Once and again hath made it known,
"To be of boundless power possest,
"Belongs of right to him alone."
7 But mercy is his darling grace,
In which he chiefly takes delight;
Yet will he all the human race
According to their works requite.
Longing and seeking after God, as manifested in his sanctuary.
1 0 GOD, my gracious God, to thee
My early prayers shall offer'd be,
For thee my thirsting spirit pant:
My fainting flesh implores thy grace,
A pilgrim in this barren place,
Where I refreshing waters want.
20 to my longing eyes once more
That view of glorious power restore,
Which thine own hallow'd house displays.
Because to me thy wondrous love
Than life itself does dearer prove,
My lips shall always speak thy praise.
3 My life, while I that life enjoy,
In blessing thee will I employ,
With lifted hands adore thy name.
My soul's content shall be as great,
As theirs who taste delicious meat,
While I with joy thy praise proclaim.
4 When down I lie sweet sleep to find,
Thou, Lord, art present to my mind.
And when I wake at dead of night,
Because thou still dost succour bring,
I joyful rest beneath thy wing,
And cleave to thee with great delight.
The Psalmist, in the person of Messiah, supplicates for a rescue from danger; and anticipates the awful display of God's justice in defending his Church.
1 HEAR us, O God, in pity hear;
Preserve our life from hostile fear:
The plots of impious men defeat,
And hide us in a safe retreat.
2 Behold, how the conspiring throng Whet, as a sword, their baleful tongue; In secret at thy servants aim;
And fear of God or man disclaim.
3 Say they," who will our deeds descry"?
Behold, the arrow from on high
Descends, and bears upon its wing
The wrath of Heaven's offended King.
4 Then all men fill'd with awe shall stand,
And own the Lord's avenging hand:
And, with triumphant joy, the just
Will thankful place in him their trust.
He that heareth prayer is the object of our praise; especially as a pardoning God, who makes all things work together for the good of his people.
1 PRAISE waits in Zion, Lord, for thee;
There shall our vows be paid:
Thou hast an ear when sinners pray,
All flesh shall seek thine aid.
2 Lord, our iniquities prevail,
But pard'ning grace is thine;
For thou wilt cleanse, and grant us power
To conquer ev'ry sin.
3 Oh, blest are they whom thou wilt choose,
To bring them near thy face:
Give them a dwelling in thy house,
And feed them with thy grace.
4 Fulfilling what thy church requests,
Thy truth and terror shine
In those dread acts of righteousness,
Which work thy kind design.
Celebration of God's superintending providence.
5 O GOD, the hope of all our race,
Of all whom earth's wide arms embrace,
Of all who, tost by tempests, sweep
The surface of the trackless deep;
God of salvation, great and just,
To thee we look, in thee we trust.
6 Thou, girt with strength, hast made the base
Of tow'ring mountains keep its place:
Thy hand is pow'rful to restrain
The inroads of the foaming main;
Seas at thy bidding rest in peace;
The tumults of the nations cease.
7 Remotest realms with dire dismay
Thy tokens from on high survey;
Struck with surprise thy pow'r they own,
And humbled bow before thy throne.
While, as they walk their daily round,
Both morn and eve thy praise resound.
Celebration of the wondrous provision made for the progress of
vegetation from spring to autumn.
8 THE seasons, Lord, obey thy voice;
Thy visits make the earth rejoice.
Thy rivers pour their copious tide,
By unexhausted springs supplied.
Thus thy kind care prepares the earth
To give the springing corn its birth.
9 Thy clouds, in frequent showers distill'd,
Drop fatness on the bursting field,
Break the tough glebe, the furrows cheer,
And crown with good the circling year.
The hills are clad in vesture green,
And desert plains, by man unseen.
10 Nurs'd by thy care, the fleecy train
Whiten in flocks the rural plain.
And lo! beneath the fav'ring skies,
Around the waving corn-fields rise;
The laughing vale assumes a tongue,
And bursts rejoicing into song.
A call to praise God for the power and universality of his
YE lands, with joyful sound,
To God your voices raise;
Sing forth the honour of his name,
And speak his glorious praise.
Say ye, How dreadful, Lord,
In all thy works art thou!
Thro' thy great power, each stubborn foe
To thee shall humbly bow.
Thee shall the world adore,
Thy glorious name shall own;—
O! come behold the works of God,
His dreadful judgments shown.
4 He made the sea dry land;
The fathers pass'd the flood:
Then did his chosen ones rejoice,
And triumph'd in their God.
Praise for the dealings of God with his Church in carrying them thro' tribulation.
YE nations bless our God,
And speak his wondrous praise;
He still preserves our souls in life,
And guides our doubtful ways.
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