2 But clouds and darkness intervene, 3 Lord, guide this wand'ring heart to thee; Unsatisfy'd I stray; Break through the shades of sense and sin, With thy enliv'ning ray. 4 O let thy beams resplendent shine, And every cloud remove; Transform my powers, and fit my soul For happier scenes above. 5 Lord, raise my faith, my hope, my heart, To those transporting joys; Then shall I scorn each little snare, 6 Then, though I sink in death's cold sleep, To life I shall awake; And, in the likeness of my God, MRS. STEELE. PSALM XVII. Long Metre. The Resurrection. I WHAT sinners value I resign ; And flesh and sense no more control The sacred pleasures of the soul. 4 My flesh shall slumber in the ground Till the last trumpet's joyful sound; Then burst the chains with glad surprise, And in my Saviour's image rise. WATTS. PSALM XVIII. First Part. L. M. b Confidence in divine Protection. 1 No change of times shall ever shock My firm affection, Lord, to thee; For thou hast always been a rock, A fortress and defence to me. 2 Thou my deliv'rer art, my God; My trust is in thy mighty power; Thou art my shield from foes abroad, At home my safeguard and my tower. 3 To heaven I made my mournful prayer, To God address'd my humble cry; Who graciously inclin'd his ear, And heard me from his throne on high. 4 The Lord did on my side engage, From heaven my righteous cause upheld, And sav❜d me from the furious rage Of threat'ning waves that proudly swell'd. 5 Thou to the just shalt justice show, The pure thy purity shall see ; Such as perversely choose to go, Shall meet with due returns from thee. 6 Who then deserves to be ador'd But God, on whom my hopes depend? Or who, except the mighty Lord, Can with resistless power defend? TATE PSALM XVIII. Sec. Part. L. M. * or b God executing Judgment on his Enemies. 1 INCUMBENT on the bending sky, 3 His voice th' Almighty Monarch rear'd, Thro' heaven's high vault in thunder heard; And down in fiercer conflict came Tremendous hail and mingled flame. 4 With aim direct, his shafts were sped, In vain his foes before them fled; Around his dreadful lightnings stray, And sure destruction marks their way. 5 Earth's basis, open to the eye, And ocean's springs were seen to lie, As the tempestuous fury pass'd, And o'er them rag'd the dreadful blast. MERRICK, PSALM XVIII. Third Part. L. M. b Sincerity proved, or the Equity of Providence. 1 LORD, thou hast seen my soul sincere, Hast made thy truth and love appear; Before my eyes, I set thy laws, And thou hast own'd my righteous cause. 2 Since I have learnt thy holy ways, My actions have proclaim'd thy praise; Or if my feet did e'er depart, "Twas never with a wicked heart. 3 What sore temptations broke my rest; What wars and strugglings in my breast! But through thy grace that reigns within, I hope to conquer every sin. 4 With an impartial hand, the Lord Deals out to mortals their reward; WATTS. PSALM XVIII. Fourth Part. C. M. x 1 To thine almighty arm we owe Thy terrors, Lord, confound the foe, 2 'Tis by thine aid our troops prevail, 3 God speaks! and at his fierce rebuke 4 He forms our soldiers for the field, Instructs their hand the sword to wield, 5 The Lord our Saviour ever lives, His powerful arm the vict'ry gives, PSALM XIX. First Part. C. M. WATTS. The Voice of Nature proclaiming God. The firmament and stars express 2 The dawn of each returning day 3 Their powerful language to no realm 'Tis nature's voice, and understood Alike by all mankind. 4 Their doctrine does its sacred sense Through earth's extent display, Whose bright contents the circling sun Does round the world convey. 5 No bridegroom, on his nuptial day, Has such a cheerful face; 6 No giant does like him rejoice To run his glorious race. From east to west, from west to east, And, through his progress, cheerful light TATE. |