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5 The Lord, who sees the poor oppress'd, 3
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, though often tried,
Void of deceit shall still appear:
Not silver, seven times purified

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 power,
On every side will sinners swarm.

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C. M.
St. James, 163.
Complaint of a general corruption
of manners.

HELP Lord, for men of virtue fail,
Religion loses ground;

The sons of violence prevail,
And treacheries abound.

2 Their oaths and promises they break,
Yet act the flatterer's part;
With fair deceitful lips they speak,
And with a double heart.

3 If we reprove some hateful lie,
How is their fury stirr'd!

'Are not our lips our own?' they cry, And who shall be our Lord?

4 Scoffers appear on every side,

Where a vile race of men

Is raised to seats of power and pride, And bears the sword in vain.

PAUSE.

5 Lord, when iniquities abound,
And blasphemies grow bold,
When faith is hardly to be found,
And love is waxing cold;

6 Is not thy chariot hastening on?
Hast thou not given this sign?
May we not trust and live upon
A promise so divine?

7 'Yes,' saith the Lord, 'now will I rise, And make oppressors flee:

I shall appear to their surprise,
And set my servants free.'

8 Thy word, like silver, seven times tried, Through ages shall endure;

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

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HOW

OW long, O Lord, shall I complain Like one that seeks his God in vain? Canst thou thy face for ever hide? And I still pray, and be denied?

2 Shall I for ever be forgot.

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

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 heavenly light
I sleep in everlasting night.

5 How will the powers of darkness boast,
If 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.

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C. M. Rochester, 459. Complaint under temptations of the devil.

HOW long wilt thou conceal thy face? When shall I feel those heavenly rays That chase my fears away?

My God, how long delay?

2 How long shall my poor lab'ring soul Wrestle and toil in vain?

Thy word can all my foes control,
And ease my raging pain.

3 See how the prince of darkness tries
All his malicious arts:

He spreads a mist around my eyes,
And throws his fiery darts.

4 Be thou my sun, and thou my shield, My soul in safety keep!

Make haste before mine eyes are seal'd In death's eternal sleep.

5 How would the tempter boast aloud
If I become his prey!

Behold the sons of hell grow proud
At thy so long delay.

6 But they shall fly at thy rebuke,
And Satan hide his head;

He knows the terrors of thy look,
And hears thy voice with dread.

7 Thou wilt display that sovereign grace
Where all my hopes have hung:
I shall employ my lips in praise,
And victory shall be sung.

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15

C. M.

Hammond, 226.
Characters of a saint.
1 WHO shall inhabit in thy hill,
O God of holiness?

Whom will the Lord admit to dwell
So near his throne of grace?

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

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

4 The wealthy sinner he contemns;
Loves all that fear the Lord;

And though to his own hurt he swears, Still he performs his word.

5 His hands disdain a golden bribe, And never gripe the poor;

This man shall dwell with God on earth, And find his heaven secure.

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Religion and justice, goodness and
truth.

WHO shall ascend thy heavenly place,
Great God, and dwell before thy face?
The man that minds religion now,
And

2 Whose hands are pure, whose heart is
clean;
[mean;
Whose lips still speak the things they
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 make 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 gripe and grind 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.
PART I. L. M. Rothwell, 174.
Confession of our poverty.

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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 bless'd, 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;

I love the men of heavenly birth,
Whose thoughts and language are divine.

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PART II. L. M. Angel's Hymn, 60.
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.

2 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.

3 His love is my perpetual feast:
By day his counsels guide me right:
And be his name for ever bless'd,
Who gives me sweet advice by night.

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At my right hand he stands prepared To keep my soul from all surprise,

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PART III. L. M. Wareham, 117.
Courage in death-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.

2 Though 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.

3 My flesh shall thy first call obey,

Shake off the dust and rise on high;

Then shalt thou lead the wond'rous way

Up to thy throne above the sky.

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V. 13, &c. Portion of saints and
sinners.

4 There streams of endless pleasure flow, ARISE, my gracious God,

And full discoveries of thy grace
(Which we but tasted here below)
Spread heav'nly joys through all the

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place.

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V. 1-8. Support from God without
merit.

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

2 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.

3 Let heathens to their idols haste,

And worship wood or stone;

But my delightful lot is cast
Where the true God is known.

