5 The Lord our Saviour ever lives,
His name be ever blest;
His powerful arm the vict'ry gives,
And gives his people rest.
PSALM XIX. First Part. C. M. *
The Voice of Nature proclaiming God.
1 THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
Which that alone can fill ;
The firmament and stars express
Their great Creator's skill.
2 The dawn of cach returning day
Fresh beams of knowledge brings;
And from the dark returns of night,
Divine instruction springs.
3 Their powerful language to no realm
Or region is confin'd;
'Tis nature's voice, and understood
Alike by all mankind.
4 Their doctrine does its sacred sense
Through earth's extent display,
Whose bright contents the circling sun
Does round the world convey.
5 No bridegroom, on his nuptial day, Has such a cheerful face
No giant does like him rejoice
To run his glorious race.
From east to west, from west to east,
His restless course he goes;
And, through his progress, clicerful light
And vital warmth bestows.
PSALM XIX. Sec. Part. C. M. * or b
The Excellency of Scripture.
1 GoD's perfect law converts the soul,
Reclaims from false desires;
With sacred wisdom his sure word
The ignorant inspires.
2 The statutes of the Lord are just,
And bring sincere delight;
His pure commands in search of truth
Assist the feeblest sight.
3 His perfect worship here is fix'd,
On sure foundations laid;
His equal laws are in the scales
Of truth and justice weigh'd.
4. Of more esteem than golden mines,
Or gold refin'd with skill;
More sweet than honey, or the drops
Which from the comb distil.
5 My trusty counsellors they are,
And friendly warning give;
Divine rewards attend on those
Who by thy precepts live.
6 But what frail man observes how oft
He does from virtue fall?
O cleanse me from my secret faults,
Thou God, who know'st them all.
PSALM XIX. Long Metre.
Nature and Scripture compared.
1 THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
In every star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.
2 The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days thy power confess;
But the blest volume thou hast writ
Reveals thy justice and thy grace.
3 Sun, moon and stars convey thy praise
Through the whole earth, and never stand;
So when thy truth began its race,
It touch'd and glanc'd on every land.
4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,
Till through the world thy truth has run;
Till Christ hath all the nations blest
That see the light or feel the sun.
5 Great Sun of righteousness, arise;
Bless the dark world with heavenly light;
Thy gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.
6 Thy noblest wonders here we view,
In souls renew'd and sins forgiven;
Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew,
And make thy word my guide to heaven.
PSALM XIX. Six Line L. M. * 1 GREAT God, the heaven's well order'd frame Declares the glory of thy name;
Here thy rich works of wonder shine;
A thousand starry beauties there,
A thousand radiant marks appear
Of boundless power and skill divine.
2 From night to day, from day to night,
The dawning and the dying light
Lectures of heavenly wisdom read;
With silent eloquence, they raise
Our thoughts to our Creator's praise,
And neither sound nor language need.
3 Yet their divine instructions run Far as the circuit of the sun,
And every nation knows their voice; Where'er he spreads his beams abroad, He publishes his Maker, God,
Rolls round, and makes the earth rejoice.
4 But when we read thy written word,
What light and joy those leaves afford!
These are our study and delight:
Not honey so invites the taste,
Nor gold that hath the furnace past,
Appears so pleasing to the sight.
5 From the discov'ries of thy law,
The perfect rules of life we draw;
But 'tis thy blessed gospel, Lord,
Which makes our guilty conscience clean,
Converts our soul, subdues our sin,
And gives a free but large reward.
6 Who knows the errors of his thoughts!
Forgive, O Lord, our secret faults,
And from presumptuous sins restrain :
Accept the tribute of our praise,
That we have read thy book of grace,
And book of nature, not in vain.
PSALM XIX. Short Metre.
For the Lord's Day Morning.
1 BEHOLD, the morning sun
Begins his glorious way,
His beams through all the nations run,
And life and light convey.
2 But where the gospel comes,
It spreads diviner light;
It calls dead sinners from their tombs,
And gives the blind their sight.
3 How perfect is thy word!
And all thy judgments just!
For ever sure thy promise, Lord,
And we securely trust.
4 My gracious God, how plain
Are thy directions given!
O may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven!
5 I hear thy word with love;
O help me to obey!
Send thy good Spirit from above,
To guide me, lest I stray.
6 Whilst with my heart and tongue
I spread thy praise abroad;
Accept the worship and the song,
My Saviour and my God.
PSALM XX. Long Metre.
For a Day of Prayer in War.
1 Now may the God of power and grace
Attend his humble people's cry;
Jehovah hears when Israel prays,
And sends deliv'rance from on high.
2 The name of Jacob's God defends
Better than shields or brazen walls;
He from his sanctuary sends
Succour and strength when Zion calls
3 Well he remembers all our sighs,
His love exceeds our best deserts;
His love accepts the sacrifice
Of humble groans and broken hearts.
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