Chapter 7

2 Have ye forgot, or never knew, That God will judge the judges too? High in the heavens his justice reigns? Yet you invade the rights of God, And send your bold decrees abroad, To bind the conscience in your chains.

3 A poison'd arrow is your tongue, The arrow sharp, the poison strong, And death attends where'er it wounds: You hear no counsels, cries or tears; So the deaf adder stops her ears Against the power of charming sounds.

4 Break out their teeth, eternal God, Those teeth of lions dy'd in blood; And crush the serpents in the dust: As empty chaff when whirlwinds rise, Before the sweeping tempest flies, So let their hopes and names be lost.

5 Th' Almighty thunders from the sky, Their grandeur melts, their titles die, As hills of snow dissolve and run, Or snails that perish in their slime, Or births that come before their time, Vain births, that never see the sun.

6 Thus shall the vengeance of the Lord Safety and joy to saints afford; And all that hear shall join and say, "Sure there's a God that rules on high, "A God that hears his children cry, "And will their sufferings well repay."

Psalm 60. 1-5 10-12. On a day of humiliation for disappointments in war.

1 Lord, hast thou cast the nation off? Must we for ever mourn? Wilt thou indulge immortal wrath? Shall mercy ne'er return?

2 The terror of one frown of thine Melts all our strength away; Like men that totter drunk with wine, We tremble in dismay.

3 Great Britain shakes beneath thy stroke, And dreads thy threatening hand; O heal the island thou hast broke, Confirm the wavering land.

4 Lift up a banner in the field, For those that fear thy Name; Save thy beloved with thy shield, And put our foes to shame.

5 Go with our armies to the fight, Like a confederate God; In vain confederate powers unite Against thy lifted rod.

6 Our troops shall gain a wide renown By thine assisting hand; 'Tis God that treads the mighty down, And makes the feeble stand.

Psalm 61. 1-6. Safety in God.

1 When overwhelm'd with grief My heart within me dies, Helpless and far from all relief To heaven I lift mine eyes.

2 O lead me to the rock That's high above my head, And make the covert of thy wings My shelter and my shade.

3 Within thy presence, Lord, For ever I'll abide; Thou art the tower of my defence, The refuge where I hide.

4 Thou givest me the lot Of those that fear thy Name; If endless life be their reward, I shall possess the same.

Psalm 62. 5-12. No trust in the creatures; or, Faith in divine grace and power.

1 My spirit looks to God alone; My rock and refuge is his throne; In all my fears, in all my straits, My soul on his salvation waits.

2 Trust him, ye saints, in all your ways, Pour out your hearts before his face: When helpers fail, and foes invade, God is our all-sufficient aid.

3 False are the men of high degree, The baser sort are vanity; Laid in the balance both appear Light as a puff of empty air.

4 Make not increasing gold your trust, Nor set your heart on glittering dust; Why will you grasp the fleeting smoke; And not believe what God hath spoke?

5 Once has his awful voice declar'd, Once and again my ears have heard, "All power is his eternal due; "He must be fear'd and trusted too."

6 For sovereign power reigns not alone, Grace is a partner of the throne: Thy grace and justice, mighty Lord, Shall well divide our last reward.

Psalm 63:1. 1 2 5 34. First Part. C. M. The morning of a Lord's day.

1 Early, my God, without delay I haste to seek thy face; My thirsty spirit faints away, Without thy cheering grace.

2 So pilgrims on the scorching sand, Beneath a burning sky, Long for a cooling stream at hand, And they must drink or die.

3 I've seen thy glory and thy power Thro' all thy temple shine; My God, repeat that heavenly hour, That vision so divine.

4 Not all the blessings of a feast Can please my soul so well, As when thy richer grace I taste, And in thy presence dwell.

5 Not life itself with all her joys, Can my best passions move, Or raise so high my cheerful voice As thy forgiving love.

6 Thus till my last expiring day I'll bless my God and King; Thus will I lift my hands to pray, And tune my lips to sing.

Psalm 63:2. 6-10. Second Part. Midnight thoughts recollected.

1 'Twas in the watches of the night I thought upon thy power, I kept thy lovely face in sight Amidst the darkest hour.

2 My flesh lay resting on my bed, My soul arose on high; "My God, my life, my hope," I said, "Bring thy salvation nigh."

3 My spirit labours up thine hill, And climbs the heavenly road; But thy right hand upholds me still, While I pursue my God.

4 Thy mercy stretches o'er my head The shadow of thy wings; My heart rejoices in thine aid, My tongue awakes and sings.

5 But the destroyers of my peace Shall fret and rage in vain; The tempter shall for ever cease, And all my sins be slain.

6 Thy sword shall give my foes to death, And send them down to dwell In the dark caverns of the earth, Or to the deeps of hell.

Psalm 63:3. L. M. Longing after God; or, The love of God better than life.

1 Great God, indulge my humble claim Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest; The glories that compose thy Name Stand all engag'd to make me blest.

2 Thou great and good, thou just and wise, Thou art my Father and my God; And I am thine by sacred ties; Thy son, thy servant bought with blood.

3 With heart, and eyes and lifted hands, For thee I long, to thee I look, As travellers in thirsty lands Pant for the cooling water-brook.

4 With early feet I love t' appear Among thy saints and seek thy face; Oft have I seen thy glory there, And felt the power of sovereign grace.

5 Not fruits nor wines that tempt our taste, Not all the joys our senses know, Could make me so divinely blest Or raise my cheerful passions so.

6 My life itself without thy love No taste of pleasure could afford; 'Twould but a tiresome burden prove, If I were banish'd from the Lord.

7 Amidst the wakeful hours of night, When busy cares afflict my head One thought of thee gives new delight, And adds refreshment to my bed.

8 I'll lift my hands, I'll raise my voice, While I have breath to pray or praise; This work shall make my heart rejoice, And spend the remnant of my days.

Psalm 63:4. S. M. Seeking God.

1 My God, permit my tongue This joy, to call thee mine, And let my early cries prevail To taste thy love divine.

2 My thirsty fainting soul Thy mercy doth implore; Not travellers in desert lands Can pant for water more.

3 Within thy churches, Lord, I long to find my place, Thy power and glory to behold, And feel thy quickening grace.

4 For life without thy love No relish can afford; No joy can be compar'd to this, To serve and please the Lord.

5 To thee I'll lift my hands, And praise thee while I live; Not the rich dainties of a feast Such food or pleasure give.

6 In wakeful hours at night I call my God to mind; I think how wise thy counsels are, And all thy dealings kind.

7 Since thou hast been my help, To thee my spirit flies, And on thy watchful providence My cheerful hope relies.

8 The shadow of thy wings My soul in safety keeps; I follow where my Father leads, And he supports my steps.

Psalm 65:1. 1-5. First Part. L. M. Public prayer and praise.

1 The praise of Sion waits for thee, My God; and praise becomes thy house; There shall thy saints thy glory see, And there perform their public vows.

2 O thou, whose mercy bends the skies To save when humble sinners pray, All lands to thee shall lift their eyes And islands of the northern sea.

3 Against my will my sins prevail, But grace shall purge away their stain; The blood of Christ will never fail To wash my garments white again.

4 Blest is the man whom thou shalt choose, And give him kind access to thee, Give him a place within thy house, To taste thy love divinely free.

PAUSE.

5 Let Babel fear when Sion prays; Babel, prepare for long distress When Sion's God himself arrays In terror, and in righteousness.

6 With dreadful glory God fulfils What his afflicted saints request; And with almighty wrath reveals His love to give his churches rest.

7 Then shall the flocking nations run To Sion's hill, and own their Lord; The rising and the setting sun Shall see their Saviour's name ador'd.

Psalm 65:2. 5-13. Second Part. L. M. Divine providence in air, earth, and sea; or, The God of nature and grace.

1 The God of our salvation hears The groans of Sion mix'd with tears; Yet when he comes with kind designs, Thro' all the way his terror shines.

2 On him the race of man depends, Far as the earth's remotest ends, Where the Creator's Name is known By nature's feeble light alone.

3 Sailors, that travel o'er the flood, Address their frighted souls to God; When tempests rage and billows roar At dreadful distance from the shore.

4 He bids the noisy tempest cease; He calms the raging crowd to peace, When a tumultuous nation raves Wild as the winds, and loud as waves.

5 Whole kingdoms shaken by the storm He settles in a peaceful form; Mountains establish'd by his hand, Firm on their old foundations stand.

6 Behold his ensigns sweep the sky, New comets blaze and lightnings fly, The heathen lands, with swift surprise, From the bright horrors turn their eyes.

7 At his command the morning-ray Smiles in the east, and leads the day; He guides the sun's declining wheels Over the tops of western hills.

8 Seasons and times obey his voice; The evening and the morn rejoice To see the earth made soft with showers, Laden with fruit and drest in flowers.

9 'Tis from his watery stores on high He gives the thirsty ground supply; He walks upon the clouds, and thence Doth his enriching drops dispense.

