2 At morning, noon, and ev'ning mild, Fresh wonders strike our view; And while we gaze, our hearts exult With transports ever new.
3 Thy glory beams in ev'ry star Which gilds the gloom of night, And decks the smiling face of morn With rays of cheerful light.
4 The lofty hill, the humble lawn, With countless beauties shine: The silent grove, the awful shade, Proclaim thy pow'r divine.
5 Great nature's God! still may these scenes Our serious hours engage!
Still may our grateful hearts consult Thy works' instructive page!
6 And while in all thy wondrous works Thy varied love we see,
Still may the contemplation lead Our hearts, O God, to thee!
All the works of God praise him.
HE spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heav'ns, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim.
2 Th' unwearied sun, from day to day, Does his Creator's pow'r display And publishes to ev'ry land
The work of an Almighty hand.
3 Soon as the ev'ning shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the list'ning earth Repeats the story of her birth:
4 Whilst 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. 5 What though in solemn silence all Move round this dark terrestrial ball? What though no 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.
All things dependent on God.
E sing th' almighty pow'r of God Who bade the mountains rise, Who spread the flowing seas abroad, And built the lofty skies.
2 We sing the wisdom that ordain'd The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at his command, And all the stars obey.
3 We sing the goodness of the Lord, Who fills the earth with food; Who form'd his creatures by a word, And then pronounc'd them good.
4 Lord, how thy wonders are display'd, Where'er we turn our eyes,
Whether we view the ground we tread, Or gaze upon the skies!
5 There's not a plant or flow'r below, But makes thy glories known: And clouds arise, and tempests blow, By order from thy throne.
6 On thee each moment we depend ; If thou withdraw, we die.
Oh may we ne'er that God offend, Who is forever nigh!
The riches of divine goodness.
1LET the high heav'ns your songs invite; Those spacious fields of brilliant light, Where sun, and moon, and planets roll, And stars that glow from pole to pole." 2 Sing earth in verdant robes array'd, Its herbs and flowers, its fruits and shade, Peopled with life of various forms,
Of fish and fowl, and beasts and worms.* 3 But O! that brighter world above, Where lives and reigns incarnate love! God's only Son, in flesh array'd, For man a bleeding victim made! 4 Thither, my soul, with rapture soar, There in the land of praise adore; The theme demands an angel's lay, Demands an everlasting day.
62* All nature praises God. P. M. 8.7.8.7.8.8.7,
THE earth, where'er I turn mine eye, Reveals her Maker's glory;
Through day and night the shining sky Of praise repeats its story;
Who for the sun there fix'd his place? Who clothes him with majestic grace?
The starry hosts-who leads them?
2 Who rules the restless raging winds? The clouds, in rain distilling? And who the lap of earth unbinds, Our stores with plenty filling? Great God, thy praises shall abide, And, with thy goodness, reach as wide As wide creation reaches.
3 But man, a body, of thy hand The marvellous formation; 'Tis man, a soul to understand Thy wonders of creation;
'Tis man, who to himself supplies Best proof that thou art good and wise,- Who best should sing thy praises.
4 Now pay thine honors to his name, My soul, his glory telling:
Thy Father and thy God proclaim, The world's glad anthem swelling: Let all our race, with one accord, Love, trust, and serve our common Lord: Who can refuse to serve him!
REAT God! what hosts of angels stand In shining ranks at thy right hand, Array'd in robes of dazzling light, With pinions stretch'd for distant flight! 2 Immortal fires! seraphic flames!
Who can recount their various names? In strength and beauty they excel; For near the throne of God they dwell. 3 How eagerly they wish to know The duties he would have them do: What joy their active spirits feel, To execute their Sov'reign's will! 4 Hither, at his command, they fly To guard the beds on which we lie; To shield our persons night and day, And scatter all our fears away.
5 Send, O my God, some angel down, (Though to a mortal eye unknown,) To guide and guard my doubtful way Up to the realms of endless day.
THAT is the thing of greatest price, The whole creation round?
That which was lost in Paradise,
That which in Christ is found:
2 The soul of man-Jehovah's breath, That keeps two worlds at strife; Hell moves beneath to work its death; Heaven stoops to give it life.
3 God, to redeem it, did not spare His well-beloved Son :
Jesus, to save it, deign'd to bear The sins of all in one.
4 And is this treasure borne below, In earthen vessels frail?
Can none its utmost value know, Till flesh and spirit fail?
5 Then let us gather round the cross, That knowledge to obtain ; Not by the soul's eternal loss, But everlasting gain.
Volume of Divine Providence.
1 Labas'd before the Lord!
ET the whole race of creatures lie
Whate'er his pow'rful hand has form'd, He governs with a word.
2 Ten thousand ages ere the skies. Were into motion brought,
All the long years and worlds to come Stood present to his thought.
3 There's not a sparrow or a worm O'erlook'd in his decrees; He raises monarchs to a throne, Or sinks with equal ease.
4 If light attend the course I go, 'Tis he provides the rays; And 'tis his hand that hides the sun, If darkness cloud my days.
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