O Lord, my God, observe my cry,
Let not my pray'r unnotic'd lie:
My eyes with beams of mercy bless,
Lest death's long sleep my soul oppress..
Say, shall the foe the vict'ry claim
O'er him who rests upon thy name ?
If faith decline-if hope decay,
My griefs their triumphs will display.
But still on mercy I rely,
To mercy's sov'reign aid I fly;
Let thy salvation, Lord, impart,
Its holy raptures to my heart.
Then to the Lord with joy I'll raise
The song of gratitude and praise:
His grace in endless blessings flows!
How vast the bounty he bestows!
"NO God," the foolish sinner cries,
And sends his gloomy fears away:
His heart corrupt the law defies,
In sin's delusive paths to stray.
From heav'n the mighty Lord directs
His eye the guilty race around:
Not one but sin's vile stain infects!
Not one in paths of duty found!
Madly they rage, his saints devour,
Nor to his throne their pray'r ascends
They mock the counsel of the poor,
Who trust in God, whom God defends!
But ah! when earthly hopes have fail'd,
Where can the trembling soul confide?
Guilt frights the troubled mind, assail'd
With num'rous causeless fears beside!
Who then shall save the impious race,
So stain'd with guilt, so sunk in woe?
On Calvary's mount behold the grace!
From Zion see salvation flow!
Our ransom'd souls, our joyful voice,
The great Deliv'rer shall proclaim :
Let Jacob's tents aloud rejoice,
And Israel shout the Saviour's name.
JEHOVAH-who, in bliss supreme,
Shall thy eternal dwelling claim
Within th' ethereal dome?
Who fix with thee, beyond the skies,
Where Zion's sacred hills arise,
His everlasting home?
The man who, fill'd with sacred awe,
Directs his conduct by thy law;
His heart and words sincere:
His soul abhors the sland'rous joy,
That dares a neighbour's fame destroy,
Nor lends th' indulgent ear.
He swears-nor shall his word be broke,
His promise stands :-'twas truth that spoke,
Though dangers spread the way;
He loathes the gold which av'rice gains,
Nor-for his hand the bribe disdains,—
Will innocence betray.
The man who thus thy law obeys,
Secur'd, my God, in all his ways,
Thy holy hill shall see :
'Tis Jesus-spotless and divine!
My Saviour, thus thy glories shine!
Conform my soul to thee.
BEFORE my eyes the Lord I'll place,
Ne'er shall my soul forget his grace,
Near my right hand, my guard confest,
My God-on whom unmov'd I rest!
What though I yield my fainting breath,
And sink amidst the shades of death?
My body to the tomb resign?
I am the Lord's, the Lord is mine!
My heart exults-with dying voice
My soul (my glory) shall rejoice!
Soon shall I triumph o'er the grave,
Since thou hast sov'reign pow'r to save.
From thence the Lord, my Saviour rose,
There shall my flesh in hope repose:
My rising Lord, by faith I see,
Secures that victory to me.
From it's long sleep my flesh shall wake,
Shall rise and death's dominion break:
Jesus hath led the wond'rous way
To life-to bliss-to endless day!
There joy's full plenitude is known,
Before thy face, around thy throne:
At thy right hand-a boundless store!
Where pleasures flow for evermore!
HEAR, Lord, when truth and justice plead,
While at thy throne I intercede :
From lips sincere my pray'rs arise;
O save me from deceit and lies!
Conscious of guilt, I dread thy sight;
Yet, crush'd beneath malignant might,"
I wait my sentence from thy throne,
Whose eyes regard the truth alone.
To thee in midnight shades expos'd,
Thy trial has my heart disclos'd;
But when thine eyes have search'd me thro'
What secret sin arose to view?
"Tis fix'd-my lips shall not transgress,
The solemn vow I'll not release:
Keep by thy Word my soul has fled
The dang'rous paths which sinners tread.
ON my God, my spirit stays,
Strict perfection marks his ways:
Lo! his word my light and guide,
Shines the more, the more 'tis tried:
All who trust in him have found,
Him their buckler spread around.
Other gods my lips deny,
But Jehovah, God most high!
Who another rock can place,
But our God of boundless grace?
'Tis his all-sufficient might
Girds me for the heav'nly fight.
He my dang'rous way shall lead,
Perfect all the strength I need:
See, in flight, the bounding hind
Leaves the rapid steed behind!
Thus doth he my strength supply,
Till he place my soul on high.
By his word and spirit taught,
Form'd for war, my hands have fought,
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