Part 12

3 When times grow dark, and tidings spread That fill his neighbours round with dread, His heart is arm'd against the fear, For God with all his power is there.

4 His soul, well fix'd upon the Lord, Draws heavenly courage from his word; Amidst the darkness light shall rise, To cheer his heart, and bless his eyes.

5 He hath dispers'd his alms abroad, His works are still before his God; His name on earth shall long remain, While envious sinners fret in vain.

Psalm 112:3. C. M, Liberality rewarded.

1 Happy is he that fears the Lord, And follows his commands, Who lends the poor without reward, Or gives with liberal hands.

2 As pity dwells within his breast To all the sons of need; So God shall answer his request With blessings on his seed,

3 No evil tidings shall surprise His well-establish'd mind; His soul to God his refuge flies, And leaves his fears behind.

4 In times of general distress, Some beams of light shall shine To shew the world his righteousness, And give him peace divine.

5 His works of piety and love Remain before the Lord; Honour on earth and joys above Shall be his sure reward.

Psalm 113:1. Proper Time. The majesty and condescension of God.

1 Ye that delight to serve the Lord, The honours of his Name record, His sacred Name for ever bless: Where'er the circling sun displays His rising beams, or setting rays, Let lands and seas his power confess.

2 Not time, nor nature's narrow rounds, Can give his vast dominion bounds, The heavens are far below his height: Let no created greatness dare With our eternal God compare, Arm'd with his uncreated might.

3 He bows his glorious head to view What the bright hosts of angels do, And bends his care to mortal things; His sovereign hand exalts the poor, He takes the needy from the door, And makes them company for kings.

4 When childless families despair, He sends the blessings of an heir To rescue their expiring name: The mother with a thankful voice Proclaims his praises and her joys: Let every age advance his fame.

Psalm 113:2. L. M. God sovereign and gracious.

1 Ye servants of th' Almighty King, In every age his praises sing; Where'er the sun shall rise or set, The nations shall his praise repeat.

2 Above the earth, beyond the sky, Stands his high throne of majesty: Nor time, nor place, his power restrain, Nor bound his universal reign.

3 Which of the sons of Adam dare, Or angels, with their God compare? His glories how divinely bright, Who dwells in uncreated light!

4 Behold his love: he stoops to view What saints above and angels do; And condescends yet more to know The mean affairs of men below.

5 From dust and cottages obscure His grace exalts the humble poor; Gives them the honour of his sons, And fits them for their heavenly thrones.

6 [A word of his creating voice Can make the barren house rejoice: Tho' Sarah's ninety years were past, The promis'd seed is born at last.

7 With joy the mother views her son, And tells the wonders God has done: Faith may grow strong when sense despairs, If nature fails, the promise bears.]

Psalm 114. Miracles attending Israel's journey.

1 When Israel, freed from Pharaoh's hand, Left the proud tyrant and his land, The tribes with cheerful homage own Their King, and Judah was his throne.

2 Across the deep their journey lay; The deep divides to make them way: Jordan beheld their march, and fled With backward current to his head.

3 The mountains shook like frighted sheep, Like lambs the little hillocks leap; Not Sinai on her base could stand, Conscious of sovereign power at hand.

4 What power could make the deep divide? Make Jordan backward roll his tide? Why did ye leap, ye little hills? And whence the fright that Sinai feels?

5 Let every mountain, every flood, Retire and know th' approaching God, The king of Israel: see him here; Tremble, thou earth, adore and fear.

6 He thunders, and all nature mourns, The rock to standing pools he turns; Flints spring with fountains at his word, And fires and seas confess the Lord.

Psalm 115:1. First Metre. The true God our refuge; or, Idolatry reproved.

1 Not to ourselves, who are but dust, Not to ourselves is glory due, Eternal God, thou only just, Thou only gracious, wise, and true.

