Chapter IX: Introduction: And Close of Worship (2)

2 In vain we plant without thine aid,
And water, too, in vain:
Lord of the harvest, God of grace,
Send down thy heavenly rain.

3 Then shall our cheerful hearts and tongues
Begin this song divine--
"Thou, Lord, hast given the rich increase,
And be the glory thine."

88. L. M. H. Ballou.

Dismission.

1 From worship, now, thy church dismiss--
But not without thy blessing, Lord;
O grant a taste of heavenly bliss,
And seal instruction from thy word.

2 Oft may these pleasant scenes return
When we shall meet to worship thee;
Oft may our hearts within us burn
To hear thy word, thy goodness see.

3 And when these pleasant scenes are past,
To thee, our God, O may we come,
And meet th' assembled world at last,
In Zion, our eternal home.

89. H. M. J. Newton.

The Same.

On what has now been sown
Thy blessing, Lord, bestow;
The power is thine alone
To make it spring and grow.
Do thou the gracious harvest raise,
And thou alone shalt have the praise.

90. H. M. E. Turner.

Thanks at the Close of Service.

1 Kind Lord, before thy face
Again with joy we bow,
For all the gifts and grace
Thou dost on us bestow.
Our tongues would all thy love proclaim,
And chant the honors of thy name.

2 Here, in thine earthly house,
Our joyful souls have met;
Here paid our solemn vows,
And felt our union sweet.
For this our tongues thy love proclaim,
And chant the honors of thy name.

3 Now may we dwell in peace
Till here again we come;
And may our love increase
Till thou shalt bring us home.
Then shall our tongues thy love proclaim,
And chant the honors of thy name.

91. 8 & 7s. M. C. Robbins.

Close of Worship. Evening.

1 Lo! the day of rest declineth;
Gather fast the shades of night--
May the Sun that ever shineth,
Fill our souls with heavenly light.

2 Softly now the dew is falling;
Peace o'er all the scene is spread;--
On his children meekly calling,
Purer influence God will shed.

3 While thine ear of love addressing,
Thus our parting hymn we sing,
Father, give thine evening blessing;
Fold us safe beneath thy wing.

92. C. M. Kippis' Coll.

Close of Evening Worship.

1 Soon will our fleeting hours be past;
And, as the setting sun
Sinks downward in the radiant west,
Our parting beams be gone.

2 May He, from whom all blessings flow,
Our sacred rites attend,
Uniting all in wisdom's ways,
Till life's short journey end;

3 And as the rapid sands run down,
Our virtue still improve,
Till each receive the glorious crown
Of never-fading love.

93. L. M. Heber.

Close of Service.

1 Lord, now we part in thy blest name,
In which we here together came:
Grant us our few remaining days
To work thy will and spread thy praise.

2 Teach us in life and death to bless
The Lord our strength and righteousness;
And grant us all to meet above;
Then shall we better sing thy love.

94. 7s. M. Montgomery.

Praise from all Lands.

1 All ye nations, praise the Lord;
All ye lands, your voices raise;
Heaven and earth, with loud accord,
Praise the Lord, forever praise.

2 For his truth and mercy stand,
Past and present, and to be,
Like the years of his right hand,
Like his own eternity.

3 Praise him, ye who know his love;
Praise him from the depths beneath;
Praise him in the heights above;
Praise your Maker, all that breathe.

95. L. M. Watts.

The Joy and Blessing of Worship.

1 Lord, how delightful 'tis to see
A whole assembly worship thee;
At once they sing, at once they pray,
They hear of heaven and learn the way.

2 O, write upon our memory, Lord,
The text and doctrines of thy word:
That we may break thy laws no more,
But love thee better than before.

96. 8 & 7s. M. S. F. Adams.

Close of Worship.

1 Part in peace! is day before us?
Praise his name for life and light;
Are the shadows lengthening o'er us?
Bless His care who guards the night.

2 Part in peace! with deep thanksgiving,
Rendering, as we homeward tread,
Gracious service to the living,
Tranquil memory to the dead.

3 Part in peace! such are the praises
God, our Maker, loveth best;
Such the worship that upraises
Human hearts to heavenly rest.

97. L. M. Anonymous.

Close of Worship. Evening.

1 While now upon this Sabbath eve,
Thy house, Almighty God, we leave
'Tis sweet, as sinks the setting sun,
To think on all our duties done.

2 Oh! evermore may all our bliss
Be peaceful, pure, divine, like this;
And may each Sabbath, as it flies,
Fit us for joy beyond the skies.

98. 8 & 7s. M. Toplady's Coll.

Dismission.

1 Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing,
Hope and comfort from above;
Let us each, thy peace possessing,
Triumph in redeeming love.

2 Thanks we give, and adoration,
For thy Gospel's joyful sound;
May the fruits of thy salvation
In our hearts and lives abound.

99. L. M. Montgomery.

Sunday Evening.

1 Millions within thy courts have been;
Millions this day have bent the knee;
But thou, soul-searching God! hast seen
The hearts of all that worshipped thee.

2 From east to west the sun surveyed,
From north to south, adoring throngs;
And still, where evening stretched her shade,
The stars came forth to hear their songs.

3 And not a prayer, a tear, a sigh,
Hath failed this day some suit to gain;
To those in trouble thou wert nigh;
Not one hath sought thy face in vain.

4 Yet one prayer more;--and be it one,
In which both heaven and earth accord:
Fulfil thy promise to thy Son;
Let all that breathe call Jesus Lord!

100. L. M. Moravian.

The Lord's Prayer.

1 Thy name be hallowed evermore;
O God! thy kingdom come with power!
Thy will be done, and day by day,
Give us our daily bread, we pray:

2 Lord! evermore to us be given
The living bread that came from heaven:
Water of life on us bestow,
Thou art the Source, the Fountain thou.

CHARACTER, ATTRIBUTES AND PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

101. L. M. Mrs. Steele.

Being of God.

1 There is a God--all nature speaks,
Through earth, and air, and sea, and skies:
See, from the clouds his glory breaks,
When first the beams of morning rise.

