On thee alone my steadfast hope

Shall ever, Lord, depend.

5 Lord, hear my cry, accept my tears,
And listen to my prayer,
Who sojourn like a stranger here,
As all my fathers were.

6 O spare me yet a little time;

I

My wasted strength restore,
Before I vanish quite from hence,
And shall be seen no more.

SELECTION 34. L. M.

From the xl. Psalm of David.

WAITED meekly for the Lord,
Till he vouchsafed a kind reply;
Who did his gracious ear afford,

And heard from heaven my humble cry.

2 The wonders he for me has wrought

Shall fill my mouth with songs of praise;
And others, to his worship brought,
To hopes of like deliverance raise.

3 For blessings shall that man reward,
Who on th' Almighty Lord relies;
Who treats the proud with disregard,
And hates the hypocrite's disguise.

4 Who can the wondrous works recount, Which thou, O God, for us hast wrought! The treasures of thy love surmount

2 The Lord his life, with blessings crown'd,
In safety shall prolong ;
And disappoint the will of those
That seek to do him wrong.

3 If he, in languishing estate,

Oppress'd with sickness lie;
The Lord will easy make his bed,
And inward strength supply.
4 Secure of this, to thee, my God,
I thus my prayer address'd:
"Lord, for thy mercy, heal my soul,

Though I have much transgress'd."
5 Thy tender care secures my life
From danger and disgrace;
And thou vouchsaf'st to set me still
Before thy glorious face.

6 Let therefore Israel's Lord and God
From age to age be bless'd;
And all the people's glad applause
With loud Amens express'd.

SELECTION 36. C. M.

From the xlil. Psalm of Dayld.

AS pants the hart for cooling streams,

When heated in the chase;

So longs my soul, O God, for thee,
And thy refreshing grace.

5 I've learnt that thou hast not desired

Offerings and sacrifice alone;

Nor blood of guiltless beasts required For man's transgression to atone. 6 I therefore come-come to fulfil The oracles thy books impart: 'Tis my delight to do thy will;

Thy law is written in my heart.

7 In full assemblies I have told

Thy truth and righteousness at large; Nor did, thou know'st, my lips withhold

My thirsty soul doth pine;

O, when shall I behold thy face,

Thou Majesty divine ?

3 Why restless, why cast down, my soul? Trust God; who will employ

His aid for thee, and change these sighs
To thankful hymns of joy.

4 God of my strength, how long shall I,
Like one forgotten, mourn;

Forlorn, forsaken, and exposed
To my oppressor's scorn?

8 Nor kept within my breast confined

Thy faithfulness and saving grace;
But preach'd thy love, for all design'd,
That all might that and truth embrace.

9 Then let those mercies I declared
To others, Lord, extend to me;
Thy loving-kindness my reward,
Thy truth my safe protection be.
SELECTION 35. C. M.

From the xli. Psalm of David.

HAPPY the man whose tender care

Relieves the poor distress'd! When troubles compass him around, The Lord shall give him rest.

So pants my soul for thee, great King of kings,

place.

2 Why throb, my heart? why sink, my saddening soul?

Why droop to earth, with various woes oppress'd ?

My years shall yet in blissful circles roll, And peace be yet an inmate of this breast.

3 Lord, thy sure mercies, ever in my sight,

That dare thy power despise !

Down, down they fall, while through their

heart

The piercing arrow flies.

But thy firm throne, O God, is fix'd, For ever to endure;

Thy sceptre's sway shall always last, By righteous laws secure.

ous day;

Within his courts thy thanks shall yet be paid: Unquestion'd be his faithfulness and love.

L

SELECTION 38. L. M.

From the xliii. Psalm of David.

ET me with light and truth be bless'd;

Be these my guides to lead the way, Till on thy holy hill I rest,

And in thy sacred temple pray.

2 Then will I there fresh altars raise
To God, who is my only joy;
And well-tuned harps, with songs of praise,
Shall all my grateful hours employ.

3 Why then cast down, my soul? and why
So much oppress'd with anxious care?
On God, thy God, for aid rely,
Who will thy ruin'd state repair.

WE

SELECTION 39. C. M.

From the xlv. Psalm of David.

HILE I the King's loud praise rehearse,
Indited by my heart,

My tongue is like the pen of him

That writes with ready art.

2 How matchless is thy form, O King!
Thy mouth with grace o'erflows;
Because fresh blessings God on thee
Eternally bestows.

3 Gird on thy sword, most mighty Prince;

And, clad in rich array,
With glorious ornaments of power,
Majestic pomp display.

4 Ride on in state, and still protect
The meek, the just, and true;

Did upright ways approve,
And hated still the crooked paths,

Where wandering sinners rove: Therefore did God, thy God, on thee

The oil of gladness shed;
And has, above thy fellows round,
Advanced thy lofty head.

