Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David ‎#88b

88b. Hypocrisy exposed

1 The Lord, the Judge his churches warns,
Let hypocrites attend and fear,
Who place their hope in rites and forms,
But make not faith nor love their care.

2 Vile wretches dare rehearse his name
With lips of falsehood and deceit;
A friend or brother they defame,
And sooth and flatter those they hate.

3 They watch to do their neighbours wrong,
Yet dare to seek their Maker's face;
They take his covenant on their tongue,
But break his laws, abuse his grace.

4 To heaven they lift their hands unclean,
Defil'd with lust, defil'd with blood;
By night they practise every sin,
By day their mouths draw near to God.

5 And while his judgments long delay,
They grow secure and sin the more;
They think he sleeps as well as they,
And put far off the dreadful hour.

7 Oh dreadful hour! when God draws near,
And sets their crimes before their eyes!
His wrath their guilty souls shall tear,
And no deliverer dare to rise.

Text Information

• First Line: The Lord, the Judge his churches warns
• Title: Hypocrisy exposed
• Meter: Long Metre
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1790
• Scripture:
  Psalm 50
• Topic: God: the judge; Hypocrites and hypocrisy; Incarnation: and sacrifice of Christ; Judgment Day; Obedience: better than sacrifice; Profession: false; Saints: Reward at last; Sins of tongue

Tune Information

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