English text
PART 1 (L. M.)
Preserve me, Lord, in time of need,
For succor to thy throne I flee,
But have no merits there to plead:
My goodness cannot reach to thee.
Oft have my heart and tongue confessed
How empty and how poor I am;
My praise can never make thee blessed,
Nor add new glories to thy name.
Yet, Lord, thy saints on earth may reap
Some profit by the good we do;
These are the company I keep,
These are the choicest friends I know.
Let others choose the sons of mirth
To give a relish to their wine;
I love the men of heavenly birth,
Whose thoughts and language are divine.
PART 2 (L. M.)
How fast their guilt and sorrows rise
Who haste to seek some idol-god!
I will not taste their sacrifice,
Their offerings of forbidden blood.
My God provides a richer cup,
And nobler food to live upon;
He for my life has offered up
Jesus, his best-beloved Son.
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His love is my perpetual feast;
By day his counsels guide me right;
And be his name for ever blessed,
Who gives me sweet advice by night.
I set him still before mine eyes;
At my right hand he stands prepared
To keep my soul from all surprise,
And be my everlasting guard.
PART 3 (L. M.)
When God is nigh, my faith is strong;
His arm is my almighty prop:
Be glad, my heart; rejoice, my tongue;
My dying flesh shall rest in hope.
Though in the dust I lay my head,
Yet, gracious God, thou wilt not leave
My soul for ever with the dead,
Nor lose thy children in the grave.
My flesh shall thy first call obey,
Shake off the dust, and rise on high;
Then shalt thou lead the wondrous way
Up to thy throne above the sky.
There streams of endless pleasure flow;
And full discoveries of thy grace
(Which we but tasted here below)
Spread heav'nly joys through all the place.
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PART 4 (C. M.)
Save me, O Lord, from every foe;
In thee my trust I place,
Though all the good that I can do
Can ne'er deserve thy grace.
Yet if my God prolong my breath,
The saints may profit by 't;
The saints, the glory of the earth,
The men of my delight.
Let heathens to their idols haste,
And worship wood or stone;
But my delightful lot is cast
Where the true God is known.
His hand provides my constant food,
He fills my daily cup;
Much am I pleased with present good,
But more rejoice in hope.
God is my portion and my joy,
His counsels are my light;
He gives me sweet advice by day,
And gentle hints by night.
My soul would all her thoughts approve
To his all-seeing eye;
Not death, nor hell, my hope shall move,
While such a Friend is nigh.
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PART 5 (C. M.)
I set the Lord before my face,
He bears my courage up;
My heart and tongue their joys express,
My flesh shall rest in hope.
"My spirit, Lord, thou wilt not leave
Where souls departed are;
Nor quit my body to the grave,
To see corruption there.
"Thou wilt reveal the path of life,
And raise me to thy throne;
Thy courts immortal pleasure give,
Thy presence joys unknown."
Thus, in the name of Christ, the Lord,
The holy David sung;
And Providence fulfils the word
Of his prophetic tongue.
Jesus, whom ev'ry saint adores,
Was crucified and slain:
Behold, the tomb its prey restores!
Behold, he lives again!
When shall my feet arise and stand
On heav'n's eternal hills?
There sits the Son at God's right hand,
And there the Father smiles.
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