2 Shine forth in all thy dreadful Name; Why should a heathen's haughty tongue Insult us, and to raise our shame Say, "Where's the God you've serv'd so long?"

3 The God we serve maintains his throne Above the clouds, beyond the skies, Thro' all the earth his will is done, He knows our groans, he hears our cries.

4 But the vain idols they adore Are senseless shapes of stone and wood; At best a mass of glittering ore, A silver saint, or golden god.

5 [With eyes, and ears they carve their head, Deaf are their ears, their eyes are blind; In vain are costly offerings made, And vows are scatter'd in the wind.

6 Their feet were never made to move, Nor hands to save when mortals pray; Mortals that pay them fear or love Seem to be blind and deaf as they.]

7 O Israel, make the Lord thy hope, Thy help, thy refuge, and thy rest; The Lord shall build thy ruins up, And bless the people and the priest.

8 The dead no more can speak thy praise, They dwell in silence and the grave; But we shall live to sing thy grace, And tell the world thy power to save.

Psalm 115:2. Second Metre. As the new tune of the 50th Psalm. Popish idolatry reproved.

A psalm for the 5th of November.

1 Not to our names, thou only Just and True, Not to our worthless names is glory due; Thy power and grace, thy truth and justice claim Immortal honours to thy sovereign Name: Shine thro' the earth from heaven, thy blest abode, Nor let the heathens say, "And where's your God?"

2 Heaven is thine higher court; there stands thy throne, And thro' the lower worlds thy will is done: Our God fram'd all this earth, these heavens he spread, But fools adore the gods their hands have made: The kneeling crowd, with looks devout, behold Their silver saviours, and their saints of gold.

3 [Vain are those artful shapes of eyes and ears; The molten image neither sees nor hears: Their hands are helpless, nor their feet can move, They have no speech, nor thought, nor power, nor love; Yet sottish mortals make their long complaints To their deaf idols, and their moveless saints.

4 The rich have statues well adorn'd with gold; The poor, content with gods of coarser mould, With tools of iron carve the senseless stock, Lopt from a tree, or broken from a rock: People and priest drive on the solemn trade, And trust the gods that saws and hammers made.]

5 Be heaven and earth amaz'd! 'Tis hard to say Which is more stupid, or their gods or they: O Israel, trust the Lord, he hears and sees, He knows thy sorrows, and restores thy peace: His worship does a thousand comforts yield, He is thy help, and he thy heavenly shield.

6 O Britain, trust the Lord: thy foes in vain Attempt thy ruin, and oppose his reign; Had they prevail'd, darkness had clos'd our days, And death and silence had forbid his praise; But we are sav'd, and live: let songs arise, And Britain bless the God that built the skies.

Psalm 116:1. First Part. Recovery from sickness.

1 I love the Lord; he heard my cries, And pity'd every groan: Long as I live, when troubles rise, I'll hasten to his throne.

2 I love the Lord; he bow'd his ear, And chas'd my griefs away; O let my heart no more despair, While I have breath to pray!

3 My flesh declin'd, my spirits fell, And I drew near the dead, While inward pangs, and fears of hell Perplex'd my wakeful head.

4 "My God," I cry'd "thy servant save, "Thou ever good and just; "Thy power can rescue from the grave, "Thy power is all my trust."

5 The Lord beheld me sore distrest, He bid my pains remove: Return, my soul, to God thy rest, For thou hast known his love.

6 My God hath sav'd my soul from death, And dry'd my failing tears; Now to his praise I'll spend my breath, And my remaining years.

Psalm 116:2. 12 &c. Second Part. Vows made in trouble paid in the church; or, Public thanks for private deliverance.

1 What shall I render to my God For all his kindness shown? My feet shall visit thine abode, My songs address thy throne.

2 Among the saints that fill thine house, My offerings shall be paid; There shall my zeal perform the vows My soul in anguish made.

