The Psalms, Applied to the Christian State and Worship

PREFACE.

THE following extract from the Doctor's Preface, as it contains the plan of his version of the Psalms, may be found useful:

"I come therefore to explain my own design, which is this, To accommodate the Book of Psalms to Christian worship. And in order to this, it is necessary to divest David and Asaph, &c. of every other character but that of a psalmist and a saint, and to make them always speak the common sense and language of a Christian.

Attempting the work with this view, I have entirely omitted several whole psalms, and large pieces of many others; and have chosen out of all of them, such parts only as might easily and naturally be accommodated to the various occasions of the Christian life, or at least might afford us some beautiful allusion to Christian affairs. These I have copied and explained in the general style of the gospel; nor have I confined my expressions to any particular party or opinion; that in words prepared for public worship, and for the lips of multitudes, there might not be a syllable offensive to sincere Christians, whose judgments may differ in the lesser matters of religion.

"Where the Psalmist uses sharp invectives against his personal enemies, I have endeavoured to turn the edge of them against our spiritual adversaries, sin, Satan, and temptation. Where the flights of his faith and love are sublime, I have often sunk the expressions within the reach of an ordinary Christian: where the words imply some peculiar wants or distresses, joys, or blessings, I have used words of greater latitude and comprehension, suited to the general circumstances of men.

"Where the original runs in the form of prophecy concerning Christ and his salvation, I have given an historical turn to the sense: there is no necessity that we should always sing in the obscure and doubtful style of prediction, when the things foretold are brought into open light by a full accomplishment. Where the writers of the New Testament have cited or alluded to any part of the Psalms, I have often indulged the liberty of paraphrase, according to the words of Christ, or his Apostles. And surely this may be esteemed the word of God still, though borrowed from several parts of the holy scripture. Where the Psalmist describes religion by the fear of God, I have often joined faith and love to it. Where he speaks of the pardon of sin, through the mercies of God, I have added the merits of a Saviour. Where he talks of sacrificing goats or bullocks, I rather choose to mention the sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God. When he attends the ark with shouting into Zion, I sing the ascension of my Saviour into heaven, or his presence in his church on earth. Where he promises abundance of wealth, honour, and long life, I have changed some of these typical blessings for grace, glory, and life eternal, which are brought to light by the gospel, and promised in the New Testament. And I am fully satisfied, that more honour is done to our blessed Saviour, by speaking his name, his graces, and actions, in his own language, according to the brighter discoveries he hath now made, than by going back again to the Jewish forms of worship, and the language of types and figures.

Of choosing or finding the Psalm.

By consulting the Index, or Table of Contents, at the end, any one may find hymns very proper for many occasions of the Christian life and worship; though no copy of David's Psalter can provide for all, as I have shown in the Preface to the large edition. Or, if he remembers the first line of any Psalm, the Table of the first lines will direct where to find it.

Of singing in course.

If any shall think it best to sing the Psalms in order in churches or families, it may be done with profit, provided those Psalms be omitted that refer to special occurrences of nations, churches, or single Christians.

Of dividing the Psalms

If the Psalm be too long for the time or custom of singing, there are pauses in many of them at which you may properly rest; or you may leave out those verses which are included in crotchets [ ], without disturbing the sense: or in some places you may begin to sing at a pause,

THE

PSALMS OF DAVID.

PSALM 1. (C. M.)

The way and end of the righteous and the wicked.

1 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.

2 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.

3 [He, like a plant of generous kind
By living waters set,

Safe from the storms and blasting wind,
Enjoys a peaceful state.]

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

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

6 Sinners in judgment shall not stand
Amongst the sons of grace,

When Christ the judge, at his right hand, Appoints his saints a place.

7 His eye beholds the path they tread, His heart approves it well:

But crooked ways the sinners lead Down to the gates of hell..

PSALM I. (S. M.)

The saint happy, and the sinner miserable.

THE man is ever blest,

Who shuns the sinners' ways,

Amongst their councils never stands.
Nor takes the scorner's place;

But makes the law of God

With waters near the root;

Fresh as the leaf his name shall live, His works are heav'nly fruit.

The difference between the righteous and wicked.

1 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.

2 He loves t'employ the morning light
Amongst the statutes of the Lord;
And spends the wakeful hours of night
With pleasure, pond'ring o'er his word,

3 He, like a plant by gentle streams,
Shall flourish in immortal green;

And Heav'n will shine with kindest beams On ev'ry work his hands begin.

