6 Though saints to sore distress are brought,
And wait and long complain;
Their cries shall never be forgot,
Nor shall their hopes be vain.

10-PART I.

C. M.

PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE.

WATTS.

1 WHY doth the Lord stand off so far?
And why conceal His face,
When great calamities appear,

And times of deep distress?

2 Lord! shall the wicked still deride
Thy justice and Thy power?
Shall they advance their heads in pride,
And still Thy saints devour?

3 They put Thy judgments from their sight,
And then insult the poor;
They boast in their exalted height,
That they shall fall no more.

4 Arise, O God, lift up Thy hand;
Attend our humble cry;

No enemy shall dare to stand,
When God ascends on high.

10-PART II.

C. M.

WATTS.

GOD OUR VINDICATOR.

1 WHY do the men of malice rage,

And say, with foolish pride,
"The God of heaven will ne'er engage
To fight on Zion's side."

2 But Thou for ever art our Lord;
And powerful is Thy hand,

As when the heathen felt Thy sword,
And perished from Thy land.

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3 God will prepare our hearts to pray,
And bow His ear to hear;

He marks whate'er His children say,
And puts the world in fear.

4 Proud tyrants shall no more oppress,
No more despise the just;
And mighty sinners shall confess
They are but earth and dust.

L. M.

PROVIDENCE AND JUSTICE OF GOD.

1 MY refuge is the God of love :

WATTS.

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 makes justice void,

Where shall the righteous seek redress?

3 The Lord in heaven has fixed His throne,
His eye surveys the world below;
To Him all mortal things are known,
His eye-lids search our spirits through.

4 If He afflict 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

The men who His own image bear.

12-PART I

L. M.

WATTS.

HOPE IN EVIL TIMES.

1 ALMIGHTY God, appear and save,
For vice and vanity prevail;
The godly perish in the grave,
The just depart, the faithful fail.

2 The whole discourse, when neighbours meet,
Is filled with trifles loose and vain;
Their lips are flattery and deceit,
And their proud language is profane.
3 But lips that with deceit abound

Shall not maintain their triumph long; The God of vengeance will confound

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The flattering and blaspheming tongue. 4 "Yet shall our words be free," they cry; "Our tongues shall be controlled by none: Where is the Lord will ask us why? Or say, our lips are not our own?"

5 The Lord, who sees the poor oppressed And hears th' oppressor's haughty strain, Will rise to give His children rest,

Nor shall they trust His word in vain.

6 Thy word, O Lord, though often tried, Void of deceit shall still appear;

Not silver, seven times purified

From dross and mixture, shines so clear.

7 Thy grace shall in the darkest hour Defend the holy soul from harm: Though when the vilest men have power, On every side will sinners swarm.

12-PART II.

13

C. M.

THE SIGNS OF CHRIST'S COMING.

1 LORD! when iniquities abound,
And blasphemy grows bold,
When faith is hardly to be found
And love 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?

WATTS.

3 "Now," saith the Lord, "now will I rise, And make oppressors flee;

I will appear to their surprise,

And set My servants free."

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

The men who in Thy truth confide
Shall find the promise sure.

L. M.

PLEADING UNDER DESERTION.

WATTS.

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

2 Shall I for ever be forgot,

As one whom Thou regardest not?
Still shall my soul Thine absence mourn,
And still despair of Thy return?

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?

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 would the powers of darkness boast
Could 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.

14-PART I.

C. M.

ALL MEN SINNERS BY NATURE.

WATTS.

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

There is no God that 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 who sought His grace,
Or did His justice know.