PSALMS.

PSALM I.

Common Metre.

*

The Happiness of the Righteous and the Misery of the

Wicked.

1 BLEST is the man who shuns the place
Where sinners love to meet ;
Who fears to tread their wicked ways,
And hates the scoffer's seat.

2 But in the statutes of the Lord
Has plac'd his chief delight;
By day he reads or hears the word,
And meditates by night.

3 He, like a tree of generous kind,
By living waters set,

Safe from the storm and blasting wind,
Enjoys a peaceful state.

4 Green as the leaf, and ever fair
Shall his profession shine;
Whilst fruits of holiness appear
Like clusters on the vine.

5 Not so the impious and unjust!
What vain designs they form;
Their hopes are blown away like dust,
Or chaff before the storm.

6 Sinners in judgment shall not stand
Among the sons of grace;

When Christ, the Judge, at his right hand
Appoints his saints a place.

7 His eye beholds the path they tread,
His heart approves it well;
But crooked ways of sinners lead
Down to the gates of hell.

PSALM II.

WATTS.

Common Metre.

The Exaltation of Christ.

1 ATTEND, O earth, when God declares His uncontroll'd decree ;

"Thou art my Son, this day, my heir, "Have I begotten thee.

2 Upon my holy Zion's hill "My King I thee ordain;

"And though thy foes dispute my will,
"Thou shalt for ever reign.

3 "Ask and receive thy full demands,
"Thine shall the heathen be ;
"The utmost limits of the lands,
"Shall be possess'd by thee.

4 "Thy righteous sceptre thou shalt sway,
"And all thy foes command;
"Just as the potter breaks the clay,
"And moulds it with his hand.”
5 Be wise, ye princes, then, give ear,
Ye judges of the earth;

Worship the Lord with holy fear,
Rejoice with awful mirth.

6 Approach the Son with due respect,
To him your homage pay;

Lest ye persist in your neglect,
And perish in your way.

7 If but in

part his anger rise,

Who can endure the flame ?

Then blest are they whose hope relies
On his most holy Name.

TATE, varied.

PSALM II. Short Metre.

The Death, Resurrection and Glory of Christ.

1 MAKER, and sovereign Lord
Of heaven, and earth, and seas,
Thy Providence confirms thy word,
And answers thy decrees.

2 The things so long foretold
By David, are fulfill'd;

When Jews and gentiles join'd to slay
Jesus, thy holy child.

3 Why did the Gentiles rage,
And Jews with one accord
Unite their counsels to destroy
Th' anointed of the Lord ?

4 Rulers and kings agree
To form a vain design;
Against the Lord they join their powers,
Against his Christ combine.

5 The Lord derides their rage,

And will support his throne;

He who hath rais'd him from the dead,
Hath own'd him for his Son.

6 He asks, and God bestows

A vast inheritance;

Far as the earth's remotest ends

His kingdom shall advance.

WATTS.

PSALM III. Common Metre.

Doubts and Fears suppressed.

i MY God, how many are my fears!
How fast my foes increase!
Their number, how it multiplies !
How fatal to my peace!

2 The lying tempter would persuade
There's no relief from heaven;
And all my swelling sins appear
Too great to be forgiven.

3 But thou, O Lord, art my defence,
On thee my hopes rely;

My sinking spirit thou wilt raise,
And lift my head on high.

4 In former times of deep distress
To God I made my prayer:
He heard me from his holy hill;
Why should I now despair?

5 Guarded by him, I lay me down
My sweet repose to take;
For I through him securely sleep,
Through him in safety wake.

6 Salvation to the Lord belongs,
His arm alone can save ;
Blessings attend thy people here,
And reach beyond the grave.

b

TATE and WATTS united and varied.

PSALM IV. yer. 6, 7. C. M. * or b
True Happiness only in God.

1 WHEN fancy spreads her boldest wings, And wanders unconfin'd,

Amidst the varied scene of things
Which entertain the mind;

2 In vain we trace creation o’er,
In search of sacred rest,
The whole creation is too poor
To make us fully blest.

8 In vain would this low world employ
Each flattering specious wile,
For what can yield a real joy
But our Creator's smile?

4 Let earth with all her charms depart,
Unworthy of the mind;
In God alone our restless heart
An equal bliss can find.

5 Great Source of all felicity,
To thee our wishes tend!

Do not these wishes rise from thee,
And in thy favour end?

6 Thy favour, Lord, is all we want,
Here would our spirit rest;

O seal the rich, the boundless grant,
And make us fully blest.

Mrs. STEELE.

Long Metre.

An Evening Song.

1 THUS far the Lord has led me on, Thus far his power prolongs my days, And every evening shall make known Some fresh memorial of his grace. 2 Much of my time has run to waste, And I, perhaps. am near my home; But he forgives my follies past, And gives me strength for days to come. 3 I lay my body down to sleep,

Peace is the pillow for my head;