6 My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the last trumpet"s joyful sound; Then burst the chains with sweet surprise, And in my Saviour"s image rise.
Psalm 18:1. 1-6 15-18. First Part. L. M.
Deliverance from despair; or, Temptations overcome.
1 Thee will I love, O Lord, my strength, My rock, my tower, my high defence, Thy mighty arm shall be my trust, For I have found salvation thence.
2 Death, and the terrors of the grave Stood round me with their dismal shade; While floods of high temptations rose, And made my sinking soul afraid.
3 I saw the opening gates of h.e.l.l, With endless pains and sorrows there, Which none but they that feel can tell, While I was hurried to despair.
4 In my distress I call"d "my G.o.d,"
When I could scarce believe him mine; He bow"d his ear to my complaint, Then did his grace appear divine.
5 [With speed he flew to my relief, As on a cherub"s wing he rode; Awful and bright as lightning shone The face of my deliverer, G.o.d.
6 Temptations fled at his rebuke, The blast of his almighty breath; He sent salvation from on high, And drew me from the deeps of death.]
7 Great were my fears, my foes were great, Much was their strength, and more their rage; But Christ, my Lord, is conqueror still, In all the wars that devils wage.
8 My song for ever shall record That terrible, that joyful hour; And give the glory to the Lord Due to his mercy and his power.
Psalm 18:2. 20-26. Second Part. L. M.
Sincerity proved and rewarded.
1 Lord, thou hast seen my soul sincere, Hast made thy truth and love appear; Before mine eyes I set thy laws, And thou hast own"d my righteous cause.
2 Since I have learnt thy holy ways, I"ve walk"d upright before thy face; Or if my feet did e"er depart, "Twas never with a wicked heart.
3 What sore temptations broke my rest!
What wars and strugglings in my breast!
But thro" thy grace that reigns within, I guard against my darling sin:
4 That sin which close besets me still, That works and strives against my will; When shall thy Spirit"s sovereign power Destroy it that it rise no more?
5 [With an impartial hand, the Lord Deals out to mortals their reward; The kind and faithful souls shall find A G.o.d as faithful, and as kind.
6 The just and pure shall ever say, Thou art more pure, more just than they; And men that love revenge shall know, G.o.d hath an arm of vengeance too.]
Psalm 18:3. 30 31 34 35 46. 3d Part. L. M.
Rejoicing in G.o.d; or, Salvation and triumph.
1 Just are thy ways, and true thy word, Great rock of my secure abode; Who is a G.o.d beside the Lord?
Or where"s a refuge like our G.o.d?
2 "Tis he that girds me with his might, Gives me his holy sword to wield; And while with sin and h.e.l.l I fight, Spreads his salvation for my shield.
3 He lives (and blessed be my rock!) The G.o.d of my salvation lives, The dark designs of h.e.l.l are broke; Sweet is the peace my Father gives.
4 Before the scoffers of the age, I will exalt my Father"s name, Nor tremble at their mighty rage, But meet reproach and bear the shame.
5 To David and his royal seed Thy grace for ever shall extend; Thy love to saints in Christ their head Knows not a limit, nor an end.
Psalm 18:4. First Part. C. M.
Victory and triumph over temporal enemies.
1 We love thee, Lord, and we adore, Now is thine arm reveal"d; Thou art our strength, our heavenly tower, Our bulwark and our shield.
2 We fly to our eternal rock, And find a sure defence; His holy name our lips invoke, And draw salvation thence.
3 When G.o.d, our leader, shines in arms, What mortal heart can bear The thunder of his loud alarms?
The lightning of his spear?
4 He rides upon the winged wind, And angels in array In millions wait to know his mind, And swift as flames obey.
5 He speaks, and at his fierce rebuke, Whole armies are dismay"d; His voice, his frown, his angry look Strikes all their courage dead.
6 He forms our generals for the field, With all their dreadful skill; Gives them his awful sword to wield, And makes their hearts of steel.
7 [He arms our captains to the fight, Tho" there his name"s forgot: He girded Cyrus with his might, But Cyrus knew him not.
8 Oft has the Lord whole nations blest For his own church"s sake: The powers that give his people rest, Shall of his care partake.]
Psalm 18:5. Second Part. C. M.
The conqueror"s song.
1 To thine almighty arm we owe The triumphs of the day Thy terrors, Lord, confound the foe, And melt their strength away.
2 "Tis by thine aid our troops prevail, And break united powers, Or burn their boasted fleets, or scale The proudest of their towers.
3 How have we chas"d them thro" the field, And trod them to the ground, While thy salvation was our shield, But they no shelter found!
4 In vain to idol-saints they cry, And perish in their blood; Where is a rock so great, so high, So powerful as our G.o.d?
5 The Rock of Israel ever lives, His name be ever blest; "Tis his own arm the victory gives, And gives his people rest.
6 On kings that reign as David did, He pours his blessings down; Secures their honours to their seed, And well supports the crown.
Psalm 19:1. First Part. S. M.
The book of nature and scripture.
For a Lord"s-day morning.
1 Behold the lofty sky Declares its maker G.o.d, And all his starry works on high Proclaim his power abroad.