O for a shout of sacred joy,
To God the sovereign King! Let every land their tongues employ, And hymns of triumph sing. Angelic hosts resound his praise, In pure and joyous strains! Let all the earth his honors raise; O'er all the earth he reigns.
In spirit and in truth proclaim The glories of his love; In spirit and in truth, his name Is sung by all above.
Partakers of their holy joy,
Be pure the praise we bring; Let every land their tongues employ.
While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around.
'Fear not,' said he, (for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind,) 'Glad tidings of great joy I bring, To you and all mankind.'
All hail the triumph and the joy, Of great salvation's morn! A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, To man, that day was born!
Well might the angel feel the glow Of love's celestial fire!
Well might the theme exalt the strains Of heaven's angelic choir :
'All glory be to God on high,'
The joyous song began;
'Peace to the nations of the earth, Peace, and good-will to man!'
Fear not!' is still the joyous cry Re-echoed from above!
Eternal Source of truth and grace, Our best desires fulfil; May we thy wondrous love embrace, And learn to do thy will.
In all thy mercies, may our hearts Devoutly grateful be; Nor let the gifts thy love imparts Estrange our souls from thee.
In every scene of ill resigned,
May we submission learn; And ever strive, with humble mind, Thy wisdom to discern.
Do thou direct our steps aright, And, walking in thy fear, May we regard thy heavenly light, And ever persevere.
So may we find that wisdom's ways Are ways of perfect peace; And feel the glow of warmer praise, As we in joy increase.
How rich thy favors, God of grace! How various, how divine! Full as the ocean they are poured, And bright as heaven they shine. God to eternal glory calls,
And points the blissful way To realms of perfect peace and joy, Where reigns unclouded day. The songs of everlasting years That mercy shall commend
The Saviour calls! let every ear Attend the heavenly sound! Ye doubting souls, dismiss your fear; Hope smiles reviving round.
For every thirsty, longing heart, The streams of mercy flow; And life, and health, and bliss impart A balm for every woe.
Here springs of sacred pleasure rise, To ease your every pain; And he who here in faith applies, Will not apply in vain.
The fountain flows, and ever flows! O hearken to the voice, That bids you here relieve your woes, And in the Lord rejoice.
Dear Saviour, draw reluctant hearts, For thou alone canst draw; Display the joy thy grace imparts, The spirit of thy law.
Salvation! O the joyful sound! 'Tis pleasure to our ears; A sovereign balm for every wound, A cordial for our fears.
Buried in sorrow and in sin,
At death's dark door we lay; But we arise, by grace divine, To see a heavenly day. Salvation! let the echo fly
word still more reveals thy name, And more exalts thy praise. Thy mercies far beyond the rounds of
When all thy mercies, O my God!
My rising soul surveys, Transported with the view, I'm lost In wonder, love, and praise. Unnumbered comforts on my soul Thy tender care bestowed, Before my infant heart conceived From whom those comforts flowed.
When, in the slippery paths of youth, With heedless steps I ran, Thine arın, unseen, conveyed me safe, And led me up to man.
When worn by sickness, oft hast thou With health renewed my face, And when in sins and sorrows sunk, Revived my soul with grace.
Ten thousand thousand precious gifts My daily thanks employ; Nor is the least a cheerful heart, Which tastes those gifts with joy. Through every period of my life, Thy goodness I'll pursue, And after death, in distant worlds, The glorious theme renew.
O for a closer walk with God, A calm and heavenly frame; A light to shine upon the road That leads me to the Lamb.
Where is the blessedness I knew, When first I knew the Lord! Where is the soul-refreshing view Of Jesus and his word!
What peaceful hours I then enjoyed! How sweet their memory still! But they have left an aching void The world can never fill.
Return, O holy Dove! return- Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made thee mourn, And drove thee from my breast.
In thee alone my longing heart, A comforter can find;
Thy joyous presence can import
Time hasteth, as a post, away, Or, like an arrow, flies; The flower that brightly blooms to-day, To-morrow droops and dies!
Yet, gracious God! our fleeting days Thy constant favors share; And blessings, in thy truth and grace, Thou ever dost prepare.
In all thy doings, thou art good, And all thy ways are love; Thou sheddest on our pilgrim-road The day-spring from above. Thy mercies know nor depth nor bound, A sea without a shore!
O may our hearts with love abound, That we may praise thee more!
In every scene of woe or weal, May we revere thy will, And evermore thy blessing feel, While we thy law fulfil.
Father of mercies, in thy word What endless glory shines! Forever be thy name adored
For these celestial lines.
Here may the wretched sons of want Exhaustless riches find-
Riches above what earth can grant, And lasting as the mind.
Here the fair tree of knowledge grows And yields a free repast; Sublimer sweets than nature knows Invite the longing taste.
Here the Redeemer's welcome voice Spreads heavenly peace around; And life and everlasting joys Attend the blissful sound.
O may these heavenly pages be My ever dear delight;
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