PSALM CXXVIII.

(C. M.) A promise of the blessing of JEHOVAH upon the man who feareth him and walketh in his holy ways, in his person, family, and the prosperity of Zion.

1 BLEST is the man who fears the LORD,
Who walks His holy ways;

GOD his obedience will reward,
And bless with peace his days.
2 O bappy man! how blest of Heav'n
The labour of his hand!

How sweet the gifts so freely giv'n,
Which constant praise demand!

3 Oh that our families may rise
In unity and love;

As tender plants, meet for the skies,
To part no more above.

4 Thus shall the man on earth be blest,
Who fears the mighty LORD;

And when he soars to endless rest,
Be blest with full reward.

5 Eternal GOD, Thy children bless,
And let thy Church increase

In faith, truth, grace, and righteousness,
And everlasting peace.

PSALM CXXIX.

(C. M.)

The Church recollects her repeated trials and deliverances; and foretels the final ruin of her enemies.

1

MANY

ANY a time, from early youth,
Have enemies assail'd;

But through Thy help, O GOD of truth,
Have never yet prevail'd.

2 The scourge of the malignant tongue,
Envious without control,

Like painful furrows, deep and long,
Pierc'd mine afflicted soul.

3 O righteous LORD, Thy mighty pow'r,
Subdued their hostile rage;

Broke all their snares;-our shield, our tow'r,
When wars incessant wage.

4 So Sion's foes shall soon decay,
Fall'n prostrate at her feet;
As with'ring grass that fades away,
Consum'd by scorching heat.

5 No traveller that passeth by

Shall pause their work to bless;
Forgotten and unknown they die
In darkness and distress,

6 The mem'ry of the just is blest;
GOD will their works record;
From all their labours they shall rest,
And reap a full reward,

PSALM CXXX.

(L.M.)

This is the sixth of those styled Penitential Psalms. It contains a complaint of great distress, a confession of sin, and an act of faith in the promised Redemption.

1

IN

N scenes of woe, in depths of grief,
From Thee, O LORD, I sought relief;

LOBD, hear my voice, my pray❜r attend,
Mercy is Thine, deliv'rance send.

2 If THOU, omniscient, should'st survey
The errors of one passing day,
Who can the scrutiny abide ?
Or, how shall man be justified?

3 But mercy pleads the sinner's cause,
That man may fear and learn Thy Laws;
Mercy, Thy grand prerogative;
Thou, LORD, art ready to forgive.

4 As guards, who thro' the shades of niglit,
Watch for the dawn of morning light,
So waits my soul for Thee, O LORD;
My only hope is in Thy word.

5 Hope in the LORD, and patient wait,
A suppliant at His mercy's gate;
Our God is mighty to redeem;
O Israel, hope and trust in HIM.

1

PSALM CXXX. 11 Metre! (CM.)

UT of the depth of self-despair,

OUT

Help us, O LORD, to cry,

Our misery mark, attend our pray'r,
And bring salvation nigh.

2 If Thou art rig'rously severe,
Who may the test abide?

Oh, where shall sinful man appear,
Or how be justified?

3 But oh, forgiveness is with Thee,
That sinners may adore,

With filial fear Thy goodness see,
And never grieve Thee more.

4 Wait then, my soul, confide in GoD,
Mercy with Him remains;

Plenteous redemption, bought with blood,
To wash out all our stai.is.

5 His people GOD Himself shall clear;
Let Israel hope in Him;

He will give strength and righteousness,
And from all sin redeem,

PSALM CXXXI. (Old 113. 8, 8, 6.)

A description of true humility, and resignation to the will of God.

1

LORD, teach my heart to Thee to bow,
Content what is reveal'd to know,
And future leave to Thee;
Patient, and teachable, and mild,
Submissive as a little child,
In meek simplicity.

2 In myst'ries for this state too high,
Oh, may I not presume to pry,
But on Thy word recline:
Be Thou my trust, and may I be
For evermore resign'd to Thee,
Here, and hereafter Thine.

PSALM CXXXII.

(L.M.)

Appointed by the Church for the festival of the Incarnation. It describes the exultation of the faithful upon the glad tidings that God would dwell among them. The 8th, 9th and 10th verses, were used by King Solomon at the dedication of the temple.2 Chron. vi. 41, &c.

1

A1

RISE, O LORD, into Thy rest,

Thy presence makes Thy temples blest;
Come, with Thy holy influence come,
Thy living temples make Thy home.

2 Clothe all Thy priests with righteousness,
With shouts of joy Thy servants bless;
Within these courts arise and shino
With beams of majesty divine.

3 Thy face, O LORD, turn not away,
Thy love, Thy truth, Thy pow'r display;
Thy Zion deign to make Thy rest,
So shal Thy name be ever blest.

4 Bless her provisions with increase,
With holy fruits of heav'nly peace;
Her poor be satisfied, and fed
With food divine, with living bread.
5 MESSIAH here shall ever reign,
His sceptre ever shall remain;

His foes shall sink to endless shame,
His saints with joy His praise proclaim.

6 Arise, O glorious King, arise,
Zion to Thee lifts up her eyes;
Mercy and truth adorn Thy throne,
Thy sacred head a glorious crown.