4 His hand provides my constant food,

He fills my daily cup;

Much am I pleased with present good,
But more rejoice in hope.

5 God is my portion and my joy,

His counsels are my light:

He gives me sweet advice by day,
And gentle hints by night.

6 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.

16 PART II. C. M. St. James, 163.

The death and resurrection of Christ.

SET the Lord before my face,

He bears my courage up;
My heart and tongue their joys express,
My flesh shall rest in hope.

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

8 'Thou wilt reveal the path of life,
And raise me to thy throne;

Thy courts immortal pleasure give,

Thy presence, joys unknown."

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,

Dress'd in the likeness of thy Son,

And draw immortal breath.

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Winchester, 137. V. 1-6, 15-18. Deliverance from despair.

HEE will I love, O Lord, my strength,

TH

My rock, my tower, my high defence;
Thy mighty arm shall be my trust,
For I have found salvation thence.

2 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.
3 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.

4 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.
5 [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.
6 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.]
7 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 tnat devils wage.

8 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.

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Job, 474.

PART II. L. M.
Ver. 20-26. Sincerity proved and
rewarded.

1 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.
2 Since I have learn'd thy holy ways,
I've walk'd upright before thy face;
Or if my feet did e'er depart,
'T was never with a wicked heart.
3 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;

4 That sin that 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?

5 [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.
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2 'T is 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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.

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C. M. Arlington, 17. Victory 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.

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

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

4

He rides upon the winged wind,
And angels in array

In millions wait to know his mind,
And swift as flames obey.

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

6 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.
7 [He arms our captains to the fight,
(Though there his name 's forgot;
He girded Cyrus with his might,
But Cyrus knew him not.)

8 Oft has the Lord whole nations bless'd
For his own church's sake;
The powers that gave his people rest.
Shall of his care partake.]

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PART II. C. M.

Liverpool, 83.

The same.

19 PART II.

1

T

thine almighty arm we owe
The triumphs of the day;

Thy terrors, Lord, confound the foe,
And melt their strength away.

2 'T is by thine aid our troops prevail, And break united powers,

Or burn their boasted fleets, or scale
The proudest of their towers.

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

4 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?

5 The rock of Israel ever lives,

His name be ever bless'd;

"T is his own arm the victory gives,
And gives his people rest.

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

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God's word most excellent. [For a Lord's-day morning.]

EHOLD the morning sun

B Begins his glorious way;

His beams through 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.

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

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Cranbrook, 303.

The book of nature and Scripture.

EHOLD the lofty sky

BEHO

Declares its maker, God,

And all his starry works on high
Proclaim his power abroad.

2 The darkness and the light

Still keep their course the same;

While night to day, and day to night, Divinely teach his name.

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Their general voice is known;

They show the wonders of his hand, And orders of his throne.

4 Ye British lands, rejoice,

Here he reveals his word;

We are not left to nature's voice
To bid us know the Lord.

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

6 His laws are just and pure,
His truth without deceit,
His promises for ever sure,
And his rewards are great.
7 [Not honey to the taste
Affords so much delight,

Nor gold that has the furnace pass'd So much allures the sight.

8 While of thy works I sing,

Thy glories to proclaim,

Accept the praise, my God, my King, In my Redeemer's name.]

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Yet, with a bold presumptuous mind I would not dare transgress.

Warn me of every sin,

Forgive my secret faults,

And cleanse this guilty soul of mine,
Whose crimes exceed my thoughts.

While with my heart and tongue
I spread thy praise abroad,

Accept the worship and the song,
My Saviour and my God.

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PART III. L.M. Haydn's Creation, 1. The books of nature & of Scripture. THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord, In every star thy wisdom shines; But when our eyes behold thy word, We read thy name in fairer lines.

2 The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days thy power confess :
And the bless'd volume thou hast writ
Reveals thy justice and thy grace.

3 Sun, moon, and stars convey thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand;
So, when thy truth begun its race
It touch'd and glanced on every land.
4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,
Till thro' the world thy truth has run ;
Till Christ has all the nations bless'd
That see the light, or feel the sun.

5 Great Sun of righteousness, arise,
Bless the dark world with heavenly light;
Thy gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.

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