Chapter 11

3 'Tis he forgives thy sins, 'Tis he relieves thy pain, 'Tis he that heals thy sicknesses, And makes thee young again.

4 He crowns thy life with love, When ransom'd from the grave; He that redeem'd my soul from hell Hath sovereign power to save.

5 He fills the poor with good; He gives the sufferers rest; The Lord hath judgments for the proud, And justice for th' opprest.

6 His wondrous works and ways He made by Moses known; But sent the world his truth and grace By his beloved Son.

Psalm 103:4. 8-18. Second Part. S. M. Abounding compassion of God; or, Mercy in the midst of judgment.

1 My soul, repeat his praise Whose mercies are so great, Whose anger is so slow to rise, So ready to abate.

2 God will not always chide; And when his strokes are felt, His strokes are fewer than our crimes, And lighter than our guilt.

3 High as the heavens are rais'd Above the ground we tread, So far the riches of his grace Our highest thoughts exceed.

4 His power subdues our sins; And his forgiving love, Far as the east is from the west, Doth all our guilt remove.

5 The pity of the Lord To those that fear his Name, Is such as tender parents feel; He knows our feeble frame.

6 He knows we are but dust, Scatter'd with every breath; His anger, like a rising wind, Can send us swift to death.

7 Our days are as the grass, Or like the morning flower; If one sharp blast sweep o'er the field, It withers in an hour.

8 But thy compassions, Lord, To endless years endure; And children's children ever find Thy words of promise sure.

Psalm 103:5. 19-22. Third Part. S. M. God's universal dominion; or, Angels praise the Lord.

1 The lord, the sovereign King, Hath fix'd his throne on high; O'er all the heavenly world he rules, And all beneath the sky.

2 Ye angels great in might, And swift to do his will, Bless ye the Lord, whose voice ye hear, Whose pleasure ye fulfil.

3 Let the bright hosts who wait The orders of their King, And guard his churches when they pray, Join in the praise they sing.

4 While all his wondrous works, Thro' his vast kingdoms shew Their Maker's glory, thou, my soul, Shalt sing his graces too.

Psalm 104. The glory of God in creation and providence.

1 My soul, thy great Creator praise; When cloth'd in his celestial rays He in full Majesty appears, And, like a robe, his glory wears.

Note, This psalm may be sung to the tune of the old 112th or 127th Psalm, by adding the two following lines to every stanza, viz.

Great is the Lord; what tongue can frame An equal honour to his Name?

Otherwise it must be sung as the 100th psalm.

2 The heavens are for his curtains spread, Th' unfathom'd deep he makes his bed; Clouds are his chariot, when he flies On winged storms across the skies.

3 Angels, whom his own breath inspires, His ministers are flaming fires; And swift as thought their armies move To bear his vengeance, or his love.

4 The world's foundations by his hand Are pois'd, and shall for ever stand; He binds the ocean in his chain, Lest it should drown the earth again.

5 When earth was cover'd with the flood, Which high above the mountains stood, He thunder'd, and the ocean fled, Confin'd to its appointed bed.

6 The swelling billows know their bound, And in their channels walk their round; Yet thence convey'd by secret veins, They spring on hills, and drench the plains.

7 He bids the crystal fountains flow, And cheer the vallies as they go; Tame heifers there their thirst allay, And for the stream wild asses bray.

8 From pleasant trees which shade the brink The lark and linnet light to drink; Their songs the lark and linnet raise; And chide our silence in his praise.

PAUSE I.

9 God from his cloudy cistern, pours On the parch'd earth enriching showers; The grove, the garden, and the field A thousand joyful blessings yield.

10 He makes the grassy food arise, And gives the cattle large supplies; With herbs for man of various power, To nourish nature, or to cure.

11 What noble fruit the vines produce! The olive yields a shining juice; Our hearts are cheer'd with gen'rous wine, With inward joy our faces shine.

12 O bless his Name ye Britons, fed With nature's chief supporter, bread; While bread your vital strength imparts, Serve him with vigour in your hearts.

PAUSE II.

13 Behold the stately cedar stands, Rais'd in the forest by his hands: Birds to the boughs for shelter fly And build their nests secure on high.

14 To craggy hills ascends the goat; And at the airy mountain's foot The feebler creatures make their cell; He gives them wisdom where to dwell.

15 He sets the sun his circling race, Appoints the moon to change her face; And when thick darkness veils the day, Calls out wild beasts to hunt their prey.

