And thus, 'till mortal life shall end,

Would I perform thy will.
PSALM 119. Fourth Part. C. M.

Instruction from scripture.
1 OW shall the young secure their hearts,

And guard their lives from sin ? Thy word the choicest rules imparts

To keep the conscience clean. 2 When once it penetrates the mind,

It spreads such light abroad; The meanest souls instruction find,

And raise their thoughts to God. 3 'Tis, like the sun, a heav'nly light

That guides us all the day :
And thro' the dangers of the night,

A lamp to lead our way.
4 The men that keep thy law with care, #:*

And meditate thy word,
Grow wiser than their teachers are,

And better know the Lord.
5 Thy precepts make me truly wise ;

I hate the sinner's road :
I hate my own vain thoughts, that rise ;

But love thy law, my God.
6 The starry heav'ns thy rule obey;

The earth maintains her place:
And these thy servants night and day

Thy skill and pow'r express.
7 But still thy law and gospel, Lord,

Give lessons more divine ;
Nor earth stands firmer than thy word,

Nor stars so nobly shine.
8 Thy word is everlasting truth;

How pure is ev'ry page!

That holy book shall guide our youth,
And well support our age.
PSALM 119. Fifth Part, C. M.

Delight in scripture.
1
O

HOW I love thy holy law !

'Tis daily my delight : And thence my meditations draw

Divine advice by night.
2 My waking eyes prevent the day,

To meditate thy word :
My soul with longing melts away,

To hear thy gespel, Lord. 3 Hew doth thy word my

heart
engage

!
How well employ my tongue !
And in my tiresome pilgrimage,

Yield me a heav'nly song! 4 Am I a stranger, or at home,

'Tis my perpetual feast ;
Not honey, dropping from the comb,

So much allures the taste.
5 No treasures so enrich the mind;

Nor shall thy word be sold
For loads of silver well refin'd;

Nor heaps of choicest gold.
6 When nature sinks, and spirits droop,
Thy promises of

grace
Are pillars to support my hope';
And there I write thy praise.
PSALM 119. Sixth Part. C. M.

Holiness and comfort from the Word. 1 LORD, I esteem thy judgments right,

And all thy
Thence I maintain a constant fight
With ev'ry flatt'ring lust.

2 Thy precepts often I survey ;

I keep thy laws in sight,
Thro' all the bus’ness of the day,

To form my actions right.
3 My heart in midnight silence cries,

“ How sweet thy comforts be!" My thoughts in holy wonder rise,

And bring their thanks to thee.
4 And when my spirit drinks her fill,

At some good word of thine ;
Not mighty men, that share the spoil,
Have joys compar'd to mine.

PSALM 119.. Seventh Part. C. M. Imperfection of nature, and perfection of scripture. 1

ET all the heathen writers join,

To form one perfect book ;
Great God ! if once compar'd with thine,

How mean their writings look!
2 Not the most perfect rules they gave

Could show one sin forgiv'n; Nor lead a step beyond the graye ;

But thine conduct to heav'n.
3 I've seen an end of what we call

Perfection here below :
How short the pow'rs of nature fall!

And can no farther go.
4. Yet men would fain be just with God,

By works their hands have wrought; But thy commands, exceeding broad,

Extend to ev'ry thought. 5 In vain we boast perfection here,

While sin defiles our frame ; And sinks our virtues down : o far,

They scarce deserve the name,

6 Our faith and love, and ev'ry grace,

Fall far below thy word ;
But perfect truth and righteousness
Dwell only with the Lord.
PSALM 119. Eighth Part.

Eighth Part. C. M.
The excellency and variety of scripture.
ORD, I have made thy word my choice,

My lasting heritage ;
There shall my noblest pow'rs rejoice,

My warmest thoughts engage. 2 I'll read the histries of thy love,

And keep thy laws in sight; While thro? thy promises I rove,

With ever fresh delight. 3 'Tis a broad land of wealth unknown,

Where springs of life arise ; Seeds of immortal bliss are sown,

And hidden glory lies.
4 The best relief that mourners have ;

It makes our sorrows blest ;
Our fairest hope beyond the grave, ,
And our eternal rest.
PSALM 119. Ninth Part. C. M.
The teaching of the Spirit with the Word.
HY mercies fill the earth, () Lord,

How good thy works appear !
Open mine eyes to read thy word,

And see thy wonders there.
2 My heart was fashion'd by thy hand,

My service is thy due :
O make thy servant understand

The duties he must do !
3 Since I'm a stranger here below,

Let not thy path be hid ;

But mark the road my feet should

And be my constant guide. 4 When I confess’d my wand'ring ways,

Thou heard'st my soul complain ; Grant me the teachings of thy grace,

Or I shall stray again. 5. If God to me his statutes show,

And heav'nly truth impart ; His work forever I'll pursue,

His law shall rule my heart. ..
6 This was my comfort when I bore

Variety of grief ;
It made me learn thy word the more,

And fly to that relief,
7 In vain the proud deride me now ;

I'll ne'er forget thy law, Nor let that blessed gospel go,

Whence all my hopes I draw. 8 When I have learn'd my Father's will,

I'll teach the world his ways;
My thankful lips, inspir’d with zeal,
Shall loud pronounce his praise.
PSALM 119. Tenth Part. C., M.

Pleading the promises. 1 BEHOLD thy waiting servant, Lord,

Devoted to thy fear ;
Remember and confirm thy word :

For all my hopes are there.
2 Hast thou not sent salvation down,

And promis'd quick’ning grace ? Doth not my heart address thy throne ?

And yet thy love delays. 3 Mine eyes for thy salvation fail;

O bear thy servant up!