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GOD, THE CREATOR AND PRESERVER.

5. Then let our humble faith ad-
His mercy and his power; (dress
We shall obtain delivering grace
In the distressing hour.

49

6. He ever lives to intercede
Before his father's face; (plead,
Give him, my soul, thy cause to
Nor doubt the Father's grace.
Watts.

VIII. GOD, AS CREATOR AND PRESERVER OF THE

WORLD.

150.* T. 166, or 22. | 4. Thou stretchest to infinity,

O GOD, thou bottomless abyss,
Thee mortal tongue cannot define,
Or speak thy god-like properties,
Thy holy heights, thy depths divine:
Thou'rt an unfathomable sea;
Of universal nature Lord:
Such knowledge is not found in me,
Frail worm, thy glories to record.
2. Thee would I view and duly
praise,

Did not mere weakness me sur-
round;

Thy nature's everlasting rays
My senses and my soul confound:
All sprung from thine omnipotence,
Which mind conceives, or eye hath

seen;

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Thy wisdom's depths who can re-
Or who thy mind hath fully known?
No limits thee can circumscribe,
Thy kingdom everywhere extends;
None can thy greatness e'er de-
scribe,

For thy dominion never ends.

The highest heavens are thy seat,
Thy glorious name, thy majesty
No seraph can conceive or mete:
Thou art as Lord by all ador'd,
For every knee to thee must bend;
Who thus have knelt and grace
implor'd,

Have found thee an almighty friend.

5. Counsel and deed are one with

thee,

Perfection 's thine without degree,
And justice in thy court presides;
And love thy character abides:
Thy mercy, faithfulness, and grace
Each morning unto us are new,
And every day brings fresh displays
Of thy protecting care to view.

6. Ah, who can render thee just
praise?
(combin'd;
Who? tho' his heart and tongue
Thy worship cannot be confin'd:
No temple is thy dwelling place,
By building shrines, where thou
shalt dwell,

To such thou dost thy love reveal
Thy proper aim is ne'er attain’d;
As humbly on thy word depend.
7. Service, not gifts, thou dost de-
mand

From man, this shall his profit be;

Salvation, life, flow from thy hand, 6. Thou lov'st whate'er thy hands

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'Fore thee we prostrate fall, In heaven and on earth ador'd, As the great cause of all.

2. Thou canst not by our eyes be Thou art a Spirit pure, (seen, Who from eternity hast been, And ever shalt endure. 3. Present alike in every place, Thy Godhead we adore; Beyond the bounds of time and Thou dwellest evermore. (space 4. In wisdom infinite thou art,

Thine eye doth all things see, And every thought of every heart Is fully known to thee. 5. Whate'er thou wilt, thou, Lord,

canst do

Here and in heaven above; But chiefly we rejoice to know Almighty God is love.

have made;

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To my dark soul thy light display, | 4.
The brightness of thy face disclose.
5. Thou, Lord, art love: from thee

pure love

Flows forth in unexhausted streams;
Let me its quickening virtue prove,
O fill my heart with sacred flames.
6. Thou, Lord, art good, and thou
alone:

With eager hope, with warm desire,
Thee may I still my portion own,
To thee in every thought aspire.

7. So shall my every power to thee
In love and pure devotion rise;
Yea, body, soul, and spirit be
A holy living sacrifice.

8. Lord God Almighty, ceaseless
praise

In heaven, thy throne, to thee is
giv'n;

Here, as in heaven, thy name we
bless,
(heaven.
For where thy presence shines is
Freylinghausen.

153. T. 22. GIVE to our God immortal praise; Mercy and truth are all his ways: Wonders of grace to God belong, Repeat his mercies in your song.

2. Give to the Lord of lords renown,

He fills the sun with morning
light,

He bids the moon direct the night:
His mercies ever shall endure,
When suns and moons shall shine
no more.

