2 If you desire a length of days,
And peace to crown your mortal state,
Restrain your feet from impious ways,
Your lips from slander and deceit.
HYMN 214. P. M.
Deliverance and Protection. Ps. xl.
ITH patient hope my God I sought;
He to his suppliant's want his thought
In happiest hour applied:
He from the dark and miry pit,
High on the rock has rais'd my feet;
Nor fear my steps to slide.
2 His praise inspires my grateful tongue,
And dictates to my lips a song
Ia strains unheard before.
Adiniring crowds his work shall see,
Their strength on him repose with me,
With me his name adore.
3 Blest, who in thee, great God! confide,
Nor madly trust the arm of pride,
And helps that but betray.
Thy mercies, Lord, all praise surmount,
Nor numbers can their sum recount,
Nor words their worth display.
-4 With strong desire my bosom glows
Thy truth and mercy to disclose,
In man's relief display'd:
O! let that truth dispel my wo,
That mercy, Lord, around me throw
Its all-protecting shade.
HYMN 215. C. M.
Absence from God. Ps. xliii.
THOU, whose tender mercy hears
Contrition's humble sigh;
Whose hand, indulgent, wipes the tears
From sorrow's weeping eye!
2 See! low before thy throne of grace,
A wretched wand'rer mourn;
Hast thou not bid me seek thy face?
Hast thou not said, return?
3 Absent from thee, my guide, my light!
Without one cheering ray ;
Through dangers, fears, and gloomy night,
How desolate my way!
4 O shine on this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine
;
And let thy healing voice impart
A taste of joys divine!
5 Thy presence only can bestow
Delights which never cloy :
Be this my solace here below,
And my eternal joy!
HYMN 216. L. M.
God unchangeably good. Ps. lxxvi.
HIS God is the God we adore,
The faithful, unchangeable friend,
Whose love is as great as his pow'r,
And knows neither measure nor end.
2 'Tis he is the first and the last,
Whose hand shall conduct us safe home;
We'll praise him for all that is past,
And trust him for all that's to come.
Come, thou eternal Lord,
By heav'n and earth ador'd,
Our pray'r attend,
Come, and thy people bless;
Give thy good word success;
Make thine own holiness
On us descend!
3 Be thou our comforter;
Thy sacred witness bear
In this glad hour;
Omnipotent thou art:
Then rule in every heart,
And ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of pow'r !
O holy One! to thee
Eternal praises be
Hence, evermore !
Thy sov'reign majesty
May we in glory see,
And to eternity
Idolatry reproved. Ps. cxv.
OT to our names, thou only just and true,
Not to our worthless names is glory due:
Thy pow'r and grace, thy truth and justice claim
Immortal honours to thy sov'reign name;
Shine through the earth, from heav'n thy blest abode ;
Nor let the heathen say, where is your God?
2 Heav'n is thy higher court; there stands thy throne,
And thro' the lower worlds thy will is done!
God fram'd this earth; the starry heavens he spread ;-
But fools adore the gods their hands have made ;
The kneeling crowd, with looks devout, behold
Their silver saviours, and their saints of gold.
3 Be heav'n and earth amaz'd! "Tis hard to say,
Which are more stupid, or their gods, or they;
O christian, trust the Lord; he hears and sees;
He knows thy sorrows, and restores thy peace;
His worship does a thousand comforts yield;
He is thy help, and he thy heav'nly shield.
HYMN 219. C. M.
Prudence. Ps. cxx.
"TIS a lovely thing to see
The man of prudent heart! Whose thoughts, and lips, and life agree To act a useful part.
2 When envy, strife, and war begin
In little angry souls;
Mark bow the sons of peace come in,
And quench the kindling coals!
3 Their minds are humble, mild, and meek,
No furious passions rise;
Nor malice moves their lips to speak,
Nor pride exalts their
4 Their lives are prudence mix'd with love;
Good works employ their day;
They join the serpent with the dove,
But cast the sting away.
5 Such was the Saviour of mankind;
Such pleasures he pursu'd;
is manners gentle and refin'd,
His soul divinely good.
HYMN 220. C. M.
Victory from God. Ps. cxxiv.
HAD not the God of truth and love,
When hosts against us rose,
Display'd his vengeance from above, And crush'd the conqu❜ring foes: 2 Their armies, like a raging flood, Had swept the guardless land,
Destroy'd on earth his bless'd abode,
And whelm'd our feeble band.
3 But safe beneath his spreading shield
His sons securely rest,
Defy the dangers of the field,
And bare the fearless breast.
4 And now our souls shall bless the Lord,
Who broke the deadly snare:
Who sav'd us from the murd'ring sword,
And made our lives his care.
5 Our help is in Jehovah's name,
Who form'd the heav'ns above:
He that supports their wond'rous frame,
Can guard his church by love.
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