1 THE heavens declare thy glory, LORD,

Which that alone can fill;
The firmament and stars express

Their great Creator's skill.
2 The dawn of each returning day

Fresh beams of knowledge brings; And from the dark returns of night

Divine instruction springs. 3 Their powerful language to no realm

Or region is confined; "T is nature's voice, and understood

Alike by all mankind. 4 Their doctrine does its sacred sense

Through earth's extent display; Its bright contents the circling sun

Does round the world convey.
5 From east to west, from west to east,

His ceaseless course he goes;
And, through his progress, cheerful light

And yital warmth bestows.

C. M.

PART II.
I God's perfect law converts the soul,

Reclaims from false desires;
With sacred wisdom his sure word

The ignorant inspires.
2 The statutes of the LORD are just,

And bring sincere delight;
His pure commands in search of truth

Assist the feeblest sight,
3 His perfect worship here is fix'd,

On sure foundations laid;
His equal laws are in the scales

Of truth and justice weigh'd ;
4 Of more esteem than golden mines,

Or gold refined with skill ;
More sweet than honey, or the drops

That from the comb distil.

5 My trusty counsellors they are,

And friendly warnings give:
Divine rewards attend on those

Who by thy precepts live. 6 But what frail man observes how oft

He does from virtue fall?
O cleanse me from my secret faults,

Thou God that know'st them all! 7 Let no presumptuous sin, O LORD,

Dominion have o'er me;
That, by thy grace preserved, I may

The great transgression flee.
8 So shall my prayer and praises be ·

With thy acceptance blest;
And I, secure on thy defence,
My strength and Saviour, rest.

PSALM 16. S. M.

From the m. Psalm of David.
I MAY Jacob's Gop defend

And hear us in distress;
Our succor from his temple send,

Our cause from Sion bless! 2 May he accept our vow,

Our sacrifice receive,
Our heart's devout request allow,

Our holy wishes give!
3 O LORD! thy saving grace

We joyfully declare;
Our banner in thy name we raise

“ The LORD fulfil our prayer !" 4 Now know we that the LORD

His chosen will defend ; From heaven will strength divine afford,

And will their prayer attend. 5 Some earthly succor trust,

But we in God's right hand : Lo! while they fall, so vain their boast,

We rise and upright stand. 6 Still save us, LORD! and still

Thy servants deign to bless;
Hear, King of heaven, in times of ill.
The prayers that we address.

PSALM 17.

From the xxii. Psalm of David,

PART I. C. M.

1 MY GOD, my God, why leav'st thou me,

When I with anguish faint ?
Oh! why so far from me removed,

And from my loud complaint ? 2 2 Lo! I am treated like a worm,

Like none of human birth;
Not only by the great reviled,

But made the rabble's mirth.
3 With laughter all the gazing crowd

My agonies survey;
They shoot the lip, they shake the head,

And thus deriding say:
4. “In God he trusted, boasting oft

That he was Heaven's delight;
Let God come down to save him now,

And own his favorite."
5 Withdraw not, then, so far from me,

When trouble is so nigh;
O send me help! thy help, on which
Alone I can rely.

PART II. C. M.
I Like water is my life pour'd out,

My joints are out of frame;
My heart dissolves within my breast,

Like wax before the flame:
2 My strength is like a potsherd dried,

My tongue is parch'd with drought
And to the dismal shades of death

My fainting soul is brought.
3 Like dogs, to compass me, my foes

In wicked council meet :
They pierced my inoffensive hands,

They pierced my harmless feet.
4 My body's rack'd, till all my bones

Distinctly may be told; Yet such a spectacle of wo

As pastime they behold. 5 As spoil, my garments they divide,

Lots for my vesture cast:-
Therefore, Oʻleave me not, my God
But to my succor haste.

C. M.
I LORD, to my brethren I'll declare

The triumphs of thy Name:
In presence of assembled saints

Thy glory thus proclaim:
2 "Ye worshippers of Jacob's God,

All you of Israel's line,
O praise the Lord, and to your praise

Sincere obedience join.
3 “ He ne'er disdain'd on low distress

To cast a gracious eye;.
Nor turn'd from misery his face,

But hears its humble cry.”

PART III.

4 Thus, in thy sacred courts, will I

My cheerful thanks express;
In presence of thy saints perform

The vows of my distress.
5 The meek companions of my grief

Shall find my table spread;
And all that seek the LORD shall be

With joys immortal fed.
6 Then shall the glad converted world

To God their homage pay;
And scatter'd nations of the earth

One sovereign LORD obey. 7 'Tis his supreme prerogative

O'er all mankind to reign; 'T is just that he should rule the world,

Who does the world sustain.
8 The rich, who are with plenty fed,

His bounty must confess;
The sons of want, by him relieved,

Their gen'rous patron bless.
9 With humble worship to his throne

They all for aid resort;
That power, which first their being gave,

Alone can them support.
10 Then shall a chosen spotless race,

Devoted to his Name,
To their adoring sons his truth
And glorious acts proclaim.

PSALM 18. C. M.

From the xxii. Psalm of David.
1 THE LORD himself, the mighty LORD,

Vouchsafes to be my guide;
The shepherd, by whose constant care

My wants are all supplied.
2 In tender grass he makes me feed,

And gently there repose;
Then leads me to cool shades, and where

Refreshing water flows.
3 He does my wand'ring soul reclaim,

And, to his endless praise,
Instruct with humble zeal to walk

In his most righteous ways.
4 I pass the gloomy vale of death,

From fear and danger free;
For there his aiding rod and staff

Defend and comfort me. 5 Since Gop doth thus his wondrous love

Through all my life extend,
That life to him I will devote,

And in his temple spend.

1 THE spacious earth is all the LORD'S,

The LORD's her fulness is;
The world, and they that dwell therein,

By sovereign right are his.
2 He amed and fix'd it on the seas ;

And his almighty hand
Upon inconstant floods has made

The stable fabric stand.
3 But for himself this LORD of all

One chosen seat design'd;
Oh! who shall to that sacred hill

Deserved admittance find ?
4 The man whose hands and heart are pure,

Whose thoughts from pride are free; Who honest poverty prefers

To gainful perjury. 5 This, this is he, on whom the LORD

Shall shower his blessings down; Whom God, his Saviour, shall vouchsafe

With righteousness to crown. 6 Such is the race of saints, by whom

The sacred courts are trod; And such the proselytes that seek

Thy face, O Jacob's God.
7 Erect your heads, eternal gates:

Unfold, to entertain
The King of glory: see! he comes

With his celestial train.
8 Who is the King of glory? who?

The LORD, for strength renown'd; In battle mighty; o'er his foes

Eternal victor crown'd.
9 Erect your heads, ye gates; unfold

In state to entertain
The King of glory: see! he comes

With all his shining train.
10 Who is the King of glory? who?

The LORD of hosts renown'd; Of glory he alone is King,

Who is with glory crown'd.