Then burst the chains with sweet surprise,

And in my Saviour's image rise.*

PSALM XVIII. VER. 1,--6, 15,--18. FIRST PART.

LONG METRE.

Deliverance from despair, or temptations overcome.

THEE will I love O Lord! my strength,
My rock, my tow'r, my high defence;
Thy mighty arm shall be my trust,
For I have found salvation thence.

2. Death and the terrors of the grave
Stood round me with their dismal shade,
While floods of high temptations rose
And made my sinking soul afraid.

3. I saw the op'ning gates of hell, With endless pains and sorrows there

The sense of a great part of this Psalm occurs so often in the book of Psalms that I thought it necessary to translate no more than these few verses of it, namely, ver. 3 Thou hast proved my heart, and bast tried me, and shalt find nothing; ver. 13. The wicked are thy sword; ver. 14. The men of the world bave their portion in this life, whose belly bou fillest; they leave the rest of their substance to their babes; ver. 15. I shall behold thy face in righteousness,

shall be satisfied when i awake with thy likeness. I confess I have indulged a large exposition here, but I could not forbear to give my though's a loose upon this divine description of complete blessedness in the 15th verse, this bright abridgement of heaven. From the word awake I have taken occasion to represent the departing souls awaking into the world of spirits as well as the body's awaking from the grave.

Which none but they that feel can tell,
While I was hurry'd to despair.

4. In my distress I call'd my God,
When I could scarce believe him mine;
He bow'd his ear to my complaint,
Then did his grace appear divine.

[5. With speed he flew to my relief,
As on a cherub's wing he rode;
Awful and bright as lightning shone
The face of my deliv'rer God.

6. Temptations fled at his rebuke,
The blast of his almighty breath;
He sent salvation from on high,
And drew me from the depths of death.]

7. Great were my fears, my foes were great, Much was their strength and more their rage; But Christ my Lord is conq'ror still

In all the wars that devils wage.
8. My song for ever shall record
That terrible that joyful hour,
And give the glory to the Lord,
Due to his mercy and his pow'r. *

I have divided this long Psalm into three parts, and accommodated the several verses of it to our spiritual warfare and victory through grace, as being of more frequent and general use to Christians; yet there are so noble expressions of triumph in God and thanks for victory over temporal enemies scattered up and down, that persuaded me to form them afterwards in common metre also, agreeable to their original design.

PSALM XVIII. VER. 20,--26. SECOND PART.

LONG METRE.

Sincerity proved and rewarded.

LORD thou hast seen my soul sincere,
Hast made thy truth and love appear;
Before mine eyes I set thy laws,

And thou hast own'd my righteous cause.
2. Since I have learn'd thy holy ways
I've walk'd upright before thy face,
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 thro' thy grace that reigns within
I guard against my darling sin.

4. That sin that close besets me stil!,
That works and strives against my will,
When shall thy Spirit's sov'reign pow'r
Destroy it that it rise no more.

[5. With an impartial hand the Lord
Deals out to mortals their reward:
The kind and faithful souls shall find
A God as faithful and as kind.

6. The just and pure shall ever say
Thou art more pure more just than they;
And men that love revenge shall know
God hath an arm of vengeance too.]

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PSALM XVIII. VER. 30, 31, 34, 35, 46, &c.

THIRD PART. LONG METRE.

Rejoicing in God, or salvation and triumph.

Just are thy ways and true thy word,

Great Rock of my secure abode :
Who is a God beside our Lord,

Or where's a refuge like our God?

2. 'Tis he that girds me with his might,
Gives me his holy sword to wield,
And while with sin and hell I fight
Spreads his salvation for my shield.
3. He lives, (and blessed be my Rock)
The God of my salvation lives!
The dark designs of hell are broke;
Sweet is the peace my Father gives.

4. Before the scoffers of the age
I will exalt my Father's name,
Nor tremble at their mighty rage,
But meet reproach and bear the shame.
5. To David and his royal seed
Thy grace for ever shall extend:
Thy love to saints in Christ their head
Knows not a limit nor an end.

Volume I.

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PSALM XVIII. FIRST PART. COMMON METRE.

Victory and triumph over temporal enemies.

Now is thine arm reveal'd;

Thou art our strength, our heav'nly tow'r,
Our bulwark and our shield.

2. We fly to our eternal Rock

And find a sure defence;

His holy name our lips invoke

And draw salvation thence.

3. When God our leader shines in arms What mortal heart can bear

The thunder of his loud alarms,

The lightning of his spear?

4. He rides upon the winged wind, And angels in array

In millions wait to know his mind,
And swift as flames obey.

5. He speaks, and at his fierce rebuke Whole armies are dismay'd;

His voice, his frown, his angry look,
Strikes all their courage dead.

6. He forms our gen'rals for the field
With all their dreadful skill,
Gives them his awful sword to wield,
And makes their hearts of steel,

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