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His praise I will resound, From whom the cries of my distress A gracious answer found.

2 He is my strength and shield; my heart

Has trusted in,his Name; And now reliev'd, my heart, with joy His praises shall proclaim.

3 The LORD, the everlasting God. Is my defence and rock,

3 For there I may with comfort rest, The saving health, the saving strength

In times of deep distress;

And safe, as on a rock, abide

In that secure recess.

4 When us to seek thy glorious face Thou kindly dost advise;

"Thy glorious face I'll always seek," My grateful heart replies.

5 Then hide not thou thy face, O

LORD,

Nor me in wrath reject;
My God and Saviour, leave not him
Thou didst so oft protect.

6 Though all of nearest earthly ties
Me, in my wo, forsake,
Yet thou, whose love excels them all,
Wilt care and pity take.

*Extract from the Journal of the General Convention, 1832.

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4. Resolved, As the sense and declaration of this Convention, that so niuch of the rubrics in the form of consecration of a church or chapel as requires the singing of Psalm 26, verses 6, 7, and 8,' will hereafter be 4 duly complied with by singing verses 2 and 3, in the selection from the 26th Psalm, included in the Psalms in Metre authorized by these resolutions to be set forth."

How full of pow'r his voice appears! With what majestic terror crown'd! Which from their roots tall cedara

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5 GOD rules the angry floods on high;18 O all ye saints, the LORD His boundless sway shall never

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From the xxx. Psalm of David.

distress to God I cried,

In my distress to Golieve

With eager love pursue;
Who to the just will help afford,
And give the proud their due.

9 Ye that on GOD rely,

Courageously proceed;

For he will still your hearts supply
With strength in time of need.

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From the xxxii. Psalm of David,

And from the grave's expecting mouth HE'S blest whose sins have pardon

My hopeless life retrieve.

20 to his courts, ye saints of his,
With songs of praise repair;
With me commemorate his truth,
And providential care.

3 His wrath has but a moment's reign,
His favour no decay;.
The night of grief is recompens'd
With joy's returning day.

4. Therefore, O LORD, I'll gladly sing
Thy praise in grateful verse;
And, as thy favours endless are,
Thy endless praise rehearse.

DE

PSALM 26.. (S. M.)

From the xxxi. Psalm of David. EFEND me, LORD, from shame, For still I trust in thee; As just and righteous is thy Name, From danger set me free. 2 Bow down thy gracious ear, And speedy succour send;

Do thou my steadfast rock appear, To shelter and defend.

3 To thee, the GoD of truth, My life, and all that 's mine,

gain'd,

No more in judgment to appear; Whose guilt remission has obtain'd, And whose repentance is sincere. 2 No sooner I my wound disclos'd, The guilt that tortur'd me within, But thy forgiveness interpos'd,

And mercy's healing balm pour'd in. 3 Sorrows on sorrows multiplied, The harden'd sinner shall confound; But them who in his truth confide, Blessings of mercy shall surround, 4. His saints, that have perform'd his laws,

Their life in triumph shall employ Let them, as they alone have cause, In grateful raptures shout for joy. PSALM 28.

From the xxxiii. Psalm of David.
PART I. (C. M.)

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Their cheerful voices raise; For well the righteous it becomes To sing glad songs of praise.

2 Let harps, and psalteries, and lutes, In joyful concert meet;

(For thou preserv'st me from my And new-made songs of loud applause

youth,)

I willingly resign.,

4 My hope, my steadfast trust,

I on thy help repose:

That thou, my GoD, art good and just, My soul with comfort knows.

5 Whate'er events betide,

Thy wisdom times them all;
Then, Lord, thy servant safely hide
From those that seek his fall.
6 The brightness of thy face
To me, O LORD, disclose,
And, as thy mercies still increase,
Preserve me from my foes
7 How great thy mercies are

To such as fear thy Name, [care, Which thou, for those that trust thy Dost to the world proclaim!

The harmony complete.

3. For faithful is the word of God,
His works with truth abound;
He justice loves; and all the earth
Is with his goodness crown'd.
4 By his almighty word, at first,
The heav'nly arch was rear'd;
And all the beauteous hosts of light
At his command appear'd.

5 Let earth, and all that dwell therein, Before him trembling stand; [made For, when he spake the word, 'twas 'Twas fix'd at his command.

