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[O sinners, come and taste his love, Come, learn his pleasant ways, And let your own experience prove The sweetness of his grace.

He bids his angels pitch their tents Round where his children dwell What ills their heavenly care prevents No earthly tongue can tell.]

[O love the Lord, ye saints of his; His eye regards the just; How richly blest their portion is Who make the Lord their trust!

Young lions pinch'd with hunger roar, And famish in the wood; But God supplies his holy poor With every needful good.]

Psalm 34:4. 11-22. Second Part. C. M. Exhortations to peace and Holiness.

Come, children, learn to fear the Lord; And that your days be long, Let not a false or spiteful word Be found upon your tongue.

Depart from mischief, practise love, Pursue the works of peace; So shall the Lord your ways approve, And set your souls at ease.

His eyes awake to guard the just, His ears attend their cry; When broken spirits dwell in dust, The God of grace is nigh.

What tho' the sorrows here they taste Are sharp and tedious too, The Lord, who saves them all at last, Is their supporter now.

Evil shall smite the wicked dead; But God secures his own, Prevents the mischief when they slide, Or heals the broken bone.

When desolation like a flood, O'er the proud sinner rolls, Saints find a refuge in their God, For he redeem'd their souls.

Psalm 35:1. 1-9. First Part. Prayer and faith of persecuted saints; or, Imprecations mixed with charity.

Now plead my cause, almighty God, With all the Sons of strife; And fight against the men of blood, Who fight against my life.

Draw out thy spear and stop their way, Lift thine avenging rod; But to my soul in mercy say, "I am thy Saviour God."

They plant their snares to catch my feet, And nets of mischief spread; Plunge the destroyers in the pit That their own hands have made.

Let fogs and darkness hide their way, And slippery be their ground; Thy wrath shall make their lives a prey, And all their rage confound.

They fly like chaff before the wind, Before thine angry breath; The angel of the Lord behind Pursues them down to death.

They love the road that leads to hell; Then let the rebels die Whose malice is implacable Against the Lord on high.

But if thou hast a chosen few Amongst that impious race, Divide them from the bloody crew By thy surprising grace.

Then will I raise my tuneful voice To make thy wonders known; In their salvation I'll rejoice, And bless thee for my own.

Psalm 35:2. 12-14. Second Part. Love to enemies; or, The love of Christ to sinners typified in David.

Behold the love, the generous love That holy David shows; Hark, how his sounding bowels move To his afflicted foes!

When they are sick his soul complains, And seems to feel the smart; The spirit of the gospel reigns, And melts his pious heart.

How did his flowing tears condole As for a brother dead! And fasting mortify'd his soul, While for their life he pray'd.

They groan'd; and curs'd him on their bed, Yet still he pleads and mourns; And double blessings on his head The righteous God returns.

O glorious type of heavenly grace! Thus Christ the Lord appears; While sinners curse, the Saviour prays, And pities them with tears.

He, the true David, Israel's king, Blest and belov'd of God, To save us rebels dead in sin, Paid his own dearest blood.

Psalm 36:1. 5-9. L. M. The perfections and providence of God; or, General providence and special grace.

High in the heavens, eternal God, Thy goodness in full glory shines; Thy truth shall break thro' every cloud That veils and darkens thy designs.

For ever firm thy justice stands, As mountains their foundations keep; Wise are the wonders of thy hands; Thy judgments are a mighty deep.

Thy providence is kind and large, Both man and beast thy bounty share; The whole creation is thy charge, But saints are thy peculiar care.

My God! how excellent thy grace, Whence all our hope and comfort springs! The sons of Adam in distress Fly to the shadow of thy wings.

From the provisions of thy house We shall be fed with sweet repast; There mercy like a river flows, And brings salvation to our taste.

Life, like a fountain rich and free Springs from the presence of the Lord; And in thy light our souls shall see The glories promis'd in thy word.

Psalm 36:2. 1 2 5 6 7 9 C. M. Practical atheism exposed; or, The being and attributes of God asserted.

While men grow bold in wicked ways! And yet a God they own, My heart within me often says, "Their thoughts believe there's none."

Their thoughts and ways at once declare (Whate'er their lips profess) God hath no wrath for them to fear, Nor will they seek his grace.

What strange self-flattery blinds their eyes! But there's an hastening hour When they shall see with sore surprise The terrors of thy power.

Thy justice shall maintain its throne, Tho' mountains melt away; Thy judgments are a world unknown, A deep unfathom'd sea.

Above the heavens' created rounds, Thy mercies, Lord, extend; Thy truth outlives the narrow bounds, Where time and nature end.

Safety to man thy goodness brings, Nor overlooks the beast; Beneath the shadow of thy wings Thy children choose to rest.

[From thee, when creature-streams run low, And mortal comforts die, Perpetual springs of life shall flow, And raise our pleasures high.

Tho' all created light decay, And death close up our eyes Thy presence makes eternal day Where clouds can never rise.]

Psalm 36:3. 1-7. S. M. The wickedness of man, and the majesty of God; or. Practical atheism exposed.

When man grows bold in sin My heart within me cries, "He hath no faith of God within, Nor fear before his eyes."

[He walks awhile conceal'd In a self-flattering dream, Till his dark crimes at once reveal'd Expose his hateful name.]

His heart is false and foul, His words are smooth and fair; Wisdom is banish'd from his soul, And leaves no goodness there.

He plots upon his bed New mischiefs to fulfil; He sets his heart, and hand, and head, To practise all that's ill.

But there's a dreadful God, Tho' men renounce his fear; His justice hid behind the cloud Shall one great day appear.

His truth transcends the sky; In heaven his mercies dwell; Deep as the sea his judgments lie, His anger burns to hell.

How excellent his love, Whence all our safety springs! O never let my soul remove From underneath his wings.

Psalm 37:1. 1-15. First Part. The cure of envy, fretfulness, and unbelief; or, The rewards of the righteous, and the wicked; or, The world's hatred, and the saint's patience.

Why should I vex my soul and fret To see the wicked rise? Or envy sinners waxing great, By violence and lies.

As flowery grass cut down at noon, Before the evening fades So shall their glories vanish soon In everlasting shades.

Then let me make the Lord my trust, And practise all that's good; So shall I dwell among the just, And he'll provide me food.

I to my God my ways commit, And cheerful wait his will; Thy hand, which guides my doubtful feet, Shall my desires fulfil.

Mine innocence shalt thou display, And make thy judgments known, Fair as the light of dawning day, And glorious as the noon.

The meek at last the earth possess, And are the heirs of heav'n; True riches with abundant peace, To humble souls are given.