THE POET'S HYMN FOR HIMSELF. Of good and pious works Thou art the seed, That quickens only where thou say'st it may. Unless Thou show to us Thine own true way, No man can find it; Father! thou must lead. Do Thou, then, breathe those thoughts into my mind By which such virtue may in me be bred That in Thy holy footsteps I may tread; The fetters of my tongue do Thou unbind, That I may have the power to sing of Thee, And sound Thy praises everlastingly. MICHAEL ANGELO. (Italian.) Translation of SAMUEL WORDSWORTH. 773 From the earth's vast hollow womb So shall He, from heaven's high tower, In the air, to sink to hell. Then, O come! with sacred lays Let us sound the Almighty's praise. GEORGE WITHER THE POET'S HYMN FOR HIMSELF. GREAT Almighty, King of heaven, Who hast more for Thine prepared By Thy mercies I was taken And those comforts Thou didst give me By Thy grace the passions, troubles, And with profit that hath ended Those afflictions and those terrors, PSALM XX. The pangs of death did compass me, and Nor shall Thy spreading gospel rest bound me every where; 775 Till through the world Thy truth has run; The flowing waves of wickedness did put me Till Christ has all the nations blest in great fear. The sly and subtle snares of hell were round about me set; And for my death there was prepared a deadly trapping net. I, thus beset with pain and grief, did pray to God for grace; That see the light or feel the sun. Great Sun of Righteousness, arise! Bless the dark world with heavenly light! Thy gospel makes the simple wise— Thy laws are pure, Thy judgments right. And He forthwith did hear my plaint out of Thy noblest wonders here we view, In souls renewed, and sins forgiven; Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew, And make Thy word my guide to heaven! ISAAC WATTS. PSALM XX. SOME put their trust in chariots, And horses some rely on; But God alone Our help we ownGod is the strength of Sion. His name we will remember For Christ is ours, We are His ransomed people, Is still stretched out to save us. He, out of all our troubles, And then receive And reign with Him for ever. CHARLES WESLEY. PSALM XXIII. I. GOD, who the universe doth hold Is my shepherd, kind and heedful- Still supplied with all things needful. II. He feeds me in His fields, which been Mottled with Spring's flowery painting- To refresh my spirit's fainting. III. When my soul from heaven's way Went astray, With earth's vanities seduced, For His name's sake, kindly, He Wandering me To His holy fold reduced— IV. Yea, though I stray through death's vale, Shades did on each side enfold me, Should I bide; For Thy rod and staff uphold me. V. Thou my board with messes large My bowls full of wine Thou pourest ; Envious eyes Balm upon my head Thou showerest. VI. Neither dures Thy bounteous grace For a space; But it knows nor bound nor measure: So my days, to my life's end, I shall spend In Thy courts with heavenly pleasure. FRANCIS DAVISON, PSALM XXIII. Lo, my Shepherd's hand divine! When I faint with Summer's heat, Though the dreary vale I tread While my foes are gazing on, PSALM XXX. I. JAMES MERRICK. LORD, to Thee, while I am living, For Thou hast drawn me from a gulf of woes, Do not deride me. II. When Thine aid, Lord, I implored, My mournful heart with joy Thou straight didst fill, |