37

WHY

HY should I vex my soul, and fret
To see the wicked rise;

Or envy sinners waxing great,

By violence and lies?

2 As flowery grass cut down at noon,
Before the evening fades,

So shall their glories vanish soon,
In everlasting shades.

3 Then let me make the Lord my trust,
And practise all that's good;
So shall I dwell among the just,
And he'll provide me food.

4 I to my God my ways commit,
And cheerful wait his will;

Thy hand, which guides my doubtful feet,
Shall my desires fulfil.

5 Mine innocence shalt thou display,
And make thy judgments known,
Fair as the light of dawning day,
And glorious as the noon.

6 The meek at last the earth possess,
And are the heirs of heaven;
True riches, with abundant peace,
To humble souls are given.

7 Rest in the Lord, and keep his way,
Nor let your anger rise,

Though providence shall long delay
To punish haughty vice.

8 Let sinners join to break your peace,
And plot, and rage, and foam;

The Lord derides them, for he sees
Their day of vengeance come.

9 They have drawn out the threatening sword, Have bent the murderous bow,

To slay the men that fear the Lord,
And bring the righteous low.

10 My God shall break their bows, and burn
Their persecuting darts,

Shall their own swords against them turn,
And pierce their stubborn hearts.

WHY do the wealthy wicked boast,

And grow profanely bold?

The meanest portion of the just
Excels the sinner's gold.

2 The wicked borrows of his friends,
But ne'er designs to pay;
The saint is merciful, and lends,
Nor turns the poor away.

3 His alms with liberal heart he gives
Amongst the sons of need;
His memory to long ages lives,
And blessed is his seed.

4 His soul abhors discourse profane,
To slander or defraud;

His ready tongue declares to men
What he has learned of God.

5 The law and gospel of the Lord
Deep in his heart abide;

Led by the Spirit and the word,
His feet shall never slide.

6 When sinners fall, the righteous stand
Preserved from every snare;

They shall possess the promised land,
And dwell for ever there.

My God, the steps of pious men

Are ordered by thy will:

C. M.

C. M.

Though they should fall, they rise again;
Thy hand supports them still.

2 The Lord delights to see their ways,
Their virtue he approves;

He'll ne'er deprive them of his grace,
Nor leave the men he loves.

3 The heavenly heritage is theirs,
Their portion and their home;

He feeds them now, and makes them heirs.
Of blessings long to come.

4 Wait on the Lord, ye sons of men,
Nor fear when tyrants frown;
Ye shall confess their pride was vain,
When justice casts them down.
5 The haughty sinner have I seen
Not fearing man nor God;
Like a tall bay-tree, fair and green,
Spreading his arms abroad,

6 And lo, he vanished from the ground,
Destroyed by hands unseen:

Nor root, nor branch, nor leaf was found,
Where all that pride had been.

7 But mark the man of holy fear,
How blest is his decease!

He spends his days in duty here,
And leaves the world in peace.

AMIDST thy wrath remember love,

Restore thy servant, Lord,

Nor let a Father's chastening prove
Like an avenger's sword.

2 Thine arrows stick within my heart,
My flesh is sorely pressed;

Between the sorrow and the smart,
My spirit finds no rest.

3 My sins a heavy load appear,

And o'er my head are gone,

Too heavy they for me to bear,
Too hard for me to atone.

4 My thoughts are like a troubled sea
That sinks my comforts down;
And I go mourning all the day
Beneath my Father's frown.

5 Lord, I am weak and broken sore,
None of my powers are whole;
The inward anguish makes me roar,
The anguish of my soul.

6 All my desires to thee are known,
Thine eye counts every tear;
And every sigh, and every groan,
Is noticed by thine ear.

7 Thou art my God, my only hope,
My God will hear my cry;
My God will bear my spirit up,
When Satan bids me die.

8 My foes rejoice whene'er I slide,
To see my virtue fail;

They raise their pleasure and their pride,
Whene'er their wiles prevail.

9 To thee will I confess my guilt,

And thus will plead with thee; "Was not the blood of Jesus spilt To set the sinner free?"

10 My God, forgive my follies past,
And be for ever nigh;

O Lord of my salvation, haste,
Before thy servant die.

39

FIRST PART.

C. M.

THUS

HUS I resolved before the Lord,
"Now will I watch my tongue,

Lest I let slip one sinful word,
Or do my neighbour wrong."

2 Whene'er constrained a while to stay
With men of lives profane,
I'll set a double guard that day,
Nor let my talk be vain.

3 I'll scarce allow my lips to speak
The pious thoughts I feel,

Lest scoffers should occasion take
To mock my holy zeal.

4 Yet if some proper hour appear,
I'll not be overawed,

But let the scoffing sinners hear
That I can speak for God

39

TEA

EACH me the measure of my days,
Thou Maker of my frame;

I would survey life's narrow space,
And learn how frail I am.

2 A span is all that we can boast,
An inch or two of time:

Man is but vanity and dust,

In all his flower and prime.

3 See the vain race of mortals move
Like shadows o'er the plain;
They rage and strive, desire and love,
But all their noise is vain.

4 Some walk in honour's gaudy show,
Some dig for golden ore;

They toil for heirs, they know not whom,
And straight are seen no more.

5 What should I wish or wait for then,
From creatures, earth, and dust?
They make our expectations vain,
And disappoint our trust.

6 Now I forbid my carnal hope,
My fond desires recall;

I give my mortal interest up,
And make my God my all.