See! from the clouds his glory breaks, When the first beams of morning rise.
The rising sun, serenely bright, O'er the wide world's extended frame Inscribes in characters of light, His mighty Maker's glorious name.
Diffusing life, his influence spreads, And health and plenty smile around; And fruitful fields and verdant meads Are with a thousand blessings crown'd.
The flowery tribes, all blooming, rise Above the weak attempts of art; Their bright inimitable dyes
Speak sweet conviction to the heart.
Ye curious minds, who roam abroad, And trace creation's wonders o'er, Confess the gracious power of God, And bow before him and adore.
God acknowledged in the Blessings of Spring.
GREAT God! at whose all-powerful call At first arose this beauteous frame: Thou bidst the seasons change, and all The changing seasons speak thy name.
Thy bounty bids the infant year, From winter-storms recover'd rise; A thousand grateful scenes appear, Fresh opening to our wondering eyes.
The new delight, how great to see The earth in vernal beauty dress'd! While in each herb, and flower, and tree, Thy opening bounty stands confess'd.
Aloft, full beaming, reigns the sun, And light and genial heat conveys; And while he leads the seasons on, From thee derives his quickening rays.
Indulgent God! from every part Thy plenteous blessings largely flow; We see we taste- let every heart With grateful love and duty glow.
The Elements the Messengers of Jehovah.
WITH Songs and honours sounding loud, Address the Lord on high:
Over the heavens he spreads his cloud, And waters veil the sky.
His hoary frost, his fleecy snow, Descend and clothe the ground; The liquid streams forbear to flow, In icy fetters bound.
He sends his word and melts the snow; The fields no longer mourn: He calls the warmer gales to blow, And bids the spring return.
The changing wind, the flying cloud,
Obey his mighty word;
and honours, sounding loud, ye the sovereign Lord,
God acknowledged in the Blessings of Harvest.
FOUNTAIN of mercy and of love! How rich thy bounties are! The rolling seasons, as they move, Proclaim thy constant care.
When in the bosom of the earth The sower hid the grain,
Thy goodness mark'd its secret birth, And sent the genial rain.
The spring's mild influence, Lord, was thine; The plants in beauty grew; Thou gav'st refulgent suns to shine, And soft refreshing dew.
Those various mercies from above Matur'd the swelling grain;
A bounteous harvest crowns thy love, And plenty fills the plain.
We own and bless thy gracious sway; Thy hand all nature hails: Seed-time nor harvest, night nor day, Summer nor winter fails.
Divine Bounty crowns the Year.
'Tis by thy strength the mountains stand, God of eternal power!
The sea grows calm at thy command, And tempests cease to roar.
The morning light and evening shade Successive comforts bring;
Thy plenteous fruits make harvest glad, Thy flowers adorn the spring.
Seasons and times, and moons and hours, Heaven, earth, and air are thine; When clouds distil in fruitful showers, The source is love divine.
Those wandering cisterns in the sky, Borne by the winds around, With watery treasures well supply The furrows of the ground.
'The thirsty ridges drink their fill, And ranks of corn appear: Thy ways abound with blessings still; Thy goodness crowns the year.
The Year crowned with God's Goodness.
ETERNAL Source of every joy!
Well may thy praise our lips employ, While in thy temple we appear, Whose goodness crowns the circling year.
Wide as the wheels of nature roll, Thy hand supports the steady pole; The sun is taught by thee to rise, And darkness when to veil the skies.
The flowery spring, at thy command, Embalms the air, and paints the land: The summer rays with vigour shine, To raise the corn and cheer the vine.
Thy hand in autumn richly pours Through all our coasts redundant stores ; And winters, soften'd by thy care, No more a face of horror wear.
Seasons, and months, and weeks, and days, Demand successive songs of praise : Still be the cheerful homage paid, With opening light, and evening shade.
Oh may our more harmonious tongues In worlds unknown pursue the songs; And in those brighter courts adore, Where days and years revolve no more.
The Bounties of Providence acknowledged.”
FATHER of lights! we sing thy name, Who kindlest up the lamp of day: Wide as he spreads his golden flame, His beams thy power and love display.
Fountain of good! from thee proceed The copious draughts of genial rain, Which through the hills, and through the meads, Revive the grass, and swell the grain.
Oh ne'er may our forgetful hearts O'erlook the tokens of thy care; But what thy liberal hand imparts, Still own in praise, still ask in prayer.
So shall our suns more grateful shine, And showers in sweeter drops shall fall, When all our hearts and lives are thine, And thou, our God, ador'd in all,
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