6 Tho" saints to sore distress are brought, And wait and long complain, Their cries shall not be still forgot, Nor shall their hopes be vain.
7 [Rise, great Redeemer, from thy seat, To judge and save the poor; Let nations tremble at thy feet, And man prevail no more.
8 Thy thunder shall affright the proud, And put their hearts to pain, Make them confess that thou art G.o.d, And they but feeble men.]
Psalm 10.
Prayer heard, and saints saved; or, Pride, atheism, and oppression punished.
For a humiliation day.
1 Why doth the Lord stand off so far, And why conceal his face, When great calamities appear, And times of deep distress?
2 Lord, shall the wicked still deride Thy justice and thy pow"r?
Shall they advance their heads in pride, And still thy saints devour?
3 They put thy judgments from their sight, And then insult the poor; They boast in their exalted height That they shall fall no more.
4 Arise, O G.o.d, lift up thine hand, Attend our humble cry; No enemy shall dare to stand When G.o.d ascends on high.
PAUSE.
5 Why do the men of malice rage, And say with foolish pride, "The G.o.d of heaven will ne"er engage To fight on Zion"s side?"
6 But thou for ever art our Lord; And pow"rful is thine hand, As when the heathens felt thy sword, And perish"d from thy land.
7 Thou wilt prepare our hearts to pray, And cause thine ear to hear; He hearkens what his children say, And puts the world in fear.
8 Proud tyrants shall no more oppress, No more despise the just; And mighty sinners shall confess They are but earth and dust.
Psalm 11.
G.o.d loves the righteous and hates the wicked.
1 My refuge is the G.o.d of love; Why do my foes insult and cry, "Fly like a timorous trembling dove, "To distant woods or mountains fly"?
2 If government be all destroy"d (That firm foundation of our peace) And violence make justice void, Where shall the righteous seek redress?
3 The Lord in heaven has fix"d his throne, His eye surveys the world below; To him all mortal things are known, His eyelids search our spirits thro".
4 If he afflicts his saints so far To prove their love, and try their grace, What may the bold transgressors fear?
His very soul abhors their ways.
5 On impious wretches he shall rain Tempests of brimstone, fire, and death, Such as he kindled on the plain Of Sodom with his angry breath.
6 The righteous Lord loves righteous souls, Whose thoughts and actions are sincere; And with a gracious eye beholds The men that his own image bear.
Psalm 12:1. L. M.
The saint"s safety and hope in evil times; or, Sins of the tongue complained of, viz, blasphemy, falsehood, &c.
1 Lord, if thou dost not soon appear, Virtue and truth will fly away; A faithful man, amongst us here, Will scarce be found if thou delay.
2 The whole discourse, when neighbours meet, Is fill"d with trifles loose and vain; Their lips are flattery and deceit, And their proud language is profane.
3 But lips, that with deceit abound, Shall not maintain their triumph long; The G.o.d of vengeance will confound The flattering and blaspheming tongue.
4 "Yet shall our words be free," they cry, "Our tongue shall be controll"d by none: "Where is the Lord will ask us why?
"Or say, our lips are not our own?"
5 The Lord who sees the poor opprest, And hears th" oppressor"s haughty strain, Will rise to give his children rest, Nor shall they trust his word in vain.
6 Thy word, O Lord, tho" often try"d, Void of deceit shall still appear Not silver, seven times purify"d From dross and mixture, shines so clear.
7 Thy grace shall in the darkest hour Defend the holy soul from harm; Tho" when the vilest men have power On every side will sinners swarm.
Psalm 12:2. C. M.
Complaint of a general corruption of manners; or, The promise and signs of Christ"s coming to judgment.
1 Help, Lord, for men of virtue fail, Religion loses ground, The sons of violence prevail, And treacheries abound.
2 Their oaths and promises they break, Yet act the flatterer"s part; With fair deceitful lips they speak, And with a double heart.
3 If we reprove some hateful lie, How is their fury stirr"d!
"Are not our lips our own" they cry, "And who shall be our lord?"
4 Scoffers appear on every side, Where a vile race of men Is rais"d to seats of power and pride, And bears the sword in vain.
PAUSE.
5 Lord, when iniquities abound, And blasphemy grows bold, When faith is hardly to be found, And love is waxing cold,
6 Is not thy chariot hastening on?
Hast thou not given this sign?
May we not trust and live upon A promise so divine?
7 "Yes," saith the Lord, "now will I rise, "And make oppressors flee; "I shall appear to their surprise, "And set my servants free."
8 Thy word, like silver seven times try"d, Thro" ages shall endure; The men that in thy truth confide, Shall find thy promise sure.
Psalm 13:1. L. M.
Pleading with G.o.d under desertion; or, Hope, in darkness.
1 How long, 0 Lord, shall I complain Like one that seeks his G.o.d in vain?
Canst thou thy face for ever hide?
And I still pray and be deny"d?