The Psalms of David Part 42

Psalm 102:3. 25-28. Third Part.

Man's mortality and Christ's eternity; or, Saints die, but Christ and the church live.

1 It is the Lord our Saviour's hand Weakens our strength amidst the race; Disease and death at his command Arrest us, and cut short our days.

2 Spare us, O Lord, aloud we pray, Nor let our sun go down at noon: Thy years are one eternal day, And must thy children die so soon?

3 Yet in the midst of death and grief This thought our sorrow shall a.s.suage, "Our Father and our Saviour live; "Christ is the same thro' every age."

4 'Twas he this earth's foundation laid; Heaven is the building of his hand: This earth grows old, these heavens shall fade, And all be chang'd at his command.

5 The starry curtains of the sky Like garments shall be laid aside; But still thy throne stands firm and high; Thy church for ever must abide.

6 Before thy face thy church shall live, And on thy throne thy children reign; This dying world shall they survive, And the dead saints be rais'd again.

Psalm 103:1. 1-7. First Part. L. M.

Blessing G.o.d for his goodness to soul and body.

1 Bless, O my soul, the living G.o.d, Call home thy thoughts that rove abroad; Let all the powers within me join In work and worship so divine.

2 Bless, O my soul, the G.o.d of grace; His favours claim thy highest praise; Why should the wonders he hath wrought Be lost in silence and forgot?

3 'Tis he, my soul, that sent his Son To die for crimes which thou hast done; He owns the ransom; and forgives The hourly follies of our lives.

4 The vices of the mind he heals, And cures the pains that nature feels; Redeems the soul from h.e.l.l, and saves Our wasting life from threat'ning graves.

5 Our youth decay'd his power repairs; His mercy crowns our growing years; He satisfies our mouth with good, And fills our hopes with heavenly food.

6 He sees th' oppressor and th' opprest, And often gives the sufferers rest; But will his justice more display In the last great rewarding day.

7 [His power he shew'd by Moses' hands, And gave to Israel his commands; But sent his truth and mercy down To all the nations by his Son.

8 Let the whole earth his power confess, Let the whole earth adore his grace; The Gentile with the Jew shall join In work and worship so divine.]

Psalm 103:2. 8-18. Second Part. L. M.

G.o.d's gentle chastis.e.m.e.nt; or, His tender mercy to his people.

1. The Lord, how wondrous are his ways: How firm his truth how large his grace; He takes his mercy for his throne, And thence he makes his glories known.

2 Not half so high his power hath spread The starry heavens above our head, As his rich love exceeds our praise, Exceeds the highest hopes we raise.

3 Not half so far hath nature plac'd The rising morning from the west, As his forgiving grace removes The daily guilt of those he loves.

4 How slowly doth his wrath arise!

On swifter wings salvation flies; And if he lets his anger burn, How soon his frowns to pity turn!

5 Amidst his wrath compa.s.sion shines; His strokes are lighter than our sins; And while his rod corrects his saints, His ear indulges their complaints.

6 So fathers their young sons chastise, With gentle hand and melting eyes; The children weep beneath the smart, And move the pity of their heart.

PAUSE.

7 The mighty G.o.d, the wise, and just, Knows that our frame is feeble dust; And will no heavy loads impose Beyond the strength that he bestows.

8 He knows how soon our nature dies, Blasted by every wind that flies; Like gra.s.s we spring, and die as soon, Or morning flowers that fade at noon.

9 But his eternal love is sure To all the saints, and shall endure: From age to age his truth shall reign, Nor children's children hope in vain.

Psalm 103:3. 1-7. First Part, S. M.

Praise for spiritual and temporal mercies.

1 O Bless the Lord, my soul; Let all within me join, And aid my tongue to bless his Name, Whose favours are divine.

2 O bless the Lord, my soul; Nor let his mercies lie Forgotten in unthankfulness, And without praises die.

3 'Tis he forgives thy sins, 'Tis he relieves thy pain, 'Tis he that heals thy sicknesses, And makes thee young again.

4 He crowns thy life with love, When ransom'd from the grave; He that redeem'd my soul from h.e.l.l Hath sovereign power to save.

5 He fills the poor with good; He gives the sufferers rest; The Lord hath judgments for the proud, And justice for th' opprest.

6 His wondrous works and ways He made by Moses known; But sent the world his truth and grace By his beloved Son.

Psalm 103:4. 8-18. Second Part. S. M.

Abounding compa.s.sion of G.o.d; or, Mercy in the midst of judgment.

1 My soul, repeat his praise Whose mercies are so great, Whose anger is so slow to rise, So ready to abate.

2 G.o.d will not always chide; And when his strokes are felt, His strokes are fewer than our crimes, And lighter than our guilt.

3 High as the heavens are rais'd Above the ground we tread, So far the riches of his grace Our highest thoughts exceed.

4 His power subdues our sins; And his forgiving love, Far as the east is from the west, Doth all our guilt remove.

5 The pity of the Lord To those that fear his Name, Is such as tender parents feel; He knows our feeble frame.

6 He knows we are but dust, Scatter'd with every breath; His anger, like a rising wind, Can send us swift to death.

7 Our days are as the gra.s.s, Or like the morning flower; If one sharp blast sweep o'er the field, It withers in an hour.

8 But thy compa.s.sions, Lord, To endless years endure; And children's children ever find Thy words of promise sure.

Psalm 103:5. 19-22. Third Part. S. M.

G.o.d's universal dominion; or, Angels praise the Lord.