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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.

1

Praise for Creation.

C.M.D.

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!

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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.

L.M.

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;
My cup of mercy overflows

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.

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HIGH in the heavens, eternal God,

L.M.

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!

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