Psalm 14:1. First Part

Fools in their hearts believe and say, "That all religion's vain, "There is no God that reigns on high, "Or minds th' affairs of men."

From thoughts so dreadful and profane Corrupt discourse proceeds; And in their impious hands are found Abominable deeds.

The Lord, from his celestial throne Look'd down on things below, To find the man that sought his grace, Or did his justice know.

By nature all are gone astray, Their practice all the same; There's none that fears his Maker's hand, There's none that loves his name.

Their tongues are us'd to speak deceit, Their slanders never cease; How swift to mischief are their feet, Nor knew the paths of peace.

Such seeds of sin (that bitter root) In every heart are found; Nor can they bear diviner fruit, Till grace refine the ground.

Psalm 14:2. Second Part. The folly of persecutors.

Are sinners now so senseless grown That they thy saints devour? And never worship at thy throne, Nor fear thine awful power?

Great God appear to their surprise, Reveal thy dreadful name; Let them no more thy wrath despise, Nor turn our hope to shame.

Dost thou not dwell among the just? And yet our foes deride, That we should make thy name our trust; Great God, confound their pride.

O that the joyful day were come To finish our distress! When God shall bring his children home, Our songs shall never cease.

Psalm 15:1. C. M. Characters of a saint; or, a citizen of Zion; or, The qualifications of a Christian.

Who shall inhabit in thy hill, O God of holiness? Whom will the Lord admit to dwell So near his throne of grace?

The man that walks in pious ways, And works with righteous hands; That trusts his Maker's promises, And follows his commands.

He speaks the meaning of his heart, Nor slanders with his tongue; Will scarce believe an ill report, Nor do his neighbour wrong.

The wealthy sinner he contemns, Loves all that fear the Lord: And tho' to his own hurt he swears, Still he performs his word.

His hands disdain a golden bribe, And never gripe the poor; This man shall dwell with God on earth, And find his heaven secure.

Psalm 15:2. L. M. Religion and justice, goodness and truth; or, Duties to God and man; or, The qualifications of a Christian.

Who shall ascend thy heavenly place, Great God, and dwell before thy face? The man that minds religion now, And humbly walks with God below:

Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean, Whose lips still speak the thing they mean; No slanders dwell upon his tongue; He hates to do his neighbour wrong.

[Scarce will he trust an ill report, Nor vents it to his neighbour's hurt: Sinners of state he can despise, But saints are honour'd in his eyes.]

[Firm to his word he ever stood, And always makes his promise good; Nor dares to change the thing he swears, Whatever pain or loss he bears.]

[He never deals in bribing gold, And mourns that justice should be sold: While others gripe and grind the poor, Sweet charity attends his door.]

[He loves his enemies, and prays For those that curse him to his face; And doth to all men still the same That he would hope or wish from them.]

Yet when his holiest works are done, His soul depends on grace alone; This is the man thy face shall see, And dwell for ever Lord, with thee.

Psalm 16:1. First Part. L. M. Confession of our poverty, and saints the best company; or, Good works profit men, not God.

Preserve me, Lord, in time of need For succour to thy throne I flee, But have no merits there to plead; My goodness cannot reach to thee.

Oft have my heart and tongue confest How empty and how poor I am; My praise can never make thee blest, Nor add new glories to thy name.

Yet, Lord, thy saints on earth may reap Some profit by the good we do; These are the company I keep, These are the choicest friends I know.

Let others choose the sons of mirth To give a relish to their wine, I love the men of heavenly birth, Whose thoughts and language are divine.

Psalm 16:2. Second Part. L. M. Christ's all-sufficiency.

How fast their guilt and sorrows rise Who haste to seek some idol god! I will not taste their sacrifice, Their offerings of forbidden blood.

My God provides a richer cup, And nobler food to live upon; He for my life has offer'd up Jesus, his best beloved Son.

His love is my perpetual feast; By day his counsels guide me right; And be his name for ever blest, Who gives me sweet advice by night.

I set him still before mine eyes; At my right hand he stands prepar'd To keep my soul from all surprise, And be my everlasting guard.

Psalm 16:3. Third Part. L. M. Courage in death, and hope of the resurrection.

When God is nigh, my faith is strong, His arm is my almighty prop: Be glad, my heart; rejoice, my tongue, My dying flesh shall rest in hope.

Tho' in the dust I lay my head, Yet, gracious God, thou wilt not leave My soul for ever with the dead, Nor lose thy children in the grave.

My flesh shall thy first call obey, Shake off the dust, and rise on high; Then shalt thou lead the wondrous way, Up to thy throne above the sky.

