Part 42 (1/2)

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 wors.h.i.+p 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 wors.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+nes; His strokes are lighter than our sins; And while his rod corrects his saints, His ear indulges their complaints.