PSALM 4. v. 1–3, 5–7. (L. M.) Hearing of Prayer; or, God our portion, and Christ our Hope.
I
O God of grace and righteousness,
Hear and attend when I complain;
Thou hast enlarg'd me in distress,
Bow down a gracious ear again.
II
Ye sons of men, in vain ye try
To turn my glory into shame;
How long will scoffers love to lie,
And dare reproach my Saviour's name?
III
Know that the Lord divides his saints
From all the tribes of men beside;
He hears the cry of penitents
For the dear sake of Christ that dy'd.
IV
When our obedient hands have done
A thousand works of righteousness,
We put our trust in God alone,
And glory in his pardoning grace.
V
Let the unthinking many say,
‘Who will bestow some earthly good?
But, Lord, thy light and love we pray,
Our souls desire this heavenly food.
VI
Then shall my cheerful powers rejoice
At grace and favours so divine;
Nor will I change my happy choice,
For all their corn, and all their wine.
Though this psalm may not directly intend the Messiah, yet I have
taken occasion to apply some expressions in it to Christ and his
gospel, I hope with some advantage, and without offence.