SELECTION 40. II. 2.

From the xlvi. Psalm of David.

OD is our refuge in distress,

A present help when dangers press, In him undaunted we'll confide; Though earth were from her centre tost, And mountains in the ocean lost,

Torn piecemeal by the roaring tide. 2 A gentler stream with gladness still The city of our Lord shall fill,

The royal seat of God most high: God dwells in Sion, whose fair towers Shall mock th' assaults of earthly powers,

While his almighty aid is nigh.

3 Submit to God's almighty sway,
For him the heathen shall obey,

And earth her sovereign Lord confess
The God of hosts conducts our arms,
Our tower of refuge in alarms,
As to our fathers in distress.

SELECTION 41. L. M.

From the xlvil. Paslm of David.

ALL ye people, clap your hands, And with triumphant voices sing; No force the mighty power withstands Of God, the universal King.

2 He shall assaulting foes repel,

And with success our battles fight; Shall fix the place where we must dwell, The pride of Jacob, his delight.

3 God is gone up, our Lord and King, With shouts of joy and trumpet's sound;

To him repeated praises sing,

And let the cheerful song rebound.

2 In Sion we have seen perform'd

A work that was foretold,

In pledge that God, for times to come,

His city will uphold.

3 Let Sion's mount with joy resound;
Her daughters all be taught
In songs his judgments to extol,

Who this deliverance wrought.

4 Compass her walls in solemn pomp,

Your eyes quite round her cast;
Count all her towers, and see if there
You find one stone displaced.

5 Her forts and palaces survey,
Observe their order well;
That to the ages yet to come
His wonders you may tell.

6 This God is ours, and will be ours,
Whilst we in him confide;
Who, as he has preserved us now,
Till death will be our guide.

THI

SELECTION 43.

From the 1. Psalm of David.

PART I. II. 2.

HE Lord hath spoke, the mighty God Hath sent his summons all abroad, From dawning light till day declines; The listening earth his voice hath heard, And he from Sion hath appear'd,

Where beauty in perfection shines.

2 Our God shall come, and keep no more Misconstrued silence as before,

But wasting flames before him send; Around shall tempests fiercely rage, Whilst he does heaven and earth engage His just tribunal to attend.

3 Assemble all my saints to me,
(Thus runs the great divine decree,)

That in my lasting covenant live,
And offerings bring with constant care:
The heavens his justice shall declare,
For God himself shall sentence give.

PART II. II. 2.
ATTEND, my people; Israel, hear.
Thy strong accuser I'll appear;

Thy God, thine only God, am I:
'Tis not of offerings I complain,
Which, daily in my temple slain,
My sacred altar did supply.

2 The sacrifices I require

Are hearts which love and zeal inspire,

And vows with strictest care made good. In time of trouble call on me,

And I will set thee safe and free,

And thou shalt praise thy gracious God.

3 Consider this, ye thoughtless men!
My vengeance shall not fall in vain,

And none will dare your cause to own:
Who praises me due honour gives;
And to the man that justly lives
My strong salvation shall be shown.

SELECTION 44. S. M.

From the li. Psalm of David.

HAVE mercy, Lord, on mo,

As thou wert ever kind,

Let me, oppress'd with loads of guilt,
Thy wonted mercy find.

2 Wash off my foul offence,

And cleanse me from my sin;
For I confess my crime, and see

How great my guilt has been.

3 Against thee, Lord, alone,
And only in thy sight,

Have I transgress'd; and, though condemn'd,,
Must own thy judgment right.

4 In guilt each part was form'd
Of all this sinful frame;
In guilt I was conceived, and born
The heir of sin and shame.

5 Yet, Lord, thy searching eye
Does inward truth require;
And secretly with wisdom's laws
My soul thou wilt inspire.

6 With hyssop purge me, Lord,
And so I clean shall be;

I shall with snow in whiteness vie,
When purified by theo.

7 Make me to hear with joy

Thy kind forgiving voice;

That so the bones which thou hast broke,
May with fresh strength rejoice.

8 Blot out my crying sins,

Nor me in anger view;
Create in me a heart that's clean,
An upright mind renew.

9 Withdraw not thou thy help, Nor cast me from thy sight; Nor let thy Holy Spirit take His everlasting flight. 10 The joy thy favour gives

Let me, O Lord, regain;

And thy free Spirit's firm support
My fainting soul sustain.

11 So I thy righteous ways

To sinners will impart;

Whilst my advice shall wicked men

To thy just laws convert.

12 Could sacrifice atone,

Whole flocks and herds should die; But on such offerings thou disdain'st To cast a gracious eye.

13 A broken spirit is

By God most highly prized;

By him a broken, contrite heart
Shall never be despised.

14 Let Sion favour find,

Of thy good will assured;
And thy own city flourish long,
By lofty walls secured.