16 Fierce lions lead their young abroad, And roaring ask their meat from God; But when the morning beams arise, The savage beast to covert flies.

17 Then man to daily labour goes; The night was made for his repose: Sleep is thy gift; that sweet relief From tiresome toil and wasting grief.

18 How strange thy works! how great thy skill! And every land thy riches fill: Thy wisdom round the world we see, This spacious earth is full of thee.

19 Nor less thy glories in the deep, Where fish in millions swim and creep, With wondrous motions, swift or slow, Still wandering in the paths below.

20 There ships divide their watery way, And flocks of scaly monsters play; There dwells the huge Leviathan, And foams and sports in spite of man.

PAUSE III.

21 Vast are thy works, almighty Lord, All nature rests upon thy word, And the whole race of creatures stands, Waiting their portion from thy hands.

22 While each receives his different food, Their cheerful looks pronounce it good; Eagles and bears, and whales and worms, Rejoice and praise in different forms.

23 But when thy face is hid, they mourn, And dying to their dust return; Both man and beast their souls resign, Life, breath, and spirit, all is thine.

24 Yet thou canst breathe on dust again, And fill the world with beasts and men; A word of thy creating breath Repairs the wastes of time and death.

25 His works, the wonders of his might, Are honour'd with his own delight: How awful are his glorious ways! The Lord is dreadful in his praise.

26 The earth stands trembling at thy stroke, And at thy touch the mountains smoke; Yet humble souls may see thy face, And tell their wants to sovereign grace.

27 In thee my hopes and wishes meet, And make my meditations sweet: Thy praises shall my breath employ, Till it expire in endless joy.

28 While haughty sinners die accurst, Their glory bury'd with their dust, I, to my God, my heavenly King, Immortal hallelujahs sing.

Psalm 105. Abridged. God's conduct of Israel, and the plagues of Egypt.

1 Give thanks to God, invoke his Name, And tell the world his grace; Sound thro' the earth his deeds of fame, That all may seek his face.

2 His covenant, which he kept in mind For numerous ages past, To numerous ages yet behind, In equal force shall last.

3 He sware to Abraham and his seed, And made the blessing sure: Gentiles the ancient promise read, And find his truths endure.

4 "Thy seed shall make all nations blest," (Said the Almighty voice) "And Canaan's land shall be their rest, "The type of heavenly joys."

5 [How large the grant! how rich the grace! To give them Canaan's land, When they were strangers in the place, A little feeble band!

6 Like pilgrims thro' the countries round Securely they remov'd; And haughty kings that on them frown'd, Severely he reprov'd.

7 "Touch mine anointed, and my arm "Shall soon revenge the wrong: "The man that does my prophets harm Shall know their God is strong."

8 Then let the world forbear its rage, Nor put the church in fear: Israel must live thro' every age, And be th' Almighty's care.]

PAUSE I.

9 When Pharaoh dar'd to vex the saints, And thus provok'd their God, Moses was sent at their complaints, Arm'd with his dreadful rod.

10 He call'd for darkness; darkness came Like an o'erwhelming flood; He turn'd each lake and every stream To lakes and streams of blood.

11 He gave the sign, and noisome flies Thro' the whole country spread; And frogs, in croaking armies, rise About the monarch's bed.

12 Thro' fields, and towns, and palaces, The tenfold vengeance flew; Locusts in swarms devour'd their trees, And hail their cattle slew.

13 Then by an angel's midnight stroke, The flower of Egypt dy'd; The strength of every house was broke, Their glory and their pride.

14 Now let the world forbear its rage, Nor put the church in fear; Israel must live thro' every age, And be th' Almighty's care.

PAUSE II.

15 Thus were the tribes from bondage brought, And left the hated ground; Each some Egyptian spoils had got, And not one feeble found.

16 The Lord himself chose out their way, And mark'd their journies right, Gave them a leading cloud by day, A fiery guide by night.

17 They thirst; and waters from the rock In rich abundance flow, And following still the course they took, Ran all the desert thro'.

18 O wondrous stream O blessed type Of ever-flowing grace! So Christ our rock maintains our life Thro' all this wilderness.

19 Thus guarded by th' Almighty hand The chosen tribes possest Canaan the rich, the promis'd land, And there enjoy'd their rest.

20 Then let the world forbear its rage, The church renounce her fear; Israel must live thro' every age, And be th' Almighty's care.

Psalm 106:1. 1-5. First Part. Praise to God; or, Communion with saints.

