1 "Twas for thy sake, eternal G.o.d, Thy son sustain"d that heavy load Of base reproach and sore disgrace, And shame defil"d his sacred face.
2 The Jews, his brethren and his kin, Abus"d the man that check"d their sin: While he fulfill"d thy holy laws, They hate him, but without a cause.
3 ["My Father"s house, said he, was made "A place for worship, not for trade;"
Then scattering all their gold and bra.s.s, He scourg"d the merchants from the place.]
4 [Zeal for the temple of his G.o.d Consum"d his life, expos"d his blood: Reproaches at thy glory thrown He felt, and mourn"d them as his own.]
5 [His friends forsook, his followers fled, While foes and arms surround his head; They curse him with a slanderous tongue, And the false judge maintains the wrong.]
6 His life they load with hateful lies, And charge his lips with blasphemies; They nail him to the shameful tree: There hung the man that dy"d for me.
7 [Wretches with hearts as hard as stones, Insult his piety and groans; Gall was the food they gave him there, And mock"d his thirst with vinegar.]
8 But G.o.d beheld; and from his throne Marks out the men that hate his Son; The hand that rais"d him from the dead Shall pour the vengeance on their head.
Psalm 71:1. 5-9. First Part.
The aged saint"s reflection and hope.
1 My G.o.d, my everlasting hope, I live upon thy truth; Thine hands have held my childhood up, And strengthen"d all my youth.
2 My flesh was fashion"d by thy power, With all these limbs of mine; And from my mother"s painful hour I"ve been entirely thine.
3 Still has my life new wonders seen Repeated every year; Behold my days that yet remain, I trust them to thy care.
4 Cast me not off when strength declines, When h.o.a.ry hairs arise; And round me let thy glories shine Whene"er thy servant dies.
5 Then in the history of my age, When men review my days, They"ll read thy love in every page, In every line thy praise.
Psalm 71:2. 15 14 16 23 22 24. 2d Part.
Christ our strength and righteousness.
1 My Saviour, my almighty Friend, When I begin thy praise, Where will the growing numbers end, The numbers of thy grace?
2 Thou art my everlasting trust, Thy goodness I adore; And since I knew thy graces first I speak thy glories more.
3 My feet shall travel all the length Of the celestial road, And march with courage in thy strength To see my Father G.o.d.
4 When I am fill"d with sore distress For some surprising sin, I"ll plead thy perfect righteousness, And mention none but thine.
5 How will my lips rejoice to tell The victories of my King!
My soul redeem"d from sin and h.e.l.l Shall thy salvation sing.
6 [My tongue shall all the day proclaim My Saviour and my G.o.d; His death has brought my foes to shame, And drown"d them in his blood.
7 Awake, awake my tuneful powers; With this delightful song I"ll entertain the darkest hours, Nor think the season long.]
Psalm 71:3. 17-21. Third Part.
The aged Christian"s prayer and song; or, Old age, death, and the resurrection.
1 G.o.d of my childhood and my youth, The guide of all my days, I have declar"d thy heavenly truth, And told thy wondrous ways.
2 Wilt thou forsake my h.o.a.ry hairs, And leave my fainting heart?
Who shall sustain my sinking years If G.o.d my strength depart?
3 Let me thy power and truth proclaim To the surviving age, And leave a savour of thy Name When I shall quit the stage.
4 The land of silence and of death Attends my next remove; O may these poor remains of breath Teach the wide world thy love.
PAUSE.
5 Thy righteousness is deep and high, Unsearchable thy deeds; Thy glory spreads beyond the sky, And all my praise exceeds.
6 Oft have I heard thy threatenings roar, And oft endur"d the grief; But when thy hand has press"d me sore, Thy grace was my relief.
7 By long experience have I known Thy sovereign power to save; At thy command I venture down Securely to the grave.
8 When I lie buried deep in dust, My flesh shall be thy care These withering limbs with thee I trust To raise them strong and fair.
Psalm 72:1. First Part.
The kingdom of Christ.
1 Great G.o.d, whose universal sway The known and unknown worlds obey, Now give the kingdom to thy Son, Extend his power, exalt his throne.
2 Thy sceptre well becomes his hands, All heaven submits to his commands; His justice shall avenge the poor, And pride and rage prevail no more.
3 With power he vindicates the just, And treads th" oppressor in the dust; His worship and his fear shall last Till hours and years and time be past.
4 As rain on meadows newly mown So shall he send his influence down; His grace on fainting souls distils Like heavenly dew on thirsty hills.
5 The heathen lands that lie beneath The shades of overspreading death, Revive at his first dawning light, And deserts blossom at the sight.
6 The saints shall flourish in his days, Drest in the robes of joy and praise; Peace like a river from his throne Shall flow to nations yet unknown.
Psalm 72:2. Second Part.
Christ"s kingdom among the Gentiles.
1 Jesus shall reign where"er the sun Does his successive journies run; His kingdom stretch from sh.o.r.e to sh.o.r.e, Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
2 [Behold the islands with their kings, And Europe her best tribute brings; From north to south the princes meet To pay their homage at his feet.
3 There Persia glorious to behold, There India shines in eastern gold: And barbarous nations at his word Submit, and bow, and own their Lord.]