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11 Their fond opinions thefe pursue, How fhould the Lord our actions view, 12 Behold the wicked! these are they And yet their wealth's increas'd each day, 13, 14 Then have I cleans'd my heart, faid If all the day opprefs'd I lie,

15 Thus did I once to fpeak intend; Thy children, Lord, I must offend,

till they with them profanely cry,
can he perceive who dwells to high!"
who openly their fins profefs;
and all their actions meet fuccefs.
I, and wash'd my hands from guiltin
and every morning fuffer pain. [vain,
but, if fuch things I rafhly fay,
and bafely thould their caufe betray.

The Second Part.

16, 17 To fathom this my thoughts 1 bent, but found the cafe too hard for me; Till to the houfe of God I went,

then I their end did plainly fee. 18 How high foe'er advanc'd, they all on flipp'ry places loosely ftand; Thence into ruin headlong fall, caft down by thy avenging hand. [ftroy'd; 19, 20 How dreadful and how quick their fate! defpis'd by thee when they're deAs waking men with fcorn do treat the fancies that their dreams employ'd. 21, 22 Thus was my heart with grief opprett, my reins were rack'd with refflefs So ftupid was I, like a beast, who no reflecting thought retains.

23, 24 Yet ftill thy prefence me fupply'd,
Thou firft fhalt with thy counsel guide,
25 Whom then in heav'n, but thee alone,
Throughout the spacious earth there's none
26 My trembling flesh and aching heart
But God fhall inward ftrength impart,
27 For they that far from thee remove,
If after other gods they rove,

28 But as for me, 'tis good and juft
In him I always put my truft,

[pains; and thy right hand affiftance gave: and then to glory me receive. have I, whofe favour I require? that I befides thee can defire. may often fail to fuccour me, and my eternal portion be. fhall into fudden ruin fall; thy vengeance shall destroy them all. that I fhould ftill to God repair; and will his wondrous works declare.

PSALM LXXIV.

WHY haft thou caft us off, O God?

O why againft thy chofen flock 2 Think on thy ancient purchase, Lord, By thee redeem'd, and Sion's mount, 30 come, and view our ruin'd ftate! See how the foe, with wicked rage, 4 Thy foes blafpheme thy Name, where late The heathen there, with haughty pomp, 5, 6 Thofe curious carvings, which did once With ax and hammer they deftroy,

Thy holy temple they have burnt: Has been profan'd, and quite defac'd, 8 Thy worthip wholly to deftroy And all the facred places burn'd, 2 Yet of thy prefence thou vouchsaf'ft We have no prophet now, that knows

wilt thou no more return?
does thy fierce anger burn?
the land that is thy own;
where once thy glory fhone.
how long our troubles laft!
has laid thy temple wafte!
thy zealous fervants pray'd;
their banners have difplay'd.
advance the artift's fame,
like works of vulgar frame.
and what escap'd the flame
though facred to thy Name.
maliciously they aim'd;
where we thy praise proclaim'd.
no tender figns to fend;
when this fad ftate fhall end.

The Second Part.

10 But, Lord, how long wilt thou permit th' infulting foe to boaft? Shall all the honour of thy Name

for evermore be loft?

II Why hold't thou back thy ftrong right hand, and on thy patient breaft, When vengeance calls to ftretch it forth, fo calmly lett'it it reft? 12 Thou heretofore, with kingly power, in our defence haft fought; For us, throughout the wond'ring world, haft great falvation wrought. 13 'Twas thou, O God, that didft the fea by thy own ftrength divide; Thou brak'ft the wat'ry monsters' heads, the waves o'erwhelm'd their pride. 14 The greateft, fiercest of them all, that feem'd the deep to fway, Was by thy pow'r destroy'd, and made to favage beafts a prey. 15 Thou clav'ft the folid rock, and mad'ft the waters largely flow; Again thou mad'st thro' parting ftreams thy wond'ring people go.

the black return of night; and ev'ry feebler light: in perfect order ftand;

16 Thine is the cheerful day, and thine
Thou haft prepar'd the glorious fun,
17 By thee the borders of the earth
The fummer's warmth, and winter's cold, attend on thy command.

The Third Part.

