University of Virginia Library

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91

PSALM XL.

[Patient I waited for the Lord]

PART I.

Patient I waited for the Lord,
Who heard and answer'd to my cry;
Out of the pit of sin, abhorr'd,
He brought, and set me up on high:
Out of the mire and clay He took,
And fix'd my feet upon a Rock.

The Lord hath made my goings strong,
And 'stablish'd me with gospel grace;
Put in my mouth the joyful song,
The new, unceasing song of praise:
Many the deed Divine shall see,
And fear, and trust in God, like me.

Bless'd is the man that dares confide
In my redeeming God alone:
O Lord, Thy works are multiplied,
The wondrous works which Thou hast done!
Thy thoughts of grace to us surmount
The power of numbers to recount!

I cannot all Thy love declare;
No, nor the smallest part express;
Worthless my noblest offerings are,
Unfit the holy God to please;
But Thou dost unto me impart
A hearing ear, and loving heart.

No shadowy form dost Thou require,
No legal sacrifice approve;
Thou seek'st the contrite heart's desire,
The offering of obedient love;
And lo! I come to do Thy will,
And all Thy law in love fulfil!

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Thy welcome will concerning me,
I in the sacred volume read;
'Tis there my rule of life I see,
And in Thy ways delight to tread;
While, by Thy love's divinest art,
Thy law is written on my heart.

Thine everlasting righteousness,
Thou know'st I to Thy church have show'd;
Nor hid within my heart the grace
And goodness of my pardoning God:
Nor shunn'd in open thanks to' approve
The truth of Thy redeeming love.

The great salvation Thou hast wrought
I have with joy to all declared:
Ah, gracious Lord! forsake me not,
But let Thy tender mercies guard;
Thy faithful love my soul defend,
And save and keep me to the end!

PART II.

For, O, my soul is sore beset
By countless foes; encompass'd round
By countless ills; beneath their weight
I sink oppress'd, o'erwhelm'd, and bound;
The load immense I faint to bear,
And fails my heart through sad despair!

Help me! Thou God of love and might!
Me to redeem make haste away:
Put all my cruel sins to flight,
Slay all who seek my soul to slay;
Cover with shame my hater's face,
And all the alien armies chase.

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Defeat the men, with Satan join'd
To' ensure my shame and misery;
Here only let the mockers find
The dire reproach they cast on me;
Exploded, desolate, forlorn,
And wretched till to Thee they turn.

But let the men that seek Thy name
Rejoice in Thee, their Lord and God;
The wonders of Thy love proclaim,
And publish all Thy works abroad;
Saved by Thy dear redeeming grace,
And always happy in Thy praise.

I, too, the poorest sinner I,
With them shall Thy compassion prove:
On Thee, my Saviour, I rely,
And wait Thy succours from above:
Come, O my God, no more delay,
O come, and bring the perfect day!