CLXIII.

I

B

The Book of Nature and Scripture.

EHOLD the lofty sky,

Declares its maker God,

And all his starry works on high,
Proclaim his pow'r abroad.

2 The darkness and the light,
Still keep their course the same,
While night to day, and day to night,
Divinely teach his name.

3 In ev'ry diff'rent land,

Their gen❜ral voice is known :
They fhew the wonders of his hand,
And orders of his throne.

(7 Not honey to the taste,
Affords fo much delight,

Nor gold that has the furnace pafs'd,
So much allures the fight.

8 While of thy works I fing,
Thy glory to proclaim;`

Accept the praise, my God, my king,
In my redeemer's name.)

CLXIV. God our Shepherd.

M

Y shepherd is the living Lord;

Now shall my wants be well fupply'd;

His providence and holy word,

Become my fafety and my guide.

2 In paftures where falvation grows,
He makes me feed, he makes me reft;
There living water gently flows,
And all the food divinely bleft.

3 My wand'ring feet his ways mistake,
But he restores my soul to peace ;
And leads me for his mercy's fake
In the fair paths of righteousness.

4 Tho' I walk thro' the gloomy vale,
Where death and all it's terrors are ;
My heart and hope fhall never fail,
For God my Shepherd's with me there.

5

Amidst the darkness, and the deeps, Thou art my comfort and my stay : Thy ftaff fupports my feeble fteps,

Thy road directs my doubtful way.

6 The fons of earth and fons of hell
Gaze at thy goodness, and repine
To fee thy table spread so well,
With living bread, and chearing wine.

7 How I rejoice when on my head,
Thy fpirit condefcends to reft;
'Tis a divine anointing shed,

Like oil of gladness at a feaft!

8 Surely the mercies of the Lord,
Attend his hou hold all their days :
There will I dwell to hear his word.
To feek his face, and fing his praise.

CLXV. Self Examination, or,
Evidences of Grace.

GU

UIDE me, O Lord, and prove my ways And try my reigns, and try my heart; My faith upon thy promife ftays,

Nor from thy law my feet depart.

2 I hate to walk, I hate to fit,
With men of vanity and lies;
The fcoffer and the hypocrite,
Are the abhorrence of my eyes.

Amongst

3 Amongst thy faints will I appear
With hands well wash'd in innocence;
But when I ftand before thy bar.
The blood of Christ is my defence.

4 I love thy habitation Lord,

The temple where thy honours dwell, There fhall I hear thy holy word,

And there thy works of wonders tell.

5 Let not my foul be join'd at last,
With men of treachery and blood,
Since I my days on earth have past
Among the faints and near my God.

CLXVI. The Church is our Delight and Safety.

'T

HE Lord of glory is my light,
And my falvation too;

God is my ftrength, nor will I fear
What all my foes can do.

2 One privilege my heart defires;
O grant me an abode

Among the churches of thy faints,
The temples of my God.

3 There shall I offer my requests,
And fee thy beauty still;
Shall hear thy meffages of love

And there enquire thy will.

4

When troubles rise, and storms appear,
There may his children hide;
God has a strong pavilion, where
He makes my foul abide.

5

Now fhall my head be lifted high

Above my foes around;

And songs of joy and victory ;

Within thy temple found.

CLXVII. Free Pardon and fincere

'H

Obedience.

APPY the man to whom his God,
No more imputes his fin,
But wash'd in the Redeemer's blood,
Hath made his garments clean!

2 Happy, beyond expreffion he
Whofe debts are thus difcharg'd;
And from the guilty bondage free,
He feels his foul enlarg'd.

3 His fpirit hates deceit and lyes,
His words are full fincere:

He guards his heart, he guards his eyes,
To keep his confcience clear.

4 While I my inward guilt fuppreft,
No quiet could I find;

Thy wrath lay burning in my breaft,

And rack'd my tortur'd mind.