2 The rising sun, serenely bright,
O'er the wide world's extended frame
Inscribes, in characters of light,
His mighty Maker's glorious name.

3 The flowery tribes, all blooming, rise
Above the weak attempts of art;
Their bright, inimitable dyes
Speak sweet conviction to the heart.

4 Ye curious minds, who roam abroad,
And trace creation's wonders o'er,
Confess the footsteps of a God;
Come, bow before him, and adore.

102. S. M. Mrs. Steele.

God our Father.

1 My Father! cheering name!
O, may I call thee mine?
Give me the humble hope to claim
A portion so divine.

2 Whate'er thy will denies,
I calmly would resign;
For thou art just, and good, and wise:
O, bend my will to thine!

3 Whate'er thy will ordains,
O give me strength to bear
Still let me know a father reigns,
And trust a father's care.

4 Thy ways are little known
To my weak, erring sight;
Yet shall my soul, believing, own
That all thy ways are right.

5 My Father!--blissful name!
Above expression dear!
If thou accept my humble claim,
I bid adieu to fear.

103. L. M. Bryant.

The Paternal Love of God.

1 Father! to thy kind love we owe
All that is fair and good below;
Bestower of the health that lies
On tearless cheeks and cheerful eyes!

2 Giver of sunshine and of rain!
Ripener of fruits on hill and plain!
Fountain of light, that, rayed afar,
Fills the vast urns of sun and star!

3 Yet deem we not that thus alone,
Thy mercy and thy love are shown;
For we have learned, with higher praise,
And holier names, to speak thy ways.

4 In woe's dark hour, our kindest stay!
Sole trust when life shall pass away!
Teacher of hopes that light the gloom
Of death, and consecrate the tomb!

104. C. M. Martineau's Coll.

Omnipotence of God.

1 'Twas God who fixed the rolling spheres,
And stretched the boundless skies,
Who formed the plan of endless years,
And bade the ages rise.

2 From everlasting is his might,
Immense and unconfined;
He pierces through the realms of light,
And rides upon the wind.

3 He darts along the burning sky;
Loud thunders round him roar;
Through worlds above his terrors fly,
While worlds below adore.

4 He speaks,--great nature's wheels stand still
And leave their wonted round;
The mountains melt; each trembling hill
Forsakes its ancient bound.

5 Ye worlds, and every living thing,
Fulfil his high command;
Pay grateful homage to your King,
And own his ruling hand.

105. C. M. H. K. White.

Almighty Power and Majesty of God.

1 The Lord our God is clothed with might;
The winds obey his will;
He speaks, and in the heavenly height
The rolling sun stands still.

2 Rebel, ye waves, and o'er the land
With threatening aspect roar;
The Lord uplifts his awful hand,
And chains you to the shore.

3 Ye winds of night, your force combine
Without his high behest,
Ye shall not, in the mountain pine,
Disturb the sparrow's nest.

4 His voice sublime is heard afar;
In distant peals it dies;
He binds the whirlwinds to his car,
And sweeps the howling skies.

5 Ye nations, bend; in reverence bend;
Ye monarchs, wait his nod,
And bid the choral song ascend
To celebrate our God.

106. C. M. Watts.

God is Everywhere.

1 In all my vast concerns with thee,
In vain my soul would try
To shun thy presence, Lord, or flee
The notice of thine eye.

2 Thine all-surrounding sight surveys
My rising and my rest;
My public walks, my private ways,
And secrets of my breast.

3 My thoughts lie open to the Lord,
Before they're formed within;
And ere my lips pronounce the word,
He knows the sense I mean.

4 O, wondrous knowledge, deep and high;
Where can a creature hide?
Within thy circling arms I lie,
Beset on every side.

5 So let thy grace surround me still,
And like a bulwark prove,
To guard my soul from every ill,
Secured by sovereign love.

107. L. M. Spirit of the Psalms.

Eternity of God.

1 Ere mountains reared their forms sublime,
Or heaven and earth in order stood,
Before the birth of ancient time,
From everlasting thou art God.

2 A thousand ages, in their flight,
With thee are as a fleeting day;
Past, present, future, to thy sight
At once their various scenes display.

3 But our brief life's a shadowy dream,
A passing thought, that soon is o'er,
That fades with morning's earliest beam,
And fills the musing mind no more.

4 To us, O Lord, the wisdom give,
Each passing moment so to spend,
That we at length with thee may live
Where life and bliss shall never end.

108. C. M. 6l. Conder.

Where is God?

1 Beyond, beyond that boundless sea,
Above that dome of sky,
Farther than thought itself can flee,
Thy dwelling is on high;
Yet dear the awful thought to me,
That thou, my God, art nigh.

2 We hear thy voice when thunders roll
Through the wide fields of air;
The waves obey thy dread control:
Yet still thou art not there.
Where shall I find Him, O my soul,
Who yet is everywhere?

3 O, not in circling depth, or height,
But in the conscious breast,
Present to faith, though veiled from sight,
There does his spirit rest.
O come, thou Presence Infinite,
And make thy creatures blest.

109. L. M. Watts.

The all-seeing God.

1 Lord, thou hast searched and seen me through;
Thine eye commands, with piercing view,
My rising and my resting hours,
My heart and flesh, with all their powers.

2 Within thy circling power I stand;
On every side I find thy hand:
Awake, asleep, at home, abroad,
I am surrounded still with God.

3 Amazing knowledge, vast and great!
What large extent! what lofty height!
My soul, with all the powers I boast,
Is in the boundless prospect lost.

4 O may these thoughts possess my breast
Where'er I rove, where'er I rest!
Nor let my weaker passions dare
Consent to sin; for God is there.

110. L. M. 6l. Montgomery.

God Good and Omniscient.

1 How precious are thy thoughts of peace,
O God! to me,--how great the sum!
New every morn, they never cease;
They were, they are, and yet shall come,
In number and in compass more
Than ocean's sand, or ocean's shore.

2 Search me, O God! and know my heart,
Try me, my secret soul survey;
And warn thy servant to depart
From every false and evil way:
So shall thy truth my guidance be,
In life and immortality.

