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'Fly like a tim'rous trembling dove,
"To distant woods or mountains fly."
2 If government be all destroy'd,
(That firm foundation of our peace)
And violence make justice void,
Where shall the righteous seek redress?
3 The Lord in heav'n hath fix'd his throne,
His eye surveys the world below;
To him all mortal things are known,
His eyelids search our spirits through.
4 If he afflict his saints so far,

To prove their love, and try their grace,
What must the bold transgressors fear?
His soul abhors their ways.

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5 On impious wretches he shall rain
Tempests of brimstone, fire and death;
Such as he kindled on the plain
Of Sodom, with his angry breath.
6 The righteous Lord loves righteous souls,
Whose thoughts and actions are sincere,
And with a gracious eye beholds

The men that his own image bear.

PSALM 12. First Part. L. M.
Hope in evil times.

For vice and vanity prevail;
The godly perish in the grave,
The just depart, the faithful fail.

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2 The whole discourse, when neighbors meet, Is fill'd with trifles, loose and vain; Their lips are flatt'ry and deceit, And their proud language is profane. 3 But lips that with deceit abound Shall not maintain their triumph long; The God of vengeance will confound The flatt'ring and blaspheming torgue. 4 "Yet shall our words be free," they cry; "Our tongue shall be controll'd by none: "Where is the Lord, will ask us why? "Or say, our lips are not our own?" 5 The Lord, who sees the poor opprest, And hears th' oppressor's haughty strain, Will rise to give his children rest, Nor shall they trust his word in vain. 6 Thy word, O Lord, tho' often try'd, Void of deceit shall still appear;

Not silver, sev'n times purify'd

From dross and mixture, shines so clear.
7 Thy grace shall in the darkest hour
Defend the holy soul from harm:
Tho', when the vilest men have pow'r,
On ev'ry side will sinners swarm.

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PSALM 12. Second Part. C. M.
The same.

LORD, when iniquities abound,

And blasphemy grows bold,
When faith is hardly to be found,
And love is waxing cold:

2 Is not thy chariot hast'ning on?
Hast thou not giv'n the sign?
May we not trust and live, upon
A promise so divine?

3 "Now," saith the Lord, "Now will I rise, "And make oppressors flee;

"I will appear to their surprise,
"And set my servants free."

4. Thy word, like silver scv'n times try'd,
Thro' ages shall endure:

The men that in thy truth confide
Shall find thy promise sure.

PSALM 13. L. M.

Pleading with God under desertion.

1 HOW long, O Lord, shall I complain,

Like one that seeks his God in vain?

Wilt thou thy face for ever hide?
Shall I still pray and be deny'd?

2 Shall I for ever be forgot,

As one whom thou regardest not?
Still shall my soul thine absence mourn?
And still despair of thy return?

3 How long shall my poor troubled breast
Be with these anxious thoughts opprest,
And Satan, my malicious foe,
Rejoice to see me sunk so low?

4 Hear, Lord, and grant me quick relief
Before my death conclude my grier,
If thou withhold thy heav'nly light,
I sleep in everlasting night.

5 How would the pow'rs of darkness boast,
Could but one praying soul be lost?
But I have trusted in thy grace,
And shall again behold thy face

6 Whate'er my fears or foes suggest,
Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest:
My heart shall feel thy love, and raise
My cheerful voice to songs of praise.

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PSALM 14. First Part. C. M.
Universal depravity.

NOOLS in their hearts believe and say, "That all religion's vain; "There is no God that reigns on high, "Or minds th' affairs of men.

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2 From thoughts so dreadful and profane
Corrupt discourse proceeds;

And in their impious hands are found
Abominable deeds.

3 The Lord, from his celestial throne,
Look'd down on things below,
To find the man that sought his grace,
Or did his justice know.

4 By nature all are gone astray,

Their practice all the same;

There's none that fears his Maker's hand, There's none that loves his name.

5 Their tongues are us❜d to speak deceit,
Their slanders never cease;

How swift to mischief are their feet!
Nor know the paths of peace.

6 Such seeds of sin (that bitter root)
In ev'ry heart are found;

Nor can they bear diviner fruit,
'Till grace refine the ground.

PSALM 14. Second Part. C. M.
The folly of Infidels.

RE sinners now so senseless grown,
That they the saints devour

And never worship at thy throne,
Nor fear thine awful pow'r?

2 Great God, appear to their surprise,
Reveal thy dreadful name;

Let them no more thy wrath despise,
Nor turn our hope to shame.

3 Dost thou not dwell among the just?
And yet our foes deride,

That we should make thy name our trust: Great God, confound their pride.

4 Oh that the joyful day were come To finish our distress!

When God shall bring his children home,
Our songs shall never cease.

PSALM 15. L. M.

The character of a saint; or the qualifications of a Christian. HO shall ascend thy heav'nly place,

1 WHGreat God, and dwell before thy face?

The man that minds religion now,

And lives and walks by faith below:

2 Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean;
Whose lips still speak the thing they mean;
No slanders dwell upon his tongue;
He hates to do his neighbour wrong.
3 Scarce will he trust an ill report,
Nor vent it to his neighbour's hurt;
Sinners of state he can despise,
But saints are honour'd in his eyes.
4 Firm to his word he ever stood,
And always makes his promise good,
Nor dares to change the thing he swears,
Whatever pain or loss he bears.

5 He never deals in bribing gold,
And mourns that justice should be sold:
While others scorn and wrong the poor,
Sweet charity attends his door.

6 He loves his enemies, and prays
For those that curse him to his face;
And doth to all men still the same
That he would hope or wish from them.
7 Yet, when his holiest works are done,
His soul depends on grace alone:
This is the man thy face shall see,
And dwell forever, Lord, with thee.

PSALM 16. First Part. L. M.

The humble Christian rejoicing in the communion of

saints.

1 PRESERVE me, Lord, in time of need,
in te fee,

But have no merits there to plead ;
My goodness cannot reach to thee.
2 Oft have my heart and tongue confess'd,
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 heav'nly birth,
Whose thoughts and language are divine.
PSALM 16. Second Part. L. M.
The preciousness of Christ.

1

OW fast their guilt and sorrows rise,

H 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 hath offer'd up
Jesus his best beloved Son.
3 His love is my perpetual feast;
By day nis counsels guide me right:
And be his name for ever blest,
Who gives me sweet advice by night.
4 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.

1

PSALM 16. Third Part. L. M.
Hope in the Resurrection.

WHEN

HEN God is nigh, my faith is strong;
His arm is my almighty prop:

Be glad my heart, rejoice my tongue;
My dying flesh shall rest in hope.

2 Tho' in the dust I lay my head,
Yet, gracious God, thou wilt not leave
My soul for ever with the dead,

For Christ hath triumph'd o'er the grave.

3 My flesh shall thy first call obey,
Shake off the dust, and rise on high:
Then shalt thou lead the wond'rous way,
Up to thy throne above the sky.

4 There streams of endless pleasure flow;
And full discov'ries of thy grace

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(Which we but tasted here below) Spread heav'nly joys thro' all the place.

PSALM 16. Fourth Part. C. M.

Divine goodness and counsel.

AVE me, O Lord, from ev'ry foe;
In thee my trust I place :

Tho' all the good that I can do,
Can ne'er deserve thy grace.

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