The Psalms of David Part 28

1 We bless the Lord, the just, the good, Who fills our hearts with joy and food; Who pours his blessings from the skies, And loads our days with rich supplies.

2 He sends the sun his circuit round, To cheer the fruits, to warm the ground; He bids the clouds with plenteous rain Refresh the thirsty earth again.

3 'Tis to his care we owe our breath, And all our near escapes from death; Safety and health to G.o.d belong; He heals the weak, and guards the strong.

4 He makes the saint and sinner prove The common blessings of his love; But the wide difference that remains, Is endless joy, or endless pains.

5 The Lord, that bruis'd the serpent's head, On all the serpent's seed shall tread; The stubborn sinner's hope confound, And smite him with a lasting wound.

6 But his right hand his saints shall raise From the deep earth, or deeper seas, And bring them to his courts above, There shall they taste his special love.

Psalm 69:1. 1-14. First Part. C. M.

The sufferings of Christ for our salvation.

1 "Save me, O G.o.d, the swelling floods "Break in upon my soul: "I sink, and sorrows o'er my head "Like mighty waters roll.

2 "I cry till all my voice be gone, "In tears I waste the day: "My G.o.d behold my longing eyes, "And shorten thy delay.

3 "They hate my soul without a cause, "And still their number grows "More than the hairs around my head, "And mighty are my foes.

4 "'Twas then I paid that dreadful debt "That men could never pay, "And gave those honours to thy law "Which sinners took away."

5 Thus in the great Messiah's name, The royal prophet mourns; Thus he awakes our hearts to grief, And gives us joy by turns.

6 "Now shall the saints rejoice and find "Salvation in my Name: "For I have borne their heavy load Of sorrow, pain, and shame.

7 "Grief, like a garment, cloth'd me round, "And sackcloth was my dress, "While I procur'd for naked souls "A robe of righteousness.

8 "Amongst my brethren and the Jews "I like a stranger stood, "And bore their vile reproach to bring "The Gentiles near to G.o.d.

9 "I came in sinful mortals' stead, "To do my Father's will; "Yet when I cleans'd my father's house "They scandaliz'd my zeal.

10 "My fasting and my holy groans "Were made the drunkard's song; "But G.o.d, from his celestial throne, "Heard my complaining tongue.

11 "He sav'd me from the dreadful deep, "Nor let my soul be drown'd; "He rais'd and fix'd my sinking feet "On well establish'd ground.

12 "'Twas in a most accepted hour "My prayer arose on high, "And for my sake my G.o.d shall hear "The dying sinner's cry."

Psalm 69:2. 14-21 26 29 32. 2d Part. C. M.

The pa.s.sion and exaltation of Christ.

1 Now let our lips with holy fear And mournful pleasure sing The sufferings of our great High-Priest, The sorrows of our King.

2 He sinks in floods of deep distress: How high the waters rise!

While to his heavenly Father's ear He sends perpetual cries.

3 "Hear me, O Lord, and save thy Son, "Nor hide thy s.h.i.+ning face; "Why should thy favorite look like one "Forsaken of thy grace?

4 "With rage they persecute the man "That groans beneath thy wound, "While for a sacrifice I pour "My life upon the ground.

5 "They tread my honour to the dust, "And laugh when I complain "Their sharp insulting slanders add "Fresh anguish to my pain.

6 "All my reproach is known to thee, "The scandal and the shame; "Reproach has broke my bleeding heart, "And lies defil'd my Name.

7 "I look'd for pity, but in vain; "My kindred are my grief!

"I ask my friends for comfort round, "But meet with no relief.

8 "With vinegar they mock my thirst; "They give me gall for food; "And sporting with my dying groans, "They triumph in my blood.

9 "s.h.i.+ne into my distressed soul, "Let thy compa.s.sion save; "And tho' my flesh sink down to death, "Redeem it from the grave.

10 "I shall arise to praise thy Name, "Shall reign in worlds unknown; "And thy salvation, O my G.o.d, "Shall seat me on thy throne."

Psalm 69:3. Third Part. C. M.

Christ's obedience and death; or, G.o.d glorified and sinners saved.

1 Father, I sing thy wondrous grace, I bless my Saviour's Name, He bought salvation for the poor, And bore the sinner's shame.

2 His deep distress has rais'd us high, His duty and his zeal Fulfill'd the law which mortals broke, And finish'd all thy will.

3 His dying groans, his living songs Shall better please my G.o.d Than harp or trumpet's solemn sound, Than goats' or bullocks' blood.

4 This shall his humble followers see, And set their hearts at rest; They by his death draw near to thee, And live for ever blest.

5 Let heaven, and all that dwell on high, To G.o.d their voices raise, While lands and seas a.s.sist the sky, And join t' advance the praise.

6 Zion is thine, most holy G.o.d; Thy Son shall bless her gates; And glory purchas'd by his blood For thine own Israel waits.

Psalm 69:4. First Part. L. M.

Christ's pa.s.sion, and sinners' salvation.

1 Deep in our hearts let us record The deeper sorrows of our Lord; Behold the rising billows roll To overwhelm his holy soul.

2 In long complaints he spends his breath, While hosts of h.e.l.l, and powers of death, And all the sons of malice join To execute their curst design.

3 Yet, gracious G.o.d, thy power and love Has made the curse a blessing prove; Those dreadful sufferings of thy Son Aton'd for sins which we had done.

4 The pangs of our expiring Lord The honours of thy law restor'd; His sorrows made thy justice known, And paid for follies not his own.

6 O for his sake our guilt forgive, And let the mourning sinner live; The Lord will hear us in his Name, Nor shall our hope be turn'd to shame.

Psalm 69:5. 7 &c. Second Part. L. M.

Christ's sufferings and zeal.