BELECTED

FROM THE

PSALMS OF DAVID.

:

PSALM 1. C.M.

From the i. Psalm of David.
1 HOW blest is he, who ne'er consents

By ill advice to walk,
Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits

Where men profanely talk;
2 But makes the perfect law of God

His business and delight; Devoutly reads therein by day,

And meditates by night.
3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by streams,

With timely fruit does bend,
He still shall flourish, and success

All his designs attend.
4 Ungodly men, and their attempts,

No lasting root shall find; Untimely blasted and dispersed

Like chaff before the wind.
5 Their guilt shall strike the wicked dumb

Before their Judge's face:
No formal hypocrite shall then

Among the saints have place.
6 For God approves the just man's ways ;

To happiness they tend :
But sinners, and the paths they tread,
Shall both in ruin end.

PSALM 2. C. M,

From the ii. Psalm of David.
I THUS God declares his sovereign will :

“ The King that I ordain,
Whose throne is fix'd on Sion's hill,

Shall there securely reign.” 2 Attend, 0 earth, whilst I declare

God's uncontroll'd decree : “ Thou art my Son; this day, my heir,

Have I begotten thee. 3“ Ask, and receive thy full demands ;

Thine shall the Heathen be ; The utmost limit of the lands

Shall be possess'd by thee.”

4 Learn then, ye princes; and give ear,

Ye judges of the earth;
Worship the LORD with holy fear;

Rejoice with awful mirth.
5 Appease the Son with due respect,

Your timely homage pay :
Lest he revenge the bold neglect,

Incensed by your delay.
6 If but in part his anger rise,

Who can endure the flame ?
Then blest are they, whose hope relies

On his most holy Name.

1 THOU, gracious God, art my defence;

On thee my hopes rely :
Thou art my glory, and shalt yet

Lift up my head on high.
2 Since whensoe’er, in my distress,

To God I made my prayer,
He heard me from his holy hill;

Why should I now despair ? 3 Guarded by him I lay me down

My sweet repose to take;
For Í through him securely sleep:

Through him in safety wake. 4 Salvation to the LORD belongs ;

He only can defend :
His blessings he extends to all

That on his power depend.

CONSIDER that the righteous man

Is God's peculiar choice ; And when to him I make my prayer,

He always hears my voice. 2 Then stand in awe of his commands,

Flee every thing that 's ill, Commune in private with your hearts,

And bend them to his will. 3 The sacrifice of righteousness

Present to God on high;
And let your hope, securely fix'd,

On him alone rely. 4 While worldly minds impatient grow

More prosperous times to see;
Still let the glories of thy face

Shine brightly, Lord, on me.

5 So shall my heart o’erflow with joy,

More lasting and more true Than theirs, who stores of corn and wine

Successively renew.
6 Then down in peace I 'll lay my head,

And take my needful rest ;
No other guard, O LORD, I crave,

Of thy defence possess'd.

1 REGARD my words, O gracious LORD

Accept my secret prayer;
To thee alone, my King, my God,

Will I for help repair.
2 Thou in the morn my voice shalt hear,

And, with the dawning day,
To thee devoutly I 'll look up,

To thee devoutly pray.
3 LORD, I within thy house will come,

In thy abundant grace ;
And I will worship in thy fear,

Tow’rd thy most holy place.
4 Let those, O LORD, who trust in thee,

With shouts their joy proclaim:
Let them rejoice whom thou preserv'st,

And all that love thy name.
5 To righteous men, the righteous LORD

His blessing will extend;
And with his favor all his saints,

As with a shield, defend.

a

1 IN mercy, not in wrath,

Rebuke me, gracious God!
Lest, if thy whole displeasure rise,

I sink beneath thy rod.
2 Touch'd by thy quick’ning power,

My load of guilt I feel :
The wounds thy Spirit hath unclosed,

O let that Spirit heal. 3 In trouble and in gloom,

Must I for ever mourn ?
And wilt thou not, at length, O God,

In pitying love return ? 4 O come, ere life expire,

Send down thy power to save;
For who shall sing thy name in death,

Or praise thee in the grave ?

5 Why should I doubt thy grace,

Or yield to dread despair?
Thou wilt fulfil thy promised word,

And grant me all my prayer.

1 0 THOU, to whom all creatures bow

Within this earthly frame,
Through all the world how great art thou !

How glorious is thy name!
2 In heaven thy wondrous acts are sung,

Nor fully reckon'd there;
And yet thou mak'st the infant tongue

Thy boundless praise declare. 3 When heaven, thy beauteous work on high,

Employs my wond'ring sight;
The moon, that nightly rules the sky,

With stars of feebler light ;-
4 Oh, what is man, that, LORD, thou lov'st

To keep him in thy mind?
Or what his offspring, that thou prov'st

To them so wondrous kind ?
5 Him next in power thou didst create

To thy celestial train ;
Ordain'd with dignity and state,

O’er all thy works to reign.
6 They jointly own his powerful sway

The beasts that prey or graze ;
The bird that wings its airy way ;

The fish that cuts the seas.
7 0 Thou, to whom all creatures bow

Within this earthly frame, Through all the world how great art thou !

How glorious is thy name!

1 TO celebrate thy praise, O LORD,

I will my heart prepare;
To all the listning world, thy works,

Thy wondrous works, declare.
2 The thought of them shall to my soul

Exalted pleasures bring ;
Whilst to thy name, 0 thou Most High,

Triumphant praise I sing.
3 The Lord for ever lives, who has

His righteous throne prepared, Impartial justice to dispense,

To punish or reward.