2 Shall I for ever be forgot As one whom thou regardest not?
Still shall my soul thine absence mourn?
And still despair of thy return?
3 How long shall my poor troubled breast Be with these anxious thoughts opprest?
And Satan, my malicious foe, Rejoice to see me sunk so low.
4 Hear, Lord, and grant me quick relief, Before my death conclude my grief; If thou withhold thy heavenly light, I sleep in everlasting night.
5 How will the powers of darkness boast, If but one praying soul be lost!
But I have trusted in thy grace, And shall again behold thy face.
6 Whate"er my fears or foes suggest, Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest; My heart shall feel thy love, and raise My cheerful voice to songs of praise.
Psalm 13:2. C. M.
Complaint under temptations of the devil.
1 How long wilt thou conceal thy face?
My G.o.d, how long delay?
When shall I feel those heavenly rays That chase my fears away?
2 How long shall my poor labouring soul Wrestle and toil in vain?
Thy word can all my foes control, And ease my raging pain.
3 See how the prince of darkness tries All his malicious arts, He spreads a mist around my eyes, And throws his fiery darts.
4 Be thou my sun and thou my shield, My soul in safety keep; Make haste before mine eyes are seal"d In death"s eternal sleep.
5 How would the tempter boast aloud If I become his prey!
Behold the sons of h.e.l.l grow proud At thy so long delay.
6 But they shall fly at thy rebuke, And Satan hide his head; He knows the terrors of thy look And hears thy voice with dread.
7 Thou wilt display that sovereign grace, Where all my hopes have hung; I shall employ my lips in praise, And victory shall be sung.
Psalm 14:1. First Part.
By nature all men are sinners.
1 Fools in their hearts believe and say, "That all religion"s vain, "There is no G.o.d that reigns on high, "Or minds th" affairs of men."
2 From thoughts so dreadful and profane Corrupt discourse proceeds; And in their impious hands are found Abominable deeds.
3 The Lord, from his celestial throne Look"d down on things below, To find the man that sought his grace, Or did his justice know.
4 By nature all are gone astray, Their practice all the same; There"s none that fears his Maker"s hand, There"s none that loves his name.
5 Their tongues are us"d to speak deceit, Their slanders never cease; How swift to mischief are their feet, Nor knew the paths of peace.
6 Such seeds of sin (that bitter root) In every heart are found; Nor can they bear diviner fruit, Till grace refine the ground.
Psalm 14:2. Second Part.
The folly of persecutors.
1 Are sinners now so senseless grown That they thy saints devour?
And never worship at thy throne, Nor fear thine awful power?
2 Great G.o.d appear to their surprise, Reveal thy dreadful name; Let them no more thy wrath despise, Nor turn our hope to shame.
3 Dost thou not dwell among the just?
And yet our foes deride, That we should make thy name our trust; Great G.o.d, confound their pride.
4 O that the joyful day were come To finish our distress!
When G.o.d shall bring his children home, Our songs shall never cease.
Psalm 15:1. C. M.
Characters of a saint; or, a citizen of Zion; or, The qualifications of a Christian.
1 Who shall inhabit in thy hill, O G.o.d of holiness?
Whom will the Lord admit to dwell So near his throne of grace?
2 The man that walks in pious ways, And works with righteous hands; That trusts his Maker"s promises, And follows his commands.
3 He speaks the meaning of his heart, Nor slanders with his tongue; Will scarce believe an ill report, Nor do his neighbour wrong.
4 The wealthy sinner he contemns, Loves all that fear the Lord: And tho" to his own hurt he swears, Still he performs his word.
5 His hands disdain a golden bribe, And never gripe the poor; This man shall dwell with G.o.d on earth, And find his heaven secure.
Psalm 15:2. L. M.
Religion and justice, goodness and truth; or, Duties to G.o.d and man; or, The qualifications of a Christian.
1 Who shall ascend thy heavenly place, Great G.o.d, and dwell before thy face?
The man that minds religion now, And humbly walks with G.o.d below:
2 Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean, Whose lips still speak the thing they mean; No slanders dwell upon his tongue; He hates to do his neighbour wrong.
3 [Scarce will he trust an ill report, Nor vents it to his neighbour"s hurt: Sinners of state he can despise, But saints are honour"d in his eyes.]
4 [Firm to his word he ever stood, And always makes his promise good; Nor dares to change the thing he swears, Whatever pain or loss he bears.]
5 [He never deals in bribing gold, And mourns that justice should be sold: While others gripe and grind the poor, Sweet charity attends his door.]
6 [He loves his enemies, and prays For those that curse him to his face; And doth to all men still the same That he would hope or wish from them.]
7 Yet when his holiest works are done, His soul depends on grace alone; This is the man thy face shall see, And dwell for ever Lord, with thee.