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That veils and darkens thy designs:
For ever firm thy justice stands,
As mountains their foundations
keep;
(hands:
Great are the wonders of thy
Thy judgments are a mighty deep.
2. Thy providence is kind and
large,
share
Both man and beast thy bount

The Kings of kings with glory The whole creation is thy charge,

crown;

His mercies ever shall endure,
When earth-born powers are known

no more.

3. He built the earth, he spread
the sky,

And fix'd the starry lights on high:
Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat his mercies in your song.

But man is thy peculiar care:
My God, how excellent thy grace.
Whence all our hope and comfort
springs;

Fly to the shadow of thy wings.

The sons of Adam in distress

3. From the provisions of thy house We shall be fed with sweet repast: There mercy, like a river, flows,

And we the living water taste: Life, like a fountain rich and free, Springs from thy presence, gracious Lord;

And in thy light our souls shall see The glories promis'd in thy word. Watts.

155.* T. 214.

I WILL sing to my Creator,
Unto God I'll render praise,
Who by every thing in nature

Magnifies his tender grace:
Nought but loving condescension

Still inclines his faithful heart To support and take their part, Who pursue his blest intention;

All things to their period tend,
But his mercy has no end.

2. My soul's welfare he advances,
For my body he doth care:
Aid and comfort he dispenses,

When I call on him by prayer: When my natural strength is shrinking,

In the time of utmost need,

He, my God, draws nigh with
speed,

And recovers me from sinking:
All things &c.

3. This I know with full conviction,
As a maxim ever sure,
Christian crosses and affliction

Do but for a time endure: After winter's frost and snowing Smiling summer then appears; After sadness, pains, and fears, Joyful comforts will be flowing: All things &c.

4. Since nor end, nor bounds, nor

measure

In God's mercies can be found,

Heart and hands I lift with pleaAs a child in duty bound; (sure, Humbly I request the favour: Grant me grace both day and night

Thee to love with all my might, Till I change this infant savour For that taste of bliss above, Perfect praise and endless love. P. Gerhard.

156.

T. 14. IN thee I live, and move, and am; Thou number'st all my days: As thou renew'st my being, Lord, Let me renew thy praise.

2. From thee I am, thro' thee I am, And for thee I must be: 'Twere better for me not to live,

Than not to live to thee. 3. Naked I came into this world, And nothing with me brought: And nothing have I here deserv'd; Yet I have lacked nought.

4. I do not praise my labouring hand,

My labouring head, or chance: Thy providence, most gracious God, Is my inheritance.

5. Thy bounty gives me bread with

A table free from strife: (peace, Thy blessing is the staff of bread, Which is the staff of life. 6. The daily favours of my God I cannot sing at large; Yet humbly can I make this boast,

I am the Almighty's charge. 7. Lord, in the day thou art about

The paths wherein I tread; And in the night, when I lie down, Thou art about my bed. 8. O let my house a temple be, That I and mine may sing

Hosannas to thy majesty,
And praise our heavenly King.
Erskine.
157.*
T. 151.
COMMIT thou every grievance

Into his faithful hands,
To his sure care and guidance,
Who heaven and earth com-

For he, the clouds' director, (mands:
Whom winds and seas obey.
Will be thy kind protector,
And will prepare thy way.
2. Rely on God thy Saviour,

So shalt thou safe go on;
Build on his grace and favour,
So shall thy work be done:
Thou canst make no advances

By self-consuming care:
But he his help dispenses,
When call'd upon by prayer.
3. Thy faithfulness eternal,
O Father, certainly
What's good or detrimental
Doth for thy children see:
Thee all things serve in nature,
According to thy will;
Thou, as the great Creator,
Thy counsel dost fulfil.

4. My soul, then, with assurance
Hope still, be not dismay'd;
He will from each encumbrance
Again lift up thy head:
Beyond thy wish extended

His goodness will appear,
When he hath fully ended
What caus'd thy needless fear.

158.*

P. Gerhard.

T. 106.

HE that confides in his Creator, Depending on him all his days, Shall be preserv'd in fire and water,

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