The Psalms of David | Page 5

God still, though borrowed from several parts of the Holy Scripture. Where the Psalmist describes religion by the fear of God, I have often joined faith and love to it. Where he speaks of the pardon of sin, through the mercies of God, I have added the merits of a Saviour. Where he talks of sacrificing goats or bullocks, I rather chuse to mention the sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God. When he attends the ark with shouting into Zion, I sing the ascension of my Saviour into heaven, or his presence in his church on earth. Where he promises abundance of wealth, honour, and long life, I have changed some of these typical blessings for grace, glory, and life eternal, which are brought to light by the gospel, and promised in the New Testament. And I am fully satisfied, that more honor is done to our blessed Saviour, by speaking his name, his graces, and actions, in his own language, according to the brighter discoveries he hath now made, than by going back again to the Jewish forms of worship, and the language of types and figures."
Of chusing or finding the Psalm.
By consulting the Index at the end, any one may find hymns very proper for many occasions of the Christian life and worship; though no copy of David's Psalter can provide for all, as I have shewn in the Preface to the large edition.
Or, if he remembers the first line of any Psalm, the Table of the first lines will direct where to find it.
[NOTE: the Index and the Table of First Lines are omitted from this Project Gutenberg electronic version.]
Of singing in course.
If any shall think it best to sing the Psalms in order in churches or families, it may be done with profit, provided those Psalms be omitted that refer to special occurrences of nations, churches, or single Christians.
Of dividing the Psalms.
If the Psalm be too long for the time or custom of singing, there are pauses in many of them at which you may properly rest; or you may leave out those verses which are inclued with crotchets [ ], without disturbing the sense: or, in some places you may begin to sing at the pause.

THE Psalms of David, In Metre.
Psalm 1:1. Common Metre, The way and end of the righteous and the wicked.
1 Blest is the man who shuns the place Where sinners love to meet; Who fears to tread their wicked ways, And hates the scoffer's seat:
2 But in the statutes of the Lord Has plac'd his chief delight; By day he reads or hears the word, And meditates by night.
3 [He like a plant of generous kind, By living waters set, Safe from the storms and blasting wind, Enjoys a peaceful state.]
4 Green as the leaf and ever fair Shall his profession shine, While fruits of holiness appear Like clusters on the vine.
5 Not so the impious and unjust; What vain designs they form! Their hopes are blown away like dust, Or chaff before the storm.
6 Sinners in judgment shall not stand Amongst the sons of grace, When Christ the Judge, at his right hand, Appoints his saints a place.
7 His eye beholds the path they tread, His heart approves it well; But crooked ways of sinners lead Down to the gates of hell.
Psalm 1:2. S. M. The saint happy, the sinner miserable.
1 The man is ever blest Who shuns the sinner's ways, Among their counsels never stands, Nor takes the scorner's place;
2 But makes the Law of God His study and delight, Amidst the labours of the day, And watches of the night.
3 He like a tree shall thrive, With waters near the root: Fresh as the leaf his name shall live, His works are heavenly fruit.
4 Not so th' ungodly race, They no such blessings find; Their hopes shall flee like empty chaff Before the driving wind.
5 How will they bear to stand Before that judgment-seat, Where all the saints at Christ's right hand In full assembly meet?
6 He knows, and he approves The way the righteous go; But sinners and their works shall meet A dreadful overthrow.
Psalm 1:3. L. M. The difference between the righteous and the wicked.
1 Happy the man whose cautious feet Shun the broad way that sinners go, Who hates the place where atheists meet, And fears to talk as scoffers do.
2 He loves t' employ his morning light Amongst the statutes of the Lord: And spends the wakeful hours at night, With pleasure pondering o'er the word.
3 He like a plant by gentle streams, Shall flourish in immortal green; And heaven will shine with kindest beams On every work his hands begin.
4 But sinners find their counsels crost; As chaff before the tempest flies, So shall their hopes be blown and lost, When the