Acceptable Service.
To God my heart shall vent its woe,
Who, prompt his blessings to bestow
On each, whose breast has learn'd his fear,
Bows to my plaint a willing ear.
Him would you please? With rev'rent awe
Observe the dictates of his law;
The guiltless hand to him upraise,
And offer unpolluted praise.
His precepts fix before your view,
His rules with stedfast aim pursue,
With purest gifts approach his shrine,
And safe to him your cares resign.
Thus when we praise, thus when we pray.
Will He, whom heav'n and earth obey,
Accept the praise, confirm the pray'r,
And make our safety still his care.
The Reward of the Righteous.
O, how blest the man, whose ear
Impious counsel shuns to hear,
Who nor loves to tread the way
Where the sons of folly stray;
But, possess'd with sacred awe,
Meditates, great God, thy law;
This by day his fix'd employ,
This by night his constant joy
Like the tree, that taught to grow
Where the streams irriguous flow,
He his verdant branch shall spread,
Nor his sick'ning leaves shall shed;
He, whate'er his thoughts devise,
Whilst to God he thus applies,
Surely finds the wish'd success
Crown each hope, each labor bless.
Delight in the worship of God.
One wish, with holy transport warm,
My heart has form'd, and still shall form; One gift I ask; that to my end
Fair Sion's dome I may attend;
There seek thy face, with duteous care,
And frequent to thy throne repair;
There joyful find a sure abode,
And view the bounty of my God.
For this, with grateful joy bestow'd
My off'ring shall thine Altar load;
My tongue its note exulting raise,
And dictate to the harp thy praise.
Then hear me, Lord; on thee I call,
And prostrate at thy footstool fall;
Propitious in my cause appear,
And bow to my request thine ear.
I hear a hopeless train demand, "Where's now thy wish'd deliv'rer's hand?” Do thou, my God, do thou reply,
And beam thy presence from on high.
"Lo! there," they cry, 66 our obvious prey, "The wretch, whom God has cast away.' But see Omnipotence my shield!
My head aloft by Thee upheld!
Thy fav'ring beams around me shine;
Thou, Lord, from Sion's hallow'd shrine
With kind regard hast heard my cry,
And instant granted a reply.
Hence then, profane, my Saviour hears;
While yet I speak, he wipes my tears,
Accepts my pray'r, and bids each foe
With shame their vain attempts forego.
Thus all, whose trust on God is plac'd,
Shall rest and peace perpetual taste;
And sav'd by Him, in songs of joy,
Let them their grateful tongues employ.
God, our Refuge.
Behold a heart with woes oppress'd;
Behold its vows to God address'd!
Come then your voice triumphant raise,
And sing with me your Maker's praise.
To Him my soul disclos'd its care,
He heard, and present to my pray'r
His faithful buckler o'er me held,
And from my breast each fear dispell'd.
The souls that his decree shall spare,
Like me, his cheering light will share :
Taste then with me, O taste and prove
The blessings of his boundless love.
Hail, Saviour of the human race!
Hail, fountain of exhaustless grace!
Thrice happy, who on thee recline,
Nor own, nor ask a help but thine,
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