1

And thus, 'till mortal life shall end,
Would I perform thy will.

PSALM 119. Fourth Part.

Instruction from scripture.

C. M.

HOW 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.

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.

Thy word is everlasting truth;
How pure is ev'ry page!

1

That holy book shall guide our youth,
And well support our age.

PSALM 119. Fifth Part, C. M.
Delight in scripture.

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 gospel, Lord.

3 How 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

1

Are pillars to support my hope';

And there I write thy praise.

PSALM 119. Sixth Part. C. M.

Holiness and comfort from the Word.

ORD, I esteem thy judgments right,
And all thy statutes just;

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;

1

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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.

LET 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

grave;
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. C. M.
The excellency and variety of scripture.

1 LORD, 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 hist'ries 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. 1HY mercies fill the earth, O 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 go
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.

1BEHOLD 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!