3 How much is mercy thy delight, Thou ever blessed God! How dear thy servants in thy sight! How precious is their blood!

4 How happy all thy servants are! How great thy grace to me! My life which thou hast made thy care, Lord, I devote to thee.

5 Now I am thine, for ever thine, Nor shall my purpose move; Thy hand hath loos'd my bonds of pain, And bound me with thy love.

6 Here in thy courts I leave my vow, And thy rich grace record; Witness, ye saints, who hear me now, If I forsake the Lord.

Psalm 117:1. C. M. Praise to God from all nations.

1 O all ye nations, praise the Lord, Each with a different tongue; In every language learn his word, And let his Name be sung.

2 His mercy reigns thro' every land; Proclaim his grace abroad; For ever firm his truth shall stand, Praise ye the faithful God.

Psalm 117:2. L. M.

1 From all that dwell below the skies, Let the Creator's praise arise! Let the Redeemer's name be sung Thro' every land, by every tongue.

2 Eternal are thy mercies, Lord; Eternal truth attends thy word: Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore, Till suns shall rise and set no more.

Psalm 117:3. S. M.

1 Thy Name, almighty Lord, Shall sound thro' distant lands; Great is thy grace, and sure thy word, Thy truth for ever stands.

2 Far be thine honour spread, And long thy praise endure, Till morning light and evening shade Shall be exchang'd no more.

Psalm 118:1. 6-15. First Part. Deliverance from a tumult.

1 The Lord appears my helper now, Nor is my faith afraid What all the sons of earth can do, Since heaven affords its aid.

2 'Tis safer, Lord, to hope in thee, And have my God my friend, Than trust in men of high degree, And on their truth depend.

3 Like bees my foes beset me round, A large and angry swarm; But I shall all their rage confound By thine almighty arm.

4 'Tis thro' the Lord my heart is strong, In him my lips rejoice; While his salvation is my song, How cheerful is my voice!

5 Like angry bees they girt me round; When God appears they fly: So burning thorns, with crackling sound, Make a fierce blaze and die.

6 Joy to the saints and peace belongs; The Lord protects their days: Let Israel tune immortal songs To his almighty grace.

Psalm 118:2. 17-21. Second Part. Public praise for deliverance from death.

1 Lord, thou hast heard thy servant cry, And rescu'd from the grave; Now shall he live: (and none can die If God resolve to save.)

2 Thy praise, more constant than before, Shall fill his daily breath; Thy hand that hath chastis'd him sore, Defends him still from death.

3 Open the gates of Zion now, For we shall worship there, The house where all the righteous go Thy mercy to declare.

4 Among th' assemblies of thy saints Our thankful voice we raise! There we have told thee our complaints, And there we speak thy praise.

Psalm 118:3. 22 23. Third Part. Christ the foundation of his church.

1 Behold the sure foundation-stone Which God in Zion lays To build our heavenly hopes upon, And his eternal praise.

2 Chosen of God, to sinners dear, And saints adore the Name, They trust their whole salvation here, Nor shall they suffer shame.

3 The foolish builders, scribe and priest, Reject it with disdain; Yet on this rock the church shall rest, And envy rage in vain.

4 What tho' the gates of hell withstood, Yet must this building rise: 'Tis thy own work, almighty God, And wondrous in our eyes.

Psalm 118:4. 24 25 26. Fourth Part. Hosanna; the Lord's day; or, Christ's resurrection and our salvation.

1 This is the day the Lord hath made, He calls the hours his own; Let heaven rejoice, let earth be glad, And praise surround the throne.

2 To-day he rose and left the dead, And Satan's empire fell; To-day the saints his triumphs spread, And all his wonders tell.

3 Hosanna to th' anointed King, To David's holy Son: Help us, O Lord; descend and bring Salvation from the throne.

4 Blest be the Lord, who comes to men With messages of grace; Who comes in God his Father's Name To save our sinful race.

5 Hosanna in the highest strains The church on earth can raise; The highest heavens, in which he reigns, Shall give him nobler praise.