111. L. M. Blacklock.

Omniscience and Omnipresence.

1 Father of all, omniscient Mind,
Thy wisdom who can comprehend?
Its highest point what eye can find,
Or to its lowest depths descend?

2 If up to heaven's ethereal height,
Thy prospect to elude, I rise,
In splendor there supremely bright,
Thy presence shall my sight surprise.

3 Thee, mighty God, my wondering soul,
Thee, all her conscious powers adore,
Whose being circumscribes the whole,
Whose eyes the universe explore.

4 Thine essence fills this breathing frame;
It glows in every vital part,
Lights up our souls with livelier flame,
And feeds with life each beating heart.

5 To thee, from whom our being came,
Whose smile is all the heaven we know,
Inspired with this exalted theme,
To thee our grateful strains shall flow.

112. C. M. Watts.

Infinity of God.

1 Great God, how infinite art thou!
How weak and frail are we!
Let the whole race of creatures bow,
And homage pay to thee.

2 Thy throne eternal ages stood,
Ere earth or heaven was made;
Thou art the ever-living God,
Were all the nations dead.

3 Eternity, with all its years,
Stands present in thy view;
To thee there's nothing old appears,
Great God, there's nothing new.

4 Our lives through varying scenes are drawn,
And vexed with trifling cares,
While thine eternal thought moves on
Thine undisturbed affairs.

113. S. P. M. Watts.

The Majesty of God.

1 The Lord Jehovah reigns,
And royal state maintains,
His head with awful glories crowned,
Arrayed in robes of light,
Begirt with sovereign might,
And rays of majesty around.

2 Upheld by thy commands,
The world securely stands,
And skies and stars obey thy word;
Thy throne was fixed on high
Ere stars adorned the sky;
Eternal is thy kingdom, Lord.

3 Thy promises are true;
Thy grace is ever new;
There fixed, thy church shall ne'er remove;
Thy saints, with holy fear,
Shall in thy courts appear,
And sing thine everlasting love.

114. 8 & 7s. M. Bowring.

God is Love.

1 God is love; his mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss he wakes, and woe he lightens;
God is wisdom, God is love.

2 Chance and change are busy ever;
Man decays, and ages move;
But his mercy waneth never;
God is wisdom, God is love.

3 E'en the hour that darkest seemeth
Will his changeless goodness prove;
From the gloom his brightness streameth,
God is wisdom, God is love.

4 He with earthly cares entwineth
Hope and comfort from above:
Everywhere his glory shineth;
God is wisdom, God is love.

115. L. M. Fergus.

God the Creator.

1 The Spirit moved upon the waves
That darkly rolled, a shoreless sea;
He spake the word, and light burst forth,
A glorious, bright immensity.

2 At his command, the mountains heaved
Their rocky pinnacles on high,
Island and continent displayed
Their desert grandeur to the sky.

3 The voice of God was heard again,
And lovely flowers and graceful trees
Appeared on every vale and plain,
And perfumes floated on the breeze.

4 The word went forth, and vast and high
The heavenly orbs gave out their light,
O'er all the earth and sea and sky;
The rulers of the day and night.

116. L. M. 6l. Montgomery's Coll.

Omnipresence of God.

1 Above, below, where'er I gaze,
Thy guiding finger, Lord, I view,
Traced in the midnight planets' blaze,
Or glist'ning in the morning dew:
Whate'er is beautiful or fair,
Is but thine own reflection there.

2 And when the radiant orb of light
Hath tipped the mountain tops with gold
Smote with the blaze, my weary sight
Shrinks from the wonders I behold;
That ray of glory, bright and fair,
Is but thy living shadow there.

3 Thine is the silent noon of night,
The twilight eve, the dewy morn;
Whate'er is beautiful and bright,
Thy hands have fashioned to adorn.
Thy glory walks in every sphere,
And all things whisper, "God is here."

117. C. M. Watts.

The Perfections of God.

1 How shall I praise th' eternal God,
That infinite Unknown?
Who can ascend his high abode,
Or venture near his throne?

2 Those watchful eyes that never sleep,
Survey the world around:
His wisdom is a boundless deep,
Where all our thoughts are drowned.

3 Speak we of strength, his arm is strong,
To save or to destroy:
To him eternal years belong,
And never-ending joy.

4 He knows no shadow of a change,
Nor alters his decrees;
Firm as a rock his truth remains,
To guard his promises.

118. C. M. Drennan.

"God is a Spirit."

1 The heaven of heavens cannot contain
The universal Lord;
Yet he in humble hearts will deign
To dwell and be adored.

2 Where'er ascends the sacrifice
Of fervent praise and prayer,
Or on the earth, or in the skies,
The God of heaven is there.

3 His presence is diffused abroad
Through realms, through worlds unknown;
Who seek the mercies of our God
Are ever near his throne.

119. C. M. Watts.

Power, Wisdom and Goodness of God.

1 I sing the mighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.

2 I sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at his command,
And all the stars obey.

3 I sing the goodness of the Lord,
That filled the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with his word,
And then pronounced them good.

4 There's not a plant or flower below,
But makes thy glories known;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from thy throne.

120. L. M. Mrs. Gilman.

God our Father.

1 Is there a lone and dreary hour,
When worldly pleasures lose their power?
My Father! let me turn to thee,
And set each thought of darkness free.

2 Is there a time of rushing grief,
Which scorns the prospect of relief?
My Father! break the cheerless gloom,
And bid my heart its calm resume.

3 Is there an hour of peace and joy,
When hope is all my soul's employ?
My Father! still my hopes will roam,
Until they rest with thee, their home.

4 The noontide blaze, the midnight scene,
The dawn, or twilight's sweet serene,
The glow of life, the dying hour,
Shall own my Father's grace and power.

121. 10s. M. Mme. Guion.

God Incomprehensible.

