That dare forget thee, or rebel

Against thy known commands.

6 Though saints to sore distress are brought,
And wait, and long complain,
Their cries shall never be forgot,
Nor shall their hopes be vain.
[Rise, great Redeemer, from thy seat,
To judge and save the poor;
Let nations tremble at thy feet,
And man prevail no more.

8 Thy thunder shall affright the proud,
And put their hearts to pain;
Make them confess that thou art God,
And they but feeble men.]

1

PSALM 10.-C. M. [b]

Prayers heard, and saints saved; or pride, atheism, and oppression punished.

WHY

HY 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 advance their heads in pride,
And still thy saints devour?

S They put thy judgments from their sight,
And then insult the poor,
They boast in their exalted height,
That they shall fall no more.

4 Arise, O God, lift up thine hand;
Attend our humble cry;

No enemy shall dare to stand
When God ascends on high.

PAUSE.

5 Why do the men of malice rage,
And say, with foolish pride,
The God of heaven will ne'er engage
To fight on Zion's side?

6 But thou forever art our Lord;
And powerful is thine hand,
As when the heathens felt thy sword,
And perish'd from thy land.

7 Thou wilt prepare our hearts to pray,
And cause thine ear to hear:
Hearken to what thy children say,
And put the world in fear.

8 Proud tyrants shall no more oppress,
No more despise the just;

And mighty sinners shall confess
They are but earth and dust.

PSALM 11.-L. M. [*]

God loves the righteous, and hates the wicked.

MY refuge is the God of love;

Why do my foes insult, and cry Fly like a lim'rous, trembling dove, To distant woods or mountains fly? 2 If government be all destroy'd, (That firm foundation of our peace) And violence make justice void,

Where shall the righteous seek redress?

.8 The Lord in heaven has fix'd his throne; His eyes survey the world below; To him all mortal things are known; His eye-lids search our spirits through. 4 If he afflicts his saints so far,

To prove their love and try their grace,

What may the bold transgressors fear? His very soul abhors their ways. 5 On impious wretches he shall rain Tempests of brimstone, fire and death, Such as he kindled on the plain

Of Sodom, with his angry breath.

6 The righteous Lord loves righteous souls,
Whose thoughts and actions are sincere,
And with a gracious eye beholds
The men who his own image bear.

PSALM 12.-L. M. [b]

The saint's safety and hope in evil times; or, sins of the tongue complained of, viz. blas phemy, falsehood, &c.

if

Virtue and truth will flee away;

A faithful man among us here

Will scarce be found, if thou delay.

2 The whole discourse, when neighbours Is fill'd with trifles loose and vain: [meet, Their lips are flatt'ry and deceit, And their proud language is profane. 3 But lips that with deceit abound Shall not maintain their triumph long: The God of vengeance will confound The flatt'ring and blaspheming tongue. 4 Yet shall our words befree, they cry, Our tongues shall be controll'd by none; Where is the Lord will ask us why? Ur say our lips are not our own?" 5 The Lord, who sees the poor opprest, And hears th' oppressor's haughty strain,

Will rise to give his children rest,

Nor shall they trust his word in vain. 6 Thy word, O Lord, though often try'd, Void of deceit shall still appear;

Not silver, sev'n times purify'd

From dross and mixture, shines so clear. 7 Thy grace shall, in the darkest hour, Defend the holy soul from harm; Though when the vilest men have power, On every side will sinners swarm.

PSALM 12.-C. M. [b]

Complaint of a general corruption of manners; or, the promise and signs of Christ's coming to judgment.

1

HEL

TELP, Lord, for men of virtue fail';
Religion loses ground!

The sons of violence 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 If we reprove some hateful lie,
How is their fury stirr❜d!
Are not our lips our own, they cry,
And who shall be our Lord?

4 Scoffers appear on every side,
Where a vile race of men

Is raised to seats of power and pride,
And bear the sword in vain.

PAUSE.

5 Lord, when iniquities abound, And blasphemy grows bold,

When faith is hardly to be found,
And love is waxing cold;
6 Is not thy chariot hastening on?
Hast thou not given the sign?
May we not trust and live upon
A promise so divine?

7 "Yes," saith the Lord, "now will I rise, "And make oppressors flee;

"I shall appear to their surprise,
"And set my servants free."

8 Thy word, like silver sev'n times try'd,
Through ages shall endure:
The men who in thy truth confide
Shall find thy promise sure.

1

PSALM 13.-L. M. [b]

Pleading with God under desertion: or, hope in darkness.

1 HOW long, O Lord, shall I complain,

Like one who seeks his God in vain?

Canst thou thy face forever hide,
And I still pray and be deny'd?

2 Shall I forever be forgot,

As one whom thou regardest not?
Still shall my soul thy absence mourn?
And still despair of thy return?

3 How long shall my poor troubled breast Be with these anxious thoughts oppress'd? And Satan, my malicious foe,

Rejoice to see me sunk so low?

4 Hear, Lord, and grant me quick relief,
Before my death concludes my grief;
If thou withhold'st thy heavenly light.
I sleep in everlasting night.