18 Remember, Lord, how fcornful foes And how the foolish people have 190 free thy mourning turtle-dove, Nor the affembly of thy poor

20 Thy ancient cov'nant, Lord, regard, For now each corner of the land 210 let not the oppreis'd return But let the helpless and the poor 22 Arife, O God, in our behalf, Remember how infulting fools 23 Make thou the boaftings of thy foes Whofe infolence, if unchaftis'd,

PSALM

TO thee, O God, we render praise,
For that thy Name to us is nigh,
2 In Ifrael when my throne is fix'd,
3 'The land with difcord thakes, but I
4 Deluded wretches I advis'd

And warn'd bold finners, that they fhould
5 Bear not yourfelves fo high, as if
Submit your ftubborn necks, and learn
6 For that promotion, which to gain
From neither eaft, nor weft, nor yet
7 For God the great difpofer is,
Who cafts the proud to earth, and lifts
8 His hand holds forth a dreadful cup,
The deadly mixture, which his wrath
Of this his faints fometimes may tafte;
The bitter dregs, and be condemn'd
9 His prophet, I to all the world
'The juftice then of Jacob's God
10 The wicked's pride I will reduce,
Exalt the juft, and feat him high,

PSALM

have daily urg'd our shame;
blafphem'd thy holy Name.
by finful crowds befet;
for evermore forget.

and make thy promife good; is fill'd with men of blood. with forrow cloth'd and thame; for ever praise thy Name. thy cause and ours maintain; each day thy Name profane ! for evermore to cease; will more and more increase. LXXV.

to thee with thanks repair; thy wondrous works declare. with me thall justice reign: the finking frame fuftain. their errors to redress, their fwelling pride fupprefs. no pow'r could yours reftrain; to fpeak with lefs difdain. your vain ambition ftrives, from fouthern climes arrives. and fov'reign Judge alone, the humble to a throne. with purple wine 'tis crown'd; deals out to nations round. but wicked men fhall fqueeze to drink the very lees. this meffage will relate; my fong thall celebrate. their cruelty difarm; above the reach of harm.

LXXVI.

(Almighty there by wonders fhown,)

His Name in Jacob does excel;

IN Judah the Almighty's known, 2 His fanctuary in Salem ftands;

the Majefty that heav'n commands

In Sion condefcends to dwell.

3 He brake the bow and arrows there, the thield, the temper'd sword, and fpear, There flain the mighty army lay;

4 Whence Sion's fame through earth is fpread, of greater glory, greater dread, Than hills where robbers lodge their prey.

5 Their valiant chiefs, who came for spoil, themselves met there a fhameful foil; Securely down to fleep they lay:

But wak'd no more; their ftouteft band ne'er lifted one refifting hand

'Gainft his, that did their legions slay.

6 When Jacob's God began to frown,

both horfe and charioteers, o'erthrown, Together slept in endless night.

[appear,

7 When thou, whom earth and heav'n revere, doft once with wrathful look

What mortal pow'r can stand thy fight?

[thou did❜ft come,

8 Pronounc'd from heav'n, earth heard its doom; grew hush'd with fear, when

9 The meek with juftice to reftore:

10 The wrath of man thall yield thee praife; its laft attempts but serve to raise The triumphs of Almighty pow'r.

11 Vow to the Lord, ye nations bring

vow'd prefents to th' eternal King Thus to his Name due rev'rence pay:

12 Who proudeft potentates can quell;

T

to earthly kings more terrible, Than to their trembling fubjects they. PSALM LXXVII.

God I cried, who to my help
2 In trouble's difmal day I fought
All night my feft'ring wound did run,
My foul no comfort would admit,
3 I thought on God, and favours paft,
found my fpirit more opprefs'd,
4 Through ev'ry watch of tedious night
My grief is fwell'd to that excefs,
5 I call to mind the days of old,
Those famous years of ancient times,
6 By night I recollect my fongs,
Then fearch, confult, and ask my heart,
Has God for ever caft us off?
Are both his mercy and his truth
9 Can his long-praclis'd love forget
Has he in wrath fhut up and feal'd
10 I faid, My weakness hints these fears:
I'll yet remember the Moft High,
II I'll call to mind his works of old,
12 On them my heart shall meditate,
13 Safe lodg'd from human fearch on high,
Who is fo great a God as ours?

14 Long fince a God of wonders thee
15 Long fince haft thou thy chofen feed
16 When thee, O God, the waters saw,
The troubled depths themselves, for fear,
17 The clouds pour'd down, while rending
Thy arrows all abroad were fent,

did graciously repair;
my God with humble pray'r.
no med'cine gave relief;
my foul indulg'd her grief.
but that increas'd my pain;
the more I did complain.
thou keep'ft my eyes awake;
I figh, but cannot speak.
with fignal mercy crown'd,

for miracles renown'd.
on former triumphs made;
where's now that wondrous aid?
withdrawn his favour quite ?
retir'd to endless night?
its wonted aids to bring?
his mercy's healing spring?
but I'll my fears difband;
and years of his right hand.
the wonders of his might;
my tongue thall them recite.
O God, thy counfels are!
who can with him compare?
thy refcu'd people found:
with ftrong deliv'rance crown'd.
the frighted billows fhrunk ;
beneath their channels funk.
fkies did with their noise conspire;
wing'd with avenging fire."