10 The desert grows a fruitful field, Abundant food the vallies yield; The vallies shout with cheerful voice, And neighb'ring hills repeat their joys.

11 The pastures smile in green array; There lambs and larger cattle play; The larger cattle and the lamb Each in his language speaks thy Name.

12 Thy works pronounce thy power divine, O'er every field thy glories shine; Thro' every month thy gifts appear; Great God! thy goodness crowns the year.

Psalm 65:3. First Part. C. M. A prayer-hearing God, and the Gentiles called.

1 Praise waits in Sion, Lord, for thee; There shall our vows be paid: Thou hast an ear when sinners pray, All flesh shall seek thine aid.

2 Lord, our iniquities prevail, But pardoning grace is thine, And thou wilt grant us power and skill To conquer every sin.

3 Bless'd are the men whom thou wilt choose To bring them near thy face, Give them a dwelling in thine house To feast upon thy grace.

4 In answering what thy church requests Thy truth and terror shine, And works of dreadful righteousness Fulfil thy kind design.

5 Thus shall the wondering nations see The Lord is good and just; And distant islands fly to thee, And make thy Name their trust.

6 They dread thy glittering tokens, Lord, When signs in heaven appear; But they shall learn thy holy word, And love as well as fear.

Psalm 65:4. Second Part. C. M. The providence of God in air, earth, and sea; or, The blessing of rain.

1 'Tis by thy strength the mountains stand, God of eternal power; The sea grows calm at thy command, And tempests cease to roar.

2 Thy morning light and evening shade Successive comforts bring; Thy plenteous fruits make harvest glad, Thy flowers adorn the spring.

3 Seasons and times, and moons and hours, Heaven, earth, and air are thine; When clouds distil in fruitful showers, The author is divine.

4 Those wandering cisterns in the sky, Borne by the winds around, With watery treasures well supply The furrows of the ground.

5 The thirsty ridges drink their fill, And ranks of corn appear; Thy ways abound with blessings still, Thy goodness crowns the year.

Psalm 65:5. Third Part. C. M. The blessing: of the spring; or, God gives rain. A psalm for the husbandman.

1 Good is the Lord, the heavenly King, Who makes the earth his care, Visits the pastures every spring, And bids the grass appear.

2 The clouds, like rivers rais'd on high, Pour out, at thy command, Their watery blessings from the sky, To cheer the thirsty land.

3 The soften'd ridges of the field Permit the corn to spring; The vallies rich provision yield, And the poor labourers sing.

4 The little hills on every side Rejoice at falling showers; The meadows, drest in all their pride, Perfume the air with flowers.

5 The barren clods, refresh'd with rain, Promise a joyful crop; The parching grounds look green again, And raise the reaper's hope.

6 The various months thy goodness crowns; How bounteous are thy ways; The bleating flocks spread o'er the downs, And shepherds shout thy praise.

Psalm 66:1. First Part. Governing power and goodness; or, Our graces tried by afflictions.

1 Sing, all ye nations, to the Lord, Sing with a joyful noise; With melody of sound record His honours, and your joys.

2 Say to the power that shakes the sky, "How terrible art thou! "Sinners before thy presence fly, "Or at thy feet they bow."

3 [Come, see the wonders of our God, How glorious are his ways: In Moses' hand he puts his rod, And cleaves the frighted seas.

4 He made the ebbing channel dry, While Israel pass'd the flood; There did the church begin their joy, And triumph in their God.]

5 He rules by his resistless might: Will rebel mortals dare Provoke th' Eternal to the fight, And tempt that dreadful war?

6 O bless our God and never cease; Ye saints, fulfil his praise; He keeps our life, maintains our peace, And guides our doubtful ways.

7 Lord, thou hast prov'd our suffering souls, To make our graces shine; So silver bears the burning coals The metal to refine.

8 Thro' watery deeps and fiery ways We march at thy command, Led to possess the promis'd place By thine unerring hand.

Psalm 66:2. 13-20. Second Part. Praise to God for hearing prayer.

1 Now shall my solemn vows be paid To that Almighty power, That heard the long requests I made In my distressful hour.

2 My lips and cheerful heart prepare To make his mercies known; Come, ye that fear my God, and hear The wonders he has done.

3 When on my head huge sorrows fell, I sought his heavenly aid, He sav'd my sinking soul from hell, And death's eternal shade.

4 If sin lay cover'd in my heart, While prayer employ'd my tongue, The Lord had shewn me no regard, Nor I his praises sung.

5 But God, (his Name be ever blest) Hath set my spirit free, Nor turn'd from him my poor request, Nor turn'd his heart from me.