4 But sinuers 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.

5 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.

Christ dying, rising, interceding, and reigning.
1 [MAKER and sov'reign Lord
Of heav'n, and earth, and seas,
Thy providence confirms thy word,
And answers thy decrees.

He speaks with vengeance in his eyes, And strikes their spirits thro'.

"I call him my eternal Son,

And raise him from the dead; "I make my holy hill his throne,

And wide his kingdom spread.

4"Ask me, my Son, and then enjoy
"The utmost heathen lands:
"Thy rod of iron shall destroy
"The rebel that withstands.

5 Be wise, ye rulers of the earth,
Obey th'anointed Lord;

Adore the King of heav'nly birth,
And tremble at his word.

6 With humble love address his throne; For, if he frown, ye die;

Those are secure, and those alone,
Who on his grace rely.

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8 Now, ye that sit on earthly thrones,
Be wise and serve the Lord the Lamb;
Now at his feet submit your crowns,
Rejoice and tremble at his name.

9 With humble love address the Son,
Lest he grow angry, and ye die;
His wrath will burn to worlds unknown,
If ye provoke his jealousy.

10 His storms shall drive you quick to hell ; He is a God, and ye but dust;

Happy the souls that know him well,
And make his grace their only trust.

PSALM III. (C. M.)

Doubts and fears supprest: or, God our defence from sin and Satan.

1 My God, how many are my fears!
How fast my foes increase!
Conspiring my eternal death,
They break my present peace.

2 The lying tempter would persuade
There's no relief in heaven;
And all my swelling sins appear
Too big to be forgiven.

3 But thou, my glory and my strength,
Shalt on the tempter tread,

Shalt silence all my threat'ning guilt,
And raise my drooping head.

4 [I cry'd, and from his holy hill
He bow'd a list'ning ear;

I call'd my Father and my God,
And he subdu'd my fear.

5 He shed soft slumbers on mine eyes,
In spite of all my foes;
I 'woke, and wonder'd at the grace,
That guarded my repose.]

6 What tho' the hosts of death and hell,
All arm'd, against me stood?
Terrors no more shall shake my soul;
My refuge is my God.

7 Arise, O Lord! fulfil thy grace, While I thy glory sing:

My God hath broke the serpent's teeth,
And Death has lost his sting.

8 Salvation to the Lord belongs,
His arm alone can save :
Blessings attend thy people here,
And reach beyond the grave.

PSALM 1II. 1-5, 8. (L. M.)
A Morning Psalm.

1 O LORD, how many are my foes,
In this weak state of Hesh and blood!
My peace they daily discompose:
But my defence and hope is God.
2 Tir'd with the burdens of the day,
To thee I rais'd my ev'ning cry;
Thou heardst when I began to pray,
And thine Almighty help was nigh.
3 Supported by thine heav'nly aid,

I laid me down and slept secure; Not death should make my heart afraid, Tho' I should wake and rise no more. 4 But God sustain'd me all the night; Salvation doth to God belong ; He rais'd my head to see the light, And made his praise my morning song.

PSALM IV. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7. (L. M.) Hearing of prayer: or, God our portion, and Christ our hope.

1 O GOD of grace and righteousness!
Hear and attend when I complain;
Thou hast enlarged me in distress,
Bow down a gracious ear again.
2 Ye sons of men, in vain ye try
To turn my glory into shame;
How long will scoffers love to lie,
And dare reproach my Saviour's name!

3 Know that the Lord divides his saints
From all the tribes of men beside;
He hears the cry of penitents,

For the dear sake of Christ that died.
4 When our obedient hands have done
A thousand works of righteousness,
We put our trust in God alone,
And glory in his pard'ning grace.
5 Let the unthinking many say,
"Who will bestow some earthly good?"
But, Lord, thy light and love we pray,
Our souls desire this heav'nly food.
6 Then shall my cheerful pow'rs rejoice
At grace and favours so divine;
Nor will I change my happy choice,
For all their corn and all their wine.

1 LORD, thou wilt hear me when I pray, I am for ever thine ;

I fear before thee all the day;

Nor would I dare to sin.

2 And while I rest my weary head, From cares and bus'ness free, 'Tis sweet conversing on my bed, With my own heart and thee.

