4 Thou shalt the paths of life display,
That to thy presence lead;
Where pleasures dwell without allay,
And joys that never fade.
PSALM 17. L. M.
Anticipation of future glory.
1 WHAT sinners value, I resign;
Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mine;
I shall behold thy blissful face,
And stand complete in righteousness.
2 This life's a dream, an empty show:
But the bright world to which I go
Hath joys substantial and sincere ;
When shall I wake and find me there?
3 O glorious hour! O blest abode !
I shall be near and like my God;
And flesh and sin no more control
The sacred pleasures of the soul.
4 My flesh shall slumber in the ground,
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound;
Then burst the chains with glad surprise,
And in my Saviour's image rise.
The Majesty and Mercy of God.
1 THE Lord descended from above,
And bow'd the heavens most high;
And underneath his feet he cast
The darkness of the sky,
On cherubim and seraphim
Full royally he rode;
And on the wings of mighty winds
Came flying all abroad.
He sits serene upon the floods,
Their fury to restrain ;
And he, as sovereign Lord and King,
For evermore shall reign.
The Lord will give his people strengtlı,
Whereby they shall increase;
And he will bless his chosen flock
With everlasting peace.
PSALM 19. VERSION 1. L. M. D.
"The heavens declare the glory of God."
THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale;
Aud nightly, to the listening earth,
Repeats the story of her birth;
While all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole. 3 What though, in solemn silence, all
Move round this dark terrestrial ball!
What though no real voice nor sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found!
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;
For ever singing, as they shine,
"The hand that made us is divine."
PSALM 19. VERSION 2. L. M.
Excellence of revealed truth.
1 THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord;
In every star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.
2 The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days thy power confess;
But the blest volume thou has writ
Reveals thy justice and thy grace.
3 Sun, moon, and stars, convey thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand:
So when thy truth began its race,
It touch'd and glanc'd on every land.
4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,
Till through the world thy truth has run;
Till Christ has all the nations blest,
That see the light, or feel the sun.
5 Great Sun of Righteousness, arise;
Bless the dark world with heavenly light:
Thy gospel makes the simple wise:
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.
6 Thy noblest wonders here we view,
In souls renew'd, and sins forgiven:
Lord, cleanse our sins, our souls renew,
And make thy word our guide to heaven.
PSALM 19. VERSION 3. 7s.
For purity of heart.-v. 12-14.
BLEST Instructor! from thy ways
Who can tell how oft he strays?
Save from error's growth my mind,
Leave not, Lord one root behind.
2 Cleanse me from the guilt that lies
Wrapt within my heart's disguise;
Let me thence, by thee renew'd,
Each presumptuous sin exclude.
3 Let my tongue, from error free,
Speak the words approv'd by thee;
To thy all-observing eyes
Let my thoughts accepted rise.
While I thus thy name adore,
And thy healing grace implore,
Blest Redeemer! bow thine ear;
God my Strength! propitious hear.
PSALM 23. VERSION 1.
The Lord the Shepherd of his people.
1 MY Shepherd is the living Lord,
Nothing therefore I need;
In pastures fair, near pleasant streams,
He setteth me to feed.
2 He doth convert and glad my soul,
And bring my mind in frame,
To walk in paths of righteousness,
For his most holy name.
3 Yea, though I walk through deaths dark vale, Yet will I fear no ill;
Thy rod and staff they comfort me,
And thou art with me still.
4 Goodness and mercy all my days
Shall surely follow me;
And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling place shall be.
PSALM 23. VERSION 2. 6 LINES 8s.
The Lord the Shepherd of his people.
1 THE Lord my pasture shall prepare,
And feed me with a shepherd's care;
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye:
My noon-day walks he shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.
When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountain pant,
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary, wandering steps he leads;
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.
Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.
PSALM 23. VERSION 3. c. M.
The Lord the Shepherd of his people. 1 MY Shepherd will supply my need, Jehovah is his name;
In pastures fresh he makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back,
When I forsake his ways;
And leads me, for his mercy's sake,
In paths of truth and grace.
When I walk through the shades of death,
Thy presence is my stay;
A word of thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
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