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PSALMS.

HYMN XLV.

Pleading for Mercy. Psalm vi. 1 IN mercy, not in wrath, rebuke Thy feeble worm, my God! My spirit dreads thine angry look, And trembles at thy rod.

2 Have mercy, Lord, for I am weak,

Regard my heavy groans;
O, let thy voice of comfort speak,
And heal my broken bones.
3 By day, my busy beating head
Is fill'd with anxious fears;
By night, upon my restless bed,
I weep a flood of tears.

4 Thus I sit desolate and mourn,

Mine eyes grow dull with grief; How long, my Lord, ere thou return, And bring my soul relief?

5 O, come and show thy power to save, And spare my fainting breath; For who can praise thee in the grave, Or sing thy name in death? 6 Satan, my cruel envious foe,

Insults me in my pain;

He smiles to see me brought so low,
And tells me hope is vain.
7 But hence thou enemy, depart!
Nor tempt me to despair;

My Saviour comes to cheer my heart,
The Lord has heard my prayer.

HYMN XLVI.

None upon Earth I desire besides Thee. Psalm 1xxiii. 25.

1 How tedious and tasteless the hours, When Jesus no longer I see; Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers,

Have lost all their sweetness with me; The midsummer sun shines but dim,

The fields strive in vain to look gay;
But when I am happy in him,

December's as pleasant as May.
2 His name yields the richest perfume,
And sweeter than music his voice;
His presence disperses my gloom,
And makes all within me rejoice:
I should, were he always thus nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear;
No mortal so happy as I,

My summer would last all the year.
3 Content with beholding his face,
My all to his pleasure resign'd,
No changes of season or place,
Would make any change in my mind:
While bless'd with a sense of his love,
A palace a toy would appear;
And prisons would palaces prove,

If Jesus would dwell with me there.

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The Believer's Safety. Psalm xci.

1 INCARNATE God! the soul that knows
Thy name's mysterious power,
Shall dwell in undisturb'd repose,
Nor fear the trying hour.

2 Thy wisdom, faithfulness, and love,
To feeble helpless worms,
A buckler and a refuge prove
From enemies and storms.
3 In vain the fowler spreads his net,
To draw them from thy care;
Thy timely call instructs their feet
To shun their artful snare.
4 When like a baneful pestilence,
Sin mows its thousands down
On ev'ry side, without defence,
Thy grace secures thine own.

5 No midnight terrors haunt their bed,
No arrow wounds by day;
Unhurt on serpents they shall tread,
If found in duty's way.

6 Angels, unseen, attend the saints,
And bear them in their arms,
To cheer their spirit when it faints,
And guard their life from harms.
7 The angels' Lord himself is nigh
To them that love his name;
Ready to save them when they cry,
And put their foes to shame.
8 Crosses and charges are their lot,
Long as they sojourn here;
But since their Saviour changes not,
What have the saints to fear?

HYMN XLVIII.

ANOTHER.

1 THAT man no guard or weapon needs,
Whose heart the blood of Jesus knows;
But safe may pass, if duty leads,
Through burning sands or mountain-snows
2 Releas'd from guilt, he feels no fear;
Redemption is his shield and tower:
He sees his Saviour always near,
To help in ev'ry trying hour.

3 Though I am weak, and Satan strong,
And often to assault me tries;
When Jesus is my shield and song,
Abash'd, the wolf before me flies.
4 His love possessing I am blest,

Secure whatever change may come;
Whether I go to east or west,
With him I still shall be at home.

5 If plac'd beneath the northern pole, Though winter reigns with rigour there, His gracious beams would cheer my soul, And make a spring throughout the year: 6 Or if the desert's sun-burnt soil,

My lonely dwelling e'er should prove; His presence would support my toil, Whose smile is life, whose voice is love.

HYMN XLIX.

He led them by a right way. Psalm cvii. 7.
1 WHEN Israel was from Egypt freed,
The Lord, who brought them out,
Help'd them in ev'ry time of need,
But led them round about.*

2 To enter Canaan soon they hop'd,

But quickly chang'd their mind, When the Red Sea their passage stopp'd, And Pharaoh march'd behind.