1 Almighty Former of creation's plan,
Faintly reflected in thine image, man;
Holy and just,--the greatness of whose name
Rules and supports this universal frame:--

2 Whose spirit fills the infinitude of space,--
Who art thyself thine own vast dwelling place;--
Soul of our soul, whom yet no sense of ours
Discerns, eluding our most active powers:--

3 Encircling shades attend thine awful throne,
That veil thy face, and keep thee still unknown;
Unknown, though dwelling in our inmost part,
Lord of the thoughts, and Sovereign of the heart!

122. C. M. Wallace.

God seen in his Works.

1 There's not a star whose twinkling light
Illumes the distant earth,
And cheers the solemn gloom of night,
But goodness gave it birth.

2 There's not a cloud whose dews distil
Upon the parching clod,
And clothe with verdure vale and hill,
That is not sent by God.

3 There's not a place in earth's vast round,
In ocean deep, or air,
Where skill and wisdom are not found;
For God is everywhere.

4 Around, within, below, above,
Wherever space extends,
There Heaven displays its boundless love,
And power with goodness blends.

123. C. M. Watts.

God the Creator.

1 Eternal Wisdom, thee we praise;
Thee all thy creatures sing:
While with thy name, rocks, hills, and seas,
And heaven's high palace, ring.

2 Thy hand, how wide it spread the sky!
How glorious to behold!
Tinged with a blue of heavenly dye,
And decked with sparkling gold.

3 Thy glories blaze all nature round,
And strike the gazing sight,
Through skies, and seas, and solid ground,
With terror and delight.

4 Almighty power, and equal skill,
Shine through the worlds abroad,
Our souls with vast amazement fill,
And speak the builder, God.

124. S. M. Mrs. Steele.

God, our Creator and Benefactor.

1 My Maker and my King!
To thee my all I owe:
Thy sovereign bounty is the spring,
From whence my blessings flow.

2 Thou ever good and kind!
A thousand reasons move,
A thousand obligations bind
My heart to grateful love.

3 The creature of thy hand,
On thee alone I live:
My God! thy benefits demand
More praise than tongue can give.

4 O let thy grace inspire
My soul with strength divine;
Let all my powers to thee aspire,
And all my days be thine.

125. L. M. Watts.

The Good Providence of God. Ps. 36.

1 High in the heavens, eternal God!
Thy goodness in full glory shines;
Thy truth shall break through every cloud
That veils and darkens thy designs.

2 Forever firm thy justice stands,
As mountains their foundations keep;
Wise are the wonders of thy hands;
Thy judgments are a mighty deep.

3 Thy providence is kind and large;
Both man and beast thy bounty share;
The whole creation is thy charge,
But saints are thy peculiar care.

4 Life, like a fountain, rich and free,
Springs from the presence of my Lord;
And in thy light our souls shall see
The glories promised in thy word.

126. L. M. Kippis.

God Incomprehensible.

1 Great God! in vain man's narrow view
Attempts to look thy nature through;
Our laboring powers with reverence own
Thy glories never can be known.

2 Not the high seraph's mighty thought,
Who countless years his God has sought,
Such wondrous height or depth can find,
Or fully trace thy boundless mind.

3 And yet thy kindness deigns to show
Enough for mortal minds to know;
While wisdom, goodness, power divine,
Through all thy works and conduct shine.

4 O, may our souls with rapture trace
Thy works of nature and of grace:
Explore thy sacred truth, and still
Press on to know and do thy will.

127. C. M. Tate & Brady.

God Unchangeable.

1 Through endless years thou art the same,
O thou eternal God;
Each future age shall know thy name,
And tell thy works abroad.

2 The strong foundations of the earth
Of old by thee were laid;
By thee the beauteous arch of heaven
With matchless skill was made.

3 Soon may this goodly frame of things
Created by thy hand,
Be, like a vesture, laid aside,
And changed at thy command.

4 But thy perfections, all divine,
Eternal as thy days,
Through everlasting ages shine,
With undiminished rays.

128. C. M. Cowper.

Purposes of God developed by his Providence.

1 God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

2 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

3 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

4 His purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

5 Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

129. S. M. Montgomery.

"The darkness and the light are both alike to thee."

1 In darkness as in light,
Hidden alike from view,
I sleep, I wake within His sight,
Who looks existence through.

2 From the dim hour of birth,
Through every changing state
Of mortal pilgrimage on earth,
Till its appointed date;

3 All that I am,--have been,--
All that I yet may be,
He sees at once, as he hath seen,
And shall forever see.

130. C. M. Browne.

Universal Goodness of God.

1 Lord! thou art good: all nature shows
Its mighty Author kind:
Thy bounty through creation flows,
Full, free, and unconfined.

2 The whole, and every part, proclaims
Thine infinite good-will;
It shines in stars, and flows in streams,
And blooms on every hill.

3 We view it o'er the spreading main,
And heavens which spread more wide;
It drops in gentle showers of rain,
And rolls in every tide.

4 Through the vast whole it pours supplies,
Spreads joy through every part:
O, may such love attract my eyes,
And captivate my heart!

5 My highest admiration raise,
My best affections move!
Employ my tongue in songs of praise,
And fill my heart with love!

131. L. M. Mme. Guion.

The Omnipresent Peace of God.

1 O Thou, by long experience tried,
Near whom no grief can long abide;--
My Lord, how full of sweet content
My years of pilgrimage are spent!

2 All scenes alike engaging prove,
To souls impressed with sacred love;
Where'er they dwell, they dwell in thee,
In heaven, in earth, or on the sea.

3 To them remains nor place nor time;
Their country is in every clime;
They can be calm and free from care
On any shore, since God is there.

4 While place we seek, or place we shun,
The soul finds happiness in none;
But with a God to guide our way,
'Tis equal joy to go or stay.

132. C. M. Eng. Bap. Coll.

Providence Kind and Bountiful.

1 Thy kingdom, Lord, forever stands,
While earthly thrones decay;
And time submits to thy commands,
While ages roll away.

2 Thy sovereign bounty freely gives
Its unexhausted store;
And universal nature lives
On thy sustaining power.

3 Holy and just in all its ways
Is Providence divine;
In all its works, immortal rays
Of power and mercy shine.

4 The praise of God--delightful theme!--
Shall fill my heart and tongue;
Let all creation bless his name,
In one eternal song.

