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SELECTION OF PSALMS.

PSALM I. C. M.

FIRST VERSION.

The different Characters and End of the Righteous and the Wicked.

1 HOW blest is he, who ne'er consents, By ill advice to walk;

Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits,
Where men profanely talk.

2 But makes the perfect law of God
His business and delight;
Devoutly reads therein by day,
And meditates by night.

3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by streams, With timely fruit doth bend;

He still shall flourish, and success
All his designs attend.

4 Ungodly men and their attempts
No lasting root shall find;

Untimely blasted, and dispers'd
Like chaff before the wind.

5 Their guilt shall strike the wicked dumb,
Before the Judge's face:
No formal hypocrite shall then

Among the saints have place.

6 For God approves the just man's ways,
To happiness they tend :

But sinners and the paths they tread,
Shall both in ruin end.

PSALM I. C. M.

SECOND VERSION.

The Way and End of the Righteous and the Wicked. 1 BLESS'Dis 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 Green as the leaf, and ever fair,
Shall his profession shine;
While fruits of holiness appear
Like clusters on the vine.

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

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

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

PSALM II. S. M.

PART FIRST.

The Establishment of Messiah's Kingdom in Spite of human Opposition.

1 WHY did the Gentiles rage,
And Jews with one accord
Bend all their counsels to destroy
Th' Anointed of the Lord ?

2 Rulers and kings agree,
To form a vain design;

Against the Lord their pow'rs unitė,
Against his Christ they join.

3 The Lord derides their rage,
And will support his throne!

He that hath rais'd him from the dead,
Hath own'd him for his Son.

4 Be wise, ye rulers, now,
And worship at his throne ;

With trembling joy, ye people, bow
To God's exalted Son.

5 If once his wrath arise,
Ye perish on the place;
Then bless'd is the soul that flies
For refuge to his grace.

A call to the World to submit to Messiah.

1 LEARN now, ye princes, and give ear,
Ye people of the earth;
Worship the Lord with holy fear,
Rejoice with awful mirth.

2 Appease the Son with due respect,
Your timely homage pay:
Lest he revenge the bold neglect,
Incens'd by your delay.

3 If but in part his anger rise,
Who can endure the flame ?

Then bless'd are they, whose hope relies
On his most holy name.

PSALM III. C. M.

God the Protector of his People.

A MORNING PSALM.

1 THOU, Lord, alone art my defence, On thee my hopes rely;

Thou art my glory, and shalt yet
Lift up my head on high.

2 Guarded by God, I laid me down,
My sweet repose to take;
For I through him securely sleep,
Through him in safety wake.

3 Salvation to the Lord belongs,
He only can defend :

His blessings he extends to all,
Who on his pow'r depend.

PSALM IV. C. M.

God's Favour the Felicity of the Righteous.

AN EVENING PSALM.

1 WHILE worldly minds impatient grow, More prosp'rous times to see;

Still let the glories of thy face
Shine brightly, Lord, on me.

2 So shall my heart o'erflow with joy,
More lasting and more true,

Than theirs, who stores of corn and wine
Successively renew.

3 Then down in peace I'll lay my head,
And take my needful rest;

No other guard, O Lord, I crave,
Of thy defence possess❜d.