287

L. M. The same.

WIDE as his vast dominion lies,

WATTS.

Make the Creator's praise be known;
Loud as his thunder shout his praise,
And sound it lofty as his throne.

2. Jehovah! 'tis a glorious word;
O may it dwell on every tongue!

But saints, who best have known the Lord,
Are bound to raise the noblest song.

3. Speak of the wonders of that love
Which Gabriel plays on every chord;
From all below, and all above,
Loud hallelujahs to the Lord!

288

8.7. Universal Praise.

PRAISE to thee, thou great Creator!
Praise be thine from every tongue;
soul! with every creature,

Join my

Join the Universal song.

2. Father! Source of all compassion!
Pure, unbounded grace is thine :
Hail the God of our salvation!
Praise him for his love divine.

3. For ten thousand blessings given,
For the hope of future joy,

Sound his praise through earth and heave 1,
Sound JEHOVAH's praise on high.

4. Joyfully on earth adore him,

Till in heaven our song we raise ;
There enraptured fall before him,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

S

289

C. M. Everlasting Praise.

STEELE.

MY God! my King! to thee I'll raise
My voice and all my powers;

Unwearied songs of sacred praise
Shall fill the circling hours.

2. Thy name shall dwell upon my tongue,
While suns shall set and rise;
And tune my everlasting song,
When all creation dies.

HOLY, holy, holy Lord!

Be thy glorious name adored;
Lord thy mercies never fail ;
Hail, celestial Goodness, hail !

2. Though unworthy, Lord! thine ear,
Yet our hallelujahs hear;

Purer praise we hope to bring, When around thy throne we sing. 3. While on earth ordained to stay, Guide our footsteps in thy way; Then on high we'll joyful raise, Songs of everlasting praise.

291

2.

S. M. Imperfection of Human Praise.

EDMESTON.

SWEET is the song of praise!
Though all that mortals know,

The sweetest notes that they can raise
Are faint and poor and low.

The hymn from tongues of clay
Has scarce a heavenly tone;

Earth steals the truant heart away,
And claims it for her own.

3. The seraph's tongue of fire
Has music more sublime;
Notes of eternity are higher
Than all the notes of time.

4.

But years flow swiftly by;
Our stay will not be long :

Soon we shall pass to realms on high,
And join the eternal song.

292 C. M. Praise for Divine Goodness. STEELE. YE humble souls, approach your God, With songs of sacred praise,

For He is good, immensely good,
And kind are all his

ways.

2. All nature owns his guardian care,
In Him we live and move;

But nobler benefits declare,
The wonders of his love.

3. He gave his Son, his only Son,
To ransom rebel worms;

"Tis here he makes his goodness known,
In its diviner forms.

4. To this dear refuge, Lord, we come ;
'Tis here our hope relies;

A safe defence, a peaceful home,
When storms of trouble rise.

5. Great God, to thy almighty love,
What honours shall we raise?

Not all the raptured songs above
Can render equal praise.

293

C. M. The same.

LIFT up to God the voice of praise,
Whose breath our souls inspired ;
Loud and more loud the anthems raise,
With grateful ardour fired !

2. Lift up to God the voice of praise,
Whose tender care sustains

Our feeble frame, encompassed round
With death's unnumbered pains.

3. Lift up to God the voice of praise,
Whose goodness passeth thought,
Loads every minute as it flies,
With benefits unsought!

4. Lift up to God the voice of praise,
From whom salvation flows,

Who sent his Son, our souls to save
From everlasting woes.

5. Lift up to God the voice of praise,
For hope's transporting ray,

Which lights through darkest shades of death,
To realms of endless day.

(See also Hymns 44, 45.)

294 C. M. For the Blessings of Salvation. WATts.
TO our Almighty Maker, God,
New honours be addrest;

His great salvation shines abroad,
And makes the nations blest.

2. He spake the word to Abr'am first;
His truth fulfils the grace:

The gentiles make his name their trust,
And learn his righteousness.

3. Let the whole world his love proclaim,
With all their different tongues ;
And spread the honours of his name,
In melody and songs.

I WILL praise Thee every day,
Now thine anger's turned away;
Comfortable thoughts arise,
From the bleeding sacrifice.
2. Here in the fair gospel field,
Wells of free salvation yield
Streams of life, a plenteous store,
And my soul shall thirst no more,
3. Jesus is become, at length,
My Salvation and my Strength;
And his praises shall prolong,
While I live, my pleasant song.
4. Praise ye then his glorious name,
Publish his exalted fame;

Still his worth your praise exceeds,
Excellent are all his deeds.

5. Raise again the joyful sound,
Let the nations roll it round!
Zion shout, for this is He,
God the Saviour dwells in thee.
296 S. M. For Adopting Grace.

COWPER.

DODDRIDGE.

NOW to that sovereign grace,
Whence all our comforts spring,

Let the whole new-begotten race,
Their cheerful praises bring.