1 Lord, thou wilt hear me when I pray I am for ever thine: I fear before thee all the day, Nor would I dare to sin.
2 And while I rest my weary head From cares and business free, "Tis sweet conversing on my bed With my own heart and thee.
3 I pay this evening sacrifice; And when my work is done, Great G.o.d, my faith and hope relies Upon thy grace alone.
4 Thus with my thoughts compos"d to peace I"ll give mine eyes to sleep; Thy hand in safety keeps my days, And will my slumbers keep.
Psalm 5.
For the Lord"s day morning.
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 G.o.d 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 thine 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.
PAUSE.
6 My watchful enemies combine To tempt my feet astray; They flatter with a base design To make my soul their prey.
7 Lord, crush the serpent in the dust, And all his plots destroy; While those that in thy mercy trust For ever shout for joy.
8 The men that love and fear thy name Shall see their hopes fulfill"d; The mighty G.o.d will compa.s.s them With favour as a shield.
Psalm 6:1. C. M.
Complaint in sickness; or, diseases healed.
1 In anger, Lord, rebuke me not, Withdraw the dreadful storm; Nor let thy fury grow so hot Against a feeble worm.
2 My soul"s bow"d down with heavy cares, My flesh with pain oppress"d; My couch is witness to my tears, My tears forbid my rest.
3 Sorrow and pain wear out my days; I waste the night with cries, Counting the minutes as they pa.s.s, Till the slow morning rise.
4 Shall I be still tormented more?
Mine eye consum"d with grief?
How long, my G.o.d, how long before Thine hand afford relief?
5 He hears when dust and ashes speak, He pities all our groans, He saves us for his mercy"s sake And heals our broken bones.
6 The virtue of his sovereign word Restores our fainting breath; For silent graves praise not the Lord, Nor is he known in death.
Psalm 6:2. L. M.
Temptations in sickness overcome.
1 Lord, I can suffer thy rebukes, When thou with kindness dost chastise But thy fierce wrath I cannot bear, O let it not against me rise!
2 Pity my languishing estate, And ease the sorrows that I feel; The wounds thine heavy hand hath made, O let thy gentler touches heal.
3 See how I pa.s.s my weary days In sighs and groans; and when "tis night My bed is water"d with my tears; My grief consumes and dims my sight.
4 Look how the powers of nature mourn!
How long, almighty G.o.d, how long?
When shall thine hour of grace return?
When shall I make thy grace my song?
5 I feel my flesh so near the grave, My thoughts are tempted to despair; But graves can never praise the Lord, For all is dust and silence there.
6 Depart, ye tempters, from my soul, And all despairing thoughts depart; My G.o.d, who hears my humble moan, Will ease my flesh, and cheer my heart.
Psalm 7.
G.o.d"s care of his people and punishment of persecutors.
1 My trust is in my heavenly Friend, My hope in thee, my G.o.d; Rise and my helpless life defend From those that seek my blood.
2 With insolence and fury they My soul in pieces tear, As hungry lions rend the prey When no deliverer"s near.
3 If I had e"er provok"d them first, Or once abus"d my foe, Then let him tread my life to dust, And lay mine honour low.
4 If there be malice found in me, I know thy piercing eyes; I should not dare appeal to thee, Nor ask my G.o.d to rise.
5 Arise, my G.o.d, lift up thy hand, Their pride and power control; Awake to judgment and command Deliverance for my soul.
PAUSE.
6 [Let sinners and their wicked rage Be humbled to the dust; Shall not the G.o.d of truth engage To vindicate the just?
7 He knows the heart, he tries the reins, He will defend th" upright: His sharpest arrows he ordains Against the sons of spite.
8 For me their malice digg"d a pit, But there themselves are cast; My G.o.d makes all their mischief light On their own heads at last.]
9 That cruel persecuting race Must feel his dreadful sword; Awake, my soul, and praise the grace And justice of the Lord.
Psalm 8:1. S. M.
G.o.d"s sovereignty and goodness; and man"s dominion over the creatures.
1 O Lord, our heavenly King, Thy name is all divine; Thy glories round the earth are spread, And o"er the heavens they shine.
2 When to thy works on high I raise my wondering eyes, And see the moon complete in light Adorn the darksome skies: