5 Our ransom'd souls, our joyful voice, The great Deliv'rer shall proclaim: Let Jacob's tents aloud rejoice,

And Israel shout the Saviour's Name.

PSALM XV.

THE prophet alludes to the Hill of Zion in the earthly Jerusalem, to the tabernacle of God which was thereon, and the character of the priest who should officiate in that tabernacle. But all these were figures of a celestial Jerusalem, a spiritual Zion, a true tabernacle, and an eternal priest. To the great originals, therefore, we must transfer our ideas, and consider the inquiry as made after Him who should fix his resting-place on the heavenly mount, and exercise his unchangeable priesthood in the temple not made with hands. And since the disciples of this new and great High Priest become righteous in him, and are by the Spirit conformed to his image, the character which essentially and inherently belongs only to Him will derivatively belong to them also; who must follow his steps below, if they would reign with him above.

Whoever shall survey and copy these virtues and graces, as they present themselves in his life, will, it is humbly apprehended, take the best and shortest way to the beavenly Zion; and will make that use of the Psalm which, it may be supposed, led to its appointment, as one of the Proper Psalms for Ascension Day.

1

The Citizen of Zion. P. M.

JEHOVAH!-who, in bliss supreme,
Shall his eternal dwelling claim
Within th' ethereal dome?

Who fix with Thee, beyond the skies,
Where Zion's sacred hills arise,
His everlasting home?

2 The man who, fill'd with sacred awe,
Directs his conduct by thy Law,
His heart and words sincere :
His soul abhors the sland'rous joy
That dares a neighbour's fame destroy,
Nor lends th' indulgent ear.

3 Though arm'd with power, or cloth'd in state, Ungodly deeds provoke his hate,

He scorns the scorner's smile: But loves to seek the humble cot, Of pious poverty the lot,

Its sorrows to beguile.

4 He swears-nor shall his word be broke:
His promise stands-'twas truth that spoke,
Though dangers spread the way:
He loathes the gold which av'rice gains,
Nor-for his hand the bribe disdains-
Will innocence betray...

5 The man who thus thy Law obeys, Secur'd, my God, in all his ways, Thy holy hill shall see:

'Tis Jesus-spotless and divine! My Saviour, thus thy glories shine! Conform my soul to Thee.

PSALM XVI.

Upon whatever occasion, or in whatever distress, David might compose thi Psalm, we are taught, Acts ii. 25 and xiii. 35, to consider him as speaking i the person of Christ; of whom, alone, the latter part of the Psalm is true.

FIRST PART. (vv. 1-3.) L. M.

Saints unprofitable to God, but beneficial to one another.

1 PRESERVE me, Lord, in time of need!
For succour to thy throne I flee;

But have no merits there to plead :
My goodness cannot reach to Thee.

2 Oft have my heart and tongue confest
How empty and how poor I am :

My praise can never make Thee blest,
Nor add new glories to thy Name.

3 Yet, Lord, thy saints on earth may reap
Some profit by the good we do:
These are the company I keep,
These are the choicest friends I know.
4 Let others choose the sons of mirth,
To give a relish to their wine,

I love the men of heavenly birth,
Whose thoughts and language are divine.

SECOND PART. (vv. 4-7.) L. M.
Christ's All-sufficiency.

HOW

OW fast their guilt and sorrows rise,
Who haste to seek some idol-god!

I will not taste their sacrifice,

Their off'rings of forbidden blood.

2 My God provides a richer cup,
And nobler food to live upon:
He, for my life, has offer'd up
Jesus, his best-beloved Son.

3 Tis He maintains my happy lot;

What pleasures round my dwelling spring!
His line has mark'd the favour'd spot:
His guardian providence I'll sing.

4 His love is my perpetual feast;
By day his counsels guide me right:
And be his Name for ever blest,

Who gives me sweet advice by night.
5 I set Him still before mine eyes:
At my right-hand he stands prepar'd,
To keep my soul from all surprise,
And be my everlasting guard.

THIRD PART. (vv. 8-11.) c. M.
Confidence in Death.

'I

SET the Lord before my sight,"
The dying Saviour said:

"Near my right-hand my Guardian stands,
When sinking midst the dead.

