The Excellency and final Success of the Gospel. Ps. xix.
1 THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord!
In every star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.
2 Sun, moon, and stars convey thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand;
So when thy truth began its race,
It touched and glanced on every land.
3 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,
Till through the world thy truth has run;
Till Christ has all the nations blessed
That see the light, or feel the sun.
4 O may his noon-day glory rise,
To bless the world with heavenly light!
Thy gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.
5 Thy richest mercy here we view,
In souls renewed, and sins forgiven;
Lord! cleanse our sins, our souls renew,
And make thy word our guide to heaven.
God may be worshipped in every Place.
1 THE heaven of heavens cannot contain
The universal Lord;
Yet he in humble hearts will deign
To dwell, and be adored.
2 Where'er ascends the sacrifice Of fervent praise and prayer, Or on the earth, or in the skies, The God of heaven is there. 3 His presence is diffused abroad
Through realms, through worlds unknown; Who seek the mercies of our God
Are ever near his throne.
The Voice of Nature proclaiming God.
1 THERE is a God all nature speaks,
Through earth, and air, and seas, and skies;
See, from the clouds his glory breaks,
When the first beams of morning rise!
2 The rising sun serenely bright,
O'er the wide world's extended frame,
Inscribes, in characters of light,
His mighty Maker's glorious name.
3 Diffusing life, his influence spreads,
And health and plenty smile around;
The fruitful fields, and verdant meads,
Are with a thousand blessings crowned.
4 The flowery tribes all blooming rise,
Above the faint attempts of art;
Their bright, inimitable dyes
Speak sweet conviction to the heart.
5 What man that views creation round,
Can fail to own almighty power?
Confess the God with awe profound,
Come, bow before him, and adore!
The Majesty of God. Ps. xviii. 9—10.
I THE LORD descended from above,
And bowed the heavens most high,
And underneath his feet he cast
The darkness of the sky.
2 On cherubim and seraphim
Full royally he rode,
And on the wings of mighty winds
Came flying all abroad.
3 He sat serene upon the floods
Their fury to restrain;
And he, as sovereign Lord and King, For evermore shall reign.
The Voice of God in his Works. Ps. xix. 1—6.
1 THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display;
And publishes to every land,
The work of an almighty hand.
2 Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale;
And nightly to the listening earth,
Repeats the story of her birth:
While all the stars which round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
3 What though, in solemn silence, all
Move round this dark terrestrial ball;-
What though nor real voice nor sound,
Amid their radiant orbs be found:-
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In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;
For ever singing, as they shine,
The hand that made us is divine.
Instrumental Duties of Religion vain without Obedience.
1 THE uplifted eye and bended knee
Are but vain homage, Lord! to thee:
In vain our lips thy praise prolong,
The heart a stranger to the song.
2 Can rites, and forms, and flaming zeal,
The breaches of thy precepts heal?
Or fasts and penance reconcile
Thy justice, and obtain thy smile?
3 The pure, the humble, contrite mind,
Sincere, and to thy will resigned,
To thee a nobler offering yields,
Than fragrant groves, or fertile fields.
4 Love God and man—this great command Doth on eternal pillars stand:
This did thine ancient prophets teach,
This did the great Messiah preach.
100. c. M.
Divine Aid implored.
1 THINE influence, mighty God! is felt,
Through nature's ample round;
In heaven, on earth, through air and skies,
Thy energy is found.
2 Thy sacred influence, Lord! we need
To form our hearts anew;
O cleanse our souls from every sin,
And thy salvation show!
3 Father of light! thine aid impart
To guide our doubtful way;
Thy truth shall scatter every cloud,
And make a glorious day.
4 Supported by thy heavenly grace,
We'll do and bear thy will;
That grace shall make each burden light, And every murmur still.
5 Cheered by thy smiles, we'll fearless tread The gloomy path of death;
And with the hopes of endless bliss,
To thee resign our breath.
For the Lord's Day Morning. Ps. cxviii. 24.
1 THIS is the day the Lord hath made;
He calls the hours his own:
Let heaven rejoice, let earth be glad,
And praise surround the throne.
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