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Thy glories through creation shine;
Our souls confess thy power divine,
And songs of cheerful homage raise.

40.

The Invisible Creator declared by his Works.

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.

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

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.

5

What though, in solemn silence, all
Move round this dark terrestial ball;-
What though nor real voice nor sound
Amidst their radiant orbs is 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!'

41.

Devout Contemplation of the Works of God.

1

YE sons of men! with joy record
The various wonders of the Lord;
And let his power and goodness sound
Through all your tribes, the earth around.

2

Let the high heavens your songs invite-
Those spacious fields of brilliant light,
Where sun, and moon, and planets roll,
And stars that glow from pole to pole.

3

Sing earth, in verdant robes array'd—
Her trees and flowers, her light and shade-
Peopled with life of various forms,
Insects, and birds, and beasts, and worms.

4

View the broad sea's majestic plains,
And think how wide its Maker reigns;
That band remotest nations joins,
And on each wave his goodness shines.

5

But oh! that brighter world above,
Where lives and reigns eternal Love:
Thither, my soul, in rapture soar ;
There in the land of praise adore.

42.

Wisdom of God in his Works.

1

SONGS of immortal praise belong

To my almighty God;

Be his my heart, and his my tongue,
To spread his name abroad.

2

How great the works his hand hath wrought!
How glorious in our sight!
And men, in every age, have sought
His wonders with delight.

3

How most exact is nature's frame!
How wise the eternal Mind!
His counsels never change the scheme
That his first thoughts design'd.

4

Nature, and time, and earth, and skies,
His heavenly skill proclaim :
What shall we do to make us wise,
But learn to know his name?

5

To fear his power, to trust his grace,
Is our divinest skill:

And he's the wisest of our race,
That best obeys his will.

43.

Praise to the Lord of Nature.

1

O THOU, through all thy works ador'd!
Great Power supreme! Almighty Lord!
Author of life, whose sovereign sway
Creatures of every tribe obey!

2

Planets, those wandering worlds above,
Guided by thee, incessant move;
Suns, kindled by a ray divine,
In honour of their Maker shine.

3

From thee proceed heaven's varied stores,
The changing wind, the fruitful showers,
The flying cloud, the colour'd bow,
The moulded hail, the feather'd snow.

4

Tempests obey thy mighty will;
Thine awful mandate they fulfil ;
The forked lightnings dart around,
And rive the oak, and blast the ground.

5

The varying seasons all are thine,
All govern'd by thy hand divine,
Supporting, through thy constant care,
The tribes of earth, and sea, and air.

6

To thee, of life the eternal Spring,
Invisible, all-powerful King!
One chorus let all creatures raise,
One hymn of universal praise.

44.

The God of Nature.

1

HAIL, King supreme, all wise and good!
To thee our thoughts we raise;
While nature's beauties, wide display'd,
Inspire our souls with praise.

2

Thy glory beams in every star
Which gilds the gloom of night;
And decks the smiling face of morn
With rays of cheerful light.

3

The lofty hill, the humble vale,

With countless beauties shine ; The silent grove, the awful shade, Proclaim thy power divine.

4

Great nature's God! still may these scenes

Our serious hours engage;

Still may our grateful hearts consult

Thy works' instructive page!

5

And while, in all thy wondrous works,
Thy varied love we see,

Still may the contemplation lead
Our hearts, O God! to thee.

45.

God the Creator and Preserver.

1

GREAT First of beings! Mighty Lord!
We praise thy glorious name;
Produc'd by thy creating word,
Arose this wondrous frame.

2

Thy voice sent forth the high command; 'Twas instantly obey'd;

And through thy goodness all things stand, Which by thy skill were made.

3

By thee, through fields of azure, roll
Unnumber'd worlds above:

Thy mighty hand sustains the whole;
Each creature shares thy love.

4

By thee the earth its produce yields,
And countless myriads live

;

And trees and plants adorn the fields,
And their rich treasures give.

To thee, all-gracious Power! we bow,
And would ourselves resign;
Accept the praise, accept the vow,
And make us ever thine.

46.

The Voice of Nature.

1

'THERE is a God!' all nature speaks,

Through earth and air, through seas and skies:

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