1 To God, the great, the ever blest, Let songs of honour be addrest: His mercy firm for ever stands; Give him the thanks his love demands.

2 Who knows the wonders of thy ways? Who shall fulfil thy boundless praise? Blest are the souls that fear thee still, And pay their duty to thy will.

3 Remember what thy mercy did For Jacob's race, thy chosen seed; And with the same salvation bless The meanest suppliant of thy grace.

4 O may I see thy tribes rejoice, And aid their triumphs with my voice! This is my glory, Lord, to be Join'd to thy saints, and near to thee.

Psalm 106:2. 7 8 12-14 43-48. 2d Part. Israel punished and pardoned; or, God's unchangeable love.

1 God of eternal love, How fickle are our ways! And yet how oft did Israel prove Thy constancy of grace!

2 They saw thy wonders wrought, And then thy praise they sung; But soon thy works of power forgot, And murmur'd with their tongue.

3 Now they believe his word, While rocks with rivers flow; Now with their lusts provoke the Lord, And he reduc'd them low.

4 Yet when they mourn'd their faults, He hearken'd to their groans, Brought his own covenant to his thoughts, And call'd them still his sons.

5 Their names were in his book, He sav'd them from their foes; Oft he chastis'd, but ne'er forsook The people that he chose.

6 Let Israel bless the Lord, Who lov'd their ancient race; And Christians join the solemn word Amen, to all the praise.

Psalm 107:1. First Part. Israel led to Canaan, and Christians to Heaven.

1 Give thanks to God; he reigns above, Kind are his thoughts, his Name is love; His mercy ages past have known, And ages long to come shall own.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord The wonders of his grace record; Israel, the nation whom he chose, And rescu'd from their mighty foes.

3 [When God's almighty arm had broke Their fetters and th' Egyptian yoke, They trac'd the desert, wandering round A wild and solitary ground.

4 There they could find no leading road, Nor city for a fix'd abode; Nor food, nor fountain to assuage Their burning thirst, or hunger's rage.]

5 In their distress to God they cry'd, God was their Saviour and their Guide; He led their march far wandering round, 'Twas the right path to Canaan's ground.

6 Thus when our first release we gain From sin's old yoke, and Satan's chain, We have this desert world to pass, A dangerous and a tiresome place.

7 He feeds and clothes us all the way, He guides our footsteps lest we stray, He guards us with a powerful hand And brings us to the heavenly land.

8 O let the saints with joy record The truth and goodness of the Lord! How great his works! how kind his ways! Let every tongue pronounce his praise.

Psalm 107:2. Second Part. Correction for sin, and release by prayer.

1 From age to age exalt his Name, God and his grace are still the same; He fills the hungry soul with food, And feeds the poor with every good.

2 But if their hearts rebel and rise Against the God that rules the skies, If they reject his heavenly word, And slight the counsels of the Lord,

3 He'll bring their spirits to the ground, And no deliverer shall be found; Laden with grief they waste their breath In darkness and the shades of death,

4 Then to the Lord they raise their cries, He makes the dawning light arise, And scatters all that dismal shade, That hung so heavy round their head.

5 He cuts the bars of brass in two, And lets the smiling prisoners thro'; Takes off the load of guilt and grief, And gives the labouring soul relief.

6 O may the sons of men record The wondrous goodness of the Lord! How great his works! how kind his ways! Let every tongue pronounce his praise.

Psalm 107:3. Third Part. Intemperance punished and pardoned; or, A psalm for the glutton and the drunkard.

1 Vain man, on foolish pleasures bent, Prepares for his own punishment; What pains, what loathsome maladies From luxury and lust arise!

2 The drunkard feels his vitals waste, Yet drowns his health to please his taste; Till all his active powers are lost, And fainting life draws near the dust.

3 The glutton groans and loathes to eat, His soul abhors delicious meat; Nature, with heavy loads opprest, Would yield to death to be releas'd.

4 Then how the frighted sinners fly To God for help with earnest cry! He hears their groans, prolongs their breath, And saves them from approaching death,

5 No med'cines could effect the cure So quick, so easy, or so sure: The deadly sentence God repeals, He sends his sovereign word, and heals,

6 O may the sons of men record The wondrous goodness of the Lord! And let their thankful offerings prove How they adore their Maker's love.

Psalm 107:4. Fourth Part. L. M. Deliverance from storms, and shipwreck; or, The Seaman's song.

1 Would you behold the works of God, His wonders in the world abroad, Go with the mariners, and trace The unknown regions of the seas.

