No fums can purchase fuch a grant, 10 Not wisdom can the wife exempt, But both must perish, and in death 11 For though they think their ftately feats fhall ne'er to ruin fall, But their remembrance laft in lands. which by their names they call ; 12 Yet fhall their fame be foon forgot, how great fo'er their state; With beafts their memory, and they, PART II. 13 How great their folly is, who thus And yet their children, unreclaim'd, 14 They all, like fheep to flaughter led, 15 But God will yet redeem my foul; His greater pow'r fhall fet me free, 16 Then fear not thou, when worldly men. in envy'd wealth abound; Nor though their profp'rous house increase, with ftate and honour crown'd. 17 For when they're fummon'd hence by death, they leave all this behind; No fhadow of their former pomp within the grave they find: 18 And yet they thought their ftate was bleft, caught in the flatt'rer's fnare, Who with their vanity comply'd, and prais'd their worldly care. 19 In their forefathers' fteps they tread; 20 For man, how great fo'er his ftate, As like a fenfual beaft he lives, 1,2 22TH PSALM L. HE Lord hath fpoke, the mighty God where beauty in perfection fhines. 3, 4 Our God fhall come, and keep no more Mifconftru'd filence, as before; but wafting flames before him fend: 5, 6 Affemble all my faints to me, 7, thy God, thy only God, am I : 'Tis not of off'rings I complain, Which, daily in my temple flain, my facred altar did fupply. 9 Will this alone atonement make? No bullock from thy ftall I'll take, nor he-goat from thy fold accept : 10 The foreft beafts, that range alone, The cattle too are all my own, that on a thousand hills are kept. 11 I know the fowls, that build their nefts 12. If feiz'd with hunger I could be, fince the world's mine, and all it yields. 13 Think'st thou that I have any need to eat their flesh and drink their blood? 14 The facrifices I require, Are hearts which love and zeal inspire, and vows with ftricteft care made good. 15 In time of trouble call on me, And I will fet thee fafe and free; and thou returns of praise fhalt make. 16 But to the wicked thus faith God: How dar'ft thou teach my laws abroad, 17 or in thy mouth my cov'nant take? For ftubborn thou confirm'd in fin, Haft proof against instruction been, and of my word didft lightly fpeak: 18 When thou a fubtle thief didft fee, Thou gladly with him didft agree, and with adult'rers didft partake. 19 Vile flander is thy chief delight; Thy tongue, by envy mov'd, and fpite, deceitful tales does hourly spread : 20 Thou doft with hateful fcandals wound Thy brother, and with lies confound the offspring of thy mother's bed. 21 These things didft thou, whom still I ftrove To gain with filence, and with love, till thou didst wickedly furmise, That I was fuch a one as thou; But I'll reprove and fhame thee now, and fet thy fins before thine eyes. 22 Mark this, ye wicked fools, left I Let all my bolts of vengeance fly, whilft none fhall dare your cause to own: 23 Who praises me, due honour gives; And to the man that juftly lives my strong salvation shall be shown. Let me, opprefs'd with loads of guilt, thy wonted mercy find. 2, 3 Wash off 2,3 my foul offence, and cleanfe me from my fin; For I confefs my crime, and fee how great my guilt has been. 4 Against thee, Lord, alone, and only in thy fight, 5 Have I tranfgrefs'd; and though condemn'd In guilt each part was form'd In guilt I was conceiv'd, and born 7 With hyffop purge me, Lord, I shall with fnow in whiteness vie, 8 Make me to hear with joy thy kind forgiving voice; That fo the bones which thou haft broke may with fresh strength rejoice. 9, 10 Blot out my crying fins, nor me in anger view: Create in me a heart that's clean, an upright mind renew. II Withdraw not thou thy help, 12 The joy thy favour gives, And thy free Spirit's firm fupport my fainting foul sustain, So I thy righteous ways to finners will impart ; 13 Whilft my advice fhall wicked men to thy juft laws convert. 14 My guilt of blood remove, my Saviour, and my God; And my glad tongue fhall loudly tell 15 Do thou unlock my lips, with forrow clos'd and fhame; So fhall my mouth thy wond'rous praise to all the world proclaim. 16 Could facrifice atone, whole flocks and herds fhould die; But on fuch off'rings thou difdain'ft to caft a gracious eye. 17 A broken fpirit is by God moft highly priz'd; By him a broken contrite heart shall never be defpis'd. 18 Let Sion favour find, of thy good will affur'd; And thy own city flourish long, by lofty walls fecur'd. 19 The juft fhall then attend, and pleafing tribute pay; And facrifice of choiceft kind upon thy altar lay. I PSALM LII. 'N vain, O man of lawless might, IN Since God, the God in whom I trust, vouchfafes his favour ftill. 2 Thy wicked tongue doth fland'rous tales maliciously devise; And, fharper than a razor fet, it wounds with treach'rous lies. 3, 4 Thy thoughts are more on ill than good, on lies than truth, employ'd; Thy tongue delights in words, by which the guiltless are destroy'd. 5 God fhall for ever blast thy hopes, and snatch thee soon away; Nor in thy dwelling-place permit, nor in the world, to stay. 6 The juft, with pious fear, fhall fee the downfal of thy pride; 7 And at thy fudden ruin laugh, and thus thy fall deride: "See there the man that haughty was, |