2. Prove and try me; my affections, Known to thee, need no detections.

3. Lord, thy mercy is the stay, That upholds me in thy way.

4. To lewd men I ne'er assented,

Nor with hollow-hearts frequented.

5. I have had in detestation

Wicked men's association.

6. In mine innocency still

Wash my guiltless hands I will;
And to thee, my safety's-sender,
Vows and offerings will I render,

7. To declare thy preservations Of my soul to generations.

8. In thy temple, in thy sight, Is my joy and soul's delight.

9. Lord, my soul with sinner's suit not; It with bloody men repute not,

10. Who by fraud augment their portion,

Whose hands swell with bribes' extortion.

11. In uprightness I'll proceed;

Save

me, send me help at need.

12. By thine aid my foot is grounded In thy paths, and not confounded. Lord, I'll praise thee 'mongst all nations,

In the greatest congregations:

And thine altar with oblations

I will load, for oft salvations.

PSALM XXVIII.

By Joseph Bryan.

1. To thee, O Lord, of power, I pray, I call, I cry;

O God, my strength and tower,

Give ear, and make reply;

Lest if my poor petition

From thee no answer have,

I be in like condition

Of them that sleep in grave.

2. O hear my supplication,

And in thy mercy mark

My hand's, heart's, elevation

Towards thy holy ark.

3. Account me not in favour

With men that joy in ill,

Whose words of friendship savour,

When hate their hearts doth fill.

4. Reward their ill inventions

As justly they deserve,

And guerdon their intentions

That still in mischief swerve.

5. Lord, for thy works they care not,

The great works thou hast wrought;

Destroy thou them and spare not,

And make them less than nought.

6. All praise to thee I'll render

For thy sweet mercy's sake;

Who heard'st, and heard, didst tender
The prayers I did make.

7. My strength is all reposed,

My hope, help, health, in thee;

Harp, heart, and voice exposed
To joyful songs most free.

8. Thy church is still maintained

By thy almighty hand;

Our foes are still restrained,

And we, untouched, stand.

9. Protect, O Lord, thy Sion,

Thy lot, thy flock, thy fold;

By Judah's mighty lion

Let it be still extoll'd.

PSALM XLIII.

Anonymous.

1. I APPEAL, O God, to thee;

O give sentence, Lord, with me,
And defend my helpless cause
'Gainst such men as hate thy laws.
O deliver me from those

That deceitfully can gloze.

2. For thou art the God of whom

All my strength and help doth come.
Why, O why, hast thou from thee

So estranged and parted me?
And why doth my pace so slow

Me dejected, heartless, show,

While insulting enemies

Press me with their injuries?

3. O send out thy truth, and light,

To instruct and lead me right;