Ye heavenly hosts, the song begin,
And sound his name abroad.
Thou sun with golden beams,
And moon with paler rays,
Ye starry lights, ye twinkling flames,
Shine to your Maker's praise.
3
He built those worlds above,
And fix'd their wondrous frame;
By his command they stand or move,
And ever speak his name.
Ye vapours, when ye rise,
Or fall in showers or snow,
Ye thunders murmuring round the skies,
His power and glory show.
Wind, hail, and flashing fire,
Agree to praise the Lord,
When ye in dreadful storms conspire
To execute his word.
By all his works above,
His honours be express'd;
But saints, who taste his saving love,
Should sing his praises best.
Praise to God from all Creatures.
YE tribes of Adam! join
With heaven and earth and seas,
And offer notes divine
To your Creator's praise;
Ye holy throng
Of angels bright,
In worlds of light,
Begin the song
Thou sun, with dazzling rays,
And moon, that rul'st the night,
Shine to your Maker's praise,
With stars of twinkling light :
His power declare,
Ye floods on high,
And clouds that fly
In empty air.
The shining worlds above,
In glorious order stand,
Or in swift courses move,
By his supreme command:
He spake the word,
And all their frame
From nothing came,
To praise the Lord.
He mov'd their mighty wheels
In unknown ages past;
And each his word fulfils
While time and nature last:
In different ways,
His works proclaim
His wondrous name,
And speak his praise.
Let all the nations fear
The God that rules above:
He brings his people near,
And makes them taste his love:
While earth and sky
Attempt his praise,
His saints shall raise
His honours high.
All Creatures called upon to praise God.
BEGIN, my soul, the exalted lay,
Let each enraptur'd thought obey,
And praise the Almighty's name;
Lo! heaven and earth, and seas and skies,
In one melodious concert rise,
To swell the inspiring theme.
Thou heaven of heavens, his vast abode,
Ye clouds, proclaim your Maker, God;
Ye thunders, speak his power:
Lo! on the lightning's gleamy wing,
In triumph rides the eternal King;
The astonish'd worlds adore.
Ye deeps, with roaring billows rise,
To join the thunders of the skies;
Praise him who bade you roll:
His praise in softer notes declare,
Each whispering breeze of yielding air,
And breathe it to the soul.
Wake, all ye soaring throngs, and sing;
Ye cheerful warblers of the spring,
Harmonious anthems raise,
To him who shap'd your finer mould,
Who tipp'd your glittering wings with gold,
And tun'd your voice to praise.
Let man-by nobler passions sway'd-
The feeling heart, the judging head,
In heavenly praise employ;
Spread the Creator's name around,
Till heaven's broad arch ring back the sound,
The general burst of joy.
NATURE with all her powers shall sing
God, the Creator, and the King;
Nor air, nor earth, nor skies, nor seas,
Deny the tribute of their praise.
Begin to make his glories known,
Ye seraphs, that surround his throne;
Tune your harps high, and spread the sound
To the creation's utmost bound.
All mortal things of meaner frame,
Exert your force, and own his name;
While, with our souls, and with our voice,
We sing his honours and our joys.
Yet, mighty God, our feeble strain
The lofty themes attempt in vain ;
The noblest notes that angels raise,
Faint in the worship and the praise.
HYMNS RESPECTING THE WORKS, THE ATTRIBUTES, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD.
'The Heavens declare the Glory of God.'
GREAT God, the heaven's well-order'd frame
Declares the glories of thy name :
There thy rich works of wonder shine:
A thousand starry beauties there,
A thousand radiant marks appear
Of boundless power and skill divine.
From night to day, from day to night,
The dawning and the dying light
Lectures of heavenly wisdom read :
With silent eloquence they raise
Our thoughts to our Creator's praise,
And neither sound nor language need.
3
Yet their divine instructions run
Far as the journey of the sun,
And every nation knows their voice:
The sun, in robes of splendour drest,
Breaks from the chambers of the east,
Rolls round, and makes the earth rejoice.
4
Where'er he spreads his beams abroad
He smiles, and speaks his Maker God:
All nature joins to show thy praise :
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