Pause II

Lord, when this vine in Canaan grew Thou wast its strength and glory too; Attack'd in vain by all its foes, Till the fair Branch of Promise rose;

Fair Branch, ordain'd of old to shoot From David's stock, from Jacob's root; Himself a noble vine, and we The lesser branches of the tree.

'Tis thy own Son, and he shall stand Girt with thy strength at thy right hand; Thy first-born Son, adorn'd and blest With power and grace above the rest.

O! for his sake attend our cry, Shine on thy churches lest they die; Turn us to thee, thy love restore, We shall be sav'd, and sigh no more.

Psalm 81. 1 8 16. The warnings of God to his people; or, Spiritual blessings and punishments.

Sing to the Lord aloud, And make a joyful noise; God is our strength, our Saviour God; Let Israel hear his voice.

"From vile idolatry "Preserve my worship clean; "I am the Lord who set thee free "From slavery and sin.

"Stretch thy desires abroad, "And I'll supply them well "But if ye will refuse your God, "If Israel will rebel,

"I'll leave them," saith the Lord, "To their own lusts a prey, "And let them run the dangerous road, "'Tis their own chosen way.

"Yet O! that all my saints "Would hearken to my voice! "Soon I would ease their sore complaints, "And bid their hearts rejoice.

"While I destroy their foes, "I'd richly feed my flock, "And they should taste the stream that flows "From their eternal Rock."

Psalm 82. God the supreme Governor; or, Magistrates warned.

Among th' assemblies of the great, A greater Ruler takes his seat; The God of heaven, as Judge, surveys Those gods on earth and all their ways.

Why will ye then frame wicked laws? Or why support th' unrighteous cause? When will ye once defend the poor, That sinners vex the saints no more?

They know not, Lord, nor will they know, Dark are the ways in which they go; Their name of earthly gods is vain, For they shall fall and die like men.

Arise, O Lord, and let thy Son Possess his universal throne, And rule the nations with his rod; He is our judge, and he our God.

Psalm 83. A complaint against persecutors.

And will the God of grace Perpetual silence keep? The God of justice hold his peace, And let his vengeance sleep?

Behold what cursed snares The men of mischief spread; The men that hate thy saints and thee Lift up their threatening head.

Against thy hidden ones Their counsels they employ, And malice with her watchful eye, Pursues them to destroy.

The noble and the base Into thy pastures leap; The lion and the stupid ass Conspire to vex thy sheep.

"Come, let us join," they cry, "To root them from the ground, "Till not the name of saints remain, "Nor memory shall be found."

Awake, almighty God, And call thy wrath to mind; Give them like forests to the fire, Or stubble to the wind.

Convince their madness, Lord, And make them seek thy Name Or else their stubborn rage confound, That they may die in shame.

Then shall the nations know That glorious dreadful word, Jehovah is thy name alone, And thou the sovereign Lord.

Psalm 84:1. First Part. L. M. The pleasure of public worship.

How pleasant, how divinely fair, O Lord of hosts, thy dwellings are! With long desire my spirit faints To meet th' assemblies of thy saints.

My flesh would rest in thine abode, My panting heart cries out for God; My God! my King! why should I be So far from all my joys and thee?

The sparrow chuses where to rest, And for her young provides her nest: But will my God to sparrows grant That pleasure which his children want?

Blest are the saints who sit on high, Around thy throne of majesty; Thy brightest glories shine above, And all their work is praise and love.

Blest are the souls that find a place Within the temple of thy grace; There they behold thy gentler rays, And seek thy face, and learn thy praise.

Blest are the men whose hearts are set To find the way to Sion's gate; God is their strength, and thro' the road They lean upon their helper God.

Cheerful they walk with growing strength, Till all shall meet in heaven at length, Till all before thy face appear, And join in nobler worship there.

Psalm 84:2. Second Part. L. M. God and his church; or, Grace and glory.

Great God, attend, while Sion sings The joy that from thy presence springs To spend one day with thee on earth Exceeds a thousand days of mirth.

Might I enjoy the meanest place Within thine house, O God of grace, Not tents of ease, nor thrones of power, Should tempt my feet to leave thy door.

God is our sun, he makes our day; God is our shield, he guards our way From all th' assaults of hell and sin, From foes without, and foes within.

All needful grace will God bestow, And crown that grace with glory too: He gives us all things, and withholds No real good from upright souls.

O God, our King, whose sovereign sway The glorious hosts of heaven obey, And devils at thy presence flee, Blest is the man that trusts in thee.

Psalm 84:3. 14 2 3 10. Paraphrased. C. M. Delight in ordinances of worship; or, God present in his churches.

My soul, how lovely is the place To which thy God resorts! 'Tis heaven to see his smiling face, Tho' in his earthly courts.

There the great Monarch of the skies His saving power displays, And light breaks in upon our eyes With kind and quickening rays.

With his rich gifts the heavenly Dove Descends and fills the place, While Christ reveals his wondrous love, And sheds abroad his grace.

There, mighty God, thy words declare The secrets of thy will; And still we seek thy mercy there, And sing thy praises still.