SACRED POEMS.

SACRED POEMS.

PSALM II.

WHY do the heathen rage? Against the skies

Why thus in vain with angry tumult rise?

Kings of the earth, with impotent design,

Against Jehovah and his Christ combine.
Come, let us burst their bonds, they madly cry,
And cast away their yoke. He who on high
Sits throned in heaven, derides their impious dream,
Hears their mad vaunts, and over-rules the scheme.
Then speaks in thunder: Yet have I appointed
Him to be King in Zion, my Anointed.

To him Jehovah spake: Thou art my Son!
This day proclaims thee mine Eternal One.
Ask for thy right: the nations all are thine;
Earth's utmost bounds thy heritage divine.

They who resist thy sceptre, are but clay

Warring with iron, to their own dismay.

Learn wisdom, then, ye kings! ye rulers, hear! Adore Jehovah's name with pious fear.

Do homage to the Son, to whom are given
All government on earth, all power in heaven.
Submit ere wakes his anger: then, too late,
The rebel shall relent. In awful state

He comes, he comes, the Holy and the Just!
Then blessed they who in their Saviour trust!

PSALM XXIII.

THE Lord my shepherd is,

And He my soul will keep ;

He knoweth who are his,

And watcheth o'er his sheep.
Away with every anxious fear:
I cannot want while He is near.

His wisdom doth provide

The pasture where I feed:

Where the still waters glide

Along the quiet mead

He leads my feet; and, when I roam, O'ertakes and brings the wanderer home.

He leads himself the way

His faithful flock should take:

Them who his voice obey,

His love will ne'er forsake;

For He has pledged his holy name,

He who for ever is the same.

Let me but feel Him near,

Death's gloomy pass in view,

I'll walk, without a fear,

The shadowy valley through.

With rod and staff, my shepherd's care

Will guide my steps and guard me there.