AFTERNOON.

PSALM LXXI.

I.

LORD, I with patient hope will wait
on thee continually,

And yet with praises more and more
I will thee magnify.

II.

Thy righteousness and falvation my mouth abroad fhall fhow, Ev'n all the day; for I thereof the numbers do not know;

III.

And I will conftantly go on
in strength of God the Lord,

And thine own righteousness, ev'n thine
alone I will record.

IV.

My lips fhall much rejoice in thee when I thy praifes found,

My foul which thou redeemed haft with joy fhall much abound.

The

The fourth Sunday after Easter.

PSALM LXXIII.

This pfalm treats of a great temptation, arifing from the profperity of the wicked; from which the prophet was delivered, by confidering their end, how foon they are cut down, and perifh, whereas the righteous even in this life are happy in God, and most happy in him for ever. This he expreffes for himself in the words before us. He found God his portion. He was fatisfied. He was thankful. May we find the fame. Trufting to our bleffed Jefus, may we with some comfortable hope use the words for our own this day, and may we fo grow in faith, that when heart and flesh, and life fail us, we may find God the strength of our heart and our portion for

ever.

I.

WHAT thing is there, that I can wish

but thee in heav'n above?

Lord, in the earth there nothing is like thee that I can love.

II.

My flesh and spirit both do fail, but God will me restore:

For of my heart he is the ftrength and portion evermore.

JII.

But lo, all fuch as thee forfake thou shalt destroy each one, And those who truft in any thing except in thee alone.

IV.

Therefore will I draw near to God,
and ever with him dwell,
In God alone I put my trust,
his wonders I will tell.

PSALM LXXVII.

The prophet here gives thanks to God for hearing his prayer, even when he had been tempted to question, whether God had not fhut his ears, and would not vouchfafe him a gracious anfwer. He finds the ten

I

der mercies of his God ftill the fame: And therefore he refolves to meditate on the wondrous works of God, and his dealings with the children of men, for the increase of his faith and for the exercise of his thankfulness. Here is great encouragement to pray and praife. May this example ftir up both. May we fing the words in faith, and that will certainly excite gratitude. We fhall find the ears of our God open to hear our requests, and he will give us reason to glorify him.

I.

WITH my
who lent a gracious ear,

voice to God did cry,

My voice I lifted up to God, and he my pray'r did hear.

II.

great

I will remember the performed by the Lord,

works

The wonders done of old by thee
I gladly will record.

III.

I alfo will of all thy works
my meditation make,
And of thy doings to discourse
great pleasure I will take.

IV.

Thou art a God who doft fhew forth
thy wonders every hour,
And fo doft make the people know
thine own almighty power.

AFTERNOON.

PSALM LXXIX.

The church here is in great affliction, and God delays to help. This makes prayer more fervent, and especially for the pardon of thofe fins, which were the caufe of the prefent affliction. Every day we ask→ forgive us our trefpaffes, &c: Becaufe every day we want forgivenefs, a fresh application of the blood of fpinkling, which having received by faith then we can join in praifing God as the church here does. May the fame mercy excite in us the fame gratitude; and may it be abundant in our hearts this day to the glory of a fin-forgiving God.

"I.

HOW long, Lord, fhall thine anger laft? wilt thou ftill keep the fame :

And shall thy fervent jealoufy burn like unto a flame?

II.

Against us mind not former fins,
thy tender mercies show,
Let them prevent us fpeedily:
for we're brought very low.

III.

For thy name's glory help us Lord,
who haft our Saviour been,
Deliver us for thy name's fake;
O purge away our fin.

IV..

So we thy flock and pasture fheep
will praife thee evermore,
And teach all ages how to keep.
for thee like praife in ftore.

The