SELECTION 69.
From the xc. Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, the Saviour and defence
Of us thy chosen race,
From age to age thou still hast been
Our sure abiding-place.
2 Before thou brought'st the mountains forth,
Or th' earth and world didst frame,
Thou always wast the mighty God,
And ever art the same.
3 Thou turnest man, O LORD, to dust,
Of which he first was made;
And when thou speak'st the word, 'Return,' "Tis instantly obey'd.
4 For in thy sight a thousand
years
Are like a day that's past;
Or like a watch in dead of night,
Whose hours unminded waste.
5 Thou sweep'st us off as with a flood,
We vanish hence like dreams:-
At first we grow like grass that feels
The sun's reviving beams;
6 But howsoever fresh and fair
Its morning beauty shows,
"Tis all cut down, and wither'd quite
Before the evening close.
7 We by thine anger are consumed,
And by thy wrath dismay'd;
Our public crimes and secret sins
Before thy sight are laid.
8 Beneath thine anger's sad effects
Our drooping days we spend;
Our unregarded years break off,
Like tales that quickly end.
9 Our term of time is seventy years,
An age that few survive:
But if, with more than common strength
To eighty we arrive-
10 Yet then our boasted strength decays, To sorrow turn'd and pain:
So soon the slender thread is cut,
And we no more remain.
1 BUT who thine anger's dread effects Does, as he ought, revere?
And yet thy wrath does fall or rise,
As more or less we fear.
2 So teach us, LORD, th' uncertain sum Of our short days to mind,
That to true wisdom all our hearts
May ever be inclined.
3 0 to thy servants, LORD, return,
And speedily relent:
As we of our misdeeds, do thou
Of our just doom repent.
4 To satisfy and cheer our souls,
Thy early mercy send;
That we may all our days to come
In joy and comfort spend.
5 To all thy servants, LORD, let this
Thy wondrous work be known;
And to our offspring yet unborn,
Thy glorious power be shown.
6 Let thy bright rays upon us shine,
Give thou our work success;
The glorious work we have in hand
Do thou vouchsafe to bless.
From the xci. Psalm of David.
1 HE that has GoD his guardian made,
Shall under the ALMIGHTY's shade
Secure and undisturb'd abide;
Thus to my soul of him I'll say,
He is my fortress and my stay,
My GoD, in whom I will confide.
2 His tender love and watchful care
Shall free thee from the fowler's snare,
And from the noisome pestilence;
He over thee his wings shall spread,
And cover thy unguarded head;
His truth shall be thy strong defence.
3 No terrors that surprise by night
Shall thy undaunted courage fright,
Nor deadly shafts that fly by day;
Nor plague of unknown rise, that kills
In darkness, nor infectious ills
That in the burning noon-tide slay.
4 Because, with well-placed confidence,
Thou mak'st the LORD thy sure defence,
Thy refuge, even GoD most high ;
Therefore no ill on thee shall come,
Nor to thy heaven-protected home
Shall overwhelming plagues draw nigh
1 GOD shall charge his angel legions
Watch and ward o'er thee to keep;
Though thou walk through hostile regions
Though in desert wilds thou sleep.
2 On the lion vainly roaring,
On his young, thy foot shall tread;
And, the dragon's den exploring,
Thou shalt bruise the serpent's head.
3 Since, with pure and firm affection,
Thou on GoD hast set thy love,
With the wings of his protection
He will shield thee from above.
4 Thou shalt call on him in trouble,
He will hearken, he will save;
Here for grief reward thee double,
Crown with life beyond the grave.
SELECTION 71. C. M.
From the xcii. Psalm of David.
1 HOW good and pleasant must it be
To thank the LORD most high;
And with repeated hymns of praise
His Name to magnify!
2 With every morning's early dawn
His goodness to relate;
And of his constant truth, each night
The glad effects repeat!
3 To ten-string'd instruments we'll sing,
With tuneful psalteries join'd;
And to the harp with solemn sounds,
For sacred use design'd.
4 For through thy wondrous works, O LORD, Thou mak'st my heart rejoice;
The thoughts of them shall make me glad,
And shout with cheerful voice.
5 How wondrous are thy works, O LORD!
How deep are thy decrees!
Whose winding tracks, in secret laid,
No careless sinner sees.
6 He little thinks, when wicked men,
Like grass, look fresh and gay,
How soon their short-lived splendor must
For ever pass away.
7 But thou, my God, art still most high;
And all thy lofty foes,
Who thought they might securely sin,
Shall be o'erwhelm'd with woes.
8 But righteous men, like rising palms,
Shall grow and flourish still;
Thy flock shall spread, like cedars choice,
On Lebanon's high hill.
9 These, planted in the house of GOD,
Within his courts shall thrive;
Their vigor and their lustre both
Shall in old age revive.
10 Thus will the LORD his justice show;
And Gon, my strong defence,
Shall due rewards to all the world
Impartially dispense.
SELECTION 72. L. M.
From the xciii. Psalm of David.
1 WITH glory clad, with strength array'd,
The LORD, that o'er all nature reigns,
The world's foundation strongly laid,
And the vast fabric still sustains.
2 How surely stablish'd is thy throne!
Which shall no change or period see;
For thou, O LORD, and thou alone,
Art GOD from all eternity.
3 The floods, O LORD, lift up their voice,
And toss the troubled waves on high;
But GoD above can still their noise,
And make the angry sea comply.
4 Thy promise, LORD, is ever sure,
And they that in thy house would dwell, That happy station to secure, Must still in holiness excel.
SELECTION 73.
From the xciv. Psalm of David.
1 SAY ye, the LORD shall not regard,
Shall not your sins discern?
Take heed, ye foolish and unwise;
When will ye wisdom learn?
2 Can He be deaf who form'd the ear,
Or blind who fram`d the eye?
Shall earth's great Judge not punish those
Who his known will defy?
3 He fathoms all the hearts of men,
To him their thoughts lie bare;
His eye surveys them all, and sees
How vain their counsels are.
1 BLESS'D is the man whom thou, O LORD,
In kindness dost chastise,
And by thy sacred rules to walk
Dost lovingly advise.
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