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; 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 7. My strength is all reposed, My hope, help, health, in thee; Harp, heart, and voice exposed 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, That deceitfully can gloze. 2. For thou art the God of whom All my strength and help doth come. So estranged and parted me? 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; |