2 Let him who length of life desires,
And prosp'rous days would see,
From sland'ring language keep his tongue,
His lips from falsehood free:
3 The crooked paths of vice decline,
And virtue's ways pursue;
Establish peace where 'tis begun,
And where 'tis lost, renew.
4 The Lord from heav'n beholds the just With favourable eyes;
And when distress'd, his gracious ear
Is open to their cries.
5 Deliv❜rance to his saints he gives,
When his relief they crave;
He's nigh to heal the broken heart,
The contrite spirit save.
PSALM XXXV. ver. 12, 13, 14. C. M.
1 BEHOLD the love, the gen'rous love,
Which holy David shows!
Hark, how his tender pity moves
To his afflicted foes
2 When they are sick, his soul complains,
And seems to feel the smart ;
The spirit of the gospel reigns,
And melts his pious heart.
3 How did his flowing tears condole,
As for a brother dead!
And, fasting, mortify'd his soul,
Whilst for their life he pray'd
4 They groan, and curse him on their bed,
Yet still he pleads and mourns;
And double blessings on his head
The righteous God returns.
5 O glorious Type of heav'nly grace!
Thus Christ the Lord appears;
Whilst sinners curse, the Saviour prays,
And pities them with tears.
6 He, the true David, Israel's King,
Bless'd and belov'd of God,
To save our souls from death and sin,
Shed his own precious blood.
PSALM XXXVI. First Versi.
The Perfections and Providence of God.
1 THY mercy, Lord, my only hope,
The highest orb of heav'n transcends;
Thy sacred truth's unmeasur'd scope
Above the spreading skies 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
Thy shelt ring wings their refuge 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 the fountain head,
Of joys that shall for ever last.
5 Then let thy saints thy favour gain,
To upright hearts thy truth display;
With thee, the springs of life remain,
Thy presence is eternal day.
PSALM XXXVI. Sec. Versi. L. M.
The Divine Being and Perfections.
1 HIGH in the heav'ns, eternal God,
Thy goodness in full glory shines;
Thy truth shall break thro' ev'ry cloud,
Which veils and darkens thy designs.
2 For ever firm thy justice stands,
As mountains their foundations keep:
Wise are the wonders of thy hands,
Thy judgments are a mighty deep.
3 Thy providence is kind and large,
Both men and beasts thy bounty share;
The whole creation is thy charge,
But saints are thy peculiar care.
4 O God, how excellent thy grace, Whence all our hope and comfort springs! The sons of Adam, in distress,
Fly to the shadow of thy wings.
5 From the provisions of thy house
We shall be fed with rich repast;
There mercy like a river flows,
And brings salvation to our taste.
6 Life, like a fountain full and free,
Springs from the presence of the Lord;
And in thy light, our souls shall see
The glories promis'd in thy word.
The Cure of Envy and Unbelief.
1 WHY should I vex my soul, and fret
To see the wicked rise?
Or envy sinners waxing great,
By violence and lies?
2 As flow'ry grass, cut down at noon,
Before the evening fades,
So shall their glory vanish soon,
In everlasting shades.
3 Then let me make the Lord my trust,
And practise all that's good;
So shall I dwell among the just,
And never want for food.
4 I to my God my ways commit,
And cheerful wait his will;
Thy hand, which guides my doubtful feet,
Shall my desires fulfil.
5 Mine innocence shalt thou display,
And make thy judgments known;
Fair as the light of dawning day,
And glorious as the noon.
6 The meek shall still the earth possess,
And be the heirs of heav'n;
True riches in abundant peace,
To humble souls are giv'n.
Religion in Words and Deeds.
1 WHY do the wealthy wicked boast,
And grow profanely bold?
The meanest portion of the just
Excels the sinner's gold.
2 The wicked borrows of his friends,
But ne'er designs to pay;
The just is merciful, and lends,
Nor turns the poor away.
3 His alms with lib'ral hand he gives
To all the sons of need;
His mem❜ry to long ages lives,
And blessed is his seed.
4 His lips abhor to speak profane,
To slander or defraud;
His ready tongue declares to men
What he has learn'd of God.
5 The law and gospel of the Lord
Deep in his heart abide;
Led by the Spirit and the word,
His feet shall never slide.
6 When sinners fall, the righteous stand, Preserv'd from ev'ry snare;
They shall possess the promis'd land,
And dwell for ever there.
PSALM XXXVII. Third Part. C. M. or b
The Way and End of the Righteous and the Wicked.
1 My God, the steps of pious men
Are order'd by thy will;
Though they should fall, they rise again,
Thy hand supports them still.
2 The Lord delights to see their ways,
Their virtue he approves;
He'll ne'er deprive them of his grace,
Nor leave the men he loves.
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