2 He plac'd in the centre yon beautiful sun,
And the orbs which around at due distances run,
To receive, as they haste their vast rounds to complete,
Of a lustre so dazzling the light and the heat.
What language of man can the brightness unfold
Of him whose perfections can never be told?
What a light is his light! of his infinite day
The sun in its sphere can paint but a ray?
3 When the sun in the evening is out of our sight,
And the moon is enlighten'd to govern the night,
His existence we mark in that high splendid roof,
Where the stars in their order shine forth in its proof:
While the works so immense of his fingers we see,
And think of ourselves, alas! what are we?
Yet whilst 'tis our glory his name to adore,
E'en spirits celestial can't boast any more!
1 PRAISE the Lord upon earth, ye nations and lands!
Ye seasons and times that fulfil his commands !
Since his works in all places his goodness proclaim,
Let the people who see them give thanks to his name:
For the good that he wills to communicate brings
Into visible forms his invisible things;
Their appearance may change as his laws shall ordain,
But the goodness that forms them shall ever remain.
2 What a world of good things does all nature produce!
Which the Lord in his mercy hath made for our use;
The earth, by his blessing bestow'd on its soil
By his rain and his sun, yields us corn, wine, and oil:
Let men to adore him then thankfully join,
When fed with his corn, or refresh'd by his wine;
As in wealth, so in gratitude let them abound,
And the voice of his praise be heard all the world round.
3 They that o'er the wide ocean their business pursue Can tell to his wonders what praises are due;
When, toss'd to and fro by the huge swelling wave, They rise towards the clouds, or sink down to the grave: Dismay'd at the tempest, which mocks all their skill, They cry to the Lord, and he maketh it still: His works in remembrance, ye mariners, keep! And praise him whose judgments are like the great deep. 4 He hushes the waves of the boisterous main, And the tumults of men, which are equally vain. The goodness of God let the people confess, Whom wars do not waste, nor proud tyrants oppress; And devoutly contemplate his wonderful ways, Who turneth the fierceness of men to his praise, Their lands in due season shall yield their increase, And the Lord give his people the blessings of peace.
1 OUR maker is high far above all our thought,
How then shall we praise him as well as we ought?
What tongue can express, what words can show forth
The praise that is due to his manifold worth?
Ye righteous, and all that in virtue excel!
Begin the glad work that becomes you so well;
In him and his works devoutly rejoice,
And exert in his praise the full force of your voice.
2 The Lord hath his dwelling far out of our view,
Yet humbleth himself to behold what we do;
To his works all around him his mercies extend,
His works have no number,-is mercies no end.
He accepteth the thanks which in spirit we pay,
'Tho' we ne'er can enrich him by all we can say ;
How just is the duty, how pure the delight!
By hearty thanksgiving to honour him right.
3 Unite in his praise all ye pow'rs of my mind!
Praise the Lord who hath been so exceedingly kind;
He spareth my life, forgiveth my sin,
And pointeth the way I ought to walk in.
When I speak, let me thank him. Whenever I write, The remembrance of him let the subject excite; May he guide to his glory my tongue and my pen, And make ev'ry thing praise him, Amen, and Amen..
All creatures called upon to praise God.
1 ITS vocal powers let ev'ry creature raise,
To sing with joy its mighty maker's praise:
Ye lofty heav'ns begin the solemn sound,
And let it spread the wide creation round.
2 Ye angel hosts who, near his dazzling seat,
Wrapt in perpetual transports humbly wait!
You best must know the glories of your King,
In sweetest, softest strain his wonders sing.
3 Praise him, thou sun, great ruler of the day!
Before whose splendour thine must fade away;
To him the honours, paid to thee, restore,
And teach mankind their maker to adore.
4 Ye moon and stars, who with more feeble light Break through the shades, and gild the gloomy night!
Far as you can diffuse your languid rays,
Tell his great name, and celebrate his praise.
5 Fair light! the first of all created things!
From whom all bliss and beauty springs,
Help the blind world to see their maker shine
With light essential fairer far than thine.
Ye splendid spheres that ever tuneful move!
Drawn to your centres by magnetic love,
Convey his name through all the vast expanse,
Where to the music of his voice you dance.
1 LET gentle winds with balmy breath proclaim Fair nature's God, and spread his glorious name : Let awful thunders rolling in the air,
And storms and tempests loud his praise declare.
2 Let mists, and clouds, and meteors all conspire
In this blest work, and help to swell the choir;
While foaming billows to his honour roar,
And seas resound his name from shore to shore.
3 Ye fertile plains, display your gayest pride;-
Ye valleys, to his glory low subside:
And at his call, ye mountains, stately rise,
And bear his praises to the neighb'ring skies.
4 Ye trees of ev'ry kind, ye fruitful vines,
Ye spreading oaks, and tall aspiring pines,
Or bend your heads, or let your juices flow,
To honour him at whose command you grow..
5 To him let ev'ry beast his tribute pay,—
The grazing flocks, and lions o'er their prey:
To celebrate his bounty and his pow'r,
Bleat all ye lambs, and all ye lions roar.
6 Ye birds, who through the airy regions wing!
Nature's musicians! you his praise must sing:
Ye flies and worms! your various skill display,
Sing though you can't, this homage you may pay.
1 WHILE nature's all in joy, shall man remain
And, silent, have his pow'r to sing in vain ?
O no! let ev'ry rank, and sex, and age
With all their might in this blest work engage.
2 Ye kings and potentates, ye gods on earth!
And ev'ry man of meaner rank and birth !
Submit yourselves to his unrivall'd sway,
Whom 'tis your highest honour to obey.
3 Let age, though feeble, celebrate his praise,
And youth unite its more impassion'd lays;
O! let his love each aged heart inflame,
And infants learn to lisp his wond'rous name.
4 But, above all, ye good! your breath employ
To sound his praise abroad, and tell the world your joy.
You, the blest objects of his love and choice,
His glory sing with well tun'd heart and voice.
5 Loud as his thunders let the noble sound
From heav'n to earth, from world to world rebound; Let art and nature in the song conspire,
And the whole earth become one joyful choir.
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