2 Praise him that he made the sun
Day by day his course to run;
And the silver moon by night,
Shining with her gentle light.
3 Praise him that he gave the rain To mature the swelling grain, And hath bid the fruitful field Crops of precious increase yield.
4 Praise him for our harvest-store; He hath filled the garner-floor: And for richer food than this, Pledge of everlasting bliss.
5 Glory to our bounteous King,
Glory let creation sing;
For his mercies still endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
The God of Spring. HYMNS OF THE SPIRIT.
1 PRAISE and thanks and cheerful love Rise from every thing below,
To the mighty One above,
Who his wondrous love doth show. Praise him, each created thing,
God, your Maker; God of spring.
2 Praise him, trees so lately bare;
Praise him, fresh and new-born flowers:
All ye creatures of the air;
All ye soft-descending showers.
Praise, with each awakening thing,
God, your Maker; God of spring.
3 Praise him, man: thy fitful heart
Let this balmy season move
To employ its noblest part, -
Gentlest mercy, sweetest love;
Blessing, with each living thing,
God, your Father; God of spring.
539. For a Blessing on the New Year.
1 BLESS, O Lord! this opening year To the souls assembled here: Clothe thy word with power divine, Make us willing to be thine.
1 WHILE, with ceaseless course, the sun
Hasted through the former year,
Many souls their race have run,
Never more to meet us here.
Fixed in an eternal state,
They have done with all below:
We a little longer wait;
But how little, none can know.
2 As the winged arrow flies
Speedily the mark to find;
As the lightning from the skies
Darts, and leaves no trace behind,
Swiftly thus our fleeting days
Bear us down life's rapid stream:
Upward, Lord, our spirits raise;
All below is but a dream.
3 Thanks for mercies past receive,
Pardon of our sins renew;
Teach us henceforth how to live
With eternity in view.
Bless thy word to young and old;
Fill us with a Saviour's love;
And, when life's short tale is told,
May we dwell with thee above!
"Let all the People praise Thee."
1 FATHER of mercies, God of peace,
Being whose bounties never cease,
While to the heavens, in grateful tones,
Ascend our mingled orisons,
Listen to these, the notes of praise,
Which we, a happy people, raise.
2 Our hamlets, sheltered by thy care,
Abodes of peace and plenty are;
Our tillage, by thy blessing, yields
A hundred-fold from ripened fields:
And laden bough and burthened vine
Are tokens of thy love divine.
3 The cradled head of infancy
Doth owe its tranquil rest to thee;
Youth's eager step, man's firmer tread,
In years mature by thee are led;
Secure may trembling age, O Lord!
Lean on its staff, thy holy word.
4 Teach us these blessings to improve;
Teach us to serve thee, teach to love;
Exalt our hearts, that we may see
The Giver of all good in thee;
And be thy word our daily food,
Thy service, Lord, our highest good.
3 The toils they bore our ease have wrought; | 4 Oh may our more harmonious tongues
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