133. S. M. Watts.

A Holy God. Ps. 99.

1 Exalt the Lord our God,
And worship at his feet;
His nature is all holiness,
And mercy is his seat.

2 When Israel was his church,
When Aaron was his priest,
When Moses cried, when Samuel prayed,
He gave his people rest.

3 Oft he forgave their sins,
Nor would destroy their race;
And oft he made his vengeance known,
When they abused his grace.

4 Exalt the Lord our God,
Whose grace is still the same;
Still he's a God of holiness,
And jealous for his name.

134. C. M. Tate & Brady.

God's Condescension.

1 O Thou, to whom all creatures bow
Within this earthly frame,
Through all the world how great art thou!
How glorious is thy name!

2 When heaven, thy glorious work on high,
Employs my wondering sight,--
The moon, that nightly rules the sky,
With stars of feebler light,--

3 Lord, what is man, that he is blessed
With thy peculiar care!
Why on his offspring is conferred
Of love so large a share?

4 O Thou, to whom all creatures bow
Within this earthly frame,
Through all the world how great art thou!
How glorious is thy name!

135. L. M. Wm. Taylor.

God the Universal Benefactor.

1 God of the universe! whose hand
Hath sown with suns the fields of space,
Round which, obeying thy command,
Unnumbered worlds fulfil their race:

2 How vast the region, where thy will
Existence, form, and order gives!
Pleased the wide cup with joy to fill,
For all that grows, and feels, and lives.

3 Lord! while we thank thee, let us learn
Beneficence to all below;
Those praise thee best, whose bosoms burn
Thy gifts on others to bestow.

136. L. M. C. Wesley.

The Holiness of God.

1 Holy as thou, O Lord, is none!
Thy holiness is all thine own;
A drop of that unbounded sea
Is ours, a drop derived from thee.

2 And when thy purity we share,
Only thy glory we declare;
And humbled into nothing own,
Holy and pure is God alone.

3 Sole self-existent God and Lord,
By all the heavenly hosts adored!
Let all on earth bow down to thee,
And own thy peerless majesty.

137. 6s. M. Drummond.

Unity of God.

1 The God who reigns alone
O'er earth, and sea, and sky,
Let man with praises own,
And sound his honors high.

2 Him all in heaven above,
Him all on earth below,
The exhaustless Source of love,
The great Creator know.

3 He formed the living flame,
He gave the reasoning mind;
Then only He may claim
The worship of mankind.

4 So taught his only Son,
Blessed messenger of grace!
The Eternal is but one,
No second holds his place.

138. C. M. Thomson.

All-embracing Providence of God.

1 Jehovah God! thy gracious power
On every hand we see;
O may the blessings of each hour
Lead all our thoughts to thee.

2 If, on the wings of morn, we speed
To earth's remotest bound,
Thy hand will there our footsteps lead,
Thy love, our path surround.

3 Thy power is in the ocean deeps,
And reaches to the skies;
Thine eye of mercy never sleeps,
Thy goodness never dies.

4 In all the varying scenes of time,
On thee our hopes depend;
Through every age, in every clime,
Our Father, and our Friend!

139. C. M. Beddome.

The Mysteries of Providence.

1 Almighty God! thy wondrous works
Of providence and grace,
An angel's perfect mind exceed,
And all our pride abase.

2 Stupendous heights! amazing depths!
Creatures in vain explore:
Or, if a transient glimpse we gain,
'Tis faint and quickly o'er.

3 Though all the mysteries lie concealed
Beyond what we can see,
Grant us the knowledge of ourselves,
The knowledge, Lord, of thee.

140. L. M. Tate & Brady.

"Whither shall I go from thy presence?"

1 Thou, Lord, by strictest search hast known
My rising up and lying down;
My secret thoughts are known to thee,
Known long before conceived by me.

2 O could I so perfidious be,
To think of once deserting thee!
Where, Lord, could I thy influence shun?
Or whither from thy presence run?

3 If I the morning's wings could gain,
And fly beyond the western main,
Thy swifter hand would first arrive,
And there arrest thy fugitive.

4 Or should I try to shun thy sight
Beneath the sable wings of night,
One glance from thee, one piercing ray,
Would kindle darkness into day.

5 Search, try, O God, my thoughts and heart,
If mischief lurks in any part;
Correct me where I go astray,
And guide me in thy perfect way.

141. L. M. 6l. W. Ray.

Perfection of God.

1 Thou art, almighty Lord of all,
From everlasting still the same;
Before thee dazzling seraphs fall,
And veil their faces in a flame,
To see such bright perfections glow--
Such floods of glory from thee flow.

2 What mortal hand shall dare to paint
A semblance of thy glory, Lord?
The brightest rainbow-tints are faint;
The brightest stars of heaven afford
But dim effusions of those rays
Of light that round Jehovah blaze.

3 The sun himself is but a gleam,
A transient meteor, from thy throne;
And every frail and fickle beam,
That ever in creation shone,
Is nothing, Lord, compared to thee
In thy own vast immensity.

4 But though thy brightness may create
All worship from the hosts above,
What most thy name must elevate
Is, that thou art a God of love;
And mercy is the central sun
Of all thy glories joined in one.

142. L. M. Watts.

"Canst thou find out the Almighty?"

1 Can creatures to perfection find
Th' eternal, uncreated Mind?
Or can the largest stretch of thought
Measure and search his nature out?

2 God is a King of power unknown;
Firm are the orders of his throne;
If he resolve, who dare oppose,
Or ask him why or what he does?

3 He frowns, and darkness veils the moon
The fainting sun grows dim at noon:
The pillars of heaven's starry roof
Tremble and start at his reproof.

4 These are a portion of his ways:
But who shall dare describe his face?
Who can endure his light, or stand
To hear the thunders of his hand?

143. C. H. M. Anonymous.

The surpassing Glory of God.