3 pay this ev'ning sacrifice;
And when my work is done,
Great God! my faith and hope relies
Upon thy grace alone.

4 Thus, with my thoughts compos'd to peace, I'll give mine eyes to sleep;

Thy hand in safety keeps my days,
And will my slumbers keep.

PSALM V. (C. M.)

For the Lord's Day Morning.

1 LORD, in the morning thou shalt hear
My voice ascending high;
To thee will I direct my pray'r,
To thee lift up mine eye:

2 Up to the hills, where Christ is goue
To plead for all his saints,
Presenting at his father's throne
Our songs and our complaints.

3 Thou art a God, before whose sight
The wicked shall not stand;
Sinners shall ne'er be thy delight,
Nor dwell at thy right hand.

4 But to thy house will I resort,
To taste my mercies there;
I will frequent thine holy court,
And worship in thy fear.

5 O may thy spirit guide my feet
In ways of righteousness!
Make ev'ry path of duty straight
And plain before my face.

PAUSE.

6 My watchful enemies combine
To tempt my feet astray;
They flatter with a base design
To make my soul their prey.

7 Lord, crush the serpent in the dust, And all his plots destroy,

While those that in thy mercy trust,
For ever shout for joy.

8 The men that love and fear thy name,
Shall see their hopes fulfill'd;
The mighty God will compass them
With favour as a shield.

PSALM VI. (C. M.)

Complaint in sickness; or, diseases healed.

1 IN anger, Lord, rebuke me not;
Withdraw the dreadful storm;'
Nor let thy fury grow so hot
Against a feeble worm.

2 My soul's bow'd down with heavy cares, My flesh with pain opprest;

My couch is witness to my tears,
My tears forbid my rest..

3 Sorrow and pain wear out my days;
I waste the night with cries;
Counting the minutes as they pass.
Till the slow morning rise.

4 Shall I be still tormented more?
My eyes consum'd with grief?
How long, my God, how long before
Thine hand affords relief?

5 He hears when dust and ashes speak
He pities all our groans;
He saves us for his mercy's sake,
And heals our broken bones.

6 The virtue of his sov'reign word
Restores our fainting breath;

For silent graves praise not the Lord,
Nor is he known in death.

PSALM VI. (L. M.)

Temptations in sickness overcome.

I LORD, I can suffer thy rebukes,
When thou with kindness dost chastise ;
But thy fierce wrath I cannot bear,
O let it not against me rise!

2 Pity my languishing estate,

And ease the sorrows that I feel;

The wounds thine heavy hand hath made, O let thy gentler touches heal.

3 See how I pass my weary days

In sighs and groans; and when 'tis night,
My bed is water'd with my tears;
My grief consumes and dims my sight.
4 Look how the pow'rs of nature mourn!
How long, Almighty God, how long?
When shall thine hour of grace return?
When shall I make thy grace my song?
5 I feel my flesh so near the grave.
My thoughts are tempted to despair;
But graves can never praise the Lord,
For all is dust and silence there.

6 Depart, ye tempters, from my soul,
And all despairing thoughts depart;
My God, who hears my humble moan,
Will ease my flesh, and cheer my heart.

PSALM VII. (C. M.)

God's care of his people, and punishment
of persecutors.

1 MY trust is in my heav'nly friend;
My hope in thee, my God;
Rise, and my helpless life defend
From those that seek my blood.

2 With insolence and fury they
My soul in pieces tear:

As hungry lions rend their prey
When no deliv'rer's near.

3 If I had e'er provok'd them first,
Or once abus'd my foe;

Then let him tread my life to dust,
And lay mine honour low.

4 If there be malice hid in me,
I know thy piercing eyes;

I should not dare appeal to thee,
Nor ask my God to rise.

5 Arise, my God! lift up thine hand,
Their pride and pow'r controul:
Awake to judgment, and command
Deliv'rance for my soul.

PAUSE.

6 [Let sinners and their wicked rage, Be humbled to the dust;

Shall not the God of Truth engage To vindicate the just?

Christ's condescension and glorification: or, God made man.

1 O LORD, our God! how wond'rous great

Is thine exalted name!
The glories of thy heav'nly state
Let men and babes proclaim.

2 When I behold thy works on high,
The moon that rules the night,
And stars that well adorn the sky,
Those moving worlds of light.

3 Lord, what is man, or all his race,
Who dwells so far below,

That thou should'st visit him with grace, And love his nature so '

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