The Psalms of David Part 33

Psalm 78:4. 32 &c. Fourth Part.

Backsliding and forgiveness; or, Sin punished, and saints saved.

1 Great G.o.d, how oft did Israel prove By turns thine anger and thy love!

There in a gla.s.s our hearts may see How fickle and how false they be.

2 How soon the faithless Jews forgot The dreadful wonders G.o.d had wrought!

Then they provoke him to his face, Nor fear his power, nor trust his grace.

3 The Lord consum'd their years in pain, And made their travels long and vain; A tedious march thro' unknown ways Wore out their strength and spent their days.

4 Oft when they saw their brethren slain, They mourn'd and sought the Lord again; Call'd him the Rock of their abode, Their high Redeemer and their G.o.d.

5 Their prayers and vows before him rise As flattering words or solemn lies, While their rebellious tempers prove False to his covenant and his love.

6 Yet did his sovereign grace forgive The men who not deserv'd to live; His anger oft away he turn'd, Or else with gentle flame it burn'd.

7 He saw their flesh was weak and frail, He saw temptation still prevail The G.o.d of Abraham lov'd them still, And led them to his holy hill.

Psalm 80.

The church's prayer under affliction; or, The vineyard of G.o.d wasted.

1 Great Shepherd of thine Israel, Who didst between the cherubs dwell, And led the tribes, thy chosen sheep, Safe thro' the desert and the deep.

2 Thy church is in the desert now, Shine from on high and guide us thro'; Turn us to thee, thy love restore, We shall be sav'd, and sigh no more.

3 Great G.o.d, whom heavenly hosts obey, How long shall we lament and pray, And wait in vain thy kind return?

How long shall thy fierce anger burn?

4 Instead of wine and cheerful bread, Thy saints with their own tears are fed; Turn us to thee, thy love restore, We shall be sav'd, and sigh no more.

PAUSE I.

5 Hast thou not planted with thy hands A lovely vine in heathen lands?

Did not thy power defend it round, And heavenly dews enrich the ground?

6 How did the spreading branches shoot, And bless the nations with the fruit!

But now, dear Lord, look down and see Thy mourning vine, that lovely tree.

7 Why is its beauty thus defac'd?

Why hast thou laid her fences waste?

Strangers and foes against her join, And every beast devours the vine.

8 Return, almighty G.o.d, return, Nor let thy bleeding vineyard mourn; Turn us to thee, thy love restore, We shall be sav'd, and sigh no more.

PAUSE II.

9 Lord, when this vine in Canaan grew Thou wast its strength and glory too; Attack'd in vain by all its foes, Till the fair Branch of Promise rose;

10 Fair Branch, ordain'd of old to shoot From David's stock, from Jacob's root; Himself a n.o.ble vine, and we The lesser branches of the tree.

11 'Tis thy own Son, and he shall stand Girt with thy strength at thy right hand; Thy first-born Son, adorn'd and blest With power and grace above the rest.

12 O! for his sake attend our cry, Shine on thy churches lest they die; Turn us to thee, thy love restore, We shall be sav'd, and sigh no more.

Psalm 81. 1 8 16.

The warnings of G.o.d to his people; or, Spiritual blessings and punishments.

1 Sing to the Lord aloud, And make a joyful noise; G.o.d is our strength, our Saviour G.o.d; Let Israel hear his voice.

2 "From vile idolatry "Preserve my worship clean; "I am the Lord who set thee free "From slavery and sin.

3 "Stretch thy desires abroad, "And I'll supply them well "But if ye will refuse your G.o.d, "If Israel will rebel,

4 "I'll leave them," saith the Lord, "To their own l.u.s.ts a prey, "And let them run the dangerous road, "'Tis their own chosen way.

5 "Yet O! that all my saints "Would hearken to my voice!

"Soon I would ease their sore complaints, "And bid their hearts rejoice.

6 "While I destroy their foes, "I'd richly feed my flock, "And they should taste the stream that flows "From their eternal Rock."

Psalm 82.

G.o.d the supreme Governor; or, Magistrates warned.

1 Among th' a.s.semblies of the great, A greater Ruler takes his seat; The G.o.d of heaven, as Judge, surveys Those G.o.ds on earth and all their ways.

2 Why will ye then frame wicked laws?

Or why support th' unrighteous cause?

When will ye once defend the poor, That sinners vex the saints no more?

3 They know not, Lord, nor will they know, Dark are the ways in which they go; Their name of earthly G.o.ds is vain, For they shall fall and die like men.

4 Arise, O Lord, and let thy Son Possess his universal throne, And rule the nations with his rod; He is our judge, and he our G.o.d.

Psalm 83.

A complaint against persecutors.

1 And will the G.o.d of grace Perpetual silence keep?

The G.o.d of justice hold his peace, And let his vengeance sleep?

2 Behold what cursed snares The men of mischief spread; The men that hate thy saints and thee Lift up their threatening head.

3 Against thy hidden ones Their counsels they employ, And malice with her watchful eye, Pursues them to destroy.

4 The n.o.ble and the base Into thy pastures leap; The lion and the stupid a.s.s Conspire to vex thy sheep.