3 The desert fill'd them with alarms, For water and for food;

And Amalek, by force of arms,

To check their progress stood.
4 They often murmur'd by the way,
Because they judg'd by sight;
But were at length constrain'd to say,
The Lord had led them right.

5 In the Red Sea, that stopp'd them first,
Their enemies were drown'd;

The rocks gave water for their thirst,
And manna spread the ground.

6 By fire and cloud their way was shown
Across the pathless sands;

And Amalek was overthrown

By Moses's lifted hands.

7 The way was right their hearts to prove,
To make God's glory known;
And show his wisdom, power, and love,
Engag'd to save his own.

8 Just so, the true believer's path,

Through many dangers lies;

Though dark to sense, 'tis right to faith, And leads us to the skies.

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1 WHAT a mournful life is mine,
Fill'd with crosses, pains, and cares!
Ev'ry work defiled with sin,
Ev'ry step beset with snares!

2 If alone I pensive sit,
I myself can hardly bear;
If I pass along the street,
Sin and riot triumph there.
3 Jesus! how my heart is pain'd,
How it mourns for souls deceiv'd!
When I hear thy name profan'd,
When I see thy Spirit griev'd.

4 When thy children's griefs I view,
Their distress becomes my own;
All I hear, or see, or do,
Makes me tremble, weep, and groan.

5 Mourning thus I long had been, When I heard my Saviour's voice: "Thou hast cause to mourn for sin, But in me thou may'st rejoice."

6 This kind word dispell'd my grief,
Put to silence my complaints:
Though of sinners I am chief,
He has rank'd me with his saints.
7 Though constrain'd to dwell a while
Where the wicked strive and brawl,
Let them frown, so he but smile,
Heaven will make amends for all.
8 There, believers, we shall rest,
Free from sorrow, sin, and fears;
Nothing shall our peace molest,
Through eternal rounds of years.
9 Let us then the fight endure,
See our Captain looking down;
He will make the conquest sure,
And bestow the promis'd crown.

PROVERBS.

HYMN LII.

Wisdom. Chap. viii. 22-31.

1 ERE God had built the mountains,
Or rais'd the fruitful hills;
Before he fill'd the fountains
That feed the running rills;
In me, from everlasting,
The wonderful I AM,

Found pleasures never wasting,
And Wisdom is my name.

2 When, like a tent to dwell in,
He spread the skies abroad,
And swath'd about the swelling
Of ocean's mighty flood;

He wrought by weight and measure,
And I was with him then;
Myself the Father's pleasure,
And mine the sons of men.

3 Thus Wisdom's words discover
Thy glory and thy grace,
Thou everlasting lover
Of our unworthy race!
Thy gracious eye surveyed us,
Ere stars were seen above;
In wisdom thou hast made us,
And died for us in love.
4 And couldst thou be delighted
With creatures such as we!
Who, when we saw thee, slighted,
And nail'd thee to a tree?

Unfathomable wonder,

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ECCLESIASTES.

HYMN LIV.

Vanity of Life.* Chap. i. 2.
1 THE evils that beset our path,
Who can prevent or cure?
We stand upon the brink of death,
When most we seem secure.

2 If we to-day sweet peace possess,
It soon may be withdrawn ;
Some change may plunge us in distress
Before to-morrow's dawn.

3 Disease and pain invade our health,
And find an easy prey;
And oft, when least expected, wealth
Takes wings and flies away.

4 A fever or a blow can shake
Our wisdom's boasted rule,

And of the brightest genius make
A madman or a fool.

5 The gourds from which we look for fruit, Produce us only pain;

A worm unseen attacks the root,
And all our hopes are vain.

A Friend that sticketh closer than a Brother. 6 I pity those who seek no more

Chap. xviii. 24.

1 ONE there is, above all others,

Well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love beyond a brother's,
Costly, free, and knows no end:

They who once his kindness prove,
Find it everlasting love.

2 Which of all our friends to save us,
Could or would have shed their blood!
But our Jesus died to have us
Reconcil'd to him in God:

This was boundless love indeed!
Jesus is a friend in need.

