4 He does the food supply,
On which all creatures live:
To God who reigns on high
Eternal praises give.

For God will prove
Our constant friend,
His boundless love
Shall never end.

INSTRUCTIVE PSALMS.

PSALM XXXIII.

From the 1st of David.

1 HOW blest is he, who ne'er consents.
By ill advice to walk :

Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits.
Where men profanely talk:

2 But makes the perfect law of God
His business and delight;
Devoutly reads therein by day,
And meditates by night.

3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by streams, With timely fruit does bend,

He still shall flourish, and success
All his designs attend.

4 Ungodly men, and their attempts,
No lasting root shall find;
Untimely blasted, and dispers'd
Like chaff before the wind.

For God approves the just man's ways ;
To happiness they tend;

But sinners, and the paths they tread,
Shall both in ruin end.

PSALM XXXIV.

From the 4th of David.

1 CONSIDER that the righteous man Is God's peculiar choice;

And when to him I make my pray'r,
He always hears my voice.

2 Then stand in awe of his commands;
Flee ev'ry thing that's ill;
Commune in private with your hearts,
And bend them to his will.

3 The place of other sacrifice
Let righteousness supply:
And let your hope, securely fix'd,
On God alone rely.

4 While worldly minds impatient grow,
More prosp'rous times to see ;
Still let the glories of thy face
Shine brightly, Lord, on me.

5 So shall my heart o'erflow with joy
More lasting and more true,

Than theirs, who stores of corn and wine
Successively renew.

6 Then down in peace I'll lay my head,
And take my needful rest;
No other guard, O Lord, I crave,
Of thy defence possess'd.

PSALM XXXV.

From the 15th of David.

1 LORD, who's the happy man, that may
To thy blest courts repair;
And, while he bows before thy throne,
Shall find acceptance there?

2 'Tis he, whose ev'ry thought and deed
By rules of virtue moves;

Whose gen'rous tongue disdains to speak The thing his heart disproves:

5 Who never did a slander forge His neighbour's fame to wound

Nor barken to a false report,
By malice whisper'd round.

4 Who vice, in all its pomp and pow'r,
Can treat with just neglect;
And piety, though cloth'd in rags,
Religiously respect :

5 Who to his plighted vows and trust
Has ever firmly stood;

And, though he promise to his loss,
He makes his promise good.

Who seeks not by oppressive ways
His treasure to employ";
Whom no rewards can ever bribe,
The guiltless to destroy.

7 The man, who, by his steady course,
Has happiness insur'd,

When earth's foundation shakes, shall stapt, By Providence secur'd.

PSALM XXXIV.

From the 19th of David.

1 GOD'S perfect law converts the soul,
Reclaims from false desires;
With sacred wisdom his sure word
The ignorant inspires.

2 The statutes of the Lord are just,
And bring sincere delight:

His pure commands, in search of truth,
Assist the feeblest sight.

3 His perfect worship here is fix'd,
On sure foundations laid :

His equal laws are in the scales

Of truth and justice weigh'd.

Of more esteem than golden mines,
Or gold refin❜d with skill;

More sweet than honey, or the drops
That from the comb distil.

5 But what frail man observes how oft
He does from virtue fall?

O! cleanse me from my secret faults,
Thou, God that know'st them all.

PSALM XXXVII.

From the 34th of David.

1 APPROACH, ye piously dispos'd,
And my instruction hear;

I'll teach you the true discipline
Of a religious fear.

2 Let him, who length of life desires,
And prosp'rous ways would see,
From sland ring language keep his tongue,
His lips from falsehood free :

3 The crooked paths of vice decline,
And virtue's ways pursue;
Establish peace, where 'tis begun,
And, where, 'tis lost renew.

4 The Lord from heav'n beholds the just
With favourable eyes;

And when distress'd, his gracious ear
Is open to their cries:

5 But turns his wrathful look on those
Whom mercy can't reclaim,
To cut them off, and from the earth
Blot out their hated name.

PSALM XXXVIII.

From the 119th of David.

1 HOW blest are they who always keep The pure and perfect way!

Who never from the sacred paths
Of God's commandments stray !

2 Thrice bless'd! who to his righteous laws Have still obedient been!

And have, with fervent, humble zeal,
His favour sought to win!

3 Such men their utmost caution use,
To shun each wicked deed;
But in the path which he directs
With constant care proceed.

4 Thou strictly hast enjoin'd us, Lord,
To learn thy sacred will;

And all our diligence employ
Thy statutes to fulfil.

5 O then that thy most holy will
Might o'er my ways preside!
And I the course of all my life
By thy direction guide!

6 Then with assurance would I walk,
From all confusion free;

Convinc'd, with joy, that all my ways
With thy commands agree.

7 The wonders, which thy law contains,
No words can represent:
Therefore, to learn and practise them
My zealous heart is bent.

8 The very entrance to thy word
Celestial light displays,

And knowledge of true happiness
To simplest minds conveys.

9 With eager hopes, I waiting stood,
And fainted with desire,

That of any wise commands I might
The sacred skill acquire.

10 With favour, Lord, look down on me, Who thy relief implore: