10 My God, forgive my follies past,
And be forever nigh;
O Lord of my salvation, haste,
Before thy servant die.]
PSALM 39.-1st Part.
Ver. 1, 2, 3. Watchfulness over the tongue; or, prudence and seal.
1 THUS I resolv'd before the Lord,
"Now will 1 watch my tongue,
"Lest I let slip one sinful word,
"Or do my neighbour wrong."
And if I'm e'er constrain'd to stay
With men of lives profane,
I'll set a double guard that day,
Nor let my talk be vain.
3 I'll scarce allow my lips to speak
The pious thoughts I feel,
Lest scoffers should th' occasion take
To mock my holy zeal.
4 Yet if some proper hour appear,
I'll not be over-aw'd,
But let the scoffing sinners hear
That I can speak for God.
PSALM 39.-2d Part. C. M. [b] Ver. 4-7. The vanity of man as mortal. EACH me the measure of my days, Thou Maker of my frame!
I would survey life's narrow space,
And learn how frail I am.
2 A span is all that we can boast,
An inch or two of time;
Man is but vanity and dust,
In all his flower and prime.
3 See the vain race of mortals move
Like shadows o'er the plain;
They rage and strive, desire and love,
But all their noise is vain.
4 Some walk in honour's gaudy show,
Some dig for golden ore;
They toil for heirs, they know not who,,
And straight are seen no more.
5 What should I wish, or wait for then
From creatures, earth, and dust?
They make our expectations vain,
And disappoint our trust.
6 Now I forbid my carnal hope,
My fond desires recal;
I give my mortal int'rest up,
And make my God my all.
PSALM 39.—3d Part. C. M. [b] Ver. 9-13. Sick-bed devotion; or, pleading without repining.
1 GOD of my life, look gently down,
Behold the pains I feel;
But I am dumb before thy throne,
Nor dare dispute thy will.
2 Diseases are thy servants, Lord;
They come at thy command;
I'll not attempt a murmuring word
Against thy chastening hand.
3 Yet may I plead with humble cries,
"Remove thy sharp rebukes ;"
My strength consumes, my spirit dies,
Through thy repeated strokes.
4 Crush'd as a moth beneath thy hand,
We moulder to the dust;
Our feeble powers can ne'er withstand,
And all our beauty's lost.
5 [This mortal life decays apace,
How soon the bubble's broke!
Adam and all his numerous race
Are vanity and smoke.]
6 I'm but a sojourner below,
As all my fathers were;
May I be well prepar'd to go,
When I the summons hear.
7 But if my life be spar'd awhile,
Before my last remove,
Thy praise shall be my business still,
And I'll declare thy love.
PSALM 40.-1st Part. C. M. [*]
Ver. 1, 2, 3, 5, 17.
A song of deliverance from great distress.
WAITED patient for the Lord;
He bow'd to hear my cry;
He saw me resting on his word,
And brought salvation nigh.
2 He rais'd me from a horrid pit,
Where, mourning, long I lay;
And from my bonds releas'd my feet,
Deep bonds of miry clay.
3 Firm on a rock he made me stand,
And taught my cheerful tongue
To praise the wonders of his hand,
In a new thankful song.
I'll spread his works of grace abroad;
The saints with joy shall hear;
And sinners learn to make my God
Their only hope and fear.
5 How many are thy thoughts of love!
Thy mercies, Lord, how great!
We have not words nor hours enough
Their numbers to repeat.
6. When I'm afflicted, poor and low,
And light and peace depart,
My God beholds my heavy wo,
And bears me on his heart.
PSALM 40.—2d Part. C. M. [*]
Ver. 6-9.
The incarnation and sacrifice of Christ. THUS saith the Lord," Your work is vain,
"Give your burnt off'rings o'er; "In dying goats and bullocks slain My soul delights no more."
Then spake the Saviour, "Lo, I'm here,
My God, to do thy will;
"Whate'er thy sacred books declare,
"Thy servant shall fulfil.
"Thy law is ever in my sight,
"I keep it near my heart;
"Mine ears are open'd with delight
"To what thy lips impart."
And see, the blest Redeemer comes!
Th' eternal Son appears!
And at th' appointed time assumes
The body God prepares.
5 Much he reveal'd his Father's grace,
And much his truth he shew'd,
And preach'd the way of righteousness,
Where great assemblies stood.
6 His Father's honour touch'd his heart,
He pity'd sinners' cries,
And, to fulfil a Saviour's part,
Was made a sacrifice.
7 No blood of beasts, on altars shed,
Could wash the conscience clean;
But the rich sacrifice he paid
Atones for all our sin.
8 Then was the great salvation spread,
And Satan's kingdom shook;
Thus by the woman's promis'd Seed
The serpent's head was broke.
PSALM 40.-L. M. [*]
Ver. 5-10. Christ our sacrifice.
THE wonders, Lord, thy love nas wrought,
Exceed our praise, surmount our thought; Should I attempt the long detail,
My speech would faint, my numbers fail.
2 No blood of beasts on altars spilt,
Can cleanse the souls of men from guilt;
But thou hast set before our eyes
An all-sufficient sacrifice.
3 Lo! thine eternal Son appears!
To thy designs he bows his ears;
Assumes a body well prepar'd,
And well performs a work so hard.
"Behold, I come," (the Saviour cries,
With love and duty in his eyes)
"I come to bear the heavy load
"Of sins, and do thy will my God.
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