4 I told the Lord my sore distress
With heavy groans and tears,
He gave my sharpest torments ease,
And silenc’d all my fears.

Pause.

5 [O sinners, come and taste his love,
Come, learn his pleasant ways,
And let your own experience prove
The sweetness of his grace.

6 He bids his angels pitch their tents Round where his children dwell What ills their heavenly care prevents No earthly tongue can tell.]

7 [O love the Lord, ye saints of his;
His eye regards the just;
How richly blest their portion is
Who make the Lord their trust!

8 Young lions pinch’d with hunger roar,
And famish in the wood;
But God supplies his holy poor
With every needful good.]

Psalm 34:4. 11-22.  Second Part.  C. M.
Exhortations to peace and Holiness.

1 Come, children, learn to fear the Lord;
And that your days be long,
Let not a false or spiteful word
Be found upon your tongue.

2 Depart from mischief, practise love,
Pursue the works of peace;
So shall the Lord your ways approve,
And set your souls at ease.

3 His eyes awake to guard the just,
His ears attend their cry;
When broken spirits dwell in dust,
The God of grace is nigh.

4 What tho’ the sorrows here they taste
Are sharp and tedious too,
The Lord, who saves them all at last,
Is their supporter now.

5 Evil shall smite the wicked dead;
But God secures his own,
Prevents the mischief when they slide,
Or heals the broken bone.

6 When desolation like a flood,
O’er the proud sinner rolls,
Saints find a refuge in their God,
For he redeem’d their souls.

Psalm 35:1. 1-9.  First Part.  Prayer and faith of persecuted saints; or, Imprecations mixed with charity.

1 Now plead my cause, almighty God,
With all the Sons of strife;
And fight against the men of blood,
Who fight against my life.

2 Draw out thy spear and stop their way,
Lift thine avenging rod;
But to my soul in mercy say,
“I am thy Saviour God.”

3 They plant their snares to catch my feet,
And nets of mischief spread;
Plunge the destroyers in the pit
That their own hands have made.

4 Let fogs and darkness hide their way, And slippery be their ground; Thy wrath shall make their lives a prey, And all their rage confound.

5 They fly like chaff before the wind,
Before thine angry breath;
The angel of the Lord behind
Pursues them down to death.

6 They love the road that leads to hell;
Then let the rebels die
Whose malice is implacable
Against the Lord on high.

7 But if thou hast a chosen few
Amongst that impious race,
Divide them from the bloody crew
By thy surprising grace.

8 Then will I raise my tuneful voice
To make thy wonders known;
In their salvation I’ll rejoice,
And bless thee for my own.