19.

But fixed for everlasting years
Unmoved amid the wreck of spheres,
Thy word shall shine in cloudless day,
When heaven and earth have passed away.

SEVENTH VERSION. V. 1-6.

The book of nature.

L. P. M.

1 GREAT God, the heaven's well ordered 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.

2 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 journeys of the sun,

And every nation knows their voice;
The sun, like some young bridegroom dressed,
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:
Thus God in every creature shines;
Fair is the book of nature's lines,
But fairer is thy book of grace.

19.

EIGHTH VERSION. V. 7-14.

The book of scripture.

1 I LOVE the volume of thy word;
What light and joy those leaves afford

To souls benighted and distressed!
Thy precepts guide my doubtful way,
Thy fear forbids my feet to stray,
Thy promise leads my heart to rest.

L. P.M

2 From the discoveries of thy law
The perfect rules of life I draw;
These are my study and delight:
Not honey so invites the taste,
Nor gold that hath the furnace passed,
Appears so pleasing to the sight.

3 Thy threatenings wake my slumbering eyes,
And warn me where my danger lies;
But 'tis thy blessed gospel, Lord,
That makes my guilty conscience clean,
Converts my soul, subdues my sin,

And gives a free, but large reward.

4 Who knows the errors of his thoughts? My God, forgive my secret faults,

19.

And from presumptuous sins restrain:
Accept my poor attempts of praise,
That I have read thy book of grace,
And book of nature, not in vain.

NINTH VERSION. V. 1-6.

The glory of God in his works.

1 O LORD, our Lord most high!
In heaven thy glories shine,
And all this lower sky

Unfolds thy skill divine.

Thy wisdom there,

And power sublime,

H. M.

Through every clime,
Thy works declare.

2 Each day proclaims thy hand
To earth's admiring throng;
Each night from land to land
Repeats the solemn song.

The pale moon shines And writes thy praise

With silver rays,

In fairest lines.

3 Like a young bridegroom dressed,
Comes forth the morning sun,

And, as a champion blest,
Delights his race to run.

O'er seas and isles

To heaven's far ends

His warmth extends; His glory smiles.

4 Beneath the kindly ray
All nature's realms rejoice;
All join the solemn lay,

And lift their grateful voice.

The sea and shore,

The morn and even,

And earth and heaven
Their God adore.

5 What though no voice, nor sound,
Be heard from yonder sky,-
A nobler speech is found

By virtue's raptured eye.

To God's great hand,

The chorus cries,

19, ̊

Let songs arise

From every land.

TENTH VERSION. V. 7-14.

H. M.

The glory of God in his word.

1 HOW bright thy glories beam
From every gospel line!
They teach th3 Eternal name
In language most divine.

To humble hearts

That seek thy face,

Renewing grace
Thy truth imparts.

2 How pure thy perfect word.
That lamp to wandering feet:
What peace thy laws afford!
Thy promises how sweet!

A rich reward
Thy statutes give,

And bid me live,

And serve the Lord.

3 Not honey so delights,
Nor heaps of gold refined;
No pleasure so invites

The pure and pious mind.

Her erring thoughts

Teach thou my soul,

And make me whole
From secret faults.

4 From each presumptuous way
My wandering feet restrain;
So shall my life be free

From every fatal stain.

O make me see,
Thou God of grace.

My thoughts and ways
Approved by thee!

19.

20.

ELEVENTH VERSION. V. 11-14.

Sincerity and watchfuiness.

1 I HEAR thy word with love,
And I would fain obey;

Send thy good Spirit from above
To guide me, lest I stray.

2 Oh, who can ever find
The errors of his ways?

Yet, with a bold presumptuous mind,
I would not dare transgress.

3 Warn me of every sin,

Forgive my secret faults,

And cleanse this guilty soul of mine,
Whose crimes exceed my thoughts.
4 While with my heart and tongue
I spread thy praise abroad,
Accept the worship and the song,
My Saviour and my God.

FIRST VERSIÓN. V. 1–6, 9.

Prayer and hope of victory.

1 NOW may the God of power and grace
Attend his people's humble cry!
Jehovah hears when Israel prays,

And brings deliverance from on high.

? Well he remembers all our sighs,
His love exceeds our best deserts:
His love accepts the sacrifice

Of humble groans and broken hearts.

3 In his salvation is our hope,

And in the name of Israel's God,
Our troops shall lift their banners up,
Our navies, spread their flags abroad.

4 Now save us, Lord, from slavish fear;
Now let our hopes be firm and strong;
Till thy salvation shall appear,

And joy and triumph raise the song.

S. M

L. M.

20.

SECOND VERSION. V. 1, 2, 5, 6.

Confidence in God.

1 THE Lord in trouble hear thee,
And help from Zion send;
The God of grace be near thee
To comfort and befriend!
Thy human weakness strengthen,
Thy earthly wants supply,
Thy span of nature lengthen
To endless life on high!

2 Above his own anointed

His banner bright shall wave:
Their times are all appointed;
The Lord his flock will save:
Through life's deceitful mazes,
Their steps will safely bear;
Accept their feeble praises,

And hear their every prayer.

FIRST VERSION. V. 1, 5, 7, 8, 13.

Rulers are the care of heaven.

1 OUR rulers, Lord, with songs of praise, Shall in thy strength rejoice,

And blest with thy salvation, raise

To heaven their cheerful voice.

? Thy sure defence through nations round
Has spread their honors far;
And their successful measures crowned,
Alike in peace and war.

3 Then let them still on God rely,
For wisdom, and for grace;
His mercy shall their wants supply,
And save our happy race.

4 But, righteous Lord, thy stubborn foes
Shall feel thy dreadful hand;

Thy vengeful arm shall find out those
That hate thy mild command.

5 Thus, Lord, thy wondrous power declare,
And thus exalt thy fame;

Whilst we glad songs of praise prepare
For thine almighty name.

78 & 6

C. M.