2 They leave their native shores behind, And seize the favour of the wind, Till God command, and tempests rise That heave the ocean to the skies.

3 Now to the heavens they mount amain, Now sink to dreadful deeps again; What strange affrights young sailors feel, And like a staggering drunkard reel!

4 When land is far, and death is nigh, Lost to all hope, to God they cry; His mercy hears the loud address, And sends salvation in distress.

5 He bids the winds their wrath assuage; The furious waves forget their rage; 'Tis calm; and sailors smile to see The haven where they wish'd to be.

6 O may the sons of men record The wondrous goodness of the Lord! Let them their private offerings bring, And in the church his glory sing.

Psalm 107:5. Fourth Part. C. M. The Mariner's psalm.

1 Thy works of glory, mighty Lord, Thy wonders in the deeps, The sons of courage shall record Who trade in floating ships.

2 At thy command the winds arise, And swell the towering waves; The men astonish'd mount the skies And sink in gaping graves.

3 [Again they climb the watery hills, And plunge in deeps again; Each like a tottering drunkard reels, And finds his courage vain.

4 Frighted to hear the tempest roar, They pant with fluttering breath, And, hopeless of the distant shore, Expect immediate death.]

5 Then to the Lord they raise their cries, He hears the loud request, And orders silence thro' the skies, And lays the floods to rest.

6 Sailors rejoice to lose their fears, And see the storm allay'd: Now to their eyes the port appears; There let their vows be paid.

7 'Tis God that brings them safe to land; Let stupid mortals know That waves are under his command, And all the winds that blow,

8 O that the sons of men would praise The goodness of the Lord! And those that see thy wondrous ways, Thy wondrous love record.

Psalm 107:6. Last Part. Colonies planted; or, Nations blest and punished.

A psalm for New England.

1 When God, provok'd with daring crimes, Scourges the madness of the times, He turns their fields to barren sand, And dries the rivers from the land.

2 His word can raise the springs again, And make the wither'd mountains green, Send showery blessings from the skies, And harvests in the desert rise.

3 [Where nothing dwelt but beasts of prey, Or men as fierce and wild as they; He bids th' opprest and poor repair, And builds them towns and cities there.

4 They sow the fields, and trees they plant, Whose yearly fruit supplies their want: Their race grows up from fruitful stocks, Their wealth increases with their flocks.

5 Thus they are blest; but if they sin, He lets the heathen nations in, A savage crew invades their lands, Their princes die by barbarous hands.

6 Their captive sons, expos'd to scorn, Wander unpity'd and forlorn; The country lies unfenc'd, untill'd, And desolation spreads the field.

7 Yet if the humbled nation mourns, Again his dreadful hand he turns; Again he makes their cities thrive, And bids the dying churches live.]

8 The righteous, with a joyful sense, Admire the works of providence; And tongues of atheists shall no more Blaspheme the God that saints adore.

9 How few, with pious care, record The wondrous dealings of the Lord! But wise observers still shall find The Lord is holy, just, and kind.

Psalm 109. 1-5 31. Love to enemies, from the example of Christ.

1 God of my mercy and my praise, Thy glory is my song; The sinners speak against thy grace With a blaspheming tongue.

2 When in the form of mortal man Thy Son on earth was found, With cruel slanders, false and vain, They compass'd him around.

3 Their miseries his compassion move, Their peace he still pursu'd; They render hatred for his love, And evil for his good.

4 Their malice rag'd without a cause, Yet, with his dying breath, He pray'd for murderers on his cross, And blest his foes in death.

5 Lord, shall thy bright example shine In vain before my eyes? Give me a soul a-kin to thine To love mine enemies.

6 The Lord shall on my side engage, And, in my Saviour's name, I shall defeat their pride and rage Who slander and condemn.

Psalm 110:1. First Part. Christ exalted, and multitudes converted; or, The success of the gospel.

1 Thus the eternal Father spake To Christ the Son, "Ascend and sit "At my right hand, till I shall make "Thy foes submissive at thy feet.

2 "From Zion shall thy word proceed, "Thy word, the sceptre in thy hand, "Shall make the hearts of rebels bleed, "And bow their wills to thy command.

3 "That day shall shew thy power is great, "When saints shall flock with willing minds, "And sinners crowd thy temple gate, "Where holiness in beauty shines."

4 O blessed power! 0 glorious day! What a large victory shall ensue! And converts, who thy grace obey, Exceed the drops of morning dew.

Psalm 110:2. Second Part. The kingdom and priesthood of Christ.

