6 The righteous Lord loves righteous souls, Whose thoughts and actions are sincere; And with a gracious eye beholds

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The men that his own image bear.

PSALM 12. First Part. L. M.

Hope in evil times.

ALMIGHTY God, appear and save,

For vice and vanity prevail;

The godly perish in the grave,
The just depart, the faithful fail.

2 The whole discourse, when neighbours meet,
Is fill'd with trifles loose and vain;
Their lips are flatt'ry and deceit,
And their proud language is profane.
3 But lips that with deceit abound
Shall not maintain their triumph long;
The God of vengeance will confound
The flatt'ring and blaspheming tongue.
4 "Yet shall our words be free," they cry;
"Our tongue shall be controll'd by none:
"Where is the Lord will ask us why;
"Or say, our lips are not our own?"
5 The Lord, who sees the poor oppress'd,
And hears th' oppressor's haughty strain,
Will rise to give his children rest,
Nor shall they trust his word in vain,

6 Thy word, O Lord, tho' often try'd,
Void of deceit shall still appear;
Not silver, sev'n times purify'd

From dross and mixture, shines so clear.
7 Thy grace shall in the darkest hour
Defend the holy soul from harm:
Tho', when the vilest men have pow'r,
On every side will sinners swarm.

PSALM 12. Second Part. C. M.

The same.

LORD, when iniquities abound,
And blasphemy grows bold,
When faith is hardly to be found,
And love is waxing cold:
2 Is not thy chariot hast'ning on?
Hast thou not given the sign?
May we not trust and live upon
A promise so divine?

3 "Now," saith the Lord, "now will I rise, "And make oppressors flee;

"I will appear to their surprise, "And set my servants free."

4 Thy word, like silver sev'n times tried, Thro' ages shall endure:

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The men that in thy truth confide
Shall find the promise sure.

PSALM 13. L. M.

Pleading with God under desertion.

How long, O Lord, shall I complain,

Like one that seeks his God in vain?

Wilt thou thy face for ever hide ?
Shall I still pray and be denied?

2 Shall I forever be forgot,

As one whom thou regardest not?
Still shall my soul thine absence mourn?
And still despair of thy return?

3 How long shall my poor troubled breast Be with these anxious thoughts opprest? And Satan, my malicious foe,

Rejoice to see me sunk so low?

4 Hear, Lord, and grant me quick relief, Before my death conclude my grief;

If thou withhold thy heav'nly light,
I sleep in everlasting night.

5 How would the pow'rs of darkness boast,
Could but one praying soul be lost?
But I have trusted in thy grace,
And shall again behold thy face.
6 Whate'er my fears or foes suggest,
Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest:
My heart shall feel thy love, and raise
My cheerful voice to songs of praise.

PSALM 14. First Part. C. M.
Universal depravity.

1 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."

2 From thoughts so dreadful and profane Corrupt discourse proceeds;

And in their impious hands are found
Abominable deeds.

3 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.

4 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.

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

6 Such seeds of sin (that bitter root)
In ev'ry heart are found;

Nor can they bear diviner fruit,
Till grace refine the ground.

PSALM 14. Second Part. C. M.
The folly of infidels.

1 ARE sinners now so senseless grown,

That they the saints devour?

And never worship at thy throne,
Nor fear thine awful pow'r?

2 Great God, appear to their surprise,
Reveal thy dreadful name;

Let them no more thy wrath despise,
Nor turn our hope to shame.

3 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.

4 Oh that the joyful day were come To finish our distress!

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When God shall bring his children home,
Our songs shall never cease.

PSALM 15. L. M.

The character of a Saint; or the qualifications of a

WHO

Christian.

VHO shall ascend thy heav'nly place, Great God, and dwell before thy face? The man that minds religion now,

And lives and walks by faith below:

2 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.

3 Scarce will he trust an ill report, Nor vent it to his neighbour's hurt;

Sinners of state he can despise; But saints are honour'd in his eyes. 4 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. 5 He never deals in bribing gold, And mourns that justice should be sold: While others scorn and wrong the poor, Sweet charity attends his door. 6 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.
7 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.

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PSALM 16. First Part. L. M.

The humble Christian rejoicing in the communion of saints.

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

3 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. 4 Let others choose the sons of mirth, To give a relish to their wine;