14 Her scatter'd ruins by thy saints 21 That they in Sion, where he dwells, 22 When all the tribes assembling there, M PSALM CIII. with pity are survey'd; in dust and rubbish laid. all heathen kings shall fear; and in full state appear. nor slights their earnest pray'r, shall his just praise declare. his gracious beams display'd: hath all the earth survey'd. he heard their mournful cry, the wretches doom'd to die. might celebrate his fame, loud praises to his name: their solemn vows address, the Lord their God confess. thro' his fierce wrath decays; cut short my hopeful days. when half is scarcely past; to endless ages last. of old by thee were laid; with wondrous skill have made. they soon shall pass away; shall tarnish and decay. to thy command they bend; nor have thy years an end. shalt lasting quiet give; shall in thy presence live. soul, inspir'd with sacred love, God's holy name for ever bless; Of all his favours mindful prove, and still thy grateful thanks express. 3, 4 'Tis he that all thy sins forgives, and after sickness makes thee sound; From danger he thy life retrieves, by him with grace and mercy crown'd. 5,6 He with good things thy mouth supplies, thy vigour, eagle like, renews: He, when the guiltless suff'rer cries, 7 God made of old his righteous ways His works, to his eternal praise, 8 The Lord abounds with tender love, his foe with just revenge pursues. to Moses and our fathers known; were to the sons of Jacob shown. and unexampled acts of grace; his willing mercy flies apace. but with his anger quickly part; more by his love than our desert. above this little spot of clay, the small respects that we can pay. so far has he our sins remov'd; has such as fear him always lov'd. 14, 15 For God, who all our frame surveys, considers that we are but clay; How fresh soe'er we seem, our days like grass or flow'rs must fade away. 16, 17 Whilst they arenipt with sudden blasts, nor can we find their former place; God's faithful mercy ever lasts, to those that fear him, and their race. proceed in his appointed way; but to it just obedience pay. in heav'n has fix'd his lofty throne: 18 This shall attend on such as still And who not only know his will, 19, 20 The Lord, the universal King, To him, ye angels, praises sing, in whose great strength his pow'r is shown. Ye that his just commands obey, and hear and do his sacred will, who still what he ordains fulfil. the mighty Lord; and thou, my heart, and in this concert bear thy part. PSALM CIV. LESS God, my soul: thou, Lord, alone possessest empire without bounds; With honour thou art crown'd, thy throne eternal majesty surrounds. 2 With light thou dost thyself enrobe, and glory for a garment take; Heav'n's curtains stretch beyond the globe, thy canopy of state to make. 3 God builds on liquid air, and forms his palace chambers in the skies; [flies. The clouds his chariots are, and storms the swift wing'd steeds with which he 4 As bright as flame, as swift as wind, his ministers heav'n's palace fill, To have their sundry tasks assign'd, all proud to serve their Sov'reign's will. 5, 6 Earth on her centre fix'd, he set, her face with waters overspread; Nor proudest mountains dar'd as yet to lift above the waves their head. 7 But when thy awful face appear'd, th' insulting waves dispers'd; they fled, When once thy thunder's voice they heard, and by their haste confess'd their dread. 8 Thence up by secret tracks they creep, and, gushing from the mountain's side, Through valleys travel to the deep, appointed to receive their tide. 9 There hast thou fix'd the ocean's bounds, the threat'ning surges to repel; That they no more o'erpass their mounds, nor to a second deluge swell. The Second Part. 10 Yet thence in smaller parties drawn, the sea recovers her lost hills; And starting springs from ev'ry lawn surprise the vales with plenteous riíls. 11 The fields' tame beasts are thither led, weary with labour, faint with drought; And asses on wild mountains bred have sense to find these currents out. 12 Theirshady trees from scorching beamsyield shelter to the feather'd throng; They drink, and to the bounteous streams return the tribute of their song. 13 His rains from heav'n parch'd hills recruit, that soon transmit the liquid store; Till earth is burden'd with her fruit, 14 Grass, for our cattle to devour, Herbs, for man's use, of various pow'r, 15 With cluster'd grapes he crowns the vine, to cheer man's heart, oppress'd and nature's lap can hold no more. he makes the growth of ev'ry field: that either food or physick yield. with cares; Gives oil, that makes his face to shine, and corn, that wasted strength repairs. The Third 16 The trees of God, without the care Part. or art of man, with sap are fed: as those in royal gardens bred. the wand'rers of the air may rest; protects the stork, her pious guest. 18 Wild goats the craggy rock ascend, its tow'ring heights their fortress make, Whose cells in labyrinths extend, where feebler creatures refuge take. 19 The moon's inconstant aspect shows th' appointed seasons of the year; Th' instructed sun his duty knows, his hours to rise and disappear. 20,21 Darkness he makes the earth to shroud, when forest beasts securely stray; Young lions roar their wants aloud to Providence, that sends them prey. 22 They range all night, on slaughter bent, till summon'd by the rising morn, To skulk in dens, with one consent the conscious ravagers return. the husbandman securely goes, with him returns to his repose. 