2 Oh! tell of His might, oh! sing of His grace, Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space : His chariot of wrath deep thunder-clouds form, And dark is His path on the wings of the storm. 3 This earth, with its store of wonders untold, Almighty! Thy power hath founded of old; Hath established it fast by a changeless decree, And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea. 4 Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air it shines in the light; It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, And sweetly distils in the dew and the rain. 5 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail : Thy mercies, how tender! how firm to the end! Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend! 6 Oh! measureless might! ineffable love!

While angels delight to hymn Thee above, The humble creation, though feeble their lays, With true adoration shall lisp to Thy praise!

153.

Praise for Creation.

C.M.D.

1 THOU wast, O God; and Thou wast blest Before the world began;

Of Thine Eternity possest

Before Time's hour-glass ran.

Thou needest none Thy praise to sing,
As if Thy joy could fade;

Couldst Thou have needed anything,

Thou couldst have nothing made.

2 Great and good God, it pleased Thee
Thy godhead to declare;

And what Thy goodness did decree
Thy greatness did prepare:

Thou spak'st, and Heaven and Earth appeared,
And answered to Thy call;

As if their Maker's voice they heard,
Which is the creature's all.

3 To whom, Lord, should I sing, but Thee,
The Maker of my tongue!

Lo! other lords would seize on me,
But I to Thee belong.

As waters haste unto their sea,
And Earth unto its earth;
So let my soul return to Thee,
From whom it had its birth.

4 But ah! I'm fallen in the night,
And cannot come to Thee:

Yet speak the word, "Let there be light,"
It shall enlighten me:

And let Thy word, most mighty Lord,
Thy fallen creature raise:

O make me o'er again, and I
Shall sing my Maker's praise.

154.

The Works and Ways of God. 6 lines 7s. 1 THOU, who art enthroned above, Thou, by whom we live and move;

O how sweet, how excellent,

'Tis with tongue and heart's consent

Thankful heart, and joyful tongue—
To resound Thy name in song!
2 When the morning paints the skies,
When the sparkling stars arise;
Thy high favours to rehearse-
Thy firm truth, in grateful verse,
To show forth-we lift our voice,
And in Thee alone rejoice.

3 From Thy works our joy proceeds:
How we triumph in Thy deeds!
Who Thy wonders can express!
All Thy thoughts are fathomless;
Hid from men in knowledge blind,
Hid from men to vice inclined.
4 Who the tyrant Sin obey,

Though they spring like flowers to-day,
Soon must wither from the earth;
But Thy saints, of heavenly birth,
Flourish shall eternally,

Lord in Thee, most great, most high!

155.

Psalm xix.

*L.M.

1 THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great original proclaim.

2 The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Doth his Creator's power display;
And publishes to every land
The work of an almighty hand.

3 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.

4 Whilst 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. 5 What though in solemn silence, all Move round the dark terrestrial ball; What though nor real voice nor sound Amidst their radiant orbs be found; 6 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."

156.

Psalm xxiii.

1 THE God of love my shepherd is,

To watch me and to feed;
Since He is mine, and I am His,
What can I ever need?

2 His gentle goodness leadeth me,
And makes me down to lie
In greenest pastures fearlessly,
The quiet waters by.

3 And so restoreth He my soul;

And when I wandering stray,
Weary and faint, He makes me whole,
And teaches His own way.

C.M.

4 When darkness comes and death is near,
I feel my shepherd's rod;
And so I quite forget my fear,
And lean upon my God.

5 Thy comforts amid all my foes,
My life, my spirit, bless;
of mercy overflows

My cup

With tender faithfulness.

6 Surely, Thy sweet and wondrous love
Shall measure all my days;

Thy house below, Thy house above,
Shall witness to my praise.

157.

1

HIGH in the heavens, eternal God,
Thy goodness in full glory shines;
Thy truth shall break through every cloud,
That veils and darkens Thy designs.

2 For ever firm Thy justice stands,
As mountains their foundations keep;
Wise are the wonders of Thy hands;
Thy judgments are a mighty deep.

3 Thy providence is kind and large;
Both man and beast Thy bounty share;
The whole creation is Thy charge;
But we can bless Thee for Thy care.
4 O God! how excellent Thy grace,
Whence all our hope and comfort spring!