Doctor Watts's imitation of the Psalms of David, to which is added a collection of hymns; the whole applied to the state of the Christian Church in general (3rd ed.) ‎#198b

198b. The Blessings of the liberal Man

1 That man is blest who stands in awe
Of God, and loves his sacred law:
His seed on earth shall be renown'd;
His house the seat of wealth shall be,
An unexhausted treasury,
And with successive honours crown'd.

2 His liberal favours he extends,
To some he gives, to others lends:
A generous pity fills his mind:
Yet what his charity impairs,
He saves by prudence in affairs,
And thus he's just to all mankind.

3 His hands, while they his alms bestow'd,
His glory's future harvest sow'd,
The sweet remembrance of the just
Like a green root revives and bears
A train of blessings for his heirs,
When dying nature sleeps in dust.

4 Beset with threatening dangers round,
Unmov'd shall he maintain his ground;
His conscience holds his courage up:
The soul that's filled with virtue's light,
Shines brightest in affliction's night:
And sees in darkness beams of grace.

Pause.

5 [Ill tidings never can surprise
His heart that fix'd on God relies,
Though waves and tempests roar around:
Safe on the rock he sits, and sees
The shipwreck of his enemies,
And all their hope and glory drown'd.

6 The wicked shall his triumph see,
And gnash their teeth in agony,
To find their expectations crost:
They and their envy, pride and spite,
Sink down to everlasting night,
And all their names in darkness lost.]

Text Information

• First Line: That man is blest who stands in awe
• Title: The Blessings of the liberal Man
• Meter: As the 113th Psalm
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1786
• Scripture:
  Psalm 112
• Topic: Blessings: of a person; Charity: to the poor; Good Works; Liberality rewarded; Poor: charity to them; Preservation: in public dangers

Tune Information

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