23 Forth to the tillage of his soil Commencing with the sun his toil, 24 How various, Lord, thy works are found; for which thy wisdom we adore! The earth is with thy treasure crown'd, till nature's hand can grasp no more. The Fourth Part. of wonders a new scene supplies, of ev'ry form, and ev'ry size. there cut their unmolested way; mad'st, has compass there to play. in sense of common want agree; and have their daily alms from thee. without their trouble to provide ; the craving world, is all supplied. num'rous ranks of creatures mourn; 25 But still the vast unfathom'd main, Whose depths inhabitants contain 26 Full freighted ships from ev'ry port Leviathan, whom there to sport thou 27 These various troops of sea and land All wait on thy dispensing hand, 28 They gather what thy stores disperse, Thou op'st thy hand, the universe, 29 Thou for a moment hid'st thy face, the Thou tak'st their breath, all nature's race forthwith to mother earth return. 30 Again thou send'st thy spirit forth t'inspire the mass with vital seed; Nature's restor'd, and parent earth smiles on her new created breed. 31 Thus through successive ages stands firm fix'd thy providential care; Picas'd with the work of thy cwn hands, thou dost the waste of time repair. 32 One look of thine, one wrathful look, earth's panting breast with terror fills; One touch from thee, with clouds of smoke in darkness shrouds the proudest hills. 33 In praising God, while he prolongs my breath, I will that breath employ; 34 And join devotion to my songs, sincere, as in him is my joy. [name, 35 While sinners from earth's face are hurl'd, my soul, praise thou his holy Till with my song the list'ning world join concert, and his praise proclaim. PSALM CV. RENDER thanks, and bless the Lord; invoke his sacred name; Acquaint the nations with his decds, 2 Sing to his praise in lofty hymns; 5 The wonders that his hands have wrought his matchless deeds proclaim. when yet but few they were; 16 A dearth at last, by his command, 18 His feet with heavy chains were crush'd, did through the land prevail; and teach his statesmen skill.. The Second Part. 23 To Egypt then, invited guests, 26 His servant Moses then he sent, 36 From fields to villages and towns, 40 They long'd for flesh, with ev'ning quails half famish'd Israel came; Whose flowing stream, where'er they march'd, the desert's drought supplied. 42 For still he did on Abra'm's faith 43 He brought his people forth with joy, 44 Quite rooting out their heathen foes To them in cheap possession gave 45 That they his statutes might observe, For benefits so vast, let us and ancient league reflect; PSALM CVI. RENDER thanks to God above, the fountain of eternal love; Whose mercy firm through ages past has stood, and shall for ever last. 2 Who can his mighty deeds express, What mortal eloquence can raise not only vast, but numberless ? his tribute of immortal praise? thou to thy chosen dost afford ! let thy salvation visit me. 3 Happy are they, and only they, who from thy judgements never stray : Who know what's right; nor only so, but always practise what they know. 4 Extend to me that favour, Lord, When thou return'st to set them free, 5 O may I worthy prove to see That I the joyful choir may join, thy saints in full prosperity; and count thy peoples' triumph mine. of parents vile the viler race; 6 But ah! can we expect such grace, Who their misdeeds have acted o'er, and with new crimes increas'd the score? 7 Ingrateful, they no longer thought on all his works in Egypt wrought; The Red Sea they no sooner view'd than they their base distrust renew'd. 8 Yet he, to vindicate his name, once more to their deliv'rance came; To make his sov'reign pow'r be known, that he is God, and he alone. 9 To right and left, at his command, the parting deep disclos'd her sand; Where firm and dry the passage lay, as thro' some parch'd and desert way. 10 Thus rescued from their foes they were, who closely press'd upon theirrear; 11 Whose rage pursued them to those waves, that prov'd the rash pursuers' graves. 12 The wat'ry mountain's sudden fall o'erwhelm'd proud Pharaoh, host and all; This proof did stupid Israci move to own God's truth, and praise his love. The Second Part. and for his counsel waited not; 13 But soon these wonders they forgot, 14 But lusting in the wilderness, did him with fresh temptations press. 15 Strong food at their request he sent, but made their sin their punishment; 16 Yet still his saints they did oppose, the priest and prophet whom he chose. 17 But earth, the quarrel to decide, her vengeful jaws extending wide, Rash Dathan to her centre drew, with proud Abiram's factious crew. 18 The rest of those who did conspire to kindle wild sedition's fire, With all their impious train, became a prey to heav'n's devouring flame. 19 Near Horeb's mount a calf they made, and to the molten image pray'd; 20 Adoring what their hands did frame, they chang'd their glory to their shame. 21 Their God and Saviour they forgot, and all his works in Egypt wrought; 22 His signs in Ham's astonish'd coast, and where proud Pharaoh's troops were lost. 23 Thus urg'd,his vengeful hand he rear'd, but Moses in the breach appear'd; The saint did for the rebels pray, and turn'd heav'n's kindled wrath away. 24 Yet they his pleasant land despis'd, nor his repeated promise priz'd, 25 Nor did th' Almighty's voice obey; but when God said, Go up, would stay. 26 This seal'd their doom, without redress, to perish in the wilderness; 27 Or else to be by heathen hands o'erthrown, and scatter'd thro' the lands The Third Part. 28 Yet, unreclaim'd, this stubborn race Baal-Peor's worship did embrace; Became his impious guests, and fed 29 Thus they persisted to provoke 'Tis come-the deadly pest is come, on sacrifices to the dead. God's vengeance to the final stroke: to execute their genʼral doom |