I WHY did the nations join to slay
The Lord's anointed Son?
Why did they cast his laws away,
And tread his Gospel down?
2 The Lord that sits above the skies
Derides their rage below;
He speaks with vengeance in his eyes,
And strikes their spirits through :
3 "I call him my eternal Son,
"And raise him from the dead;
"I make my holy hill his throne,
"And wide his kingdom spread.
4 "Ask me, my Son, and then enjoy
"The utmost heathen lands,
Thy rod of iron shall destroy
"The rebel that withstands.”
5 Be wise ye rulers of the earth,
Obey th' anointed Lord;
Adore the King of heav'nly birth,
And tremble at his word.
6 With humble love address his throne +,
For if he frown ye die;
Those are secure, and those alone,
Who on his grace rely.
1 MY God how many are my fears,
How fast my foes increase;
Conspiring my eternal death,
They break my present peace.
2 But thou, my glory and my strength,
Shalt on the tempter tread
Shalt silence all my threat'ning guilt,
And raise my drooping head.
3 I cried, and from his holy hill
He bowed a listening ear;
I call'd my Father and my God,
And he subdued my fear.
Kiss the Son: i. e. pay due homage to the Son of God.-See Job xxxi. 26-28.
He shed soft slumbers on my eyes,
In spite of all my foes:
I woke, and wonder'd at the grace
Which guarded my repose.
What, though the hosts of death and hell,
All arm'd against me stood;
Terrors no more shall shake my soul,
My refuge is my God.
Salvation to the Lord belongs,
He only can defend,
His blessing he extends to all
Who on his grace depend.
The service of God, man's true happiness.
YE sinners stand in awe,
And from your sins depart;
Out of the evil world withdraw,
And commune with your heart.
2 In thinking of Christ's love,
Be day and night employ'd:
Be still; nor in his presence move,
But wait upon your God.
Offer your prayer and praise,
Which he will not despise,
Through Jesus Christ our righteousness, A welcome sacrifice.
But trust in him alone,
Who gives whatever he requires,
And freely saves his own.
The world with fruitless pain,
Seek happiness below;
What man, they ask, but all in vain,
The long sought good will show?
The brightness of thy face,
Give us, O Lord, to see;
Glory on earth begun in grace,
And happiness in Thee!
1 RETURN, my wandering heart return,
And earth's vain shadows chase no more;
Seek out some solitude to mourn,
And thy forsaken God implore.
2 Thou Great God! whose piercing eye,
Distinctly marks each deep retreat;
In these sequester'd hours draw nigh,
And let me here thy presence meet.
3 Through all the windings of my heart,
My search let heavenly wisdom guide,
And still its sacred beams impart,
Till all be known and purified.
4 Then with the comforts of thy love,
Vouchsafe mine inmost soul to cheer,
Till every grace combine to prove
That thou hast fix'd thy dwelling there.
1 LORD, in the morning thou shalt hear My voice ascending high;
To Thee will I direct my prayer,
To Thee lift up mine eye.
2 Up to the hills where Christ is gone,
To plead for all his saints,
Presenting at his Father's throne,
Our songs and our complaints.
3 Thou art a God before whose sight
The wicked shall not stand;
Sinners shall ne'er be thy delight,
Nor dwell at thy right hand.
4 But to thy house will I resort,
To taste thy mercies there;
I will frequent thy holy court,
And worship in thy fear.
5 O may thy Spirit guide my feet
In ways of righteousness,
Make every path of duty straight
And plain before my face!
To sin O never let me yield,
Defended from above;
And kept and cover'd with the shield
Of thy Almighty love.
IN mercy, not in wrath, rebuke
Thy feeble worm, my God!
My spirit dreads thine angry look,
And trembles at thy rod.
Touch'd by thy Spirit's quick'ning power,
My load of guilt I feel;
The wounds thy Spirit hath unclosed,
Oh! let that Spirit heal.
- Oppress'd with Satan's galling yoke,
Must I for ever mourn?
And wilt thou not at length, O God,
In pitying love return?
4 O come, and show thy power to save,
And spare my fainting breath,
For who can praise thee in the grave,
Or sing thy name in death?
5 Satan, my cruel, envious foe,
Insults me in my pain,
He smiles to see me brought so low,
And tells me hope is vain :
6 But hence thou enemy depart,
Nor tempt me to despair;
My Saviour comes to cheer my heart,
The Lord has heard my prayer.
THE Lord is Judge; before his throne
All nations shall his justice own;
O may my soul be found sincere,
And stand approved with courage there!
The Lord, in righteousness array'd,
Surveys the world his hands have made,
Pierces the heart, and tries the reins,
And judgment from on high ordains.
3 Rise then, O Lord, with just disdain,
The anger of my foes restrain!
To judgment wake! on thy command,
Justice and truth securely stand.
4 My God, my shield, around me place
The shelter of the Saviour's grace;
Then, when thine arm the just shall save,
My life shall triumph o'er the grave!
5 Rise! and thy people round thy seat
In crowds of holy joy, shall meet;
And since on Thee our hopes rely,
Return, and fix thy power on high.
PSALM VIII.
Applied to Christ.
1 O LORD! our Lord, how wond'rous great
Is thine exalted name;
The glories of thy heav'nly state
Let men and babes proclaim.
2 When we behold thy works on high,
The moon which rules the night;
And stars which well adorn the sky,
Those moving worlds of light.
3 Lord! what is man, or all his race,
Who dwells so far below,
That thou shouldst visit him with grace,
And love his nature so?
4 That thine eternal Son should bear
To take a mortal form,
Made lower than his angels are,
To save a dying worm!
5 Let him be crown'd with majesty
Who bow'd his head to death,
And be his honours sounded high
By all things that have breath!
6 Jesus our Lord, how wond'rous great
Is thine exalted name!
The glories of thy heavenly state
Let the whole earth proclaim.
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