26.

The Lord my Shepherd.-Psalm xxiii.

1 THE Lord is my shepherd, no want shall I know; I feed in green pastures, safe-folded I rest; He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow, Restores me when wandering, redeems when opprest. 2 Thro' the valley and shadow of death tho' I stray, Since Thou art my guardian, no evil I fear; Thy rod shall defend me, thy staff be my stay, No harm can befall, with my Comforter near. 3 In the midst of affliction my table is spread; With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o'er; With perfume and oil Thou anointest my head; O what shall I ask of thy Providence more? 4 Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God, Still follow my steps till I meet Thee above! I seek-by the path which my forefathers trod Thro' the land of their sojourn-thy kingdom of love. 27.

Resignation.-Psalm xxxi. 15.

1 SOVEREIGN Ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise!

All my times are in thy hand,
All events at thy command.

2 Thou didst form me in the womb
Thou wilt guide me to the tomb;
All my times shall ever be
Order'd by thy wise decree :

3 Times of sickness, times of health;
Times of penury and wealth;
Times of trial and of grief;
Times of triumph and relief:

4 Times temptation's power to prove;
Times to taste a Saviour's love;
All is fix'd-the means and end,
As shall please my heavenly Friend.

5 Plagues and death around me fly;
Till he bids I cannot die ;

Not a single shaft can hit,
Till the God of love sees fit.

28.

Man a pilgrim on the earth.-Psalm xxxix.
10 LET me, heavenly Lord, extend
My view to life's approaching end!
What are my days? A span their line-
And what my age, compared with thine?
2 Our life advancing to a close,

While yet its earliest dawn it knows,
Swift through an empty shade we run,
And vanity and man are one.

3 O! how thy chastisements impair
The human form, however fair!
How frail the strongest frame we see,
If Thou its mortal doom decree !

4 God of our fathers! here as they
We walk, the pilgrims of a day:
As transient guests, thy works admire,
And instant to our home retire.

5 Spare me a little while, O spare!
And nature's failing strength repair;
Ere, life's short circuit wander'd o'er,
I perish, and am seen no more.

29.

The Soul thirsting after God.-Psalm xli. 1 As pants the wearied hart for cooling springs, That sinks exhausted in the summer's chase; So pants my soul for Thee, great King of kings! So thirsts to reach thy sacred dwelling-place.

2 On bitter tears my pining soul hath fed, While taunting foes deride my deep despair; "Say, where is now thy great Deliverer fled? Thy mighty God-abandoned wanderer, where?"

3 Oft dwell my thoughts on those thrice happy days,
When to thy courts I led the willing throng;
Our mirth was worship, all our pleasure praise,
And festal joys still closed with sacred song.

4 Why throb, my heart? Why sink, my saddening soul?

Why droop to earth with various woes oppress'd? My years shall yet in blissful circles roll, And peace be yet an inmate of this breast. 5 By Jordan's banks with devious steps I stray, O'er Hermon's rugged rocks and deserts drear : E'en there thy hand shall guide my lonely way, There thy remembrance shall my spirit cheer. 6 In rapid floods the vernal torrents roll, Harsh sounding cataracts responsive roar; Thine angry billows overwhelm my soul, And dash my shatter'd bark from shore to shore.

7 Yet thy sure mercies ever in my sight,

My heart shall gladden through the tedious day; And, 'midst the dark and gloomy shades of night, To Thee I'll duly tune the grateful lay.

8 Rock of my hope! great Solace of my heart! O! why desert the offspring of thy care,

While taunting foes thus point the invidious dart"Where is thy God? abandon'd wanderer, where?" 9 Why faint, my soul? Why doubt Jehovah's aid? Thy God, the God of mercy still shall prove; Within his courts thy thanks shall yet be paid ;— Unquestion'd be his faithfulness and love.

30.

The Backslider restored.-Psalm li.

1 THOUGH I have grieved thy Spirit, Lord,
His help and comfort still afford :

And let a wretch come near thy throne
To plead the merits of thy Son.

2 A broken heart, my God, my King,
Is all the sacrifice I bring;

The God of grace will ne'er despise
A broken heart for sacrifice.

3 My soul lies humbled in the dust,
And owns thy dreadful sentence just;
Look down, O Lord, with pitying eye,
And save the soul condemn'd to die.
4 Then will I teach the world thy ways;
Sinners shall learn thy sovereign grace;
I'll lead them to my Saviour's blood,
And they shall praise a pardoning God.
31.

Longing for the House of God.-Psalm lxxxiv.
1 LORD of the worlds above,
How pleasant and how fair
The dwellings of thy love,
The earthly temples are!
To thine abode

My heart aspires,
With warm desires,
To see my God.

2 The sparrow, for her young,
With pleasure seeks a nest;
And wandering swallows long
To find their wonted rest:
My spirit faints,
With equal zeal,
To rise and dwell
Among thy saints.

3 O happy souls that pray

Where God appoints to hear!
O happy men that pay

Their constant service there!
They praise Thee still;
And happy they
That love the way
To Zion's hill.

4 They go from strength to strength
Through this dark vale of tears,
Till each arrives at length-
Till each in heaven appears.
O glorious seat,
When God our King
Shall thither bring
Our willing feet!

5 To spend one sacred day,
Where God and saints abide,
Affords diviner joy

Than thousand days beside:
Where God resorts,
I love it more

To keep the door

Than shine in courts.

6 God is our sun and shield,
Our light and our defence;
With gifts his hands are fill'd,
We draw our blessings thence:
He shall bestow
On Jacob's race
Peculiar grace
And glory too.

7 The Lord his people loves;
His hand no good withholds
From those his heart approves,
From pure and pious souls:
Thrice happy he,

O God of hosts,
Whose spirit trusts
Alone in thee.

32.

All nations exhorted to praise God.-Psalm c.
1 BEFORE Jehovah's awful throne,
Ye nations, bow with sacred joy;
Know that the Lord is God alone;
He can create, and He destroy.