Psalm 118:5. 22-27. S. M. An hosanna for the Lord's day; or, A new song of salvation by Christ.

1 See what a living-stone The builders did refuse; Yet God hath built his church thereon In spite of envious Jews.

2 The scribe and angry priest Reject thine only Son; Yet on this rock shall Zion rest, As the chief corner-stone.

3 The work, O Lord, is thine, And wondrous in our eyes; This day declares it all divine, This day did Jesus rise.

4 This is the glorious day That our Redeemer made; Let us rejoice, and sing, and pray, Let all the church be glad.

5 Hosanna to the King Of David's royal blood: Bless him, ye saints; he comes to bring Salvation from your God.

6 We bless thine holy word, Which all this grace displays; And offer on thine altar, Lord, Our sacrifice of praise.

Psalm 118:6. 22-27. L. M. An hosanna for the Lord's day; or, A new song of salvation by Christ.

1 Lo! what a glorious corner-stone The Jewish builders did refuse; But God hath built his church thereon, In spite of envy and the Jews.

2 Great God, the work is all divine, The joy and wonder of our eyes; This is the day that proves it thine, The day that saw our Saviour rise.

3 Sinners rejoice, and saints be glad: Hosanna, let his Name be blest: A thousand honours on his head, With peace, and light, and glory, rest.

4 In God's own name he comes to bring Salvation to our dying race: Let the whole church address their King With hearts of joy, and songs of praise.

Psalm 119. I have collected and disposed the most useful verses of this psalm under eighteen different heads, and formed a divine song upon each of them. But the verses are much transposed to attain some degree of connection.

In some places, among the words "law," "commands," "judgments," "testimonies," I have used "gospel," "word," "grace," "truth," "promises," &c. as more agreeable to the language of the New Testament, and the common language of Christians, and it equally answers the design of the Psalmist, which was to recommend the holy scripture.

Psalm 119:01. First Part. The blessedness of saints, and misery of sinners.

Ver. 1 2 3. 1 Blest are the undefil'd in heart, Whose ways are right and clean; Who never from thy law depart, But fly front every sin.

2 Blest are the men that keep thy word, And practise thy commands; With their whole heart they seek the Lord, And serve thee with their hands.

Ver. 165. 3 Great is their peace who love thy law; How firm their souls abide! Nor can a bold temptation draw Their steady feet aside.

Ver. 6. 4 Then shall my heart have inward joy, And keep my face from shame, When all thy statutes I obey, And honour all thy name.

Ver. 21 118. 5 But haughty sinners God will hate, The proud shall die accurst; The sons of falsehood and deceit Are trodden to the dust.

Ver. 119 155. 6 Vile as the dross the wicked are; And those that leave thy ways Shall see salvation from afar, But never taste thy grace.

Psalm 119:02. Second Part. Secret devotion and spiritual mindedness; or, Constant converse with God.

Ver. 147 55. 1 TO thee, before the dawning light, My gracious God, I pray; I meditate thy Name by night, And keep thy law by day.

Ver. 81. 2 My spirit faints to see thy grace, Thy promise bears me up; And while salvation long delays, Thy word supports my hope.

Ver. 164. 3 Seven times a day I lift my hands, And pay my thanks to thee; Thy righteous providence demands Repeated praise from me.

Ver. 62. 4 When midnight darkness veils the skies, I call thy works to mind; My thoughts in warm devotion rise, And sweet acceptance find.

Psalm 119:03. Third Part. Profession: of sincerity, repentance, and obedience.

Ver. 57 60. 1 Thou art my portion, O my God; Soon as I know thy way, My heart makes haste t' obey thy word, And suffers no delay.

Ver. 30 14. 2 I choose the path of heavenly truth, And glory in my choice: Not all the riches of the earth Could make me so rejoice.

