3 Thou wast my guardian in the field,
When enemies to battle led;

Thy mighty arm hath prov'd my shield,
And cover'd my defenceless head.

4 Thou wilt the cause of truth maintain,
The poor avenge, the helpless guard;
The proud shall fall, nor rise again,
The sinner's portion and reward.
5 Thy foes shall all be put to shame,
And sink to shades of endless night;
The righteous praise Thy glorious name,
And stand accepted in Thy sight.

PSALM 141.

(7,7,7,7.)

This psalm of David was probably composed when he was an exile from the service of the sanctuary, and fled for protection to Achish, hing of Gath. Surrounded by idolators, he prays for preserva. tion, and an holy restraint over his words and actions.

1 HEAR, O LORD; on Thee I call;
Prostrate at Thy feet I fall;

Oh, make haste, to Thee I cry;
Hear my voice; my foes are nigh.

2 Let my pray'r accepted rise,
As the evening sacrifice;
Lo, to Thee my hands I raise,
Incense offer'd to Thy praise.
3 Set a watch before my mouth,
Guard my lips to speak the truth ;

To Thy Law incline my heart,
That I may from sin depart.
4 When my heart inclines to stray
From Thy good and perfect way,
Let the righteous me reprove
With their precious balm of love.
5 Keep me from each tempting snare,
Make and keep my conscience clear;
While surrounding foes despise,
On Thy truth I fix my eyes.
6 All my trust is in Thy word;
Cast not out my soul, O LORD:
Guard me till the danger's past;
Oh, receive my soul at last.

PSALM 142.

(C.M.) A prayer of David in the cave of Adullam, whither he fled from Saul and the Philistines, 1 Sam. xxii. 1. expressive of perplexity, supplication for deliverance, and confidence in GOD.

1 PROSTRATE before JEHOVAH's throne, With earnest voice I cried;

My supplication I made known,

Oppress'd with grief I sigh'd.

2 My spirit sunk, o'erwhelm'd with grief,
No friend remain'd for me;

I look'd around, but no relief,
No refuge could I see.

3 Friendless, I cried to Thee, O Lord,
Thou refuge of my soul;

Thou art my portion, and Thy word
Can all my fears controul.

4 Hear my complaint; to Thee I cry;
Deliv'rance deign to send ;

My foes are stronger far than I;
Thou art my only friend.

5 Forth from the gloom my spirit bring,
That I may praise Thy name;
Assembled saints Thy praise shall sing,
Thy bounteous grace the theme.

PSALM 142. II. Metre.

(S. M.)

TO GOD, with mournful voice,
In deep distress I pray'd;
Made Him the umpire of my cause,
My wrongs before Him laid.

2 I look'd, but found no friend
To own me in distress;

All refuge fail'd, and no man came
To pity or redress.

3 To Thee, my GoD, I pray'd;
Thou, LORD, my refuge art;
My portion in the land of life,
Till life itself depart. ·

4 That I may praise Thy name,
Help to Thy servant bring;
And of Thy kind regard to me
Assembled saints shall sing,

A

Commonly called the seventh Penitential Psalm. The Psalmist confesseth his sin, and devoutly prays for remission, consolation, and deliverance.

10 LORD, incline Thy gracious ear,
My supplication deign to hear;

In mercy, truth, and righteousness,
Answer my pray'r, 'l hy servant bless.

2 Shoulds't Thou in solemn judgment come,
Awful must be the sinner's doom;
None can Thy scrutiny abide,
Nor in Thy sight be justified.

3 My spirit, LORD, within me faints;
My heart pours out its sad complaints;
Darkness and woe my soul o'erspread,
As those long number'd with the dead.

4 I call to mind the days of old,
Thy mercies past my thoughts behold;
Memorials of Thy gracious hand:
Revive me in this thirsty land.

5 My spirit fails; in mercy hear;
Hide not Thy face; dispel my fear;
Thy loving-kindness may I see;
O LORD, I lift my soul to Thee.

6 Teach me Thy way; Thou art my God;
Conduct me to Thy blest abode ;
May Thy good Spirit deign to bless,
And guide in paths of righteousness.

Composed by king David after his accession to the crown. This psalm celebrates the condescending goodness of GOD to frail man, abounds with thanksgiving, and concludes with petitions for temporal and spiritual mercies.

IBLEST be JEHOVAH, mighty LORD,

Through whom the faithful wield the sword, And all their conquests gain;

Guarded by His almighty pow'r,

Their fortress, shield, defence, and tow'r,
They rise with Him to reign.

2 LORD, what is man! before Thine eyes
The son of man consumes and dies,
The creature of a day!
Transient as chaff before the wind;
How soon cut down! no trace we find;
A shadow pass'd away.

3 Bow down Thy heav'ns, O LORD, come down ;
The billows swell; Thine arm alone
Can stay the impetuous wave:
O'erwhelming waters sink my soul;
Stretch forth Thy hand, my foes controul,
Omnipotent to save.

4 Awake, my heart; awake, my tongue;
Sing to the LORD a new-made song;
Salvation He hath giv'n:

Our garners full our praise demands,
Perpetual mercies fill our hands;

Praise ye the LORD of heav'n.

5 May future sons and daughters rise, Train'd in succession for the skies, An holy offspring found!

K