Psalm 67. The nation's prosperity and the church's increase.

1 Shine, mighty God, on Britain shine With beams of heavenly grace; Reveal thy power thro' all our coasts, And shew thy smiling face.

2 [Amidst our isle, exalted high, Do thou our glory stand, And like a wall of guardian fire Surround the favourite land.]

3 When shall thy Name, from shore to shore, Sound all the earth abroad, And distant nations know and love Their Saviour and their God?

4 Sing to the Lord, ye distant lands, Sing loud with solemn voice; While British tongues exalt his praise, And British hearts rejoice.

5 He the great Lord, the sovereign Judge, That sits enthron'd above, Wisely commands the worlds he made In justice and in love.

6 Earth shall obey her Maker's will, And yield a full increase; Our God will crown his chosen isle With fruitfulness and peace.

7 God the Redeemer scatters round His choicest favours here, While the creation's utmost bound Shall see, adore, and fear.

Psalm 68:1. 1-6 32-35. First Part. The vengeance and compassion of God.

1 Let God arise in all his might, And put the troops of hell to flight, As smoke that sought to cloud the skies Before the rising tempest flies.

2 [He comes array'd in burning flames; Justice and vengeance are his names: Behold his fainting foes expire Like melting wax before the fire.]

3 He rides and thunders thro' the sky; His name Jehovah sounds on high: Sing to his Name, ye sons of grace; Ye saints, rejoice before his face.

4 The widow and the fatherless Fly to his aid in sharp distress; In him the poor and helpless find A Judge that's just, a Father kind.

5 He breaks the captive's heavy chain, And prisoners see the light again; But rebels that dispute his will, Shall dwell in chains and darkness still.

PAUSE.

6 Kingdoms and thrones to God belong; Crown him, ye nations, in your song; His wondrous names and powers rehearse; His honours shall enrich your verse.

7 He shakes the heavens with loud alarms; How terrible is God in arms! In Israel are his mercies known, Israel is his peculiar throne.

8 Proclaim him King, pronounce him blest! He's your defence, your joy, your rest: When terrors rise and nations faint, God is the strength of every saint.

Psalm 68:2. 17 18. Second Part. Christ's ascension, and the gift of the Spirit.

1 Lord, when thou didst ascend on high, Ten thousand angels fill'd the sky; Those heavenly guards around thee wait, Like chariots that attend thy state.

2 Not Sinai's mountain could appear More glorious when the Lord was there; While he pronounc'd his dreadful law, And struck the chosen tribes with awe.

3 How bright the triumph none can tell, When the rebellious powers of hell That thousand souls had captive made, Were all in chains like captives led.

4 Rais'd by his Father to the throne, He sent the promis'd Spirit down, With gifts and grace for rebel men, That God might dwell on earth again.

Psalm 68:3. 19 9 20-2. Third Part. Praise for temporal blessings; or, Common and special mercies.

1 We bless the Lord, the just, the good, Who fills our hearts with joy and food; Who pours his blessings from the skies, And loads our days with rich supplies.

2 He sends the sun his circuit round, To cheer the fruits, to warm the ground; He bids the clouds with plenteous rain Refresh the thirsty earth again.

3 'Tis to his care we owe our breath, And all our near escapes from death; Safety and health to God belong; He heals the weak, and guards the strong.

4 He makes the saint and sinner prove The common blessings of his love; But the wide difference that remains, Is endless joy, or endless pains.

5 The Lord, that bruis'd the serpent's head, On all the serpent's seed shall tread; The stubborn sinner's hope confound, And smite him with a lasting wound.

6 But his right hand his saints shall raise From the deep earth, or deeper seas, And bring them to his courts above, There shall they taste his special love.

Psalm 69:1. 1-14. First Part. C. M. The sufferings of Christ for our salvation.

1 "Save me, O God, the swelling floods "Break in upon my soul: "I sink, and sorrows o'er my head "Like mighty waters roll.

2 "I cry till all my voice be gone, "In tears I waste the day: "My God behold my longing eyes, "And shorten thy delay.

3 "They hate my soul without a cause, "And still their number grows "More than the hairs around my head, "And mighty are my foes.

4 "'Twas then I paid that dreadful debt "That men could never pay, "And gave those honours to thy law "Which sinners took away."

5 Thus in the great Messiah's name, The royal prophet mourns; Thus he awakes our hearts to grief, And gives us joy by turns.

6 "Now shall the saints rejoice and find "Salvation in my Name: "For I have borne their heavy load Of sorrow, pain, and shame.

