PSALM 48. First Part. S. M. The Church is the honour and safety of a nation1 GREAT.is the Lord our God, And let his praise be great ; His most delightful seat. How beautiful they stand ! And bulwarks of our land. A refuge in distress : Thro' all her palaces ! And saw the Lord was there ; They fled with hasty fear. Attempt to spoil our peace, And sinks them in the seas. 6 Oft have our fathers told; Our eyes have often seen ; ; How well our God secures the fold, Where his own sheep have been. We'll to his house repair : And seck deliv'rance there. The worship and order of the Church. The world declares thy praise : Thy saints, O Lord, before thy throne, of honour raise. 2 With joy thy people stand On Zion's chosen hill, Proclaim the wonders of thy hand, And counsels of thy will. 3 Let strangers walk around The city where we dwell, Compass and view thy holy ground, And mark the building well ; 4 The orders of thy house, The worship of thy court, And make a fair report. How glorious to behold ! And rites adorn’d with gold. 6 The God we worship now, Will guide us till we die; And ours above the sky. The vanity of life and riches. 1 WHY doth the man of riches grow To see his wealth and honours flow With ev'ry rising tide ? 2 Why doth he treat the poor Made of the self-same clay ; And, boast as tho' his flesh were born Of better dust than they ? 3 Not all his treasures can procure His soul a short reprieve ; with scorn, Redeem from death one guilty hour, Or make his brother live. The ransom is too high ; That man may never die.. The tim'rous and the brave, And hasten to the grave. “ My house shall ever stand ; l 7. Vain are his thoughts, his hopes are lost;. How soon his mem'ry dies! His name is buried in the dust, Where his own carcass lies.. 8 This is the folly of their way' ;. And yet their sons, as vain, Approve the words their fathers say, And act their works again. If honour raise them high, And like the beasts they die. Death feeds upon them there ; In terror and despair. Dealh and the resurrection. Y , When death hath brought you down to dust, Your pomp shall rise no more. 2 The last great day shall change the scene; When will that hour appear? When shall the just revive, and reign O'er all that scorn'd them here! 3 God will my naked soul receive, When sep’rate from the flesh; And break the prison of the grave, To raise my bones afresh. Th' inheritance is sure ; The last judgment. Bids the whole earth draw nigh; And near the western sky. • Judgment will ne'er begin ;' No more abuse his long delay To impudence and sin. Bright Aames prepare his way ; Lead on the dreadful day, Attending angels come ; His justice, and their doom. " That made their peace with God, By the Redeemer's sacrifice, " And seal'd it with his blood. 6 « Their faith and works brought forth to light, " Shall make the world confess Obedience is better than sacrifice. 66 And focks and herds are mine : «O'er all the cattle of the hills “ I claim a right divine. 2 “ I ask no sheep for sacrifice, " Nor bullocks burnt with fire'; “ To hope and love, to pray and praise, “ Is all that I require. 3 Invoke my name when trouble's near, My hand shall set thee free; “Then shall thy thankful lips declare " The honour due to me. 4 " The man that offers humble praise, “ Declares my glory best ; si And those that tread my holy ways, “Shall my salvation taste. 5 " Not for the want of bullocks slain 6. Will I the world reprove : « Altars and rites and forms are vain, « Without the fire of love. “ To bring their sacrifice ? " But deal in theft and lies. "And sin without control ? |