PSALM

CXXIX.

The Life and Death of good Men.

Common Metre.

1.

MY GOD, the steps of pious men

Are order'd by thy will;

Tho' they fhou'd fall, they rife again;
Thy hand fupports them ftill.

II.

The LORD delights to fee their ways,
Their virtue he approves ;

He'll ne'er deprive them of his
Or leave the man he loves.

The heavenly heritage is theirs,

grace,

Their portion and their home:

He feeds them now, and makes them heirs
Of bleffings long to come.

IV.

Mark well the man of righteousness,

His fev'ral steps attend;

True pleasure runs thro' all his ways,
And peaceful is his end.

PSALM CXXX.

The Justice and Goodness of GOD.
Common Métre.

I.

THY juftice, LORD, maintains its throne,

Tho' mountains melt away;

Thy judgments are a world unknown,
A deep unfathom❜d fea.

II.

Safety to men thy goodness brings,
Nor overlooks the beaft:
Beneath the shadow of thy wings
Thy children love to reft.

III.

From thee, when fhort-liv'd joys run low,
And mortal comforts die;
Perpetual fprings of life fhall flow,
And raise our pleasures high.

IV.

Tho' all created light decay,

And death close up our eyes;
Thy prefence makes eternal day,
Where clouds can never rife.

PSALM CXXXI.

The Character and Reward of the good Man.

Long Metre.

I.

THIS fpacious earth is all the LORD's,

And men, and worms, and beasts, and birds

He rais'd it high above the feas,

And form'd it for their dwelling place.

II.

But there's a brighter world on high,
The heav'nly feats above the sky :
Who fhall afcend that bleft abode,

And dwell fo near his maker GOD?

III.

He who abhors, and fears to fin,

Whose heart is pure; whofe hands are clean:
Him will the LORD delight to bless,
And cloath with robes of righteousness.

IV.

These are the men, the pious race,
Who seek their heav'nly fathers face;
These shall enjoy the blissful fight,
And dwell in everlasting light.

PSALM CXXXII.

The Seafons of the Year.

Common Metre.

I.

WITH fongs and honours founding loud

Addrefs the LORD on high;

Over the heav'ns he fpreads his cloud,
And waters veil the sky.

II.

He fends his fhow'rs of bleffings down

To chear the plains below:

He makes the grafs the mountains crown,
And corn in valleys grow.

III.

He gives the grazing ox his meat,

He hears the ravens cry:

But man who taftes his finest wheat,

Should raise his honours high.

IV.

His steady counfels change the face,
Of the declining year;

He bids the fun cut fhort his race,
And wint'ry days appear."

V.

His hoary froft, his fleecy fnow,
Descend and clothe the ground;
The liquid ftreams forbear to flow;
In icy fetters bound.

VI.

When from his dreadful ftores on high
He pours the rattling hail,

The wretch that dares his GOD defy
Shall find his courage fail.
VII.

He fends his word and melts the fnow,
The fields no longer mourn;
He calls the warmer gales to blow,
And bids the fpring return.

VIII.

The changing wind, the flying cloud, Obey his mighty word:

With fongs and honours founding loud,

Praise

W1

ye the fov'reign LORD.

PSALM CXXXIII.

The Citizen of Zion:

Common Metre.

I.

HO fhall inhabit in thy hill,
O GOD of holiness?

Whom will the LORD admit to dwell
So near his throne of grace?

II.

The man who walks in pious ways,
And works with right'ous hands;
Who trufts his maker's promises,
And follows his commands.
III.

He speaks the meaning of his heart,
Nor flanders with his tongue;
Will scarce believe an ill report,
Nor do his neighbour wrong.

IV.

The wealthy finner he contemns,
Loves all who fear the LORD;
And tho' to his own hurt he fwears,
Still he performs his word.

V.

His hands difdain a golden bribe,

And never gripe the poor:

This man fhall dwell with GOD on earth,

And find his heav'n fecure,

MY

PSALM CXXXIV.

Seeking after GOD.

Short Metre.

I.

Y GOD, permit my tongue
This joy, to call thee mine;
And let my early cries prevail
To taste thy love divine.