3 The testimonies of thy grace I set before my eyes; Thence I derive my daily strength, And there my comfort lies.

Ver. 59. 4 If once I wander from thy path, I think upon my ways, Then turn my feet to thy commands, And trust thy pardoning grace.

Ver. 94 114. 5 Now I am thine, for ever thine, O save thy servant, Lord; Thou art my shield, my hiding-place, My hope is in thy word.

Ver. 112. 6 Thou hast inclin'd this heart of mine, Thy statutes to fulfil; And thus till mortal life shall end Would I perform thy will.

Psalm 119:04. Fourth Part. Instruction from scripture.

Ver. 9. 1 How shall the young secure their hearts, And guard their lives from sin? Thy word the choicest rules imparts To keep the conscience clean.

Ver. 130. 2 When once it enters to the mind, It spreads such light abroad, The meanest souls instruction find, And raise their thoughts to God.

Ver. 105. 3 'Tis like the sun, a heavenly light, That guides us all the day; And thro' the dangers of the night, A lamp to lead our way.

Ver. 99 100. 4 The men that keep thy law with care, And meditate thy word, Grow wiser than their teachers are, And better know the Lord.

Ver. 104 113. 5 Thy precepts make me truly wise: I hate the sinner's road; I hate my own vain thoughts that rise, But love thy law, my God.

Ver. 89 90 91. 6 [The starry heavens thy rule obey, The earth maintains her place; And these thy servants night and day Thy skill and power express!

7 But still thy law and gospel, Lord, Have lessons more divine; Not earth stands firmer than thy word, Nor stars so nobly shine.]

Ver. 160 140 9 116. 8 Thy word is everlasting truth; How pure is every page! That holy book shall guide our youth, And well support our age.

Psalm 119:05. Fifth Part. Delight in scripture; or, The word of God dwelling in us.

Ver. 97. 1 O How I love thy holy law! 'Tis daily my delight; And thence my meditations draw Divine advice by night.

Ver. 148. 2 My waking eyes prevent the day To meditate thy word; My soul with longing melts away To hear thy gospel, Lord.

Ver. 3 13 54. 3 How doth thy word my heart engage! How well employ my tongue! And, in my tiresome pilgrimage, Yields me a heavenly song.

Ver. 19 103. 4 Am I a stranger, or at home, 'Tis my perpetual feast; Not honey dropping from the comb So much allures the taste.

Ver. 72 127. 5 No treasures so enrich the mind; Nor shall thy word be sold For loads of silver well refin'd, Nor heaps of choicest gold.

Ver. 28 49 175. 6 When nature sinks, and spirits droop, Thy promises of grace Are pillars to support my hope, And there I write thy praise.

Psalm 119:06. Sixth Part. Holiness and comfort from the word.

Ver. 128. 1 Lord, I esteem thy judgments right, And all thy statutes just; Thence I maintain a constant fight With every flattering lust.

Ver. 97 9. 2 Thy precepts often I survey; I keep thy law in sight, Thro' all the business of the day, To form my actions right.

Ver. 62. 3 My heart in midnight silence cries, "How sweet thy comforts be!" My thoughts in holy wonder rise, And bring their thanks to thee.

Ver. 162. 4 And when my spirit drinks her fill At some good word of thine, Not mighty men that share the spoil Have joys compar'd to mine.

Psalm 119:07. Seventh Part. Imperfection of nature, and perfection of scripture.

Ver. 96. paraphrased. 1 Let all the heathen writers join To form one perfect book, Great God, if once compar'd with thine, How mean their writings look!

2 Not the most perfect rules they gave Could shew one sin forgiven, Nor lead a step beyond the grave; But thine conduct to heaven.

3 I've seen an end of what we call Perfection here below; How short the powers of nature fall, And can no farther go!

4 Yet men would fain be just with God By works their hands have wrought; But thy commands, exceeding broad, Extend to every thought.

