Corrupt and lewd their practice grows; no breaft is warm'd with holy flame. 2 The Lord look'd down from Heav'n's high tow'r, and all the fons of men did view, To fee if any own'd his pow'r ; If any truth or justice knew. 3 But all, he faw, were gone afide, all were degen'rate grown and bafe; None took religion for their guide, not one of all the finful race. 4 But can thefe workers of deceit be all fo dull and fenfelefs grown, That they, like bread my people eat, and God's almighty pow'r difown? How will they tremble then for fear, when his juft wrath shall them o'ertake? . For to the righteous, God is near, 5 and never will their caufe forfake. 6 Ill men, in vain, with fcorn expose thofe methods which the good pursue; Since God a refuge is for thofe, whom his juft eyes with favour view. fhould loudly echo through the land. who's the happy man that LORD, may 'L to thy bleft courts repair, Not, ftranger-like, to vifit them, but to inhabit there? 2 'Tis he, whofe ev'ry thought and deed 3 Who never did a flander forge, his neighbour's fame to wound; Nor hearken to a false report, by malice whisper'd round. 4 Who vice, in all its pomp and pow'r, can treat with just neglect; And piety, though cloath'd in rags, religiously respect. 5 Who to his plighted vows and trust has ever firmly ftood; And though he promise to his loss, he makes his promife good. 6 Whofe foul in ufury difdains his treasure to employ ; Whom no rewards can ever bribe the guiltless to destroy. 7 The man, who by his fteady course has happiness infur'd, 1 When earth's foundation shakes, shall stand, by Providence fecur'd. PRO PSALM XVI. ROTECT me from my cruel foes, and fhield me, Lord, from harm; Because my truft I ftill repofe on thy Almighty arm. 2 My foul all help but thine does flight, all gods but thee difown; Yet can no deeds of mine requite the goodness thou haft shown. 3 But thofe that ftrictly virtuous are, and love the thing that's right, To favour always, and prefer, fhall be my chief delight. 4 How shall their forrows be increas'd, Their bloody off'rings I deteft, 5. My lot is fall'n in that bleft land He fills my cup with lib'ral hand, 6 In nature's moft delightful fcene The place of my appointed reign 7 Therefore my foul fhall bless the Lord, And private counsel still afford 8 I ftrive each action to approve b No danger shall my hopes remove, 9 Therefore my heart all grief defies, My flesh fhall reft, in hopes to rise, 10 Thou, Lord, when I refign my breath, II Thou shalt the paths of life display, Where pleafures dwell without allay, 'T° PSALM XVII. O my juft plea and fad complaint And to my pray'r, as 'tis unfeign'd, 2 As in thy fight I am approv'd, And with impartial eyes, O Lord, 3 For thou haft fearch'd my heart by day, and visited by night; And, on the strictest trial, found Nor fhall thy justice, Lord, alone 4 I know what wicked men would do, But me thy just and mild commands 5 That I may still, in spite of wrongs, O guide me in thy righteous ways, 6 Since, heretofore, I ne'er in vain. O! now, my God, incline thine ear 7 The wonders of thy truth and love in my defence engage; Thou, whofe right hand preferves thy faints 8,9 O! keep me in thy tend'reft care; 10 O'ergrown with luxury, inclos'd in their own fat they lie; And, with a proud blafpheming mouth, 11 Well may they boaft, for they have now 12 In posture of a lion fet, when greedy of his prey; Or a young lion, when he lurks within a covert way. 13 Arife, O Lord, defeat their plots, their fwelling rage controul; From wicked men, who are thy fword, deliver thou my foul: 14 From worldly men, thy fharpeft fcourge, whofe portion's here below; Who, fill'd with earthly ftores, aspire no other blifs to know. 15 Their race is num'rous, that partake their fubftance while they live; Their heirs furvive, to whom they may the vast remainder give. 16 But I, in uprightness, thy face fhall view without controul; And, waking, fhall its image find reflected in my foul. I, 2 N° PSALM XVIII. O change of time fhall ever shock my firm affection, Lord, to thee; For thou haft always been a rock, a fortrefs and defence to me. Thou, my deliv'rer art, my God; my truft is in thy mighty pow'r; Thou art my fhield from foes abroad, at home my fafeguard and my tow'r. 3 To thee I will addrefs my pray❜r, to whom all praise we justly owe; So fhall I, by thy watchful care, be guarded from my treach'rous foe. and heard me from his lofty throne. 7 When God arose my part to take, the confcious earth was ftruck with fear; The hills did at his prefence fhake, nor could his dreadful fury bear. 8 Thick clouds of fmoke difpers'd abroad, enfigns of wrath, before him came; Devouring fire around him glow'd, 9 that coals were kindled at its flame. He left the beauteous realms of light, whilft heav'n bow'd down its awful head; Beneath his feet fubftantial night was like a fable carpet fpread. 10 The chariot of the King of kings, which active troops of angels drew, On a strong tempeft's rapid wings, with most amazing swiftnefs flew. 11, 12 Black watery mifts and clouds confpir'd, with thickeft fhades his face to veil; But at his brightness foon retir'd, and fell in how'rs of fire and hail. 13 Through heav'ns wide arch a thund'ring peal, God's angry voice did loudly roar; While earth's fad face with heaps of hail, and flakes of fire, was cover'd o'er. 14 His fharpen'd arrows round he threw, which made his fcatter'd foes retreat; |