The Mourner pleading with God, How long shall I, my God, in vain, Prest by a weight of griefs, complain ? Say, shall I sink in deep despair,
For ever banish'd from thy care?
Condemn'd thine absent beams to mourn Still to divided counsels turn
My lab'ring thought, and hear the foe
Exulting triumph in my woe?
But while their ceaseless threats I hear,
Thy mercy, Lord, dispels my fear;
My hopes on thy salvation rest,
And fill with conscious joy my breast.
Well-pleas'd that mercy to proclaim,
To thee, instinct with holy flame,
To thee my tongue from day to day
Shall meditate the grateful lay.
Father of all my soul defend;
On thee my stedfust hopes depend:
Thou, mightiest Lord, and none beside,
Thou art my God, my heart has cried.
In all mine acts, in each intent,
Thee to my soul my thoughts present,
Whose sure defence my gate has barr'd,
And planted on my right a guard.
And though (thy will has thus ordain'd,)
My flesh to death's dark shades descend,
Yet hope e'en there, its constant guest,
Shall smooth the pillow of my rest.
Thou from the grave my soul shall claim,
Nor leave thy servant, in whose frame
Thy hallowing spirit dwells inshrin'd,
To pale corruption's pow'r consigu'd;
But to mine eyes, in full survey,
The opening paths of life display;
Those paths that to thy presence bear;
For plenitude of bliss is there.
God, our Deliverer.
No stains of sin thy path defile,
Author of good! nor fraud, nor guile :
On thy blest word who build their trust,
Shall find their confidence was just.
What God but thee shall Israel know,
Or who, O who can save but thou?
'Tis God, that arms me for the fight.
'Tis God, that girds my soul with might.
Then blest be thou, whose gracious aid,
When impious foes my peace invade,
Their rage instructs me to decline,
And makes thy wish'd salvation inine;
Deals in my right th' avenging stroke,
And bends the nations to my yoke;
Each force, that dares my reign contest,
By thy resistless strength suppress'd.
For this thy pow'r my song shall claim,
And distant regions hear thy fame;
For this my tongue, from day to day,
Shall meditate the grateful lay.
Praise to God, and Prayer for Grace.
God the heav'ns aloud proclaim
Through their wide-extended frame;
And the firmament each hour
Speaks the wonders of his pow'r :
Day to the succeeding day
Joy's the notice to convey,
And the nights, in ceaseless round,
Each to each repeat the sound.
Best Instructor, from thy way
Who can tell how oft I stray?
Purge me from the guilt that lies
Wrapt within my heart's disguise.
Let my tongue, from error free,
Speak the words approv'd by thee;
To thine 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!
Kings, the care of Heaven.
By thine unwearied strength upheld,
To thee the King his thanks shall yield,
And, taught by blest experience, know
What joys from thy salvation flow.
Thy cares his heart's desire complete;
His pray'r from thine eternal seat,
As low to thee his knees he bends,
In full acceptance back descends.
Thou, Lord, preventive of his want,
The blessings of thy love will grant,
And bid the golden circlet spread
Its purest splendors round his head.
He asks thee life, and finds it giv'n,
Life, lasting as the days of heav'n;
And, crown'd with bliss perpetual, he
Thy face in full display shall see.
Thus does the great Jehovah shed
His blessings on th' anointed head;
His grace eternal thus bestow,
And with true glory bind its brow.
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