1 Thus the great Lord of earth and sea Spake to his Son, and thus he swore; "Eternal shall thy priesthood be, "And change from hand to hand no more.

2 "Aaron and all his sons must die; "But everlasting life is thine, "To save for ever those that fly "For refuge from the wrath divine.

3 "By me Melchisedek was made "On earth a king and priest at once; "And thou, my heavenly priest, shalt plead, "And thou, my king, shalt rule my sons."

4 Jesus the priest ascends his throne, While counsels of eternal peace, Between the Father and the Son, Proceed with honour and success.

5 Thro' the whole earth his reign shall spread, And crush the powers that dare rebel; Then shall he judge the rising dead, And send the guilty world to hell.

6 Tho' while he treads his glorious way, He drink the cup of tears and blood, The sufferings of that dreadful day Shall but advance him near to God.

Psalm 110:3. C. M. Christ's kingdom and priesthood.

1 Jesus, our Lord, ascend thy throne, And near the Father sit; In Zion shall thy power be known, And make thy foes submit.

2 What wonders shall thy gospel do! Thy converts shall surpass The numerous drops of morning dew, And own thy sovereign grace.

3 God hath pronounc'd a firm decree, Nor changes what he swore; "Eternal shall thy priesthood be, "When Aaron is no more.

4 "Melchisedek, that wondrous priest, "That king of high degree, "That holy man who Abr'am blest, "Was but a type of thee."

5 Jesus our priest for ever lives To plead for us above; Jesus our king for ever gives The blessings of his love.

6 God shall exalt his glorious head, And his high throne maintain, Shall strike the powers and princes dead Who dare oppose his reign.

Psalm 111:1. First Part. The wisdom of God in his works.

1 Songs of immortal praise belong To my almighty God; He has my heart, and he my tongue To spread his Name abroad.

2 How great the works his hand has wrought! How glorious in our sight! And men in every age have sought His wonders with delight.

3 How most exact is nature's frame! How wise th' Eternal mind! His counsels never change the scheme That his first thoughts design'd.

4 When he redeem'd his chosen Son, He fix'd his covenant sure: The orders that his lips pronounce To endless years endure.

5 Nature and time, and earth and skies, Thy heavenly skill proclaim: What shall we do to make us wise, But learn to read thy Name?

6 To fear thy power, to trust thy grace Is our divinest skill; And he's the wisest of our race, That best obeys thy will.

Psalm 111:2. Second Part. The perfections of God.

1 Great is the Lord; his works of might Demand our noblest songs; Let his assembled saints unite Their harmony of tongues.

2 Great is the mercy of the Lord, He gives his children food; And ever mindful of his word, He makes his promise good.

3 His Son, the great Redeemer, came To seal his covenant sure: Holy and reverend is his Name, His ways are just and pure.

4 They that would grow divinely wise Must with his fear begin; Our fairest proof of knowledge lies In hating every sin.

Psalm 112:1. As the 113th Psalm. The blessings of the liberal man.

1 That man is blest who stands in awe Of God, and loves his sacred law: His seed on earth shall be renown'd; His house the seat of wealth shall be, An inexhausted treasury, And with successive honours crown'd.

2 His liberal favours he extends, To some he gives, to others lends; A generous pity fills his mind: Yet what his charity impairs He saves by prudence in affairs, And thus he's just to all mankind.

3 His hands, while they his alms bestow'd, His glory's future harvest sow'd; The sweet remembrance of the just, Like a green root, revives and bears A train of blessings for his heirs, When dying nature sleeps in dust.

4 Beset with threatening dangers round, Unmov'd shall he maintain his ground; His conscience holds his courage up: The soul that's fill'd with virtue's light, Shines brightest in affliction's night, And sees in darkness beams of hope.

PAUSE.

5 [Ill tidings never can surprise His heart that fix'd on God relies, Tho' waves and tempests roar around: Safe on the rock he sits, and sees The shipwreck of his enemies, And all their hope and glory drown'd.

6 The wicked shall his triumph see, And gnash their teeth in agony To find their expectations crost: They and their envy, pride and spite, Sink down to everlasting night, And all their names in darkness lost.]

Psalm 112:2. L. M. The blessings of the pious and charitable.

1 Thrice happy man who fears the Lord, Loves his commands, and trusts his word; Honour and peace his days attend, And blessings to his seed descend.

2 Compassion dwells upon his mind, To works of mercy still inclin'd: He lends the poor some present aid, Or gives them, not to be repaid.