Ordain'd with dignity and state
O'er all thy works to reign.
5 They jointly own his powerful sway,
The beasts that prey or graze ;
The bird that wings its airy way,
The fish that cuts the seas.
6 O thou, to whom all creatures bow,
Within this earthly frame,
Through all the world, how great art thou!
How glorious is thy name!
Adam and Christ, or the old and new Creation.
1 LORD, what was man when made at first, Adam, the offspring of the dust,
That thou shouldst set him and his race,
But just below an angel's place?
2 That thou shouldst raise his nature so,
And make him Lord of all below;
Make every beast and bird submit,
And lay the fishes at his feet!
3 But what sublimer glories wait
To crown the second Adam's state!
What honours shall thy Son adorn,
Who condescended to be born!
4 See him below his angels made!
See him in dust among the dead!
To save the world from death and sin :
But he shall reign with power divine.
5 The world to come, redeem'd from all
The mis'ries that attend the fall,
New made and glorious, shall submit
At our exalted Saviour's feet.
PSALM IX. ver. 10, 11.
L. M.
Encouragement to Faith.
1 SING to the Lord, who loud proclaims
His various and his saving names;
O may they not be heard alone,
But by our sure experience known.
2 The great Jehovah be ador'd,
Th' eternal, all-sufficient Lord;
Through all the world, most high confess'd,
By him 'twas form'd, and is possess'd.
3 Awake, our noblest powers, to bless
The God of Abra'm, God of Peace;
Now, by a dearer title known,
Father and God of Christ his Son.
4 Through every age his gracious ear
Is open to his servant's pray'r;
Nor can one humble soul complain
That he has sought his God in vain.
5 What unbelieving heart shall dare
In whispers to suggest a fear,
While still he owns his ancient name,
The same his power, his love the same.
6 To thee our souls in faith arise,
To thee we lift expecting eyes,
And boldly through the desert tread,
For God will guard where God shall lead.
A Prayer for Deliverance from Oppression.
1 WHY doth the Lord stand off so far,
And why conceal his face,
When great calamities appear,
And times of deep distress?
2 Lord, shall the wicked still deride
Thy justice and thy power?
Shall they erect their heads in pride,
And better men devour?
3 Arise, O God! lift up thy hand,
Attend our humble cry;
No enemy shall dare to stand,
When God our help is nigh.
4 Thou wilt prepare our hearts to pray,
And still incline thine ear;
Thou knowest what thy children say,
And thou their voice wilt hear.
5 Proud tyrants shall no more oppress,
No more despise the just;
And mighty sinners shall confess
They are but earth and dust.
1 ON God my steadfast hopes rely;
Why do my foes insulting cry,
"Fly like a tim'rous, trembling dove,
"And seek the mountain's lonesome grove?"
2 Behold the wicked aim their darts
Against the men of upright hearts!
If government be overthrown,
Who then the injur'd cause will own?
3 The Lord, enthron'd above the sky,
On suff'ring virtue casts his eye;
Though he afflict his saints, to prove
Their patience, and to try their love;
4 Yet lawless hands and hearts impure,
His frowns vindictive will endure;
His lightning wings its rapid way,
His thunder fills them with dismay.
5 Where truth and justice hold their place,
God will reveal his gracious face;
Delighted in the upright mind
His own reflected beams to find.
PSALM XII. Common Netre.
Corruption of Manners.
1 HELP, Lord! for men of virtue fail,
Religion loses ground;
The sons of wickedness prevail,
And treacheries abound.
2 Their oaths and promises they break,
Yet act the flatt'rer's part;
With fair deceitful lips they speak,
And with a double heart.
3 Scoffers appear on every side,
Where a vile race of men
Are rais'd to seats of power and pride,
And bear the sword in vain.
4 Lord, when iniquities abound,
And blasphemy grows bold;
When faith is hardly to be found,
And love is waxen cold;
5 Is not thy chariot hast'ning on?
Hast thou not given the sign?
May we not trust and live upon
A promise so divine?
6 Thy word, like silver seven times try'd,
Through ages shall endure;
The men who in thy truth confide,
Shall find thy promise sure.
Complaint under Temptation.
1 How long wilt thou conceal thy face?
My God, how long delay ?
When wilt thou send thy heavenly rays
To drive my fears away?
2 How long shall my distressed soul
Struggle and toil in vain?
Thy word can all my foes control,
And ease my raging pain.
3 Be thou my sun, and thou my shield,
My soul in safety keep;
Make haste, before my eyes are seal'd
In death's eternal sleep.
4 How would the tempter boast aloud,
If I become his prey,
And all the host of hell grow proud,
At thy so long delay!
5 But they shall fly at thy rebuke,
And Satan hide his head;
He knows the terrors of thy look,
And hears thy voice with dread.
6 Thou wilt display that sov'reign grace
On which my hopes have hung;
I shall employ my lips in praise,
And vict'ry shall be sung.
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