Nor root, nor branch, nor leaf was found, Where all that pride had been.
7 But mark the man of righteousness, His sev'ral steps attend:
True pleasure runs thro' all his ways, And peaceful is his end.
PSALM 38. C. M.
Prayer for pardon and health.
AMID thy wrath remember love,
Restore thy servant, Lord;
Nor let a father's chast'ning prove Like an avenger's sword. 2 Thine arrows stick within my heart, My flesh is sorely prest: Between the sorrow and the smart, My spirit finds no rest.
3 My sins a heavy load appear, And o'er my head are gone; Too heavy for my soul to bear, Too hard for me t' atone.
4 My thoughts are like a troubled sea, My head still bending down; And I go mourning all the day, Beneath my Father's frown.
5 Lord, I am weak and broken sore, None of my pow'rs are whole : The inward anguish makes me roar, The anguish of my soul.
6 All my desire to thee is known, Thine eye counts ev'ry tear; And ev'ry sigh, and ev'ry groan, Is notic'd by thine ear.
♫ Thou art my God, my only hope, My God will hear my cry:
My God will bear my spirit up, When Satan bids me die.
8 My foes rejoice to see me slide Into the miry pit:
They raise their pleasure and their pride, When they supplant my feet.
9 But I'll confess my guilt to thee, And grieve for all my sin : I feel how weak my graces be, And beg support divine.
10 My God, forgive my follies And be forever nigh:
O Lord of my salvation haste, Before thy servant die.
PSALM 39. First Part. C. M. Prudence and zeal.
HUS I resolv'd before the Lord:
Tis Now will I watch my tongue, "Lest I let slip one single word; "Or do my neighbour wrong."
2 And, if I'm e'er constrain'd to stay With men of lives profane; I'll set a double guard that day, Nor let my talk be vain.
3 I'll scarce allow my lips to speak The pious thoughts I feel;
Lest scoffers should th' occasion take
To mock my holy zeal.
4 Yet if some proper
I'll not be overaw'd;
But let the scoffing sinners hear, That I can speak for God,
PSALM 39. Second Part. C. M.
The vanity of man as mortal. EACH me the measure of my days, my Thou maker of frame :
I would survey life's narrow space, And learn how frail I am.
2 A span is all that we can boast; How short, how fleet our time! Man is but vanity and dust, In all his flow'r and prime.
3 See the vain race of mortals move Like shadows o'er the plain: They rage and strive, desire and love; But all their noise is vain.
4 Some walk in honour's gaudy show; Some dig for golden ore;
They toil for heirs they know not who, And straight are seen no more.
5 What should I wish or wait for then From creatures, earth and dust? They make our expectations vain, And disappoint our trust.
6 Now I forbid my carnal hope, My fond desires recall : I give my mortal interest up, And make my God my
PSALM 39. Third Part. C. M. Sick-bed devotion.
OD of my life, look gently down, Behold the pains I feel;
But I am dumb before thy throne, Nor dare dispute thy will.
2 Diseases are thy servants, Lord, They come at thy command:
I'll not attempt a murm'ring word, Against thy chast'ning hand.
3 Yet I may plead with humble cries, "Remove thy sharp rebukes :" My strength consumes, my spirit dies, Thro' thy repeated strokes.
4 Crush'd as a moth beneath thy hand, We moulder to the dust: Our feeble pow'rs can ne'er withstand, And all our beauty's lost. 5 This mortal life decays apace, How soon the bubble's broke! Adam, and all his num'rous race, Are vanity and smoke.
6 I'm but a sojourner below, As all my fathers were; May I be well prepar'd to go, When I the summons hear.
7 But, if my life be spar'd a while Before my last remove;
Thy praise shall be my bus'ness still, And I'll declare thy love.
PSALM 40. First Part. C. M.
Deliverance from great distress. WAITED patient for the Lord; He bow'd to hear my cry: He saw me resting on his word, And brought salvation nigh.
2 He rais'd me from a horrid pit, Where mourning long I lay ; And from my bonds releas'd my feet, Deep bonds of miry clay.
3 Firm on a rock he made me stand; And taught my cheerful tongue
To praise the wonders of his hand, In a new, thankful song.
4 I'll spread his works of grace abroad; The saints with joy shall hear : And sinners learn to make my God Their only hope and fear.
5 How many are thy thoughts of love! Thy mercies, Lord, how great! We have not words, nor hours enough, Their numbers to repeat.
6. When I'm afflicted, poor and low, And light and peace depart, My God beholds my heavy woe, And bears me on his heart.
PSALM 40. Second Part. C. M. The incarnation and sacrifice of Christ.
BEHOLD the blest Redeemer comes!
Th' eternal Son appears!
And at the appointed time assumes The body, God prepares!
2 Jesus reveal'd his Father's grace, And his rich mercy show'd: He preach'd the way of righteousness, And spread his truth abroad.
3. His Father's honour touch'd his heart, He pitied sinners' cries; And, to fulfil a Saviour's part,
Was made a sacrifice.
4 No blood of beasts, on altars shed, Could wash the conscience clean; The sacrifice which Jesus paid Atones for all our sin.
5 Then was the great salvation spread, And Satan's kingdom shook :
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