3 Men, when rais'd to lofty stations,
Often know their friends no more;
Slight and scorn their poor relations,
Though they valued them before;

But our Saviour always owns
Those whom he redeem'd with groans.
4 When he liv'd on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was his name;
Now above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same:

Still he calls them brethren, friends,
And to all their wants attends.
5 Could we bear from one another
What he daily bears from us;
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother
Loves us though we treat him thus:
Though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.
60 for grace our hearts to soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
We, alas! forget too often,
What a friend we have above:

But when home our souls are brought,
We will love thee as we ought.

Than such a world can give; Wretched they are, and blind, and poor, And dying while they live.

7 Since sin has fill'd the earth with woe, And creatures fade and die;

Lord, wean our hearts from things below, And fix our hopes on high.

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1 God gives his mercies to be spent ;
Your hoard will do your soul no good;
Gold is a blessing only lent,
Repaid by giving others food.

2 The world's esteem is but a bribe;
To buy their peace you sell your own;
The slave of a vain-glorious tribe,
Who hate you while they make you known.
3 The joy that vain amusements give,
Oh! sad conclusion that it brings!
The honey of a crowded hive,
Defended by a thousand stings.

4 "Tis thus the world rewards the fools
That live upon her treacherous smiles;
She leads them blindfold by her rules,
And ruins all whom she beguiles.

5 God knows the thousands who go down
From pleasure into endless woe;
And with a long despairing groan,
Blaspheme their Maker as they go.
6 O fearful thought! be timely wise;
Delight but in a Saviour's charms;
And God shall take you to the skies,
Embrac'd in everlasting arms.

* Book II. Hynin vi.

C.

HYMN LVI.

Vanity of the Creature Sanctified. Ibid. 1 HONEY though the bee prepares, An envenom'd sting it wears; Piercing thorns a guard compose Round the fragrant blooming rose. 2 Where we think to find a sweet, Oft a painful sting we meet; When the rose invites our eye, We forget the thorn is nigh. 3 Why are thus our hopes beguil'd? Why are all our pleasures spoil'd? Why do agony and woe

From our choicest comforts grow?
4 Sin has been the cause of all!
'Twas not thus before the fall;
What but pain, and thorn, and sting,
From the root of sin can spring?
5 Now with every good we find
Vanity and grief entwined;
What we feel, or what we fear,
All our joys embitter here.

6 Yet, through the Redeemer's love,
These afflictions blessings prove;
He the wounding stings and thorns
Into healing med'cines turns.

7 From the earth our hearts they wean,
Teach us on his arm to lean,
Urge us to a throne of grace,
Make us seek a resting-place.
8 In the mansions of our King,

Sweets abound without a sting;
Thornless there the roses blow,
And the joys unmingled flow.

SOLOMON'S SONG.

HYMN LVII.

The Name of Jesus. Chap. i. 3.

1 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear!

It sooths his sorrows, heels his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

2 It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
"Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.

3 Dear name! the rock on which I build, My shield and hiding-place:

My never-failing treasury, fill'd
With boundless stores of grace.

4 By thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defil'd;
Satan accuses me in vain,

And I am own'd a child.

5 Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King!
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End!
Accept the praise I bring.

6 Weak is the effort of my heart,

And cold my warmest thought; But when I see thee as thou art, I'll praise thee as I ought.

7 Till then I would thy love proclaim
With ev'ry fleeting breath;
And may the music of thy name
Refresh my soul in death!

ISAIAH.

HYMN LVIII.

O Lord, I will praise Thee! Chap. xii. 1 I WILL praise thee ev'ry day, Now thine anger's turn'd away! Comfortable thoughts arise From the bleeding sacrifice. 2 Here, in the fair gospel-field, Wells of free salvation yield Streams of life a plenteous store, And my soul shall thirst no more. 3 Jesus is become at length

My salvation and my strength;
And his praises shall prolong,
While I live, my pleasant song.

4 Praise ye, then, his glorious name,
Publish his exalted fame!

Still his worth your praise exceeds,
Excellent are all his deeds.