PART II. (C. M.)

1 WHATE ER the mighty LORD decrees
Shall stand for ever sure;
The settled purpose of his heart
To ages shall endure.

With favourable eyes;

2 How happy then are they, to whom 4 The LORD from heav'n beholds the The LORD for GoD is known! Whom he, from all the world besides,

Has chosen for his own.

3 Our soul on GoD with patience
waits;

Our help and shield is he;
Then, LORD, let still our hearts rejoice,
Because we trust in thee.

4 The riches of thy mercy, LORD,
Do thou to us extend;
Since we, for all we want or wish
On thee alone depend.

PSALM 29.

From the xxxiv. Psalm of David.
PART I. (C. M.)

just

And, when distress'd, his gracious ear
Is open to their cries;

5 But turns his wrathful look on those
Whom mercy can't reclaim,
To cut them off, and from the earth
Blot out their evil name.

6 Deliv'rance to his saints he gives,
When his relief they crave;
He's nigh to heal the broken heart,
And contrite spirit save.

7 Great troubles may afflict the just,
Yet God will save them still;
The righteous he will keep from harm,
And guard from every ill.

3 The wicked, from their wickedness,
Their ruin shall derive;

[test,

HROUGH all the changing scenes Whilst righteous men, whom they de

THR of life,

In trouble and in joy,
The praises of my GoD shall still
My heart and tongue employ."
2 Of his deliv'rance I will boast,
Till all that are distress'd
From my example comfort take,
And charm their griefs to rest.
3 O magnify the LORD with me,
With me exalt his name:
When in distress to him I call'd,

He to my rescue came.

4 The Angel of the Lord encamps
Around the good and just;
Deliv'rance he affords to all
**Who on his succour trust.

Shall them and their's survive.

9 For GoD preserves the souls of those
Who on his truth depend;

To them, and their posterity
His blessings shall descend.

"

PSALM 30. (L. M.)
From the xxxvi. Psalm of David.
LORD, thy mercy, my sure hope,
The highest orb of heav'n tran-

*

scends; Thy sacred truth's unmeasur'd scope Beyond the spreading sky extends. 2 Thy justice like the hills remains, Unfathom'd depths thy judgments are; Thy providence the world sustains, The whole creation is thy care. 3 Since of thy goodness all partake, With what assurance should the just 6 Fear him, ye saints; and you will Thy shelt'ring wings their refuge

5 O make but trial of his love,
Experience will decide

How blest they are, and only they,
Who in his truth confide.

then

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make,

And saints to thy protection trust!

4 Such guests shall to thy courts be
led,

To banquet on thy love's repast;
And drink, as from a fountain's head,
Of joys that shall for ever last.
5 With thee the springs of life remain,
Thy presence is eternal day;
O let thy saints thy favour gain,
To upright hearts thy truth display
PSALM 31. (II. 2.)

From the xxxvii. Psalm of David."

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Thy anger or thy envy raise;
For they, cut down like tender grass,
Or like young flow'rs away shall pass,
Whose blooming beauty soon decays.
2 Depend on God, and him obey,
So thou within the land shalt stay,

Secure from danger and from want:
Make his commands thy chief delight,
And he, thy duty to requite,

Shall all thy earnest wishes grant. 3 In all thy ways trust thou the LORD, And he will needful help afford,

To perfect every just design;
He'll make like light, serene and clear,
Thy clouded innocence appear,
And as a mid-day sun to shine.
4 With quiet mind on GoD depend,
And patiently for him attend,

Nor envy the success of crime;
For God will sinful men destroy,
Whilst they his presence shall enjoy,
Who trust on him, and wait his time.

PART 11. (II. 2.)

1 THE good man's way is God's deHe orders all the steps aright [light: Of him that moves by his command; Though he sometimes may be distress'd

Yet shall he ne'er be quite oppress'd,' For GoD upholds him with his hand.. 2 With caution shun each wicked deed,

In virtue's ways with zeal proceed,

13 God to the just will aid afford, Their only safeguard is the LORD,

Their strength in time of need is he Because on him they still depend, The LORD will timely succour send, And from the wicked set them free

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THY

HY chast'ning wrath, O LORD
restrain,
Though I deserve it all;
Nor let on me the heavy storm
Of thy displeasure fall.

2 My sins, which to a deluge swell,
My sinking head o'erflow,
And, for my feeble strength to bear,
Too vast a burden grow.

