PSALM 23. PART 1. Old Version,

(C. M.) The watchful care of The Good Shepherd' (John, x. 11.) in feeding, restoring, and leading the sheep of his pasture,' and guiding them through the vanities and vexations of time to the blissful glories of eternity.

1 My Shepherd is the living LORD,

What can I lack or need?

In pastures fair, near pleasant streams,
He setteth me to feed.

2 He shall convert and glad my soul,
And bring my mind in frame,
To walk in paths of righteousness,
For His most holy name.

3 Yea, though I tread the vale of death,
Yet will I fear no ill;

Thy rod and staff shall comfort me;
Thou, LORD, art with me still.

4 Through all my life Thy love and grace
Dost Thou extend to me;
And in Thy house for evermore,
My dwelling place shall be.

PART 2. (C. M.)

1 THE LORD himself, the mighty LORD,
Vouchsafes to be my guide;

The Shepherd, by whose constant care
My wants are all supplied.

2 In tender grass He makes me feed,
And gently there repose;

Then leads me to cool shades, and where
Refreshing water flows.

3 He does my wand'ring soul reclaim,
And, to His endless praise,

Instruct with humble zeal to walk
In His most righteous ways.

4 When, through the vale of death I pass,
My soul shall fear no ill:

His rod and staff shall comfort me,
And He is with me still.

5 Since God doth thus His wond'rous love

Through all my life extend,
That life to Him I will devote
And in His temple spend.

PSALM 24. PART 1. (C. M.)

The ark of God moving, in a grand and solemn procession, towards the place of its future residence in Mount Sion (see 1 Chron. xv.); a type of the Christian church, and the ascension of our Lord into heaven victorious over sin, death, and hell.

1 THIS spacious earth is all the LORD's,
The LORD's her fulness is;

The world, and they that dwell therein,
By sov'reign right are his.

2 He fram'd and fix'd it on the seas,
And his Almighty hand
Upon inconstant floods has made
The stable fabric stand.

3 But for himself this LORD of all,
One chosen seat design'd:

O! who shall to that sacred hill,
Desir'd admittance find?

4 The man, whose hands and heart are pure, Whose thoughts from pride are free; Who honest poverty prefers

To gainful perjury.

5 This, this is he, on whom the LORD
Shall show'r His blessings down,
Whom God his Saviour shall vouchsafe,
With righteousness to crown.
PART 2. (C. M.)

1 LIFT up your heads, eternal gates!
Lift up, to entertain

The King of glory: See! He comes
With His celestial train.

2 Who is the King of glory? who?
The LORD for strength renown'd:
In battle mighty: o'er His foes
Eternal victor crown'd.

3 Lift up your heads, eternal gates!
Lift up, to entertain

The King of glory: See! He comes
With all His shining train.

4 Who is the King of glory? who
The LORD of Hosts renown'd
Th' ascending Saviour! He is king,
Who is with glory crown'd.

PSALM 25. PART 1. (S. M.)

David's confidence in prayer. He prayeth for remission of sins, and for help in affliction.

1

THY mercies and thy love,

O LORD, recall to mind;

And graciously continue still,

As thou wer't ever, kind.

2

Let all my youthful crimes

Be blotted out by Thee;

And, for Thy wond'rous goodness' sake,

In mercy think on me.

3

His mercy and His truth,
The righteous LORD displays,
In bringing wand'ring sinners home,
And teaching them His ways.

4 He those in justice guides,
Who His direction seek;

5

1

And in His sacred paths shall lead,
The humble and the meek.

Thro' all the ways of God
Both truth and mercy shine,
To such as with religious hearts
To His blest will incline.

PART 2. (S. M.)

SINCE mercy is the grace
That most exalts Thy fame,
Forgive my heinous sin, O LORD,
And so advance Thy name.

To God his duty pays,

Shall find the LORD a faithful Guide

In all His righteous ways.

And doth His gracious cov'nant write
In their obedient hearts.

PART 3. (S. M.)

1 O TURN, and all my griefs

In

mercy, LORD, redress;

For I am compass'd round with woes,
And plung'd in deep distress.

2

3

4

The sorrows of my heart
To mighty sums increase:
O from this dark and dismal state
My troubled soul release.

Consider, LORD, my foes,
How vast their numbers grow!
What lawless force and rage they use,
What boundless hate they show!

Protect and set my soul

From their fierce malice free,
Nor let me be asham'd, who place
My stedfast trust in Thee.

PSALM 26. (C. M.)

An appeal to God, and delight in divine ordinances.

1 JUDGE

UDGE me, O LORD, for I the paths
Of righteousness have trod;

I cannot fail, who all my trust
Repose on Thee my God.

2 I wash my hands in innocence,
And round thine altar go;

Pour the glad hymn of triumph thence, And thence Thy wonders show.

3 My thanks I'll publish there, and tell
How Thy renown excels;

That seat affords me most delight,
In which Thine honour dwells.