When in distress to thee I cried,
Thou heard'st my pray'r, and strength sup-
And still thy promis'd grace I'll claim.
Let the glad sounds, at thy command,
Thy Gospel spread from land to land,
Till all their list'ning princes hear:
Till in thy ways, with sweet delight,
To praise thy name their hearts unite :
For great thy glory shall appear!
WHERE shall I go, thou great unknown!
Beyond the bound'ries of thy throne ?
Or from thy Spirit fly?
Where, when with guilty fears opprest,
Seek shelter for my trembling breast?
Or shun th' all-seeing eye?
If up to heav'n my steps incline,
There all thy glories round me shine :
A blaze of dreadful day!
If deep in hell my soul prepare
Its gloomy bed, thy terrors there
My trembling soul dismay!
If borne on wings of morning light,
Swift as its beams, I guide my flight
Beyond the distant sea;
Yet, as beneath thine eye I stand,
I feel thine all-sustaining hand,
Which still directs my way.
If e'er I call the midnight veil,
My guilt in darkness to conceal,
Thy rays pervade the night :
I stand expos'd:-the noon-day beam
Through midnight shines:-to thee the same
The darkness, or the light!
JEHOVAH, God most high!
'Tis thou my God I own:
Then let my supplicating cry
Be heard before thy throne.
O God the Lord, thy pow'r
Salvation can impart :
Thy shield, in ev'ry dang'rous hour,
Has shelter'd o'er my heart.
Still all my foes repel,
Their dark designs restrain,
So shall the pow'rs of earth or hell,
Assault my soul in vain.
If, urg'd by Satan's hand,
My trembling soul be lost,
How will my foes exulting stand,
And o'er thy promise boast.
Thy mercy, O my God,
Shall vindicate th' opprest:
The humble poor may trust thy word,
And on thy promise rest.
The just shall praise thy name,
And men of heart sincere
Before thy throne thy love proclaim,
And dwell for ever there.
MY God, accept my early vows,
Like morning incense in thine house;
And let my nightly worship rise,
Sweet as the ev'ning sacrifice.
Watch o'er my lips, and guard them, Lord,
From ev'ry rash and heedless word;
Nor let my feet incline to tread
The guilty paths where sinners lead.
O may the righteous, when I stray,
Smite, and reprove my wand'ring way!
Their gentle words, like ointment shed,
Shall never bruise, but cheer my head."
When I behold them prest with grief,
I'll cry to heav'n for their relief;
And by my warm petitions prove,
How much I prize their faithful love.
PSALM CXLII.
TO God I make my pray❜r,
From God I seek relief;
I'll tell to him my anxious care,
And show him all my grief.
O'erwhelm'd my spirit lay,
Yet he my path discern'd,
The secret snares which spread the way,
Where'er my footsteps turn'd.
I look'd around for aid,
But none my sorrows knew,
All refuge fail'd; perplex'd, dismay'd,
No pitying eye to view.
Then, with a humble heart,
To thee my hopes aspire;
Thou, Lord, my only refuge art,
The portion I desire.
My God, my cries attend,
When in distress I lie,
From all the pow'rs of hell defend,
More pow'rful far than I.
By guilt and sorrow bound
My soul from prison free,
Then shall my lips thy name resound,
And praise ascend to thee.
Redeem'd from ev'ry fear,
By mercies so divine,
The righteous round shall crowd to hear,
And in my triumph join.
WHENE'ER the morning lights the skies,
Thy beams, O Lord, display,
And let thy loving-kindness rise,
To bless the early day.
In thee I trust, thy light afford,
And let my path be known:
I lift my soul to thee, my Lord,
My pray'r before thy throne.
From all my foes, thy pow'r display'd,
O set thy servant free:
I seek thy mercy's friendly shade,
And hide myself with thee.
Thou art my God, thy will express,
And teach me to obey :
And let thy Spirit, rich in grace!
Direct me in thy way.
O raise me to the life divine,
My Saviour's name I plead :
And, Lord, since righteousness is thine,
From ev'ry trouble lead.
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