1 Since o'er thy footstool here below
Such radiant gems are strown,
O what magnificence must glow,
Great God, about thy throne!
So brilliant here these drops of light--
There the full ocean rolls--how bright!

2 If night's blue curtain of the sky--
With thousand stars inwrought,
Hung like a royal canopy
With glittering diamonds fraught--
Be, Lord, thy temple's outer veil,
What splendor at the shrine must dwell!

3 The dazzling sun, at noon-day hour--
Forth from his flaming vase
Flinging o'er earth the golden shower
Till vale and mountain blaze--
But shows, O Lord, one beam of thine:
What, then, the day where thou dost shine?

4 O how shall these dim eyes endure
That noon of living rays!
Or how our spirits so impure,
Upon thy glory gaze!--
Anoint, O Lord, anoint our sight,
And fit us for that world of light.

144. C. M. Sternhold.

Majesty of God. Ps. 18.

1 The Lord descended from above,
And bowed the heavens most high,
And underneath his feet he cast
The darkness of the sky.

2 On cherubim and seraphim
Full royally he rode,
And on the wings of mighty winds
Came flying all abroad.

3 He sat serene upon the floods,
Their fury to restrain,
And he, as sovereign Lord and King,
Forevermore shall reign.

145. C. M. Watts.

Decrees and Providence of God.

1 Let the whole race of creatures lie
Abased before the Lord:
Whate'er his mighty hand has formed
He governs with a word.

2 Ten thousand ages ere the skies
Were into motion brought,
All the long years and worlds to come
Stood present to his thought.

3 Trusting thy wisdom, God of love,
We would not wish to know
What, in the book of thy decrees,
Awaits us here below

4 Be this alone our fervent prayer,--
Whate'er our lot shall be,
Or joys, or sorrows, may they form
Our souls for heaven and thee.

146. L. M. Walker's Coll.

"God, with whom is no Variableness."

1 All-powerful, self-existent God,
Who all creation dost sustain!
Thou wast, and art, and art to come,
And everlasting is thy reign!

2 Fixed and eternal as thy days,
Each glorious attribute divine,
Through ages infinite, shall still
With undiminished lustre shine.

3 Fountain of being! Source of good!
Immutable thou dost remain!
Nor can the shadow of a change
Obscure the glories of thy reign.

4 Earth may with all her powers dissolve,
If such the great Creator's will;
But thou forever art the same,
I AM, is thy memorial still.

147. C. M. Anonymous.

God Omnipresent.

1 There's not a place in earth's vast round,
In ocean deep, or air,
Where skill and wisdom are not found,
For God is everywhere.

2 Around, within, below, above,
Wherever space extends,
There heaven displays its boundless love,
And power with mercy blends.

3 Then rise, my soul, and sing his name,
And all his praise rehearse,
Who spread abroad earth's wondrous frame,
And built the universe.

4 Where'er thine earthly lot is cast,
His power and love declare;
Nor think the mighty theme too vast,
For God is everywhere.

148. L. M. Anonymous.

Providence Mysterious.

1 Thy ways, O Lord, with wise design,
Are framed upon thy throne above,
And every dark or bending line
Meets in the centre of thy love.

2 With feeble light, and half obscure,
Poor mortals thine arrangements view,
Not knowing that the least are sure,
And the mysterious just and true.

3 They neither know nor trace the way;
But, trusting to thy piercing eye,
None of their feet to ruin stray,
Nor shall the weakest fail or die.

4 My favored soul shall meekly learn
To lay her reason at thy throne;
Too weak thy secrets to discern,
I'll trust thee for my guide alone.

GENERAL PRAISE.

149. L. M. Tate & Brady.

Praise to the great Jehovah.

1 Be thou, O God, exalted high;
And as thy glory fills the sky,
So let it be on earth displayed,
Till thou art here, as there, obeyed.

2 O God, our hearts are fixed and bent
Their thankful tribute to present;
And, with the heart, the voice, we'll raise
To thee, our God, in songs of praise.

3 Thy praises, Lord, we will resound
To all the listening nations round;
Thy mercy highest heaven transcends;
Thy truth beyond the clouds extends.

4 Be thou, O God, exalted high;
And as thy glory fills the sky,
So let it be on earth displayed,
Till thou art here, as there, obeyed.

150. 7s. M. Salisbury Coll.

Adoration.

1 Holy, holy, holy Lord,
Be thy glorious name adored;
Lord, thy mercies never fail;
Hail, celestial goodness, hail!

2 Though unworthy, Lord, thine ear,
Deign our humble songs to hear;
Purer praise we hope to bring,
When around thy throne we sing.

3 There no tongue shall silent be;
All shall join in harmony;
That, through heaven's capacious round,
Praise to thee may ever sound.

4 Lord, thy mercies never fail;
Hail, celestial goodness, hail!
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
Be thy glorious name adored.

151. 10s. & 11s. Grant.

God Glorious.

1 O, worship the King, all glorious above,
And gratefully sing his wonderful love,
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

2 Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light,
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.

3 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender! how firm to the end!
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

4 Father Almighty, how faithful thy love!
While angels delight to hymn thee above,
The humbler creation, though feeble their lays
With true adoration shall lisp to thy praise.

152. C. M. Hemans.

Invitation to offer Praise.

1 Praise ye the Lord; on every height
Songs to his glory raise;
Ye angel hosts, ye stars of night,
Join in immortal praise.

2 O fire and vapor, hail and snow,
Ye servants of his will;
O stormy winds, that only blow
His mandates to fulfil;--

3 Mountains and rocks, to heaven that rise
Fair cedars of the wood;
Creatures of life that wing the skies,
Or track the plains for food;--

4 Judges of nations; kings, whose hand
Waves the proud sceptre high;
O youths and virgins of the land;
O age and infancy;--

5 Praise ye his name, to whom alone
All homage should be given,
Whose glory, from th' eternal throne,
Spreads wide o'er earth and heaven.

153. 7s. M. Milton.

Praise to God.

