Over thy gates their ensigns hang,
Sad tokens of their pow'r.

5 How are the seats of worship broke!
They tear the buildings down:
And he, that deals the heaviest stroke,
Procures the chief renown.

6 With flames they threaten to destroy
Thy children in their nest:
"Come, let us burn at once," they cry,
"The temple and the priest."

7 And still to heighten our distress,
Thy presence is withdrawn ;

Thy wonted signs of pow'r and grace,
Thy pow'r and grace are gone.

8 No prophet speaks to calm our woes,
The best, the wisest, mourn:

And not a friend nor promise, shows
The time of thy return.

PSALM 74. Second Part. C. M.

A Prayer of the church for deliverance from great afflictions.

1

HOW

OW long, eternal God, how long,
Shall men of pride blaspheme!
Shall saints be made their endless song,
And bear immortal shame ?

2 Is not the world of nature thine,
The darkness and the day?
Didst thou not bid the morning shine,
And mark the sun his way?

3 Hath not thy pow'r form'd ev'ry coast,
And set the earth its bounds;

With summer's heat and winter's frost,
In their perpetual rounds?

4 And shall the sons of earth and dust
That sacred pow'r blaspheme?

Will not thy hand that form'd them first,
Avenge thine injur'd name?

5 Think on the cov'nant thou hast made,
And all thy words of love;
Nor let the birds of prey invade,
And vex thy mourning dove.

6 Our foes would triumph in our blood
And make our hope their jest:
Plead thy own cause, Almighty God,
And give thy children rest.

1

PSALM 75. L. M.

Praise for national deliverance.

To thee, most high and holy God,

To thee our thankful hearts we raise; Thy works declare thy name abroad, Thy wond'rous works demand our praise. 2 To slav'ry doom'd, thy chosen sons Behold their foes triumphant rise; And, sore opprest by earthly thrones, They sought the sov'reign of the skies. 3 "Twas then, great God, with equal pow'r Arose thy vengeance and thy grace, To scourge their legions from the shore, And save the remnant of thy race.

4 Thy hand, that form'd the restless main, And rear'd the mountain's awful head, Bade raging seas their course restrain, And desert wilds receive their dead.

5 Such wonders never come by chance, Nor could the wind such blessings blow: 'Tis God the Judge doth one advance, 'Tis God that lays another low.

6 Let haughty tyrants sink their pride, Nor lift so high their scornful head;

But lay their impious thoughts aside,
And own the empire God hath made.

'IN

PSALM 76. C. M.

The Church's security in God.

N Judah, God of old was known;
His name in Israel great:

In Salem stood his holy throne,

And Zion was his seat.

2 What are the earth's wide kingdoms else,
Than mighty hills of prey?
The hill, on which Jehovah dwells
More glorious is than they.

3 'Twas Zion's king, who stopt the breath
Of captains, and their hosts:
The men of might slept fast in death
And vain were all their boasts.

4 At thy rebuke, O Jacob's God,
Both horse and chariot fell;
Who knows the terrors of thy rod!
Thy vengeance who can tell!

5 When God in his own sov'reign ways
Comes down to save th' opprest;
The wrath of man shall work his praise,
And he'll restrain the rest.

6 Vow to the Lord, and tribute bring,
Ye princes fear his frown;

His terror shakes the proudest king
And cuts an army down.

7 The thunder of his sharp rebuke
Our haughty foes shall feel:
The God of Jacob ne'er forsook,
But dwells in Zion still.

1

T

PSALM 77. First Part. C. M.

Melancholy rebuked.

O God I cried with mournful voice,
I sought his gracious ear:

In the sad hour when troubles rose;

And fill'd my heart with fear.

2 Gloomy my days, and dark my nights;
My soul refus'd relief:

I thought on God, the just and wise,
But thoughts increas'd my grief.

3 Still I complain'd, and, still opprest,
My heart began to break;
My God, thy wrath forbade my rest,
And kept my eyes awake.

4 My overwhelming sorrows grew,
Till I could speak no more;
Then I within myself withdrew,
And call'd thy judgments o'er.

5 I call'd back years and ancient times,
When I beheld thy face;

My spirit search'd for secret crimes,
That might withhold thy grace.

6 I call'd thy mercies to my mind,
Which I enjoy'd before;

And will the Lord no more be kind?
His face appear no more?

7 Will he for ever cast me off?
And will his promise fail?
Hath he forgot his tender love?
Shall anger still prevail?

8 But we forbid this hopeless thought,
This dark, despairing frame;
Rememb'ring what thy hand hath wrought,
Thy hand is still the same.

9 I'll think again of all thy ways,
And talk thy wonders o'er,
Thy wonders of recov'ring grace,
When flesh could hope no more.

10 Grace dwells with justice on the throne;
And men, that love thy word,
Have in thy sanctuary known
The counsels of the Lord.

1 "

PSALM 77. Second Part. C. M.
Providence towards ancient Israel improved.

"HOW awful is thy chast'ning rod !"
(May thy own children say)

"The great, the wise, the dreadful God,
"How holy is his way!"

2 I'll meditate his works of old,
The King that reigns above:
I'll hear his ancient wonders told,
And learn to trust his love.

3 Long did the house of Jacob lie
With Egypt's yoke opprest:
Long he delay'd to hear their
Nor gave his people rest.

cry,

4 Israel, his people and his sheep,
Must follow where he calls;
He bids them venture thro' the deep
And makes the waves their walls.
5 The waters saw thee, mighty God!
The waters saw thee come;
Backward they fled, and frighted stood,
To make thine armies room.

6 Strange was thy journey thro' the sea,
Thy footsteps, Lord, unknown:
Terrors attend thy wond'rous way,
That brings thy mercies down.