99. The heavens declare the glory of God. Ps. 19.
1 THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their Great Original proclaim.
The' unwearied sun, from day to day,
Doth his Creator's power display;
And publishes to every land
The works 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 the dark terrestrial ball?
What though nor 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."
The benefits of heavenly wisdom. C. M.
10 HAPPY is the man who hears
Instruction's sacred voice;
And who celestial wisdom makes
His early, only choice:
2 For she has treasures greater far
Than East or West unfold;
And her reward is more secure
Than is the gain of gold.
3 In her right hand she holds to view
A length of happy years;
And in her left enduring wealth
And honour bright appears.
4 She guides the young with innocence
True pleasure's path to tread;
A crown of glory she bestows
Upon the hoary head.
5 And as her holy labours rise,
So her rewards increase;
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
101. An exhortation to praise God. Ps. 100.
1 BEFORE Jehovah's awful throne,
Ye nations, bow with sacred joy:
Know that the Lord is God alone,
He can create, and He destroy.
2 His sovereign power, without our aid,
Made us of clay, and form'd us men ;
And when like wandering sheep we stray'd
He brought us to His fold again.
3 We'll crowd thy gates with thankful songs,
High as the heavens our voices raise ;
And earth with her ten thousand tongues,
Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise.
4 Wide as the world is thy command; Vast as eternity thy love:
Firm as a rock thy truth shall stand, When rolling years shall cease to move.
102. Christ Lord of all. C. M.
1 ALL hail the great Emmanuel's name!
Ye angels! prostrate fall:
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.
2 Crown Him, ye martyrs of our God,
Who from His altar call;
Extol the stem of Jesse's rod,
And crown Him Lord of all.
3 Ye saints, redeem'd of Adam's race,
From sin and Satan's thrall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.
4 Ye realms, of every tongue and name,
On this terrestrial ball,
In every language sound His fame,
And crown Him Lord of all.
5 Oh! that with heaven's rejoicing throng, We at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!
103. Praise for salvation. (6. 8. & 2. 6.)
1 SALVATION! O the joyful sound!
Glad tidings to our ears;
A sovereign balm for every wound,
A cordial to our fears.
Glory, honour, praise, and power,
Be unto the Lamb for ever!
Jesus Christ is our Redeemer :
Hallelujah! praise ye the Lord.
2 Salvation! Let the echo fly,
The spacious earth around:
While all the armies of the sky
Conspire to swell the sound,
Glory, honour, praise, and power, &c.
3 Salvation! O Thou dying Lord!
To Thee the praise belongs:
In life, in death, still may that word
Dwell on our hearts and tongues.
Glory, honour, praise, and power, &c.
104. Christ the source of eternal life. John vi. 68.
1 LORD, should we leave thine hallow'd feet,
To whom could we repair ?
Where else such holy comforts meet,
As spring eternal there?
2 Unmingled joys 'tis thine to give,
And undecaying peace:
For Thou canst teach us so to live,
That life shall never cease.
3 Thou only canst the cheering words
Of endless life supply;
Anointed of the Lord of Lords,
The Son of God Most High.
105. For the restoration of the Jews, Ps. 85. L.M.
1 ARISE, O God ! and let thy grace
Diffuse its beams on Jacob's race:
Restore the long-lost scatter'd band,
And call them to their native land.
2 How long shall Jacob's offspring prove
The sad suspension of thy love?
For ever shall thine anger burn?
Return, O God of Hosts, return.
3 In pity their backslidings heal,
Their trespass hide, their pardon seal;
Check in mid course thy dreadful ire,
And bid its kindling flames expire.
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