Part 37 (1/2)

2 Under the shadow of thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is thine arm alone, And our defence is sure.

3 Before the hills in order stood, Or earth receiv'd her frame, From everlasting thou art G.o.d, To endless years the same.

4 Thy word commands our flesh to dust, ”Return, ye sons of men:”

All nations rose from earth at first, And turn to earth again.

5 A thousand ages in thy sight Arc like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun.

6 [The busy tribes of flesh and blood, With all their lives and cares, Are carried downwards by thy flood, And lost in following years.

7 Time like an ever-rolling stream Bears all its Sons away; They fly forgotten as a dream Dies at the opening day.

8 Like flowery fields the nations stand Pleas'd with the morning light; The flowers beneath the mower's hand Lie withering ere 'tis night.]

9 Our G.o.d, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be thou our guard while troubles last, And our eternal home.

Psalm 90:3. 8 11 9 10 12. 2d Part. C. M.

Infirmities and mortality the effect of sin; or, Life, old age, and preparation for death.

1 Lord, if thine eyes survey our faults, And justice grow severe, Thy dreadful wrath exceeds our thoughts, And burns beyond our fear.

2 Thine anger turns our frame to dust; By one offence to thee Adam with all his sons have lost Their immortality.

3 Life like a vain amus.e.m.e.nt flies, A fable or a song; By swift degrees our nature dies, Nor can our joys be long.

4 'Tis but a few whose days amount To threescore years and ten, And all beyond that short account is sorrow, toil, and pain.

5 [Our vitals with laborious strife Bear up the crazy load, And drag those poor remains of life Along the tiresome road.]

6 Almighty G.o.d, reveal thy love, And not thy wrath alone; O let our sweet experience prove The mercies of thy throne!

7 Our souls would learn the heavenly art T' improve the hours we have, That we may act the wiser part, And live beyond the grave.

Psalm 90:4. 13 &c. Third Part. C. M.

Breathing after heaven.

1 Return, O G.o.d of love, return; Earth is a tiresome place: How long shall we thy children mourn Our absence from thy face!

2 Let heaven succeed our painful years, Let sin and sorrow cease, And in proportion to our tears So make our joys increase.

3 Thy wonders to thy servants show, Make thy own work complete, Then shall our souls thy glory know, And own thy love was great.

4 Then shall we s.h.i.+ne before thy throne In all thy beauty, Lord; And the poor service we have done Meet a divine reward.

Psalm 90:5. 5 10 12. S. M.

The frailty and shortness of life.