The nature and effects of the fear of God.---1 Pet. iii. 10---12.

9 COME near, ye children, and give ear; I'll train you in Jehovah's fear:

Say, who among you longs and prays
For life, and health, and prosp'rous days?
10 From evil words thy tongue withhold;
No falsehood by thy lips be told;
Flee vice; and with affection true,
In peace delight, and peace pursue.
11 Jehovah's eyes the just survey;

His ears are open when they pray;
But sinners, who transgress his word,
Shall meet the terrors of the Lord.

The faithful preserved amidst all the tribulations of this mortal life.

12 THE righteous cry-Jehovah hears; Dispels their troubles, soothes their fears. He's to the broken-hearted nigh,

And hears the contrite spirit sigh.

13 Tho' various are the scenes of woe,
Tho' num'rous griefs the righteous know,
Jehovah rescues him from all,

Maintains his strength, prevents his fall.
14 Evil shall slay the foes of God;
Who hate the just, shall feel the rod:
But none who trust Jehovah's word,
Shall be deserted of the Lord.

PSALM 35.

A prophetical Psalm.---Messiah's supplication for aid in his

sufferings.

1 LORD, plead my cause against my foes,
Who dare me to the fight;

Thy buckler and thy shield oppose,
And guard me by thy might.

2 Draw out thy spear, and stop their way,
Lift thine avenging rod;
But to my soul in mercy say,

"I am thy Saviour God."

3 Then shall my soul in God rejoice; And these her praises be,

While all my powers unite their voice,—

Lord, who is like to thee!"

The sufferings and subsequent triumph of Messiah.---Matt. xxvi. 57---68; xxvii. 29---49.---Mark xiv. 56.---Luke xix. 41.--John xvii.

4 MUSE on the Son of David's woes, Surrounded by malicious foes. Hark, lying witnesses revile,

And charge him with unthought of guile.

5 Their malice as his mercy strong,
His kindness recompens❜d with wrong;
For them he fasted, wept, and mourn'd,
Tho' on himself his
prayer return'd.

6 What kind compassion fill'd his mind!
More than a friend in him we find:
Not brethren's sympathy so great,
Nor sons', that mourn a mother's fate.

7 Yet when they saw him sore distrest,
Round with malignant joy they prest,
And, round his cross, the abject band
Gnash with their teeth, and scornful stand.

8 Jehovah saw-he came to save;

He rais'd the Saviour from the grave.
Then let the church His grace proclaim,
And sound the Saviour's power and name.

PSALM 36.

The attributes of God contrasted with the disposition of those who are destitute of his fear.

1

2

3

4

5

WITHIN my heart I spake,
There error's source I saw;

The wicked, Lord, thy fear forsake,
Then boldly break thy law.
With self-delusion blind,

They hide their crimes within;
Till God by strict inquiry find
And manifest their sin.

Their words from truth depart,
Deceit is on their tongue;

Wisdom is banish'd from their heart,
They haste to practise wrong.

Thy mercies, Lord, transcend
The heav'ns exalted high,
Thy truth and faithfulness extend
Beyond the lofty sky.

Firm as the mountain's base,

Thy righteousness we own;

Who can thy wondrous judgments trace?
Those awful depths unknown!

The providence and grace of God.

6 O LORD, thy providential care
The favour'd race of man sustains;
And for the beasts thy hands prepare
The fruitful fields, and flow'ry plains.
7 Since of thy goodness all partake,

With what assurance should the just
Thy shelt'ring wings their refuge make,
And saints to thy protection trust.
8 Such guests shall to thy courts be led,
To banquet on thy love's repast;
And drink, as from a fountain's head,
Of joys that shall for ever last.

9 With thee the springs of life remain,
Thy presence is eternal day;
O let thy saints thy favour gain;

To upright hearts thy truth display.
VERSION II.

1 HIGH as the heav'ns, eternal God,
Thy goodness in full glory shines;
Thy truth shall break through ev'ry cloud
That veils and darkens thy designs.

2 For ever firm thy justice stands,

As mountains their foundations keep;
Wise are the wonders of thy hands,
Thy judgments are a mighty deep.
3 Thy providence is kind and large,
Both man and beast thy bounty share;
The whole creation is thy charge,

But saints are thy peculiar care.

4 MY God! how excellent thy grace, Whence all our hope and comfort springs! The sons of Adam in distress

Fly to the shelter of thy wings.

5 From the provisions of thy house
We shall be fed with sweet repast;
There mercy, like a river, flows,
And brings salvation to our taste.
6 Life, like a fountain rich and free,
Springs from the presence of our Lord;
And in thy light our souls shall see
The glories promis'd in thy word.

PSALM 37.

Sinful anxiety condemned.

1 LET not the sinner's wealth or might
The envy of thy soul excite:

Anon thine eye shall see him fade,
Quick as the flow'r, or vernal blade.

The mercies of God an encouragement to his people, under their troubles in the world.

9

10

11

12

HOW great thy mercies are

To such as fear thy name,

Which thou, for those that trust thy care,
Dost to the world proclaim !

Thou keep'st them in thy sight,

From proud oppressors free;

From tongues that do in strife delight,
They are preserv'd by thee.

O all ye saints, the Lord
With eager love pursue;
He to the just will help afford,
And give the proud their due.
Ye that on God rely,

Courageously proceed;

For he will still our hearts supply,
With strength in time of need.

PSALM 32.

The second penitential Psalm (See Ps. 6.)---The occasion 2 Sam. 12.--- Cited in Rom. iv. 6.

1 HOW blest, whose sins have pardon gain'd,
No more in judgment to appear!
Whose guilt remission has obtain❜d,
And whose repentance is sincere!

2 I hid my sin within my breast,

And pin'd beneath the secret wound;
But, with thy heavy hand opprest,
No respite from distress I found.

3 Yet soon as I to thee disclos'd

The guilt that tortur'd me within,
Thy kind forgiveness interpos'd,
And mercy's healing balm pour'd in.