The Psalms of David Part 38

4 Their hands shall bear you, lest you fall And dash against the stones: Are they not servants at his call, And sent t' attend his sons?

5 Adders and lions ye shall tread; The tempter's wiles defeat; He that hath broke the serpent's head Puts him beneath your feet.

6 "Because on me they set their love "I'll save them," saith the Lord; "I'll bear their joyful souls above "Destruction and the sword.

7 "My grace shall answer when they call; "In trouble I'll be nigh; "My power shall help them when they fall, "And raise them when they die.

8 "Those that on earth my Name have known, "I'll honour them in heaven; "There my salvation shall be shown, "And endless life be given."

Psalm 92:1. First Part.

A psalm for the Lord's day.

1 Sweet is the work, my G.o.d my King, To praise thy Name, give thanks and sing, To shew thy love by morning light, And talk of all thy truth at night.

2 Sweet is the day of sacred rest, No mortal cares shall seize my breast; O may my heart in tune be found Like David's harp of solemn sound!

3 My heart shall triumph in my Lord, And bless his works, and bless his word; Thy works of grace, how bright they s.h.i.+ne!

How deep thy counsels! how divine!

4 Fools never raise their thoughts so high; Like brutes they live, like brutes they die; Like gra.s.s they flourish, till thy breath Blast them in everlasting death.

5 But I shall share a glorious part When grace hath well refin'd my heart, And fresh supplies of joy are shed Like holy oil, to cheer my head.

6 Sin, (my worst enemy before) Shall vex my eyes and ears no more; My inward foes shall all be slain, Nor Satan break my peace again.

7 Then shall I see, and hear, and know, All I desir'd or wish'd below; And every power find sweet employ In that eternal world of joy.

Psalm 92:2. 12 &c. Second Part.

The church is the garden of G.o.d.

1 Lord, 'tis a pleasant thing to stand In gardens planted by thine hand; Let me within thy courts be seen Like a young cedar fresh and green.

2 There grow thy saints in faith and love, Blest with thine influence from above; Not Lebanon with all its trees Yields such a comely sight as these.

3 The plants of grace shall ever live; (Nature decays but grace must thrive) Time, that doth all things else impair, Still makes them flourish strong and fair.

4 Laden with fruits of age, they shew The Lord is holy, just, and true; None that attend his gates shall find A G.o.d unfaithful or unkind.

Psalm 93:1. 1st Metre. As 100th Psalm.

The eternal and sovereign G.o.d.

1 Jehovah reigns; he dwells in light, Girded with majesty and might: The world created by his hands Still on its first foundation stands.

2 But ere this s.p.a.cious world was made, Or had its first foundations laid, Thy throne eternal ages stood, Thyself the ever-living G.o.d.

3 Like floods the angry nations rise And aim their rage against the skies; Vain floods that aim their rage so high!

At thy rebuke the billows die.

4 For ever shall thy throne endure; Thy promise stands for ever sure; And everlasting holiness Becomes the dwellings of thy grace.

Psalm 93:2. 2d M. As the old 50th Psalm.

The same.

1 The Lord of glory reigns; he reigns on high; His robes of state are strength and majesty: This wide creation rose at his command, Built by his word, and 'stablish'd by his hand: Long stood his throne ere he began creation, And his own G.o.dhead is the firm foundation.

2 G.o.d is th' eternal King: thy foes in vain Raise their rebellions to confound thy reign: In vain the storms, in vain the floods arise, And roar and toss their waves against the skies; Foaming at heaven, they rage with wild commotion, But heaven's high arches scorn the swelling ocean.

3 Ye tempests, rage no more; ye floods, be still; And the mad world submissive to his will: Built on his truth, his church must ever stand; Firm are his promises, and strong his hand: See his own sons, when they appear before him, Bow at his footstool, and with fear adore him.

Psalm 93:3. 3d M. As the old 122d Psalm.

The same.

1 The Lord Jehovah reigns And royal state maintains, His head with awful glories crown'd; Array'd in robes of light, Begirt with sovereign might, And rays of majesty around.

2 Upheld by thy commands The world securely stands; And skies and stars obey thy word: Thy throne was fix'd on high Before the starry sky; Eternal is thy kingdom, Lord.

3 In vain the noisy crowd, Like billows fierce and loud, Against thine empire rage and roar; In vain, with angry spite, The surly nations fight, And dash like waves against the sh.o.r.e.

4 Let floods and nations rage, And all their powers engage, Let swelling tides a.s.sault the sky; The terrors of thy frown Shall beat their madness down; Thy throne for ever stands on high.

5 Thy promises are true, Thy grace is ever new; There fix'd thy church shall ne'er remove: Thy saints with holy fear Shall in thy courts appear, And sing thine everlasting love.

Repeat the fourth stanza to complete the old tune.

Psalm 94:1. 1 2 7-14. First Part.

Saints chastised, and sinners destroyed; or, Instructive afflictions.

1 G.o.d, to whom revenge belongs, Proclaim thy truth aloud Let Sovereign Power redress our wrongs, Let justice smite the proud.

2 They say, "The Lord nor sees nor hears;"

When will the fools be wise!

Can he be deaf who form'd their ears?

Or blind, who made their eyes?

3 He knows their impious thoughts are vain, And they shall feel his power; His wrath shall pierce their souls with pain In some surprising hour.

4 But if thy saints deserve rebuke, Thou hast a gentler rod; Thy providences and thy book Shall make them know their G.o.d.

5 Blest is the man thy hands chastise, And to his duty draw; Thy scourges make thy children wise When they forget thy law.

6 But G.o.d will ne'er cast off his saints, Nor his own promise break; He pardons his inheritance For their Redeemer's sake.