6 This life's a dream, an empty show;
But the bright world to which I go,
Hath joys substantial and sincere;
When shall I wake and find me there?
7 O glorious hour! O blest abode!
I shall be near and like my God!
And flesh and sin no more control
The sacred pleasures of the soul.
8 My flesh shall slumber in the ground
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound;
Then burst the chains with sweet surprise,
And in my Saviour's image rise.
PSALM 18. (see 2 SAM. xxii.)
Acknowledgment of the power and grace of God. 1 O GOD, my strength and fortitude, Of force I must love thee.
Thou art my fortress and defence,
In my necessity;
2 My God, my rock, in whom I trust,
The worker of my wealth;
My refuge, buckler, and my shield,
The horn of all my health.
3 I will sing praise unto the Lord
Most worthy to be serv'd;
Then from my foes I am right sure
That I shall be preserv❜d.
Celebration of deliverance by divine interposition. 4 WHEN sore beset with pain and grief, I prayed to God for
And he forthwith heard my complaint
Out of his holy place.
5 The Lord descended from above,
And bow'd the heav'ns most high;
And underneath his feet he cast
The darkness of the sky.
6 On cherubim and seraphim
Full royally he rode:
And on the wings of mighty winds
Came flying all abroad.
7 He brought me forth in open place,
That so I might be free;
And kept me safe, because he had
A favour unto me.
The promises and saving power of God, engaged to aid in our spiritual warfare.
8 LIGHT of thy saints-thy ways are pure;
Thy word will bear the strictest test;
For thou hast been a buckler sure
To those that on thy promise rest.
9 Who then is God, except the Lord?
Who but our God his saints can shield-
Gird them with strength-and aid afford,
Their arms victoriously to wield.
10 The buckler of his saving health
Me from assailing foes protects;
His hand sustains; he works my wealth;
And he my feeble step directs.
Glory to God among the Gentiles for the mercies of redemption.
Rom. xv. 9.
11 LET the eternal Lord be prais'd,
Our rock, on whose defence we rest!
O'er highest heavens His name be prais❜d,
Who us with his salvation blest.
12 Our universal safeguard He!
From whom our signal mercies flow;
His saints he saves, and sets them free
From Satan their remorseless foe.
13 Therefore, his mercies to proclaim,
We will to him thanksgivings raise;
And Gentiles, strangers to his name,
Shall learn to celebrate his praise.
14 God to his King deliv'rance sends;
Shews his Anointed signal grace;
And mercy evermore extends
To Christ and all his promis'd race.
PSALM 19.
God manifested by the works of creation.
1 THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display,
And publishes, to every land,
The work of an Almighty hand.
2 Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth:
While all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
3 What though, in solemn silence, all
Move round this dark terrestrial ball?
What though no real voice, nor sound,
Amidst their radiant orbs be found?
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;
For ever singing, as they shine,
"The hand that made us is divine."
God manifested by his word, as the light of the spiritual world.
Rom. x. 18.
4 HOW perfect is the law of God!
His covenant how sure!
Converting souls, and making wise
The simple and obscure.
5 The statutes of the Lord are right,
And cheer the drooping heart;
His clear commands to darken'd eyes
A heavenly light impart.
6 The precepts of the fear of God
For ever shall remain;
The judgments of the Lord are true
And free from ev'ry stain.
7 More precious than the purest gold
The treasures of thy word;
The honey and the honey-comb
Less sweetness can afford.
8 Its pages teach thy perfect will,
And friendly warnings give;
Great the reward, and sweet the peace,
While by thy word we live.
Confession of sin, and prayer for grace and acceptance.
9 BLEST Instructor, from thy ways
Who can tell how oft he strays?
Cleanse me from the guilt that lies
Wrapt within my heart's disguise.
10 Let me thence, by thee renew'd,
Each presumptuous sin exclude:
May my spirit be sincere,
Sin have no dominion there.
11 Let my tongue, from error free,
Speak the words approv'd by thee:
To thy all-observing eyes
Let my thoughts accepted rise.
12 While I thus thy name adore,
And thy healing grace implore,
Blest Redeemer, bow thine ear;
God, my strength, propitious hear.
Prayer for the King in time of war.
1 THE Lord to thy request attend,
And hear thee in distress;
The name of Jacob's God defend,
And send thee good success;
2 To aid thee from on high repair,
And strength from Sion give;
Remember all thy off'rings there,
Thy sacrifice receive;
3 Accomplish all thy heart's desire,
And grant thee all thy will;
And kindly make events conspire
Thy counsel to fulfil.
Anticipation of success, and reliance on God alone.
4 THE Lord of Hosts his aid will grant, To him let us repair;
Our banners in his name we plant;
The Lord accept thy prayer.
5 Firm our assurance that the Lord
Our sov'reign will befriend;
From heaven resistless aid afford,
And with his strength defend.
6 Some trust in steeds for war design'd,
On chariots some rely;
Against them all we call to mind
The power of God Most High.
70 Thou, whom earth and heaven obey, Thy saving power declare;
O when we praise, and when we pray,
Hear and accept our prayer.
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