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But amongst no people did sublimer notions of God, and a future state, 
prevail, than with the Jews. David, their king, sings, 
“ Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth: and 
the heavens are the work of thy hands: 
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: they all shall wax old as doth 
a garment; 
And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 
but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. 
The children of thy servants shall also continue: and their seed shall 
stand fast in thy sight.-™ 
Praise the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me praise his holy 
name. 
Praise the Lord, O my soul: and forget not all his benefits; 
Who forgiveth all thy sin: and healeth all thine infirmities; 
Who saveth thy life from destruction: and crowneth thee with mercy 
and loving-kindness; 
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things: making thee young and 
vigorous as an eagle. 
The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment: for all them that are 
oppressed with wrong. 
He shewed his ways unto Moses: his works unto the children of Israel. 
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, long-suffering, and of great 
goodness. 
He will not alway be chiding: neither keepeth he his anger for ever. 
He hath not dealt with us after our sins: nor punished us according 
to our wickednesses. 
For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth: so great is 
his mercy also toward the children of men! 
Look also how wide the east is from the west: so far hath he set our sins 
from us. 
Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children^ even so is the Lord 
merciful unto them that fear him: 
For he knoweth whereof we are made: he remembereth that we are 
but dust— 
The days of man are but as grass: for he flourished! as a flower of the 
field: 
For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone: and the place thereof 
shall know it no more. 
