4 The Lord shall save th' afflicted breast,
His arm shall vindicate th' oppressed,
Earth's mightiest tyrant feel his power,
And sin, and Satan reign no more.

God loves the righteous and hates the wicked.
1 MY refuge is the God of love,
Why do my foes insult and cry,
'Fly, like a timorous trembling dove,
To distant woods or mountains fly?"
2 [If government be all destroyed-

That firm foundation of our peace,—
And violence make justice void,

Where shall the righteous seek redress?]
3 The Lord in heaven hath fixed his throne,
His eye surveys the world below;
To him all mortal things are known,
His eyelids search our spirits through.

4 If he afflicts his saints so far,

To prove their love, and try their grace
What must the bold transgressors fear?
His very soul abhors their ways.

5 [On impious wretches he shall rain
Tempests of brimstone, fire and death,
Such as he kindled on the plain

Of Sodom, with his angry breath.]

6 The righteous Lord loves righteous souls, Whose thoughts and actions are sincere; And with a gracious eye beholds

12.

The men that his own image bear.

FIRST VERSION. V. 1. 2, 4, 8.

Complaint of a general corruption of manners.

1 HELP, Lord, for men of virtue fail,
Religion loses ground;

The sons of violence prevail,

And treacheries abound.

2 Their oaths and promises they break,
Yet act the flatterer's part;

With fair, deceitful lips they speak,
And with a double heart.

L. M.

C. M

12.

13.

3 If we reprove some hateful lie,
How is their fury stirred!

'Are not our lips our own,' they cry,
And who shall be our Lord?'

4 Scoffers appear on every side,
Where a vile race of men

Are raised to seats of power and pride.
And bear the sword in vain.

SECOND VERSION. V. 3, 5, 6, 7.
Divine interposition expected in wicked times.
1 LORD, when iniquities abound,
And blasphemy grows bold,
When faith is hardly to be found,
And 'ove is waxing cold,—

2 Is not thy chariot hastening on?
Hast thou not given the sign?
May we not trust and live upon
A promise so divine?

3 Yes,' saith the Lord, 'now will I rise
And make oppressors flee;

I will appear to their surprise,
'And set my servants free.'

Thy word, like silver seven times tried,
Through ages shall endure:

The men, that in thy truth confide,
Shall find the promise sure.

FIRST VERSION.

Hope in darkness.

1 HOW long, O Lord, shall I complain,
Like one that seeks his God in vain?
Wilt thou thy face forever hide?
Shall I still pray and be denied?

2 Shall I forever be forgot,

As one whom thou regardest not?
Still shall my soul thine absence mourn,
And still despair of thy return?

C. M

L. M.

3 How long shall my poor troubled breast
Be with these anxious thoughts oppressed?
And Satan, my malicious foe,
Rejoice to see me sunk so low?

13.

13.

4 Hear, Lord, and grant me quick relief
Before my death conclude my grief;
If thou withhold thy heavenly light,
I sleep in everlasting night.

5 How will the powers of darkness boast,
If but one praying soul be lost!
But I have trusted in thy grace,
And shall again behold thy face.
6 Whate'er my fears or foes suggest,
Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest;
My heart shall feel thy love, and raise
My cheerful voice to songs of praise.

SECOND VERSION. V. 1. 3-6.

Complaint under temptations of the Devil.

1 HOW long wilt thou conceal thy face?
My God, how long delay?

When shall I feel those heavenly rays
That chase my fears away?

2 Be thou my sun, and thou my shield;
My soul in safety keep;

Make haste, before mine eyes are sealed
In death's eternal sleep.

3 How would the tempter boast aloud
Should I become his prey!

Behold the sons of hell grow proud
At thy so long delay.

4 But they shall flee at thy rebuke,
And Satan hide his head;

He knows the terrors of thy look,
And hears thy voice with dread.

5 Thou wilt display that sovereign grace,
Where all my hopes have hung;
I shall employ my lips in praise,
And victory shall be sung.

THIRD VERSION. V. 1-3, 5, 6.

1 LORD of mercy, just and kind,
Wilt thou ne'er my guilt forgive?
Never shall my troubled mind

In thy kind remembrance live?

C. M.

14.

Lord, how long with sorrows vexed
Daily shall my heart complain;
While my anxious soul, perplexed,
Counsel takes, but takes in vain ?
2 Lord, how long shall Satan's art

Tempt my harassed soul to sin,
Triumph o'er my humbled heart,
Fears without and guilt within?
Lord, my God, thine ear incline,
Bending to the prayer of faith;
Cheer my eyes with. light divine,
Lest I sleep the sleep of death'

3 On tay mercy I rely-.

Mercy, heavenly Lord, impart!
Mercy brings salvation nigh;
Mercy shall rejoice my heart.
Lord, I lift my voice in praise,
All thy bounty to adore;
From eternity thy grace

Flows, increasing evermore.

FIRST VERSION. V. 1-3.

By nature all men are sinners.

1 FOOLS, in their hearts, believe and say
That all religion's vain ;-

'There is no God who reigns on high,
Or minds th' affairs of men.'

2 [From thoughts so dreadful and profane.
Corrupt discourse proceeds;

And in their impious hands are found
Abominable deeds.]

3 The Lord, from his celestial throne,
Looked down on things below,

To find the man that sought his grace,
Or did his justice know.

4 By nature all are gone astray,

Their practice all the same;

There's none that fears his Maker's hand,—
There's none that loves his name.

C. M

1

5 Their tongues are used to speak deceit -
Their slanders never cease:

How swift to mischief are their feet,
Nor know the paths of peace!

6 Such seeds of sin, that bitter root,
In every heart are found;

14.

Nor can they bear diviner fruit,
Till grace refine the ground.

SECOND VERSION. V. 4-7.
The folly of persecutors.

1 ARE sinners now so senseless grown,
That they the saints devour,
And never worship at thy throne,
Nor fear thine awful power?

2 Great God, appear to their surprise;
Reveal thy dreadful name;

Let them no more thy wrath despise,
Nor turn our hope to shame.

3 Dost thou not dwell among the just?
And yet our foes deride,

That we should make thy name our trust:
Great God, confound their pride!

4 O that the joyful day were come

14.

To finish our distress

When God shall bring his chuaren home,
Our songs shall never cease.

THIRD VERSION. V. 7.

The salvation of Israel.

1 O! THAT the Lord's salvation
Were out of Zion come,
To heal his ancient nation,
To lead his outcasts home.
How long the holy city

Shall heathen feet profane?
Return, O Lord! in pity;
Rebuild her walls again.

2 Let fall thy rod of terror,

Thy saving grace impart;
Roll back the veil of error,

Release the fettered heart;

C. M