THE Psalms of David

Psalm 1:1. Common Metre, The way and end of the righteous and the wicked.

Blest is the man who shuns the place Where sinners love to meet; Who fears to tread their wicked ways, And hates the scoffer's seat:

But in the statutes of the Lord Has plac'd his chief delight; By day he reads or hears the word, And meditates by night.

[He like a plant of generous kind, By living waters set, Safe from the storms and blasting wind, Enjoys a peaceful state.]

Green as the leaf and ever fair Shall his profession shine, While fruits of holiness appear Like clusters on the vine.

Not so the impious and unjust; What vain designs they form! Their hopes are blown away like dust, Or chaff before the storm.

Sinners in judgment shall not stand Amongst the sons of grace, When Christ the Judge, at his right hand, Appoints his saints a place.

His eye beholds the path they tread, His heart approves it well; But crooked ways of sinners lead Down to the gates of hell.

Psalm 1:2. S. M. The saint happy, the sinner miserable.

The man is ever blest Who shuns the sinner's ways, Among their counsels never stands, Nor takes the scorner's place;

But makes the Law of God His study and delight, Amidst the labours of the day, And watches of the night.

He like a tree shall thrive, With waters near the root: Fresh as the leaf his name shall live, His works are heavenly fruit.

Not so th' ungodly race, They no such blessings find; Their hopes shall flee like empty chaff Before the driving wind.

How will they bear to stand Before that judgment-seat, Where all the saints at Christ's right hand In full assembly meet?

He knows, and he approves The way the righteous go; But sinners and their works shall meet A dreadful overthrow.

Psalm 1:3. L. M. The difference between the righteous and the wicked.

Happy the man whose cautious feet Shun the broad way that sinners go, Who hates the place where atheists meet, And fears to talk as scoffers do.

He loves t' employ his morning light Amongst the statutes of the Lord: And spends the wakeful hours at night, With pleasure pondering o'er the word.

He like a plant by gentle streams, Shall flourish in immortal green; And heaven will shine with kindest beams On every work his hands begin.

But sinners find their counsels crost; As chaff before the tempest flies, So shall their hopes be blown and lost, When the last trumpet shakes the skies.

In vain the rebel seeks to stand In judgment with the pious race; The dreadful Judge with stern command Divides him to a different place.

"Straight is the way my saints have trod, "I blest the path and drew it plain; "But you would choose the crooked road, "And down it leads to endless pain.

Psalm 2:1. S. M. Translated according to the divine pattern, Acts iv. 24 &c.

Christ dying, rising, interceding, and reigning.

[Maker and sovereign Lord Of heaven, and earth, and seas, Thy providence confirms thy word, And answers thy decrees.

The things so long foretold By David are fulfill'd, When Jews and Gentiles join to slay Jesus, thine holy child.]

Why did the Gentiles rage, And Jews with one accord Bend all their counsels to destroy Th' anointed of the Lord?

Rulers and kings agree To form a vain design; Against the Lord their powers unite, Against his Christ they join.

The Lord derides their rage, And will support his throne; He that hath rais'd him from the dead Hath own'd him for his Son.