The Church complaining of her enemies, and desponding, prays for protection, and through faith rejoiceth in tribulation.

1 WHY standest Thou far off, O LORD? Why dost Thou hide Thy face

My enemies increase, behold

Thy servant in distress.

2 How awful is the state of men,
Who dare deride Thy grace!
Thy sacred laws they set at nought,
And hate Thy holy ways!

3 Arise, O LORD, lift up Thy hand
From Thy eternal seat;
Command Thine enemies to fall,
Submissive at Thy feet.

4 Inspire the nations of the world
With reverence, awe, and fear;
Prepare our hearts to call on Thee,
And cause Thine ear to hear.
5 JEHOVAH reigns, for ever reigns!
The orphan, the oppress'd'
Shall learn to trust His sacred name,
With God's protection bless'd.

PSALM 11.

(C.M.)

David persecuted by Saul, encourages himself in God, His providence and justice.

1 IN Thee, O LORD, I put my trust,
Why, therefore should I flee?

While hosts of enemies conspire,
My refuge is in Thee.

2 Religion, law, and equity
They study to erase;

Distress and malice aim to crush
The basis of my peace.

3 Unto Thy holy temple, Lord,
Repairs my fearful soul.

Firm as the heav'ns, thy stedfast word
Can ev'ry heart controul.
4 Trials, commissioned by Thy love,
Are mercies sent by Thee;
Whilst to the refuge of Thy grace
Thy saints encouraged flee.

5 Behold the wicked; all their ways
To swift destruction tend;
But GoD, who loveth righteousness,
The righteous will defend.

PSALM 12.

(C. M.) The Church lamenting the decrease of the righteous, and the increase of sin, is encouraged by the truth and certainty of the promises of God. 10 LORD, arise and help Thy Church! Behold, the godly cease,

Justice declines; the faithful fail;
Iniquities increase.

2 Proud in their blasphemies and sins,
In vanities and lies,

They dare insult Thy holy word,
Thy sacred truth despise.

3 But LORD, salvation is with Thee,
Nor shall Thy foes prevail.

Thy word of promise stands confess'd,
Thy Church shall never fail.

Pure is Thy word, as silver tried,
The test hath oft' been made;
Deliv'rance to Thy saints is sure,
E'en when it seems delay'd.

5 Thou LORD, wilt ever keep Thy saints,
Their cause thou mak'st Thy own:
The faith, that's built upon thy word
Shall ne'er be overthrown.

19X91

PSALM 13.

(C. M.)

A complaint of desertion; a prayer for assistance; an act of faith and thanksgiving.

1 HOW long wilt Thou forget me, LORD?
How long shall I complain?

Cast down, I cry,-Hide not Thy face,
Nor let me cry in vain.

2 My fear and sorrows, sins and grief
Oppress my lab'ring breath;
Consider, LORD; O hear my prayer,
Lest I should sleep in death.

3 Let not my enemies rejoice,
Or triumph in my fall,

Lest they reproach Thy holy ways,
And say, in vain I call.

4 In Thy salvation, LORD, I'll hope,
So oft I've proved thy pow'r;

Thy grace I'll sing, Thy goodness tell,
In this distressing hour.

5 To Thee, my SAVIOUR, bounteous GoD
My grateful song I'll raise,

And trust Thy mighty pow'r to save,
Till prayer's absorb'd in praise.

The Church lamenting the depravity of man, longeth for the Redemption of Christ.

1 THERE is a GoD all nature cries;

None but the fool the truth denies. On all God's works it stands exprest, By vivid arguments confest.

2 From heav'n the Mighty Lord look'd down, From heav'n, His high exalted throne, Enquiring on this world's abode,

Who understand and seek their Gon? 3 From His appointed righteous way, Alas! they all are gone astray,

The ways of peace they have not known;
And none is righteous; no, not one.
4 Guilty, condemn'd, deprav'd and lost,
Who before God hath ought to boast?
Arise, O King of Sion, rise,

And bring salvation from the skies.
5 Then shall Thy saints rejoice and sing,
And each glad heart its tribute bring.
Pardon and peace shall then be given;
And thousands soar from earth to heav'n,

PSALM 15.

(S. M.)

Appointed by the Church for Ascension Day-as exhibiting the character of the Prince and Citizens of Zion.

WHO shall ascend and dwell

1 WHO

With Thee, Almighty God?

Who shall in Zion's holy hill

Inhabit Thine abode ?

* C

2 He, who is pure in heart,
Whose words and thoughts are one,
Whose will is to God's will conform'd,
Whose feet obedient run.

3 Who never with design

Would hurt another's fame;
But to promote his happiness,
His universal aim.

4 Who sin in every form,
In every rank reproves;

But them, who serve and fear the Lord,
Honors, esteems, and loves.

5 Who, faithful to his word,

His lips with truth adorns ;
Who pleads the cause of innocence,
And mean advantage scorns.

6 These works, effects of faith,
Labours of active love,

Here glorify God's Name and meet
Rewards of grace above.

7 Such was the Son of GOD,
Mirror of truth and grace!

Seek to do good like Him on earth,
In heav'n behold His face.

David describing his own distress and hope of eternal life, prophecies of the death, resurrection and glory of Messiah.-Compare Acts, ii. 25, and xiii. 35.

PRESERVE me, LORD, in Thee I trust,
To Thine almighty arm I flee.