1 Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the Lord, for he is kind;
For his mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

2 Let us sound his name abroad,
For of gods he is the God;
Who, with all-commanding might,
Filled the new-made world with light;

3 Caused the golden-tressed sun
All day long his course to run;
And the moon to shine by night,
'Mongst her spangled sisters bright.

4 His own people he did bless,
In the wasteful wilderness;
He hath, with a piteous eye,
Viewed us in our misery.

5 All his creatures he doth feed;
His full hand supplies their need;
Let us, therefore, warble forth
His high majesty and worth.

154. L. M. Tate & Brady.

Praise and Holiness.

1 O render thanks to God above,
The fountain of eternal love;
Whose mercy firm through ages past
Has stood and shall forever last.

2 Who can his mighty deeds express?--
Not only vast, but numberless!
What mortal eloquence can raise
His tribute of immortal praise?

3 Happy are they, and only they,
Who from thy judgments never stray;
Who know what's right, nor only so,
But always practise what they know.

4 Extend to me that favor, Lord,
Thou to thy chosen dost afford:
When thou return'st to set them free,
Let thy salvation visit me.

155. 7s. M. J. Taylor.

The Divine Glories Celebrated.

1 Glory be to God on high,
God, whose glory fills the sky;
Peace on earth to man forgiven,
Man, the well-beloved of Heaven.

2 Favored mortals! raise the song;
Endless thanks to God belong;
Hearts o'erflowing with his praise,
Join the hymns your voices raise.

3 Mark the wonders of his hand!
Power no empire can withstand;
Wisdom, angel's glorious theme;
Goodness, one eternal stream.

4 Awful Being! from thy throne
Send thy promised blessings down;
Let thy light, thy truth, thy peace,
Bid our raging passions cease.

156. H. M. Sacred Lyrics.

Perpetual Praise.

1 To thee, great Source of light!
My thankful voice I'll raise;
And all my powers unite
To celebrate thy praise;
And, till my voice is lost in death,
May praise employ my every breath.

2 And when this feeble tongue
Lies silent in the dust,
My soul shall dwell among
The spirits of the just;
Then, with the shining hosts above,
In nobler strains I'll sing thy love.

157. L. M. H. Ballou, 2d.

The Same.

1 Praise ye the Lord, around whose throne
All heaven in ceaseless worship waits,
Whose glory fills the worlds unknown--
Praise ye the Lord from Zion's gates.

2 With mingling souls and voices join;
To him the swelling anthem raise;
Repeat his name with joy divine,
And fill the temple with his praise.

3 All-gracious God, to thee we owe
Each joy and blessing time affords,--
Light, life, and health, and all below,
Spring from thy presence, Lord of lords.

4 Thine be the praise, for thine the love
That freely all our sins forgave,
Pointed our dying eyes above,
And showed us life beyond the grave.

158. L. M. Watts.

The Same. Ps. 145.

1 My God, my King, thy various praise
Shall fill the remnant of my days;
Thy grace employ my humble tongue
Till death and glory raise the song.

2 The wings of every hour shall bear
Some thankful tribute to thine ear;
And every setting sun shall see
New works of duty done for thee.

3 Let distant times and nations raise
The long succession of thy praise,
And unborn ages make my song
The joy and labor of their tongue.

4 But who can speak thy wondrous deeds?
Thy greatness all our thoughts exceeds
Vast and unsearchable thy ways:
Vast and immortal be thy praise.

159. 6s. 6s. & 4s. M. Anonymous.

The Same. Ps. 150.

1 Praise ye Jehovah's name;
Praise through his courts proclaim;
Rise and adore;--
High o'er the heavens above
Sound his great acts of love,
While his rich grace we prove,
Vast as his power.

2 Now let the trumpet raise
Sounds of triumphant praise
Wide as his fame;
There let the harp be found;
Organs, with solemn sound,
Roll your deep notes around,
Filled with his name.

3 While his high praise ye sing,
Shake every sounding string:
Sweet the accord!--
He vital breath bestows:
Let every breath that flows
His noblest fame disclose--
Praise ye the Lord.

160. H. M. Tate & Brady.

Praise from Heaven and Earth.

1 Ye boundless realms of joy,
Exalt your Maker's name;
His praise your songs employ
Above the starry frame:
Your voices raise,
Ye cherubim
And seraphim,
To sing his praise.

2 Let all adore the Lord,
And praise his holy name,
By whose almighty word
They all from nothing came;
And all shall last,
From changes free;
His firm decree
Stands ever fast.

161. C. P. M. Ogilvie.

Praise from all Nature. Ps. 148.

1 Begin, my soul, th' exalted lay;
Let each enraptured thought obey,
And praise th' Almighty's name.
Lo, heaven and earth and seas and skies
In one melodious concert rise
To swell th' inspiring theme.

2 Thou heaven of heavens, his vast abode--
Ye clouds, proclaim your Maker, God;
Ye thunders, speak his power.
Lo, on the lightning's rapid wings
In triumph rides the King of Kings:
Th' astonished worlds adore.

3 Ye deeps with roaring billows rise
To join the thunders of the skies--
Praise him who bids you roll.
His praise in softer notes declare,
Each whispering breeze of yielding air,
And breathe it to the soul.

4 Wake, all ye soaring throngs, and sing;
Ye cheerful warblers of the spring,
Harmonious anthems raise
To him who shaped your finer mould,
Who tipped your glittering wings with gold,
And tuned your voice to praise.

5 Let man, by nobler passions swayed,
The feeling heart, the reasoning head,
In heavenly praise employ:
Spread the Creator's name around,
Till heaven's wide arch repeat the sound--
The general burst of joy.

162. 10s. & 11s. M. Doddridge.

A Call to Praise.

1 O praise ye the Lord--prepare a new song,
And let all his saints in full concert join;
With voices united the anthem prolong,
And show forth his praises with music divine.

2 Let praise to the Lord, who made us, ascend;
Let each grateful heart be glad in its King;
The God whom we worship our songs will attend,
And view with complacence the offering we bring.

3 Be joyful, ye saints sustained by his might,
And let your glad songs awake with each morn;
For those who obey him are still his delight--
His hand with salvation the meek will adorn.