3 But, LORD, before thy searching eyes
All my desires appear;
The groanings of my burden'd soul
Have reach'd thine open car.

4 Forsake me not, O LORD, my GOD,
Make haste to my relief, O thou
Nor far from me depart;
Who my salvation art.

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And so prolong your happy days; LORD, let me know my term of For Gop, who judgment loves, does

still

Preserve his saints secure from ill,
While soon the wicked race decays.
3 The upright shall possess the land,
His portion shall for ages stand;

His mouth with wisdom is supplied,
His tongue by rules of judgment moves,
His heart the law of God approves;
Therefore his footsteps never slide.
PART III. (II. 2.)

1 THE wicked I in pow'r have seen, And like a bay-tree fresh and green That spreads its pleasant branches

round:

But he was gone as swift as thought;
And, though in every place I sought,
No sign or track of him I found.
2 Observe the perfect man with care,
And mark all such as upright are;

Their roughest days in peace shall
While on the latter end of those [end:
Who dare God's sacred will oppose,
A common ruin shall attend.

days,
How soon my life will end::
The num'rous train of ills disclose,
Which this frail state attend.

2 My life, thou know'st, is but a spaṇ,
A cipher sums my years;
And ev'ry man, in best estate,
But vanity appears.

3 Man, like a shadow, vainly walks,
With fruitless carès oppress'd;
He heaps up wealth, but cannot tell
By whom 'twill be possess'd.
4 Why then should I on worthless toys
With anxious cares attend?

On thee alone my steadfast hope

Shall ever, LORD, depend.

5 LORD, hear my cry accept my tears,
And listen to my prayer,
Who sojourn like a stranger here,
As all my fathers were.
6 O spare me yet a little time;

My wasted strength restore,
Before I vanish quite from hence,
And shall be seen no more.

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From the xl. Psalm of David.
WAITED meekly for the LORD,
Till he vouchsafd a kind reply;
Who did his gracious ear afford,
And heard from heav'n my humble
cry.

The wonders he for me has wrought
Shall fill my mouth with songs of
praise;

And others, to his worship brought,
To hopes of like deliv'rance raise.
For blessings shall that man reward,
Who on th' Almighty LORD relies;
Who treats the proud with disregard,
And hates the hypocrite's disguise.
4 Who can the wondrous works re-
count

Which thou, O GOD, for us hast
wrought?

'The treasures of thy love surmount
The pow'r of numbers, speech, and
thought.

5 I've learnt that thou hast not desir'd
Off'rings and sacrifice alone;
Nor blood of guiltless beasts requir'd
For man's transgression to atone.,
6 I therefore come-come to fulfil
The oracles thy books impart;
Tis my delight to do thy will,

Thy law is written in my heart.j 7 In full assemblies I have told

Thy truth and righteousness at large: Nor did, thou know'st, my lips with

hold

From uttering what thou gav'st in charge:

Nor kept within my breast confin'd Thy faithfulness and saving grace; But preach'd thy love, for all design'd, That all might that and truth embrace.

Then let those mercies I declar'd
To others, LORD, extend to me;
Thy loving-kindness my reward,
Thy truth my safe protection be.

PSALM 35 (C. M.)
From the xli, Psalm of David.
APPY the man whose tender care
Relieves the poor distress'd!
When troubles compass him around,
The LORD shall give him rest.

HA

The LORD his life, with blessings
crown'd,

In safety shall prolong;
And disappoint the will of those
That seek to do him wrong.

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When heated in the chase;
So longs my soul, O God, for thee,
And thy refreshing grace.

2 For thee, my GoD, the living God,
My thirsty soul doth pine;
O! when shall I behold thy face,
Thou Majesty Divine?

3 Why restless, why cast down, my

soul?

Trust God; who will employ
His aid for thee, and change these sighs
To thankful hymns of joy.

4 GoD of my strength, how long shall 1,
Forlorn, forsaken, and expos'd
Like one forgotten, mourn;
To my oppressor's scorn?

5

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My heart is pierc'd, as with a sword,
Vain boaster, where is now thy God?
While thus my foes upbraid:
And where his promis'd aid?"

6 Why restless, why cast down, my
soul?

'Hope still; and thou shalt sing The praise of him who is thy God, Thy health's eternal spring.

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