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Divine Hymns.

PSALM I.

By Sir J. DENHAM.

B

LESS'D is the Man, who never treads
Those Paths where evil Counsel leads ;
In Sin's deep Ways, nor standing fast,
Nor on high Seats with Scorners plac'd.

2. But makes God's Law his whole Delight,
His Meditation Day and Night.
3. As Trees, when set in even Ranks,

Where living Streams enrich their Banks.

Their Branches swell'd with quick'ning Juice,
In Seafon joyful Fruits produce;
No Blasts the Bud or Leaf impair;
So all his Actions profp'rous are.

4. Thus fares not the ungodly Man;
As Chaff from Corn the Wind does fan,
5. Sinners, when Judgment is at hand,
Amongst the Righteous shall not stand.

6. The just Man's Ways to God are known,
The Wicked perish in their own.

PSALM VIII.

1. LORD, thy Excellence is known
Troughout the Earth's Extent;

Thou sitt'st upon thy glorious Throne,
Above the Firmament.

2. Babes newly born, who draw the Breast,
With Strength thy Pow'r proclaim
So thou the Rebel hast suppress'd,
And dost th' Avenger tame.

3. When to thy glorious Works on high
I raise my humble Thought;
The Sun, the Moon, the spangled Sky,
All by thy Finger wrought;

4.

T

Alas! what's Man, I then reflect,
Or those who from him spring;
That God should vifit, or respect,
Or love so low a Thing?

5. Next Angels, in his glorious State;
A Crown adorns his Brow :

6. All Things which else thou didst create,
To his Subjection bow.

7, 8. Their Wealth for Tribute, as his own,
Air, Earth, and Sea present.
9. O Lord, thy Excellence is known
Beyond the World's Extent.

First Part of PSALM XVIII.

1. O GOD, my Strength and Fortitude,

Of Force I must love Thee :

Thou art my Castle and Defence
In my Neceffity.

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2. My God, my Rock, in whom I trust,
The Worker of my Wealth
My Refuge, Buckler, and my Shield,
The Horn of all my Health.

3. When I fing Laud unto the Lord,
Moft worthy to be serv'd:
Then from my Foes I am right sure
That I shall be preserv'd.

4. The Pangs of Death did compass me,
And bound me every where;
The flowing Waves of Wickedness
Did put me in great Fear.

5. The fly and fubtle Snares of Hell
Were round about me set :

And for my Life there was prepar'd
A deadly trapping Net.

6. I, thus beset with Pain and Grief,
Did pray to God for Grace;
And he forthwith heard my Complaint
Out of his holy Place.

7. Such is his Pow'r, that in his Wrath
He made the Earth to quake;
Yea, the Foundation of the Mount
Of Bafan for to shake.

8. And from his Nostrils went a Smoke,
When kindled was his Ire;
And from his Mouth went burning Coals
Of hot confuming Fire.

9. The Lord descended from above,
And bow'd the Heav'ns most high;
And underneath his Feet he caft
The Darkness of the Sky.
10. On Cherubs and on Cherubims
Full royally he rode;
And on the Wings of mighty Winds
Come flying all abroad.

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Part

THE fpacious Firmament on high,
With all the blue etherial Sky,
And spangled Heav'ns, a shining Frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
Th' unwearied Sun, from Day to Day,
Does his CREATOR'S Pow'r difplay,
And publishes to ev'ry Land
The Work of an Almighty Hand.

II.

Soon as the Ev'ning Shades prevail,
The Moon takes up the wondrous Tale,
And nightly to the liftning Earth
Repeats the Story of her Birth :
Whilst all the Stars that round her burn,
And all the Planets, in their Turn,,
Confirm the Tidings as they rowl,
And fpread the Truth from Pole to Pole.

III.

What though, in folemn Silence, all
Move round the dark terrestrial Ball?
What tho' nor real Voice nor Sound
Amid their radiant Orbs be found ?
In Reason's Ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious Voice,
For ever finging, as they shine,
"The Hand that made us is Divine."

PSALM