But where the gospel comes,
It spreads diviner light;
It calls dead sinners from their tombs,
And gives the blind their sight.
3 [My gracious God, how plain
Are thy directions given!
Oh! may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven.]
I hear thy word with love,
And I would fain obey;
Send thy good Spirit from above
To guide me, lest I stray.
5 Warn me of every sin,
Forgive my secret faults,
And cleanse this guilty soul of mine,
Whose crimes exceed my thoughts.
6 [While with my heart and tongue
I spread thy praise abroad,
Accept the worship and the song,
My Saviour and my God.]
THIRD VERSION.
The Creator's praise.
1 THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim;
Th' unwearied sun, from day to day,
Doth 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 that 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 thongh no real voice, nor sound,
Amid their radiant orbs be found-
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."
FIRST VERSION.
The Lord our Shepherd.
1 THE Lord Himself, the mighty Lord,
Vouchsafes to be my guide;
The shepherd, by whose constant care
My wants are all supplied.
2 In tender grass He makes me feed,
And gently there repose;
Then leads me to cool shades, and where
Refreshing water flows.
3 He does my wand'ring soul reclaim,
And, to his endless praise,
Instruct with humble zeal to walk
In his most righteous ways.
4 I pass the gloomy vale of death,
From fear and danger free;
For there his aiding rod and staff
Defend and comfort me.
5 Since God does thus his wondrous love
Through all my life extend,
That life to Him I will devote,
And in his temple spend.
The Lord our Shepherd.
1 THE Lord my pasture shall prepare,
And feed me with a shepherd's care;
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye:
My noon-day walks He shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.
2 When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountain pant,
To fertile vales and dewy meads,
My weary, wandering steps He leads,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.
3 Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For Thou, O Lord, art with me still:
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.
FIRST VERSION.
Ascension.
1 ERECT your heads, eternal gates,
Unfold to entertain
The King of glory; see, He comes
With his celestial train.
2 Who is the King of glory? who?
The Lord for strength renown'd;
In battle mighty, o'er his foes
Eternal victor crown'd,
3 Erect your heads, ye gates, unfold
In state to entertain
The King of glory; see, He comes
With all his shining train.
4 Who is this King of glory? who?
The Lord of hosts renown'd;
Of glory He alone is King,
Who is with glory crown'd.
1 OUR Lord is risen from the dead;
Our Saviour is gone up on high;
The powers of hell are captive led,
Dragg'd to the portals of the sky.
There his triumphal chariot waits,
And angels chaunt the solemn lay;
Lift up your heads, ye heav'nly gates;
Ye everlasting doors, give way.
2 Loose all your bars of massy light,
And wide unfold th' ethereal scene:
He claims these mansions as his right;
Receive the King of glory in.
Who is the King of glory? who?
The Lord, that all his foes o'ercame ;
The world, sin, death, and hell o'erthrew ;
And Jesus is the conqueror's name.
3 Lo! his triumphal chariot waits,
And angels chaunt the solemn lay:
Lift up your heads, yc heav'nly gates;
Ye everlasting doors, give way.
|