4 I"ll spread his works of grace abroad; The saints with joy shall hear, And sinners learn to make my G.o.d Their only hope and fear.
5 How many are thy thoughts of love!
Thy mercies, Lord, how great!
We have not words nor hours enough Their numbers to repeat.
6 When I"m afflicted, poor and low, And light and peace depart, My G.o.d beholds my heavy woe, And bears me on his heart.
Psalm 40:2. 6-9. Second Part. C. M.
The incarnation and sacrifice of Christ.
1 Thus saith the Lord, "Your work is vain, "Give your burnt offerings o"er, "In dying goats and bullocks slain "My soul delights no more."
2 Then spake the Saviour, "Lo, I"m here, "My G.o.d, to do thy will; ""Whate"er thy sacred books declare, "Thy servant shall fulfil.
3 "Thy law is ever in my sight, "I keep it near my heart; "Mine ears are open"d with delight "To what thy lips impart."
4 And see the bless"d Redeemer comes, Th" eternal Son appears, And at th" appointed time a.s.sumes The body G.o.d prepares.
5 Much he reveal"d his Father"s grace, And much his truth he shew"d, And preach"d the way of righteousness, Where great a.s.semblies stood.
6 His Father"s honour touch"d his heart, He pity"d sinners" cries, And, to fulfil a Saviour"s part, Was made a sacrifice,
PAUSE.
7 No blood of beasts on altars shed Could wash the conscience clean, But the rich sacrifice he paid Atones for all our sin.
8 Then was the great salvation spread, And Satan"s kingdom shook; Thus by the woman"s promis"d seed The serpent"s head was broke.
Psalm 40:3. 5-10. L. M.
Christ our sacrifice.
1 The wonders, Lord, thy love has wrought, Exceed our praise, surmount our thought; Should I attempt the long detail, My speech would faint, my numbers fail.
2 No blood of beasts on altars spilt, Can cleanse the souls of men from guilt, But thou hast set before our eyes An all-sufficient sacrifice.
3 Lo! thine eternal Son appears, To thy designs he bows his ears, a.s.sumes a body, well prepar"d, And well performs a work so hard.
4 "Behold, I come," (the Saviour cries, With love and duty in his eyes) "I come to bear the heavy load "Of sins, and do thy will, my G.o.d.
5 ""Tis written in thy great decree, ""Tis in thy book foretold of me, "I must fulfil the Saviour"s part, "And, lo! thy law is in my heart!
6 "I"ll magnify thy holy law, "And rebels to obedience draw, ""When on my cross I"m lifted high, "Or to my crown above the sky.
7 "The Spirit shall descend, and show "What thou hast done, and what I do; "The wond"ring world shall learn thy grace, "Thy wisdom and thy righteousness."
Psalm 41. 1 2 3.
Charity to the poor; or, Pity to the afflicted.
1 Blest is the man whose bowels move, And melt with pity to the poor, Whose soul, by sympathising love, Feels what his fellow-saints endure.
2 His heart contrives for their relief More good than his own hands can do; He, in the time of general grief, Shall find the Lord has bowels too.
3 His soul shall live secure on earth, With secret blessings on his head, When drought, and pestilence, and dearth Around him multiply their dead.
4 Or if he languish on his couch, G.o.d will p.r.o.nounce his sins forgiv"n, Will save him with a healing touch, Or take his willing soul to heaven.
Psalm 42:1. 1-5. First Part.
Desertion and hope; or, Complaint of absence from public worship.
1 With earnest longings of the mind, My G.o.d, to thee I look; So pants the hunted hart to find And taste the cooling brook.
2 When shall I see thy courts of grace, And meet my G.o.d again?
So long an absence from thy face My heart endures with pain.
3 Temptations vex my weary soul, And tears are my repast; The foe insults without control, "And where"s your G.o.d at last?"
4 "Tis with a mournful pleasure now I think on ancient days; Then to thy house did numbers go, And all our work was praise.
5 But why, my soul, sunk down so far Beneath this heavy load?
Why do my thoughts indulge despair, And sin against my G.o.d?
6 Hope in the Lord, whose mighty hand Can all thy woes remove; For I shall yet before him stand, And sing restoring love.
Psalm 42:2. 6-11. Second Part.
Melancholy thoughts reproved; or, Hope in afflictions.
1 My spirit sinks within me, Lord, But I will call thy name to mind, And times of past distress record, When I have found my G.o.d was kind.
2 Huge troubles, with tumultuous noise, Swell like a sea, and round me spread; Thy water-spouts drown all my joys, And rising waves roll o"er my head.
3 Yet will the Lord command his love, When I address his throne by day, Nor in the night his grace remove; The night shall hear me sing and pray.
4 I"ll cast myself before his feet, And say "My G.o.d, my heavenly Rock, "Why doth thy love so long forget "The soul that groans beneath thy stroke?"
5 I"ll chide my heart that sinks so low, Why should my soul indulge her grief?
Hope in the Lord, and praise him too, He is my rest, my sure relief.
6 Thy light and truth shall guide me still, Thy word shall my best thoughts employ, And lead me to thine heavenly hill, My G.o.d, my most exceeding Joy.
Psalm 44. 1 2 3 8 15-26.
The church"s complaint in persecution.
1 Lord, we have heard thy works of old, Thy works of power and grace, When to our ears our fathers told The wonders of their days: