O BLESS the Lord, all ye who stand
Before his awful throne;
Acknowledge his Almighty hand,
For he is God alone.
To him, ye servants of the Lord,
Your hands and voices raise ;
Worthy by all to be ador'd
With everlasting praise.
Thou Lord of heaven and earth, send down
A blessing from above;
With grace and truth thy servants crown,
And seal them with thy love.
O PRAISE the Lord with one consent,
And magnify his name;
Let all the servants of our God
His glorious name proclaim.
Praise him all ye, that in his house
Attend with constant care;
Who to his courts with holy joy
And humble zeal repair.
The Lord with unresisted might
Performs his sov'reign will;
And all the powers of heaven and earth
His wise designs fulfil.
Their sense of his unbounded love
Let all his saints proclaim;
Adore him for his mighty works,
And magnify his name.
TO God the mighty Lord,
Your joyful thanks repeat;
To him due praise afford,
As good as he is great.
WHEN we, our wearied limbs to rest,
Sat down by proud Euphrates' stream,
We wept, with doleful thoughts opprest,
And Sion was our mournful theme.
Our harps, that when with joy we sung
Were wont their tuneful parts to bear,
With silent strings neglected hung
On willow trees that wither'd there.
O Salem, our once happy seat,
When I of thee forgetful prove,
Let then my trembling heart forget
The speaking strings with art to move.
If I to mention thee forbear,
Eternal silence seize my tongue;
Or if I sing one cheerful air,
Till thy deliv'rance is my song.
WITH my whole heart, my God and King,
Thy praise I will proclaim;
Before the world with joy I'll sing,
And bless thy holy name.
Thou graciously inclin'dst thine ear,
When I to thee did cry;
And, when my soul was press'd with fear,
Didst inward strength supply.
For God, although enthron'd on high,
Does thence the poor respect;
The proud far off his scornful eye
Beholds with just neglect.
THOU, Lord. by strictest search hast known
My rising up and lying down;
My secret thoughts are known to thee,
Known long before conceiv'd by me.
Thine eye my bed and path surveys,
My public haunts and private ways;
Thou know'st what 'tis my lips would vent,
My yet unutter'd words' intent.
Surrounded by thy pow'r I stand,
On ev'ry side I find thy hand:
O skill for human reach too high!
Too dazzling bright for mortal eye!
O could I so perfidious be,
To think of once deserting thee,
Where, Lord, could I thy influence shun?
Or whither from thy presence run?
Search, try, O God, my thoughts and heart,
If mischief lurks in any part;
Correct me if I go astray,
And guide me in thy perfect way.
MY God, when dangers press me round,
And safety but in thee is found,
O leave me not alone:
Preserve my soul from ev'ry snare,
Grant me thine aid, and let my prayer
Reach thine eternal throne.
Thou art my God, my strength, my stay,
Who, in temptation's evil day,
Hast shielded me from harm:
Now to the malice of my foes,
Lord, the resistless force oppose
Of thine almighty arm.
I know that God his church will keep,
Will bid the mourner cease to weep,
And plead the poor man's cause:
When wrath the wicked shall destroy,
They shall abide in peace and joy
Who love thy righteous laws.
LORD, accept my early vows,
Like fresh incense in thy house!
Let my nightly worship rise,
Sweet as evening sacrifice.
Watch my lips, and guard them, Lord,
Check the rash and idle word;
Turn my feet, whene'er I stray,
Lead me in the perfect way.
Search and try my ev'ry thought,
That my heart accuse me not:
Walking in a false disguise,
Who can meet thy searching eyes?
Teach me, Lord, thy holy will,
Lead me to thy heav'nly hill;
Let the Spirit of thy love
Guide me to thy courts above.
MARGATE LENT.
IN deep distress to God
I pour'd my care and grief;
To him I rais'd my mournful cry,
And sought from him relief.
I look'd, but found no friend
To aid me in distress;
All refuge fail'd, and none vouchsaf'd
To pity or redress.
To God, at length I cried,
Thou, Lord, my refuge art,
My portion in the land of life,
Till life itself depart.
Redeem my helpless soul,
That I may praise thy name;
So shall assembled saints with me
Thy power and grace proclaim.
LORD, hear my pray'r, and to my cry
Thy wonted audience lend;
In thine accustom'd faith and truth
A gracious answer send.
I call to mind the days of old,
The wonders thou hast wrought;
My former dangers and escapes
Employ my musing thoughts.
To thee my hands in humble pray'r
I fervently stretch out;
My soul for thy salvation thirsts,
Like lands oppress'd with drought.
Thy kindness early let me hear,
Whose trust on thee depends;
Teach me the way where I should go ;
My soul to thee ascends.
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