18 Heav'n with thy thunder's voice was torn, whilft all the lower world With lightnings blaz'd, earth fhook, and feem'd from her foundations hurl'd. 19 Through rolling ftreams thou find ft thy Thy wondrous passage, where no fight 20 Thou ledd'it thy people like a flock, By Mofes, their meek skilful guide,

PSALM

HEAR, O my people; to my law
Let the inftruction of my mouth
2 My tongue, by inspiration taught,
Dark oracles, but understood,

3 Which we from facred registers
And our forefathers' pious care

4 We will not hide them from our fons;
The praises of the Lord, whofe ftrength
5 For Jacob he this law ordain'd;
With charge to be from age to age,
6 That generations yet to come
Religiouйly tranfmit the fame,

To teach them that in God alone
That they thould ne'er his works forget,

way, thy paths in waters lie;
thy footsteps can defcry.
fafe through the defert land,
and Aaron's facred hand.

LXXVIII.

devout attention lend;
deep in your hearts defcend.
fhall parables unfold,

and own'd for truths of old.
of ancient times have known,
to us have handed down.
our offspring thall be taught
has works of wonder wrought.
this league with Ifrael made;
from race to race convey'd;
fhould to their unborn heirs
and they again to theirs.
their hope fecurely ftands;
but keep his juft commands.
unfteadfaft in his grace.

8 Left, like their fathers, they might prove a ftiff rebellious race, Falfe-hearted, fickle to their God,

9 Such were revolting Ephraim's fons, And skilful archers, arm'd with bows,

who, though to warfare bred, from field ignobly fled.

10, II They falfify'd their league with God, his orders difobey'd,

Forget his works and miracles

before their eyes difplay'd.

12 Nor wonders which their fathers faw Prodigious things in Egypt done

13 He cut the feas to let them pafs, While, pil'd in heaps, on either fide 14 A wondrous pillar led them on, A helt'ring cloud it prov'd by day,

did they in mind retain ;
and Zoan's fertile_plain.
reftrain'd the preffing flood;
the folid waters food.
compos'd of fhade and light;
a leading fire by night.

15 When drought opprefs'dthem, where no ftream the wilderness supplied, He cleft the rock, whose flinty breast

diffolv'd into a tide.

16 Streams from the folid rock he brought, which down in rivers fell, That, trav'ling with their camp, each day renew'd the miracle.

17 Yet there they finn'd against him more, provoking the Moft High, In that fame defert, where he did their fainting fouls fupply.

18 They first incens'd him in their hearts, that did his pow'r diftruft,
And long'd for meat, not urg'd by want, but to indulge their luft.
19 Then utter'd their blafpheming doubts," Can God (fay they) prepare
"A table in the wilderness,

20" He smote the flinty rock, 'tis true,
"But can he corn and fleth provide
21 The Lord with indignation heard:
On Jacob fell, confuming wrath

fet out with various fare?

and gufhing ftreams enfu'd;
for fuch a multitude?"
from heav'n avenging flame
on thanklefs Ifrael came.
in God would not confide,
their wants fo oft fupplied.

22 Because their unbelieving hearts
Nor truft his care, who had from heav'n
23 Though he had made his clouds discharge provifions down in thow'rs;
And, when earth fail'd, reliev'd their needs from his celeftial ftores.

24 Though tafteful manna was rain'd down, their hunger to relieve;
Though from the ftores of heav'n they did fuftaining corn receive.
25 Thus man, with angels' facred food, ungrateful man, was fed;
Not fparingly, for ftill they found
a plenteous table spread."

26 From heav'n he made an eaft wind blow, then did the fouth command,
27 To rain down fleth, like duft, and fowls like fea's unnumber'd fand.
28 Within their trenches he let fall the luscious eafy prey,
And all around their spreading camp
the ready booty lay.

29 They fed, were fill'd: he gave them leave their appetites to feaft; 30, 31 Yet ftill their wanton luft crav'd on, nor with their hunger ceas'd. But whilft in their luxurious mouths they did their dainties chew, The wrath of God fmote down their chiefs, and Ifrael's chofen flew.

The Second Part.

