The Psalms of David Part 44

7 "Touch mine anointed, and my arm "Shall soon revenge the wrong: "The man that does my prophets harm Shall know their G.o.d is strong."

8 Then let the world forbear its rage, Nor put the church in fear: Israel must live thro' every age, And be th' Almighty's care.]

PAUSE I.

9 When Pharaoh dar'd to vex the saints, And thus provok'd their G.o.d, Moses was sent at their complaints, Arm'd with his dreadful rod.

10 He call'd for darkness; darkness came Like an o'erwhelming flood; He turn'd each lake and every stream To lakes and streams of blood.

11 He gave the sign, and noisome flies Thro' the whole country spread; And frogs, in croaking armies, rise About the monarch's bed.

12 Thro' fields, and towns, and palaces, The tenfold vengeance flew; Locusts in swarms devour'd their trees, And hail their cattle slew.

13 Then by an angel's midnight stroke, The flower of Egypt dy'd; The strength of every house was broke, Their glory and their pride.

14 Now let the world forbear its rage, Nor put the church in fear; Israel must live thro' every age, And be th' Almighty's care.

PAUSE II.

15 Thus were the tribes from bondage brought, And left the hated ground; Each some Egyptian spoils had got, And not one feeble found.

16 The Lord himself chose out their way, And mark'd their journies right, Gave them a leading cloud by day, A fiery guide by night.

17 They thirst; and waters from the rock In rich abundance flow, And following still the course they took, Ran all the desert thro'.

18 O wondrous stream O blessed type Of ever-flowing grace!

So Christ our rock maintains our life Thro' all this wilderness.

19 Thus guarded by th' Almighty hand The chosen tribes possest Canaan the rich, the promis'd land, And there enjoy'd their rest.

20 Then let the world forbear its rage, The church renounce her fear; Israel must live thro' every age, And be th' Almighty's care.

Psalm 106:1. 1-5. First Part.

Praise to G.o.d; or, Communion with saints.

1 To G.o.d, the great, the ever blest, Let songs of honour be addrest: His mercy firm for ever stands; Give him the thanks his love demands.

2 Who knows the wonders of thy ways?

Who shall fulfil thy boundless praise?

Blest are the souls that fear thee still, And pay their duty to thy will.

3 Remember what thy mercy did For Jacob's race, thy chosen seed; And with the same salvation bless The meanest suppliant of thy grace.

4 O may I see thy tribes rejoice, And aid their triumphs with my voice!

This is my glory, Lord, to be Join'd to thy saints, and near to thee.

Psalm 106:2. 7 8 12-14 43-48. 2d Part.

Israel punished and pardoned; or, G.o.d's unchangeable love.

1 G.o.d of eternal love, How fickle are our ways!

And yet how oft did Israel prove Thy constancy of grace!

2 They saw thy wonders wrought, And then thy praise they sung; But soon thy works of power forgot, And murmur'd with their tongue.

3 Now they believe his word, While rocks with rivers flow; Now with their l.u.s.ts provoke the Lord, And he reduc'd them low.

4 Yet when they mourn'd their faults, He hearken'd to their groans, Brought his own covenant to his thoughts, And call'd them still his sons.

5 Their names were in his book, He sav'd them from their foes; Oft he chastis'd, but ne'er forsook The people that he chose.

6 Let Israel bless the Lord, Who lov'd their ancient race; And Christians join the solemn word Amen, to all the praise.

Psalm 107:1. First Part.

Israel led to Canaan, and Christians to Heaven.

1 Give thanks to G.o.d; he reigns above, Kind are his thoughts, his Name is love; His mercy ages past have known, And ages long to come shall own.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord The wonders of his grace record; Israel, the nation whom he chose, And rescu'd from their mighty foes.

3 [When G.o.d's almighty arm had broke Their fetters and th' Egyptian yoke, They trac'd the desert, wandering round A wild and solitary ground.

4 There they could find no leading road, Nor city for a fix'd abode; Nor food, nor fountain to a.s.suage Their burning thirst, or hunger's rage.]

5 In their distress to G.o.d they cry'd, G.o.d was their Saviour and their Guide; He led their march far wandering round, 'Twas the right path to Canaan's ground.

6 Thus when our first release we gain From sin's old yoke, and Satan's chain, We have this desert world to pa.s.s, A dangerous and a tiresome place.

7 He feeds and clothes us all the way, He guides our footsteps lest we stray, He guards us with a powerful hand And brings us to the heavenly land.

8 O let the saints with joy record The truth and goodness of the Lord!

How great his works! how kind his ways!

Let every tongue p.r.o.nounce his praise.

Psalm 107:2. Second Part.

Correction for sin, and release by prayer.

1 From age to age exalt his Name, G.o.d and his grace are still the same; He fills the hungry soul with food, And feeds the poor with every good.

2 But if their hearts rebel and rise Against the G.o.d that rules the skies, If they reject his heavenly word, And slight the counsels of the Lord,

3 He'll bring their spirits to the ground, And no deliverer shall be found; Laden with grief they waste their breath In darkness and the shades of death,

4 Then to the Lord they raise their cries, He makes the dawning light arise, And scatters all that dismal shade, That hung so heavy round their head.