There streams of endless pleasure flow; And full discoveries of thy grace (Which we but tasted here below) Spread heavenly joys thro' all the place.

Psalm 16:4. First Part. C. M. Support and counsel from God without merit.

Save me, O Lord, from every foe; In thee my trust I place, Tho' all the good that I can do Can ne'er deserve thy grace.

Yet if my God prolong my breath The saints may profit by't; The saints, the glory of the earth, The men of my delight.

Let heathens to their idols haste, And worship wood or stone; But my delightful lot is cast Where the true God is known.

His hand provides my constant food, He fills my daily cup; Much am I pleas'd with present good, But more rejoice in hope.

God is my portion and my joy, His counsels are my light; He gives me sweet advice by day, And gentle hints by night.

My soul would all her thoughts approve To his all-seeing eye; Not death, nor hell my hope shall move, While such a friend is nigh.

Psalm 16:5. Second Part. C. M. The death and resurrection of Christ.

I Set the Lord before my face, "He bears my courage up; "My heart, and tongue, their joys express, "My flesh shall rest in hope.

"My spirit, Lord, thou wilt not leave "Where souls departed are; "Nor quit my body to the grave "To see corruption there.

"Thou wilt reveal the path of life, "And raise me to thy throne; "Thy courts immortal pleasure give, "Thy presence joys unknown."

[Thus in the name of Christ, the Lord, The holy David sung, And Providence fulfils the word Of his prophetic tongue.

Jesus, whom every saint adores, Was crucify'd and slain; Behold the tomb its prey restores, Behold, he lives again!

When shall my feet arise and stand On heaven's eternal hills? There sits the Son at God's right hand, And there the Father smiles.]

Psalm 17:1. 13 &c. S. M. Portion of saints and sinners; or, Hope and despair in death.

Arise, my gracious God, And make the wicked flee; They are but thy chastising rod To drive thy saints to thee.

Behold the sinner dies, His haughty words are vain; Here in this life his pleasure lies, And all beyond is pain.

Then let his pride advance, And boast of all his store: The Lord is my inheritance, My soul can wish no more.

I shall behold the face Of my forgiving God, And stand complete in righteousness, Wash'd in my Saviour's blood.

There's a new heaven begun, When I awake from death, Drest in the likeness of thy Son, And draw immortal breath.

Psalm 17:2. L. M. The sinner's portion, and saint's hope; or, The heaven of separate souls, and the resurrection.

Lord, I am thine; but thou wilt prove My faith, my patience, and my love; When men of spite against me join, They are the sword, the hand is thine.

Their hope and portion lies below; 'Tis all the happiness they know, 'Tis all they seek; they take their shares, And leave the rest among their heirs.

What sinners value, I resign; Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mine; I shall behold thy blissful face, And stand complete in righteousness.

This life's a dream, an empty show; But the bright world to which I go Hath joys substantial and sincere; When shall I wake, and find me there?

O glorious hour! O blest abode! I shall be near and like my God! And flesh and sin no more control The sacred pleasures of the soul.

My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the last trumpet's joyful sound; Then burst the chains with sweet surprise, And in my Saviour's image rise.

Psalm 18:1. 1-6 15-18. First Part. L. M. Deliverance from despair; or, Temptations overcome.

Thee will I love, O Lord, my strength, My rock, my tower, my high defence, Thy mighty arm shall be my trust, For I have found salvation thence.

Death, and the terrors of the grave Stood round me with their dismal shade; While floods of high temptations rose, And made my sinking soul afraid.

I saw the opening gates of hell, With endless pains and sorrows there, Which none but they that feel can tell, While I was hurried to despair.

In my distress I call'd 'my God,' When I could scarce believe him mine; He bow'd his ear to my complaint, Then did his grace appear divine.

[With speed he flew to my relief, As on a cherub's wing he rode; Awful and bright as lightning shone The face of my deliverer, God.

Temptations fled at his rebuke, The blast of his almighty breath; He sent salvation from on high, And drew me from the deeps of death.]

Great were my fears, my foes were great, Much was their strength, and more their rage; But Christ, my Lord, is conqueror still, In all the wars that devils wage.

My song for ever shall record That terrible, that joyful hour; And give the glory to the Lord Due to his mercy and his power.

Psalm 18:2. 20-26. Second Part. L. M. Sincerity proved and rewarded.

Lord, thou hast seen my soul sincere, Hast made thy truth and love appear; Before mine eyes I set thy laws, And thou hast own'd my righteous cause.

