The Psalms of David Part 18

4 I'll spread his works of grace abroad; The saints with joy shall hear, And sinners learn to make my G.o.d Their only hope and fear.

5 How many are thy thoughts of love!

Thy mercies, Lord, how great!

We have not words nor hours enough Their numbers to repeat.

6 When I'm afflicted, poor and low, And light and peace depart, My G.o.d beholds my heavy woe, And bears me on his heart.

Psalm 40:2. 6-9. Second Part. C. M.

The incarnation and sacrifice of Christ.

1 Thus saith the Lord, "Your work is vain, "Give your burnt offerings o'er, "In dying goats and bullocks slain "My soul delights no more."

2 Then spake the Saviour, "Lo, I'm here, "My G.o.d, to do thy will; "'Whate'er thy sacred books declare, "Thy servant shall fulfil.

3 "Thy law is ever in my sight, "I keep it near my heart; "Mine ears are open'd with delight "To what thy lips impart."

4 And see the bless'd Redeemer comes, Th' eternal Son appears, And at th' appointed time a.s.sumes The body G.o.d prepares.

5 Much he reveal'd his Father's grace, And much his truth he shew'd, And preach'd the way of righteousness, Where great a.s.semblies stood.

6 His Father's honour touch'd his heart, He pity'd sinners' cries, And, to fulfil a Saviour's part, Was made a sacrifice,

PAUSE.

7 No blood of beasts on altars shed Could wash the conscience clean, But the rich sacrifice he paid Atones for all our sin.

8 Then was the great salvation spread, And Satan's kingdom shook; Thus by the woman's promis'd seed The serpent's head was broke.

Psalm 40:3. 5-10. L. M.

Christ our sacrifice.

1 The wonders, Lord, thy love has wrought, Exceed our praise, surmount our thought; Should I attempt the long detail, My speech would faint, my numbers fail.

2 No blood of beasts on altars spilt, Can cleanse the souls of men from guilt, But thou hast set before our eyes An all-sufficient sacrifice.

3 Lo! thine eternal Son appears, To thy designs he bows his ears, a.s.sumes a body, well prepar'd, And well performs a work so hard.

4 "Behold, I come," (the Saviour cries, With love and duty in his eyes) "I come to bear the heavy load "Of sins, and do thy will, my G.o.d.

5 "'Tis written in thy great decree, "'Tis in thy book foretold of me, "I must fulfil the Saviour's part, "And, lo! thy law is in my heart!

6 "I'll magnify thy holy law, "And rebels to obedience draw, "'When on my cross I'm lifted high, "Or to my crown above the sky.

7 "The Spirit shall descend, and show "What thou hast done, and what I do; "The wond'ring world shall learn thy grace, "Thy wisdom and thy righteousness."

Psalm 41. 1 2 3.

Charity to the poor; or, Pity to the afflicted.

1 Blest is the man whose bowels move, And melt with pity to the poor, Whose soul, by sympathising love, Feels what his fellow-saints endure.

2 His heart contrives for their relief More good than his own hands can do; He, in the time of general grief, Shall find the Lord has bowels too.

3 His soul shall live secure on earth, With secret blessings on his head, When drought, and pestilence, and dearth Around him multiply their dead.

4 Or if he languish on his couch, G.o.d will p.r.o.nounce his sins forgiv'n, Will save him with a healing touch, Or take his willing soul to heaven.

Psalm 42:1. 1-5. First Part.

Desertion and hope; or, Complaint of absence from public wors.h.i.+p.

1 With earnest longings of the mind, My G.o.d, to thee I look; So pants the hunted hart to find And taste the cooling brook.

2 When shall I see thy courts of grace, And meet my G.o.d again?

So long an absence from thy face My heart endures with pain.

3 Temptations vex my weary soul, And tears are my repast; The foe insults without control, "And where's your G.o.d at last?"

4 'Tis with a mournful pleasure now I think on ancient days; Then to thy house did numbers go, And all our work was praise.

5 But why, my soul, sunk down so far Beneath this heavy load?

Why do my thoughts indulge despair, And sin against my G.o.d?

6 Hope in the Lord, whose mighty hand Can all thy woes remove; For I shall yet before him stand, And sing restoring love.

Psalm 42:2. 6-11. Second Part.

Melancholy thoughts reproved; or, Hope in afflictions.

1 My spirit sinks within me, Lord, But I will call thy name to mind, And times of past distress record, When I have found my G.o.d was kind.

2 Huge troubles, with tumultuous noise, Swell like a sea, and round me spread; Thy water-spouts drown all my joys, And rising waves roll o'er my head.

3 Yet will the Lord command his love, When I address his throne by day, Nor in the night his grace remove; The night shall hear me sing and pray.

4 I'll cast myself before his feet, And say "My G.o.d, my heavenly Rock, "Why doth thy love so long forget "The soul that groans beneath thy stroke?"

5 I'll chide my heart that sinks so low, Why should my soul indulge her grief?

Hope in the Lord, and praise him too, He is my rest, my sure relief.

6 Thy light and truth shall guide me still, Thy word shall my best thoughts employ, And lead me to thine heavenly hill, My G.o.d, my most exceeding Joy.

Psalm 44. 1 2 3 8 15-26.

The church's complaint in persecution.

1 Lord, we have heard thy works of old, Thy works of power and grace, When to our ears our fathers told The wonders of their days: