Psalm 126:1. L. M.
Surprising deliverance.
1 When G.o.d restor"d our captive state, Joy was our song, and grace our theme; The grace beyond our hopes so great, That joy appear"d a painted dream.
2 The scoffer owns thy hand, and pays Unwilling honours to thy Name; While we with pleasure shout thy praise, With cheerful notes thy love proclaim.
3 When we review our dismal fears, "Twas hard to think they"d vanish so; With G.o.d we left our flowing tears, He makes our joys like rivers flow.
4 The man that in his furrow"d field His scatter"d seed with sadness leaves, Will shout to see the harvest yield A welcome load of joyful sheaves.
Psalm 126:2. C. M.
The joy of a remarkable conversion; or, Melancholy removed.
1 When G.o.d reveal"d his gracious Name, And chang"d my mournful state, My rapture seem"d a pleasing dream, The grace appear"d so great.
2 The world beheld the glorious change, And did thy hand confess; My tongue broke out in unknown strains, And sung surprising grace:
3 "Great is the work," my neighbours cry"d, And own"d the power divine; "Great is the work," my heart reply"d, "And be the glory thine."
4 The Lord can clear the darkest skies, Can give us day for night, Make drops of sacred sorrow rise To rivers of delight.
5 Let those that sow in sadness wait Till the fair harvest come, They shall confess their sheaves are great, And shout the blessings home.
6 Tho" seed lie bury"d long in dust, It shan"t deceive their hope; The precious grain can ne"er be lost, For grace insures the crop.
Psalm 127:1. L. M.
The blessing of G.o.d on the business and comforts of life.
1 If G.o.d succeed not, all the cost And pains to build the house are lost: If G.o.d the city will not keep, The watchful guards as well may sleep.
3 What if you rise before the sun, And work and toil when day is done, Careful and sparing eat your bread, To shun that poverty you dread;
3 "Tis all in vain, till G.o.d hath blest; He can make rich, yet give us rest: Children and friends are blessings too, If G.o.d our sovereign make them so.
4 Happy the man to whom he sends Obedient children, faithful friends: How sweet our daily comforts prove When they are season"d with his love!
Psalm 127:2. C. M.
G.o.d all in all.
1 If G.o.d to build the house deny, The builders work in vain; And towns, without his wakeful eye, An useless watch maintain.
2 Before the morning beams arise, Your painful work renew, And till the stars ascend the skies Your tiresome toil pursue.
3 Short be your sleep, and coa.r.s.e your fare; In vain, till G.o.d has blest; But if his smiles attend your care, You shall have food and rest.
4 Nor children, relatives, nor friends Shall real blessings prove, Nor all the earthly joys he sends, If sent without his love.
Psalm 128.
Family blessings.
1 O happy man, whose soul is fill"d With zeal and reverend awe; His lips to G.o.d their honours yield, His life adorns the law.
2 A careful providence shall stand And ever guard thy head, Shall on the labours of thy hand Its kindly blessings shed.
3 [Thy wife shall be a fruitful vine; Thy children round thy board, Each like a plant of honour shine, And learn to fear the Lord.]
4 The Lord shall thy best hopes fulfil For months and years to come; The Lord who dwells on Zion"s hill, Shall send thee blessings home.
5 This is the man whose happy eyes Shall see his house increase, Shall see the sinking church arise, Then leave the world in peace.
Psalm 129.
Persecutors punished.
1 Up from my youth, may Israel say, Have I been nurs"d in tears; My griefs were constant as the day, And tedious as the years.
2 Up from my youth I bore the rage Of all the sons of strife; Oft they a.s.sail"d my riper age, But not destroy"d my life.
3 Their cruel plough had torn my flesh With furrows long and deep, Hourly they vex my wounds afresh, Nor let my sorrows sleep.
4 The Lord grew angry on his throne, And with impartial eye Measur"d the mischiefs they had done Then let his arrows fly.
5 How was their insolence surpris"d To hear his thunders roll!
And all the foes of Zion seiz"d With horror to the soul.
6 Thus shall the men that hate the saints Be blasted from the sky; Their glory fades, their courage faints, And all their projects die.
7 [What tho" they flourish tall and fair, They have no root beneath; Their growth shall perish in despair, And lie despis"d in death.]
8 [So corn that on the house-top stands No hope of harvest gives; The reaper ne"er shall fill his hands, Nor binder fold the sheaves.
9 It springs and withers on the place: No traveller bestows A word of blessing on the gra.s.s, Nor minds it as he goes.]
Psalm 130:1. C. M.
Pardoning grace.
1 Out of the deeps of long distress, The borders of despair, I sent my cries to seek thy grace, My groans to move thine ear.
2 Great G.o.d, should thy severer eye, And thine impartial hand, Mark and revenge iniquity, No mortal flesh could stand.
3 But there are pardons with my G.o.d For crimes of high degree; Thy Son has bought them with his blood To draw us near to thee.