7 "Grief, like a garment, cloth'd me round, "And sackcloth was my dress, "While I procur'd for naked souls "A robe of righteousness.

8 "Amongst my brethren and the Jews "I like a stranger stood, "And bore their vile reproach to bring "The Gentiles near to God.

9 "I came in sinful mortals' stead, "To do my Father's will; "Yet when I cleans'd my father's house "They scandaliz'd my zeal.

10 "My fasting and my holy groans "Were made the drunkard's song; "But God, from his celestial throne, "Heard my complaining tongue.

11 "He sav'd me from the dreadful deep, "Nor let my soul be drown'd; "He rais'd and fix'd my sinking feet "On well establish'd ground.

12 "'Twas in a most accepted hour "My prayer arose on high, "And for my sake my God shall hear "The dying sinner's cry."

Psalm 69:2. 14-21 26 29 32. 2d Part. C. M. The passion and exaltation of Christ.

1 Now let our lips with holy fear And mournful pleasure sing The sufferings of our great High-Priest, The sorrows of our King.

2 He sinks in floods of deep distress: How high the waters rise! While to his heavenly Father's ear He sends perpetual cries.

3 "Hear me, O Lord, and save thy Son, "Nor hide thy shining face; "Why should thy favorite look like one "Forsaken of thy grace?

4 "With rage they persecute the man "That groans beneath thy wound, "While for a sacrifice I pour "My life upon the ground.

5 "They tread my honour to the dust, "And laugh when I complain "Their sharp insulting slanders add "Fresh anguish to my pain.

6 "All my reproach is known to thee, "The scandal and the shame; "Reproach has broke my bleeding heart, "And lies defil'd my Name.

7 "I look'd for pity, but in vain; "My kindred are my grief! "I ask my friends for comfort round, "But meet with no relief.

8 "With vinegar they mock my thirst; "They give me gall for food; "And sporting with my dying groans, "They triumph in my blood.

9 "Shine into my distressed soul, "Let thy compassion save; "And tho' my flesh sink down to death, "Redeem it from the grave.

10 "I shall arise to praise thy Name, "Shall reign in worlds unknown; "And thy salvation, O my God, "Shall seat me on thy throne."

Psalm 69:3. Third Part. C. M. Christ's obedience and death; or, God glorified and sinners saved.

1 Father, I sing thy wondrous grace, I bless my Saviour's Name, He bought salvation for the poor, And bore the sinner's shame.

2 His deep distress has rais'd us high, His duty and his zeal Fulfill'd the law which mortals broke, And finish'd all thy will.

3 His dying groans, his living songs Shall better please my God Than harp or trumpet's solemn sound, Than goats' or bullocks' blood.

4 This shall his humble followers see, And set their hearts at rest; They by his death draw near to thee, And live for ever blest.

5 Let heaven, and all that dwell on high, To God their voices raise, While lands and seas assist the sky, And join t' advance the praise.

6 Zion is thine, most holy God; Thy Son shall bless her gates; And glory purchas'd by his blood For thine own Israel waits.

Psalm 69:4. First Part. L. M. Christ's passion, and sinners' salvation.

1 Deep in our hearts let us record The deeper sorrows of our Lord; Behold the rising billows roll To overwhelm his holy soul.

2 In long complaints he spends his breath, While hosts of hell, and powers of death, And all the sons of malice join To execute their curst design.

3 Yet, gracious God, thy power and love Has made the curse a blessing prove; Those dreadful sufferings of thy Son Aton'd for sins which we had done.

4 The pangs of our expiring Lord The honours of thy law restor'd; His sorrows made thy justice known, And paid for follies not his own.

6 O for his sake our guilt forgive, And let the mourning sinner live; The Lord will hear us in his Name, Nor shall our hope be turn'd to shame.

Psalm 69:5. 7 &c. Second Part. L. M. Christ's sufferings and zeal.

1 'Twas for thy sake, eternal God, Thy son sustain'd that heavy load Of base reproach and sore disgrace, And shame defil'd his sacred face.

2 The Jews, his brethren and his kin, Abus'd the man that check'd their sin: While he fulfill'd thy holy laws, They hate him, but without a cause.

3 ["My Father's house, said he, was made "A place for worship, not for trade;" Then scattering all their gold and brass, He scourg'd the merchants from the place.]

4 [Zeal for the temple of his God Consum'd his life, expos'd his blood: Reproaches at thy glory thrown He felt, and mourn'd them as his own.]

5 [His friends forsook, his followers fled, While foes and arms surround his head; They curse him with a slanderous tongue, And the false judge maintains the wrong.]