PSALM XVIII. Sec. Part. L. M.

* or b God executing Judgment on his Enemies. 1 INCUMBENT on the bending sky, The Lord descended from on high; And bade the darkness of the pole Beneath his feet tremendous roll.

2 Thick woven clouds around him clos'd,
His secret residence compos'd;
And waters, high suspended, spread
Their dark pavilion o'er his head.

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 past,

And o'er them rag'd the dreadful blast.
MERRICK.

PSALM XVIII. Third Part. L. M. b
Sincerity proved, or the Equity of Providence.
I 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;
The kind and faithful souls shall find
A God more faithful and more kind.

5 The just and pure shall ever say

God is more pure and just than they ;
And men that love revenge shall know
God hath an arm of vengeance too.

WATTS.

PSALM XVIII. Fourth Part. C. M. *
Thanksgiving for Victory.

1 TO thine almighty arm we owe

The triumph of the day;

Thy terrors, Lord, confound the foe,
And melt their strength away.

2 'Tis by thine aid our troops prevail,
And break united powers;

By thee their lofty walls we scale,
Or burn their proudest towers.

3 God speaks, and at his fierce rebuke
Whole armies are dismay'd;

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

4 He forms our soldiers for the field,
With all their martial skill;

Instructs their hand the sword to wield,
And gives them hearts of steel.

5 The Lord our Saviour ever lives,
His name be ever blest;

His powerful arm the victory gives,
And gives his people rest.

WATTS.

PSALM XIX. First Part. C. M.

The Voice of Nature proclaiming God.
THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
Which that alone can fill;
The firmament and stars express
Their great Creator's skill.

2 The dawn of each returning day

Fresh beams of knowledge brings;
And from the dark returns of night,
Divine instruction springs.

Their powerful language to no realm
Or region is confin'd;

'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.

No bridegroom, on his nuptial day,
Has such a cheerful face
No giant does like him rejoice

To run his glorious race.

6 From east to west, from west to east, His restless course he goes;

*

And, through his progress, cheerful light And vital warmth bestows.

*S

TATE.

PSALM XIX. Sec. Part. C. M. * or b
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 sincerc 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.

TATE.

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. 5 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. WATTS.

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.