In balance laid, they wholly are more light than vanity.

10 Trust ye not in oppression;
in robb'ry be not vain :

On wealth set not your hearts, when as
increased is your gain.

11 God hath it spoken once to me,
yea this I heard again,
That power to almighty God
alone doth appertain.

12 Yea, mercy also unto thee
belongs, O Lord, alone:

For thou, according to his work,
rewardest ev'ry one.

PSALM LXIII.

A Psalm of DAVID, when he was in the wilderness of JUDAH.

This Psalm was penned by David, while he hid himself from the fury of Saul, in the wilderness of Judah; 1 Sam. xxii. 5,-or xxiii. 14, 24, 25-or xxiv. 1-Or when he fled from Absalom, 2 Sam. xv. xvi. We have, (1) His strong faith working in ardent desires after the most familiar fellowship with God in public ordinances; ver. 1, 2. (2) His superlative estimation of God, issuing in hearty resolutions to be for ever employed in his praise; ver. 3, 4. (3) His heart-ravishing satisfaction in God, amidst secret and fixed meditation on his excellencies and love; ver. 5, 6. (4) His joyful dependence on God, as his Saviour and portion; ver. 7, 8. (5) His holy triumph in God, as his preserver, and the destroyer of his enemies; vér. 9-11.

While I sing these high praises of God, let my soul be strong in the faith, giving glory to God; embracing the promise of himself, and calling all the fulness of the Godhead my own. Let me be all in raptures of divine love, and holy delight; let no guile, no corruption, no carnal care, enervate or damp my inward powers. But

let all be opened, be wide stretched, to grasp my infinite ALL, the great I AM.

ORD, thee my God, I'll early seek
my soul doth thirst for thee:
My flesh longs in a dry parch'd land,
wherein no waters be:

2 That I thy power may behold,
and brightness of thy face,
As I have seen thee heretofore,
within thy holy place.

3 Since better is thy love than life, my lips thee praise shall give. 4 I in thy name will lift my hands, and bless thee while I live.

5 Ev'n as with marrow and with fat,
my soul shall filled be;

Then shall my mouth with joyful lips
sing praises unto thee.

6 When I do thee upon my bed
remember with delight,

And when on thee I meditate in watches of the night.

In shadow of thy wings I'll joy; for thou mine help hast been. 8 My soul thee follows hard; and me thy right hand doth sustain.

9 Who seek my soul to spill, shall sink down to earth's lowest room.

10 They by the sword shall be cut off, and foxes prey become.

11 Yet shall the king in God rejoice, and each one glory shall

That swear by him: but stopt shall be
the mouth of liars all.

PSALM LXIV.

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of DAVID.

This Psalm contains, (1) David's earnest supplications for preservation from his enemies, who were so spiteful in their calumnious reproaches; so close and subtile in their malicious plots; and so industrious and active, in executing their cruel projects; ver. 1-6. (2) His predictions, that God, by just vengeance, would quickly render these enemies a terror to themselves and others, and an occasion of holy joy and confidence to the saints; ver. 7-10.

While I sing, let me commit my spiritual enemies into the hand of God, who is able to destroy them, and will quickly, to my everlasting comfort, tread them all under my feet.

W

HEN I to thee my prayer make,
Lord to my voice give ear;

My life save from the enemy,

of whom I stand in fear.

2 Me from their secret council hide
who do live wickedly;

From insurrection of those men
that work iniquity.

3 Who do their tongues with malice whet
and make them cut like swords;
In whose bent bows are arrows set,
ev'n sharp and bitter words.

4 That they may at the perfect man
in secret aim their shot :
Yea suddenly they dare at him
to shoot, and fear it not.

5 In ill encourage they themselves:
and their snares close do lay;
Together conference they have;
who shall them see they say,
O o

6 They have search'd out iniquities,
a perfect search they keep:

Of each of them the inward thought,
and very heart is deep.

7 God shall an arrow shoot at them,
and wound them suddenly.

8 So their own tongue shall them confound all who them see shall fly.

9 And on all men a fear shall fall,
God's works they shall declare ;
For they shall wisely notice take
what these his doing are.

10 In God the righteous shall rejoice,
and trust upon his might;
Yea, they shall greatly glory all
in heart that are upright.

PSALM LXV.

To the chief Musician. A Psalm or song of DAVID

Here we are directed to praise God, (1) For his kindness manifested in his kingdom of grace-in hearing prayers; in pardoning iniquities; in satisfying the souls of his people with his blessings; and in protecting and supporting them in every exigence; ver. 1-5. (2) For his kindness in the kingdom of providence-in fixing the mountains; in calming the seas; in preserving the regular succession of day and night; and in rendering the fields fruitful, and the flocks numerous and happy; ver.

6-13.

While I sing, let praise wait, in my soul, for the Lord; and let me pour out my heart before him. Under a deep sense of guilt and pollution, let me believe his unbounded forgiveness, and sanctifying influence. Let me come even to his seat, and enjoy ravishing fellowship with him. Let all my confidence be fixed on him; and, even in the blessings of providence, let me discern the xceeding riches of his grace.

P

RAISE waits for thee in Zion, Lord: to thee vows paid shall be.

20 thou that hearer art of pray'r,

all flesh shall come to thee.

3 Iniquities, I must confess,
prevail against me do:
But as for our transgressions,
them purge away shalt thou.

4 Blest is the man whom thou dost choose,
and mak'st approach to thee;
That he within thy courts, O Lord,
may still a dweller be:

We surely shall be satisfy'd

with thy abundant grace; And with the goodness of thy house, ev'n of thy holy place.

5 O God of our salvation,

thou, in thy righteousness,

By fearful works unto our pray'rs
thine answer dost express:
Therefore the ends of all the earth,
and those afar that be
Upon the sea, their confidence,

O Lord will place in thee.

6 Who, being girt with pow'r, sets fast, by his great strength, the hills.

7 Who noise of seas, noise of their waves, and people's tumult, stills.

8 Those in the utmost parts that dwell
are at thy signs afraid :

Th' out-goings of the morn and ev’n
by thee are joyful made.

9 The earth thou visit'st, wat'ring it
thou mak'st it rich to grow