PSALM XIX. Sec. Part. C. M.
The Excellency of Scripture.
1 GOD's perfect law converts the soul,
Reclaims from false desires;
With sacred wisdom his sure word
The ignorant inspires.
2 The statutes of the Lord are just,
And bring sincere delight;
His pure commands in search of truth
Assist the feeblest sight.
3 His perfect worship here is fix'd,
On sure foundations laid;
His equal laws are in the scales
Of truth and justice weigh'd.
4 Of more esteem than golden mines,
Or gold refin❜d with skill;
More sweet than honey, or the drops
Which from the comb distil.
5 My trusty counsellors they are,
And friendly warning give;
Divine rewards attend on those
Who by thy precepts live.
6 But what frail man observes how oft
He does from virtue fall?
O cleanse me from my secret faults,
Thou God, who know'st them all.
PSALM XIX. Long Metre.
Nature and Scripture compared.
1 THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
In every star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.
2 The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days thy power confess;
But the blest volume thou hast writ
Reveals thy justice and thy grace.
3 Sun, moon and stars convey thy praise
Through the whole earth, and never stand;
So when thy truth began its race,
It touch'd and glanc'd on every land.
4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,
Till through the world thy truth has run;
Till Christ hath all the nations blest
That see the light or feel the sun.
3 Great Sun of righteousness, arise;
Bless the dark world with heavenly light;
Thy gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.
6 Thy noblest wonders here we view,
In souls renew'd and sins forgiven;
Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew,
And make thy word my guide to heaven.
PSALM XIX. Six Line L. M.
1 GREAT God, the heaven's well order'd frame Declares the glory of thy name;
Here thy rich works of wonder shine;
A thousand starry beauties there,
A thousand radiant marks appear
Of boundless power and skill divine.
2 From night to day, from day to night,
The dawning and the dying light
Lectures of heavenly wisdom read;
With silent eloquence, they raise
Our thoughts to our Creator's praise,
And neither sound nor language need.
3 Yet their divine instructions run Far as the circuit of the sun,
And every nation knows their voice; Where'er he spreads his beams abroad, He publishes his Maker, God,
Rolls round, and makes the earth rejoice. 4 But when we read thy written word, What light and joy those leaves afford! These are our study and delight: Not honey so invites the taste, Nor gold that hath the furnace past, Appears so pleasing to the sight. 5 From the discov'ries of thy law, The perfect rules of life we draw; But 'tis thy blessed gospel, Lord, Which makes our guilty conscience clean, Converts our soul, subdues our sin, And gives a free but large reward. 6 Who knows the errors of his thoughts! Forgive, O Lord, our secret faults, And from presumptuous sins restrain : Accept the tribute of our praise, That we have read thy book of grace, And book of nature, not in vain.
PSALM XIX. Short Metre.
For the Lord's Day Morning.
1 BEHOLD, the morning sun
Begins his glorious way,
His beams through all the nations run,
And life and light convey.
2 But where the gospel comes,
It spreads diviner light;
It calls dead sinners from their tombs,
And gives the blind their sight.
3 How perfect is thy word!
And all thy judgments just!
For ever sure thy promise, Lord,
And we securely trust.
4 My gracious God, how plain
Are thy directions given!
O may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven !
5 I hear thy word with love;
O help me to obey!
Send thy good Spirit from above,
To guide me, lest I stray.
6 Whilst with my heart and tongue
I spread thy praise abroad;
Accept the worship and the song,
My Saviour and my God.
PSALM XX. Long Metre.
For a Day of Prayer in War.
1 Now may the God of power and grace
Attend his humble people's cry;
Jehovah hears when Israel prays,
And sends deliv'rance from on high.
2 The name of Jacob's God defends
Better than shields or brazen walls;
He from his sanctuary sends
Succour and strength when Zion calls
3 Well he remembers all our sighs,
His love exceeds our best deserts;
His love accepts the sacrifice
Of humble groans and broken hearts.
4 In his salvation is our hope,
And in the name of God, the Lord,
Our troops shall lift their banners up,
Our ships shall spread their flags abroad.
5 Some trust in horses train'd for war,
And some of chariots make their boast
Our surest expectations are
From thee, the Lord of heavenly host,
6 Save us, O Lord, from guilty fear,
And let our hopes be firm and strong;
Till thy salvation shall appear,
And joy and triumph raise the song.
PSALM XXI. Long Metre,
The Exaltation of Christ.
1 DAVID rejoic'd in God his strength,
Rais'd to the throne by special grace;
But Christ the Son appears at length,
Fulfils the triumph and the praise.
2 How great is the Messiah's joy
In the salvation of thy hand!
Lord, thou hast rais'd his kingdom high, And giv'n the world to his command. 3 Thy goodness grants whate'er he will, Nor doth the least request withhold; Blessings. of love prevent him still, And crowns of glory, not of gold. 4 Honour and majesty divine Around his sacred temples shine Blest with the favour of thy face, And length of everlasting days.
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