6 Holy art thou, O God, and great!
Who can like Thee be found?
Thou doest wonders, and thy flock
Hast with deliv'rance crown'd.

7 The waters saw thee, mighty God!
The waters saw, and fled:

Earth trembled, and thy thunder roar'd;
Thine arrowy lightning sped.

8 Ocean thy way,-thy path the sea,—
Thy footsteps were not seen,
Which led thy flock, by Moses' hand,
To Canaan's peaceful scene.
PSALM 78.

God's dealings with Israel to be handed down for the admonition of successive generations.-- 1 Cor. x. 1.--11.

1 LET children hear the mighty deeds
Which God perform'd of old;
Which in our younger days we saw,
And which our fathers told.

2 He bids us make his glories known,
His works of power and grace;
And we'll convey his wonders down
To ev'ry rising race.

3 Our lips shall tell them to our sons,
And they again to theirs:
That generations yet unborn
May teach them to their heirs.

4 Thus shall they trust in God alone
Their everlasting stay;

Nor latest times his works forget,

But his commands obey.

The punishment of the Israelites, when dissatisfied with manna, and lusting for flesh.---Numb. xi.- -Deut. vi. 11; ix. 22. 5 GOD his forgetful people tries,

And chastens them in love;

Humbles their pride, their wants supplies,
Their treach'rous hearts to prove.

6 Israel he fed with lib'ral hand,
And made his goodness known;
He gave the midnight clouds command
To pour the manna down.

7 His murm'ring people, in distrust,
The heavenly food despise;
Flesh only could appease their lust:
And God in wrath replies.

8 The lustful die; the rest return,
And seek the Lord with tears;
Under the rod they seek and mourn,
But soon forget their fears.

9 Lord, give us grace to know thy ways,
Nor thy good gifts abuse;

Thy chastenings own, thy mercies praise,
And thy commandments choose.

Further meditation on God's dealings with Israel in the wilderness.---Numb, xiv. 19---22.

10 GREAT God! how oft did Israel prove
By turns thy anger and thy love!

They sinn'd; their years were doom'd to flow
In trouble, and their years in woe.

11 Rous'd by the terror of thy power,
They sought thee in each dreadful hour:
Call'd thee the Rock of their abode,
Their High Redeemer, and their God.

12 Yet on their lips dissembling hung,
And flatt'ry cloth'd with lies their tongue;
While their rebellious tempers prove
False to thy covenant and love.

13 Mercy did still o'er wrath prevail;
Still did the arm of vengeance fail;
Thine anger oft away was turn'd,
Or else with gentle flame it burn'd.

14 God saw their flesh was weak and frail:
He saw temptation still prevail.-
Such, Lord, are we: our wand'rings stay,
And keep us faithful in thy way.

Israel's rebellion and idolatry in Canaan.
See the book of Judges.

15 TENDER the care, and strong the hand,
That Israel thro' the desert led!

When plac'd in Canaan's promis'd land, Their God his shield around them spread. 16 There was their fathers' guilt renew'd: Like bow unbent, they sprung aside; Each heathen custom they pursued; Forsook the Lord,-his wrath defy'd.

17 On ev'ry hill their altars rose,

Their children's blood to idols flow'd;
Till, on the heritage he chose,

The Lord no more his love bestow'd.
18 Adore that God, whose mercy spares,
Soon as his flock repentant mourn:
That mercy He for all prepares

Who, humbled, to their God return.

PSALM 79.

Occasion and subject the same as Ps. 74.---Gratitude and devotedness promised for redress and deliverance from guilt and misery.

1 HOW long wilt thou be angry, Lord!
Must we for ever mourn?
Shall thy devouring jealous rage

Like fire for ever burn?

2 Remember not our trespass, Lord,
But purge our guilt away:
Depress'd and helpless is our state;
Thy clemency display.

3 Oh! for the glory of thy name,
Be thy salvation shown;

Why should the foe with scorn inquire,
Where is the God ye own?

4 So we, thy people and thy flock,
Shall ever praise thy name;
And glad thanksgiving to our God
From age to age proclaim.
PSALM 80.

As in the 74th and 75th Psalms, the church supplicates help and redemption.

1 SHEPHERD of Israel, that dost dwell Between the Cherubim in light; -Shine forth, our darkness to dispel:

Stir up thy strength, and come with might.

2 Do thou convert us, Lord; do thou Thy cheering countenance display; Then all the woes we suffer now,

Like scatter'd clouds, shall pass away. 3 How long, O Lord, thy wrath retain ?Nor calm thy praying people's fears? The foe's reproach we still sustain,

Fed with the bitter bread of tears.

4 Do thou convert us, Lord; do thou Thy cheering countenance display; Then all the woes we suffer now,

Like scatter'd clouds, shall pass away.

The_church further prayed for, under the figure of a vine (Is. v.; Ez. xv. 17--19; Matt. xxi. 33,): and especially the royal branch of it, Messiah, the Son of David. (Is. xi. 1.; Jer. xxiii. 5; Zech. iii. 8; vi. 12.)

5 TO thee, O Lord of Hosts, we pray;
Thy wonted goodness, Lord, renew:
Thy vine, that flourish'd once, survey,
And her sad devastation view.

6 Behold the vineyard made by thee, Nurtur'd by thy right hand so long: Its broken hedge, and ruin see;

Pity the branch for thee made strong. 7 Strong be the man of thy right hand! The Son of man with triumph crown: Quicken'd by thee, thy saints shall stand, Their prayers ascend,-thy praise be shown.

8 Do thou convert us, Lord; do thou
Thy cheering countenance display;
Then all the woes we suffer now,

Like scatter'd clouds, shall pass away.
PSALM 81.

(Composed for the feast of trumpets, or other solemn festivals.)--
The blessedness of keeping the first and great commandment.
1 TO God, our strength, exalt the song,
Let the glad harp his praise prolong.
He bids us thus His Name revere:-
He speaks, if we his voice will hear.
2" Give homage to no God but me;
Before no other bow the knee.
Then let thy heart to bliss aspire,
And I'll fulfil the large desire."
3" Thus have I spoken, but in vain;
My chosen flock my yoke disdain!
I therefore left them to fulfil
The dictates of a headstrong will."

4 "O that my flock my fear retain’d,
And trod the path by me ordain'd!
I had subdued their strongest foes,
And punish'd all that them oppose."-

5 Yes, Lord, their foes to thee should bend!
Their peace and safety know no end!
Thou would'st the wheat's best fruit bestow,
And bid the rock's pure honey flow.