The Psalms of David Part 22

Psalm 50:5. To a new Tune.

The last judgment.

1 The Lord the Sovereign sends his summons forth, Calls the south nations, and awakes the north; From east to west the sounding orders spread Thro' distant worlds and regions of the dead: No more shall atheists mock his long delay; His vengeance sleeps no more: behold the day!

2 Behold the Judge descends; his guards are nigh; Tempest and fire attend him down the sky: Heaven, earth and h.e.l.l draw near; let all things come To hear his justice and the sinners doom: But gather first my saints (the Judge commands) Bring them, ye angels, from their distant lands.

3 Behold! my covenant stands for ever good, Seal'd by the eternal sacrifice in blood, And sign'd with all their names; the Greek, the Jew, That paid the ancient wors.h.i.+p or the new.

There's no distinction here: come spread their thrones, And near me seat my favorites and my sons.

4 I their almighty Saviour and their G.o.d, I am their Judge: ye heavens, proclaim abroad My just eternal sentence, and declare Those awful truths that sinners dread to hear: Sinners in Zion, tremble and retire; I doom the painted hypocrite to fire.

5 Not for the want of goats or bullocks slain Do I condemn thee; bulls and goats are vain Without the flames of love: in vain the store Of brutal offerings that were mine before; Mine are the tamer beasts and savage breed, Flocks, herds, and fields, and forests where they feed.

6 If I were hungry would I ask thee food?

When did I thirst, or drink thy bullocks blood?

Can I be flatter'd with thy cringing bows, Thy solemn chatterings and fantastic vows?

Are my eyes charm'd thy vestments to behold, Glaring in gems, and gay in woven gold?

7 Unthinking wretch! how couldst thou hope to please A G.o.d, a spirit, with such toys as these?

While with my grace and statutes on thy tongue, Thou lov'st deceit, and dost thy brother wrong; In vain to pious forms thy zeal pretends, Thieves and adulterers are thy chosen friends.

8 Silent I waited with lone-suffering love, But didst thou hope that I should ne'er reprove?

And cherish such an impious thought within, That G.o.d the righteous would indulge thy sin?

Behold my terrors now: my thunders roll, And thy own crimes affright thy guilty soul.

9 Sinners, awake betimes; ye fools, be wise; Awake, before this dreadful morning rise; Change your vain thoughts, your crooked works amend, Fly to the Saviour, make the Judge your friend; Lest like a lion his last vengeance tear Your trembling souls, and no deliverer near.

Psalm 50:6. To the old proper Tune.

The last judgment.

1 The G.o.d of glory sends his summons forth, Calls the south nations, and awakes the north; From east to west the sov'reign orders spread, Thro' distant worlds, and regions of the dead: The trumpet sounds; h.e.l.l trembles; heaven rejoices; Lift up your heads, ye saints, with cheerful voices.

2 No more shall atheists mock his long delay; His vengeance sleeps no more; behold the day; Behold the Judge descends; his guards are nigh; Tempests and fire attend him down the sky.

When G.o.d appears, all nature shall adore him; While sinners tremble, saints rejoice before him,

3 "Heaven, earth, and h.e.l.l, draw near; let all things come "To hear my justice and the sinner's doom; "But gather first my saints," the Judge commands, "Bring them, ye angels from their distant lands:"

When Christ returns, wake every cheerful pa.s.sion, And shout, ye saints; he comes for your salvation.

4 "Behold my covenant stands for ever good, "Seal'd by th' eternal sacrifice in blood, "And sign'd with all their names, the Greek, the Jew, "That paid the ancient wors.h.i.+p or the new."

There's no distinction here: join all your voices, And raise your heads, ye saints, for heaven rejoices.

5 "Here (saith the Lord) ye angels, spread their thrones: "And near me seat my favorites and my sons: "Come, my redeem'd, possess the joys prepar'd "Ere time began! 'tis your divine reward:"

When Christ returns, wake every cheerful pa.s.sion, And shout, ye saints; he comes for your salvation.

PAUSE THE FIRST.

6 "I am the Saviour, I th' almighty G.o.d, "I am the Judge: ye heavens, proclaim abroad "My just eternal sentence, and declare "Those awful truths that sinners dread to hear,"

When G.o.d appears all nature shall adore him; While sinners tremble, saints rejoice before him.

7 "Stand forth, thou bold blasphemer and profane, "Now feel my wrath, nor call my threatenings vain, "Thou hypocrite, once drest in saint's attire, "I doom the painted hypocrite to fire."

Judgment proceeds; h.e.l.l trembles; heaven rejoices; Lift up your heads, ye saints, with cheerful voices.

8 "Not for the want of goats or bullocks slain "Do I condemn thee; bulls and goats are vain "Without the flames of love; in vain the store "Of brutal offerings that were mine before:"

Earth is the Lord's; all nature shall adore him; While sinners tremble, saints rejoice before him.

9 "If I were hungry, would I ask thee food?

"When did I thirst, or drink thy bullocks blood?

"Mine are the tamer beasts and savage breed, "Flocks, herds, and fields, and forests where they feed:"

All is the Lord's; he rules the wide creation: Gives sinners vengeance, and the saints salvation.

10 "Can I be flatter'd with thy cringing bows, "Thy solemn chatterings and fantastic vows?

"Are my eyes charm'd thy vestments to behold, "Glaring in gems, and gay in woven gold?"

G.o.d is the judge of hearts; no fair disguises Can screen the guilty when his vengeance rises.

PAUSE THE SECOND.

11 "Unthinking wretch! how couldst thou hope to please "A G.o.d, a spirit with such toys as these!

"While with my grace and statutes on thy tongue, "Thou lov'st deceit, and dost thy brother wrong!"

Judgment proceeds; h.e.l.l trembles; heaven rejoices: Lift up your heads, ye saints, with cheerful voices.

12 "In vain to pious forms thy zeal pretends, "Thieves and adulterers are thy chosen friends; "While the false flatterer at my altar waits, "His harden'd soul divine instruction hates."

G.o.d is the judge of hearts; no fair disguises Can screen the guilty when his vengeance rises.

13 "Silent I waited with long suffering love; "But didst thou hope that I should ne'er reprove?

"And cherish such an impious thought within, "That the All-Holy would indulge thy sin?"

See, G.o.d appears; all nature joins t' adore him; Judgment proceeds, and sinners fall before him.

14 "Behold my terrors now; my thunders roll, "And thy own crimes affright thy guilty soul; "Now like a lion shall my vengeance tear "Thy bleeding heart, and no deliverer near:"

Judgment concludes; h.e.l.l trembles; heaven rejoices; Lift up your heads, ye saints, with cheerful voices..

EPIPHONEMA.

15 Sinners, awake betimes; ye fools, be wise; Awake before this dreadful morning rise: Change your vain thoughts, your crooked works amend, Fly to the Saviour, make the Judge your friend: Then join the saints: wake every cheerful pa.s.sion; When Christ returns, he comes for your salvation.

Psalm 51:1. First Part. L. M.

A penitent pleading for pardon.

1 Shew pity, Lord, O Lord, forgive, Let a repenting rebel live: Are not thy mercies large and free?

May not a sinner trust in thee?

2 My crimes are great, but not surpa.s.s The power and glory of thy grace; Great G.o.d, thy nature hath no bound, So let thy pardoning love be found.

3 O wash my Soul from every sin, And make my guilty conscience clean; Here on my heart the burden lies, And past offences pain my eyes.

4 My lips with shame my sins confess Against thy law, against thy grace: Lord, should thy judgment grow severe, I am condemn'd, but thou art clear.