“The” Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church

"By the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Pretestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, this twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two; this book of Psalms in Metre, selected from the Psalms of David, with Hymns, is set forth, and allowed to be sung in all congregations of the said Church, before and after Morning and Evening Prayer, and also before and after Sermons, at the discretion of the minister.

"And it shall be the duty of every minister of any church, either by standing directions, or from time to time, to appoint the portions of Psalms which are to be sung.

"And further, it shall be the duty of every minister, with such assistance as he can obtain from persons skilled in music to give order concerning the tunes to be sung at any time in his Church; and especially, it shall be his duty to suppress all light and unseemly music, and all indecency and irreverence in the performance, by which vain ana ungodly persons profane the service of the Sanctuary."

SELECTED FROM THE PSALMS OF DAVID

PSALM 1.

(C. M.)

From the i. Psalm of David.

Hobblestvice

TOW blest is he, who ne'er consents
advice to walk,

Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits
Where men profanely talk;

2 But makes the perfect law of God

His business and delight;

Devoutly reads therein by day,

And meditates by night.

PSALM 3. (C. M.)

From the iii. Psalm of David.
THOU, gracious God, art my defence
On thee my hopes rely:
Thou art my glory, and shalt yet
Lift up my head on high.

2 Since whensoe'er, in my distress,
To God I made my prayer,
He heard me from his holy hill;
Why should I now despair ?

3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by My sweet repose to take;

3 Guarded by him I lay me down

streams,

For I through him securely sleep,

With timely fruit does bend,

Through him in safety wake.

He stin shall flourish, and success

All his designs attend.

4 Salvation to the Lord belongs;
He only can defend:

His blessings he extends to all

That on his power depend.

(C. M.)

Like chaff before the wind.

5 Their guilt shall strike the wicked dumb
Before their Judge's face:
No formal hypocrite shall then
Among the saints have place.

6 For God approves the just man's ways;
To happiness they tend:
But sinners, and the paths they tread,
Shall both in ruin end.

From the ii. Psalm of David.
THUS God declares his sov'reign will:

The King that 1 ordain,
Whose throne is fixed on Sion's hill,
Shall there securely reign."
2 Attend, O earth, whilst I declare
God's uncontroll'd decree;
Thou art my Son; this day, my heir,
Have I begotten thee.

3 "Ask, and receive thy full demands;
Thine shall the heathen be;
The utmost limit of the lands
Shall be possess'd by thee."

1 Learn then, ye princes; and give ear,
Ye judges of the earth;
Worship the Lord with holy fear;
Rejoice with awful mirth.

5 Appease the Son with due respect,
Your timely homage pay:
Lest he revenge the bold neglect,
Incens'd by your delay.

6 If but in part his anger rise,
Who can endure the flame?

Then blest are they, whose hope relies
On his most holy Name.

PSALM 4.

CONS

From the iv. Psalm of David.
MONSIDER that the righteous man
Is God's peculiar choice;
And when to him I make my prayer
He always hears my voice.

2 Then stand in awe of his commands,
Flee every thing that 's ill,
Commune in private with your hearts,
And bend them to his will.

3 The sacrifice of righteouness
Present to God on high
And let your hope, securely fix'd,
On him alone rely.

4 While worldly minds impatient grow
More prosperous times to see;
Still let the glories of thy face
Shine brightly, Lord, on me.
5 So shall my heart o'erflow with joy,
More lasting and more true
Than theirs, who stores of corn and wint
Successively renew.

6 Then down in peace i'll lay my heart,
And take my needful rest;
No other guard, O Lord, I crave,
Of thy desence possess'd.

Tow'rds thy most holy place.

4 Let those, O Lord, who trust in thee, To celebrate the praispare

O Lord,

With shouts their joy proclaim:

Let them rejoice whom thou preserv'st,

To all the list'ning world, thy works, Thy wondrous works, declare.

And all that love thy name.

5 To righteous men, the righteous Lord

His blessing will extend;

And with his favour all his saints,
As with a shield defend.

PSALM 6. (S. M.)
From the vi. Psalm of David.
N mercy, not in wrath,

IN God!

Lest, if thy whole displeasure rise,
I sink beneath thy rod.

2 Touch'd by thy quick'ning pow'r,
My load of guilt 1 feel:

The wounds thy Spirit hath unclos'd,
O let that Spirit heal.

3 In trouble and in gloom,
Must I for ever mourn?
And wilt thou not, at length, O God,
In pitying love return'?

4 O come, ere life expire,

Send down thy pow'r to save; For who shall sing thy name in death, Or praise thee in the grave? 5 Why should I doubt thy grace, Or yield to dread despair? Thou wilt fulfil thy promis'd word, And grant me all my prayer.

6 They jointly own his powerful sway; The beasts that prey or graze; The bird that wings its airy way;

The fish that cuts the seas.

70 thou, to whom all creatures bow

nou,

Within this earthly frame, Through all the world how great art thou! How glorious is thy name!

2 The thought of them shall to my soul Whilst to thy name, O thou Most High, Triumphant praise 1 sing.

Exalted pleasures bring;

3 The lord for ever lives, who has
His righteous throne prepar'd,
Impartial justice to dispense,
To punish or reward.

4 All those who have his goodness prov'd,
Will in his truth confide,
Whose mercy ne'er forsook the man
That on his help relied.

5 Sing praises therefore to the Lord.
From Sion, his abode;
Proclaim his deeds, till all the world
Confess no other God.

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