1 My God, my everlasting hope, I live upon thy truth; Thine hands have held my childhood up, And strengthen'd all my youth.
2 My flesh was fashion'd by thy power, With all these limbs of mine; And from my mother's painful hour I've been entirely thine.
3 Still has my life new wonders seen Repeated every year; Behold my days that yet remain, I trust them to thy care.
4 Cast me not off when strength declines, When hoary hairs arise; And round me let thy glories shine Whene'er thy servant dies.
5 Then in the history of my age, When men review my days, They'll read thy love in every page, In every line thy praise.
Psalm 71:2. 15 14 16 23 22 24. 2d Part. Christ our strength and righteousness.
1 My Saviour, my almighty Friend, When I begin thy praise, Where will the growing numbers end, The numbers of thy grace?
2 Thou art my everlasting trust, Thy goodness I adore; And since I knew thy graces first I speak thy glories more.
3 My feet shall travel all the length Of the celestial road, And march with courage in thy strength To see my Father God.
4 When I am fill'd with sore distress For some surprising sin, I'll plead thy perfect righteousness, And mention none but thine.
5 How will my lips rejoice to tell The victories of my King! My soul redeem'd from sin and hell Shall thy salvation sing.
6 [My tongue shall all the day proclaim My Saviour and my God; His death has brought my foes to shame, And drown'd them in his blood.
7 Awake, awake my tuneful powers; With this delightful song I'll entertain the darkest hours, Nor think the season long.]
Psalm 71:3. 17-21. Third Part. The aged Christian's prayer and song; or, Old age, death, and the resurrection.
1 God of my childhood and my youth, The guide of all my days, I have declar'd thy heavenly truth, And told thy wondrous ways.
2 Wilt thou forsake my hoary hairs, And leave my fainting heart? Who shall sustain my sinking years If God my strength depart?
3 Let me thy power and truth proclaim To the surviving age, And leave a savour of thy Name When I shall quit the stage.
4 The land of silence and of death Attends my next remove; O may these poor remains of breath Teach the wide world thy love.
PAUSE.
5 Thy righteousness is deep and high, Unsearchable thy deeds; Thy glory spreads beyond the sky, And all my praise exceeds.
6 Oft have I heard thy threatenings roar, And oft endur'd the grief; But when thy hand has press'd me sore, Thy grace was my relief.
7 By long experience have I known Thy sovereign power to save; At thy command I venture down Securely to the grave.
8 When I lie buried deep in dust, My flesh shall be thy care These withering limbs with thee I trust To raise them strong and fair.
Psalm 72:1. First Part. The kingdom of Christ.
1 Great God, whose universal sway The known and unknown worlds obey, Now give the kingdom to thy Son, Extend his power, exalt his throne.
2 Thy sceptre well becomes his hands, All heaven submits to his commands; His justice shall avenge the poor, And pride and rage prevail no more.
3 With power he vindicates the just, And treads th' oppressor in the dust; His worship and his fear shall last Till hours and years and time be past.
4 As rain on meadows newly mown So shall he send his influence down; His grace on fainting souls distils Like heavenly dew on thirsty hills.
5 The heathen lands that lie beneath The shades of overspreading death, Revive at his first dawning light, And deserts blossom at the sight.
6 The saints shall flourish in his days, Drest in the robes of joy and praise; Peace like a river from his throne Shall flow to nations yet unknown.