Since I have learnt thy holy ways, I've walk'd upright before thy face; Or if my feet did e'er depart, 'Twas never with a wicked heart.

What sore temptations broke my rest! What wars and strugglings in my breast! But thro' thy grace that reigns within, I guard against my darling sin:

That sin which close besets me still, That works and strives against my will; When shall thy Spirit's sovereign power Destroy it that it rise no more?

[With an impartial hand, the Lord Deals out to mortals their reward; The kind and faithful souls shall find A God as faithful, and as kind.

The just and pure shall ever say, Thou art more pure, more just than they; And men that love revenge shall know, God hath an arm of vengeance too.]

Psalm 18:3. 30 31 34 35 46. 3d Part. L. M. Rejoicing in God; or, Salvation and triumph.

Just are thy ways, and true thy word, Great rock of my secure abode; Who is a God beside the Lord? Or where's a refuge like our God?

'Tis he that girds me with his might, Gives me his holy sword to wield; And while with sin and hell I fight, Spreads his salvation for my shield.

He lives (and blessed be my rock!) The God of my salvation lives, The dark designs of hell are broke; Sweet is the peace my Father gives.

Before the scoffers of the age, I will exalt my Father's name, Nor tremble at their mighty rage, But meet reproach and bear the shame.

To David and his royal seed Thy grace for ever shall extend; Thy love to saints in Christ their head Knows not a limit, nor an end.

Psalm 18:4. First Part. C. M. Victory and triumph over temporal enemies.

We love thee, Lord, and we adore, Now is thine arm reveal'd; Thou art our strength, our heavenly tower, Our bulwark and our shield.

We fly to our eternal rock, And find a sure defence; His holy name our lips invoke, And draw salvation thence.

When God, our leader, shines in arms, What mortal heart can bear The thunder of his loud alarms? The lightning of his spear?

He rides upon the winged wind, And angels in array In millions wait to know his mind, And swift as flames obey.

He speaks, and at his fierce rebuke, Whole armies are dismay'd; His voice, his frown, his angry look Strikes all their courage dead.

He forms our generals for the field, With all their dreadful skill; Gives them his awful sword to wield, And makes their hearts of steel.

[He arms our captains to the fight, Tho' there his name's forgot: He girded Cyrus with his might, But Cyrus knew him not.

Oft has the Lord whole nations blest For his own church's sake: The powers that give his people rest, Shall of his care partake.]

Psalm 18:5. Second Part. C. M. The conqueror's song.

To thine almighty arm we owe The triumphs of the day Thy terrors, Lord, confound the foe, And melt their strength away.

'Tis by thine aid our troops prevail, And break united powers, Or burn their boasted fleets, or scale The proudest of their towers.

How have we chas'd them thro' the field, And trod them to the ground, While thy salvation was our shield, But they no shelter found!

In vain to idol-saints they cry, And perish in their blood; Where is a rock so great, so high, So powerful as our God?

The Rock of Israel ever lives, His name be ever blest; 'Tis his own arm the victory gives, And gives his people rest.

On kings that reign as David did, He pours his blessings down; Secures their honours to their seed, And well supports the crown.

Psalm 19:1. First Part. S. M. The book of nature and scripture.

For a Lord's-day morning.

Behold the lofty sky Declares its maker God, And all his starry works on high Proclaim his power abroad.

The darkness and the light Still keep their course the same; While night to day, and day to night Divinely teach his name.

In every different land Their general voice is known They shew the wonders of his hand, And orders of his throne.

Ye British lands, rejoice, Here he reveals his word, We are not left to nature's voice To bid us know the Lord.

His statutes and commands Are set before our eyes; He puts his gospel in our hands, Where our salvation lies.

His laws are just and pure, His truth without deceit, His promises for ever sure, And his rewards are great.

[Not honey to the taste Affords so much delight, Nor gold that has the furnace past So much allures the sight.

While of thy works I sing, Thy glory to proclaim, Accept the praise, my God, my King, In my Redeemer's name.]

Psalm 19:2. Second Part. S. M. God's word most excellent; or, Sincerity and watchfulness.

For a Lord's-day morning.

Behold the morning sun Begins his glorious way; His beams thro' all the nations run, And life and light convey.

But where the gospel comes, It spreads diviner light, It calls dead sinners from their tombs, And gives the blind their sight.

How perfect is thy word! And all thy judgments just! For ever sure thy promise, Lord, And men securely trust.

My gracious God, how plain Are thy directions given! O! may I never read in vain, But find the path to heaven!