4 Then praise ye the Lord--prepare a glad song,
And let all his saints in full concert join;
With voices united the anthem prolong,
And show forth his praises with music divine.

163. L. M. Watts.

Universal Praise.

1 Wide as his vast dominion lies,
Make the Creator's name be known;
Loud as his thunders speak his praise,
And sound it lofty as his throne.

2 Jehovah!--'tis a glorious word;
O may it dwell on every tongue;
But saints, who best have known the Lord,
Are bound to raise the noblest song.

3 Speak of the wonders of that love
Which Gabriel plays on every chord;
From all below, and all above,
Loud hallelujahs to the Lord.

164. C. M. Patrick.

Te Deum.

1 O God, we praise thee, and confess,
That thou the only Lord
And everlasting Father art,
By all the earth adored.

2 To thee all angels cry aloud--
To thee the powers on high,
Both cherubim and seraphim,
Continually do cry--

3 "O holy, holy, holy Lord,
Whom heavenly hosts obey,
The world is with the glory filled
Of thy majestic sway."

4 Th' apostles' glorious company,
And prophets, crowned with light,
With all the martyrs' noble host,
Thy constant praise recite.

5 The holy church throughout the world,
O Lord, confesses thee--
That thou eternal Father art
Of boundless majesty.

165. 8s. & 7s. M. Fawcett.

God of our Salvation.

1 Praise to thee, thou great Creator;
Praise be thine from every tongue;
Join, my soul, with every creature,
Join the universal song.

2 Father, source of all compassion,
Free, unbounded grace is thine:
Hail the God of our salvation;
Praise him for his love divine.

3 For ten thousand blessings given,
For the hope of future joy,
Sound his praise through earth and heaven,
Sound Jehovah's praise on high.

4 Joyfully on earth adore him,
'Till in heaven our song we raise;
There, enraptured, fall before him,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

166. H. M. George Sandys.

General Praise.

1 All, from the sun's uprise,
Unto his setting rays,
Resound in jubilees,
The great Jehovah's praise.
Him serve alone;
In triumph bring
Your gifts, and sing,
Before his throne.

2 Man drew from man his birth,
But God his noble frame
Built of the ruddy earth,
Filled with celestial flame.
His sons we are;
Sheep by him led,
Preserved and fed
With tender care.

3 O to his portals press
In your divine resorts:
With thanks his power profess,
And praise him in his courts.
How good! How pure!
His mercies last;
His promise past,
Forever sure.

167. C. M. M. Rayner.

The Same.

1 Hail! Source of light, of life, and love,
And joys that never end;
In whom all creatures live and move:
Creator, Father, Friend.

2 All space is with thy presence crowned:
Creation owns thy care;
Each spot in nature's ample round,
Proclaims that God is there.

3 Attuned to praise be every voice;
Let not one heart be sad:
Jehovah reigns! Let earth rejoice;
Let all the isles be glad.

4 Then sound the anthem loud and long,
In sweetest, loftiest strains;
And be the burden of the song,
The Lord, Jehovah, reigns!

RELIGION OF NATURE.

168. L. M. 6l. Watts.

God revealed in his Works.

1 Great God! the heavens' well ordered frame
Declares the glory of thy name,
There thy rich works of wonder shine:
A thousand starry beauties there,
A thousand radiant marks appear,
Of boundless skill and power 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 thy divine instructions run
Far as the journeys of the sun:
Thy light and truth are known abroad;
We see thy smile in Nature's face,
And in the pages of thy grace
We read the glories of our God.

169. C. M. Rowe.

Praise from all Nature.

1 Begin the high, celestial strain,
My raptured soul, and sing
A sacred hymn of grateful praise
To heaven's almighty King.

2 Ye curling fountains, as ye roll
Your silver waves along,
Repeat to all your verdant shores
The subject of the song.

3 Bear it, ye breezes, on your wings,
To distant climes away,
And round the wide-extended world
The lofty theme convey.

4 Take up the burden of his name,
Ye clouds, as ye arise,
To deck with gold the opening morn,
Or shade the evening skies.

5 Long let it warble round the spheres,
And echo through the sky;
Let angels, with immortal skill,
Improve the harmony;--

6 While we, with sacred rapture fired,
The blest Creator sing,
And chant our consecrated lays
To heaven's eternal King.

170. 8s. M. Hogg.

God of Life.

1 Blessed be thy name forever,
Thou of life the Guard and Giver!
Thou canst guard thy creatures sleeping,
Heal the heart long broke with weeping:
God of stillness and of motion,
Of the desert and the ocean,
Of the mountain, rock and river,
Blessed be thy name forever!

2 Thou who slumberest not nor sleepest,
Blest are they thou kindly keepest.
God of evening's parting ray,
Of midnight gloom, and dawning day--
That rises from the azure sea
Like breathings of eternity;
God of life! that fade shall never,
Blessed be thy name forever!

171. H. M. H. Ballou, 2d.

Universal Praise.

1 Ye realms below the skies,
Your Maker's praises sing;
Let boundless honors rise
To heaven's eternal King;
O bless his name whose love extends
Salvation to the world's far ends.

2 Give glory to the Lord,
Ye kindreds of the earth;
His sovereign power record,
And show his wonders forth,
Till heathen tongues his grace proclaim,
And every heart adores his name.

3 'T is he the mountains crowns
With forests waving wide;
'T is he old ocean bounds,
And heaves her roaring tide;
He swells the tempests on the main,
Or breathes the zephyr o'er the plain.

4 Still let the waters roar,
As round the earth they roll;
His praise for evermore
They sound from pole to pole.
'Tis nature's wild, unconscious song
O'er thousand waves that floats along.

5 His praise, ye worlds on high,
Display with all your spheres,
Amid the darksome sky,
When silent night appears.
O, let his works declare his name
Through all the universal frame.

172. C. M. Lutheran Coll.

Goodness of God in his Works.

1 Hail, great Creator--wise and good!
To thee our songs we raise:
Nature, through all her various scenes,
Invites us to thy praise.