From the lxxxv. Psalm of David.
1 O GOD our Saviour, all our hearts To thy obedience turn;
That, quench'd with our repenting tears, Thy wrath no more may burn.
2 For why should'st thou be angry still, And wrath so long retain? Revive us, LORD, and let thy saints Thy wonted comfort gain.
3 Thy gracious favor, LORD, display, Which we have long implored; And, for thy wondrous mercy's sake, Thy wonted aid afford.
4 GOD's answer patiently I'll wait; For he with glad success, If they no more to folly turn, His mourning saints will bless.
5 To all that fear God's holy Name His sure salvation's near; His glory in our happy land For ever shall appear.
6 For mercy now with truth is join'd; And righteousness with peace, Like kind companions, absent long, With friendly arms embrace.
7 Truth from the earth shall spring, whilst heaven
Shall streams of justice pour;
And GOD, from whom all goodness flows, Shall endless plenty shower.
8 Before him righteousness shall march, And his just paths prepare; While we his holy steps pursue With constant zeal and care.
SELECTION 65. C. M.
From the lxxxvi. Psalm of David.
1 TO my complaint, O LORD my God, Thy gracious ear incline; Hear me, distress'd, and destitute Of all relief but thine.
2 Do thou, O GOD, preserve my soul, That does thy Name adore;
Thy servant keep, and him whose trust Relies on thee, restore.
3 To me, who daily thee invoke, Thy mercy, LORD, extend;
Refresh thy servant's soul, whose hopes On thee alone depend.
4 Thou, LORD, art good; nor only good, But prompt to pardon too; Of plenteous mercy to all those Who for thy mercy sue.
5 To my repeated humble prayer, O LORD, attentive be;
When troubled, I on thee will call, For thou wilt answer me.
6 Among the gods there's none like thee, O LORD, alone divine!
To thee as much inferior they,
As are their works to thine.
7 Therefore their great Creator, thee The nations shall adore;
Their long-misguided prayers and praise To thy bless'd Name restore.
8 All shall confess thee great, and great The wonders thou hast done;
Confess thee GOD, the GOD supreme, Confess thee God alone.
9 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and I From truth shall ne'er depart; In reverence to thy sacred Name Devoutly fix my heart.
10 Thee will I praise, O LORD my GOD, Praise thee with heart sincere, And to thy everlasting Name Eternal trophies rear
11 Thy boundless mercy shown to me Transcends my power to tell;
For thou hast oft redeem'd my soul From lowest deeps of hell.
12 And thou thy constant goodness didst To my assistance bring; Of patience, mercy, and of truth, Thou everlasting spring!
SELECTION 66. II. 3.
From the lxxxvii. Psalm of David.
1 GOD'S temple crowns the holy mount, The LORD there condescends to dwell; His Sion's gates, in his account,
Our Israel's fairest tents excel: Yea, glorious things of thee we sing, O city of th' Almighty King!
2 Of honored Sion we aver,
Illustrious throngs from her proceed; Th' Almighty shall establish her, And shall enrol her holy seed: Yea, for his people he shall count The children of his favor'd mount.
3 He'll Sion find with numbers fill'd Who celebrate his matchless praise; Who, here in hallelujahs skill'd,
In heaven their harps and hymns shall raise: O Sion, seat of Israel's King, Be mine to drink thy living spring!
SELECTION 67. L. M.
From the lxxxviii. Psalm of David.
1 GOD of my life, O LORD most high, To thee by day and night I cry ; Vouchsafe my mournful voice to hear, To my distress incline thine ear.
2 Like those whose strength and hopes are fled, They number me among the dead; Like those who, shrouded in the grave, From thee no more remembrance have. 3 Wilt thou by miracle revive
The dead, whom thou forsook'st alive? Shall the mute grave thy love confess, A mouldering tomb thy faithfulness? 4 To thee, O LORD, I cry forlorn,
My prayer prevents the early morn: Why hast thou, LORD, my soul forsook, Nor once vouchsafed a gracious look? 5 Companions dear, and friends beloved, Far from my sight thou hast removed: GOD of my life, O LORD most high, Vouchsafe to hear my mournful cry!
SELECTION 68. L. M.
From the lxxxix. Psalm of David.
1 THY mercies, LORD, shall be my song, My song on them shall ever dwell; To ages yet unborn, my tongue Thy never-failing truth shall tell.
2 I have affirm'd, and still maintain, Thy mercy shall for ever last; Thy truth, that does the heavens sustain, Like them shall stand for ever fast.
3 Thus spak'st thou by thy prophet's voice "With David I a league have made; To him, my servant, and my choice, By solemn oath this grant convey'd: 4 "While earth, and seas, and skies endure, Thy seed shall in my sight remain ; To them thy throne I will ensure, They shall to endless ages reign."
5 For such stupendous truth and love, Both heaven and earth just praises owe, By choirs of angels sung above, And by assembled saints below.
6 What seraph of celestial birth
To vie with Israel's GoD shall dare? Or who among the gods of earth
With our Almighty LORD compare?
7 With reverence and religious dread, His saints should to his temple press; His fear through all their hearts should spread, Who his almighty Name confess.
8 LORD GOD of armies, who can boast
Of strength or power like thine renown'd? Of such a numerous, faithful host,
As that which does thy throne surround?
9 Thou dost the lawless sea control,
And change the prospect of the deep; Thou mak'st the sleeping billows roll; Thou mak'st the rolling billows sleep.
10 In thee the sovereign right remains
Of earth and heaven; thee, LORD, alone, The world, and all that it contains, Their Maker and Preserver own.
11 Thine arm is mighty, strong thy hand, Yet, LORD, thou dost with justice reign; Possess'd of absolute command,
Thou truth and mercy dost maintain.
12 Happy, thrice happy they, who hear Thy sacred trumpet's joyful sound; Who may at festivals appear,
With thy most glorious presence crown'd.
13 Thy saints shall always be o'erjoy'd, Who on thy sacred Name rely; And, in thy righteousness employ'd, Above their foes be raised on high.
14 For in thy strength they shall advance, Whose conquests from thy favor spring: The LORD of hosts is our defence,
And Israel's GoD our Israel's King.
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