It pleafed God to grant him a refpite, and reftore him in a great measure to his former health; when his vicious inclinations returned again, and his words proved like water spilt upon the ground, or like the morning clouds, and early dew; for he feemed to have loft all fenfe of the horrors he had felt, and the engagements he had entered into. The first time he went abroad after his recovery was to a place in the neighbourhood where he had a hatch of chickens, to appoint where they should be trained for the purpose of fighting: but God met him in the way, and he was feized with a relapfe of his disorder: His guilty horrors returned with redoubled violence, fo that the laft flate of this • miferable man was worfe than the first: he had not the leaft glimmering of hope, but languishing in the most fearful torments, as though the flames of hell were already kindled upon him: He conftantly cried out, "Hell fire for ever! hell fire for "ever!" until he expired in the sharpeft agonies. Thus he died with no other profpect, than that of a certain fearful looking for of wrath and fiery indignation, to be fhowered upon him throughout the ages of eternity.

WILLS's Spiritual Regifter, Vol. iii. 1795.

A PARAPHRASE on PSALM LXVIII.
By M. MARTINDALE.

EHOVAH rofe, and at his frown,

The rebel legions fled :
Red lightening flashing from his eyes,
His thunder fhook the diftant fkies,
Filling the world with dread.
As whirlwinds from fubjection broke,
Difperfe the light and vagrant fmoke,
Or, mountains overturn;
As wax before the glowing fire,
His foes endure his vengeful ire
Before his prefence burn.
ISRAEL, in holy triumph fing,
To thy great Author, God, and King,
His noble deeds proclaim:

His path with breathing flowerets ftrow,
His praife in all thy actions show,
JEHOVAH is his Name.

The injur'd widow's fpeaking tears,
And orphans cry, his pity hears,
Their rights he will defend.
Sion, he makes his facred choice,
We there, his awful, pleafing voice,
With humble faith attend,

VOL. XIX. May, 1796.

He

He will affemble round his throne,
(Where all his mighty acts are known)
Thofe, who his Laws embrace;
He fees his fuppliant children's pains,
With pity mov'd, he breaks their chains,
And crowns them with his grace.
When God his car tremendous took,
Old Sinai's deep foundation fhook
Beneath his fwift career;

His beamy robes around him flow'd,
Dread thunders fpoke the potent God,
The trembling earth gave ear.
In defarts drear our tribes were fspread,
From humid clouds he fent us bread,
Of life, the great fupport;
Through ftorms and death fecure we past,
His arms around our legions caft,
Our grand, our fole refort.
As with a fhepherd's watchful eye,
The numerous wants thou wilt fupply,
Of all who feek thy face;
Creation with its countlefs train,
Thy power and providence fuftain,
With benefits and grace.

On the fierce tempeft's roaring breath,
Or, on the foaming waves beneath,
To earth's remotest bound,

Thy fervants fly; thy thunder rolls,
The victors fhake the fteady poles,
And all the nations round.

Wide earth their mandate fhall attend,
To their terrific arms low bend,
Bearing the captive chain;
Kingdoms and fceptres, at command,
Shall pafs into their conquering hand,
Submiffive own their reign.

Vain are the plots his foes devife,
A fingle glance their rage deftroys,
They perish at his blaft:

Great King of ocean, earth, and air,
Who can thy glorious deeds declare,
Or found thy wonders vaft.
Darkness and death he puts to flight,
Relumes the world with facred light,
From his eternal throne:

The mountain's brow, and vales below,
Clad in bright robes of virgin fnow,
Make his great goodness known.

O ye bleft hills! and charming dales,
Ye verdant plains and flowery vales,
Sacred to powers above;

Of gods, and faints, the fair abode,
On our great ancestors beftow'd,
The pledge of heavenly love.
Ye hills remote, and fhady groves,
Where fuperftition thoughtless roves,
Of demons the retreat;
Your idol fanes the land difgrace,
'Mongft you, JEHOVAH finds no place,
To fix his royal feat.

O Sion, crown'd with holy joy ;
Let fongs ecftatic fwell the fky,
Thy God fupremely reigns :
His car majeftic takes its way,
Through, angel ranks in bright array,
O'er heaven's eternal plains,

His great, his rightful praise they spread,
Imprefs'd with holy joy and dread;
Nor greater was that awe

When on the burning mountain's height,
In earthquakes, thunder, ftorms, and night,
He gave his righteous Law.

We worship at his high command,
And o'er our ever fruitful land,
The great JEHOVAH reigns:
While captive chiefs our will attend,
And haughty kings fubmiffive bend,
Loaden with heavy chains.
The GOD who fways the starry sky,
In mercy deigns to hear our cry,

Crowning with truth and grace:
Our numerous fins he puts to flight,
Supports with his celeftial might,

And fills our hearts with peace. His burning vengeance flowly moves, The human race he greatly loves, Though found in error's path! But, foon, or late, the ftorm will fall, On each bold rebel, great and small,

1

Who dares provoke his wrath !

To Bashan, dread JEHOVAH faid,
Of vile offenders why afraid,

On my strong arm repose;
Sinners with haughty tyrants fell,
Shall inftant view the gates of hell,
And everlasting woes.

Through the wide earth and rolling fea,
Sinners fhall own thy potent fway,
Low bending at thy feet;
Struck with the terror of thy face,
Shall fuppliant fue for pardoning grace,
At mercy's facred gate.
Our heroes glow with holy fire,
And joyful touch the founding lyre,
To him who crowns with joy;
Our blooming virgins ever gay,
With charming numbers fwell the lay,
To him who rules on high.

Ye different tribes the Lord adore,
Who fills with wealth our facred fhore,
Jacob's fecure abode;

Let Benjamin triumphant fing,
And Juda crown'd your rightful king,
Own your protecting God.

Hail nature's univerfal Lord,
Be mindful of thy changelefs word,
Sworn to our righteous head;
That vaffal kings fhould till our land,
Obedient to our high command,
In captive fetters led.

While monsters of the briny floods,
Ferocious beafts that range the woods,
Feel our fubduing hand;

Defarts must bloom with golden grain,
And fleecy herds graze the green plain,
While plenty crowns the land.
Tyrants, a lawlefs perjur'd race,
Athirst for blood, and foes to peace,
Confound in hell's dire jaws!
While ancient Egypt's royal line,
With rich Arabia's princes join,
To own thy fovereign Laws."
Where bright Aurora kindles day,
Let different nations fwell the lay,
And make a joyful noise;"
His lightenings ftrike your utmost shores,
For you his dreadful thunder roars,
"Tis GOD's terrific voice!

Ye heavens fheen with glory crown'd,
Where mighty worlds revolve their round,
Through boundless fields of light;

Your Maker's attributes divine,
In all your varied motions fhine,

With rays fupremely bright.