GOD is our refuge in distress,
A present help when dangers press;
In him undaunted we'll confide,
Tho' earth were from her centre tost,
And mountains in the ocean lost,
Torn piecemeal by the roaring tide!
We'll bow to God's almighty sway;
For him the nations shall obey,
And earth her sovereign Lord confess; The God of hosts makes bare his arm; Our tower of safety in alarm,
Our rock, and shelter in distress.
WITHDRAW not, Lord, thy help,
Nor cast me from thy sight;
Nor let thy Holy Spirit take
Its everlasting flight.
The joy thy favour gives,
Let me again obtain ;
And thy free Spirit's firm support
My fainting soul sustain.
Could sacrifice atone,
Whole flocks and herds should die ; But on such off'rings thou disdain'st To cast a pard'ning eye.
A broken spirit is
With God most highly prized; By him, a broken, contrite heart Will never be despised.
CAST me not, Lord, from out thy sight,
But speedily my sorrows end; Take not thy Spirit from me quite, Which can alone from ills defend. Restore me to those joys again, Which I was wont in thee to find;
me thine own free grace obtain,
Which back to thee shall draw
Touch thou my lips, my tongue untie,
Whene'er to thee, O Lord, I pray;
And then my heart shall testify
Thy wondrous works from day to day.
Second Part. L. M.
THE heavy heart, the mind opprest,
O Lord, thou never dost reject;
This sacrifice indeed is best;
And this alone thou dost expect.
Lord, unto Sion turn thy face;
Pour out thy mercies on thy hill,
And on Jerusalem thy grace:
Build up the walls, and love her still.
Our off'rings then thou wilt receive
Of peace and holiness alway;
A broken and a contrite heart
Upon thine altar we will lay.
PSALM 55. C. M.
How oft in sorrow have I wished
The dove's swift wings to get, That I might take my distant flight, And seek a safe retreat!—
That I might wander far from hence,
And in wild deserts stray,
Till all this furious storm were spent,
This tempest past away !—
Better to call on God, who still
Shall to our aid appear;
At early morn, and night I'll pray,
And he my voice shall hear.
N. v. PSALM 57. L. M.
THY mercy, Lord, to me extend;
On thy protection I depend;
And to thy wings for shelter haste,
Till sin's sharp tyranny be past.
From heav'n protect me by thine arm ;
Each foe within my heart disarm :
To my relief thy mercy send;
Thy truth, on which my hopes depend.
Then shall my soul be fix'd, and bent
Its thankful tribute to present:
And, with my heart, my voice I'll raise
To thee, my God, in songs of praise.
Be thou, O Lord, exalted high!
And as thy glory fills the sky,
So let it be on earth displayed,
Till thou art here, as there, obeyed.
PSALM 59. C. M.
ON thee I wait, 'tis on thy strength
For succour I depend;
"Tis thou, O God, art my defence, Who only canst defend.
Thy mercy, Lord, which has so oft
From danger set me free,
Shall crown my wishes, and subdue
My heart and soul to thee.
To thee, with never-ceasing praise,
O God, my strength, I'll sing;
Thou art my hope, the rock from whence
My health and safety spring.
PSALM 62. C. M.
My soul to God shall give good heed,
And him alone attend;
Because my ways and hopes to speed
Doth on the Lord depend.
He is my rock, my fort, my tower;
My health is of his grace;
He so supports me, that no power
Shall move me from his face.
My glory and salvation both
From him alone arise;
He is my strength-my stay; henceforth
On him my heart relies.
O put your faith in him alway,
People with one accord;
Pour out your hearts to him, and say, "Our trust is in the Lord."
N. V. PSALM 63. P. M.
O GOD, my gracious God, to thee
My morning prayers shall offer'd be;
For thee my thirsty soul doth pant;
My fainting flesh implores thy grace,
Along my hard and toilsome race,
Where I refreshing waters want.
When down I lie sweet sleep to find,
Thou still art present to my mind!
And when I wake in dead of night,
Because thou then dost comfort bring,
Beneath the shadow of thy wing
I feel a safety and delight.
O to my longing eyes once more
That view of glorious pow'r restore,
Which thy majestic throne displays;
And since to me thy wondrous love
Than life itself does dearer prove,
My lips shall always speak thy praise.
N. V. PSALM 65. L. M.
FOR thee, O God, our constant praise
In Sion waits, thy chosen seat:
Our promis'd off'rings there we'll raise,
In supplications at thy feet.
O thou, that to man's lowly voice
Dost always bend a listening ear,
In thee shall all mankind rejoice;
And at thy throne of grace appear.
Our sins, tho' numberless, in vain
To stop thy flowing mercy try;
Still thou o'erlook'st the guilty stain,
Still washest out the crimson dye.
Blest is the man, who near thee placed,
Within thy sacred guidance lives:
We'll humbly walk with God, and taste
The true delights thy service gives.
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