5 Raise again the joyful sound,
Let the nations roll it round!
Zion shout, for this is he:

God, the Saviour, dwells in thee. C.

HYMN LIX.

The Refuge, River, and Rock of the Church.
Chap. xxxii. 2.

1 HE who on earth as man was known,
And bore our sins and pains,
Now seated on the eternal throne,
The God of glory reigns.

2 His hands the wheels of nature guide,
With an unerring skill;

And countless worlds, extended wide,
Obey his sovereign will.

3 While harps unnumber'd sound his praise, In yonder world above;

His saints on earth admire his ways,
And glory in his love.

4 His righteousness to faith reveal'd,
Wrought out for guilty worms,
Affords a hiding-place and shield
From enemies and storms.

5 This land, through which his pilgrims go, Is desolate and dry;

But streams of grace from him o'erflow,
Their thirst to satisfy.

6 When troubles, like a burning sun,
Beat heavy on their head,

To this almighty Rock they run,
And find a pleasing shade.

7 How glorious he, how happy they

In such a glorious Friend!
Whose love secures them all the way
And crowns them at the end.

HYMN LX.

Zion, or the City of God.*
Chap. xxxiii. 20, 21.

1 GLORIOUS things of thee are spoken,† Zion, city of our God!

He, whose word cannot be broken, Form'd thee for his own abode :‡ On the Rock of ages founded,{ What can shake thy sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded,|| Thou may'st smile at all thy foes. 2 See! the streams of living waters, Springing from eternal love,¶ Well supply thy sons and daughters, And all fear of want remove. Who can faint when such a river, Ever flows their thirst to assuage? Grace, which, like the Lord, the giver, Never fails from age to age. 3 Round each habitation hov'ring, See the cloud and fire appear !** For a glory and a cov'ring, Showing that the Lord is near; Thus deriving, from their banner, Light by night, and shade by day: Safe they feed upon the manna Which he gives them when they pray.

4 Bless'd inhabitants of Zion,

Wash'd in the Redeemer's blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to God.ft
"Tis his love his people raises
Over self to reign as kings,
And as priests, his solemn praises
Each for a thank-off'ring brings.

5 Saviour, if of Zion's city
I through grace a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy name:
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show:
Solid joys and lasting treasure,
None but Zion's children know.

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I have wrought out full salvation;
Sinner, look to me, and live.

2 "Pore upon your sins no longer, Well I know their mighty guilt; But my love than death is stronger blood have freely spilt:

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my
Though your heart has long been harden'd,
Look on me,-it soft shall grow;
Past transgressions shall be pardon'd,
And I'll wash you white as snow.

3 "I have seen what you were doing,
Though you little thought of me;
You were madly bent on ruin,
But I said,-It shall not be:
You had been for ever wretched,
Had not I espous'd your part;
Now behold my arms outstretched
To receive you to my heart.

4 "Well may shame, and joy, and wonder,
All your inward passions move:
I could crush thee with my thunder
But I speak to thee in love:
See! your sins are all forgiven,
I have paid the countless sum;
Now my death has open'd heaven,
Thither you shall shortly come."

5 Dearest Saviour, we adore thee
For thy precious life and death;
Melt each stubborn heart before thee,
Give us all the eye of faith:
From the law's condemning sentence,
To thy mercy we appeal;

Thou alone canst give repentance,
Thou alone our souls canst heal.

HYMN LXII.

The good Physician.

1 How lost was my condition,
Till Jesus made me whole!
There is but one Physician
Can cure a sin-sick soul.
Next door to death he found me,
And snatch'd me from the grave',
To tell to all around me,

His wondrous power to save.
2 The worst of all diseases
Is light compar'd with sin;
On every part it seizes,
But rages most within:
'Tis palsy, plague, and fever,
And madness, all combin'd;
And none but a believer,
The least relief can find.

3 From men great skill professing
I thought a cure to gain;
But this proved more distressing
And added to my pain.

Some said that nothing ail'd me,
Some gave me up for lost:
Thus every refuge fail'd me,
And all my hopes were cross'd.

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