I.

MINE end, and measure of my days

O Lord, unto me show,

What is the fame, that I thereby my frailty well may know.

II.

Lo, thou my days an handbreadth mad'st mine age is in thine eye

As nothing: Sure each man at best is wholly vanity.

III.

Sure each man walks in a vain show, they vex themselves in vain :

He heaps up wealth and doth not know to whom it fhall pertain.

IV.

Therefore O Lord, what wait I for?
what help do I defire?
Truly my hope is ev'n in thee,
I thee alone require.

AFTERNOON.

PSALM XLIII.

This pfalm is a prayer made in great trouble, requesting feasonable grace to bear it with patience, and then keeping down murmuring with the hope of promised deliverance, waiting with faith until it Thould come. May we thus behave in every trial. We always ftand in need of the light of God's prefence with us, and the truth of his promifes made

good

good to us: Thefe we fhould pray for without ceafing, and pray for them in order to keep up conftant communion with God, which may be our fupport under our miseries, and may be the crown of all our comforts. Let us make the words our own, not doubting, but that he who has fulfilled them thoufands of times will now hear and answer our prayer of faith.

I.

O Lord, fend out thy light and truth

and lead me with thy grace,

Which may conduct me to thy hill, and to thy dwelling place.

II.

Then fhall I to thine altar go
with joy to worship there,

And with my heart give thanks to thee,
O God, my God moft dear.

III.

Why art thou then caft down my foul? what should discourage thee?

And why with vexing thoughts art thou difquieted in me?

IV.

Still trust in God, for him to praife good caufe I yet shall have,

He of my perfon is the health, my God who doth me fave.

The fourth Sunday in Lent.

PSALM XLVI.

This is a fong of triumph, in which believers having made God in Chrift their refuge find themselves fafe from all enemies and dangers. Their God himself has put these words into their mouths, that they may truft, and not be afraid: For when he is their ftrength, what fhould fhake their confidence? The finging of this pfalm has ftilled many guilty fears, and has relieved many aching hearts, When any bad news was related to Luther he used to sayCome, let us fing the forty-fixth pfalm, and fear nothing. It is indeed a divine antidote against the greatest fears. May we experience its truth and power by mixing faith with it to-day. May we fo fing, our hearts joining with our tongues, as to find no reason to fear from any quarter.

I.

GOD is our refuge and our strength in straits a prefent aid;

Therefore altho' the earth remove we will not be afraid.

II.

Tho' hills amidst the fea be cast,
tho' waters roaring make
And troubled be, yea tho' the hills

by fwelling feas do fhake.

II.

Our God who is the Lord of hosts

is ftill upon our fide,

The God of Jacob our refuge for ever will abide.

IV.

To Father, Son and Holy Ghost, eternal glory be,

As was, and is, and fhall be ftill, to all eternity.

PSALM XLIX.

This pfalm has a moft folemn preface, calling for the attention of all mankind. The truth to be proposed is equally interefting to all forts and conditions of men. It is this-No man can by any means redeem another; for if he be ever fo rich or great he cannot pay the leaft farthing for the ranfom of his own foul. Chrift, and Chrift alone is able to pay the full redemption price to infinite juftice, and he has paid it. O moft bleffed truth! All that believe find redemption through his blood. They are led to renounce every hope but in his atonement, and it is their earneft defire to love the Lord Redeemer with growing affection. May this be our happy cafe. May we believe in his redemption, and blefs him and praise him for it this day with joyful lips, and thankful hearts.

I.

HEAR this all people, and give ear,

All in the world that dwell,

Both low and high, both rich and poor,
My mouth fhall wisdom tell,

II.

Whoe'er they be that in their wealth their confidence do pitch;

And boast themselves, because they are become exceeding rich;

L 2

III. Yet

III.

Yet none of these his brother can

redeem by any way,

Nor can he unto God for him fufficient ransom pay:

IV.

His own foul's ranfom is too dear,
paid by him it can't be,
That ftill he fhould for ever live
and not corruption fee.

AFTERNOON.

PSALM LVI.

The title of this pfalm is a good comment upon it. It runs thus-" To the beloved who prevailed over the " oppreffion of the congregation of strangers, a pfalm "to be engraved upon his mind, when the Phili"ftines held him fait in Gath :" Hence the prophet takes occafion to speak of the oppreffion of the beloved Jefus from the confpiracy of Jews and Gentiles, of his confidence of victory from the word and promife of Jehovah, and of his obtaining it. Every believer may expect the fame victory, and plead it upon the fame promise: Because Jefus Chrift conquered, not as a private perfon, but as a furety for all his people. His victory was theirs. O that we may, when fin or Satan, or wicked men rife up against us, put honor upon his word. By trufting in it we fhall infallibly find it fulfilled: Yea, we shall rejoice in it, as they that find great fpoil. May we praise him to-day for his word and faithfulness, and fing of them as of a foundation, which cannot poffibly fail those who build upon it.

I. HAVE