4 O spare me yet, I pray;

A while my strength restore, Ere I am summon'd hence away, And seen on earth no more.

PSALM XL. 6-9. (c. M.)

Appointed by the church for Good Friday.

1 Thus saith the Lord; " your
work is vain,
Give your burnt offerings o'er,
In bleeding lambs and bullocks slain
My soul delights no more."

2 Then spake Messiah; "lo I come
My God to do thy will;
Whate'er thy oracles declare
Thy servant shall fulfil.

3 Thy law is ever in my sight,
I keep it near my heart;
Mine ears are open'd with delight
To what thy lips impart.

4 With faithful lips I will proclaim
Thy truth and righteousness;
Before the world my constant theme
Shall be thy saving grace."

5 (Behold the blest Redeemer comes;
The eternal Son appears,
And at the appointed time assumes
The body God prepares.

6 No blood of beasts on altars shed
Could wash the conscience clean,
But the rich sacrifice he paid

Atones for all our sin.)

PSALM XLI. 1-3.

(L. M.)

1 The man whose heart with pity glows, Who instant feels another's woes;

Turns to the poor a listening ear,
And wipes the helpless orphan's tear;
2 Who to th' afflicted gives relief,
And kindly soothes each anxious grief;
In every want, in every wo,

Himself thy pity, Lord, shall know.
3 Thou shalt prolong and guard his days,
And shed thy blessings on his ways;
Nor leave him in the evil hour,

A to man's relentless power.
prey

4 When languid with disease and pain,
Thou, Lord, his spirit shalt sustain;
Thine arm shall raise his sinking head,
And make, in sickness, all his bed.

1 As panting in the sultry beam,
The heart desires the cooling stream;
So to thy presence, Lord, I flee,
So longs my soul, O God, for thee;
Athirst to taste thy living grace,
And see thy glory face to face.
2 But rising griefs distress my soul,
And tears on tears successive roll;
For many an evil voice is near,
To chide my wo and mock my fear:
And silent memory weeps alone
O'er hours of peace and gladness flown.

3 For I have walk'd the happy round
That circles Zion's holy ground,
And gladly swell'd the choral lays
That hymn'd my great Redeemer's praise,

What time the hallow'd arches rung
Responsive to the solemn song.

4 Ah! why by passing clouds opprest,
Should vexing thoughts distract thy breast?
Turn, turn to him, in every pain,

Whom suppliants never sought in vain;
Thy strength in joy's ecstatic day-
Thy hope, when joy has pass'd away.

10 God, my heart within me faints,
And pours in sighs her deep complaints!
Yet many a thought shall linger still
By Carmel's height and Zion's hill,
The Olive Mount my Saviour trod,
The rocks that saw and own'd their God.
2 The morning beam that wakes the skies,
Shall see my early incense rise;
The evening seraphs as they rove
Shall catch the notes of joy and love;
And midnight angels round my bed
Shall hear the grateful off 'rings paid.
3 My soul shall cry to thee, O Lord,
To thee supreme, incarnate Word,
My Rock and Fortress, Shield and Friend,
Creator, Saviour, Source and End;

And thou wilt hear thy servant's prayer,
Though death and darkness speak despair.
4 Ah why by passing clouds oppress'd,
Should vexing thoughts distract thy breast?
Turn, turn to him, in every pain,
Whom suppliants never sought in vain:
Thy strength in joy's ecstatic day-
Thy hope, when joy has pass'd away.

PSALM XLIII. 3—5.

1 Let me with light and truth be blest; 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;

(L. M.)

To God, my God, glad songs of praise
Shall all my grateful hours employ.
3 Why then, my soul, oppress'd with woes?
Why thus cast down with anxious care?
On God, thy God, full trust repose,
Who will thy failing strength repair.

PSALM XLV. 1—8.

(L. M)`

Appointed by the church for Christmas-day, as celebrating the glory of the Messiah.

1 My heart its noblest theme hath found:
O thou with royal splendor crown'd,
Messiah, taught thy power to know
How shall my mouth with praise o'erflow!
2 To thee the grateful strains belong;
Thy worth shall bid my willing tongue,
Quick as the pen of readiest art,
The dictates of my soul impart.
3 Hail! fairer than the sons of men;
Grace, on thy lips, and beauty reign,
That speak thee honor'd from above,
And blest with God's eternal love.

4 Hail! thou whom nations own their Lord,
Gird on thy thigh thy conquring sword;
In majesty and glory ride,

With truth and meekness at thy side.

5 Ride on and conquer, mighty Lord,
Direct the arrows of thy word;
Subdue thy foes, thy conquests spread,
Triumphs of mercy crown thy head.
6 Thy throne, O God, shall ever last,
Ages to come from ages past:
Thy righteous sceptre shall maintain,
The endless glories of thy reign.
7 Celestial grace thy power attends,
On thee the oil of joy descends;
The odors of thy vestments rise
And fill the palace of the skies.
8 Thou lovest truth, thou Holy One;
Grace, mercy, peace, adorn thy throne;
O God, thy God, to thee hath given,
The plentitude of joy in heaven.

PSALM XLVI. 1—5.

1 God is our refuge and defence, In trouble our unfailing aid; Secure in his omnipotence

What foe shall make our soul afraid?

(L. M.)

2 Yea though the earth's foundations rock,
And mountains down the gulf be hurl❜d,
His people smile amid the shock,
They look beyond this transient world.

3 There is a river pure and bright,

Whose streams make glad the heavenly plains. Where, in eternity of light,

The city of our God remains.

4 Built by the word of his command,
With his unclouded presence blest,
Firm as his throne the bulwarks stand-
There is our home, our hope, our rest.