He took me from the dismal pit,
When founder'd deep in miry clay;
On solid ground He plac'd my feet,
And suffer'd not my steps to stray.
The wonders He for me has wrought
Shall fill my mouth with songs of praise;
And others, to His worship brought,
To hopes of like deliv'rance raise.
WHO can the wondrous works recount,
Which Thou, O God, for us hast wrought?
The treasures of Thy love surmount
The pow'r of numbers, speech, and thought.
I've learn'd, that Thou hast not desir'd
Off'rings and sacrifice alone;
Nor blood of guiltless beasts requir'd
For man's transgression to atone.
I therefore come- -come to fulfil
The oracles Thy books impart :
'Tis my delight to do Thy will;
Thy law is written in my heart.
No. XLII. C.M. PS. XLI. 1-3.
HAPPY the man whose tender care
Relieves the poor distress'd:
When troubles compass him around,
The Lord shall give him rest.
The Lord, his life, with blessings crown'd,
In safety shall prolong;
And disappoint the will of those
That seek to do Him wrong.
If he, in languishing estate,
Oppress'd with sickness lie:
The Lord will easy make his bed;
And inward strength supply.
No. XLIII. C.M.D. PS. XLII. 1,2,4,5,10,11.
As pants the hart for cooling streams
When heated in the chase,
So longs my soul, O God, for Thee,
And Thy refreshing grace.
For Thee, my God, the living God,
My thirsty soul doth pine:
O! when shall I behold Thy face,
Thou Majesty divine!
I sigh whene'er my musing thoughts
Those happy days present,
When I with troops of pious friends
Thy temple did frequent.
Why restless, why cast down, my soul?
Trust God and He'll employ
His aid for thee, and change these sighs
To thankful hymns of joy.
My heart is pierc'd, as with a sword,
Whilst thus my foes upbraid,
"Vain boaster, where is now thy God?
And where His promis'd aid ?"
Why restless, why cast down, my soul?
Hope still and thou shalt sing
The praise of Him who is thy God,
Thy health's eternal spring.
No. XLIV. L.M. PS. XLIII. 3-5.
LET me with light and truth be bless'd:
Be these my guides, and lead the way
Till on God's holy hill I rest,
And in His sacred temple pray.
Then will I there fresh altars raise
To God, who is my only joy;
And well-tun'd harps, with songs of praise,
Shall all my grateful hours employ.
Why then cast down, my soul? and why
So much oppress'd with anxious care?
On God, thy God, for aid rely :
Who will thy ruin'd state repair.
No. XLV. L.M. PS. XLVII. 5-9.
GOD is gone up, our Lord and King,
With shouts of joy and trumpets' sound.
To Him repeated praises sing,
And let the cheerful song go round.
Your utmost skill in praise be shown
For Him who all the world commands:
Who sits upon His righteous throne,
And spreads His sway o'er heathen lands.
Our chiefs and tribes, that far from hence
To serve the God of Abr'am came,
Found him their constant, sure defence:
How great and glorious is His Name!
No. XLVI. P.M. PS. L. 7-10,13,14.
ATTEND, my people; Israel, hear;
Thy strong accuser I'll appear;
Thy God, thy only God, am I.
'Tis not of off'rings I complain,
Which, daily in My temple slain,
My sacred altar did supply.
Will these alone atonement make ?
No bullock from thy stall I'll take,
Nor he-goat from thy fold accept :
The forest beasts that range alone,
The cattle too are all My own,
That on a thousand hills are kept.
Think'st thou that I have any need
On slaughter'd bulls and goats to feed:
To eat their flesh and drink their blood?
The sacrifices I require,
Are hearts which love and zeal inspire,
And vows with strictest care made good.
HAVE mercy, Lord, on me,
As Thou wert ever kind;
Let me, oppress'd with loads of guilt,
Thy wonted mercy find.
Wash off my foul offence;
And cleanse me from my sin :
For I confess my crime, and see
How great my guilt has been.
Against Thee, Lord, alone,
And only in Thy sight,
Have I transgress'd: and, tho' condemn'd,
Must own Thy judgments right.
In guilt each part was form'd
Of all this sinful frame;
In guilt I was conceiv'd; and born
The heir of sin and shame.
Yet Thou, whose searching eye
Does inward truth require,
In secret didst with wisdom's laws
My tender soul inspire.
With hyssop purge me, Lord,
And so I clean shall be;
I shall with snow in whiteness vie,
When purified by Thee.
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