5 In vain we boast perfection here, While sin defiles our frame, And sinks our virtues down so far, They scarce deserve the name.

6 Our faith and love, and every grace, Fall far below thy word; But perfect truth and righteousness Dwell only with the Lord.

Psalm 119:08. Eighth Part. The word of God is the saint's portion; or, The excellency and variety of scripture.

Ver. 111. paraphrased. 1 Lord, I have made thy word my choice, My lasting heritage; There shall my noblest powers rejoice, My warmest thoughts engage.

2 I'll read the histories of thy love, And keep thy laws in sight, While thro' the promises I rove, With ever fresh delight.

3 'Tis a broad land of wealth unknown Where springs of life arise, Seeds of immortal bliss are sown, And hidden glory lies.

4 The best relief that mourners have, It makes our sorrows blest; Our fairest hope beyond the grave, And our eternal rest.

Psalm 119:09. Ninth Part. Desire of knowledge; or, The teachings of the Spirit with the word.

Ver. 64 66 18. 1 Thy mercies fill the earth, O Lord, How good thy works appear! Open mine eyes to read thy word, And see thy wonders there.

Ver. 73 125. 2 My heart was fashion'd by thy hand, My service is thy due: O make thy servant understand The duties he must do.

Ver. 19. 3 Since I'm a stranger here below, Let not thy path be hid; But mark the road my feet should go, And be my constant guide.

Ver. 26. 4 When I confess'd my wandering ways, Thou heardst my soul complain; Grant me the teachings of thy grace, Or I shall stray again.

Ver. 33 34. 5 If God to me his statutes shew, And heavenly truth impart, His work for ever I'll pursue, His laws shall rule my heart.

Ver. 50 71. 6 This was my comfort when I bore Variety of grief; It made me learn thy word the more, And fly to that relief.

Ver. 51. 7 [In vain the proud deride me now; I'll ne'er forget thy law, Nor let that blessed gospel go Whence all my hopes I draw.

Ver. 27 121. 8 When I have learn'd my Father's will I'll teach the world his ways; My thankful lips inspir'd with zeal Shall loud pronounce his praise.]

Psalm 119:10. Tenth Part. Pleading the promises.

Ver. 38 49. 1 Behold thy waiting servant, Lord, Devoted to thy fear; Remember and confirm thy word, For all my hopes are there.

Ver. 41 58 107. 2 Hast thou not writ salvation down, And promis'd quickening grace? Doth not my heart address thy throne? And yet thy love delays.

Ver. 132 42. 3 Mine eyes for thy salvation fail; O bear thy servant up; Nor let the scoffing lips prevail, Who dare reproach my hope.

Ver. 49 74. 4 Didst thou not raise my faith, O Lord? Then let thy truth appear: Saints shall rejoice in my reward, And trust as well as fear.

Psalm 119:11. Eleventh Part. Breathing after holiness.

Ver. 5 33. 1 O that the Lord would guide my ways To keep his statutes still! O that my God would grant me grace To know and do his will!

Ver. 29. 2 O send thy Spirit down to write Thy law upon my heart! Nor let my tongue indulge deceit, Nor act the liar's part.

Ver. 37 36. 3 From vanity turn off my eyes: Let no corrupt design, Nor covetous desires arise Within this soul of mine.

Ver. 133. 4 Order my footsteps by thy word, And make my heart sincere, Let sin have no dominion, Lord, But keep my conscience clear.

Ver. 176. 5 My soul hath gone too far astray, My feet too often slip; Yet since I've not forgot thy way, Restore thy wandering sheep.

Ver. 35. 6 Make me to walk in thy commands, 'Tis a delightful road; Nor let my head, or heart, or hands, Offend against my God.

Psalm 119:12. Twelfth Part. Breathing after comfort and deliverance.

Ver. 153. 1 My God, consider my distress, Let mercy plead my cause; Tho' I have sinn'd against thy grace, I can't forget thy laws.