32 Yet ftill they finn'd, nor would afford his miracles belief;
33 Therefore through fruitlefs travels he
34 When fome were flain, the reft return'd
35 Own'd him the rock of their defence,
36 But this was feign'd fubmiffion all;
37 Their heart was itill perverfe, nor would
38 Yet, full of mercy, he forgave,
But turn'd his kindled wrath afide,
39 For he remember'd they were flesh
A murm'ring wind that's quickly paft,
40 How oft did they provoke him there,
In that fame defert where he did

41 They tempted him by turning back,
When Ifrael's God refus'd to be
42 Nor call'd to mind the hand and day
43 His figns in Egypt, wondrous works
44 Heturn'd their rivers into blood,
And rather chofe to die of thirst,
45 He fent devouring fwarms of flies;
46 Locufts and caterpillars reap'd

confum'd their lives in grief.
to God with early cry;
their Saviour, God moft high.
their heart their tongue belied;
firm in his league abide.
nor did with death chastise;
or would not let it rife.
that could not long remain;
and ne'er returns again.
how oft his patience grieve,
their fainting fouls relieve!
and wickedly repin'd,
by their defires confin'd.
that their redemption brought;
in Zoan's valley wrought.
that man and beast forbore,
than drink the putrid gore.
hoarte frogs annoy'd their foil;
the harveft of their toil.

47 Their vines with batt'ring hail were broke, with froft the fig-tree dies; 48 Lightning and hail made flocks and herds one general facrifice.

49 He turn'd his anger loose, and fet
And, with their plagues, bad angels fent
So He clear'd a paffage for his wrath
The murrain on their firftlings feiz'd
51 The deadly peft from beaft to man,
It flew their heirs, their eldeft hopes,
52 But his own tribe, like folded sheep,
And them conducted like a flock
53 He led them on, and in their way
But march'd fecurely through those deeps,
54 Nor ceas'd his care, till them he brought
And to his holy mount, the prize
55 To them the outcaft heathen's land
And in their foes' abandon'd tents

The Third

56 Yet ftill they tempted, ftill provok'd
Nor would to practife his commands
57 But in their faithlefs fathers' fteps
They turn'd afide, like arrows fhot
58 For him to fury they provok'd
And with their graven images

59 When God heard this, on Ifrael's tribes
60 He quitted Shiloh, and the tents
61 To vile captivity his ark,
62 His people to the fword he gave,
63 Destructive war their ableft youth
No virgin was to th' altar led

64 In fight the facrificer fell,

no time for it to cease;
their torments to increase.
to ravage uncontroll'd;
in ev'ry field and fold.
from field to city came;
through all the tents of Ham.
he brought from their diftrefs,
throughout the wilderness.
no cause of fear they found;
in which their foes were drown'd.
fafe to his promis'd land,
of his victorious hand.
he did by lot divide;
made lfrael's tribes refide.

Part.

the wrath of God moft high;
their ftubborn hearts apply.
perverfely chofe to go;
from fome deceitful bow.
with altars fet on high;
inflam'd his jealoufy.

his wrath and hatred fell;
where once he chofe to dwelt.
his glory to difdain,

nor would his wrath restrain.
untimely did confound;
with nuptial garlands crown'd.
the priest a victim bled;

And widows, who their death fhould mourn, themselves of grief were dead.

65 Then, as a giant rous'd from fleep, Shouts out aloud, the Lord awak'd,

whom wine had throughly warm'd. and his proud foe alarm'd.

66 He fmote their hofts, that from the field a fcatter'd remnant came,

With wounds imprinted on their backs

of everlasting thame.

67 With conquefts crown'd, he Jofeph's tents and Ephraim's tribe forfook;
68 But Judah chofe, and Sion's mount
69 His temple he erected there,
While deep and fix'd, as that of earth,
70 His faithful fervant David too
And from the sheepfolds him advanc'd
71 From tending on the teeming ewes,
His own inheritance, the tribes
72 Exalted thus the monarch prov'd
He fed them with an upright heart,

for his lov'd dwelling took.
with fpires exalted high,
the ftrong foundations lie.
he for his choice did own,
to fit on Judah's throne.
he brought him forth to feed
of Ifrael's chofen feed.
a faithful thepherd ftill;
and guided them with skill.

PSALM LXXIX.

BEHOLD, O God, how heathen hofts
Thy facred houfe they have defil'd,
2 The mangled bodies of thy faints
Their fleth expos'd to favage beafts,
3 Quite through Jerus'lem was their blood
And none were left alive to pay

4 The neighb'ring lands our Imall remains
And we a laughing-ftock are made
5 How long wilt thou be angry, Lord;
Shall thy devouring jealous rage,

6 On foreign lands, that know not thee,
Those finful kingdoms let it crush,

7 For their devouring jaws have prey'd And to a barren defert turn'd

8 O think not on our former fins, The utter ruin of thy faints,

have thy poffeffion feiz'd;
thy holy city raz'd.
abroad unbury'd lay;
and rav'nous birds of prey.
like common water shed;

laft duties to the dead.

with loud reproaches wound;
to all the nations round.
muft we for ever mourn?
like fire, for ever burn?
thy heavy vengeance show'r;
that have not own'd thy pow'r.
on Jacob's chofen race;
their fruitful dwelling-place.
but speedily prevent
almoft with forrow spent.

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