The Works and Word of God.
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BEHOLD! the lofty sky
Declares its Maker, GOD;
And all his starry works on high
Proclaim his power abroad.
The darkness and the light Still keep their course the same; While night to day, and day to night, Divinely teach his name.
every different land,
Their general voice is known; They speak the wonders of his hand, And orders of his throne.
Ye British Isles! rejoice;
Here he reveals his word:
We are not left to nature's voice,
To bid us know the LORD.
His statutes and commands
Are set before our eyes;
He puts his gospel in our hands,
Where our salvation lies.
His laws are just and pure; His truth without deceit; His promises for ever sure, And his rewards are great.
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.
Yet their divine instructions run
Far as the journeys of the sun;
And distant nations know their voice:
The sun, in robes of splendour dress'd,
Breaks from the chambers of the east,
Moves round, and makes the earth rejoice.
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Where'er he spreads his beams abroad,
He smiles, and speaks his Maker, GOD:-
All nature joins to show thy praise :-
Thus GOD in every creature shines;
Bright in the book of nature's lines,
But brighter in the book of grace.
HYMNS RELATING TO CHRISTIAN
87. P. M.
The Book of Grace.
How precious, LORD! thy holy word!
What light and joy its truths afford
To souls benighted and distress'd!
Thy precepts guide our doubtful way;
Thy fear forbids our feet to stray;
Thy promise leads the heart to rest.
Thy threatenings wake our slumbering eyes, And warn us where our danger lies;
While gospel-truth and
Inspire the heart with filial love,
Exalt and fix our hopes above,
And make the willing spirit thine.
From the discoveries of thy law,
The perfect rules of life we draw ;
Be these our study and delight:
May every deed, and word, and thought,
To truth and duty's standard brought,
Become well-pleasing in thy sight.
Oh may thy word those faults reveal,
Which blind self-love may yet conceal,
And from presumptuous sins restrain!
Thus taught to use the book of
grace,
We'll raise a grateful song of praise
That we possess it not in vain.
Praise for Divine Revelation.
A GLORY gilds the sacred page,
Majestic as the sun;
It gives a light to every age;
It gives, but borrows none.
The hand which gave it, still supplies
The gracious light and heat;
Its truths upon the nations rise;
They rise, but never set.
Let endless thanks, O GOD! be thine,
For such a bright display,
As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.
With steadfast zeal may I
The steps of him I love,
Till glory breaks upon my view
In brighter worlds above.
Instruction and Consolation from the Scriptures.
LORD! I would make thy word my joy,
My lasting heritage;
May this my noblest powers employ,
My warmest thoughts engage.
"Tis like the sun, a heavenly light,
Which guides us all the day;
And, through the dangers of the night,
A lamp to lead our way.
Thy precepts oft would I survey;
And keep thy laws in sight,
Through all the business of the day,
To guide my actions right.
Thy truth's a land of wealth unknown,
Where springs of life arise;
There seeds of endless bliss are sown,
There boundless glory lies.
The best relief which mourners have,
It makes our sorrows bless'd;
Shows us a home beyond the grave,
And an eternal rest.
The Word of God the best Guide of Youth.
THE morn of life, how fair and gay!
How cheering and how new!
What hopes illume each opening day,
And brighten every view!
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