PSALM 18. v. 1–6, 15–18. First Part.
(L. M.) Deliverance from Despair; or, Temptations overcome.
I
Thee will I love, O Lord, my strength,
My rock, my tower, my high defence;
Thy mighty arm shall be my trust,
For I have found salvation thence.
II
Death, and the terrors of the grave,
Stood round me with their dismal shade;
While floods of high temptations rose,
And made my sinking soul afraid.
III
I saw the opening gates of hell,
With endless pains and sorrows there,
Which none but they that feel can tell,
While I was hurry'd to despair.
IV
In my distress I call'd my God,
When I could scarce believe him mine;
He bow'd his ear to my complaint,
Then did his grace appear divine.
V
With speed he flew to my relief,
As on a cherub's wing he rode;
Awful and bright as lightning shone
The face of my deliverer, God.
VI
Temptations fled at his rebuke,
The blast of his almighty breath;
He sent salvation from on high,
And drew me from the deeps of death.
VII
Great were my fears, my foes were great,
Much was their strength, and more their rage;
But Christ, my Lord, is conqueror still
In all the wars that devils wage.
VIII
My song for ever shall record
That terrible, that joyful hour;
And give the glory to the Lord
Due to his mercy and his power.
I have divided this long psalm into three parts, and accommodated
the several verses of it to our spiritual warfare and victory through
grace, as being of more frequent and general use to christians; yet
there are so noble expressions of triumph in God, and thanks for
victory over temporal enemies scattered up and down, that persuaded
me to form them afterwards in common metre also, agreeable to their
original design.