2 "My heart is glad, my soul exults, My flesh in hope shall rest:

3

Soon shall my frame triumphant wake,
With life and glory blest!

"Not hell detains my raptur'd soul,
His love shall set me free:

Thy Just, thy Holy One shall rise,
Nor e'er corruption see.

4" Up from the tomb, the path of life
My faithful God shall show:
At thy right-hand, before thy face,
Eternal pleasures flow!"

PSALM XVII.

FIRST PART. (vv. 5-9.) C. M.
Prayer for Divine Protection.

I LORD, on thine arm my hopes confide :
Uphold me in thy ways,

Lest my deluded footsteps slide,
Unaided by thy grace.

2 Up to thy throne my prayer ascends,
For Thou my prayer wilt hear:
There will I wait, whence Mercy bends
Its oft indulgent ear.

3 O Thou, my God, exalted high!
The men who fear thy name,

Amidst their foes on Thee rely,
And Thee their Refuge claim.

4 How wide, how vast, thy mercies flow!
Thy promis'd grace is sure:

To me thy wond'rous kindness show,
And fix my hopes secure.

5 To me such watchful care afford,
As quickly guards the eye:
Extend thy wings, all-gracious Lord!
Safe in their shade I'll lie.

6. By foes encompass'd and opprest,
Malignant to destroy,

On Thee, with stedfast hope, I'll rest,
Till vict'ry crown my joy.

SECOND PART. (vv. 13-15.)

L.M.

Forsaking the World, and hoping for Glory.

LORD, I am thine; but Thou wilt prove
My faith, my patience, and my love:
When spiteful men against me join,
They are the sword, the hand is thine.
2 Their hope and portion lie below;
'Tis all the happiness they know;
'Tis all they seek: they take their shares,
And leave the rest among their heirs.
3 What sinners value, I resign:

Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mine :
I shall behold thy blissful face,"
And stand complete in righteousness.
4 This life's a dream, an empty show;
But the bright world to which I go
Hath joys substantial and sincere:
When shall I wake, and find me there?
5 O glorious hour! O blest abode !
I shall be near and like my God;
And flesh and sin no more controul
The sacred pleasures of the soul.
6 My flesh shall slumber in the ground,
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound;
Then burst the chains, with sweet surprise,
And in my Saviour's image rise.

PSALM XVIII.

This Psalm, as we are informed by the Sacred History, 2 Sam. xxii. 1, was composed and sung by David, "in the day that the Lord had delivered him ont of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul." The citations

made from it in the New Testament shew that the Kingdom of Messiah is now pointed at, under that of David. It is a Triumphal Hymn, to be sung by th Church, risen and victorious in Christ her Head.

FIRST PART. (vv. 1—3.). L. M.
The Power and Grace of God.

I WITH my whole heart I'll love thy Name,
Jehovah! Thee my Strength I claim;

My Rock, my Fortress, where I fly;
My great Deliv'rer, always nigh.
2 My God! thy names of grace impart,
The Strength that animates my heart:
In Thee I trust, nor danger dread,
Thine arm the Buckler o'er my head.
3 What can thy Horn of Power controul,
Which wrought Salvation for my soul?
Thou the High Tower of my defence;
Nor earth nor hell shall pluck me thence.
4 Thou, gracious Lord, hast heard my cries:
Beyond our praise thy glories rise:

1

And still shall prayer my lips employ,
Till Thou shalt every foe destroy.

SECOND PART. (vv. 9-11.) C. M.
God appearing in Majesty.

THE

Lord descended from above,
And bow'd the heavens most high;
And underneath his feet he cast
The darkness of the sky.

2 On Cherubim and Seraphim
Full royally he rode,

And on the wings of mighty winds
Came flying all abroad.

3 He sat serene upon the floods,
Their fury to restrain;

1

And He, as Sovereign Lord and King,
For evermore shall reign.

THIRD PART. (vv. 16-19.)

P. M.

Deliverance of Messiah from his Enemies and the Grave

DESCENDING from above,

The Lord his Servant saves:

Messiah, wond'rous love!

Surmounts the num'rous waves:

From the deep floods, Where sorrows roll,

Th' Almighty arm

Withdrew his soul