15 The just shall then attend,
And pleasing tribute pay;
And sacrifice of choicest kind
Upon thine altar lay.

G

SELECTION 45. C. M.

From the lv. Paalm of David.

IVE ear, thou Judge of all the earth,
And listen when I pray;

Nor from thy humble suppliant turn

Thy glorious face away.

2 My heart is pain'd: the shades of death
Their terrors round me spread;
While fearful tremblings seize my breast,
Horrors o'erwhelm my head.

3 And thus I breathe my heavy sigh
To Him who hears above :

"O that my soul on wings could fly, And emulate the dove!

4 "Swift I'd escape, and flee afar,

Some secret place to find,

Hide from the world's distracting care,
And rest my weary mind:

5 "I'd wing my everlasting flight,
Bidding the world farewell,
From sin and strife, to realms of light,
Where peace and quiet dwell."

6 Thus will I call on God, who still
Shall in my aid appear;

At morn, at noon, at night I'll pray,

And he my voice shall hear.

SELECTION 46. C. M.

From the Ivi. Psalm of David.

LORD, though at times surprised by fear

On danger's first alarm,

Yet still for succour I depend

On thy almighty arm.

2 God's faithful promise I shall praise,
On which I now rely;

In God I trust, and, trusting him,
The arm of flesh defy.

3 I'll trust God's word, and so despise
The force that man can raise ;
To thee, O God, my vows are due,
To thee I'll render praise.

4 Thou hast retrieved my soul from death, And thou wilt still secure

The life thou hast so oft preserved,

And make my footsteps sure:

5 That thus, protected by thy power,

I

may this light enjoy;

And in the service of my God

My lengthen'd days employ.

SELECTION 47. L. M.

From the lvil. Psalm of David.

GOD, my heart is fix'd, 'tis bent,
Its thankful tribute to present;
And, with my heart, my voice I'll raise
To thee, my God, in songs of praise.
2 Awake, my glory; harp and lute,
No longer let your strings be mute;
And I, my tuneful part to take,
Will with the early dawn awake.

3 Thy praises, Lord, I will resound
To all the listening nations round:
Thy mercy highest heaven transcends,
Thy truth beyond the clouds extends.
4 Be thou, O God, exalted high;
And as thy glory fills the sky,
So let it be on earth display'd,
Till thou art here, as there, obey'd

SELECTION 49. II. 2.
From the lxiii. Psalm of David.

GOD, my gracious God, to thee
My morning prayers shall offer'd be,
For thee my thirsty soul does pant;
My fainting flesh implores thy grace,
As in a dry and barren place,

Where I refreshing waters want.
2 O, to my longing eyes once more,
That view of glorious power restore,
Which thy majestic 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 God I will employ,
With lifted hands adore his Name:
As with its choicest food supplied,
My soul shall be full satisfied,

While I with joy his praise proclaim. 4 When down I lie, sweet sleep to find, Thou, Lord, art present to my mind,

And when I wake in dead of night;
Because thou still dost succour bring,
Beneath the shadow of thy wing
I rest with safety and delight.

3 Our sins, though numberless, in vain To stop thy flowing mercy try; Whilst thou o'erlook'st the guilty stain, And washest out the crimson dye. 4 Bless'd is the man, who, near thee placeri, Within thy sacred dwelling lives! 'Tis there abundantly we taste

The vast delights thy temple gives

PART II. L. M.

1 LORD, from thy unexhausted store,
Thy rain relieves the thirsty ground;
Makes lands, that barren were before,
With corn and useful fruits abound
2 On rising ridges down it pours,

And every furrow'd valley fills:
Thou mak'st them soft with gentle showers,
In which a blest increase distils.

3 Thy goodness does the circling year

With fresh returns of plenty crown; And where thy glorious paths appear, The fruitful clouds drop fatness down. 4 They drop on barren deserts, changed By them to pastures fresh and green: The hills about, in order ranged,

In beauteous robes of joy are seen.

5 Large flocks with fleecy wool adorn
The cheerful downs; the valleys bring
A plenteous crop of full-ear'd corn,
And seem, for joy, to shout and sing.

SELECTION 51.

From the lxvi. Psalm of David.

PART I. C. M.

IET all the lands, with shouts of jy,

To God their voices raise;
Sing psalms in honour of his Name,
And spread his glorious praise.

2 And let them say, How dreadful, Lord, In all thy works art thou!

To thy great power thy stubborn foes
Shall all be forced to bow.

3 Through all the earth the nations round Shall thee their God confess;

And, with glad hymns, their awful dread
Of thy great Name express.

4 O come, behold the works of God,
And then with me you'll own,
That he to all the sons of men
Has wondrous judgment shown.

5 O all ye nations, bless our God,
And loudly speak his praise;
Who keeps our souls alive, and still
Confirms our steadfast ways