2 Not walls, nor hills, could guard so well
Old Salem's happy ground,
As those eternal arms of love,
That every saint surround.
3 Deal gently, Lord! with souls sincere,
And lead them safely on
To the bright gates of paradise,
Where Christ, the Lord, is gone.
PSALM 125, Second Part, C. M.
The Safety of the Saints.
HO make the Lord of hosts their tower,
Shall like Mount Zion be,
Immoveable by mortal power,—
Built on eternity.
mf 2 As, round about Jerusalem,
The guardian mountains stand,
So shall the Lord encompass them
Who hold by his right hand.
3 The rod of wickedness shall ne'er
Against the just prevail,
Lest innocence should find a snare,
And tempted virtue fail.
4 Do good, O Lord! do good to those,
Who cleave to thee in heart,
Who on thy truth alone repose,
Nor from thy law depart.
5 While rebel-souls, who turn aside,
Thine anger shall destroy,
Do thou in peace thy people guide
To thine eternal joy.
PSALM 125, S. M.
The Saint's Safety in Trial.
IRM and unmoved are they,
Who rest their souls on God;
Firm as the mount where David dwelt,
Or where the ark abode.
2 As mountains stood to guard
The city's sacred ground,
So God, and his almighty love,
Embrace his saints around.
3 What though the Father's rod
Drop a chastising stroke?
Yet, lest it wound their souls too deep,
Its fury shall be broke.
4 Deal gently, Lord! with those,
Whose faith and pious fear,-
Whose hope and love, and every grace,
Proclaim their heart sincere.
PSALM 125, 8s, 7s and 4.
The God of Zion.
✓ 17ION stands with hills surrounded,
Zion, kept by power divine;
All her foes shall be confounded,
Though the world in arms combine :--
Happy Zion!
What a favored lot is thine.
2 Every human tie may perish,
Friend to friend unfaithful prove,
Mothers cease their own to cherish,
Heaven and earth at last remove;
But no changes
Can attend Jehovah's love.
3 In the furnace God may prove thee,
Thence to bring thee forth more bright;
But can never cease to love thee;
Thou art precious in his sight:
God is with thee:-
God, thine everlasting light.
PSALM 126, L. M.
Joyful Change.
HEN God, from sin's captivity,
Sets his afflicted people free,-
Lost in amaze, their mercies seem
The transient raptures of a dream.
2 But soon their ransomed souls rejoice,
And mirth and music swell their voice,
Till foes confess, nor dare condemn,
"The Lord hath done great things for them."
3 They catch the strain and answer thus-
"The Lord has done great things for us,
Whence gladness fills our hearts; and songs,
Sweet and spontaneous, wake our tongues."
4 Who sow in tears shall reap in joy:
Nought shall the precious seed destroy;
Not long the weeping exiles roam,
But bring their sheaves rejoicing home.
PSALM 126, First Part, C. M.
The Change effected by Grace.
HEN God revealed his gracious name,
And changed my mournful state,
My rapture seemed a pleasing dream,
The grace appeared so great.
2 The world beheld the glorious change,
And did thy hand confess;
My tongue broke out in unknown strains,
And sung surprising grace.
mf 3 "Great is the work!"-my neighbors cried, And owned the power divine;
“Great is the work!"-my heart replied,— "And be the glory thine."
mf 4 The Lord can clear the darkest skies, Can give us day for night;
Make drops of sacred sorrow rise
To rivers of delight.
5 Let those, who sow in sadness, wait
Till the fair harvest come:
They shall confess their sheaves are great,
And shout the blessings home.
PSALM 126, Second Part, C. M.
The Mercy of God to his People.
f 1 V E servants of the living God!
Let praise your hearts employ;
And, as you tread the heavenly road,
Lift up the voice of joy.
2 Have they not reason to rejoice,
Whose sins have been forgiven;--
Called by a gracious Father's voice
To be the heirs of heaven?
3 How do the captive's transports flow,
When rescued from his chains!
And how must sinners joy to know
Their great deliverer reigns!
4 Oh! grant us, Lord! to feel and own
The power of love divine,
The blood that doth for sin atone,
The grace which makes us thine.
5 The spirit of adoption give:
Teach us, with every breath,
To sing thy praises while we live,
And bless thy name in death.
The Blessing of God necessary to Success.
God succeed not, all the cost
And pains to build the house are lost;
If God the city will not keep,
The watchful guards as well may sleep.
2 What if you rise before the sun,
And work and toil when day is done,
Careful and sparing eat your bread,
To shun that poverty you dread?
3 'T is all in vain, till God hath blessed;
He can make rich, yet give us rest:
Children and friends are blessings too,
If God our sovereign make them so.
4 Happy the man, to whom he sends
Obedient children, faithful friends;
How sweet our daily comforts prove,
When they are seasoned with his love.
Effort in vain without God. m 1 TF God to build the house deny, The builders work in vain;
And towns, without his wakeful eye,
A useless watch maintain.
2 Before the morning beams arise,
Your painful work renew,
And, till the stars ascend the skies,
Your tiresome toil pursue.
3 Short be your sleep, and coarse your fare,
In vain, till God has blessed;
But, if his smiles attend your care,
You shall have food and rest.
4 Not children, relatives, nor friends,
Shall real blessings prove,
Nor all the earthly joys he sends,
If sent without his love.
PSALM 127, 8s and 7s.
Protection and Success are from God.
AINLY, through night's weary hours,
Keep ye watch, lest foes alarm;-
Vain our bulwarks, and our towers,
But for God's protecting arm.
2 Vain were all our toil and labor,
Did not God that labor bless;
Vain, without his grace and favor,
Every talent we possess.
3 Vainer still the hope of heaven,
That on human strength relies;
But to him shall help be given,
Who ir humble faith applies.
4 Seek we, then, the Lord's Anointed,
He will grant us peace and rest;
Ne'er was suppliant disappointed,
Who through Christ his prayer addressed.
PSALM 128, C. M.
Happiness of the Pious.
H! happy man, whose soul is filled
With zeal and reverend awe;
His lips to God their honors yield,
His life adorns the law.
2 A careful providence shall stand,
And ever guard thy head;
Shall on the labors of thy hand
Its kindly blessings shed.
3 The Lord shall thy best hopes fulfill,
For months and years to come:
The Lord, who dwells on Zion's hill,
Shall send thee blessings home.
mf 4 This is the man, whose happy eyes
Shall see his house increase;
Shall see the sinking church arise,
Then leave the world in peace.
from my youth,-may Israel say,
Have I been nursed in tears;
My griefs were constant as the day,
And tedious as the years.
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